Hello dear readers. I hope you've been doing well and ready for another installment on my little pet project combining a number of my favorite things together in one bundle.

Fanfic-Reader-88: Yeah, they're safe for the moment. They would be wise to keep an eye on their passengers and their benefactor. No, Trina won't be getting a hug or a smoothie and knowing her, she's not going to be taking mess from no one.

Off to the next exciting installment…

Rating: T

Chapter 11: Getting Acquainted

Business District
Cloud City
Stardate 2267.163
(June 12, 2267)

Freddie casually walked down one of the open air markets in the city, a strange feeling to be sure when said city was floating within the atmosphere of a gas giant with no pressure dome above the city as one would expect for a space station inside a gas giant. He wasn't walking alone in taking in the sights as Tori had her left arm looped around his arm and resting her right hand on his forearm as the pair lazily strolled by the various shops. He certainly didn't mind the company as it had been a while since he enjoyed a shopping day, especially with a beautiful woman on his arm that wasn't related to him. She certainly was eye catching for humanoids with her natural beauty accentuated by wearing a wide brim hat, sunglasses and a floral red off-the-shoulder short sleeves mini-dress with a flounce-layered bodice and a front button placket that showed off her neck and shoulders with the hem tastefully short enough to show off her legs.

The thoughts naturally turned to his late wife when they shared causal and romantic walks in Seattle, but he did his best to push them away and just enjoy the quietness after the wildness of the last day and a half. Tori helped in dismissing those thoughts as she suddenly pulled them to a stop in front of a window of one of the shops. It appeared to be some kind of sweets shop with the pictures of recognized foods despite his inability to read the name of the place. She passed him a playful smile and nodded her head for them to enter.

He cockily smiled and motioned with his free hand towards the shop for her to lead the way.

Tori gently pulled him along and he opened the door to allow her to step inside first.

The shop was a quaint little pastry shop with several tables for patrons to enjoy their treats and glass serving counter to show off the variety of delicious items from many different worlds, taking advantage of the permanent and the transient population. There were only a handful of costumers at the moment that included a human couple with their children and a few other pairings of various other humanoid lifeforms.

An older gentleman behind the counter called out and waved them inside, "Welcome! Come in, come in. What can I get you?"

Tori turned on her sweet smile that was well practiced in being a politician and answered, "Hello." She walked to the counter and looked down at the selection, bracing her hands on her knees, then asked, "Do you have beebleberry ice cream?"

The graying haired human eagerly nodded, "Yes I do. The best you'll find out on the Rim—better than you'll get even on Corusant."

The brunette straightened up and turned her dazzling smile while answering, "Then I'll take two cups." She glanced to Freddie and saw that he was looking at him at a tray of pastries that bared a resemblance of red velvet cupcakes and commented, "You'll love it…"

He continued to stare at the pastries, causing her a bit of concern that he had tuned her out. She slightly brushed a hand on his upper arm and quietly asked, "Freddie, do you want something else?"

He shook his head, returning to the present and looked to her. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I ordered us some beebleberry ice cream. I ordered you one too. I'm sure you'll love it."

He nodded and answered, "Sure, of course… that's fine…" He looked to the shop owner. "Yes, whatever she ordered." He reached into the front right pocket of the beige cargo pants that the clothier Beck had sent had provided for him and pulled a debit card with the local currency that Beck had also been so kind to provide.

The shop owner took the card, but pointed to his lips and asked Freddie, "Is there something wrong with your mouth?"

Freddie tightly smiled, realizing that speaking would make him stand out as someone not native to this side of the galaxy.

Tori answered with a good natured laugh, "Oh my friend is from a Rim world that doesn't know Basic. He's using a translator."

"Oh…" His smile grew and finished, "Well welcome to Cloud City. I hope you enjoy your stay."

"Thank you."

The owner handed the card back to Freddie then opened the back of the display case and began scooping up the order. He handed the first cup to Tori followed by a second on to Freddie. She picked up some plastic spoons from the dispenser on the counter, handing him one then they walked to one of the circle tables.

The pair took a seat opposite to one another with Tori's back to the door so Freddie could keep an eye on the door. He had to remember that even on a supposed 'day off', he was still on a mission and had to remain vigilant.

Tori took a small spoonful of the light blue ice cream and closed her eyes, moaning in approval.

Freddie took a cautious spoonful of the ice cream. He partially glanced up at the ceiling as the taste danced on his taste buds. It tasted like blueberries, but there was something else, a sweeter taste he couldn't place. He took another spoonful to enjoy the treat.

She watched in for a moment then softly smiled to him and asked, "Are you okay?"

He looked up from his cup of ice cream and asked, "Excuse me?"

"When you were looking at the red cakes, you seemed distracted."

He sat the cup on the table and finished the treat in his mouth before answering, "They look like a dessert on Earth, red velvet cupcakes. They were… my Carly's favorite treat… she loved them…"

Tori carefully moderated her voice, not wanting to reveal her feelings, "Oh, you have someone special?"

The Star Fleet captain tightened his smile and struggled to answer just as casually, "I used to…"

"Relationship end badly? Work separated you?" Her smile and eyes turned more sympathetic to him as she suggested a more hurtful reason, "She cheated on you?"

Freddie tightly smiled and slightly dipped his head then replied, "I'm a widower."

Tori knotted her brow as Freddie's universal translator didn't have an accurate translation for the term. "Widower? I'm not sure what that means."

The starship captain took a deep breath then struggled with a smile to explained, "I was married—I was joined with someone to spend my life… a mate recognized legally and spiritually… and she died…"

Tori's face fell as she realized what he meant. She covered her mouth with her palm for a moment then dropped it to apologetically whisper, "I'm so sorry."

He nodded his head nodded to the side and answered, "So am I?" He took a deep breath and focused back on his ice cream.

Tori didn't want to pry, yet she was curious about this part of the captain and understanding what made him tick. "So you married pretty young?"

He finished another mouthful of the dessert and answered, "Right out of high school… finished primary education before I went to Star Fleet Academy…" He glanced over to the couple and the children practically giddy as they were enjoying their family outing. He took a few soft breaths as his mind couldn't help but paint a picture of him and Carly sitting there with their children. He quickly pulled his eyes from the seen and focused on Tori, who had taken off her sunglasses to meet his eyes.

The Princess gave him a sympathetic smile and commented, "I'm sorry to bring it up."

"It's okay…" He took a deep breath and straightened his posture. He decided to quickly turn it on her and asked, "Anyone special in your life?"

Tori bashfully glanced at the table. She shook her head and bashfully answered, "No… work and secretly supporting the Alliance takes up all my time and doesn't leave much time for romance."

Freddie lazily nodded to the side and replied, "That's a shame…"

The brunette grinned then replied with a lighter tone, "Well maybe when all this is done… I can focus on my dating life."

He snorted and grinned, "Find yourself a nice diplomat or lawyer or those that run in the political circles… or maybe some other royalty… I don't exactly understand how that works on your planet or if other planets have royalty… I just hope it's not one of those political marriages as were the case of former royalty on my planet centuries ago."

She nodded along and answered with a playful smile, "We used to do that centuries ago too and I think some still do, but it's not a hereditary title. They're elected positions, so I don't have to worry about something like that… I'm not sure that I'd want to be with someone that's in politics with me. It might feel that we're just using each other as some kind of power couple." She shrugged a bare shoulder then took another scoop of her ice cream. She finished the morsel and added, "I might even want to retire from it after all this… settle down, maybe with someone away from the furthest places of the halls of power…" She glanced up at him and finished, "…maybe even be a military wife…"

Freddie tightened his smile at hearing how she spoke and the look she was giving him, making him believe that he was someone of that potential. He attempted to laugh it off, "I can see where you're coming from on that. I'm sure there are plenty of great people that you've met in the Alliance… they'd want to settle down and have a peaceful life after this too."

Tori gave him a playful smile, one that could easily entice him, and replied, "Or maybe someone that hops on a ship and explores the great unknown… to see a little further with what's out there…"

The Star Fleet captain laughed, feeling a little more bashful since his 'dating skills' were quite rusty, "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but ah… Robbie is already involved. I wouldn't be surprised if he and Cat didn't put in for a shore posting after our five year assignment—maybe even before then." He took another spoonful of ice cream and teasingly smiled.

She blinked, confused for a moment then realized what he had pulled. She returned a grin and took another bite of her ice cream. Her smile was bigger on the inside, seeing that he was willing to engage in a little flirtation or so she hoped. "So fraternization is allowed in your service?"

Freddie replied in a boyish grin, "When you're posted on a five-year mission, fraternization rules are relaxed a bit by necessity. It's just nature that people would be drawn to one another with mixed sex crews, especially when you're on a starship for months on end. There are port calls and shore leaves and such on Federation worlds where family can meet up on rare occasion, but still it happens."

Tori took a quick scoop of her ice cream than commented, "I can imagine, but still… that must affect crew readiness with that kind of level of intimacy onboard."

The starship captain smirk and teased, "Trying to gage how effective Star Fleet would be in a fight against the Empire? Or are our ships just all pleasure boats?"

Tori awkwardly laughed, looking a little embarrassed by the assumption.

"If Mister Oliver is correct with his reports, Star Fleet is showing the Empire how much fight we have."

The princess glanced to her ice cream and replied, "Actually I was wondering how you handled it because the Alliance has a far higher percentage of female recruits than the Empire's military, so… things are starting to creep up."

"You just remember why you're there. Why you're risking your life and you handle the discipline like you would handle any other that involved dereliction of duty. On the upside… I've gotten to perform a marriage or two on my ship."

The brunette grinned and took a quick spoonful of her treat then replied, "I would appreciate you giving your insight to our military commanders when you have the opportunity."

"I would be happy to assist your officers in anyway I could."

"Thank you, but I do wonder how that works with starship captains though."

"Pardon?"

"How do captains handle… romantic liaisons on such long deep space missions?"

Freddie politely smile and answered, "By the time most officers reach the captaincy, they usually have families and it isn't an issue."

"And those that don't…" She quickly shut her mouth, feeling that she had been beyond insensitive.

Freddie politely smiled, trying to appear that the remark didn't hit a nerve and answered, "I know there are a few starship captains that have spouses among the crew… there's an odd correlation I've noticed between commanding officers and the medical personnel…"

Tori's smile tightened, instantly thinking about Jade and if there was something going on between him and the doctor.

"Others seem to swear off relationships and the most important person to them is their ship and then there is the third…" He couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

"The third?"

"It's kind of embarrassing to admit, but some are… not shy about being quite free in engaging with relations, especially with news species encountered, bringing a whole new meaning to 'first contact'. I ah… know of one captain already having a reputation of being quite the ladies man."

Tori slightly nodded her head to the side and answered with a mischievous grin, "I'm glad that they sent a gentleman like yourself instead of him. I might be too worried about his charms than trying to focusing on negotiations for an alliance."

"I think he would be the one with his hands full as I'm not sure he'd know how to handle a strong woman like you. I believe he's more into the 'damsel-in-distress' type women or so is my impression of his reputation."

She let out a giggle and glanced down at her ice cream.

The captain relaxed back in his seat and asked with a smile breaking out on his face, "What?"

"Ah, you're the one that had to rescue me, remember? I was the one that was trapped in a cell and you had to come and get me."

He acknowledged with a nod to the side of his head and answered in a teasing tone, "And if I recall, you're the one that got us out of there. Blasted a vent then going down a shoot…"

"I concede your point," she answered with a laugh.

The pair shared a smile about being able to laugh at the harrowing experience. "Would it be too presumptuous for me to ask which one are you?"

"Out of what?"

"The options you just said are available for starship captains… who don't have families already… which I'm sorry about. I'm sure she was a very good woman…"

Freddie nodded along and added, "She was the best…"

"So… you're not involved with Jade? She is the doctor of your crew."

Freddie cracked a smile that brushed away the ghost of his wife in his head. "Ah no, we're not involved."

"You seem pretty close to me and she cares about you."

He glanced to his ice cream for another scoop. "Jade is my former sister-in-law."

Tori knotted her brow and asked, "She's your sister?"

"She was my wife's sister, so we're family."

The Princess's brow rose and she answered with something glace to a laugh, "Oh… that would explain it."

"Explain it?"

"Why you see so at ease with one another."

He bashfully smiled. "Yes, we've known each other for a long time and we're very dear to one another."

Tori forced a smile, trying to hide the fact that she couldn't discount the possibility that something more could develop between the starship captain and the doctor.

Freddie casually continued, "As for number two, my crew is the most important thing to me. She might be my ship, but she can be replaced. They can't… deep space exploration is dangerous and I've fortunately haven't lost anyone, but I've lost a few fighting the Empire…" He seemed to gaze past her shoulder and let his mind wonder off thousands of light years.

"I'm sorry… I wish I could have done more to stop him before all this happened."

"We do what we can with what we have. That's all we can do."

They turned back to their ice cream to quietly enjoy the treat for their respective reasons, one an alien food and the other a guilty pleasure between Senate hearings without being too weighed down with their situation.

After Tori reached about halfway done with her treat, she cautiously commented, "You don't take me as being number three of the types of starship captains, so…"

He shared a humorous smile and answered, "Ah no, don't live that way. I guess I'm kind of in a category all my own for right now…"

"I'm probably prying with this question, but… have you thought about moving on?"

He chuckled and replied, "That's pretty direct for a politician."

"Sorry," she replied with an embarrass smile and looked to her ice cream.

"I know Carly would want me to move on and be happy, but… it still hurts and I'm still trying to find my… place again on how to live without her. I take it one day at a time and though I might backslide sometimes, it does get a little better each day."

Tori nodded in sympathy and added, "Well, I hope you find that place one day."

"Thank you…" He raised his spoon and added, "…this is really good ice cream."

"Yeah, it's the best," Tori returned his smile, glad that she could still lift his spirits.

"When all this is done and we've won, you have to take a trip with me back to my home city on Earth where I can introduce you to the best slushies in the galaxy."

The brunette's smile broke into a larger one, as she accepted his invitation as a date. "Oh, you can count on it." She raised her cup of ice cream to him where he naturally raised his to toast and bumped them together.

They cradled their respective cups and continued on their treats, enjoying each other's company.

Dagobah
Outer Rim

The trio reached the small creature's small dwelling just before the rain started pouring down, a baroque mud hut built at the base of one of the mighty trees and on the banks of a small lagoon, the tree's protruding large root system serving as strong skeleton for the structure. Unfortunately, the stout little droid was too large to enter the structure, so he was left out and subjected to the rain. As it began to downpour on him, the drops were making a soothing tune with striking his dome head.

Inside the home, a soft glow shined out and through the windows to act as a beacon in the increasingly dreary swamp. Artoo lifted on his tip-toes to spy inside the home, a plain and cozy dwelling with the items and handmade furniture was proportioned to the small creature's size. Trina stood out like a sore thumb with her size, having to sit cross legged on the floor, but fortunately had plenty of headroom in that position in what would be considered the leaving room.

The friendly creature was in the little kitchen busily cooking them dinner. There was a small wooden stove with a number of pots and pans sitting on top of it. Trina impatiently watched as the stout creature went about chopping and shredding various ingredients and showering the meal with various native herbs and spices. After he finished, he went about putting platters on the small table in front of Trina.

Trina forced a smile and impatiently informed him, "Look, I'm sure it's delicious. I just don't understand why we can't see Nug Nug now."

He replied with a cheerful voice, "Patience! For the Jedi it is time to eat as well. Eat, eat. Hot. Good food, hm? Good, hmm?"

Trina scooted closer to what could be considered the kitchen of the small hut, particularly the stove with the pot being warmed. She took the small bowl off the table and reached with her other hand to the spoon sticking out of the pot. She served herself and placed a bit of the green thick soup into her bowl. The brunette took a quick glance and sniff of the concoction, briefly reminding her of some of the homemade skin care products she used to use. She took a quick taste and was pleasantly surprised by the tastiness. She curiously asked between her mouthfuls of the thick soup, "How far away is Nug Nug? Will it take us long to get there?"

He happily answered as he stirred the pot, "Not far. Nug Nug not far. Patience. Soon you will be with him." He pulled the spoon from the pot and took a nibble from the end of the wooden spoon. "Rootleaf, I cook. Why wish you become Jedi? Hm?"

Trina looked off to the side, out one of the windows with a half-hearted smile and answered with a wistful tone, "Because I have to be strong for my friends… to be able to fight the Empire and maybe… maybe because of my father, I guess. I wanted him to be proud of me…"

"Ah, your father. Powerful Jedi was he, powerful Jedi, mmm."

She turned her gaze away from the window and snapped a little anger in her voice, "Oh, come on. How could you know my father? You don't even know who I am." She shook her head, her patience for the host running out. "Oh, I don't even know what I'm doing here. We're wasting our time."

The creature's cheerful voice vanished and was replace with a tired and gruff voice, someone that had seen and done far more in life than would appear at first glance, "I cannot teach her. The girl has no patience."

Trina turned her head back to the host, wondering why he was suddenly talking to himself in a different voice.

Sikowitz's disembodied voice answered, "She will learn patience."

The fighter pilot's eyes went wide and glanced around, hearing Sikowitz's voice then looking to the creature as he turned to face her. His expression was stern and gaze piercing, causing Trina to quickly reevaluate him and realizing that the irritating being had been Nug Nug the entire time.

Nug Nug took a deep breath then answered, "Hmmm. Much anger in her, like her father."

Sikowitz answered, "Was I any different when you taught me?"

The living Jedi master kept an intimidating stare at Trina as he replied, "Hah. She is not ready."

Trina snapped, incised that coming this far that she would be denied, "Nug Nug! I am ready. I... Sikowitz! I can be a Jedi. Sikowitz, tell him I'm ready."

In agitation, Trina tried to stand up, but in her zest, she forgot about the limited headroom and bumped the top of her head. "Oh!" She quickly sat down and rubbed the top of her head.

Nug Nug mockingly answered with a grin forming on his face, "Ready, are you? What know you of ready? For eight hundred years have I trained Jedi. My own counsel will I keep on who is to be trained!" He snorted out a breath, "A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind." He glanced to the ceiling while nodded his head towards the hopeful Jedi trainee. "This one a long time have I watched. Never her mind on where she was. Hmm? What she was doing." He looked back to Trina and poked her shoulder with the end of his staff. "Hmph. Adventure. Heh! Excitement. Heh! A Jedi craves not these things." He leaned forward and sternly finished, "You are reckless!"

Trina snorted out in disgust and challenged him, "Adventure? Excitement?" She sarcastically laughed then continued in a cold voice, "I'm in a middle of a war where I don't know if I'll be dead or alive tomorrow… a war where I've already seen enough of my friends die… a war you didn't finish by beating Nevel when you had the chance!"

The Jedi Master made a face, clearly emotionally struck by her accusation. He turned away and waddled to the kitchen with his shoulders hunched, perhaps embarrassed by her point.

Trina thought she may have offended him, but she didn't care as she pushed one, "I need to become a Jedi so I can stay alive a little longer and help my friends do the same and maybe one day face Nevel and end this!"

Sikowitz called out, "She's right. She has to become a Jedi."

Nug Nug turned back again, locking eyes with Trina then attempted to brush her off, "She is too old. Yes, too old to begin the training…"

Trina narrowed her gaze on him, believing that she was sensing a slight softening in his position. She tiredly answered, "We don't have much of a choice… besides, I've learned a lot so far."

Nug Nug turned a penetrating gaze to Trina as if he could see through her and determine how much she had actually learned. He turned his gaze away from Trina and asked the disembodied voice with a sigh, "Will he finished what he begins?"

Trina leaned forward and around to meet his gaze and fiercely answered, "I won't fail you - I'm not afraid."

Nug Nug leaned forward, giving a menacing sneer, "Oh, you will be. You will be."

IKV Thunderchild (English Translation)
Klodode-Class D7 Battlecruiser
41st Squadron, Northern Theater
In orbit of Planet Farlin
Sector 1407
Klingon Space

Captain K'André, a proud and promising young starship captain with the decorations on his silver tonic uniform shirt over his black long-sleeved undershirt could attest, clenched his jaw tightly as he sat in his command chair on the bridge and held the PADD, reading the latest intelligence report of the conquest of this so-called 'Galactic Empire' ravaging the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. In the last four weeks this human 'Empire' was chewing through known space at an alarming rate.

The Lizards were in near full retreat and they would be forced to fight over their homeworlds in about two weeks at the pace they were falling back. They were a second rate power, constantly hamstrung by their civilian government in expanding their military to effectively challenge the Romulans and Federation and now they were paying for it. However, it was telling on how big a threat that these other humans were facing if the Gorn could be overran in such a short order.

The newly contacted Cardassians on the Klingon's 'Northern' boarder were being overrun by this new enemy was what caused K'André great annoyance. All reports coming from the various intelligence services said they were a hardy people, but fairly weak, incompetent and too divisive to truly become a major power. The only reason the Klingons hadn't decided to roll over them in short order, other than the increasing tensions of the last several years with the Federation drawing most of the Empire's attention, is that they were just as resource poor as the Empire and that there wouldn't be a return on the cost on the invasion and occupation least long filling the Empire's coffers with plunder and desperately needed resources. So despite his annoyance, their inability to effectively mount a defense against invasion was only expected, but that meant the Empire would have to further fortify their northern border and draw forces from the Federation border.

Those two pieces of news wasn't the worst. If what was happening in Cardassian space irritated him, the reports from the battles within the borders of the Federation gave him pause. Star Fleet was giving ground to this 'empire' and if the intelligence reports from the GRU were true that the main fleet engaging them was being lead by a recently promoted Steven Shay to Vice Admiral then it was a cause for great concern. The only bit of reassurance he felt was the much overlooked point of the report on the Federation: Star Fleet was in a fighting retreat. They weren't being routed or desperately fleeing, no, they were making these 'Imperials' pay for every parsec of space with blood.

Several admirals and generals in the Military High Command and some starship commanders in his squadron thought the Federation was soft and weak, the humans in particular with their compassion, obtaining of worlds and resources through exploration and mutual trade instead of through conquest. The reports of constant retreats in face of this Human Empire led credence to those who believed that about the humans with shaming themselves with cowardliness in not standing and fighting.

He knew better.

He had fought the Star Fleet several times in his career in boarder skirmishes (including several battles against one Captain Benson after the death of his wife) that eventually led to recently the Four Days War that was supposed to be the opening shots of what certain human religions would call 'Armageddon' and would have determined the fate of the galaxy for the next ten thousand years if it hadn't been for those damn Organians interfering and in all those encounters. Weakness was never a lesson he drew from the humans.

No, what he learned far different lessons from them.

He shared the opinion of Commander Kor, the original military governor of Organia during the brief occupation of the planet before the war was aborted, that the humans were a predatory species as much as the Klingons. They where ferocious, cunning, resourceful and would defend what was theirs with everything at their disposal and then some with honor. He believed some Klingons refused to admit to such conclusions about the humans due to it meaning they were far too similar to the Slirdarians, the only subject race that had never yielded to the Klingons (and only ones truly respected as equals by ethnic Klingons) and the Klingons would have lost 'Armageddon' if the Organians hadn't interfered due to there being so many humans in the galaxy.

Furthermore, in his mind and a few others, they saw the Federation in quite a different light. Instead of mongrel power of weak humans sharing everything, the humans were really in charge and the other races were just as much subject races as the Klingons treated the sentient races within their own borders, but they just didn't realize they were subject races. The humans had made their matriarchal Centaurans cousins basically subservient to their wishes, the Vulcans their intellectual puppets, the Andorians their secondary soldiers and businessmen while organizing the other founding and joining members into various other castes as they saw fit.

K'André was pulled out of his musings when the klaxon sounded throughout the ship.

The Captain barked, "Report!"

The sensor operator shouted, "Shields have automatically risen. Sensors indicated about one hundred vessels just appearing in the system at one point five million qeli'qams from Farlin. I can't get an accurate count; there is too much electronic interference."

K'André growled at having zero warning with these new arrivals who he assumed must be the human Imperials. He shouted, "Sound battle stations, tie us into the sensor relays and engage electronic countermeasures."

A series of ayes were shouted throughout the ship as officer and crew hurried to their battle stations.

ISD Relentless
Imperial I-class Star Destroyer
Flagship of the Open Circle Fleet

High Admiral Mason Thornesmith idly watched from the end of the bridge out of the viewport as his ninety ship strong fleet moved as one in a roughly spherical formation towards the Klingons' outer defenses of the planet. He apparently caught them entirely off guard and hadn't been able to detect their approach.

The Emperor had personally chosen him to lead the offensive to secure the Imperial navy's forward right flank and start pacifying the Klingons. The last thing the Empire needed was for the Klingons to come to the aid of the Cardassians or effectively hook up with the Federation on a united front. The other reason was that the Empire needed a victory to play back at home after the humiliating defeat of Admiral Howard at the hands of the Federation.

Howard was an arrogant fool and had been so desperate to fight and crush the humans on this side of the galaxy that he allowed himself to be goaded right into a trap with only a third of his fleet in support that cost him his life and practically that portion of his fleet. He would not make the same absurd mistake of not bringing the necessary force to subdue a system. There was a reason there was a specification of the number of assets needed to secure a system.

Mason knew better from his campaigns in the Outer Rim, the other reason why he was the right man for the job as he had made a name for himself during the Clone Wars in 'liberating' dozens of systems in the dangerous Outer Rim for the Republic and securing them in order to deny the Separatists valuable resources and bases of operation. He understood that an enemy that can not match you in direct combat is not going to offer you the chance at such a thing. They would engage and retreat when it suited them to whittle down your forces, so you had to approach the strategic situation quite differently. He had thought about giving some advice to Admiral Briggs that had took over for Howard so she wouldn't make the same mistake as him, but figured it was a waste of breath and why give the incompetent woman a leg up? After he pacified the Klingons, he'd most like have to take over for her and bring the Federation to heel, thus raising his profile and standing. The Emperor and Empress couldn't reign forever…

He motioned his head towards one of the bridge pits then took a breath and began in a surprisingly British accent, "This is High Admiral Thornesmith of the Imperial Star Destroyer Relentless. This system now belongs to the Galactic Empire and you are subjects of the Empire. All military forces will disarm any offensive weapons and surrender. This is your only warning."

He didn't expect them to do any such thing from the intelligence reports about them, but he would at least offer them the chance. Winning a battle without having to fire a shot would preserve his forces and play well back at home.

The High Admiral's suspicions were confirmed moments later when Klingon picket ships opened fire on his lead vessels. They returned fire and quickly gutted the offending frigates and destroyers.

The Venator-class Star Destroyers occupying his fleet opened their dorsal launch bays and hundreds of fighters started soaring out to provide a fighter screen against the Klingons lighter vessels. Instead of the first generation TIE fighters that most of the invasion fleet was phasing in and had been shown to be so ineffective against the Federation and Gorn, Mason's fleet depended on the fighters that had served him well in the Clone Wars, the battle tested V-19 Torrent and Nimbus-class V-wing starfighters along with the ARC-170s fighter/bombers. They would provide a far greater threat to the Klingons than other fighters.

Dozens of ARC-170s escorted by V-wings rushed from the fleet and towards various sensor buoys scattered hundreds of thousands of kilometers away from the planet, deploying their proton torpedoes and sweeping them aside in an effort to partially blind the defenders.

The Klingons was one of the few star nations that actively deployed fighters and several dozen were on scattered patrol. They along with several E3 corvettes, better known as Birds-of-Prey, shredded several escort fighters trying to make a pass at one of the sensor buoys with their phasers and disrupters. They were met with the ARCs sparing a few of their proton torpedoes in the direction of the Birds-of-Prey, giving them an unpleasant surprise as the lead one's 'head' was blown to pieces and the ship spun out of control.

The Klingon fighters were overwhelmed with additional V-wings and the Birds-of-Prey became more cautious as the Torrents joined the fray with concussion missiles, turning the organized lines into an all out melee dogfight of swooping past one another trying to stay alive for another second. As the Torrents and Nimbus fighters held off the Klingon fighters and lighter vessels, the ARCs were free to cut a blind spot in the Klingons' sensor net.

ISD Relentless
Imperial I-class Star Destroyer

Mason walked to the back of the bridge to watch the holographic projection of the surrounding space, subconsciously rubbing a finger under his bottom lip as he watched about a hundred Klingon vessels regrouping from their patrols and clearing from docking with the Battlestation in orbit of the planet to form up and offer a head-to-head battle. He had pored over every after-action report from the Imperial Navy's engagement with the Federation Star Fleet and there was never a case where they would offer direct challenge to the Imperial forces they engaged, however these Klingons were apparently quite different in how they conducted battle.

He smirked as he was quite pleased, it would make it quite easy to kill them. If Howard had a grave instead of atomized bits floating in space, he'd be spinning in it at being denied his chance at a real fleet battle about to take place. Perhaps they should have been given different assignments.

As the fleets closed range, hundreds of phaser, disrupters, magnetic charges and warp capable fusion warhead tipped drones (missiles) fired in wild abandonment at the Imperials. The Klingons either couldn't due to the jamming or chose not to coordinate their fire against the Imperials, so various ships were hit by their fire, but their shields shrugged it off as it was so little fire on individual ships.

The Imperials responded in kind, but in a far more coordinated effort with various grades of turbolaser and ion cannon fire.

The Klingon flagship, a C6 Dreadnaught, IKV Victory (English translation) looking like a grey bird with a long bulky neck with a head at the end, was outright obliterated along with two dozen other vessels making up the core of the fleet formation.

Chaos rippled throughout the formation of who was next in the chain of command with several simultaneous sending out fleet wide signals that they were assuming command. Some were ordering for them to continue to close and engage the Imperials at knife fighting range so they couldn't concentrate their fire and risk friendly fire while others ordered to break off and regroup.

The fleet literally split in two as one portion drove forward while the smarter commanders, K'André being one of them, broke formation with several vessels following, jumped to warp to get out of the battle zone then reformed to engage the Imperials at low warp speeds.

The first group continued surging forward and slipped inside the formation of Imperial vessels, strafing with phasers and disrupters at targets of opportunity, relatively safe from the fleet's heavier cannons as their point defense cannons were more of a nuisance than a threat. The Klingon fire was just as wasteful as none of their vessels were a one-on-one match for any of the Imperial vessels, yet they were targeting them as such.

However, it wasn't as much a stalemate at the moment inside the mixed ranks as it first appeared. The fighter screen gave chase and pumped proton torpedoes and concussion missiles into their shields, starting to score significant hits, particularly into the lighter Klingon vessels that then left them open for destruction by the fleet's point defense batteries.

Klingon ships were snuffed out in hellish radioactive fire as they dodged and weaved among the fleet. Another dozen died that way until the others realized the futility of this form of attack and raced out as quickly as possible from the fleet in various directions. Once they cleared the fleet, they engaged at high impulse to get out of range (or so they hoped) of the Imperials' weapons. The fighter screen broke off pursuit to remain under the protection of the fleet's guns.

The other Klingons that had broke off, about three dozen, and not decided to fight at knife fighting range had successfully regrouped and were about to make their attack run. The Romulans had learned the hard way during the Earth-Romulan war at the disadvantage of fighting tactical warp capable starships while they themselves were limited to sub-light speeds and the Klingons intended to teach these Imperial Humans the same lesson.

However, Mason would have none of that as the Interdictors among his fleet had engaged their jamming in strategic places around the fleet, the same jamming that had interfered with Star Fleet's warp maneuvering.

Apparently the sensor operators ignored the interference or didn't know what to make of it, so they didn't inform their respective captains. They made their runs across the port side of the spherical formation and decided to coordinate their fire this time, pouring on the phaser and disruptor fire and managing to kill an Imperial Dreadnaught-class heavy cruiser.

Unfortunately, some shuddered as they flew through the interference while some dropped out of warp. The Imperials brought their batteries onto them immediately and fired. They were still racing past at high impulse speed, so some were fortunate enough to get out of the line of fire in time, but others were annihilate from the hail of green turbolaser fire.

IKV Thunderchild
Klodode-Class D7 Battlecruiser

K'André clenched the ends of his armrests as his ship shuddered around him as the Thunderchild completed her pass. He shouted, "What was that!?"

His science officer shouted in return while he was nearly glued to his monitor, "Some kind of interference affecting our warp bubble from the delta shaped ships with globes integrated into their hulls. We're lucky we didn't drop out of warp. We can't make another pass at warp against them."

The captain spat in disgust, "And we can't do it at impulse with their comparable sublight drives." He looked to the viewscreen and saw the human Imperials' next move.

A half a dozen Venator-class Star Destroyers broke away from the rest of the fleet with several Carrack-class light cruisers, white rectangular vessels with the ends slightly turned up, providing a screen against any Klingon vessel or fighter that wanted to make a run at them. The delta shaped destroyers angled their respective bows down to bring all their heavy dual turbolaser turrets to bear on the battlestation and opened fire at their maximum setting. The equivalent of about one hundred planetary grade phaser cannons was targeted to one side of the station, demonstrating the term 'overkill' as they turned the station into a nova of light of energetic particles with a great number of the turbolaser bolts continuing and striking the planet's planetary shields.

The ships continued forward and started taking up geosynchronous orbit around the planet.

IKV Thunderchild
Klodode-Class D7 Battlecruiser

K'André growled through clenched teeth as he watched the Imperial humans sweep aside the rest of the fleet, orbiting battlestation and defense stations to start bombarding the planetary shield. There was fortunately return fire from the surface at the invaders. The delta shaped vessels backed away, but continued to fire down on the planet as other Imperial ships joined them.

He shouted in frustration to his chief navigator Lieutenant Commander Krohl, "Navigation, set course for Starbase Fifteen-Zero-Six execute warp seven once we've cleared the orbit of the gas giant. Communications, order the rest of the squadron to do the same."

Krohl deeply frowned at him, but plotted the course without remark.

His lovely communications officer that could be mistaken for a model if not in her uniform, K'Tasha nodded her head and proceeded to fulfill his order with expected professionalism.

The battlecruiser along with the remaining half of the 41st Squadron and other vessels of the fleet headed out of the system at high impulse then jumped to warp several minutes later. In fifteen minutes of fighting, the Imperial Humans had butchered half the stationed Klingon fleet and driven it out of the system.

ISD Relentless
Imperial I-class Star Destroyer

Mason let a small smile play on his face as he watched from the viewport as the fleet spread out to sweep aside the remaining defensive platforms and continued planetary bombardment. Soon they would be landing troops to secure the key points of the planet. He expected hard fighting for his troops, but his troops were battle hardened and experienced from the Clone Wars with the latest equipment and complete air superiority. He would control this planet and this system for the Empire and would crush any that opposed.

As he calculated the time he expected to secure the necessary points on the plant, his administrative assistant, Chelsea (whom he trusted far more than some of his subordinate officers) walked to his side with an electronic clipboard and politely asked, "Admiral?"

He passed her a quick glance as he enjoyed the sight of his ships cracking the enemy's planetary shields and striking at their ground based weapons. "Yes?"

"The rest of the superiority fleet report they have destroyed the Klingon's battle stations in the neighboring sectors and either destroyed or driven off the garrison border ships."

He smirked and commented, "Excellent. Send my complements to the commanders and order them to proceed to destroy the Klingons in sectors seventeen-zero-seven and eighteen-zero-seven then rendezvous back here once they have completed their objective."

"Yes sir," she answered with a smile then turned to carry out her orders.

He turned his full attention back to the viewport and watched as the first Acclamator-class assault ships started their entries into the atmosphere.

Dagobah
Outer Rim

The morning sun had risen over the rich and lively plant a few hours ago, giving a least a little more light to the dark and foreboding swamp, so that Trina could see as she climbed one of the think vines growing among the old and magnificent trees with Nug Nug strapped to her back.

She panted heavily as she finished climbing onto a branch and started running until she reached the end of it and flipped through the air and safely landing on her feet down below. She allowed her momentum to carry her as she continued running, jumping over thick roots and racing along the undergrowth while the fog thickened.

As she continued on her obstacle course, Nug Nug encouraged her, "Run! Yes. A Jedi's strength flows from the Force, but beware of the dark side. Anger...fear...aggression. The dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Sikowitz's apprentice.

Trina paused as she climbed up one of the thick roots to a mighty tree. She looked over her shoulder and remarked, "Vega. Is the dark side stronger?"

The diminutive creature shook his head and answered, "No...no...no. Quicker, easier, more seductive."

The Jedi-in-training asked the obvious question, "But how am I to know the good side from the bad?"

Nug Nug patted his hand on her bare shoulder and assured her, "You will know. When you are calm, at peace. Passive. A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack."

"But tell me why I can't..."

The master shook his head and interrupted, "No, no, there is no why. Nothing more will I teach you today. Clear your mind of questions. Mmm. Mmmmmm."

Trina knelt down and lets Nug Nug climb off her back, hearing Artoo beeping faintly in the distance. She raced after several deep breaths as she walked to the little droid and reached for her jacket hanging over the branch. She may have been sweating, but the swamp was chilly. She pulled one sleeve on, but suddenly stopped when she turned and noticed a dark and dead tree in the distance. She finished pulling the dull brown flight jacket on as she studied the monstrous looking tree, its giant root system poking from the ground and forming a cave on one side of it.

She narrowed her gaze and whispered, "There's something not right here."

Nug Nug quietly sat on a large root, randomly poking the end of his staff into the dirt.

The starfighter pilot continued in a weary whisper, "I feel cold, death."

The Jedi Master looked up and answered, "That place...is strong with the dark side of the Force. A domain of evil it is. In you must go."

The brunette young woman whipped her head around and stared at him for a few moments before muttering, "What's in there?"

He answered in an ominous tone, "Only what you take with you."

She looked back at him warily then looked at the tree then back at him. She picked up her belt with the attached holster then started buckling it.

Nug Nug quietly suggested, "Your weapons...you will not need them."

"I feel death in there and you tell me the dark side resides in there, but I don't need my weapons?" She shook her head and finished buckling her belt then reaching down to fasten the thigh strap. "There is only so much going on faith with you without you answering basic questions—and not in riddles."

The diminutive creature shrugged his shoulders, apparently not offended by the insult.

She started towards the tree, pausing once she reached the entrance then reached up to one of the overhead roots for balance to proceed inside.

Trina carefully moved into the nearly pitch black cave, damp and slimy on the walls' surface. She squinted to try to make out what was further inside as she carefully stepped further inside. She glances to her side a lizard crawling up one while from the left corner of her eye, a snake wrapped around one of the smaller roots.

After several more steps, the cave widens and suddenly she feels something in her bones, her very being of something dark and unnatural. Her surroundings become very quiet, too quiet with the abundance of life in the swamp.

The silence was broken with a snapping hiss, one she instantly recognized as a lightsaber activating then a crimson colored blade pierce the darkness. The next moment, Vega steps out from the darkness, the blood red blade shinning off his polished mask, helmet and armor. He charges at Trina, but fortunately for the young woman, she's able to grab her saber and activate it in one smooth motion.

The armored figure raised his blade up high, intending to strike her down, but she was able to back step with her left foot and swing out towards him.

Vega's momentum is too great for his all out charge and isn't quick enough to parry away the blade, allowing it to pass without challenge and through his neck, decapitating him in an instant.

His mask/helmet covered head flew off from his shoulders in a random direction as his body collapsed and lightsaber deactivated. The helmet hit the neighboring wall and bounced, rolling back to Trina's feet.

She took a few deep breaths, trying to come down from the rush of adrenaline that went through her, and looked down at the helmet. She just examined it for a moment, trying to process how Vega could have tracked her down and how she was so easily able to dispatch him. Her thoughts were interrupted when the helmet exploded in a cackling sound, breaking off the facemask.

A puff of smoke obscured her vision for a few moments until it cleared enough to make out the face.

She took a step back in shock then bewilderment at seeing that it was her face. She blinked several times then squinted and muttered, "What the chizz?"

Outside the cave, Nug Nug ideally sat, drawing in the dirt with the end of his staff.

Author's note: So, as you can see, one princess is definitely interesting in our brave captain, Kirk got bashed a little bit, we met up with André (he doesn't have a forehead ridge as these are TOS Klingons) and Mason fighting it out and Trina puzzled by her challenge. I forgot to mention in my last update, I have adapted part of the script from one movie as I used to do with the Victorious episodes during some of my other stories. I hope you enjoyed, OneHorseShay