Disclaimer
All characters appearing in Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek Deep Space Nine and Star Trek Voyager are copyright Paramount Pictures. All characters appearing in the Star Wars saga are copyright Lucas Arts and the Walt Disney Cooperation. No infringement of these copyrights is intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holder.
All original characters are the property of Celgress.
Star Trek/Star Wars – Galaxy at War: Part Eight Tears of the Prophets Prelude
by
Celgress
Star Trek Dimension – Present Day
Vulcan, night
Sela hated Vulcans more even than she hated humans or fellow Romulans who had rejected her because of her mixed genetic heritage. Vulcans were arrogant pretenders who denied what was. As she kicked the red dust from her ebony boots Sela could not help but smile. The thing Vulcans valued least emotion would fuel her while she helped destroy their sovereignty. Vulcan would fall to her hate.
Within the shadowy confines of her black hood, a smile spread across her features. Her target was within sight. A former Vulcan monastery that now served as headquarters of the new Jedi Order. Five months she had awaited this test of her skills. Soon she would prove herself a worthy apprentice. Then her mistress Darth Avengia would surely grant her the status of Darth.
The ancient wooden door of the temple creaked open. Out stepped three Jedi padawans, the Vulcan Asil amongst, them led by freshly minted Jedi Knight Nahdar Vebb. Each eyed Sela with a mixture of interest and caution, expect Vebb. Sela detected disdain emitting in choking waves from the Mon Calamari.
"Leave here corrupted one or suffer the consequences!" Nahdar Vebb commanded ominously.
Sela tossed back her hood allowing her long blonde locks to flap in the dry breeze. In that moment she greatly enjoyed no longer having to conform to Romulan military grooming standards. She laughed at her would-be assailants a sound like the tinkling of glass on a still winter night.
"Come," Sela beckoned with outstretched hand. "Who will be first? Hurry I do not have all night. Who wishes to die?"
"It's you who will fall her tonight Sith pretender!" One of the padawans a male Bolian screamed. He ignited his blue lightsaber which perfectly matched his skin tone and threw himself at Sela ignoring Vebb's words of warning.
"Wait, we should take her together!"
In a flash of blinding motion, the Bolian padawan's head followed by his body hit the dusty ground. With one fluid motion, Sela had ignited the crimson bladed lightsaber hidden within the right sleeve of her robe and decapitated her foolhardy opponent. Sela tossed aside her hooded cape to reveal the dark gray tunic with its wide black belt underneath. Her fiery blade sizzled hungry for more Jedi blood.
"Nooooooooooooo," The second unnamed padawan a female Tellarite charged her green blade drawn. Sela gracefully sidestepped the telegraphed attack.
"Sith spit," Vebb swore. He and Asil joined the emergent frenzy of twirling lightsabers and shuffling bodies.
An intense exchange of lightsaber blows occurred. Minutes passed with neither the Jedi nor Sela gaining a clear advantage. Sela's red blade struck out in a whirlwind of aggression only to be deflected each time by azure, emerald and sunflower counterparts. During a particularly intense exchanged which result in blade lock, the Tellarite padawan slipped forward when Sela violently parted their lightsabers. Sela then took full advantage of the mistake passing under the Tellarite padawan's guard stabbing the unlucky being through her fuzzy torso.
"And then there were two," Sela declared after the bulky form landed with a loud thud. "Surrender, I may spare your meaningless lives Jedi. Resist me, you'll soon join your equally worthless friends in death." She pointed her blade forward at the pair of remaining Jedi.
Nahdar Vebb assumed an aggressive Form I Shii-Cho stance. His preferred form of lightsaber combat. Asil wisely helped back letting the more experienced Jedi take the lead. Her own yellow blade held ready at her side.
"I sense much conflict in you, Jedi Knight," Sela taunted holding her own now vertical blade close to her upper body. "You possess anger, hatred, ambition yet you do not use these tools. Reveal your true self to your comrade, strike me down." She smiled slyly.
"I do not need those things to overcome a mere errand girl of the Dark Side." Nahdar Vebb shot back.
"Very well prove your supremacy over me, Jedi Knight. If you can." Sela laughed.
Unlike her previous ill-prepared foes, Vebb almost proved too much for Sela. Their one on one match was brutal. Vebb's strong erratic Force guided offense had Sela on her back foot almost from the beginning. Her rudimentary knowledge of Forms II Makashi and IV Ataru taught to her by her mistress proved woefully inadequate. She simply did not have the necessary level of experience to deal with a determined Jedi Knight of great talent. Backed into a small box canyon, Sela lashed out in desperation with the Force. A powerful force wave loaded with sand and rocks knocked Vebb off his feet. When his vision cleared Sela's blade hovered at his throat.
"A good try but the game has ended in my favor," Sela said. "Prepare to become one with the Force Jedi Knight."
Sela was thrown off her feet by a force push. when she regained her footing and retrieved her lightsaber through the use of the Force a moment later twin blades met her, one blue the other yellow. These were soon joined by a third and a fourth. Jedi Masters Kit Fisto and Plo Koon had arrived.
"You lose this time Sithling." Nahdar Vebb said coldly.
"Another day I shan't Jedi Knight," Sela said.
Sela knew when she was outmatched. Deactivating her lightsaber she triggered a wrist mounted transporter transponder which whisked here away in a shimmer of purple light.
"Sith witch." Nahdar Vebb said not quite under his breath.
Sith Imperium invasion fleet in orbit above Vulcan
"I failed my mistress," Sela said falling to her knees in front of Darth Avengia."The Jedi proved more powerful than I thought. Forgive me."
"Leave us." The former Asajj Ventress said to the Jem'Hadar and one Neimoidian technician who were present in the transporter room. They quickly complied. "There is no forgiveness only power, as there is no mercy only dominance." Avengia hissed force choking Sela without mercy. Avengia released her potent grip only after she had smashed Sela into the nearest wall. "Remember that Sela." Avengia left her bruised and battered acolyte behind.
From her position on the floor, Sela glared at her departing mistress. Her eyes burned with rage. A yellow tint briefly clouded her normally blue irises.
Bajor one standard solar week later, morning
Tucked away in a disused cave Lapo Muzeth leader of the radical secular group "The New Path" knelt on one knee. Before Lapo stood a flickering blue life-sized hologram of a robed, gloved and hooded figure. No distinguishing features were visible hidden within the dark confines of the figure's hood even species or gender could not be determined. A heavily distorted voice only added to the mystery.
"I have done as you instructed Hereticious (Hair-Tick-Ee-Us)," Lapo said. "My people have spread word of the leaked so-called 'sacred' text across all of Bajor and beyond. The Provisional Government tried to prevent the truth from being known but we successfully frustrated their efforts."
Short blonde hair covered Lapo's slightly bowed head. His green eyes focused on his electronically generated companion. He wore a light brown tunic typical of Bajorans. His most striking feature. however, was what he lacked. Lapo Muzeth like all those who belonged to "The New Path" did not wear the elaborate single earring which all but universally adored Bajoran people. Lapo and his fellows had rejected traditional Bajoran beliefs as "superstitious nonsense" in totality. They viewed Prophets and Pah-wraiths alike as merely "wormhole aliens" unworthy of veneration. The apparent collapse of the wormhole along with the darkness of the orbs was a windfall beyond measure for New Path members. It would furnish perhaps their only chance to rid their society of backwards practices. While small they had grown faster in the last week than they had in the first four years of their existence.
"You'd be wise to keep your personal feelings about Bajoran religion private." Darth Hereticious advised. "It would be a shame if opponents of our joint cause exploited your, dissatisfaction."
"I understand. Keep my disrespect of the Prophets hidden until our victory is secure." Lapo said.
"You learn fast Lapo. A most pleasing, if rare trait, amongst pupils." Darth Hereticious said.
"How should I proceed now that the Prophets have been discredited in the eyes of the masses Hereticious?" Lapo asked.
"Be mindful of your pride Lapo, it betrays your lack of foresight. The war is not yet won." Darth Hereticious chastised. "The defenders of the Prophets not doubt will mount a counter attack."
"Those old fools lead by that ineffective bloated rat Kai Winn, please. They are no threat to us. We have truth on our side they can offer only fables." Lapo snorted.
"Be that as it may. One should never underestimate the mass appeal of security, even security based in falsehood." Dark Hereticious said. "But enough of my wisdom Lapo. Make certain you are on Deep Space Nine in days at the appointed time. We must not let the self-serving pronouncements of the Vedic Council pass unanswered."
"It shall be done." Lapo Muzeth.
"Until next time." The hologram of Darth Hereticious said before vanishing.
Residence of the Bajoran Kai
Darth Hereticious in truth Kai Winn stepped off the holo emitter then took off her heavy midnight black robe with matching gloves. Her plan had proceeded without complication. That misguided youth Lapo Muzeth proved the perfect spokesperson for her subversive anti-Prophet message. While his group discredited the do nothing entities via the forged "ancient text" she created which claimed the loving Prophets were never more than a cunning scam perpetrated upon the Bajoran people by callous elders seeking total obedience. She would subtly lead the disillusioned sheep to their rightful masters, the Sith. All the conversion would require once faith in the Prophets, curse them, wavered would be a few well-publicized "miracles" attributed to her should be enough to tip the balance of blind devotion in favor of the Sith Order.
What remained was to be both patient and above all else cautious. Her Victory would come, in time. In the meantime her "master" could never discover the truth of her Sith Lady status, not until she was ready. Her lust for power spurred Winn on to bite the hand that fed her. Through use of a forbidden Bajoran artifact and dark meditation techniques, Winn had communed with multiple Sith spirits on one of the many astral planes. The most useful spirit proved to be one named Darth Traya. The long-deceased Sith Lady, after testing Winn with a terrible mental trial, divulged things Traya claimed not even Tyranus knew. Things that could be used to eventually overthrow the other Sith. Dubbed by the spirits Darth Hereticious (the heretical one) Winn benefited immensely from Traya's tutelage and those of the other like minded Sith spirits.
Winn placed her neatly folded Sith robe away. She made ready to leave her sanctuary. In that moment Winn thought of her spiritual teacher's most important lesson.
"The rule of two is obsolete. Here there is only the rule of one: many controlled by the strongest. Be forewarned, Darth Hereticious. Under no circumstances create or nurture a rival. If you do not heed my words you shall suffer the coming fate of Tyranus, the pitiless embrace of self-engineered oblivion."
Deep Space Nine, later that day
"Is this some sort of sick joke?" Kira Nerys said practically pulling Quark over the counter of his bar by his expansive lapels. "Because if it is I'm not laughing."
"I have no idea what you mean major," Quark said. "You could use a drink, it's on the house. Just this once."
"Explain," Kira said slapping a datapad down on the counter. On which was displayed images of action figures based on General Grievous, Cad Bane and Admiral Trench (the latter was currently leading Sith Forces against internal rebels in the Gamma Quadrant) along with Weyoun, Tyranus, Avengia, a Jem'Hadar, a Shock Trooper & several variants of Battle Droids.
"They're toys kids love them," Quark said. "General Grievous even comes with nifty light up Jedi laser
swords in four different colors, including rare Sith red and Jedi yellow. After the Battle of Juhrya General Grievous' popularity has skyrocketed. Demand for his collectables has gone through the roof."
"Get rid of these things or next time I come here I won't be so nice," Kira said releasing Quark. She stomped out of the bar.
"What's her problem?" Quark said adjusting his ruffled shirt.
"I believe she is distressed by the insensitivity of your latest product line." Data who was sitting at the bar said. To either said of him stood C-3PO and R2-D2 who beeped his affirmation of Data's assumption.
"Who asked you tinman," Quark said.
"I am not Tinman." Data corrected. "Tin Man is a-,"
"Androids," Quark said shaking his head. He walked to the other side of the bar so he could avoid Data and his fellow artificial lifeforms. "I shouldn't allow their kind in here. They take up space but drink or eat anything."
"How rude," C-3PO said. R2-D2 beeped his agreement then beeped a rather colorful insult at the absent bartender.
"R2 I have no doubt Quark's mother was an upstanding citizen. You should not insinuate such things without proof." Data admonished.
Anakin Skywalker sat alone near the Replimate brooding. Anakin did not deal well with failure or setbacks of any kind. While the destruction of the Enterprise-D weighed heavily on him what troubled Anakin most was that Ahsoka was disappointed by his actions, not that he could blame her. Still, every time he looked in his former padawan's eyes he hated what he saw there. The worst part was Anakin knew he deserved it.
"Hello, Anakin. Is this seat taken?" Jean-Luc Picard asked limping up to the table food tray in hand.
"Be my guest, Jean-Luc." Anakin said. With a gesture of his mechanical hand.
Picard sat down. A few minutes passed in silence. When Picard was halfway through his meal he stared at Anakin. "You seem troubled young man." He said.
"I suppose I am," Anakin said playing with his own otherwise untouched food.
"Perhaps if you unburden yourself you'll feel better," Picard suggested. "I'm here if you need somebody to listen."
Anakin took a deep breath. "I did a terrible thing. I hurt people, badly. I didn't mean to at the time, everything happened so fast. I was out of control, blinded by rage. My mother had been brutally killed. All I could think about was revenge. Before I knew what I had done people died, lots of people. I kept what happened secret for a long time. Recently, my friends, my family found out. They say they forgive me but that's not true. They think less of me because of it, I know they do. Pretty messed up, huh?" He smiled weakly at Picard.
"Not in the least," Picard said with a smile of his own. "Believe it or not young man, I know a thing or two about regrets. Six years ago I was abducted by an enemy species called the Borg. They forcibly integrated me into their collective. My resulting alter ego Locutus led an attack on the Federation that killed hundreds. One of the victims was Captain Sisko's wife."
Anakin's eyes went wide. "That's why Captain Sisko hates you." Now he understood why Sisko always gave Picard the cold shoulder. The tension between the two commanders was palpable.
"I'm afraid so," Picard said. "No matter what I do I can never make up for what happened, nor can you. The only thing we can do is make sure we learn from our past. We must never forget our darkest hours less we become comfortable with the darkness."
"Thanks," Anakin said after a pause. "I needed to hear that."
"You are most welcome." Picard said.
Medical Wing
"Wake her." Dr. Julian Bashir said to his female Bajoran assistant. "Remember, Commander Riker remain calm. The last thing she needs right now is to become distraught," Bashir said turning briefly towards a haggard Commander William Riker who was seated nearby.
With a nod, the young woman injected a hypospray into Deanna Troi's neck. Almost at once the prone counselor's eyes fluttered open. She tried to speak but no sound came from her lips. An expression of panic formed on her face reinforced by the emotions of sadness and pity she picked up from Bashir and his assistant. She wanted to rise off the bed but they stopped her by gently holding her down. Her uncomprehending eyes scanned the room settling upon Riker who stood from his chair.
"Counselor focus on me," Bashir said. "There was a serious incident during the Battle of Juhrya. The Enterprise was lost. While there were several fatalities most of the crew survived. You were badly injured during the attack. The left frontal lobe of your brain, more specifically your Broca's Aphasia, was damaged affecting your ability to speak. At this time we're unsure if your condition is temporary or permanent. Either way, we'll discuss your possible treatment options once you've had time to process what I've told you. Until then I suggest you rest as much as possible. I've placed you on extended medical leave. The good news is otherwise you are in good health. Commander Riker has graciously offered to assist you."
Riker stepped forward to offer Troi his hand which she declined. She instead got off the bed on her own then pointed at a data pad. She typed out a message which the computerized voice of the pad then played back.
"I can help myself, thank you."
"Deanna I-," Riker said Troi shot him a look of warning silencing him. She hated that everyone was treating her like an invalid. She left the room without so much as a sideways glance back.
"I recommend you should follow her," Bashir said. Riker did not respond but took the doctor's advice.
"That went well," Bashir said dryly.
In another part of the enlarged medical bay, which more resembled a military triage than a typical Starfleet medical facility these days, Geordi La Forge was receiving regenerative treatment for his extensive burns from two Bajoran medical officers. His treatment session was nearly finished when via his repaired visor she spotted a familiar face. The young green skinned green-skinned female Jedi who along with Data saved his life on the doomed Enterprise-D.
"Keep away from stressful activities until your epidermis has stabilized. If not your full recovery will be delayed." One of the Bajoran medical officers a male advised.
"Will do doc," Geordi said. He got off the biobed and walked to where his rescuer stood. She had just finished helping a male Andorian who had lost his legs deal with the pain of his new cybernetic implants. "I never got a chance to thank you. If you hadn't been there I could have died and taken my best friend along with me. I'm Geordi La Forge. Mind you I could have done without the bump on the head." Geordi said with a chuckled.
"Sorry about that," The green-skinned Jedi said blushing yellow. "I'm Barriss Offee.
"Are you a medical officer?" Geordi genuinely curious.
"Not exactly, I'm a healer within the Jedi Order. I use the Force to help injured people." Barriss answered.
"How does that work? I mean I don't really understand the whole 'Force' concept, but I'd like to learn." Geordi said.
"It's rather complicated, I honestly don't know where to begin. It'll take some time." Barriss said. "I have a question of my own. What is the device you wear around your eyes? I've never seen anything quite like it before. How does it function?"
"It lets me process visual information. I'm blind." Geordi answered.
"Oh sorry, I had no idea," Barriss said regretting she had asked.
"Don't be, I long ago came to terms with my condition." Geordi said. "Perhaps we could discuss the workings of the Force and my visor over say supper sometime?"
"I'd like that," Barriss said.
"It's a date," Geordi said then caught himself by blurting out. "If you're okay with that? If not I understand."
"I'm fine with it being a date," Barriss said her eyes briefly downcast. "I must warn you. Jedi have only recently been permitted to explore relationships. As such I don't have much real-life experience with dating."
"Neither do I frankly," Geordi admitted shyly. "We'll learn to together."
"Sounds fun," Barriss smiling.
"Sure does," Geordi with a smile of his own.
Conference Room
"If we attack the Chin'Toka system now all we'll be doing but counting our dead." Romulan Senator Nolmik said.
Senator Nolmik was unimpressed by the argument of his allies. The isolationist leaning senator saw little value in continued cooperation with either the Federation or Klingons. In fact, he would much rather the Star Empire went it along. Let the Sith Imperium exhaust their forces while his people held back waiting for the right moment to strike.
"It is time to strike the enemy hard, while they think they hold an advantage." General Martok said pounding the conference table for emphasis. "Before they have a chance to recover from the disaster of Celtris we must inflict more losses upon them."
"We've found a weak point. One we should exploit." Captain Sisko said calmly. "Chin'Toka is only protected by five squadrons of enemy ships, primarily fighters. I'm confident we can take the system and hold it with a midsized fleet. From there we can establish a beachhead inside enemy territory go on the offensive for a change. Senator Nolmik you've studied our invasion plan."
"I have, and I continue to find it lacking," Nolmik said. "Let the Sith Imperium stay bottled up in their own territory licking their wounds. Now that they have fallen back to the Cardassian Frontier and their newly annexed territories in Tzenkethi, Talarian & Ferengi space, and taking into account the absence of the Bajoran Worm Hole, we can keep them bottled up indefinitely."
"Such a strategy will ultimately fail." Admiral Ross stated. "They'll continue to build warships, breed Jem'hadar, and manufacturer battle droids until they are ready to come out from behind that line then heaven help us all."
"The only way to achieve lasting victory is to demolish their weapons planets, destroy their ships yards, push them further and further into their own space until we can surround them with our ships then take their headquarters on Cardassia Prime. Then they will have no choice but to surrender."
"A lofty goal," Nolmik said flatly. "I'll take your words under advisement when the resolution is presented to the War Committee of the Romulan Senate." He said. The delegation of Romulans got out of their seats as one. They filed out of the room within another word exchanged.
"Our fate is in the hands of Special Envoy Amidala now. I hope she can convince enough members of the Romulan War Committee to see the merits of your scheme Ben." Admiral Ross said.
"So do I," Sisko said. For his part, Martok swore in Klingon disgusted by Nolmik's obstructionist antics.
Secretly Ross wished Ambassador Spock was with Padme. Spock, however, insisted upon locating Kirk and Scotty once news of the USS Final Frontier's exploits became known. The vessel had followed the retreating Sith Imperium fleets behind enemy lines two days ago. No news of her whereabouts had been heard since. she was apparently operating again under radio silence.
The Promenade of Deep Space Nine two days later, morning
Masses of people from different worlds crowded every square centimeter of space. Since the Sith Imperium annexations of Tzenkethi, Talarian & Ferengi space, although the Ferengi Alliance was technically classified as a satellite state by the Imperium, scores of refugees had been flooding over the border. Federation processing facilities were at a standstill overwhelmed by sheer numbers. A current debate raged in the Federation Council if the border should be sealed. Fear of Sith inflation terrified many ordinary citizens and some officials alike. As with the Changelings before them, Sith acolytes could appear normal until they used the Force to do major damage. Only a complicated blood test could detect them with any degree of certainty. Screening every refugee was simply impossible given the huge volume of applications for asylum agents faced. Furthermore anti-alien, especially anti-Ferengi sediment who brought customs with them which were often at odds with established Federation norms, was on the rise on many member worlds of the Federation. The Andorians had even proposed a border forcefield to keep out "undesirable aliens" from Federation territory. The refugee crisis was evolving into a disaster of epic proportions all on its own.
"They don't belong here." Lapo Muzeth sneered from his position on the railed walkway high above.
"Once we get rid of the Vedic Council we'll deal with these backward aliens." A young female Bajoran with shoulder length brown hair streaked with green and brown eyes who also wore no earring said. Her name was Drema Gora longtime right-hand woman and lover of Lapo Muzeth."We can permit nothing to keep our people from their rightful destiny."
"Later today the time of reckoning arrives." Lapo Muzeth said grimly.
To Be Continued