From: brownpm@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Peter Brown)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: "For the Honor of the Empire"
Date: 8 Apr 92 00:19:05 GMT
Article-I.D.: mentor.44326
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center

|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   After several long weeks I have finally finished this story.  It is  |
| a serious script for a Star Trek:TNG meets Star Wars episode.  I hope  |
| you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.  This is my first|
| attempt at writing a Star Trek story, so please forgive any style      |
| problems that might arise.                                             |
|   Thanks to Scott Seamark, Chris Brelje, Marcus Pressl, and especially |
| Mike Swihart for all their help during this undertaking.  I would also |
| like to thank the writer of "The Return" for giving me the inspiration |
| to write what thousands of others have only dreamed of writing.  The   |
| story will be posted in six chapters, each ending at a Commercial Break|
| in order to make the size of the story seem smaller, and to give me an |
| incentive to write.                                                    |
|   A very special thanks to all of you who sent me email.  Your         |
| encouragement is what carried this project to completion.              |
|   And now, I present to you, "For the Honor of the Empire."            |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 

CHAPTER ONE:  "For the Honor of the Empire."

[Open scene to a large room on board a Karellian Star Destroyer.  In the
Command Center of the _Devastator_ we can see several men dressed in 
flat grey uniforms, styled like Prussian military issue.  They bussle
around huge terminals and workstations that radiate away from a Central
View Screen and flanking windows.  Outside, we see a specks of light on a
inky background, and a lone, dying red sun in the center.  Admiral Valasian
stands in the Center of the Command Center, facing the view-port.]

Valasian:    "Commander Tarkin, what are the reports from our probes?  The
              Emperor is most anxious to have the rebel nuisance dealt with
              swiftly."  [Valasian stands nearly motionless, save for a
              nervous tick under his monocled left eye.]

Tarkin:       "Sir, all probes report negat- wait, my Lord.  Probe 3472 is
              now reporting...human lifesigns on the third moon of a Class
              J Gas Giant in system LBJ 617.  Shall we investigate?"

Valasian:     "What do the Imperial Records show for LBJ 617?  Is it a 
              known colony site?  The Emperor has little patience with
              officers that chase wisps of smoke."

Tarkin:       "Admiral, the records indicate that LBJ 617 was charted over
              half a millenium ago, and has never been visited since, at
              least by official colonists."

Hadrian:      "My Lord Tarkin."

Tarkin:       "Yes, Lieutenant Hadrian, what is it?"

Hadrian:      "Supplementary broadcast from Probe 3472 indicates that the
              system is inhabited with over seven thousand humans, and that
              it is generating immense amounts of power consistent with a
              military installation."

[Cool Imperial March theme music starts.]

Tarkin:       "A rebel base perhaps?"

Hadrian:      "That would be my guess, sir, though the distance is making
              transmissions somewhat unreliable."

[Tarkin looks to Valasian, who nods almost imperceptibly.]

Tarkin:       "Communications Officer, open channels to the _Imperator_
              and _Phalanx_.  Inform them of the course change to LBJ 617."

[Valasian smiles coldly.  Close in on Valasian's face.]

Valasian:     "Now we shall deal with the rebels in one swift decisive
              blow."

[Fade into Opening Sequence:  Space.  The Final Frontier...]

[Cut to Commercial.]

[Return to Episode.  In upper Left Corner, the words:

                      "For the Honor of the Empire"

[Fade in on the Bridge of the _Enterprise_.  Picard is sitting in his
chair, with Riker at his side reading something on his armrest.  Data is
at Ops, as usual, and Worf is standing at the Weapons Console.  Beside him
at the Security console is a new add-on character, Lieutenant Holiday, a
blond haired human male.  At the Helm is another new character, Ensign
McMurphy, a dark haired human male.]

Picard:       "Captain's Log, Stardate 46353.8.  We are currently on a
              seven week routine star charting mission in Iturbide Cluster,
              a region of space on the fringes of Federation.  As of
              this log entry, we have currently charted over seventeen new
              systems, all devoid of any interesting phenomenon.  The 
              mission has become quite tedious."

McMurphy:     "Captain, we are approaching System 111-30."

Picard:       "Drop to impulse, Ensign."

McMurphy:     "Aye sir.  Dropping to impulse."

Riker:        "Data, what do sensors reveal of the system?"

Data:         "Sensors indicate that system 111-30 is composed of a standard
              Class III binary star system, with both primary and
              secondary stars are spectral type M3, and there is very
              little terrestrial matter within the system.  However,
              sensors are picking up planetary nebulae at 2312.2 au
              distance from the binary."

Riker:        "Another exciting system.  No planets of any type here?"

Data:         "None, Commander."

Picard:       "How long does Space Sciences need to adequately survey the
              star system?"

Data:         "Approximately 7.23 hours, sir."

Picard:[expressionless] "Splendid.  Number One, I'll be in my Ready Room
              should anything interesting happen.  You have the Conn."

Riker:        "Thank you sir."

[Picard leaves to the Ready Room.]

Riker:        "Worf, how close are the Tholians to us?"

[Worf appears to be a bit confused.]

Worf:         "Their closest vessel is seven hundred parsecs away, sir,
              but - "

Riker:        "What do you think, Worf, shall we invite them over for a 
              game of Parrises Squares?"

Worf:[growls] "Commander, the Tholians have little honor.  They would
              not be appropriate opponents."

Data:[turns in his seat] "And may I remind you, Commander, the Tholians
              are crystalline entities without the required number of 
              appendages for such a sport.  I believe more appropriate
              choices would be Chess, Pelusion Acc-"

Riker:        "So you are saying that you wouldn't challen -"

[Communications beep-beep noise.]

Worf:         "Commander, we are receiving a signal from a Federation
              outpost.  Audio Only."

Riker:[presses his communicator] "Captain to the Bridge."

[Picard enters the Bridge.]

Picard:       "Patch it through, Lieutenant."

Worf:         "Aye sir."

Audio Message: "To any Federation Vessel, this is Commander Mobatso from
              Federation Outpost Chelea Four.  An alien probe has entered
              our system and conducted a full spectrum scan.  Attempts to
              to hail the probe were unsucc--/ major static /--he probe
              sent a signal puls--/ more static /-- is -" [Message breaks
              up completely.]

Worf:         "The signal has completely faded, Captain."

Picard:       "Chelea Four is only fifteen parsecs from here.  It should
              not have broken up so soon.  Lieutenant Worf, what caused
              the break-up?"

Worf:         "Sensors are inconclusive at this distance, sir."

Picard:       "Hail Chelea Four, Lieutenant."

[Buzz-buzz to indicate failure.]

Worf:         "The Outpost is not responding, sir."

Picard:[frowns] "Ensign Mcmurphy, are we the closest starship to Chelea Four?"

McMurphy:     "Yes sir."

Picard:[sighes] "It is probably nothing, but I'd rather play it safe.
              Ensign, plot a course for Chelea Four, Warp Six."

McMurphy:     "Aye sir, course plotted and laid in.  ETA: two and a half
              hours, sir."

Picard:       "Lieutenant Worf, keep trying and inform me as soon as they
              respond.  Inform StarFleet Command of our course change."

Worf:         "Aye sir."

Picard:       "Number One, schedule a staff meeting to be held in one
              hours.  Until then, you have the Conn."

Riker:        "Aye, Captain."

[Picard walks off into his Ready Room.  Scene shifts ot the Command Center
of the _Devastator_.  Commander Tarkin is studying the main viewer.  The
oultine of a moon fills the lower half of the display.]

Tarkin:       "Sensors, report."

Hadrian:      "The moon is a standard type I moon, with a nickel-iron core,
              and just a trace of an atmosphere.  On the far side is the 
              population we detected, obviously a military base.  Its
              power emmissions are incredibly high."
 
Tarkin:       "ETA to the rebel stronghold?"

Hadrian:      "Four minutes at current velocity, but sir -"

Tarkin:       "What is it, Lieutenant?"

Hadrian:      "The power outputs are more than any rebel base I've seen.
              They are far more concentrated.  Their shielding makes it
              difficult to scan though.  Most unusual, considering the
              inferior technology the Rebels employ."

Tarkin:       "Perhaps the Rebels are getting inventive."

[beeping sound]

Ensign:       "Commander Tarkin!  We are receiving a communication from the
              the Rebel base.  They are using an encryption scheme we have
              never encountered before.  The computer is translating it
              now.  Shall I patch it on audio?"

Tarkin:       "Yes, of course Ensign.  Inform the Admiral that the Rebel
              scum wish a discussion."

Audio:[Mobatso] "Greetings.  This is Commander Mobatso representing the 
              United Federation of Planets.  You have entered one of our
              systems and we wish to open relations."

Tarkin:[confused] "United Federation of Planets?  Lieutenant, does the
              computer have any information on this 'Federation'?"

Hadrian:      "Running file scan now, sir.....no, sir.  The computer has
              no record of any 'United Federation of Planets'."

[Admiral Valasian enters the Command Center.  All crew members give him
a crisp salute.]

Valasian:     "Commander, your report."

Tarkin:       "My Lord, we have recieved an encrypted transmission from
              the Rebel moon stating that they are members of a 
              'Federation'."

Valasian:     "Indeed.  Have they sent any fighters up to greet us."

Tarkin:       "No my Lord, they have not."

Valasian:     "Intriguing.  They obviously fear us, and are attempting a
              useless ruse.  Commander, ignore their drivel and crush them
              at once!  The Emperor is expecting a great victory, and if
              the Rebels are willing to give us an easy one, so much
              the better!"

Tarkin:       "But Admiral, sensors report power anomolies, we are not
              even certain that they are -"

Valasian:     "Commander, do not question my orders.  I do not need to
              remind you that I am the Emperor's Representative in
              these matters."

Tarkin:       "Forgive me, my Lord, but I *must* insist, we do *not*- "

Valasian:     "Commander!  Do not try to intimidate me with your family
              connections.  Your father may be the Grand Moff of the 
              Imperial Fleet and Commander of the Battlestation, but
              that will not protect you from insubordination."

Tarkin:[Visibly incensed, but complying] "Yes, my Lord, your orders shall
              be carried out."

Valasian:     "See that they are, Commander, to the letter.  I shall be
              in my quarters.  I want to see your full report afterwards."

[Valasian turns on a heel and steps quickly to the door.  The entire
Command Center crew salutes.  Tarkin turns slowly and gives an almost
imperceptive expression of sadness as he stares at the moon.]

Tarkin:       "Communications Officer, inform the _Phalanx_ and the 
              _Imperator_ that Admiral Valasian ha ordered the Rebel
              base to be obliterated.  Arm all fighters with nuclear
              and proton bombs, and prepare to attack in one minute!"

[Fade to exterior shot.  The three mammoth wedge-shaped Star Destroyers
close in on the moon, with swarms of hundreds of fighters screaming out
of their bays.  The fighters streak toward the base in precise 
formation.
   The fighters make a single pass, dropping their payloads over their
target.  The bombs detonate upon hitting the base's deflector shields,
and the massive explosion of over a hundred nuclear and proton bombs
overcome the deflector shields of the base.  Ion cannon batteries open
up from the Star Destoyers, pulverizing the ferro-concrete surface
bunkers.  From a protected hardpoint, phaser fire is returned.  Fade
to Command Center on _Devastator_.]

Hadrian:      "Commander, the fighters report that they have overcome
              the Rebel's shields - barely.  Commander, if this report
              is correct, their technology *is* far beyond the resources
              we assumed the Rebels had, or they have one hell of a power
              source to energize a deflector of that strength.  The TIE's
              reported that their Turbolaser cannons had no effect on the
              shielding."

Tarkin:       "Understood, Lieutenant.  Continue planetary bombardment."

Hadrian:      "Aye sir.  Enemy is returning fire."

[Command Center is slammed around.]

Hadrian:      "Sir!  The Rebels have hit us with a stream of phased light
              at a frequency which our shields don't protect against.  We
              are in danger of sustaining significant structural damage!"

Tarkin:       "Order the fighters to step up bombing runs and 
              fire-suppression missions.  I want that energy weapon
              neutralized.  We shall retreat tothe darkside of the moon
              and await their reports."

Hadrian:      "Sir, sensors report that a signal pulse has been sent,
              heading 286 mark 71."

Tarkin:       "Continue electronic jamming, Lieutenant, and locate the
              the destiantion of the transmission."

Hadrian:      "Yes, Commander."

Ensign:       "Commander, TIE squadron leader Rilkin reports that the Rebel
              energy weapon has been neutralized."

Valasian:     "Excellent.  Open a hailing frequency to the rebel scum."

[Tarkin whirls around, surprised to see the Admiral behind him, who has
obviously entered the Command Center unnoticed.]

Ensign:       "Transmitting, Admiral."

Valasian:     "Rebel scum, this is the Imperial Star Destroyer _Devastator_.
              Your insurrection is lost, your forces are vanquished.  You
              have been beaten.  Surrender now, and you shall be spared
              total destruction.  Close channel."

Tarkin:       "Admiral, I -"

Valasian:     "Commander, I am insuring that my orders are followed.
              I shall make sure your devotion to duty and courageous
              actions are mentioned in my report."

Ensign:       "Commander, transmission from the rebel base coming in."

Valasian:     "Let's hear it."

Audio:[Mobatso] "Alien vessel, this is Commander Mobatso of the United
              Federation of Planets.  We mean you no harm. why have you
              fired upon us?"

Valasian:     "Channel open.  Rebel scum.  You are defeated, surrender
              at once, or we shall crush you like a Beretka nut in an
              iron vise."

Audio:[Mobatso] "I assure you, we know nothing of the rebels you speak
              of!  We are an outpost of the United Federation of Planets,
              and only wish to open peaceful negotia-"

Valasian:     "Close channel.  Communications Officer, open channels to
              the other ships."

Ensign:       "Open sir."

Valasian:     "All ships, annihilate the Rebel base.  Do not leave anything
              alive or recoverable."

[Break to Commercial:

Cy Sperling:  Hi, I'm Cy Sperling, President of the Hair Club for Men...



Well, that's Chapter One, the rest is coming, so stay tuned!!!!

Please mail all flames and/or suggestions and comments to:

                Peter
                brownpm@mentor.cc.purdue.edu
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative