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NecronLord
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Dammit Stavro! Bring more Strarcrossed, More Kahn!
Superior Moderator - BotB - HAB [Drill Instructor]-Writer- Stardestroyer.net's resident Star-God.
"We believe in the systematic understanding of the physical world through observation and experimentation, argument and debate and most of all freedom of will." ~ Stargate: The Ark of Truth
"We believe in the systematic understanding of the physical world through observation and experimentation, argument and debate and most of all freedom of will." ~ Stargate: The Ark of Truth
Chapter 59: A Murder of Crows
The conference room on the Executor was silent save for a lone voice speaking in a quiet confident tone. Arrayed around the table were the Imperial officers who arrived with their Grand Admiral to bring a new galaxy under the auspices of the Empire. Standing at the back of the table, arms crossed and watching the proceedings with great interest was Grand Admiral Kittaine. He watched the speaker intently.
The speaker, Kahn Noonian Singh finished his presentation as he said, “And this my friends is precisely how we will neutralize and capture James T. Kirk.”
The assembled officers said nothing at first, many glancing subtly or not so subtly to the back of the room where Grand Admiral Thrawn sat calmly, hands clasped together, fingers steepled under his chin. Thrawn’s glowing red eyes did not leave Kahn’s face as the superman stood under the holoprojection of the planet Earth.
“Excellent stratagem, Kahn but I have a very important question.” Thrawn finally spoke and the entire table of officers as one turned their heads to regard Kahn.
Kahn respectfully inclined his head to the Grand Admiral.
“Do you really expect me to believe that a warrior such as Kirk would allow himself to be captured in this manner?” Thrawn asked.
Kahn smiled and shook his head ruefully as he switched the holoimager to display James Kirk and his service record. Kirk’s face floated at Kahn’s head level, he was looking grimly at the assembly as his service record slowly scrolled to the left of his head in the two frame display.
“You know this man from these records, seized from Starfleet command. You will note the various citations and medals for valor.”
“That is my point is it not?” Thrawn interjected coldly. Jerjerrod watched the exchange with interest. Kahn seemed to always want to speak in long flowery soliloquies and speeches. They were inspiring in spite of his questionable status in the fleet. His constant escort of two stormtroopers surreptitiously stood off to the side watching their charge.
“If you bother to look past the surface and actually investigate his service record you will see that despite the fact that he had the most combat experience in all of Starfleet at the time he was also involved in no less than 500 missions of mercy to various Starfleet installations, colonies and worlds. This number only reflects his first five year mission. Over 1,000 missions of mercy in his career.”
“And?” Piett snapped in annoyance. “There is no doubt that this Federation was far too consumed with helping those weaker than themselves to the point where they neglected their own defenses and are now paying the ultimate price.”
“I was unaware that your staff could be so dense, Grand Admiral.” Kahn replied with a tight smile.
Piett frowned heavily but knew better than continue the debate with Kahn. Thrawn did not like Kahn scoring rhetorical points against his staff.
“You are entitled to your own opinion, of course but you will find that my patience grows very thin when personal attacks are used to waste my precious time. In case you were not paying attention, Kahn, I am in the process of conquering a galaxy.”
“Of course, Grand Admiral. As I was saying, James Kirk is a warrior yes, a fighter, yes, but he is also a man of his time.”
“The past?” Jerjerrod interjected.
“Ah, I keep forgetting that small detail.” Kahn said with a tight smile. “What I meant to say is that he is the consummate Federation man.”
Some at the table exchanged confused glances but Thrawn leaned forward slightly. Kahn smiled at the crimson eyed Chiss. He knew that of all the people in this room he would understand immediately.
Kittaine’s eyes narrowed on Kahn as he continued to speak. Lwaxanna and Ochoa had briefed him on this man. Kahn Noonian Singh’s name still reverberated through history. He was a genetically engineered superman that had nearly conquered his world. Ochoa was certain that he and James Kirk had met and fought during his five year mission nearly a century ago. The mystery of his appearance in this time was troubling to say the least. Sometimes, late at night when he was alone and reading after action reports he had the oddest feeling that things were unfolding according to some plan.
It was the strangest sensation as if he were simply a piece on some board. But the feeling quickly left him when he became conscious of how ridiculous the notion was.
But this meeting was far more important not because of what was being said but what was not. Thrawn had seemingly abandoned his crusade against the Imperium forces. But that was the most dangerous part and Kittaine knew it.
Thrawn was not your standard Imperial stooge. He was a Grand Admiral and as such his concerns were on a galactic scale and what was best for the Empire, not your simple knee jerk zealot response, but a more measured long range response and goals. Kittaine knew that up until recently Thrawn would have accepted the Imperium’s surrender. If Kittaine had bended knee to Thrawn and surrendered his fleet to Thrawn’s authority he knew that Thrawn would have accepted the surrender and not a word would have been mentioned to the Emperor.
Thrawn knew that he did not have the resources to fight both the Imperium fleet and the Federation remnant effectively. As a master strategist, Thrawn would want to win a victory with as little expenditures as possible. If part of that sacrifice was a simple looking away from an officer’s transgressions then he was sure that Thrawn would accept that.
But things were different.
Thrawn was no longer making the comments, veiled threats, and general distaste for Kittaine and his decision to break away from the Empire public. But among all these statements was the unspoken promise that should Kittaine surrender things would be forgotten. That promise was no longer there for one very simple reason.
“What do you think Grand Admiral Kittaine?” Thrawn asked softly.
Kittaine snapped out of his reverie. With those simple words Thrawn had signaled the obvious to Kittaine.
He was a dead man.
Thrawn would never accept Kittaine’s title otherwise. That was the one concession that the Grand Admiral would never make, the one transgression he would never overlook. By accepting the title for Kittaine he was essentially telling Kittaine that Thrawn would do everything in his power to crush the Imperium fleet.
“I have been fighting James Kirk since he took command of the Federation remnant. Before his ascension the Federation forces were scattered before our might. In the very first battle that he fought against us, the battle of Vulcan, James Kirk destroyed the Executioner. His successes continued up until the Battle of Romulus. He is not lucky. This is a commander that is gifted in the field of battle and commands the respect and loyalty of his men. This Federation fleet will bear any casualties that we can inflict in order to achieve a victory for him.” Kittaine replied as he started to pace slowly, hands clasped behind his back. It was only after a brief line of static crossed his features that it quickly became obvious that he was a hologram.
“I cannot believe that after all he’s been through that he would decide what Kahn is saying in his plan. Kirk is a fighter and he will go down fighting, of that I have no doubt.”
“You give him too much credit Grand Admiral.” Kahn replied without hesitation.
Kittaine frowned.
“It has been my philosophy not to underestimate my enemy. Kirk has fought to hard and knows what’s at stake in this war. To think that he could be made to surrender with this tactic is a gross underestimation of his resolve.”
Kahn shook his head.
“It seems that you are the one that has built him into something that he is not.” Kahn said with a jovial laugh. “James Kirk is the paragon of his society’s virtues. What does the Federation stand for to humans?”
The assembled officers remained silent.
Kahn looked around at each one’s face before speaking.
“They actually believe that they have evolved past basic human vices such as greed and selfishness.”
Several of the officers exchanged disgusted expressions. Thrawn remained impassive watching Kahn speak, his eyes never left the genetically engineered tyrant.
“I have a far more realistic view of the state of human nature, but luckily for us James Kirk was not raised in my era, or as I can see from your actions to date, in your galaxy where we seem to collectively value ambition and embrace our human nature.”
“The point, Kahn. I am not seeing a point.” Thrawn interrupted in a quiet tone.
Kahn stopped for a moment. On Earth, 200 hundred years ago, he would have had this alien’s head on a pike for such insolence. Kahn knew that Thrawn understood precisely the point he was making but he wanted to subtly exert control over Kahn.
This would soon change.
His eyes did not look at Jerjerrod but the young captain was tantalizing close to the Grand Admiral. One quick strike to the Grand Admiral’s throat, one casual reach for the blaster at his side and Thrawn would die.
It pleased Kahn to no end to have the arrogant white uniformed Grand Admiral live at his whim. One day he would have him.
The doors to the conference room slid open and the black armored giant, Darth Vader strode into the room. His cape trailed behind him as he strode past Kahn and took a position standing directly behind Thrawn and crossed his arms. The sound of his heavy mechanized breathing accompanied the quiet hum of the holoprojector.
“As I was saying James Kirk is an enlightened man. Yes he is a warrior and yes he has sacrificed much and knows what is at stake but in the end he is wearing a Starfleet uniform and that makes him a rare breed indeed.”
“I am not seeing why his Federation ideals would make him sacrifice the war effort.” Piett interjected.
“The Federation values above all else life.”
“Our early and most successful victories against came when we started striking civilian targets during Lord Nemesis’ march on Earth.” Kittaine noted, starting to see the point but refusing to believe that the man he had been fighting tooth and nail against these last few months would ever surrender under such contrived circumstances.
“The Federation fleets opposing us either withdrew or spent precious resources trying to protect the civilian infrastructure.” Kittaine finished.
“We’re talking about the leader of the movement fighting to protect and save his Federation surrendering to us based on a simple threat.” Piett countered incredulously.
“We also need to take into account a very simple problem with this plan.” Kittaine added.
“Oh?” Kahn asked curiously.
“What if Kirk calls our bluff? He is exceedingly good at seeing through pretenses and trickery. I find that direct approach is the best strategy to use against him.” Kittaine asked pointing at the holoimage of Earth behind Thrawn. It was an eerie sight to see Earth floating over Kahn’s left shoulder and Kirk’s face floating over his right shoulder.
“I agree.” Kahn replied without hesitation. “That is why you must follow through with the threat even if he does not surrender.”
Thrawn watched the look of horror on several of his officer’s faces. He noted each one for future reference. In the end they would have to be replaced by those more willing to do what needed to be done to achieve victory.
“We’re talking about losing a jewel in the Imperium crown. Imperium blood was shed winning it.” Kittaine protested.
“I wonder, Grand Admiral whether you were calling yourself the Imperium at that time?” Thrawn asked.
Kittaine glared at Thrawn.
“It doesn’t really matter now. Imperium troops occupy that world and Imperium ships orbit her. You will not just destroy it because it MIGHT lead to the surrender of one man.”
“Grand Admiral, Grand Admiral…” Kahn chuckled darkly. “I have no doubts that this plan will not fail.”
“You’ll forgive me if I don’t believe you, after all what do you have to lose Kahn?” Kittaine shot back.
“Frankly, if it meant ridding us of Kirk I would gladly sacrifice a hundred Earths.” Kahn replied.
“I don’t think it needs to come to that do you?” Thrawn asked sharply.
“No. Kirk could not conceive of the deaths that he could avert with a simple act.”
“You claim to know him so well. I have fought this man and surrender is not in his creed. He can see what is most important in this struggle, one world or a hundred, if he can drive us out of this galaxy he will.” Kittaine snapped.
The room was silent for a moment, save for Vader’s breathing.
“I am surprised that this tactic was not used earlier against the Federation, Admiral Kittaine. You identified this weakness in their structure and you did not exploit it.” Vader spoke quietly from his place behind Thrawn but his head turned to stare at Kittaine.
“What are you saying Lord Vader? That I did not do my best to crush this rebellion?”
“Isn’t it obvious? The Federation Remnant still fights on, yet we have managed to recover a stolen Imperial vessel and utterly crush this so called Shadow Fleet that laid waste to one of your worlds. Do you have an explanation for this Admiral?” Vader asked pointedly.
“Grand Admiral Lord Vader.” Kittaine corrected him.
Everyone in the room froze, all but Thrawn and Kahn.
“You are an Admiral in the Imperial fleet, Kittaine. Make no mistake your treachery has been noted and will be dealt with.” Vader spoke and his hand motioned towards Kittaine, emphasizing each word.
“I am a Grand Admiral in the Imperium Navy. If you wish to discuss this further then you must deal with Lord Nemesis as he is our Emp—leader.”
“Emperor?!” Vader seethed.
“Enough.” Thrawn demanded quietly. His voice did not rise above conversational level but both Vader and Kittaine grew quiet.
“Kahn, I will take this plan under advisement. While I can see your point, I simply find it impossible to believe that this man would surrender under such a threat. However as time goes on we may need to take such action.”
“Do I have to point out again that this world is the Imperium capital of the Federation Protectorate and –”
Thrawn lifted a hand.
“When it comes time to discuss the plan I will make sure to consult your glorious leader. Odd that he should not be attending this strategic conference, no? We are, after all discussing how to end the threat of the Federation remnant once and for all.”
And how to free the Imperial fleet of one enemy to concentrate on another. Kittaine mused darkly.
“Lord Nemesis is indisposed at the moment. He takes his position seriously.” Kittaine replied neutrally.
Thrawn nodded slowly.
“I see.” was all he said in response but Kittaine could feel Vader’s eyes on him like lasers. They seemed to burn into his flesh, seeking the truth. It was his own strength of will and the comforting presence of Lwaxanna in his mind that shielded him from the brunt of the Sith lord’s probing.
The experience was not at all pleasant, as he could feel the seething rage of the Sith lord battering him like some fiery tempest.
“The decision has been made to shelve the operation for now but we will revisit it should events demand.” Thrawn concluded.
“I will not put too fine a point on this Grand Admiral Thrawn, but you are grossly mistaken about James Kirk. This plan will work and will save us much time and effort.”
Some of the assembled officers immediately looked down at their datapads, assuming the worst was about to happen. Kahn’s stormtrooper escort took a step forward, hands on the butts of their blasters.
“I will take that assessment under advisement Kahn.” Thrawn replied icily.
“I am only doing my best to ensure this faction victory.” Kahn assured the blue skinned alien.
“Of course you are.” Thrawn said coolly, his eyes boring into Kahn’s.
The stormtroopers stood down.
“I will leave this assembly with something to think about. Should your forces attempt to carry out this foolhardy plan without the Imperium’s consent then the uneasy peace between our fleets will undoubtedly end. We will defend Earth no matter the cost.”
“How touching.” Piett smirked.
“And take this with you, Grand Admiral. If and when we come for Earth, there will be nothing you can do to stop us.” Thrawn said grimly.
“Then you will know the price for treason in the Empire, Admiral. I will see to it personally.” Vader added.
Kittaine looked at each of the principals with a steely gaze.
“Then I see we have come to an understanding. Good day gentlemen.” Kittaine’s holoimage faded away.
The room was silent for a moment, no one dared speak waiting for Thrawn.
“Is he gone?” Thrawn asked Jerjerrod.
Jerjerrod checked the room readings to make sure that the hyperlink signal from the Emperor’s Will had been fully terminated and no other transmissions were beaming in of or out of the Executor’s conference room.
“We are secure Grand Admiral.” he replied when he was satisfied with the readings.
“Excellent. Kahn you may be seated. Piett I believe that I asked you for a preliminary plan for our assault on Andor?” Thrawn asked.
“Indeed you did, Grand Admiral.” Piett replied as he rose from his place. Kahn slid into his seat at the bottom of the table and picked up a datapad. He activated the briefing file but paid no attention to it. Instead he watched the face of James Kirk floating serenely over the holoprojector.
“I will have you.” he whispered under his breath, as Piett switched the display. Kirk’s face vanished, replaced by the large planet of Andor.
“I have dubbed this Operation Twilight.” Piett began and soon tactical images representing Imperial ships, Federation ships and orbital defenses filled the holographic display. Kahn cared for none of these things. Andor would fall, there was no doubt of that but Kirk. He remained like some cut on the inside of your mouth that you constantly probed with your tongue, never allowing it to heal.
“That was most unpleasant.” Kittaine sighed as he checked his end of the signal, making sure that Thrawn or his lackeys did not piggyback some surveillance program onto his carrier wave.
“You poor dear. But my how handsome you looked when you stood up to them, especially that Vader person. What an unwholesome person.” Lwaxanna Troi commented as she brushed back a stray lock from Kittaine’s forehead.
“Woman I am not a child.” Kittaine exclaimed in mock exasperation.
“That is what you human men like to think.” Lwaxanna protested as she gingerly ran a hand down his cheek.
Kittaine rolled his eyes and sighed heavenward.
“I suppose you find this funny.” he snapped at Ernesto Ochoa seated opposite them fiddling with a datapad modified for use by the blind.
“I find many things funny in the dark these days, Grand Admiral. I truly do. But happiness and love are no laughing matters. They are becoming increasingly precious these days.”
“Happiness?!” Kittaine spat in surprise.
“Love.” Lwaxanna replied with a wistful tone.
“Indeed.” Ochoa added and chuckled softly.
“Enough, I need to know what you think.” Kittaine said as he poured Ochoa a drink. Ochoa gladly accepted the help. He did not have the heart to tell the Grand Admiral that he was not thirsty and even if he was blindness did not preclude him from pouring himself a drink. But somehow, it was the little things that Kittaine did for Ochoa that helped clear his conscious.
“You’re a good man Kittaine, never forget that.” Ochoa had told him several times and it was true, but it was when Kittaine poured him a drink, helped him out of his seat, read him a report that Kittaine felt like a good man. And Ochoa was not about to rob him of that.
“Kahn’s plan will work.” Ochoa stated after a moment of contemplation.
“He’s right.” Lwaxanna added sadly.
“Madness.” Kittaine whispered as it sank in. “You’re telling me that he would surrender?”
“He will. He’s a Starfleet officer, he would have no choice.” Ochoa reasoned.
“The life of billions for the life of one man.” Lwaxanna said with a shake of her head.
“He is the only hope they have at victory. His surrender would be preposterous.”
“He’s a better man than that, Gideon. Starfleet officers are trained from the beginning to put others ahead of themselves, humans in particular are very good at that.”
Kittaine stared at Lwaxanna and back at Ochoa. The concept that the supreme commander of a fleet would surrender because they threatened to blast a single world into rubble was inconceivable to him.
“Which leads me to the next step, we need to eliminate Kahn Singh as soon as possible.”
Kittaine shook his head.
“He is a perfect counterpoint to Thrawn. Thrawn is not secure on his own ship as long as Kahn is in play.” Kittaine explained. “I prefer to keep him there, I don’t want Thrawn to get too comfortable.”
“I have to agree with Ochoa, Gideon. Kahn knows Kirk too well and by extension the Federation mindset. If Thrawn really starts listening to him…” Lwaxanna’s voice trailed off.
“For now, we will keep Kahn in play, besides it won’t be easy to get an assassin team on board the Executor.”
Ochoa nodded, he never argued with Kittaine’s decisions.
“You do know they’re discussing the Andor operation.” Ochoa noted.
Kittaine nodded.
“There’s no doubt they will move on Andor.”
“I always wondered why the Imperial, excuse me Imperium fleet never moved on Andor. The buzz back on Betazed was that the Empire was afraid of the losses Andor’s defenses would inflict on them.”
Kittaine toyed with a glass on the table.
“No. That’s not quite right. True, Andor’s defenses were going to bloody our noses, after all they had spent a decade preparing to secede from your Federation and they suspected that your Starfleet would not allow that to happen without a fight so they prepared defenses that could have turned back your Starfleet. But in the end you simply lack the raw firepower to truly hurt a fleet the size of ours. We would have taken Andor in a day.”
“So why not?” Lwaxanna asked curiously.
“Nemesis.” Ochoa stated simply. Kittaine nodded at the blind starship Captain. Ochoa was wearing a brand new Starfleet uniform. He refused to wear an Imperial one and Kittaine respected his choice. It felt odd however to sit in this office and discuss matters so openly with a man wearing the uniform of the enemy.
“Darth Nemesis was going to launch an assault on Andor in response to our loss at Vulcan when he suddenly changed his mind and ordered us that under no circumstances were we to assault Andor. I never knew why but I had learned by that point to implicitly trust the young Sith lord’s instincts.” Kittaine explained.
“A wise decision. I wonder why Vader doesn’t sense what Nemesis sensed?”
“An interesting question. Vader seems distracted somehow.” Lwaxanna noted. “He could have pushed through my mind shields of Gideon with a little more effort.”
“It’s Nemesis. My agents tell me that Vader has been obsessed with finding him. He has probe droids making reconnaissance of all Imperium held systems and the space around it and his own spy network is working nonstop. Quiet a few agents have been found with crushed Tracheas on the Executor.” Kittaine explained.
“So unlike Nemesis, this Sith lord follows through on his threats.” Ochoa noted.
“I wish he were here. He has placed me in such a position that I do not know if I’ll be able to get us out of this one piece.” Kittaine whispered.
“Gideon, don’t worry you have us.” Lwaxanna comforted him.
“It’s not just me.” Kittaine countered. “It’s those young men and women, they are like a family to me and they have followed me into treachery. What do I have to offer them?”
“Hope.” Ochoa responded without hesitation. “In this war, Grand Admiral, that is the strongest weapon of all.”
Kittaine nodded slowly watching the young Starfleet captain that he had captured months ago, tortured and broken, sitting before him speaking of hope.
“Speaking of which, I can feel their thoughts. They’re getting impatient.” Lwaxanna interjected.
“Led I’m sure by Captain Tarsi.” Kittaine said with a dry laugh. “Let them in.”
The bridge of the Bird of Prey was quiet as they watched the convoy on the screen. There really was no need for quiet, the cloaking device was functioning well within parameters and it still offered a measure of safety against standard Imperial sensors. Sound could not travel through space nor be detected by normal means, but this crew was a superstitious lot and they had own many victories by observing the silence before the kill.
This mission was different than most.
Their captain was no longer in command, he stood off to the right of the command chair. The Chancellor of the Klingon Empire, Worf son of Mogh sat calmly in the command seat, hands clasped tightly together under his chin.
“Range: 15,000 Kalikams.” the tactical officer growled lowly. Worf could hear the anticipation in his voice. His warrior’s blood was singing in his ears.
“All weapons, stand by on my mark. Sensors does the cargo match my specifications?” Worf whispered throatily.
The female science officer checked her screen one more time. She turned to Worf.
“Yes, Chancellor. The quantum signatures indicate some form of hypermatter in their holds.”
“With any luck, we may get our hands on some fully functional generators.” the captain whispered to Worf.
“I have begun to despair against any hope. But here in this ship, with this crew, I will bring the hope back into the hearts of the Empire.” Worf said lowly.
“Kaplah, my Chancellor.” The Captain snapped a proud salute. He heard in his chancellor’s voice something he had not heard in months from anyone in charge, a fierce sense of pride and anger at their fortunes.
“Bring us in slowly, signal the rest of the fleet to follow our lead. Position the third wing in the forward position but they are not to decloak until the Imperials start to bolt.”
“You give them an opening…”
“They will take it.” Worf finished for the Captain.
“How long has it been since we have stalked prey like this among the stars?”
“Too long.”
The Klingon fleet moved like sharks cutting through the murky depths. A fleet of hungry hard emerald and ruby warships approaching the small convoy as it waited for the last of its number to enter formation for the jump to lightspeed.
The convoy consisted of several heavy haulers and numerous smaller merchant vessels. The convoy was surrounded by a wing of Romulan warbirds and smaller warships. A handful of TIE fighters and a carrack class cruiser were hanging above the convey, giving them perfect fields of fire over all avenues of approach.
Worf had waited patiently. All these days he watched as convoys came through this system, formed up and prepared for the jump to lightspeed. Sometimes they were heavily defended, the sight of a Victory class stardestroyer and attendant ships had awed the massed Klingon fleet, sometimes they were lightly defended, a few warbirds and perhaps a squadron of fighters.
Worf waited for the perfect balance of protection that he knew he could defeat and indicated that the cargo was valuable enough to capture. The highest priority on his list were any form of hypermatter technology that could assist the forces of this galaxy in developing the power source that gave the Imperials such an advantage on the field of battle.
Now the time had come.
Worf raised his arm as the Klingon fleet closed the distance.
The drumming began. Slow at first, a pounding beat of fist on metal. Then the singing followed a low guttural song of impending joy and victory. Each verse brought another few members of the crew into the song. Worf’s blood sang with each lyric as he watched the Imperial fleet loom on the screen.
“1,000 Kalikams!” the tactical officer shouted over the cacophony.
“All weapons open fire!” Worf shouted and dropped his arm like a hammer. The Klingon fleet surged forward as their cloaks dropped. Suddenly the convoy was surrounded by Klingon warships slashing deep into their flanks.
The Romulan warbirds immediately returned fire filling space with bright green disruptor fire and plasma torpedoes. The Klingon ships, comprised mostly of birds of prey were moving quickly, bulling past the escort vessels and directly attacking the cargo haulers and merchant ships.
The Carrack announced her presence with a flurry of turbolaser fire as she accelerated down into the plane of engagement. Several Birds of prey were caught in the emerald storm of fire, exploding or spinning madly out of control as their shields failed under the assault.
TIE Fighters quickly dove down in tight formations like a pack of hounds and engaged the small nimble Birds of Prey, bright green fire splashing against the shields in an impressive light show.
The Birds of Prey had done their jobs. The fast ships were flushing the unarmed merchant vessels out of the defensive zone of the escorts. No longer feeling safe, a point emphasized by the fiery destruction of a merchant vessel under the rapid fire of a Bird of Prey’s twin disruptor banks set to rapid fire mode, the civilians were panicking and starting to bolt.
“We have a break at 4732 mark 70.”
“We need more pressure, I want more breaks in their line, have the 8th tactical wing concentrate exclusively on the merchant ships. Warn them to fire only on ships that show no hypermatter signatures.” Worf ordered.
“Glorious.” the Captain whispered as he watched a warbird slowly dropping out of the battle, both nacelles blasted out of their housings venting bright white plasma into space. As she dropped down out of control her disruptors continued firing desperately into the Klingon swarm.
“I see that the Romulans are not as spineless as Gahk after all.” The captain noted.
“They are without honor, but even the honorless can have courage.” Worf replied. He could not help it. He smiled. For the first time since the fall of Quo’nos he smiled.
“Chancellor, we have four breaks now. They are in an utter panic.”
“I’m picking up orders from the Imperial command telling the merchants to form up behind the Carrack.”
“Jam them.” Worf barked then grinned as he saw the merchants scattering like children before a run away Targ.
“Now Captain.” Worf nodded.
The captain turned to the communications officer.
“All wings but the third decloak and engage. For the Empire!”
“Kaplah!” the bridge crew shouted as one.
The warbirds were quickly forming a ring around the Birds of prey, directed by the Carrack cruiser that was now deep in the disintegrating convoy center wading into the Klingon ships. They would trap these Klingon dogs and slaughter them for their insolence.
They were certainly not expecting the waves of heavy cruisers, Vor’cha class attack cruisers and sundry other heavy hitters to decloak in the rear and begin to direct their fire in salvoes at the various defensive ships.
Warbirds withered under the assault of a dozen heavy cruisers combining their fire. The Carrack cruiser did not hesitate as she continued her attack on the Birds of prey.
“Tell them to fire as one, continue to concentrate fire on the value targets. All bird of prey wings, ignore the merchant men. It is time to go Targ hunting.”
The crew cheered and many pounded on their consoles with emphasis and delight. Worf shook his head in delight. During the dark days, when the Empire was on the verge of utter defeat it seemed that something always went wrong in combat, a ship failed in her duty, an enemy vessel was precisely where she should not be, the enemy’s reinforcements came quicker than expected and the Klingons knew defeat after defeat.
Then the disaster at Romulus had torn the heart from his people.
But Worf son of Mogh had decided this day that he would bring them back, like Kahless leading his ragged band against Molar the tyrant.
The Birds of Prey quickly swarmed the Carrack, dozens passed in flashes past the Imperial vessel, trading fire, in many cases drawing fire and cloaking at one side of the ship and decloaking on the opposite end.
“Her shields are holding.” the tactical officer reported, but there was a difference here as well. There was no hint of disappointment. No frustration. This was the voice of a warrior pleased that the prey has turned out to be more resilient than expected.
“The Cruiser is laying down a murderous fire on her forward arc, we’ve already lost 6 ships in the last three minutes.”
“Status of the third wing?”
“They are holding position but commander Jespar is begging to attack.”
“Tell him to wait, we are driving his targets to him. Have the 10th and 11th Attack wings focus their attacks on the merchants, tell them to drive them like Grislas to the third wing.”
“Acknowledged.”
“There is no dishonor in disengaging from this enemy.” the captain whispered to Worf as the Bird of prey losses mounted. The Carrack was slowly pulling away, a tight cloud of Klingon fighters whipping around it exchanging fire in an endless stream of green disruptor fire, countered by turbolaser fire.
“Tell our wings to strike closer, she is not designed to fight ships of our size this close.”
“Yes Chancellor.”
Heroic tragedy turned the day for the Chancellor’s attack wing. A Vor’cha class attack cruiser dove straight down through the dorsal spine of a warbird, her forward disruptor cannon fired a steady emerald beam that ate through the warbird’s dying shields and tore into the delicate spine that connected the warbird’s bridge section to the main body of the vessel. The warbird slowly came apart, unfortunately not fast enough and the Vor’cha dove right into the remains of the warbird’s spinal structure, blasting it apart.
The attack cruiser’s shields absorbed the brunt of the impact but her forward cannon was crushed deep into the command pod of the Klingon cruiser. It continued to plunge downward, trailing molten debris from the warbird as it exploded.
The Vor’cha’s dive continued down into the depths of the battle, screaming past dueling cruisers, warbirds trading fire with limping K’tingas, fleeing merchant men and right into the forward hull of the Carrack.
Many would say that the Vor’cha’s captain had embraced his death like a good Klingon, had directed his dying crippled warship into the enemy ship to help his Chancellor in battle, that the spirit of Kahless himself had guided the helmsman’s hand.
In reality the captain and his bridge crew had died on impact with the warbird’s hull and were already wading across the river to Stovolkor when their vessel rammed the Carrack. The effect of the impact was as jarring to the Klingons as it was to the Imperial’s.
“Her forward shield grid is down!”
“Bring all fire to her now. All warships are to concentrate fire on the forward quarter!” Worf roared and rose from his seat as if he himself were going to deliver a blow to the stunned cruiser, wreathed in the dying plasma fired of a ship’s ruptured warp core, the momentum of the impact driving the light cruiser down off center.
Torpedoes and disruptors showered the Carrack’s forward section, tearing gaping holes in the armored hull. Return fire was devastating as gunnery crews knew that this could be their final moments.
Klingon ships blossomed into balls of fire and molten metal as the turbolaser chewed through the advancing Klingon lines. The Carrack captain was horrified when his engineer reported in panicked tones that the forward shield grid had been badly damaged in the impact and opening volleys and that the cruiser would not be able to establish shields.
“She’s trying to run!” the tactical officer crowed.
“All heavy cruiser follow us in the attack, try to get to her forward section. Status of the third wing?”
“Merchant ships are in position.”
“Give the third wing the attack order.”
Worf sat back. He watched the Carrack as it floundered under the combined fire of dozens of cruisers, harried at the flanks like a wounded saber bear by the fast moving birds of prey. Her engines flared as all the captain could think about was escape.
His escape came in a single volley from two passing birds of prey that roared past the forward section of the ship, twin disruptor banks in rapid fire mode, found a vulnerable spot, a weak point in the dying ship that touched off a series of internal explosions.
“She’s on fire!”
“Her weapons fire is still deadly.” Worf snapped as one of the heroic birds of prey was clipped by weapons fire and tumbled end over end for several hundred kilometers before exploding. The carrack floundered engines dying as fires raged through the interior of the ship, overloaded systems gave way and the first escape pods began to drift away from the dying hulk.
“Orders Chancellor?”
“What did the Federation use to say about Klingons in battle?” Worf barked.
The Captain smiled, his fangs gleaming in the crimson lighting of the bridge. “They said we do not take prisoners.”
“So be it.”
The battle was over and the sound of chanting Klingon warriors was heard throughout the fleet com system as the merchant convoy was rounded up and quickly ‘escorted’ out of the system.
No one noticed one small bird of prey coast to a quick stop beside one of the heavy haulers for several minutes then bank away and cloak. The Klingons were too happy to notice the theft occurring beneath their noses. But for now it did not matter. The spirit of Kahless was among his people again.
“Excellent briefing Admiral. You have my permission to proceed with the plan as it stands now, I of course will be adding some modifications but they will be minor at this point.”
“Thank you Grand Admiral.” Piett inclined his head respectfully.
“Dismissed. Lord Vader, Kahn, please remain behind.”
The officers quickly filed out.
“Kahn your plan has much promise.” Thrawn stated as he watched him. Vader stood behind Thrawn as usual and said nothing.
“That is why you decided to adopt it?” Kahn asked in a near sneer.
“It will be adopted if Operation Twilight fails.”
“You seriously think the Andorians will repulse your attack?”
“Of course not.” Thrawn replied with a snort. “The true goal of Twilight is to bring Kirk into battle with me again so that I can kill him.”
“You think that this chance at one final battle to decide the fate of his remnant will bring him into the fray?”
“It is not an altogether false assumption. He knows the value of Andor. He knows that the future of this conflict will be decided at Andor. It is an apocalyptic final confrontation and how could he, James T. Kirk, hero of the Federation turn his back on this final battle?”
“You have no idea who you are dealing with.” Kahn shook his head ruefully.
“I assume you believe in that rather pathetic notion that you can only know someone if you fight them.”
“No more pathetic than thinking that some piece of artwork will help decide your strategy in battle.” Kahn countered without skipping a beat.
Both men stared at each other for a long moment, as if measuring each other for some revelation.
“You are a gifted leader of men, Kahn Noonian Singh. I have allowed you this far into my confidences and my ship because I recognized that the risks of having you are far outweighed by the benefits that your skills and insight bring to this conquest. Don’t ever make me think otherwise.” Thrawn stated calmly.
“I see that it is we that have reached an understanding.” Kahn replied after a moment.
“Do not think you can fool us, Kahn. Make no mistake, the moment mere plotting becomes action, mine is the last face you will see.” Vader added.
“A challenge gentlemen is something I have never been able to resist.” Kahn replied and calmly walked out of the conference room.
The conference room on the Executor was silent save for a lone voice speaking in a quiet confident tone. Arrayed around the table were the Imperial officers who arrived with their Grand Admiral to bring a new galaxy under the auspices of the Empire. Standing at the back of the table, arms crossed and watching the proceedings with great interest was Grand Admiral Kittaine. He watched the speaker intently.
The speaker, Kahn Noonian Singh finished his presentation as he said, “And this my friends is precisely how we will neutralize and capture James T. Kirk.”
The assembled officers said nothing at first, many glancing subtly or not so subtly to the back of the room where Grand Admiral Thrawn sat calmly, hands clasped together, fingers steepled under his chin. Thrawn’s glowing red eyes did not leave Kahn’s face as the superman stood under the holoprojection of the planet Earth.
“Excellent stratagem, Kahn but I have a very important question.” Thrawn finally spoke and the entire table of officers as one turned their heads to regard Kahn.
Kahn respectfully inclined his head to the Grand Admiral.
“Do you really expect me to believe that a warrior such as Kirk would allow himself to be captured in this manner?” Thrawn asked.
Kahn smiled and shook his head ruefully as he switched the holoimager to display James Kirk and his service record. Kirk’s face floated at Kahn’s head level, he was looking grimly at the assembly as his service record slowly scrolled to the left of his head in the two frame display.
“You know this man from these records, seized from Starfleet command. You will note the various citations and medals for valor.”
“That is my point is it not?” Thrawn interjected coldly. Jerjerrod watched the exchange with interest. Kahn seemed to always want to speak in long flowery soliloquies and speeches. They were inspiring in spite of his questionable status in the fleet. His constant escort of two stormtroopers surreptitiously stood off to the side watching their charge.
“If you bother to look past the surface and actually investigate his service record you will see that despite the fact that he had the most combat experience in all of Starfleet at the time he was also involved in no less than 500 missions of mercy to various Starfleet installations, colonies and worlds. This number only reflects his first five year mission. Over 1,000 missions of mercy in his career.”
“And?” Piett snapped in annoyance. “There is no doubt that this Federation was far too consumed with helping those weaker than themselves to the point where they neglected their own defenses and are now paying the ultimate price.”
“I was unaware that your staff could be so dense, Grand Admiral.” Kahn replied with a tight smile.
Piett frowned heavily but knew better than continue the debate with Kahn. Thrawn did not like Kahn scoring rhetorical points against his staff.
“You are entitled to your own opinion, of course but you will find that my patience grows very thin when personal attacks are used to waste my precious time. In case you were not paying attention, Kahn, I am in the process of conquering a galaxy.”
“Of course, Grand Admiral. As I was saying, James Kirk is a warrior yes, a fighter, yes, but he is also a man of his time.”
“The past?” Jerjerrod interjected.
“Ah, I keep forgetting that small detail.” Kahn said with a tight smile. “What I meant to say is that he is the consummate Federation man.”
Some at the table exchanged confused glances but Thrawn leaned forward slightly. Kahn smiled at the crimson eyed Chiss. He knew that of all the people in this room he would understand immediately.
Kittaine’s eyes narrowed on Kahn as he continued to speak. Lwaxanna and Ochoa had briefed him on this man. Kahn Noonian Singh’s name still reverberated through history. He was a genetically engineered superman that had nearly conquered his world. Ochoa was certain that he and James Kirk had met and fought during his five year mission nearly a century ago. The mystery of his appearance in this time was troubling to say the least. Sometimes, late at night when he was alone and reading after action reports he had the oddest feeling that things were unfolding according to some plan.
It was the strangest sensation as if he were simply a piece on some board. But the feeling quickly left him when he became conscious of how ridiculous the notion was.
But this meeting was far more important not because of what was being said but what was not. Thrawn had seemingly abandoned his crusade against the Imperium forces. But that was the most dangerous part and Kittaine knew it.
Thrawn was not your standard Imperial stooge. He was a Grand Admiral and as such his concerns were on a galactic scale and what was best for the Empire, not your simple knee jerk zealot response, but a more measured long range response and goals. Kittaine knew that up until recently Thrawn would have accepted the Imperium’s surrender. If Kittaine had bended knee to Thrawn and surrendered his fleet to Thrawn’s authority he knew that Thrawn would have accepted the surrender and not a word would have been mentioned to the Emperor.
Thrawn knew that he did not have the resources to fight both the Imperium fleet and the Federation remnant effectively. As a master strategist, Thrawn would want to win a victory with as little expenditures as possible. If part of that sacrifice was a simple looking away from an officer’s transgressions then he was sure that Thrawn would accept that.
But things were different.
Thrawn was no longer making the comments, veiled threats, and general distaste for Kittaine and his decision to break away from the Empire public. But among all these statements was the unspoken promise that should Kittaine surrender things would be forgotten. That promise was no longer there for one very simple reason.
“What do you think Grand Admiral Kittaine?” Thrawn asked softly.
Kittaine snapped out of his reverie. With those simple words Thrawn had signaled the obvious to Kittaine.
He was a dead man.
Thrawn would never accept Kittaine’s title otherwise. That was the one concession that the Grand Admiral would never make, the one transgression he would never overlook. By accepting the title for Kittaine he was essentially telling Kittaine that Thrawn would do everything in his power to crush the Imperium fleet.
“I have been fighting James Kirk since he took command of the Federation remnant. Before his ascension the Federation forces were scattered before our might. In the very first battle that he fought against us, the battle of Vulcan, James Kirk destroyed the Executioner. His successes continued up until the Battle of Romulus. He is not lucky. This is a commander that is gifted in the field of battle and commands the respect and loyalty of his men. This Federation fleet will bear any casualties that we can inflict in order to achieve a victory for him.” Kittaine replied as he started to pace slowly, hands clasped behind his back. It was only after a brief line of static crossed his features that it quickly became obvious that he was a hologram.
“I cannot believe that after all he’s been through that he would decide what Kahn is saying in his plan. Kirk is a fighter and he will go down fighting, of that I have no doubt.”
“You give him too much credit Grand Admiral.” Kahn replied without hesitation.
Kittaine frowned.
“It has been my philosophy not to underestimate my enemy. Kirk has fought to hard and knows what’s at stake in this war. To think that he could be made to surrender with this tactic is a gross underestimation of his resolve.”
Kahn shook his head.
“It seems that you are the one that has built him into something that he is not.” Kahn said with a jovial laugh. “James Kirk is the paragon of his society’s virtues. What does the Federation stand for to humans?”
The assembled officers remained silent.
Kahn looked around at each one’s face before speaking.
“They actually believe that they have evolved past basic human vices such as greed and selfishness.”
Several of the officers exchanged disgusted expressions. Thrawn remained impassive watching Kahn speak, his eyes never left the genetically engineered tyrant.
“I have a far more realistic view of the state of human nature, but luckily for us James Kirk was not raised in my era, or as I can see from your actions to date, in your galaxy where we seem to collectively value ambition and embrace our human nature.”
“The point, Kahn. I am not seeing a point.” Thrawn interrupted in a quiet tone.
Kahn stopped for a moment. On Earth, 200 hundred years ago, he would have had this alien’s head on a pike for such insolence. Kahn knew that Thrawn understood precisely the point he was making but he wanted to subtly exert control over Kahn.
This would soon change.
His eyes did not look at Jerjerrod but the young captain was tantalizing close to the Grand Admiral. One quick strike to the Grand Admiral’s throat, one casual reach for the blaster at his side and Thrawn would die.
It pleased Kahn to no end to have the arrogant white uniformed Grand Admiral live at his whim. One day he would have him.
The doors to the conference room slid open and the black armored giant, Darth Vader strode into the room. His cape trailed behind him as he strode past Kahn and took a position standing directly behind Thrawn and crossed his arms. The sound of his heavy mechanized breathing accompanied the quiet hum of the holoprojector.
“As I was saying James Kirk is an enlightened man. Yes he is a warrior and yes he has sacrificed much and knows what is at stake but in the end he is wearing a Starfleet uniform and that makes him a rare breed indeed.”
“I am not seeing why his Federation ideals would make him sacrifice the war effort.” Piett interjected.
“The Federation values above all else life.”
“Our early and most successful victories against came when we started striking civilian targets during Lord Nemesis’ march on Earth.” Kittaine noted, starting to see the point but refusing to believe that the man he had been fighting tooth and nail against these last few months would ever surrender under such contrived circumstances.
“The Federation fleets opposing us either withdrew or spent precious resources trying to protect the civilian infrastructure.” Kittaine finished.
“We’re talking about the leader of the movement fighting to protect and save his Federation surrendering to us based on a simple threat.” Piett countered incredulously.
“We also need to take into account a very simple problem with this plan.” Kittaine added.
“Oh?” Kahn asked curiously.
“What if Kirk calls our bluff? He is exceedingly good at seeing through pretenses and trickery. I find that direct approach is the best strategy to use against him.” Kittaine asked pointing at the holoimage of Earth behind Thrawn. It was an eerie sight to see Earth floating over Kahn’s left shoulder and Kirk’s face floating over his right shoulder.
“I agree.” Kahn replied without hesitation. “That is why you must follow through with the threat even if he does not surrender.”
Thrawn watched the look of horror on several of his officer’s faces. He noted each one for future reference. In the end they would have to be replaced by those more willing to do what needed to be done to achieve victory.
“We’re talking about losing a jewel in the Imperium crown. Imperium blood was shed winning it.” Kittaine protested.
“I wonder, Grand Admiral whether you were calling yourself the Imperium at that time?” Thrawn asked.
Kittaine glared at Thrawn.
“It doesn’t really matter now. Imperium troops occupy that world and Imperium ships orbit her. You will not just destroy it because it MIGHT lead to the surrender of one man.”
“Grand Admiral, Grand Admiral…” Kahn chuckled darkly. “I have no doubts that this plan will not fail.”
“You’ll forgive me if I don’t believe you, after all what do you have to lose Kahn?” Kittaine shot back.
“Frankly, if it meant ridding us of Kirk I would gladly sacrifice a hundred Earths.” Kahn replied.
“I don’t think it needs to come to that do you?” Thrawn asked sharply.
“No. Kirk could not conceive of the deaths that he could avert with a simple act.”
“You claim to know him so well. I have fought this man and surrender is not in his creed. He can see what is most important in this struggle, one world or a hundred, if he can drive us out of this galaxy he will.” Kittaine snapped.
The room was silent for a moment, save for Vader’s breathing.
“I am surprised that this tactic was not used earlier against the Federation, Admiral Kittaine. You identified this weakness in their structure and you did not exploit it.” Vader spoke quietly from his place behind Thrawn but his head turned to stare at Kittaine.
“What are you saying Lord Vader? That I did not do my best to crush this rebellion?”
“Isn’t it obvious? The Federation Remnant still fights on, yet we have managed to recover a stolen Imperial vessel and utterly crush this so called Shadow Fleet that laid waste to one of your worlds. Do you have an explanation for this Admiral?” Vader asked pointedly.
“Grand Admiral Lord Vader.” Kittaine corrected him.
Everyone in the room froze, all but Thrawn and Kahn.
“You are an Admiral in the Imperial fleet, Kittaine. Make no mistake your treachery has been noted and will be dealt with.” Vader spoke and his hand motioned towards Kittaine, emphasizing each word.
“I am a Grand Admiral in the Imperium Navy. If you wish to discuss this further then you must deal with Lord Nemesis as he is our Emp—leader.”
“Emperor?!” Vader seethed.
“Enough.” Thrawn demanded quietly. His voice did not rise above conversational level but both Vader and Kittaine grew quiet.
“Kahn, I will take this plan under advisement. While I can see your point, I simply find it impossible to believe that this man would surrender under such a threat. However as time goes on we may need to take such action.”
“Do I have to point out again that this world is the Imperium capital of the Federation Protectorate and –”
Thrawn lifted a hand.
“When it comes time to discuss the plan I will make sure to consult your glorious leader. Odd that he should not be attending this strategic conference, no? We are, after all discussing how to end the threat of the Federation remnant once and for all.”
And how to free the Imperial fleet of one enemy to concentrate on another. Kittaine mused darkly.
“Lord Nemesis is indisposed at the moment. He takes his position seriously.” Kittaine replied neutrally.
Thrawn nodded slowly.
“I see.” was all he said in response but Kittaine could feel Vader’s eyes on him like lasers. They seemed to burn into his flesh, seeking the truth. It was his own strength of will and the comforting presence of Lwaxanna in his mind that shielded him from the brunt of the Sith lord’s probing.
The experience was not at all pleasant, as he could feel the seething rage of the Sith lord battering him like some fiery tempest.
“The decision has been made to shelve the operation for now but we will revisit it should events demand.” Thrawn concluded.
“I will not put too fine a point on this Grand Admiral Thrawn, but you are grossly mistaken about James Kirk. This plan will work and will save us much time and effort.”
Some of the assembled officers immediately looked down at their datapads, assuming the worst was about to happen. Kahn’s stormtrooper escort took a step forward, hands on the butts of their blasters.
“I will take that assessment under advisement Kahn.” Thrawn replied icily.
“I am only doing my best to ensure this faction victory.” Kahn assured the blue skinned alien.
“Of course you are.” Thrawn said coolly, his eyes boring into Kahn’s.
The stormtroopers stood down.
“I will leave this assembly with something to think about. Should your forces attempt to carry out this foolhardy plan without the Imperium’s consent then the uneasy peace between our fleets will undoubtedly end. We will defend Earth no matter the cost.”
“How touching.” Piett smirked.
“And take this with you, Grand Admiral. If and when we come for Earth, there will be nothing you can do to stop us.” Thrawn said grimly.
“Then you will know the price for treason in the Empire, Admiral. I will see to it personally.” Vader added.
Kittaine looked at each of the principals with a steely gaze.
“Then I see we have come to an understanding. Good day gentlemen.” Kittaine’s holoimage faded away.
The room was silent for a moment, no one dared speak waiting for Thrawn.
“Is he gone?” Thrawn asked Jerjerrod.
Jerjerrod checked the room readings to make sure that the hyperlink signal from the Emperor’s Will had been fully terminated and no other transmissions were beaming in of or out of the Executor’s conference room.
“We are secure Grand Admiral.” he replied when he was satisfied with the readings.
“Excellent. Kahn you may be seated. Piett I believe that I asked you for a preliminary plan for our assault on Andor?” Thrawn asked.
“Indeed you did, Grand Admiral.” Piett replied as he rose from his place. Kahn slid into his seat at the bottom of the table and picked up a datapad. He activated the briefing file but paid no attention to it. Instead he watched the face of James Kirk floating serenely over the holoprojector.
“I will have you.” he whispered under his breath, as Piett switched the display. Kirk’s face vanished, replaced by the large planet of Andor.
“I have dubbed this Operation Twilight.” Piett began and soon tactical images representing Imperial ships, Federation ships and orbital defenses filled the holographic display. Kahn cared for none of these things. Andor would fall, there was no doubt of that but Kirk. He remained like some cut on the inside of your mouth that you constantly probed with your tongue, never allowing it to heal.
“That was most unpleasant.” Kittaine sighed as he checked his end of the signal, making sure that Thrawn or his lackeys did not piggyback some surveillance program onto his carrier wave.
“You poor dear. But my how handsome you looked when you stood up to them, especially that Vader person. What an unwholesome person.” Lwaxanna Troi commented as she brushed back a stray lock from Kittaine’s forehead.
“Woman I am not a child.” Kittaine exclaimed in mock exasperation.
“That is what you human men like to think.” Lwaxanna protested as she gingerly ran a hand down his cheek.
Kittaine rolled his eyes and sighed heavenward.
“I suppose you find this funny.” he snapped at Ernesto Ochoa seated opposite them fiddling with a datapad modified for use by the blind.
“I find many things funny in the dark these days, Grand Admiral. I truly do. But happiness and love are no laughing matters. They are becoming increasingly precious these days.”
“Happiness?!” Kittaine spat in surprise.
“Love.” Lwaxanna replied with a wistful tone.
“Indeed.” Ochoa added and chuckled softly.
“Enough, I need to know what you think.” Kittaine said as he poured Ochoa a drink. Ochoa gladly accepted the help. He did not have the heart to tell the Grand Admiral that he was not thirsty and even if he was blindness did not preclude him from pouring himself a drink. But somehow, it was the little things that Kittaine did for Ochoa that helped clear his conscious.
“You’re a good man Kittaine, never forget that.” Ochoa had told him several times and it was true, but it was when Kittaine poured him a drink, helped him out of his seat, read him a report that Kittaine felt like a good man. And Ochoa was not about to rob him of that.
“Kahn’s plan will work.” Ochoa stated after a moment of contemplation.
“He’s right.” Lwaxanna added sadly.
“Madness.” Kittaine whispered as it sank in. “You’re telling me that he would surrender?”
“He will. He’s a Starfleet officer, he would have no choice.” Ochoa reasoned.
“The life of billions for the life of one man.” Lwaxanna said with a shake of her head.
“He is the only hope they have at victory. His surrender would be preposterous.”
“He’s a better man than that, Gideon. Starfleet officers are trained from the beginning to put others ahead of themselves, humans in particular are very good at that.”
Kittaine stared at Lwaxanna and back at Ochoa. The concept that the supreme commander of a fleet would surrender because they threatened to blast a single world into rubble was inconceivable to him.
“Which leads me to the next step, we need to eliminate Kahn Singh as soon as possible.”
Kittaine shook his head.
“He is a perfect counterpoint to Thrawn. Thrawn is not secure on his own ship as long as Kahn is in play.” Kittaine explained. “I prefer to keep him there, I don’t want Thrawn to get too comfortable.”
“I have to agree with Ochoa, Gideon. Kahn knows Kirk too well and by extension the Federation mindset. If Thrawn really starts listening to him…” Lwaxanna’s voice trailed off.
“For now, we will keep Kahn in play, besides it won’t be easy to get an assassin team on board the Executor.”
Ochoa nodded, he never argued with Kittaine’s decisions.
“You do know they’re discussing the Andor operation.” Ochoa noted.
Kittaine nodded.
“There’s no doubt they will move on Andor.”
“I always wondered why the Imperial, excuse me Imperium fleet never moved on Andor. The buzz back on Betazed was that the Empire was afraid of the losses Andor’s defenses would inflict on them.”
Kittaine toyed with a glass on the table.
“No. That’s not quite right. True, Andor’s defenses were going to bloody our noses, after all they had spent a decade preparing to secede from your Federation and they suspected that your Starfleet would not allow that to happen without a fight so they prepared defenses that could have turned back your Starfleet. But in the end you simply lack the raw firepower to truly hurt a fleet the size of ours. We would have taken Andor in a day.”
“So why not?” Lwaxanna asked curiously.
“Nemesis.” Ochoa stated simply. Kittaine nodded at the blind starship Captain. Ochoa was wearing a brand new Starfleet uniform. He refused to wear an Imperial one and Kittaine respected his choice. It felt odd however to sit in this office and discuss matters so openly with a man wearing the uniform of the enemy.
“Darth Nemesis was going to launch an assault on Andor in response to our loss at Vulcan when he suddenly changed his mind and ordered us that under no circumstances were we to assault Andor. I never knew why but I had learned by that point to implicitly trust the young Sith lord’s instincts.” Kittaine explained.
“A wise decision. I wonder why Vader doesn’t sense what Nemesis sensed?”
“An interesting question. Vader seems distracted somehow.” Lwaxanna noted. “He could have pushed through my mind shields of Gideon with a little more effort.”
“It’s Nemesis. My agents tell me that Vader has been obsessed with finding him. He has probe droids making reconnaissance of all Imperium held systems and the space around it and his own spy network is working nonstop. Quiet a few agents have been found with crushed Tracheas on the Executor.” Kittaine explained.
“So unlike Nemesis, this Sith lord follows through on his threats.” Ochoa noted.
“I wish he were here. He has placed me in such a position that I do not know if I’ll be able to get us out of this one piece.” Kittaine whispered.
“Gideon, don’t worry you have us.” Lwaxanna comforted him.
“It’s not just me.” Kittaine countered. “It’s those young men and women, they are like a family to me and they have followed me into treachery. What do I have to offer them?”
“Hope.” Ochoa responded without hesitation. “In this war, Grand Admiral, that is the strongest weapon of all.”
Kittaine nodded slowly watching the young Starfleet captain that he had captured months ago, tortured and broken, sitting before him speaking of hope.
“Speaking of which, I can feel their thoughts. They’re getting impatient.” Lwaxanna interjected.
“Led I’m sure by Captain Tarsi.” Kittaine said with a dry laugh. “Let them in.”
The bridge of the Bird of Prey was quiet as they watched the convoy on the screen. There really was no need for quiet, the cloaking device was functioning well within parameters and it still offered a measure of safety against standard Imperial sensors. Sound could not travel through space nor be detected by normal means, but this crew was a superstitious lot and they had own many victories by observing the silence before the kill.
This mission was different than most.
Their captain was no longer in command, he stood off to the right of the command chair. The Chancellor of the Klingon Empire, Worf son of Mogh sat calmly in the command seat, hands clasped tightly together under his chin.
“Range: 15,000 Kalikams.” the tactical officer growled lowly. Worf could hear the anticipation in his voice. His warrior’s blood was singing in his ears.
“All weapons, stand by on my mark. Sensors does the cargo match my specifications?” Worf whispered throatily.
The female science officer checked her screen one more time. She turned to Worf.
“Yes, Chancellor. The quantum signatures indicate some form of hypermatter in their holds.”
“With any luck, we may get our hands on some fully functional generators.” the captain whispered to Worf.
“I have begun to despair against any hope. But here in this ship, with this crew, I will bring the hope back into the hearts of the Empire.” Worf said lowly.
“Kaplah, my Chancellor.” The Captain snapped a proud salute. He heard in his chancellor’s voice something he had not heard in months from anyone in charge, a fierce sense of pride and anger at their fortunes.
“Bring us in slowly, signal the rest of the fleet to follow our lead. Position the third wing in the forward position but they are not to decloak until the Imperials start to bolt.”
“You give them an opening…”
“They will take it.” Worf finished for the Captain.
“How long has it been since we have stalked prey like this among the stars?”
“Too long.”
The Klingon fleet moved like sharks cutting through the murky depths. A fleet of hungry hard emerald and ruby warships approaching the small convoy as it waited for the last of its number to enter formation for the jump to lightspeed.
The convoy consisted of several heavy haulers and numerous smaller merchant vessels. The convoy was surrounded by a wing of Romulan warbirds and smaller warships. A handful of TIE fighters and a carrack class cruiser were hanging above the convey, giving them perfect fields of fire over all avenues of approach.
Worf had waited patiently. All these days he watched as convoys came through this system, formed up and prepared for the jump to lightspeed. Sometimes they were heavily defended, the sight of a Victory class stardestroyer and attendant ships had awed the massed Klingon fleet, sometimes they were lightly defended, a few warbirds and perhaps a squadron of fighters.
Worf waited for the perfect balance of protection that he knew he could defeat and indicated that the cargo was valuable enough to capture. The highest priority on his list were any form of hypermatter technology that could assist the forces of this galaxy in developing the power source that gave the Imperials such an advantage on the field of battle.
Now the time had come.
Worf raised his arm as the Klingon fleet closed the distance.
The drumming began. Slow at first, a pounding beat of fist on metal. Then the singing followed a low guttural song of impending joy and victory. Each verse brought another few members of the crew into the song. Worf’s blood sang with each lyric as he watched the Imperial fleet loom on the screen.
“1,000 Kalikams!” the tactical officer shouted over the cacophony.
“All weapons open fire!” Worf shouted and dropped his arm like a hammer. The Klingon fleet surged forward as their cloaks dropped. Suddenly the convoy was surrounded by Klingon warships slashing deep into their flanks.
The Romulan warbirds immediately returned fire filling space with bright green disruptor fire and plasma torpedoes. The Klingon ships, comprised mostly of birds of prey were moving quickly, bulling past the escort vessels and directly attacking the cargo haulers and merchant ships.
The Carrack announced her presence with a flurry of turbolaser fire as she accelerated down into the plane of engagement. Several Birds of prey were caught in the emerald storm of fire, exploding or spinning madly out of control as their shields failed under the assault.
TIE Fighters quickly dove down in tight formations like a pack of hounds and engaged the small nimble Birds of Prey, bright green fire splashing against the shields in an impressive light show.
The Birds of Prey had done their jobs. The fast ships were flushing the unarmed merchant vessels out of the defensive zone of the escorts. No longer feeling safe, a point emphasized by the fiery destruction of a merchant vessel under the rapid fire of a Bird of Prey’s twin disruptor banks set to rapid fire mode, the civilians were panicking and starting to bolt.
“We have a break at 4732 mark 70.”
“We need more pressure, I want more breaks in their line, have the 8th tactical wing concentrate exclusively on the merchant ships. Warn them to fire only on ships that show no hypermatter signatures.” Worf ordered.
“Glorious.” the Captain whispered as he watched a warbird slowly dropping out of the battle, both nacelles blasted out of their housings venting bright white plasma into space. As she dropped down out of control her disruptors continued firing desperately into the Klingon swarm.
“I see that the Romulans are not as spineless as Gahk after all.” The captain noted.
“They are without honor, but even the honorless can have courage.” Worf replied. He could not help it. He smiled. For the first time since the fall of Quo’nos he smiled.
“Chancellor, we have four breaks now. They are in an utter panic.”
“I’m picking up orders from the Imperial command telling the merchants to form up behind the Carrack.”
“Jam them.” Worf barked then grinned as he saw the merchants scattering like children before a run away Targ.
“Now Captain.” Worf nodded.
The captain turned to the communications officer.
“All wings but the third decloak and engage. For the Empire!”
“Kaplah!” the bridge crew shouted as one.
The warbirds were quickly forming a ring around the Birds of prey, directed by the Carrack cruiser that was now deep in the disintegrating convoy center wading into the Klingon ships. They would trap these Klingon dogs and slaughter them for their insolence.
They were certainly not expecting the waves of heavy cruisers, Vor’cha class attack cruisers and sundry other heavy hitters to decloak in the rear and begin to direct their fire in salvoes at the various defensive ships.
Warbirds withered under the assault of a dozen heavy cruisers combining their fire. The Carrack cruiser did not hesitate as she continued her attack on the Birds of prey.
“Tell them to fire as one, continue to concentrate fire on the value targets. All bird of prey wings, ignore the merchant men. It is time to go Targ hunting.”
The crew cheered and many pounded on their consoles with emphasis and delight. Worf shook his head in delight. During the dark days, when the Empire was on the verge of utter defeat it seemed that something always went wrong in combat, a ship failed in her duty, an enemy vessel was precisely where she should not be, the enemy’s reinforcements came quicker than expected and the Klingons knew defeat after defeat.
Then the disaster at Romulus had torn the heart from his people.
But Worf son of Mogh had decided this day that he would bring them back, like Kahless leading his ragged band against Molar the tyrant.
The Birds of Prey quickly swarmed the Carrack, dozens passed in flashes past the Imperial vessel, trading fire, in many cases drawing fire and cloaking at one side of the ship and decloaking on the opposite end.
“Her shields are holding.” the tactical officer reported, but there was a difference here as well. There was no hint of disappointment. No frustration. This was the voice of a warrior pleased that the prey has turned out to be more resilient than expected.
“The Cruiser is laying down a murderous fire on her forward arc, we’ve already lost 6 ships in the last three minutes.”
“Status of the third wing?”
“They are holding position but commander Jespar is begging to attack.”
“Tell him to wait, we are driving his targets to him. Have the 10th and 11th Attack wings focus their attacks on the merchants, tell them to drive them like Grislas to the third wing.”
“Acknowledged.”
“There is no dishonor in disengaging from this enemy.” the captain whispered to Worf as the Bird of prey losses mounted. The Carrack was slowly pulling away, a tight cloud of Klingon fighters whipping around it exchanging fire in an endless stream of green disruptor fire, countered by turbolaser fire.
“Tell our wings to strike closer, she is not designed to fight ships of our size this close.”
“Yes Chancellor.”
Heroic tragedy turned the day for the Chancellor’s attack wing. A Vor’cha class attack cruiser dove straight down through the dorsal spine of a warbird, her forward disruptor cannon fired a steady emerald beam that ate through the warbird’s dying shields and tore into the delicate spine that connected the warbird’s bridge section to the main body of the vessel. The warbird slowly came apart, unfortunately not fast enough and the Vor’cha dove right into the remains of the warbird’s spinal structure, blasting it apart.
The attack cruiser’s shields absorbed the brunt of the impact but her forward cannon was crushed deep into the command pod of the Klingon cruiser. It continued to plunge downward, trailing molten debris from the warbird as it exploded.
The Vor’cha’s dive continued down into the depths of the battle, screaming past dueling cruisers, warbirds trading fire with limping K’tingas, fleeing merchant men and right into the forward hull of the Carrack.
Many would say that the Vor’cha’s captain had embraced his death like a good Klingon, had directed his dying crippled warship into the enemy ship to help his Chancellor in battle, that the spirit of Kahless himself had guided the helmsman’s hand.
In reality the captain and his bridge crew had died on impact with the warbird’s hull and were already wading across the river to Stovolkor when their vessel rammed the Carrack. The effect of the impact was as jarring to the Klingons as it was to the Imperial’s.
“Her forward shield grid is down!”
“Bring all fire to her now. All warships are to concentrate fire on the forward quarter!” Worf roared and rose from his seat as if he himself were going to deliver a blow to the stunned cruiser, wreathed in the dying plasma fired of a ship’s ruptured warp core, the momentum of the impact driving the light cruiser down off center.
Torpedoes and disruptors showered the Carrack’s forward section, tearing gaping holes in the armored hull. Return fire was devastating as gunnery crews knew that this could be their final moments.
Klingon ships blossomed into balls of fire and molten metal as the turbolaser chewed through the advancing Klingon lines. The Carrack captain was horrified when his engineer reported in panicked tones that the forward shield grid had been badly damaged in the impact and opening volleys and that the cruiser would not be able to establish shields.
“She’s trying to run!” the tactical officer crowed.
“All heavy cruiser follow us in the attack, try to get to her forward section. Status of the third wing?”
“Merchant ships are in position.”
“Give the third wing the attack order.”
Worf sat back. He watched the Carrack as it floundered under the combined fire of dozens of cruisers, harried at the flanks like a wounded saber bear by the fast moving birds of prey. Her engines flared as all the captain could think about was escape.
His escape came in a single volley from two passing birds of prey that roared past the forward section of the ship, twin disruptor banks in rapid fire mode, found a vulnerable spot, a weak point in the dying ship that touched off a series of internal explosions.
“She’s on fire!”
“Her weapons fire is still deadly.” Worf snapped as one of the heroic birds of prey was clipped by weapons fire and tumbled end over end for several hundred kilometers before exploding. The carrack floundered engines dying as fires raged through the interior of the ship, overloaded systems gave way and the first escape pods began to drift away from the dying hulk.
“Orders Chancellor?”
“What did the Federation use to say about Klingons in battle?” Worf barked.
The Captain smiled, his fangs gleaming in the crimson lighting of the bridge. “They said we do not take prisoners.”
“So be it.”
The battle was over and the sound of chanting Klingon warriors was heard throughout the fleet com system as the merchant convoy was rounded up and quickly ‘escorted’ out of the system.
No one noticed one small bird of prey coast to a quick stop beside one of the heavy haulers for several minutes then bank away and cloak. The Klingons were too happy to notice the theft occurring beneath their noses. But for now it did not matter. The spirit of Kahless was among his people again.
“Excellent briefing Admiral. You have my permission to proceed with the plan as it stands now, I of course will be adding some modifications but they will be minor at this point.”
“Thank you Grand Admiral.” Piett inclined his head respectfully.
“Dismissed. Lord Vader, Kahn, please remain behind.”
The officers quickly filed out.
“Kahn your plan has much promise.” Thrawn stated as he watched him. Vader stood behind Thrawn as usual and said nothing.
“That is why you decided to adopt it?” Kahn asked in a near sneer.
“It will be adopted if Operation Twilight fails.”
“You seriously think the Andorians will repulse your attack?”
“Of course not.” Thrawn replied with a snort. “The true goal of Twilight is to bring Kirk into battle with me again so that I can kill him.”
“You think that this chance at one final battle to decide the fate of his remnant will bring him into the fray?”
“It is not an altogether false assumption. He knows the value of Andor. He knows that the future of this conflict will be decided at Andor. It is an apocalyptic final confrontation and how could he, James T. Kirk, hero of the Federation turn his back on this final battle?”
“You have no idea who you are dealing with.” Kahn shook his head ruefully.
“I assume you believe in that rather pathetic notion that you can only know someone if you fight them.”
“No more pathetic than thinking that some piece of artwork will help decide your strategy in battle.” Kahn countered without skipping a beat.
Both men stared at each other for a long moment, as if measuring each other for some revelation.
“You are a gifted leader of men, Kahn Noonian Singh. I have allowed you this far into my confidences and my ship because I recognized that the risks of having you are far outweighed by the benefits that your skills and insight bring to this conquest. Don’t ever make me think otherwise.” Thrawn stated calmly.
“I see that it is we that have reached an understanding.” Kahn replied after a moment.
“Do not think you can fool us, Kahn. Make no mistake, the moment mere plotting becomes action, mine is the last face you will see.” Vader added.
“A challenge gentlemen is something I have never been able to resist.” Kahn replied and calmly walked out of the conference room.
Last edited by Stravo on 2003-10-16 07:42pm, edited 1 time in total.
Wherever you go, there you are.
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Soontir C'boath
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Whoop
*fires 1000 needles to second poster!*~Jason
Edit: *Fires 10,000 at Cyran* Hmph.
Now, that was great and that rocked.....where's Picard though?
*fires 1000 needles to second poster!*~Jason
Edit: *Fires 10,000 at Cyran* Hmph.
Now, that was great and that rocked.....where's Picard though?
Last edited by Soontir C'boath on 2003-10-16 07:29pm, 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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Hot damn. The tension between the forces is evil. The klingon battle was awesome. Ochoa is my hero...he is just too damn cool. Ugh I must know more! Damn you and the length of your stroy Stravo! I don't know what the heck I'm gonna do once this is done...
EDIT: Woot! First real post!
EDIT: Woot! First real post!
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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Ghost Rider
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Fantastic.
I was wondering what you had planned for Kittaine. It also interesting to see the difference of between the two parties...and the Klingon battle is very nicely done.
I do want to see how everyone plans pan out...especially with the arrival of old geezer and his new toy.
I was wondering what you had planned for Kittaine. It also interesting to see the difference of between the two parties...and the Klingon battle is very nicely done.
I do want to see how everyone plans pan out...especially with the arrival of old geezer and his new toy.
MM /CF/WG/BOTM/JL/Original Warsie/ACPATHNTDWATGODW FOREVER!!
Sometimes we can choose the path we follow. Sometimes our choices are made for us. And sometimes we have no choice at all
Saying and doing are chocolate and concrete
Sometimes we can choose the path we follow. Sometimes our choices are made for us. And sometimes we have no choice at all
Saying and doing are chocolate and concrete
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El Moose Monstero
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Again, I can only echo whats gone before, when the navigator said '15000 kellicams", I heard the voice of the chap in STIII... 
I notice that you're making sure to tell us which side Thrawn is on, however, if he get's any blacker, him and vader will be swapping suits.
The bit about Stovokor seemed like a slight departure from your usual writing style, but you could cut the 'klingonness' with a knife.
Next chapter. And fast, my good man...
I notice that you're making sure to tell us which side Thrawn is on, however, if he get's any blacker, him and vader will be swapping suits. The bit about Stovokor seemed like a slight departure from your usual writing style, but you could cut the 'klingonness' with a knife.
Next chapter. And fast, my good man...
Evil Brit Conspiracy: Token Moose Obsessed Kebab Munching Semi Geordie
The Klingon section was written slightly differently than my usual style because I wanted it to sound like a Klingon saga, as if this battle were being told from the a page of a Klingon Opera. I've been bashing on the poor guys this whole story, they deserved a little break.The_Lumberjack wrote:Again, I can only echo whats gone before, when the navigator said '15000 kellicams", I heard the voice of the chap in STIII...
The bit about Stovokor seemed like a slight departure from your usual writing style, but you could cut the 'klingonness' with a knife.
Next chapter. And fast, my good man...
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First Post!
... well, it *is* after a post by Stravo... :p
edit: ahhh, great... not what I was expecting, but great nonetheless.
I'm waiting to see what happened to Kirk and Nemesis...
*Looks at Stravo's new avatar* WTF???
Who's that guy anyway... the guy Galaxy uses too IIRC?
... well, it *is* after a post by Stravo... :p
edit: ahhh, great... not what I was expecting, but great nonetheless.
I'm waiting to see what happened to Kirk and Nemesis...
*Looks at Stravo's new avatar* WTF???
Who's that guy anyway... the guy Galaxy uses too IIRC?
Busily picking nuggets out of my well-greased ass.
I am in way shape or form like Galaxy, but nonetheless for Halloween I am Jason T. Kirk (Friday the 13th) Fear my feeble paintshop skillz.JodoForce wrote:*Looks at Stravo's new avatar* WTF???
Who's that guy anyway... the guy Galaxy uses too IIRC?
Wherever you go, there you are.
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consequences
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Grand Admiral Thrawn
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Stravo wrote:I am in no way shape or form Galaxy. I hate thinking faster than I type.
And Galaxy hates thinking slower then he types.
Great chapter. Should Jerrroredie boy be going crazy soon with that worm in his ear? And I'm pretty sure there's some subplot you haven't talked about in chapters and I've forgotten.
"You know, I was God once."
"Yes, I saw. You were doing well, until everyone died."
Bender and God, Futurama
"Yes, I saw. You were doing well, until everyone died."
Bender and God, Futurama
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Trytostaydead
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El Moose Monstero
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Now theres an entertaining image, although I for one would be feeling slightly let down if Starcrossed degenerated into a big gay love-in.
Evil Brit Conspiracy: Token Moose Obsessed Kebab Munching Semi Geordie
CANT WAIT!!!!
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Mitth`raw`nuruodo
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I know I'm a bit late, but whatever.
Kinda echoing what's already been said, the Klingon section was really well done. I enjoyed it.
Kinda echoing what's already been said, the Klingon section was really well done. I enjoyed it.
<< SEGNOR: Grand Admiral of the Gnomish Hordes >< GALE: Equal Opportunity Lover >< SDNet Keeper of the Lore >< Great Dolphin Conspiracy >>
My Audioscrobbler
Cult of Vin Diesel - When you mix Vin Diesel with a strong acid you get salt water.
My Audioscrobbler
Cult of Vin Diesel - When you mix Vin Diesel with a strong acid you get salt water.
Great chapter, Stravo, keep it up. Just one question, does Thawn know that the Emperor's Will has a superlaser on it? So far he seems to have regarded the destruction of the battered Imperium fleet as relatively easy if he can crush the Feds once and for all, despite this great equalizer.
"I want to mow down a bunch of motherfuckers with absurdly large weapons and relative impunity - preferably in and around a skyscraper. Then I want to fight a grim battle against the unlikely duo of the Terminator and Robocop. The last level should involve (but not be limited to) multiple robo-Hitlers and a gorillasaurus rex."--Uraniun235 on his ideal FPS game
"The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant compared to the power of the Force."--Darth Vader
"The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant compared to the power of the Force."--Darth Vader
Thrawn has been fully briefed on teh Imperium fleet. He knows that the Emperor's Will is armed witha superlaser, etc. He's not worried because he has the edge in numbers plus one other factor that Kittaine is unaware of, namely a certain Emperor's battlestation on the way.Trogdor wrote:Great chapter, Stravo, keep it up. Just one question, does Thawn know that the Emperor's Will has a superlaser on it? So far he seems to have regarded the destruction of the battered Imperium fleet as relatively easy if he can crush the Feds once and for all, despite this great equalizer.
I consider the Deathstar to be quite the trump card, no?
Wherever you go, there you are.
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Trytostaydead
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*Obi Wan voice* "Patience."Trytostaydead wrote:But what if the Emperor's Will shoots its laser at the Death Star?Stravo wrote:
I consider the Deathstar to be quite the trump card, no?
Wherever you go, there you are.
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Crazedwraith
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While it does have the potential to be quite the ripoff, there are differences in this situation, namely that a: the DS-II isn't complete and b: this is an SSD with a superlaser, not an Eclipse. With just about any other fic author I'd brace for the insane ripoff chapter, but I trust Stravo.
Thanks for answering my question, Stravo.
Thanks for answering my question, Stravo.
"I want to mow down a bunch of motherfuckers with absurdly large weapons and relative impunity - preferably in and around a skyscraper. Then I want to fight a grim battle against the unlikely duo of the Terminator and Robocop. The last level should involve (but not be limited to) multiple robo-Hitlers and a gorillasaurus rex."--Uraniun235 on his ideal FPS game
"The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant compared to the power of the Force."--Darth Vader
"The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant compared to the power of the Force."--Darth Vader