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Semil

Supplanted

Across the platform, the Federation ambassador folded her hands benignly, having delivered her message (see Death Blow). Behind her, the Klingon stood with his arms tightly folded, with an almost bemused expression.

 

Keevan smiled pleasantly from his vantage. In their wisdom, the Founders had made the Vorta nearly immune to poison, but this was a bitter pill to swallow: his failure nearly complete, he was about to be supplanted for another.

 

Hadn’t he done all he could to preserve his stewardship?

 

He had preserved the Great Link in their splendid isolation, even as the threat of the Hundred grew. He had allied with former enemies as a means to distract and delay the conflict. Once the true malignancy of the Hundred became clear, he had led the purge of their ranks to remove sympathizers and those of questionable loyalty (see Night of the Long Knife).

 

But a great threat had been in waiting, in league perhaps? An ancient foe – one their genetic memories did not contain – had struck seemingly at will. Major cloning facilities, keys communication hubs, strategic stockpiles, even the Council itself had come under widespread and devastating attack. But instead of invasion, ominous silence broken only by chance encounters.

 

Rescued by their Romulan allies, the Vorta considered more desperate measures. Eris had already departed to seek a diplomatic audience with the Hundred. Gelnan pressed to reactivate the largely-untested Alpha strain of Jem’Hadar. Cloning material and memory libraries were being gathered, as Keevan had summoned any Vorta who could still be reached over the ailing comm network. It all seemed too little.

 

Adding to his humiliation, it was the disgraced Weyoun – the one whose line he had threatened to end once and for all (see Starved of White) – who was handing the personal defeat to him. He had convinced the Federation and his fellow Vorta to let him journey in secret to Earth, where the great leading Founder had agreed to remain as a “prisoner” (see Overture, Vorta Vorta, and Reunion I - IV). Weyoun had knelt before her and been granted the wisdom they needed to survive.

 

Keevan had refused to believe it. He had doubted the Founders would allow such an unworthy vessel to convey their message. The Vulcan had ended his denial. Shame rose around him like the gel of a cloning tube. Was this how Weyoun had felt, awakening anew with the knowledge he had mastered the greatest defeat in the Dominion’s glorious reign?

 

He flexed his jaw, knowing the termination implant in his brain stem could end this humiliation. Or would the Founders restore him just to endure it just as the Vorta had done to Weyoun?

 

“Thank you, Ambassador T’Salik,” he spoke at last. “The will of the Founders is done.” He stood, looking over the other assembled Vorta. “For now, we invite you to withdraw. We must make ready for the advent of Taenix; we must be sure she can be the the salvation the Founders preserved her to be.”

Edited by Semil

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