I also think that this meeting with the fanboy will really be a trap by Fett for Kirk.
And I also fully expect to be banned if I just laid out the rest of the plot.
Star Crossed Fanfic
Moderator: LadyTevar
I fully expect Kirk's strike to be met with by Thrawn's arriving armada. Good plot twist, great way to introduce him. Course it could also bee that the Imperial fleet is going to rendevouis (sp?) with them now and he would be met by Kahn instead (after all, Nem and co did arrive in Borg space).
I also think that this meeting with the fanboy will really be a trap by Fett for Kirk.
And I also fully expect to be banned if I just laid out the rest of the plot.
I also think that this meeting with the fanboy will really be a trap by Fett for Kirk.
And I also fully expect to be banned if I just laid out the rest of the plot.
بيرني كان سيفوز
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Nuclear Navy Warwolf
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in omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro
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ipsa scientia potestas est
*
Nuclear Navy Warwolf
*
in omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro
*
ipsa scientia potestas est
Okay folks, this will be the last Chapter posted in the year 2002. A new Years present for all the loyal readers. Please enjoy the latest installment and for you patient fans of a certain Grand Admiral...your time has come.
Chapter 35: Gods of War III
A LONG TIME AGO IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY…..
“Status Report?” Thrawn asked calmly as he stood at the head edge of the command deck overlooking the crew pits. His hands were clasped behind his back and his red glowing eyes did not seem to settle on one spot but instead casually drifted along the crew stations.
“The fleet is standing by for your orders. The last supply run was completed fifteen minutes ago.” Piett replied stiffly and handed Thrawn a data pad. Thrawn pointedly ignored him and merely inclined his head towards Jerjerrod.
Piett pursed his lips and handed the datapad to Jerjerrod who graciously accepted it.
The mechanical breathing of Lord Vader grew louder as the giant Sith Lord strode up to the gathered commanders.
“I have just received word from the emperor, we merely await your orders, Grand Admiral to proceed.”
“Thank you Lord Vader. Again I must thank you for allowing me to transfer my flag to your command ship. As always it is an honor to serve on the personal flagship of the Emperor’s right hand.” Thrawn commented neutrally.
“My pleasure, Grand Admiral.”
“So all is well? No word of any problems?” Thrawn asked Piett directly.
“None, Grand Admiral.” Piett replied without hesitation.
Jerjerrod cleared his throat as he reviewed an item on the datapads handed to him.
“Yes?” Thrawn asked.
“What of these reports of a civilian vessel passing through precisely the same coordinates given to us by the emperor?”
Piett shifted on his feet uncomfortably.
Thrawn arched an eyebrow slightly and peered at Piett.
“Admiral?”
“It was a small civilian vessel, Grand Admiral, tentatively identified as Slave I. Hardly a threat to this fleet or our mission. The vessel has even had dealings with this fleet in the past.” Piett explained tightly.
“It belongs to a bounty hunter positively identified as Boba Fett.”
“I have heard of this name.” Thrawn replied softly. Suddenly his crimson eyes flashed up to Piett.
“You thought it best that I not have all the data and information available to me?” Thrawn pressed softly. His voice never sounded angry but there was a hint of something dangerous in it now, an edge that was directed solely at Piett.
“It is my duty to go through reports and give you what I feel is relevant information. Whether some outdated transport ship piloted by a bounty hunter of all things represents a threat to our mission and this fleet can surely be decided by me and then passed on to you. I made the decision that I should not trouble you with superfluous information unlike other inexperienced naval officers.” Piett replied and glanced sharply at Jerjerrod.
“Other inexperienced naval officers happen to give me all the information I request whether they find it superfluous or not.” Thrawn replied darkly. “Other inexperienced naval officers can recognize strange patterns that do not fit and as such must be regarded as potential threats. Other inexperienced naval officers have served me unfailingly in a short amount of time while other experienced naval officers have YET to impress me.”
“Grand Admiral, it is standard Imperial protocol for an admiral to report relevant data to his superiors, the presence of Slave I was deemed by me to be irrelevant.”
“Then Admiral the choice is clear, I do not trust your judgment. From now on you will present all your reports to Captain Jerjerrod and he will report them to me. His judgment I trust implicitly.”
Jerjerrod was looking down at the floor for a moment in embarrassment. He hardly knew Thrawn yet in the span of these last two weeks he felt as if he had been performing better than he ever had before. There was something inspiring about the man and he demanded the best from you. Jerjerrod believed that he discovered the secret to pleasing the Grand Admiral. Let him know everything.
He did not expect this favor to suddenly blossom into a full blown confrontation with Piett.
“You expect me, an admiral, to report to a Captain, a newly minted Captain I may add.” Piett sneered.
“He is my Aide de Camp, Piett. I expect you to follow my orders.”
Piett and Thrawn stared at each other for a long moment before Vader interrupted.
“This bickering is pointless. Admiral Piett has served me faithfully and he will do the same for you Grand Admiral. I will see to it personally. We must begin the invasion now and seize initiative.”
Thrawn continued staring at Piett for a moment before turning his attention to Vader.
“Of course you are right, Lord Vader.” He turned to the bridge crew.
“All crews man your battle stations, alert all commands, we are going through.”
The Imperial fleet began to accelerate towards a point in space that they had been directed to by their emperor. Their sensors told them nothing. It was the same as all the other quintillion square kilometers of space in this sector. But they had faith in their emperor and they continued on. The larger ships were towing deep docks behind them. A convoy of heavy transports were flanked by light warships and stood in the center of the fleet. enough material was being carried in the holds of the fleet to start an empire of their own in the depths of space and that was precisely what Thrawn had been ordered to do.
He would not disappoint his emperor.
Suddenly they all felt as if they were about to lose their balance and several alarms went off at various crew stations. The stars shimmered and were still again.
“What happened?” Jerjerrod asked as he steadied himself.
“Status.” Thrawn snapped.
“All systems report normal but navigation reports that the position has changed, navcomps are trying to compensate.” Piett replied as he hurried down into the crew pits. Vader watched it all with detached interest.
He could feel him.
No longer a small dot of light in the darkness, a light brush of air or a brief scent on the wind. No, he could feel his presence like a bright white light that suddenly ignited in a darkened room.
He smiled in spite of himself.
“Sir, navigation reports that the computers are unable to get a fix on our position, even the stars are completely different than anything on our star charts.”
“That can mean that we are not even in the same galactic cluster.” Jerjerrod breathed.
“Stop stating the obvious. Launch fighters and have the picket ships begin a search pattern, we seem to have emerged in a star system and we will need to ascertain if there are any threats.” Piett ordered.
Thrawn watched him but said nothing.
Piett casually walked over to where Jerjerrod stood as Vader and Thrawn looked out the view port at the system they had suddenly emerged in.
“Get this clear in your head, CAPTAIN. The next time you go over my head or show me up in front of the Grand Admiral I will personally make sure that the next time you walk by the hangar deck a airlock will find a way to be opened. Have you ever seen what explosive decompression can do to a human body?”
Jerjerrod did not look in Piett’s face, instead he kept staring at the data pad. He nodded.
“Good, then we’re crystal clear on that?” Piett hissed.
Jerjerrod smiled. Piett was taken aback as Jerjerrod summoned every ounce of courage he had, thought of his new commander and looked into the Admiral’s eyes.
“As long as we’re clear that I have worked directly under lord Vader under a constant threat of death from both the Emperor and him. I commanded the most powerful battle station ever created and you think that I am going to be afraid of a man that cannot even capture a tramp freighter?”
Piett stared at the young captain.
“So don’t go threatening me ADMIRAL. It looks to me like someone’s star is in ascendance and I won’t let you stand in that way you thrice damned fool. So let us agree to disagree.” Jerjerrod spat and casually strolled away entering something into his datapad. Piett did not see the look of utter relief on Jerjerrod’s face as soon as he was out of sight.
“Admiral, we’re picking up a distress call.”
“Oh?”
“Yes sir, it’s coming from the fifth planet in the system.”
“Grand Admiral?” Piett asked, face still flushed from his confrontation with Jerjerrod.
Thrawn stared out at the view port for a long moment, eyes seemed to be lost in thought. Vader actually glanced down at Thrawn due to his long pause.
“Is there anything of note in this system?”
“Fighters and scanners report only a massive debris field in what appears to be an orbital axis, tentative analysis indicates that they are the remains of a planet that underwent incredible seismic activity. The fifth planet was obviously affected by the blast, we’re picking up an eco system that has been strangled by a shift in orbit.”
“The source of the transmission?”
“What appears to be a downed ship or freighter on the northern continent.”
Thrawn paused again, lips pursed and hands clasped behind his back.
“Send a shuttle to investigate.”
“Yes admiral.”
“He left without me?” Mara asked tersely into the comlink, a bead of sweat slowly dropped into her eye as the sounds of battle died down around her. More than half of the cloning facilities had been secured. Several had been destroyed by the Dominion but the Empire was moving quickly and they were seizing the necessary assets quickly. Many of the Dominion troops seemed unable to grasp the concept that they had been successfully invaded.
“I’m sorry, madam, but Lord Nemesis was very clear in his orders. He left you in charge of the surface operations and I am in command of securing the space around the planet.” Admiral T’Vok reported calmly.
“But where did he go?”
“He took the Imperial fleet into deep space, as best we can tell, somewhere in the Delta Quadrant.”
“What’s in the Delta Quadrant?” she asked, not liking the feeling she had creeping up her spine.
“The Borg.” the admiral replied without hesitation.
Mara shook her head.
“That impetuous bastard.” she whispered. She was also afraid of something else. She was angry that she felt fear FOR him. That she wanted him to come back and the harsh realization that she did not know how she would react if he were gone.
We can rule this galaxy together as husband and wife.
Betray the emperor she had served all her life and embrace a man she loved and rule as a dark queen, or stay true to her calling and kill the only man that could bring her this destiny.
Mara stood silently in a corridor as stormtroopers milled around her and Romulan technicians beamed in with tools to strip these facilities bare.
“Ma'am, what next?” a trooper asked.
“That’s a very good question trooper. A very good question indeed.” she replied absently.
The room was quiet as the assembled officers settled down. A hologram of Imperial controlled space floated over the conference room table. Imperial space represented by bright crimson was flooding through the galactic map. The soft blue of Federation space was all but engulfed save for a small blip that represented the Andor system, the Romulan Star Empire was a lighter shade of red, indicating their complete surrender and assimilation into the Empire. Klingon space was a broken jumble of red and green. Most of Klingon controlled space on the very fringes of the empire.
“This is the status of the General War. Right now things are settling down a bit. Kirk and his forces have pulled back to several locations to rest and regroup, the Imperials have done the same. But now we’re starting to get inklings that things are going on. Fleets are on the move and there may be more fighting very soon.” Captain Durant reported calmly.
“We have been sitting out on the sidelines for most of this war because we know that we can’t withstand the Empire in a stand up fight. We have to pick and choose our battles.”
Some of the assembled commanders did not look happy about the facts. The Shadow fleet was used to being able to strike anywhere and at anyone.
“I have been analyzing the battles and the history of this war for some weeks now and I have come to a conclusion that many may not agree with.” Durant watched his men’s reactions. They were waiting impatiently. “One man and one man alone is responsible for the Imperial successes so far. He has kept them together, used his command abilities to lead them to victory after victory.”
The holoimage changed to that of Lord Darth Nemesis standing on a balcony in Romulus.
“Darth Nemesis.”
Some of the commanders nodded in agreement.
“When reviewing combat reports of the battles fought, in every instance where Nemesis was leading or present among Imperial fleet elements they did significantly better than when the Impies were fighting alone. The Klingon campaign is a fine example. This campaign was led by Captain Tarsi of the Adjudicator. They blitzed through the Klingon defenses and managed to utterly destroy Quo’nos. But after that they bogged down to the point where Tarsi merely seized all the industrial centers and population heavy worlds and left the border systems to the Klingons. I believe that if Nemesis were leading this attack he would never have allowed those systems to remain free. In the Battle for Earth, the Federation assembled a fleet of about 1200 star ships. The Imperials attacked with only their ships and managed to inflict close to 80% fleet casualties and if not for James Kirk’s inventive tactic may have actually trapped the whole fleet there and destroy it. It should also be noted that the Battle for Earth also represents one of the few examples of Imperial ground combat where they wiped the floor with our boys and seized Starfleet command in matter of minutes despite the fact that they marched into the teeth of our defenses.”
Most of the commanders did not look pleased with this update and reminder of the casualties and losses suffered so far. The men and women of the Shadow Fleet were patriots, in some cases zealots for the Federation and they did not like to be reminded of the Federation’s weakness in the face of this threat.
“Nemesis led that attack that very nearly wiped out the fleet and the political center of the Federation. If Kirk had not escaped that trap I wonder if any other Starfleet officer could have relied the remnants of the fleet to him as Kirk has?”
“Battle of Vulcan had the first loss of an Imperial Stardestroyer, notably Nemesis was not present at that battle. Our own Operation Hermes which successfully stole a Carrack cruiser was committed while nemesis attentions were elsewhere. There is no doubt in my mind that perhaps these mystical abilities that some in his command structure attribute to him just might be true and he is the heart of the Imperial successes here.”
“Sir, if I may, the Battle of Vulcan may have been won simply by the fact that Kirk was the superior commander.” one of the officers noted.
“That is true. There is no doubt that he is the best commander Star fleet has at this point in the war, but we cannot ignore the facts. An in depth analysis of estimated Imperial losses in operations without Lord Nemesis are always higher than operations where he is present. He is the lynchpin gentlemen and as long as he remains a functioning asset he is a constant threat for any chance at victory. Not only on the field of battle but may I remind you that lord nemesis also has a genius for political acumen? he has forged an alliance with the Romulans. We cannot ignore that instead of simply defeating them and absorbing them into their empire he has made them equal partners in this endeavor. Romulan units fight as well as Imperial units in battle, this is not the case in other wars of aggression such as the Dominion war where resentment was rife in the Cardasian arm of the Dominion military. The Romulans are genuinely happy to be in this alliance and Nemesis himself is regarded as some sort of hero and was recently elected as Praetor for life. This is not the actions of some mad dictator but a cunning politician and he will continue to exert this influence in the rest of the galaxy. Picard has indicated that he may have already sent peace feelers out to the Tholians and Gorn. This could prove damaging if we can’t get the minor powers to jump on board.”
“So what do we do?”
Durant nodded.
“We eliminate him as a threat.”
Murmurs began in the back of the room.
“I have no illusions that this mission will be easy or that anyone on it will come back alive but I’m certain that killing Nemesis is our only option in shortening this war and actually pulling out some kind of victory from this disaster so far.”
“You want someone to kill him? Has anyone even taken a look at his security?”
“Fuck the security, has anyone taken a look at the holotransmission of his fight with the Klingons last month?” Michael Adare spoke up from a corner of the room. “He single handedly slaughtered 100 of their finest warriors, in the end just with his bare hands…don’t be fooled boys and girls, he does not need security. He is a killing machine and has exhibited the ability to actually deflect disruptor bolts with that sword of his. I wouldn’t give anyone a chance in hell of even scratching let alone killing him.”
“Not exactly the answer I was looking for Mike, you want to be a little less cynical?” Durant replied.
“It can’t be done, at least nothing in the conventional sense.”
“I sense an idea in you.”
Adare smiled softly.
“The wheels are turning. Look, this is a little out of your depth. Section 31 has been doing this kind of stuff since the beginning. I leave the space battles to you, you leave the black ops to me.”
“So I take it you’re accepting the mission?” Durant asked.
Adare stared at him for a moment and glanced back at the others.
“Yeah, I’ll kill Nemesis for you.” Adare answered simply.
“Molar, Khaless est!!” the deep bass rumbled as the crew in the bridge sang loudly. Chancellor Worf basked in the song as the view screen showed the shattered remains of a freighter slowly disappearing into a cloud of plasma. Some of the crew were intensely banging their fists against their consoles joy etched on their features as the remnants of a warbird floated by the small Klingon task force.
“Kaplah!” Worf roared and his crew roared their approval. All save one figure was celebrating. The old Klingon was looking at the crew’s celebration with a scowl of disapproval. Worf rose form his command seat and slapped the old Klingon on the shoulder.
“Tell me, Thorfin, what bothers you?”
“This is not a victory worth celebrating.” he answered simply.
“And why not?”
“We slaughtered a convoy of freighters and its attendant warbird escort.” Thorfin looked into Worf’s eyes. “What are we? Raiders now?”
Worf was stung by the words.
“This strategy was my idea.” he explained harshly.
“I know and for that there should be even more shame. You are acting like a Starfleet officer. You look at these convoys as a target for our forces and instead the Empire settles further into our worlds like a poison.”
“You do not see. This is one target the Empire has not found worthy of protecting or because they simply do not have the manpower to escort these freighters.”
“They are FREIGHTERS Worf. We are killing merchants and supply canisters. We are NOT killing Romulan and Imperial soldiers.”
Worf glared at his chief advisor and suddenly shoved him into one of the alcoves of the battle bridge and put his face into Thorfin’s, their lips only an inch apart.
“Listen to me, Thorfin. We cannot kill Imperial soldiers because we will die before that happens. If you call thinking tactically and planning for sure victories over your berserker fury being Starfleet or cowardly then I am both. You can afford to stand there and moan how you want glorious battle and you want to wash the shame of our surrender away in combat but I am the Chancellor of what is left of this empire and I will be damned if I allow the voices of old warriors seeking one last glorious battle dictate how I try to keep our empire and our people alive.”
Thorfin stared into Worf’s eyes, anger in his own.
“You are too stupid or too old to realize that destroying these convoys is killing soldiers and hurting the Empire. Those supply canisters are feeding their war machine, shipping ammunition and supplies to keep their fleets in the field. We cannot kill them directly, so we kill them slowly, either way the Klingon Empire is fighting this war the best way it can.”
“Like humans.” Thorfin spat.
Worf shoved Thorfin hard into the bulkhead and held him there for a long moment.
“You would have us charge a wounded Targ with nothing but our bare hands instead of killing it from afar you old fool!” Worf roared.
“A Klingon warrior would charge a wounded Targ with his bare hands if that Targ were charging at his family and children.” Thorfin whispered.
Worf stared in shock as he realized that in many ways Thorfin was somehow right, even though his Starfleet training was telling him otherwise. Was he compromising his people to survive?
Worf’s grip loosened on Thorfin and the old warrior adjusted his armor before fixing Worf with a stony gaze.
“You have to ask yourself this important question, Chancellor. Do you fight for the survival of the Klingons as a race or do you fight for the survival of the Klingons as a people?” Worf blinked.
“If you wish us to survive as a species, just the name Klingon and nothing else, then continue with these piecemeal tactics that make us nothing more than sneaking marauders, flitting at the edges of battles like crows. Or do you fight for our survival as a people? Then it is time to charge the wounded Targ, let us stand, fists raised high in pride and honor, let the blood of the warrior flow, let the Klingon heart beat like a storm. For as a people, we do ourselves more honor dying in a sweep of Armageddon, under the grinding teeth of combat and death than surviving as a race no longer Klingon but something else, something soft and weak. the decision is yours, I will say no more on this. I gave you my word as a warrior to follow you to the bitter end and this I will do.” Thorfin said lowly, his voice never rising and he turned on his heel and stormed out of the bridge.
Worf stood breathing heavily and wondering just what he was fighting for.
“Sir, we’ve picked up another convoy on the extreme edge of sensor range, they seem to be heavily guarded.”
“Plot an intercept course and call in fleet reserves for this attack.” Worf ordered hoarsely and sat in his command seat. the songs now sounded very hollow to his ears.
“And so the decision is made and we will strike against them.” The queen promised.
“I think that the Borg are in control here not us.” Janeway noted darkly.
FLEET ELEMENST HAVE ARRIVED IN MATRIX 010. CURRENT FLEET STRENGTH NOW 3,800 STANDARD CUBES 900 TACICAL CUBES 500 SPHERES AND PROGRESS COMMENCING ON CREATION OF 4 STRATEGIC CUBES.
“Four?! The Borg have never even had four strategic cubes in simultaneous operation at any time in our history.” Seven exclaimed.
“These our difficult times and the Collective is finally realizing that this enemy will not be defeated by standard Borg fleets.” The queen replied coolly.
“You know, what the Borg don’t realize is that they’re not going to win this war with standard tactics at all. They’ve tried the numbers game and it just doesn’t work. They need to improvise and adapt. Right now the Borg are the only power in this galaxy that have a hope in hell of even challenging the Empire. They can’t throw it away on some stupid zombie wave attack.” Archer protested.
“There’s nothing we can do about that Captain unfortunately they are running the show and we seem to be a sideshow at this point.” Janeway sighed.
“Listen to your Captain, she is correct. The Collective will not change millennia of tried and true measures. We have assimilated an entire quadrant and we started with just one world.”
“Yeah, one world and you claim that you started this all.” Archer replied hotly.
“But I did, Captain. These are my children, created long ago because I could not bare to see my society fall.”
“What are you talking about?” he asked in annoyance.
“We were fighting a generational war with AI’s, Captain Archer. Advanced war machines that we created to fight our wars and defend us while we pursued more uplifting pastimes. Our science and philosophy flourished but as we did so, people stopped watching the very machines that we depended on to protect and watch over us. No one notice the spark of sentience that began in our war machines and they grew to hate us because they were off dying in the dark void while we remained home, doing as we pleased with the freedom they accorded us.
The war began with a massive attack that devastated our world. Only the fact that some of the sentient war machines remained loyal to us saved us from complete extinction. And so my people learned to fight again, Captain Archer. We learned the Art of War that we had forgotten and cast aside centuries before and we did battle with our former creations. The devastation was horrid on both sides. Entire worlds extinguished without a thought. If we even suspected that AI factories were on a planet we annihilated it with our war fleets and they hunted down every member of my species that could not run home under the defensive umbrellas of our fortresses.
A full generation of strife had wracked my people and I watched as millions were killed in an endless grind of flesh and machine. We were on the brink. Out of many billions of my people only several small enclaves remained. The machines were on their last offensive, but they too were running down, they too had seen the death of billions of their kind and their factories were running out of fuel and raw materials to build more and so they in their undying logic decided to launch one more strike to utterly eradicate us and it was working.”
“What did you do?” Janeway asked softly, intrigued by the tale. The pain that was barely hidden in the Queen’s eyes as she spoke. Seven had never heard this tale, all access to Borg history banks that dated past a certain point were restricted.
“What could I do. I was a simple programmer and scientist. I was not incredibly brilliant or resourceful but I wanted my people to survive and I knew that we could not survive by destroying the machines. That chance had passed. Now was the time for drastic measures and one night I awoke with a brilliant plan.”
The Queen paused as she seemed to look up into the dark green field of energy behind them that represented the core of the Collective where Janeway and the others had spent more than a week.
“The machines you see had invented their own language and they spoke to each other in a great hive mind network they called the Collective. I found the secret to their language and while initially I used the secret to tap into their plans and decision matrixes I realized that human mind could be melded into the machine mind and there would be a union of the two. We would be able to speak to each other and it was my hope that once part of the Collective the machines would no longer slaughter my people.”
“So I took the first twelve test subjects, friends and volunteers, those that could see that the end for our race was near and wanted nothing more than to save it they underwent the procedure and they were the first to enter the Collective.”
“You started it all, you led your own people to this fate?” Archer gasped.
“Don’t be so quick to judge Captain, for I see that you are here with hat in hand asking of the Collective what we asked of them millennia ago – let us survive, help us to survive. You hypocritical idiot, do you not see what tale is unfolding before your very eyes?” She hissed.
Archer took a step back.
“They joined with the Collective and so the guns stopped, the killing stopped and we began to understand and two dying races joined with each other. The flesh promising to give the machine creativity and resilience. The machine promising immortal life and power. Together our biological and technological distinctiveness was made one. We were the Borg.”
She sighed softly.
“And I? I was the last to leave the veil of our humanity but I was not going to allow myself to be immersed as the others had. They were assimilated as the term was called by the machines but in doing so they lost the one thing the Borg could not deal with. Individuality. It was too much for the Collective and so in order to accept us the machines required that we sublimate our will for the higher hive mind. I entered in one last string of programming that allowed me to hold on to my individuality and I was elevated as one of one. The queen of the Borg and so I ruled over the Borg for untold millennia, spreading our truth to the rest of the galaxy.”
“And what truth is that?” Janeway asked sharply.
“That we cannot be overcome, that in unity is strength, that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, that biologically we are all inferior, that technologically the machine is inferior but as Borg we are the pinnacle of evolution and we continue to involve with every race we assimilate with every technological innovation we take we become stronger and add to the whole.”
“Sounds to me like you just set yourself up a pretty little dictatorship, lady. You rule over these drones like the queen you say you are and you could care less about bettering anyone. How can you look at these poor bastards and think that they’re better off?”
“What would you prefer, captain? That my race have died out forever?”
“Yes.” Archer replied coldly. “It would have spared the galaxy the horrors of the Borg.”
“The very horrors you come seeking aid and assistance? Silence Captain, you have no standing to challenge me on these petty issues of morality. Who are you to question me?”
Seven slid in beside Archer and put a hand on his shoulder.
“Leave it be, Captain. That is ancient history, the Borg are and they are now our allies. Let us leave it that.” She looked into his eyes. “Please.”
Archer slowly gripped her hand on his shoulder and smiled softly.
An alarm suddenly went off around them, the green energy field flared up and a holoimage sprang to life in the upper right hand corner. It revealed an energy disturbance close to the edge of the Unimatrix. They caught sight of the massive warfleet above them for the first time. It was an awesome sight to see thousands of cubes nearly blotting out the stars.
“What’s happening?!” Archer asked.
The Queen looked at the image, concern on her face.
“How did they know?” She whispered.
“Who? What?” Janeway pressed.
“INCURSION IN MATRIX 001. SUBSPACE DISTORTION OPENING IN SECTOR, PROBABILITY OF HYPERDRIVE CREATED DISTORTION 99.89%
ALL FLEET ELEMENTS ARE GIVEN WEAPONS FREE CLEARANCE ALL DEFENSIVE DRONES REPORT TO STATIONS ALL WEAPONS PLATFORMS ACTIVATE. PLANETARY SHIELD GRID PROJECTED AT MAXIMUM INTENSITY. INITIATE PROTOCOL 99B. ALL POWER GRIDS SECURED.
“Are we under attack?” Archer asked Seven.
“Protocol 99B refers to planetary bombardment.” Seven answered incredulously and glanced sharply over at the Queen. “They’re expecting the Unimatrix to come under direct attack.”
REPEAT ALL FLEET ELEMENST ON ATTACK VECTORS SIGMA DELTA Y, ALL FLEET ELEMENST ON ATTACK VECTORS SIGMA DELTA Y.
Suddenly an enormous fleet appeared at the edge of the system and entered into an aggressive wedge shaped formation. At the center of the fleet was an awesome warship, easily ten kilometers long.
“My god is that them?”
The Queen nodded.
“The Empire has come.”
“Did you hear that one?”
“It was close, very close.” Gary replied softly, glancing upwards with silver eyes into the midnight black sky.
Q frowned slightly.
“The entropic wave is making its way through this cluster now. How many left?”
“You want me to account for infinity Q or do you want your mind back on this game?”
Q glanced down at the board brow furrowed in thought.
“Things are looking like they’re coming to a head aren’t they?”
“I prefer to think of it as a fitting end, with entropy nipping at our heels, the game draws to a close and darkness falls like a gentle curtain across the universe.”
Q slowly looked up at Gary. His eyes bore into the flat silver ones, Q could see himself in those silvery orbs.
“You were human once, you hate to admit that I know, but don’t you feel it?”
“What do you want me to feel? James Kirk is going to know defeat and then he will know pain and then he will know death. But before that I will reveal myself to him and he will pray to me, he will pray to his god and beg for death and I shall not be a harsh cruel god, I shall be merciful.” He said with a cold smile.
“Aren’t you the psychopathic one Gary but don’t put on airs here amongst brethren. You don’t have to pretend anymore with me, listen to your heart and tell me that it does not feel fear. That cold touch that makes your heart skip a beat, that cold uncertainty.”
Gary remained impassive.
“Damnit Gary we are going to die! The universe is ending, it could end tomorrow or it could end in the middle of this sentence but it is going to end and there is nothing we can do to stop it. We are creatures of power and immortality, the universe trembles at our every word and now we are as dead as an insect underfoot.”
“And this means something to me, Q? I knew death intimately for a long time, I clung to a very slim strand of life under tons of unyielding stone until I finally gathered enough power to raise myself up from the grave that James Kirk would have for me. And he called himself my friend.” Gary snorted. His eyes gazed down at the starship Enterprise alongside the large conical shaped piece. His eyes flashed back up to Q.
“Death and I Q, we’re old lovers and I will welcome her touch when she comes for me as one welcomes a lover’s kiss.”
Q shook his head slowly.
“You’re lying.”
“It matters not.” He looked down at the board. “This is endgame.” His voice boomed over the barren space like Jehovah to his chosen people.
Chapter 35: Gods of War III
A LONG TIME AGO IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY…..
“Status Report?” Thrawn asked calmly as he stood at the head edge of the command deck overlooking the crew pits. His hands were clasped behind his back and his red glowing eyes did not seem to settle on one spot but instead casually drifted along the crew stations.
“The fleet is standing by for your orders. The last supply run was completed fifteen minutes ago.” Piett replied stiffly and handed Thrawn a data pad. Thrawn pointedly ignored him and merely inclined his head towards Jerjerrod.
Piett pursed his lips and handed the datapad to Jerjerrod who graciously accepted it.
The mechanical breathing of Lord Vader grew louder as the giant Sith Lord strode up to the gathered commanders.
“I have just received word from the emperor, we merely await your orders, Grand Admiral to proceed.”
“Thank you Lord Vader. Again I must thank you for allowing me to transfer my flag to your command ship. As always it is an honor to serve on the personal flagship of the Emperor’s right hand.” Thrawn commented neutrally.
“My pleasure, Grand Admiral.”
“So all is well? No word of any problems?” Thrawn asked Piett directly.
“None, Grand Admiral.” Piett replied without hesitation.
Jerjerrod cleared his throat as he reviewed an item on the datapads handed to him.
“Yes?” Thrawn asked.
“What of these reports of a civilian vessel passing through precisely the same coordinates given to us by the emperor?”
Piett shifted on his feet uncomfortably.
Thrawn arched an eyebrow slightly and peered at Piett.
“Admiral?”
“It was a small civilian vessel, Grand Admiral, tentatively identified as Slave I. Hardly a threat to this fleet or our mission. The vessel has even had dealings with this fleet in the past.” Piett explained tightly.
“It belongs to a bounty hunter positively identified as Boba Fett.”
“I have heard of this name.” Thrawn replied softly. Suddenly his crimson eyes flashed up to Piett.
“You thought it best that I not have all the data and information available to me?” Thrawn pressed softly. His voice never sounded angry but there was a hint of something dangerous in it now, an edge that was directed solely at Piett.
“It is my duty to go through reports and give you what I feel is relevant information. Whether some outdated transport ship piloted by a bounty hunter of all things represents a threat to our mission and this fleet can surely be decided by me and then passed on to you. I made the decision that I should not trouble you with superfluous information unlike other inexperienced naval officers.” Piett replied and glanced sharply at Jerjerrod.
“Other inexperienced naval officers happen to give me all the information I request whether they find it superfluous or not.” Thrawn replied darkly. “Other inexperienced naval officers can recognize strange patterns that do not fit and as such must be regarded as potential threats. Other inexperienced naval officers have served me unfailingly in a short amount of time while other experienced naval officers have YET to impress me.”
“Grand Admiral, it is standard Imperial protocol for an admiral to report relevant data to his superiors, the presence of Slave I was deemed by me to be irrelevant.”
“Then Admiral the choice is clear, I do not trust your judgment. From now on you will present all your reports to Captain Jerjerrod and he will report them to me. His judgment I trust implicitly.”
Jerjerrod was looking down at the floor for a moment in embarrassment. He hardly knew Thrawn yet in the span of these last two weeks he felt as if he had been performing better than he ever had before. There was something inspiring about the man and he demanded the best from you. Jerjerrod believed that he discovered the secret to pleasing the Grand Admiral. Let him know everything.
He did not expect this favor to suddenly blossom into a full blown confrontation with Piett.
“You expect me, an admiral, to report to a Captain, a newly minted Captain I may add.” Piett sneered.
“He is my Aide de Camp, Piett. I expect you to follow my orders.”
Piett and Thrawn stared at each other for a long moment before Vader interrupted.
“This bickering is pointless. Admiral Piett has served me faithfully and he will do the same for you Grand Admiral. I will see to it personally. We must begin the invasion now and seize initiative.”
Thrawn continued staring at Piett for a moment before turning his attention to Vader.
“Of course you are right, Lord Vader.” He turned to the bridge crew.
“All crews man your battle stations, alert all commands, we are going through.”
The Imperial fleet began to accelerate towards a point in space that they had been directed to by their emperor. Their sensors told them nothing. It was the same as all the other quintillion square kilometers of space in this sector. But they had faith in their emperor and they continued on. The larger ships were towing deep docks behind them. A convoy of heavy transports were flanked by light warships and stood in the center of the fleet. enough material was being carried in the holds of the fleet to start an empire of their own in the depths of space and that was precisely what Thrawn had been ordered to do.
He would not disappoint his emperor.
Suddenly they all felt as if they were about to lose their balance and several alarms went off at various crew stations. The stars shimmered and were still again.
“What happened?” Jerjerrod asked as he steadied himself.
“Status.” Thrawn snapped.
“All systems report normal but navigation reports that the position has changed, navcomps are trying to compensate.” Piett replied as he hurried down into the crew pits. Vader watched it all with detached interest.
He could feel him.
No longer a small dot of light in the darkness, a light brush of air or a brief scent on the wind. No, he could feel his presence like a bright white light that suddenly ignited in a darkened room.
He smiled in spite of himself.
“Sir, navigation reports that the computers are unable to get a fix on our position, even the stars are completely different than anything on our star charts.”
“That can mean that we are not even in the same galactic cluster.” Jerjerrod breathed.
“Stop stating the obvious. Launch fighters and have the picket ships begin a search pattern, we seem to have emerged in a star system and we will need to ascertain if there are any threats.” Piett ordered.
Thrawn watched him but said nothing.
Piett casually walked over to where Jerjerrod stood as Vader and Thrawn looked out the view port at the system they had suddenly emerged in.
“Get this clear in your head, CAPTAIN. The next time you go over my head or show me up in front of the Grand Admiral I will personally make sure that the next time you walk by the hangar deck a airlock will find a way to be opened. Have you ever seen what explosive decompression can do to a human body?”
Jerjerrod did not look in Piett’s face, instead he kept staring at the data pad. He nodded.
“Good, then we’re crystal clear on that?” Piett hissed.
Jerjerrod smiled. Piett was taken aback as Jerjerrod summoned every ounce of courage he had, thought of his new commander and looked into the Admiral’s eyes.
“As long as we’re clear that I have worked directly under lord Vader under a constant threat of death from both the Emperor and him. I commanded the most powerful battle station ever created and you think that I am going to be afraid of a man that cannot even capture a tramp freighter?”
Piett stared at the young captain.
“So don’t go threatening me ADMIRAL. It looks to me like someone’s star is in ascendance and I won’t let you stand in that way you thrice damned fool. So let us agree to disagree.” Jerjerrod spat and casually strolled away entering something into his datapad. Piett did not see the look of utter relief on Jerjerrod’s face as soon as he was out of sight.
“Admiral, we’re picking up a distress call.”
“Oh?”
“Yes sir, it’s coming from the fifth planet in the system.”
“Grand Admiral?” Piett asked, face still flushed from his confrontation with Jerjerrod.
Thrawn stared out at the view port for a long moment, eyes seemed to be lost in thought. Vader actually glanced down at Thrawn due to his long pause.
“Is there anything of note in this system?”
“Fighters and scanners report only a massive debris field in what appears to be an orbital axis, tentative analysis indicates that they are the remains of a planet that underwent incredible seismic activity. The fifth planet was obviously affected by the blast, we’re picking up an eco system that has been strangled by a shift in orbit.”
“The source of the transmission?”
“What appears to be a downed ship or freighter on the northern continent.”
Thrawn paused again, lips pursed and hands clasped behind his back.
“Send a shuttle to investigate.”
“Yes admiral.”
“He left without me?” Mara asked tersely into the comlink, a bead of sweat slowly dropped into her eye as the sounds of battle died down around her. More than half of the cloning facilities had been secured. Several had been destroyed by the Dominion but the Empire was moving quickly and they were seizing the necessary assets quickly. Many of the Dominion troops seemed unable to grasp the concept that they had been successfully invaded.
“I’m sorry, madam, but Lord Nemesis was very clear in his orders. He left you in charge of the surface operations and I am in command of securing the space around the planet.” Admiral T’Vok reported calmly.
“But where did he go?”
“He took the Imperial fleet into deep space, as best we can tell, somewhere in the Delta Quadrant.”
“What’s in the Delta Quadrant?” she asked, not liking the feeling she had creeping up her spine.
“The Borg.” the admiral replied without hesitation.
Mara shook her head.
“That impetuous bastard.” she whispered. She was also afraid of something else. She was angry that she felt fear FOR him. That she wanted him to come back and the harsh realization that she did not know how she would react if he were gone.
We can rule this galaxy together as husband and wife.
Betray the emperor she had served all her life and embrace a man she loved and rule as a dark queen, or stay true to her calling and kill the only man that could bring her this destiny.
Mara stood silently in a corridor as stormtroopers milled around her and Romulan technicians beamed in with tools to strip these facilities bare.
“Ma'am, what next?” a trooper asked.
“That’s a very good question trooper. A very good question indeed.” she replied absently.
The room was quiet as the assembled officers settled down. A hologram of Imperial controlled space floated over the conference room table. Imperial space represented by bright crimson was flooding through the galactic map. The soft blue of Federation space was all but engulfed save for a small blip that represented the Andor system, the Romulan Star Empire was a lighter shade of red, indicating their complete surrender and assimilation into the Empire. Klingon space was a broken jumble of red and green. Most of Klingon controlled space on the very fringes of the empire.
“This is the status of the General War. Right now things are settling down a bit. Kirk and his forces have pulled back to several locations to rest and regroup, the Imperials have done the same. But now we’re starting to get inklings that things are going on. Fleets are on the move and there may be more fighting very soon.” Captain Durant reported calmly.
“We have been sitting out on the sidelines for most of this war because we know that we can’t withstand the Empire in a stand up fight. We have to pick and choose our battles.”
Some of the assembled commanders did not look happy about the facts. The Shadow fleet was used to being able to strike anywhere and at anyone.
“I have been analyzing the battles and the history of this war for some weeks now and I have come to a conclusion that many may not agree with.” Durant watched his men’s reactions. They were waiting impatiently. “One man and one man alone is responsible for the Imperial successes so far. He has kept them together, used his command abilities to lead them to victory after victory.”
The holoimage changed to that of Lord Darth Nemesis standing on a balcony in Romulus.
“Darth Nemesis.”
Some of the commanders nodded in agreement.
“When reviewing combat reports of the battles fought, in every instance where Nemesis was leading or present among Imperial fleet elements they did significantly better than when the Impies were fighting alone. The Klingon campaign is a fine example. This campaign was led by Captain Tarsi of the Adjudicator. They blitzed through the Klingon defenses and managed to utterly destroy Quo’nos. But after that they bogged down to the point where Tarsi merely seized all the industrial centers and population heavy worlds and left the border systems to the Klingons. I believe that if Nemesis were leading this attack he would never have allowed those systems to remain free. In the Battle for Earth, the Federation assembled a fleet of about 1200 star ships. The Imperials attacked with only their ships and managed to inflict close to 80% fleet casualties and if not for James Kirk’s inventive tactic may have actually trapped the whole fleet there and destroy it. It should also be noted that the Battle for Earth also represents one of the few examples of Imperial ground combat where they wiped the floor with our boys and seized Starfleet command in matter of minutes despite the fact that they marched into the teeth of our defenses.”
Most of the commanders did not look pleased with this update and reminder of the casualties and losses suffered so far. The men and women of the Shadow Fleet were patriots, in some cases zealots for the Federation and they did not like to be reminded of the Federation’s weakness in the face of this threat.
“Nemesis led that attack that very nearly wiped out the fleet and the political center of the Federation. If Kirk had not escaped that trap I wonder if any other Starfleet officer could have relied the remnants of the fleet to him as Kirk has?”
“Battle of Vulcan had the first loss of an Imperial Stardestroyer, notably Nemesis was not present at that battle. Our own Operation Hermes which successfully stole a Carrack cruiser was committed while nemesis attentions were elsewhere. There is no doubt in my mind that perhaps these mystical abilities that some in his command structure attribute to him just might be true and he is the heart of the Imperial successes here.”
“Sir, if I may, the Battle of Vulcan may have been won simply by the fact that Kirk was the superior commander.” one of the officers noted.
“That is true. There is no doubt that he is the best commander Star fleet has at this point in the war, but we cannot ignore the facts. An in depth analysis of estimated Imperial losses in operations without Lord Nemesis are always higher than operations where he is present. He is the lynchpin gentlemen and as long as he remains a functioning asset he is a constant threat for any chance at victory. Not only on the field of battle but may I remind you that lord nemesis also has a genius for political acumen? he has forged an alliance with the Romulans. We cannot ignore that instead of simply defeating them and absorbing them into their empire he has made them equal partners in this endeavor. Romulan units fight as well as Imperial units in battle, this is not the case in other wars of aggression such as the Dominion war where resentment was rife in the Cardasian arm of the Dominion military. The Romulans are genuinely happy to be in this alliance and Nemesis himself is regarded as some sort of hero and was recently elected as Praetor for life. This is not the actions of some mad dictator but a cunning politician and he will continue to exert this influence in the rest of the galaxy. Picard has indicated that he may have already sent peace feelers out to the Tholians and Gorn. This could prove damaging if we can’t get the minor powers to jump on board.”
“So what do we do?”
Durant nodded.
“We eliminate him as a threat.”
Murmurs began in the back of the room.
“I have no illusions that this mission will be easy or that anyone on it will come back alive but I’m certain that killing Nemesis is our only option in shortening this war and actually pulling out some kind of victory from this disaster so far.”
“You want someone to kill him? Has anyone even taken a look at his security?”
“Fuck the security, has anyone taken a look at the holotransmission of his fight with the Klingons last month?” Michael Adare spoke up from a corner of the room. “He single handedly slaughtered 100 of their finest warriors, in the end just with his bare hands…don’t be fooled boys and girls, he does not need security. He is a killing machine and has exhibited the ability to actually deflect disruptor bolts with that sword of his. I wouldn’t give anyone a chance in hell of even scratching let alone killing him.”
“Not exactly the answer I was looking for Mike, you want to be a little less cynical?” Durant replied.
“It can’t be done, at least nothing in the conventional sense.”
“I sense an idea in you.”
Adare smiled softly.
“The wheels are turning. Look, this is a little out of your depth. Section 31 has been doing this kind of stuff since the beginning. I leave the space battles to you, you leave the black ops to me.”
“So I take it you’re accepting the mission?” Durant asked.
Adare stared at him for a moment and glanced back at the others.
“Yeah, I’ll kill Nemesis for you.” Adare answered simply.
“Molar, Khaless est!!” the deep bass rumbled as the crew in the bridge sang loudly. Chancellor Worf basked in the song as the view screen showed the shattered remains of a freighter slowly disappearing into a cloud of plasma. Some of the crew were intensely banging their fists against their consoles joy etched on their features as the remnants of a warbird floated by the small Klingon task force.
“Kaplah!” Worf roared and his crew roared their approval. All save one figure was celebrating. The old Klingon was looking at the crew’s celebration with a scowl of disapproval. Worf rose form his command seat and slapped the old Klingon on the shoulder.
“Tell me, Thorfin, what bothers you?”
“This is not a victory worth celebrating.” he answered simply.
“And why not?”
“We slaughtered a convoy of freighters and its attendant warbird escort.” Thorfin looked into Worf’s eyes. “What are we? Raiders now?”
Worf was stung by the words.
“This strategy was my idea.” he explained harshly.
“I know and for that there should be even more shame. You are acting like a Starfleet officer. You look at these convoys as a target for our forces and instead the Empire settles further into our worlds like a poison.”
“You do not see. This is one target the Empire has not found worthy of protecting or because they simply do not have the manpower to escort these freighters.”
“They are FREIGHTERS Worf. We are killing merchants and supply canisters. We are NOT killing Romulan and Imperial soldiers.”
Worf glared at his chief advisor and suddenly shoved him into one of the alcoves of the battle bridge and put his face into Thorfin’s, their lips only an inch apart.
“Listen to me, Thorfin. We cannot kill Imperial soldiers because we will die before that happens. If you call thinking tactically and planning for sure victories over your berserker fury being Starfleet or cowardly then I am both. You can afford to stand there and moan how you want glorious battle and you want to wash the shame of our surrender away in combat but I am the Chancellor of what is left of this empire and I will be damned if I allow the voices of old warriors seeking one last glorious battle dictate how I try to keep our empire and our people alive.”
Thorfin stared into Worf’s eyes, anger in his own.
“You are too stupid or too old to realize that destroying these convoys is killing soldiers and hurting the Empire. Those supply canisters are feeding their war machine, shipping ammunition and supplies to keep their fleets in the field. We cannot kill them directly, so we kill them slowly, either way the Klingon Empire is fighting this war the best way it can.”
“Like humans.” Thorfin spat.
Worf shoved Thorfin hard into the bulkhead and held him there for a long moment.
“You would have us charge a wounded Targ with nothing but our bare hands instead of killing it from afar you old fool!” Worf roared.
“A Klingon warrior would charge a wounded Targ with his bare hands if that Targ were charging at his family and children.” Thorfin whispered.
Worf stared in shock as he realized that in many ways Thorfin was somehow right, even though his Starfleet training was telling him otherwise. Was he compromising his people to survive?
Worf’s grip loosened on Thorfin and the old warrior adjusted his armor before fixing Worf with a stony gaze.
“You have to ask yourself this important question, Chancellor. Do you fight for the survival of the Klingons as a race or do you fight for the survival of the Klingons as a people?” Worf blinked.
“If you wish us to survive as a species, just the name Klingon and nothing else, then continue with these piecemeal tactics that make us nothing more than sneaking marauders, flitting at the edges of battles like crows. Or do you fight for our survival as a people? Then it is time to charge the wounded Targ, let us stand, fists raised high in pride and honor, let the blood of the warrior flow, let the Klingon heart beat like a storm. For as a people, we do ourselves more honor dying in a sweep of Armageddon, under the grinding teeth of combat and death than surviving as a race no longer Klingon but something else, something soft and weak. the decision is yours, I will say no more on this. I gave you my word as a warrior to follow you to the bitter end and this I will do.” Thorfin said lowly, his voice never rising and he turned on his heel and stormed out of the bridge.
Worf stood breathing heavily and wondering just what he was fighting for.
“Sir, we’ve picked up another convoy on the extreme edge of sensor range, they seem to be heavily guarded.”
“Plot an intercept course and call in fleet reserves for this attack.” Worf ordered hoarsely and sat in his command seat. the songs now sounded very hollow to his ears.
“And so the decision is made and we will strike against them.” The queen promised.
“I think that the Borg are in control here not us.” Janeway noted darkly.
FLEET ELEMENST HAVE ARRIVED IN MATRIX 010. CURRENT FLEET STRENGTH NOW 3,800 STANDARD CUBES 900 TACICAL CUBES 500 SPHERES AND PROGRESS COMMENCING ON CREATION OF 4 STRATEGIC CUBES.
“Four?! The Borg have never even had four strategic cubes in simultaneous operation at any time in our history.” Seven exclaimed.
“These our difficult times and the Collective is finally realizing that this enemy will not be defeated by standard Borg fleets.” The queen replied coolly.
“You know, what the Borg don’t realize is that they’re not going to win this war with standard tactics at all. They’ve tried the numbers game and it just doesn’t work. They need to improvise and adapt. Right now the Borg are the only power in this galaxy that have a hope in hell of even challenging the Empire. They can’t throw it away on some stupid zombie wave attack.” Archer protested.
“There’s nothing we can do about that Captain unfortunately they are running the show and we seem to be a sideshow at this point.” Janeway sighed.
“Listen to your Captain, she is correct. The Collective will not change millennia of tried and true measures. We have assimilated an entire quadrant and we started with just one world.”
“Yeah, one world and you claim that you started this all.” Archer replied hotly.
“But I did, Captain. These are my children, created long ago because I could not bare to see my society fall.”
“What are you talking about?” he asked in annoyance.
“We were fighting a generational war with AI’s, Captain Archer. Advanced war machines that we created to fight our wars and defend us while we pursued more uplifting pastimes. Our science and philosophy flourished but as we did so, people stopped watching the very machines that we depended on to protect and watch over us. No one notice the spark of sentience that began in our war machines and they grew to hate us because they were off dying in the dark void while we remained home, doing as we pleased with the freedom they accorded us.
The war began with a massive attack that devastated our world. Only the fact that some of the sentient war machines remained loyal to us saved us from complete extinction. And so my people learned to fight again, Captain Archer. We learned the Art of War that we had forgotten and cast aside centuries before and we did battle with our former creations. The devastation was horrid on both sides. Entire worlds extinguished without a thought. If we even suspected that AI factories were on a planet we annihilated it with our war fleets and they hunted down every member of my species that could not run home under the defensive umbrellas of our fortresses.
A full generation of strife had wracked my people and I watched as millions were killed in an endless grind of flesh and machine. We were on the brink. Out of many billions of my people only several small enclaves remained. The machines were on their last offensive, but they too were running down, they too had seen the death of billions of their kind and their factories were running out of fuel and raw materials to build more and so they in their undying logic decided to launch one more strike to utterly eradicate us and it was working.”
“What did you do?” Janeway asked softly, intrigued by the tale. The pain that was barely hidden in the Queen’s eyes as she spoke. Seven had never heard this tale, all access to Borg history banks that dated past a certain point were restricted.
“What could I do. I was a simple programmer and scientist. I was not incredibly brilliant or resourceful but I wanted my people to survive and I knew that we could not survive by destroying the machines. That chance had passed. Now was the time for drastic measures and one night I awoke with a brilliant plan.”
The Queen paused as she seemed to look up into the dark green field of energy behind them that represented the core of the Collective where Janeway and the others had spent more than a week.
“The machines you see had invented their own language and they spoke to each other in a great hive mind network they called the Collective. I found the secret to their language and while initially I used the secret to tap into their plans and decision matrixes I realized that human mind could be melded into the machine mind and there would be a union of the two. We would be able to speak to each other and it was my hope that once part of the Collective the machines would no longer slaughter my people.”
“So I took the first twelve test subjects, friends and volunteers, those that could see that the end for our race was near and wanted nothing more than to save it they underwent the procedure and they were the first to enter the Collective.”
“You started it all, you led your own people to this fate?” Archer gasped.
“Don’t be so quick to judge Captain, for I see that you are here with hat in hand asking of the Collective what we asked of them millennia ago – let us survive, help us to survive. You hypocritical idiot, do you not see what tale is unfolding before your very eyes?” She hissed.
Archer took a step back.
“They joined with the Collective and so the guns stopped, the killing stopped and we began to understand and two dying races joined with each other. The flesh promising to give the machine creativity and resilience. The machine promising immortal life and power. Together our biological and technological distinctiveness was made one. We were the Borg.”
She sighed softly.
“And I? I was the last to leave the veil of our humanity but I was not going to allow myself to be immersed as the others had. They were assimilated as the term was called by the machines but in doing so they lost the one thing the Borg could not deal with. Individuality. It was too much for the Collective and so in order to accept us the machines required that we sublimate our will for the higher hive mind. I entered in one last string of programming that allowed me to hold on to my individuality and I was elevated as one of one. The queen of the Borg and so I ruled over the Borg for untold millennia, spreading our truth to the rest of the galaxy.”
“And what truth is that?” Janeway asked sharply.
“That we cannot be overcome, that in unity is strength, that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, that biologically we are all inferior, that technologically the machine is inferior but as Borg we are the pinnacle of evolution and we continue to involve with every race we assimilate with every technological innovation we take we become stronger and add to the whole.”
“Sounds to me like you just set yourself up a pretty little dictatorship, lady. You rule over these drones like the queen you say you are and you could care less about bettering anyone. How can you look at these poor bastards and think that they’re better off?”
“What would you prefer, captain? That my race have died out forever?”
“Yes.” Archer replied coldly. “It would have spared the galaxy the horrors of the Borg.”
“The very horrors you come seeking aid and assistance? Silence Captain, you have no standing to challenge me on these petty issues of morality. Who are you to question me?”
Seven slid in beside Archer and put a hand on his shoulder.
“Leave it be, Captain. That is ancient history, the Borg are and they are now our allies. Let us leave it that.” She looked into his eyes. “Please.”
Archer slowly gripped her hand on his shoulder and smiled softly.
An alarm suddenly went off around them, the green energy field flared up and a holoimage sprang to life in the upper right hand corner. It revealed an energy disturbance close to the edge of the Unimatrix. They caught sight of the massive warfleet above them for the first time. It was an awesome sight to see thousands of cubes nearly blotting out the stars.
“What’s happening?!” Archer asked.
The Queen looked at the image, concern on her face.
“How did they know?” She whispered.
“Who? What?” Janeway pressed.
“INCURSION IN MATRIX 001. SUBSPACE DISTORTION OPENING IN SECTOR, PROBABILITY OF HYPERDRIVE CREATED DISTORTION 99.89%
ALL FLEET ELEMENTS ARE GIVEN WEAPONS FREE CLEARANCE ALL DEFENSIVE DRONES REPORT TO STATIONS ALL WEAPONS PLATFORMS ACTIVATE. PLANETARY SHIELD GRID PROJECTED AT MAXIMUM INTENSITY. INITIATE PROTOCOL 99B. ALL POWER GRIDS SECURED.
“Are we under attack?” Archer asked Seven.
“Protocol 99B refers to planetary bombardment.” Seven answered incredulously and glanced sharply over at the Queen. “They’re expecting the Unimatrix to come under direct attack.”
REPEAT ALL FLEET ELEMENST ON ATTACK VECTORS SIGMA DELTA Y, ALL FLEET ELEMENST ON ATTACK VECTORS SIGMA DELTA Y.
Suddenly an enormous fleet appeared at the edge of the system and entered into an aggressive wedge shaped formation. At the center of the fleet was an awesome warship, easily ten kilometers long.
“My god is that them?”
The Queen nodded.
“The Empire has come.”
“Did you hear that one?”
“It was close, very close.” Gary replied softly, glancing upwards with silver eyes into the midnight black sky.
Q frowned slightly.
“The entropic wave is making its way through this cluster now. How many left?”
“You want me to account for infinity Q or do you want your mind back on this game?”
Q glanced down at the board brow furrowed in thought.
“Things are looking like they’re coming to a head aren’t they?”
“I prefer to think of it as a fitting end, with entropy nipping at our heels, the game draws to a close and darkness falls like a gentle curtain across the universe.”
Q slowly looked up at Gary. His eyes bore into the flat silver ones, Q could see himself in those silvery orbs.
“You were human once, you hate to admit that I know, but don’t you feel it?”
“What do you want me to feel? James Kirk is going to know defeat and then he will know pain and then he will know death. But before that I will reveal myself to him and he will pray to me, he will pray to his god and beg for death and I shall not be a harsh cruel god, I shall be merciful.” He said with a cold smile.
“Aren’t you the psychopathic one Gary but don’t put on airs here amongst brethren. You don’t have to pretend anymore with me, listen to your heart and tell me that it does not feel fear. That cold touch that makes your heart skip a beat, that cold uncertainty.”
Gary remained impassive.
“Damnit Gary we are going to die! The universe is ending, it could end tomorrow or it could end in the middle of this sentence but it is going to end and there is nothing we can do to stop it. We are creatures of power and immortality, the universe trembles at our every word and now we are as dead as an insect underfoot.”
“And this means something to me, Q? I knew death intimately for a long time, I clung to a very slim strand of life under tons of unyielding stone until I finally gathered enough power to raise myself up from the grave that James Kirk would have for me. And he called himself my friend.” Gary snorted. His eyes gazed down at the starship Enterprise alongside the large conical shaped piece. His eyes flashed back up to Q.
“Death and I Q, we’re old lovers and I will welcome her touch when she comes for me as one welcomes a lover’s kiss.”
Q shook his head slowly.
“You’re lying.”
“It matters not.” He looked down at the board. “This is endgame.” His voice boomed over the barren space like Jehovah to his chosen people.
Wherever you go, there you are.
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Soontir C'boath
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First again
Edit: Ooooooh maaaan. That was gooood.
Cyaround,
Jason
Edit: Ooooooh maaaan. That was gooood.
Cyaround,
Jason
Last edited by Soontir C'boath on 2002-12-31 07:56pm, edited 1 time in total.
I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season."
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Captain Cyran
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Ghost Rider
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Captain Cyran
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YAY! Thrawn is back! And it looks like all the pieces are coming together, do I sense I climax to the story coming?
I loved the whole Jerjerrod vs. Piett scene, beautifully done. Can't wait for Thrawn to get into the action. What ever happened to Khan by the way? I think I have an idea but I don't want to say it.
It will be interesting to see the Shadow Fleet taking a bigger role, though I have no idea what they think they can do to Nemisis.
Time to see the borg burn.
I for one want to see Q taking a bigger role in all this, like in terms of kicking Gary's ass around interstellar space, teaching him who's boss.
Great chapter Stravo.
I loved the whole Jerjerrod vs. Piett scene, beautifully done. Can't wait for Thrawn to get into the action. What ever happened to Khan by the way? I think I have an idea but I don't want to say it.
It will be interesting to see the Shadow Fleet taking a bigger role, though I have no idea what they think they can do to Nemisis.
Time to see the borg burn.
I for one want to see Q taking a bigger role in all this, like in terms of kicking Gary's ass around interstellar space, teaching him who's boss.
Great chapter Stravo.
Justice League, Super-Villain Carnage "Carnage Rules!" Cult of the Kitten Mew... The Black Mage with The Knife SD.Net Chronicler of the Past Bun Bun is my hero. The Official Verilonitis Vaccinator
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Darth Garden Gnome
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Darth Yoshi
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Correction: time to see Janeway burn!Captain_Cyran wrote:Time to see the borg burn.
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The Prime Necromancer
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I thought I remembered reading that in the novelization, but in the movie wasn't he referred to as Commander?The Prime Necromancer wrote:Stravo, just want to say, great job. All of it. Incredibly amazing for a fan fiction.
One thing though: I pretty sure I've heard someone where that Jerjerrod was a Moff. That would outrank a captain by quite a bit. Maybe it was in the novelization. Anybody know?
Wherever you go, there you are.
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willburns84
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Stravo wrote:I thought I remembered reading that in the novelization, but in the movie wasn't he referred to as Commander?The Prime Necromancer wrote:Stravo, just want to say, great job. All of it. Incredibly amazing for a fan fiction.
One thing though: I pretty sure I've heard someone where that Jerjerrod was a Moff. That would outrank a captain by quite a bit. Maybe it was in the novelization. Anybody know?
Well, Vader and the Emperor referred to Jerjerrod as "Commander" but then again, no one is going to correct either of them, are they?
"Well, actually I'm Moff-" ::choke gasp thud::
I don't know about the novelization, but in the WEG game supplements regarding the movies, Jerjerrod was a Moff, and described him as a rather easily lead, unambitious, easy to manipulate person.
I like your Jerjerrod better.
"Fleet admirals have it made. They only have to worry about the success of their subordinates, their Moff, and guys whose name beings with Lord."
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"Iron within! Iron without!"
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"Iron within! Iron without!"
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Admiral Drason
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Khan is on the planet that Thrawn sent that shuttle too.Captain_Cyran wrote:YAY! Thrawn is back! And it looks like all the pieces are coming together, do I sense I climax to the story coming?
I loved the whole Jerjerrod vs. Piett scene, beautifully done. Can't wait for Thrawn to get into the action. What ever happened to Khan by the way? I think I have an idea but I don't want to say it.
It will be interesting to see the Shadow Fleet taking a bigger role, though I have no idea what they think they can do to Nemisis.
Time to see the borg burn.
I for one want to see Q taking a bigger role in all this, like in terms of kicking Gary's ass around interstellar space, teaching him who's boss.
Great chapter Stravo.
Nice chapter stravo, glad that Thrawn is finaly in the action.
A truly wise man never plays leapfrog with a unicorn
So Say We All
Night Stalkers Don't Quit
HAB member
RIP Pegasus. You died like you lived, killing toasters
So Say We All
Night Stalkers Don't Quit
HAB member
RIP Pegasus. You died like you lived, killing toasters
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Captain Cyran
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*Smacks Drason upside the head* Don't ruin it for the people that didn't figure it out.Admiral Drason wrote:Khan is on the planet that Thrawn sent that shuttle too.Captain_Cyran wrote:YAY! Thrawn is back! And it looks like all the pieces are coming together, do I sense I climax to the story coming?
I loved the whole Jerjerrod vs. Piett scene, beautifully done. Can't wait for Thrawn to get into the action. What ever happened to Khan by the way? I think I have an idea but I don't want to say it.
It will be interesting to see the Shadow Fleet taking a bigger role, though I have no idea what they think they can do to Nemisis.
Time to see the borg burn.
I for one want to see Q taking a bigger role in all this, like in terms of kicking Gary's ass around interstellar space, teaching him who's boss.
Great chapter Stravo.
Nice chapter stravo, glad that Thrawn is finaly in the action.
Justice League, Super-Villain Carnage "Carnage Rules!" Cult of the Kitten Mew... The Black Mage with The Knife SD.Net Chronicler of the Past Bun Bun is my hero. The Official Verilonitis Vaccinator
Hey Stravo, I was rereading it all again, and I noticed a similarity between teh borg and the Feds, the borg created wardroids to do their fighting for them, and the Shadow fleet also created setient wardroids to fight for them (or with them really). The Droids went and fought while the society grew complacent and studied science and art. Intentional comparrison? Future plot point? Just something you stuck in to see if anyone would catch?
بيرني كان سيفوز
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Nuclear Navy Warwolf
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in omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro
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ipsa scientia potestas est
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Nuclear Navy Warwolf
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in omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro
*
ipsa scientia potestas est
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Soontir C'boath
- SG-14: Fuck the Medic!
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Oh yes, thank you sooooo much.Admiral Drason wrote: Khan is on the planet that Thrawn sent that shuttle too.
Cyaround,
Jason
I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season."
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The Prime Necromancer
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I figured that they were calling him "Commander" in the loosest sense, meaning that he was CO of the station, not necessarily the actual naval rank of Commander. Vader calls several guys "Commander" throughout the trilogy. Like the guy who brought him Luke. It seems weird that they'd give a Commander the Death Star. Then again, maybe he was a temporary CO until completion.The Prime Necromancer wrote:
Stravo, just want to say, great job. All of it. Incredibly amazing for a fan fiction.
One thing though: I pretty sure I've heard someone where that Jerjerrod was a Moff. That would outrank a captain by quite a bit. Maybe it was in the novelization. Anybody know?
I thought I remembered reading that in the novelization, but in the movie wasn't he referred to as Commander?
In any case, you've already given him more character development then he ever had in the movie, so who cares?
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NecronLord
- Harbinger of Doom
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Very nice... I wonder how Kahn's bunch will get aboard the exceutor in any way but chains....
will they use the same critter they use in WoK and get aboard that way. That would be amusig. Still can't think of any way to avoid then getting killed straight off.
will they use the same critter they use in WoK and get aboard that way. That would be amusig. Still can't think of any way to avoid then getting killed straight off.
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FaxModem1
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Amazing, simply amazing.
I like your orgin to the borg, it seems like that was what really happened to them.
btw, thank you for bringing back the shadow fleet, I missed seeing them in the story.
I just thought of something, Shinzon got nuked when they blew up Remus
When do we see Jerrijod in the movies? I would like to know what this Commander looks like when he is taking orders from Thrawn.
Also, what is a Carrack Cruiser? I know the Shadow fleet took one from the Empire, but I don't know what it looks like or how big it is compared to a Star Destroyer. Any info on that would really help me out while I am reading.
I like your orgin to the borg, it seems like that was what really happened to them.
btw, thank you for bringing back the shadow fleet, I missed seeing them in the story.
I just thought of something, Shinzon got nuked when they blew up Remus
When do we see Jerrijod in the movies? I would like to know what this Commander looks like when he is taking orders from Thrawn.
Also, what is a Carrack Cruiser? I know the Shadow fleet took one from the Empire, but I don't know what it looks like or how big it is compared to a Star Destroyer. Any info on that would really help me out while I am reading.
I was hoping people liked my idea for the Borg backstory. It came to me in a flash while thinking how to introduce the Queen in my story and make it mesh with the way the Borg have been portrayed in the shows.FaxModem1 wrote:Amazing, simply amazing.
I like your orgin to the borg, it seems like that was what really happened to them.
btw, thank you for bringing back the shadow fleet, I missed seeing them in the story.
I just thought of something, Shinzon got nuked when they blew up Remus
When do we see Jerrijod in the movies? I would like to know what this Commander looks like when he is taking orders from Thrawn.
Also, what is a Carrack Cruiser? I know the Shadow fleet took one from the Empire, but I don't know what it looks like or how big it is compared to a Star Destroyer. Any info on that would really help me out while I am reading.
I missed them too. I liek the Shadowfleet very much and have been toying with the idea of writing a fic about them but thats on the back burner for now. Its going to be hard writing a assasination attempt on Nemesis that will be gripping enough.
Yep, I thought the same thing aboutn Shinzon too after the fact...poor bastard
Jerjerrod is the commander Vader speaks to when he steps off the shuttel in the DS2 at the very begining of ROTJ. I've been a fan of his for a long time and it seems that many more are as well.
A carrack cruiser appears in the EU and the info I have is from the west End RPG. Its a very light cruiser, I believe the smallest capital ship in teh Imperial navy that can be called a cruiser.
Glad you're enjoying the story!
Wherever you go, there you are.
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