The small shuttle streaked toward the Enterprise with increasing speed. Its pursuers gained even faster. The long winged shuttle veered in an evasive pattern as the smaller faster fighters fired on it. Picard watched as the shuttle valiantly dodged and ran trying desperately to survive the assault.
"Mr. Worf, are we in tractor range?"
The Klingon ran his large fingers over the touchpads of his tactical console and replied, "Negative sir. However we are barely in range for emergency transporters."
"Sir, these craft are employing an ion propulsion field. Similar to those used in Earth's planetary defense force, these propulsion systems are more advanced and from the data I have scanned are capable of rudimentary lightspeed." Data reported. "The larger shuttle is about to attempt a lightspeed access now, however I calculate that the fighter craft will overtake and destroy the craft before it can implement this maneuver."
"Can we transport the entire shuttle into the hanger bay?" Picard asked.
"Affirmative, sir." Worf responded. "They have entered our prime transporter range. This means that they should be able to scan us at any moment, however."
"Make it so. As soon as the ship is on board take us out of here, any heading." Picard ordered.
"Captain," Riker said quietly leaning closer to the command chair, "Does this violate the Prime Directive?"
"We are preventing detection commander." Picard answered just as quietly. "Besides, when Q brought us here he effectively negated the directive as far as I'm concerned. We can't even be certain this is real, as far as our reality goes. There is now way of knowing if we are in the past or future or even in our own universe. It is a hard call but I feel we are safe playing it this way."
"The shuttle is on The hanger now." Worf reported.
"Good. Mr. Data, if you will."
The android turned to the captain. "'If I will', what, captain?"
"Take us out of here, now!"
"Oh!" The android turned back to the console and in seconds the Enterprise was streaking into warp.
The shuttle sat in the hanger bay quietly when Picard, Troy and Riker entered the Hanger bay. Worf and a security detail posted on either side of the entry port of the craft. Picard walked around the shuttle and looked it over very carefully.
"The wings of the bird folded up just before it set down, sir. I had to materialize it in mid air to avoid damaging them." Chief O'brien reported.
"The pilots did that?" Riker asked.
"Must've. I had nothing to do with it."
Picard walked over to the transporter console and engaged the communicator with the universal translator. "Attention in the shuttle. This is captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Starship Enterprise. We mean you no harm. Will you allow us entry to your vessel or come out here so that we may communicate more effectively?"
After several moments a ramp on the side of the craft began to lower and several humanoid beings walked out holding their hands up in the universal sign of surrender. "Imperial scum!" They spat. "We will tell you nothing! We know not how you managed to recapture us or how you robbed us of our blasters but it will gain you nothing."
"We are not part of this "Empire" that you mention. We are from another place. Our Federation is devoted to peace and productive interaction between planetary governments. We saved you from certain destruction by those fighter craft that had pursued you. You are not prisoners, but guests of the Federation." Picard said in his best statesman's voice.
"I sense great distrust, and fear." Troi offered. "They are terribly afraid. But not for their lives, for something else."
The senior officers sat around the table of the aft conference room as Jean Luc Picard fielded questions and comments with his chin resting on his fingertips. "So you believe that these Bothans are who and what they say they are? Not some kind of elaborate hoax?" Picard asked of Deanna Troi.
"They have a very strong sense of person and purpose. They are very strong in their convictions. I sense no deception." The ships councilor answered.
"HMM. They tell of a rebellion against this...Empire." Picard said more to himself than anyone else. "This Empire, from what we've been able to ascertain, only recently usurped control from a previously elected republic, the remnants of which is the core of this rebellion." Picard rose from the table and paced its length. "The Emperor has this devastating weapon, this Deathstar which we have seen, one of which the rebellion has already destroyed. Our guest contend to have top secret information about this battlestation that could help the rebellion destroy the new one. Do we aid them in this endeavor? Can we avoid it?" He stopped and stared out of the mural portal into the vastness of space for several silent moments, before resuming his pacing. "We have no way of knowing what Q's agenda is. He brought us here for some purpose which only he knows." Picard stopped pacing for a moment. "And then there's this "force" they spoke of."
"They hold the Force in the highest esteem. Almost as a deity." Deanna offered. "I've only seen this much devotion in the most avid religions."
"Yes, well," Picard interjected, "we could debate 'the Force' for hours but we can't afford the luxury of time. Let's stick with the more practical matters. Mr. LaForge, what have you found out about the ship in the shuttle bay?"
LaForge sat up and tugged at his tunic in the same manner that Picard used which had been nicknamed "The Picard Maneuver", in a parody of his famous space manuever. "The ship is a marvel. It employs an ion propulsion far above what our planetary defense force ships have. They are capable of light speed. They don't warp space as our generators do, more like they establish a jump space between points. It's not real-time either. The pilots called it hyperspace. The shuttle we have is not armed at all, nor do they possess any shields. The communication systems are subspace standard and the life support systems are geared for class M type inhabitants."
"I see. Mr. Worf, what has your team discovered?" Picard asked of the burly Klingon.
"We have pulled data tapes of this sector of space and several personal logs as well as the ship's manifest. We found nothing of any tactical value except for the data tapes containing the schematics for the battlestation. The data is already being uploaded into our computer."
"Excellent. Now we must develop some plan of action. We..." Picard was interrupted by the communicator.
"Captain, sensors detect several ships converging on our position."
"Red alert. Gentlemen and ladies we will continue this later."
Picard burst onto the bridge as the red alert claxons sounded in tandem to the flashing indicator light panels. The screen showed a tactical display of several points converging on the Enterprise. The crew was already receiving status reports from all areas of the ship as they made ready for the alert. Picard took his seat and ensured the ships recorder was copying all visual and audio data into the ship's log as Riker took his position in the next seat. "Mr. Data, how many ships are we dealing with?" Picard asked.
"There appear to be four ships on an intercept course. Three of them will converge on us in thirteen minutes forty four seconds, mark." Data responded. "Their configurations match those of the ships orbiting the station known as the Deathstar."
"The Bothans called them 'Star Destroyers'." Riker offered.
"I see. Mr. Data, you mentioned four ships. What is that fourth ship?"
"The fourth ship is similar to the other ships, however, it is considerably larger. I believe it to be the ship we observed in orbit around the Deathstar."
Riker drew a breath. "The Bothans called it a Super Star Destroyer."
"How did they discover our course and position?"
"Unknown sir." Data replied. "They may have a scanning system we cannot detect. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that this 'Force' could come into play in this instance."
Picard considered the situation and its particularities. He wasn't comfortable with the magical qualities of the "Force" that the Bothans had put so much faith in. They had even offered "May the force be with you" when the debriefing was closed. It was an unknown quantity that couldn't be evaluated without more data. "Mr. Worf, Hail the lead ship. I want to talk to the captain."
"Sir, they are hailing us." Worf announced. "Audio only."
"Let's here it, lieutenant."
"Attention vessel. You are in the boundaries of imperial space. Our noble and gracious emperor extends to you greetings and salutations and requests you stand to for his Imperial vassal, Lord Darth Vader."
"Worf, see to it that our guests are sufficiently quartered where they cannot be detected," Picard ordered. "Number One, I think it would be appropriate to talk with this Lord Vader. It could give us some insight into the conflict. Perhaps we can assist both parties in resolving their differences. We may be able to gain some advantage with dealing with this government,." Picard said as he keyed the intercom from his command console. "This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Starship, Enterprise. We thank you for your courteous greeting and await the arrival of the Vassal."
The channel closed with no further exchange and Picard gave the order to drop out of warp. "Go to yellow alert, number one. I want the shields and weapon systems on stand by just in case."
"Aye Captain. Ensign Christopher, make it so." Riker ordered.
The lone four engine X-wing class ship entered hyperspace on a course for the New ship. Luke knew where it would be just as he knew the Emperor would be looking for it as well. His mind wandered to Han and Leia as his ship lurched forward onto the streaked light and inverse patterns of hyperspace. They should have linked up with the main body of the rebellion on Tatooine for its redeployment. He followed Ben's advise and kept his mind clear of distractions while he allowed the force to flow within him. He could see the new ship in his mind's eye. It was big. Bigger than any Rebel craft and more than a match size-wise for any star destroyer. He saw how lovely the craft looked against the starry backdrop. It was much more graceful than the ungainly looking ships known to the rebellion and the Empire. Then he saw the Star destroyers closing on the ship and he knew time was running out. He had to get to the ship at all costs.
The Star Destroyer Vengeance had the alien ship in its viewscreen as Captain Needah paced up and down the runway. The bridge runway ran from the viewscreen back to the Tactical command center. The operational stations sat beneath the runway on either side of it as the crewmen went about their routine duties. Needah was tense. He always got tense when Lord Vader was around and Vader's flagship was almost upon them now. Needah's orders were to bring the newcomer ship to a stop without violence and have them wait for Vader. The captain, Picard was his name, agreed readily so that much was done. But now Vader was going to come in and deal with the aliens. Needah didn't have any way of knowing what the Emperor's plans for these new aliens were but whenever it was of such importance as to merit Vader's personal attention it was big. Almost as big as the ship in front of them. Needah looked at it again. It was indeed an impressive vessel. Needah debated the tactical value of the nacelle design but it was aesthetically pleasing.
"Captain," a crewman interrupted, "Lord Vader's ship is approaching. He is calling the other ship."