Chapter Fourteen: Actions/Reactions

Once General Braddock's ship exited hyperspace, Braddock saw that his plan had been executed flawlessly. The freighter Ulysses was already docked at Babylon 5 and his GROPOs were taking control of the station even now. "Open a channel to the rebels," he ordered the communications officer.

"Channel open sir."

"This is General Nathaniel Braddock to all rebel vessels in the area. Surrender immediately or face total destruction." He knew that Babylon 5 was almost secured and he wouldn't have to worry about it but there were two rebel ships that could offer some challenge. There was no way in hell they could hope to defeat his fleet but you never knew. These traitors could be like cornered animals.

Things were steadily going downhill for Captain Hiroshi. First it was the epidemic that swept through Babylon 5, practically incapacitating it. Next it was the boarding action by Earth Force GROPOs. To top it off, she was now facing an ultimatum from this General Braddock. "Get me ship wide," she ordered. Then she spoke. "This is Captain Hiroshi to all hands. We are currently facing an overwhelming opposition consisting of over fifty vessels. They want us to surrender unconditionally. I'm sure you know what that means. The best-case scenario is that we will see the inside of some prison for the rest of our lives. The more likely scenario is that we will all be executed at their convenience. I don't intend to make it easy for them. However, the decision is yours. You can choose to leave this vessel immediately and take your chances with them. I will hold nothing against you if you choose to do so. The rest of you, man your stations. We will show these bastards what we are truly made of."

Everyone knew their time was up. Whether they fought or surrendered, the outcome was going to be the same. It was thus no wonder that most of them decided to stay and fight on. They were soldiers first and foremost and intended to go down fighting. Even the Klingons would have admired their resolve. Without fanfare or drama, both rebel vessels powered up their engines, armed their weapons and charged headlong into battle. Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Charge of the Light Brigade would have been a fitting tribute for them.

Cannon to the right of them,

Cannon to the left of them,

Cannon in front of them,

Volleyed and thundered;

Stormed at with shot and shell,

Boldly the rode and well,

Into the jaws of Death,

Into the mouth of Hell,

Rode the six hundred.

Alyt Kalanga did not really care for his assignment. "Why should we help them?" he had asked.

"Because they are to be our allies in the coming war against the darkness," was the reply.

"But they are just barbarians. How can we rely on them? Did they not attack us in the Sh'lekk'tha star system?"

"Yes," he was told. "However, the faction at Babylon 5 is our best hope. That is why it must not fall into Earth Force hands."

He was not happy with the answers but he had his orders. Protect Babylon 5. Keep Earth Force out. That was what he was going to do. After all, he was a warrior and he had his orders. With that in mind, he ordered, "Jump!"

When the four Sharlins exited hyperspace, they were greeted with a spectacular fireworks display. None of it was directed at them but the situation was grave nonetheless. It put their mission at jeopardy.

"This is Alyt Kalanga of the Minbari war cruiser Tallus to all vessels. Hold fire immediately. Failure to do so will be dealt with deadly force."

Captain Hiroshi couldn't believe their luck. After being battered and burned at the hands of death, reprieve came in the form of a fleet of Minbari Sharlins. They were not out of the woods yet though. They had to survive just a little longer. It was going to be a challenge.

General Braddock couldn't believe what was happening. Just as he was about to put an end to this silly rebellion, the Minbari show up spoiling his victory. To make matters worse, the whole fleet had suddenly ceased fire without his explicit orders. That's what happens when a nine hundred pound gorilla walks into a barroom brawl. Even the drunk comes to their senses. This enraged the general and he yelled into his microphone, "Continue firing you bastards."

For a moment, no one stirred. No one dared to defy the Minbari. They had all learned their lessons from the Earth-Minbari war. But then there is always someone who is either very brave or very stupid. A lone gunner in the fleet opened fire on one of the 'rebel' vessels. The Minbari response was swift and deadly. All Sharlins opened up on the unfortunate vessel reducing it to bits of molten metal and burning bodies. After this show of force, not even General Braddock dared do anything. The action to retake Babylon 5 came to a sudden end with the arrival of the Minbari.

The lone hologram figure showed up in Captain Payne's ready room for the second time. Unlike the first time, Payne was prepared for it.

"So, have you decided on your course of action, Captain?"

"Yes, I have taken it up with the fleet and they have decided to help."

"That was a wise decision."

"That still leaves one problem and that's where you come in. I hope you are still capable of taking care of it."

"Ah, yes." With that a barely visible rift opened up in front of the fleet. "Captain, please take your vessels through that rift and follow the beacon. It will take you straight to Babylon 5."

Payne looked at the rift with a suspicious eye. He could see a sea of swirling red and black through the opening. "Are you sure it's safe?" he asked, letting doubt creep into his voice.

"Perfectly. Just follow the beacon I have laid out for you."

"What kind of space is that?" he asked out of curiosity.

"It is what the locals here call hyperspace, or at least a deeper version of it. It should take you no more than fifteen minutes to get to Babylon 5."

With a deep bow, the hologram flickered out before Captain Payne could ask any more questions.

"Here goes nothing," he thought to himself as he ordered the fleet into the rift.

The voyage through the rift was remarkably uneventful. The strong eddies and currents could have made navigation tricky had it not been for the powerful beacon that kept them true to course. As for the science team, this was a heaven-sent opportunity to study a new phenomenon albeit a short one. No sooner had they settled down they came to the end of their ride as another rift deposited them five hundred thousand kilometers from the Epsilon Eridani III system.

"Scan the system," he quickly ordered.

"Already on it sir." Followed momentarily by, "There seem to be numerous ships around the Babylon 5 station sir. Looks like fifty odd Earth vessels and four Minbari vessels."

"Shit, the Minbari just opened fire on one of the Earth vessels."

"That's it. Red alert. Helm, take us in. Full impulse."

Alyt Kalanga was happy that at least one of the vessels had defied his order. He never like the humans and was only too happy to get a chance to blow some of them away. Just then there was a cry from one of the sensor operators. "Eight ships inbound at high speed. God, look at their velocity."

Then another filled in, "It's those new Earth Ships. The ones from the Sh'lekk'tha system."

Kalanga did not waste a second, "Target those ships. I want them destroyed at once."

"They are moving too fast for a clean intercept. We need to launch fighters."

"Then do it. Launch all fighters!" Kalanga roared. He was clearly incensed.

"Not again," was the first thing that came to Payne's mind. These boneheads never learnt a lesson. Even as his ship was taking evasive action, he ordered, "Open a channel to the lead Minbari ship."

"This is Captain Payne to the lead Minbari vessel. Cease fire immediately."

Cease-fire immediately? How dare they order the Minbari? These humans need to be taught a serious lesson. "All ships open fire. Destroy all of them."

With that, every gun on the Sharlins opened up. Even those not in the firing arc of the Federation ships opened up; albeit on the Earth Force ships. To them they were all the same. Humans.

General Braddock was stunned. Even though Earth Force had succumbed to their demands, the Minbari still opened up on his ships. Damn Boneheads. "All ships, counter fire," he yelled.

Captain Payne was stunned. Instead of a cease-fire, the weapons fire volume just skyrocketed as every ship in the area joined in. Earth Force ships began to die even as they fought tooth and nail. "Target the Minbari ships. Take them out," he ordered with a heavy heart.

Like eagles, the eight Federation ships dove at the poor Minbari. Phasers struck out shearing away chunks of crystalline armor. Photon torpedoes ravaged huge portions of the proud Sharlins, quickly reducing them into pools of molten slag. Alyt Kalanga knew it was over for his ships. One was already dead; the remaining three weren't in much better shape. "Launch a communication probe. We have to let the rest of the fleet know what is happening here. Earth must pay for this." Soon thereafter, his ship joined its comrades as it was also blown apart into millions of tiny sparkling bits. With that, the second Earth-Minbari war had just begun.