Authors note: I know that at first glance this seems like it should be in Crusade AU or the nearest waste disposal unit? but as B5 is a major player in the later chapters in this story and its companion piece Returning HomeI decided to keep them together.
In the later part of the story the subject of Gay relationships is discussed, but not any sort of detail, but mearly as a vehicle to bring up the subject of bigotry and the misuse of authority.
So I think this will need to get a PG rating, for now Usual disclaimer—the people and places belong to JMS, not me.snarl snarl But I can dream!
denotes thoughts.
new beginnings.Chapter one.
Captain Susan Ivanova had been out on the Rim the day that the Drakh had struck Earth. They didn't hit her with missiles or even nukes. No, they had surrounded her atmosphere with deadly satellites and released a Shadow-created plague.
The only semi-bright news that day had been the fact that although Earth was totally contaminated, it would take this biotoxin roughly five years to alter itself enough to attack its new hosts.
Then it would wipe out every single kind of life on the planet, leaving it barren and toxic for millennia.
Upon hearing the news the day after the attack had occurred Captain Susan Ivanova gave the order to set the most direct course for home.
"I've lost too much for that planet. Ill be damned if Ill give it up to some alien bug," she muttered taking her place in the command chair.
Those that heard the comment wondered just what this prickly woman had lost.
But no one was dumb enough to ask.
They had travelled for two days, going from jumpgate to jumpgate. Noone really looked out at the black and red chaotic swirls of hyperspace any more. Their strange beauty masked by their deep need to get back home quickly.
"Captain Ivanova, there is a message coming in. It's on an ISA channel…but its asking for a pass to connect?" Lt Mulgrew at communications announced in an extremely puzzled voice.
"Exactly what does it say Mulgrew?" Ivanova asked quietly, she had wondered when he'd call.
Mulgrew listened again to the transmission to be exact in his repetition.
"Code 7R…Ivanova…Pass required," he replied.
Ivanova sat up straighter in her chair, swept her bridge with one glance then said, "Open channel…Pass—Obsidian tears."
The screen in front of her hissed, then the connection was completed. Ivanova heard the sharp intake of breath from her crew, as the image became crystal clear.
"Mr President, you are looking well, considering the situation."
"I wish that I could say the same for you Captain. When did you last sleep Susan?" John Sheridan demanded not atall happy with what he saw.
Susan just grinned.
"I thought politicians were supposed to be trained in diplomacy. Obviously I'm in a higher class than you Mother-hen," she answered calmly, quite enjoying the gaping mouths all around her.
Sheridan had to grin back. "Okay, so we both look like crap. Susan how long will it take you to get to Mars?"
Ivanova sat forward as she replied, "About 38 hours. Is that where they are organising from?"
Sheridan paused looking thoughtful before he replied.
"Yeah, they are using Mars as an interim base for now…But Susan, Hell I don't want to talk about this online…Ill meet you planetside in about 42hours. Alright?"
"Fine…John, is it as bad as I think?" she asked softly watching every muscle on her friends face.
Sheridan couldn't hide his pain, this was his home. No matter where he lived now.
"Yeah its bad Susan… But we kicked out their masters, now its time to deal with them."
Ivanova smiled slightly at that then she replied, "But of course Mr President."
"By the way Delenn and David send their love." He told her, his face breaking into a real smile at the thought of his beautiful family.
"Na Shel timorn" returned with thanks
"Hey your accents getting pretty good," Sheridan praised. "See ya soon Susan."
"Watch your six John," she instructed, then he was gone.
I wonder if the Drakh have any idea what they have done. He had that Look in his eyes. Oh! Well here we go again, another BOOM… God I wish HE was here. I miss you, you British Pest
Ivanova returned from her musings to see a vaguely shocked bridge crew.
"Okay people, he's gone return to your duties." She ordered.
As she relaxed back into her chair she noticed the perplexed look on one of the young ensign's faces.
"Is there a problem Ensign Mulani?" she enquired.
"No ma'am. I was just puzzled by something the President said…sorry ma'am," the embarrassed girl hurriedly replied before turning back to her station.
Ivanova smiled inwardly, Mulanis curiosity was legendary aboard the Valkyrie.
"Well out with it, cause I can guarantee that the same puzzle is running around other heads on this bridge?" Ivanova instructed with a grin.
"Yes ma'am," replied the young woman returning the grin. "He mentioned beating the Drakhs masters. But I cant think of any contact with them before this, so how did we beat their masters?"
Susan had to smile at that. The arrogance of youth.
"That is because Earthforce was not involved in that incident. President Sheridan was referring to the defeat of the Shadows at Corriana six, by a coalition of forces under his command."
"And Earthforce wasn't involved?" Lt Delamin at the science station behind Ivanova asked in an amazed tone.
"No," Susan confirmed, "the coalition was made up of The Narn, Drazi, Gaim, Pakmara, Minbari, the other non-aligned worlds, Anlashock and Babylon 5 forces."
"Wow! That must have be some sight…But who are the Anla…Anlash..?" Mulani queried.
"Anlashock…that is the Minbari name for the Rangers," Ivanova answered quietly before turning away from the girl. She really didn't want to answer questions about them.
It hurt too much
Forty-three hours later Ivanova sat in a bar on the East Side of the Mars complex and waited for President John Sheridan to arrive. She looked around the place and wondered once again why he had stipulated this place. The best thing she could say about it was it was still standing. The walls showed various battle scars where missiles had left their marks. And the clientele was on the nasty side of shady.
Then she had no more time to think as the man in question appeared and scooped her out of her seat and into a tight embrace. She held on just as tight, very pleased to see her old friend in one piece.
He released her with a lop-sided grin and slid into the booth opposite her chair.
"Sorry Susan, but it is so damn good to see you," he stated sincerely.
"Yeah, even if you do look like…well I guess you know how you look," a very familiar voice intoned behind her.
Susan looked at Sheridan and tried very hard to glare. "You just had to bring him, didn't you?"
" Fraid so," Garibaldi laughed as he too squashed her tight. "How do you think Mr P. here got out of all that fancy security they surround him with these days?"
"Michael you are impossible," she announced trying to sound stern, as he realeased her and slipped in beside Sheridan.
"Well I am pretty sure that they will catch up with us soon, so let's get down to business," Sheridan declared. "This is the deal Susan. I am going to give the Earth Alliance the New class of ship that the ISA has been developing. It is one of a kind.
Its mission will be to go everywhere and anywhere in search of information on a cure, and if possible these Drakh…and I want you to Captain her."
Susan choked on her lemonade. She didn't drink now; she found that vodka only made her dreams more vivid. Dreams about him
"John I am really flattered, but you have to know that they are going to want their people in charge." She said once she had stopped coughing.
"Tough! They can pick whoever they like to crew the thing. But the Captain and XO, I'm choosing," Sheridan stated emphatically with that old fire burning in his eyes.
Susan shook her head, so that he continued in a softer voice.
"Susan you have an expertise that no other serving officer possesses, and that is going to be vital if Excalibur is going to fulfil her assignment."
"What did you call her?" she whispered as her face went pale.
Sheridan glanced at Garibaldi the worry evident in his blue eyes.
"Don't worry so, John. You just caught me unawares," she said softly catching the look.
"I don't understand," stated Garibaldi, feeling out of the loop and not liking it one bit.
"I am so sorry Susan. That was stupid of me, I shouldn't have just dropped that on you," John apologised reaching over to clasp her small hand.
"Man getting annoyed here," Michael put in grumpily.
"Excalibur was the name of King Arthur's sword. After the little visit of Arthur to B5, Marcus started to re-read the legends all over again. Then proceeded to recite them to me on every goddamn mission we went on. He drove me insane, but I did learn the legends." Susan explained to him. Garibaldi silently cursed as he squeezed her arm in an offer of support.
"One of the main bits of the legend states that when the King's people need him most, the King and the sword will come to their aid once more," she whispered as she heard him in her head once again.
That legend has great meaning and power for my people, Susan.
"Well his people are definitely in need of help, so it sounds like the ships name is right," Michael said seriously when she had finished.
Susan silently drank some more of her now flat lemonade, then asked the question that had been bugging her since she had arrived.
"John why did you want to meet here? I mean it is a bit of a dive, to say the least."
Sheridan smiled as memories of another time drifted through his mind.
"Yeah it is," he agreed, "But this is where Sinclair and I got rat-faced together after a disagreement with a few people during the food riots."
"You and Sinclair drunk, that I would have paid many credits to see." Michael laughed, thinking of his best friend. He still missed Jeff.
Susan nodded in agreement.
"Okay so what's this expertise I have that no one else possesses?" she enquired knowing full well that she shouldn't. Curiosity winning over good sense yet again.
Sheridan looked like the cat that had just caught the proverbial canary, as he replied.
"You know how to work with the Rangers, and they know and trust you," he stated quietly waiting for the BOOM.
Sure enough it came.
"Rangers…what the hell are you babbling about you madman?…and who knows me?" she shrieked totally confused by this latest unexpected turn in events.
Garibaldi winced at the volume, but Sheridan didn't bat an eyelid.
"Excalibur will have a unit of six Rangers aboard. You know their skills, how they think, how they work, and you won't try and turn them into EA personnel. Plus they know you and I don't just mean because of Marcus," he explained softly knowing that he was on sensitive ground.
Susan glared at both of them as if they were escapees from some asylum. She was positive that the brass wouldn't go for that. But would they really have a choice? Sheridan had that look in his eyes again.
"But John I have no idea about the op systems or capabilities of your ship. So how the hell can I captain her, even if you do get the brass to approve?" she put forward as she tried to calm down at least a little.
"That is the other reason that yours truly is here," Michael explained. "I do know the systems, so I am going to be your teacher in Excalibur 101.
Susan closed eyes seeing the almost maniacal glee in Garibaldis face. It was obvious that they were not going to back off on this one.
I should have stayed out on the nice quiet Rim.
"Okay Ill do it, if you get authorisation. When does she arrive?"
"In 17 days," Sheridan answered, then looked up at the huge man who had just appeared at the table. "Oh hello Melvin. Susan, Michael say hello to Melvin."
"Hello Melvin," they chorused.
"Mr President I really must insist that you return to the compound immediately," the head of security on Mars declared, looking extremely peeved.
"No problem Melvin. We'll just drop off my friends on the way. Come on guy's we've got a lift back," Sheridan informed them cheerfully now that he had got his own way.
Susan and Michael smiled sympathetically at the man, they both remembered having to deal with Sheridan in this mood. It was a nightmare.
Melvin stared back blankly, but inside he really just wanted to hit something…or was that someone.
Twenty days later Captain Susan Ivanova of the ISA ship Excalibur, sat in her office just off of the main bridge. She was lost in the profiles of her command and medical staff. She grimaced as she read the countless flimsies; she really hated this part of the job.
Paper work just sucks.
The first one to come out of the pile had been that of the Chief medical officer, Dr Sara Chambers. As she read it she couldn't stop thinking about another doctor.
I really hope he's doing okay. Knowing our Steven he's probably already behind a scope watching the little buggers.
Susan returned her focus to the file and read on, then she made a mental note to contact Hobbs on B5. Chambers looked good on paper but she'd feel better with some personal references, and Doctor Lillian Hobbs seemed to know everyone in Medicine.
Or maybe it just seemed that way.
After reading other files for a while she got up to replenish her cup of caff. She still had a little coffee, but she kept that in her quarters and used it sparingly. As she drank she thought of those already on board. She had asked for Mulgrew and Mulani to be reassigned to the Excalibur from the Valkyrie. Mulgrew because he was the best communications tech she knew, and Mulani, well she just had a really good feeling about the young officer.
Then there was the odd couple.
Odd was really a big understatement. Firstly there was the cloaked techno-mage, Galen. He unnerved her slightly with his piercing silver eyes and his loquacious way of talking. He was most definitely an enigma that would take eons to unravel. If even then.
But Sheridan had vouched for him and his friend personally.
Dareena Nafeil was as different from the mysterious Galen as was possible to get. She was vivacious, fiery and extremely up front about her opinions.
Ivanova had taken an instant liking to the woman although she was did gave her a moments pause.
In Dareenas own words she was a damn good thief.
Then she came to one Tristan Anthony Drake; son of the late General Anthony Drake, grandson of Admiral Ena Drake. And now Captain Susan Ivanovas problem.
Drake was an efficient, well-organised officer with an exemplary record. But he was also an total stuffed shirt. He worked directly from the book, saw everything as black or white. She doubted that he even knew grey existed, and that was going to be difficult if not downright impossible on this mission.
Also she had noticed since she had come aboard that as the most senior officer on Excalibur after her, he had taken on the mantle of Executive officer.
Something she was going to have to disabuse him of today. For today John Sheridan was arriving and he was bringing her XO with him.
Susan pulled a face as she thought about her last conversation with Sheridan. He had been like a little kid with a great BIG secret. Especially when she had tried to discuss the choices for her XO, he had basically told her not to worry about it. When she had pressed him on it all he would say was that he had someone in mind.
She had tried to contact Garibaldi to see if he knew anything, but was told that he had left on a private visit to B5. Very strange.So between that,paperwork and the weird dream she had last night about Sinclair/Valen and Marcus, she had had more than enough.
The computer chimed to remind her that she should go and get changed into her new uniform, in order to be ready to meet the President.
Susan swallowed the last of her now cool caff, then left for her quarters.
Well Ill find out what the buggers hiding today. Then Ill kill him.
Susan strode through the lower deck corridor on her way to the docking bay. It took a bit longer ,but the walk gave her time to think. She had been alerted that Sheridans shuttle was on its way in so she reckoned that she'd be right on time.
As she walked down the brightly-lit corridor she pulled at the new uniform that Earthforce had sent her.
She had hated it on sight. Grey and orange what prat thought that up?
And now that she actually had to wear it she detested It..
Her internal ramblings however were cut short by a raised voice. Namely one Drake's voice.
"That is not how that should be done Ensign Mulani, is it?" he barked from within a small maintenance alcove up ahead.
"But sir, this is how Lt Mulgrew asked me to set this unit up sir." Mulani tried to explain.
"Then I shall just have to speak to Lt Mulgrew as well. In the mean time set this unit up as you were taught, the correct and only way on this ship. As this ships first officer I will have the best for her."
Susan had been about to intervene knowing that sometimes Mulgrew did set up his unit's weird, but they worked. But upon hearing Drake refer to himself as First Officer, her infamous temper erupted full force.
First Officer, not bloody likely.
She didn't show it yet but she was furious at the arrogance of the man.
She strode over to the alcove and wasted no time with pleasantries.
"MR DRAKE, a word outside now. Mulani, set it up as Mulgrew asked then report back to the bridge." She instructed coldly.
"Yes ma'am," the worried girl replied as Drake exited.
Susan took a deep breath realising the young ensign thought the anger was focused on her.
"Mulani…don't worry," she said softly, "Its okay."
She watched Mulanis normal grin appear, then turned to go out and deal with Drake.
