Babylon 5: Deep Range Outpost

by GWRyan

The story of a long since forgotten outpost, on the rim of known space assigned to Babylon 5 as a watcher station. And how her crew had assisted Captain Sheridan, during the Earth Civil War and beyond, into the Interstellar Alliance.

3. Chapter 3

Babylon 5: Deep Range Outpost.

Chapter: Three.

Six and a half years earlier…

Earth Alliance Starship, Wessex. On Route to Earth.

The ever-constant swirling of tidal forces, deep inside Hyperspace could become a hazard for a vessel without power. Once locked onto beacons, or jump-gate signals throughout the galaxy, a vessel could travel the vast distances between locations in a matter of weeks, rather than years. for the mid-range cruiser, the E.A.S. Wessex and her experienced crew, travelling back to the home world of humanity after a successful mission of patrols of deep space, was much needed break for the crew. Barely eighteen hours away from home port, relaxation had been the order of the day from the commanding officer, Captain Julianna Wallis. Spending the majority of her time at her station on the command deck, the so-called 'Office' of the captain, the seasoned commander and veteran of the Minbari war's 'Battle of the Line', simply sat while reviewing crew performance reviews and reports from departments scattered across the ship. It had become something of a matter or pride for the middle-aged captain, to wear her standard issue, Earth Force uniform not with the official trousers as mandated by regulations, but a more unofficial attire, a knee-length skirt and boots to match.

"Computer, display next file."

'File, Displayed. Hana, Ensign Asami.'

"Impressive, credentials. Speaks eight languages including Minbari and Narn, fourth in her graduating year at the Academy. Currently a Starfury pilot with Yellow Squadron. Commander Marsh, have you seen the file of Ensign Hana?"

"I have Sir, an impressive file. However, there is a black mark on her file from her final year at the Academy. I did a little digging shortly after she came onboard, direct from the Academy, she boarder-lined on insubordination on more than one occasion, almost thrown out of the Academy for her behaviour. Since she's been here however, her service has been exemplary."

"As her squadron leader suggests, and Lieutenant Harrison isn't easily impressed by new recruits. Arrange a meeting with the Ensign, before we reach Earth. With her qualifications and knowledge, I doubt she'll stay around much longer and if that damned Sheridan continues to steal all of our pilots as he is? We may have to hide Ensign Hana, from his greedy eyes."

"I'll see to it, personally Captain. One moment please. Captain, detecting a distress call in the area. Civilian liner, declaring an emergency. An explosion on their bridge, she's lost navigational locks on the local beacon and drifting. Sir, if she drifts too far off the beacon…?"

"I understand the problems, Commander. Scramble Blue squadron to assist."

"Sir, Blue squadron is down with some, damned virus. Next on the roster is Yellow squadron, however most of them have the same virus. Doctor Tanis is looking into it." Reported the First Officer.

"Our entire fighter wing is down, then who the hell is left, commander?"

"That would be only Ensigns Cole and Hana, sir."

"Very well, scramble those fighters to assist the liner."

Launching from the mid-range cruiser, the two small Starfury class fighter craft fought against the currents, tides and eddies in the swirling deep red and black void of hyperspace, the mode of interstellar travel for all ships across the known galaxy. Although the rescue of a stranded ship in hyperspace, had become known as one of the most dangerous assignments for any pilot, the number of ships recovered from hyperspace had been less than a handful, with countless lost, the loss of a large civilian liner vessel, with possibly hundreds if not thousands of passengers and crew onboard would be a disaster. Pushing deeper in the endless void, with a lock kept on the mid-range cruiser, the only two pilots to have launched with call signs Yellow Four and Yellow Six, maintained communications with their mothership as it held itself at the limit of the hyperspace beacon as the two ships pushed even deeper into the endless void.

"Wessex, this is Yellow Four. I have a lock on the liner. However, she's drifting into a group of hyperspace eddies, she's facing away from my approach. Yellow Six, hold your position I'll lock onto you and try to get closer, if not by now, I will soon be on their sensors, hopefully they'll detect my approach."

'Understood, Yellow Four, proceed with caution. We're almost at the limit of our own lock on the beacon, I would hate for someone else to come looking for two lost ships and fighters.'

"Aye Sir, moving off at one-half speed. Civilian liner, civilian liner, this is Yellow Four attached to the E.A.S. Wessex, I have you on sensors, I'm at your six-o-clock high. Please adjust your heading by one-eight-zero, positive eighteen degrees."

'Yellow Four, thank god someone heard our call. We have you on our screens now, adjusting course. I must warn you, our pilot was injured and taken to Med-Bay, when the navigational console exploded. Our reserve pilot was also injured.'

"Understood, anyone else on the bridge who can pilot your ship?"

'We have a pilot, but he's only a trainee and never flown anything this large, inside of hyperspace.'

"Standby, Liner. Wessex, this is Yellow Four. I take it you've been listening. Once the liner has turned to face my direction, I'm going to board the liner and assume the helm to bring her back. They've turned, Liner? Open your forward landing bay and prep for my arrival."

'Thank you, Yellow Four.'

"All a part of the service, and next time Liner? You'd be wise to train more than just two pilots in the operations of your helm and other key areas. Have someone waiting to escort me to your bridge."

Arriving onboard of the large, spherical shaped civilian cruise-liner, the young and eager Starfury pilot had been escorted to the bridge by the first officer on the ship, as he explained the accident and the cause before showing her to the makeshift helm station. Being short by the standards of many of the crew onboard, it had seemed as if many of the controls on the makeshift helm station, an auxiliary station modified to work as the helm of the large liner, seemed to be almost out of her reach as she sat at the station before standing to push away the chair as she activated the controls to pilot the vessel.

"Yellow Six, Cole have you got your ears on out there?"

'I can hear you…'

"The controls are sluggish, so give us a wide berth. We're getting some chop for the portside, nothing I can't handle. Engineer, give me a full power burst of the engines for five seconds, then go to half power. Should be enough to push us loose of these eddies."

"Aye Pilot, full power for five seconds, and half power… now." Called out an elderly engineer, from his station on the bridge.

"We're breaking free, we're clear of the eddies and free to navigate. Cole, lead the way. Wessex, this is Yellow Four. Liner is on her way."

'Roger that, Yellow Four. You've got a couple of guys back here that are about to turn blue. Maintain your course and we'll rendezvous in five minutes and Hana? Nice work.'

Under escort from an Earth Force, mid-range cruiser, the once stricken civilian liner finally arrived at the nearest safe jump gate to begin repairs to her key systems as engineers and volunteers from the Wessex arrived onboard to assist with the damage control. Greeted onboard as a hero, the very saviour of the luxury liner, Ensign Asami Hana had finally made her way down to the Medical facilities to speak with the two injured pilots, to complete her report for her own superiors. After speaking with the lead pilot, while the reserve pilot had finally left surgery, her next stop was to speak with the reserve pilot. Upon entering the medical room where the pilot was recovering from surgery, the first sight of the once injured pilot, forced a large smile to slip from her lips as she stepped to the side of the one person in the universe, she had not seen in over two years.

"Emma?"

"Asami? What are you doing here… wait, don't tell me it was you?"

"Most of our wing is down with a virus. I was next on the roster; you look as amazing as ever."

"You to know each other, Emma?" Politely asked the Doctor, as he stood at the side of her bed."

"Emma and I are…"

"Old friends, Doc. We trained together at the Academy, we were actually roommates for the duration, before I left."

"Of course, Earth Force's loss, is our gain. She's an excellent pilot."

"Asami was always better, she always said that she could fly anything. Well, I guess you want my own version of what happened on the bridge. Can we have some, privacy Doc?"

"Of course, call me if you need anything Emma. Ensign, a pleasure to meet you."

With a slight smile upon her face, Ensign Asami Hana's eyes followed the Doctor out of the room and waited for the doors to close, before she sat on the side of Emma's bed with an ever-growing smile. It had been said that the two had once become closer than they could have ever imagined during their final year at the Academy. However, with Emma Wells leaving to pursue a civilian career and Asami remaining at the Academy, they had not been within each other's presence in over two and a half years. Being once again in her presence, Emma Wells slowly sat upright to whisper into Asami's ear, causing the Ensign to blush deeply, before the two embraced.

Present Day.

Civilian Courier Ship, Spirit Two.

Considered as one of the faster civilian ships in the region, and now against regulations of interstellar law, the civilian ship had been armed with military grade weaponry from a Minbari cruiser, at the request of Captain John Sheridan, the Spirit Two screamed through hyperspace on a mission of espionage against an Earth Force facility. A simple mission to assess the status of several new Earth Alliance vessels currently under construction at a hidden facility, far away from the prying eyes of many. Having spent eighteen hours onboard of the privately owned vessel with the one person in the universe she had finally let down her thick shields around, Asami Hana lay in the bed of her long-time friend, lover and now fiancée Emma Wells as she smiled with content.

"So, you never did answer my question Sam. Has there been anyone else since me?"

"No, not exactly. I mean, I was getting close to someone else a few years back. But it ended badly."

"Oh, what happened?" Emma replied, with a slight smile.

"She was a Nurse at the outpost. She transferred shortly after I did, after her marriage had begun to fail. Just as we were starting to get close enough for me to let go and trust her, the way I trust you? She told me that she was going back to her husband, they'd talked things out, she left a few days later and returned to Mars."

"I'm sorry to hear that but it worked out great for me though." Emma called out, with laughter.

"What about you, was there anyone else?"

"I've had a few affairs since the Academy, nothing noteworthy. Don't pout, jealousy doesn't look good on you. I must admit though, Ivanova is stunning. Those legs, don't seem to quit!"

"I've noticed, when I first met her? I stuttered and giggled like a kid. Well, enough of the daydreaming about a superior officer. We should be almost in range by now, we should get dressed."

"I almost tripped over my tongue, the first time I saw her. But agreed, we should get dressed, although I like the idea of you wearing nothing at all."

One war, one crisis after another, seemed to be the menu of the century. As the war to liberate Earth and her colonies had progressed, a single betrayal at the highest and most personal of levels had befallen Captain John Sheridan, after being captured the one person in the universe that he would never have imaged would betray him on such a level, former Chief Warrant Officer and close personal friend, Michael Garibaldi. Luring the Captain down to Mars, away from the safety of his fleet and his former command, the Omega class destroyer E.A.S. Agamemnon, only to be brutally beaten, captured and interrogated by Earth Force Officers. Assuming command of the liberation of the Earth and her Colonies, Commander Susan Ivanova took over the fight in the name of her captured friend and superior officer.

On the opposite side of the galaxy, far away from the bloodshed and violence in the Sol System, close to Earth. A single, tiny scout ship exited hyperspace at high speed before screaming towards a hidden facility, inside of a dark nebula. Relying solely on sensor readouts which appeared before the two-woman crew in the form of a holographic display in the center of the room, a sight like never before seen appeared before the two, a large facility holding vessels under construction or close to completion, vessels like nothing before seen by the eyes of the two, the largest and most powerful vessels of Human construction.

"My god, look at the size of those things Emma?"

"And if I read this right? Damned powerful to boot. Tapping into one of the drydock computers. Relax, I've done it before, got it. This could be a problem, although they're not complete? They could still do serious damage to any ship, if launched. It's called a Warlock class destroyer, and there is another facility constructing more of this class of ship, can't tell just yet where they are."

"At least they're not ready, but from the looks of this? The first few, should be ready by the end of the month. Wait a minute, picking up a ship on approach. We've been detected, it's a Corvette class. We should get the hell out of here, as soon as possible."

"Agreed, bringing us about. With any look, they won't see us other than anything more than a reflection."

The inevitable end of the Earth Alliance Civil War had arrived with Captain John Sheridan being returned to his former command, the Agamemnon, although due to a severe injuries sustained in combat with hybrid Omega class destroyers and ancient alien technologies, of Shadow origin, Commander Susan Ivanova had finally been returned to Babylon 5 for treatment. Out of the ashes of the civil war, something amazing had been created with the dissolution of the League of None-Aligned Words and the formation of a new super-power, the Interstellar Alliance under the command of former Earth Force captain, now President of the new alliance, John J. Sheridan as led from Babylon 5. As his last act as captain, Susan Ivanova now recovered from her life-threatening injuries under mysterious circumstances, had received a promotion to Captain and given command of the new Warlock class destroyers and battlecruiser. Returning to the old outpost of Minbari origin, Lieutenant Commander Asami Hana, tendered her immediate resignation from Earth Force, before leaving the outpost under the command of her former first officer, and finally after six years of service to outpost Deep Range, left the station with her fiancée, onboard of her own private vessel.

Two Months Later…

Independent Station, Babylon 5. Interstellar Alliance, temporary headquarters.

A new day had dawned for the cylindrical station, once at the center of not one, but two separate wars in as many years, now the temporary headquarters of the new, vast and powerful Interstellar Alliance. The arrival of a small, civilian registered vessel was to herald a new dawn for the two occupants. Both former military, turned civilian couriers and explorers of both known and unknown space.

In the months since her resignation from Earth Force and joining Emma Wells as not only her partner in life, but her business partner and co-owner of the once Minbari scout-ship, life had changed for Asami Hana, now happily married. Returning to the station once considered as the command center for her previous military command had been considered as more of a ceremonial visit, rather than a business venture. Since resigning from the military, two months earlier, a new commanding officer of her former station had finally been announced, since the station in fact belonged to Babylon 5 as a distant outpost, the status of Outpost Deep Range, had been considered as an independent state alongside Babylon 5.

"Mister President? Asami and Emma Hana-Wells, to see you."

"Thank you, send them in please Zack."

"Aye sir."

Closing a folder filled with forms for the approval of the President of the Alliance, John Sheridan stood with a slight smile upon his face as the two visitors stepped into his private office.

"Well, you look rested, and may I say, happier since you left Earth Force."

"It's been a crazy couple months, Mister President. Leaving the old outpost after resigning, once things settled down back home, Emma and I returned to Earth to get married and we've just returned from our honeymoon. One month on an uninhabited planet, just the two of us, sun, surf, sand and no clothes. I hear that you also married?"

"I am, third time's the charm, am I right?" Replied the President, with a slight laugh. "Please sit. Would you like some coffee?"

"Thank you, that will be fine. So, your message said that you've selected a new C-O for Deep Range?"

"We have, I believe that you know him, Asami. Lieutenant Commander Paul Cole."

"Cole, from the Wessex? I remember him, one hell of a Starfury Pilot. If memory serves, he went back to Earth to teach at the Academy, a year after I was transferred?"

"He did, when we offered him your former posting, he leapt at the chance to get back into space. Which brings me to why I've asked you both here, actually."

"We were wondering about that Sir."

"As you may know, Babylon 5 is to remain independent from Earth, and serves as the interim HQ of the Alliance, until a more permanent facility is built on Minbar. As such, the Whitestar fleet serves as a… let's call it a Police Force, keeping member worlds in line and so on."

"The Whitestars, are some of the fastest and most powerful vessels in the region. Technology beyond almost anything known, they'll make an excellent police force sir." Emma Hana-Wells replied, with a slight nod.

"There is another ship in the region, which is almost as fast as the average Whitestar, your own ship. And from what I've been told? Considering her size, just as heavily armed."

"Yes, I hate the fact that she carries weapons, almost illegal weapons which had been installed under your order as Captain. Arming civilian ships with military grade weaponry, is illegal Mister President. If you've brought us here to remove them? I would be grateful."

"I thought you might, but I'd like them to stay on your ship. Minbari weaponry is far more advanced than what is on your ship. During the war, you helped us out Emma, acting as a scout and courier, amongst other things. I'd like to formalise that working relationship with you both and your vessel, as official couriers of the Interstellar Alliance, working directly for the office of the President. You can base yourselves wherever you want, go wherever you want? Officially, you'll be working for me and on occasion we'll bring you in when needed. We'll ensure that your ship is in peak working condition at all times. You'll have diplomatic immunity as a part of this office and the protection of the Alliance, and Whitestar fleet if you agree."

"Diplomatic immunity AND protection of your fleet? Assuming that we say yes, what would we have to do?"

"We're still working on getting everything in order before we move to the permanent facility on Minbar, once we're fully operational? We'll call you back to Minbar and sign all of the paperwork needed to make it official, which will hopefully be by the end of the year."

"An amazing offer, Mister President. Can we talk it over and get back to you?" Asami politely asked, with a slight smile.

"Of course. Take whatever time you need and feel free to enjoy this station. We've already set you up in quarters in the diplomatic section of the station and an account set up for you both."

"Trying to sweeten the pot, sir? It's working either way."

In the year which had followed, Asami and I had accepted the position of official diplomatic couriers, for the Office of the President of the Interstellar Alliance. We had the freedom to go wherever we pleased and do whatever we wanted, although on occasion we had been called to Minbar for assignment. On occasion, we had been challenged by Raider ships, which prayed on civilian shipping across the galaxy, but with the Minbari created weaponry on the ship and the expert piloting skills of Asami, while at the helm, we had always managed to come out on top. There was one of many stipulations to the arrangement we had made with the president, which at first, I was not exactly happy about, but had grown to enjoy over time. New markings had been added to the outer hull of our ship, on the starboard side, upper and lower sides of the wings, the emblem of the Office of the President of the Interstellar Alliance and on the portside the seal of the Interstellar Alliance, while on the bow of the ship, displayed for all to see, our official seal, as Couriers of the President.

Within just five years of the creation of the Interstellar Alliance, Earth herself came under a deadly attack, which had been repelled by a gathering of Earth Force vessels, vessels from across the Alliance as led by President John Sheridan, onboard of a prototype starship, named Excalibur. Victory however, turned into a bitter defeat as the enemy, allies of the powerful and ancient Shadows, unleashed a biological plague into the atmosphere of Earth, a plague which would kill every airbreathing animal of the planet, in five years. Something which I had regretted, to my last day, was that I was not on Earth at the time, I had taken a small job as a part of our contract with the Alliance, delivering a diplomatic package to Mars. It was only supposed to be a short trip, a short trip which had turned into a five absence, away from Asami who was on Earth at the time of the attack, visiting with members of her family in Japan. With Earth under quarantine and no vessel permitted to enter or leave Earth space, or even to land on the planet? I was alone, away from the love of my life once again.

We maintained constant contact, as much as was permissible due to her status as infected with the Drakh plague. In the year twenty-two seventy-one, the cure for the plague was finally discovered and once again, Earth re-joined the galactic community. However, it took another eleven months before I was finally reunited with Asami, and someone else. During her quarantine on Earth, two members of her own family, her younger brother and his wife had succumbed to the plague, leaving behind their three-year-old daughter without a parent. A job that Asami had taken on, wholeheartedly after adopting her own niece. I had never wanted a child, but seeing the young girl, born into a world where it would be certain that she could live no longer than a handful of years, I welcomed the girl into my life to raise and protect as our own child.

Eventually, we settled down together as a family unit of three, on the Capital world of the Interstellar Alliance, Minbar. Although many had been uncertain of my relationship with Asami, as Minbari do not mate with their own gender, our status as members of the Office of the President of the Alliance, had permitted us to reside on their beautiful and amazing world, close to the headquarters of the Alliance. In the years which would follow, the guilt I had felt over leaving my wife alone on Earth for many years, continued to grow within me, although I had hidden such guilt from those around me, Asami had known of such guilt. But we continued to raise our adopted daughter together, to the point when as an adult, Kim Hana-Wells joined the Anla'Shok, otherwise known as Rangers, to our ever-lasting pride and would continue the work that we had left off, as the official Diplomatic Courier of the Office of the President of the Interstellar Alliance onboard of a new starship, specifically designed to replace our aging vessel.

As for Outpost Deep Range, just eleven years after the creation of Sheridan's Alliance, which would continue to perform the position as created by the Babylon stations, Deep Range was finally shut down and dismantled as an obsolete piece of equipment, heralding the final shutdown of Babylon 5, years later.

Just because one does not see another, for many years? does not mean that someday, you will once again fall back into their orbit. Asami and I, are living proof. One last thing, perhaps it was something of a joke by President Sheridan, I assume it was, the call-sign given to our ship by the Alliance, was simply 'Kryptonite'. A destructive element and residue of a fictional planet, known as Krypton. And the only thing known, which had been able to injure and kill Superman, otherwise known as Clark Kent, or Kal'El, to use his native Kryptonian name. Mainly it was a joke at ourselves, as we had both been called 'Each other's Kryptonite', on numerous occasions.

The End.