Nine Months Ago...

His station was falling apart around his ears. He was trapped under a massive pile of deuterium rubble. His last chance to escape Macedonia 2 was gone forever. Although he couldn't see them, he was confident that Hudzen and Greymoran had been crushed by the debris as well. He hadn't heard either them shout, he hadn't heard a transport beam, not even a personal dimensional travel device. All he could hear was ringing in his ears caused by the violent shudder of the collapsing station. The only reason he was still alive was because most chunks of debris were floating outward, while others were chewed up by the dimensionl eddys of the rings of Avalon system's only gas giant. He struggled to move again, but to no avail. Jake Grey screamed at the top of his lungs. His right hand man, the troll TorGal was gone. Most of his ships had already abandoned him. His station's command center crew were all either dead, or running away. He would've been comforted to know that at that moment his most loyal Golems and Destroyer Droids were pounding away at the massive rubble that blocked them from their master, all in an attempt to save him. Without him the Golems would die, and the Droids would be useless. But he couldn't hear them. A large chunk of his once massive battel fortress fell past, narrowly missing his head. The loud clang deafened him for what felt like an eternity, while the violent shaking of the ground was causing him incredible muscle pains. He sighed, and spoke his favorite quote. "Howe's Law. Everyone has a scheme that will not work. I knew the fun wouldn't last. I'd just hoped it would be longer than this." Suddenly he was almost blinded. A bright light was lowering through the flickering force sheild that kept what air there was left in the crippled space station, and the only barrier between Grey and explosive decompression. t was coming from a majestic ship. A long, silver ship. It landed on the deck of one of Grey's fighter platforms, now deovid of fighters. The wall seperating the engine room from that particular flight deck was gone now, and so was all but a slender piece of floor, slightly tilted to one side. If a human attempted to walk on it, he would likely slip and fall headlong into the dimensional eddys. Assuming the lack of air didn't kill him first. The long, silver ship descended quietly, without fuss, its long legs unlocking in a smooth ballet of technology. It landed surprisingly gently. A ramp extended. Another light streamed out. A tall figure appeared silhouetted in the hatchway. It walked effortlessly down the ramp, across the unstable deck plates, and stood in front of Grey. "I'm saved," he groaned. The blood loss was starting to affect him badly, blurring his vision, and slurring his speech. "You are a useless git Grey. A pathetic excuse for a sentient life form. I've met dead fungus with more intelligence, you stup!d knee-biter. I just figured you should know that before you snuff it," it said simply. It was alien, very alien. It had a peculiar alien tallness, a peculiar alien flattened head, peculiar slitty little alien eyes, extravagently draped golden robes with a peculiary alien collar design, and pale gray green alien skin that had a lustrous sheen about it that most gray green races can aquire only with plenty of excercise and very expensive soap. Jake Grey's first sensations of hope had been instantly overwhelmed by astonishment. He searched his brain, and as the creature walked away, making a mark on it's very alien looking clipboard, he attempted to shout at it. But the final collapse of the Macedonia 2 had begun, and the alien, now taking off in his ship, couldn't hear a word of it. Jakob Grey, the pan-dimensional genocidal maniac and murderer, had the chance to say only one thing before the force sheilds failed and his remians were scattered in orbit of the Avalon system's only gas giant along with little tiny pieces of his once massive space fortress. And that thing was, "HEY! Come back here and say that to my face you stup!d gangly piece of-!"

Three Months Ago...

For a party it was actually quite somber. There were streamers. There was cake. There was the kind of loud annoying music that people only enjoy at parties, but avoid like a posionous reptile in normal social situations. And the guests of honor were very much alive. But it was still very somber. Few people talked, and those that did were simply ignorant of the signifigance of what was happeneing, partly because they didn't know the guests of honor, but primarily because most of them hadn't even been invited. It was the first official party held in the rebuilt headquarters of the Extra Dimensional Control Agency, and it was in honor of two people who were going to be leaving their ship. Rita Yeager, newborn child cradled in her arms, her head resting on the shoulder of her husband Keith who was decked out in an only slightly uncomfortable XDCA dress uniform sat next to the Wanderer Ahz, who seemed unsure how to feel at the moment. The three of them were seated next to the host of the party, Captain Greymoran of the X.S.S. Archangel. To Gryemoran's left was his son, Jackson Dupree. To Jackson's left were the robot Hudzen and the Vulcan Sorik. Next to Sorik was the very reluctant head of the XDCA, Jerry Redding, former Captain of the X.S.S. Revanche, now in drydock undergoing a refit. Redding has found himself offered the job after Greymoran himself has turned it down. Redding was forced to take it after leanring that no one else was even being offered the position, so he was now the leader of a multi-dimensional Republic. And he didn't find that at all amusing. Scattered amongst the people seated at various sized dinner tables hastily assembled from various ships from various universes, were the rest of the crew of the Revanche, the Wanderer Adon, and the crew of the X.S.S. St. Helens. And among them were the party crashers. No one quite knew who they were, but they were there, and they wore XDCA uniforms, so people generally left them alone. It was a sad day for Greymoran and his crewmates. Two of his crewmates, Rita and Ahz, were leaving the Archangel. True, Rita would be coming back at the end of her maternity leave, but the wizard who was also a Captain didn't like the idea of having to train another pilot, of getting to know another pilot, whom would be shipped to another ship in 18 months anyway. And poor Ahz. He simply wasn't emotionally prepared for the responsibility the reformed XDCA hierarchy had dumped on his head. The job of Head of XDCA Science Division was the kind of job that drove mortal men to beleive they were hedgehogs and some immortal men to beleive they were lemmings after a few years, and that was before things got REALLY stressful. Greymoran did not envy Ahz at all. This party was for both of them. No, he corrected himself internally. Three of them are being honored tonight. Anna Belle Yeager turned a week old today. This party was as much for her as for Rita and Ahz. The conversation was dying down, and the final guests, some of Ahz's other Wanderer friends, had arrived. Only ten minutes late, Greymoran thought. Pretty good for a Wanderer. He stood up, and tapped his glass. His dress uniform was not quite as comfortable as Keith's but luckily no one could see what the back of the pants were doing because his back was turned. He had to resist the urge to pull them out, uncomfortable as it was to have them riding up there. "Laides, gentlemen, invited trans-gendered species (someone in the audience made a crack about someone inviting all of Greymoran's ex-girlfriends, but everyone ignored him except for the woman who came with him, who hit him over the head with her purse, much to the rest of the table's other ocupant's delight), we are here to honor and say goodbye to two of the most importnat members of my crew. Rita Yeager, the best d@mned pilot I have ever seen," he paused as Rita took a bow while the room erupted into cheers. She sat down and kissed Keith full on the mouth. "and Ahz, one of the most brilliant men I've had the privelge, no, the HONOR to match minds with." The audience erupted into cheers yet again. Ahz stood up and took his bow. After he sat down, looking uncomfortable with the whole thing (what does he have to complain about? Greymoran thought. He doesn't have a dress uniform to pull out of his ass), the audience started chanting, "SPEECH! SPEECH!" Greymoran turned to Rita, but despite having only been out of the hsopital for three days she had somehow managed to completley vanish, along with Keith. Greymoran turned to Ahz, who was starting to work on teleporting away. He saw Greymoran smiling at him, and sheepishly he closed the small portal that was opening under his chair. "There's no way to get out of this is there?" he said. Greymoran shook his head. "Do your duty soldier, and stand before the verbal firing squad." Ahz sighed. He stood up and went to the podium. Greymoran was smiling with the knowledge that the attention of the gate crashing hecklers was off him at last. He also smiled knowing that as soon as he finished the mental components of his spell, that man who made the comment about his girlfriends was going to have squirrel arms for several days. Ahz cleared his throat, and began his speech.

Just as Ahz is about to begin his speech, the doors open, and a butler steps inside.
Butler: Jackson Dupree, his wife Butrfli, and their children.
Greymoran and the other Jackson look suprised as the LICC's Jackson and family approach.
LICC Jackson: Hello father, Jackson.
Archangel Jackson: What are you doing here? The last we had heard, you were dead...
LICC Jackson: Well, a lot has happened in that time...
Anyway, due to fact that Butrfli and me have traveled the dimensions in my captainly retirement, we have been appointed by the EarthSysGov and its representives in my dimension as the official ambassador and greeter of the new XDCA... so... greetings.
Butrfli: Hi Dad... yep, Jackson and I finally got married... right after he returned from the dead.
Jackson: By the way, there's another Dupree on the Spidership... Alex Dupree, from a dimension in which the O'kaks almost took over Earth.

Greymoran and Jackson share a look. Greymoran's look says, "Do I even want to know?" while Jackson's says "Probably not." Instead Greymoran smiles, hugs his son and daughter-in-law, and directs them to Keith and Rita Yeager's empty seats.

LICC Jackson: So, if the XDCA is back in business, Jake Grey must be gone. I know you were at my funeral, but the LICC hasn't heard from you since...
Archangel Jackson: Well, we've been somewhat busy. Sir, should I fill him in, or should you?

"Shhh!" Just about everyone in the audience, and even Hudzen, start to hiss at the two Jacksons to shut up and let Ahz begin his speech, while Ahz himself has used the convenient inteuption to prepare something eloquent.

The LICC Jackson leans over to Butrfli
Does it feel like we've been sitting here for days, and why is everybody just sitting there?
Butrfli: Oh..I think I've activated a time-stopping spell accidently. It should disappate soon.
Jackson: Good.

My friends, I am honored to be standing before you. Our defeat of Jake Grey was only the start of the new adventures of the XDCA. With my help, and with the help of the other Wanderers, Science Divison and the XDCA will explore and expand it's reach, protecting and exploring as many universes and dimensions as we can. I've been told that many of the places Grey devistated will be under special XDCA protection, and being the first ones to be rebuilt.
Azh pauses, and looks at the Archangel crew
I have had the honor and the pleasure of serving with the finest crew that I have ever served with. Good luck, Captain Greymoran, and may your journey be safe.
A glass of wine raises itself up and lands on the podium. Ahz picks it up
A toast, my friends, to the new XDCA, may it, as the Vulcans say, Live long and Prosper.

Cheers erupt. Everyone smiles and laughs and the party is now in full swing. Greymoran pats Ahz on the back. "There, that wasn't so bad was it? Of course Rita'll have to pay for skipping out," he says with a grin and a wink. Ahz smiles and takes Greymoran's hand and gives it a firm shake. "Anytime Keith's analytical mind freezes up, you'll know where I am. And Ryo-O will always be there for you too." Greymoran nods. "Well, I don't wnat to keep you away from your adoring public Ahz. Go. Mingle." As Ahz moves into the party to chat with several people from Science Division, Jackson steps up to Gryemoran's side. "So, any word on who our temp pilot is going to be?" "All I know is he's half-Human, and he's transferring from one of the STU ships that helped us over the Rings. The U.S.S. Hercules I think." "Wasn't that the same ship that Hudzen was on when he went, well, soul searching for lack of a better term?" Greymoran nods. "Speaking of our chief of security, where did he sneak off to?" "I don't know. You know he hasn't felt safe in crowds ever since the Greyvirus thing." "But he beat it. Over three months ago."

Greymoran and Jackson each take a sip of their champagne. "Do you think he'll ever tell us how he beat it? He seemed almost ashamed when he came back to us," Jackson asked. "In his own time son. In his own time."

Today...

After nine months, the X.S.S. Archangel was ready to fly. All her systems repaired, a new computer installed, and two new crew members en route from Avalon Spaceport. Captain Greymoran and Chief Hudzen surveyed the new bridge. It was almost identical to the new bridge, but the tactical console had been moved behind the captian's chair to allow the chief of security to move more quickly if the captian's life was in danger. Keith was seated at the science station, over seeing the final diagnostics on the sensors, while Commander Jackson Dupree, now officially second-in-command of the Archangel, sat on the other side of the bridge, simultaneously handling communications and Ops. The turbolift door opened, and two people came stepping out. One was a young and agressive looking young man who, if Greymoran hand't known better, could've been mistaken for a Romulan. Of course he was only half-Romulan. And half-Human. "Lieutenant Walker, nice of you to join us," Greymoran said. The young man merely smiled. "Just checking to see that our shuttles were up to snuff sir." "The XDCA techs could've done that just fine, and so could our two assigned shuttle pilots. Take your post Mr. Walker." Lt. Cedric Walker, born on Mars in STU-57 in the year 2377, saluted with a hint of sarcasm, and sat at the console that had once been the seemingly natural extension of Rita Yeager. The other occupant of the lift was Vulcan engineer Sorik. He seemed almost annoyed having been in a tight tube with Mr. Walker, even though it was only for a minute. "Captain, the warp engines are operating at 100%. All systems are at nominal. I am concerned however at the effect our new weapons systems may have on that. They have not been properly tested yet. The gravity mines for example. Although simulations suggets their rnage will not effect us, it would be inconvenient for us to learn this during combat." "So noted Lieutenant Commander. I'm sure we'll get our chance to test them once we're off. Would you like to take the secondary engineering console on the bridge or would you prefer to handle our launch from down there?" "I have no preference captain." Gryemoran smiled. "No doubt. Engineering this is the captain. Transfer primary controls to the bridge. Mr. Sorik, take a seat." The Vulcan merely nodded and sat at his console, next to a smiling Keith Yeager. "Haven't been in a real honest to goodness launch since the Yellow Dragon. Man she was a good ship." Greymoran surveyed his crew. Depsite Rita, Ahz, and Carrie being gone, it still felt good to be here. "Mr. Walker, prepare thrusters. Once the station crew is of ship, and Dr. Ssira arrives we'll be off." "Sir," Jackson cut in. "Do you know what our first mission is?" Greymoran smiled, and simply said, "Yes." He didn't elaborate. The mision wasn't classified. And in fact anyone on the ship could've simply looked it up in the mision logs of the ship's standard Starfleet isue computer. But for the most part they liked the mystery of it. Apart from Greymoran only Sorik actually knew the details. But since no one asked him, he never bothered to say. Hudzen stood silently, staring out at nothing in particular. Jackson couldn't help but wonder what the robot was thinking.

On the station, The LICC Jackson and his family watch the Archangel in a lounge for just that purpose.
Jackson: Want to stay for the launch?
Butrfli: Maybe, but I think I want to get back...I think we've given our greetings and such...
Jackson: Good point.
The group moves away from the window and head for the docking bay. The Lucy in the Sky emerges from the bay, and begins to head out.
Lucy in the Sky to the Archangel, Congratulations on your new mission and the return of the XDCA. Good luck with everything. Jackson out.
With that, A green wormhole forms in front of the ship, which goes through.

Hudzen was thinking about events that had transpired earlier that day. He had finally decided to tell and old friend about how he had rid himself of the Greyvirus once and for all. Hetziftin Brantalice, a Enterian that Hudzen had known for over 60 years and who happened to work for one of the XDCA's main news services, had contacted him that day. It had been the first time he had seen Brantalice since before Hudzen had stolen the Archangel with Carrie. Hudzen had decided to tell Brantalice everything that he had deemed relevant.
Hetz: Everything?
Hudzen: Everything.
Hetz: Okay, so after you fought the Grey thing back and regained control, you beamed to the bridge, battled, yada yada, and ended up in Grey's conference room while a White Dragon? Right? Had you cornered. As he speaks, he types information onto his PADD.
Hudzen: Yes, inside the conference room, I connected myself to Grey's computer system. It was there that I learned that the information on the program's destruction was encoded onto Greymoran's DNA. I had to get a sample of his blood to figure out how to beat this thing.
Hetz continues to press buttons on his PADDHetz: Okay, right, now, moving on, you escape the dragon and eventually got to Grey-
Hudzen: And a Magic Golem. And five vampyres.
Hetz: Right, five vamps and a Golem, magic. And?
Hudzen: Well...

Hudzen's fist slammed into the Golem's head, causing the creature to stagger back. This have Hudzen time to jump up and land a kick to the Golems midsection then to its head. The Golem was knocked a step to its left. Hudzen swung again, but this time, the Golem caught his incoming fist. Pulling him in by his arm and grabbing his midsection, the Golem slammed Hudzen into the ceiling then to the floor before launching him across the room into a bulkhead, the one vampyre that remained swooped in to attack as Hudzen tried to stand. He grabbed Hudzen's head and began slamming it into the bulkhead, again and again. Hudzen could see unending code and numbers scrolling across his vision. The damage that was being done to his body was more than it could take. If this continued, he'd be destroyed or shut down and Greymoran would be alone.
Stop it.
Hudzen grabbed the vampyre by the neck and quickly spun it into the wall, slamming it into it. The vampyre fell. Hudzen turned back to the Golem and charged. The Golem tried to brace itself for the robots charge, but it was lifted off of its feet and knocked into the wall, leaving a large crater in the once perfect metal. The Golem hit Hudzen, knocking him back a few feet and stood. Despite still having quite a bit of power, it was clearly getting tired and beaten. It swung its powerful arms through the air but Hudzen easily dodged, giving the Golem several hard, well place hits in return. After a few minutes of punishment, the Golem fell to one knee. Hudzen kicked it again and it fell to the ground.
It's time to end this.
Hudzen lifts the Golem to give it one more blow but the monster strikes first. Hudzen lands on the ground fifteen feet away. Sensors are malfuntioning. Motor functions are shutting down. He's beginning to detect only static. His inner computer has begun to go berserk. But through all the chaos he detects the Golem, standing, waiting. He scans it and realizes what he must do. He charges again bringing his fist back for one more blow. The room erupst in light, but Hudzen hardly notices. He just runs. The Golem roars, swinging wildly. They connect at the same time. Hudzen feels satisfaction as the Golem's head goes flying away from its body. But the feeling doesn't last. He realizes what the Golem's hit has done to him. The chaotic static he was seeing disappears and is taken over by black. He's shutting down. His body needs repair. The override is being overridden. "Greymoran" is all he can think as the darkness takes him. His body hits the ground and lies, unmoving. Suddenly, a small compartment in his head opens. A small device, a probe, exits. It was recently programmed to find one thing in the event that Hudzen's body were to shut down completely, a sample of Jakob Grey's blood. It scans the room and quickly finds what it was looking for. It rapidly collects and returns to Hudzen.
Hertz: That's how you got his blood? So it had the information, right? Why'd it take three months to get rid of Grey's program? Didn't the blood contain the information you needed?

Greymoran: Hudzen, are you alright?
Hudzen: Captain, yes sir. Hudzen blinked. He had been thinking of his earlier conversation for nearly 6 seconds.
Greymoran: Good. What do you think of Lt. Commander Sorik's concerns about the newly installed weapons?
Hudzen: They are valid sir. Testing is something we need to do before any mission is begun.
Greymoran nods.
Thank you Chief.

Greymoran nods. "All right. As soon as we're out we'll find a rouge comet to test the gravity mines on. As for the Gyro Destabilizer, well, that's a weapon best tested in battle. Why they decided to put it in the rear of the ship I don't know, but I guess it would make for an easier retreat." He looks to Jackson. "Any word from Doctor Ssira?" "No sir. Odd. I'd heard that the Gorn were a punctual race."

Actually Commander, the Tholians are the ones normally associated with punctuality. Though Gorn are certainly not known for tardiness.

One thing I've never been able to figure out, and I don't think I've seen it in the XDCA files... are Gorn cold or warm blooded?

Before anyone can answer Jackson's question the turbolift door opens, and a tall (almost 6' 5"), thin, light brown-skinned humanoid steps out. "Doctor Ssira reporting for duty ssir. Ssorry I wass late, but there wass a plassma leak in the shuttless nacelless." Greymoran nods. "Welcome abaord Doctor. I understand your grandmother served as chief medical officer aboard the first XDCA ship named Archangel?" The Gorn woman nods, but says nothing further. Greymoran motions for her to take an empty chair and turns back to face the viewscreen. "Take us out Mr. Walker."

I will add the repair of the shuttle's nacelles to my schedule.

The ship takes off, and Sorik gets the warp engines ready for the jump.

Engines are ready as soon as you are, Captain. I suggest we begin the test procedures for the weapons as soon as we are in an empty area of space.

Yeager has the disturbing feeling that Sorik is looking at him, but it may be his imagination, when the Vulcan says We should contrive to produce a suitable target for practicing on.

Vulcans have good memories, and so does Yeager... as far as their journey together in which they found themself in a strange version of Earth's Ancient Rome is concerned, that is. There was still something of an animosity between them, but Yeager doubted that Sorik was suggesting using him for target practise. It would be a highly illogical idea if meant seriously... and as everyone knows, Vulcans never jest.

Greymoran coughs and stands up. He touches the button on his chair that will carry his words to the entire ship. "It is customary for the captain of a vessel to give a speech just before she takes her maiden voyage. I don't know if it actually applies to this ship, since as you all know she's been through an awful lot in the past year. But, since this is her first official misison under the XDCA, and her first time out with a full crew compliment, I will give such a speech." He clears his throat again. "Jackson, you are I asume recording the spech?" Jackson nods. Greymoran smiles then continues to speak. "One year ago today, the XDCA was reborn in the ashes of what many call the Jake Grey War. Many people lost their lives in that tragedy. As the new flagship of the fleet, it will be our duty to prevent such a thing from occuirng again in our lifetimes. If we are to do that we will need to be more than just the crew of a starship. We need to be a family." He pauses for a moment. "You do not simply serve me as your captain. We serve each other. An old Earth saying I once read said United we stand, divided we fall. Let the crew of the X.S.S. Archangel stand united against all forms of darkness that threaten the stability of the multiverse." With that he motions for the recording to stop and the crew gets back to work. Greymoran sits down. "Well, what did you think?"

Very good, sir. Quite rousing. I must admit it feels a little strange being in a ship with a full crew again... I had gotten used to hving just a small number of us run the ship... By the way, what was done with Carrie?

A little grandiose perhaps. But I concur with the sentiments.

"I'm sure Carrie will be fine running the new space station orbiting Avalon. For an advanced A.I. like her running something that big is actually easier. Space stations have redundant back-ups out the yin-yang as your mother used to say. If something goes wrong there's less chance of people dying. Being an A.I. for a starship on the other hand is very stressful and can wear even a comp-personality like Carrie down."

The Archangel glides out of a dimensional portal into a cluttered area of space. All sorts of things, comets, starship wrecks, asteroids, rogue moons litter the area where the ship is about to test it's new weapons. "All right, here we are. XDCA training grounds in UPU1. Mr. Sorik, there are rouhgly three dozen dead and useless spaceships out there. Please choose one to fit a gryoscopic stabilizer on board so we can test our new gyro destabilizer. Mr. Yeager, find us a comet nearby for testing the gravity mines. I'll be in my ready room going over mission particulars. Mr. Dupreee, you have the conn."

Aye, sir.
Ok, you heard the man, time to test our our new toys.
Jackson glances at the sensors.
Odd.. Mr. Sorik, are the sensors being strange again, or are they detecting a faint life form reading in one of those dead ships?

Keith Yeager does a quick scan. "Sensors seem to be working fine sir." He hears a beep then checks his console again. "Sir, aft torpedo bay reports that the anti-grav loading device for the gravity mines has failed. We'll have to postpone thier testing."

Keith, besides the gravity mines and gyro destablizer, what other new things do we have?

They've failed? We just left spacedock after months of repair and refit. Everything should be working perfectly. Lt. Yeager, do we know exactly why this has happened?

Keith checks. He chuckles. "Some idiot spilled his drink in one of the generators. So much for foolproof technology eh guys?" Everyone on the bridge except Hudzen and Sorik share a brief laugh. "Well sir," Keith says, geting to Jakcson's question, "That's about it. Our shuttles have been upgraded though."

That is why our crew should not be drinking on the job.

I think I'll go down there and see what damage I can help repair. We need to get this mission underway.

Hudzen heads toward the turbolift.
Deck 6
The turbolift begins to take Hudzen down to the Archangel's bottom deck. On the way, Hudzen thinks back to his interview with Hetziftin

Hetz: So, the blood...

Hudzen: Yes, the blood contained information that I needed but it didn't contain the ultimate cure to Grey's program.

Hetz: What did it have?

Hudzen: Classified information that even Grey didn't want to admit existed. Locations, names of projects and operations. Grey intended to never even look upon the information he had encoded onto his DNA unless he felt that he absolutely needed to do so. I found one particular piece of information that interested me.

Hetz: What was that?

Hudzen: The location of one of Grey's secret bases. Like I said, it was a base that Grey turned a blind eye toward. I'd soon find out why.

Hetz: That's where you went, to this base.

Hudzen: Yes. It took a few weeks travel to reach it. What I found there were things that no living organism should ever see.

Hetz: Like what?

Hudzen: I'm not authorized to give the details but I can tell you that at this base, I saw projects that even Grey didn't want to know about. He let some of his scientists loose in this base and then he turned a blind eye onto what they were doing. He didn't care about the means. Just the ends. Considering what Grey did openly to the Multiverse, you can only imagine what he wanted to keep secret.

Hetz: And this was the place where they created the program he's put into your head?

Hudzen: Yes. That and many other things. Weapons of unspeakable horror. The scientists at these places modified living organisms into whatever they decided they needed to become and they didn't care what they were doing to the people they experimented upon. It didn't take long for me to find the information I needed. Both the process that created the program and what needed to be done to get rid of it. After I learned what I needed I contacted the XDCA. They sent several agents to assist. The agents arrived a week later and they performed the operations that needed to be done to rid me of any threat of the Greyvirus. When they reactivated me, I was on my way back to Avalon. The XDCA has sent a team to investigate the base and analyzed all of the information in Grey's blood sample. The program is gone.
After a short pause.

Hetz: That's it?

Hudzen: Yes.

Hetz: And you're authorized to give me all of that information.

Hudzen: Correct.
Hetz sighs.
Hetz: Okay. Just a few more questions...

The door opens to deck 6 and Hudzen exits, making his way to the mine launching area. He'd have to give Greymoran a report on what he'd told Hetziftin but first he had to get the mines working.

Keith runs a second sensor scan. "I'm not seeing this lifesign you were talking about sir," he says to Jackson. Jackson opens his mouth to tell Keith to check again, but is interupted by Greymoran re-entering the bridge. "We're going to have to cancel the weapons tests. I just got word that our first destiantion, O&HU1, is experiencing an odd dimensional flux. It appears to be naturally occuring but Jer-rather, President Redding wants us to check it out personally. But we still have to accomplis our original missions." Jackson's eyebrows raise. "What is our mission Captain?" "To bring an old friend back into the service," he says crypticlaly. He sits down and gestures to Cedric Walker. "Mr. Wlaker, take us to O&HU1." "Aye captain."

Hudzen exits the turbolift and pauses upon realizing that the Archangel doesn't have a Deck 6. He looks at a nearby door. 4. The turbolift had automatically taken him to Deck 4 which was convenient since that's the deck he needed to go to anyway. It was the ship's bottom deck. He soon arrives at the gravity mine launching area. One of the officers in the room, Lt. (JG) Gipson, looks up as the tall android enters.
Gipson: Mr. Hudzen, what can I do for you?
Hudzen: I have come down to see why the brand new weapons systems are not functioning properly.
Gipson: Well, we had a little accident down here, but it will only cause a short delay. Should take less than an hour to clean-
Hudzen: So one of your crew down here did spill something in the generator.
Gipson: Yes.
Hudzen: Who?

Someone across the room speaks up.
It was me Chief.

Hudzen looks for who just spoke up. He sees him. Crewman Lamar. A human. Not a surprise. Hudzen walks up to him.
Crewman Lamar, your carelessness has delayed the start of our mission. This ship cannot afford this sort of absent-minded behavior. The captain won't tolerate it and neither will I. Am I clear?

Lamar, clearly intimidated by the large security android, only nods. Gipson speaks up.
Gipson: Mr. Hudzen, with all due respect-
Hudzen: How soon will we be able to test the mines.
Gipson: We should be able to test them in just over an hour.
Hudzen: Very good.

At that point, Greymoran's voice emanates over the comm.
All hands, prepare for dimensional travel.

Hudzen looks up in the direction of the bridge.
Looks like we're starting our mission anyway.

He enters the turbolift.
Bridge.

The Archangel enters into orbit around a small blue-green planet, smaller than Earth, but with identical gravity and atmosphere. On the bridge of the ship, Greymoran stands up and heads for the turbolift, and motions for Cedric Walker to join him. "Lieutenant, report to the primary replicator and replicate an outfit appropriate for Earth circa the time period known as the Iron Age, and meet me in transporter room 1. Jackson, as soon we've beamed down, take the ship to the anamoly." Jackson nods and moves to the captain's chair. Walker looks confused. "Captain, if they need to get out of there fast-" "Mr. Dupree can handle himself Lieutenant. You however are in need of some field training. After all, up until a few motnhs ago you never knew that other universes existed." Cedric sighs heavily. "Fine," he says sharply. Just before the angry looking pilot enters the turbolift, Greymoran says to Jackson, "Careful. Those natuarally occuring dimensional anaomolies can be unpredictable."

What do we know about these people, sir?

"Depends on where you go. In Azeroth, as long as there isn't a war going on, people are nice enough. We'll do fine Commander, but thanks for your concern."

A few minutes later.
Commander Dupree, Captain Greymoran and Lt. Walker have beamed down to the planet.

Helm, take us to the anamoly and hold position. Keep a close eye on that thing.

We are closing in on the anomaly sir. I recommend we go to condition yellow and raise shields.

Do it.
Keep an eye on that thing. I don't want any suprises. also, keep me appraised on what's going on on the planet.

Greymoran and an uncomfortbale lookign Cedric Walker manage to blend in with a groups of armor glad humans and rather menacing looking elves in a bar called The Toothless Dragon. Greymoran is looking for soemone. His communit vibrates. "It's a good thing I had that installed. An unexpected nosie like a mechanical chirp could get us into serious trouble," he whispers to Walker. He palms the communit, moves his hand to his mouth like he's covering a yawn and says in a whisper, "Greymoran here." Jackson's voice whispers back, "Sir, we've reached the anamoly. It's closer than the data provided by XDS [Author's Note: XDS refers to the Sciences Division of the XDCA]." he chuckles lightly. "If I see Ahz again I'll have to teast him about that. Anyway, it's outer perimeter is still within comm distance of us and the planet. We'll let you know if we have to move out of range." "Don't worry Commander. These new comm units were designed by Ahz himself I could reach you from halfway acros the Galaxy. Greymoran out." He carefully puts the comm unit away and reaches for his drink. "Who the hell are we looking for anyway?" Walker asks. "And why did you bring me along, really? That whole 'I need dimensional experience' line sounded like bullsh**." Greymoran sighed. "Becuase Mr. Walker, you relaly need to calm down. I'm amazed you made Lieutenant with an attitude like that. Starfleet is either really lax, or really desperate. Frankly I never could figure out how Kirk made Captain in so many of the STUs." "I probably wouldn't have. But the Dominion War made the need for skilled pilots like moi way more important than protocol." "Look, Mr. Walker, I'm aware of your mixed parentage-" "You mean how a Romulan raped my mother?" He said it so loud that people at adjoining tables gave them an od loook. Greymoran grabbed Cedric's shoulder and pulled him outside, apologize for his "son's drunkeness" to other patrons. They mostly ignored him, though several asked aloud, "What the bloody hell is a Romulan anyway?" As soon as Greymoran had him outside, he shoved him into a quiet alley between the tavern and the nearby Blacksmith. "Dammit Lieutenant, you have to be careful what you say in a place like that. Most of the people on this planet don't know other realities exist, and those that believe in such things think that anything from one is evil. If this planet had ben allowed to find out when that one cartel came looking to set up a base, it could've thrown eveyrhting out of whack. We only reveal our true nature when we've either already been compromised, or when there is no way to cover it up. Like anamolies for instance." "Hey!" Cedric cut in. "You're the one who brought up my 'mixed parentage,' saying it like what happened to my Mom happens every •••• day. Everyone thinks my attitude comes from being half-Romulan Everyone that knows about it anyway. I guess I got lucky that I don't look like one on the outside huh? Maybe, just maybe, I'm angry all the time because the Romulan bastard was never caught. Or because I had to hide it in the Academy because the adminstrators were afraid what the more agressive students would do to me if they found out. Maybe I just hd one too many class mates end up sucking vaccum or being blasted by disruptors by the jem'Heddar. But no, it has to be the Romulan DNA in me that does it." The bitter sarcasm in that last sentence shocked Greymoran. He hadn't been told any of this when he requested that the navigator of the Galaxy-clas ship that had flown in the path of a torpedo to protect the Archangel when it had lost it's warp drive in a mine field 9 months before. He knew of the rape of course. But everything else, the subtle racism of Starfleet Academy higher ups, the effect the Dominion War had on him personally, was all a surprise. "Maybe you're right Walker," he said quietly, trying to calm the pilot down. "But that doesn't excuse nearly blowing our cover in a room full of trained and drunk swordsmen and axe wielders and bow masters. Even a wizard and a kid with a phaser can handle so much. A crowded bar in an area that has just been through a nasty war with the Orcish Hordes would not be high on a list of survivable situations, especially with our ship out of transporter range."

Hudzen, what kind of data do we have on that anomaly? Perhaps this would be a good time to scan it.

"Already running scans sir. This is really odd though. It seems to be perfectly globular. Usually naturally occuring phenomenon are eliptical. Should we move in further sir?"

Let's send a probe in first to see if it's safe. If it reports nothing unusual, we move in with full dimensional shielding.

"Probe launched, we should be getting readings momentarily."

Jackson leans over and looks at the readings.
Are you sure the probe is getting the right information? It seems to indicate that the anomaly is partially artificial...

"I don't understand it either. An anamoly is either natural or it's not. The only way it would make sense, well, if someone was using subspace weaponry. But only the Son'a from the STUs do that last I heard. Accoridng to everything I've read on XDP cartels even they won't touch the things. Too unpredictable. The probe is still transmiting. let me see if I can put this puzzle together."

Wasn't there an incident in one of the Voyager universes in which the crew discovered a subspace corridor of some sort? maybe this is a similar thing...

"Maybe, maybe. I'm going to link us up with the Science Division back on Avalon. Their databanks are way more extensive than ours."

Greymoran and Cedric Walker merely looked at each for what felt like an eternity, neither one really quite sure what to say next. "Having a bit of a tiff old friend?" and unexpected voice called out from the end of the alleyway. Cedric jumped and reached for his phaser but Greymoran stooped him. "Uthar! There you are. We've ben looking for you!" The man at the end was tall muscular and had blonde hair that was beggining to show some grey. The man was strong, and his smile and eyes did not show the age that the rest of his face bore. One looking at him would not have been able to guess his age correctly. "The wizard Greymoran. I'd thought you'd retired from the Agecny same time as I did!" Greymoran slapped Uthar on his armored shoulder. The armor he wore was bright, and silvery, and carried the same symbol as many of the flags flapping in the breeze over across the city. "Might you introduce me to your friend wizard?"

Bajor's wormhole reads as a natural wormhole but is known to be artificial. The only clue that it was not natural was the fact that it was a stable wormhole. This anomaly may have been created by beings that are beyond our own technological level.

That's also a good possibility. Keith, while you're connected with Avalon, bring up the files on the Bajor Wormhole and compare it with this.
If it seems safe, send the probe inside.

Keith, is the analysis complete?
Jackson looks at the screen.
We may have to send someone in there to invesgitate.
Huzen, do you have any spare security bots? maybe one we can connect to our sensors? If not, do you all remember my jar of redshirts?
Hudzen is about to speak up, but Jackson quiets him with a look.
Don't worry, I got rid of it, and got a jar of seeds of various shirts... red, blue, yellow, green...anyway, we can get one of them to enter the thing to see what's inside. Then again, the captain might not approve...

Greymoran, Uthar, and Cedric walk along a deserted road towards uthar's humble cabin in the woods south of Azeroth. "So, I assume you are here because of that rather unpleasent busines with a former friend of ours?" Uthar uttered with a sly grin. Greymoran laughed. "It never ceases to amaze me how you have no XD technology on this planet with you," "For good reasons," Uthar chimed in. "Right. And yet, you still manage to keep an eye on everything. You were a hell of an agent old friend." "As were you, Captain. Don't bother asking me how I knew. The young one here said some rather nasty things," he motioned to Cedric who seemed to take ofense at being called young, "and as one of my colleauges used to say, even a rookie knows better than to pis off an Agent." He smiled, and Greymoran laughed again. "Amazing!" "Yes, but sadly my deductive skills will have to stay on Azeroth. Things are peaceful now, with the Orcish Hordes defetaed, the Undead routed and the Night Elves alliance finalized. If I were to leave now, and go back to the XDCA, it could all fall apart. Foolish though it is, too many of the people here have put far too much stock in my presence. I had little to do with the victories here. I never even fought the Undead Legions because I was out there, in the multiverse with you, and Radagast, and Captain Grey." There was a certain amount of pain in his voice as he spoke the last two names. Greymoran grabbed his shoulder. "I was afriad of that, but I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't at least try to talk you out of it." Uthar smiled again. Cedric found it incredible that someone so battle hardened could be of such good cheer about anything. "Well, you'll fial of course, but, I may know a few people who may just go with you when you return." Greymoran frowned. "Who?" "You'll see. Come! I'll have my wife bring us mugs of the finest elvish ale you'll ever have the privelege of tasting!"

Commander, I don't think sending someone into the anomaly would give us any more information than we are already receiving from the probe. But I am not the science specialist. Lt. Yeager is.

"Hudzen's right sir. We just have no clue what this thing could do a person going into it relatively unprotected. I just wish I knew more than that. This thing has me stumped."

Send the data to Science Division. One, they might be able to make more sense of it, and two, it'll add to the general knowledge...
So what have we got from the probe?

Keith checks. "Well, it's stationary, it has gravity, but extremely low gravity. That means there's not much mass depsite it's size. And, well, what the hell is that?" He points at an energy reading. Jackson looksat it and says...

That is a good question. Magnify and see if we can idenfity it.
It looks like it's in the center of the anomaly. I think it's a power plant of some sort... but whether it's powering the anomaly, or the anomaly itself is being used as a power source...

"Sir, I'm reading an energy build up, it looks like-" Keith's eyes widen. On the viewscreen, the anomaly begins to pulse. Energy begins to swirl in one area. It begins to grow. Suddenly, a bright, powerful beam shoots out, right toward the Archangel.
"Brace for-!" is all Jackson can say before the beam hits, slamming into the shields. Jackson is thrown from his feet while the rest of the bridge crew desperately hold onto their consoles.
"Report!" Jackson yells as he gets back up.
"Shields are down to 40%," Hudzen says,"Minor damage throughout the ship. I suggest we retreat to a safer distance. The shields will not withstand another hit like that."
Jackson nods,"What about the probe?"
"It's still there," Keith responds,"For some reason, they appear to be ignoring it."

Helm, get us to a safe distance. Keith, what the hell was that?

"I have no idea. Sensors show no sign of any ships in there, no soing of any weapons at all, but that hit was too percise to just be some random energy surge."

Did the probe record anything during the energy discharge?
I want the probe to scan that thing with every sensor it has. I want to know what it is, if it's a threat, and other things like that. I want the information sent to Ahz and his people so that they can analyze it.

"Done and done, sir."

"If it was a weapon that hit us, it is not of a design known to the XDCA, conventional or otherwise. It is possible that the anomaly merely reacted to our close proximity."

Keith nods. "I agree sir. We might wanna back off a few kilometers."

Jackson nods at Keith.
Do it. Send a shuttle out there. let's see if it reacts to a smaller craft.

By the way, I meant an unpiloted, remotely controled shuttle. I don't want any people hurt unnecessarily.

"Good idea. Commander Sorik can set it up from engineering."

Do you think we should let Greymoran know what's going on? He might be able to find some anwsers on the planet...

The shuttle has been launched. Approaching the anomaly.

The shuttle gets a tad further then the Archangel did, but soon the shuttle itself is engulfed in an energy blast, and and severly damaged but not destoryed. It tumbles over as it floats in the opposite diretcion of where it came from. "Now that was weird," Keith says. His eyes narrow in concentration. "Commander, I think I may have at least a vague idea of what's going on. I don't think this anomoly is hidng something. It's protecting something. The probe we sent in was a Type I, too small for any humanoid being to fit inside it, so it didn't register as a threat. But when we got close, it attacked us, then it attacked the shuttle, but it only disabled it as opposed to destroying it. I want to run a few more scans, then I recomend we return to the planet. The captain may know something about this phenomenon."

Do it, Keith. If the probe is still there, have it run every scan on every frequency it has avaliable. If you can get it further inside the anomoly, then do it.
I wonder if the aomoly is protecting the planet itself from something....

"Commander, we are receiving a transmission. It's from the science division. Information about the anomaly." He pauses for a second, "It's not completely natural."

"I just received another transmision from the probe sir. It agrees with Division, but it also says the anamoly is decaying. Judging from the rate of decay, and the state it's in now, I'd estimate this thing's age at between 5 and 10 thousand years. I can't seem to narrow it down any further than that."

Ok... Let's leave the probe here so it can take more readings so we can get back to the planet.. I'm sure that Greymoran will be suprised by these readings. Plus, he may have ideas on what this thing might do.

The Archangel returns to the planet, entering orbit. Before Dupree can contact Greymoran, Keith speaks up.
"Commander, we just received another transmission from the probe. It's scanned deeper into the anomaly and found something of interest."
"What is it?" Dupree asks.
Keith shakes his head. "Unknown. I can tell you that whatever it is, it's definitely not part of the anomaly. Wait a minute." A troubled look crosses his face.
"This can't be right."
"What can't be right?" Dupree asks.
"It's impossible."
"What's impossible, Keith?"
Keith spins from the console to face Dupree.
"Sir, the probe is picking up traces of Avalon VI's rings."

Alright... contact Avalon and see if they can find something similar to the anomoly in the rings... maybe we have a wormhole or maybe it's something Grey left behind or something....
Jackson Dupree to Captain Greymoran, we've found something very interesting....

"Channel open. Sending now."

On the planet, Greymoran's communicator vibrates.

Greymoran pulls ot his comm link. He hears Hudzen's update of the situation with the anomoly. "Hmm. There's something vaugely familiar about all this. We should bring in a science vessel. Contact Ahz, see if he has any ships he can sapre. Once you've done that swing back around, and wiat in orbit. Lt. Walker and I haven't completed our mission yet. Greyamoran Out."

Hudzen's console beeps.
"Commander, we're receiving a message from Avalon. They're sending the science vessel Tranquility. It should arrive within the hour."

Soon after the Archangel has returned to the planet, a dimensional portal opens nearby. Out of the purple vortex slides a T'Pau-Class science vessel, a ship with a very distinct Vulcan design.

"Commander, the Tranquility has arrived," Keith reports.

The Tranquility moves toward the anomaly. They'd contacted the Archangel and had received all the information they had before moving in. Captain Russell Staldry stood on the bridge of his ship, looking at it on the viewscreen.
"Alright people, time to do what we do best," he says, as his crew begins to work.

Greymoran and Walker enter the small hut at the back end of Uthar Lightbringer's property. "Well I'll d@mned." Greymoran mutters. "Dr. Daniel Jackson, I thought you were dead!" The rather disheleved man standing before him, holding a small bundle and gently rocking it looks up confused. It take him a moment. "Greymoran? I-I didn't recognize you without the beard. Since when did you stop being an agent?" "Last year." Greymoran notices the bundle is moving slightly. He smiles. "Danny boy, I guess congrats are in order." A female voice from behind Daniel Jackson says, "No." Greymoran's eyes widen. "Phoebe?" Cedric looks confused. "Sir, who are these people?" "Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot my manners. Lieutenant Walker, this is Doctor Daniel Jackson of SG1U1, and Phoebe Halliwell of CU8. Daniel, Phoebe, this is Lieutnenat Cedric Walker, navigator aboard the Archangel." Daniel and phoebe shake hands with Cedric. Phoebe takes the baby from Dr. Jackson. "And this little guy is my nephew Wyatt," she syas witha hint of sadness. Greymoran, having been alive for as long as he has, doesn't need to ask where his mother and father are. "OH God, I'm so sorry," he says. "It happened when Grey tried to contact the Source. He didn't know we'd already vanquished him. Colonel O'Neill and the Asgard tried to help us. When he started smashing Earth, the Tok'Ra help me adn Daniel and Wyatt get away. It was too late for everyone else. Jacob died while we were on the run." "Is anyone else left?' Greymoran asked. "Yes. Thor had a ship equipped with an XDCA drive, and he brought us here, then flew of. For obvious reasons peoplea round here wouldn't take kindly to a small skinny grey alien," Jackson said. He said it so matter-of-factly that Walker blinked stupidly. "Wait, waht? Thor, grey alien, what? Big guy with hammer little grey alien?" Greymoran supressed a chuckle. "I'll explain later Lieutenant. For now, we need to get back to the ship. Uthar said you might want to come with us?" Daniel and Phoebe nodded. Greymoran noticed they were holding hands, and that those hands had rings that he was pretty sure weren't there last time he'd seen either of them, back when thier two universes had partially merged as the result of a naturally occuring dimensional disaster.

Ughauhuah! Not a character I actually like! Not in Archangel! Not Danny Jackson!

JD, could you remove that, and this post please? It's breaking up the flow (what little of it there is anyway).

Captain Russell leans over Lt. Lerbick, reading the readouts on Lerbick's console as the Minbari gives him information on the anomaly.
"The degradation of the anomaly has begun to increase. At this rate, it will only be a matter of days before it is gone. The anomaly is hiding an object that contains an energy signature identical to Avalon's rings."

Russell shakes his head. "How is that possible? Is it possible that Avalon's rings aren't unique? That there exist objects just like them in other places in the Multiverse?"

"It's possible. Unlikely though. The Avalon system exists in every known universe. It is unlikely that this is the case with anything else, but it could still be true. Either there is something that is identical to Avalon's rings out there or someone took part of Avalon's rings and brought them here. Obviously someone greatly more advanced than our current level of technology."

Russell nods. "Alright, we need to get past this protection and get to the rings. We need a better look. See if your people can do that, understood?"
Lerbick nods.

Onboard the Tranquility, the crew is making progress toward penetrating the protecting anomaly.

Ersef, a Deltan and one of the ships officers, reports to the captain.

"Our latest group of tests show that the strength of the anomaly is greatly weakening," he reports,"And the enhancements to the shields are doing an adequate job getting by without being detected. They're not perfect, but I think we could have them ready within the hour."
Russell raises an eyebrow. "Are you suggesting we take the entire ship in?"

"Yes, Captain," Ersef replies,"If we can modify the shields to fool the anomaly for a short time, they should be able to protect us from its weakening attacks. We'll be able to get past the barrier and take a closer look at the area with the traces of the rings."

"Ask the rest of the team, they'll agree," Ersef urges,"Just give us fifteen minutes. We'll be ready."

"Start the modifications," Russell orders,"Inform me when we're ready to move out. I'll give my decision then."

"Yes sir."

At the same time...

"Greymoran to Archangel four adults and one infant to beam up. I'm sorry you're not coming with us Uthar." The knight smiles and shakes Greymoran's hand as the others take their positions to be beamed aboard the Archangel. "It has ben a pleasure to see you again old friend. I wish you well on your travels."

Archangel to the Tranquility, good luck getting into that thing. We tried, but were repelled.

"Thank you Mr. Dupree. We'll need it." Russell turns to Ersef.
"Are we ready?" Ersef nods.
"Alright," Russell says, setting himself into his chair,"Move us in Mr. Hannah, one quarter impulse."
The Tranquility moves forward toward the anomaly. As it moves forward, the anomaly begins to change, energy pulsing and shooting through it.
"It's getting ready to fire," Ersef says.
"Now Mr. Hannah! Shields up," Russell yells. The Tranquility's engines suddenly go dark as they shut down. Using only momentum and its thrusters, it continues to approach the anomaly.
"We're approaching firing distance. 20 seconds."
Energy continues pulsing through the barrier.
"10 seconds."
"5."
Lightning crackles through the blue and green border but the Vulcan ship continues ahead.
"We just passed the Archangel's closest position. No reaction. Border in 15 seconds," Ersef says,"10...5...we are entering the anomaly. I'm not detecting any build ups yet."
Russell nods. "This might just work."
On the viewscreen, the blues, greens, and yellows of the anomaly continue to crackle with energy and lightning. As they get further, the energy starts to increase.
"Captain, it appears that we will not be shielded from detection for much longer," Ersef says.
Russell hits the shipwide comm. "All hands, brace for impact." He stares forward at the screen. "How long until we're past the barrier."

"Just a few seconds. The ins-." Ersef's report is cut off as two shots of energy slam into the Tranquility's shields. With the anomaly weakening, they hold, until two more hit.

"Shields down to 12%! One more hit's gonna finish us," yells the tactical officer. As if in response, the shaking stops as the Tranquility exits the barrier.
"We've done it. We made it through," Lt. Lerbick says.
Russell nods. "Begin scans on that," he pauses,"thing out there."

Onboard the Archangel, most of the bridge crew appears to be satisfied that the Tranquility made it through. Keith soon ends the mood.
"Commander, I'm detecting an energy buildup."
Jackson leans over Keith's console, taking a look at the readings. "From the anomaly?"
Keith shakes his head. "I don't think so, but nearby."
"Onscreen."
Near the anomaly, a white ball of light has appeared. It expands getting larger and larger until it dwarfs anomaly. Suddenly, it flashes brightly. The bridge crew, except for Hudzen and Sorik, are forced to look away. When the brightness dies down, a massive ship, over seven kilometers long and about half as high, has appeared.

Greymoran wastes no time. "Sheilds up. Hail the Tranquility, tell them to get the hell out of there." He turns to Daniel Jackson, who he'd just finished introducing to the crew when the ship appeared. "Danny, I want you and Jackson to try and find Thor. An O'Neill-class battlecruiser could really come in handy about now. Keith, try to hail that ship. Walker, if you see anything that looks like a target lock, begin evasive manuevers. Hudzen, lock our weapons down and disable targetting systems. I don't want them to think we're linign up a shot in case they're friendly, but I want us to be able to shoot from the hip if this goes bad."

Danny Jackson and Jackson Dupree, huh? Well, stranger things have happened.
But seriously, how do we find this Thor?

"Um, well, you could use the sensors to search for the metal Naqudah. It doesn't exist anywhere in this universe except on Thor's ship. It was designed for fighting the Replicators after all."

Captain Russell Staldry stared down at Lerbick's readings, going over the information displayed on the newly arrived vessel outside the anomaly.

"Hannah, prepare to take us out of here. We'll go through the opposite side from where we entered."
At his console, Ensign Ersef spins to face Russell.
"I would not advise going through the barrier yet, Captain. We have not been able to fully bring the shields back up. They're currently only at half power and it will be several minutes before they are completely restored. If we try to exit now, the energy blasts will destroy us."
Russell sighs. "D*mn it."

On the Archangel...
"Hail them," Greymoran orders.
"They are not responding, Captain," Hudzen reports.
"Then just open a channel, all frequencies."
"Channel open."
"I am Captain Greymoran of the Extradimensional Control Agency Starship Arc-"
He is cut off when a deep voice overrides communications.
"YOU WILL STAND DOWN AND LEAVE THE AREA. IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY, YOUR SHIP WILL BE DESTROYED."

"Doesn't leave room for interpretation does he?" Keith mutters. Greymoran nods. "Tranquility, why haven't you left yet?" Capt. Staldry informs Greymoran of the situation. "Oh great. That's just great. Keith, Sorik, I want as detailed an analisys of that ship as posisble. I wanna know what those aliens eat for breakfast if you can find out. Daniel, you and Jackson keep looking for Thor. Walker, move us in closer. Hudzen, power up weapons but do NOT attempt to aquire a target lock." Greymoran sits back down, and re-opens the hail. "Hostile vessel, we will not comply with your threats. The ship isnide the anomoly and the neraby planet are under our protection. Any move against them or us will be seen as an act of war against the XDCA. You might be able to destroy us, but I doubt you could handle an entire fleet." Greymoran paused, and waited for the inevitable reply. Wether it would come in words or in wepaons fire, he was not sure.

Just then, a beeping comes from the panel Jackson is using for his search. Checking it, he smiles.
Bingo. Danny, Sir, I think I've found our target. He's a couple of light years from here. A shuttle should be able to reach his position in a matter of minutes.

"Good. His ship may be bigger than our, but it's faster and has naquadah enhanced weapons. Daniel, go to the shuttle bay, grab the pilot on duty, and go get him." Daniel nods. "OK. Wish me luck." "We're going to be the ones needing luck Dr. Jackson."

The ship responds.

"THE PLANET IS NOT OUR CONCERN. THE BARRIER AND EVERTHING WITHIN ITS BOUNDARY IS."

Suddenly, a ball of light, undetected before it was fired, shoots out of the ship's starboard side, travelling into the anomaly. It quickly passes through, slamming into the Tranquility's shields. The light surrounds the ship, then implodes. When it disappears, nothing is left. On the Archangel, the graphics that represented the Tranquility on Keith's and Hudzen's consoles wink out.

"NOW THE BARRIER IS NO LONGER YOUR CONCERN. WITHDRAW OR BE DESTROYED."

Greymoran's fists clench. "Hudzen, FIRE!"

"Aye sir."

Almost instantly, the Archangel's pulse phasers fire, the powerful energy quickly travelling through the vacuum of space toward the alien vessel. Before they hit, however, the ship disappears, leaving only space behind. Suddenly, more sirens fill the bridge with noise.

"Proximity alert! The alien ship has appeared directly above us, 25 meters away!"
Hudzen fired again and again the fired phaser hit nothing when the ship disappeared again. Several more attempts yield fruitless results.

"I am unable to hit that ship, Captain. That ship seems to somehow know where and when our weapons will be fired and they're avoiding them," Hudzen says. Greymoran is not happy with this news.

"Sir," Keith says, spinning around to face Greymoran, "I've been running scans like you asked but none of our sweeps have gotten past their shields. Except for one. You're going to need to look at this."

Greymoran leans over Keith's console, looking over the information displayed.
"I've run several scans of that ship," Keith says,"Most of them didn't even get past whatever type of shielding they have. But the most recent one brought up this." The display changes showing a familiar energy signature.
"It appears, sir, that that ship is partially holographic. It's more advanced than any hologram I've ever seen, but it's a hologram nonetheless."
Greymoran nods. "Can you shut it down? Or at least disrupt it?"
"Yeah, I think I can," Keith says, "But it'll take a couple of minutes."

Sir, do you want me to contact Danny Jackson to see how his search is going?

Before Greymoran can reply, there is a flash of light, barely noticeable, on the other side of the alien vessel. A large but surprisingly sleek and maneuvarble grey vessel flies out and tkaes up a defensive posture. A small grey skinned alien with black almond shaped eyes appears on screen. Daniel Jackson and the Archangel's shuttle pilot, a young ensign name Chase, are behind himn. "I am Thor, supreme commander of the Asgard fleet. You are clearly outnumbered. You should turn and leave this area at once."

Thor's ship patches the alien vessel's responses through to the Archangel.
"WE HAVE WARNED YOUR ALLY. YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A WARNING." Before anyone can act, the alien ship fires. Thor's ship is hit by the energy ball, and once again light surrounds the ship before imploding. Thor's vessel is no longer in sight.
"NOW, WITHDRAW NOW!!!"

"Sir!" Keith yells, clearly a little excited, "That was all the time I needed. I can disrupt whatever holograms they have running. Just give the word."
"Do it," Greymoran replies quietly, just staring out at the spot that Thor's ship once was.
Keith hits a few controls and a thin green beam shoots out from the ship, toward the looming alien vessel. As soon as it hits, the ship begins change. It's appearance fluctuates and soon the enourmous ship that once floated threateningly in front is now a much smaller vessel, less than half of the size of the Archangel.

"Captain!" Keith says, sounding more than a little surprised,"I'm picking up the Tranquility and Thor's ship. They appear to be undamaged."
Greymoran stares out at the small enemy ship. "It was all an illusion," he whispers.
"Captain, they're signaling," Hudzen reports from behind Greymoran.
"Put them through."
Seconds later, and older, much feebler voice than the deep tones of the larger ship emanates from the comms.
"I ask that you accept my surrendur."

Greymoran breathed a sigh of relief. "Jackson, hail them to let them know we accept their surrender, but not just yet. I want them to sweat a little. Hail the Tranquility and the O'Neill. I want to know their status."

Jackson Dupree to both the Tranquility and the O'Neil, what is your current statuses? Also Tranquility, did you discover anything new about the anolamy?

"We're fine, Commander Dupree," Captain Staldry replies, "They just somehow locked our ship in place for a few minutes in a type of energy field. Sensors and comm signals couldn't escape it. I guess you guys thought we were gone.
"As for the anomaly," he pauses as he appears to look over some information, "They match the rings alright. They appear to be in a container of some kind, but far more advanced than anything we've got."

"That is because it was created eons before your species knew what technology was." The entire Archangel bridge crew spin around toward the back of the bridge, from where the voice emanated. Hudzen and Jackson already have their weapons out and ready. Standing at the rear of the bridge is a small alien creature. He looks vaguely human and is clearly very, very old. Almost immediately, the Intruder Alert alarms sound and a forcefield surrounds the unexpected guest.

"We are unharmed," Thor replies. Greymoran nods. "All right. Jackson, send the message. We accept their surrender."

Aye, sir.
Archangel to the mystery ship, we fully accept your surrender.
Now what, sir?

Greymoran and the rest of the crew turn to the back of the bridge, weapons aimed at the intruder.
"Who are you?" Greymoran asks, "And why have you done all of this?"
The small alien puts his hand up. "Please, I wish to explain my actions, and," he says, pointing at the viewscreen displaying the anomaly, "that. But first, please end that wretched noise!"
Greymoran nods to Hudzen. The Intruder Alert alarms go silent.
"Thank you, my hearing is sensitive in this form. It has been a long journey to reach here. A long time. Where was I?"
"You're telling us why you tried to make us believe you destroyed our ships," Greymoran says, "And why you tried to deceive us."
The alien nods.
"Oh yes," he says, taking a short pause, "Listen and you shall learn the information you seek."

With that, he starts.
"Eons ago, before the births of stars and long before the civilizations you know had seen the sky, the Multiverse was dominated by three great and powerful races. They were the Caulteri, the Pylnask, and my own people. For generations our peoples travelled the dimensions, exploring and settling millions of star systems in hundreds upon hundreds of different universes. Our three great empires stood uncontested, except for with each other. Tensions and relations between our races were not always good, but peace was kept with the balance of power. We all knew that any war begun between our empires would be devastating to the universes and nearly impossible to wage and sustain. It was the fear of the devastation we would bring upon one another if ever we decided to take up arms that kept our peace. For millenia it stayed like this. But, as time went on, things changed. Younger, less advanced civilizations discovered space travel and eventually dimensional travel. As time passed, relations between the Pylnask and my people improved. The Caulteri, however, remained as cold as they had always been. As more and more beings discovered dimensional travel, my people realized that the time of our empires' multiversal dominances would not last forever. The Pylnask realized this as well. To remain strong and possibly protect us from the emerging races, my people formed and alliance with the Pylnask. The Caulteri, seeing the balance of power thrown off, were threatened by this development. We did not realize that this alliance would soon cause the unthinkable. It did not take long for the Caulteri to act. They began to increase their economic productivity and aggressively expanded into different universes, hoping to gain territory, resources, and above all, power. It eventually reached the point of conquering and enslaving entired civilizations. When this began, the Pylnask and my people objected. We would not tolerate their exploitations. The Caulteri would not listen. They continued going to great lengths to conquer different peoples for their resources and technology. When we learned of one of their targets, a small planetary union not far from several of my people's worlds, we sent a fleet to protect them from the Caulteri. The Caulteri arrived and refused to leave. They opened fire on our ships and started the greatest war our peoples had ever known. For years it raged across the Multiverse. Entire societies were wiped out in the fighting, sometimes on purpose, sometimes not. Trillions upon trillions of sentient beings were killed in the fighting. The devastation we wrought was unthinkable. And it dragged on. At first, it did not seem that any winner would ever emerge. But as time went on, the Caulteri began to faulter. Our alliance proved to be stronger than even their mighty empire. As they continued to lose more and more, they turned to unconventional means to gain victory. The Caulteri began to develop several superweapons to use as a last desperate attempt to inflict damage upon us. One of those weapons is outside of this ship, Captain."
Greymoran looks at the viewscreen, then back at the alien. "The anomaly is a weapon?"
"No, but what it protects is. The Caulteri used several sources to build their superweapons. One of them, the most powerful and dangerous one we encountered, used the rings of the planet that you know as Avalon. The Caulteri found a way to harness the rings and were developing a way to use them against us. We did not give them the chance, however. Our alliance pressed on harder than they had anticipated and soon the armies of the Caulteri were broken. They refused to surrendur, choosing to fight to the last man. Even after their armies were wiped out, and only civilians remained, the Pylnask saw them as too great of a threat to go on. Despite the objections of my people, the Pylnask wiped out every last Caulteri they could find. I am not sure if a single soul escaped the hunt of the Pylnask. It was not until after the war and the extermination of the Caulteri that we learned of the weapon they had nearly created. Had it been completed, they would have had the power to wipe out entire fleets, planets, stars, or even star systems in one shot. Though our relations with the Pylnask soured greatly after the genocide they committed, we still agreed that this weapon could never be unleashed upon the Multiverse. We could not find a way to safely destroy the weapon so we put it out there and hid it behind a protective, and invisible, barrier. Time passed. Civilizations have risen and fallen since. The Pylnask splintered into different races until a genetic defect wiped most of them out. As for my people, we evolved to another realm, radically different creatures from what we once were. Recently, however, the barrier has begun to break down. It is visible to you and we cannot allow it. Unfortunately, transferring a being from my realm to yours takes great time and work. I am the only one existing here. Only I can destroy it. I tried to force you to leave for your protection. Now I realize that I may need your help."
The alien finally stops talking, waiting for a reaction.

Greymoran nodded thoughtfully, but showed no outward sign of beleif or disbelief. He reached for the communicator and hailed both the O'Neill and the Tranquility. "Capt. Staldry, Commander Thor, Dr. Jackson, report to the Planning Room. My secuirty chief Hudzen will bring you as soon as you arrive." He turned to Keith. "I want you there as well Lt. Yeager. Jackson, you have the bridge. Hudzen, report to transport room-" Greymoran was interupted by a bright flash in the middle of the bridge. Jackson insticitvely reached for his phaser, but Hudzen stopped him. Thor and Daniel Jackson were standing on the bridge. Hudzen quietly explianed how Asgard transporters worked and Jackson took his hand off his weapon. Greymoran motioned for the small alien to join him and Keith in the turbolift. He pointed to the second lift. "I'm afriad the lift won't be large enough for all five of us. Doctor Jackson, Commander Thor, you can use that one. Hudzen, go to Transport Room 1 and grete Captain Staldry." The lifts carried them to the center of the ship where, next to the mess hall the three entered a room that appeared to be a small wepaons locker until Greymoran reached for, but only tapped, an early 22nd century phase pistol. Suddenly they found themselves in a room larger than any on the Archangel, except perhaps the shuttle bay. Each wall had various tactical maps, maps of XDCA territories, constant updates on other XDCA ships on active duties, and in the center a blank table. Daniel Jackson looked impressed. "Wow," he muttered. Greymoran smiled. "Our former CSO [Chief Science officer] Ahz made this for us. It has full war room capabilities, without us needing to worry about the space constraints a Defiant-class war destroyer has to deal with. In additon, every computer in here is based on the same technology as Ahz' ship Ryo-O, so all of them are capable of manintaining links to the central computers on Avalon. This entire area exists in a pocket dimension that can only be accessed by members of the command staff." Daniel whistled his approval. "It would've ben nice to have something like this when we were fighting the Replicators," he said. Keith looked confused. "Wait, what?" Greymoran cut him off. "You can look up his universe's history later Mr. Yeager," he said as he walked over to the blank table and waved his hand over it. A 3-D map of the universe the Archangel was currently in appeared to fill the room. He motioned to the small alien. "As soon as Hudzen brings Captain Staldry I'd like to repeat for them what you told us Mr., um, I'm sorry I never caught your name."

"I didn't give it," the man responds, "I'm not quite sure if I ever had one. Or needed one."

Soon, the doors open and Hudzen and Russell walk through.

Greymoran nods. "Interesting. Then what should we call you? To most sentient species, not calling someone by their chosen name is a sign of disrespect, and considering the power your ship demonstrated I'd like to avoid future misunderstandings."

"It is fine, Captain Greymoran," the alien replies, "After this weapon is destroyed it is highly unlikely that I will ever exist in this realm again."

"When the barrier became visible, my people decided that we needed to get rid of that weapon once and for all. It took time, but I now possess the capability to destroy it," he says, looking at the small group around him, "I had originally hoped to take my ship into the barrier after it had decayed enough for my ship to survive. Unfortunately, the extended use of my ship's holographic abilities drained its power. I fear that it will take days for my ship to have the sufficient power to take me to the barrier's center. So, I am asking for your help now, Captain Greymoran. The barrier has continued to decay. If it continues, the barrier will cause the weapon to activate in less than 18 hours. If that happens, and this weapon goes off unchecked, it could destroy this system, or even more. Your ship should have enough shielding to make it into the barrier and back out again."
He pauses.
"I request that you take me into the barrier. Leave me at the weapon, and I will destroy it forever."

Greymoran nodded. "All right," he said. He turned to face Thor and Captain Staldry. "We're going to go in with a skeleton crew. We'll evacuate all personal from the Archangel except myself, Hudzen, and Commander Sorik to the Tranquility adn the O'Neill. As soon as the transfer is complete I want you to head into an adjacent universe. If you don't hear from us within 12 hours, assume that we and this solar systme were destoryed." Staldry nodded, looking slightly nervous. Thor showed now emotion whatsoever. He gave a slight bow then said, "I wish you the best of luck Captain Greymoran." Greymoran pulled out his commlink. "Greymoran to Engineering. Commander Sorik, report to the bridge." He clicked a serperate button on the same link. "All hands, this is the Captain. All hands, begin an orderly evacuation to the airlocks, shuttle bays, and transporter rooms. Begin proceudres for skeleton crew operation." He turned to Hudzen. "Get back up to the bridge. I imagine convincing Commander Dupree and Lieutenant Walker to leave will require your power of 'persuasion.'" He walked over to the nameless alien. "Now, what do you need us to do?"

The alien watches as everyone moves off to do their job. He turns to Greymoran to reply.
"All you will need to do is leave me at the weapon. I will move into the weapon and use my abilities to destroy it. When I do this, your ship will have to be gone. Despite the barrier's deteriorated state, it still has the capability to destroy your ship if you do not modify it. I believe that you will need to peform similar modifications to the ship that went in before. If you can get to the barrier undetected most of the way, you should have enough shielding to quickly make it back out without a problem."
He pauses for a second.
"It is essential that your ship quickly makes it clear of the barrier. It will not take me long to start the process of destroying the weapon after I leave your ship. The resulting effects from what I do will consume anything within several million kilometers of the barrier. The planet is out of range, but if you are not, you will be destroyed as well."

Greymoran smiles nervously. The alien seems to to sense that Greymoran had reservations. "You do not beleive I will capable of destroying the weapon?" "No, no, it's just that in all my years of service with the XDCA, it's my experience that things rarely go as planned."

The alien gives a small smile.
"Do not fear, Captain Greymoran," he replies, trying to sound reassuring, "My people have planned for an event like this for a long time. A long time. We will not fail. Too many lives depend on that."

The Archangel personnel beam and fly to the nearby Tranquility and O'Neill. Most of the crew depart without protest. Other crew work on the modifications that will get the Archangel through the barrier without much trouble. The modifications take less than two hours, after which remaining Archangel crew leave. As Greymoran predicted, however, Dupree and Walker do not go as quietly. Despite their protests, both eventually accept their orders.

Not long afterward, Commander Sorik arrives on the bridge. Greymoran, Hudzen, and the alien are the only others there.
"The modifications are complete, Captain," Sorik reports, "All nonessential personnel have evactuated. We are the only four sentient beings left on the ship."
Greymoran nods his approval. "Very good, Mr Sorik. Please take the helm." As Sorik moved to the helm console, Greymoran looked the bridge over. It was quiet, much like it had been before its recent refit, back when her entire crew consisted of a handful of people.
"Captain," Hudzen interrupted Greymoran's thoughts, "We are receiving a transmission from the O'Neill. Commander Thor."
"Put him on." On the viewscreen, the gray Asgard appears.
"Greymoran, the crew transfer is complete. We are ready to depart."
Greymoran nods. "All right. Take your ship to SCU-2. The Tranquility will follow. We'll meet you there soon. If you don't hear from us in 10 hours..."
"Understood," Thor replies, "Good luck, my friend." The viewscreen switches back to the view of space and the two nearby starships. Seconds later, both open the familiar purple dimensional portals and fly through. The portals close behind them, disappearing.
"Okay, it's time to finish this," Greymoran says, "Mr. Hudzen, raise shields. Commander Sorik, move us into position. Prepare to take us in." The Archange moves into position. The barrier doesn't react.
"Ahead, 1/4 impulse power." The Archangel surges forward, slowly increasing speed toward the anomaly. After 15 seconds, the impulse engines cease firing and go dark. The Archangel continues to travel forward, moving closer to the barrier.
"We're entering the range of the anomaly's defense," Hudzen reports, "I'm reading no reaction." The Archangel flies forward. It reaches the border of the barrier and enters. The bridge begins to shake, but it is clear that the barrier is not detecting their presence.
"We will reach the end of the barrier in 20 seconds," Sorik reports.
"The barrier does not appear-, I'm reading an energy buildup, Captain," Hudzen says from behind Greymoran. The captain's eyes are fixed on the screen as more energy pulses through the barrier.
"It knows we're here," he whispers. Energy bolts lash out at the Archangel, slamming into the ship's shields. Though they're weaker than before, several continue to hit the ship, never ending their unrelenting attack. Just as soon as they started, however, they stop as the Archangel clears the barrier.
"We're clear," Sorik reports, "The weapon is straight ahead."
"Captain, that attack took out 2/3 of our shielding," Hudzen says, "we were detected at a much greater distance than the Tranquility originally was. We will need to restore some of our shielding before we can escape."
"And we have another problem, Captain," Sorik says, "It seems that our presence has affected the barrier's rate of decay."
A distressed expression crosses the visiting alien's face. "What do you mean? Has it increased?"
Sorik nods. "Yes, if the data you gave us is correct, and the current acceleration in decay stays constant, the barrier should cause the weapons activation in just under four hours."
"Will that be enough time to get us out of here?" Greymoran asks.
"If we divert all remaining nonessential power to shields, I can restore enough shielding for us to escape well before the barrier collapses completely," Sorik says.
"Get on it, Commander," Greymoran orders, "Inform me when you're ready. I will be helping our visitor get his ship ready in the shuttlebay. Mr. Hudzen, you have the bridge." With that, Greymoran, Sorik, and the alien visitor enter the turbolift and head to their destinations.
As Sorik works to restore the ship's shields, Greymoran helps the alien prepare his ship for the short journey. The ship takes up a large part of the Defiant-Class vessel's small shuttlebay, which isn't a big problem since it houses only two other shuttles. Through the bay's open doors, Greymoran and the visitor can see the weapon, an invisible forcefield between them and the vacuum of space.
"What exactly are you going to do to destroy it?" Greymoran asks. The alien stares out at his mission, not taking his eyes off of the large, light blue object.
"I'm going to enter it," he replies.
"With you ship? Won't it tear your ship apart before you can do anything?"
"I'm not going to use my ship," the alien says, "It is only meant to bring me close to the weapon. I myself must enter, and nothing else. This body will be obliterated, but it is only a temporary vessel. I do not need it to destroy that abomination out there."
"But you'll survive? And return to your dimension?" Greymoran says. The alien looks up at the wizard. He doesn't answer, but it seems clear that he's not completely sure. He moves off, to finish checking his ship.

"I've done all I can do, Captain," Sorik says, "we have three quarters of our shielding. That should be enough to get us out."
"Thank you, Mr. Sorik. Return to the bridge and prepare to take us out. Greymoran out." Greymoran turns to the small alien. "It appears to be time."
A small smile crosses the alien's face. "Yes, it finally is. The final element of our war so long ago will finally be destroyed. Then, there will be nothing left in this universe. Nothing of my people, or our mistakes. Or those of the people we fought." Greymoran remains silent.
"That's the way it should be," the visitor contiues, "Our time ended long ago," he pauses, looking up at the wizard, "Thank you, Greymoran. Your assistance has been invaluable. If I return to my people, I will be sure that your help is never forgotten."
Greymoran shrugs. "It's all in day's work. It's what we do."
The alien smiles again. "It is a great comfort to know that beings like you keep watch over the Multiverse. You are its guardians. The peoples of the Multiverse are fortunate to have you. May you always bring light to the darkness you find. And not repeat our mistakes." With that, the alien spins around, and walks to his ship. Before entering, he stops, facing Greymoran.
"When I leave your ship, I will give you fifteen of your minutes to exit the area. After that, I will destroy the weapon. If you are not clear by then, the resulting effects may destroy you."
"I understand," Greymoran says. The alien enters his ship.
"Good luck," Greymoran says before leaving the shuttlebay.

Moments later, Greymoran arrives on the bridge.
"Commander, Chief, are we ready to go?"
"We will depart at you signal, Captain," Sorik responds.
"Our shielding should be adequate, depending on how quickly the barrier detects us. I believe we have a 60% chance of survival," Hudzen says.
"It'll do," Greymoran says, "Clear our visitor for departure. As soon as he is clear, raise shields and take us out."
Sorik nods. "Aye sir."
Minutes later, the visitor's ship exits the landing bay.
"He has cleared the landing bay," Sorik reports, "He's moving toward the anomaly."
"Mr. Sorik, engage." The Archangel surges forward, heading toward the barrier. It enters, moving fast. At first, the barrier does nothing. But soon, the energy is building up again.
"The anomaly is reacting," Hudzen says as the ship shudders around them.
"Even earlier than last time," Greymoran observes, "ETA to the edge, Commander?"
"30 seconds."
The first bolt hits, shaking the ship violently. Several more follow.
"Shields are draining rapidly!" Hudzen yells over the impacts. "The energy of the barrier has reduced greatly, but shields won't be able to take much more."
"Our presence appears to be collapsing the barrier even more quickly than before," Sorik says, "If we do not exit quickly, the visitor's mission may be futile."
"Shields collapsed!" Hudzen yells.
One more bolt hits, sending the Archangel tumbling end over end and out of the barrier.
"I've lost helm control!" Sorik shouts, "But we've cleared the anomaly."
"Regain helm," Greymoran says, sighing in relief, "And prepare to warp back to the planet."
"That may not be possible, Captain," Sorik says, "The last blast knocked out our warp drive."
"What?" Greymoran exclaims, "Get it back."
Without a word, Sorik gets up and hurries to Engineering.

The visitor moves his ship directly "over" the weapon, his ship's hatch directly facing the weapon's edge. He stares at his ship's chronometer, preparing to open the hatch.

"Sorik?" Greymoran yells into the comm.
"Almost Captain, I am attempting to reestablish temporary-"
"Just do it!"

Time was up. Here he was. His fate before him. Hopefully, the Archangel was clear. But he could not worry about that now. He had a job to do. Now was the time. He hit the controls to open the hatch. A number of alarms sounded, telling him how bad of an idea it was to open the hatch while the only thing on the other side of it was the vacuum of space. He ignored the alarms and open the hatch. Immediately the atmosphere blew out and the visitor with it. Downward he flew, toward the weapon. His body had been created to survive time in open space but when he hit the weapon they'd had no idea what would happen. He'd find out soon enough.

"Hail him!" Greymoran shouted. Hudzen shook his head.
"He's not responding, sir. The barrier may be interfering."
"Or he may be flying toward that superweapon as we speak," Greymoran says. "Sorik! We have to go! Now!"
"Almost done, Captain."

The visitor watched as he flew closer and closer to the edge of the weapon. It was beautiful, almost fluidic with its different shades of blue. Amazing that something so beautiful can be so destructive, he thinks as he contacts the edge.

"Sorik?" No response. A worried expression crosses Greymoran's face. "Sorik, report!" More silence. Greymoran, seated at helm, turns back to Hudzen.
"Hudzen, head down to-"
"Captain, repairs are complete," Sorik's voice emanates from the comm, "I suggest that we depart immediately."
Greymoran spins back to the helm console. Outside, a bright white light flashes inside the barrier, slowly growing brighter. As it brightens and grows, the Archangel jumps to warp.

The Archangel exits warp at the nearby planet. Greymoran sighs in relief at the sight of the blue and green sphere. He switches the view to aft. Far away, the bright light continues to grow, expanding and growing brighter.
"Hudzen, can you tell if that's supposed to happen?" Greymoran asks.
"Unknown," is all the android replies.
On the planet, many people are looking upward at the growing light in the sky, including Uthar Lightbringer.
Onboard the Archangel, the three crewmembers can only watch the screen and the light. All their concerns, however, are soon alleviated as the brightness peaks, seemingly filling space, before dimming and retreating to nothing.
"Hudzen," Greymoran asks, "Are you picking anything up from the anomaly."
Hudzen, who had the controls of Keith's console routed to his own, shakes his head.
"No, Captain, I am not picking up any traces of the anomaly. It's gone."
Greymoran smiles. "He did it. He succeeded. I'm just sorry that we don't know whether he made it back to his dimension or not. I hope he did." For a moment, Greymoran is silent. The turbolift doors open and Sorik steps off. Greymoran turns to him.
"Good job, Mr. Sorik."
The Vulcan nods. "Thank you, sir." Greymoran falls into silence again, before Hudzen decides to speak up.
"Captain? Your orders?"
"Yes. Mr. Sorik, take the helm," he says, staring at the viewscreen, "Take us to SCU-2."

Down on the planet, long after the others have gone about their business, Uthar Lightbringer stares up at the sky, up at one particular point of light. As he watched it, a dim purple blur appeared near it. The light moved toward it and both winked out. Uthar smiled.
"Goodbye, old friend." Behind him, Uthar hears his wife call his name. Smiling, he turns back and heads inside.

Back on Avalon, a very bored woman stares at a very boring panel. She has neck length red ahir, and a face that, whilea ttractive, looks like it has seen more pain and misery (though little of it has actually ben her own) than anyone would care to. She's new to the XDCA, a refugee from one of many universes ruined forever by Jake Grey. She sits, thinking about her daughter who should be in bed by now. She thinks about her friends, not knowing if they're alive or dead, and probably never being able to find out. She sighs, sips her coffee, turns to get up from her chair in the XDCA Secuirty building, where it is her turn to monitor all incoming computer links. She's not alone in this job but she might as well be. In this room, wathcing hundreds of monitors are several dozen people of various races, including a hyper-intelligetn shade of the color blue, who ironically enough is the only one she can carry on a conversation with wihtout falling asleep. She fills her cup. She's allowed to be away from her post because she's the supervisor of this little cabal, the night shift of a group whose sole purpose is too spot and hoepfully prevent (or at the veyr least track down) anybody who tries to hack in to any of the computer systems of Avalon (before Jake Grey's rampage there had been a single massive computer core, but the new President, Jerry Redding, and his Science Advisor, Ahz, felt this way was safer. Catherine Willows gulped down another cup of coffee. It was good. Too good. It made her miss the crud that the day shift from the las Vegas crime lab used to leave for her and her fellows. She started to feel sad again. A voice rang out from the opposite end of the room. "Ms. Willows? I think you should see this." She walked over to the origin of the voice. A Minbari female. "Someone just used a very sophiscated hacking program to access a personal file." "Used? Past tense?" Catherine asked. "I'm afriad so ma'am. I didn't spot it until after the hack logged off. He was very sloppy disengaging getting on. Which is just one of the odd things about this." "So, what are the other ones?" "Well, the fact that the security software didn't catch it for starters. That and the fact that the data that was collected, most of it wasn't even even classified, and the rest had low level classification. Using a master bug like this for these files is, to use a phrase I heard another human say once, a bit like sand-blasting a soup cracker." "Whose personal files were taken, and can we track down the source?" "To answer the latter question first, no. Not even with the reckless log-off. It's as if they didn't care about getting caught once they had what they wanted." "Interesting. Now, how about my first question? I need all the details before I can go to XDSec with this." "That's another odd thign ma'am. The target of the inquiry is an archeologist. A Lieutenant Keith Yeager. Currently serving aboard the X.S.S. Archangel."