Paramount owns everything worth owning, but I can *pretend*, can’t I?
Major Kira Nerys stood on the Promenade and tried to focus, though the noise
level made it difficult. The clatter and clash of equipment being tossed
about by impatient, untutored hands, the guttural mutterings of so-called
repair crews, and the heavy tramp of booted feet...*Cardassian* booted
feet...made reflection nearly impossible. Since Starfleet had withdrawn from
the Station, the Cardassians had made little progress toward repairing
damage, despite having practically torn the place apart, or perhaps *because*
of it. The destruction accomplished by the Dominion assault was bad enough,
but the intentional damage done to the main computer and all but the basic
life support systems had proved even more of a problem.
Note: This is a sequel to my earlier piece, "Distractions," and takes place
after "A Call to Arms," but before the start of Season Six and its as yet
untold delights. MANY thanks to Tracy L. Hemenover's WONDERFUL DS9
Encyclopedia and Lexicon, for its wealth of information!
Kira suppressed a sudden urge to grin.
Sisko called it a "housewarming present," whatever that means. I’d look it
up, if we still had archive access.
Cardassian crews were everywhere, but from the perpetual grimace on Gul
Dukat’s face and the incessant complaints issuing from the Vorta, Weyoun,
whether they were accomplishing much was questionable. It seemed
that replacement parts were in short supply, and the hybrid Starfleet-
Cardassian systems that were still functional had frustrated all attempts
at cannibalizing them for spare parts. Dukat could posture and pronounce all
he liked, but that didn’t make the repair crews any more successful, or
provide them the equipment they needed.
It wasn’t helping much that the few systems they *did* manage to repair often
seemed to fail within hours of being pronounced "fixed." The repeated
failures seemed to be grating on both Dukat's and Weyoun's nerves.
As if her thoughts had summoned them, the Cardassian and Vorta in question
came into view on the lower level of the Promenade, conversing...animatedly.
"...must be our first priority!" Weyoun insisted.
"Weyoun, if we can't get communications running, to coordinate replacing
equipment, we can't do anything about the minefield!" Dukat seethed.
Their angry voices faded as the two walked off towards Ops.
Well, that little alliance seems to have a few problems! With any luck,
they'll get worse with time, too.
A sudden clash of metal just behind her made her jump, as a "technician"
dropped an access plate and an armload of tools to the deck.
If he were one of ours, O'Brien would blister his hide for something like
that!
She looked at the crews in disgust.
Can't hear myself think around here. Maybe I'd better try a change of
scene.
She headed off to Quark's