Act Five - "Under the Stars"
Voyager and the Kelvan fleet soared between the two galaxies, more than ready to see a fitting end to the conflict. All transmissions were being blocked. Tomar's doing, most likely. No one back on New Kelvan knew that the war had ended. Contact with the 'New Maquis' was being blocked.
Janeway was getting antsy and kept having all systems checked and re-checked at they drew nearer and nearer the New Kelva. It was would be days, but still she was getting on edge. The tension was thick. Even Chakotay was starting to feel it.
Kes, who had basically remained by herself during the trip, was preparing herself for her little part in this game of destiny. Her mind touched on all those that she had known as friends and dear ones to get ready. She had to be nothing less than amazing.
***
Commander Donatra had seen nothing like it before in her entire life.
The compound she and her fellow Romulans had been occupying since the conflict began was no longer under siege by Kelvan ground forces. Her quick insight into the Kelvans treachery had told the Commander to move quickly. She had secured this compound as soon as she could. With her allies in the military, Donatra was able to fortify it. But it had only been a matter of time before the Kelvans moved against the rebellious Romulans.
Yet, two days ago, an order went out. The Senate had been mind-controlled, but recently freed. And with that freedom, came revenge and power. Two things that Donatra respected highly. The Romulan Senate re-initiated protocols used during the Dominion War.
Two days already and the siege was over. Quelled by a large contingency of Remean troops. Donatra stared out at the war-battered field as Remeans began to march back to their ship. Their Romulan keepers were getting impatient. There were many other worlds to reconcile.
But Donatra couldn't help but notice the leader of the Remeans. From afar, he looked Romulan. But upon closer inspection . . . no. He was human!
"Guards! I want to see that man!"
The guards pulled the human out of the line-up and placed him in front of Donatra. They stood next to him, hands on their disrupters as if he were about to destroy the entire planet with his bare hands.
"Go," she ordered.
"But Commander - "
"This man just saved my life and the life of every Romulan inside that compound. I doubt he will kill me now. Go!"
The two guards walked back over to the ship. Donatra eyed the human. "Why did you want to see me?"
"You're human."
"Yes."
"Intriguing. What is your name?"
"Shizon."
"You saved my life, Shizon. Tell me, now, what should I do to help you?"
"I have many ideas, Commander."
Donatra smiled. "Why don't you tell me about them, hmmm?"
***
Standing on a small outcropping of rocks, the Vorta and the two Jem'Hadar stood and waited. All around them was a huge ocean of Changelings. This was the homeworld of the Founders - the heart of the Dominion.
Soon, enough, the ocean became to swirl. A form appeared before them, rising from the rest of the Changelings. Odo looked over the three of them as they bowed and offered greetings that he didn't deserve. He said nothing.
"The mind-controlled leaders of the Federation, Romulan Empire, the Klingon Empire, and the Ferengi Alliance have been freed," the Vorta said. "What are your orders?"
Odo paused, looking at the trio before staring out at the ocean of Changelings. Thoughts of Deep Space Nine appeared in his mind . . . Sisko . . . O'Brien . . . Worf, Dax . . . Bashier . . . Quark . . . and, of course, Neryes.
Of course, there was far more here than just his old friends and loved ones. There was conflict - possibly the end of such. Word had just been received that Dominion vessels were able to hold off two waves of Kelvan warships. Taking this into account, he finally turned to the Vorta and the pair of Jem'Hadar soldiers.
"Send ships," he said simply.
"Yes. And how many, great Founder?"
Odo hated that tone in his voice, but sighed and answered. "As many as we can spare. Inform Veela of the situation."
"Thank you, Founder."
***
The Borg ships shot through Transwarp, launching towards the nearest Kelvan battle. Hugh took a deep breath as they continued to go through. Transwarp had become a dangerous thing ever since the Transwarp Hub had been destroyed. But still, this was necessary.
Explosions filled the screen as they emerged. Kelvan energy beams were slicing through the dark void of space. Hugh nodded at his second-in-command. The signal was send and two other Borg ships opened fire on the Kelvans.
"This battle will not take long," Hugh observed aloud.
"Incoming transmission," said one of the Borg. "From Commander Pel."
"On screen."
"Hugh. We have just received word from our contact in the Alpha Quadrant. The leaders of the separate powers in the quadrant have been freed."
"Excellent. Hopefully, that will turn this conflict into our favor."
"Actually, I have another idea . . ."
***
Throughout the Klingon Empire, ships were suddenly ordered to turn against their own race and to make war now on the Kelvans. So many houses rejoiced with the orders.
Ferengi trade routes that had been struggled and battled with by their own people was now freed. The Ferengi were now ordered away from fighting each other - and now were busy fighting off the Kelvans from those self-same trade routes.
Romulan colonies were released from the Commands from the Praetor. Unleashed from these commands, they attacked the Kelvans that bared over themselves.
All Federation citizens were now allowed to fight off the Kelvans. Starfleet vessels as their weapons, the Federation lashed out at the Kelvan fleets that threatened.
"Damnation," Decker muttered, staring at the map as he and the leaders launched their attacks on the alien invaders.
Stationed between Starbases 9 and 10 near the Romulan Neutral Zone, Nimbus Three was now the center of the defense against the Kelvan Empire.
"We need a new strategy," Worf observed. "The Kelvans maybe pulling out of our territories, but they are still much of a threat."
"With the Andromeda Kelvans on their way, we should have the opportunity to see an end to this once and for all," Admiral Ross announced.
"That won't be enough," the Romulan Praetor said. "We need to hold them until they arrive."
"You sound as though you have a plan, Praetor," Garek wondered.
"We should push them back to New Kelva. Make an attack that will keep Tomar occupied until help arrives."
Worf's eyes grew. "That is an excellent strategy."
"Agreed," Rom tossed in.
"I'm for that," Garek agreed.
"Then we're in agreement," Deck nodded. "We'll do this. 36 hours from now, we'll launch our fleet from here and take New Kelva. A gift for High Commandant A'Ra."
***
Janeway sighed at the communiqué. Her eyes turned swiftly to the rest of the people within the room. T'Pol, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, Martok, Neelix, Quark, and the many other representatives. "They're going to attack New Kelva."
"Aha!" Martok bellowed. "Brillant! A fine battle for us to join them!"
Rojan sighed. "I disapprove of this action, but I see other option. With Tomar creating a communications silence, the Kelvans are still making war on the galaxy. The powers in the galaxy are taking a strong blow and this seems to be the only option."
"Indeed," Kalinda agreed sadly. "I calculate we will arrive within the time frame of the attack. Not until after it begins, I'm afraid."
"Rough estimations?" asked Admiral Paris.
"Anywhere between four and five hours."
"No choice."
T'Pol, who had remained silent, looked up at the rest of the group. "The quest of peace sometimes brings about the path of war. We have brought peace to the Andromeda Galaxy while they have brought war to our own. A balance must be created. That is what we are doing. This conflict will end and we will be the ones that will bring about that balance."
"Balance is not logical," Spock spoke.
"Not all things are logical," T'Pol replied. "Life must be preserved. And do to so, a balance must be reached."
"And this is," Janeway began, "the only way."
***
As the armada made its way towards Nimbus Three, reports began to pour in. The Kelvans were apparently pulling back . . . and towards New Kelva. President Decker, who stood next to Captain Picard on board the Enterprise, gruffed at the situation. They were both in Stellar Cartography, along with Mr. Data - who, out of respect, kept quiet.
"This isn't good, Jean-Luc. They're gonna have us out-numbered."
"We'll beat them, Mr. President," Picard said, his voice attempting to sound confident.
"We better, Captain. You know, this will change everything."
"Indeed," Picard said with a smile. Just as Picard was about to go on, a voice echoed throughout the room.
"Mr. President, you have a classified communiqué," came the voice of Commander Riker.
"In my quarters please, Commander. Captain, Lieutenant Commander."
"Mr. President."
"Sir."
Jean-Luc Picard sighed and turned to Data. "Well, Mr. Data, it seems we'll have a good reception waiting for us at New Kelva."
"Indeed, Captain," Data replied with a slight smile. "But our travels have brought us this far. I do firmly believe that they will take us much further."
Picard looked off, at the starcharts on the screen before them. It had assumed a view of the entire galaxy, in its entire wide and greatness. An easy smile crossed his lips and turned back to his old friend.
"Until the stars grow cold, eh, Data?" asked Picard rhetorically. "'To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.'"
"Robert Louis Steveson, sir."
"Indeed. I wonder - where will our travels take us next? What great frontier lays ahead of mankind?"
Data stepped up to Picard and looked directly at him. "The future, sir. And the travel there will be better than the arrival. According to Steveson, at least."
"Yes. I only hope we will be alive to see it."
"We will, Captain."
"Just remember Data," Picard said solemnly. "One day, I'll find my final arrival. On that day, my travels will have ended."
"No, sir. They will not end."
"Oh?"
"Yes, Captain. For you see, you may one day pass away - but the spirit you have forged. The continuous exploration of the unknown . . . the long travels that you have done . . . they will always be remembered to me and the rest of the crew."
Picard nodded. "And if the same should ever happen to you, Mr. Data, the legacy of your discoveries shall forever continue."
"Thank you, Captain."
"No, Mr. Data," Picard said then. "Thank you."
Suddenly, the entire ship shook, marking an attack. Picard and Data silently and quickly left the room, only to hear Commander Riker call out to them.
"Captain Picard, we have entered Kelvan space. The fleet has opened fire."
"Earlier than anticipated, sir," Data observed.
"Yes."
Picard entered the bridge then, where he spotted the viewscreen. A fleet of Kelvan ships was in front of the armada, heading towards the New Kelvan system.
"Report."
"We're about to enter the system. Quite a fleet in front of us," Riker returned. "Its meeting up with the bulk of the fleet, which is situated around New Kelva itself."
Nodding, Picard sat himself in his chair and looked forward. A frown had appeared on his face as he announced to the crew something that he hated to say. "All hands: this is the bridge. Prepare for battle."
Moments later, the armada came upon the fleet surrounding New Kelva. The battle erupted immediately.
Worf lead the Klingon assault wing into battle, unleashing disrupter and plasma torpedoes upon the hundreds and hundreds of Kelvan ships before him. Explosions ripped silently as the battle raged. Birds-of-Prey, Neg'Vars, and Vor'cha class attack ships swung down and opened fire.
The Klingon leader focused his attention on the massive, Invasion-class vessel. It was the same class as the vessel that destroyed the Glory a few days ago. Worf knew it, of all ships, needed to be taken down. Taking with him three dozen Birds-of-Prey and twelve Vor'chas, Worf directed them towards the aft shields.
The Birds-of-Prey swooped down low, attacking constantly the shields in that area. They maneuvered hard, barely escaping the energy beams that thrusted from the Kelvan ship. Finally, the shields began to disrupt under the contact barrage.
It was then that Worf ordered full attack on that compartment. Explosions ripped forth then, exposing the delicate interworkings of the engines. As disrupters and plasma torpedoes smashed through it, the entire ship began pop and shatter. Within moments, the Invasion-class ship exploded.
"Grand Nagus! There is an opening! The Klingons destroyed that big ship!" Brunt exclaimed.
Rom smiled. "Take eight teen ships through the opening and open fire on all orbital defenses. It's now or never!"
Rom's Marauder-class Ferengi vessel - the Moogie - swept forward, leading eighteen ships behind it. As they carved through the space that the Invasion-class ship occupied, they opened fire on all ships surrounding them. They dove, then, deeper into orbit and began to open fire on the automated defense satellites.
Explosions filled their screens as another line of Kelvan defense feel. Rom smiled stupidly at his success.
"The Ferengi have destroyed the orbital defense satellites," reported the Jem'Hadar First.
"Excellent," Veela responded. "Launch a full sweep across the second and third attack wings of the Assault-class ships."
Nearly two hundred Jem'Hadar fighters swept through space - giving and taking damage. Veela grimed, suddenly, as the fighters were beginning to be shot down. Even with the recent reinforcements from the Gamma Quadrants, the Dominion ships were losing their respective ground out here.
"Continue on wing two. Pull back from wing three."
"Senator," one of the Romulans informed Sela, "the Dominion have moved away from Kelvan Assault-class wing three."
"Follow through," Sela ordered.
"Senator, we do not have enough ships to maintain an attack."
That was when Sela had an idea.
Mere seconds later, the fifty Romulan vessels ordered against the wing began to vanish, then reappear to fire disrupters. Almost immediately, then, they would disappear once more. This tactic worked. The Assault wing three was broken and shattered.
Sela found herself strangely thanking her mother. She would have been proud.
"Move past the Romulans and begin to engage all Scouts and Invasion-class vessels," Garek ordered then.
The golden Cardassian fleet fired their weapons at the Kelvans, destroying ship after ship. Garek couldn't help but pat himself on the back. But something was nagging him. Something that told him that things weren't going to remain like this . . .
"Sir! Kelvan reinforcements have just entered the system! They're concentrating on the Starfleet and Romulan wings!"
"Split our forces! Continue on course, but back-up the Romulans and Starfleet!" Garek ordered as sparks began to fly on his bridge.
Kira held tight the panels next to her chair as the Defiant was rocked with heavy fire. O'Brien was running about, pressing key after key - trying to keep things under control. Bashier was already tending to wounded, while Dax scrambled at sensors. Nog was pressing hard on the evasive maneuvers.
"The Cardassians are backing us up, but I'm not sure how much longer we can keep this going! 1,000 ships just entered the system. We're out-numbered!" Dax shouted.
"So were the Bajorans!" yelled Kira. "Keep fighting! Find any weakness and exploit it!"
Just as futility was about to sink it, something happened . . .
Ships began to appear. Brand new ships, only seen in data banks. Voyager's databanks. Krenum, Malon, Talaxian, Vidiian, Kazon, the Hirogen, the Vada and the Borg. Pel lead the fleet into the heart of the battle, along with Mantora and Hugh.
"Good to have you along," greeted Decker from the Enterprise. "We need to take down their flagship. It's highly defended. Mind to help us?"
Hugh smiled. "Of course."
Four Borg Cubes joined with the Enterprise and scores of other vessels as they blasted their way towards the massive, nearly moon-size vessel. It was obviously the heart of the Kelvan assault, as it had yet to receive any damage.
From each fleet, ships pushed forward. Weapons fired at the incredible shields, which blocked each blow. The weapons that it fired ripped through the Borg like they were nothing. All seemed to grow dim.
Hugh held onto the console before him tightly as explosion racked the Cube. Just as he was about to give a command, a Borg came running towards him.
"We just detected an escape pod ejection! The Queen has escaped!"
Hugh pounded the console. "Why now? Nevermind it. Keep on the attack."
It grew futile once more. All ships that attempted to attack were easily no match for the flagship of the Kelvan invasion.
Picard gripped his chair as yet another energy beam nearly missed his ship. The battle was taking a turn for the worst. It would take a miracle to end this.
"Captain!" yelped Lieutenant Commander Data. "We're picking up an energy spike!"
"On screen!"
Indeed. A flash of energy marked the arrival of Voyager and nearly 30,000 Kelvan vessels. Picard smiled and looked to Decker, who was holding onto his chair for dear life.
"Message coming out on sub-space, Captain. It's Janeway."
***
"High Commander Tomar," reported one of the Kelvans on the surface. "There's a signal going out to all Kelvan ships and outposts. Straight from A'ra. We're to cease all hostilities and pull back immediately."
"No! NO!" screamed Tomar, his tentacles flying about.
"Sir, landing parties!"
Tomar spun around and looked out the window. Jem'Hadar, Kazon, Klingon, Borg . . . they were all appearing around the Main Building. The humanoids were closing in . . . they closing in!
Suddenly, the drizzle of lights and energy began to appear all around Tomar. The room filled, then, with all sorts of entities. His eyes fell upon each one.
"You . . . you!" yelled Tomar, looking straight at Scotty. "You were the one that took advantage of me! You were the one that stopped me stopping Rojan from being manipulated! By you two!" He spoke now of McCoy and Spock. "The two of you were in on it! I knew you should have been killed or contained you like the others! Damn you! Damn you all!"
"Tomar, stop this!" yelled out A'ra.
"YOU!" shouted Tomar then, eyes on T'Pol. "You were one of the first humanoids we encountered! The ones that destroyed our Probe! There's still one last chance to destroy you!"
"Stun him!" A'ra ordered.
But Tomar was too fast. His huge body leapt out the window, one of his tentacles reaching up and grabbing scaffolding. He climbed up fast and soon made it to the top of the building.
This was where Kirk had thought he had killed him. The fool. He was the one behind this all. The one that used Rojan against him. But Tomar still had one more ace up his sleeve. One thing that no one else knew about . . .
A whole crowd soon reached the roof and saw Tomar waving a small device in his tentacle.
Janeway drew out her phaser, as did Picard. Rojan and Kalinda stood there, ready to stop him once and for all. He had used all four of them in his little plan.
"End this now, Tomar!" Rojan ordered.
"You dare order me? You dare? I hold all the cards now! I do! I'm the one with the power!" he shouted, lifting up his device. It was a computer control panel. "If you don't surrender the galaxy to me, I'll destroy you all! You see, I kept nearly one hundred Omega Particles for myself, just in case. They're right below us. Surrender or the entire sector is destroyed."
"He's bluffing," Kira pointed out, her weapon trained on him.
"No. He isn't," Janeway argued, showing her the tricorder readings.
"We have to do something to stop him," Picard led, hand on his phaser.
Just then, it was Scotty that stepped forward. "You know, for someone who prides himself on bein' Kelvan and being all non-humanoid about himself, you seem to projectin' some very human traits."
"SHUT UP!" shouted Tomar.
"What was it you said before?" continued Scotty. "'I hold all the cards now?' Gee now, that certainly is a human term."
"QUIET!"
"If yer wantin' me to shut up, why don't you just blow me to smithereens? Or are you afraid to die? Because if you are, then that sounds pretty human too."
"STOP IT!"
"Why don't we have a couple of drinks about it, eh? We'll talk all this over. How's that, boyo?"
"No, Scotty. No more drinks. No more," Tomar said quietly, enraged. He then shrieked and shot forward, tentacles racing forth with him. Just then, T'Pol fired a phaser beam right against Tomar's chest.
Tomar's entire body jerked backwards. He was tittering towards the edge. In a the few seconds that existed there, his tentacles tried to reclaim his center of gravity. The control panel fell to the roof floor. Tomar instinctively reached for it.
"NO!" shouted Rojan, leaping forward.
The Kelvan slammed into his former crewmember. His tentacles pressed against Tomar. Tomar felt his body fall off the building once again. But he knew there would be no transporter to beam him away like last time. He just fell . . . and pulled Rojan over the top with him.
Rojan's body was pulled off the ledge. But right as he began to fall, something grabbed hold of his many tentacles. He looked up . . . and saw Kalinda pulling him up. Kalinda . . . his lover . . . his mate. His soulmate. In humanoid form just as much as in Kelvan form.
As he was brought up to the roof, he heard a thud and saw Tomar's body smash and die on the ground far below.
Already, the control panel was secured.
The conflict was over.
***
Clean-up began quickly and quietly. Lives were saved all over the galaxies. The entire event had lasted under two months and was becoming called 'The Conflict of 2379.' A new chapter of history was being written.
The New Kelvan colony remained as the Kelvans began the clean-up of their galaxy. Peace negotiations in the Andromeda Galaxy were progressing well. With the information provided by the Federation, the threat of radiation should be fairly easy to stop from here. Rojan and Kalinda were given the command of New Kelva.
Neelix was returned home in the Delta Quadrant. As was Hugh, who had been unable to reach the Borg homeworld before the Queen did. He was forced into hiding, but luckily - he had gained many allies during the Conflict. Plus, the Borg Queen had a lot of repair work ahead of her.
Garek retired from Cardassian military and began a private citizen of Cardassia.
Senator Sela resigned her commission from the Romulan Senate for personal reasons. She went off to find herself. For years, she had felt burdened by the death of mother. After all that had happened, it no longer seemed the case. Now, she had to recover the life she had neglected herself from ever having.
Because of his exemplary service in times of battle, High Chancellor Martok gave Alexander his own command. Worf's pride is more than words can say.
Colonel Kira and the others returned to Deep Space Nine. Quark was happy to see his bar in one piece. Kira Neryes, a few hours after her arrival, went the Bajoran shrine. She said a prayer, asking the Prophets to protect Odo. Then, she thanked the Emissary. Kira knew Sisko's involvement was far greater than she seen.
Janeway returned to Earth and the Voyager was once more put out to pasture. Seven of Nine and Chakotay were chief aides in the detailed analysis of the ship. There was more to analysis this time.
Finally, there was the Enterprise . . .
Captain Picard stood in the Shuttlebay as he, Scotty and McCoy gave Spock a welcome send-off. Spock stood in front a specially modified Runabout, which Scotty had installed a cloaking device into.
"Thank you, Captain," Spock told Picard.
"Thank you, Ambassador."
Spock turned to McCoy and Scotty then. "Captain Scott. It is good to have worked with you once again."
Scotty laughed. "Ack, the same with ye. Don't be stranger, Spock."
"Indeed. Admiral."
McCoy eyed the Vulcan. "Good job, Spock. Your damn Vulcan Mind Meld saved our asses back there on Kelva. Convient, aren't they?"
"Admiral McCoy, I will never understand. I never have and I believe I never shall."
McCoy threw up his aged arms. "Why am I not surprised!?"
"Farewell," Spock said as he entered the Runabout. "Live long and prosper."
A few moments later, the Runabout left the Enterprise, then cloaked and headed back to Romulan space. After a while, Scotty turned to McCoy.
"Well Doctor, looks we'd best be off too."
"Yeah, I suppose. Thank you, Captain. It's been a pleasure."
"The pleasure is all mine," Picard said, with a smile. "I'm sure the three of us will meet again."
It was Scotty who smiled this time as the pair entered the shuttle. "No doubt, Captain. No doubt."
Captain Picard left the Shuttlebay, then, and walked the long corridors until he reached the turbolift. As he headed up to the bridge, a memory came to him.
Benjamin Sisko lifted his glass. "Now," his deep voice began, "with that plot resolved, I propose a toast."
"Oh?" asked Jean-Luc Picard, who was intrigued by this.
"To what?" furthered Jim Kirk, that boyish grin coming across his face.
"The future?" joked Jonathan Archer, his eyes looking over the people before him.
"To the past?" followed up Kathryn Janeway, her fingers fixing a small stray strand of hair.
"How about," Sisko began, "to a world where we can celebrate our own diversities. Where we can face down the greatest of threats to that world, but know that no matter what happens in the end - our diversities will always be tolerated and always what makes up survive. To the unexplored frontier that will allow to discover new forms of life and new cultures that will forever be a part of us. To life, my fellow Captains. The search for new life. Where no one has gone before.
All five Captains, then, raised the glasses.
"Cheers."
Captain Picard smiled at the memory as he entered the bridge. He immediately sat down and smiled at his crew. His travels were far from over.
The USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E was running fine that afternoon and it showed in every way.