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 2 months ago. Farscape crew is quite a bit older.

Author's Note: Sorry about the lengthy delay to all of the faithful readers. I have been watching my enhanced stats and the skyrocketing number of readers. I just had a lot of work to do recently.

Summary: An overburdened Coalition fights to survive and the Alliance and Confederation face-off.

Stalemate

It has been three solar months since the first battles were launched in the Great War.

And the Peacekeepers have found themselves overburdened with the task of fighting a war on three sides and still maintaining internal order.

They turn to a new hope, dangerous and promising. They have ambition and a will to fight. And a new fleet that has been carefully hidden from prying eyes.

But will it help them?

* * * * * *

High Commandant Rekit Savar, Head Commandant of the Peacekeeper Military and Magistrate Ivar Nirant, ruler of the Peacekeeper Coalition, sat in Ivar's large office on Sebatia.

They were, however, not alone.

Reva Talik was the Chief Scientist in charge of Operation Tunneler. Her dark red hair was tied into a ponytail, reaching half-way down her body. Her blue eyes watched Ivar and Rekit as they read her most recent report.

As the leading scientist on Operation Tunneler's roster, Reva was in charge of developing the Peacekeeper's wormhole technology into a system that could carry the Coalition fleets anywhere in the universe. Perhaps then they would be able to hit the Alliance and the Scarren Empire at their own bases instead of sitting back and trying to repel the invasion attempts.

With the exception of Reva, all of Operation Tunneler's scientists were kept on a strict lockdown. They had absolutely no contact with the outside world.

Reva, as Project Manager, was the exception to that rule. She was allowed to see the classified briefings that came to High Command and was allowed out of the Operation's base to meet with Ivar and Rekit.

The reports coming from both the Alliance and Scarren fronts showed that the war was a stalemate on both ends of the Coalition space. The Scarren border had been nothing but border skirmishes since Operation End Run had been shut down by the Scarren Imperial Fleet. Fourth and Seventh Fleets had managed to take eight systems before a pair of Scarren Fleets had stopped them. The captures by the two attacking Coalition fleets had been maintained, but only after strained combat.

The front with the Alliance was precarious after the Alliance had launched five oversized Task Groups at the Coalition.

The Alliance had managed to hit the Nebari hard, taking nearly half of their eleven systems, and had maimed the Scorvian's First and Second Fleets, taking three of the Scorvian's reported eight-six systems with them.

The Alliance had been beaten back in their attack on the Hynerian border, the Hynerian Imperial First, Second and Third fleets repelling the attacks with force.

One of the four Task Groups sent targeted at the Peacekeepers had been repelled at the Peryan system, though at the loss of ninety-two percent of the Coalition fleet protecting the outpost. The other Task Groups had cut a triangle into the Peacekeeper border taking twelve systems and holding them with reinforcements from their Fleet.

It was this stalemate that Operation Tunneler was supposed to break. The front with the Alliance had to be constantly patrolled due to their ability to travel from system to system without covering any of the intervening space. The front with the Scarrens was similarly protected, but by over twice as many ships.

If Operation Tunneler turned out to be a success, the Coalition would be able to land strikes straight at the heart of the enemy positions, hopefully creating enough damage to pull the three sided war into a truce or a cease-fire.

"How long do you think it will be until you are ready to test your first large-scale models?" Ivar asked, bringing Reva out of her thoughts.

"Our initial tests, based on the Pod modules, have been a resounding success, though we have not figured out why. Initial tests indicate the design of the vessel is the key. If that is the case, we will need to construct a module of larger size before testing. I estimate at least two months before we are able to test the first large scale module and at least four months to construct it."

"So half a cycle?" Rekit asked with a frown.

"Roughly," Reva nodded. "Unless we have a sudden breakthrough, of course."

"All right," Ivar said with a frown. "You are dismissed."

Reva bowed and retreated from the office, leaving the Magistrate and Head Commandant to their plans.

* * * * * *

Magistrate Ivar Nirant and High Commandant Rekit Savar frowned as Reva Talik hurried out of the large office.

"Half a cycle," Ivar said as he shook his head. "We have to buy her half a cycle before she can even test a large scale module."

"We don't have that long," Rekit announced. "My spies are indicating that the Alliance has rebuilt its fleet and is preparing for offensive actions again."

"Jerin reported the same thing to me yesterday," Ivar said with a nod.

"What would you suggest though? Jerin's people are working on some plans to target the Alliance, but he said it might be a day or so before he has anything to bring me."

"I think request a truce, or a cease-fire," Rekit said with a shrug.

"Are you kidding me?" Ivar asked, his eyes wide with surprise. "High Command would have me shot!"

"Not if it brought an end to a war which we are losing. The fact that the Alliance has already started preparing for offensive maneuvers indicates that their fleet base and shipbuilding capacity and ability far outshines our own. There is no way we can keep up with them."

"That might be true, but what are we going to offer them to guarantee the truce? They will require some concessions on our part?"

"That is true," Rekit agreed. "Perhaps offer them control of the systems they have taken from us in exchange for returning the Nebari and Scorvian systems."

Ivar stood and began to pace.

Rekit was proposing something very dangerous. If he tried to get a truce with the Alliance and High Command didn't approve, he could lose his position and perhaps face other consequences. It was a dangerous game to play, especially when Operation Tunneler could have a working model in.

Ivar's eyes widened as he realized what Rekit was proposing. He turned and Rekit grinned.

"You're a genius," Ivar said with a resolute nod. "Get working on that immediately. I'm going to call a secret emergency session of High Command and inform them of our plans."

Rekit nodded and quickly disappeared.

If the Alliance took their offer, and signed a cease-fire, the Coalition would have time to develop Operation Tunneler and when the wormhole technology was finally ready to use, Coalition fleets could attack a stunned opponent.

Ivar grinned as he began waking the other members of the High Command and summoning them to the meeting.

* * * * * *

Luxon Ambassador Ki' Lalar frowned as she entered the opulent offices of Queen Tian Erasa.

The Queen's parlor was enormous, even by diplomatic standards, and was definitely designed to impress- or was it perhaps intimidate? - any visitors to the chamber.

Ki' Lalar, the Ilanic Ambassador Il' Rekesh and the Alliance Ambassador Frena Kildess were shown to a trio of comfortable arm chairs facing a lone chair across a table strewn with appetizers and drinks.

Ki' Lalar had been Ambassador to the Royal Sebatian Colonies for seven cycles before the outbreak of the War, so she was accustomed to the set up.

Il' Rekesh and Frena Kildess were both less than a month into their tenure as Ambassadors to the Confederation and were still amazed by the smallest of things.

As they sat and waited for the Queen, Lalar, Rekesh and Frena whispered to each other about the tapestries and the windows and the trim. It was all very beautiful work.

"Admiring the tapestries?" A voice asked and all three Ambassadors turned to see Queen Erasa gracefully entering from one of the side doors. "I'm sorry that you had to resort to that. I was dealing with matters of state with my Chief of Staff."

"It was no inconvenience, Your Majesty," Lalar said with a respectful bow of the head. Rekesh and Frena took their queues from the elder diplomat and bowed their heads slightly.

"Well," Erasa said as she sat and picked up some form of tart and nibbled. "What can I do for you this afternoon?"

"Your recent pronouncements that any military vessel entering your territory will be considered a hostile," Lalar said simply. "The Alliance High Command, and more specifically the Luxon and Ilanic members of the Alliance, would like clarification."

"What needs to be clarified?" Tian Erasa asked with a frown. "If it is armed and enters our territory, we consider it hostile."

"You would consider a merchant escort to be a vessel with hostile intent?" Rekesh asked, taking over the debate for a moment.

"If it is armed, then yes," Tian replied simply as she sipped some form of tea.

"And yet you expect us to allow your merchant escorts free reign of our territory? Where is the fairness and equality?" Rekesh asked as she leaned back.

"I never claimed that there would be fairness," Tian said simply. "The Confederation, unlike the Alliance and the Coalition, has not shown any aggressiveness towards our neighbors. The only conflict we have seen is with the Sheyang, and everyone knows that we were acting in defense of our shipping rights."

"The Alliance was formed after the Coalition attacked the Alleghany system," Frena interjected.

"But the Alliance launched the first major assault of the war," Tian interrupted. "If this is all you have come to talk about, you have wasted my time. There will be not settling on this matter. Good afternoon."

Tian rose with a growl and stalked out of the chambers, leaving the Ambassadors speechless.

* * * * * *

John Crichton, Dylan Hunt, Li'Taran, Leo Tiral and Ki'Tisan frowned as the report from the Ambassadors assigned to the Confederation was read.

Li'Taran growled deeply as he stood and paced the briefing room, looking none too happy.

"There will be no double standards," Ki'Tisan said simply. "I will not allow Confederation ships into my territory if they will not allow me the same privilege."

"Then we must act as one, with a unified voice," Dylan said with a slight frown. "If one of us lets the Confederation in and another does not, we will seem weak and divided."

"I doubt there will be much need of discussion," Leo Tiral said with a shrug. "We have no interaction with the Confederate merchants, so the Sabra- Jaguar will help support any decision that you make."

"Very well, let's see what we can come up with."

* * * * * *

Alliance Task Force Three-One-Alpha was positioned at the point that both the Confederation and the Alliance agreed upon as the border between the two powers.

Leading the Task Force was the Andromeda Ascendant herself, with three command cruisers, fourteen battle cruisers, forty cruisers and two flotillas of destroyers in support. The Task Force would have been a fleet had it been provided a few more capitol ships.

But TF-31A was not in place to launch an assault, which would require capitol ships. Rather, TF-31A was in place to blockade the approaching Confederation trade convoy. Over eighty merchant ships and one hundred destroyers and light cruisers. The Alliance force consisted of the right mix of firepower and speed to make sure that the convoy never made it past the border.

"Sir, advanced drones report that the Convoy is approaching. Estimated time until we are detected is twelve minutes." Rommie reported and Dylan nodded.

"Let's see how they take this."

* * * * * *

Admiral Sakar Telis had been put in charge of Confederation Trade Convoy Eleven because of his extensive anti-piracy experience and because of his diplomatic skills. High Command knew that if the Alliance got tough, it would require delicate negotiations to get them out of it.

"Admiral, forward sensors are detecting a fleet at the edge of our territory!" Sakar's tactical officer reported with a frown. "Numbers are in the uppers eighties to lower nineties."

"All ships to red alert," Sakar ordered as the convoy continued to approach the fleet. "Order all ships to come to rest outside of maximum weapons range. And send a mess to the capitol, it should only take a few arns for them to get help here."

Sakar's mind raced with the possibilities ahead of him and the ways that he could avoid conflict. He knew that if he opened fire on the ships, that he would start another major war, one that the Confederation would have to throw all of its effort into.

But on the other hand, the trade ships in his care had to reach their destination. A large part of the Confederation's lifeblood was based on commerce with the neighboring stars, and if that trade stopped, a large part of the Confederation's economy would crumble.

He hoped that he would either be able to resolve the situation himself, or help would arrive from the capitol three arns away.

* * * * * *

"WHAT!" High Fleet Admiral Garesh Tirik shouted as he came out of his chair and glared at the communications terminal aboard the command cruiser Reven. The Confederation's flagship was the most modern command cruiser in the fleet, equipped with an extensive communications suite.

"Sir, Admiral Telis reports that his convoy has encountered an Alliance fleet at the border. He reports that he is maintaining his position until further orders," the ship's Communications Officer reported.

"Helm, get us underway! Full speed to the border," Garesh ordered as he returned to the command chair. "Communications: order the fourteenth battle cruiser squadron and the eleventh light cruiser to escort us. Navigation, how long will it take us?"

"Three-point-four arns," the officer reported and Garesh nodded.

The ship and its assigned escorts were underway immediately, having the advantage of warm drives to increase their reaction time.

Garesh typed out a quick message to Tian and then another to Admiral Telis, telling the Queen what was happening and informing the Admiral that help was on its way.

Garesh rubbed his chin as he watched the holo-grid and the accelerating detachment. If the Alliance had a fleet on the border, there were only two real possibilities. They were either giving a show of force, something to warn the Confederation that they meant business, or they were going to blockade their territory against Confederate merchants.

Tian had warned him that the Alliance was unhappy about the Confederations demand that no armed vessels enter their territory, and she had warned him that they would probably try to get their point across.

But this was one hell of a way to do it...

* * * * * *

"Sir, the Trade convoy and its escorts have come to a complete stop outside of weapons range. We're receiving a hail from the flagship," Rommie announced as she activated the communications screen.

"This is Admiral Sakar Telis, Commanding Officer of Confederate Trade Convoy Eleven, you are in violation of interstellar law by preventing my passage."

"Wrong, Admiral," Dylan said with a shake of his head. "You are in violation by attempting to bring armed vessels into my territory without authorization."

"The Confederation does not need authorization from Alliance Command to bring merchant escorts."

"I am merely returning the favor, Admiral," Dylan said with a wry smile. "The merchants may pass through, but any armed vessel that crosses the territorial border of the Alliance will be considered a hostile vessel and will be boarded or fired upon."

"Captain, I'm warning you. I have already received a message from Confederate Command," the admiral glanced at a display. "High Fleet Admiral Tirik is en route aboard the command cruiser Reven with an escort detachment."

"Good," Dylan said with a nod. "Then we can resolve this when he gets here."

Dylan cut the communications circuit and smiled slightly. He was definitely provoking the Confederation by blockading their trade with Alliance systems. But he knew that the other members of the Alliance fully supported his actions, especially the Luxon and Ilanics.

He watched as the Confederate merchant ships edged backward and the armed escorts moved to the front of the formation, just in case the Alliance ships decided to attack instead of just pose.

"All ships report weapons ready and targets acquired," Tyr reported with a smile.

"Acknowledged," Dylan said with a nod.

* * * * * *

Over three arns passed as the Reven and her escorts sliced through space at maximum military speed.

As they closed on the trade convoy, the communications section of the flagship was overwhelmed by messages and transmissions from the various merchant cartel ships in the convoy. The department filtered all of the unnecessary messages out and left only the military messages to be looked at.

"Sir, Admiral Telis reports that there has been no change in the situation. The Alliance continues to blockade the convoy."

"Acknowledged," Garesh said with a nod as the holo-grid blossomed with information.

He spotted the Alliance fleet and glanced at the various designs and markers throughout. One particular ship, the only one of its class in the convoy, was at the head of the formation.

"What is that ship?" Garesh asked as the computer listed the ship's heavy armament.

"That is the Andromeda Ascendant," Garesh's tactical officer reported. "It's the Alliance Flagship, Sir."

"Their Flag also, eh? Hail them," Garesh ordered as he straightened his uniform.

The image on the holo-screen was not what Garesh had expected of the commanding officer of the Alliance Flagship. He was not particularly old, nor was he particularly ugly.

"This is High Fleet Admiral Garesh Tirik, Commanding Officer of the Confederate Fleet. What exactly do you think you are doing?"

"I am returning a favor," the man said simply with a slight smile. "It is now the policy of the Alliance that no armed vessels will be allowed to escort merchant ships into our territory. The unarmed ships in the convoy will be allowed to pass, but not the warships."

"What do you mean you are returning a favor? We have never blockaded your systems."

"No, but you have denied our merchants the use of armed escorts, so we are doing the same," Dylan said with a shrug.

"You have no right-"

"And you have no right to deny our merchants the protection that you so zealously defend for you own vessels," Dylan interrupted. "Can you guarantee that there are no pirates in your territory? Can you guarantee that your Halosian ships will not attack our merchants? Is it not true that a Halosian destroyer attacked one of your own merchants?"

"That was an isolated case!" Garesh argued. "One destroyer attacking a single merchant, it was a case of mistaken identity."

"If an armed vessel were to attack an entire convoy of unarmed vessels, it is unlikely that any of them would survive long enough to get an alarm out." Dylan shook his head. "I speak for the Alliance when I say that you have a choice to make. You can either allow our merchant escorts into your territory or your merchants can suffer the loss of business with the Alliance."

Garesh growled and switched off the com.

* * * * * *

"They mean business, Your Majesty," Garesh informed Queen Tian Erasa.

"What would you suggest?" Tian asked with a frown.

"If you don't want the merchant cartels tearing you apart, we're going to have to go along with the Alliance's demands. Either we allow their ships into our territory or our merchants go without escorts."

"Damn it, Garesh," Tian said as she paced. "Fine, damn it tell the damn Alliance that their ships will be allowed into our territory. But tell them we don't appreciate the strong arm tactics."

Tian cut the signal and continued to pace. Her first face-off with the Alliance and she had lost because the merchant cartels had so much power in the Confederation. If she were to anger them, they could cut off their funding to the Confederation military and the Confederate members would be forced to raise tax rates to pay for the increased defense demands.

She shook her head as she sat back down and took a sip of tea.

* * * * * *

Dylan smiled as the Andromeda slipped into the docking bay in the Fredis system.

The outgoing merchant convoys were being escorted by destroyers specifically set aside for that purpose. His victory over the Confederation on the matter of merchant escorts had solidified his position as one of the Alliance's leaders, as if that position had been in doubt.

He shook his head as he stood and started for the door.

"Sir, there is a message coming in from Fredis Command from Alliance High Command in Alleghany marked urgent for you," Rommie said with a frown. "Its heavily encrypted."

Dylan nodded and stepped into his ready room.

"Decrypt and play message," Dylan ordered as he sat in the comfortable arm chair.

"Dylan," it was Leo Tiral. "We have a situation. This message was received from the Coalition High Command this morning."

Another face took the screen. Dylan recognized it as the face of the Peacekeeper's Magistrate Ivar Nirant.

"I am Magistrate Ivar Nirant, Ruler of the Peacekeepers and leader of the Coalition. This message is meant for the Alliance High Command in the Allegheny System and is endorsed by the whole of the Coalition High Command. I bring a request that a cease-fire be called between our forces and peace talks commence as soon as possible. We realize that the Alliance is too powerful a foe to face and that peace is the only solution to this conflict without the loss of many more lives and the collapse of the Coalition governments."

Dylan's jaw dropped as he leaned back in the chair and wondered about the possibilities.