Julia entered the Lookout the following morning for breakfast. Even without gifts like Meridina's, she knew her crew was feeling tense and worried about how things were going. They were on the verge of a conflict with species that were supposed to be prospective allies.
Hargert was quick to provide a stack of pancakes with blueberries mixed in with eggs and toast. A glass of white milk was provided with it. "A simple breakfast meal, to keep the spirits up," he said to her with a wink before returning to his kitchen.
It was good. Very good, so good that Julia would regret not finishing it.
She'd managed her fifth or sixth bite when her omnitool sounded. She dropped her syrup-coated fork and tapped the blue light over the back of her hand. ""Andreys here."
"Captain, we have received a signal from Portland," Meridina said. "Admiral Maran is waiting to speak to you. He has instructed me to connect to the Magaratha as well."
Julia jumped to her feet. Without a thought, she left her breakfast behind. "Get everyone to the conference lounge, now," she said into the omnitool as she raced to the Lookout's port door.
Hargert watched her go while laying a plate of waffles and eggs for another crewmember at the Lookout bar. He let out a little sigh. "Such is the way it is," he lamented on his way to her abandoned meal.
Scotty was the last of the command crew to show up at the conference lounge, arriving at the six minute mark after being called. Traveling the length and height of the Aurora from Main Engineering took most of that time. He found his usual seat beside Jarod on Julia's right.
The screen split into several images. One had Shai'jhur, Kaveri, Fei'nur, and Nah'dur. Another showed Li and her crew on the Shenzhou, and yet another Commander Imra over on the Heerman. The last was the one Julia had been waiting for. Admiral Maran was at his office. For all his control, there was no betraying the fact he was tired.
"It's good to see you all," he said. His lilt was not quite so pronounced as Meridina's. "I have spent the night reading your reports with Secretary Onaram. It made for interesting reading over the stimulants required to keep us awake. Captain Andreys, Captain Ming-Chung, Commander Imra, Commander Apley… you have all performed admirably in the circumstances. Preventing genocide is one of the core duties of the officers of this Alliance."
Julia nodded and said "Thank you," as did the others.
"Warmaster Shai'jhur." Maran's eyes shifted slightly. He was clearly looking at the monitor showing her, a visual communication being routed through the Aurora's IU transceiver. "I am sorry if we kept you waiting. The Nazi counter-attack at Argolis was serious enough that I had to lead a relief force to keep our positions there intact. Although even if I hadn't been at Argolis, President Morgan and Secretary Onaram have been occupied with sensitive diplomatic matters that left them out of communication. Due to changes to that, they have been able to consult the reports from Tira, including your application sent to Councilman Mutombo."
"I am pleased. With any luck, Admiral Maran," she answered with a twinkle in her eye, "The Councilman is the sort of man who does not mind reading constitutional law in the information we provided. It is a completely indigenous Dilgar innovation based on our own customs of courts and Councils and I understand it may take effort to review."
Maran nodded once. "Your application has been submitted to the Admissions Committee of the Alliance Council. This has been announced this morning in a press release by Councilman Mutombo that has already received some diplomatic attention in your home universe. The Earth Alliance and Minbari ambassadors are currently in meetings with Secretary Onaram. The Drazi are already recalling their diplomatic staff in protest. The poor Secretary has had quite the return to the capital, I'm afraid to say. But he and the President have approved what I am about to say." Maran's look was somber. "The United Alliance of Systems disapproves of genocide. Captains, Commander, your orders are to remain at Tira and protect it from any attempts to attack the colony. You are authorized to open fire on any vessel that attempts hostilities against the Dilgar."
"Admiral Maran," Shai'jhur dipped her head. "I will conform my operations to Captain Andreys' intent, should the situation require it."
"I expected as much. I'm afraid we won't be able to send you any reinforcements for the next few days. The Reich counter-offensive drew in all of our available reserves across the Alliance fleets." Maran's expression was apologetic. "I'm sorry the news isn't better, Captain. You're in a tight situation there. If our attempts to get through to President Luchenko succeeds you may have the Huáscar back on your side…"
When Maran paused for a moment, another voice began to speak. "You do not understand the political situation in Geneva, Admiral. I do not blame you for this, but Major Foster would not be holding so firmly to his actions if he did not have at least some support. She will stonewall you until the situation is resolved, one way or another. The wounds left by the Minbari on Earth's psyche still bleed." Kaveri spoke, with a subdued tone, her gaze dull. "They are seeking to pay as small a political price as they can, now. Everything comes to politics in Earthgov, in the end, not principles. Not anymore."
"They have their own reasons for supporting a conflict with us," Li said from the feed coming from the Shenzhou. "We've had several problems with Earthforce or Earth-backed teams trying to slip into Alliance territory to excavate around old Darglan space. Undoubtedly they believe this might give them a chance to drive us out of the area, should a general war erupt."
"IPX believes any ruins with strange technology should be immediately dug up. You should have seen how quickly they were robbing the graves of…" She glanced to Shai'jhur and paled a hint. "... Markab."
"We have considered the possibility," Maran said.
"So we can't expect reinforcements anytime soon?" Julia asked. "From any source?"
"I'm sorry, but no. Not with the state the front is in. I'm sorry. Make do the best you can. You beat the Avenger before, hopefully working together you can do so again." Maran checked something off the screen. "I'm afraid I'm due for strategy meetings. We'll keep doing what we can to help you, I promise you that. Maran out." His image disappeared from its place among the others.
Shai'jhur looked around. A thin smile touched her lips. "Well, four Alliance ships, four of your member nations, and one from your allies. Twenty-four of mine have shields, the twenty-six survivors of Tira do not. Avenger and Huáscar yes or no, we will do fine with what is here, but if the Drazi come as reinforcements, please do remember that while they may treat you leniently, they have already shown us the death-banner, apportioned the blood, and made the ceremonial hail: There is No Quarter from our enemies. They have made mark on us for Death."
Julia wetted her lips and remembered what that bloody term meant to the Texans 'down south', visions of the Alamo and Deguello. "Don't worry, Warmaster. This is the same for all of us."
"And knowing what Hawk's people are capable of, or Foster, it may be the same for us too," Angel added.
"We must stand together, certainly," Li agreed over the link.
"We'll see what diplomacy gets us later today," Julia said. "In the meantime, everyone remain on standby, and keep an eye on the long range sensors just in case the Avenger shows up."
After the meeting, Leo went by the medbay long enough to verify the cases for the day. Doctor Lani Walker, a younger doctor from the Tohono O'odham tribe in Arizona and Sonora, provided the paperwork. She also gave him the results of the scans he'd requested from Doctor Hreept the prior day. Leo looked over the results and frowned. "Just what I thought," he murmured.
"What is it, Doctor?" Walker asked.
"A suspicion that's proved true," he said. He finished signing off on the results and transmitted them to the central systems, but he didn't return the digital reader. "I need to show this to someone. Mind watching things for a little longer?"
A gentle smile on her face was joined by a shake of the head. "Of course not, Doctor."
"Thanks." With the reader in hand, Leo departed the medbay.
His next step was a part of the ship he rarely saw and never enjoyed. Indeed, he seemed to surprise the officers on duty when he entered the brig. They stood and he waved them down. "Don't worry", he said. "I'm not here for you. I need to see them."
His arrival had drawn the attention of Hawk. Helen remained laying on the bed in her cell, apparently asleep. "Well, this is interesting," Hawk said. "I guess that medical scan yesterday found something."
"More like it confirmed something," Leo said.
"Well, I'm a captive audience Doc," Hawk remarked. "Spit it out."
"A few quick questions first," Leo said. He activated the digital reader to take notes while his omnitool recorded the interview. "I need to know if you're experiencing any neurological symptoms."
"What?" Hawk asked, as if the question was surprising.
"Neurological symptoms," Leo repeated. "Headaches, blackouts, seizures."
"My head's fine," he insisted, ignoring the headache in the center of his forehead.
Leo's expression made his skepticism of the answer clear. "Actually…" Leo tapped his omnitool and used it to display two holographic, three dimensional models of brains. One had various basic colors on it. The other was more chaotic and wild in where the colors were present. "This is your brain." Leo indicated the second. "And this is my brain."
"All I see are weird colors."
"What you're seeing is that your brain isn't operating normally," Leo said. "The neurons aren't firing properly. Your neurotransmitter levels are elevated beyond normal for Human beings, and it's causing damage to your brain cells. In short, Mister Hawk, your brain is being overloaded and is burning out." Another tap added a third brain with a similar pattern to Hawk's. "So is your friend's." Leo indicated Helen's cell.
Hawk crossed his arms. "Alright, let's say I believe that's what your light show says," Hawk said. "What's causing it?"
"Given my medical records from our days in a Darglan Facility, I'd say it's your use, and abuse, of the Darglan brainwave infuser technology," said Leo. "You do know you're only supposed to use that thing twice a year, at most?"
"How we do things isn't any of your damn business," Hawk snarled. "Especially since we need those infusions to keep up with you people. You're just trying to get an advantage over us."
"I'm not," Leo said. "I'm trying to keep you from frying your brain until you drive yourself into becoming a psychotic maniac. Or a drooling vegetable."
"This is just out of the kindness of your heart, then?"
"I swore an oath as a physician," Leo said. "It requires me to try and help you."
"Is that why you're helping a piece of crap like Shai'jhur?"
"She's my patient. And she's not guilty of what you think she is."
"Oh, right." Hawk guffawed. "Her dear Human friend vouched for her. You've heard of Stockholm Syndrome, right?"
"Among many things. But that doesn't mean she's lying. In fact, we confirmed she's telling the truth with a telepathic deep scan." Leo set his arm down. The omnitool, and its brain displays, disappeared. "Whatever you want to say about Shai'jhur, even if you think she's not the reformer she claims to be, she's not a rapist. And maybe you need to be more careful about jumping to conclusions."
At that Hawk jumped to his feet. He stormed toward Leo with such speed that Leo was certain that Hawk would plow into the forcefield. Instead the agitated vigilante stopped just shy of it. "Did you see what the Dilgar did to their victims in the war?!" Hawk demanded. "The butchered populations?! The camps?! The experiments?! The Valley of Bones on Balos!? And you're still going to defend them?!"
"The people who committed those crimes are gone," Leo pointed out. "You don't get to punish an entire species for the sins of a few of its members! Or would you have us slaughter every German for the crimes of the Nazis?"
"If you're talking about those jerks from the S4W8 universe, yeah, you probably should!" Hawk countered. "Because they're all part of it! They all benefit!"
"But didn't you tell Captain Andreys you told the Drazi not to kill them all?" Leo asked. "Did you change your mind? Have you decided genocide is the answer after all? Or are you so pissed off that you'll say anything just to continue the argument?"
Hawk snarled in frustration and rage. He clenched his fists. But he said nothing.
Leo considered him quietly. The lights of the brig reflected on the surface of his dark skin. "Maybe it's not even the brain damage," Leo said. "Maybe you've got a personality disorder already. Or maybe you're just pissed off at the world and this is how you deal with it. You treat every problem like a nail that needs a hammer. And with that Darglan ship, you've got a big damn hammer. Either way, in the long run, you're not doing any good. All you're doing is taking out your frustrations on convenient targets."
"You know jack crap about me!" Hawk thundered. "And you know crap about what suffering is out there! You know crap about it all because you're busy flying around in your pretty little ship patching up little boo-boos while the bastards of the Multiverse get to keep hurting people!"
"I know enough," Leo retorted. "You don't think I know what it's like? I've seen the victims too. I've treated them. Have you ever had to tell a concentration camp survivor that her Nazi rapist impregnated her? Or operate on a girl barely in her teens because she'll die without a new heart, but her body is so weak from what the Nazis did to her that the surgery nearly kills her? Or try to get a Goa'uld out of its host's body before it can kill her out of spite? Ever remove the control hardware Batarian slavers implant in their victims to control them? I have. I know there are monsters out there and God save me from ever having them in my medbay because I might just dope them up and let nature take its course!" Leo drew in a breath to reign in his own temper. "So yeah, I know all too well what kind of suffering these people cause. I'm the one who patches up their victims, just as I might have to patch them up too."
"That's the difference between us," Hawk said. "I wouldn't even let them get to you. I'd gut the bastards long before they got to your beds."
"Yeah. Because that's all you care to do. 'Kill bad guys'. And look at where that's gotten you." Leo didn't mean their surroundings, either, and the glint in his eye and the tone in his voice made that clear. "Killing the bad guys feels good, I'm sure. But you'll never kill all of them. And the way things are going, you and your friends are going to burn your brains out trying. Assuming you don't get yourselves killed when the bad guy you're after turns out to be stronger or smarter than you gave them credit for. And if you care about your friend here at all, or any of the others working with you in your Facility or on your ship, you'll do what I suggest. You'll stop using those damn infusers."
A thoughtful look on Hawk's face gave Leo hope that he might have gotten through to him, at least a little. But all too quickly, defiance and anger returned to those features. Hawk returned to the cot in his cell and sat down, glaring at him. Sighing, Leo turned and left.
The bridge of the Aurora was quiet. It tended to be more quiet these days. The others were adjusting to Julia's command style with only occasional grumbling, which she tolerated because, when it came down to it, many were her friends and she wasn't a total disciplinarian (not to mention that certain five letter word Tom Barnes would have used).
The quiet had its advantages. It helped with thinking, certainly. But among the disadvantages was allowing the tension of a crisis to get on nerves. Including Julia's.
Julia glanced toward sensors, where Cat was busy working. She was in her uniform skirt, as usual. "Nothing yet?" Julia asked.
"Still nothing," Cat said.
"Right." Her attention returned to the front of the bridge. Locarno and Jarod were working quietly. Given that everything in space was in constant motion, manning the helm was a full time occupation in order to make sure the ship was not drifting away from a planet or other vessels. In much the same way, Jarod (or one of his subordinates) was needed to keep a constant eye on the ship's systems and to be prepared to deal with anything from cyber-attack to raising the shields at a moment's notice.
At Tactical, Angel was keeping an eye on the Drazi. She would warn if they were assuming a hostile stance.
This ponderings about the roles her friends and subordinates played on the quiet bridge were a nice, temporary distraction from the gravity of their situation. Said distraction went away when a warbling tone came from the operations station. "The Orsala is hailing," Jarod said. "It's Director Holloran."
"Put her on."
The holo-viewscreen activated to display the blond Mars-native woman on the screen. "I wanted you to know that the Minbari are arranging our next meeting for tonight. At about 2000 hours your time."
"That's pretty late," Julia noted.
"Yes, well, they needed time to get security measures in place and to prepare one of their meditation rooms for the meeting." Holloran smiled wryly at that. "I think the Captain is hoping that a peaceful setting will encourage peace in the talks."
"I admit I'm hoping that the announcement from Portland will get the Brakiri to think again about this," Julia said. "They won't be happy, but risking their growing commerce with the rest of the Multiverse should dissuade them."
"Don't be so sure. In fact, right now I'm not sure the announcement has done you any favors," Holloran warned. "According to my last update from Tuzanor, the Allied Systems announcement has the Alliance Council in an uproar. The Drazi are actually calling for Sheridan to deploy the White Star Fleet against your Alliance, and are threatening to withdraw from our Alliance if Sheridan accepts the Dilgar application."
"That's insane," Julia muttered. "They can't really believe that we'd let the Dilgar become anything like their old selves. We'd come down on Shai'jhur or her replacement like a ton of bricks."
"The Drazi have an old grudge with the Dilgar that predated the war. As far as they're concerned, this is an unwelcome complication that undermines their expansion plans," Holloran pointed out. "I'm more worried about Earth. My sources indicate that Earthforce is quietly preparing to mobilize the fleet. And Earth's delegation to Tuzanor has been meeting with the Drazi, Brakiri, and Hyach representatives today."
"They're fueling the fire," Jarod remarked. "They want this to become a shooting war."
"The old Clarkists certainly do. And the rest of the Loyalists probably see it as a means to consolidate control over the colonies that are pressing for more autonomy." An angry look came over her face. Mars would be included in that. "Plus IPX would love a chance to drive you out of old Darglan space. They're itching for a chance to strip the Darglan worlds of anything they can find."
"I'm aware of that," Julia sighed. "Dammit. I was hoping that they'd back down once it was clear my government was backing me."
"Don't give up on peace yet. The Minbari, the Abbai, and the Gaim are all against turning this into a war. Sheridan might be able to use their influence to get the Council to agree to a peace treaty with Shai'jhur built around Allied Systems oversight of Tira and Rohric. But it's going to take time, and if anyone starts shooting here…"
"Yeah. I can figure where that will go." A thought came to Julia. "What about the Narn? They've rebuilt a lot of their fleet, right? If they weigh in on either side, that might make the difference."
"They're rebuilt enough of it that they could sway things if they weigh in. But I wouldn't bank on them. The Kha'Ri have no love for the Dilgar either. And they've worked with the Drazi before." Holloran shook her head. "Honestly, Captain, our best bet is to keep the talks from collapsing. We need to buy time for the diplomats on Tuzanor…"
"Captain, Director… sorry for the interruption." Cat's voice filled the bridge, although her eyes were still on her screens. "But I have a ship on long range sensors."
Julia kept looking forward. Her face seemed more resigned than anything. The other shoe was dropping. "Is it them?"
"The warp signature's a match," Cat said, nodding. "It's the Avenger. They're coming in at about about Warp 9."
"If I remember the warp scales correctly, that's pretty fast," Holloran said.
"Not for us," Julia answered. "The Darglan built warp drives that allow for high cruise speeds. That's actually below our own."
"They are not in a hurry this time," Meridina noted. "Even though they must know that we have their leaders."
"They may know the Drazi are sending another fleet."
Julia nodded in agreement with Holloran. "It wouldn't surprise me. Lieutenant, what's their ETA?"
"Approximately thirty minutes," Cat replied.
"Well, we'll know whether or not we're in a shooting war then. Carry on, everyone." Julia settled into her seat, anticipating the next half an hour to feel like a half a day in comparison.
The call woke Yonatan Shaham from the nap he'd been enjoying in his quarters. He quickly pulled his uniform jacket back on. Thanks to the design of the Eagle, built in Kameli yards over a decade before, the captain's quarters and office were on the same deck as the main bridge. It was only a ten second walk from the door to his office to the control bridge for the light attack ship.
The Eagle had changed much in the ten years since Yoni's father, Arik Shaham, had first escorted his then-teenage son onto the bridge of the Tikvah's most powerful escort ship. Back then the control stations had been mostly physical switches and keys, kept working through sheer determination and constant jury-rigging, with the air always seeming stale due to a fault in the air processors. But two months in the New Liberty-run shipyard at Abdis H1E4 had changed everything. Now the Eagle's crew enjoyed Darglan-tech touchscreen and hardlight controls. The air was just as good as being on a planet. And the old control couches and chairs had been replaced by the same harness-equipped chairs seen on the rest of the Alliance fleet. The same refits had seen the Eagle fitted with new pulse phaser cannons of the same power capacity as those on the Alliance Trigger-class. The torpedo launchers were now compatible with Alliance-standard solar torpedoes. Virtually every system had enjoyed some sort of upgrade, and with replicators equipped the Eagle went from being utterly dependent upon support from other ships to being capable of extended cruises.
The crew even reflected this change. While the majority were still the Jews from Tikvah, roughly one out of four personnel were drawn from the New Liberty population as a whole. Among them was his new First Officer and Ship Operations Officer, Lieutenant Commander Othello Freeman, a former African-American slave from Alabama on Earth C1P2. The tall man kept his hair combed and his face shaved and looked imposing in the same black uniform with command red shoulders that Yonatan was wearing. The torch insignia on his collar was blue, marking his rank just as Yoni's silver torch marked his. Their uniforms were otherwise nearly the same as those in the Alliance Stellar Navy, although the branch color took up the entirety of the shoulders.
Othello noted his arrival and nodded. "Commander," he said, his voice accented with a drawl common to people of his background. He spoke with a deliberate tone regardless of the drawl, ensuring that the auto-translators had no issues for non-English speakers. "The renegade ship's about t' drop from warp, sir."
"Thank you, Commander Freeman." Yonatan took his chair and checked the harness. Othello returned to Ops, displacing Ensign Yeol Levi to head to another post. At the helm, Ensign Benyamin Amsalem was ready to commence maneuvers. Lieutenant Rebekah Shameel, a Mizrahi Jew who immigrated from the Earth of H1E4, sat at the weapons station.
In keeping with the practice learned over their years on the run from the Reich, Yonatan tapped a key on his chair and opened the dedicated intercom from the bridge to the ship's engineering spaces. "Potential hostile coming in," he said. "Do we have combat power?
The response came from a fellow Tikvahite. Lieutenant Miryam Levitsky, the ship's chief engineer, answered, "Yes, Yoni, we do. You are clear to engage."
"Thank you, Miri," he answered. Removing his finger shut the intercom off.
Moments later the new holo-viewscreen of the Eagle changed to show the arriving ship. Yonatan was struck by the resemblance of this Darglan-built vessel, the Avenger, to the Aurora herself, or his father's ship the ASV Enterprise. But where those ships had long, graceful lines, with their weapons installed in ways that minimized their interference with the ship's profile, the Avenger was anything but graceful. Visible weapon emplacements spotted the ship's dark hull. The lines gave her the look of a predator, sleek and angry, looking for prey to devour.
"Their shields are not up," Rebekah reported. Her olive complexion and dark hair gave her a striking look. Deep brown eyes looked over the tactical display. "Their targeting systems are not locking on."
"So they're not here for combat. Yet."
Othello was frowning at the ship. "So they're the ones…" he muttered.
Yonatan almost asked what he meant, but stopped himself. He recalled the reports now. The Avenger was responsible for the devastation of Othello's Earth. Millions of dead from its attack and the near-collapse of civilization afterward. And now they were here.
"Steady, Othello," he said gently. "Are they hailing?"
"There is an open communication from the vessel now. I am putting them on."
The holo-viewscreen changed to show a number of images. One was of the Aurora bridge, where Captain Andreys was standing and looking at the screen intently. Another showed Director Holloran on the Orsala. The final image was of a severe looking young woman with brown hair to her shoulders and a thin face. She was wearing a gray suit of some sort. "I am Tina Carmine, currently in charge of the Avenger. We're here to support the Drazi Freehold in eliminating the threat of the Dilgar, and ensure the punishment of Dilgar war criminals."
"I'm Captain Julia Andreys of the Alliance Starship Aurora. Avenger, you have no standing here. You don't represent any government or people. And you're all wanted for the bombardment of Earth C1P2 and the mass death inflicted on that world."
Another image joined, that of a scale-faced Drazi. Yoni recognized him as Tarinak. "The Avenger vessel has been authorized by the Drazi Freehold to join our forces in thwarting the revival of the Dilgar. Any attack on them will be taken as an act of war against the Drazi Freehold and we will respond."
Tabir's image appeared as well. "The Brakiri Syndicracy recognizes the Avenger and its crew as legitimate privateers in service to the Drazi Freehold. We too will consider any fire against them as hostile."
There was no image to join the next voice. "Earth concurs with our allies," Major Foster said simply.
Julia nodded. "The Alliance does not recognize the Avenger crew as a legitimate private military force. But in the interests of peace, we accept their claimed status with your forces. We expect the Avenger to conform to the current truce."
"I will remind you, Captain Andreys, that the deadline for your withdrawal is nearly up," Foster said. "I will suspend enforcement in the face of the upcoming meeting on the Orsala, but I fully expect your squadron to begin withdrawing soon."
"Your charity is noted, Major." Julia's tone was professional, but none could fail to hear the ice in it. "We'll keep it in mind when this situation is resolved, and if any findings of genocide and the abetting thereof are given. We'll be on the Orsala when scheduled. Aurora out."
The communication ended only partially. Yonatan quickly noted that Julia remained linked to him. Li appeared on the screen as well, sitting on the bridge of the Shenzhou. "A nice reminder that he could face the gallows for what he's doing here," Li stated to Julia. "Not that I expect us to be able to follow through on that."
"Maybe, maybe not," Julia conceded. "Given the situation, I think it best if you two remain on your ships instead of attending the new meeting."
"I agree," said Yonatan. "These Avenger people are too volatile to take the risk."
"Agreed." Li nodded. "We'll do what we can to protect your ship while you're on the Orsala, Captain."
"Good. I'll relay the same to Commander Imra and the other ships in the force. Aurora out."
The communication ended. The holo-viewscreen shifted to show multiple ships in the orbit of the water world below. "This situation will not end well," Benyamin murmured.
"Perhaps, perhaps not. I have faith that the Lord of Hosts will recognize our cause and aid us," Yonatan said, repeating the sort of exhortation his father used to make. "All we can do is our duty. The Almighty will judge whether we succeed."
Late that evening, there was another tap on the door, much softer than Foster's announcing his presence. It was Lieutenant James Reichert, a soft-spoken and lithe helm officer whose expression was nonetheless usually one of savage intensity.
"Lieutenant... ?" Zhengli stood to greet her latest 'guest', blinking in a hint of confusion. "What is it?"
"Captain, Lieutenant Goodman was going to act. However, everyone has started debating what to do now that the government has essentially confirmed Major Foster's actions. We're certain they were illegal, and you acted according to the law, but clearly something's happening back in Geneva." He took a breath. "We need to act soon. Major Foster is exceeding his orders even in the Pronouncement he read. Huáscar is supposed to remain neutral and observe developments at Tira. He's been openly coordinating with the crew of that pirate warship, the Avenger."
"It is politics. The bane of the Earth Alliance since the founding. We are heading down a dark path, Lieutenant. When Sheridan revolted, I held my oaths. In urging you to act, as reluctantly as I do, I believe I do the same. Huáscar should not be a name spoken in the same breath, and with far more venom, than St. Louis. We have to act, and if we cannot go home again… that is a price righteousness demands."
"...I understand perfectly, Captain. Please understand that Foster is going to alter the guard arrangements, so you're not going to have any more communication with us, and I need to leave very soon. Some of us have already done things that leave us committed, and I don't think the rest of us are so craven we're going to let the others down."
"I will stand with you all to the end, Lieutenant, wherever we end up. May fortune smile upon us all, for the sake of what we do."
"Well," he ran a hand through his dark hair. "I don't think it's going to end quietly now, Captain. I don't think we have that choice."
"I remember how to use a sidearm, Lieutenant. If order is to be overthrown by craven political calculus… then I cannot stand by and let it happen. It is the soul of Earthforce we are fighting for, and may they some-day remember it. Go, or they will be suspicious once the new rotation checks the logs."
"I understand, Captain. We'll obey." He snapped to attention and saluted. "They won't dishonour Huáscar, whatever happens, they won't dishonour Earthforce. We won't let them. Good luck, Captain." He spun on heel, and after that, it was silence in the cell block.
Zhengli Varma whispered a soft prayer for their success, and that they might come out the other side alive, her loyalists, as she settled down to wait once more.
Even in the middle of a crisis paperwork still had to be done. Julia was attending to just that in her ready office off the bridge, trying to ignore the menacing Drazi Sunhawk that was visible out of her window. While the ship was not in of itself a threat to her own, the intent of the ship was menace enough. Joined with the aggressive Avenger crew? That was even worse.
She was finishing a requisition report when there was a chime at the door. "Come in," she called out.
Cat entered, wearing her uniform with the skirt instead of pants as she usually did. Behind her was the Dilgar science officer, Tra'dur. "What can I do for you, Lieutenant Delgado, Combat Expert Tra'dur?" Julia asked them.
"Captain, Lieutenant Delgado and myself have developed a plan for disabling the explosives set at the mitre gates on the city's barrage." She nodded to Caterina. "Cat'Delgado, please, go ahead."
"We're going to set up sensors as close as we can to the gates," Cat explained. "If we can get the right readings, we'll know what kind of explosives they're using and can find a way to counteract them."
Julia's eyes went from Cat, and her visible enthusiasm, to Tra'dur, who tried to hide the same but couldn't quite manage it. "It's a good idea. I'll have the Marines do the scans right away."
"I'm not sure they have the training for what we're doing," Cat said. "This is delicate equipment. It has to be assembled just right, and the readings carefully analyzed."
To that Julia folded her hands on the desk. "So what you're saying is that you want to beam down."
"Yes."
"You want me to send my science officer into a potential combat zone."
A year ago that might have deterred Cat. Short of a scientific discovery to be had, she was rarely eager for such missions. But now Julia could see no sign of such a sentiment now. Another sign of the change that the Doctor had caused in her. "You don't really need me up here for this situation. Down there I could save Tira."
"True," Julia conceded. "But you're late on your field mission exercise evaluations, and…" Julia shook her head in exasperation. Her voice lost the authority she'd been using before when she added, "This is bad, Cat. Those mercs could kill you."
"The Daleks could have too. And the Nazis."
"Touchè." Julia considered herself and felt a bit of reproach. Was she being reluctant to send qualified personnel because she didn't want to risk her science officer? Or was it because she didn't want to send her friend's little sister into a firing zone? We're all in a firing zone anyway, I suppose. "Alright. I'll have Commander Richmond assign you a security team. And I'm sending Lucy with you to help you with the technical side of things."
Cat smiled and nodded. "I'll be ready."
"You're going in full action uniform with ground operations kit, Lieutenant," Julia ordered. "Anything less is unacceptable, understood?"
"Understood, Captain," Cat replied. "I'll get ready immediately and report to the armory."
"Report to Transporter Station 3 in one hour. We should have a security team for you then. You're both dismissed."
Cat and Tra'dur left the ready office. When they were gone Julia briefly set her face in her hands and sighed into her palms. "Angel will kill me," she muttered.
A question forming in Cat's mind finally came out after they stepped into the turbolift. "Deck 4," she said, before turning to Tra'dur. "The way you pronounce my name. 'Cat'Delgado'. Is that a social convention for Dilgar?"
"Yes, Cat'Delgado, it is. Amongst the Dilgar only close relatives-I mean to the second degree at most-and lovers and mates may call each other by their prenomen."
"So you might call your mother 'Shai', and your sister 'Nah', but you call Fei'nur by her full name?"
"..Well, as it happens, Fei'nur almost raised us by herself, so sometimes as a girl I'd only use her prenomen. But she's pretty traditional and I would never do that in public these days. However, you've got the right of it: Say Battlemaster Or'kun on the Magaratha I'd always call Or'kun, yes." She was smiling with a fond memory. "Even though you're human, I didn't want to be presumptuous."
"Oh, it's fine," Cat said. Ahead of them the lift door opened. Cat led her out onto Deck 4. She took the usual right outside of the lift entryway. "I just figured that might be a mouthful. Our family names are a lot longer than yours, I mean. In Human society we usually use the last name for formality. That's why Julia, I mean the Captain, called me 'Lieutenant Delgado' instead of 'Lieutenant Caterina Delgado'."
"Yeah, mother uses the human method in English. I just felt a bit nervous about following her lead so readily. Cat. Perhaps because it's short, so it sounds like a Dilgar prenomen. I'd… I tried to use it before, and I'd like to fit in more, here, really. I mean everyone's been so kind to me, especially yourself and Commander Scott."
"Well, you can call me Cat in private, if you want," said Caterina. "And if he says you can, we all call Commander Scott 'Scotty'. It's an old nickname from his comrades when he was in Starfleet decades ago." They arrived at the door to her quarters. The ship automatically recognized her and let her in. Inside she found Violeta sitting on the couch, in her uniform pants and the burgundy red undershirt of her duty uniform. "Oh, Vee! Getting ready for duty?"
"Yeah." She grinned. "I left my spare uniforms in your closet." Violeta noticed Tra'dur and stood. "Oh, hey. You're the Dilgar officer assigned to the ship, right?"
"Yes, Ensign. I'm Combat Master Tra'dur, a pleasure to be at your service."
"Ensign Violeta Arterria, navigation officer." Violeta grinned at Cat. "Well, soon to be Lieutenant Arterria."
Cat's eyes widened. A grin crossed her face. "You got the promotion?"
Violeta nodded eagerly. "Commander Locarno gave me the notice this morning. The promotion board approved it. I'll be Lieutenant junior grade on the first of next month."
"That's wonderful!" Cat went up and embraced her girlfriend tightly. She gave her a congratulatory kiss on the lips. "That's so great! You've earned it!"
"Thank you," Violeta said. She glanced back to Tra'dur before meeting Cat's eyes again. "So, what's going on?"
"Oh. Oh, right." Cat chuckled nervously. "Uh, I'm here to get into my action uniform. We're beaming down to install sensors in the Marine posts."
Violeta's expression turned to concern. "Are you going to be okay?"
"Oh, we'll have a bunch of Marines with us, and Lucy, and they're sending a security team with us too. I'm sure we'll be safe. Well, as safe as we can be right now, I guess…"
It was clear Violeta was still worried for Cat's safety, but she didn't say anything. "Okay. Well, be safe… and I'd better finish getting ready, my first watch of the day begins in forty minutes and I've still got to grab a bite to eat."
"Oh." Cat winced. "I'm sorry for keeping you. Have a good watch."
"And you be careful." Violeta went to the chair over which her black uniform jacket - with the red trim the same color as her shirt - was laid. She picked it up and began pulling it on while walking out of the door.
Tra'dur coughed gently. "I didn't want to interrupt with your mate. Thank you for introducing me. Is she a different breed of human?"
"Hrm? Oh, the purple hair and eyes?" Cat giggled as she walked into her bedroom. Tra'dur remained at the door while she went for her closet and the action uniforms there. "They're cosmetic genetic alterations for coloration. It's pretty common in the Sirian League." She pulled one of the uniforms out. The action uniform was a multi-piece set, made of specialized material and backed by an interior ceramic plating to protect from weapons fire and with prepared pockets and a belt with a pulse pistol holster. Its design would also help in more extreme temperatures and could easily be fitted to an environmental suit. She laid it out on her bed. "I'll be out in a minute, just let me change."
"Oh, of course." Tra'dur fiddled with her weapons and checked the fit on the slim vest under her uniform jacket, folding her hands as she waited.
When Caterina emerged, she was putting her pulse pistol into the holster on her hip. The uniform nevertheless looked mostly like the one she'd been wearing before save for the pockets on the side and on the pants. The twin gold strips of her rank insignia were even in the same place on her collar. "Alright, I'm ready, let's head to the armory so we can get field gear."
"Lead on, Cat." The lithe little auburn-haired Dilgar woman in her grandiloquent uniform swung in on the human science officer's side without a moment's hesitation. Utterly confident, there was something of a leader in her scientist's mind, too.
The drive through the Dilgar colony city was quiet for Wrex and Drack. The mercs on the streets had no trouble keeping the frightened Dilgar pacified. Pockets of them could be seen on the street, watching the anti-grav truck carrying the two in silence. At one corner Wrex watched with smoldering silence as a group of mercs were busy curb-stomping a single Dilgar, laughing all the while. The Dilgar was silent: even the meanest civilian Dilgar knew enough to expect no mercy from aliens. His disgust was evident to his older compatriot, who remained quiet regardless.
Soon they were driving past a gray-toned structure. Like many of those present, it was made in part with materials salvaged from Dilgar ships used for the colony mission, the rest being made of basic raw materials like concrete. The tetracolor and torch of the Allied Systems fluttered on the flag that topped the three story structure. Wrex made out power-armored Marines watching one of the entrances with weapons ready. "Looks like they'll be throwing us into a frontal assault," he remarked.
Drack laughed at that. "Knowing Weyrloc Tral, he'll throw bodies at them until he runs out of bodies. Or ammunition blocks, if we're really lucky."
"Nobody is that lucky," Wrex grunted.
Pulling away from the building, the truck came to a stop in front of their destination. The two Krogan jumped down from the anti-grav truck and stomped their way into the positions held by the Blood Pack. On their way they moved through a half dozen red-armored Krogan and twelve Vorcha. The latter had a particularly fearsome appearance for humanoids, with growling voices coming from mouths marked by visibly long, sharp teeth. The Vorcha were the cannon fodder of the Blood Pack, although they were tough for such fodder given that, like the Krogan, Vorcha enjoyed a regenerative physiology that let them heal from even severe injuries.
The building in question had been a residence for a Dilgar family. Now the banner of Clan Weyrloc was hanging from the roof. Given the state of their furnishings, Wrex suspected they wouldn't be back whatever happened.
Inside they found that one of the living areas was now serving as a makeshift command post. A Ferengi-made holographic interface was sitting on a table in the middle. The hologram it was showing, depicting one of the structures occupied by the Alliance forces, wavered. It shut down completely when a fist slammed into the table and smashed it. "Blasted machines," growled an angry Krogan voice. The Krogan in question had dark green coloring on his carapace, his skin a beige tone, and his armor the same blood red as his followers. Red eyes a shade darker than Wrex's shifted and took them in. "So the Brakiri sent me the has-beens," he muttered. "Nakmor Drack. Urdnot Wrex. I'm surprised either of you had the brains or the quad to take work like this."
"Still sore over the last time, Tral?" asked Drack, who grinned in amusement at the memory.
"You did me a favor, Drack," replied the Weyrloc leader. "Those were my weakest recruits."
"Of course they were." Drack let the lie stand. The Weyrloc had pride, not to mention their delusions of being the most powerful Krogan clan.
"So, you two are here, and you're assigned to the main strike team," Tral said. "Word is we'll be going for those Alliance people soon. Our employers want to send a message. No prisoners."
"I heard we were just going to shell the buildings to rubble," Wrex said.
To that Tral laughed. "The Brakiri consider us cheaper than the munitions. So we're going in. And we kill everything we see. Do you think you two fossils can manage that?"
"No surrenders. Kill everything." Drack snorted. "Sounds like a Weyrloc plan to me."
"If you survive, there'll be a bonus, I'm told," Tral continued. He snorted. "Then we can blow the dam gates and get off this rock."
"So it's coming to that, huh?" Wrex asked.
"What, you feel sorry for 'em?" Tral asked. "Way I hear it, the Dilgar pissed off every species around in this universe. Just collect your pay and forget about it. Now get the hell out of here while I get this damned system fixed. The next time I see a Ferengi, I'm ripping off those stupid ears."
The two stepped out of the room. "So they're going to do it," Drack said.
"Yeah."
"Anything we can do about it?"
To that Wrex shrugged. "Probably not. Don't mean I have to like it. And the next time a Brakiri offers me a job…"
"...we'll both tell them to piss off," Drack finished for him.
Sharon Farallon, the Huáscar's Chief Engineer and a short, brown and mousy woman who could nonetheless take down a man three times larger than herself at arm wrestling, had been the most enthusiastic in regaining control of the ship from the XO. She had also been the one made the most uncomfortable by the directives from Geneva which seemed to confirm Foster's actions. She was sitting across from Lieutenant Goodman, or more properly was braced against the wall, glancing to Reichert occasionally and keeping her eyes away from Officer Saumarez.
"Guys, this is going to be mutiny now if we go ahead with it. Before, yeah, it would have been legal, but they're addressing Major Foster as the commander."
Reichert held his hands behind his back like he was at parade rest. "Lieutenant Commander Farallon, I seem to recall they said obedience to unlawful orders is not an excuse when they were hanging those Nazi bastards at Nuremberg. And a couple of other times after that, too."
Sharon grimaced. "Look, you know that don't actually give a rat's ass about that back in Geneva. The Russians have half taken over the Earth Alliance and they only ever apply those rules to the losing side. We're going to be in more shit than you can realize if we act against Foster. Possibly the Death of Personality if we get people killed…"
"I thought you were on Sheridan's side, too, Sharon," Johnathan Goodman spoke in his soft rumble.
She shot him a look. "We all were here, except Officer Saumarez. But the war's supposed to be over."
"We'll have a ship, we hardly have to surrender!" Reichert almost shouted. "Look, Foster's still violating orders. He's exchanging communication with these pirates who showed up, and the government sure as hell never sanctioned that. At worst we'll be in the same place he was and he got his actions confirmed by the government."
"If I go back now, Commander Farallon, I am going to cease to exist," Elia spoke very softly. "The fact we haven't acted doesn't matter."
"You have a legal obligation to prevent genocide, Sharon," Lt. Reichert spoke again. "You know that's exactly what they're planning. It's a secret open enough to drive a shuttle through."
"And we'll never see our families again..!"
"And the Dilgar won't have any families because the Drazi killed their babies by bashing them against a wall!"
Sharon swallowed. "They're also a bunch of aliens."
"And one of them is sitting on an Earth Alliance planet right now with a Line Medal around his neck, and a memorial in the town square with the other five inset into it. Who the hell else helped us during the Earth-Minbari War, Sharon?"
"The Drazi said they did!" She flushed.
"Stro'kath's fleet is a ghost, nobody knows what happened to it."
Lieutenant Goodman squeezed his hands, a cold sweat on his dark face. "Okay, the way I see it is, that's a higher order, preventing genocide. If Foster disobeys it, we gotta take him down. We don't have time to ask Geneva, the Dilgar could all be dead by then. But that's like an order from God," he continued, lapsing more into his caribbean accent. "Y'gotta follow it, if you care about your soul."
Sharon sighed and looked at the terrified but resolute Elia across from her. "All right, if we get into.."
Lt. Goodman's comm trilled. The others went dead silent as he picked it up. "Yes… Yes, Captain, what do you..? Oh, of course, Captain, I understand. Uh, negotiate? Captain? I'm just a Lieutenant, I can… Yes, Sir, I understand. Right away Sir." He deactivated the comm and stared at the others.
"What the hell was that, Johnathan?" Sharon asked.
"Major Foster wants me to go to the Minbari cruiser to represent Earth in the talks."
"Goddamnit, that means he's onto us, it has to," she snarled.
"Maybe," Lt. Reichert answered. "But he has to go. And I've got a solution for that."
"Look, we're not doing anything unless we absolutely have to, do you understand? Lieutenant Reichert, do you understand me!?" Sharon was outright shouting, now, Elia wincing away from her.
"Understood, Sir," he said, very, very softly.
With the Avenger on the scene, it went against Julia's instincts to beam over to the Orsala for continuing talks that were unlikely to go anywhere. She didn't trust the Avenger crew given what she knew about their condition, or even without that, their sheer aggressiveness. The idea of a shooting war breaking out with her off the ship…
Taking her First Officer with her? That was almost insurmountable a hurdle.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you didn't trust me," Jarod remarked while escorting Julia and Meridina to the Transporter Station.
Julia gave him a guilty look. "It's the principle of the thing," she said. "I shouldn't be away during a crisis."
"The Brakiri and Drazi leaders will be away as well," said Meridina. "And there will be someone from the Avenger present."
"That doesn't make me feel any better," Julia answered. "Especially since we don't know anything about their command structure. This 'Tina Carmine' may not even be Hawk's usual third-in-command. Besides, they don't strike me as the type to care about diplomatic rules. Attacking while we're on the Orsala is something I can see them thinking of as clever."
"A good point, but if they are here as allies of the Drazi, one suspects the Drazi are requiring them to conform to diplomatic niceties. Otherwise they will look bad as well."
"That assumes the Drazi care," Jarod said. "Remember, these are the same people who launched raiding attacks on their weakest neighbors. They were even willing to attack Sheridan's White Stars when the ISA was initially founded." Given they were nearing their destination, Jarod stopped. "Either way, I'll have the crew on standby should anything happen."
"That's all I can ask."
"Good luck." Jarod smiled slightly and nodded before stepping away. They both heard him murmur, "We'll all need it" as he stepped away.
Julia and Meridina met Shai'jhur in Transporter Station 1. She had that same quiet aide with her. Julia wondered where Fei'nur was currently. Shai'jhur had already been shot once and Fei'nur seemed the type to never risk it again.
Julia motioned to the pad and said, "After you, Warmaster."
Shai'jhur stepped onto the pad with a wry look. "I never get more used to this, of course. Carry on, Captain."
"One moment." Julia turned back to Jarod. "I shouldn't have to say that if it comes down to me or the ship, the ship comes first. But I will anyway because it feels like the right thing to say."
"Somehow I suspect that the Orsala is a lot safer than the Aurora right now anyway," replied Jarod. "But understood."
Satisfied, Julia nodded to him and he left. She and Meridina joined Shai'jhur on the pad. "Transport when ready."
A Dorei woman was at the transporter controls nodded. "I'm receiving the coordinates from the Orsala now. Confirming."
The transporter beam whisked them away from the Aurora to the Minbari ship. They arrived near the launch bay for the ship's shuttles and fliers. A Minbari male in white and light beige robes with a bone crest that Julia associated with the religious caste met them at the entrance. "Greetings, and welcome to the Orsala," he said. "Please follow me."
While walking through the ship Julia and Meridina took in the internal design of Minbari ships. They favored purples and blue lighting and coloring, occasionally green, for their interior halls, which were primarily darker hues around the lights. The diversity in color was greater than the azure corridors of the Aurora.
The Warmaster's expression was dour in the extreme, as if she would rather be anywhere else in the world. Her yellow eyes flashed from corridor wall to corridor wall.
They arrived in a room with a series of rounded tables closely matching the makeup of how things had been on the Aurora. Tarinak was present, as was Tabir, and Holloran and the lead Abbai delegate, Forna, were near their table. Foster was not present. An Earthforce lieutenant was near that table instead, a big, black-skinned man with an easygoing expression, sitting quietly and, Julia thought, a little uncomfortably.
There was a new position as well, a table with just one figure beside it. He was in a gray jumpsuit of sorts, a thin young man with combed black hair. This was apparently a concession to the formality of the situation, as he looked anything but comfortable in the surroundings, and more to the point, not at all caring about the weight of them. The only thing on his face was obvious, evident boredom, boredom which turned into clear hostility when he looked toward Julia. He snarled in open contempt and crossed his arms. Julia ignored him with just as much contempt. They didn't send the current commander of the Avenger, she noted to herself. A whisper in her mind indicated Meridina had picked up that thought as well. Seeing no point in talking, Julia found her table with Meridina and sat down. Shai'jhur took her seat just as quietly.
As everyone began to filter into their seats, Julia noticed that Foster still hadn't shown up. A vague suspicion formed in her mind. Yoni Shaham had mentioned their discussion, and Foster's remarks about the Minbari, so he might be delaying his arrival to mess with them. But given the situation, Julia didn't like this one bit.
"The Captain of the Huáscar will of course arrive shortly, as well as the ranking officer of the pirate?" Shai'jhur said airily, refusing to sit.
"We're not pirates, you damned butcher," the gray-suited man barked. "You're the damn pirate, and we're going to make you pay!"
The Brakiri shot an angry look toward that table. "I'm afraid that with your capture of their commanders, the Drazi associates are a little uncertain of their command structure," Tabir noted. "They are a very… informal group, you see."
"And yet they fly around with one of the most powerful, advanced battlecruisers in the Multiverse," Julia noted wryly. She glanced toward the man. "Where is Miss Carmine?"
"She couldn't come," he said sullenly. "I'm Andy. Andy Lattrel. I'm going to be dealing with you." His voice made it clear that his idea of "dealing" with them would involve shooting.
The look on the Brakiri was one of open contempt. He does not approve of the Drazi choice of allies, Meridina relayed to Julia telepathically.
The Brakiri are businessmen, that kind of bluntness is too much, I guess.
Shai'jhur would have none of it. "You may think you will be dealing with me, but all you will be doing is conveying a message to your commanders. I have read Verne, I know your literature, and I can name your game, you cur! Don't think me a naive alien, I know you break the laws of your own race! Your Darglan Nautile flies no flag and conducts a war of revenge under the colour of no law, Sir. Tell your commanders that they are Hostis humani generis and I will put them to death if I catch them! If you want to enforce the law of nations, live by it!"
Before any retort could come from Andy Lattrel, Holloran smacked her hand on her table. "The next person to issue a threat gets my boot up their ass." The look on the Director's face made it clear that, as the Director of Covert Intelligence for the InterStellar Alliance, she was not a diplomat, nor did she believe she had to be.
Shai'jhur ground her teeth. "Very well. Where is the Earth representative, Major Foster?"
"I'm Lieutenant Johnathan Goodman, Earthforce. I was sent by Major Foster to represent our interests. He will not be coming aboard."
"And I will not negotiate with subordinates," Shai'jhur answered immediately in a show of anger and contempt. "I have endured enough humiliation, we will not also have a farce of talks without the ranking personnel of each power present."
"Call up Foster," Holloran said to Goodman. "Tell him to get over here now, or his lack of cooperation will be made clear to both Earthdome and Tuzanor."
Goodman wryly twisted his face into a grimace and reached for his commlink. The conversation was brief. "I'm sorry, Director, but he won't come."
A cold feeling went down Julia's spine at hearing that.
As Goodman spoke, Shai'jhur stepped over to Julia and spoke softly. "This is a ruse d'guerre, as you humans would say. Get back to your ship." Her eyes snapped to Holloran. "Director, call me back when the principals are all actually present, and I will come, even if it is the middle of the night."
Julia and Meridina exchanged worried looks as they stood up. Meridina's hand quietly reached for her omnitool.
Shai'jhur pulled out her own commlink.
There was a tone from another table. Lattrel was activating a multidevice. "They're leaving!" he shouted. "Go now!"
"Two to beam up, immediately!" Shai'jhur shouted in Dilgar. The two Dilgar disappeared into the amber glow and sparkling tones of a Klingon transporter model at least a half-century old, but perfectly serviceable for the circumstances.
"Emergency transport, now!" Meridina shouted.
Holloran watched in stunned silence at their sudden departure. As her head turned to face Lattrel, he too vanished in a flash of light.
"Director." The voice of the Minbari captain came over the air. "The independent cruiser has opened fire. The Drazi are moving to engage."
"Damn," Holloran muttered.