CHAPTER 5: THE TRIAL OF SINCLAIR
Rear Admiral Elizabeth Cook was sitting at her office desk in her white overalls. She was looking over all the latest data she had on the field tests of the Hand of Khan and the Storm Harpanguer. Her long black hair ran down her back, loosely tied in a pony tail. Her stray hairs were always getting in the way while she worked.
"Computer, I've just had a marvelous idea. Now that the Storm Harpanguer is in the dock yards once again, I want that engine system installed ASAP so we can run field tests with the new generation of engines. The Fixed Temporal Dimensional engine should increase our ships' speeds by a factor of 100. If all preliminary data is right, the Storm Harpanguer class should be able to exceed the speed of light. But like always, I will hold my questions for the test flight. Set the engine for safe transport to the Storm Harpanguer's slip and increase security. Save note".
Elizabeth was pleased with herself for thinking of that idea. She leaned forward to pick up her crystal glass that held her favorite brand of brandy. She heard a clicking sound coming from her monitor, but thought nothing of it until a moment later.
"Hello, Elizabeth. I hope I didn't disturb you. Good job on getting those ships in service as I requested ...or did I order it?" asked His Majesty, smiling after seeing the admiral's face on the last part of his sentence.
His Majesty looked like he was sitting in his office on Earth, and for a moment, she thought he was. On closer inspection of the glass display cabinet behind him however, she could see he was in fact on his ship in space, but not quite in hyperspace. Antony followed her curious gaze to the display cabinet and smiled. "I won't ask you to guess where I'm at. I'm on my ship in space, but where in space would be a better question to have asked". He was wearing an old fashioned red smokers jacket with crimson satin lapels. Even though he didn't smoke, he always tried to keep up the regal appearance of being a king.
"Sire, it's quite an honor to hear from you, but it's rather late here on Earth. Can I ask what have I done to earn such a rather strange abrupt communication? It looks like you didn't go through normal channels either, and you overrode my personal lockout codes."
"You are very right, Elisabeth. I should have informed you in advance of the breach in protocol, but what I have to say I don't wish others to know. That's another reason I'm in space. It's better to block things when you're blocking everyone." His Majesty answered with a smile.
"What is it you need to ask of me, Sire? It will be my honor to make sure that your wish will be fulfilled." She replied, smiling to herself, thinking back to the test flight mission on board the Throne Ship and knowing that what happened could never happen again.
"Elizabeth, you are among the select few in the recently named Tidestone Galaxy that I can trust with this mission. The Vorlon and Minbari prisoners must go through a trial, but I understand that a general from our not too near future came back in time and saved our lives. He will need to let out of his system all the anger he has and he must choose the path that will save Earth as well as other worlds. I need you to get a JAG court set up and I wish you to be the judge in this case. I can't and won't say or do anything to influence you in these matters." His Majesty started to smirk and chuckle. "Elizabeth, honey, wake up. You're spilling your drink and I hope that's not the really good stuff. If it is, I hope you don't drip any more of it."
Elizabeth realized what His Majesty had just said to her. She then shook her head , raised the glass to her mouth and drank it all, still a little shocked, but realizing that His Majesty had truly trusted her. It was like a dream that she thought she had long ago when remembering that fateful journey.
"Sire, I have heard that this Sinclair fellow fought in a war several hundreds of years ago, and that he was changed and tortured by those he helped. Is that true?" Elizabeth started to move to her casual seat in her office. All the time, the view screen cameras kept up with her.
"I've told you all I should and things that I shouldn't have. Remember your duty. Don't allow rumors to cloud your judgment. You need to follow all possible leads on this and make sure the techs go over every inch of debris so you can find records and data they have on that conflict and time frame" said His Majesty softly. "On another note, good work on that new drive system coming out of your R&D section. So when will we have a working model to be placed in ships for testing?"asked His Majesty.
"I've got the Storm Harpanguer set to get the first prototype model of the light to mid range model. The Hand of Khan will get the middle version to try as we don't have a large scale system ready for testing" answered Elizabeth.
"You have my green light for the testing, as I know you tend to go around channels sometimes. Just don't abuse my trust or I might have to think of ways to get even" joked and smirked His Majesty.
"Well, Sire, I would love to stay up all night and chat about the old days, but I have to get ready for tomorrow ,even though I don't need the rest. I just love to relax and close my eyes and dream. The things people back home take for granted we now class as a luxury. We don't sleep every night now, but you know better than the rest of us about that."
"By all means, Elizabeth please go and sleep and have fun. We can chat another time. I will leave all the data you will need plus written orders to back you up regarding the testing program". His Majesty started to smile again as the view screen went blank.
His Majesty sat back in his leather chair in his office, looking up at the stars outside his window. He was on a return mission from Narn. Antony flicked his computer screen to life and his official duty calendar appeared in front of him.
"Computer, is there any chance that I can get out of any of these state visits and meetings? I don't want to overstay my visit to Brakos, as I normally visit them twice a year. I also have to visit the other governors and I would like to see for myself how Centauri Prime is doing." He paused for a moment. "Speaking of Centauri Prime, I would love all the data we have on the two former protectorate states of the former Centauri Republic as I have some intelligence stating they still fly the flag of the slave masters there."
The computer didn't answer verbally. It just displayed the images of planet Brakos, Centauri Prime and Ikara with a flight plan, starting from Earth heading to Ikara then onto Centauri Prime and a state visit of the full former Republic including their former protectorates and then moving on to Brakos.
"The Earth Governments wish to keep their few alliances going , but they failed to look into your official duty calendar, on which they would have seen you were going to visit the Narn Regime in six months time". Stated the computer.
"Thank you, computer, and please, from this moment in time, I would like to maintain tighter control of my own duty schedule. Inform both Parliament and the Senate of that. Also, Computer, send a high stream temporal tachyon communique to the Tidestone Complex for me. Encode it for both Marshalls Von-der-tan and Trance.
"My dear friends: I would like to bring to your attention the hard work of Vice Admiral Elizabeth Cook: the head of R&D and a field combat specialist. I can't and won't order you to consider her for a promotion, since that's for you both to decide. However, if I were there, I would have her promoted to Rear Marshall once her next assignment is completed. This situation you now have with this Sinclair is a rather strange one for you to be in, but you will find a way out of it in due course. I request that you place Admiral Cook in charge of the JAG Court and please make sure you get the First Ones there and the Guardians. Take care... and by the way, great job on beating that super ship of the Vorlons. I've also uploaded the location I would like those Drakh mother ships sent to. On a sub note, I've given Admiral Cook permission to upgrade the engines of the Storm Harpanguer and the Hand of Khan when they go for repairs from that invasion force you dispatched with such great skill."
Several Days later, Yetta was awakened from a very deep sleep by the sound of the computer. "You have a message from Earth, Marshall Von-der-tan. It's stamped with the office seal of His Majesty, King Antony".
Yetta rolled over with a slight groan, picked up a glass off her side table and flung it at the wall, smashing it into a thousand pieces. "I hope that hurt, computer. I'm positive you do this to me just to see me bang my head. Luckily, I was in the middle of my bed this time" she stuck her tongue out at the computer screen just for kicks. "Display message." The screen in front of her changed to His Majesty, sitting behind his desk. Yetta looked at the screen "Computer , play message". As the message played away ,Yetta headed to her utensil cupboard to get a sweeping brush and a dust pan to get the glass shards. Yetta paused and turned around, looking at the screen. "Computer, display the co-ordinates His Majesty has sent us and display their deployment and final location layout." She looked at all the data intently. "Wow, it looks like they're going around the borders of the Brakiri Protectorate zone. It's a shame we didn't have more of them. I could have found a role for them better than being placed as sentry outposts along remote frontiers. Computer, display all the data we have on Admiral Elizabeth Cook and show when she was due for her last promotion. I also want to know what history she has of running a JAG court" The computer displayed the information Yetta had asked for. She found that she was due for a promotion, but there was a lack of places for her to be promoted to, other than to the Royal Guard, which she turned down.
"Computer, did Admiral Cook state a reason why she would refuse such a position after she served as His Majestie's Second of Personal Security for nearly 40 years? That's a mystery for another day and time. Send a message to Admiral Cook, requesting her presence for a meeting in my office at 11:00 hours with Marshall Trance and me, and forward that to Marshall Trance as well."
Elizabeth had just finished her morning exercise routine and was heading for the shower when her morning wake up alarm went off. "I knew I forgot something. Computer I'm awake, dammit! Turn it off now!" Elizabeth had foolishly set the system for loud to make sure she woke up.
Elizabeth walked over to the shower unit, turned it to her normal settings, slipped out of her robes and entered the shower. Within minutes of entering the shower, her personal com link started up. She turned the shower off and all she could hear was the incoming beep for a message. She ran to the video screen, forgetting to pick her robes up. At first, she thought it was for a recorded message only. Boy was she wrong. What made her feel even more embarrassed was that it was Marshall Von-der-tan, sitting at her desk.
"Elizabeth….. Whoops I guess that's my fault for hacking your com system. Sorry about that. I want to see you later in my office, but please remember to put some clothes on. I think I've seen enough of you that way" smiled Yetta.
"Sorry, Ma'am. I didn't think. I just ran." She leaned over and grabbed a throw from her sofa and wrapped it around herself, covering everything.
"I was going to get Marshall Trance to contact you, but that wouldn't have done him any good. Nor would it you, especially with him being married now. I'll let you in on a secret, Elizabeth. His Majesty did that to me during my days on the Throne Ship. He thought something had happened, and, well, he got a view of me I wish he hadn't. However, I'm too old to care about things like that now."
"Thanks, Ma'am. That makes me feel slightly better regarding this, but will I be able to look you in the eye the same way again?"
"Yeah, I suppose in time I will forget, but you do have three very nice tattoos. I wonder who they were for."
"Well ,Ma'am, I wish I could say, but I won't and can't ,so please don't ask or even order me to tell you, as I won't feel right to have to disobey you. It's for my love; that's all I will say. I know he once felt the same way, but life goes on."
"I was getting in touch because we hadn't heard back from you, but I guess you have been hitting the gyms a bit lately. Elizabeth, we all have skeletons we don't want others to know about, but we all know they are there".
"Don't worry, Ma'am. I will be there. I've been supervising the engine upgrade program as we never got them fitted for the fights."
The screen went black and Elizabeth started to head back to the shower. She let out a scream and her arms moved with such speed she was pulling her hair at the same time.
Sinclair was sitting in his quarters that was larger than what he was used to. Even though he was a general, he served aboard ships all his career, apart from when he was posted to Babylon 5. His room in which he was sitting had three single leather chairs and a large fourteen person L shape sofa with a coffee table in front of it. The table stood on top a sheep skin rug. The whole room had solid wood flooring; it had the look of oak. Sinclair wasn't too sure what kind of wood it really was. Opposite the sofa on the wall was a massive flat screen monitor. His room was aboard the Tidestone Complex. He thought he was under house arrest at one point in time. Sinclair sat wondering how much longer the medical staff would take. There was a knock at the door that brought Sinclair back to the here and now, from his nightmares of yesterday.
"Enter" he stated. The door opened. Standing at the threshold were several military doctors, all dressed in the Blue and Green Earth Force uniforms and with the gold medical symbol on their chests. "Please, come in." instructed Sinclair.
First to walk in was a Human male of about thirty years of age, but he seem to carry the weight of the world on his rather broad shoulders. He wore a medical hat like the others, hiding the color of his hair, but his eyes looked like they were of a smoky grey. His skin tone was that of a slightly tanned Caucasian. "Greetings, General Sinclair. I'm Colonel Shepherd. I'm the lead doctor on your case." He spoke with a very broad Welsh Accent.
Four others entered Sinclair's quarters as well, but none of them spoke much. They just sat there listening and nodding in agreement and occasionally in disagreement. Three of the four that came in were females. One of them was Human, two were Ralgan's and the fourth was a male Ikarian male.
"General Sinclair, we have a slight problem that time will help us fix. At the moment, you have us beat as to how you were transformed into a hybrid Minbari. You have each and every one of us working around the clock to find a way to remove the hybrid genetic DNA from your body."
Sinclair just looked and froze in consternation. Then, slowly turning to face them all, he glared at their smiling faces. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO REMOVE THE HYBRID DNA FROM MY BODY?" shouted Sinclair.
"We are so deeply sorry for the bad news, sir. The only good news is that we now have Vorlons and Minbari and we hope they will help in time" stated Shepherd rather contritely.
Sinclair sighed and smiled, placing his hands on his hips.. That caused everyone to grit their teeth and to quickly move their hands to cover their ears, expecting another outburst. But Sinclair just sat there smiling, and then he started to laugh. No one could figure out what was so funny.
"Well, gentlemen, it looks like we have a court hearing soon and then the trial. I hope justice will be served and I will ask for them all to be spared so they can help find a way to remove that damned hybrid DNA."
"General, I've been asked to pose this question: In the future, will you look back on this day and think why I pushed to remove the hybrid DNA? Would you ever even slightly think about changing your mind?" Asked Shepherd, who was running a slight telepathic scan to see the real reasons.
"No, there is no reason what I can think of that would make me change my mind. However, you never know what others might throw at me. Doctors, you should speak to the Minbari and see if they know about the trials of Valen. I was told long ago that it had two meanings like I had two halves and there must be a trial about me. By the way, Shepherd... has your scan found anything? Am I telling the truth?" laughed Sinclair.
"No, General. I was told to scan you gently. I didn't run a deep scan."
"Whatever they did to me, I do know straight away when any scan is run on me. It's a Minbari thing I guess, Colonel."
"Yes, you're very right there, General. In some cases, they even managed to throw us out of their minds, but it took a lot out of them."
"I have to say the Council of Ten have given us all the help we could ever had thought possible. Now we just have to see how best we can use them. General, I didn't realize the time and how long we have been here. I'm Sorry, General. We will have to leave."
They all stood and bowed respectfully to the General and started to head for the door. Shepherd opened the door and stepped aside to let the others through. Then, when the last of them were out in the corridor, he stepped through and closed the door behind him.
Admiral Elizabeth Cook stepped out of the lift and walked along a practically featureless short corridor with tiled floors and white walls and ceiling. Elizabeth turned right into a small waiting area. On the left side of the room was a Human male of African descent, who was wearing the Black uniform of intelligence and special ops. The Officer sat behind a solid wood desk. He was hard at work, but when he realized he wasn't alone, he looked up from his desk.
"Can I help you? Do you have an appointment? The people in that office do. If you do, with whomever that may be, if I may ask? I'm Captain Steven Mandela of the Royal Guard."
"Yes, I'm Rear Admiral Elizabeth Cook. I'm here to see Marshall Von-der-tan and Marshall Trance."
Captain Mandela jumped to his feet and gave Elizabeth a quick salute.
"At ease, Captain. I bet you're glad you didn't have to use that pistol under the table. You dropped it, standing up so fast." Elizabeth observed, seeing the Captain look down. To his dismay, he saw that his pistol wasn't on the floor. He glanced up at Elizabeth.
"Don't worry. I had that job too, but it was for His Majesty many, many years ago." She smiled. "You have hope. I'll give you that much."
"Take a seat, Admiral and I will inform the Marshalls that you have arrived."
Elizabeth started to head for a cloth covered chair that looked like it had seen better days. The flower print was wearing away in some places and the edges of the fabric were fraying. Elizabeth glanced over to see the Captain whispering into his com system, informing the Marshalls that she had arrived.
"Admiral, you may go in now. They are now both ready for you now."
Elizabeth stood up and walked to two old fashioned solid oak doors with wrought iron hinges and handles on it. The door opened with such ease it seemed like the door was made from card stock. Once the door got past a certain point ,it started to creak, further revealing its age, forcing Elizabeth to cringe as she walked into the room. Captain Mandela jumped up from behind his desk and moved to the door. "With your leave, Admiral, I will close the door for you". Once the door was closed, Elizabeth started to feel a little like a school girl, going to the principal's office for being naughty.
The room was rather darkly lit, giving the room a rather more fearsome look than it really had. On the ceiling was a painting of the battle of Tempest Hills: the battle that introduced the floating air battle platforms called the flying Fortresses. Around the walls were pictures of other military firsts of the modern age. The room was filled with wooden desks and benches and at the foot of one of the tables sat the two Marshalls.
"Relax ,Elizabeth. You're not here to get blamed for anything; far from it. You're in fact here today to save the day again". Stated Marshall Trance. "Elizabeth, we would love you to sit closer by so we don't have to shout at you" requested Yetta.
"That's not a problem. I'm just wondering why I've been summoned here today in the manner I have, that's all." Elizabeth started to walk closer to the head of the table, noticing that the table had been set for a conference that she wasn't aware of.
After a few moments, Elizabeth reached her chosen chair and sat down, only moments later to see her name engraved on the placing for that location. "Ma'am, sir, this can't be right. It says Marshall Elizabeth Cook I'm just a Rear Admiral. There has to be some kind of mistake."
"My dear, that's quite correct. However, the official ranking of you as a Marshall all depends on the outcome of a certain court case that we understand you are fully aware of. The Trial of General Sinclair is the one, but for reasons of state security, it's been called the Trials of Sinclair."
"You will have all the information we can give you, Elizabeth. You can brush up on the case if you wish, or you can wait to hear what's brought up in court and what's not. You will have full control of the proceedings and for the case there will be two commodores or above assigned as secondary Jag judges." said Trance
"Elizabeth, His Majesty has placed you in charge as head JAG Judge. There will be two others as well. The first will be Marshall Rickman and the second is Commodore Linda Styles. We don't know why these two have been picked to chair the case with you, but it's how it's been set by His Majesty. But Elizabeth, it's not going to be your every day trial. In it, we will find out all that we can about why the Vorlons needed a human. Also it's to see if he can help us prepare for what's still to come." saidYetta, smiling all the time while looking at one of the walls with an unknown war painting on it.
Sinclair was in his sitting room seated in one of the single leather chairs, looking at the book case when he smiled to himself. "Computer, who placed these books in this room? Was it just a random choice or a random fate that I got this room?"
"All books but one were chosen randomly, and the non- random book is the complete works of Tennyson. That was placed here on the instructions of His Majesty."
"When did His Majesty state that certain book was to be placed in this room? Was it upon my arrival or was it at a different time? On another note, is there any word on this trial? I keep hearing about it and what it's meant to be for."
"The information regarding that book came after you arrived and was ordered to whatever room you would be assigned to. Regarding the trial, there is no outstanding information at the moment, except that it will not be a normal trial acting on a criminal trial in military or civilian court rooms."
Sinclair sat back in his chair, smiling to himself and then leaned forward and picked up a glass of water. He started to sip it while pondering on all the events he knew about.
Five days later, while Sinclair was eating his midday meal, a knock at the door startled him and brought him to the here and now. Sinclair walked over to the door and looked at the security camera screen for the door. In front of the door stood eight security guards armed with rifles.
"General Sinclair, we know you are there. Please open up." ordered the lead security officer.
Sinclair was snickering while watching the screen. He walked in front of the door and pressed the button to open it. The sudden opening of the door revealed to them a Minbari who was wearing an Earth Force uniform and that of a high ranking General.
"Now boys and girls, how can I help you? I was just eating my midday meal." asked Sinclair, watching each of them to see if there would be any type of reaction.
"General ,I'm Captain Susan Howard, and we are your personal guard. We are deeply sorry, but you will have to come with us now. We will inform the kitchens in the assembly sector to make you a meal. Your trial that you have wished for has finally arrived. General,you will be seated with the prosecution team. We have been informed that the Vorlons and Minbari both have separate defense teams."
Susan looked out of place for a security officer ,even though she wore the standard Earth Force colors. Susan's staggering presence set waves of chills down his body; not from fear, but pride that a single Human soldier could do this to him. Her hair was cut short and made her slim body and her 6 ft 3 inch height look more formidable than she really was.
"Don't be scared ,General. Nothing will happen while we are around . We are the best of the best and we have been assigned to escort you to the courtroom. I must inform you that it's not a typical one. The construction workers didn't put too much thought into the need of such a room, so we have converted a briefing hall that hadn't been used in a while."
"Yes, yes Captain, as long as I have my day in court and the truth of the crimes that have been committed against me and Earth will be known." Smiled Sinclair, all the time blocking his mind to his new body guards.
"General, you may continue blocking our minds, but during the trial, if you give evidence, you must allow us to scan you and all the telepaths in the room so we get a feeling to what you went through". Explained Susan. "It may seem a rather strange way to hold a trial, but it's faster and a much smoother way to do it. Because so many people have so many wavering views, it makes their hind site clouded." Stated Susan, looking proud of herself that she dressed down the General without doing so.
They started to walk down the long white corridor to the lift junction at the end. Two of the security personnel moved forward, to be greeted by another twelve security officers. The two security officers that moved ahead to check the route turned and waved the remaining six security guards and the general down to them.
"General, as I said , you are in very safe hands. My eighteen man squad is here. I would like nothing more than to introduce you to all of them, but there will be time over the next few days or however long this lasts. This is Ranger Squad One. If you need to call for help, I'm the Ranger leader."
"I'm to be protected by the Rangers once again. That's cool. Well at least I'm not Ranger Na any more" thought Sinclair.
The three JAG judges were all seated in the back room. It was hastily filled with all types of law books, new and old. The administrators had made sure they covered ,or tried to cover, every possible angle.
The room was once a library, so three of the four walls had floor to ceiling solid wood shelvings in them. The floor was made of white marble stone tiles and in the centre of the room lay a huge Persian rug. On top of the rug was a large, impressive stately English oak table. In the center of the table were five golden platters. Each platter held a full range of crystal decanters. Each decanter had a different colored fluid inside. The fluids ranged from water to fruit juices and from wine to vodka. On the wall that didn't have any shelves, there was a stone fireplace that was made out of different colored marble sections.
In the hearth was a small freshly lit fire. One of the four logs in the hearth was burning, and it was slowly spreading within its confines. As the fire grew, so did the heat coming from it. To the left side of the fire was a brass log bin that held approximately thirty logs. To the right of the fire was the scuttle and other tools for the fire.
Set back from the fireplace were five high backed leather arm chairs. At the side of each chair was a small side end table. Above the fireplace hung a wall picture of the first supreme high court judge of Earth, Lord David Haswell. The picture dated back to the mid twentieth century. The picture was of Lord Haswell, standing in front of a window with an open fireplace behind him, the logs ablaze. The room in the portrait was a full replica of the original, except in this room there was no window. Lord Haswell wore a red cloak of high office with a blue and gold shawl, and ,of course, he wore his white wig.
The door swung open and in walked the three JAG Judges. The first person in to the room was Marshall Rickman. He was followed by Commodore Linda Styles and then finally by acting Marshall Elizabeth Cook. All three of them were wearing the same outfit. They wore deep red robes with red trousers and white shirts, with blue gold sashes around their necks and their traditional white wigs. The only difference was that they all wore their rank badges on their left sides over their chests.
Rickman looked around the room then smiled. "Has anyone ever been in a court room back home? I can only speak for myself, as I've served as a JAG Judge twice now and this rear room is always the same. I think it's some form of tradition. We don't hold a full JAG staff anymore. By the way, Elizabeth, congratulations on your promotion."
"Thank you ,Marshall Rickman. I understand that you to have also been promoted to fleet marshall. What I don't understand is how I'm in charge of this. It is you who has the experience in this field. I know I certainly don't." said Elizabeth modestly.
"I was once asked to serve on a JAG Council once, but it was cancelled because the person confessed and pleaded guilty. Our presence as jurors was no longer needed. I felt sorry for the telepath that was scanning the perpetrator. She died with what was inside her mind ,but they got the information. That's why there must be multiple telepaths scanning them all the time and there can be no blocking. Anyone who needs a block must have a guard do it for them during the court case." said Commodore Linda Styles.
"Wow, Linda. I never knew that you were involved in that case. Weren't you back then assigned to intelligence before your transferred to fleet command? If I remember correctly, you had a high rank in the intelligence division." Asked Rickman as he slowly sat down beside the fire, taking in the warmth.
"Yes. I took a rank reduction so I could join the military; and yes, I was the telepath that was scanning the officer when she died. Luckily, I was trained in protecting my memory . A normal telepath in the same situation as I was then would have needed intense retraining at all levels. That's why they use three telepaths now. One is to scan the accused person and the other two are there to shield and protect the scanning telepath." said Linda, smiling at the memories of her past.
"Well ,Elizabeth, that is worse. Sinclair has changed his mind and wishes to become Human again. We believe it's because of what happened to him and he blames them. There is a box in front of you on the table. I've been ordered to give you that box before you take on your JAG duties. I put that there not long after we came in case you're wondering where it came from." Marshall Rickman said, indicating it with a nod.
Elizabeth walked over to the rather strange looking crystal box and opened it. In it were three envelopes. The first she picked up had "Open me first, Elizabeth" written on it. The others were addressed to JAG Judge Elizabeth Cook and General Sinclair Valen. Elizabeth stared in complete surprise at what she had just read. She leaned in and picked up the envelope marked "read me first" on it.
Dear Elizabeth.
I bet right now you're wondering how on Earth this got here. Well, my old friend, I had help from some very old friends. Don't be shocked by what you read in the other letters, but you must know it's all true and he will come soon for it. I would like you to open that letter only when Sinclair makes up his mind and decides to allow his capture, travel through time and everything else he says is true as well. Just remember that he's still a Human and I'm well aware that we could make him look that way, but he wouldn't be who we see and have grown to know. Trust is very hard to gain. The Minbari trust him to a point where they will eventually follow him and think of him as a spiritual leader. He must change his mind, and he must be willing of his own free will.
Yours.
Antony Bagstaff
"Well people, I so wish I could tell you what is in this letter, but it does revolve around the trial. After the trial you may read it. Until then, it's off limits by Royal decree. Do you both understand what I've just said?"
As if in answer to her query, there was a knock at the door. It made everyone jump and in walked a security officer.
"Your honors ,Sinclair has arrived. Should I inform his guards to bring him up? Also, the Vorlon and Minbari leaders both stand ready in the separate waiting areas."
"It's time, everyone. Make sure we take in everything. It's a shame we just couldn't rip open the Vorlon armor and get the information we wanted that way." Stated Elizabeth.
"Well, Elizabeth, I now see why His Majesty placed you in charge. What you say in the court room goes under Earth Law and if you wish to rip the information from its mind you can do so. But I should warn you that the Guardians will be present and they sent their Leader and the Kirishic Lords will have someone here within a few days." Replied Rickman with a glint of pleasure in his eyes, knowing what fun was going to come and very soon.
All three of the Judges raised themselves from their chairs and started to walk to the door. From behind the closed door they heard the court security officer call the courtroom to order and to rise for the three right honorable judges.
Elizabeth tapped the door to let them know they were ready to come through into the court room. The door swung open gently and the lead judge Elizabeth Cook moved through the door and side stepped straight away to allow Marshall Rickman to take the fore seat. As Rickman walked past Elizabeth, she started to follow him and took the central raised chair. Then finally Commodore Linda Styles came up last , taking the seat to the left of Elizabeth Cook.
Elizabeth coughed to clear her throat. "Now Ladies and Gentlemen, please keep your emotions in control for this, and telepaths ,you have a duty to do so as well. I expect only the best from you all. I also understand that we have the guardians to thank for the Vorlon's encounter suits being disarmed. Now let's get this under way. Bring in the Vorlon known as Zaquash, as we the judges have several questions we have to ask of him."
Zaquash slowly entered the room, passing through the wide wooden doors. As he travelled forward, his head unit on his encounter suit was moving and looking all around the room, taking in everything that was there. He stopped in his tracks when he saw the guardians watching his movements.
The Lead Guardian moved closer to Zaquash. "If I may speak . This Vorlon will not be ripped apart, or I should say its armour ripped open for you to scan. A Vorlon is a very dangerous creature when angry and scared and this creature is both. However, if you can scan them and rip the information out from their minds without my restraints, then you may do so."
Elizabeth smiled back and then started to laugh. "This creature will tell us everything that it knows about this case and why they came and attacked us, why they did what they did to General Sinclair and why they took him back in time."
Zaquash tilted and turned his head and looked at Elizabeth. "Impudent creature... you will not touch the mind of your god."
Elizabeth started to smile and then glanced over at her PSI Guards. "Vorlon, you are not my god. You will tell me everything you know about the matters at hand and you will tell me now."
Zaquash kept on looking at Elizabeth and then started to scream in pain. Zaquash's own legal advisor stood up. "Your Honor , there is no need to torture my client. If I was allowed to speak to him, I would be able to talk him into giving over the information you demand."
Zaquash started to scream even louder after hearing what his human council had just said. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ! YOU WILL NOT HAVE THE INFORMATION YOU DEMAND! YOU WILL HAVE TOOOO...".Screamed Zaquash before he fell silent. Then his head lowered in defeat "You have all the information now... but how could you Humans be strong enough to do what you just did?"
A guardian moved from the cover of an arch and looked at the three judges. "Mayalite, you may speak if you wish to this Vorlon creature and explain the reasons of its mental defense failure." Elizabeth Cook said with a slight smirk forming on her face.
"Zaquash, you have failed in your job. Your job was to teach and protect, but you didn't. The younger races should have been shepherded. I was there. I've seen much in my long life and I know what was done out of fear and from that fear. Life has changed. The journey that was is no longer the path these Humans are on, and only time will tell if they will get back to it. No Race has ever made it back to their starting path once they leave it, as the path back is always hard. It is never easy, but it's always possible." Mayalite moved forward, looking at Zaquash all the time.
"Failure? What failure? We failed no one. We have walked the stars since time began. We visited many worlds and were seen as gods. That is not failure. What you see as failure, we see as advancement. We have to remove the root so the garden can blossom. Darkness walks in many worlds in many ways. The world known as Earth is a prison world for the dark ones. Our sight sees only darkness and war coming out from Earth. We failed no one but those that we couldn't teach and educate back to the path of light." Stated Zaquash, closing his iris, trying to focus on all his remaining mental defenses.
Elizabeth sat in the center chair, looking down at the Vorlon and Mayalite, knowing that there were secrets being talked about and some that even Zaquash didn't have the answers to. She glanced down at table in front of her. "We will have order in this court room. We will have peace if the truth brings dust out of the hidden places. We will get the answers."
Mayalite bowed his head. "You speak wisdom for someone so young, and you understand much. I see how and why your future will change for the better." Silence hung over the court room as they waited to see who would break the it first.
"This Vorlon can not answer the questions about Earth, as it knows nothing much beyond that of its education. The Darkness that Zaquash spoke about is a rather closely guarded secret by the Vorlons. Yes, Earth is home to a secret, but not just one secret is held there. Earth is a central axis point to all that looks to guidance from the young. The Others that follow the ways of the Vorlons and the shadow lead to pain and suffering and will only see death."
Marshall Rickman looked down at his screen, searching for what the telepaths had seen in the Vorlon's mind. To his shock, there was nothing there , apart from information regarding this trial. But there was something this Vorlon wished to hide from the judges.
"Zaquash, I have to ask why you wished to hide your thoughts from us. Some things did slip through to us and what stands is in front of us. Did you ever get warned about this, and did this warning come in the way of General Sinclair after you dragged him through time? I'm sorry, Vorlon, if I come across as a stereotype human idiot. You had hundreds of years to study the files, so why come here when you knew your own fate and the fate of the others? As Sinclair has already informed us, he told you everything personally and we have seen the files from your very own ship. Why come here if you knew you would fail?"
Zaquash turned his head slowly to look at the three judges. His iris opened and closed, and they could tell he was looking for a reasonable explanation, but he knew he failed and would have to admit it. He turned his head to look at Mayalite. "I failed my people and those of light. I couldn't see that the Human tried to help and set us back to the path of light. Failure... I've failed everyone. My sword is no longer my own. My actions have been tainted my fate is in your hands now." Zaquuash stood there awaiting reply, sensing the growing anger and hatred from the Humans and the visitors from the twelve worlds.
"Zaquash, you still haven't answered everything fully, but you still have a choice. As you stand before us , you and the others will be questioned regarding your actions. Guards, you will escort Zaquash to the holding area and bring in the next Vorlon."
Three guards moved forward to surround Zaquash. They unclasped their side arms and then started to move to a side door that was heavily fortified. As they walked to the door, all the safety locks could be heard being released. With each release came a rather loud bang from metal hitting metal.
General Sinclair stood up from his chair and stared at the three judges as Zaquash was being escorted from the room. Zaquash stopped in his tracks, causing his escorts to draw their side arms. Zaquash then turned his head and looked at Sinclair, opened his iris, and then his suit started to hum, which caused more panic from his escorts. "Failed. We have failed. Out of anger from what you said we acted and failed everyone." Then he started to move once more to the door that slid open to see a room of heavily armed soldiers at defense posts.
"Sinclair, you must be seated. You had your chance to ask the questions you had for this Vorlon. Why are you on your feet? We have some extra questions for you, so please stay where you are. General, what we have to ask is did you act for the Vorlons out of blind obedience or from some kind of misplaced loyalty?" Asked Commodore Linda Styles.
"When I went back in time, at first it was both due to what the Minbari had done to me and the trust they had imbedded in me for the Vorlons. It was much later, close to the end of the last great war when I was released from my mental prison." replied Sinclair.
"That's a very strange way to describe what you went through, General ...very interesting. So how did you get released from it? What we know of those Nakaleen feeders is that they will rip every bit of knowledge from their victims' minds unless they get stopped, but in your case, it was a pet variant of that. We have no idea of its victims outcome" asked Marshall Rickman
Mayalite moved forward.
"May I answer that question for Sinclair? I was the one that found him when he was Valen on Minbar during the war. My leaders told me not to change anything until the time line has a chance to correct itself. My people started to watch the others around Valen , and when the war ended and the Minbari turned on him, he feared for his life and the lives of his family members. It was at this point when we acted. We gathered the followers of Valen and told them the truth. They then took Valen to the space station that would be called Babylon 4. They started their journey to this place, but before they left, we unlocked Valen's mind and brought him back to his mental state before the war that was yet to come. As a gift to Sinclair ,we gave him the gift of longevity in the hope that in time he will learn to forgive what has been done to him. Sinclair fought as another before he will get a chance to redeem himself in the future. What and how he redeems himself is for Sinclair to say, not for us." stated Mayalite, turning and heading back to his observation place.
The three judges looked at each other with despair on their faces. Marshall Trance was first to reply to Mayalite. "Mayalite, can I ask on behalf of my fellow judges a very simple question? Why did your people allow this to happen and what is so important with this war from your past and the one yet to come?"
"Despair comes in many shades, and the Human race has many shades to their world. We didn't see how the ancient races turned Earth into a prison but there are many logical reasons." Replied Mayalite.
"Please, can you keep on the subject at the heart of that question? If you can't answer, say so ,and if you won't answer for whatever reason, we need to know" Replied Elizabeth.
"I'm sorry but if I answer, it could cloud your actions and we are here to keep the Vorlons under control. You have no idea what an angry Vorlon could and can do. Your ship's weapons that you used took them by surprise. They crippled them and that made them easier to capture. Be warned, young Human: to each of the first comes a gift and a warning."
Elizabeth was frowning, trying to probe the mind of Mayalite, but found nothing but a dark void with flashes of bright light. Mayalite stopped in his tracks, turned around and looked at Elizabeth. He turned and started heading off, slightly faster than he was before. Elizabeth quickly realized that she had been caught and that Mayalite was a very powerful telepath on a scale unseen been by most life forms she had come across.
"Well, General ,what good did you do when you went back in time?. Did you help them in any way? Did you save lives? If you answer yes to any of those questions, then you need to think about where you need to be and which will be of greater good. We are fully aware of the problems you have had, via your PSI scans you have had. We are deeply sorry for the pains you have gone through. We wish you well. However, on another note, we will have more questions for you. You can mull over those that I have just asked, and General, please try to keep your mind closed. We don't need to get stray emotional thoughts from you that can interfere with our line of questioning."
General Sinclair bowed his head and smiled at Elizabeth in the traditional way of the warrior caste; something Sinclair hadn't done since his return. "I will take into account what you have said, Marshall Cook, and I will see what I can do with my emotions. They are rather intense."
"Good. Is the next person ready to go through yet? I wanted to see the head of the Minbari forces next. I understand that the other Vorlons have taken it as an insult to them. If that's the case, bring me Shai Alyt of the Warrior caste. Yes it is now an insult to the Vorlons. I did want to see the leaders together and Zaquash refused. Now it's the time of questioning, my fellow judges. Make sure you have all the questions you want and make use of what information we got from General Sinclair."
The doors opened and in walked Shai Alyt Branshan, flanked by six heavily armored Passatwar Guards in standard military colors, who had a lot of built up hatred towards the Minbari.
Elizabeth looked rather dismayed at the other two judges, turning first to Commodore Linda Styles and then to Marshall Rickman. "May I ask something of the Passatwar guards? Why have we brought in your services for this trial?".
The Passatwar detail stopped and looked at Elizabeth and then at Branshan. "We have our orders and they came from the Guardians themselves, who have spoken to people from your home world for this honor."
That wasn't the reply they were expecting, but it was a reply all the same. "Honor ? What honor is that, Gentlemen?" Replied Rickman before either of the other judges could reply.
"The honor of serving in the defense of Lord Valen one time only, but we can hope to serve for more adventures. That is what this trial is all for, is it not?"Replied the unnamed Passatwar guard.
"That is a very interesting question and a wise reply." Replied Elizabeth, taking control of that matter, hoping it would bring a swift end to the matter.
"Greetings, Shai Alyt Branshan, and welcome. I will place a wager that you were not expecting a warm greeting from us, even though you have been manhandled by our security forces. For that, I will have to apologize for them, but not today. If you look to your right and look up slightly, you will see a person you should know and I would like you to name him." Stated Elizabeth in a very polite tone. She was trying to calm every one down with it.
Branshan slowly turned his head as instructed, and to his shock ,he saw a figure that to him was long since dead and he was wearing the uniform of the Human military. "VALEN! His name is Valen! He is the greatest of us! He is the one who formed our world the way it is and the Grey Council. Before that was death and civil war among our many clans."
"You're right, Shai Alyt Branshan. He is who you claim he is, but he is actually a Human that was brought back in time to help your people. Partly, this trial is for that and the other is for your actions against Earth Alliance. If you wish to speak to any of the leaders who you fought against the other week, that can be arranged very easily. Shai Alyt, you are talking to one of them now." Stated Elizabeth, with slight pride in her voice, but at the back of her mind there was nothing to take pride in, except defeating a Vorlon fleet.
"Back to the here and now, Branshan. How did you know how to find us and why did you come on this mission? Was it for a military strike or was that option taken from you by the Vorlon called Zaquash?" asked Elizabeth in a calming tone.
"My entire fleet was on a training mission; some in hyperspace and the rest in normal space on routine patrol and training duties. Then my flagship's sensor officer picked up a lot of movement and it was heading into what we call Shadow space. We feared that the Dark Ones had enlisted another race's help and then my government contacted the Vorlons. I was personally surprised that they were willing and ready to send a fleet to help track down these ships. Zaquash was unlike any Vorlon from the past our records stated that he was the one that proved Valen was a traitor and we turned on him."
At this point, Branshan stopped talking and turned to face the one he called Valen. Branshan raised his right arm and uncovered a family crest badge. On closer inspection, they saw it was the badge of Valen's Guard Rangers. Valen had given them to his personal guards and their families during the first great Shadow War.
Sinclair looked at Branshan then again at the badge and stood up " Branshan, you are of the house of Dosh'Zir, or are you not? You are Anla'Shok?"
"Yes, I'm of the House Dosh'Zir, and yes, I was born into the Anla'Shok. Entil'Zha veni ,in Valen's name, it's you. Will you follow me into death? Into storm? Into fire? Into darkness? As we have both learned Branshan, sometimes the universe requires a change of perspective does it not Branshan?"
"Entil'Zha Valen, it's you, is it not? How are you still alive and so far from home and wearing the clothes of their military forces?"
Sinclair just looked at Branshan with a hint of a smug grin on his face, and then he looked over at the three judges to seek permission to explain. Elizabeth smiled in understanding what he was looking for and she nodded, giving him her consent.
"Branshan, if you are who you say you are, prove it. I wish you would answer my questions and tell me if you understand their present meaning. Don't be worried. The answer to that question came to me from sitting here, listening to the events of the courtroom. I will ask them one more time, Branshan Dosh'Zir. Will you follow me into death? Into storm? Into fire? Into darkness?"
"I'm an Anla'Shok. We walk in the dark places no others will enter. We stand on the bridge, and no one may pass. We live for the One, we die for the One."
"Will you answer the questions? I grow tired of repeating myself; something I'm not in the habit of doing, but on this day I have broken my vow."
"The meaning regards the events what have just happened, Master. We arrived in death, then into storm, then into fire and finally into darkness. We have strayed from your original teachings, but all things must change. Your meaning has changed, but the words remain the same. They can't lose value. Only their meaning changes."
"Hold on, everyone. What has just happened? Why has Branshan understood straight away the underlying meaning to your change of heart? Also, what is the meaning to the words Entil'Zha and Anla'Shok? I would like to understand more of the Minbari language in time. I don't understand that much at the moment." Stated Elizabeth in a very confused tone of voice.
"Entil'Zha, roughly translated in your language, means the Proven One. To gain that title, you must first be Anla'Shok Na. The Na means Ranger One in our language and Anla'Shok means Ranger. I used the term Ranger. I was commander of one of the best Ranger fleets in the Earth Alliance. When I was captured, it stuck."
"As you can clearly see, you have had a direct and indirect effect on many people, Sinclair. In the past and present, only you can see if that's worth your pain and grief. In time, you might see that what you went through was meant to be, and for the overall good. It's not my place to say what you should and shouldn't do, but someone somewhere saw all this coming and trained you with a multi-edged sword line of questions. In their own right, that is strange, but someone somewhere is watching over us, and why ,I don't have the answer." Stated Elizabeth, trying to reassure every one that she understood what was going on fully, even if she didn't.
Elizabeth stood up and cleared her throat "I think it's time for a brief but well- timed recess. Shai Alyt Branshan, it will give you time to think over the actions of your alliance, and if you could have changed what happened."
"May I speak before you leave, your honors? My heart is that of the Anla'Shok. I follow the One, or Valen, if you wish me to use that name. No matter where that will take me, my fellow Minbari will do the same. We live to serve, and we have no higher calling than following the teachings of Valen. Many have walked from the His path, but what we are now is from Valen. If I can speak to my people and tell them that, you will have calm and at the same time unrest. The unrest will only come from those who demand proof that Valen is here. He said we need to work with our other halves and trust other races once more. Before Valen came, we trusted no one; not even our people. By the end of the Great War, we trusted and when Valen left, we fell into our old ways of mistrust."
Elizabeth looked around and looked straight into the eyes of Branshan. "Before we leave for recess, can I ask you a very simple question?. What will you do if Valen, as you call him, walked away from your people and came and served Earth in the hunt for the ancient darkness?"
"I can only speak for myself, but I would join up and follow Valen in any direction he wished us to go, and if that meant dying, then so be it. I will have died with honor, serving the greatest of our people."
Elizabeth smiled back at Branshan. She turned and nodded respectfully at the other JAG judges and headed back to the heavy wooden door that was protecting their chamber.
Once they were in the room, they all surveyed the grand dining room table. It had a spread of food that catered to all their tastes and even had some new local alien luxuries, such as the Spindle Palm. That looked like an Earth pineapple , but had a rather stronger and very sweet taste. Some races couldn't eat them because they were some type of very addictive drug to them, but they were harmless to Humans.
"Well, people, it looks like the good old general is going to have some serious second thoughts. I just have to find the key to help us in our mission. His Majesty wants Sinclair, Valen, or whatever he wants to be called, trained to bring both the Vorlons and the Minbari to our side. We have the Ancients; not to beat them, but to encourage them to leave our galaxy and move on and explore. It's only right that Earth has started to explore other galaxies and well before any of the other younger races. With what we have been taught via the Kirishic Lords, we should have been an older race. If we would have stayed and lasted ,we would never know."
"Bess, you have your work cut out for you to see if you can get him to stay. We can get these Minbari trained for the war we have planned so very long for. Earth will stand. We have no doubt on this, but Sinclair's mind can't be fully kept. Before this trial took place, we were told that if we transform him back to being Human, he will lose what he has become. What he will be is a mystery. We have read the information we have on Valen and that is what we will need. Back home, we have started to create the Special Ranger Force that will be trained to a level none before had ever thought possible. We don't have Rangers in service now and the last ones we had were disbanded over a hundred years ago. Watch this place and we will see just what type of person this General Sinclair is." Stated Rickman, looking directly at Elizabeth.
"It looks like we might have to lean further on this, Sinclair. I noted he was taking in a lot of what we were saying to heart. We must do this via truth. We can't hold back. We have to ask Sinclair. If he remains the way he is, will he stay in the military to help us build and prepare for the coming Shadow war? If he changes his mind and remains on his path to become a Human, what will he do? Will he still help us in the coming war?"
"Come on, please. We should eat and enjoy the wonders of the meals set before us. I can see many wonderful dishes to try." Elizabeth sat down at the head of the table with a sample of her favorite starter: stuffed mushrooms and asparagus, drizzled in a fine white sauce.
After about half an hour of enjoying the fine food and drinks, they still remained sober from the meal, even though all three seemed to be intoxicated from laughter and having fun. There was a sudden knock at the door that brought all three of them back to their normal sober selves within seconds.
Elizabeth walked over to the door and opened it, only to find General Sinclair standing there. "General, what seems to be the trouble?"
"I've come to talk about this trial. I think I would like to have it end as soon as possible on my allegations. I know it seems a strange thing to ask, but if you will hear me out, you will see that I'm thinking of the greater good. These Minbari are not the ones that turned on me. I'm fully aware of what that means, but as you heard in the courtroom, they will follow me as Valen. So with what I know as General Sinclair, I wish to sign a document that allows the Minbari during our war to capture me and all the evens that happened past that."
"Jeff, I think you'd better come in for that chat. We will see what we can arrange for you. You will have to convince us that you're doing this of your own free will. You will have to lower your full PSI barrier to allow us in to search your mind. If you wish to fight us, we can still get the information. I'm rather high on the PSI scale. We all are. The scan you blocked was just a routine surface scan that any telepath should be able to block when they're from the military high command..." Elizabeth stopped mid- sentence to gather her train of thoughts. Then she opened her PSI probe of the General.
"Ouch, your honor! That hurt! I didn't realize you had that much strength in you. I bet you could even scan a Vorlon or any First One with ease." Smiled Sinclair, trying to show how impressed he was of the Marshall's mental strength.
"Vorlons are not that easy to read. They have had many years to learn how to keep their minds from being invaded. Well, I will say this: we three combined couldn't scan Mayalite and he blocked us with much skill as well. Even a full combined mental attack on him from all the telepaths in the room would have failed and it would be like we were brain dead at best." Replied Rickman, smiling as Elizabeth was shaking her head at the image of that in her mind.
"General, take a seat at the table. Get a plate and get something to eat. Explain your reasoning to us so we can say yes or no." requested Commodore Styles with a slight smirk on her face.
"Your honors, I would like you to end the trial so we keep both the Vorlons and Minbari willing to help us. I need to sign a document that will allow the proceedings from this trial to help us all out. The document must be sent to the Vorlons to inform them of this plan and to help save the present way of life by saving the past first." At this point , General Sinclair stopped to look at the three judges whose mental defenses were so strong it burned him if he even looked in their direction.
"You have given us much to think about. You really want to help these Minbari after what they did? For all we know, we could have already had this chat and it's been agreed upon. However, we won't give the information to the Vorlons. We will give it to the Guardians, and they can use it as they see fit. Is that OK with you so far ,General?" asked Elizabeth with a warm smile on her face.
"If you have trouble with that part, then you might have some very serious doubts about the rest of it. I will get both the Minbari and Vorlons to work together and design and build ships for the coming war and use basic Earth tech as well. I will train and build the New Generation of Rangers who will follow my new credo and not the credo from the last Great War. For this to work, you must allow me to remain Human. However, I will have to design an all new uniform for this mixed force. For this to have a better chance to work, we will need to activate the cloning vats and clone extra soldiers and warriors. We have to tell Earth our plans and speak to his Majesty to allow this to happen." said Valen
"We do have Royal Family members here too, and they have been granted all the powers of His Majesty in this Galaxy; all except military. We can go back to Earth and the Tidestone. The new Royal Palace hasn't been fully upgraded to our standards for defence and elegance, but they will be very soon" added Rickman.
"Before we get carried away with other things, Jeff, there is a crystal box on the table in front of you. Open it for me and bring me the two envelopes inside to me, please" requested Elizabeth.
Jeff scanned the table in front of him with his eyes and gazed wonderingly at a many-faceted Minbari styled crystal box. Jeff looked around at everyone and they each knew that he knew what type of box it was.
"Jeff, I guess that you know what that is, my friend" said Elizabeth.
"Yes it's a Minbari data storage box that they use to store ancient hand written documents."
Jeff opened the box and pulled out both letters and straight away saw his name in his hand writing.
"What are you waiting for Jeff? Open it." There were three pages. The first being the contract he wanted, the next was a letter from His Majesty and finally a letter from himself.
"Your honors ,do you know what's in this envelope"? Asked Sinclair
"Negative, son, but I think that letter Marshall Cook is reading explains a lot. You can fill us all in on what they say after you have read them all." Commodore Styles said.
Both Elizabeth and Sinclair both sat quietly, reading the documents. Elizabeth smiled when she glanced down the second letter and saw the signature mark of His Majesty.
"My Dear Elizabeth:
I hereby promote you to the rank of Marshall. With this promotion, you are granted all the benefits and respect of that rank and placement. You are to be the new head of the New Elite Ranger Force and your second in command is the newly promoted Five star General Sinclair, aka Valen. Your new primary goal is to make our home Galaxy ready for war with the Shadows and whatever that war brings out for us to deal with.
Elizabeth, I bet you are reading this in the back room now with the other two JAG judges and Sinclair. If that is so, then we have a chance. I'm aware why Sinclair is there with you all and yes I know that this document has been written for some time now. I think his idea of creating a new force and a new generation of the Anla'Shok that will take in even more of Human traits in battle and in the military in general is a great idea.
Keep peace with the Vorlons. Zaquash is an idiot for a First One. In fact, I would call him a wind bag at best and a sloth at worst. Some Vorlons can be trusted. Watch those that wish you harm. Their mental strength is far weaker, compared to the Guardians.
Elizabeth, please, you must inform Sinclair that he has my full support. If he wishes proof of this, send him to Princess Tzu-Yung Khan. She has a video message from him, dating back to the great Shadow war. Show it to him if he needs reminding of what he left behind. The family of Valen has created their own small territory close to Minbari space and they have a large amount of followers. They regard it as the place where Valen will return some day and with a new army of light. This must happen, for that force will keep the Shadows from moving too fast this time. This end game has been planned, double and triple checked. There are so many variations to counter smaller plans against our home galaxy.
This is why I hand picked you and the others for the JAG team. I knew all of you would find a way to not only touch his Human heart but his Minbari heart as well. The man with the two personas must live, just as the man who has died must also live. Don't worry about the riddles, my friend. Just help Sinclair change the uniforms so they become something different from both Minbari and Earth Military ones.
The Passatwar body armor, for one,would be a good type to copy. It has nanite polycrystalline armor and trillions of overlapping neutrino- sized multi dimensional gravimetric barrier shield generators. This will make the new Rangers able to take direct fire from even Shadow based weapons. The overlap will give more back up and you will need to use the most advanced form of dimensional technology that we can get our hands on.
Elizabeth, the document attached to the other letter is everything that Sinclair wants, but with your change in it. The Vorlons must not know of this massive deception. We will give Sinclair a specialized form of mental protection. It's used by our PSI agents when they go deep undercover so they can do what is needed without discovery. It's our dual mind program. We shield the primary memories, but in Sinclair's case, we would duplicate everything and shield the original version from even Vorlon mind scans.
Jeff has, or should have, read the same letter that you just did. The only difference is the name and who it's for. This part is just for you. Go speak to Umtash. He's their leader, now that he has been proven right. Treat them fairly. They will help with the projects.
Yours,
Antony Bagstaff.
Elizabeth frowned in puzzlement when she read the final part. "Computer, display all information we have on the Vorlon Umtash. That includes the non- critical information as well".
Everyone in the room looked at Elizabeth, all of them being too astonished to try and break her concentration on her problem.
The computer chirped to life and the screen came on. "Marshall Cook, the information you requested is on the screen". The video screen appeared from behind one of the art works on the wall.
The screen came to life with a picture of a Vorlon in a non- altered and battle damaged encounter suit. To the side of the Vorlon was his stats; from his name down to the danger and threat rating he was given. The threat rating was very low for this Vorlon, who actually stopped the other Vorlons from attacking the Human troops who were retrieving the injured and damaged ship sections.
"Well, that looks very interesting. It looks like His Majesty once again is well ahead of everyone and I could swear he knows more than what he has let on. I would give some real serious money for that crystal ball of his to find out how he got that message as well. That's one question I want the answer to". Stated Elizabeth as she realized she had just dropped herself in it, mega style.
"Message? What message? I don't have a message,unless you already have it someplace" asked Sinclair.
"No, my friend. You have been asked if you need more information and support. You have to ask Her Royal Highness, Princess Tzu-Yung Khan. She has a message for you, General, only if you need it. We know what you have said and you have of your own free will. But you have the Royal letter and the terms you would have agreed to. I know I wouldn't have settled for any less than the terms there. It looks like your family line has lived on in part or in full. Can I ask how many children you and your wife had? Who was your wife, if you don't mind me asking?". Asked Elizabeth.
"My, wife was a Human by the name of Catherine Sakai, but she was willing to go through the conversion to a Minbari hybrid as well so she could be with me without persecution. Once she had changed, we had many children. It was a side effect of the change. It increased the number of children she carried per pregnancy. I won't say it didn't hurt, knowing I left them all behind, but we both were given the anti aging vaccination. My beautiful Catherine will be waiting for me with those I left behind. I know I will see them again."
"General, you tried to block us. Why do we see a figure 1569? What's so special about that number? That can't possibly be the amount of children you and your wife had, is it?"
"Yes, that's how many children my wife and I have, and yes, I know it works out to about nine children every seven months. My wife loves children and my followers of Valen hid my darling Catherine away to our secure place that my Rangers found for us."
There was a unexpected knock at the door. General Sinclair, being closest to the door, walked over and opened it. He was greeted by the vision of Princess Tzu-Yung Khan. She was wearing a Chinese gold silk cloak that was draped over a beautiful red silk evening dress with matching red high heel shoes. Her long black hair was shoulder length. The Princess was escorted by her new husband, Marshall Trance, who was in a full dress uniform. It looked like they had been dragged from a party that neither of them was in any rush to get back to. Sinclair jumped to full attention and saluted as both the Princess and Marshall walked in.
"I'm afraid, my angel, I will have to wait outside. I can't look as if I have in any way influenced this trial at this very crucial moment in history. So if you don't mind, my lady". Marshall Trance leaned forward and kissed his lovely wife on the lips and turned and walked back out of the room.
"I'm sorry to arrive without an invite, but what I have to say must be said and that will be to you all in one sitting."
Everyone moved to take a seat around the great table, but they stood waiting for her highness to take her seat first. Once she sat, everyone in the room took their seats as well.
"Now what I'm about to show you all is regarding the mission General Sinclair has already taken so it must happen again if not we will suffer the fate of extinction. Maybe not the Human race but sure enough many more would have suffered the fate of extinction". Tzu-Yung stopped at this point to take in the mood of the room. She looked around and smiled warmly at each of the people in the room, one by one.
"I will continue. General, if you don't go back, you won't have children and I'm sorry you will end up dead. We would not have traveled to this place and sure enough we wouldn't be the leaders of the largest super power in this quadrant. We of the Human race would be slaves to the Centauri as would the survivors of the Minbari who were wiped out nine hundred years ago. All the effects of the last great Shadow war has brought many more races to their knees than what would have if Sinclair hadn't gone."
"It was the arrival of the space station named Babylon 4. The Babylon stations were each one class of stations. In this case, the Aztec version, Babylon 4, hadn't even been designed yet. It was used to travel back in time to help save the Minbari race from being wiped out during the Great War. The effects of you not traveling back in time have been recorded via the station's sensors, so we should be glad you brought her back to us to study." At this point, Tzu-Yung pulled out to small Chinese style wooden box.
"If you need to watch the video footage, then I will save you the time and just tell you. It's file 7032.807. On that file, you'll see Earth just reaching the stars in the year 2049. Within thirty years, we had expanded beyond our solar system and were met by the Centauri, our greatest mistake since dissolving the monarchy in 1978. Antony Bagstaff came to Earth's rescue,only to be imprisoned by the Earth government for breach of his forced abdication. Soon after, the Centauri returned, and this time, they won. Antony was taken back to Centauri Prime and the Earth Alliance was no more. It became the main shipyards for the Centauri. Human women became play toys for the rich and powerful Centauri men, who used them and then flung them to one side like toys. Soldiers raped them in open daylight and in front of their own children. If the husbands were there they would be forced to watch their loved ones raped in front of them as they screamed."
"That, people, is one of the most pleasant scenarios; others become much darker and the crimes go on. Some Centauri houses were better than others, while the worst ones would make the devil look like a saint. If you value your stomachs, you should only watch that one; especially you, Elizabeth. What the Centauri do to you is so cruel and evil it's beyond words. Vlad the Impaler would even blush at what he would see in those files. Judges, what will you be doing about the case? It is clear that Sinclair has chosen to work with the aliens to build the force we need to end this war once and for all. You are aware that the entire trial has finished now and we are here in this room for the verdict. I have to ask again until you make it so clear. I have a message from my Uncle the King, if you would like to see it General. It is for you." Smiled Tzu-Yung, looking at the three Judges.
"I must have your leave, everyone. I have to make a Royal decree to inform our people that General Sinclair wishes the charges to be dropped. All but the head Vorlon Zaquash must suffer a fate that will be suitable to life forms of their type." Tzu-Yung walked to the door, placing a data crystal on the table, smiling as she moved past them.
Elizabeth looked at the data crystal, hoping Sinclair would pick it up. "Well,General, don't make us wait any longer. I'm not known for patience, so please open the message and yes that is an order." Insisted Elizabeth. That brought laughter from the other judges.
"Well, it looks like I don't have any option in that, do I?" asked Sinclair, knowing he was in the losing seat this time.
An image appeared on the video screen. His Majesty was in rather informal attire for his now famous suits and ties. He had a casual white shirt on with the top button unfastened and had he was wearing a pair of denim jeans with a black belt and a gold buckle.
"General, you have just been told the fate of Earth. If you had chosen not to go back, our lives would be different. But what I have to say is thank you, son, for your conviction and going to help us once more. I hope you know your family is a very special one and its linked to me in so many ways. Your ancestors were the very first human clones Earth had given birth to. The male DNA came from myself the female DNA came from a Royal courtier. My Governments both ruled, stating your family line had Royal blood, but claimed that you would have no direct link to the throne ever. I'm sorry, my son, for I wanted your family to be given a title for life. So in this galaxy your family will have a place of power. So,General ,if you will please kneel." At this point, the image looked as if it froze, but the message hadn't frozen. His Majesty stood waiting for the General to kneel.
General Sinclair looked around the room at everyone and smiled, kneeling down in front of the image just as His Majesty started to smile.
"Now, General, that wasn't hard. General Jeffery Sinclair, I hereby place the title of Grand Duke of Tidestone upon you and your heirs. With that you will have the power to raise a personal defence force called the Rangers. These Rangers will have a goal that will be different from those of the Rangers you trained for the Army of light during the Great War. You will have all that you need,but you must seek out Umtash. He will help you." His Majesty stopped talking and turned to look at Jeff.
"There you go, my son. I wish I could do more for your family and fix the injustice that has been done to you and your family. In hurting you, that hurts me and I protect my family with my soul and you can trust me, son. You are family now and always." The image faded away and Jeff's face turned white with what he heard. He tried to stand up, but found that he didn't have any strength in his legs.
"Well, Jeff, it looks like you will have the ability to claim what you need, which will allow us to produce what we need too. In the end ,we all serve His Majesty with unwavering loyalty. With that, we all have the benefits of His Majesty's protection and wisdom when we need it."
Sorry for the delay in this chapter had a lot going on and my next chapter is also ready now.
Thanks to Susan Hilton for making this chapter so readable and for her great work on this story.