Chapter Seventeen

                    "Warmonger"

What to do with the Psi-Cops?  Here was Sheridan's suggestion which still made Captain Sisko chuckle.   "Send them home naked with a note pinned on their butts saying that they promised never to do it again," How Sheridan had raged, when he heard what Bester and Janice had attempted to do.   If the Captains had wanted to execute the two of them, Captain Sheridan he wouldn't have lost that much sleep over it, even if he did feel uncomfortable with the death penalty.  Locking them away would be a waste of good resources on B5 or the Enterprise.  But to damage Psi-Corps reputation seemed like the ideal solution and the Starfleet Captains readily agreed.

Captain Sisko's mission was a simple one.  He was to use the Yeager to transport the two prisoners to earth on their now disabled transport and transmit a message.  If Sisko performed his assignment correctly, then the relationship of Earth Gov and Psi-Corps would never be the same again.  That itself was worth a little mercy.

"We'll leave in four hours."

"Good." 

"Personally, I believe we should maroon them somewhere, for a few years."

"That's rather cruel, don't you think?"

It was unfortunate, he thought that the drugs was unsuitable for the two prisoners.  They were trained telepaths, highly resistant to most forms of coercion or drug treatments.  Besides his telepaths seriously frowned upon drug treatment to strip that ability away.  To them it was equal to extracting a person's eyes.  "It's better than having them executed, which was my personal choice." 

Rachel looked at him shocked by the casualness in which he had just spoken about taking a life.  "You can't mean that."

"Yes, I do.  I can't speak for him, but I believe that Captain Picard does also.  We're in wartime conditions and we don't have the resources to simply lock up everybody.  The attack on Deanna, Data, Susan and B'Elanna wasn't just simply a random crime.  It was an purposely intended act of cold-blooded murder in order to keep their secrets, military secrets I might add, intact.  That falls under military jurisdiction in wartime status.  And we are at war, Captain."

"I know what our status is Captain Sisko," the female officer snapped.  "But there are other ways to deal with them instead of capital punishment.  That was one of the main charters of the Federation.  It never condoned the execution of a sentient being, no matter what the crime.  It's the mark of a civilized society to deal with our criminal element in a humane manner, not by taking their lives.  If we execute our criminals we become no better than they are."

Sisko stared at her for a moment.  Then he began laughing.  "We become no better than they are," he repeated to a very irate Captain.  His tone wasn't friendly in the least.  "That argument has been repeated forever.  No one wants to die whether it's the victim or those that have been caught.  But that argument against the death penalty is under the assumption that death is the final end of everything.  I do not believe that it is, as we all must experience it one day.  You are wrong," he said.  "There is a difference.  Not executing their criminal element does not make a society more civilized.  It's taking the responsibility to properly deal with those elements that makes one civilized."

"How can you believe that?"  Her voice had raised a couple of notches.  "We have to find some better way to deal with criminals and killing them isn't the answer."

"It's a matter of perspective, Captain.  If we had followed your point of view to its logical conclusion, we would have surrendered to the Klingons without a fight."

"Defensive actions are not the same as capital punishment."

"Defense as in attacking four Romulan warbirds?"  Her eyes were glaring daggers now he noted, but he was not about to relent.  "They were attacking that Klingon colony but you physically attacked the Romulans first."

They were destroying the colony and we had to stop them."  These were the opening salvos of what would be a long, long conversation she realized.

"Even if they were killed in the process?  You do understand my point."

"There's a line in society that must be drawn.  We're responsible for improving the state of mankind and we must find a better way to deal with this subject.   And before you continue I freely admit that we have not discovered that solution yet."

"You're correct.  We haven't," he said.   "Think about this.  ISN has labeled us murderers.  The Lenmark, the Pournelle and the others were damaged or destroyed by our actions.  You gave the orders and I pressed the button.   Maybe we were defending ourselves but we took those lives." 

"It should be used with the greatest of care," Sisko continued relenting just a little.  "But personally, I have no problem implementing the death penalty to eliminate a sentient that acts like a diseased animal.  Neither does Captain Picard, nor Deanna, nor Riker.  We have learned that there are certain times we don't dare extend mercy, because those we have dealt with don't understand the meaning of the word.  Do Klingons fear death?  The answer is yes.  Do they extend mercy?  Ask the billions killed on Betazoid, the outer colonies, and a dozen other worlds over the last twenty years.  Mercy is not for the weak, Captain.  It is for the strong who then have a responsibility to extend mercy, otherwise it will not exist."

Rachel couldn't believe what she was hearing.  This was another example of the differences between the Starfleet she knew and this altered futuristic copy of what she remembered and loved.  Again the war had altered them in ways she had trouble understanding.  It was true, she tried to minimize the injury to the crew of the ships she fired on.  Unlike Picard, she directed her fire on the engines and weapons systems.  Her counterpart had done no such thing.  He had been efficient, brutal and thorough. 

But as she continued thinking about it, she sighed.  Her response had been just as brutal if not more so when she had been ambushed by the four Omegas and that realization hurt her.  All this time, she had been trying to change the attitudes of these people she had come to love.  But just maybe she was the one who was being changed.  And if that were true, just what were they becoming?  Rachel thought that she was winning this battle, but maybe it was the other way around.  She'd have to think hard about it.  Not yet, but soon.

Now Rachel changed the conversation to something far more personal.  "Are you still having them?"

"Yes," he admitted submitting to the changeover.  "Sometimes they are stronger, so strong I thought I might lose myself."

"They're dreams, Ben," Rachel said.  "They're most likely repressed memories of Jennifer and Jake.  It hasn't been that long, you know."

"I couldn't even remember their faces anymore.  Now they come to me in dreams saying that I am 'the Sisko'.  I am beginning to believe that they are not dreams…"

"I don't understand."  She hated seeing him like this.  She liked the resilient, competent, I-can-handle-anything persona that exuded from him. 

"I think they or more precisely some thing is calling me.  Even Deanna is beginning to agree with me."

"Then what do the dreams say, if I may be so bold?"

"They say I am incomplete and that I am the Emissary.  I must come."  He looked at her.  "Something is calling me."

"Come where?" she asked although she knew the answer.

"Home."  He knew how insane that sounded.  "I mean to our home universe."

"Then you believe that this is some sort of telepathic summons?  By who and for what reason?"

"I have no idea," Ben confessed.  "But there is an urgency the message, as though the window of opportunity is closing."

"Then maybe we should investigate this further."

"He thought about it for a moment.  "Maybe."

"I'm sorry-more or less," she added, "about our differences on capital punishment, but I think you're wrong."

"There's nothing to apologize about," he said.  "We have to be able to freely express ourselves to our friends.  It does not mean we have to agree with everything.  And we don't have to stab each other like the Klingons.  I'm just glad we're able to talk and keep the lines of communication between us open."

"So am I."

Captain John Sheridan walked into the Enterprise brig and immediately began smiling when he saw Bester pacing back and forth in his cell.  Plainly he wasn't aware that he was being observed.

Picard ordered the opaque field turned off and they watched as the prisoner stopped in mid-stride.  Spying Sheridan and Picard, he turned icy.

"I see you finally decided to grace us with your presence, Captain.  Have you come to gloat?"

"I'm not here to gloat," Sheridan said all the while smiling at him.  "Although I must admit that you do look rather natural in that cell.  And the clothes are a nice touch."

For a moment there was absolute silence as Bester gathered himself.  "Sheridan, I came to Babylon Five to share some information on the Shadows.  But as you can see I got sidetracked.  But I still have the information which I think that you would be most interested in."

Intrigued, Sheridan probed.  "What could be so important that you would violate Earth Gov's quarantine to get to us?"

Bester laughed.  "No, no.  Not until I get out of this cell."

I'm not interested," Sheridan said.  "You see it's out of my hands.   More so than you know."

Picard stepped in front of the field, dominating Bester's field of view.  "You and Jackie will be released," Picard said.  "You both will be placed on your shuttle and returned to Earth.  I'm sending a message to your government."

The way he said it sent a chill down Bester's spine. 

"You can keep the clothes.  It is my belief that old-fashioned stripes suit both of you.  Now get off my ship," Picard snapped.  Energize."

The two surprised prisoners were transported to their shuttle stationed next to the Yeager.  Once onboard the freed Psi-Cops were weary, then terrified as they stood before what appeared to be a firing squad.  Captain Sisko sneered at them, shook his head, and then fired.

John listened intently as Sisko confirmed that the package was ready for shipment.

"How long will they be out?"

"Heavy stun will lasts for about five hours and I am sure that their headaches will be memorable. The Yeager will tractor them to the edge of Earth and broadcast the message.  At that range the communications equipment will effectively override all transmissions."

"Earth Force is gonna be all over them if he doesn't time it right."

"That is a real threat Captain Sisko is aware of that but he is confident that he can pull this off," Picard said as the Yeager went to warp.  "So am I.  We will need him back here, which should be in about four days."

Now as the sat in the Ready-room, Sheridan was grim once again.

"Delenn has received reports form the Minbari government.  It's been confirmed."

Jean-Luc took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  "The Shadows have attacked the Vorlon territories."

"Yes," Sheridan confirmed.  "And they're not dancing around them like they did in the last war either.  In the last war it was true, everyone was involved including the Vorlons but there were very few records of them actually having direct confrontations.  This time though, it's different.  When the Vorlons attacked that Shadow raiding party that was very likely the catalyst.  Then there was the Kosh attack, which failed because Guinan intervened with the transporters and another of their people died.  Then, your brush with the Shadow ship may have pushed them over the edge.  Somehow the rules have changed.  They've changed their strategy and caught the Vorlons flat-footed.  The Vorlons haven't been able to rally and they're on the defensive.  There are unconfirmed reports that several of their big ships have been destroyed.  And hundreds of Shadow ships are heading into Vorlon space." 

He looked at Picard with all mannerisms of a man who bore the weight of the world on his shoulders.  "Soon we're going to be in the middle of the biggest bloodbath this galaxy has ever seen if we don't do something quick."

"Just what do you propose to do?"

"Right now, just surviving the next few days is an iffy proposition.  Beyond that I have no clue.  They've left the other races alone to concentrate on the Vorlons.  If worse comes to worse, the non-aligned worlds and the Minbari may be forced to intervene sooner than we planned, because without Kosh's people, we won't stand a chance."

"Well, we have some data on the ship that nearly destroyed my vessel.  You might find it interesting.  They don't use hyperspace jump points but rather they actually phase into hyperspace without the tremendous energy required to form a jump point.  However, my engineers have been working on that problem, since our ships essentially surround themselves in a subspace bubble effectively creating similar conditions.  Therefore I suspect that our graviton generators will be effective against them."

"How effective?"

"I am not sure yet," Picard said.  "Right now it is our top priority since further encounters with these creatures appear to be imminent."

Sheridan was about to ask for details when his comm united called for his attention.  He shrugged, a meaning that Picard knew all too well.  "Sheridan here."

It was Susan.  "We're getting a massive increase of neutrino emissions from the planet.  And there's something else."

And she told him.

"Babylon four?  Are you sure?"

"If it's a genuine distress call we can have the Ambassador…"

"No," Sheridan said.  "This is something we have to handle.  But thanks for the offer."  He was being cryptic he knew.  But this was strictly B5 business.

Captain Picard watched as Sheridan disappeared the hallway.  The Enterprise-D was still being repaired and he was late for his meeting with Guinan.  Turning with purpose, he went to talk to his Ambassador and his friend.

EAS station three:

The EAS battle group consisting of the Omega-class destroyers Damocles and Orion and their support ships tracked the small Federation starship's movements until it jumped into what was now known to them as warp space.  All jump gates linked to the renegade station were monitored and so far few Earth transports were getting in.  There was the occasional smuggler testing his or her skills but as a whole, it was locked up tight.  However, according to all reports, instead of B5 slowing choking to death, it was doing better than expected.   Long-distance scans had discovered a new class of Star fury and moreover, alien traffic actually seemed to be increasing.  Rumors from passing alien ships spoke of an incredible array of supplies and textiles, exotic foods and almost magical like repairs.  There were so many reports from so many alien travelers that Earth Force was becoming more than concerned.  The blockade was turning into a mockery in its present form, a thing to be laughed at by the other alien governments.

But enforcing the blockade on Babylon Five against any Earth based ship entering or leaving, served another purpose.  They were to keep an eye on all movements of the Federation starships.  This included those shuttles, the big cruisers and Battleship, and the newest little one called the Yeager.

"In what direction was it heading?"

"Their general heading points towards the Sol system, or somewhere near.  We're not sure, sir."

General Brindley received the report an hour later.  The question turned over and over in his mind.  Would the smaller ship actually go to Earth or Mars?  Was it a covert run, a test for a future invasion using that incredible FTL drive?  Why would Sheridan do such a thing?  He thought about it for hours. 

"I believe that it's a test," he later told his staff.  It was the only logical thing.  "Sheridan wants to see if they can enter Earthspace with impunity.  Those other ships that he has may be part of this overall plan.  Inform Earth Force that they may have visitors soon.  The Yeager may be coming.  Target with extreme prejudice."

He looked at his staff once more.  Hopefully there'll be something left for us to salvage."  He hoped that he looked more confident than he felt.  Long-range visuals had recorded the little ship in combat with those-things.  It was tough, maneuverable and fast.  He hoped that whoever encountered it had support.

Centauri Prime:

As wonderful as it was to be on the homeworld, Londo Mollari, Ambassador to the Babylon Five space station, was not happy being here.  The Imperial palace, once a place of beauty and splendor was now a place of foreboding and shadow.  Dressed in his best finery, he respectfully acknowledged his Emperor.  The Emperor Cartagia laughed gaily and waved Londo closer in which he did as he was ordered.  But he did not get too much closer as the Emperors vicious-looking guards were eyeing him for any signs of treachery.   Everywhere people quieted so that they could see what might happen.  The current was not stable and anything might happen.

"We are so pleased to see you," Cartagia beamed.  "Have you done what we have requested?"

Londo gulped.  "Not as of yet, my Emperor," he said softly.  "Security has been heightened since the attempted assassination of Ambassador Kosh and other recent developments.  I believe that it is almost impossible to acquire the shield technology by negotiations alone.  But at this time I also believe that force may not necessarily achieve our goals."

Londo spoke every word with he greatest of care because, quite frankly, the new Emperor was completely insane.  Insane people have a tendency to perform rash acts.   His temperament was unpredictable, and it was well known that several of his enemies had disappeared recently.  The Earth people had a saying walking on pins and needles.  That phrase precisely described anyone's dealing with Cartagia.  High society treaded carefully in his presence.  And bad news could get the messenger killed quite easily these days.

For Londo though, today wasn't his day to die.

"I understand, Londo," the Emperor said soothingly much to the relief to everyone present.  Then he laughed and everyone else did also including Londo. 

"Do not worry, Londo," his leader intoned.  "We expected this and have made arrangements accordingly," he said as he put a friendly arm around the Ambassador's shoulder.  "I want you to enjoy your time here for the next few days.  Take time off and relax yourself.  We grieve at the loss of your loved one."

Londo thanked Emperor Cartagia for his concern false as it was but it was understood that the ruler of Centauri Prime did not want him going back to B5.     

"Come, come Mollari, I have someone I wish you to meet," Cartagia continued.  "I want you to meet someone," he repeated, pulling Londo along like a child at play.  Quickly Londo was pulled over to a solitary figure more or less hidden in the corner.   The creature was covered in heavy cloth and wore a hood that hid nothing of the hideousness of his features.  It was about his height, bald, greenish gray colored and possessed a predatory look that would have done those Klingon beings proud.  But by far the most frightening thing was that it seemed-not in focus.  That was the best way he could describe it.  Its image shifted as though one looked at it through a distorted mirror.  It was a most frightening effect.

"He is called Drakh," said a voice from behind.  

Londo's right heart faltered for a moment.  He had no idea that Mr. Morden was on Centauri prime.  "Mr. Morden," he said not showing the fear that had now infused him.  "What is his species?  I have never seen anyone like that."

"His species is called Drakh," Morden said as though that would clear up any misconceptions.  "But we prefer to call the Emissary.  Think of him as an Ambassador…like you."

"Ambassador to where? Londo gulped. 

"Why, here of course," answered Cartagia rather upset that he had been left out of the conversation.  "The Drakh are associates of our associates and now that we are at war, I thought it was good that we came together, after all we will be seeing a lot of one another soon."

Londo's mind reeled even as he struggled not to faint.  "We are at war?  Who are we at war with, Sire?" he managed to ask.  He hadn't heard nothing not even rumors of another war.

"Why, with the Vorlons of course," Cartagia beamed brightly.  "It's a wonderful war, Mollari.  The Vorlons were taken completely by surprise and two of their worlds have fallen.  Most of their newest warships have been eliminated and they are in disarray."

"My associates are most pleased with the results," said Morden.  "However our resources are stretch to the limit and we needed to call in some favors.  There are powers that will almost certainly involve themselves on the Vorlon's behalf, so the Drakh will deal with them.  Then there are the Federation shields, which are proving a true nuisance.  Normally my associates would strongly desire to study those shields and other very exotic technologies themselves, but as you can understand, they are busy at the moment."

"And this is where we come in Londo."  Cartagia was smiling so brightly that Londo turned from the glare lest he say something.  Let the universe burn he had said recently.  Well, he had just discovered that he was about to get his wish. 

"Lord Refa thought of this most wondrous idea.  We will get the secrets of the shields and of course that amazing transportation mechanism from the Klingons."

Londo thought furiously.  "I expect they might resist our suggestions to give it to us peacefully.  I have told Lord Refa this but he refused to listen.  I suspect that he wishes capture the glory himself.  Didn't he tell you that those Federation ships might intervene?  Then there is Babylon Five who will not take this exercise lightly."

"Might…if," the Emperor dismissed with the wave of his hand.  "Do you mock me?" the ruler of Centauri asked.  He thought as he stared at Mollari for a second and dismissed the idea and watched as Londo sighed in relief.  "No, Mollari, I don't believe you would do that.  I understand your concerns.  But I made a promise, a promise I intend to keep.  That is why I am sending a phalanx of the Imperial fleet.  They won't dare interfere with a dozen Primus and Vorchan warships pointed at their throats.  Our ships are so much better that those pitiful earth ships."

"But Babylon Five is technically EarthGov property.  What if they decide to defend it?"

Cartagia smiled.  "That's why I like you.  You are always thinking."  He pulled Londo close and whispered into his ear.  "President Clarke rather likes the idea that that horrid station might be destroyed.  It's causing him no end of grief and if it happens to be, let us say, obliterated by mistake, it wouldn't bother him at all.  He wouldn't be at fault.  Its destruction would be on that thief Sheridan's shoulders.  Clarke will not commit any ships in the defense of Babylon Five and if he did, it would come far too late."

Morden bowed to the Emperor and then added a few points, from his perspective.  "It has always been in the interest of my associates that B5 stay intact.  However recent events are lowering its importance.  It's becoming a problem.  That's' why you were ordered back here.  We don't want anything to happen to you.  After all," he said quietly.  "You did made a promise and we will fulfill our part of the bargain.  There are other friends of ours that are leaving also, quietly of course.  We don't want to arouse suspicion."

"What about Vir?" Londo asked suddenly terrified that he might be lost in the coming conflict."

Cartagia had an answer for that and it was delivered like a slow moving glacier.  "Everything is already in motion.  We can't have every one of our people leave.  It might spoil the surprise.  No telling now, promise?"  Again he smiled at Londo.  "Don't worry about Vir," he said waving his hand as though the person he was talking about meant less than nothing.  "I have a new attendant for you.  He will serve you well when you go as our new representative to Z'ah'dum."

Londo shook his head, the sadness coming off him in waves.  Everyone I care for dies.  And as per usual, he could do nothing about it but watch.

He needed a drink-or several.  He wasn't sure yet when it would happen, but Hell was coming.

Chief Garibaldi was still fuming when he discovered the others had left him behind.  Delenn had gone, along with Sheridan and one of his best friends and former Commander of B5, Jeffery Sinclair.  He couldn't understand why he had been left behind this time.  He had been to B-Four previously and he had had experience with the temporal disturbance that surrounded the station.  But it was too late for him to catch up now and much of that time was wasted with that crazy encrypted letter from Sinclair.  It was unfair which, by the way, was one of his favorite mantras.  Unfairness surrounded him like a fog. 

He was off-duty now but too hyped up to rest.  He had just eaten one of his favorite meals-courtesy of his personal food replicator when he was beeped.  Why wasn't that no one could get a little rest when they needed it, as if he could actually get some now?"

"This is Garibaldi."

"Chief this is Hiroshi.  I think we have a problem."

Nuts.  It was time to get back in uniform.  Sandra was covering the night watch in Command and Control, since she wanted to pull her weight around here and Susan had been delighted to get some relief.  

"What's the problem?" he asked as he put his shoes on.

"We have three Centauri Vorchan cruisers just passed through the jump gate."

Now that was strange.  "Have you hailed them?"

"Yes and they did not return our hails.  I've been trying but they are not responding."

The hairs on his back started to rise. "What are they doing?"

"Just standing there."

That was not good.  "I'm coming up.  Continue to hail them and just to be on the safe side put B5 on general alert."

"Already done."

Something was wrong and found himself running to the elevator.

On the K'mpec's Honor, the Klingons were having a good time.  Impossibly, they had discovered that Narn dishes were very much to their liking.  And if the Narns were generally untrained in the ways of battle, they were more than willing to learn Klingon combat techniques.  Sometimes he was almost tempted to give some of the weapons to G'Kar's people in their war against the Centauri.  What a battle that would be!  But the others were right.  Even with the weapons, the Narn weren't strong enough to win.  He would not do that to them. 

Captain Koral had promised himself that he would learn about this new place and he had kept that promise.  The Humans here were not bad but old habits were hard to kill and he found himself flinching at them.  But it was happening less and less. 

And he enjoyed his talks with Worf, son of Morg and even the Human commando, Captain Sisko.  It was true, they had more in common than they had thought, even if they were weak willed.  And this universe had enemies enough to satiate all of his crew.  But this Babylon Five...  What a place!  It changed a person's soul.  You could not stay here and not be changed.

He was becoming enlightened.  But he was a little angry as well.  Worf had decided not to join the crew and Koral was not sure why.  Then there was Knona, who had asked-asked no less!-to spend some time on the Ambassador in some sort of exchange of cultures' nonsense.  He would never even consider doing something like that.  Yet-

-For some reason he felt envious.  That female showed strength he wished he had.   His people had lost most of their day-today culture in the war.  Yes, there were festivals, song and the telling of their history.  But the joy, as Worf put it, was lost in the constant wasted fighting.  Without the constant threat of war there was so much to see!  Home was so much simpler but even if they made it back, it would never be simple again.

"Captain," his scans officer said in battle language.  "Three Centauri warships have just exited the gate and are pointed in our direction."

It was of little concern to him what they were doing.  They weren't those insect vessels so therefore they could come and go as they pleased.  A minute later, B5 was trying to contact the strange haired Humanoids.  They didn't respond and now Koral's interest increased. 

"Koss," he said.  "To station."

Seconds later the young Klingon entered the bridge, food still on his forehead and took his place at the weapons station.  Koral said nothing as he resisted the urge to laugh.  The boy never could clean food off his face properly.  At least this would give him something to do.  All those thoughts vanished as at least nine independent jump points formed almost on top his ship.

"Combat alert!" he yelled as the first messages were received.

"Get Vir up here, now!" 

"Fourteen heavy cruisers and support fighters and they're talking, but not to us," Sandra said as Michael Garibaldi ran to the center of the Command and Control.  "We need to launch our fighters."

"Agreed, ASAP.  Launch everything.  Let me hear what they're saying.

"…of the Centauri government demands that you surrender your crew and ship for interrogation for violating Centauri space.  You have three standard minutes."

"We spy on no one.  Your planet is unworthy of our interests."

"Our reports clearly identified your ship edging Centauri space when you first appeared.  When you are examined on the home world, your guilt or innocence will be determined…"

The Klingon Captain lost his temper and launched a string of curses detailing to the Centauri exactly what they could do with their investigation and their Emperor and a few others were added for flavoring…

"Enough of this," Sandra said, blanching at the sheer number of  warships she was seeing.  "Get me a channel. This is Babylon Five command.  The Klingon vessel is under our protection.  You have brought a hostile force into our space.  This is an act of aggression that will not be tolerated.  Leave our space now.  If you have a complaint, present it through your local government official."

Vir rushed into the command, saw what was happening, and was shocked beyond comprehension.  "What is happening out there?  Why are there Centauri cruisers all over the place?"

He turned to Garibaldi and asked if someone was attacking B5.  It was clear that he didn't have a clue what was going on.  Both Sandra and Michel shuttered at the implications.

"All hands battle stations!"

"Request permission to leave the ship."

"Request granted, Worf," Garrett said.  She turned and looked at her crew.  They were anxious, but ready.   It really was a shame she thought.  Every since the accident, fighting had been almost a constant part of their lives.  Now it seemed as though they were about to go into battle once more. "Transport now. And get me the Enterprise-D."

The Enterprise was in no condition for a running battle.  Its shield generators were still being repaired its warp engines were offline.  Shields were at thirty-five percent and it had edged closer to B5 for protection.  All six of her combat Runabouts were surrounding her and her weapons were hot.  She couldn't move faster than one-half impulse, but she was about to become a stationary weapons battery.

"Transport is complete.  The Klingon cruiser is at full power and her weapons systems are fully active."

This was the one thing they had been warned about.  Guinan had mentioned Centauri aggression but this over action came as somewhat of a surprise.  B5 seemed to be an acceptable neutral ground, even between the Centauri and Narn.

"Launch both our Runabouts.  Have them support the Enterprise and get me a channel to the Centauri."  Picard had already made their position clear and she was about to re-enforce that position.   "How many ships?"

Twelve Primus heavy cruisers and the same number of the Vorchan attack cruisers and over one hundred of their smaller Sentri fighters."

"The Klingon ship is being targeted.  B5 also, and both Federation ships," Castillo said tightly. His mind worked furiously.  Something didn't match up right here.  "This is something else here.  All this isn't just simply to capture one ship."

"I agree," Captain Garrett said as she sat down lightly into her chair, preparing herself.  "Guinan was right.  They've thrown in with the Shadows.  They're here to destroy Babylon Five."