My Myriad Universe

[Saratoga NX-3842]

Stardate 52003.2

You will disarm you all your weapons and escort us to Sector Zero Zero One. If you attempt to intervene, will we destroy you.

Benjamin Sisko’s eyes bolted open at the voice in his nightmares. The same nightmare he’d had every night for the past six years. The mutilated form of Jean-Luc Picard, assimilated and transformed into the Borg Speaker Locutus. Demanding the surrender of Starfleet as they massed at Wolf 359 to stop the advancing Borg cube from reaching Earth.

The cube that smashed its way through the meager taskforce and destroyed Sisko’s life. His son Jake and wife Jennifer, blown into space when a Borg torpedo struck their section of the Saratoga’s hull.

The fate of the galaxy had changed that day. After the Enterprise crew had destroyed the Borg ship, Starfleet Command had actually given Picard back his ship! Like nothing had happened. The man had been responsible for the deaths of nearly eleven thousand people and the loss of forty starships. And they put him back in charge of the flagship of the Federation!

Sisko still remembered the long trip back to the Terran system aboard the rescue vessel Olympia. He’d spoken with the ship’s counselor about the loss he’d suffered. The pathetic shrink thought he would learn to live with it and become stronger because of it. That part was true.

One week after the infamous “Battle of Wolf 359” Sisko had marched down the corridors of Headquarters and burst into the office of Admiral Owen Paris.

“You gave him back the Enterprise!” he shouted.

Paris remained cool and collected behind his desk. “I’m well aware of your loss, Commander and I have nothing but sympathy for what you’re going through, but you’re tone is approaching the line, Mister Sisko. It was the assessment by both Starfleet Medical and Doctor Crusher that Picard was fully capable of returning to duty and the influence of the Borg Collective has been expunged from him. And quite frankly, Commander, it really is none of your business.”

Sisko fumed and failed to keep his temper in check. “I’ll tell you this Admiral, as long as Picard retains command, I’ll fight it. I’ll fight it at every level. The man murdered thousands! He has to answer for that.”

Paris rose to his feet. “Commander SIsko, I’ll pass along your opinion to the Command Council. And since I know what you are going through right now, I’ll give you this one chance to leave this office and this matter will be closed and off the record. One more word and I’ll order a full investigation into your ability to command. Now.” He picked up a data padd from the desk. “You’re new orders. You’ve been given command of the Utopia Planita Shipyards. It will be your task to coordinate with Starfleet Tactical. They’ve been designing new ships and weapon systems capable of combating the Borg. I think this may be the best fit for you. Report to your new assignment in three days.” Before Sisko could utter another word Paris said, “You’re dismissed.”

Sisko had spent nearly a year at Utopia, advancing his plan. He built the Defiant, he designed the quantum torpedo, the ablative hull armor, and the phase-shifting cloaking device. Quietly he cultivated allies from across the Federation. Those who thought the Borg were the single greatest threat in history and Starfleet must be prepared. He spoke passionately in speeches across the Alpha and Beta Quadrants for militarizing Federation space. New orbital weapon platforms had been designed, planetary shields were developed. He’d advanced Federation weaponry by two centuries in ten months.

But the Federation Council refused to listen. Speech after speech, Sisko declared that the Federation was on the edge of an abyss. That if they did not take a more militarized approach, the Borg would return and assimilate the quadrant.

“Starfleet is not a military organization,” Federation President Amitra had said. “And the Federation will not place itself on a war footing against a foe that resides in the far reaches of the Delta Quadrant. The Federation has heard your concerns, Commander… many times.”

Then, more than a year after Wolf 359, an incident took place in the Argolis Cluster that forced Sisko to act. The Enterprise had found the wreckage of a Borg scout ship. A single drone had survived. After intense study, Enterprise officers had found a way to infect the Collective and destroy it forever. Instead of acting, they nursed the Borg back to health, gave it a name and sent it back to its people.

Sisko had been in office when the report came in. He’d read it over and over again. Admiral Brooks, Picard’s immediate superior in the Argolis Sector had given the plan her blessing and commended him on his humanity.

On that day Sisko had acted. He’d called in the favors he’d accumulated over the past eighteen months. He ordered the fleet he’d constructed in secret to deploy. Dozens of Defiant-Class ships, lead by the prototype Defiant herself, serving as Sisko’s command ship, had launched an attack on the Terran system. Sisko’s troops had landed on Earth, facing little resistance. Starfleet had been fractured and confused. The possibility of a coup had never crossed their minds. Sisko and his new Elite Guard had stormed the grounds of Starfleet Headquarters. Those on the Command Council who refuse to recognize him as the new Federation leader were executed on the grounds kept by the legendary Boothby, who was also killed for his insolence to the new emperor.

Admirals such as Jellico and Leyton had joined him and installed themselves as military governors on Luna and Mars respectively. The Utopia docks were ordered at once to cede all scientific development and refocus their efforts building stronger and more advanced weapons.

It took two weeks for the subspace channels to be filled with the triumph of Emperor Sisko. Earth was under his grasp along with the entire system. Fortified against all attack, Sisko had ordered the entire fleet to serve him.

Nearly two-thirds of Starfleet had acquiesced. Sisko was holding the Federation hostage. With the deployment of the Defiant-Class fleets, he placed a vessel in orbit of every inhabited planet, cloaked and with enough firepower to reduce those worlds to smoking ash in moments.

Sisko had never wanted this. He did not want to be the oppressive ruler he’d been forced to become. He had not wanted to pass the knife along the necks of those who had refused to acknowledge his greatness and his need to protect the Federation.

As his first official act as Emperor he had ordered the arrest of Jean-Luc Picard and the capture of the Starship Enterprise. That had been near five years ago. Five years of agonizing rebellion by those zealots who had rejected him. Nearly a third of Starfleet, along with the Klingons and other worlds were leading a rebellion against him.

He’d vowed to crush them all, but so far they had eluded him, and were causing enough trouble within the Empire that he had been forced to relocate himself to a new post, one that would place him within striking distance of the rebels along the Cardassian frontier.

Together with the Cardassian Union, the Empire had put down the resistance on Bajor and as a reward Sisko had been given the orbiting space station in gratitude for his service. It was here now that he served the Empire. With his mighty fleet and his powerful starbase, Sisko looked down on the world of Bajor in pity. It had once been a beautiful world, but it had resisted his attempts to bring it into the Empire. He’d ravaged the surface, killing many as an example to the rest. Finally, after breaking the populations spirit, he now ruled Bajor as he did the rest of the Empire. With an iron hand. And with that world’s location near the rebels hiding place in the Badlands, he’d fortified the system with his fleets and in doing so protected another system from an invading fleet of Borg.

An invasion that had yet to come to pass.

But it would.

And Sisko would be proven right. He would be the savior of the galaxy.


He quickly dressed in imperial uniform, a black jumpsuit with grey shoulders, fully adorned with medals and proof of his greatness and made his way to his way up to his office within Ops. Waiting for him as the turbolift ascended through the deck was his trusted right hand, Commander Garak.

“Good morning, my lord,” he said with his usual false-sincerity.

“Garak,” he replied softly. Sisko never rose his voice unless it was absolutely necessary. It put both his allies and his adversaries at unease, hearing such a calm collected voice from the ruler of the entire quadrant. “I’m in no mood for games or bad news this morning. Tell me what you have.”

“Ah, well,” Garak began, “then I will be happy to accommodate you this fine day, sir. We have captured a rebel ship snooping around our Grid Nine Senor Array. AN old Excelsior-Class vessel if I’m not mistaken. Her crew put up a valiant struggle, but Captain Damar easily overcame them.”

“Yes, Mr. Damar is an eager young soldier. Always trying to please his emperor.”

“As are we all, sir. The vessel, I believe it was called the Hood, sadly did not survive, but what remains of her crew have been confined to Security undergoing the very best in Cardassian interrogation.”

“No doubt screaming for their mothers,” Sisko muttered. He eyed the commander and thought about the trouble he’d had in convincing Cardassia to join the empire. He’d faced assassination attempts from the Obisidian Order countless times. Finally, after abolishing the Cardassian military, he’d handpicked the men who would serve him. Garak, Damar, Dukat, Macet, they were all loyal to him now.

“Did their captain survive?”

“Yes, his name is DeSoto and the Chief Interrogator believes he knows the wherabouts of Picard.”

“Indeed?” asked Sisko.

“I believe they were friends. Picards executive officer served aboard the Hood before joining the Enterprise. I’m having Interrgoation pay particular attention to those details.”

“See to it personally, Commander,” Sisko said, “I don’t want Madred getting overzealous and losing another subject.”

“I’ll pass that along, my lord,” Garak said.

“Anything else?”

“No, sir, all is well at the moment. Our forces stand ready. Once we get the information from DeSoto, we’ll launch a raid.”

Sisko sat behind his black polished desk and laced his fingers together. Peering out the portal, watching his mighty fleet move about, he smiled. He could see the end of the rebellion. Soon they would all be gone and Sisko could return to his original plan.

Saving the galaxy from destruction.

Chapter I:

Will Riker threw the data padd onto the desk and rubbed his tired eyes. “We secured the supplies from the Ferengi ship. We’ve got enough converters to get the replicators back online on Terigof.”

“Casulties?”

“We lost four and the entire Ferengi crew is dead. They were trying to call for help.”

From behind his desk, Jean-Luc Picard sighed a silent prayer for the dead. “Very well. Send Mr. Data and Commander La Forge to Terigof and get the replicator grid restored. We have thirty thousand refugees down there.”

“They’ve taken the Sine, and should be there in about six hours.”

“Good.” He rose from his desk and pulled at the fraying strands along the bottom of his red tunic. “What word from the Hood?” he asked.

“Captain DeSoto’s last message put them near the edge of the Bajoran sector. Their cloak was working fine and they were going to report back once they’d test the tachyon grid along the border. They’re due to check in any time now.”

Picard turned and stared out the rectangular viewport behind his desk. The glowing orange plasma fields of the Badlands erupted in arrays around the ship. The Enterprise, a battered hulk of her former self hung in a orbital pocket above a Class-M world, protecting a group of refugees fleeing the Empire. So it had been for the past six years since the Sisko Coup as it had been coined.

“Will, is this my fault?”

“Captain?”

Will Riker had served as first officer of the Enterprise since she had been commissioned twelve years ago. He’d never heard this tone in Picard’s voice.

“Six years ago, Sisko demanded my arrest. If I had surrendered then, would we have been saved this conflict?”

“Sir, the coup happened because of the Borg. Sisko knows that. You’re only a figure head. And now, as leader of the Alliance, you’re more sought after than ever. But your death or capture would not have ended the rise of an empire. That was the result of a power-hungry dictator who betrayed us all.”

 

[USS Fardell]

Interesting. I would like to see more.

 

[Mistral]

That was one of the freakiest premises for an alt universe story I've ever read-and it had a vein of believability in it, too. If Sisko had cracked up...well, you better plan to see this through to the finish. I, for one, welcome our new overlords!

 

[Saratoga NX-3842]

Chapter:
“Admiral, incoming message from the Excalibur.”

From the upper deck on the bridge of the Imperial Destroyer Voyager, Kathryn Janeway turned to face the twenty meter wide viewscreen adorning the front of the commander center. Lieutenant Harry Kim’s report from Tactical had surprised her. Contact with the Excalibur had not been expected for another several hours. “Good news I hope. On viewer.”

The screen shimmered several times and with a burst of static the gloating face of Captain D’Nadi, his purple Xenexian eyes glowing with a hatred Janeway had come to respect.

“Admiral Janeway,” he said. “I regret to inform you the rebel base on Volon remains. Our fleet was unable to penetrate their planetary shields. What’s worse, they have procured a thermolitic subspace cannon. They destroyed two-thirds of my attack fleet the minute we dropped out of warp.”

“You were warned to proceed with caution,” Janeway said coldly. “Imperial Intellgience reported that the Son’a had given their schematics for subspace weapons to the rebels. I know you were aware of this.” She leaned forward on the railing. “But you were a fool. You went in there with banners flying and weapons blazing. And the rebels cleaned your nose.”

She looked past to him to the young woman seated next to the command chair. “Commander Lefler, the Excalibur is your ship now. Kill that fool.”
Before D’Nadi could react, the Excalibur’s first officer, Robin Lefler pulled her phaser and incinerated her captain. She stepped forward, holstering her weapon. “I warned him, Admiral. The idiot wanted to make a name for himself. He wanted to be as famous as his brother.”

Janeway understood. Captain Macenkize Calhoun had led the Imperial Fleet to victory over the Breen three years ago. He was now Overlord of their wretched little corner of the galaxy. But he liked the cold. “Captain Lefler, you have new orders. The Excalibur is due at Terok Nor in twenty hours. Voyager wlll meet you there. The Emperor has requested his top fleet commanders for a summit. He’s developed a new strategy against the rebels. We’ll all have victory soon enough.”

Nodding, Lefler placed herself in the command chair. “We’ll meet you there, Admiral. Helm; set course for Bajor, maximum warp.” She looked up back at the viewscreen. “Excalibur out.”

The screen shimmered back to the starfield.

Janeway turned to Kim. “Harry, cooridate with Sector Command. I want all ships at Bajor within two days.” She marched to the lower porition of the deck. She stood behind the helmsman, Lieutenant Rollins. “Take us out of here, warp eight.”

 

[Saratoga NX-3842]

Chapter:
Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge was a very good engineer. He used to love his work. When he was only responsible for the smooth running of the Enterprise.

But these days he was in charge of overseeing colony ater colony of desperate, hungry refugees fleeing the Empire. He and Data and arrived on Terigof a few hours ago wit hthe power converters to get the replicators back online. Geordi had been on the raid against the Ferengi ship to procure the parts int eh first place.
He recalled the Ferengi crew fighting to the last, their energy whips tearing through the security platoon from the Enterprise. But finally, Data had destroyed their life-support generators with his bare hands and they’d all transported off along with their bounty. The Ferengi crew had been left to die while they made their escape on the runabout.

He never thought he’d turn into a pirate. But they’d all suffered and had been forced to do terrible things in this war. Just a few months back the Enterprise had been attacked in the Qualor Sector by the USS Hera. Captained by Geordi’s mother. She’d been conscripted into the Imperial fleet when her daughter, Geordi’s sister, had been accused of sedition. The battle had been quick. The old Miranda-Class ship had been know match for her Galaxy-Class opponent, not to mention the three KLingon cruisers that were serving as her escort while they had been in Klingon space.

Captain Picard had a standing order to try and rescue surviors from any former Federation vessel they engaged in combat. It had been a somewhat successful strategy. Two years ago when they’d been fighting the Bozeman, just before her warp core breached, Geordi had initiated a wide beam transport, pulling out every last surviving crewman. And they had been grateful. Free of their ship and thought dead, they’d joined the Alliance and fought against the Empire. Captain Bateson had even take command of a unit that had destroyed the Imperial Shipyards on Farius.

But the Hera had been lsot with all hands. Geordi mourned his mother everyday, but knew deep down that those people who were still fighting for the Empire were doing so out of here. It was rumored that the Emperor had placed doomsday bombs on all vessels in his fleet and at the first sign of betrayal he would detonate them and order the deaths of the entire crew’s family.

It was just another reason Geordi wanted to be back in his engine room, getting his ship ready for combat. Even after six years of defeat after defeat, the Alliance still surved on the hopes that they’d crack the Imperial overconfidence and draw enough allies to fight back on an even battle ground.

But there was always a price to pay. Not long after the Klingon Empire had joined their efforts, Imperial agents had set off a trilithium explosive with the every star of every inhabited Klingon planet.

The nova’s that had been produced had drastically altered the shape of space around the former Klingon Empire. And at last estimates there were less than three million surviving Klingons in the known galaxy.

“Geordi,” said Data, shutting down his tricorder. “The replicator network has been restored. We are due to return to the Enterprise.”

 

[USS Fardell]

Good entry. Janeway was chilling and the reference to Calhoun was good aslo.

Geordi's grief was done well too.

 

[Mistral]

This seems like a much nastier universe underneath it all. I can't see Janeway joining any Empire like the on e you describe-at least, not our Janeway. You could have used a little more proofing on Geordi's chapter but good job overall.

 

[Hartzilla2007]

So when's the next update?

 

[Saratoga NX-3842]

So when's the next update?

Should have an update Tuesday afternoon.

 

[Saratoga NX-3842]

“Good, the sooner the better,” Geordi said, holstering his scanner. “We got word that the Hood’s gone missing. The captain wants us back as soon as possible.”

“It will take us nine hours to navigate the plasma fields and void the Imperial checkpoint sensor nets. The Sine is ready if you are.”
“La Forge to Sine,” he said tapping his combadge, “two to transport.”
Silence.

“La Forge to Sine, computer acknowledge.”

“Data to Sine, acknowledge.”


“That can’t be good,” Geordi said. He pulled his phaser from his belt and checked the charge. “Come on, we better find somewhere safe, if the runabout’s gone, we’re gonna have company.”

Before they could make it a dozen meters, transporter beams took form, depositing hundreds of Imperial troops.

The Empire had invaded the Badlands.

Chapter:
Lieutenant Commander Worf was aware instantly that something had gone wrong. “Commander Riker, our sentry probes in the Terigof Belt have issued an alert. A number of ships have entered their detection perimeter and communications have been severed with the planets in the belt.”
Will Riker tapped into Fleet communications on the arm of the command chair and read in the data from the probes. “Just great,” he muttered. “What are the closest ships?”

“We are,” Worf replied. “The Victory and the Sutherland were scheduled for that patrol, but they were moved by Admiral Zweller to protect the Zaradian Researh Station.”

“Helm,” Riker said, standing and adjusting his uniform tunic, “take us out of orbit and set a course for the Terigof Belt, as fast as we can go.” He knew that without warp drive it was an impulse journey of at least seven hours, depending on plasma storm activity in the region. By the time they reached Terigof there probably wouldn’t be anything left but smoking holes in the ground. “Captain Picard to the bridge. Mr. Worf, have you been able to raise Data and Geordi?”

“No sir,” the tactical officer replied ruefully, “sensors are no longer detecting the runabout either. They must still be on the surface.”
“Let’s hope,” Riker said.

He looked up to see the aft turbolift doors part open and Picard emerged, followed by Deanna Troi. Riker thought his imzadi looked haggard. She’d elected to remain on the Enterprise when the war began to help the crew cope with the entire galaxy going insane. She’d been offered many positions within the Alliance to help refugees but time after time she’d argued that she could do the most good by helping the Enterprise crew lead this effort.

“Report,” Picard said.

“Possible enemy action in the Terigof Belt,” Riker explained. “We’re on our own, but we’ve sent out the call to all available ships.”

“What’s our ETA, helm?” the captain inquired.

At conn, Lieutenant Tom Paris swiveld to face him. “About six point eight hours, sir. Some of the plasma storm activity isn’t as bad as we thought. I’m going to try a few modifications Commander La Forge and made to the impulse response thrusters. Should let us head into some of the deeper plasma streams and stil avoid them.”

“Do your best, Mister Paris,” Picard said, “there are thousands of lives on Terigof hinging on us reaching them in time.”

Chapter:
Imperial Warship Voyager:

Kathryn Janeway always knew she was destined for a task greater than science. She’d witnessed first hand the tragedy of war when she’d been captured by the Cardassians with Admiral Paris while serving aboard the Al-Battani. She recalled the screams as those Cardassian pigs had tortured him.

It was only after they’d been rescued by then Lieutenant Commander Sisko and his team from the USS Okinawa that Janeway had seen the light. Lieutenant Justin Tighe had been exposed as a Cardassian agent, who’d been spying on Starfleet for years. Janeway had taken the phaser out of Sisko’s hand and shot Tighe dead on the spot.

Lovers for years before that incident, Janeway’s heart had broken that day. Sisko had explained to her that traitors could not be allowed to survive. When Sisko had taken over Starfleet, he’d come to Janeway who’d been serving aboard Space Station Icarus and asked her to be his chief lieutenant.

“Violence is a sure way to ensure discipline,” Sisko had said, “and no one can dish out cold-blooded violence the way you can.”

Now she sat in her oversized throne-like command chair of Voyager as the might ship orbited the smoking remains of Terigof. “Status,” she hissed.
From tactical, Harry Kim smiled. “The planet’s been secured ma’am. The infrastructure has been destroyed, the leaders executed. Commander Torres is returning now by shuttle. With prisoners.” He read the status board a second time. “Very important prisoners.”

“Hail the shuttle,” Janeway said standing and taking a few steps towards the helm and the main viewer.

The screen blinked to reveal Voyager’s first officer, Commander B’Elanna Torres, seated at the helm, with two rebel officers behind her. One was a bound and gagged Commander Geordi La Forge. The other was a deactivated life-less husk of Lieutenant Commander Data.

“Commander Torres,” the Admiral said with a smirk. “Secure our prisoners as soon as you dock. I’ll alert the interrogators to be standing by.”

“They put up a hell of a fight,” Torres spat. “The android killed twenty three of my men before we subued him with a sub-neural charge.” The threw her head back towards La Forge. “The engineer didn’t put up much of a fight, but he killed Hansen.”

“She was an overzealous officer,” Janeway said with a shrug. . “Too cold and distant. I say good riddance. Well done, Commander. You’re cleared to land in shuttle bay two.”

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Looks like the end of this section got cut off...got the rest?

 

[Mistral]

nasty piece of work, that Janeway. Can't say it enough-but now some reasons for her turning on Starfleet are coming out.

 

[Saratoga NX-3842]

Chapter
The deck plates rumbled as the inertial dampers struggled against the tidal forces of the plasama storms as Enterprise made her way through the treacherous course plotted by Tom Paris.

Keeping a firm hand on the helm, Paris could feel the Galaxy-Class vessel’s every move. He’d been conn officer for nearly six years, ever since graduating from the Academy. Before the Purge of ’68 when Sisko had used those same academy grounds to perform his executions. His father had been one of those strung up for all to see. Tom had just arrived aboard Enterprise at that point and remembered the images flooding subspace as he sat at the helm during beta watch. On the day he lost his father, he swore he’d avenge the man’s death.

The two of them had never been close. Owen Paris had been the strictest of fathers and demanded the highest from his son, even when Tom was giving it. But the day Owen Paris was killed all of that childish wanting went out the airlock. Paris had pushed himself hard, eventually becoming conn officer during alpha watch. He’d taken the Enterprise into combat against odds no sane individual would have dreamed of, and piloted her through. Of course they’d lost people though:

During the Battle of Kronos, Wesley Crusher, a friend from the Academy had died when the bridge had bee exposed by a hull breach from a quantum torpedo. Before the forcefield could seal it, Wesley had been blown into hard vacuum and vaporized by stray phaser fire.

Paris had replaced Wesley at conn and got the ship through the enemy fleet, outflanked them and Worf had picked them apart with phasers before the Klingon sun had went nova, making the entire endeavor worthless. Shaking his head out of his reverie, Paris looked at his console. “Sir, we’re approaching Terigof.”

Picard, standing on the upper section of the deck, stepped to the tactical array next to Worf. “Full sweep, Mister Worf.”

The Klingon wasted no time going over the data. “Sensors are picking up three Imperial vessels in orbit. Excalibur, Phoenix, and Voyager.”

“Figues she’d have her hands in this pie,” Riker said, referring to the commander of Voayger. Paris knew Janeway and Riker had been at the academy together. She’d joined Sisko on that first day, betraying everything she was.

Picard read the panel and assessed his ship’s current combat status. Shields were optimal, phasers online, but the torpedo launchers were still only partially active. But looking ahead to the world beyond the vessels, and seeing the huge creators left by their orbital bombardment, there was only one order the captain could give.

“Battle Stations.”

 

[Mistral]

Craters. Not Creators. Interesting bit of background.

 

[Saratoga NX-3842]

Chapter:
Geordi La Forge had screamed until his throat was raw. The last thing he remembered was being shot on the planet’s surface by Imperial soldiers. He’d gone down, and when he came to, his VISOR was gone. In empty blackness all he could do was listen.

First a woman asked him repeatedly the position of the Enterprise. He’d given her a few choice remarks and felt the white hot tip of a neural disruptor. Every pain receptor in his body fired at once. The agony was unbearable. They asked him over and over where they could find the Enterprise and Picard.

He’d bitten down on his tongue until he felt the wet, sticky blood dripping down his chin. Then a voice he recognized filled the void. It was the deep, commanding voice of Kathryn Janeway.

“Tell me, Geordi,” she said icily, “you must enjoy pain. I have killed everyone on the surface of that worthless rock. You are only alive because you are from the Enterprise. We found your runabout in orbit. Very clever the way you sabotaged the onboard computer. When my men tried to download your logs, the ship warped itself into a plasma stream and exploded.” Her fist made hard contact with his jaw. “You will die slowly in retribution. But first…”

“Bridge to Janeway!”
“I left instructions not to be disturbed, Mister Kim.”

“Sorry ma’am. Vessel approaching on an attack vector, all weapons charged. It’s the Enterprise.”

Geordi felt himself smile then chuckled. ‘So long, Admiral,” he said, “give the captain my best.”

The last thing Geordi ever heard was the whine of a phaser powering up and then he never heard anything ever again.

 

[Mistral]

Whoosh-you are fast running out of canon characters!

 

[Saratoga NX-3842]

“Coming in at vector two oh seven,” reported Lieutenant Paris.

“Maintain vector and speed,” Picard said. “Mr. Worf, target the Voyager, see if you can penetrate her shielding along the starboard ventral.” The captain sat calmly in his command chair, reading over the data on his arm display. They’d battled Voyager several times over the years. They’d finally, during the ill-fated engagement around Forever World, had located a potential weak point, where the Intrepid-Class vessels shields overlapped.

Because the Intrepid-Class design was three times that of the Enterprise, it was a simple matter for Pars to maneuver them under and give Worf a clear shot. The problem was the Phoenix and Excalibur protecting their command ship. Enterprise veered in around the plasma fields and her phasers discharged again and again against Voyager’s deflector shields.

“There is an appreciable drop in shields,” reported Chief O’Brien, filling in for Data at Ops. “There’s a rupture forming.”

“Picard to transporter room five, see if you can find Commander La Forge or Mister Data. Mr. Paris, adjust to twenty five mark five, slow down to one-quarter. Mr. Worf, don’t let those other two ships get within ten thousand meters of us.”

“Transporter to captain, I’ve located Commander Data.”

“Excellent, you control the shields, lower the section you need and beam him directly to the bridge.”

Several seconds passed before a column of energy formed on the deck. The immobile form of Data appeared. “Mr. Paris, one eight seven, full impulse, back into the fields. We’re out of our league here.”

“Sir,” said Worf, “Voyager is hailing.”

“Hold your course, Tom.” Picard said, standing. “Open the channel, Commander,”

“Jean-Luc,” said the smug voice from the screen. Admiral Janeway lounged lavishly in her command chair, holding a small device. It was Geordi’s VISOR. “I have something for you,” she said, holding up the prosthetic.

“What have you done with Commander La Forge?” Picard demanded.

“I’m afraid he was none to cooperative with our interrogators. You’ll be happy to know he resisted to the bitter end. I didn’t think anyone could take so much.”

Picard’s fists clenched. He wasn’t going to take the bait. “You’ll pay for you actions, Admiral. Mr. Worf, close the channel.” He spun on his heal. “Aft torpedoes, maximum yield, narrow dispersion. I want Voyager crippled, no matter what it takes.”

Worf worked the tactical controls and the sounds of weapons fire reverberated through the ship. “Photon torpedoes away,” he said. “Launchers are holding. Continuing fire.”

Spinning around to face the viewer, Picard watched as the antimatter weapons impacted one after another on Voyager’s unshielded dorsal hull. Debris was blown away and a hull breach began to form.

“Sir,” Worf said, “they are powering up their phaser cannons. I suggest we withdraw.”

The captain sighed. Voyager sported one of the most impressive weapons arrays in the Imperial armada. Her only weak point was it took them a very long time to power up and lock on. Imperial overconfidence, he assumed. “Mr. Paris, take us back into the fields, best speed, Mr. Worf, keep firing as we go.”

As the Enterprise neared the deepening edge of the plasma fields, another spread of photon torpedoes found their marks on Voyager’s engineering section.

“Direct hit to their engine room,” Riker cried, triumphantly. “They’re ejecting their core!”

“Quickly Worf!” Picard shouted. “Fire phasers on the warp core! Full impulse, Tom!”

The resulting antimatter explosion of Voyager’s damaged, escaping warp core was enough to vaporize the Imperial ship and cripple her two comrades.

“Voyager has been destroyed,” Worf reported. “The other two ships have been disabled.”

“Come about, Mister Paris,” Riker said. “Riker to all transporter rooms. Standby for possible evacuees. Worf,” he said standing, “send security teams and let’s go!”

It was standard procedure when an Imperial ship was crippled to attempt to save the crew. They’d saved a number of people in the past who’d become part of the Alliance after their vessels had been destroyed.

Picard, now finally taking a deep breath, looked down to the immobile form of Data. “Mr. O’Brien, take the commander down to engineering. Get him up and running. We have to know what went on here.” As the chief left his post and with the help of a technician from one of the aft sections, shuffled Data into the lift, the captain sat down in his chair. “Helm, return to course one eight three. Set course for the Alliance base on Athos IV.”

 

[Saratoga NX-3842]

Chapter:
Will Riker barged into Cargo Bay Four, phaser in hand, flanked by Worf and Lieutenant Casewelle, behind them a ten man security team follwed them in. In the center of the bay, three hundred Imperial officers stood, looking haggard and defeated.

“I’m Commander William Riker, Alliance Starship Enterprise,” he said, letting his voice echo off the cold walls of the bay. “You’re not under arrest. Alliance policy is to not imprison Imperial officers, but rather let them join our cause or cut them loose.”

From the center of the group, two officers in captain’s uniform stepped forward. Riker recognized them immediately: Captain Robin Lefler of the USS Excalibur and Captain Gilaad Ben Zoma, USS Lexington. “Commander,” Ben Zoma said, “on behalf of my crew, I thank you. We’ve been under the gun of that mad emperor for six years. He’s holding our families of Rekag Seronia.”

“Comamnder,” Lefler said, “am I glad to see you. You’ve no idea how lucky you are to have us aboard.”

Ben Zoma smiled. “What the captain means is, we’ve been gathering intelligence for the past year. We’re ready to join the Alliance and both of our crews our with you.”

“We just have to thank you for taking care of that witch, Janeway,” Lefler said smugly.

“Welcome aboard,” Riker said with a smile. “Let’s get you all some quarters.”

* * *
“Come,” Picard said.
The doors to the ready room hissed open and he looked up. “My God,” he said, standing and extending his hand. “Gilaad. I had no idea you were still commanding Lexington.”

Ben zoma, Picard’s executive officer aboard the Stargazer for twenty-two years returned the smile and the hand shake. “Hello, Jean-Luc. Been a long time. But that pig of an emperor has Karina and the kids on Imperial watch. First sign of duplicity and…” he paused, swallowed hard and became quiet.

“With you assumed dead, they should be fine,” Picard said. “I’ll see what we can to do to get them off Rekag.”

“Thank you, Jean-Luc,” Ben Zoma said. “Quite an impressive name you’ve made for yourself, Captain, leader of the entire Alliance, enemy number one of the Empire.”

“It’s all a damned shame,” the captain said, sitting behind his desk and gesturing to the chairs across from him. “All this fighting, just because of one man who lost his wife. It’s such a tragedy. I’ve been wondering if there were a way to end it all for good.”

“I doubt it,” Ben Zoma, “I met Sisko once right after he named himself emperor. Hes’ a megalomaniac. He thinks that this war will solidify the quadrant and protect it from the Borg.”

“Destroying our way of life to preserve it,” Picard surmised.

“Exaclty.”

Picard activated his desktop computer and spun it around for Ben ZOma to see. It showed a map of what had once been Federation space. A range of space ten thousand light-years wide. “This is the way things were before the Sisko coup.” He tapped the padd and the blue image of Federation territory grew and absorbed all surround space. “Now the Empire controls nearly ninety percent of the Alpha Quadrant. But look…” he tapped another button and the image zoomed in to an area of space near the old Klingon border.

“Romulus,” Ben Zoma said. “It’s been Imperial procedure to leave the Romulans alone. They’ve declared themselves neutral and for some reason Sisko has never bothered with them.”

“Which doesn’t make any sense,” Picard said, “since the first Borg incursions into our quadrant happened along the Neutral Zone on both the Federation and the Romulan sides of the border.”

Ben Zoma stroked his beard and shook his head. “You’re right. What do your people think?”

“We’ve no idea,” Picard admitted. “We’ve extended overtures to the Romulans for years. They’ve stated they are adamantly opposed to getting involved in our conflict. And Sisko has let them be.”

“It could be important,” Ben Zoma. “They could possess something that Sisko doesn’t want to destroy. Or they could be holding some secret that would be exposed if he did. There could be many reasons.”

“And given the state of affairs we haven’t been able to investigate,” Picard said. “But right now things are becoming desperate. Voyager’s attack on Terigof was the first incursion into the Badlands by the Empire.”

“Yeah,” Ben Zoma said, “they caught the Hood snooping around Bajor. Her sensor logs gave them the maps and course projections. Word is they tortured Bob DeSoto for hours before he gave up the command codes to the computers. Yesterday, Sisko called all fleet commanders to Terok Nor and gave us personal orders. He’s going to be launching several of these type of attacks in coming days. You’ve got to get your people out of here. They know where to find all of you.”

“It’s not possible unfortunately,” Picard said. “Even with every Alliance ship working in tandem, we’d never get them out in time. Our only hope is to convince the Romulans to join us. We’ve exhausted every other option but one, and it stands to reason with the Alliance destroyed, the Romulans will find themselves totally surrounded by a hostile regime that won’t leave them alone forever.”

“What's the other option?” Ben Zoma asked.

Picard smiled, ruefully. “To bring about the destruction Sisko has planned for. To some how lure the Borg to attack the Empire.”

“That’s insane!” shouted Gilaad. “Not only would the death toll be staggering, it would justify everything Sisko has done since this all began.”

“It’s not my plan,” Picard said, “but several members of the Alliance Council have been talking about it for months. And I fear that if I can’t convince the Romulans to join us or at least to discover why they haven’t taken sides, then the Council will override my objections and bring the Borg to our doorstep.”

“Do they have the means to do that?” Ben Zoma. “Hard to imagine what could get the Borg’s attention way out in the Delta Quadrant?”

Picard stood. “Picard to Bridge. Set a new course, Mister Paris, take us to Caretaker One.”

 

[Mistral]

Oh, how clever! You know your canon and use it well. Very good job!

 

[Saratoga NX-3842]

Chapter
Sisko wiped the blood from his lip and smiled. He gave another swift kick and the slave gave no more cries of protest. The filthy Bajoran comfort woman lie on the floor of his office in a bloody heap. She’d been brought to Sisko by Garak a few moments ago; and once the Cardassian officer had left, had tried to tear off Sisko’s face.

He’d felt the thrill rush through him as he’d killed her, breaking each of her arms, crushing her throat in his bare hands and then swinging her face onto the corner of his desk with all of his might.

“Mr. Garak!” he shouted into the com unit.

The double doors of his officer parted, revealing a startled first officer. “Yes, My Lord?” he looked down to the dead Bajoran and frowned. “I take it Miss Kira was not fully taken in by your charm.”

Sisko pulled a dagger from his collection on the wall and stabbed it into Garak’s right leg.

Garak screamed, fell to the deck, grabbing at the weapon, and grunting in pain.

“Mister Garak, I will assume this one time that you did not bring that Bajoran here to kill me, but I assure you if something like that ever happens again, the next time, the knife will take off your head. Now GET OUT!”