Hmmm some people have promised detailed reviews but I see none will be forthcoming, so i will forge ahead.
Chapter 9
A shape moved in the darkness. Malevolent and foreboding, disc stacked on disc it stalked the blackness at the edge of the galaxy. Imposing in its own right, this titanic shape was over a mile across and bristled with armament. Across millennia it had been called by many names in many tongues. Deathbringer, Extermiantor, Apocalypse. Those races powerful enough to learn its name, had replaced those words in their language with but a new word, the summary of their doom, after which no other words were necessary. Cylons.
Base stars such as this had prowled for millions of years from one galaxy to the next, feared, cursed, victorious. None had with stood their wrath, their power, save one race. Even the being known as man had fallen before the might of the Cylon empire. Until at last they met their equal, indeed their superior, in the Youzhon Vong. Unearthed on a backwater world overlooked by the initial waves of exterminators, the Vong stood fast against the first onslaught protected by a sentient planet. Under the guidance of that planet the Vong made their system a fortress of organic ships incomprehensible to the Cylons.
The scorching jihad of the Vong had repelled the Cylons from their home galaxy forcing the machines out into the stars, to gather strength, to annihilate foes and gobble up resources fast enough to finally turn and wipe out the Vong pursuing them. It was thus that the Cylons met their end, pursued by the irrational, overwhelmingly destructive Vong they had finally run into another foe, that did not crumble before them. The humans who dominated this new galaxy were so like their foes of old, but far far more numerous, far far more advanced, far far more duplicitous. Crushed between opposing foes the Cylons had withered until at last, on the eve of their destruction, they had stepped aside, and watched as their two foes clashed. Now baseships such as this prowled the fringes of the galaxy rebuilding, gathering their strength, as their enemies exhausted one another.
The base star was joined by another, and another. In the darkness of space six gleaming base stars flanked the first. Upgraded with the most powerful weapons this fleet would be the foundation of a newer greater fleet that would crush the remanants of man from this galaxy, the aliens who aided them, and finally the Youzhon Vong themselves. Suddenly to the front of this formation, there came the eruptive disturbance of a hyperspace emergence. Similarities were noted to the new style of hyperspace travel employed first by the wraith and adopted more effectivel, more recently, by the human Empire. It was also noted that this craft was of an unknown type. A heavy belt seemed to restrain an infant star. This craft was ornately designed yet oddly utilitarian in its design. The Cylons sent a hail.
"What manner of race are you?" demanded a cold, imperious voice.
No answer was forthcoming, the craft continued forward.
"Cease your advance." Ordered the Cylon imperious leader, "Your vessel interests us.""
The unidentified craft continued on its path and as the other base stars moved aside, the imperious leader ordered one to stand fast.
"You will not pass us." It declared to the ship fully aware that its message was being received, "You are nothing to the power of the Cylon Empire. Stand down and prepare to receive our forces or we will destroy you."
Ignoring the continued challenge of the Cylon vessels, the unidentified craft continued forward until it plowed straight into the defiant Cylon base star. The hull of the grat crft crumpled and the core of the base star exploded, onto the shields of the intruder. The intruder sailed gracefully through undeterred. With an un machinelike snarl the Imperious leader ordered his forces to fire on the interloper. Energy crashed against the craft in a devastating display of power, to no effect. The Cylons pursued the craft hurling their best weapons against it impotently.
"Imperious leader, we are approaching an outpost of the Human Empire." An aide warned him, "If we continue to pursue they will become aware of our presence."
"Then let them become so aware." Growled the Imperious leader. "Power the Ultra pulsar."
"My lord, that weapon is designed for use against the death star, the attacker may be too small to accurately…"
"That is my command." Declared the Imperious Leader. "Destroy them, in full view of the Imperial outpost. We will show this thrawn what power he opposes and let him consider this even as he continues to battle the Vong. Let him know that even victory against them will be followed swiftly by his defeat at our hands."
"By your command." Acknowledged the aide. The base star accelerated, passing the smaller intruder and placing itself far in advance of the craft. Harried by the other base stars, now spreading out to avoid the direct line of fire, the oncoming craft barreled towards the base star as it had the other, intent on ramming it from existence. This base star proved different however. Six tributary beams from its top, bottom and sides joined a carrier wave fired fron the center of the base star. A massive column of energy erupted forward and struck the craft dead on. The shields of the vessel flared, for the first time turning red, than orange, than yellow, yet the intruder sailed forward. At last the craft halted before them.
"The attack was unsuccessful." Reported the Aide, "The ultra pulsar depleted enemy shields by 41%, recharge commencing."
"Move us away." Ordered the imperious leader uneasily.
"We cannot maneuver, firing the weapon has caused a power overload." Reported the Aide, "Sir we have detected an energy buildup on the enemy vessel. Its output is several times our shield capacity and rising. In addition our other ships are tracking six objects approaching in hyperspace that appear to be of the same origin."
"Reinforcements? When one ship can resist us?" snarled imperious leader, as recognition dawned, "Move a base star to screen for us, and get those engines back. Order the others to break off and fall back.
"Our other ships are unable to engage hyper drive." Reported the Aide, "The intruders are employing a jamming field."
"Then they have played us for fools." Surmised the imperious Leader dolefully, "They led us here to die in this place, in full view of the Imperial outpost."
***
Wedge's eyes snapped open in alarm. "Master I…"
"Focus!" insisted the voice above him, "Concentrate, See it too I do, distract me it does not. Moments and places from far away, reveal to you the Force will, patient you must be, and silent, attentive, and mindful."
Swallowing Wedge resumed his meditation, breathing deeply through his nose, pressing his tongue to the top of his mouth, and out through his mouth, feeling the air pass over his now flattened tongue. He stood on one hand, master Yoda perched above him on his extended foot, with an assortment of boulders and logs hovering about him in a clearing. As a circle of padawans watched, he felt the images come to him once more.
***
"Are you all that is coming?" the major asked peremptorily of the stranger who stood before him.
"For now." Acknowledged the prior before him. "I am all that is necccesary to receive your answer." The messenger stood framed by the device he had brought with him, the stargate. The major intended to examine the device once this current issue was resolved.
"Very well then, you shall have our answer." The major declared stepping back behind a row of storm troopers hefting blasters at the ready."Our answer is no. The Empire does not wish to embrace a new religion at this time, we have quite had our fill of such nonsense and the conflicts it brings, from the periodic attempts at genocide waged by the Sith and the jedi, to the current fanatical refusal of the Vong to see reason we are as I say quite through with all of that. We appreciate your assistance with the lingering forces of the Cylon fleet, and will see you on your way." With a gesture from the Major, the Storm troopers leveled their blasters. "You may go. Leave that, we wish to study it."
"It is unwise to challenge the power of the ori." Warned the prior, "Great is the reward for obedience, terrible is their wrath for non believers. Those who do not follow the path…"
"Will be laid low in the dirt, hung from the highest tree condemned to the embrace of pain etc etc." replied the major dismissively twirling his mustache. "Our forces are in orbit now, it is time for you to go. This is your final warning."
"The will of the ori shall prevail." The prior asserted pounding his staff once into the dirt. The jewel on his staff glowed menacingly.
"Company, open fire." Barked the major alarmed by the glowing jewel. As one the Storm troopers opened fire and to the major's mounting dismay the Prior stood undeterred, protected by a shield of energy. After the first volley he waved dismissively and the Storm troopers were cast off a great distance as the the major flailing wildly beside them. The prior sat and produce a worn copy of the book of origin. In orbit above, an explosion of shapes heralded the Empire's arrival from hyperspace. They found the ori fleet long gone and peculiar energy readings coming from the surface.
***
"Another victory for the new Republic?".han inquired as Ackbar entered the conference room.
"Not necessarily General." Ackbar replied placing briefs at several positions around the table, "We've received intelligence of some interesting events taking place on a remote world near the rim. The regional forces in that area have been mobilized to deal with some new threat."
"More extra galactic bad guys?" asked Han drolly, "Where do these people come from? Still if it keeps Thrawn off balance, I'll take it."
"Your victories against his forces at Dubrillion were most impressive." Ackbar acknowledge.
""He was off his game." Han scoffed, "I just did what anyone would do. Its not like we won, we just got away."
"You have done a superb job over the past year and a half." Ackbard admonished him "But we have been stdily losing ground and that is a problem. The Atlantis project has not yielded the results we hoped for in the timeframe we require."
"Well I'm not surprised considering the first thing Rogue Squadron did was kick over a wraith anthill." Han scoffed,
"They were forced to relocate the city while you were away." Ackbar conceded."The shipyard has produced its first three corvettes, which aquit themselves quite well against the wraith I'm told. It seems the wraith in that galaxy are of a more primitive variety than those we fought here, Their chief advantage is their numbers. Two of the hyperspace corvettes are running regular cargo runs between Coruscant and Atlantis, transporting material too large for the Stargate. Once our defensive platforms are complete, the wraith will not be a a viable threat."
"The last thing we need is a war on two fronts." Han grumbled as others began to arrive, "We need more of those intergalactic hyperdrives for the war here, not shuttling parts off to some backwater, what if one of our ships is discovered?"
"This meeting will cover more pressing matters if you will review your material." Ackbar nodded to the brief, "Ah General Antilles, so good to see you again, Masster yoda."
"Much to talk about have we." Replied Yoda gravely, "Conferred upon my Padawan, the rank of jedi Knight I have. Complete enough, his training is, others waiting have,I, much work, there is and not much time."
"Well I have some news for everybody." Announced Starbuck striding into the room, "I have made quite a bit of progress unraveling this little time know we've found ourselves in."
"Time knot?" inquired Han skeptically, "Is that what your calling it?
"Well my friend here suggested a less delicate term." Starbuck replied inclining his head to the curly haired newcomer, "What was your term John, ah yes, ClusterFrak."
"Its descriptive enough." Han replied. The young man bounded eagerly up to him.
"Colonel john Shepard. I am a huge fan."
"What?" Han blinked, "Of what?"
"He's from a parallel reality too." Starbuck explained to the disconcerted Solo, "In his future things happened differently in your galaxy Han, and they are depicted in his as a fictional program called "Star Wars."
"your sort of one of the Stars." Sheppard beamed at him. "And so are you sir." He nodded towards Ackbar, as well as several others I see around me."
"Where do you find these people and what does this have to do with anything?" demanded Han shaking his head in disbelief
"This has everything to do with your conflict Han." Starbuck replied testily, "If I can figure out exactly what part iblis played in all of this, we can figure out where he's going and head him off. This isn't just for my benefit, its for yours too. In my reality we can prevent this, in yours we can resolve it."
"I'm from the future too." Sheppard added helpfully.
"Wonderful, what are the numbers for the Corellian Sweeps?" asked Han sarcastically.
"Look1" replied John testily, "I'm here to help alright? I have my own timeline to get back to too you know." He was interrupted as Starbuck coughed something."What do you mean maybe?" Sheppard demanded a warning note in his voice.
"John in your timeline, you were thrown thousands of years forward in time." Starbuck replied, "You found Atlantis controlled by an artificial intelligence which directed you to use the time jumper to travel back in time."
"Go on…" Sheppard prompted as everyone seated themselves around the conference table.
"So you entered this parallel timeline because you happened to travel forward while an alternate timeline had superimposed itself. You traveled "Back" along that alternate timeline. Assuming whatever happened in your time resets the original timeline, a new continuum will be created in which you are sent forward along the correct trajectory. Travelling back will drop the you from that continuom in Atlantis of your timeline and you will be redundant."
"How do we know me 2.0 will make it back?" demanded John,
"There are larger issues at stake here." Starbuck replied, "Our priorities have to be bigger than getting you bck where you belong john."
"Well excuse me if I don't give up so easily." Sheppard said irritably.
"Where in the force is Ackbar?" han demanded testily, "Chewie go find him." The Wookiee had been pouring a glass of water from a pitcher sitting on a table by the door.
"So Han do you want to know how things were supposed to turn out?" asked Sheppard eagerly leaning forward on the table.
"Easy Sheppard." Starbuck urged gently, "This isn't just fiction to han, this is his life, watch what you say."
"Whats that supposed to mean." Demanded han, his curiosity peeked."
"Well." Said Sheppard leaning back. "First of all, the wraith and the goa'uld are not in your galaxy as far as I know. They were never mentioned in the movies, and the jedi; weren't all wiped out."
"Survived the jedi did?" Yoda demanded perking up, "More tell us you must, a raod not travelled this is, learn from it we may."
"Now you're getting it." Starbuck exclaimed.
"See the Jedi were persecuted by the Emperor Palpatine, and his henchman Darth Vader." Sheppard explained, "But there was no death wave that killed the force. After the jedi pure they were down but not out. Obi Wan Kenobi finds Luke Skywalker on tTattooine and they meet you at Mos Eisley. Near as I can tell that's where things start to get drastically weird here. The attack on the base at Yavin fails in my timeline because Luke used the force and fired a torpedo down a cooling shaft."
"That was the weakness?" han demanded appalled, "But that's absurd, one torpedo couldn't…"
"it did!" Sheppard insisted, "Luke used the force, you rescued him at the last minute. You went to the ice planet Hoth, Vader caught up with you, you all ran, you were frozen in Carbonite and Luke confronted Vader and learned that Vader is well…"
"His father he is." Breathed Yoda, "None alive, that fact knew. The truth this Sheppard may very well speak."
"Well I do try." Replied Sheppard modestly, "Anyway You get dragged to Jabbas palace Han, and Luke and leia and Chewie and Lando all stage a recue and Leia chokes Jabba…"
"Leia." Said Han wistfully, "She was sure something…."
"Yeah!" said Sheppard and that Gold… well never mind that. Theres another battle with the second Death Star, and Luke confronts Vader. In the end Vader saves Luke's life by ditching the emperor down a huge pit in the middle of his office. Vader dies but is redeemed. You and leia lead local forces in an uprising to disable a shield generator protecting the Death Star and lando and Wedge fly in and destroy it."
"Fly in?" han demanded, "Tell me more about how they destroyed it, this was the second one?"
"Yeah well it wasn't complete yet." Sheppard explained, "So they flew in the unfinished back. Lando clipped off your satellite dish."
"Sounds like Lando." Han commented, "can't take the guy anywhere."
"Tell me about it." Starbuck replied, "he sure pissed off the Genii…"
"So what does any of this get us?" Wedge asked at last, "We can't use the same method to destroy the new death star. Palpatines already dead and Han's in charge. Now we know what could have been but what do we do about what is."
"We take comfort for now in the fact that there is a better world out there." Ackbar declared entering the room at last, "Where justice is serve to those who do us harm."
"More than that." Said Han his mind considering the angles, "We know what iblis changed about our lives and the galaxy. He's showed his hand."
"To what are you referring General Solo?" Ackbar asked curious. He shuffled the briefs at his place as he sat down but left them lying on the table, fully caught up in the implications of Sheppard's revelations.
"The jedi must have been some kind of threat to iblis." Han pointed out, "The first thing we know as different is that the wraith and the Goa'uld were not in our galaxy before Iblis messed things up." He paused, he was saying it now too. It was amazing how infectious this idea was, that a single agent could be responsible for so much chaos. "The wraith didn't amount to much of anything beyond invading Alderaan and forcing the Empire to destroy it."
"They did that anyway." Sheppard added helpfully.
"The Goa'uld weren't much of a threat but they did manage one very important thing, they fired the center point weapon." Han said.
"Anubis also brought Imperial City." Wedge pointed out folding his arms into the sleeves of his robes.
"Anubis was here?" Sheppard demanded, "With a city of the ancients? We only know of one in my timeline, well two if you count the one the replicators had, three if you count the ruins on…"
"The city altered the balance of power somewhat but numbers were already on the empire's side." Ackbard interjected, "The Goa'uld on the other hand also managed to kill Palpatine and Vader, ultimately necessitating the reformation of the Empire."
"Whatever happened to Anubis?" Sheppard asked skeptically.
"It is said that Thrawn engaged him in single combat and crushed the symbiote beneath his boot." Said han doubtfully.
"I don't see how." Sheppard rep-lied, "Anubis is partially ascended, he doesn't HAVE a symbiote."
"he's what?" Starbuck demanded, "A Goa'uld partially ascended? How?"
"I wasn't on that particular mission." Sheppard said apologetically, "But they had to lock down the SGC at one point because Anubis was body snatching. "
There was silence in the room as all came to the same conclusion. None dared tos ay it until at last Yoda cleared his throat.
"Possible it may be, "He surmised, "That taken Thrawn, Anubis has."
"I knew he was off his game." Han pounded a fist on the table, "I told you something was up Ackbar I told you. There's no way a smuggler like me should have outfoxed the legendary Grand Admiral himself. I knew it. Thrawn had Anubis on the ropes and Anubis cheated, that's why the Empire is still mopping up the Vong. The real Thrawn would have creamed them in no time and we'd all be walking in lockstep by now."
"it does seem possible." Said Ackbar, "But tha does not change our strategy, the Empire still outguns us and we are still losing systems every day. We must turn the tide of this war, and it seems even as one player is defeated a new one emerges." He nodded to the brief.
"uh… I don't really read this." Said Sheppard awkwardly waving his,
"The last known Cylon fleet was destroyed by unknown forces." Ackbar summed up for him, "An imperial taskforce was unable to locate their fleet, but they appeared to sue similar technology to that found in Imperial city. They have erected an energy shield on a remote outpost that appears impenetrable to all weapons."
"Oh Christ." Sheppard breathed, "Please tell me we aren't talking about the ori."
Yoda and Ackbar fixed him with a gaze, "What do you know about this."
***
Grand Admiral Gillead Pellaeon surveyed the planet below.
"Our ground forces report no success Grand Admiral." His comm. officer reported.
"This grows tiresome." Pellaeon replied, "Major Piett was a friend of mine, his murderer is sitting down there reading a book." He clasped his hands behind his back and straightened. "Recall our ground forces. We will bombard the region from orbit."
"A full base delta zero sir?" inquired his XO, "Is that necessary?"
"Necessary?" Pellaeon asked, "No, we could simply blockade this planet and shoot down his friends if they try to bring him food or water, but quite frankly I grow tired of defiance. If the Death St… Dawn star.." his XO chuckled at the mocking tone…"Were in the neighborhood I would blow this mudball to atoms, because the last thing we need right now is another war, or even band of fanatics rampaging around our galaxy. What is that?" he demanded scornfully gesturing at the force field on the surface visible from orbit, "Who builds a shield on a worthless world to make a point. That ring is clearly some sort of projector technology we are unfamiliar with, but such trinkets are not worth the…"
"Your pardon Grand Admiral." An operator turned from his station, "A ship hs just arrived out of hyperspace."
"One of the intruders?" demanded Pellaeon
"No sir, A modified corellian corvette. Sir what is most peculiar is that it is fitted with a military grade hyperdrive or better sir, the readings are off the scale."
"The rebels." Muttered pellaeon, "Tell them it's a bad time and to go away." He suggested with some levity. At the officer's expectant look he said, "Dispatch the Agressor and the Annihalator to pick them up. " Nobody has a sense of humor these days Kyle, nobody."
"Sir," his XO asked, "Will the Aggressor's interdiction field even work on a military grade hyper drive?"
"Most likely not." Pellaeon admitted, "I fully expect them to…"
"Sir!" The officer called drawing Pellaeon's attention. Through the viewport a swarm of fireballs had emerged from the corvette and were in the process of crippling the two star destroyer sent to apprehend the frigate. "Open a channel." Pellaeon ordered.
"Rebel craft, you have my attention, you know that the Eclipse is equipped with drone defense systems. Continue your attack and I will blow you out of space personally. What is it you want."
"This is the New Republic vessel Dodonna." Rasped a familiar voice, "Pellaeon, there is not time for these games, we must talk."
"Ackbar, you sorry squid, what makes you think I want to talk to you." Demanded Pellaeon, "As you can see we are in the middle of an operation here."
"We have information regarding this new threat, the ori." Ackbar replied. "If I interpret your fleet deployment correctly you are preparing exactly the response they hope for."
"What do you know of hem" Pellaeon asked crossly, "And where did you steal that hyper drive from?
"Never underestimate the ingenuity of a free people." Ackbar replied cryptically, "According to our intelligence, the energy you expend upon the shield below fuels its growth. Ultimately the ring on the surface will expend components to create a larger ring, and the planet will collapse in on itself to form a black hole capable of powering a wormhole through which the Ori will send their forces."
"Preposterous." Snorted Pellaeon, "A black hole powering a wormhole? What utter nonsense."
"Sir you have to listen to him he's telling the truth." Another voice interjected. Pellaeon could only imagine Ackbars irritation. "The Ori are a serious threat where I come from you don't want to give them a beach head."
"And who precisely are you sir?" demanded Pellaeon good naturedly.
"Colonel John Shepard, united States Airforce." Came the bold reply.
"An 'air force' oh my." Chortled Pellaeon, "I can assure you Colonel Sheppard the Imperial navy is somewhat superior to your "Air force". Your people may have had trouble with the Ori, but my people won't."
"Listen to me Pellaeon, you can't let them get a foothold! They will use this place as a base to invade your galaxy. "
"Ackbar who is this fool? Explain to him that a beach head is precisely what we need them to have. You rebels and your tiresome hit and fade tactics have shown us that the best way to deal with a threat is to let it concentrate its forces and then knock it into oblivion rather than allow it to spread insipidly. I have six star destroyers here Colonel, one of which is a sovereign class. If you are not sure what that means, I will show you."
The comm. officer terminated the connection as Pellaeon turned to Kyle. "Charge main gun, target the surface. Our forces are back from the surface yes?" at Kyle's nod Pellaeon said, "Good. Oh and Kyle?"
"Yes sir?"
"We did remember to bring the rest of the fleet yes? The seventy or so Star destroyer's sitting one system away in case our Ori friends show up?"
"Yes sir, and two more groups are on alert in case they slip past us somehow, I can have over three hundred ships here in less than half an hour."
"Such a relief." Sighed Pellaeon, "That Colonel Sheppard almost made our friend with the book sound like a threat. Fire at will."
***
"Stupid arrogant fools!" Sheppard ground as the massive ship opened fire on the planet, "Their handing over your galaxy on a platter."
"Pity they closed the channel before we warned them about the gate components emerging at high velocity." Ackbar observed as the first of the projectiles plowed through a pair of hapless star destroyers. A few moments later more began to appear in the distance, "Oh look he's taking it seriously now."
"Not seriously enough." Grumbled Sheppard, "We lost a sizeable fleet to the Ori and we didn't even put a scratch on them."
"To be fair Colonel, the Empire is considerably more formidable than the jaffa ships you talked about." Starbuck assured him, "They were a fair match for the technology of the ancients. What they lack in refinement, they make up for in brute strength. The Empire might be right, they are advanced enough now that the Ori can't have much on them, not without flagrantly interfering with a lower plain."
"Starbuck…" Sheppard asked uncertainly ".."are there even any ancients in this galaxy to object?"
Starbuck blanched, "As a matter of fact there are, but not nearly enough to matter…" He said.
"…because it occurs to me that the whole concept of Iblis sending the Goa'uld wasn't so much to destroy the force so much as it was to send up a beacon…"
"Extinguished were so many, merely attention to get?" Interjected a hoarse voice quivering with rage.
"Right but those deaths also shook things up quite a bit." Starbuck interjected now extremely concerned. "There really aren't many who ascended here, in fact, that was the purpose of the new colony, for those who were not interested in the ethereal." He blew out a breath. "If the Ori came here, there's no one to stop them."
"Well its just a theory…" replied Sheppard lamely, he moved to wear the admiral sat in command. "Listen can we stop this? Even if we just destroyed one piece…"
"I'm afraid we cannot do that." Ackbar said surveying his readouts gravely. "The Eclipse was positioned to intercept our drones after we disabled the two star destroyers before us. They now have a total of two hundred ships in system, a third of which are equipped with drone technology. We would never make it through all of that to get to the gate now."
"Then we might want to back off." Sheppard advised, "Because if I'm right about that signal flare thing, the Ori won't just be sending priors…"
"Helm back us off at full sub light speed." Ackbar shouted as the star gate erupted before them on screen. The imperial navy arrayed in all of its awesome power waited defiantly in space before it. Impossibly small when compared against the bulk of the Eclipse and the two super star destroyers flanking it the gate sat ominously quiet. Suddenly a ball of light careened out of the gate followed by several others. Huge vortexes of lightening erupted in space and imperial ships began to break apart. Opening fire for all they were worth, Star destroyers were ripped apart even as they grasped desperately for a target to shoot at. Six ori motherships erupted from hyperspace above the eclipse even as the super laser charged to fire on the stargate. As their beams converged carving great slices from the mighty vessel they came under fire from the surrounding vessels.
Their shields held, and they moved on to the next Super star destroyer, still repositioning itself among the increasing mess of ships and debris. Firing again as a unit, the ori ships blsted thre prow off the might ship even as the third Command ship rolled to direct fire upon the ori. One ori ship gave under the barrage and exploded, than two, than three. Space seemed to distort beneath the final superstar destroyer and explosions rippled along the bow.
"Ori Ships emerging from the gate sir!" Shouted a scanner chief, "Five..six…seven…"
As Ori Ships surged from the gate creating a perimeter they began to clear through the debris left by the rampaging Ori following the wake of chaotic destruction with a more systematic annihilation.
"It's a trap!" shouted Ackbar, "Get us out of here."
The helmsman sat motionless his eyes glued to the screen.
"Hallowed are the ori." He mumbled
"Coming through." Wedge hauled the crewman out of the way and sat down. As the ship began to turn. The front of the bridge seemed to explode as a fiery skull manifested itself.
"Burn in the light of origin" It seemed to roar.
"I'll pass on that Frakker." Starbuck gritted, Erupting in light himself, he sent a storm of energy into the demonic manifestation, surprising it. His form darted forward and stabbed at the other and the two rolled in mid air, shedding lighteing. They passed through the window and could be seen outside.
"We can't just leave him!" Sheppard objected as Wedge played the controls.
"Help him we cannot." Yoda consoled moving to stand beside Wedge, "beyond us this foe may be. but write him off do not. A fighter Starbuck is."
As hyperspace exploded around the ship Sheppard turned to Ackbar. The Mon Calamari was deep in thought.
"I think we're in for it now." Sheppard stated flatly, "Your people might have been able to take on the Ori's followers, but the Ori themselves You're gonna need a whole different arsenal."
"You know of a device that can defeat the Ori?" Ackbar said
"Maybe." Said Sheppard, "But to find it we're probably gonna need to go to Earth, and that's just to start. I'm not sure I even know where to look."
"There may be another who can help us." Ackbar replied pensively, "When Starbuck first arrived he sought a man named Adama."
"Yes," said Yoda perking up, and then gesturing with his stick, "Yes, to Dagobah we must go, Now the time is, find Adama we will."
"Its as good a time as any." Offered Wedge, "The Empire is going to have its hands full again. We might even think about making a strike or two"
"This is not the time to hit them where they're weak" Ackbar admonished, "Given what I just saw, if the Empire can't hold the line against the Ori, no one can."