False Prophecy

The bodies strewn across the Prophecy bridge as evidence of Sorripto's success in extricating Sisko were what N'Eligahn first noticed as he rose from what seemed like a long, deep sleep. Through his blurred vision, the faces of the figures lying on the deck were familiar, but he was not sure why. His head pounded and he winced in pain with every heartbeat that sent blood rushing from the wound on the back of his head. Reaching back with trembling fingers he felt the blood trickling down the back of his neck and he panicked.

"Help!" he shouted to the void around him. What he thought was 'help' anyway. If anyone would have been there to actually hear him, it would've come out as gibberish. He had a concussion.

Suddenly a training which he was not sure where he received kicked in and he located the nearest medical kit, removing a dermal regenerator. He passed it over the back of his head a couple times and felt the stream of blood lessen and finally cease. He knew it wasn't a permanent fix, but that would require a laser suture and be performed by a real medical professional.

His sight was still blurry, but as best as he could, he stumbled toward the nearest entryway and down the corridor he found on the other side.

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At the same time, Res Jolan and his team had been making their way toward the bridge and came around the corner to see a Cardassian carrying an unconscious Bajoran. An older Bajoran in the MACO team who had been through the occupation as child but had lived most of his life on Earth still had to stop himself from instantly shooting Sorripto where he stood.

"Halt!" shouted Major Jolan. "Drop your weapon and release the prisoner! Sorripto, you are under arrest for treason, attempted murder, dereliction of duty, assault, destruction of Starfleet..."

Throwing the unconscious body of Sisko to the elderly MACO soldier, who stumbled backwards from the weight and the force, Sorripto fought back every urge he had to say the first things that had come to his mind. Sorripto knew the man's eyes, because they were eyes he had seen before, this soldier before him hated Cardassians, and Sorripto knew talking to him would go no where. Making sure to not lower his weapon Sorripto looked straight at Jolan.

"You have to get him out of here. Get him back to the McKenzie and save him. Think whatever you want about me, but you have to save this man."

In a gesture of faith Sorripto turned his phase pistol towards the ceiling and with a controlled carry holstered it. Before Jolan or the anyone from the team could respond Sorripto passionately pleaded for everyone's lives.

"This is the ship of their great prophet. They will want him back and the children will stop at nothing to get him back". They are already on their way here right now, their ships number close to thirty, and even without any damage the McKenzie would not stand a chance."

Pointing to Sisko Sorripto continued.

"You have to get him to the McKenzie and get out of here. They want us dead, their reinforcements are closer then ours, and the only way this situation ends well is for us to save Sisko."

Letting out a deep sigh Sorripto slouched slightly and rubbed his tired eyes.

"You can think whatever you want about me and my methods but I did what had to be done to rescue my friend and I am going to do what has to be done to save our ship and defend the Federation..."

"That's all well and good, Mister Sorripto, but I have my orders. There's no reason why we can't bring back Sisko and you and if I have to take you down, I will."

At that, the MACOs surrounding him save the older one carrying SIsko all raised their rifles, which were on stun and aimed down their sites at Sorripto. Even on stun, that many shots at such a close range from trained precision marksman would risk killing him if he tried anything.

They didn't get the chance to find out, however, as Ty'Reynyk had crawled out of the nearest access hatch behind Sorripto and, seeing the man holding her unconscious Prophet so unceremoniously, cried out in rage, "Return him!!" before firing a volley from her, very lethal, phase pistol toward Sorripto and Res Jolan. Jolan had a slightly sooner vantage of the woman and right as she shouted, he reached forward and pulled Sorripto back behind him. The first shot penetrated his side below his right shoulder and he dropped his gun and fell to his knees, eyes wide with shock.

Retaining his senses for enough time, he used his left arm to wave a signal at the MACO team who had begun firing back to take Sisko and leave.

With only a moment to react Sorripto drew his pistol and fired at Ty'Reynyk barely missing as she rolled out of the way aiming for a second shot Jolen reached up and grabbed Sorripto's arm looking up at him.

"Go..."

Looking back at the MACOs Sorripto smiled and then yelled.

"Time to go home boys... Computer now!"

As the command left the Cardassian's mouth the MACOs and Sisko disapeared in a hum and a feint blue glow as Sorripto raised his shot towards Ty'Reynyk she fired hitting him in the stomach as Sorripto fell against the bulkhead behind him and slumped over. Fighting the effects Sorripto did what he could to raise his blaster, hell even lift a hand, but could do nothing.

Sorripto looked up as his vision faded in and out and saw Ty'Reynyk walking and then standing over a fallen Jolan.

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As N'Eligahn stumbled around a corner, he saw the scene unfold before him. The woman who he recognized as his race shooting the man who fell to his knees. He watched as many men just disappeared and then in front of the glow of the transporters, the view of the reptilian figure in the familiar gold uniform was the sensory information his brain needed to bring back all the memories that the injury had been buried.

He knew everything he did over the past several months, but he didn't know why. The pain he caused came rushing back as if to fill the void left by the disease that was miraculously knocked out of his head. He grasped his head with both hands and fell to his knees, silently screaming out in agony.

But grief and despair turned to anger and purpose as Sorripto, the man he knew as a fellow officer and comrade, was shot by Ty'Reynyk. He slowly reached down and extracted a knife from a holster within his boot. The MACO was on his knees grasping his side and N'Eligahn followed Ty'Reynyk as she moved toward him.

"The Prophets find you unworthy," she sneered as she raised her phaser to point at Major Jolan's head.

Jolan smiled. "Yet somehow they see fit to send me a redeemer," he shot back. He watched her confused look quickly turn into shock as N'Eligahn buried his knife deep between her shoulder blades, and she dropped her weapon, falling dead beside Jolan.

"Thank you," he choked.

"Don't... mention it," struggled N'Eligahn, who fell unconscious again and collapsed beside the two other figures.

Shaking the cobwebs loose Sorripto slowly forced himself back to his feet and with a slow wobble walked towards the injured Jolan and the now unconscious N'Eligahn. Clutching his stomach Sorripto saw the blood, he may have had a worse injury in the past but he did not remember when. Reaching into his pocket Sorripto withdrew the only two sight to sight transporters he brought. Leaning in he smiled.

"The children ships should be here in a few moments."

Letting out a deep sight Sorripto's smile faded as he continued.

"Time to go home boys. I will see what I can do to buy you as much time as I can, but you have to get back and get the McKenzie out of here."

Before Jolan could say a word Sorripto cut him off by slapping the sight to sight transporters on Jolan and N'Eligahn. As they both disappeared in a blue hue of light Sorripto stood back to his feet. And with a new composure he walked slowly towards the turbolift. As to doors closed behind him Sorripto pressed the controls for the bridge the finite conclusions of his actions truly took hold and Sorripto looked up and smiled.

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On the McKenzie, the MACOs beamed in with Sisko in tow, and the transporter officer immediately called for medical and security personnel to come clear the room. They took Sisko and put him in medical stasis in the ship's sickbay.

Moments later the unconscious N'Eligahn and the barely aware Jolan beamed in too. The remaining officers took N'Eligahn to put him in the same medical stasis, but before Jolan would let them take him to treat his wound, he waved over a MACO Lieutenant who was his second-in-command. Breathing heavily, he grunted, "I need to talk... to the Captain... now."

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As the doors to the bridge whooshed open Sorripto stepped onto the bridge and walked over to the central engineering console. Reworking power and controls Sorripto transferred all ship controls to the tactical console. Stepping over to the tactical console Sorripto spoke.

"Computer how long until the tracked warp signatures arrive?"

"Target arrival is estimated in two minutes."

Working at the console Sorripto rerouted all the ships power to the core and necell network overloading it. The alarms from the computer buzzed around him.

"Rerouting life support is inadvisable."

Laughing slightly Sorripto continued.

"Well I do not plan on living for more then a few more minutes anyway. Computer override all internal safety protocols and reroute all power including life support to the core and necells."

"I only have one ship here I better make it count."

As Sorripto continued he watched on the view screen as ships began to warp in. First one, then three, ten, then thirty. Sorripto watched as the ships surrounded the prophecy all getting very close. The sounds of hails could be heard through the communications as the ships began to lower their shields to beam crew over. Sorripto knew it would only take the ships a few seconds to realize that most of the life on the Prophecy was dead, but those few seconds were his only chance. As the first teams began to beam onto the bridge Sorripto looked at the men as they stared at the disheveled Cardassian standing in front of them.

"We have you now you are all alone."

As his disheveled worn face gave way to a final smile Sorripto spoke slowly.

"A wise man once said every man must do two things alone; he must do his own believing and his own dying... well today gentleman I do both. You lose your prized ship, your fleet, and I get my friend back. I would say that is a cause worth dying for alone."

With a salute Sorripto pressed the final button in his sequence as the flash engulfed the bridge.

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On the viewscreen of the McKenzie the bridge crew watched as the ships warped in and surrounded the Prophecy. As the ships got closer the Prophecy turned to meet them and slowly worked its way into the center of the small fleet. With an awesome flash a massive explosive engulfed the Prophecy and spread outward as it expanded engulfing the Children ships which each burned for a fraction of a second before exploding themselves. The powerful circle of explosion followed by smaller explosions was as fantastic a blast as many had ever seen. Within a few seconds the vacuum of space sucked the life out of the fire and before anyone on the McKenzie could react before them sat a planetoid sized debris field of charred and smoldering remains of the Prophecy and the Children fleet.

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The MACO team leader refused treatment until his request was granted.

"Captain, I... need to speak to the Captain," he commanded, and the MACO Lieutenant nodded and helped him into a sitting position before tapping his combadge with the hand not supporting the Major.

"Captain Crist, I have Major Res Jolan here, he has something urgent to report."

"Captain, you have to send my team back for him... Sorripto... is not a traitor... he saved... Sisko. He saved... all of us." With the last words, his voice gave out and his eyes closed. The medical team wouldn't wait any longer and beamed him into a sickbay stasis chamber. The McKenzie's sick bay was not sufficient for treating phaser blasts of that magnitude, but he'd be treated when he was returned to Starbase 10.

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Crist received Jolan's message, he quickly tapped his side panel to respond. "WHAT, Major what are you taking about?"

Suddenly Hughes spoke, "Captain, look!"

As Crist looked at the viewscreen, the view of the Galor, Prophecy, appeared to burst into flames. After a moment the flames disappeared, and the view of a massive debris field, was present. Crist went back to the side panel, "Major, what are you talking about? Major?"

The voice of the current Medical Officer came over the comm, it was Doctor Kinstar, "Sir, the major is unconscious, we have to get him to a stasis chamber. Kinstar out."

Crist needed answers, "Fine, get MACO second in command up here, Durat'Eklat, NOW."

Durat'Eklat, "One my way."

Crist began to think, 'Sorripto, isn't he here on board? What the hell is going on?'

Crist tapped his side panel, "Engineering, where is Cmdr. Sorripto."

The voice of an engineer came through, "He's not here sir."

Crist, "Find him." Crist closed the channel, "Shran, see if your security teams can locate him."

Several minutes passed, when the Jem'Hadar officer entered the bridge. It was a site, it was extremely rare for a Jem'Hadar to server on a Starfleet vessel. He walked up to Crist and stood at attention.

"At ease," Crist spoke, "Now what the hell is going on. What's this about Sorripto."

Durat'Eklat spoke, "Sir, while on the enemy ship, we ran into Sorripto, who had our target, Sisko with him. We were ordered to take Sisko and return to the ship. Moments later Jolan and an unknown man beamed aboard, with no Sorripto."

Crist, "Are you SURE he Sorripto."

Durat'Eklat didn't skip a beat, "Positive, the Major was also positive."

Shran then turned from his station and spoke, "Sir, the search has end up with no sign of Cmdr Sorripto."

Crist said under his breath, "What in the world is going on." He then spoke up, "Scan the debris, for life signs."

The Ensign manning the Science station turned around with a grim face. "There is no life signs, anywhere within the debris field, sir."

Crist turned to face the ensign, "Scan again, intensify the scan resolution."

The ensign was a little startled, "Sir, the scan was highest sensitivity. There are no life signs there."

"What," Crist barked out. He stopped speaking, as he realized they way he was acting. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. Then he exhaled, and opened his eyes, to regain his composure. "Thank you ensign. Please scan the area, for signs of the Republic. I believe Lt. Snowfire detected an impulse trail."

Crist began to think, 'How can Sorripto be gone?'

Moments later, the Science officers spoke, "Sir, there is no longer any sign of the impulse trial. I believe the recent battle and final explosion removed any trace of the trial in the area. However, computer logs have recorded the initial detection of the impulse trial. We can set a course in the direction that we detected it leading to, and hope to pick up on the trail."

"Very well, send the coordinates to the helm. Helm set and engage course when ready." Crist said, motioning an engage signal with his right hand.

Hughes, "Course set and engaging, sir."

The McKenzie moved away from the large debris field. Crist watched as the debris field became smaller and smaller. There probably was no bodies to recover, as they were most likely vaporized by the explosion. But still, leaving a officer, or a friend behind, was unsettling.

Several minutes passed, when the science officer spoke agian, "Sir, I've picked up the impulse trail, again. Its heading is 15 degrees port, mark 5."

"Hughes" Crist simple said, as the helm officer changed course to follow the impulse trail.

10 minutes later, the McKenzie came to a stop, at the edge the Horizon anomaly. "Are you sure this is the end of the trail? Did the Republic enter the anomaly?"

The science officer quickly worked away at his station, "One moment sir, scanning. The end of the impulse trail seems to have turned radically, an automotive terminology to describe this is called fishtailing. I'm also detecting warp particles. Which could indicate they jumped to warp or there warp core exploded. I've also scanned to area, there is some debris out there, from a Federation ship, but there's not enough to make up an entire ship. So, I believe they escaped by jumping to warp sir."

His console started beeping. "One moment sir. Sir, I've found something."

The Science officer took a moment to work at his console, while Crist stared at him, hoping for good news.

"Sir, it's a log buoy. It from the Republic."

"Lets hear it." Crist said while turning his gaze forward."

"It's encrypted, decrypting now. Here you are sir."

Over the comms, a voice could be heard, "This is Captain Wyatt, McKenzie, if you find this buoy, we have retreated from the area. We have set a course back to Starbase 10, at warp 3. We are unable to help you with the Children, or the anomaly. God speed. ... This is Captain Wyatt, ......."

"It's on a loop sir." Said the science officer.

"Well, at least they will be ok." Crist spoke then exhaled. "Hughes, since the Children are no longer a threat and we have completed our mission involving them, set a course for our starting point. So we can start containing the Anomaly."

Hughes, "Aye sir."

The McKenzie moved away from the Republic's buoy and the edges of the anomaly.

The McKenzie traveled for 14 minutes when it finally reached its starting location for the containment mission. The crew began to make the final preparations for the containment run of the anomaly.

Shran, "Sir, I'm now picking up two distress calls, one from the USS Alsea, and the other is from the USS Artemis. Orders sir?"

Crist took a moment to think, and spoke, "Anything from the Lotus and Spectre?"

Shran, "Negative sir."

Crist deliberated whether or not to go and assist. "We'll keep on our mission. With any luck the Lotus and Spectre are assisting them. We will stick to our mission and once we round the anomaly, to the point were we are close to one of the fleets, we will open up contact to see if they need help. Might as well do part of the mission if we have to travel to assist."

Shran, "Aye sir."

Just then Doctor Kinstar walked onto the bridge.

"Ah, Doctor, report."

Kinstar, "We have some injuries, all of which are being treated. We do have a 3 deaths due do our saboteur. We have place our two guests into stasis pods. I felt that was the best option, considering there mental condition."

"Thank you Doctor, good work."

Hughes, "Sir we're ready here, and i have go's from all stations."

"Good, engage Mr. Hughes." Crist said with a motion of his hand.