Hades- AKA Jason Roy, The infamous Shades cousin, had called the initiates to the holodeck in the early morning hours. They'd been ordered out of bed, with 5 minutes to arrive or be terminated....it had been close.
Looking around the simulation was a blasted post nuclear war wasteland with ruins and clearings abundant with metalic scrap. Hades stood above them on an elevated out cropping, his expression stern.
"A Shadow is expected to make due with what they have in order to survive.... Top accomplish the mission you may be stripped of all gear- we've decided you'll have the basics. Welcome to the surface of Kor. In this exercise you will be attempting to locate and kill Holographic Cardasian, while avoiding his attempts to eliminate and evade you."
" As your I may have noticed you all woke up wearing an identical device around your neck. This turns you all into a single entity for this assignment. Should one of you die, in any shape or form the rest of you will share the same fate."
He began tossing the "players" a backpack each. "These contain, Two bottles of water, 5 days worth of rations, flashlight, and one of either a phaser pistol, bed roll, medical supplies, or one weeks worth of camp fire starters at random."
"When I leave here, all safety features will be turned off, and you will need to contend with the dangers of the environment and predetory life forms- the second largest of which is the size of an ancient Spinosauras- the largest land dwelling animal ever to l be on my planet. For your sake I hope you don't encounter to the of the food chain- odds are its not a humanoid.... The simulation. Continues until you are dead or have killed the Cardasian and touched the flag at the top of the largest ruin."
He turned to leave out of the arch.
"Sir! What's the expectation on Time here?"
Hades turned back before deciding to anwser honestly; "The shortest time to finish is currently thirty one days.... Good luck and remember this is a mandatory team building survival exercise."
Why do I still play and put money into STO?
The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
"We need to work together, all past grudges are to to be put aside understood?" asked Trianna taking a leadership role. "What gives you the right to claim leadership?" replied a Terran initiate and Trianna answered "when was your first battle?" The Terran answered "two months ago." "I've been fighting and surviving since 2409, experience gives me leadership. You want to challenge that?" replied Trianna calmly. "Fine, you are the boss" answered the Terran. "Good because I've got the phaser" replied Trianna.
"This is our target, Crell Moset. A real scumbag who needs to die" said Trianna to her teams. "We've got 31 days to find and kill him and avoid becoming part of the food chain" answered the Terran initiate. "We're going to do in half that time but we will play it smart. Avoid ambush sites and keep to cover, our first goal is weapons. Look for anything that can be fashioned into a weapon or tool" said Trianna and the team scavenged as much metal and wood as they could carry.
The initiates got to work crafting spears and Trianna even managed to build a short bow. Trianna also made sure everyone was on the same page. "Good leadership" noted Hades to Shade as they watched through the monitor. "Agreed, she'll be a good team leader one day. Let's see what she can do" answered Shade. "She has potential" noted the Inquisitor to his assistant and she agreed and answered "a lifetime of lessons does that" smiling. "She's ideal for a joint Shadow/Inquisition operation" replied the Inquisitor. His assistant nodded in agreement smiling.
"Inquisitor, meet Ghost" said Shade smirking and the Inquisitor replied "Make her a team leader and keep testing her." "An interesting idea. Hades, make it happen" answered Shade. "As you wish" replied Hades. "Now she must be operating at full potential" said the Inquisitor's assistant. "Shade, Ghost will be ideal for what we've got in mind" said the Inquisitor. "That's why I was passed the Moset file" replied Shade. "We found him, the Emperor has deemed him a high priority target to be terminated on sight. I've also asked for a joint Inquisition/Shadow operation to make sure the job is done and Moset is dead" answered the Inquisitor.
"Ghost has been studying the dossier and familiarizing herself with her target. I've never seen her takes things personally but this one, she requested the job to punish the criminal for the suffering he inflicted on his victims" replied Shade. "Most of those victims were Betazoid, she's got a reason to end Moset" noted the Inquisitor's assistant. "I may consider Ghost for the Moset operation" replied Shade to the Inquisitor. "Keep an eye on her" answered the Inquisitor.
The initiates spent the next three days stalking the holo Moset and noting his movements. "Team two, move up" hand signaled Trianna and the team moved up to a better observation position, Trianna's team took position and waited in ambush for Moset . The Cardassian kept changing his route and began to hunt the initiates but Trianna made sure her teams checked in and decided to set a trap for holo Moset.
"She got both teams together in a secure location and planned out the ambush. "We'll be here hidden in the broken rocks above the path on the left" said Trianna to her team. "Team two will secure the right high ground" was Trianna's next order. "Team three can play distraction to lure him into our trap" suggested the Terran initiate and Trianna agreed. For the next five days the teams hid in position carefully conserving their resources and avoiding the wildlife.
Holo Moset discovered the decoy team and they lured him into the trap Trianna has set. "Team two, block him" ordered Trianna by hand signal and the holo Moset dodged a hail of throwing spears which were hurled from concealed positions. "Team one, take him down" ordered Trianna as she took aim with her handmade bow and loosed an arrow right between holo Moset's eyes. "Computer end exercise" said Hades over the intercom and the the initiates were stood down.
Shade inspected the initiates and counted them. "No fatalities and a time of 8 days, 21 hours" said Shade to the initiates. The devices were deactivated and the initiates were dismissed apart from Trianna. "You assumed leadership and kept all your team alive, that is commendable" said Shade afterwards. "If one failed, we all failed. Dad taught me that a team must be a cohesive unit" answered Trianna and Shade replied "everything you learnt from your father, you've been putting into practice. You kept your teams operational and used intelligence and cunning to achieve your objective."
"I carried out my mission, the mission always comes first" answered Trianna. "And set a record at the same time" replied Shade smirking. "Ghost, go and get cleaned up. There are a couple of people who want to speak to you, they watched that whole exercise and were very impressed" was Shades order and Trianna went to her quarters and got cleaned up and changed into her ship uniform.
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"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Trianna Valdez had a smile on her face reading a PADD. "What are you happy about?" asked Captain Heath and Trianna simply replied "it's a letter from dad, they've found Crell Moset." That got Heath's attention, she asked Trianna"the Betazoid and Bajoran peoples would like to see him brought in. You sure it's him?" "It's him, he's started his experiments again and he needs shutting down fast" answered Trianna.
"We're occupied here at Antares, unless we get official authorization we cannot go after him" replied Heath. "Dad's been speaking to the Cardassian government about this and they also want him brought in and brought to trial for his crimes" answered Trianna. "Trianna, you are letting your feelings get in the way of clear judgement. Both our peoples were victims of Moset but we cannot allow that to influence our judgement" replied Heath advising Trianna on her emotions.
"I'll let dad deal with it, I'm not mature enough to deal with a case of this nature" answered Trianna. "I know, your work with the computer warfare team has been exemplary but you still let your emotions get the better of you" answered Heath. "Must be the human side of me" replied Trianna and Heath smiled and advised "you are a child of two worlds. You'll always have that conflict in you but you must keep that conflict under control."
"In some ways, I want to be like dad but I feel I'm letting mom down by not embracing my Betazoid half" replied Trianna as she sighed. "What's your father said about this?" asked Heath and Trianna answered "he said to me I'm old enough to make my own decisions. His exact words were be your own person and be confident." "It's good advise, heed it and be the person you want to be" answered Heath.
"Dad's a changed man, he's become a man of peace since mom died" replied Trianna and Heath responded with "I have a lot of respect for your father. Heed his advise because at end of the day he's the only family you've got left." "This crew has become family to me" replied Trianna. "I know, you've become like a big sister to the younger members of this crew. I have to be like a mother to this crew because I see them as my wolf pups. Your father knows that, that's why he's trusted me with you. Don't take this personally but it's clear that you've not fully come to terms about what happened, something like that leaves a deep mental scar that can only heal with time and counseling" answered Heath.
"I keep waking up in cold sweats, the nightmare keeps replaying in my head" replied Trianna struggling to keep control of her emotions. "That's a symptom of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Doctor Lot passed me the diagnosis and recommends you take some time off to take bereavement counseling. I'm inclined to agree with her" answered Heath. "Naynta is being a friend at the end of the day" replied Trianna. "I know, she's looking out for you. I've called Papela and she'll be the counselor" answered Heath. "That face brings back too many painful memories" replied Trianna.
"I've also called your father, I want you both there with Papela" answered Heath. "Dad's a proud man, how did you convince him to agree to this?" asked Trianna and Heath smiled and answered "I didn't, Papela did." "I'm guessing dad did not take that well" asked Trianna. "From what Papela said, he was not happy until she convinced him it was for his daughter's sake" answered Heath. "You were not there, the Regent was smiling even laughing as she murdered my crew mates, life partner and mother. When we see Papela, we see that sadistic face laughing. I could sense she was enjoying it, I'll never forgive that criminal for what she did" replied Trianna barely containing her anger and hate for the Regent.
"You and your father need to face your demons, that's why Papela asked to counsel you both" answered Heath. "How long until dad gets here?" asked Trianna and Heath answered "he'll be here in 48 hours." "It'll be good to spend time with dad" replied Trianna. "He's a good man. Your mother would be proud at the work you've both done. Honor her memory by being a force for good in the universe" answered Heath. "Thank you Captain, I'll meditate on this" replied Trianna. Heath smiled and advised "Enlightenment is the path to the pah, think about that." Trianna gave Heath a polite nod and left the room. "Brilliant but troubled mind" noted Heath afterwards.
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"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Stardate: 2442((Mirror Universe)
Alpha -Delta Quadrant boarder
Voth City Ship B
Within the sprawling bridge of the titanic vessel Veel'Riz turned on his temporal observatory. Close now, so close... It was nearly dawn.
Activating the temporal communicator he confirmed the fleets were in position. His assumption about the minefield had been correct, that obstacle would need to be removed for the rest of the Dominion force. Of course the Founders had gone for the same idea, a mine field on their side simply made sense- the Empire didn’t exactly have the willingness to throw away their lives that the Jem’Hadar did. It had been more than a decade since the Dominion “attacked”, through the wormhole. Even if the Empire somehow destroyed the mine field in the Gamma quadrant- there’d still be thousands of ships on the Dominion side of the anomaly waiting to strike.
The Dominion were being guided by the majourity of the survivors from the last disastrous attack... That force would cut through the unprepared sectors like a plasma beam cut through paper. Those soldiers would have followed the plan to the least minute detail... The Dominions forces would have been provided cloaks, and temporal shields, their dreadnoughts with thaloron weapons of planetary scale... The hammer would strike first in the Alpha quadrant- Bajour, Terok Nor, Betazed, Trill.... Perhaps the Breen and Deferi would join the coalition.
The invaders had taken the Terrans at the wormhole by complete surprise, and in less than an hour had used a combination of tricolbat torpedos and EMP missiles to systematically remove the mines. Their fleets began pouring through.
Two days later, Romulus
The Sphere builders had upheld their end of the bargain... At exactly the moment the Voth city ship appeared in the Great Bloom Nebula, the second Romulus and Remus appeared and solidified into the time stream, along with hundreds of warbirds and bases throughout the Beta quadrent. Simultaneously multiple Voth and Hirogen fleets began spreading out like tendrils of a Kraken across the sectors.
The Reapers orders were simple, his precence was to be muted until other wise noted. But any Aristocracy world that didn't unconditionally surrender was to be purged.... Terra would be allowed no puppets. http://i.imgur.com/rZb8spV.jpg
It was time to contact the Star Unions people again. "The Eagle rose through the skies, calling out to his brother... The Dragon listened and breathed upon stars, restoring their light breaking the darkness of the night...."
"After the sundering we departed the world of our ancestors... Shamefully abandoning our Vulcan cousins wandering until they discovered a planet that which we would forge them anew.
"There United in purpose- Romulus and Remus took wing, creating an alliance that would become the shield of a quadrant against tyrants."
"Hear me now... In every corner of the Star Union; I have seen our end.... I declare state of emergency by temporal destruction... To the council- exceute the general order 13!"
Why do I still play and put money into STO?
The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
Planning was underway for the Moset job. The Inquisition had read the intel reports from Chin'Toka and prepared accordingly, the Shadow Recon Teams had found Moset's private fleet in the system and reported back to the Enteri'Is. "How many ships" asked the Inquisitor to his assistant and she answered "25 ships, so we'll need part of the fleet for this." "We're not asking Sito, this operation is happening without her knowledge" answered the Inquisitor.
"Admiral Solat did say anytime we need her fleet, we'd get them" replied the Inquisitor's assistant and the Inquisitor smiled. "Get a secure message to Admiral Solat, tell her that we may need to borrow a wing of Phantoms and Eclipses." the Inquisitor said to his assistant. His assistant sent the message over a secure channel as Shade and Hades were looking at possible infiltration sites on Chin'Toka II. "Ghost, deactivate your cloaking device" said Hades and Ghost decloaked in front of the Inquisitor and his assistant.
The Inquisitor and his assistant had a surprised expression on their faces as Ghost said "surprise dad." "Trianna!?" asked Inquisitor Valdez surprised as Ghost's hair changed to her usual red and her ocular lenses changed to Betazoid eyes. "Inquisitor, Ghost has been our most promising initiate" said Shade smirking, "Ghost indeed" added Marie. "Marie, hows mom doing?" asked Trianna to which Marie answered "mom's fine, she misses you but won't show it."
"He he, that's normal for mom, be the mentally tough one" replied Trianna. "Why become a shadow?" asked Marie smirking to Trianna answered "I was always the violent one, I found my calling." "Trianna, you've grown up" commented Valdez and Trianna looked at her father and smiled. "Wait, dad you saw that last exercise?" asked Trianna to which Valdez answered "We did, very impressive. That's why me and Marie asked for you personally." "Inquisitor, my rifle is at your service" replied Trianna smiling.
"You kept your team alive and carried out the mission, that got our attention" answered Valdez. "The mission always comes first" commented Trianna back. "Indeed, we need that eagle eye of yours. You are our sniper, Shade has told me you've studied the target thoroughly" answered Valdez smiling. "Crell Moset, a Cardassian Exobiologist. His experiments on Terrans, Betazoids and other species during the Alliance occupations led to the deaths of millions" replied Trianna.
"Know your enemy..." said Valdez to which Trianna added "and know yourself and you need not fear the result of 100 battles." "Art of War" noted Hades to Shade. "Back to business" said Shade bringing up a map of Chin'Toka II. "Moset's compound is in these mountains" said Valdez pointing at the map. "However, the compound has a security detail of company strength, 150 former Cardassian soldiers" added Marie. "That makes things difficult, a shadow sniper team will take position on this peak 1 km from the target compound as Inquisition stormtroopers assault the compound" said Shade pointing at the map.
"As Solat's wings engage the enemy in orbit, Marie will break into Moset's computer network and shut down his power and transporters remotely" added Valdez. "Moset will then be forced to the shuttlepad on the roof where the Shadow sniper team will take the shot as Stormtroopers secure his lab and compound. Any prisoners he's holding will be extracted once it's confirmed Moset is dead" added Shade. "The key to this operation is deception, he thinks he is safe in his fortress but he is not. He'll think the Stormtroopers are the main threat, he won't see the danger that kills him" said Trianna.
"Dad, message from Solat. She's sent two wing of Phantoms and an extra wing of Eclipses to meet up with us at Chin'toka, they're proceeding through the Trill Sector under cloak as we speak. ETA 36 hours" reported Marie. "Until then, it's business as usual. All teams will practice the mission on the holodeck. Ghost, I'm making you a team leader, pick the initiates you need for the mission and make sure they are ready" ordered Shade. "Yes Ma'am" replied Trianna. "Marie, you are on intel duty" said Valdez and Marie acknowledged the order.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Councillor Nathan Valdez stepped off the shuttle and was greeted by Captain Heath and Lt Cmdr Trianna Valdez. "Dad!" said Trianna happily as she hugged her father. Heath just smiled and asked "Councilor, how was your trip?" "Eventful, Captain Ford and his crew had to deal with a pirate attack on the way here. Their professionalism is outstanding" answered Valdez. "The Constellation crew are very good" answered Heath.
"What's in the box?" asked Trianna noticing the box in Valdez's hand. "Something I was planning to give you when you came of age. Open it" answered Valdez as he handed the box to Trianna. "Dad, I don't know what to say. That's mom's crystal necklace" replied Trianna opening the box. "It's time you inherited it. I finally got round to sorting Teanna's things out and I found this" said Valdez as he passed Trianna a holo matrix." Trianna activated it and listened to it.
"There is a darkness in us all. Trianna, when you are old enough to understand you must be that light in the darkness. Everything we've done was to prepare you for the realities of the universe. Be a force of good and defend those who cannot fight back, be that White Knight" was the message. "When was this made?" asked Trianna as a tear rolled down her face. "18 years ago, Teanna made me promise that if anything happened to her that I would give you this message" answered Valdez. "Mom never told me about this message" replied Trianna.
"We had an agreement not to give you this until you were ready, think of this as Teanna's final instructions to you, honor her memory by being that White Knight" answered Valdez as he put Teanna's necklace on Trianna. "Trianna, we'll keep you on that path of light, honor your mother's final instructions" said Heath. "What if I'm not strong enough?" asked Trianna and Valdez replied "you are stronger than you think. What do you do if you are knocked down?" "You pick yourself back up and become stronger" answered Trianna.
"Correct answer" replied Valdez and Heath added "you've got friends on this ship who will look out for you and stand by you. I've noticed the sisterhood you have with Naynta, Pru and Tamiko. The younger crew members look up to you as a big sister, show them how to be White Knights." "Mom was wise, wisdom I need to follow" answered Trianna. "Never doubt yourself and be confident" advised Heath. "Layress, thank you for keeping an eye on Trianna and keeping her on the straight and level" said Valdez. Heath smiled and replied "Trianna's become like a daughter to me, she's one of my wolf pups."
Papela Lot entered the shuttle bay and both Trianna and Valdez tried to repress their anger. "Councilor, I know I'm the last face you want to see, same with you Trianna. I'm not that woman, try to remember that" said Papela sensing the hostility. "Papela is right on this, hear her out" advised Heath to both Valdez generations. "Let's get this done" replied Valdez as he and Trianna left the shuttlebay with Papela. "Time for them to face their demons" noted Heath afterwards.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Papela had borrowed Doctor Lot's office, both generations of the Valdez family were sat down. "This is the first of many sessions, you two need to face up to the cold hard facts" said Papela bluntly. "We're not angels by any means" sighed Trianna. "That your actions led to over 70,000 innocent deaths when your mirror attacked Risa" replied Papela. "I ask myself the same question over and over again in my head" answered Valdez.
"What question?" asked Papela and Valdez answered "where did we go wrong? Not a day goes by without the question raising it's ugly head." "We both blame ourselves for what happened, not a day goes by without that replaying in our heads. Dad drank heavily for a month after we got back, it was not a pretty sight by any means" added Trianna. "How bad was it?" asked Papela and Valdez answered "not being able to sleep properly because every time I tried to sleep that scene just keeps replaying in my head and I wake up screaming." "On the surface, we seem normal but deep down we're wrecks. Dad tried to hide it with alcohol to the point I gave him the ultimatum" added Trianna.
"It was either Trianna or the alcohol, one or the other" said Valdez. "Dad chose my welfare over the drink, that spark was still there" added Trianna. "You two have to forgive yourselves before you can both move on" advised Papela bluntly. "Too much blood on our hands, we made a mistake. A mistake that had tragic consequences" replied Valdez. "Mom insisted on coming even though we warned her it was too dangerous. We should have stood our ground but we did not" added Trianna. "That's the worst part, it could have been avoided but we were too weak minded" said Valdez.
"You've been beating yourselves up about what happened, what you both need to do is put the past behind you and rebuild. Councillor, you focus on your work to avoid facing your own failures. Trianna, you rejoined Starfleet to escape facing up to what happened. You two need to stop running" said Papela bluntly. "We're not running" replied Trianna but Papela made her point and responded with "You both are running from your problems and one day those problems will come back to haunt you, face them head on and don't avoid them" bluntly.
"We failed and people died, I failed as a husband and as an officer. It's the reason I retired" said Valdez and Trianna added "I failed as a daughter." "You both need to stop holding onto the past and look to the future" advised Papela. "We must make things right" said Valdez. "How are you both going to make things right?" asked Papela. "I'll continue my work with the Romulan Union refugees as well as making sure the ceasefire with the Terrans holds" answered Valdez. "I'll honor my mother's wishes and defend the weak and those who cannot defend themselves" answered Trianna. "That's a start" replied Papela.
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"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
At Terra, disaster had struck. A Molindran sphere had jumped into the system and the emperor had fled leaving the civilian population at the Molindran's mercy. Veel'Riz knew victory was close but the news of the swift fall of Terra sent shockwaves. Reacting immediately, Grand Admiral Nathan Valdez supported by the rest of the Valdez family led a counter-attack into the system to retake it. Seeing Terra as lost, he ordered his ships to evacuate as much people as possible and retreat.
Among the survivors were Emma and Jason Roy, they had seen the emperor flee as Terra fell. To avoid any further loss of life, the civilian leaders unconditionally surrendered to Veel'Riz. Valdez ignored the surrender order leading the convoy of survivors away from the system and towards deep space. On the surface of Terra Veel'Riz told his troops to be on their best behavior towards civilians and took apart the apparatus of repression. Free speech was encouraged and ideas of democracy were spread to the population.
The Terran fleets elsewhere were tied down trying to stop the relentless Dominion attack as Betazed and Trill were scourged of life by Thalaron weapons. A psychic scream went out as Teanna Valdez collapsed holding her head. "Teanna, what's happened?" asked Valdez. "I fear the Betazoids in this fleet may be the last of my people, I felt my people's pain as my home world burned" answered Teanna.
The twins reacted differently, Trianna also felt the scream of her people and collapsed holding her head. The death of Betazed was sending psychic shockwaves. "How many Betazoids are left?" asked Valdez. "We're now an endangered species, less than 15,000 of us left throughout the empire" answered Teanna. "It's going to get worse, Vulcan and Andor just surrendered" replied Valdez solemnly. "We've got a rift forming" reported Marie and Valdez asked "enemy or friendly?" expecting the worst. Before that question could be answered, the Valdez family as well as Emma and Jason Roy were beamed off the I.S.S. Agincourt as the convoy they were protecting entered the temporal rift led by Agincourt.
"Where are we?" asked Valdez to the unidentified male. "You are all on my ship, my name is Daniels" said the temporal agent. "Why did you abduct us?" asked Shade and Daniels answered "the Terran Empire was not meant to fall in the 25th century." "Those temporal inversions first observed in 2411, someone had been manipulating our timeline to cause an early fall of the empire" said Marie. "Veel'Riz used the Tuterians to manipulate the time in his favor. To save the empire, you'll need to do the unthinkable, the timeline depends on it" replied Daniels. "
"How?" asked Valdez and Shade answered "we need to remove the emperor from the equation in 2411." "That'll throw the empire in civil war" answered Valdez. "Not if we do it covertly, we'll need allies to do it though" replied Hades. "That's treason" remarked Marie to which Shade answered "not if we have the right candidate to take over to stop a power vacuum." "Who?" asked Trianna puzzled. Shade looked at Valdez and said "this man." Valdez was stunned a bit and answered "I don't want the job." "The empire needs strong leadership, the best choice of leaders are those that don't want the job" replied Shade. "The empire needs you, the people need strong leadership" said Marie to Valdez.
"Marie's got a point, dad you swore an oath to defend the empire. Honor that oath and lead the empire" added Trianna. "Nathan, I just saw my people become endangered and the empire's fall. The empire has just signed a unconditional surrender with the Romulan Union, any Imperial ships who refuse to follow the surrender will be hunted down and destroyed. All sectors blocks have surrendered in accordance of the terms" said Teanna trying to keep calm. The death of her world had hit her hard. Marie was also concerned, she had killed Veel'Riz in 2411 but now he was back and gunning for her, Trianna and the empire. "Looks like I'll have to kill him a with a more permanent solution" noted Marie calmly.
"We cannot allow this to happen, dad you must take the throne in 2411. I know it's something you don't approve of but we must save the empire" said Trianna. "Ghost has a point, you become emperor and we get 31 years to prepare or even stop this from happening" said Emma. Valdez outnumbered decided that it was the only way to save the empire, "OK, I'll take the throne but I will not be a tyrant. My rule will be firm but fair but before we can put our plan into action we'll need allies" he agreed. "I may know someone who can help, Marie send all logs of the invasion to our younger selves at Chin'Toka in 2411. Make sure only my command code opens the message, my younger counterpart will understand it's nature and make sure the entire Valdez family is on the Enteri'Is. Request Admiral Solat's fleet as well. Sir, your troops will proclaim you Emperor the moment we secure the Imperial capital" said Emma.
"Done, now to contact someone who will help us save the empire" reported Marie. "Who?" asked Emma, Marie answered "Rishis, she's got a temporal fleet. Let her eliminate the emperor as our full forces secure Terra." "Dad then takes the throne without a power vacuum" added Trianna. "Send it" ordered Valdez and the message to Rishis was sent.
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"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Shade got the message immediately recognizing her command code. "Where did it come from?" asked Valdez and Marie ran a quantum scan and answered "2442." Following the instructions of the message, Teanna had been beamed to the Enteri'ls demanding "what are you up to?" "Teanna, the empire will fall 31 years from now if we don't do something now" answered Valdez showing Teanna the logs and the death of Betazed.
"How many people know about this?" she asked Valdez, Valdez answered "only the six of us in this room, Solat has brought the entire fleet with her. We're going to remove the emperor to save the empire." "The empire needs an emperor, you do this and there will be a power vacuum and civil war" replied Teanna concerned. "We have the right candidates to take the throne" said Shade looking at the Valdez family. "This is treason" said Marie to which Trianna added "a treason needed to be committed to save the empire. Ma'am, Solat and Rishis have beamed aboard."
"We're expecting them" replied Shade as Solat and Rishis entered the room. "Rishis, we need your help in a temporal assassination, the target is the emperor" asked Valdez to which Rishis answered "I've read your file, this is part of a combined plan I take it." "It is, as you remove the emperor and the senate, our full forces will secure Terra" replied Valdez. "Once Terra is secured, our forces will proclaim Mr Valdez here emperor" added Shade. "Putting us in position to save the empire by making sure the timeline stays secure" replied Marie.
"This whole plan counts on our forces being at Terra at precisely the right moment, mistime it either way we'll fail" added Trianna. "Not if you get reinforcements, the ships your older self saved in 2442 have vowed their loyalty to you Inquisitor. All ships will have temporal shields, weapons and drives installed. My fleet stands with you" replied Rishis. "We've got an army" said Marie as Trianna looked over the plan. "We've got four days to do this, the emperor is holding a full senate session. they will all be in the same place at the same time" added Rishis.
"How long will it take us to get to Terra at transwarp?" asked Valdez. "Ten hours, we emerge on the edge of the system ready to strike once Rishis makes her move" answered Marie. "This goes against everything we stand for Nathan" advised Teanna but Valdez reassured her with "Exitus Acta Probat." "The outcome justifies the deed" translated Teanna. "Marie, we'll need you and Solat's help. The enemy commander is Star Commander Veel'Riz" said Shade. "I killed him, he must have cloned a new body. We need to find that cloning facility and completely destroy it. It's time we killed him permanently" answered Marie. "We owe him that for Betazed" added Trianna. "How long will it take to install the Temporal equipment on our ships?" asked Valdez and Rishis answered "a fortnight for the entire fleet." "We've got to go now, a fortnight is too long and we lose our window" answered Valdez.
"This is empress o' Brien to the fleet, set course for Terra" said Rishis as she beamed to the Vendetta. Rishis' fleet made the temporal jump to Terra as the rest of the fleet hit their transwarps emerging behind Neptune 10 hours later and cloaked. "We're a go, all forces put Operation Revolution into effect" ordered Valdez as the fleet bore down on on Terra. Rishis eliminated the Imperial family first with a temporal device erasing them from the timeline as the senate was Purged, Valdez's fleet now entered orbit and deployed 100,000 troops to the surface. As the ground forces secured the major cities, the crews proclaimed Valdez emperor.
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"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Victoria R. O'Brien was asleep in her quarters- her subconscious mind aflame with dreams of lustful galactic conquests. "Your ladyship, you've got urgently marked Terra-mail."
Rishis groaned dredging herself out of bed and replicated a cup of hot-cocoa, before slowly sitting down at her desk... The red heads eyes scanned the paper before she spat out her hot-chocolate! "Marion get up and dressed!"
____________
"Daniles, "Marion greeted the fellow time traveler.
Rishis walked up to Marie and smiled warmly, "So am I going to punch you until you spew bodily fluids again?"
"No."
"Good... Now I believe we have a mutual problem...?" O'Brien chuckled lightly.
"What about this situation is funny to you!?" Valdez balked. "The Empire is gone!"
"I had though Leata actually had the intelligence to be thourghal when she destroyed the Romulan Union- or perhaps it was the fool bajouran made a mistake as she always does- if she was even behind it, no matter.... I've looked at her engagements she likes to underestimate people." Victoria said. "Now I realize none of you have quite the experience fighting the RDF we do, therefore given that you also believed the reaper was dead- thank you for that by the way...."
"you said you had no idea of the true scope or when this attack was coming? Yet my own temporal observations show your empire did in fact had sufficient knowledge to know there was an assault coming from the Gamma and Delta quadrants and took no action... Why, are you insane?" She turned around arms raised to the side in an exasperated show of confusion.
"For the sake of the Empire we'll help you, my fleet is yours... However we must assume that a very large number of the attacking forces has temporal shields and therefore an alteration to the time line will not directly effect them, another factor to consider is the threat posed by the Tutrians. Once the enemy realizes what we've done they'll surly try to start forming a larger expanse or accelerate their attack plans to capitalize on the advantages they already hold...."
"Again.. What's your plan?.. I'm not looking forward to meeting the Reaper again." Rishis laid her face down on the table... She hadn't slpet in nearly 72 hours.
Why do I still play and put money into STO?
The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
The coup had succeeded and the Valdez family now had taken control of the empire. In the throne room a council of war had been formed. The emperor planned out the campaign with his high command, "Our battlefield is now temporal, we've seen the face of the enemy and we will be prepared" said Emperor Nathan Valdez. He had picked his advisers well and he expected total honesty from them. The presence of the new empress kept everyone honest.
"OK, first things first. Veel'Riz is our priority target, remove him permanently and this alliance will never exist" said Valdez to his command. "I killed him at Scylis" replied Marie to which Shade answered "we did find something interesting at Scylis." "Does it help us?" asked the Empress and Marie replied "it does." "Elaborate" requested Solat and Marie brought up the cloning charts seized at Scylis. "We need to find the cloning facility he's being regrown at and destroy it" said Marie and Valdez put both Marie and Trianna on intel duty. They would be working with the shadow teams on this.
Next Valdez created a new covert Temporal Warfare division under Shadow control. "Shade, your team's job is to launch temporal assassination operations at our enemies" said Valdez and Shades gave a polite nod to Valdez. "Rishis, trace the source of the inverse waves, make sure the Tuterians become an extinct species" asked Valdez, Rishis smiled. "Solat take your fleet and make sure the Bajoran Wormhole is permanently collapsed" asked Valdez and Solat acknowledged the order.
"What about the Molindrans?" asked Empress Teanna. "We're going to build this" answered Valdez bring up the plans for the Krenim Temporal Weapon. "We need to build this in secret, somewhere the enemy won't think to look" said Rishis looking at the plans. "Rishis, this weapon will be used on the Molindran sphere. Get it operational as quick as you can but keep things safe, we don't know what could go wrong" ordered Valdez. "I've got a hidden facility" answered Rishis smirking. "No Sito" noted Teanna and that got Valdez suspicious.
"Send word to the Enterprise, order Sito to drop all her schemes and focus on Leeta" asked Valdez and Teanna sent the message herself. "I added the next time she doesn't attend a council of war meeting, She will lose her admiralty" replied Teanna. "I want Sito, Captain Heath and her crew under constant surveillance" said Valdez. Everyone was dismissed except the twins. "Girls, you two will play an important role. As Crown Princesses, you will be expected to be on best behavior at ALL times" said Teanna. The twins gulped before Trianna replied "I wish to carry on my Shadow training, I want no claim to the throne." "Marie, you are next in line for the throne. You will be taught to rule and govern. Understood?" asked Valdez and Marie nodded in agreement.
The twins were dismissed as the new Emperor and Empress started their reorganization of the Terran military and civil governments.
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"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
The Regent looked over her children gathered in front of her. "Listen very closely little ones," she began. "The situation has become dire. The man now in charge of the Empire thinks nothing of wiping out entire races if he perceives them to be a threat. So for now we must not appear to be one and abide by his rules. However, we will prepare ourselves for any possible strife. There will still be elements loyal to the old rulers and we must be prepared in case they attack. At least that is the story we will use to explain our actions." She leaned forward in her chair. "All planetary facility, orbital frames and ships are to have their security codes changed immediately. Any attempt to remotely connect to them must be manually approved. No connections unless, someone indentifies then physically presses the switch to allow it. It will slow things down but security is now an utmost concern. Thay, Naynta, Jodi for now do what he orders and be very careful. Because of the past you three are most likely being watched. Now go about your duties, while I send my congratulations."
"Thank you Regent, let's talk business" said Valdez over subspace. "Why the coup?" asked Papela and Valdez answered "had to be done, it's to save the empire from a war that's not supposed to happen." "So you will wipe out any species that you consider a threat" replied Papela concerned. "Regent, Betazed has nothing to fear. In fact I want to improve ties between Terra and Betazed, the empress insisted on that" answered Valdez.
"There will be resistance to your coup" replied Papela to which Valdez answered "they are traitoris excommunicatus, enemies of the state to be killed on on sight. Same goes for Leeta." "Lessen the brutality, politics is an art you must master" advised Papela, Valdez smiled and answered "I leave politics to the empress, I'm a soldier. Regent, I'm rebuilding the senate. All member worlds are required to send a representative, the empire must stand united now more than ever." "I agree, my children have been reminded to support your regime" replied Papela. "Good because I've got a job for Sito, her temporal expertise will be required. In fact I'm promoting Sito to Grand Admiral, she will govern the Alpha Quadrant sectors and keep them secure. I did want to speak to her here on Terra, the information is too sensitive to be sent over subspace" answered Valdez.
"I'll make sure Sito gets those orders, how are the twins?" asked Papela. "The Crown Princesses are on their best behavior, I've designated Marie to be heir to the throne. Trianna gave her place up for personal reasons. I've also dispatched a battle group and extra troops to Betazed as well" answered Valdez. "Jodi and Naynta will be with Sito. I've told Jodi to be on her best behavior given the last incident with Marie" replied Papela. "I'll tell Marie the same, any trouble from either of them they will be stunned and hauled off to cool down in the holding cells" responded Valdez.
"I'll leave you to your work, send the empress my regards, Regent out" said Papela and the screen went blank.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Papela Lot had made progress with the Valdez survivors, "Councilor, open the box" she said to Nathan Valdez and Valdez asked "what's in the box?" "Something you must face up to" answered Papela and Valdez opened the box and was mortified. "I cannot wear that uniform anymore, not with the amount of blood on my hands" he responded. "Dad, I'm sensing pain there. We're not innocent by any means and I wear the uniform on a daily basis, we're putting the past behind us and moving on" said Trianna.
"Trianna has a point, you both need to move on. I'll call a break and when we get back, I want to see you wearing that uniform" said Papela. "Dad, wear that uniform for me" added Trianna. They were interrupted by Captain Heath with "All TF 113 Captains to the conference room." "Trianna, councilor we're needed, we'll pick this up later" said Papela and all three left for the conference room. In the conference room all the captains were in attendance. "There's been a coup in the Terran Empire" said Heath.
"What happened?" asked Augie McBrocken and Heath answered "at 1000 hours yesterday, the entire Imperial family and senate were wiped out as a massive armada took Terra." "Who led the coup?" asked Valdez. "Your mirror did, he was proclaimed emperor by his forces" answered Heath. "He's responsible for the mass genocide of the Klingons in the mirror universe, from what we know about the new emperor, he'll wipe out entire species he considers a threat to the empire" added Trianna.
"Where does this put the ceasefire?" asked Papela and Heath replied "it's an unknown at the moment." "He'll consolidate his position first" added Valdez. "He's already declared all his political opponents enemies of the state to be killed on sight, intelligence picked up transmissions concerning mass executions of groups he deemed not fit to live" replied Trianna. "However, we did get something unusual. The new regime has just put the Code Napoleon into Terran law, an unusual move" responded Heath. "He's uniting the empire under his banner, the Code Napoleon guarantees everyone equal in the eyes of the law" answered Valdez.
"The Imperial Senate is also being rebuilt but it'll be made up of all member species within the empire" replied Heath. "First step in uniting the empire is removing internal xenopobia, the new empress is Betazoid" said Valdez. "How much do we know about her?" asked Heath. "She's uncompromising and tough, when I was a hostage I saw that side of her" answered Trianna. "So she's the power behind the throne?" asked Heath to which Trianna answered "close but inaccurate, they're a team. The emperor is running the military while the empress runs civil government." "Starfleet has just deployed an extra battle group to Antares, the coup has them running scared" replied Heath.
"Ma'am, we're receiving a transmission, it's from the Imperial palace on Terra" said Heath's communications officer over the intercom. "Put them thorugh but make our computers are secured" ordered Heath. On the screen, Emperor and Empress Valdez both appeared. Both Valdez survivors were stunned to see Teanna. "That's not the same woman" reminded Papela to both. "Captain Heath Layress, lets talk business" said the emperor. "What kind of business?" asked Heath. "Something that benefits both our governments" answered Empress Valdez. "Since you are military commander on the Federation side of the neutral zone, the Terran Empire is willing to negotiate turning the ceasefire into an armistice" replied the emperor.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Heath stared at the screen, then smiled. "This is welcome news," she answered. "Lasting peace is always a good thing. We may finally be able to leave here and go back home." "Indeed." "But these kind of negotiations are far above my pay grade. I will inform the diplomatic corps. They will be falling over themselves in excitement at the prospect of this." Valdez smiled. "Well then. I await their reply. Until then." The screen went blank. "I trust them as far as I can throw them," Augie commented. "One who solves problems by genocide does not immediately seek peace with their strongest opponent," observed Chromia. "Unless they have an even bigger threat looming," Chi'Tani commented. "Something has them rattled and they don't want to have to split their attention between us and whatever it is," Heath concluded. Everyone gathered there nodded in agreement. "In the meantime, we will prosecute for peace " Valdez stated. "At the same time we need more information on what's happening over there. Let's reconvene in an hour to discuss our options."
"That was not showing weakness, that was strategic" noted Valdez. "He needs to remove us from his chess board" replied Trianna, this got Heath's attention. "Trianna, what did you pick up?" asked Heath. "It's genuine, to the emperor we have become a like a second front tying down his resources" answered Trianna. "This is unusual" replied Heath, Trianna soon added "I also sensed respect from the emperor, he sees you as a warrior."
"Trianna, what can you tell me about his daughters?" asked Heath. "If you thought the father was a piece of work, wait until you meet the twins. There was a temporal incident which split my mirror" answered Trianna. "In what way?" asked Heath. "The incident split both parts apart from each other. Crown Princess Trianna is the full Betazoid side and Crown Princess Marie is the full Terran side."
"What's their MO?" asked Heath. "Marie is responsible for the deaths of tens of millions, she was infamous for her use of thalaron. Trianna is the violent one, she dropped off our sensor grid 5 months ago. It was Trianna who thought up the Cardassia massacre, both are equally dangerous. Marie is the one you really need to watch, the only thing keeping her out of our computer grid are the new upgrades" answered Trianna.
"Thank you Trianna for that insight. The way you handled yourself when the Empress appeared, despite it being difficult you kept it together. I need you to keep that level of control" replied Heath. "Captain Lot helped there" answered Trianna, she then turned to Valdez and told him, "dad, keep control." "Trianna, you've got Teanna's bluntness. Be proud of that" answered Valdez. "And your intelligence" replied Trianna back.
Terra (MU)
Emperor Valdez smiled and asked Empress Teanna "what did you get?" "Surprise, if something is too good to be true, it usually is" answered Teanna smiling. "They don't know if this a deception or is it genuine?" replied Valdez. "Removing a piece from the chessboard?" asked Shade. Valdez smiled and answered "The Federation is a distraction we don't need, I want security tightened across the whole empire. After the armistice is agreed, we're sealing the border." "Girls, what did you learn from that?" asked Teanna.
"Carefully study who you deal with, Me and Marie's counterpart was there" answered Trianna. "I heard she knocked Naynta Lot out" said Marie laughing. "Jodi's been plotting payback for that" replied Trianna. "Shame the no violence clause is in effect with me and Jodi" answered Marie. "Very unlady like" replied Trianna to which Marie replied "who ever said we were ladies" sarcastically. "Enough you two" ordered Valdez and the twins obeyed.
"You must learn to obey if you wish to command" said Valdez to Marie. "Yes dad, we need a negotiator who knows the Federation" answered Marie. "Captain Heath Layress, since the negotiations will be through subspace" added Trianna. "Bring Heath and Sito to the palace, they will be the negotiators" ordered Valdez. "Ending a war to save an empire is no defeat" quoted Valdez. "Ending it on warrior's terms I take it?" asked Shade and Valdez answered "Indeed, they gave us a good fight but in the end they admitted what they did in 2267 was wrong" passing Shade the PADD. "Written by your counterpart as well" she noted.
"This is genuine, I had Teanna look over it and I've spoken to the Regent about this. Both agreed that a political option was better than a military option" answered Valdez. "If it's a deception, it'll show the Federation's true colors" replied Shade. "All warfare is based on deception" quoted Valdez. "Agreed" replied Shade, "I'm putting the fleet on standby, they'll be in position to seal the rift once the armistice is agreed" answered Valdez. "Marie, make sure all computer systems are secured and locked down" ordered Teanna and Marie got to work.
"Trianna, I need you to become the Ghost. Here's a list of my opponents, please remove them" ordered Valdez. "It will be done, thank you for the TR-116" replied Trianna. "Be creative" said Valdez smiling to Shade and Trianna. "As you command" replied Shade and she and Trianna saluted the emperor and left the throne room. "I need you and the Regent to discuss what terms will be suggested. "This was a war that should have never happened in the first place" Valdez asked Teanna. "If you need me, I'll be calling Betazed" answered Teanna.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
"We're in position at the mouth" reported T'Vril. "All ships, charge deflectors" ordered Admiral Solat and the fleet of 300 ships obeyed. "Fleet reports ready" reported Lt Forrest. "Is our line to Terra secured?" asked Solat. "It is" reported T'Vril. "The emperor and empress both wish to see this" replied Solat. "Old friend, you may fire when ready" ordered Emperor Valdez. "Fire" ordered Solat and the fleet fired their deflectors into the wormhole.
"Increase power to deflectors" ordered Solat and Forrest increased power, "Keep firing" ordered Solat. The wormhole reacted to the bombardment and began to destabilize before closing. "Run a scan" ordered Solat. "Entrance closed, neutrino level nominal" reported T'Vril. "It's done" said Solat to the Emperor. "Congratulations on a job well done, admiral bring the fleet back to Terra. We've got a special job for the fleet" ordered Valdez. "As you command, I would recommend deploying a starbase and defense fleet to the wormhole mouth in case it reopens" answered Solat.
"I'll take that under advisement, Terra out" replied Valdez. Solat's fleet then engaged their transwarp drives and jumped to Terra. At Terra, the armistice terms were being worked out. "It's time you ended the purge. The Regent asked me to bring it up" advised Empress Teanna Valdez. "Agreed, I'm willing to offer a pardon. It'll help having a council who can keep me on my toes" replied Valdez.
"I agree, here's our proposals for the armistice" answered Teanna passing Valdez the PADD. "Interesting ideas" replied Valdez. These are the Imperial armistice terms: "All dead from either side will be repatriated and all Prisoners held by either side will be exchanged." "We recovered the federation crew killed on Betazed, they'll be the first to be repatriated" said Teanna. "We'll need someone there to represent the Imperial family. Since Marie is heir to the throne, make it her first official duty as Crown Princess to deliver our terms" replied Valdez. "Marie knows nothing about diplomacy" answered Teanna.
"She'll read the terms to the Federation over subspace, She's making the call now" replied. Marie braced herself and put the call through to the Federation. "Councillor Valdez, I'm Crown Princess Marie Valdez. I've been instructed to read the opening terms to these negotiations. As a n act of good faith, we're repatriating all Federation dead and may be open to a prisoner exchange once negotiations start" said the Crown Princess over the channel.
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"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Veel'Riz walked into the main spire of the resort section of the sphere with a scowl on his face. He surveyed the reveling soldiers under him feeling his eye twitch. "What are you all doing!?"
"Star- Commander Sir!"
"We are not finished yet, return to your ships immediately, or I'll have you all cleaning conduits... Centurion Kev, come here now!" The clearly intoxicated Centurion Tovan Kev approached and lazily saluted. "Sir, weren't you on Vulcan?"
Veel'Riz was in no mood for games. "I was," he replied, "Overseeing the Terran exodus from the planet... Do you know what brought me back here Centurion?"
"No sir."
"you- and your shameful criminal actions upon the Star Union... You destroyed structures on Terra that have been standing for more than 2,000 years! When you put on that armor, or your uniform, you are expected to act with dignity and respectfully. You took the same oath of service as I did, I'm ashamed to stand beside you as a brother in arms! You don't deserve that uniform! This system was in our control and you deliberately destroyed historical sites; you will be tried at Romulus, consider yourself civilian until further notice. Chevealier Weyoun will escort you to the brig."
"Look at what they've done to us-"
"I don't care Centurioin! You have violated the law, further more I will revoke my previous statement, you will not tried by a Union court, you commutited these actions on Terra you will be tried on Terra! They will see that we can be just in our actions and that we aren't keeping them prisoner here, nor are we intending to eradicate them! We are not the Klingons, or the Cardasians! You dare call yourself Romulan!"
"As my commanding officer you're obligated to defend me!"
"I will, to the best of my ability... The evidence against you however is proof of the deed.... I will be neither judge, jury nor executioner -if that is their decision. i will defend you with what I can of that you have my word."
R.D.W Silver-Wing, Briefing room
Veel'Riz took his seat at the long table turning his gaze around the various commanders in the room. Voth, Molindran, Romulan Reman, Breen, even a Founder rescued from Terra. "Temporal readings don't lie, the enemy has gone into the past shortly after my peoples initial assault..." A groan went around the table. "Our allies from the future have planned for this and provided us with a possible courseo faction for the advanatages we're about to lose- chiefly surprise. "
The Romaulan paused turning on as large hologram of a Dominion station. "In a parralel reality the Dominion used this device to observe the movement of the Empires counterpart- the United Federation of Planets during the Dominion War. It was destroyed by the U.S.S. Defiant, but we have at our disposal the ability to steal it and leave the federation crew with the belief they've accomplished their mission... We will then alter the station to detected cloaked ships, placing it on the far side of Romulan space beyond the eyes of Empire, until they catch on and they will.... once they realize we're countering their movements so effectively, we hope... I think it best if we prioritize on preserving the Dominion forces in the Alpha quadrent , almost 90% have temporal shields, but we should consolidate the forces in preparation for a renewed and more resistant foe- we're about to lose a lot of ground- probably whole sectors."
"That's why you've been focusing on evacuation the worlds closets to the Empire of civilians and artifacts then?" The Voth emissary began. "Because we don't know if we'll hold those area or more importantly if it will be safe... Wise Star-Commander."
Veel'Riz nodded in thanks. "We pull back to the predetermined positions if we defend everything we've taken we leave ourselves far to spread out. To quote an old Earth saying "He who defends everything defends nothing.""
The Reaper continued, "Emperor Zepoli, I request a group of Celestial class dreadnoughts to destroy the planet Gateway in former Klingon space. I will of course send the 37th fleet as an escort."
Gateway System
Three Celestial dreadnoughts emerged from subspace and quickly began targeting the barren world with their lace weapons once, the Guardian of Forever was destroyed, along with the continent it occupied leaving nothing but a ocean of molten lava within a crater as deep as an oceanic trench. The tectonic plate and its neighbors had been completely vaporized. Ash began to rapidly spread across the remaining half of the planet as its deep core was exposed- they'd finished theri task the question now was where or not to destroy the planet. Rishis and her fleet emerged from the shadows.
"Their shields are the strongest at the rear of the ship but that's also the place where the majourity of th3e weapons aren't as accurate- and more importantly- numerous, this is our only chance!" Zalous said to the fleet. A Jupiter carrier exploded under the sheer weapons power of titanic ships. "Do your best best to try and keep away from the sides and 60 degree arc in the front of the dreadnoughts, that lance rip through shields and hull like paper.
"Ahhh! we're loosing dreadnoughts and battleships like flies!"
"I don't care about dreadnoughts!" Rishis screamed! "Focus fire on the engines of the Tsunami!" She looked up at the main viewer narrowing her eyes in terror as a Romulan fleet began to open fire on her forces. "Oh come on, they don't need an escort they're each a fleet by themselves! What the heck! Heck!"
if Ran'karsork allowed her to live through this- Valdez was going to replace her fleet- along with every loyal soul she lost because of him!
Victoria wasn't going to throw her fleet away in a single battle, in ten minutes she'd lost fully half her battleships to the sodding number of weapons firing at her! Oh why, why why! Why was this happening to her!
Her anger was growing, boiling, screaming to let loose into existence- and she allowed it... "Rrrraaagggghhh!" She reached palm forward at the Molindran ship that had dared to stand in her way twice now... The Tsunami lost all movement control as its massive impulse drive was destroyed by Rankarsorks power channeled through the unfathomable fury of his Terran vessel.
Caught in the planets gravity, the ship fell through the atmosphere maintain its weapons fire at the fleeting Terran ships, the colision of the dreadnought shattered Gateway
I.S.S. Mordred, Temporal Destroyer
Captain Shivorn, watched as the Romulan Drathikus class temporal raider fired it's temporal shielded data cores into multiple timlines in the Prime universe. Her crew had failed.... The Galactic Union would still be formed- she couldn't order her ship back to the Trilimulative after this! The logical assumption was that they would all be killed! Her counterpart had outwitted her this time it seemed... Blast that Daniels and his meddling, if he hadn't interfered she'd be- urg! She was having trouble maintaining control of her emotions as of late.
"My final report to command will be my resignation, and to inform them that the Tutarians are creating an expanse in the Lukari system, even as the Romualsn and their allies evacuate their people to Federation... We may already be to late..."
Why do I still play and put money into STO?
The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
"Send Rishis her reinforcements and I need an update on the Krenim weapon. These dreadnoughts are going to be a problem" ordered Emperor Valdez. "Indeed they are" replied Empress Valdez looking at the scans of the Tsunami. "We need this weapon ready now more than ever" answered Valdez. "Rishis has just got back, she wishes to have a word with you" replied Teanna as Rishis entered the room and Teanna left.
"I lost half my battleships taking down one dreadnought, did you know it was a trap?" asked Rishis angrily. "I know about your losses, the forces from 2442 have just been added your armada as well as the designs for our newest warships" answered Valdez handing Rishis the blueprints for the Endeavor Class dreadnought. "They destroyed the guardian of forever on Gateway" reported Rishis.
"I know, rebuild your forces and make sure the weapon is built." answered Valdez. "The weapon will be ready on schedule" replied Rishis. "Until then, preserve your forces and avoid blind engagements, we cannot afford losses like that" ordered Valdez. "I'll make sure all ships are upgraded with temporal technology, I'll get Zalnos to find the moment the Molindrans begin to develop space flight. We'll test the weapon on the Molindrans at the beginning of their evolution" replied Rishis.
"Build an extra weapon to use on their sphere" ordered Valdez and Rishis accepted Valdez's apology for her losses and left the room. Teanna and the twins reentered the throne room and handed Valdez a PADD with their choices for a ruling council. "Papela Lot, interesting choice for Prime minister, we also may want to ratify the the 2277 treaty of friendship between Betazed and Terra" noted Valdez to Teanna.
"I'll send the Regent the treaty, I'll go to Betazed myself to sign it" replied Teanna. "Too dangerous, the treaty will be signed through subspace. The Regent will only work from home, she's a symbol for her people" answered Valdez. "The fleet has arrived" reported Marie, Valdez ordered both twins to go to their rooms and get changed into something respectable. "Send these orders to Sito and Heath, they're to head to the Badlands. Their mission is to negotiate an armistice with the Federation" ordered Teanna.
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"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Callie toyed with her sidearm while her Betazoid companion completed her scans of the relic in front of them. "Why can't the lackeys deal with this?" Callie asked. "Why have we been given the burden of this task?"
Closing her tricorder, Naynta stretched her arms, nearly hitting Callie in the face. "Thay, wanted people she trusts leading the investigation, would you want someone like Oylumi or Kristin down here TRIBBLE it up?" Naynta questioned to her sister. "Thay has gone through Na'kuhl records from the other universe; she believes there is something which could be vital to us, here."
Confused, Callie looked at Thay, she was several meters away talking to Captain Heath and several other Terran officers. "I think she already has what she deems 'vital' Naynta."
Naynta, puzzled by Callie's tone, turned to find her sister looking at Thay. "You're still annoyed she's spending a lot of her spare time with that Heath?" Naynta turned again to face Callie. "This 'alliance' with the Federation survivors has proved to be greater than the one we have with this other Terran Empire."
Callie stopped Naynta before she could continue. "I know, but it doesn't mean I have to like it! If these red Terrans discover this, it could be used against her." Callie spoke with concern.
"With the victories, they've brought us? I doubt the Terran Empire would be that stupid. Who would have thought the Federation could be more destructive with their advantages in science than the Terran Empire with their brute force?" Naynta said.
Both Captain Nelson and Captain Cerys studied the target. "The emperor wishes this facility gone" said Captain Nelson, the raiders had infiltrated into the prime universe through the rift at Awarath a week earlier and had engaged their quantum slipsteams. "Prepare the holo disguises, the empire cannot be known to have been here" ordered Nelson. "Take us close to the star itself, that facility is too well defended" ordered Cerys to her crew and the I.S.S. Peleliu moved into position.
On the I.S.S. Nimrod, Nelson prepared his attack run. Both ships got into position and fired two trilithium warheads into the star. They then made a run for the planet firing a protomatter bomb to wipe out the entire planet. "Let go" ordered Nelson and both Peleliu and Nimrod engaged their quantum slipstreams making a hasty retreat, this was the first in a series of hammer blows against Veel'Riz.
Rishis had taken a completed Krenim weapon to the Molindran homeworld circa 6,000 years ago. "Fire the weapon" ordered Rishis and the Krenim weapon fired on the surface erasing everything on the planet. In the present the second weapon was brought up to deal with the sphere, the weapon was then fired at the sphere engulfing it in temporal energy as temporal shields were overloaded by the sheer amount of chroniton fire.
On Terra, Emperor Valdez smiled. "Now we're not to be complacent, Solat take your fleet to the Lukari system" ordered Valdez and Solat prepared the fleet and set course for the Lukari system. When the fleet arrived, they detected temporal energy emanating from the system. "Scan for a structure, the Tuterians may be trying to form an expanse" ordered Solat looking at the readings. "We've detected a structure in the middle of the field, may be a sphere" reported T'Vril. "All ships charge deflectors and fire on that sphere" ordered Solat. The fleet responded and opened fire on the sphere collapsing the sphere and dissipating the growing expanse.
On Terra empress Valdez brought up a point about the remaining RSU ships in imperial space. "This is the emperor, any Romulan Union vessels left in imperial space are to be hunted down and destroyed. Take no prisoners" ordered Valdez. The call was sent out empire wide and soon all routes to the prime universe were blocked by Terran wolf packs. Any Romulan Union ships making a run for the prime universe would now have to run a gauntlet of Terran ships. On Terra, the armistice terms had been decided and Empress Valdez made the call to Antares herself.
"One ship each, negotiations will be held through subspace. As you have noticed there is a ship making a delivery, do not fire on it. We're returning all Federation dead. The U.S.S. Oudenarde crew are the first to be repatriated" said Empress Valdez over subspace to Heath on the U.S.S. Los Lobos.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
The Terran transport stopped short of the minefield and beamed over the fallen Oudenarde crew. Councilor Valdez and Trianna Valdez checked to make sure everyone had been recovered. "That's everyone accounted for" noted Valdez to Trianna, Trianna let off a smile for the first time in weeks. She said one word, "closure." "Indeed, lets arrange for them to be sent to their home worlds for burial" replied Valdez.
"Our counterparts may be monsters but this is honorable of them" answered Trianna. "My counterpart considers himself samurai, the Terrans respect strength and the Federation showed that. My counterpart also knows to listen to his advisers" replied Valdez. "Indeed, which one is mom's?" asked Trianna and both generations found the casing they were looking for. "Once these negotiations are over, we'll make sure all of the crew get a decent send off" replied Valdez wiping a tear from his eye.
"What about mom and Jane?" asked Trianna trying to keep control. "We'll give them a decent burial together in the family plot on Betazed, we can move on with our lives then" answered Valdez trying not lose control of his emotions. "Agreed but make sure we remember the good times" replied Trianna. "We will, I hear you've begun to move on" answered Valdez. "I have, I met a shuttle pilot here on the station and we got talking. His name is Ablim Zolat, he's Betazoid" replied Trianna.
"You are old enough to make your own choices in life, be wise" advised Valdez. "I will, dad, you need to stop worrying too much" replied Trianna. "OK, you've made your point. If you ever need someone to talk to, this is my private subspace channel" said Valdez.
Terra (MU)
Emperor Valdez opened the first session of the Imperial advisory council. "Ladies and gentlemen, now we get to governing this empire. The new equal legal rights laws will be test trialed on Betazed, if successful they will be rolled out empire wide" said Valdez. "It's a good move, remove the internal boundaries first" advised Papela over the screen. "I agree, the regent has a point. Xenophobia has held the empire back for too long, it's an internal barrier that needs to be brought down" noted Empress Teanna Valdez.
"Papela is blunt and honest, I'm appointing her Prime Minister of the empire" replied Valdez. Papela accepted the post but on one condition, she worked from home. "Next item on the agenda, what's our military strength?" asked Valdez. "Production of ships has increased and new troops are being raised, Imperium Planetia has increased production tenfold on ships" answered Solat. "How are we on the Federation negotiations? " asked Valdez. "Our act of good faith should go a long way, maybe they will be more agreeable with negotiations" answered Marie Valdez.
"We'll walk softly but carry a big stick" replied Valdez. "Insurance policy?" asked Marie and Valdez smiled and answered "of course." "What about the economy?" asked Valdez and the new economic minister John Flores answered "we've increased production quotas at all dilithium mines. The Imperial Credit is strong, would be an idea to increase merchant shipping production for both internal and external trade." "I'll take that under advisement" replied Valdez.
"One issue, since you took office you've not been officially crowned yet, I've scheduled for you and mom to be crowned in two days time" said Marie. "Good, give the people an official holiday to celebrate and let's open the fighting pits. Let's give the people their entertainment" replied Valdez. "A coronation followed by three days of blood sports, my kind of holiday" answered Marie. "To quote the ancient Romans, bread and circuses" replied Valdez.
Trianna appeared out of nowhere and handed Valdez a PADD, "impressive work, you and Shade are quite the team. I see you've purged Admirals Quinn and T'Nae, those two needed to go" said Valdez. Trianna smiled, "a job well done" she noted privately. "Good, two less opponents" thought Valdez privately.
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
I.S.S. Vendetta, Brig/ Victoria O'Briens Torture chamber
Captains Nelson and Cerys woke groggily, from their induced sleep... Where, Why was everything dark?
"Good morning captains I do hope you slept well as it may be the last you get for a very long time- or a short one that I'm afraid depends entirely on you." Commander Zalnous smirked.
a
"WWhhmmm urgh mmmming!?"
"W/hat am I doing?" The one-eyed man questioned, as he leered into the crate over his bound and gaged victims. "So glad you asked Nelson, you see I need information from you and your willingness to provide it shall determine how much pain I subject you to and for long it lasts before you die. "
Marion grunted as he knocked the crate onto its side allowing the two to tumble out of the cramped space. "For the record I think your both outstanding officers willing to hat you must for the Empire and for that you have my respect but your just not very intelligent are you? I don't want to do this, I'll admit but I really have no choice in the matter."
Marion walked over to a nearby console and began playing the stolen audio recordings of their success at the Levtro pulsar edited to appear that although their mission had been a success. This version however clearly stated they weren't going to able to escape the shockwave as the Molindran technology altered subspace. "I'll upload the new recordings to a probe from one of your vessels and yes I've already captured and added them to Victoria's fleet in the Delta quadrant- your crews chose not to join us and thus were spaced...
Marion removed Cerys gag and smacked her as she tried to bite him. "Careful I wouldn't want to have to remove your teeth now."
"You wont get away with this!"
"I already did..." The Commander smiled and went on, "you see I already destroyed your ships in our own universe before they made their attack and then a fast trip through the timeline before I did that to get the recordings you would have made afterwards. That only leaves me with you as loose ends and what you can tell me."
His captives were silent. "So whos feeling talkative? I might let that person have only one week in the booth and the silent person will receive four- unless you give me everything I can use in which case I promise you won't feel any pain.... For starters: The Emprie shouldn't know this system exists for another 20 years or so, because it stays hidden in subspace so you either raided a union warbird or Molindran ship without telling or more likely had Marie breach this systems- surprising considering they all isolated their system to prevent a mass fleet wide breach. You then managed to get into subspace itself into a system you didn't know the location of and single handily altered the future of both the Empire and Federation in ways so drastic in multiple timelines its going to take every temporal agent in the empire just to get this fixed!" Warum ist es immer mich wer die Narren?! In die Unterwelt mit Valdez! (Why is it always me who gets the fools?! To the underworld with Valdez! {I hope the translation worked right})"
"Needless to say Victoria and I don't liked being lied to.... Further more by eradicating the Molindran in our own universe before their Emprie falls as it would have anyway, you prevented them from curing a plauge which would have wiped out the Bajourans in our reality! Oh and caused them to have another seven centuries in the stone age! Not that I expect lowly beings such as you to understand what makes Bajour so important to the Empires future-"
"Then why are you concerned about the Molindrans here!? They're your enemy as much as ours!"
"True but they help the Federation develop time travel technology, therefore the Empire needs them to exist in order to steal said technology at a later date... In a way our two universe form a symbiotic relationship at this point in history not that its easily seen, although you could call it more a parasitic relationship with the Empire being the parasite."
"Parasite! That's treason if I've ever-"
Marion kneeled down to eye level and blinked as they spat in his face. "I'm speaking so that your primitive brains will understand what I'm saying it the closest analogy I can think of off quickly I'm afraid I don't have the patience to explain the whole situation to you."
LEVTRO SYSTEM stars & Molidnran system wide subspace cloak station
Why do I still play and put money into STO?
The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
Emperor Valdez studied the report Rishis had sent him, "Peleliu and Nimrod lost, hmm acceptable losses" he noted privately. "It was a suicide mission" replied Empress Valdez. "I know, that's why they stole that RSU computer core and acted alone" answered Valdez, Teanna smiled and replied "I had my doubts about them, well history will judge their actions." "The enemy used time against us, we'll do whatever it takes to save the empire. Who cares about the Bajorans being held back a few centuries?" answered Valdez.
"Payback for their enslavement of Terrans on Terok Nor" replied Marie laughing at the Bajorans decimated by plague in their reality. "The Bajorans survived their plague, they're strong enough to be allowed to live" replied Valdez. "We have two Krenim weapons, any who oppose the empire will face temporal annihilation" answered Trianna. "Base both weapons here on Terra, somewhere no one will think to look" replied Valdez smiling. "Vendetta to Terra, we need to talk" said Rishis over the channel. Rishis beamed down to the palace, "Victoria, I am willing to do whatever it takes to stop the empire's fall. Veel'Riz has just lost a key ally, it was a Molindran sphere that took Terra in 2442. Call it revenge if you will" said Valdez. "Trianna, go and help your mother. Marie, you stay" he ordered to the twins then he got to business.
"We've lost time travel capability" answered Rishis but Valdez replied "I made sure all ships had temporally sealed data cores, even yours, we still have the technology." "We may have an opportunity to destroy the Romulan Star Union, the battle of Scylis" answered Rishis. "What are you proposing?" asked Valdez. "My fleet will travel back and seal the rift just after the Federation ship leaves our reality. We can trap the the RSU there with no escape" answered Rishis. "I was at Scylis" pointed out Marie. "The Towton, I know" answered Valdez.
"It turned the tide of the battle" replied Marie. "Rishis, make sure no RSU leave Scylis alive. Make the Federation admiral see the full scale of the defeat. He'll make a mistake that will hurt him dearly and give the empire it's greatest victory over the Federation" asked Valdez. "The aftermath of which is the Betazed massacre" replied Rishis. "The Federation will take any peace terms to avoid another massacre like that" responded Valdez.
"Mind games?" asked Rishis and Valdez smiled at the pain that would be inflicted on his counterpart. "Indeed" Valdez answered. "I'll need more ships" replied Rishis and Valdez answered "take the Klingon and Cardassian ships captured by the empire and add them to your forces." "Zalnos is not happy, you've changed the timeline" replied Rishis. "Will the Galactic Union form?" asked Valdez and Rishis answered "unknown."
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"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
It was coronation day and the empire was is a celebratory mood. Both Emperor and Empress Valdez had just been crowned with the cameras rolling. In his inaugural speech, Emperor Valdez made sure every citizen knew their duty.
"The empire will face tough tests, our enemies envy our strength, our fortitude and resilience. We will fight with the ferocity of our ancient ancestors, as warriors to destroy anyone who would want to destroy our way of life. To paraphrase Lord Nelson, the empire expects every citizen do their duty. Fight for your families and the soldiers beside you because you will come to rely on each other, we all will. If we are to remain masters of this realm, we must be united, divided we will fall. Strength and honor to us all, From this day on, we make our own destiny."
The speech went around the empire to a mass of applauds across the empire. In his official act as a crowned head of state, Emperor Valdez signed the Terran/Betazoid treaty of friendship with Regent Lot then both shook hands. Vulcan and Andor also signed friendship treaties with Terra. Then at 11 am, new came from Antares. The Terran/Federation armistice had been signed, Marie Valdez acting in her official role of Crown Princess signed for the Terrans and Councilor Nathan Valdez signed for the Federation, the armistice would last for exactly 100 years. Emperor Valdez now told his people "the war with the Federation is over, the war for our very existence has begun."
Meanwhile across the empire, fleets prepared for war and new ground armies were put on alert. The empire would go on the offensive, their targets the Jem Hadar cut off from the Gamma quadrant. At the same time the Romulan Aristocracy fleet was put on alert and they began to prepare for war. Deployed against the Alpha Quadrant Jem Hadar were the 6th, 9th and 11th Fleets, a force of 1000 ships. Emperor Valdez had not fully committed his forces and kept half back to defend key strategic worlds. Bajor was also reinforced substantially.
The first hammerblow against the Jem Hadar would fall at Laoness three days later with the complete annihilation of the alpha quadrant founders and Jem Hadar in the system. Victoria then struck in the the Delta Quadrant with strikes on the Hirogen homeworld 120,000 years in the past using the Krenim weapon. Returning to the present, the Voth were brought under assault as Victoria's superior fleet tore apart the Voth in a quick and efficient manner. The last to fall were the city ships as their population's were harvested for their souls. Looking at the reports coming into the war room, Emperor Valdez monitored the offensives. On Betazed, Papela put the system on alert.
Now emperor Valdez prepared his biggest assault to date, the 12th and 14th Fleets then combined with the Romulan Aristocracy Fleet and hit the dominion forces on the edge of Romulan space. The temporal shields held for a while but the sheer amount of weapon fire eventually found their mark and all temporal shielded vessels were destroyed before the Terran/Romulan fleet destroyed the rest. "Your move Veel'Riz" noted Valdez smiling. "Preemptive strike, let's see how he reacts" answered Marie looking at the map. Once confirmation had come through, emperor Valdez ordered to the military "all forces pull back to your start lines and expect counter-attacks."
Post edited by theraven2378 on
"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
The Romulans had gotten their stolen Dominion observation satilite working and looking at the enemy ship movements in the past. Veel'Riz was quite frankly furious, Valdez was trying to knock out his allies before they knew about the Empires existence, it was effective- if unorthodox. Turning his own tactics against him, the man was smart he'd give him that.
The enemy expected him to retaliate- he'd oblige but not in the way the emperor wished. "Are we ready?" He bellowed loudly to the tactical officer on board the temporally shielded Voth city-ship. He checked one of the many hangars once more, the five remaining Celestial class ships were still there- he kept expecting the temporal fields to fail despite reassurance that it wouldn't. Thank the Shadows for these shields.
"Target located Sir, the ambush is ready... The escort is lighter than we were expecting."
"Deploy minefields in a five light-year wide radio us around the target- no X them in. Then deactivate and self-destruct.
"Mine fields ready... Time travelers count for something at least."
"What was that?"
"Sir nothing sir!"
The Reaper looked up at the main viewer and narrowed his gaze even as he smirked.. "There you are. Spring the trap!"
Aqua flashes lit up space.
The ships escorting Marie back to Terra were picked off in seconds, by a precise volley of Crusader antimatter matter shells, and Antiproton fire. Exactly five second after that a 29th century Federation worm had Isabel's all power on the remaining ship- Veel'Riz wasn't Will no to leave any computer for that *thing* to use. That lesson had been learned very well.
As the city ship tractor end the helpless ship inside into secondary bay several thousand Union marines and Voth soldiers transpose red in across the ship- the Terrans unable to use their weapons fought hand to hand in vain.
AS his boarding troops secured his prize Veel'Riz ordered the wrecked ships brought on board as well- leaving no evidence. Marine was sedated until she was comatose although he lost six marines to do so- she'd been training it seemed.
The ships fled rapidly heading first for Cardasia, where they tractor the Terran ships into the star. By this time they'd removed the emergency tracker in Marie and destroyed it. Finally the fleet set course for Breen space.
---Breen System---
"Wake her."
Marie awoke slowly, her mind muddled with fog and fatigue. Then the ambush came back to her thoughts and stated to struggle finding no give in the retsaists bound around every joint. Who could have- he was standing right there with a group of Chevailer, Star Commander Veel'Riz.
"Hello again Trianna. I subjected you to a full body scan, your tracking devices are gone."
" You don't know how to accept defeat do you?!"
"I know when I'm beaten, but you seem to forget I already won this war once.... You altering history well my tactics need to change don't they Miss Vadlez?"
"Are you going to monologue or something?"
"What kind of idiot do you take me for? No I brought you out of your coma becuse I'd rather your eyes be open for this."
Marie gulped.
Thirty Minutes later----
Veel'Riz placed the severed woman's head in a Specially prepared refrigerated box complete the the Federation insignia. He interned to create the single largest military disaster in the history of the Empire. His efforts in the future despite the setbacks, had been successful in secondary goal saving as many ships and civilians as he could... They'd use the temporal weapons to see what the Terrans attacked and then they'd be waiting for them.... By becomeing the Emporer Valdez had depirved the Imperial Starfleet of one of its best commanders, the admirals oh so often used their own influence to bend the will of Terra to their favour. He expected it to be no different this time around- even if it wasn't he prepared for the eventuality.
Using one of the few remaining changlings he had- this one being rescued from Terra, he gave the box to an independent courier on the treasure trading station and sent it to Terra. Veel'Ris doubted it would reach the palace unopened but it's contents certainly would need to be confirmed.... Valdez had taken his son- as petty as it was he wanted to return some small feeling of the loss he'd felt that day.
Why do I still play and put money into STO?
The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
Emperor Valdez flew into a rage, a fury that even Teanna could not contain. "Shade, bring Trianna with you. We've got some bad news for her" ordered Teanna. Trianna entered with Shade and was told to sit down. Teanna broke the news and Trianna in a confused state suddenly changed to pure hate. "Whoever did this must die, this cannot go unpunished" replied Trianna just wanting to kill whoever did it.
"It wasn't the Federation, not their style" answered Valdez in a vengeful mood. "Assemble the council, Marie has just become a martyr" ordered Valdez. It eventually hit Teanna and she broke down and then gripped the nearest Romulan servant and throwing him headfirst out of the window. At the council, Papela offered her support over a secure subspace channel. "Speaking as a parent myself, no words can describe what must be going through your head. You may be grieving on the inside but you cannot let that anger get the better of you. Your assessment that it was not the Federation is a correct one, I spoke to your counterpart over a secure subspace channel about this" she told Valdez.
"I'm guessing he did not take that well seeing you" replied Valdez and Papela answered "he was professional about it and he sent his condolences, he was telling the truth. The Federation are innocent in the murder of Crown Princess Marie Valdez." "Veel'Riz, trying to provoke a war are you?" asked Valdez to himself. "Thank you Papela, keep me posted" Valdez said to Papela afterwards. "Trianna, make arrangements for a state funeral. Marie will be buried with full military honors" said Teanna.
"Yes mother, I'll take over Marie's duties as well" replied Trianna. "Thank you Trianna, from now on all your duties will be here on Terra. Losing Marie is a hard blow to take" answered Valdez angrily. "If it's the Romulans who did the crime then they should be punished for crime. Veel'Riz values Romulan and Reman lives, every time he attacks us we make the Romulans and Remans pay for his actions" suggested Trianna. "Solat, take your fleet and annex the Romulan Aristocracy. Then impose martial law on them, for every act of resistance execute 500 citizens" ordered Valdez. Solat deployed the fleet and over the next four days occupied every world in the aristocracy, Martial law was then declared.
"We have Romulan Star Union prisoners of war, make sure Veel'riz sees this" said Valdez. "Execute them all as punishment for Marie's death" ordered Teanna. Across the empire the call went out and all RSU POWs were dragged out and beaten to death publicly. Trianna took great joy in using them in her new game, she had 300 RSU prisoners shackled in pairs and assembled in front of a mass grave. She then shot one from each pair dragging the other in at the same time. "Vaporize the bodies and make sure it inflicts great pain on those still alive" she ordered. Her orders were carried out with great efficiency and all recorded to be sent to Veel'Riz.
"Your actions have brought suffering to your people. For every attack you make, the Romulan people will be punished. For every one of our ships you destroy, we will kill 50,000 Romulans in exchange. For every Imperial soldier killed, 500 Romulans will die. Marie was much loved by the people, you just gave us a martyr" was the message sent with the images of RSU suffering.
Now Marie was put to rest as she made her final journey to be buried alongside her Terran grandparents. The Valdez family personally acted as coffin bearers with the entire crews of the Agincourt and Axios being the honor guard as every citizen bowed their head in respect. Marie was then put to rest followed by a 21 cannon salute. Struggling to keep control Valdez told the people that Marie would be remembered as the first Terran to make peace with the Federation and broadcast the Federation's apology.
At the palace, the Valdez family prepared for the coming war with Veel'Riz, it was now very personal. Teanna did however have some good news for her husband, she was carrying again with only three months left and it was a girl. "We'll name her Marie" thought Valdez and both Teanna and Trianna both nodded in agreement.
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"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Trianna Valdez walked into the throne room after she was requested by both her mother and father. “Trianna, telepathy off please” said emperor Valdez. “Done” answered Trianna. “We're going to have to take a step back once your sister is born” said Valdez and Teanna then added “from tomorrow, you will be taught to rule and govern. From 1100-1500, you will learn politics from Papela over subspace three days a week. Papela will expect you to be on time and she accepts no excuses.”
Trianna gulped. “It's all study for you from now on” added Valdez. “This education will last three months because you will be on the council representing the family” said Teanna. “Given the current security concerns, I've assigned an elite protection squad to you. Their job is to simply protect you not to do your dirty work” added Valdez.
“Emperor” nodded Shade and she brought the squad in. “They are all volunteers, they owe Trianna their lives from that exercise you witnessed” said Shade smiling. “Open your minds” ordered Teanna and the entire squad obeyed. Trianna and Teanna checked every one of them for deceptive thoughts. “Thank you, close your minds” ordered Trianna and they obeyed. “Excellent, they'll be fine” acknowledged Trianna. “Ghost” acknowledged Trianna's guards.
Valdez began his first lesson to Trianna with a question, “How do we stop this petty blood feud?” This got Trianna thinking, her answer was “tough one but be the bigger man and try and end it it. You killed his son in a battle, he was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.” “Try convincing Veel'Riz to accept that” answered Valdez slightly clenching his fist.
“This feud went out of control when it became a blood feud. You killed his son so he killed Marie, he committed genocide on Betazed and Trill all because you wiped out the Molindrans twice over. He kills Imperial citizens and prisoners so we kill his people equally in retaliation. Are you beginning to see this cycle of hatred?”asked Trianna angrily.
This clicked a switch in Valdez's head. “Marie died because I failed as a father, I should've stood my ground when she asked to go in person” he thought blaming himself. “None of us knew this was going to happen, Trianna has just hit the nail right on the head” said Teanna. “I know, Teanna she's got your bluntness and Trianna is correct in her assessment. I'll get his attention by a letter instead of an all out assault” replied Valdez.
“We do have a temporal communicator captured by our forces, we'll use that” suggested Trianna. “I'll be in my office writing the letter. Valdez then left for his office.
The letter read, “Aren't we both getting too old for this blood feud? I killed your son, you killed my daughter, I wiped your allies out so you nearly wiped out a race close to my heart. You've killed my people and I've killed your people in exchange. We always match each other to the point of stalemate where neither side wins but too many die on both sides.
Look at the progress we're making in the empire on legal rights for non Terrans. The empire you despised is gone, you saw to that for which I think you. Tell your masters that by the Federation signing an armistice means the Galactic Union will be sent copies of the armistice. This temporal game must stop. We've both been played in this temporal war by the Galactic Union and it's hurt us both personally. Let's be the bigger men here and end this before more people get hurt.
Yours sincerely
Emperor Valdez I”
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"The meaning of victory is not to merely defeat your enemy but to destroy him, to completely eradicate him from living memory, to leave no remnant of his endeavours, to crush utterly his achievement and remove from all record his every trace of existence. From that defeat no enemy can ever recover. That is the meaning of victory."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Comments
I.S.S. Enteri'Is
Hades- AKA Jason Roy, The infamous Shades cousin, had called the initiates to the holodeck in the early morning hours. They'd been ordered out of bed, with 5 minutes to arrive or be terminated....it had been close.
Looking around the simulation was a blasted post nuclear war wasteland with ruins and clearings abundant with metalic scrap. Hades stood above them on an elevated out cropping, his expression stern.
"A Shadow is expected to make due with what they have in order to survive.... Top accomplish the mission you may be stripped of all gear- we've decided you'll have the basics. Welcome to the surface of Kor. In this exercise you will be attempting to locate and kill Holographic Cardasian, while avoiding his attempts to eliminate and evade you."
" As your I may have noticed you all woke up wearing an identical device around your neck. This turns you all into a single entity for this assignment. Should one of you die, in any shape or form the rest of you will share the same fate."
He began tossing the "players" a backpack each. "These contain, Two bottles of water, 5 days worth of rations, flashlight, and one of either a phaser pistol, bed roll, medical supplies, or one weeks worth of camp fire starters at random."
"When I leave here, all safety features will be turned off, and you will need to contend with the dangers of the environment and predetory life forms- the second largest of which is the size of an ancient Spinosauras- the largest land dwelling animal ever to l be on my planet. For your sake I hope you don't encounter to the of the food chain- odds are its not a humanoid.... The simulation. Continues until you are dead or have killed the Cardasian and touched the flag at the top of the largest ruin."
He turned to leave out of the arch.
"Sir! What's the expectation on Time here?"
Hades turned back before deciding to anwser honestly; "The shortest time to finish is currently thirty one days.... Good luck and remember this is a mandatory team building survival exercise."
The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
"We need to work together, all past grudges are to to be put aside understood?" asked Trianna taking a leadership role. "What gives you the right to claim leadership?" replied a Terran initiate and Trianna answered "when was your first battle?" The Terran answered "two months ago." "I've been fighting and surviving since 2409, experience gives me leadership. You want to challenge that?" replied Trianna calmly. "Fine, you are the boss" answered the Terran. "Good because I've got the phaser" replied Trianna.
"This is our target, Crell Moset. A real scumbag who needs to die" said Trianna to her teams. "We've got 31 days to find and kill him and avoid becoming part of the food chain" answered the Terran initiate. "We're going to do in half that time but we will play it smart. Avoid ambush sites and keep to cover, our first goal is weapons. Look for anything that can be fashioned into a weapon or tool" said Trianna and the team scavenged as much metal and wood as they could carry.
The initiates got to work crafting spears and Trianna even managed to build a short bow. Trianna also made sure everyone was on the same page. "Good leadership" noted Hades to Shade as they watched through the monitor. "Agreed, she'll be a good team leader one day. Let's see what she can do" answered Shade. "She has potential" noted the Inquisitor to his assistant and she agreed and answered "a lifetime of lessons does that" smiling. "She's ideal for a joint Shadow/Inquisition operation" replied the Inquisitor. His assistant nodded in agreement smiling.
"Inquisitor, meet Ghost" said Shade smirking and the Inquisitor replied "Make her a team leader and keep testing her." "An interesting idea. Hades, make it happen" answered Shade. "As you wish" replied Hades. "Now she must be operating at full potential" said the Inquisitor's assistant. "Shade, Ghost will be ideal for what we've got in mind" said the Inquisitor. "That's why I was passed the Moset file" replied Shade. "We found him, the Emperor has deemed him a high priority target to be terminated on sight. I've also asked for a joint Inquisition/Shadow operation to make sure the job is done and Moset is dead" answered the Inquisitor.
"Ghost has been studying the dossier and familiarizing herself with her target. I've never seen her takes things personally but this one, she requested the job to punish the criminal for the suffering he inflicted on his victims" replied Shade. "Most of those victims were Betazoid, she's got a reason to end Moset" noted the Inquisitor's assistant. "I may consider Ghost for the Moset operation" replied Shade to the Inquisitor. "Keep an eye on her" answered the Inquisitor.
The initiates spent the next three days stalking the holo Moset and noting his movements. "Team two, move up" hand signaled Trianna and the team moved up to a better observation position, Trianna's team took position and waited in ambush for Moset . The Cardassian kept changing his route and began to hunt the initiates but Trianna made sure her teams checked in and decided to set a trap for holo Moset.
"She got both teams together in a secure location and planned out the ambush. "We'll be here hidden in the broken rocks above the path on the left" said Trianna to her team. "Team two will secure the right high ground" was Trianna's next order. "Team three can play distraction to lure him into our trap" suggested the Terran initiate and Trianna agreed. For the next five days the teams hid in position carefully conserving their resources and avoiding the wildlife.
Holo Moset discovered the decoy team and they lured him into the trap Trianna has set. "Team two, block him" ordered Trianna by hand signal and the holo Moset dodged a hail of throwing spears which were hurled from concealed positions. "Team one, take him down" ordered Trianna as she took aim with her handmade bow and loosed an arrow right between holo Moset's eyes. "Computer end exercise" said Hades over the intercom and the the initiates were stood down.
Shade inspected the initiates and counted them. "No fatalities and a time of 8 days, 21 hours" said Shade to the initiates. The devices were deactivated and the initiates were dismissed apart from Trianna. "You assumed leadership and kept all your team alive, that is commendable" said Shade afterwards. "If one failed, we all failed. Dad taught me that a team must be a cohesive unit" answered Trianna and Shade replied "everything you learnt from your father, you've been putting into practice. You kept your teams operational and used intelligence and cunning to achieve your objective."
"I carried out my mission, the mission always comes first" answered Trianna. "And set a record at the same time" replied Shade smirking. "Ghost, go and get cleaned up. There are a couple of people who want to speak to you, they watched that whole exercise and were very impressed" was Shades order and Trianna went to her quarters and got cleaned up and changed into her ship uniform.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Trianna Valdez had a smile on her face reading a PADD. "What are you happy about?" asked Captain Heath and Trianna simply replied "it's a letter from dad, they've found Crell Moset." That got Heath's attention, she asked Trianna"the Betazoid and Bajoran peoples would like to see him brought in. You sure it's him?" "It's him, he's started his experiments again and he needs shutting down fast" answered Trianna.
"We're occupied here at Antares, unless we get official authorization we cannot go after him" replied Heath. "Dad's been speaking to the Cardassian government about this and they also want him brought in and brought to trial for his crimes" answered Trianna. "Trianna, you are letting your feelings get in the way of clear judgement. Both our peoples were victims of Moset but we cannot allow that to influence our judgement" replied Heath advising Trianna on her emotions.
"I'll let dad deal with it, I'm not mature enough to deal with a case of this nature" answered Trianna. "I know, your work with the computer warfare team has been exemplary but you still let your emotions get the better of you" answered Heath. "Must be the human side of me" replied Trianna and Heath smiled and advised "you are a child of two worlds. You'll always have that conflict in you but you must keep that conflict under control."
"In some ways, I want to be like dad but I feel I'm letting mom down by not embracing my Betazoid half" replied Trianna as she sighed. "What's your father said about this?" asked Heath and Trianna answered "he said to me I'm old enough to make my own decisions. His exact words were be your own person and be confident." "It's good advise, heed it and be the person you want to be" answered Heath.
"Dad's a changed man, he's become a man of peace since mom died" replied Trianna and Heath responded with "I have a lot of respect for your father. Heed his advise because at end of the day he's the only family you've got left." "This crew has become family to me" replied Trianna. "I know, you've become like a big sister to the younger members of this crew. I have to be like a mother to this crew because I see them as my wolf pups. Your father knows that, that's why he's trusted me with you. Don't take this personally but it's clear that you've not fully come to terms about what happened, something like that leaves a deep mental scar that can only heal with time and counseling" answered Heath.
"I keep waking up in cold sweats, the nightmare keeps replaying in my head" replied Trianna struggling to keep control of her emotions. "That's a symptom of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Doctor Lot passed me the diagnosis and recommends you take some time off to take bereavement counseling. I'm inclined to agree with her" answered Heath. "Naynta is being a friend at the end of the day" replied Trianna. "I know, she's looking out for you. I've called Papela and she'll be the counselor" answered Heath. "That face brings back too many painful memories" replied Trianna.
"I've also called your father, I want you both there with Papela" answered Heath. "Dad's a proud man, how did you convince him to agree to this?" asked Trianna and Heath smiled and answered "I didn't, Papela did." "I'm guessing dad did not take that well" asked Trianna. "From what Papela said, he was not happy until she convinced him it was for his daughter's sake" answered Heath. "You were not there, the Regent was smiling even laughing as she murdered my crew mates, life partner and mother. When we see Papela, we see that sadistic face laughing. I could sense she was enjoying it, I'll never forgive that criminal for what she did" replied Trianna barely containing her anger and hate for the Regent.
"You and your father need to face your demons, that's why Papela asked to counsel you both" answered Heath. "How long until dad gets here?" asked Trianna and Heath answered "he'll be here in 48 hours." "It'll be good to spend time with dad" replied Trianna. "He's a good man. Your mother would be proud at the work you've both done. Honor her memory by being a force for good in the universe" answered Heath. "Thank you Captain, I'll meditate on this" replied Trianna. Heath smiled and advised "Enlightenment is the path to the pah, think about that." Trianna gave Heath a polite nod and left the room. "Brilliant but troubled mind" noted Heath afterwards.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Alpha -Delta Quadrant boarder
Voth City Ship B
Within the sprawling bridge of the titanic vessel Veel'Riz turned on his temporal observatory. Close now, so close... It was nearly dawn.
Activating the temporal communicator he confirmed the fleets were in position. His assumption about the minefield had been correct, that obstacle would need to be removed for the rest of the Dominion force. Of course the Founders had gone for the same idea, a mine field on their side simply made sense- the Empire didn’t exactly have the willingness to throw away their lives that the Jem’Hadar did. It had been more than a decade since the Dominion “attacked”, through the wormhole. Even if the Empire somehow destroyed the mine field in the Gamma quadrant- there’d still be thousands of ships on the Dominion side of the anomaly waiting to strike.
The Dominion were being guided by the majourity of the survivors from the last disastrous attack... That force would cut through the unprepared sectors like a plasma beam cut through paper. Those soldiers would have followed the plan to the least minute detail... The Dominions forces would have been provided cloaks, and temporal shields, their dreadnoughts with thaloron weapons of planetary scale... The hammer would strike first in the Alpha quadrant- Bajour, Terok Nor, Betazed, Trill.... Perhaps the Breen and Deferi would join the coalition.
The invaders had taken the Terrans at the wormhole by complete surprise, and in less than an hour had used a combination of tricolbat torpedos and EMP missiles to systematically remove the mines. Their fleets began pouring through.
Two days later, Romulus
The Sphere builders had upheld their end of the bargain... At exactly the moment the Voth city ship appeared in the Great Bloom Nebula, the second Romulus and Remus appeared and solidified into the time stream, along with hundreds of warbirds and bases throughout the Beta quadrent. Simultaneously multiple Voth and Hirogen fleets began spreading out like tendrils of a Kraken across the sectors.
The Reapers orders were simple, his precence was to be muted until other wise noted. But any Aristocracy world that didn't unconditionally surrender was to be purged.... Terra would be allowed no puppets.
http://i.imgur.com/rZb8spV.jpg
It was time to contact the Star Unions people again. "The Eagle rose through the skies, calling out to his brother... The Dragon listened and breathed upon stars, restoring their light breaking the darkness of the night...."
"After the sundering we departed the world of our ancestors... Shamefully abandoning our Vulcan cousins wandering until they discovered a planet that which we would forge them anew.
"There United in purpose- Romulus and Remus took wing, creating an alliance that would become the shield of a quadrant against tyrants."
"Hear me now... In every corner of the Star Union; I have seen our end.... I declare state of emergency by temporal destruction... To the council- exceute the general order 13!"
The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
Planning was underway for the Moset job. The Inquisition had read the intel reports from Chin'Toka and prepared accordingly, the Shadow Recon Teams had found Moset's private fleet in the system and reported back to the Enteri'Is. "How many ships" asked the Inquisitor to his assistant and she answered "25 ships, so we'll need part of the fleet for this." "We're not asking Sito, this operation is happening without her knowledge" answered the Inquisitor.
"Admiral Solat did say anytime we need her fleet, we'd get them" replied the Inquisitor's assistant and the Inquisitor smiled. "Get a secure message to Admiral Solat, tell her that we may need to borrow a wing of Phantoms and Eclipses." the Inquisitor said to his assistant. His assistant sent the message over a secure channel as Shade and Hades were looking at possible infiltration sites on Chin'Toka II. "Ghost, deactivate your cloaking device" said Hades and Ghost decloaked in front of the Inquisitor and his assistant.
The Inquisitor and his assistant had a surprised expression on their faces as Ghost said "surprise dad." "Trianna!?" asked Inquisitor Valdez surprised as Ghost's hair changed to her usual red and her ocular lenses changed to Betazoid eyes. "Inquisitor, Ghost has been our most promising initiate" said Shade smirking, "Ghost indeed" added Marie. "Marie, hows mom doing?" asked Trianna to which Marie answered "mom's fine, she misses you but won't show it."
"He he, that's normal for mom, be the mentally tough one" replied Trianna. "Why become a shadow?" asked Marie smirking to Trianna answered "I was always the violent one, I found my calling." "Trianna, you've grown up" commented Valdez and Trianna looked at her father and smiled. "Wait, dad you saw that last exercise?" asked Trianna to which Valdez answered "We did, very impressive. That's why me and Marie asked for you personally." "Inquisitor, my rifle is at your service" replied Trianna smiling.
"You kept your team alive and carried out the mission, that got our attention" answered Valdez. "The mission always comes first" commented Trianna back. "Indeed, we need that eagle eye of yours. You are our sniper, Shade has told me you've studied the target thoroughly" answered Valdez smiling. "Crell Moset, a Cardassian Exobiologist. His experiments on Terrans, Betazoids and other species during the Alliance occupations led to the deaths of millions" replied Trianna.
"Know your enemy..." said Valdez to which Trianna added "and know yourself and you need not fear the result of 100 battles." "Art of War" noted Hades to Shade. "Back to business" said Shade bringing up a map of Chin'Toka II. "Moset's compound is in these mountains" said Valdez pointing at the map. "However, the compound has a security detail of company strength, 150 former Cardassian soldiers" added Marie. "That makes things difficult, a shadow sniper team will take position on this peak 1 km from the target compound as Inquisition stormtroopers assault the compound" said Shade pointing at the map.
"As Solat's wings engage the enemy in orbit, Marie will break into Moset's computer network and shut down his power and transporters remotely" added Valdez. "Moset will then be forced to the shuttlepad on the roof where the Shadow sniper team will take the shot as Stormtroopers secure his lab and compound. Any prisoners he's holding will be extracted once it's confirmed Moset is dead" added Shade. "The key to this operation is deception, he thinks he is safe in his fortress but he is not. He'll think the Stormtroopers are the main threat, he won't see the danger that kills him" said Trianna.
"Dad, message from Solat. She's sent two wing of Phantoms and an extra wing of Eclipses to meet up with us at Chin'toka, they're proceeding through the Trill Sector under cloak as we speak. ETA 36 hours" reported Marie. "Until then, it's business as usual. All teams will practice the mission on the holodeck. Ghost, I'm making you a team leader, pick the initiates you need for the mission and make sure they are ready" ordered Shade. "Yes Ma'am" replied Trianna. "Marie, you are on intel duty" said Valdez and Marie acknowledged the order.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
So I'm thinking ... Klingon Space ... Klingons ... Red Spotted Trills and space stuff!
Councillor Nathan Valdez stepped off the shuttle and was greeted by Captain Heath and Lt Cmdr Trianna Valdez. "Dad!" said Trianna happily as she hugged her father. Heath just smiled and asked "Councilor, how was your trip?" "Eventful, Captain Ford and his crew had to deal with a pirate attack on the way here. Their professionalism is outstanding" answered Valdez. "The Constellation crew are very good" answered Heath.
"What's in the box?" asked Trianna noticing the box in Valdez's hand. "Something I was planning to give you when you came of age. Open it" answered Valdez as he handed the box to Trianna. "Dad, I don't know what to say. That's mom's crystal necklace" replied Trianna opening the box. "It's time you inherited it. I finally got round to sorting Teanna's things out and I found this" said Valdez as he passed Trianna a holo matrix." Trianna activated it and listened to it.
"There is a darkness in us all. Trianna, when you are old enough to understand you must be that light in the darkness. Everything we've done was to prepare you for the realities of the universe. Be a force of good and defend those who cannot fight back, be that White Knight" was the message. "When was this made?" asked Trianna as a tear rolled down her face. "18 years ago, Teanna made me promise that if anything happened to her that I would give you this message" answered Valdez. "Mom never told me about this message" replied Trianna.
"We had an agreement not to give you this until you were ready, think of this as Teanna's final instructions to you, honor her memory by being that White Knight" answered Valdez as he put Teanna's necklace on Trianna. "Trianna, we'll keep you on that path of light, honor your mother's final instructions" said Heath. "What if I'm not strong enough?" asked Trianna and Valdez replied "you are stronger than you think. What do you do if you are knocked down?" "You pick yourself back up and become stronger" answered Trianna.
"Correct answer" replied Valdez and Heath added "you've got friends on this ship who will look out for you and stand by you. I've noticed the sisterhood you have with Naynta, Pru and Tamiko. The younger crew members look up to you as a big sister, show them how to be White Knights." "Mom was wise, wisdom I need to follow" answered Trianna. "Never doubt yourself and be confident" advised Heath. "Layress, thank you for keeping an eye on Trianna and keeping her on the straight and level" said Valdez. Heath smiled and replied "Trianna's become like a daughter to me, she's one of my wolf pups."
Papela Lot entered the shuttle bay and both Trianna and Valdez tried to repress their anger. "Councilor, I know I'm the last face you want to see, same with you Trianna. I'm not that woman, try to remember that" said Papela sensing the hostility. "Papela is right on this, hear her out" advised Heath to both Valdez generations. "Let's get this done" replied Valdez as he and Trianna left the shuttlebay with Papela. "Time for them to face their demons" noted Heath afterwards.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Papela had borrowed Doctor Lot's office, both generations of the Valdez family were sat down. "This is the first of many sessions, you two need to face up to the cold hard facts" said Papela bluntly. "We're not angels by any means" sighed Trianna. "That your actions led to over 70,000 innocent deaths when your mirror attacked Risa" replied Papela. "I ask myself the same question over and over again in my head" answered Valdez.
"What question?" asked Papela and Valdez answered "where did we go wrong? Not a day goes by without the question raising it's ugly head." "We both blame ourselves for what happened, not a day goes by without that replaying in our heads. Dad drank heavily for a month after we got back, it was not a pretty sight by any means" added Trianna. "How bad was it?" asked Papela and Valdez answered "not being able to sleep properly because every time I tried to sleep that scene just keeps replaying in my head and I wake up screaming." "On the surface, we seem normal but deep down we're wrecks. Dad tried to hide it with alcohol to the point I gave him the ultimatum" added Trianna.
"It was either Trianna or the alcohol, one or the other" said Valdez. "Dad chose my welfare over the drink, that spark was still there" added Trianna. "You two have to forgive yourselves before you can both move on" advised Papela bluntly. "Too much blood on our hands, we made a mistake. A mistake that had tragic consequences" replied Valdez. "Mom insisted on coming even though we warned her it was too dangerous. We should have stood our ground but we did not" added Trianna. "That's the worst part, it could have been avoided but we were too weak minded" said Valdez.
"You've been beating yourselves up about what happened, what you both need to do is put the past behind you and rebuild. Councillor, you focus on your work to avoid facing your own failures. Trianna, you rejoined Starfleet to escape facing up to what happened. You two need to stop running" said Papela bluntly. "We're not running" replied Trianna but Papela made her point and responded with "You both are running from your problems and one day those problems will come back to haunt you, face them head on and don't avoid them" bluntly.
"We failed and people died, I failed as a husband and as an officer. It's the reason I retired" said Valdez and Trianna added "I failed as a daughter." "You both need to stop holding onto the past and look to the future" advised Papela. "We must make things right" said Valdez. "How are you both going to make things right?" asked Papela. "I'll continue my work with the Romulan Union refugees as well as making sure the ceasefire with the Terrans holds" answered Valdez. "I'll honor my mother's wishes and defend the weak and those who cannot defend themselves" answered Trianna. "That's a start" replied Papela.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
At Terra, disaster had struck. A Molindran sphere had jumped into the system and the emperor had fled leaving the civilian population at the Molindran's mercy. Veel'Riz knew victory was close but the news of the swift fall of Terra sent shockwaves. Reacting immediately, Grand Admiral Nathan Valdez supported by the rest of the Valdez family led a counter-attack into the system to retake it. Seeing Terra as lost, he ordered his ships to evacuate as much people as possible and retreat.
Among the survivors were Emma and Jason Roy, they had seen the emperor flee as Terra fell. To avoid any further loss of life, the civilian leaders unconditionally surrendered to Veel'Riz. Valdez ignored the surrender order leading the convoy of survivors away from the system and towards deep space. On the surface of Terra Veel'Riz told his troops to be on their best behavior towards civilians and took apart the apparatus of repression. Free speech was encouraged and ideas of democracy were spread to the population.
The Terran fleets elsewhere were tied down trying to stop the relentless Dominion attack as Betazed and Trill were scourged of life by Thalaron weapons. A psychic scream went out as Teanna Valdez collapsed holding her head. "Teanna, what's happened?" asked Valdez. "I fear the Betazoids in this fleet may be the last of my people, I felt my people's pain as my home world burned" answered Teanna.
The twins reacted differently, Trianna also felt the scream of her people and collapsed holding her head. The death of Betazed was sending psychic shockwaves. "How many Betazoids are left?" asked Valdez. "We're now an endangered species, less than 15,000 of us left throughout the empire" answered Teanna. "It's going to get worse, Vulcan and Andor just surrendered" replied Valdez solemnly. "We've got a rift forming" reported Marie and Valdez asked "enemy or friendly?" expecting the worst. Before that question could be answered, the Valdez family as well as Emma and Jason Roy were beamed off the I.S.S. Agincourt as the convoy they were protecting entered the temporal rift led by Agincourt.
"Where are we?" asked Valdez to the unidentified male. "You are all on my ship, my name is Daniels" said the temporal agent. "Why did you abduct us?" asked Shade and Daniels answered "the Terran Empire was not meant to fall in the 25th century." "Those temporal inversions first observed in 2411, someone had been manipulating our timeline to cause an early fall of the empire" said Marie. "Veel'Riz used the Tuterians to manipulate the time in his favor. To save the empire, you'll need to do the unthinkable, the timeline depends on it" replied Daniels. "
"How?" asked Valdez and Shade answered "we need to remove the emperor from the equation in 2411." "That'll throw the empire in civil war" answered Valdez. "Not if we do it covertly, we'll need allies to do it though" replied Hades. "That's treason" remarked Marie to which Shade answered "not if we have the right candidate to take over to stop a power vacuum." "Who?" asked Trianna puzzled. Shade looked at Valdez and said "this man." Valdez was stunned a bit and answered "I don't want the job." "The empire needs strong leadership, the best choice of leaders are those that don't want the job" replied Shade. "The empire needs you, the people need strong leadership" said Marie to Valdez.
"Marie's got a point, dad you swore an oath to defend the empire. Honor that oath and lead the empire" added Trianna. "Nathan, I just saw my people become endangered and the empire's fall. The empire has just signed a unconditional surrender with the Romulan Union, any Imperial ships who refuse to follow the surrender will be hunted down and destroyed. All sectors blocks have surrendered in accordance of the terms" said Teanna trying to keep calm. The death of her world had hit her hard. Marie was also concerned, she had killed Veel'Riz in 2411 but now he was back and gunning for her, Trianna and the empire. "Looks like I'll have to kill him a with a more permanent solution" noted Marie calmly.
"We cannot allow this to happen, dad you must take the throne in 2411. I know it's something you don't approve of but we must save the empire" said Trianna. "Ghost has a point, you become emperor and we get 31 years to prepare or even stop this from happening" said Emma. Valdez outnumbered decided that it was the only way to save the empire, "OK, I'll take the throne but I will not be a tyrant. My rule will be firm but fair but before we can put our plan into action we'll need allies" he agreed. "I may know someone who can help, Marie send all logs of the invasion to our younger selves at Chin'Toka in 2411. Make sure only my command code opens the message, my younger counterpart will understand it's nature and make sure the entire Valdez family is on the Enteri'Is. Request Admiral Solat's fleet as well. Sir, your troops will proclaim you Emperor the moment we secure the Imperial capital" said Emma.
"Done, now to contact someone who will help us save the empire" reported Marie. "Who?" asked Emma, Marie answered "Rishis, she's got a temporal fleet. Let her eliminate the emperor as our full forces secure Terra." "Dad then takes the throne without a power vacuum" added Trianna. "Send it" ordered Valdez and the message to Rishis was sent.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Shade got the message immediately recognizing her command code. "Where did it come from?" asked Valdez and Marie ran a quantum scan and answered "2442." Following the instructions of the message, Teanna had been beamed to the Enteri'ls demanding "what are you up to?" "Teanna, the empire will fall 31 years from now if we don't do something now" answered Valdez showing Teanna the logs and the death of Betazed.
"How many people know about this?" she asked Valdez, Valdez answered "only the six of us in this room, Solat has brought the entire fleet with her. We're going to remove the emperor to save the empire." "The empire needs an emperor, you do this and there will be a power vacuum and civil war" replied Teanna concerned. "We have the right candidates to take the throne" said Shade looking at the Valdez family. "This is treason" said Marie to which Trianna added "a treason needed to be committed to save the empire. Ma'am, Solat and Rishis have beamed aboard."
"We're expecting them" replied Shade as Solat and Rishis entered the room. "Rishis, we need your help in a temporal assassination, the target is the emperor" asked Valdez to which Rishis answered "I've read your file, this is part of a combined plan I take it." "It is, as you remove the emperor and the senate, our full forces will secure Terra" replied Valdez. "Once Terra is secured, our forces will proclaim Mr Valdez here emperor" added Shade. "Putting us in position to save the empire by making sure the timeline stays secure" replied Marie.
"This whole plan counts on our forces being at Terra at precisely the right moment, mistime it either way we'll fail" added Trianna. "Not if you get reinforcements, the ships your older self saved in 2442 have vowed their loyalty to you Inquisitor. All ships will have temporal shields, weapons and drives installed. My fleet stands with you" replied Rishis. "We've got an army" said Marie as Trianna looked over the plan. "We've got four days to do this, the emperor is holding a full senate session. they will all be in the same place at the same time" added Rishis.
"How long will it take us to get to Terra at transwarp?" asked Valdez. "Ten hours, we emerge on the edge of the system ready to strike once Rishis makes her move" answered Marie. "This goes against everything we stand for Nathan" advised Teanna but Valdez reassured her with "Exitus Acta Probat." "The outcome justifies the deed" translated Teanna. "Marie, we'll need you and Solat's help. The enemy commander is Star Commander Veel'Riz" said Shade. "I killed him, he must have cloned a new body. We need to find that cloning facility and completely destroy it. It's time we killed him permanently" answered Marie. "We owe him that for Betazed" added Trianna. "How long will it take to install the Temporal equipment on our ships?" asked Valdez and Rishis answered "a fortnight for the entire fleet." "We've got to go now, a fortnight is too long and we lose our window" answered Valdez.
"This is empress o' Brien to the fleet, set course for Terra" said Rishis as she beamed to the Vendetta. Rishis' fleet made the temporal jump to Terra as the rest of the fleet hit their transwarps emerging behind Neptune 10 hours later and cloaked. "We're a go, all forces put Operation Revolution into effect" ordered Valdez as the fleet bore down on on Terra. Rishis eliminated the Imperial family first with a temporal device erasing them from the timeline as the senate was Purged, Valdez's fleet now entered orbit and deployed 100,000 troops to the surface. As the ground forces secured the major cities, the crews proclaimed Valdez emperor.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
I.S.S. Vendetta
Victoria R. O'Brien was asleep in her quarters- her subconscious mind aflame with dreams of lustful galactic conquests. "Your ladyship, you've got urgently marked Terra-mail."
Rishis groaned dredging herself out of bed and replicated a cup of hot-cocoa, before slowly sitting down at her desk... The red heads eyes scanned the paper before she spat out her hot-chocolate! "Marion get up and dressed!"
"Daniles, "Marion greeted the fellow time traveler.
Rishis walked up to Marie and smiled warmly, "So am I going to punch you until you spew bodily fluids again?"
"No."
"Good... Now I believe we have a mutual problem...?" O'Brien chuckled lightly.
"What about this situation is funny to you!?" Valdez balked. "The Empire is gone!"
"I had though Leata actually had the intelligence to be thourghal when she destroyed the Romulan Union- or perhaps it was the fool bajouran made a mistake as she always does- if she was even behind it, no matter.... I've looked at her engagements she likes to underestimate people." Victoria said. "Now I realize none of you have quite the experience fighting the RDF we do, therefore given that you also believed the reaper was dead- thank you for that by the way...."
"you said you had no idea of the true scope or when this attack was coming? Yet my own temporal observations show your empire did in fact had sufficient knowledge to know there was an assault coming from the Gamma and Delta quadrants and took no action... Why, are you insane?" She turned around arms raised to the side in an exasperated show of confusion.
"For the sake of the Empire we'll help you, my fleet is yours... However we must assume that a very large number of the attacking forces has temporal shields and therefore an alteration to the time line will not directly effect them, another factor to consider is the threat posed by the Tutrians. Once the enemy realizes what we've done they'll surly try to start forming a larger expanse or accelerate their attack plans to capitalize on the advantages they already hold...."
"Again.. What's your plan?.. I'm not looking forward to meeting the Reaper again." Rishis laid her face down on the table... She hadn't slpet in nearly 72 hours.
The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
The coup had succeeded and the Valdez family now had taken control of the empire. In the throne room a council of war had been formed. The emperor planned out the campaign with his high command, "Our battlefield is now temporal, we've seen the face of the enemy and we will be prepared" said Emperor Nathan Valdez. He had picked his advisers well and he expected total honesty from them. The presence of the new empress kept everyone honest.
"OK, first things first. Veel'Riz is our priority target, remove him permanently and this alliance will never exist" said Valdez to his command. "I killed him at Scylis" replied Marie to which Shade answered "we did find something interesting at Scylis." "Does it help us?" asked the Empress and Marie replied "it does." "Elaborate" requested Solat and Marie brought up the cloning charts seized at Scylis. "We need to find the cloning facility he's being regrown at and destroy it" said Marie and Valdez put both Marie and Trianna on intel duty. They would be working with the shadow teams on this.
Next Valdez created a new covert Temporal Warfare division under Shadow control. "Shade, your team's job is to launch temporal assassination operations at our enemies" said Valdez and Shades gave a polite nod to Valdez. "Rishis, trace the source of the inverse waves, make sure the Tuterians become an extinct species" asked Valdez, Rishis smiled. "Solat take your fleet and make sure the Bajoran Wormhole is permanently collapsed" asked Valdez and Solat acknowledged the order.
"What about the Molindrans?" asked Empress Teanna. "We're going to build this" answered Valdez bring up the plans for the Krenim Temporal Weapon. "We need to build this in secret, somewhere the enemy won't think to look" said Rishis looking at the plans. "Rishis, this weapon will be used on the Molindran sphere. Get it operational as quick as you can but keep things safe, we don't know what could go wrong" ordered Valdez. "I've got a hidden facility" answered Rishis smirking. "No Sito" noted Teanna and that got Valdez suspicious.
"Send word to the Enterprise, order Sito to drop all her schemes and focus on Leeta" asked Valdez and Teanna sent the message herself. "I added the next time she doesn't attend a council of war meeting, She will lose her admiralty" replied Teanna. "I want Sito, Captain Heath and her crew under constant surveillance" said Valdez. Everyone was dismissed except the twins. "Girls, you two will play an important role. As Crown Princesses, you will be expected to be on best behavior at ALL times" said Teanna. The twins gulped before Trianna replied "I wish to carry on my Shadow training, I want no claim to the throne." "Marie, you are next in line for the throne. You will be taught to rule and govern. Understood?" asked Valdez and Marie nodded in agreement.
The twins were dismissed as the new Emperor and Empress started their reorganization of the Terran military and civil governments.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
The Regent looked over her children gathered in front of her.
"Listen very closely little ones," she began. "The situation has become dire. The man now in charge of the Empire thinks nothing of wiping out entire races if he perceives them to be a threat. So for now we must not appear to be one and abide by his rules. However, we will prepare ourselves for any possible strife. There will still be elements loyal to the old rulers and we must be prepared in case they attack. At least that is the story we will use to explain our actions."
She leaned forward in her chair.
"All planetary facility, orbital frames and ships are to have their security codes changed immediately. Any attempt to remotely connect to them must be manually approved. No connections unless, someone indentifies then physically presses the switch to allow it. It will slow things down but security is now an utmost concern. Thay, Naynta, Jodi for now do what he orders and be very careful. Because of the past you three are most likely being watched. Now go about your duties, while I send my congratulations."
"Thank you Regent, let's talk business" said Valdez over subspace. "Why the coup?" asked Papela and Valdez answered "had to be done, it's to save the empire from a war that's not supposed to happen." "So you will wipe out any species that you consider a threat" replied Papela concerned. "Regent, Betazed has nothing to fear. In fact I want to improve ties between Terra and Betazed, the empress insisted on that" answered Valdez.
"There will be resistance to your coup" replied Papela to which Valdez answered "they are traitoris excommunicatus, enemies of the state to be killed on on sight. Same goes for Leeta." "Lessen the brutality, politics is an art you must master" advised Papela, Valdez smiled and answered "I leave politics to the empress, I'm a soldier. Regent, I'm rebuilding the senate. All member worlds are required to send a representative, the empire must stand united now more than ever." "I agree, my children have been reminded to support your regime" replied Papela. "Good because I've got a job for Sito, her temporal expertise will be required. In fact I'm promoting Sito to Grand Admiral, she will govern the Alpha Quadrant sectors and keep them secure. I did want to speak to her here on Terra, the information is too sensitive to be sent over subspace" answered Valdez.
"I'll make sure Sito gets those orders, how are the twins?" asked Papela. "The Crown Princesses are on their best behavior, I've designated Marie to be heir to the throne. Trianna gave her place up for personal reasons. I've also dispatched a battle group and extra troops to Betazed as well" answered Valdez. "Jodi and Naynta will be with Sito. I've told Jodi to be on her best behavior given the last incident with Marie" replied Papela. "I'll tell Marie the same, any trouble from either of them they will be stunned and hauled off to cool down in the holding cells" responded Valdez.
"I'll leave you to your work, send the empress my regards, Regent out" said Papela and the screen went blank.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Papela Lot had made progress with the Valdez survivors, "Councilor, open the box" she said to Nathan Valdez and Valdez asked "what's in the box?" "Something you must face up to" answered Papela and Valdez opened the box and was mortified. "I cannot wear that uniform anymore, not with the amount of blood on my hands" he responded. "Dad, I'm sensing pain there. We're not innocent by any means and I wear the uniform on a daily basis, we're putting the past behind us and moving on" said Trianna.
"Trianna has a point, you both need to move on. I'll call a break and when we get back, I want to see you wearing that uniform" said Papela. "Dad, wear that uniform for me" added Trianna. They were interrupted by Captain Heath with "All TF 113 Captains to the conference room." "Trianna, councilor we're needed, we'll pick this up later" said Papela and all three left for the conference room. In the conference room all the captains were in attendance. "There's been a coup in the Terran Empire" said Heath.
"What happened?" asked Augie McBrocken and Heath answered "at 1000 hours yesterday, the entire Imperial family and senate were wiped out as a massive armada took Terra." "Who led the coup?" asked Valdez. "Your mirror did, he was proclaimed emperor by his forces" answered Heath. "He's responsible for the mass genocide of the Klingons in the mirror universe, from what we know about the new emperor, he'll wipe out entire species he considers a threat to the empire" added Trianna.
"Where does this put the ceasefire?" asked Papela and Heath replied "it's an unknown at the moment." "He'll consolidate his position first" added Valdez. "He's already declared all his political opponents enemies of the state to be killed on sight, intelligence picked up transmissions concerning mass executions of groups he deemed not fit to live" replied Trianna. "However, we did get something unusual. The new regime has just put the Code Napoleon into Terran law, an unusual move" responded Heath. "He's uniting the empire under his banner, the Code Napoleon guarantees everyone equal in the eyes of the law" answered Valdez.
"The Imperial Senate is also being rebuilt but it'll be made up of all member species within the empire" replied Heath. "First step in uniting the empire is removing internal xenopobia, the new empress is Betazoid" said Valdez. "How much do we know about her?" asked Heath. "She's uncompromising and tough, when I was a hostage I saw that side of her" answered Trianna. "So she's the power behind the throne?" asked Heath to which Trianna answered "close but inaccurate, they're a team. The emperor is running the military while the empress runs civil government." "Starfleet has just deployed an extra battle group to Antares, the coup has them running scared" replied Heath.
"Ma'am, we're receiving a transmission, it's from the Imperial palace on Terra" said Heath's communications officer over the intercom. "Put them thorugh but make our computers are secured" ordered Heath. On the screen, Emperor and Empress Valdez both appeared. Both Valdez survivors were stunned to see Teanna. "That's not the same woman" reminded Papela to both. "Captain Heath Layress, lets talk business" said the emperor. "What kind of business?" asked Heath. "Something that benefits both our governments" answered Empress Valdez. "Since you are military commander on the Federation side of the neutral zone, the Terran Empire is willing to negotiate turning the ceasefire into an armistice" replied the emperor.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Heath stared at the screen, then smiled.
"This is welcome news," she answered. "Lasting peace is always a good thing. We may finally be able to leave here and go back home."
"Indeed."
"But these kind of negotiations are far above my pay grade. I will inform the diplomatic corps. They will be falling over themselves in excitement at the prospect of this."
Valdez smiled.
"Well then. I await their reply. Until then."
The screen went blank.
"I trust them as far as I can throw them," Augie commented.
"One who solves problems by genocide does not immediately seek peace with their strongest opponent," observed Chromia.
"Unless they have an even bigger threat looming," Chi'Tani commented.
"Something has them rattled and they don't want to have to split their attention between us and whatever it is," Heath concluded.
Everyone gathered there nodded in agreement.
"In the meantime, we will prosecute for peace " Valdez stated. "At the same time we need more information on what's happening over there. Let's reconvene in an hour to discuss our options."
"That was not showing weakness, that was strategic" noted Valdez. "He needs to remove us from his chess board" replied Trianna, this got Heath's attention. "Trianna, what did you pick up?" asked Heath. "It's genuine, to the emperor we have become a like a second front tying down his resources" answered Trianna. "This is unusual" replied Heath, Trianna soon added "I also sensed respect from the emperor, he sees you as a warrior."
"Trianna, what can you tell me about his daughters?" asked Heath. "If you thought the father was a piece of work, wait until you meet the twins. There was a temporal incident which split my mirror" answered Trianna. "In what way?" asked Heath. "The incident split both parts apart from each other. Crown Princess Trianna is the full Betazoid side and Crown Princess Marie is the full Terran side."
"What's their MO?" asked Heath. "Marie is responsible for the deaths of tens of millions, she was infamous for her use of thalaron. Trianna is the violent one, she dropped off our sensor grid 5 months ago. It was Trianna who thought up the Cardassia massacre, both are equally dangerous. Marie is the one you really need to watch, the only thing keeping her out of our computer grid are the new upgrades" answered Trianna.
"Thank you Trianna for that insight. The way you handled yourself when the Empress appeared, despite it being difficult you kept it together. I need you to keep that level of control" replied Heath. "Captain Lot helped there" answered Trianna, she then turned to Valdez and told him, "dad, keep control." "Trianna, you've got Teanna's bluntness. Be proud of that" answered Valdez. "And your intelligence" replied Trianna back.
Terra (MU)
Emperor Valdez smiled and asked Empress Teanna "what did you get?" "Surprise, if something is too good to be true, it usually is" answered Teanna smiling. "They don't know if this a deception or is it genuine?" replied Valdez. "Removing a piece from the chessboard?" asked Shade. Valdez smiled and answered "The Federation is a distraction we don't need, I want security tightened across the whole empire. After the armistice is agreed, we're sealing the border." "Girls, what did you learn from that?" asked Teanna.
"Carefully study who you deal with, Me and Marie's counterpart was there" answered Trianna. "I heard she knocked Naynta Lot out" said Marie laughing. "Jodi's been plotting payback for that" replied Trianna. "Shame the no violence clause is in effect with me and Jodi" answered Marie. "Very unlady like" replied Trianna to which Marie replied "who ever said we were ladies" sarcastically. "Enough you two" ordered Valdez and the twins obeyed.
"You must learn to obey if you wish to command" said Valdez to Marie. "Yes dad, we need a negotiator who knows the Federation" answered Marie. "Captain Heath Layress, since the negotiations will be through subspace" added Trianna. "Bring Heath and Sito to the palace, they will be the negotiators" ordered Valdez. "Ending a war to save an empire is no defeat" quoted Valdez. "Ending it on warrior's terms I take it?" asked Shade and Valdez answered "Indeed, they gave us a good fight but in the end they admitted what they did in 2267 was wrong" passing Shade the PADD. "Written by your counterpart as well" she noted.
"This is genuine, I had Teanna look over it and I've spoken to the Regent about this. Both agreed that a political option was better than a military option" answered Valdez. "If it's a deception, it'll show the Federation's true colors" replied Shade. "All warfare is based on deception" quoted Valdez. "Agreed" replied Shade, "I'm putting the fleet on standby, they'll be in position to seal the rift once the armistice is agreed" answered Valdez. "Marie, make sure all computer systems are secured and locked down" ordered Teanna and Marie got to work.
"Trianna, I need you to become the Ghost. Here's a list of my opponents, please remove them" ordered Valdez. "It will be done, thank you for the TR-116" replied Trianna. "Be creative" said Valdez smiling to Shade and Trianna. "As you command" replied Shade and she and Trianna saluted the emperor and left the throne room. "I need you and the Regent to discuss what terms will be suggested. "This was a war that should have never happened in the first place" Valdez asked Teanna. "If you need me, I'll be calling Betazed" answered Teanna.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
"We're in position at the mouth" reported T'Vril. "All ships, charge deflectors" ordered Admiral Solat and the fleet of 300 ships obeyed. "Fleet reports ready" reported Lt Forrest. "Is our line to Terra secured?" asked Solat. "It is" reported T'Vril. "The emperor and empress both wish to see this" replied Solat. "Old friend, you may fire when ready" ordered Emperor Valdez. "Fire" ordered Solat and the fleet fired their deflectors into the wormhole.
"Increase power to deflectors" ordered Solat and Forrest increased power, "Keep firing" ordered Solat. The wormhole reacted to the bombardment and began to destabilize before closing. "Run a scan" ordered Solat. "Entrance closed, neutrino level nominal" reported T'Vril. "It's done" said Solat to the Emperor. "Congratulations on a job well done, admiral bring the fleet back to Terra. We've got a special job for the fleet" ordered Valdez. "As you command, I would recommend deploying a starbase and defense fleet to the wormhole mouth in case it reopens" answered Solat.
"I'll take that under advisement, Terra out" replied Valdez. Solat's fleet then engaged their transwarp drives and jumped to Terra. At Terra, the armistice terms were being worked out. "It's time you ended the purge. The Regent asked me to bring it up" advised Empress Teanna Valdez. "Agreed, I'm willing to offer a pardon. It'll help having a council who can keep me on my toes" replied Valdez.
"I agree, here's our proposals for the armistice" answered Teanna passing Valdez the PADD. "Interesting ideas" replied Valdez. These are the Imperial armistice terms: "All dead from either side will be repatriated and all Prisoners held by either side will be exchanged." "We recovered the federation crew killed on Betazed, they'll be the first to be repatriated" said Teanna. "We'll need someone there to represent the Imperial family. Since Marie is heir to the throne, make it her first official duty as Crown Princess to deliver our terms" replied Valdez. "Marie knows nothing about diplomacy" answered Teanna.
"She'll read the terms to the Federation over subspace, She's making the call now" replied. Marie braced herself and put the call through to the Federation. "Councillor Valdez, I'm Crown Princess Marie Valdez. I've been instructed to read the opening terms to these negotiations. As a n act of good faith, we're repatriating all Federation dead and may be open to a prisoner exchange once negotiations start" said the Crown Princess over the channel.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Sol System
Veel'Riz walked into the main spire of the resort section of the sphere with a scowl on his face. He surveyed the reveling soldiers under him feeling his eye twitch. "What are you all doing!?"
"Star- Commander Sir!"
"We are not finished yet, return to your ships immediately, or I'll have you all cleaning conduits... Centurion Kev, come here now!" The clearly intoxicated Centurion Tovan Kev approached and lazily saluted. "Sir, weren't you on Vulcan?"
Veel'Riz was in no mood for games. "I was," he replied, "Overseeing the Terran exodus from the planet... Do you know what brought me back here Centurion?"
"No sir."
"you- and your shameful criminal actions upon the Star Union... You destroyed structures on Terra that have been standing for more than 2,000 years! When you put on that armor, or your uniform, you are expected to act with dignity and respectfully. You took the same oath of service as I did, I'm ashamed to stand beside you as a brother in arms! You don't deserve that uniform! This system was in our control and you deliberately destroyed historical sites; you will be tried at Romulus, consider yourself civilian until further notice. Chevealier Weyoun will escort you to the brig."
"Look at what they've done to us-"
"I don't care Centurioin! You have violated the law, further more I will revoke my previous statement, you will not tried by a Union court, you commutited these actions on Terra you will be tried on Terra! They will see that we can be just in our actions and that we aren't keeping them prisoner here, nor are we intending to eradicate them! We are not the Klingons, or the Cardasians! You dare call yourself Romulan!"
"As my commanding officer you're obligated to defend me!"
"I will, to the best of my ability... The evidence against you however is proof of the deed.... I will be neither judge, jury nor executioner -if that is their decision. i will defend you with what I can of that you have my word."
Veel'Riz took his seat at the long table turning his gaze around the various commanders in the room. Voth, Molindran, Romulan Reman, Breen, even a Founder rescued from Terra. "Temporal readings don't lie, the enemy has gone into the past shortly after my peoples initial assault..." A groan went around the table. "Our allies from the future have planned for this and provided us with a possible courseo faction for the advanatages we're about to lose- chiefly surprise. "
The Romaulan paused turning on as large hologram of a Dominion station. "In a parralel reality the Dominion used this device to observe the movement of the Empires counterpart- the United Federation of Planets during the Dominion War. It was destroyed by the U.S.S. Defiant, but we have at our disposal the ability to steal it and leave the federation crew with the belief they've accomplished their mission... We will then alter the station to detected cloaked ships, placing it on the far side of Romulan space beyond the eyes of Empire, until they catch on and they will.... once they realize we're countering their movements so effectively, we hope... I think it best if we prioritize on preserving the Dominion forces in the Alpha quadrent , almost 90% have temporal shields, but we should consolidate the forces in preparation for a renewed and more resistant foe- we're about to lose a lot of ground- probably whole sectors."
"That's why you've been focusing on evacuation the worlds closets to the Empire of civilians and artifacts then?" The Voth emissary began. "Because we don't know if we'll hold those area or more importantly if it will be safe... Wise Star-Commander."
Veel'Riz nodded in thanks. "We pull back to the predetermined positions if we defend everything we've taken we leave ourselves far to spread out. To quote an old Earth saying "He who defends everything defends nothing.""
The Reaper continued, "Emperor Zepoli, I request a group of Celestial class dreadnoughts to destroy the planet Gateway in former Klingon space. I will of course send the 37th fleet as an escort."
"Their shields are the strongest at the rear of the ship but that's also the place where the majourity of th3e weapons aren't as accurate- and more importantly- numerous, this is our only chance!" Zalous said to the fleet. A Jupiter carrier exploded under the sheer weapons power of titanic ships. "Do your best best to try and keep away from the sides and 60 degree arc in the front of the dreadnoughts, that lance rip through shields and hull like paper.
"Ahhh! we're loosing dreadnoughts and battleships like flies!"
"I don't care about dreadnoughts!" Rishis screamed! "Focus fire on the engines of the Tsunami!" She looked up at the main viewer narrowing her eyes in terror as a Romulan fleet began to open fire on her forces. "Oh come on, they don't need an escort they're each a fleet by themselves! What the heck! Heck!"
if Ran'karsork allowed her to live through this- Valdez was going to replace her fleet- along with every loyal soul she lost because of him!
Victoria wasn't going to throw her fleet away in a single battle, in ten minutes she'd lost fully half her battleships to the sodding number of weapons firing at her! Oh why, why why! Why was this happening to her!
Her anger was growing, boiling, screaming to let loose into existence- and she allowed it... "Rrrraaagggghhh!" She reached palm forward at the Molindran ship that had dared to stand in her way twice now... The Tsunami lost all movement control as its massive impulse drive was destroyed by Rankarsorks power channeled through the unfathomable fury of his Terran vessel.
Caught in the planets gravity, the ship fell through the atmosphere maintain its weapons fire at the fleeting Terran ships, the colision of the dreadnought shattered Gateway
Captain Shivorn, watched as the Romulan Drathikus class temporal raider fired it's temporal shielded data cores into multiple timlines in the Prime universe. Her crew had failed.... The Galactic Union would still be formed- she couldn't order her ship back to the Trilimulative after this! The logical assumption was that they would all be killed! Her counterpart had outwitted her this time it seemed... Blast that Daniels and his meddling, if he hadn't interfered she'd be- urg! She was having trouble maintaining control of her emotions as of late.
"My final report to command will be my resignation, and to inform them that the Tutarians are creating an expanse in the Lukari system, even as the Romualsn and their allies evacuate their people to Federation... We may already be to late..."
The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
"Send Rishis her reinforcements and I need an update on the Krenim weapon. These dreadnoughts are going to be a problem" ordered Emperor Valdez. "Indeed they are" replied Empress Valdez looking at the scans of the Tsunami. "We need this weapon ready now more than ever" answered Valdez. "Rishis has just got back, she wishes to have a word with you" replied Teanna as Rishis entered the room and Teanna left.
"I lost half my battleships taking down one dreadnought, did you know it was a trap?" asked Rishis angrily. "I know about your losses, the forces from 2442 have just been added your armada as well as the designs for our newest warships" answered Valdez handing Rishis the blueprints for the Endeavor Class dreadnought. "They destroyed the guardian of forever on Gateway" reported Rishis.
"I know, rebuild your forces and make sure the weapon is built." answered Valdez. "The weapon will be ready on schedule" replied Rishis. "Until then, preserve your forces and avoid blind engagements, we cannot afford losses like that" ordered Valdez. "I'll make sure all ships are upgraded with temporal technology, I'll get Zalnos to find the moment the Molindrans begin to develop space flight. We'll test the weapon on the Molindrans at the beginning of their evolution" replied Rishis.
"Build an extra weapon to use on their sphere" ordered Valdez and Rishis accepted Valdez's apology for her losses and left the room. Teanna and the twins reentered the throne room and handed Valdez a PADD with their choices for a ruling council. "Papela Lot, interesting choice for Prime minister, we also may want to ratify the the 2277 treaty of friendship between Betazed and Terra" noted Valdez to Teanna.
"I'll send the Regent the treaty, I'll go to Betazed myself to sign it" replied Teanna. "Too dangerous, the treaty will be signed through subspace. The Regent will only work from home, she's a symbol for her people" answered Valdez. "The fleet has arrived" reported Marie, Valdez ordered both twins to go to their rooms and get changed into something respectable. "Send these orders to Sito and Heath, they're to head to the Badlands. Their mission is to negotiate an armistice with the Federation" ordered Teanna.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Uncharted Planet (MU)
2411
Commander Sito Callie / Commander Naynta Lot
Callie toyed with her sidearm while her Betazoid companion completed her scans of the relic in front of them. "Why can't the lackeys deal with this?" Callie asked. "Why have we been given the burden of this task?"
Closing her tricorder, Naynta stretched her arms, nearly hitting Callie in the face. "Thay, wanted people she trusts leading the investigation, would you want someone like Oylumi or Kristin down here TRIBBLE it up?" Naynta questioned to her sister. "Thay has gone through Na'kuhl records from the other universe; she believes there is something which could be vital to us, here."
Confused, Callie looked at Thay, she was several meters away talking to Captain Heath and several other Terran officers. "I think she already has what she deems 'vital' Naynta."
Naynta, puzzled by Callie's tone, turned to find her sister looking at Thay. "You're still annoyed she's spending a lot of her spare time with that Heath?" Naynta turned again to face Callie. "This 'alliance' with the Federation survivors has proved to be greater than the one we have with this other Terran Empire."
Callie stopped Naynta before she could continue. "I know, but it doesn't mean I have to like it! If these red Terrans discover this, it could be used against her." Callie spoke with concern.
"With the victories, they've brought us? I doubt the Terran Empire would be that stupid. Who would have thought the Federation could be more destructive with their advantages in science than the Terran Empire with their brute force?" Naynta said.
Both Captain Nelson and Captain Cerys studied the target. "The emperor wishes this facility gone" said Captain Nelson, the raiders had infiltrated into the prime universe through the rift at Awarath a week earlier and had engaged their quantum slipsteams. "Prepare the holo disguises, the empire cannot be known to have been here" ordered Nelson. "Take us close to the star itself, that facility is too well defended" ordered Cerys to her crew and the I.S.S. Peleliu moved into position.
On the I.S.S. Nimrod, Nelson prepared his attack run. Both ships got into position and fired two trilithium warheads into the star. They then made a run for the planet firing a protomatter bomb to wipe out the entire planet. "Let go" ordered Nelson and both Peleliu and Nimrod engaged their quantum slipstreams making a hasty retreat, this was the first in a series of hammer blows against Veel'Riz.
Rishis had taken a completed Krenim weapon to the Molindran homeworld circa 6,000 years ago. "Fire the weapon" ordered Rishis and the Krenim weapon fired on the surface erasing everything on the planet. In the present the second weapon was brought up to deal with the sphere, the weapon was then fired at the sphere engulfing it in temporal energy as temporal shields were overloaded by the sheer amount of chroniton fire.
On Terra, Emperor Valdez smiled. "Now we're not to be complacent, Solat take your fleet to the Lukari system" ordered Valdez and Solat prepared the fleet and set course for the Lukari system. When the fleet arrived, they detected temporal energy emanating from the system. "Scan for a structure, the Tuterians may be trying to form an expanse" ordered Solat looking at the readings. "We've detected a structure in the middle of the field, may be a sphere" reported T'Vril. "All ships charge deflectors and fire on that sphere" ordered Solat. The fleet responded and opened fire on the sphere collapsing the sphere and dissipating the growing expanse.
On Terra empress Valdez brought up a point about the remaining RSU ships in imperial space. "This is the emperor, any Romulan Union vessels left in imperial space are to be hunted down and destroyed. Take no prisoners" ordered Valdez. The call was sent out empire wide and soon all routes to the prime universe were blocked by Terran wolf packs. Any Romulan Union ships making a run for the prime universe would now have to run a gauntlet of Terran ships. On Terra, the armistice terms had been decided and Empress Valdez made the call to Antares herself.
"One ship each, negotiations will be held through subspace. As you have noticed there is a ship making a delivery, do not fire on it. We're returning all Federation dead. The U.S.S. Oudenarde crew are the first to be repatriated" said Empress Valdez over subspace to Heath on the U.S.S. Los Lobos.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
The Terran transport stopped short of the minefield and beamed over the fallen Oudenarde crew. Councilor Valdez and Trianna Valdez checked to make sure everyone had been recovered. "That's everyone accounted for" noted Valdez to Trianna, Trianna let off a smile for the first time in weeks. She said one word, "closure." "Indeed, lets arrange for them to be sent to their home worlds for burial" replied Valdez.
"Our counterparts may be monsters but this is honorable of them" answered Trianna. "My counterpart considers himself samurai, the Terrans respect strength and the Federation showed that. My counterpart also knows to listen to his advisers" replied Valdez. "Indeed, which one is mom's?" asked Trianna and both generations found the casing they were looking for. "Once these negotiations are over, we'll make sure all of the crew get a decent send off" replied Valdez wiping a tear from his eye.
"What about mom and Jane?" asked Trianna trying to keep control. "We'll give them a decent burial together in the family plot on Betazed, we can move on with our lives then" answered Valdez trying not lose control of his emotions. "Agreed but make sure we remember the good times" replied Trianna. "We will, I hear you've begun to move on" answered Valdez. "I have, I met a shuttle pilot here on the station and we got talking. His name is Ablim Zolat, he's Betazoid" replied Trianna.
"You are old enough to make your own choices in life, be wise" advised Valdez. "I will, dad, you need to stop worrying too much" replied Trianna. "OK, you've made your point. If you ever need someone to talk to, this is my private subspace channel" said Valdez.
Terra (MU)
Emperor Valdez opened the first session of the Imperial advisory council. "Ladies and gentlemen, now we get to governing this empire. The new equal legal rights laws will be test trialed on Betazed, if successful they will be rolled out empire wide" said Valdez. "It's a good move, remove the internal boundaries first" advised Papela over the screen. "I agree, the regent has a point. Xenophobia has held the empire back for too long, it's an internal barrier that needs to be brought down" noted Empress Teanna Valdez.
"Papela is blunt and honest, I'm appointing her Prime Minister of the empire" replied Valdez. Papela accepted the post but on one condition, she worked from home. "Next item on the agenda, what's our military strength?" asked Valdez. "Production of ships has increased and new troops are being raised, Imperium Planetia has increased production tenfold on ships" answered Solat. "How are we on the Federation negotiations? " asked Valdez. "Our act of good faith should go a long way, maybe they will be more agreeable with negotiations" answered Marie Valdez.
"We'll walk softly but carry a big stick" replied Valdez. "Insurance policy?" asked Marie and Valdez smiled and answered "of course." "What about the economy?" asked Valdez and the new economic minister John Flores answered "we've increased production quotas at all dilithium mines. The Imperial Credit is strong, would be an idea to increase merchant shipping production for both internal and external trade." "I'll take that under advisement" replied Valdez.
"One issue, since you took office you've not been officially crowned yet, I've scheduled for you and mom to be crowned in two days time" said Marie. "Good, give the people an official holiday to celebrate and let's open the fighting pits. Let's give the people their entertainment" replied Valdez. "A coronation followed by three days of blood sports, my kind of holiday" answered Marie. "To quote the ancient Romans, bread and circuses" replied Valdez.
Trianna appeared out of nowhere and handed Valdez a PADD, "impressive work, you and Shade are quite the team. I see you've purged Admirals Quinn and T'Nae, those two needed to go" said Valdez. Trianna smiled, "a job well done" she noted privately. "Good, two less opponents" thought Valdez privately.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
"Good morning captains I do hope you slept well as it may be the last you get for a very long time- or a short one that I'm afraid depends entirely on you." Commander Zalnous smirked.
a
"WWhhmmm urgh mmmming!?"
"W/hat am I doing?" The one-eyed man questioned, as he leered into the crate over his bound and gaged victims. "So glad you asked Nelson, you see I need information from you and your willingness to provide it shall determine how much pain I subject you to and for long it lasts before you die. "
Marion grunted as he knocked the crate onto its side allowing the two to tumble out of the cramped space. "For the record I think your both outstanding officers willing to hat you must for the Empire and for that you have my respect but your just not very intelligent are you? I don't want to do this, I'll admit but I really have no choice in the matter."
Marion walked over to a nearby console and began playing the stolen audio recordings of their success at the Levtro pulsar edited to appear that although their mission had been a success. This version however clearly stated they weren't going to able to escape the shockwave as the Molindran technology altered subspace. "I'll upload the new recordings to a probe from one of your vessels and yes I've already captured and added them to Victoria's fleet in the Delta quadrant- your crews chose not to join us and thus were spaced...
Marion removed Cerys gag and smacked her as she tried to bite him. "Careful I wouldn't want to have to remove your teeth now."
"You wont get away with this!"
"I already did..." The Commander smiled and went on, "you see I already destroyed your ships in our own universe before they made their attack and then a fast trip through the timeline before I did that to get the recordings you would have made afterwards. That only leaves me with you as loose ends and what you can tell me."
His captives were silent. "So whos feeling talkative? I might let that person have only one week in the booth and the silent person will receive four- unless you give me everything I can use in which case I promise you won't feel any pain.... For starters: The Emprie shouldn't know this system exists for another 20 years or so, because it stays hidden in subspace so you either raided a union warbird or Molindran ship without telling or more likely had Marie breach this systems- surprising considering they all isolated their system to prevent a mass fleet wide breach. You then managed to get into subspace itself into a system you didn't know the location of and single handily altered the future of both the Empire and Federation in ways so drastic in multiple timelines its going to take every temporal agent in the empire just to get this fixed!" Warum ist es immer mich wer die Narren?! In die Unterwelt mit Valdez! (Why is it always me who gets the fools?! To the underworld with Valdez! {I hope the translation worked right})"
"Needless to say Victoria and I don't liked being lied to.... Further more by eradicating the Molindran in our own universe before their Emprie falls as it would have anyway, you prevented them from curing a plauge which would have wiped out the Bajourans in our reality! Oh and caused them to have another seven centuries in the stone age! Not that I expect lowly beings such as you to understand what makes Bajour so important to the Empires future-"
"Then why are you concerned about the Molindrans here!? They're your enemy as much as ours!"
"True but they help the Federation develop time travel technology, therefore the Empire needs them to exist in order to steal said technology at a later date... In a way our two universe form a symbiotic relationship at this point in history not that its easily seen, although you could call it more a parasitic relationship with the Empire being the parasite."
"Parasite! That's treason if I've ever-"
Marion kneeled down to eye level and blinked as they spat in his face. "I'm speaking so that your primitive brains will understand what I'm saying it the closest analogy I can think of off quickly I'm afraid I don't have the patience to explain the whole situation to you."
LEVTRO SYSTEM stars & Molidnran system wide subspace cloak station
The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
Emperor Valdez studied the report Rishis had sent him, "Peleliu and Nimrod lost, hmm acceptable losses" he noted privately. "It was a suicide mission" replied Empress Valdez. "I know, that's why they stole that RSU computer core and acted alone" answered Valdez, Teanna smiled and replied "I had my doubts about them, well history will judge their actions." "The enemy used time against us, we'll do whatever it takes to save the empire. Who cares about the Bajorans being held back a few centuries?" answered Valdez.
"Payback for their enslavement of Terrans on Terok Nor" replied Marie laughing at the Bajorans decimated by plague in their reality. "The Bajorans survived their plague, they're strong enough to be allowed to live" replied Valdez. "We have two Krenim weapons, any who oppose the empire will face temporal annihilation" answered Trianna. "Base both weapons here on Terra, somewhere no one will think to look" replied Valdez smiling. "Vendetta to Terra, we need to talk" said Rishis over the channel. Rishis beamed down to the palace, "Victoria, I am willing to do whatever it takes to stop the empire's fall. Veel'Riz has just lost a key ally, it was a Molindran sphere that took Terra in 2442. Call it revenge if you will" said Valdez. "Trianna, go and help your mother. Marie, you stay" he ordered to the twins then he got to business.
"We've lost time travel capability" answered Rishis but Valdez replied "I made sure all ships had temporally sealed data cores, even yours, we still have the technology." "We may have an opportunity to destroy the Romulan Star Union, the battle of Scylis" answered Rishis. "What are you proposing?" asked Valdez. "My fleet will travel back and seal the rift just after the Federation ship leaves our reality. We can trap the the RSU there with no escape" answered Rishis. "I was at Scylis" pointed out Marie. "The Towton, I know" answered Valdez.
"It turned the tide of the battle" replied Marie. "Rishis, make sure no RSU leave Scylis alive. Make the Federation admiral see the full scale of the defeat. He'll make a mistake that will hurt him dearly and give the empire it's greatest victory over the Federation" asked Valdez. "The aftermath of which is the Betazed massacre" replied Rishis. "The Federation will take any peace terms to avoid another massacre like that" responded Valdez.
"Mind games?" asked Rishis and Valdez smiled at the pain that would be inflicted on his counterpart. "Indeed" Valdez answered. "I'll need more ships" replied Rishis and Valdez answered "take the Klingon and Cardassian ships captured by the empire and add them to your forces." "Zalnos is not happy, you've changed the timeline" replied Rishis. "Will the Galactic Union form?" asked Valdez and Rishis answered "unknown."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
It was coronation day and the empire was is a celebratory mood. Both Emperor and Empress Valdez had just been crowned with the cameras rolling. In his inaugural speech, Emperor Valdez made sure every citizen knew their duty.
"The empire will face tough tests, our enemies envy our strength, our fortitude and resilience. We will fight with the ferocity of our ancient ancestors, as warriors to destroy anyone who would want to destroy our way of life. To paraphrase Lord Nelson, the empire expects every citizen do their duty. Fight for your families and the soldiers beside you because you will come to rely on each other, we all will. If we are to remain masters of this realm, we must be united, divided we will fall. Strength and honor to us all, From this day on, we make our own destiny."
The speech went around the empire to a mass of applauds across the empire. In his official act as a crowned head of state, Emperor Valdez signed the Terran/Betazoid treaty of friendship with Regent Lot then both shook hands. Vulcan and Andor also signed friendship treaties with Terra. Then at 11 am, new came from Antares. The Terran/Federation armistice had been signed, Marie Valdez acting in her official role of Crown Princess signed for the Terrans and Councilor Nathan Valdez signed for the Federation, the armistice would last for exactly 100 years. Emperor Valdez now told his people "the war with the Federation is over, the war for our very existence has begun."
Meanwhile across the empire, fleets prepared for war and new ground armies were put on alert. The empire would go on the offensive, their targets the Jem Hadar cut off from the Gamma quadrant. At the same time the Romulan Aristocracy fleet was put on alert and they began to prepare for war. Deployed against the Alpha Quadrant Jem Hadar were the 6th, 9th and 11th Fleets, a force of 1000 ships. Emperor Valdez had not fully committed his forces and kept half back to defend key strategic worlds. Bajor was also reinforced substantially.
The first hammerblow against the Jem Hadar would fall at Laoness three days later with the complete annihilation of the alpha quadrant founders and Jem Hadar in the system. Victoria then struck in the the Delta Quadrant with strikes on the Hirogen homeworld 120,000 years in the past using the Krenim weapon. Returning to the present, the Voth were brought under assault as Victoria's superior fleet tore apart the Voth in a quick and efficient manner. The last to fall were the city ships as their population's were harvested for their souls. Looking at the reports coming into the war room, Emperor Valdez monitored the offensives. On Betazed, Papela put the system on alert.
Now emperor Valdez prepared his biggest assault to date, the 12th and 14th Fleets then combined with the Romulan Aristocracy Fleet and hit the dominion forces on the edge of Romulan space. The temporal shields held for a while but the sheer amount of weapon fire eventually found their mark and all temporal shielded vessels were destroyed before the Terran/Romulan fleet destroyed the rest. "Your move Veel'Riz" noted Valdez smiling. "Preemptive strike, let's see how he reacts" answered Marie looking at the map. Once confirmation had come through, emperor Valdez ordered to the military "all forces pull back to your start lines and expect counter-attacks."
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
The Romulans had gotten their stolen Dominion observation satilite working and looking at the enemy ship movements in the past. Veel'Riz was quite frankly furious, Valdez was trying to knock out his allies before they knew about the Empires existence, it was effective- if unorthodox. Turning his own tactics against him, the man was smart he'd give him that.
The enemy expected him to retaliate- he'd oblige but not in the way the emperor wished. "Are we ready?" He bellowed loudly to the tactical officer on board the temporally shielded Voth city-ship. He checked one of the many hangars once more, the five remaining Celestial class ships were still there- he kept expecting the temporal fields to fail despite reassurance that it wouldn't. Thank the Shadows for these shields.
"Target located Sir, the ambush is ready... The escort is lighter than we were expecting."
"Deploy minefields in a five light-year wide radio us around the target- no X them in. Then deactivate and self-destruct.
"Mine fields ready... Time travelers count for something at least."
"What was that?"
"Sir nothing sir!"
The Reaper looked up at the main viewer and narrowed his gaze even as he smirked.. "There you are. Spring the trap!"
Aqua flashes lit up space.
The ships escorting Marie back to Terra were picked off in seconds, by a precise volley of Crusader antimatter matter shells, and Antiproton fire. Exactly five second after that a 29th century Federation worm had Isabel's all power on the remaining ship- Veel'Riz wasn't Will no to leave any computer for that *thing* to use. That lesson had been learned very well.
As the city ship tractor end the helpless ship inside into secondary bay several thousand Union marines and Voth soldiers transpose red in across the ship- the Terrans unable to use their weapons fought hand to hand in vain.
AS his boarding troops secured his prize Veel'Riz ordered the wrecked ships brought on board as well- leaving no evidence. Marine was sedated until she was comatose although he lost six marines to do so- she'd been training it seemed.
The ships fled rapidly heading first for Cardasia, where they tractor the Terran ships into the star. By this time they'd removed the emergency tracker in Marie and destroyed it. Finally the fleet set course for Breen space.
---Breen System---
"Wake her."
Marie awoke slowly, her mind muddled with fog and fatigue. Then the ambush came back to her thoughts and stated to struggle finding no give in the retsaists bound around every joint. Who could have- he was standing right there with a group of Chevailer, Star Commander Veel'Riz.
"Hello again Trianna. I subjected you to a full body scan, your tracking devices are gone."
" You don't know how to accept defeat do you?!"
"I know when I'm beaten, but you seem to forget I already won this war once.... You altering history well my tactics need to change don't they Miss Vadlez?"
"Are you going to monologue or something?"
"What kind of idiot do you take me for? No I brought you out of your coma becuse I'd rather your eyes be open for this."
Marie gulped.
Thirty Minutes later----
Veel'Riz placed the severed woman's head in a Specially prepared refrigerated box complete the the Federation insignia. He interned to create the single largest military disaster in the history of the Empire. His efforts in the future despite the setbacks, had been successful in secondary goal saving as many ships and civilians as he could... They'd use the temporal weapons to see what the Terrans attacked and then they'd be waiting for them.... By becomeing the Emporer Valdez had depirved the Imperial Starfleet of one of its best commanders, the admirals oh so often used their own influence to bend the will of Terra to their favour. He expected it to be no different this time around- even if it wasn't he prepared for the eventuality.
Using one of the few remaining changlings he had- this one being rescued from Terra, he gave the box to an independent courier on the treasure trading station and sent it to Terra. Veel'Ris doubted it would reach the palace unopened but it's contents certainly would need to be confirmed.... Valdez had taken his son- as petty as it was he wanted to return some small feeling of the loss he'd felt that day.
The Foundry, and my love of Star Trek
Emperor Valdez flew into a rage, a fury that even Teanna could not contain. "Shade, bring Trianna with you. We've got some bad news for her" ordered Teanna. Trianna entered with Shade and was told to sit down. Teanna broke the news and Trianna in a confused state suddenly changed to pure hate. "Whoever did this must die, this cannot go unpunished" replied Trianna just wanting to kill whoever did it.
"It wasn't the Federation, not their style" answered Valdez in a vengeful mood. "Assemble the council, Marie has just become a martyr" ordered Valdez. It eventually hit Teanna and she broke down and then gripped the nearest Romulan servant and throwing him headfirst out of the window. At the council, Papela offered her support over a secure subspace channel. "Speaking as a parent myself, no words can describe what must be going through your head. You may be grieving on the inside but you cannot let that anger get the better of you. Your assessment that it was not the Federation is a correct one, I spoke to your counterpart over a secure subspace channel about this" she told Valdez.
"I'm guessing he did not take that well seeing you" replied Valdez and Papela answered "he was professional about it and he sent his condolences, he was telling the truth. The Federation are innocent in the murder of Crown Princess Marie Valdez." "Veel'Riz, trying to provoke a war are you?" asked Valdez to himself. "Thank you Papela, keep me posted" Valdez said to Papela afterwards. "Trianna, make arrangements for a state funeral. Marie will be buried with full military honors" said Teanna.
"Yes mother, I'll take over Marie's duties as well" replied Trianna. "Thank you Trianna, from now on all your duties will be here on Terra. Losing Marie is a hard blow to take" answered Valdez angrily. "If it's the Romulans who did the crime then they should be punished for crime. Veel'Riz values Romulan and Reman lives, every time he attacks us we make the Romulans and Remans pay for his actions" suggested Trianna. "Solat, take your fleet and annex the Romulan Aristocracy. Then impose martial law on them, for every act of resistance execute 500 citizens" ordered Valdez. Solat deployed the fleet and over the next four days occupied every world in the aristocracy, Martial law was then declared.
"We have Romulan Star Union prisoners of war, make sure Veel'riz sees this" said Valdez. "Execute them all as punishment for Marie's death" ordered Teanna. Across the empire the call went out and all RSU POWs were dragged out and beaten to death publicly. Trianna took great joy in using them in her new game, she had 300 RSU prisoners shackled in pairs and assembled in front of a mass grave. She then shot one from each pair dragging the other in at the same time. "Vaporize the bodies and make sure it inflicts great pain on those still alive" she ordered. Her orders were carried out with great efficiency and all recorded to be sent to Veel'Riz.
"Your actions have brought suffering to your people. For every attack you make, the Romulan people will be punished. For every one of our ships you destroy, we will kill 50,000 Romulans in exchange. For every Imperial soldier killed, 500 Romulans will die. Marie was much loved by the people, you just gave us a martyr" was the message sent with the images of RSU suffering.
Now Marie was put to rest as she made her final journey to be buried alongside her Terran grandparents. The Valdez family personally acted as coffin bearers with the entire crews of the Agincourt and Axios being the honor guard as every citizen bowed their head in respect. Marie was then put to rest followed by a 21 cannon salute. Struggling to keep control Valdez told the people that Marie would be remembered as the first Terran to make peace with the Federation and broadcast the Federation's apology.
At the palace, the Valdez family prepared for the coming war with Veel'Riz, it was now very personal. Teanna did however have some good news for her husband, she was carrying again with only three months left and it was a girl. "We'll name her Marie" thought Valdez and both Teanna and Trianna both nodded in agreement.
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius
Trianna Valdez walked into the throne room after she was requested by both her mother and father. “Trianna, telepathy off please” said emperor Valdez. “Done” answered Trianna. “We're going to have to take a step back once your sister is born” said Valdez and Teanna then added “from tomorrow, you will be taught to rule and govern. From 1100-1500, you will learn politics from Papela over subspace three days a week. Papela will expect you to be on time and she accepts no excuses.”
Trianna gulped. “It's all study for you from now on” added Valdez. “This education will last three months because you will be on the council representing the family” said Teanna. “Given the current security concerns, I've assigned an elite protection squad to you. Their job is to simply protect you not to do your dirty work” added Valdez.
“Emperor” nodded Shade and she brought the squad in. “They are all volunteers, they owe Trianna their lives from that exercise you witnessed” said Shade smiling. “Open your minds” ordered Teanna and the entire squad obeyed. Trianna and Teanna checked every one of them for deceptive thoughts. “Thank you, close your minds” ordered Trianna and they obeyed. “Excellent, they'll be fine” acknowledged Trianna. “Ghost” acknowledged Trianna's guards.
Valdez began his first lesson to Trianna with a question, “How do we stop this petty blood feud?” This got Trianna thinking, her answer was “tough one but be the bigger man and try and end it it. You killed his son in a battle, he was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.” “Try convincing Veel'Riz to accept that” answered Valdez slightly clenching his fist.
“This feud went out of control when it became a blood feud. You killed his son so he killed Marie, he committed genocide on Betazed and Trill all because you wiped out the Molindrans twice over. He kills Imperial citizens and prisoners so we kill his people equally in retaliation. Are you beginning to see this cycle of hatred?”asked Trianna angrily.
This clicked a switch in Valdez's head. “Marie died because I failed as a father, I should've stood my ground when she asked to go in person” he thought blaming himself. “None of us knew this was going to happen, Trianna has just hit the nail right on the head” said Teanna. “I know, Teanna she's got your bluntness and Trianna is correct in her assessment. I'll get his attention by a letter instead of an all out assault” replied Valdez.
“We do have a temporal communicator captured by our forces, we'll use that” suggested Trianna. “I'll be in my office writing the letter. Valdez then left for his office.
The letter read, “Aren't we both getting too old for this blood feud? I killed your son, you killed my daughter, I wiped your allies out so you nearly wiped out a race close to my heart. You've killed my people and I've killed your people in exchange. We always match each other to the point of stalemate where neither side wins but too many die on both sides.
Look at the progress we're making in the empire on legal rights for non Terrans. The empire you despised is gone, you saw to that for which I think you. Tell your masters that by the Federation signing an armistice means the Galactic Union will be sent copies of the armistice. This temporal game must stop. We've both been played in this temporal war by the Galactic Union and it's hurt us both personally. Let's be the bigger men here and end this before more people get hurt.
Yours sincerely
Emperor Valdez I”
-Lord Commander Solar Macharius