Assaulted

"The Workers have also incorporated their plans for the organic regenerative capacity. After your last suggestions, they have had a major break-through and believe it to be ready for implementation", Renati spoke with a neutral, yet slightly submissive voice.
"Good", the hollow Vorlon voice replied.
"If they continue like this, we will have the test flight earlier than expected", she said excited.
"Not early, on time", Bosh replied, staying true to his cryptic nature.

Renati did not reply. She was not expected to. The Vorlon loved making his subordinates feel this way. Not submissive, but curious. Wondering about the page behind the mystery. It's a healthy attitude the Vorlon believed, inspiring innovation and thus evolution.

With nothing left to report and nothing more coming her way, Renati took her leave after respectfully bowing to her master.
She turned around and waited for a moment for the door to open, but was shaken by a shiver crawling down her bone. It was as if someone had just walked through her. Startled she looked behind, but the Vorlon remained unchanged.
I look too much into things, Renati cursed herself for what was probably simply being cold.

"Don't worry, we're not going that far", Renati tried comforting her mentor who stood puzzled in her command position on the bridge.
"I'm not worried, I just don't like leaving them behind – unprotected", Akel added.
"We don't have much choice unless you are confident the Warrior Caste's reaction will be a pleasant one", Varas' sarcasm did not come as the intended comic relief.
Akel looked over her shoulder at her student with grim eyes.
"Well it's either reveal the ship or starve", Varas admitted dryly.

Akel failed to smile. The problem was: Varas had a point. Every 3 months they ran out of supplies and needed to connect with a nearby Morshin carrier(1).
They took care handling the rations, but when researching more resources get used than during standard activities.
On top of that, the Anla'Shok – unlike the rest of Minbari society – did not act as if they had all the time in the world. For they didn't, they knew the enemy was moving – fast.

Renati's attention was drawn outside as she saw the transport shuttle depart from the Sus'Sinar towards the Tredano.
"I'll go and receive the Alyt'el(2)", she replied absent minded and left the bridge. Varas rolled her eyes at Akel who remained annoyed.

"Alyt'el Aalann, Sus'Fie(3)", Renati spoke professionally.
"Alyt", he replied slightly confused. He did not know this young female, furthermore he didn't expect her to be of any rank. She carried the mark of the Anla'Shok as well as the crest of – well he was undecided on her Caste based on her bone crest.

The ridges were spikier than your standard Religious Caste crest, but not outspoken enough to be Warrior Caste. They also lacked the finesse a Worker would give them.
Surely, she could not be Casteless, she would not hold rank!
"Renati ra 'Tha Fane ra Chu'Domo", she swayed away his obvious confusion. She was used to this kind of treatment from Warriors, though this one left out the loathing look. Perhaps he instinctively respected her rank.

Not all Warriors were hostile towards other Castes. Renati was one to shun stereotyping others, but unfortunately many of them did live up to their own clichés. The clashes between the Warrior and Religious Caste had resurfaced more fiercely ever since the loss of Dukhat, their Great Leader.
In his day, he had found a way to mediate between the Castes and reduce the damage the Worker Caste usually received from being traditionally stuck in the middle.

But his absence was one well felt throughout Minbari society.

His apprentice, Delenn of Mir, was promising but too young and inexperienced to take over Dukhat's burden. If more time and training would have been granted to, - now Satai – Delenn, she would have been a worthy successor.
Unfortunately for the brave-hearted female, her age undermined her credibility – especially the Warrior Caste's.
Hence, the feud between Warrior and Religious Caste relives.

"I bring you the gratitude of the Shai Alyt", Renati continued. "May we offer you anything in return?"
"No, Alyt", he thanked her politely, but not friendly. His eyes were on his men exchanging the crates of supplies with the crew of fhe Tredano. Renati appeared obsolete.

When the last crate had been moved off the transport, the Alyt'el turned to Renati and bowed.
"Nie tek'ra"(4)

"Well he was the light of the party", Renati commented grimly to Varas who joined her in the cargo bay after the crew of the Sus'Sinar had departed. Her friend smiled.
"What did you expect? A Religious Caste with a rank higher than his own, who he has never heard of? He'll be doing some research tonight to see whose toes he just stepped on", Varas mocked the structure of their society.
Renati was slightly amused at the thought but then shook it off.
She shouldn't.

"Dum'Falet?"(5),Varas asked her friend with a perky voice.
"Visu!"(6)

As the two Anla'Shok walked through the hallway, speculating about what the Aalet(7) had cooked up, they were thrown against the wall by a hard burst hitting the ship. Before their senses could grasp the situation, the alarm sounded through the crystals.

"All pilots man your fighters! Varas, frontal assault team, Leya, backwards support!", the Shai Alyt's commands quickly dispersed everyone into battle.
The two Anla'Shok hurried to the docking bay, meeting up with the other 7 pilots. Normally Akel's ship carried at least 24 Nial fighters and as many pilots, but ever since the construction of the Enan'Fi started, the Tredano has been strategically understaffed. Almost everyone aboard carried an Anla'Shok badge.
Lucky for her, they knew how to fly.

9 Nial fighters shot out of the docking bay into the cold vastness of space, facing their yet unidentified enemy.
"2 by 4 by 11", Akel commanded the ships. "Varas, take your squadron up first. Leya provide sufficient backup. She's going to need it", Akel's voice hid her worry.
Renati automatically broke off into Varas' squadron along with 4 others. Meanwhile, her ship's controls were scanning the enemy for identification.

"Drakh?", she exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes", Varas confirmed. "Looks like they came well armed"
Renati noticed the two heavy cruisers in front of the Sus'Sinar and the Tredano. Fighters from the Sus'Sinar were already engaging close combat with the approaching small Drakh ships.
The Warrior's accuracy was rivalling to the Drakh's speed. They quickly adapted their shots in anticipation of the enemy's movement, as if they were calculating the offset of their shot on the spot. Amazing.

Nevertheless, the Drakh remained fast. Renati held her breath as she followed Varas into attack formation. "Instructions?", she asked her commander.
"Kill them"

The 6 assault fighters joined the Sus'Sinar's and twirled about, confusing the enemy. With tactical finesse, Varas' squadron lured part of the Drakh fighters away from her Warrior allies. Moments later, they were flanked by Leya's squadron, blasting the majority into oblivion.

"Zahn!"(8), one of Leya's pilots exclaimed through the comm. link.
"Be on your guard, there are more coming", Leya warned and positioned her squadron in front of Varas'. She smiled at her friends' move.
"Alright, we'll go and see what's out there", she replied playfully.

It was remarkable how Minbari naturally remained calm in the face of danger. It takes a lot of additional stress to shake one out of his controlled state of mind, even a trained Religious Caste. The Drakh did not know this.

Varas' squadron made it past the line of fighters relatively easily. Some followed, some continued onwards, but those that followed were taken care of by the rear of the flyers. Not everything went smoothly: the last two fighters were already damaged, but still flying.

One of those two was Renati. Her Nial fighter had taken a hit on the wing and was increasingly difficult to control. Weight detection had been corrupted with an irregular pattern, making flying straight ahead a difficult task by itself. Renati held her breath as her fighter spun around its axis again, wailing at her discomfort.

"Renati, can you follow?", Varas' worried voice asked through the crystal speakers.
"I'm not sure, I'm trying to fix it but technology has decided to be uncooperative today", she cursed.
"You cannot return", another voice sounded through the speaker.
"Then I will find a way to follow", she concluded.
"Move on and attack, I'll manage"
"You'll be a sitting duck!", Varas protested.
"Go Varas!", Renati commanded her friend as she noticed 4 Drakh fighters headed in their direction.

She saw Varas taking the rest of the squadron for the assault, leaving her unprotected. Renati's sole concern right now was to control the ship and stay alive. Unfortunately the former was almost impossible due to the heavy damage on her wing.
No matter what she tried, every command she gave was interpreted differently.

With luck, it's just the gravity engine she thought.

"Ship, switch to voice command for navigation"
"Voice command active", a clear voice replied.
"Ship, navigate to 4 by 1 by 8, full throttle. Arm fusion cannons for subsequent bursts", she instructed.
"Warning, tertiary fusion cannon not responding", the voice replied.
"Rath!"
The remaining weapons armed, but to Renati's dismay, she was jested off in an entirely different direction than she desired.
"Ship! Navigate to 2 by 1 by 6!", she tried to correct, but again the ship randomly chose another path. Her eyes widened as she noticed the 3 Drakh fighters headed straight towards her. She had no means of navigation, just her guns.
"Ship, emergency thrusters forward, now!", she commanded and shot forward. Just as she was about to pass the flyers, she unleashed a couple of subsequent shots, damaging one and destroying another.

The Anla'Shok grinned at her effective move. The other fighter was too disoriented to follow. He appeared to be spinning out of control, right into the arms of Leya's squadron.
"Serves him right", she smirked, but then screeched.

"Renati!", Varas screamed through her comm. link as she saw her friend's fighter colliding with the large Drakh carrier.

Then the Darkness came

Footnotes

(1) Primary transport vessel for the Minbari Federation

(2) - Alyt'el (Vik/Adrenato/Lenn'A): Lowest rank a Minbari officer can have when in command of a starship. The best are upgraded to Alyt'sa after a minimum of 5 years of combat service, but more likely 15 to 20 years.
The Alyt'sa is the highest sub rank of the Alyt, but is rarely used with its suffix. Only Alyt'sa are placed in command of a Sharlin as they are all considered detatched members of the War Leader's greater fleet.
The subrank below Alyt'el is Dur'Alyt, which is a temporary title. A Dur'Alyt is assigned when a member without officer rank takes command of the starship in battle.

(3) - Sus'Fie (Adrenato): Literally 'With honour' Respectful greeting amongst Minbari.

(4) - Nie tek'ra (Vik): Until we meet again

(5) - Dum'Falet (Adrenato): Dinner

(6) - Visu (Adrenato): Definitely

(7) - Aalet (Adrenato): Literally: Food master, but simply means cook.

(8) - Zahn (Adrenato and Vik): Victory!