CHAPTER FOUR The Enterprise rocked as the first wave of Tie Fighters swept over the ship. Like a swarm they stung at the bigger, less maneuverable enemy. Returning fire, the Enterprise could only do minimal damage to the mass of small targets.
"Shields are holding, Captain." Worf reported.
The massive star destroyer swung around to bring to bear its arsenal against the strange vessel.
"Captain, the destroyer is powering weapons." Worf warned.
"Lock Phaser's on their drive system and fire." Picard ordered.
As the massive ship slowly turned its bow to the Enterprise, Its drive section exploded as the smaller federation ship found its mark.
"Captain, shields are holding for now but I don't know how long I can give you!" Geordi warned over the intercom.
"Commander Skywalker. We need coordinates for a safe place to make repairs." Picard asked.
"If I can see a star chart, I may be able to help." Luke said.
Captain Picard led Luke to a terminal located directly behind Worf's tactical station. After implementing a sensor sweep he was able to bring up a rough chart that showed several systems. Luke studied the grids and pointed to a system that sat isolated eight parsecs away (by Luke's best guess). The attack continued as the Tie Fighters picked away at the Enterprises depleting defenses.
"This area here" Luke said pointing to the chart. "Is held by rebel forces. We can be relatively safe there for a while, but I don't think it would be a good idea to stay for to long."
"Data. I have sent the coordinates to the helm. Engage at warp two, on my mark." Picard ordered.
"Don't you think we might open up the funnel again? If we do, we might be jumping from the frying pan into the fire. The Borg could still be waiting on the other side." Riker asked as Picard sat down in the command chair.
"I know Number One, but impulse engines wont get us out of here fast enough."
"Captain, The Destroyer is opening fire!"
The Enterprise lurched as the first volley hit its port bow.
"Captain!" Geordi's strained voice called over the intercom. "One more hit like that and the shields are gone, we'll be sitting ducks!"
"Data! Get us out of here! Warp two!" Picard ordered.
The Enterprise turned, and disappeared into the vast reaches of space.
"Data? How long until we reach our destination?" Picard asked.
"One hour and twelve minutes, sir." Data replied.
"Geordi! I want an assessment of the damage in the briefing room in a half hour."
"Yes sir!" Geordi replied.
"Tell me a little about where we're headed, Commander." Picard asked.
"Its a small moon that orbits Markaz. We have been there a few months, but lately we have been getting intelligence that the Empire is close to finding the base. The problem for them, though, is that a good part of this system is held by the Rebel Alliance. So even when they find the base, it wont be easily taken."
"Number one, you have the bridge. Commander if you will join me in my ready room, there are a few things I would like to discuss with you." Picard said as he walked across the bridge to his ready room.
In the ready room, Picard motioned to the chair across from the desk as he walked around and took his seat behind the desk. Picard pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried to organize his thoughts.
"Commander. There are a lot of things I don't understand. You keep referring to this rebellion. Can you please explain to me why, and against whom, are you rebelling?" Picard asked.
"Captain, that is a complicated issue that began long before I was born, back when the old Republic was still in power. I still haven't learned the whole of it. My Parents evidently were in the middle of it when it all really blew up during the clone wars. The star destroyer and the fighters, they all belong to the Empire. Its ruled by an Emperor, and his right hand is Darth Vader." Luke stopped for a moment and looked out the window at the streaking stars going by. He wrestled with the thought of Vader than continued.
"Its kind of ironic that we really have switched roles. In the beginning it was the republic fighting the separatists. And after losing in the end to the Empire, we, the remnants of the old Republic, are considered the Rebels. In the beginning the alliance was really just a rag tag group. But after we destroyed the death star, we became a credible threat to the Empire. There are pockets of resistance to the Empire all over the galaxy. But now we are much better funded and better organized than before. And after the destruction of Allderan, the Empire has driven a lot of those who hadn't chosen sides to the rebellion."
"So your saying the entire galaxy is embroiled in civil war?" Picard interrupted.
"Basically, yes." Luke answered.
"An entire galaxy at war." Picard said almost to himself. "Incredible."
"Captain, the Empire is cruel and evil. They attacked you without provocation. They will stop at nothing to achieve their objective. They destroyed an entire planet just to show the destructive power of their new weapon, killing millions. At first their policy was to instill a fear of force without actually using force, but now they kill and destroy whenever they want, that's the power of the darkside taking full control of those in power, Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader."
"I am beginning to get an idea of the situation Commander. A rebellion against tyranny is a universal occurrence. There is an old saying from the history of the world I come from that says; 'give me liberty or give me death.' So your feelings have been shared by many through out the ages."
"Captain? Geordi has reported to the briefing room." Riker reported over the intercom.
"On my way. Number one? Have the senior officers report immediately to the conference room." Picard ordered.
"Commander, I will need you to act as my guide. But one thing I must tell you is that we cannot get involved with your war, defending ourselves is one thing, but choosing sides is another."
"Captain, I am afraid if you cant find a way back home, you wont have any choice but to choose sides."
The Enterprise assumed standard orbit around the third moon of the planet Markaz. The moon reminded Picard of the American Midwest, with its rolling hills and tall grass that rolled like a vast ocean in the afternoon breeze. The sky was a very light blue, almost white, and perfectly clear. Picard could barely make out the Enterprise in orbit.
"The atmosphere magnifies things, makes them seem closer then they are. It takes some getting use to." Luke said when he noticed Picard looking skyward.
The landing party walked into a grove of trees that covered several acres and stood on average about two hundred feet in height. Large red leaves swayed in the breeze with a Spanish moss-like growth hanging heavy on the thick branches. The thick black bark was a stark contrast to the light colored grass that grew in the dense shade. Shallow pools of sunlight dotted the trail they followed. In the middle of the grove a large hill jutted up from the flat terrain but was still well hidden by the thick interwoven branches overhead. Large, gray doors, ten meters in height and thirty meters in length stood open revealing the hidden base that ran deep into the side of the hill.
Inside, X-wing fighters lined the smooth dark walls. Droids carrying a multitude of different kinds of equipment darted to and fro. Luke led them to a door in the outer wall that led into a long hallway carved thru the hill in a long and winding route that seemed to descend below the hanger. The hallway opened up into a large room that obviously was the command center. Luke led them to the center of the room where, gathered around a large round floor display, stood several species of beings that neither Picard or the others of the away team could identify.
"Luke! I am so glad your alright!" Princess Leia exclaimed as she hugged him. "We lost contact with you almost two days ago! We thought you had a run in with the imperials!
"We did, but the Captain here, fought them off and got us here in one piece."
Leia looked at the landing party and smiled.
"Let me introduce you" Luke said. "Leia I would like you to meet Captain Jean Luc Picard, this is Data and this is Geordi LaForge." He said pointing at the two officers standing next to Picard.
"I am very pleased to meet you. Thank you for your assistance." She said extending her hand to Picard.
"It was my pleasure, Princess."
"Leia, their crew needs to make some repairs and I told them that any help they needed we would gladly give if we could." Luke informed her.
"Of course. Captain I am not familiar with your uniforms or your ship. What system are you from?"
Luke looked at Picard and smiled.
"Leia can we talk privately?" Luke asked.
"Sure."
She led them to a small office at one side of the large command center. They filed inside and took seats around a three sided table stained with a light green varnish producing a slight glow. Inside Luke explained the events of the last two days in detail. Of his arrival and encounter with the Borg, to their being brought here by the spacial anomaly and finally their fight and escape from the imperial star destroyer.
"That is an amazing story!" Leia remarked when Luke had finished.
"Princess." Picard began. "It is imperative that we are able to make repairs and find a way to get ourselves back to our time and galaxy. My Chief Engineer informs me it will be at least two days to get the Enterprise back to one hundred percent. Meanwhile we will be working on a solution to getting home. If you can share any data that you feel may be pertinent to our situation it would be greatly appreciated."
"Of course. And if it is possible Captain, I would very much like to see your ship." Leia asked.
"Yes, of course, Princess, I would be delighted to have you as my guest." Picard replied.
"Princess!" A voice interrupted.
"Yes."
"We have just received information that a star destroyer was destroyed an hour ago by an unknown vessel."
"I'm on my way!" Leia said. "If you gentleman will follow me" she said motioning to the door.
In the command center a display had been activated showing the entire system. Several dots indicating various positions of Rebel and Imperial ships covered the display.
"Princess we received a message from a patrol ship several minutes ago reporting the destruction of an Imperial Star Destroyer. Including a squadron of Tie fighters. These are the coordinates." He said, pointing at the display.
"Those are the same coordinates where we engaged the Star Destroyer!" Luke Exclaimed.
"We have since lost contact with the patrol ship, this his last message"
The Rebel lieutenant activated a voice recorder so they could hear the last message received by the command center from the patrol ship.
".....We have engaged a vessel of unknown origin. Its as large if not larger than a star destroyer. They have locked on a tractor beam. Our laser fire has done nothing against their shields! We need assistance immediately!....What is that? Oh god! They just came out of nowhere! Their on board!"
The sound of blaster fire and the screams of the crew could be heard as the message played for a few seconds more before it abruptly ended. They all stood and stared at the display quietly. Luke, his face pale, spoke first.
"Its the Borg." He said quietly.
Chapter five coming soon!