30 Worlds: Royal Megaforce, Episode Final: "Masters of the Ultimate Power"

FINAL BOOK*CHAPTER FIVE

Aboard Dimensional Defense Vessel Gansett SAV-92845

Main Bridge

Approaching Planet Athian Prime

"Incoming hail from the Enterprise-D. It's the Sixth Doctor," Zenon said.

"On screen, Zenon," William said.

The virtual viewscreen activated, revealing the Sixth Doctor. Standing next to him was Commodore Geordi LaForge.

"Your Majesty, as you can see, I have completed my mission," Six said. "Commodore La Forge is safely aboard the Enterprise-D and has assumed command."

"Thank you, Doctor," William said. "Commodore La Forge, I humble apologize for stealing all of your exhibits."

"As far as I am concerned, King William, you didn't steal a thing," La Forge said. He then turned to face Six. "Doctor, you had better get back to your TARDIS and tell Peri to hang on. It's gonna get bumpy in a few moments."

Six nodded, then exited the Enterprise-D's Bridge. La Forge then turned back to face his viewscreen's sensors. "So what's the plan?" he asked.

"Xur and I will need to fight," William said. "So, once we arrive, our combined forces will confront the A.I.C. fleet while Xur and I square off."

"Be careful, Your Majesty," La Forge said. "It is my understanding that Queen Sofia is expecting twins. You don't want them to grow up without a father, do you?"

"Not at all, Geordi," William said. "May the wind be at our backs. Gansett, out."

The virtual viewscreen shut down, revealing the clear image of the Gansett and the rest of the combined Scarlett Army/Starfleet Museum armada cruising through subspace. William took a deep breath and turned to Tori, who was seated at the helm.

"Tori, prepare to drop out of hyper-light on my signal," William said.

"Got ya, Your Majesty," Tori said.

William then turned to the tactical console. "Zasha, arm all weapons," William commanded.

Zasha simply nodded, then began to obey William's command.

William then turned to Zenon. "Zee, open an armada-wide channel and tell all ships to slow to sub-light and ready all defensive systems," William ordered.

"Acknowledged," Zenon said. "Attention, all ships. Prepare to exit subspace on King William's signal. Arm all weapons. Repeating: Prepare to exit subspace on King William's command. Prepare all weapons. Gansett, out."

William drummed his fingers on the arms of the command chair for a moment before gesturing to the window at the front of the Bridge.

"Slow to sublight, all ships...now!" William said.

On the viewscreen, the rainbow starstreaks reverted to normal pinpricks of light. Through the blank window, William saw thirty A.I.C. ships surrounding the Fleet Museum starbase.

"Zenon, hail the Great Leader's dreadnought. I want to speak to that son-of-a-bitch Xur," William said as he rose to his feet. Zenon determinedly nodded, then opened the channel.

The virtual viewscreen reactivated, revealing Xur. He was seated in a throne on the Bridge of his dreadnought. "Ah, King William. How good it it is..." he started to say.

William shook his head, then pointed towards where Xur was on the Gansett's viewscreen. "No, no, no, Xur. You don't get to talk. Just listen," William said. "You and your people have taken everything from me: my family, my peace...now I'm gonna take something from you: your life!"

Both William and Xur disappeared from their ships' Bridges. For a moment, silence reigned as the Bridge crew tried to digest the confrontation they had just borne witness to.

The silence was broken when the comm sounded. "Sickbay to Bridge," a voice called out.

"This is Princess Consort Mal, Doc," Mal said. "What's going on?"

"Is King William available?" Dr. Joanne "Doc" McStuffins asked.

"King William is...indisposed...at the moment, Doc," Mal said. "Is something wrong?"

"Then you had better get him disposed quickly," Doc said. "Queen Sofia is in labor."

As soon as both William and Xur resolved from the red mist inside the Fleet Museum's central atrium, William collapsed to his knees.

"Oh, what's the matter, King William?!" Xur said derisively.

"Oh, no. Oh, no no no. Not now," William thought as he struggled back to his feet—his staff (in the form of a Klingon bat'leth) at the ready. He then had an idea and tore the Amulet of Astris from around his neck—throwing it away from him. It disappeared in red mist before hitting the deck.

Back on the Bridge of the Gansett, Mal and the rest of the Bridge crew watched as a tower of red mist formed in mid-air. It resolved into the Amulet of Astris, which slammed into the bulkhead before finally hitting the Bridge deck.

"What was that all about?" Koska said.

"Looks like the odds are now even, Miss Reeves," Mal said. Suddenly, an A.I.C. weapon struck the Gansett. The Bridge shook as Mal made her way to the command chair and activated its restraints. "It's all up to King William now," Mal thought.

::TBC::