Star Crossed Fanfic

[Ghost Rider]

Awesome chapter as usual.

[Kelly Antilles]

I just have one thing to say...

OW!

owieowieowieowieowieowie!

Man, that was awesome.
"Fins to the left, Fins to the right and we're the only Rebels in town"

[FireNexus]

...crack entering veins.....ahhhhhh!

oh man! they are royally fucked now!

You can't shoot crack. It's freebase, thus unreactive. You'd have to shoot normal coke.

[Mr Bean]

“Belay that Mister.” Riker snapped. He looked back at the screen. The Excalibur and the Dominance were trading shots at nearly point blank range and unfortunately the Excalibur was simply not maneuverable or fast enough to outflank the Dominance. They were slowly turning against each other, blasting away like tanks at twenty paces.

I have to say, I love this line

[Illuminatus Primus]

Eh the ion cannons piercing shields thing was somewhat of a brain-bug.

Game, most books, and close analysis of the movie reveal that ion cannons do not, in fact, go through shields.

All around though....I loved it...always. I can't wait for the next chapter. This makes things far more interesting.

[Mr Bean]

Acutal its not a brain bug, Fact is a large amount of energy can pieace a shield, A tuborlaser will destroy, An ion-cannon will fuck up everything near where it hits instead of just where it hits for a few seconds so some Ion Cannon Fire DOES get through(The tail end of the bolt normaly)

[Captain Cyran]

Oh...I sense BAD things coming for Thrawn...very BAD things. But worse for our dear friend Nemisis. And outright devistating for Kirk.

By the way, what happened to the Han from the first couple of chapters? Did he die?

[Darth Yoshi]

Oooohhhh...Nemesis has returned from another successful ass-kicking. I thought Kirk was fucked before, but now he's royally fucked! The next chapter will be well worth the wait.

[Ender]

Oh...I sense BAD things coming for Thrawn...very BAD things. But worse for our dear friend Nemisis. And outright devistating for Kirk.

By the way, what happened to the Han from the first couple of chapters? Did he die?

Han seems to be the alias Luke uses when he speaks with the Captured Federation captain.

[Kuja]

Shee-it!

[Illuminatus Primus]

Acutal its not a brain bug, Fact is a large amount of energy can pieace a shield, A tuborlaser will destroy, An ion-cannon will fuck up everything near where it hits instead of just where it hits for a few seconds so some Ion Cannon Fire DOES get through(The tail end of the bolt normaly)

Not according to the Rogue Squadron novels (multiple capship battles, the Emancipator firing on the Blackmoon shield). Not according to the games. Not according to the movies, where the shield actually collapsed. I have never heard of SW shields having Trek "bleed through." That line was clearly inspired by that dumb remark from the Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology.

[Eaglewood]

Oh...I sense BAD things coming for Thrawn...very BAD things. But worse for our dear friend Nemisis. And outright devistating for Kirk.

By the way, what happened to the Han from the first couple of chapters? Did he die?

Han seems to be the alias Luke uses when he speaks with the Captured Federation captain.

Han Solo, the smuggler, is still trapped in Corbomite in Jabba's castle in this alternate Star Wars universe. You see, Luke is Darth Nemesis, a sworn enemy of the Rebellion. Therefore, Luke never helped to rescue Han from Jabba with Leia, Chewy and the gang.

So Han Solo is still a nice "poster" in Jabba's throne room. Perhaps his corbomite statue was transferred to Jabba's son, and grandson. Hutts don't live 3,000 years I think. Probably 1,000 or 1,500. I could be mistaken though.

Hope that helps your question, Cyran.

[Pcm979]

If you guys think Kirk’s fucked now, look at this:

Four pieces materialized by his side of the board. One was the bust of a proud looking man with glowing red eyes, carved out of sapphire blue stone. One was an onyx stone breathing mask, one was a cracked Starfleet insignia wrapped in a leather thong and the last piece was a small representation of the death star.

"I want you to prepare the fleet for another mission as soon as this battle is over. You will dispatch probe droids to the Sluis sector and begin monitoring any strange spatial disturbances. As soon as one is detected inform me."

The forest moon of Endor exploded in a conflagration of fire and debris as the green superlaser lanced through the planet like a hammer. The shockwaves ripped through the void in rings of fire and energy that shifted partially into hyperspace. The Death star withered a rain of fire and plasma and slowly rotated away from the suddenly vanished forest moon.

"The Death star has performed exactly to specifications." The commander reported proudly.

"Excellent commander. Now set a course for the Sluis sector."

"Yes, My Emperor."

[Stravo]

Acutal its not a brain bug, Fact is a large amount of energy can pieace a shield, A tuborlaser will destroy, An ion-cannon will fuck up everything near where it hits instead of just where it hits for a few seconds so some Ion Cannon Fire DOES get through(The tail end of the bolt normaly)

Not according to the Rogue Squadron novels (multiple capship battles, the Emancipator firing on the Blackmoon shield). Not according to the games. Not according to the movies, where the shield actually collapsed. I have never heard of SW shields having Trek "bleed through." That line was clearly inspired by that dumb remark from the Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology.

My refreence would be battle of Hoth. the ion canon CLEARLY punches through the stardestroyer's shields and disables it. I thought that was the point of ion canons, to disable starships or at least interfere with their proper functioning by bypassing or partially bypassing shields. Is there a way to contradict this canon display of ion cannon use in Battle of Hoth?

[Darth Garden Gnome]

My refreence would be battle of Hoth. the ion canon CLEARLY punches through the stardestroyer's shields and disables it. I thought that was the point of ion canons, to disable starships or at least interfere with their proper functioning by bypassing or partially bypassing shields. Is there a way to contradict this canon display of ion cannon use in Battle of Hoth?

I hope you've seen Brian Young's analyses of the scene. In slo-mo it is actually seen that the ion blast IMPACTS the shields, then penetrates it. Leading at least myself into concluding that the ion cannon simply had too much energy for the ISDs shields to dissapate.

[Stravo]

My refreence would be battle of Hoth. the ion canon CLEARLY punches through the stardestroyer's shields and disables it. I thought that was the point of ion canons, to disable starships or at least interfere with their proper functioning by bypassing or partially bypassing shields. Is there a way to contradict this canon display of ion cannon use in Battle of Hoth?

I hope you've seen Brian Young's analyses of the scene. In slo-mo it is actually seen that the ion blast IMPACTS the shields, then penetrates it. Leading at least myself into concluding that the ion cannon simply had too much energy for the ISDs shields to dissapate.

Actually no I hadn't. I always assumed. It could have overloaded the shields but it also could have partially penetrated the shield. Oh well, add this reference to the list of events that have been changing what I thought was canon like flak bursts. I thought that ESB and ROTJ showed flak bursts and now I see there are threads disproving the existenece of flak bursts. Jeez....its enough to give an author a headache.

[Darth Garden Gnome]

Actually no I hadn't. I always assumed. It could have overloaded the shields but it also could have partially penetrated the shield. Oh well, add this reference to the list of events that have been changing what I thought was canon like flak bursts. I thought that ESB and ROTJ showed flak bursts and now I see there are threads disproving the existenece of flak bursts. Jeez....its enough to give an author a headache.

I wouldn't worry about it, it's your story, do with it as you will. You want flakbursts? Flak away. Ions kill shields? Go nuts. I'll enjoy it all the same.

[Trytostaydead]

Wow wow Stravo. I'm crapping my pants for the next installment.

But all I have to say is this, regardless if the Universe goes KABOOM.. if Thrawn doesn't come out as victor this time, I come for blood!!

[JodoForce]

The way this story is building up, there's no way Kirk won't be winning The best Thrawn can hope for is some kind of truce with him

Other possibilities? I just wrote 4 bullet points that I think cover all the possible endgames, but realized that might take the fun out for everybody Or maybe I think I'm much smarter than I am

[Soontir C'boath]

Holy shit....LUKE spilled the beans over the transmission...

Man I can't wait to read Vader's/Thrawn reactions.

Good chapter

Cyaround,
Jason

[Stravo]

Ahhh...the hour grows late and I feel the urge of posting the latest chapter. this one is a little long (not that many of you would complain) but ALOT happens in this chapter.




Chapter 41: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea Part 2



“What did he say?” Thrawn asked tightly.

“Lord Nemesis has just ordered all rebel ships to surrender in the name of the New Empire.” Jerjerrod repeated, disbelief clearly evident in his voice.

“There must be some explanation.” Piett added quietly and sparing Lord Vader a veiled glance.

“I’m sure there is and we may not like it.” Thrawn finished.

“Have a care, Grand Admiral. A Sith Lord is not be taken lightly. His motives are not clear yet.” Vader interjected.

Thrawn glanced over at Vader, his glowing crimson eyes flashed dangerously.

“What does that sound like to you, Lord Vader?” Thrawn demanded.

“I will not debate this matter with you, Grand Admiral. Unlike you, I am focused on the destruction of this rebel element before I think of accusing a Sith Lord of treason.”

“Oh, but I am focusing on destroying rebel elements, Lord Vader. ALL rebel elements.” Thrawn replied.

Both men stared at each other for a long moment.

“Sir, the Federation fleet is making an attack run on the Grapple.”

Thrawn reluctantly turned his attention back to the battle. Kahn watched the exchange with interest. There was obviously a rift among the Imperials. Darth Vader and this Darth Nemesis were Sith lords and as such there was an obvious connection between the two. Vader felt more loyalty to Nemesis than he did to Thrawn and his fleet.

A possible wedge that could be driven between the men was quickly filed away.

“Excellent, have the secondary line move in a Talon englobement, but order the closing vessel to slow to 1/3 power.”

Piett blinked.

“Sir, if you do that, the Federation may have a chance at escaping the englobement.”

“I am well aware of the consequences of the orders.” Thrawn replied coolly.

Piett shook his head slightly and relayed the orders. Jerjerrod watched the exchange with interest. What game was Thrawn playing? He knew the Grand Admiral well enough by now to know that Thrawn was plotting something well down the road. This battle was merely a sideshow for some grander scheme.

He mentioned defeating Kirk in his own way and frankly, Jerjerrod had noticed several instances when the fleet could have simply overwhelmed this pitiful Federation fleet through sheer brute force and firepower but Thrawn had held back, carefully tailoring his orders so that the Imperial fleet movements could be timed and predicted.

But why?

What possible reason could the Grand Admiral have for prolonging this conflict. Just moments ago he lamented that if Kirk were not slain in a certain manner, that the war could continue for 10 years. So what did he gain by this careful choreography of his battle fleet.

Jerjerrod scanned his datapad and scrolled back in time to check on the fleet deployments. There was a pattern here that he could only partly discern. He decided that he would decipher this plan without Thrawn’s intervention or advice. For once he was going to think for himself and not simply ask for Thrawn’s help.

Jerjerrod winced as he felt the throbbing of the headache. It had started last night. The pain had awoken him. The sharp dull throb had begun in his ear and quickly spread to his temples. But soon the pain had subsided but he felt groggy, as if he had never really woken up since that night.

He briefly considered going to the physician for a checkup, Emperor knew what sort of bacterium and viruses abounded in this cesspool of a galaxy.

He did not notice the veiled interest in which Kahn observed him.






The Enterprise simply could not stop rocking as her inertial dampers worked overtime to compensate for the numerous jolts from the exploding turbolaser fire. Even the warbirds had peeled away as the fire intensified.

“All power to weapons at my command.”

“Aye sir. All weapons standing by.”

“Ye’ll have what ever power I can give ye Captain. But I have to warn you, main energizers are on the brink of an overload.”

Kirk ignored Sulu grimly holding on to the helm station with one hand and working the controls with the other. Chekov wiping stinging hot blood from his eye where a piece of sharp shrapnel had slipped by his forehead opening up a gash. Spock was hunched over his sensor displays trying to make rhyme or reason of the battle that was quickly degenerating into a brawl.

Kirk had prided himself at keeping his fleet in control during these battles, knowing the exact locations of his fleet elements and capitalizing on the enemy’s confusion. But now he was lost in a sea of red klaxon lights and smoke filled atmosphere. The tactical displays were flooded with threat displays and blossoming energy explosions that encompassed entire starships.

His fleet was dying around him and he was slowly coming to an awful realization.

The gravity well generating ship was slowly looming ahead. Once he punched out the generators, the Excalibur could generate a subspace bubble that would allow them to escape.

He glanced down at his tactical display and noted the positions of the Imperial fleet. His eyes widened slightly as he recognized some form of englobement taking place.

“Helm, prepare to take us into evasive pattern Kirk Sigma five.”

“Sir, we’re just entering weapons range on target!” Sulu replied hotly. He had seen their liberation and now it was snatched from his grasp and it stung the young helmsman. Just one more minute and they would have engaged her.

“Sulu, there’s no time! Execute!”

Sulu did not reply but savagely stabbed down on the controls and sent the Enterprise into a sharp dive, simultaneously releasing a wall of quantum torpedoes on its last trajectory. The starships around her quickly followed suit.

Kirk urged his fleet on as he maneuvered them to the open gap in the Imperial englobement, one of the stardestroyers was a little late in getting to her position and if he was fast enough.

They have been a little late on all their maneuvers haven’t they, he thought for a moment.

“Why do I get the feeling that this is precisely what he wants us to do?” He muttered.

“Sir. We’re receiving a voice transmission from the Excalibur, its faint but I can make out Captain Riker.”

“Put him on speakers.”

“-tain Kirk, repeating, we are moving into position to support you. Are aware of the gravi- ---ship. Will engage and prep---initiate subspace bubbl---stood?”

“If only we had more time Riker.” Kirk muttered angrily. “Acknowledge Uhura and send a tight beam transmission to the coordinates I ordered you to communicate before.”

“What do I tell them?”

Kirk frowned as he watched his fleet disintegrating around him. With the englobement defeated the Imperial lines were reestablishing and the gravity well generating ship was slipping back behind the wall of stardestroyers like dreams into the mists.

“Tell then that if not now, then never.” He said sourly and glanced over at Charlie who looked confused and concerned.

“We’re not going to lose are we?” Charlie asked softly.

Kirk did not have an answer for him.






“Young fool…only now in the end, do you realize how lost your cause was young Jedi.” Dairoga whispered with an animalistic grin on his face. His coal black eyes regarded the nearly unconscious Leia with all the interest of a butcher examining a cut of beef. He raised his hand higher and Leia stiffened, eyes snapped open as the steel spikes loomed ahead of her.

“Wesley please put her down.” Dr. Crusher asked softly.

Dairoga’s head snapped around and he pinned the Doctor with a harsh glare.

“Your son…” Dr Crusher felt two phantom hands drive her to her knees on the harsh unyielding floor. “is…” She felt the pressure increasing, forcing her to her belly, as she tried to fight against the awesome pressure. “dead.” She felt her consciousness nearly slip away but the phantom hands suddenly vanished. She lay on her belly on the ground, breathing hard, as if she had been running a marathon.

Dairoga observed her for a moment in cold satisfaction before starting to turn his attention back to Leia.

“You couldn’t kill me.”

“What?” Diaroga replied in a cold whisper. Slowly his all black eyes turned to regard the fallen Doctor again and a terrible shadow obscured the young Wesley’s twisted face.

“You couldn’t bring yourself to kill me, Wesley. You’re still in there fighting. You’re like your father, he never gave up, never gave in.” She replied trying to fight the wheezing in her chest.

“You beg for death is that it?” Dairoga hissed and took a step forward.

“No, but you will be!” Kelly screamed as she leapt down from the place that Diaroga had cast her aside like a useless rag doll and drove a shattered maintenance pipe into the small of his back. The sharp end erupted out from his belly in a warm bloody mess.

The Sith lord’s possessed body stumbled forward a bit, the eyes glazing over for a moment before he batted Kelly aside with one arm and tried to pull the pipe out of the ruin of his belly.

Kelly landed with a bone jarring impact and groaned for a moment before laying still.

“Insolent bitch!” Dairoga spat, blood flecking out of his mouth as he grasped the slick gory end of the makeshift spear and tried to pull it loose. Crusher watched in horror, she could tell that such a wound would, if not be instantly lethal, be considered a mortal wound.

Diaroga/Wesley stumbled forward a bit as it looked like he was going to fall asleep for a moment. He shook his head violently and tried to blink away the fatigue that was settling in.

“This body is no longer fit for me. This little bitch has ruined it and as such I will ruin her.”

“Wesley.” Crusher began, struggling to get up on one knee.

“Silence! Give me a moment to think you cow!” He roared and Dr. Crusher was flung backwards against the reactor casing which gonged like a great medieval bell on impact.

He started desperately glancing around until he stopped short at Leia’s body lying on the floor, unmoving.

A cold predatory smile crept across his face, blood now starting to seep between the lips.

“I believe that I have a better use for you than I thought, young Jedi.” he croaked and slowly stalked over to her unmoving body, trailing blood behind him.






I have been a very bad boy.

Why?

What do you mean why?? I have led the fleet to a slaughter, tried to seize control of our only hope for victory and I have allowed myself to be seduced by a dark power to placate some stupid desire to be greater than I was.

And you’re sorry?

Something about that voice. It was oddly familiar, like a far away dream.

“Of course I’m sorry. All I want now is simple oblivions, cold dark oblivion where I can just disappear.

Oh, I see…so you’re answer to this dilemma you find yourself in is to go find the nearest hole, jump in and pull the dirt in after you. Hope that this all blows over and that there is a happy ending?

He stood quietly in his room. It was his room as a child. A toy model of his father’s starship hung suspended by simple filament wires off the ceiling. Sometimes, when he thought no one was looking, he would unhook the starship from its harness and fly it around his room, making whooshing sounds and pretending he was his father on some far away adventure or mission saving the Federation.

“No.”

Yes, I think that was precisely what you were thinking. You know, this isn’t exactly what you think. There is no way to lie here. Your thoughts, your desires, all that you were are as naked as the nose on your face. There is nothing to hide here. The fact that you are still hiding even now is a sad statement on your life.

“Don’t talk about me as if I’m some kind of dullard. I won the Daystrom award for greatest scientific achievement three years in a row. I tapped the secrets of the universe and walked the stars in my travels.”

But yet in the end, when the chips are down and you are on the brink of oblivion, you came here. Out of all the places you have traveled, all the stars you have visited, the alien worlds you have trod on, the only place you want to be, the only place you can construct in your soul’s eye is this simple little room.

He stood silent again.

“You’re mocking me.” He accused and crossed his arms across his chest.

Ah, the Crusher pout. That has become the shield in your life, even now as a man you can pout with the best child in the universe. Sometimes I have to wonder WHY you think you never grew up.

“I DID.”

Really?

The question hung in the air like a sword.

“I am a man. THEY never wanted me to grow up! They wanted me to remain a child that they could control. They wanted me to be the grieving son all my life, afraid that- .” He stopped short and shut his mouth, staring out the window. Instead of the familiar backyard porch that he grew up with, he could see the Crescent Nebula of Eminaar Four. It was considered one of the most brilliant light shows in the galaxy. He always dreamed of returning there and floating out among the stars being born.

What were THEY afraid of?

“They were afraid that I would grow up and everything that remained of my father would be gone.”

Sounds rather foolish no?

“You don’t know them. My mother worshipped my father’s memory. I was her little shrine to her memory, but this shrine was his own man and I was NOT my father. How do you compete with a ghost?” He demanded

How do you indeed.

“They wanted me to BE my father soooo much. They hoped and prayed and even manipulated me as much as they could, hope that I would be the man my father was. But you know something? I never wanted to be my father like that. I worshipped the man, he was to me what every man should be, but I’m so much more. I could do complex trig equations in my head out to 14 decimal places by the age of four. I could solve geometry equations and balance chemistry formulas by 6. My father had trouble balancing the family budget.”

Imagine that.

“You’re mocking me.” He spat.

Oh, please, do go on. This is so thrilling and so off the subject. I commend you young man.

“Stop it!” Wesley barked.

I’m all ears.

“What does it matter anyway?” He muttered and turned his back. The room seemed to shrink and grow darker. A deep chill settled in his bones and he felt an odd sense of alarm and inevitability.

Isn’t that just like you? You turn away just when you’re ready to accomplish or achieve something.

He turned his head slightly to look over his shoulder.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

You’re Mr. Trig at four, you figure it out Einstein. You’re so good at analyzing THEM. Why don’t you turn that brilliant sensor probe back onto the real target of this anger and frustration?

“What?”

YOURSELF.

“What do you want me to say? That I screwed up? That I failed yet again? That I won’t amount to much of anything in this world. Is that what you want to hear?” He roared and suddenly stood up off the bed. “You want o hear that the Great Wesley Crusher, wunderkind and ‘special’ child of this generation, only one comes every twenty years is an utter, complete and useless FAILURE!!!” He screamed and batted the tiny starship dangling in front of him. It sailed against the far wall of the room and came apart in a small pop, landing in several pieces on the floor.

He was breathing hard and felt something sharp in his belly, as if someone took an ice pick to his guts.

He moaned for a moment and clutched his stomach.

Don’t mind that. We’re getting somewhere here. You think you’re a failure?

“Yes.” Wesley breathed between clenched teeth. The pain was getting worse like fire in his belly now.

You really think that?

“What did I JUST say? What have you been watching huh?? The Federation has collapsed, I couldn’t figure out an alien ship without the help of some dark lord and you KNOW I should have seen this possession thing coming from a mile away.”

Why, because you can do Trig in your head?

Wesley stopped short.

“No, because…”

Why because you are a special child that only comes once a generation?

“Well, no, it’s just that-“

Why because Wesley Crusher is perfect and scary smart? Because you’re a hero?

“Hold on, I never said I was a hero.”

Why not?

“That’s just silly nonsense. Heroes don’t exist.”

No?

He slowly glanced down at the shattered starship sprawled across the floor of his room. He focused his vision on it.

“Hey, it’s getting dark in here.”

Never mind that, you’re trying to change the subject Trig boy and I’m not going to let you.

“Don’t tell me that you’re going to let me do anything. I know the score. I failed, I was a three time loser and my final chance at glory and redemption slipped through my fingers when I decided to play the game with a Dark lord of the Sith.”

No.

“No what?”

You’re chance for redemption and glory is here.

“What?”

Think. Think real hard. You are NOT dead. You have been shunted aside by the dark Lord. He’s now using your body like you and I use a pair of shoes. He will do what he wants and cast you aside like so much garbage.

Wesley grunted and looked down at his stomach. A small puddle of thick red blood was pooling between his fingers as he clutched at his stomach.

“It hurts.”

Never mind that.

“It’s cold.”

Ignore it.

He paused and looked around his room, he could no longer see outside the window, he could no longer see the far walls of his room.

“It’s so dark in here, so quiet.” He whispered.

WESLEY

He snapped back into focus.

Listen very carefully. You have but one chance now, one chance for redemption. You are powerful Wesley. You ARE special. You ARE a special child that comes once in a generation. Math sings to you like a soothing lover, reason is your sword and logic your shield. Think on that. You have learned powerful secrets but you have powerful secrets of your own that you have ignored. Think of the doors unlocked, the paths you have trod, the worlds you have leapt to and tell me that you are nothing, that you are a failure.

“But its all over now. I just want it to end.” He glanced down at his stomach and the blood was now running down his legs.

You CAN end it, like this. A child, alone in his room, waiting for oblivion, waiting for daddy to come home, waiting for daddy to tell him that it’s OK to grow up, that it’s OK to be your own man.

He looked up sharply.

“I never wanted him to go away.” He said, voice thick with sorrow and the first tears ran down his cheeks, hot and unbidden.

No, you didn’t.

“I didn’t want him to die. He never gave me a chance to know him and I was all that was left. Who was I to be different? I just wanted my father and the universe gave me everything else, but I would trade all of this, every iota of power and knowledge I know just to be with him, just to have him again.”

I know

“Who are you?”

A friend. I will never leave you but now is not the time, now is not the place. Now is the choice. You can stand here and be swallowed by oblivion, waiting forever for that word.

“Or?” He whispered, tasting blood in his mouth.

A hand reached out from the shadows and gripped his shoulder.

You can seize the day. You can be Wesley Crusher. Not the Wesley Crusher that your mother knows, that Captain Picard wanted you to be, that your own wounded pride and responsibility wanted you to be. But the Wesley Crusher that you were always meant to be. This is your one last chance. You can do with it what you will now. I cannot say anymore. BE, Wesley Crusher now, or never grow up. The easier paths have always been the ones you have chosen. Wesley Crusher, he always trod on the hardest paths of all.

“Why?” He asked quietly, feeling the blood flow from the corner of his mouth down his chin, haring the steady drip drop on the rug.

Because that’s what being special means Wesley. You take the path seldom trodden and right now, life is offering you one last chance to take that path. Wesley, not everyone is given this chance.

Wesley nodded slowly.

He looked around his room and he saw his mother smiling at him warmly and she had her hands around the shoulders of a young man in uniform that beamed on him with barely restrained pride. Captain Picard smiled approvingly and nodded. Data and Geordie sat on the edge of his bed and nodded as well.

“I want to BE.” He replied softly as the last of the light dimmed from his room and he vanished into smoke. A solitary figure stood alone in the room and picked up the shattered starship. He carefully snapped a broken nacelle back into place and carefully slipped the starship back onto the wires and gave it an absent pat.

“You wanna bring outside parties into this then I have to play dirty too.” The figure muttered and vanished in a flash with a snap of his fingers.






“I said I want all available power shunted to the shields.”

“Sair, I have no power to give ye. The main energizers may have to be taken off the line if we stay here any longer.”

Kirk slammed his hand down on the communicator and turned his attention back to Sulu.

“Well?”

“Just like you said sir, they are deploying into some sort of wedge formation, trying to funnel us down the center of their lines.”

“Where they will crush us in their crossfire.” Chekov spat in disgust.

“But we have an opening right?”

Sulu glanced back at his tactical display and eyes widened slightly.

“Aye sir, one of their lighter warships is blocked a portion of the wedge, we can probably blast past them if we concentrate our fire.”

Kirk nodded angrily rubbing his chin.

“Spock?”

“This is the fifth such weakness we have discovered in their tactical deployments.”

“He WANTS us to find them, he’s herding us and I have no idea into what.”

“Unfortunately, captain, we have no other choice. To go against the openings offered is suicide.”

“And Nemesis has caught off our only means of retreat to gather our breaths. What is the status of his fleet?”

“He is holding back but engaging in long range bombardment.”

“We could turn and engage him directly. He has the smaller fleet.” Kirk mused.

Spock quickly walked down to Kirk’s command chair.

“Jim, they may be smaller but they still out gun us. If we try to break through their lines the odds are 7,026,412 to one that we survive.”

“And if I continue to jump hoops for this Grand Admiral Thrawn, how long until then, Spock? There has to be a way out of this.”

“If there is, Jim. I do not see it.” Spock replied stonily. Kirk looked up at his XO and nodded slowly. Spock was never one to sugar coat matters but this was the first time in combat that he flatly stated that there was no way to win.

Kirk glanced around the bridge. His brave and stalwart crew looked haggard and worn out. They were frayed and he did not know how much more they could take, or his ship. The Enterprise’s bridge was all but smashed, terminals hung off their station spewing smoke and sparks, the walls were blackened from fires and the sound of alarms could be heard throughout the ships. The steady casualty reports kept marching relentlessly across his status board.

This reminded him of something else. Something from his past.

“All fleet elements, follow us in, we’re going to break through that wedge.”

“Aye sir.”

Kirk looked up at Spock.

“I’m going to play my part Spock and hope that I can withstand any surprise that this Grand Admiral Thrawn has in store for me. I can’t do anything else. I have to play this out.”

“I understand, Jim. We all do.” Spock replied and walked back to his station.

Charlie leaned in close on Kirk’s chair.

“This doesn’t look good. How can we get away?”

“Charlie.” He smiled at the young man who only a few years ago wanted to take over his ship and ‘wish’ him away. Now he seemed noble. Young, fresh, alive and so restrained. He slowly touched Charlie’s arm and gripped it warmly.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m standing with the crew and this ship.”

“But I can take you away, I can wish us to another world, far away from all of this. If you’re afraid of being alone I can bring Mr. Spock and a few others with us.” he replied earnestly.

Kirk smiled grimly as the first flak busts exploded on the screen.

“No Charlie, There will be no running away. I’m a captain, in Starfleet, my place is here.”

Charlie stared at the older man in awe and looked around him. The rest of the crew, he could feel them, they were afraid as he was but they were united in their resolve and they all looked to Kirk to strengthen that resolve.

“My place is here, with you.” Charlie replied evenly and nodded to himself as if settling a debate and stood steadfast by Kirk’s side. Kirk watched him for a moment and smiled weakly. That this war could tear the lives away from such young men as this one would sadden him for what little life he had left.







“My lord.”

“I see it.” Nemesis replied evenly as he watched the Imperial battle group dueling with Kirk’s fleet. His eyes narrowed on the mighty command ship at the fore front of the battle.

The Executor.

The bridge crew was stunned as they watched the scene unfold. Some were shaking their heads in disbelief. Admiral Kittaine stood quietly by Nemesis’ side, the euphoria of the defeat of the Borg was quickly fleeing as the import of what they were seeing settled in.

“Identities confirmed on all vessels. They are current active duty Imperial warships. IFF frequencies identify the flagship and command officer as Grand Admiral Thrawn.

“Thrawn?” Kittaine whispered.

“You know him?” Nemesis asked quietly as he felt his father’s mind.

“Yes, My Lord, he is renowned among fleet circles as a genius. However not much more is known about him save that he was dispatched to Wild Space long ago. We have rarely seen him on Coruscant.”

“Makes you wonder about your own white uniform does it not?” Nemesis asked quietly.

Kittaine blanched.

“My lord, I have no words.”

“You will have to find them soon, Kittaine. An Empire can only have one master.” Nemesis replied pointedly but did not look at Kittaine. Kittaine’s jaw dropped. Was Nemesis implying what he thought he was implying? Was it possible? And even more alarming, what was his answer?

Nemesis watched the Executor and slowly the images all blurred away and he stood in the stars facing his father. The stars themselves seemed to be woven into their capes as they regarded each other in silence.

“You have done well, Lord Nemesis.”

“Have I?” Nemesis replied.

“I sense anger and conflict within you.”

“I sense confusion and hesitation in you.”

They stood in stoic silence again, the darkness of the void illuminated by a stray turbolaser blast or a dying starship’s warp core breach.

“What have you done here? There are questions, troubling questions that will need to be answered.”

“Trying to get our stories straight father?” Nemesis replied icily. He wondered where the hostility was coming from.

“Have a care, Lord Nemesis. I am your father and your master.”

“No, Palpatine is my master. You made that very clear to me when I left Coruscant.”

“Nemesis.” Vader reached out slowly to his son. He was so proud of his son. He had his mother’s chin, her caring demeanor. But damn him for inheriting his temper.

Nemesis paused and looked from the hand to the metal face mask. many wondered what Nemesis actually saw when he looked at the black clad cybernetic giant. He did not see any of this. The force allowed him to see the caring man beneath the armor, the aged scarred face beneath the mask, he could see the dim light humming at his center.

“You told me that once I came to you that we would never be separated. You said that we would be together, always. We would rule the galaxy together as father and son.”

“I would never lie to you Nemesis. I am not Kenobi or Yoda. I am not the pitiful mewling light side begging for acceptance and obedience. I am Darth Vader and I want you by my side always. But I also have to caution you. patience, Nemesis. The Emperor is not to be trifled with. He has already violated one of the most sacred tenets of our order by allowing both of us to exist.”

“The rule of two.” Nemesis replied softly.

“Indeed. He is planning, I can feel it, his mind is always in motion and we must be more careful than ever. Now is the time that we must be united. In the galaxy we are far from his power. The force cannot reach us here. His prescience which he has relied on will not serve him here. It is here where we will gather our strength and prepare for the final conflict. Only together can we defeat him.”

“It’s been so long father.” Nemesis stared down at the ground. “I have done things…horrible things to maintain control and order.”

“As have I, my son. But power is not without its price, but in the end, it will be worth it. In the end we will restore order and end this destructive conflict. We will finally have the power that we need to end it all and end the chaos. No more wars, no more death, we will become powerful enough to stop people from dying Lu-Nemesis.”

Nemesis glanced back at Vader. A soft smile tugged at the ends of his lips.

“Even here, alone in the dark, you cannot call me by my name.”

“Darth Nemesis is your name.” Vader replied angrily.

“Of course.” Nemesis replied and drew his cape around him. It looked as if he had drawn the stars themselves around him, wrapping himself in the universe.

“What have you done here?”

“I have forged an Empire in my name.”

The only sound was breathing, slow mechanical breathing.

“This will not do.”

“But it will father. I have my own time table and plans now. I have been alone here in this galaxy and I have seen things inside of myself I do not want to see again., I have sold parts of my soul to accomplish this small victory and I will not have it taken away from me because it does not fit in your plan.”

“Nemesis, this is not a game. We are trying to defeat the most powerful force user our galaxy has ever known. We cannot be reckless.”

“Didn’t you know, that was my weakness during my training. It was my recklessness that brought me to you on Bespin, that brought our sabers together, that took my hand and revealed my father to me.”

“Your recklessness now may doom us all.”

“Father, I will no longer wait. My power has grown here and my patience is at an ebb. It is time to clean house and bring order. If you will not stand with me then you are against me. You can either profit from this or be destroyed the choice is yours, either way, it is my destiny to destroy Palpatine, nothing is more clear now to me than this.”

“Destroying the Emperor will not bring back what you have lost.” Vader replied icily.

Nemesis paused as if slapped.







“And now we set the final trap.” Thrawn announced coolly as the Federation fleet burst through the flaw in his wedge.

“This is pointless.” Kahn muttered.

“No, Kahn, watch and learn.” He turned to Piett. “Deploy the fleet in an Iron wheel formation, have the Executor take up center position. Commence attack on Federation fleet with all batteries, but the Executor’s weapons are to concentrate on the Excalibur.”

“Any other deployment orders, sir?” Piett asked curiously. For the first time in the Battle, Thrawn had not ordered a ship to be out of position or an opening created.

“No, here is where we crush the Federation spirit. But we will not kill Kirk.”

“What is the use then!” Kahn exclaimed.

“You will see, Kahn. James Kirk is a hero and a symbol. There is more to his defeat than mere death. This is but the first of the cuts we will inflict on him as we bleed him out.” Thrawn nodded to Piett who relayed the orders.

“Heroes and symbols, Thrawn? Since when do they matter?” Kahn replied haughtily. Thrawn glanced down at a small holodisplay on his command seat. It was an artist’s rendition of the signing of the Federation charter.

“Symbols are what drive this culture, Kahn. It always has. They wish to be better than what they are and they chose heroes to embody this ideal. This fleet and culture were on the verge of surrender until this James Kirk arrived on the scene, a Captain from their past who fit the mold of hero all too perfectly. He was what they needed to gain the one thing we don’t want them to have. Hope.” Thrawn answered as his crimson eyes stared down at the holographic artwork.






The Federation fleet wheeled around desperately trying to claw their way towards the Grapple, in the vain hope of wining their freedom. Suddenly several Imperial ships were swarmed by angry emerald skinned Klingon warships that were decloaking all along the Imperial ranks.

Two Vorchas dove right into the Grapple, firing steadily and eating away at her shields. Her return fire, weak compared to the other Imperial ships was still devastating to the Klingon warships. One exploded right away the other, deprived of her starboard nacelle dove headlong into the Grapple exploding with a mighty blast that wreathed the Interdictor in a white cloud of plasma and debris.

Birds of Prey were darting v=between the massive warships trading fire with them as a more ships swarmed to break the lines for the Federation ships.

“Well I’ll be.” Sulu muttered.

“Crazy am I?” Kirk winked to Uhura who nodded to her Captain. The man did never cease to amaze.





“Glorious is it not Thorfin!” Worf exclaimed happily as his fleet engaged the Imperials.

“This, my Chancellor, is a battle worthy of our people. Let us feel the sting of battle!” Thorfin roared, joy clearly evident on his face as the fleet continued their attack. The Klingons were relentless in their assault, heedless of losses they swarmed around the perimeter Imperial ships, trying their best to open the lines and reveal the Grapple to her attackers.

Worf could not deny his blood singing in his ears as his ship bobbed and weaved between angry emerald bolts of energy, trading fire with the massive warships around him and still alive, still with their teeth bared and unyielding in the face of his enemy.

Here was glory, here was honor, here a Klingon could wash away the shame of the days just passed, without a home world and an empire on the brink of extinction, the children of Quo’nos were showing their mettle.

But the Starfleet officer in him was aghast at the mounting casualty figures, horrified by the sight of his heaviest warships torn asunder by errant blasts of energy, disgruntled by the sight of concentrated heavy disruptor fire merely dancing along the shields of the Imperial ships without a single one being damaged as of yet.

Slowly and quietly he began to wonder just how long this could last, how long until the last Klingon war cry was heard and the last warrior died a death at the hands of the Empire in this, their most desperate hour.






“How is this possible?” Piett exclaimed as the Klingon attack became more chaotic, many of the ships choosing at the last moment to simply collide with their Imperial attackers in the vain hopes of taking more down with them, others cloaking and decloaking on the other side of the battle field making it nearly impossible to keep track of their numbers and position. He was not so much worried about them as he was concerned that such an enemy force could appear out of nowhere amongst his fleet.

“Do not concern yourself with the minor attacks of a petty fleet, Piett. I expected no less from this man, Kirk. If he truly has led this insurrection successfully for as long as he has with this pathetic technological gap then his only recourse is trickery and ambushes.” Thrawn looked back at the Federation fleet sitting in the center of his fleet’s sights.

“Concern yourself with destroying as much of them as possible. Cloaking devices do not concern me, fleets do not concern me, ambushes and surprise attacks do not concern me, utterly destroying and defeating this man does.” Thrawn added.

He watched dispassionately as a horde of Klingon ships attempted to take down a smaller Imperial ship only to come under heavy fire from close by stardestroyers. In a matter of minutes the Klingon phalanx had either retreated or met instant destruction.

“This is not a battle. This is a slaughter.” Jerjerrod muttered shaking his head as he watched a pair of Bird of Prey crash into the unyielding side of a stardestroyer as it plowed into a phalanx of Vorchas that thought they could dissuade it with a concentrated wall of disruptor and torpedo fire.

“No, Jerjerrod, the slaughter has not yet commenced. But it will.” Thrawn replied.







“Wake up my lovely little Jedi. It is time for you to give me what I need most.” Dairoga roughly turned Leia on her back. “Your body.” he gargled through the blood pooling in his mouth and stared at her, preparing for the assault on her unconscious mind.

“Wesley!” Dr. Crusher called out.

“Must we end this forever? So be it.” Dairoga hissed as he reached for his lightsaber and suddenly his hand froze in mid-motion.

“What?” he snapped in annoyance.

“This ends now.” it was Wesley’s voice now coming out of his mouth.

“Never.” Dairoga replied.

“You’ve overextended yourself, Lord Kallast. You’ve been keeping this body alive, assaulting the others and now gathering your strength for the take over of the princess mind. But she’s strong and she’s resisting you and you’re now stuck, partly out of this body and I am back in it.”

“You have no concept of what you’re talking about my young apprentice. I AM power. The ability to move between bodies is insignificant next to the power of the Force.”

“First I’ve cut you off from your shunt of the Excalibur’s power reserves.”

“What?” Dairoga reached out and felt it, Wesley’s power stood between him and the great lakes of power beyond in the reactor core. For the first time since his grab for power he felt the tiniest bit of fear creep into his black heart.

“Amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it. I’ve been relying on your Force for things that I could do with my own mind.”

“You will leave now!” Dairoga roared and the force materialized around him in cascades of force lightning, hungrily licking away at his body, dancing between his limbs like St. Elmo’s fire.

“Your first mistake was thinking I was just a boy that could be manipulated by you and that I had no resources of my own.” Wesley replied as he drew the force lightning away from his body by opening a pinprick in subspace.

Beverly watched the exchange in a mixture of shock and horror. Her son’s body, ravaged by the possession of the Sith Lord and the damage done by their attempts to stop him and his voice issuing from the mouth, the face softening slightly then cruelly twisted again as Dairoga spoke and tried to wrest control.

“Your second mistake was instilling me with such anger and fury and showing me how to harness that power. I have delved deep you twisted bastard and I know what you can and can’t do right now and right now you’re stuck in me.”

“I am not defeated Crusher. You will know such exquisite agony once I am done with you.” Dairoga suddenly grabbed a firm hold of the spike in his abdomen and pulled viciously.

It was Wesley’s voice that screamed in agony.

“Wesley!” Beverly exclaimed.

Dairoga spared a moment to look up at Doctor Crusher and smiled with blood caked teeth.

“Your third mistake was attacking my mother you vile bastard!” Wesley shouted and touched the spike sending cascades of subspace energy into the spike that spread through his body in ghostly white light. It illuminated him like a lantern and Dr. Crusher swore she saw two figures hunched over her son’s body wrestling.

Leia finally gathered enough strength to sit up and she touched Wesley’s head, not harsh or hard, but a soothing touch.

“You need help Wesley, find strength in the peace and solitude of the Force. Center yourself in serenity.” She whispered, suspecting that the words coming out of her mouth were not truly her own.

Wesley was suddenly himself, the ivory hair gone, the gaunt skin no longer stretched over his frame and he smiled at his mother.

“Mother. I love you. I always have.”

“I have always loved you my son.” She whispered holding a hand to her mouth in despair.

“Thank you princess. He is raging within me but he has made his final mistake.” He closed his eyes for a moment.






On the bridge of the Excalibur Riker snarled in fury as the Executor pounded on them mercilessly.

“Shields failing!” Paris exclaimed.

“Fire all weapons!”

Data suddenly stiffened. His eyes rolled in the back of his head and his hands slowly played across the controls in a deliberate manner.

“Data?” Riker asked suddenly aware of his XO’s state.

“Sir, I’m picking up a subspace harmonic building in the core drive.”

“But we can’t go to warp and leave the fleet behind.”

“That is not my purpose, Will.” Data replied…in Wesley’s voice.

“Data?”

“No, Commander, but he will be back soon. I have encoded in Data a sequence that must be entered precisely when the harmonic builds to its peak in the core. It will fire a forced tertryon cascade that will tear the subspace domains directly ahead apart.”

“My God, Wesley, that will tear this part of space time apart!” Riker exclaimed.

“No, Will, it will punch a hole through space time allowing you to generate a static warp shell that the rest of the fleet can latch on to. Essentially I am making you an emergency exit.”

“Wesley.”

“Commander, I have no more words, save for this. You have all been my friends and I will miss you all.”

“Wesley?” Riker asked softly.

Data suddenly relaxed and his eyes returned to normal.

“Captain?” He asked perplexed. “My internal chronometer is showing a 70 second discrepancy that I cannot account for.” Data started.

“Data do you have a coded sequence in memory?”

Data paused for a moment and looked perplexed.

“Indeed I do, sir. How did you-“”

“Data begin entering the sequence as soon as this harmonic reaches culmination.”

Data frowned but began working at his station. Riker slumped in his command chair.

“Goodbye Wesley.” He whispered.



The bridge of Worf’s command ship rocked under the bombardment of the enemy. Worf held on as his weapons officer savagely pounded away on the controls unleashing all their fury and power only to see it impact harmlessly on the Imperial shields. He scowled as he saw more of his ships literally evaporating under the Imperial assault.

“We must find a way to link up with the Federation fleet. We have lost initiative and a way out of this. Nemesis’ fleet is closing on us fast and we no longer have a clear path of escpae!” Worf shouted.

“Nemesis’ fleet is skilled in tracking our cloaked ships. We cannot simply slip away via cloak.” Thorfin advised darkly.

“The Romulan fleet has taken up station keeping positions all throughout the globe of engagement, even if we managed to slip away from the Imperials they will surely find us and we are too dispersed to make a difference against the assembled warbirds.” His tactical officer reported.

“Then have all ships fight their way to the center and perhaps with our added firepower we can punch a hole in these lines.” Worf ordered. His tactical officer nodded and quickly went to follow orders.

Thorfin gripped Worf’s arm.

“You know as well as I that there will be no punching holes through these lines, Worf. This is most likely our final battle.”

Worf nodded but smiled.

“I do not surrender, not to these dogs. If we die this day let it be on our feet.”

Thorfin smiled like a young child and started to laugh. Suddenly the ship rocked hard from a near miss and Thorfin’s eyes widened as he noticed the bulkhead over Worf’s command chair give way.

“Worf!” he shouted and shoved Worf out of the way as the heavy bulkhead fell on him, shattering his left side and driving him into the floor. Thorfin moaned slightly as Worf quickly knelt by his side.

“Thorfin?”

“My chancellor, my friend.” Thorfin coughed and purple blood trickled out of his mouth.

“Thorfin, I will call for a medic.”

“NO.” Thorfin took a firm hold of Worf’s shoulder.

“I am a Klingon and this is the end. To die in battkle and more glorious still, saving my Chancellor is all I ever wanted to do.”

“And what of the battles to come?” Worf asked fighting the sorrow in his breast. He SHOULD be happy for his friend.

“You will fight them with honor. And I will watch from Stovelkor.” Throfin leaned forward. “Save our people Worf. It cannot end like this.” Thorfin smiled softly and suddenly, Worf realized that his friend was dead, the smile frozen on his face. Worf stared at him for a long time. He wondered as the din of battle faded into the background whether he was looking at the death of the Klingon people.





“There’s only one way out now!” Kirk shouted as the ship rocked violently. The staggering amount of firepower being poured into his fleet was decimating. Starships were erupting all around the Enterprise as they tried to weather the storm and penetrate the wheel formation and link up with the Excalibur.

The Klingon fleet was scattered now, individual ships choosing an honorable death in combat but the core of the fleet was linking up with the Federation fleet and together they decided to pierce the wheel and win their freedom.

A bridge station exploded behind Kirk and he glanced back for a moment and did a double take.

“Spock!” He shouted and leapt down from his command chair as the ship was rocked by another blast.

“Sair, we have to take the mains off line!” Scotty exclaimed.

Spock was sprawled over the railing by his station, green blood soaked his uniform and his eyes were closed, face tight in pain.

Kirk was by Spock’s side.

“Spock.”

“My wounds are not critical, Jim. Please.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Spock. If this ends, it will end here, with us.” Kirk replied sternly and looked up at the screen. The Executor filled most of it as another dozen starships suddenly vaporized around them.

“You bastard! I’ve jumped through your hoops, I’ve seen all your openings and you herded me. This is NOT going to end here. You are not going to beat me like this.” Kirk shouted at the screen cradling Spock in his arms.

Charlie looked up at the screen as the explosions drew closer.

“They will not touch us.” He whispered as a turbolaser blast suddenly whipped by them and would have normally destroyed the saucer section but the blast dissipated uselessly. Charlie stumbled backwards as if punched.

“They will not touch us!” Charlie shouted as more blasts focused on the pitifully small band of starships left.






“Utterly useless no?” Thrawn asked.

“It is brave.” Jerjerrod suggested.

“Bravery in the face of these odds is called desperation.” Thrawn replied.

His fleet was deployed around the tiny Federation fleet that was dying a rapid death. Thrawn suddenly stiffened as several blasts lanced into the Enterprise.

“Who ordered guns on the Enterprise?!” he exclaimed as he fully expected to see the small starship explode . Instead it sailed onward, the emerald energy blasts dissipating harmlessly off the hull.

“What in the name of the Emperor…” Piett muttered.

“That’s right, Grand Admiral…I forgot he is no threat.” Kahn added sardonically.

“I’ll say this for the man.” The assembled officers stared at Thrawn waiting for the end of his comment. He regarded each one with his glowing red eyes. “He has impressed me.”

“Sir, we’re picking up a strange energy buildup within the Excalibur.” Jerjerrod reported. Thrawn blinked.

“I’ve had enough surprises for one battle. Destroy the Excalibur now, all batteries open fire on that ship.” Thrawn ordered tersely.





Wesley nodded to himself as he felt Dairoga ready to break free of the bonds of his will. It was time.

“Your final mistake, dark lord was thinking that I would never sacrifice myself to destroy you.”

“Wesley…what are you doing?!” Dairoga exclaimed.

“Sending you straight to hell.” Wesley replied with a grim smile and looked at his mother one last time, tears in her eyes as she tried to reach out and touch him.

“Goodbye.” Wesley whispered and opened up a small subspace doorway. Planes, distance, it was all geometric and orderly. Simple math equations could take you anywhere in the universe, if you knew how to unlock the power in those equations. Wesley was special. He could unlock those secrets, and the Traveler taught him how to do it so easily. He traveled the universe, stepping on worlds that the Federation would not see in centuries.

It was a simple matter of linking one point in space time with another. In this case, Wesley simply linked the point in space time where he stood and the point in space time occupying the center of the Excalibur’s hypermatter reactor.

Wesley could feel the dark lord howling like a wild animal as he dragged him kicking and screaming through the subspace passage and on the other side there was a bright light, as if he were stepping into the sunlight and he smiled.

He was walking in the sun somewhere and he was a man.






“Sequence complete.” Data announced as he entered the sequence into the panel. The Excalibur suddenly flashed brightly, wispy tendrils of electricity danced along each panel. The maw pulsed a sickly green and suddenly vomited forth a swirling lance of energy that struck the space in front of the Federation fleet.

“Subspace domains rupturing, we have a tear in the local subspace field….my god it’s expanding fas-” Paris as cut off as everything seemed to cease to exist. There was only a white flash then nothing.





“What happened?” Thrawn asked tightly.

The others stared at the empty space.

“That’s impossible. There is absolutely no way they could have escaped, we detected no drive emissions, the gravity well was in perfect position. This-” Piett pointed to the empty space. “is impossible.”

“Yet there it is.” Thrawn replied, hiding his own confusion.

“They are not anywhere nearby. I detected a disturbance in the force right before they vanished.” Vader added.

Thrawn sighed heavily.

“It matters not. It seems our captain Kirk is far more resourceful than even I gave him credit for but still, he is working well within my plans.”

“This escape was in your plans, sir?” Piett asked confused.

Kahn eyed Thrawn suspiciously.

“Yes. I told you this battle had only one purpose. Defeat James Kirk. Too often I have noticed that among my Imperial brethren defeat all too often means death.”

“Death is the ultimate defeat.” Vader countered.

“Somehow I knew you would say that lord Vader.” Thrawn replied with a shadow of a smile. “But in all seriousness, defeat is my plan. You see to destroy a symbol one must first tear down everything supporting it. We must defeat the myth of James Kirk then we can kill the man.” Thrawn explained as if lecturing to a class. “Right now, even though he has escaped us he has escaped with…how many vessels Piett?”

“Estimates state at most 19 starships.”

“Nineteen…out of an original fleet of 600. That is most definitely a defeat. We have also defeated his ace in the hole, his Doomsday machine. There is no hope of victory now and he knows it. It is now up to us to make the rest of the galaxy know this, because gentlemen, there is absolutely no doubt who won this battle and who lost.” Thrawn stopped and looked out the view port at the Imperial fleet floating opposite his. “But now, we must deal with another issue. Now I want to know precisely what the New Empire is.” Thrawn said with a scowl.

[Kuja]

1st post!

[Kuja]

Ooh. I liked it.


One comment: I swear on the seven levels of hell, if you kill Jerrijod after bringing him this far, I'll kill you.

[Darth Garden Gnome]

AGH! Through the almighty power of Treknobabble Kirk escapes! Shame on you Stravo!

Kidding, of course. So Weasley is dead (YESSSSSSSS), but he took Dairoga with him (with a little help from Q, I presume). Now that Kirk has escaped, with 19 ships no less, the Feds have NOTHING. The Klings are gone too. But hte Empire may very well tear itself apart as Vader swears fealty to the Emperor (for now), while Nememsis stands by his New Empire. Thrawn caught in the middle, Khan waiting to strike! The tension is building!

Can the Empire hold itself together before the Federation gains the upper hand? Will the Federation be able to stay together with its demolished fleet? CanKirkkeep them together with their demolished fleets? When will the Shadow Fleet strike? Where's Boba Fett? The universe is tearing itself apart as they speak!!!

My head is fucking spinning man. Stravo man, I love you. In a good sort of way, you understand.

[Admiral_K]

Good chapter, but a little criticism if I may:

I think the part about the "New Empire" is a little bit contrived. Thrawn could have had other ways of figuring out Nemesis' plan, but I think it was just a little bit too easy with him flying in and announcing in the name of the "New Empire" when he just as easily could have said "The Empire" and then Thrawn jumping to a conclusion with very little evidence.

Anyway, thats just my thoughts.

Again, good chapter as always.