Chapter 21

"Amat Victoria Curam"

"They are in front of us, behind us, and we are flanked on both sides by an enemy that outnumbers us 29:1. They can't get away from us now!"

-- Colonel Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, USMC

The crew of the elderly Klingon ship K'tarra were uneasy, and that unease was more than justified. General Korrd was famous for his ability to drink any other three beings under the table, and still stagger away on his own two feet. That was normal.

A sober Korrd who hadn't taken more than a single mug of bloodwine, and that only with his meals, was not normal.

The crew of the K'tarra wasn't nervous. Klingon warriors were never nervous. They preferred to think of their attitude of the moment as being... understandably cautious in the face of the unknown.

"Get me Commodore Acaltha," growled the old general.

"Hailing," snapped the junior officer at the communications station. "Brinks answers."

Korrd got right to the essentials. "Are you certain you want to play it this way, old bug? We'll be surrendering a major advantage."

Acaltha nodded. "I'm not happy about it either. But we have to pull as many Minbari ships as possible away from EA-Earth and Wolf 359, Korrd. If that means we join the Black Fleet..." Acaltha shrugged. "I'm not eager to make that transfer, but I'm not afraid of it either. Either way, we'll go out the way we always wanted to. On the deck of a warship, weapons blazing."

"True." Korrd changed the subject. "The warheads?"

"The last ones are being laid right now. My techs are tying them into the drone network." Acaltha grinned savagely, an evil rictus that every Klingon within line of sight of the screen appreciated. His reputation had spread across the K'tarra after one curious crewmember had requested the Commodore's public file from one of the Federation ships. The resultant reading had brought the elderly Andorian some well-earned and very useful respect among those Klingons who hadn't known of him before. His court-martial and subsequent acquittal on charges of having tortured an Orion pirate for information had made many of the warriors on the K'tarra smirk.

"And the other sensors?"

"They'll be finished inside of three hours. The Minbari will deeply regret using unshielded quantum singularities for power sources. We can track those at a MUCH longer range than we can currently sense movement in jumpspace. I've had every shuttle and shuttlepod I can spare, including those I stole from the Schiaparelli, kitted out with the gravitic sensors and set down on every rock in this system big enough to support one." Acaltha's antenna twitched with grim amusement. "Even if we fail to pick them up on the new jumpspace sensors, or detect the actual jump point forming with the subspace sensors, they'll light up the rest of the network like a photon torpedo when they start using that damn-fool gravitic drive of theirs. Those drives leave a LOVELY wake behind them. Between the point source of the singularity and the grav wake they leave behind them, they might as well turn off their stealth generators."

"Stealth generators?" mocked Korrd. "More like targeting solution generators! We may not have enough resolution to hit them with beams, but if I can't shove enough torpedoes up their exhaust I'll have my second remove me from this command!"

"They are something of a joke compared to a true cloaking device, aren't they?" snorted an amused Acaltha.

Korrd grinned, a fearsome sight. "I've got K'lahr and her engineers fitting every torpedo with HARM sensors programmed with the energy profile of those generators of theirs. We might not get any direct hits, but with three or more headed to the same target, even near misses will damage those clumsy fish the Minbari call starships."

"Is she really as annoying as Korax complains?"

"Let me put it this way, old bug... if tongues were blades, she'd have the sharpest mek'leth in the quadrant."

"I'm surprised he hasn't killed her yet," mused Acaltha.

"If he tried, I'd be surprised if he survived, old bug. She'd hand him his head, and laugh while she took it. There's a reason she's one of the best engineers we have. Mainly, that anyone who's crossed her is busy serving with the Black Fleet."

"Somehow I'm not all that surprised."

"Hah! I didn't think you would be. And the rest of it?"

Acaltha picked up a PADD, tapping on it for a moment, looking closely at the information scrolling on its small screen. "Mm. Current estimate is ninety minutes, then the expanded network goes on line in interferometer mode. The Minbari won't be able to get within 10 light hours of Jericho without our picking them up on either the gravitic network or the jumpspace sensors. Unless they are given some sort of outside help from these Vorlons, whatever or whoever they are, we'll have several minutes' notice of their arrival. It's not as good as the defense networks back home, Federation or Klingon, but it's better than anything this quadrant will see for at least a decade or more."

The two commanders exchanged ugly smiles.

"Then I'll leave the rest to you, old bug. You'll forward the datalink to me once it's online?"

"The second it's stable. Just remember, we don't want them ALL dead. We need prisoners. And more important, we need word of their defeat to get back to Minbar. We're of no use as a diversion if the Minbari don't believe we're a threat."

"Agreed," nodded Korrd

"One last thing."

"Yes?"

"I've got that wet behind the ears commander who's still upset over the use of the mind sifter." Acaltha shook his head in mild irritation. "I'd appreciate it if you only use it on prisoners you take yourself. If I hand any prisoners over to you, he'll annoy the hell out of me over Federation prisoners being subjected to unethical abuse."

The old Klingon general snorted in derision. "You should just challenge him, and take his head."

"I would, but the Federation frowns on that, unfortunately."

"Pity. Ever thought about transferring over to a Klingon ship?"

"Trust me, a few more days of his silent disapproval, and I'll be considering it."

Korrd roared with laughter. "Best of luck to us both, old bug. And if things… what's the Terran words? … 'go south'? Yes, if things 'go south' on us, I'll buy you a barrel of bloodwine when we meet at the Black Fleet."

"And I'll pay for the Saurian brandy. Acaltha, over and out."

"K'tarra out."

The newly reconfigured array had been online for some thirty minutes when Commodore Acaltha was called to the bridge.

"Sir, we are receiving some anomalous readings. I think you should see this," Commander M'zell reported.

"On my way.

He immediately left his quarters, headed for the bridge. He was intensely curious. M'zell was the best first officer he'd had in a very long time. Intelligent, quick-thinking, and able to look outside of the box for solutions, she was one part of the solution that had kept the Brinks untouched by pirates for the past fifteen years. If she thought it was important, he wasn't going to take it lightly.

A few minutes later, he discovered just how right he was.

"This isn't right. According to the sensor analysis, there's a fifty percentile chance of these spacial anomalies being jump points in the process of opening. Process?"

"I know, sir. I'm as confused as you. I have no idea why the computer's using that term," the Caitian replied.

"Mr. Vickers, hail the De Rutyer." Acaltha scratched the base of his antenna as an old, old memory stirred at the back of his mind. Faint, almost nonexistent. But still there. "I want Commander T'vadra on-screen. Now."

A moment later, the Vulcan science officer was looking out of the main bridge viewscreen. "Commodore?"

"I want you to take a look at these waveforms, Commander. They're reminding me of something, if I can just remember what."

T'vadra nodded as the sensor logs were forwarded to her science station aboard the De Rutyer. She examined them closely. "Sir? The first waveform might appear to be the spatial distortion of a jump point opening up, but it is far too weak, and it extends over a much longer period of time. As for the additional readings, I am afraid to say that I am personally unfamiliar with them. You said that you seem to recall something similar?"

"Yes, but I can't remember where or when."

T'vadra nodded again. "Perhaps we can narrow the search by inquiring as to what you do remember, Sir?"

"That's worth a try, Commander. Go ahead."

"When I mention the secondary waveforms, what is the very first thought that occurs to you, sir?"

"Books." Acaltha frowned thoughtfully at that. "Books? Why books?"

"You are famed for your reading, sir. Perhaps this is something you've encountered while indulging in your hobby?"

"Hobby... hobby..." Acaltha swore softly in his native tongue. "Something.. something..." He stared at the same sensor samples that the Vulcan was looking at, as if to wrest their secret from them by willpower alone. Then the random, dancing memory stood still for one brief moment, shining in the light of the past. He rapidly tapped on the console, accessing his personal files from the Brinks' mainframe "Commander, I'm giving you access to my personal library. Access all logs related to the first five year mission of the Enterprise under then Captain James T. Kirk, with particular emphasis on Stardate 5693.4 and the subsequent loss of the USS Defiant."

T'vadra's fingers flew over the controls of her science station as she called up records from almost thirty years ago, comparing sensor logs from several ships, including those salvaged from the ill-fated Defiant before her final loss.

"There is a partial match, Commodore. Some of the waveforms from the sensor network closely resemble the readings taken during the appearance and disappearance of the Defiant." Her hands swept across the panel, calling up other references, attempting to make pattern matches. "Secondary match to that of a standard jump space entrance/exit anomaly, also known as a jump point. It is, however, far more attenuated, and extends over a longer period of time, sir."

"I see," said Acaltha thoughtfully. "Commander, please inform Captain von Schlichten that I will be holding a command briefing in fifteen minutes. Advise him and your communications officer that it will be under the highest level of encryption, and only direct tight beams will be used. The briefing will be routed through the drone network to reach Captain Gruen and General Korrd, for reasons which will become clear during the briefing itself. That is all. Brinks out."

Acaltha was looking at a pair of wallscreens in his briefing room, currently set up in conference mode, with all of the senior officers present

"It's a spy mission," Korrd stated flatly.

"With all due respect, General, how can you be certain of that?" asked Commander Cody. "It may be some previously undetected natural phenomenon related to the use of so many jumpspace drives."

Korrd threw an annoyed look at the younger officer, controlling his temper with effort. "Boy, I've spent more years in combat than you've spent alive. Would someone put the anomalies up on screen for all to see in map mode?"

Acaltha did so, and Korrd indicated the location of the various anomalies, pointing them out in order of appearance. "Look at them. That's not random, that's a course. Whatever that is, it's under intelligent direction, and its actions are those of something that wants to scan a system without being scanned in return. The word for that is 'spy mission', Commander."

von Schlichten nodded. "It's clear, if you've spent enough time dodging Klingon patrols."

"Or Federation patrols," retorted Korrd with a smirk.

"Point," grinned von Schlichten. "Now the question becomes, if it's a spy mission, whose is it, and what do we do about it?"

"No, Carlos," frowned Acaltha. "The question is, do we do anything about it."

Cody was shocked. "Commodore?! If it's a spy and not a natural phenomenon, we need to either capture or destroy it!"

"To the contrary, Commander. Think upon this fact. We know that our spy is out there, we've spotted him. But he isn't currently aware that he's been spotted."

"Ahhhhh," breathed Korrd happily. "I know that look on your face, old bug. You're thinking of playing with their minds, aren't you?"

"Exactly. I want all the sensor logs on our ghostly friend gathered together, encrypted at the highest level with a one time pad, then forwarded to Admiral Taipin and Admiral Kirk, as well as EarthDome," Acaltha said. "Then, we're going to put on a show. Our spy is going to see plenty. But only what we want him to see."

Realization lit up Commander Cody's face as the older officers either smiled or laughed. Acaltha noticed it. "Commander, once I dismiss this conference, I'd like to speak to you privately. Please remain on-line. As for everyone else, I think you know what's expected of you. We have a guest, and that means we have to arrange some entertainment for them. I'm certain you know the drill. Dismissed."

"Sir?"

"Relax, Commander. This isn't a dressing down. It's an explanation."

"I don't understand," said Cody in confused tones.

"This is your first major command, isn't it, Commander."

"Yes, sir," Cody nodded. "My last posting was as first officer of the Ghondor, on the Federation-Gorn border."

Acaltha searched his memory. "Ghondor. Another Akula-class ship, if I remember correctly. And you saw several minor border incidents, acquitting yourself well, but never any action longer than ten days."

"Yes, sir."

"It's no aspersion on your skills, Commander, when I say you're relatively inexperienced." He watched the younger officer bristle unconsciously. "Until now, all you've had to fall back on was your training at the Academy, and the border incidents. That's all well and good, but we have stepped to a higher level of combat here, Commander. Have you played 4-D chess before?"

"I've tried," winced the younger man. "And had my head handed to me quite a few times."

"Good. 4-D chess, with the ability to time out pieces, is an excellent metaphor for what we're doing here, Commander. It's not enough that we outwit the enemy in the next battle, or even the next two battles. We have to stay one step ahead of his entire thought process for the entire war."

Cody nodded again, very slowly. "I see, sir. You're attempting to force the enemy into making the choices you want him to make? Choices that will strengthen your hand and weaken his?"

"Exactly, Commander. That's not an easy skill to learn, and it's not a skill you can learn in the Academy. It's something you can only learn with time and experience. I'm aware I'm asking a great deal of you and your crew. I'm asking you to grow up much more quickly and far more violently than you should have to. I'm not particularly happy to be doing so. I hope you understand."

"I'm not certain, sir. But I will try."

"That's all I ask, Commander. Dismissed."

In the depths of space outside the Jericho system, a Vorlon bio-ship moved quietly, its passive sensors absorbing every nuance of information it could gather. It performed its job with quiet efficiency and a certain equanimity, unlike the Kosh currently aboard it. The Kosh was ... unused ... to frustration or limitations, save only in the face of the Shadows. The Younger races were not supposed to be in any position to defy them, or resist them.

Yet that was exactly what was happening now.

The Kosh deeply resented this.

The sensor network spread across the system by the Federation interlopers was severely interfering with the Kosh's spy mission. Under other circumstances, it would ignore the active sensor sweeps, and simply take control of the sensor drones, reprogramming the entire network to ignore the Vorlon ship. But such actions were impossible now. The interlopers were constantly checking and re-checking the drones, comparing not only the sensor readings taken, but the very programming of the drones themselves, cross-checking their behavior as if they suspected that the network might have been compromised. It was as if the newcomers actually suspected that they were being spied upon.

But that was obviously impossible. They were far too young, too immature, to be that insightful.

Nevertheless, the Kosh was forced to fall back upon passive detection methods only. Revealing to the newcomers that they were being observed would only serve to make them more secretive, and the Kosh's mission that much more difficult. That was the last thing the Kosh needed... Wait.

The Kosh paused. Something was happening. Several of the newcomers sensor drones had blinked. It looked more closely, replaying the incident.

Yes. The devices were flickering, their emissions and physical profiles appearing to change. They now appeared to be small ships, of the type the more barbaric, chaotic newcomers used. The small ships with the ability to become undetectable across most of the energy spectrum, including that of visible light. Such ships were doing grievous harm to their Minbari children. The conclusion was obvious. The newcomers intended to use these drones as distractions, tricking the Minbari into thinking that they were under attack by this invisible enemy, these new and previously unknown pets of the Metrons. Such a distraction in the midst of battle could prove fatal.

This information would have to be transmitted directly to homeworld, to be passed along to their children, so that they might not fall prey to this trap.

The Kosh would continue to observe for a brief period, then leave. It had seen all it needed to see, and the increasing strength of the active scans the sensor network was emitting were causing minor physical distress to its ship as it sought to remain undetected. Additionally, any transmission strong enough to reach homeworld would be detectable even to such inferior races as these. That could not be abided.

These newcomers would not break the circle. Their children WOULD choose, and would choose the light of intelligent direction over the darkness of chaotic evolution. Orderly guidance, not the anarchy of the gladiatorial pit.

Any other result was... unacceptable.

"Yellow Alert. Yellow Alert. All ships, all crews, action stations. I repeat, all ships, all crews, actions stations. Commodore to the bridge. Commodore to the bridge."

Acaltha woke from a sound sleep to the flashing light in his quarters. Cursing softly - why did emergencies always seem to time themselves to occur whenever he was asleep? - he threw on a uniform and hurried to the bridge. Second Officer and Chief Engineer Gaarvim had the con. A Tellarite, he was argumentative but very difficult to agitate. If he saw fit to issue a fleet-wide yellow alert, it was highly unlikely it was unjustified.

"Report, Commander."

The burly Tellarite frowned, and tapped a control on the seat before surrendering it to his captain. "Spatial disturbances opening up approximately one AU past the outermost gas giant, sir. They match the profile of an opening jump point. No hyperspace traces on the sensors, but that is to be expected, the range exceeds that of our sensor's ability to detect objects in hyperspace."

"How many?"

Gaarvim rubbed his snout. "There appear to be twenty of them." He grinned fiercely. "Perhaps the Minbari are finally taking us seriously, sir?"

"It would appear so, Commander. It's a pity they're out of range of our new toy."

"Perhaps we can convince them to come and play, sir?" The grin on the Tellarite's face could only be described as fiendish.

"That is the plan, Commander, that is most definitely the plan."

"By the way, sir..."

"Yes, Commander?" Acaltha raised a suspicious eyebrow. The smile on Gaarvim's face was the same one the last time the Chief Engineer had arranged a surprise party for him on his birthday.

"A little present for you, sir," laughed Gaarvim. "Everyone in Engineering felt it was appropriate. We finished it while you were asleep."

Oh, this is going to be bad, thought Acaltha. "What is it this time, Commander? An Orion stripper leaping out of a cake in the shuttlebay?"

"We did that last time, sir. It's bad form to repeat a surprise."

"Then what is it, Commander?"

"Turn around and look at the turbo-lift doors, sir." Gaarvim's smile had progressed from smug, to wicked, and was now positively evil. Acaltha turned slowly towards the sliding doors which had the insignia of Federation Express painted on them.

Correction. They had the insignia. Past tense. It had been replaced with something new while he was in his cabin. He sighed, and shook his head ruefully, fighting the smile that threatened to break out across his face.

"We felt it was... appropriate, sir. After all, it IS the first thing the Minbari will see behind you if and when they hail the ship."

Acaltha gave in to the emotion and laughed, the entire bridge crew - who'd been in on the joke - joining him. "Most appropriate, indeed. You have a twisted sense of humor, Commander."

"That's what my mate tells me, sir."

"Well, it is traditional," mused Acaltha. He took a long, thoughtful look at the white on black insignia that had replaced the FedEx logo. "Leave it up. If anything, it will be entertaining to see the reactions of the Minbari. Now, let's get ready to greet our guests. Hail Captain von Schlichten, Captain Gruen, and General Korrd. I want our Minbari guests to receive a fitting invitation to the party."

Narn:

G'Kar found himself enjoying the visit with Captain Silva more than he had anticipated. Several other members of the Kha'Ri and opted to join him in this little excursion and so far the seemed just as impressed and relaxed as he was. They called this a destroyer! It looked more like a luxury liner, or better yet, a pleasure yacht, than a warship. And when he asked about it, Silva explained that these creature comforts were necessary for the overall health of the crew since they were out in space for long periods of time. The way it was described made it sound like more of an exploration vessel with defensive armaments.

If only the Narn had ships and resources like this. Even artificial gravity would make a world of difference. 'Comforts like this', mused G'Kar. 'These people were so rich All of this was wonderful but his time studying the Federation historical files were the main source of enjoyment. It seemed that their world, their; Earth', had suffered a major war just before the time of enlightenment. They then discovered the warp stardrive, met a few friendly neighbors and had gotten rid of hunger and war on their planet in less than forty years! They even developed weather control devices. They had spread throughout space and grown strong quickly.

For them war was not a constant, but these people weren't weak either. An alliance between them and the Federation would certainly be advantages in the extreme-if they survived this war. The power and status of the Narn regime could only grow in stature and eventually the Centauri would wind up an insignificant, rapidly fading power to be brushed away at their leisure.

Curious, he had asked about the requirements of join the Federation but his hopes had been somewhat dashed by the response.

"It takes time to join the Federation," Silva had told him. "First, diplomatic relations had to be officially established. We have to get to know one another first learn about our respective cultures and finally you would have to apply for Federation membership. This may take about ten years. But all this was a moot point until after the war. And there is also the question of distance. Would it even be practical? Travel here is still too new. It needs to be studied carefully so that it can be used safely."

"Of course, of course," G'Kar had answered. "Spoken like a true explorer. That was most understandable. Thank you for your database. This will go a long way towards a better understanding of your Federation."

The two starships were gone now, heading for Earth or wherever. It appeared that the Minbari were in for a bigger fight than they first planned for. If they lost then a lot of their territory would be ripe for the taking. But that was something brewing in the back of his mind for the future. As of this moment, the database in his hands held his utmost attention.

Hours later the Kha'Ri had come to the first of many decisions that could well change their very fabric of existence. G'Kar would once more use his contacts to reach the Minbari. Once before he had succeeded, but the meeting failed, sabotaged by either the Earthers themselves or the Minbari. This time though, he would deliver a simple message. And then he would see where events would go from there.

"Transmit this towards Minbari space," G'kar told the tachyon communications center. "We have detailed information concerning the United Federation of Planets," he dictated. "They also have a message for the Minbari Federation. If you are interested in learning about them; if you are interested in hearing the message, then contact us. That should raise some of those hairless eyebrows, don't you think?" he asked the young Narn performing the task.

"End communication."

Next: "Earthwar"