TRTSS40: Prelude to the Return of the Revenging Clones of the Hopeful Phantom Empire! – By Ocramed
Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2, Sailor Moon, ST, Star Wars and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a limited story.
Author's Note: Yes, the title makes no sense, but I wanted to touch upon the titles of the Star Wars franchise. As always, C&C are welcomed.
Part 1
2012 CE: Stargate Command (Colorado Springs, North America).
"When will the first test be made?" asked Brigadier General Usagi Tsukino (USAF), even as she looked down at the technician who was fixing the alien technology know as a "Stargate". As the operations commander of Stargate Command, it was Usagi's job to make sure that the Stargate Network remained working, especially after the lost of a US Senator, his entourage and a team consisting of members of the Stargate Program. With this lost, the American "Homeworld Security" and the United Nation's "International Oversight Advisory" made the determination that the truth of their disappearance was to remain classified. Thus, as far as the world was concerned, there was an accident at a military proven ground that vaporized the missing people…
Still, it was important to get the Stargate Network restored and recalibrated back to safe levels, since it was imperative to maintain contact with other SG Bases.
"Soon, ma'am," replied the technician. "I just need thirty minutes to test the dial sequence, then another thirty minutes to test the connector-"
"I get it," Usagi said with annoyance. "I want a full report made before the first testing phase has commenced, just to be on the safe side-"
"We might not have that luxury, General," said Lt. General Henry "Hank" Landry, as he and Colonel Ranma Saotome stepped unto the gangplank that led to the eye of the Stargate. Landry was the commander of Stargate Command (SGC), while Ranma was SGC's military liaison to the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce (UNIT). Incidentally, Ranma was formally the commanding officer of the Daedalus-class starship "Enterprise", which is now under the command of Lt. Colonel Donald "Don" West. Both West and Ranma, and Usagi for that matter, were involved in "Project: Jupiter", a program that was designed to reverse engineer alien technology in order to utilize a saucer-shape design. Unfortunately, due to sabotage, the Jupiter-II—second in the Jupiter series—was lost in space, with the trio, the assigned crew—a family, no less—and the saboteur himself on board. Thankfully, Ranma and Usagi returned to Earth just in time to fend off an alien attack...
"What's up?" Usagi asked.
"Considering the lost of Senator Alan Armstrong, there is real concern about the operations of SGC," Landry said. "And considering the fact that you have been moonlighting in other matters, some are wondering about your priorities."
"Oh, so people think the lost of our people is MY fault?" Usagi said incredulously. "Sir, I can be in multiple places all at once. Doesn't the Senate Oversight Committee know that?"
"Unfortunately, no, they do not," Landry said. "In fact, the senators are pressuring General O'Neill to assign Colonel Telford to Operations, due to his familiarity with the situation."
Colonel David Telford was the man in charge of determining the fate of the missing US Senator and company. Thus far, there was only an indication that the last "dial out" was to an unknown destination that may or may not be related to the Ancients' machinations. Unfortunately, this move would mean a dramatic scale-down of the leeway that Usagi now enjoys as Operations.
"Humph," Usagi replied.
"Usagi, it'll be okay," Ranma said.
"How would you know?"
"I know because you have friends in high places," Ranma said. "Why do you think I'm here?"
"So, UNIT backs me?"
"Yes, they do. In fact, UNIT won't be happy if you are discharged from your assignment."
"I hope not," Usagi said, as she looked at the Stargate that sat before her. "I don't want my time with SGC to end on a sour note, just because I didn't think the USS Hammond and 'Icarus Base' were attacked by the Lucian Alliance…"
The Lucian Alliance were made up of space faring humans who lucky enough to acquire Gao'uld technology during the brief infighting amongst the Systems Lords. Unfortunately, the Alliance have begun to go into the mercenary and smuggling business, which is why they had attacked the USS Hammond and Icarus Base, which resulted in the mishap that caused the people on base to disappear through a Stargate that was dialed to deposit them to an unknown location…
"It wasn't your fault," Landry said. "They thought to fool us by playing on the fact that many within their ranks were abused by the Gao'uld. You just thought the Lucien Alliance could be dealt with on equal terms."
"Well, I may have to be less optimistic, sir," Usagi said with a sigh. "I just…I just hoped that humanity's foray into space will be frictionless free, rather simply experiencing the same old problems here on Earth…"
Pause.
"But with this, I don't know what to do if yet another mishap happens, especially if it cost lives."
"Don't worry about it hon," Ranma said confidently. "I'm sure that there won't be another mishap today…"
As the technicians continued to work on the Stargate, the machine suddenly experienced a power surge, thanks to a wiring mistake involving the power couplers.
ZZZAARRRRK!
Suddenly, the Stargate activates, immediately causing a wave of pressure distortions that knocks everyone off their feet. Unfortunately, upon the establishment of an event horizon, the Stargate began to suck everyone in.
"Ahhhhh!" yelled some of the military technicians were being drawn into the Stargate.
"Ranma!" Usagi said, as she used her innate abilities to prevent Landry from being sucked into the Stargate.
"I got it!" Ranma yelled, as he moved to prevent the technicians from being sucked into the Stargate…
Meanwhile, Landry turns towards the command deck.
"Emergency shut down!" Landry yelled.
"Affirmative, sir!" said CMSgt Walter "Walt" Harriman yelled from the command deck. Walt was the chief technician in charge of maintaining the Stargate, as well as operating it…
As Ranma flew into the gravity well that was being created by the Stargate, he knew that shutting down the gate superseded individual lives.
'I got to do this,' Ranma thought to himself, as he reaches for the last technician.
"Ulp!" yelled the technician.
With the last remaining strength, Ranma tosses the technician to safety, just as Walt shuts the Stargate's iris closed, thus ending crisis…but shutting Ranma out.
"Ranma?" Usagi said in shock.
"Is everyone okay?" Landry yelled.
"The system has normalized, sir," Walt said. "But I need to run an extensive maintenance check before we do anything else."
"Usagi," Landry began to say, as he turned towards his most senior officer.
Usagi said nothing, as she stared at the closed Stargate.
"…"
"General Tsukino," Landry said forcefully.
"Sir?" Usagi replied, after focusing on the moment.
"I need for you to get the Stargate operational as soon as possible," Landry said. "Can you do that?"
"I can, sir," Usagi said confidently. "I'll have to call in some personal favors, though."
"Right," Landry said, remembering that his officer's girlfriend was a Systems Lord named "Osiris", thanks to the fact Usagi had Gao'uld organism named Isis within her, making the Moon Princess a Systems Lord named "Isis"…
"And while I am doing that, I'll have to back track and see where Ranma went," Usagi said.
"You think Ranma will be okay…out there?" Landry asked.
"Ranma thrives on challenges, be they artificial or natural," Usagi said, as she turned back to stare at the Stargate. "And since I didn't feel him die, I know he's alive out there…somewhere."
Landry could only nod his reply. Truth be known, he had no doubt that not only will Ranma be okay, but that he'll be back within a reasonable amount of time.
"God willing, Usagi," Landry said with a nod, as he, took stared at the damaged Stargate…
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…
Korriban Star System, Lu'kas Galaxy.
"I'm telling you, you guys have it ALL wrong," said Nico Okarr, a smuggler in the duster and cowboy hat, as he is escorted by two armored figures down a long hallway on a giant space station that orbited a red planet. He had a cocky, handsome demeanor that was…on the edge. "I'm just a tourist."
"Feh," said a young female who carried herself like a gymnast.
"A very unlikely story, Captain Okarr," said a bald, regal man who had small horns sprouting from his head. He then glanced over at his female companion.
"And Satele? No scoffing. That's not the Jedi way."
"Yes, Master Darach," Satele Shan said with a sigh. Leave it to her mentor, Jedi Master Kao Cen Darach, to admonish her over the little things.
"Nevertheless, smuggling Sith artifacts is a criminal offense," Darach said.
"Fine, then keep the stuff," Nico said. "I just want my ship back-"
That was when Nico sees an attractive Twi'lick (blue/green/pink species with a pair of tentacles for "hair") female walking past the entourage in the opposite direction.
"Hello, there," Nico said, as he checked out the female, only to be pushed forward by the Galactic Republic Trooper.
"Eyes front," said Trooper Jace Malcolm. He was fresh out of his Basic Training, and was assigned to the Karriban Sector for the past few months.
"Hey, I just wanted to check out the merchandise…"
As the banter continued, Satele felt at ease.
"What is it, padawan?" Darach asked.
"I'm not sure," said the young Jedi, as she stopped to consider her words. "I feel a great darkness that is about to envelop us all…"
Darach begins to sense the great disturbance in the Force, the energy field that exists all around him…
Suddenly, triangular ships exit out of hyperspace, even as the space station is attacked by waves of enemy fighters.
"The Sith…has returned!" Darach said intensely.
WHOOM!
As the station is rocked, Darach turns towards Trooper Malcolm.
"We have to warn the Republic…immediately!" Darach said.
"Sir, none of our shuttles are fast enough to reach Coruscant, sir," said Malcolm.
"Ah-hum," said Okarr, as he got everyone's attention. "I so happen to have the fastest ship on this station.
"I see," Darach said with a nod. "You will have to do, then."
"Thanks. But first…"
Okarr shows off his cuffed arms.
"Humph," Satele said with disdain. "I bet, you love this bit of irony, yeah?"
"Yep."
"Uncuff him, trooper," Darach said.
Malcolm hesitated for a moment before complying.
"Much better," Ozarr replied, as his cuffs were taken from him.
"Don't get cocky," Malcolm said. "I'd soon leave the handcuffs on."
"Riiiiiight…"
The party makes their way to the hanger bay of the space station, avoiding as many Sith troops as possible. Unfortunately, upon reaching the hanger…
"Aw, man!" Okarr exclaimed. "My ship-!"
Apparently, during the initial skirmish, debris from the station fell on top of the smuggler's vessel.
"Will she fly?" Darach asked.
"She ain't pretty to look at, but she's stuff-"
Just then, an enemy shuttle lands in the far end of the hanger bay. Everyone felt at ease…
"Master?" Satele said, as she activates her lightsaber.
"Captain Okarr, prep your ship," Darach said. "Trooper, assist the smuggler."
"Yes, sir," Malcolm said.
"Padawan, you're with me," Darach said, as he prepares for his fight.
"Yes, master," Satele replied, as she and Darach moved to "greet" the new arrivals…
Meanwhile, near the power reactor of the space station, a wormhole opens up, depositing Ranma Saotome to the floor.
"Oof!" Ranma said, as he lands unceremoniously. If there was one thing he hated more than anything else was winding up at a place he's never been before.
"Ah, man," Ranma said, as he helped himself up to his feet. He had a splitting headache that felt like he got hit on the head by a mallet or two.
"Where the hell am I now?" Ranma said before making a face. "Oh, great. Now I'm becoming like Ryouga-"
WHOOM!
The room rocked, even as the power core in the power reactor room began to wobble. Being familiar with power reactors in the past has led Ranma to conclude that he was seriously in trouble.
"I'm screwed," Ranma said. "Unless-"
Suddenly, his danger senses spiked, even as blaster fire nearly grazed him.
"Yowtch!" Ranma said, as he nimbly dodged the lances of energy. Where they impacted, the engine core erupted.
Ranma turned to see who he was being attacked by. He saw me dressed in gray armor bearing down on him.
"Um, hello?" Ranma said with a wave.
"Don't move!" said the lead soldier. "You are now prisoner of the Sith Empire!"
"WHAT?" Ranma replied.
Tbc.