Chapter Title: Reflections in Tinted Glass
Chapter Synapses: Space, the Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the warship Sato. Her ongoing mission, to conquer new civilizations, to seek out and crush insurgencies, and to defend the Terran Empire, against all enemies.
Written by: Seraph Koji
"Hyperion runabout Providence to ISS Sato, Captain Collins, this is Captain Starwind, please respond!" a voice crackled over the comm. channels.
Captain Dorian Collins, in a uniform similar to the normal Starfleet dress, but more spiteful and adorned with the image on the left sleeve of the planet Earth with a sword piercing it, stood. "Victor, you lost your ship… A real shame those border dogs and their Tholian friends got the better of you."
"Dorian, let us board. Think of your feelings for me!" Starwind pleaded over the comm..
"I am, Vic. That's why I'm making this punishment swift." She watched the small runabout come into view, "Long Live the Empire, Victor Starwind." She pressed a small red light on her armrest, and seconds later two torpedoes crashed into the shuttle, destroying it, "Long Live the Terran Empire."
"Captain's Log. Today, we of the ISS Sato encountered the survivors of the ISS Hyperion. We did the nicest thing we could within Imperial law, and rather take them to be tortured before death, we simply ended their lives. I was pleased that I could spare Victor the punishment he deserved. I suggested Sato become the new fleet Flagship to replace Hyperion, as we are a Yeager class warship, one of ten in service, we are equipped with Transphasic Armor capability, and are named after my personal favorite historical figure, Emperess Hoshi Sato. The Regent of the rebelling sectors quickly forwarded the paperwork acknowledging Sato as Flagship of the Imperial Fleet. This new title makes me feel one step closer to the great awe-inspiring stature of Emperess Sato herself."
"Set course for the Tholian Assembly, best possible speed." Collins ordered her male helm officer. She then turned to her female tactical officer, a human, "Miss Grey, get the weapons ready to fire. We're going to wipe every trace of life off that miserable rock."
"Yes, ma'am." Lieutenant Grey replied.
"It's about time we lay those flaming bugs to rest. They have pained the Empire for far too long. After this, we'll end those skirmishes out by Empok Nor by killing all parties involved." Collins smiled with a unsettling satisfaction at the thought, "Time for the Empire to rule the entire galaxy as is our destiny! And Sato will be the instrument toward this end." She laughed with an almost maniacal intensity.
A day or so later, after a few scuffles with Tholian web-spinners, the Sato arrived at it's destination to meet an odd sight.
"ISS Sato to Imperial cruiser in orbit of Tholian homeworld. You are ordered to withdraw." The male Operations officer called across comm.. channels.
"Please stand down! This is the ZFS Enterprise. We came to talk peaceably with the Tholian Assembly on behalf of Zeon." The ship replied, "We know nothing of your Empire."
The operations officer cut the comm.. link and looked at Collins.
"Well, well…" Collins grinned, "The Mirror Universe is dropping by for a visit. They put two dynasties in power here, you know. Sato and Kirk…"
Her first officer, Amy West, turned to her from the other central seat, "Thinking about overthrowing the Emperor?"
Collins smiled back, "Doesn't everyone, from time to time? But it's never and easy feat…"
"Aren't you getting ahead of yourself Dorian?" West asked. There was something different about this Amy West. Something far darker and more calculating.
Collins eyed the vessel on the viewer, "Yes, I am, Amy. How can I have dynasty without offspring? Too bad I killed my fiancée."
"What do we do, then?" West asked.
Collins looked over to Grey, "Lieutenant, disable Enterprise and drag her out of the system. We'll take her commanding officer alive, and see what we can get out of him. Once we get Enterprise out of the system, we can proceed to 'cleanse' the planet."
Grey nodded, "Yes, ma'am!"
"Let's find out how the other universe brought Emperess Sato and Emperor Kirk to power." Collins turned to West.
"I already know that much, Dorian." West scoffed, "I'm surprised you don't! The other universe has far more advanced technology. Emperess Sato's flagship was able to take down the rest of the Armada all at once. We need their technology."
"Weapons." Collins specified what to look for.
West smiled, "That's right. Hold the Empire hostage. You'll need an executive advisor, ma'am, once this plan comes to fruition."
"And so shall you be, Amy." Collins smiled, "Let's go say hello to our good friends from the Mirror Universe, shall we?"
The man in white and gold Zeon Marshal's uniform lay in pain on the floor of the Sato ready room, but rejoiced at familiar faces, "Commander Collins, Counselor West, thank goodness!" Marshal Picard staggered to his feet.
"Jean-Luc." Collins smiled victoriously, "Well, well. Our Jean-Luc Picard is a Regent. A tyrannical one at that. And the Mirror Universe has him wearing some dumb white jumpsuit."
"Dorian?" Picard looked at her strangely and noticed the marking on her sleeve of the Empire, "Who are you? You aren't of the Federation."
"And neither are you, oh bald one." West stared him down, "Our search of your records indicates that you are from a third universe, one where there was a slightly more agreeable Federation, but you lot rebelled. Zeon, you called yourself. And the Mirror Universe helped you."
Picard was silent.
Collins looked at him full of a seductive dominance, "Jean-Luc, do you know how much pain I can cause you? And you won't fall unconscious, no, it will be just inside your threshold. So I can torture you for the rest of your natural life if I so choose. It's wise to tell us."
Picard remained silent.
"This technology you Zeon folks stole from the Mirror Universe interests me. A Fusion Catalyst… interesting technology. Too bad you don't seem to be sure how to build it." West prompted.
Still, silence.
"West, get to work on that Catalyst. I want one before we leave the Assembly. I plan to test it on their homeworld. And torture Picard for a bit, then shove his ship into the dimension it came from. I feel generous." Collins began to exit, "After all, I'm going to be an Emperess."
"Yes, ma'am." West replied, only too happy to administer pain.
"A Fusion Catalyst…" Collins laughed manically.
Time passed, Enterprise was forced back into Zeon space, and Collins returned to the Tholian homeworld, "Hail the Assembly. I want them to see their destroyers."
A red, glowing, insect appeared on the screen.
"My name is Dorian Collins of the Terran Empire. You're name is dust." Collins smiled evilly, "Miss Grey, deploy the Fusion Catalyst."
The speech of the Tholian was quickly translated, "What is the meaning of this!"
"We are the Empire, that should be all the meaning you need." Collins replied.
From a modified torpedo bay on the Yeager class Sato, an enormous torpedo shot toward the planet. Upon impact, there was a bright flash, one that began to expand across the planet and into space. When the light finally faded, the only thing left was the Sato, slightly battered, but far better off than the Tholians.
"West, Grey, prepare another Catalyst. Lieutenant Newman, set course for Earth, warp six." Collins smiled devilishly at the destruction before her, "And Commander West, be sure to report our success here to Regent Picard."
"Yes, my Captain." West nodded.
Collins rose to her feet, "The flagship of the Terran Empire, carrying your new Emperess." She laughed, "Be ready, my people, for the age of conquest."
"Emperess' Log. Is it too early to call myself that? Sato has arrived in orbit of Earth. It is time to meet my destiny and become Emperess Dorian Collins, just like Hoshi Sato herself."
"Sato to Imperial Palace." Collins smiled, "Surrender."
"Reading several cruisers moving in." Grey reported.
West turned to Grey, "Then kill them."
"Ma'am." The officer replied, firing on the ships.
"Perhaps a demonstration of the power I have. Miss Grey, is the demonstration Catalyst ready?" Collins asked, still looking at the viewscreen.
"Yes."
"Target Hawaii and fire." A small torpedo shot toward the surface of the Earth, causing a light that engulfed the Hawaiian Islands. When the light faded, the islands were gone, "Emperor, there are much bigger Catalysts."
"No response." West reported.
"Take another Demo Catalyst and target the Imperial Palace." Collins ordered.
A second only passed before West reported gleefully, "We have a hail from the Palace. It's the Emperor."
"On screen." Collins watched the appearance of the Emperor.
"Captain." The Emperor said solemnly.
Collins stopped him, "Call me Emperess Collins."
Only a day later, Collins and West, having traded Starfleet uniforms ofr more regal attire, walked to the front of a group of people.
"Ladies and gentlemen." West proudly introduced, "Emperess Dorian Collins." West stepped aside.
Collins stood before the crowd, "It is important that we not forget Emperor Shuman, this sad day when the only member of his dynasty died. But we must also look to the future. A future of the hearty conquest and power the Empire was founded on! First, the Alpha Quadrant, then the galaxy! And when we own that, we'll take out all other galaxies we can get our hands on!" Collins screamed.
"Long live Emperess Collins!" West cheered.
The crowd responded "Long live the Emperess!"
