Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Crossover With Non-anime Series Fan Fiction ❯ Soldier, Sailor, Jedi, Sith ❯ Chapter 17 ( Chapter 18 )

Ord Centarus
Imperial-held planet

Alpha Centauri A

 

Admiral Criofan looked from the bridge of the Revenge, at the motley assortment of warships returning from 40 Eridani. Vicstars and Impstars showed amounts of damage, ranging from minor hits and carbon scoring of the armor to massive tears in the hull structure, and missing command towers. “Communications,” he said, with barely controlled contempt, “signal the surviving senior officer. He's to report to me. Personally.”

“Yes Admiral,” the lieutenant replied. “Sir, I have Captain Varrin, commander of the Tiger. He's on his way over now.” Criofan did not reply, but continued to stare out at the battered task force he'd sent to capture the binary system 16 light-years out.

As he watched, the hull plates of one of the more severely damaged Vicstars began to bulge in the center. Escape pods began launching almost immediately, before the bulge gave way to an actinic white ball of fire. The ship's power core exploded spectacularly, hurling chunks of debris out in all directions.

“What ship was that,” Criofan asked, as the ship's deck plates vibrated as they transmitted the dying ship's shockwave.

“The Dominator,” Lt. Aubrey replied, looking at the order of battle.

“Sithspawn.”

“Admiral Criofan, Captain Varrin reporting.”

Criofan turned, and faced the middle-aged captain. His arm was in a sling, bandages covered part of his face. “Captain, what happened out there?”

“Sir, while we were supporting landing operations, a force of three Impstars, several Vicstars and multiple Corvettes jumped in system, with Imperial transponder codes. While Commodore Caradoc attempted to ascertain who they were, the lead Star Destroyers approached and opened fire on us at long range with heavy turbolasers.

“We formed battle lines, and engaged the enemy, but they split our line. The Praetor was the first ship crippled; the Ramilles lost her command and control sections, plummeted out of control into the Victor, destroying both ships.

“The lead ship, her IFF identifying her as the Wild Stallion II,” Varrin noted that the Admiral's face twisted into a grimace, as the cup of caf he was holding was shattered as his hand clenched into a fist, “did a micro-jump and launched an attack on the Black Prince. It was as though there were two Wild Stallions, Admiral. Before anyone could figure it out, the second Wild Stallion disappeared, resolving itself into the original.

“Captain Caradoc fought valiantly, Admiral, giving no quarter to the Rebels, even as both Star Destroyers rolled to keep the other from penetrating their weakened shields, until his own ship was destroyed, moments after the Iron Duke succumbed to Rebel fire.

“I ordered our surviving vessels to withdraw before we were destroyed or captured.”

“Very well then,” Criofan said. He couldn't fault the captain before for pulling back. Nor could he just kill him, like Vader, for failure. That would devastate the morale of the fleet. “You did what you were able to, Captain. Have what's left of your squadron put into Deepdock for repairs. Dismissed.”

“Yes sir. Thank you Admiral,” Varrin said saluting. As he turned, he paused. “For what it's worth, sir, our crews fought as best as they could, without having to deal with the potential of fratricide. The Rebels' ships look like ours.” The captain of the Tiger resumed his walk off the bridge of the flagship.

“Sever the head of the rancor, and the body falls.” Admiral Caradoc stood there, watching his fleet through the viewports, pondering. “Lt. Aubrey, call a meeting of the fleet and ground force commanders. We're going to sever the head of this rancor that is `Earth' once and for all.”

00000

Vulcan
40 Eridani A III

 

The bridge of the Wild Stallion II remained a scene of organized chaos. “Status report, Captain,” Ranma called as he entered the bridge of his flagship, Setsuna, Usagi, and T'Mir hard on his heels.

“Sir,” the former submarine commander replied, turning from the holotable, “the Prometheus, Ling, and Stingray are five minutes out from intercept. I took the liberty of reordering the battle line being formed, just in case more ships revert to normalspace.”

“Very good. Captain T'Mir, your thoughts?”

The Vulcan captain looked at the holographic display. “We are in the dark as much as you are, General. We've only seen their ships on our sensors, but they've left after our attempts at opening communications.”

“General,” Lt. Merrik called, “Colonel O'Neill reports he's approaching the unidentified ship. Unknown ship has still not replied to his hails.”

Ranma watched as the three EarthForce ships approached the contact. “Is it possible that our communications systems are incompatible?”

“It would explain a great many things, General,” T'Mir replied cryptically.

“Mr. Merrik, advise Colonel O'Neil that prudence requires him to open his weapons ports. He is to take no action that might precipitate a hostile action, but may defend his vessel and wingmates if the need arises.”

“Yes General.”

“May the Force be with us,” he said quietly, “and that these aliens prove to be friendly.”

Usagi was close enough to overhear the Japanese Jedi. “I'm sure they will, Ranma,” she said chipperly. “After all, Captain T'Mir and I got the rebels on the planet to not attack any of our troops, and even agreed to ally with us.”

“That they did, General,” T'Mir confirmed.

“Excellent,” Ranma replied. “That's the first good news I've heard all day, that didn't require a turbolaser pointed at someone else.

“Mr. Merrik, contact EarthForce Headquarters on a secure channel with that information. Also advise them that we are in another First Contact situation, with a previously unidentified race.”

“Yes sir.”

“Helm,” Captain Dodge called down to the crew pit,” “bring us alongside the Prometheus.”

“Aye sir.”

00000
USS Prometheus, BC-303

 

“Inform the General that his message is understood,” Colonel O'Neill told the ship's communications officer. “`Take no action that might precipitate a hostile action.' What does General Lim think I am, a warmonger?”

“Perhaps General Lim has read several of your after-action reports, O'Neill,” Teal'c commented. There were suppressed chuckles from some of the Air Force and Navy personnel on the bridge of Earth's first home-grown starship.

“Alright, enough of that,” O'Neill quipped. “Anything yet?”

“No sir. Friendship messages being broadcast on all frequencies and spectrums, in all languages in our database.”

“Tactical- status?”

“We are at yellow alert, Colonel. Turbolasers manned and ready, capacitors are not charged, however. Colonel Quest has the fighter wing on alert. Unidentified vessel has come to a halt.”

“Bring us alongside,” Jack ordered. “Maintain yellow alert, keep the weapons systems on standby. Tactical, put the target on main viewscreen.”

“Aye, sir. Z-plus 5 degrees, Y-negative 10,” Lt. Meriwether replied, bringing the Prometheus alongside the unidentified ship, as the large plasma display shimmered to life.

The unidentified ship was flat—no more that possibly 10 or 12 decks high—but broad, and shaped like a double-bladed dagger. One portion of the screen began to fill in with data the sensors recorded of the colorful red and black ship.

“Damn,” LTC. Pendergast muttered, “ship's almost as big as an Impstar.”

“Colonel O'Neill, unidentified ship's coming about. She's making her run up to lightspeed …” A pinpoint of light formed, and then opened up into hyperspace. The unknown ship accelerated towards the “gate” and made the jump to lightspeed. “She's gone, sir.”

“Goddamn,” Jack muttered.

“Sir, flagship is coming alongside.”

“This won't make us look good.”

“Colonel,” Major Carter said, “they left before we initiated contact. Wouldn't be the first time something like this has happened to us.”

“I know, Sam. It's the frustration, that's all.” Jack turned to the communications officer. “Get me General Lim.”

“Aye sir.”

A holographic representation of the EarthForce Commander-in-Chief appeared before Jack. “Colonel?”

“Sir, we moved to intercept the target; friendship messages being transmitted on all frequencies. As we began to move alongside, she made the jump to lightspeed.”

“I see. Any communications from them at all?”

“No sir. We're transmitting the data we recorded on the unidentified ship. She looked powerful, General, but we're still analyzing the data. Her weapons systems may actually be weaker than they appear.”

“Understood Colonel.” Ranma moved closer. “Jack, don't worry about it. If they desire to make contact, they will. The Force works in mysterious ways, Colonel. Bring your element back into formation.”

“Of course it does General. Roger that, sir. Prometheus out.” The hologram faded. “Helm, bring us about. Communications, contact the Ling and Stingray. Tell them we're returning to the formation.”

“Aye sir.” The four ships came about and returned to orbit around Vulcan.

00000

 

The fleet, and supported ground forces, settled into a routine of garrison duty as the days began to turn into weeks. Imperial troops that surrendered were sent to Earth as supply ships from EDF Headquarters doubled as prison barges on the return trip, under escort of Star Destroyer, Dreadnaught, and what surviving Vulcan ships returned from the outer reaches of their territory. Engineers began the reconstruction of Vulcan, beginning with the all important medical infrastructure.

Ranma sat in his office aboard the flagship, going over intelligence and logistical reports, as well as the interrogation reports from Imperial prisoners. As soon as the system was secure, he'd sent back most of his fleet to Earth, to bolster the homeworld's defenses. The Wild Stallion II, Jupiter, Pluto, and Luna remained on station in the Vulcan system, with a handful of corvettes, Dreadnaughts, and Vulcan ships. So intent he was in his ruminations, he missed the intercom chime.

“Plot to General Lim.”

Pulled out of his work, he hit the activation stud. “Lim here.”

“General, two new ships have arrived in system. Transponder codes identify them as the Daedalus and Ziolkowski.”

“Very well. Signal my compliments to them, and have them report to Captain Goldstein on the Jellicoe. He'll assign them to their stations.”

“Aye sir. Plot out.”

Setting the report flimsies to the side, Ranma sat back and looked out the viewports. He could just pick out the twinkling of the newest ships in his fleet off in the distance. “Well, Earth's shipyards seem to be picking up production. We have a new ally, and there may be another new ally in the horizon. Or they could be a new enemy.”

“Bridge to General Lim.”

“Yes, Commander?”

“Message from Captain T'Mir. She has the new Ambassador to Earth on board, and is ready to proceed.”

“Signal the Jupiter, Soryu, Hood, and Armstrong. They're to accompany us to Earth. Inform Captain Goldstein on the Jellicoe that his is in command of the fleet while we're at Headquarters. Have Captain T'Mir bring her vessel aboard the Wild Stallion.”

“Aye, sir. Bridge out.”

 

Ranma walked onto the bridge of his flagship. The formation lights of the Jupiter could be seen in the near distance, while the three Dreadnaughts hovered off the prow of the flagship. Captain T'Mir's transport, the Valh'alla, was secured in the main hangar of the Imperator, and Ambassador Soval placed in VIP quarters on the Wild Stallion II.

Captain Dodge turned to face the Commander in Chief. “General, all vessels have reported in.”

“Signal the group to make the jump to lightspeed.”

“Yes sir.”

00000

 

The Wild Stallion II cruised placidly through the Jovian moon system, the Jupiter, Soryu, Hood, and Armstrong running escort.  The gas giant hung over menacingly over the flagship, the Great Red Spot spinning below the ship's ventral keel.  On the dorsal hull of the Imperator, a maintenance access hatch slid open as a lift carrying two spacesuited figures rose up to hull level.  One was carrying what looked like a golf bag; the other had an argyle sweater vest over his spacesuit.  With careful steps, they walked off the lift and towards the edge of the hull.  The caddy set the bag on to the hull, activated the electromagnet contained in the base, and retrieved the driver, a ball and tee.

Captain Dodge placed the ball and tee on the hull of the warship, took the driver from his caddy, and slipped the safety lanyard around his wrist.  As the ship passed Io, he squared up, and swung.  “Wow,” Ensign Pulver exclaimed, as sensor telemetry on the ball registered it entering a volcano on Io's Plains of Prometheus.  “A hole in one, sir.  Better than Sailor Jupiter's last shot.  Man, I'd hate to be on the bridge of the Jupiter when she finds out.

“Now, can we go back in before our suits get hit and depressurize?”

“Of course, Ensign. I just couldn't afford such an opportunity to slip by,” Dodge replied, as they made their way back to the maintenance lift.

 

Makoto watched the diminutive forms of Dodge and Pulver walk across the hull of the Wild Stallion from the bridge of her Vicstar.  The faint red aura coming from the Senshi of Jupiter was shocking enough for the executive officer of her ship to step away from the viewports and wonder if she'll explode in righteous fury.  After all, not only was she Ranma's sister, a Jedi Knight, and a Sailor Senshi, she also found time to play in the Japan's women's amateur golf league.  “I can't believe a normal human was able to do that,” she fumed.  “That damned tattoo is going to be the least of his concerns when I'm finished with him.”

Captain Ralgha gave the Jedi a catty smirk.  “I believe Commanderrr Dodge has played golf prrrofesssionally, Lady Jupiterrr.  Therrre arrre rrrumorrrs he did something similarrr while aboarrred the Amerrrican submarrrine Orrrlando.  And subsequently got into trouble forrr it.”

Makoto turned and pulled up his dossier photo on one of the terminals.  As she appreciated the Commander's rugged good looks, the red aura dissipated, allowing the bridge crew a chance to release the breath they were holding.  “You know, I've never had a tour of the ship.  I wonder if he'll welcome me aboard,” she mused quietly.  Several officers and enlisted near her had to try hard, very hard, to keep straight faces.

At least she didn't say he looked like herrr old sempai, Captain Ralgha thought to himself, as he returned to the business of running his warship.

00000

 

Ranma suddenly felt weak and nauseous, and wound up resting against the desk in his quarters.  Setsuna looked at her husband.  “Are you alright?”

“I've just had a dreadful image through the Force,” he said, ominously.  “As though it came from neither the Light nor the Dark, but from somewhere in between.”

“Perhaps it was what your brother termed the `Sticky' side of the Force,” Setsuna commented, as her husband recovered from the tremor. “What was it?”

“For a moment, it was as though the voice of a sole man cried out, asking to be released. From Makoto's clutches, of all things.”

“Oh my,” Setsuna uttered, a knowing smirk appearing on her face, “I wonder who her `victim' will be.”

Ranma arched an eyebrow. “What aren't you telling me, my dear?”

“That, lover, is a secret.”

“If it is Captain Dodge, remember, he's old enough to be her father. Mako-chan's only 17.” Ranma shook his head. “Who'd have thought that my little sister is more perverted than my master's master.”