The Tides of History (an St/Sw cross over)

[Admiral Breetai]

well guys I'm sorry for being gone for so long and not following your stories or writing my own..life has been hard lately but it has begun to settle down so hopefully I should be back in full swing soon....I hope you guys are still interested..I see even Khas is doing something so I should certainly step up

so then Halloween is coming up and like last year I did a fight night house of horrors type chapter set I fully plan on doing that now. The founders are going to unleash true horror soon...meanwhile you guys wanted your glorious battles..I hope to god I have done them justice

this one it's not a talkie at all it's full of war and hopefully it satisfies

"those Klingons fought like real mad men you know? total warriors of old and even had their ancient code of honor, but they were also really crafty bastards when they needed to be"- unknown storm trooper

"you didn't fight a changeling, you ran around for dear life and hoped you got that one lucky shot that took it out first, if that failed you prayed you had one charge left to give yourself a quick death with" - Senator Aryas "memories of the great war"


Deysum system Trax sector – same time

The shields covering the planet began to convulse, flames erupted from the several of the continents below proof of the swiftness of the imperial attack. Commodore Hertz had brought his fleet of what amounted to organized militia and retired troopers, liberated prisoners of war and the ever brave and underestimated xenocorps who risked a dangerous micro jump and came out directly below the planetary shielding, Hertz watched as a dozen of their ships were wiped out in the opening volley of the Dominion response most of the ships who survived were now scattered around the atmosphere fighting dominion bugs in battles that poisoned the skies and caused horrific storms to rage across parts of the planet, the fighting both within the shield and outside had become absolutely appalling. Imperial intelligence had been wrong, oh so wrong. Not only had this sector not been host to a small Dominion fleet but it had orbiting the moon and planet two of the largest space stations Hertz had ever witnessed. Something was very off here, while the Dominion forces normally fought with intensity they were fighting here with an utter brutality and fanatic desperation that left him speculating. The Resolute was backed up by several victory class star destroyers one of which was now burning in space, Hertz shook his head, and this was not how he had envisioned it in his mind. The Young commander had planned the battle out the intelligence he was supplied with should have been accurate! Hertz entered the system expecting to be able to blitz the enemy as they had so often done to the imperial forces and use that shock to break their momentum and free up the sectors. He expected hard fighting but he expected a victory to be within his grasp. Hertz was too young and too inexperienced and this realization donned on him in a very painful way when he entered the system and instead of assaulting a well-defended outpost he ended up within weapons range of an entire fortress world of some type. Hertz actions within the first ten minutes of the battle would be what kept him from a court martial and what kept Thanagar from being ousted from the council of Grand Admirals and demoted for appointing a child to command. To say he was startled and terrified would be a lie but these feelings did not master him. Hertz ordered the fleet to pull back and focus on the massive space stations while the militia would fight the Dominion picket forces. The Xenocorps bravely volunteered to meet a grim doom as they hurled themselves at a world where over a million Jem Hadar and Dominion auxiliary forces awaited them. While bombardment and (oddly enough) friendly fire had mauled many of their numbers those soldiers that had begun to descend on the planet fought absolutely monstrous odds in horrific battles with an enemy that was determined to do to them exactly what they had planned on doing to the Dominion. Shatter their military power, they were fighting with no regard for their own lives and were dying by the tens of thousands so long as they took as much of his men with him. So far, the battle was a horrid stalemate, the dominion was absorbing losses at a rate faster than the Imperials and they were still at a number where Aryas and Cronus were not forced to retreat or risk breaking their ability to fight any more battles.

In space it was a meat grinder, the Resolute would need to make use of the repair facilities of the Dominion base for sure her spine had snapped early in the battle when Hertz pulled a micro jump directly between the moon and the secondary station ramming the main power core of the systems automated defenses. Between the violence of the jump, the violence of the Dominion counter attack and the moons gravity her back had broken and several massive pieces of armor plating broke loose. Hertz was now limping along slugging it out with the secondary station; it’s shielding finally collapsing after over an hour of heavy fighting. Hertz had brought his troops inside the invasion force swarming the station securing it as his vessel and the remaining escorts turned their attention on the other station.

Below on the main Dominion planet a group of shadowy figures watched the immense battles raging around “I believe this is somewhat like Ord Mantel yes?” one asked “our men are going to be overwhelmed soon and imperial troops will begin reaching the capital city in a matter of hours?” “It certainly seems like it, this commander is young and he made mistakes but he is tenacious and he knows how to use the bravery of his men”

The other entered the light now he was a portly looking changeling his blank face shifted between his brethren and then he smiled “I hear that, our brothers in the middle rim had begun to use our abilities to achieve certain victories in the fields of psychological warfare” his tone was cold and cruel the others turned and gazed at him. “You mean when imperial forces come that we should, play with them?” the one who said this had taken a childlike form the youthful joy in her voice was disturbing even to the other changelings “Yes, little one we should” they all nodded and slowly they began to take the form of mist a dark rotten smelling fog that began to pass over the city and it’s unsuspecting citizens. Those who chose to willingly become members of the Dominion, who naively trusted this nation whose living gods extolled the virtue of order would become a testament to the inhuman and truly alien cruelty of the founders a grotesque monument to the unflinching and uncaring gods of order and their armies of grim fanatics.

Thory Sector

Hardcase was genuinely shocked as the two giants danced through the air landing on opposite sides of each other, Im’pec had brought forward a mighty thrust which nearly cleaved Tigret in two, he had danced out of the way and brought his sword down nearly taking the Klingon lords head, both had managed to leap out of the way and land with the grace of master dancers, blood had spurted from the side of Im’pec’s right shoulder a narrow graze that could have taken off much of the muscle had it been anyone else. Tigret was blood on the cheek and on the left leg, they both were calm grim faced and resolved, their muscles and sinew were coiled and wound like steel cables, each one focused on their intended goal but what Hardcase realized was also how alert they were. Their nostrils flared taking in the scent of their own blood, taking in the smell of sweat and burning plastoid and wires, the smell of stress and the smell of fear that echoed through the chamber, their sense hearing picked up every movement from the twitching rustling of the insects and small rodent like animals that infested every corner of the universe to the thumbing pulsing hum of the White tubes that pumped the powerful drug into the bodies of the Dominions clone soldiers. They could hear the rumbling pounding of the hearts of the men all around them and the roaring of weapons fire that danced a silent soundless dance beyond the stations walls. Their sense of touch felt the cool breeze of the life support systems that were now working overtime to filter the smoke and chemicals and stench of death that now utterly permeated every inch of this station.

Tigret closed his eyes his ancient and scarred form was weary, he was tired while the Klingon Dahar master was still fresh, Tigret recalled a time in his youth, he was a strong and mighty warrior then who had been given the honor to fight a formal duel before the Ancient one himself. The thrill and exhilaration he had felt then, the burning desire to please his gods and win a great victory before their very eyes. Tigret had been flawless then never losing a single battle and the uncertainty the possibility of defeat of fighting such a worthy opponent had been exciting it had been something that he had longed deeply for and relished in. It was an entirely alien experience to him and even the fear he felt at the thought of potentially losing his life had been a curiosity to him. Emotions that were chaotic but were ones he had truly enjoyed. These emotions had never stirred in him again in all the centuries of his time as a warrior for the living gods he had never drawn his sword and fought in a battle that he had any expectations of losing. He had been without peer and cut down all of his foes all blasphemers which dared to strike up arms against the founders had fallen the moment they crossed his path. All until now

His mind assessed all that which his senses told him and he slowly shifted his position, moving his blade forward as if preparing to suddenly lung. Im’pec stood before him and let out a calm smile he brought his black blade forward and roared just as Tigret lunged forward. Im’pec brought his sword forward as if to block at the oncoming attack only for it to catch air as Tigret and his bronze blade brought itself down against the silver handed mighty back. Armor chinked and blood spattered than Im’pec grinned, Star Breaker suddenly shifted and black metal met flesh. Tigret let out a roar of pain and jumped back gripping his side, blood seeping from a wound that nearly removed a kidney. This one was dangerously skilled and Tigret noticed that while Im’pec was bloodied the injury was not nearly as severe as it could have been. “Ah, I see then so by taking the hit you controlled where my blade cut? That is an interesting move” it was true and most masters could not successfully pull that off, Tigret had opened the back of an enemy who attempted this once before, but this time it had succeeded and the wound the silver hand inflicted was far worse than his own puny flesh wound. “And you, sliding your side just far enough out of the way to avoid dying on the spot? I’m impressed, normally my opponent’s livers are pulled out with that thrust, I only robbed you of some blood and muscle” he said chuckling slowly pacing around the older giant. the fighting had resumed by now and Dominion and Imperial forces were tearing each other apart in an endless sea of battle, his Klingons had hewn apart Jem’Hadar to and fro and slain their fair share of the great bear warriors and their deeds were truly now that of song. Slowly Tigret walked forward his bronze blade reflecting in the air as he took out from his pocket a device of some kind “Your swords name translates into Star Breaker does it not?” he asked and a spark let loose and a new scent assaulted the Dahar Masters nostrils a smell he had not expected to come from a sword. Beneath the chemical bath that primarily caused the fire to ignite around the blade he could smell the fat of all the sentient beings that Tigret had killed over the centuries, absorbed and permeated the blade giving it the smell of a butcher’s knife. “I am the star of the Dominion frontier! Come before me Im’pec Blasphemer of gods the silver handed butcher! Come before me that I may purify your flesh with my flames and offer your charred remains as a sacrifice to the living gods”
“Yes! Yes! Im’pec roared “Star of the Dominion I shall baptize mighty Hov’Ghor in your blood! That it may rightfully earn its name! Then I Im’pec the silver handed shall reap you from this world! I Im’pec slayer of gods and Tyrants! Slayer of champions!”
Swiftly they moved forward again their great blades clashing together in a fiery display as black steel smashed into flaming bronze in a contest between the elite warriors of two great and foreign empires.

Thory

The exterminators sat in the officer’s mess watching the battle unfold before them, they had exhausted their missiles and worn down their energy reserves and racked up an impressive kill count, breaking their prior record of a hundred dead bugs in a single battle. Farmgirl was the guest of honor today though instead of the usual ale she was drinking some kind of ice cream based liquid drink. Through the window they could see resistances dying as vessels either tried to flee or were destroyed outright, suicide runs were becoming more common now in the final moments of the battle but imperial gunners had now expected it far too often and were routinely gunning the smaller craft down before they could do any lasting damage. “So besides post battle celebrations why are we here?” Maniac asked with a calm smile. Grand Admiral Thanagar grinned and gestured to the planet “Captain Toq has said he was ordered to create a great funeral pyre for our fallen comrades” he said “I don’t know about you but personally I’d love to see these Klingons try and give our boys a proper sendoff” he said with a bright almost mad grin.
Butcher and big boy leaned in watching closely as the massive Neg’Var moved into position orbiting the northern pole of the planet perfectly aligning itself with the planets center.

Aboard the vessel Toq sat in the command chair leaning against the furs and leathers that adorned the great chair of their silver handed master. Slowly he raised his goblet of blood wine “Begin” was all he needed to say. The ship roared to life outside, its energy signals exploded like a super nova as it began to charge, several rods began to protrude from the front of the vessel each one aligning parallel to the other, energies building up sparks began to crackle.

Minas Korva 2300’s

Weapons fire darted around them as they danced, tomahawk colliding with spear, blood flowing as Rainbird felt Legate Parvek carve a deep grove into his right arm, blood sprayed freely as he struggled to put some distance between himself and his enemy. Rainbird gazed deeply into his Cardassian counterpart who now began to spin his spear around preparing for a second strike only to hit air as Rainbird rolled into the man’s reach a bowie knife tearing into his groin muscle. Parvek let out a roar of pain and fury as he brought his spear forward attempting to impale John as he turned his back facing the Legates chest, Rainbird caught the spear between his blades lifting it into the air and then sliding out of the way slashing down and carving his enemies leg up again. Parvek this time brought his fist around connecting in a thunderous blow that sent blood spurting from Rainbird’s mouth and almost knocking him off his feet, John barely avoided a second thrust and he felt searing pain as the Legates blade passed across the top of his shoulder and collar bone tearing into muscle before being yanked out, the native slipped staggering a little, a dangerous mistake had been made in this battle. Rainbird had experienced Cardassian pride and vanity many times, the resentment and ego of the people made them at times very sloppy fighters but before him stood an incredibly dangerous foe that had pushed him hard and truly tested his skills and in his error of underestimating him he nearly lost an arm and nearly lost his life. This was a mistake John would not make again, swiftly now he brought his ax forward driving it against the spear and spinning around entering inside the man’s range against this time with a knife aimed directly at his liver


The Cardassian Legate had fought in many battles in his life and he was quickly beginning to realize just how different this one was compared to what he was used too. The human’s skill level was something Parvek knew and determined was incredibly high, what the Legate did not realize was just how high until Rainbird had begun to take him seriously. “You insult me human, fighting with your caliber of skills yet to hold back as you have? What manner of fool or novice do you take me for?” he spat Rainbird ducked out of the way of an attack that would have severed his head and slid now under Parvek slashing his groin then tearing muscles in his back until the great Cardassian was straining to stand from the pain and blood loss. “None and I did underestimate you and for that I am truly sorry” he said and then stood back gazing intently into the wounded Cardassian commanders eyes. For a moment the battle seemed to stop and slowly fade from reality, nothing existed but those two and they held each other in an intense gaze that seemed to last hours, a silent promise made between them in that instance. Then as his men watched Legate Parvek stood up and with all the remaining strength, with sheer Cardassian will he moved towards his opponent who now launched at him, the spear slid hitting ground, John rain along the metal pole and flipped landing behind Parvek bringing his Tomahawk forward to strike him, Parvek through sheer force of will contorted himself twisting his frame he spun around, blood spattering from the deep gash in his back as muscles loose and torn ripped even farther as he contorted in a last act to lay his enemy low. Rainbird turned dodging the spear and slashing the tendons in Parveks arm and then his side severing his skin from his rib cage before embedding the Tomahawk into his chest caving in his chest cavity and tearing his heart in two. Parvek lurched forward falling to his knees as blood oozed from his mouth, standing now before the Cardassian host who seemed to pause with awe and fear and pain as their commander’s life slowly ebbed from his body before their eyes. Rainbird plunged his Bowie Knife down the Cardassian war leader’s throat giving him a quick death. Parvek collapsed onto the floor, blood oozing out his now lifeless body. Rainbird let out a loud Apache war cry of victory that echoed across the temple and the valley below it, the demoralized Cardassian soldiers hungry and tired lost all sense of cohesion and the Federation colonists and troops threw themselves now at the enemy, determined and resolved to turn this victory into a decisive one.

In orbit the Stargazer shook as Picard ordered his forces to regroup, the battle was now taking place in orbit of the planets moon, the fighting there was ferocious, Cardassian reinforcements had arrived sooner than expected and Picard found himself losing ships fast. Vastly outnumbered he ordered his small fleet to fire on the Cardassian ships targeting their life support or engines, to enrage their ego by acting as the stereotypical arrogance Federation commander, scolding the younger race and leaving him to think on his misbehavior as their vessels slug it back home. The tactic worked, at least one vessel crashed into the moon in a frantic dive for the foolish Federation fleet, while others careless damaged themselves or their allies trying to navigate between weapons fire and mountains as they ducked around in low orbit. Picard was out gunned and he had lost two of his ships and the Stargazer was down to twenty percent shields which were failing rapidly and one of her nacelles was leaking plasma. Picard knew he couldn’t keep this up much longer and leaned back, the Cardassians were flying in a very tight formation if he could ram the lead ship there was a chance he could force several of the others to crash into the moon (which they were all dangerously close too) Picard gazed at the ensign in charge of piloting the ship a daring young officer he was sure would one day become a captain. They both knew what had to be done and just as Picard was about to give the order sensors went active chirping in alarm

Aboard the USS Rutledge Ben Maxwell watched Picard fight the enemy and smiled “Jean Luc maybe a book worm and a diplomat but my god can that one fight! “He smiled “status report” “sir they’re shields are almost gone those ships are about to be gunned down or driven into the moon by the Cardies sir” “oh are they now?” Maxwell chuckled and shook his head “target the center of that formation can you fire a few full powered phaser bursts between those ships?” he asked “aye sir it will be close but I can, why?”

“Because I wanna throw rocks at those spoon headed bastard” he said with a mischievous smile. His helmsmen smiled and the weapons officer immediately opened fire, phaser fire smashing into several mountains boring deep into the moon causing rocks to erupt forward smashing into the lead and secondary Cardassian vessels underbelly goring the two ships forcing them to spiral out of control until they smashed into their allies, four Cardassian ships erupted into fire impacting on the moon’s surface, phaser fire gutted a fifth and forced the rest to break off

“Hail them” “channel open sir”

“This is Captain Benjamin Maxwell of the United Federation of planets; you will cease fire and break off immediately”

“This is Gul Ocet, you are invading Cardassian territory and assaulting Cardassian troops you will surrender and submit yourself for trial for your crimes”

Ben laughed at the Cardassian whose features turned a deeper shade of gray in rage over the view screen. “This is Federation territory you unlawfully invaded with no prior claim. I’m in a generous mood, take your trash off my planet’s surface and get your sorry asses out of Federation space and I won’t kill all of you miserable cowards and tractor your wreckage into the nearest black hole” he said his voice full of mirth and an almost teasing challenge to the Cardassian commander. “This is our planet we claimed it as it falls on the edge of our border, you will collect your men and if you surrender I will permit you to return”

“Gul Ocet what if I told you take your offer and go fornicate yourself with a dirty Bat’leth” he asked in an almost innocently playful manner.

“Then we will fight! And drive you from this sector!”

“With what? I destroyed almost a quarter of your fleet with the opening volley of mine, you’re forces on the planet are almost annihilated and I’m pretty sure an Ambassador class and four excelsior’s are on their way here now, any reinforcements you can call upon have no chance of matching that level of fire power and you know it” he smiled “so what will you do Gul?”

“This is not over” Ocet said his voice cold and brimming with anger.

“Yes it is, now go and pick up what’s left of your soldiers” Maxwell was like Captain Jellico though the way they spoke to the Cardassians was highly offensive, it did serve a purpose but unlike Edward Ben let things go a little too far, a few years from now he would come to regret his actions here as Ocet would have his family butchered at Settlik three but for now he would be a hero in the federations frontier territories, given a citation for valor and go on being the bane of all Cardassians engaged in the war effort.

Thory present day

Im’pec clashed blades with Tigret whirring around he slashed his enemy deeply across the side his enemy scoring a painful stab into the Silver handed Klingons leg, the heat and flames cauterizing the wound as the blade was pulled out. Im’pec grabbed Tigret with his silver hand gripping his throat in his firm vice like grip. Blood sputtered out of the massive Ursoids mouth and he struggled to break free, kicking the Dahar Master in the chest and then bringing his blade across for a mighty swing that was designed to open his stomach and spill Klingon intestines. Instead Star breaker came down hard.

In that moment the Klingon flagship finished charging and a massive green torrent of energy launched forward from the tip of the vessel, it flew down screaming as it entered the atmosphere, a plasma and anti-matter combination that tore through the atmosphere igniting vast portions of it as it careened forward until it smashed directly into the ground with a violent thud that scattered billions of tons of molten rock and ocean into the skies as the devastating energy wave tore deeper into the planets core smashing violently into the molten rotating center.

For the briefest of seconds aboard the divine wind Thanagar and Farmgirl could have sworn they saw the planet sort of wheeze and hiccup sucking in its center before an incredibly violent display of raw molten death and heat exploded outward as the energy forced the core to suddenly explode outward in a fantastically brutal matter anti matter reaction that spewed the very inside of the planet out from either of its magnetic poles creating a twisted blooming orange and red and yellow flower that erupted forward from the dying world.

As this happened Tigret felt might storm breaker tear his chest wide open, snapping his burning sword in the process, Tigret staggered blood oozing from an open wound which had completely opened his ribcage exposing his lungs and heart which was gushing blood from a wound. His vision blurry he gazed at his enemies though they were blasphemers and heretics they fought well and were truly worthy enemies. He did not regret dying in the service of his gods and was thankful for the chance to fight such magnificent warriors, slowly the light faded from him and he died standing a grim impassible monument as Jem’Hadar died to the last man around his mighty body

And as the world outside now began to collapse in on itself from the Klingon death weapon history would shift its focus to the battle of the Trax Sector where the dark gods of the Dominion would unleash horrors on the brave and loyal Xenos who fought for the glory of the empire. Those noble and brave few who would face the darkness and know true fear

[sonofccn]

Good to have you back. Hope everything in RL worked out.

Im’pec and Tigret were freaking epic.

risked a dangerous micro jump and came out directly below the planetary shielding

Hm...never thought of that. I may have to have Krevin steal that idea. ;)

[Praeothmin]

Yay, Im'Pec fighting a worthy opponent... :)

Rainbird, being Im'Pec worthy, should have slayed that Cardie much faster... :)

[sonofccn]

Happy two year anniversary Breetia.

Gone but not forgotten.

[Praeothmin]

Yup, but get back soon or the next jump James makes is in your universe where he'll go all ass-kicking on your characters... ;)


Though I'm still not sure about who he'd be rooting for... O_O?

[sonofccn]

Yup, but get back soon or the next jump James makes is in your universe where he'll go all ass-kicking on your characters... ;)


Though I'm still not sure about who he'd be rooting for... O_O?

Well the Empire is fighting to protect its citizens from being "absorbed" by the Dominon, for its own selfish reasons of course, and there are honorable Imperials like Thanagar floating around. Except for a certain uplifted Kodiak bear I'm not sure of any Dominion character who wasn't either a complete monster or an unquestioning slave. So I'd argue the GE are the slightly lesser evil.

Just make sure, if James asks, to avoid mention of Death Star or really any of Paly's "special projects". :)

Of course now I want to see James fight a Breeta style Founder. That one will be a real humdinger.;)

[Praeothmin]

Well, if Breetai doesn't come soon, I'll have to act on my threat...

Although I now have an idea for my current location... :)

[Admiral Breetai]

holy crap I am so sorry, my life has been a disaster on the personal level this last year and it only got worse the last seven months. I don't feel like getting into details because honestly I'm not one to complain or make excuses. All of you have trucked on, all of you have made amazing stories and chapter advances in my absence. I owe all of you a detailed review and more and I hope to do that soon.

Things are calming down now, I can invest my energies onto things that I enjoy, i enjoy posting and debating on this forum and I have been remiss in that for almost a year now. I miss churning out updates fluidly as opposed to once a month. I have a direction and a goal for this story and then an entire universe of stories I owe you all as long as you guys continue to enjoy it of course. If that has ceased then I'll cease with it as a final service to all my readers.

As to your fiction crossing with mine..you played with the idea of using Vi'retess in a contest against Picard. Im'pec and Rainbird fought and died in your world and sonof has used my characters in cameos namely Thanagar and Guylos (unless I missed another?)..if you want to be my guest, I always love the idea of other more qualified writers taking my work and doing more with it (in all honesty if you guys wanted to hijack my story I wouldn't complain the Tidesverse belongs to the users of this forum as far as I'm concerned) so that makes no never mind.

To you both happy two year Anniversaries as well isn't it? To Khas keep up the slow but awesome work.

I'll return full swing soon..This war is heating up and I've got the mind to start introducing more and more canon characters

oh and.. I'm gonna pull a George R Martin with a popular character soon

in any event Happy New year, thank you to all my readers I've got my fire back..and the iron needs to be tempered..this will all return soon come soon

[Praeothmin]

Well, I sure hope all is much better, and for the long run...

As for the Picard vs Vire'tess, I may tackle it sooner than later...

And even though you will get back to your story (because interest has not waned, at least not on my part), then, depending on how things go, James will possibly visit your verse soon... :)

[Khas]

holy crap I am so sorry, my life has been a disaster on the personal level this last year and it only got worse the last seven months. I don't feel like getting into details because honestly I'm not one to complain or make excuses. All of you have trucked on, all of you have made amazing stories and chapter advances in my absence. I owe all of you a detailed review and more and I hope to do that soon.

Things are calming down now, I can invest my energies onto things that I enjoy, i enjoy posting and debating on this forum and I have been remiss in that for almost a year now. I miss churning out updates fluidly as opposed to once a month. I have a direction and a goal for this story and then an entire universe of stories I owe you all as long as you guys continue to enjoy it of course. If that has ceased then I'll cease with it as a final service to all my readers.

As to your fiction crossing with mine..you played with the idea of using Vi'retess in a contest against Picard. Im'pec and Rainbird fought and died in your world and sonof has used my characters in cameos namely Thanagar and Guylos (unless I missed another?)..if you want to be my guest, I always love the idea of other more qualified writers taking my work and doing more with it (in all honesty if you guys wanted to hijack my story I wouldn't complain the Tidesverse belongs to the users of this forum as far as I'm concerned) so that makes no never mind.

To you both happy two year Anniversaries as well isn't it? To Khas keep up the slow but awesome work.

I'll return full swing soon..This war is heating up and I've got the mind to start introducing more and more canon characters

oh and.. I'm gonna pull a George R Martin with a popular character soon

in any event Happy New year, thank you to all my readers I've got my fire back..and the iron needs to be tempered..this will all return soon come soon

Hey, those later chapters are coming faster now.

[sonofccn]

@ Admiral Breetia

Good to see you back. And no need to apologize, we all understand RL giveth and taketh. If its back under control I certaintly haven't lost my interest in Tidesverse and hope to see its continuation.

[Admiral Breetai]

working on a new chapter as we speak as well as rereading all your awesome chapters and works.

so in recompense for my tardiness I give you a little Bajoran Ballad done mid evil style about Im'pec

best read if listening to Demonsbane by Heather Alexander (mostly because that's what I shamelessly ripped off just now:P)

Along a road in chompec, the place called Sumcha Castle
A fearful band of Bajorans flee The Dominion war.
A frightened band of farmers, their children, and their
wives,
Seek refuge from mad gods, who want more than just
their lives.

Now up rides Im’pec silver handed. "Why then such haste?" says
he.
"Now who is it pursuing, whose anger do you flee?
You are all of Bajor, why seek you Klingon walls?
Is the Kai of no protection? Nor strong are their militia?"

"Oh, Im’pec, silver handed, we flee now for our lives,
The founders would enslave us, our children and our
wives-
He'd give our Pa’s to demons, our bodies, to his men.
Kai Wyn has not heeded, or she happens not to ken."

Now up speaks Im’pec silver handed. "The Border is not far-
But you are all of Bajor, and not of Klingon blood,
You are not Gowrons's people-can call not on his
arms-
But dammed if I will see here you left so helpless on your
own!"

So forth goes Im’pec , and onward does he ride,
On Shumcha’ castle he waits then, Alexander at his side.
With the founders men approaching, he calls out from on
high,

"You shall not pass, mad god! Nay I shall not let
you by!"

Now only Im’pec stands blocking the founder's way
"Now who are you, fool nothing, that dares to tell me
nay?"

Now up speaks Im’pec his voice a thunderous rage;
"The silver hand called Im’pec-and 'tis I you shall not
pass!"

Now there stand the great Founder, behind him forty
men,

With Im’pec there before him he pales, and speaks
again-
"So you are Im’pec the brave-this place is not your land.
So heed me, Im’pec Klingon warrior; and now turn aside your
hand."

"Let be; I'll give you silver, and I shall give you
Gold pressed latinum,
And I shall give you jewels fair that sparkle bright
and bold,
And I shall give you pearls, all the treasures of the
Countless seas,
If you will step aside here, leaving these poor fools
to me."

"What need have I of silver with my silver hand here?
And all the gold I cherish are the suns bright and
clear.

The only jewel I treasure's a bright and shining Bat’leth,
And I protect the all helpless not just those of
Klingon Blood!"

"Now I shall give you beauty, women slaves and men,
And I shall give you power, you'll never see again,
And I shall give you mansions and I shall give you
land,
If you will turn aside this day, aside and hold your
hand."

"Now beauty held in bondage is beauty that is lost.
And land and mansions not battle earned- come too high the
cost.
The power I have already-all power is a jade-
So turn you back, fell god if of me you are afraid!"

The founder backs his form, and his wrath comes
nigh,
"Prepare yourself, bold Klingon, for you shall surely
die!"

The god calls on his demons, the demons he commands,
And Im’pec, silver handed, only raises mighty hands.

The founder calls his demons, the sky above turns black.
The demons strike at Im’pec, he stands and holds them
back.

The demons strike at Im’pec, they strike and hurt him
sore,

But Im’pec stands defiant, only to raise his hands once
more.

The sky itself descending now, upon bare Sumcha Castle
It hides the awful battle. The watchers see no more.
The demons shout in triumph-too soon they vent their
mirth.

For Im’pec calls his mighty Bat’leth down, and smites them to
the earth!

The clouds of black have lifted; and there on barren
ground

Stands Im’pecl hurt, yet victor, the demons dead and
hewn.
He looks down on the founder; his eyes grow cold and
bleak-
"Now I shall give you, mad god, all the power that you
seek-"

Now Im’pec frees his disruptor and bat’leth , and the founder screams with
fear,
He sets them on the founder, and on his shifting form
The Bajorans now look down on the mad god fallen and dead.

Now Im’pec tells the farmers. "Go tell you near and
far,
How thus are serves the gods who would take
these lands.

I am the slayer of gods!, their query I defend.
Thus Im’pec serves a foeman and thus Im’pec save a
friend!"

[Praeothmin]

Very nice! :)

Welcome back!

[Admiral Breetai]

sorry it took longer than I intended, got side tracked by radio dramatizations of the lord of the rings and star wars

also been knee deep in a song of ice and fire, and working on a book I may be contributing too

any way Sonof and Khas and Preao you guys published excellent stuff while i was gone and I am going to be reading up on your stuff tomorrow after I get back from the Zoo with the kids...in the mean time

Yoda meets the ancient one in what I tried to write as an epic mental battle between two titans..

Im'pec and Thanagar get shitfaced

and the founders do evil, evil things..also Im'pec. Rainbird, Vader and Yoda are now in the same galaxy...you all know what's coming

people talk about the superstition and burning of the dead done by crazy storm troopers during the war, people don't have the first fething clue what it was like to fight those things..those unnatural things- unknown storm trooper "Memories of the great war"


Dagobah system- same time

It was a strange sensation waking up one day and finding that you were now two, maybe three hundred years younger physically, with all your wisdom and experience remaining. It was an exercise in vanity but one he had jokingly mused about with Mace Windu after witnessing a friendly duel between him and he who once was Anakin Skywalker. “If put what I knew now in a body of my youth, a foe of nightmarish proportions that would be” he had said with a laugh so long ago. Yoda knew he could have slain the Sith Lord if he had this body then, darting through the trees just north of “middle age” Yoda was now a force to be reckoned with, but he realized that, buying him time was not the gift of justice. Yoda had much work to do, to help rebuild the fallen Jedi order and ensure that all the knowledge he had amassed during his long years was not lost to the ages. “they’ll stumble” the boy told him ‘and they can’t afford to stumble like that in this new world that is coming” his words were gentle the youthful tone to them made it clear the boy god wanted to help him but there was something truly terrifying about the way he had said. “This new world” that was coming, just what exactly was this new world? What change could be so drastic, he could think only of the dark lords purge but even then the way it was spoken seemed to imply doom for all force users should they stand in the way of this new world, if Yoda had to be the one to help them change. Given his own failings his own dogmatic nature being (as he had learned over his period of exile) partially the cause of all that came consumed with the regret he had felt, the shame and sadness. Yoda had long debated why he was the one chosen and this god did not seek out or restore to life another? Was it because of his own realization that he had been chosen? Or did this god like the force itself many times, possess a very ironic sense of humor. Hoping through the trees, training his body, straightening muscles that had long been atrophied due to the passage of time, stretching sinew and flesh, pushing with the force, reinvigorating Yoda leaped now landing at the highest point in one of the tallest trees in the swamp. Yoda took in a breath of the cool humid air, so far away from the rotting vegetation and the stench of his swamp home the stormy air tasted almost sweet in a heavy way, taking a deep breath Yoda smiled and closed his eyes. Using the force he stretched his mind out, reaching out far and wide through the force he could feel young Luke, powerful and noble head strong like his father but unlike his father there was a humility to him a tempered sense of wonder and awe in his soul that kept him from brushing too hard against the dark. Luke had come away from his near death experience wounded but stronger for it, more aware of himself and others. Luke’s perception was great and Yoda smiled one day a few decades from now Luke would surpass him and likely surpass any force user since the elder days of the order. Yoda’s features twitched he could feel something besides Luke something old older even than himself and something incredibly powerful and perceptive. That creature was black; it was blacker than anything Yoda had ever felt until he had come face to face with the dark lord. He knew nothing of what it was, but in that instant Yoda frowned, the thing had begun to stir and for the briefest of moments Yoda felt its mind and he paled. This was a rapacious monster! This thing was a dark reflection of the Jedi order, obsessed with bringing divine order and peace to the cosmos at any price, but more than that it was control, ruthless unrestrained desire to dominate and control peace at a price beyond counting. Yoda began to push deeper but it seemed to shift as if it perceived him! Yoda’s eyes narrowed, no this timeless monstrosity could not have! Unless, so these were the mad tyrants making war on his home galaxy, Yoda quickly began to pull back shielding himself from the strong mind that began to take the form of an all-encompassing black mass that seemed to reach out curling around him through the force an incredibly aware and obscene mind. Yoda’s response was massive; he called forward the light and let out a mental dagger through the force summoning all his will and mental discipline. The creature shivered and its tendrils pulled back upon itself, attempting to make a shield against the light, Yoda pushed forward, the creatures mind hardened and the feedback was massive all around Yoda various small creatures wailed and whined as the force of their mental struggle began effecting the lesser creatures. This being was determined to push into the old Jedi’s mind “I see you weathered Paladin of the light, I see you through the void, join with me let your order stand with mine we are brothers you and I” the words echoed from the black ichor a sweet poetic flowery wind attempting to subtly control Yoda’s subconscious. Yoda said nothing he merely stood before the darkness a dim bright candle flickering. The blackness pushed forward whispering words and ideas, pushed toward the Jedi masters center. The Light seemed now surrounded by shadows, as though it were about to consume it. Then it stopped suddenly as if realizing perhaps only too late what was about to happen. Yoda smirked, through the force his tiny beacon lit up like a supernova, the darkness was scattered thrown back by the force of the light that came to it as a mighty river freed from a dam, washing it away. In that instant the connection was severed and the creature whatever it was thrown back beyond his sight. Yoda let out a breath and hopped down.

This was the enemy he now faced, a timeless incomprehensible void of madness that fancied itself a god of order. There was nothing more dangerous in the universe, as he had said before, not in his galaxy. As he had said before, the realization hit Yoda harder perhaps than the mental assault. A twisted reflection of the Jedi order, unrelenting fanatic conviction and frightening mental discipline the lust for order all these things Yoda had experienced before, in the mind of that preacher long ago.

“so you finally figured it out didn’t you?” the voice came from that young god who was now sitting dressed in in a republic Admirals outfit on a large tree stump near his home, Yoda smiled as he hopped down. It hadn’t dawned on him how much he missed having other sentient beings to talk too until young Skywalker had come to learn from him. This child god was welcome company even if he came on the back of ill news. “Indeed, come they have from beyond” “Yes they have well beyond your galaxy any way, not exactly beyond in a true sense” he said smiling “and the answer is no, I will not send you to Luke”. Yoda frowned but he knew exactly why, if he went there now he would be quietly killed long before he could convince the alliance leaders that they were siding with monsters. Luke he could convince easily enough but acting rash would likely spell doom for any chances of reviving the new Jedi order. Besides Yoda had begun to feel that there was more than just one exotic force at play here and he would likely be better served martialing those caught between the two warring powers into a stable position first before making any claims or accusations. Yoda sat beside him and smirked “quite insane they are” “that’d be correct but what they’re after here is what makes them a big problem” “alone they are not” junior smiled “no they are not, and you will be meeting their enemies very soon.” “Is that so?” Yoda asked “your hand in this”
“No my fathers” he said “Dads big on their kind, he says they are full of potential” he shrugged unsure whether he completely believed that yet. “But they’re handy in a pinch”

Yoda smiled “if handy to your kind they are then easy should my task be” he said “come, lunch I’ll make us” Junior smiled, he wasn’t sure what it was about the little imp that made him enjoy his company enough to actually eat the way these mortal creatures did. Perhaps it was the unconventional nature of his wisdom or his life experiences compared to what passed as normal out in the staunch boring universe. But he followed him in “just don’t break a hip cooking lunch, gramps”

Mid rim territories same time-


To say that the day’s events were shocking would have been the mother of all understatements. Then again the last year had been entirely made up of one set of extremely insane circumstances followed by more and more. The rebel alliance, ruled by Mon Mothma and her cadre of elitist had been on the ropes, sure following the destruction of the death star and the appearance of that Jedi boy things had been looking up for them. They gained a large surge of members and support had tripled, but he knew what was going to eventually happen. The Emperor would grow tired of using their defiance as a political pretext to continue depriving the galaxy of its liberty, or he would soon have finally done so and in doing so she would have out lived her usefulness. Then Darth Vader would put a steady amount of pressure on the rebellion until it collapsed, or was destroyed outright (the more likely). Looking back on it, he was incredibly thankful for the self-control he had, that it allowed him to go against his instincts to fight in the open, to go to grown and watch them slug things out. He knew as long as his faction stayed hidden and worked from the side lines he would be ignored, being able to make steady and slow progress while the seemingly greater threats were focused on. He didn’t like it, but it worked and in the last four years he had absorbed remnants of the Katana fleet, gained about four worlds worth of support and was slowly building up enough manpower and personnel to make a go at the sector capital of some remote hub far from the main players, slowly reclaiming the galaxy while the two major players weakened themselves. Things were going according to plan until the Emperor in his eagerness pushed the Rebels too far, too fast and Mon Mothma in her desperation turned to a power the likes of which the galaxy had never seen. This Dominion and their strange gods swept through the galaxy like a plague they fought the empire with the ferocity of a crazed Krayt Dragon and the relentless tenacity of true fanatics, traits the imperials possessed in spades. Both sides through themselves at each other in a staggeringly titanic struggle all the while the rebels and alliance pledged worlds looked on and cheered. They were fools naïve and desperate fools who failed to learn from histories lessons. Once when the galaxy was engulfed in war and corruption a man came, pretending to a be loyal servant of order and peace and the law, he now ruled the galaxy like the god kings of old. While an armada of cloned soldiers and gigantic Wookie like monsters fought for living gods who made their intentions completely and obviously clear. How they could not see it was beyond him! These unconventional warriors were nothing more than conquerors in disguise and they brought calamity with them everything changed in an instant which brought him too todays particular bout of the unconventional. A fleet of six star destroyers, dozens of escorts and gunboats and what looked like an armada of nearly broken down civilian craft exited hyperspace and loudly broadcasted their pleas for aide, for surrender and above all else universally defecting from the empire to his side? His instincts at first screamed trap but the sheer desperation in the voice of the mobile junk yards commander told him otherwise, they were very much sincere.

Senator Garm Bel Iblis had been involved in galactic politics for nearly four decades in one form or another, since he time he was about twelve he had seen many things in his life and witnessed many acts and actions that would have surprised lesser men. Today the legendary maverick stood on the bridge of his flagship and watched the scene unfold before his very eyes and was genuinely and completely surprised.

Things must have been much worse than he originally thought.

Thory- two hours later

Roars of laughter echoed from the mess hall of the Rams fist, the mighty star destroyer loomed now over the wreckage of the Dominion strong hold repairs had begun and as usual it was time to celebrate. Captain Toq brought his head smashing up against Im’pec’s as both men roared with laughter “the look on those Demons faces when the planet below them went up into flames! I tell you Toq it was glorious! As though they had just witnessed the end of their vile ways in this Galaxy” Toq smiled “I wish I had been there, they tell me you fought a warrior of the Dominion in honorable combat” Im’pec nodded “indeed a great warrior, I carved him open and he died standing, even as the flames of his own blade devoured his shell he did not fall, it was truly magnificent” he said wrapping his arm around him shifting a little as his still healing wounds protested. Toq nodded “in the skies they fight like demons, they are mad men these imperials” Im’pec nodded laughing “these humans are not like the ones from home, they do not mask their hardness behind a comfortable smile, they show the full determination of their species to the fullest extent. They are made of iron and forged in fire, they are worthy allies and if the day comes that we strike blades with them they will be worthy enemies”

“That day may come but it is not today” the voice came from Hardcase who walked in now, Im’pec roared with laughter “ah Hardcase, his jokers fought as well as any Klingon warrior I have seen! They taught the dominion the nature of their grim comedy!” Im’pec said slapping Hardcase over the back with his massive silver hand. Toq nodded “did any of your men join the honored dead?” “I lost none of the Jokers, So’ket died in battle though” Hardcase said. Toq nodded grimly disappointment and rage filling his heart, of his elite warriors So’ket was always the most fool hardy and reckless young as he had been once and eager to prove his worth as a warrior in service to Im’pec, that thirst for glory likely lead him into death. “He died saving the life of several of his fellows, covering their back he was shot twelve times but did not fall, instead he plunged his Bat’leth into a dozen Jem’Hadar he fought well Toq and his death was a virtuous one” Hardcase said “it was an honor to fight with your men” “this is true my friend I saw it” Im’pec said “Then I am honored to have had such a worthy Klingon in my command and will drink in his honor!” Toq cheered.

Im’pec nodded entering the main hall which was a blaze with joy and mirth as warriors drank and ate, Klingon and storm trooper tested their metal and there was the corpulent Grand Admiral feasting and roaring with laughter “Today we took back what was ours! We sent those cowardly slaves running back to their false gods with a hurting that won’t ever go away! Don’t ferget that, men!” he lifted a goblet “to the fallen dead of Thory! May Trax burn as brightly, may Commodore Hertz and our Xeno brothers in arms bring imperial fire and glory to the heathens of Trax! May they free our chained brothers and burn fear into the hearts of those bastard gods!”

Trax sector-

Colonel Cronus had arrived late to the siege, he shuffled through with his troops, the stench of burning metals and flesh assaulted his nostrils. The Xeno corps fourth division flanked his own men, their commander a half human gazed out grimly at the burned doors, the party that raided this fortress fought valiantly, it had been a magnificent struggle that left many a storm trooper in awe and Cronus was sure that it would be very difficult to let anyone speak ill of nonhumans serving in the empire after that fateful exchange. Slowly the colonel touched his com nothing but silence greeted him. The Jammers were still up it seemed, thousands of Xeno’s had died fighting whatever was inside that fortress. They had massacred Jem’Hadar in quantities that left him somewhat staggered, he looked back at his men giving them a stern look- the fire of inter-unit competition burned strong in their eyes, and in the non-human soldiers as well. A desire to make sure that the epic deeds done by their misshapen comrades were not in vain, that they died for something meaningful but above all else the desire to compete to outdo the other living squads that formed between fire forged brothers of battle. Slowly they stalked forward, they knew from the scanners that there was a large biomass inside the compound still, whether it was Jem’Hadar or those massive bear monsters he was unsure, what he was sure of however was how odd it was that these soldiers did not fire or ride out to issue challenge.
Cronus gestured with his hand and about a hundred troopers followed by two hundred and fifty Xeno corps soldiers poured through the opened smoking doors.

On the inside Captain Tyfus a veteran of the clone wars marched his men inside. He turned back gazing at the non-humans and nodded, it was odd many of his men would refuse to sit with them or even talk to them prior to the opening battle but now they were cohesive unit that fought together, and worked together. A storm trooper was flanked by two Arkanian males who were protecting his back, an action that would have been impossible before the Dominion war, and yet now six groups of mixed soldiers moved forward.

They crossed through barely lit corridors “hey cap, what you think this was? Some kind of church?” the voice came from a private on his left, a young buck who was only a year out of his academy run when the war happened. Tyfus looked around and took in the eerie inscriptions on the wall and wondered if it wasn’t a church, the glyphs were all of odd shape and the figures all seemed multi formed, what little he could make out disturbed him intensely though. It showed inscriptions of what looked like the dead rising from the ground, of people willingly sacrificing themselves to be sustenance to regenerate a wounded god (in a manner that suggested a founder had more in common with a plague than a god.) one of his soldiers let out a curse. Tyfus silently agreed with the man’s exclamation as they moved in closer. Soon they rounded a corner and entered the main hall, the fallen lay all around them, torn and gnarled, Jem’Hadar dying clutching the throat of Xeno corps members who had fought in a valiant but doomed struggle. Others looked mutilated and twisted, their flesh torn open their skin ripped off. A Wookie that had joined them from a prison cell in the town let out a low roar of concern and disgust and outrage. His sentiment was echoed by the men who nodded patting him on the back, Tyfus gestured to one his troopers who handed him a flair gun which he fired down the hall way. Whatever jamming device that was operational planet side made even man to man communication possible between coms. As they moved closer to the center they saw the ruined form of the units commander, he died standing his blood soaked body looming triumphantly over a dead Ursoid, who’s spear was imbedded deep into the torso of the Xeno corps leader who himself had gotten the monster through the heart. “Captain Tyfus, they put up a hell of a fight” another trooper said. Tyfus nodded, a hell of a fight, his eyes shifting back to the fallen mutilated remains of one of the Xeno’s, something looked off about that.

“What happened here?” the deep voice had come from Cronus who now entered, his features gazing intently at the ruined seen before them. “My guess is this wasn’t just their command center but also a temple” Tyfus said “they fought and they died here down to a man”
Cronus nodded and then gazed down at the wounds on the chest of one of the dead “and this? One of their teleporting mines?” “I thought so at first sir” Tyfus said “but it’s not burned there is no trauma that would come from such an internal detonation, no it looks like something tore its way out” he paused a look of shock overcoming his features. Cronus eyes lit up intensely, they had both read the reports about what the founders had done and were capable of doing. “Fall back immediately!” Cronus roared

Too late, something stirred and then blood sprayed all over the white armor of one of the troopers as a Xeno corpsmen head was torn completely off his body by a blade weapon wielded by the blaster burned corpse of one of his own? Slowly all around them the dead and the rotting began to rise, their muffled groans echoing around the temple in a sick low rumble as the shadows began to dance around them,

Surrounded by an army of the fallen, of their brethren and unit men, summoned back to the field of battle by the unnatural abilities of the mad gods, Cronus did not have to give his men the order, their indignant fury was loosed upon the horrific enemy in a fury of war cries and blaster fire.

Edge of the outer rim territories same time-

Slowly, and painfully they had made their way, these long months traveling in a race against time to prevent unlimited power from falling into the hands of mad gods bent on cosmic domination, and to stop a cold war that would soon erupt between the three great powers of the known universe and their proxy states now being set up.

From her quarters Salaya felt it the whispers as if a thousand voices called along to them her telepathic mind picking up the faint echoes both beautiful and terrible, so old and so rich yet so new. She could feel the arms of Serita the young Romulan commander wrapping around her, the two leaned against each other, “you must hear it if I can” Serita whispered, the Vulcan nodded slowly squeezing her hand “I do”

“It’s eerie and beautiful” Commander Tarses said leaning back in his seat. “I really don’t know of any other way to describe it” he said, he was a latent telepath though that had more to do with the fact that his mother was one of the few natural born human telepaths than his distant Romulan heritage. It was impressive, they were entering a galaxy that had tapped into an energy field that existed virtually everywhere, and had begun to use it so such an extent that uncounted generations had left their “imprint” on it. The power of the preservers was something Tarses was continually awed about, they had done this, in what he had assumed was an attempt to bring about harmony. He could hear it now, the voices so many voices pleasant a whisper that would slowly die down as they got used to this place. The songs of a galaxy that had remained unchanged for tens of thousands of years, carrying on its line of history so many voices telling so many stories


Aboard his vessel John Rainbird heard the chorus as well, whether it was a gift of his ancestors and their mighty augmented blood or a gift from the Eagle or Crow he had been given the gift of hearing those songs, the story. He led his telepathic crewmen now in a prayer.

So many stories

And so many screams.

As the fleet exited slip space, like shinning silver jewels, its ancient Al Aurian Captain stared at the blue and black of space gazing at the new stars of this new yet ancient Galaxy and smiled a predatory smile “Check”

[Praeothmin]

About time you came back...

Damn your story is epic...

You and sonofccn each channel a different facet of Tolkien, you in scale, sonofccn in style...

I really like you read you both, and having only one made my heart cry... ;)

Now I can rejoice because your are both here again... :)