"Reflections of the Mind"

Damage Report!"

  A burst of chaotic static burst forth from Engineering. 

  "Uhura cut out that damn noise!"

  "Mr. Scott on discreet."

  "Scotty, how bad is it."

  "The main energizer's out!  We had some bad fires down here but they're out now.  Decks 12 through 14 have a major hull breach.  We won't have warp for a couple of hours...If ya can keep us out of the fightin for a wee bit...I might miracle ya somethin."

  "I don't think we have the luxury Mr. Scott.  Do your best."

  "Aye sir, Scott out."

  "Mr. Spock, how are our rebel friends doing on the 1701-D?"

  "Captain, I've been monitoring the Rebel / Imperial combat by tracking the unusual alloy they use in their armor...the rebels are slowly pushing them back.  They have retaken engineering.  I'm afraid everything else is still under Imperial control."

  "Hmm," Kirk acknowledged.  There was nothing more he could do.  He could only hope that he had bought Luke and Picard (Luke and Luc...) some valuable time.  He pursed his lips together.

  "Everything all right Jim?" Kirk gave Bones a funny look.  "Other than the colossal space battle out there of course."  "I just have a weird feeling that we've been here before."

  "Deja Vu? I know you'll do the right thing Jim."

  "Not quite deja vu.  Just, you know, in orbit around Mortax," a shiver went up Kirk's spine, "I'm just thinking...we've got the Rebels and the Imperials, and our two Federation vessels, our friends aboard the SDF-3, and the poor hopeless bastards still fighting for that planet down there...."

  Spock interrupted, "Intriguing.  A Battle of Five StarFleets?"

  Kirk tried to ignore him, "I just don't think there's much that can surprise us anymore."

  Chekov piped in, throwing in a status update, "Keptin, there is an Excelsior-class wessel that just came out of warp off the port bow.  I think it is going to a very good job at surprising you."

  "We're being hailed...." Uhura relayed, "they claim to be...the Enterprise!"

  Kirk really didn't want to do this..."Spock?"

  "Scanning.... It is indeed the Enterprise.  Designation NCC-1701 B." Even Spock couldn't conceal the emotion in his voice.  "It is scheduled for commissioning in six months."

  "Onscreen."

  The viewscreen crackled to life...and Uhura immediately threw up.  On the bridge of 1701B was another Kirk.  He had his eyes torn out and was holding them in the palms of his hands.  He shouted into the screen. 

  "Save yourselves!! Cthulhu Fhtagn! The Goat of the Woods...beware Nyarl...They are coming for me....do you hear the drums?  Do you hear?  I'm the farthest man from home."

  Behind him something with a thousand legs writhed as it sawed numerous spiked appendages in and out of Uhura's double.  The turbolift doors slid open and numerous un-nameable somethings scrambled and hopped onto the bridge.  Their claws and decomposing tentacles leaving piles of offal and debris on the bridge.  Behind them the tarry black oil bubbles of the loathsome Shoggoths oozed forth.

  They leapt on the blind Kirk and began to bite into him.  They had just cracked his skull open and were beginning to sop up his brains, when Uhura had the presence of mind to turn off the screen.

  What was left of Wallart's lance stumbled through the mesa canyons.  The Smoke Jaguar mechs were relentless.  And some were equipped with MASC gear so his own mechs didn't stand a chance of outrunning them.  His rear armor was in real danger of being breached.  A bright flash shone to his left.  He glanced over.

  The new mech, the one that was half Phoenix-Hawk, half Aerotech fighter was darting back and forth...between the Smoke Jaguar blasts and mechs, its over-sized cannon in its massive hands blasted mech after mech.  He bought the lance a little time.  For what, he didn't know, with the GMU cutoff from their position, and no dropship to get them off the surface his lance seemed certainly doomed.  One thing he did know...they'd fight to the last mech.

  "Nice to see you again Max...."

  "Yeah...look out, Mechs up ahead."

  Four scout walkers raced around the mesa...And right past Wallart's lance and Max.

  They were running.  And as soon as Wallart rounded the bend he knew why.  He saw six Marauder's shredding yet another AT-AT with their PPCs.  The huge machine finally succumbed.

  "Thanks anyway for the help Max.... But it looks like I ate my last ration...."

  Max turned his Veritech around so he could see what Wallart was talking about.  Zentraedi Quadrano Powered Armor! But no... it couldn't be.  His heart sank.  He knew he was going to die.  The last Skull.... he would see his squadron mates soon.  Wallart broke into his comm.

  "Max.  We're done for.  But you can transform.  Get outta here.  We'll cover you."

  "I'll stay with you till the last minute...then I'll try to make a break."

  "Don't wait....go now.  Picking up mechs on sensors.  Hold up.... Looks like there's an Aerotech strike coming in...."

  Max checked his sensors.  Indeed there was an 'Aerotech' strike approaching.  But they weren't Aerotech fighters.... They were Veritechs.... The other squadron from the SDF-3!  Max shouted over the comm-link, "The Eagles!  The Eagles!  We're saved!"

  Even he knew that was exaggerating, but at least a grisly death within the cramped cockpit of his Mecha was no longer a certainty.

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