Maruu looked at Jorail with disgust. "You traitor."
"Ha!" Jorail mocked. "You really are naive, Captain. Now, goodbye."
Maruu put up his hands. "Wait! Before you kill us all, I would like to address my crew one last time."
Jorail sighed. "It is only proper. Go ahead."
Maruu tapped his com badge. "Crew of the USS Virgo. The cat is bad and bigly. He eats the small and scrawny mouse. Mice are cute unless they're black. Then they're fat and ugly."
The incoherent message made the Jem'Hadar and Jorail giggle.
But not the Chief Engineer. "All right, men, that's our cue. Computer, initiate program Loran Zeta Two." He looked at Ensign Galen. "I hope it works like it did six months ago."
Galen smiled at him. "Hey, if it worked once, why waste a good thing."
The bridge was suddenly free of Jem'Hadar. They had been transported into the vacuum of space and all died from depressurization. Jorail was surprised. "What happened?!"
Maruu smiled. "Looks like you underestimated my cynicism. Benton, take Jorail to the brig."
Benton grabbed Jorail by the arms and placed cuffs on his wrists. "With pleasure, Captain."
The Dominion vessels immediately turned against the Virgo.
As soon as that occurred, the Kirusan ships powered up and engaged the Dominion. This time, the Resistance was flying.
"Jeorri Armada this is Commander Lataro. Prepare to enter the Kirus system. Arm all weapons and be prepared to go in fighting!" Lataro said.
The decision of the Council of Elders was a unanimous yes. The threat of the Dominion and the existing oppression of the Kirusan Breadth was enough for the Council of Elders to vote in favor of the alliance. In the closing remarks of the Madam Arbitrator, Commander Lataro need not have presented the request for the alliance, since it had been formed the day that Lt. Roen agreed to explore with the Virgo, however the thoughtfulness involved for Captain Maruu to request their assistance showed a great amount of trust and understanding, resulting in the council's impression and appreciation of the consideration. To show their approval, they presented the task force with three of the four battle cruisers and all 12 attack ships.
Unbeknownst to the Lataro or Valdago, the Jeorri ships were also equipped enough fire power to hold their own if they need to jump into the fight with the Kirusans, but timing was paramount. Captain Maruu had given strict instructions to be at a certain point at a certain time, and Lataro was pleased to find out that they were there and ready.
It was T-minus 10 minutes, and the entire Jeorri Task Force reported ready. Now it was just waiting. "John. You ready for this?" Lataro asked Valdago who sat next to him. Valdago's leg was thumping the floor nervously as the time approached slowly.
"Yes, Commander! I am ready!" Valdago said. He pushed a few buttons. "All weapons are online and cloaking device is ready on your mark. Shields are at full power and ready to be engaged, but remember, Sir, the shields and the cloak can't be working at the same time."
"Fine. I don't think that I want to be hiding from the Dominion. Be ready to raise shields."
"Yes, Sir."
T-minus five minutes.
"Major Ceteri," Lataro called out.
[Yes, Commander?]
"You ready?"
[All ships report ready, willing and able.]
"Good. We will go in first, then you."
[No problem. By the way, in case I don't have a chance to do this again, thank you. Thank you for giving us a chance.]
"There is no reason to thank me. You just remember, whether or not we survive this battle, you all will live or die as a free people!"
"Commander!" Valdago interrupted. "It's time."
"Okay, task force, enter the battle at full impulse," Lataro ordered. In secession the entire fleet began to sound off.
In a matter of minutes the entire fleet were close enough to the Kirus solar system to see what was going on. Lataro saw the battle and was amazed at the amount of debris. Both he and Valdago looked out of the view port.
"Oh, my God!" Valdago said in amazement.
Four Kirusan warships, 21 battle cruisers, and the Virgo were now battling against the remaining 58 Dominion ships. The battle was going badly for the good guys: the Virgo was battle weary and the Kirusan Resistance Forces were working with jerry-rigged ships. The vacuum of space was littered with the bodies of dead Jem'Hadar.
Lataro contacted the Jeorri. "Attack! Attack!"
The Jeorri ships and the Flier began firing rapidly on the Dominion ships. That initial attack took out 15 ships. Then, they turned around for another pass. The tables were being turned.
Maruu smiled as he saw the Flier and the Jeorri flying overhead. "Here comes the cavalry."
The helm officer shouted, "Captain, we're still been getting hit hard! We're losing shields."
Maruu began to worry. "Loran, increase power to shields."
[Aye, Sir.]
Loran looked at Galen and Ek'Ra. "We need shields now!"
They nodded.
As they began to route power from unnecessary systems, a Jem'Hadar who had been left behind by Loran's program approached weapons armed. He fired at Ek'Ra, vaporizing him. "Obedience brings victory." He shot another engineer. "Victory is life!" He fired at Loran, but Galen stepped in. He gave his life for his Chief.
Loran yelled, "You asshole!"
The Jem'Hadar was going to take another shot at Loran. Suddenly, another engineer jumped down on the Jem'Hadar from the deck overhead. The Jem'Hadar simply threw him against a console.
While the Jem'Hadar was busy, Loran tore open a console and pulled an electricity carrying tubule out of the console. He increased power to maximum and pressed the tubule hard on the Jem'Hadar's chest. Loran jumped back before the Jem'Hadar began to have convulsions and explode in a flash of light. Then, Loran proceeded to increase power to the shields.
The Jeorri, Resistance, and Federation forces seemed to overwhelm the Dominion. After destroying more than 75% of their ships, they began to retreat. The remaining fleet left in the direction of the wormhole. The war had been won. There were still things to do, though.
The Lambda Flier docked in one of the Virgo's shuttle bays. The Virgo , plus the remaining Kirusans ships and the Jeorri ships (which sustained only minor damages and no casualties), positioned themselves orbiting Kirus. Immediately, Lataro and Valdago joined Maruu on the bridge.
Maruu smiled as Lataro and Valdago walked in. "Great to have you two back."
Lataro smiled. "Glad to be back."
Valdago nodded. "We missed you so much!"
Maruu nodded at Benton who then ordered that the incarcerated crewmembers be brought to the bridge.
After a while, K'Lara, Dana Nori, and Javier Tara came on the bridge. The three looked at Maruu and immediately caught sight of Lataro and Valdago dressed in uniform.
K'Lara practically ran and jumped on him. "Jon, you're alive!" She stepped back and smacked him hard. "You idiot! How could you do this to me?!"
Lataro only smiled and kissed her on the lips. She kissed back, euphoric to have Lataro back in her arms.
Nori, by now extremely surprised, walked over and hugged her own boyfriend. "So this was all a ruse to get the Dominion off guard and ensure victory?"
Maruu smiled. "Yeah."
"Can I have my pips back in that case?"
Maruu took them out of his pocket. "I was waiting to hear you say that." After attaching the pips to her neck, Maruu kissed Nori on the lips.
She kissed back. When they stopped kissing, Nori said, "I'm sorry by the way."
"For what?"
"For kicking your ass." They laughed.
A content Lt. Tara saw a light flash at his console. "Hey, we're being hailed! Stop acting like teenagers and start commanding this ship like the Starfleet officers you are!" he yelled jokingly.
Kelidat Leinor appeared on screen with Major Cleteri. Leinor said, [Please come down to the planet. Remember the last time you were here, Captain? Well, we have a surprise for you.]
Maruu smiled. "All right." He cut off the communication. "Dana, Jon, K'Lara, Javier, John, and Benton, let's get to the transporter room.
Loran was working quickly. They were going to need the transwarp drive soon. The captain had told him that. But, how were they supposed to activate a device without the much needed tridanium? He had to do something, and he had to do it now.
The group of seven materialized on the planet's surface. Leinor and Cleteri quickly went to greet the group. Ourha stood only a few feet away.
Major Cleteri thanked the group for their help in defeating the Kirusans.
Leinor then spoke to the captain. "Captain! We have Surok. On your command, we will bring him back."
"What?!" Maruu demanded.
"Come," the kelidat led the group into a large room with an immense contraption in the center. "It utilizes large amounts of pre-synthesized adenosine triphosphate and specialized enzymes to rebuild the damaged body parts as the DNA scans show. Surok's body has been kept in storage. However, since we didn't know if you would come back, we didn't bring him back because the process drains power to a very large extent. So large an extent that we haven't performed the procedure in over a century."
Ourha stepped forward. "The technology was made possible by a combination of Changeling and Kirusan technology, plus a bit of Kirusan anatomy. Their bodies are very special you know. That's how they survive. That's how you," Ourha pointed at Valdago, "were transformed."
Valdago stepped back. "How did you know I had been transformed?"
Ourha smiled. "The one called Solacetta told us. She has been on Kirus for a while. But the Resistance is currently tracking her down now that we have taken the planet by force. She will be dismantled."
Two Kirusans brought out a gold coffin with a glass top. A deceased and cryogenically frozen Surok was inside.
Maruu sighed. "Well, let's put him in and start the machine."
Cleteri was fascinated by the whole thing. "This is going to be a great thing. I am honored to be hear amongst you today."
"So am I!" a familiar voice said. Suddenly, a Kirusan jerked his head to the side hard and fell to the floor, dead. Solacetta decloacked over the Kirusan she had just murdered. "You are all so predictable. I may not come out of this alive, but neither will any of you." She showed a nuclear bomb similar to a hydrogen bomb attached to her torso.
Cleteri yelled, "Who the hell are you?!"
Lataro clenched his teeth. "She is Solacetta. A half-Kirusan half-Android who marches to the beat of her own drummer."
Valdago smiled. "Actually, she makes her own drums." He punched Lataro, who fell on the floor. "Sorry, but Solacetta and I must be together, now more than ever." He stepped forward.
Solacetta smiled. "'We will always be family.' You meant it, didn't you?"
"Of course I did. I love you. We are one." He approached her.
Suddenly, she pulled out a knife and plunged it into Valdago's chest. "Sorry, John, but I can't trust you again." She pulled it out and noticed no blood. "What?!"
Valdago just laughed and stepped back.
"You're not, John."
"You've got me." The pseudo-Valdago transformed into Ourha.
"Dammit!" She looked around and saw Valdago at a transporter station. "No! You won't win this time!" She threw the knife at the real Valdago.
Maruu jumped in the way. The knife caught him in the chest. He fell to the floor in agony.
Valdago stopped to tend to Maruu.
"No, finish what you started! I'm not dying in vain!"
Solacetta began to approach Valdago. Lataro attacked her, but she just threw him against a wall. Tara tried to stop her, but she grabbed his head and twisted it hard. His neck snapped, and he fell to the floor, never to wake up. Benton approached her to try to reason with her, but he was just backhanded and thrown back against Leinor and Cleteri. Finally, Solacetta reached Valdago when she started to dematerialize. "NO! DAMN IT!!! NO!!!" She disappeared.
Ourha was terrified. "Where did you send her?"
"A place where she'll never come back."
Maruu laid sprawled on the floor with a knife in his chest. He was dying quickly. The group came up to him.
Valdago was stammering. "Captain, you...you saved my life."
"I give my life for my crew. I made that oath when I chose to become captain of the Virgo, a position you must now fill, Jon."
Lataro saddened. "You can keep it. You're going to survive this."
"Nope, not this time." Maruu coughed.
Nori hugged him. "You can't die, Stephen!"
K'Lara smiled nervously. "Come back to us, p'taQ."
Maruu laughed, then coughed. "I love you all. You've been great. Jon, get the crew home." Maruu relaxed and let himself go. He died.
Dana began to weep terribly. "Damn it, Stephen! Don't leave me!" She pounded Maruu's chest. "Don't leave me!"
Valdago and Benton held Nori back. "He's gone. Let him go."
K'Lara and Jon comforted each other.
The Kirusan yellow sun was blazing. In its atmosphere, with solar winds reaching up to 5,000 Kelvins, a form began to materialize. Solacetta.
Soon, she saw her predicament. "AAAAAAH!!! NO!!! DAMMIT NO!!!" She shrieked as the heat melted her outer coverings and exposed the titanium alloy beneath.
The gravity pulled her closer and closer to the surface of the sun.
Then, the hydrogen bomb exploded.