STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION Picard: Captain's Log, Stardate 41412.3. We are on a diplom

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION Picard: Captain's Log, Stardate 41412.3. We are on a diplomatic mission to the Desert Moon of Jannath [hereafter referr to as DMJ -Ed.]. On board is Starfleet Ambassador Thorla Tann. Starfleet wishes to open diplomatic relationships with what is commonly known as the New Galactic Republic, and a member of their Galactic Senate will be meeting us at our destination...Data, what do we know about the Republic? Data: Well, we do know that they've just recently deposed the Empire... Riker: What Empire? Data: Well, sir, it was just called...the Empire. Riker: Interesting. Continue, Data. Data: Also, many of the citizens of the Republic believe in a mysterious entity called...The Force. Worf: Superstitious nonsense. Picard: I assume Klingons have no deities then, Lt. Worf? Worf: Definitely not, Captain. That would be foolishness. Troi: Sir, if I may... Picard: Yes, Counsellor? Troi: I have...experienced this Force. It can be both wonderful...and hideous. Picard: May I ask why? Troi: It's very difficult to explain, Captain. (pauses to collect her thoughts) Imagine all the life in the Galaxy coalescing as one immense source of energy and emotion. Picard: That would make them enormously powerful! Troi: And enormously dangerous, sir, for there is a dark side to the Force just as strong as the side of good. But only a few can actually manipulate this mass of energy to any effect. Ambassador Tann (finally noticed by camera, although she has been standing in the background for the whole time): And we are going to meet one of these...manipulators, as you call them, right there: the DMJ. (To Be Continued) Alexander C. Lau a.k.a. AL THE ST:TNG FAN SCENE TWO: STAR WARS (A little after The Return of the Jedi) (Han solo, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, C-3PO and R2-D2 are on the Millenium Falcon, in hyperspace on the way to the Desert Moon of Jannath [DMJ]) Chewie: {GRUNT} Solo: Yeah, I hate diplomatic missions too, Chewie. I don't like the idea of having to work with these Federation guys. Luke: Don't sell the Federation short, Han. My sources tell me that they have more and better technology than we could ever dream of. Their weapons technology could probably outright win us the war against the Empire. Solo: Yeah, but their ship design sucks the big one, I hear. Chewie: {GRUNT, GRUNT} Solo: "Look who's talking." You keep out of this. Besides, we got the Empire beat. Right, Chewie? Chewie: {GRUNT} Luke: No. We will not succeed until the Emperor is dead. I sense my report of his demise was...premature. Solo: Great. I got a bad feeling about this... R2-D2: {beep, beep} SCENE THREE: (On board a renegade Imperial Cruiser at a round table discussion.) Gen. Ting: Right now, we're about dead even with the Republic. If they get ahold of the Federation technology... Emperor: Yes, I know. The balance will be upset. The Dark Side will lose even more power, and the Empire will truly be crushed. Reports? Intelligence, Porta? Gen. Porta: (clears his throat) We know that the Republic is sending an emissary to meet the Federation at the DMJ. If we could get there first... Emperor: Say no more. Admiral Yarg, prepare for hyperspace jump. Yarg: Destination, Master? Emperor: We will go to the *fourth* moon of Jannath. Porta: But Master, the Desert Moon is the *third*! Emperor: Do you doubt me, Porta? (Porta chokes for almost a minute, then is released.) Emperor: Unfortunately, we cannot afford such attrition. (pauses) The Empire will return young Skywalker's...favor. I will it! (To Be Continued.) Alexander C. (Call me Alex) Lau a.k.a. AL THE ST:TNG FAN (On the Enterprise) Picard: I wonder what's taking them so damn long? Wesley: Excuse me sir... Picard: Yes, Wesley? Oh, yes, sorry for cursing. I'll try not to do that in the future. Wesley: That's not what I wanted to talk to you about, sir. There's an unidentified ship approaching at approximately Warp 6.8. Tann: That must be the Republic ship, Captain. It seems they can only travel at one speed faster than light. But...normally, they can't be detected by sensors. How... Wesley: I modified our ship's sensors to be able to detect any ships coming in from hyperspace, Ambassador. I had been studying that in my Astrophysics class. Tann: Amazing. Yar: Humph. I hated Astrophysics. Data: But Astrophysics is one of the greatest mathematical and scientific achievements of mankind, dating back to the late 20th and early 21st centuries when... Picard: Enough, Data. We all know enough about Astrophysics to run this starship. Riker: Captain...when were we supposed to meet these Republic people? Picard: We're scheduled to beam down at 1800 hours, that's in four hours, number one. Do you want to assemble the away team already? Riker: Not yet, Captain...Lt. LaForge, how soon will the approaching ship reach its destination? LaForge: At current speed, 17 minutes and 48 seconds, Commander Riker. Riker: That's what I thought... Picard: What's wrong, number one? Riker: Either they're incredibly early, or it's *not* the Republic ship! (Dramatic music in the background as camera pans to closeups of all the major characters) (To Be Continued) The story so far: The Enterprise and the Millenium Falcon are to meet at the Desert Moon of Jannath to open diplomatic relations between the Federation and the Republic. Another reason behind this is for the Republic to gain valuable technology that the Federation has. The Empire, down but not yet out, has other plans... [*WARNING*: Major plot device liberties taken with this episode!!!] (Aboard the Ferengi Star Cruiser _Entrepreneur_) Lt. Yeeg: [*NOTE*: all dialogue enclosed in <> is translated from Ferengei.] Capt. Forn: Emperor: Greetings, Ferengi. I am the Emperor. Forn: Greetings, Master Emperor. How may we be of service? Emperor: I wish to speak of technology; specifically, military technology. Forn: Very good, Master Emperor. We have much to offer you in that area. But... Yeeg: Forn: Commander Farb: (Video shot of Imperial Cruiser virtually tripling the Ferengi Cruiser in size and mass.) Yeeg: Forn: Master Emperor, the Ferengi do not make one-way deals, and we do not scare easily. What do you have to offer us in return for the technology we so humbly offer you? Emperor: Excellent, Captain...Forn, is it? Unfortunately, Captain Forn, you will see, despite our differences in technologies, that *you* are trapped and that *I* have the power. Farb: Forn: (Gestures to cut off audio) Farb: (Pauses, as if laboring) Emperor: I'm waiting, Captain Forn. What is your decision? Forn: Lt. Commander Wen: Forn: (gestures to Yeeg) Master Emperor, we humbly offer our services to you. Emperor: Excellent. Just as I had foreseen. (To Be Continued!) The story so far: The Enterprise and the Millenium Falcon are to meet at the Desert Moon of Jannath to open diplomatic relations between the Federation and the Republic. Another reason behind this is for the Republic to gain valuable technology that the Federation has. The Empire, down but not yet out, has other plans, and has bullied a Ferengi Star Cruiser into aiding his cause... (Millenium Falcon) Solo: (walking into the passenger area) We'll be arriving in a little less than two hours, so make yourselves comfortable...what's wrong, Luke? Luke: (groaning) Pain...the pain... Solo: (looking at camera) That sounds vaguely familiar... Luke: There's been a great disturbance in the Force. As if...the Emperor has gained a large amount of confidence... Solo: Got anything more solid to go on? Luke: Wait...Oh, no! Solo: What? Luke: The Emperor...he has the technology we've been seeking! It's only a matter of months, maybe even weeks, before it's deployed against the Republic! C-3PO: Don't worry Master Luke, we'll get the technology we need from the Federation, and... Solo: And we'll all be even again, only more deadly. Great. That's just what we need. (Enterprise, sick bay. There are literally dozens of people, mostly children, in or around the sick bay...) Picard: What's wrong, Doctor? Why did you call me down here? Crusher: Chicken pox, Captain. At least, that's what I *think* it is. Picard: Chicken pox? What in God's name...isn't that an obscure 20th century virus? Crusher: Yes, but this is obviously some strain that's immune to the vaccines that we've developed. Picard: (puts hand on chin) But why *our* ship? And why now? Crusher: My best guess is that one of the civilians brought it on board. Picard: Anything you can do about it? Crusher: I can try to come up with a vaccine, but those already down with it will have to suffer through it. Nothing I can do there, Jean. Picard: This is *damned* peculiar. Crusher: Jean? Picard: Yes? Crusher: Please don't curse in front of the children. Picard: Yes... (To Be Continued!)