The Battle of Betazed - Charlotte Douglas [82]
Vaughn’s strategy entailed encircling each encampment of Jem’Hadar with Betazoids, who traveled to the sites in small groups in order to attract less interest from Jem’Hadar patrols. Breaking up the Betazoid attack force into groups also insured they were less likely to set off Jem’Hadar sensors. If one group was detained, at least the others would make it through.
Every cell on the planet had a Starfleet officer and several security personnel responsible for protecting the telepaths. Each small group had to be in position, ready to project their emotions at the Jem’Hadar by the designated attack time. Other Betazoids, those less telepathically adept, would be responsible for placing the catatonic Jem’Hadar into force fields and prisons and taking out any remaining patrols that escaped the initial empathic assault. Timing and the element of surprise would be critical to the plan’s success.
With Lwaxana beside her, Deanna marched along the wilderness path toward the Jem’Hadar encampment, comfortable with her decision to join the unconventional battle. Captain Picard and the Enterprise would target Cardassian centers of communication from orbit, and keep watch for Dominion reinforcements. Will and Vaughn would have their hands full subduing the Cardassian troops, against whom the invasive empathy wasn’t expected to work.
Nerissa Povron and Enaren brought up the rear of Lwaxana’s group. Povron seemed lost in her own thoughts, Enaren cloaked in grief for his son.
We’re almost there, Lwaxana announced.
I remember all too well. Enaren’s mind was heavy with sorrow for the loss of Sark and Okalan, the friend he’d had to kill at this very encampment. He had lost much in this war, and he’d been the first to volunteer for this mission.
Lwaxana, a stronger telepath than Deanna, must have been weighed down by Enaren’s anguish. She directed strong encouragement to her fellow council member and old friend. Gather up your emotions. Soon you can put your feelings to good use.
In the burgeoning dawn, Lwaxana stopped the group behind a copse of trees. Line of sight to the Jem’Hadar troops wasn’t necessary. The telepaths needed simply to approach close enough, a distance of over a hundred meters for the strongest among them.
Using her phaser rifle, Deanna checked their location. Its targeting scope, capable of detecting and tracking life-forms, indicated short-range biological scans of a concentrated group of Jem’Hadar, too many for a patrol, dead ahead. Her group had reached the encampment. We are in position.
Take cover, Lwaxana ordered.
Concealed by a row of evergreens, Deanna settled on the floor of the forest between Lwaxana and Povron. Enaren crouched behind a nearby thicket. Aiming her rifle in the direction of the encampment, ready for rapid fire if needed, Deanna closed her eyes and felt the presence of other groups in the surrounding woods, just as across her homeworld, other cells encircled other Jem’Hadar encampments and duplicated their efforts.
We have two minutes, Lwaxana announced. Relax. Meditate. Focus every emotion and prepare to release it as Deanna taught us.
I’m ready. Grief, hostility, and sadness emanated from Enaren.
I, too. Povron’s hatred for the enemy, clear and polished, had a razor-sharp edge.
One minute to go. Lwaxana warned. She thought of Ian, of Kestra, of Deanna and Barin. Breathe deeply. Relax. Focus on the Jem’Hadar.
Deanna watched as the three telepaths breathed in through their noses, out through their mouths, and drew energy from deep inside themselves.
Ten seconds, Lwaxana counted.
Five.
Now!
Deanna could feel the emotions being hurled into the nearest Jem’Hadar. In her mind, she pictured them