Chapter 44

2367 The Battle over Occupied Earth

He'd been General Unh for almost an eternity it seemed. But now he was the ruler of this newly subjugated planet, and so such an immense promotion required even grander title. The Malkatan leader had been staring out into space where his fleet was making quick work of the remains of Starfleet. A new ship had arrived in the sector minutes ago, but it would not be long until that ship was destroyed along with the others. It was almost too easy. And yet there was something he still needed to know. "Grand Chancellor Unh," his subordinate said gruffly stepping up onto the deck next to Unh's plush command chair.

"Report, General Razul," Unh said lazily turning his face upward to the ambitious officer at his side. Of course his own promotion had effectuated the promotion of Razul as well. This was how these things worked.

"My Lord," said Razul. "The transmission is scrambled, but we were able to listen in…as you commanded." General Razul, was baffled as to why he had been ordered to infiltrate the communications transmission of a clearly inferior opponent. The ship they had just strafed, once known as the USS Enterprise, was hardly such a threat now as to require surveillance. But as he was to learn in a moment, it was not so much that Unh desired to know what was being said on board the Enterprise, but who was speaking.

Razul played the looped conversation. Several humans were speaking…quickly, indicating their fear and concern. Razul watched Unh carefully. "You wanted just a sample, Grand Chancellor?"

Unh's unattractive forehead creased, making him just that more unpleasant to observe. "Yes…that is enough. Picard is still alive." He tightened his fat blue fists on the arms of his chair. "Do not allow that ship to escape us."


"The technicians report that a plasma injector connected to the starboard nacelle has exploded, Captain. As a result, decks 22 to 24 are now reporting plasma fires, sir," Worf reported in from the battle bridge.

The ship shook again. The shields had at first appeared to be holding, but just minutes ago they'd sustained a direct hit from the lead Malkatan ship, and since then, fires had been cropping up at various points on the secondary hull.

"The Malkatans' plasma beams have some kind of adhesive property," Picard responded, maneuvering the ship from his position at the helm on the Enterprise main bridge. Behind him in his old command chair sat Mary. She had said very little over the last few minutes which was unusual for her. Picard however, welcomed the relative silence, which aided his concentration.

"Acknowledged, Captain. There is a slow penetration of the outer shields, we were not able to identify earlier, Captain. Once the Malkatan beams pierce the outer shield, they have successfully pierced our hull."

"We'll try modulating the shield strength, when they come around for the next pass. Just ensure that the fires are contained. You can't afford to lose warp capacity if the fire spreads to Engineering," Picard snapped.

"Picard, how is my ship holding up?" Jellico's belligerent voice interrupted over the comm unit.

Picard didn't bother anymore to correct Jellico as to who exactly the Enterprise belonged to. "As you have no doubt noticed, Captain, the Malkatans have weaponry that is able to somehow anticipate our ship's shield frequency patterns and in some cases reach the hull even with the shields at full."

"Yes. So you've taken damage as well, then," said Jellico.

"Are you keeping score, Jellico?" Picard slapped his palm on the console, switching off the channel.

"Commander Worf," he barked.

"Commander…sir?"

"Worf, it's just us two officers now, isn't it? I am promoting you to the rank of commander, as it is my right to confer upon you on the field of battle."

"I am honored, sir."

Picard smiled slightly. "Yes, well the commendations will be coming much less frequently in the near future, I imagine."

"It is a good day to die, Captain."

"If only I could share your sentiments, Mr. Worf, it might make this a bit easier." He took a deep breath. "On my mark, you are to initiate separation procedures. No doubt, the Malkatans will be attracted to our little show. Once clear of the saucer, deploy the hybrid torpedo weapon at the lead ship to create a distraction."

"And you, sir? Do you still intend on attacking the base below?"

"To release the captured Starfleet officers, yes. That is the plan…such as it is," Picard admitted.


Deanna Troi was forced to resort to her old training over and over in order to maintain a calm state of mind, as she raced through the corridors of the USS Aldrin, searching for a safer location. Will had instructed them to get to the interior of the ship, but she knew he couldn't guarantee any place on board was safe. Not now. The ship shuddered, and they hadn't even entered the worst of it yet.

The thought that there may not have been any place "safer" was now beginning to occur to her. Despite the crew diligently going about their duties as normally as possible, the sense of fear and confusion on board the Aldrin was pervasive. Yet it was very possible that the person most afraid and confused was her beloved friend who clutched Deanna's hand with one hand, while holding her baby in her other arm.


The Stargazer

Picard wrapped the crook of his elbow over the helm station and dragged himself up to his knees. Mayer stood watching him with growing disinterest. Mayer had just pronounced not only Picard's failures, but also his impending death. He felt as though the radiation from the leaking warp core was cooking his brain and his body was on fire.

Battling the nausea that threatened to overcome his senses, he struggled to brace himself over the helm. He thought of Beverly; the Beverly who had saved him in this universe and then disappeared in the future, as well as the Beverly back on Earth, whom he would never see again.

Mayer was correct. He would die over the Malkatan moon and there was no way out of it. And still…he could try and make his death count for something. He knew he would only have seconds before Mayer realized what was happening and stopped him. He tried to keep his focus on Mayer's face as he tried to remember the coordinates of the singularity net.

Mayer's dark expression showed a renewed and probably dangerous interest in Picard's activities. "What are you planning, Picard?" he asked slowly.

If Mayer realized his intentions, Picard knew he wouldn't have a chance. As slow as it was, his mind still worked. But he simply could not be certain that the ideas he was now entertaining were achievable. But one thing was certain; the concepts his fevered mind were generating were the farthest thing from being sane.

The neutralizer fastened around Mayer's ankle was likely the only thing that kept the scientist from being overwhelmed by the singularity technology he had been using to traverse time. Mayer didn't fear death on board this ship because the neutralizer kept him in control of the singularity technology. He could simply leave at any time, while Picard would be stranded and left to die in any number of horrible ways. The neutralizer also must have been shielding Mayer from the radiation poisoning caused by the coolant leak. Without the neutralizer, Mayer would be the same as him; vulnerable and very soon...dead. Picard chuckled to himself, but it came out as an unintelligible rasp. In a radiation filled haze, everything was somehow becoming clear. All he needed now was to destroy the singularity net and Mayer along with it. His original plan of revenge against the Malkatans was now he had to admit, nearly impossible.

Collision with the planetoid below in one minute twenty-nine seconds, the computer reported. Warp core containment failure in forty-five seconds.

Mayer howled with laughter. "Take your pick, Picard," shouted Mayer. "Either way you are dead!"

Picard crouched leaning against the console. The deck groaned, protesting the steep descent. He tapped in a code, and then the coordinates of the Singularity Net. "Voice confirmation, Picard alpha one," he rasped.

Voiceprint acknowledged, Captain.

"Commence auto destruct sequence, computer. Twenty second countdown." Twenty seconds would be long enough, but not too long.

Auto-destruct sequence activated. Twenty...nineteen...eighteen...

"What are you doing, Picard?" Mayer's eyes widened and he took a halting step backwards, and that was when Picard leapt upon him, knocking the singularity orb from his hand. Once down on the ground, Mayer kicked upward. Picard caught the man's leg, and wrapped his fingers around the neutralizer, twisting with all his might. There was a sickening crack, as the neutralizer which had somehow been seemingly fused to Mayer's ankle, came free. Mayer howled in agony, and Picard scrambled backwards, the neutralizer now in his hand.

Mayer instinctively grasped for the singularity orb which had rolled away from him on the deck, but it eluded him. He finally grabbed it, screamed again and rushed toward Picard, who was still leaning against the conn.

...nine...eight...

Picard slammed his hand onto the controls and the ship went into immediate warp, seeming to start and stop instantly. They were inside the Net now. He watched as the singularity orb in Mayer's fist, began to swallow the scientist alive. Mayer continued his rampage toward Picard even as his body continued to disintegrate into nothingness. "Picard!"

...four...three...

Picard shut his eyes, and put his head down on the console. Goodbye Beverly.