Title: Ship of the Line: Walk in Dark Places
Author: Knife Hand
Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated
Spoilers: General for Buffy and Babylon 5
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy or Babylon 5. I would buy them but I am broke.
Summary: Answer to the Ship of the Line Challenge on TTH. The Scoobies dress as people who walk in dark places and do what must be done.
"" denotes speech, '' denotes thought
The seventeen recruits of the graduating class passed in review in front of the Shok'Na and the other staff of Sheridan Academy. The few Graduates who had family, like the original four from Sunnydale, had their families sitting in the back along with Kendra and the later Cadets. Sixteen of the graduates stood proud at attention, the seventeenth stood strong, but supporting himself with a pair of Canadian style crutches, the ones that have clamps around the forearm rather than supporting under the arms. Everyone knew he was in a lot of pain, having spent the last two months in a wheelchair, but his pride as a graduating Anla'Shok would not let him do any less. He had been given a specialised set of classes that focused on more theoretical subjects, such as jump gate physics, enough for him to take over teaching the class for future Cadets.
The Cadets were, one by one stating with the future instructor, given the emblem of the Anla'Shok, a green gem in a setting made of a joined Human and Minbari figures. Once given their emblem the new Anla'Shok took their seats in front of the stage, which was located in the courtyard that was located between the five halls of Sheridan Academy.
"Our second last Graduate. Winner of the Science and Engineering prizes, Anla'Shok Jennifer Hailey." Buffy announced.
Jennifer came up on the stage, received her emblem, shook Buffy's hand before walking off the stage and taking her seat.
"And now for our last Graduate." Buffy continued. "Top of the class in tactical exercises, wrote one of the most discussed Moral Philosophy papers and demonstrated great leadership potential, your Valedictorian. Anla'Shok Faith Lehane."
Faith walked up and accepted her emblem and, instead of walking off the stage, turned to the microphone.
"So, it is expected for the Valedictorian to make a speech." Faith began. "But those who know me know that long speeches aren't my style."
That got a small chuckle from a number of the audience, including Jennifer Hailey.
"Most of us came from bad backgrounds, some from worse than simply bad." Faith continued. "The day Joyce Summers came to the Youth Boarding House where Jenifer Hailey and I were staying, our lives changed. I have no doubt that Jennifer would have gone on to do something amazing. For myself, and thanks to Lecturer Summers and Sister Li I can say this honestly, I was headed for either jail or an early grave. The Shok'Na and the other staff here saw something in us that most of us could not see in ourselves. They gave us a chance to do something that will matter. It is our honour to live up to that trust. We live for the One, we die for the One."
"We live for the One, we die for the One." The graduating class echoed.
The graduation ceremony finished up quickly and the crowed broke up. Faith and Jennifer were standing together chatting as they sipped their drinks. When they had been at the Boarding House they would never have dreamt that they would be friends, but they had become so since arriving at the Academy.
Two figures approached them and they turn to stand at attention.
"At ease." Cordelia said as she approached with Xander. "Congratulations, Anla'Shok."
"Thank you, Shok'Na." Faith and Jennifer replied in unison.
"We have your assignments." Xander said. "Lehane, you will be moving to Delenn Hall. Officially, once we have enough graduates, all of Delenn Hall will be assigned to my White Star 11. You will be my Weapons Officer and, for the time being, my Acting Executive Officer."
"Thank you, Shok'Na Harris." Faith said in shock.
"Hailey, you will be in Cole Hall and assigned to White Star 19 under my command." Cordelia added. "We will meet tomorrow at ten-thirty to discuss your duties as my Chief Engineer."
"Yes, Shok'Na Chase." Jennifer said, thumping her fist to her chest in an Anla'Shok salute.
"Relax." Xander said. "You are Anla'Shok now. That does not mean your training is over though, just moves to a different level."
"Get some rest." Cordelia advised. "Ten-thirty, Hailey."
"Yes, Ma'am." Jennifer replied.
Faith lead the twenty members of Sheridan Academy into the Bronze. A dozen of them were recent graduate and now were officially Anla'Shok, while the remainder were younger cadets, including Beckett.
"Faith, you sure this is a good idea?" Jennifer asked. "You're a provisional Executive Officer and I'm a Chief Engineer. Is going clubbing a good example?"
"Oh come on, Jen." Faith replied. "We just Graduated, we can let our hair down for one night. Have fun."
Jennifer rolled her eyes. All things being even, she would rather be back at the Academy doing an experiment or trying to familiarise herself with the engines and systems of White Star 19.
"Relax." Faith added with a smirk. "The Shok'Na approved the night out. And I am making it my personal mission to get you out on the dance floor."
Jennifer simply groaned, and several of their classmates chuckled at that.
"Lehane's going to go wild." Beckett said.
"Beckett." Faith grinned. "You're next on my list."
One of Beckett's classmates playfully slapped her on the shoulder.
"They're back." Willow said as she walked into the meeting room, holding a data-pad that clearly showed a pyramidal space ship on it. "Telemetry from an hour ago."
It was six weeks after the first Graduation of Cadets from Sheridan Academy, and the graduates had been worked almost as hard before Graduation, but each had more focused and specialised training for their roles aboard the White Stars and ground operations where they had shown promise.
"How many?" Buffy asked.
"Two. Emerged separately out past Saturn, joined up and are making their way in-system. They will be in Earth Orbit in around sixteen hours." Willow replied.
"Have we got the Jump Point Beacons fully deployed?" Xander asked.
"Yes. Earth, Mars and Io beacons have been deployed and are stable." Willow replied. "But by the time we get White Star 19 Deployed, and crew transferred to my White Star 22 in Luna Orbit, they will be far enough past Io to make a jump there pointless. Our best bet is to Jump to Mars and intercept from there."
"I agree." Cordelia said. "Mars gives us enough breathing room to allow for attempts to communicate prior to being forced to engage to protect Earth."
"While we should try talking, we need to be ready should they prove hostile." Xander added.
"Ok, let's discuss how we are going to split the Anla'Shok onto White Stars 19 and 22." Buffy declared.
"Let's admit it, Hailey and Lehane are so far ahead of the rest in their jobs, it is not funny." Cordelia admitted. "With those two, splitting them up for a fight at this point would be insane. I suggest we stack the best of the Anla'Shok into White Star 19, with Xander as XO and put us on point. Have both of you in White Star 22 acting as support and Wingman to White Star 19."
The four of them discussed the allocations for the next five minutes, before calling the meeting to an end. Each Shok'Na went to the hall where their Anla'Shok were housed. Delenn Hall for Xander, Cole Hall for Cordelia, Sinclair Hall for Willow and Ivanova Hall for Buffy. The four Shok'Na and the sixteen operational Anla'Shok all piled into White Star 19 and the spacecraft took off. Cordelia, as the commanding Shok'Na, briefing the Anla'Shok over the PA while they were on route to Luna orbit and White Star 22.
TBC…