Telepathic combat was something that non-telepaths could sometimes have trouble imagining. Terminology could be similar, thoughts of "flanking defenses" or "direct attacks", but in function, it was entirely different. It was a combat of imagery and concept. An idle thought could be a distraction meant to lure enemy attention, or could provide an attacker a way to slip into the mind if the defender was not careful.

Meridina learned mental defense from her mother. Drentiya of the Lumantala was one of the strongest telepaths on Gersal, and given her daughter's choice of occupation in life, she didn't let Meridina go to the Order without ensuring she could use her own considerable mental talents in defense. The imagery Meridina used now reflected her current life. She imagined her mind surrounded by powerful deflector shields guarding against an enemy assault, supported by her own ideology, one that didn't value meeting force with force, but in turning an attack against an attacker, or at least redirecting it away from her mind. She felt her foe strike at this defense. He was strong, easily as powerful as her mentally, but his attacks were more than she'd ever experienced in her life. Denied the chance at defeating her with his first attack, he attempted a series of direct probes against her defenses. She deflected them away from herself, catching him with at least one that made her opponent's legs give out from under him.

The next series of attacks were more subtle. They were disguised as suggestions and idle thoughts. Curiosity about her attacker and his motives. Meridina recognized what they were and refused to let the thoughts distract her from her protection.

Before her opponent could strike again, Meridina attempted her own mental attack, imagining it as a plasma beam striking out at her attacker. It sloughed along the mental wall of his defenses as if it had been a mild probe. Meridina staggered slightly, but only slightly. She hadn't felt a mental defense that sophisticated since her last training session with her mother. Her attacker was not as powerful as Drentiya, but his defenses were well-crafted. She tried several more attacks, testing them, and found her efforts easily defeated.

A sense of warning filled her and she returned to her defensive focus, and just in time. Her opponent threw forward a series of attacks on her, direct and subtle, trying to seize advantage of her brief switch to offensive maneuvers. Meridina's forewarning allowed her to deflect these attacks as she had before. She sensed the growing frustration in her foe; he had not expected her to be this powerful, and through the Flow of Life, she felt his fear of what might happen if he failed. That fear drove his attack on relentlessly, heedless of his own health, desperate to overwhelm her. Yet he could not. Nor could she get through his defenses, leaving them trapped in a defensive combat.

Until the game changed. Two other minds appeared in the space between Meridina and her unnamed foe, or maybe it was one. It took a moment for Meridina to recognize the structure not of two separate minds, but of a telepathic gestalt. That combined-consciousness attacked, blind-siding Meridina's attacker with a probe designed not to directly penetrate his defenses, but to wear down the very source of his fear. They attacked him with the knowledge that whatever thing drove him to attack, whatever it was he was afraid of, they would fix it. They would make it better. They clamped down on his defenses with that assurance like the teeth of a vice and slowly started ratcheting it tighter and tighter. He tried to strike out, to attack them in return with abstract concepts. In desperation he tried to confuse Astrid and Elia's gestalted minds with the idea of the color blue being missing; but it was a simple thing for them to shrug off, constructing a barrier between themselves and the attack-probe out of their surety in an ordered universe.

It didn't take long for his defenses to crack after that, and for Astrid's mind to break off, sifting through his memories while Elia stopped. Her mind shifted back inside her own brain and mostly-receded from Meridina's awareness behind her own habitual blocks.

With the mental siege lifted Meridina was able to turn. Her attacker was nearby, on his knees, a young man of brown coloration a shade darker than that of Cat or Angel's, wearing dark, plain clothing. His hands were covered by gloves. Blood was pouring from his nose and eyes from burst capillaries. Meridina felt a wetness on her face and realized she too was bleeding from the nose. She used the cuff of her uniform to dab it away, relying on the dark material to obscure the bloodstain from casual observation. She watched Astrid approach the man, still intent on him. He seemed young, younger even than Caterina. When she sensed Elia standing beside her she said, "It seems we did not go unnoticed as was hoped."

"We did. They were here to keep track of Astrid and maybe try to snatch Travada if the opportunity presented itself.. This one spotted you, he didn't spot me." Elia replied. "The two who tried to take Astrid were loyal to the Director. There's always someone willing to sell out." She spat those last two words. "This one… might not be."

Meridina nodded. Before she said a word, there was the sound of a thud behind them. All three turned to see Jarod now present, dropping a second unconscious figure to the floor. One was a woman of mixed East Asian and African ancestry, the other was a male with tanned light skin and dark hair. Jarod, dressed in civilian clothes - a black leather jacket over a gray shirt and black trousers - took the PPG from his hand and wiped it before returning it, still held by the hand with the cloth, to the holster on the man's hip. "Your friends had a backup team," he said.

Astrid was still scanning the fallen telepath, but Elia replied "How did you know?"

Jarod grinned slightly. "I may have Pretended to be the Psi Corps Director," he admitted. "Not the most perfect I've ever done, but enough to tell me that if I'm the last Clarkist in EarthDome and my power relies on keeping the Psi Corps firmly in line, I'd better make sure that a telepath experienced in commercial espionage isn't branching out."

"Good job." Elia offered him a very real but small smile. It did reach her eyes.

Meridina nodded in agreement. "Your particular gifts have served us well here, Jarod. I am surprised that Naval Intelligence has not, how is it put? Poached you?"

"That is the term, yes." Elia clarified "And yeah, I'm surprised at that too, honestly."

"Consider who runs Naval Intelligence," Jarod reminded them, his tone a little darker. "Or rather, who really runs it."

"The esteemed Admiral Davies," Meridina noted. Technically Naval Intelligence was supposed to be under Vice Admiral Carsters, but Carsters was from the same service as Davies, and had served with him in the pre-Interuniversal era.

"Although this is a bit much for a surveillance team," Jarod said. "Like I said, my Pretend wasn't the best. There's not a lot of material on Director York on the public nets."

"No, there isn't. Former Earth Force, that's about it." Elia confirmed. "Lots of classified missions and the data on his life got put through the laundry a few times. They were also here to snatch Travada if they could."

Jarod nodded. "Like I said, it wasn't perfect. If I'd known it was a potential snatch team, I would have invited Angel." He rubbed at the knuckles on his left hand, two of which were showing signs of bruising. "You know how she loves to punch things."

Meridina replied with a grin, knowing that Angel would indeed have enjoyed the opportunity to exercise her talents for personal combat.

"Close enough for corporate work." Astrid replied to him, standing up. "This poor bastard…" she looked down at the unconscious form before her. "Mahmoud here has a twin sister, also in the Corps. The other two leveraged her safety for the help of a P10 for heavy backup. He doesn't have much information on the organizational structure but the other two will once I get them scanned."

"They are still in the maze?"

"Yes, hidden deep in a hedge and very comatose." Elia said "Hence the delay, we felt you under attack and had to do something fast."

"Thank you again for coming to my aid."

Jarod stepped up to the unconscious Mahmoud and frowned. "Given what I've experienced, York won't let this go unpunished. This kid's going to end up in trouble. His sister as well. York will make examples of them."

"No he won't" Astrid replied. "Because this never happened. I'll be giving them all new and entirely uninteresting memories. As well as medication for the headache. Then we'll get him and his sister somewhere safe."

Astrid's plan brought a small frown to Meridina's face. To change another being's memories… it was not unheard of among Gersallian telepaths, but usually only to help deal with trauma, by putting traumatic memories into memory vaults to aid in psychological recovery. To change another being's memories without their consent was entirely against the principles for mindwalkers laid out by the Farisa Genut, and it made her feel tremendously uncomfortable.

"This is a cold war, Commander. If they report back, two innocents die, I can't go home, and those loyal to our people lose a valuable agent. If they don't go back, two innocents die, I can't go home… You get the picture. I could try to live among the Dilgar, but… no offense Elia, I'd rather not have to."

"None taken." Elia said, with a slight chuff of laughter.

Meridina nodded once, a bit stiffly. "I understand the necessity. Another sign of how things must change in this place, if the Light is to be strengthened."

"You'll probably need to explain a few bruises for their friends." Jarod motioned to the two people he'd subdued.

"Eh. This is Babylon-5. I'll direct them to go to a casino and get fresh." Astrid said with a grin "No one will know the difference. The telepaths will remember me shopping in the Zócalo and having a nice walk through a hedge maze, completely innocent and boring. Nothing to see. I'm just a good little lapdog commercial telepath."

"And it will not be difficult for them to justify no attempts made on Minister Travada," said Meridina. "He has been most careful to avoid visiting the station on his own."

"I would be too in his position, and with his particular character failings." Elia said dryly. "But he has been very careful. No opportunity is sufficient justification."

Meridina switched to mental communication for what she had to say next. Have you concluded the business of your meeting? While there are none present at the moment, I suspect we will not go long without witnesses here.

We did. We've exchanged contact information. You go, I'll clean up the mess. I'm an old hand at it by now. Astrid replied mentally.

Understood. Meridina glanced to Jarod. "I think it is time we returned to the Aurora, Commander. I do not wish to explain to Station Security these events."

"I wouldn't either."

Elia, I just want to let you know something before you go. The results of this negotiation are not likely to be good. Earth's childlike intransigence has seen to that. But we'll mitigate whatever damage there is and get through it. Keep doing what you're doing and know that we love and remember you. When it's possible and if you want to come back, you're welcome home. Never forget that. Astrid told Elia very privately, looking directly into her eyes to deliver it. The Corps is Mother, the Corps is Father.

Elia nodded in appreciation.The Corps is Mother, the Corps is Father, she replied.

At the window table in Earhart's, Julia listened to Ivanova. "Earth's never been happy with the way your people swooped in and claimed all of the old Darglan systems, including their old colonies. That's always been their major problem. Multiple factions all feel that Earth's been cheated, that you're boxing us in."

"And the telepath issue?"

"That's not so clear-cut," Ivanova said. "The Corps has supporters in the Senate and in business who don't want it undermined. Director York even managed to leverage that into not losing his position after Clark's regime was overthrown. But there are a lot of people taking a long hard look at Psi Corps now. A lot of people who had loved ones imprisoned by Nightwatch and repeatedly scanned by the Corps. We may be closer to seeing Earth finally reform or dissolve the Psi Corps. Preferably before they cause any more trouble."

"So you're saying Earth might relent on the telepath issue?" Julia asked. "If we give them access to former Darglan space."

"To a degree," said Ivanova. "Lyta's campaign is scaring people. The anti-telepath bigots, the Corps supporters, even the reformers. And nobody believes the Free Colony's pleas of innocence."

"How can we convince them? Your side seems pretty locked into the idea that we have to dissolve their colony."

"Luchenko is a pragmatic woman. She'll take a deal if she can show success on the expansion issue, whatever Thomas or Taggart say about emboldening telepaths to run."

Julia nodded. A thought came to her. "What if it was a Neutrality Commission of some kind? Empowered to observe the Free Colony and ensure they're not backing Lyta's forces."

Ivanova considered the idea for a moment before nodding. "That's a good idea. We'll have to pick the head of the Commission."

"So long as its charter doesn't undermine the Colony's autonomy," Julia said. "And if Earth heads the Commission, the Alliance gets a veto on who gets the top spot."

"Fair enough."

"And the Commission comes up for review yearly," Julia continued. "And once Lyta's campaign is over, it will be dissolved." When Ivanova nodded again, Julia continued. "Then that leaves emigration."

"The really tricky part," Ivanova said. "The problem is, EarthGov can't allow public, legal emigration. It'll anger too many interests."

"But without some kind of deal, I don't think we can go for it," Julia said. "Emigration has to be permitted in some way."

"I know, and that's the rub. The more telepaths flee, the fewer telepaths there are for companies to hire. And those companies control some of the Senate votes through the Senators they support."

Julia frowned at that. "Basically, they'll bribe Senators to reject any legalization of telepath emigration."

"Yes." Ivanova took a small drink of her dwindled glass, leaving only a small amount left. "I talked this over with Lantze earlier. While official emigration is out of the question, EarthGov's willing to allow unofficial emigration."

Julia considered that wording. "Unofficial? As in, what? You look the other way?"

"To a degree. Here's my idea." Ivanova put her hands together on the table. "Psi Corps doesn't have the ships to monitor all of the traffic in the Earth Alliance. So they rely on Earthforce and other agencies with ships to assist them. EarthGov can yank that assistance. Not entirely, of course, but orders can be sent forbidding any searches of Alliance-flagged freighters and ships along one of our trading routes to your space. Your people could smuggle out any telepath they wanted through that route and it doesn't matter how much Psi Corps screams, they won't get any help from EarthGov in stopping your ships." There was an earnestness in Ivanova's voice as she said, "Your people could get hundreds, thousands, of telepaths to freedom."

Julia considered the idea. Such a route would become the easiest one in the entire Railroad. It would be as if one of the actual railroad lines between the antebellum North and South was intentionally left unchecked for runaway slaves. An entire trade route along which Earth would leave alone Alliance vessels, eliminating all risk for anyone wanting to smuggle telepaths to the Alliance and freedom.

Eliminating all risk… A terrible thought came to Julia, a very terrible one indeed. "Or it could be used by slavers," Julia pointed out in a quiet voice. "I've read the reports. They're getting bolder. It wouldn't take much for them to fake Alliance registries, maybe even use legitimate registries. They could use the railroad to slip out abductees right along our refugees."

"Psi Corps makes those reports," Ivanova countered. "I don't trust them. It's just the kind of trick they'd pull to scare telepaths into staying in the Corps, into being enslaved to them instead."

"It's not all the Corps," Julia said. "Our people found the evidence on Mars."

"Evidence found by the crew of a Corps sympathizer," Ivanova said hotly.

Julia well remembered the looks she'd gotten on the Huascar at her own statements against the Corps. She knew that Captain Varma - Zhen'var, she corrected herself immediately - was indeed pro-Corps. But she was also the woman who risked her life to stop the genocide at Tira. She was a fellow Captain of the Alliance and she'd yet to give Julia any sign that she didn't deserve the trust that distinction demanded of a fellow Captain. Admiral Maran gave her the Huascar. Just as he gave us the Aurora, gave me the Aurora. Whatever I think of her views, of her attitude… With this in mind, Julia felt a frown come to her lips, and when she spoke, it was with an icy tone. "Captain Zhen'var may sympathize with Psi Corps, and I understand how you resent that, but she is also a Captain of the Alliance. She stood with me and my crew at Tira to resist genocide. She fought at our side over Germania. Unless you can prove she's lying, and I mean really prove it, I don't want to hear another word against her."

For a moment Julia wondered how Ivanova would react. She thought she saw a flare of anger in Ivanova's eyes. A little movement of her lips, as if Ivanova was preparing to fire a retort. The Titans' Captain's fist visibly clenched on the table. After several seconds, it relaxed. "I understand," Ivanova said finally. "My apologies. I was out of line."

Julia considered those words and decided to accept them with a nod. "Apology accepted, Captain."

"Alright." Ivanova took her last drink from her glass. "Back to business. I understand your concerns. But this is the best we can do. Earth will not go for a legitimate channel. We simply won't."

"What about special visas, on starliner flights straight to non-Earth territory?" Julia asked. "Maybe even let us issue the visas."

"An Alliance-issue visa isn't going to stop the Corps. And to allow Earth telepaths to get them, well, it would violate the spirit of the law at least."

"But maybe not the wording," said Julia. "So why not that instead? Let them come to us for entry visas. The Alliance consulates and Embassy verify they're telepaths and approve special visas on those grounds. Then we put them on starliners to Alliance space, through, say, Gamma Orionis and Reynar. Earth refuses to help Psi Corps board them."

"I can ask," Ivanova said. "I'm not sure they'll go for it."

"Sell it, however you can."

"And if I can't?"

Julia considered that question for several moments. "Well, in the end, I suppose it's not my call. We'll just have to see." The tone of her voice made it clear she still had doubts.

At that moment a waiter came up, bearing their dinners and a pair of new Jovian sunspots to consume. The two women turned their attention from the weighty matters they'd been discussing to their meals and the quality thereof.

Julia had little time to digest her meal when she returned to the Aurora. Secretary Onaran wished her presence immediately in Conference Room 2. When she arrived, she found Jarod, Meridina, Elia, and Travada present as well. "Captain, thank you for coming," said Onaran. "I am afraid we have much to discuss."

"It's alright," she said. "Captain Ivanova and I had something of a business dinner. I've got something to discuss too." She took her seat.

"..." Elia's silence was pointed. Her gloves creaked, they were soft supple leather they were not supposed to creak, but they did. Travada looked over at her and looked like he might be getting ready to duck for cover, but he held his peace and his position. When Elia did speak, it was flat and expressionless.

"In the name of full disclosure, Meridina, Astrid, and myself were attacked by a trio of telepaths. Two loyal to the Directors office, one coerced into collaboration." Her use of the term collaboration was deliberate. "We dealt with them, and their memories have been modified. The Corps will ensure that the one who was forced is safe and his sister secured from harm."

"My thanks to you for performing your duty in such a trying circumstance," Onaran said to her.

"Commander Jarod assisted by knocking out their backup unit of non-telepaths," Meridina noted.

Onaran looked to Jarod, who nodded. "I started thinking like the Director of Psi Corps," he said. "It made certain things sound likely, so I checked up myself." He looked at Travada. "Among other things, your record made it likely York would send a team to snatch you, if it was feasible. Even if it disrupted our negotiations, well, the man is a Clarkist. I doubt he would lose any sleep for ruining the talks."

"There's a reason I never left the ship except under heavy guard…" Travada noted. "That was always a risk."

"That having been said, our communication channel has been established. The Corps will endeavor to get agents to Babylon-5 for information exchange, and set up secure communications channels." Elia confirmed, her voice still completely free of inflection, staring at Julia across the table without any expression. Waiting.

"Excellent news. Well done, Commander, and thank you for your efforts." Onaran looked next to Julia. "Captain?"

Julia noted Elia's quiet look before turning her head to face Onaran. "Captain Ivanova and I discussed our current diplomatic impasse. We considered a solution that she thinks Luchenko might be able to get through the Senate." At a nod from Onaran she continued. "We would give them some access rights to Darglan space and they'll accept a Neutrality Commission that would monitor the Free Colony."

Travada gave her a look tinged with a hint of suspicion. "What is the extent of this proposed commission?"

"Observation only, and reporting on violations," Julia replied. "Earth would pick the Commission Chair and we would have a veto on it. The Commission would come up for review and renewal annually and will be dissolved when Lyta's campaign has ended."

"That could be years," Travada pointed out.

"True. And I know it might be onerous. But it won't impinge on your rights, Minister Travada. The Commission can observe and report only. Violations will be left up for the Free Colony to handle with input from our governments. Input, not dictation."

Travada took in a breath and thought a moment before nodding to Onaran. "It is the best that can be hoped for, I suppose. The Colony will accept."

Elia waited for the other shoe to drop. There was always a second shoe. The commission she could accept and she expected the Corps could accept it too. The reality was the Colony was a done deal, it would continue to exist and the Psi Corps knew it. All they could do was mitigate the damage and get through it, as Astrid had said.

Onaran calculated the issue for a moment. "I am not certain it will pass Senate scrutiny," he finally said. "Access to Darglan space for Earth, given its recent history, is a delicate matter. The emigration issue is key. If we can demonstrate a humanitarian goal…"

"That was what we debated the most," Julia said. "We each submitted a proposal."

And there it was. The shoe, not merely dropped, but thrown like in a heated Iraqi press conference. Elia moved her hands under the table so no one could see them clench, but no one would miss her entire body tense.

"Go on."

Julia couldn't help but notice Elia's body language. Meridina evinced clear concern for her, as did Jarod. Nevertheless, she answered Onaran. "Mine was that the Alliance will start issuing entry visas directly in Earthspace," Julia said. "Telepaths would be given special visas and sent on Alliance starliners servicing one of the major routes. I suggested the route that goes through Gamma Orionis to Reynar. Earth would leave our liners alone, even if the Corps requested assistance in intercepting and searching them."

"Promising," said Onaran.

"Ivanova's not certain EarthGov will accept it. That they'll judge it too close to official sanction for telepath emigration," Julia explained. "Her suggestion is to turn one of the major trade lanes between Earth and the Alliance into a hands-off zone, much as in my proposal. That along that lane, Earthforce and Earth's other agencies will refuse all requests from Psi Corps to intercept and search Alliance-registered vessels for telepaths. It would turn said lane into the safest line in the Underground Railroad."

Elia had enough. She was done. There were limits to what she could tolerate and she found them. "Permission to speak freely. It may be unpleasant." she requested in clipped tones.

"You may, Commander," said Onaran, while the others looked to her, waiting for her words..

"Like hell it will. That route will be leaked to slavers, what's worse you bloody well know it. It won't be safe, it will be a god damn gauntlet your ships will have to run. The Psi Corps is already stretched thin trying to deal with slavers, and now all they have to do is get their grubby mits on Alliance-registered ships, and you can bet that isn't all. Earthforce will use this as an excuse to not answer the Corps' call on other vessels as well. If the Alliance accepts these terms, you, personally, will be consigning telepaths to slavery and death. The Earth Alliance knows this, they're counting on the fact that the Psi Corps will not accept that. They'll use Lyta's attacks as leverage against the Corps and eventually use it's 'inability to deal with a security threat' to dissolve the Corps. You've been briefed on what that would entail." Through the entire tirade, she never raised her voice, it simply came through her lips as hard as steel, sharp in rebuke like a razor blade.

No one present had yet seen Elia express that much heat and anger. Julia listened to the tirade, directed at her more than Onaran, and kept a neutral look on her face. Inwardly she felt a seething irritation, a natural one for being the target of Elia's anger, especially when Elia was stating nothing that Julia herself hadn't pointed out to Ivanova.

But before she could even conceive of an angry retort, she felt Meridina's voice in her mind. It feels unfair, but she is terrified for family. Just as you are.

Julia briefly wetted her lips in thought, recognizing what Meridina was saying. She was afraid for Robert, true. But this wasn't about him. She should be more considerate. She should be more understanding.

Not about him? They almost took him! raged a part of her mind. Bester almost stole him away!

Julia pushed the thought away. She had other matters to dwell on, even if it still popped up in her mind, still haunted her with the possibility of what might have been, if Bester had successfully taken Robert away… She felt that struggle within her and finally let out a breath. "I said the same thing to Captain Ivanova, Commander," she finally said.

"I know, and yet it is something you're willing to accept and bring before the Alliance government for consideration, all because you can't get over what one person tried to do. For that you would condemn millions." Came Elia's retort in that same tempered rage. "The Psi Corps is two things. The government agency under the dictatorial control of York; and a people with their own customs, language, art, literature, and cultural beliefs. A nation. My family. Unilaterally dissolving the one inflicts diaspora on the other. If you want to free telepaths, you should be helping the Psi Corps do so on its own terms. Instead you're discounting my views on the subject because of the gloves on my hands. Just like EarthGov does when they bring telepaths to a negotiation and don't let them speak. Imposing your will like a colonizing power."

Julia let Elia make her point. She thought about how the last few days had gone and reviewed her conduct. "Alright, I'll admit. I didn't come to you," Julia said. "I thought you were intentionally staying away from me and my officers, so I did the same. I didn't want to impose."

"I'll admit, I'm not the most warm and open person in the multiverse, but that's no excuse. You were looking at my gloves and ignoring me when I was in the room." was Elia's retort.

And it wasn't. "You're right." Julia nodded once at her, conceding the point. "After the meeting on the Huascar, well, if we're being candid, I didn't think you were entirely objective on the matter. The Corps is your family, and you love them, and you want them to be in the right even if they might not be. You're telling us how the Corps as an organization can be different from the Corps as a culture, a society. Fine. You should be at the table. I think it's wrong that you're not, that Ms. Bergsen is only there to keep Meridina and Travada out of their brains. But that doesn't mean the Corps gets a free pass on the people who've been harmed."

Elia forced herself to remember that Julia was only human, and not entirely objective either. She was also a mundane and had absolutely no idea what she was stepping into. "Of course I'm not objective, but it's not due to wishful thinking, it's because I've lived this my whole life. You're forming opinions in abject ignorance and then projecting your motives onto me. I'll give you a history lesson if you want. It doesn't need to be now."

"Alright. We can do that. You haven't been to the Lookout, have you?"

"I have not, no."

"Then I'll meet you there," Julia offered. "And we'll finish this discussion."

"Good. Thank you. I do apologize for my outburst as well. I could have been more… polite."

Julia considered waving it off, but dismissed that. It would sound patronizing, she feared. "Thank you. And I apologize as well that I didn't come to you. Whatever I felt about your objectivity, I should have given you a chance to speak to me about things." She looked to Onaran. "My apologies to you as well, Mister Secretary, for hijacking our meeting."

"Apologies accepted," the Secretary said. It was clear he was not entirely pleased, but he was diplomat enough to say nothing further. He glanced to Travada. "Minister, what is your opinion on the rival concepts of Captain Andreys and Captain Ivanova?"

"Speaking personally, Commander Saumarez is correct that Earth will use either proposal as leverage against the Psi Corps. We differ in that my government and myself believe that there isn't a viable future for telepaths in Earth Alliance space, irrespective of what the efforts of the Corps are. It's best to rip the bandaid off. I don't think the Earth Alliance will accept the visa proposal, however."

"Captain Ivanova said the same thing. But as Commander Saumarez said, her proposal is too easy for Earth to abuse."

"It is a solid argument." Onaran rubbed at one of his long, pointed ears, a frustrated tic Julia had noticed only a few times before. "I will inform President Morgan and the Cabinet on the idea. We will see what Minister Lantze and his team say about it in the morning."

"If they will only go for Ivanova's proposal, why don't we just drop it?" Jarod asked. "Just accept only the Neutrality Commission in exchange for, say, observed access to Darglan space?"

"Access will mandate observation anyway as a matter of course. We are not giving up control, simply sharing access," Onaran observed. "And as for that… it is remotely feasible, but unlikely. Earth's reputation in the field of xenoarchaeology is unsavory, and many Senators know that, or will be happily informed by their peers on the matter. And allowing Earth a Neutrality Commission to oversee a free affiliate will not seem a compromise so much as a lesser concession. Without some form of concession from Earth on a matter judged sufficiently important, it is unlikely any agreement will pass the Senate."

"Opening a door for slavers is hardly something I'd want to be responsible for," Julia murmured.

"Indeed not. But neither do we need a war with Earth, particularly with the risk that Earth might successfully bring the InterStellar Alliance against us," noted Onaran. He stood. "That is all for today. I must meet with the Cabinet shortly. I will ensure your efforts, Commander Saumarez, are recognized."

"Thank you, Mr. Secretary." she breathed in deep, and exhaled slowly, shaking her head in dismay. I don't know how the Corps going to clean this up, she thought privately.

Julia took the time to change into civilian clothes, a teal blouse and blue jeans. On her way to the Lookout she occasionally noticed bewildered looks from the crew she passed. It was rare that she went out of her quarters wearing civilian clothes. She'd always felt it looked better on her to be in uniform unless she was exercising. But given her purpose, looking more casual seemed the best.

She arrived in the Lookout via its port door. It was currently 2200 hours ship time, so Gamma Shift was just about to assume their first watch, Alpha Shift was heading to bed, and Beta Shift would be getting off duty for the rest of the day. The Lookout was thus full of Gamma Shift personnel having breakfast and those Beta Shift personnel off-watch grabbing dinner. There were open stools at the bar, however, which is where Elia was seated.

Elia was also in civilian clothes, but there wasn't much difference between a uniform and civilian attire for her. The biggest difference was the lack of rank insignia. She had a cup of strong tea in front of her when Julia approached. "Enjoying yourself?" Julia asked amiably, taking a seat.

"That would depend on your definitions. I find the tea to be calming, at least." Elia replied. "We'll see how effective it is when the negotiations are done."

At that point Albert stepped up. The young German man asked, "What would you like, Captain?"

"Just a drink. Nothing that will keep me awake," Julia replied.

"Of course." Albert went off to get such a drink, something with no caffeine.

"I thought about what you said," Julia remarked. "About just gathering the fleet and overrunning the Earth Alliance. Imposing telepath civil rights on them at the barrel of a gun." She shifted slightly on the stool to better balance herself. "There's a certain appeal to it, I admit. Just deal with the problem directly and forcefully."

"It's going to have to happen one way or another, eventually. Might as well be now when they're in a peace posture and still rebuilding. Weak. Giving them access to Darglan technology and time to rebuild is a mistake."

"I suppose if we hadn't taken so many losses in the final push on Germania…" Julia let out a sigh. "I suppose it's too much to ask for Earth to settle its own problems internally, without causing another conflict. I've seen enough dying since I came out into space." Albert came up and offered her a drink, a glass of flavored water. Julia took a drink of it.

"It's always too much to ask." Elia replied bitterly. "Especially when the victims aren't even allowed to ask. I promised you a history lesson, didn't I?" Elia sipped her tea.

"Yeah."

"Very well, this should prove enlightening for you. While Lee Crawford was the first director of the Psi Corps, he was assassinated by factors unknown early in his term, the underground was blamed but given who he was it may well have been the Corps itself. His long-time aid Kevin Vacit took over the reigns after that. He… might have been one of us. Maybe. We're not sure. If he was he was higher than a P12 and tested negative for telepathy. What we do know is that within the bounds of the Law, he let us self-govern. Develop a culture of our own, select for ourselves who went into what position. He wasn't perfect, not by any stretch; he was hesitant to crush the original rogue underground for a couple decades. We don't know why. Overall though, his tenure as a director was good." Elia took a sip of her tea. She wasn't anywhere near old enough to remember those years, but she'd grown up raised by people who were.

"There was a Psi Cop in those days named Sandoval Bey. He was a Later, came into the Corps when he was sixteen and went native. He out Psi Corps'd the Psi Corps. He taught generations within Metapol to anchor themselves in their communities, to love even the rogues they hunted. Sometimes they died but they didn't break or become brutes. They were able to bring in a lot of blips willingly so they could avoid the camps." Elia could talk about the camps, at length, but that would be a massive tangent she didn't want to indulge in.

"After Vacit disappeared in his nineties, Director Johnson took over and things… changed. Johnson had Dr. Bey killed for treason ten years later, or forced him to suicide to protect those he cared about. We still don't know which." Elia paused to permit Julia to ask any questions she might have.

"I suppose it would depend on what Johnson's goals were," Julia mused idly.

"His goal was the complete subjugation of telepaths. Over the course of several decades, he removed those telepaths who were in their positions because we wanted them there, and put in place his hand-picked creatures."

"Even though they were telepaths themselves."

"Yes. You can always find people like that. People willing to sell out for personal gain, sociopaths. True believers too. The LGBTQ community has long known of those; men and women who hate themselves and work against their own interests due to religious or political conviction. Those people instituted a lot of black projects, as well as a reign of terror. The Psi Corps has been waging a cold war against itself ever since, hidden from most of its own people. The average commercial telepath doesn't know, because if some of what's happened came out in public the outrage would be so great that a revolution would self-trigger before the Corps is ready to win it. What do you think that ship we encountered near Mars was for?"

Julia finished swallowing another gulp as Elia finished speaking. "And which side is Mr. Bester on? He had a ship too, one I'm sure EarthGov doesn't know about."

"Bester is… interesting. I don't know him personally Captain but he's a bit legendary. He's loyal to the Corps, the real one, but…" she trailed off, trying to figure out a way to word things. "His life-experiences have made him brutal. Scuttlebut is, Bey was the closest thing he had to a father and when he died Bester quietly lost it and never really trusted anyone again. Most of the people working toward the liberation of the Psi Corps are more like Astrid. Alfred Bester is a problem they'll deal with once the threat to our existence is done. Right now, well… he's too good at what he does to put out to pasture, and the Corps still holds out hope for him as a person."

"I suppose I can understand that." Julia was being honest when she said it, even with the part of her smoldering over what happened. Jarod's right. I can't let it affect my judgement. "I can understand hoping that wayward family works out for the best." She sipped at the water after speaking.

"Yeah. When the Corps has a choice, Captain, it rejects what people have done, but will never reject them. The Corps will punish, but there is always forgiveness. Always. Even if it has to be post-mortem to protect everyone else."

Julia nodded silently. "Forgiveness is good. It's something I was raised to believe in. It's never easy though. Having seen the anger in her, I don't know if Ivanova will ever forgive the Corps for her mother, or for her friend." More than friend, I think, Julia thought. "Honestly, I'm not sure I've seen that much anger since I had Hawk in the brig."

"Likely not. But her anger is also misplaced. I've known telepaths in Education division responsible for administering the sleepers. I don't know of any who don't find marginally legal ways to beg the people on them to get off. From what they tell me, people stay on sleepers because they're afraid. They're afraid of their lives changing, they're afraid of losing everything, afraid of losing their privilege. I can't speak for what happened to her friend." Elia shrugged.

Julia nodded at that. "I admit that if I were in their place, I might prefer the sleepers too. If just to keep some degree of independence. And I'd jump at the chance to leave the Earth Alliance behind regardless." She looked to Elia. "I mean, I understand you see the Corps as family, but it's still a ghetto for telepaths. It's a cage and a trap. I can't see myself being happy living there. It might just be from how I grew up, the kind of society I was in, but I see those gloves you're wearing, and it looks like a symbol of restraint to me. Imprisonment. I'd want them off as soon as I could get them off."

"The symbols of oppression can be taken from the oppressors and used for something else Captain. They were meant as a symbol of isolation and restraint. A cage, just as you say. Now… " She waggled her fingers. "Solidarity and adulthood. As well as an entirely different kind of restraint. One day, we'll take them off. Metaphorically speaking. The physical gloves will likely stay."

"The day you're free," Julia noted, holding her glass and the remaining contents a couple of centimeters off the bar. Elia did the same. "To freedom then?"

"On our terms." Elia agreed.

Julia nodded in agreement as they clinked glasses.

When the second day of talks began, there was a marked change in the atmosphere. Lantze opened the door by proposing that the Alliance assemble a Neutrality Commission with Earth to enforce the Free Colony's separation from Lyta. He even offered the Alliance a veto on the Earth-appointed Commission Chair. Onaran graciously accepted, without a murmur of dissent from Taggart or Thomas. Deng Jiang seemed fairly pleased and exchanged a friendly look with Ivanova. So she's not alone in this, thought Julia.

Onaran made the next move by proposing more open terms for Earth in terms of Darglan space, including promoting the construction of jump gates that would let Earth expand into nearby neutral space if it so desired. It was not unfettered access, but it would give Earth a part in studying remaining ruins of the Darglan civilization and the possibility of finding Darglan technology in their own right.

"As for other matters…" Lantze was clearly enjoying the sudden breakthrough. "EarthGov is aware that the Alliance is interested in making it easier for Earth citizens to travel to the Alliance. A visa program of some kind?"

Onaran smiled amiably. "Yes," he said. "The Alliance would happily provide visas to Earth citizens through our consulates and aid with the relevant security checks. With the aid of Earth authorities, travel between our worlds can be made vastly easier."

"It is an idea worth considering, I believe," Lantze remarked. "I will gladly ask EarthGov…"

At that moment that Mr. Thomas leaned in and whispered something into Lantze's ear. Lantze's smile froze in place. "Pardon me, gentlemen and ladies," he said. "I must consult with Mr. Thomas."

Julia forced herself not to sigh as she joined the others of Onaran's team in filing out, leaving the Earth team to discuss matters. Moments later, Astrid emerged, having also been asked to leave them, and looking fairly irritated about it. She gave Julia a searching look, then the same to Meridina.

They're not going for it, Julia thought. Dammit…

When Ivanova asked them to return they filed back in. Lantze seemed almost apologetic and Deng Jiang was looking at nothing. Taggart, on the other hand, seemed more pleased. "I am afraid that on the question of visas, we must decline," Lantze said. "EarthGov fears that such an Alliance program might be abused by unregistered telepaths. As I have stated, Earth cannot accept telepath emigration. We are prepared to assist the Alliance in smoothing its recent difficulties with onerous inspections by Earth security agencies. We can instruct our inspectors to show more trust toward Alliance vessels, particularly those on main routes where our port security will already be providing sufficient guarantees against contraband."

Onaran kept what Julia saw as a poker face. She forced herself to do the same. They were going to insist on Ivanova's offer. "We will have to discuss particulars," Onaran remarked. "Clarify terms."

"Of course," Lantze reacted. "We are prepared, Mister Secretary, to do just that."

During a break in the negotiations, Julia decided to check out the Zócalo. She found herself at a place called the Eclipse Cafe, where she ordered a small lunch and a non-alcoholic drink. She was partway through when she noticed the shadow move nearby. Ivanova sat beside her. "I tried," she said. "Thomas and Taggart shot it down."

"Why did they even send Lantze if he has no authority?" Julia asked.

"Appearances' sake. Luchenko gave him his post because he promotes peace and rejected Clark's declaration of martial law. Which was about the only time he's shown the merest hint of a spine."

"I'm not sure we can take this agreement in the end," Julia said. "There's too much potential for it to be used by the wrong people. These slavers are aggressive enough they might even attack our ships in the hopes of catching telepaths."

"It's the best you're going to get," Ivanova said.

Julia went to reply, but she noticed Ivanova was watching a nearby vidscreen. She did too. ISN was on, airing a segment labeled "Telepath Terrorist Crisis". It flipped away from images of a bombing to a scene of crystal structures Julia recognized as Minbar. Since she couldn't easily hear it from where she was, Julia activated her omnitool and used it to load the feed, replicating the larger image on the hardlight viewer her omnitool projected. It showed footage of a press conference with a handful of ISA race representatives led by a Drazi. "...stated support for Earth in the ongoing telepath crisis," stated the ISN reporter.

"The Drazi people have been allied to Earth for many cycles," stated the Drazi representative on the screen. "We will not leave them alone to face a greater power. We believe the United Systems should carefully reconsider its behavior toward Earth in these talks…"

"There we go," Ivanova sighed. "Now they're being opportunists. They fought on our side in the Shadow War, and I'll always give them that. But the Drazi have a way of disappointing you again and again."

"...Alliance should remember that Darglan space is in this galaxy, and the species of this galaxy have the strongest claim…"

Julia switched the feed off, disgusted and resigned. She paid for her meal, unfinished, and left for the lift to return to the others.

Everyone was back at the table. "I have received news from EarthDome," said Lantze. "The Cabinet is ready to accept the general terms we have laid out."

Onaran nodded. Beside him, Travada sat stone-faced. "President Morgan has informed me that our Cabinet has also concurred. We believe these terms have the best chance of passing ratification."

"Then let us begin to discuss the particulars…"

Word reached the Aurora quickly. When Julia and Meridina returned from the talks, they were met in the Transporter Station by Jarod. "We all saw the ISN broadcast," he said.

"About the Drazi?"

"Not just that." Jarod used his omnitool to cue ISN. A Caucasian anchorwoman was seated at the desk. "...sources say that after difficult negotiations, Foreign Minister Frederick Lantze and Allied Systems Foreign Secretary Lentiro Onaran have achieved a breakthrough in the talks on Babylon-5. EarthDome officials refuse to comment on any terms, but one source states the arrangement will see to Earth's security concerns and strengthen trade relations between Earth and the Allied Systems. We have yet to receive any comment from authorities in the Allied Systems…" Jarod shut down the feed. "I knew you'd have to agree as soon as the reports from Tuzanor came."

"It was either that or let the crisis escalate, I suppose," Julia said, frowning.

"There are ways to deal with this," Jarod said. "We could shut down the Railroad until we can better secure it, for one thing."

"I have forwarded what I am permitted to my mother," Meridina said. "They may choose such an avenue. But when it becomes clear Earth is ignoring ships in this new zone, the slavers will take advantage. Shutting down our lines will not stop it. It will simply eliminate an actual route to safety."

Julia felt tears of frustration well in her eyes. "I should have ignored it," she said. "I shouldn't have passed on Ivanova's idea."

"You were performing your duty," Meridina pointed out.

"If you hadn't, they would have found another way to introduce it," Jarod added.

"Maybe. But then it wouldn't have been me." With fists clenched and her mind wondering how many people would be hurt by what just happened, Julia left the Transporter Station in a hurry, determined to not let her crew see her doubt.

Astrid didn't have proper quarters on the EAS Titans. She'd come separately and as a result was staying in some of Babylon-5's guest quarters in Red Sector. The little studio apartment wasn't a squalid hole in the wall like the ones in Brown Sector, but they weren't exactly luxurious either. Single room, no partition except for a bathroom, a kitchen barely worth the word. But the bed was reasonably comfortable and the room was clean, no cockroaches or rodent infestations. Also no bugs, she'd made sure of that. Astrid was lying in bed, curled up with a brand new copy of The Demolished Man, the author of which a certain Psi Cop was named after.

"Fucking hell, Lee Crawford really loved his science fiction, didn't he?" She muttered to herself, thinking about the parallels between the Psi Corps and the Esper Guild, when the door chimed. Instantly, a PPG she kept under her pillow came out, and she was looking at the camera display that showed her who was on the other side. Astrid saw a familiar face. A white guy in his late thirties with brown hair and blue eyes, dressed in a nice button up shirt and sweater vest; the badge and gloves of the Psi Corps openly displayed. Astrid opened the door and yanked him inside.

"Rob, what the hell are you doing here? Were you followed?" Astrid practically hissed. Robert Irvine was only a P7, he was somewhat more vulnerable than she was and didn't normally do fieldcraft. Most of his actual work was a lot more passive.

"Officially, I'm here for a mining contract negotiation and no, I wasn't… do they have people watching you?" Rob asked in his Australian accent.

"They did, but not anymore. What are you unofficially here for?"

"To see how you're doing, and to pass on some news…" he trailed off, and Astrid didn't need to be a telepath to know something was seriously bothering him.

"Well, things are going… about as can be expected. It's going to be a process to get the Alliance on our side, but it's going, their agreement with the Earth Alliance notwithstanding I think we can find a way to mitigate it. We're establishing a line of communication through this station. Clandestine of course."

"Good to hear, but…" Rob trailed off trying to think of how to say what he was going to say, and Astrid immediately got very worried. "You might want to sit down." Astrid felt like her heart was in her throat trying to escape. Whatever it was she could feel Rob's anxiety and knew it was bad. She walked the few steps and sat down on her bed. He sat down next to her and put an arm around her shoulders.

"What is it?" she asked, probing gently at his blocks, but he kept her out.

"There was an attack on Tau Atrea. The PCS Sinbad is on site but they haven't reported back any news yet."

No no no… Astrid sobbed, shaking in place.


Tag

The next morning Julia awoke to a new set of orders. While the two sides were still deliberating specific details, Earthforce and the Stellar Navy had agreed to mutually withdraw the Titans and Aurora from Babylon-5. She was being ordered to bring the Aurora back to She'teyal to return Commander Saumarez to her ship and relieve the Huascar from the She'teyal observation mission. The Aurora would be spending a week overseeing the ongoing archaeological excavations of the dead Darglan homeworld.

Julia immediately relayed the orders to prepare for departure and returned to her morning routine. By the time she got on the bridge, Meridina had already relieved Lieutenant Takawira. "We are still recovering the last of our crew that were on liberty," Meridina explained.

"Let me know when we're done. We're due to depart by 1000 hours," Julia said.

"Of course."

With that she entered her ready office and began looking over the Gamma Shift logs and the morning's fleet dispatches. She noted that the Earth Confederacy heavy cruiser Shiloh, on assignment to overall Alliance command, had been called from its patrol route to attend to a distress call from the Tau Atrea system, on the edge of the Alliance's space and not far from Earthspace either.

The omnitool on her left arm activated, displaying a blue light over the back of her hand. Since she was in her ready office, she reached to a key on her desk. "Andreys here."

"Captain, incoming signal from the Titans," Meridina informed her.

"I'm ready in here for it."

After several moments the screen shifted to show Ivanova. "Good morning, Captain. It is morning for you, right?"

"It is," Julia replied. "I take it you're waiting to depart too?"

"We're getting our last shuttle full of crew back from the station right now," she replied.

"What, no transporters yet?"

"Most Earthforce crew don't quite trust them yet," Ivanova explained. "I can't say I blame them. I don't like the idea of having my atoms scrambled either. Or being shot through a subspace tunnel."

"You get used to it," Julia replied.

Ivanova nodded. She seemed thoughtful for a moment. "I'm sorry things didn't work out as well as they could have. Your proposal would have been the better one. But we couldn't get Earth Central to agree."

"I understand," Julia said.

"This approach will help, though. It'll give telepaths a safe route out of Earth space," Ivanova insisted. "We can deal with the expanded slaver problem. If I catch any of them, I intend to walk them out of the nearest airlock myself."

It was a grisly fate to consider, but given what happened to slaves usually, Julia found that her qualms on such an outcome were very anemic. "So Earth is aware of the problem?"

"More or less." Ivanova frowned. "It's not being spoken outright, but the evidence is there for anyone looking. I'll be sharing it with other captains in Earthforce. Even if Earth Central is overlooking the problem, we won't be."

Julia nodded. "Thank you. And on that note, good hunting."

"Good luck, Captain. It was a pleasure meeting you. Ivanova out."

Once Ivanova's image disappeared from the screen, Julia turned in her chair and looked out at B5. By the standards of space, the little spinning canister with a quarter of a million beings aboard was little more than a needle in an empty field. But there was no denying the place's history. It was an interesting contradiction: the same Earth that was bedeviled by bigotry, that had even fallen into the sway of a fascist dictator, had built a space station dedicated to the idea of peaceful co-existence between different species and cultures. It existed for the same purpose that the Alliance did, had indeed provided the formation of a similar institution.

And yet, these events proved they all had so much further to go.

Her comm went off again. Standing away from her desk, Julia tapped the blue light over the back of her hand. "Andreys here," she said.

"All crewmembers have returned from B5," noted Meridina. "We are prepared to depart."

"Set a course through neutral space for She'teyal, standard warp," Julia replied. "I'll be out shortly."

From where she was standing, Julia watched as the station slid away to the left, briefly letting her see the Titans as she burned for the jump gate before that view also disappeared. There was a sense of acceleration and a flicker of distorted light and energy before the familiar streaks of warp travel appeared in her window. After several moments of considering the view, Julia departed her ready office for the bridge.

A day out from B5, the Aurora was in neutral space near the Minbari frontier, approaching Alliance-held territory. Julia was quietly observing everything from her command chair. Meridina sat beside her, observing the quiet look on Julia's face. "You are still troubled by the outcome of the negotiations?"

"Yes."

"I understand. But that is not all, is it? You are worried about Robert."

"It's something I'll have to get used to," said Julia. "This won't be the first time he…"

"Speak of the devil," Jarod remarked, interrupting her. "Or not, in this case. We have an incoming hail using the identity codes of Robert's new ship."

"Put him on," Julia insisted.

The holo-viewer changed to show Robert in the cockpit of his infiltrator. Lucy and Talara were visible behind him. All three looked fatigued. "Aurora, it's good to see you."

Julia didn't hide her relief. "Not as good as it is for us to see you."

Robert nodded. "We're not far from you. Can you briefly divert to rendezvous? We need assistance. Please have Leo standing by with some of his medical people."

Julia wondered what he meant by that given they didn't seem hurt. "Change course, Mister Locarno," she said. "We'll meet them as soon as possible."

"Yes ma'am," Locarno said.

It was the start of Beta Shift's first watch when the rendezvous was made. Julia journeyed to the bottom of her ship and the secondary shuttle bay built into Deck 34's stern. Meridina met her there as Robert's new infiltrator was entering the atmospheric forcefield. It was a winged ship of Dorei construction, with the cockpit at the front of the main body shaped like bird's head. The hull was colored a dark gray and had no discerning markings.

The ship turned in place and landed, now presenting its rear side to them. Four engine ports lined up at the back of the ship's rear body, with a cargo bay door below the port-side engines. The bay door opened, turning into a ramp.

Inside of the cargo bay - which was more of an armory in this case - were a dozen people wearing basic replicated clothing. Half were children or adolescents. Julia stared in astonishment at them while they did the same, some anxiety and fear clear in their expressions even as Leo and some of his people stepped up.

Captain… they are telepaths. Every single one of them, Meridina said to her mentally.

Robert approached and Julia couldn't stop herself from hugging him. He winced. "Woh, watch the ribs," he pleaded.

As soon as the hug finished Julia asked, "What is this? What happened to a simple recon mission?"

Robert smiled at her. His tone was sheepish as he said, "Well, that's a long story…"