Archangel Book I:
The Hunt for Jake Grey
Chapters 1-7
Chapter 8: Code Of Hero (The 2nd LICC Crossover)
Chapter One: The Hunt for Jake Grey
New Characters: Jackson Dupree Tacoman (clone), Rita Yeager (seen), Hudzen, Ahz, Carrie, the Shi'ar
The small crew of the Defiant-Class Extradimensional Control Agency (XDCA) Starship Archangel is introduced. They are its captain, the powerful wizard Greymoran, Jackson Dupree Tacoman, the first officer and clone of the legendary LICC captain, science officer Keith Yeager, Keith's wife and helm officer Rita Yeager, security robot Hudzen, the mysterious Wanderer Ahz, and the ship's computer Carrie. Their mission is to track down and stop Jakob Grey. Grey, a former elite XDCA agent, has recently snapped and begun a transdimensional killing spree, already taking the lives of millions of innocent people as he travels through the dimensions of the Multiverse.
As chapter one begins, Carrie reports that Grey's gigantic fleet has been detected in one of the Marvel Universes near Shi'ar space. Greymoran orders the Archangel to intercept and the ship jumps dimensions. Arriving in the Marvel Universe, the crew discovers that Grey's tremendous fleet contains a Death Star-like battle station, the Macedonia 1, with thousands of support ships inside. The Archangel is spotted by the fleet and several ships move to intercept. Ahz is able to deal with the attacking ships; Sahdow vessel from Babylon 5. Ahz leaves to warn Grey's next target, a nearby inhabited planet, while the Archangel engages Grey's battle station. The ship is nearly destroyed when the station fires a Ship Killer (a heavy plasma cannon featuredin Wign Commander Prophecy) which creates a massive shockwave. Luckily, the Archangel jumps to warp seconds before it is overtaken.
Meanwhile, Ahz reaches the planet and evacuates the primitive native population into shelters. There he encounters the Shi'ar, angry that he is interfering with the natives' development. At first skeptical, the Shi'ar soon learn from Ahz of Grey's coming assault and begin to mobilize ships to defend the planet. The Archangel crew, hoping to find a way to buy the Shi'ar some time and slow Grey's fleet, decide to find an Omega Particle from a Star Trek Universe to disable Grey's warp drive. Jackson and Hudzen take a shuttle to the Star Trek Universe with Grey's battle station only 11 minutes away.
Chapter Two: The Omega Search
New Characters: Jakob Grey, TorGal, Vampyres
As Grey's fleet approaches, the Archangel is joined by three powerful Shi'ar battlecruisers. In the Trek Universe, Jackson and Hudzen quickly acquire two Omega Particles and return to the Marvel Universe seconds after Grey has launched a Darksaber superlaser. He and his second in command, the troll TorGal, plan to use the superlaser as a decoy and launch a Suncrusher torpedo at the nearby planet. However, the shuttle, on it's return, releases a particle near the station. It is sucked into the Macedonia 1 and explodes, disabling the warp drive. Angry at this turn of events, Grey fires a suncrusher torpedo at Greymoran's fleet but he is unable to target them acurately and the torpedo is easily destroyed. Grey uses this distraction to escape through a dimensional portal. Grey sets course for Star Trek Universe #98, where the experimental ability to cross dimensions without using a portal has been created. Unhappy about losing Grey, the Archangel crew gets even more bad news when they learn of the Spidership II's destruction (from the LICC universe). As Greymoran tries to decide the next course of action, Ahz finds that the self-destructed Darksaber originated from Star Wars Universe # 3. Hoping to find how Grey managed to get Darksaber the Archangel sets course.
Chapter Three: Rescue
New Characters: Mon Mothma, Admiral Ackbar, Crix Madine, David Dunn, Winter Wolves
The Archangel arrives in SWU3 to find that the local XDCA offices have been bombed and destroyed. Greymoran orders everyone to get some sleep while he and Hudzen fly to Coruscant. The duo meets with Mon Mothma and Admiral Ackbar. Mon Mothma informs Greymoran that Grey stole the Darksaber with General Madine and several New Republic agents still aboard. Greymoran tells them of the Darksaber's destruction but Ackbar believes that Madine may not have even been onboard when it was destroyed. Greymoran has Ahz check the Darksaber debris he scanned for any sign of bodies or organic residue while Hudzen checks the nearby XDCA rubble for anything he can find.
On the Archangel, Jackson joins the Yeagers in the mess hall and learns some information about them. Keith and Rita tell Jackson that he should try to be an individual and try to separate himself from Captain Tacoman. Jackson agrees and decides to drop Tacoman from his name.
Greymoran returns to the Archangel and learns that no one was aboard the Darksaber laser when it exploded. He concludes that Madine mighy still be in the Hoth Asteroid Field and the Archangel prepares to depart. On Coruscant Hudzen and the search party find a survivor in the rubble and Hudzen takes him up to the Archangel. As soon as they are onboard the Archangel warps to the Hoth system. No one notices a small spy droid detach from the Archangel and enter a dimensional portal. Grey learns that the Archangel is in SWU3 and develops a plan to end the threat of the Archangel.
Hours later, the Archangel exits warp in the Hoth system and is able to locate the asteroid base containing Madine. Greymoran and Ahz teleport into the base and quickly take care of Grey's Winter Wolf guards. Jackson sends a shuttle to transport the New Republic personnel to the Archangel. As they wait for a Republic ship to arrive to take the personnel, Greymoran meets with the bombing survivor, David Dunn (se Unbreakable), and learns why he was at the XDCA building. During the conversation, Rita reports the incoming Republic ship. The ship is the Millennium Falcon.
Chapter Four: Cold Comfort
New Characters: Han Solo, Chewbacca, Wampas, Ryo-O
The Falcon docks and Han Solo and Chewbacca meet with Greymoran, Keith, Jackson, and Ahz. After Madine's people board the Falcon, the legendary ship departs. As the Archangel crew discuss Grey's future plans, three ships that appear to be Shi'ar cruisers appear from dimensional portals. They do not know that they Shi'ar ships are really replicas sent by Grey until the ambush begins. The ship is severely damaged and hoping to escape Greymoran orders a course for Hoth VI, former location of a Rebel base during the Galactic Civil War. Rita is unable to stabilize the ship and the Archangel crashes. Although the crew is okay, it will take days for the ship to be repaired enough to reach space. While the most of the crew stays in Ahz's lab, which is not actually a part of the Archangel, Ahz travels to the Rebel base to gather any supplies he can find. Before he leaves he is attacked by a wampa ice creature. He quickly dispatches of the beast and returns to the Archangel. Greymoran assigns the crew to various jobs throughout the ship and tells Ahz about the theory of U-1, the first Universe, the place that the Multiverse is believed to have stemmed from.
Meanwhile, Hudzen powers down to prevent from freezing and Jackson transfers Carrie to an android body. The two go to the cargo bay to check Radagast's stasis tube only to find that it has been partly breached. They quickly seal it before the evil sorceror awakens. They are soon able to restore auxiliary power and head up to the now operational bridge. There, Carrie transfers herself back into the main computer banks. Unbeknownst to the crew, a one armed Wampa (see The EMpire Strikes Back Special Edition) has entered the ship. As the crew on the bridge realizes that it is on the ship and that it is very intelligent, the creature attacks Ahz. Ahz is easily able to take care of the wampa and Carrie gets the Archangel's systems up and running again. With a little effort, the Archangel is barely able to make it to space. Finally off the planet, Greymoran orders a course for STU-1 for repairs.
Aboard Grey's favorite ship, the I, Claudius, Grey and TorGal watch in anticipation as they test new technology: a device that allows ships to 'slide' between dimensions without the use of a portal. The test on the Ambassador-Class Red Wizard is successful, much to Grey and TorGal's delight.
The Archangel enters STU1 and sets a course for the nearest starbase, a week away at impulse. As Ahz prepares for a test flight of his organic ship and companion Ryo-O, Jackson informs Greymoran that he wishes to take a leave of absence to explore the ST galaxy.
Chapter Five: The Sum of Its Parts
New Characters: Commander Martin Durgin, Oakenshield, Captain Jerry Redding, Maxine, Mac, the Gorn, Captain Tomalak, the Breen
The Archangel comes across a large debris field on its way to Starbase 16. With sensors and communications down they are unable to get much information from the debris. Knowing that communications will have to be manually repaired from the outside, Jackson volunteers his jar of instant redshirts. Greymoran is infuriated by the idea, disapproving in general of the concept of 'disposable people,' and decides to fix the communcations array himself. Jackson decides to help him but takes a redshirt with him anyway. He once again voices his desire to explore the ST galaxy and also hopes to show Greymoran how useful redshirts can be. Unfortunately, the redshirt quickly dies making Greymoran even more furious. As they continue to work, a Starfleet shuttle that has been detonating the debris spots the Archangel and moves in for a closer look. After learning more about the ship, the shuttle leaves to inform the nearby Gorn. Ahz appears on the outer hull and demonstrates his new invention : an ocular enhancer that allows him to see microfractures on the hull and the shuttle as it flies away. Greymoran finishes the repair work and the Archangel sends a distress signal to Starbase 16. The base's quartermaster sends a warp tug for the Archangel.
Somewhere out in space the XDCA Revanche, a modified Klingon Vor'Cha attack cruiser, sits near a black hole. Knowing that the lone XDCA ship needs all of the help that it can get to battle Grey, its captain, Jerry Redding, decides to attempt to find the Archangel.
On the Archangel, Jackson and Greymoran talk before Jackson leaves for parts unknown. The warp tug arrives to take the Archangel to Starbase 16. Later, Rita plays a holodisk that contains a message from Jackson telling of feelings for her. Meanwhile, Ahz takes Ryo-O for a successful test flight. The Archangel soon arrives at Starbase 16.
As the ship is repaired, Greymoran takes a break in the louge where he learns from several Starfleet officers of the atrocites that Grey has committed in this universe. After the conversation, he meets Rita, Keith, and Hudzen on the Archangel bridge where he witnesses what Ahz has been working on.
As Jackson continues his exploration he learns of the damage that Grey has done to STU1 and decides to rejoin the Archangel crew to help put a stop to the terrorism. Unfortunately, before he can act on this, his shuttle is attacked by the Breen and he warps for Starbase 16 just as he is knocked unconcious. Ahz promises that Ryo-O can and will contribute to the protection of Starbase 16 from the incoming Breen/Romulan fleet. As the stations begins to scramble it's defenses for the coming attack, a Gorn battlecruiser drops out of warp to help defend the station. As the battle begins, Ahz tractors in Jackson's damaged shuttle and demonstrates Ryo-O's great firepower to the attacking fleet. Three more Romulan warbirds decloak. However, these ships fire on the attacking Romulan ships. Romulan Captain Tomalak informs the surprised Starfleet forces that the attacking Romulan ships are not really Romulan and his ships will take care of them. However, even with the Romulan ships out of the fight, the outnumbered Starfleet and XDCA forces are losing the battle. As the Breen regroup for a final assault a large fleet of Gorn ships arrive and begin to pound the Breen. The tide of the battle is turned. The attacking Romulan forces are quickly destroyed and the real Romulans warp away. The Breen warships and cruisers are being taken out as well, but the Breen fighters are beginning to overwhelm the station's defenses. Rita takes a shuttle to help deal with the problem. She is able to take out several enemy fighters before she is forced to withdraw from the fight. After landing, she makes her way to the station's ops center, only to find that its commander betrayed the starbase and the Archangel to Grey.
Meanwhile, Grey monitors the battle from afar, happy that the Breen are doing exactly what he hoped they would and that the Romulans may also look partially responsible for the attack. His mood quickly turns sour when he learns that his cache in X-Files Universe #2 was attacked and ransacked by another XDCA ship; the St. Helens.
Aboard the Revanche, Redding and company continue to search for the Archangel. Picking up dimensional incursions in STU1 and XFU2, they decide to investigate XFU2 first.
In Sickbay, a revived and healed Jackson presses the EMH for information on the battle. However, the battle ends only moments later. Greymoran, Keith, Hudzen, and Carrie in a mobile unit meet Rita aboard the starbase. There she tells them of the base commander's betrayal and the fact that Grey now has information on everything about the Archangel. In spite of this unpleasant news, the crew is soon very happy moments later when they are reunited with Jackson Dupree, who after a little reconstructive surgery is a totally new man. The reunited crew returns to the Archangel.
Chapter Six: Consequences
New Characters: Haer'Dalis, Arnold Rimmer, Dave Lister, Holly, Captain Hollister, Derisa Alex
Two days after the Battle for the Repair Station has ended, the Revanche sits near Earth's debris in XFU2 after completing scans of a battle that took place there. Redding decides that it was not the Archangel that was there but resolves that he still must find the rogue XDCA ship and force them to follow the XDCA charter for fear that allowing agents to act in such a manner would make rebuilding the XDCA diifuclt at best. If they refuse, he will be forced to arrest them and take their ship.
Days later, the Archangel is fully repaired and ready to go. Carrie reports that the Extradimensional Satellites (XDS) in Red Dwarf Universe #7 have all gone dead. Greymoran orders the ship to go there to investigate. The Revanche also learns of the XDS's deactivation and sets course there as well.
In RDU7, the mining ship Red Dwarf is attacked by 3 Trade Federation starships from a Star Wars universe. Both the Revanche and Archangel enter RDU7 and engage the Trade Federation ships, expecting a short battle. However, the SW ships have been modified with Star Trek weaponry.
In XFU9, Grey is torturing Mulder and Scully when TorGal reports to him that the trap they set for the St. Helens in RDU7 snared two ships that they did not expect, the Archangel and Revanche. Grey decides to take the Red Wizard to put them out of comission for good.
Even with the modified weaponry the Trade Federation ships are no match for the XDCA ships. With the battle over Redding orders Gremoran to surrender. When Greymoran refuses the Revanche attacks. With an inertial nullifier the Revanche is capable of performing nearly impossible manuevers. The Archangel has no chance against the modified Klingon cruiser. Then, out of nowhere, the Red Wizard appears and attacks the Revanche. The battle is quick and furious and both the Revanche and Red Wizard are badly damaged before Grey pulls out. As a departing gift the Red Wizard fires a dozen nuclear missiles at Red Dwarf before disappearing. Luckily, all the missiles are destroyed before they impact with the mining ship, the last by one of Red Dwarf's own shuttles. With the battle over, Redding decides that Greymoran might be right and the Revanche leaves the area.
Greymoran asks Ahz to find any information he can on Grey's ability to jump dimensions without a portal. The Archangel sets course to return to STU1.
Chapter Seven: In the Still Darkness
New Characters: Douglas Hazelwood
Grey, furious at losing the location of both the Revanche and Archangel, decides to give World Devastator tech to LICC's enemies the Sith. He hopes that they'll use it to elminate the organization forever.
In STU1, Greymoran calls a meeting in his Ready Room to discuss recent events and findings. They determine that Grey may have a base in STU56, a universe wiped out by natural phenomena, and they set course. When they arrive they discover that the highly radiated universe has made almost all sensors useless. Only mass detection sensors still operate and a very large object that may be an asteroid is soon detected. The Archangel crew quickly discovers that the asteroid is actually hollow. Rita, Keith, Ahz, and Jackson take a shuttle to investigate. Inside they discover a duplicate Archangel being built. Rita and Keith explore the duplicate and take care of some "private business" while Jackson has Ahz investigate several humans found being held in fluid-filled tubes. Ahz plugs himself into the tubes and learns that the unconscious humans are workers in control of the construction robots building the duplicate. They believe that they are building a freighter. Ahz is forced to disconnect when the computer's security systems kick in. He enters the system again later to learn more information.
On the Archangel, Carrie discovers that the base has sent a message and that unwanted company is most likely on the way. Greymoran orders the evacuation of the base and the destruction of the duplicate. Ahz evacuates the workers but Jackson finds that the duplicate's auto-destruct has not ben installed and decides to detonate torpedoes near the ship's warp core, located on the other side of the base.
Meanwhile, at Grey's main shipyard facility, Douglas Hazelwood, the chief engineer, receives the signal transmitted by the asteroid base and activates a duplicate I, Claudius and two Sovereign-Class Star Destroyers to deal with them.
Once the evacuation is complete and the torpedoes are detonated, the Archangel flies away as the interior of the base is destroyed. The Star Destroyers and the Prometheus-Class starship don't detect the Archangel as they arrive to investigate. Greymoran decides to attack Grey's shipyard and the Archangel backtracks the paths that destroyers and the I,Claudius took. The Archangel quickly and swiftly attacks giving the shipyard almost no time for defense: only a Nebula-Class starship, a Breen warship, and a WCU Kilrathi ship are mobilized. The Archangel easily defeats the AI-piloted ships and is able to get the Nebula-Class starship to ram the base causing it to set off a chain reaction that destroys half of the base. Hazelwood, realizing that the shipyard is lost, and hoping to end his lonely misery and take the attackers with him, sets the shipyard's self-destruct. Desperate to get away from the massive explosion and shockwave Greymoran orders a dimension jump without setting a destination. The damaged Archangel enters a portal, fleeing into an unknown universe.