The quarters were Spartan, and quite cramped. The best Galen ever had, by far.

The Lancelot wasn't your prototypical Victory-class destroyer. Since the Alliance R&D team discovered a way to create a modified hyperspace-power engine, the crew complement had to be reduced to make room for a much larger modified engine. The hum generated sounded similar to a swarm of killer bees, and it created a vibration which reminded Galen of one of the sensory suits used by holobrothels on New Vegas. Still, the raw power generated by the engine plant was enough to allow continuous fire for the main quantum cannons, instead of the "one and wait" nature of the first generation Victory class vessels.

"Bridge to Galen," a speaker cracked to life. It was Captain O'Hara.

"Galen here," he answered melodically.

"Please report to my ready room in 5 minutes," the captain barked.

"You're wish is my command," he cooed.

After placing his satchel on the cot, Galen looked out at Babylon 5. It was rapidly getting smaller and within a minute, the image of the station with Epsilon 3 as a backdrop was replaced by waves of coruscating orange energy, indicative of a jumpoint transition into hyperspace. Soon, clear space was replaced by the gaseous, hellish clouds of hyperspace. Soonafter that, Galen was on his way to Captain O'Hara's ready room.

The Lancelot ready room was a small, uncomfortable conference room intended for four, maybe five officers. As the ship already had its full crew complement, Galen was looked at as an outsider. He recognized the short haired, masculine O'Hara immediately. Next to her was the Executive Officer, Commander Walter Hammond. Older with silver hair, Hammond was career Earthforce Military. When he spoke it was with a soft, firm voice. The crew respected him, and he spoke to O'Hara like a father advising a daughter.

Next to Hammond was a quite attractive woman with brown hair in a bun, wearing a portable comm piece in her ear. This was no doubt the Tactical Officer, Lieutanent Perez. Considered by many to be the finest Tactical Officer in Earthforce, she volunteered to serve aboard the Lancelot and cut her teeth in the Drakh War. Her primary innovation was using an inverted wedge to draw ships into a kill box, then unleashed conventional firepower on them until there was nothing left. It was called the "Poor Man's Planetkiller" because it was able to lay waste to enemy fleets, but it lacked the sophistication of planet-killer class weaponry.

Finally, seated next to Galen was a portly Narn, T'Fon. He was rather surly, and had fewer spots than normal Narns, which Galen later learned was the result of him being only half Narn, and half human. He wasn't talkative, except to say "yes" and "no" or "possibly" or "perhaps." He was the Lead Engineer on the Lancelot, as the Chief Engineer, Commander Droshiana, was dealing with personal business on the Drazi homeworld.

"Everyone," Captain O'Hara began. "This, is Galen, a technomage assigned to us by President Sheridan. Now, we were supposed to rendezvousing with the EAS Zeus for a routine patrol of trade routes between Brakiri and Centauri space, but because our new friend here seems to believe in ghosts, we are heading for Sector 125x200x3."

"That's near the edge of Vorlon space," T'Fon pointed out. "We need to proceed with great caution."

"Agreed," Galen added. "Even though they have gone beyond the rim, Vorlon space still has many traps and auto defense systems."

"We will be very careful," O'Hara stated. "In fact, we will likely not go too far into the sector, except to see if your theory is correct."

"What theory?" Hammond asked.

"That ghosts can survive in space," Galen offered.

"Come again?"

"Galen," O'Hara's tone was now quite derisive. "Seems to believe that a Shadow agent, Mr. Morden, who has since passed on, has taken up residence in the space near the Vorlon Empire. In Valen's name, why he would do that is anyone's guess."

"Because," Galen shot back. "Morden liked to taunt people, and what better way to taunt the Vorlons, even though they aren't here anymore, than to 'talk trash' near their borders."

"That's like wearing a New York Yankees shirt in Toronto and screaming 'how about those Mars Rockets?'" Hammond said, referring to the Blue Jays move to Mars over 100 years ago.

"Only in this case," Galen said. "There are no foul poles, and if you strike out, you're dead."

"Lovely," Perez snorted. "So we have to worry not just about potential Vorlon defenses, but the chance that our main systems will become 'possessed?'"

"I wouldn't say possessed," Galen chuckled. "More like 'haunted.'"

"Same difference, technodouche," Perez groused. Everyone, even O'Hara laughed at that reference.

"Laugh if you will at the insult," Galen sneered. "But I'm telling you he's out there."

"I suppose we can hold a séance," Hammond laughed. "But how do you get candles to burn outside in hyperspace?"

Galen shook his head. Everyone wants to look at this as funny. Morden is no joke, but I suppose they will learn when they find shadow implant in their teeth in the middle of the night.