Stellar_Magic

It didn't all fit! I guess we'll just have to keep doing it the old fashioned way.

Perhaps by doing this I can show you the problem with doing the one post and constant updates route... Here's everything I've written and posted for SW vs ST in one post Star Trek: Voyager From Myths to Legend Silently the ship glided through space. The flashes of ion storms in a nearby nebula illuminated its glistening grey surface. The dim red and blue pulse of the ship’s drives gave the vessel a ghostly appearance as it passed through the shadow of a small moon. On the ship’s compact bridge Captain Janeway sat sipping a cup of coffee as her crew worked. Ahead on the viewer, she could see light glinting off tumbling asteroids. The rings around the planet were spectacular and reflected light like small mirrors as their components spun through space. Commander Tuvok, the dark skinned Vulcan officer glanced up as a series of electronic alarms went off from his console, “Captain, I’m picking up a signal, in the subspace band, I can’t make it out.” “The signal seems to be in a holographic format,” Ensign Kim said as he began to analyze the signal, “I’m compressing it to two dimensional and routing to the view screen.” A voice shot from the comm, but only static appeared on the view screen, “This is the New Republic Transport Jade Scimitar to any ships in range, requesting emergency assistance…Repeating this is the Jade Scimitar…” Janeway glanced at the ensign, “Can you clean it up any?” “Negative Captain, there is too much interference, I’ve plotted the transmission’s source. It’s coming from just inside the nebula sir.” “Tom, set course for that distress call,” Janeway answered. She turned to the blond woman that sat beside her over the sensor displays, “Seven, what can you make of the nebula?” “This nebula has never been catalogued by any borg expedition. It has an unusually large concentration of tachyon and graviton particles.” Seven of nine stiffened slightly, “I’m picking up the ship. It’s just within visual range.” “On screen,” Janeway turned to the display and saw the screen flash to show a scarred vessel. A large bulb shot forward and a pair of steel wings shot around the bulb. Behind the bulb the ship flared outward and a pair of ring shaped surfaces were visible on its ventral side. The ship kept flaring outward and a bulb shaped turret was visible at its center. The ship curved outward into a pair of wings with a nest of six ion engines in between them. “I’m picking up a number of energy traces on the ship’s hull, and excessive residue of neutrinos would indicate a large energy wake has affected the vessel. Plasma burns are scattered across the hull. I’m not detecting any kind of warp field or warp core captain, their primary source of propulsion appear to be some form of Ion Drive,” Tuvok reported as he finished his scan. “How’d it get out here?” Lieutenant Tom Paris asked from the helm. “That’s not important at the moment, life signs?” Janeway asked turning to Seven of Nine. “Captain I’m picking up three, all human.” Seven looked up at Janeway, her expression slightly puzzled. “Hail them,” Janeway said swiftly. Seven pushed a button, “Waiting for response. They’re trying to open a channel, were synchronizing, there connection established.” The view screen flared to life and a middle aged blond man sat in front of the monitor He seemed to be leaning back to look up at the projector. Janeway stood in the center of the bridge to make herself easily visible, “This is Captain Janeway of the Federation starship Voyager to unknown vessel do you require assistance.” The man smiled slightly then stopped, “Federation? You don’t recognize our vessel, which Federation are you talking about?” He craned back and yelled to someone off screen, “Mara, get our location off the nav computer.” Janeway looked left and right to the other bridge members they looked as confused as she was, “Uh, captain this is the USS Voyager of the United Federation of Planets. I ask again, do you require assistance?” “The nav computer say’s we’re off near Wayland, Luke, but the stars don’t match up exactly,” A voice answered Luke from off screen. “Stand bye, Voyager, we’re running a diagnostic, could you do a sensor sweep of the area for us…” Janeway threw up her hands, she’d never found herself dealing with people like these, “Seven run a sensor sweep.” Seven seemed to straighten, “Captain we’re picking up a pair of small contacts closing fast.” “Captain, do you have anyone pursuing you?” Janeway said as she dropped down into the command chair. “Negative Voyager, we’ve just picked up the contacts, looks like a pair of Skipray Blastboats, should be friendly, Alliance craft,” The man said slowly. Janeway watched as he expertly checked the systems on the craft. Luke glanced back up at the monitor, “We’re shutting down for a diagnostic, stand by…” The image winked off to be replaced by the image of a pair of small vessels closing on the damaged ship. “I am detecting increased residue on the hulls of these vessels as well captain,” Tuvok proclaimed as he diligently scanned the ships. Suddenly a blaze of green and blue pulse weapons fire leapt between the two new ships and the original damaged vessel. Suddenly a voice snapped onto the comm, “Captain we’re under attack requesting immediate assistance!!!” Janeway watched as the original ship’s drive lit and the vessel made a swift roll to expose what little shields it had onboard. Janeway saw the Skipray Blastboats clearly now, their curving forward fuselage and cross shaped profile. She saw that one of them was now boring down on them, “Yellow alert, hail those ships.” “No, response,” Paris said from his post. Suddenly Janeway saw the flashes of light that were the weapons of the Skipray firing. “Red alert, engage those ships, attack pattern delta four,” Janeway ordered swiftly. She felt the thump of weapons fire impacting the shields. The original vessel suddenly blazed into sight, a flaming projectile shot into the Skipray which detonated in a shower of debris and sparks. Janeway turned to tom, “Fire on the other ship!” The glistening solid red blast of the phaser shot smashed through the forward shielding of the Blastboat. After a few seconds it had born completely through the ship and out the other side leaving an empty hulk tumbling through space. “The ship is hailing us,” Seven said from her post. Janeway laid a finger under her chin, “On screen.” Luke was leaning back in his seat, “Thanks for the assistance, Voyager, my ship…” From off the screen came a second voice, “Our ship.” “Is badly damaged, our life support is failing and our hyperdrive is damaged,” Luke said slowly. “We could transport you aboard our ship, give you whatever parts you need for repairs, our technology and yours may be very different mind you,” Janeway answered swiftly. “Alright Captain, we’ll be waiting.” “Prepare to beam them aboard,” Janeway turned to the others around her, “Cancel red alert.” “Beam, what do you mean?” Luke suddenly disappeared as the blue lines closed around him. Janeway stood and walked out of the bridge and onto the turbolift, “Transporter room.” * * * Luke gave a quick breath as he saw the room materialize before him. Slowly he stretched out with his senses, and there in front of him were a pair of crewman wearing those simplistic jumpsuits. He felt a warm hand tug at his arm and turned to see Mara standing there next to him. She smiled faintly at him and gripped Ben’s hand. He smiled sheepishly at her touch as the doors in the corner of the room slid open. The woman he’d talked to earlier stepped into the bridge. She suddenly stopped and starred at Mara. Luke heard Mara’s sharp intake of breath, suddenly Luke realized something that had been nagging at him since he’d first scene the woman Janeway. In every way, but the eyes, she and Mara looked identical. After a moment the woman glanced at Ben who was gripping Mara’s legs frightened, “It’ll be alright.” She glanced at the two of them, “My name is Kathryn Janeway, I’m captain of Voyager, are any of you injured.” “Just some scratches,” Luke answered swiftly. He shrugged, “I’m Luke Skywalker, this is my wife Mara, and our son Ben.” “Well our doctor can fix those rather quickly,” Janeway held up a hand, “If you’d turn over any weapons you are carrying I’ll take you to sick bay.” Mara sighed and pulled of her holstered DL-44, “Alright, I suppose we can ease your paranoia.” She tossed the holstered pistol to one of the guards. Luke drew his lightsaber and handed it to Janeway. Janeway hesitantly took it and glanced at the second device that was strapped to Mara’s hip, “What about yours?” Mara bit her lip and took the saber from her belt and handed it to Janeway, “Satisfied?” “Yes,” Kathryn Janeway answered as she turned to led them out of the room. She led them threw the plain halls of the Starship and to the pair of nondescript doors identical to all the others around the ship. Slowly she waved them. Luke froze as he entered the room, there was a slightly balding man standing before him, dressed in a black and blue jumpsuit. Luke realized that there was nothing there, a void in his perceptions. Slowly Mara reached toward the saber Janeway held in her hand. It leapt with shocking speed from her hand and into Mara’s. With a snap hiss the lightsaber ignited and Mara pointed it toward the doctor, “You’re not human?” The doctor lifted his hands in surprise, “Not really, no.” “Lower your weapon, he’s a hologram,” Janeway bellowed as she drew her phaser. Mara’s eyes glanced from the doctor to Janeway’s hard stare and slowly she lowered the saber. “Of course you wouldn’t have been able to damage me, and I am after all a hologram,” the doctor said as the saber disappeared. Mara arched an eyebrow, “You might be surprised.” Kathryn held out a hand and plucked the saber from Mara’s hands, “I can’t have you waving weapons around my ship.” Only then did Kathryn’s attention turn to the young boy next to Mara. She smiled slightly at the boy, who grinned back, on glancing back at Mara Janeway found those green eyes staring back at her. Once again Janeway was shocked by the similarity of their features. Slowly she pulled the doctor aside, “I want you to do a genetic scan on them, check it with our records.” “What should I be looking for?” “Just find out who they are,” Kathryn answered and then walked out of the room. * * * Mara watched the Captain leave, and felt uncomfortable as the doctor held a scanner next to her, “Great, from running from the Rapora to this, what next?” Luke slowly shook his head, “I know Mara, but what are we suppose to do?” He sighed, “We’re unknown to these people how can we expect them to trust us?” Mara nodded slowly as Ben climbed up onto one of the beds, “I suppose you’re right, and the Captain, she’s just as irritating as I am isn’t she.” “Irritating isn’t the word I’d choose,” The doctor remarked as he scanned Mara. Suddenly he stopped, “Interesting, you’re generating an electromagnetic field.” “I am,” Mara asked surprised. Slowly the doctor walked over to Ben and scanned him for a moment then proceeded to Luke. “You’re all generating an electro-magnetic field. I’ve never seen that before in humans,” The Doctor said slowly. Slowly the doctor walked over to a microscope and put a strand of hair that he’d found while examining Mara under the microscope, “Hmmm… All life forms contain tiny magnets that are usually arranged half hazard the body, you on the other hand.” The Doctor straightened, “Your cellular magnets are arranged tip to tip, like your whole body now generates an electrical field.” Luke looked over at Mara, “Miticlorians…those are the magnets he’s talking about.” Mara nodded, “I see where this is going.” Suddenly Ben jumped into her lap, “Hi.” Ben smiled at Mara, “Mom, where are we…” “I’m not sure,” Mara answered plainly. * * * Janeway wandered around her desk and stopped by the viewport, “Computer, search archives for a Luke Skywalker.” “Searching…no pertinent material found, expand search to all archives?” “Expand search,” Janeway said as she picked a coffee cup from her desk and took a sip, it was still warm from the replicator. “Multiple matches found, source, literature, cultural, and film files…” “Doing a little research are we?” An all too familiar voice asked from behind Janeway. Janeway spun to see the middle aged man standing there in a standard red and black Starfleet uniform. “Q, don’t tell me you’re behind this?” Janeway asked as she recognized the visitor. “Me, I’m afraid I’m just an observer, the continuum sent me to investigate,” Q said flatly as he dropped himself into one of the chairs and put his boots on the desk. Janeway arched an eyebrow as she glanced at the search results, “Fictional references…” She slowly leaned forward, “Alright Q, what is going on here?” “I have no idea, I do recall a little incident with a child similar to this but…I can’t recall why it reminds me of Trelane,” Q said slowly then a smirk crossed his face, “An interesting quandary, but as Einstein said God does not play dice, there must be a reason behind this.” “You probably met the man,” Janeway said flatly. Q grinned again, “I got his autograph, want to see?” Janeway just rolled her eyes. “Well if you really want to know, I think we’re seeing the result of a very rare natural phenomena.” “Please Q, what did you do?” “Me, nothing, or at least the me that exists in this reality didn’t do anything,” Q said swiftly. As he finished a series of alarms ran through the cabin. Janeway was through the door as the call went through the ship, “Unknown ship entering sensor range.” She stopped in front of the command chair as the ship appeared on the view screen. It was a small ship only couple dozen meters in diameter. Janeway looked over to Ensign Kim leaning over the sensor readings, “They haven’t detected us yet.” “That won’t stay true for long,” Kathryn Janeway said swiftly. * * * Mara glanced up from the doctor as the lights suddenly dimmed and a series of red lights light up the consoles in the sick bay. The doctor frowned and tapped the comm badge at his chest, “Captain what’s going on?” “Doctor, bring our guests to the bridge,” The Captain answered across the comm channel. Mara stood and took Ben’s hand, “What next?” Luke frowned slightly and concentrated, “I can sense something a familiar mind…I think I know who it is.” “Who?” Mara asked flatly as the doctor lead them through the door and down the hall. With a hiss the doors of the turbolift opened and they stepped inside. The Doctor spoke swiftly, “Bridge.” “Lets just say that I hope Han was right about his change in heart,” Luke said slowly as the doors hissed open. Luke stepped out of the turbolift and stopped as he saw the image on the view screen. There a familiar faceless figure was framed in the center of the screen. Mara was faster on her wits than Luke once again, “I’ll be a hutt, its Boba Fett.” “Hello Jade, Master Skywalker I was told I could find you near Wayland.” The armored man answered slowly. He seemed slightly edgy, unnerve, “There has been a large bounty placed on your head Skywalker, if I didn’t have as much respect for you as I do, I would have taken the job.” Luke stopped to think, Boba Fett respected him? It seemed a strange turn of events, “You don’t have a spare hyperdrive do you Fett?” “I’m afraid not Skywalker, I’d be willing to guard your ship for the time being but I’m critically short on supplies…” Janeway glanced between the two foreigners, “I’d be willing to provide supplies.” “Thank you Captain, if you’ll open up your hangar bay I’ll be willing to dock.” * * * Belana Tores ran a hand through her thick hair as she finished the final repairs to the Delta Flyer. Slowly she pulled herself out of the ship as the doors to the rear of the ship slowly opened. She turned to see a large vessel slowly move to enter. It dipped beneath the hangar entrance and seemed to be standing on its tail as it settled to the floor. Slowly a pair of doors beneath the beam of the ship slid open and a man descended the platform with a pair of blaster pistols. The doors for the bay slid open and a pair of gold clad guards slipped into the bay followed by Captain Janeway and a pair of people she didn’t recognize along with a five year old child. Slowly Belana walked over to the Captain as the armored clad man walked to them. The man with blond hair spoke softly, “If you want to take his weapons you’ll want the whole suite.” “I’ll keep that in mind,” Janeway answered the blond then turned to the armored man, “I’m afraid you won’t be able to keep your weapons while you’re onboard.” With a hiss Q wandered into the shuttle bay, “Captain let me handle this, Mandalorians can be as tough to get along with as Klingons.” The armored man didn’t move, “Have the Jedi given up their arms?” Janeway nodded and the mandalorian lifted his hands to the helmet and tugged it off his head, “I will give up mine as well then.” The face that had been beneath the helmet was pockmarked and scarred but undeniably human. Belana felt herself breath in a sharp intake of breath. A tattoo topped one of the eyes and the face without the scars was undeniably familiar, Chekotay’s. Q cocked his head at the Mandalore, “I’m surprised you gave up your arms so easily, Boba.” The man lifted a gauntleted hand, “Wait you’re Q.” Luke and Mara turned to stair at Q who seemed staggered by the remark, “Uh, yes…” He glanced to the others around them, “Have we met before?” “You certainly seemed to know him,” Janeway observed swiftly. “It comes from spending too much time in the twentieth century, George Lucas sure got his money’s worth out of those films,” Q said swiftly. It was obvious to all that he was on the defensive, “Alright, I have a rather large collection of Star Wars merchandise.” Mara and Luke looked at each other obviously confused. Slowly Q lowered his hands and exhaled, “I don’t know how to put this but…in this reality Luke, Mara, and even you Boba are all fiction.” “They seem real enough to me,” Belana retorted at the two of them. Slowly the others nodded. Q shook his head, “Fine, I’ll be leaving you can figure this out by yourselves.” He snapped his fingers and disappeared in a flash. Luke and Mara looked at each other, “Who was that anyway?” Boba turned to Luke and Mara, “Thirty years back the Empire hired me to capture a man named Q. It turned out he was some sort of super being, able to travel through time and space at his own will.” He shrugged, “That had been quite a change but I never caught him, I told the Imps that they could try themselves, they’d fail of course but.” The man cracked a faint smile, “You have to wonder how he does that.” “We’ve encountered Q once or top, he causes trouble and leaves,” Janeway shrugged slightly then smiled, “He’s got a son now and tried to romance me once…just typical Q antics.” As she finished her comm badge went off, “Janeway here.” “Come to sick bay as quick as you can, you might want to see this.” Janeway tapped her comm badge, “On my way.” * * * The Doctor was leaning over the results as Janeway entered. He glanced up at her then handed her a data pad, “The results of the genetic comparison.” “Give me the short version doctor.” “Well you and Mara share almost all the same genetic code. There are only two strands that are different,” The doctor answered quickly. Janeway skimmed the data pad, “What do the stands control.” “One controls eye color, Mara’s are green after all. The other, I can’t identify it doesn’t exist in any other now DNA sequence of a human being, except for her companions.” Janeway stopped then shrugged, “Great, anything else unusual?” “Yes, they’re generating an electromagnetic field. I did a brain wave scan and found activity in areas that normally don’t have it,” The doctor added to his analyses. * * * Janeway stepped into the galley in time to see the pair of older robed people sitting side beside at a table. She stopped as she saw something that couldn’t be there floating in the center of the table was a cylinder spinning slowly above the table. Slowly the cylinder stopped its spin and settled down onto the table. Mara unscrewed the cap and poured a cup of coffee. She set the thermos down and took a sip from the cup, “Reminds me of café.” Janeway walked over to the pair and picked up the thermos, “What did you two just do?” “I didn’t do it,” Mara said slowly and glanced at Ben who was sitting at the end of the table. The child smiled slightly, “I did it.” Janeway arched an eyebrow, “So how’d you do it?” “You’re doctor can probably offer a scientific explanation but, we call it using the force. Basically, I guess from what we heard the doctor say, our body’s can manipulate electromagnetic fields. We can move with our mind anything that has any sort of magnetic portion,” Luke explained. He took a pebble from his pocket and set it down on the table, “This pebble is made out of sandstone but through the force I can…” The pebble rose from the table and began to slowly spin. “So that’s how Mara got her weapon from me earlier,” Janeway said flatly. “Yes, those of us that are force strong can do tons of things normal people can’t do,” Mara said simply. She folded her hands slowly, “The force binds the universe technology, you me, Boba, this ship, they all exist in the force to a greater or lesser extent.” “Ah Jedi philosophy,” Q appeared in a flash of light right behind the two jedi. “Hello Q, you sure ran out rather quickly,” Mara retorted as she noticed the man. “Perceptive and abrasive, I see my first impression was right about you Jade,” Q replied swiftly. He smiled, “I thought you might want to know an old friend just entered this region of space…” “Old friend,” Mara asked surprised. “Does the name Mit’thrawn’nurodo mean anything to you?” Luke felt his veins turn icy, “Thrawn, in this section of space.” “Remember he is on the Chiss’s side, what could he gain by attacking us?” Mara tried to calm her husband. “Mara would be right except for one little detail,” Q said grinning. Mara frowned, “What would that be?” Q folded his arms and leaned back smiling, “He may be friendly now but this Thrawn.” Q laughed deviously, “This Thrawn is from the era you’d worse fear.” * * * The dagger shaped ship shot from the pulsing gold colored rip in space. The nebula around the ship seemed to bend toward the rip. The ship was followed seconds later by more ships. Dozens of small bar shaped vessels. A handful of small dagger shaped ships that’s side split into wings. But in the center of the group was two more of the large dagger shaped ships. On the vessel’s bridge a pale faced aging officer stared down into the crew pit, “What happened?” “Captain, we seemed to have been caught in some sort of temporal rift, it dumped the whole fleet out of hyperspace,” That was the ship’s science officer, but more over it was the lone scientific mind on the vessel. The older officer leaned over the crew pit gazing at the groups of officer working at their stations, “Any damage?” “Negative captain, no damage or injuries reported.” The doors at the back of the bridge slowly slid open and the sound of booted feet approaching filled the captain’s ears with dread. He turned to navigation station, “Navigation can you plot our position?” “Negative captain, I did a star position once we went through, the stars are close to where they should be but they don’t perfectly match. If we jump the chances of us hitting a gravity well must be considered,” The chief navigator replied. He sounded tired and worried as he should be. “Captain Pellaeon, your report,” A soft voice mused from behind him. The older man slowly turned to the blue skinned and white clad admiral, “Admiral, we don’t know what happened, it’s like everything has been changed slightly, our hyperspace calculations are off, the stars are out of position, and I don’t remember a nebula anywhere near Wayland.” The Admiral nodded, “This is unforeseen, have there been any transmissions holo comm or otherwise?” “Negative, we did pick up the delayed echo of a distress call but haven’t been able to decipher it to much interference.” “Alright Captain, set course for the nearest star system, we’ll gather there and try to figure out what has happened,” The blue skinned alien answered. “Yes Admiral Thrawn, it will be as you command.” Pellaeon replied then turned to the crew pit, “You heard them set course for the nearest star system.” * * * “Who is Thrawn?” Kathryn Janeway asked leaning across the table. “Mit’thrawn’nurodo, or Thrawn is an Imperial Grand Admiral, a leader who can tailor his attacks to the psychology of his foes, he came up with some of the most convoluted plots I’ve ever seen,” Mara said slowly she smiled slightly, “The results weren’t all bad though.” Q smiled at the two of them, “So you never figured out how he knew the physiology of his opponents did you? He studies their artwork.” Luke arched an eyebrow, “Well that may explain a lot.” Janeway smiled, “Well he’s on his own out here, and a couple of the races don’t even have artwork, the Borg, species 8472, and a couple others.” “Somehow I think there are fewer problems with that then you think,” Mara said quietly. Suddenly an alarm went off and the panels turned red, the lights dimming. Janeway tapped her comm badge, “Bridge what’s going on?” “Captain we’ve picked up several Borg ships, three cubes, moving fast at transwarp speeds.” “Are they slowing?” “Negative captain, they just exited our sensor range,” Ensign Kim replied across the link. Q smiled, “The Borg would certainly want to add Thrawn’s distinctiveness too their own.” * * * Captain Dorja clasped his hands behind his back as his ship slid through space. On either side of him crewmen worked swiftly. To Dorja it was the constant bustle of ship at work. Still his calculating mind was perplexed by recent events; there had been no holo communications, no calls for help, no updates from imperial intelligence, to him the silence of the galaxy around him was most unwelcome. “Captain, I’m picking up distant contacts, closing fast,” The sensor operator said as a light flashed on his board. “Deploy the task force, defensive alert.” “Contacts resolving, unknown configuration, entering visual range,” The operator added. His voice slightly more excited then usual. Dorja let it go as he saw the first ship through the view ports. An enormous vessel that was over twice as large as his ship slowed and stop with speed he’d never seen before. It was an enormous cube that slowly spun through space, glancing to his side Dorja saw another ship just as large and then another. He starred for a moment before ordering, “Tactical analysis.” “I’m getting large energy reading and couple emplacements that might be weapon systems. Allot more energy then needed for those batteries they probably have some sort of other weapon system,” The sensor operator injected. “They’re hailing us, audio only.” The voice that came across the speakers seemed to be the synthetic merger of thousands of versions, “We are the Borg, lower your shields and surrender your ships, we will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own; your culture will learn to serve as us. Resistance is futile.” Dorja looked around at the crew members. Several had stood to get a look at the enormous ship that sat in front of them. There were whispers among them about their situation. Slowly he turned to the tactical officer, “Battle alert. Ready all weapons.” The ship suddenly lurched as a green beam engulfed it from the first Borg cube. “We’re in some sort of tractor beam,” The tactical officer announced. Dorja keyed the intercom, “Pilots to your stations!” With a flip of a switch Dorja cut the comm and turned to the weapons officer, “Target that beam and destroy it!” The deck began to dully thump as a turbolaser cluster fired. Its emerald beam sliced into the corner of the cube and the beam disappeared. “Good shooting weapons…” Suddenly the beam restarted and Dorja looked on in disbelief. “Sir, they seem to have near instantaneous repair ability,” The sensor operator reported. The communications officer turned to Dorja, “Captain Arden of Serpent’s Hiss requests permission to engage.” Dorja nodded to the communications officer, “Inform the task force their free to engage.” He turned back toward the hovering cube, “Gun’s fire at will.” The Imperial II Star Destroyer Relentless fired its forward batteries delivering an enormous amount of fire upon the Cube. Green flashes from ignited atmosphere flashed across the hull. Pieces and debris began to separate from its outer hull. The Cube retaliated letting loose with all its weapons. The blaze of green bolts flashed between ships reflected against the grey hull of Imperial Star Destroyer Serpent’s Hiss as it glide between two of the cubes firings with all its weapons. The blaze of green flames emitted from the sides of both cubes. Suddenly a volley of bright green torpedoes launched from both cubes at once. A brilliant green beam locked onto the ship and began to push it forward. The Borg had figured that if they could force it to use only is stern weapon’s they’d have an advantage. Dorja turned to the communications officer, “All ships are to concentrate on freeing the Serpent’s Hiss.” Dorja watched as a lancer frigate sped in delivering a stream of green blasts that smashed into the beam system which quickly was blasted into molten metal. Dorja turned to the Flight officer, “Launch all fighters!” * * * Flight Lieutenant John Lukas strapped into the small compact TIE cockpit and gazed out into the blink red hall that was the TIE launch system. Ahead he saw the blast doors slid open and the launch rack lower a fellow pilot into space. With a scream the ship sped out into space. Slowly John felt his ship move forward above the launch doors. With a clacking sound he felt the rack lower him into the fiery realm of space. With a thump he was free. He punched the throttle forward and looked up and gasped at what he saw. A trio of enormous cubes were trading blasts and firing beam shots at a pair of Imperial Star Destroyers. Slowly John keyed his comm to the squadron frequency, “Kilo squadron, you’re to conduct strafing runs on those vessels.” John nodded; he knew that those ships seemed to be a threat, the only threat. He twisted his TIE fighter onto an attack vector on one of the Cubes. Glancing to his sides he saw the rest of his squadron forming up for the run. Suddenly a blast shot into the middle of the formation, two TIEs exploded instantly. John felt an icy fist of fear grip his heart as he watched another series of beam blasts cut down two more fighters. He gritted his teeth as the targeting computer calculated showed that he was in range. Pulling his triggers he saw his blasts hit home against the ship’s hull. John pulled away from the cube as a series of green pulse blasts shot past his cockpit. * * * Dorja frowned at the confused space between the craft that were engaged. Suddenly a series of glistening green torpedoes shot toward a cruiser. Within seconds they hit the ships hull but nothing happened. Suddenly one of the comm officers looked up, “Captain we’ve just lost contact with the Carrack Cruiser Cruel Redoubt!” Dorja watched as the ship tumbled through space. What had happened? * * * “TK-897 report,” The helmet spoke in his ear. The trooper could barely hear the call through the blaring of alarms and hiss of steam from several points. Suddenly the alarms cut off and the rumble of turbolaser fire cut off. The trooper picked himself off the deck and glanced at the battered turbolaser station he’d been guarding. Slowly Benjamin Hammer shook his head as he looked toward the hall, “I’m alright.” He glanced at the status readout for the Carrack and saw it suddenly shimmer and change to a seemingly random series of glyphs. There was a hiss and the trooper turned to see the green sparkling effect of Borg Transporters as three of the burly foes suddenly appeared before him. Benjamin lifted his blaster and fired catching the first Borg in its chest bringing it to the ground, “Intruder alert!” Ben caught a good look at the grayed skin and dark black armor and implants of the second Borg before he fired again. The blast burned away the Borg’s neck and dropped it to the ground. Ben fired on the final Borg and watched in horror as the bolt glanced off a shimmering shield that suddenly appeared and impacted a bulkhead. Benjamin had never seen a foe like this before and even with all his Stormtrooper training began to feel fear. He drew a vibroblade from its sheath and advanced on the Borg he struck forward and saw the Borg catch his armored wrist. Suddenly he felt a pair of pricks through the black material that guarded his neck. Ben collapsed to the floor and rolled over as he closed his eyes he heard a woman’s voice, “Come to perfection…Eight of Nine.” As he blacked out he felt his emotions, his pain, his name all fade away and were replaced with a strange sense of bliss, he would strive for perfection, as was the way and goal of all. * * * Dorja watched as his Communications officer turned to him, “Captain, we’re getting reports of internal weapons fire on the Cruel Redoubt. I’ve picked up a personal communiqué, the Borg have boarder her using some sort of mater transporter. They’re being overwhelmed.” Dorja watched as a holding beam suddenly snapped onto the Carrack, suddenly the Borg and Carrack accelerated away. Within seconds they were out of sensor range. Dorja felt his chest instantly become pressured, "Report on the status of the first cube.” “We’ve managed to breach their hull, wait we’re getting secondary explosions, sorry sir the cube is still intact,” The Tactical officer couldn’t withhold his disappointment. * * * John smiled as he saw the cube light up from secondary explosions. Swiftly he turned his ship toward the enormous vessel and squeezed the firing studs on the control column. Green bolts lanced out at the cube and detonated against its hull. Suddenly to his horror he saw shields suddenly snap on. His last blasts bounced harmlessly off into space as he passed. He heard a bang and felt the ship shudder from the impact. The viewport was spinning and John glanced at the damage report, his weapons were out and his engines damaged. In the view port he saw the third Borg cube sitting lazily in space. He threw all his power to the engines and shot toward it. John braced himself for impact when suddenly he saw a holding beam snap onto his ship. Suddenly he saw a spherical cavern open up before his ship slowly he felt his ship being forced inside. There amongst dozens of box shaped fighters he knew it was over. A tingling sensation alerted him to another unsettling reality. His last thoughts as an individual were surprising, “I should have joined the rebels.” * * * Dorja watched as the third cube disengaged. It moved away then shot off into space at impossible speed. It remained visible until out of sensor range. He looked out at the remaining cube and felt fear. Suddenly he saw that his turbolaser blasts weren’t hitting the hull but glancing off. The rumble of explosions from impacts with the ship’s shields reached his ears. Dorja knew that it was his own fire being reflected back at him, he shuddered as he thought of what it meant, it only took the Borg minutes to come up with an effective counter for his weapons and implement it. These were a frightful new opponent they were facing. One that defied everything he thought was possible for technology. Out in the space beyond the bridge Dorja saw another white dagger shaped ship leap out of hyperspace. The comm officer turned to him, “The Chimaera is hailing us; Grand Admiral Thrawn wants a report.” Slowly Dorja sighed as the holo projector at the aft of the bridge hummed its readiness. He stepped to the plate and nodded to the comm officer. The tall blue form of the Grand Admiral materialized before him. With the effect from the Holo projector he looked nearly human, “Captain Dorja one of your ships is missing and several appear to have sustained battle damage.” “Yes Admiral, we were attack by an unknown force, calling themselves the Borg, we have a complete sensor record of events, Admiral I’m afraid I’ve never seen anything like them,” Dorja said slowly. “Yes, the damage your ships have suffered is not consistent with any known form of weapon except for a number turbolaser blasts on your hull,” Thrawn said as he took a data pad from an officer that walked in. “Somehow the enemy discovered a way to reflect our fire back at us. Our own shots caused damage to our ships toward the end of the battle. They also boarded and captured the Cruel Redoubt,” Dorja reported. He saw Thrawn arch an eyebrow. “Captain, I’d like a complete record of events and a full report within twelve hours, events have taken a strange turn and I want to know what is happening,” The Grand Admiral cut the transmission. Dorja let out a deep breath, “Yes Admiral, I wish I knew what happened.” * * * Luke stepped to the door that had been pointed out as his temporary quarters. With a sigh he stepped into the rooms and let out a deep breath. The room seemed empty but Luke felt certain that there were hidden eyes and recorders. He felt a hand touch his shoulder and turned to see Mara standing beside him, “I’ll do a search for bugs if it will make you feel better.” “Yeah, but will our hosts feel better,” Luke answered. He deftly tossed a duffle onto the bed and walked to its edge. With a flash of light Q appeared in the center of the room, and Mara snapped, “Haven’t you heard of privacy!” “Heard of it yes, but actually subscribed? No.” Q answered then smiled, “You don’t have to worry about bugs though, the Federation believes in privacy.” “Well that’s good to know,” Luke said somberly. He frowned, “Has Boba left?” “No your Mandalorian friend is still around, last I saw him he was headed for the holodeck,” Q answered smiling broadly, “With Belana Torres following right behind. * * * Belana smiled as she picked up the blade from the rack in the corner of the wall, “Here.” Boba smiled slightly and took the blade, “So this I the traditional weapon of a Klingon.” He twirled the two handed curving blade in his hand and smiled, “Interesting design.” “It’s used to settle disputes of honor,” Belana said and she smiled. “So you get honor through battle, as the Mandalore clans teach our own,” Boba gripped the weapon and walked to the edge of a broad circle in the center of the room, “Once we held a great Empire but now are a scattered remnant of our former selves.” Belana nodded, the fear of losing their empire had held the Klingons together through some extremely devastating trials, “Indeed, well let’s see how your combat skills are.” She lifted the blade and struck at Boba. Boba blocked the blow and spun ducking under her next swing. Then Boba thrust upward. Belana blocked the counter and spun trying to deliver a solid blow. Within an hour both of the combatants were exhausted but neither had delivered a blow, it was then that Boba and Belana earned each other’s respect. * * * Captain Pellaeon slowly walked toward the rear of the bridge. He held the latest report from the scout ships, and prospects weren’t looking good. Slowly he stepped through the doors into the outer office of the Grand Admiral There in a darkened corner Rukh stood, somber and watching. Pellaeon shook his head and stepped through the doors. Hovering in front of him was an enormous image that made Pellaeon halt. Three giant cubes were engaging a force of two Star Destroyers and support ships. Pellaeon watched the crisscrossing of blasts and beams for a moment and was about to clear his throat when the Admiral leaned back from his chair in the center of the room, “Fascinating isn’t it. We’ve encountered a race that is far different then any we have encountered before. But I think I know how to beat them, if they return at any rate.” Thrawn brought up a sensor display record recording the imperial gunners’ impacts. There Thrawn nodded, “You recall that each turbolaser fires on a slightly different frequency.” “Yes, captain, the gunners installed the measure so they could keep track of who destroyed what post battle, something of an instrument of pride,” Pellaeon answered. “Yes, if you watch closely you notice that all the batteries on the ship have fired three times at this point…” Thrawn pointed to the display and suddenly Pellaeon watched as the newest barrage from the Relentless reflected off a shield the Borg had suddenly deployed. Thrawn keyed off the holo projector, “The enemy recorded the frequency of each of our attacks and used the information to deploy a shield directly on that frequency; the counter to this is self evident. Each turbolaser will be a given a sequence of ten frequencies that they will rotate through when engaged by these, Borg.” “I’ll order the modification at once Admiral,” Pellaeon said swiftly. “What do you think of the shape of the ships, captain?” Thrawn asked casting his red eyes directly at Pellaeon. “I don’t know what to make of it sir, it’s just a simple cube…” “Yes, a cube, a simple standard geometric shape. This gives us an insight onto the enemy’s psychology, we’re dealing against a low grade hive mind, and a culture based upon adding other to its existence. I’d say that it is a culture striving to include all to become a one all in composing culture, I believe that they believe that doing this they will reach a utopian existence,” The Admiral had stood and was now gripping the tops of the chair. Slowly Thrawn shook his head, “Their striving for perfection makes them dangerous, even more dangerous if they actually believe themselves to be perfect.” “So you know how to defeat them in battle,” Pellaeon answered slowly. “Yes, captain, if it comes to that, they have their weaknesses,” Thrawn answered slowly. He glanced at the pad which was clutched in Pellaeon’s grip, “What have our scouts reported?” “I’m afraid they’ve reported that all the installations supposedly in this sector no longer exist, there is no sign of battle or debris either sir,” Pellaeon answered as he handed the report to Thrawn. “And we have no scientists with us who could explain what has occurred,” Thrawn shook his head slowly, “What we really need are a few good minds.” * * * Luke glanced out the viewport at the Jade Scimitar. Slowly he lifted his comm link to his mouth, “Artoo, how are the repairs coming?” The answering twitters and beeps were sounded encouraging, “Good, we’ll head over in a little bit, after we talk to the engineer over here.” “Two hot chocolates,” Mara spoke to a recess in the wall and smiled softly at Luke as the two cups materialized already hot and steaming, “You know I want one of these.” “I’ve heard it has trouble with some of the other things, and needs constant maintenance,” Luke answered as he took a cup from the recess and took a sip. It wasn’t bad but it seemed a little different then what he was used to. “We could load the schematics into Artoo, he could fix it.” Mara suggested as she took a sip. Luke shook his head, “You’re just trying to make it so we don’t every have to cook again.” “So, since when have I cooked?” Luke laughed, “True.” He sighed, “We’d better head to engineering.” They left their quarters and walked along the corridor until they reached the turbolift, “Engineering.” Mara sighed as she felt the lift take them downward then sideways, “I hope Torres is willing to help.” “If I know engineers she’ll be wanting too tear everything apart, upgrade it and put it back together,” Luke said as a smile played across his face. “She’d better not,” Mara retorted as the doors hissed open and they walked into the pulsing chamber which was main engineering. Belana Torres was hunched over one of the dozens of control panels when they stepped into view. She shouted to one of the other engineers, “Johnson take over.” Then she walked over to the two of them, “I’m ready, we’ve got some pressure suits. We’ll head over whenever you’re ready.” “We’re ready now,” Luke answered swiftly. Then he stopped, “We’ll need those pressure suits, life support failed soon after we beamed over.” * * * The cabin was still dark but the control lights and equipment was still in complete working order. Artoo sat jacked into one of the panels running a diagnostic as a series of blue lines and glittering specs appeared in the center of the cabin. Slowly the three figures appeared wearing the grey helmeted suits that were standard for the federation. With a flick of a switch lights went on to help them see. Artoo swiveled to look at and shrieked. “It’s alright Artoo it’s us,” Luke said calming the surprised droid. He leaned down next to the unit, “What have you got operational?” The droid beeped and whistled and Luke glanced at his data pad at the translation, “Engines are online, Weapons, Hyperdrive is at ninety percent efficiency.” The droid beeped, “He says he hasn’t been able to fix the life support. “Alright, let’s start with that,” Mara said walking toward the rear of the ship with Belana in tow. “So this is your personal ship?” Belana asked as they walked down a corridor. “Yes, it’s our ship. Luke, is the mag field online in the hangar bay?” “It’s working, Artoo says the life support system needs some new Carbon Dioxide scrubbers,” Luke called from the cockpit. Mara keyed the door and they stepped through into a broad space. Two starfighters hung from launch racks side by side. Each hung above a large circular launch door that was sealed with a magnetic field. Without the field atmosphere would leak from the bay at an alarming rate. Mara smiled as she walked by the T-65 XJ. It had the newest model of laser cannons. The XJ X-wings were no longer the blocky ships of the rebellion by streamlined beauties of a ship that looked even more lethal. The wings seemed to gracefully warp into the hull and the laser cannons had a distinctive cylinder shaped muzzle flash protector. The entire ship seemed more predatory with the gentle curving of the wings and the smooth bond between canons and wings. The ship seemed like the elegant weapon which it was. Luke however still had his old ship from the rebellion, a T-65B which had the scars of countless battles. Mara knew however that it had been upgraded by Han Solo just after the end of the Vong invasion. Its weapons and shields were up to the specs for the stock XJ and the personally modified engines gave it as much speed as a stock XJ. Of course Mara had modified her ship as well but together the two ships performed just as well. Mara however liked the elegant style of the XJ over the older model. Mara turned to Belana staring in surprise, “Impressive aren’t they?” “Yes, they are,” Torres seemed to snap out of a trance and focused on the problem at hand, “So where is the life support?” “Here,” Mara said as she pulled open a panel. One look revealed a large amount of carbon scoring and scorched wiring. Belana looked at the damage and frowned, “Are those the scrubbers?” “Yeah,” Mara replied as she pulled out one of the blackened boxes. She dropped it onto the ground and pulled a vibroblade from the compartment. It buzzed slightly as she cut it open and glanced inside, “Just as I though, the plasma charge burned away the filter.” “Try this,” Belana handed Mara a glowing gel pack. Mara took it and looked at it uncertain, “It’s a bioluminescent carbon filter, and it has a fast acting plant in it that cleans the air just like a filter. We’ve been experimenting with them on Voyager.” Mara glanced at the opened box and shook her head, “I’m not sure I could install it, the parts and energy requirements are probably different.” “Let me try,” Belana replied as she sat down and plugged in a sensor device. Slowly she nodded, “Okay I’ve got a resistor that should make the energy requirement work.” She put a cap on the piece of wiring that had once gone into the square filter. Then she took the square filter cut a hole in the center and dropped it inside. She attached the pack to the wiring and installed the pack back where it had gone. She glanced at the oxygen gage and saw that it was slowly beginning to rise, “All done in about five minutes we’ll be able to dump the suits.” “That’s pretty efficient for a filter,” Mara answered as she closed the panel. Belana smiled at the older woman, “I try.” She shrugged, “So what next?” “Next we repair the hull, Luke, could you get the plates and welding gear, we’re going outside,” Mara said smiling. * * * Captain Janeway looked at the view screen and watched as a trio of suited figures wandered across the hull of the Jade Scimitar. She could see the flare of welding and patching on the hull. Janeway was amazed by the sheer look of the ship, even in its battered form. The design seemed strangely elegant and deadly at the same time. She watched as the sparks of welding continued and sighed, “Well, it seems they’ll be ready to head out pretty soon.” A warning went up from the sensor console and Tuvok glanced up from his console, “Captain, a Borg Scout ship has just entered sensor range. It’s approaching slowly.” “ETA?” Janeway asked as fear began to claw at her. “Fifteen minutes,” Tuvok answered swiftly. “Janeway to Belana, get inside that ship, there is a Borg detector on the way,” Janeway said swiftly. “Acknowledged,” Belana answered across the command Janeway watched the group scramble to the airlock. * * * Luke dropped behind the pilots controls. He turned to Mara as she grabbed the chair’s top, “Systems check.” “All systems operational, more or less,” Mara answered her husband as she checked the readouts. “Alright give me a power restart Artoo,” Luke ordered and the little droid whirred. The entire vessel thrummed with life and more panels began to glow their readiness. “So who are the Borg,” Mara asked as she dropped down into the weapons control seat. Belana frowned, “They’re a race of people that capture vessels and steal their technology and the crews. Every one of them is plugged into a mechanical hive mind. Each Borg has implants throughout their body and don’t have any individual thought just the will of the hive implanted in them.” “Aggressive?” Luke asked as he activated the ion drive. “You have no idea.” * * * “Captain, we’re receiving a distress call, its Commander Chekotay,” Ensign Kim said as his status board blinked. “Onscreen,” Janeway answered quickly. The tanned black haired image of Commander Chekotay winked into existence on the view screen, “Captain, I’m afraid I’ve got a Borg Detector on my tale.” In the background the image of one of Voyager’s shuttle craft shuddered, “Get Voyager out of here.” Through the speakers another voice cut in, “Commander Chekotay can you make it to the position we’re sending?” “Yes, Belana I can make those quadrants, but you can’t stop a Borg detector!” Janeway turned as the rear doors of the bridge slid open and Boba Fett stepped onto the bridge, “Captain, I’d like to offer my assistance.” “Alright, Chekotay make it to those quadrants we’re coming after you!” Janeway answered and turned to Boba, “Launch your ship, Paris get the flyer out there, we’ve got a Borg ship to demolish.” * * * Luke could see it out the viewport, a craft over four hundred meters tall it looked like a group of metal plates had been slapped together with wire and engines tacked onto the rear. A green beam had locked onto the small shuttle that was fighting desperately to free itself. Slowly he looked at Belana as she starred at the threat. Slowly Mara turned to her, “I’ve activated weapons and shields, targeting array is only, I’m going to hit that beam right away can your Commander make a run for it after we hit that thing?” “Yes, Commander Chekotay the ship closing on your position is the Jade Scimitar she’ll hit the holding beam and free your ship, make a run for it once we fire,” Belana said swiftly. “Alright weapons ready, ETA sixty seconds,” Luke said as the target began to grow in his sights. “May the force be with us.” * * * The Borg detector slid threw space its holding beam firmly gripping the struggling Type 9 federation shuttle which was Chekotay’s transport. Suddenly a pair of blue streaks shot past the shuttle and into the beam. The two proton torpedoes stopped as the holding beam tried to lock onto them. The shuttle was suddenly free and cruising away. Red bolts shot pas the fleeing shuttle and into the blocky form of the Borg ship. Green detonations flashed across the ship’s hull. The ship kicked into an accelerating run as it became aware of the new threat. The glistening form of the Jade Scimitar flashed by the federation shuttle its weapons ports blazing. A topside automated turbolaser spat fire at its opponent. The red blaze of the blast detonating against the hull of the Borg ship lit up the cockpit of the federation shuttle where Chekotay sat hunched over the controls. He punched a fist in the air as his ship rocketed away from the blaze of firing behind him, “Thank you Scimitar.” A female voice came back across the channel, “We’ll pull back right behind you and hold them off.” Chekotay looked over to see a red headed woman staring at him through the comm display, “Voyager and Slave III should be here within a few minutes.” The Jade scimitar came about and the Borg detector tried to lock onto it with a holding beam. A pair of blue proton torpedoes shot back at the blocky foes and acted as decoys for the beam which dissipated a few moments later. Onboard the ship clambered from the rhythmic roar of lasers firing at the foe. Jade sat hunched over the weapons controls and picked up a virtual reality HUD and pulled it over her eyes. Suddenly she could see the Borg ship behind them pushing to catch up. She could sense Luke’s thoughts as they roared away from the Borg ship, his constant fear for her and his desire to get back to voyager along with the coolness of a combat veteran facing combat once again. Then through her senses she could perceive them a buzzing constant awareness at the edge of her consciousness, a mind that was both many and one at the same time. She could sense the individual Borg in the vessel of course, but they just seemed to be a mirror of the mind that was the Borg. Slowly she squeezed Luke’s hand as she grasped what they were fighting. Then through the HUD she saw a series of green blasts as the Borg ship opened fire with its primary armament. The torpedoes raced for them and Luke put the ship into a corkscrew maneuver to test the torpedoes abilities. He grimaced as the torpedoes matched every one of his maneuvers, “Mara?” “Activating interceptors,” Mara answered as she punched a button in front of her. Outside the ship a large cluster of miniature missile launchers rose from the ship’s rear, a warbling sound echoed through her ears as she targeted the incoming missiles. She smiled slightly as she punched a second button. Outside a stream of miniature white missiles rocketed from their tubes. They hit one after another detonating the incoming torpedo barrage as it shot at them. The green explosions of the Borg torpedoes faded into nothingness as Mara pulled the firing triggers and a pair of blue proton torpedoes rocketed out toward their target. The Borg ship saw them coming and attempted to lock onto them with a holding beam. The torpedoes shuddered then stopped detonating as their onboard computers realized they wouldn’t hit their target. Mara cursed as she saw them detonate then smiled as she punched another button. Belana glanced over her shoulder as she pulled the trigger, “Those torpedoes won’t get through!” “Just watch,” Mara said as she felt the ejection of the torpedoes but saw no blue corona. She turned to Luke, “Shadow bombs away!” With the aid of the force the two small spinning cylinders fell behind the Jade Scimitar. The rotated slowly in space bumping and moving left and right as the Borg detector closed with them. They slipped through the shields with a purple flare of light then hit random green lit hull of the ship. Mara watched as a pair of explosions ripped through the largest portion of the vessel. The large panel that formed the main hull ripped free and tumbled in space. Slowly she watched as the battered tear where the hull had parted began to harden. She saw the panel begin to reform. Within thirty seconds the damage was gone except for the hulk of debris that continued to tumble near the Borg ship. Mara whistled at the speed with which the damage had disappeared. With her mind she told Luke what to do next. The stars spun outside and suddenly they were turned around facing the Borg ship. Mara thumbed down on the firing studs and the space between the two ships was suddenly alive with the glowing bolts of turbolasers. A series of explosions rocked across the forward section of the ship. Green flames crackled from where atmosphere was ignited from their impact. Suddenly a pair of blue white bolts blazed across the ships hull. Ionized panels crackled with electricity and parts of the ship went dark but the Borg recovered quickly. A series of green disruptor blasts flashed past the Jade Scimitar. Mara felt the ship shuddered as a pair of the shots impacted the hardened armor of the Scimitar’s hull. She saw sparks shoot up from the dash and saw the HUD flash into darkness. Mara pulled off the HUD and tossed it to the floor as alarms blared in the cockpit, “Weapons array offline!” Luke threw up his hands as the display darkened, “Engines and shields are out!” He whirled out of his seat as a green transporter beam lit up behind them. Suddenly the clammy skinned and armored figure of the Borg appeared before them. Luke punched a panel next to him and a lightsaber shot from the compartment. It was an elegant design that featured a crescent that was an eerie combination of the Imperial and Rebel crests. It was the saber Jaina had given them as a gift on their anniversary. He smiled coldly as he activated the violet beam and readied himself for the Borg. Mara had produced a blaster from the compartment under her chair and fired point blank into the Borg. His face was blackened by the bolt and the Borg slumped over, dead. A second then a third Borg materialized as more troops were beamed aboard. Belana leveled her phaser and fired a blast that killed its target. She fired again and watched as the beam was absorbed by an energy shield that materialized in front of it. Belana cursed and threw the phaser at the Borg. Luke strode forward confident and swung with two quick strokes that brought the Borg down, killed instantly. He turned to Artoo, “Get the shields back up!” The droid twittered and sped down the corridor. Mara followed her blaster raised with Belana crouched behind her. They came into the hanger and Mara saw a trio of Borg turn to her their targeting lasers scanning for her presence. She fired twice. The first shot burnt through the closer one’s chest dropping it to the ground. The second blast reflected off the Borg like it had hit magnetic shield. It burnt a small divot in the ceiling. Mara backed up and reached for one of the loose crates that scattered around the hanger when the lightsaber twirled into view and sliced the Borg in half dropping it to the ground. Artoo had stopped next to a power coupling and was busily working to restore shield power when a familiar voice came through Mara’s comm link, “Slave III to Jade Scimitar.” “Mara here, what do you want?” Mara answered as Belana set to work on one of the power couplings. “I’ve got Voyager coming up in my wake, we’ll put the heavy end of the hammer down on them,” Boba answered swiftly. “Be careful, its hull has regenerative abilities,” Mara answered as a shower of sparks shot from Artoo’s power coupling followed by a warble. She could hear the rumble of the generators putting the shields back on. She turned to Luke and Belana, “Voyager is coming and we can’t do anything from here, Artoo, Lucky Hand get the X-wing up and running.” She looked at Belana, “We’re going to take the X-wings out and try and give Voyager a fighting chance. Belana if you keep the shields running you’ll be safe, hold the ship, we’ll want it back.” Seconds later Mara dropped behind the controls of her X-wing and flipped on the power up sequence. Behind her, Lucky Hand, her astromech and the newest gift from Talon Karrde dropped into his socket. She pulled on a helmet and strapped in as the droid began the power checklist. Below her she saw the space tight doors slide open and the rack that held the fighter begin to tip downward. She did a final check as the racked stopped ready to launcher her into space. She keyed her comm, “Luke, ready?” “Ready,” Luke answered and suddenly his ship was out of the scimitar heading downward. Mara gritted her teeth at the shock of being flung out of the Scimitar and into space. She curved up and around and saw the Borg detector sitting in space with a holding beam locked onto the Jade Scimitar and a cutting beam futilely trying to bring down the shields. Across the comm came the audio signal she knew was coming, “Luke, Mara, we’ll show this thing who’s boss.” Mara turned in her seat to see the Firespray attack ship flash by to engage the Borg ship. Mara looked down at her sensor board and saw a series of new blips emerge from the Borg ship. She keyed her comm, “We’ve got shuttle class vessels launching from the Borg Detector. * * * Captain Janeway sat in the command chair as she saw a series of black boxes exit from the Borg detector’s rear. She turned to Ensign Kim, “Analysis?” “They’re Borg scouts, the Enterprise reported encountering one on the surface of a planet near the neutral zone, six crew, minimal armament,” Ensign Kim reported. He looked up from his console. “Correct, they’re Borg shuttles, armed with a single pulse weapon and a lone cutting beam, very underpowered,” Seven of Nine stated swiftly. She looked at Janeway, “They’re targeting the starfighters.” “Captain Janeway, we’ll keep these busy,” Luke’s voice came through the comm. He sounded intense, busy, “Target that capital ship.” Janeway watched as the doors to the cabin slid open and Commander Chekotay stepped onto the bridge, “Commander, it’s good that you’re back.” “Thank you, Ensign Freeman I’ll take the helm.” The commander slid into the helm seat and checked the readings. “Lieutenant Paris, we’re heading in at the Detector, if you could pull some of those Borg shuttles off our allies on the way in they’d probably appreciate it,” Captain Janeway said swiftly. She watched as the Firespray attack ship opened fire on the Borg detector. It’s arsenal of weapons systems tracked across the Borg ship causing miniature detonations all across it but the ship seemed just as functional. She looked at Chekotay, “Attack pattern Alpha Four.” On the screen the flash of phaser energy impacted the hull of the ship. Steam erupted from the ship’s hull for a moment then stopped as the Borg adapted to stop the attack. She put a finger to her chin, “Quantum torpedoes.” * * * Luke watched as three pulsing blue torpedoes shot from Voyager and splattered against the Borg ship. One went through the shields blowing a whole in the hull. The molten remains of the blast splattered against his shields pinging as they glanced off. He targeted the nearest Borg shuttle and felt his hair stand on end and threw the starfighter into a loop that let him evade a trail of pulse bolts from one of the Borg shuttles. He felt them in his mind and smiled slightly as he pulled their plan from their minds. Three shuttles closed on him from the front, rear, and dorsal vectors. He mentally signaled Mara, now! One of the Borg ship exploded as Mara’s torpedo found its mark and Luke corkscrewed through the expanding cloud of gas and debris. Luke lined up a

Yes the Emperor could survive, and Mara could complete her mission, which would unfortunately make me ANGRY... Because I almost always play as the rebels. Mara Jade would be a slave forevermore. So very sad, having such a beautiful lifeless servant in the Empire...Oh well Another thing that needs updated is starfighter squadrons. I want to be able to use them on strike missions and I cant!!!! We need to figure out a commerce system to, so the rebels would actually have something other then fleets to attack, you know the occasional convoy or two?

How about Character recruitment based on events... Play as the rebels and get Mon Calamari to join...you get to play with Ackbar. Maybe you could make it so certain worlds are required for some ship designs. Hmmm... Mon Calamari - MC series cruisers Fondor, Kuat, or Bilbringi - Star Destroyers Byss - Galaxy Gun and Eclipse series Luke's presence on Yavin IV - Jedi Training increased? etc... This event series recruitment would be required for some characters... Imagine actually using Mara Jade before the final battle as the Empire and using her with the alliance afterwards.

If one song ever has given me more heart attacks in SWR its Imperial March. Every time it starts to play...everything goes wrong. Duel of Fates-John Williams (Well duh!)

Oh lord...the rapora will be explained later. I've shown two types of Rapora craft. A cruiser and fighters...verstehen? The three Jedis? I'm not sure what you're asking Okay...instant Family tree Luke Skywalker-Mara Jade | Ben Skywalker Han Solo-Leia Organa | Anakin Solo (Dead), Jacen Solo, and Jaina Solo. Jagged Fel is a none Jedi who has a romantic relationship with Jaina. I'm putting the finishing touches on an image of a rapora. Its spliced from several images but still looks pretty good.

I think the Eclipse is seriously under gunned in that statement. Without the Superlaser a Standard Super Star Destroyer has that many guns. (I think it needs more ion cannons)

Well the Sith were once a species not a group and they died out. The Rapora were an ally of the Sith, hence they hate Jedi! Actually most of the problems facing the Republic/Galactic Federation forces come down to inexperience facing this foe. Except Jaina, she's just much more at home in a starfighter then in hand to hand. The interceptors the Jade Scimitar is equipped with were designed to stop missiles and bombs. You'll find that ships from the later era are also equipped with interceptors to stop Rapora fighters from deploying those bombs. Now in hand to hand combat their only equal are Jedi. Ranged combat is different, ranged Rapora weaons are cursed with a slow recharge rate. Unlike blasters and such it can take ten seconds to build up a firing charge, though their weapons have greater range. I wanted something that would make the vong seem like much less of a threat, and that is what I got.

Now I must again state that I hope we will get a section of this site dedicated to Fanfiction. In the hope of putting more pressure for this goal I'm expanding my writing. I'll continue the SW vs ST and keep Stellar Magic locked up, but I present to you the opening sequence for a new Star Wars fanfiction. Set over a year before yavin, Tiger Squadron hopes to show the Galactic civil war in its entirity from the earliest fights of the rebelllion on. So I here by give you Tiger Squadron: Episode 1 Scene 1 Space was both infinitely vast, and infinitely deadly, Lieutenant Garik Rosh reflected as he starred out the transparisteel viewport of the rickety YT-1300 Transport Rose of Earl. He sat back, slumped behind the pilot’s seat with his cap over his face as he tried to sleep. Beyond the viewport was the swirling blue maelstrom of hyperspace. The pilot was an older man whose craggy beard hid almost any other feature from him. Beside him was a young woman in the copilot’s seat, she hadn’t told anyone else her name and hardly spoke. With a flash the glistening tunnel of hyperspace faded to star lines and then to individual stars. Ahead the craggy reddish line that crossed the system’s lone star revealed the presence of an asteroid belt. Ahead a distant rotating flash of light identified the base’s entrance. The old pilot smiled to his passengers, “Buckle in folks, we’re heading in.” The woman nodded and leaned forward cupping her hand to the microphone, “Base Site: Alpha-Four this is transport Rose of Earl, passcode Alpha-Eight-Epsilon-Four-Beta.” “Roger, this is Base, welcome back Rose of Earl. Make your vector nine-eight-point-one,” the comm link replied. The communication’s distortion rendered it both genderless and species less. Garik sighed as he pulled the data pad from his pack and pulled the card from his baggage. On it had been instructions that said he wasn’t to use it until they’d entered an asteroid field. Apparently this had been the asteroid field the card’s cover had spoke of. He inserted the card and keyed up a text file, the only file on the card. It looked scrambled but Garik keyed in a decrypt code that changed the random letters into recognizable symbols, and orders. Garik Rosh was to head the training and command of a squadron whose pilots had been assembled and transported to Base Alpha-Four. Garik felt a huge amount of pressure descend on his shoulders, he was to lead a squadron and train them. He sighed. It had only been a few weeks since he’d pulled out of the Academy, a mere lieutenant. If one thing showed the difference between the rebels and the Imperials it was the fact that he was now in a position of trust. A rumble made the viewport shake as a pair of Z-95 headhunters flashed past the cockpit and banked to make another run toward them. Seconds later the two fighters settled into twin positions on the wings of the transport flanking them. Ahead one of the asteroids rolled to reveal a cavernous hanger bay dug into the solid rock. Slowly with delicate care the elderly pilot maneuvered the YT-1300 into the bay as the two headhunters settled in beside it. With a thump the transport settled down onto the deck of the hanger. The ramped hissed open and a younger man wearing a blue jacket with red piping over a green shirt stepped down in front of the ramp. He held a red and green cap under his arms as he waited, on its bill was the rebel crescent and above that was the classic simple of captain. Garik stepped down the ramp and smiled slightly at the captain as he extended a hand, “Lieutenant Rosh, reporting.” “Captain John Crenel, base commander,” The captain answered as he took his hand. The captain smiled slightly as he pulled the cap back on. He glanced at the cloaked woman from the transport as she stepped forward, “And you are?” “Julia Flare, the intelligence transfer,” The woman said as she lowered the hood and Garik got a look at the face beneath it. One of her eyebrows was thin in the center where a burn must have taken away the hair. Her eyes were a penetrating green and her hair a dark that was only a few shades from black. She had the elegant face of a woman who could have made a career as a holovid star, if given the opportunity. She smiled faintly at the two of them then turned to Garik, “Lieutenant, am I to assume you’re hear for the same reason I am?” “If you mean the squadron that’s forming up, yes, Captain what sort of materials do you have for that?” Garik answered her then turned to face John. John sighed, “Not good I’m afraid, we’ve got six Z-95s, of various configurations and a pair of Y-wings, one a trainer.” Garik nodded slightly, “Let me see your simulators…” “That may be a problem sir, we don’t have any.” “No simulators?” Garik asked shock overwhelming him. He sighed slowly, “I have to train eleven pilots, without simulators, in the middle of an asteroid field.” The captain slapped his shoulder, “If it makes you feel any better I’ve got to keep this base running with only ten people, welcome to the Rebel Alliance.” Julia turned back to her new commander, “Lieutenant, I just transferred from intelligence, I’ve been assigned as both a pilot and an intel officer, get used to the strain, we’ve all got some.” “Thanks,” Garik answered as he glared at the two officers. With a sigh he decided to get on with it, “Okay let’s meet the pilots…if we can even call them that.” I know its short but give it time... I only just started playing with the idea.

hmmm....You hear that hissing sound, thats the sound of a squad of Rapora taking practice swings for beheading the Jedi that voted ST. For further information on Rapora please read the SW vs. ST Fan Fiction thread

This is shorter then usual, it's getting late so I didn't feel like adding very much but...What can a Rapora do to a Jedi? Fans of Jaina Solo, you'll wince by the end of this. * * * Luke Skywalker pulled a comm link from his belt, “Mara, there is a Rapora on the loose. Get to…” “Our quarters…and beg for a lightsaber,” Mara replied immediately. Luke turned to the Captain, “Could we have our weapons back?” Janeway sighed, “I had them locked in the armory, it’s next to the Brig.” “I’ll need a guide, a weapon, and a security detail,” Luke said as he turned to Tuvok who was already walking around his console. Chekotay pulled a hand phaser from his belt and tossed it to Luke who caught it deftly. Tuvok nodded to Luke as he checked the weapon, “Follow me…” The Vulcan led Luke back to turbolift. * * * The Doctor smiled slightly as he bent over his patient. A young woman with brown hair and chiseled features, there was a small scratch across her face and a bruise along her back from the ejection. He turned serious as he took the hypospray from its tray and administered it to her neck. He backed away as her eyes flared open. He’d learned that some patients turned quite violent after treatment and this girl was an unknown quantity, “Good you’re awake.” As the scanner slid down the girl leapt up from her bed and glanced down at the grey clothes she wore, they’d been underneath her flight suite which she now saw crumpled up in a corner. With a flick of the wrist she reached out to it and a gleaming metal cylinder shot from the suite and into her hands. She whirled and a purple blade of energy flashed into existence as the lightsaber snapped on. The doctor lifted his chin as he saw the blade directly beneath it. The woman snarled, “Who are you and tell me why I shouldn’t kill you where you stand!” The doctor backed away, “I’m just a doctor, but welcome to the Federation starship Voyager.” He sighed, “You were beamed aboard right after you ejected, unconscious we didn’t know if you’d make it.” The panels that surrounded the room turned brilliant red and the lights dimmed. A mechanical voice came through, “Prisoner escape, find and detain.” Jaina smiled deviously, “How’d you pull that trick I don’t see a form of communicator?” She grimaced and gestured with her lightsaber then stopped as she sensed through the force that there was no one there. She thrust forward and the blade seemed to go straight through the doctor, “What are you?” “I’m a holographic projection, so if you’ll excuse me,” The doctor said slowly and walked over to the laboratory and tapped his comm badge, “Captain our patient is awake.” “Sorry doctor we’re a little busy right now,” Janeway replied across the intercom. Jaina turned to face the door as a red glow started in its center. A red beam sliced through its center and the door slid open to reveal an imposing foe. It was a creature just under two meters tall with a long tail and scaly skin. It wore a gold colored armored suit and held a cylinder that curved into a hook shape at its end. The middle two of its feet had a curved claw that was twice the size of the others and a head and muzzle shaped vaguely like a wolf. It snarled as it saw Jaina, “Ah hello Jeedai!” A pair of red lightsaber blades shot from the emitters on the cylinder. The weapons curve enabled the wielder to not only engage in duels with multiple opponents but also to slip past the defenses of a novice foe with a mere cock of the wrist. Jaina readied her lightsaber as the Doctor keyed his badge, “Intruder in sick bay, security!” She slipped into a classic guard stance and waited for the Rapora to make the first move. The Rapora rushed forward and made a thrust for her face which she parried. The Rapora’s head snapped back into an S curve shape as the creature swung downward. As the blades hit the Rapora’s head snapped forward. Jaina twisted back as the twin rows of the deadly knife shaped teeth snapped closed over where her head had just been. Jaina struck back delivering a thrust that the creature bat aside. Jaina saw the creature’s lips lift up into a predatory snarl. The Rapora swung a broad stroke and Jaina felt her lightsaber lock with his. The reptile’s vile predatory breath reeked in her nostrils as she came face to face with her foe. Their lightsabers crackled and hissed from contact when the Rapora lashed out with what seemed to be a kick. It caught Jaina in the hip and twisted her around. She dropped her lightsaber and howled with pain as she felt the burning in her side. The Rapora had done more then kick her. It had delivered a foot long gash in her side with its claw. She felt herself heaving to breathe in a pool of her own blood. She knew now that she’d been right, she’d rolled death’s dice for the last time. She saw the Rapora raise it saber then stop as the sound of charging rifle registered. The creature spun and struck, slicing the arm of a security officer clear off. It the thrust out its clawed hand and the remaining security members shot into the wall and collapsed to the floor. The creature stepped past them, glanced down the halls and shot away at terrific speed. The Doctor stepped to the door and shook his head, “This is bad, Janeway the intruder just took out three security members and severely injured our guest.” Slowly the man knelt down next to Jaina, “I’ll pull you through.” Slowly the young woman’s eyes closed before the doctor lifted her onto one of the medical beds and set to work. Jaina’s last conscious thought before she slipped into unconsciousness was the most painful, Jagged, I’m sorry. I'd like some comments on the Rapora...Comments please?

Yep... Whats really funny is that in my mod...A squadron of X-wings costs more then the transport craft. I've been using the stats from X-wing Alliance for the craft and I'm still surprised by the choices the AI has been making. I also made it so only the Imperials have cruisers with Gravity wells. Its made playing as the rebels interesting.

Its because Fett crashed Slave II into Byss's planetary shields...Ooopppss...

The events I've just posted are about a mod I've been working on and tweaking to make it seem more real. It sure made starfighters more effective. But I've found you need alot of anti-starfighter craft to stand a chance against a full wing fo X-wings (6 squadrons). If you've played the Xw-ing series you realize just how big a deal starfighters can be. Heck the Imperial and rebel AI have been concentrating on building Carriers, they know that with this mod, starfighters rule!!!!!

Its all just one story, mostly except for the one appearance of the Stellar Magic series I'm working on. Each installment is approximently seven printed pages. So if you put it all in one group, you'd have one really long story. I'm surprised you didn't recognize the new comers... 1 T-65 XJ X-wing (Destroyed) Pilot: Jaina Solo 1 Chiss Clawcraft Pilot: Jagged Fel 1 Battered Tramp Freighter: It's the Millenium Falcon!!!!! I've been delayed in writing the next episode, sorry

We seriously need an area for writers... We've got a couple here Fishface, Mad, Me...and now Thumper.

Bullcrap... Hmm... Are you describing the Prequeals? EDIT: Star Wars is really a bunch of scenes from other movies spliced together with the force and alot of technological wows. He just stole what works like the rest of hollywood.

(Laughing hysterically)-ahem- This topic is really interesting considering, I have the goal in life of replacing Star Wars with a creation of my own, but what makes Star Wars well Star Wars? 1. Stealing what works from everybody else. 2. Mythical Backstory and a father son generational myth. 3. Technology and Special Effects for the wow factor. 4. Starting in the middle of the Story----Episode 4? 5. Cool starting crawls... 6. Solid Characters (Were the prequals screwed up) So to confound all those who are around I'll show you how an introductory crawl for my own creation (STELLAR MAGIC) would go. Long before man reached for the heavens in a jet of fire, a dark time was hidden. From it, all the horrors of the world paled in comparison as the beasts from beyond came to earth, and from these beasts the great legends of earth were born. The beasts were invaders from another world. In this dark time humanity seemed doomed to be enslaved by the tyrannical beasts. But the wizards, powerful men that sprang up in their wake, defeated the invaders. Eventually, fearful of their great power the kings of the world hunted down and exterminated the last witches and wizards of earth. The keys to their power lay forgotten, as was the great invaders except for in myth and legend. Then in the twenty first century of our lord the invaders came again, but they were not prepared. Humanity had mastered the atom and managed to drive them back with their technology. During this time a wizard’s tomb was uncovered in southern England. He had been buried with a set of spell books along with a wand and staff. After years of experimentation their purpose became clear and magic was reborn. For the next two millennia the Brotherhood of Wizards would fight for humanity. This is where our story begins… Lets see... Myth check. Good vs Evil, check. Technology, check. Superhuman/alien abilities, check. Stealing what works, check. Watch out Lucas here I come. (Ego growth, watch out.)

Well 72 is the number of indivdual TIE bombers in the attacking force. Twice that is the number of Torpedoes that are launched in a volley. They can cause some serious damage. When I'm playing as the Empire I've been following established imperial doctrine with those starfighters. 6 Squadrons = 1 Wing 3 Tie Fighter Squadrons 2 Tie Interceptor Squadrons 1 Tie Bomber Squadron I'll send th eyeballs and the squints (Tie Fighters and Interceptors) against the fighters and use the bombers to give the starships a head ache. I just fought an engagement as the Imperials. With a Strike Cruiser, an ISD 2, and a VSD 2 I was jumped by a Quaser Fire Carrier equipped with 6 starfighter squadrons, a large convoy of rebel troop transports, and 2 Bulk Cruisers Imperial Forces: Imperial II Star Destroyer: Glory of Empire ~3 Tie Fighter Squadrons ~2 Tie Interceptor Squadrons ~1 Tie Bomber Squadron Victory II Star Destroyer: Veteran of Arms ~2 Tie Interceptor Squadrons Strike Cruiser: Fondor Dice ~None Rebel Forces: 18 Medium and Modern Action Transports 2 Bulk Cruisers 1 Quasar Fire Carrier ~3 Y-wing Squadrons ~3 X-wing Squadrons Well, I think two Star Destroyers should easily be able to handle such an enemy. I send the fighters after their fighters and my bombers agains the one of the bulk cruisers. The AI apparently figured out that Y-wings are death to capital ships. Two squadrons of Y-wings got past my fighter screen and proceeded to destroy my Victory Star Destroyer. The X-wings were slowly overwhelmed 7 Squadrons against 3. I lost three Fighter squadrons but managed to eliminate the X-wings and destroy the Y-wings before they could destroy my ISD. They did a pretty bad number on the ISD though. In the end the empire emerged victorious, through superior numbers of starfighters. Numbers are the Empire's saving grace

Okay I've been playing around with Rebed trying to get the game to feel, movie type realistic. So I'm playing as the Rebels and launch an attack on a lone imperial system in a sector. My attack force: MC80A Liberty MC40A Hawk Nebulon B Frigate Redemer Corellian Corvette Spear of Calamari 2 X-wing Squadrons 2 A-wing Squadrons 2 Y-wing Squadrons And I find what I've started to refer to as convoys over the system. 12 Modern Action Transports and a Star Gaelleon escorted by a Carrack. The Planet has a large compliment of Ties however. 3 Squadrons of Tie Defenders 6 Squadrons of Tie Bombers But I failed to factor that in as I launched my assault. My force enters the system and I order the fighters to hold off the enemy starfighter force and star smashing the imperial freighters. I see a coupe of Imperial Freighters fall from the concentrated turbolaser fire from my force then I notice that my starfighters are being picked to pieces...Every last one destroyed by those Tie Defenders...The scourge of the Alliance. Then those six squadrons of Tie Bombers were on me. Their opening assault took out the Corvette in a matter of seconds. Through my minds I could imagine what 72 Tie Bombers could do to a rebel task force without starfighter cover. So I ordered the withdraw. The Ties came on my ships and not one of them escaped. They all met their deaths from volleys of over a hundred torpedoes from those Tie bombers. Well It's allot fo fun to kill ships that way as the rebels but I'd never seen the Imperials pull it off. That was one stupid mistake.

That thread already exists.... RDBII Tales from the Protectorate. Go ahead and post it there.

I guess the AI looks at relative vessel costs when it decides to run away or not.

Spelling error, Stick at the end of the last paragraph should be arm. So what do you think of the Rapora twist

be wary....Hijacking in progress!

Rapora=evil + destruction Captain Janeway watched as the X-wing and chiss clawcraft shot upward and toward the anomaly. From the glowing ribbon a series of starfighters shot into view. They were brown in coloration and had a pair of claw shaped wings that shot forward. Their cockpit was shaped like a claw that was half retracted in the center of the craft. Suddenly there were four of them shooting through the anomaly. A stream of golden bolts shot from the twin plasma cannons the ships had mounted on their wings. Janeway watched as the x-wing and clawcraft broke off to avoid the bolts. “Orders captain?” Commander Chekotay said from the helm. Janeway closed her eyes and listed her options. The unknown vessels had fired first and targeted a group that had been friendly to them in the past. Was it an internal conflict? She didn’t know and that lack of knowledge force her hand, “Retreat heading.” Ensign Kim stood from behind his console, “Captain?” “You heard me, we don’t know if this is an internal matter or not, we can’t get involved,” Janeway said swiftly. “What about those ships we shot off the Jade Scimitar?” “Ensign those vessels fired upon us as well, we were forced to defender ourselves, and the captain has logically reacted in accordance with the prime directive,” Commander Tuvok said from his station. Janeway saw one of the unknown craft bank to engage them. She turned to Tuvok, “Shields up!” Suddenly a series of golden colored bolts shot into the ship’s shields. The vessel rocked and Janeway saw a shower of sparks shoot from Ensign Kim’s console. Steam began to vent from a ceiling portion as the starfighter shot by the Voyager and curved away for another run. Commander Tuvok glanced at Janeway, “Captain, rear shields are down, deck eight reports a hull breach force fields are in place and holding.” Janeway’s eyes were wide, “They got through our shields!” She slammed a fist down on the corner of her chair, “Return fire!” A phaser blast arced across the small starfighter, its shields glowed bright yellow for a moment then failed as the phaser sliced off a section of the wing. Janeway turned to Tuvok, “Beam the pilot to the Brig. I want to know what we’re dealing with.” * * * Luke stood as he felt the ship shudder from an impact and looked at the Captain, “Permission to leave?” “Go, quickly, shields are at fifty percent on our keel, whoever they are they can deal damage,” The Captain answered as he left heading for the bridge. Luke and Mara ran out of the room heading for their starfighters. Republic troops scattered as they ran past and within a few moments they clambered up into their cockpits. With a flick of a switch Luke closed the canopy over him and saw the console in front of him flash with tactical information, there were now twelve Rapora fighters, no eleven Luke thought as one speck disappeared. He shot out of the hanger and felt the rumble of his s foils locking into attack position as he headed for the engagement. Behind him Luke saw a squadron of x-wings launch from a hanger. A pair of Rapora fighters dropped behind the squadron and opened fire. Two x-wings exploded from casual caress of the plasma fire. Followed seconds later by a much larger explosion as a trio of X-wings collided in an effort to evade their attackers. Luke dodged the splattering of plasma bolts that rocketed toward him. Luke knew this wasn’t plasma like that which came from the Yuuzhan Vong coral skippers. This plasma was more refined and deadly lacking all the errors and problems associated with biological weaponry. These technological plasma cannons were exponentially more power then those biological devices Luke had fought just a few years earlier. Luke rolled and dove and saw the remains of the X-wing squadron frantically engaged in a dog fight with four Rapora fighters. He extended his perceptions and felt Mara reaching out for him. Then he felt the cold calculating minds of his foes and the panicked outcry of the x-wing pilots. At the edge of his mind he felt several more familiar presences. * * * Jaina felt sweat dribbling down her face as she broke hard away from a pass from a Rapora fighter. She threw the craft around into a tight turn that brought her behind the target and fired frantically. She saw her first shot splatter against the ship’s shields and her second quad burst slice threw the fighters canopy. Through the force she felt the pilot’s outcry as it was killed. She turned and saw a familiar pair of X-wings ahead of them engaging in a dogfight with a group of Rapora. She called to her wing, “Jagged, have you got identification on those two?” “They’re the Skywalkers!” Jagged shock and surprise sent a ripple through the force. Slowly concentrating she reached out to touch the mind of the pilots and felt their familiar presence, slowly she sent a simple message to her former Master, Mara is it you? She saw an unfamiliar ship shot between them lancing solid beams of weapons fire out at the Rapora ships. She felt Mara’s emotional contact now, it’s me Jaina. She’d been so concentrating on the enemy ahead of them she didn’t sense the fighter that had locked onto her tail. She heard Jagged call out a warning, “Jaina on your six!” Jaina heard a terrific bang and felt her fighter shudder from the impact a damage report scrolled up in front of her. She saw the temperature of the primary reactor soar. She reached down between her legs and called out her last comm transmission, “Ejecting!” With an explosion the cockpit blew away and she shot outward into the void. * * * “Ejecting!” The speaker called out to the bridge crew. Janeway turned to Ensign Kim, “Beam her to sick bay!” She turned around and called out to Tuvok, “Bring us into the center of that fight. Full axis rotation as we engage. I want to give those fighters some help without being blown out of the sky!” Janeway watched as the Jade Scimitar soared into the engagement lasers blazing. Kathryn watched as one Rapora fighter was vaporized from the barrage. Suddenly she saw two fighters pull away from the fight and angle toward the Calamari Cruiser. They shot under the ships keel then pulled up and around straightening above their target and Janeway saw a pair of glowing white balls shoot from under the cockpits of the ships. * * * Captain Remora was in his command chair as he watched the fight, “Lieutenant, launch all remaining fighters!” “Yes sir,” The lieutenant that was in charge of the fighters nodded and transmitted his command. The sensor operator turned to face the captain, “Sir those two fighters have opened fire.” “Very well,” The captain replied as though it didn’t matter, “What can two fighters do? Continue launching fighters.” * * * Janeway saw the first shell hit in a blaze of sire that almost completely engulfed the dorsal surfaces of the MC80. Then the second shells hit burrowing into the hull before detonating. The entire cruiser seemed to quake then fire blossomed from the hanger bay and engulfed a squadron of A-wings as they launched. The ship went dark as it seemed to shrink then ballooned outwards splitting the hull in half and sending debris and large sections of the hull in all directions. Within seconds nothing was left but a splintered hulk of a ship. Janeway felt her stomach fold in on itself, “Kill those fighters now!” * * * Luke dropped in behind the swift moving Rapora fighter and fired sending a torpedo into its engine compartment. Instantly it blossomed into an expanding cloud of gas. Above them Luke saw Voyager firing with all its phaser banks within seconds four more Rapora fighters detonated. A familiar shape flashed by them destroyed a Rapora ship that had latched onto Mara’s tail before it could fire. “Thanks,” Mara said across the channel. “No problem,” The answering voice came across the comm. Luke smiled as he heard it, “Give me another target.” A pair of Rapora ship’s shot by Luke’s canopy and opened fire, “Han you’ve got some tails!” A phaser blast shot into one and it exploded. A trio of yellow laser bolts shot into the second ship and Luke saw the Delta flyer and Slave III slip into defensive positions around the freighter, “Solo we’ve got your back.” A chiss clawcraft shot into view firing on a Rapora wing pair. Suddenly the wing of the pair reversed direction without changing its vector and fired. Luke saw the clawcraft expertly begin a snap roll then dump a concussion missile. The shell hit the Rapora ship and detonated destroying the craft. The remaining Rapora ship suddenly accelerated then disappeared into hyperspace. After a moment a pained voice came across the line, “I’m not picking up Jaina’s beacon call.” “This is Voyager, we picked up you pilot.” Relief seemed to wash across the two voices that answered at once, “Thank you.” Luke recognized them as Jagged Fel and Han Solo. Mara and Luke had never been worried they’d never lost her from their perceptions. Luke glanced over the space that had just been a battlefield and saw the scattered hulks of over a dozen republic starfighters and the burned out hulk of the Remember Yavin IV. Slowly he curved over to Jade Scimitar, “Belana if you’d hold still we’ll come in and land.” * * * Janeway let out a long breath as the damage reports came in. It had been a fight unlike any other she’d witnessed, “Casualties?” “No Casualties here but that starship, Skywalker what’s the crew for a ship like that?” Chekotay answered. Luke stood in the back of the bridge, he’d transported over once they’d locked down the Jade Scimitar, “Several thousand.” Tuvok nodded slowly from his console, “Would you like to speak with our prisoner?” “Prisoner?” Luke asked somewhat disbelieving, “What prisoner?” “We captured one of these Rapora, he’s in the Brig.” Tuvok said slowly. Luke glanced at the two of them, “Did you search him?” “We didn’t detect any weapons,” Tuvok said slowly. “A lightsaber doesn’t show up on most sensors, you wouldn’t have known me and Mara’s were weapons if we hadn’t given them to you,” Luke said a look of horror appearing on his features. Janeway tapped a control on the stick, “Bridge to the brig.” There was no answer, “Bridge to the brig please respond.” Wahaaaa!!!