Blinking Aurora opened an eye. She lay on the ground of the shuttles and
had the feeling that each individual bone in herr body is broken. With
difficulty, she tried to pull up her. At least she succeeded with the
procure and took an overview over the main-bracket of the vehicle. How
expecting after such a tumultuous flight, most engines were off – line, the
most important systems of the ship ran only on emergency powers and
everything lay wildly around. Aurora glanced over to where the pilot was
laying. Aurora crawled to him. It seemed, as the legs are not badly
injured, but she didn't want to waste strength for unnecessary things. She
tried to feel a pulse but so often she it also tried, it was hopeless. The
man was dead. The neck was broken. She sent a short prayer to the prophets.
Finally, she turned to the brackets again. „Computers. Where are we at the
moment? How far have we been removed from our original position.? "She
waited and was very glad to be able to hear the voice of the computer at
least. „A position-investigation is not possible. Unknown space. „What do
you mean, unknown ? Are we no longer in the delta-quadrant ? "Increase than
she thought about the things she just heard with astonishment. This should
have been a wormhole maybe and they were in a quite other area. Exactly
after her last question to herself, the computer answered „After my
calculations we are no longer in the galaxy we know. "Auroras eyes became
ever bigger. Outside the galaxy ? Aurora considered the whole an
examination, that she had to undergo herself after best knowledge and
consciences, from now on. „Computer! Are there other planets or spaceships
in our surroundings? "„Positive. A planet of the class M with humanoiden
life-forms is situated beneath us. ‚Good ! ' Aurora imagined to herself .
‚I'm not alone and maybe I'm not the only one who had met the tear.'
„Computer. Identify the life-forms on the planet. " „An identification is
not possible. Life-forms unknown "answered the monotonous voice. 'Brilliant
! ' imagined Aurora to herself. ‚I have landed at the end of the universe
with a non working shuttle, no possibility to contact the Voyager and no
idea where I am !'
While she still looked through the window in the front suddenly another space ship which looked like a spider appeared in front of her shuttle. 'Very Good! I hope, they come in peace. Otherwise, it looks badly. ' Captured by the view and the thoughts about what might be happening she observed the other ship. Obviously, the ship had no interest in the small shuttle but took the planet under her without any warning under fire. The phaser looking fire-rays of the ship cut into the planets surface like a knife into warm butter. Explosions followed and short time later smaller ships rose from the surface. They replied the fire of the spin-ships, however for them there was no escape. One by another had been shot down and minutes later no ship was remaining. The fire on the surface still continued. As suddenly as the ships had arrived they vanished into nothingness again. Incapable to a reaction Aurora stared out of the window on that event. 'I always claim that the Cardassians were brutal and unmerciful. But even the Borg don't do that. They ask at least politely previously whether they cannot assimilate a little. Here is Resistance however more than futile.' A Scan of the systems of the shuttle brought no good news. Almost everything insice her body ached and she whished she had reported herself sick the previous night.
While she was dispairing looking for possibilities, she didn't notice that suddenly a gigantic, blue gleaming, hole opened and a majestically looking spaceship spit out. Finally, the everywhere present computer tore her from her thoughts. „In front of us is a spaceship of unknown size, which has just arrived here through a not-known phenomenon." Immediately Aurora looked out of the window and whistled appreciative. That was a truly beautiful ship which she couldn't compare to anything she knows. She had to be on charge of herself. Beauty often bargs dangers. „Computer! Does the ship have recognizable weapon systems and if yes, are they activated ? "„Weapon systems existing. They are not activated. "
'At least something. Hopefully, it is no rearguard of these monster-ships. Otherwise, it would be bad for me again. ' At the moment she whished that the shuttle would have a camouflage-appliance but unfortunately this small shuttle was equipped with nothing like that. She hoped earnestly, it would work like with the prior ships and they would emergence without discovering her. However she had to wait and hope. Other options were not available.
On the bridge of the „White star" prevailed active bustle. The ship had gotten an emergency call of a Narn colony and had immediately left to the rescue. They all guess that it had been one of the innumerable attacks of the shadows on this occasion. Among other things, the ship was equipped with tlepaths of the Minbari, which had proven to be the only effective weapon in the fight against these enemies. Captain Sherridan relayed his commands at the ranger Marcus Cole, that translated them into the language of the Minbari, so that the crew, which consisted mainly of Minbari, could achieve these consequence. „Are there any indications, that ships of the shadows are still in this sector? " The Minbari let the fingers glide over his bracket. „No. No shadow-ships. I locate a very small ship, which is obviously damaged and drifts in the universe more or less, however. "„Can you identify the ship ? "„No. None ship noted to us fits on this construction... not even a vessel of the shadows. " he added. „That could be also a trap. Maybe, the shadows have developed a new ship. We should be by all means careful. Are there life-signs on board? "„Yes I registers a person. "„Hail the ship !" The Minbari nodded.
„The other ship hails us. " noticed the computer. „Only audio-connection is available. "„On the channel !" ordered the bajoran. It cracked a few times and finally, she could hear ... ah miracles... the plainly comprehensible voice of a man. 'At least I don't have to worrie about communication- problems. ' „This is Captain John Sherridan. Commander of the Minbari ship „White star. Please identify!" From what... Minbari... she had never heared that before in her whole life. „Computers. Audio-channel off. Is a race to you known by the name of Minbari? "„Negative. "' Very well ! If even the computer does not know, what's going on here ! ' She started thinking about calling the ship back or not.
She was left here with completely unknown race heremiles away from the Federation space and oviously she was trapped inside a battle or even a war. She didn't know whether she had friend or enemy in front of her and over all howered the prime directive.
If she would respond now it might have consequences. Actually the directives had been concerned by her never big, but here, she realized that some of the bigs are really necessary. The technology of the federation in the hands of these monsters... She didn't know, how far the technology of her opposites was developed and in which way they could improve to an even crueler warfare. She thought about the war against the Cardassians.. Such a ship in the hand of the Cardassians would have meant Bajors downfall. 'No! ' she thought to herself 'I can't announce this technology to these monsters by no means. If necessary I will destroy the shuttle !'
Anxiously, the Captain listened the flush in the channel. Since five minutes, the other ship had not reacted to his reputations. 'Damn it ! ' he thought by himself. 'With whom or what we have deal here ? ' „It has no purpose. Did weapon systems have been activated ? "„No. Most of the systems of this ship seem to be besides function. "He thought for a minute. 'Maybe this is a possibility, to gain more information about the shadows or to the race the ship belongs to' „Activate thetractor-ray and pull it in the shuttle-bay. " he ordered. Marcus looked at him astonished but however nodded then.
Suddenly, a jerk went through the small shuttle. „Computer ! What has happened? "„We were grasped by a tractor-ray. "„Damn ! Do we still have any energy, that we can divert on the engines? "„Negative. No energy to start the engines. "„Is there another possibility? "„Negative. It doesn't exist energy sufficiently. "We should do something should now. She could and didn't want to announce this shuttle these foreign forces. „Computers is a transportation to the other ship possible ? "„Positiv. "„ Very good !" With a heavy heart she finally ordered „Computer ! Activate self-destruction- sequence. Emergency authorization Aurora 2.1. Tetra. Time up to the destruction, one minute. " She gave the transportation-data into the computer and prayed earnestly to have not caught exactly the bridge of the ship with them. Quickly, she opened the tiny armory of the shuttle. She had the election between a plasma-gun and a hand - phaser. So she didn't have the quietest idea, what would expect her, she finally snatched the plasma- gun, loaded the energy-reserve and went to the transporter-platform. „Computer. Initiate transporter-sequence. " Seconds later Aurora was dipped into a flirring light and was gone seconds later. No moment too late, because shortly after the shuttle exploded into tiny components.
„Captain. The ship was just destroyed. "„Destroyed !?! "The man jumped up from his chair. „Did anything shot on it ? "„No. As it seems it was destroyed by an appliance itself. "„Well very well. Whoever or whatever was in this Shuttle has now dismantled itself into its components. Are there possible indications of survivors? "„No, not directly. "„Could You explain that, please ? "„Shortly before the destruction we registered an unknown ray, that was escorted exactly on our ship. "„A ray ? What could have been that? " The matter became more and more ominously for the Captain. „I cannotreally say it. A completely new technology, might have cuased it. " „Are there indications, that a person had reached from the shuttle to our ship somehow ? " „I wouldn't not know how it should have been managed. " Sheridan wasn't content with the answers. „Attempt, to bring some of the bigger debris-pieces on board, and then scan the colony for survivors. " Silently the Minbari went to work. „We had scanned the surface of the planet. It was only a very small colony. There are no survivors. "„Damn !! " The man cut with a fist on the bracket. „Did You get some of debris- pieces? " „Yes, they are now in the drawer-bay. "„Good. Are any other ships still in this sector? "„No. " „Fine. I will now look at these debris. Set a course for Babylon 5. " „Understood! "
Aurora materialized in a long grave walk. Immediately she ducked at one of the walls and drew in the air with it. Presumably, she had a cracked rib or similar cracked and now she had big effort to breathe. Her arm also and her head felt dizzy. During the time in the shuttle she had probably been too busy in order to notice this. With difficulty she sneaked along the wall for a walk. She had no idea where she were. She hoped that there would be any working shuttles, with which she could flee from the ship. Too stupid that they hadn't monitors with an overview of the sip here like they had on most vessels of the Federation. Here, she could only rely on her instinct and could hope not to meet suddenly with somebody or to land on the bridge or in the machine-area. The ship itself appears to her ery strangely. Voices seemed to be in her head since she had arrived on the ship. The further she walked down the walk, the more intensive these voices became. Everything in her head told her that she should turn and take another way. However something kept her from escaping and she was put on by these voices magically.
Finally, she had arrived before a door. The voices were ever louder, yes almost already unbearable. Carefully, she looked around in the walk. There was nobody to see. Quietly and carefully, she now opened the door.
As soon it was open, the voices came towards her like a shock-wave. Incapable to move, she stared into the area in which several men and women lay on strange day-beds. She had never seen such a race in her life before. They had bald heads with a strange wreath therefore. They were dressed into long garments. Finally the shock-wave became more and more intensively and Aurora tottered in the open field back... directly into the arms of a woman. Aurora saw and heard nothing. She pushed the barrel of her plasma- gun into the stomach-area and ran then, so well it went, the hall down. Her time with the resistance now came to her property once more. Unfortunately she was a little bit rusty and so it advanced only laboriously.
Delenn rattled herself on. There was an invader on board. Maybe, it was the person from the other ship. „Delenn to Sherridan." „Sheriddan here. "„ I'm in the area of the telepaths A minute ago I met someone who pushed something into my side and ran away. Possibly, it is someone from that ship." „Thanks ! Are you okay ? "asked the Captain concerned. „With me is everything in order. You should only find the person soon. The telepaths seemed to have the person deterred. " Before she had spoken to end, Marcus had already vanished from the bridge and went on the search after the invader.
Still a little apathetically Aurora ran – as good as she could with her injuries - through the long grave walks of this strange ship. She was now warned, because the person, whom she had put over the pile there, would beat alarm surely. These men and women in the area were one of the most uncanny things, that she had experienced up to now. Obviously, they were telepaths with an unlikely power. The only telepaths, that Aurora knew, were the Betazoids. However, she never met one of them so this experience had shocked her however. 'The inhabitants of this quadrant must be very powerfull. ' she thought to herself.
She was getting more and more exhausted. Although she didn't feel secure she had to rest for a minute. She leaned herself against a wall.
Slowly and carefully, Marcus went through the grave walks. He wanted necessarily to find this invader. If it should really be about somebody of the shadows, it was his task to find this person as Ranger. 'Too stupid, that these walks are not illuminated better. Here, you could overlook something or somebody easily. One moment... ' As he went around a corner, he saw a dainty shape few meters before him leaning at a wall... with the back to him.
This had to be the invader obviously. It worked in him. Actually it was not his style to attack somebody from the back, but the things stood differently in this case. On this occasion, it was about an invader, who could possibly represent a big danger for the ship. Actually this person at all didn't looked so dangerously at all but he know better. Carefully, he pulled out his fight-rod...
In the meantime, Aurora had recovered a little bit. She just wanted to continue her hike through the walks of the ship as she suddenly heard a hiss. Before she could respond somehow, a hard hit met her in the neck and everything around her became black.
Slowly, the Ranger stepped to the unconscious person at the ground. She lay with the face to the earth and he could see nothing. He grasped her by the shoulders and turned her. 'Hmh... unequivocally human, but a strange nose and this uniform... I never seen it in my life before. From where may she probably come ? ' Curiously het touched the silver golden thing at her uniform. A strange sound could be heared but otherwise nothing happened. „Captain. I believe, I have found the invader. " „Very godd. Who is it? " „I don't have the slightest idea. Maybe you come here and take a look for yourself. "
Few minutes later, John Sherridan also stood beside the unconscious person. He had indeed not yet seen something similar. She looked truly harmlessly, but she had finally reached them with a unknown and had also survived the attack of the shadows. For him these were more than sufficiently suspicion- reasons. „Bring her into a certain quarters and guard her well. On Babylon 5 we hand her over to Mr. Garribaldi. He surely will find out more."
While she still looked through the window in the front suddenly another space ship which looked like a spider appeared in front of her shuttle. 'Very Good! I hope, they come in peace. Otherwise, it looks badly. ' Captured by the view and the thoughts about what might be happening she observed the other ship. Obviously, the ship had no interest in the small shuttle but took the planet under her without any warning under fire. The phaser looking fire-rays of the ship cut into the planets surface like a knife into warm butter. Explosions followed and short time later smaller ships rose from the surface. They replied the fire of the spin-ships, however for them there was no escape. One by another had been shot down and minutes later no ship was remaining. The fire on the surface still continued. As suddenly as the ships had arrived they vanished into nothingness again. Incapable to a reaction Aurora stared out of the window on that event. 'I always claim that the Cardassians were brutal and unmerciful. But even the Borg don't do that. They ask at least politely previously whether they cannot assimilate a little. Here is Resistance however more than futile.' A Scan of the systems of the shuttle brought no good news. Almost everything insice her body ached and she whished she had reported herself sick the previous night.
While she was dispairing looking for possibilities, she didn't notice that suddenly a gigantic, blue gleaming, hole opened and a majestically looking spaceship spit out. Finally, the everywhere present computer tore her from her thoughts. „In front of us is a spaceship of unknown size, which has just arrived here through a not-known phenomenon." Immediately Aurora looked out of the window and whistled appreciative. That was a truly beautiful ship which she couldn't compare to anything she knows. She had to be on charge of herself. Beauty often bargs dangers. „Computer! Does the ship have recognizable weapon systems and if yes, are they activated ? "„Weapon systems existing. They are not activated. "
'At least something. Hopefully, it is no rearguard of these monster-ships. Otherwise, it would be bad for me again. ' At the moment she whished that the shuttle would have a camouflage-appliance but unfortunately this small shuttle was equipped with nothing like that. She hoped earnestly, it would work like with the prior ships and they would emergence without discovering her. However she had to wait and hope. Other options were not available.
On the bridge of the „White star" prevailed active bustle. The ship had gotten an emergency call of a Narn colony and had immediately left to the rescue. They all guess that it had been one of the innumerable attacks of the shadows on this occasion. Among other things, the ship was equipped with tlepaths of the Minbari, which had proven to be the only effective weapon in the fight against these enemies. Captain Sherridan relayed his commands at the ranger Marcus Cole, that translated them into the language of the Minbari, so that the crew, which consisted mainly of Minbari, could achieve these consequence. „Are there any indications, that ships of the shadows are still in this sector? " The Minbari let the fingers glide over his bracket. „No. No shadow-ships. I locate a very small ship, which is obviously damaged and drifts in the universe more or less, however. "„Can you identify the ship ? "„No. None ship noted to us fits on this construction... not even a vessel of the shadows. " he added. „That could be also a trap. Maybe, the shadows have developed a new ship. We should be by all means careful. Are there life-signs on board? "„Yes I registers a person. "„Hail the ship !" The Minbari nodded.
„The other ship hails us. " noticed the computer. „Only audio-connection is available. "„On the channel !" ordered the bajoran. It cracked a few times and finally, she could hear ... ah miracles... the plainly comprehensible voice of a man. 'At least I don't have to worrie about communication- problems. ' „This is Captain John Sherridan. Commander of the Minbari ship „White star. Please identify!" From what... Minbari... she had never heared that before in her whole life. „Computers. Audio-channel off. Is a race to you known by the name of Minbari? "„Negative. "' Very well ! If even the computer does not know, what's going on here ! ' She started thinking about calling the ship back or not.
She was left here with completely unknown race heremiles away from the Federation space and oviously she was trapped inside a battle or even a war. She didn't know whether she had friend or enemy in front of her and over all howered the prime directive.
If she would respond now it might have consequences. Actually the directives had been concerned by her never big, but here, she realized that some of the bigs are really necessary. The technology of the federation in the hands of these monsters... She didn't know, how far the technology of her opposites was developed and in which way they could improve to an even crueler warfare. She thought about the war against the Cardassians.. Such a ship in the hand of the Cardassians would have meant Bajors downfall. 'No! ' she thought to herself 'I can't announce this technology to these monsters by no means. If necessary I will destroy the shuttle !'
Anxiously, the Captain listened the flush in the channel. Since five minutes, the other ship had not reacted to his reputations. 'Damn it ! ' he thought by himself. 'With whom or what we have deal here ? ' „It has no purpose. Did weapon systems have been activated ? "„No. Most of the systems of this ship seem to be besides function. "He thought for a minute. 'Maybe this is a possibility, to gain more information about the shadows or to the race the ship belongs to' „Activate thetractor-ray and pull it in the shuttle-bay. " he ordered. Marcus looked at him astonished but however nodded then.
Suddenly, a jerk went through the small shuttle. „Computer ! What has happened? "„We were grasped by a tractor-ray. "„Damn ! Do we still have any energy, that we can divert on the engines? "„Negative. No energy to start the engines. "„Is there another possibility? "„Negative. It doesn't exist energy sufficiently. "We should do something should now. She could and didn't want to announce this shuttle these foreign forces. „Computers is a transportation to the other ship possible ? "„Positiv. "„ Very good !" With a heavy heart she finally ordered „Computer ! Activate self-destruction- sequence. Emergency authorization Aurora 2.1. Tetra. Time up to the destruction, one minute. " She gave the transportation-data into the computer and prayed earnestly to have not caught exactly the bridge of the ship with them. Quickly, she opened the tiny armory of the shuttle. She had the election between a plasma-gun and a hand - phaser. So she didn't have the quietest idea, what would expect her, she finally snatched the plasma- gun, loaded the energy-reserve and went to the transporter-platform. „Computer. Initiate transporter-sequence. " Seconds later Aurora was dipped into a flirring light and was gone seconds later. No moment too late, because shortly after the shuttle exploded into tiny components.
„Captain. The ship was just destroyed. "„Destroyed !?! "The man jumped up from his chair. „Did anything shot on it ? "„No. As it seems it was destroyed by an appliance itself. "„Well very well. Whoever or whatever was in this Shuttle has now dismantled itself into its components. Are there possible indications of survivors? "„No, not directly. "„Could You explain that, please ? "„Shortly before the destruction we registered an unknown ray, that was escorted exactly on our ship. "„A ray ? What could have been that? " The matter became more and more ominously for the Captain. „I cannotreally say it. A completely new technology, might have cuased it. " „Are there indications, that a person had reached from the shuttle to our ship somehow ? " „I wouldn't not know how it should have been managed. " Sheridan wasn't content with the answers. „Attempt, to bring some of the bigger debris-pieces on board, and then scan the colony for survivors. " Silently the Minbari went to work. „We had scanned the surface of the planet. It was only a very small colony. There are no survivors. "„Damn !! " The man cut with a fist on the bracket. „Did You get some of debris- pieces? " „Yes, they are now in the drawer-bay. "„Good. Are any other ships still in this sector? "„No. " „Fine. I will now look at these debris. Set a course for Babylon 5. " „Understood! "
Aurora materialized in a long grave walk. Immediately she ducked at one of the walls and drew in the air with it. Presumably, she had a cracked rib or similar cracked and now she had big effort to breathe. Her arm also and her head felt dizzy. During the time in the shuttle she had probably been too busy in order to notice this. With difficulty she sneaked along the wall for a walk. She had no idea where she were. She hoped that there would be any working shuttles, with which she could flee from the ship. Too stupid that they hadn't monitors with an overview of the sip here like they had on most vessels of the Federation. Here, she could only rely on her instinct and could hope not to meet suddenly with somebody or to land on the bridge or in the machine-area. The ship itself appears to her ery strangely. Voices seemed to be in her head since she had arrived on the ship. The further she walked down the walk, the more intensive these voices became. Everything in her head told her that she should turn and take another way. However something kept her from escaping and she was put on by these voices magically.
Finally, she had arrived before a door. The voices were ever louder, yes almost already unbearable. Carefully, she looked around in the walk. There was nobody to see. Quietly and carefully, she now opened the door.
As soon it was open, the voices came towards her like a shock-wave. Incapable to move, she stared into the area in which several men and women lay on strange day-beds. She had never seen such a race in her life before. They had bald heads with a strange wreath therefore. They were dressed into long garments. Finally the shock-wave became more and more intensively and Aurora tottered in the open field back... directly into the arms of a woman. Aurora saw and heard nothing. She pushed the barrel of her plasma- gun into the stomach-area and ran then, so well it went, the hall down. Her time with the resistance now came to her property once more. Unfortunately she was a little bit rusty and so it advanced only laboriously.
Delenn rattled herself on. There was an invader on board. Maybe, it was the person from the other ship. „Delenn to Sherridan." „Sheriddan here. "„ I'm in the area of the telepaths A minute ago I met someone who pushed something into my side and ran away. Possibly, it is someone from that ship." „Thanks ! Are you okay ? "asked the Captain concerned. „With me is everything in order. You should only find the person soon. The telepaths seemed to have the person deterred. " Before she had spoken to end, Marcus had already vanished from the bridge and went on the search after the invader.
Still a little apathetically Aurora ran – as good as she could with her injuries - through the long grave walks of this strange ship. She was now warned, because the person, whom she had put over the pile there, would beat alarm surely. These men and women in the area were one of the most uncanny things, that she had experienced up to now. Obviously, they were telepaths with an unlikely power. The only telepaths, that Aurora knew, were the Betazoids. However, she never met one of them so this experience had shocked her however. 'The inhabitants of this quadrant must be very powerfull. ' she thought to herself.
She was getting more and more exhausted. Although she didn't feel secure she had to rest for a minute. She leaned herself against a wall.
Slowly and carefully, Marcus went through the grave walks. He wanted necessarily to find this invader. If it should really be about somebody of the shadows, it was his task to find this person as Ranger. 'Too stupid, that these walks are not illuminated better. Here, you could overlook something or somebody easily. One moment... ' As he went around a corner, he saw a dainty shape few meters before him leaning at a wall... with the back to him.
This had to be the invader obviously. It worked in him. Actually it was not his style to attack somebody from the back, but the things stood differently in this case. On this occasion, it was about an invader, who could possibly represent a big danger for the ship. Actually this person at all didn't looked so dangerously at all but he know better. Carefully, he pulled out his fight-rod...
In the meantime, Aurora had recovered a little bit. She just wanted to continue her hike through the walks of the ship as she suddenly heard a hiss. Before she could respond somehow, a hard hit met her in the neck and everything around her became black.
Slowly, the Ranger stepped to the unconscious person at the ground. She lay with the face to the earth and he could see nothing. He grasped her by the shoulders and turned her. 'Hmh... unequivocally human, but a strange nose and this uniform... I never seen it in my life before. From where may she probably come ? ' Curiously het touched the silver golden thing at her uniform. A strange sound could be heared but otherwise nothing happened. „Captain. I believe, I have found the invader. " „Very godd. Who is it? " „I don't have the slightest idea. Maybe you come here and take a look for yourself. "
Few minutes later, John Sherridan also stood beside the unconscious person. He had indeed not yet seen something similar. She looked truly harmlessly, but she had finally reached them with a unknown and had also survived the attack of the shadows. For him these were more than sufficiently suspicion- reasons. „Bring her into a certain quarters and guard her well. On Babylon 5 we hand her over to Mr. Garribaldi. He surely will find out more."