Ship's Log: ASV Maimonides; 22 October 2643. Captain Nasira Fanous reporting. We are still en route to Teyan Station, with no further hostile contacts. Repair work is still underway and we will need a day in dock to restore the warp drive completely.

I must also report our final casualty count: thirty dead, forty-eight wounded. A tenth of my crew suffered the loss of life or an injury. They bear this well, and the living and the slain performed beyond the scope of duty. And I would do the same thing over again if I had to. Our cause was just.

But I still feel the loss. And I am responsible for it. I feel as if a weight is upon my chest, such that my heart might stop.

Madeleine warned me once that command was a burden that could crush. Only some of us have the ability to hold up that burden. I must be one of them. The slain deserve the effort.

The wardroom on Deck 3 smelled of pastries and coffee. It was the "morning" shift by Maimonides' time. Nasira and Philippe were in conference with their command staff. Master Chief Xuan spoke clearly. "The bulkhead systems worked as expected, as did the emergency forcefields. The damage control protocols we've trained in worked as intended."

"The problem is that deuterium fuel line to the main impulsor," said Tagiya. "On another ship, even accounting for hull armoring, that hit shouldn't have knocked the line out."

"What caused the problem?" asked Philippe.

"It was cut," he said. "The way the fuel line was laid out between hull spaces allowed for warped material from the plasma strike to cut through."

"Command will want suggestions on fixing that," said Nasira. "The entire point of our defenses is to let us outrun opponents."

"'It will require the entire line be replanned. And preferably covered with a new protective sheath," Tagiya said. "Days of yard time in of itself, easy. I can get the repair done in hours, at least."

"Oh?" That was from Latamrilam. "Why the difference?"

"Running an intact line is easy. Cutting through deckspace to fit an expanded sheath, and modifying the line collars on the impulsor reactor? That's what takes the extra time," Tagiya explained.

"I suspect our superiors' response to the flaw may end up being 'don't get into firefights'," Oparan said, after which he nibbled on a seemai strip.

"The phaser core is my problem," Rodrigo added. "On another ship, it would have been fine. It was far more fragile than the ones we had on the Challenger."

"We run into the same problem there," said Tasina. "This ship wasn't built for combat. It was designed and planned with spare funds from the war effort, so you can't be surprised some unexpected flaws popped up. They happen in any design."

"That makes identifying them all the more important," remarked Tagiya. "This was the first time a ship of this design faced a combat situation. These are issues that need correcting to improve the survivability of the ship."

"Agreed." Nasira directed her attention to Weyana. The Gersallian doctor was more fatigued than any of them. "Doctor, how has medbay fared?"

"We did as expected," she said. "I can report no problems with the equipment. I would like to have more nurses added to our staff, however. Running all ORs left only two nurses in the wards."

"That will go in the file to Personnel." Nasira turned to Security's attending member, Chief Bayer. "Chief, what about you?"

"Security on this ship was light for a reason," he stated. "We were not expected to carry off major boarding operations such as that. Only enough to protect planet-going expeditions."

"And your recommendations?"

"We should be given a platoon of Marines, including a heavy armor squad," he said succinctly. "And if they will not do that, we should be issued heavy armor for Security department use, and our numbers raised to at least thirty-six."

"I'll bring that up with Personnel and Naval Security in our report," she promised. "Are there any other items?"

"The sensors worked better than expected," Treepk remarked. "I have nothing further to add."

When nobody else spoke up, Nasira sighed quietly and said, "Then that leaves our last item. When and how should we hold the funeral service?"

"I would imagine it would be obvious," said Rodrigo. "At Teyan, when we arrive."

"Maybe, maybe not." Philippe shook his head. "Our guests may wish to attend. But they may not want to disembark at Teyan Station, so we would have to make arrangements for their departure before or after we're at the station.."

"I still have to speak with Dr. Meier about arrangements regarding them," said Nasira. "I will get an answer from him and make a decision." Nasira gave the room a glance before standing to her feet. "That concludes the hotwash. You are all dismissed.".

Once everyone recovered, Colin's guest quarters were more than a little bit cramped. Himself, Max, Albert, Sam, Machteld, Fatima, Astrid, Huang, and Indiri were sitting on every available square centimeter of space.

"So, welcome to the debrief." Colin said. "This is not an exercise in finger-pointing, we don't do that here. Rather it's for constructive criticism. What did we learn, what went wrong, and how do we fix it in the future. That includes things the Psi Corps as a whole can do better, and I mean that up to and including changes in policy and operational doctrine."

"Where do we even start with that?" Sam asked. "I mean, those whole thing was a cock-up, start to finish."

"We should start with route security." Huang suggested. "I don't think it's a good idea for any of our ships to use the beacon network. We're vulnerable in normal space, we shouldn't be transiting it at all. The only problem is, we don't have enough Navigators for every small transport ship."

"And we won't be able to hide the fact that we're sending extrauniversal envoys anymore." Astrid interjected. "A light freighter leaves port and never hits a gate beacon until the destination? Someone's going to figure it out. Someone already has, is my guess. That ship was waiting for us. Someone in EarthGov figured it out and tipped them off."

"I agree with both of you. We're going to need to figure out a solution there. I'll talk to the Coordinators for Transport Division and figure something out. Discovery might just be a risk we have to take, because the way we're doing things now is unacceptable. I can confirm that someone in the government figured it out and passed the information on. I know who they are, they'll be dead within the week."

Max nodded, but wanted to make sure of something. "Making an example of them?"

"It's tempting, but I think after looking through medical records we'll find something plausible. Stroke, aneurysm, suicide. The usual."

"Okay, good." Max replied.

"Es gibt noch eine andere Möglichkeit…" The other three of her compatriots nodded, as did Astrid who had an approving look in her eye.

"I know, we could turn them into an asset and render them non-technically dead. We could do that." Colin never liked it, but that didn't mean personality reconstruction didn't have its place. It was an evil thing, but it wasn't the most evil thing, and the person would be dead. By the time they were done the soul would have passed beyond the portal and a new one would stand in its place. The intermediate step of a major readjustment wasn't something he would permit.

Albert changed the subject from there, sensing Colin's discomfort. "There is something else. I'm not sure we should be using unarmed transports for midshipmen commands. I know the naval tradition is to give midshipmen command of small vessels like a captured brig or trade vessel to give them practice, but in this environment it's putting us and our ships at risk. It's nothing against Machteld," he said it verbally as well as thought it sincerely when she slumped a little bit. "She did the only thing she could have done when interdicted by pirates. Run like hell and call for help. The defensive deployment for anti-boarding was perfect, they just opened combat with cybertroopers armed with dart guns."

"Yeah, I think we should discontinue that practice too. Probably start using corvettes for it so at least they're armed. We can't use the Olympus models because those scream Earth, but we can probably use the Markab destroyers for it." The most useful thing Sheridan had ever done for the Psi Corps was destroying the Markab jump gate. Markab ships proliferated in the galaxy as their territory was looted, and with the destruction of their jump gate, the Corps got to play grand theft warship and orbital infrastructure without anyone observing them. Most of their fleet had been built in retooled Markab shipyards. A random Markab destroyer would be perfectly deniable.

"We need to speed up the deployment of vac-sealed combat armor to Security Division. I know the Marines have priority, but if we're going to keep using civilian ships in any capacity, we need to upgrade our equipment." Everyone else in the room nodded.

"Those are expensive imports." Indiri responded. She'd negotiated that trade deal, in addition to the one with the Ferengi that brought a lot of Federation technology into the Corps. "We're going to need to violate intellectual property rights and start building our own. Kassa Fabrication can sue us later."

"Speaking as the person who's going to end up defending against that lawsuit one day… ugh." Max replied, but he didn't disagree. "Intellectual Property rights can get fucked. This is war."

"Can anyone think of anything else?" Colin asked. There no one could, they'd run out of major ideas. There were little things, but those could be discussed in private. "Okay. We're adjourned. Anyone want some coffee? Maybe tea?"

They had time to answer the request before a chime filled the room, the particular electronic tone of the chime attached to the door.

"Open." Colin told the computer, which chimed an affirmative. "Hello?"

The door slid open with a gentle "swish" and Nasira walked in, wearing a fresh uniform and looking refreshed compared to what she'd been like in medbay the prior day. The others did notice she felt a bit of a crick in her back due to spending her off-watch hours, abbreviated as they were, sleeping on the couch in her ready office. "Everyone, it's good to see you," she said, before focusing on Colin. "Doctor Meier, how are your people doing?"

"Some will need therapy, the sleepers are fairly traumatic to be on, but it wasn't for long so the prognosis is good. Your doctors are very skilled at their craft, so the physical injuries - my own included - are on the mend." He paused. A status report wasn't going to cut it, and it wasn't what she needed either. She and her entire crew had been willing to die for his people. That was practically unheard of and he couldn't just let it sit. "Captain, I really can't thank you enough. Every telepath on that ship… well let's just say that being rescued by non-telepaths is something of a role-reversal. We're not used to it, and we won't forget it." Nasira felt their collective gratitude wash over her like sunlight on a warm day.

It was a particular feeling to have, and Nasira was grateful in turn to feel it. For a moment she forgot the stresses of the past day, the terror of the close fight, and her lingering sadness and guilt over her fallen crew. It reminded her that her choices had been right, and the outcome of those choices worth the costs incurred. "On behalf of my crew, I accept your thanks," she said to them, warmly. "For the duration of your stay, we'll do everything in our power to help you recover from what you've endured. It is about that duration that I'd like to speak with you, Doctor."

"Funeral services?" He asked, catching her intent. "I don't think anyone would decline attending; it's no small thing to be willing to die for another, someone who isn't your own no less. That deserves recognition."

"Your presence will be welcome," she assured them all. "But there's also the matter of how you will be moving on. Teyan Station is an open port. While the Alliance authorities there will not have anything to say about your disembarkation, EarthGov probably has its own sources on the station. If we dock and thirty-two telepaths of Psi Corps disembark, I'm not sure it can go unnoticed. Even if you slip out in non-Corps clothing, any facial recognition scans will still identify you. I want to see what your intentions are before I schedule the service." Her mind made clear her thoughts; if they were to arrange a rendezvous with another ship, the service would be held before arrival at Teyan.

Colin briefly toyed with the idea of just showing up. Broadcasting to the Earth Alliance that the Allied Systems had rescued their own not-citizens from bondage while they sat back and actively helped the Eubian Concord do the abductions. Kicking off the war right then, effectively. But after a moment, he decided against it. "We can make arrangements for a Mothership to take everyone but myself, Max, and Isaac off. The Earth Alliance knows you're bringing us back by way of that station. We should probably stick to that plan."

"Then we'll arrange the service to come in the system where we make the rendezvous. If you coordinate with Latamrilam, we'll find a system sufficient for the purpose."

"That'll work." Colin replied, and chuffed. "Do you have any idea how tempting it is to just show up on Minbar with a declaration of independence right now? 'Mr. President, it is for these crimes that we are declaring independence from the Earth Alliance. In my back pocket is a declaration of war, in my front is our accession into the InterStellar Alliance. Will it be peace, or war?'"

Do not do that! Came the collective shout in his mind.

"Given everything that's happened? I don't blame you for wanting to," Nasira replied honestly, smiling at the thought.

"I could do it you know. I have the documents drafted."

"And yet, I think you will wait until you are ready, or your hand is forced," Nasira remarked. "You don't seem quite so reckless, Doctor. Not as much as a twenty-four year old starship captain that threw her under-armed science ship into a battle with armed slaver transports." She spoke the last line with a hint of self-deprecation, although it was not meant to be any sort of verbal self-flagellation.

"Hey, for a reckless young woman in a science ship, you did really well. You punched well-above your tonnage. Twice."

"We tripped and sucker-punched them the first time, then broke their knee-caps," she remarked. "The second one we had to blind before we could beam you back. It was not a proper 'punch-up' fight."

"That's fair, but it still worked." He shrugged "It's something to take pride in. No one looking at that from the outside would have thought you had a prayer after the second cruiser jumped in."

Nasira laughed. "Oh, I had many prayers. I believe every saint in the Church heard from me yesterday, Theotokos included."

Colin laughed right back, the warm kind of laughter. "Well, they answered! Seriously though, you did the Allied Systems proud."

Machteld decided she needed to say something, it was slow and deliberate, like it was any time she spoke in English. "The strength of any ship isn't strictly in its technical specifications," she paused, searching for the word "specifications, or systems, but its commander and crew. For us, that is true in several different ways, and to have any hope of victory we have to lever that as much as we can. You have a damn fine crew. Lots of leverage."

"They are finer than I could have asked for," Nasira answered. "I look forward to the day when you're out here with your own, Miss Albrecht. Maybe, when you've won your independence, your new Telepath State will want to build its own science ships to explore the Multiverse."

"No question about that." she replied with a smile. "It's too big and beautiful a multiverse to not want to poke around it with a sensor array and too many people with more curiosity than caution."

Science ships are on the future docket, right? She asked Colin.

Of course they are. That the Earth Alliance doesn't have them is a symptom of its internal rot.

"I have to see to other matters now, but I am reliably informed that Mister Umai has ordered his kitchen staff to prepare extra food in the Lab of the 'comfort' variety. Feel free to head by if you're looking for something other than replicator fare. And if you wish to try out one of the holodecks, well, I never use my allotment, so there should be an hour or so available in the next day or so, at least." Nasira gave them a final nod, keeping the smile on her face. "I'll be sure you know when the service is scheduled. Have a pleasant day." With that said, she departed the room.

Astrid raised an eyebrow after Nasira left the room and turned to the others. "They fixed the holodecks so they don't become self-aware and try to kill everyone right?" No answer. "Right!?"

The rendezvous was one day out from Teyan, in an unoccupied star system in open space labeled 29KB on the Alliance charts. The star was an M2-classification red dwarf with nothing but lifeless barren rocks in the system, and not many at that.

The two days spent getting to 29KB saw the wounded of the Maimonides heal further. Their guests, now thirty-three in all, would have no complaints about their interactions with said crew. They were treated as guests just as Colin, Max, and Isaac enjoyed, with each day seeing tour parties from those curious about the Maimonides. Astrid did end up spending some time on the holodeck, strangely enough in an over-the-top spy thriller. Machteld and company took separate but also simultaneous tours of ship systems including engineering for Sam, a stop on the bridge for Machteld, the shuttle bays and deflector control for Fatima, and Albert took the science and medical sections. Huang hung out with the ship's security contingent and they compared notes.

Their final day on the Maimonides would be the somber one. While volunteer crew manned vital stations, and others watched via omnitool or holo-viewer from the mess halls or their quarters, the funeral services began in the largest space the ship had available, the Culinary Lab. The tables, chairs, and food bars were gone, leaving the entire space open for those gathered to lead the ceremonies. Those in direct attendance were in full dress uniform. The Alliance dress uniforms were predominately white, with golden epaulettes affixed to shoulder boards of the same color, and the branch color in trim at the base of the shoulders much as on the normal black uniform. Commendations such as medals were worn on the right breast of the jacket, rank insignia was on the collar as with the standard uniform.

At the front of the lounge, at the windows, Nasira and the command crew were gathered. Nearby was Chief Yaume, a blue-skinned Dorei with teal spots, who carried the hita, the five-tubed flute-like instrument common to many Dorei nations. Beside him Ensign Claude Montefort had a replicated bugle. There would be no live bagpipes, as there were no skilled bagpipers on the Maimonides. Toward the stern wall of the establishment, many of the crew were gathered, waiting for the ceremony to begin.

In addition to them were every single telepath on the ship, thirty two in all. Colin was in his full dress uniform of course. A black turtleneck stretched up from outside a fully closed double-breasted coat with silver buttons and copper trim. His badge was pinned to his left breast and commendations including the New Liberty Volunteer Aid and Rescue Medal pinned to his right, simple aiguillettes of interwoven copper, silver, and pitch black thread were draped over his right shoulder; his rapier was on his belt as well. Machteld, Sam, Albert, and Fatima were in the uniforms of Transport division, which were similar but lacked an evident closure, just a diagonal trim line in silver. None of them were at proper command rank yet and so didn't carry a ceremonial sidearm. Huang and his contingent didn't either, but that was because Security division was nominally civilian and under the auspices of Administration. Their dress uniform consisted of all-black police jackets with a similar trim arrangement. The rest were in formal mufti, none of it in colors other than black, silver, and copper.

As Captain, it fell to Nasira to begin the ceremony, and she did so with a lump in her threat and another holding her heart nearly still. "We are here to honor the passing of thirty of our shipmates," she said to the assembled. "Our comrades, who died for one of the highest ideals our Alliance stands for: the salvation of the innocent from the horrors of slavery. Thanks to their sacrifice, thirty of those innocents were pulled from the jaws of a living death." Nasira swallowed and called upon her memory to remember the list of the fallen. "Let us remember them now."

She named them. Untarm Tasandi. Olga Kalikova. Neolani Kale. Chidike Okonkwo. Michael Danforth. Albert Danton. Jataritaya. The fears she had that she'd forget a name proved unfounded as every one of them came loud and clear. From her place nearby, Master Chief Xuan nodded with quiet approval.

As Nasira spoke, Chief Yaume began playing a memorial hymn of the Astrai with his hita while Philippe quietly keyed the speakers to play "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes.

At the final name Nasira stopped and nodded to her left, after which she took a step to the right. The music quieted. Her action gave room for Isaac to approach. His beard was perfectly trim for a military funeral, and he wore his full ceremonial regalia. A white kippah capped his skull and he wore a full tallit draped over his shoulders, with tzitzit dangling from his waist. He spoke the prayer from memory.

"God, full of mercy, Who dwells in Heaven, give rest on the wings of your Divine Presence, amongst the holy, pure and glorious who shine like the sky, to the souls of crew of the ASV Maimonides, who lost their lives in battle against the slavers of the Eubian Concord. Therefore, the Merciful One will protect their souls forever, and give their souls eternal life. The Everlasting is their heritage, and they shall rest peacefully in their resting place, and let us say: Amen."

The assembled echoed Isaac's "Amen". Afterward Nasira tapped a key on her omnitool, sending the order to the bridge. The torpedo launcher began its quiet work releasing the caskets one by one. They formed a solid line that, moments later, became visible through the transtanium windows. All of those present turned to the windows and stood at strict attention. Many were shedding tears for their lost comrades and friends. At Nasira's motion Ensign Montfort began to play "Taps" with the bugle.

Some of the caskets outside were empty, from those who were vaporized, and from a couple of the remains being returned home as the families requested. But it still felt important for there to be thirty caskets.

It took a couple of minutes for the last casket to become little more than a distant speck against the light of 29KB's star. Once it was no longer visible Nasira spoke up once last time. "And we came from starstuff, one and all. And to starstuff we return, to one day become life anew." The words were from a Darglan funeral oration, discovered when the Aurora briefly hosted a dying Darglan in Universe N2C5, and since had gained some popularity in the Alliance fleet.

After she gave the final line, Nasira nodded to Master Chief Xuan. "Burial company dismissed!" the older woman called out in her accented English.

An hour after the ceremony Nasira, Philippe, Weyana, and Wendy were in the shuttle bay. Shuttles marked with Psi Corps insignia were lined up and waiting for the thirty telepaths being carried over. Colin and the others were present to see them off. A small honor guard of Psi Corps marines in their shiniest of combat armor were standing in formation near the center shuttle. Colin raised an eyebrow. The door to that shuttle opened and revealed a pair of telepaths, one was a Caucasian man in late middle age wearing the formal uniform of Military division, one of his natural arms was missing and replaced with a fully functional but still obviously mechanical prosthetic. He had the look of a man who used to be very strong, and still was, but age had put some padding on. The other was a slight woman of East Asian ancestry with black hair going to gray; she was in formal civilian dress, all black with every inch of skin below her neck covered, like all Psi Corps telepaths.

"Jonas, Pensri, I wasn't expecting you." Pensri gave him the sort of look that was reserved for teachers letting a favored student know he was being dumb.

"Well, we can't exactly let this go unremarked." She said, waving her hand at the thirty telepaths who's stopped embarking and were then standing at attention in perfectly straight lines, six to a shuttle. Three Coordinators was kind of a big deal and they all sensed something was about to happen.

The assembled Maimonides officers could tell something was up. "Sir, ma'am, welcome to the Maimonides," Nasira said to them as greeting.

"We are honored to meet you Captain Fanous. I am Coordinator Jonas Fowler of Military division, this is Coordinator Pensri Anusorn from Education. There are twenty six of us, three for each division. Your Alliance has already met several others… if you would step forward we would like to recognize your ship and crew for the bravery and tenacity you showed in the recent action." Nasira did so, and the others came up beside her. Colin stepped up beside his two counterparts and Pensri spoke again, holding out an ornate box that was passed from inside the shuttle.

"We'd originally conceived this as an individual citation, we never thought we'd have to come up with a unit citation before now. In the history of our people, at no time have those not our own risked so much for us on such a scale." Pensri said. "On behalf of the Psi Corps we present to you and your crew the Order of Vacit, for extraordinary sacrifice to provide aid and comfort to telepaths." She opened the box, in it was a plaque to be hung on the bridge. It was cast in bronze with silver lettering. The name of the citation at the top, in the center were the words ASV Maimonides, and below that were the names of everyone who gave their lives in both the boarding action and space combat. There was also one copy of the actual medallion; suitable to be worn in Earth Alliance space because it didn't have their seal. Instead, it had another symbol; an upside down Omega with an Iota crossed through it to resemble a symbol for Odin's lost eye. This was inscribed on a starburst set within a circle. There was also a data crystal that contained the replicator pattern so each and every member of the crew could have one.

She presented that forward, while the marines snapped a salute with their right index and middle fingers pressed to their temples.

Nasira took the box and bowed her head respectfully. "Thank you, Coordinator. On behalf of my crew, I accept this honor, and I am proud to have aided your people."

"You are most welcome Captain. And thank you for bringing our brothers and sisters back to us." Pensri replied.

"That, and your crew figured out how to interdict Eubian ships. We'll be able to figure out how to replicate it. You've saved a lot more just those on the Zhang Qian." Jonas added with a grin.

Nasira nodded to Philippe, who tapped at his omnitool. The micro-fabricators within created a basic data diskette. "The field we used is here," he said, extending the disk. As it was accepted, he continued, "Unless they find a way to override the safety hardware, this method should work every time, so long as the field's got enough power, and your timing is just right."

"It's a start. One of our ships, the PCS Muninn, managed to capture the other cruiser, so we've got one of their hyperdrives. If nothing else, we'll be able to pursue them once we reverse engineer it."

That's Bester's ship isn't it? Pensri asked.

Yes. It is! There are some people who are really regretting their life-choices right now. Jonas replied, with an enthusiasm that underscored to Colin why they still kept Bester around. Sometimes, you needed someone like Alfred Bester, even if you were never really happy to see him and if you worried he'd put a knife in your back if he thought it would serve his goals.

"That is good news," Philippe said, heedless of the rest of their conversation. "It's possible they didn't have a chance to warn their bosses about how the interdiction worked."

"Hopefully not. But even if they did, that just means an arms race, and we can deal with that far better than a straight-up technological supremacy. Our engineers are very clever." That remark was from Colin.

"I would hope so," said Nasira.

"Hey, so…" Quiet this far, the recovered security chief of the ship gave the collected telepaths a meaningful look. "You guys take care of yourselves out there, okay?"

They didn't reply verbally, they didn't need to, they could reply in unison with a collective concept that meant You too, Lieutenant Manchester, with variations on the phrasing.

She flashed them a friendly grin. There was some pain in it, and the bit of red in her eyes from the service for her slain comrades was plain to see.

"God go with you," Nasira said as a final word.

"And also with you." Jonas replied, himself a lifelong if lukewarm Catholic. "Anytime you need help Captain and we have assets in reach, the Psi Corps will answer." The lack of IU drive limited their reach, but they'd use what they had. With that, Jonas and Pensri withdrew and the marines snapped another salute before following them into the shuttle.

I swear I'm never going to get used to having an honor guard of marines… Pensri's mental voice came floating up to the other telepaths. The marines silently snickered.

Hey, we're heads of state now. It's expected. Jonas replied.

The rest of the telepaths sent their goodbyes across the thoughts and minds of the friends they'd made, as well as their heartfelt thanks. Then they filed into their own shuttles in good order.

Isaac was waiting with Max and had a confused look on his face. Even without telepathy, Colin could tell he was wondering what exactly he just saw; trying to reconcile what he thought was going on and what Colin's position was with what he saw. He knew the Corps was looking for help against the Earth Alliance, that was why he'd agreed to help them on New Liberty; but he thought those efforts would be diplomatic, back-channel politics, or maybe on the outside to win liberation while still remaining part of the Earth Alliance. What Isaac saw just looked a hell of a lot like dignitaries of a sovereign state issuing a military commendation to the soldiers of an allied power.

Colin thought that over for a second. What Isaac thought he knew was enough to hang them all anyway. There was no way around showing him what he saw either. If a group of people want to be treated like a sovereign power the best way to convince others to do that was to act like one. Otherwise they think they're dealing with a bunch of ragtag revolutionaries who don't have a post-revolution plan. Colin thought privately. Or mostly-privately.

Might as well tell him Colin. Otherwise the risk of him slipping something without knowing he's doing so is greater than the risk of him knowingly spilling the beans. Gene said.

"That's what it is, Rabbi. That's exactly what you just saw." Colin explained, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. Isaac's jaw dropped.

"I… thought you were just…I don't know what I thought, exactly."

"What did you expect Isaac? Did you honestly think we could ever just integrate into the Earth Alliance as citizens? Maybe after a short fight that might include some allies from other universes, and that they'd just welcome us all in with open arms and then never try anything after that? When has that ever worked?" Max was right there and he asked the very much rhetorical question.

Isaac thought about it, really thought about it. He knew his own people's history and it was like that to an extent. Various kingdoms would let the Jews in, and sooner or later, sometimes centuries later, someone would get the bright idea to run a pogrom or lock them in ghettos. It might be suppressed by the state, but anti-semitism never went away. Germany had been the best place in the world to be a Jew, until it was the very worst. "It hasn't."

"Right. We have to be sovereign. With our own laws, a military of our own, and more importantly a foreign policy and allies of our own, independent of EarthGov. It's the only way to secure a future in the long term. We've been building a real military since the Minbari War and formed our own government at the end of last year." Max followed up, his voice was gentle. He knew that the Earth Alliance for all its faults was Isaac's home, and that some part of Isaac had hoped that it could be home for his telepath friends. "The only reason we haven't all just left is that half our children are born to mundanes. We can't abandon them…"

"I… I think I understand, yeah." He really did. He was already willing to accept a violent revolution, a ghetto uprising in effect. Forming telepath-Israel wasn't much of a stretch after that. Of course, there was still the strangeness of finding out your friend was a secret president or five star general or somesuch. "So, what does that make you Colin? Because what you were doing up there… that's the sort of thing generals and presidents do."

"There are, in theory, twenty-seven coordinators. Three for each of the nine major divisions of the Corps. There's a seat open in Transport right now, we all know who we want to fill it but she's not available…" The reasons for that made Colin sad, but she had a good reason to be gone and probably would be until it was safe for her to return to Earth space. "We're basically an executive cabinet… and I'm chairman of that cabinet."

"So you're president? How the hell did that happen? Don't get me wrong, congrats and everything but officially as Psi Cops go you're kind of a step above a nobody." Colin chuckled warmly at that, it was true. He wasn't anything very special except for one incident during the Battle of the Line, and even that was just a particularly effective act of teenage defiance.

"Not exactly. It's more of a primus inter pares sort of thing than actually being a president or something. I know it's hair splitting but it's an important hair to split. As for me, well, that requires some historical context, want to hear it?" Colin knew he was going to have to assign a covert bodyguard detail. Isaac couldn't know about it either. He'd act differently and that could tip the EAIB agents who would inevitably surveil him off.

"...Sure." he was curious, if nothing else.

"Okay." He turned to go and Isaac stepped in beside him. "So our second director was Kevin Vacit."

"Oh I remember that, he replaced Crawford, right? After he died in that car-bombing?"

"Yeah." Max confirmed for him, stepping in just behind them. "Crawford was a piece of work. His mansion inside TeepTown was an antebellum revival plantation house and he treated us like favored house-slaves. He even called adult telepaths 'boy'."

"G-d above… really?"

"Oh yeah. And you'd think that his long-term aid wouldn't be much better, but he was. He gave us the space to create our own culture and freedom to select our own leaders."

"But that doesn't make any sense? Why would the agent of the Earth Alliance government do that?" Isaac asked.

"We've been trying to figure that out for the entirety of living memory." Colin said, and nodded to Max. "And I use that term loosely. Most likely, he was secretly one of us somehow, but we're not sure. The important thing though is that he basically guaranteed the formation of a deep state that operated against his successor."

"Okay, that part makes sense I guess, so what, when it came time to finally build the revolutionary government they picked you out of a hat?" Isaac asked.

"Bit more than that, but kinda. The deep state knew that the sorts of people who run a deep state apparatus aren't the kind of people you want leading a proper revolution or building a peace afterward. So they found the sorts of people you do want." Colin said that last bit with no small amount of self-consciousness. "Apparently I'm one of those. Lord knows how that happened."

"So you're not elected then?" Isaac said, giving him just a little bit of side-eye. Colin rubbed the back of his neck in a nervous gesture.

"Well we can't exactly run elections right now, obviously. But constitutionally yes, we will be. Part of the criteria for selection is that we don't actually want power, and no one who gets elected runs, they're drafted by Initiative. We'll turn it over to elections because none of us actually want this much authority." Which was why Bester would never hold office. Isaac nodded, and believed him.

"So what happens after? The revolution I mean."

"That's going to depend on a few factors, but if we win we'll insist on de-Clarkification. After that, it depends on external factors. There's no way we'll avoid needing a mutual defense pact with our population. Needless to say, you don't tell a soul. Not even your wife."

"Obviously! That would be bad. Besides I'm already implicated in sedition. No getting around that. I'd disappear into a hole."

Colin brushed against his mind. Isaac was being truthful.

By the time the explanation was done they were standing in front of Isaac's quarters.

"Looks like this is my stop." Isaac said.

"Yeah. Have a good one Rabbi. Just so you know, I'm happy to be able to call you a friend."

"You too Colin, or should I say Coordinator." Isaac waggled his eyebrows.

"Oh God no! Just Colin to you.". Isaac laughed and opened the door, disappearing into the cabin.

You going to talk to Bester? Max asked, referring to the captured Eubian ship. They were using Nazi technology and they both know what that meant. They might have information.

Oh yeah. We'll see if he does what I tell him.

The next day the Maimonides came out of warp near Teyan Station. It was a structure of green and blues, Dorei in origin, a torus shape with a cylinder in the middle connected to the torus by four thick connectors, square-shaped. The outer edge of the torus was taken up by docks, many of them occupied. A number of vessels from E5B1 were around, as were those from other universes. Nearby a hyperspace jump gate activated, allowing a Brakiri transport to emerge from the resulting blue vortex.

One of the sections of dock were under Stellar Navy lease. The only vessel docked there was an Alakin warbird. Maimonides eased into the next dock over. Umbilical arms extended from the frame and sought out the attachments to the ship's power and life support systems. The self-adjusting ports irised open until they fit their relevant ports. A third arm swung into place and extended, attaching to the starboard airlock, three decks above the Maimonides' deflector dish.

On the bridge Oparan looked up from the operations console. "All umbilicals are green. The airlock is secure."

"All engines are now shut down," Latamrilam added.

From the Engineering station, Tasina said, "Power systems disengaged and on standby, we are now operating on Teyan Station's power."

In the central seat Nasira nodded. She had a contented smile on her face. "Excellent work everyone. Commander, I leave the shore leave scheduling in your hands. Make sure everyone knows how to respond to queries about what happened."

"Word has already passed down through the department heads. We had a run-in with pirates, the ship took damage." Philippe repeated the cover story, which was not so much a falsehood as it was a an omission of details. "The crew knows to say nothing else."

"Good."

Rodrigo turned in his chair to face them. "You look happy today, Captain," he said. "Happier than I expected."

"We returned to dock safely and Admiral Ikamria informs me that Command gave its approval for our action. That alone is reason to be happy." She stood from the chair. "But I received some very welcome news this morning in the fleet update, and by private message. I'll tell you on the way to the airlock."

There was a small crowd at the starboard airlock when their three guests arrived for their departure from the Maimonides. The command crew were all present, as were Doctor T'Rya and many of the lab chiefs. Chief Bayer stood beside Wendy.

"Come to see us off, I see?" Isaac asked, the two telepaths were locked in some wordless conversation he didn't want to interrupt.

You know, the secret is getting harder and harder to keep, both practically and emotionally. Max cautioned Colin.

I know. Given the leaks, at this point I'm pretty sure EarthGov knows, unofficially. We're covered by a fucking fig-leaf. No matter what, we can't keep up like this for much longer. Months. A year at the most.

Weyana could tell the two were in conversation, although she did not pry. Wendy was the one to answer. "Well, yeah. We went through a lot of trouble to get you guys here, I mean. And you've been cool to us."

"Your prayer yesterday was a kind one," Tagiya said. "I wanted a chance to tell you that. Our comrades rest easier in the care of the Supreme Being." It was fairly clear he spoke of more than the dead of the Maimonides, but also of comrades he lost in the war.

"I'm not sure if 'thank you' or 'you're welcome' is more appropriate, so I'll go with both." Isaac smiled kindly. "War is a nasty thing, but not the nastiest of things. Anything I can do to help righteous souls rest in peace and tranquility is worth doing."

"And pirate attacks are just as unpleasant. I'm glad you were all there, the ship took a beating and so did her crew, but you did yourselves proud and I'm honored to have been through it with you." Colin added.

"And we're grateful that we were in place to help your people," said Philippe. His right hand and Rodrigo's left were clasped together. "That is what many of us joined the Alliance to do."

"Well, I joined to see the Multiverse," Tasina said. The Asari maiden grinned. "But this is good too."

"I've noticed that particular proclivity in the Allied Systems." Colin noted. "Given its founding that doesn't surprise me. In this universe the Minbari have it named. They call it the third principle of sentient life, and every individual has it to one extent or another. The capacity for self-sacrifice for a cause, a friend, a total stranger. It isn't common that I find a group of people so consistent in their understanding of it. It's good to see."

"He spent way too much time hanging around on Minbari ships with their religious caste. It might have rubbed off on him. It's amazing to me he's still an agnostic." Max chided Colin good-naturedly.

There were chuckles at that, and many grins, and a certain quiet enjoyment from T'Rya. "I have had the satisfaction of working with the Minbari religious caste myself," she stated. "Their desire for truth is most commendable."

"It is," Max said. "Then they invite you over for dinner…"

"Yes. Those are quite long. But every culture should be permitted some allowance for eccentricity," the Vulcan replied. "We have our own after all."

"I think ritual combat during pon farr is a bit beyond eccentric." Max winked. Unlike Colin, he wasn't a head of state, he could gently rib them. "On the other hand, you can transfer souls around so who am I to judge?"

"The transfer of katra is not done lightly, nor often," said T'Rya. "And I am in agreement with you on the matter of pon farr. It is a biological imperative, nothing more. Too much ceremony is wasted on it."

"Before you go, I thought you might like to hear some good news," said Nasira. "I received a message from Captain Dale, to all of the Facility hands still in the fleet. The Aurora found Captain Andreys, and she's been rescued. The Alliance fleet seized the base the SS exiles held her in and destroyed over two dozen SS warships in a fight."

Colin looked like a weight lifted off his shoulders as he breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank the Universe. I think if she'd been dead, it would have broken Captain Dale."

"Plus, dead Nazis. All the actual people win out on that one." Max grinned.

"We shouldn't dehumanize our enemies Max." That was from Isaac.

"Rabbi, they're fascists. The natural enemies of my leftist people, and worse, they're Nazis. It's like… a cultural imperative that I hate them. Don't oppress me!" There was no venom in that last part.

"It is understandable that you feel this way, Mister Cohen," Weyana said gently. "But the true triumph is not destroying the forces of darkness, but pulling them from that darkness."

"Okay, I'll grant you that. Better to convert the Nazi, but it's not like we're playing an RTS game where we can send our priests in to convert the enemy while they're raiding our base, you know?"

Latamrilam and Weyana exchanged glances. "What is an 'RTS' game?" Latamrilam asked Weyana, who had more experience with Humans.

"Real-time strategy game. You gather resources, build buildings, construct military units, and then go conquer your enemies, often another sapient player."

"He likes retro games like I enjoy Japanese cartoons and retro sci-fi. Don't get him started." Colin warned them. Whether they'd heed that warning was another matter.

"We all have our ways," Nasira remarked, grinning. "And we have our orders too. Including changed orders. Instead of proceeding to the edge of Dilgar space to explore, we're being ordered to head to the universe of the captured SS base. It's new to our list and the Maimonides will be the first Alliance vessel to explore it. I'm told the local Human civilization possesses unique metaphysical gifts."

"That sounds perfectly within your wheelhouse. What kind of gifts are we talking about? Speaking to the dead? Outright sorcery?" Colin asked.

"They use martial arts to manipulate classical elements, apparently," Nasira answered. "Their ships aided the Aurora against the SS. As you might imagine, the SS were not good neighbors to these people."

"The SS aren't good neighbors to anyone and...wow. Alright. That's certainly different. So like, t'ai chi to manipulate water or something?" He didn't know why he came up with that but it fit in his head.

"Something like that." Nasira stepped forward and offered her hand. "Doctor, my best wishes for you and your people."

"You too Captain." Colin shook her hand gladly, politely matching firmness. "I hope our next meeting is under less troublesome circumstances, and if you ever find yourself back in this universe, let me know. There's a city-within-a-city in Geneva that would love to host shore leave."

One by one the attending gave handshakes to those departing. Wendy smiled playfully before hugging Max like he was a favorite uncle, grateful for his help in dealing with her injuries. T'Rya gave a basic, perfunctory handshake, which gave the telepaths the opportunity to sense something more of the disciplined mind and the emotions that broiled beneath that discipline. Tagiya and Oparan likewise gave handshakes that, with skin contact, gave a deeper understanding of their emotional states. Their departure was punctuated by T'Rya raising her hand in the traditional farewell and welcome gesture of her people, an open palm with two fingers stretched to each side. "Live long and prosper."

"God go with you," Nasira added.

The two days the Maimonides spent on Teyan Station was not wasted. The ship's personnel were brought back up to strength with the arrival of replacements arranged by Admiral Ikamria. Tagiya oversaw the proper repair of the port nacelle to bring the ship's warp drive back to full capability while EVA teams repaired the damage to the hull. Shore leaves led to the story spreading on the station, the story of a fire-fight with pirates, suspected slavers at that, that the plucky science ship escaped from through ingenuity and grit. The full story, for now, would go untold.

It was approaching Bravo Shift's watch when departure time arrived. The command crew were in their places on the bridge. Weyana, Tagiya, and Wendy were present as well, just out of a meeting they and Nasira had over IU comm with Admiral Ikamria on their recommendations given the lessons of the fight.

Weyana took the seat to Nasira's left and the other two found spots to stand on the bridge. Nasira leaned forward in her chair. "What's our status?"

"Engineering reports reactors are online, we have main power," said Tasina.

"All stores are back to full, Captain," Oparan said. "Airlocks cleared."

"All personnel are on board." Philippe's report came last. "All departments report ready for departure."

"Good. Because we're due to visit a new universe to the Alliance. And it's about time we got to some proper exploring." Nasira nodded. "Release the airlock and umbilicals."

"Yes Captain." At a few keystrokes Oparan accomplished both.

"Helm, take us out, thrusters and then one half impulsor power."

"Yes Captain."

Under Latamrilam's control the Maimonides slipped free of her berth. Under thrusters she moved away from the station, coasting by a Hurr transport and then a Salarian cargo vessel on her way out. Her path took her near the approach vector for the system's hyperspace jump gate. She came up to an Earth Alliance-based starliner on its way to the gate, giving everyone on its observation deck a view of the science ship as the Maimonides passed by.

"We are outside of the jump exclusion zone, Captain," said Oparan.

"Set jump drive for Universe N1C4 and anchor us to the Zulfiqar."

"Yes Captain. Drive is set, spatial aspect is good."

Nasira nodded. "Jump."

From a single bright dot of emerald energy, a vortex of the same color expanded. The Maimonides came to the edge of the vortex and accelerated, heading off to another universe waiting to be explored.