Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek or Star Wars. I only own the original characters.

Chapter 4

Eri looked around the bridge. People sat pouring on consoles lined across the bulkheads. Up forward was a long control console where a crewman was watching what seemed to be a large window showing the approaching Imperials. The lighting was dimmed compared to the corridors and the same red lights remained flashing.

"Lieutenant Ambrosio, report to your station."

Eri turned to look at the man who sat up from one of the chairs near the center of the bridge. The man wore the same uniform as the others, with the exception of having red highlights and four yellow bands on the shoulder. His grey eyes looked at her in what seemed to be mild interest.

"Yes Captain. Here is our new guest. Ms. Eri."

Red turned to the newcomer, the girl was wearing simple yet somewhat dirty clothing, her deep red hair not as startling as her emerald green eyes, which were staring straight at him, observing his next moves.

"Good evening Ms Eri. Sorry that we had to meet in such circumstances. I am Aka'ula Kagami, captain of the starship Arcana. Before we get carried away with formalities, could you please contact your friends and tell them we come in peace? They haven't been responding to our hails."

Eri studied the man before her; he seemed too calm despite the situation. However, something felt off about him that she couldn't quite place. In fact, something felt off about nearly everything here. She could find out later, there were more important things at hand.

"The Imperials are NOT my friends. There is a war going on in which our people are rebelling against the Galactic Empire and recently we succeeded in fracturing it beyond repair. They are trying to regain power and will do anything to do so."

Red looked at her, yet it she still seemed trustworthy enough.

"So this Galactic Empire is willing to bring us into their conflict just to reseat themselves? I'm sorry but we can't get involved with this battle. The Federation has this Prime Directive that forbids us from actively participating what is obviously a civil war. However, we may settle this diplomatically."

The Captain turned and retook his seat. Eri stood in shock. They did not understand the situation at all. Most people would have been worried out going up against the Empire in any form yet here was a group wanting to discuss things peacefully?

"Continue our hails Mr. Ambrosio. Tell them we are not a threat and wish to discuss things peacefully."

"Captain!"

Red turned to look at the girl, who just shoved Doran out of the way and took his seat.

"You don't seem to understand! The Empire wouldn't just put down their guns and just talk things over tea! They are desperate for power and may use you and your resources in doing so!"

Eri stared into the eyes of the captain. Despite the threat looming over them, he still remained so calm that it looked more like they were going to a picnic instead of into a battle.

"Ms Eri, has the rebellion ever tried negotiations?"

"Yes they have. And it almost always ended badly. The Empire merely feigned peace to weed others out and crush them. You can't negotiate with them!"

"Hopefully we will be able to accomplish something. Commander, have you finished your scans?"

Doran, who was rubbing his arm where Eri forcibly pushed him, nodded.

"The Imperial ship is armed with multiple light and heavy weaponry embankments. Most seem to be high powered plasma guns, while several seem to be ionized particle cannons. The design of the craft is used to focus most if not all of the firepower forward. I have yet to determine FTL capabilities yet the ship is propelled by large ion engines at sub-light speeds. The fighters are mostly single occupancy units also propelled by ion drives. Their armament consists of smaller plasma guns and what appear to be small fission-based warheads. I have already fed the specifics to the tactical console."

Eri looked at them in shock.

"You can tell all of that from here? What about their jamming signals?"

Doran turned to her.

"They were jamming us? I thought it was ambient interference from the wormhole. My scans were somewhat scrambled, but not so much that I couldn't get a signal through."

Eri pinched herself to ensure she wasn't asleep. How can these people not know of the Force or the Empire but can scan the basic structure of an Imperial warship despite jamming? Shaking her head, she pulled herself out of her thoughts as a crewmember suddenly shouted out.

"Captain! The Imperial ship is now attempting to respond! Their visual communications formatting is difficult, but I can get the audio through."

"Open the channel."

"This is Admiral Kalaghata of the Imperial Star Destroyer Kairos. This area is now under the direct control of the Galactic Empire. Surrender now or be destroyed. I await your reply"

Ambrosio, who was getting himself settled at his console, looked up from his readout.

"Captain, the fighters have taken up positions around the ship. Shields now online and weapons ready at your command."

"Understood. Reopen the channel. Attention Imperial vessel, I am Captain Aka'ula Kagami of the USS Arcana representing the United Federation of Planets. Admiral, I have no understanding of why you wish to control this area, but it is already under our jurisdiction and as such we do not recognize your claim. However, we may send diplomatic parties and arrange a compromise. Please withdraw your fighters so we can settle this peacefully."

Kalaghata laughed, taking a quick look at his fighters surrounding the puny Starfleet ship.

"Don't feign ignorance Captain, the Federation should have remembered my last encounter, though I represented a different party back then. I have learned from my mistakes and found a new ally. This warship so powerful that not even your entire arsenal of Constitution class starships can put a scratch on it. The Galactic Empire fielded hundreds of these vessels and several classes even larger and more powerful. Even though the main fleet is scattered, the Federation has no chance against our might. I suggest you call the man known as Captain Kirk and tell him that I come for pay back. Don't even try for diplomacy, I will take what is mine and there will be no stopping me."

Ending his threat, Kalaghata closed the channel. Ratula came up, confusion on his face.

"Admiral? What are you talking about? Why are you ignoring their suggestions to negotiate? Who is this Captain Kirk? What is it about this place that you are willing to risk our lives for? I agreed with you earlier just as a precaution, but these people seem uninterested in fighting! I may not know what they did to that Alliance shuttle, but until I get answers, I will pull back my men."

The captain walked pass him, intending to use the communications channel when the Admiral laid a tight grip on his shoulder. Turning around, he raised his eyebrow at the man seething in repressed rage.

"Captain…" he said in an icy tone "…it is wise to heed my orders. The Federation has done me injustice in the past and I seek to correct this little problem. Before I joined the Empire, I once came across this place, yet a man by the name of James T. Kirk and his starship crew prevented me from realizing my goal of creating a new home for myself. Fortunately the Galactic Empire saw me for the man I am and took me in instead. Now I am back with a powerful ship and will not let this opportunity for revenge to slip away. If you do not agree with me, then you can spend the rest of this mission in the brig. GUARDS! Take this fool to a detention cell for questioning his orders!"

The captain glared at the insane man before him, struggling against the soldiers dragging him off the bridge.

"Revenge again? Will you ever learn? You are sacrificing the lives of our men just to satisfy your lust for payback? You sicken me!"

Kalaghata's only response was a cold laugh, smiling as the bulkhead closed behind the swearing captain.

"Like as if I care what anyone thinks of me anymore."

"Try hailing them again!"

Kalaghata tried to keep calm, stressing out will not be good for anyone. The Federation had met this Kalaghata figure before? The famous Captain Kirk had met him before as well? Yet there were a few problems with the Admiral's statement. Didn't he know that Captain Kirk was dead? Why did he still think the old Constitutions were still in service? Just how did he meet the Empire if the wormhole didn't even exist until a few hours ago? Rubbing his temples, Kalaghata turned to his first officer.

"Mr. Doran, take a quick look at the database, see if you can find anything on Admiral Kalaghata."

"Aye sir."

"Erm, Captain?"

Eri spoke up, still seated in Doran's chair.

"What are you going to do? I spent half my life trying to avoid the Empire, but now that my shuttle is useless, I have no choice but to ask for your help. I do not intend on dying anytime soon."

Red took a look at her. She looked about ten years younger than him, yet he could tell from the look in her eyes that she had been through a lot.

"While I am bound by the prime directive from interfering in your civil war, I can offer you political asylum for a while…"

"Sir!"

Red spun around, training his eyes on Ambrosio who was looking down at his console.

"The Kairos has begun to accelerate and is powering up its weapons. The fighters are also charging their weapons."

"All hands to battle stations. Sorry Ms Eri, but I will require your knowledge on their capabilities. Mr. Doran, belay my last order, I need you at your station to keep an eye out for other ships."

"Aye Sir'

"Yes, Captain."