Dawn of Forever, Part XXXVII

Main Unity Dawn of Forever

"Steal it?" Romal said, not bothering to be diplomatic. "Steal an Eclipse-class Star Destroyer? Are you out of your mind?"

"The jury's still out on that one," Sebastian said as he continued to stare at the telemetry from the Vong planet.

"Do you have any idea what it takes to run one of those things?" Romal demanded. "It's not a matter of swiping the keys and taking it out for a joy ride. The ship requires a crew of thousands-"

"I know," Sebastian said, clearly irritated. "But what's the alternative? They're not going to just give it to us, and I doubt any price tag they put on it would be something we could give them. We need that ship... it's our only hope."

"Don't the Borg have a superlaser?" Janet asked. "I thought you- they- whatever, I thought the Borg blew up Coruscant."

"Yes," the Queen said. "But we lost a great deal of data when the Collective was destroyed. We have bits and pieces of information on hypermatter reactors, enough to start. Perhaps the Empire could fill in the gaps."

"Terraine said that the Emperor classified the information and kept it a tightly guarded secret," Sebastian said. "Our allies don't have it, and we've no idea where to start looking for it. And even then, the time necessary to research, design, test... we're talking years before we'd have a weapon ready, and the Vong aren't going to give us those years. But that Eclipse is ready now. The Vong know we're coming, but they won't know we're packing that. No matter what it takes, we have to get that ship!"

"But how?" Romal demanded.

Sebastian was silent. "Everyone out," he said. They looked at one another, but obeyed. Sebastian slowly limped up to the controls and initiated a secure connection with Volgo Terraine. "Are you alone?"

"Yes, prefect."

"There's a way we can do this," Sebastian said slowly. "But it won't be pleasant."

"Ours is not a pleasant business," Terraine said.

"Still..." Sebastian sighed, then told him the plan.

"It can be done," Terraine said. "It will be difficult, but we can do it."

"Could your men carry through on it?" Sebastian said.

"They're professionals," Terraine said.

"Good." He let out a quivering breath. "Tell me there's no other way, Mr. Terraine," he said. "Tell me that I have no choice."

"There are no viable alternatives," Terraine said. "But if Captain Sisko taught me anything, it was that we always have a choice, even if it may seem fate forces our hand. We make choices, and must accept their ramifications."

Sebastian nodded. "I can end this war in one stroke with that ship. I can spare hundreds of billions of lives that would be lost trying to beat back the Vong." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "And all it costs is a piece of my soul." Terraine waited in silence. "Do it," Sebastian finally said.

Terraine nodded. "As you command, prefect."

The Sith took up various positions in the entertainment lounge, waiting silently for the arrival of the Oracle. It was rare that she didn't summon them to the lab, or the cavern outside it, but at least being in here made it less likely she was planning on killing someone. There were six monitors lit up, each offering various entertainments from throughout the galaxy. They were muted as the Oracle walked in.

The Oracle looked at each in turn as she strode to the holoprojector at the center of the room. She stood in silence for almost a minute, just watching them; it was chilling, even to a Sith. "Your thoughts, all of you, betray your doubt," the Oracle chastised. "I suppose that's only natural. The failure of the strongest among you to accomplish the simplest task," she glared at Ben, "is troubling. And I will admit that the late Jorrielle is resisting my powers, though it appears that there is some kind of force that is interfering in her revivification. I've seen it happen once before, so while it is frustrating, it isn't without precedent. Still, since things appear lost, I feel it is time to make you fully aware of our situation, so you don't get any strange ideas.

"I gathered you all here, one way or another, to accomplish three goals. The first was to topple the Empire, which we all agree was a corrupt and wasted government. There we have already succeeded. The second is to establish a Sith Empire across both galaxies, which will come in time. The final is our age-old task of wiping out our Jedi enemies. The latter two will be aided by our coming objective, but first I need to know that you are all committed to those goals, and to me. Anything else is not important." She called to each, by name, and asked for their affirmation; they gave it, even Ben. Molly was the last, but after that the Oracle strode up to her. "Are you certain?" she asked. "Are you completely committed, willing to pay any price?"

"Yes master."

"Because what I'm about to tell you will test your resolve, girl," the Oracle said. "I must know that you will not falter."

"I am committed, my master."

"Good," the Oracle said. "Now, the young Jedi Sebastian has gotten himself in far over his head. I'd hoped that using his mother and wife we could push him into the dark side, but with the obstacle surrounding the woman we'll have to go to the secondary plan." She walked towards the monitors and stared up at them, quiet. "Sebastian has made a grave mistake," she said in a low voice. "He has underestimated my resolve. As I said, you must be prepared to pay any price, make any sacrifice, and I ask no more of you than I would do myself. That's why there is only one way for us to proceed." She turned back to the gathered Sith. "We must destroy Earth."

Molly swallowed. "This is to kill the Jedi, yes? Surely there's another way-"

"This will kill the Jedi," the Oracle said, "but it will also show our resolve, and put fear into the hearts of those who oppose us. Sebastian mistakenly assumed that I wouldn't be willing to go that far; when he realizes his failure resulted in nine billion deaths..."

"Sebastian's weak," Ben said irritably. "Why bother doing this to goad him?"

"Sebastian is the prefect of the Alliance, and that makes him their weakness. If we turn him to the Dark side, we bring him into our fold, and all that power becomes ours. Even if systems fall away, the hold he has over the Borg will be invaluable. After all, the Borg have no morality... dark, light, it's all the same to them."

Molly's eyes were downcast, but she looked up into the Oracle's face. "My mother is on Earth," she explained. "I am committed to our cause, master, but I ask that her life be spared."

The Oracle's expression was unreadable. "Done," she said. "We'll evacuate Keiko before the destruction and deposit her elsewhere where she will be safe. Will that satisfy you?"

"Yes," Molly nodded. "Thank you, my master."

The Oracle gave a slight nod. "Now, if you're wondering how I intend to carry this out, it will involve this." She activated the holoprojector, which showed an incomplete Death Star. "I'm sure you've heard about it, and if you're curious, yes, that was our doing. Elim Garak and Lando Calrissian were responsible for repairing and deploying this Death Star against Chandrilla, and they've been spending every moment since trying to repair the damage to it. In two days, they'll be finished. We will be taking it from them. To do that will involve all of you in one way or another. I expect you all to carry out your tasks fully. Failure will be dealt with harshly."

The Oracle gestured and the wire diagram expanded to two meters in diameter. "Garak and Calrissian have been useful tools, but the time of their usefulness has ended. After today they will only serve as a liability." She pointed to an area in the hologram. "This is the command center, aka the firing room, where the controls for the Death Star's primary weapon are. Garak and Calrissian will be here, and that will be the tightest of the security. Ben, Molly, despite your failure on Vidik-" the Oracle didn't even bother hiding her disgust "-you have demonstrated competence against hordes of non-Force users. You two will take the command center and eliminate any resistance. You're also charged with killing Garak and Calrissian."

"Yes, my master," Ben said.

The Oracle took a step closer and raised a long, bony digit towards his face. "Don't fail me again," she said icily. Ben's eyes dropped with respect, and she turned back to the hologram. "This is the primary docking bay," the Oracle indicated, "and where we'll be making our landing. Once we're docked, no one leaves unless I allow it. Any who try will be killed." She turned to Alema. "You'll be piloting the ship and thus are responsible for it; you'll be the last off. Once you're finished it will fall to you and Mareth to carry out that order. Kill any who try to escape."

"Yes, master," Alema and the Romulan answered.

"Garak is a cunning adversary," the Oracle continued. "He's hidden an emergency shuttle on this secondary docking bay here," she indicated the point on the hologram. "Yelsar and Di'Bol, you two will take a second shuttle, land there, and similarly ensure no one leaves without my permission. Any trying to escape must die." The two Sith nodded in understanding.

"Now, we are not going to the Death Star to exterminate," the Oracle continued. "The workers there have spent the past year maintaining that battlestation, and they can do so for us as well. Jowana, Triss, and Shodah, you three will be responsible for pacifying the crew and mopping up any Cardassian security forces."

"What if the workers resist, master?" Jowana asked. "What are we permitted to do?"

"Kill only if it's unavoidable," the Oracle said. "The Death Star is very, very old and will require a great deal of work to maintain, but it will be a great asset for us. If too many are lost, we'll have to acquire new ones, which will be a waste of time and resources and potentially tip our hand."

"Understood, master," Jowana said.

"Good. Now, Torda and Aren," the Oracle said, turning to the Aqualish and Ventaxian, "your assignment may seem minor, but it is no less important. Seven is an irritant, but at the moment she's potential leverage against Sebastian Skywalker, and a weapon against the Borg. I don't wish to lose any edge against them. You'll remain here to ensure she doesn't try anything. If she gets out, she must be stopped from escaping, but alive."

"[Damaged?]" Torda asked.

"I leave that up to your discretion," the Oracle said. "But if she ceases being an asset I will be gravely disappointed." That was all that needed to be said; the Oracle's unspoken threats always trumped anything words could express. "As for myself, I will be at the reactor, inspecting the repair work first hand. I am to be kept abreast of any deviations and failures... trying to cover it up will only anger me." She glared at them all in turn. "Any questions?" There were none. "We depart in three hours."

There were all manner of procedures in place to deal with shape-shifters, doppelgangers, replicants, and so on in the Empire. But then again, the Empire was gone, and while the remnants still clung to the power of their fleets, they were still vulnerable to someone who knew those procedures. Volgo Terraine, actually, had added several to the list when he became head of the ISB, but he'd kept a few secrets of his own, just in case. So, alone, Terraine managed to find his way on board the Vengeance and walk the corridors of the ship without question.

Terraine had changed a great deal over the decades. He'd been one of the changelings the Founders sent to infiltrate the Empire, but after the Great Link was wiped out, he settled into his cover. There was nothing else left for him to do but try to get on with his empty existence. When Sisko, in the form of the Emperor, finally came to him and offered him his position, well, Terraine had hesitated. He was afraid -and the irony was not lost on him- that it would change him. But it appealed to his instinctual desire for order, and eventually he came to work in the very Empire that had destroyed his people. But he worked to change that, to stop the senseless butchery and trampling of humanoid rights. But while the underground ISB adapted to his vision, Terraine changed himself. Pragmatism won out, so that over time he learned to accept the sacrifices that sometimes had to be made. Individuals would sometimes be lost to protect the lives of trillions. It was regrettable, but Terraine never shrunk away from necessity. So, when he encountered the two guards outside the door of the ship's commanding officer, he didn't hesitate in killing them, quickly and silently. An anaesthetizing gas was tossed into the room to keep the captain asleep while a couple of miniaturized holoprojectors replaced the guards with life-like counterparts. They wouldn't stand up to scrutiny, but they'd help buy some time. Terraine slipped inside the quarters, deposited the bodies, and bound the captain to a chair. He snapped an image of one of the walls, then placed the chair alongside it. He set up another projector and the wall moved less than a meter closer. Anyone who came in in a rush wouldn't notice it because they'd be too busy wondering what happened to the captain. It would buy them more time.

Terraine put a hypospray to Captain Palsin's neck and brought him around, but clasped a hand over his mouth. "Captain," Terraine said. "You are my prisoner. If you try to call for help I will kill you, nod if you understand." Palsin nodded, and the hand was removed. "Someone would like a private word with you," he said. A hologram of Sebastian appeared.

"Captain Palsin," Sebastian said. "I'm sorry we have to meet under these circumstances."

"I have nothing to say to you," Palsin said sharply. "I don't recognize your authority."

"Let's get down to brass tacks," Sebastian said, ignoring the remark. "You're the captain of the Eclipse Mark II-class star destroyer Vengeance. We know all about it. We know it was a secret project begun by General Taar before his death and the collapse of the Empire, we know that General Corbin knew it was being built here and seized control of this world for the express purpose of getting this ship." Sebastian folded his hands and leaned forward. "He placed you in command because you are competent and loyal to him, which is why you're not inclined to listen to me."

"That's right," Palsin said sternly.

"Well, you must realize that while Corbin is busy worrying about his own petty ambitions, the Vong are growing stronger," Sebastian said. "The Alliance can't hold them back forever... sooner or later they're going to come here and kill everyone no matter whose side they're on."

"I follow my orders," Palsin said. "Corbin makes policy decisions."

"That decision was to seize power solely for his personal benefit," Sebastian said. "Now I need this ship to end the war, and I need your help to get it."

"Well you're not going to have it," Palsin said. "If you need Corbin's aid, ask for it."

"Henks asked for Cobin's aid, remember what happened to him?" Admiral Henks was in control of one of the other remnants. When the Vong tried a breakout into his territory he asked Corbin for help. It cost Henks fifty sectors of his territory. "I can't make those kinds of deals, captain. To pass control of worlds that came to me for protection over to a foreign power would be the worst betrayal."

"So instead you want me to betray my leader?"

"Yes," Sebastian admitted. "I know that's not an easy thing, but I wouldn't do it if I had another choice. The consequences are too great." Palsin looked away in disgust. "We will compensate you for it," Sebastian continued. "Money, promotion-"

"In exchange for my self-respect," Palsin said.

Sebastian paused. "You're a good man, captain. You have strength of conviction, probably what prompted Corbin to put you in command. But I need you, captain."

"The answer is no."

"Please," Sebastian hissed.

"No!"

Sebastian hung his head. "Show him," he said.

Terraine pulled out a second holo-projector and activated it. It showed Palsin's family surrounded by men in black outfits... men with blaster rifles. Palsin took a deep breath in shock at the sight. "It's a trick," he said finally.

Terraine pulled out a commlink. "Ecter."

One of the men said something to the woman and she said, "This morning you said that we'd take some time to go to the mountains together." Tears were in her eyes. "That you'd make the time for us."

Palsin swallowed. "No," he said. "They were protected-"

"Do you really think that Corbin's people could stand up to an ISB infiltration squad, captain?" Terraine asked.

"Captain," Sebastian said, "they're fine. Now, I need your help-"

"Help?" Palsin half-snarled. "You?"

"Yes," Sebastian said. "I promise you, if you help us, they'll be released back to you unharmed, and everything I promised you will be yours."

"And if I don't?" Palsin asked. "You're a Jedi, prefect."

"I'm a Borg, which means I'm cursed to be really good at math. Billions versus three, well, I'm not going to have to get a second opinion on that one."

"You're a Jedi," Palsin said again. "You can't go through with this."

Sebastian swallowed. "I'm a very poor Jedi," he said. "You want me to say it? If you don't help me, I will k-" He looked down at his desk a moment. He was visibly struggling, but finally forced the words out. "I will kill your family."

Go To Part XXXVIII
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