No Quarter for the Fallen. . .

[Karo Veras 0]

There was something perverse about meandering through the crowd of survivors in a full biohazard suit and phaser rifle. Karo fully understood the reasons, as did the survivors, but something about it just didn't sit well with him. These were brothers, comrades-in-arms. They had just been defeated in battle, and here he was, treating each and everyone of them as if they were some sort of prisoner of war. It didn't seem right. He wasn't around for the Dominion War, but he wondered if life was like this for survivors of those battles, if those who had been defeated in battle had to endure the same heightened suspicions as their brothers scanned them to ensure that they weren't changlings. It was something he would have to ask his father next time he was on Bajor.

 

Karo slung his phaser rifle over his should and crouched next to the next survivor, a dejected looking Bolian He put a gloved hand on his shoulder. "Name, Rank, and position, my friend." He asked him, holding his PADD.

 

"PO1 Ardo, Engineer" the Bolian said, looking over at Karo.

 

Karo confirmed his identity in the PADD and nodded to the medic, who then began to administer what Karo had begun to mentally refer to as the "Blue" test. The irony here was that Ardo was naturally blue, so the meaning did not apply as much in this case.

 

The medic nodded to Karo, who then tagged Ardo with a wristband. He gave the Bolian one last pat on the shoulder before standing up to move on to the next survivor. As he turned away, heard Ardo speak to him again.

 

"This war isn't going so well, is it?" the Bolian asked, loud enough for most of room to hear. Karo turned back around at looked down at Ardo. There was a part of him that wanted to lash out at the Bolian for harboring such a negative attitude, but Karo knew that wouldn't do any good.

 

Instead, Karo knelt down next to the Bolian and undid his biohazard helmet, taking it off. He put his hand back on the Bolian's shoulder, looking him straight in the eyes. "There's a change in the winds coming." He held the gaze or the Bolian for a few more seconds before sliding his biohazard helmet back on.

 

He moved on to the next survivor. He wasn't sure if his words were of any solace. Hell, he wasn't even sure if he believed it himself. But he knew that hope was integral to victory. Without it, there would be no chance.