"A house divided against itself cannot stand." This was spoken by a wise man in the mists of history on Earth. And he is quite right. The Pact will need to work together like it never has before and not only in war and conflict, but also in other matters. Else, this is merely a project in temporary convenience. If we are to truly be allies, we must see each other as friends, close brothers and sisters, not merely those people who we work together with. Else, we fall little by little, and all our works are brought to ruin."- Katherine Duran, President of the Dominion Science and Technology Institute and Head Scientist in the Research and Development team of the Dominion Military.
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The Dominion a nation in distress. It's people were constantly bombarded with the news of rebellions, conflicts, and betrayals. The ideas that their very existence and the life that they all knew, that their ancestors had made possible, was going to be wiped out because of the ambitions of a few. It was a trying time for the Dominion, and it would be a great test of their moral and social strength, as well as their military. However, they could not stop their lives for the building conflict that was going on. As besieged as they were with the invasion by the strange alien coalition off in the Outer Rim, and the building situation with the Coredian and Huntaerian Empires, they still had their own duties and jobs to fill. They couldn't simply remain focused and afraid of what would happen, for they would only be letting the enemy win if they did. For now, the Pact would be able to handle the concerns of the Coredian/Huntaerian problem, as well as the beginning Wick-Coredian War, and the Dominion military had made contact with a few other races fighting the same coalition they had encountered in Ashara. For now, the situation was contained. There was still space to be patrolled, trade to be done, and explorations to be made.
So it was that the Dominion civilian science ship, the Eureka, was sent out into the uncharted regions outside of Dominion space, searching for something as part of a project for the DSTI. The Dominion Science and Technology Institute is an organization that had only been formed around forty years ago. It was founded by the now legendary scientist Norman Teller, who is responsible for much of the technology uses today. After he retired, it was taken up by the Head Scientist of the Dominion military's Research and Development Division, Katherine Duran. She continued her work for both the military and the Institute, having devoted her life to science and the fascinating world it entailed. About five years ago, when things were much more peaceful and the Dominion had far less to worry about, she had come across a planet that the Dominion had begun to colonize. A call was sent out to the Institute when something was uncovered by the colonists as they expanded the transportation network. Upon arrival, she found a strange structure buried in the ground. Organizing a proper archaeological dig and study team, they began to uncover the structure. Over the course of three months, they uncovered the structure and found a remarkably well-preserved complex, one built by an obviously advanced alien race. After they sent in teams to explore it, they discovered that it was a outpost of some kind, detailed with keeping an eye on the surrounding systems. The computer became accessible once power was turned on and they even found a datafile that showed the locations of other worlds, as well as the mentioning that they were the Protheans. After securing rights to the site from the planetary government and ensuring that a research facility was built and staffed to continue study, she had then drawn up plans to go exploring.
However, she was delayed by her other projects and work for the military, thus forcing her to put it on hold. And when the current crisis involving the Huntaerian Empire and the Coredian situation arose, she was unable to get the time she needed to go investigate this. The military reorganization took quite a bit of effort and it helped that the R/D Division came up with some new toys for them to use. However, Duran knew that the Protheans had to have some technology lying around as well as information they could use. As such, she brought forth her original plan to High Command and asked for a military escort of marines and permission to go pursue it. It took some convincing, with the war effort beginning to weigh down on them all, but the First understood her situation and gave her permission. So, the Eureka was commissioned to be her vessel, with its vast labs and experiment areas to be used for whatever she required. She was given a small force of marines and equipment to ensure her safety and then she was off on her own. To ensure they did not lose her great intellect and mind, she was given an escort of three Hunter-Killer frigates and a Hammer-class cruiser.
So it was that she found herself on the bridge of the Eureka, studying the data from the sensor scans and chewing on a pencil. They had visited two worlds now, both with similar setups as the one before. All she could do was inform the Institute, put down a beacon for them to find, and move on. At the second outpost was a vital clue, however. The data caches often had holes in them, erasing entire entries or make some nigh unusable due to the scattered content. However, one shard of data had enough data for a lead. It was talking about the Citadel, a place of great size and beauty, and it had the coordinates. So, once she had secured the area, she had sent her little taskforce off to these coordinates. When they had arrived, they had found nothing but space. Passive scans had pinged something far off in the system. The system was a strange place, in that there were no planets, asteroid belts or anything that one would normally see. There was only a large nebula that surrounded the object the passive sensors had detected. Sitting up, Katherine turned to the screen next to her, showing the black and red uniform of the Dominion military. This was Commander Michaels, the Naval officer in charge of her safety. He noticed her turn and nodded.
"Yes, what is it, Ms. Duran?"
She sighed mentally to herself. Why did these military types have to be so formal and stuffy. They had been working together long enough for them to talk on a first name basis. Hell, she knew the marines by name and there was a couple hundred of them in this taskforce. Shaking it off, she spoke. "Commander, the Eureka's passive scans have detected a large object hidden in the nebula. I recommend we jump to get closer. Going in sublight will take too long."
"Yes, ma'am. I know how impatient you can be. You were literally bouncing off the walls when you found out about the delay we experienced in the previous system."
She glared at him. "I have been delayed several years, Commander. Years that could have been used to study the Protheans along with their technology, culture and ruins in peace. Now I have to have a military escort fit for convoy duty and worry everyday if I am to be recalled due to the situation back home. I am constantly in danger of running out of time, so my impatience is not one that is unexpected."
Michael's raised an eyebrow; the man rarely smiled or laughed. The closest he had come to an emotion was the motion he just made, as Katherine had noticed. "Understood, ma'am. We will jump and scan with active sensors. Maybe we can see what this object is." The screen blanked out and she turned to the bridge crew.
"Prepare to jump. Coordinates are locked in and ready to go."
They nodded and sent out the alarm that they were jumping, preparing everyone for the shift from Realspace. The taskforce powered up their drives and suddenly shivered out of view, as reality squirmed under the terrible force of their drives. Seconds later, they reappeared in the nebula, causing a wave of gas to fly away from them as they reentered real space. A moment or two of adjustment came and then the ships active sensors came online. What they say astonished them. Katherine looked at the data coming in and couldn't believe her eyes.
"Are we in visual range?"
"Aye ma'am. Putting it on the main screen now."
The previous blank screen flickered and revealed the large cloud of gas that formed the nebula. It was an array of pinks, purples, reds, and other colors that had made them one of the most beautiful sights in the galaxy. However, that was not what commanded their attention and took the breath away from Katherine. In front of their ships, softly glowing in the distorted light that came from the systems sun....was a large space station. It appeared to to be a strange construction, almost seeming like a flower. It has a small base at the back of the structure, with five arms that had come together to form a protective shell. It was dormant, but had backup power running, as they could detect the small signatures and the station had passively scanned them. Taking a moment to collect herself, Katherine allowed a moment to grin and giggle to herself. She had found it; the jackpot that would put her name in the history books, ingratiate herself with High Command and get them to let her focus on her research, not the military projects. Grinning, she called up the Commander. When he appeared, he put up a hand.
"I know, I know. You were right. My doubts came from the fact that a station of such epic proportions shouldn't be able to exist. It's larger than most ringworlds even."
Katherine grinned. "I know. You owe me one hundred credits, Michaels."
He glanced at her. "I don't recall ever answering your bet back on Schescel. And I remember asking you to call me Commander Michaels before. Many times."
She laughed. "Spoilsport. Now hang on, watch this."
His eyes narrowed slightly. "What are you doing?"
She scoffed. "Can't you tell, Michaels?" She grinned viciously at the screen. "I'm activating it. You didn't think I'd find my toy and not be able to play with it, did you?" She keyed in the code she had found on the first outpost. It was the code to activate any piece of Prothean technology. It couldn't bring power back online if something had happened, but it could cause the machines to work, if backup power was available. The code was sent and suddenly, the station began to move. The normal grinding noise that would be heard by the arms shifting was silenced in the vacuum of space and they only watched as the five arms moved out, like a flower blooming. It finally stopped and she received a message in Prothean. She read it; they had only been able to crack a little of the language, so she could only make out a few words. It appeared to be an automated greeting, for those coming into the "heart of our Empire." She saved the message and put it away, for future study. Any bits of Prothean language were vital. She looked at Michaels.
"If you don't mind...."
He nodded. "Of course. I will dispatch my marines to inspect the center ring and find a place for you to establish your lab. We will do our best to get the atmosphere, gravity and everything else online, if its not already. And I have already dispatched an FTL comm buoy, so you can contact High Command. Did I forget anything?"
She stuck out her tongue at him. "Oh shush you. Now go off and do military things. I have to go talk to the bigwigs."
Michaels grunted and the screen was replaced by the Dominion flag, a red banner with a black line across and down in the center. In the very middle was a red eagle, it's talons clamped around a sword. Data scrolled down as her ship connected with the comm buoy, then a paused screen as it sought connection to the Terra Network. After a few minutes of waiting, it flickered to show the Council of Lords, along with the First, sitting in council. She bowed her head respectfully. "Greetings, lords. I come bearing news on my search."
One of the Councilors grunted. "That wild goose chase you had us send you on? I hope you found something useful that merits the loss of your services."
Katherine's face twitched but she kept her anger in check. She couldn't lose the support she had by yelling at him, no matter how much of a prick he was. "I have, milord. I am sending you the relevant files now, but we have essentially found a giant space station."
The Councilor grunted. "So what, we have stations of...our...." He paused, gawking at the picture he was seeing. Another looked at her.
"Is this image accurate, Katherine?"
She nodded. "Yes milord. It is really that big. It puts ringworlds to shame. And from what we have been able to gather from our initial approach, it was the center of the Prothean Empire."
The First spoke up. "So, you are saying this is the research jackpot you have been searching for all this time?"
Katherine hid a smile. The First was very supportive of her, but due to the politics of the Council, he had kept it low key, but intervening to keep her from getting swamped by the more conservative Councilor's concerns. "Yes, Honored First. This should have plenty of data on their culture, their people, their systems.....and their technology."
The Council shifted at the last bit, and the one who had been so rude before slowly looked up. "You are thinking we can get technology from this to aid in our current crisis?"
"Yes, Councilor. It will take time and we won't get anything right away, due the work we need to do. It will be years before I can get you anything special, I'm afraid. Unless you can divert personnel and funds from the operations we already have but...."
"...that cannot be done. This is a problem, Ms. Duran."
She felt her hope slipping away. Already they were looking at each other and shaking their heads. They were going to call her back, make her come back and work away from her discovery. She was going to lose her discovery to some Council-appointed nitwit and-
"Most honored Councilors and First, if I may speak?"
They all turned to see Commander Michaels, his image appearing in the room. The First nodded.
"You may."
Michaels turned to wave a hand at Katherine. "I am sure you know that the work going on would take a long time, as Ms. Duran has informed you, and we cannot get anything out of it alone for some years. So, you are probably wanting her to come back and work on projects vital to the Dominion."
They nodded in agreement and Katherine gripped her chair tightly, anger in her eyes.
"...However, this is in error, if you will pardon the bluntness." A shocked silence filled the room and he kept going. "You see, all she needs is more funds and help. And if this is given, she can get things done in a much tighter timeframe. The Dominion cannot provide this, but we all have forgotten who can. The Abh Empire...and the United Colonies of Kobol. Both will be sure to want in on such a discovery and want to send their own scientists. And seeing as they have less pressing matters to attend to, they can give what we cannot."
The Council seemed to mull over this, debating and muttering between itself. The First waited for the mood to turn in favor of this idea before speaking. "I am sure that they will be happy indeed to help out. And it will do good for the Pact. All of the nations in the Pact working together on something not war or conflict-related. It will do wonders for relations. I approve this action. Ms. Duran is to stay with Commander Michaels to secure and begin work on the station. This....Citadel. We will contact the UCK and the Empire to see if they wish to have a part in this. Another taskforce will be sent to insure that site remains secure. It won't be much, due to our situation, but it will be what we can spare."
Michaels nodded and Katherine looked at him with new respect in her eyes. She had her chance; her moment of triumph would be hers. And she looked forward to working with the brilliant minds of the Dominion's allies. The First turned to them. "I assume that is all?" Seeing their nods, he spoke. "Very well. This meeting is adjourned." The screen then showed Michaels face.
Katherine smiled at him. "You tricky bastard; you never showed any sign of interest in my work."
"Just because you can't see it, doesn't mind I don't have it, Ms. Duran." He turned to look at a datapad.
"Oxygen levels are optimal, the gravity is all set and we have an area secured for you. Whenever you are ready....Katherine." She looked in shock at the screen as it winked out. The bridge crew did their best to keep their chuckles in check as they prepared to send over the teams.
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Meanwhile, a message was sent to both the Abh Empire and the UCK on the new discovery. It asked for their aid in sending a large scientific expedition to the station, to help the group that was already there. They wished to make this a Pact effort, to promote cooperation between their nations and also offered to share the technology with everyone, even if they didn't come. The First was sure to note that "if any personnel need a vacation of sorts from the dangers of the galaxy, this is the perfect place to go." They were told that they would respect who they sent but that they'd be under the command of Katherine Duran and Commander Michaels. If they were interested, the coordinates were given, along with a signal to send to show the defending ships that they were friendlies.
Those who were sent would arrive to see a small fleet patrolling around and through a nebula. Upon arrival, they were contacted by a harsh message, asking that they identify themselves or leave. When they gave the signal, they were welcomed and shown to the Citadel. Once the awe-inspiring sight had sunk in, any incoming ships or shuttlecraft would be direct to the center ring, where they would land in a large bay, already filled with equipment and Dominion personnel. Dominion Marines patrolled around, keeping the peace even as they explored more of the station and ensured the scientists were okay. When they landed, they were met by a woman with long, unkempt brown hair, wearing glasses and a white labcoat with a ruffled shirt and pants. She was holding a datapad which she seemed to be studying as she checked on a pencil that looked as if a dog had made it into its chew toy. Upon seeing the new arrivals, she looked up and smiled. "Greetings; I am Katherine Duran, president of the Dominion Science and Technology Institute and finder of this fine baby of a station. It is good to see our allies respond to our request. And don't worry, there is plenty to do here and plenty to see. Any questions?"
. Suffice it to say, it made Tennenbaum blush as red as a ripe tomato with the implications of such a thing, especially considering the other colleagues nearby, and she immediately could only muster the word, "Typical," her lower lip quivering in embarrassment at holding such a set. She immediately passed it to Javier and said, urgently, "Javier, stow this in my quarters and place a Level Six Seal on it."
