I DARE DO ALL THAT MAY become a man; Who dares do more is none

Chapter 37 of Starfighter! The Iconoclast

 

By: Tom Sczepkowski

 

With editing and clean-up by: Frederick P. Kopetz

 

And with inspiration and aid by:  Angie Dargo                                                 

 

Copyrights: STAR TREK is © 2009 by Paramount Pictures, Inc. STAR BLAZERS is © 2010 by Voyager International, and, STAR WARS is © 2010 by Lucasfilm, Ltd. GARGOYLES is © 2010 by Disney Entertainment. All original elements of this tale are © 2010 by Tom Sczepkowski. All rights reserved, not to be copied without the author's permission.  

 

 

Thus we may know that there are five essentials

    for victory….

 

    (1) He will win who knows when to fight and when

        not to fight.

    (2) He will win who knows how to handle both superior

        and inferior forces.

    (3) He will win whose army is animated by the same

        spirit throughout all its ranks.

    (4) He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take

        the enemy unprepared.

    (5) He will win who has military capacity and is

        not interfered with by the sovereign.

 

Hence the saying:  If you know the enemy

    and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a

    hundred battles.  If you know yourself but not the enemy,

    for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.

    If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will

    succumb in every battle.

 

These are the immortal words of your own Sun Tzu of whom you are not unfamiliar. In this passage lies your epitaph.

 

I have been patient. I have been watching your past opponents. They do not know you… they do not respect you. You are an enemy that deserves not only respect but admiration.

 

As your Destruction is suffered at my hands know that you will always have the admiration and respect of Desslok Of Gamilon.

 

As long as I prevail So will Gamilon….As long as I live…. Gamilon lives.

 

Sitting in Inferno’s cockpit Vaught Corsair played the transmission from Desslok again.  And read the words again and again.  He knew that Homer was standing there beside him.

 

“Nova told me that you were made to study the teachings of Sun Tzu by one of your professors.”  Homer said

 

“It’s not the text I am studying.” Vaught Said “I’m trying to figure out the man behind it.”

 

“Right.” Homer said 

 

Vaught turned and regarded him for a moment

 

“What’s on your mind?”

 

“It’s just that when I was an Ankle-biter my father always told me stories about what Australia was like before the Gamilons started bombing…I used to have dreams about the bush….(The outback),” Homer replied

 

Vaught nodded at the translation

 

“After we came back and the Cosmo DNA was done I spent a few weeks on walkabout out there…..It’s beautiful country …….I couldn’t even begin to describe it…….If anyone took that away from me…now……I can understand how he might feel…..not that I condone the Bloke’s actions.”

 

“You admire him,” Vaught said

 

Homer was taken aback for a moment. And started to stammer causing Vaught to chuckle as he leaned back in the chair.

 

“It’s OK to admire someone but be against what they stand for,” Vaught said “And after all No one knows more about Desslok than you do, Homer….after all those hours of monitoring transmissions between him and his generals.”

 

Homer looked surprised as Vaught motioned for him to climb into the back of the Inferno. He did so without hesitation. As the canopy closed, Vaught started activating Inferno’s systems as the ship shuddered to life. He contacted the bridge to let them know that he was going on a test flight and taking Homer with him to check the comms.  Homer knew that there was another reason since it was Royster who maintained all of Inferno’s systems. Still, there seemed no question from Sandor as he quickly acknowledged Vaught’s transmission and the hangar door opened. Inferno quietly slipped from outside Argo’s underside and out into space.  Homer looked out the window seeing the Argo out the left window, but then she slowly disappeared as the canopy went opaque as he looked above him the canopy now was in full display as Desslok’s picture was in the center of the canopy.

 

“These are Starfleet Files!” Homer said with some surprise in his Australian Accent.

 

“I obtained these files from the USS Swayback, which is a Federation Starship operating in the area covertly. Her purpose is to provide logistical support for me while we are operating in the Telezart Area. I am telling you this because you need to know when she contacts me, but mainly because you are our resident Gamilon expert. I have not read these files yet I thought we would do so together so that we can have an understanding and be on the same page.”

 

Homer was just about to slightly protest Vaught’s distinction of him when he realized that Vaught Hhd just spoken to him in the Gamilon Dailect and was surprised that he understood him. Homer nodded as Vaught cracked a smile knowing that Homer had just realized what had happened.

 

“Lets see what you’ve got.” Homer said.

 

 

Royster didn’t fell well at all when he woke up he felt drained and aching…especially his left arm. He had his usual breakfast (A huge plate of Eggs). Just as he was finished, there was a call over the ship’s PA for him to report to the Captain’s Quarters. Once there, he knocked and was told to come in.

 

“Morning, Skipper,” Royster said…much to Wildstar’s dismay. However, Derek just shook his head and continued typing on a keyboard attached to a small computer while Nova sat nearby, quietly sipping at a cup of tea. He knew that he didn’t mean anything by it, plus he wasn’t military.

 

“Be with you in a minute,” Wildstar said while hurriedly typing

 

“No prob.” Royster said as he was regarding a recently finished painting of Wildstar’s.

 

 

 

 

Nova noticed Royster looking, and she said, “Nice bit of work, isn’t it?”

 

“Almost looks like a photo.” Royster said.

 

“Thanks.” Wildstar said finishing his typing “The schematics you gave me were a big help.”

 

When Wildstar looked at Royster he too saw that he was drained….almost looking pale and constantly rubbing his left arm.

 

“You look like shit, by the way,” Wildstar said while Nova looked at him with concern in her eyes as she put down her tea.

 

“Eh,” Royster said shrugging. “This Desslok bullshit has me going overtime.”

 

“What do you think?” Wildstar said.

 

Royster looked back at him. “That ain’t my department.”

 

Wildstar shot him a look of annoyance. Then, there was a knocking at the hatch.

 

“Come on in,” Wildstar said as the hatch opened, revealing Vaught.

 

“How did it go with Homer?” Wildstar asked.

 

“He’s up to speed.” Vaught said.

 

“Terrific.” Wildstar said “Now would you mind telling the Captain what everyone else in his command already seems to know?”

 

Vaught was silent for a moment as he gathered his thoughts, and then spoke.

 

“Desslok is very much alive and still very much a threat,” Vaught said “It’s very possible we’re fighting a two-front war, sir.”

 

“You know the way you said his name….” Wildstar said, “Like you knew him.”

 

Vaught rolled his eyes.

 

“I have a finely tuned sense on these things,” Wildstar said.

 

“Which is failing you now, sir,” Vaught said. 

 

“Do we know how he got back into the game, Boss?” Royster asked.

 

“I’d love to know that myself,” Nova added. “I was unconscious during the end of our last battle with him, but when I recovered, Derek told me we destroyed his ship by reflecting his own beam back at him.”

 

Vaught nodded. “That’s correct. Right after Desslok’s ship was hit by the feedback of his primary weapon…after it bounced off the Argo thanks to Sandor’s ……..Corbomite device…..”

 

“Corbomite?” Wildstar asked. “Sandor’s device was a Gamilon Reflex Shield. What are you talking about?”

 

“Classical reference,” Vaught said, continuing “Before his ship totally broke up, he was somehow able to warp his ship to my universe and into Romulan space.  We don’t know if that was his intention or not.” Vaught said  “He was recovered by an officer of the Tal Shiar. Shortly after that, Starfleet Long Range Sensors started picking up signatures of ships entering the interdimensional rift….Intelligence ends there.”

 

“But you know the rest of it,” Wildstar said, in an almost accusing tone. “Right?”

 

“I have a theory, and a very thin one at that,” Vaught said.

 

“Your theories are better than most people’s facts,” Wildstar said. “Let’s have it.”

 

“There is only one group in our Galaxy that can revive someone from the vacuum of space.”

 

“The Orions.” Wildstar said “Like our friend Mazzar.”

 

“And you mentioned someone named Nevar Zordar,” Nova added.

 

“That’s the part that’s hard to ignore,” Vaught said “If it is indeed Zordar, then everything that is happening makes sense.”

 

“And you picked up his name from the transmission of Mazzar,”  Wildstar said looking at a computer monitor screen. “All right. So now you’re, Zordar,” Wildstar said “What do you do?”

 

“You’ll want to get the Star Force out of they way and who better to do it then your number one nemesis…who has an old score left to settle with you?”  Vaught said.

 

“And we’re giving this guy exactly what he wants,” Royster said.

 

“We’re going to finish what we started!” Wildstar said as he clapped his fist into his hand. “We should’ve turned Desslok into space dust to begin with…well, let’s finish it!”

 

“To what end?” Vaught asked “Desslok’s Chief of Staff is a Starfighter like myself named Talan……What I have read of him, he would probably be trying to talk Desslok down from this vendetta.”

 

“See, there it is again!” Wildstar snapped, pointing a finger at Vaught.

 

“Sir?”

 

“That tone…Like you know him or something!”

 

“Captain.” Vaught protested. 

 

“You don’t think I can beat him, do you?”

 

“Not if you make it personal,” Vaught said. “Fight him from a military perspective while using your resources, listening to your options and weighing those options…..In Desslok’s message you’ll note the passage from Sun Tzu he selected…..You need to observe that he won’t do that.”

 

“How do you know that?” Wildstar asked

 

“Homer.” Vaught said “You would be well served to listen to him, Wildstar.  He knows Desslok better than anybody and he monitored hundreds of hours of transmissions between Pluto, Balan and Gamilon.”

 

“I never thought of that,” Wildstar said.

 

“And he speaks Gamilon,” Nova added.

 

“Never thought of that either,” Wildstar said.

 

Vaught looked hard at Wildstar, and he said, “Captain Avatar probably knew very well that he was not going to live long enough to make it back to Earth. So he did the only thing that he could do and that was to rely on his crew. You have the best minds in the Galaxy right here on board this ship. Use them and stop thinking that you are on your own! It’s not just about you!”

 

Wildstar turned and looked out the small portal of his quarters.

 

“Corsair, I’m not worthy of Avatar’s trust in me. He made a big mistake. He should have given the job to Sandor, or should have compelled Alex to return with us.”  

 

“Irrelevant, he gave the job to you,” Vaught said.

 

“Picked me right up there, thanks…” Wildstar said

 

Vaught smiled slightly which was unusual for his character. Nova walked over and laid a hand on Derek’s shoulder as he took a deep breath. She gave him a quick kiss and left. Then, Royster’s PDA beeped.

 

Wildstar and Vaught looked at Royster 

 

“Inferno’s shields just went up,”  Royster said.

 

“Sensor scans?”

 

“Nothing out of the ordinary,” Royster said

 

Wildstar looked at Vaught.

 

“Lets check this out.” Wildstar said as the three walked out into the corridor. When they were far enough, they noticed that many other people were walking through the corridor holding small glass containers. Inside the containers, there were small glowing particles that were moving about

 

“What the hell are those?” Wildstar muttered.

 

Royster shrugged. Vaught remained silent as they finished their journey to the bridge. When they entered the bridge, they noticed that the bridge crew also had the same type of containers. Then they noticed IQ-9 giving Nova a similar container to her while she typed in the command codes to open her station. The little robot was saying that they reminded him of her eyes while she laughed.

 

Royster, being Royster, slapped the little robot

 

“Never rub another man’s rhubarb,” Royster said.

 

Nova just looked at him. “It amazes me that you aren’t married,” Nova said sarcastically.

 

“Tried it twice,” Royster said

 

For a moment the comment caught Sandor’s attention. “Really?” he said.

 

“As interesting as Royster’s past love life seems to be to everyone,” Wildstar said “Would someone mind telling me what everyone took aboard my ship? Nova, pardon my French, but what is that crap?”

 

“They’re star flies, silly,” Nova said. “Some of the maintenance crews found them outside on the hull. Aren’t they pretty? They look like Japanese fireflies.”

 

“Oh…… how silly of me,” Wildstar said with a big, silly grin on his face. “At first, when I came up here I didn’t know what you were doing…..But since you told me that they were only star flies that makes a world of difference.”

 

Nova was smiling broadly and did not notice Wildstar’s sarcasm, neither did the rest of the bridge crew until he slammed his fist on Nova’s station breaking the glass. She wasn’t startled; she just glared at him.

 

“I DON’T CARE HOW PRETTY THEY LOOK! GET ‘EM OFF THE SHIP NOW!” Wildstar roared in her face.

 

Nova glared at him for a moment, then simply said “Aye, sir.”

 

“They’re Just Star Flies.” Eager said. “Must be some kinda natural phenomenon. They ain’t dangerous.”

 

“There just Tribbles,” Vaught muttered. Wildstar didn’t even have to ask…he knew it was just another “classical reference”.

 

Just then there was a beeping at Vaught’s console…he went to check it.

 

“Something’s coming in on the time radar,” Vaught said. 

 

“Lets take a look,” Wildstar said.

 

Vaught transferred the image to the video panel.

 

Vaught studied the picture.

 

“Gamilon Fighter Craft.” Vaught said

 

“Good eye,” Sandor said

 

“They seem to be discharging something.” Vaught said as he tried to enhance the picture

 

As the image enhanced quality they saw that the Gamilon fighters were discharging the very star flies that the Star Force had just brought onboard. 

 

“I have a very bad feeling about this.” Royster said.

 

“So do I.” Wildstar said “I want these things off the ship; Now make it happen!”

 

Than there was another beeping at Vaught’s Console. “Royster, the link to Inferno has been terminated,” Vaught said

 

Royster sat at Vaught’s console and typed at some keys.

 

“It’s not terminated! The whole station is dead,” Royster said.

 

“I’m having the same problem at my console.” Nova said as she depressed buttons. “At first I thought it was from where the Captain smashed it, but it just went out. The control-alt-delete sequence isn’t rebooting anyting like it’s supposed to be doing!”

 

Then almost all at once everyone noticed that the star flies had stopped glowing.

 

“Well?” said Royster.

 

“This has to be some kind of Gamilon trick,” Wildstar hissed.

 

 

Desslok stood on the bridge of his command ship with an amused grin on his face. He was watching the Argo on his main screen, with her hull covered in the luminescent glow of the star flies.

 

“So what do you think of General Garrack’s Plan?” Talan said

 

“Starflies?” Desslok said “I must say it amuses me ……and any plan that will defeat the Star Force is welcome….even Starflies.”

 

“They should be having complete systems failure within about fifteen minutes.” Talan said

 

“We will wait until then.” Desslok said “Then open a channel to the Star Force…..I want to see his face.”

 

Much to the crews confusion the Argo’s systems were shutting down all over the ship, with the exception of Royster’s equipment in the hangar bay.

 

Sandor and Royster were there. Royster was trying to reroute the ship’s main systems through his computers, since the ship’s navigation was affected. Sandor grabbed a Federation Tricorder and scanned the star fly in the container.

 

“Dammit,” Sandor said as he opened up the intercom to the bridge which was heavy with static. “Wildstar! These so-called star flies aren’t anything of the kind….They’re actually metal-eating bacteria!”

 

“God Dammit!,….Gamilons…..I want these things off the ship, I don’t care if it takes every man we’ve got; I want them off the ship!” Wildstar said. Then, as if on cue, there was a shattering of metal, followed by a sensation of light headedness. Vaught having had zero-gravity training, knew what had happened.

 

“Gravity Zero!” IQ-9 said.

 

“Captain, an attack is imminent!” Vaught said.

 

“Tell me something I don’t know, Vaught,” Wildstar said as he struggled to strap himself down at his station. Vaught knew that Inferno would be floating in the hangar bay with the other Astro Fighters. He devised a plan quickly, then with the grace of an acrobat, he was able to twist in the air and propel himself off of the ceiling and back onto the floor. Then, he propelled himself off the floor. Doing so again, he propelled himself off the bridge, and then through the corridors.

 

He knew that Royster's equipment was the only part of the ship not affected by the star flies. He also knew that most of that equipment was mainly Starfleet-issue components. Vaught gambled that something within those components were keeping the star flies at bay. He quickly stopped by his quarters and donned his black exo-suit. He lowered Inferno’s shields long enough for him to beam aboard. When there, he quickly performed a systems check and when he was satisfied that the ship was in order, he activated her thrusters and quickly righted her in the hangar bay.Knowing that he couldn’t open the hangar doors because of the condition of the hangarr bay, let alone probably not being able to even get the door open, Vaught brought up the schematics of the Metaphysic Cloaking Device……

 

“You really don’t look good,” Sandor said to Royster, who looked very pale.

 

“Thanks,” Royster said. “I think we can get gravity control back if I could get a remote link up to this juncture here by the waste tanks…..I can cut the juncture and tie in with a wireless hub. You can control the functions from here.”

 

Royster didn’t wait for Sandor’s approvall; he just grabbed what he needed and ran out of the hangar deck. The pain in his arm was growing.

 

 

Desslok couldn’t help but think of the events leading up to this moment. The destruction of his home, his failed attempt of vengeance…..then floating endlessly through the vacuum of space. Then, there were vibrant colors and the sense of waking in a lavish room where he met his new benefactor….Prince Zordar.  But seeing the dreaded Argo covered in star flies was well worth the wait. By now, he knew  most of her systems would be non-operational, having been consumed by the star flies.

 

Of course, Morda, who was the liaison between the Gamilons and the Comet Empire, but all in all Prince Zordar’s spy was counted upon to make an appearance on the bridge.

 

“Talan,” Desslok said. “Tell General Garrack to precede with the second part of his plan.”

 

“And what is this plan?” Morta asked.

 

Desslok chuckled to himself,  “Morta, your presence here is becoming extremely irksome.”

 

Morta hesitated a moment. However, when he saw Talan put his hand on the hilt of his light saber, he moved back to the bridge entrance. In his thoughts, he cursed Desslok and his Starfighter aide, and he thought with satisfaction about what would happen to Desslok once his final report had been written and submitted to Zordar. Then, there would be a reckoning.

 

Desslok watched as the fighter craft from General Garrack’s carrier swooped in and began strafing runs, attacking the Argo with bombs. Vaught watched the decks on the Argo exploding. He was about to bring the Inferno into attack position when he thought of something else, just as Wildstar called his name over the comm system.

 

“Vaught, what the hell are you doing?” Wildstar said.

 

“Stand by,” Vaught said.

 

“I can’t, Vaught!”

 

“If you can hold them off for about two minutes, I might be able to even the odds,” Vaught said.

 

“What about the Black Tigers?” Wildstar said as the last of the crew finished lashing themselves down in their seats.

 

“The hanger bay door is out of commission,” Homer said.  “Conroy also reports that he can’t taxi his aircraft into take-off positions because of the gravity problem…Sandor and Royster are working on it.”

 

“All right we’ll do it the hard way,”  Wildstar said. “Ready main guns and anti-aircraft batteries!” Wildstar was relived that the guns were still working, at least.  He ordered suppressing fire to keep the Gamilon fighters at bay at least long enough for Vaught to complete his plan…whatever that was.

 

 

Desslok stood there on his command ship looking out the bridge windows at the Argo covered in the glowing mass of the star flies while firing her main guns at Garrack’s planes. He nodded in approval.

 

“Not so stricken as we were thought to believe……so much the better,”  He pointed to his communications officer who typed on some keys.

 

“This is the Argo,” A man with a starange accent answered.

 

“This is Desslok Of Gamilon…….Homer, I believe you are called?”

 

“Yeah,.” Homer curtly replied.

 

“I am disappointed Homer, I was hoping to hear some of your famous Colloquialisms from the Land Down Under,” Desslok said with an acid grin on his face.

 

“How about Drop Dead?”

 

“I would like a word with your Captain,” Desslok said.

 

 After a flicker, the face of a young and very angry man appeared on his screen. Desslok was surprised at the the appearance of the young man. He had only met him in battle once before; he still looked like someone who ought to be in school, and not commanding a space battleship.

 

Desslok smiled graciously, then he bowed slightly.

 

“Desslok,” Wildstar said in something like a hiss.

 

“You remember me, Derek Wildstar,” Desslok said “I cannot help but to be touched……I of course…remember you.”

 

“While hiding out, I see,” Wildstar said.

 

“Surely I have made my intentions plain, Captain Wildstar,”  Desslok said. “First, I deprive your ship of her systems and in a few moments, I mean to deprive you of your life…..But first I wanted you to know who it was who has beaten you.”

 

Talan rolled his eyes. He knew that the words were taken from a passage someplace; he was angry with Desslok for always quoting and not using his own words.

 

Wildstar wasn’t impressed with Desslok’s choice of words. All he wanted to do was to get his hands around the Gamilon’s throat. However Desslok continued, “I am disappointed that your Revered Admiral Avatar is not present to join in our reunion; I was sorrowed to learn of his passing. He had a warrior’s heart, and I admired him,” Desslok said.

 

The comment seemed to have angered Wildstar

 

“Look Desslok, I don’t know how many damned B-Movies you’ve memorized with the Monolouging bad guys; but don’t you ever mention Admiral Avatar’s name again, you cut-throat! You aren’t fit to mention his name!”

 

“Come, come, Derek,” Desslok said with a sickeningly sweet grin. “We are all cut-throats beneath these vain exteriors.”

 

“Speak for yourself,” Wildstar said. “We’re not like you!”

 

“There is that high regard for human goodness again,” Desslok said. “I have studied this quite well. Let your mad friend from Starfleet know that.”

 

“I’ll tell him when he comes in,” Wildstar said. “We’ll see what he thinks of your warped sense of humor then. I think you need some new writers! You’re not amusing. You’re trite…hackneyed!”

 

“No I am in earnest….You see….it was good of me to send you the gift of the Starflies and it was good of you to accept them! Your behavior was too predictable, Derek Wildstar I knew that you could not resist a call for help.”

 

“Your Romulan friends give you that idea?” Wildstar said “Or are you going to high tail it back to their dimension like the cut-throat and opportunist you are when this plan blows up in your damn face?”

 

“I see your Starfleet friend has informed you well. Perhaps you should ask him if he knows the Klingon proverb that “revenge is a dish that is best served cold?” It is very cold……in space.” At that, Desslok laughed and ended the communication.

 

“That wasn’t wise.”  Talan said “The Starfleet operative  was not on the bridge…..they are up to something….”

 

“Talan, haven’t you ever heard of twisting the knife in the wound before you make the kill? For what that boy did to me; did to our people…I get joy out of seeing him squirm with the boot on the other foot. As he humiliated me, so I shall humilate him and his friends.”

 

“Yes, but tweaking the nose of a wolf is not always wise,” Talan said.

 

“He’s trapped,” Desslok said.

 

“Yes, but what if he and his Starfleet assassin break free from the trap?” Talan said.

 

 

Royster got to the area he was talking about. There was little time to waste as he set the hub and shook the star flies off the wires. However, when he powered up the small network hub, the star flies flew away from it. He then spliced the wires and connected the hub. Then something forced him to the deck, and he couldn’t get up. For that matter, neither could anyone else on the ship.

 

“Royster, what the hell are you doing?” Sandor called out. Royster couldn’t move. He could tell that the Argo’s gravity field was now working in the opposite direction.

 

“Well, you said you wanted more gravity,” Royster said.

 

“I cant reach the keyboard,” Sandor said. Royster, still pinned to the deck, felt as if there was an anvil on his chest….He just ignored it.

 

“I know someone who can,” Royster said. With the last of his strength, Royster was able to change the channel in his wireless unit.

 

“Nova,” Royster said. “Listen to me…very carefully.”

 

In the meantime, Vaught maneuvered Inferno, while still cloaked, alongside the Gamilon carrier. He was busy typing equations into the computer. When he was done, the Comm System began to emit a tone. within a few minutes the star flies started to attach to the Gamilon Carrier.

 

He watched as the Gamilon fighters were breaking off from their bombing runs on the Argo. This could only mean one thing to Vaught, and that was that the Captain of the carrier no doubt thought that the Argo was softened up enough for the carrier to close in and finish the Argo off with her own heavy missiles and main guns. However, the General hadn’t counted on the star flies consuming his own ship. This was confirmed when the dark-green carrier attempted to fire it missiles. There was a shower of sparks on the carrier, however nothing else  happened, and the missiles did not fire.

 

“I have you now,” Vaught said with a smile beneath his mask.

 

General Garrack was confused as to how or why the star flies would come back on them. He was further dismayed at what he would tell Leader Desslok. At best, he would just be dismissed from his command…at worst, he’d be executed by Desslok. However, when the intercom was flooded with screams and laser fire, he realized that his fate would be much worse. Then from the communication system strange alien music filled the bridge……..and odd words began to come across the speakers….

 

I had wrists donning slits

Flowing constantly

My broken body in a wreck

Wrapped around a tree

A crosswalk hit and run

The finish line for me

People clutter in the gutter

Take a look and see

No escaping pain

You belong to me

Clinging on to life

By the skin o’ my teeth…

 

 

Nova closed her eyes and concentrated….she could see the image of Royster’s control panel in her mind. Although Sandor couldn’t move, he could see the keyboard typing by itself. Once the Enter key was pressed the gravity was back to normal. The crew, somewhat dazed rubbed the back of their necks and arms….it was an after-effect from the heavy gravity.

 

“Good work, Nova,” Wildstar said as he caught his breath.

 

“You’re still on my shit list,” Nova said as she rubbed the back of her arms.

 

“Wait in line,” Wildstar quipped.

 

The bridge doors opened, and Royster stumbled in. His skin was ghastly pale and he was covered in hydraulic fluid.

 

“What the hell?” Wildstar said.

 

“The auxilary hydraulic tank ruptured due to the heavy gravity,” Royster said paused for a moment then continued. “Sandor says we need to start thinking about a place for repairs.”

 

“As soon as our First Officer returns,” Wildstar said.

 

“Where is he, anyway?” Nova asked.

 

“He somehow got Inferno outside and trained the remaining star flies on the Gamilon Carrier before she could fire her missiles,” Wildstar said.

 

“Sauce for the Goose,” Nova said.

 

“I guess so,” Wildstar replied as Royster walked over to Vaught’s station.

 

“I restored the link,” Royster said while tapping on some keys. “Uh-oh,” Royster said.

 

“What?” Wildstar said

 

“According to the Inferno’s scans, the Gamilon carrier is disabled but the position of the Inferno in inside the carrier itself!”

 

“What the hell would he be doing in there?” Venture asked.

 

“Can you get an image of what’s going on in there?” Wildstar asked.

 

Royster hesitated.

 

“Well?” Wildstar asserted

 

“Yeah.” Royster said dryly “I can activate Inferno’s wing cameras from here.”

 

“Do it!” Wildstar snapped looking up at the Video Panel. “I want to find out what the hell is going on over there.”

 

While Royster was typing on some keys venture walked over to him.

 

“Starfleet has a history with this guy. Maybe he has a different agenda when it comes to the Gamilons,” Venture said barely above a whisper. Wildstar didn’t answer as the answer came over the video panel. It appeared to be the hangar deck for the carrier. Many of the planes that had attacked the Argo were there, however there was something right about them. Most of them were heavily damaged if not destroyed. Then, everyone saw the true horror, because the hangar deck was riddled with bodies. Many were ripped into several parts. Some of the bridge crew averted their eyes from the gory sight, Nova and Venture being among them. Wildstar stood there as Royster panned the camera around finally focusing in on a large silhouette of a body that was Vaught’s towering above two people sitting on the deck. One, Wildstar could tell, was a Gamilon General, the other in brown Gamilon armor, possibly just a solider.

 

The General was doing most of the talking while the solider just sat there. Glaring at the General in anger, Vaught next turned to him. The Gamilon solider then stood up in a parade rest stance and looked straight ahead. Refusing to talk, Vaught activated his light saber hilt and held it up against the man’s blue throat, with his thumb poised against the activation button.

 

“What is it that drives you, boy?” Vaught said “Is it fear?”

 

“These men that you killed……my comrades…are all I have left…… I will not tell you anything.” The Gamilon solider said.

 

Vaught nodded and pulled back the light saber from the man’s throat and in the same movement activated it and cut off the Gamilon’s right arm. The Star Force watching gasped in horror, realizing that Vaught was torturing the enemy soldier. The Gamilon dropped to the deck with gritted teeth, while the General screamed.

 

“You tell Desslok and Talan this was their only warning,” Vaught said calmly. “Do you understand that? Say only that.” The enemy general nodded, and it appeared that Vaught was finished and would walk back to the Inferno and leave. However, the bridge crew who were still watching were all shocked again when Vaught quickly lifted the general by the neck with one hand and crushed his throat. He died instantly, then Vaught flung him like luggage across the hanger bay…..followed by a thud. The young Gamilon solider stood up ready to face his death. However, Vaught just strode up to him but did nothing.

 

“It only takes one to deliver a message, solider,” Vaught said. “You are that one. He was expendable.”

 

“You aren’t even human!” The Gamilon solider shouted. “This hasn’t anything to do with you! It is between us and the Earthlings!”

 

Vaught activated the breathing apparatus and he began to turn away turned away, then, he turned back to the solider. “Perhaps you think you’re being treated unfairly?” Vaught asked through the sinister sound of his voice modulator.

 

The Gamilon, for the first time showed fear, and then looked away from Vaught.

 

“I sense your confusion,” Vaught said  “You see, if your Leader Desslok wants to hunt this band of teenagers down in a fit of petulance, of which he will most certainly fail, my operatives are not interested. Just so long as he avoids any “Federated” entanglements?”

 

He turned and walked away back to Inferno. Then, he turned one more time to the solider

 

“It wouldn’t pay……In the long run…”

 

He then turned and walked back towards Inferno. Wildstar had seen enough, and motioned Royster to cut the transmission from Inferno

 

The bridge crew sat stunned for a moment. Wildstar looked up and saw Knox standing there.

 

“How many people does a ship like that hold?” Eager said.

 

“A thousand people maybe,” Dash said.

 

“And he just went through those poor blokes and killed them all,” Homer said.

 

Knox growled “And how many people do you mow down every time you fire that huge cannon in the bow?”

 

“It’s not the same, Knox!” Wildstar said.

 

“Oh no?” Knox said “Dead is dead, Wildstar. Whether it’s in the field like the Colonel does, or flippin’ a switch like you do. You’re both killers.”

 

Wildstar answered him by punching him in the mouth and knocking him to the deck. “You won’t *&^&%ing learn!” Wildstar said, as he faced Knox with his fists up, ready for another round. 

 

“Derek, stop it!” Nova said while helping Knox to his feet.

 

“I don’t need him up here shooting off his damned mouth,” Wildstar said.

 

“He’s my Colonel,” Knox said as Royster casually walked between the two men. Wildstar glared at Royster.

 

“You have something to say?” Wildstar shouted.

 

“Dude’s got a point,” Royster said. “We all have different methods, but the end of the day it’s all the same crap.”

 

Wildstar Folded his arms “Ok Dr Royster! This attack had nothing to do with us or with Starfleet. This was personal! What’s he after?” Wildstar asked.

 

“If I gotta tell you that, Skipper then we really do have problems,” Royster said.

 

Wildstar looked at Royster, and the anger in his eyes quickly diminished, as he looked out the bridge windows.

 

“Oh.” Wildstar said.

 

“Inferno has just left the Gamilon carrier,” Homer said.

 

“That’s my cue,” Royster said.

 

“I’ll go with you,” Wildstar added.

 

“Derek!” Nova said, chasing after him as they left the bridge.

 

“The Colonel and I are going to have an abrupt conversation!” Wildstar said. “Go back to your post, Nova!”

 

Nova grabbed his arm.

 

“He wouldn’t have gone after the carrier if they haden’t attacked us,” Nova said.

 

“You really believe that shit?” Wildstar said “Than you are as naive as everyone thinks?”

 

“Damn you!” Nova snapped. “It’s not that way at all and you damn well know it!”

 

“Yeah?” Derek roared. Royster rolled his eyes as they both launched into a fit of aggression, flinging more words, insults, and curses at each other like knives. It was then Royster who turned and stood between them both. “KNOCK THE SHIT OFF!” Royster yelled

 

“Don’t you start!” Nova said.

 

Royster took a deep breath and held his chest for a moment.

 

“YOU DON’T-“

 

He took another deep breath, to Nova he seemed to be in pain. He closed his eyes for a moment and lowered his tone.

 

“It’s not just personal.” Royster gasped.

 

“Do you know what it is?” Wildstar said

 

“I have an idea…”Royster said. “You two know about the Swayback?”

 

“Yes. It’s supposed to be a safe house where he and Starfleet can communicate,” Wildstar said.

 

“Well they’ve been communicating. Lots.” Royster said.

 

“I authorized the communication.” Wildstar said.

 

“Vaught received a transmission from the Enterprise. It was a report filed by your sister, Nova.”

 

“My sister?” Nova said with uncertainty.

 

“It was about what happened to Astra…all the gory details,” Royster said. “Some guy named Lysis is the one that killed Astra and he’s trying to knock off Starsha.”

 

“General Lysis?” Wildstar asked “We’ve met.”

 

“Yes, Rainbow Galaxy,” Nova mused. “He seemed to be almost as bloodthirsty as Desslok.”

 

“He’s also known in Starfleet as Admiral Lysis,” He’s a double agent, and what’s worse he’s like Vaught, a Starfighter. After you guys left, she wrote to her niece, also named Starsha, about her mom and the whole reason behind her getting killed. It got the attention of the Federation Council, and they sent the Enterprise  out there to investigate Queen Starsha and Iscandar.”

 

“Investigate what?” Wildstar asked “What did Queen Starsha do?”

 

“The Wave Motion Engine…and the Cosmo DNA were all designed by Vaught’s father,” Nova said.

 

“Right,” Royster added. “Queen Starsha took the technology and reached out to us with it. Starfleet has rules about this shit and they don’t screw around. Vaught’s boss is out there and his father and his grandmother are running the show…..Lysis was one of the admirals attached to the diplomatic attaché to Iscandar. They wasn’t there long before he just vanished. Starsha Corsair thinks he’s going to make a move against the royal family that would destabilize the entire area. You see, after your battle on Gamilon, Queen Starsha gave asylum all of the Gamilons there living on Iscandar. Do you know what would happen if one of Gamilon’s most feared warlords returned? Vaught was sending a very plain message to Desslok,” Royster said. “’Federated’ entanglements…that means hands off Iscandar. Or, Starfleet is going to come crashing down on your house!”

 

“In addition to the billions of Gamilons we killed?” Nova asked as she grasped Derek’s arm.

 

“We didn’t start it!” Wildstar snapped. “They did!”

 

“Vaught’s gonna finish it,” Royster said. “If Desslok stands behind Lysis, they’re all done.”

 

“There’s nothing we can do about Iscandar,” Wildstar said “We have our own mission.”

 

“So does he,” Nova said. “Don’t make him choose between the two!”

 

She let go of his arm and left as Wildstar walked down the corridor with Royster. Wildstar said nothing to Royster on the walk down to the hangar bay. By the time they got there, Inferno had reached the Argo and was entering the cargo bay. Royster grabbed a pair of wands and directed Vaught to park in the far corner of the hangar bay. As Vaught shut down the systems, he looked at Royster.

 

“It’s a long story,” Royster said, again flexing his left arm.

 

Wildstar walked up. “Give us a minute, will you, Royster?” Wildstar asked.

 

“You bet,” Royster said.

 

“And take a shower!” Wildstar shouted after him. “You smell like a garage!”

 

“What happened to him?” Vaught said.

 

“Heavy gravity ruptured a Hydraulic tank,” Wildstar said as he sat down alongside Inferno on the small gantry. “Vaught, you want to talk to me about what happened on that carrier?” Wildstar said.

 

“My main objective was to disable their carrier using the star flies.”

 

Wildstar shook his head.“I give you a wide berth around here Vaught,” Wildstar said. “Because I know that you have a duty to Starfleet, also that this is a strange environment for you…..But you’re also under my command. I’m a soldier, Vaught. I fight when I have to. I’m not a mass murderer. Given what you did on that carrier…”

 

“I was protecting what you and I have left,” Vaught said. “You are aware of the reports from Swayback, how long do you think it would be before Lysis found out about Nova’s existence and moves against her? If my daughter fails and Lysis is able to overthrow Queen Starsha, you know what the repercussions will be. My guess is that the single Gamilon soldier I spared will be on his way to Iscandar.  I surmise the Gamilon inhabitants remaining on Iscandar will not stand by Lysis for fear of reprisal….from Starfleet…..and dare I say, from me.”

 

“You still could have come to me and explained,” Wildstar said. “Then your actions may have made some more sense, at the very least!” 

 

Vaught nodded, “It was not my intention to be disrespectful,” Vaught said.

 

“I know.” Wildstar said. “Just have a little faith in me, okay?” Wildstar said as Conroy,with Royster behind him ran up to Inferno in a panic.

 

“Yes, Sir Conroy, what is it?”

 

“IQ-9,” The Englishman said. “He’s either toys in the attic….or he’s really broken. He’s gone bloody mad!”

 

“Star flies.” Vaught said as he climbed out of Inferno

 

“You need me?” Royster called out

 

“Just get Nova…we might need her,” Vaught said.

 

“What do you need her for?” Wildstar asked.

 

“She’s the only one that can subdue him,” Vaught replied. “You know that.”

 

“This is a bad idea.” Wildstar said

 

“At least I came to you first,” Vaught said. “It would be a good idea if you stay here,” Vaught said as he ran down the gantry.

 

“Why?”

 

Vaught didn’t answer as he and Royster disappeared following Conroy.

 

Wildstar sighed heavily and climbed into Inferno’s Cockpit. “Yeah, “ he muttered. “I’m the Captain? No one tells me anything around here….”

 

 

Suffering from a headache, Nova walked into her quarters. She undressed quickly and went directly to the shower setting the water as hot as she could stand it.

 

She leaned against the wall then slowly crumpled to the deck, letting the water just hit her. She sighed heavily as she let her mind wander for a few moments. She didn’t think about Vaught or Derek, but rather her home in Colorado and the new house her adopted parents had recently moved into and the spectacular view of the Rockies that could be seen from her new bedroom.

 

She then thought of the stories Vaught told her about his family’s house on Sandy Hook in New Jersey, or his own home that he had built himself on Deneva. Both were by great oceans. Even Derek’s loft apartment where he painted was on a beach. Even though he (or she) hadn’t spent much time there, the small studio apartment had much in the way of painting supplies strewn about.

 

Nova smiled to herself thinking about how Derek loved to paint, and how Vaught loved his music. Her newly acquired perceptions gave her the feeling that neither of them wanted to be in the situations they were in. She knew they both had gotten caught up being soliders and were good at their jobs, although neither of them wanted the lifestyle. But she knew that Derek loved the Argo and could not bear to leave her and…Vaught…..For him to stop would mean the very deaths of the people he was trying to protect. Nova knew there was a fear of loss which always concerned him, because fear led to the dark side, were he always seemed to find himself. And Royster, she chuckled when she thought of him….Royster loved Inferno with a passion. Out of all of them, he who was the least likely to fit in was the only one to find contentment…the contentment that she knew that both Derek and Vaught were searching hard to find. It was then ironic for Nova to be awakened out of her twilight sleep by Royster’s banging on her bathroom door shouting her name.

 

Nova replied to him saying, “Yeah?” However, she could not hear what he was shouting. As she tried to stand, she slipped and stumbled out of the shower stall, while grabbing a towel and wrapping it around herself. She flung open the door. There, she found a haggard-looking Royster rubbing his left arm and panting heavily.

 

“The Starflies got to Ike!” Royster said.

 

“Get my violin,” she said, slamming the door in Royster’s face. “It’s in the closet!” Nova shouted through the closed door as an afterthought.  

 

When she opened the door again, clad only in an oversized light blue men’s dress shirt,  Royster was standing there holding the Violin and Bow in his hand.

 

“That’s my shirt,” Royster said.

 

“Yes. You gave it to me when my uniform disintegrated. I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to put on a designer gown and heels for this concert,” Nova said walking past him while grabbing the violin. 

 

“This isn’t the time to be putting on a concert.” Royster said.

 

“Consider it insurance,” Nova said. “Catch,” she said as she extended her free hand while her lightsaber floated through the air into Royster’s hand.

 

“And this?” Royster asked pointing at her Lightsaber.

 

“Something I hope I don’t have to use,” Nova said as they left her quarters.

 

 

When they got to the galley, there were crewman in a pile, with most battered, and some with broken arms and legs but IQ-9 was nowhere to be found.

 

“He keeps this up, he’s going to kill somebody,” Conroy said.

 

People were helping the personnel to their feet as Doctor Sane and Sandor rushed to the scene while Vaught helped Hardy, another Black Tiger pilot to his feet. He had his eye knocked closed.

 

“What happened, Jeff?” Vaught said.

 

“He’s crazy! All his lights just came on at once….He started speaking jibberish….throwing things around…then he seemed to go dead for a few seconds. Then, when he reactivated he said something about not letting him take her.”

 

Vaught looked up at Sandor who was listening.

 

“Wildstar,” they said in unison.

 

“Inferno shields up!” Vaught said as he touched his watch, which in turn gave him an error beep.

 

Vaught touched it again and again he received the same error beep.

 

“The son of a bitch is a step ahead of us!” Vaught said as he ran back to the hangar.

 

 

Wildstar sat alone in the hangar deck in Inferno’s cockpit admiring the different displays and the flight control and weapons system, when he heard the corridor doors to the hangar bay open, he turned to see IQ-9 rolling in. Wildstar took note that his antennas were extended and that his processor activaty was increased. Wildstar jumped out of the cockpit and down the small gantry, walking over to IQ-9.

 

“Everyone is looking for you…are you alright?” Wildstar said.

 

“It will be all right soon,” IQ-9 said rolling slowly forward. Wildstar took a step back. “Nova will be mine,” IQ-9 said. “I will not allow her to belong to you.”

 

“She belongs to herself, IQ,” Wildstar said.

 

“You touched her haven’t you?” IQ-9 said stopping his approach. “And Contaminated her……Be careful how you answer me, maggot for it will mean your death.”

 

“Go to hell!” Wildstar said.

 

“You admit it then.”

 

“Yeah I admit it. I also admit that I’m in love with her.” Wildstar said.

 

“I am in lover with her!” IQ-9 said. He was grammatically incorrect, with his electronic voice warbling, no doubt from the star flies.

 

“What if she isn’t in love with you?” Wildstar said.

 

“IRRELEVENT!” IQ-9 screamed and began moving towards Wildstar again.

 

This time Wildstar did not move. He just stared IQ-9 down and said, “Listen, you Microsoft Windows garbage can! I let that girl down twice! Once on Iscandar and the other time, when we got boarded by Desslok! I’m not doing it again!  I don’t care if she can shoot electricity from her fingers…the next person that gets to her has gotta go through me!”

 

“What if she stops loving you? Are you willing to terminate for her?”

 

“You don’t get it, do you?” Wildstar said “She doesent have to do anything! She doesn’t owe me a damn thing! Whether I lay my life down for her right now, or ask her to marry me tomorrow!”

 

IQ-9 howled again at Wildstar. Wildstar pulled his Astro-Automatic. However, IQ-9 knocked it out of his hands and charged Wildstar. Wildstar jumped over him, using both of his legs and kicking at his antennas, quickly breaking them. In an instant, he heard the corridors doors opening, knowing that IQ-9 could no longer override them closed. He landed and tumbled in a crouched position and charged him. However , IQ-9 countered with a backhanded slap at his face which knocked him across the floor. Almost blacking out, he saw the robot coming towards him with his arms extended. But then, he saw a figure of a very large man stepping in between him and IQ-9.

 

Namely, Vaught.

 

The last thing that Vaught wanted to do was to damage IQ-9.  However, he had to stop him some sort of way. He first charged him and pushed him into a wall. IQ-9 next pushed forward and grabbed him Vaught gripped IQ’s arms as they both tumbled. IQ-9 slammed Vaught into the hangar wall, first making an impression in the metal, and almost knocking the wind out of him. Vaught growled, and then let out a gargoyle roar revealing his fangs. His wolf-like eyes almost glowed in the dimly lit chamber. Using his gargoyle strength, Vaught followed in turn and threw IQ-9 into the wall. The two did this while moving down the bay. Then, in what seemed to be an eternity, IQ-9 stopped and just stood mesmerized.

 

Wildstar must have blacked out for a moment for when he opened his eyes he saw Dr Sane over him telling him to lie still. He looked up to see a pair a bare female legs attached to a owner wearing only a dress shirt and holding a violin. He tried to call to her, except that he couldn’t move his mouth. It was then that he realized that his jaw was broken.

 

She began to play as IQ-9 began rolling toward her

 

”That’s not entirely what I had in mind,” Vaught said as he shook his head while Nova played Swan Lake on her violin while walking towards IQ-9.

 

“I like this,” Royster said. “It reminds me of Bugs Bunny and that big gorilla.”

 

Vaught looked at him for a second as IQ-9 followed.

 

“I hope she knows what she’s doing,” Vaught said. “In his current state, he could try something.”

 

“She’s got it under control,” Royster said as Vaught noticed that Nova’s lightsaber was also rolling across the floor towards her. Nova looked back at Wildstar. Royster and Vaught noticed that there were tears in her eyes and her teeth were gritted.

 

“Oh my God,” Royster said….as she threw the violin to the ground causing it to break in two. Nova then extended both arms forward, and used the Force to push IQ-9 backwards. Then, as fast as lightning, she spun around and extended her hand. As her light saber came to her, she activated it and lunged forward, thrusting the blade into his midsection, causing a shower of sparks followed by the robot convulsing and chirping wildly. Despite the sparks, Nova leaned into him.

 

“As much as I love him is how much I hate you!” she hissed. Nova pulled the lightsaber out as the shower of sparks stopped and smoke was still billowing out of IQ-9’s dome. He stood there bent over and lifeless. Royster pulled what appeared to be some sort of patch out of his pocket and tossed it on the ground.

 

“So much for my transporter buffer plan,” Royster said, holding his chest for a moment. “Let me tell you lady….you got serious game!”

 

Nova didn’t respond…she walked over to Derek who fell unconscious again and tenderly picked him up as Doctor Sane followed her

 

“All right, let’s find out where Sandor wants him,” Vaught said.

 

“These star flies are proving to be a major pain in the ass for everybody,” Conroy said.

 

“It wasn’t the star flies,” Royster said. “It was beauty killed the beast.”

 

Everyone in the hanger bay groaned at once…and yelled at him to take a shower.

 

 

The young Gamilon officer whose arm was taken by Vaught stood at attention on Desslok’s bridge while Desslok and Talan viewed the surveillance tapes of Vaught’s rampage.”

 

“Now do you believe?” Talan said as he regarded the young Gamilon solider .“Stand easy, son.” 

 

The young Gamilon stood even straighter if that was possible. Talan tapped Desslok on the shoulder.

 

“You have already impressed me, young man,” Desslok said.

 

The young solider sat down and sighed heavily.

 

Desslok finished viewing the tapes and then walked over to the soldier. When he saw Desslok, he began to stand again. Desslok motioned for him to be seated. Desslok sat on the steps next to the station, while Talan stood behind him.

 

“He was right,” The solider said, “It was fear.”

 

“What is your name?” Desslok asked.

 

“Nekst,” The young solider replied.

 

“Well, my dear Nekst, you held your ground; I think he respected that,” Desslok said.

 

The young solider looked at where his left arm was.

 

“That was the price to be paid,” Desslok said. “And you have paid it.”

 

“I still can function in your command, sir,” The soldier said.

 

Desslok put up his hand.

 

“I would have dismissed General Garrack from my command, had he survived for his stupid debacle of the Star Flies….But I want you to return to Iscandar…Lieutenant Nekst.”

 

“I am only a Sergeant, sir!”

 

Desslok nodded, “Yes. Anyone who has the raw nerve to stand and face a force like Darth Hawk…I need such a man like that in the Fleet.”

 

“Yes Leader Desslok,”  Nekst said.

 

“Therefore, I am sending you to Iscandar as my special envoy…I am sending with you all the information we have on General Lysis…..Seek out Vulgar…he will listen to you…..It is imperative that we not wage another front with Starfleet.”

 

“Yes, Leader Desslok,” Nekest said then paused for a moment.

 

“General Talan……General Lysis…..Is he like you?”

 

“Why would you ask me that question?” Talan said.

 

“Personal reasons, sir……I’d like to keep my other arm, if possible.”

 

Desslok chuckled at the remark

 

“He was what they call my Padawan,” Talan said. Nekst snapped at attention.

 

“To the Hunt!” he said

 

Desslok stood and both he and Talan saluted him.

 

“To the Hunt!”

 

Nekest left the bridge.

 

“Why would this marauder be interested in Lysis?” Talan said.

 

“I have a more disturbing thought,” Desslok said looking at the Flight Recorder visual of Vaught. “He looks familiar.”

 

Talan regarded his words as he too looked at the display, “Now that you mention it…he does look familiar.”

 

“At first I thought it was from the briefing in Prince Zordar’s Throne Room….Now I wished I had paid attention…..There was only the Vulcan, Alsarida, that I can remember,” Desslok said, then cleared his throat. “Talan! We must redirect our attention to the task at hand, my friend.”

 

Talan simply stared at him.

 

“Perhaps it is we who need to understand the teachings of Sun Tzu,” Talan said.

 

“Whatever do you mean?” Desslok said.

 

“You can say what you want about Krypt and I could say plenty; but there was some truth in what he said when he told you that we were dealing with an enemy we don’t understand. Sir, with the addition of a Star Fighter to their ranks especially one as unpredictable as this man, well, that is an enemy we do not understand. The Dark Side is working within him, and now that incident aboard the carrier was a warning,” Talan said. “A change of tactics is in order.”

 

“Change of tactics?” Desslok said “You have been speaking against any sort of tactics at all….Why the change of heart?”

 

“If this Marauder is allowed to roam the galaxy, well, who knows what damage he can cause to the natural order of things? We cannot now engage the Star Force with a direct frontal assault while a man like Vaught serves with them. Otherwise, what happened to Garrack could happen to us.”

 

Talan walked over to a tactical console.

 

“They will need to stop for repairs shortly. This is the Star Force’s current position. If they keep on the same course, then they should come across this tunnel satellite. It would be an ideal place to stop for repairs.  If we can rig the tunnel satellite to emit an IRD energy field that would trap them there, then we can destroy the satallite with the Star Force trapped in it from a distance. My suggestion would be to use the Desslok Cannon.”

 

“Desslok shook his head, “No. I do not have faith in the Desslok Cannon after our previous encounter with the Star Force.”

 

“The IRD field will dampen any energy field,” Talan said.

 

“How do we know when they will fall into the trap?” Desslok asked.

 

“They can’t make repairs to the damage made by the Star Flies while they are in flight,” Talan said. “So even though the late General’s plan failed in one way it’s going to help us in another.”

 

“You didn’t say it was foolproof,” Desslok said.

 

“I will not be like those other fools that have come before you with “foolproof” plans to destroy the Star Force,” Talan said “But I will give my assurance that this is the best way to achieve the best tactical advantage.”

 

Morta stood listening to the two warloads and went back to his quarters and informed Princess Invidia via a small personal transceiver device. When she received the transmission, she immediately went to her father.

 

Zordar sighed, “Now what has Desslok done?” 

 

“According to Morta, Desslok engaged the Star Force. However, the Starfighter was unleashed and killed the entire crew on one of his carriers,” Invidia said.

 

“We should have given him better tactical information on the  Maestro,” Zordar said. “We known him to exhibit behavior like this in the past, such as that incident during the Borg battle, where he eliminated an entire cube of Drones.”

 

“It wouldn’t matter,” Invidia said. “Morta said they’re devising another plan…Desslok is going after them again.”

 

“That’s what I want him to do,” Zordar said.

 

“Desslok is a reckless man,” Invidia said, “He sacrificed his own planet---“

 

“Which was doomed anyway,” Zordar said.

 

“He still failed,” Invidia said. “Why do you insist on giving him so much power?”

 

Zordar laughed. “What are you afraid of, Invidia? Desslok is a strong man; I like him, I trust him. He is the sort of man the Comet Empire needs!”

 

“My Prince,” General Dire said. “We will reach Telezart in 7 Galactic days…..we don’t think that Trelania will take action against us…but if Desslok provokes her…”

 

“That’s quite enough from you, Dire!” Zordar shouted.

 

“What of the rumors about Trelania being Vaught Corsair’s sister?” Gorce said “If Desslok succeeds in destroying the Star Force, the loss of her brother my cause serious repercussions for us with Trelaina.”

 

Zordar looked at him angrily. However, Gorce just bowed and said, “I was merely asking a question, My Prince.” Gorce said.

 

Zordar nodded “The answer to your question is that I have faith in Desslok’s Judgment!  That is enough for me and it will be enough for you….The subject is closed and it will not be brought up again. Unless you are challenging my authority?”

 

“No, sir,” said Dire. Not wanting to push the warlord any further, the three left together and went out into the corridor where they went into Gorce’s suite of offices and sat down.

 

“This is getting out of hand,” Dire said.

 

“Desslok is not a man to be trusted,” Invidia added.

 

“If this is allowed to continue, he could start a war on two fronts,” Gorce said. “A war we are not ready to face.”

 

“I doubt that the Federation could interfere with the recourses they are using in the war with the Dominion,” Dire said.

 

“There is an added complication,” Gorce said. “Our Praetor has decided to enter the war on the Federations’ and Klingons’ side.”

 

Dire sighed heavily. That was quite unexpected .

 

“Then all the more reason that something must be done,” Invidia said.

 

“But what?” said Dire.

 

“Let me think of something,” Invidia mused.

 

 

Some time later Derek Wildstar rubbed his jaw and opened and closed his mouth after having his jaw repaired.

 

The Argo, however, was still in need of repair as she limped through space. They saw the Tunnel Satellite on their monitors. However, there was a debate on whether or not to enter it for repairs.

 

“It’s a natural space dock,” Wildstar said.

 

“Too natural,” Vaught said.

 

“It’s a good idea, Wildstar,” Sandor said.

 

“No.” Vaught said. “It’s not. It doesn’t…smell right!”

 

“We need to scrape the Starflies off our hull before they eat any more of the ship away!” Sandor said.

 

Wildstar got up and walked over to Nova’s station.

 

“What’s the width of the opening, Nova?” Wildstar said.

 

“300 Meters,” she replied. “More than wide enough to fit our beam and allow room for equipment to manuever about the ship.”

 

“You’re up to checking it out?” Wildstar asked Vaught.

 

“Always,” Vaught said. “However, I will be “checking it out” very carefully, sir.”

 

“This might be a good time to have IQ-9 return to duty,” Royster said.

 

“What?” Nova said in a deep voice. Then, she stood up and walked over to him, “You repaired him? You repaired that homicidal machine?”

 

“And reactivated him as well,” Royster said. “He’s waiting by Inferno.”

 

Sandor, Vaught and Wildstar also turned and looked at him.

 

“You were told to hit the showers before,” Vaught said.

 

“I know,” Royster said.

 

“Who asked you to even go near him?” Wildstar said. “It was our understanding he was to remain deactivated!”

 

“No one had to ask me!” Royster said. “He’s a Sentient Being! You don’t have the right to shut him off, especially when he wasn’t to blame for what happened!”

 

“That’s not a decision for you to have made,” Vaught said. “The Captain said that all of us were to look over his memory records and recent actions before any decision about his future was to be made! Until then, he was to remain as dead as a burned-out incandescent light bulb!”

 

“Freedom is the right of all sentient beings!” Royster said  “You forgot who it was that made that statement?”

 

Vaught leaned back in his chair and then looked out the windows for a few moments. Then, he looked back at Royster and said, “It’s possible this action of his may have been a one-time aberration. Royster has a point. Taking IQ-9 with me after what happened would be a good way to get his head back in the game.” 

 

“You saw what he did!” Nova shouted. “He could have killed the Captain! If I have a vote…” Nova huffed.

 

“You do,” Derek said.

 

“I vote to take him right back apart again and to shoot the pieces out into space. He’s too strong and dangerous and intelligent to be allowed on this ship,” Nova snapped.

 

“It wasn’t his fault.” Royster said “The star flies damaged the section of his processors that holds his mortality failsafe subroutines, or the Robotic Law circuits.”

 

“And what happens when those protocols fail again and he kills somebody?” Wildstar said. 

 

“We discussed that,” Royster said. “I installed a Chicken Switch.”

 

“Did you make that a condition of his reactivation?” Sandor asked.

 

“No, he did.” Royster said, pulling a remote out of his pocket and handing it to Sandor.

 

“What’s that for, and what’s a ‘Chicken Switch?’” Wildstar said. 

 

“That remote will trigger a device that will shut down all functions should he malfunction again,” Royster said.

 

“Why give this to me?” Sandor asked

 

“He wanted me to have it but I convinced him that it was safer in your hands.” Royster said

 

“Sir?” Vaught asked.

 

“I read that speech from your database,” Wildstar said “It was a good speech made during a difficult time.”

 

“Derek.” Nova said. “Please…he’s too dangerous to be allowed to roam free about this ship. Let’s deactivate him.”

 

“You saved my life down there,” Wildstar said “If you ask me to do so, I’ll have him deactivated but I’m asking you not to ask me because…well, he could be useful..”

 

Nova sighed, “All right, Derek. I change my vote. Reluctantly.”

 

Wildstar turned to Sandor, “Keep him activated. That’s an order.”

 

Royster smiled.“Thank you, Captain.” Royster said, while rubbing his arm. Then, he walked towards the bridge exit.

 

“What happened to Skipper….. Gilligan?” Wildstar said.

 

Royester turned to him. His face showed exhaustion and pain…he took a few deep breaths and exhaled.

 

“Not today, sir…don’t feel like it,” Royster said as he made his exit.

 

“I don’t like the looks of that,” Nova said.

 

“I think IQ-9 will be all right,” Sandor said.

 

“No. I’ve said my piece on the Tinwit already,” Nova said, pointing at the bridge doors where Royster had just been.“ I mean him! Royster! He seems like he’s in pain and he’s out of breath all of the time; don’t you see how he rubs and moves his left arm?” Nova said. “That’s not normal.”

 

“Well hopefully he’s at the showers now, and after that, I told him to see Doctor Sane for a checkup,” Vaught said.

 

“He won’t do it, and you know that!” Nova said.

 

“Then after we make repairs we’ll bulldog him and make him go to see Doc Sane,” Wildstar said.

 

“It almost frightens me to wonder what that means,” Vaught said.

 

“Don’t you have a plane to catch?” Wildstar said.

 

“This Tunnel Satellite thing is not a good idea,” Vaught said as he left the bridge.

 

“What are you doing tonight, Derek?” Nova said.

 

“Finishing up that painting,” Wildstar replied.

 

Nova nodded. “Sounds interesting.”

 

“Why don’t you come by?”

 

“And sit on the couch and watch you staring at a piece of canvas?” Nova said in a professional tone.

 

“You could bring your violin,” Wildstar said.

 

“It’s broken, I’m afraid.”

 

“Come by anyway,” Derek said. 

 

“Hmmmm,” Nova said playfully  “Make it 1900.” Nova said.

 

Wildstar nodded at that.

 

 

The Inferno departed normally this time and made its way to the tunnel satellite with Vaught and IQ aboard. The closer  Inferno had gotten, the more Vaught was inclined to lock just phasers on the mass and destroy it. He did not, though, as he made his approach and activated his breathing apparatus.

 

“You ready?” Vaught said through the modulator.

 

“I assure you, Colonel, that I am working within normal parameters,” IQ-9 replied.

 

“Good.”

 

When they arrived at the satellite, IQ-9 left the Inferno and performed a extremely through analysis. They all realized that it was overcompensation, because of his becoming compromised by the Starflies earlier. They simply accepted his report and since there seemed no credible threat found, Wildstar ordered them in. Thus, the Argo arrived at the satellite entrance, and within minutes, a work party left the ship and began cleaning the Starflies off the hull. Talan, of course, was watching these events unfold from hidden cameras that were embedded in the molecules of the rock of the satellite.

 

He called for Leader Desslok who walked over to him.

 

“The Argo has fallen into the trap.” Talan said. “They never suspected a thing!”

 

“A lovely sight,” Desslok said.  “It is time to resolve this. Move up the fleet to attack position.”

 

 

As the Crew of the Argo were busy removing the starflies, Vaught was busy repairing some of the interior consoles from the damage caused by the Starflies. The only other person on the bridge was Nova.

 

“The Gamilon Carrier,” Nova said “They weren’t a factor were they? They were already neutralized by the Star Flies?” Nova said. 

 

Vaught did not look at her; he did not answer as he contuned typing on his keyboard at his station.

 

“You really loved her, didn’t you?” Nova asked

 

Vaught stopped typing leaned back and looked out the window.

 

 “Astra and I were drawn together by a series of accidents,” Vaught said “If our governments were able to keep their affairs in order, there would be no way we would have even met.”

 

“You regret meeting her?” Nova said.

 

“ As difficult as it may seem to hear…..Yes.” Vaught said “But then I think of Star….and now you…..then you realize that without the bad parts, the good parts could never be.”

 

Nova walked over to him and sat down in Dash’s seat next to him as Vaught resumed work.

 

 Nova saw his hands trembling, so she gently grabbed them.

 

“You never had even a chance to deal with this,” Nova said. “You’ve never had time to mourn her.”

 

Vaught sighed in exhasperation

 

“How did you find out about her death?” Nova asked.

 

“I read the reports and saw the pictures taken….With the Captain and Venture standing over her body,” Vaught said.

 

She shook her head and looked into his eyes.

 

“Now your thoughts betray you…father.” Nova said.

 

Vaught gave her a look of annoyance

 

 “Do not try and Psychoanalyze me, Nova! You are not my therapist and you would not be even if I needed one!”

 

“You cant keep all of it inside,” Nova said. “Not forever!”

 

“Watch me,” Vaught said.

 

Nova’s jaw dropped. She shook her head and was about to furher pursue the conversation when her radar console started beeping. Then, Vaught received a warning from Inferno to his console.

 

“Gamilon ships!” they said in unison.

 

As if in reply all, of a sudden, the ship lurched….followed by what appeared to be static electrricty surrounding the ship.  Wildstar and Sandor both ran onto the bridge.

 

“What the hell is going on?” Wildstar said.

 

“We’re under attack.” Vaught said, jumping into Venture’s seat.

 

“Get the crew back in here!” Wildstar said to Nova

 

“Already on it,” Nova said, giving the recall order.

 

“Venture outside?” Vaught said.

 

“Yeah,” Wildstar said as Vaught flipped switches while the ship started to come back to life.

 

“This energy field is affecting all of our instruments,” Sandor said coming to his post.

 

Vaught looked over at Orion’s console, then he narrowed his eyes as switches started moving by themselves. Then the power started to build in the wave motion engine.

 

“Engeneering is responding,” Nova said.

 

Vaught pushed the throttle forward to the wave motion engine as the ship started to lurch, but it was not moving. Venture ran onto the bridge, still in his spacesuit, as Vaught pushed the throttles forward again.

 

Vaught looked up at Venture “What am I doing wrong here? Tell me!”

 

Venture quickly looked at the console…everything was in order.

 

“It’s not you,” Venture said. “She’s caught like a rat in a damn trap!”

 

“Going to the firewall,” Vaught said as he pushed the throttles forward as far as they could go. The Argo lurched and shook…however they weren’t going anywhere. Orion who was now at his station saw all the needles in the red.

 

“The engines are starting to overheat!” Orion said.

 

“I’m throwing in the auxilary engines!” Vaught said as he pushed the two auxilary engine throttles forward as far as they could go.

 

Sandor spun around, “We cannot break free.! he said. “We only have a fraction of the power necessary!”

 

“Shut it down, Vaught,” Wildstar said. “Stop all engines!”

 

Vaught angrily threw the throttles back and shut down the engines.

 

“Radar shows that Gamilon ships have positioned themselves directly in front of each entrance….We’re surrounded,” Nova said.

 

They weren’t going anywere.

 

“We walked right into this,” Venture said as Vaught vacated his station.

 

There was a beeping at Homer’s station as he turned around and looked at Wildstar.

 

“Are you @#$%! Kidding me?” Wildstar said….as Desslok’s face appeared on the screen.

 

Vaught stood next to Wildstar as Desslok looked at Vaught, his jaw dropped, and Talan’s did as well…..Wildstar turned and looked at Vaught, and then at Nova.

 

“Yes….the Gargoyle,” Desslok said looking back at Talan.

 

“That is the connection,” Talan said “We did not see it….The hunter of the alien ship that crashed on Iscandar….. That’s why you wanted Lysis….. You were bound to Astra of Iscandar.”

 

“You mocked the finely honed sense,” Wildstar muttered.

 

“I see now, “ said Desslok as he looked at Vaught. “It was I who presided over your wedding ceremony,”  Desslok said bowing slightly.

 

Vaught looked at Wildstar as Wildstar gestured at the screen.

 

“I commend you on your memory,” Vaught said. 

 

“Corsair,” Desslok said. “This is my last battle with the Star Force, and as you know, the last battle is the only one that counts.”

 

“Your overconfidence is your weakness,” Vaught said.

 

“Your loyalty to this intergalactic gang of children is yours…..I offer you an invitation to join me, Corsair,” Desslok said. “We are already aware of how you can fight.”

 

“I truly appreicate the gesture……and, I’m sorry, sir…I can’t do that.” Vaught said. “My allegiance is to the Star Force.”

 

“I understand….I have but one General with your sence of dedication. He is my right hand, and he is also the person who has entrapped you,” Desslok said.

 

“For the moment,” Vaught said.

 

“How nice to hear the sentiments, you monster!” Wildstar snapped. “Especially when your forces killed his wife?”

 

“Whether you believe me or not, I grieved when Astra was killed,” Desslok said.

 

“Wildstar is right. It was one of your Generals that killed her,” Vaught said. “Did you not sanction the killing?”

 

“It was through no command of mine, Desslok said. “I am enraged that one of my Generals was responsible for such an act…I want you to be assured that following your death, which I will make certain is an honorable one, I will use all of my resources to bring Lysis to justice.”

 

“No. leave that to me,” Vaught said. “I do not intend to die here, but I do intend to escape, and to help the Star Force send you to the Valhalla you seek.”

 

Desslok bowed his head

 

“I regret that we meet in this way,” Desslok said “You and I are of a kind…..In a different reality…..I might have called you friend.”

 

Desslok ended the transmission, and the screen went dark.

 

 

Royster finished his shower. He did nor feel much better, because his left arm was still in pain even after having hot water running on it for over an hour.

 

After drying off, he put on his usual attire, namely, shorts, T-shirt and an overshirt. He grabbed his Yankees ballcap, placing it on his head backwards, and walked out into the corridor. There was a small window where Sandor was looking out; Royster could see the spectrum of light on his face.

 

Sandor looked at him.

 

“It was a trap, wasn’t it?” Royster said. “We got snookered by Desslok!”

 

“Yes. It was some sort of damping field; no matter how much power we use, we can’t even move an inch,” Sandor said.

 

“Dumb question,” Royster replied. “What about the main engine?”

 

“Vaught firewalled it as well as both auxilaries, and…nothing.”

 

“How about a rocking motion like an old car that’s stuck in the mud?”  Royster asked.

 

Sandor looked down and closed his eyes.

 

Royster thought for a moment.

 

“What do we have that is more powerful than the main engine?” he asked to himself

 then cracked a smile.

 

“I think I know a way out of this.” Royster said.

 

“How?” Sandor said as Royster grabbed him and ran down the hall.

 

Within minutes Royster and  Sandor ran onto the bridge as Royster sat down at Vaught’s station pushing him out. He then immediately started typing on keys as a schematic of the Argo came up on the video panel as Royster zoomed into a section by the auxiliary engines. Royster pointed to the section he was looking at.

 

“Here’s the master plan, everyone! We use the wave motion gun to push us out with its recoil ……Now before any of you get that look on your faces, hear me out.”

 

To a bunch of skeptical faces, Royster continued. “When the wave motion gun charges for firing, you lose power all over the ship, and that includes engine power as well, of course.  But in order to keep the ship stationary you need engine power so at the time the gun fires; instantaneously chemical fuel similar to what they used on the old Rockwell Shuttles is pumped through and then ignited through the Auxiliary engines and that’s what keeps the ship still….My company designed it it’s called the anti-recoil device.”

 

“Right,” said Wildstar. “Okay…go on…”

 

“So here’s what we gotta do,”  Royster said. “I can cut into this junction over here and set up a pulse so when you fire the gun we cut off the signal that dumps the chemical fuel for the auxiliary engines, and when that happens the blast should propel us backward…..Like a cork from a bottle….right out of this trap!”

 

As Royster was explaining this Sandor was shaking his head “No.” Royster never looked up from the keypad.

 

“Why are you shaking your head?” Royster said to Sandor as he was still typing.

 

“I’m not shaking my head I’m shaking all over,” Sandor said “That juncture isn’t designed for that kind of interruption; you couldn’t be off more than a millisecond.”

 

“We gotta take the gamble.” Royster said while rotating his left arm. “If anything goes wrong, we fry but if we don’t do something we’re going to fry anyway…….We have two chances to die, one to live.”

 

Wildstar looked at Vaught who nodded.

 

“Do it,” Wildstar said. Then, after Royster looked back at the schematic one last time, he left the bridge .

 

Sandor laughed aloud “Crazy bastard….I should have thought of it myself!”

 

 

On the Bridge of Desslok’s flagship, Desslok and his senior officers were in a circle all holding wine goblets. Desslok raised his Glass. He called out, “To the Hunt!”

 

“TO THE HUNT!!!!!”  They all replied.

 

 Desslok drank from his glass, then he threw it behind him, striding over to the firing mechanism of the Desslok Cannon.

 

“Prepare for firing!” he snapped.

 

 

“Me and my big mouth!” Royster said while sitting at his console in the hangar deck. “I didn’t say the one actually doing the task was me.”

 

“You’re the only one that knows the system,” Vaught said.

 

“We have three minutes before we fire the wave motion gun,” Vaught said. “You have to disengage the anti-recoil system at the exact time Wildstar fires that gun or we all go up in smoke.”

 

“Terriffic,” Royster said as he began to type. “You know how to make a guy feel good.”

 

Vaught squeezed his shoulder and left the small room that Royster had built for himself. His wireless was connected to the bridge so he could coordinate with Wildstar.

 

Desslok started charging his super cannon two seconds before the Star Force did. Royster tapped feverishly at his keyboard and the energy buildup proceeded. Royster, however, was having difficulty seeing. His vision was beginning to blur and he was beginning to sweat profusely. The pain in his arm flared and he was having a hard time catching his breath. However, he fought through it.

 

Than a thought entered his mind; it something he heard Vaught say.

 

“You better pray that Starfleet finds Lysis before I do...”

 

Royster realized that Vaught said Starfleet, but that he actually meant Starsha, his daughter.

 

“She’s the only one tough enough to take Lysis out,” Royster said.

 

The interrupt was set. Royster started feverishly tapping keys; he locked onto Inferno’s comm system and gained access to its computer. Royster remembered that it was standard operating procedure for a Spacecraft Carrier to have back-up information from the flagship’s main server, in the event that the flag of command needed to be transferred to that ship. Royster found what he was looking for and began a down load…….

 

 

On Desslok’s flagship, Desslok stood ready at the firing mechanism of the Desslok Cannon….when Morta walked up to him.

 

“You’ve been ordered to return to the Comet Empire,”  Morta said.

 

Desslok turned back to the display on his firing mechanism.

 

“Tell those idiots at operations I am too busy to obey their unnecessary commands,” Desslok said.

 

“This command comes from Prince Zordar,”  Morta said.

 

“60 Seconds to firing,” said a tech’s voice through a speaker.

 

“Leader Desslok”?  Talan asked.

 

"We continue," Desslok replied.

 

 

“Wave motion recharge at 60 percent,” Orion said.

 

“Release safty lock,” Wildstar said.

 

“Safty released,” Vaught said.

 

“Safty Catch released,” Talan said on Desslok’s flagship.

 

“Open Target Lock,” Desslok said.

 

“Open Target Lock,” Wildstar said on the Argo.

 

Desslok still continued with his calibrations when Morta walked up to him with a wireless device on a receiving plate.

 

“A direct call from the Comet Empire,” Morta said.

 

Desslok looked at Talan and picked up the wireless……….

 

 

“15 seconds to firing,” Wildstar said as the pulsating sound of the wave motion gun grew even more strident.

 

“Well….” Sandor said “…..Good luck, Royster!”

 

Royster continued to frantically type breaking into the Gamilons’ database while keeping an eye on another monitor which focused on the interrupt for the anti-recoil device.

 

 

Desslok spoke into the wireless. “Yes?” he said.

 

Princess Invidia smirked and spoke into the wireless on her side. “This is an order of Prince Zordar’s. Your campaign against the Argo has gone too far! You are recalled to the Comet Empire City immediately!”

 

As soon as Desslok realized that he was talking to Princess Invidia, he threw the wireless unit across his bridge with a feral roar. Then, he turned back to his firing grip. “Start the 10-second countdown!” Desslok snapped.

 

 

 

“10 Seconds to firing,” Wildstar said as he pulled down his goggles.

 

Royster was completeing the last of his hacking. When he was satisfied that he had the information he entered coordinates into the AE-35 antenna and set it to transmit the information. Then, he turned his attention back to the interrupt. It was the slowest 10 seconds of his life; for now, his vision blured and his chest became heavy. He couldn’t catch his breath, and his arm felt like somebody had wrenched it behind his back. He felt himself losing consciousness, however he fought to stay awake until he heard Wildstar yelling “Fire!”  Royster waited until he heard the click of the trigger mechanism on the first bridge. Then, at last, he hit “Enter” He felt himself falling to the floor than after that….nothing…..He chuckled to himself  briefly for a moment as everything went black.

 

“Fire!” Desslok said on his bridge. The Desslok cannon fired, its deadly pink beam roaring towards the tunnel satellite, where the Argo was still trapped. Desslok began to smile, thinking, At long last, Gamilon is avenged. They’re all dead…at last!  Desslok was about to order that a toast be drank in memory of the Star Force upon its passage into the next life. However, just as the fireball from the Desslok Cannon struck the tunnel satellite, they could all see something shooting out from the opening covered in flames. Desslok looked out of the window to his horror for as the smoke cleared…..he saw that the Argo still survived. The smile fell from his face, and Desslok’s eyes went dangerously black. Talan realized that had he not been distracted, Desslok would have fired the weapon a moment sooner before the Star Force could complete their escape plan. He looked at Morta angrily, and noted that he had a very smug look on his face. He glanced at Desslok, who just nodded, almost imperceptibly.

 

Talan removed his lightsaber from his belt and activated it. When Morta heared the whooshing sound he turned and screamed as Talan thrust the blade across his mid-section. Then, a moment later, his body fell to the floor in two pieces. Desslok said nothing as he nodded to Talan.

 

Then, Desslok said, “All ships, pursue the Argo. We can still catch up to her, and we have the superior firepower! Ready our final attack!”

 

His flagship’s navigator began to carry out the order, but Desslok’s eyebrows went up as he saw him pulling levers and feverishly typing in commands; with nothing happening.

 

“Commander, what is the problem?” Desslok said.

 

“Sir, we are locked out of our own engine and fire control systems! Some sort of virus is overtaking the computer core! I’m trying to reboot it! And I can’t contact the rest of the Fleet, either!”

 

Then the bridge went dark as Desslok watched the rest of the ships in his fleet going dark as well and beginning to drift in space.

 

“Dead, all dead!” Talan said.

 

“Get this fixed,” Desslok snapped. He tore the firing lever from his control stand and threw it across the bridge with another feral roar. Then, he turned away from Talan and the others, lost in his dark, angry thoughts.

 

 

Wildstar took off his goggles and smiled at Vaught, then he flipped a switch.

 

“Nice work, Royster,” Wildstar said over the comm system.

 

However, there was no response.

 

Vaught tapped his communicator pin, “Royster?”

 

There still was no answer from Royster

 

“I don’t like this,” Nova said walking up to Vaught’s console

 

“He probably just passed out; you know him,” Sandor said as Nova ignored the remark and tapped some keys.

 

“I’m having Inferno’s sensors locate him,” Nova said as she put the display on the video panel.

 

The display showed Royster on his side motionless.

 

Several people on the bridge chuckled thinking that he passed out.

 

“Look at him,” chuckled Dash.

 

“Looks like he decided to take a nap,” chuckled Homer.

 

“That’s enough!” Wildstar said “The man just saved our collective asses and you’re laughing at him?”

 

“Tring to get vitals?” Vaught asked as he assisted Nova by typing on the keypad. They both looked at each other when they saw the results.

 

Venture and Wildstar snapped their heads to Vaught and Nova, as the vitals came up on the board. Nova didn’t need to look twice as she tried to activate Inferno’s transporter.

 

“The hull is still charged from the Gamilons’ electromagnetic device-it won’t work…damnit!” she snapped as she stood up like a flash of lightning.

 

Before Sandor could finish his sentence, Vaught and Nova were already off the bridge.

 

“Call Doctor Sane to the hangar deck, Homer!” Wildstar snapped “Medical Emergency!”

 

 

They cleaned and picked up what was left of Morta from the bridge of Desslok’s battlecruiser as Desslok turned back to Talan.

 

“I have failed,” Desslok said. “Had I not been caught up with Princess Invidia, the deed would have been done. Gamilon would have been avenged, and we would have regained our honor.”

 

“Why at that particular moment would Prince Zordar have you recalled?” Talan said.

 

“The most urgent concern is getting our ship and fleet working again. We must restrategize another attack effort,” Desslok said. “This day will not end for me until the Argo is finished!”

 

A bridge officer walked up to Desslok and Talan as his men worked at getting the ship running again.

 

“What is it?” Talan said

 

“Sir, another starship has entered the area…..it is neither Comet Empire nor Earth Defense. It is large; identity unknown!”

 

“Place it on our viewer, Talan,” Desslok said.

 

 

  

“They are requesting communications,” another bridge officer said just as another reported that they had control of their own helm again. “They are asking for you directly, Leader Desslok.” Desslok turned and faced the screen as Captain Hawk’s face appeared.

 

“Leader Desslok, I presume?” Hawk said. “I am Captain Neil Hawk commanding the Federation Starship Swayback.”

 

Desslok bowed slightly “How may we be of service?” Desslok said.

 

“We have detected that you have entered the Telezart System and are about to re-enter that system….what are your intentions?”

 

Desslok gave a slight scowl “No doubt that you have been monitoring this situation quite closely. Captain, I’m sure you understand if I don’t wish to play what do you call it ….Red Rover? You have interrupted me in some important business. Business that I mean to carry out before this day’s end!”

 

Hawk smiled “Plain speaking, that’s good,” Hawk said “Clears the air…..So since we are being so open, l’ll let you know our intentions and why we are here speaking with you. The Telezart system, although displaced, is Federation territory. We have personnel aboard the Argo in a joint rescue effort to relieve the Telezart System. Any further acts of aggression against the Argo while they are in the Telezart System, your private concerns with them notwithstanding, shall be considered an act of war against the Federation.”

 

“Meaning?” Desslok said.

 

In reply, the Swayback fired her guns on the Gamilon Carrier that had suffered Vaught’s Attack. The ship broke in two and drifted away from the rest of Desslok’s fleet.

 

Desslok watched the display as the Swayback  trained her heavy guns on his flagship.

 

“You are outnumbered, Captain,” Desslok said after he laughed slightly. “And I trust that you can see that you shall be surrounded in a moment?”

 

Hawk smiled, “Oh, your friends might get me in a rush…but not before I turn your Goddamn Flagship into a canoe.”

 

“Hardly the language used by an ally,” Desslok said with a smirk.

 

“Well, killing almost 5 billion people kind of puts a damper on happy domestic relations,” Hawk said  “Now back off….I won’t ask again!”

 

Desslok turned to Talan who was looking at a computer screen as more of his flagship’s systems began to come back on line.

 

“They do have a starship in Iscandar’s orbit,” Talan said “With one of their most senior Admirals on board, and the situation with Lysis, it might not be in our best interest to start a feud with Starfleet at this time.”

 

Desslok looked at Talan. “Go on?”

 

“The people that they are using are not of the typical ideology that the Federation boasts,” Talan said. “If one man with a light saber can kill an entire carrier’s compliment, well,  think of what an entire starship can do to the remainder of our people on Iscandar. Our hands are caught in a vise, Leader Desslok.”

 

“Hmmm…then perhaps it is time for us to take a lesson from the Earthling Sun Tzu,” Desslok said. “Tell the ships to hold their positions!”  Then turned his attention towards Hawk.

 

“We will leave the system,” Desslok said. “However be warned, Captain Hawk, that once the Star Force leaves the Telezart system, my personal campaign against them will continue….I expect the Federation to uphold their non-interference directives………..as well as my people surviving on Iscandar.”

 

Desslok could tell that Hawk was irritated by his words but for the moment, he bought the Star Force…..and Vaught some time.

 

“We understand the Gamilons’ plight,”  Hawk said “And we want to assist the Gamilon people in whatever way we can….However, it was your war that hastened your problem. I overheard one of your generals stating that your hands are caught in a vise? Your own aggression put them there, Leader.”

 

“No one need point out my mistakes, Captain!” Desslok said.

 

“Listen, between you and I, don’t do what you’re doing, Leader Desslok,” Hawk said. “I’ve some advice for you.”

 

Desslok looked at him angrily. He hissed. “Go on?”

 

“They’ll win,” Hawk continued. “If that happens, then you know that someone in Starfleet is going to bring you in unless you stop now. I advise you to return to Gamilon. The Federation will help rebuild your world.”

 

 Desslok did not repond; he simply ended the transmission, having had enough of diplomatic banter for one day.

 

“Set course to the Comet Empire!” Desslok said angrily, then turned to Talan. “General Talan, our benefactor has some explaining to do.”

 

 

“What was that all about?” asked Swayback’s First Officer, who was named Commander Victor Wright, as Hawk rubbed his chin.

 

“It means we don’t have a lot of time,” Hawk said as he watched the Gamilons leaving. “Is the MACO-NEST team ready?”

 

“The Professor says they are,” Wright replied. “I have my doubts, sir. Are you sure sending them is the right thing?”

 

Hawk sat back in the seat.

 

“With Nokkar gone, the next best thing to keep Corsair cool is the Professor,” Hawk said. “You saw what he did to that Gamilon carrier……It’s only going to get worse from there, what with him and Desslok coming to loggerheads, along with that bunch of kids on that battleship.”

 

“These are very bad guys,” Wright. “We should have just taken them right out. We could have done it. We could have at least gotten his damn flagship.”

 

“Not all of them are bad, Mister Wright,” Hawk said. “Just very misguided.”

 

“That makes it all the more harder not to paint them all with the same brush,” Wright said.

 

“I think that is what my friend Vaught Corsair would say,” Hawk said. “Let’s hold our position here, Vic. Launch the NEST Team, and tell the Professor to keep his team hidden until Major Corsair has made contact with Trelaina.”

 

“Yessir,” said Wright.

 

 

Starsha Corsair ran through the jungles of Iscandar, in full combat dress and with full pack. For three hours she ran through the thick foliage and humid air. She emerged from the jungle and onto the beach where the ocean breeze, although still humid, felt cool on her face by comparison. She picked up her pace and ran faster on the beach, going into a full sprint. That was, until she passed Alex Wildstar and Vulgar who were on the beach playing catch with a football.

 

Alex threw the Football at her. Instinctively she turned in mid-air and caught the football. Then, she landed on the ground skidding to a stop.

 

“Nice try,” Starsha Corsair said, throwing the football back to Alex, who tossed it to Vulgar.

 

“Don’t you believe in taking time off?” Vulgar asked.

 

“This is time off, General,” Starsha Corsair said “Besides you used to train for days in the jungle!”

 

“Doing what?” Alex asked.

 

“It was a long time ago,” Vulgar said.

 

They all started walking back to the palace.

 

“I heard that your father made contact with Starfleet,” Alex said. “Were you able to speak with him?”

 

“No.” Starsha Corsair said, “Why do you ask?”

 

“He made news today,” Alex said. “BIG news!”

 

“What’s happened?” Starsha Corsair asked.

 

“Apperently Leader Desslok has continued his campaign against the Star Force,” Vulgar said. “Under his orders, a carrier of ours attacked the Argo, disabling them for a time. Then, your father, using Inferno, totally neutralized the carrier and its crew…..leaving only one man alive.”

 

‘I’m sorry to hear that, General,” Starsha Corsair said. “However, my father wouldn’t have attacked them unless he was provoked.”

 

Vulgar held up his hand “I know that! I know General Garrack…He’s an idiot, he gambled and he lost.”

 

“But that’s not what has us worried,” Alex said

 

“What?” Starsha Corsair said.

 

“He wounded a solider of ours,” Vulgar said. “He allowed him to live…however he gave him a message…I think it’s something that your father intended for you.”

 

“Well, what was it he said to the solider?” Starsha Corsair said.

 

“He said that Starfleet had better find Lysis before he was done with his mission…If not, he would come to Iscandar and rectify the matter….Personally.”

 

Starsha stopped. “Crap! He knows!”

 

“And?” Alex said

 

“Lysis would do to the crew of the Enterprise what my father did to the crew of that carrier,” Starsha Corsair said “It’s up to me to take him out.”

 

“Just like that?” Alex said “You don’t even know where he is.”

 

“Yeah? If we find Defian,t we find Lysis,” Starsha said as they walked into an entrance to the Palace which led right to the kitchen… There, Queen Starsha and, to Starsha Corsair’s surprise, Deeana Troi were discussing a meal preparation.

 

“Guess who’s coming to dinner,” Starsha Corsair muttered to Vulgar.

 

“I heard that,” Troi said.

 

“Deeana and I were discussing some Betazed cuisines,” Queen Starsha said.

 

“OK, what’s for dinner?” Alex said.

 

“Pizza,” they both replied in unision.

 

Alex and Starsha Corsair gave each other a confused look, shook ther heads and walked in opposite directions. Then, something caught Starsha Corsair’s eye.  A young Gamilon female was walking up to Queen Starsha with a glass of water. Starsha, who was preoccupied with talking to Troi, was surprised, however she accepted the glass with thanks. As the Gamilon servant handed her the glass she wiped the rim of the glass with a towlette. Starsha, who was talking with Troi and laughing, put the glass up to her mouth. Starsha Corsair extended her hand, pulling the  the glass out of Queen Starsha’s hand before the water touched her lips. The glass floated away and rested on a table. Queen Starsha looked at her niece with confusion as Starsha Corsair leapt across the room. She grabbed the Gamilon servant girl by her throat, and lifted her off the ground with one hand. They were all yelling at her to stop, but Starsha Corsair, filled with rage and with her fangs clearly visible tightened her grip.

 

“What did you do?” Starsha Corsair said in a distorted voice.

 

The Gamilon struggled slightly then stopped.

 

“It was Lysis that made me,” she finally admitted.

 

Starsha Corsair calmed herself and placed the young Gamilon servant on the ground. Once there, the Gamilon dropped to her knees……

 

“Where is he?” demanded Starsha Corsair.

 

“I do not know; he contacts me through this,” the servant said as she handed Starsha Corsair a small datapad. “Forgive me, Your Highness,” she said to Starsha Corsair.

 

Starsha Corsair retrieved the glass of water from the table and walked over to the servant.

 

“You are forgiven,” Starsha Corsair said handing while her the glass. “Now drink it!” Queen Starsha was about to protest, when Alex pulled her back. The young Gamilon sipped from the glass…within seconds, she went into convulsions and gasped her last breath…….

 

In an instant Starsha Corsair was in contact with the Enterprise as well, as Alex and Queen Starsha were being beamed up.

 

“Not again,” she quipped as the Transporter Beam enveloped her along with the others…

 

 

 

Nova got to Royster just in time. She administered CPR until Dr Sane got there. She had to use the paddles on him once Dr Sane got there. Royster was now in Sick Bay unconscious as Doctor Sane read the test results.

 

“I think he is out of danger,” Dr Sane said to Vaught and Wildstar. “But he is going to need a lot of rest, and definitely a change of lifestyle.”

 

Nova walked into the small cubicle where Royster was.

 

She saw IQ-9 standing next to him. He turned to Nova, then back to Royster. The robot bent down and picked up a case and placed it in Nova’s hands.

 

“He enjoys opera,” IQ-9 said with a long pause.

 

 

Nova opened the case to see her violin fully repaired….as if it had never been broken.

 

She turned to IQ-9, who did not turn around. He said nothing, and just rolled out of sight.

 

“You’ve done all you can, Nova,” Dr Sane said. “The rest is up to him.”

 

“I’ll be along in a minute,” Nova said.

 

Wildstar remained at the entrance of the door watching Nova as she pulled out her violin from the case. Wildstar was always amazed at how she played so gracefully as the bow slid across the instrument with such precision.

 

“ She’s playing Nessun Dorma,”  Vaught whispered

 

“No one sleeps,” Wildstar said with a nod.

 

They both watched as Nova continued playing the tune harmonizing throughout the room. When Sandor came up to them, he began speaking when they hushed him.

 

“How’s he doing?” Sandor said above a whisper.

 

“Doc Sane said he’ll be all right,” Wildstar said.  “It’s just a matter of time now.”

 

“This may be a bad time to bring this up,” Sandor said “But I have to.”

 

“Whats on your mind, Sandor?” Vaught said.

 

“Right before we fired the wave motion gun, Royster sent a message to Iscandar via the AE-35,” Sandor said.

 

“Why would he send a message there at that time?” Wildstar said.

 

“I asked myself the same question,” Sandor said. “The message was encrypted; however Homer thinks he hacked into the Gamilon carrier and sent whatever information was there to Iscandar…..addressed to your daughter Starsha.”

 

“Is there any indication that the Gamilons know about this?” Wildstar said

 

“I don’t think they had the time,” Sandor said. “Homer monitored a transmission between Desslok and a Captain Hawk of a Federation starship called Swayback.”

 

Vaught laughed. “Neil is getting brazen.”

 

“Homer said that the Captain of the Swayback stated that Telezart was part of Federation Territory and ordered him out of the system. The Swayback then destroyed the Gamilon carrier as a demonstration.”

 

“He bought us some time, anyway,” Wildstar said “But what was Royster up to?”

 

Vaught finished tapping on his watch and made a slight grimace.

 

“Defiant,” Vaught said.

 

“What?” Wildstar asked.

 

Vaught made no reply he simply excused himself and walked down the corridor.

 

“Does everyone on this ship know about what’s going on except me?” Wildstar asked Sandor.

 

Sandor just shrugged.

 

 

Alsarida was first on the scene conducting the investigation, Selar was doing an autopsy on the Gamilon servant girl to determine the poison used as Starsha Corsair beamed back aboard the Enterprise, where she arrived on the Bridge in her Marine uniform. She walked up to the Command Chair where Riker was sitting and gave a crisp salute.

 

“Lt. Corsair, reporting as ordered,” she said

 

“Good save, Lieutanant,” Riker said.

 

“Sir,” she said snapping to attention.

 

“Come with me,” Riker said. Then, as they walked into the Captain’s ready room, where Spock was, she snapped to attention again.

 

“You may stand at ease, Lieutenant,” Spock said. “This is indeed very disturbing news.”

 

“Sir,” she said as she stood in a parade rest stance.

 

“You have heard of the latest exploit of your father,” Spock said.

 

“I was aware he was in combat.” Starsha Corsair said.

 

“At the expense of over 1,500 Gamilon soliders,” Spock said. “He slaughtered them.”

 

“With all due respect, sir,” Starsha Corsair said. “I’m his daughter; not his lawyer.”

 

Spock raised an eyebrow and stood up and looked out the window of the ready room.

 

“I blame Desslok more than I do your father, Lieutenant,” Spock said. “But that is not what I brought you here to discuss.”

 

“Yes sir,” she simply said.

 

“At the time of the assassination attempt, we received a message that was addressed to you and CC’d to Captain Riker from the Argo.”

 

“My father?”

 

“No.” Riker said. “Someone named Neville Royster.”

 

“Never heared of him,” Starsha said.

 

“Apparently he was able to gain access to one of their computers. ‘Hacked’ I believe the appropriate term is,” Spock said. “The information that Royster….appropriated….clears Queen Starsha of any wrong doing.” Spock said “It also gives us a definitive location of the Defiant’s location on Iscandar.”

 

“I’d like to check that out, sir,” Starsha Corsair said.

 

“We tried to do a sensor scan of that area. However, we are getting too many anomalous readings.”

 

“It was very close to where Diamond Island used to be….According to Queen Starsha the island was destroyed over a year ago,” Riker said.

 

“Perhaps the eruption caused some magnetic interference,” Spock said.

 

“Or the area has always had had some sort of natural interference and the Gamilons deliberately put the Defiant there so it couldn’t be detected.” Starsha Corsair said.

 

“To what end?” Spock asked.

 

“I think my father was sent after it,” Starsha Corsair said, pointing to the display on the screen where the interference was. “According to Queen Starsha, Astra found my father roaming on the beach here. Now that’s less than a couple of Clicks from where the anomalous readings begin…..Sir.”

 

“Royster believes that if the Defiant is there,” Riker said. “That retrieving her may flush out Lysis….and he included all of his biographical data.”

 

Starsha Corsair looked at the data pad that Riker handed her.

 

“Whoever this guy is, he’s good!” Starsha Corsair said. “May I have permission to look into this further?”

 

Riker looked at Spock who nodded.

 

“Permission granted,” Riker said “Take all necessary precautions.”

 

Starsha saluted, although it was not a custom in Starfleet. Then, Spock called after her.

 

“It is logical to assume that he will retaliate against the Royal Family again,” Spock said.

 

“He’ll have to get through me first…….Admiral.”

 

 

 

Royster experienced some flashing of bright light, then he tried opening his eyes. When he did, his vision appeared to be double layered. It was as if two pictures slightly different were placed on top of each other. Then slowly one of the layers appeared to dissolve leaving everything looking slightly blurry. He blinked his eyes and everything came into focus. He then realized that his voice was muffled. When he called out, it was then he realized that an oxygen mask was over his mouth, as he looked at his arm and saw that there was an IV connected to his arm.

 

“What did I do;  pass out?” Royster said to himself as he slowly lifted himself up from the bed. He realized that he was in Sickbay and called out, however no one answered.  Not wanting to pull the IV out, he noticed that where it was connected to was on a small stand that rolled.

 

He slowly found himself walking through the halls of the Argo. Then a small flash came, and a person was walking next to him.

 

“Hey, what’s up?” Royster said cheerfully to a smiling Q.

 

“Do you realize that you are the only human that does not express aversion when I appear?” Q said.

 

Royster simply shrugged.

 

“A bad day, I see,” Q said pointing at the IV.

 

“I guess I passed out,” Royster said “Guess I don’t have what it takes to be a member of the Star Force.”

 

“Does that mean something to you?” Q asked.

 

“I just stick out like a sore thumb, that’s all,” Royster said.  As the two came upon the Captain’s quarters, Q stopped him.

 

“The next act to this opera is about to open,” Q said.

 

“You mean comic opera?” Royster said.

 

Q simply laughed. “I find you quite refreshing for a human, Neville Royster,” he said as Royster knocked on the Door, then disappeared.

 

“What the hell are you doing out of bed!?” Wildstar said.

 

 Royster sheepishly walked in, there he saw Nova and Vaught. Vaught Stood up as Nova raced to him checking his IV.

 

“I’m fine… I just passed out,” Royster said.

 

“Passed out! No! You’ve had a heart attack!” Nova said easing him on the couch.

 

“Since when?” Royster said.

 

“In the past 24 hours,” Vaught said. Wildstar’s completed painting of the USS Enterprise caught Royster’s eye.

 

“I guess Doctor Sane went to dinner and assumed that you were going to be staying in bed,” Nova said gently taking him by the arm.

 

“Which I guess is where I am going now>” Royster said as he passed the painting of the Enterprise. “Wow,”  Royster, said in a very impressed tone of voice “It almost looks like a photo!”

 

“Thanks.” Wildstar said thinking that it was a little strange since Royster had commented on it yesterday morning.

 

“What happened to the other painting that you were working on?”

 

Nova looked at Royster and Back at Wildstar.

 

“What other painting?” Derek said.

 

“You know,” Royster said. “Of the Real Enterprise?”

 

Wildstar looked at the picture “That is the real Enterprise! Don’t you remember you gave me the specs for it? You saw it this morning when I was working on it!”

 

“This?” Royster said.

 

Royster looked at the painting again, “It’s close…don’t get me wrong…But that ain’t it.”

 

Vaught cleared his throat “Neville, could you be thinking of the Mark II Constitution-Class refit?

 

“Boss, I know the Mark II’s But if you’re telling me that’s a Constitution-Class Starship-”

 

“Like you said, it looks almost like a photo,” Nova said.

 

“Well when we get in touch with that Ambassador Spock guy, let’s ask him,”  Royster said.

 

“Ambassador Spock? You mean Admiral Spock?” Vaught said

 

“Admiral!? He retired from Starfleet!” Royster said “Record states that he was Vulcan’s Ambassador to Romulus.”

 

“Vulcan?” Corsair said.

 

“Yeah…Vulcan where you went to school?” Royster said.

 

“Royster you’ve gone over that Database…you know there is no Planet Vulcan,” Corsair said.  “Not anymore.”

 

Royster flopped on the couch. He was breathing heavily and was beginning to perspire. Nova raced to him and took his pulse.

 

“Is he having another Heart Attack?” Wildstar asked.

 

Not yet, but I’m expecting,” Royster said.  “What happened to Vulcan?”

 

“Sadly it was destroyed,” Vaught said “I studied on the Vulcan colony. But, Vulcan was destroyed before I was born.”

 

Royster’s eyes widened. “No, no, NO, that’s not right!” Royster said shaking his head.

 

“I’m going to take him back to Sickbay,” Nova said. “He’s very agitated.”

 

Royster nodded as Nova supported him under his arm as he looked at the picture.

 

“That’s not right,” Royster said

 

“Ok.” Nova said in a soothing tone of voice as she left with him.

 

After the doors closed Vaught stood up and looked at the picture.

 

“I think the stress was just mounting on him,” Wildstar said.

 

“Perhaps,” Vaught said continuing to look at the picture.

 

“ The Nero Syndrome?” Impossible….. how could he have known?” Vaught thought to himself while continuing to stare at the picture.

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED…..

 

To Return to the Introduction to Starfighter: The Iconoclast, click here