Two updates in one day! Now this story is finally up to date. Hope you guys enjoy this great battle as well as the Mystery of Peters. And as always reviews are highly welcomed and encouraged.
Atlantis, Lantia
Pegasus Galaxy
William Peters sat in his cell awaiting his fate, he was calmer now, having taken some time to meditate to gain some semblence of control. Deep breathing combined with focusing his thoughts to calm his raging insticts, a skill he had been forced to learn in childhood to control his more agressive nature. Without it he would have surely killed someone by now, it was part of who and what he was. Taking time to reflect on this Peters could understand how the more radical elements of his society came to be as they were. The Dominant instict was to do just that, Dominate. That was how they had earned their name from their human prey. Not all Dominants listened to that instict however. Beleiving they possesed the ability to think and empathise for a reason the vast majority of Dominants shunned the radicals view of domination and extermination in order to survive. However that belief didn't translate into trusting their human bretheren either. Fearing that one day humanity would come for them the Dominants never settled in one area for long; prefering to stay mobile they rarely kept possessions or anything that could tie them down and impede their movement, after all humanity possed many of the same basic insticts as the Dominants and looking at the sad state of the world today they knew that humanity also had difficulty in controling them.
Suddenly Peters looked up. Having rested his arms on his thighs as he sat he was in a position of relative comfort. Sensing the presence of two familiar people Peters patiently awaited his two guests to clear security and enter the holding room. He was not surpised to find Captain Thorne and LtColonel Sheppard entering. Lowering the forcefeilds surrounding the brig the two officers entered cautiously.
"How are you William?" Peters almost answered aloud before realising that he had heard her voice in his head. He was strangely comforted by it. Her presence had always had way of soothing him. "I'll be fine once I get out of this cage." he sent back. He wasn't certain if it would work but a small smile creased her lips indicating she had heard him. It was true that Dominants had empathic abilities; they could sense individuals as well their emotional states with frightening accuracy by simply feeling what their target felt. They were very useful traits to have and insured (along with their more acute senses) that no one ever was able to sneak up on them, helping to insure survival.
"Seargent." Colonel Sheppard said and doing his best to sound calm and nochalant, but Peters could feel the Colonel was anything but nonchalant.
"Colonel Sir." Peters said as he stood at perfect attention.
"At ease Seargent Peters, we're just hear to talk." Sheppard said, taking a seat opposite Peters who sat down and allowing Captain Thorne to stand near the entrance.
"What do you want to talk about sir?" Peters asked knowing full well what Colonel Sheppard wanted to know.
"Well..."Sheppard scratched his head as he tried to go for the first thing that came to mind. "How is it that your able to take on both Minbari and Wraith in hand to hand and survive?"
"I was born this way." Peters answered honestly "And as a child I recived rigorous trainning in hand to hand combat so I could defend myself when needed." Peters didn't go into detail that the trainning he recived mainly focused on the quickest and most efficient ways to kill humans, he didn't want to scare the good Colonel who was trying to make an effort to reach out to him.
"I see..."
"I Think what Colonel Sheppard is trying to say is that no normal human can do what you can do." Thorne clarrified.
"No normal human can do what you can do either Captain Thorne." Peters pointed out.
"No they can't but then I'm a known quantity; a telepath. You staff seargent are an unknown quantity and unknown quantities tend to make people very nervous." She moved into the cell and sat next to him, her piercing blue eyes burning into his own. "We want to help you but in order to do that you have to be honest with us." Peters held her gaze for a moment before breaking eye contact. He turned to regard Colonel Sheppard for a moment before looking away.
"And if I don't?" Peters asked.
"We're not making threats here seargent." Sheppard clarified. "But this situation with you is cause for concern."
"Cause for concern?" Peters snorted. "I have given nothing but my best to this expedition and to the SGC. And now suddenly I'm a cause for concern?"
"You falsified your records, and you've lied to us about your abilities, how do you think that looks? Honesty hasn't exactly been your best trait." Sheppard shot back.
"I had my reasons." Peters responded.
"Look, whatever it is it can't be that bad." Sheppard tried to reason. "You saved alot of lives since you arrived and that counts for alot in my book.But if I'm going to go to bat for you I need you to be honest with me."
"You would do that? you would vouch for me?" Peters asked with surprise. A quick scan of Sheppards emotional state proved without a doubt that the Colonel was sincere.
"I would. In case you haven't noticed we work for some of the finest officers in the service. General Landry, General O'Neill and General Hammond won't let anything happen to you. But; and I stress this point, in order for them to risk their necks for you they have to know the truth...all of it." Sheppard stated. For the first time since his secret was exposed Peters felt a brief glimmer of hope but still...he could not risk his people even to save himself. Captain Thorne seemed to sense what he was thinking and reached out with her mind.
"This is the only way William, The Military isn't simply going to drop this matter until they get some answers."
"I know." Peters sent back. He clearly wanted to trust them but he still had lingering doubts. His people had dodged the bullet once before with the last administration. Could these people be trusted? Thats what it always came back too, trust.
"William." She spoke aloud now "I know you have lingering doubts, I feel them. I know that your worried you'll end up in some government lab and experimented on, that your people will be persecuted. Thats not going to happen, not so long as I draw breath. You saved my life and the lives of many people on this base. Trust us to do the right thing as we have trusted you."
Any lingering doubts he may have had vanished instantly when she spoke. Peters knew she was using her Telepathic abilities to influence him but he didn't mind in the slightest. Taking a deep breath Peters looked to them and began his lengthy tale.
Three Hours Later
Weirs office
"Oh my God." Elizabeth Wier sat back in her seat as Sheppard and Thorne finished retelling Peter's tale. "And your certain he wasn't lying to you?"
"Positive. I sensed no deception from him. This wasn't easy for him to admit, I now fully understand his reluctance to talk about it." Thorne stated.
"I'm not sure what I expected, but this thing about a whole new species of humans living on Earth just wasn't one of them." Sheppard added.
"Then Pentagon and Homeland Security are to going to freak when they hear about this." Weir speculated.
"Actually the Pentagon is already aware of them and I suspect your Homeland Security maybe familiar with them as well." Thorne said
"'I'm sorry?" Weir glared.
"Ten years ago the Dominants as they're called were discovered by a brilliant Anthropologist by the name of Dr. Sloan Parker and her partner Dr. Edward Tate. They soon went public with their findings and it created an instant media frenzy. This went on for a few months and then suddenly media attention on the subject just died." Sheppard related the tale.
"Why is that?" Weir asked. The sudden media disinterest sounding very suspicious to her.
"The Dominants felt threatened by her work and had several Bioanthropologists under their control shoot holes through it, which damaged her credibility. Her work didn't have all the answers, but proved beyound the shadow of a doubt that a new species of humans had evolved. the Dominant leadership sent in one of their golden boys to keep and eye on her and silence her if she became too great a threat. She was following up on her research when she suddenly disapeared."
"She was killed." Weir guessed.
"No she wasn't. Acording to Peters she ended up hooking up with a Dominant by the name of Tom Daniels; the before mentioned golden boy who was ordered to keep an eye on her. Apparently they fell in love and went into hiding. In the end she decided not to publicise her completework fearing it would start a witch hunt. Their story is almost legend among the Dominants." Sheppard explained.
"Why is that?" Weir asked intrigued. Like most women she was a sucker for a good romance story.
"This Tom Daniels was slated to lead their people, so you could imagine it came as quite a shock for the future leader of their people to take a human woman as his mate. He was the first to do so and it sent ripples through their society." Thorne explained. "There had been a growing movement that wanted peaceful coexistance with humanity rather than domination and extermination. His relationship with her legitimized their cause and forced the leadership of his people to rethink their position."
"So the bottom line Elizabeth is that our young Seargent Peters is a member of this new species. He's afraid that he'll be disected and studied in a cage if certain groups get wind of what he is." Sheppard related. "And given that the Pentagon or N.I.D doesn't know what their capabilities or intentions are I understand his concern."
"What are yousuggesting John?" Weir asked, She knew John Sheppard well enough to know he had an idea up his sleave.
"We test him." Sheppard explained. "Full work up on his blood, brain scans and test his limitations. Would be kinda hard for the N.I.D to use that as an excuse to get their hands on him if we already have that information and his willing cooperation."
"He's agreed to this?" Weir asked in surprise.
"He's willing to cooperate fully. He's down in the infirmary with Carson right now. This goes along way to showing he's not a threat Elizabeth."
"I agree."
"But we still need more information." Thorne added. "From what I gathered his people called off their little crusade in favor of coexistance. That still doesn't answer alot of questions about how they evolved and how many there are. In order to do that we're going to need to find this Dr. Sloan Parker and speak to her."
"We don't exactly have the people to do that, I need everyone I have here on this base." Weir said sounding disapointed.
"Foreward it to Stargate Command to have them check it out. Its worth investigating Elizabeth and its better having someone we trust then people with some shady morals." Sheppard said.
"Thats going to be difficult. Stargate Command has its attentioned focused on this Renegade Minbari situation." Looking at the clock on her desk. "Infact the Fleet should be engaging them very soon."
"For the time being we build on what we have." Weir Stated with finality. "When we have something concrete about his capabilities we'll contact Stagate Command and forward it along with our strongest support that Peters be protected. We gave our word and I intend to honor it."
Proxima system
EA Space
This would mark the third time the people of this colony had been forced underground into the deep blast proof shelters amid the natural caverns and mountains. The first time had been during the Minbari war when the inexorable Juggernaut had rolled over them, then again during the Civil war after the colonial leaders declared independence and to avoid Clark's ground troops and airstrikes. Now the shelters were full again, and once again warnings about Minbari warships circulated.
The shelters were large enough to accommodate the population, and deep enough to survive several direct hits, but a determined enemy would eventually overpower them, and if that happened the population would have nowhere to go.
The outlaying worlds and stations had also been evacuated, including Disney planet which lay empty and desert beneath its domes, the replica towns and attractions still and unmoving like a picture. Only the Mid Range base remained operational, but it was unlikely to see action. The EIA believed Kathenn would go straight for the colony and ignore the space fortress, the battle, when it came, would be beyond its range.
Gathered in the inner reaches of the system the defenders formed, a small but potent collection of ships. Most were human crewed, though four Narn cruisers stood firmly in formation, their striking splinter scheme adorning the hulls. With them waited several large Earth Force ships and a few score Whitestars gliding gracefully along the edges of the formation. Resting in the centre was the tall and slender profile of the Super Destroyer Victory, her Vorlon inspired systems charged and waiting.
Almost unnoticed within the fleet, overshadowed by the mile long vessels on all sides were five blocky grey vessels in loose formation. They seemed like escorts to the vessels around them, yet anyone who underestimated these little ships was in for a sharp, and probably short lived shock.
"You all know the situation." Colonel Emerson addressed the pilots of the Odyssey fighter wing, the two dozen sat on their thin chairs in the grey walled briefing room adorned with maps, posters and unit emblems. "If we stop the renegades here we make life easier for our allies at Earth. Even if we can't hold them our mission is to inflict as much damage as possible to give the standard EA ships a fighting chance."
He turned to point at a series of ship posters showing photographs of Minbari vessels provided by Earth Force, most dated from the last war.
"Minbari ships are easily identified. Their capital vessels are slow but heavily armoured and possess excellent firing arcs. Do not approach from the front or rear. Your best angle is from the sides or directly beneath, but even then you will be targeted. The fins are weak points, the core hull is supposed to be incredibly strong, something we'll test."
He moved on to the next images.
"The Nial class fighter is another deadly device refined over a thousand years. It is fast, agile and capable of cutting down a 302 in one hit. It uses beam weapons greatly improving its chances of a kill, a squad of these can carpet a large area of space so for heavens sake don't bunch up! Stay fast, stay agile and try to take them out at long range. Dogfighting them isn't advised, but if you must stay well clear of its forward arcs."
The pilots took studios notes, burning the images of Minbari ships into their minds, knowing that they would soon be seeing them for real. Each had seen the tactical reports the EA had made on Minbari tactics and capabilities and it made sobering reading.
"Every battle between humans and Minbari has ended in a one sided slaughter. But not today." Emerson said plainly. "Do not underestimate our opponent just because they seem arrogant. They have been bred since childhood for war, to obey all orders no matter the cost. They have had a thousand years to get this right, tested their tactics in battle against enemies we have no comprehension of. Their founding tactics are damn similar to human ones, these are true soldiers and pilots with a level of skill and tactical awareness beyond any Deathglider jock or Wraith. This is the real deal people, and you can bet those guys out there are ready to fight to the death."
He regarded the group.
"Look to your wingmates, trust your fellow pilots, stay together and stay aware of space around you and you will get through this. You've got the training, you've got the equipment, you've got the will. We will bring them down. Major."
Emerson stepped aside for Major Farrow, the Odyssey CAG
"Alright Hawks, listen up. All units are going to be divided into two groups, Red and Blue. Blue group will be armed with Mark VII anti ship missiles and will engage enemy capital assets. Red group will be armed for fighter combat and will provide cover to friendly assets and intercept hostile fighters."
The grey haired forty something officer ran down the information curtly and precisely, his pilots soaking it in.
"We'll be using Earth Force communication protocols for ease of integration with the rest of the fleet. Make sure you are using tachyon transmitters and you are set to the right coding. Also be aware there are Minbari ships fighting on our side in addition to the traitors, check your IFF before engaging! We do not want to destroy a friendly Minbari ship by accident, according to Earth Force they take that sort of thing really, really personal."
There were a few chuckles, but most were too tense to react.
"There's going to be a lot of craft out there, thousands of fighters, so watch your airspace." Farrow warned. "Space is big but you can still collide in a furball. Do not embarrass yourselves out there."
"This is our first major set piece battle." Emerson announced. "The first deployment of a space fleet in our history. This is a momentous day, but do not lose sight of why we are here. All ten billion reasons."
He was proud that these pilots under his orders were acting so professionally and responsibly, accepting the burden on their shoulders but not being crushed by it.
"This isn't our first action here, but today we are not one ship among a fleet. Today we are equals, we are standing shoulder to shoulder with people who have battled gods and demons, people who have fought losing battles and seen their friends wiped out by the thousands and still battled on. These people have faced the worst they could imagine and pulled through, they are the finest humans and aliens we can ever ask to serve with. Those people, those people look at us and don't see some upstart power with no experience and no real resources. They see fellow soldiers, brothers and sisters. Equals. Don't disappoint them, prove they are right about us and prove to yourselves that we belong out here far from home. Gear up in fifteen minutes, good luck."
EAS Titans
"Well there goes the sensor buoy." Commander Morton said. "If they're close enough to take it out they'll be here very soon."
Ivanova accepted with a nod, seated perfectly still within the deeply buried command centre of the Warlock. The oblong ship stood at the ready, her crew poised at their battlestations and her fighters ready to launch from the flank bays. She knew as well as her crew did that the Titans was a leap ahead in terms of technology, that she massively outclassed the old Hyperions and Novas of the war years, and yet there was still a cold apprehension running through the ship.
The idea of fighting Minbari just had something about it that touched deep in the subconscious. Every man and woman in uniform knew that one day they might be faced with this reality, to combat the same threat the previous generation had to deal with. The new technology should have been a comfort, but it just wasn't.
"Captain, we have Colonel Emerson on channel four." One of her officers announced, breaking the unnatural silence.
"Patch him through." Ivanova confirmed.
"This is Odyssey, we're all ready over here." The SGC officer spoke on the bridge speakers.
"Good to have you aboard." Ivanova confirmed. "Once we start I'd like to use your ships as a mobile fire team, moving quickly from trouble spot to trouble spot."
"Not a problem." Emerson agreed.
"How are your people holding up?"
"They're ready for it." Emerson confirmed. "Most have seen action before, but I have to admit only the Odyssey has actually been in a ship to ship battle. The Apollo, Theseus, Korolev and Churchill are brand new off the stocks, and the Gagarin and Longbow have been used as training ships until now."
"I'm afraid this is going to be a pretty steep learning curve, if they have Shadow tech it could get nasty."
"We're ready."
"Listen Colonel, if your ships start taking very heavy damage, you are ordered to withdraw to Earth at once. Is that clear?" Ivanova stated.
"With respect Captain, we're prepared to fight for as long as necessary, whatever the cost."
"I respect that Colonel, but these orders come from John Sheridan in person. If you're going to make a last stand he'd prefer you did it at Earth. You can't afford to lose ships, not when you only have two more after these."
Emerson reluctantly agreed. "Understood Captain."
"Take up position Colonel, we're just minutes away."
Ivanova watched carefully as the five 304 type ships moved to the upper edge of the fleet, the two modified EA built ships waiting among the main fleet. The Gagarin had begun life as an EA Hyperion and had served well before heading to mothballs. After being given to the IOC she had been refitted with gravity tech, better reactors and superior weapons plus the prerequisite shielding. Run by the Russian government her EA crest had been replaced by the famous and quite intimidating Russian Eagle. Something Ivanova quite liked as she had a similar crest on her Starfury.
The Longbow was a smaller Artemis class ship. Modified in a similar way she had a largely French crew who appreciated the irony of serving on a ship named after a device which brought them so much trouble in the Middle Ages. Plans were underway to rename it, but the decision was mired in politics as one side tried to name her Chirac and a second far more popular side tried for Jeanne D'Arc. The two ships were too slow to operate with the 304 squadron, but could keep pace with the Head hunters and were deployed accordingly.
"Captain, jump points astern." Morton said precisely. "Minbari."
She instantly tensed. "Check IFF signals."
There was a moment of tension as the ship's computer ran the transponder codes and identified the ships.
"It's Coplann, I have contact with the Neroon's Valour."
Ivanova glanced at the tactical display, the advanced sensors providing a clear and crisp image of the new Minbari Flagship, a massive sleek vessel that had been designed to go one on one with Shadow vessels using Vorlon derived technology. The last Shadow war ended long before the prototype was completed and those gearing up for another decade long fight found their funding cut and relocated. The Drakh threat had galvanised the Minbari once more and the first two ships of the new class had been completed a few months ago, unfortunately one of them had been taken by Kathenn and corrupted.
A large fleet of tall blue vessels formed up around the core of human and Ranger ships, assuming a broad battle line in the classical Minbari style. They arrayed themselves for a straight frontal attack, a duel between armadas, ship to ship, warrior to warrior, how Minbari were meant to fight.
"Earth ships, this is Shai Alyt Coplann." The booming voice announced. "The Council has declared the Windswords outcast from Minbari society. They have forsaken the law of Valen, and so it has forsaken them. We will fight."
"We welcome you." Ivanova said very awkwardly.
"The Star Riders know the value of loyalty." Coplann replied blankly. "We do not rejoice at this battle as we rejoiced when we fought you, but it is necessary, and we will not falter."
"Captain." Morton raised his voice. "I think trouble just started arriving."
Ivanova steadied her breath as the main displays began to display reports from the sensors, scores of jump points unfolding and throwing warships into the system. A vast array of Minbari vessels appeared, from Sharlin cruisers and Neshaten gun ships down to aging Liandra patrol ships and assault fliers. Behind the screen of blue vessels waited the black and hideous form of the Drala D'Vost, peering over its opponents with the poise and aggression of a Tiger eying up its next meal. The Windswords adopted their combat formation, a mirror of the Star Riders fleet, and paused.
"Who faces me?" Kathenn's sneer fed through all channels. "Who is fool enough to court death?"
"Kathenn of the Windswords." Coplann replied on their behalf, Sheridan guessing Kathenn would be more likely to listen to the old Minbari. "You will return home at once and surrender your ships."
"Will I?" the voice mocked.
"Your crews will be spared if they are deemed to be merely following orders. But you Kathenn, you will be judged by the Caste elders."
"I will return to Minbar, in time." Kathenn said. "After I am finished with Earth."
"This is your last chance."
"No Coplann, it is yours!" The other warrior sneered. "Join me! Finish the warrior's call to battle, end the war with the humans as it should have ended!"
"That war is over, do not force me to start a new one."
"Do what you will, if you are not with me, you will perish as a traitor to the Warrior Caste."
The transmission ended abruptly.
"Windsword ships advancing!" Morton reported. "The Star Riders are moving to meet them."
"Bring engines online, we'll move in with them, steady as you go." Ivanova ordered briskly, settling into her duty now and banishing all apprehension. "Launch fighters and lock forward batteries on target."
Thunderbolts emerged from the assorted EA ships, upgraded with the same systems as the parent vessels they were going to be a lethal surprise to the Minbari. The Narn ships also launched fighters, though these unmodified craft were assigned a purely defensive role. Most of the light craft filling space however were blue, thousands of Nials both friend and foe swarmed forward, engulfing the Thunderbolts and 302s in a blue tide. From a neutral viewpoint the battle seemed to be largely a Minbari affair with the Windsword and Star rider fleet equally matched, with just a few ISA ships there to tip the balance.
"All SGC fighters this is Firebird leader." Major Farrow began. "Divide by group and standby to break and attack. Blue group focus on parting the enemy ships ahead. Red group stay ready to intercept any hostiles."
The two sides closed to within range, the ranks of ships on either side an amazing sight for the human forces from both nations. They waited for one of the Minbari sides to act first, and as soon as that first green light cut across the void they acted.
"That's it! Break, break, break!"
The 302s lunged forward, ion engines kicking them into full thrust at the drop of a hat. The planes shuddered as the raw power fed through them, but the dampeners prevented g forces pulverising both man and machine. Equipped with EA ion engines for greater efficiency and pulse cannons for a more potent and long lasting punch the 'B' variant F-302 was a competent little war plane more than able to take care of itself in this massive duel. With magnetic steering vanes similar to a Starfury fixed to its engines the 302 could pull some radical turns at high speed and in earlier battles had utterly dominated the Goa'uld and Wraith opponents it had faced. If it had a weakness it was size, equivalent to a light fighter in EA terms and limited in the amount of ordnance it could carry and range it could operate at. In this battle neither of those really mattered.
"Red four, check twelve." One of the pilots called. "Bandits on approach."
"Roger that." Farrow confirmed. "Red group, red group, move to attack, weapons free."
Farrow pulled the nose of his craft up and lined up his target, the sensor system having no trouble with the Minbari stealth systems. Stealth had been a big advantage for the Minbari, but it was far from their only one.
"Red One, fox three." He announced, an under wing sensor guided missile decoupling from its pylon and blasting forward in a flash of blue ions. Several other craft followed suit and the incoming enemy fighters soon faced a comb of incoming ordnance. They took no more than token avoidance, discounting the missiles as useless right up until the moment they swung about and buried themselves into the fronts of the Nial unit.
The distant flashes were marked with brief cheers of jubilation as the unit claimed their first kills, but Farrow quickly brought them back to earth.
"Knock it off, new contacts, engage!"
Another set of missiles launched, but the Windswords were learning and performed a series of sharp twists and spirals deploying intense pulses of EM energy to disrupt the missile guidance as they approached. Only two missiles hit this time, and the Minbari sped on.
"Switch to guns." Farrow ordered. "Choose your partners and get ready for some dancing."
The two rows of Minbari ships slashed away at each other, cutting through drive fins and glancing off the thicker crystalline hulls. Many ships on both sides were aiming to disable their erstwhile brethren rather than outright destroy them which Ivanova could understand, but unfortunately it was tying up too many Star Rider ships that should ideally just make a kill and move on.
Earth Force operated under no such sensibilities.
"Clean lock." Morton said with glee. "The sensors work as advertised."
"Had to happen one day." Ivanova allowed. "Open fire."
One of the twin particle cannons glowed into life, energy flickering around its muzzle. They were the biggest weapons Earth had developed and were more powerful than any other younger race device. The Head hunters had been provided with enhanced models using the superior SGC reactors to improve containment fields and the capicitor system giving the guns a lot more kick than their standard counterparts. With a bright flash the gun hurled energy across space towards its target catching a Sharlin dead centre. The vessel shattered like glass under a hammer, the immense force effortlessly coring the ship.
"Now that is what I've been waiting to see!" Ivanova grinned. "Line up a new target, all ships engage at will."
As one the Head hunters began engaging, ripping a ragged hole in the centre of the enemy line. To their credit the rebels reacted fast, concentrating fire on the EA ships.
"Enemy gunship engaging!" Morton warned.
A Neshaten barraged the EAS Titans, a Minbari copy of the Nova class the vessel wasn't lacking in firepower, yet none of the beams broke through the ships Goa'uld inspiredshields.
"Pulse cannons, return fire." Ivanova barked. "Forward batteries stay on target, burn through to the enemy flagship!"
The Neshaten shuddered as enhanced pulse rounds smashed through its outer hull, cracking the crystal and breaking it apart. While her turrets dismantled the gunship to her side the particle cannons spoke again, immolating another Sharlin in the rebel line.
For the first time in a long, long time the fleet of Minbari ships was buckling, bending in the centre as the Head Hunters made progress. The EA ships had showed themselves to be something very different to first appearances, and the surprise had pushed the Windswords onto the defensive.
Kathenn did not flinch as he saw six Sharlins vanish within seconds of each other, from fully operational ships to cinders in just moments. While he had said one thing in public, told his warriors the humans were weak, inside he knew that what he had seen through the gate was real. That is why he had to attack immediately, to destroy the gate before Earth here could arm itself and challenge Minbar, a war he knew they could not win. He had hoped they would not have had time to arm themselves yet, but looking at the power of the seemingly average human ships he knew he was too late.
He smiled thinly, powerful or not he had a contingency plan.
"Black sword." He said into the darkness, his words transmitted fleet wide and into hyperspace, and there they were heard by his reserves. More jump points formed, but instead of blue ships the portals brought black shapes that crawled with movement. They had the shape of a Minbari ship, but were clearly something far more vile and deadly.
EAS Titans
"Captain, you better see this." Morton grimaced. "Looks like it wasn't just the flagship that got a makeover."
Ivanova took in the sight with no outward sign of distress, but inside she was horrified. Her last experience with Shadow enhanced vessels hadn't ended well at all, now she had to face something much nastier than Omega-X Destroyers.
"We've got Sharlins, Neshatens, even a pair of Shargotti class." Morton said. "All Shadow teched up."
"Reset targeting, mark those vessels as priorities."
"Yes Ma'am."
"Colonel Emerson, do you copy?"
"Right here Captain." The SGC officer answered. "We see them."
"I think this counts as a trouble spot Colonel, engage as you see fit."
"On it."
Morton cut in. "Forward guns locked!"
Ivanova nodded. "So fire!"
The bow guns spoke again, but this time instead of an instant kill the massive energies were absorbed by the target vessel, the hull ringed with cascading energy as it took the hit.
"Ivanova to Emerson, they're using diffusers, advanced Shadow tech." She reported. "You have to overload the system before you can inflict damage. Hit it with everything you've got!"
"Understood Captain, attack wing moving now."
"All guns, focus on one target at a time and prepare missile salvo." She directed her attention back to her own ship. "Time on target, open fire!"
USS Odyssey
"Alright Major, let's get this show on the road." Emerson ordered, his XO Major Marks laying in the course and powering the engines. "Focus fire on anything that looks creepy, standby missiles."
The five 304s advanced ahead of the allied line, glowing red in the reflected light of Ivanova's barrage. The weight of fire from the Head hunters was having an effect, but slowly. The tech infused within the Minbari ships was more closely integrated than that of Clarks experimental ships making them considerably harder to kill. Whitestars also rushed into action, stabbing lances of energy pounding the shifting black hulls and gradually filling up the energy diffusers.
"Pulse cannons ready." Marks reported. "Enemy fighters advancing." After reviewing after action footage of the Daedalus in action during her battle against the Wraith; the SGC had quickly noted that only two pulse cannons mounted on the flightpods was just 'not going to cut it'. Even the newer hybrid weapons employed on the Odyssey and all follow on 304s weren't going to be enough due to the fact that they were so few in numbers. After a brief review a proposal was put forth to add more of the directed energy weapons to the 304s. The result was that several railguns along the 'flanks' of the 304 class were removed and replaced with larger caliber hybrid cannons. Working in conjunction with the main rail cannons, remaning railguns, missiles and interceptors of the 304 it provided all the firepower and tactical flexibility the Daedalus class would ever need.
"Engage with point defences." Emerson acknowledged. "Main guns, lock on the lead target and fire."
The Earth Force style turrets added to the 304 design burst into life, the Odyssey saturating a black Sharlin with rapid bolts of high energy. At the same time the other IOC ships also engaged their own targets, joining the battle fully. Ahead the target shimmered orange as the bolts impacted the hull, shearing off several chunks of the hull but failing to penetrate the organic covering around the heart of the ship.
"No effect." Marks reported. "Picking up an energy surge."
The bow of the Minbari ship flickered, then lit up as it fired a full charge beams from its main guns. The energy crashed into the Odyssey, shoving it physically sideways and shaking the crew.
"Shields holding!" Marks called. "But that thing is packing one hell of a punch!"
"Set up an evasive approach pattern." Emerson ordered. "Hit it again and arm a pair of mark VIII missiles."
The Odyssey looped over and accelerated, scattering weapons fire from its turrets, alternating between pulses and beams in a dazzling display of agility and firepower. The Sharlin took the hits, its defenses working furiously to radiate the energy harmlessly into space. A halo of fuzziness surrounded the ship as the raw power was discharged, keeping the diffusers beneath their critical limit.
The Odyssey thundered again as another high powered blast caught it.
"Missiles ready!"
"Fire!" Shouted Emerson.
With a puff of gas two Mark VIII naqudah missiles shot from the hull and left the shields, only to be cut down just a second after launch by a precise cut from the Sharlin weapons.
"Missiles intercepted!" Marks yelled.
"Move us in closer! Prepare next salvo, point blank range!"
The SGC vessel turned its bow and crossed the line of fire, shields glowing as a Minbari beam pressed into it no matter how wildly the ship turned. The targeting systems on Minbari ships were scarily accurate and continued to prove it even against these new opponents. Odyssey and her sisters continued the attack, joined by several other vessels but still the lead elements of the enemy fleet held firm, returning the attack with deadly effect. Already a number of Whitestars had been turned to wrecks while the remainder attacked furiously they were meeting limited success.
"Approaching minimum safe distance!" Marks said.
"Little more."
"Any closer sir and we risk getting caught in the blast!"
"And if we launch too far there won't be a blast. Standby." Emerson affirmed. "Ready…ready…fire! Break off!"
The ship presented its upper decks to the Minbari ship and launched, then went to full emergency thrust. The missiles had barely left the ship by the time they struck the Minbari vessel, and even then one was shot down just feet from the hull. The surviving weapon exploded on contact, and coupled with the pounding the Minbari ship had already taken completely overwhelmed the diffusers and melted its way clean through the ship in a vast pall of light that left nothing behind.
"One down!" Marks cheered.
"That was way too much trouble." Emerson grunted. Taking note of his smoking bridge. "We need to coordinate our fire and concentrate enough power to quickly beat their defences. Contact Captain Ivanova, have each 304 team up with a Warlock. They fire from range, we'll hit them close in."
"Roger that." Marks confirmed.
"Get some more missiles armed, this is going to be a tough fight."
Minbari wrecks were scattered across the area, friend and foe, as the two fleets mauled each other. While the Shadow vessels were drawing the most firepower the battle son the flanks were no less intense as the two Warrior clans began to disregard civility and settle old scores. The Windswords and Star Riders were the most powerful of the Warrior clans and always had been, with the Star Riders usually edging out on top during the wars of the elder days. It had been the source of much resentment, and those old hatreds were surfacing again as the Windswords fought back hard.
"Another enemy down."
Captain Anderson of the Victory nodded grimly, intensely focused on the moment.
"Ready main gun, Neshaten dead ahead."
The shadow enhanced gunship was battering the Apollo with several potent energy beams, different from Minbari standard, and the SG ship was having trouble getting close enough to fire missiles. However its hybrid pulse cannons were pushing the diffusers closer to their threshold, and Anderson was confident his ship could push it over the edge.
"Fire."
The vessel darkened, then illuminated in green light as arcs of energy shocked from the wingtips and converged in a single massive discharge which flashed across space and smashed into the target, destroying it instantly and taking the fin off a vessel behind, a vessel which was then surrounded and chipped to death by a dozen Whitestars.
"Fifty seconds to recharge." His XO reported.
"Look for a new target." Anderson said in the quiet. "We can't let even one of those bastards get past us."
One of the mighty Shargottis flickered as two streams of red energy flowed over it, the full powered discharge of a Warlock draining the EA ships reactors and still not pushing it over its threshold. The vessel struck back, a full powered shot of its own that overcame the shields of one of the Omegas and tore through the hull. Under the shields the vessel still had regular Earth Force armour, and the shadow modified main guns of the Windsword hybrids had no trouble annihilating the Destroyer.
Both the Odyssey and Korolev spotted the vessel and lent their support, beam and pulse rounds adding to the aura of destruction surrounding the enemy ship. Two Whitestars also joined in yet the ship still refused to die.
"Odyssey, this is Korolev." The gruff tones of Colonel Chekov announced on speakers.
"Go ahead Colonel." Emerson received.
"We have our main railguns armed, if we hit it simultaneously in the same spot we might break through."
"Worth a try." The US officer agreed. "Feed us your targeting data, we're ready to shoot."
The two ships lined up side by side, the Korolev shuddering under a direct hit but holding formation. After a brief pause to make final corrections the two rail guns fired, joined at the same moment by those on the Odyssey. The ship length guns threw their trinium tipped projectiles clean through the Shargotti, ripping a shower of debris out the far side of the vessel. An instant later the defences fell and the converging beams burned her from stem to stern, leaving shards of crystal and shrivelled shadow tech in her place.
"Nice shot Korolev." Emerson congratulated.
"Likewise Odyssey, I have a fresh target to starboard, care to join me Colonel?"
"We're right there with you." Emerson grinned. "All batteries, lock on fresh target and engage."
As the large ships hammered each other a smaller but no less intense battle raged around them. A mix of Minbari and allied fighters battled each other, duelling among themselves or finding themselves swatted aside by the interceptors or point defences of a nearby ship. With enhanced sensors and an inability to stop the Minbari beams the interceptor batteries had nothing else to do other than bring down Windsword fighters, which they did with great efficiency.
"Blue group, prepare for your attack run!" Major Farrow ordered from his fighter. "Red group Odyssey, form up for escort!"
Several 302s converged from different engagements, some of which carried long missiles beneath their wings. Farrow hunted down a final Nial, finishing it with his pulse cannons before joining the attack.
"Make your target enemy attack cruiser, designate target Alpha." Farrow ordered. "We need to get close, push throttles to full and commence a high speed run. If we linger we're dead."
The 302 group closed fast, the strike fighters arming their missiles and setting guidance. Up ahead the Minbari ship became aware of them and opened up, its first shot slicing a 302 into burning wreckage.
"Loosen up!" Farrow yelled. "Red group run interference!"
The dogfighters pushed ahead, drawing fire from the strike group and doing all they could to stay in piece. The deadly accurate Minbari beams claimed another three fighters on the approach reminding them of the capabilities of the enemy they were fighting. Finally they made it to point blank range and broke off, Blue group rippling their missiles into the side of the Minbari escort vessel. The Shadow armour took some of the hits, but the number and power of the missiles quickly overwhelmed it and destroyed the ship.
"Reform, move up and…" Farrow was cut off by two of the strike group exploding as dozens of small green beams bracketed them. Nial fighters raced to meet them, attacking enmasse preceded by a wall of intense gun fire. The remaining craft scattered with a burst of speed and returned the attack, joining a flight of Thunderbolts as they dove into the dogfight. Fighters on all sides burned and shattered, unnoticed between the feet of the behemoths around them.
The Apollo rolled through the enemy fleet firing as she twisted. Energy weapons and rail guns spoke, joining a Warlock in the distance in targeting one of the enemy cruisers. As the enemy ship fell apart the Apollo was caught between three beams, and suddenly her weakened Asgard shields collapsed. With a deep ringing clang a Windsword beam carved through the side of the ships trinium armor, spilling burning gas and molten metal from the hole.
"Colonel Ellis, this is Emerson." The officer observed from his own struggling ship. "Get out of there!"
"We've still got weapons, we can still fight!" Ellis answered deeply. "We're still in this."
"You won't last a minute, orders are to withdraw if damaged." Emerson reminded. "Get out Colonel, that's a direct order!"
Reluctantly Ellis was forced to agree. "We'll see you back at Earth."
The damaged ship pulled away, taking another fiery hit as it withdrew through hyperspace in a flash of green light.
"Theseus and Churchill are also on the brink of shield failure. They're staying long enough to recover our fighters then withdrawing." Major Marks said. "And we're at less than twenty percent ourselves."
"We just need to hold on a little longer." Emerson spoke firmly. "How many missiles do we have?"
"Six sir."
"So lets use them."
The range had now decreased to the point where the two forces were intermingled, close enough to use their smallest weapons as they pummelled each other with maximum force. A sharp expanding glow marked the end of a Warlock, a blast of energy shaking its sisters in despair.
"Keep us steady!" Ivanova bellowed. "Maintain fire!"
The Titans continued pumping energy into an enemy vessel, two other ships in her fleet doing the same until finally overcoming the hostile vessel. The gun turrets salvo fired in opposite directions, aiding the escorts as they dealt with other Windsword vessels and tried to reduce the firepower swamping the elite vessels.
"Were down to half our forces Captain!" Morton warned.
"So are they!" Ivanova snarled back.
A wave of green energy struck a black Neshaten, signalling the presence of the Star Rider flagship.
"Fire on that vessel!" She pointed at Coplann's target. "Bring it down!"
The sky was filled with fire, with wrecks greatly outnumbering survivors. The four Narn vessels had lasted mere minutes, but one at least had rammed a Sharlin into mutual destruction. The Star Riders and Windswords main forces had virtually wiped each other out, barely a handful of ships on either side were still fighting though fortunately it seemed the Star Riders were just about winning. At the heart of the fight the Head hunters had been shot to pieces, outnumbered by the Shadow enhanced ships, yet despite the odds had taken an even greater toll on the enemy and as the fighting lessened in scale if not intensity, only a few black ships remained.
The Longbow exploded in a shining star, her depleted shields suddenly overwhelmed by concentrated fire from a pair of enemy capital ships. Like the Head hunters she was fitted with outdated armour under her shields and could not stop the assault. Her loss was felt keenly by Emerson, the first of his own force to be lost in action. They had fought valiantly and well; downing two Sharlins and a pair of Neshatens, but it was still a bitter blow.
"Shields at sixteen percent!" Marks informed. "We can only take a few more hits!"
"Stay on it, there are only a few left!"
The Korolev raced past, its port hangar trailing a sheet of smoke and flame. It held on long enough to finish an enemy cruiser with its last missile, then turned away.
"This is Chekov, we're out of missiles and rail gun rounds, energy weapons offline and shields gone."
"Understood Colonel, keep your ship intact, return to Earth." Emerson nodded.
"I'm beaming up as many survivors as I can first, blas vidanya Colonel."
The ship banked and sped away from the embers of battle, eventually disappearing in a flash. Behind him the second Russian ship, the Gagarin finished off a regular Windsword Sharlin, then turnd its attention on the last remaining Shadow vessel, a Shargotti.
The massive battleship took the firepower and responded with its own, some of the energy punching through the weakened shields and crippling the penultimate Russian warship in retaliation. Ivanova and Anderson hit back, Emerson joined the attack and finally Coplann moved into range. The multicoloured saturation of energy finally broke the defences and sent the Shargotti to the same fate as its sisters.
"That was the last Shadow ship." Morton said. "Just a couple of regular vessels left, the Rangers are on them."
"Right, where's the flagship?" Ivanova demanded. "Where's Kathenn? I'm going to nail his ass to a table, grab a cue and play pool with his damn…"
A glimmer of light answered her question, light that grew from the Gagarin as its shields now failed completly; pure purple energy beams sliced it effortlessly into segments ending her valiant stand. From behind the flames the inky black prow of the Drala D'Vost emerged, as fearsome and vile looking as any pure Shadow cruiser.
"Hard about!" Ivanova yelled. "Open fire!"
The Titans shifted, barraging pulse cannon and rail shots as it hauled its bow around and readied its particle cannons. The other surviving ships engaged at once, energy sloughing away from the enemy super ship. Kathenn immolated three Sharlins in moments, striking their weak spots by the base of the main drive fin. The Neroon's Valour charged headlong into action, joined by blasts from the Victory. Purple beams cut into the Star Rider flagship, but did not immediately destroy her as Coplann's vessel kept firing and advancing.
"Full attack speed!" Colonel Emerson ordered. "Close range pass, execute!"
The Odyssey leapt into action, pouring as much energy as it had left into its guns, enough to cause the barrels to glow white hot as the containment fields began to fail. The energy danced and caressed the hull of the Drala D'Vost but caused no damage, even when joined by Coplann and Anderson the mighty vessel simply shrugged off the attack.
"Weapons locked!" Morton called.
"Send him to hell!" Ivanova roared furiously, rising from her chair as the last of the Head hunters added her power.
The black flagship shuddered and slowed as the new firepower struck it, the sheer weight of the attack pushing its defences. Superior as they were they still had their limits and were getting close to them.
But the battle was not done, and with a vicious display of power the warship struck the Odyssey with full strength blasts from its main cannons, breaking the weakened Asgard shields and throwing the ship wildly off course as its crew battled to regain control. Seconds later it fired again, tearing deep into the Neroon's Valour. Ripples of fire burst through the twin ships hull, bending and breaking as the insides of the great vessel were melted or vapourised. Finally with a spark of a thousand stars the Minbari flagship burnt up from the inside out, its gleaming death absorbed by the black mass that had caused it.
Ivanova did not move as the ship now focused on them, absorbing the overpowered beams her ship was delivering as if they were drips of water.
"Receiving weapons lock." Morton said emptily, knowing full well what their chances were.
"Helm, maximum thrust to main engines." She decided, finding herself without options. "Ramming speed."
"Wait, energy spike from the Victory!" Morton called out.
Ivanova checked the readings, then noticed Kathenn turning away towards the ISA vessel no doubt seeing the same sensor reports. The silver lines of the Victory were already pointing down at the ship, like a sword hung over its victim the ship locked its main cannon on target from less than seven hundred miles away.
"Give him hell Leonard." She bared her teeth.
On the other ship Leonard Anderson was ready to do just that.
"Main gun primed." Commander McDonald reported. "Enemy turning toward."
With no shields the Victory would be easy prey for the immensely powerful ship, but only if it had a chance to fire. Anderson took the measure of his enemy, the acts he had done and still threatened to do. All of Earth was waiting, their fates resting on this one shot.
"Fire."
The great gun crackled into life again, powering up in a halo of Vorlon derived energy before exploding outwards. The intense beam engulfed the Drala'D'Vost in a bright glare of energy, the Vorlon systems designed exactly for this type of target. While the diffusers could handle most energy easily the complexities of the Vorlon tech confounded them and greatly reduced their capacity. The black vessel vanished in a simple flash obscured by the thick beam.
Anderson stood in the dark, a few blinking lights reminding him he was still on a ship and not standing outside in space.
"Fifty five seconds to recharge." McDonald informed.
The lights of battle were gone, leaving just blackness punctured by starlight. It was a blackness that seemed to be expanding, moving, engulfing. As his eyes lingered further on the odd spectacle he realised what it was, and what it meant.
The Drala D'Vost had survived, its hull withstanding the most powerful weapon the ISA had in its arsenal. Burning with anger it finished its arming sequence and fired, cutting deep into the silver hull of the Victory. Leonard Anderson fixed his eyes shut, not having time to say anything to his loyal crew as fate turned on them. All he had time to do was remember his family, and hope he had done enough today to ensure their survival.
Ivanova watched with open mouthed horror as the enemy warship survived the attack, and then simply cut the Victory to pieces, the proud ship folding under the purple beams.
"Captain…" Morton began hoarsely.
"Too late." She said hollowly. "Too late." She looked around the bridge, taking in the looks of her crew before continuing her final order. "Only one thing left. Ramming speed."
The battle weary ship moved, gathering speed as the Drala D'Vost rounded on its final opponent. Ivanova had no idea if this would actually work, hoping they could put enough brute force into the impact to shatter the crystal hull of the warship, even if its outer shell withstood them its insides would be ruined. They were still two thousand miles away when the warship fired a single purple beam, cutting across the ship and separating its front and back halves near the engine block in a scourge of flame and wreckage.
There was nothing left, and as Kathenn surveyed the battlefield it was as a victor gazing upon the vanquished.
"All enemies destroyed sir." His aide reported. "There are still life signs from many ships and wrecks, shall we finish them?"
"No." He shook his head. "We don't have time. We encountered more resistance than expected, cursed Star Riders always trying to lord over us. Not anymore."
"We have lost every vessel that joined us." His officer reported solomly. "Many can be salvaged, but the core guard ships have been completely destroyed."
"So we only have one ship combat capable." Kathenn said. "This ship, and it is more than capable of fulfilling the mission."
"Yes sir."
"The humans are concentrated at Earth, yet that is merely our secondary target." Kathenn chuckled. "Fools, always believing the obvious. Set our course for the Sol system, full speed."
"Our survivors sir?"
"We will pick them up later, the mission is more important."
"Yes sir."
"To the heart of our enemy." The Windsword smiled. "We will destroy this gateway, isolate this branch of humanity, and then destroy it at our leisure once we have achieved dominance of the Council. With the Star Riders broken nothing can stop this ship, or me."
The ship turned away from the wrecks of the battlefield, vanishing into quantumspace with a flicker and leaving in its wake a terrible message that there was nothing left that could equal it. Kathenn set his course for the final stage of his plan, leaving the best his enemies had in ruin.
