STAR TREK

CIVIL WAR

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After its historic five year mission the USS Enterprise NCC-1701 triumphantly returned to Earth for an 18 month redesign and re-fit led by Commander Montgomery Scott, Chief Engineering Officer. Due to the nature of the five year mission former Captain James Tiberius Kirk was promoted to Rear Admiral in charge of the refit. After the V'Ger incident James T. Kirk returned to the Captain's chair for an overall of the new ship's systems. With Captain Willard Decker as acting first officer. Former half Vulcan Science officer Lieutenant Commander Spock accepted an appointment to the Vulcan Science Academy; he vowed never to return to Starfleet for active service.

Under the command of Captain Willard Decker the USS Enterprise completed yet another five year mission.

The USS Enterprise NCC-1701 was retired with full honours to the Starfleet museum at the Utopia Planetia ship yards on Mars. Eventually the a new ship was redesegnated USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A, after a ceremony to launch the new ship lead by the newly promoted Captain Pavel A. Chekov began it's first five year mission this time with out it's chief helm officer Sulu whom had been promoted to Captain of the newly refitted USS Excelsior NCC-2000.

After five years of commanding the Excelsior, Captain Sulu and Fleet Admiral Cartwright had begun to place trusted personnel in positions of power threw out Starfleet, where they waited for the right moment…

A moment which was fast approaching…

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PROLOGUE

Location: Planet Khitomer

(Romulan - Klingon Border)

Starship: USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A (Heavy Cruiser)

Captain: Pavel A. Chekov Commanding

Peace talks had begun between the Federation and the Klingon Empire near the Neutral Zone, with all major Empires in attendance at the talks, three vessels patrolled the region, the USS Enterprise a Romulan Warbird and Klingon Bird of Prey.

In a stationary orbit over the talks Captain Chekov sat motionless in the command chair gazing towards the view screen was depressed look on his face as his new helm officer Lieutenant Ford monitored his console with the eagerness of a young inexperienced cadet just out of the Academy, with a smile on his face he looked back at his bored Captain "Sir, if I may speak freely?" with a glazed look in his eyes the captain nodded as he looked around the bridge. "This is a historic moment, a turning point in the affairs of the Federation, yet you seem… distracted" Turning back to his helm officer with an icy stare he spoke harshly. "Baby sitting a peace conference with two enemy ships at our backs is not my idea of a mission son… it's more like… suicide" "But sir, when this conference is over, they will not be enemies, but allies"

A Slight laugh echoed the bridge as Chekov stood from his chair and walked to the helm slowly, his face showing the years of command as his hair had started to turn grey, and more wrinkles had appeared around his eyes as he looked directly at his young helm officer. "IF the peace talks are a success, the Romulans and Klingons hate each other more then they hate us son, if the talks fail, there will be war of Galactic proportions " "But sir…" "Relax Lieutenant… once Ambassador Spock arrives to complete the signing of the treaty, we'll pick up the delegations and return to Earth for what people have considered the largest party in Starfleet history"

As the Enterprise slowly orbited the planet an alarm rang threw the bridge, only one ship from each empire was allowed near the planet "Report Commander" The experienced communications officer's hands danced over the console as she tried to identify the vessel approaching. "Vessel approaching warp 5.3" "Commander, could it be Ambassador Spock's transport?" Once more she worked the console with expert ease of over 30 years Starfleet service. "Negative sir! Receiving IDC now… Starfleet Registry… USS Excelsior NCC-2000" Before her captain had asked the main view screen blinked with the image of the starship. "Commander, could Spock have changed his travel plans?" "With out informing us? I don't think so Pavel…" He thought quickly as he turned to the screen and nodded slightly as a channel was open to the approaching Starfleet vessel. "Excelsior this is Enterprise… Please respond…" "Pavel, we're getting a text message threw, it simply says Stand by Enterprise"

Quickly Chekov turned to his old friend and communications officer with a questioning look as she shook her head. "That's all it says sir… wait, Pavel… Excelsior' shields are raised" "Ford can you confirm?" The young officer's hands ran over his console as he searched for confirmation. "Confirmed sir, her shields are raised… what the hell? Her weapons are going active sir!" Quickly Chekov appeared at his young officer's side and checked the reading himself, he could not believe what he was seeing. "Uhura… contact Excelsior; find out just what the hell they're doing… Yellow Alert!" The klaxons echoed threw the ship as Uhura tried to contact the fast approaching ship, each officer performed there duties as the Excelsior dropped out of warp and quickly moved towards the Romulan and Klingon ships in high orbit above the conference planet. With a rapid fire of six torpedoes, the Excelsior destroyed the two ships before there shields could be raised. Passing threw the debris of the two ships the large starship now aimed its weapons to Enterprise as her shields where quickly raised and weapons activated.

"Uhura get me Excelsior NOW! Find out what the HELL he's doing!" "Already got him sir! On Sulu is on screen" The image of the closing Excelsior appeared on screen as she passed threw the debris field with pieces of the destroyed ships bouncing off her shields. The bridge crew stirred at the screen in shock, not believing what they had seen as Captain Sulu flashed on screen. "You must think I've gone insane old friend" Sitting in his command chair Chekov looked at the screen and laughed slightly. "That is the understatement of the century… what the hell are you doing?" "Starfleet as lost its way old friend, conspiring with enemies in this… peace conference. We have returned Starfleet to its glory; we should destroy the Klingons and Romulans and take our place as the rightful power in the galaxy. Join us old friend… and together we will take control of the quadrant!" He leaned forward in seat, anger swelling in his eyes as could not believe the words coming out of his old comrade's mouth. "My god Sulu… you are insane, you're talking treason…" "Chekov… Treason is merely a matter of dates, stop this attack, we… we can say you had a weapons misfire, you don't have to do this!" "This is why we didn't bring you in on this; I knew you would say that. Captain Chekov, Surrender your ship… or be destroyed"

All officer's on the bridge looked up at the screen due to the tone in his voice, he WAS serious, before the Captain could react the screen changed to the image of Excelsior, What happened next took what seemed like a life time as slowly the large ship fired a phaser blast across the Enterprise's primary hull with huge power it bounced off the shields. Quickly Enterprise spun on its axis and ran on full impulse away from the conference as Excelsior fired rapid succession of torpedoes at the older Constitution class starship. Torpedoes and phaser blasts slammed into her shields each torpedo causing more damage the he last as the bridge exploded around Captain Chekov and his bridge crew. The next torpedo collapsed the aft shields and exploded on the shuttle bay doors blowing everything and everyone in the hanger into the vacuum of space. With a weak point fund Captain Sulu ordered the next volley to fire directly into the Enterprise's shuttle bay, which exploded with such force the pride of the Federation dropped from full impulse and burned from aft forward as her shields began to fail.

In Engineering explosions ripped threw the core of the ship blowing out consoles and bulk heads as Captain Scott and his engineering team tried to keep up with the damage caused by the now rogue Excelsior. With blood running down his face from a large cut on his forehead Captain Scott yelled orders to what remain of his engineering crew. He frantically tried to by pass every system he could to regain some power to the shields. Crackling over the speakers he could barely make out the voice of his Commanding officer asking for weapons control. "Damn Sulu, should have killed him years ago… Bridge, I can give you one torpedo, after that the circuits will fry" With everything he could give to the bridge the ship finally fired one torpedo, tracking it on a screen he watched as the torpedo bounced harmlessly off the enemy ship's full shields. An action which made its rogue commander angry as he ordered a full volley of torpedoes which impacted the crippled Enterprise and set off a chain reaction with in her primary hull. Slowly explosion rippled across her primary hull that lead to the final explosion which blew out her saucer section completely destroying the legendary Starfleet vessel before she could launch her escape pods.

With a slight smile on his face Sulu turned the Excelsior back to the planet to finally put an end to the peace conference that threatened his plans and plans of his co-conspirators.

Chapter One

Location: Planet Earth Starfleet Marine Corps HQ

The large hall filled with Starfleet Marine personnel for the court martial of Major Ryan Walker, over 2'000 marines awaited this trail for three weeks at the end of the large hall facing the doors stood a large desk with six marine Generals. Slowly the main doors opened as security officers brought in the accused, shackled at his wrists and feet he shuffled in front of the desk to await his sentencing. The first to speak was an old Major General, his face scarred from many battles, his eyes weary from countless kills. "Major Ryan Walker, you are charged with gross insubordination, theft of Starfleet property, assaulting several Starfleet officers including your commanding officer and illegal sale of federation property. How do you plead?" Slowly the Major looked up with a slight smile and spoke with a harsh tone the echoed threw the halls. "Guilty, but with a really good excuse sir!" "Major, this court has heard the particulars of your crimes. Although your record is less then spotless, you have stood before this court no less then three times on charges of insubordination and assault. Your reckless behaviour has been noted"

Standing from his seat he looked at the Major and smiled coldly as he laid down his sentence. "Major Ryan Walker, it is the decision of this court you be removed of rank and dishonourably discharged from the Marine corps and banned from serving in the Federation in any aspect. As a result you will be taken to the Federation Penal Settlement near Auckland, New Zealand. There you will spend no less than fifteen years before you will be due for parole. After which, you will remain on Earth, should you leave Earth, your sentence will be expanded to life in prison" A thunderous applause echoed threw the halls as the one time Major was lead out of the great hall by the security officers. For a moment he stopped at the door and spoke his final words, words that would remain with the General for years to come.

"General, The shuttlecraft I stole and sold was used to bargain for the lives of fifteen Federation officials, including your own. Had that deal not been made, you would still be sitting in that cell, rotting away with those Ambassadors that YOU allowed to be captured by the Orion Syndicate… it is also worth noting, that shuttle craft was useless once I had left it, all technology had been destroyed" With a boot to his left upper leg he fell to the floor and removed from the hall as he smiled and maintained eye contact with the Major General until the great doors closed behind him.

Location: Planet Earth Starfleet Command HQ

Sat alone in his office browsing threw situation reports and fleet movements the Admiral reached back and stretched his arms over his head, since taking up his new post as acting Chief of Starfleet he had not had a moment of rest, although it was supposed to last for a mere two months, he had been in place for over four since Admiral Cartwright had taken some personal leave to over see the peace treaty between the Klingon Empire and the Federation. After signing the last report he walked to the large window and looked up the star filled sky and dreamed of getting back into the captain's chair for one last time, for over ten years he hadn't commanded a starship, even on a training cruise, he hadn't been off world for seven years, something he great missed .After he turned off his computer and lights he headed for the doors and made his way towards the elevator to finally go home, he knew his son David and his wife Clara had been waiting in his home for three hours with some news, yet another matter had gravely upset him, his former pupil had been removed from service and imprisoned. Although his crimes had warranted this punishment, he had regretted not being able to help his former pupil.

He entered the elevator and pushed the consol for the nearest transporter room, as the doors closed the Red Alert klaxon echoed threw the complex, quickly he held his hand out to stop the doors closing as he stepped back into the hallway and made his way to the nearest communications console. "This is Admiral Kirk, report!" The speaker crackled with panicked voice; in the back ground he could hear distant conversations, barely audible. "Sir you'd better get in here… something… you'd just better get in here sir!" As quick as his aging body would carry him he ran to the fleet command centre at the far side of the hall, even threw the large heavy metal doors he could hear the arguments over the monitors. As he entered Admiral Kirk pushed past the normally quiet personnel to find the officer in charge. "John, report" A Young Lieutenant looked around his face pale and eyes almost bulging out of his head he seemed almost to afraid to give the Admiral this report. "Sir, we've just received word from the USS Saratoga, The Enterprise and two other ships orbiting the Khitomer conference has been destroyed…" "WHAT?" "There is more sir… from what we've gathered sir, they have been destroyed by… by the Excelsior sir!" Kirk spun around on his heals and looked at the young lieutenant with anger swelling his eyes he stepped closer; his face betrayed all the questions he was ready to ask. The Lieutenant stood his ground, shaking in his boots as he replied to the question yet to be asked. "Admiral the Saratoga's sensor readings are clear, weapons signature matches, Ambassador Spock is standing by sir" With a nod from the Admiral the main screen filled with the image of his old friend and former officer. His gaze was as cold and emotionless as it has always been, with the exception of the red alert lights flashing and the Saratoga's crew rushing around to perform their duties. As always the Admiral was first to speak, his anger was swelling as spoke with a harsh tone. "Spock, what's happened?" "It appears Admiral the Excelsior has attacked and destroyed the three ships orbiting the conference further more, the conference centre its self has been destroyed by a large volley of Photon Torpedoes and Phaser fire. All representatives have been killed in the attack, we're currently in pursuit of the Excelsior. She is not responding to our hails"

Sitting slowly in the nearest chair the Admiral looked p the screen with shock at what his old friend was telling him, why would Sulu, his old comrade turn on a Starfleet vessel? Especially the Enterprise his old ship and crew. "Is there any indication of what's happened?" "We have recovered a flight data recorder from the Enterprise. It appears that Excelsior destroyed the Romulan and Klingon vessels before turning to Enterprise, a brief conversation followed before Enterprise was destroyed, under the orders of Captain Sulu. It appears Jim Excelsior has become a rogue vessel" A Long conversation followed as Kirk and Spock began to piece together what happened although one question floated around the room, why would the honoured captain Hikaru Sulu, turn against the very organisation he had sworn to protect and serve for over 30 years?. After one hour of trading ideas beck and forward the Saratoga was ordered back to Earth, the Saratoga was a small Miranda class frigate and no match to take on the heavy cruiser USS Excelsior. As Kirk looked at the fleet map, a large monitor on the far side of the room lights began to blink out, starships, outpost, starbases and planets all over the Federation. In disbelief he quickly jumped to his feet and stared at the screen as the rest of the officers looked up silence filled the large room until, after what seemed like an eternity Kirk spoke. "Get every body up… NOW! Contact the president" A young ensign stepped towards Kirk and whispered "Sir! Do you know what time it is?" "To hell with the time… wake her up! NOW MOVE IT!"