Star Trek:

The PeaceKeeper Chronicles

Book One

Dark Side of the Moon

AN: My first multi-chapter attempt at anything other than Gundam Wing. This is set in the future of all Star Trek series, over a century. Forgive any inconsistencies with the original series' because this fic is actually several years old. I wrote it in high school... back BEFORE kids and marriage and all that. ^_^ I wanted to put a twist on things and have the Federation/Star Fleet be.... the bad guys! All reviews are welcome!!!

Summary: Captain Connor Montgomery of the starship Galaxia decides to investigate a distress call from a nearby solar system, but then finds himself and his away team in the middle of a revolution alongside a princess who is not your typical damsel in distress.

Disclaimer: Don't own Star Trek universe or timeline in any shape or form, but the majority of the characters used are my own creations. Feel free to use them if you like, just ask first.

Anyway, enough rambling... on with the show!

prologue

The young woman sighed, looking up at the vast purple sky as she stood alone on the cliff. Touching a blood-red crystal tied around her neck by a blue ribbon, she blinked back tears. Her lavender tail swished behind her as she spoke out loud, to herself.

"Why did you leave, Deago? Why did you have to leave me to face this alone?"

You need to live on your own. She thought she could hear his voice, as if he were standing there beside her. She often heard her old teacher's voice when her self esteem reached rock bottom.

"But I need help, Master. I don't think I can do this on my own. I'm just one against many."

You can do it, the Klingon's voice echoed in her head. You will, you must do it. You are destined for greatness. And it is high time you start down that path.

"But what if I fail?"

You will not fail.

She gazed out over the bleak horizon. It was time that she began. She needed to reach a relay station by nightfall if she wanted to save her brother. Clutching the crystal, she turned back towards the woodland behind her.

"I really hope you're right, Master Deago."

chapter one

"So... what does that mean, doc?"

The man's hair was a dirty brown, streaked with gray here and there, and his eyes were such a dark blue, they seemed purple in the bright light of the Sickbay.

"It means..." the Vulcan sighed, picking a vial from a shelf, "That you really need a break. These stress levels are high. That's a bad thing when it comes to a Montgomery. You need to relax. You may be one of the lucky Montgomery's, but there is still a high amount of deficiencies in your blood. Which means that you can't overdo it too much. And you're heading down that path. What you need is a break."

"No breaks for me. I can't. This ship ain't gonna run itself."

"The Galaxia can run herself, Captain. And," she placed the vial in a hypo-spray, glaring as much as a Vulcan can glare at him with chestnut eyes, "she has an excellent crew. Commander Dax is capable of seeing that things run smoothly. Now... I want you to get some rest. Doctor's orders."

"T'Pona..." he pleaded, "You know I can't. Plus, you can't do that to me anyway. I"m the captain around here, not you." She pressed the hypo-spray to his neck none to gently, removed it and pointed to the door with one long, elegant finger.

"Well, for once I have the upper hand in the matter because I can declare you medically incompetent. Now get out of Sickbay, Captain Montgomery. I don't want to see you in here again until those..."

Her words were cut short by a beep from the captain's comm-badge.

"Bridge to the Captain."

"Montgomery here," he said, sliding off the bio-bed.

"Captain. This is Ensign Cortez at communications. We've just received a distress signal from a nearby solar system."

"Are we live?"

"No, sir. Recorded message. Audio only."

"Ok. I'm on my way."

The CMO of the Galaxia just looked on disapprovingly as the captain ignored her orders, as usual, grabbed his gold PeaceKeeper jacket, and fled out of Sickbay.


"This is Princess Kyna Latrane of the Felinian Royal Family. I request immediate aid. I have been exiled from the palace by rebel forces, who are still pursuing me. These rebels have imprisoned my brother, the rightful leader of the Felinians. I repeate. This is Kyna Latrane, Princess of Felinia. I request aid from any one who receives this messa..."

This was the mayday that the Federation and PeaceKeeper Alliance starship, Galaxia, received shortly after it first arrived in the Caitian Sector of the Alpha Quadrant. It was being broadcasted every five minutes, and the computer identified it as around an hour old when they first received it.

"What will we do, Captain?" Lt. Dara, a softhearted Bajoran wearing a blue PeaceKeeper uniform, asked the captain from her seat at the Gateway control panel. The technology had only been harnessed recently- a secret horded by the PeaceKeepers, and Galaxia, the PeaceKeeper flagship, was the only starship with a permanent Gateway control on board.

"Well, Lieutentant, the Felinians are the descendants of the Caitians. They were part of the UFP, but resigned after the first Federation-PeaceKeeper war to resort to a simpler, more natural way of life- thus evolving into the Felinians of present day. We've heard nothing from them for years, and both Federation and PeaceKeeper nations leave them be. But I say, since they once were part of the Federation and since PeaceKeepers are sworn to maintain peace at whatever costs, we check out the situation first hand. Immediately."

"And what about the Maquis convoy we're supposed to escort past Cardassian territory?" Dax asked. "The Ambassador won't be pleased if you disregard her orders- again."

Connor glared at Dax. "She'll get over it."

"You just want to annoy her. I don't think she'll be as forgiving this time. Not after the 'algae' incident when you skipped the rendezvous with the Bajoran cargo ship just to study fungus on some planet."

"Lt. Dara, prepare for Gateway jump, destination just inside the Felinian solar system." Connor said, ignoring his first officer. Dax was always finding a way to suck up to Shyala. The two were best friends. And the Maquis could handle their own for a time. "Standby to jump on my mark."

"Setting destination," Lt. Dara nodded, "Destination confirmed. Opening Gateway on your mark, Captain."

"Standby by for jump in..." a human male, the pilot on duty warned over the ship's intercom, even though Gateway jumping was normally fairly smooth, with only a slight tremor to tell that one has been opened.

"Five." Montgomery began the countdown.

"Four." He gave Lt. Dara the signal to open the Gateway, and the entire bridge braced for the tremor.

"Three." The Gateway loomed open directly in front of the Galaxia. A shimmering square, inside of which there was darkness.

"Two." Montomgery gazed solomly at the Gateway, as he had many times before, and spoke that single fateful last number that could create peace or bring on war.

"One."


About an hour before the Galaxia received the message, in a solar system some many light-years away, the lavender furred Felinain princess was found in an abandoned way station miles south of the Palace of the Ancestors. As the rebels burst in, she had just broadcast the first in a series of maydays. Finishing the programing, Kyna spun around to face them, no fear in her eyes.

"What's the matter, Princess? Trying to call for help? No one'll hear you. And even if they did, no one would care." One of the two warriors stepped closer, jeering at her. She stood her ground.

"Don't laugh at me, soldier. My brother will be set free. And with Damia at his side, and Te'a as his heir, he'll crush this rebellion. He'll rule this place the way it should be. Pea..." The prideful words were cut short by a stinging slap across her face and a quick shove down to the ground. As the second soldier laughed, the normally calm and peaceful princess grew angrier, glaring up at her tormentors. "Laugh now." Her voice was cold, hard, and scornful. "When Lorne is back in control, you'll never laugh again."

"Big words for a small woman," the rebel leered, heedless of the controlled anger in her warning. His belief that she was a small, helpless woman was shattered when he went to drag her back to her feet. A strong, sharp kick to the soldier's lower regions, a jab at his nose, and Kyna was free to fight the other assailant. With a side kick aimed at him, he went down as hard as the first.

"You will pay for your crimes as soon as Lorne is free." With those words, she ran. Smaller, thinner, and faster than her persuers, she easily outran them.

Many miles and many hours later, Kyna stopped for the night at a familiar clearing near a stream. I will rest until day break, then I'll search out a ship to recruit help from someone out there, she though as she wearily neared the creek. She curled up at the edge, shrouded by a large flowering bush that gave off a scent of lavender. Soon, exhaustion and the singing of the water lulled her to sleep.

But her rest was short lived. Just as dawn was breaking, a larger set of rebel soldiers had found her. She wakened with a quick, sharp pain in her abdomen. Her eyes opened blurrily, just to see the faint light blocked by a horde of rebels.

"What is such a precious thing doing out in the woods? Kain will be very pleased with this treat." The soldier who spoke jerked her roughly to her feet. He reared back his hand, preparing to strike when she lashed out at him.

"Hey! Can't you see the lady was tryin' to sleep?" A new voice, certainly not Felinian, rose behind the group.