Chapter 35: An End of an Era

Marrago walked to the bridge of his Primus-Class Eagle of the Republic. It was an odd name to be sure, but he had once seen a vid of the eagles of Earth. The majestic nature of those birds had been inspirational to him, and he hoped that the Gods had eagles. He would much like to see them in the afterlife.

"Lord-Admiral Dormo hailing us sir," the communications officer reported from his position at the rear right of the bridge.

"Put him on screen," he nodded and the face of his friend and superior appeared on there, "Lord-Admiral."

"Well Lord-General," Dormo said, sitting in his command chair and his bridge crew bustling about as they prepared to head out, "Time to hold the hair up of the Republic."

Marrago laughed. "That's a ton of hair, sir," he laughed.

"Remember the plan," Dormo said, "We hit them and hard."

"I'll see you on the flipside, sir," he replied, "Just like the Lord-Generals Zarrago and Tokor meeting in the midst of the Xon at the Battle of Tribaldo."

"Take care, friend Jonas," Dormo leaned forward, "Dormo out."

The screen went blank, and Marrago could see the ready status of the massive fleet on the console screen attached to his command chair. Over a hundred ships were there, not including the seven Selvan dreadnaughts that looked like pieces of cut meat. Like steak. All engines were a go.

He looked out and saw jump-points opening. One by one ships began to slide into the fiery vortexes that were the mouths of the other dimension. The ships that would be going with him had been given their new orders in writing. He didn't want the Selvan alerted to the diversion in plans.

"The Lord-Admiral has just entered hyperspace," the operations officer reported, looking at the radar screen.

"Then let us be on our way," he said with a grunt, "Engines ahead full. Have the Selvan reported their understanding of the plans?"

"They have alerted they will be where the glory is to be found."

"Odd phrase," he muttered, and they slid into hyperspace.

They were finally on their way. G'Kar felt a great sense of apprehension. This was the moment he'd been waiting for. He had stripped the rest of their holdings in the Centauri Republic to the bare minimum to hold what they had taken. But even then, he knew he'd be seriously outmatched. He only had twenty-five capitol warships. And if the Selvan were to be trusted, he'd have sixty ships jumping on him.

He had stacked his ships in a two line defense. Heavy Cruisers in the front, G'Quan cruisers in the back. And Frazi fighter creating a heavy screen in front of them and on the flanks. He could give ground slowly, backing up ships to kind of leapfrog backwards, giving crews time to rest and recharge weapons.

"Jump points opening," the conn reported, "We've got at least twenty ships pouring through."

Ah...so Marrago wasn't committing everything to the first wave. This should be easy.

"Prepare yourselves," he said, "The great battle of the war is upon us."

The ships slid out of hyperspace, coming into view of the great dead planet. The reports came back. The area was clear of enemy ships. Okay, that was a relief. The Narns might be harsh warriors, but they were no strategists that would think of protecting every road to Narn.

"How long until the fleet's hyper-drive engines are recharged?" he asked.

"It'll take ninety seconds," the operations officer reported.

"That's fine," he said, leaning back, "We can afford to take a rest. There's no hurry."

"Uh, sir?" tactical called out, "We've got incoming."

"Incoming?" he turned to him, "From where?"

"The planet," he said, "Configurations are that of the ships that ambushed the fleet at Gorash."

"Can we jump?" Dormo asked, a cold feeling in his gut.

"Seventy seconds left."

"Then we have no choice," Dormo said, "Lord-Admiral Dormo to fleet. We've got incoming. Execute defensive formation Hellio Constance."

Marrago watched as the first wave was ambushed by the defensive forces of G'Kar. The fighters had scrambled out of the way, and with cocky abandon the captains had streamed forward, hoping to hit the enemy and break them. But then, from behind both sides had come the G-Quan Cruisers. They had circled around the entire wave of ships and had fired lasers into them, tearing ships apart. The fighters had began executing strafing runs on the ships. Within two minutes the whole lot was in trouble of being annihilated.

But, he waited for the moment. Ships after ship was destroyed, although they weren't going down without a fight. But, he would wait. He could feel his bridge crew anxiously awaiting to go in to save their comrades. But, he'd wait.

All but five ships were gone now, and they wouldn't last long. Two of the heavy cruisers had been forced to withdraw, but they weren't needed for this. And now was the time.

"Second wave," he called through the fleet channel, "Move in and engage."

Never had Dormo been in a battle more desperately fought. Not on Gorash, not at Golus. Not even during the last battle of the Centauri Expansion period. Ships were firing so fast that they were dangerously close to overheating. His men were sweating despite the few seconds of combat. It had the strange effect of invigorating him.

The Shadows were coming in, fast and furious. Seventeen of the fleet had been destroyed in as many seconds, the Shadows only attacking with ten ships. But, Dormo watched the barrage of his ships knock back an enemy ship, taking off most of its spikes and sending it spiraling in space. But even as it fell back, in a massive explosion the other Primus-Class of the strike force went up. The force of the explosion shoving it's comrade ships aside.

"How much longer until we can jump?" he demanded.

"Twenty seconds."

Not soon enough.

Main General Mo Mok knew of the bloodshed and carnage now reigning at Golus and Za'Ha'Dum. And the Dark Masters whispered their wishes to him. He let his commands echo in the minds of his crew, each man knowing what must be now done. The ships positioned themselves above the Capitol City of Centauri Prime.

"We are getting an urgent message from the Minister of War," the communications officer reported.

Marrago looked back from the battle, the third wave now driving WarMaster G'Kar's forces before them. G'Kar's fleet had been all but shattered. Sixteen of the fleet was destroyed. Two had surrendered, and were currently being boarded by Imperial Marines. They had driven his forces back to Golus II, and they were driving them towards the systems star.

"I didn't realize we had a Minister of War yet," he rolled his eyes, "Put him on screen."

The first indication something was wrong was the violent shaking he could see onscreen and dust falling from the ceiling behind the Minister of War. He looked deathly afraid.

"What is it?" he asked, "I am in middle of a battle here."

"We are under attack!" he nearly screamed in panic, and from a window behind the quailing Minister he could see smoke, "They took out the planetary defense grid. They are bombing the Capitol!"

"Who are these people?" Marrago said, trying to calm him down by showing him calmness.

"The Selvan!" the Minister wept.

"That's impossible," Marrago reasoned, "They went to-"

"They never left..." the screen went off as if it had been cut at the source.

"I want the third wave to break off immediately!" he ordered, "And I want this ship and any ship currently not engaged in battle to break off and immediately set course for Centauri Prime. Maximum speed."

The G'Quan Incarnate shook as the Vorcha class cruiser swept down upon it, blasting away. G'Kar knew this battle wasn't going his way, and if something didn't change soon, the whole fleet would be lost. The ship spun according to orders he had given a few seconds before and hit the enemy ship full on as it was sweeping by, destroying it in a grisly death.

Even with the sudden recall of most of the enemy armada, he was still losing this fight. D-n if this wasn't a bad day. He once heard the best commanders knew when to bow out of an unwinnable fight. And he wanted to be one of the best.

"All ships," he ordered, "We need to get out of here. Prepare to..."

"Look!" the tactical officer, "A...massive something is appearing behind the enemy fleet."

"That tells me a bunch," he spat, "Show me!"

And he looked as the most massive warship he'd ever seen appeared behind them. It was roughly the size of an entire continent, maybe hundreds of kilometers across. Space was filled with the view of this ship, which looked for all intents and purposes like a hand.

The "fingers" of the ship slowly bent, and massive bolt of energy shot forth, vaporizing ten enemy ships at one time. The Centauri knew they were done for and tried to flee, firing as they escaped. The remaining ships tried to escape, but the hand curled around them and clenched. G'Kar's eyes grew wide. The ship slowly vanished, leaving the Narns be.

"What...what...what was that?" Na'Toth asked, sitting behind him.

"By G'Quan," he said, "I have no idea."

But, in his mind, he heard whispers. Whispers so foul and antithesis of anything living. Something that recalled to mind the darkest of nightmares. But, he also felt a sense of deep and dark frustration. As if it had finally reached out of its banishment and the prison cells had closed before it could fully emerge.

"We have been most fortunate," G'Kar said, "I feel a malevolence that makes me want to curl up and choke on my own vomit. I do hope though we never see it again. Or else, we will never be able to escape."

The hyperspace vortexes were open and Lord-Admiral Dormo watched as his ship raced to freedom. Ten ship. A mere ten ships remained of his mighty armada. But, even as he felt freedom come closer, he saw something black rush past him and began to collapse to the vortex.

"Reverse course!" he shouted, "Reverse course!"

"Too late!" helm replied and Dormo cursed every one that resided in the pantheon of Gods as the vortex collapsed and his ship tore to pieces around him.

Marrago felt as his ship slipped out of hyperspace and watched in horror as Narn cruisers suddenly dropped out as well. He had only been able to bring back thirty ships, but the Narns had over fifty ships. And with the Selvan, they were plastering the capitol below in death and destruction. More than one of his crew wept openly at the sight. More Narn ships were pouring through, and soon the whole planet was ringed in enemies. Marrago had no choice.

"Set course for Markab space," he said, head held high, trying to exuberate confidence.

"But we can't leave Centauri Prime," the Captain of the ship replied in a scandalized tone, "We must stay and fight!"

"We will return!" Marrago replied, looking at his entire bridge crew, "But not until we can gather allies. Recover our strength. I will not lead us into a massacre."

The Narns were so lustful of their chance for revenge they didn't even hinder the Centauri fleet as it fled into hyperspace.

Cartagia looked out the window, noting with satisfaction they weren't aiming for the palace. The bombardment had grown worse, but he didn't mind. He was a God after all. Prime Minister Mollari had begged him to flee, but he would not. He was Emperor, and if he could, he'd become a vassal of the Narns. He'd let them have their revenge. What was that to him?

He turned to the wife he had stolen from Reefa and looked at her, desire in his eyes. He advanced on her and took her in the throne room, conceiving his heir as his homeworld burned. Let the sweltering heat of the burning of his world fire the passion and lust that he poured into her border on the severity of rape.