Star Crossed Fanfic

[Illuminatus Primus]

There's no proof that's how transphasic torps work. Don't play the name game now.

[Col. Crackpot]

There's no proof that's how transphasic torps work. Don't play the name game now.

it's a goddamn fanfic! i was just speculating! geez! does someone need to have his '...throat slit from ear to ear and be buried by in the rough sands of the sea where the tide ebbs and flows twice in 24 hours..' huh mr. freemason iluminati?

[Stravo]

There's no proof that's how transphasic torps work. Don't play the name game now.

it's a goddamn fanfic! i was just speculating! geez! does someone need to have his '...throat slit from ear to ear and be buried by in the rough sands of the sea where the tide ebbs and flows twice in 24 hours..' huh mr. freemason iluminati?

You know, I don't liek to respond this late in a week because people think I'm posting a new chapter but the furious speculation going on here and in ASVS is really tickling me pink. I promise there will be no cop outs I will portray what I seriously think would happen if transphasic torpedoes were to be used and my own interpretation from Endgame as to what I saw. I will say this...its not going to be the wankfest that many trekkies were howling about in the beginnning when the transphasics first made their appearance. I know what I saw in that episode and it will be reflected here.

At the same time, my good friend Illuminatus knows my ignorance of the EU and also knows my sometimes stubborn ability to march to the beat of my own drummer in these things.

Of course, I promise a great chpater coming soon. Title: Knife Fight

[El Moose Monstero]

Hey People.

I figured I should post here first as this is where it all began, someone on TGU recommended Starcrossed to everyone, way back at Chapter 27 or so, and I've been reading these forums (but not contributing ) since then.

I decided that I might as well sign up now, I cant debate to save my life, but hey... this is fanfics...

Anyway, Stavro, I just want to say, as so many have said before me, that this is one of the best fanfics I have read, its kept me hooked since chapter 27, and I'm loving every minute of it.

One thing i'm finding very hard to cope with at the minute is the idea that there will be no big reset button, as there are characters in here which I have loved reading, but I know that one way or the other, some of them are going to die.

So I've been thinking about how this could end, or where it goes from here, and am I the only one who's thinking that the place that Kirk is being drawn to is the Guardian of Forever? It was alluded in the Kirk-Q bit, so it obviously hasnt been ignored, and from what I remember of watching TOS, was probably one of the most fundamental episodes of Kirk's character (at least for me anyway ).

And in a similar vein, although this is just a thought, maybe Gary is the one who's going to turn back from the dark path, perhaps him and Kirk reuniting or something (ok, so i havent thought this out clearly) and restoring the universe, not to the way it was, but just preventing it from exploding. The only other way I can see it ending is with some form of resolution of characters, before the universe goes anyway...

Loved the last chapter, one of the best space battle chapters i've read (although, admittedly, i've only read a handful), and in response to the post above mine, given the lack of information from Endgame, I reckon that it (the workings of the transphasics) can be whatever the author chooses. After all, the whole Q/Trelane thing - wasnt ever mentioned in any episode (although it was mentioned in a book, Qsquared I think - but I admit, I dont know what the canon policy of Paramount is for books).


Anyway, as I said, (in that rather long, and a little gushy post) great stuff, Stavro. And hello, SD.net...

*deploys anti-poking shield, on the off chance*

[Illuminatus Primus]

There's no proof that's how transphasic torps work. Don't play the name game now.

it's a goddamn fanfic! i was just speculating! geez! does someone need to have his '...throat slit from ear to ear and be buried by in the rough sands of the sea where the tide ebbs and flows twice in 24 hours..' huh mr. freemason iluminati?

Uhm...I asked Stravo about this months ago when transphasics were first mentioned and asked "wait are they supposed to kick Imp ass?" to which he replied to the affect of "that's what the Shadow fleet thinks" so I based my opinion on that reply.

[Natorgator]

Hey People.


Anyway, Stavro, I just want to say, as so many have said before me, that this is one of the best fanfics I have read, its kept me hooked since chapter 27, and I'm loving every minute of it.

Yeah I've been reading this forum for awhile and just now joined. When I first found Starcrossed I read it pretty much *nonstop* all the way up to chapter 35. When I realized it wasn't finished I think I nearly died. It took me about 2 days, I only left my computer to use the bathroom, and didn't even hardly eat. (as sad as that probably sounds)

Anyhow Stravo great fic, can't wait until the next chapter...

[Crayz9000]

Welcome to SD.net, newbies

*group poke*

[Stravo]

There's no proof that's how transphasic torps work. Don't play the name game now.

it's a goddamn fanfic! i was just speculating! geez! does someone need to have his '...throat slit from ear to ear and be buried by in the rough sands of the sea where the tide ebbs and flows twice in 24 hours..' huh mr. freemason iluminati?

Uhm...I asked Stravo about this months ago when transphasics were first mentioned and asked "wait are they supposed to kick Imp ass?" to which he replied to the affect of "that's what the Shadow fleet thinks" so I based my opinion on that reply.

DAMN YOU Illuminatus....I forgot we spoke about this awhile ago. I hate freelance consultants on my fanfics.

[Illuminatus Primus]

Uh Stravo....I don't know what your response technically means....so I don't think I'm spoiling...and it was in the public thread...

EDIT: Yup...page 24...near the bottom.

Page 24

[Stravo]

Uh Stravo....I don't know what your response technically means....so I don't think I'm spoiling...and it was in the public thread...

EDIT: Yup...page 24...near the bottom.

Page 24

SHhhhh....Maybe no one will notice.

[Illuminatus Primus]

[Darth Negation]

Damn you, Stravo! I was trying to get away from SD.net, but your fanfiction pulled me back! I'ts just too bloody good!

[Kuja]

One thing i'm finding very hard to cope with at the minute is the idea that there will be no big reset button, as there are characters in here which I have loved reading, but I know that one way or the other, some of them are going to die.

Ugh. One thing that I absolutely hate is the magic reset button. All the character growth, all the plot, everything is reduced to nil.

[El Moose Monstero]

No, I agree, but at the minute, I'm trying to think of alternative endings, and so far, havent produced anything convincing...

[Stravo]

There WILL be a final end to this tale, no reset buttons and people WILL die, both heroes and villains. This is an armageddon tale with the whole universe falling apart. The question is will the center hold? Will fallen heroes have the courage to walk back in the light and will heroes have the courage to surrender to shadow.

One thing's for sure. No one is going to be the same again.

[Stravo]

Chapter 47: Knife Fight



“All ships to that sector now. We need to close them off, move the left flank into a Sanas Crescent.” Thrawn ordered triumphantly as the Shadowfleet suddenly became visible.

“Yes sir.”

“There are still those ghost ships out there.” Jerjerrod warned.

“They are now a secondary concern. We cannot allow this contingent to escape. They are obviously far better skilled at the arts of war than their fellow Federation remnants and they have access to technology that could prove troublesome for us in our bid to bring this galaxy to heel.”

“We need to press this attack now.” Piett urged.

“Have a care Admiral, I sense other agendas at work here.” Vader hissed cautiously.

Thrawn glanced back at the dark lord with a hooded expression.

“Keep me informed should your hunches become more substantial.” Thrawn replied. Vader watched him intently but said nothing.

Thrawn turned back quickly. Jerjerrod stared at a readout for a moment and glanced back up quickly.

“They’re firing a strange weapon at our lead vessels. The results are extraordinary.”





“That’s it?” Durant pressed.

The android blinked.

“The first volley of transphasic torpedo fire has passed through their shields unimpeded and have impacted against the hulls.”

“Those things should be detonating WITHIN the ships.” Durant snapped angrily as he watched the next volley of torpedoes flash out from his fleet in phalanxes of angry red balls of light. They struck the lead element of Imperial capital ships, the shields of the capital ships flared up slightly as the torpedoes passed through them and exploded against the hulls of the warships. For the stardestroyers the explosions left pockmarked blackened scoring on the neutronium impregnated hulls. For the lighter warships the torpedoes impacting on their hulls proved more troublesome.

Durant was not happy.

The transphasic torpedoes were his ace in the hole. A single one of these enriched antimatter warheads could destroy a Borg cube in a volley. The phase inducers built into the casing would allow a torpedoes to skip through any sort of energy shielding, and in theory would remain phased until it passed through a target’s hull, exploding within. This was not the case here.

The Shadowfleet had spent an inordinate amount of resources “acquiring” the technology before the Federation hid away or destroyed the remaining models Janeway brought with her in the name of chronal integrity. He was certain these weapons could be used to turn the tide but he was facing the daunting possibility that even weaponry as advanced as this, weapons that did not even exist in Federation until twenty years from now could turn the insurmountable tide.

Durant now knew that this was not going to be over in a flash of inspiration nor would he be sending the Imperials packing. He adjusted his black jumpsuit and cleared his throat as the first volleys of emerald turbolaser fire began to explode around his fleet.

“All wings, drop shields and switch over to armor. We’ll need every erg of power to our weapons. Wings 3 and 6 you take point and sweep in on their left flank. We need to split their line now before the secondary lines move up into over watch position. I don’t want any heroics out there. We just need to break a hole in their lines and go to warp. Focus transphasic fire on vital ship systems like their shield generators and command centers. Wing 2 fall back to ready reserve position. Subspace warfare vessels immediate scrambling operations. Let’s not make it too easy on them to target us. Everyone with me?”

“We’re right behind you, boss.”

Durant smiled and nodded.

“Let’s do this ladies and gentlemen. We’re the Federation’s avenging angels. We have a lot to avenge.” Durant added coldly.

The Shadowfleet wheeled around as one and two great wings of starships flashed away from the main body of the fleet and without hesitation, with the precision that could only be achieved by synchronized android helmsmen, they struck the Imperial line.




“They have decided to make stand.” Thrawn noted a hint of admiration in his voice.

“Did they have a choice?” Jerjerrod added.

Thrawn turned his head slightly, red eyes boring into his aide de camp.

“I would have surrendered this fleet in the hopes of bartering for better treatment in exchange for this phasing technology.” Thrawn replied nonchalantly.

“Utterly foolish. This action achieves nothing.” Vader hissed.

“We are in agreement, Lord Vader. Now we will teach them what the full might of the Empire means.” Thrawn promised and turned to Piett. “Commence fire, all batteries. No finesse, no maneuvers, blast them to oblivion.”

“Yes sir.” Piett replied. Thrawn seemed to have grown in stature before his very eyes and his red eyes flashed dangerously. The Federation remnant had angered him and now they were going to pay the cost.





“I want those ships.” Kittaine growled as he watched his fleet deploy in a loose formation, unlike Thrawn’s ships which were gathered in tight formations for maximum effect. Kittaine and his men had learned all too well the lessons of the Battle of Vulcan and Kirk’s Hammer. They knew that in such a formation the Federation could exploit a weakness and now with the deployment of yet another wonder weapon by the Federation he was glad that he was a cautious man.

“They’re focusing fire on shield generators and bridges. The Bombard is under heavy assault, she has lost her starboard sensor globe.” Branna noted with concern.

“Have the triumvirate cut across their exposed right flank, see if they can’t turn it. They’re torpedoes, Branna, they will soon run out and we are killing them as we speak.” Kittaine replied, adjusting the collar of his ivory uniform. He was still unaccustomed to the fit and look but Nemesis had insisted that he wear it. “Also deploy the Bomber squadrons to sector the flanks, reload them with concussion missiles.”

“They won’t have the same yield as our own proton torpedoes sir and the armor these ships are using seems to be more resistant to our fire than their shields.” Branna interjected.

Kittaine nodded as he watched a Nebula class starship slowly sinking out of sight, trailing glittering plasma and molten metal, the blue lighting of its nacelles flickering wildly.

“The concussion missiles are faster, better suited for interception.”

“You mean to try and knock down those torpedoes before they strike?”

“I have to do my best to defend this fleet and unlike my counterpart I do not have a massive fleet to soak up damage. I’m willing to hazard a guess that the torpedoes cannot remain in phase throughout their flight. They only start to phase upon impact against our shields. It must take a tremendous amount of energy to achieve that state even temporarily. They need to conserve that power for the main attack.”

“I see, we hope to strike them while still solid. I’ll order the squadron commanders immediately.”

Kittaine nodded. He stood, hands clasped behind his back. This battle would be his first as a Grand Admiral of the Imperium. The thought still brought shivers to his spine, he was now officially committing treason. Oh the others would dance around the issue and claim that they were merely words and that in the end, they still considered themselves loyal members of the Empire. The Imperium was a temper tantrum thrown by Nemesis against the appearance of Thrawn and his cohort.

But there was a disturbing attraction to the idea of their own empire, out here, out of range of the vengeful Emperor that ruled from Coruscant. They had shed their blood to help forge this new empire, to bring order to the chaos of this galaxy and what does the Emperor send? A rescue unit, an evacuation back home, more ships to help in the effort under Kittaine’s command? No, he sends one of his sycophant Grand Admirals to take command and invalidate all that they had done. Essentially a slap in the face of every soldier in the command structure. The Emperor had not been there for them when they were thrust into the center of a galaxy that could have simply swarmed over them like a pack of Happan Sithas. Nemesis had been there for them, he had led them, protected them and had become the rock on which all their hopes and dreams were founded in this galaxy.

When he called for those loyal to him to rally around him, there was not a single voice of dissent. But that did not mean that everyone was not looking over their shoulders or thinking very hard about the decision made. They had essentially signed their death warrants and a very dark thought had slowly crept into his mind.

Once they had destroyed the Federation and its remnants there would remain only one other logical target for Thrawn’s fleet. Kittaine’s fleet would be the only thing standing in the way of Thrawn’s utter dominance of the galaxy. Kittaine harbored no illusions as to Thrawn’s opinion of the Imperium fleet. If Thrawn could kill them now he would.

So the dark thought became even darker.

Should we destroy the Federation? Should we remove the only obstacle to our own survival?

Kittaine glanced over at the far end of the battle field and watched Thrawn’s fleet advancing hungrily, weapons flashing a storm of turbolaser fire into the desperate Federation remnant. He also had no illusions as to who would win in a pitched battle between the two forces. He had Nemesis and his leadership had brought them victory in the most unlikely places, but Thrawn had Vader and more importantly, he had the edge in raw numbers.

He cleared his throat as the first volley of concussion missiles, red streaks in the inky void crossed the bow of the Emperor’s Will and exploded against a volley of incoming torpedo fire.

“Its confirmed Admiral!” Branna exclaimed quietly as he appeared at Kittaine’s shoulder. “The concussion missiles were able to intercept the torpedoes. They are vulnerable in flight.”

“Excellent.” Kittaine replied softly. He looked back at Thrawn’s fleet.

“It could be said that this fleet would be a thorn in our side if they escaped no?” Kittaine asked quietly, eyes not leaving the advancing Imperial fleet, the Executor at the heart of the battle.

“Indeed it would. This will be a great victory for us indeed.”

“It would. We would be wiping out a potential threat that would haunt us for years to come.” Kittaine added.

“More importantly Admiral, can you imagine what Kirk would do with this technology?” Branna replied darkly.

Kittaine nodded slowly.

“Captain. I want one of those ships for examination. Have a squadron of Interceptors disable it and use the tractors to bring it into the hangar bay.”

“Aye sir.”

“And Branna.” Kittaine put a restraining hand on Branna’s elbow as the young captain was turning to comply.

“Sir?”

Kittaine looked into Branna’s eyes for a long moment, resolving the last minute debate in his head.

“I have one more order for you to carry out.”

“Sir?” Branna asked curiously, aware that the older man looked troubled.

“I am going to ask you to do something that goes against all your instincts and training. I need you to carry out this order as your admiral and a man that has treated you like a son.”

Branna nodded slowly.

“Anything for you, Admiral.” Branna replied softly, without hesitation.

Kittaine told him.

Branna’s eyes widened slightly but then slowly nodded in agreement. He turned to relay the orders. Kittaine returned his attention to the view port, hands clenched behind his back.





“No, no, drop back and let the fourth wing relieve you!” Durant ordered tersely as a panel exploded behind him. He ignored the general disarray that was now engulfing his bridge, one android lay sprawled out across the railing of the bridge, its chest and neck torn open exposing wiring and instrumentation.

He watched his fleet slowly getting decimated, the armor was better than the shields, it allowed the ships to survive the leading edge of the turbolaser flak burst but direct hits still meant death and freed up the enormous power drain of the shields to have more power to maneuver and use weapons.

“Down to 20% of transphasic torpedoes stores.” His XO android reported emotionlessly.

And there was another problem, many of the ships were running out of transphasic torpedo stores, switching over to quantum torpedoes robbed them of their only advantage so far in this battle.

“Group leader to fleet, try to conserve transphasic torps. Shoot in short controlled bursts at what you’re sure you can hit.”

“Acknowledged fleet commander.”

“This is not going well at all.” Durant muttered. What a brilliant assessment, he wondered. Of course he was never rabid enough to think that they could have stood up to the Imperial fleet in a head to head engagement. He was not Kirk, he knew that they were way out classed in fire power and defensive systems. But now, with his back against the wall he had no choice.

Durant’s eyes narrowed as he saw something.

“What the hell?” he exclaimed. Then resolved that there was no such thing as looking a gift horse in the mouth, not here, not now.

“All fleet ships, form up on the Bunker Hill. The Imperial forces just screwed up and we have to exploit, right now!”

“I see it too boss. Forming up on your left flank.”

“Is this for real?”

“Cut the shatter and transfer power to impulse engines.” Durant barked and watched intently as his fleet surged forward, driven up by a desperate need to survive and a hope that there was indeed a chance at escape.





“In the name of the Emperor!!” Piett exclaimed and very nearly leapt in place on the command deck in utter rage and frustration.

On the view port, the Imperium fleet was executing a perfect encirclement, the last parts of the circle drawing closed was led by the Adjudicator which like her master moved and waded through the Federation remnant forces like a hunting wolf. Suddenly, the Adjudicator dropped down her superstructure and exposed her lightly gunned ventral section to the desperate fleet trying to avoid the encirclement. The second ship that would normally have slipped in to finish the circle moved to avoid the Adjudicator and instead went high, her mighty engines thundering to take the behemoth stardestroyer far out of range of crashing into the Adjudicator.

The maneuver was brilliantly executed and both ships avoided certain collision. However the result was disastrous for the Imperial fleet in the sense that the far smaller Imperium fleet could not spare a ship from the englobement to plug the sudden gap fast enough.

The Shadowfleet saw the opening and did not hesitate. They surged forward, braving the fire from the Imperium fleet as they clawed their way through the gap.

“They’ll soon be in the open and able to engage their warp drive.” Jerjerrod snapped.

“Calm yourselves.” Thrawn said, his voice still and calm as a morning breeze. “The right flank has our fastest ships, get them into position, all fleet vessels switch fire and track the Federation vessels. Divert all fighter cover to interdict the fleet.”

“Of course sir.” Piett replied and quickly relayed the orders, sparing a moment to glance angrily at the Imperium fleet.

Vader slowly walked up behind Thrawn and stood right behind him for a moment, his mechanical breathing loud in Thrawn’s ears.

“I assume I do not have to tell you.”

“Was there any doubt whatsoever?” Thrawn replied.

Vader remained silent again.

“Right wing is moving to intercept, it looks like we’ll get there in time.” Piett reported.

Thrawn nodded but said nothing else as he watched the Shadowfleet move, the wings of starships weaving in and out of formation with clockwork precision. His eyes slowly narrowed as he watched several starships maneuvering within less than a ship’s length to each other. They wove in and out of each other’s path with almost prescient ease.

Thrawn continued staring a suspicion now suddenly confirmed.





“I said more power, hit them with everything we’ve got and bring us in low and fast.”

“You want us in closer?”

“Right down their throats.” Durant snarled.

The Shadowfleet had broken free from the encirclement and were racing for freedom. The only thing in their way was a wing of Imperial ships desperately deployed along their line of retreat.

“Everyone, standby for emergency maneuvering. All torpedo bays are to be loaded with transphasic torps.”

“Acknowledged.”

Durant braced himself as a stardestroyer suddenly loomed into view, charging tom block their path, an entire broadside lashing out at the approaching ships. A dozen shadowfleet vessels were caught in the hurricane of green turbolaser fire, their armor plating torn loose as if by a giant hand, the starships stopped cold and exploded, some missing massive chunks from their saucer sections simply began to tumble end over end, impulse engines refusing to fire and stabilize the tumble.

Tie Fighters suddenly swarmed them like maddened killer bees, weaving between the starship superstructures, their own blasts tearing holes in the armor plating. Phaser banks lashed out like whips, picking off the unshielded fighters with daunting accuracy. An entire squadron was vaporized in a matter of moments as they tried strafing the Bunker Hill. Her massive Type XI phaser banks firing in rapid sure shots.

“Hold on, I want that big bastard.” Durant shouted jabbing his finger at the lone stardestroyer blocking their path, her support ships and a phalanx of other stardestroyers was closing rapidly to support and further cut off the route of retreat.

“Fleet elements, engage lead stardestroyer, attack pattern Jonah, Repeat Attack pattern Jonah.”

“Yeehaw!”

Durant smiled at the enthusiastic shout and even heard some rebel yells among the fleet commanders on the open link. The Shadowfleet vessels turned and pirouetted gracefully through the veritable cloud of fighters and dove down low under the steady stream of fire, racing straight for the stardestroyer. coming in low and fast, obviously intending to pass right beneath her.

The stardestroyer captain recognized the threat too late, the massive vessel trying desperately to bring her ventral section away from the oncoming fleet, but too much momentum had been built to break ahead to cut off the fleet that the ship could not react fast enough to deny the shadowfleet their target.

“It’s time to get to the belly of the whale.” Durant whispered as the stardestroyer’s bottom section filled up more than half of his screen and the true target came into view.

“All ships fire on target.”

“All torpedoes, time on target!”

The fleet fired a volley of transphasic torpedoes, each one lanced through the shields, the only resistance a brief flickering from the shields before the torpedoes continued on into the gaping hangar bay. Moments later massive explosions rippled inside the hangar bay, a geyser of fire and debris spewed out as the shadowfleet vessels continued past the stardestroyer.

“We’ve got another stardestroyer at 56, 109 mark 6.”

“I see it.”

“Bring us in for a pass on her too, that was for Vulcan, let’s make this one for Earth.”

The Shadowfleet wheeled in perfect unison, avoiding a cluster of return fire from the stricken stardestroyer’s escorts. The stardestroyer itself was firing intermittingly now as the explosions seemed to rock the mighty warship. Fuel cells stored in the hangar area were soon brewing up within the ship’s interior as well as raw plasma and fire swept through the lower portions of the ship, lights dimmed considerably in her lower decks and the ship soon ground to a halt.





“The Punisher has lost vital systems, they’re afraid that the hypermatter reactor may explode. All efforts are being redirected to damage control.” Jerjerrod reported, his voice colored with shock.

“Bastards.” Piett hissed.

“They’re automated.” Thrawn whispered.

“Sir?”

Thrawn stalked over to the communications station.

“I want an analysis of all communications frequencies between those vessels.”

“Aye sir.”

“Now, Major or I will find someone that can analyze on the fly and report your failure to Lord Vader.” Thrawn added frostily.

“Of course sir!” the major snapped and immediately began running several analyses on the sensor data from the fleet.

Piett walked over and began to speak but Thrawn held up a hand.

“We’re picking up something odd, sir. It appears that the Federation ships are using two distinct frequencies in their communications. Their ship to ship seems to be some sort of heavily coded subspace channel. The other is a constant almost background noise.”

Thrawn stepped down into the communications bay and looked at the readout himself. Piett looked surprised at the action.

“What does your experience tell you about this signal?” Thrawn asked pointing at the background noise a steady beating on an almost invisible frequency.

“Oh no.” Jerjerrod whispered.

Thrawn heard some of the crewmen gasp at their stations as they saw it too. The second stardestroyer was also now engulfed in flames and debris as her hangar bay was completely destroyed by a salvo of transphasic torpedoes. The stardestroyer, obviously more damaged than her sister ship was listing badly, her engines flashing intermittingly and fires erupting from one of the fore castles.

“Sir, it looks to me like the sort of coded data bursts that our probe droids use to maintain contact with the fleet save that this is a constant data stream.”

“As if droids were constantly talking to each other?” Thrawn asked triumphantly.

“Yes sir.”

“Admiral.” Thrawn snapped.

“Sir?” Piett quickly replied getting down into the communications bay as well.

“I want THAT frequency jammed, any way you can I want it jammed and have all ships begin firing ion cannons only at the Federation vessels, switch the turbolasers to full flak mode and lay down suppressing fire around the lead elements of the right wing. Their torpedoes are not in phase until the moment of impact and we need to begin intercepting this attack..”

Piett was nodding but Thrawn was already in motion, stalking over to the squadron commander who took a moment to swallow his fear as the blue skinned Admiral towered over him in his seat.

“I want all available squadrons to move to intercept that Federation fleet, direct bombers to begin firing torpedoes, Interceptors are to prioritize targets, trying to intercept the torpedoes if possible, if not they are to concentrate on the command vessels.”

“Yes sir.”

“NOW.”

“Aye sir!” the squadron commander snapped and turned instantly opening a channel to his squadrons.

Thrawn walked quickly back up from the crew bays and looked back out at the battle that had degenerated into a twisted brawl.

“Status.” he snapped.

“The Punisher and Bloodwind have been disabled, damage to Bloodwind may be severe enough to force us to scuttle her.” Thrawn’s eyes narrowed on Jerjerrod. “The Federation remnant cleared the first line of the right wing but the second and third lines are now engaging with ion cannons.”

“Sir! The Impenetrable’s shield grid is down!” someone reported loudly.

“Piett, where is my jamming?” Thrawn hissed.

“Perhaps I can help motivate your crew?” Vader suggested.






“Look out Vigilance, he’s on to you!” Durant warned.

The Galaxy class ship swept up the axis of the Victory class stardestroyer Impenetrable unleashing a volley of transphasic torpedoes at the shield generators. The Victory caught sight of the Shadowfleet vessel’s appearance the moment it began her attack run and unleashed a volley from her turbolaser batteries.

The Vigilance was caught be several blasts, one of which was a direct impact on her saucer section. The armor gave way, imploding inward through the saucer section in a blast of fire and plasma. The saucer buckled and slowly came away from the main body of the starship, skipping off the Impenetrable shields for a moment, but then the transphasic torpedoes struck the shield generators, exploding with devastating effectiveness. The vessel was suffused by a brief flickering as shields went down through much of the ship. The saucer section’s last bounce would have been redirected away into space by the ship’s shield grid, no longer impeded by the shield the runaway burning saucer section, trailing broken armor and the corpses of shattered androids crashed head long into the Impenetrable’s bridge.

The impact tore the bridge loose from its foundation on the bridge tower and both ruined saucer section and bridge fell backwards down the bridge tower and away into the heavy ion backwash of the ship’s engines.

“Give her a once over as we pass, fleet we have a light at the end of the tunnel.”

“Copy that sir, warp drive is warming up.”

The Shadowfleet passed over the Impenetrable, firing a shower of phaser fire and quantum torpedoes at the naked hull of the warship. Huge gouts were torn in its armored hide, many gun emplacements picked off by concentrated phaser fore from several starships as they passed.

“Prepare to got to warp.”

“Sir?” his android XO’s face betrayed confusion, his eyes blinking in rapid succession and strange noises were emanating from within its chest.

“What’s the matter?” Durant asked suddenly concerned by his android XO’s confusion.

An Akira class starship suddenly clipped the ends of an Excelsior class’s nacelles. The Akira spun wildly out of control and struck a Nebula broadside. The Akira imbedded itself in the side of the larger starship and both vessels slowed down considerably.

“What the hell?!”

The Excelsior nearly flipped end over end and could not avoid the heavy flak from a passing Strike cruiser, exploding as she was neatly bisected by several turbolaser blasts.

“Fleet command, my androids are freaking out!”

“Sir, crew is under some sort of attack.”

“Hold on! Damnit I’m taking control of the helm.”

“Wait a minute damnit!” Durant began as a Galaxy class cruiser lumbered straight across the path of a darting steamrunner. It ran right into the Galaxy’s saucer section, exploding into debris, the heavily damaged Galaxy class ship continued flying erratically. “Wait a minute, this is fleet command, all maneuvers have been calculated to be flown by androids. We need to switch to manual if you’re going to fly your ships and break formation immediately before—”

A Sovereign class cruiser bumped the Bunker Hill sending the huge dreadnought into a different flight path, right into a damaged Miranda. The Miranda was cut in half by the enormous warship and exploded as it passed on through the cloud of fire.

“Compensate!”

“We are…experiencing…communications…disruption. Attempting to switch…over channels.” his XO reported with a slight stutter.

Durant’s eyes widened as he instantly deduced what had happened.

“All ships, the Imperials have managed to jam the hyperlink between our androids. They’re positronic network was not designed to function on an individual basis They NEED the network to function properly. Have all androids switch over frequencies immediately and get us clear of this now!”

A scream broke though the com as a Galaxy class exploded under heavy fire. Ion cannon fire was striking several of the ships and electricity arced through the bridge of one ship, consuming several androids in a violent blast of ionized particles.

“We’re losing control.”

“Emergency warp core ejection underway.”

“Fleet command, my entire crew has just been downed by heavy ion fire, advise please.”

Durant ran his right hand through his hair as he watched the fleet falling apart around him.

“It sure as hell wasn’t supposed to end this way.” he muttered as the Bunker Hill was struck by an ion cannon blast. Hungry bluish lightning erupted up from one of the bridge stations striking the android crewmen and it exploded, its torso gone, leaving only the legs and waist still calmly seated at its station.

“All fleet elements, we are in condition Custer, repeat Condition Custer. All units break formation and try to get out of here.” The Shadowfleet’s way of saying every man for himself.

Durant didn’t know if his men had heard him, there was nothing but appalling static on the com. He stared around for a moment and his eyes settled on his XO. He launched himself from his command seat and grabbed a firm hold of his XO by the shoulders.

“Reset all subsystems, command priority alpha.”

“Acknowledged.”

His XO closed his eyes and stiffened for a moment and opened his eyes again.

“I am better.”

“Get us out of here now!” he shoved the android to the helm as he stalked over to the nav station, shoving the stunned android out of its station and entered a course.

“We are having trouble establishing a warp shell.”

“Bullshit, you get us to warp or we’re all dead.”

“I am not alive.” his XO replied.

Durant blinked. Smoke filled the bridge of his starship, his dying starship, he could hear explosions down below decks. He stared at the android as on the screen several of his ships flashed into pseudo motion and vanished.

Durant began to laugh, softly at first and then more loudly.

The utter irony of it all. They had placed their fate into the hands of the androids they had built and made into the prefect soldiers. Now, they were faced with their Achilles heel, one that no other foe that the Shadowfleet had ever faced had been able to exploit, a fatal flaw that not even Durant had ever seen coming.

He laughed harder as another explosion rocked his ship and an ion cannon blast struck the dreadnought head on. Blue lightning cascaded down around them and his XO was caught in a tendril, it lanced through his chest and the android seemed to dance in his chair as the lightning arced through him.

Durant’s eyes widened and he pointed at the android laughing harder.

The android exploded and Durant was knocked off his chair onto his back as the lights went out on his bridge. He could almost feel the ship dipping forward in the pit of his belly.

“Warning, explosive decompression in decks 5 through 9.” a calm computer voice spoke in the darkness.

“How fucking cliché can you get!” Durant roared with laughter.

The ship was definitely pitching forward now and he heard another explosion rip through the bowels of his ship and Durant finally brought himself under control.

“Computer.” he stated gravely, wiping a tear of laughter form his eye. “Initiate destruct sequence.”

“Unable to comply. Main control interfaces have been neutralized by highly charged particle stream.”

Durant stared into the darkness, lit briefly by an exploding counsel.

“Never rains but it pours they say.” he said to no one in particular. He slowly drew his phaser.

“Tell me everything you know about transphasic torpedoes.” he said in a mock English accent.

“I won’t tell you anything Imperial scum.” he replied in own voice sharp with defiance as he examined the power setting.

“We have ways of making you talk.” He said in the English accent.

“I’ve been trained to resist torture, so saw away buddy.” he replied in his own voice as he nodded with satisfaction and brought the phaser up to his temple.

“Lord Nemesis will make you talk, Federation scum.”

“Hmmm…can’t say I’ve been trained to resist supernatural powers.”

“You WILL talk.” Durant held the phaser rigidly against his temple as he stared into the darkness.

“How FUCKING fitting. I die in the dark.” he whispered and fired.







“It is over.” Thrawn stared as he watched the last of the Shadow vessels destroyed or disabled.

“Several vessels did escape sir.” Piett noted with a frown.

Thrawn nodded. “It could not be helped Admiral. Such is war. We must simply accept that fact and to be comforted by the thought that merely a handful escaped to tell the rest of the Federation remnant that they were massacred.”

“It did not have to end that way.” Vader intoned.

“No, it most certainly did not. And I know precisely what I have to do. Lord Vader accompany me, we are going to pay Grand Admiral Kittaine a visit.”

‘As you wish.”





He dreamt of machines. Machines everywhere, crawling under his skin, in his eyes. The soft hum of a microlaser as it cut into his—Picard sat up in the bed with a shout of surprise and anger. he stopped himself short as he quickly realized he had been sleeping.

The door to his quarters chimed.

“Come.” he said softly as he shook his head and cleared his mind of the nightmare.

The doors hissed open and Captain Archer poked his head in.

“Captain Picard. It’s her alright. She’s finally stopped way the hell out in a sector we’re never charted deep outside of Borg space.”

Picard nodded.

“Yes, Captain. And she is waiting for us.” Picard noted grimly as he heard her soft laugh in his head.

“Let’s finish this.” Archer urged.

Picard sighed softly as he rose form his bed.

“Either way, Captain, this will be the end. The question will be for whom.”

“I think I know the answer.” Archer replied with a wolfish grin. He slapped the doorway and quickly walked back out.

Picard stared at his hand for a moment, the hand that moments ago he thought had been a claw.

“I think I do as well.” he whispered.

[Soontir C'boath]

Whoo hoo First to post
Great ending by Thrawn in that battle Stravo. You hooked me all the way through with the achillis*sp* heel and....Kittaine............

Cyaround,
Jason

[Darth Fanboy]

Fucking awesome battle, Someone needs to pay this guy to do this.

However 've got some complaints, minor though they may be.

“Have a care Admiral, I sense other agendas at work here.” Vader hissed cautiously.

Vader would never say have a care, and i'm sure he wouldn't really Hiss either. Its part of the Vader mystique that he uses so well. Commanding voice, speking down towards those too weak to know the force, towering above his subordinates. Never allowing his words to shake that presence, never slipping into informal dialogue.

“Perhaps I can help motivate your crew?” Vader suggested.

This is a great line, but would have been better as a statement. I can actually hear James Earl Jones saying it. "Perhaps I (emphasis here) can help motivate your crew." The Dark Lord of the Sith need not ask questions.

[Captain Cyran]

Wow, I wasn't EXACTLY expecting that ending for the Shadow Fleet. Wow, awesome battle.

Looks like Kitaine has underestimated Thrawn, and he will pay for that...

[Grand Admiral Thrawn]

FIRING SQUAD!

[Mitth`raw`nuruodo]

Nice, nice. I thought Durant's suicide could have been better though ("I'll never talk!!!). I liked the battle, seemed like the Shadowfleet almost had a chance there for a few seconds .

[Kuja]

“We are in agreement, Lord Vader. Now we will teach them what the full might of the Empire means.” Thrawn promised and turned to Piett. “Commence fire, all batteries. No finesse, no maneuvers, blast them to oblivion.”

The most chilling paragraph in the chapter. Aboslutely perfect.

[consequences]

*plays Taps*

[Pcm979]

Me like!!

[Rightous Fist Of Heaven]

A friggin excellent chapter. Tried to decide what music would fit reading this the best, ended up with Nightwish Walking In the Air Somehow listening music while reading gives the story more dramatic edge.

So Kittaine gave the Shadowfleet an avenue of escape, ofcourse he was right to do it because Thrawn will be all over the Imperium's neck when all other resistance has been destroyed.
Somehow i have the feeling that Thrawn's and Kittaine's meeting will not
have a warm athmosphere