Star Trek Online: Pendragon

  Star Trek Online: Pendragon Book 2 - Angle of Incidence The Andorian found this infuriating.  Three years of clandestine research and development, keeping most of the actual details of the project off the official record so that Bajoran whore would be caught back-footed when the time came... and then that grozheth toy of his clock-work bastard of a predecessor snatch triumph away. "We have it on long range, Inquisitor," the pink-skin female at tactical stated. "Time to intercept?" The Andorian Inquisitor asked, idly rubbing the remaining stump of his left antenna.  "Five minutes." Inquisitor Duth let a soft growl escape his throat. Too long had he been in the shadow of the emperor's favourite "Admiral". Leeta had been nothing more than a comfort girl until she managed to somehow gain the powers of the Pah-wraiths. Since then, she had clawed her way up the ranks, finally being appointed Admiral and being given command of the Emperor's ow...

 Through the front view-port, D'arko could see the power of the strange ship was at a minimum. Pale amber emergency lighting futilely attempted to conquer the darkness, allowing only the most nominal of detail the benefit of visibility. The Maelstrom had been tractored into the cavernous hangar bay of the I.S.S. Pendragon, where it was surrounded by... well, mostly unidentified fighter craft. They were similar to the new Kestrels, but had a more aggressive look to them. That stood to reason. Da'mi'en D'arko recognized the I.S.S. registration. It indicated this ship's origin: the Terran Empire of and alternate "mirror" universe. This was... unnerving. The universe in question was documented to be the home of a terribly cruel and violent alternate version of the Federation, known as the Terran Empire. In this universe, Earth had expanded and subjugated hundreds of worlds, enslaving their people to suit the whims of a series of capricious and barbarous empero...

 Da'mi'en D'arko sat in the cramped office module of the Maelstrom rereading his report to Starfleet Command explaining the loss of his ship after a mere month of deployment. It seemed like an impossible set of circumstances which brought it on. He took an absent-minded sip of raktajino.  It had been a mere two hours since he was briefly blinded by the flash of the Pendragon's erupting warp core, taking the ship into oblivion. He had managed, though improvisational thinking, to save most of the crew. Of the nearly 500 still on board at the time of the explosion, only four hadn't made it to safety. D'arko supposed it was as much as any captain could have hoped for in such circumstances. Still, it was too many losses. For such a short mission, to have lost not just eighteen crew members, but even the ship, herself, was... The door chimed. "Come" D'arko said to the air. Torgas entered the small office, helping itself to the single extra chair next to ...

 "Computer, cancel destruct." D'arko commanded to the ship. "Unable to comply." "Cancel Reichenbach protocols!" Moriarty's voice came from the computer once more, "No, Captain. you were warned." "Grozit! D'arko to Engineering! Can you shut this down?" "I'm trying Captain, but the controls are locked out pretty tight, "Crad's voice was desperate, though determined. "Keep on it, Chief. D'arko to Torgas! Do you have any patients who can't walk away right now?" "GC Townshend and Falow are still unconscious, but stable." was the Doctor's report. "Prepare to emergency transport your patients and yourself to Maelstrom. Attention, all hands, Senior officers to emergency stations, all other hands... abandon ship." The pounding of D'arko's heart, he was sure, was audible over the ship wide. The bridge crew, to their credit, maintained professionalism, even in the face...

 The conference room, at the insistence of Sorak, had been secured. Only Moriarty, D'arko, Klortho and Starr had been permitted in, the latter three at the requirement of the Captain. It was, after all, his ship, though that seemed, at the moment, to be a tenuous claim at best. Sorak's delegation would beam directly to the conference room. It was an unusual request, if, indeed, it could be called a request, but these were unusual times. At the appointed time, three transporter beams coalesced around the table and a Vulcan male, am Andorian female and what was, apparently, a Breen materialized. They all wore nondescript black uniforms devoid of any rank or division insignia. The Andorian female eyed D'arko with unconcealed suspicion. "Professor Moriarty. Captain D'arko. I am Sorak, Captain of the Nebula. This is my first officer, Tarah Low," the Vulcan said, indicating the Andorian. I understand you are having a little bit of a... difficulty here. We've com...

 Captain D'arko stood before the usurper at his ready room desk. The holographic sociopath examined the mobile holo-emitter as jeweller would inspect a diamond, carefully turning it in his ersatz hands. "Remarkable, my dear Captain, that such a small trinket could finally provide me freedom." The playful smile on Moriarty's face kept D'arko on edge.  "Well... Professor... it won't be complete freedom, but you'll be able to leave the ship. The emitter will need to be recharged about once every day or two for about twelve hours. You can use that time to... well, I suppose, sleep. Of course, if you expend the charge entirely, you'll cease to exists... a more peaceful way to go than you offered my pilots." "Which is, you think, better than I deserve, "Moriarty chuckled. "Perhaps you're right, Captain. Perhaps I am the devil you perceive me to be. Perhaps I am the embodiment of pure evil. Or, perhaps, like the original devil, th...