Picard pulled on his uniform and headed to the turbolift. He found Guinan was already waiting for him.
BY: PUNISHER
Jean-Luc Picard snapped awake. The Comm panel on the wall was chattering away.
"Yellow Alert, Yellow Alert. All shifts report to duty stations. I say again, this is
a Priority One Yellow Alert. Defense fields have been energized. Captain to the
bridge."
Picard pulled on his uniform and headed to the turbolift. He found Guinan was already
waiting for him.
"Guinan. What brings you out from 10 Forward?"
"Something is wrong with the time-stream Jean-Luc."
"Is this what the alert is about?"
"I doubt it. I am not even sure I can tell you 100 percent I know it’s true. It’s just a hunch that’s all."
"I understand, Guinan. And I’ll keep it in mind."
"I’ll be in 10 Forward if you need me."
Picard nodded. The turbolift had reached the bridge. "Status?" "Well
sir…" Riker began. Data interrupted.
‘Captain, we seem to have encountered a type 3 energy field. It is preventing the
ship from taking any course."
"Hmm. This somehow feels familiar. Counselor anything?"
"I’m getting a feeling of amusement, but it is not from any distinct
source."
"Hmm yes, well remind me to schedule an appointment with you later, I’ve been
having some rather disturbing recurring dreams lately. About the field, is it like
anything we’ve encountered before?"
Riker stepped back in, "Yes sir. It is identical to the field that Q generated to
contain the ship at Farpoint station."
As if on cue (no pun intended), Q materialized. "Ah one can always count on the
illustrious Commander Riker to draw a conclusion. Very good Commander. Now let’s play
a little game. It’s called can you guess what’s going on before you get
killed."
"We don’t have time for your games Q." Riker spat back.
"Oh…now now….too presumptuous commander nobody said they were my
games…this time I’m merely the observer…a Watcher if you will…..Au
revoire Mon Capitaine!"
There was a flash and Q was gone. Geordi’s voice came through the comlink.
"Captain…I’m getting some very strange readings from the Warp Core."
The ship shuddered…then there was a sound like 10,000 people saying the word WHOP! at
the same time. Then Silence.
Data’s voice filled the void, "Captain I have a single seat ship approaching at
high speed. It is hailing us."
‘On speakers."
"This is Red 5, calling the unidentified capital ship I am approaching. I must land
at once. I am carrying information vital to the New Republic. I request asylum."
"Mr. Data will the craft fit in the a shuttlebay."
"Easily sir."
"Then direct it to shuttlebay two…along with a security detail."
Data’s sensor panel chirped.
"Captain I am now picking up a very large ship. I’ve never seen anything like
it. Sir it is over 8 kilometers long!"
Riker stood up. "Do they see us?"
"I would say not sir. Their scans are rather antiquated by our standards."
"Then Mr. Data….make sure we stay hidden."
Emperor Palpatine (really Palpatine’s clone, but he didn’t like to think of himself that way) squatted in his command chair aboard the Imperial Super Star Destroyer Vindicator. He could not understand how the snub fighter pilot could have eluded them so easily, and it frustrated him. Dumb luck simply could not account for it. And it was no fault of the Vindicator’s crew, they wouldn’t dare slack off with him present. No something more was at work. He closed his eyes and let the Force flow out from him. Then his sensed it…a presence he hadn’t felt since……
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