COMPLETING THE CIRCLE…
Chapter 36 of Starfighter! The Iconoclast
By: Tom Sczepkowski
With editing and clean-up by: Frederick P. Kopetz
And with inspiration and aid by: Angie Sczepkowski
Copyrights: STAR TREK is © 2009 by Paramount Pictures, Inc. STAR BLAZERS is © 2009 by Voyager International, and, STAR WARS is © 2009 by Lucasfilm, Ltd. GARGOYLES is © 2009 by Disney Entertainment. All original elements of this tale are © 2009 by Tom Sczepkowski. All rights reserved, not to be copied without the author's permission.
Federation High Commissioner Grasso walked through the halls of
the Metropolitan Opera house in
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Species: |
Human/Borg/Human |
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Name |
Sean Liam Hawk “Neal” |
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Gender: |
Male |
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Born: |
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Assimilated: |
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Retrieved |
2374 (Operation Valkyrie) |
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Hair: |
brown |
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Eyes: |
blue |
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Height: |
1.8 m |
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Weight: |
97.5 kg |
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Affiliation: |
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Status: |
Inactive |
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Prior Assiginments |
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Prior Station |
USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E |
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Occupation: |
Helmsman |
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Rank: |
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Insignia: |
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Insignia: |
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Mother: |
Camille Hawk |
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Father: |
Rhyst Hawk |
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Siblings: |
Darey & Jason Hawk (brothers) |
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Relatives: |
Captain David Hawk (cousin) |
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Spouse: |
Marissa Hawk |
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Children |
Creighton Hawk (Son) Astra Hawk (Daughter) |
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Current Whereabouts |
Assoc. Professor of |
Although he looked a
little older and had the beginnings of whitish hair, Grasso knew that this was
the man he was looking for.
Upon the finishing
of the piece the man behind the podium smiled and nodded.
“Much, much
better,” The man said. “Professor Corsair will be very happy with how you all
are progresssing.”
“Do you know when
Professor Corsair is getting back, Professor Hawk?”
“I wish I did,” He
replied while glancing at Grasso. “But let’s stay focused so when he comes back
we can really impress him…..See you next week.”
The class
concluded as the students left, leaving both Grasso and Hawk looking at each
other.
“Lieutenant Sean
Liam Hawk?”
“Professor Neal Hawk, Commissioner Grasso,” The man replied while packing some papers into a briefcase.
“I’m surprised you know
of me, Professor,” Grasso said.
“I know mostly what I
read on the News Service,” Hawk said. “I guess they consider a man who
now stands third in the line of succession to the presidency, and yet has never
traveled into space quite newsworthy these days.”
“I’m afraid of
heights,” Grasso said.
“Whatever it is
you’re selling, I’m not buying,” Hawk said. “I’m not Starfleet anymore.”
Grasso nodded.
“That is hardly a grateful attitude for the instrument of your salvation.”
Hawk glared at
him. Then, he said, “The instrument of my salvation as you call it, was the man whose class I am covering for Starfleet had
nothing to do with it.”
“I understand he
means to kill Picard,” Grasso said as they walked out into the corridor.
“Yeah …Well a lot
of people think Jean-Luc Picard is a national hero” Hawk said I am not one of
them. Vaught Corsair and his family are ten times the
hero that Picard will ever be.”
“How did you meet
Corsair?” Grasso said.
“I had just
graduated from the Academy and he was a Sergeant in the Marines. We were
assigned to the same Starbase where I flew a troop deployment ship. We were
both musicians and we played on our off hours…… On a training mission we were “accidentally”
shot down by a Romulan Bird of Prey. We were the only two to come out of
it….Man saved my ass then too.”
“Operation
Valkyrie?”
Hawk sighed. “OK. After
getting assimilated and blown off the
“Corsair
2 Borg 0.” Grasso said “Did you know about Astra?”.
“I met her a few
times.” Hawk said . “Vaught’s Mother is very close
with my wife.”
“So you’re pretty
close with the family, are you?”
“We spend a
considerable amount of time together,” Hawk said.
“I think they’re
in over their heads.”
Hawk smiled, “Look
I’ve seen Vaught operate…he’s not a man who requires any sort of help.”
“I think in this
case he does,” Grasso replied.
“Does he know
about this?” Hawk asked.
“Not yet,” Grasso
said. “I need you to command a Starship. She’s called the Swayback.”
Hawk laughed aloud
“I was only a flight controller. You go back there and tell them that.”
“You were a flight
controller…but now, you will be commanding one of the most technically advanced
Starships ever designed.”
He handed Hawk a
datapad of the picture of the ship.
“Creighton,” Hawk
said. “So what you’re telling me… is you’ve already got your guy…”
Grasso didn’t need to answer…he just smiled.
Cometine General Torbuck
brooded on the bridge of his cruiser.
“This is no life for a
Comet Empire general,” He said aloud to his first officer who was on a
commlink, and typing equations on a console. “Having to take instruction from
that Gamilon upstart!” he snapped.
His first officer
finished his call and removed the comlink from his ear and laid it on the
console.
“Apologies…. My general. However, I have news that will no doubt brighten
your spirits.”
Torbuck cracked a smile
“The Antimatter missiles?”
“Yessir.
The final checkout is complete and all systems are operational. There is a
planet at 33.1 garkevs distance; it
would be a most impressive demonstration!”
“Excellent…then let us
begin the display,” Torbuck said.
Five starcruisers with
the antimatter missiles attached to their bows moved into position facing the
small blue world. There was life on this world…namely,
a civilization of considerable advancement. But no one from the world of
Granix would know that billions of years of evolution would suddenly end on a
pleasant warm day. All they knew was that the sky turned red, followed by an
ear piercing howl, then nothing at all. The once beautiful planet of Granix
collasped in on itself, then shattered into billions
of particles. From the bridge Torbuck smiled sinisterly.
“Are you watching, Leader Desslok? That’s how you destroy an enemy!”
“Vaught!” Wildstar yelled as
Vaught cried out as if he was in extreme pain, then
collapsed onto the deck. He was shuddering while speaking in another language.
His eyes were wide open and he was breathing very heavily. Nova and Wildstar
rushed to his side as Homer called for Dr Sane and Royster.
Wildstar was trying to
keep Vaught still. However, Vaught’s Gargoyle strength threw Wildstar across
the room like a rag doll as he fought him. Derek hit the deck, and then
recovered quickly and was back at Vaught’s side.
“Nova, what the hell
is wrong with him!?” Wildstar shouted as Vaught was still talking rapidly in
Telezar.
Nova spoke to him
softly. He seemed to be calmed by the sound of her voice as his fangs began to
retract and his breathing slowed. His glowing wolf-like eyes seemed to be
draining of their rage as he blinked a couple of times and then tried to stand.
However, the bridge crew voiced all at once for him to just lie still.
Sane and Royster rushed onto the bridge as Vaught sat up as Sane scanned him with a Federation-issue Tricorder.
“You’ve had some kind of seizure, Colonel!” Sane said “Just lie back and stay still.”
Of course Vaught did just the opposite and stood up. Still slightly disoriented he looked around the bridge then staggered back to his station.
“Granix…..” Vaught began however stopped himself thought for a moment than spoke again.
“There was a great disturbance in the Force,” Vaught said in English, however his strange accent was slightly heavier than normal. “It was horrible. Millions of voices cried out suddenly in terror, than at once were silenced......I sense something…. something I have not felt since……..”
He turned and walked off the bridge as if nothing was wrong.
Wildstar looked at Nova and Royster “Now what the hell was that all about?....Disturbance in the Force? What the hell is that? Nova, did you pick up on anything?”
Nova shook her head, “No, Derek. But that doesn’t mean anything; his power is on a much greater scale than mine.”
“Well if she didn’t pick up on anything the Inferno sure as hell did.” Royster said.
Royster’s comment seemed to interest Sandor as he spun around in his chair.
“What are you talking about?” Wildstar said.
“Right before Homer called for me and the Doc , Inferno’s sensors registered what the computer described as an Antimatter detonation several thousand megameters away from us.”
“Antimatter detonation?” Sandor said.
“Yeah! At first I thought it might have been what they call a warp core breach…..but it’s too big and way too concentrated,” Royster walked over to Vaught's station and brought up Inferno’s sensor readings on the video panel.
“Somebody was testing some sort of weapon,” Sandor said “There was a planet there.”
“What makes you think that?” Venture said.
“Well, Vaught said that he heard millions of people criying out, then nothing…at almost the same time that Inferno picked up the Antimatter explosions.”
“I think something terrible has happened,” Nova sighed.
Wildstar just nodded at that.
Vaught sat and played the piano for some time while trying to clear his mind of the horror he had experienced. All he could see, however was the world of Granix. it was as if he were there standing on the city streets seeing its destruction. He continued to play, not fighting the morbid visions he was seeing. Red sky. Groundquake. People being roasted into skeletons, and then nothing, in the space of two heartbeats. A lurid flare of light. Then, nothing but darkness. And silence.
Royster walked into the room. Not wanting to interrupt, he sat down. Like always, the piece was hauntingly beautiful. He loved to hear both Nova and Vaught play, being a lover of classical music and opera himself , Royster always commented that he wished he had a gift such as Vaught and Nova did. He enjoyed Vaught’s playing for a few minutes more until Vaught concluded the piece.
“Can you identify the piece?” Vaught asked.
“Richard Addinsell’s Warsaw Concerto from the movie Dangerous Moonlight from the year 1941.” Royster said.
Vaught turned to face him “It’s a little freakish how you have that kind of knowledge.”
Royster scoffed “You knew it….In fact you knew it so damn well you played the entire piece from memory!”
“I teach music and history,” Vaught said.
“You wanted to know when the movie was wrapping up, Professor.”
“Indeed.” Vaught said getting up from the piano.
“Also I set the AE-35 like you wanted,” Royster said
“Good,” Vaught said, “Please wait for me on the bridge.”
“That was a little sinister,” Royster said commenting on Vaught’s instructions.
“Go away,” Vaught said
sarcastically.
Still disoriented from the encounter, Vaught made his way to the ship’s theater as Royster went to the bridge muttering to himself.
Time passed.
The movie was finishing up as Vaught waited by the ship’s theater. He closed his eyes for a moment trying to drive the people of Granix from his mind. He had not noticed the time when the doors opened, startling him for a few moments as Nova and Wildstar were in some sort of debate. They passed him, but Vaught walked on behind them as they continued their debate.
“Excuse me?” Nova asked.
“You heard me, Nova!” Wildstar said.
“There you go again.” Nova said.
“What?” Wildstar asked
“It was not a little deal!” Nova said.
“How was the movie?” Vaught interjected.
“Very good,” Nova said.
“Sucked,” Wildstar said.
“It did not!” Nova said “It was a beautiful story!”
“Yeah, some story,”
Wildstar said as they entered the observation area. “He gets killed in
“Oh, Derek!” Nova said “Don’t you see that their affair was doomed right from the start? It was so sad!”
“I can’t believe all of those politics about her losing her job over the guy.”
“He was a married man!” Nova said. “It was a breach of trust! Derek, sometimes you are appalling!”
“What did that have to
do with the price of tea in
Nova glared at him. “Oh, you know! The sanctity of marriage! Remember Ephesians 5:21? Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her.”
Wildstar looked at Vaught “There she goes again. Selective quotation. She’s skipping over the part where it says, Wives be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife as Christ was the head of the church.”
“Yes! I do skip over that part!” Nova said to Vaught.
“Why?” Vaught asked.
“Because…It’s…Stupid!” Nova asserted. “It was written by a first-century Christian with some issues about women…I mean, he expected us to keep our mouths shut in church, wear veils….”
“Yada, yada, yada,” Derek said while putting his hands behind his head.
“Derek, you are not being serious about this! Not at all!” Nova cried. “Vaught, he needs to be more serious about what is important in life!”
“Ok.” Vaught said “What movie are we talking about?”
“Love Is A Many Splendored Thing.” Wildstar said “1955, William Holden and Jenifer Jones. Early chick flick,” he said as he looked at Nova while she gave him a black look in return. “She had her hanky out through the whole movie.”
“I read the book,” Vaught said while walking with them “It wasn’t exactly Tristan and Isolde, you have a point. But, Nova, I fail to see how the New Testament Book of Ephesians comes into an otherwise melodramatic romance story.”
“Husbands, love your wives;” Nova quoted “As Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her….that he might sanctify her…having cleansed her with the washing of water with the Word that he might present the church to himself In………… something.”
“In
splendor.” Wildstar said “And I have no problem with Ephesians,
and any time you want me to cleanse you with the washing of water you know I’m
up for it,” he said with a leer and a wink.
“Oh, Derek, Derek, Derek,” Nova said while shaking her head and laughing in exasperation. “There are some things we do not discuss out in public.”
“Like Ephesians?” Derek said. Nova stamped her foot.
Vaught rolled his eyes and leaned up against the bulkhead.
“Then what is your problem?” Nova said
“Hackery!” Wildstar shouted as Nova groaned and walked out into the passage as Wildstar followed.
“Are you sure you guys were watching the movie?” Vaught said as they walked down the passage while continuing their argument and, after a contentious lift ride during which Vaught was getting a headache, emerged into the messhall.
“The author and screen writers were mere Hacks!” Wildstar said “Having a captive audience; and the way I know that is because I tried to have Inferno’s transporter just beam me out of the ship’s theater, They had an audience for one hour and forty five minutes and didn’t know what to do with it.”
“You wanted them to sing Volare?” Nova asked as they walked into the Galley
“It couldn’t have hurt.” Wildstar said. “Volare, whoa, whoa, whoa, WHOA!”
“Oh, come on!” Nova said. “Derek, you’re acting like…you just got hit on the head or something. Sure you don’t have a concussion?”
“Words!” Wildstar said getting coffee. “Words when spoken out loud for the sake of performance are music; they have rhythm and pitch and timber and volume! These are the properties of music, and music has the ability to find us and move us and lift us up in ways that literal meaning can’t!”
“You….. are an auorotorical snob!” Nova snapped while she grabbed her coffee and a sweet roll and walked over to an unoccupied table.
“Yes I am, and God loves me for it,” Wildstar said following her cracking a smile.
“You said the other day He was sending you to hell.” Nova said. “I don’t see the sense of this!”
“Nova, it’s for other
stuff, not this.” Wildstar said. “You can’t just trot out Ephesians, which you blew by the way; It has nothing to do with Husband and wives! It has to do
with all of us.
“So….. this is all about you.” Nova said sarcastically finishing her roll and getting back up with Wildstar as Vaught followed.
“No it’s not about me-“ Wildstar said cutting himself off. “Well, yes it is about me, then tomorrow it will be about somebody else…We’ll watch the news feed and see who it is!”
Wildstar turned to face
Nova and Vaught.
“All Hacks off the Stage right now!” Wildstar playfully shouted “On my personal authority as Captain of the Argo!”
Nova looked at him and shook her head. “I’ll see you later, Derek. I’m going to the ladies’ showers, I’m taking a bath, and I’m turning on Sinatra!”
Wildstar cracked a smile.
“Yes. And how does Mrs. Sinatra feel about that?” Wildstar asked. “Sanctity of Marriage, Nova! Remember that!”
“Peace be with you.” Nova said as she started down the hall as Wildstar broke into one of Sinatra’s songs. Nova, very amused, shook her head and smiled and turned the corner.
Wildstar paused for a moment and looked up at Vaught.
“Be subject to one another, Vaught.” Wildstar said “What can I do to be subject to you?”
“I’m fine,” Vaught said.
“Yeah?” Wildstar replied.
“I have the Force,”
Vaught said back.
“OK,” Derek said.
“However she does have a
point.” Vaught added. “You are
acting like you have a concussion.”
Wildstar looked at him
quizzically for a moment.
“Anything new on what happened today?”
“No,
sir.”
Vaught said.
“I think it’s time you made a phone call,” Wildstar said as they walked together onto the bridge.
“Must I?” Vaught
said.
“You’re going to have to contact them sooner or later, Vaught,” Wildstar said.
“As you say, sir,”
Vaught said. “Be subject to one another.”
“But you really don’t
want to,” Wildstar said. “And don’t tell me that it doesn’t matter what you
want.”
“Starfleet and the Federation have not turned out to be the intuition that Jonathan Archer had intended…..I think they’ve bitten off more than they can chew and know they want to get involved in intrerdimensional affairs.”
“Does it?” Wildstar said “It’s seemed as if my world is involved in an interdimensional affair the moment that Captain Avatar was handed the plans for this ship.”
“Perhaps,” Vaught said. “But history will judge my world more harshly…..I will contact Starfleet if that is what you wish me to do ….But I would also like your permission to contact Trelania first and see what information she can share regarding Granix.”
“Fine…If you can get through, that is. You know whoever it is out there doesn’t want us talking to her,” Wildstar said.
“But it’s not consistent,” Vaught said “That’s what troubling me.”
At that, Wildstar walked over and sat down at his station while Vaught sat at his, as Royster who was waiting patiently talking with Homer walked over to them.
“What’s bothering you?” Wildstar said.
“The Chatter I’ve been listening to referred to a Prince Zordar,” Vaught said. “The Zordar family controls the largest faction of the Orion Syndicate in my universe….There is a legend in Orion culture about a group of marauders having the command of great power to manipulate Comets to obtain the objectives of conquest…..They were referred to by their conquered as the “Comet Empire.”
“Wildstar looked at Venture and they both looked at Vaught with interest. Even Sandor walked over to Vaught’s station
“Many centuries ago
these marauders attempted an invasion of my Earth. However, they were repelled
by the Scottish Highlanders and the Gargoyle Clans…..This was a story of
legend…my Grandmother was only a child when this supposedly happened…..But one
took it seriously…one of the Orion Princes was obsessed with the legend of the
Comet Empire....Nevar Zordar. A particularly insane Prince, based upon what I
know of him."
"And you
think he's behind Trelania’s warning?" Venture asked.
“It is a possibility,” Vaught
said, “They do have a history.”
“really?”
Venture asked, not hiding the concern in his voice.
“They were rivals.”
Vaught said rolling his eyes. He could see that Venture was relieved.
"OK: Why not ask
her?" Wildstar asked, bringing the conversation back into focus.
"I'm reluctant to ask her directly…because our communications are constantly being monitored," Vaught said.
"You said that it wasn't consistent." Wildstar replied.
"Well I am certain that the monitoring is consistent, however if you're going to jam communications, you don't do it sporadically." Vaught said "It contradicts the entire concept…you jam communications to prevent the exchange of information."
"So how do you account for the inconsistency?" Sandor asked
"Its almost as if there is a conflict between two parties within the organization, and the chatter would also indicate as much," Vaught said. “along with the Comet’s constant course corrections.”
"One course heading directly to Telezart and the other away,” Wildstar said What do you think the conflict is about?"
"How to dispense of us," Vaught said. . "And that's what's bothering me! One faction wants to take us out quickly so that they can concentrate on their mission objectives, to the other we are the mission objective."
"You’re talking about Desslok," Royster said
Vaught looked at Royster hard for a moment then looked at Wildstar.
“Indeed.” Vaught said.
"No way!" Wildstar said . “It can’t be!”
"Yes. All the pieces of the puzzle would fit if it were him." Vaught said. “And he had a knack of toying with others…”
"Desslok of Gamilon
is as dead as Judas Iscariot!" Wildstar said. “No,
deader. The last I saw of Desslok, he was being turned into subatomic
mush by his own Surge Cannon after his beam was repelled off our own ship.”
"Look, That missile firing was a demonstration.” Vaught said. “Possibly as an attempt to keep Desslok in line. There was
no other Logic to attack it! The people of Granix were just in the beginning
stages of testing rockets.! “
"Hmmm…if what you
are saying is right...., Sandor said. "Then, it
has just made our task all the more harder."
“Somebody out there
doesn’t want him operating with the impunity that he has been." Vaught
said.
"We beat him
before," Venture said. “We can do it again!”
"You got
lucky," Vaught said "He was acting out of emotion; you just destroyed
his home world just six months prior, and he didn't have time to plan,"
Vaught said pointing out towards the window. "He's had over a year to
think about it now."
Wildstar leaned back in his chair
"You're sympathetic
to him?" Wildstar said “You of all people?”
Vaught looked back
at him “You all have these weapons of mass destruction.” Vaught said. “You
wield them in your own defense, but you have no conception of the long range
effects.”
“How is that different
from what you do?” Venture asked/
“Because
he sees their faces.” Wildstar said “He does it up close while we do it from
mega-meters away.” Wildstar said.
“No, you’re missing the
point altogether!” Vaught said.
“I would LOVE to hear
this!” Venture commented.
“You’re not going to
like my answer.” Vaught said.
“I want to hear it.”
Wildstar insisted.
“Gamilon attacked Earth
first!” Vaught said “When you found out that Gamilon was a neighboring world to
Iscandar, you hesitated and you let yourself be drawn in by Desslok. As soon as
you realized what was at stake, you should have come up with an attack…instead
of attacking just to get away. When you attack, you go in for the kill and you
kill totally without mercy. The premise of such a strategy is not to make an
enemy think twice about attacking you again after the first time. The premies is, rather, they don’t have the means to or are
physically unable to attack you again. What do you do? You keep giving this guy
chances! Desslok is not a stupid person! You give him an opening…he’s going to
exploit it I wouldn’t have just fired at the volcano….I would have aimed at the
planet’s core.”
“That’s billions of
Gamilons,” Sandor said.
“Yeah! Who put the guy whose chasin’ us in office in the first place,” Royster
said.
Vaught pointed at
Royster. “Exactly.”
Vaught said as he leaned over to Venture, “There are beings who
have started aggressions against the Federation! You can damn well be sure that
I’m the one who is called in to end those aggressions by finishing them! Start
thinking the same way! If they’re going to be lethal, you must be lethal in
turn.”
“There is something
frightening in what you say,” Wildstar said.
Vaught nodded, “That’s
because you’re a decent person; I’m not!”
Vaught said in a deadly tone. “That’s where the law stops….and I start!”
Something in Vaught’s
answer bothered Wildstar. He just simply glared at Vaught for a moment. Vaught
could tell that Wildstar was wondering what sort of person he allowed into the
ranks of the Star Force, let alone promoted to their second in command.
“Your words don’t bother
me,” Wildstar said “I have heard them before…..what troubles me is that I have
never known anyone who could back up those words with their actions like you
do. Until now.”
“You asked my opinion,
Captain,” Vaught said.
“Which I’m going to keep
in consideration…which frightens me, and before this
mission is over….it’s advice that I’m going to have to heed. It terrifies me,
but there’s that troublesome character flaw that I have called decency.”
There’s still time yet, sir,”
Vaught chided, drawing a laugh from Wildstar.
Vaught Stood up… “Before contacting Starfleet, I would like
permission to contact Trelania again…..See if I can get some facts straight.”
Wildstar simply gave him
leave to make his communications with Trelaina. However, he again stated to Vaught
that he wanted to be present when he contacted Starfleet. Vaught called for
Nova and Royester to meet him in the AE-35 Center.
Vaught walked into the room and sat in the chair in front of the flashing screen where Nova was waiting for him so that she could calibrate the antenna if necessary. Now, she was, of course, all business, their bantering before set aside for the moment. She was handed a small device in the form of an earpiece, as Trelania’s face appeared on the screen.
It was the first time Nova saw Trelania as her eyes went wide for a moment. She noticed that she had the same Wolf–like eyes as Vaught, although she was very slight, she could tell that she was very tall, almost as tall as Vaught. Although her appearance seemed to be gentle, almost frail, Nova realized that she was indeed a very formidable person and not to be taken lightly.
They were both speaking in another language a language they were both comfortable in speaking rather than English. What fascinated her was the fact that thier dialects were the same, down to the same accent when they spoke English. She realized that what Vaught gave her was a form of translator so that she could listen to the conversation.
“You have heard the cries from the night,” Trelania said.
“It was a disturbance in the Force.” Vaught replied.
“Did you also sense that the Planet Granix was destroyed by Cardassian Antimatter weapons?”
“How do you know about Carrdassians?” Vaught said.
“Search your feelings, and you will find you already have the answer to that question,” Trelania said.
Vaught sighed, “When did it become against the code of the Starfighter to speak directly? You are Trelania Teresa Corsair.”
She nodded however there was a large amount of static that suddenly began.
“Nova?” Vaught asked.
“I think we’re being jammed.” Nova said as she worked some controls. “I’m trying to compensate….”
Indeed that was the case as Desslok sat in the command chair of his flagship, reading a report from a message capsule. He chuckled softly to himself which got the attention from Talan. He handed the capsule to Talan who read it.
“More Starfleet Rumors?” Talan said.
“I was about to
get the answer to that question when that meddler Torbuck started to jam the transmission
between Trelania and this mystery warrior of the Argo.” Desslok said.
“Talan….. cancel out their jamming wave! I want to
hear more of this conversation…and make sure it’s recorded! I want our
linguists to attempt to translate this; I find it interesting that someone
aboard the Argo speaks the same language as our dear Trelania.”
Talan pointed at the Comm Officer who nodded in reply, as a slight green youngish man dressed in a white uniform walked up to him.
“Are you sure that’s wise?” The man said “We wouldn’t want an exchange of information to occur between Trelania and the Starforce.”
Desslok looked at Talan who gripped his lightsaber tightly on his belt.
“You protest?” Talan said, “You risk much.”
Talan narrowed his eyes as the young Cometine Officer began to gasp for air. Desslok seemed amused for a moment when he gently raised his hand for Talan to stop. Talan did so as the Cometime Officer dropped to his knees and inhaled deeply.
“Mortar is our guest, Talan,” Desslok said sarcastically “We must follow the example from the Dreaded United Federation of Planets…….. Tolerance. No doubt, our Guest will include this lighthearted banter in his report to Prince Zordar….You know…. the one he sends every cycle in secret?”
Desslok narrowed his eyes and glanced at him angrily as Mortar turned and stormed off.
“Anti-jamming beacon on, Leader Desslok.” Talan said. “Recorders are on.”
“Walk with me, Talan,” Desslok said.
They walked through the corridors of the flagship and Desslok spoke with a deeper tone without the overconfident sarcasm of late.
“You are familiar with Earth music and folklore?” Desslok said.
“Only a novice’s interest,” Talan said.
Desslok nodded. “I was told a story about an Earth legend. It concerned a man who was playing a stringed musical instrument when Lucifer came across him. The Dark One had a similar stringed instrument fashioned from a rare earth mineral known as gold. Lucifer challenged the young musician to a “Duel” of sorts regarding who was the better musician. In that duel, he would wager his instrument of rare metal against the young musician’s soul.”
Talan chuckled aloud. then quoted,
“The devil bowed his
head because he knew that he'd been beat.
He laid that golden fiddle on the ground at Johnny's feet.
Johnny said: "Devil, just come on back if you ever want to try again.
"I told you once, you son of a bitch, I'm the best that's ever been."
“I feel like I am in a similar duel. I feel, however, in my case I will lose to the Devil,” Desslok said.
“Starfleet again!” Talan said “So the rumors were true.”
Desslok nodded, “There were so many rumors.”
“Can you say who are they and where are they from?”
“There is little pretense now, my friend,” Desslok said, “and you must know that, to be prepared for what lies ahead.”
Nova simply shrugged when the interference suddenly stopped. Trelaina reappeared on the screen, as clear as day.
Vaught was going to say something when he stopped.
He looked at Trelania, then back at Nova. Then Trelania was about to say something when Vaught held up his hand.
“Coup Da Reaben?” Vaught said in Vulcan.
She gestured to him, then he said a few more words in Vulcan. After that, he pressed some buttons on his watch. The visual distorted, then again was cleared.
“What did you do?” Nova said.
“Encrypted Subspace frequency,” Vaught said. “I’m tired of being screwed with….! Get Royster up here…now!” At that, Nova nodded and turned to her task.
He turned back towards Trelania. “If this Earth is being invaded by enemies of the Federation I need to stop it,” he said in Vulcan.
“You can’t stop them by
yourself,” Trelania replied in Klingon. In Klingon, it came out as, “SoH chaH Sum SoH'egh…”
“Can’t I?” Vaught said now speaking Andorian.
“There are other factors to this than what you know,” Trelania said in Manderian Chinese, “Furthemore, their Earth Defense fleet is not up to the task….even with Creighton’s Wave Motion Design.”
“And how would you know that?” Vaught said in Polish. In Polish, it came out as, “I to jeszcze jak byłby ty znać ów?”
She stared into his eyes. “I know,” she replied in English.
Vaught was about to ask her what she meant, when Royster stuck his head in.
“You need me?” Royster said interrupting.
“Don’t you knock or clear your throat to let some one know you’re around?” Vaught asked.
“Ha! An hour ago you sensed me walk into a room while you were banging on a pieania,” Royster said "What all of a sudden changed?
"Neville..." Nova said pointing at the screen. “Up there.”
“Were you talking to the lady?”
Vaught answered him by also gesturing to the screen.
“Hello, Lady!” Royster said as Nova approached from the other side.
“Hello, lady?” Nova asked with raised eyebrows. “Royster…”
Royster shrugged while Vaught shook his head. Then, he said, “Trelania I wanted you to meet my staff. The young lady to your right is Lieutenant Nova Forrester…”
Nova looked at him with an unspoken objection in her eyes as Trelania suppressed a smile.
“I sense you wish to be known by a different name,” Trelania said.
“It would be nice,” Nova muttered.
Vaught cleared his throat, “This is Neville Royster, civilian engineer.”
Royster responded by waving his hand, “Hi! Whats the deal, Boss?”
“Trelania thinks that the antimatter explosions were antimatter missiles with Cardassian signatures.”
“Yeah…makes sense,” Royster said.
“So certain?” Vaught said.
“Damn straight,” Royster replied. “Cardassia’s part of the Dominion, add to that the dude you ran into! It smells that they have a definite interest in what happens here….and they want it stacked on their side……and your family ain’t on the best terms with them….You gotta call your Grandma or your Dad.”
Trelania gasped slightly drawing a look from Royster.
“Your parents still alive.” Royster said.
Vaught straightened in his chair uncomfortably. “Perhaps this is not the time to reminsce,” Vaught said.
“Agreed,” Trelaina said. “I will send you what sensor readings I have from the Granix system, also a new set of warp coordinates…but please be careful, for I sense a great disturbance in the Force.”
Thank you,” Vaught said.
“If we get anymore careful, we won’t be any good.” Royster said to Trelania.
.
Trelania nodded. However, before Vaught closed the communications line Trelania called out to him in Telezar.
“Give us a minute,” Vaught said and waited for Royster and Nova to leave the room.
“Seeka meteor vak ambush tre talla nun an na sardia…….Vanoosh nivin tuvek Gamilon Krenna, Desslok quwll Talan Strfighterkrenn seeka Byou malla marken sarell.”
Vaught nodded.
“Abbay mall kum sonna he…….Nevar Zordar?” Vaught said.
“Vallum,” Trelaina said.
“Balla,” Vaught said “Sedare ichara non vanna jayarch.”
Trelana nodded, “Vdearch Mark unballa cedric tova ninvaniva.”
“Balla,” Vaught said again and the transmission faded.
Vaught tapped his watch.
“Captain Wildstar?” Vaught asked.
“What’s up, Vaught?” Wildstar asked.
“Would it be possible for you to join me in the AE-35 Communications room, please?” Vaught said in Japanese.
“Yeah,” Wildstar said in English. “Be right there.”
Vaught tapped the watch again.
“Working,” Inferno’s computer responded.
“Search for transponder U.S.S. Missouri! Aligin AE-35 antenna to match coordinates.”
WIthin a few moments, Wildstar was sitting next to Vaught on his left, while Nova and Royster both left the communications room to take care of other things. Vaught sighed heavily.
"What?" Wildstar asked.
"I'm not looking foward to this," Vaught said.
There was a delay followed by several flickers of a screen. “The Communications budget is money well spent,” Wildstar said, as all of a sudden a computer display flashed on the screen, followed by the face of a bald, austere-looking man. Even Wildstar, who was not Force-sensitive, immediately knew there was a bitter history between the two as Vaught and the man glanced hard at each other. He looked at Nova, who seemed to understand the situation. However, she did not share the same disdain which Vaught confirmed when he spoke.
"Captain Jean-Luc Picard, we meet again at last....the circle is now complete; when I last saw you I was but the learner, now I am the master."
“From what I hear, you are only a master of Evil…….Darth,” Picard said.
“Perhaps by your own hand,” Vaught said as Wildstar rolled his eyes.
“Captain Picard, I am Commander Derek Wildstar In command of the Earth Defense Fleet Battleship Argo…..Your government requested that my first officer contact you.”
“The Major’s government
wants, at the very least, a rational explanation as to what both of you are
doing.”
“My authority comes from
the Earth Defense Fleet Captain,” Wildstar said. “This communication is a
courtesy…nothing more.”
Picard looked at Vaught.
“I know it is your
intention to kill me, but could we at least set our differences aside until we
determine what exactly is transpiring here?”
Vaught looked at
Wildstar than back at Picard, “With the Captain’s permission, I will send you
my logs and sensor data. However bear in mind that I don’t have anything more
than just speculation. I won’t have any definite information until after we
reach Telezart.”
“Is that Vaught?...” came a familiar voice
to Vaught from out of his view.
The person came into
view as Wildstar saw Vaught smile for what seemed the first time.
“Vaught-Boy!” The man shouted with his
prounced southern accent, as Picard also cracked a small smile and stepped
slightly to his right.
“Admiral,” Vaught said
professionally.
“Go get his mother,”
Creighton said to someone on the bridge crew.
“How have you
been….son…you, OK?” Creighton asked Vaught, who could truly see concern on his
face.
“I’m fine, Dad,” Vaught
said easing his tension. “This is Captain Wildstar, the commander of the Argo.”
“Pleasure, Captain,”
Creighton said. “I’ve spoken with your brother Alex a few times over this here
Squwak Box.”
“Is he well?” Wildstar
said.
“He’s got his hands full
right now, but he’s doing OK,” Creighton said “Maybe when things are quieted
down a bit, we can get the two of you talking. Right now, like I said everybody
has their hands full.”
“Does that include my
daughter?” Vaught asked.
“She kind of got thrown
into the deep end of the pool but she’s handling herself real well.” Creighton
said.
“I hope it isn’t too
deep.” Vaught said “This is her first time on any sort of mission without
Nokkar.”
“You know about that?”
Creighton said.
“I felt it,” Vaught
said. “Without needing to be told.”
There was a moment of
silence when there was another voice, as an older but very attractive woman
pushed Creighton out of the way. Wildstar laughed aloud for a second as
Vaught’s mother spoke with him for a few minutes. She mostly asked what mothers
usually asked about, such has, how is was his diet
doing…he was looking tired. And she also about his music.
However, Wildstar could have predicted Vaught’s next question as the doors
opened and Nova walked in. Wildstar gave a glance at Vaught who nodded as
Wildstar got up and gestured Nova to sit where he was sitting. At first Nova
was not aware of why he wanted her to sit next to Vaught until Melisande
blurted out …..
“My
God…..Nova!”
Nova looked at the
woman, then at Vaught who simply glared.
“Don’t be mad at them,”
Nova said softly. “Let it go…there’s enough going on around here. It wasn’t
like I was forced to grow up in an orphanage or something….I’ve had a good
life….I’m just happy that I’m going to see the other side of things.”
“Why are you asking
about this?” Vaught said.
“I never had any
grandparents,” Nova replied.
“Well, I hope we can
make it up to you,” Creighton said.
“To the three of you,”
Melisande said.
“Three?” Nova asked as
she raised her eyebrows.
“Trelania,” Vaught said.
“She is still alive. I can only guess that a subspace weapon is responsible for
the planet making a transdimensional jump instead of it being destroyed as it
was assumed…..but I wont know how to proceed until I
can make a landing and see what the tactical situation is.”
“You don’t need us to
tell you to watch yourself down there,” Creighton said.
“I know,” Vaught
replied.
“One other thing,”
Picard said. “Your sensors may detect a Starship shadowing you. Its
configuration and registration is not in any database,” Picard said.
It was Jean-Luc’s
suggestion,” Creighton said. “Her name is the Swayback. She is commanded
by that musician friend of yours.”
“Neal?” Vaught said,
while looking at Picard.
“We felt that the Swayback …from a distance could give you
logistical support also help you to relay messages to
Starfleet Command,” Picard said.
“Now, she cant help you fight any battles,” Creighton said. “We want
whoever it is out there to think that you’re a solo rogue agent.”
“This was your
suggestion, Captain?” Vaught said.
“I was never your enemy…Colonel, “ Picard
said. “Even though you
have made me one.”
“You were removed from the
collective ….I had to remove JP from the collective by killing him……who do I
see about that?”
“There isn’t anybody to
see,” Picard said. “I wish there was, though.”
“Yeah,” Vaught said
“I’ll be in touch.”
He made his farewells to
his parents and the screen went blank.
Some time later, Vaught arrived on the bridge and took his post the next morning. Wildstar was already there…pacing the bridge.
To Vaught he seemed more agited than usual. This was confirmed when Sandor suggested he relax. Derek then answered in a growl that almost seemed Gargoyle in its guttural tones.
“What are you worried about? We’re almost at Telezart,” Venture said.
“What do you have, Crystal Balls?” Wildstar snapped.
“Well, we have got a lot of good Intel from her about the meteor storm and a possible ambush….and she called me Mark.”
Wildstar glanced at Vaught.
“How was I supposed to know he was going to take it as something so serious?” Vaught asked.
“Looks like I’m going to have an uncle soon.” Nova quipped.
Vaught spun around in his chair and glared at her.
“OK… bad timing,” Nova said.
“Hey, are you guys going to wrap this up soon?” Eager asked.
“What?!” Wildstar said.
“I don’t know but I was wondering if these were the meteors that Trelaina was telling us about,” Eager said.
“Well…it proves that we can trust the rest of her information,” Wildstar said.
“Trust….you Humans use that word all too readily.” Vaught said.
“She’s your sister.” Wildstar said
“Yes. A woman whom I haven’t seen in 40 years,” Vaught said.
Wildstar flopped in his chair “Homer…Address Intercraft.”
The interior of an Astrofighter was almost centuries behind that of the Inferno. This was a fact that Neville Royster kept to himself as he crawled inside Conroy’s fighter.
“Well, what’s the prognosis?” Conroy impatiently shouted.
“Keep yer shirt on, 007,” Royster’s muffled shouts called out from inside the Astrofighter.
Conroy climbed up the ladder “Why do you insist on calling me that?”
“Weren’t you with MI-6?” Royster said
“So?”
“You know……. James Bond?”
“Was he in MI-6?” Conroy asked.
“No…….” Royster sighed “He was a fictional character was in a bunch of movies.”
Royster looked up at Conroy who just shrugged. Royster went back to work in the cockpit when the PA sounded overhead.
“Attention, all hands…” said Venture’s voice. “At 1307 hours, we will be encountering a meteor storm.”
Royster sighed heavily
“You’ve got to be shitting me,” Royster said.
Conroy chuckled, “Now don’t tell me after all you’ve been through that you are afraid of a few rocks?”
“Afraid?” Royster said “I don’t know the meaning of the word…I couldn’t even spell it …..However, terrified Is a word I know very well.”
“Happy Hunting,” Conroy said as he climbed down the ladder.
“Frightened is another term,” Royster shouted from the cockpit. “How about Scared Shitless?”
The Argo forged onwards through the meteor storm, as Vaught sat at his station, still trying to wipe the people of Granix from his mind. However a beeping at his console put the thoughts aside for a moment.
“Captain?” Vaught called over to Wildstar
“Hmm?” Wildstar said.
“Inferno’s shields just went up,” Vaught said.
“Corsair to Royster.”
“Yeah I’m on it,” Royster said over the speakers as Vaught could hear him typing on his console. There was a brief pause when Royster spoke again
“Inferno says came into contact with what may be a null energy field,” Royster said. “Are you guys losing power up there?”
Wildstar looked at Venture who looked at his instruments “We’re down by 5 Space Knots,” Venture replied.
Wildstar turned to Orion who was already checking his instruments “Engine output is OK,” Orion said.
Sandor turned around in his chair. “If it was enough to raise Inferno’s shields, then it could pose a problem. Maybe we should go around the space storm.”
“I agree.” Vaught said “The last time this happened we almost lost the ship.”
“We’d lose too much time!” Wildstar said.
“Funny.” Royster said over the intercom. “That’s what the captain of the Titanic said.”
“Asshole.” Wildstar muttered under his breath
Royster heared him but chose to ignore it “Maybe Ike can make something out of it.”
IQ-9 knew that Royster was referring to him as he raised his antennae then said, “Ok to Transmit.”
IQ-9 received the information from Inferno’s sensor log. Then, he typed on a keyboard and a paper printed out on Sandor’s printer. Sandor read the report.
“Royster…., Sandor said. “Get up here.”
There was a hum of a transporter as Royster materialized on the Argo’s bridge.
“You call my name and I appear!” Royster said.
“Neat trick,” muttered Wildstar sarcastically.
“Is this sensor log from Inferno correct?” Sandor asked.
Royster glanced at the paper, “I would have to say yes.”
“You don’t have any idea what it says, do you?” Sandor asked.
“Nope.”
Wildstar snatched the paper out of Sandor’s hand.
“Hey!” said Royster.
“You guys are giving me Abbott and Costello now?” Wildstar snapped.
Vaught spun around in his chair, “The meteorites are reading as being surrounded with a negative polarity…probably laced with antimatter….it couldn’t have occurred naturally.”
“Somebody doesn’t want us around here,” Homer said.
“Ya think!?” Wildstar said as he sat back at his station.
“No….” Vaught said while closing his eyes. “What is was is that there was once a planet here….”
Eager’s panel started chirping.
“New radar contact!” Eager said.
“Switch to video panel….All hands, General Quarters!” Wildstar yelled.
As the Cometime cruisers appeared on the video panel, The next thing to occur was a high pitched trill coming from Vaught’s station.
“Captain, they have missile lock!” Vaught said.
“Goddammit!” Wildstar shouted “Venture! Evasive action…..hard over!”
Venture pulled on the control yoke. “We don’t have the speed!”
Wildstar looked up just in time to see the enemy cruisers firing their missiles.
Sandor turned around in his chair, “Wildstar, let’s use the meteors as a shield!”
Vaught turned and looked quizzically at Sandor. Then, he wrote something quickly on a notepad. As Wildstar was giving the order to fire the antigravity sensor shells, Vaught handed the notepad to Sandor.
“Is this possible?” Vaught asked as Sandor read the notepad and chuckled.
“I don’t know the equations,” Vaught said. “That’s a little out of my league.”
Sandor smiled and began typing keys on his console.
As the antigravity sensors bored into the meteorites, Wildstar next gave a command which turned them on. Then, Dash plugged in a small Joystick at Wildstar’s station. The meteors began to form around the ship covering it. Then, Wildstar ordered Dash to reverse polarity. What happened is that the missiles that were about to make contact with the Argo bounced off the spinning circular shield ring of rocks. They were spared the attack; however, the sudden lurching and shuddering of the ship indicated to everyone that something was very wrong.
“I’ll call AAA,” Royster said, while Vaught looked at Venture’s instruments.
“You’re losing attitude control!” Vaught said.
“That aint half of it,” Venture said as Vaught noticed that the meteors were circling in the form of a whirpool; a whirlpool that was beginning to pull the Argo down towards it..
“Captain, I recommend depolarize the antigravity units; the effect is causing the whirlpool,” Vaught said.
“What?” Venture said.
“Vaught’s right,” Sandor said. “When we polarized the meteors, we converted their energy into a whirlpool.”
“Disengage,” Wildstar said trusting Vaught’s advice. Then, the rocks that were once in an organized circle flew haphazardly into space. However, it was too late as the battleship flung and spun out of control.
“I can’t get us out of this,” Venture said, just as Vaught spun out of his chair and walked over to Sandor.
“Sandor, I hate to rush you, but I need wave motion power in three minutes or we’re all dead!”
“I canna change the laws of physics Capt’n,” Sandor said….imitating a Scottish brogue while he was typing. Vaught glanced up at Royster….who just shrugged.
On the bridge of his command
cruiser, Torbuck stood there with his arms folded and a smirk on his face, as
his second in command walked up to him.
“The cameras are recording this?” Torbuck asked. “I want a record!”
The second in command nodded. “They are, sir. When Desslok sees what you have accomplished he will have a royal Gamilon fit! He’s been after them for two years….now he won’t have anything to occupy his mind!”
The two men laughed as they watched the powerless Argo on their view screen.
In the meantime, the Argo shook and shuddered as she spun out of control. Royster watched while Vaught and Sandor were busy with some sort of calculations. At the same time, as Venture struggled with the controls, the ship continued to shake violently. Royster, being careful of his footing on the shaking deck, walked carefully as he walked up to Venture’s chair. He tried calling his name a few times, but Venture was so occupied with what he was concentrating on that he wasn’t even hearing Royster.
Then Royster started feeling strange. His left arm started going numb and his chest felt heavy. He thought it had to do with the violent moves the ship was making, however, he gathered his thoughts and although his vision started to go blurry, he reached down at Venture’s post and pulled the lever deploying the wings. Before Venture could protest, the Argo suddenly stopped spiraling and drifted into a controlled course. Royster struggled for a moment towards Vaught’s chair. He sat down in it and fought to control his breathing.
Nova walked over to him. He just looked up at her and smiled. She was speaking to him as she said, “Royster, are you all right? Your face looks very pale!” Although it was somewhat muffled her voice gradually became clearer as she said, “I can see that you’re sweating pretty hard…sit down here and rest.”
“Royster,” Vaught said as he came over while Nova was checking his pulse by taking his wrist.
“Hey Boss,” Royster said.
“How did you know to do that?” Vaught asked. He looked at Nova and said, “What’s wrong?”
“His pulse is thready and sort of elevated. He’s not in the same physical condition we are; I think he overworked himself walking on that deck when we were out of control.”
“Noted, Nova. So, Royster, the principle you used,” Vaught asked, “was…?”
“Turbulence.” Royster replied as Nova wiped his face with the tail of his overshirt. “By using the wings we just used the thermals to steady us ….sort of what gliders use in updrafts.”
“Good call,” Vaught said.
“Well here’s another one….” Royster said as Nova stepped away from him to check Derek. “You know that whatever it was these guys used to hit that planet, they’re gonna be coming after us with it next, as soon as they re- acquire us with their targeting.”
“We need to get the hell out of here!” Venture snapped. “We need to be on our way towards Telezart.”
“Bullshit!” Wildstar said as he gently pushed Nova away after she checked his pulse and nodded. “What we need is the Wave Motion Gun!”
“You’ve got to be kidding; look at the power levels,” Venture said. “We can’t get out of our own way, let alone fire any weapons. What he wants is just impossible!”
“No. If the Captain says he wants the Wave Motion Gun, then the wave gun is what he’s going to get,” Vaught said while looking at Sandor.
Sandor nodded and typed some keys at his station. Then, the power levels started to spike on Orion’s console as the engine suddenly rattled and pulsed back to life.
“Energy is surging back,” Orion said. “What did you guys do?”
“All explanations later,” Sandor said.
Wildstar sat back down at his station and looked at Vaught. “How familiar are you with our wave motion gun, besides it being part of your family’s history?” Wildstar said.
“I’m proficient,” Vaught said.
Wildstar thought for a second, then he nodded and stood up from his console.
“I think some of the people of Granix would like you to respond on their behalf, Colonel.”
Vaught nodded and then took Wildstar’s station. “Begin transfer of energy to the wave motion gun,” Vaught said.
From his post, Orion nodded and flicked some switches. Then, he said, “Wave motion gun energy level is at fifty-five percent and rising,” as the omnious hum of energy buildup slowly began to start.
“Secure all stations,” said Wildstar over the PA as he sat at Vaught’s normal post.
Torbuck’s fleet was in firing position on the Argo. Torbuck….unaware that the Argo’s power levels had returned, gave the order to prepare his own anti-matter missiles for firing. The Cometine crews began their deadly tasks as the huge missiles that formed the bows of the enemy ships were primed and readied for firing.
On the Argo, Vaught calmly went through the checklist with Orion for firing the wave motion gun. The target-scope opened in front of him. He quickly closed it. Then, he closed his eyes briefly as Venture looked back at Wildstar who shook his head not to interfere and not to say anything. Wildstar guessed that he was going to use other means than technological to target the enemy flagship. Nova nodded at Derek as she sat back and felt Vaught drawing energy from the Force about himself while he gripped the firing pistol.
Vaught opened his eyes again, and glanced at Venture.
“All yours,” Venture said.
Vaught used the attitude controls to adjust the ship’s position slightly until the Argo was directly in line with Torbuck’s ship. “60 seconds to firing,” Vaught said without any emotion in his voice. “All decks, brace for recoil shock.”
“Wave motion engine is at Maximum output, Colonel,” Orion said as they heard and felt the deadly vibration of the primed main engine deep in the bowels of the ship.
“Acknowledged.” Vaught said “30 seconds to firing.” “Release all safeties and main safety lock.”
On his cruiser Torbuck lifted his hand, held it up momentarily, then lowered it swiftly giving the command to fire. He said, “Farewell, Argo. Enjoy your passage into Hell.” As with Granix, the lead ships fired their missiles that were mounted from the bow of their ships….all heading towards the Argo.
Before Eager could say anything as he spotted the radar blips, Royster called out,”“Think fast, rabbit! Those suckers have our name on them!”
Vaught saw the missiles hurling towards the Argo. He felt guilty that at least he could see them coming at them, unlike the people of Granix.
“5 seconds,” Vaught said as the crew put on their safety goggles. Royster walked over and stood over at Nova’s station. Sergeant Knox was on the other side of her station, deeply interested in seeing the mammoth weapon firing. He had only heard of the power of the wave motion gun before this.
Vaught placed his goggles over his face, looked at the missiles and wrapped his hand hard around the firing pistol.
“I have you now,” Vaught said in a deep, almost unnatural voice.
He squeezed the trigger.
He watched as his father’s ambition roared to life, as there was a flash of light followed by a horrendous sound. Vaught looked straight ahead as the wave of energy stuck the antimatter missiles first. There was a bright flash as the wave continued towards the enemy cruisers. This time he let out a smirk at the death screams that he felt through the Force as the wave hit the enemy cruisers and Torbuck and all his host dissolved painfully and consciously into sub-atomic mush. He felt no compassion for them. Justice had been served. He turned from the explosion and walked off the bridge.
Wildstar understood what he was feelling and let him leave.
The bright white hot glare that engulfed the bridge now subsided as the crew looked at empty space there were no more cruisers, and no anti-matter missiles. Even the asteroids…which were the last remnants of Granix were totally gone.
“Just as if they were never there…” Royster said in an awed whisper.
“Nice toy.” Knox said “How does it work, Nova?” he said as he glanced at her as she pulled her goggles off.
Nova replied, “To give the standard technical briefing, the wave motion gun utilizes the energy from the wave motion engine without any modification. The energy is created by extreme compression then, by creating even further compression through the wave motion gun’s firing chamber, it creates a great force.”
Knox nodded, “If the Space Marines had a weapon like that…..oh man.”
Venture sat his console and shook his head. “Where did we get the power from?” he asked.
“I’m not sure, but I think that’s what all the side conversations were about between Sandor and Vaught,” Wildstar replied.
“Vaught studied our trip to Iscandar very well,” Sandor said. “This wasn’t the first time we used rocks and asteroids to as a shield. You remember after the battle of Pluto back in 2199, Captain? When we confronted Colonel Ganz’s fleet for the last time before we finished him off?”
“I do,” said Wildstar.
“I remembered the high energy absorbtion rate they had after Vaught did an analysis on the remnants of Granix. So I programmed the antigrav emitters with an energy field, to channel the antimatter remnants back to us and using a filter, I rerouted the energy back to the wave motion engine, thus regenerating the energy flow.” Sandor said.
“You are a wonder worker.” Wildstar said with a laugh.
“Well, I’d like to think of it as a collective effort between the Colonel and myself using a past experience to help us.”
Talan walked through the passages of Desslok’s flagship until he came upon Desslok’s suite, and knocked twice on the hatch.
Desslok opened the hatch and greeted Talan.
“Among the many who would have to knock, you are not one of them,” Desslok said.
“Remember that, the next time you are entertaining a young lady,” Talan replied.
“The Cometime Women are not as graceful as our own; they are crude and without many of the social graces we take for granted,” Desslok said. “But you did not come here to discuses women?” Desslok said offering him a drink.
“I wish,” Talan said drawing a chuckle from Desslok accepting the glass. “No, I’m here because General Torbuck has just added himself to the many who have fallen as victim to the Star Force’s Wave Motion Gun.”
Desslok sat on a couch and sipped his glass.
“This is an Earth Drink called a Bloody Mary….I am rather partial to this.”
Talan sipped the drink nearly choking on how spicy it was. He looked at the glass, then at Desslok.
“The time has come at last, my friend,” Desslok said. “Once more unto the breach. We must finish this task ourselves.”
“After our conversation about Starfleet,” said Talan, “I contacted Gorce, who is a Romulan officer from that Universe. He isn’t being forthcoming regarding this Starfleet Officer who traveling with the cursed Star Force.., But deep down I cant help but wonder If he could be the Starfighter that has been foretold to me through the Force.”
“Naska would agree,” Desslok said “So your feared Darth Vader returns at last?”
“No. Next to this person…., Darth Vader would seem like a child,” Talan said. “This man whoever he is a cold-blooded killer who would think nothing of wiping out an entire sentient race. In addition, he is under the madman Wildstar’s command. Now, the arrogant boy has two indestructible weapons to wield; the Wave Motion Gun, and now this Assassin.”
“An interesting test of Power,” Desslok said. “The two most murderous henchmen of the human race against the last sons of Gamilon…….The time has come, my friend….once more unto the breach. Soon, the Star Force and your phantom whomever he is shall no longer exist!”
Desslok finished his Bloody Mary and threw the glass against the bulkhead. Then, he began to laugh.
Nova and Vaught both were playing guitars on the observation deck. They were doing a shared rendition of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. Wildstar walked quietly past, listening to them play their piece. He then continued down the corridor, with a piece of paper clutched in his fist until he came to the AE-35 Transmitter room. He walked in and sat behind the console and typed the coordinates to align the antenna. There were several confirmation codes that he entered and while he was waiting, he re-read the paper….it gave him a cold sick feeling. Through the corner of his eye, he saw the large monitor coming to life, showing Captain Gideon in his quarters on the Andromeda.
He could see Wildstar was upset…almost shaking in anger.
“Wildstar?” Gideon asked.
“I don’t care who you are.” Wildstar snapped. “I need you to know that.”
“I know,” Gideon said…than after a long pause he said…“Desslok’s back…isn’t he?”
Wildstar looked up at him.
“I know that look, son,” Gideon said. “And I know what you’re feeling.”
“How could anyone know this feeling?” Wildstar asked with acid in his voice.
“I’ve been there, Derek,” Gideon said. “Let me tell you a story about a man I once knew….His name was Khan Noonian Singh, and he felt that he was a superior being of some type…”
Grasso stepped off of the shuttlecraft and walked across the street to Sisco’s
in
“Glasses, Gracie?” He said with a heavy southern accent even heaver then Creighton’s.
“Far Cry from
“Thought I could use the trip,” Grasso said as Destine motioned for him to sit down. A waitress came over to them.
“Bailey’s For the Gentleman,” Destine said. “Unless you’re here on an official capacity.”
“That’ll be great, thanks,” Grasso said as the waitress smiled and and walked away.
“Was that your way of asking why I’m here?” Grasso asked.
Destine looked at him and she could tell that he wasn’t annoyed. However she knew that the middle aged human was not one to stand on ceremony. He was curt and to the point when he had to be, and this appeared to be one of those times.
Destine sighed “I thought maybe you wanted your briefing,” Destine said.
“Is that some sort of Gargoyle humor?” Grasso asked not even cracking a smile. He looked up again and nodded in thanks as the waitress delivered his drink while he took a small sip.
“I did what Creighton and Picard asked for with regards to the Swayback. But, I need some answers Des,” Grasso said. “How did a planet not even in our universe get their hand on High-Tech classified weaponry?”
“Contrary to what you have read, Iscandar wasn’t involved in anything sinister in what transpired,” Destine said.
“Sure doesn’t look like that from where I’m sitting,” Grasso said while taking another sip of his drink. “From what I heard, they may have also hijacked the Defiant.”
“The Defiant was taken by a person or persons unknown.” Destine said.
“And I’d like to believe that, Des,” Grasso said.
Destine glared at him “I have never given you reason to distrust me before.”
“True, but I specifically expressed my strongest disapproval about you guys even tinkering with that kind of weaponry.”
“And if we had that kind of weaponry at Wolf 359?” Destine said.
“I’m not going to have this argument again, you guys aren’t holding a strong hand anyway! You’ve saved this planet more times than I’ve fouled out, so we’ve cut you a lot of slack…My own people are looking into this. If they find out even one thing that indicates that you guys are behind this, I am authorized to shut you down and I’m bringing the full might of Starfleet down on Iscandar.”
Destine leaned forward. “This is the President’s way of not wanting to deal with this.”
Destine tossed a data pad at Grasso. He began reading the report on the data pad.
After a few minutes, Grasso put down the data pad and rubbed his eyes.
"You’ve double checked this?” Grasso said..... “Please say you haven't.”
Destine said nothing
"You aren’t saying anything!" Grasso said.
Destine looked at him with aggravation. “Well, I only know that he disappeared suddenly!”
“How could we be so Goddamn wrong about Lysis?”
“He’s not Troyan…He’s Gamilon,” Destine said. “And he’s also a Starfighter.”
“You see that shuttlecraft behind us?” Grasso said. “I’m supposed to go to the President’s Office in Paris to have lunch in half an hour….But that’s the one good thing about a reactionary President…they aren’t into health foods. The last one we didn’t eat….we grazed. You want to know what this lunch is about?.....I’ll tell you! Intel suspects that the Orions are moving some of their heavy stuff to this dimensional rift. So we have to move our ships to counteract theirs. Now you have Starfleet Command screaming about this whole Iscandar thing and your Granddaughter addressing the Federation Council while Vaught is flying about with Queen Starsha’s Consort’s Brother’s hijacked space battlecruiser. The thing they call a battleship in their universe!”
“So here we are on your actual brink,” Grasso continued. “My department just became part of the President’s cabinet. I have a President with his finger poised on the button with regards to Iscandar, and you want me to fly out there and tell him that we need to send logistical support with the very same people that stole Starfleet technology and used that technology to obliterate an entire planet? Have I missed anything?”
“That’s just about it,” Destine said.
“I didn’t want this job, you know,” Grasso said. “I didn’t blame the whole Gamilon thing on you so if this is your plan to get me killed…..you’ve got the wrong guy!”
“I figure I need 12
ships,” Destine said. “
“Starsha and Wildstar must be laughing their asses off,” Grasso said “And I suppose you’ll want to head up the Task Force….How the hell am I going to sell it?”
“If it is indeed the Orions behind this whole Comet Thing, and they take over the EDF Earth, they’ll get their hands on the wave motion technology. Ask him if he wants that? Ask him if he wants another knife at our throats someday!”
“Not bad,” Grasso said.
“My entire family is out there…..and they’ve bitten off more than they can chew….I have to go.”
“There all quite capable officers, Des,” Grasso said.
“Not all of them are officers,” Destine said
Grasso knew that she was referring to Trelaina. He thought about reminding her about her objectivity in this matter, but would it help? They had been friends for years and he had been friends with Vaught ever since he returned from Telezart after it was destroyed or now that he was informed “displaced” in the next universe.
“These twelve ships are from the list Creighton gave you?” Grasso asked.
Destine nodded.”They’re in orbit in Saturn’s rings. I’ve alerted all commands….I’m just waiting for the go order.”
“Assume command of your task force,” Grasso said. “However, I’m sending the Swayback in ahead for logistical support.”
“What about the President?” Destine said. “What are you going to tell him?”
Grasso stood up. “Those ships still don’t exist…..” Grasso said while standing up. “What he doesn’t know won’t kill me.”
Destine watched him walk off and into the shuttlecraft
She had gotten what she needed but had a bad feeling about it……..
TO BE CONTINUED…..
To Return to the Introduction to Starfighter: The Iconoclast, click here