From: bigba Newsgroups: alt.startrek.vs.starwars Subject: [Fanfic] Saber's Fury Tell me what you think so far. Saber's Fury "So Lt. Danial's turns to me and just smiles." Lt. Jadzia Dax looked across the table at Lt. Commander Worf, noticing he was having difficulty finding the humor in her story. Shruging in defeat, took a sip of her drink and continued talking. "So, have you heard the news?" Worf set down his glass and grunted. "What news?' "Were taking the _Defiant_ on a raid against the Jem'Hadar." "It is about time." A fierce scowl came over Worf's face. "We have been sitting in this station for almost three weeks. It will feel good to take the battle to the enemy." "I hear we're getting reinforcements. Two new Defiant-class ships." Worf nodded. "That should even the odds in our favor considerably." he paused, thinking. "Where did you hear this?" Dax took a sip of her drink before answering. "I was in CinC today delivering a report to Kira when approval came in from Starfleet Command. We leave tomarrow." "Good, I will-" A shout erupted from the bar, causing all of the patrons at Quark's to turn and stare. In one corner, three large, obviously drunk, klingon warriors surrounded a lone robed figure. Dax turned to Worf. "We better stop them before they paste that guy." She started to take a step. All of a sudden one of the klingons reached out to shove the robed figure. With almost impossible reflexes, the human's hands shot out, seizing the klingons arm and throwing him over the bar and into to racks of bottles. All hell broke loose. The second klingon drew a dagger. There was a flash of green light, and the klingon fell back, clutching a severed wrist. The figure leaped into the air, somersaulting backwards to land on the bar. The third klingon, having pulled a disruptor, aimed and fired. The figure twisted his green blade downwards, connecting with the pulse, sending it into the rafters. The whole bar was silent, save the second klingon who was roaring in pain. Dax stared dumbfounded at the human. He was tall, clean-shaven young man, in his mid-twenties, with jet black hair tied back into a ponytail. His green eyes scanned the crowd. In his hands was a weapon similar to a sword. Its blade, however, appeared to be a green stream of energy, ending 2 meters from the handle. "What is the meaning of this?" Odo's voice cut through the silence, as he pushed his way towards the bar, two bajoran security officers trailing a step behind. He reached the bar and pointed towards the man. "You," He cried. "Get down from there, your under arrest!" Benjamin Sisko looked stared out the window of his office. "What am I to do with you?" He said to the man standing in front of his desk. "Constable?" Odo stepped forward. "Witnesses have verified that he was acting in self defence. Other than the fact that he was carrying a small arsonal on his person, on the prominade," The constable motioned to several items on Sisko's desk; they included a long metal device in the shape of a rod, a gun-shaped energy weapon, and several wicked-looking knives. "I would say just have him spend three or four days in the brig, then kick him off the station." "Agreed, throw him in the brig for four days, then get him off DS9." Sisko turned towards the man. "However, first, I want to know why you came to DS9 in the first place Mr.-"Sisko glanced at a PADD on his desk. "Daric Ritair." Daric Ritair paused before speaking. "I'm hunting for a man, whom I believe passed this way some time ago." "A lot of people pass through this station Mr. Ritair." Sisko snapped. He was not having a good day. General Martok was not pleased that two of his warriors were in sickbay; in fact he was practically crying for Ritair's head. "I know." Ritair replied. "That's exactly why I came here. This man killed several friends of mine. He would have gone by either 'Jarnaan Odaic' or 'Darth Serpis'." Sisko looked over to Odo. "Constable, check the station records for any mention of either of those names when you have the chance." He turned back to Ritair. "Now get this man out of my office." After Odo and two security officers had taken Ritair away, Sisko tapped his comm badge. "Colonal Kira." He said. "Yes captain?" Kira's voice came over the comm badge. "ETA of the _Moscow_ and the _Starfire_." "Two hours Captain." "Good, have their captains meet me in my office when they arrive." "Yes sir. Kira out." Communications cut, Sisko sat down behind his desk to get some work done. Part 2 "Helm, bring us about to course zero-five-three-mark-seven. Weapons, target the battle cruiser's port engine!" The ship rocked as the _Defiant_ suddenly arced upwards into a loop. Halfway through the manuever, she suddenly corkscrewed, and began firing wildly. next to her, at about 7 o'clock, the _Starfire_ also let loose with her weapons. The Jem'Hadar battlecruiser tried to evade, but her bulk was too much for her engines. Phaser fire and quantom torpedos ripped through her weakend shields, tearing through her hull. Suddenly explosions began rippling through the ship, before consuming her in a massive fireball. "Status!" Sisko cried. "_Moscow_ is engaging a Jem'Hadar fighter 100 kilometers away." Dax's voice cut thruogh the cataphony of sirens, smoke and noise. "I also read another Jem'Hadar fighter moving on an escape vector." "Intercept it Mr. Calughn." "Yes, sir." The helmsman replied, bringing the _Defiant_ around on a new heading. "Jem'Hadar fighter at 1500 kilometers and closing. Time to intercept is three minutes." Dax said. "Weapons status Mr. Worf." "Weapons generators at twelve percent, two quantum torpedoes left. We will have only one burst." "Let's make it count. What's the status of the _Starfire_?" "Hull integrety at thirty-five percent, structural integraty fields at twelve." Dax replied. Time seemed to crawl along, as the two ships raced through the void seperating them from their prey. Worf announced they were within weapons range. "Lock phasers onto their engines, plot quantum torpedoes for a curving flight path. Fire!" The ship bucked as the torpedoes shot from their launchers. Phaser energy cut through space, missing the target by less than a meter. Suddenly, the Jem'Hadar fighter cut it's engines. Spinning around, she opened fire with her primary weapons. The _Defiant_ shuddered as the helmsman threw her to one side, evading the beam. The _Starfire_ wasn't so lucky. The beam caught her dead on, severing the ship down it's length. Explosions devoured her, leaving a cloud of rapidly expanding gases and metal shards. The fighter began tracking the _Defiant_, an energy spike signaling they were powering up their weapon for another shot. They wouldn't get it. The _Defiant's_ last two quantum torpedoes compleated their arc, slamming into the Jem'Hadar fighter from above, sending it to a fiery end. Sisko slumped back in his seat as a collective sigh of relief ran over the bridge. "Damage reprt." He said. O'Brian look down at his console. "Those last manuevers put microscopic cracks all along the hull. We have hull breaches on decks seven and eight. inertial dampners at sixty-five percent, structural integraty fields at fifty- eight percent. Shields are non-operational." "What about our weapons systems, Mr. Worf?" "We have no quantum torpedoes left, and that last burst overloaded the phaser coils." Worf turned to look at Sisko. "We will need time to repair." "I know." Sisko replied. "What is the status of the _Moscow_?" "She's destroyed the other Jem'Hadar fighter, and is moving to assist us." Dax said. "Lt. Commander Dax, find us someplace nearby to lay low. Make it good, we're going to need plenty of time for repairs." "According to the last report we recieved from Starfleet, the USS _Endeavor_ was preparing a raid against the Dominion not far from here. It would seem to be our best bet." She glanced at her screen again. "It would be near coordinates five-mark-three-mark-seven; two hours at warp three." "Mr. Calughn, lay in a course for the _Endeavor_ warp three." "Course laid in sir." "Engage." (Captains Log: Stardate 84713.5) We have been raiding for the past two weeks, and now are looking foreward to getting home. However, we are in desperate need of medical supplies and aid. To this end, we are heading to the last known coordinates of the USS _Endeavor_, a Nebulon-class starship, and the only Federation force in the area. (End Log) "We'll try to help as much as we can, Benjamen, but I don't know how much that will be. The last Jem'Hadar attack nearly wiped us out, and I have a lot of my own men in sickbay as well." Captain Jeremy Zerakophf was a tired man. The _Endevor_, his ship, had been under intense attack from Jem'Hadar forces ever since they had destroyed a shipyard near the Cardassian world of Baja'Hac. They had lost the _Berlin_, an Excelsior-class, in the fight. "We also have wounded from the _Berlin_ to worry about." "Thank you for all you can do, I-," Suddenly alarms broke out all over the ship. "Captain to the bridge!" The _Endevor's_ first officer cried over the intercom. Standing, Sisko and Zerakophf rushed out of the ready-room and onto the bridge. "What's happening?" Zerakophf yelled over the din. "A Jem'Hadar battlecruiser is approaching at maximum warp, sir." The first officer replied. "Shields up, arm our last two quantum torpedoes." Zerakophf looked to Sisko. "If were going to go down, it's with a fight." Sisko tapped his comm badge. "Sisko to _Defiant_. Pull back to seventy- thousand kilometers, and hold postion." "Affirmative sir." Came the reply. Sisko quikly repeated the order to the _Moscow_, then turned to Zerakophf. "I'll take weapons control." Zerakophf nodded. Just then, the battlecruiser opened fire. The ship rocked, throwing one ensign to the floor. "Shields are down, Jem'Hadar battlecruiser preparing to fire again." Sisko called out. "Brace yourselves!" Zerakophf yelled, then closed his eyes, waiting for the blast to come. I never did. "Sir, another ship has appeared at coordinate zero-mark-nine-mark-twenty- three." "One screen." Zerakophf said. On the viewscreen, the image of a starship appeared. Sisko whistled softly. The ship was roughly twice as long as a Galaxy-class; with smooth rounded curves, recessed engines, and numerous bumps, apparently weapons emplacements. She appearently had the Jem'Hadar battlecruiser in tractor beams because even as the bridge crew watched, the Dominion warship drifted on screen. Suddenly a wave of energy ripped through space, slamming into the warship. There was a brief flicker as the battlecruiser's shields held for several seconds, then collapsed. Seconds later, the Jem'Hadar ship disintigrated into a cloud of gasses, and expanding debris. The bridge was dead silent. "Hail that vessal." Zerakophf whispered. Slowly, the ensign punched in the commands, then nodded to Zerakophf, who spoke; his voice trembling with anxiety. "This is the USS _Endeavor_ of the United Federation of Planets to alien vessel. Thank you for your assistance. Please respond." Silence hung over the bridge for several seconds, before the screen changed to a view of an alien bridge. The crew let out a collective gasp at the bearded human, whose face dominated the screen. Behind him, numerous aliens could be seen hurrying about on various duties. "Daric Ritair." Sisko said in amazment, causing everyone to turn and stare at him. "Ah, hello Captain Sisko; I thought you were here. Well, I am pleased to say that on behalf of the New Republic, I can say, 'Your Welcome.' " Part 3 The scream echoed down the long corridor. The guards at the lift door ignored it, for it was one that they had heard many times. Prisoners had been filling up the cells of the detention block in the past few weeks, most strange aliens. Force fields marched along each side of corridor, ending at a set of doors at the end. The doors were marked with the new Imperial symbol, the cog overlaying a four-point star. From beyond those doors the screams sounded, coming from a place that even the hardiest stormtroopers, save one, feared to go. The lift doors opened, and the stormtroopers snapped to attention as a single figure swept out. He was human, over six feet, with straight, jet black hair that hung down to his waist in a myriad of braids. His eyes were gold, and his skin was white and unblemished. At the corner of his left eye was tatooed a four-pointed star: the symbol of the ruling family of Atriuus. He wore long, loose-fitting black robes, with a silver belt around his waist. From it hung a lightsaber. As he walked down the corrider, he glanced neither left nor right, and yet his presence was such that the prisoners huddled in the corners of their cells. Many wept openly; some defecated themselves. The doors opened, and the screams suddenly filled the ears of all present. Cold air flowed out, causing the hem of his robes to billow slightly. He passed inside the chamber, and the doors hissed shut behind him. The room inside was colder than the rest of the ship, and breath was expelled in a thick mist. A single light shone down on the center of the room, forming a two meter circle on the floor. Under this light, a prisoner was held naked in repulsor fields, subject to the depravities heaped on them by skilled torturers. A human hung there now, a young man. Sweat slicked his skin, and his gaze darted around the room. In his eyes was pure terror. Darth Serpis studied the man for a moment, then turned away. Speaking to a small figure in the shadows, he said, "What have you learned?" "Much my Lord. Yes, very much." A voice hissed. "The human, he is a soldier, an officer." "Is that all?" Serpis asked, giving the small figure a cool gaze. "No! There is more. Yes, lord, so much more." A light appeared far to the other end of the room. It illuminating a small table, on which lay a folded uniform, a weapon of some sorts, and a small metallic badge. With a shuffle the creature came into the light. He was a grey, hunched thing, with wisps of hair on his elbows and knees, and none on his head. His mouth was a lipless hole from which small black teeth could be seen portruding. to either side of his head, behind shallow cheekbones, nostril flaps flared rythmically. He held up a data chip. "This contains information on his people. They are weak, and at war. They could easily be taken." "Go on." "He has a ship coming. They will search for him. These are the cooridinates." "You have done well Torturer. You please me." At that, the creatures nostril flaps flared in pride. Serpis turned to leave, when the creature spoke once again. "Lord?" He said. "Yes?" "Torturer is hungery." Serpis glanced at the small creature, a mass of skin and bones huddled in the darkness, considering. He made his mind, "Very well," He said. The man made a small whimper, but no more. The Sith Lord turned to leave, and the small creature's tounge flicked in and out of his mouth. As the door closed on Serpis's heels, the loudest scream yet came from inside the room, and then gurgled off into silence. _ _ _ _ _ Captain January paced the length of the bridge of the _Raptor_, stopping briefly at each station to oversee whatever was occuring there. He was looking at a sensor station when Serpis entered. "My Lord, how did the interrigation of the prisoner proceed?" He asked, saluting. "It went well," Serpis replied. "How are preparations for our attack coming?" January allowed himself a brief smile. "We are ready to attack at your order. These Cardassians will never expect us." "Good. You may commence with the attack at 1500 hours." _ _ _ _ _ The Cardassian world of Tyral lay at a crossroads of several trade routes on their far borders. Far from Federation space, it was garrisoned by six Jem'Hadar fighters,as well as two older model Galor-class cruisers. The Imperial fleet came out of hyperspace while the capital city was still hours from dawn. Slicing through the void of space, two stardestroyers and three frigates approached the world. Within a minute the Jem'Hadar fighters had all scrambled, with the two Galor's following as quickly as possible. Both sides opened fire from long range, turbolasers and polaron beams filling space. As they approached the Imperial fleet, the Jem'Hadar ships broke into flights of two, swooping upon the smaller frigates. Their weapons pounded the frigates shields as they made their first pass. The polaron beams favored by the Jem'Hadar were known to bypass many shield types, and after a few seconds of contained burst, they would punch through, blasting the frigates' hulls for a few seconds before they were out of range. The frigates returned fire, supported by the star destroyers' guns as well. Within seconds, one of the Jem'Hadar fighters was struck, it's shield flickered and died. The next hit seemed to shatter the small craft, then it's reactor blew, vaporizing everything. Approaching at full speed, the Galors locked on to the star destroyers and began to fire. An alarm rang on board each of the cruisers, as the Imperial ships began to launch a swarm of small craft. They consisted of a single small sphere, with curved, dagger-like panels to either side. The TIE Interceptors raced toward the Cardassian ships, and swarmed over the cruisers like locusts; their weapons slowly eating away at the shields. The Galors returned fire, destroying several of the craft. A second wave of ships had been launched as well, all bombers. They broke into two flights, one turned to deal with the Galors, the other with the Jem'Hadar. In two dozen cockpits, the sound of torpedo locks began to whine as each pilot found a mark. They fired, torpedoes streaking towards their targets. The captains of the Galors probably realized what was happening, but they never had a chance. Eighteen proton torpedos impacted against the shields of the first cruiser, the last six struck home. Crippled, the craft was easy prey to the interceptors, while the bombers turned to deal with the second ship. Shortly afterwards, she followed the same fate as her sister. All resistance eliminated, the fleet settled into orbit around Tyral. A broadcast was sent across all subspace channels. To millions of Cardassians, an image of a man appeared. "Citizens of this world, your defenses have failed." He said. "I give you this message: surrender, become a part of the empire, or face death. I await your reply." The message ended. Onboard the _Raptor_ Serpis stood watching a small screen. On it, the Governer of Tyral stared defiantly at him, and spoke. "We are loyal to Cardassia, and to the Dominion. We will accept death before treason." "Very well." Serpis replied. He nodded to a nearby technician, who pushed a button. For ten minutes, a deadly fire rained down on the capital city, extinguishing millions of lives. The transimission resumed, and Serpis said, "Citizens of this world, your governer has decided to accept death over surrender. I have granted it to him. If you do not surrender within the next five minutes, you will join him, city by city." The transmission ended. Immeadiatly, the comms were flooded with cries of surrender, as people took a hasty rethinking of their loyalties. Leaving January in charge to deal with the details, Serpis strode from the bridge, already planning his next move.