On Scimitar bridge Shinzon stride quickly to his command chair, barking to his Viceroy.
"Disable their weapons!" he said.
But before the Viceroy could move the Scimitar suddenly rocks attacked from somewhere. Shinzon was stunned.
"Report!"
"Two ships decloaking, sir! Romulan!" Reman said.
Picard strided to his command chair in the Enterprise bridge as two Romulan Warbirds appeared on the view screen. Deanna is now on the bridge.
"Believe it or not, I think the cavalry has arrived." Riker said.
"We're being hailed." Worf said.
"On screen." Picard said.
On the view screen: Commander Donatra shimmers into view.
"Captain Picard, Commander Donatra of the Warbird Valdore. Might we be of assistance?" Donatra said.
"Your timing is impeccable, Commander." Picard said.
"The Empire considers this a matter of internal security. We regret you've become involved."
"When this is over, I owe you a drink."
On the view screen, the Valdore rocks from a disruptor blast.
"Romulan ale, Captain. Let's get to work. Valdore out."
The transmission ended.
"You heard the lady. Get to work. Move your ass!" Picard said to Worf.
Although Shinzon's ship is still cloaked, the steady barrage of triangulated phaser and disruptor fire from the Enterprise and the two Romulan vessels illuminate its shields with impacts.
"Coordinate our attack with the Valdore's tactical officer. Triangulate fire on any shield impacts." Picard said to Worf.
"Aye, sir." he said.
The Enterprise rocked from a photon torpedo impact.
"Aft shields are down to forty percent." Wesley said.
"Keep our bow to the Scimitar. Auxiliary power to forward shields." Riker said to Helm.
At Scimitar bridge Shinzon sat calmly in his command chair.
"Target the flanking Warbird. All forward disruptor banks on my mark." he said.
It's a chaos of starships as the Enterprise and the two Warbirds fire steadily - illuminating the Scimitar's shields.
The ships sweep around one another, maneuvering for position, firing constantly. The battlefield seems impossibly crowdedness the four vessels evade and attack; as phaser and disruptor beams criss-cross space.
Then the Scimitar unleashed a devastating volley, all her forward disruptor banks fire at once.
Then they cut one of the Romulan ships in half - a huge
Explosion debris shot across space and slammed violently off the Enterprise's forward shields
The Enterprise bridge rocked dangerously.
"Forward shields are down to ten percent." Wesley said.
"Bring us about!" Riker said to Helm.
The Enterprise quickly turned about, firing her aft phasers, as the Valdore sweeps toward Shinzon's ship, firing -
"Let her pursue - drop cloak on the aft port quadrant and prepare for full emergency stop." Shinzon said on the bridge.
"What?!" Viceroy said startled.
"You heard me!"
On the Valdore bridge Donatra leaned forward in her command chair, looking at view screen sees part of the Scimitar's rear cloaking fall away.
"She's losing her cloak! Stand by all forward disruptor banks!" she said.
On the Scimitar bridge,
"She's almost on us." Viceroy said.
"Not yet."
The Valdore in pursuit, gaining, the Reman crew getting nervous.
"Praetor..."
"FULL STOP AND FIRE!"
The Scimitar lurches to a stop going too fast for the Valdore to respond in time. It flew over the Scimitar and the Scimitar fires.
A devastating volley of photon torpedoes ripped into the underbelly and aft of the Valdore as it streaks past.
The Valdore careens out of control and then slows to a stop.
It floats dead in space.
"Restore the aft cloak and bring us about." Shinzon said leaning back in his command chair on the Scimitar bridge, ready for the final battle.
A bloody Commander Donatra was talking to Picard on view screen on Enterprise bridge. Her bridge in ruins.
"I'm afraid that drink will have to wait, Captain." Donatra said.
"Do you have life support?" Picard said.
"For the moment. But we're dead in the water."
"Understood-"
Then the ship rocked.
The invisible Scimitar swept past for a particularly brutal assault disruptor blasted streak along the Enterprise's hull - a huge, ripping series of explosions tear away several decks of the Enterprise.
"We've lost structural integrity on decks twelve through seventeen, sections four through ten." said Wesley. "Emergency force fields are holding. Evacuate those decks and reroute field power to forward shields."
Deanna went to Picard.
"Captain, I might have a way to find them." she said.
"Counselor?" Picard said.
"The one thing he may have forgotten in the course of battle: me." she said.
"Make it so."
She quickly goes to Worf at tactical.
On the Scimitra bridge Shinzon was entering tactical commands in his chair console.
"Prepare a lateral run - all starboard disruptors." he said.
Then the viceroy suddenly stiffens, alarm in his eyes -
"No!"
On the Enterprise Deanna was concentrating furiously, eyes closed. She stands with Worf, her hand slowly moving his over the photon torpedo targeting display.
It was a wrenching experience as she probes with her thoughts.
"He's resisting me." she said in pain.
On the Scimitar bridge the Viceroy concentrates, trying to block her probing thoughts.
"What is it?! Focus on your job!"
"She is here."
Deanna continues to move Worf's hand over the targeting display at the Enterprise. Sweating, panting for breath, concentrating fiercely now.
On the Scimitar bridge the Viceroy resists her, their psyches lock in battle.
Deanna appeard in the Viceroy's mind, she glared at him.
"Remember me?" she said and her eyes snap open. "NOW!" she yelled.
Worf instantly fired a full volley of photon torpedoes.
A full spread of photon torpedoed shoot through space.
And connect! A series of devastating impacts - and the Scimitar's cloak fails!
On the Enterprise Picard stood quickly.
"Savage them!"
The Enterprise fired all weapons simultaneously phases and photon torpedoes slam into the Scimitar. Shinzon's ship responded quickly maneuvering for position and returning fire.
On the Scimitar bridge the bridge has been damaged, sparks sputter through the darkness and debris litters the deck.
Shinzon eyed reflect a growing sense of desperation.
"Prepare a boarding party - BRING ME PICARD!" he said spinning to his Viceroy.
The viceroy strides out as Shinzon spins to another officer.
"Get the cloak back! And target shield coordinates beta three. All!" he said.
At the Enterprise,
"Captain, we've lost ventral shielding on deck twenty nine." Wesley said.
"Divert power and compensate -" Picard said.
An alarm klaxon suddenly rang through the bridge.
"Intruder alert!" Worf said.
"Let's go." Riker said.
"Security detail to deck twenty nine." Worf said to comm as they quickly headed toward the turbolift.
Data immediately assumed Worf's position at tactical.
On the lower decks Riker and Worf stride with a security detail through the cramped lower decks.
A sudden disruptor blast stops them cold! The Viceroy and his invasion force of a dozen Reman Warriors are down the corridor!
The Enterprise crew returned fire. It is a blazing phaser battle, Worf leading his men with Klingon courage. They steadily advance in the face of the blistering disruptor fire.
They were getting the upper hand when Riker sees the Viceroy escape into a Jefferies tube -
"Worf." Riker said.
Worf instantly dove into the corridor landing hard and sliding forward on his stomach all the while firing a steady burst from his phaser rifle.
Riker used the cover to dive after the Viceroy, following him into the dark Jefferies tube, intent on destroying the man who has been tormenting his wife.
At the Enterprise bridge the Scimitar sweeps into view on the view screen and launched a ferocious volley of photon torpedoes.
A huge explosion happened as the view screen and some of the forward bridge were blown apart the Helm Officer was sucked into space before a flickering emergency force field springs into position -
Deanna raced to assume the helm
Picard could now see his enemy directly through the gaping hole in the ship's hull - he sees the Scimitar banking for another attack run as part of the ship disappeared.
"He's getting his cloak back. We have exhausted our compliment of photon torpedoes. Phaser banks are down to four percent." Geordi said.
"What if we target all phasers in a concentrated attack?" Picard asked.
"The Scimitar's shields are still at seventy percent. It would make no difference, sir." Data said.
Picard thought.
"They're stopping..." Deanna said.
Through the hole in the hull, Picard sees the Scimitar slowly turning. Slowly advancing. They see another part of the
Scimitar disappear, the cloak returning.
"What's he doing?" Geordi said confused.
"He wants to look me in the eye." Picard said grimly.
Below decks of the Enterprise Jefferies tube, Riker stalks the Viceroy through a labyrinthine series of access tunnels. It is like a scene from aliens.
The flickering half-light and red emergency strobes of the crippled ship made this an ominous sequence. The Viceroy in his element, used to the perpetual night of the Reman Homeworld, he can see in the dark.
Riker moved through the darkness, hunting for the Viceroy.
Then stopped, phaser ready. He peered into the dark tunnel ahead of him. Sees nothing, the Viceroy clinging to the ceiling directly above him.
Hidden in the darkness. The Viceroy attacks! - diving down on Riker - his lethal Reman knife slashing through the darkness.
In the Enterprise bridge Picard stood watching the Scimitar maneuver into position. Large parts of it are now cloaked then it stopped. Only a few hundred yards from the Enterprise, its great prow almost filling the gaping hole at the front of the bridge.
Picard thought, his mind racing. Then it came to him in a flash.
"He thinks he knows exactly what I'm going to do..."
"Sir?" Geordi said confused.
"We've got him!"
He sat in his command chair and began quickly entering command instructions in his chair console.
Shinzon, supremely confident, leaned back in his command chair in Scimitar bridge.
"Open a channel."
Picard was still entering commands in his chair console on the Enterprise bridge.
"We are being hailed." Data said.
"Deanna, stand by." Picard said then looked at Wesley. "Open a channel."
"I hope you're still alive, Jean Luc." Deanna said.
"I am."
"Don't you think it's time to surrender? I'll have my cloak back in a matter of minutes and your poor ship is shot to pieces. Why should the rest of your crew have to die?"
Picard continued to enter command codes then transmits them to Deanna at helm. She received the commands, nods.
All of this as Picard buys some time:
"I never told you about my first Academy evaluation, did I? I received very high marks for my studies. But I was found lacking in certain other areas. Personality traits, you might say. In particular I was thought to be extremely..." he said then glared up at the prow of the Scimitar. "...over-confident."
Then he indicated for Data to end the communication.
"Geordi, put 211 power to the engines. Take it from life support if you have to - everything you can give me." he continued quickly.
"Aye, sir." Geordi said.
"Deanna, on my mark."
"Ready, sir!" Geordi said.
Picard leaned forward in his chair.
"All hands, brace for impact!" he said on comm then to Deanna. "ENGAGE."
The Enterprise powers forward in a final thrust.
On the Scimitar bridge Shinzon saw it coming- utterly shocked -bolts up -
"HARD TO PORT!" he said.
There was a massive collision as the Enterprise slammed into the Scimitar as it smashed and grinded into Shinzon's ship, the Scimitar reeled.
In the Enterprise bridge everyone went flying, the two ships now locked together, slowly rotating in space.
The forward part of the Enterprise's saucer is enmeshed in Shinzon's ship; two scorpions with their claws locked.
Shinzon stood in the ruins of his bridge. Many of his bridge crew now dead.
"Divert all power to engines. Full reverse!" he said.
Every part of the Enterprise rocked, a great lurch as the Scimitar began to tear itself free backing away - a deafening shriek of metal both ships were being torn to pieces in the process but was working . The Scimitar was ripping free, wrenching itself loose.
The Jefferies tube shuddered as the Scimitar continues to tear itself free - Riker and the Viceroy careen through the tube.
The Viceroy recovered quickly and coiled for a final attack.
Riker saw that an access plate had been loosened in the collision. He desperately ripped it away knowing the relays behind will provide him with the advantage he needs -
Bright light strobes from the relays and the Viceroy is momentarily blinded - Riker uses this opportunity to attack!
He dove forward slamming into the Viceroy and they both tumbled into a long, vertical access tunnel.
Riker shot out a hand and grabbed a ladder the Viceroy grabbed onto him, his talons digging into his uniform a long drop below them.
Riker forced the Viceroy's head back away from him struggling.
He glared at him.
"Don't worry, Hell is dark."
Then he used every ounce of strength he has left and pushed the Viceroy off him.
The Viceroy fell down the long tunnel to his death.
The whole Enterprise bridge quaked as the Scimitar continues to pull itself free -
Picard stood, steadying himself on his command chair.
"Data, I need you." Picard said and he joined him. "Computer. Auto-destruct sequence Omega. Zero time delay. Recognize voice pattern Jean Luc Picard. Authorization Alpha Alpha Three Zero Five -"
"Auto-destruct is off-line." computer said.
Then the ship gives a final lurched. The Scimitar is free.
An eerie moment of silence after the explosive tearing and grinding.
Picard watched through the gaping hole in the hull as the Scimitar backs away. Another section of the Scimitar disappears. Shinzon almost has his cloak back.
In the bridge Shinzon stared at the Enterprise.
A wave of sickness overcomes him for a moment, then doubles over and more veins appear on his face.
Time is running out.
"Target disruptors. Destroy them." he said.
"Disruptors are off-line, sir." Reman officer said.
Shinzon looked up.
"Deploy the weapon. Kill everything on that ship. Then set a course for Earth." he said.
"What about Picard?"
"Our greater goal is more important, brother."
"But, Praetor, you won't survive without him..."
Shinzon gazed at the Enterprise on the viewscreen.
"Some ideals are worth dying for, aren't they, Jean Luc?"
The entire Scimitar slowly begins to unfold. Like a gigantic version of the small spider-weapon we saw kill the Romulan Senators before, legs appear and hoist up a savage weapon.
The Cascading Pulse.
In the bridge Picard and the others watch the monstrous Cascading Pulse weapon slowly deploying.
"How long until he can fire?" he asked.
"The targeting sequence should take about four minutes." Geordi said.
"But how can he? He'll kill you." Deanna said.
"This isn't about me anymore." Picard said his face was set, resolute.
He knew what he must do so he grabbed a phaser rifle from a weapons locker.
"Prepare for a site-to-site transport."
"Sir, we won't be able to bring you back. It's a one way trip. Captain, I don't know if the transporter-" Geordi said concerned.
"That's an order, Commander."
"Sir, allow me to go. You are needed here."
"Negative."
"Sir..."
Deanna took Data's arm and looked at him knowing this is something Picard must do himself.
"Let him go." she said.
Picard powered up the phaser rifle as:
"You have the bridge, Commander. Use all available power to move away from the Scimitar." Picard said to Data then looked at Geordi. "Now, Mister La Forge."
"Aye, sir." Geordi said nervously worked some controls on his console and Picard dematerialized.
Then the transporter panel explodes in a shower of sparks.
"That's it. Transporters are down."
Data thought for a moment.
"Counselor Troi, please assume command. Geordi, if you will come with me."
Then he headed toward the turbo lift, Geordi following.
In Scimitar corridor Several Remen warriors in the corridor turned and fired. Riker returned the fire, a series of lightning fast pulses from his phaser rifle.
Data and Geordi stood in a long corridor. The far end of the corridor opens to space. An emergency force field is in place at the end of the corridor.
Geordi operated a tricorder and another force field flickered on around him.
Data looked toward the end of the corridor, readying himself.
"What is our approximate distance?" he asked.
"400 meters." Geordi said scanning with tricorder
"Thank you."
Data backed up a little more and looked at Geordi again deeply.
"Thank you, Geordi. Deactivate the field."
Geordi operated his tricorder and the force field at the end of the corridor snaps off the void of space fills the corridor and Data takes a running start he races down the long corridor and leaped into space.
He floated toward the Scimitar, his momentum carrying him.
He was going to miss the Scimitar and almost past it now! He thrusts out a hand and just missed a piece of dangling wreckage! Data was floating helplessly through space. Doomed. Then he slammed into an invisible piece of the partially cloaked on the ship.
He grabbed onto the invisible part of the ship and pulled himself up to the hull. He ripped open an access panel with his superior strength and climbed inside.
In the Scimitar bridge Shinzon stood, his eyes glued to the Enterprise on the view screen.
A monitor showing that the Cascading Pulse weapon was locked on the Enterprise.
Most of the light on the shattered bridge now comes from the three steadily pulsing warp core relays which soar up through the floor.
"Forty-seven. Forty six..."
Suddenly, a blast as the doors to the bridge explode in. Shinzon spins to see Picard framed in the doorway, phaser rifle ready.
Picard instantly fired for the Cascading Pulse control but Shinzon dove to cover it - the phaser blast hits Shinzon in the chest and recoiled, slamming to the deck, stunned.
The few remaining Remans on the bridge spin to Picard, firing disruptors. Picard dove for cover and battled them with his phaser rifle.
He succeeds in stunning the Remans but a final disruptor blast knocks Picard to the deck - the phaser rifle spins away.
"Twenty nine... Twenty eight..."
Shinzon pulls himself up and races to snatch up a disruptor from a fallen comrade -
As Picard leapt up, grabbing a piece of wreckage, a long metal rod. He thrusted it forward like a spear impaling Shinzon.
There was a stunned moment of silence as Shinzon gazed at Picard, almost with a look of disbelief. Blood spewed from his mouth as he let out a tormented cry.
And then, amazingly, Shinzon forced himself forward pushing Picard back against a wall. Shinzon slowly walked toward Picard, forcing himself down the length of the spear. The spear point exploded through Shinzon's back and the weight of his body is pinning Picard against the wall, time was running out.
"Eighteen... Seventeen..."
Shinzon forced himself down the spear:
"I'm glad we're together now - our destiny is complete." he said and finally thrust himself down the whole spear and clasped his dying hands firmly around Picard's throat.
"Ten... Nine...
Wesley sat there looking at Data already knowing what he was going to do and shook his head.
'No, don't do it.' he thought.
Data sprinted to the bridge.
'Damnit!' Wesley thought his eyes watering a little.
"You idiot! I know you're just trying to help but you're going to kill yourself!" he said louder then he meant with tears coming down.
Everyone looked at him confused and he turned bright red and wiped his eyes.
"I, um could tell by the look on his face he was gonna do it."
Then they all shook their head and watched Data go flying.
Data instantly tarred open his wrist and pulled out the Emergency Transport Unit then he slapped it on Picard's shoulder. A final look between them.
"Seven.. Six..."
Data activated the ETU and Picard dematerializes then Data looked at the space where Picard was and said simply:
"Goodbye."
Then he spins and pulls out his phaser.
And fires point-blank into the Scimitar's warp core relays - the bridge explodes - Data is incinerated -
The Scimitar blasted appart in a massive flash.