[A/N: If I was able to keep the second part of the crossover a secret, this would be the chapter with the big reveal. But since required me to list both worlds, the surprise is kind of spoiled. So anyway, enjoy this big ol' wall of text.]
[First Officer Julie Palmer's Personal Log, Stardate 48347.2.
We have been on course to a special anomaly for the past several hours, and as we venture closer to the event, ionic readings have been off the charts.
Mr. Mendon has begun long-range scans of the wormhole, and while my own scientific curiosity keeps me fascinated, I have a very bad feeling about what may lie on the other side of this wormhole.]
"Look at the size of that thing…" Miles remarked as the Orion neared the wormhole. The massive, swirling gray vortex lay before the ship. Nearly three times the size of the vessel they sat aboard, the portal seemed to be stable, although lightning appeared to be arcing out from the edges.
"Mr. Mendon, analysis. Tell me what we're looking at." Garrett barked.
"Initial scans reveal very little, Captain." Mendon's hand danced across the control panel, as the Benzite completed two different tasks at once. Benzites had fully opposable thumbs on both sides of their hands, allowing levels of dexterity and multi-tasking that was impossible for humans.
"The energy given off by the portal is interfering with our sensors. Ensign Romanov and I are attempting to compensate now. I am also processing a request to Engineering for a Class II probe to be prepared." Mendon's breathing apparatus hissed and released another puff of Benzite-friendly air.
"Keep me posted. Lt. Varik, once the probe is ready, launch at your convenience."
"Yes, sir."
Garrett leaned forward in the captain's chair, intently focused on the mass of energy pulsing on the viewscreen. Commander Palmer was typing on the con panel between their chairs.
"There's a lot of gravimetric distortion. Mendon, Romanov, how are those sensor adjustments coming?"
Before they could respond, the wormhole let out a brilliant flash of light, and began to grow. A shockwave rocked the main bridge, forcing the crew to grab on to whatever they could to stabilize themselves.
"Report! What the hell was that?" Garrett yelled.
"The portal is surging!" Varik said. "There is something coming out! It's giving off a power signature indicative of a vessel."
"Go to red alert! Shields up, and charge primary phaser banks!" Garrett stood up as the portal pulsed again, and much to his surprise, a small craft emerged from the black center. A long, conical body, with four wings spread in an "X" formation. Weapon emplacements were at each of the wing's endpoint. A section along the fuselage starting below the pilot's canopy and extended almost to the tip of the nose was painted red, and red markings adorned the wings.
"That's our power signature?" Miles asked.
"Negative. Low power draw, one life-sign. And one positronic signal. However, there is something else still coming through." Varik responded.
Tanya's control panel lit up. "Unidentified fighter is firing on us." Red laser beams flashed from the weapon ports, splashing harmlessly against Orion's shields. It turned up into a roll, and came back around for another pass. More lasers illuminated the ship's shield bubble, but the damage caused by this attack was visual only.
"Lasers? Where the hell is this guy from?" Commander Palmer asked, a puzzled expression on her face.
"Damage report?" The Captain asked.
"Minimal, sir. Shields holding. We cannot return fire without destroying the ship."
"Fire a warning shot all the same." Garrett tagged his combadge. "Garrett to Paxton. Lock-on tractor beam to that ship. I'm on my way down to the Shuttlebays. Varik, have a security detail meet me outside. Once I'm there, bring the whole fighter into Shuttlebay Two. Julie, you have the bridge."
"Aye, sir." Varik keyed the order into his console. The Captain rose from his chair, watching as the phaser beam flashed several meters off the fighter's port side. The pilot had rolled his craft to its starboard, right into the waiting arc of Orion's tractor beam. Garrett hurried to the turbolift.
"Deck Ten."
As he exited the turbolift, his security team had gathered. The Lieutenant in charge presented him with a hand phaser, and he immediately checked its power setting.
"Keep your phasers on stun. And be careful. We don't know if the pilot is armed." He tapped his combadge. "Garrett to Paxton. Bring him in."
After a short delay, Paxton responded. "He's in the bay, Captain. Force field in place, hangar is pressurized." Garrett nodded to the team, and they activated the door panel. As the team filed into the room, the strange fighter's canopy began to open. A figure wearing a charred white helmet and an orange flight suit began to rise from his seat.
"I'm Captain Tyson Garrett, of the Federation starship Ori-" Before he could finish his introduction, he heard the faint rasp of metal against leather as the unknown pilot drew a hand weapon and fired a bolt of energy toward the men standing in the bay. One of the security guards pushed Garrett out of the way before taking the laser blast in the shoulder. The man fell to the floor in agony. The smell of burning fabric and flesh filled the room. Garrett regained his footing and fired his phaser, striking the pilot on the hand and sending the laser pistol flying from his hand. The weapon hit the bulkhead behind him and clattered to the floor. A domed robot in a slot behind the cockpit spat out a series of whistles and beeps. The pilot grabbed his injured hand, staring in shock and awe at his captors.
"Hands up! We're not looking for a fight! Don't make us hurt you!" Garrett shouted before keying his combadge. "Transporter Room Two, beam Crewman Carter to Sick Bay!" The wounded man on the deck dematerialized. The pilot had put his hands into view.
Garrett pointed his phaser back at the man in the fighter. "Now take off that helmet." The pilot complied, raising the helmet off his head, revealing his face from behind the orange visor.
"You're human?" The man asked.
"You're human?" Garrett responded, lowering the phaser. The pilot was in his mid-twenties, black hair short but messy. He had a stern jawline, and even though he was young, his eyes were tired. This was a man who had seen much in his short time.
"What the hell is going on, here?" The Captain demanded. "Who are you?"
"You… don't already know? You're not with the Empire?" The man asked as he jumped free of the ship and planted his feet on the deck.
"No. We're not with any Empire. This is a Federation vessel." Garrett responded.
"Federation? Never heard of you… wait. If you're not Imperial, then…" The man's eyes widened. "We have to get out of here, NOW! They followed me in! They'll be coming out any minute!"
"Who?"
"No time to explain! What class hyperdrive does this ship carry?" The pilot asked, tucking his helmet under his arm.
"What in the hell are you talking about?" Garrett said.
"You heard me, get us out of here or we're all dead!"
Garrett looked the man square in the eye. "On this ship, I give the orders. Now, come with me." He led the strange man to the turbolift and proceeded to the bridge. The mysterious pilot continued to spout off a series of questions during the turbolift ride, but Garrett ignored them all. Once the lift doors opened, he saw the bridge was in a near-panic.
"Captain, the portal is surging again. The power signature is increasing in intensity. The vessel will clear the wormhole in approximately ten seconds." Varik reported.
"Listen to me, Captain. This tiny little ship is gonna be space dust once the Hammer is through with her! We need to leave!"
"What is that?"
"You're kidding, right? Hammer of Dawn, Admiral Karath's pride and joy? Where the hell have you people been for the last 17 years?"
"I'm not familiar with any Admiral Karath."
The fighter pilot's eyes widened again. "Wait a minute… where are you from?"
"I could ask the same question of you."
At that moment, a loud crack of thunder brought everyone's attention to the main viewer. A massive ship was emerging from the wormhole, triangular, and several hundred meters in length at least. A large tower rose from the aft section of the ship, and weapon ports immediately began flashing as laser blasts rained down onto the Orion. Alarm klaxons blared, and several bridge panels erupted in flames.
"Direct hit to forward shields! They are down to 45% strength!" Varik yelled.
"Damage reports coming in from Decks Four, Five and Nine. A lot of minor injuries several major injuries, no casualties. Sick Bay is anticipating an overload of patients, and Dr. Braun has activated the EMH." Tanya's hands moved across here console, funneling power to necessary stations.
"Mr. Varik, fire phasers and photon torpedoes. Maximum yield, full spread. Mr. Chase, evasive pattern Gamma-1." Garrett re-seated himself.
Orion let loose the volley of weapons, only to see the phaser fire absorbed by the massive vessel's shields. The photon torpedoes managed to penetrate the shielding, but their efforts only resulted in minor damage.
"I certainly hope you have more of those things." The pilot said, leaning on the railing behind the Captain's chair.
"Not enough, it would seem." Garrett sighed, and mulled over his options.
"Sir, enemy ship is hailing us." Tanya said.
"On screen." Garrett stood up again.
The viewscreen changed to a chromed, pristine room that had to be the bridge of the hostile cruiser. A man in a clean black uniform stood with his hands clasped behind his back. A set of red and blue bars adorned his chest, most likely an indication of rank. His jet-black hair was neatly combed, and although there were streaks of gray showing his age, his facial features were remarkably young. A large scar ran from above his milky white right eye to his left jawbone, a grisly scar on an otherwise unblemished face. His good eye was as blue as the ocean.
"Unidentified vessel, this is Admiral Duran Karath of the Star Destroyer Hammer of Dawn. You will surrender your ship to the Empire, or be destroyed."
Garrett's eyes narrowed. "I am Captain Tyson Garrett of the Federation starship Orion, and I do not take kindly to idle threats."
The man let out a posh, arrogant chuckle. "I have never heard of your Federation, Captain. And I am not a man who makes idle threats. If you are in league with the Rebel terrorist aboard your bridge, we will dispose of you in the same manner as we did his comrades. As you have already discovered, this Star Destroyer could obliterate your pathetic little ship with a barely noticeable expenditure of firepower."
"That doesn't mean I won't stand my ground if I'm forced to." Garrett's fists balled in anger.
More laughter from the opposing officer on the viewscreen. "How noble, Captain Garrett. I can almost respect that. Now then, I'm a fair man, so I'll give you one last generous offer. If you surrender the X-wing pilot, his snubfighter and his droid to me, I'll pass back through that wormhole, and leave you and your adorable little ship alone." The Admiral's expression turned to stone. "I assure you Captain, I am a man of my word, both in my threats… and my promises. You have 30 seconds to surrender the pilot."
Garrett sliced his hand across his neck to signal Tanya to mute their channel.
"Captain," Tanya said from her station. "He's right. Even though they're using laser-based weaponry, they have more weapon emplacements than I can count. We're no match for them."
Garrett cursed to himself. "If anyone has any options, I'd love to hear them."
"It seems as though our only options are to run, or to comply. As Ensign Romanov says, we are outgunned." Varik's logical approach was frustrating, but correct. The Intrepid-class starship, while equipped with fourteen phaser arrays and five photon torpedo launchers, was a small ship. The crew compliment was only one hundred and fifty, while the cruiser off their starboard bow had to have a crew of thousands.
"You're not seriously thinking of giving me over to him, are you?" The pilot leaned over the railing, concern and fear covering his face.
"I never said that." Captain Garrett turned to face him. "But the man has made a very serious accusation against you. He claimed you were a terrorist."
"I am part of a Rebellion against a Sith-run governmental system. I am not, however, a terrorist."
"I've never heard of the Sith, but I've also never heard of your Rebellion. Do you mean the Maquis?"
"What the hell are you talking about? Captain, you can't hand me over to them. I officially request asylum aboard your vessel, whatever it is."
Garrett pondered for a moment, before a laser blast hammered the ship's forward shields. The alarms began blaring again. He gave the signal to re-engage the viewscreen. Admiral Karath reappeared.
"Your time is up, Captain. You will surrender Lt. Corvin now, or I will open fire and destroy you all. I won't ask again."
Garrett sat down in his chair. "I'm sorry, Admiral Karath, but you'll have to come and get him." He killed the viewscreen. "Miles, get us out of here, maximum warp, any heading!"
"Course and speed set, engaging warp drive!" Miles punched his console, and they left the enemy ship in their warp trail. The Captain sighed, sinking deeper into his captain's chair, and massaging his temples. Tanya read off a string of damage reports, but it was just white noise to the Garrett. After a few moments, he rose from his seat.
"Now then, Corvin, was it?" The pilot nodded. Garrett smiled lightly.
"Well, Mr. Corvin, I will grant you asylum once we can get your story straight. In addition, you have a phaser burn on your hand. And I know someone who can help with both of our problems. Come with me."
"Wait, where are you taking me?" Corvin asked as they entered the turbolift.
"Sick Bay."