Commonscape By: Griffin Copyright notice: All characters belong to their respective owners, all original characters and plot elements belong to me.

Note: Most of the Andromeda crew is current as far as about a month ago. Farscape crew is a bit older.

Summary: The Peacekeepers learn about the newly formed Alliance and begin making moves to counter its growing influence, without openly attacking the unknown enemy.

Confrontation

The tiny frigate finally reached its base, just inside Peacekeeper space.

It had taken almost sixteen solar days to arrive, which meant that the sooner they got the information held in their databanks to Command, the sooner High Command could react to this possible new threat.

"This is Fredis Flight Control to incoming Frigate, please transmit identification codes and authorization passwords."

"Transmitting now," the captain said as he signaled his communication officer to begin the transmission.

Several minutes passed before the screen lit again.

"Welcome back, Liander. Begin docking maneuvers at port seven-one."

"Take us in," the captain said as the ship approached the sprawling space port.

* * * * * *

Captain Ilanis Taraset reviewed the data once more before turning off the viewer.

The information the frigate had returned from the assault on the Alleghany Republic was devastating. Not only had the operation failed in the complete destruction of the task force, it had caused the formation of alliance.

The Luxon Empire, the Independent Planets of the Periphery and this 'Restored Systems Commonwealth' had formed an alliance. The Luxons and Independents both brought sizeable fleets to the deal, and from the battle reports the Frigate had transmitted, the Restored Commonwealth brought heavy firepower.

"We need to get this to High Command as soon as possible," Ilanis said simply.

"Indeed. They will need to formulate plans against this possible threat to our power," Lieutenant Geran Riol agreed. "Shall I have a courier prepped for launch?"

"Yes. It will take them only four solar days to reach the High Command if they leave immediately. It will likely be two solar weeks before we see any results from their decisions. But it's not our job to wait on them. Prep the courier."

* * * * * *

Admiral Liro Rashi strolled along the command deck of her flagship: the Peacekeeper Command Carrier the Ristan, reading her new orders.

High Command had decided that her task group would be sent to reinforce the frontier against this new threat, and send feelers in to test the extent of their forces.

A similar task group had been deployed to the Luxon Empire, reinforcing the tenuous border with the war hungry Luxons. High Command was also trying to get a large enough task force together to probe into this new Alliance to see what their response would be.

"Well," she said finally as she turned to her bridge crew. "Send the order out to the rest of the Task Group. We will depart in one solar day for the Fredis Outpost."

The command carrier, ten battle cruisers, nineteen heavy cruisers, twenty- seven light cruisers, forty one destroyers and various support vessels of Liro's Task Group began forming up for the six day journey to Fredis. She decided to deploy half of her marauders as cover in case they came under attack and leave her prowlers in their bays unless absolutely needed.

The information provided by High Command indicated that the enemy they were facing had very powerful fighter craft and that it would be unwise to try and attack them unless overwhelming numbers could be achieved...

* * * * * *

Ambassador Kiran Drassi approached the conference room where he would be meeting with the representatives of the Hynerian, Nebari and Scorvian governments.

It had been quite a challenge bringing the three representatives within a solar day of each other, but High Command had done it.

It had been relatively easy when one considered it.

They had told the Hynerians that their dethroned ruler was preparing to overthrow their government, the Nebari that one of the leaders of the Nebari resistance was gathering forces for an attack and that the Luxons, and by natural extension the Ilanics, had formed a new, powerful alliance.

Those were things the respective governments could not over look. And so they had sent their representatives.

"I have brought you here together for a common purpose," Ambassador Drassi began as all of the representatives were seated. "Our reason for coming here may be different from the person sitting beside us, but the goal is the same."

He brought up a holo-vid of the battle for the Alleghany Republic and the three ambassadors watched the complete annihilation of a medium strength Peacekeeper Task Force by a combined fleet.

"What you just witnessed," he continued as the holo disappeared, "was the complete destruction of a task force we sent to an independent system to secure the territory for the Peacekeeper High Command. The combined forces of the Luxon battle group, the system defense fleet and this unknown battle cruiser were able to overwhelm a command carrier, three battle cruisers, seventeen cruisers and twenty destroyers and all of the fighter cover that would be provided in such a force."

"What is your point?" The Nebari asked impatiently.

"The Peacekeeper High Command would like to extend an offer of mutual defense and non-aggression to each of your governments. In the event that one member of the pact is attacked, the others will come to their aid."

"Why would we want to make a deal with the peacekeepers? They have never come to us before with such an offer." The Scorvian ambassador remarked sarcastically.

"That is because we did not face such a threat as we do now," Kiran said simply. "The threat that the Peacekeepers face now is a strengthened rebel presence in the form of the Independent worlds. A presence that has sworn to overthrow our government and plunge our territories into chaos and anarchy," he said as he too sat.

"What the Hynerians face is an assault on their throne by a dethroned and bitter leader, the Nebari face outside support for their growing rebel concerns and the Scorvians face the threat of having the Luxons and Ilanics bolstered in their fight against you. Because, as anyone could imagine, it will only be a matter of time before the Ilanics join in this Alliance and bring the entire weight of the Luxon Empire, the Independent worlds and whatever strength this 'Restored Systems Commonwealth' can muster. Does the Scorvian Empire really want to face that possibility without the support of the Peacekeeper High Command?"

"Perhaps they have no such plans," the Scorvian ambassador countered.

"We already have proof that the Luxons have signed an Alliance with the Restored Commonwealth and have arranged for technology transfers."

The Scorvian grumbled and shook his head.

Kiran wasn't getting the responses that he was looking for in this meeting. So he decided to draw his trump card.

"Very well then, I am forced to show you something that I had wished could wait until we had secured this deal." He pressed a stud on the arm of his chair and the replay of the three ships 'starbursting' was projected. And moments later the ships returned. "Two of those ships were Leviathans. The other was not. What is more, they were able to return to exactly the same place that they left. This, as anyone with any knowledge of Leviathan Starburst will tell you, is impossible to accomplish. This means that this 'Restored Commonwealth' has introduced a technology that will allow its ships to travel long distances to precise coordinates. Do you really want an entire Luxon and Ilanic Battle group invading the Scorvian home system? Or the Nebari or Hynerian home systems?"

The three ambassadors looked at each other wearily as the possibilities flew through their heads.

The Scorvian shook his head and stood.

"I never thought that I would ever agree to such a pact with the Peacekeepers, but this information means that this Alliance is far too dangerous to leave unchecked, or to face alone."

The Hynerian and Nebari nodded and Kiran steepled his fingers in success.

* * * * * *

Spies, both in merchant traffic and under the direct pay of the Independent governments, observed the meeting between the Peacekeeper ambassador and the representatives from three of the larger powers in this region of space and the traffic that began to move as Scorvian, Hynerian and Nebari ships began gathering in the Peacekeeper's forward system of Fredis.

The new Coalition began deploying these foreign units to shore up the strength of their front-lines and began bringing ships out on deep space patrol, back to base for reassignment.

Through various methods the spies returned this data to their masters in the Alliance, where the data would be processed and plans laid to counter this new and dangerous threat.