Earth – Operation Rescue
U.S.S. Phoenix
-Next Day-
"Captain's log, supplemental. We arrived in Earth orbit in time to prevent the attack on Proxima III. The capture of President Clark and his regime's leadership was very successful. The intelligence provided by Captain Sheridan's father was invaluable and allowed us to capture every target with minimal difficulty. An interim government was quickly established that immediately rescinded the martial law order for the entire Earth Alliance. I was right to help convince the admiral to intervene, though, to my surprise, he didn't require much convincing. No one else but Starfleet could have executed this mission with no loss of life.
Captain Garrett began working with Earth Alliance leadership to establish formal diplomatic relations. I can see her already making a real difference here. Unfortunately, she will have to leave tomorrow to return to Babylon 5. It's been a while since I exercised my diplomatic skills. I guess there's no better time than the present.
It's strange looking out of my ready room window and seeing Earth. It's not the Earth I know, but it seems the same from orbit. I will ask EarthGov representatives for permission to allow my crew to visit the planet. None of us have been on a planet for quite some time, and allowing limited visits will help morale.
I'm personally looking forward to visiting San Antonio with Alex and Julio. I don't know what to expect, but I know it will be very different from the last time I visited.
End log."
Earth - Earthdome – Senate
Most of the senators had returned to Earthdome for today's session. Unfortunately, several senators were missing, presumably due to Clark's actions. Individual states would have to hold elections later to replace vacant seats.
"What is the first order of business, Madam President?" the senate leader asked.
"I need to be sworn in and then select a vice president. I trust that the leaders here in the senate can select new leadership. My main concerns are related to the trials. How long do we wait before we try Clark and his people?"
"Madam President, we should allow enough time to conduct thorough investigations. Captain Sheridan has already provided damning evidence directly implicating Clark in Santiago's death. We can't afford to let a single person escape justice because proper procedures weren't followed," Attorney General Usman said.
"I understand. I'm anxious to put this very dark chapter of Earth Alliance history behind us."
"I completely understand, Madam President. That brings up another topic. How long will Captain Maxwell keep the prisoners on his ship? It could take months before we can complete the investigations and trials."
"I will speak to him. We need time to determine the trustworthiness of our judicial system. Sadly, the Phoenix is the only secure location in the Earth Alliance right now."
"I agree. Captain Maxwell seems like a reasonable man. I'm sure that we can work something out."
U.S.S. Enterprise – Betazed
The Enterprise arrived at the planet. As expected, the Vorlons were gone, nor was anyone else in the system. Picard ordered the runabouts to assume a standard patrol pattern around the system while the Enterprise entered standard orbit around Betazed.
"Standard orbit achieved, Admiral."
"Launch runabouts. Standard patrol pattern," Picard ordered.
"Aye, Sir."
"Commander Gam. Proceed with your plan."
"Aye, Sir. Commander Troi, meet me in Intel."
The plan called for the observation of the Betazed population for three days before a small away team was dispatched to the planet to collect more detailed information and for limited interaction with its citizens. Gam would lead the away team, with Troi joining him.
The Betazoids had taken control of the Enterprise's Intelligence department to analyze the information collected from the planet while they waited until they could set foot on Betazed themselves.
Earth - ISN Studios
John Sheridan had been a very busy man since Clark's capture. He had been in meetings almost nonstop until he could finally break away to spend time with his father and other family members. It was a very brief moment of normalcy for the first time in months.
Today, he was scheduled to give an interview to ISN. He wanted to skip it but thought he could use the opportunity to let people in the Earth Alliance know what had happened during the past several months.
He walked into a basic studio. Already waiting for him was the ISN's lead anchor, Jessica Young.
"Captain Sheridan, thank you for joining me today."
"My pleasure. I've been looking forward to seeing a free ISN again."
"Yes, many of us have. Everyone knows you were among the first to resist the Clark Administration and declare independence. We couldn't tell the truth about what had happened until now. The original, unedited version of our previous interview with you and your crew will be broadcast later today."
"Thank you. I appreciate it. It's been very challenging for us since we declared independence, as you can imagine. Things became even more grim when the Shadow War broke out a little over six months ago. Fortunately, for the entire galaxy, we were able to win the war, though we did suffer some losses."
"We didn't hear anything about the war due to Nightwatch censorship. What can you tell us about it?"
"First, let me say that if we had lost the war, the entire galaxy would have been destroyed, Earth included. Despite what Clark might have believed, no one would have been spared the Shadow's wrath. Ironically, the hardest part of the entire war was building the alliance to fight them."
"You were obviously successful since you were here to save Earth when we needed you most."
"Yes, well, I didn't do that alone. If it hadn't been for the support of Admiral Picard and Starfleet, I probably wouldn't be here."
"Who is Admiral Picard?"
"He and his people are from The United Federation of Planets. Let's just say that they are a very long way from home. His early victory against a Shadow warship was instrumental in convincing the major races to join the military alliance we have in place right now. Under his leadership, we achieved multiple victories and ultimately forced the Shadows to leave our galaxy. The Vorlons have also left, allowing every race to live and grow without their manipulations."
"Interesting. That sounds like a topic for another story I hope you are willing to share. However, for today's interview, I'm sure that our viewers are very interested in knowing how you were able to arrest President Clark, Nightwatch, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff without any loss of life. Reports said that everything happened so quickly that no one outside Earthdome knew a thing."
"That was the plan. Admiral Picard's ships have technologies that let us bypass Earthforce defenses and remove Clark and his people from power without incident. I wanted to avoid a bloody battle, and he agreed to provide warships that enabled us to do just that."
"Picard sounds like a human name. Is he here with you, and what kinds of technologies did he provide?"
"No, he had another mission that required his attention. Instead, he sent Captains Maxwell and Garrett to command the mission and to work with the new EarthGov leadership. To answer your other question, yes, he's human. He was born in France, if I remember correctly. As for the technologies, they can make their ships invisible and undetectable to all known sensor technologies. They also have matter transport technology that can allow people to travel without shuttles."
"That's incredible and, to be honest, unbelievable. However, the results speak for themselves."
"That's right."
"It's fortunate that Admiral Picard is human. I'm sure that's why he helped us. Weren't you concerned about the risks of coming here with only two ships?"
"I'm sure that's one of the reasons, but it wasn't much of a risk. Starfleet warships are significantly more powerful than anything in Earthforce. If fighting had broken out, the fleet protecting Earth would've been an inconvenience to them, not a threat."
"There are over 100 warships in this system, Captain. How is that possible?"
"As I said, his warships have a significant technological advantage over ours. They are to the Minbari as the Minbari are to us, probably more so."
"Oh my! Should we be concerned that Picard and his people might try to take over the Earth Alliance someday?"
"No, Starfleet doesn't have any interest in conquering anyone. They only want to help and have been helpful to all of us."
"That is a relief! What's next for you now that Clark is no longer in power? Are you going to remain the commander of Babylon 5?
"I'm not sure, to be honest. I will meet with Earthforce leadership later to discuss what's next for Babylon 5 and my career options. I will say that I have several interesting options available to me, though I haven't made any final decisions yet."
"Well, I hope you come back to let us know when you've made your final decision. I also want to thank you on behalf of all of us here at ISN and the entire Earth Alliance for your role in removing Clark from power."
"You're welcome, but I was only doing what needed to be done. Nothing more."
"Such modesty. Back to you, Robin."
Earth - Earthdome – President's Office
-Four hours later-
Susanna Luchenko hadn't had any time to make significant changes to the president's office except to remove anything remotely related to Clark. She would have time to make changes later. Today, she would settle with the blinds open to allow some natural light into the office.
"Captains, I will be blunt. Given the infiltration of Clark supporters throughout our entire legislative, judicial and military branches of the government, we can't entrust the safekeeping of Clark and the others on Earth until a fair trial can be convened. I formally request that you continue to retain Clark and the others until they have been tried and convicted. I understand the significance of this request. Therefore, the Earth Alliance is prepared to provide adequate compensation for the inconvenience of housing Clark and his people on your ship. The people of Earth will not forget this favor."
Garrett appreciated the sincerity in Luchenko's voice and offered her thoughts. "We do look forward to normalizing relations with the Earth Alliance government. We assisted in Clark's arrest because we all believe in a free Earth. We also recognize the harm that he or his people could do if they were to escape. I can offer tentative approval for Captain Maxwell to remain here and retain custody of Clark and his people. I must contact Admiral Picard for his authorization before we can commit further."
"I understand. That's the best we can hope for, given the current circumstances."
"I must also regretfully inform you that I must return to Babylon 5 tomorrow. I am involved in several delicate negotiations regarding establishing a more permanent galactic alliance, and my presence is required. Captain Maxwell will be your point of contact for all diplomatic and military matters from now on."
"Thank you, Captain. When you return, I hope to take you on a little tour of Kansas City. It's the least I could do."
"That would be appreciated. Thank you," Garret smiled.
"Before you go, I would like to present you with these draft agreements for your review," Luchenko said while she passed a tablet to Garrett.
"I will review these and provide feedback before I leave," Garrett said, then stood up.
"Thanks again, Captain. Captain Maxwell, are you available to stay behind to continue our talks?"
"Of course, Madam President. Please, continue."
Earth - Earthdome – Joint Chiefs Conference Room
Sheridan had provided Earthforce with video from all combat engagements with the Shadows, including those from Starfleet. He wanted Earthforce leadership to understand how dangerous the Shadows were and what could have happened to the Earth Alliance had the alliance failed to defeat them. The assembled generals noted the Shadows' size and destructive firepower; however, their focus quickly shifted to the Starfleet ships.
"These videos are fascinating," General Blachowicz said as soon as the final video stopped playing.
"That's one way of putting it," General Andersson said as he processed what he'd just witnessed.
"There was a war going on, and we didn't know a thing about it!" General Fitzpatrick yelled, furious at Clark's recklessness. He took a deep breath to calm himself and continue his thoughts. "What would've happened if they'd lost? We would have been forced to fight the Shadows alone. That bastard!"
"Haven't you heard? Clark was allied with them. They wouldn't have attacked us," General Dawodu tried to assure Fitzpatrick.
"Yeah. Maybe, though, I suspect that we would've become the Shadows' slaves and not allies after everyone else was defeated," Fitzpatrick said, his disgust evident.
"I was speaking about the Starfleet warships. Their firepower is very impressive," Blachowicz clarified.
"Do we know how powerful those missiles are?" Dawodu asked.
"At least 40 megatons (MT), though Pollux detected explosions over 60 MT. We don't know if they have anything more powerful," Blachowicz answered as she referred to her notes.
"Isn't that enough? 60 MT! It's no wonder the Centauri were destroyed so easily. I'm glad we didn't have to fight them when they came here. We could have lost the entire fleet," Fitzpatrick said, and several other generals nodded in agreement.
"What was that bubble around their ships?" Andersson asked.
"Unknown. Sensors couldn't provide any data on whatever it is," Blachowicz answered.
"Did you know they had two ships here?" Dawodu asked Fitzpatrick.
"Obviously not. None of our sensors picked up anything. I now understand how Sheridan was able to capture Clark so easily. Invisible ships! Unbelievable, and I thought the Minbari had impressive technology, but this is on another level. There could be an entire fleet of warships out there, and we wouldn't know a thing until it was too late," Fitzpatrick answered, now a bit calmer.
"Not to mention the transporters. They can capture anyone on Earth without our knowledge, and there's nothing we can do to stop them," Blachowicz added.
"Or deploy troops to capture any secure location in the Alliance!"
"The question is, what can we do about it? By all accounts, nothing we have currently can go up against them and survive, much less defeat them. Even when the warships became visible, our sensors were blocked by an unknown defensive system, making a target lock impossible. Fighting them would be worse than fighting the Minbari," General Dvorak said.
"Then we better not do anything to upset them. As soon as we've restored the stability of Earthforce, we need to develop sufficient countermeasures to defend against those warships. I don't know how, but we must do something. What happens if they share that technology with other races?" Fitzpatrick asked the group.
"We won't stand a chance."
"Exactly. We need to do something, and soon."
An assistant walked into the room and interrupted the discussion.
"General, Captain Sheridan is here."
"Thank you. Send him in."
Sheridan walked in and took a seat in front of the generals. He felt like he was walking into an inquiry, not a briefing.
General Fitzpatrick started the discussion. "Captain Sheridan, we promise to be brief. I understand you will be traveling back to Babylon 5 aboard the U.S.S. Destiny."
"Yes, Sir, that's correct. We'll be leaving tomorrow."
"Very well. Let me get to the point. Your actions throughout Clark's reign were always principled and in keeping with the laws of the Earth Alliance. However, militarily, you have put us in a difficult position. It would set a terrible precedent if we recognize, or even promote, an officer whose actions lead to an armed insurrection against the Earth Alliance government. "
General Dawodu continued the conversation. "We recognize that your actions were just and that you were able to bring Clark's reign to an end without any loss of life. This is why we will allow you to retain your command of Babylon 5. However, promotion to flag rank will be impossible given the possible disruption to the chain of command."
Sheridan wasn't surprised by what he heard. He knew that his career would likely be over when he declared independence. "I understand, Sir. I don't have any regrets, and I would make the same decisions if given another chance. My actions saved the Earth Alliance and the people of Earth, and I'm proud of what I accomplished."
General Blachowicz looked at Sheridan with sympathy. "Captain, if you had been more subtle in your approach, this situation would be easier to manage. Many will see you as someone who flaunts the rules when they don't suit you."
"To be honest, Ma'am, I don't care what those people think of me. Those who know me know what I stand for. That's what is important to me. May I be dismissed?"
"Yes, of course. But, before you go, could you answer some questions about those ships?"
"What ships?"
"The Starfleet ships."
"Yes, Ma'am. I'll try."
"Do you know each ship's full offensive and defensive capabilities?"
"I know the general capabilities, but I'm sure they haven't shared their full capabilities with me, and I certainly don't know how any of it works. Seeing a ship in action only tells you so much about its capabilities.
"How do they make their ships invisible?"
"They call it a cloaking device. It makes Starfleet warships invisible to all known sensor technologies."
"Do they have this device installed on all of their ships?"
"Yes, Sir."
"How many ships do they have?"
"Three capital ships and 12 shuttles that I've seen."
"Why are the shuttles relevant, Captain?"
"Because each one of those shuttles can engage and destroy multiple Omega class destroyers by themselves."
There were looks of shock and fear on the faces of the generals. Not even the Minbari had shuttles that were dangerous to even the smallest Earthforce warship.
"A shuttle? Are you sure?"
"Quite sure. I've seen them in action. Incredible firepower, especially for their size."
Fitzpatrick tried to calm himself before he asked his next question. "Are you aware of any plans they might have to share their technology with the other races?"
"To be honest, I haven't asked. So far, Admiral Picard has politely declined all requests to share military technology, even during the war. Their anti-matter torpedoes were game-changers, but they wouldn't allow the other ships to have them. Let me save you some time if you're trying to determine if they are a threat. They won't attack. If they did, there wouldn't be a thing you could do to stop them."
"That's what concerns us, Captain. How can we be an effective military without the ability to defend Earth?" Fitzpatrick asked.
"I'll tell you something that Admiral Picard once told me. There's always someone out there with a bigger gun than you. You must accept that fact and prepare to the best of your ability. Understand that his ship, Enterprise, was the strongest in their home fleet. In our universe, that one ship can destroy whole fleets by itself. No other ship is even close besides the other Starfleet warships. Even the Minbari acknowledge this, and you know how they feel about humans. He understands the power at his disposal and the responsibility that it entails. He won't attack unless he's provoked. Don't make the mistake of provoking him, and Earth will be fine."
'This is very disturbing,' Fitzpatrick thought. "Would you be able to convince Admiral Picard to share their technology with us? After all, he's human too."
"I don't think he'd be very receptive right now, given the current state of the Earth Alliance. Let's see how things go first. As I've said, they are very protective of their technology."
"If you can gain access to any other information, no matter the significance, we would ask you to report it to us directly," Dawodu said.
"Yes, Sir."
"Thank you, Captain. Dismissed."
Earth - Ambassador Sheridan's Residence
A small family party was held in John's honor before he left for Babylon 5. He didn't have time to visit everyone before leaving, so his father organized the party. It also gave the two men some time to have a final talk before John left.
The two Sheridans walked out the back of the house onto the deck, which overlooked the small lake in the back of the house. John remembered spending time there with his father fishing during his childhood. 'Simpler times,' John thought.
"Hi, John. How did your meeting with the joint chiefs go?"
"About as well as I expected, to be honest. They're allowing me to retain command of Babylon 5, but I will never be promoted again."
"What? After everything, you did for Earth? Is there anything I can do?"
"No. The reason I joined Earthforce in the first place was to prove to everyone, including myself, that I could succeed without relying on my father's help. My feelings on that haven't changed."
"This is different, and you know it. No one would hold this against you."
"I don't know about that, but I would. Honestly, the words of Admiral Picard are still echoing in my ears. I didn't seriously consider his advice when he offered it, but now I'm beginning to reconsider."
"What was his advice?"
"With the Vorlons gone, he said that there's a power vacuum that must be filled. This alliance we've worked so hard to build will fail without the proper leadership. He told me that I should be that leader."
"That would be a tremendous opportunity, and I know you can do it. The question is, do you believe you can do it?"
"With the right support? Yeah, I believe so. There's no way I can do it alone."
"No one can lead by themselves. I agree with the admiral. You should pursue this role and leave Earthforce, but only if that will make you happy."
"I don't know. Now that I know where I stand with Earforce, I know my options. I have a lot to think about on my way back to Babylon 5."
"I suppose you do. If there's anything I can do or any advice I can offer, you call me, Ok?"
"Ok. Thanks, Dad."
"Anytime, John, and I mean it. Let's go rejoin the party."
Earth – San Antonio, Texas
Maxwell materialized in the front yard of the O'Dell household at exactly 1:00. Everyone stopped what they were doing until the transporter effect disappeared.
"Hey, Ben," O'Dell walked over and shook Maxwell's hand. "I'm glad you came."
Jenny, Maria's eight-year-old daughter, walked up to Maxwell and asked him, "How did you do that?"
"It's called a transporter. I can tell you how it works if you'd like?" Maxwell answered the little girl.
"That was so cool, Mom! Do you think I can try it?"
Maria looked at O'Dell and then at Maxwell and smiled. "Maybe later. We just met Ben. We can't ask for favors yet," Maria said as she smiled at Maxwell.
Maxwell returned the smile and looked at Maria, "Maybe we can work something out."
"Let's go in. Everyone is in the backyard," O'Dell told the group.
Rose walked over to Maxwell and hugged him as soon as they walked into the house. Maxwell was momentarily surprised, then returned the hug.
"I'm sorry, Rose. It's been a long time since anyone has hugged me. Thank you," Maxwell said earnestly.
"No need to apologize, Ben. We're family. Alex said that you're from San Antonio. What part of town are you from?" Rose asked.
"Only a couple of kilometers from here. I remember this neighborhood, but it looks a little different from what I remember."
"That's strange. I've lived here for over 50 years, and this neighborhood hasn't changed much over the years."
"Well, there is a bit more to the story, but it will take a bit to explain."
"No rush. You can tell us all about it later."
-backyard-
There were almost 30 people of all ages having fun in the modestly sized backyard. The stress of the past year was gone entirely, and everyone was glad that they could be themselves again. Angela, Martinez's wife, talked to a group of friends when she saw Martinez talking with Maxwell and O'Dell.
Angela called Julio over. "Julio, tell everyone how you saved Earth."
"Love, it wasn't just me, and I only played a small part. It was Ben and his ships that made everything possible. A few of you have already seen the transporter, and it's amazing what you can accomplish when you have invisible ships."
"Julio, stop playing. Invisible ships? You know that's impossible," one of Martinez's cousins told him.
"I'm telling you the truth, or have you seen transporters before? We transported all of Clark's people out, and we transported in. We had a couple of minor scuffles but nothing major. Those transporters were invaluable."
"Wow! Did you have a gun?" one of O'Dell's young cousins asked.
With Maxwell, Maria, and Jenny, O'Dell looked over and saw Julio as questions bombarded him. He decided to take pity on his brother-in-law. "If you three would excuse me, I need to go rescue Julio," O'Dell said.
"Yeah, you better go do that," Maria said.
"Ben, are you a captain of a ship just like Uncle Julio?" Jenny asked.
"Sure am. My ship looks a little different, though."
"Can I see it?"
"Tell you what. I'll show you a video now, but I promise I'll take you on a tour of my ship soon. How is that?"
"Awesome!"
Maxwell touched his communicator and called the ship. "Maxwell to Transporter Room 1."
"Chief Chen here, Captain."
"Please transport a PADD to my current location."
"Yes, Sir. One moment…. Energizing."
The PADD appeared on the ground in front of Maxwell, which caused many partiers to look in his direction.
"Thanks, Chief. Maxwell out."
"That is so cool! How do you do that?"
"Let me show you my ship first, and then I will show you how transporters work."
Maria had been quiet during the exchange between her daughter and Maxwell. She was surprised by how easily Jenny warmed up to him. Jenny wasn't shy, but she was usually indifferent when meeting new people. She had been somewhat distant since Maria's divorce from Jenny's father, and the stress of the last several months hadn't helped at all.
"Ben, I need a refill. Do you need anything?" Maria asked Maxwell.
"I would love another lemonade. It's the best I've ever had."
"It's my special recipe. How did you know?"
"What can I say? I know what I like and recognize excellence when I see it."
"Flatterer."
-kitchen-
Martinez walked into the kitchen on a mission to get something to drink that was better than what was in the coolers in the backyard. He immediately noticed Maria near the fridge and walked over to talk to her.
"Hey, Maria. I haven't had a chance to talk to you yet. I guess I've been gone longer than I thought," Martinez said.
"You were never good at remembering when to come home, Julio."
"You're right about that. My tunnel vision has always been a blessing and a curse."
"You don't say," Maria said with a smirk.
"Very funny. By the way, I wanted to thank you for making Ben feel welcome. He's been through a lot over the past few years. I was hoping to make him feel like he was home with us."
"There's no need to thank me. Jenny already adores him. She thought he was some kind of magician at first, but now she's starting to realize that he's like you but will some unbelievable technology."
"What do you think about him?"
"I like him. He's really easy to talk to, and he's great with Jenny. I'm looking forward to talking to him more when there isn't so much going on."
"That's great! I was hoping that you would hit it off. He's one of the best people I've ever met, and I think that he would be good to you and Jenny."
"I don't know, Julio. I'm not sure that I want to be with someone who's going to be away all the time," Maria said as she looked out of the window and saw Maxwell and Jenny looking at the PADD.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that. Ben's not Earthforce, and he doesn't have a government to report to." Martinez sighed, then continued. "What I'm trying to say is that don't discount him because you think that he'll be away all the time. His situation is, shall I say, fluid."
"Fluid?" Maria asked, skeptical.
"Yes, fluid."
"Ok. I'll keep that in mind."
-Later that evening-
Most of the people had left, with only a few family members remaining to help clean up. Maxwell was grateful that Martinez and O'Dell had invited him here. Everyone had made him feel welcome, and he thoroughly enjoyed being with Jenny and Maria. 'O'Dell was right,' Maxwell thought.
"Thank you, Rose, for inviting me here today. I had a great time," Maxwell said earnestly.
"You're leaving already?" Rose asked, surprised.
"Yes, duty calls, I'm afraid. I do have a ship to run."
"Alex, you're staying, right?" Rose asked her son.
"Yeah, Mom. Julio and I don't have to leave until the morning. We're heading back to our ship aboard the Destiny."
"I wish you didn't have to go back so soon."
"We'll be back soon. My ship will require some time in space dock, which means extended shore leave. I've saved up a lot of time, and I plan to take a lot of it as soon as we dock," Martinez said.
"I'm overdue for leave as well. It will be a couple of weeks or so, but we'll be back," O'Dell confirmed.
"Ben, are you leaving too?" Rose turned to ask Maxwell.
"No, I'll be here until Clark's trial, whenever that is."
"Good. The door is always open for you. We eat every night at six. I expect you to be here."
"I would like that. Thank you."
Earth - Earthdome – President's Office
-Next Day-
"I wanted to thank you again, captains, from everyone in the Earth Alliance for everything you've done to help bring Clark and his people to justice. We will never forget it."
"I'm sorry I couldn't act sooner, Madam President. My father assures me that everything is now in good hands, so I'm comfortable returning to Babylon 5. If you need anything, just ask."
"Certainly, Captain."
"Madam President, I spoke with Admiral Picard, and he has approved your request to have Phoenix remain here. He wanted me to let you know that he looks forward to meeting you in person one day soon. He's overseeing a very sensitive mission at the moment that will require his full attention for a while longer."
"I understand, Captain. I look forward to meeting him as well. I hope we can continue to build upon the relationship that we've established so far."
"We would like that as well. You're in very capable hands with Captain Maxwell."
"Based on what I've seen so far, I would agree."
"I'm sorry, Madam President, but we must be off. Diplomatic matters are heating up on Babylon 5, and Captain Sheridan and I are urgently needed there."
"By all means. Safe travels. If there is anything that I can do for either of you, just ask. Hopefully, you'll be able to stay longer to allow time for your crew to visit our Earth."
"I look forward to it, as will my crew."
Earth - Undisclosed Location – Geneva
-Later that day-
Sara Vu sat alone in a spartan apartment. Everyone knew about Clark's arrest and the subsequent disbanding of Nightwatch. The leadership had all been arrested, but she didn't know if other Nightwatch operatives, like herself, were also subject to arrest. She decided to stay in a Nightwatch safe house until she could figure out what to do. Vu didn't want to go to jail, and, in her opinion, she hadn't done anything that warranted prison time.
She lay in bed and read a book in an attempt to distract herself from her current situation when she heard the Vid-Com. 'Who could that be? No one knows I'm here,' she thought. Reluctantly, she walked over to the desk and answered the call.
"Sara? Thank God it's you! I've been trying to reach anyone for two days, and everyone has disappeared."
"Jeff! I thought that you had been arrested with the others! All senior Nightwatch leadership has been arrested, and they're looking for you. I don't know about everyone else, but I went into hiding as soon as the arrests were made public. Are you still on Babylon 5?"
"Yes, for now. Like you, I'm trying to keep a low profile. There haven't been any arrests made on the station, but I didn't want to risk it. I can't stay here forever, though it sounds like Earth isn't much better."
"I honestly don't know. I don't know anything right now. I have some credits saved that should allow me to survive, at least for a while, until everything settles down."
"I don't have that luxury right now. While I've been here, I utilized my Nightwatch accounts, which have all been frozen. I have just enough credits to book a trip back to Earth. Once I'm back, I should be able to access my emergency credits without raising too much suspicion. Plus, I have enough contacts there who will help me maintain a low profile."
"I'm scared, Jeff. I wonder if it would be easier to approach the authorities and offer to assist them in their investigations. We didn't do anything wrong and shouldn't have anything to be afraid of."
"I don't know, Sara. That sounds risky, especially for me. I'm a wanted man!"
"I know, but I don't want to live the rest of my life in hiding, and I don't want to leave Earth. I'm really confused."
"Don't do anything rash. Why don't you sleep on it and think about your options tomorrow? I think that I will try to book a seat on the next transport to Earth. I know a captain of a freighter who will let me on board, no questions asked, as long as I meet his price."
"Good luck. I don't know how much longer I'll be here. If you need a place to stay when you arrive, you can come here. This place should be safe unless one of the others gives up the safe house locations. If I'm still here, then we can figure something out."
"Thanks, Sara. I've got to run. See you soon."
"Stay safe."
