Deep Space, near Jericho system
Earth Alliance Space.
The EAS Nimrod was not a new ship, indeed she was past her fifteenth year and in urgent need of a good refit and general check over. Her engines burnt too much fuel, her long range sensors were slightly out of alignment and she had just one of her potential three squadrons of fighters embarked. Despite that she was still deployed on active duty, and compared to some of the ships Earth Force had been forced to deploy the Nimrod was virtually perfect.
She was an Omega class destroyer and one of the first models, yet she had been considered obsolete before she had even left the docks. The design had been commissioned with all the lessons learned during the Dilgar war to give Earth a new long ranged warship capable of fighting and patrolling far beyond humanities borders. It's technology was an evolution rather than a revolution sharing many basic components with the successful Nova class Dreadnoughts along with some of the technology taken from wrecked Dilgar ships and less well known also the wrecks of some abandoned League ships. It resulted in a very basic inertial compensator system which improved the ships ability to turn and crucially allowed to support a rotating section without snapping in two whenever it tried to turn around. It was the first step Earth had towards developing pure Artificial gravity but sadly the design wasn't ready for the next war.
The Minbari had shown the Omega was outclassed in every way. The few prototypes died as quickly as their elder brethren and when by some chance the Minbari just stopped and went home Earth knew it needed something even bigger and better than the once impressive Omega. Ultimately that design had turned into the Warlock but it wouldn't be ready for decades and until then Earth needed a new ship to replace war losses. The Omega was ready to go and while no match for a Minbari ship it would be tough enough to take on almost any other vessel. SO the programme was authorised and two years later the Nimrod was launched.
They looked impressive, but Earth Force knew they were inadequate, the Minbari knew it, the Drakh knew it, and Angela knew it.
Captain Angela Songster had been in command of this ship for just four months, hardly enough time to truly familiarise herself with the ship and its crew. She had only just been given command of an ancient Hyperion tasked with patrol hear Io which was a nice safe first command assignment, but then the Drakh struck and as an officer with command experience, no matter how brief, she had been given a Destroyer to replace the Nimrod's prior Captain who had taken on a brand new Warlock.
It was a common situation across the fleet as experienced crews were unceremoniously pulled from their ships and handed the newer types of vessel now churning out of the Proxima and Io fleet yards. It meant the Warlocks and Tritons and the host of modern designs had the best crews, but it meant the Omega and Nova fleets were full of fairly new officers and crew and the Hyperion fleets had virtually ceased to exist as their crews were sent to Destroyers and not replaced.
Most of Earths best ships were deployed rimward hunting for the Drakh forces which seemed to be concentrated out in former Shadow territory, however as a nomadic race with no true planetary base the Drakh always seemed to be one step ahead of the Rangers and the battlefleets following on. However despite the dire situation Earth still had to protect it's borders and colonies and that job had fallen to the less experienced crews, now often operating bigger ships than you'd expect on a patrol route. It was hoped that a Raiding force that saw something like an Omega when they had expected a Frigate might be inclined just to run away and not try their luck, which considering how under manned and raw the Destroyers on patrol tended to me might have paid off big for them. Songsters deployment to the Minbari border should have been quiet, even the hardiest Raiders tried to avoid getting sandwiched between those two governments and tended to work from the League or sometimes Centauri border.
Lately however there had been some activity towards Minbari space, a number of freighters had just vanished into vacuum, and even a Hyperion sent to investigate had failed to return so Earth Force had ordered in the Nimrod despite its less than first rate condition. They had been on station for six days when the distress signal came in and the Destroyer jumped to Hyperspace in order to intercept the attackers.
The signal had been jammed at the source before any details had been forthcoming, but based on the shipping schedules and registered flight plans Captain Songster had garnered a rough location for the convoy, a Belt Alliance mining ship and two bulk ore haulers. Pretty big targets for Raiders.
Lieutenant Commander Misuki snapped a quick salute as he skidded to a stop before the Captain's chair. "Ma'am, Starfury wing is ready for launch."
Songster nodded, by wing he meant squadron. "Thank you Commander, and you don't need to salute inside the ship."
"Yes Captain." Misuki turned bright red. "Sorry Captain."
"Don't worry about it." She smiled back, Misuki and his comrades were frighteningly young and were still supposed to be in their training period. After graduating the academy future officers usually served on a sort of training fleet safe in one of the core worlds of the Alliance where they learned the fine art of Starship operations over a full year. Like much protocol that idea had been discarded with the Drakh attack and the trainees were now fully commissioned fleet officers. Misuki had about five months experience, Songster herself had only been in service for four years, ever since Clark had gone and Earth Force began to look more like defenders and not oppressors.
"Coming up on coordinates." The helm officer said. "I am not reading a nearby Jump gate."
"Understood, prepare the jump engines, we'll do this the expensive way." Songster ordered. She showed no sign, but inside found it unusual. Most pirate attacks happened near a gate because Raiders very rarely could count on Jump capable vessels, to escape they had to dart through the gate before the authorities showed up. If the attack was happeneing in deep space it meant the Raiders probably had at least one very expensive jump engine in their fleet. That meant organisation and resources, this could turn into a fight for the Destroyer so she made sure the crew was ready for it.
"Sound General Quarters." She ordered. "Rig for battle stations, all batteries go to ready status and that includes those lazy fools in the aft weapons control room!"
"Aye Captain." Misuki said formally, he was young but at least he'd memorised the drill book and proceeded to relay her orders expertly.
"Stand by to return to normal space." She said, eyes dancing back and forth over the tactical displays. "Jump."
The transition went largely unnoticed as the dimensions altered from tumultuous red to empty lightless black, the vortex shrinking away back into the fabric of space behind the unlovely ship. As soon as it was clear of the interference the Nimrod began a full sweep of the area on sensors, and it was not long before they stumbled across the convoy.
"Got them, reading massive jamming in the vicinity." Misuki informed. "They are moving at high speed towards the gate, they seem to be firing but I am registering no return fire."
"Odd." Songster mused. "They are firing on the enemy, they are being chased and getting closer to the gate, you have gone to the trouble of jamming them. Why not just destroy them?"
"Maybe they want hostages Ma'am?" Misuki suggested. "Ransoms are worth almost as much as cargo."
"Perhaps." Songster said. "Or perhaps they are bait, kept alive to draw us in."
"Why?" the Commander frowned. "There's no Raider fleet in the galaxy that can take a Destroyer, it doesn't make sense."
"No it doesn't. but we have our orders. We go in carefully, launch fighters and have them cover our flanks, we don't have the right numbers or types for a strike so we'll keep them for point defence."
"Aye Captain."
"Engines to full, take us in. Forward batteries prepare to fire."
The hangar doors ground open and released the twelve fighters, base model Starfuries rather than the more modern Thunderbolts the ship had previously carried. Like much else those squadrons had been transferred to more deserving units. Right now Songster didn't think anyone deserved to use her fighters but her crew alone, not that it was going to make much difference now. The old Aurora's were the SA 23-E type superiority fighters, they weren't even the newer SA 23-G models that had provision for under wing missiles which meant they could not be used in an anti shipping role. Songster ordered them to spread out and catch any surprise attacks from fighters or mines coming in from either flank.
"Fighters in position." The report came. "We are picking up something, unsubstantiated readings behind the convoy that seems to be the source of the jamming. There is definitely something there."
"How does it compare to examples of Minbari stealth?"
It was the obvious question everybody was thinking but nobody asked. They were on the Minbari border and the possibility of running into a Warcruiser was one that haunted their minds. Whatever the current political situation there were a lot of people ready to blame the Minbari for lost human ships.
"There seem to be differences, this jamming is far greater." Misuki said. "Even with a Minbari ship we would know roughly where it was even if we couldn't target it. This time I just can't read anything."
That answered one question in her mind, but Captain Songster still had an unknown threat to deal with.
"Time to visual range?"
"Twenty seconds."
"Any response to our presence?"
"No Ma'am."
"Gun crews, go to visual targeting." At least one outcome of the Minbari war was that Earth had the best optics among the younger races and an advanced visual recognition and target course prediction computer. "Fire on my mark."
The Destroyer passed the edge of the jamming field, it's sensor accuracy suddenly increasing as it crossed the threshold. The convoy redoubled its efforts as soon as they spotted the friendly warship and tried to get out of the firing line.
"Increase scan range." Songster ordered. "Get me something to shoot at."
"Got something!" Misuki replied. "A ship, capital class, almost exactly ahead. Picking up a visual."
Songster took a look at the picture coming in, it certainly wasn't what she expected. "Well, that's new."
"It's locking weapons on us, the convoy and our fighters." Misuki warned. "Energy spike."
"I won't wait for them to fire, all batteries engage. If you can't get a lock watch your fire and adjust by sight."
"Guns reporting." Misuki nodded, and moments later the ship grumbled slightly as the weapons drew power through the main plasma conduits leading to the reactor.
"Very well. Emergency power to the engines and deploy the sensor log buoy." Songster ordered. Against this threat with the technology and power levels they had seen the Nimrod wa slittle more than a distraction, she doubted the weapons would even sting their opponent. But she had her orders, and there was a convoy under attack which required action to be taken. Even knowing the odds there was no way they'd try and run even if they could. "Ramming speed."
The Nimrod met a swift end, cut down in a mere five seconds, the convoy soon after before the enemy ship departed. But the jubilation at bringing down a Destroyer clouded their reasoning, they did not fully account for all the units in the area and hidden behind the wreckage waited a single Starfury. It kept a low profile until the hostile vanished, and then slowly emerged and grappled the Destroyers sensor log. Then, with a final numb glance at the debris field that had once been home, the pilot turned away and sped for the Jump Gate several hours away.
Prometheus, Epsilon System
EA Space.
Colonel Pendegast took a long moment to stare out of the bridge windows of his ship as EVA teams skipped and skirted across the hull finishing off the last touches to the repairs. The damage had put his ship in a difficult position facing the Drakh, but it was happily easy to repair and after three days the Prometheus was not only fighting fit but the original upgrades to the weapons were also complete and safely tested. The rather hasty battle field trial of the new generation hybrid cannons had proven the concept, now it was just a case of making it work properly.
Beyond the window he saw the traffic returning to its busy self, scores of ships from scores of worlds darting back and forth waiting for docking clearance with the station quietly spinning below. Wreckage from the Drakh ships had mostly been cleared with samples sent to Earth Force and ISA research divisions and several tons stored in the Prometheus' hold for study later. The Asgard would probably be mildly interested, and no doubt Colonel Carter would be looking forward to getting home and back in her laboratory.
The damaged EA Destroyers had been towed away heading for the Orion fleet yards for repairs and their place had been taken by a somewhat larger force headed by the Warlock class EAS Foxfire and her escorts. General Lefcourt was on board her right now making more plans with the incarcerated General Staff and Joint Chiefs on Earth. For his own part Prendegast was content to allow the technicians to run around his ship under their own supervision, he had spent his time reviewing the battle and comparing it with Colonel Caldwells other reports on the Drakh and his experiences. It made fairly grim reading, and while he was confident in his ships superiority the Drakh sure had numbers on their side.
"You look like a man with a lot on his mind."
Pendegast saw the reflection of Michael Garibaldi in the window and nodded. From what he knew the heavy set bald man had lead a roller coaster life going from top of the world to rock bottom about a dozen times and collecting an assortment of scars and near mortal wounds in the process. He had finally clawed his way up to the top and for once seemed fairly stable, though the thoughts that drove him often remained a guarded secret.
"Just thinking about this place." Pendegast answered. "I haven't seen so many ships from so many places before. Quite an eye opener."
"This place always drew people in from far and wide, good and bad." Garibaldi agreed. "But you saw that yourself with the Drakh. Did I mention how cool that was?"
"Couple of times." Prendegast smiled. "But I'm sure General O'Neill won't stop you telling him again."
The sensors registered the Jumpgate powering up again as it seemed to do every fifteen minutes or so lately. This place was certainly very busy, and he had to wonder if in ten or twenty years his own home world might be seeing traffic like this.
The ship that arrived was something a little different this time and it caught Pendegasts attention. This time it wasn't a cargo ship but a vast alien vessel that began gliding toward the station.
"Are you expecting a Minbari War cruiser?" Pendergast asked.
"No, no I don't think so." Garibaldi frowned.
"Colonel Caldwell mentioned them in his report, they're the ships to beat around here aren't they?"
Garibaldi nodded. "Yeah, they're the benchmark everyone else compares themselves to. The only things that can really top them are the new Victory class. Some say a Warlock or a Centauri Octurion could do the job, but I wouldn't risk it."
Pendegast remembered that twenty years ago ships like that had almost killed the human race in this particular galaxy. That was bound to create ill feeling and even twenty years later Pendergast could sense the usually relaxed Garibaldi tense slightly as it approached.
"But you're all on the same side now." The Colonel said.
"So everyone keeps telling me." Garibaldi shrugged. "One day I might believe it."
He took a long cigar from his top pocket, something Pendergast found a little strange in this setting and lit up. Normally the Colonel would have thrown a bucket of water over him but considering the company he'd let it go this once.
"You know I should be glad to see those ships, I mean they've saved our butts plenty of times from President Clark and the Shadows and now the Drakh. They are awesome ships and they're here to protect us." His voice changed tone. "But even though the last dozen times I've seen those ships coming to our rescue, every time one shows up the only thing I remember, the only thing my mind can register is the first time I saw one."
Pendegast shifted his view from sensors to back out the bridge window as the vessel closed to visual range, a curving blue sculpture which was certainly unique to his eyes, there was nothing like it and while it didn't scream warship like the EA cruiser he noticed everyone gave it a wide berth, even the Foxfire. He tried to decide whether it was elegantly pretty or just plain ugly.
"You were in the war?"
Garibaldi nodded. "Ground pounder, so I never had to try and take one of these things like President Sheridan or General Lefcourt, but I saw what they can do."
"It was about a week into the war and I was sat with my Mom and my Dad having dinner, I'd have been a lot younger, with hair and everything. My unit was getting ready to go and do something and I figured I should spend a little time with the folks just in case I didn't get another chance" Garibaldi spoke easily like he and Pendergast were old friends.
"So we are having dinner, and it was delicious, Dad was a hell of a cook." He smiled wanly. "He didn't cook much, just on special occasions. He was an old soldier himself and he knew we were at war, he must have guessed exactly why I came to see them that day and he wanted to make it special. He didn't say much about his feelings, he just wasn't that kind of guy, but I knew deep down that this was his way of telling me to take care and that he loved me. Mom too."
"Anyway, we're eating and the news comes on, Dad never liked the TV on when we ate but he had it set up to switch on if ISN mentioned the war. At that time we didn't know anything about the Minbari, certainly not how deep in over our heads we were, so we all stopped and watched the news, they had footage of a battle. Later we learned the reason we hadn't seen a Minbari ship up close before was because only a handful of ships had managed to escape and Earth Force was suppressing the information, but this came from a civilian ship and went straight to ISN."
Garibaldi took a long breath on the cigar and kept watching the ship. "There were five of our ships on the screen, two Dreadnoughts and three cruisers in a screen ahead of them. They were shooting at something, I couldn't see what but they were giving up hell, every gun at full charge, I mean you should see a Nova when it really lets loose, even a Warlock doesn't look that awesome. Next thing we know, those three cruisers just transform into fire balls, one, two, three. As quick as it takes to say it, they were gone."
"Now that took the air out of my lungs," Garibaldi wagged the cigar. "A Hyperion back then was a tough ship, it could stand up to just about anything except the biggest Centauri ships. To see three of them get cut down that quick, well I thought they were going up against about fifty ships! Well then it came into view, one cruiser, just like that one." He pointed out of the window. "It was at rock throwing range and those cruisers hadn't hit anything. They still haven't told us how that stealth system works, even though we keep getting told we're on the same side."
He shrugged. "Then the Nova's headed forward trying to get to point blank range, firing everything they've got. My dad was in the Dilgar war about fifteen years earlier, and he was in the army too but he'd seen these Nova's taking on the Dilgar and he'd told me about it. He was heading in to Balos, full scale planetary assault and there was a whole division in assault shuttles tearing down to that rock. Now the Dilgar saw them coming and they went all out to destroy them, to kill our guys while they were still in the landers before they hit the dirt, and they sent in squadrons of warships to make it happen. Dad's division was being covered on its way in by two Dreadnoughts, Churchill and MacArthur, and when the Dilgar made their move it was just those two ships that stood between the Dilgar navy and the landing crafts."
Garibaldi managed a wide smile. "Well not one Dilgar ship broke through, and if you read the brief history you'll know these Dilgar were bad customers who knew how to fight. They threw themselves at those two Dreadnoughts and got slaughtered, they must have lost a dozen cruisers to each Dreadnought in less than five minutes. They aren't pretty to look at but those ships and Starfuries won us that war and saved the whole League in the bargain. Good ships and good crews, and there's always rivalry between Army and Navy but since that day my Dad would buy a drink for any Navy man he happened to sit beside in a bar. Like I said, he never said much but his actions spoke for themselves."
Again he drew on the cigar. "Well the ships on TV were the Churchill and MacArthur. My dad leaps forward and he says 'Watch this Michael, now we'll show them what we're made of.' They went in, and a couple of shots connected as they got closer and you could see the hull on the Minbari ship buckle and crack. For a moment all three of us felt our hopes rise, we were smiling, damn near cheering on those two ships. Then the Minbari ship returned fire, and they both went down one after the other, and that was it. Whatever we were hoping for died as quickly as those ships had, just one Minbari ship had done what a Dilgar fleet had killed itself trying."
"As you can guess that was a hell of a thing to see for a guy who was about to ship out to fight these people. But whatever was going through my head vanished when I saw my Dad, it's not something I can really describe but those two ships had saved his life at Balos, and then they'd gone on to survive the final battles and achieve some of the best kill tallies in the navy. They were good ships, legends nearly, and they were snuffed out in a second. How do you come to terms with that? I don't think he ever did, he never said anything of course but behind his eyes, something just went out and never came back. I was in my twenties, in the army, I thought I could handle anything but just then I felt like a kid again, because if Dad with all he'd seen and been through couldn't deal with that, what chance did I have?"
Garibaldi shrugged a final time. "So yeah, I should be glad to see them, but every time one shows up I just see Earth Force ships getting destroyed and I see that little spark going out of my Dad's eyes. Those ships are cold death to me and a lot of other guys I know. People keep telling me to'Forgive and forget' but that just isn't me. I don't believe in either of those ideas Colonel, and when it comes down to it most of the people who fly those damn ships don't believe in it either."
A beep signalled an incoming message.
"Colonel sir," a technician spoke. "Signal for Mr Garibaldi, his presence is requested on the station by the Vice President."
"Delenn." The burly man replied. "Guess that explains the cruiser. Maybe they aren't all bad, and maybe if I keep telling myself that maybe one day I really will believe it. But not for a while." He finished the cigar. "I don't suppose you have a tray around here?"
"I'll put it down the garbage disposal." Prendegast took it. "You should get going, might be important. Your deputy here can handle the last details of the refit."
"I'm sure." Garibaldi smiled. "But after the last guy I like to keep an eye on them, just in case."
"Anyone told you you're a really paranoid man?" Pendergast chuckled.
"thanks." Garibaldi laughed back. "That's the image I was trying for."
He left the bridge and allowed Colonel Pendergast to resume watching traffic now paying close attention to the stationary blue warship a dozen miles away. He guessed it was similar to fighting beside the Free Jaffa and their Hat'tak class ships which had been weapons of terror for countless millions. Of course the difference was the SGC had always averted trouble before anything really bad had happened, Garibaldi's people hadn't been so lucky and had lived in fear and despair for years as those blue ships had gotten closer and closer. That had to be bad for human society, and it was no wonder radicals had taken over a decade later. In some ways Pendergast envied the people of the Earth Alliance, but not for that. He wouldn't envy anyone who had to face that and he just hoped it never happened to his own home.
Babylon 5
Not long ago General O'Neill had been pining for the days when he and SG 1 had been conducting off world missions and slowly found himself going stir crazy sat in an office missing out on what he enthusiastically called 'All the fun Carter!' He had since had time to throw a little perspective on that, and after facing the Drakh maybe the office wasn't so bad after all. Nah, when O'Neill really thought about a little action now and again was good for the soul.
"So you actually flew through the planet?" the massive form of Captain Anderson dwarfed Carter who was standing beside him. The three of them had assembled with Security Chief Zack Allan and of course Doctor Jackson to greet the Vice President of the Inter Stellar Alliance, a Minbari named Delenn who was apparently married to John Sheridan whom they had met previously. Of the whole group Daniel Jackson was probably most interested, and at O'Neill's suggestion the representatives finalising the two Earths treaty would not be disturbed until after it was all sealed and signed. He had to admit to a little hidden agenda on that one, mostly revolving around his inability to keep his lunch down if he had to spend more time with Mr Woolsely.
"Well the nature of our faster than light propulsion system essentially shifts the parent vessel out of our space-time continuum." Even if for some reason he did not know Carters voice, nobody else spoke like that. Anderson seemed to be genuinely interested and even following the conversation, O'Neill just smiled occasionally as they glanced his way.
O'Neill glanced to the other side to see Daniel Jackson completely immersed in a book, a very rustic leather bound tome filled with illegible alien writing in his right hand and an Earth Alliance supplied palm computer in the other which was changing the alien writing into English for him.
"Good book?" he asked by way of starting conversation.
"Wha…" Jackson looked up, a look of mild bewilderment on his face as his train of thought hit an O'Neill shaped obstruction. "Oh, yeah. Good book."
"The latest Harry Potter?" O'Neill wondered. "In fact because we're in the future I could probably look that up now and see how it ends."
"Well maybe, but there is still an element of randomness in everything." Jackson said. "Plus it's a parallel reality, so not strictly the same thing which means even if you memorized every lottery draw for a year there's no guarantee that when we made it back those exact numbers would come up in that exact sequence."
"Stop it, I get enough of that from Carter." O'Neill huffed. "Anyway, what's the book about?"
"It's the, err, Book of G'Kar. Recent history, it mentions the Fall of Narn, the Shadow war, revelations on the universe, pretty big stuff. The guy who wrote it sometimes visits here."
"Let me guess, he'd be called… G'Kar?" O'Neill hid a smile.
"Yeah, it's kind of an autobiography, and the Narn Ambassador here said I could take this home as long as I promised not to translate it on paper, just use this thing." He waved the computer. "Some tradition or something."
"Sounds good." O'Neill glanced back at the doorway leading to the hangar deck. "But I still think I'll try and grab some Harry Potter."
Finally the door hummed open and Captain Lochley strode through still decked out in her dress uniform. Following on was a small party of people, some human and some alien dressed in either white robes or dark and earthy clothes and cloaks. In their midst was a slender woman in a mottled brown and gold robe who despite her tiny frame radiated a calm assuredness which allowed O'Neill to immediately identify her as someone meant to lead. She had the bone crest of her birth race, but the long locks of a human female, something that had been unique in the galaxy, a hybrid of human and alien biology. Since the birth or her son that had now become two individuals with mixed traits.
"Madam Vice President," Lochley announced in her rough gravely voice, a reminder of her days in the army before graduating the fleet academy, "This is General Jack O'Neill, United States Air Force."
The Minbari leader steepled her fingers and bowed. She whispered a few words in her own language before standing with a wide smile. "Greetings General, John has spoken a great deal about you and your people." She frowned. "You and somebody called 'Mark Eight', is he here with you?"
O'Neill and his team shared a smile. "Well, that might need a little explaining. Lets just say they'd get along really well if they ever met." He stepped back and gestured at the other people with him. "Can I introduce Lieutent Colonel Samantha Carter, the smartest person I know, Doctor Daniel Jackson, the smartest person I know, and Captain Anderson, the tallest person I know."
As he got to the end of the line he noticed another figure stood there. "And a holographic Minbari called Drall who is the loudest person I know."
The Minbari laughed boisterously at the introduction. "General! You remembered, ahh, I am so pleased you did not forget me, or my invitation."
"Well, little hard to forget." O'Neill smiled. "Or stop the ringing in my ears for that matter."
Drall simply laughed even louder at that. "I love the human sense of humour! And Delenn, you are looking bright and radiant, having children is something you should do more often!"
Most of the group shared an awkward silence at the implication held in that comment, but Delenn seemed deeply amused.
"You still have a way with words my old friend, in much the same way an army with a battering ram has a way with doors."
Drall bellowed with laughter. "You were my best student Delenn, and you always had a way of finding the most interesting of people." He regarded the entire group. "Now, why don't the four of you come and see me, I am sure the Captain can wait a couple of hours while we catch up."
"Well actually the delegates are…"
"Good!" Drall boomed. "It is settled then, take a ship and head down to my humble home, I will have Zathras make sure the place has all the usual comforts of home. Like air."
That made O'Neill raise an eyebrow, clearly amusing Drall.
"Human humour, I love it."
Fifteen minutes later they were on the planet having taken a small Ranger craft to the hidden hangar bay on Epsilon III. The pilot stayed silently with the craft as Delenn led O'Neill, Jackson and Carter through the carved out tunnels towards the heart of the machine.
"You know your way around this place?" O'Neill asked. "Kinda looks all the same, and no sign posts."
Delenn nodded with a hint of hesitation, "It has been some years since I last visited but I think it's this way. I am sure if we get too lost Drall will appear to help. After he has stopped laughing of course."
"He mentioned you were his student?" Jackson piped up from slightly further behind, catching up after examining a section of wall.
"Yes, many years ago on Minbar, my home." Delenn confirmed. "He taught philosophy, the works of Valen, he taught me to listen to the calling of the heart because it is the only thing that never lies to you."
"You know I like it here." O'Neill said. "Oh sure you have Drakh, but look at the other races. You got philosophers, poets, historians, artists, and those guys with the weird hair who just seem to drink all day. Beats snake heads and life sucking vampires."
"You may not have considered that several years ago General." Delenn led them around a corner into more rocky corridors. "Things have gotten less dangerous since then, now we are just dealing with the fate of three species, back then all of us lived in mortal danger from powers we could not comprehend."
"Yeah, we had that too for a while." O'Neill remarked. "But then we shot them, blew them up, hit them with pointy sticks. That did the trick."
"We asked our First Ones to leave." Delenn said. "Now why didn't Valen think of that? He seemed so smart. It would have saved us a lot of trouble."
She turned another corner.
"So why do the call it 'The Great Machine?'" O'Neill asked.
She threw a smile over her shoulder and stepped around a final corner and the tunnel ended, replaced instead with a vast cavern stretching into invisibility. Pulses of light and energy ran up and down it's length with a narrow path bridging the chasm.
"Oh, right." O'Neill answered himself. "Well I can see that."
Jackson leaned slightly over the edge and looked down. "Got a bit of the 'Forbidden Planet' vibe to it don't you think?"
"But real." Carter was also examining the facility. "We need to have Prometheus do a full scan on this place, I mean I haven't seen anything like it."
"Except that movie." O'Neill reminded. "So who built this?"
"We do not know." Delenn answered. "Some say the first keeper we found was the last of the race who built it, others say the Vorlons did, if anyone truly knows it is Drall, and he has not said." They left the bridge, lingering a little for a last view before continuing back into the dreary corridors. "We are nearly there."
Sure enough after a few moments they entered a new room, the far wall dominated by a transparent panel pulsing with gold light with a roughly human shaped alcove at its centre, a space currently occupied by Drall. O'Neill almost didn't recognise him because he was quiet. It did not last.
"Welcome to my humble home!" Drall's now familiar voice boomed behind them, the holographic representation striding forward among them. "I trust the journey was agreeable?"
"Humble home?" O'Neill grinned. "You call this humble?"
"Ah General, when you have seen the far places I have, when you have dwelt upon the deepest secrets of the universe, when you have walked in the footsteps of giants, then your whole perspective changes. And incidentley, I have." He stepped forward and observed his physical form with a grunt. "I told Zathras to dust me, at least one of them should have gotten the message."
"Do you mind if I ask what this place does?" Carter raised her question. "Why is it here?"
"Why?" Drall boomed. "Why? Well, I haven't got a clue." He shrugged. "Who can fathom the mind of a being who may design such a thing. As to what it does, it is a tool of knowledge used both for collection and storage. I can see to the corners of the universe, even through time itself and document all that happens. And as you know, knowledge is power."
"I'd say that's over rated." O'Neill spoke. "I mean Daniel's got knowledge, but I got a gun so who wins?"
"Well I'd probably be smart enough to run away." Jackson remarked. "So neither of us."
"Back on topic," Carter pushed gently. "Why did you ask us down here?"
"As a precaution so no one could hear what I am about to tell you." Drall lowered his deep voice, which merely brought it down to a normal speaking tone. "When your Colonel Caldwell first arrived something long dormant in this machine also activated, something so ancient it would have been centuries before I worked my way to it. The file contained information on the gate, including it's greatest secret."
The group leaned closer, hooked on Drall's words.
"The gate is not from this universe!" The Minbari grinned. "It was brought from your dimension General, made by a race known only as 'The Ancients'" he stood back, greatly pleased at his delivery.
Jackson and O'Neill shared a look. "Yes." The scientist said. "We sort of figured that out ourselves."
"You what?"
"We figured it out." Jackson shrugged apologetically. "Sorry."
"Oh well, I seem to be wasting my time." Drall huffed. "Perhaps the secrets I hold, the great and terrible secrets of this machine, are already known to you? Perhaps I should remain here in my little dusty alcove and let you figure it all out yourselves?"
"Drall," Delenn said with an amused expression. "I see your time here as not changed you, I remember when I answered one of your challenges first time you went into a similar sulk." She dropped her voice and wrinkled her nose. "Oh no, you don't need me your teacher then, I'll just retire as you seem to know it all already, I'll just go lie down for the rest of the week." She grinned widely and returned her voice to normal. "Close enough?"
"Too close!" Drall bellowed with laughter. "You were trouble, and I like trouble!" he turned to Jackson. "You people hold many surprises, but be assured the universe is full of them, as you see even I with all the knowledge of this place can still be surprised!"
O'Neill and his friends smiled with a little confusion, but mostly went along.
"Yes, you have come a long way for so few." Drall continued. "I know more than you can guess, I have been exploring the limits of this device and have seen much. I know your proud ancestry, I know of the lost city, I can see and hear the Ancients when they still trod the grass and soil of your world. If you want to glimpse your future General, start by looking into the past."
"Okay, but that was a little more cryptic then I was going for." O'Neill replied.
"Then perhaps the term P3X-7171 may be of more use to you." Drall offered. "When you return you should investigate, you may find something useful there."
"Like?"
"Something useful." Was Dralls knowing reply. "Come on, I don't want to spoil the surprise! You'll love it!"
O'Neill sighed in resignation. "Fine, but if it hatches out of an egg and sticks to Daniel's face, we'll be having words."
"Thanks Jack, really, thanks."
"Don't mention it, it's least I can do." O'Neill smiled back with an amused eye.
"Well," Drall slapped his holographic hands together, they still made a loud clap as he did so. "I think you may want to head back, your politicians seem to have stopped listening to themselves talk. A favourite pastime of those type the universe over."
"Oh yeah, I knew there was something I was trying to avoid." O'Neill grimaced. "I thought it might have been having my head crushed in a vice, but no, it's worse. Woolsey."
Carter and Jackson exhaled at the same time in realisation, the bald negotiator was not dearly loved in the SGC.
"We will visit again, my old friend." Delenn smiled.
"See that you do, I have more research to do, more leads to follow and with luck I shall have a great history for you when you next return!" The elder Minbari boasted. "Hopefully you won't have heard this one."
The group began to leave, Carter and Jackson eager for a look at the cavern again on their way out.
"General." Drall moved up and caught O'Neill's attention, speaking quieter than he would have believed possible for the extroverted keeper of the Machine. "I can see the concern on your brow. All I will say is that the universe has a plan, and you can be assured that whatever path you find yourself on it will always take you to the right place, at the right time, to make a difference."
O'Neill paused. "Your machine told you that?"
"A hundred and twenty years of living told me that." Drall replied warmly. "You might feel like your best days are behind you, that you are leaving that which you think defines you. General, your true moment has yet to come. You are a man of destiny, your choices shape billions of lives. Embrace what lies ahead, it is always going to be worth it."
"Thanks." O'Neill said. "Again, that was a little more cryptic than I had hoped…"
"Well I am not an oracle General, I can just tell you what is on my mind, nebulous and distant as that may be. Look for the moments, you will know them when you see them. And, we will talk again."
He moved to join the rest of the team and was replaced by Delenn.
"You are still well down here?"
"Never better." Drall confirmed. "This is truly where I was meant to be, and you I see are where you were meant to be."
"You stay in my heart, my old teacher."
"And you mine. Pass my regards to your husband, and your son." He grinned. "David is a good strong name, not so strong as Drall of course…"
He was cut off by Delenn's laugh. "You really don't change. I am glad."
"Be safe Delenn." He answered. "You have endured great trials, but there are more to come. Trust your heart."
They bowed to each other, and with a final wink from Drall they parted and went back to an expectant world.
Babylon 5
Peoples Representative Shen Xiaoy collapsed back in her chair, finding it not even remotely as comfortable as she had hoped. The negotiations had finally ended and the wording had been agreed upon, a verbal minefield where one false step would have caused the whole thing to go up in smoke. Often she resented that part of her job, wrangling words to try and get people to live up to their promises. Part of her put it down to the duplicitous nature of capitalism, something she was initially depressed to hear was now the main Earth government in this reality.
They had retired from the discussion, Woosely looking pleased with himself, and returned to their quarters until Vice President Delenn arrived. While the agreement was between the two Earths and didn't actually involve the ISA directly, Delenn would be signing as a high profile witness to the treaty to make sure both sides were in agreement. Technically anything the EA gained would be shared with the ISA at large, but President Sheridan was keen to get an independent agreement set up between the SGC and the ISA itself.
Her door chimed.
"Who is it?" she sighed in annoyance, the day had already been frustratingly busy without needing visitors.
"Ambassador Xiaoy?" a male voice asked. "Can I have a moment?"
"This isn't a good time."
"Please, I will not be long."
"Fine." She resigned. "Door, open."
With a clank the portal retracted to reveal a young man in Earth Force combat flight suit. He was fairly short and slender and shared a Chinese ancestry. He stepped into what was euthemistically called a VIP room and stopped in front of her.
"What can I help you with?" Shen asked.
"Madam, can I just ask with respect, does your family come from Beijing?"
She blinked, a little perplexed at the question. "Yes, why do you ask?"
"My name is Lieutenant Yin Xiaoy, and I think somewhere down the line we are related."
She sat bolt upright in the chair, her discomfort gone. "You're family, they are from the same place?"
"They were, until World War III and we moved into the mountains." He shrugged at the information. "But when I noticed your name on the boarding list, I just had to come and see you."
"This is unbelievable!" Shen stood. "But there are two and a half centuries between us."
"I still managed to look through the family records, they survived the wars and prove that you and I are related. This is probably some strange twist of the universe, but I felt I had to see you and warn you."
"Warn me?"
He stepped closer. "Move away from Beijing, and take all your family with you."
"Why?"
"Because one day in the future, not until your grandchildren are grown, Beijing will be destroyed and many of our family will die."
"You mentioned World War III?" Shen asked. "Does it involve us?"
"Yes, but it was the civil war that followed which came close to destroying us. China was weak and divided and we fell because of it." His voice grew quiet. "A billion people died, maybe more. You have to save the family."
"It is hard to believe that can be true!" Shen said. "We come from different worlds, what happened here may not happen where I come from."
"Do you believe that?" the pilot asked. "Do you really believe that?"
Shen sat down, in her soul she knew that as China grew it was coming more and more into conflict with its neighbours, especially Russia and America. The chance of that sparking an all out war had crossed her mind before. "What happened?"
"There was a war between India and Pakistan, it grew to involve us and the Russians." Her descendant spoke. "The United States had secretly deployed orbital weapons that shot down our nuclear missiles before they struck Russia, denying us a quick and bloodless victory."
"A nuclear war?" Shen gasped.
"Yes, but mostly limited to tactical weapons and cruise missiles. It did not defeat our enemies, but did alter the climate for a few years. After the United States and Europe imposed peace we found our crops failing, our already weakened economy collapsed and the country fell into civil war as warlords tore apart the country. It was the end of our dream, the world saw we would be the greatest super power and they conspired to stop us. Since then China has never risen so great, always pinned down by the western controlled Earth Alliance." He snorted. "It is sickening."
Shen shook her head. "That is terrible!"
"They used their technological edge against us." The officer said. "In a few more years it would have been enough, we could have defeated them because our own technology would have equalled that of the United States. If only we had a few more years head start."
Shen nodded. "Are you saying you think it could happen to my country through the portal?"
"You know what the Americans and Europeans are like, and the Russians!" he scoffed. "They will always try and keep China out of the major decisions, do you think it is coincidence this mission is lead by an American? Or that China has no true representation in their little Stargate programme? Or that the ships are all American in construction and crew?"
"Wait," Shen frowned. "How do you know all this?"
"It was in the briefing notes your American leader gave to my Earth Alliance superior." The other Xiaoy answered. "Typical capitalist propaganda."
"They are not all as bad as you seem to think." Shen countered.
"Maybe, but you don't know what will happen next. I do." Her companion said. "You are living in a great time, when we were at our height, when we almost took our rightful place in the world. These people are the same as the ones from my history, watch them Shen, you will see them start to muscle you out, to keep China down because they do not want to lose their place as the worlds leading power. And when you are too powerful to bully down, then they will bomb you into submission."
"It can't happen."
"It already has, twice." He replied. "It just hasn't happened to you yet, and maybe, just maybe, you can do something to stop it."
"What can I do?" Shen shrugged. "I am just a diplomat."
"A diplomat held in high regard by the Peoples government, how else would you be here in this job?" He smiled. "If you speak, many will listen, and if you deliver, then you are bound to be taken notice of."
"Deliver? Deliver what?"
"Technology." The man stated. "Enough to give you an edge over the other governments and make sure that when they come for you, China can fight back and defend itself."
"We are already sharing technology from the Earth Alliance."
"It is not the best they have, just like your American friends are not sharing the best they have. Typical capitalists on both side, the few profit and the majority trudge on. Together, new China can help old China. It will not be easy, but if you can set up channels with people you trust in your government, I can do the same with the Chinese senators in the Alliance and I can acquire through them the best technology from here. Items that will advance China centuries."
Shen stared at him. "You know I cannot give you an answer."
"I know, you must talk to the Party first." Agreed her relative. "Do so, but do it quick. Our people will stay in touch, so you and I can stay in touch. If your government agrees, then we can start building a future for China."
He stepped towards the door with a smile. "I must leave now, but consider what I have said. I will see you again Shen Xiaoy, fortune go with you."
He then left, and Shen found her head filled with apprehension and uncertainty.
Officer Yin Xiaoy entered his quarters and sealed the door, heading straight for the communication terminal. He keyed in a secure code and attached a scrambler before routing his call. On the other end a curt female voice answered.
"Thirteen."
"Contact successful, Chinese representative seems open to our needs. We may have a channel into the inner workings of the other Earth."
"Well done agent. Continue using Shen as required, once we contact their military command we will no longer need her. Make sure there are no loose ends."
"Yes control."
"Thirteen out."
The officer, who of course had no connection at all with the Xiaoy family disconnected the scrambler, removed his military uniform and put on a casual suit before leaving in time to catch his scheduled business flight back to Mars. His true identity as a member of Bureau 13 remaining unknown to anyone who encountered him, as was his abnormal telepathic strength.
A few hours later.
Delenn maintained her formal presence as she was introduced by O'Neill to the representatives of his home planet, a reasonably diverse mixture of people from a half dozen governments that all had some share in the Star Gate programme. Delenn had devoted countless hours to studying Earth history ever since the disaster of first contact and the more hopeful times of the Babylon project. She knew this period in human history was one of relative peace between World Wars where the nations faced off against each other in economic or ideological terms, not in military terms. Even so, despite these divisions the people in front of her had put on a grand show of unity, something she had recognized early on about humanity.
Even now they were a divided people, torn by internal squabbles and petty differences like language, culture and pride. They were dichotomous, war like, brutal and cynical, yet could also have astonishing wisdom and an insight into affairs that took even the oldest of races by surprise. Even Kosh had been impressed by humanity in his own inscrutable Vorlon manner, enough to lay down his life to further the cause. When it came down to it the Humans put aside these differences and they united, no matter the scale of the threat if it threatened one from outside, then it threatened them all.
That devotion to each other overriding differences, that dedication to the species and desire to see things put right had put humanity in place at the heart of the galaxy. It had beaten the Dilgar when all else had failed, it had kept the most powerful war machine in the known galaxy at bay for two years when the last race to fight the Minbari collapsed in weeks. And at the final reckoning the concept had united the defiant into a force that met the eldest of powers in open war and delivered the galaxy from madness. Sheridan's people had done all that, and by speaking to O'Neill she saw his world was following in those footsteps.
She had spoken to O'Neill, Carter and Jackson about where they came from and what the galaxy was like. She had heard that most of the races here did not exist, or at least were not known, where they came from and that for thousands of years a race known as the Goa'uld had ruled with an iron fist as the dominant race. They had enslaved early humanity but eventually been driven off, only to be encountered again when the fledgling Stargate Command connected the first off world gate and sent a team through.
Less than a decade later the Goa'uld were in disarray, their greatest leaders dead, their empire crumbling and former slave races now in open revolt, all spear headed by work from Earth and its divided peoples. The more she listened the more amazed she was, it was not just Goa'uld but also a group called Replicators who had come close to defeating what was by all accounts a First One level species, only to be aided by a little human ingenuity and lateral thinking. In gratitude they had provided some aid to the SGC and made humanity's first interstellar craft a truly formidable prospect. Now Earth had two starships with three more nearing completion in a month or two.
The most surprising thing was they had done all this under total secrecy with only a few thousand people on the planet knowing the whole facts about the off world operations and those times when the war had almost touched Earth itself. It seemed that even in small groups humans had an ability to derail the grandest plans of tyrants. It was not something that had escaped the notice of the Grey Council. They had been more than a little surprised when reports filtered back from Minbari fleet elements engaging the Drakh of the new ship seen with a human crew. When the truth had been shared with the senior officials of the ISA governments nobody quite knew what to make of it, there was still no official ISA policy on the gate and what lay beyond, but they had been quick to set up a working friendship and had shared forces, though so far they had been mostly human vessels.
Naturally enough there were negative reactions, especially from the Warrior caste. She had hoped that perhaps Neroons final display of nobility would shame the other warriors into accepting the truth of their position, but even so few years later the disgraced Shakiri was once more rising in prominence and driving the caste elders to a more radical position. Many of the warrior clans remained undecided, but almost inevitably the Wind Swords, most militant and radical of the clans, had taken a stand firmly against this new human presence declaring it a threat to Minbar and the first act of a war of revenge against their people. Thankfully they did not gain the support they would have had ten years earlier, and Delenn was relieved that at least some things had changed, but even so they were working to focus fear and anger on these new and dangerous human ships and if her people were not careful it could end in disaster.
The signing took place quietly in the observation lounge behind the initial bulb of the station, the wide windows offering a panoramic view of space beyond. There was no media present so the true nature of the signatories was not revealed, but the room had a fair number of military and diplomatic personnel including several Alien Ambassadors. The two leading representatives from each side sat side by side and at the same moment put their names on the document on behalf of their respective Presidents, both unable to leave their planet for very different reasons. Representatives Woosley and Bartlett then stood and with wide and possible sincere smiles they shook hands, a nice gesture for the press which unfortunately were not present. It did at least garner a round of applause from the assembled Ambassadors.
Both sides had managed to secure the things they had most desired, the Alliance would receive Goa'uld level shield generators, data on Naquadah reactors and inertial compensator systems in addition to continued weapons research. The SGC and IOA nations would be receiving help expanding their infrastructure from a planetary to an interstellar power including robotics, automated shipyards to be deployed on the dark side of the Moon, viable Fusion reactors and fuel cells for commercial use, crystal based computer technology, a new range of tachyon based sensors and communicators and military equipment for ground forces and spacecraft, mostly focused on engines and electromagnetic field generators used to reduce friction in gun barrels and missile racks and give ballistic weapons more range an power. The icing on the cake had been a handful of Earth Force ships and orbital weapons platforms to rapidly expand humanity's defences until the SGC could field a large number of its own ships. Those ships would also help the SGC designers see how to mass produce large spacecraft for when they brought their space based shipyards online.
On paper it looked like the IOA had the better end of the deal, and while they did have a higher volume of equipment coming in that technology would simply allow Earth to create an infrastructure equal to the other Spacefaring worlds of the galaxy, letting it stand beside the Hebridians or Free Jaffa as a force to be respected able to project power across the galaxy. But the technology the EA gained would let it outstrip almost every other race in the galaxy, letting human ships tear apart any Drakh force they came across and finally letting the high command relax about the state of Earth Force ships compared to the Minbari. With this technology a Warlock would be unmatched by anything on this side of the gate. Naturally both sides had kept some aces to themselves, the SGC weren't about to reveal their Asgard level shields or advanced Hyperdrives, while at the same time Earth Force kept absolutely silent on the concept of Shadow technology and cybernetics. Still, both sides were extremely pleased with the deal, and that seemed to be sufficient for now.
The two humans returned to their seats allowing Delenn to move to the centre, she nodded to both of them respectfully and then addressed the room.
"Change is the Universe's way of keeping life interesting." She spoke. "No matter how long we live, how much we see, or how long we talk we will never have all the answers. There will always be surprises, always be things once called impossible now becoming common place. Everyday challenges our preconceptions, it makes us look anew at the universe around us and through that action we also see ourselves bathed in that new light."
She took up the pen and located where she needed to sign as witness.
"Today we see the impossible and make it common place. A different world that shares so much with its twin here, A different universe existing beside our own, An entirely new place to explore and understand and draw wonder from. It will change how we look at everything, and it will change how we look at ourselves."
She signed the document, making it full and binding before placing the pen down. In the future she hoped to bring the ISA into these kind of negotiations more actively, but neither she or Sheridan had the authority to interfere in sovereign business, which included a deal between these two near identical planets.
"It is done." She confirmed. "And so much less trouble than our last dimensional exchange."
Prometheus.
"Oh it is good to be home." O'Neill grinned. "Well as good as home anyway."
"I heard the negotiations went well sir." Pendergast greeted O'Neill on the bridge with a smile.
"Yeah probably, most of the time I was trying to make Woosley's head explode with just the power of my mind." He shrugged. "I need more practice."
"Well sir I can report all systems operational and course laid in, we're ready to go."
"All righty then." O'Neill clapped his hands. "We'll be taking Mr Garibaldi back with us too, he'll be making sure we get what we signed up for."
"Aye sir." Pendergast confirmed, then nodded to his team to begin departure preparations.
O'Neill opened a channel to the station, "Captain Lochley, General O'Neill."
"Go ahead General."
"Time for us to haul ass back home, thanks for your hospitality, it's been a great stay." He paused. "Well except for the day we almost all got killed and I had to fly through a planet."
"well at least it was interesting, I can see why the President was so impressed with the Daedalus." Lochley commented. "Safe journey General, you are clear to go."
"Thank you Captain, Prometheus out." He turned to Pendergast. "Okay Colonel, hit it."
With barely a shudder the ship entered hyperspace on it's short journey to Earth and the gateway home. The familiar twisting energies reminding the General of his first trip on this vessel barely a couple of years ago, could have been a lifetime.
"What do you think?" Jackson asked plainly.
"About what?" O'Neill replied. He had joined Jackson and Carter beside one of the observation windows, looking at Mars coming up as they made the approach to the gate.
"About the Earth Alliance, what do you think?"
"I think as a whole, they're human." O'Neill twisted his face a little as he thought. "And that they like grey on their space ships and have a fascination with building really big guns. I think we'll get along just fine, it's like we're from the same planet."
"The technology we've gained is simple enough compared to what we have," Carter continued. "But the big difference is it can be mass produced economically. We can solve the energy crisis overnight, cut pollution to nothing, and make space travel a reality for the whole world. Even before disclosure we can start feeding these developments into the planet a little at a time, enough to start making things better."
"Depends what we're trying to solve." Jackson added. "I mean it isn't going to solve inequalities or old hatreds, even two hundred years and near extinction hasn't solved that for these guys."
"Once we move out into space and start making a real difference we're going to start making enemies, already we've got the Wraith trying to fight us in Pegasus, that's going to need us to deploy warships and support them long term." Carter listed the points. "And for that we need a solid infrastructure and a lot of people working towards it. The more we get involved the harder it is to maintain secrecy."
"We'll leave that to the President." O'Neill cut in. "Disclosure has to happen one day, but I doubt we'll get much say in it." He winced. "And I forgot to look up Harry Potter."
"He dies." Jackson said before thinking. "I shouldn't have said that should I?"
"Stick to your Narn book." O'Neill grunted. "It has covers identical to their clothes, and that just isn't right."
"A lot to take in." Jackson remarked.
"Hell of a lot." Carter nodded. "I'm going to try and get on one of those Minbari ships next time, see if it's gravitic drive works on the same principles as Goa'uld propulsion."
"Can't wait." O'Neill said flatly. "Well I guess we all almost died but didn't, so that means it's back to a mountain of paperwork. The thrill might just kill me." The prospect of shuffling jobs and ending up with yet more paperwork and even less real contribution to the way things worked was something else O'Neill had brought back from this trip, and he had to admit to feeling some trepidation. He wasn't afraid of the job, but he was afraid of losing who he was in a role which simply smothered him in useless details and simply stopped him doing good.
"We'll be home soon." He announced. "And I've been putting this off until after the conference was done. I have to go and write some letters, try and explain without actually explaining why eight of our people won't be coming home."
General O'Neill headed to his quarters to attend to the sombre task as the ship made the transition, leaving Jackson to quietly read his book, and Carter to return to the finer points of Neutron weapons. It was a reminder of how dangerous life could be, and that sometimes luck would run out.
Hopefully it wouldn't be anytime soon.
