John looked over the reports one more time. The telepaths were in place, and so was the fleet. All they needed were the coordinates from Mr. Garibaldi, and the final battle would begin. Michael had been picked up by the Mars resistance after he had betrayed Sheridan. John really didn't understand all of it, but all his people down there, including Stephen and Lyta assured him that Michael had been under some sort of Psi Corps control, and that he was clean now. Sheridan knew that he'd have to try and find out what happened later, but he just had to accept the fact now that he could be trusted again.

He thought again back to Delenn. They hadn't had a reliable report from Minbar since civil war had broken out there, and he was worried about her.

"Captain?" a crewman broke his reverie. "We just received word from one of the Whitestars. Marcus has been given the all clear, and has jumped into normal space. We're ready to go.

"Very good." He then turned to Captain James. "We got the launch order, the cargo's been delivered. Standby to open jump point."

"Standing by," he said

"Form up; activate jump engines," Sheridan ordered.

"Aye sir, jump engines online, fleet standing by."

"Jump!" As they jumped into normal space, Sheridan looked at the tactical display. The 'packages' had obviously been activated. Twenty of the ships were disabled, and five more were showing signs of losing control. But there were still ten operational ships.

He opened a comm. channel to the fleet. "Whitestar tactical squadron, you are cleared to open fire on hostile vessels still in operation. Target engines and weapons systems. I want them disabled, not destroyed." The Whitestars disabled the remainder of the fleet with little difficulty.

Sheridan sent a message to the Ranger leading the force of League ships who had joined the cause. "We're ready to jump. Tell the rest of the league ships to stay here and keep an eye on the destroyers we've disabled. If they get into any real trouble, do what they can to help, without compromising their own safety. Are the jump engines back online?" he asked.

"Yes sir."

"Then lets move. We've taken care of the enemy behind us, now there's just the enemy in front of us. We have to hit them before the destroyers figure out what we've done." Then he opened a channel to Marcus' Whitestar. "Marcus, were jumping. Get up here."

"Were on our way." He replied.

"All ships, standby to jump. Target, earth beacon, 1-1-6-2-niner."

"Aye captain, targeting earth beacon 1-1-6-2-niner."

"Jump!"

After a few minutes, one of the crewman informed them that they were within range to jump. "Tell the others," Sheridan said, "we jump now."

Captain James began issuing orders. "Activate jump engines, standby to jump. Jump!" As they approached Earth, he began transmitting a signal to Earth on all frequencies. "You're on," he told his former captain.

John took a deep breath. This was the moment that this was all about. They were at Earth. They were going to take back their home.

"This is Captain John Sheridan. We are here on the authority of a multi-planetary force, that can no longer stand by and watch one of their greatest allies falling into darkness and despair. We are here on behalf of the thousands of civilians murdered, under orders from the current administration, who have no one else to speak for them. And on behalf of the Earthforce units that have joined us, to oppose the tyranny that has darkened earth ever since President Santiago was assassinated, three years ago. We are here to place President Clark under arrest; to disband Nightwatch; and return our government to the hands of her people."

Captain James was looking over the tactical data. "Planetary defense grid is activated, getting a fix on our position."

John continued, hoping to get through to the people on the planet. "We know that many in the government have wanted to act, but have been intimidated by threats of retaliation against your families, your friends. You are not alone anymore. We call upon you to rise up and do what's right. We have drawn their forces away from Earth and disabled them. The time to act is now. This is not the voice of treason. These are your sons, your daughters; whose loyalties have never wavered, whose beliefs in this alliance has forced us to take extraordinary means. For justice, for peace, for the future; we have come home." He toggled his link, and cut the transmission to Earth.

"Status?" Sheridan asked. He hoped there would be a reply from the planet, but he wasn't holding his breath about those chances. Like John predicted, instead of a transmission, Clark had decided to send a different message.

"Defense grid armed and firing," said Captain James.

Damn, that wasn't what John was hoping for.

"Incoming, red alert!" At James' command, the ship went to red alert.

"All ships, evasive action, Sheridan ordered. "Launch starfuries, target incoming missiles. Destroyer group, target local defense platforms. Fire at will." Then he turned to his former XO. "Keep monitoring all channels; let me know the second you get an answer."

After the starfuries had spent a few minutes trying to beat back the barrage of missiles, Captain James turned to John.

"Signal coming in from Earthdome."

"Put it through, and route it to the rest of the ships."

A woman's voice, probably a senator, came over the comm. "Captain Sheridan, this is an emergency transmission. President Clark is dead. He took his own life before we could arrest him. But he left a message on his desk. Two words. "Scorched Earth". Captain I believe he's turned the defense grid toward earth. We can't override the systems here. If you don't stop them, they'll fire in ten minutes. Captain, the particle beams on those defense platforms can level forty percent of the planet's surface. You have to stop them before they can fire!"

He didn't wait to hear anymore. "Sheridan to attack fleet. You heard the senator. All ships fire at will. Call in the League ships, we need them."