Anzyl, Alia, Zide'Mok, Eroga, Veirik, and Tey'un stood in a tight semi-circle around Stitch at the console, their eyes fixed on the flickering display as the data log began to stabilize.
"Alright, Stitch," Anzyl said, resting a hand on his chin. "Go ahead. Play the whole file".
A cold, clinical voice—the unmistakable tones of the Female Changeling—filled the laboratory:
"Research Log - 4121.63
My fellow Founders. The Masan research station is now fully operational. As we continue to draw more worlds into our sphere of influence, our studies of xenobiology grow ever more critical. We must know all we can of both friend and foe; we need every advantage to achieve true dominion.
Our premier project is underway. You will recall the recently discovered race of tree-dwellers, a species hunted as we once were. Genetic engineering of these solids has yielded considerable results—their intelligence has already increased by a factor of three. We predict this species will be the first of many loyal servants and vassals".
The log ended, leaving a heavy silence in the room.
"That report is dated well over two thousand years ago," Zide'Mok noted stoically. "The 'tree-dwellers' she refers to are the Vorta".
Alia nodded slowly. "The most loyal stewards of the Founders, and the Voice of the Dominion. We all knew they were genetically engineered, but we never knew the site of their creation".
"I guess we found it," Veirik added.
Anzyl let out a long, weary sigh. "The birthplace of the Vorta. We need to see what else the Founders were brewing here." He turned to the technician. "Stitch, is there anything else?"
Stitch's fingers flew across the console. "There's one more file that isn't corrupted, sir. The rest are too old—lost to time".
"Play it," Anzyl commanded.
"Research Report - 4653.15 (Dominion Reckoning)
Our scouts have discovered an intriguing species of solids at the edge of the Dominion: a race of insectoids that live primarily underground. We might have overlooked them entirely were it not for a thorough geological scan. Initial studies reveal these solids are germanium-based. I have attached the bioscan data for your review.
I have dispatched a research unit to study these 'Burrowers' further. They may be exactly what we require for our Military Initiative".
"Burrowing, germanium-based sentient insectoids?" Anzyl pondered aloud.
"She's talking about the Hur'q," Veirik stated flatly.
"Judging by the date," Zide'Mok added, "the Founders made first contact with the Hur'q nearly two thousand years ago, shortly after this station became operational".
Anzyl looked at Stitch. "Anything else?"
Stitch shook their head. "Nope. This terminal is a two-thousand-year-old hunk of junk now." They glanced at their data pad. "We'll need to scour the facility for other terminals. Now that we know what we're looking for, we might find more logs in the less unkempt labs".
"Agreed," Anzyl nodded. "Let's split up. Report on comms if you find a terminal Stitch can hack into".
—
Moments later, the team reconvened in a second laboratory further down the hall. Stitch hummed as they bypassed the ancient security protocols on a pristine console, bringing up the next log.
"Research Report - Dominion Date 7021.27
More data has arrived on Cadre Species 484, designation: Burrowers. Their world's unusual orbital path has taken it out of the habitable zone, causing the Burrowers to retreat underground into a state of mass hibernation.
While they remain dormant, a smaller servitor race tends to them, maintaining their shared habitat and technology. I have instructed the field team to exploit this period of dormancy to conduct aggressive studies. My team initiated first contact protocols prior to their hibernation; we found them friendly and intelligent, if not willful. We have identified a common element in their food supply—manipulation of this element may prove essential in subjugating them".
"Unbelievable," Alia whispered, her voice thick with disbelief. "The Founders didn't just meet the Hur'q; they studied them specifically to find a way to conquer them".
Anzyl's face darkened with sorrow. "I guess the Ferengi Forty-Eighth Rule of Acquisition holds true: 'The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife'".
"There's another file here," Stitch noted, triggering the playback.
"Research Report - 7903.01 (Dominion Reckoning)
Cadre Species 468, designation: Jem'Hadar, is a resounding success. They will be the strong arm of the Dominion, guided by our cunning Vorta. The toil of these vassals will allow us to spend more time in the Link with those we hold most dear".
Veirik huffed. "She sounds awfully proud of herself, creating an army for galactic domination".
Zide'Mok, however, watched the screen with a look of reverence. "The birth of the Jem'Hadar, seen through a Founder's eyes. It is... fascinating." His expression then shifted to clinical curiosity. "But there is no mention of the Fek'ihri. And the Hur'q's designation is lower than ours—they were our predecessors. Something must have gone wrong, leading the Founders to abandon them for us".
"One last log on this terminal," Stitch said, tapping the screen.
"Research Report - Dominion Date 8183.67
The Burrowers have emerged from dormancy in a hostile state. They have taken to the stars, moving from sector to sector and attacking anything in their path. Their goal is not conquest, but consumption; they leave nothing but dead worlds in their wake.
Though we do not understand the source of their savagery, we have found a use for it. When the Burrowers set their sights on a system, we offer the inhabitants a choice: those who submit to Dominion rule are defended by the Jem'Hadar. Those who refuse serve as an object lesson to the rest".
Veirik shook his head slowly. "Now, where have I seen that tactic before?"
"The Founders used the Hur'q as a shadow-threat to manipulate worlds for eons," Anzyl said, standing tall. "'Bend the knee to the Dominion, or we'll step aside and let the swarm ravage your world'".
"Something changed recently," Eroga added. "Something that escalated into the Hur'q war that nearly engulfed both the Alpha and Gamma Quadrants".
Anzyl looked around the ancient lab. "Then we keep looking. I have a feeling this station has many more secrets to tell".