Self-promotion for my big massively sprawling science-fiction crossover epic! Help & Ideas Thread!

Which franchise are you the most familiar with?

  • Stargate

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Babylon 5

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • StarCraft

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Halo

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • ReBoot

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • None of them

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • All of them

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    3
#1
Hi. I'm new here. Apologies if this is the wrong thread! But I'm looking for feedback. So, while I've dabbled mostly in anime during the course of my time writing fanfiction since I first took up the hobby in 2008... I actually want to branch out into my first proper stab at science-fiction, of which I'm also a huge fan.

As an author, even a fanfiction author, I'm highly interested in the concept of crossover more than canon purity. Always have been. And I wanna try and strive for something more with the fanfiction I have planned in the works. There are eight core verses that play major roles in the story, and a smattering of secondary verses. For simplicity I wanna go over what those verses are how I plan to integrate them into the larger universe.

Star Trek: This is really very simple. I'm more of an old-school fan who's been dissatisfied with the brand before the turn of millennium. So, for Star Trek, this is going to focus primarily on the Prime Timeline, set during the Dominion War, while rejecting any new additions following the end of DS9 or anything made past 2001. Naturally, this includes Enterprise, the reboots, Discovery, and Picard. I have not seen those, but I don't like what I hear. I'm a bit on the fence as to how to include Voyager, given how hit-and-miss that show as, but it did run concurrently alongside DS9 and it was part of the same time period, so... it's hard to ignore. I will eventually figure it out.

Star Wars (Legends): For most cases when it comes to secondary canon tier, like the former Star Wars Expanded Universe, I'm going to focus on the prime canon, though I'm making an exception for Star Wars because honestly, I think the EU enriched the lore, it enhanced it past what you see on screen during the course of six feature films, and given to what extent the new canon has plagiarized and watered down the source material they've completely abandoned and won't admit they even have anymore, I think it's better to adapt these instead. Besides, Rey is not the same person Jaina Solo was. It would be an insult to claim that. The former EU deserves more love and there is a lot of lies and myths out there. So, this is my way to give it more appreciation. This will be a HARD Legends adaptation, where it's the strict continuity of the EU material for the eras covered, not mixing and matching like the new canon does. I'm going to focus heavily on a consistent, detailed approach. Legends will be adapted into two time periods thanks to time travel (since it's set in a galaxy far, far away...), which is the New Republic era and the Imperial era.

Stargate: This is a verse I feel very excited to be adding since I'm nearly done with the series, and past some recent material, there have been no mainstream TV shows released in a long time. And this is one of the areas where I said I'll be adhering strictly to the primary canon, which is the movie and TV shows in this case. It could apply to Star Trek as well. All contemporary pop culture references could easily be shifted or reshuffled in order to avoid the Celebrity Paradox, which the show itself has touched on at times before. Like how the actual Bill Nye appears as himself on the show, yet General O'Neill never spots the fact he's talking to Dan Castellaneta, who voiced Homer Simpson, and The Simpsons is one of his favorite TV shows. For example, Doctor Who predates the original Star Trek, so it could easily slot in here. An amusing idea I'd had was that Galaxy Quest could be a fictional-show-from-a-meta-movie-within-the-show-for-the-fic. Sounds confusing, but it just means that the Galaxy Quest TV show was the Trek for this universe, and just came a bit later, perhaps as a response to Doctor Who. And George Lucas was so involved in grafting together old pulpy adventure stories and science-fiction elements, he could have made something very similar to Star Wars out of his browsing of stories like Lensman, Jack Kirby's New Gods, old WWII dogfights, science-fiction serials like Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers, and what have you. Plus other TV shows like Battlestar Galactica could still get made, and many more. We'll see. It's something I'm tinkering with since I don't want the references to be a distraction to the audience, otherwise you'd have people like Simon Coombs geeking out when he meets Captain Picard. Stargate will be set very near to the beginning, somewhere around Season 1, so that the changes to the pop culture shout-outs will switch over easily, and also for plot-related reasons.

Babylon 5: This is a very wonderful old 1990s TV show that, as far as any more stories being told in that universe are concerned, is done with. Half the cast is dead, and JMS shows no interest in returning unless it's under specific conditions that will never happen. So, it's a perfect addition to this story, and I have tons of plans for it already. It's going to be set late in Season 3, after the Earth Alliance Civil War when they've seceded from Clark's dictatorship, and actually following the "War Without End" two-parter. So that the Shadow War is kicking into full gear. I can't go any further because then it would be taking place once the Vorlons and the Shadows as well as all the other First Ones have left the galaxy. Plus, I can expand more on Lorien's backstory! He has a vital role to play in the history of this composited universe. So, yeah, Babylon 5 is a great and logical choice.

StarCraft: Admittedly, this is perhaps one of the verses I'm least familiar with, second only to Warhammer 40,000, but I still see lots of potential here for story ideas, especially since my inspiration for this fanfiction was to build off one of my favorite science-fiction crossovers ever that involved Halo, Star Trek, Star Wars, and StarCraft, called The Rift Saga. Mainly I see possibilities from the stuff that has to do with the Zerg and the timeline to the history of the world. Plus I think the Terran Dominion and the United Earth Directorate could easily slot well into the more xenophobic anti-alien sentiments the Earth Alliance would have similarly around this time. So, the verse will set after the events of the Brood War expansion, but prior to the Wings of Liberty campaign that kicked off StarCraft II.

Halo: I've only ever been to play the first game, Halo: Combat Evolved, and I'm in the process of reading the Forerunner trilogy of books. However, it's not for lack of trying! I've always had a crap computer, and never got to move past the first one. With a new computer on the way, hopefully that will change. And of course, I see enormous potential with the Covenant, with their religious views, with the history of this world, the timeline, and so much more. Like that very possibly the Covenant fall under the sway of the Ori Priors from Stargate. So, yes, this will be taking place during the events of the first game since I've had little else to do but play Combat Evolved nonstop over the last ten years. I couldn't play past that.

Warhammer 40,000: As I said above, I have the least experience with this verse of any others. However, I am compiling notes on canon checklists and I'm checking out tons of lore videos on YouTube. The mythology, the lore, the history, the timeline, it all meshes up with others like Star Wars, Stargate, and StarCraft. I have a friend who is a huge 40K fanboy, and I'm buying up books and hope to buy the games when I am able to. For the purposes of convenience, this story is going to be set during the events of the Great Crusade and draw heavily on the events of the Horus Heresy books, since I can at least buy those online, I have more easy access than other avenues. And tbh, because I feel it's the best hope for salvation for the Imperium of Man. As this story is going to be a massive case of serial escalation, expect them to come late into the story.

ReBoot: Yes, the 1990s Canadian CGI-animated kids TV show! Might seem an odd choice, but given the various tech levels of the races involved, and the pop culture shout-outs ReBoot had, it seems a nice little fit that weaves into this ongoing tapestry I am knitting together. Some of the shout-outs might need an explanation, but most are so subtle, they don't need it. Those that are tend to function as minor freeze-frame bonuses. So yeah, this is a logical choice, that would slot well into the world of Stargate, for example, given the connection to that and the Gateway Command. To explore who the User for Mainframe is, what the Net is like, and deeper mysteries about the secrets of existence. For example, imagine Megabyte taking over the ENTIRE Borg Collective? Scary thought, right? Besides, the show devoted itself more to darker, continuity-heavy, and grittier storylines the further it progressed, so for that reason, ReBoot as a world will make its appearance during late Season 3, probably when Matrix and AndrAIa arrive in the Desert Port System and find free the software pirates and Ray Tracer to give them a lift back home.

Whew, that was a lot of TALKING. Anyway, if any of you are curious about this story, just hit me up! Here's a sample of my ideas for Part 2.

KEY EVENTS OF PART 2
-The Borg attempt to conquer the Galactic Empire, prompting the partnership between the Shadows and Imperial forces.
-The Tau'ri are made a part of the Compact Treaty.
-The Founders begin infiltrating the System Lords, eventually prompting the Dominion and the Goa'uld to begin their war.
-A strike team enters High Charity with an Asgard time-dilation device to trap the holy capital as well as the fleet defending it in an isolated pocket of decelerated time.
-The UNSC and the Tau'ri provide the mass-produced heavy projectile arms which cannot be replicated by the Federation for use in the war against the Replicators.
-The Earth Alliance convenes a coalition of mutual aid between the United Earth Directorate and Terran Dominion for the Koprulu Sector from acting as a middleman power to the defense treaty. The coalition is dubbed the Terran Free States, to which the shorthand acronym is TFS, their territory called Freespace.
-When Clark begins bombing civilian targets, Sheridan grabs the White Star Fleet and leads a campaign to oust Clark and liberate EA worlds.
-With the discovery of the Net, a plan is devised to have their ally Sprites and Binomes to infiltrate the Borg Collective and disconnect them from the hive mind, which paves the way for a greater evil. However, before that, Megabyte takes control of the drones.

Sounds insane, right? But a lot of them are unrefined. However, Part 1's plot summary is nearly done, I've begun a workable timeline about the history of this world, and I'm also throwing together dialogue transcripts and tropes to likely be used.

Let me know what you think, if there are any other science-fiction fans out there! I'd love help hashing out ideas.
 

Lord Raa

Exporter of Juice Tins
#2
At the risk of sounding like a snob or other brand of jackass, I will give my ill-considered opinion on what I've gleaned through glancing at your text. You're more than welcome to disregard any of the following nonsense.

A) There are three timelines for Star Trek: 1) Canon (TOS, TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT) 2) Prime (STD, STP) and 3) Kelvin (2009, Cannot Into Proper Lighting, Beyond).

B) Star Wars Legends is the way to go. The Disney stuff is not good when taken as a whole. Sure, bits of the Mandalorian are good, and Rogue One didn't shit the bed completely, but the less said about the "sequels", the better.

C) Onto the story mechanics. One of the big bugbears of sci-fi nerdery (and for most fans) is internal consistency. Not talking about continuity gaffes like a phaser blast coming out of a torpedo tube (I consider them to be in the same vein as typos), but things like "can't beam through shields" in Star Trek. Shields aren't really a thing in B5, so they're buggered if a runabout or cloaked ship can sneak up on them and beam away their reactor core or parts of its control mechanism.
  • Your technologies won't match up. What's faster, the Star Wars' hyperdrive or Star Trek's warp speed? What about the Warp from 40k, is that faster or slower than B5's hyperspace? What of the wormholes in Stargate?

  • Thinking that different characters will work together in a story is understandable, but the mechanics of them often don't. Different martial arts anime can work if you're willing to remove things like supernatural abilities and magic (or alter them so they're consistent) . Ranma ½ has martial artists, so that fits with John Wick, right? Well, what about the physics breaking magical curses that make up the core of Ranma? They don't fit with the "real world" setting of John Wick because they're not introduced as being present.

  • How, where and when do the elements meet? Sure, you can always use interdimensional portals to bring everything in. There's a lot in every universe that their inhabitants don't understand or know about, so it's not exactly unfeasible, though it could break the suspension of disbelief if handled poorly (unless you're going for an Isekai Quartet style comedy).

  • Are you including elements to gain access to good characters (understandable, as I don't think there's that many good characters in Halo when compared to DS9 or B5) or because having the Defiant ram into a Star Destroyer or Death Star sounds like a cool idea on paper?

There are so many elements that you're trying to combine, that I fear this will less end up like a tapestry and more like a Fanfictionstein's Monster, where things are just bolted on without thought as to how they will affect to the story.

I'm not part of the no-fun allowed crew, and if you want to write this idea out, I can't stop you and won't even attempt to try. I just want you to understand that what you're trying to accomplish here won't be easy or neat. You're going to have to change far too many elements to get things to align, that they'll be [Element] in name only. And that would make it as bad as a terrible Hollywood reboot.

We're all better than that, right?
 
#3
At the risk of sounding like a snob or other brand of jackass, I will give my ill-considered opinion on what I've gleaned through glancing at your text. You're more than welcome to disregard any of the following nonsense.
Nah, that's okay! Criticism, even harsh criticism, is the only way a story can grow.

A) There are three timelines for Star Trek: 1) Canon (TOS, TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT) 2) Prime (STD, STP) and 3) Kelvin (2009, Cannot Into Proper Lighting, Beyond).
Those in charge want what they do to be the canon timeline, don't forget. Though one of my possible workarounds for this is that for Star Trek it's one of those parallel timelines we saw in "Parallels." So close to the prime timeline as to be almost miniscule. Like, for example, something which is related to do with the study of the Dyson Sphere. Because that's where this begins. The Dyson Sphere found in TNG. Since we never found out who made it, I think tying it into two other verses does an excellent job in fleshing out the lore. Who built it? The Ancients from Stargate-SG1! And it is so unstable because a larval C'tan has burrowed into it. As to the Furlings who were part of the Alliance of the Four Great Races, whom we never meet and only barely get a reference to, I am making those into the Traveler's race and tying them into the history of this multiverse. Sounds insane, I know. That's why I want to do this. I guarantee you, I can make it work.

B) Star Wars Legends is the way to go. The Disney stuff is not good when taken as a whole. Sure, bits of the Mandalorian are good, and Rogue One didn't shit the bed completely, but the less said about the "sequels", the better.
And so not to insult my audience's intelligence, it's a HARD Legends universe. No references to anything since 2014 that is not, at best, Marvel #108.

C) Onto the story mechanics. One of the big bugbears of sci-fi nerdery (and for most fans) is internal consistency. Not talking about continuity gaffes like a phaser blast coming out of a torpedo tube (I consider them to be in the same vein as typos), but things like "can't beam through shields" in Star Trek. Shields aren't really a thing in B5, so they're buggered if a runabout or cloaked ship can sneak up on them and beam away their reactor core or parts of its control mechanism.
  • Your technologies won't match up. What's faster, the Star Wars' hyperdrive or Star Trek's warp speed? What about the Warp from 40k, is that faster or slower than B5's hyperspace? What of the wormholes in Stargate?

  • Thinking that different characters will work together in a story is understandable, but the mechanics of them often don't. Different martial arts anime can work if you're willing to remove things like supernatural abilities and magic (or alter them so they're consistent) . Ranma ½ has martial artists, so that fits with John Wick, right? Well, what about the physics breaking magical curses that make up the core of Ranma? They don't fit with the "real world" setting of John Wick because they're not introduced as being present.

  • How, where and when do the elements meet? Sure, you can always use interdimensional portals to bring everything in. There's a lot in every universe that their inhabitants don't understand or know about, so it's not exactly unfeasible, though it could break the suspension of disbelief if handled poorly (unless you're going for an Isekai Quartet style comedy).

  • Are you including elements to gain access to good characters (understandable, as I don't think there's that many good characters in Halo when compared to DS9 or B5) or because having the Defiant ram into a Star Destroyer or Death Star sounds like a cool idea on paper?

There are so many elements that you're trying to combine, that I fear this will less end up like a tapestry and more like a Fanfictionstein's Monster, where things are just bolted on without thought as to how they will affect to the story.
I hear ya. I'm also putting together a bunch of Word document spreadsheets dealing with the internal consistency. I guarantee you, there is the way to make it work. I mean, for example, it's been shown time and time again that the weaponry and sensor technology of the Federation and the Dominion, or other space powers on their technological tier level, cannot penetrate neutronium technology. Well, the Asgard ships are made out of neutronium... and that's a problem. And every Star Wars ship ever made, no matter to what faction it belongs, has some variant of neutronium due to the durasteel composition. Trust me, I'm totally focusing on the little nerd details here. I have no intention of leaving those out. This means that every civilization out there will fit into a tier rating, and for simplicity, ignoring hax type technologies, I've made it a superiority tier. Do you want to see it?

Let me address your points here individually.

1. Totally not going to ignore that. Yes, the hyperdrive is faster. As to the wormholes in Stargate, I'm actually trying to tie them into an ancient interdimensional empire that had ruled over the six foldspace iterations known as the Belkan Empire, a shout-out to anime. But not the exact same organization. But how do the wormholes connect to another universe? What I am thinking now is something like this. It's been shown in Stargate that high levels of gravity or the right particles will push you through time, whether forward or backward. Each foldspace iteration functions a little like this. It was stated in DS9 that the universe will begin expanding back on itself over 70 trillion years, so every 140 trillion years, when the universe is reduced into a microscopic quantum singularity, it expands back outwards. A Big Bounce. But during that process, another universal membrane similar to the first one is folded off from the previous one to come. It's a deliberate cycle of nature. At this point in the foldspace universe's history when the story begins, it is 840 trillion years old. So to speak. Each new foldspace membrane is a closed-off system from the previous one. Meaning immune to timeline changes in the previous iteration. So how do the Stargates do it? Flood the matter stream with a high enough concentration of gravitons or tachyons and it flings you forward into a future when the universe has ended, and out the other side, to the same position in space, but at a different point in the timeline in another foldspace iteration. Sort of. It's a tentative idea. And I also want to explore how each Earth is similar. I'm even making up a phony subatomic particle for this, lotrons. Wanna hear more about that? Or see which verses I think compose the six iterations?

2. I think it can work, if I'm smart about it. And I understand deviations from canon is one thing. But I also don't wanna go too far into those.

3. I actually have a plot summary written up, but it's a mess, and needs further revision. I know that. Right now, it's just a bunch of tentative ideas, and Part 1 is not even done.

4. Kind of a bit of all, tbh. I want solid characterization, which I can show you via those dialogue transcripts I have if you want to see those, but also for this to be like a culmination of geek culture and battleboard debate. I know there's gonna be disagreements, but I want this to be layered in technical details, without overloading it.

I have no intention to begin writing the prose and posting until I have it all pegged down. I want thought to go into this, and I have entire pages of Word documents to prove. Hundreds of pages.

I'm not part of the no-fun allowed crew, and if you want to write this idea out, I can't stop you and won't even attempt to try. I just want you to understand that what you're trying to accomplish here won't be easy or neat. You're going to have to change far too many elements to get things to align, that they'll be [Element] in name only. And that would make it as bad as a terrible Hollywood reboot.

We're all better than that, right?
I'm fully aware how hard it is. Hence, why. It will be a great challenge. That's why. I know people always seem so incredulous by this. That's why. I'll prove them it can be done. My favorite story ever made was The Rift Saga, and I want to do it even BETTER than he did.
 
Last edited:
#5
Well, if you want to challenge yourself, who are we to say otherwise...?
It's weird because I think only canon purists get offended by this. Those reactions feel weird to me, because what is art and what is even science without breaking boundaries and experimenting?
 

AoMythology

Apparently a report-er
#6
It's weird because I think only canon purists get offended by this. Those reactions feel weird to me, because what is art and what is even science without breaking boundaries and experimenting?
Well, to be fair, multi-crossovers have a well-deserved bad reputation... because the vast majority of them suck royally.
 
#7
Well, to be fair, multi-crossovers have a well-deserved bad reputation... because the vast majority of them suck royally.
That is a fair point. However, most are not planned out. And most don't have quite the foundation on character that I think I do. As well as the technical details.

Case in point, lemme show you some dialogue transcripts.

PICARD: Captain's Log, Stardate 51718.7. The Enterprise has been recalled from the front lines in a new mission Starfleet Command has deemed of stupendous importance to the Federation which returns me and my crew to an old stomping ground, one for which I had thought never to return.

DATA: We're approaching the designated coordinates, Captain.
PICARD: Bring us out of warp, Mr. Data, and drop us down to half impulse speed.
DATA: Aye, Captain.
(And into view comes the Dyson Sphere, where Picard is wistfully reminded of his older explorer days, before the Dominion War.)
PICARD: Magnificent. Now this sure brings back memories.
RIKER: It looks much the same as it did five years ago.
PICARD: Indeed, Number One. Always quite a sight.
TROI: Have the science ships that Starfleet Command left behind made any headway into studying the Dyson Sphere?
(And into view come two Oberth-class ships.)
RIKER: Something tells me we're about to find that out.
PICARD: Full stop, Commander. Hailing frequencies.
DATA: Aye, Captain. Hailing frequencies open.
(And on the screen appears an older man.)
LOU: Ah, there you are, Jean-Luc! I was wondering when you'd get into this neck of the woods, we've been waiting nearly three days.
(A happily surprised grin now appears on Picard's face.)
PICARD: Lou! It's marvelous to see you again, my old friend.
LOU: Likewise, Jean-Luc. Wasn't expecting to see me, eh?
PICARD: It's certainly been a while, hasn't it?
LOU: Not since the diplomatic conference on Beldon Prime.
PICARD: Where Ambassador Shurok had to be recalled due to breach in protocols. He was rather... disruptive for a Romulan, wasn't he?
LOU: Not half as disruptive as the Cardassians were.
PICARD: So, at the risk of sounding rude...
LOU: You'd like to know why you've been brought back.
PICARD: (wryly) If it wouldn't be too much trouble?
LOU: Follow me, and I'll show you, old friend.
(And suddenly, upon his display board, Data picks up a bunch of readings scrolling on the screen that he relays back to Picard.)
DATA: The Eratosthenes is relaying a set of coordinates to us, Captain — it appears they want us to follow them inside the Dyson Sphere.
RIKER: I would advise against that, Captain. Remember what happened the last time we tried that.
PICARD: Yes, I'm inclined to agree, Number One. Lou, what —?
LOU: I know what you're going to say, Jean-Luc, but give me a chance to speak my piece, ya old baron, before you jump to any conclusions.
PICARD: Go ahead, Lou. I'm listening.
LOU: Now, what you need to do is reset your subspace differential generator across an inverse broad-spectrum quantum resonance field with harmonic oscillating properties, and the excessive power feedback will be diffused along your shield grid capacitors. Far smoother sailing than the last time you were in the area.
PICARD: I see. Very well, Mr. Data, comply with Captain Suvall's orders, and if all goes according to plan we'll see you inside the Sphere.
(The screen blinks out, and Picard returns to his chair.)
PICARD: Ensign, set a course for the specified coordinates and keep the Eratosthenes in visual range. Proceed at one-quarter impulse.
ENSIGN: Yes, sir! Engaging impulse drive.
(And the Enterprise banks down into a tight course aft of the Eratosthenes, following them in closer to their destination.)
DATA: Approaching the nearest access aperture.
PICARD: Bring us to full stop, Commander.
(Standing upright, Picard moves forward and tugs firm upon his shirt.)
PICARD: Signal the Eratosthenes... we're ready whenever they are.
DATA: Signaling the Eratosthenes... you may proceed at your discretion. Take us in.
RIKER: Here we go. Everybody hang on!
(And like before as the hatch opens up the piloting beams grab onto the two ships and start pulling them in, while the red alert klaxons wail.)
RIKER: Data, report!
DATA: The EM resonance frequency of the piloting beams is being redirected through the ship's subspace flow distribution dissipating harmlessly across the graviton field. Shields remain at maximum.
PICARD: Maintain your efforts, Mr. Data. We're going in.
(And soon the two ships are led inside the Sphere.)
DATA: We have been released from the automated piloting beams.
PICARD: Stand down the red alert. Status report, Commander.
DATA: USS Pythagoras is holding station at one hundred thousand kilometers off our port bow. Reinitializing impulse drive. Enterprise is now free and clear to proceed heading on your discretion. Orders?
PICARD: Well, we certainly want to avoid that star. Lay us in an elliptical orbit circumnavigating the ionosphere, Commander.
DATA: Receiving communications from the Eratosthenes.
PICARD: Patch it through, Mr. Data.
DATA: Compensating for electromagnetic interference.
(And onto the screen pops the image of Lou again.)
LOU: You still hanging around with us, Jean-Luc?
(Picard fixes his friend with a bemused stare.)
PICARD: Quite the wild ride, Lou.
LOU: Captain, gentlemen, welcome to the Dyson Sphere, Part 2.

(Picard and his officers walk down the corridors.)
RIKER: I'm still not sure about this, Captain.
PICARD: They've had the ruins mapped for the last year and a half. If there were any dangers about the area they would have found them by this juncture, Number One.
RIKER: What about the radiation from that star?
DATA: I have plotted out a course where your trajectory only brings you around the Sphere's sun every 3.5 solar hours and the Enterprise still retains main power. That is more than sufficient to augment the deflector shield by rerouting it through the warp engines while still providing you with an adequate length of time to recharge shield emitters at the far end of the orbit.
RIKER: I'm also not clear what Captain Suvall wants you for, sir.
PICARD: Oh, neither am I. Though he said it was the archaeological find of the millennium. How could I let such a chance pass me by?
RIKER: It still might be prudent to take security with you, sir.
PICARD: Will... please do me a favor while I'm gone.
RIKER: Of course, sir. Name it.
PICARD: Relax. They've had the Federation base camp set up over a year now. If it puts your mind at ease you can keep a transporter lock on Mr. Data and myself. You could beam us back up at any time you choose.
(Riker inclines his head.)
RIKER: Whatever you say, Captain.
(Stepping onto the transporter pad, Picard smiles at him.)
PICARD: Besides, there's over a thousand Starfleet personnel working down there. What are the chances anything will go wrong? Energize.
(And the two disappear in a flash of blue light.)
RIKER: I wish he hadn't said that.

(The two materialize on the surface. Data takes out a tricorder.)
DATA: Fascinating. Although the Sphere's primary exhibits intense periods of heightened phosphorescence and coronal mass expulsions the indigenous plant life and corresponding weather patterns appear to remain relatively undisturbed by such states of increased luminosity.
PICARD: How's that possible, Mr. Data?
DATA: Perhaps the designers built failsafes into their technology.
(And before their eyes another blue flash materializes Lou.)
LOU: There you are, Jean-Luc! Made it in record time.
PICARD: Lou! I'd hoped we'd meet you in person down here.
(The two approach and firmly grasp one another's arms.)
PICARD: It seems you've done quite well for yourself.
LOU: Likewise, Jean-Luc. And you must be the famous Lieutenant-Commander Data. I've heard nothing but good things about you.
(He offers a handshake that Data respectfully returns.)
DATA: I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Suvall.
LOU: Please, Data... would it be okay if I call you Data?
DATA: (matter-of-factly) That is my name.
LOU: You can do away with that "Mr. Suvall" nonsense. I haven't been "Mr. Suvall" since I was a young courier in the Diplomatic Corps. It's Lou, if you please, Data.
DATA: I shall endeavor to comply with your request, Lou.
LOU: Excellent! Do that and we'll get along just great.
PICARD: I'm sorry, my old friend, pardon me if I appear somewhat preoccupied, but I'm still not altogether clear what we are doing here. Orders were a little vague, but Starfleet Command had told me this was a mission that had profound implications for the future of the Federation.
LOU: And so it does. Come, see for yourself, Jean-Luc, Data.
(And they begin heading down toward a cavern entrance.)
PICARD: Where are we headed, Lou? I was under the impression that the expedition would be exploring the surface of the habitable zone, but I couldn't make out any signs of a base camp.
DATA: For that matter, the initial scans we performed five years ago gave no indications of subterranean structures or other signs of former occupation. All we were able to ascertain was that the designers had abandoned it at some point prior to our arrival.
LOU: And you'd be correct! However... gander your eyes on this.
(And they emerge out into a cavernous space clearly constructed out of some kind of artificial alloys, with science team members moving about within the underground area.)
PICARD: (amazed) Good Lord!
DATA: Truly remarkable.
(The three resume their walk down some steps.)
LOU: Took us two years to figure out to overcome the difficulties posed by the access terminals, but once that was sorted out we ran very thorough seismic scans. It wasn't until the sixth or seventh time through that we could make out an interlocking tunnel network that circled the length of the outer shell. The tunnels housed ancient structures comprised of solid neutronium; the same substance the exterior of the Dyson Sphere is built from. That's why you didn't pick them up during the initial survey. You know the havoc neutronium plays on sensor beams.
PICARD: Yes, that would certainly explain a few things.
DATA: Has your team had any success in unlocking information to who may have been responsible for originally building the Dyson Sphere?
PICARD: And if so, for what reason?
(Lou shakes his head.)
LOU: No, that's still something of a mystery. The technology here's light-years ahead of us or anything else we've ever discovered. Early projections estimate we could spend a hundred years mapping out the interior of the Dyson Sphere and still have only scraped one-tenth of all the secrets this place has to offer. But, lookie here.
(And here Lou leads them over to a small table.)
LOU: We have recovered a few artifacts in the eight months we've been plumbing the ruins. As you can see, this is all we've found.
(Data picks up a small object and turns it over in his hands.)
DATA: It appears to be a type of control interface pad.
LOU: For sure, we worked that all out ourselves.
PICARD: (stunned) Impossible... these markings... they look to resemble an early Italic script... or some variation of Etruscan consonants...
LOU: Thought that'd get your attention.
PICARD: How can this be?
LOU: Best we could determine, whoever the builders of the Dyson Sphere might have been, whatever happened to them they probably had a hand in influencing the development of civilization on Earth.
PICARD: Simply breathtaking... although, and, please forgive me for asking a necessary question, Lou, but this still doesn't explain why the Enterprise has been pulled off from the war effort and diverted here.
LOU: I was hoping you'd ask. Jean-Luc, we need your expertise.
PICARD: (flabbergasted) Me?
LOU: The expedition commander was reassigned to be head of the Federation Science Council. We're in need of a new one, and to put it bluntly, Starfleet thinks that's you. All this, every archaeological secret you could ever dream up... it's yours, Jean-Luc, out there waiting for the taking.
PICARD: Lou... I agree the potential for discovery is astonishing, but my command duties couldn't possibly allow me to remain at the Dyson Sphere over an extended period of time: The Enterprise is needed to hold back the Dominion, especially with the recent fall of Betazed.
LOU: And where do you think we are, Jean-Luc? A forgotten world of ancient treasures, arcane knowledge lost to history, all of which would prove invaluable in the war against the Dominion, if it was reclaimed by the right people.
PICARD: I'd recommend Mr. Worf — Strategic Operations Officer of Deep Space Nine. I've worked with him before. He's meticulous as he is courageous and could better assess the strategic situation better than any other officer from any posting.
LOU: He's already being shuttled over and will be here in two days, but we need, more, than a... seasoned combat veteran to review the military gains. We need the foremost archaeologist of this age, and that's you. It's just like the Professor always told us. Never let a chance to make history —
BOTH: — pass you by.
LOU: Yes, that, exactly, Jean-Luc.
PICARD: Lou, you flatter me, but I couldn't possibly... we've already long overstayed our welcome. I must return to the front lines. The expedition shall have to make do without the Enterprise.

In truth, Picard is here for political reasons. To reassure nervous citizens that the Enterprise-E is here to "show the flag" along crucial sectors. And he'll come to realize this and feel annoyed that he was played. Vash is also involved.

---

PICARD: Multiverse theory; but such idle speculation was never substantially corroborated centuries ago — past the many-worlds interpretation of quantum physics Starfleet employs to this day.
DATA: Which we have seen play out with the advent of the quantum superposition matrix where all unexplored possibilities are reenacted throughout an infinite projection of potential outcomes.
WORF: I remember. It was... disconcerting... to find a reality out there where Counselor Troi and I had been married or Alexander had never been born.

DATA: If I may interject an observation, Federation Council members?
COUNCIL MEMBER: Who do you think you are to address this body?
(The President waves him down. Picard gestures.)
PICARD: May I present my operations officer, Mr. Data.
PRESIDENT: We're listening, Commander. Go ahead.
DATA: Thank you, Mr. President: Based on tricorder scans acquired during our time spent in the other universe the technological disparity between the two universes is pronounced to such a degree that the Enterprise-E, in conjunction with a number of retrofitted Starfleet ships, would retain the sufficient technical superiority to execute precisely what the Number Two has suggested. That is more than adequate to address the logistic concern raised by Council member Norshak, and at minimum in expense to the Dominion War effort.
NORSHAK: Then what kind of allies could they make, if they can't offer us something substantial in return for our investment of assistance?

ACKBAR: Admiral Ackbar to fleet ships. Status update.
PICARD: Transition is complete, Admiral. Mr. Data is running a series of comprehensive quantum resonance scans to pinpoint our precise location and time period.
DATA: Affirmative, Admiral. I will have it prepared in short order.
ACKBAR: Please see to it your droid does. Admiral Ackbar out.
(He turns to face Luke Skywalker, both eyes shut intently.)
ACKBAR: I don't mean to pry, but what does your Force sense tell you, Master Skywalker?
(And his eyelids slip open.)
LUKE: There's an odd quality to the touch of the Force here.
(Admiral Ackbar regards him with a skeptical look.)
ACKBAR: Such as?
LUKE: Imagine... at the end of the day, you've headed off to sleep, and the next day when you wake up you find that several eons have passed you, the universe itself inverted around you. It may strike you as entirely mad, my old friend, but that's the impression I had when we emerged from the passage.
(Before Ackbar could speak, however...)
DATA: Enterprise to Admiral Ackbar.
ACKBAR: Yes? What does your report tell you, droid?
DATA: We have indeed returned to our destination within the fifth foldspace membrane. Based on the chronometric decay rate merely ninety days, seven hours, and five minutes have passed since our departure on September 9th, 2260.
PICARD: If that's the case, then perhaps we are not too late.
ACKBAR: The question is, where do we proceed now that we're here? Captain, can your droid plot a course for where we are supposed to be?
PICARD: Of course, Admiral, and we can begin as soon as —
LUKE: Wait. Hold up, gentlemen... something is wrong.
ACKBAR: Master Skywalker...?
LEIA: Luke, what's wrong?
HAN: Yeah, you look a little distracted, buddy.
LUKE: I sense it, out there, even now... among the stars... a great battle is raging. Admiral, can you focus the long-range sensors onto an area approximating coordinates of longitude by 517 by 629 by 74?
ACKBAR: Ensign Darck, initiate a series of long-range scans.

SHERIDAN: Well — here is my office, gentlemen. Come in, make yourselves comfortable, and, uh, we can get down to business.
PICARD: Thank you for your hospitality, Captain Sheridan.
LEIA: Yes, we appreciate all that you have done for us.
GARIBALDI: Look, maybe I'm talking out of turn here, but, um, rather convenient, isn't it? The way all your ships show up right at the time we're getting pound down by the Shadow fleet.
(Admiral Ackbar stiffens up, bristling at the implication.)
ACKBAR: I don't know what you mean to imply, Mr. Garibaldi.
(Sheridan sends a glare at Garibaldi, then looks back to his visitors.)
SHERIDAN: That is hopefully what this conference will determine. Who you are, where you come from, and why you intervened the way you did.
PICARD: Of course. We'd be happy to provide any answers.
DELENN: We would welcome whatever answers you would give us.
(Meanwhile Luke, who has been quiet the whole time, now speaks up.)
LUKE: Captain Sheridan, there's a question I would like to ask first.
SHERIDAN: Yes? Go on, ask — we owe our lives to you, after all.
LUKE: Perhaps it's not my place to interfere on this issue, but... are you aware there is a presence layered within your consciousness?
SHERIDAN: What...?
(He gives a skeptical half-smile.)
SHERIDAN: What are you talking about?
LEIA: Luke, are you sure about that?
DELENN: John...?
LUKE: I sense it, and have from the moment we first met, and even now, standing here like this, I can feel it, bright like a shining beacon — a blinding pulsar in the Force; there's an entity buried inside you, and all I can say is it is very long-lived, and very familiar to you.
SHERIDAN: I don't...
FLASH!
KOSH: Understanding is a three-edged sword... one moment of perfect beauty... teach you how to fight legends... if you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die... as long as you're here, I'll always be here...
FLASH!
SHERIDAN: Kosh! It... it's Kosh. Has to be. I don't believe it...
DELENN: No other sentient would ever attempt it, except a Vorlon.
IVANOVA: Wait, Captain, how is that possible? I mean... I-I know the Vorlons have all of those crazy Psi powers, but that seems like a lot, even for them.
HAN: Look, 'scuse me if I'm interrupting, but what's a Vorlon?
LEIA: If that wouldn't be too much trouble, Captain, Commander?
IVANOVA: The Vorlons are an advanced race of telepathic beings that have been around thousands, maybe millions of years and up until a year ago nobody had ever seen what a Vorlon really looks like.
GARIBALDI: The Captain believes they might have interfered with humanoid evolution so when we caught a glimpse of 'em we'd see a being of light — you know... wings, white aura, playing a harp, all that?
(Han and Leia share a look.)
PICARD: A precursor race. Now that certainly sounds familiar...
DELENN: It is precisely as you say, Captain — and the Vorlons are among the oldest ones, known to have been walking the stars when the youngest of the oldest still cradled an inherently short-sighted belief that they were alone in the universe.
SHERIDAN: And the one that lived here, Kosh, was enigmatic as all get-out. But, the Shadows had him killed — oh, those were the ones controlling that fleet your forces repelled. Now it looks like he's not quite as dead as we were first led to think he was, if...
LUKE: If I am to be believed, is what I think you want to say.
LEIA: My brother is one of the most renowned figures of the New Republic. You can take him at his word — I will vouch for that.
GARIBALDI: Hey, buddy, what are you, some kinda teep?
(Despite his focus on Sheridan, Luke replies.)
LUKE: A what?
IVANOVA: It's Earth slang. Shorthand for "telepath."
LUKE: You could see it that way. From a certain point of view.
DELENN: That is indeed the basis for many of our cherished beliefs.
SHERIDAN: The question is, what do we do with this new information? Why has Kosh chosen refuge in my head? And, how do we coax him back out?
IVANOVA: That's assuming we can get him out at all.
LUKE: About that, I believe I might be able to help you, Captain.
SHERIDAN: Well, now, what can you do? I thought you were a human telepath — and no human telepath has ever been able to match the range and abilities of the Vorlons.
(The Grand Master smiles.)
LUKE: If you will recall, what I actually said is you could see it that way — from a certain point of view. No, while my powers do include telepathy, that's not the end to the skills gifted to me by the Force.
GARIBALDI: The whose and what now?
LUKE: The Force, as it was taught to me by my own Masters, is an energy field surrounding, generated by, and binding all living things together, and it is through the Force which I derive my powers, as do all members within the New Jedi Order as servants to the light side.
SHERIDAN: Well, pardon me for asking, but... what's a Jedi?
GARIBALDI: I think you left something out there, pal...
LEIA: It's a long story and would take too much time to explain, but I can promise to make all our records on the subject available to you?
SHERIDAN: I'd appreciate that, thank you.
LUKE: Yet the bottom line is, I think I can do something for you, Captain Sheridan. If I might be allowed to touch this Kosh with the Force, perhaps I could convince him to why your arrangement is unacceptable.
SHERIDAN: If you think it'll help, go ahead.
(Luke closes his eyes and reaches out, extending his Force sense. For a few minutes, he simply stands there, until his eyes open back up.)
LUKE: I think I know why this Kosh has taken refuge within your consciousness.
SHERIDAN: And that would be?
LUKE: Fear. The most base and primal of all emotions; fear of dying, an inability to let go. This Vorlon of yours has been... damaged and so clings ever more tightly to you. You are the anchor line by which this Vorlon maintains ties to the physical world, and without it this Kosh would be forced to succumb to its own mortality.
PICARD: Well, now, if that's the case, then it seems there is nothing which can be done to separate the two of them from one another.
LUKE: Not necessarily.
---
(Sheridan clears his throat.)
SHERIDAN: This place, the station, Babylon 5; it was set up by EarthGov following the Earth-Minbari War to help ensure another future misunderstanding wouldn't lead to a war. It was, well... supposed to be our last best hope for peace.
LUKE: An admirable goal, Captain Sheridan. That is what we in the New Jedi Order strive for, to keep the peace in the New Republic.
PICARD: However... I would dare to venture a guess that something failed along the line, Captain?
GARIBALDI: What gave it away? All the warships orbiting the place?

LONDO: Yes, I was there at the tragedy that befell Narn at the end of the war.
PICARD: It wasn't a tragedy, it was a war crime!

(A chime comes to Vader within the hyperbaric chamber.)
IMPERIAL COMMANDER: Lord Vader, you have a visitor.
VADER: Who is it?
IMPERIAL COMMANDER: Well, I... I don't know, sir. He won't give us a name. But we've scanned him for weapons or chemical residue. He's clean. And he has all the proper identification. Do we let him in?
VADER: Inform whoever it is that I don't entertain guests, Commander, as you very well know.
IMPERIAL COMMANDER: As you wish, my lord.
(Vader tries to meditate, but then another buzz comes.)
VADER: I am starting to feel irritated by your constant disruptions, Commander — surely your intent here is not to make me angry?
IMPERIAL COMMANDER: I'm sorry, Lord Vader, but the visitor is rather persistent, and... I don't know, there's just something odd about this. Orders, sir?
(Vader feels a hint of curiosity.)
VADER: If he wants to be a fool, then so be it. Let him through.
(He opens the hyperbaric chamber. And in steps Mr. Morden. Vader instantly senses the Shadows on either side, but because that they are not attacking him, the Sith Lord decides instead to let it all play out first, to lure them into overconfidence, especially given how Mr. Morden inclines himself respectfully before him.)
MORDEN: Lord Vader, I take it?
VADER: Yes? What do you want with me?
MORDEN: But that's what I came to ask you! What do you want?
(Vader is tempted to kill him, but can sense the Shadows, and their dark aura is all that stays his hand, although he remains curious.)
VADER: Before we continue this conversation any further, I should tell you, young one, that I will not take lightly to any feeble attempts at humor, so if that was a jest, then we have nothing to discuss.
MORDEN: No... pardon my impudence, but you've misunderstood my intent, Lord Vader. I wasn't trying to make fun of you. I apologize.
VADER: Who are you?
MORDEN: Eh, that's the other guys' routine, not mine. But what I just asked you a moment ago, still true. What do you want, Lord Vader?
(Now fed up that the Shadows do not want to reveal themselves, Vader stands up, igniting his lightsaber. Morden flinches back.)
VADER: What I want is for you to quit playing games. Why have you come to bother me, surrounded on both sides by Force shadows?
MORDEN: You... you can see them?
(The Shadows then appear, and Morden bows.)
MORDEN: I apologize again, Lord Vader. It seems I've underestimated you. But rest assured — we are not here to attack. We want to help.
VADER: What are they?
MORDEN: These are my, um... associates, and we've come with a question. I hope you'll answer this time. What do you want?
VADER: Like I told you, I don't take kindly to jests.
MORDEN: We're not joking. What do you want?
VADER: Is this a test of faith by the Emperor, to ensure my loyalty?
MORDEN: We've here because we want to be, nobody forced us. What do you want?
VADER: Do you have any idea who I am?
MORDEN: Yes. You're one we find interesting. What do you want?
(And in spite of himself, Vader is prompted to tell Mr. Morden.)
VADER: What I seek, you can never hope to understand. I want to challenge the Emperor, to make him pay for all the years of torment he subjected me to, the death of my wife, and worse still, what he has done to the galaxy itself! At the dawn of the New Order he promised ten thousand years of order, but look at the poor state we've been reduced to. Endless civil war, and all for nothing. He lied to us simply to secure his own power and we've paid for it ever since. I want to lead us into the New Order he promised us, and then abandoned for his own insanity. I want the Galactic Empire to be everything it should be, under the superior guidance of the power of the dark side of the Force!
MORDEN: I see.
(Morden reacts, as if listening to the Shadows.)
MORDEN: Yes, I'll relay it to him. Lord Vader, you might find that your ambition and the goals of my associates are not mutually exclusive. And, if it would be amenable to you, we are willing to offer you a partnership that would be beneficial to the both of us.
VADER: What do you have in mind?
(Mr. Morden's smirk resembles that of the devil.)
MORDEN: You might have noticed the alien cubes flying about this area of space, which you and your ships so masterfully repelled. Congratulations, by the way.
VADER: What of it?
MORDEN: They'll be back.
VADER: We wiped out their armada.
MORDEN: That won't stop them.
VADER: Tell me more.
MORDEN: They're called the Borg, Lord Vader. You could say my associates have an intimate understanding to how they operate and what their full range of capabilities are. The Borg were engineered by my associates, thousands of centuries ago. Bred as the next step in evolution. Their great experiment. Nevertheless, the experiment turned out to be a failure. The Borg were only interested in spreading order, not chaos, throughout their home galaxy. Their sort of order, by forcefully assimilating others into their collective consciousness. They obtain knowledge this way, and when they do, correct for any flaws they had previously possessed. As a result, you will find that they quickly learn from their mistakes, and adapt to counter them.
VADER: What is there that can be done? This is obviously the reason you've come before me, to offer inside knowledge about the threat. You wouldn't feel so confident standing in my presence otherwise.
MORDEN: They've deemed this Galactic Empire of yours as a priority target and at a technological peak significant to devote the majority of their resources into assimilating it; this offers both a problem and an opportunity for you, to get everything you ever wanted.
VADER: The Galactic Empire will prevail.
MORDEN: They possess millions of Cubes and Spheres to draw on. What do you have at your disposal, Lord Vader? Especially since and forgive me for this, I hear that fancy Death Star of yours got taken out, and by Rebel forces, no less. My associates, though, offer to pledge the vast resources of their fleet assets to you — not the Galactic Empire, but you, personally, Lord Vader — to weather this looming crisis. They know the Borg, they know their tactics, and how their technology operates. Think of this as a... gesture of goodwill.
VADER: Why would you give your assistance so freely, then?
MORDEN: My associates have come with an offer of power and their proposed alliance of partnership I mentioned a moment ago. They feel that you have much potential to still be molded, and with training in the ways of chaos you could see that potential fully realized.
VADER: Are you listening, fool? I seek order, not chaos.
MORDEN: No, please forgive me, Lord Vader, but my associates understand you more than you understand yourself, at least at the moment. With all your actions over the past two decades you've been promoting chaos, which is the natural order to this universe. Think about it. Given your teachings, you know the best way to guide a society is through strengthening them, but the Emperor you bow to has twisted your head, and we've come to put you back on track. The way to rule is not from an iron grip, crushing dissent and ruthlessly maintaining order, but by engineering conflict. It is the only way evolution can be served. Survival of the fittest.
VADER: The weak require a strong hand to mentor them.
MORDEN: War always is the inevitable state of life. You know this as well as we do. So why not encourage it? Those with the potential to become something greater, to find their sure footing and strengthen themselves through evolution, will ascend to newer heights. And those who lack the power to rise above the struggle will fall to the wayside, but sometimes, a sacrifice is necessary for the sake of the greater good. And wouldn't you say that's the way of this wild universe that we live in, my lord? How this Force power of yours is best put into use?
VADER: You are merely trying to confuse me.
MORDEN: No, that's the truth, and you know it, same as I do, Lord Vader. Accept our partnership, become our friend, and we'll give you everything you want, the renaissance you've been dreaming about, including protection from the Borg when they return in force. Just think about it. You stand to gain everything and lose very little.
VADER: So be it then. If this is the alternative, I would be a fool to refuse your help. Help me to topple the Emperor, remove the throne from him and guard the Empire against these Borg of yours, and I will do as you've asked and grant you this partnership that you and your Force shadows seek from me.

WALTER: (intercom) Unauthorized Stargate activation.
(The alarms blares, and the complex bursts into a flurry of activity. Irritated, Teal'c leaves the game he is playing on the base mainframe. General Hammond marches in the operations room overlooking the Stargate itself as O'Neill strolls up alongside General Hammond.)
HAMMOND: There are no offworld teams at the moment.
WALTER: I'm not picking up a GDO signal, General.
O'NEILL: Could be the Goa'uld paying a visit.
HAMMOND: Close the iris.
WALTER: Aye, sir.
(Guards surround the Stargate, weapons cocked, as Dr. Jackson and Captain Carter join O'Neill's side. Teal'c appears as they speak.)
JACKSON: What's going on?
O'NEILL: Ah, just another intruder banging at the door.
HAMMOND: Teal'c, how long do you think it would be before the Goa'uld would attempt travel back by means of our Stargate?
TEAL'C: If we have made an enemy of another powerful System Lord like Apophis, then it would not be very long, General Hammond. At most, a matter of minutes or hours to build up an assault team.
(The minutes continue to pass, and the gate stays open.)
CARTER: Well, this is... odd.
O'NEILL: Yeah, well, odd by our standards, anyway.
JACKSON: Uh, yeah, far be it from me to question your expertise, but, ah, I thought when a Stargate was activated, something had to pass through...
O'NEILL: That's usually how it works, Daniel.
JACKSON: Right, so why isn't anything passing through now?
(General Hammond sends a look down toward Walter.)
HAMMOND: Master Sergeant?
WALTER: I can't explain it, sir. No IDC, no impact events that would register inbound travelers. I'm reading nothing. According to our instruments, the wormhole should have disengaged already.
TEAL'C: And yet it has not, and the gate remains active.
JACKSON: Well, I hate to be an alarmist, but this could be a problem...
O'NEILL: Carter? Got any of those fancy-schmancy ideas of yours?
CARTER: I don't know, sir... a computer glitch, maybe?
HAMMOND: Captain, that's what I'm putting you in charge of finding out. Go over the data to spot if there's something we missed. I'll have Sergeant Siler inspect the Stargate itself to find if there might be some kind of mechanical error. I'll expect a report from both of you at 1300 hours, assuming this problem hasn't taken care of itself. Dismissed.
(And General Hammond marches away.)
O'NEILL: Well, that's a hell of a way to start the day out.

CARTER: Sir, they could be operating along radio wavelengths beyond our frequency range.
HAMMOND: Isn't there supposed to be a hypothetical time limit to how long a wormhole can be maintained?
CARTER: Yes, sir. A thirty-eight-minute window.
HAMMOND: So how long has the Stargate been active?
CARTER: Coming up on thirty-seven minutes now.

JACEN: A sentient hologram?
CORTANA: (goes on a long list of her abilities)
JACEN: Why are you naked?
CORTANA: What?
JACEN: You're naked. Why?
CHIEF: Hmm, that's a good question.
CORTANA: Huh. You know, believe it not, you're the first one ever to ask me that question, but since you're an ally, it's probably safe to tell you. Put shortly, it's to judge the way outsiders react, to throw them off guard so their true feelings are revealed long enough to analyze and file away for future reference. You know what they say, first impressions are everything! Lets me keep the upper hand.
CHIEF: Smart tactical decision.
JACEN: Well, it's not like I'm complaining!
CORTANA: Yeah, and your true feelings are spelled out right there on your face, big boy. But we don't have time for that now. Listen up!

JACEN: What do you call a naked hologram?
CORTANA: Do I even want to know the answer to that one?
JACEN: Raw data!
MASTER CHIEF: (groan)
CORTANA: Hm. Well, with a sense of humor like that, it's no wonder the Covenant want you dead!

MEGABYTE: The world of the Users! My, my, this is an interesting development.

(Kevin is about to leave.)
MATRIX: You take care of yourself, okay?
(Kevin smiled. It finally meant he was part of this world.)
KEVIN: Will do. And try not to blast down too many doors while I'm away, will ya?
(Matrix just grins impishly.)
MATRIX: No promises.

(Kevin is back.)
MATRIX: Oh great, roll out the red file-log, the User's back.

LORIEN: Life is a dream within a dream within a dream. But what happens when the dreamer... wakes up?

DELENN: (to Dukat) You dishonor that name.

TEAL'C: It was only by a stroke of chance those children were not nullified, O'Neill.

(This describes what the Net is.)
DATA: If I may suggest a hypothesis, Admiral? It is my belief the totality of everything we see is the result of a subspace compression plane along a subatomic superposition — and being generated by quantum entanglement.
PICARD: Yes, that would explain a few things. Like a tesseract, Data?
DATA: To an extent, Admiral. While the internal geometry of a tesseract functions independently to the exterior of the outer shape (NOT DONE)

GEORDI: I've gone over this four times, Admiral. There's no way to do what you want us to. We can't disconnect everyone hooked up to the Borg collective consciousness. Not without killing them.
 
Top