[2009: NOV-DEC] The Children of Earth

[Ryan Horn]

(Posted for Lt. jg Thomas Gregory)

Vulcan Embassy - Earth - Sacramento California

It was a very sunny day. The kind of perfection anyone throwing a

celebration would hope for. From where Janus was perched he could see

the entire courtyard. Security was lax at this high profile event.

Janus took out his binoculars and focused in on the table at the

center of the proceedings. The Vulcan ambassador placed a scroll of

parchment on the table and set beside it two quill pens. Reaching into

his satchel Janus pulled out his walkie talkie. While physical

security was tight the Obsidian order was likely monitoring all

communication so a more primitive form of communication would have to

be used to ensure secrecy. He clicked on the old school device and set

the correct frequency.

Janus: {{Hold your positions until the package arrives. We only get to

make this statement once.}}

Several extended moments passed as Janus perched silent and still

waiting. Finally a Cardassian shuttle landed a few meters from the

site and its bay doors opened. Three Cardassians stepped out quickly

and surveyed the pristine area before them. They were security by the

looks of them, they're movements and mannerisms giving them away.

Confidently after they gave the 'ok' a tall thin Cardassian Leggat

walked down the ramp towards the table where the Vulcan Ambassador

calmly waited. He stopped before him and extended his hand. The Vulcan

looked down at it and then reluctantly took it in his own. They shook

as the dozen or so onlookers from the Federation and Cardassian

delegations applauded.

Janus: oO Insolent swine. Oo

Janus' walkie came to life on his belt. He grabbed it and held it to

his ear. It was his second in command Eris who was stationed 100

meters west of his position.

Eris: {{We've got them all in our sights. Waiting for your order.}}

Janus held the walkie to his chest as he thought through his plan one

last time and made the final alterations. Bringing his walkie back to

his mouth he gave his instructions.

Janus: {{The shuttle is the secondary target. The primary targets are

the Federation delegation. Save the Cardassians for last. You wont get

more than 3 shots before your positions are discovered. Make them

count. Janus out.}}

From this point forward radio silence would be strictly observed.

Janus placed his walkie back in the satchel and retrieved his

detonator. He gave it a kiss as he waited for the package. From his

vantage point the Cardassian Leggat had just completed his signature

on the new treaty. The Vulcan Ambassador looked up at the sky and to

his aides and stepped forward taking the quill from the Leggat. He

looked down to the parchment and moved his hand down to add his

signature.

Janus: oO Traitors Oo

The Vulcan froze in mid motion as he noticed a red dot appear on his

chest. He looked up slowly and his eyebrows arched. A shot rang out

and he dropped in a heap. His two aides were dispatched moments after

as the ceremony erupted into chaos. The three Cardassian guards

attempted to form a shield around the Leggat as they moved towards the

shuttle. Two shots dispatched two guards and the Leggat broke into a

run toward the shuttle doors. One last sniper shot took out the

remaining guards as the Leggat boarded his shuttle.

Janus: oO Welcome to Earth Cardy. Oo

Janus tapped on the detonator which decloaked a subspace mine two

meters from the shuttle. Eris quickly locked on with his rifle and

fired off one shot before bolting from his location. Janus didn't need

binoculars to witness this watershed moment. The sniper hit ruptured

the mine and its explosion was deadly. As the shuttles engines powered

up the explosion cascaded through them causing a chain reaction

explosion. The scene quickly died down as the shuttle lay ruined. When

the Cardassian security forces arrived minutes later they discovered a

United Earth flag among the wreckage and bodies.

Cardassian Earth Command - Malta - Earth

Leggat Danube walked briskly into his forward operating center. From

this post he commanded all Cardassian forces on the planet and the

Luna camp. His left eye was bandaged up after the attempt on his life

in Sacramento. His adjunct Gul Demore greeted him.

Demore: Sir, we have completed our analysis of the Sacramento attacks.

Danube: Well don't doddle then, tell me the results.

Demore looked down for a moment and continued.

Demore: The security logs show at least 4 sniper positions that opened

fire. We also have evidence that a small sub space mine was decloaked

and used to destroy the shuttle.

Leggat Danube clasped his hands behind his back and walked up to the

large screen where the video played over and over again.

Danube: Do you see it?

Demore: I don't understand sir.

Danube turned to Demore. The Leggat stood beside the hulking screen

and pointed to the center.

Danube: They were sending a message Demore.

Demore: But why at the signing ceremony? That was simply a formality.

The treaty had already been signed in private.

Danube: My naive Demore... there were two messages sent. One was for

the Federation. To let them know... that Earth was not simple property

that could be given away.

Demore: ...and the other message?

Danube: That Demore... ::Danube looked back to the video turning from

his adjunct. His voice lowered and became darker in tone.:: that

message was for me.

The comm station light nearby began flashing. Demore moved over to the

console and then looked up to Leggat Danube.

Demore: Sir, there is an incoming transmission for you.

Danube: Put it on the main screen.

The video on the main screen was replaced by the image of Janus. He

stared down the Cardassian Leggat for a moment and then began.

Janus: Leggat I see you are wounded.

Danube: Who would I be speaking with?

Janus: My name is Janus. I represent the Children of Earth.

Danube: I take it then that you are responsible for the attacks in Sacramento.

Janus: I am.

Danube: Strange that you would resort to such hasty measures when I

mean you no harm whatsoever.

Janus: Let's get something straight Leggat. You represent an occupying

force in my native land. We reject the Federation Cardassian treaty

and will defend the Sol System at all costs.

Danube: I'm certain if you give me a chance we can work out an

agreement beneficial to both our parties.

Janus: The only agreement my group will be party too is one of

Cardassian withdraw.

Leggat Danube turned and walked to the side of his adjunct who showed

him the trace being done on Janus' signal.

Danube: You know, I could simply send in ground troops to your

location. Or I could have it bombarded from the air.

Janus: That would be unfortunate.

Danube: Now perhaps we can avoid such unnecessary bloodshed and open

negotiations.

Janus: I mean that would be unfortunate for you. But if negotiations

are what you want I will be happy to offer you terms to withdraw from

Sol Space.

Danube: You know I'm not going to accept such terms.

Janus: Then I believe there is nothing else to say.

Danube: Do you honestly expect to be able to drive us from Earth?

Janus: Eventually you will come to see Earth is too much for you to handle.

Danube: You are in error.

Janus: Also I hope you like working in the dark.

Janus' image disappeared from the screen as the lights went out.

Danube: Report!

Demore: I can't get any response from our systems. It looks like a

manual shutdown virus was sent back along our trace signal.

Leggat Danube placed his hands on the console in front of him.

Danube: Signal the Crishna to beam us aboard. We will use there

sensors and communications to pacify the surface.

Luna Underground Base - One Week Later - The Moon

The Starfleet News Service had long since shut down shop and moved its

operations outside of what was now known as "Cardassian Space". In

it's place however news traveled quickly through the newly set up

"Cardassian Military News Cartel" whose job was to 'inform and

educate' the new servants of Cardassia of current events. The latest

broadcast was one of particular interest to Eris. The Children of

Earth assassination of the Federation and Cardassian envoys at the

peace summit was played constantly throughout the day. Eris was happy

to see the Cardassians so blatantly displaying the symbolic and real

damage they caused but was angered by the response it invoked.

Eris: oO Cardassian swine! Oo

The Continent of Australia was featured heavily in Leggat Danube's

response to the terror attacks. Cardassian shuttles were shown by

video linkup being loaded with Human Civilians and heading off towards

the barren center of the Continent. Australia is home to some of the

deadliest creatures still alive on Earth. From one hundred meters

above the ground these shuttles slowed and Cardassian officers shoved

the prisoners out of the shuttle. Their screams were recorded for

subspace broadcast and the video of the broken bodies being torn apart

by wild animals was played around the clock. The video switched to the

face of Leggat Danube.

Danube: Let this serve as a warning to all Human's. The massacre in

Sacramento was an act of Barbarity that will not be tolerated.

Punishment will continue throughout the day. I will not hesitate to

order more summary executions in this manner should any terrorist

actions continue. I hope all who are witnessing my actions will keep

in mind that this all could have been avoided by simply allowing the

transfer of authority to take place in peace. It's been made very

clear by the terrorist group "Children of Earth" that their goals...

nay their desire is too hurt Cardassians. I would suggest to all

Humans who value their life, liberty and pursuit of happiness... that

they cooperate and collaborate with us so that together... we can save

as many lives as possible. For your children, I ask that you throw

down your arms and work with us to ensure a better tomorrow.

The banner of the Cardassian military news cartel flashed across the

screen before the segment aired again from the beginning. In disgust

Eris his the console and ended the video uplink. Eris walked towards

the backrooms of the complex. They had been operating out of this

small cramped base for 3 days preparing for their final plan. The cell

was only the first trip of many and had a short life expectancy. Eris

knew this when he volunteered to help Janus. Operations were small

groups or single individuals carrying out precise plans. No one knew

each others names and no two cells operated at the same time. When one

cell completed its mission its operation would shift to a new

location. After the second mission a new cell would be triggered and

take over the operations. Eris arrived at the backroom door and placed

a small cylinder in Janus satchel. He knocked on the door. Janus'

voice could be heard from the other side.

Janus: I'm also ready, what is it?

Eris: Danube has gone 'Pinochet' on us.

Janus: You didn't think he was going to give in and leave did you?

Eris: I just wish innocent people didn't have to die for our cause.

Janus: Innocence is the first thing that has to die for the reality of

Earth's situation to sink in.

Eris leaned again the rock wall for support as Janus' words sank in.

Janus: We are doing the right thing Eris.

Eris: You don't need to tell me that. I've been ready to do this since

I volunteered.

Janus: That's why we've been successful so far. Now it's time to

finish our job. Do you have the package?

Eris: I put it in your satchel.

Janus: Then it's time for me to make a delivery.

The door opened and Eris peered in. His face broke into an impressed smile.

Janus: How do I look?

Eris: Like a pig.

Galor Class Destroyer "Chrisna" - Docking Port C - One hour later

Stepped through the airlock were seven Cardassian engineers. They had

all been reassigned from the Luna base in order for the regular crew

to get shore leave. The last to disembark wore a heavy black satchel.

He was stopped by the airlock security officer but after assuring them

that it he carried several bottles of the finest Kannar they agreed to

let him pass without inspecting the contents. Of course in the Satchel

was a bottle of Kannar - among other things - which the security

guards were happy to accept as compensation for lax protocol. The

satchel wearing Cardassian Engineer headed to the Engineering bay.

Launch Bay Luna 4 - Runabout Dysnomia - Our hour later

Eris programmed in the pre-launch sequence into the Runabout computer

system and sat back. He closed his eyes and waited for the computer to

respond.

Computer: Course complete. Launch commencing.

Eris looked out the window as the Dysnomia came to life and took off

from the Lunar surface. Proximity beacons had not picked up his

Runabout yet as Dysnomia circled around the far side of the Moon.

Using the gravitational forces of the giant Satellite as a booster the

Runabout jumped to warp speed and passed 300 kilometers from the

Crishna as it headed out of the Sol System.

Galor Class Destroyer "Chrisna" - Main Bridge

Every light went off at once on the bridge as the little Runabout sped

past them. Caught off guard Leggat Danube raced to his helmsman.

Danube: I want that ship! After them!

The Chrisna began its slow turn while the engines warmed up. As

Danube stood up and paced the Bridge a Cardassian engineer - his

satchel absent from his person - entered from one of the turbo lifts.

Danube: What are you doing on my bridge?

The Engineer stood firmly as the hull of the Chrisna began to buckle

under a cascade of energy from the warp core.

Engineer: My name is Janus.

Leggat Danube gasped.

Danube: What?!

From the lunar surface a brilliant explosion could be witnessed as the

explosive device Janus left near the warp core caused a chain reaction

that enveloped the Galor Cruiser in a magnificent blaze before fading

into a pile of corpses and s[...]. Eris recorded and sent his final

transmission before setting the auto destruct mechanism on his

Runabout. His mission was accomplished and now it was time to pass the

operation on and eliminate any and all evidence of his participation.

His ship too became a brief explosion among the stars before fading

into debris floating in space.

Epilogue

In the lower caverns of Cheyenne Mountain a small indicator light went

off. A tall man in a beat up jacket strolled over to his console and

brought up the message.

Cadmus: Excuse me, Harmonia? We have an incoming transmission.

From the shadows in the corner of the room a figure emerged and

brushed her red hair from her eyes.

Harmonia: What does it say?

Cadmus took a deep breathe and read the message aloud.

Cadmus: Operation Trojan Horse complete. Your orders are to proceed

with Operation Exodus.

Cadmus turned to Harmonia and the two shared a silent moment for their

fallen comrades before she walked over and placed a hand on his

shoulder. Through the window nearby Harmonia and Cadmus looked out

over several dozen quantum torpedoes tipped with high yield tricobalt

devices.

Harmonia: We have work to do.

Written By Xander Legere/Thomas Gregory

[Lawn]

Good story, and well written. I can see why you are a 2x winner!

[Msgrv32]

Good story, and well written. I can see why you are a 2x winner!

not yet I'm not

[Msgrv32]

Good story, and well written. I can see why you are a 2x winner!

Thank you for the praise, I loved your story!

[Lawn]

Thanks! Hey, at least we're entertaining everyone.

[Msgrv32]

Thanks! Hey, at least we're entertaining everyone.

What can I say we've got the vision lol!

[Lawn]

LOL! Right on.