LOCATION: Beta Durani
STATION: Mid-range defense station
For a spilt second the entire fleet froze, everyone on the station, planet, and surrounding ships gaped in awe as a brilliant white light bathed the entire star system and expanded outward.
'What the hell was that?' The commander of the defense station, asked shortly after the light had subsided.
'It was some kind of coherent tetrion pulse, the frequency spectrum indicates that it might be some kind of scanning field… Our long range recon patrols are reporting the source of the pulse' a young science officer replied. 'We have a video feed sir'
'On screen' the commander ordered.
The observation screen at the head of the command center activated revealing a swirling vortex that almost encompassed the entire monitor.
'Order the recon to back off or they're going to get sucked in!' the commander ordered.
'Sir, the recon is holding position approximately 1 light second form the vortex!' his subordinate replied.
'My god, that thing could swallow an entire fleet! Order patrol's alpha and gamma to investigate, is that the source of the pulse?'
'Negative sir, the pulse came from this' the view screen zoomed in as far as it could before the computer took over and enhanced the image of an object that flared a dull blue'
'What is it?'
'We don't know, but it's got an energy signature that's off the scale…' the officer began then paused as the image on the screen began to rapidly zoom out, yet the size of the object remained constant. In less than two seconds the camera had retracted to the point where they could see the outer haul of the recon ship, then zoomed out and away from the vortex for another second before the image disappeared. 'Sir, the object has just accelerated to 90 percent of light speed, and its heading our way!'
'How long until it gets here?'
'At its current velocity it will arrive in three minutes and forty two seconds, and sir its energy output has increased exponentially'
'So it's a weapon of some kind?'
'Possibly, and if it is, it currently has enough raw energy to vaporize this entire station and a good portion of the fleet'
'There's not enough time for an evacuation, contact beta patrol and have them position themselves directly in the weapons path. Order them to fire at will!'
'Sir, something moving that fast will only be in weapons range for 1/1000th of a second!'
'That's why were putting the patrol in its path, hopefully it wont have enough time to change course and we'd save the station'
'Aye sir, Orders have been issued'
LOCATION: 3 light minutes from Beta-Durani station.
SHIP: UEA ship Hercules.
The captain of the Hercules sat strapped to his command chair and watched intently as the other ships in the patrol group began to line up in formation. They had just received word from Beta-Durani of an incoming missile, and had been ordered to destroy it at all costs. It's exact course and heading were given to the fleet, but according to the station its velocity could not be confirmed. The Hercules now sat directly in its path while her support ships began lining up ready to target the approaching missile.
'Status?' The Captain questioned.
'All ships are in position, ETA with the missile in approximately 30 seconds!'
'30 seconds! Shouldn't we see it by now?' the captain questioned.
'Afirmitive captain, it may have some kind of sensor stealth'
'Order all ships to begin firing in sequence!'
The night sky erupted as all ships in the patrol group fired their weapons on the presumed course of the missile.
'10 seconds… 5 4 3 2 1' for a fraction of a second something appeared in the distance and just as suddenly it vanished, leaving a blazing hole through the Hercules.
LOCATION: Beta Durani
STATION: Mid-range defense station
'Sir, Beta group reports the Hercules has taken damage, the missile appears to have blown clear through her and is still on a course for this station' the coms officer announced.
'Damn it, how long until it reaches us?'
'Forty seven seconds and counting' a tech reported.
'Recommendations?' the commander asked, clear desperation washing over his face.
The command center remained silent while all eyes were drawn to the forward display that showed a map of the system and a red beep that was moving very quickly towards the station.
'Impact in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 …. Sir, the object has come to a dead stop, 1 kilometer from the station' a tech announced.
'Its just sitting there?'
'Apparently… one moment, it looks like the object is building up an energy field' the tech began, as an intense white light pierced the station. The light pulse was a hundred times more powerful than field they had felt earlier temporalily blinding all it touched.
Outside the station the Alterian drone continued its high intensity scan of the alien structure. After twenty minutes of high intensity molecular scans the drone disengaged and headed back the way it came.
Still blinded the commander called out 'What the hell was that?' but it was a pointless question. Neither he nor anyone else on the station would be able to see for at least another hour, and in the mean time the Drone reentered the vortex and returned to the Orion 5.
LOCATION: Earth orbit
SHIP: Olympus City-Ship, Command center.
Zeraus stood before the main view screen and watched intently as the drone returned to the Orion 5. The great shields of Olympus flared shortly after as the Orion 5 entered, preparing to dock with the city. Seven other Orion class battle cruisers were already birthed upon the piers while several thousand transport ships carrying close to a million Furlings darted between the great towers of Olympus, still protected by the shields.
'What of these alien beings? Are they native to the new star system? Are they a threat?' Zeraus questioned, his words carried to all ships captains and the Great Council.
'No, they are not native to this star system, therefore they have no claim to the worlds as yet untouched by their hands. Their technology is primitive, they pose no threat to us. The council has made its decision, we must take this system as our refuge, before it is too late' Heará, the head of the Alterian High Council replied. 'Go with our blessing'
With those words Zeraus bowed his head slightly, and the Olympus began to move with impossible speed, given her size, towards the vortex.
The Olympus exited the Vortex with a powerful roar, and sped towards the Beta-Durani 1, the inner most planet of the system. Within seconds she reached low orbit of the planet and positioned herself directly above the polar axis of the planet. From deep within the city-ship a great power was unleashed, a power that swept down and into the planet bellow. Slowly, like a coming storm, a veil of pure energy began to envelope the planet. Within twenty minutes it had completely encased the planet.
It was a device, perfected over millions of years that now swept through the planet. Every atom, every molecule was now being torn apart and reassembled into a pre-assigned template that would allow for planetary habitation. Within a day the planet would cool and an oxygen nitrogen atmosphere would separate from the newly formed water. Within two days the planet the water would recede to give birth to land masses. Within three days genetically enhanced plant life would cover the landmass. Within four days animal and insect life would spring forth from genetic seeds. And finally on the fifth day, the planet would be ready for colonization.
The Olympus left orbit mere moments after it had initiated the change, and set a course for Beta-Durani 2. It would take many days for the reformatting of the 7 planets and 42 moons not claimed by the alien race, and faster she began the faster the evacuation of their own dimension could continue.
LOCATION: Earth B5 Universe
PLACE: Earth Dome.
President Clark sat before his chiefs of staff and watched his monitor. A massive vortex, larger than anything he thought was possible was suspended on screen. It looked like any other hyperspace vortex except for the fact it was a deep blue color and had remained opened for almost five days now. The mid-range defense station on Beta-Durani had send numerous probes into the vortex, but none survived the turbulent eddies that seemed to tear apart anything that entered. However, the vortex itself, was not the object of his current frustration, it was the strange Alien ships that seemed to pass through it unaffected. Most notably was a massive, what could only be described as a city ship, that passed through just a few hours after the vortex's first appearance. It had since traveled throughout the system and fired a very powerful energy weapon at each of the planets and moons. Survey vessels had revealed that these worlds were very rapidly changing into habitable earth like planets.
In the first few hours a fleet had been prepared to make first contact with the city ship, but it was moving between planets and moons far to fast for Earth Force ships to catch up. When it finally came to rest in orbit of BD1, the fleet attempted communications but was ignored. When shuttles were launched to planets surface they seemed to bounce off the atmospheres of the new worlds. Clark was now extremely frustrated, he had ordered the mobilization of a massive attack fleet. He would not allow these aliens to invade Earth Alliance space, and simply ignore human ships as though they were nothing more than ants.
'Mr. President, we have 12 Omega Class destroyers and 24 Hyperion class cruisers assembled at the BD midrange defense station. I suggest approach their city ship and show them that we mean business' Clarks chief off staff stated.
'I disagree' Clarks interspecies liaison officer piped in 'They are obviously a very advanced civilization, if we go in and one of our captains get a little gun ho, we could spark another Minbari incident'
'Whoever they are, they at most have 1 ship, granted its huge, but we have a fleet of hundreds of ships that can be mobilized to deal with them like we dealt with the Minbari' Clark stated with the conviction of a preacher.
'Mr. President, we did not win the war with the Minbari because of our military might, the Minbari simply surrendered. We underestimated them and their power, we shouldn't do that with a species such as this, one that can apparently terra form entire worlds inside of a week!' the interspecies liaison officer countered.
'The Minbari lost because they were afraid of us' Clark almost shouted with anger 'And if these Aliens want to try something I will show them fear! Order the fleet to proceed to the alien ship… we will make them talk to us one way or another!'
LOCATION: Beta Durani system, on route to BD1
SHIP: Flag ship Alexis, Omega Class destroyer.
General Baltar had taken command of the fleet as it currently made its way towards the alien ship. He was hand picked by President Clark to lead this expedition, as Clark knew he would carry out his mission to the letter. Establish contact with the Alien race, one way or another. Personally Baltar couldn't give a damn about the Aliens, he just wanted to be back on the front lines, even if it was to make first contact.
'General, we are detecting jump point formations in the vicinity of the alien vessel' A scanner operator announced.
'Are they more alien ships?' The general stated enthusiastically, he was hoping the aliens would put up some kind of a fight.
'Negative, transponder signal identifies them as a rebel Hyperion battle cruiser… Sir they are hailing the aliens'
LOCATION: Bet Durani System
SHIP: UEA Charlston.
'This is captain John Sheridin representative of the League of Non Alligned worlds. We would like to open diplomatic channels with you. We have also come to warn you that an Earth battle group has been dispatched to your position.' Sheridin spoke into the communications array hoping that the Aliens would respond.
'Anything?' John asked the communications officer.
'Negative Sir, I am reading no Tachyon emissions at all from their ship… but I am detecting emissions coming from… sir it's the UEA fleet, they are hailing us'
'Captain Sheridin, the Beta-Durani system is under Earth Force jurisdiction, you will withdraw immediately or you will be fired upon!' the voice of General Baltar filed the bridge.
'What are you plans for these aliens?'
'That is of no concern to you'
'They are an advanced space fearing race, we are here to offer representation in the league. If you start a war with them you will face our full force!'
'We defeated the Minbari and the Dilgar, do you realy think your little League can stand up against the power of Earth Force? Now here me, you have two minutes to jump back to Babylon 5 or we will destroy you!'
LOCATION: Beta-Durani 1
SHIP: Alterian City ship Olympus.
Zeraus listened to the exchange between the two captains. Both seemed to be of the same species, yet they argued as those they were at war with one another. Around him the captains of the docked Orion vessels gathered.
'Shall we respond?' Aidon, Captain of the Orion 3, asked.
'They may go to war over our actions here, we cannot allow that' Racháiel, Captain of the Orion 7, stated.
'The Planet is now ready for colonization, the Furlings wish to depart the crowded city and transport ships immediately!' Ladon of the Orion 4 stated.
Zeraus reclined in his command chair and interfaced with the computer. Above him a map of the star system appeared, the other captains that encircled him looked up. 'The planets will become habitable one by one, the protection fields will dissipate as each becomes habitable. We must begin construction of outposts on each of the planets and their moons before the humans have a chance to venture to their surfaces.'
'And what do we do if we cannot establish the outpost shield over the planet, before the humans venture to the surface of a planet?' Aidon asked.
'They must be stopped, no matter what the cost… we cannot risk contamination of the Furling's, not with their race so young!' Zeraus replied.
'Then it shall be done… but I would ask that you warn the humans before hand' Ladon asked.
Zeraus closed his eyes, he saw that the second human ship, the one commanded by Sheridan had not given in to Baltar's demands. A faint smile crossed Zeraus lips before he opened a communications channel to all ships in the star system. 'I am Zeraus, of the Alterian city vessel Olympus. These new worlds we created are a sanctuary for a dying race. You will not contaminate them, if you travel to the surface of any of the new worlds you will be destroyed' As Zeraus made his speech the other captains had returned to their vessels and began to depart Olympus one by one, and head towards the newly formed worlds. At the same time, shuttles began to leave the protection of Olympus shields and head towards the planets surface.
'This star system belongs to Earth Alliance, we will not allow you to take these worlds!' Baltar shouted in rage.
'You cannot stop us' Zeraus replied fiercely, he did not care for the humans piteous attitude. 'Heed my warnings, or face the consequences' With that Zeraus ended the transmission.
LOCAITON:Beta-Durani 1
SHIP:Flag ship Alexis, Omega Class destroyer.
'We can not allow them to take these worlds!' Baltar shouted 'All ships, target any alien ship you can and fire at will'
With that order the space between Olympus and the Earth Alliance fleet lit up as ion beams and atomic missiles lunched towards the Olympus. The Great shielding of the Alterian vessel completely protected the ship from damage, however the radiological effects were beginning to damage the smaller unshielded puddle jumpers that were escorting the larger shielded transport ships.
You have been warned Zeraus's voice filtered over the com link before a half dozen dancing stars seemed to erupt from the Olympus. The stars flamed bright yellow and moved towards the battle group at impossible speeds. Within seconds they had torn through the fleets most vulnerable parts, disabling all ships yet not destroying them. A small vessel barely a quarter the size of a shuttle, approached the fleet and engulf them in an energy field. A few seconds later and all the disabled vessels found themselves parked just outside of the Beta-Durani defense station.
TBC Good like reading that, i'll try to revise it later but i thought it'd be better to have the chapter up sooner and grammer screwed, rather than later (or never when it comes to me revising grammer)