Target: Torros Tranquility – Dark Discovery

Vash had been informed by the Cardassian Guard to avoid Torros V. This territory, on the very fringe of the Cardassian Union was considered lost to the Jem'Hadar and not having value to the Hebetian Republic and therefore not of interest. Vash however was back on the bridge and all had been too quiet.

Vash thought that while they were in the vacinity, taking a look at how dangerous it was was pertinent. The truth is Torros V is heavily guarded. The Tanmesad twice withdrew after nearly engaging the Jem'Hadar. One on one, the Galor class vessel stood up well against a Jem'Hadar vessel but multiple ships on one was not acceptable odds.

Lindsay made the discovery. During a pass, the Strategic Operations Chief picked up the base of operations with multiple lifesigns. It was not until Commander Tania Branson read the lifesigns that she discovered that in addition to Jem'Hadar, there were many Cardassians on the surface. The Tanmesad needed to make another pass.

T'Zohl was only too happy to oblige. She knew that Vash was not prepared to engage the enemy but was thrilled with the fly by pattern. Vash and Tania would read the images and try to get a closer scan of the planets surface to be converted by the view screen.

The discovery was horrendous. It was reminscent of gallitep and the horrors of Bajor. The Jem'Hadar had captured the inhabitants of Torros V and had enslaved them in the mining of materials to help power their ships and to help build their ships. This was a horror like few others.

Vash contacted the Cardassian Consulate at Lakarian City and Star Fleet Cardassia now rebuilding on Cardassia Prime. Both were aware of the horror occurring at Torros V. Vash was mortified when the Ministry of Defence informed the Tanmesad commander that the planet was not worth fighting for and now forces would be assigned to taking the concentration camp from Jem'Hadar or the Dominion.

Vash was horrified. He called a command staff meeting. He needed to know what their thoughts were.

Tania was the first to speak what everyone already knew. The Tanmesad was no match for multiple Jem'Hadar Task Group at Torros V. There would be no miracle. The others knew it.

Glinn T'Zohl, a Cardassian Officer was the first to formally suggest it. What if the Tanmesad removed the bargaining chip and the source of the minerals.

Lindsay responded, "What do you mean?"

T'Zohl responded, in typical Vulcan stoicism, "Destroy the camp."

Colonel Laphe interjected, "Tis better to have died in honor then served in disgrace."

Lindsay snarled, "That is Klingon bullshit and you know it. We are not going to fire on innocent people, even if they are Cardassian."

Vash paced back and forth. The truth is that they would cripple the Jem'Hadar Ship Building and Ship Energy Sources if they destroyed the camp. Vash had fired on Cardassians before, but only those loyal to the Insadran Illparanrek or the Detapa Democratic Party. He had never fired on innocent Cardassians.

Tania looked over at Brenda. They had actually been cold to one another in recent history. She was sad about that. Brenda had been so busy learning the bridge functions as well as working in the lab. The Lt. Colonel would definitely have a say.

Brenda looked at Tania, "The kill shot could be painless. It would be over before they knew it. They would have served the greater good in death. They would have served as marines."

Tania hated that Brenda was a marine, that she was a Todd but the logic was clear.

Vash turned over to Nancy. She would also have to input her thoughts. Nancy was an engineer. She was a tough as nails lady and she understood what Vash was asking. Was it okay to kill innocent people for the greater good?

In the end, no matter how much we try to sugar coat it, all Federation operations are military operations. The Federation and the Cardassian Guard are on a constant state of guard. Though the war was over for 10 years, this was part of an old war.

Samantha was furious with the conversation. She could not believe the command staff were even entertaining the thought. Sam looked at Vash, "If you do this, we are through. I cannot condone such an action."

Vash was heartbroken. He had grown quite fond of Samantha. They had spent many hours together in recent memory in the 'Galley'. Vash walked from the conference room and into the ready room.

At 0700, the USS / CGV Tanmesad fired 5 photon torpedoes into the Torros V Concentration Camp ripping the camp into a million pieces killing prisoner and slaver alike. Vash turned to Colonel Laphe who had fired the shot. Gil Varno had refused. He nodded. It is done.

The Tanmesad banked hard and headed back to Torros III and the sanctuary of the Union. This is the time of the Dark Discovery. The discovery of the darkness still present in the Dominion and the Jem'Hadar but worse the discovery of the darkness that is present in the heart of the Tanmesad command.

Posted by:

Dal Vash Enranet
Commanding Officer
USS / CGV Tanmesad

Commander Tania Branson
Executive Officer
USS / CGV Tanmesad

Glinn T'Zohl of Vulcan
Flight Commander
USS / CGV Tanmesad

Gil Lindsay Viceroy
Strategic Operations Chief
USS / CGV Tanmesad