SupergodzillaSailorCosmos: I will be using a mix of both canon and Legends material for this fic.
Admiral Piett gulped to himself as he noticed Lord Vader marching his way across the long bridge of the Executor.
Piett could see a large portion of the technicians in the trenches of the bridge cautiously avert their eyes when Vader walked by, his metal boots clanking on the metal floor, his cape dragging along the floor behind him, and his metallic breathing echoing throughout the bridge.
Vader's black, empty eyes bored into him as he slowed to a standstill in front of Piett, silently demanding a report on the Millennium Falcon.
"We've yet to locate the Falcon among the asteroid field, my Lord.", said Piett, trying desperately to keep the fear out of his voice.
Vader's eyes continued to silently stare, demanding more information. "However, we've received word from the bounty hunter, Boba Fett.", said Piett, allowing a small sliver of indignation enter his voice. "He says he's made a plan on how to capture the rebel leaders."
Vader turned to stare out of the window. "Contact the bounty hunter, and inform him..."
That was all Vader managed to say, before he rendered a loud scream of agony. The Sith lord fell to the floor on his knees, clutching at his torso, at his very soul.
Piett was about to call for Lord Vader's technicians, believing the problem to be a malfunction in his life support system, when a bright light flooded the bridge.
Piett shielded his eyes, as the light, which seemed to issue straight from space, as if a new star had just been born, continued to bathe the bridge.
Finally, the light dissipated, and Piett was able, with some difficulty, to see just what had occurred in the immediate vicinity of outer space.
A large crack, stretching in both way as far as the eye could see, had appeared, hanging in mid-void, a blasphemy against nature.
Piett stood staring at the crack for what felt like ages; nothing in the Imperial Academy on Coruscant could've prepared him for this moment.
Finally, he turned wearily to see that the rest of the bridge crew was staring at the crack as well.
"Report!", he finally yelled, and the bridge crew quickly went about their duties.
When no report was forthcoming, Piett marched towards the sensor station, passing a forgotten Vader, still kneeling on the ground.
"Crewman, you will report just what in the name of the Emperor is that... thing is out there.", said Piett, his nerves stretched to breaking point.
"Sir, these readings make no sense.", said the crewman vaguely, down in the trench. Looking up, he saw Piett's scowl, and quickly continued.
"I'm getting communications chatter from all over, but there are no ships in this vicinity. It's all emanating from the... crack, which in and of itself defies all knowledge of the universe."
Piett was about to reprimand the crewman for his blatant babbling, when a dark shadow overtook Piett.
Piett turned to see the 7 foot presence of Vader, now off the ground and staring at the crack in space and time.
Piett, who had forgotten all about Vader, marched up and was about to hastily apologize, when Vader boomed, "Admiral Piett, set a course for the... crack."
Piett looked so shocked that he temporarily forgot who he was talking to. "Lord Vader, that would be most unwise. We have no idea what that thing is out there, and..."
"Do as I command, Piett.", said Vader, dropping all pretense of honorifics. "If you do not, you will follow in your predecessors footsteps."
Remembering the sounds of gagging as invisible hands closed around throats, Piett subtly swallowed then turned to give the order.
A mere fifteen minutes later, Captain Jean-Luc Picard was staring at said Super Star Destroyer from a distance from the crack.
"Hail them!", said Picard.
Data obediently punched in the necessary commands to the computer, nodding to Picard when it was ready.
"This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise, representing the United Federation of Planets. Please identify yourself."
No answer was forthcoming. Picard soon nodded at Data, then repeated the message once hailing frequencies were open again.
The strange ship remained motionless. Then, it began to slowly weave its way towards the Enterprise.
As it drew nearer, several bowtie shaped vessels appeared from the crack as well, flying about the larger ship.
Sensing danger, Picard ordered a yellow alert. He was about to order Data to perform another hail, when...
"Captain, they are responding to us.", said Data.
"On screen.", said Picard.
Whatever they were expecting, it didn't even come close to fathoming the terrifying image of Darth Vader on the view screen.
Picard, however, remained steely faced as he could muster. "Greetings, I am Captain Jean-Luc..."
"Your name is not important.", said the dark figure. "This section of this galaxy is now under the control of the Galactic Empire. Lower your shields and prepare to be boarded, as well as questioned."
The view screen switched back to the magnified image of the Executor, now approaching the Enterprise at a rapid pace.
"Raise shields!", commanded Picard, swiftly. "Phasers at the ready."
A flash of green light erupted from the opposing ship, striking the Enterprise.
As the volley of lasers continually hit the Enterprise, Picard yelled, "Shield status."
"Shields at... 95%, sir.", said the unnamed crewman in amazement.
Picard, despite the rocking of the bridge from the assault, was curious as well. From the rate the opposing ship was battering them, their shields should be down a lot lower.
"Phasers ready, captain.", said Worf.
"Fire!", yelled Picard.
Twin beams of light shot from the Enterprise, and hit the other ship in the wedge.
Immediately, the opposing ship was racked with explosions where the Enterprise's ship had struck it.
Picard was amazed yet again. Phasers don't typically do that much damage.
Realizing that they had the advantage, however momentarily, Picard ordered for Photon torpedos to be readied.
Suddenly, the Enterprise was racked by more explosions against the shield. The bowtie fighters were flying about the Enterprise, shooting volley after volley of laser fire. And more of these ships were coming...
"The Enterprise won't be able to hold its own against those small fighters.", said Riker.
Picard, once Data reported that the shields were at 75%, agreed.
"Retreat into warp.", commanded Picard.
Piett ran from station to station, addressing the concerns of each crewman.
How had that small ship been able to beat a hole right through the Executor's shields? How were they withstanding the considerable volley of blaster fire?
All these questions and more flooded through Piett's mind.
Piett walked past Vader on his way to a technician's post. Still, the dark lord was looking out the window of the gigantic bridge, carefully observing the damage that the other ship had done to the Executor.
Something caught Piett's gaze as he continued going from one station to another. The other ship was turning about.
Piett turned to see the other ship, currently being bombarded by blaster fire from the TIE fighters, stretch and zoom away at what was clearly faster than light travel.
Piett turned to the sensor station.
"They are not hyperspace to travel faster than light, sir.", said the technician at post. "They seem to be using a much less advanced form of FTL travel. We can definitely track them."
Piett grinned sadistically, only to turn face to face with Lord Vader, causing his smirk to vanish.
"Don't be so confident, Admiral.", said Vader. "We are in a whole new area of the universe, if my instincts are correct. We will pursue this alien vessel with everything we've got."
Vader turned to walk away, only for a technician to speak up. "Lord Vader, we have a direct communication line from Imperial Center."
Vader waved his hand irritably at the disturbance, until the technician said, "It comes from the Emperor himself."
A hush descended on the bridge, as they all eyed Vader warily.
Finally... "Return back through the crack and plot a course for Imperial Center.", commanded Vader.
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