Chapter 45: Darkness and Dreams
Reviewers:
Marine Brother Shran: Thanks. I redid that part of the chapter. I try and make each chapter as good as I can. What's ppl? Et Imperator.
BGTom: They'll still have to figure how to convert the black holes to wormholes. If they do get the Maw Installations' tech, I'll be forced to play one or two of the Imperium's trump cards.
Silvanas: Remember in the last chapter when I said the Apex Twins had a secret weapon. Well they'll reveal it to the Emperor when they fight Tzeench.
Lennox: Thanks, I tried to make it a good fight. I promise these Babylon 5 chapters will be good. I hope. Starcraft's coming up.
Liljimmyurine: With the Eye of Terror collapsing they lost a lot of their power getting away. They went to the closest planet they could get to where they wouldn't be found. They were planning to go to the Maelstrom once they had enough power. The shockwave of their master's death would have overwhelmed the lesser daemons. That's why they went back to the warp. I read about the Exorcist Chapter in an article though I can't remember where. It talked about the creation of a company and that company's successful first battle on a Chaos possessed planet. The Chaos gods CAN be killed, but because their ideas still exist they will reform, but when they do most of the chaos worshippers will have been eliminated, thus making the gods weaker when they come back. Finally, the sword wasn't floating, it was embedded in a rock. The Emperor lifted it with his powers and launched it.
Skyrosa: Good idea!
Grayangle: Many chapters will probably go on to other galaxies where they will make new homes. Also, the Emperor will have the people who want power either put into positions where they can do good or have them quietly disappear.
The BEE: How would that work out?
Darth: You're right.
In orbit of a desolate planet far outside Earth settled space two Imperial ships exited transwarp. Those ships were the Dictator cruisers Justice and Stalwart. They had been sent from the command station near Babylon 5 to this world to retrieve a vessel thought to be buried there.
"We have achieved orbit Captain," the first officer of the Justice reported. The planet below them was a barren rock. What little water there existed was locked in the polar ice caps. The rest of the surface was either desert or bare rock. The place gave off a dark energy that made the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
"Begin the scan," Captain Andrews ordered. Andrews was a young man, he had been in command of the Justice for only five years. He looked strong, with straight black hair and clear blue eyes. He had won every battle he had been a part of. He had even been part of the Emperor's fleet in the battle for the Eye of Terror. That was one reason he had been chosen for this mission. These Shadows were supposed to be very powerful and extremely clever.
The ships waited silently in orbit while seers and the ships sensors searched the surface for traces of their target. Five hours after arrival they found it.
"Captain, sensors are picking up something two hundred feet under the surface on the largest continent," his AI Jason reported. Jason had short brown hair and green eyes. He always got right to the point and didn't have much of a sense of humor. "Our Seers confirm it to be the target."
"Very well then. Send down the heavy lifters, but tell the crews to be very careful. Have the Seers on those ships do everything they can to make sure there is no physical contact between the men and the ship." The AI nodded and vanished inside the computer circuits.
Seven heavy shuttles refitted with clamps and lifting claws descended into the planet's atmosphere. Each ship had three psykers aboard to ensure the Shadow ship did not wake up. As the shuttles cleared the sparse cloud layer they saw they were on the edge of a vast desert where it met a vast mountain chain. The sand was dark brown and the rocks black and gray.
"Shuttle one to command, we've arrived at the site. Beginning excavation."
"Confirmed shuttle one," came the reply from orbit.
The shuttles, following the directions of the Seers, slowly began sanding the rock and packed sand away with low energy phaser beams. Gradually the ground was worn away, the debris blown away by the ever present sandstorms that buffeted the shuttles and made the operation a painfully slow one. Finally though, black spines became visible. The beams were tuned down to the lowest setting. The main body of the ship slowly came into view.
"I've never seen anything like that," one of the shuttle men remarked.
"Indeed. Even asleep I can still sense it," one of the Seers said from across the cockpit. He could sense the ship's faint memories of death and destruction. The joy of chasing enemies through the depths of space and the sense of pride in knowing it was nearly invincible. "Be very careful when you lift it out. Sudden jars could cause it to awaken."
Slowly, claws attached to the Shadow vessel's hull, one to each spine. The shuttles engaged lifting thrusters. Slowly, with nerves so tight you could feel them in the air; the shuttles began pulling the ship out of the ground. The sands at first refused to relinquish their ages old connection to the black spider like vessel. Then, with a crack that was actually quiet but loud as an Earthshaker shell to the humans, the Shadow ship broke away from the ground and began gaining altitude. The Seer had his eyes closed and was concentrating on the vessel.
"Very good men, the ship is still asleep. Begin our ascent but keep it slow." The cockpit crew nodded.
"Captain, our shuttles report they have the target and are returning to the surface now," his comm. officer spoke.
"Very good. Pass on my compliments to the recovery teams. Instruct the crew to vacate cargo bay two. We'll store the vessel there during our return trip to home base," he ordered. He watched the shuttles bring the ship in. It was monstrous. It looked to him like a cross between a spider and a nightmare. As he looked at the black vessel he swore he heard a faint sound in his head. A scream that spoke of something ancient and terrible. He jerked his head away and the sound ceased. "I'll be in my quarters," he said and left the bridge.
During the journey back to Epsilon 3, Captain Andrews and several of the Seers experienced nightmares. In the case of the captain he was standing on the surface of a planet he did not know. The terrain was desert and rock. Beams of red light were firing into the sky. They were answered by violet beams that sliced through the planetary weapons. Then they came. Black ships, the same as the one in the belly of his ship. They swept down from the clouds, screaming in his mind. He watched as they lay waste to entire cities. People with reptilian skin ran everywhere. They had no hair and wore leather clothing. The Shadow ships seemed to gravitate towards some of them. Then one of the Shadow ships headed right for him. It fired, but this beam actually drew him up into the sky. He somehow knew he was being taken fro some dark purpose. Then he entered the ship and all went dark.
He woke up sharply, covered in a cold sweat. He walked over to his washroom and plashed cold water on his face. He had never has such a vivid dream before. He had felt the desert heat. He had smelled the burning cities, and he had sensed the evil of the black ships. Somehow he knew the ship that had grabbed him was the very same one lying in his cargo bay. He had a drink and climbed back into bet but he got no more sleep that night.
The next day the ships arrived back at their base orbiting Epsilon 3. They had their psykers attempt to stop the Shadow ship's faint signal from reaching the station. They didn't want work to get out of what they had until they were ready. They were successful, mostly.
Lyta Alexander woke up from a very dark dream. She had been on a sunny beach relaxing. There were no voices, she was alone. Then the scene had turned dark and a terrible scream had assailed her senses. Blackness had enveloped her and then she had woken up. She sensed something out in space. Something terrible. She knew one other would have felt it as well.
When Lyta arrived, Ambassador Kosh was waiting for her. She donned a mask and entered his room.
"You sensed it too?" She asked.
"Yes," the Vorlon replied.
"What is it?"
"Terror," he answered. "Perhaps."
"What do you mean? Is it the Shadows? If it is aren't we going to do something?"
"No," Kosh replied.
"What? Why not?"
"We must wait."
"Wait! Wait for what?" Lyta asked.
"The truth," Kosh replied, then turned away. Lyta knew he would say no more so she turned and left.
When she had gone, Kosh pondered what was happening. The humans had a Shadow vessel. He knew they would seek to learn from it and make themselves stronger. He would contact his people and decide if they would intervene. These new humans had great potential, but they were also primitive in many ways. Great care had to be taken if the future was to unfold as it should.
As the Shadow ship was transferred from Andrews's ship to the primary research installation, he found his gaze again drawn to it. He seemed to have some sort of a connection with it, but what kind of connection he couldn't say. He felt as if the ship was calling to him, trying to tell him something. He decided to see a psyker about it. They could help him try to decipher what the ship was saying, if it was at all. For all he knew he could just be his mind playing tricks on his but somehow he didn't think so.
On Babylon 5, Londo Mollari had just relieved a reply from Emperor Cartagia. He was approving the release of the Narns from Centauri occupation. He has said the gains were well worth the losses. Many of Londo's acquaintances agreed that the Narns should have remained under the Centauri but also that they had no choice. He had also spoken to Lord Refa, and things had gotten rather heated between them, The two had never gotten along very well, but ever since Londo had poisoned Refa to get his to strengthen the defenses around Centauri space as the cost of some of their wars the two had each promised the other they would make the other suffer. Now he was afraid Refa would soon make his move. He simply wondered what new direction his life would soon take, and hoped it would be good.
How was that? Sorry there was no action, but I hope I did a good job with detail in this chapter. Feel free to tell me how I can improve it. In the next chapter Sheridan will begin his campaign to take down President Clark. Londo will make a decision that will have many consequences. Things will get in motion in the next chapter. See ya then, and don't forget to review!
ENTILZA