USS VICTORY, DEEP SPACE
JULY 3, 2376
The view on the screen was incredible to behold, ship after ship slid
through the giant gateway. The crew
gazing in awe at the sight they were now beholding.
Picard spoke first, "Ensign, do we have anything on those ships?"
"They are of an unknown design, Sir, nothing in our database comes
close. Power source unknown,
weapons unknown as well, Sir."
"What about that artifact?" asked Picard.
"Also of unknown design, power source unknown."
What Picard needed was Data, he would be able to uncover the secrets of
this artifact, but the Enterprise like all of the other ships was off looking
for anyone that would be able to help them.
"Mr. President," the Ensign's voice came again filled now with
disbelief and horror, "The lead ship is hailing us."
"On screen," replied Picard.
The screen came on to show the view of the unknown bridge. The shape was unusual, linear instead of circular. Then, a figure came out of darkness, an stood in the middle of the
bridge. He looked almost like a Fury, but he had dark hair instead of
horns, and dark bluish skin. He
spoke in a calm, curious manner,
"Greetings, Allow me to introduce
myself, I am Ga'kor of the Preservers."
"I am President Jean-Luc Picard, of the-," he stopped wondering what
he was going to say, there was no Federation, "-of the resistance. What is your business here?"
"You have problems at your home, yes?"
"Yes, how did you-?" asked Picard.
Ga'kor nodded, "That is what my vision predicted."
"Vision?"
"Yes, perhaps we can continue this conversation in private? May I come aboard your ship?" asked Ga'kor.
"Yes, of course. We can
use the conference room."
"Excellent. I will meet
you there in five minutes. We have
many things we need to discuss."
Picard waited in the conference room for Ga'kor. After a few more minutes, Ga'kor walked in.
"Greetings, Picard." he said. "I
sure you wish to know why I am here."
"Yes, please sit down."
Ga'kor sat in the chair, "I will tell you the whole story.
Picard got up and got himself a cup of Earl Gray tea, he asked Ga'kor
if he wanted anything, Ga'kor had politely declined. "Very well, tell your story." said Picard.
Ga'kor started his story, "Yes, As I told you before we are called
Preservers. We did not know that
our mistake could cause so much death and pain. You see, over 5,000 years ago we lived in another galaxy. After hundreds of years living there, our scientists discovered that our
sun was about to supernova. So for
many years we put all our technology, all our resources into building what we
now call the gateway. It is a
device that can open a hole into another dimension and allow travel to other
galaxies. After years of work it
was finally completed, and we packed up our entire culture, entire civilization
and left. We followed the gateway
that brought us to this space. We
thought it would be heaven, a place where we could finally be at peace. It was not to be, for instead of opening the gates to heaven, we opened
the gates to hell. When we came out
of the gateway, thousands of ships lie before our eyes. They called themselves the Furies. A
few of the Fury ships got jumpy and fired, after that there was no stopping it. We tried, we told them we came in peace, begged them for
peace, but they would not hear us, said something about why had we come to take
their space. We did not come to
take anyone's space, we are good people who made a mistake. After years of fighting, we gained victory and banished them, that was
our mistake, a mistake that millions have now paid for. We thought we had to banish them, it was the quickest way to get rid of
them. Centuries later our people
had visions, dreams, nightmares of the Furies returning for a final reckoning. And if our dreams can come true, then what of our nightmares? After centuries of nightmares, it was decided to build another gateway,
and so we ran from fear. I am here
now, because I had a vision, a vision of chaos and destruction. I know you need help, I am here to give it to you. My people stand ready to die for one purpose, the good of all. My fleet stands ready to do what we should have done those days so long
ago."
When he was finally done, Picard sat thinking for a few moments, the
victors of that great battle so long ago had finally revealed themselves. Now they had a fleet ready to help him, and finish what they had started
over 5,000 years ago.
Ga'kor broke the silence, "So tell me, Picard, how is Emperor Zutegre?"
Picard was stunned by the question, it was not possible that Ga'kor and
Zutegre had ever met. "How-?"
Picard asked very softly.
"Ah. Picard, you think in
such three dimensional terms, we will have to work on that."
ZUTEGRE'S OFFICE, EARTH
JULY 4, 2376
Zutegre sat in his office, after centuries the Furies were home, and
everything was as it should be. He
probably should get some sleep, he thought to himself, he had an early meeting
tomorrow with the leaders of the newly independent worlds. They wanted to talk to him about how the newly independent worlds would
now function with the Federation gone.
His personal assistant, Zennor, walked in just then. "Sir, I think we have a problem, a lone ship is trying to
enter the terran system."
"Can you identify it?" asked Zutegre.
Zennor looked down at his personal hand computer, "It looks to be of
Starfleet design."
"Starfleet! Starfleet is
gone, it died, a new order has replaced it."
"Ship type verified , Sir. Starfleet
registry number NX-23784; Sir, it's the Victory."
"Indeed. Well, we shall
destroy it in a grand show of force, to show that no one should dare oppose the
Furies." said Zutegre.
"Yes, Sir."
"Prepare my ship, and assemble the fleet, we attack in four hours."
ordered Zutegre.
Zennor nodded his head, and walked swiftly out the door. Zutegre leaned back in his chair, the meeting would have to
wait, everyone would soon not to mess with the Furies. Little did Zutegre know that one order would eventually be
the greatest mistake he ever made.
FURY FLEET, TERRAN SYSTEM
JULY 4, 2376
On Zutegre's command ship, the screen showed the beautiful silhouette
of the Victory. He wanted to blast
that ship out of the stars, but that wouldn't be right. First things first, he had to try communication. Whether he liked it or not, he had an Empire to run and humans were part
of that Empire. If he killed humans
in cold blood, than humans would retaliate, more so now because they respected
Picard. He would have to turn
Picard into the bad guy.
"Hail them, Ensign." ordered Zutegre.
"I, Sir."
The screen changed from the Victory, to the image of Jean-Luc Picard in
the center of his bridge.
Zutegre spoke first, "Picard. Why
are you here? With the Federation
gone, you have no jurisdiction here. I
am the leader, Earth has its own President. Why are you here?"
"For freedom!!!" yelled Picard.
"Freedom, a quaint word. My
entire fleet stands ready to blow you out of the stars. So I ask you leave now or be destroyed."
"Emperor, I believe I have someone here who wishes to speak with
you." Picard said stepping aside.
Zutegre was puzzled, and then saw the face, an all to familiar face. A face of the shadows, and echo of the darkness that once was. He finally managed to say, "It can't be."
"Oh, but Zutegre, I assure you, it can. We have come back to do what we should have done centuries ago. Now I ask you to leave, or you will be destroyed," replied Ga'kor.
"Never! You took our home,
sent us into exile, we shall never forget that! One of us will stand today, the other will die, here, now!"
"Very well, Zutegre. We
shall see who will stand. Attack!"
replied Ga'kor.
"Attack!" ordered Zutegre.
The two fleets moved toward each other, guns blazing. Two ancient races locked in 5,000 years of warfare. One race driven mad by exile, the other standing for a chance at
redemption. Each declaring victory
at all costs, victroy in spite of all terror, for without victory there is no
survival. When the two fleets
finally met, the sounds of war were all around them. A war that was an echo of the past, and was now in the middle of the
present.