A/N : The story starts not long after Harper 2.0 in season
1 then goes into AU... sorta...
A/N : Big thank you for the fantastic beta by Leslie
aKa Lina
"Report, adjutant," Tyr growled as he watched the tactical display of the battle showing how little his forces were damaging the Magog World ship.
"Yes, Supreme Commander. The Magog have lost 68% of their raider warships and fighters, the High Guard have suffered 53% losses to our 39%. The remaining Magog are now concentrating on attacking our allies in the Systems Commonwealth fleet. The world ship is on a direct course for this flagship. As you ordered, all Martyr Battalions are rallying around us," the purple-haired combat officer reported to his grey-haired Commander, who frowned slightly at what the tactical displays were showing of the battle.
Tyr narrowed his eyes slightly as he stood stiffly, painful war injuries and stiff joints reminding him that he was now an old man. Looking around the command deck of his flagship, the Bunker Hill, Tyr noticed with approval how his grandson was handling the tide of battle turning against them. Alexander was the best and brightest of his 478 grandchildren, if one of the youngest.
Looking back towards the tactical display, Tyr smiled savagely. "Order all Martyr Battalions to fall back to the secondary rally point except the 115th; they shall have the glory of defending us. Arm the enhanced nova device," he said.
Watching the display silently, Tyr proudly beheld what remained of his command falling away from the flagship to begin reforming well away from the battle and the oncoming world ship. As Tyr had expected, the world ship now accelerated towards the tiny group of ships cut off from the Systems Commonwealth fleet by the advancing Magog.
Tyr spotted the questioning look from his communications officer and nodded as he prepared to hear the whining voice of the commander of the High Guard fleet.
"Anasazi! What fool thing are you up to now?" demanded the red-faced Nietzchean High Guard Admiral.
"I am about to win this battle, Charlemagne, so I suggest you withdraw immediately," Tyr said calmly as he sneered at this pale shadow of his namesake, wondering how he ever became alpha of Jaguar Pride.
"You only have twenty-three fighters protecting your ship, Anazasi--excuse me...make that twenty-one," Charlemagne said sarcastically, a shower of sparks blooming behind his holographic image.
"And your precious High Guard have lost over half their fleet to barely a third of mine. You have exactly three minutes to withdraw to safe distance before I destroy the Magog world ship," Tyr said, grabbing the handrail in front of him as another explosion rocked his flagship.
"Your Martyrs have run from battle, Anazasi, and that pitiful remnant defending you won't last that long."
"They are preparing to finish off the Magog fleet once I have destroyed the world ship. You now have two minutes, Charlemagne. Don't be a fool. The Martyr Battalions have never run from battle, a fact all the Nietzchean Prides have cause to remember," Tyr said angrily as a console explosion killed his adjutant.
Wiping a hand over his face, Charlemagne said, exasperated, "That bomb of yours is still experimental. Our scientists don't even think it will work, let alone actually hurt that behemoth of a world ship."
"In exactly 58 seconds we will prove even the Vedrans wrong. This is your last chance, Charlemagne."
"Tyr, please listen to reason. You're a Nietzchean and alpha of Kodiak Pride. Don't tell me that all that time amongst the humans of that Liberated Territories you protect has made your brain soft. This is suicide."
"No. It's survival," Tyr said before he cut off the transmission and turned to what remained of his command crew. "Prepare to deploy the device."
As the enormous world ship cast the now badly damaged warship and its eight remaining fighters into its shadow, a small spark of light shot out of the warship's underbelly. Moving with startling speed, it streaked past the fifty Magog fighters trying vainly to shoot it and slammed into the world ship.
Tyr grabbed the handrail in front of him again as he saw
his grandson Alexander jump into the pilot's chair. "Get us into the slipstream,
now!"
As the warship and its five remaining fighters turned
to flee, part of the Magog world ship seemed to collapse into itself, and
a dark stain spread rapidly across its outer surface. In the space
of seconds, the dark stain engulfed the entire world ship, as it seemed
to deflate like a balloon with the air let out. Just as the world
ship's bubble-like appearance began to crumple; a tiny spark appeared to
shine out of it before an immense nova-like explosion blossomed, blinding
the entire star system. Racing just barely ahead of the shock wave,
the damaged warship, four fighters, and twenty Magog pursuers entered a
Slipstream portal.
***
Chapter 1
***
"Dylan, I am detecting a massive eruption of radiation in the Cyclades system," the holographic image of Rommie said as she observed the almost empty command deck of the Andromeda Ascendant.
Beka looked over at Dylan from the pilot's chair. "We're going to go check it out, aren't we?"
Dylan smiled at her. "Am I that obvious?"
Beka shrugged as she settled into the chair and grabbed the controls. "Something weird just happened, and we're blindly rushing in... no, you're not obvious at all."
As they entered the slipstream, Dylan only had time to shake his head and begin preparing for whatever awaited them on the other side.
***
When the Andromeda came out of the slipstream portal, she was confronted by the sight of a heavily damaged Nietzchean warship aflame and drifting. Dylan took one look at his console before he said, "Battle alert, all crew report to their stations," and pressed some commands into his console. "Beka, get us in closer."
"The ship has sustained heavy damage from weapons fire, and I'm detecting fighting going on throughout the ship," holographic Rommie said as her avatar lead the rest of the crew into the command deck.
Tyr looked up from his console. "That's not a Nietzchean warship. Its weapons and hanger decks are completely unlike anything I've seen."
"Well, it's not gonna matter for long because that baby is toast," Harper said as he stood beside Rev.
Rev nodded his head and added, "They have taken too much damage--the ship is about to explode."
"How long?" Dylan asked, frowning.
"I think we've got time for a quick rescue mission," Trance said happily as her tail flicked behind her.
"You're not going to take the Maru over there," Beka said flatly as she jumped out of the pilot's seat.
"No, I'm not. You, Trance, and Tyr are going over there," Dylan said confidently as Beka shook her head in despair.
"Dylan that may not be a good idea." Tyr looked down at the console in front of him. "That ship is infested with Magog, and the crew seem to be losing the fight."
Dylan turned to Rommie's avatar. "Any part of the ship where the Maru could dock without being overrun by Magog?"
"Yes, the ship's crew seem to be falling back towards the forward section of the ship. As far as I can tell, the Magog haven't reached it yet. Anyone who goes over there will have to go now or risk being caught in the explosion," Rommie said, standing at attention.
"All right, then, let's get going. Beka, take Rommie and Tyr with you."
Beka threw her arms up into the air and stomped off the bridge without waiting for the others as she muttered various curses under her breath.
"I think you upset her, boss," Harper said, taking over the pilot's chair.
Dylan looked worried for a moment before he shook his head and said, "Trance, can you go down to medical? I don't know how many survivors will come back with the Maru, but..."
Trance just smiled brightly at Dylan and skipped off the Command deck without waiting for him to finish.
***
As she docked the Maru against the side of the warship, Beka looked over to Tyr and Rommie. "Just grab whoever is closest to the airlock and let's get out of here," she instructed.
Rommie looked over at Tyr when he grabbed yet another huge gun to add to his bristling arsenal of weapons and told him, "We have almost ten minutes before the ship's engines go critical."
"I'll handle it. Be ready to leave as soon as I close the airlock," Tyr said as he walked off the bridge, an enormous gun in his hands.
Beka nodded and turned back to check the Maru. "Just
be quick. I won't wait for you."
Cautiously walking out of the airlock, Tyr gestured for Rommie to go over towards the other door while he scanned the room with his gun. Just as Rommie started tapping out commands into the door's panel, it opened itself to reveal seven heavily armed humans aiming very large weapons at them. From behind them emerged a large, grey-haired old man. "Lower your weapons and move back toward the airlock," he growled menacingly.
Tyr spun, bringing his gun to bear. "We're here to rescue you."
At that, the old man looked at Tyr, and for a split second his face paled in shock. "You're outnumbered and outgunned. Don't be a fool," he spat when he recovered.
Rommie looked between Tyr and the heavily armed crew facing them and walked backwards towards the airlock. Calmly, she spoke. "We're from the High Guard warship Andromeda Ascendant. This ship will explode in approximately seven minutes, and we came to rescue as much of your ship's crew as we could."
As his crew advanced into the room ahead of him, the old man said, "I know where you're from, and I set the engines to explode in exactly eight minutes. Now put down your weapons."
Rommie looked over at Tyr and noticed his tense trigger finger. "Tyr. We don't have time."
Tyr looked back at Rommie as he backed towards her at the airlock and heard the old man mutter, "For once I completely agree."
Tyr reluctantly lowered his weapon and watched the old man limp over to a panel near the door and speak into it. "Alexander, evacuate the ship immediately with as many volunteers as you can. We will hold this position for exactly five minutes."
Tyr noticed the old man's yellowed arm spikes as he listened to the young male voice come back over the ship's intercom. "On our way, Grandfather."
Rommie had also spotted the arm spikes. "I don't recognise this type of Nietzchean warship. Which pride are you from?" she asked.
The old man tapped four of his crew on the shoulder on their way back out the door. "The Bunker Hill isn't a Nietzchean warship, and my crew are not slaves of any Nietzchean pride," he told her.
Tyr fingered the grip of his weapon as he watched the old man limp over to a cargo crate and sit down. "Are you and your grandson outcasts?"
The old man looked up at Tyr and smiled. "In a manner of speaking. You could say our entire pride are outcasts from Nietzchean society."
Rommie looked at Tyr, confused, but before she could ask any questions she heard people come running down the corridor and into the room. A group of sixteen crewmembers ran into the room, and the old man stood up stiffly. "We can talk more on your ship," he said. "We have to leave now."
Rommie opened the airlock and stood to one side to allow the others through as she addressed the old man. "What about the rest of your crew? We still have time to rescue more of them."
The old man turned weary eyes to her as the few members of his crew filed through the airlock. "They will stay to fight; it is their honour to die so we may live," he explained.
Tyr exchanged a silent look with Rommie while a crewman helped the old man through the airlock into the Maru before they both followed.
***
"The Maru is inside the hanger deck," Rev said, looking towards Dylan.
Dylan nodded. "Get us clear of the blast, Mr. Harper. I'm going to go greet our guests." Without waiting for a response, Dylan walked off the Command deck and headed for the hanger with a look of anticipation on his face.
As Dylan approached the hanger an image of Rommie appeared on a nearby display. "Dylan, the captain of the Bunker Hill has requested that you give his crew quarters on the lower decks, and he wants a private meeting with you."
Dylan frowned. "Okay, I suppose," he conceded. "Have the Marias clear out some of the old crew quarters down there." Opening the hanger door, Dylan spotted Beka walking in front of the survivors coming off the Maru and waited for her to reach him.
Once she was closer Beka said quietly to Dylan, "There's something seriously weird about these guys, Dylan. I hope you don't intend to trust them."
"What do you mean?" Dylan asked, watching the strangely clad survivors calmly file off the ship in military fashion and begin forming a review line along the Maru.
"They don't talk at all, not even to each other. The captain is an old Nietzchean who refuses to talk about anything. All he says is that he wants a private meeting with you, Rommie, and Trance on the observation deck."
Dylan nodded and walked towards the Maru. He saw Tyr and Rommie walking down the Maru's ramp behind an old man who was being helped by a younger crewmember. Once they reached the deck, the old man gestured for his helper to join the review line, and he waited for Dylan and Beka to reach him.
***
Dylan looked away from his silent study of the strangely familiar old Nietzchean captain when Trance entered the room. "Engage privacy mode and seal the door, Rommie," he told the avatar next to him.
At that, the old man turned away from his study of the slowly dissipating cloud of debris that used to be the Bunker Hill, and he limped stiffly over to a couch and sat down when he saw Rommie nod her head.
With a heavy sigh, the old man said, "I suppose you would like to know why I insisted on this private meeting, Captain Hunt."
"If you wouldn't mind. I don't even know your name," Dylan said as he stood to one side of the old man.
The old man looked up at Dylan with a tired smile. "Actually, you do. Just as I know all of your names and your mission to rebuild the Systems Commonwealth."
Trance bit the inside of her lip, her tail flicking violently around her, before she said, "You're Tyr Anasazi. You're from the future."
Dylan shot Trance a shocked look. The old man chuckled. "I always liked you more when you were purple, Trance."
"What do you mean when she was purple?" Dylan asked, confused, moving to sit down before he fell down.
"We aren't supposed to be here, Trance, or at least I didn't think so..." the older version of Tyr said quietly.
"If you weren't supposed to be here, then you wouldn't be here," Trance replied firmly as she sat down beside the older Tyr.
The older Tyr gave Trance a small smile, nodded, and said, "True, but with the Bunker Hill destroyed, I don't know how to get my crew back to their proper time."
Dylan shook himself slightly. "You're from the future, but with your ship destroyed you're stranded here in your past."
The old Tyr ignored Dylan and said to Trance, "Do you think this is all about that perfect possible future you're always on about?"
Trance gave him a blinding smile. "I don't talk about that much at the moment, but I think it is," she said.
The old Tyr nodded again. "I see."
"Well, I don't," Dylan interjected, irritated at being ignored. "What are you two talking about?"
"Temporal mechanics," Rommie offered. "Tyr is worried about what changes he and his crew from the future will cause to the timeline, if any."
The old Tyr looked over at Rommie. "Have you travelled back to the battle of Witchhead yet?"
Dylan frowned and murmured, "Yes. We couldn't change what happened no matter what we did, but if we hadn't gone back, then the future would have been changed."
"Then you understand my position. I don't know what to say or what to do."
Silence descended upon the room as everyone except Trance looked at anything but each other. "That was different. This isn't the same at all," Trance finally said.
The old Tyr smiled, shaking his head, while Dylan looked over at Trance and asked, "How do you know that?"
Trance gave Dylan another blinding smile and said confidently, "I just do." She turned to old Tyr with a serious look. "You need to follow your feelings, if you want to bring about the best possible future."
Dylan frowned, but before he could say anything, the old Tyr spoke. "My feelings for people, you mean, not warning people about what the future will bring."
Trance bit her lip again before she said, "You can't change everything, but you could help bring about the perfect possible future."
As Dylan stirred, getting ready to speak, old Tyr cut him off again. "So I shouldn't tell anyone about the world ship, or how by my time the crew of this ship are all dead."
Trance's tail started flicking again. "Not if you can avoid it," she said.
Dylan stood up as he angrily demanded, "What is a world ship, and just how far into the future are you?"
The old Tyr looked over at Dylan. "I am one hundred and fifty-seven years old, and war is what I am talking about. A long, bloody war that will take the lives of almost all of you, including the ship."
"Dylan, whatever future Tyr is from is either an alternate reality, or nothing we do will change it. Either way, it may be best if we don't know what is to come," Rommie said as she walked over and put a comforting hand on Dylan's shoulder.
Ignoring Rommie's hand Dylan asked, "We all die in this war?"
The old Tyr shook his head and said wearily, "Harper won't live to see it, and I don't know what happens to Rev Bem, just that he is presumed dead by my time."
With her tail flicking angrily, Trance stood up. "Dylan, Rommie is right. You don't want to know about Tyr's future because it may not be ours."
"I need to keep my crew isolated from everyone until we can work out what to do," old Tyr said, and he leaned back into the couch.
"To prevent any further contamination of the timeline?" Dylan asked as he looked back at him.
"To prevent any confusion in my crew. Some of you are legendary heroes in my time, so it would only upset and confuse them." Old Tyr felt every one of his one hundred and fifty-seven years.
Dylan noticed the pale look. "Are you okay?"
Nodding his head, old Tyr said, "I'm just old, Dylan. When you reach my age, you can't handle as much excitement as you used to."
"Well, your crew is quartered down in the lower decks, which we weren't using anyway, so it'll be easy to keep everyone away," Dylan said with a sigh. "Will you be staying down there all the time, as well?"
Trance smiled. "No, he won't be. He can help me out in medical and make sure Harper doesn't get too curious."
Dylan looked between old Tyr and Trance. "Who do we say you are?"
Trance piped up again as her tail continued to flick around madly behind her, "We tell them he's Tyr from the future and that we need to help them get back there."
Dylan narrowed his eyes at Trance. "You seem awfully confident about all this," he said.
The old Tyr slowly started to get up. "You should see her when she's golden."