Broken Dreams

[Reshmar]

"Captain, New IFF contact, ISD Maverick inbound on an intercept course. Forty five seconds to visual range."


The Bridge of Mon Orishma was hushed as the news rang through the air. Here deep in Alliance territory the thought of war had become an thing of the past. Only on the border could such a thing be conceived as possible yet here twelve light years from the Dac system A Imperial Star Destroyer drops out of hyperspace bearing down on The Alliance.
"Commander Set condition red. Sound battle stations."


"Aye sir, Sounding battle stations."


The warning klaxon sounded and people began running to their action stations. Captain Joanis Knekk stood from his command chair and began giving orders to his green crew. Many had never seen an imperial Star Destroyer up close let alone one moving to sink its teeth into the ship they crewed.

"Have the escorts move in and cover our flanks. Colonel, Get our fighters out there, we will need them."

The CAG nodded and began giving orders to the four flight control officers which were then transmitted to the flight control deck and the fighter squadrons. Only one flight had been ready to launch and almost immediately after the order was given the four fighters launched and took up position at the prow of Mon Orishma preparing for the inevitable flurry of fighters which would follow.

"Captain Green Squadron first flight is launched ETA to full launch twenty two minutes."

Captain Knekk slammed his hand down on the command console and cursed. How could he have gotten caught with his pants down like this. He surely would lose his command for not being more prepared for what in his and most of the fleets mind could never happen. Yet here he was thinking of what would become of his career when the thought slammed into his mind like a brick. Losing his command became trivial when the realization that first he had to survive.

"Commander, launch a distress buoy, we need to get word back to Dac about this."

The Commander paused for a moment then looked out the forward view port at the small dot now visible which was the Maverick. He typed in a set of commands and hit the launch button. Far in the aft of the ship a small hyperspace beacon launched and sped away into the dark of space transmitting the tactical situation and a standard distress signal.

"Launched sir."

Knekk grimaced them gave the growing image his full attention. The shape was no evident as he could make out the diamond shape with the box atop is which was the forward silhouette of a destroyer. Nothing else like it IM the galaxy. The fear it struck into so many for so long would endeavor the mythos of the Star Destroyer to live on long after any were left in service.

"Communications, open a channel, wide frequency all bands."

Knekk waited for a moment until the communications officer signaled him.

"Incoming vessel, I am Captain Knekk of the Alliance Defense Force. Please state you intent and reason, I am posed to repel you if need be and will do so with the full might of my task force. Again state you intent."

Knekk waited a moment and watched the ship move closer, something was not right, he could tell. The ship looked like it had been in battle for hours. The hull was charred and black and parts of the armor plating were fused or missing. a crackle cam from the com channel then a faint voice.

"Help us."

Knekk was taken back, what was going on, he paused then spoke once again. ISD Maverick, state you condition."

The voice once again spoke.

"They are dead, Their all dead. Were leaking radiation on all decks. The reactor is about to go."

The voice paused a moment. In the background you could hear small explosions and spark flying. The crackling of fire and the sound of extinguishers. It was apparent something disastrous had befallen the Maverick.

A second voice spoken then from the destroyer. This one was more cognitive and understandable.

"I am commander Dantor, We request asylum and need immediate medical assistance. I and the crew of the Maverick surrender."

[Reshmar]

"We have been at this for thirty seven ours captain, Why keep this up these people are sick and dying."


Major Hanton's face barely shown through the radiation helmet he was wearing. His image on the small display at captain Knekk's desk did not help. Rescue operations are difficult even under the best of circumstances in space and with a ship leaking radiation the process become near impossible to evacuate the sheer numbers making up the crew of the Maverick.


"Captain we have to save as many as possible....."


Captain Knekk's words were cut short as the man on the other side of the screen began to rant.


"But these people would have left us all to dye if we were the ones needing help."


Hanton barked out in frustration, He had lost both of his parents to imperials early in the war and his hatred for any and all things having to do with the empire was very well known among the crew of the Mon Orishma. Knekk took a breath and looked at the man for a moment.


"Major, I know you have no love for the Imperials But you are an alliance officer and even more important is that you are an officer of the Mon Orishma. We are the best of the fleet, or what is supposed to be the best. You set an example for the men and women under you. You set an example to all the cadets and future cadets of the alliance. What will we teach to our wards, Hate, prejudice, resentment? Or will we show our subordinates that even those who have been wronged and devastated by war can forgive. These people did not kill our friends. They did not kill our family. Those few surviving Imperials who sought to devour the galaxy in tyranny are hidden way being hunted by the very Empire they served. We are at peace major, let us remember that. These people need assistance. They are dying and scared. Let them see the Alliance is not the Empire, let them see mercy and forgiveness. Let them see compassion. You will server the Alliance, carry out my orders, and help every single person on that ship major or you will not, or you will not serve."


The major looked mad but nodded and closed the channel. Knekk sit back and closed his eyes. He had lost his wife at Endor and deep down he hated every single Imperial for that. But he knew too that the majority of Imperial forces were just doing a job. Many conscripted, many forced into service. Not all were evil, they were not all Darth Vaders or Emperor Palatines. Many just served to survive. He knew in his mind people aboard the maverick may well have served at Endor. The odds were good some of the command staff would have been there, but so had he. His hand were not clean and in the greater scheme of things he imagined he was to blame for more death than anyone aboard the Imperial vessel. A chime from his door sounded and he pressed the unlock sequence into his table control panel. The door slide open and three men walked in.


"Welcome Commander, I hear you managed to stay away from the radiation, How is it you managed this while the rest of the command staff lay in body bags in my hanger?


The two guards sat the commander down in a chair across from Captain Knekk. The man had soot and burns on his face and arms but looked none the worse for wear considering the shape of the ship and the condition of the majority of bodies being drug into the makeshift quarantine warp the chief had set up in hanger two. His uniform was disheveled and stained with blood and soot but not so much as to tarnish his glorious Imperial officer mystic. He was proud and as every officer of the Empire Knekk had ever meet, he was arrogant.

"Captain, first let me say thank you for granting my crew asylum. They are innocent in the events which lead to the Maverick's current condition. Also let me say you crew has been very accommodating and helpful."


Knekk's stomach turned. The demeanor with which the man praised him and his crew was sickening. He knew the man meant nothing he said and was attempting to placate him.

"Commander, let's cut out this facade you are attempting to weave and get to the point. You had no other option than to surrender. I am most certainly sure if your ship had been at full battle readiness or if we had been a lone frigate out on patrol instead of a full task force you would have engaged us. You had no choice and I can tell it is disgusting you that you had to do so. I do not care to hear your complements or want you to attempt to be anything other than you are. You are an Imperial officer and with that comes the pound in need to win. You seem to have lost what ever fight you were in and have no chance of finding a way out of your current situation. Now lets just get to what happened and why I'M talking to you and not your Captain."


The Imperials face was unchanged and the edge of his lips began to creep into a smile.


"Captain, I assure you I know the tactical situation I have gotten myself into. I only wish to make our interactions as pleasant as possible. That being said, yes I an very frustrated and angry I had to yield my ship and crew but as you said I had no other choice. But you are wrong about me engaging you if the situation were different. I have no desire to fight you or anyone else. I assumed command of the ship yes but my rank and privilege has nothing to do with command. I was just the highest ranking officer aboard after the incident."


The man began to tell a story that was too bizarre and maddening to be true. Yet he swore that was what happened. The hours passed and with every surviving crew member the story of the demise of the Maverick sounded more and more like a child's horror story. The one thing that was troubling is that every person in their own way had witnessed the same thing, Madness.

[Reshmar]

Supreme Commander Reshmar sat looking out the view port at the small group of ships in the distance. The lines of the two larger ships were unmistakable even at this distance. The Mon Orishma had taken up position on the port flank of the Maverick and tethered itself to the larger ship. A make shift umbilical had been set up so medical crews could move to and from the Imperial vessel without having to board a shuttle which risked contamination at many points along the trip to and from the Maverick. Now medical and engineering crews could move from the Mon Orishma to the Maverick and remain in the quarantined area.

"Hold your position here captain, Let's stay back until we know for sure what were dealing with."

Captain Ghend nodded and ordered his helmsmen to come to a stop and hold relative potion. Reshmar stood and walked to the forward view port, Out there something happened that as of yet no one can explain. Something killed these people and it seemed the few survivors suffered from some mass delusion which effected each one the same. Captain Ghend walked up to join Reshmar then spoke.

"Should you be here Admiral? This is a matter someone else could have dealt with personally and reported back to you. I can break off the Borindica and have it take you back to Dac."

Reshmar waved the idea away and continued to watch the ships in the distance. The Maverick had dropped out of hyperspace two days ago asking for assistance and sanctuary then reveling it had suffered from some sort of outbreak of what his people had been told was insanity. Since then twenty of the survivors have seen to succumb to this, what ever it is. Reports of hyper-aggression and enhanced strength and speed. Two of the Mavrick's crew had to be killed as they rushed a guard and taken his firearm. Three others had died from wounds they received when they had attacked each other. It seemed whatever the imperials had brought with them was spreading. None of the Mon Orishma's crew had been effected but they were not taking any chances. Reshmar turned and returned to his seat.

"Open a channel to captain Knekk."

Reshmar waited a moment then as the communications officer nodded an image of Knekk appeared on the display.

"Admiral Reshmar, I did not expect you..."

Reshmar cut Knekk off and spoke.

"Captain, I needed to see this for myself. An Imperial ship getting this far into Alliance space is serious even without what ever it is you are facing. I assume your people are taking all precautions not to let this get out onto the Orishma?"

"Of course Admiral, Quarantine protocol is being adhered to on every level to have any contact with the crew of the Maverick."

Reshmar shook his head and let out a gruff sound

"Captain lock you ship down and institute a level five quarantine protocol on every deck, not just the ones dealing with this. We can not let this get out if it is even able. Have your people made any headway in determinant what this is or how it spreads?"

Knekk shook his head then turned to give an Order to his XO.

"No sir, as far as we can tell it is not airborn, at least not now. but every crew member aboard has some degree of the virus in their system. All but the commander, somehow he managed to be the only soul aboard not to get exposed to this."

Reshmar sit silently for a moment assimilating what he was just told. For a small group to not be infected would be explainable but one man, that was not.

"Captain, whats your take on this man?"

Knekk thought about the question for a moment.

"He is arrogant like any Imperial officer, but something is off about him. I can not explain it, just a gut feeling I guess Admiral."

Reshmar nodded and looked over some information scrolling in the corner of his screen. What he was reading did not surprise him he was expecting this part.

"Very well Captain, keep me informed, We have just gotten a transmission from the Imperials. I will see what I can get from them and will talk to you again at 0500."

Knekk nodded and shut down the transmission. Reshmar knew something was not right, hell anyone who had any idea of what was going on knew it. This Commander could not be the only person on the ship Immune to what ever this was. That and the video of his interrogation made it clear he knew something. Maybe whoever this Imperial Admiral was on the other line knew something. He was sure he did but the odds of him telling Reshmar were silm. He would just have to take whatever he got and figure out the rest.

"Ok Lieutenant, Open the channel."