The briefing was brief. Basically, some security forces had already been deployed and couldn't be recalled because of the 'power outage', and so the Shadows are going to work with Magellan's security forces to find and capture the intruder. The chief of security's plan seemed tactically sound, and Major Storm didn't seem to have any objections. With the Shadows' technologically capable of 'phasing' through solid matter, unlike the transporter which is more easily detectable and traceable, Aaen started to wonder why Aurora didn't just scan for the intruder, 'phase' directly to its location, and then non-lethally take it down. Maybe there was a catch to their technological ability to phase, he guessed? Could that have something to do with those aliens approaching the Station as the security forces checked their weapons and gear before carrying out the plan? Aaen couldn't help but wonder, but he had a gut feeling that the security forces were no match for the military skill and professionalism that he anticipated would be demonstrated by the Shadows' light infantrymen. The room was full of the subtle clicking and subsequent seconds-long whining of the security forces' particle pulse rifles as they gathered in a neat line perpendicular to the only door to the room, holding their particle pulse rifles as though they were going hunting. Aaen felt a surge of excitement, though he hoped the situation would be resolved without any losses. He couldn't help but wonder what the connection was with the intruder and the aliens that were approaching. Or was there a connection? Or just an ugly coincidence of events? How could there be any connection between two different entities from two different universes? Aaen thought to himself. How could there have been any way for the two to have worked together at all? There couldn't have been, Aaen reasoned. In any case, let's find out. Aaen thought determinedly.
He started mulling over the chief of security's tactical plan. Basically—clear a few key decks, secure multiple sensitive areas of the Station, corner the intruder, and then hit it with everything they had in terms of small arms fire until the intruder was incapacitated. But this was a phasemorpher, Aaen silently thought to the chief of security. Aaen wished he were a telepath for the last ten seconds to give the chief of security a piece of his mind on the matter. Historically, no phasemorpher has ever been completely—if at all—susceptible to particle weapon fire. On Deep Space Nine, they had to put their particle rifles on a wide-beam setting, and calibrate the frequency of the beam to a particular power output just to disrupt the phasemorphers' ability to maintain a familiar shape, long enough to take the intruder down with other defensive measures. Those bozos managed to make it all the way from the Gamma Quadrant to Earth in what was simply a matter of time, and darn nearly infiltrated the entirety of Union space before that war had ended. The Union hadn't been on such a high alert before—so high, that the entire fleet had been ordered to duplicate the same particle sweep tactics on board their ships, space stations, and outposts, and even had their crews doing blood tests as part of an albeit temporary standard security precaution to make sure everyone was who they said they were. Thankfully, despite how formidable the phasemorphers were in their attempt to infiltrate the Union—even the entire Alpha Quadrant, there was a fundamental flaw in the plan that the Union had figured out and used to their advantage. . . And it worked. If there's one thing even the Borg must have learned by now, it's that you don't mess with humanity.
Aaen grinned, scanning each security officer in the room. Each security officer appeared like any non-security officer would expect them to appear: determined, tough, sharp—men and women of action—and surely excellent shots. Aaen found his curiosity shifting to how good of shots they were compared to the Shadows. The Shadows' uniforms and gear gave Aaen chills just looking at them. Station security officers always had excellent training on tactics, judgment, and verbal and non-verbal communication. But something about the Shadows outfitting made Aaen wonder if the security personnel on board the Station had found their match or a friendly. . .alter-ego?. . .that they couldn't help but respect. This Station might be theirs to protect. . .but this was a different universe, albeit very physically similar to the one in which the Union resides, but around every proverbial corner, the Shadows seemed like they made 'security forces' seem like personal bodyguards trying to talk tough to military professionals who were capable of literally disappearing without a trace—invisible. Gone. So why go marching through corridors when the phasemorpher could potentially be around any given corner or perhaps having assumed a shape of a bulkhead or wall panel. . .a door. . .or one of the security forces, themselves? Why not 'disappear' beyond the scope of detection of the intruder, catch it in some kind of elaborate—and possibly high-tech—trap? Do the Shadow Forces not have such a capability? No. Aaen reasoned. They probably do, but they probably have their equivalent of a 'don't give the other guy any weapons' rule the Union has in every rule book in existence in the event of an encounter with a fellow warp-capable party. What's their strategy? Aaen wondered. He went over the tactical plan in his head. It would make more sense to just 'phase' to the intruder's location. So why not do just that? Do they know about phasemorphers? Do they know what they're capable of doing? How could they know? How could they possibly know? Unless. . . They've been in Union space before? But how? Aaen asked himself. Who cares, he decided. As technologically superior as the Shadows have demonstrated they are, they have their reasons for not using that technology to solve this problem. Maybe they were there when the Founders were infiltrating Union space and followed the military developments leading to the Founders being 'smoked out', as it were, as the war was reaching its end? Maybe they know how cunning the Founders can be, and want to prevent them from attaining the phasing technology the Shadow personnel from ship to ship. Aaen detected no fear from any of them—not one of them. As for the Union security, there was also no noticeable fear, but he didn't detect the same vibe. They were each as prepared as they were going to be for the dangerous task that they all knew was ahead of them in moments to come. Aaen guessed that a little over ten minutes to complete their objective—and he hadn't completely recovered from the effects of the phasing technology. He was still feeling a little woozy, but the symptoms were mild enough he felt he could function and help his crewmates on the various lower decks who were undoubtedly worrying for their personal safety and waiting for armed guardians to come marching down the various corridors of the Station with fully-charged, tactical flashlight-equipped particle rifles and assure all of them that the Station and all on board would get to see another day.
Somehow—Aaen had a gut feeling—the aliens that were approaching the Station would somehow be dealt with by Aurora and her crew. Aaen sensed that they were already taking action to buy the Magellan crew time to restore power to the entirety of the Station and get home. He admired how all of the security forces were standing ready for the Admiral's order to move out. Major Storm and his team held their weapons in a different way than station security did. These were men that were not to be messed with, Aaen reasoned and decided. Not that station security was—but he had a gut feeling that the Shadows could probably infiltrate any government, any time, over time. Aaen couldn't help but wonder. He guessed only time would tell. Station personnel was headed to the battle bridge to better ensure the crew maintained control of the station; Shadows were headed to the lower decks to help the deployed security personnel secure other sensitive areas of the Station.
"Remember, stay together. Stay quiet, and keep your eyes out for the intruder. We need to take it alive if we can," the Admiral said. "Let's go."
*****
Steve H. told Jordan Foutin, "You are the next Tom Clancy. You really are a gifted writer."
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