STARFIGHTER! The Iconoclasts
Chapter 9: Revelations
By: Tom Sczepkowski
With
editing and clean-up by: Frederick P. Kopetz
Copyrights: STAR TREK is © 2004 by
Paramount Pictures, Inc. STAR BLAZERS is © 2004 by Voyager International, and, STAR
WARS is © 2004 by Lucasfilm, Ltd. GARGOYLES is © 2004 by Disney Entertainment.
The Technomugar Empire is © 2004 by Frederick P. Kopetz and is mentioned here
by the author's permission. All original elements of this tale are © 2004 by
Tom Sczepkowski. All rights reserved, not to be copied without the author's
permission.
Col.
Alsarida Neri, despite the name, was born T’ Shara on Vulcan. Like Selar, her
family too was killed in action during the Khittomer attack by the Romulans.
After that, she was sent to live with an aunt and uncle who were living on the
planet Iota; a planet ruled by Mafia families, with the mob family rulers known
as "bosses".
During a
slight “dispute” between bosses there, her aunt and uncle were killed. Now,
having lost everything, the-then 14 year old Vulcan abandoned her philosophy
and her heritage and sought her revenge out on the family that killed her aunt
and uncle by totally wiping out the whole family, including the boss in charge.
The head family currently in power called the Neri family saw the young girl's
potential and raised her as her own daughter. She took the name of the Don’s
mother and completely forgot her Vulcan heritage. When she was 18, and somewhat
out of control, getting mixed up in many a brawl, her adoptive family felt that
she lacked discipline He felt that a
structured setting would be better for her so she had enlisted in the Marines
in the protection unit and eventually became a bodyguard to diplomats and high
ranking personnel.
She had
become a favorite among the Federation council not only for her abilities, for
she was also very beautiful, which sometimes worked to her advantage when she
was protecting someone.
This
mission was one that she was not looking forward to for three reasons.
It involved
the Dantes family.
It involved
Ambassador Spock.
They would
be traveling on the
These
reasons weren’t personal, however, they were professional. At the moment, she
kept her feelings to herself when she had been given her orders by General
Hideico. She simply saluted and left his office suite.
The
She piloted
the runabout herself while reading the file reports on the entire family. She
was stuck on Vaught's persona as she became mesmerized with his picture. She
had never met Corsair, however she had heard stories about him. To her, he
seemed more like a ghost and a legend than a real person. It was hard to
believe that he was a family man with a daughter. She did read that his ex-wife
had been killed and she also read about the bizarre events leading up to her
death. However, Alsarida simply looked at the picture again. As she gazed at
it, the computer started beeping, which meant she was within 100 miles of her
destination. She chuckled to herself and put the data pad away as she piloted
the runabout along the
She finally
came across to Sandy Hook and landed about a half a mile short of the Dantes
mansion, near the remains of a mid twentieth-century armory of some sort.
She
normally didn’t have to wear a uniform, however, in this instance she wore one.
The Starfleet Marine field uniform was not too unlike the Marine uniforms of
the twentieth and twenty first century. The Starfleet Marine Corps held more of
a traditional military doctrine complete with hats and saluting where regular
Starfleet personnel did not. However Starfleet Personnel and Marine personnel
always had worked well together throughout the years. Although they were
different, each side was careful not to antagonize the other; especially during
wartime.
The war was
not going well for the Federation… however they weren’t doing as badly as when
the war started. They had just re-taken the Deep Space Nine station from the
Cardassians. All seemed OK for now, but the war was going to be long and
hard. And the Federation wanted Vaught
Corsair back. On the ride down, Alsarida read the entire file on Vaught, the Inferno,
and the planet Iscandar in the alternate universe. She was puzzled by certain
aspects of it as she found herself standing by the water's edge gazing out onto
the ocean.
She sighed
heavily as she shook her head slightly and began walking towards the house.
Then, she heard a commotion going on. She walked a little faster as she saw a
fight taking place.
Not knowing
it was Starsha, she drew her phaser, which was a modified titanium pistol with
a scope, and she thus bolted across the beach.
As if on
cue Starsha dropped to the ground and tumbled, standing in front of Destine.
Then, she activated her light saber as it glowed a
burgundy color. Also on cue, Alsarida started firing as Starsha started to charge
Alsarida. As the two were about to clash Demona, gliding through the air,
shouted “STOP!” and interspersed herself between them just as they stood there
not breaking eye contact.
“We do this
sort of thing all the time,” Destine said to Alsarida. "No need for you to
worry about us."
Alsarida
raised an eyebrow, saying, “You might try playing Parcheesi, instead,
Admiral.”
“Very
comical, Colonel,” Destine replied. “May I present my great-granddaughter,
Lieutenant Starsha Corsair?”
Once
Starsha realized that she almost attacked a Starfleet Marine Colonel, she was
at full attention. Starsha knew from her
own experience with Selar that Vulcans were very
disciplined. She wondered what she was in for with a Vulcan Marine Colonel.
Starsha
remained at attention even with the full pack on her back. Alsarida was
impressed that she could still remain at attention even after fighting with a bat'leth in full gear. Alsarida also did
not want to be brutal towards the young girl who was very well respected in the
ranks of both the Marines and Starfleet.
“With your permission, Admiral?” Alsarida asked.
Destine
nodded. “Yes. I'll leave the two of you alone to get acquainted.”
Starsha
didn’t move…in fact, it appeared that she didn’t breathe as Destine chuckled to
herself and walked away to the house.
Alsarida
turned towards Starsha whom just looked straight ahead as Alsarida nodded in
approval.
“Stand at
rest, kid. I don’t want you dropping on me.”
Starsha let
out her breath as she stooped her shoulders from the weight of the pack. Then,
Alsarida started walking with her towards the house.
“That was
impressive work with that light saber,” Alsarida said.
“Thank you,
ma'am,” Starsha replied.
“I’ve heard
you’re not entirely pleased with this assignment,” Alsarida said.
Starsha
said nothing, but just continued to walk.
“You may
speak openly,” Alsarida said
“There
doesn’t seem to be an assignment to be pleased or displeased with,” Starsha
said. “I’m being baby sat.”
“Well with
the loss of your mother and your heavy combat record…"
“I need to
be out there, Colonel!” Starsha said impatiently. “I need to do my job….If I
was anyone else other than Admiral Destine's granddaughter I’d be out there on
the front lines right now….just like my father.”
Alsarida
nodded. “Ah, yes. I never met your father; I wish I had…,” she said as she
chuckled drawing a surprised look from Starsha. Alsarida shot a look back.
“What is
it!?” Alsarida asked.
“Nothing,
Colonel,” Starsha said quickly.
“Stick
close to me during this mission, understood?”
Starsha
shook her head, muttering to herself, "Damn. She’s not going to let anyone
but Commander Riker and Commander Troi near me.”
“Right ,” she added. “And myself. You
will be carefully watched."
Starsha
looked at her as they got to the house. Alsarida said, “Do you think she would
have let me with you alone if she and Nokkar didn’t hand pick me for this
mission that we are going on? It is very important!”
“Ma'am, I
don’t even know what we are doing! I’m still in the dark!”
“Well
that’s one of the reasons why I’m here.” Alsarida said as she handed her a data
pad. “Read that now,” Alsarida said.
“You are to familiarize yourself with all of the particulars. Although
the
“Yes,
ma'am," Starsha said. “Without reading this, uhhhh, speaking candidly, we really got ourselves into the shithouse
this time, didn’t we?”
Alsarida
shot her a quick smile. “Between you and me…It all rests on your father.”
***********************************************************************
Vaught shut
the autopilot off on the Andromeda’s helm as he preferred to fly the
ship manually.
“The old
man’s going to yell if you keep doing that.” Sandor said sitting at the station
next to him.
“Society
relies too much on gadgets.” Vaught said re activating the auto-pilot.
“You’ve
been a great help on this flight…I want to thank you,” Sandor said. “Forgive my
saying so but Space Marines aren’t always so willing to cooperate.”
“Perhaps.”
Vaught said. “But after all this war and desolation I would think cooperation
would be more forthcoming.”
“People
forget all too quickly.” Sandor said. “This planet is now united only because
the Gamilons were overpowering us with planet bombs. I mean there are already
isolated incidents of things returning to old school…especially with my people
in their homeland.”
“
Sandor
nodded. “Also with other countries. And
there are fanatics…religious fanatics, leading bizarre racist separatist
movements.”
“Like that
old woman I saw in my vision…Will of the Force.” Vaught muttered to himself. He
was relieved when he found that Sandor apparently hadn't heard him.
“Aren’t you
concerned for the future?” Sandor asked.
“I’m just a
cog in the wheel of things,” Vaught said. “I can't summon the future….The only
thing I can do is give knowledge of the past and to enforce the present….I
guess that’s spoken like a typical Marine but that’s how I look at it.”
“So your
philosophy is just to follow orders without question?” Sandor asked.
“You asked
my opinion, didn't you?”
Sandor
sighed and leaned back into the chair as Vaught made some slight course
corrections to the auto pilot, then looked back at Sandor who just sat there
looking out the windows.
“Your
thoughts dwell on your friends in the Star Force, Commander Sandor,” Vaught
said.
Sandor
laughed, “Well! That’s pretty good for a total stranger Colonel….However, you can just call me Steve.”
“That would
have to be for off duty…and I am Vaught.”
“Stickler for discipline, Colonel?”
“Yes,
Commander,” Vaught said. "I am. As for your friends….I’m sure that Captain
Avatar would have understood your not being present at his memorial tonight.
However, I am not sure he’d agree with you about your lack of confidence of his
successor, Acting Captain Wildstar."
Sandor
turned and looked at him astonished as Vaught continued to look at his
instruments. “But then, you weren’t really close to Captain Avatar, were you?”
Vaught asked.
“Errr…we had a good working relationship,” Sandor said,
taken aback. "You have to understand that I had a lot to do on the trip
back from Iscandar and he was bedridden at the end.”
“Then there
was Desslok’s final attack on the Argo.”
Vaught said. “The attack that had you so engrossed in your technical work with
your improvised shield system you never really thought much at that moment
about Captain Avatar, or the other people around you, dealing with their own
hopes, fears, and an impending, untimely death, the passing of one who would
have given her life for you and the others?"
Sandor spun
around in the chair. “God
above! How in the hell could you possibly know all that!? You
weren't there! You didn't see what happened when the Cosmo-DNA was first turned
on or when Desslok attacked us! That's still classified!”
Vaught
returned Sandor’s stare. “Am I incorrect, Commander?”
“No. You
aren't,” Sandor said with a shaky voice.
Vaught
turned back to his panel as Gideon walked up to them.
“If your
counseling session is over, gentlemen, would you mind laying a course for
re-entry?”
“Already
done, Captain,” Vaught said.
“Wonderful.”
Gideon said sarcastically, walking over to his command console. “Then, take us
home! You can discuss old tales later on in the Officers' Club over beer if you
like. My bridge is not the right
place for old war stories…"
Both Vaught
and Sandor felt like saying something, but they didn't. They felt that in this
case, discretion was definitely the better part of valor….
End Chapter Nine
Next Chapter: "Father Figures"
To Return to the Introduction
to Starfighter: The Iconoclasts,
click here