Heading Home

Two hours later, the USS Taurus, escorted by the USS Hellcat headed back to the Bajorian Wormhole and the relative safety of Deep Space nine. The USS Leviathan-B, along with the majority of the Taurus crew, including the Marines that had come onboard. The Jem'Hadar soldiers captured by the Marines were safely locked up in the Brig and the two Federation scientists were 'secured' in their quarters. Even so, the Leviathan still felt empty. A ship designed to carry over three hundred people was currently only carrying around a hundred.

"Helm set a course for Mirisam V." Commander Rashad ordered.

"Yes Ma'am." The helm officer announced. "We'll be at Mirisam V in two and half days, entering the slipstream in five, four, three, two, one…."

USS Taurus : Bridge

On the Bridge of the USS Taurus, Captain Taybar watched the larger ship zoom away into the quantum slipstream. She hoped the Leviathan would get to the away team and safely evacuate them and the colonists before they could come to any harm.

"Helm, set a course back to DS9." She ordered.

"Course laid in." Lieutenant Dare replied. "Engaging warp eight."

"What's our ETA ?" Aki enquired.

"At warp eight, we'll reach the wormhole in just over forty six hours." Zack replied. "So long as the engines hold out."

"Let's hope they do." Aki said under her breath.

Forty six hours later……

"Captain, we're approaching the Bajorian wormhole." Zack reported. "Dropping out of warp."

Suddenly the Taurus was rocked by fire.

"Shields up. Red Alert." Aki instinctively ordered. "What's going on ?"

"Picking up one Dominion vessel." Lieutenant Cutal announced from the reconfigured security station. "It matched the profile of the second Jem'Hadar cruiser we encountered. Looks like they anticipated our destination."

"How far are we from the wormhole ?" Aki asked.

"About five minutes at full impulse." Zack reported.

"Ready all weapons and prepare to return fire." Aki ordered.

"Looks like that won't be necessary." Cutal announced. "Klingon vessels decloaking ahead of us."

The two Klingon vessels started to attack the Jem'Hadar cruiser, which quickly turned way and jumped to warp. The tow Klingon vessel however didn't give pursuit, which was odd. Normally a Klingon Captain would not let its "prey" get away so easily.

"We're being hailed." Cutal announced.

"On screen."

[Taurus, welcome back.] The image of a Klingon in a Starfleet uniform announced. [We have been expecting your arrival.]

Aki recognised the Commander from the last time she had been on DS9.

"Thank you for your assistance Commander Worf." Aki said graciously. "But what are you doing here and why are you on a Klingon vessel ?"

[We've been looking into the sabotage of the sub-space relay.] Worf explained. [We've just returned from attacking the Dominion outpost, which was sending the jamming signals. Lieutenant Colonel Kira and the Defiant should be returning within the hour after their attack on the second outpost. Your way is clear to DS9 and I look forward to meeting your acquaintance again Captain Taybar.]

"As do I Commander Worf. I'll see you in Quarks for that drink I promised you when you get back." Aki said with a smile. "Taurus out."

Zack turned around in his seat and looked at the Captain oddly. He had just heard a puzzling conversion and was curious to know what was going on.

"Is there a problem ?" Aki asked, looking at Zack.

"No Ma'am." Zack replied. "Plotting a course for the wormhole."

An hour later, they emerged on the other side of the wormhole and back in the Alpha quadrant. As they approached the station, they all saw a large vessel docked at one of the pylons. It was a Dominion dreadnought and dwarfed the other vessels.

"The scans show that it conforms to the Dreadnought Jar'Binx." Cutal announced. "That's the same vessel we encountered at Juno III."

"So what are the Dominion doing here in the Alpha quadrant, docked at Deep Space Nine." Aki asked herself.

"We're receiving docking clearance." Zack announced.

"Proceed Lieutenant." Aki ordered. "Take us in and let's find out what's going on."