They're Here

Posted on Fri Oct 27th, 2023 @ 5:34pm by Fleet Admiral Mike K`Wor Bremer & Commander Jonathan Roebuck IV & Lieutenant K`Wor & Lieutenant Karl Ballard & Ensign Robert Harper & First Ramata`tar
Edited on on Fri Oct 27th, 2023 @ 5:35pm

1,252 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 118 - "It's About Family"
Location: Starbase 400
Timeline: Timeline: MD1, 1215hrs

ON:

Level 31, Meeting Room 3

"We should start, now." A voice said.

"No, we need to fall back and find out how many of us are left." Another replied.

"Starfleet already destroyed the Borg. Vadic and her crew are dead. And Starfleet has already found where many of their officers were being kept. It's only a matter of time before they find us and the ones we replaced. Our time to strike is now."

"With what?"

"There are seven of us here, we can destroy this station, its ships, and personnel. If they knew who we were they would already be hunting us."

"Alright. What about the Jem'Hadar that's here? Ramata'tar. He'll obey us."

"Order him to kill the Bremer and everyone in Ops once we're ready to detonate the station's core. I want him to know the Founders took his life."

Both Changelings nodded, then returned to the forms they were using just before leaving the meeting room.


Ten Minutes Later, Level 60-Ops


Mike had returned to Ops after a brief meeting visit to the Pegasus to look over her repairs. He hadn't been in Ops but a moment when Tactical One and Two beeped.

"Report." Mike called.

"Internal sensors show that a possible Changeling just used a site to site transport from Level 1902 to Level 1172." K'Wor reported from Tactical One.

"Send word to the closest Security Team and try to find out who it was...or who the Changeling is impersonating." Mike replied.

"I've got another." Ballard reported from Tactical Two. "Level 105 to Level 410."

"What the hell is going on?" K'Temoc asked as he walked away from the holo-display in the middle of Ops.

"A Tact Team was on site when he beamed in on Level 410 and they took him into custody." Ballard added.

"Who?" K'Temoc asked.

"Ensign Harper sir." Ballard replied.

K'Temoc looked at Bremer.

"I'm on my way. You have Ops until T'Lar arrives." Mike replied.


Level 100

A few minutes later Mike was on Level 100 and walked into Interrogation Room Two. There sat Commander Roebuck, being debriefed by Starfleet's Internal Affairs.

"This is a closed session!" The Captain barked as Mike walked in.

"Right now, I don't give a damn. I need Commander Roebuck." Bremer replied as Ramata'tar stepped into the room behind him.

"Starfleet Command..."

"Isn't here." Mike said as he cut the IA Captain off. "Jon, there's someone in Interrogation Four, I need you to 'talk' with him." Mike handed Roebuck a PADD as he stood. "Do what you have to."

Roebuck looked over the PADD, nodded, then left the room.

Mike looked back at the IA Captain, "When this threat is over, you can finish debriefing the Commander, but you should know, President Chekov already grated him a full pardon for what happened on New Axton while he was recovering the antidote for former President Donavon...so don't push too hard."

"Starfleet still wants answers." The Internal Affairs Captain replied.

"They'll get them." Mike replied.

Ramata'tar's commbadge beeped. "First Ramata'tar, please report to Level 59, Security Office." The Computer's voice said. Bremer nodded to the Jem'Hadar First as he departed.


In Interrogation Four, Roebuck walked in to see Ensign Harper being held inside a forcefield.

"Commander, thank goodness." Harper said. "I already told them they're mistaken. Wait, I thought you were still being debriefed?"

Roebuck narrowed his eyes. "Sensors clearly reported your bio-signature as that of a Changeling. A Marine squad also found Changeling residue on Level 105, inside the Security Office that monitors the Promenade, and they deactivated the explosive device you planted there and the others on the Promenade levels as well."

"I..I don't know what you're talking about Commander." Harper replied.

"Don't bullshit me, this really isn't the day for that." Roebuck snapped back.

Harper didn't flinch, however what looked like a bead of sweat rolled down his cheek.

Roebuck watched as 'Harper'. " Let me tell you how this is going to go. I'm going to ask again who you really are. Now, if you're smart you'll tell me, but if not..." Roebuck tapped a button on the desk and an electric shock zapped 'Harper'.

"Ah, what the hell! Since when does Starfleet tor..." 'Harper' started before Roebuck cut him off.

"When I am activated and brought into a situation, there is a reason, and that reason is to complete the objectives of that mission, whatever the cost. Whatever it takes.” Roebuck replied as he tapped the button again. This time, 'Harper's' face changed for an instant.

"How many Changelings are aboard the Station?!" Roebuck yelled as he pressed the button again, this time for a longer duration. As the electric volts shocked the Changeling impersonating Harper he tried to revert to his liquid state but couldn't and his shape changed in quick session from a typical Changeling to that of Harper, another Starfleet Officer, a Civilian, then back to Harper.

"It's too late, the plan is already in motion...you've lost." The Changeling said with a smirk before Roebuck hit the button again and held it down.

"Who else has been replaced?!" Roebuck yelled. "Where is Ensign Harper?!"

As Roebuck pressed the button again, the Captain from Internal Affairs walked into Interrogation Four's observation room and stood beside Bremer. "This is outrageous Admiral, you're just standing by while Roebuck torchers that man!?"

"That's no man." Mike replied, coldly.

"Okay, okay!" The Changeling said. "Enough...there...there's seven of us."

"Who else was replaced?" Roebuck asked.

"We're in place at all levels of Starbase 400's command. Captain..."

Before the Changeling could finish the lighting within Interrogation Four went out. Roebuck was slammed again the wall and the electrical charge was ignited again, at full power. The Changeling screamed as it disintegrated into ash. Bremer rushed from the observation room to Interrogation Four's door. It was locked, but he was able to override the lockout code and get inside. As he did another Changeling escaped through the air vents it had used to access the room.

"Are you okay?" Bremer asked Roebuck as he helped him to his feet.

Roebuck rubbed the back of his head, "Yeah. Damnit...he was talking."

"He said there're seven of them, six now." Mike replied as he tapped his commbadge, "Red Alert. Lock the station down. Changlings are confirmed to be aboard, Level One Security Alert protocols are in affect. Marines and Security Teams to your assigned areas, start sweeps at once."

Mike closed the comm as he and Roebuck walked into the corridor. After a few steps Ramata'tar stepped out of the turbolift.

"Ad...Admiral." The big Jem'Hadar collapsed to the deck. He was bleeding and his White tube had been ripped out.

Roebuck tapped his commbadge, "Medical Team to Level 100."

"It was Commander MacLeod...he, he's a Founder." Ramata'tar struggled to speak. "He ordered me to kill you...I..I knew he must be with...with Vadic's rogues. We fought, he's hurt..."

"Don't speak, medical will be here in a moment." Mike replied to the loyal Jem'Hadar.

"The Changeling impersonating Mac is sure to change forms now." Mike said.

Roebuck nodded, "And the one impersonating Harper said 'Captain' before he died."

Mike moved as two medical officers arrived. "Right, and that they had Changelings in all levels of Starbase 400's Command." Mike watched the medics stabilize Ramata'tar, then beam to Sickbay with him. "Make sure the turbolifts are shut down and site to site transporters are the only way to move between levels. We need to find these Changelings, now!"


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