[Randallw]

The control room was surprisingly quiet. Although dozens of Jem’Hadar and Vorta supervisors were at work there were no superfluous sounds, each operator obeying or issuing commands without recourse to unnecessary chatter or conversation. Weyas, Chief supervisor for the launch looked around him quietly taking pride in the atmosphere. All present united in service to the Founders.
“Launch platforms prepared” reported one of the Jem’Hadar assistants.
“Begin Countdown” Weyas ordered.
“Beginning countdown…..5….4...3...2...1”
.The operator pressed the launch console and nearby a number of Drones launched from their racks quickly leaving the atmosphere and heading directly for the nearest wormhole. Without pause they transited the wormhole and emerged on the other side. Weyas and the other officials observed the relay feed. They were confronted by a dark waste. Once there had been light, assumedly, but all light had been extinguished along with any worlds that may have once existed in the system, when the sun had collapsed forming a black hole. A Dominion ship had discovered the Black hole a few months previously, and although the ship in question had managed to escape the Dominion was unwilling to risk any further ships. This was not to say they were unwilling to lose the crews, for any servant of the Founders would be willing to die if it would advance the Dominion, rather it was simply decided to be more advantageous to use high speed probes to scout the next systems. The probes continued on into the system, taking courses that would hopefully skirt the event horizon and bring them safely to the other side. So far things went as planned. Then 2 of the drones ceased sending data. Meanwhile the remaining drones kept moving.
“Second Aet’atem, What happened? Did they fall into the centre” Weyas, questioned.the Jem’Hadar.
“Negative. Drones were well on edge of event horizon”
“What of the others?”
“Oncourse as predicted”
“Return data from lost drones to 10 seconds before cessation”
Weyas watched as the footage of the drone traversing empty space rewound. Once again he watched as the drone exited the wormhole and edged around the system. There was a grey flash and the data ended.
“Rewind 5 seconds and slow speed to one tenth”
Again, only slower, the drone’s data showed the surrounding space as the drone made its journey. Just before the data was to cut out a form loomed ahead, then the drone was destroyed.
“Again, Rewind 2 tenths and then freeze image. Clean up image”
The Jem’Hadar officer manipulated the image and eventually a shape formed. Surprising as it sounded, and by a quirk of fate, the drones had collided with an alien ship traversing the black hole in the opposite direction. The Ship was comprised of a saucer section and propelled by what appeared to be 2 warp nacelles. Weyas had never seen the type before. A new race encountered and it had cost them 2 drones.
“The Federation” a soft voice spoke behind Weyas. Weyas turned in shock to be confronted by a Founder. Instantly he bowed and stepped back, making room for the god.
“Immediately you are to increase ships presence in this system. I do not want any of their ships to enter.” ordered the Founder.
“As the Founders wish” obeyed Weyas.