SEASON 3: EPISODE 04

TO DELIGHT IN THE INHUMAN WORD: Prologue

  Fourth Corhan’ital was just three weeks old and had yet to see any combat.  He yearned to test his mettle against someone other than his fellow Jem’Hadar and holographic opponents.  He was an Alpha, just like the other eight members of his platoon.  He had been created specifically to fight the Dominion’s war in the Alpha Quadrant.  He knew that where his Gamma brothers had failed the Alphas would succeed because that was the will of the Founders.

  “Is the warp core ready?”

  Corhan’ital stood at a console to the right of the command chair and he quickly checked the information on his console.  “It is not, first.”

  “We should have brought in Dominion engineers.  These Nausicaans are inadequate,” scowled the second from the console to the left of the command chair, which was the tactical station.

  “They have their purpose in the Vorta’s design,” chastised the first.  “Otherwise they would not be here.”

  “Very true, First Rebis’Fetra.”  Corhan’ital looked up to see the Vorta had stepped onto the bridge from the commanding officer’s ready room.  He was impressed by her silent movements; it was of stark difference from the Vorta he had been exposed to at the hatchery and dispersal centre.  She had elegance and form that did not seem typical of her species.  The Vorta had a reputation as non-combatants but he could read that she was capable at personal combat from the way she held herself.  “We all have roles to play,” she finished.

  The second snapped to attention and bowed slightly at the Vorta.  “I did not mean to question your orders, rona’toran.  I was just concerned about the inefficiency of the Nausicaans might threaten the success of our mission.”

  “Let me worry about the inefficiencies of the Nausicaans,” ordered the Vorta.  “While they have their part they are not irreplaceable, like the rest of us they serve at the will of the Founders.”

  The Vorta made her way to the centre of the bridge and sat in the chair located there.  Apart from the Vorta only the two Jem’Hadar manning the flight control and ops stations were seated.  He was glad he did not have to man one of those stations.  Sitting on the bridge seem wrong but the stations were primarily designed for its operator to be seated.  It was a design that showed the weakness of their enemy, their want for luxury and comfort.  These things matter not to the Jem’Hadar and that was why they would defeat the Federation and its allies.

  Corhan’ital’s attention was brought to his console; it was an updated report from the engineering room.  “The warp core is ready,” he relayed.

  “Excellent.  Prepare to the ship for warp.  You will then start broadcasting a distress call on all Federation frequencies once we arrive at our destination.”

  The Jem’Hadar silently complied.  Once the preparations were complete the first moved to stand just behind the Vorta.

  “I am First Rebis’Fetra, and I am dead.  As of this moment, we are all dead.  We go into battle to reclaim our lives.  This, we do gladly, for we are Jem’Hadar.  Remember - victory is life.”

  “Victory is life,” responded the rest of the Jem’Hadar, including Corhan’ital.

  The Vorta nodded her acknowledgement of their ritual.  “Excellent.  Warp 6 and to victory,” she ordered.

  There was little for Corhan’ital to do at this stage but monitor the readings coming into his console.  This was the moment he had been training three weeks for and from this point onwards he had no specific duty, other to wait for his first battle against the enemies of the Dominion.