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Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: Re: REQUEST: could someone repost The Return?
From: [e-mail] (Howard Chu)
Date: 4 Apr 92 02:51:00 GMT


Here ya go, parts 1-7 of The Return, fresh from my personal disks...  }-)
For those of you following the alternate continuation, note that it picks up
from the end of part 6, while my part 7 is included here. Part 8 to be posted
sometime after I've filed my income tax return...
  -- Howard


                           T H E   R E T U R N
                                   by
                               Howard Chu

A "Star Trek: The Next Generation" meets "Star Wars" story/script.  This
material was distributed in the rec.arts.startrek and
alt.startrek.creative news groups on Usenet during April 1991.  This copy
was obtained from the author on 17 April 1991.  Comments and criticism
should be directed to the author, [e-mail] (Internet).
=========================================================================

Laforge: All's well that ends well, eh Reg?

Barclay: I-if you say so, Commander.  P-personally, I thought th-things
were well in hand.

Laforge: Yeah, I can see how you might have looked at things that way. Still,
I'm glad we're going to be getting some shore leave soon. It may just be a
starbase, but it's better than trying to analyze the ship's computer logs
on the ship's computer itself.

Barclay: I c-could've done that a-a lot more easily, you know...

Laforge: Well, yeah. Anyway.... I just feel a lot more comfortable about things
this way, you know?

<break to>

Riker: Well, we actually got to make contact with a new life form, and rather
painlessly, in fact. I wish all our missions were so productive.

Picard: Indeed, Number One. Although I think I've had enough reminders of just
how little we know about the galaxy we inhabit. I hesitate to say so, but I
must admit that I'm looking forward to a little shore leave myself.

Troi: Shore-leave, Captain? You? If I couldn't read the thoughts myself I would
swear that you're joking.

Picard: Now Counselor -

Troi: Relax, Captain. You know *I'm* only joking...

(strained chuckles between Picard and Riker)

Riker: So we're going to Starbase 42... Isn't that slightly unusual for a
simple shore leave and ugprade stop?

Picard: In what way, Number One?

Riker: Well, it's so close to the Romulan Neutral Zone, as I recall it's more
of a monitoring post than a resort, if you know what I mean.

Data: In fact, Commander, Starbase 42 has three AAA-class hotels with over
4000 room occupancy and regular tours of gourmet cuisine and diverse
entertainment, as well as

Picard: Thank you Data, that will be enough for now.

Data: Yes, sir.

Picard: At any rate, Will, it should be fairly interesting, also being
situated so close to the galactic rim. Since we're here already I'm just
happy to have refit facilities so near at hand.

<bleep>

Worf: Sir, incoming message from Base Commander Stone at starbase 42.

Picard: Onscreen, Lieutenant.

Worf: Aye sir. (pause) It is double-encoded sir, the secondary transmission is
for you only.

(pause, meaningful glances...)

Picard: I'll take it in my ready room. Number One, you have the con.

Riker: Aye sir. (pause, till Picard exits) So much for R&R...

<cut to ready-room, Picard seated, facing Stone on viewer>

Picard: Greetings Commander, to what do I owe the honor of a doubly-crypted
transmission? Surely the Romulans haven't broken our last codebook already...

Stone: Hello, Captain Picard. Just arranging some last minute details for
your refit here. No one knows quite what's going on with the Romulans, so
I decided to use the second code for safety. Things have moved quickly in
the ten days you were gone, Picard.

Picard: How so? The Romulans are massing for war?

Stone: Maybe, but not with the Federation. In the past week listening posts
have picked up increasing numbers of military transmissions, while all our
monitor posts have detected *fewer* Romulan warships near the Neutral Zone.

Picard: But that would mean

Stone: Starfleet thinks the Romulans have encountered a new spacefaring race,
on the far side of their territory. The drastic shift in military force
indicates that these newcomers have the Romulans worried.

Picard: And anything that would make the Romulans worried makes Starfleet
worried, of course.

Stone: Absolutely. We still don't have anything solid to go on yet, which is
why Starfleet is sending you into Romulan space.

<break. if i had any sponsors, they'd get to scream at you here.>

....Captain's Log, Stardate (N). We are enroute to Starbase 42 for debriefing
and refitting from our recent journey. The Enterprise' computer banks will
undergo a complete system dump for transcription to the Memory Alpha
archives for study, while upgrade modifications are made to the ship's systems.
During the time we were with the Zitherians, the Romulans apparently made
hostile contact with a powerful new race. The Enterprise is being sent into
the Neutral Zone and possibly into Romulan territory itself in hopes of
gaining more detailed surveillance reports.

<back to the bridge... >

Picard: Ensign, what is our estimated arrival time at Starbase 42?

Ensign: Approximately two days at our current cruising speed of warp two,
Sir.

Picard: Increase speed to warp 5, Ensign.

Ensign: Aye sir, increasing to warp factor 5.

Riker: Something we should know about, Captain?

Picard: Indeed, Number One. (toggle a switch, announce:) Senior staff meeting
in 10 minutes.

<swish on to the turbolift, swish out to the briefing room...>

Riker: So the Romulans have made a new enemy...

Picard: It appears that way, but Starfleet isn't ready to jump on mere
appearances.

Riker: Especially not after our *last* Romulan encounter, no doubt.

Picard: No doubt. But the Klingon contingent is, understandably, getting more
restless since they see an apparent weakening of their longtime enemy. They
are currently willing to keep the peace; they see the wisdom of trying to
learn more about the situation, but their impatience continues to grow.

Worf: A warrior does not go blindly into a fight. But a true warrior also
knows when the time is right to attack!

Laforge: I wonder if it's the Borg again, they reported attacks similar to the
ones we witnessed before.

Picard: At this point it's anyone's guess, since the Romulans aren't talking,
as usual. But part of our upgrades will include installation of Improved
Definition phaser arrays and control banks.

Troi: "Improved Definition" ?

Data: The Improved Definition phaser project is an offshoot of the research
undertaken after our first encounter with the Borg. It is an enhancement of
the frequency shift algorithm we employed against the Borg in our second
encounter, but does not employ all of the enhancements of the High Definition
phaser project for the new Cluster-class starship. It only involves a few of
the principles being explored in the High Definition

Picard: If we could continue please, Mr. Data.

Data: Yes Sir. Sorry, sir.

Picard: It could be the Borg, but no one knows. Still, the products of the
research taken to prepare for the Borg are the best we have for facing these
unknowns. Commander Laforge, pick 3 of your team to oversee the upgrade, the
starbase will provide the facilities and necessary manpower. You and Mr.
Data will also have responsibility for upgrading the ship's sensor arrays.
If we can get enough information without leaving the Neutral Zone then so
much the better.

Crusher: No one's even explained yet how we're going to stay in the Neutral
Zone. What's going on?

Picard: Reports indicate that the majority of the Romulan warships have been
withdrawn from the Neutral Zone to participate in whatever distant action is
occurring. The Zone is currently being patrolled by a scattered number of
frigates and police ships.

Riker: Sooo... Starfleet figures there are sparse enough patrols that we can
traipse in unnoticed, or if we are noticed, we can stare down any Romulan
who cares to make a point of it?

Picard: In essence...

<Bridge to Captain Picard: Sir, we're picking up a number of Romulan distress
calls. All frequencies, linguacoded.>

Picard: On my way. - Well, I think we've covered most of it anyway. Let's see
what these Romulans are really up to...

<break again!>

<back on the bridge>

Worf: The signals are still very faint. We are now getting enhanced signals
relayed from starbase 42.

Riker: Who ever heard of a Romulan making a distress call?

Picard: Let's see it, Lieutenant. Onscreen.

<fuzzy, unstable, jagged image of a smoking bridge, lots of transmission
noise...: To any starship, please respond ... life support failing, engines
destroyed ... >

<Image of Base Commander Stone cuts in>

Stone: Enterprise, as you can see, this Romulan is shaken up pretty badly.
The Klingons have dispatched a squadron of cloaked ships to investigate. They
should arrive in two hours, but they have not contacted the Romulans yet.
Starbase out.

Riker: Looks like the Klingons want to hog all the fun to themselves. Are
we going to let them?

Picard: Perhaps not. Ensign, increase to warp 8. We may not have time for
all the upgrades, but we can get a better perspective of things from the
starbase.

(Ensign: Increasing to warp 8.)

Picard: Commander Laforge, contact the starbase engineering staff, try to
get a head start on the phaser array upgrades.

Laforge: Aye sir...

Picard: Data, join Mr Laforge in Engineering. A fair number of systems are
targeted for modification, and I'd like to have as much covered as possible.

Data: Understood, sir.

<Data exits>

Riker: Then what?

Picard: Then? Then we see what unfolds, Number One.

<engineering...>

Laforge: Whew-ee, these plans call for some pretty comprehensive changes!
Phaser control, sensor array, warp engine output, even modifications to the
photon torpedo systems. I sure hope those R&D guys know what they're doing...

Barclay: Th-these phaser control sy-system changes look pretty s-straight-
forward. I th-think we can f-fabricate the necessary parts with the replicator.

Data: That sounds plausible. The reconfiguration should not take long.

Laforge: Great Reg. Get on it. Data, let's have a look at these new sensor
and scanner controls...

<bridge...>

Worf: Another transmission from Starbase 42, sir.

Picard: Onscreen, Lieutenant.

Stone: We're about to receive telemetry data from the Klingon ships. Patching
you in, Enterprise.

Picard: Understood, we are receiving.

<Klingon transmission cuts in... View of a littered solar system, wreckage of
a number of ships all around. Several Romulan warships can be seen maneuvering
in the distance, in various stages of cloaking/firing. Quite a firefight is
occurring, in fact. Some triangular wedge-shaped vessels are engaging the
Romulans. The wedges are much larger than the warbirds, although their weaponry
does not seem overpoweringly effective. Apparently this star system is of some
importance to the Romulans; there is an orbiting starbase and evidence of a
ground base on one of the planets. The bases are continually firing plasma
torpedoes at the strange wedge-shaped behemoths. The alien ships dwarf even the
starbase, and appear to be bristling with small beam weapons. Smaller flashes
of light are frequently seen throughout the display.>

Riker: Judging from the scale, those ships must be immense!

Troi: I sense ... great evil, Captain. Something terrible is happening out
there.

<Back to the viewer. One of the alien vessels is seen to crumple under a
concerted Romulan attack, as multiple globes of plasma energy slam into it
from all sides. The Romulans are not totally unscathed, however. Their torpedo
firing rate is relatively slow, while the aliens' smaller weapons fire much
more rapidly. The tremendous firing rate allows them to damage some warbirds
in the process of cloaking and uncloaking... The levels of energy being
released is awesome, with beams of phaser fire lancing out from Romulan
warbirds and pulsed blasts of energy spraying from the aliens.>

Picard: Evil? What do you mean?

Troi: Great malevolence is at work here. Just... Evil!

<Troi looks increasingly tense/uncomfortable...>

Riker: There's certainly something terrible out there. That must be at least
a third of the border fleet in action.

<viewer again... there is a tremendous flash of energy, temporarily blanking
out the screen. viewer dims, bridge crew shades their eyes... view returns.
apparently a meteor shower has chosen this moment to pass thru the vicinity.>

<Troi screams in agony and falls on the floor, unconscious>

Picard: Crusher to bridge, medical emergency! (stands up)

Riker: Deanna! (Rushing to her side...)

Worf: Sir! Tactical telemetry indicates the planet has disappeared! And one
of the moons in the system is now moving in a *linear* path.

Picard: Linear path? That doesn't make sense.

<on viewer... the image begins to distort and momentarily fades into noise.
The image is rocking unsteadily as it returns more clearly. No Romulan vessels
are visible, although the starbase and alien ships are still evident. The
alien ships seem to be regrouping, while another plasma globe races away
from the starbase. A brilliant beam of energy flashes out between the moon and
the starbase, which begins to glow pulsatingly. There is another blinding
flash, and then the image returns. The starbase is conspicuously absent.
Picard looks visibly shaken, somewhat pale. Troi seems to be coming around.
Dr. Crusher arrives in the turbolift. [Busy little scene, eh?]>

Crusher: What happened? Deanna, are you alright?

Troi: (moan...) I-I think so... (moan...)

Riker: But what happened?

<Riker and Crusher are still hovering over Troi, who is now sitting up on the
floor. Crusher is running one of many little feinbergs over Troi and frowning
concernedly...>

Worf: Captain, the Klingon squadron has ceased transmissions.

Picard: Acknowledged. Worf, raise Commander Stone.

Worf: Aye sir. Captain, Base Commander Stone is already hailing us.

Picard: Onscreen...

<Riker returns to his seat. Base Commander Stone is on the viewer. He too looks
a little pale.>

Stone: I hope you were watching closely, Picard, so you can tell me I didn't
just see a planet destroyed.

Picard: I was indeed, Commander, but I suspect we both saw the same thing.

Stone: I was afraid you'd say that. I'm forwarding a report to Starfleet. When
is the Enterprise going to arrive?

<Picard turns to the navigation officer...>

Ensign: Approximately 24 minutes, sir.

Picard: In 10 minutes, Commander. We can discuss this further then.

Stone: Fine. Till then.

<end transmission. Picard turns to ensign>

Picard: Warp factor 8.2, ensign.

Ensign: Aye sir, increasing velocity to warp factor 8.2.

Riker: So what exactly happened just now? Those alien ships were big, but
they couldn't destroy a planet, could they?

Picard: Hopefully we'll be able to determine that when we dock. Counselor,
are you alright?

Troi: I will be in a moment, Captain.

Crusher: No physical damage evident, but tremendously increased cerebral
bloodflow. No hemorrhaging, but that must be one heck of a headache.

Troi: All of a sudden, such intense fear, then pain, like a million voices
crying out all at once. Now ... nothing. Except ... a lurking malevolence.
<shudder>

<Crusher administers injection...>

Crusher: This should ease the headache, but I think you better come down to
sickbay for a more thorough examination.

Troi: I don't think that will be necessary, Dr. It was a psychic shock, not
something that would cause physical damage.

Picard: We only have a few minutes, Deanna, but perhaps it would be best if
you spent them resting under Dr. Crusher's observation.

Troi: Yes sir...

<Troi & Crusher exit to turbolift...>

Laforge: Engineering to bridge

Riker: Go ahead Geordi...

Laforge: Sir, we've recalibrated the sensor array according to these
specifications and have extended our range 35% according to preliminary
testing. Scanner resolution has also improved.

Picard: Well done, Mr Laforge. Further testing will have to wait, we'll be
docking at Starbase 42 soon and I'll need you and Data then. Your backup
crew will have to oversee any further operations.

Laforge: Understood sir. I'll put Barclay in charge, since he's already
handled it up to this point. Laforge out.

Riker: Barclay? (sigh...)

Ensign: Sir, we've entered sector 43-12. Ready for docking approach in 2
minutes.

Picard: Acknowledged, Ensign. Drop to impulse.

Ensign: Aye sir. Impulse power only.

<Enterprise drops out of warp, starbase 42 can be dimly seen in the distance.
Enterprise rapidly approaches while decelerating, then is held in a starbase
tractor beam. Docking completes...>

<Seems like another good breaking point..... At this point, 99% of you are
probably saying "Geeze, *That's* what all this was building up to??" Well,
someone had to do it, right?>

<Now in a briefing room on Starbase 42. Base Commander Stone and two of his
aides are present, along with the Enterprise senior officers. A Klingon
officer is speaking via the viewscreen.>

K'lnok: The alien battleships docked with the battlestation shortly after the
starbase was eliminated. We have been unable to detect further activity, and
are approaching with full cloaking. There has been no sign of any surviving
Romulan warships. We will resume contact in one hour. K'lnok out.

Stone: The Klingons have maintained radio silence to avoid detection, with a few
intermittent dispatches like the one you just saw. We have not been able to
converse with them since their telemetry relays stopped.

Picard: Has Starfleet been notified of the latest developments?

Stone: Yes, but we've received no reply yet. Your previous orders will stand
until further notice.

Riker: Even with the improvements made to our sensors we won't get a better
picture than you'll get here on this starbase. What's the point of sending
the Enterprise into Romulan space to monitor a situation that the Klingons
can already monitor? Especially since they can move freely with their cloaking
devices?

[ed: So we'll have a story to watch, obviously!!  }-)  ]

Riker: If I may speak candidly sir, I must say that something about these
orders doesn't make any sense.

Stone: As you've guessed, there are other motives here. We have enjoyed a
prosperous, peaceful alliance with the Klingons for many years now, but no
one can overlook their natural warrior instincts. In fact, a few members of
the Federation Council have expressed some concern about the Klingons being
the first Federation representatives to make contact with these aliens. I'm
sure you can appreciate these concerns - um, no offense, Lieutenant Worf.

Worf: None taken, *Sir*.

Picard: So we are actually now being assigned to make contact with these
aliens?

Stone: Yes, if at all possible, find out where they're from, what sparked
their conflict with the Romulans, what they're ultimately seeking. We want
to establish peaceful contact with this race.

Riker: That could be interpreted as a hostile act by the Romulans, though.
Never mind that simply violating the Neutral Zone is an act of war.

Stone: That's a risk we'll have to take. These aliens are too powerful to be
allowed to remain unknowns. We have to learn more about them, see if they
pose any threat to the Federation. We can justify your initial entry into
Romulan space as response to distress calls. We're betting that the Romulans
will be too busy with the aliens to offer much objection.

Picard: Since we *are* dealing in unknowns, it would seem wiser to wait it
out, since we *know* violating Romulan Space is an act of war.

Stone: Jean-Luc, we're not here to debate Starfleet orders. And Starfleet
doesn't want to get caught unaware. Given the destructive power we've
witnessed, the problem may grow too large to handle if we wait it out.

Picard: Yes, but what I mean is

<Klaxon interrupts.>

Voice: Alert. Intruder detected in sector 43-13. Commander Stone please
report to the bridge.

Stone: That's in the Neutral Zone! I wonder what the devil is going on.
We'll have to talk more later, Picard. I suggest you and your crew return
to your ship, we may need your services sooner than we thought.

<break>

<Bridge of the Enterprise.>

Picard: Data, link us in to the starbase commnet. Let's see what's happening.

Data: Aye, sir.

Picard: Bridge to Engineering -

Barclay: Engineering, B-Barclay here, sir.

Picard: What's the status of our warp drive upgrade? Is Commander Laforge
there yet?

Barclay: He j-just arrived sir. A f-full status report is on-on the way.

Picard: Fine. Picard out. (turn to stare at viewer...)

<A relatively empty region of space. A wedge-shaped ship is visible, and
a number of tiny points of light seem to be ejecting from the underside of
the ship.>

Riker: How did they get there so fast?

Picard: Let's not jump to conclusions Number One. We don't know that this
is one of the ships we watched before. Data, can you increase the magnification?
What are those objects being ejected?

Data: Increasing. Scanners indicate the objects in question are metallic,
no life signs indicated. They appear to be small self-propelled probes of
some kind. Judging from the number and trajectories, the aliens would seem
to be surveying the star systems in that sector.

Riker: Surveying? So they're on a mission of conquest and colonization?

Worf: Pardon the intrusion, sir. Klingons fight for conquest. That battle
station was *not* designed for conquest. One cannot expand one's empire
by vaporizing the member planets.

Riker: Point taken, Mr. Worf. But if they're not colonizing, then what *are*
they doing here?

Picard: Counselor - can you pick up any impressions that would shed light
on the question?

Troi: Sorry Captain, the distance is too great. I cannot isolate their
thought patterns from everything else in the intervening space.

Worf: Sir, the starbase is receiving another transmission from Captain K'lnok.

Picard: Onscreen, Lieutenant.

Worf: Aye sir.

<View of bridge of Klingon Bird of Prey, K'lnok seated in foreground,
staring forward.>

K'lnok: Federation Starbase, this is Captain K'lnok. We have lost contact
with the alien warships. We are now scanning the area for survivors.

<Red alert goes off on Klingon bridge. K'lnok turns away, switching to
battle language. A few short barking commands are heard, and the transmission
ends.>

Picard: Worf, what happened to their signal?

Worf: They switched off, sir. The aliens reappeared in their sector, and
Captain K'lnok ordered full cloaking. That is all I heard before the channel
closed.

Data: Sir, the alien vessel has changed course and is accelerating.

Picard: What is its new heading?

Data: 268.7 mark 3. Sir, it is on a direct intercept course with our
current coordinates.

Picard: Alert Commander Stone. Data, what is their ETA?

Data: They are still traveling at sublight speeds, but continue to accelerate.
I cannot determine their maximum velocity or estimated time of arrival as yet,
Captain.

Worf: The starbase personnel are aware of the course change, Sir. They have
gone to red alert. We are being cleared to disengage from the spacedock.

Picard: Ensign, take us out of dock. Lieutenant Worf, sound red alert.
(aside) where is that engineering status report??

Laforge: Engineering to Captain Picard

Picard: Go ahead, Commander.

Data: Captain, the alien vessel has disappeared from sensors.

Picard: Number One, take care of Geordi's report. Data, what do you mean
"disappeared" ?

Data: They were accelerating to lightspeed, sir. The moment they attained
lightspeed they vanished from the sensors.

Worf: Sir, sensors are now picking up a subspace anomaly, bearing 352.

Picard: Onscreen.

<view of typical starfield, with a blurred region in the center. Suddenly
the familiar wedge-shape appears as the blurring subsides.>

Picard: Lieutenant, hail the alien vessel. All freqencies.

Worf: Aye sir.

Picard: Number One, what is our weapons status?

Riker: Thanks to Lieutenant Barclay, we have Improved Definition phasers
available. But Geordi is still working on increasing the warp engine output
to provide sufficient energy for the new phasers.

Worf: The alien vessel is not responding.

Picard: Keep trying, Lieutenant. Can we fire the phasers with our current
warp configuration?

Riker: Yes, but only for a limited amount. The old power couplings won't
hold up to the higher energy levels for very long.

Picard: With luck it won't come to that.

Riker: I'd like to know how they found us so quickly...

Picard: Indeed, Number One. Unfortunately they're not giving us the opportunity
to ask.

Ensign: We are clear of the spacedock, sir.

Picard: Lay in an intercept course with the alien vessel, one-half impulse.

Ensign: Course plotted and laid in, sir.

Picard: Engage.  Counselor, what can you make of the aliens now?

Troi: I sense a note of surprise, Captain. And also a slight hint of fear and
apprehension. They seem to think we are the Romulans, Captain! They were not
expecting to find us here.

Picard: Indeed. Fear of us? Fear of the Romulans?

Troi: I'm not sure, sir, but I don't think so. I can't pick up anything more
specific.

Picard: Lieutenant Worf, any luck hailing the vessel?

Worf: None sir. They are apparently capable of receiving our transmissions
but are ignoring them.

<On the viewer - the alien vessel looms closer. Small points of light are
again seen to be darting from the underside of the ship.>

Riker: More probes? (looking confused. he's good at that look, eh?)

Data: Negative. I am detecting life signs. The small objects appear to be
piloted spacecraft.

Picard: What is our current range?

Data: Twenty thousand megameters and closing, sir.

Riker: Are those smaller vessels armed?

Data: That is highly probable. Energy levels are too high to be accounted
for solely by their propulsion systems.

<viewer again - gosh, is that thing *ever* gonna run out? A vast number of
tiny lights can now be seen streaking toward the Enterprise.>

Riker: Raise shields.

Worf: Shields raised, sir.

Picard: Are we still tied in to the Starbase communications net?

Data: Affirmative.

Picard: Good. Link our fire control scanners to the Starbase scanners.

Riker: Afraid they'll overwhelm our targeting systems?

Picard: It's a possibility we cannot rule out, Number One. We may still
be able to communicate peacefully, but the likelihood of that seems to be
decreasing.

Data: Range is twelve thousand megameters, sir. The smaller craft are
approaching at approximately eight tenths of lightspeed. The larger
vessel is also continuing to approach.

Picard: Lieutenant Worf, try to open a channel again. Broadcast this
message: "To unidentified vessel. You are encroaching on Federation territory.
Stop and identify yourselves or we will be forced to take action against you."

Worf: Aye sir, opening channel.  ... Sir, they are responding.

Picard: Onscreen!

<A human appears onscreen, wearing a drab-green uniform with various
decorations. A vast control deck can be seen behind him, with figures in
black or white armor or uniforms moving in the background...>

Ozzel: This is Admiral Ozzel of the Imperial Star Destroyer Ventooin. We do
not recognize the sovereignty of your "Federation" over this space. We have
traced your communications with rebel ships and recognize you to be aiding
enemies of The Empire. Surrender and prepare to be boarded.

Picard: (gestures to cut the channel) Rebels? Surrender? Counselor, can you
tell what he's talking about?

Troi: He must be referring to the Klingon vessels, sir. I sense anticipation,
this Admiral is waiting to hear how other task forces have fared.

Riker: They must have intercepted K'lnok's report of looking for survivors.
Then they traced the source and destination of the signal to reach us and the
Klingons!

Data: That seems highly likely sir. This vessel was situated nearly between
us at the time.

Picard: (nodding to Worf to reopen the channel) This is Captain Jean-Luc
Picard, of the Federation Starship Enterprise. We know nothing of the rebels
of whom you speak. We seek only to communicate and establish peaceful relations
with your people. Why do you wish us to surrender? We have no quarrel with you.
However, I must repeat my prior warning, and ask you to cease your advance into
Federation space.

<channel closes, returning to starfield. The alien ships are much closer now.>

Riker: Well, that didn't seem very friendly.

<A small tremor passes through the ship.>

Picard: What was that?

Data: The small alien spacecraft have opened fire. They appear to be using
pulsed energy beam weapons.

Riker: Any damage?

Data: None sir, shields are holding.

Picard: Lieutenant, fire a low-intensity warning shot at the mother ship.
Target one degree off their bow. Let's give them one more chance to desist.

Worf: Aye sir.

<Phaser fires, lancing out toward the wedge-shaped vessel, missing by a
tiny margin.>

Riker: Think they'll take the hint, sir?

Picard: We'll know soon enough, Number One.

<The main batteries open up on the star destroyer. The Enterprise is rocked
by a large number of energy blasts.>

Picard: Damage report!

Worf: Shields are holding at 90%, sir. Minor disturbances on decks 9 and 22.

Picard: Arm photon torpedoes, ready phasers. Lock on the mother ship.

Worf: Torpedoes armed, phasers locked on target.

<A flight of TIE fighters zooms in on the viewer, blasters firing. More small
tremors as the fighters veer out of view.>

Picard: This is damned annoying. Fire photon torpedoes, delta cluster.

Worf: Firing photon torpedoes.

<A volley of torpedoes lashes out. One intercepts an unfortunate TIE fighter,
which is vaporized instantly. The others diverge, MIRV-style, detonating at
the star destroyer.>

Data: A hit, sir. They seem to have deflector screens, no structural damage
is evident.

Picard: Inform the starbase of our action. That ship should be entering
their weapon range soon.

<More pounding. The ship rocks again.>

Riker: That was different - where did it come from?

Data: A small projectile, sir, very dense. Composed primarily of protons.
Apparently these gunships have a diverse complement of weapons.

Worf: Shields down to 72%, sir.

<Another impact...>

Picard: Begin evasive maneuvers!

Data: Sir, we are completely surrounded by these craft, and they are orders
of magnitude more maneuverable.

<Yet another impact...>

Riker: Worf, lock phasers on any small fighters, wide dispersion. Fire at will.

Worf: Aye sir. Firing.

<Phaser fire lances out from banks along the saucer and the main hull. The
beams hit targets before they have widened appreciably. Three beams strike,
three fighters vaporize.>

Data: Sir, phaser energy conduits are approaching danger zone. Critical in
20 seconds at present rate of fire.

Riker: Another round, Worf. Dammit sir! We can track them but we can't
hit so many targets.

Picard: Indeed, Number One. We're wasting our firepower destroying such tiny
objects.

<Another tremor... The star destroyer is closing ground, and unleashing
another volley.>

Worf: Shields at 61%. Phasers deenergized. Minor injuries reported.

Picard: Full reverse. Let's put some distance between us and that star destroyer
before it lives up to its name.

Data: The gunships are pursuing, sir. They appear to have only forward-firing
weapons; they can only attack when they are facing us.

Picard: Interesting... Worf, ready tractor beam. Select targets as they
enter facing trajectories. Filter out other objects from the targeting system
until they attain firing threshold. Activate when ready.

Worf: Aye sir. Targeting computers reprogrammed, tractor beams ready.

<A trio of TIE fighters zooms in on an attack run, in tight formation. A
tractor beam shoots out from the Enterprise saucer, locking onto all three
craft at once. The effect is like that of a brick wall; the fighters crumple
under the sudden deceleration. They explode somewhat slowly, as the tractor
beam is still active.>

Riker: Brilliant! (beaming at Picard)

Picard: Thank you, Number One. However, we're not out of the fire yet.
Also, I was only expecting to hold them out of attack position, I didn't
realize the craft couldn't handle the stress of deceleration.

Riker: Well, it was still an excellent idea, sir.

<Another impact rocks the ship. Tractor beams are locking in all around the
ship, but there are still too many fighters, though their numbers are slowly
declining.>

Worf: Shields are down to 30%! Structural damage reported on decks 23 thru 29.
Sickbay reports casualties throughout the ship.

Picard: But even that may not be enough. Data! Quickly, transmit to starbase:
Lock tractor beams on us, and cycle every 30 milliseconds. Ensign, cut impulse,
full stop.

Ensign: Full stop, aye!

Data: Message acknowledged, sir.

<The Enterprise is completely enveloped in the starbase tractor beam, which
is shimmering rapidly. In a few moments most of the TIE fighters are crushed
or torn apart as the beam fluctuates. The remaining fighters turn and head
for their mother ship, which has continued to approach. Riker is about to
congratulate Picard again, when suddenly...>

Worf: Sir, sensors detect new subspace anomalies!

Picard: Onscreen, Mr. Worf!

<Two more star destroyers shimmer into view...>

Riker: Our options for peaceful contact seem to be dwindling, sir.

Picard: I'm well aware of that, Number One. This is exactly the kind of
situation Starfleet wanted to avoid. Now we're facing an interstellar war
with a race we've only been aware of for a little over a week!

Riker: Well, if they want a war they picked a helluva bad spot to start.
We've seen these star destroyers' firepower; they won't even faze our
starbase.

Picard: Let's not get too overconfident, Will. They didn't just politely
tap our shields just now either.

<The Enterprise has been drawn aside the docking bay of the starbase. The
Trio of star destroyers is standing off, halting their advance.>

Riker: What are they waiting for? They seemed in such a hurry to advance on us
a few moments ago.

Troi: Their commander is experiencing grave doubts, Sir. I sense that Admiral
Ozzel is having difficulty committing to a course of action.

Riker: Doubts? Maybe those one-man craft were their primary means of offense?

Data: That is a likely hypothesis, sir. Analysis of the overall design of the
star destroyers would indicate they are unaccustomed to fighting ships of a
comparable size.

Picard: Explain this analysis, Data.

Data: Sir, the armaments they have so far displayed are not the size one would
expect for dealing with ships of such mass. The number, size, and rate of fire
indicates an arsenal targeted at small gunships, such as the ones launched
against us, or possibly ships up to the size of a patrol cruiser. Their beam
weapons were individually too weak to greatly affect our shields, but they
obviously have the technology to implement larger weapons. Also, they were
unable to coordinate a concentrated firing of their weapon turrets against us,
further supporting the hypothesis that their vessels are designed to deal with
multiple small independent targets.

Riker: But how does that explain that battlestation we saw?

Data: I do not know, sir.

Picard: That's very interesting, but I don't know how it will help us in the
immediate situation. Counselor, you said you sensed doubt in the alien
commander. Can you learn anything more? Perhaps we can capitalize on those
doubts some way.

Troi: I don't know, Captain, I'm not picking up anything now. It's as if
my senses were being jammed...

Worf: Sir, motion detectors are picking up an object closing at high speed.

Picard: Identify, Mr. Worf!

<A pair of Klingon Birds of Prey swoops in in the distance, weapons blazing
as they drop cloak. A closer view of the "new" star destroyers reveals a number
of burn marks and battle scars. The Klingon vessels unload a barrage of
disruptor bolts in tight formation, while a number of phasers dotted around
each ship pick off the returning TIE fighters. The rightmost star destroyer
shudders under the disruptor blasts. The star destroyers return fire, scoring
several hits on the Klingons.>

Riker: Just when you thought you'd seen it all...

<The Klingon vessels bank hard for another pass. A warp engine is visibly
damaged on one ship, hampering it's maneuvering slightly. Both Klingons
fire another volley, and the star destroyer explodes in a blinding flash.
The two remaining star destroyers continue firing, until the Klingon ships
pass behind them. Phaser beams continue to lash out as the Klingons fly by.>

Riker: They don't have rear-firing weapons!

Picard: So it would seem...

<The star destroyers diverge and accelerate. They appear to be trying to avoid
getting outflanked. The Klingon ships have not completed their turns yet, and
have momentarily stopped firing.>

Worf: They are attempting to escape!

Riker: What?

<Sure enough, the two big lugs continue to accelerate and flash off, vanishing.
The Klingons decelerate.>

Picard: We seem to have been given a reprieve! Hail the Klingons, um, Klingon
vessels, Mr. Worf.

Worf: Aye sir. Channel is open.

Picard: Greetings, Klingon Commander. It is a great pleasure to be speaking to
you. I am Captain Picard, of the starship Enterprise.

K'lnok: I am K'lnok, Captain of the Vindicator. We have many things to discuss,
Captain Picard.

Picard: Agreed. Perhaps we should dock and continue our discussion on the base
facilities.

K'lnok: An acceptable proposal. We have need of a shipyard. K'lnok out.

Riker: We better tell Commander Stone to expect more company... And we
should requisition additional technicians to get on the refit.

Picard: Make it so. Lieutenant Worf, inform Commander Stone.

Worf: Aye, sir.

<Break to starbase briefing room.>

K'lnok: Two of the alien vessels returned during our previous transmission.
They must have planned an ambush but were no match for our firepower. The
cowards escaped again, leaving almost no trace.

Picard: Yes, we've noticed the peculiarity of their drive systems. How did
you discover that this was their destination?

K'lnok: Our sensors detected residues from their propulsion system. They use
a crude type of ion engine, once we discovered the ion emissions we could
detect tremendous amounts ejected by their engines. We were able to plot the
ships' trajectories based on these traces and followed until we encountered
them here. We were still unable to track the vessels on our scanners.

Riker: Ion engines? They'd leave a trail like a flare... But our sensors
couldn't pick them up until just before they arrived.

Stone: Even the base scanners didn't pick them up. But we're recording massive
ion traces now.

Laforge: That's no surprise. If they're using ion engines, they must be
enormous to move ships of that size. But that doesn't explain their translight
capability, or why it doesn't leave any traces at translight speeds. We always
tracked them right up to lightspeed, then .. nothing.

Picard: It seems we continue to face questions with no sign of any answers.
We cannot effectively deal with a threat if we cannot detect when it will
arrive.

Data: The solution is elementary. Uh, sirs. The alien vessels leave no ion
trace in the intervening space because they do not traverse that space.

Riker: What do you mean, Data, how can they travel distance without traversing
the distance?

Data: By eliminating the impossible, what remains, no matter how improbable,
must be the truth. Sir, our own communications and transporter systems are
based on subspace technology - they do not operate in normal space.

Riker: Yes, but we know that only energy forms can be transferred through
subspace, not matter. Are you proposing that they use transporters to beam
their ships from point to point?

Data: No sir, the energy costs would be prohibitive. However, another
alternative exists - theoretically, matter endowed with sufficient kinetic
energy could be elevated to another dimension, a hyperspace. The theory was
in its infancy in the twenty-first century on Earth, but no practical results
were achieved and research was abandoned with the advent of the warp drive.

K'lnok: We too have recorded such research. It was proven to be impractical
to implement.

Picard: Judging from what we've seen so far, these aliens have a different
standard of what is "practical." Data, access all records relevant to the
topic. We need a way of detecting these vessels while they are in transit.
We know there is a delay, the transition into and out of hyperspace is not
instantaneous. There must be a way of tracking them while they are in flight.
Mr Laforge, go with Data and work out a means for detection.

Data: Aye sir.

Laforge: On our way, Captain. <Data & Laforge exit>

K'lnok: We found no survivors in the Romulan sector, and only minimal
Romulan ship debris. It is likely that their vessels cloaked and escaped
in time to avoid destruction.

Picard: What about alien survivors?

K'lnok: We found only the remnants of their fighter craft. None of the
pilots survived to be taken prisoner.

Picard: Prisoner? We have not declared war with these aliens.

K'lnok: A slip, I meant "to be rescued."

Stone: Well, the Federation may not formally be at war but we are on a
war footing here. This base monitors a highly sensitive area, we have to
track shipping thru the Neutral Zone in three bordering sectors. Our regular
patrol craft are totally outclassed by this menace.

K'lnok: And we have yet to discover the location of the battlestation.
If you will excuse me, I must file another report with the High Command.

Stone: By all means, Captain.

<K'lnok exits.>

Troi: Captain, I believe we should return to the ship.

Picard: Why do you say that, Counselor?

Troi: I'm feeling .. a premonition, of sorts. We haven't much time, sir.

Picard: Commander, I suggest you alert your personnel. I know it's not much
to go on but I've come to trust my officers' instincts.

Stone: I understand, Captain. <Expression of total non-understanding, of
course.> I think we've covered as much as we can for now.

<break>

<view of starbase 42. Enterprise moored along exterior bay.>

Captain's Log, supplemental: After a brief encounter with the alien vessels,
we have returned to dock at Starbase 42. We still have no means of detecting
the approach of the alien vessels. Counselor Troi has been experiencing
premonitions of impending doom, but several hours have now passed uneventfully.
The ship remains at yellow alert, as is the starbase. The Klingon vessels
were recalled to other duties by the High Command. No further messages have
been detected from the Romulans. All seems quiet.

<bridge...>

Riker: What news have you got, Geordi?

Laforge: Well sir, Data and Mr. Barclay are working out a prototype for their
hyperspace scanner in holodeck 2. I just came to deliver the damage report.

Picard: Proceed.

Laforge: Phaser couplings are now fully operational, and shields are back to
full efficiency. Also, we've installed an additional polarity detector in
the shield controls. This should increase shield effectiveness in deflecting
charged particles, like those proton torpedoes.

Picard: Good work.

Riker: Well, that ought to take care of those fighters.

Troi: Captain, I'm sensing it again. Intense evil, it's getting closer!

Picard: Ensign, prepare to exit spacedock. Lieutenant Worf, anything on
the sensors?

Worf: Negative sir. Sensors detect nothing unusual.

Picard: Take us out, Ensign, ahead one half impulse.

Ensign: Aye sir.

Picard: Lieutenant, contact the starbase.. Find out if they've picked up
anything.

Worf: Aye sir. <pause> Nothing within scan range, sir.

Troi: It *is* there, Captain. I'm certain of it.

Picard: Ensign, lay in an elliptical course. I want a full sweep of this
system, focused on the starbase.

Ensign: Aye aye, sir. Course plotted and laid in.

Picard: Engage.

<Enterprise moving in foreground, starbase fading back.>

Riker: Sir, the starbase has much greater detection range. If they can't see
anything, we won't see it.

Picard: Probably true, Will, but if there really is something out there I'd
prefer to go looking for it rather than wait for it to find us.

Worf: Sir, subspace anomaly detected, bearing 339 mark 25!

Picard: Onscreen, Lieutenant!

<viewer now shows empty space, a slight rippling, and then a flashy entry
of ... the Death Star, with the requisite train of "support" ships, i.e.,
a couple super star destroyers, some star destroyers, you get the idea...>

Picard: Hail the aliens, Mr. Worf.

Worf: Aye sir. <pause> (under breath) I do not believe they came here to
talk.

Riker: What was that, Lieutenant?

Worf: Channel open, sir.

Vader: <breathing apparatus rasp liberally inserted here...> My admiral
reported some difficulties dealing with you. I am here to sort them out.

Picard: This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation starship Enterprise.
I must warn you that you are violating Federation <suddenly stops speaking>

Vader: Your Federation means nothing to me. You have aided enemies of the
Empire. You have assaulted Imperial troops. Now you shall learn the price
for crossing the Empire.

<Picard is now gasping, hands around his throat, and sinking to his knees.>

Riker: Captain! <gestures to Worf - "close the channel"> Red alert, Mr.
Worf! Raise shields!

<Riker and Troi move to Picard, who is now kneeling and gasping.>

Riker: Medical emergency! Dr Crusher to the bridge immediately!

<center on Riker's face, fade out...>

<fade back in to Enterprise bridge. Battle stations, red lights flashing.>

Riker: Dr. Crusher to the bridge immediately!

Troi: He's being attacked telepathically, I can feel it!
Captain, you must relax your body, stop struggling physically! Concentrate
your mind on resisting! We can fight it but you must focus your thoughts
completely.

<Picard is still kneeling, but straightens up. Beads of sweat cover his
face, but he appears to have mastered his initial shock.>

Riker: Deanna - <she shushes him with her arm. Troi and Picard's eyes are
locked together in concentration.>

Worf: Sir, the aliens are launching multiple fighter craft. Estimated intercept
in 2 minutes. Phasers ready. Shall I arm photon torpedoes?

<Riker snaps back to attention on the viewer. The Imperial forces are still
distant. The Death Star is a shimmering globe, with Star Destroyers scattered
around it. Several squadrons of TIE fighters appear as tiny points of light
speeding forward.>

Riker: Affirmative, Worf. Arm forward *and* rear launchers. From what we know
so far it's a fair bet these aliens can't cope with warp drive. How far to the
main ships?

Helmsman: Range is approximately 12,000 megameters, sir.

Riker: Ensign, set course 357 mark 35. Give me a .3 second burst of maximum
warp on my mark.

Navigator: Aye, sir!

Riker: Worf, prepare to target rear torpedo launchers. After we move I want you
to hit the closest target in the rear firing arcs. Full spread, maximum yield.

Worf: Aye sir, photon torpedoes ready!

Riker: Now, Ensign!

<From behind the Enterprise we look forward and see the Imperial fighters
racing forward in precise formation. Suddenly the Enterprise warp engines
engage, throwing the ship forward and slightly upward. The TIE fighters, Death
Star, and Star Destroyers flash past underneath the ship as the Enterprise stops
well behind the Imperial ships.>

Riker: Mr. Worf?

Worf: Photon torpedoes locked on target, sir.

Riker: Fire!

Worf: Aye sir!

<Four torpedoes are launched in rapid succession from the rear of the ship.
As the sparkling orbs of energy streak toward the rear of a Star Destroyer,
the first explodes in space, obliterating the Destroyer's rear shields. The
next collides with the control towers, incinerating them. The other two enter
an engine exhaust port, triggering a massive explosion that completely shatters
the vessel. The explosion is also witnessed on the Enterprise viewscreen, as
looks of relief appear on the faces of the bridge crew. Riker doesn't have time
to savor this victory, however, as we see Picard slump forward into Troi's
arms, gasping. Troi's face is lined with sweat, and she is looking very weary.>

Troi: Captain!

Riker: Deanna, what happened?

<Dr. Crusher arrives from the turbolift, looks, and hurries forward.>

Picard: I'm (gasp) alright.

Troi: It stopped, he's free now.

Crusher: What are you talking about? What stopped?

Troi: The Captain was attacked telepathically; he was being strangled. The
attack stopped just a moment ago.

Crusher: Strangled? We'd better make sure you're alright, Jean-Luc.

Riker: Better make it fast, Dr. We surprised them just now but that won't
last much longer.

Worf: Sir, the enemy vessels are changing course.

<External view, the Star Destroyers appear somewhat chaotic as they try to turn
and bear on the Enterprise. The TIE fighters are also turning slowly, as the
Imperial forces try to assimilate what has just happened.>

Crusher: This TriOx compound should help clear your head faster, Captain.

<Crusher injects Picard with the TriOx.>

Picard: Thank you Dr. <stands up, returning to seat.> What is our status,
Number One?

Riker: We have just warped behind the aliens and destroyed one of their
vessels, Sir. I suggest we turn and prepare for a second assault.

Picard: Make it so. <leans back in chair, still looking pale.>

Riker: Ensign, set course 180 mark 0. Turn us around!

Navigator: Aye aye, sir.

<The Enterprise wheels around, as the TIE fighters attempt to close in again.
The larger vessels are still in the distance, although they and the Death
Star are steadily approaching.>

Picard: Well Counselor, it appears that we have encountered the source of the
intense evil you've been sensing. The question is, how do we combat that sort
of attack? Our shields are of no help.

Troi: I'm not certain, Captain, but I believe it must take great concentration
to achieve such effectiveness. Possibly the destruction of the enemy vessel
distracted the being enough to break his mindlink with you.

Picard: If only we had more time to analyze the situation. Picard to Commander
Data -

Data: Here, sir.

Picard: You'll have to suspend your work on the hyperspace scanner, Mr. Data.
We need you here on the bridge.

Data: Acknowledged. On my way, sir.

Riker: Captain, our conventional weapons far outclass theirs. If we're going
to be vulnerable to psychic attacks as well, though, I suggest we take out as
many of their units as possible before they get another chance.

Troi: I don't believe they are all psychics, sir. I have only sensed one mind
of appreciable power, and the evil emanates from there.

Picard: Can you pinpoint the location of that being?

Troi: Somewhat. My own telepathic powers are limited, and directional senses
are always imprecise, but I am fairly certain he is on that base station.

Picard: Then that is our target. We cannot reason with them, so we must disable
them before that base station can destroy another starbase.

<break to ... the command bridge of the Death Star.>

Vader: Report, commander. What happened?

Commander: We don't know yet, sir. One moment they were ahead of us, and our
fighters were closing in, then suddenly they were behind us. Whatever drive
system they're using, it's unlike any we've ever seen before.

Vader: You said they were using fusion-based propulsion reactors.

Commander: Yes, yes, that's what the sensors said, that's what they say now,
but for a moment they read something totally different.

Vader: You should pay more attention to verifying your facts, Commander. You
are not sounding very rational.

Commander: Yes, Lord Vader.

Vader: How are your forces currently deployed?

Commander: The fighter squadrons are closing with the cruiser, they should
engage it shortly. They will break off and form an enclosing screen when the
star destroyers enter attack range. The cruiser will not escape this time,
Lord Vader.

Vader: I want that ship captured intact. No unnecessary damage should be
inflicted. Inform the fleet captains.

Commander: As you wish, Lord Vader. <motioning an aide to come forward>
Inform the fleet captains - the cruiser is not to be destroyed, it is to be
taken intact!

Vader: Now, proceed towards the base. We shall make another example of it...

<Back to the Enterprise. Data has just taken his seat at the helm.>

Riker: Data, how long before those fighters reach us?

Data: Estimated intercept in 20 seconds, sir.

Riker: Worf, lock phasers, wide dispersal. Prepare to fire at maximum range
and dispersion.

Worf: Aye sir.

Data: Sir, the alien base station has changed course.

Picard: What is the new heading, Mr. Data?

Data: It is now on a direct course for Starbase 42, sir.

Picard: Damn. Mr. Worf, fire when ready. Ensign, set intercept course for
the base station, full impulse. Engage!

Worf: Firing phasers, sir!

<external view, the Enterprise accelerates toward the Imperial ships. The
wide-beam phaser fire disintegrates the TIE fighters in the Enterprise's
path. The Star Destroyers begin their barrage as the Enterprise approaches.
The blasters strike the Enterprise shields, but there is little effect.>

Riker: Geordi, divert auxiliary power to the forward shields! Once we're
past them it'll be a while before they can bring their weapons to bear on
our rear.

LaForge: Aye sir, shields holding steady.

Picard: Mr. Worf, can you target the base station's propulsion systems?

Worf: Negative, sir. If they are using ion drive there is no detectable
emission from the base station.

Picard: Very well. Lock photon torpedoes, closest surface point.

Worf: Aye sir. Torpedoes ready.

Picard: Fire photon torpedoes.

Worf: Firing.

<The Enterprise is quickly approaching three Star Destroyers, but is totally
ignoring them. The photon torpedoes are launched, speeding towards the Death
Star. They impact with the surface and disintegrate huge chunks of the station,
leaving deep gouges in the surface.>

Data: Direct hits, but there is no appreciable decrease in the base's power
output levels. Analysis indicates the surface is mostly armor, with small
weapon systems scattered across.

Picard: Armor only? Worf, continue firing. Phasers and photon torpedoes,
narrow salvo.

Worf: Aye sir, firing phasers and photon torpedoes.

<The Enterprise is now past the Star Destroyers, and an intense phaser beam is
fired at the Death Star, boring a large hole into the surface. This is followed
by another stream of photon torpedoes, and more explosions in those craters.>

Picard: Enemy status, Mr. Data?

Data: 2% energy drop detected, sir. Possibly a secondary reactor powering the
weapon systems in that area of the base.

Picard: This is ridiculous. We could attack all day and still not make any
significant difference.

Riker: Suggest another torpedo salvo, sir. We may be able to trigger a chain
reaction in their power systems.

Picard: Mr. Data, when will they be in range of the Starbase weapon batteries?

Data: At their current velocity, it will take 28 minutes, sir.

Riker: Captain, we could disable the rest of these vessels first and still have
time to deal with the base.

Picard: Yes, Number One, assuming they don't get lucky and cripple us first.
Besides, those other vessels are inconsequential. Only the base station has
enough firepower to present a threat. (sigh.) Mr. Worf, prepare another round
of photon torpedoes.

Worf: Aye sir. (pause) Torpedoes ready, sir.

Data: Captain, sensors indicate additional fighter launches from the base
station. Also, we're picking up more fighters from the Star Destroyers behind
us.

Picard: Acknowledged, Mr. Data. How long before they intercept?

Data: Given past performance, sir, I estimate a 97.4% probability that they
will begin their attack at approximately 400 megameters. At their current
velocity that will be in 52 seconds, sir.

Riker: They should be well within phaser range already.

Picard: We need to concentrate our attention and our firepower on that base
station for the moment. Data, how long can we sustain their attack?

Data: The aliens are using small particle beam weapons, which are easily
deflected by our shields. With the shield upgrade, I estimate their weapons
effectiveness at .04 percent, Sir.

Picard: Fine, then we ignore those fighters for now. That ought to have a
sufficiently demoralizing effect, maybe they'll realize the futility of their
continued assault. Mr. Worf, maintain torpedo lock on the base station.

Worf: Aye sir, torpedoes locked on target.

Picard: Fire.

<View from behind the Enterprise. The Death Star looms in front of the ship,
while squadrons of TIE fighters approach from the rear. The view rotates as
the Enterprise fires its forward torpedoes. The squadrons of fighters leaving
the Death Star are also in view, speeding towards the Enterprise. Three of the
torpedoes hit TIE fighters, vaporizing them. The fourth slams into the Death
Star, forming a new crater.>

Worf: Sir, the enemy fighters are intercepting our photon torpedoes.

Picard: Intercepting .. ?

Riker: That's suicide! What are they up to?

Data: It does appear to be an effective means of shielding the main base from
our torpedoes, Sir.

Riker: Strangest idea of shields I ever saw.

Picard: Indeed. Very well then, Mr. Worf, lock phasers on the torpedo impact
crater. Narrow beam.

Worf: Aye sir. (pause) Sir, the base station is locking on with a tractor beam!

Riker: Use reverse tractor beams, try to break their lock!

Worf: Trying, sir. (pause) No effect. Their beam is too powerful.

Picard: Commander, can you divert more power to the tractor beam generators?

LaForge: They just went to the limit, Sir. No one's ever expected to need a
larger generator on a starship.

<Exterior - the Enterprise is surrounded by the Death Star's pulsating tractor
beam. The fleet of Star Destroyers is arrayed around the ship, all are now
quiescent. The TIE fighters have veered away, breaking off their attack.>

Commander: We have them now, Lord Vader.

Vader: Good. Bring them to the main hangar bay. Inform the fleet captains to
resume course for the base station. We can study the ship systems later.

Commander: Yes, Lord Vader.

<Pause, again.>


 ==============================================================================
End of part 6 and beginning various alternate continuances.....


Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: Repost of Alternate "The Return" part 1
From: [e-mail]
Date: 2 Apr 92 08:14:28 GMT



Follow on to The Return:
(based on parts 1-6)

Picking up at the moment the original script left off, the big E
is currently being held by the Death Star's tractor beam and is
being drawn inside it's main hangar bay.

Picard:  Mr. Worf, re target phasers on the source of the tractor
beam.  Fire when ready.  Mr. Data, is that hangar the launching
point for the small attack craft that have been engaging us?

Mr. Data:  I would surmise a large portion of them sir.

Picard:  Mr. Worf, as soon as we're free put some torpedoes into
that hangar.  It will prevent the launch of more fighters and may
deter them from attempting to use their tractor beam again.

Worf:  With pleasure, sir.

<Worf has already re adjusted the firing controls and is
preparing to open fire when the Enterprise rocks and suddenly
surges backward, now free from the tractor beam.>

Worf:  Another ship has appeared and has destroyed the tractor
beam emitters!  As the ship swings around, I will use the rear
torpedo launcher to destroy the hangar.

Riker:  Helm, bring us about to 268 mk 19 and give us some
distance.  Mr. Data, what is the ship that joined the attack, and
why didn't we detect it earlier.

Data:  Sensors no longer detect the other vessel.  It appeared
momentarily and destroyed the tractor beam, and then re engaged
what must be a cloaking device of some type.  However, the
configuration of the ship is not Klingon or Romulan.  Perliminary
analysis of the sensor log shows the ship to be of an unknown
configuration, not matching anything in our records.  The general
design methods appear to resemble Federation methods but the
design of the ship is radically different from any current known
Federation design.  I am placing an image of the ship on secondary
viewer number 1.

Picard:  Mr. Data, what..
<Picard is interrupted by a thunderous detonation as Mr. Worf's
torpedoes slam into the main hangar of the Death Star:  Two slam
into the roof and back wall, wrecking three quarters of the main
cavern, but the third, skillfully aimed by Worf, managed to travel
a couple hundred meters down the main ferry way between the hangar
and the maintenance/storage facilities.  The torpedoes detonation
sets off several secondary explosions among fuel and weapons
storage stations, disrupting power throughout
that sector of the Death Star.>

Data:  The main hangar appears to be totally wrecked, Captain.
Numerous secondary explosions are occurring, and power distribution
has been halted in a 400 meter radius from the hanger.

Picard: Well done, Mr. Worf!  That should hamper their offensive
capabilities for a considerable length of time.
<Worf is clearly pleased at how his honor has been increased>
Helm, how long till we are clear of the Imperial forces?

Helmsman:  14 seconds sir.

Picard: very well.  Now, Mr. Data, what can you tell us about that
mystery ship before we reposition to attack.

Data: On secondary viewer, sir.

<the small screen comes up with an image of a sleek ship with only
one hull, elongated and with a prominent phaser emitter in the
nose.  Small delta wings gracefully emerge from the sides of the
ship, also with phaser fairings.  Two warp engines are slung
underneath the hull like on Nebula class starships.  A weapons pod
that appears to be identical to the Nebulas also is mounted on top
of the hull, though not raised on stilts.  A series of small
blisters appears in a line encircling the broadest part of the
ship.>


Picard:  You're right Mr. Data, it is similar to Federation
building style.  It appears to be a Nebula class starship with a
different body.  What are those blisters along the hull, Mr.Data.

Data: Unknown sir.

Worf: <interrupting> Sir we are now clear of the Imperial forces.
Their Star Destroyers were moving to engage Starbase 42 when we
escaped.

Picard:  Number One, recommendations.

<Riker is about to answer when there is a flash on the viewer and
Data interrupts.>

Data:  Sir, one of the larger Star Destroyers has suffered a
massive explosion in its engine area.  The ship appears to be
crippled.  Power emanations are falling rapidly and structural
integrity is significantly compromised.

Worf: Sir, the unidentified ship appeared for a few seconds and
fired a volley of torpedoes into the engines of the Imperial ship.
It is now cloaked again.  The torpedoes appear to be like
Federation torpedoes, but from this distance scanners cannot tell.

<Another flash, and another Super Star Destroyer goes up in
flames.>

Data:  Sir, the attacking ship appears to be taking advantage of
the fact that Imperial ships cannot maintain effective shielding of
their rear areas when using their ion engines.  The exhaust of
such engines precludes shields as we know them.  The volatility of
the fuel and the ease of access place the Star Destroyers at a
severe disadvantage.

Riker:  If they shield, their own engines cook them, if not, that
ship does.

Worf:  Captain, we have received a brief text only transmission.
The transponder coding says it is from the USS Nirmod.  I am not
familiar with that ship sir.

Picard:  Nor am I, Lt.  What does it say?

Worf:  It says, "Enterprise, please rejoin the battle.  I can hold
off the ships, you find a way to stop that base station. Mitzgar
out."

Riker:  Since when do any Federation ships employ cloaking
devices?

Picard:  I think that this may be a special case, number one.  If
this is the same Capt. Mitzgar I know, then I can well believe
that his ship would employ a cloaking device in battle.
     In any case, enough talk.  I am satisfied that the new ship
is not hostile and may indeed be a new Federation design.  We will
heed his advice for now.  Mr. Worf, Mr. Data, we need to find a
weak point in that Battle STation's defenses.  What can you tell
us?

Worf: Their defenses are formidable if only because of sheer
quantity.  The entire surface of the station is armored, and all
vital systems are buried so deep in the interior that we cannot
practically reach them.

Data:  They present no known single source of propulsion that we
could destroy to render the station immobile.

Worf:  We should concentrate on their primary armament.  That is
what poses a threat to us and to Starbase 42.  That is why we are
concerned about it at all.

Riker:  Good point. Mr. Data, access computer logs to identify
their primary weapon.  Mr. Worf, scan the battle station to
complement Mr. Data's research.

<Another flash, and Mr. Data reports: >

Data:  Sir, a third Star Destroyer has been disabled.  The
remaining ships are now redeploying in a Katella formation in an
attempt to protect the rear areas of each other.  However, there
are not enough ships to complete the formation and fully protect
each other.  Three of the ships are still exposed and..<sensor
bleeps> One of the exposed ships has been destroyed.

Worf:  Captain, I have located what can only be an enormous
weapons emitter on the surface of the battle station.  If we
damaged the emitter, it might render the weapon unusable long
enough for us to find a more..permanent solution.

Picard:  Excellent, Mr. Worf, prepare to attack the emitter.
Number One, bring us in at a high deflection angle.  Keep us out
of the path of that weapon.

Riker:  Helm, come about, prepare to go to warp 2 and bring us on
an elliptical course to the weapon emitter on the battle station.
Mr. Worf,as soon as we're out of warp, hit the weakest part of the
emitter with everything we've got.

Worf: Ready, sir.

Riker:  Helm, engage when ready.  Computer, compute plausible
firing arc of the largest weapon on the enemy space station and
project on main viewer.   Helm, under no circumstances will you
allow the Enterprise to come close to that firing arc.

Helm: Understood, sir.

Riker: lets do it.

Picard:  Agreed.

<the Enterprise leaps forward, passing close to the surface of the
Death star, dropping out of warp right next to the Death Star's
main weapons cone. As soon as possible Worf fires torpedoes and
Phasers, but only the first torpedo hits, blowing a large hole in
one of the focussing clusters.  The other torpedoes and the Phaser
beam are intercepted by the hastily raised shields around the
weapon.

Data:  One hit achieved, Captain.  Moderate damage to what appears
to be a secondary component of the weapon.  Strong shielding is
now in place around the weapon.  Power emanations from several
reactors in the vicinity are increasing.  We are not likely to be
able to break through.

Picard:  Continue firing, Worf.  Number One, if we are forced to
withdraw, we must find an undefended portion of the station,
destroy all weapons and tractor beams and then try to brute force
our way close enough to some vital system.

Data:  Captain, attacks on the Imperial fleet have stopped.  I
surmise that the Nimrod is now en route to assist us.

Picard: Good.  Broadcast in her general direction that we cannot
defeat the local defensive systems alone.  Mr. Worf, status?

Worf:  We are having a marginal effect on their shields, sir, but
they appear to be diverting power to make up for that.

<The Enterprise is felt to move down and to the right>

Helm: Sorry sir, but I am compensating to the rotation of the
battle station. I am preventing them from bringing that weapon to
bear on us.

Riker:  Well done.

Picard:  Continue to do so, Ensign.

Worf: Captain, we received a brief reply from the Nimrod.  It
said: "message understood".

Riker: what do you think they'll do?

Picard:  Hopefully they will attempt to divert power away from the
defense of this area.  Even with another ship I doubt we could
blast through this shield. Their power availablity is simply too
much.

<External:  The Enterprise is still plugging away at the Death
Star's main weapon when the Nimrod un cloaks on a high angle pass
to the side of the Enterprise.  Torpedo launchers in each wing
root fire a stream of torpedoes which detonate off to the side of
the Enterprise.  This area was not shielded and the torpedoes
repeatedly slam into the same are of the Death Star, boring a
deep hole into its side.  At the same time the nose and both wing
phasers open up on another area, also concentrated on boring into
the interior of the station.>

Data: Sir, the Nimrod has appeared and is attacking the nearest
undefended energy sources. Sensors report 2 secondary explosions
and the energy output of the shielding facing us is down 12.396%.

Riker: Mr...

Worf:  Responding, sir.
<Worf redoubles his assault on the shielding of the main weapon.
The shielding begins to glow a sickly red as the Enterprises
phasers repeatedly pound it.>

Data: Sir, shield energy is down 17.3% now.  The Nimrod has
destroyed a third reactor and is in the process of engaging a
fourth.  The Imperial fleet is attempting to move into position to
defend the battle station.

Picard:  Status of shields, Mr. Worf?

Worf:  Holding, sir.  The only weapons other than the primary one
on this section of the battle station appear to be merely small
anti fighter emplacements and are having a negligible effect on our
shields.  Their rate of fire has been decreasing, presumably as
their power is siphoned off to defend the main armament.

Data: Concur, captain.  Enemy shielding now down 29.92%.  Our
phasers are beginning to have some break through effect.  Sir,the
Nimrod has cloaked and ceased firing.  All imperial ships now
taking sustained evasive maneuvers.

Riker:  At least the Star Destroyers won't be bothering us.  Did
the Nimrod damage the defenses enough to allow us to finish alone?

data:  Possibly sir.  I cannot tell at this point.  Sir the Nirmod
has re-appeared and has resumed attacking the battle station's
defenses.

Picard: That cloaking maneuver was probably just a ruse to
disperse the Imperial fleet.  How clever!

Riker:  I can just imagine those Star Destroyer's captains as they
thought they were about to come under attack again.
<Both chuckle, Worf shakes his head in contempt.>

Worf:  No warrior would ever panic like that.

Worf:  Captain! Enemy shields now down 52%  We are breaking
through.  Firing torpedoes. <console bleeps> Their shields are
buckling, captain.

Data:  The Nimrod has succeeded in severing power couplings to
several of the shield emitter dishes and we are now breaking
through.

Picard:  The Status of the Imperial Fleet?

Data: They have formed a formation Similar to a Tyrosian Wedge,
captain and are closing in on us. estimated interception time, 1
minute, 42 seconds.

Picard: Just enough time.  Number One, prepare to get us out of
here.

Riker:  Helm, on my signal come to 147 mark 214 and bring us close
to Starbase 42.

<As preparations are being made, the Enterprise is joined by the
Nimrod in assaulting the shielding.  With 4 bright orange beams of
energy pounding on the same spot on the now badly weakened
shields, they collapse, and the phasers now bite into the immense
emitter cone of the Death Star's main planet killing weapon.  Now
that the shields are down, torpedoes are added, quickly
demolishing the cone.>

Data:  Star Destroyer formation now 37 seconds from weapons range,
with fighter squadrons now coming within range.

<The Enterprise begins to shudder ever so slightly as the TIE
fighters try to mount a concerted attack on the two Federation
ships.>

Worf:  Sir, another Text -only message:  "Enterprise, withdraw and
reposition on left flank of enemy fleet.  We can finish up here."

Picard:  Agreed, Helm take us out of here.

<The Enterprise turns and moves off, while the Nimrod fires
another spread of torpedoes into the dish, then turns to leave.
It's shields shimmer for a fraction of second when no TIE fighters
are in a position to fire at it at the moment, and then the ship
banks down and moves to a position under the Imperial fleet at
full impulse.>

Data:  Sir, recording a series of 4 explosions inside the battle
station.  It appears that the Nimrod took advantage of a momentary
lull in the fighter attack to use its transporter to transport
explosive devices into the interior of the battle station.  The
explotions are in a linear path inward from the weapon emitter so I
surmise that the explosions were in some kind of energy conduit or
channeling tube.

Picard: Did we manage to damage their primary weapon enough so
that it is inoperable?

Data:  Insufficient information sir.  The ports on the perimeter
of the dish appear to have been primarily for focussing, with only
a secondary function of delivering energy.  All of them have been
destroyed.  However, the main power source was not damaged and it
is possible that the weapon could be fired at a decreased
effectiveness, and that would still put Starbase 42 in jeopardy.

Helm:  we are now clear of the Imperial fleet sir, they are
holding position between us and the battle station and are
deploying only one third of their fleet against us.  The other two
thirds are deployed to face the Nimrod.

Worf:  Sir, I am picking up heavy communications activity between
the battle station and the fleet ships.  They are probably
attempting secure communications to plan out their next attack.

Riker:  Either that or deciding whether or not to withdraw.  They
have already suffered heavy losses and if that super weapon is
out of commission they don't have a chance against us and Starbase
42.

Picard: Agreed.  Mr. Worf, keep an eye on the Imperial forces.
Also, open a channel to the Nimrod.  It is time we had a
discussion with her captain.

Worf: They are responding, sir.

Picard: On screen.

<The screen changes to reveal a short but stocky human male in his
40's.  His hair is short and black and his face is in a satisfied
grin.  He is sitting in the captain's chair of a bridge that is
much like the Enterprise's battle bridge.>

Mitzgar:  Hello, Enterprise, we can save the greetings and
explanations for later.  If that super battle station's main
weapon is out of operation for a while, they will probably
withdraw.  They can't protect themselves from behind and they
don't have the numbers or the maneuverability to keep either or
our ships out of position.
     However, if we still have to fight more, then you concentrate
on the battle station.  I can keep the warships off of your back.
This cloaking device that I had to work so hard to get authorized
is proving to be quite useful.  The result is that they are very
wary of me and I can have a disruptive effect on their
deployments.  I'm running low on torpedoes though, and phasers
take longer against those enormous things.  Do you agree with my
suggestions?

Picard:  I agree that the battle station is the highest priority.
However, I believe that if we work together to destroy the fleet,
then we will save time in the long run.  It took both of us to
damage the battle station as much as we did.  You must not make
the assumption that the damage we have caused will prevent them
from re establishing their local defenses.  We should both attack
simultaneously.  If we both penetrate through the formations
facing us, we can attack the rear areas of the formations on the
other side.  They do not appear to have developed a way of
countering a high warp speed pass to flank them followed by an
attack on their rear.

Mitzgar:  Sounds good.  At least for this battle, it should work.
But afterwards we will have much to talk about.  I'll see you
afterwards at Starbase 42.

Picard:  I'm certain that we will have a great deal to discuss.
Good luck.  Picard out.

<Worf closes the channel.>

Riker:  Is that the same man who requested to be stationed at
every trouble spot in the Federation for the last 10 years?

Picard: The same.  He is a fine asset in combat, but his
diplomatic skills are poor.  But at least he knows it, and that is
why he requested postings to spots where his military skill would
be useful but he would not be called upon to exercise the finer
points of diplomacy.


<Cut to the bridge of the Death Star:  It is still during the
battle and The Enterprise has just broken free and destroyed much
of the main hangar bay.>

<Alarms sound from a number of consoles and the bridge crew
struggles to gain control of the situation>

Vader:  Report, captain.

Captain:  My Lord, another ship that has an invisibility device
has appeared and has damaged the tractor beam.  When the cruiser
was released it fired its weapons into the main hangar bay as it
made its escape.  The attack causes a tremendous ammount of damage
and several of the secondary hangars were destroyed.  Fuel depots
were also ignited, rendering the hangar unusable.  Both the
cruiser and the new arrival have escaped.  I suspect that another
of those bird like vessels has arrived.  We do not detect it on
our scanners, though the cruiser is there.  We still cannot detect
them when they are using that strange propusion of theirs, but
that cannot account for the added ability of these ships to remain
undetectable.

Vader:  That is not acceptable, captain.  I want the technical
divisions to find an answer to both their invsible propulsion
system and their invisible camaflouge.  Tell them that I take a
personal interest in it.  It makes it all the more imperative that
we capture one of their ships.. or perhaps that starbase would
provide the information we need.  <pause as Vader turns to the
view screen, watching the Fleet maneuvering francitally in its
attempt to counter the Nimrod's attacks.>  Captain, imform the
fleet that the enemy ships are now to be destroyed if they cannot
be captured easily.  However, the Death Star will capture their
starbase.  Adjust the anti-proton weapon to a minimum power
output.  We will disable their defensive systems and take what we
want from their base.  See to it captain.

Captain:  Yes, My Lord.

<The Death Star begins the labourious adjustment of its main
armament:  an enormous anti proton emitter capable of desroying
entire planets using the very natural workings of the universe.
It would take time, but no one on that death Star had even the
slightest inclination to question one of Lord Vader's orders.
Meanwhile the Imperial fleet is being whittled down by the
Nirmod's relentless exploitation of their defensive gap, and the
Enterprise has resumed its attack on the Death Star.>

Captain:  My Lord, the cruiser has resumed its attack on us.  It
is concentrating its attack on the anti proton emitter mechanism.
If they succeed in damaging it we will be unable to use our
weapon.  Our defensive shields are holding, but I am diverting
extra power to them just in case.

Vader:  Use the beam against them, captain.  <To the command crew>
Adjust our orientation and prepare to fire as soon as we have the
cruiser targeted.

Captain: We've already tried that, Lord Vader.  They keep
adjusting to remain out of our firing arc.  We have only a few
weapons within range of them and they are small anti-fighter
emplacements that are having no effect on their shielding.

Vader:  Recall the fleet and launch all availble fighter craft for
an attack on the cruiser.

Captain:  I'm sorry my Lord, but the main hangar is totally
unusable.  Most of the fighters destroyed in the earlier combat
were launched from the secondary hangars, an the rest were sent to
the fleet by the Fighter command because it was felt that they
would be more useful there. We currently cannot launch any
fighters.  However,the fleet is being recalled, but that is being
slowed by the attacks of the other vessel.  Our Star Destroyers
are unable to use much of their engine power without making
themselves extremely vulnerable to attack.  The new warship is
concentrating its attacks on the rear areas of our ships.  If we
use our engines, we cannot maintain strong shields to our rear and
their weapons easily penetrate the defenses and explode their
engines.  We've already lost 6 ships, My Lord, including 2 Super
Star Destroyers.  At present, it will take them almost 20 minutes
to come to our aid.
     However, our shields are holding up against the weapons of
the cruiser.  We can easily maintain shields in the local area of
their attack long enough for the fleet to arrive.  If they move
away from the emitter cone, they will be able to penetrate the
shields, but the damage will be inconsequential.  It would take
them weeks of continuous fire without any resistence on our part
to seriously damage the death star.

Vader: I hope so, for your sake, captain.  Has the anti-proton
weapon sustained any damage?

Captain: None, my Lord.  Shall we continue to recalibrate it to
disable the starbase?

Vader:  Yes.  I still want a prize to take back to the emperor.
Some of their new technology would prove very useful in crushing
the rebels.  We must also be able to counter it should the rebels
obtain posession of it.  I particularly want that drive system.
It seems to allow them to accelerate far more quickly than our
ships. <Vader turns to stare at the view screen showing the
Enterprise valiantly attempting to weaken the shielding around the
emitter cone on the surface of the Death Star.  The emitter cone
had a diameter at least twice that of the Enterprise, reminding
Vader of how a lone Sarthian tunnel-rat would, when cornered, make
a ferocious stand against even an Imperial Storm Trooper.  The rat
lost, just as the Enterprise would.  He studies the lines of the
Enterprise.  It definitely was not built as a warship:  It was
much too spread out.  Also, it had dozens of windows dotting its
surface, which made effective armor plating impossible.  Still, it
did posess impressive weapons and other defensive systems, and had
proven to be able to withstand even a Star Destroyer in single
combat.
     A bright flash distracted his attention.  He shifted his
attention to another set of  monitors, one of which showed a
tactical layout of the star system.  The icon for the Super Star
Destroyer Malice was flashing and then disappeared.  There were
now 7 fewer icons representing Imperial Star ships than had been
there when they entered the system.  This was intolerble.  The
Imperial Star Fleet had not suffered such losses in all of its
history.>

Vader:  <going over to the main command area>  Captain, I find the
losses we are sustaining in this battle unacceptable.  I also grow
tired of allowing that cruiser to continue to fire at us with
impunity, even if it cannot damage us appreciably.  Tell the Fleet
commanders to do what is necessary to expidite their arrival.
Tell them to destroy that other warship and proceed with all
possible speed to cure my annoyance.

Captain:  My Lord, the warship continues to elude us.  It is far
more maneuverable than our fleet and is using its undetectable
drive system to prevent us from mounting an effectve attack.  It
is only on our scanners long enough to open fire and then it
escapes before we can mass an attack against it.  Their shielding
is better than ours and we must attack it with several ships at
once if we are to be able to damage it.  The fleet was attempting
to deploy in a Zirthian Star formation to guard against its
attacks, but there are now too few ships to do this.  My Lord, I
urgently recommend that we install rearward firing weapons on all
our ships in the future.

Vader:  This is proving to be a serious annoyance to me.  I will
have my revenge on this Federation for the trouble they have
caused me.  Increase our speed to intercept their starbase.  I
will conduct the capture and the prisoner interrogation
personally.

<At that moment the Nimrod, which had just broken off and executed
a high warp jump to join the Enterprise, arrived and opened fire
on the weakly protected secondary power reactors that were
supplying the shields guarding the emitter cone.

Alarms sound on consoles all over the bridge as Vader and the
captain turn to see.>

Technician:  Captain!  The new ship has arrived and has destroyed
reactor A421.  Power levels to the deflectors are now down 8%.
The ship is now attacking recactor A47 and it appears it will be
successful.

Captain:  Divert power from level B reactors to compensate for the
loss. How did it manage to penetrate deep enough to damage those
reactors?  They are deep inside the station.  Also,how many more
reactors are within its range.

Techinician:  One, Captain:  A419.  We have diverted power from
B517, 18 and 27.  That will compensate even if A419 is lost.  Sir,
the warship is using a sustained energy beam in conjunction with
some type of torpedo all aimed at the same spot to bore a small
hole deep enough to damage the reactors.  Their torpedoes appear
to be very effetive against our armor.  When the first one struck,
I lost contact with monitor stations in a 200 meter ratius from
the blast.

Vader:  Is this the ship that was attacking the fleet?

Technician:  Yes, Lord Vader.  The fleet is now accelerating under
full engine power and will arrive in 3 minutes.

Vader:  In the future I will see to it that there are better
defenses against large ships on this station.

Captain:  Thank you, My Lord.

Vader:  Don't thank me yet, captain.  I still hold you responsible
for the outcome of this battle.

<Vader ignores the suddenly pale captain and strides to the main
viewing window.  He observes the Nimrod attacking one of the main
power couplings supplying the sector 6 deflector shields.>

Vader: Captain, that is not one of the ships that opposed us
previously.  It is not one of the bird like vessels nor is it like
the vessels we defeated 3 days ago.

Captain:  My Lord, it appears similar to the cruiser, but designed
mor for combat than the larger vessel.  Its weapons are the same
and the long extensions on both ships appear to be the same as
well.  I would guess that it is one of their smaller warships.  It
is smaller than the cruiser.

<Just then the main power coupling under attack explodes, ripping
a long hole in the Death Star and smashing the shields in the
upper section of the emitter cone.>

Technician:  Captain, the shields are partially down and the enemy
ships are damaging the upper half of the emitter cone!  Focussing
elements 23-34 have been damaged and are now inoperable!

<The captain frantically orders the fleet to make all possible
speed when there is another explosion and another technician
reports that the primary emission conduit in the center of the
emtter has been damaged.  Alarms are sounding throughout the
entire bridge, and the captain orders them all shut off, which is
impossible to do: The programmers of the sytem never envsioned the
need to silence these alarms in the midst of battle so they never
included the feature.
     Vader can see the fleet now, bright halos of engine exhaust
illuminate them as they rush to intercept the Enterprise and the
Nirmod.  Vader can sense the apprehension in the minds of their
captains.  They know who will be held responsible if they fail to
protect the Death Star.  Vader also senses something from each of
the two ships attacking the Death Star:  From the cruiser, he
senses relief, but from the warship, he senses amusement.  Someone
on that ship was quite pleased with themself.  How dare someone
mock the Empire, and Him that way!  If he could focus in on that
impression, he would teach that person the price of defying Darth
Vader.  Even as he settled down into himself to better sense the
impressions of the one he wanted to crush to dust, the Enterprise
turned and vanished, escaping the battle.  The warship, however,
remained behind a few moments longer, firing twice more with each
of its 3 main weapons before also turning on its heels.  It did
not leave immediately, as for  brief moment the image of it
shimmered and then it shot away, quickly followed by a large
series of explosions within the Death Star that caused the decking
below Vader's feet to tremble shightly.  Vader did not notice.  In
the moment that the ship's image had shimmred, he had caught a
somewhat clearer sense of the minds on board, but that lasted only
a moment before he lost the newfound clarity.  Now the ship was
gone an the impressions were as well.>

<Vader turned back to the bridge, his anger deferred somewhat by
the puzzling thing he had witnessed.
     The bridge crew was frantically trying to gain control of the
situation.  Vader could both sense and see the desperation of the
Death Star's captain.  That told him clearly that the Death Star's
main weapon was now inoperable and that this battle, for all
intents and purposes, was lost.>

Vader:  Captain, tell the fleet to deploy itself to protect this
station while we asses the damage caused.  If the damage can be
reapired soon, we will continue the attack.

Captain:  <Obviously greatly relieved at the unexpected chance to
save his skin>  Yes, my Lord.  I will personally see to the damage
repairs.

Vader:  You had better be more successful in this endeavor,
captain. <The captain leaves and Vader returns to the window.>

<The fleet quickly deploys to guard against further attack from
the Federation shis, currently to the left of and under that
battle station's front. He tried to sift through all the
impressions he was receiving, but could not isolate the mind he
was interested in. He turned and strode to the command station.>

Vader:  Technician, how long before the anti-proton beam is
operable again?

Technician:  My Lord, it appears that it will be a number of days.
Both the emitter cone and the primary accelerator conduit have
been damged.  If only the cone had been damaged we could still have
fired, but with less effectiveness.  But the last attack was
directed against the main accelerator and it is severely damaged
at several places in the last kilometer to the surface of the
station.  We are now unable to contain the anti-proton beam as it
travels from its source.  If we fired now we would damage this
station severely due to anti-proton leakage.  We still don' know
how they managed to get the explosives they used into the interior
of the conduit, but however they did it, it effectively
incapacitated the weapon for this battle.

Vader:  <Turning to the Captain> Withdraw the fleet and the Death
Star captain.  We will remove to a safer place and adjust our
defenses so that any weaknesses have been corrected.

Captain:  Yes, My Lord.  At once.

<Vader watches him scurry back to issue the proper orders, and
surveys the bridge crew.  None of them were known to be as capable
as their superior, and Vader wanted someone with experience in
command just now.  He decided to give the Captain a reprieve and
decide his fate after the battle was rejoined and decided a few
days from now.>

<The Fleet and Death Star halt their forward motion and reverse
their course, with the Star Destroyers being compelled to execute
a complicated position sitching maneuver to avoid leaving their
forces exposed when the retreat began.  The Enterprise and the
Nimrod hovered in position watching them but not attacking>

Picard:  They appear to finally be retreating.  Let us hope that
they will not be back to fight anytime soon.

Riker: I'm temporarily satisfied that they've had enough for now.

Troi:  They'll be back, Captain.  I know that much from my
impressions of them.

Worf:  This is a true victory for us.  We faced superior numbers
and drove them back decisively!

Picard:  A victory, Mr. Worf, but will it be a lasting one?

Worf:  I will be ready for them, should they ever wish to
challenge us again.

Picard:  <Sigh> I appreciate your dedication, and your skill, Mr.
Worf, but I hope that they will not be necessary again in this
manner.

<A comm panel beeps>

Worf:  Sir, the Nimrod is hailing us.

Pircard:  Onscreen.

<The bridge of the Nimrod appears>

Picard:  It appears that we have enticed them to withdraw, Capt.
Mitzgar.  Thank you for your assistance.  When this Empire's
forces are sufficiently out of range, I suggest that you transport
over to Starbase 42 while the Nimrod remains undocked to guard
against another attack.  Until such a time as we learn to detect
their ships in their hyperspace transportation mode we are
vulnerable.

Mitzgar:  That sounds workable, except I need more torpedoes.  I
can dock and have them loaded in 20 minutes.  Then Nimrod can
disengage and patrol while I field the ten thousand questions I'm
sure you have.  Commander Stone I'm sure is just as curious as you
are.

Picard:  Agreed.  We have much to discuss.  When the Imperial
fleet is gone, Enterprise will allow you to dock and reload.
When that is accomplished, we can begin discussions.  I look
forward to that meeting, Captain.

Mitzgar:  You know how I love question and answer sessions. <he
grins>  Hopefully this one wont be too long on questions and we
can plan for when these aliens return as I'm sure they will.
I shall see you soon Captain Picard,  Mitzgar out.

<The screen returns to the scene of the Imperial fleet, now
completed their about face and accelerating away.  In seconds,
they jump into hyperspace and are gone.>

Data:  Sir, the Nimrod is executing a fast docking approach and
will engage the moorings in 2 minutes.

Riker:  Same old Mitzgar, always wants things done yesterday.

Data:  From the brief time I have spoken with Captain Mitzgar, he
appears to be capable but single minded.

Worf:  When talking about a warrior, single mindedness is
admirable.  One cannot fight honorably without focussing on the
battle at hand.

Picard: We can discuss Captain Mitzar's personality
characteristics later, gentlemen.  Number One, deploy us so that
if the Imperial forces return from any direction we will be able
to engage them as far away as possible from the Starbase.  Pay
particular attention to maintaining warp speed, as the appear to
have difficulty tracking us while we are using it.

Riker:  Helm, bring us to 270 Mk 19 and place us at 120 Megameter
from Starbase 42.  Then execute a Terellian patrol pattern at Warp
1.6.  Be prepared to compute interception vectors at any time
should the Imperial forces reappear.

<20 Munutes later Picard and Commander Stone are seated at
a conference table inside Starbase 42 with Captain Mitzgar with
the Enterprise docked and the Nimrod on patrol.>

Picard:  Captain Mitzgar, I believe that it would be best if you
simply told us what your general situation is first.  That may
answer many of our questions before we ask them.

Mitzgar:  All right, here it goes.  Starting right after the
massacre at Wolf 359 I began lobbying Starfleet Command and key
members of the Federation council to allow construction of ships
for Starfleet designed solely for militry purposes.  The ships
would be built with the best conventional technology availiable
but be designed to be able to easily incorporate new systems as
they emerged.  While I was lobbying on Earth, I sent my frist
officer with the Nebula on a gathering expedition.  Our first stop
was Minos, where the Drake and almost you were destroyed by that
automated defense system.  The time spent there was most
beneficial and much of the High Definition phaser array ideas come
from what we found there.  We also garnered some nice shield
improvements but the biggest prize, in my opinion, was a cloaking
device that not only works with our ship design and shield
methodologies, but draws about 20% less power than we estimate
Klingon cloaks to require.  Our next stop was the planet XXXXX.
You remember that planet dont you, Picard?

Picard:  Of course, that is where Cmdr. Riker was wrongly accused
of murder and we had to go to some very elaborate measures to
prove his innocence.

Mitzgar:  Correct, but that is beside my point.  What was so
special about Dr. Apgar's work?

Picard: He was attempting to harness Krieger waves for energy
purposes, but he covertly changed his research to develop...
<Recognition dawns on Picard's face>

Mitzgar:  Exactly.  I took the plans for the Krieger wave beam
weapons that he was working on and had them finished into a usable
weapon.  Each one is only 1/4 as powerful as a standard Galaxy
class phaser blast but the firing can be mantained as long as the
focussing elements are within the Alpha wave field.  Furthermore,
the number of weapons is limited only by the ability to place them
on a ship.  Nirmod has 27 of them.  We didn't get to use them this
time, but next time we'll be ready.  Enterprise or the Starbase
could maintain the required 1000 Km distance and generate the
Alpha wave field for us, and we could blaze away on them forever.
This is particularly important when dealing with the Borg, where
you have to incapacitate them with the first thing you have that
can penetrate their shields, or now with this moving piece of
armor that these aliens have.  Collectively, we can generate
tremendous firepower and maintain it far longer than any other
known ship.
The techinical stuff was the easy part.  The primary difficulty
was political.  The idea of building warships again, especially
with cloaking devices was repugnant to many influential people
whose approval I needed.  It was only the disaster at Wolf 359
that tippe the balance in my favor.  Even though getting
authorization for the cloaking device was very diffcult.

Picard:  I can imagine.  However, it seems to have been not
difficult enough. Have we been pressed so hard as to adopt the
tactics of our enemies?  One thing that has separated us from
other societies is that we back up our declarations of peaceful
intent by not gearing up for war.  Don't protest, Captain, I know
that you do not agree, but I had to say it.  I mean no disrespect
to you, but I for one believe that if we allow our principles and
way of life and methods to be altered by the actions of an
aversary then the adversary has already gained some measure of
victory over us.

Stone:  Jean-Luc, I feel as you do, but when faced with dedicated
enemies as powerful as the Borg, I see no loss in doing what ever
is necessary to stop them.  True military vessels might have fared
better against the Borg.  They..

Picard:  Not so, Robert.  You saw the re-enactments, we were
slaughtered!  Our current means, even employed to the extreme,
will not be enough to stop the Borg.

Mitzgar: Quite true, Captain.  That is one reason that the Nimrod
class was designed to be eaily modifiable.  The intermim solution
is to push conventional military technology to the limit and wait
for other methods.  The Nimrod can also, for instance, fire
disruptors.  They aren't as powerful as our Phasers, but they were
included in case the Borg adapted to the Phasers.  We estimate
that they would give us at least some extra time against them.

Stone:  Gentlemen, we can talk about this topic later.  Captain
Mitzgar, please inform us of the Nirmod's capablities.

Mitzgar:  All right, we carry the prototype High Definition Phaser
array, and 3 arrays on the Nimrod.  Each array giving us 27% more
phaser output than Enterprise's main array..

Picard:  We have upgraded to the Improved Definition standard.

Mitzgar:  Ok, then that reduces Nimrod's advantage to to 15%.  We
also have disruptors comparable to an old K'Tinga class bird of
prey.  Not impressive, I admit, but the best we could do with what
was on hand.  We'll improve that at the first opportunity.  We
also Have 3 forward and one rear torpedo laucher, and 27 Krieger
wave blasters, all independently targetable, with at least 12 of
them able to be brought to bear on any point on the horizon. Our
last offensive surprise is the first fruit from the Borg Defense
projects, and is a shield draining weapon.  It is a highly energy
absorbant plasma/proton combination that remains on the shield of
the target and leaves a residue inhibiting the reformation of the
shield in the affected area.  It doesn't drain a shield like the
Borg weapon does, but it's still useful.  It would take standard
Federation shields about 12 seconds to recover from the effects
of a hit.
The cloaking device, as I already described, is both effective and
energy-efficient, as cloaks go.  With the right equipment, we
could outfit Enterprise in about 2 days, though I doubt you would
like that. Our shields also benefitted from our trip to Minos, but
you probably have those improvements by now if you have the phaser
upgrade.  Anyway, we power all of this stuff with TWO Mk 87
reactors like Enterprise has, except we incorporated all of the
field tested improvements invented since Enterprise was built.  In
spite of that we managed to save space by not including a civilian
crew and maximum possible automation.  We've only got about 10%
space for extra systems, but all follow on Nimrod class vessels
wil be larger.  You may  have noticed, but Nimrod is not even
comissioned yet.  We were undergoing weapons trials when we were
ordered here.  Initially we were to use our cloak and scout
around, but our sensors picked up the battle and we diverted over
to here.

Picard:  You arrived here from Earth that soon?  How fast were you
traveling?

Mitzgar:  Not from Earth, from Chalandy VI.  We implemented an
energy conservation protocol and cruised at Warp 9.62 to get here.
Another design feature of the Nimrod is that most every system on
the ship is designed to handle huge amounts of power.  Our warp
drive can sustain long periods of near peak output and with both
reactors we were able to do it without too much sacrifice.

Picard:  Well, it seems that you finally have the type of ship
that you wanted, don't you?

Mitzar:  Yes, I do.  If you give me a chance to prove how useful
this ship can be I think your attitude will change.

Stone:  I hope that that will not be necessary.

Mitzgar:  Sooner or later that ship will be needed.

Picard:  So far we have almost avoided that need and I will do
everything in my power to see that you are NOT needed.

Mitzgar:  Captain Picard, I do not relish combat, but that is
where my abilities lie and I believe that at our current level of
capabilities we cannot afford to sit back without giving proper
thought to defense.  With our current fleet with its secondary
military mission we have been faring successively worse in each
miltary encounter in the last half decade.  The Romulans have some
advantage, so do the Borg, and even the Children of Tamar nearly
defeated the Enterprise.  If trends continue, we won't be able to
adequately defend ourselves.

Picard:  But do we have to transform Starfleet from a peaceful to
a miltary fleet?  Must we change ourselves so?

Mitzgar:  Captain, Starfleet has been primarily non-military for
only half a century.  And in any case, we are simply augmenting
the exploration arm of Starfleet with some purely military
defensive forces for contingency purposes.  Current plans call for
them to be kept in reserve at strategic places within the interior
of the Federation and only called on when truly needed.

Picard:  Changes of this nature seldom take place all at once.  We
must constantly be on our guard or we will all wake up one day in
a Federation that we don't recognize.  I see this as a step that
could possibly used to fundamentally alter the structure of
Starfleet to something I profoundly disagree with.  I shall not
agrue our intentions or justifications, Captain Mitzgar, but I see
a Pandora's box standing before us.  Have we yet opened it or is
there still time to shut it tight.

Mitzgar:  If that is the case, then I'm glad that you are still
around, Capt. Picard.  You can help keep us all honest.

<He passed over flat screen computers to each of them>

Mitzgar:  Here is a full report on Nimrod's capailities,
classified level 8 clearance or above only.  We don't want word to
get too far as to our capabilities.  What I've said is essentially
that, minus the philosophy.  May I suggest that we turn to more
pressing matters, such as what to do about the "Empire"?


              ===================================


Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: The Return follow on (part 2)
From: [e-mail]
Date: 30 Mar 92 00:16:55 GMT


Stone:  Yes, we know enough about Nimrod for now, but we still
don't know when they will be back and we need to make plans.

Picard:  Agreed.  My chief engineer is working on a way to detect
the Imperial ships when using their hyperspace propulsion.  It
should be ready fairly soon..
<Mitzgar interrupts>

Mitzgar:  How difficult will it be for us to duplicate it when you
have it finished?  Maybe my people could help, or at least get a
head start on fabricating the necessary equipment.  I suggest that
our first officers and engineers get together as well to discuss
both technology and to get to know each other.  It looks like
we'll have to fight together and we should know something about
the crews we'll be working with.  I suggest that we contact our
ships and arrange for some meetings.

Picard:  That sounds workable.  Shall we?
<Picard and Mitzgar both patch in to their ships:>

Picard:  Picard to Enterprise, Number One, make contact with the
first officer on board the Nimrod and establish a liaison with
him..<at a motion from Mitzgar he corrects himself>, correction,
her.  Commander Reynolds.  Their chief engineer will want to be
briefed on the hyperspace detection project.  Arrange for Cmdr.
LaForge to make contact with <he looks at Mitzgar first> him.

Riker:  Captain, permission to deviate from the patrol pattern to
investigate the wreckage of the Imperial ships.  Cmdr. LaForge
thinks that it may prove useful.

Mitzgar:  Nimrod can cover for Enterprise.

Picard:  Number One, permission granted.

Mitzgar:  Mitzgar to Nimrod.

Reynolds:  Reynolds here, captain.

Mitzgar:  Enterprise will be contacting you to establish a liaison.
They're also working on a detection device to spot the Imperial
ships when they're using that hyper spatial propulsion.  Get Cmdr.
Bui in contact with their engineers and learn to work with Cmdr.
Riker, the Enterprise's first officer.  Beyond that, use your
judgement.  Enterprise will be inspecting the imperial wreckage so
you'll have to adjust the patrol to compensate.  Go to Alpha
pattern, Rules of Engagement Delta.  Understood?

Reynolds:  Understood, captain.  When will you be returning?

Mitzgar:  Unknown, Commander.  We've got a lot of things to work
out here.  Enjoy the big chair for a while longer.  Mitzgar out.

Picard:  Still making heavy use of pre-arranged battle plans,
Robert?
<Mitzgar smiles, taking his cue from Picard's move to make the
atmosphere more relaxed>

Mitzgar:  Not as much, Jean-Luc.  Now it's mostly for initial
action.  I've learned to keep them general enough to allow for
adaptation as appropriate.  I still think the advantages in speed
of response outweigh the potential for miscalculation.  In touchy
or unknown situations where battle isn't certain or wanted, I
couldn't use that, of course.  That's why I'm not out exploring
like you are.  My talents are in a field of fairly narrow
application and I've never claimed otherwise.

Picard:  I know some other officers who could learn something from
you when it comes to when it comes to staying within proper
application of one's talents, but I still hope that we can avoid a
full scale confrontation.  Starfleet cannot afford another major
war and an Empire that can build a battle station of that size and
power must have enormous resources at their disposal.  We would be
committing ourselves to a long, terribly costly and possibly
avoidable war.

Mitzgar:  I don't think I need tell you of what I think our
chances of avoiding war are, do I?

Picard:  No, probably not.  I feel that you are too unwilling to
risk military disadvantage for the hope, slim though it might be,
that violence can be avoided.  I feel that one more try must be
made at least.  If we can show ourselves to be reasonable, then
there is a chance that we might persuade them to cease
hostilities.

Mitzgar:  Jean-Luc, your patience amazes me.  I intercepted the
transmission between you and the Battle Station.  Their leader
wanted you dead just because you had defended yourself against his
ships!  If he is any indication of their leadership, then any
definition of reasonableness that you could provide would be most
un-applicable to them.

Picard:  We once felt the same way about the Klingons.  They too
were predatory and hostile.  Over time we finally learned to live
with them and they with us.  Granted, we had a long period of
hostilities, but we eventually managed to prove to them that peace
was preferable.

Mitzgar:  The price of that lesson will be very high to both sides
if we aren't strong enough to resist them easily.  I think that we
can beat them in battle, but I don't think we can keep them at
arms length and wait for them to come to their senses to our
liking.

Stone:  Jean-Luc, holding actions are dangerous if the holding
party is not certain that they can compensate if the action
doesn't work or deteriorates.  I too think that we can't assume
that we can hold them off with defensive measures only.  They
defeated the Romulans, remember?  That was no mean feat.

Mitzgar:  I exploited a defensive weakness that we can't expect to
last very much longer.  I burned them enough that they'll soon
adapt.  Most of Starfleet would have trouble going toe to toe with
one of their smaller ships, let alone the big ones or that battle
stations.  If we soundly defeat them when they return, they may
think twice about continuing the hostilities.  We can spare a few
ships and tell them that we want to negotiate a cessation of
hostilities and begin from there.

<Picard's communicator beeps before anyone can say anything
further>
Riker: Riker to Captain Picard.

Picard:  Go ahead Number One.

Riker:  We've begun working with the Nimrod and have established a
basic framework for coordinating our activities.  Cmdr. LaForge
and Cmdr. Data are nearing completion on the hyperspace detector
prototype but testing it will be difficult except under actual
conditions.  The Nimrod and Starbase 42 have already begun
construction on parts of a detector for their own ships.  We were
able to gain some information from the Imperial ships, but not
about their engines.  Nimrod's method of attack nearly always
wiped out the entire engine compartments. <Mitzgar shrugs>
Their weapons are almost all low power lasers and particle beam
weapons.  We can adjust our shields to compensate for them and in
future encounters our shields should stand up well against them
except under very high rates of fire.  If we get caught by a
couple hundred of those fighters, we could be in trouble if the
manage to synchronize their firing to hit us nearly
simultaneously.  Otherwise there shouldn't be much of a problem.
With the new enhancements, those fighters would do less damage by
ramming our shields than their weapons would.

Mitzgar:  Cmdr. Riker, Captain Mitzgar here.  Thank you for that
information.  I have a question.  What kind of shielding did the
Imperial ships employ?

Riker:  Funny you should ask that, Captain.  Cmdr. Reynolds was
also very curious about that.  They're using something very
similar to the old Polarized Wave-Reversion shields used years
ago.  If you're thinking what Cmdr. Reynolds is thinking, no they
won't stop transporter beams, which gives us, particularly you
with your cloaking device, a big advantage.

Mitzgar:  <He smiles>  Thank you Cmdr. Riker.

Picard:  Were there any survivors, Number One?

Riker:  Minimal, Captain, and they were all very injured. We're
keeping them in cargo bay 4 where we can guard them and treat them
at the same time.  Most are humanoid.  Dr. Crusher still has her
hands full, though.

Mitzgar:  <To Picard> How soon can they be interrogated?

Picard: <To Riker> Make sure that they are treated with every
respect.  We want them to know for certain that we do not intend
to mistreat them or hold them for longer than is necessary.  They
will be returned as a sign of good will at the soonest possible
opportunity.
<He looks at Mitzgar who is scowling>
Robert, I know that interrogating them would be useful, but here
is a fine opportunity, probably our best opportunity to show to
this Empire that we have no hostile intentions towards them and
that we wish for peaceful coexistence.  You must be willing to
take the risk that peace can be maintained.  I grant you that the
chances are not promising, but I will not give up on what
possibility still exists.  Besides, you spoke of having the
ability to compensate if this fails.  Cmdr. Riker just gave it to
you.  If the Empire proves to be un-changeably belligerent in our
next encounter, we can use our advantages to neutralize them and
then send the survivors back with another offer of peace.

Mitzgar:  You're going to use your seniority and pull rank on this
one aren't you?

Picard:  I'd rather not, but if I have to I will.

Stone: What about that Battle Station, Jean-Luc?

Picard:  That does indeed present a problem.  It is most difficult
to negotiate for peace both when the other side possesses a weapon
that it believes indestructible and when our side must neutralize
that weapon before our claim of peaceful intent is to be tendered.
<He sighs and leans back.>
Robert, let us discuss the actual fighting tactics we might employ
for now.  Keep the negotiations in the back of your mind and maybe
something will come up.

Mitzgar:  It appears that when we maintain warp speed, their
sensors can't detect us.  You can use that as a poor-man's
cloaking device to slip inside on them and attack.  They'll likely
know you're out there somewhere and it won't be as good as a true
cloak which will allow me greater flexibility when attacking.  I
may be able to get to them before they are close to you and have
their screens up.  It would be riskier for Enterprise to lower her
shields and use her transporters if they know she's in the general
area.  We could use Enterprise as Bait and I could swing around
and pound them.

Picard:  Nimrod could remain cloaked and move into attack position
and Enterprise could attempt negotiations first.  If that fails
then we could attack as you suggested.  The only problem remains
what to do about that battle-station.

Stone:  Captain, we cannot allow that station to come within range
of this starbase.  Losing this Starbase and the services it
provides in guarding the Neutral Zone would be intolerable in and
of itself, let alone the THOUSANDS of lives that would be lost!
They could pretend to negotiate long enough to come within firing
range and then destroy this starbase before you could incapacitate
their weapon again.

Picard:  I agree.  Robert, can you disable their primary weapon
again?

Mitzgar:  I can try.  I expect them to have taken some
countermeasures since their last attack, however, and their
effectiveness will depend on whether or not they have any
understanding of our transporter technology.  You can bet that the
entire area will be shielded, the power conduits will be in
protected areas and that they will have plenty of resources nearby
to prevent us from loitering about there like we did last time.  A
frontal assault will be very tough to pull off.  We might be able
to sneak in and beam in some torpedoes but that too will be risky.
Have you identified their propulsion systems?

Picard:  Not as yet.  If we attacked their propulsion units, then
it is absolutely imperative that we stop them well short of firing
range.  If we slow them down too much they won't be able to
retreat and we will have a huge battle on our hands.  In that case
we would be forced to attempt to destroy the battle station.
Could we do that?  It has a radius of almost 650 Km!  Even with
transporters, could we penetrate the interference that a station
of that nature would generate deeply enough to destroy their
primary power generators?

Mitzgar:  There's one way to find out.

<Picard to Cmdr. Stone>
How long before reinforcements arrive?

Stone:  At last word, the Nebula will be here within 6 hours.  The
Reliant-C and the Hermes will arrive a day later.  All other
reinforcements are at least 3 days away.  The Klingons are making
preparations of their own, but they're not talking about them.

Picard:  Then we must plan for battles with only limited
resources.  If we are forced to act before reinforcements arrive
then Enterprise will attempt negotiations while Nimrod disables
the main weapon on that battle station.  The main weapon ONLY
Robert!  You are not to attack at all unless they continue to move
into attack position.  I will attempt to halt them well short of
their estimated firing range and begin negotiations.  If they
refuse to cease forward motion and close to within 30,000 Km then
go ahead and disable the weapon.  We will then continue to attempt
to negotiate with them.  If that still does not stop them then on
my "Finish" signal you may begin to attack the Imperial forces as
you see fit.  If the Imperial forces retreat, you will maintain
attack position but cease firing and allow them to retreat.  We
will make one last negotiation attempt then.  Under no
circumstances are you to destroy every Imperial ship.  Leave at
least 2 ships to carry the message of our desire to end
hostilities.

Mitzgar:  After the "final" signal am I cleared to destroy the
battle station if I can find a way?

Picard: <reluctantly> Yes.  I don't see any alternative.  If you
do manage to find a weakness and use it to destroy the battle
station, spare the Imperial fleet and allow them to escape.  That
should be a sharp enough lesson for them to convince them to cease
hostilities.

Mitzgar:  Understood.  If Nebula arrives before the Empire
returns, I recommend that she stand with Enterprise.  They might
mistake her for Nimrod and not be expecting me to also be there.
If Reliant and Hermes arrive, I'll take Hermes and have her patrol
on warp power so she won't be detectable and Reliant can stay with
you and Nebula.  If they're using Polarized Wave-Reversion
shielding, then there must be field boundaries that are nice and
vulnerable, especially to phasers.   I suggest a pair-wise attack.
One ship attacks from the front and the other hammers their
engines.  That seems to take maximum advantage of their known
weaknesses.  Whenever you get a chance, use your transporters.

Picard:  Agreed.  I believe it best that we now adjurn to our
ships where the details can better be worked out.

Stone:  Let us hope that we can convince them to stop this
senseless fighting.

Mitzgar:  And that the price of that convincing is not more than
we can bear.

Picard:  Robert, if we succeed, then the price will be lower on
both sides than if we merely attack them and then try to stop
later.  How many crew did they lose in the first attack?  Given
the size of those ships it must be many thousands.  They have
already paid a heavy price.  I am attempting to minimize costs
to them as well as to us.  If we must take some casualties to save
more lives in the long run on both sides, then we are honor bound
to do so.

Mitzgar:  I question that argument given that they have proven to
be virulently belligerent.  I also differ on how far we should
stick our own necks out to save theirs.

Picard:  Nevertheless, we must try.  I order you not to initiate
hostilities unless the guidelines we have worked out are
satisfied.  Let us return to our ships and prepare for our next
encounter with the Empire.

<The two captains file out behind starbase commander Stone and
head for the nearest transporter room.>

                         TO BE CONTINUED

.

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