Chapter 29: The Dragon's Final Strike
Reviewers: Thank you again for your contributions to this story.
Silvanas: I was actually planning to focus on the invasion of the Ork empire but I suppose the Dragon could see the battle as an easy way to gather soul energy. The Nightbringer will doubtlessly sense the Dragon's return.
Dark Retribution: Thanks. Ha ha, funny.
Sean: Good ideas, but if the Alliance destroys Delenn's ships that'll REALLY make Sheridan mad. Are you a fan of Londo? I like his and G'kar's personal battles.
Darth: Oh I think they will.
BGTom: The Battle of the Line is looking better and better. Halo probably won't come into the picture for a while.
Oblivionknight7: They are thinking highly of themselves. They'll fight hard, but they're up against the most powerful organization in existence.
grayangle: Soon yes. I'm starting to lean toward the Battle of the Line. You're probably right about the Cardassians getting more than just the memory core.
Treymane: I see. The Drazi are smart. I'm probably going to do the Battle of the Line. Shadow weapons may cut through HULLS, but I doubt the Shadows have ever had to deal with energy shielding. Also, they might move against the Alliance if they attacked Za'Ha'Dum. Do you think a trained Alpha class psyker could take down a Vorlon? You're right about what would happen if Delenn were killed at the battle at B5. I didn't know that about the Psi Corps. Still, I'm sure Bester and Inquisitor Malaki could work something out. If I do the Battle of the Line Cartagia won't be in power, Clark either. Londo, though, I'll honor your request and give him a mansion on Centauri Prime. That good enough? You're right, he does deserve it.
Covered in blood'n gore: Interesting name. I'm probably going to do the Battle of the Line. Halo might be done. Star Wars sounds cool though. Do you think the Alliance would try and have the Empire join them, or annialate them. The Empire is about the same size as the original Imperium I think.
Sean: That might actually work. He probably won't hate Delenn, but he'll at least be willing to lead an assault against the Mimbari even if she did get in the way. For the Imperium!
The battle against the Orks was going well. The Imperium's use of the Transwarp Hubs had allowed them to land an overwhelming force in the Orks back yard. Tens of thousands of ships, using information gathered by Captain Janeway's group, had allowed the Imperium to deploy with incredible accuracy. The Ork weapons had been extremely heavy, and more advanced than any seen before. Ork lance batteries, plasma cannons, and Vortex missiles. Hundreds of ships had been lost, the most severe losses since the battles with the Borg. Still, the Imperium was used to heavy losses. Space Marines, Imperial Guard and, for the first time in millennia, Skitari (tech guard) fought with the Imperium. The Orks had been systematically exterminated and staging and repair bases set up. The Orks would soon counterattack. Voyager had been damaged during reconnaissance and was currently undergoing repairs.
On the bridge it was quiet. They had all seen the Imperium's attack.
"Well, they certainly showed those Orks who was boss," Tom Paris said, attempting to lighten the mood.
"Indeed," the recently healed Tuvok said. "The Imperium possesses remarkable technology, as well as a logical view on acceptable losses."
"I think they'd probably sacrifice a thousands ships to take a single planet," Janeway said. "They don't value life nearly as much as we do."
"Still," Chakotay said. "They're changing. Slowly maybe, but definitely changing. In our galaxy, they've made alliances with aliens, something they've never done here."
"Captain, incoming message from Imperial Command," Ensign Kim reported.
"On screen," Janeway replied. Warmaster Grond appeared.
"Captain Janeway. Our long range sensors have detected an Ork battle fleet approaching. Your division will accompany the third wave and conduct scans along our rear quarter in case any Orks attempt to flank us," he ordered.
"As you wish Warmaster," Janeway replied.
"Well at least he's keeping us out of the fighting," Chakotay said. Janeway nodded.
Half an hour later, the Ork vessels came into Imperial weapons range. Space seemed to explode, such was the volume of fire being exchanged. Vessels on both sides exploded regularly. Fighters from both fleets formed clouds of dust around the larger ships, with thousands of twinkles as they were destroyed. The Federation weapons and shielding, however, meant that most of the explosions were Ork fighters. Phasers and Photon Torpedoes sliced through Ork armor, and torpedoes blew heavier fighters away. Imperial bombers also managed to close with Ork capital ships and unload massive salvoes of torpedoes. Gradually, numbers began to tell as the Orks began to clump together in a last attempt to punch through the Imperial lines. Warmaster Grond's, the Apocalypse class battle cruiser Emperor's Judgment, led the attack against the Orks.
"Warmaster, we are detecting strange reading on the Federation scanners," an officer reported.
"What king of readings?" Grond asked.
"They are similar to the reading of the Necrons from the Battle of Kitomer in the other galaxy."
"Signal all ships! Possible Necron contacts. Have all ships continue firing on the Orks. I want those abominations annialated an hour ago!"
"Captain, I'm detecting Necron ships entering the system," Kim reported.
"How many and where?" Janeway asked. She knew of the Necrons. They had destroyed the Enterprise-E at the Battle of Kitomer.
"One hundred and fifty, approaching from the read."
"One hundred fifty," Janeway breathed.
"Inform the Warmaster and bring our ships about. We'll try and stall them until the fleet can reorganize."
"How can we distract that many ships fro more than a few seconds?" Paris asked.
"Fire a spread of torpedoes at the lead ships and take us into the asteroid field around the fourth planet. With any luck, they'll follow us and allow Grond's fleet to finish off the Orks and come about to face the Necrons."
"Here goes nothing," Paris said as he executed the captain's plan.
Janeway's plan worked. The Dragon turned his fleet to deal with the enemy. He recognized Voyager from the battle of Kitomer. Then, however, he detected the faint but unmistakable signal of the Nightbringer. His rival star god had detected his return and had come to finish the Dragon once and for all.
"Captain, I'm detecting another group of Necron vessels entering the system. Same size and fleet composition as the first group. They're not going for us though. They seem to be moving towards the first group.
The Nightbringer, having finally managed to retrieve his personal battle fortress, had at last come to finish the Dragon, his greatest rival. His weapons fired first, destroying seven of the Dragon's fleet. His return volley proved to be no less deadly. The two fleets exchanged arc lightening attacks and scarab infestations. Gradually, the battle was reduced to a duel between the two flagships.
The Dragon's vessel scored the first good hit, knocking out the Nightbringer's ship's main gun array with a massive burst from its main batteries. The Nightbringer responded with a volley that crippled the Dragon's engines. The two ships grappled onto each other, and a boarding action ensued. The Nightbringer got on board the Dragon's ship, and soon met the fellow C'tan face to face. Words were not exchanged, only emotions, ones of bottomless hatred and vengeance.
The Dragon made the first move. He swung his sword faster than the eye could follow, launching a flurry of attacks at his enemy. The Nightbringer phased his body out of the way and responded with a cutting action from his scythe that rebounded off the Dragon's shield. Lightening from the Nightbringer's other hand caught the Dragon, burning his armor, but not penetrating it.
Both star gods drew upon their full powers. The very metal around them flowed like water at their commands. The Nightbringer swung his scythe with all his power, knocking the Dragon's shields off. The Dragon took the moment the Nightbringer was off balance to thrust his sword trough the C'tan's body. The Nightbringer screamed as only a C'tan can as the enemy of the Dragon flooded his body. Gradually his great form dissolved until a massive explosion threw the Dragon thirty meters back. The Nightbringer had been defeated. The Dragon was the victor. He sank to the deck in exhaustion. He was victorious! The Nightbringer would return of course, but by then he would be ever stronger. Then his ship's sensors detected Eldar ships entering the system.
"Warmaster, we are being hailed by the Eldar," his XO reported.
"Answer them." The face of Farseer Silvanas appeared on the screen.
"Imperial officer, I am Farseer Silvanas. In the other galaxy the Alliance and I came to an agreement. We would be granted passage home in exchange for the destruction of the C'tan known as the Dragon. WE come to fulfill that promise."
"They've closed the channel. Sir, remaining Necron vessels are beginning to engage our fleet."
"Open fire with all weapons," Grond ordered. The Imperial armada opened up with everything it had. The Dragon's ship and the remains of both Necron fleets destroyed dozens of Imperial ships as they attempted to get enough time to escape. The Dragon needed time to heal after his battle with the Nightbringer. Suddenly, and Eldar vessel cut across his ship's bow. He scanned it with his mind and experienced terror for the first time in eons. The Eldar had the amulet of Vaul! The one thing that could destroy him! He commanded all his ships to vaporize that ship!
"Farseer, the enemy is powering its weapons," an Eldar Warlock reported. Everyone on the Changeling knew the danger of their mission, but they also knew it was necessary.
"Bring us in close to them. The closer we are, the more effective the amulet will be."
The Eldar cruiser closed quickly with the Dragon's ship. Its holo fields and speed enabled it to avoid most of the Necron weapons.
"Prepare to teleport me to the enemy's bridge," Silvanas ordered.
"Farseer, you cannot be serious!"
"I am. I must be able to see the C'tan in order to use the amulet. Do not worry; I fully intend to come back. Now do it."
The Dragon watched in amazement as an Eldar Farseer appeared in front of him.
"You have come to kill me?" He asked.
"Yes, I have. Your dark legacy ends here C'tan," Farseer Silvanas replied. The Dragon laughed.
"Do you truly believe you can kill me? I AM A GOD!"
"Yes, but even god can die," Silvanas said, producing the amulet of Vaul. It was a clear white crystal, the size of a pendant, but when Silvanas poured his power into it, it glowed a fiery red.
Silvanas began to chant in a language the Dragon knew from long ago. The language of the Old Ones. He rushed in to claim the crystal, but he was repelled by an energy barrier.
"I will not be destroyed by something as insignificant as YOU!" He swung his sword again and again, but was unable to penetrate Vaul's barrier. Farseer Silvanas completed the chant. He slid the crystal into a slot built into his sword and rushed forward. The Dragon rushed forward as well, his sword raised to cut the Farseer in half. Their blades met, and the Amulet of Vaul caused the Dragon's blade to melt. The Farseer's blade pierced the Dragon's Necronermis, and the energy of the Amulet flooded the Dragon's body. He screamed. It was the sound of a thing that had existed for an eternity knowing that its death was finally at hand.
Farseer Silvanas poured all his energy into his blade. The Dragon was trying to fight back. He twisted the blade in the wound, drawing more anguished cries from the C'tan. The star god's soul was dissolving. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the Dragon's shell collapsed to the deck, empty. The Dragon would never return. The task was not done however. The Nightbringer would return, and the Deceiver and the fourth C'tan were still out there. But those were battles for another time. For now, Silvanas would talk with the Imperium about the Eldar reclaiming the space formally occupied by the Eye of Terror. The Eldar civilization might just have a chance of coming back from the brink.
How was that? Did the Dragon have a good last stand? The Nightbringer and two more C'tan are still left remember. I was thinking that the Alliance should analyze the Dragon's ship's dimensional portal generator and use it to figure out how to open another wormhole to a new galaxy. Where does everyone think I should go, the Halo universeor the B5 universe? Tell me in your reviews. Also, am I writing a good story? I like it, but what do you REALLY think? I'll see ya soon!
ENTILZA