Teaser

Ship's Log: 22 September 2643 AST; ASV Aurora. Captain Julia Andreys recording. The Aurora has returned to Fleet Base Skret Tel after four weeks exploring the Tanatis Frontier Sector in Universe A7R6. We are currently transferring samples taken during the expedition for further testing in Alakin and Falaen facilities.

During the expedition the Aurora made first contact with two species capable of system-wide interplanetary flight and observed a third conducting orbital space missions. We also made preliminary studies of four potentially habitable planets for possible colonization and discovered rich sources of Cameronite and naqia on a lunar body.

While this work usually lacks the sort of excitement we've been experiencing since I took command of the Aurora, it was a pleasure to be able to conduct a peaceful exploration mission for a change. No desperate battles, no threats to the Multiverse, just a reach of unexplored space.

On another note, a special package was waiting for our ship's resident Paladin operative when we arrived.

Set beside the Aurora bridge itself, the "ready room" or "ready office" was Julia's preferred spot to do the office work of her position when she was not on watch on the bridge. Like all Captains she'd furnished hers with some personal touches, with photos of family on one of the stands inside of which she kept some of her secured digital readers for classified information. Additionally she kept a backup uniform hanging near the walk-in bathroom for use in emergencies. Along the wall beside the door to the bridge was a couch, a hold over from Robert's time as captain that she'd slept on a couple of times over the years.

Currently she was at her desk reading monthly performance reviews with Meridina and Jarod. "It looks like the Gamma shift crew is exceeding standards," Julia noted. "At this rate, we're going to lose Lieutenant Takawira to a new command. Is he up for promotion?"

"I have already written the recommendation to the board," Meridina informed her.

"Good." Julia looked over another section and frowned. "Science section's looking a little less polished than usual. Cat's always been a little too lenient with her subordinates, but I've never seen productivity go down before." She sighed. "This isn't just over Violeta's transfer, is it?"

"Some, I think," Meridina answered. "But I think she has other concerns on her mind."

"It doesn't help that she was doing a lot of extra work during the surveying," Jarod added. "Those metrics don't account for that, and won't until we finalize the exploration reports. Don't be surprised if it goes up."

Julia nodded. "I suppose I'm not used to dealing with the aftermath of peaceful survey missions that stay peaceful."

"Well, we've only had what, two survey missions since you became Captain?" Jarod pointed out, grinning. "Come to think of it, I don't think we've had a peaceful survey mission that stayed peaceful since before the war started."

"And now the war's over," Julia said. "So let's enjoy it before there's another one, huh?"

"That is quite pessimistic of you, Julia," Meridina noted, using personal names given the privacy of the meeting.

"Well, the reports don't lie," Julia replied. "Increased Jem'Hadar activity on the Cardassian border. They've finished wiping out the Maquis. They attacked a Federation ship at the edge of the old DMZ three days ago. And Dukat gave another speech about reclaiming 'all of Cardassia's lost territory'."

"Meaning Bajor," Jarod observed.

"Yeah," Julia said. "We may have a war breaking out in the Alpha Quadrant soon if this keeps getting worse. And that's not the only problem. More ship disappearances in the Attican Traverse of M4P2. Von Platen's freikorps hit a relief convoy headed to one of the Anti-Spinward colonies in the old Reich territories. And there's the attack on Mars in E5B1 from ten days ago." She let out a sigh. "And there's always the Cylons to worry about. The war with the Reich might be over, but I have a feeling things are still really dangerous out there."

The other two didn't need telepathy or super-smarts to know what was really bothering her. "Robert's new ship is in, correct?" asked Meridina.

"It's down in the secondary cargo bay," Julia confirmed. "Fresh from the factory, I'm told. Based on the same armed courier that Lennier and Druni own."

"The Keyeri is quite an impressive craft in of itself," Meridina recalled. "But it still worries you."

"Worries me? That Robert's doing this secret agent stuff once and awhile? That he's going to be heading into incredibly dangerous situations as a regular job?" Julia lowered her eyes for a moment to push away the upset feeling she had. "And that he won't have us as backup because he'll be traveling into hostile systems on a ship little bigger than a standard runabout?"

"It's a bit bigger than that, I think," Jarod said. "It's almost forty meters long. Even with the spare space we've got in the secondary bay, they had to move two shuttles out to give it sufficient space of its own. And given the specs, it's perfect for the job." Jarod noticed her growing frown and promptly added, "But that's not what you want to hear. You'd rather he stay."

"I know he can't," Julia admitted. "But I wish, well… I wish he could. After we came so close to losing him last year…"

Meridina gave her a sympathetic look. "I understand your fears. But it is his choice. Robert feels he has much to still offer the Alliance, even if he no longer commands a ship."

"Besides, you know how he is. I think Morgan named the entire group with him in mind," Jarod said, smiling. "And now that he's got his noble steed…"

Julia let out a laugh. "So Tom told you about that too, huh?"

"I've already set up the shuttle bay systems to record the reaction. Zack promised Beth she could see it. Given how much worry he causes her, she deserves it."

A blue light appeared on the back of Julia's left hand. It was being generated by her omnitool frame, indicating she had an incoming communication. She tapped the light to accept the comm. "Andreys here," she said.

"Captain, we are receiving a transmission over the IU network." The voice was that of Lieutenant Tra'dur, the ship's lone Dilgar officer. The operations officer, with a subspecialty in science, spoke English with an accent that sounded close to Indian. "Admiral Maran wishes to speak to you and Captain Dale."

"Alright. Let him know we'll see him shortly." Julia tapped at her omnitool control, the blue hardlight display currently over her left forearm. "Andreys to Dale."

After a moment a reply came. "Dale here."

"We have an incoming message from Admiral Maran," answered Julia. She grinned, betraying her amusement to the others while her voice remained mostly business. "I'm afraid you'll need to stop admiring your noble steed, Admiral Maran is on comms for both of us."

"You knew?" he asked, his tone almost accusatory.

Jarod chuckled lowly, too low for Robert to hear.

"I'm the Captain," Julia replied. "Of course I knew. Now get your butt going, Sir Robert. Thy noble lord is awaiting thee to give thee a quest, O Paladin." The grin on her face grew.

There was laughter on the other end. All present recognized Tom's laughter, and Meridina was certain the other voice was Lucy's. "On my way," came Robert's droll response.

The bridge deck of the Starship Aurora was the usual nerve center of the ship, by design of the ship's Starfleet-trained builders, Carlton Farmer and Montgomery Scott. Whatever layout the Darglan had intended, the two engineers from Universe S5T3 filled in the hull of the Aurora with a layout they deemed the most efficient, with the bridge being at the top of the primary hull. The bridge was not by itself the only element of the deck, as there were facilities for the officers, particularly the Captain's ready room and the conference lounge. While the ship had much larger conference rooms in the facility and living decks of the primary hull, the conference lounge allowed the command crew to hold meetings while remaining close at hand to the bridge. In a pinch it also permitted further use, such as using it for emergency sleeping quarters during prolonged crises (as happened during the battle for Germania).

Julia arrived long before Robert. Since it was only the two of them, she took Meridina's usual seat to the right of the head of the table, which was - fittingly - Julia's usual seat. Once Robert arrived he sat across from her in Jarod's place. Julia tapped a key to direct the channel into the conference lounge.

Together they faced the viewscreen built into the wall and faced Admiral Maran. Maran was well into middle age for a Gersallian and by appearance looked the same to a Human, given his species' external resemblance to their own. That leading the military of the Alliance in two years of bloody, sometimes desperate interstellar war hadn't turned more of his dark hair gray could be chalked up to Gersallian physiology more than anything.

"Captain, I have reviewed some of your reports from the Tanatis Frontier. You've done well. High Minister Brepk and Regent Nalena have been quite fulsome in their thanks for your part in the expedition. We have high hopes for our future relations with the Trenap and the Dynielil. Both show promise as prospective Alliance partners, perhaps even members."

"Commander Delgado is really eager to visit Agynnielil," Julia said, grinning in appreciation of Maran's praise for their efforts. "The Dynielil we met during the first contact have indicated their species isn't native to the planet and are likely transplants. Given the timing alluded to in their written histories, it may indicate the Darglan transplanted them to Agynnielil."

"Perhaps we should introduce them to the Miqo'te," Maran noted. "Captain Dale, I trust you've been keeping busy?"

"Yes sir," Robert answered promptly. "While assisting the Aurora crew with their scientific and diplomatic endeavors isn't the kind of duty most people expect from Paladins, I actually enjoyed the chance for a peaceful exploration cruise."

It's also the kind of duty I wish you were doing, Julia thought to herself.

"I'm glad to hear it. But I'm afraid that cruise is now over." Maran's expression, while always stoic, shifted to show the weight of the situation. "Are you aware of the attack on Mars in E5B1 ten days ago?"

"I noticed a report on something to the effect," Robert said, beating Julia to the punch. "Terrorism was suspected."

"And confirmed. Unfortunately, the culprits may be laid on our doorstep, given the evidence."

"What do you mean, Admiral?" asked Julia. A sudden bad feeling came to her. There was only one way that might be true...

"Investigations have confirmed that the primary target was a Psi Corps facility on Mars," Maran said. "And the attack the responsibility of the Telepath Underground."

Robert and Julia exchanged concerned looks. "Lyta Alexander," Robert sighed.

"Yes. And you can imagine how EarthGov is spinning this."

"The Free Colony," Julia said, referring to Lyta's "Byron Free Colony", the planned homeworld of free telepaths that had escaped Psi Corps and the Earth Alliance, named in honor of a fallen leader of non-Corps telepaths. It had been Lyta's price to help Robert and Meridina with their hunt for potentially-dangerous Darglan technology. Since she'd led them to a former Darglan scientific complex on one of the dead race's old colony worlds, the Alliance couldn't say they got nothing for the exchange. But it was one of those deals Julia always wandered about, in terms of how it might come back to haunt them. Aloud she asked, "They're using its existence to accuse us of being involved, or allowing it to happen?"

"That is a common view in Earthspace, yes. And it has led to violent incidents against Alliance citizens. The Foreign Office is already advising against travel to the Earth Alliance until the situation is resolved. And that's where you come in. Because of the tense situation, President Luchenko has agreed to cabinet-level talks between the Allied Systems and the Earth Alliance. They're to be held on Babylon-5. And you will be bringing Secretary Onaran and his team to the station."

"Understood, Admiral," Julia said, nodding. Another visit to B5, nearly two years after their first? She was up for that. And diplomacy trumped shooting. "Let me know where the rendezvous is and I'll get the ship underway."

"They'll be traveling aboard the Shenzhou. You'll be meeting them at the Darglan Homeworld."

Robert blinked. "Isn't that in the opposite direction from B5? Or is the Secretary not on Earth?"

"He departed this morning, actually, but the stop at She'teyal is important. The Aurora and the Shenzhou will rendezvous with the Huáscar there. Captain Zhen'var and members of her staff will be personally briefing you and Secretary Onaran's team on what happened at Mars."

To that Julia asked, "I thought the Huáscar was still on her working up cruise?"

"True, but they were at Mars for the post-attack cleanup and investigation and they have critical information on the attack that may be relevant to the talks." Maran leaned in slightly. "After you've picked up Secretary Onaran and his team, head to B5 to begin the negotiations." He put his hands together on the desk before him. "I shouldn't have to say how critical this situation could be. The Drazi and Brakiri are not entirely reconciled to the Rohric Peace Treaty yet, so Earth has potential allies in the event of hostilities. We have enough trouble without dealing with Earth becoming aggressive on this matter or that of their attempts to lay claim to former Darglan space. But more importantly, we're hoping to convince Earth to see this terrorism problem as an opportunity. Their laws against their own telepaths are to blame for this situation. If the negotiation team can persuade them to relax those restrictions as part of a general agreement, we can defuse this situation before it grows any more dangerous."

"If there's no Psi Corps to chase rogues, then the rogues won't feel a need to lash out?" Robert suggested.

Maran nodded once. "That is one way of putting it. And that brings me to the other issue at hand…" The way his eyes moved indicated he was looking to Julia. "Captain, I must now discuss Paladin business with Captain Dale. Given you will soon be in personal contact with representatives of EarthGov, including a member of Psi Corps, I'm afraid I must insist on secrecy."

Robert glanced apologetically to Julia, but she nodded once and stood. A part of her rankled that she wasn't being told, but it wasn't hard to figure out why, if Psi Corps would be at the talks. "I understand, Admiral," she said. "I'll order our departure from Skret Tel right now. Permission to be dismissed?"

"Granted."

Julia nodded to him and to Robert before heading to the bridge. Tra'dur was at Ops now and Meridina in the command chair. Lieutenant Talara, a Falaen woman who'd joined the crew as the Gamma Shift helmswoman at the beginning of the year, was at that station. "Lieutenant Tra'dur, set the jump drive for the She'teyal anchor."

"I am doing so now," Tra'dur answered, tapping away at the keys. "We are off of the spatial aspect by several light years."

"I figured," replied Julia. "We'll proceed at warp until we're in the proper spatial aspect range. Recall all personnel from Skret Tel."

"I am doing so now," said Meridina, tapping away at the console beside her seat. "We have fifty-nine crew aboard the Fleet Base currently. Unless you wish to employ transporter recovery, I estimate ten minutes before they are aboard."

"Ten minutes is satisfactory. It should give time for Operations to confirm all critical replacement stores have been brought aboard." Julia gave an expectant look at Tra'dur.

"Right away, Captain," the young Dilgar replied.

As she went to work, Meridina asked, "Where is Robert?"

"Getting his own mission," Julia said. "While we're heading back to Babylon-5."

Undiscovered Frontier
"Values Judgement"

An emerald vortex split space open, forming a bridge between universes. From it the Aurora emerged, cutting her impulsor drive power down and beginning to decelerate as she emerged. Below her the planet She'teyal continued her quiet orbit, the graveyard for one of the few civilizations to achieve the miracle of interuniversal travel.

Aurora found herself in the company of two vessels. The Huáscar was a little larger than her, like all of the Aurora's Enterprise- and Excalibur-class siblings. A patrol of Mongoose starfighters from the vessel continued a circuit around them. Between and behind the two was their smaller cousin, the Shenzhou. The Discovery-class ships were designed to be the smaller counterparts of the Aurora, with similar hull lines scaled down to their smaller size, and only two warp nacelles instead of the four sported by Aurora and Huáscar.

The moment they took formation, Secretary Onaran signaled, requesting a meeting on the Huáscar with Julia, Meridina, and Jarod in attendance from the Aurora. This is why, barely twenty minutes after their ship's arrival, the three found themselves materializing in a burst of light in a transporter room of the Huáscar. A Dilgar crewmember was operating the transporter station and their escort was awaiting them.

Will Atreiad was there to greet them. He came to attention. "Captain Andreys, Commanders. Welcome aboard the ASV Huáscar. Captain Zhen'var is waiting in the No.2 Conference Suite."

"It's good to see you, Commander," Julia said, taking the lead in stepping off of the transporter pad. "I've heard the maiden cruise hasn't gone as planned."

"We had to respond to the situation at Mars," Will responded. "We called about six alerts in four days, all of them multi-hour."

Julia winced at that. "And with a crew still getting settled."

The description won a sympathetic look from Meridina as well. "A difficult challenge, certainly." She considered the scope of what Will was saying. Putting an entire crew on alert for long term periods always strained the crew's energies and often their morale. Having to repeatedly go on such alerts? That could sometimes be worse than simply remaining on alert. "Quite a trial for your new crew. But I sense you have come out of it well enough?"

"No choice in the situation," Will answered as they walked and then took the lift. "Yes, it was a good bonding experience," he chuckled. "I'm getting to know the secondary command bridge intimately."

"You personally man the secondary bridge during combat alerts?" asked Jarod.

"Yes. Zhen'var expects a seamless operational transition. If the Heermann is aboard and I'm on the bridge when the alert is called she occasionally has Commander Imra take the position instead, though." They arrived at the conference suite and the doors breezed open. Captain Zhen'var, Commander Imra and Surgeon-Commander Nah'dur were waiting.

"Captain Andreys, welcome," Zhen'var offered. "We have some light refreshment for the briefing," she added, gesturing to satay and some garlic bread on the table with water, coffee and tea. "Thank you for bringing them down, Will."

The three took from the offered refreshments. By the time they were finished, Secretary Onaran arrived. "I was seeing to my staff's transfer to the Aurora," he said. "My apologies for the delay. We have much to discuss."

"Our people already have quarters ready," Julia assured him. "Lieutenant Tra'dur is seeing to the arrangements."

"So she is." Onaran nodded next to Zhen'var. "Captain, my thanks and the thanks of President Morgan to you for your handling of the Mars situation. It was a difficult situation and you did well in resolving it despite those difficulties."

"The situation was resolved by little more than patience, as well as some excellent effort by Commander Imra at diplomacy," Zhen'var nodded to the woman at her side, as inscrutable as ever.

"The Captain is being excessively kind. I merely offered security to Psi Corps until the repatriation could be arranged. Once the children from the facility were safely aboard the Huáscar the rest was a matter of patience only, and with the telepaths removed from Mars, the situation there immediately calmed."

"Patience and security often go hand in hand with diplomacy," Onaran observed. "And that you left Martian space when ordered has not gone unnoticed. We believe certain factions of the Martian government, whatever their criticisms involving the telepath situation, were impressed by your respect for their space and are willing to re-open talks for closer ties to the Allied Systems. Although that is a matter for another time."

Julia listened without saying anything. Given the reports she'd read, the Huáscar crew had done as well as anyone could given the explosive situation. Although the fate of the recovered children puzzled her. She couldn't imagine that the Free Colony wouldn't have taken them in. Returning them to Psi Corps, given its reputation, puzzled her.

"To elaborate on my presence, as you might have guessed, Captain Zhen'var, the Earth Alliance is accusing us of responsibility in the Mars attack, although they have stopped short of declaring complicity. While President Luchenko herself has refrained from comment, ISN's news reports have been quite unkind and there have been violent acts against our citizens in Earthspace. We are now commencing direct negotiations with the Earth Alliance on Babylon-5 to deal with this situation before it worsens. Before I go to meet with my opposite from EarthGov, I wish to ask questions about the report you filed. To begin with, may I ask to have Commander Saumarez attend?"

"Secretary, Commander Saumarez has the watch," Zhen'var answered. "Is it a requirement that she be here? I was intending to have Commander Atreiad deliver the brief."

"I intend no disrespect for Commander Atreiad. I have read her report on the Mars situation, particularly the ramifications of the Martian government's actions, and I would very much like to discuss this matter with her attending. I may have made a presumption that she would be attending, and I apologize for not making my needs clear upon arrival."

The officers from the Huáscar exchanged a glance. Zhen'var tapped her omnitool. "Commander Poniatowska, please report to the bridge and assume the watch from Commander Saumarez."

"Understood, Captain," the Polish woman answered.

Julia and Meridina exchanged looks. What can Saumarez provide in the briefs that… She stopped herself before finishing, remembering that Elia Saumarez was a telepath herself. Suddenly Onaran's interest became obvious.

"Commander Saumarez, Commander Poniatowska will be relieving you momentarily, please report to Conference Suite 2 as soon as she does," Zhen'var continued on a second line. The faint French accent of British upper crust speech that answered sounded to a certain extent like a female version of Jean-Luc Picard's. "Of course, Captain."

"It will be a few minutes, of course, Secretary. Please forgive me. Is there anything you would like to get started on first?" Zhen'var asked.

"You may as well have Commander Atreiad begin the brief, Captain," said Onaran. "Questions can come afterward."

Will got up and activated the holoprojector. Or tried to. It flashed briefly and then turned off. He frowned, and rebooted it, and then the image came up on the screen. "Starting with the important information we've learned…" The briefing passed quickly. "In summary, we think the relationship between Mars and Psi-Corps is permanently lost and the development that Psi-Corps has a sizable force of warships, in the context of an aggressive terrorist campaign against them, suggests the Earth Alliance is critically destabilized. Furthermore, we have strong circumstantial evidence that elements of the Earth Alliance government may be preparing to purge Psi-Corps."

Julia, Meridina, and Jarod took in the news with some surprise. They'd learned about the Mars situation from the reports, and the Aurora had itself encountered a Psi Corps-crewed warship 11 months prior at F41-001-V, but the idea that EarthGov itself might be preparing to turn on the Corps?

Will sat back down, and Elia breezed in, coming to attention. "Secretary, Captains. Commander Elia Saumarez, reporting as ordered."

"Commander, thank you for coming. We have much to discuss." Onaran smiled and nodded at her before returning his attention to Will. "Commander, thank you for the brief. It is quite enlightening. And it concurs with certain other pieces of information that we have been discovering for some time. Now, I suspect Captain Andreys and her officers may have a question?"

Onaran had read them well. Julia nodded. "This idea of a purge of Psi Corps, what are we talking about? Arrests? Dissolving the Corps? Revoking the anti-telepath laws? I mean, that's what we'd like to happen, I'd think. If telepaths in the Earth Alliance get their civil rights restored, Psi Corps wouldn't have a purpose anymore, and any crimes they've committed can be brought to trial. And it would certainly take the wind out of Lyta Alexander's sails."

Immediately she had the idea that she might have said something wrong. Nobody on the Huáscar crew said anything, but it was in their looks, making Julia feel like she was back in High School and had just said something really dumb as the answer to a question.

"That is a good question, Captain," Onaran said. "As for your point about telepath rights, it is true that this problem would be settled quite handily if the Earth Alliance repealed the Crawford-Tokash Acts. But recent events and new information indicate that the situation with the Psi Corps may be a more… complex matter than previously assumed." Onaran turned his attention to Elia. "Which is why I have asked for you, Commander Saumarez. Now, I have read your report on the Mars situation and Commander Atreiad's brief was an excellent summary. To clarify, however… if EarthGov is truly turning against Psi Corps, what do you imagine the result will be?"

Elia was rigidly silent, poised like a Greek statue and with her skin having turned a chill white where it was visible from her neck to her face. "Sir." She said after a moment. "Of course, the reality is that if the Psi-Corps is disbanded, there will be no organisation to protect telepaths from the popular fury of the mundanes. While gentlemen like Francis O'Leary belong broadly to an idealist faction of the government that is ironically centred around the Intelligence agencies, the rest of the government is dominated in a close relationship with the major Earth corporations. These corporations rely on telepaths as the engine of commerce, since they eliminate risk from all business transactions. The overriding objective of the corporations would be to tightly subordinate telepaths, reduce their wages, and eliminate risk. They will use the popular fury and pogroms to justify a new, harsher regime which completely eliminates Telepath involvement from their own governance. Sir."

"Mister Secretary?" After Onaran nodded to Julia, she looked to Elia and asked, "So you're saying that Psi Corps is necessary for the protection of telepaths?"

"Who else would protect telepaths, Captain?" Elia answered.

"So EarthGov would just standby and let the telepath population get attacked, get murdered, without the Corps around?"

"Did the Tsarist government protect the Jews from the Black Hundreds? Did the Ottoman government protect the Armenians from the Bashi-bazouks, Captain? Democracy is no inoculation, either; elected politicians are most apt to follow the will of their voters when it costs them nothing, better yet, buys them something. If telepaths sell themselves into virtual slavery to the mega-corporations that the Senators really report to for the sake of their personal survival, and the voters are satisfied by the bloody circus of a pogrom, who loses?"

Julia and Jarod forced themselves not to look toward Meridina. Meridina quietly messaged them mentally. She is not deceiving, nor does she consider herself exaggerating. These are honest answers.

Julia's return thought was rather vehement. Yet she makes them sound like, well, a group that wouldn't have been hunting you and Robert down to make you into laboratory experiments! A moment after that thought zipped through her head, Julia realized that Elia had to have heard it too.

I recall Agent Bester's threat quite vividly myself, and I admit to my own trepidations about the organization he represented, Meridina replied mentally. And if I may… an organization in such straits may very well make very cruel decisions if they believe survival is at stake.

Or they can use that belief to justify whatever they want, Jarod observed. Although I can still see why they'd think that way.

These thoughts only took seconds to go through their minds, far faster than the words would be. But there was no hiding the three were in telepathic conversation. Julia gave a nod to Elia. "Alright. Then may I ask why the Corps seems so hellbent on blocking telepaths from getting to the Alliance? I understand they have to enforce the Earth Alliance laws against telepaths, but there doesn't seem to be any dissent from them on enforcing those laws. The way you're making it sound, especially with these new developments, Psi Corps should be coming to us, asking us to help them get telepaths out of Earthspace before the hammer comes down."

"Telepaths are not born cowards waiting in their ghetto to die and looking for ways to abandon their unborn children to the mob!" Elia snapped back in a burst of heated emotion. She gripped her hands together and flushed. Her eyes flashed to look at Imra for a moment, and then she turned her face downwards. "Forgive me, Secretary. That was inappropriate and unbecoming of an officer. I do not have any perspective on this issue and I request my dismissal from this meeting. Captain Zhen'var knows everything you need for your mission."

The ferocity of Elia's response made Julia lower her eyes. "I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to make it sound that way."

"Your question, Captain, is why Commander Saumarez is here, and why I cannot grant her request just yet." Onaran looked to Elia. "Commander, your report has reached the eyes of many in Portland who have been considering this problem of Human telepaths in E5B1 for two years now. Between that report and those made by Captain Zhen'var, it is clear to us that the situation in Earthspace is becoming critical, and that we may have a humanitarian crisis on our hands. Possibly even a genocide." Onaran's expression was stern at using that word. "We need more options in our dealings with the factions in Earthspace. That is why I am asking you to take up a special assignment."

"You ask me to take an assignment without telling me what it is, Sir. I am needed to complete the operational standup of the Huáscar," Elia answered tightly.

"Before you say no, Commander, please hear me out." Onaran met her eyes with his own. "EarthGov and the Alliance have already shared the names of our negotiators. We know that among them is a Psi Corps representative, sent should the Alliance have telepaths at the meeting." Onaran folded his hands before him, leaving them partly open. "Commander, I'd like you to come with us and meet with this telepath. It is time we open a channel of communication between the Alliance and the Psi Corps."

Zhen'var frowned even as she bleakly wanted to laugh at the absurdity of Elia being ordered to do what she had already done. This is why they are taking away my best officer? This!? To act in an untrained capacity to do something she already has? Our Gods are so unkind. "Why is Commander Saumarez required for this mission? The Union Government can certainly arrange contacts with Psi-Corps upon request. The Mha'dorn is best suited to handle this situation, and there are many who would volunteer." Zhen'var leaned in. "Furthermore, Mister Secretary, I must protest as the Captain of the Huáscar, for Elia is my Operations Officer during working up and this will unduly impact our working up to have her gone for a week or more."

The revelation that the Dilgar could contact Psi Corps clandestinely was as much a surprise to Onaran as it was to Julia and Jarod, although Meridina seemed less surprised. "I was unaware of this," Onaran admitted. "Although this makes Commander Saumarez's participation even more vital. As a member of the Mha'dorn, the Corps representative will be more trustful. The establishment of a direct line of communication between the Corps and the Alliance government could save many lives should the worst come to pass."

Sensing Zhen'var was going to continue her line of argument, Elia raised a gloved hand. "Thank you, Captain. However, if this is the desire of the Alliance Government, I will execute the order. Please assign my replacement aboard the Huáscar as soon as possible to guarantee her working-up is not unduly interrupted." You know I must do this, Captain, she thought to herself.

"I understand I ask much of you, Commander," said Onaran. "You are one of the few who can make this succeed."

Zhen'var looked tiredly around the table, and reached out to take Elia's gloved hand. "We will be sorry to lose you, Commander, but I understand that you must do this."

It was Commander Imra who settled it. "Of course, I can maintain the Heermann at operational readiness and stand in as operations officer. I'll just work two shifts a day until Commander Saumarez returns. It's only fair."

With that, Zhen'var rose. "With your permission, Secretary? I don't want to unduly delay an operation of this importance." Her voice was very carefully modulated.

Onaran nodded in assent, well aware he had tried Zhen'var's patience. He stood. "Then this meeting is concluded. And thank you, Captain, for your cooperation. I understand this is quite disruptive. We will try to get Commander Saumarez back to you as quickly as we can."

"We'll arrange your quarters aboard the Aurora immediately," Julia said. At that, Jarod immediately began to send a message back to the ship with his omnitool.

By the time Elia had fallen in with Julia and her officers, a rigid mask of iron had settled over her face. Jarod, meanwhile, had a thoughtful look on his face, while Meridina gave Elia a worried glance.

The Aurora and Shenzhou departed She'teyal at virtually the same moment. Julia was in her ready office considering the tricky diplomatic situation. On the viewscreen of her desk monitor, Li Ming-Chung, the Captain of the Shenzhou, was seated at her own ready office. They were of similar age, although their backgrounds were quite different, especially given Li's more tragic background. Her unorthodox name was self-picked, combining the personal name her adopted mothers had given her with their family names in intentional defiance of traditional Chinese culture. Her dark hair was cut shorter than usual, barely reaching shoulder length. "We're due for the frontier with Earth ourselves, near the Gamma 12 Colony," noted Li. "The Martian refugees are beginning to return now that the damage to their domes is no longer critical."

"Given Zhen'var's reports, Earthforce may attempt to harass the returning ships," Julia noted.

"And if they do, we'll be ready," Li replied. "The hard part will be if Mars requests assistance with further repairs and we're sent in. Earthforce was very hostile toward the Huáscar when she went in."

"A good thing you can cloak," Julia pointed out.

"Somehow I do not imagine suddenly appearing at the edge of Mars' orbital space will make our presence any more acceptable," Li answered with a smile. "Plus we have received indications that EarthGov has begun deploying a tachyon detection grid around all key systems."

"Well, that's one edge we've lost," Julia sighed. "Anything else?"

"Nothing on the mission. Although I have heard from Madeleine. Do you remember Nasira?"

The image of a defiant Egyptian girl of the Coptic faith came to Julia's mind. "Of course," Julia said. "Nasira Fanous. She's been Maddie's XO since the Challenger launched."

"She's been re-assigned," said Li. "They are giving her command of the Maimonides."

"One of those new science cruisers, right?" Julia shook her head. "She's put in enough command time to justify a command of her own, but I suppose Maran doesn't think he can justify giving her anything else."

"A lot has changed since the war started. Officers with a stronger military bent have been winning promotions, including joining the Promotion Board and Personnel's assignment offices, and Maran has to consider their positions. But it's still a command for Nasira," Li pointed out, smiling. "It's always good to learn when one of our people goes up in the ranks. We're so few in this sea of peoples from the space-faring cultures…"

"I know what you mean." Julia heard a chime at the door. "I've got some work to do on my end, so I'll let you go, Li. Take care."

"The same to you, my friend."

"Come in," Julia said aloud as Li's image disappeared from the monitor. The door opened and Robert entered. "Ready to go?" she asked.

"I am," he said. A little frown formed on his face. "I know you're upset that I can't tell you where, though."

"I understand it's part of the job," Julia replied. She felt a pang of irritation at herself for not hiding the sentiment more carefully. "I just… well, Rob, I'm worried. For this to be top secret…"

"...it could be dangerous, yeah," Robert conceded. "And it probably won't be the last."

"It's not even the first," Julia pointed out. "But I know what you mean. Honestly I suppose I should be used to it. You spent nearly two months on the Normandy…"

"But at least you could talk to me when I was there," Robert pointed out. "And I was with Shepard and a team. Now it's just me and Lucy and, if you don't disapprove, Talara."

"I'll let Locarno know to circulate someone else into the helm watches. Do you want more support?" asked Julia. "Your ship has room for more."

"It won't be necessary with this mission. Really, it's just a quick reconnaissance," Robert assured her. "I may even link up with you at B5 if I get done quickly."

"Hopefully so," she said. Julia got up from her chair and rounded her desk so that she could pull him close for a hug. "Just be careful out there, okay?"

"Yes, mom." Julia responded to that with a playful sarcastic glare. He smiled and replied, "Turnabout's fair play, you know."

"I suppose it is," she said. "Now get thee to thy noble steed, Paladin."

"Right away, my noble lady." Grinning, Robert took her hand and pulled it to his mouth, looking to kiss the knuckles in knightly fashion.

Julia couldn't help but make a face at the sensation of his facial hair bristling against her skin. His lips had barely brushed her finger before she yanked the hand from his grasp. "No kissing of the hand unless you shave," Julia insisted.

"Well, I suppose I do have an incentive to shave after all," Robert jokingly said before turning away. Julia watched him leave the office with a smile, enjoying the teasing, and yet… still utterly worried for his safety.

It was perhaps unfair to her crew for her to feel this way. She was responsible for two thousand lives; worrying that much about one was certainly bias showing. But yet… it wasn't just another person in her life. It was Robert, her Robby, her playmate and companion since she was three years old. What she held for him was… did the word "love" even begin to cover it? He was a part of her life like no one else, not Zack or Angel or even her parents, had ever been. What they had was so precious…

Just a reconnaissance, she reassured herself before she returned to her seat. He's just going for a little reconnaissance mission.

The medbay of the Aurora was not particularly busy. Leo thus considered himself as having time to deal with one of his more annoying patients.

Tom sat in an examination chair, his prosthetic arm detached from the stub that ended just below his shoulder. The arm was on the table beside him. Leo leaned over it, examining the internals and frowning. A heavy sigh came next. "You've barely had this thing a month, Tom, just what were you trying to do with it?"

"I was seeing if I could add a power source for a plasma welder attachment," he said. "That's it."

"Tom, so help me…" Leo sighed. "This part, this is the sensitive part, you know that right?"

"Well, yeah, the schematics…"

"And so you know that if you damage this part, the arm will literally go out of control?" Leo continued. "It'll mess up how the machine interprets the signals your nerves send to it."

"What, like I might try to give someone the finger and instead I give them a thumb's up?"

"Or you try to move your arm one way and it goes the other, leading to you hitting someone on accident," replied Leo. "And really, a plasma welder?"

"Well, it saves me from having to carry one around," Tom replied. "Although I suppose I could go for an autospanner attachment instead, that might be more useful."

"How about you use the tools like you always have and not try to fuss with the delicate machinery in your prosthetic arm?" Leo proposed.

Tom let out a harsh laugh. "I'm a freakin' engineer," he said. "You don't think I can handle it? What, will I void the warranty or something?"

Leo closed his eyes. "Lord Almighty, grant me patience."

"What if I just built my own? This stuff can't be too hard to figure out."

"Be my guest." Leo closed the access on the arm. "Just don't touch this one."

"I will build my own, y'know," Tom insisted.

"And I'll happily put it on you if it works," Leo remarked, his skepticism evident. "But I'm not holding my breath."

"I'm interpreting that as a challenge."

"Of course." Leo fitted the arm back onto its attachment point.

"You're daring me here, Leo."

"Uh huh…"

The Aurora was at the edge of Earth space the next morning and still half a day out from B5. But rather than attend to their usual routines for Alpha Shift, Julia and Meridina left Jarod and Locarno to take their places in those duties, freeing them up to respond to Secretary Onaran's summons.

Conference Room Two was the pick Onaran made for introducing the full negotiation team. It would be a working breakfast, the meal provided by Hargert with a mix off cuisines reflecting all four of the Alliance's species and some of the varied dishes from their nations. Bowls of steaming threek - a soup-like concoction popular for Alakins from their northern continent - and plates of talna steaks and seemai strips from Dorei cuisine joined Gersallian papam and Human cornbread.

Onaran sat at the head of the table. Everyone had a digital reader with them, since they were easier to use if one was trying to eat. He had Julia, Meridina, and Elia to his left. On his right was a Human man of light complexion and a round face: Onaran's lead aide, Ilya Karbarov. Beside him was a Gersallian woman of what, for a Human, would be East Asian facial structure. Her name was Tanapa. Around the room, four more individuals, one a dark-skinned Gersallian in the uniform of the Alliance Army, were gathering food before sitting further down the table.

The last figure to arrive sat across from Elia. He was a man of bronze complexion and Latin features.

Elia knew from the moment the man arrived he was another telepath, and had been intentionally seated across from her to get them to talk to each other, for amusement or intelligence purposes. Uninterested in talking to someone from the Free Colony, she had wandered over to the replicator, ignoring what was already prepared, and instead gotten herself a good hearty Guernsey cream tea. To her body, operating in sync to a different schedule from the First Watch that was set to the legal workday in Portland on Alliance ships, it still felt like afternoon and some comfort food was in order, anyway. She made a show of remaining utterly focused on the ceremonial act of splitting the scone and topping it with jam, followed by a heavy ladle of clotted cream, and also of pouring milk into the tea she'd replicated as dark black as a working navvy's and stirling idly until it was a brownish-blonde. The familiar ritual kept her mind empty and quiet.

Onaran seemed to be distracted for a moment, looking through the contents of a datapad. When he was done he gestured to the newest arrival. "Captain, Commanders, this is Emilio Travada, the head of the Free Colony's Diplomatic Service."

Meridina glanced uneasily toward Julia and Onaran. The seating arrangements are inappropriate, she mentally flashed to Julia.

I didn't make them, was the return thought. I think Onaran is testing both of them. It's the only explanation that makes sense.

"It is good to meet you all," Travada said, his English accented moderately by Portuguese. Glancing to Elia, he said, "Especially you, Commander Saumarez." His greeting was polite, but his eyes fixed momentarily on her gloves; realization dawned on him and he reinforced the defenses around his mind.

"Chief Travada," Elia answered, her eyes never quite leaving the scone. Her Mother and Father had taught her to be polite. Life frequently depended on it.

Only Meridina sensed Travada's response. It was a sentiment of understanding as another exile of conscience; but he maintained a guarded posture. Necessity had forced her out, but she was still loyal to the Corps and he knew it. Aloud he said, "I heard what you did at Tira, Commander. I am sorry it forced you to leave your Mother and Father."

A flash of white-hot anger never left her mental shields. "As a Naval Officer of the Alliance I am sworn to uphold universal principles of sapient rights. As a Huáscareno I do it out of habit." Onaran's speech was frankly a merciful interruption by that point.

"Now that we are all here, it is time that I share facts of the greatest secrecy with all present. To begin with, our negotiating position is a simple one. Earth's laws against telepaths are reprehensible, driven by base fear, and that the best method for them to employ against the terrorists is to remove the basis for the conflict between the Underground and the Corps. The Crawford-Tokash Acts must be repealed and the civil rights of telepaths restored, and we will offer assistance to Earth should it agree to such." Onaran shook his head. "But of greater importance is the discovery made by the Huáscar's officers during the investigation into the attack on Mars." Onaran tapped his digital reader, sharing a file to all of the others in the room. "Further analysis has confirmed their findings. The attack on Mars was made using Darglan technology."

Julia and Meridina were jolted by the news, as were Onaran's other subordinates. Travada's eyes widened and his mouth started to open and then close. Tanapa gasped and muttered, "Swenya's Light, how?"

"We are still investigating how the Underground obtained access to such technology," Onaran stated.

"Has my government been informed?" Travada asked. He was clearly shaken by the news.

"Do they need to be, Chief Travada? Here where it costs us nothing, I will be blunt, Sir, there is only one known source of Darglan technology in the multiverse," Elia replied, her voice again sharply controlled.

"I know what you are getting at, Commander, but we had nothing to do with this," Travada insisted. "We're too busy building our world to indulge in madness like that."

"To answer your question, Minister Travada, we have consulted with Governor Kuhln on the issue, and he has issued the same assurances. Unfortunately, as Commander Saumarez has reminded us just now, the sources for Darglan technology are limited. The Alliance is the only major source. If the investigators from EarthGov have determined this for themselves, and they likely will at some point, Earth's suspicions about the Alliance and Free Colony will seem verified."

"What kind of Darglan technology was used?" Julia asked. "Transporter traces? Weapons? Were there any recovered items?"

"Both," Elia answered. "But primarily weapons on the flyers which were used. They had been modified into fighters, probably at a custom workshop. There were no recovered items because the attack focused on total destruction-there were twenty thousand killed, confirmed. The only ground operation was the one which intentionally scattered the children from the XI research facility into the tunnels so their abilities would cause panic in the Martians. That's a classic tactic of the so-called Telepath Resistance, which after all started using child suicide bombers to hit targets like schools a hundred and fifty years ago, and hasn't stopped since. They were too disciplined to abandon any weaponry."

Twenty thousand… Travada thought out loud in shock through his own defenses before turning his thoughts inward to consider his stance and approach.

Julia felt a wave of revulsion at the idea of using children like that. As she was considering the scope of the attack, Meridina spoke up. "I imagine an investigation has been launched?"

"It has, and it is still ongoing," Onaran answered. "But it is unlikely to be completed soon. There is much to inventory among various weapon manufacturers. We will have to wait and see if EarthGov has come to its conclusion yet, and if they have, how they will react during the negotiations."

"They might break the talks off completely, or make non-negotiable demands," Julia said. "We probably need to consider that this is going to create a permanent rift between the Alliance and EarthGov."

"Conquer them like we did the Reich," Elia answered. "Force universal human rights. As long as we're talking freely, and for interests of how you want to use me in this role Secretary, that is my professional opinion. Ghettos and kleptocracy-so what if they haven't reached the final stage of genocide, the system has been optimized to let them turn the dial up or down. I know this isn't my choice and I will obey orders, but speaking from my perspective on the laws governing the Alliance Stellar Navy and our duty to proactively defend against atrocities, why do we negotiate with people who enable and encourage pogroms and compromise with totalitarians? We are mobilised and they are not."

As much as I have sickened of war, there is justice in her words, Meridina said to Julia. The Earth Alliance has much to answer for.

Onaran, for his part, nodded. "Your point is one I have heard in Portland, Commander, and there is justice in it. But while we are still built up from our defeat of the Reich, we must face the possibility that Earth would not stand alone should we move to impose civil rights for telepaths upon them. There are species in the InterStellar Alliance that would side with Earth over us out of self-interest or remnant hostility from the Tira Crisis, enough that Earth might successfully compel the ISA to intervene on their behalf against us. And given the other threats the Alliance must consider, especially that brought about by Gul Dukat, the Alliance Government is attempting to avoid conflict where it can should our strength be needed elsewhere." Onaran frowned. "And I need not mention Senator Pensley's faction."

"Or Hawthorne's," Julia added. "I can already imagine how he and Davies would react to a war."

"Indeed." Onaran gave Elia a meaningful look. "If we are to reform the Earth Alliance, it may require internal processes instead of external imposition."

"Then all of those internal processes necessarily run through the consensus of Psi-Corps, Secretary, Sirs. Without the org which represents the consensus of ninety-five percent of the oppressed people at the table, you cannot say you have acted in their interest."

Before the flash of skepticism could fully develop in Julia's mind, Meridina nodded. "The Commander raises an eloquent point, Mister Secretary. Whatever concerns we may have of the Psi Corps' actions in some circumstances, they do number the majority of Human farisa in this universe. Imposing any agreement upon them without even the slightest consultation will be, among other concerns, quite counterproductive."

"Of that I am in agreement," Onaran said, while it seemed clear his subordinates were not so certain. Nor was Julia. And that was all he said for the moment on that particular matter, although his surface thoughts made clear that he considered that point to be the reason for Elia's mission. "The Telepaths, all of them, should be involved in discussing their fate."

"I must admit my skepticism of our opening terms, then, Mister Secretary," said Karbarov. "Given what we have read and heard, do you truly believe the Earth Alliance will agree to open emigration of any telepath who does not wish to join the Corps or go on these… 'sleeper' drugs?"

Onaran did not respond immediately, but he did seem to sense - or rather, guess - that Elia had thoughts on the matter. "Commander, I have already discussed the emigration issue with Minister Travada. I am also interested in your thoughts on the matter."

Emillio took the pause between Onaran's question and the Commander's response to speak and try to reassert some authority on what he perceived to be his bailiwick. His tone was clipped but polite, and he betrayed nothing of his surface thoughts "I honestly don't see how we can do anything else but be absolutely firm on that position. The Earth Alliance will never accept telepath civil rights, but emigration is something we can get out of them with sufficient considerations."

Elia's rigid expression admitted no emotion. "What about the unborn telepaths? How do you justify denuding them of a community to welcome and protect them? The rate is one in a thousand of mundane births. That's my opinion. And of course two of three on any ratline will die or be enslaved before reaching Alliance space. That's just a matter of objective fact, not emotional influence."

"Some is better than none, Commander. We can't very well impose our will on fifteen billion people and expect it to last. If we want anything of our culture to survive, withdrawal is the only sensible option. It's better that than for all of us to be ground out as dust beneath an Earthforce boot." Travada replied, also admitting no emotion. But he wasn't as well-trained as Elia was, and whiffs of fear leaked through his defenses. Fear not only of what could happen to him, but of what he might be forced to do. They weren't his kids, the Corps might delude itself into thinking that they were, but he always found that notion ridiculous.

"Be that as it may," Elia answered very quietly, "The Secretary has been given my professional opinion as directed. Sir." She could feel Travada, could have spoken to him, didn't want to. Occupying the tenuous borderland between the mundane-imposed P9 and P10 ratings and trained in military tactics, she could have done a lot more than talk to him, for that matter. Those temptations, she also kept well buried. The gnawing feeling of helplessness, of being unable to have any material impact on the fate of her people-that was very familiar, indeed. She remembered the lyrics to a song, 'hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way', and silently finished eating her scone.

Onaran nodded. Karbarov was skeptical the legal emigration concept would go anywhere and Elia was clearly opposed to it due to the likely fates of any new telepaths born to the Human population. But he couldn't simply abandon it, not without the talks commencing. That invited EarthGov to misjudge the Alliance and sent a bad signal to the telepath population regardless. "I see. Then we should move on to considering the issue of EarthGov's likely demands over their claims on former Darglan space…"

Once everyone was gone, Julia and Meridina remained alone for a moment. "Darglan technology," Julia murmured. "But why would it be in their hands?"

"The agreement with Lyta called for her people to have some means for their own defense," Meridina pointed out. "It is possible those weapons were used. Maybe stripped from attack craft."

"And now Earth has an excuse to demand things from us," Julia noted grimly. "By themselves, well, they can't outbuild us, they're smaller than some of our individual members, and our technology is better. But as the others pointed out, they won't be alone."

"Indeed. Therefore diplomacy will be paramount."

"And there's the Secretary's other mission."

"I sensed your discomfort," Meridina noted.

"They tried to take you and Rob and turn you into guinea pigs," Julia said, almost hissing. "They hunt their own people. She wants me to believe that they're the real victims here?"

"They are," Meridina noted. "It does not excuse their own dark acts, but they too suffer under a government that treats them abominably. Given what they labor under, some will easily fall into darkness."

"It's why I think Zhen'var was wrong," Julia said. "Those children would have had happier lives in the Alliance. They would be free."

"I do not dispute the truth of that statement. They would be free. But when you consider what they suffered, and the bonds that you would be snapping? I fear such a choice would have inflicted great harm to them, regardless of your good intent."

As always, Meridina was good at debating Julia on such things. She could see Meridina's point. The entire situation with telepaths in this universe, Human ones anyway, was infuriating. "Do you think… if we manage to talk Earth into being kinder to them, do you think Psi Corps might become better people? Could they repudiate people like Bester?"

"I suspect they may be too used to their current situation to do so easily," said Meridina. "But I believe, whether or not they were to turn on Bester and those like him, they have hope to become something better for themselves. But neither of us can dictate that. Commander Saumarez is correct about that. The telepaths will decide their fate for themselves. We can only help them win the opportunity to do so and strengthen the Light." Meridina stood. "I shall return to the bridge immediately."

"And I have paperwork to do before I join you," she said, standing as well.

Meridina turned as she approached the door. "Whatever the circumstances, I admit I am looking forward to visiting Babylon-5 again."

Julia nodded and grinned. "So am I."

Julia arrived on the bridge in time for the arrival. Given the nature of the meeting she was wearing the dress uniform, which replaced the black of the normal uniform with white and added golden epaulettes and shoulder-boards to the shoulders. Several commendations were attached as medals to the right breast of her uniform jacket, with the Alliance Senate Order of Merit, the Star of Valor, and the United Federation of Planets' Peace Medal the most prominent of them.

Jarod looked up from the command chair. Tra'dur was at Ops in his place, otherwise the bridge command crew were all at their stations. "I thought you'd be waiting in the Transporter Station?" he asked.

"I'll head down as soon as we're on approach," Julia said. "But I want a look at what Earth has waiting for us."

Caterina looked up from her station. "There's definitely a ship near the station. A big one."

Julia didn't replace Jarod in the command chair, simply standing behind Cat's station and waiting patiently for the moment to arrive. It came within a minute. "Dropping from warp," said Locarno.

The ship decelerated from warp in the space of a second. "Put B5 on screen," Julia ordered.

"Aye Captain," answered Tra'dur.

The bridge holo-viewer came to life. Set against the pale beige of Epsilon 3, the space station Babylon-5 continued to spin in place, much as it had the last time Julia had been to the station. It's been almost two years, she thought to herself.

But now it wasn't alone. Near it's five mile long body was a ship almost twice the length of the Aurora herself. Its design aesthetic was quite different from her ship, long and blocky, visible weapons ports on the bow and sides with a large engine in the rear. Julia had seen the design only a couple of times before.

"They have a Warlock-class dreadnought alongside the station," Cat remarked. "IFF code identifies her as the EAS Titans."

"Titans." Julia recalled the name. "That was the ship that took control of the EAS Huáscar at Rohric. Susan Ivanova's ship."

"They knew we were bringing Onaran," noted Jarod. "So this is a message."

"Either they're trying to intimidate us, sending a dreadnought when we sent a star cruiser…"

"...or we've become famous enough that they decided nothing less than John Sheridan's old XO was suitable," Jarod finished for her.

"It would be nice to know which," Julia said. She turned back to the lift. "I'm on my way to Transporter Station 1. Signal for transport as soon as we're cleared."

"You've got it," said Jarod.