There was a podium in place, but Spock chose not to use it.
To some of those gathered, it was a sad time. They had just spent the past few hours saying their goodbyes to loved ones they would be leaving behind. For those loved ones, it already had been a hard time. It was now going to get worse.
From the entrance to the hangar deck, Devon Adair watched as Spock wished the crews good luck. Her eyes were not on Spock, but on James Watt. Ever since she had come to the Time of Legends, she had wanted to tell Watt something; she had wanted to share a burden she carried, but knew she could not.
She watched for a few more moments, and then turned away, just as Spock finished his speech. In a way, she wished the Eden had been chosen to go to the Delta Quadrant. Perhaps then, she could have told him.
As Palpatine entered his throne room, at the top of Mount Tantiss, he found a young woman waiting for him. She was not an uninvited guest. Palpatine had summoned her to Wayland from halfway across the galaxy. Many people in Imperial circles knew who she was, but not many people knew exactly what she did. Upon seeing Palpatine she bowed low. He smiled upon this showing of respect.
"You sent for me, your highness?"
"I did, Mara. I have an assignment for you."
"I would do anything for you."
As Palpatine sat in his throne, he handed the young woman a small computer chip.
"My orders?"
"At first light, you will leave for Tatooine. There, you will journey to the Mos Eisley space port. There, you will wait."
"For who?"
"My sources in the Alpha Quadrant rebellion tell me that they are sending a fleet here. You will wait for them. The rest of your orders are on the chip."
"And what name should I use?"
"Your given name, Emperor's Hand!"
At first, Janeway didn't know what to do. Although the sensors had told her to expect human life forms aboard this Galactic ship, she didn't expect to find 'exact' humans. Regaining her composure, she began to speak.
"Captain Kathryn Janeway, of the Federation Starship Voyager." Janeway studied the man on the view screen. He seemed older than her, and wore what appeared to be a blue uniform.
"Adama, commander of the Battlestar Galactica. Tell me, Captain, is your Federation an alliance of some sort? If so, who are your members?"
"The United Federation of Planets is an alliance. Our members number nearly two hundred. They include Vulcan, Betazed, Earth..."
"Did you say Earth?"
"Earth was one of the five founding members of the Federation."
Adama smiled.
"Then thank the gods, we have found Earth!"
Janeway could hear a cheer from the Galactica's bridge crew.
"Commander, please," Janeway said. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we are nowhere near Earth!"
"What do you mean? You said you were from Earth!"
"A powerful force brought us here to this sector of space. We are nearly seventy thousand light years from Federation territory. At maximum speed it would take us over sixty years to get home."
Adama's mood, and the mood of his crew, changed.
"I think we should meet in person to discuss this, Captain."
"Agreed. Perhaps you and your senior officers would like to beam aboard."
"Beam?", Adama asked, looking confused.
"I'll explain later, Commander. I will see you shortly."
With the reception on Wayland over, Princess Leia was one of the first to leave. It was only a matter of minutes before her shuttle was back aboard the Tantive IV. Upon arrival she made her way to the bridge. There, she was greeted by Captain Antilles.
"How soon until we can leave?", asked Leia.
"Are you sure that's wise?", asked Antilles. "The Imperials would get suspicious."
"I have what I came for. We have to get out of the Wayland system as soon as possible. Have you input the drive data into the computer?"
"All systems are ready to go."
"Then go."
The Tantive IV was soon underway.
Aboard the Death Star, Vader was soon alerted.
"The Tantive IV is breaking orbit, and they have engaged double jump-point technology."
"Is my ship ready to leave?", he asked.
"They await your arrival."
"Then project the Tantive's course and relay it to them. Tell them to leave as soon as I'm aboard."
"There is one more thing, Lord Vader. During the reception, the sensors picked up a strange form of energy in the lower caverns of Mount Tantiss."
Vader walked over to the station, and looked at the screen.
"It looks similar to mystical energy. But how can that be? There are no Istarians on Wayland."
"Shall I order a full sensor sweep of the caverns and tunnels?"
"No. If it was an Istarian they are probably long gone."
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