Chapter VI

(Chapter VI: Respite)

Imperial Star Destroyer Wyvern

(Imperial Star Destroyer Wyvern)

Captain Olich Tai-Shung stared out at the huge shipyards of Azati Prime. The Xindi Aquatics were meeting with the representatives of Kuat Drive Yards to discuss 'matters of mutual interest'. Captain Tai-Shung and the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Wyvern was providing security. The Imperial captain was not amused by his current assignment. The Empire, to Olich it would always be the Empire, was at war and all six of the ImpStars should be on the front lines. However, Olich realized that the war was decidedly in the Empire's favor and that Azati Prime was the only proper shipyard in the Alpha Quadrant. The aging captain let out a bored sigh as a young officer ran up from the crew pit.

"Captain Tai-Shung, we have just received an urgent transmission from Enclave."

The tone of the junior officer immediately caught the captain's attention.

"Yes, Lt.?"

"Sir, Enclave reports two emergency situations. First, numerous 'Borg' vessels have been detected by one of our deep space probes heading towards this region of space. Second…"

"Well, out with it, Lt.!"

The fresh-faced Lt. nodded sharply. "Sir, there is a battle between Jedi happening at the Enclave Spaceport!"

"Has Moff Matale or Admiral Zel sent our orders?"

"Yes sir, we are to rendezvous with the Star Destroyers Ajunta Pall and Osprey and their escorts near the Federation world of Zaran II."

"Carry on Lt." Captain Tai-Shung turned to his navigator. "Enter the jump calculations and depart immediately."

Enclave Spaceport

(Enclave Spaceport)

Inquisitor Hijad Tzarik's lightsaber sliced through a control console as Jedi trainee Hsiao rolled to avoid the strike. The Inquisitor quickly shifted his blade from an attack position to a low block. Tzarik had not expected three Jedi. He had only sensed the female human.

"You shield your student's well, Jedi!"

Tzarik barely had time to finish the sneer before the Selkath trainee reignited her lightsaber and charged in unison with the human male. The Darksider called upon all his willpower and launched a powerful Force Push against the two Jedi Padawans that knocked them a safe distance away. Tzarik raised his lightsaber to attack the Jedi Knight, but a stun blast struck him in the back. As the world went black around him, he saw a middle aged woman run up from the shadows screaming something he couldn't make out. Hijad Tzarik's hate burned brightly as a nova, but to the Inquisitor only the black silent void of unconsciousness awaited.

"Hurry! The Wanderer is ready for departure! Griso, Yul, Hsiao! We have to leave, a platoon of Stormtroopers are on their way!" Elisa shouted while waving her blaster frantically towards the waiting Corellian Engineering Corporation YT-1300 sitting a few meters away.

Yul Mikar nodded exhaustion clearly visible in her steely eyes. "Let's go! Hsiao and I will man the turrets!"

Griso deactivated his newly constructed lightsaber. "I'm taking the Kite! I'll see you in orbit. Where are we headed?"

Kain Savik, running like mad from the primary control station, merely screamed. "Anywhere but here!"

The Stormtroopers entered the spaceport carrying sonic weapons and DLT-19 rifles. There orders were perplexing, but Moff Matale had provided evidence of his charges. The Sergeant spread his men into the half circle formation that had worked so well against the Jedi during their insurrection at the end of the Clone Wars. As the platoon's quarry stirred, two old Z95 Headhunters and an old freighter roared toward the atmosphere.

"Inquisitor Hijad Tzarik! You are under arrest for two counts of attempted murder and treason. Surrender and we won't have to waste our time killing you."

Tzarik knew he couldn't win, not while recovering from a high powered stun blast. He struggled to his feet and deactivated his lightsaber. Tzarik didn't respond but raised his hands in a position of surrender. The Darksider had lost track of the Jedi, but he would destroy them. He would destroy all traitors to Palpatine and the New Order. As the Stormtroopers moved in to arrest Tzarik, the only sound was an untranslatable Sith curse.

Ry passed the datapad containing the resignation of 'the Jedi' over to Gren. The older smuggler shook his head as he scanned the hastily prepared letter.

"Damn, I liked those kids. We've got other problems. Are we going to accept those letters of Marquis?"

Ry Vaan took a swig of his ale. "Well, it's the quickest way to get star maps. Besides, the war is nearly over. So, the Guild won't have to get our hands dirty too bad."

Gren's attention was drawn to the commotion at the distant spaceport. "Nothing seems to change does it?"

Vaan remained silent for a moment. "Unfortunately. But at least we don't have the Hutts or the Black Sun breathing down our necks. I'll be headed to Anziti Prime to negotiate a couple of contracts with the Xindi. You'll be meeting with Moff Matale soon right?"

"Tomorrow. I'll ask for the Letters. I don't like working with the Empire. Hell, I don't like working with anybody. No offense."

Ry shrugged. "None taken. I've got a bad feeling about all this, though."

The older smuggler laughed weakly. "Ain't that the truth. Between the return of the Jedi and this bizarre new galaxy, I'm actually worried."

Ry stood and stretched. "There's going to be a snag."

Daik shook his head. "Out of the spice mines and into the Maw, eh?"

An eerie, contemplative silence fell over the smugglers as the weight of the unknown closed down upon them.

Jungles of Drenok II

Gul Jenot pressed his body against a large fungal growth in an attempt to conceal himself from the numerous dangers of the jungle. Jenot had been successful in avoiding Imperial patrols. Jenot held his breath as a small Imperial walker stomped through the underbrush several hundred meters from the renegade Gul's location. A flash of light appeared near the walker and Jenot noticed the Imperial trooper fall from his perch. His curiosity overtook him and he emerged from his hiding spot.

"Name and Rank, soldier!"

Jenot wheeled around and stared directly at a fellow Cardassian. "Gul Raval Jenot. And you are?"

"Glinn Damar. I'm from the Hokage. We're trying to evacuate any and all personnel we can."

"How many have you managed to rescue?"

Damar took a defensive position as an Imperial bomber roared over head. "Including you? Seventeen. It seems the 'Imperials' are saturating the planet with interference."

Jenot cursed the news. "What of the attempted breakout?"

Damar looked deeper into the jungle. "Decimated. When that warship entered the atmosphere its cannonade turned half the continent into glass."

Raval punched a nearby tree. "Beam me out."

The Cardassians transported off the world of Drenok II. They arrived on the Hokage just in time to avoid the activation of an Imperial regional theater shield. The Galor-class destroyer accelerated away from the planet at maximum speed as three Xindi-Insectoid cruisers appeared from behind the largest moon of the planet. Jenot stared out a viewport as the only real home he had ever known disappeared as the Hokage jumped into warp.

USS Lagrange NCC-26374

Captain Jakari stood at rigid military attention as his Jedi doppelganger contemplated the information Aleksei had provided about his version of Home and the information on the Milky Way and its Dark-side enthused reflection. Mater Mai opened his eyes and grimaced.

"The Force works in mysterious ways. Our paths have crossed here for a reason. Captain Jakari…" The Jedi Master smirked as he mentioned his doppelganger's name. "I am sorry that I can not give you full Jedi training. You are both too old and from a completely different facet of existence. There is no time for me to even begin to teach you the ways of our Order personally. Take this datacard. It is no Holocron, but it contains enough knowledge to help you rebuild the Jedi Order. Trust in the Force and stay true to the Light. May the Force be with you.

Captain Jakari gave a quick, awkward military bow. "Thank you Master Jedi. May the Force be with you as well."

Captain Solo drained a glass of ale. "So let me get this straight… We are in another dimension where everybody has a 'mirror counterpart'?"

Commander Khosk slapped down his glass in unison with Corellian. "Correct. Starfleet has no idea how people travel between our dimension and yours."

"Huh. So, where's the other Han Solo?"

Captain Logan sipped at her drink. "We don't know. Captain Jakari hasn't heard of you."

Solo grinned. "Well, now that really is a shame."

A sharp chirp sound interrupted Captain Solo before he could continue. Solo clipped his Comlink from his belt and activated it. "This is Captain Solo, go ahead."

"Sir, sensors detect several vessels on approach. Lt. Commander Darklighter estimates that the largest ship is around 2,500 meters. Easily in the Star Cruiser range."

Han's voice resembled a growl as he spoke. "Define 'several'!"

The Republic crewer's voice spoke matter-of-factly- and completely without fear or emotion. "Best estimate, nine. The escorts are the same picket design we destroyed in our first engagement and a larger class of ships resembling our Dreadnaught-cruisers."

"Sith's blood! I'm returning to the Hawk." Solo's anger melted away as he turned to face his Federation hosts. "Thanks for the drink. I hope your FTLs are back online."

Captain Logan stood quickly and nodded. "They'll be up in the next ten minutes. Unfortunately, our torpedo tubes are inoperable and we're down to 6 working phaser arrays."

Captain Solo grimaced. "Here's the plan, sweetheart. The Hawk'll cover you. The 'grange will hightail it out of here. We'll follow behind you."

Commander Khosk bowed slightly. "Good Luck, captain."

Solo turn and ran down the hall towards the shuttlebay. Falling in behind the Republican captain was the Jedi counterpart to Aleksei Jakari. Captain Logan and her first officer quickly followed suit.

The Republic Theta-class shuttle left the Federation explorer and raced for the much larger Venator Star Destroyer. The Lagrange accelerated to three quarters impulse, which in her damaged state was all the Ambassador-class could manage. The aging Republic Attack cruiser pivoted so that it could bring all its heavy turbolaser batteries to bear on the incoming enemy.

Captain Solo stood on the command bridge of his ship and smirked grimly. "This is where the fun begins…"

Deep Space Nine

Benjamin Sisko sat behind his desk and rolled his prized baseball around in his hand. "I am terribly sorry Morn. I will see what I can do. However, you should be thankful that you were able to talk your way out of the situation."

The Lurian trader nodded sagely and bowed as he stood. Sisko returned the nod and leaned back in his chair. Sisko knew there was little he could do to help Morn, due to the Federation's lack of contact with the Xindi. The Starfleet captain was just thankful that Morn was such a charismatic speaker. Somehow he had managed to talk the commander of the 'Imperial Strike Cruiser Kuat Dreams' from confiscating all of his cargo. Instead the 'Imperials' had been content to simply seize the fertilizer Morn was transporting to the Cardassian farm world of Hyus II.

Sisko's musings were interrupted by the door chime to his office. "Enter!"

The doors slid open and Kira Nerys entered. "Sir, I've got some bad news, good news and some interesting news."

"Well, let's hear the bad first."

Major Kira's eyes drooped slightly. "Sir, we've received word that the Enterprise, Hera, Assyria and the Hanover have been destroyed by a large subspace shockwave. The Lagrange is missing and assumed destroyed by the same subspace wave."

Shock rolled over Captain Sisko like the tides. "The good news?"

Nerys managed a weak smile. "The Enterprise executed a perfect saucer separation and nearly all the crewmembers on the Hera and Assyria managed to get to the escape pods. Hanover only had a crew of thirty and the commander pulled off some crazy transporter maneuver and got everyone down to the planet before the wave hit."

"That is good news. Any word on the number of casualties?"

Kira shook her head as she took the seat Sisko gestured towards. "No word. According to Captain Sabah, the Hanover was hit the hardest. How anyone managed to transport off that bucket is beyond me."

"Good to hear. Get the Defiant ready. We're going to help recover the survivors and search for the Lagrange."

"Actually sir… Starfleet command has ordered us to stay put."

Sisko nearly exploded out of his chair. There were Federation personnel out their injured and dying and he was ordered to stay put? "Why would Starfleet do such a thing?!"

"Starfleet Command recently received a communication from New Xindus. One of their capital ships will be arriving within the hour. The Xindi want to reopen diplomatic relations."

"But what about the crippled and destroyed ships?"

"Starfleet is deploying two hospital ships, the Escaflowne, Sitak, Colorado and the Sovereign to the scene to recover the survivors. The Federation Council wants you to lead the diplomatic effort."

Captain Benjamin Sisko merely nodded as he rose from his desk. He was not thrilled with his orders, but he would carry them out. He was a Starfleet officer and it was his duty.

The Hokage in Warp transit

Gul Jenot stared stoically at the wall of Gul Dukat's state room. Inside, however, his soul was raging. Thirsting for vengeance. Dukat merely waited for his compatriot to reply to his plan. Jenot was an easy mark. He was a patriot, and according to the transmissions he had intercepted from the inept Legates on Drenok II, a person willing to take risks. A Cardassian of vision and drive. Jenot was everything Dukat needed in order to build the new Cardassia. Central Command was a cancer sapping the Cardassian people of its glory, its power. Only sapients of sufficient vision could restore Cardassia to its rightful place.

Jenot turned and faced Dukat for the first time in nearly five minutes. "Even if we managed to overthrow Central Command, how would we secure our borders against the Federation, Maquis and Imperials?"

Dukat smiled as the small table at the center of the room turned into a golden liquid and began to morph into a humanoid shape. Jenot, ever the soldier, shifted into a defensive position. The 'table' continued to transmutate until it took the form of a humanoid female. The Changeling had an incredibly non-descript appearance. She took a single step forward. Gul Jenot threw a worried glance toward Dukat. The older Gul merely smiled. It was not the smile of a comforting friend. It was the smile of a victorious, gloating conqueror.