“The eyes of others our prisons; their thoughts our cages.”

Virginia Woolf. 1920

There was a space, within a space, that was not really a space at all – and in that space, a man sat in a room with no door.

By design, there was no real way of knowing how long he had been there. The space itself was blank and lacked any window – in addition to not having a door.

The dull, constant light shone at all times, from the same source in the ceiling. There was no tell – tale metronomic reference to mark the passage of time, beyond the meals that appeared by transporter each day and the rhythm of his own digestion and defecation of the same.

He could have been there for hours, days or even weeks – but the Man knew that he had been in this place for just over a year, because he was not without his own means of tethering himself to the outside world – one that his captors remained thankfully unaware of thus far.

Still, his captors hadn’t even bothered to interrogate him. Whether this was an intentional display of disinterest in what they thought he knew, an attempt to break his resolve or that they had just decided to let him rot in this place – the man neither knew nor did he really care.

He never had contact with another living being – in this place where time stood still.

The man destined never to leave that place , save with the inevitable and equitable embrace of Death itself.

In the most intrinsic sense, the Man was just a man, his incarceration being the great leveler making him thus.

From another perspective, the extent of his confinement and the considerable resources expended to keep him incarcerated so, signified (quite rightly) that this was one of the most dangerous men in the entire Galaxy.

The Man waited as he had waited for every day for the over past year since they had put him in this faceless prison without lock or key or door.

After all? What else was there for him to do?

So, he waited.

And he waited.

Waited.

Waited.

And, after an indeterminable time that he was able to keep quite accurately in his head ( discipline is everything), he was thusly rewarded by the shimmering light of an incoming transport and was suddenly faced with an unexpected visitor.

The man looked up at the first living being that he had seen in over a year and smiled a thin, predatory – smile.

“Well, this is certainly unexpected”.

Location: Former DMZ / USS Hikaru Sulu / Captains Quarters / Deck#2

Date: Stardate 2402.4.10 / 10.01hrs

“Absolutely not!” Keishara Dolan heard the CO state with steadfast finality, as the Assistant Chief Security Officer was permitted access to Captain Shavda’s personal quarters by a soft chime and effusing swish of the door to the room back into its efficient recess.

The svelte young black – woman stepped over the threshold then with some understandable trepidation, not quite knowing why she had been summoned thusly but the deductive part of her personae quickly marking the presence of the Executive Officer, the OIC – Strategic Operations and the newly – joined Starfleet Intelligence Officer as they engaged with the CO from their respective positions on the lounge furniture that ringed a small occasional table – with Raveen Shavda holding court at its head.

“The pair of you must be out of your fucking minds, if you think that I’m even going to countenance a request of this nature or consider a command decision of such egregious and willful irresponsibility. My answer is a firm NO!” Captain Shavda glowered at Sulan and Savak, as the pair sat placidly before her – no emotion betrayed on either of their Vulcan features.

“Erm….” Keishara dithered at the threshold and looked back to the closing door and the relative calm of the corridor receding behind it. She gestured awkwardly in that direction. “Chief Trench said that you wanted to see me ma’am?”  She nodded to the fierce debate that was ensuring within and added, “If this not a good time, I can wait in the corridor or come back later?”

Raveen looked up at her, tearing her disapproving ire away from her officers and nodded perfunctorily at Dolan.

“Not at all Lieutenant.” Captain Shavda’s experience – lined face transformed into a show of relieved frustration.

“The Lieutenant Commander and Lieutenant here seem intent on throwing open the portals to a mountain of madness, one more spectator to that folly won’t really make much of a difference at this stage of proceedings. Please, sit.”

Retaining a mask of professional composure, but with her curiosity definitely peaked, Keishara took up the space offered on one of the couches and fervently wondered why she was here?

Commander Wing sat up a little straighter and leaned forward and explained with a openly – conspiratorial tone.

“Sulan has been updating the Captain with his most recent Strategic – overview of the current threat – environment we currently face, now that we can add the assistance of the Bactra – Angelus Extractive GbmH Mining Corporation into the mix.” The XO brought Keishara up to speed.

“And it’s not really what we were hoping for.” Jensen shrugged, his moustache twisting regretfully over his mouth.

The Vulcan StratOps officer sat demurely, perched a little uncomfortably on the edge of his own coach and interjected.

“Previously I merely conjectured strong separatist sentiment amongst the Terran Mining community and the possibility of New Marquis sympathies, Commander.” Sulan lectured all assembled. “At no point did take make a firm position that there would be actual New Marquis assets stationed in this volume. However, if I may also add, there is equally yet no definitive evidence that the New Marquis do not have any forces secreted within The Belt – that the Miners are not divulging and our scans have yet to locate.”

“Whether there are New Marquis forces available or not,” The Vulcan/Romulan hybrid, Lieutenant Savak, interrupted plaintively, “the problem is not about a lack of numbers….”

“From where I’m sat, that’s exactly the problem.” Captain Shavda interjected sourly. “When the Vaadwaur return, they will have more than sufficient numbers available to negate every finer point of strategy, with the simple expedient of overwhelming us with superior hostile forces and reducing every living thing in this volume to dust.”

Undeterred, Lieutenant Savak continued, with a well – suppression fission of annoyance just barely haunting her voice.

“The problem is with Tactics, or rather our intrinsic inability to conceive and resort to the types of tactics that are ultimately required to prevail against the type of foe and the extent of the force – multiplication that we now face.”” Savak explained, with a pointed look in the CO’s direction.

“I’m sorry, I’m a little confused?” Keishara admitted openly.

“What Sulan has concluded, is that – as Starfleet Officers – we lack the requisite ruthlessness and brutality required to mount an effective guerilla warfare campaign against the Vaadwaur Supremacy and that, in his estimation, that is the only form of tactical response left available that presents even an outside chance at success. Am I getting that right, Lieutenant Commander?” Jensen précised the outlook for the Assistant Chief Security Officer’s benefit.

“A crude and simplistic rendition, Commander, but ultimately a logical one.” Sulan intoned seriously and nodded his assent.

Now it was Keishara’s turn to  frown.

“Respectfully, Sirs. But my Hazard Teams are more than capable of pursuing asymmetric warfare operations.” Dolan reasoned.

“The problem is not one of ‘capability’, Lieutenant.” Sulan went on to explain, “But rather one of ‘ethics’. The Hazardous Situation Response Team ethos does indeed make them a high effective option for the surgical application of Special Operations  – some of those decidedly ‘Black’ in nature, but you do so thus still bound by the code of ethical force-of-arms and conduct permissible in the Starfleet Rules of Engagement.”

“Well yes, of course..” Dolan conceded reasonably. “We’re not monsters.”

“Exactly so.” The Vulcan agreed, “We lack the requisite brutality of intent and clarity purpose required to conduct a truly effective guerilla war against the Vaadwaur. To do so, we must resort to tactics and actions that are an anathema to us and plainly beyond our means to prosecute – constrained as we are by the limits of our moral ethics and dedicated – conventions.”

“To paraphrase, he’s saying that ‘we need a Monster’.” Commander Wing reasoned dryly.

Captain Shavda said nothing at this point but retained a supremely disapproving glare at Lieutenant Savak throughout.

Keishara was an intuitive investigator and not so slow on the uptake that she could not deduce that this crucial – point must be crux upon which the heated words had formed, just before she had joined in the discourse.

“So, what options do we have?” She hazarded, knowing that the answer was likely incendiary.

“There is only one course of action available to us.” Savak stated simply.

There was a disgruntled sound from Raveen, but she at least had the presence to let the Intelligence Officer have the floor.

“Within the volume of space that the USS Hikaru Sulu is currently confined to by the effects of The Blackout, there is an Obsidian Order Facility.” Savak explained.

“No, you’re mistaken.” Dolan interrupted, “Our intel confirms that there is no Cardassian martial forces within the volume and if there were, surely they would have been bound to come to the aid of the people of New Providence?”

“There is a facility belonging to the Obsidian Order.” Savak confirmed, “It is what is euphemistically termed as a “Black – Site” and for reasons that will become evident, its occupants have a very good reason for not advertising its presence or location.”

“Which still doesn’t explain how you come to know of this site’s existence, Lieutenant?” Captain Shavda accused with obvious irritation at being kept in the dark.

Savak sighed slightly and re-iterated.

“As I have previously explained, Captain. This information is restricted to key members of Starfleet Intelligence on a need-to-know-basis. Until the advent of this current emergency, you did not need to know of its existence and I was not at liberty to divulge the information.” Savak raised a challenging eyebrow of her own and sat with her hands primly in her lap.

“Okay, so your plan is to just stroll up to this location, contact the Obsidian Order and what? Knock on the door & ask for their help in defeating the Supremacy?” Commander Wing asked skeptically.

“Hardly, Commander.” The Intelligence officer snorted, “The Obsidian Order would most likely blow an envoy from the skies, as soon as we made orbit around the moon where the facility is located.”

“That kind of makes approaching them a little difficult then doesn’t it?” The XO folded his arms.

“Not if I can give them something that reassures them of my intentions, something that they want.” Savak shrugged confidently.

“And do you have something that they want?” Keishara fished for an answer.

Savak nodded sagely.

“Yes I do.”

“And what exactly do you have that would be so tantalizing, that it would be so effective as to stop the Obsidian Order vaporizing you as soon as you drop out of warp?” Jensen challenged.

Savak considered her fingernails momentarily and then replied casually.

“In return for access to the facility, I will divulge to them the true identity of a Double Agent amongst the Order’s ranks.”

Dolan started at that.

“You cannot be serious!” Keishara fumed with indignation. “You can’t just betray an asset like that! It’s unethical! It’s unconscionable!”

The languid Hybrid – Officer regarded Dolan coolly and after Keishara’s ire had abated somewhat she shrugged and replied.

“Well, I can when that asset is, in reality, a ‘Triple – Agent’.”

“Wait! A what?!” The Security Officer gawped.

“The Obsidian Order already know the identity of the asset in question. By my divulging their identity to them in an apparent attempt to win their trust, this will only serve to reassure the Order of thier belief that Starfleet remains ignorant to the asset’s true loyalties and they will seek to accommodate any reasonable request to maintain this deception.”

“Killing me will not be in their best interests.” Savak reasoned with a shrug and did not look overly concerned.

Keishara turned to the Captain and pleaded, half in shock.

“Please, tell me that she’s not serious?!”

Raveen felt some sympathy for Keishara, but she nodded stiffly and managed sarcastically.

“She hasn’t even got to the ‘good-part’ yet.”

“So, they let you in and then you somehow persuade them to join the fight against the Vaadwaur?” Keishara prompted with disbelief.

Again, Savak’s impassive features betrayed nothing.

“No, Lieutenant.”” The spy allowed. “That facility exists for one reason and one reason only – to house a single, particular prisoner.” Savak explained as if we was merely recounting an everyday item of information. “That prisoner has the requisite skills that Lieutenant Commander Sulan and I believe is necessary to mount a credible and effective response to the Vaadwaur, when they return to this volume of space.”

It was just too much for Keishara to absorb in such a short time, effective HAZARD operator as she was, the Machiavellian workings of Savak’s brain were just too convoluted to follow coherently in one sitting.

“An entire facility of that size, just to house a single prisoner?” The Assistant Security Chief wondered aloud. “Exactly who are we talking about here?”

Savak said nothing, but handed over to Keishara a Datapad, which held the answer to this riddle.

Keishara Dolan’s large brown eyes widened in shock and when she found the faculty to reply, it was in a disbelieving, even shocked whisper of awe.

“You cannot be serious.” She breathed.

“I told you so.” Captain Shavda rolled her eyes to the heavens.

“There’s just no way in the Galaxy that the Obsidian Order are going to let you waltz into their prison and give up custody of this person to you ! “ Keishara found her senses again and they were in considerable disarray.

Lieutenant Savak looked unperturbed by any of this, as she sat back on the couch and crossed her long legs with ease.

“Well obviously they are not, Lieutenant Dolan.” The Starfleet Intelligence Officer acknowledged with a poignant nod in her direction. “Which is why I requested your presence at this meeting, in your capacity as HAZARD Team – Leader.”

“Sorry, you’ve lost me again?” Dolan frowned.

“You’re going to accompany me and, once we have been permitted access to the facility by the Obsidian Order, we are going to kidnap and extract that prisoner!”

Location: Former DMZ / Obsidian Order Black facility / Cell 31

Stardate: 2402.4.11 / 13.24hrs

As the twin pinpricks of light writhed and coalesced into the figures stood before him, the man was mildly surprised to see one was Legate Shamel Nogat, his ostensible jailor. It was the person that accompanied the Obsidian Order officer that held considerably more pertinent interest to him.

“Well, this is certainly unexpected”. Said Gul Yomat Ghallir as he lounged on his back on the hard slab of cot, clad only in his thin, grey paper – prisoners’ garb.

Standing next to Nogat, stood a confident looking woman in a Gold – shouldered Starfleet Uniform, some sort of Vulcan (or Romulan maybe?) to his eye.

“I get so few visitors; I do apologize for the state of the place.” The True Way terrorist smirked sardonically as he swept his long, thin legs to the floor. “Certainly, visits from Starfleet rank amongst the most infrequent. Did Captain Hyland send you?”

Savak regarded Gul Yomat Ghallir levelly. She reminded herself that this was not the (mostly) benevolent version of the man that she had recently encountered in the Mirror Universe, but the unadulterated & ruthless ‘original’ that Captain Samantha Hyland had captured when she had been in command of the New Orleans – class frigate, USS Savannah.

Her own tenure aboard the USS Valley Forge under Captain Hyland’s command had been brief and had ended egregiously when the Captain had dismissed her (and a number of other non – human crew members) from her post. Since returning from their ordeal in the MU, Samantha Hyland sometimes appeared, for all intents and purposes, to be a completely different person.

Still, that was in the past and Yomat Ghallir was about to say something else as equally sardonic and pithy, when Savak’s left hand lashed out with lighting speed and deposited the full contents of a hypospray injector into the prisoner’s neck.

The Gul’s eyes widened in surprise and Legate Nogat was just beginning to register the action, when the Starfleet Officer pivoted on her hip and decisively grasped the Obsidian Order officer’s neck at the correct nerve ganglion in a Vulcan nerve – pinch and the grey Cardassian’s yellowing eyes rolled slowly up into his forehead and he slumped to the floor, unconscious.

Gul Ghallir frowned massively and reproachfully rubbed his neck at the site of the offending injection and the Starfleet Officer slid the injector back into her uniform and informed him dispassionately.

“Gul Yomat Ghallir. My name is Lieutenant Savak of Starfleet Intelligence. I am taking you from this place by force. I have just injected you with a novel, but entirely compelling self – replicating Synthetic Nano-virus. If you do not receive an antidote to this virus exactly every 12 hours from now and every 12 hours thereafter – this will result in your extremely messy and painful death. I have taken this measure to ensure your absolute cooperation. You will now follow me.”

For what seemed like the longest time, Gul Yomat Ghallir, former decorated member of the Cardassian High Command and Dominion War – veteran, leader of the True Way and one of the most dangerous terrorists ever to live, regarded the lithe Starfleet Officer with his shrewd and calculating hooded – eyes, that only barely hinted at the absolute danger the man represented.

Presently, he slapped his grey hands on the legs of his thin – paper uniform and rose to his bare feet, replying in an almost jovial tone of voice.

“Well! I don’t really get out as much as I would like and I don’t really have much planned for the foreseeable future, if I am being perfectly honest.” Ghallir smiled his feral alligator – smile and nodded.

“In which case, dear lady, it appears that I am entirely at your disposal, so it would seem?”

The Gul gestured to Savak.

“Pray – lead on!”