Three weeks have passed in Federation time since Asani had discovered that his friend and fellow Starfleet personnel was alive. He was thought to be killed on the planet Xiexath along with the rest of his away team. A horrific tragedy had occurred on that planet that killed all but one of the seven-person away team, now two. Asani was never able to discover all the details of that day, but he did discover five bodies and partial evidence of a sixth. It took over three months before he could return to duty and when he did, his Command told him he was done. “Walk away and there will be no trial. Stay, and we blame you for everything.” Through channels, he found that this away mission did not have total clearance. A classified mission even from the “top brass”. Some even said it was the starting of a coup. No matter the reason for the away mission, Asani searched for details on what went wrong for months after leaving Starfleet. He tried every avenue given and he turned up very little. He could not discover what happened and why, but he always felt that this was an inside job. Now, he felt as if he knew it was. Pieces of the puzzle were beginning to fit, and the next step was to talk to Ensign Harris Byers.
Asani’s ship was now hidden aboard a giant Cardassian freighter heading towards the planet Loval. His vessel was marked as “junk for spare parts” in the Cardassian language which the guards did not question because of its condition. Harry and Thomas were living in a small computer on the vessel and would only be able to “return to life” when the time was right. Asani was dressed as a Cardassian worker with the name of Crell and his duty was to run the annoying and old fashion heat compression system on this agent freighter. A job well below his expertise, but he was desperate, and no one would question him if he did his job well. How they all arrived here was because of the “reckless” plan that Asani put together.
He did not speak to his hologram programs for an entire week when he returned to his vessel on Starbase Lya Station Alpha. His time was spent searching through databases and other communication channels on routes to the planet Loval. He then did some bartering to get the goods and parts he needed to put his plan in place. A Ferengi dealer had what he needed and after a heated conversation on his plasma warp coils not being good enough, Asani threw in a Starfleet communicator. The Ferengi loved the idea of listening in on Federation communications, so he threw in Klingon Warnog to make the deal even.
The next week, Asani went to creating a new disguise. Scanners would detect holograms and faulty masks, so he needed to make the disguise as realistic as possible. He spent days designing and creating himself into a new Cardassian person. Every detail had to be perfect to get pass the well-armed guards, high-tech cameras, scanners, and other detection devices. He made sure the ridges on either side of his neck looked genuine. It took hours for him to make the spoon-shaped structure on his forehead. Then the ridges on his hands plus anywhere else that might be seen. Next was the dying of his skin to be the pale greyish white color that every Cardassian felt showed power. The uniform was the last piece. A few stiches to make it shorter, extra thread to make it wider and some fake medals to make it more realistic. The placement of the medals had to be exact so luckily Harry had the knowledge needed to perform the task. He did slightly burn Asani with the laser needle, but it looked perfect in the end.
“That plan sounds awful!” yelled Harry when Asani finally told the holograms his idea. Thomas could only shake his head. “It is reckless, Asani,” continued Harry in milder tone. “Thomas and I will have to get you out of this as well.”
“Let is why I keep you around,” said Asani as he continued to work at a monitor on the bridge. Both the holograms gave a face of being offended. The new Cardassian Asani then moved over to a different workstation and began doing other tasks, seemingly ignoring the two.
“You know, Asani,” said Thomas in a tone showing he was hurt. “Maybe both of us will just shutdown so we don’t have to keep saving your sorry ass every time you get yourself into trouble.”
That comment was enough to make Asani stop working and look at the holograms. He gave a heavy sigh. “It is not that I don’t appreciate everything you do, but right now I need to do this. I must find Byers. I owe it to my team. I owe it to Faye.”
Both holograms gave him the same face that showed they understood. “But, Asani,” said Harry. “Going into Cardassian space on a Cardassian filled freighter to a planet where you will have no help.”
“I will have help,” commented Asani. He placed a hand on a shoulder of each of the holograms. “I will have you two.”
Both the holograms gave a distrusting smile and then eyed each other with narrowed eyes. “I am thinking he is just saying that to get out of this conversation,” stated Harry.
“I agree,” said Thomas.
Asani gave them both a genuine smile. “We are a team and I need you both to help me on this.” They both could see the importance of this mission on Asani’s new Cardassian face.
The two holograms gave heavy sighs. “Fine, Asani,” expressed Thomas. “Tell us what we need to do.”
The next step was selling the ship. A call was made, and details were given of interesting parts being found of an old wreckage on a planet in the neutral zone. No interest at first, but when Asani explained the design of the warp core, they made a date for the visit. Cardassians worked in stolen goods and technology from anywhere they could get it to advance their war machines. Advancement in warp cores was always a priority.
One Cardassian worker arrived in a medium sized freighter on the planet in the neutral zone at a location given. It was on the side of a mountain in a desert landscape where no one would notice. The pretend “wreckage” was staged a head of time hoping whoever showed up would fall for the ruse and then Asani, the holograms, and his ship would begin their trip to Loval.
The only purpose of this medium sized freighter was to haul parts to the main freighter. Low weaponry and low-grade technology made it not a target. As the Cardassian exited the ship, he saw the new Cardassian Asani waiting by the “wreckage”. He spoked to him in the Cardassian language. The small hidden universal translator behind Asani’s ear caught every word. Asani returned the reply in perfect Cardǎsda with the help of his own homemade device hidden at the base of his neck which translated his words and made his accent sound authentic. To the Cardassian, it sounded official. The first step of establishing trust was complete.
“What brings you out to a hellhole planet like this?” asked the Cardassian.
Asani pointed at the wreckage. “The warp signature found in these parts. More advanced than I have seen. Had to see for myself.” He began to walk back towards his ship. The Cardassian followed. “It looks to be Ferengi so I thought I would rip out the warp core and then burn the rest, so no one catches anything.” Asani began to laugh and the Cardassian laughed as well. It was well known that Cardassians thought Ferengi were a disease. Asani stopped at the entrance and motioned for the Cardassian to enter. As the Cardassian entered, Harry and Thomas appeared. One grabbed the Cardassian from behind and the other shot a hypospray into his neck. The Cardassian immediately fell faint and they gently placed him on the ground.
“Good job, you two,” said Asani. “Remind me never to get on your bad side.”
The two holograms smiled. “The stuff we gave him should knock him out for at least two to three hours,” said Thomas.
Asani was already going through the Cardassians’s uniform. “That would be plenty of time to deposit him somewhere where he can communicate with his homeworld. We should be on the main freighter by then.” He took from the Cardassians’s pocket a small device and held it up. “His identification. This is what I need to get on the freighter.” Asani scanned it with his tricorder. “His name is Crell, which is now my name.” He slid the device into his pocket.
“I feel a little dirty,” said Harry with a laugh. “That was our first criminal action. We outlaws now.” The two holograms gave each other fist bumps while singing, “…Wanted! Dead or Alive!” Asani rolled his eyes as he left the ship.
Asani loaded their vessel on to the freighter using the large crane found on the freighter. After a few moments of understanding the flight controls with the holograms telling him what to do through his earpiece, they were off.
Before leaving orbit, they transported the Cardassian into a bar found on the planet with extra credits for his trouble, because Harry thought if they were going to be criminals, they at least should be nice. A still very sleepy Cardassian would be awaken a few hours later by a confused owner of the establishment and then would proceed to buy himself some Kanar and would feel that it was the best he ever tasted.
When they arrived at the main freighter, an angry Commander was wondering why Crell was trying to dock at off hours. “I do not have the personnel to unload a bunch of junk at all hours! If you dock now, you unload this freighter yourself!”
After scanning Crell’s ID chip, Asani docked the freighter, and then unloaded his ship. Once he was done, the large Commander walked over to Asani and stood over him. His eyes narrowed with his chin held high. “I have not seen your face before. What is your name?”
“Crell,” said a nervous Asani.
“Where are you from, Crell?”
Asani was expecting these types of questions. “My family resides in the north lands in Kraness. Grew up sailing the Margat Sea.”
“So, you are from the main world,” stated the Commander with a sneer. “Why are you working on an old junk freighter like this?”
“Not enough money in selling Hervit to the mainlands since they began taxing us for everything. Needed to find other work.”
“So, you are not a friend to the government?” The Commander’s eyes pierced Asani, looking for any clue of who he really was.
Asani held his chin high, hoping his answer would bring a favorable response. “Not since those kinless bastards started taking everything I own.”
A large smile appeared on the Commander’s greyish lips. “Then you are welcome here, Crell!” He gave Asani a giant hug with one of his long arms. “The first Kanar is on me!”
After seventy-two hours of traveling since arriving on the main freighter, they had reached Loval. The planet had many similar characteristics to the Federation planet Earth. Large blue oceans and huge continents with large forests and mountain ranges could be seen from orbit. The atmosphere was cooler than that of the main world, Cardassia, which made it less inhabitable but still millions of Cardassians roamed the cities below. This made Asani’s task of finding Byers like finding a needle in a haystack. From the location coordinates that Hakeev shared of the picture taken on Loval, this put Byers close to the southern hemisphere near the location of the secret weapons research installation. This would mean many armed guards, scanners, and high-tech detectors. He only hoped that his two holograms could find a way into this installation. But first, he had to listen to them complain of their travel circumstances.
“You know Asani, being trapped in this small little computer has not been very comfortable,” said an annoyed Harry into Asani’s earpiece. His tone made Asani roll his eyes. “I now understand why you did not mention this part of the plan when we first went over it.”
“I agree Asani,” stated Thomas. “Aren’t we supposed to be a team.”
“I know you two. As you have already stated throughout the entire trip,” explained Asani as he continued his job on the freighter working on the heat compression system. He did not know what was annoying him more, the steam and heat rising from this ancient machine or the constant complaining of his stowaways. “We could not risk them finding a power surge on the ship. This was the only way.”
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“So, minimizing us and keeping us locked up in this minicomputer was all you could think of?” questioned an even more annoyed Thomas.
“I downloaded hours of entertainment on the hard drive with all your favorite shows from early Earth history as commanded.”
“Yes, but how many times can you watch Sheriff Andy and Deputy Barney get into their crazy shenanigans in Mayberry or watch Lassie save Timmy from a well,” argued Thomas.
“I personally liked watching Arnold chase down Sarah Conner and then come back to save Sarah Conner,” said Harry.
“Yes, that was quite enjoyable,” agreed Thomas. “But I think you know which one was our favorite,” he said to Harry with a slanted look.
“The one where we watched woman lifeguards running in skimpy swimsuits?” questioned Harry while nodding.
“That was a close second,” answered Thomas with a small smile. He then began to sing. “Doe, a dear, a female deer. Ray, a drop of golden sun…”
Harry and Thomas then began to sing in parallel, “Me, a name I call myself. Far, a long, long—”
“Enough!” shouted a stressed Cardassian Asani while putting his hands over his face. He received a few stares from the other Cardassians around him which made him return to whispering. “Have you been able to access the freighter’s scanners?”
“Yes, Asani, we were able to hack in which is just adding to my criminal record,” said Harry.
“Asani just has us do all his dirty work,” stated Thomas.
“And what do your initial scans show of the coordinates I gave you?” asked Asani while continuing his task on the freighter.
“Plenty of mountain ranges and forest areas where we can hide the ship as long as we don’t use warp power,” answered Thomas. “There appears to be tunnels underneath this base where you can transport to and hopefully find your way to the surface, but of course you will find many armed guards.”
“Asani,” said a concerned Harry. “You are really going to sneak into this base and find your friend Byers?”
“He is not my friend, and yes,” whispered Asani. “My site-to-site transporter should work in the tunnels below as long as I am in range of the ship. Once, I am in the base, doubtful that any transporter signals will get through, but you should still be able to communicate with me and be my eyes. The wavelength we are using will not be something they are tracing, but if they find a reason, they will shut down all communication.” Asani continued to work on the many compression systems while Cardassians walked by him without any notice. “I will take my specialized gloves as weapons because any phaser fire will be detected.”
“Another invention of yours that has not been well tested,” said Harry.
“No time like the present,” replied Asani. “I also will need ‘tweety’ ready to go.”
“I thought I saw a puddy-cat, I did I did,” said Thomas which brought a smile to Harry’s lips.
Asani, of course ignored it knowing their personalities. “At twenty-three hundred hours, this ship’s heat compression systems are going to experience an overload which I have been told happens often.” Harry and Thomas gave their scared faces not liking this plan. “That is when we will make our escape. We will blast our way out of the cargo hold and then fall towards the surface.”
“No engines or anything to guide us?” questioned an increasingly nervous Harry.
“We will use small thruster bursts to get us on the right path, but we can risk detection.”
“So, literally falling from space,” explained Thomas.
“Don’t worry. The thrusters will ignite just before impact,” said Cardassian Asani with his noted smile.
“You never do things in a normal manner, Asani,” argued Harry. “Make a bomb, get your home shot up my mercenaries, make deals with the Tal Shiar, become a Cardassian, and now fall from space and ignite your thrusters just before crashing.”
“Just be ready at twenty-three hundred hours,” said Asani while shaking his head. “You will transport me to the ship once the sign is given.”
“When you say sign, you mean explosion,” stated Thomas.
“You know me too well,” smiled Asani.
At two minutes before twenty-three hundred hours, the only sound that was coming from the crew quarter section of the freighter was the loud snoring of the large Commander. All were getting their rest knowing tomorrow was unloading day. The ship was filled with different parts from all over the galaxy that would be used to create many different machineries that basically would serve the war effort. A certain new Cardassian, was not found in his quarters. He was fiddling around with the heat compression system. The planned explosion would send the freighter twirling in space and large parts of the ship would fall towards the planet. One of those large parts would be Asani’s ship.
The heating system was now pumping at full power. A glitch was sent into the main frame of this old computer system that ran the compression machinery making it believe that it was freezing on the ship. A small device was planted below one of the larger machines. Only a small explosion would create many cascading explosions sending everyone into a panic. During that panic is when they will make their escape.
Asani gave a heavy sigh and then pushed the button from a safe distance. A tiny explosion that sounded much like a firecracker was heard. Then there was steam releasing from everywhere. About a minute later, another much bigger explosion and parts began to scatter. Then there was a blue flash, then more explosions began cascading down the many different compression systems. Then fire engulfed everything around, and then a large hole exposed the ship to space. At that same time, what sounded like phaser fire blew open the cargo door. An unusual looking spacecraft flew toward the hole in the cargo door and out into the vastness of space. The crew awoke to panic. Many running towards the bridge of the ship and others toward the cargo hold. Shields were initiated and fire compression system was activated. Everyone on the ship was safe.
Asani was busy initiating small, controlled thruster bursts, trying to line up their fall before they entered the atmosphere, while Harry and Thomas were celebrating being their normal size again. But that quickly changed when they entered the atmosphere and could feel gravity pulling them towards the ground. A small flame could be seen forming on the tip of their ship as they were increasing in speed at every second. Vibrations could be felt all over the ship as Harry and Thomas began screaming. At forty-thousand feet above the surface, Asani ignited the thrusters. Their descension slowed considerably as the ship became parallel to the the ground. They were now hovering at ten-thousand feet above the surface. Harry and Thomas were both breathing into their own paper sacks which they did not need to because they did not have actual lungs and had no breath.
Asani calmy flew the ship towards their destination with no lights but only scanners to guide them. Harry and Thomas checked long range scanners making sure that they were not detected. There were ships heading towards the large freighter but nothing towards them.
They landed at their planned spot which was about a half-mile from the secret research base. Asani prepared himself for the journey, while Harry and Thomas gave him worried looks. He held up his hand and gave them his look when they tried to talk to them. He looked at both Harry and Thomas and then pointed at his eyes and ears as he left the ship and began walking towards the base. His mind was focused only on one thing, and no one could talk him out of this mission.
When he was a quarter mile away from the base, he began to feel the large presence of security everywhere. He then saw the entrance to the drainage systems and tunnels below covered by bars and forcefields. He quickly sneaked down carefully to the entrance and prepared his site-to-site transporter. He picked out a spot and then clicked the button. A blue flash was seen, and he found himself in the tunnels below.
He made his way towards the entrance of the base in stealth mode. One of Asani’s many talents was being able to focus extremely well on the completion of his mission, but also could be his greatest weakness. He hid in the shadows avoiding cameras and scanners. Luckily, he had not ran into any armed guards. Things were progressing well until he became overconfident and stepped right in the path of two armed guards.
All three were surprised and then Asani went into attack mode. While the two were arming their weapons, Asani began swinging his fists. He hit one guard in the ribs and an electric current when pulsating up through the Cardassian guard’s body. He began trembling and then fainted. The other guard went to fire his weapon, but Asani was able to grab the gun and then turned swung his elbow back, giving the guard a blow in the stomach. Then a punch to the face which knocked the guard out with the extra power pulsating through his gloves. Harry and Thomas could only stare in amazement as they saw the constant holodeck fighting training payoff.
Asani gave a heavy sigh. “It looks like a successful test,” he said to Harry and Thomas through his communicator device.
“You should be close to the entrance,” said Harry. “How are you expected to get pass the security door?”
Asani reached down and took from one of the guards a scanner chip. “I believe this will open the door.” He then began pulling off one of the guards uniform and placed it over his own and the helmet on his head. It was a little big but looked good enough. He then picked up the weapon and fasten the hardness around his chest. He then continued towards the exit making sure to check around corners this time. He found one more guard standing at the entrance. He took a heavy sigh and began causally walking towards the exit. The guard looked surprised but did not arm his weapon. Asani gave him the head nod and continued to move forward. At the entrance, he raised the scanner chip towards the scanner and the door opened. He gave the guard a nod and the guard nodded back, and the door closed behind him.
The base was massive. Thousands of Cardassians could be seen working at different stations wherever he looked. There looked to be conveyer belts filled with different machinery parts flowing in every direction. Many different offices were filled with management looking Cardassians discussing important matters. None of them noticed the new guard making his way down the halls. He exited the main building and found himself looking at hundreds of similar buildings all around. “This will definitely be searching for a needle in a haystack,” Asani thought.
Asani began walking down the pathway and found himself a hiding spot. He then took from his bag a small little device. “I am activating ‘tweety’,” said Asani to Harry and Thomas. “It is programmed to scan all faces looking for Byers.”
“Let us hope he is here or else you will be moving in,” said Harry. “Better get used to eating, Zabu stew.”
The little device sprung little wings and began flying around the base. Harry and Thomas were able to track it while Asani watched through a small PADD. After several hours, Asani was becoming very agitated as it now appeared that “tweety” had almost scanned the total base. He thought maybe that it would be best to switch plans. Then “tweety” found a match and Asani’s face showed anger. Harry and Thomas felt things were going to get a lot worse.
Asani began his way toward the flying device’s location making sure that he did not attract any more attention towards himself. He had a hard time keeping patient trying to make his way through the large amount of Cardassians at every turn. He continued to nod and look professional as if he was one of the many guards doing their job. He then came to the location of “tweety” and began to scan the area looking for his target. He then saw his old friend sitting with armed guards talking to important looking Cardassians. He stood still and watched as many walked around him going about their business. Asani then called for the flying device to return, and he quickly grabbed it from the air without one Cardassian noticing.
Finally, Byers began to move. The armed guards followed. The human was receiving looks from every Cardassian, hence the armed guards. He appeared to know exactly where he was going and had the freedom to move around as pleased. This made Asani anger boil. He hoped that maybe he was a prisoner, but it now appeared as if he was the traitor that he first thought.
They walked towards a building that looked to be crew quarters. Restaurants serving drinks and Cardassian cuisines were everywhere. This base was on the critical list, so it received most of the funding why others suffered. Byers walked into one of the buildings and his escort followed. Asani entered the building as well. They made their way to the seventeenth floor where they exited from the turbolift. Asani exited from the next turbolift and began walking the halls. He found himself in the way of the armed escort as they were leaving. He saw behind them a door closing. He moved to the left and they all passed with concern looks but kept moving. He continued down the hall and walked past the door knowing he would return.
After waiting for a few minutes and making sure no one was around, he walked back to the door. It appeared that the armed escort was only needed when the traitor was out of his room. This would make it easy to interrogate him. Hopefully it would not go any farther.
Harry and Thomas made a few comments, but Asani was not listening. He clicked the button and waited for the door to be answered. Asani’s blood was boiling. The door slid opened and there stood his old friend in Cardassians’s clothes looking happy. “Yes?”
“Sorry, sir we had a report of an intruder,” said Asani.
“I am sorry,” said Byers. “I left my translator inside. Um…Please come in.”
Asani entered with a smile thinking, “What wonderful luck.”
As Byers returned with his translator, he presented himself with a smile. “Please repeat what you had to say.”
Asani only smiled. He then clicked off his homemade device that made him sound Cardassian. “You will not be needing the translator, Byers.” Byers looked a little shock, but it was not entirely uncommon to find a guard that spoke his language. He then nodded wanting this new Cardassian to continue. “I am here to find out why you betrayed the Federation.” Byers eyes grew twice their size. “Why you betrayed, Faye.” He then stepped back and Asani grabbed his arm. Byers face now showed complete shock. “Tell me something, Ensign Harris Byers. The same Ensign Byers that helped me study for the Warp Core Science exam. The same person that taught me how to bowl. That taught me all about Ferengi females.”
Ensign Byers’s face was completely white. He was having a hard time staying upright. “Asani?”
“Tell me one thing,” said Asani with a face of pure anger. “Did you kill Faye?” Ensign Byers had no answer. He began to shake. Asani could not hold back anymore. One punch and Byers was out.
“Now what do we do?” asked Harry into Asani’s earpiece.
“I can only guess,” said Thomas.