"I am dead." all of the Dominion shock troops began in a loud voice. "As of this moment we are all dead. We go into battle to reclaim our lives. This we do gladly because we are Jem'Hadar. Remember, victory is life."

With their proclamation complete, the Jem'Hadar soldiers quickly moved to their bridge stations alongside their Cardassian counterparts.

"Magnificent, are they not." observed Weyoun, who stood beside Damar.

Damar snorted.

"As always, the brainwashing techniques of your Founders are infallible." the Cardassian said in disgust.

"You are mistaken, Damar." the Vorta replied in shock. "The honor that the Jem'Hadar pay the Founders is genuine."

Damar shook his head.

"Only because it's bred into them." the Cardassian leader said, moving away from the Dominion lackey.

Damar was not happy with the union between the Cardassians and the Dominion, but realized it was a necessary evil if the Cardassian Empire was going to expand. He believed, like his predecessor Dukat, that the day would come when Cardassia no longer needed the Founders, their Vorta bootlickers or their Jem'Hadar hounds. 

Just a while longer, Damar mused, and he would have the distinct pleasure of choking the life out of the arrogant Vorta.

Weyoun, who obviously did not know the conversation had ended, followed Damar as he quietly inspected the bridge of the Dominion behemoth.

"Genetics does not necessarily breed loyalty." the Vorta said.

"Oh really." Damar replied offhandedly.

"The first Vorta were positively rebellious." Weyoun said, obviously trying to get on the Cardassians good side.

"They had to be put down, of course, but the next generation of are virtually the same as they are today." Weyoun concluded, his arms spread open in revelation.

"I am sure that the Founders were pleased with their handiwork." Damar replied.

"Yes, we were." a new voice said behind the Cardassian.

Damar spun around to see the Founder, who had accompanied them on the expedition into Bajoran space, had entered the bridge unannounced.

Or perhaps it had been here the entire time, Damar thought, watching the shapeshifter as it moved gracefully into the command chair, disguised as a deck plate or part of an unused instrument panel.

Damar studied the shapeshifter as it studied him, both trying to determine what the other was thinking.

"Founder, you grace us with your presence." Weyoun sang, bowing low.

The Founder, who appeared to have male facial and bodily characteristics, nodded slightly.

Damar did not bow.

"We are entering the Bajoran system." the Cardassian announced triumphantly.

The Founder regarded the Cardassian subordinate in silence.

Damar continued to return the Founder's glare in defiance until Weyoun gently, but firmly pulled his arm and averted his eyes.

"I am aware of our position." the shapeshifter replied simply.

"I am sure he meant no disrespect." Weyoun said, looking down at the deck.

"No," the Founder replied quickly, "I am sure he did not."

Damar, who was not impressed by either the groveling of Weyoun or the implied threat of the Founder, spoke up.

"Why did you come with us?" the Cardassian asked.

The Founder's facial expressions changed from mild annoyance to a look of anger. A wave of fear passed through Damar and he unconsciously took a step back.

"You question me." the Founder stated.

Weyoun stepped forward, never averting his eyes from the deck.

"Our Cardassian friend is merely concerned with your safety," Weyoun said soothingly. 

The Founder regarded the Vorta for several seconds. Then, slowly his facial expression changed and returned to the calm that all of the shapeshifters seemed to share.

"Very well." the Founder said.

Suddenly, a Cardassian at one of the Tactical stations spoke up.

"There is a ship approaching."

Damar, grateful for the distraction, moved quickly to join the other Cardassian.

"The Defiant?" the Cardassian leader asked.

The young Cardassian struggled to interpret the Dominion scripts that quickly shifted on the display in front of him.

"I do not think so."

"Is it in visual range?" Damar demanded.

"Yes." the younger Cardassian replied. "Entering visual range now."

"Let me see it." Damar said, adjusting the visor he wore.

An image appeared to the Cardassian leader of the approaching ship, which quickly filled his field of vision as it moved closer.

Damar snatched the visor from his head.

"Put it on the main screen." 

The view screen came to life, displaying the ship that Damar had seen seconds before.

"What is that?" Weyoun asked softly, moving to one of the consoles.

"We now know why none of the first task force returned." Damar said, looking at the Founder.
 
 
 

Alexander Pierce stood at the consoles reserved for him on the bridge of the Liberator, looking at the approaching Dominion battleship and its accompanying support ships. A full squadron of Dominion fighters swarmed around the command ship, obviously waiting for the order to attack. 

Directly in front of him, Captain Sa'lanna finished configuring her own displays.

Throughout the bridge of the Federation dreadnaught, crewmembers made final preparations for the coming battle.

This was it, Pierce thought as he activated the ship-wide communications channel.

"This is Admiral Pierce. The United Federation of Planets was founded two hundred thirteen years ago on the principle that peace and understanding were the cornerstones of our universal right to live in freedom.

"Today, that freedom is threatened by possibly the most ruthless and destructive force the Federation has ever faced.

"As our worlds continue to fall before the Dominion, the time has come to say no farther, no more! We will not stand idly by, while those who seek to subjugate us continue their path of conquest across our systems...our worlds...our homes. 

"The time to seek a diplomatic solution has passed with those who would deny us our basic rights that we have enjoyed for so long.

"The Federation stands at a crossroads to which its continued freedom, its very existence may be decided here today, by all of us!"

Pierce paused a moment, letting his words sink in.

"It is said that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few...or the one." the admiral said. "But if we do not remember our loved ones for whom we fight to preserve their freedom, and those who died before us to preserve ours, then why do we fight at all."

Slowly, Vice Admiral Pierce sat down, deactivating the communications link.

I should have said more, the admiral thought. There is always something more that can be said at times such as these.

"The enemy battleship will enter weapons range in three minutes, thirty seconds." Commander Randy Planty announced from the tactical console.

"Red Alert!" Sa'lanna ordered.

"All pulse cannon fire teams report ready, sir." Planty said. "Quantum torpedoes armed and ready."

Pierce leaned forward, about to speak.

"Bring all phaser arrays online as well." the captain of the Liberator ordered.

"Aye, sir" Planty replied quickly.

Admiral Pierce leaned back, satisfied.

Better to go in with guns blazing than holding back, Pierce thought.

The admiral took a quick look around the bridge of the ship he had spent so much time on during the past two years in amazement. Other starship classes took decades to develop and construct while the Liberator, and her sister ship the Andromeda, had been conceived and constructed in less than three years. 

Returning to reality, Pierce keyed the communications panel again.

"Pierce to Martok."

"Martok here, Admiral." the voice of the Klingon general rumbled.

"Begin your run on the fighters." Pierce ordered.

"Understood. They will not reach the station. Martok out."

Admiral Pierce deactivated the communicator and diverted his attention to the tactical displays showing the rapidly approaching Dominion battleship.

Over thirteen hundred meters long, the admiral thought, shaking his head.

Pierce tugged on his uniform and smiled.

Thirteen hundred meters of bulls-eye, he thought.

"Admiral, do you wish to offer the enemy a chance to surrender?" Sa'lanna asked suddenly.

"Might as well, you never know." Pierce replied, standing again and looked towards Commander Planty.

Planty nodded, keying the necessary controls and Pierce began to speak.
 
 
 

"This is Vice Admiral Alexander Pierce, commanding officer of the Seventh Federation Starfleet.

"You are entering a region of space under the direct control of the Federation. As you are no doubt aware, your government is currently at war with the Federation and your presence and intentions here can only be interpreted as hostile.

"You are hereby ordered to reverse your course and leave the Bajoran system immediately or be destroyed. There will be no second warning."

The main view screen on the Dominion battleship went dark.

"I have never known a Starfleet officer to be so arrogant." Weyoun observed quietly.

Damar shook his head.

"That's because you don't know Pierce."

"What do you know of this man?" the Founder asked.

Damar thought quickly of his youth.

"During our previous war with the Federation Pierce was a starship captain assigned to the front lines.

"His ship, along with four others, fought inside Cardassian space for nearly a year without contact or aid from Starfleet. Together, those five ships held an entire sector at bay and prevented the Third Order from launching a new offensive.

"I was aboard one of the ships ordered to find and destroy the invaders. We searched but could never locate them until it was too late and they had destroyed another outpost, listening station or supply convoy." Damar finished.

The Founder was silent.

"So you are saying that you Cardassians were incompetent." Weyoun stated.

"I'm saying that if Pierce is here now, in that ship, then I would advise you to be cautious." Damar replied, annoyed. "He does not make idle threats."

"Neither do we." the shapeshifter whispered.

Weyoun smiled and nodded in agreement.

"Remove this human and his ship from our space." the Founder ordered.
 
 
 
 
 

"The Dominion fighters are ignoring our other ships and targeting the Liberator." Planty announced.

"It appears that your invitation for them to withdraw was ignored." Captain Sa'lanna said, turning back to Pierce.

The Admiral shrugged.

"I tried."

As the Vulcan captain turned back to face the main view screen, Alexander Pierce swore he saw his daughter smile.

"All phaser arrays and pulse cannons fire on my mark!" Captain Sa'lanna announced.

Pierce tensed involuntarily in his seat.

"Fire!" Sa'lanna shouted.
 
 
 

The Dominion fighters ignored the attacking defiant class starships and plowed through them to continued towards the Liberator. As they passed, four of the Jem'Hadar attack ships were destroyed by the powerful weapons of the three Federation ships. The remaining fighters fired their deadly polaron beam weapons at the larger Federation ship, which were absorbed by the Liberator's shields.

The Liberator answered the attack by assaulting the enemy fighters with their own weapons. Powerful blasts from turret-mounted pulse cannons tracked the Jem'Hadar ships as they passed and fired, destroying another eight fighters before the small ships could evade and fly out of weapons range.

Instead of pursuing the fighters, the Liberator held its course and continued towards the Dominion battleship.

The Defiant, Justice and Freedom strafed the enemy warship with their pulse cannons as the three ships flew by, evading the larger ship's weapons and moving out of range.

As the Liberator came into proximity with its target, the weapons systems both gigantic ships fired almost simultaneously, spraying the space between them with deadly energy. The discharge from the powerful beam weapons was deflected by the shields of both great ships.

The two ships continued to fire at each other as they passed, like ancient galleons firing cannons before moving off in opposite directions.
 
 
 

"Report." Sa'lanna commanded.

"Shields at eighty-seven percent." Commander Planty replied quickly. "Minor fluxuations from the primary shield generators, probably feedback from their phased- polaron beams."

"Keep an eye on it, Commander." the captain of the Liberator ordered.

"Aye sir."

Admiral Pierce's own communication board suddenly flickered to life.

"Shetley to Admiral Pierce." 

Pierce stabbed the console.

"This is Pierce, go."

"Admiral, as we passed the Dominion battleship we had the opportunity to get a pretty good scan of it." Shetley reported. "I think you need to see these readings."

"Alight Dan, send your data."

Pierce quickly studied the telemetry from the Justice and frowned.

"Admiral, we are coming around for another pass." Captain Sa'lanna reported.

"Very well, continue firing phasers and begin launching torpedo spreads as well."

"You heard the Admiral." Sa'lanna replied, nodding to Planty.

"Computer...access all sensor readings from U.S.S. Valiant concerning Dominion battleship designation Alpha-One and display at this console." Pierce ordered.

Sa'lanna quickly spun her command chair around to face Pierce.

"With all due respect sir, we are in the middle of a battle." the Vulcan captain said quietly. "I believe your attention should be focused on the matter at hand." 

The computer display appeared with the requested data and Pierce's frown deepened.

"This is unexpected." the admiral said, deadpan.

"Is there a problem?" Sa'lanna asked, suddenly interested despite their situation.

"Computer: overlay sensor readings from the Valiant with those from the Justice." Pierce said, ignoring his daughter.

"Helm, maintain course." Sa'lanna shouted.

"Aye sir."

Admiral Pierce finally looked up from the computer displays.

"Yes, there is a problem." Pierce said, spinning the head of his console around so the captain could see.

Sa'lanna's eyes widened in surprise, despite her attempt to control her emotions.

"This isn't the same ship that destroyed the Valiant." Pierce said.
 
 
 

The Dominion fighters returned in force, firing their weapons. This time the small attack ships were more successful at evading the weapons of the Liberator. Only three Jem'Hadar ships were destroyed in their second pass at the Federation dreadnaught.

The enemy battleship attacked the Liberator again, firing its own polaron weapons. As the Dominion ship closed to within two-hundred kilometers from the Liberator, four plasma torpedoes were launched from the battleship, striking its target at point blank range as it passed.
 
 
 

"Their shields are down." Weyoun shouted, clapping his hands.

The Founder nodded his approval.

"Our own shields are only at fifty-one percent." Damar observed from the tactical console of the Dominion battleship.

"They do possess impressive weaponry for a Federation starship." Weyoun said.

"Impressive enough to destroy this ship if we do not begin to regard them more cautiously." Damar whispered, moving closer to the Vorta.

Weyoun waved off the Cardassian's comment.

"It does not matter." the Founder replied, soothingly. "Soon the Federation ship will be destroyed and the station will once again be in our hands."

Weyoun nodded and bowed towards the shapeshifter.

"Order the fighters to ram into the Federation ship until it is destroyed." the Founder ordered. "Concentrate on their bridge."

"By your command." Weyoun replied.

Damar shook his head, thinking that this day was not going to turn out as he had expected.

As Weyoun directed the fighters, the shapeshifter slowly smiled.

"Ignore the other ships and move us within transported range of the station."

The Jem'Hadar quickly moved to comply with the Founder's command.

"We have been separated from our brother Odo for far too long." 
 
 
 

Light.

Kira Nerys' eyes stung from the bright light over her head.

"Get that damned light out of my eyes." the Bajoran woman said, her voice a hoarse whisper in her ears.

A figure came between her and the light.

"It's all right, Nerys." a familiar voice said.

"Odo?" Kira whispered, raising her hand to block more of the light.

"I'm here." the shapeshifter replied, taking her hand.

The light suddenly dimmed and Kira found herself in the station's infirmary.

"How long have I been here?" Kira asked, hearing alarms.

"Around three days, give of take an hour or two." Doctor Bashir said, appearing at her right side.

The doctor quickly passed a medical tricorder over the Bajoran major.

"And healing quite well, I must say." Bashir added.

"Is that your professional opinion, doctor?" Kira asked dryly. "I have a ringing in my ears that sounds like we're being attacked."

Odo nodded.

"We are being attacked," the constable said, "but its nothing to worry about."

Without a word Bashir moved off, leaving Kira and Odo alone.

"Nothing to worry about." Kira said, attempting to raise into a sitting position. "Why is that?"

"Because I am here." Odo replied.

Kira looked at Odo for several seconds and finally lowered herself back to the bed, smiling weakly.

"Alright." Kira said, after a time. "What's been going on while I've been stuck here?"

Odo sighed.

Some things never change, the constable thought.
 
 
 

Smoke filled the bridge of the Federation starship Liberator, stinging the eyes of the crewmembers still conscious. Around them, several of their shipmates lay, either dead or unconscious.

"Report." Captain Sa'lanna ordered.

"The plasma torpedoes compounded with the polaron weapons had a cascade effect on the entire shield grid." Randy Planty stated. 

"Feedback from the grid has effected several other systems as well."

"Sa'lanna," Pierce interrupted, "the battleship has changed course and is continuing towards DS9."

"Helm, get us in front of the Dominion battleship and stay there." Captain Sa'lanna ordered.

"Tactical." the Vulcan captain continued. "Fire at will."

"Aye sir."

Sa'lanna spun her chair to face Admiral Pierce as she stabbed the communications controls on her chair.

"Bridge to Engineering."

After a few seconds, Doctor Brahms shaky voice responded.

"Engineering here, captain."

"Where are my shields, doctor?"

"We're rerouting to the secondary systems now." Brahms replied slowly. "The shields should be back online in one minute."

Pierce and Sa'lanna could here the chaos in Engineering in the background as Doctor Brahms spoke.

"I didn't expect that kind of feedback from the Dominion's weapons."

"I'll be sure to send you a technical update before our next battle, doctor." the Liberator's captain shot back. "Bridge out."

Sa'lanna cut the comm link with Brahms abruptly.

"Remind me to remind you how much I believe having a civilian Chief Engineer is a mistake." the captain said to Pierce.

Before Admiral Pierce could respond, a new alarm sounded on the bridge and throughout the Liberator. 

The collision alert warning.

"Brace for impact!" Planty shouted.
 
 
 

The remaining Dominion fighters slammed into the center of the upper saucer section of the Liberator almost simultaneously, exploding on impact and sending the starship off course. 

As the fire and debris dimmed and scattered it became clear that the sacrifice of the Jem'Hadar had been in vain.

The Liberator quickly turned and began to pursue the Dominion battleship again, firing its phasers, pulse cannons and torpedoes as it flew through space like a relentless predator.
 
 
 

"Impossible." Weyoun whispered.

"I told you not to underestimate Pierce." Damar replied, shaking his head.

"Scanners indicate that the hull of the Federation ship is composed entirely of carbon neutronium." the Cardassian Tactical Officer stated.

Damar eyes widened.

"How could they have gathered that much neutronium?" the Cardassian asked in amazement.

"What is this...neutronium?" the Founder hissed.

Damar was surprised by the shapeshifter's ignorance, but he was careful not to let his hatred of the Founder surface again.

"Neutronium is a metal composed of atom's whose electron shells have collapsed and the nuclei are touching." Damar said, happy to show his superiority over both the Founder and his Vorta lackey.

"Some neutron stars have been known to expel neutronium particles into space, but there has never been enough collected to explain that." the Cardassian continued as he motioned towards the Federation starship in the view screen.

The founder was silent, clearly not understanding the situation.

"All our attacks..." Weyoun said quietly, his voice trailing off.

"All our attacks..." Damar said grimly, "have been about as effective as shining a flashlight at them."

"What are we going to do?" Weyoun asked.

"Die." Damar replied.

"Fools!" the Founder spat angrily. "We are the Dominion and we have endured for over two millennia."

"One Federation ship and one pathetic solid are not going to change that." the shapeshifter said, rising. "Destroy them at once!"
 
 
 

Aboard the Liberator, most of the bridge crew continued to pick themselves up after the impact with the Jem'Hadar fighters. 

Sa'lanna struggled to return to her seat.

"Was the hull breached?" the Vulcan captain asked Commander Planty.

"No," the Tactical Officer replied weakly, "the hull was not compromised. However, there was some damage to the upper sensor array and three of the pulse cannon turrets have been knocked out of commission."

"That is to be expected." said Captain Sa'lanna as she keyed her communicator.

"Medical team to the bridge." the Vulcan stated, deactivating the communicator before the Chief Medical Officer could reply.

"The Freedom, Justice and the Defiant continue to attack the Dominion ship." Planty reported. "The Freedom and Defiant are in relatively good shape but the Justice has taken severe damage to their torpedo launchers and they have a hull breach on decks three and four."

Captain Sa'lanna watched the main view screen as the three defiant class starships attacked the Dominion battleship like a trio of hornets, firing at them and skillfully evading the weapons of their target.

As all three ships moved away from the enemy battleship, it turned and fired several plasma torpedoes at the retreating ships, striking the Justice with one of the powerful balls of energy and sending it spinning out of control.

Another of the bright globes of energy flew from the Dominion ship towards the helpless U.S.S. Justice, but before the plasma torpedo found its target the Liberator moved in front of the tiny starship and bore the brunt to the attack head on.

The Liberator shook from the impact and Sa'lanna suddenly became aware of the unconscious helmsman laying on the deck.

"Who has the helm?" the Vulcan captain asked.

"I do." replied Admiral Pierce from behind her.

"Very well," Sa'lanna said, "maintain course and keep us in front of the battleship." 

"Aye sir." the admiral replied.

Suddenly, a volley of six plasma torpedoes sped from the Dominion ship, crashing into the hull of the Liberator and sending everyone not braced for the impact flying to the deck.

Pierce turned the Federation starship and brought it directly in the path of the oncoming enemy ship. The admiral suddenly reversed the powerful impulse engines of the Liberator, backing the ship away from the other vessel as both ships continued to fire.

"Eventually they are going to crack the hull like an egg." stated Admiral Pierce.

"Agreed." replied Captain Sa'lanna.

As another plasma torpedo was about to hit the ship it was suddenly absorbed by the shields of the Liberator as they flared back to life.

"Then again." the Vulcan captain said.

The battle continued.
 
 
 

Aboard the Justice, Commander Dan Shetley fought to regain control of the small starship as it spun away from the battle.

Several alarms sounded throughout the bridge, signaling that the ship was dying just as most of its crew had already done.

"Warning: structural integrity at twenty percent.

"Warp engines, offline.

"Hull breach on decks two, three and four.

"Weapons, offline.

"Shields, offline.

"Life support, offline.

Shetley finally succeeded in regaining control of the Justice as the ship's computer finished its grim report. 

The commander looked at the other bridge crewmembers, all dead or unconscious.

A sudden pain shot through Shetley's chest and he began to cough blood.

Just a little longer, Shetley thought.

The main view screen intermittently displayed the continuing battle as it flickered on and off, debating whether to join the rest of the ship's systems and totally shut down.

Commander Shetley brought the Justice around and sped back towards the battle at full impulse.

Tough ship, the commander thought.

Suddenly, the commander's communicator came to life.

"Freedom to Justice."

Dan Shetley smiled, recognizing the voice of his friend, Gary Quick.

"Justice here." the commander said, coughing.

"Dan, what the hell are you doing." the captain asked. 

"Going back into the fight, what else." Shetley replied quickly.

"That ship is in no condition to fight and you know it." Captain Quick said.

"I thought you were going to watch out for me." Dan shot back.

"I am." quick replied. "Slow down and we'll beam you and any other survivors aboard the Freedom. General Martok will cover us."

Dan shook his head.

"I'm the only one left."

Quick was silent for a few seconds.

Dan laughed.

"This is the first time I remember you not having something to say." the commander observed. "Listen Gary, I've managed to rig the quantum torpedoes so they're hot. My launchers are down but if I ram the battleship, I might be able to knock out their shields or maybe even take out the whole damned thing."

"I don't think so." Quick replied. "I'll put a tractor beam on your ass before I let you throw your life away."

Commander Dan Shetley brought the Justice around for its final approach with the Dominion battleship.

The view screen periodically showed him that the enemy dreadnaught was preoccupied with the Liberator as it continued to flicker.

This may work, Shetley thought.

"Gary, you know if you lock onto the Justice with a tractor beam that the sudden jolt may set off the torpedoes."

"Dammit Dan, I'm not going to let you get yourself killed." Quick shouted. 

"Who said anything about dying." Dan Shetley replied quickly. "Stay close enough to the Justice to beam me off at the last second.

"I'm the last one who wants to become a martyr." the commander concluded. "I'm just giving the admiral the victory he needs."

"You're insane." Captain Quick said.

"Maybe," Dan conceded, "just keep that battleship off my back long enough for me to ram it."

"Alright, commander." replied Gary Quick. "Good luck."

Dan Shetley laughed again, spitting blood onto the helm console.

"Luck has nothing to do with it."
 
 
 

As the Justice moved towards the Dominion battleship, Admiral Pierce continued to use the Liberator as a shield for the smaller ship and the station, which was just out of the enemy's transporter range.

"Why are you slowing?" Captain Sa'lanna asked.

"We don't want them to start transporting Jem'Hadar troops onto DS9." Pierce replied. "That ship could easily hold ten thousand troops and I don't think even Martok's Klingons could stop them all."

"Do we have any of the phase torpedoes left?" Captain Sa'lanna asked, turning to the Tactical Officer.

Commander Randy Planty nodded.

"Yes sir, three are still in the main torpedo bay."

"Get them armed and into the tubes." the captain ordered. "I believe we have been more than gracious hosts to the Dominion."

"Sa'lanna." Admiral Pierce said from behind her.

The Vulcan captain spun her seat to face the admiral.

"Those torpedoes had less than a thirty percent success rate in the last battle." Pierce said. "It's very likely that they will just slam into their shields."

Captain Sa'lanna nodded, turning back towards the main view screen.

"What is it you have always told me...'oh ye of little faith'."

Admiral Pierce smiled in spite of himself, surprised at his daughter's attempt at humor.

"Still," the Vulcan captain added, "you cannot be too prepared.

"Commander Planty, bring the Borg weapon online."

Planty looked at his captain, surprised.

Pierce's eyes widened.

Not the best time for a field test of another untried weapons system, the admiral thought.

"Is there a problem with your hearing, Commander?" asked the captain when he hesitated.

"N...no sir." Planty replied. "Borg weapons are powering up."

"Admiral, I would say that it is now or never." Sa'lanna stated.

Pierce smiled.

"Agreed." the admiral replied.

"Captain!" Planty suddenly said, his voice shaking slightly. "There is another ship approaching at high warp."

"Federation or Dominion?" the captain of the Liberator demanded.

Commander Planty checked his tactical displays as the ship came out of warp and into scanning range.

"Cardassian," Planty stated, "type four Galor class."

Sa'lanna tapped her own tactical display, bringing an image of the enemy ship into view.

"It appears as if it has seen combat in the very recent past." the Vulcan said.

"Yes." Commander Planty said. "There propulsion system is fluxuating."

"Look," Admiral Pierce spoke up, "they are moving behind the battleship and using it as a shield."

Captain Sa'lanna nodded.

"We will have to removed their shield." the Vulcan stated, deadpan.
 
 
 

Aboard the Cardassian ship Vetar, Gul Evek quickly studied the tactical situation. Shaking his head, the Cardassian leader spoke.

"Those fools walked right into the Federation's trap."

"The battleship's shields are down to seventeen percent." Glinn Teren reported from the Tactical station. 

"Status of our own weapons." Evek shouted.

"Fully operational and fully charged." Teren replied quickly, moving towards the Gul.

"However," the Cardassian subordinate continued, lowering his voice, "it does not appear that the battleship is causing the Federation ship any appreciable damage. I do not believe that our contribution to this situation will change the tide of battle."

Gul Evek was silent, pondering the information.

"Furthermore," Teren added, "there is every eventuality that we will perish alongside those aboard the Dominion ship if we remain."

Evek watched the main view screen as Federation defiant class starships moved on an intercept course with the battleship, using each other and the larger Federation ship for cover.

Suddenly, a revelation struck the Cardassian Gul.

"Those ships are using Klingon defensive maneuvers."

Teren looked at the view screen, nodding in agreement.

The communications console fluttered as a signal was received. 

Teren rushed to the console and checked the incoming transmission.

"Gul Evek." said the Glinn. "Look at this." 

Annoyed, Evek moved from his command chair to the communications console. He quickly looked at the message, amazed.

"It's from Damar aboard the battleship." Evek said at last.

A few seconds passed as the Cardassian Gul debated the orders. Finally, he moved back to his chair.

"Move us closer to the Dominion battleship," Evek began, "but keep it between us and the Federation ships."

As the Vetar moved towards the battleship, Evek spoke again.

"I told Damar he was a fool to believe in the Dominion."
 
 
 

"The three defiants are making another run." Damar stated from the tactical station aboard the Dominion battleship. 

His foot brushed against the body of the Cardassian Tactical Officer, killed several minutes earlier when a volley of quantum torpedoes from all four Federation ships struck the vessel.

"They are like gnats." replied Weyoun soothingly as he gazed towards the Founder.

"Why are we not within transporter range of Deep Space Nine?" the shapeshifter snapped.

Damar signed in disgust.

"Because that is blocking our path." the Cardassian shouted in frustration, pointing towards the Liberator in the view screen.

Ignoring his disrespect, the Founder seemed confused.

"Why have we not destroyed the Federation ships?" the shapeshifter asked, his tone had changed to something akin to an almost child-like wonder.

Damar chose not to reply, instead turning back to the Tactical station.

Weyoun seemed confused as well, Damar thought. To the Vorta's credit, he still spoke to the Founder as a servant speaks to a god.

"It is only a matter of time, Founder." said Weyoun.

Damar checked the console again, unsure if his transmission had been received by the Vetar. However, if Gul Evek followed his instructions there would not be a reply. Nothing to alert the Founder or the Jem'Hadar that he was preparing to abandon ship.

It was fortunate that the Cardassian ship had arrived, Damar mused, otherwise he would die along with the others.

Another explosion rocked the bridge of the Dominion battleship, sending its occupants flying.

As Damar rose, he looked towards the Founder.

The shape shifter returned the Cardassian's stare and spoke.

"How has this happened?" the Founder asked, his arms held wide.

Damar did not answer immediately, instead he turned and watched as one of the defiant class ships slipped through the deadly polaron beams of the Dominion ship and crashed into its shields. The resulting explosion caused the entire ship to shake as its payload of antimatter weapons finished draining the weakened shields of the Dominion dreadnaught.

Scattered throughout the bridge, all of the Jem'Hadar lay dead or dying. Damar watched as they pathetically attempted to return to their stations.

They would not reclaim their lives today, the Cardassian thought.

"Because," Damar said, turning back to the Founder, "you have underestimated the enemy and they have beaten you."

The shapeshifter shook his head, still confused.

"But we are the Dominion." said the Founder. "We have endured for over two millennia."

Weyoun bowed his head, silent.

Damar laughed, moving back to the Tactical console.

"I do not see how." the Cardassian replied smugly.

"You Founders, " Damar said pointing at the shapeshifter, "you are all arrogant fools who believe the perpetuation of the lie that you are gods."

The Founder's eyes widened in disbelief.

Weyoun's head rose, tears filling his eyes.

"See!" shouted Damar, pointing to the Vorta. "Even your slave realizes the truth."

Anger flared in the Founder's eyes.

"You will die." the shapeshifter spat, moving towards Damar.

Damar shook his head.

"Not today," said the Cardassian with confidence, "and certainly not by you."

Damar stabbed a single button on the Tactical console. Instantly, his body began to disappear in the lights of a Cardassian transporter field.

As the Cardassian faded, the Founder heard his parting remark.

"Die well, god."
 
 
 

"Are the Freedom and Defiant out of the way?" Captain Sa'lanna asked.

Planty nodded.

"They are moving away from the battleship." the commander answered.

"What are you waiting for then," the captain of the Liberator said, "Fire!"

The Liberator shook as a bright silver colored beam fired from the ship and struck the Dominion battleship in the nose. The beam continued into the unshielded enemy ship, emerging from the rear and into space. The Federation starship continued its attack, using its thrusters to turn, causing the beam to cut through the Dominion ship until it separated into two gigantic pieces several seconds before it exploded into a million glowing splinters.

The blast from the dying Dominion ship slammed into the Liberator, deactivating the powerful cutting beam and pushing the starship back.

On the bridge, the crew watched in satisfaction as larger pieces of the Dominion ship spun and scattered into space.

"Impressive." Captain Sa'lanna stated.

Admiral Alexander Pierce smiled and nodded in agreement.

The Liberator had completed its mission.

Pierce's communicator suddenly chirped.

"Quick to Pierce."

Admiral Pierce slapped the communicator on his chest.

"Pierce here, Gary."

"Alex..." Quick replied slowly. "You had better get down here to sickbay."

Pierce felt his hear freeze inside his chest.

Instantly, he was up from his seat and moving towards the turbolift.

"The Cardassian ship is moving off and preparing to go to warp." Randy Planty announced.

"Let it go," Captain Sa'lanna replied quickly as she followed the admiral inside the turbolift. "Stand down from Red Alert."

The turbo lift doors closed, along with a chapter of the admiral's life.
 
 
 

"If there wasn't so much internal damage, then maybe I..." Doctor James Richter said, his voice trailing off.

Admiral Pierce ignored the Chief Medical Officer and quickly moved to the bed where Dan Shetley lay coughing weakly.

Captain Gary Quick was already there, quietly talking to his friend.

"Dan," Pierce began, his words choking in his throat, "what happened."

Commander Shetley looked up with glazed eyes at his commanding officer and friend.

"I guess...I zigged when I should have...zagged." Shetley barely got out before a fit of coughing overwhelmed him, blood flowing freely from his mouth.

"This wasn't supposed to happen." Pierce whispered, his eyes closed.

The admiral felt a wet hand take his. He opened his eyes to see his friend smiling up at him, his bloody hand clutching his.

"It's alright, sir." Shetley whispered. "We got 'em."

Pierce smiled, nodding.

"Yeah Dan, we got them."

Commander Dan Shetley smiled again and died.