Beginning of the Fall

Posted on Mon Mar 31st, 2025 @ 2:36am by Lieutenant Julianna ("Jules") Raihan & Petty Officer 1st Class Jaclyn Masterson [Baas]

2,021 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: A Silence of Friends
Location: DS9

The transport from the star base to Deep Space 9 had docked and Jaclyn waited with the others to disembark. Once the airlock rolled away the throng of people began to move. Stepping out onto the station she looking at the Cardassian construction and frowned as she made he way from the docking ring to the promenade. She had a several hours before her transport to Bajor and before anything she wanted to see the wormhole.

Walking along the upper level she strolled along slowly waiting. Seeing a ship departing with the right trajectory she stopped and her jaw dropped at the swirling display and watched as the ship vanished and the swirling mass of light vanished.

He had some time before the transport left and, knowing he'd be confined to a ship (again), Eoghan decided to take a stroll along the promenade. That's when he caught sight of her, the red hair drew him, standing out among the darker, more subdued hues of those around her. She had this look on her face, sort of a happy wonder, as she watched a ship disappear through the wormhole. He wasn't someone you noticed immediately but he wasn't easy to overlook either with a shock of unruly black hair, brown eyes that twinkled, as though he were always on the edge of laughing, and a slow smile that lit him from within. "Amazing," he murmured as he approached.

Shifting the strap on her shoulder she noticed that there was no one else around them. She really didn't wanna deal with someone hitting on her but decided not to be rude since she didn't know who the person was. The odds were extremely slim but those on the station might be able to provider her with information or point her to those that had what she needed. Looking towards the male voice she called him out on his pick-up line, but kept a smile on her face. "Were you talking about the wormhole or me." Raising her eyebrow with a questioningly, but friendly expression.

"Why you, of course," Eoghan said, "how could it be otherwise though," and here he leaned in slightly as though confiding a secret, "just don't tell the rest of the scientists, will you? They will make me pay, you know."

She looked at him curiously. "Make you pay? You wouldn't be betraying any of them by flirting with me would you?"

"Flirting," Eoghan asked. "Why no, I was speaking the truth and to my fellow astrophysicists, well, that's just unthinkable. You know how we are. Always have our eye on the heavens."

She had to chuckle as she shook her head. "You just don't stop do you? Well I don't know a girl that doesn't like being compared to the heavens. I have a little time before I have to catch a transport, can you recommend a good place to eat on the station?"

"I do," Eoghan said, nodding to himself, as he gestured for her to walk with him. "The most popular place is run by a very sharp Ferengi but as a scientist, I tend to prefer the quieter, less ... problematic places. I know one that's run by a Bajoran woman, she elevates simple meals to an art form. Interested?"

"Why not, as long as I don't miss my transport." As the started off she would see what information she could out of him, never hurt to practice. "So... you said you were a scientist. Here to study the wormhole?"

"Actually rejoining my ship," Eoghan said, as he fell into step beside her. "How about you? Where are you off to?"

As they walked she made a mental note of the those on the station she might need to include in her inquiries. There were several right here on the station with intimate experience; Two having been on the station and one, if the records were accurate, had both a great deal of involvement in the resistance both on the surface and on the station. She could put in a request for a meeting with them but it was unlikely to happen and if it did there was too great a chance of here getting exposed. Better just stick with lesser known figures with less access to Federation records.

Brushing a few loose strands of hair behind her ear she replied, "Bajor. I'm doing my doctoral thesis on the occupation. I want history to know the real struggle the Bajorans faced and the sacrifices they made to free themselves. I'm hoping to speak with, well whoever will talk to me about the occupation and the various resistance factions."

"Who'd they set you up with," Eoghan said, "as far as candidates go?" He kept the question casual and his expression noncommittal though there was more behind it than he said. Some secrets, some people, didn't like having themselves exposed particularly and really, he didn't know this woman ... at all.

"Absolutely no one. They approved my thesis but the research is on my own. I wouldn't want their assistance anyway. The would have probably recommended some functionary that had previous worked with the Federation. I don't want to speak with those token individuals. I'm wanting to make sure people know the real story about what happened. It probably wont be easy, if even possible, to get to a lot of the major players especially those that are rumored to oppose the provisional government but I'm hoping that if I earn the trust of a few it will open the doors to others. I know there are those on the station that were here during the occupation but I was planning on requesting to speak with some of the Vedeks that were involved."

"Sounds like you have your work cut off for you," Eoghan said as they stopped at the restaurant he'd mentioned. A waitress showed up and escorted them to a table near the front. No menus were given; Eoghan settled in and, reading the expression on her face, said, "There's no menu. The owner is also the chef and she cooks one meal a day. You get what she serves. Period." He leaned forward slightly. "It's always good but this place is something of a secret."

"Seems like an odd way to run a restaurant, but then again the unknown is probably a part of her appeal."

"It's called prix fixe, one menu, no substitutions," Eoghan said. "Bajoran home cooking but elevated. Unique." The restaurant was crowded; there were only two or three seats left vacant and those filled up quickly. "She does several seatings a day. Never seen this place with an empty seat."

Taking her seat she smiled. "Well these were empty," mimicking her grandfather's thick Irish accent, "must have been the luck of the Irish."

Eoghan grinned as he took his own seat. "Annoying when the good places get popular. I mean, it's good for them, but me, not so much. Just means I have to expand my horizons a bit more. I'm all for the path less traveled."

She looked around at the now packed restaurant before looking back at Eoghan. Leaning towards him, "Yeah...that path usually isn't this crowded," smiling warmly.

"Food will be worth it, I promise," Eoghan said. "So, tell me about yourself. What you're hoping to achieve on Bajor. What gave you the idea to do this?"

She was pretty sure he was looking for any inconsistencies in her story so she repeated herself and even took it up a notch. "Well like I said I want people to know the real story. I've never been one to swallow the official story as gospel. From what I've seen, the official story tells one side or glosses over things in order to appease one group or another. Many in the Federation think is all sunshine and roses when in reality there is a dangerous galaxy out there and it's closer than most realize."

"Does this mean you'll be interviewing Cardassians as well," Eoghan asked as he leaned back in his seat to accommodate the waitress who brought with her tea to drink and the first course of their meal. He shrugged lightly. "I'm a scientist, so process is important."

Looking down at the dish. "I think people are well aware of the Cardassian view of their role in the occupation." Her tone was laced with negativity towards the Cardassians but she threw in a shrug for effect, "But to maintain balance and impartiality to my research I will have eventually try to make those arrangements."

"It's not easy, given what happened, but maintaining impartiality, looking at the facts from both sides," Eoghan said as he spread out his napkin, "is important in writing a doctoral thesis." He picked up his fork and waved it, as though punctuating his point. "They'll be able to smell bias a mile off. So, what's your premise specifically?"

Taking a bit of the unknown disk she chewed questioningly. But her eyes widened with pleasant surprise, "The confirmation or refuting of Federation Historical bias: The appeasing an adversary by the covering or downplaying of atrocities committed by the Cardassian Union." She watched him for any reaction to her premise.

"And just what do you think the Federation might be covering up," Eoghan said. "So far, what I've heard about the Cardassian occupation has been fairly horrific."

She raised her hands and eyebrows. "That's what I'm here to find out. Right now the the Federation is negotiating a treaty, are things being down played to help move that effort along? Like you said, what you and other's have heard is 'horrific', yet there are still those that label that information as rumor or post Federation-Cardassian War propaganda. I want to find out one way or the other. Is what's being put out the truth or are Federation citizens being spoon fed a sugar coated version of events. I don't think anyone that's traveled would deny how....insulated the core of the Federation is. There is a vast difference in the reality of everyday life for them and how things are the further you get from Earth.

"I'd be willing to bet that many Bajorans see the Federation and Starfleet as no different as the Cardassians or as some holier-than-thou..." She stopped herself, hoping her rant had the proper effect and possibly over heard by those that might pass what had been said to those that might have the information she was looking for. "I was ranting. My apologies, I just want to make sure the truth is getting out. If it is great. If not then I want to see that it is and that justice is served for those on Bajor."

Eoghan nodded and felt his interest cool somewhat as he listened to a rant worthy of a protestor or perhaps an uninformed writer ... or ... No. He clamped down on that thought, tucked it away in his mind, and resolved to have a chat with his friend once it was safe to do so. "None needed," he said smoothly, as he started eating. "Have you eaten Bajoran cuisine before? This is a sort of fusion, I think, but then I don't have the most educated palate, I'm afraid."

Reaching for her glass, "I had a Bajoran classmate and she would get a few things sent to her from home but that was about it. So no I really haven't had Bajoran food before now." Shrugging with a smile, "I wouldn't have know this was fusion or the real thing anyway."

"Well enjoy," Eoghan said. "And if you ever get back this way, you'll have a special little place you can share with someone."

One of the staff was bringing a drink to another table and glanced back at the redhead. Raising his head slightly he made eye contact with another on the far side of the promenade.

Across the way Feran popped a few nuts into his mouth as he took note of who he was to keep an eye on. Popping a few more nuts his way to the transports.

 

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