10
Quadrant 7
Narn/Drazi border
The Narn Colony was relatively sparse, a single domed outpost with a token population. The military outnumbered the civilians by a significant margin, the space station above was heavily armed and filled with soldiers and fighter bays offering only scant facilities to travellers and traders. It didn't matter much, beside the military no one really came out here.
The reason could be summed up in one word. Drazi.
Relations between the Narn and Drazi had been strained for a long time, since first contact when the expansionist and aggressive Narn had bumped up against the stubborn and equally aggressive Drazi. While both sides avoided full scale war border skirmishes were a frequent occurrence with neither side displaying a clear superiority, the only real movement on the border came when the Narn seized a handful of worlds and outposts from the Drazi at the height of the Dilgar war, an act which backfired slightly when the Dilgar struck a captured world regardless of ownership and massacred thousands of Narn.
The Narn government had swept that under the carpet at the time in return for technology and resources from the Dilgar who were happy to oblige. It was an open secret that the Narn had collaborated with the Dilgar and sold them a lot of weaponry including mass driver components taken from Centauri depots. As an added insult the Narn had not returned most of the outposts taken from the Drazi at their moment of greatest weakness, an act of treachery that sent the average Drazi into an apoplectic rage.
Quadrant 7 therefore remained fairly barren, the site of simmering tensions and countless minor battles. It was therefore not unusual to see a Drazi fleet arrive in combat formation, several squadrons of Sunhawks swooping around to approach the Narn station dominating the approaches to the colony.
But this time no gunfire rose to meet the Drazi strike ships, nor did the Narn cruisers move to respond. Most of the Narn ships were sluggish elderly assault cruisers but docked on the far side of the station were a pair of gleaming and garish G'Quan class heavy cruisers, the new pride of the Narn fleet. Ships of that type rarely deployed away from the Centauri border, their presence was just one more indicator of unfolding events.
The Drazi fleet settled into a wary holding pattern near the station, the Narn keeping an equally wary eye on them. Neither side had weapons armed but they maintained a combat posture ready to break into violence at the first sign of trouble. A single shuttle exited the Drazi flagship, the closest thing the Drazi fleet had to a cruiser and still dwarfed by the G'Quans docked nearby, and landed in the civilian bay.
Neither side really trusted each other, meetings like this were rare and usually ended in at the very least punches being thrown. The last attempt at a summit had cost the Narn three cruisers and nearly triggered an all out war, subverted only by Centauri manoeuvres necessitating the Narn navy stay on the border.
For the two governments to meet face to face in spite of all the mistrust, the bad blood, the shared penchant for rapidly losing their tempers, it was a sign of how seismic events in the galaxy had become.
The Drazi arrived with only two guards, a pair of warriors flanking him and surveying every inch of the journey. Both guards were clearly veterans, their bony heads notched from gladiatorial bouts and front line combat service. They walked as if they knew they could take this station alone if they had to, and perhaps they were right.
Between them walked the focus of this meeting, an individual the Drazi had elevated to near legend. Warleader Stro'kath was everything a Drazi should be, a man who preferred to let actions do most of his expressing and had proven a very fluent communicator. He was regarded as the saviour of his people, the man who had turned back the Dilgar and liberated Drazi space. He had taken on politicians and his own incompetent superiors and he had cast them down in true Drazi style, by hitting them until their eyes bled.
With his war record, his untarnished reputation as a fighter and his surprising eloquence and insight when it came to diplomacy Stro'kath commanded respect and obedience like no other. A rare achievement indeed for a race as divided and argumentative as the Drazi.
To meet him the Narn had sent their own rising star, someone who could also speak with eloquence and who could navigate the treacherous waters of diplomacy with confidence, but also somoene who wouldn't really be missed if Stro'kath decided to just stab him. Given their topic of conversation that was a very real possibility.
"You are G'Kar?" Stro'kath wasted no breath on pleasantries.
"I am." The much taller Narn introduced himself. "On behalf of my government I welcome you to this facility and…"
"Why don't we just get on with it?" The Drazi pushed.
"Very well, direct to the point I see." G'Kar smiled broadly. "Your reputation proceeds you, shall we?"
They stepped out of the docking bay and entered a drab corridor. While the station had simulated gravity it was clearly built on the cheap. Even Earth Force stations were more welcoming than this.
"I have a lot of things to do." Stro'kath growled. "The only reason I am here is because your government said it involved my missing fleet."
"Yes, the ships you were sending to aid Earth. They would have been very useful I am sure."
"Do you know something about them?" Stro'kath put a hard edge in his voice. He wasn't young, by Drazi standards he was in advanced middle age, but he was still an incredibly intimidating presence by anyone's standard.
"I wish I did." G'Kar offered, remaining entirely calm as he reached their destination.
"Then if you have nothing to tell me why am I here?"
"Because it wasn't the Narn government that wanted to speak with you."
Only one person was waiting in the conference room, standing behind a long table with the same confidence of command Stro'kath possessed, the ease of a person who had faced death on a massive scale and survived. Stro'kath's two guards instantly tensed as they saw the dark blue of a Dilgar uniform, the old warleader subtly indicating they should stand down. It wasn't a trap, it was certainly a surprise, but it wasn't treachery. Not this Dilgar.
"Supreme Warmarster Dar'sen."
"Warleader Stro'kath."
Both of them stood at the opposite ends of the table motionless, eyes locked, weighing up the situation. G'Kar fidgeted slightly beside Stro'kath keenly aware that the Drazi leader was carrying more knives and blades than a decent sized kitchen. Putting a man who made his name killing Dilgar, the race that had tried and nearly succeeded in exterminating his species, in the same room as the currently leader of that same race constituted a gamble of explosive proportions. G'Kar wasn't entirely comfortable with it, but recognised the potential benefits to his career if things went well.
For his part Dar'sen was calm, his face more lined and hair going white. It had been a long time since he had led forces in battle, like Stro'kath they were old soldiers now running their respective nations seperated from the blood and fire which had made them. Of all the Dilgar Dar'sen was generally seen as the superior warrior, most considered him a better fleet commander than even Jha'dur though he lacked her more devious qualities. He had fought with far less resources for far longer than Jha'dur had and never needed to resort to terror attacks or mass murder to achieve his goals, and his chief opponent in that time had been Stro'kath.
"I have said that I would kill anyone in this galaxy to have a chance to stand face to face with the hero of Omelos." Stro'kath finally said. "That my greatest wish, the one thing I still want in life, is to face you in single combat to the death."
G'Kar slowly began to back away.
"I was the last Warmaster to be inducted into the nobility by the Emperor." Dar'sen answered calmly. "By the old code if you challenge me to a duel I must accept."
"I have fought thousands of opponents, most of them I barely remember their names or faces. But you are the only one I never truly defeated. You are the only fight I never finished, and by far my favourite."
"I'll take that as a compliment." Dar'sen flickered a smile. "You were always a challenge Stro'kath, never boring."
"I'll take that as a compliment." The Drazi grunted a laugh. "I will fight you, I know you are a trained duellist, I know that our battle will become a legend and I know that it will be my last fight. Even if I win I will never fight again in honour of that contest. But it will not be this day."
He pulled out a chair.
"I am Drazi, I cannot deny it is in my nature to seek out battle with a worthy enemy and I know of none more worthy than you Warmaster. But I must also look to my duty. I came here for answers, looking for the truth about my lost warriors. If you know anything then I ask you to speak truthfully."
Dar'sen sat down, Stro'kath doing the same and a very relieved G'Kar finding a spot between the two of them.
"Truthfully." The Dilgar spoke. "I don't know. I had ships in the area with orders to intercept your fleet and encourage them to turn back home."
Stro'kath kept an even expression.
"Why?"
"Because if your ships had joined Earth at that time they would have been massacred. Sadly it appears they were anyway."
"And if my ships had refused and tried to continue on? Would you have fired upon them?"
"My commander had orders not to." Dar'sen said simply. "While there they detected debris, wreckage from your fleet. It appears they were destroyed."
"So your fleet observed this but was not responsible?" Stro'kath narrowed his eyes. "While I trust you, I do not trust the others of your kind. Do you believe the word of your subordinates?"
"I've seen the data recordings." He fished out a data crystal from his pocket and slid it over to Stro'kath. "it's all on there, my ships didn't fire."
"So who did do it?"
"We detected Minbari ships in the area and assumed them at first, but it turns out they were just as surprised." Dar'sen stated. "To destroy that many ships so swiftly and absolutely, if it wasn't the Minbari I don't think any other power has the capacity."
"Who else is there?"
"I don't know, but they clearly don't want Earth to receive help and are willing to kill thousands to make sure of it." Dar'sen informed. "And this is where we find ourselves holding something in common."
The Drazi tilted his head in interest.
"We have not widely publicised this." Dar'sen continued. "My government has been supplying technology to Earth. We gave them the means to defeat Minbari stealth and helped them fight back."
"Something they have been doing well." Stro'kath approved. "I am surprised though, Earth was the decisive factor in breaking your Empire. Why would you help them instead of celebrating their deaths?"
"Because while they did destroy the old empire they also delivered the new one. Earth forced the armistice on the League, made everyone sign the ceasefire and kept the Dilgar as a living race. If not for Earth we would have been exterminated, we both know this."
"It is true." Stro'kath admitted. "In our mind the war could only end in the bombardment of Omelos. The crimes of your people could only be paid for in blood."
"Earth disagreed." Dar'sen returned. "And so here I sit, leader of a small but proud nation trying to stand up again. But you are right, we aren't helping Earth just for the sake of it, we want closer diplomatic ties."
"Understandable." G'kar stepped in. "The Dilgar are still pariahs. Apart from my government nobody has any real dealings with you."
"For a time we accepted this, but the lack of trade and development is starting to bite. We can't grow as a nation unless we return to the galactic community, but the stigma of the war prevents this."
"Most of your people were monsters."
"Most of my people are dead." Dar'sen returned. "Those who aren't are not monsters. They were hand picked to carry on our race in a changed galaxy, they are a new breed of Dilgar, children of a new philosophy. My philosophy. You know me Stro''ath, you know what I stand for. That is the world I am trying to make."
"I sympathise, I faced similar difficulties trying to change how my people saw themselves during the war. Make them into better soldiers to defeat you."
"And you succeeded." Dar'sen agreed. "Now I'm trying to do the same thing, I think Earth is the key to that, they are the only ones to offer us the chance at being something better. But now there is a possibility they could be destroyed, and worse it seems anyone who helps them may be a target. That's why we are meeting here, in part because the Narn are neutral and have contact with both our nations, but also because the Narn by selling weapons to Earth may be under threat themselves."
"Whoever attacked your fleet is clearly trying to influence the war in favour of the Minbari." G'Kar concurred. "But we don't know who or why."
"I have people looking into it." Dar'sen informed. "But in the meantime we need to do something. I for one am not going to change my policy on helping Earth, but we are not strong enough to risk losses like the Drazi have suffered."
"Whoever attacked us will pay." Stro'kath promised. "It is not just an act of war, it is an attack on our honour, a denial of our chance to repay our debt to Earth."
"We both owe Earth a debt." Dar'sen agreed. "Which is why we should work together to pay it."
Even with his usual mastery of playing politics G'Kar was taken by surprise at that one.
"Work together?" Stro'kath missed a breath. "Dilgar and Drazi?"
"Why not?" The Warmaster asked simply. "Are you going to let the war dictate our future? The Dilgar Imperium that committed atrocities against you is gone, those responsible dead mainly at your own hands. Those who remain are my people. Yes we fought each other, but it was a fair fight, an honourably fight. You have said that time and again yourself Stro'kath. You hated the butchers in my race and I don't blame you, but you respected the fleet I led and built. Now I am asking you to respect my new command."
"You are asking the impossible."
"Have we ever violated the armistice?" Dar'sen demanded. "Have we crossed your borders? Raided your worlds? Have we ever broken our word?"
The Drazi exhaled.
"No."
"There have been some who have wanted to, some see the hostility that is still directed at us and ask why shouldn't we fight? We shouldn't we launch pre-emptive strikes at our enemies? Why not weaken them to preserve our borders? I know at least one of my commanders wanted to destroy your expeditionary fleet herself."
"Herself?" Stro'kath growled. "I can guess who you mean."
"I keep those people in check. It is not easy, even with the monsters mostly gone we are still a war like race, we are still a nation bred for battle and many of us see war as our first choice to solve disputes. When your fleet vanished almost the entire council wanted to exploit it, to hit you when you were weak, establish a buffer zone. But I gave my word. I signed a treaty. So instead I am here to ask for your help."
"I respect you Warmaster, a title you have earned." Stro'kath nodded. "But there is too much blood. We will never be allies."
"That isn't what I am asking." Dar'sen stated. "All I ask is that your government recognise the sovereignty of the Dilgar Imperium and sign a peace treaty with us. Not an armistice, a peace treaty."
"That would mean giving up our claim to the worlds your nation owns."
"It would." Dar'sen nodded. "But it would also stabilise your border with us and free up warships to send to Earth."
"And in turn my government has authorised me to agree to Drazi demands to return several disputed colonies and agree to a fixed border." G'Kar added. "Which again should free up ships for you to send elsewhere."
"The Dilgar I can understand." Stro'kath considered. "If we recognise you the rest of the League will be obliged to do the same. If the stubborn Drazi have agreed to this the others will be shamed into doing it too. But what do the Narn gain from this?"
"As the Warmaster said by associating with Earth we suddenly find ourselves on the same side facing the same enemy." G'Kar clarified. "Your fleet was lost in Narn space yet we detected nothing. That could just as easily been one of our fleets, we would have no defence."
"There's more than that."
"There is also the Centauri." G'Kar sneered at the very mention of the name. "By normalising relations with the Drazi we can redirect ships toward Centauri space. We know you and the Centauri don't get on, we should be united in our hatred!"
"We don't hate the Centauri. We don't like them, we fight them about as much as we do you and we've been killing them since your people were still farming. But we don't hate them."
"Never the less if the Centauri think we are moving closer together it will upset them. That was reason enough for most of the Kha'ri to approve. The rest were moved by the practical benefit of demilitarising our border, at least to a degree, so we can focus on our true enemy."
"Ultimately we all want to see Earth win this war, or at least survive it." Dar'sen observed. "For practical reasons and in our case as a matter of honour. If we do chose to continue offering direct support we may come under attack, if we are wanting the same thing and facing the same threat we should do so together even if It is behind closed doors. I'm not expecting miracles, I don't expect to see a Drazi and A Dilgar shaking hands in my lifetime, but to make ourselves vulnerable to attack because of the past is foolish."
Stro'kath stood.
"After reading the latest news from Earth perhaps this is the season of miracles."
The Drazi Warleader extended his hand, the bony plates and strong tendons probably quite capable of crushing whatever bones were placed in their grasp. Dar'sen did not hesitate despite the obvious risk, standing and extending his own hand in the human custom.
"If any other Dilgar had tried to speak to me I would have ignored them, or beaten them until they cried."
"And if it had been any other Drazi I would have expected a knife in the back as soon as I turned around."
They shook hands firmly but respectfully, two equals divided by history but united in vision.
"My people adopted the custom of a hand shake after the war. It has symbolism, power." Dar'sen remarked. "it was the gesture that birthed our new nation."
"I remember shaking hands upon meeting Admiral Ferguson of Earth, a warrior who should also be stood with us." Stro'kath added. "He called us the best of enemies."
"Perhaps not forever."
"Maybe." The Drazi accepted. "I will sign the treaty. We will have peace and I will mobilise a force in case we are attacked. I intend to continue helping Earth, if we can count on the security of our borders we will try again."
"And with the treaty signed my government will offer open aid to Earth following your example. Weapons, supplies, technology. If we both give aid whoever destroyed your fleet will have to deal with two nations. Three if the Narn step up their game."
"The Kha'ri is prepared to do so." G'Kar smiled. "This is an historic day, who would have imagined it would ever come to pass?"
"Extraordinary times." Dar'sen agreed whole heartedly. "This may drag us into a war."
"If war comes it is for the right cause." Stro'kath smiled. "Standing with our old friends from Earth. In the end Warmaster I still wish to duel you, to know finally who is better, but before that day if the chance comes to fight side by side with you I will be a very happy Drazi."
The summit meeting broke up amicably, Stro'kath leaving with an unusually pleasant disposition. Dar'sen also withdrew, heading home on his flagship which had been hidden behind the colony at the time of the Drazi arrival to avoid provocation. The station gradually went back to normal, very few of them recognising exactly what had transpired within its walls.
"That went better than expected." G'Kar fell back into his seat within the now silent conference room. "We have so many jokes that begin 'A Drazi and a Dilgar walk into a room' that all end the same way. Broken bones and blood stains."
"The Drazi are not unreasonable." A voice emerged from a side door. "They are argumentative, irascible, prone to acting without thinking, but present them with a clear opportunity and they will jump like any other species. Especially if they have a leader who can see beyond the obvious flaws of his nature."
Jha'dur sat down in the seat vacated by her fellow Warmaster, resting her hands on the desk.
"Peace between Dilgar and Drazi though?" G'Kar shook his head. "I thought I'd take afternoon tea with the Centauri Emperor before I saw that."
"It isn't an treaty between nations, it's an agreement between two men who respect each other." Jha'dur answered. "This could only be done by Dar'sen and Stro'kath and only because they trust each other. Ironic that the greatest of adversaries should get on so well, I doubt I would have had such a pleasant conversation with Admiral Hamato."
"You're not worried some lower Admiral or Captain will ignore this?"
"Not at all. On the Drazi side Stro'kath has given his word and no one in his nation would dare break it. It's a sign of the reverence they hold him in, as I said no other Drazi could have done this. Even if he had wanted to only Stro'kath has the sort of power and respect for the Drazi to set aside their nature and obey him without question."
"And your people obey Dar'sen in the same manner?"
"Not the same blind obedience, but he is respected enough for people not to question him. Besides, anyone who does jeopardise this arrangement will draw my ire."
"An unhealthy circumstance as I understand." G'Kar chuckled.
"To function as a nation we need international relations. We need to have normal diplomacy, acceptance." Jha'dur stated. "it will take generations, nobody disputes that, but the hardest part was always going to be making that first step and opening the door for the first time. The war between Earth and Minbar gave us a common ground we could use. Dar'sen was wise to use it."
"I had thought all this would be your idea?"
Jha'dur smiled.
"My idea was a bit easier, destroy a few thousand Drazi ships, blame the Minbari, offer to help them get even. Turns out somebody did that for us and Dar'sen suggested simply exploiting the truth."
"So who did actually destroy that fleet?"
"I have no idea, but a few leads. There are some powers out there who seem to have helped the Minbari before and may be doing so again. It needs more investigation."
"I never thought the Minbari needed much help."
"Neither did I, but according to ISN they've taken quite a beating." Jha'dur smiled. "Which is a little bit delicious. Is there anything more satisfying than seeing someone get what they deserve?"
"Careful, half the galaxy would say the same for you."
"They'd be right too, I don't deny it." She shrugged. "But I'm a long way from finished yet."
"So the Drazi sign a peace treaty with you, then what?"
"It legitimises the existence of the new Imperium, recognises our borders, our right of ownership over these worlds." Jha'dur said. "And if the Drazi do it, the most vehement of our enemies, the rest of the League will too. The Abbai have sought this for a while but could never push it through against Drazi opposition. That is no longer an issue."
"So you become a legally recognised nation, set up embassies, formal relations, perhaps trade?"
"I doubt the League will have much to do with us, but after recognition they can no longer try to prevent us trading with you or the Centauri. This is going to make us a lot richer and more independent, and of course you benefit too."
"That was the deal." G'Kar nodded firmly. "We play nice with the Drazi, help you gain your recognition, and in return we receive the same sensor technology Earth has."
"A small price to pay." Jha'dur accepted. "If the Minbari come for you now you can fight back. Of course it isn't the Minbari I'd be worried about."
"Our phantom fleet thrashers."
"Well put." Jha'dur smiled briefly. "But until we know more we can't let fear dictate our actions. I'd say that was what our mysterious opponent wanted. I don't react well to people trying to intimidate me. I've been told I have a problem with anger management sometimes."
"I can't imagine who would actually have had the courage to say that to you."
She smiled again.
"We'll speak again G'Kar after the various announcements. While this war the humans are fighting was unexpected it does help accelerate our plans."
"Do you think they can win?"
"I'm not sure, but what I am sure about is that whether Earth survives or not they will take the Minbari with them. The Minbari need to make peace or at the end of the war they'll find their homeworld an irradiated waste ground. One way or another."
"You think Earth would do that?"
"Of course they would." Jha'dur chuckled. "That's why I like them so much."
"I'm not sure if they'd appreciate that compliment."
"it doesn't matter. We need to position ourselves to benefit from however this war ends. Either with a strengthened Earth or a crippled Minbar. I'd prefer the former, but if it is the latter we can still profit G'Kar. We just have to be a little bit clever about it."
Cyrus System
Two weeks after liberation
"We'll rotate Tennant's people out on the next supply run." Admiral Ferguson rubbed his eyes as if to physically remove his weariness. "They've been deployed for over a month now, they need some real grav time. Have him take his fleet back to Durani for a week of shore leave."
"He'll insist on staying." Commander Austin mentioned glumly. "You know what Joe's like, he won't want to miss the fun."
"He's no good if his crews are weakened by prolonged exposure to zero gravity and lack of rest. Make sure he knows it's an order. Eighth Dreadnought group can replace him for a week."
Ferguson no doubt expected the same thing was being said about him. The Charlemagne had been deployed since the war began over three months ago now and his own crews were approaching the limits of their expected endurance. The could fight for longer of course if they had to, they could stay out here permanently if that is what Earth Force required, but with things apparently quiet it was a good time to swap out some of the more tired crews for fresh ones.
Back home there was already a big push for negotiations to restart in the hope that the Minbari had now realised this wasn't some cheap easy massacre but a true war. Earth had demonstrated clearly that they were not easy victims anymore and any attempt by the Minbari to reach Earth was going to be mired in blood and bodies. This time their own.
President Levy had set probes to transmit the offer of talks into Minbari space so the message was clearly heard. David Sheridan had also made it known throughout the League, Narn space and the Centauri Republic that Earth was open to a peaceful settlement and no further lives needed to be lost. So far no other nation had reported contact with the Minbari, even the brief line of communication provided by Representative G'Kar had dried up after the ambush on Epsilon Outpost.
The Minbari had gone very quiet, and while the more optimistic members of the Government believed they had knocked the fight out of the alien species Ferguson was far more wary about events.
"Anything on the latest scout reports?" The Admiral continued, his body aching after several hours of filing reports and shuffling timetables. He promised himself half an hour in the centrifuge afterwards to restore some feeling to his legs.
"Probes had nothing, and the Minbari still have a strong presence in hyperspace. If we try push a manned recon through it'll get bloody."
"Plus the President doesn't want us to provoke the Minbari if they really are wavering."
"Think they are wavering sir?" Austin asked.
"I doubt it, they're licking their wounds, gathering their strength. We haven't seen the last of them which is why we need to keep ourselves fresh."
"I understand Admiral Hamato has been reactivated." The Commander mentioned. "He's taking over second line command which frees up General Denisov to relieve us."
"Akira always put his duty first, even ahead of his own career." Ferguson grunted. "Stubborn old bastard, but he knows his stuff. We're lucky to have him."
"Yes sir."
"Are we still in orbital synch with the moon?"
"Yes sir, we're orbiting Cyrus at the same rate as it's moon. Should keep us sandwiched between the two bodies and secure two of our flanks."
"Shield us from long range fire too. If I was a Minbari I'd be launching raids and trying to snipe us at range. If we can think of it so can they."
"With respect sir, I don't think they really see things like we do. Their tactics seem, well, a bit simple really."
"They are, but we can't rely on them always being simple. Plan for hard fight and be happy if it turns into a cake walk."
There was a chime on his monitor fixed into the wall a few feet away. Despite being an Admiral's cabin the quarters were still tiny, the price one paid for serving on a Dreadnought.
"Admiral, Conn." The voice announced. "We just had some unscheduled jumps on the edge of the system. About a dozen."
"Any transmissions?"
"Negative sir, we're deploying scouts."
"Set actions stations." Ferguson ordered, grabbing the back of his bolted down chair and swinging for the door. "I'm on my way up."
He was in the Control Room in less than a minute making the journey with practised speed despite his age. He pushed himself into the commanders chair and tightened the belts as he looked over the computer screens attached to the arm rests.
"No further contacts." The sensor officer reported. "Whoever jumped in took cover behind one of the outer planets."
"Civilians?" Austin asked.
"Unlikely." Ferguson shook his head. "Who's out there?"
"29th Frigate group."
"Tell them to keep their distance." The Admiral warned. "They are to double back at once if they encounter resistance."
"Yes sir." The Commander relayed on the order. "All fleet ships report ready, Furies are on the racks and ready to launch."
"Get the alert fighters up, hold the rest until we know it's not a false alarm."
On his word Starfuries began to launch, leaving their parent ships in steady rows before breaking into loose combat formations, the classic four ship element dating back centuries. The various combat groups also began to disperse, standard procedure when facing Minbari. Earth scientists were working on a way to inhibit jump points so the Minbari could not use them as a weapon to gouge through Earth Force formations but until that time fleets simply had to spread out and keep their fingers crossed. At least now with the new sensors Earth Force could return the favour.
"Scout group reporting." One of the officers called. "Minbari fighters sighted."
"Fighters don't jump in alone." Ferguson grimaced. "Pull those ships back a safe distance, tell them to standby for further orders."
"Aye sir."
Ferguson looked over the map of the system, Cyrus wasn't a huge place but the Minbari ships were still well outside even their impressive firing range. They were however close enough to scan his fleet and relay jump co-ordinates to their allies.
"Launch all remaining fighters." He ordered. "All ships will move ahead flank speed, clear this area."
"Admiral, tachyon distortion!" The sensor officer called. "Jump points, multiple, fifty plus!"
"Where?"
"Five light seconds sir."
"Really?" He paused. "That's well out of range…"
space illuminated for a few moments as dozens of jump points opened far beyond the EA positions, each vortex allowing a group of tall Minbari warships to enter. The fleet was a little more balanced than previous forces, there was less emphasis on the heavyweight Sharlin cruiser and a more even distribution of types and roles. They took the time to form up in a standard combat formation and promptly halted.
"Minbari fleet confirmed, about eleven hundred ships."
"Twice what we faced at Jericho." Ferguson mused. "What are they doing?"
"Nothing sir, holding position."
"The Minbari don't have any weapons that can hit us this far out do they?" Austin checked.
"Not even close." The Admiral replied. "Cut velocity to one quarter standard, turn us about to face them."
The fleet wheeled in formation, the block of grey metal facing off against the waves of blue crystal separated by a vast expanse of blackness.
"So what's their game?" Ferguson considered the data. "No element of surprise, with that many ships I doubt he left any in reserve to jump us. Why commit forces but leave them so far from effective combat range?"
"Maybe he's trying to provoke us to come after him?"
"Maybe, he's in open space, we can't use terrain to mask our approach. He can exploit his range advantage no matter what direction we move in from. He's probably got scouts in hyperspace to warn him if we try a jump point attack, give him time to disperse." Ferguson nodded. "But he's got to be pretty damn optimistic if he thinks we're just going to sail neatly toward him like a damn shooting gallery."
"Our new sensors have a pretty effective jamming mode." Austin noted. "It should disrupt his long range fire quite a bit."
"It would, plus we have our older countermeasures, chaff, decoys. But even so it's a long way to go. We could make it into range and probably have enough ships to win, but that's a lot of Minbari. It'll cost us a thousand ships to get in close."
"Fighter strike?"
"They'll be waiting for it, see how he hasn't launched his own fighters yet?" Ferguson noted. "Same story, it's like advancing over open ground into a nest of machine guns. We got past that in World War One."
The older Admiral shook his head.
"No, we'll make him come to us. Force him to abandon his position."
"How sir?"
Ferguson smiled broadly.
"Murphy."
Beta Durani
John Sheridan snapped a clean salute as his wait finally ended, he and a small group of other officers standing opposite the entrance to the docking bay on Beta Prime. They had been waiting four days for their new assignment, told only to expect their new commanding officer within the week. They hadn't been told who that officer would be and found themselves rather pleasantly surprised.
Admiral Hamato answered the salute formally. "At ease."
"Commander John Sheridan reporting as ordered sir."
"Very good Commander, this is your command staff from the Lexington?"
"They are sir, finest officers in the fleet."
"Their actions against the Black Star and her would be rescuers speak for themselves." Hamato agreed. "The Lexington is still in dry dock, I know that you were all eager to return to her after her refit but fate has opened a new door for you. I am assigning you to my command, you will be the bridge staff on my new flagship. It may not be exactly what you were expecting but I trust you will all take to this assignment with the enthusiasm and skill you displayed aboard the Lexington."
"We will sir." Sheridan affirmed, Lieutenant Commander Carroll looking slightly less sure.
"I have confidence you will. Commander Sheridan, walk with me. Everyone else retrieve your gear and be prepared to leave ad sixteen hundred hours. Dismiss."
They did as instructed, fading into the network of corridors and the mass of blue and grey uniforms thronging the station.
"I have been assigned command of our reactivated fleet, an appropriate post for one of my talents I am told." Hamato started walking, Sheridan following. "or perhaps for one so cursed." He chuckled gently.
"There were rumours you were back in uniform sir." Sheridan spoke respectfully, carefully not to tread on some invisible line. He only knew Hamato by reputation, an innovative and utterly determined leader who had been the only being to beat Deathwalker. He was stoic, said little, but by all accounts was an exceptional officer to serve with. Sheridan was naturally keen to make a good impression.
"Almost everyone who served in uniform over the last twenty years is being recalled." Hamato stated. "Those fit enough anyway. It is going to be my task to reacquaint them with military life before throwing them into the furnace."
They stepped into a lift, Hamato selecting the command deck level.
"A lot of these crews will be rusty but at least they have served before, that makes them more effective than conscripts."
"So we just have to jog their memories a little?" Sheridan wondered.
"Exactly." Hamato confirmed. "Some have seen combat but there are quite a few who had left the force before the Dilgar War. We will have to try and balance our crews so they have a good mix of experience and skills."
"How old are some of these people sir?"
"Varies, some will have only served one tour and resigned just before this war, others will not have set foot on a ship in twenty years. We will also have a number of Belt Alliance personnel and civilians with experience in merchant ships."
"That's quite a mixed bag sir."
"It is, and forging them into a unit will not be easy. However they are all volunteers, they want to be here. With time we can make them as effective as the first line fleets and three times as good as the conscripts that will come after us."
"Has the President authorised a Planetary Draft?"
"She's waiting for a response regarding peace talks." The lift stopped. "If she doesn't get it she'll sign the draft into law and give the Joint Chiefs free reign. At that point it will be all out total war, same as we fought against the Dilgar. No half measures, just an all out fight until one of us breaks."
They exited the lift and made their way towards the command deck for Beta prime located just under the docking bay as was standard on EA stations.
"I'm assigning Captains but I will need your help." Hamato continued. "Not many have command experience, I have a team sorting them into a shortlist before I conduct interviews. The Frigates and Corvettes I'll assign based on their records, but I want to sit down and talk to an individual before I give them a Cruiser or Dreadnought."
"Makes sense sir, it's a lot of responsibility."
"Admiral Denisov managed to pulls some strings and gave me a solid core to build on. Our main battlegroup are all veterans of the Dilgar War most of whom served under my direct command. We can be sure that they at least know their business."
"How is the rest of the fleet set up sir?"
"I have a hundred dreadnoughts and three hundred cruisers, they are older models but still effective. After those I can put a thousand Frigates, four hundred missile ships and another thousand corvettes into action. We have the crews and they are being given training but we need to make sure they have competent officers to lead them."
"Understood sir.
"And then we need to make sure those officers are updated on modern fleet doctrine. The Captain of the Enterprise for instance last saw action in the Narn skirmishes twenty five years ago."
"The Enterprise sir?"
"She's brand new." Hamato smiled a little. "You'll see all of our command squadron is brand new."
They finally arrived at the control room with its slowly spinning vista on the universe.
"Take a look." Hamato gestured. "You can't miss the Enterprise."
Sheridan did as instructed, peering out to see the biggest block of metal he'd seen that wasn't a station.
"She's a Poseidon?"
"Poseidon class Supercarrier." Hamato affirmed. "They rushed her out without even painting her. We also have the Soryu due in tomorrow and the Illustrious next month, all fully stocked with nearly a hundred Furies each."
"Very impressive sir."
"You should be able to see another vessel to the side, bit smaller."
"I see her sir." Sheridan observed the classic Earth Force flying brick, this one with a rotating section. "The one with the gravity section?"
"That is going to be your new command, the Agamemnon." Hamato informed. "Denisov assigned all six of the first batch of Omega class Destroyers to this fleet. They're fitted with the new heavy lasers equal in raw power to Minbari weapons. I trust you'll get the best from her."
"Absolutely sir." Sheridan grinned. "Looking forward to taking her out for a run."
"Before you do you'll want these." Hamato took something from his pocket. "A ship as powerful as an Omega can't be run by a Commander."
Sheridan took the items, opening his hand to see the gold triangles and bars of a full Captain.
"Congratulations Captain." Hamato allowed a rare full smile for the occasion. "Better go gather your belongings. Report with your crew to the Agamemnon for a shake down, take her to her limits and test her capabilities."
"Yes sir, thank you sir."
"Only what you deserve Captain, bean counters back home should not deny a man his rank because they don't like the salary jump. We've got busy days ahead, dismissed Captain Sheridan."
Somewhere in Minbari space.
"They are not Warriors." Neroon said simply, his eyes running up and down the line of men and women standing roughly to attention in the hall.
"They do not have to be." Branmer answered. "Not everyone who fights is a Warrior."
"No. But it helps."
Branmer's new orders were not exactly a disgrace but it was clear he had simply being shuffled aside in such a way that the Religious Caste did not feel insulted. It was politically convenient to bury him here far from the front lines tasked with turning the rear echelon units of the Minbari fleet into something resembling a combat force.
In truth it was not as bad as he expected, he did at least have some decent raw materials to work with. He'd been pleasantly surprised to find a respectable force of fifty Sharlins waiting for him, half from the Worker Caste and the others from the Religious Caste. They were older than those of the Warrior caste, their hulls bearing a slight green tinge over their blue base colour while Warrior ships tended towards purple. Never the less they were superbly maintained and fully operational, it was a good start.
He walked into the hall with Neroon keeping pace beside, the young warrior holding to his oath of loyalty despite Branmer's fall from grace.
"Alyts of the Worker and Warrior Caste." Branmer spoke loudly enough for his voice to carry between the fifty mixed commanders. "I have been given the task of reorganising this fleet from a patrol and defensive force into a combat group. This means that instead of remaining within our borders operating in small groups we must learn how to fight as a single large unit anywhere in the galaxy."
He regarded them carefully as he spoke, watching them for reactions, subtle displays of their inner thoughts.
"This will not be as easy as it sounds, you have been trained to operate alone, never far from help knowing that if you found something too dangerous the Warrior Caste could be called in to take command. We will not have that security anymore."
Neroon also watched their faces, pleasantly surprised by their lack of nerves.
"It will become our task to seek out danger, to actively place ourselves into battle." Branmer continued. "And we will not be defending our possessions but working to destroy the enemy. While many will tell you destroying threats is a form of defence do not be fooled, for while they are correct in the grand sense what we will be asked to do is very different from what you have known. It is difficult to reconcile the shift towards aggression, for that is the path of the Warrior, but I will show you that there are many different types of aggression. We will learn to attack, but we will also learn control. We will focus our aggression, master it, command it, and then use it to our advantage."
He nodded with a smile.
"Discipline. That is something you all know already, something that is key to the labours of a worker or the meditations of a priest. Something which many of our Warriors lack. Discipline allows you to pick the right moment to unleash your aggression, lets you know when and where to attack or defend, when to give chase and when to hang back."
He could sense they were with him, that they followed his meaning.
"Battle is passion and fury, war is cold and controlled. The Warriors are trained to win battles and they do it well, but it is my goal to show you how to win wars, and for you to teach those who follow you."
He stepped back.
"Instruction will begin tomorrow. Today I want you to view the records of my last battle at Jericho. I want you to identify the key moments in the battle, analyse the decisions as you would an engineering challenge or a historic document. You are designers and scholars, learn from the battle and formulate a plan of your own to use if you were there. That is al for now, report back here tomorrow."
Branmer turned aside and left, Neroon ever following his lead.
"First impressions?"
"They were quiet." Neroon answered honestly. "A Warrior company would have cheered you."
"They were too busy thinking about what I said, weighing the consequences, the requirements, how it will shape their lives. Exactly what I want." Branmer smiled. "They are planning ahead, analysing the future, trying to decide how their actions will shape things and if it is appropriate."
"While I agree that rushing in without thinking is usually a bad idea, thinking too much can be just as disastrous."
"Which is why you will need to instruct them too, to show them some of the better qualities of a warrior. Teach them to be decisive but not reckless. Thought without doubt."
"It could take a lifetime."
"We will have to improvise." Branmer chuckled. "At best we have several years, when the Shadows move we'll need every ship and crew. At worst, if Shakiri does something unwise, those people could well be leading the defence of Minbar itself."
"A truly disturbing thought." Neroon grunted a laugh. "Still Shakiri seems to be taking a more cautious approach to battle."
"Cautious? He's sat on his arse!"
"That is one way of seeing it." Neroon smiled.
"He's giving the initiative to Earth, letting them dictate the tempo of the war. I can see his theory, he wants to tempt them into making a mistake. I just hope that in so doing he hasn't made one himself."
"Whatever happens the Warrior Caste will fight valiantly, human casualties will be immense."
"I have no doubt of that, but they can replace entire fleets if they have to. We're already recruiting priests and builders to back up our main fleet. It is not a good sign Neroon, pray Valen these precautions will never be needed."