Cathedral by Michael Mangels (ebook reader color screen txt) 📕

away team—at least for now—there was simply no longer any point in putting the Defiant at risk.

Vaughn’s thoughts strayed to the four brave souls who had only moments ago leaped into the complete unknown. They had trusted him. Necessary or not, sounding the retreat now felt like a craven act of betrayal.

But his command instincts were too deeply ingrained to make any other choice possible.

“Withdraw into the system’s interior,” he said, his own reluctance a palpable force within his breast. “Pull back another ten million klicks sunward.”

Tenmei didn’t hesitate. “Aye, sir.”

“Maybe they’ll let us go,” Vaughn said as Tenmei brought the Defiant to a relative stop approximately .07 astronomical units closer to System GQ-12475’s distant, pale star. “Just like last time.”

Merimark placed a new tactical display up on the viewer, with icons showing the Defiant’ s position, as well as those of the rest of the Nyazen blockade fleet.

“No such luck,” she said, no humor in her tone. “I think they meant what they said about wanting us out of the system.”

Nine of the hostiles were in hot pursuit of the Defiant, and were rapidly closing to weapons range.

Vaughn breathed a silent curse.

The away team members would have to be on their own for the foreseeable future. Or perhaps even longer.

20

His voice carried out over the crowd of faithful; even unamplified, it was strong, gentle, and almost melodious. The temple was full of worshipers at this special late-night service, and Vedek Capril was moved to see so many in attendance.

Mixed into the crowd were dozens of Bajoran dignitaries, politicians, entertainers, and other members of the clergy. As he sermonized, Capril couldn’t help but feel some pride that he had more vedeks in his flock tonight than in almost any past service he had ever attended, much less one that he had administered.

But Capril wasn’t so prideful to think that they had come to hear him in particular. Attendance was inordinately high because of the ceremonies tomorrow, during which Bajor would formally join the Federation. He had tailored his sermon carefully, speaking of unity and community, and of the need for peace and understanding as the Bajoran people were welcomed into the larger family of the universe.

“Bajor is poised at a precipice, metaphorically speaking,” Capril said, “but that need not frighten her faithful. Instead, we should look out from that cliff, surveying the beauteous lands and myriad new treasures that await our exploration. The will of the Prophets has brought us to this point in our history, a time when Bajor has gained innumerable friends and allies. We must—we will—embrace the glorious future that the Prophets have laid out for us.”

As Capril concluded his peroration, a rustle of motion among the congregation caught his eye. The worshipers were beginning to make ready to leave. Then a young man, perhaps in his mid-twenties, strode purposely toward Capril’s lectern. A heartbeat later, the young man had turned to face the milling worshipers. Before Capril could gather his thoughts, the man removed his earring and ceremoniously dropped it to the floor.

“For Kira Nerys,” the young man intoned. Then he stood quietly beside the lectern, his eyes closed as though in prayer or meditation.

Capril was beside himself with surprise, as were most of the worshipers, each of whom sat or stood about in stunned silence. But before Capril could make a move to remonstrate with the man, another supplicant, this one a middle-aged woman, stood and walked toward the lectern. Like the young man, she turned to the congregation, solemnly doffed her earring, and said, “For Kira Nerys.” Her voice was aimed for the back of the temple. Like the young man beside whom she stood, the woman immediately lapsed into silence. Now a third supplicant, a young woman, stood and repeated the behavior of the first two.

Ohalavaru, Capril thought. He was rapidly growing irritated, though it occurred to him that these people could have caused far more disruption had they not waited until the close of temple services to undertake their little demonstration.

But this was still unacceptable behavior within the hallowed walls of a Bajoran shrine.

“For Kira Nerys.” Yet another Bajoran rose to remove an earring, and stood beside the growing cluster of Ohalavaru. Two more. Then another. “For Kira Nerys.” Several more people joined the group.

Voices were rising in consternation throughout the chamber. Looking out across the congregation of perhaps sixty or so lay people and vedeks, Capril saw that he was far from alone in his vexation.

“For Kira Nerys.” This time it was a woman, barely old enough to have completed her schooling. Her robes were brightly colored, trimmed with various brocades from over a dozen Bajoran regions. Like the others beside her, she stood still—passive, yet at the same time resolute.

Capril shot a worried look at several of the other vedeks. He was grateful to see a scowling Vedek Sinchante muttering something to one of the ranjens near the back of the shrine, who quickly scurried out of the temple. I hope she’s sent them to summon security. Struggling to master his own rising anger, Capril waved his hands outward, as if to sweep all disruptive influences to the edges of the temple.

Three more Ohalavaru joined their fellows, making more than a dozen. “For Kira Nerys.” Capril saw that one of these, a pale, dark-haired woman, held a gray-skinned, half-Cardassian baby. The woman looked somehow familiar.

Before he could speak again, the mother’s voice rang out across the temple, echoing over the heads of the congregation. “We are the Ohalavaru, and we do this in the name of Kira Nerys, the Truthgiver.” Like her fellows, she removed her earring and dropped it to the floor.

A Bajoran man, his scowl articulating his disdain for the Ohalavaru, stood and pushed one of the Ohalavaru women away from Capril’s lectern, toward the door. She nearly fell, then recovered her footing, clearly determined not to be moved. Several of the angrier worshipers were beginning to