Part V - 1 Month Later
The Damocles had been out of the fight for nearly
a month now. It had taken that long for Earthforce to repair the
damage done to her. Captain Fisher sat at a small cafe not to far
from Earthforce HQ starring at his coffee.
In the last month the Vyron had begun an offensive.
Launching attacks from several starsystems where they had constructed bases
they began striking out at ISA ships. Over one hundred Vyron ships
had been confirmed in the sector and they seemed to be taking every opportunity
to hurt the Alliance.
"You know with a look like that on your face, you
would think the Vyron had already won," a familiar voice said from beside
him.
Fisher looked up startled into the beautiful face
of Captain Tessa Fluentes, "Tess," he exclaimed a smile flashing on his
face, "How are you? What are you doing here?"
Back in the academy Fisher had sworn he would one
day marry this women, but after graduation they were assigned to different
commands and had in time grown apart.
"I was recalled by Earthdome," she told him, "they're
taking this Vyron thing very seriously."
"They should," Fisher said, "I've fought them Tess,
they are more powerful then anything I've seen."
"Is it really that bad," she asked?
"Yes," Fisher responded simply.
"I can't stay." Tessa said, " I have a meeting with
General Ivanova in a little while."
"I understand. I have to go see Raindeck soon,"
he told her, "Let me walk you back to HQ. It will give us time to
catch up."
"Sure Dave," she said smiling again, "that sounds
great."
"Are you still in command of the Macedon?" Fisher
asked naming the Omega class ship that was her first command.
"Yes," she said, "for almost six years now.
We been out on the rim mostly, patrolling on the far side of Earth space
showing the flag whenever possible."
"What about you, how long have you been on the Damocles,"
she inquired?
"She rolled of the line about six months ago," he
told her, "I was assigned about two months before that. For most
of the first few months we were testing the new weapons and control systems."
"Sounds fun," Tessa said.
They walked through the doors of Earthforce Headquarters
and walked over the Seal of the Earth Alliance.
"So, this is where we go our separate ways again,"
Fisher said.
"Yeah, I guess so," Tessa replied.
They starred at each other for a moment but then
Tessa did something Fisher had never expected or even hoped for.
She hugged him. "I've missed you Dave," she admitted.
"I've missed you too Tess." Fisher told her.
"Lets not wait so long next time."
"Agreed," she said letting go of him and walking
off.
"I love you," Fisher whispered under his breath.
_____________________
General Raindeck was standing in front of a huge
monitor displaying the region of battle. Fisher could see where the
Vyron were focusing their strikes against the Alliance. Red marks
showed where battles had been fought in recent days and a smaller in picture
display told of ship losses.
Fisher approached the General coming to attention
behind him.
"Reporting as ordered sir," Fisher said.
"Ah, welcome Captain," Raindeck said without turning
from the display. "The Vyron are an impressive foe as you can see.
They continue to hit our fleets and are slowly whittling away our forces."
"Yes sir," Fisher said, not sure what Raindeck was
getting at.
"Your ship is ready to go back out," it was a statement
not a question.
"Yes General, all damage has been repaired.
The Damocles is ready to fight."
"Good Captain," Raindeck said as he took a status
report from an aid. "Then you shall take your ship and head for Babylon
5 immediately."
"Babylon 5 sir?"
"Yes, Babylon 5 Captain." Raindeck responded.
"Sir, Babylon 5 is no where near the front lines,"
Fisher said, "Wouldn't it be better to put the Damocles closer to the battle
lines?"
"Not this time Captain," Raindeck said, "I have
something else planned for you."
"Very well General. When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow. I have some cargo I want you to
take as well, and your escort wont be ready till then." Raindeck
told him.
"Who is our escort?" Fisher asked.
"The EAS Macedon will accompany you Captain," Raindeck
replied. "Now get going."
"Yes General." Fisher said. He looked up at
the monitor again, turned and left the room.
_____________________
Zack Allan couldn't remember the last time the station
had been so busy. With the station scheduled to be decommissioned
and destroyed next year few people bothered to come any more. Only
a few traders frequented the station these days.
Now dozens of military personal from all over the
ISA were running around the station along with IX researchers. Several
thousand humans and aliens from dozens of fleets working together building
something amazing.
"Major Allan," a voice called from behind him.
Zack turned to face his addresser.
"Yes," he said.
"I am Captain David Fisher from the Damocles," the
speaker addressed himself, extending his hand.
Zack took his hand and said, "Pleasure to meet you
Captain, welcome to Babylon 5."
"Thank you Major," Fisher said. "I received
a packet saying I should come and see you when I arrived here." Fisher
waited expectantly.
A confused frown crossed Zack's face for the moment,
"I've got nothing for you Capt., I never heard of you before you got here,"
Zack finally told him. Both men starred at each other a moment.
Finally Fisher broke the silence, "Then who..."
"I did," a new voice interjected.
Zack turned and a big smile formed on his face,
Fishers jaw dropped to the floor at the site.
"Mr. President, I had now idea you were coming to
the station, sir," Allan said.
"That is because I didn't tell anyone," Sheridan
told them, "and Mr. Vice President now, Zack." Sheridan shifted his
focus to Fisher. "Captain, I apologize for the subterfuge but it
was needed, I wanted to meet you personally but for security reasons I
couldn't tell you to meet me here."
"Of course not sir," Fisher said regaining his composure
slightly, "I understand."
"Zack, I believe the War Room is still intact,"
Sheridan said.
"Yes sir, just the way you left it sir," Allan reported.
"Then lead the way Major."
"Yes sir."
____________________
Sheridan walked into the War Room and dozens of vivid
memories. It was here that he planned the war against the Shadows
with Delenn, Ivanova and the others. From here he began the fight
to liberate Earth. He walked down the steps into the War Room proper
and stood in front of the large table were so many meetings had taken place.
Over there was were Garibaldi first told them about the Shadows weakness
against telapaths. In this chair Delenn had sat while arguing to
keep the league together.
Sheridan walked around the table slowly. He
saw the Galactic map, the Voice of the Resistance news desk and many other
little things from out of his past. It seemed as if it were a million
years ago.
"Mr. Vice-President," Fisher said breaking into
Sheridan's thoughts softly, "What can I do for you sir."
Sheridan turned and smiled, "Of course, you want
to know why your here," he said, "all in good time. There are a few
more people who need to be here first. Tell me Captain is this your
first visit to Babylon 5?"
"No sir, I came here once shortly before the station
broke away from the Alliance. It was more hectic then, not as many
military personal around," Fisher paused thought to himself, "but there
is something about this place that just feels alive, I can't describe it."
"You don't have to," Sheridan told him, "I understand."
Major Allan walked through the door just as Sheridan
finished, leading several people. Fisher saw many faces he knew including
Steve DeVries from Whitestar 17, Admiral G'Kern of the Joint Command, and...
Tessa Fluentes.
Sheridan returned to the table. When DeVries
saw him he gasped a little but quickly regained his composure.
"Entil' Zah," DeVries said with a formal bow that
Sheridan acknowledged.
"Welcome all of you," Sheridan said as the guest
took their seats. "You have been gathered here because we are no
longer going to play a passive role in this war."
A general stir ran through the room. Sheridan
continued, "The Rangers have located a Vyron supply base which is keeping
their offensive in business. I mean to deprive them of that base."
Sheridan paused for a moment to look at everyone in the room, "You have
been chosen because you are the best people we have for the job.
Admiral, please fill them in."
Sheridan took his seat as G'Kern stood.
"The Vyron base is located in the Angedilla system
and is a veritable fortress," G'Kern told them. "It is defended by
two Vyron Warcruisers and four destroyers as well as several starfighter
craft. The ships specs are included in you orders but the fighter
is a complete unknown. We have never engaged a Vyron fighter force
before and don't know what to expect." He stopped for a moment to
let it set in. "We are sending your ships, along with dozens more
gathered here, to that system. Once there you will destroy any resistance
and take the planet."
Tessa looked over to Fisher then back to G'Kern
and asked, "Sir, we can barely hurt them, how can we take this entire planet
from them?"
"Thank you Captain," G'Kern said, "as it happens
I have a good answer to that very question. Mr. Eilerson please step
in here for a moment." Max Eilerson entered the War Room carrying
several readouts and schematic drawings. "Eilerson here has been
working on that Vyron hulk for several weeks now," G'Kern told them, "and
has discovered a weakness in the Vyron shield systems. Mr. Eilerson
if you would."
"Of course," Eilerson said dropping his load on
the table next Sheridan," I have been working on decoding and translating
the Vyron language from the wreck recovered in sector 900. Using
my translations IPX has discovered a weakness in their shield systems."
Fisher noted that Eilerson spoke with all the arrogance Gideon had attributed
to him.
"The shields are highly susceptible to ion energy.
If there is enough energy directed at the Vyron like in a typical heavy
Ion Cannon then their shields will be rendered useless."
Fisher know spoke up, "Few ISA members use ion weapons,
in fact only the Narn and their Ion mines come to mind at the moment, what
good is this for us?"
"Your ships are being modified to fire an increased
ion signature from your main weapons," G'Kern informed them.
"Also," Sheridan said, "the Centauri Republic is
offering us over thirty Vorchan warships for this strike."
"The Centauri not trusted," a Drazi Captain said,
"Maybe they help enemy."
"The Centuari Emperor has assured me his forces
will follow orders," Sheridan responded. "I trust him, you should
too."
The Drazi looked satisfied with Sheridan's response.
"Your ships will all be ready in twenty-four hours,"
G'Kern told them, "You will rendezvous the Centauri in hyperspace in 27
hours. Be ready. Dismissed.
_________________