Chapter 9: The Devil is in the Details

Brother Theo read from the old Bible, a heirloom of his family for five generations. He had much work to do, having been hired by the a small business that wanted to have their legal documents organized and prepared in such a way that they'd be safe from water logging that was quite prevalent in the city of New Washington. Reading from the Bible was a ritual for him, making sure his thoughts were on a higher and more spiritual plane and that his work would be guided by the Holy Spirit.

A knock came from the door and not looking up he called out, "It's open."

The door turned open and he looked up as footsteps entered the room. Before him stood a man, short in height. The black uniform was dirty, and so was he. Behind him stood a tall woman of blond hair.

"Yes?" he asked, frowning.

"My name is Alfred Bester and this is my wife, Talia," he introduced himself, stepping up to him and holding out a hand, "You are Brother Theo?"

"I am," he accepted the hand, still sitting though behind his desk, "Is there something I can do for you?"

"How would you like to fight the Devil and his minions?" Bester asked, standing there.

"As in?"

"What do you know of the Shadows?" Bester inquired.

"Our new allies?" Theo mused, "I don't know. But what people have told me is that they are willing to help us. That they helped save us during the battle."

"But they let a station filled with over four thousand men and women die," Bester stated, "Not only that, but people have been disappearing. And notice they only arrive after the Night of Insanity on Epsilon 3? They are not as good or as virtuous as they claim."

"And what do you intend for me to do about it?" Theo asked, holding up his Bible, "Teach them the word of God? Even if I believed you, which I'm not sure I do, I wouldn't know what to do."

Bester pulled out a small data crystal and placed it on the desk. Theo grabbed it gently in his fingers and held it up. He walked over to his computer console and stuck the data crystal into the slot and images began to spring up. Dark and disturbing images. Images that chilled him to the very bone.

"The Devil is in the details," Bester said, standing next to him, "We cannot all fight evil with weapons. But, this is a war of information. And on this data crystal is the information to bring down powers and kingdoms."

"What do you want me to do?" Theo asked, staring at a video of a man being dragged out of his home in middle of the night by Home Guard members.

"Keep it safe for us," Bester said, "And when the time is right, we'll summon you for it."

"Well Captain," Commander Gilas said from her station, "Everything shows green. We're good to go."

Captain Thompson nodded from his seat. "Very good, Commander," he said, "What time is it?"

"1500 Hours sir," she replied, pushing aside a strand of her auburn hair to the side of her face.

He stood up and grabbing the edge of his vest coat pulled on it, straightening it. Pressing his hand to his stomach he turned and headed off the bridge.

"I have a meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff," he said, "You have the bridge."

"Aye sir."

He walked into the office of General Franklin, noting that he was the last of the three captains of "Shadow Squadron" as they were being dubbed by the press to arrive in the office. General Ryan was sitting to the side of Franklin's desk, his hands together and his fingers laced. Franklin pointed to the only available chair and he slide into it.

"I do believe you all know each other," Franklin said, "Captains Jon Daniels, Jacob Melson and Jake Thompson. You were chosen to command the new ships because of your records. You all have performed well, and I expect each of you to do what needs to be done in the upcoming campaign."

"Basically Gentlemen," Ryan took up the lecture, "Is that we have no idea how strong the enemy defenses are in the colonies they just took from us. Your job is to determine if we can assault the systems and if we can you will attack and capture them. You will start with Orion Seven, which is the closest. Then you will work your way to Vega 7 and then on to Arisia III."

"Excuse me sir," Captain Daniels said, "I do not mean to interrupt."

"What is it Daniels?" Ryan asked.

"Well sir," he said, "We're all the same rank that command the ships. Who will be in charge? This is a major undertaking and we don't need three opinions on what to do."

"I agree sir," Melson nodded, "We'll need one of us to command."

"None of you will command this mission," Franklin announced, tapping the edge of his table with his baton, "Command of the campaign will fall to General Samuel Thompson."

"The leader of the failed Operation: Sudden Death that lost us all perspective help from the Sh'lassen Triumvirate?" Thompson asked in disbelief.

"He is to command the campaign," Franklin reinforced, "And if any of you have a problem with it, I suggest you bury it deep inside. And respect the chain of command."

Thompson nodded. Heck, now his father was involved in this campaign? They were relying on General Samuel Thompson to lead the war effort to retake the colonies back? Then what if they were successful with this campaign? Would he lead the charge back to Earth? Minbar even? That was a scary thought by any stretch of the imagination.

"You head out tomorrow morning," Ryan said, "I expect you all to be ready by then."

The captains stood up and they all saluted the Joint Chiefs who returned the salute. Turning on their heels, they headed out of the office. Melson looked back at Captain Thompson and shook his head. A huge wave of annoyance spilled over him as he saw the look.

"What?" Thompson asked.

"We are all going to die."

Earth. Marrain had never actually set foot on the planet that had been the home world of the Humans before. Not even after they had taken the planet as a trophy by right of conquest had he come down here. No, he had been too ashamed of what had happened...and what they had learned that dreadful dark day.

But, as he sat on top of an old abandoned building and looked out at the massive statue of a green human woman with a crown and a torch held high standing in a bay of water, he wondered how they could have ever let their passions consume them so. Who was this woman that they had built such a large statue for? Had she been some champion of warfare? The torch in her hand, was it something from their gods? Had she been a heroine from their mythology?

They had learned so little of this race, despite nearly a million people now living on this planet, making the abandoned destroyed cities new and Minbari like. They had stumbled across the uses of many of the devices they had found. But there were many things they still did not understand about this world.

What were those creatures with the long tails and the pointy ears that seemed fond of rubbing against people? What were those things that lived in the trees and swung from branch to branch? What names had been given the birds that flew and made their songs? To speak nothing of those fascinating fishes and sea monsters. Some people claimed to have seen an animal with eight legs when they were beneath the surface.

This world. Earth. It deserved a better fate then what the Minbari had brought them. Did he detect a sense of irony that it was with this planet that he would rally those who would topple Kalain and his wicked tyranny?

"My Lord," Neroon's voice said from behind him, "The leaders from the clans are ready to speak with you."

He looked a few more seconds upon the green lady and nodding stood up and walked off the rooftop onto the small metal staircase that led to the street below.