Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate Atlantis or Babylon 5
Summery: The Minbari have destroyed Earth and its colonies. But Humans are a stubborn race and on a world far from the scorched surface of Earth what remains of the human race will be transformed forever and even the Shadows will know fear. Vengeance is coming.
AN: Some of you may be wondering why this is a crossover fic and what it has to do with Stargate Atlantis. Well in this chapter you find out.
AN2: Thank you to all those who reviewed and to those who have put this on their story alert and favorite list. I am glad you liked the first chapter. I hope I don't disappoint you with the second. Sorry about any spelling or grammar mistakes.
Ch. 2 Humanity's Fall
The Human fleet composed of a mismatch of vessels from the small 38-meter long crew shuttles to the massive 1500-meter Nova class Dreadnought EAS Phantom orbited the green world of Dalack III, the third planet in the recently discovered star system. The name New Earth had been briefly been considered for the third planet but dismissed because even the mention of Earth brought tears to many of the refuges eyes. The second planet Dalack II was also a life-bearing world but the presence of a pre-space alien society ruled out the possibility of the Human survives settling on it, plus it was far warmer then an ideal world for humans and huge sections of it were composed almost entirely of desert. Dalack III on the other hand was composed almost entirely of jungle and being the better of the two choices, the humans decided to begin anew on its surface.
Due to the all-encompassing jungle, there were few choices for a landing sight, unless they wanted to blast a hole in the jungle with the EAS Phantom main guns. Considering that the members of the fleet had only recently witnessed to destruction of their home the idea of bombing the surface to create a landing zone seemed outrageous to say the least.
From orbit, a large rift could be seen traversing the equator of Dalack III for several thousand miles. The jungle was surprisingly absent near this rift and because it was the only large area of land not covered by jungle the decision to set up residence there was reached. Initial surveys by Icarus class Scout ships reveled the presence of extensive underground cave systems near the rift but after a follow up scanning survey it was determined that the ground was geological sound and could easily support the weight of the numerous cargo ships they planed to land there.
"Captain message from the Sparrow." The EAS Phantom's communication office announced.
The Sparrow being one of the refuge fleets Icarus class Scout ships.
"What does it say?" Captain Sheridan asked as he looked up from the data pad in his hand.
"The Sparrow reports that they have reached Dalack II and will begin their survey of the indigenous population within the hour."
"Understood." Sheridan responded. "Tell them to proceed but be careful, I don't want whoever lives there to know about us."
"Yes sir."
Turning his attention from his officer Sheridan turned his attention back to the data file he had been reading, a data file that contained a complete census of refuge fleet.
//Military assets//
1 Nova class Dreadnought, EAS Phantom.
Crew: 250
Troop: 8,000
36 Starfury fighter craft
14 fusion missiles
7 Icarus class Scout ships
//Civilian assets//
331 Asimov class Luxury Liners
Crew: 125 each
Passages: 400 (average)
Fighters: 2 shuttles
12 Construction Fury
Sheridan stopped reading the list after scanning over the main features for the seventh time. Doing the math in his head, he estimated that the fleet was comprised of roughly 140,000 souls.
140,000 out of ten billion. Sheridan thought, disgusted by the realization of how much his failure had cost the human race. Of course, Sheridan knew he was only one man and up against the Minbari fleets what could one good man do but still never in his life had he felt like such a failure. His family, friends, Earth itself, everything he had sworn to protect with to dying breath was gone, destroyed by the Minbari. His soul was racked by unbearable grief as he thought of Earth burning, but there was another emotion there is well. A darker emotion that was slowly worming its way deeper and deeper into his core destroying what was left of the great war hero, it was hate. Hate for the Minbari and there damn unbeatable ships, hate for the Narns, the Centauri, and all the others who claimed to be Earths allies only to betray them in the darkest hour.
A loud crack resounded throughout the zero gee environment of the Phantom's bridge. Glancing done Sheridan realized he had broken the datapad he was holding in half. Much like my soul after Earth. He thought.
"Sir are you alright?" The Phantom's tactical office asked in her smooth feminine voice.
Looking up Sheridan met the eyes of the command crew who were all watching him concerned, their eyes darting from his face to the data pad and back to his face.
"I'm fine, Lieutenant I'll be in my quarters the bridge is yours." Not bothering to wait for the yes sir that was sure to follow Sheridan unclipped his restraint belt and floated from his command chair to the bridge's exit. His mind drifting back to Earth he made a single promise to himself as he moved out of the bridge. No matter how long it took or what price he needed to pay he would return to known space and make all those responsible for Earth's fall pay, in blood.
Apparently, Sheridan had forgotten that old Earth saying about being careful what you wish for, you might just get it.
"Madam President we have enough food onboard the various transports to last roughly two months if we're conservative in our eating habits."
"I see." President Elizabeth Levy replied as she thumbed through the report of the fleet's current supplies. "What about the local wildlife, certainly on a world covered by jungle there must be something we can eat."
"We have begun sending scouting parties into the forest and we have identified a number of possible food sources, but we have encountered a slight problem."
"And what is that?" The President asked concern showing on her tired face.
"When we first arrived the EAS Phantom conducted a brief thermal imaging scan of the planet. The scan revealed the presence of a large verity of animal life forms."
"Yes I read the report from Captain Sheridan." The President responded.
"Indeed but as we sent parties into the jungle near the landing sight we found it odd that we never encountered any of these animals. So I ordered the Phantom to conduct another thermal scan of the planet this time focusing on the landing site and surrounding area, the results were surprising to say the least."
"How so?"
"The scans reveled that there are no animals within fifty kilometers of the rift."
"What! Why?"
"We're not sure, there are several competing theories one of which is that it may have something to do with the underground cave system that extends out from the rift, but like I said it is only a theory."
"What do you suggest we do?"
"For now I suggest we continue down the path we have chosen and continue to convert the transport ships into land based shelters."
"And what about the caves?"
"I have already begun seeking out anyone with rock climbing experience to assist in the exploration of the caves; we should be able to begin mapping them in two or three days. Until that happens however, I think you should issue an order that no one is to enter the cave network until they have been properly explored."
"I agree, issue the order."
"Yes madam President."
Unknown to the president and her aids however, was that two members of the refuge fleet had already entered the cave network and were about to make a discovery that would change the fate of the human race forever.
The cave system located beneath the feet of the human survivors wasn't the most hospitable place for human life. It was hot, it was dank, and the only source of light the two foolish humans had to see by, were a pair of handheld flashlights.
"This has got to be the stupidest thing you have ever dragged me into Iratus."
"What do you mean Shane?"
"You know damn well what I mean. We are on this rock less than a week and you drag me into this underground cave system. We don't even know what's down here."
"What are you afraid that there is some giant monster waiting down here to eat you?" He replied sarcastically. "You watched way too many of those old monster movies when you were a kid."
"That has nothing to do with and you know it. I'm telling you I have a bad feeli… what was that."
"What was what?"
"I heard something like a clicking noise."
"You're just hearing things."
"I'm telling you I heard a clicking nois… there it is again. You hear it Iratus?
"…"
Iratus?
Spinning on his heels Shane looked desperately left and right in search of his friend.
"Iratus this isn't funny where are you?"
"Sha…Shane help me." A weak voice answered his pleas from behind.
Turning quickly Shane's eyes and flashlight came to rest on the floor behind him.
"O my God… Iratus!"
Doctor Cottle (Yes, I am basing him of the doctor from BSG) through the window of the makeshift medical facility watched as the sun slowly set on the human encampment while sipping a synthetic brew that somebody thought tasted like coffee and smoking one of his precious few cigarettes. Donnelly Cottle recently reached the ripe old age of 63 and was considered hands down the best medical doctor available on Dalack III. As such, he was in charge of overseeing the fabrication of the medical facility, and tending to the health needs of the Dalack III humans.
A loud commotion drew Dr. Cottle's attention from the window.
"Doctor Cottle! You need to get in here now!" A scream echoed down the corridor.
Rushing from his spot by the window Dr. Cottle ran to the main examination room only to find a scene of absolute chaos. A number of orderlies were milling about around the main operating table. Cottle noticed a pale looking young main standing near the far wall, ignoring the man's presence Cottle's years of medical experience kick in and he pushed his way to the operating table.
"What is going on he…" His voice trailed off as his eyes took in the man lying on the table, and the creature attached to his neck
Cottle had never seen anything like it. It was a large black beetle, its hard black back glistening under the medical lights; two large incisors had been plunged into the man's neck from which a slow stream of blood drizzled down the unfortunate man's neck. Just then, the man's eyes opened reveling his pain filled glossed over irises.
"What the hell." Dr. Cottle yelled. "Why is this man awake? Nurse give him a shot and knock him out."
"We already tried that Doctor, three times, it had no effect. Whatever this thing is, it was able to neutralize what we give him."
"Have you tried to remove it?"
"Yes God damn it I did!" The man standing near the far wall yelled as a myriad of emotions crossed his face. I tried to pull it off, cut it off, hell I even tried to shoot it off but all it did was cause him tremendous pain." The irate man probably would have continued if an orderly had not rushed forward and pushed him out of the room.
"Doctor what do we do?" A nurse asked desperately.
"Send someone to inform the President what has happened and get me some gloves."
Medical Log 3395.6 Dr. Donnelly Cottle
"This is the audio log of Dr. Donnelly Cottle Chief Medical Officer of the Dalack III colony. Early this evening… or was it yesterday evening… I can't remember the last 24 hours have been a blur. In any case, Samuel Iratus was brought in by his long time friend Shane King. Iratus and his friend had been attacked while exploring the cave system beneath our feet. It was during this misbegotten 'adventure' that Iratus was attacked by a large tic like creature. The insect attached itself to the man's jugular and began feeding off his blood stream; all attempts to remove it have failed. The creature has somehow connected itself to Iratus's mind meaning that it is able to transfer pain from itself to him. At first, I believed that it had done so by connecting itself, via its incisors, to his nervous system but no connective tissue has been discovered between Iratus and the bug. It wasn't until a former member of the now defunct Psi Corps came to attempt to soothe the man's mind that we learned the truth. The insect is telepathic. I asked if it would be possible to block the creature's link with the victim's mind, the few surviving members of Psi Corps said they would attempt to do that but they didn't sound very sure of themselves, apparently the creature is very powerful. To think a bug would be able to best the…I'm being paged I'll continue this later."
Medical Log 3396.7 Dr. Donnelly Cottle
"Disaster! Several squads of fully armed marines were sent into the caverns to acquire for me a live unattached Iratus bug-as we have come to call it- to study. None of them have returned and we can't acquire radio contact with them. It gets worse. There have been attacks, above ground, several hundred of the colonists now lie in the cold embrace of the Iratus bug, including the surviving members of the Psi Corps, in fact, they were the first to fall, perhaps their mental abilities attracted the bug somehow. Yet another theory I cannot prove. I have continued my study of patient zero and have discovered something quite disturbing. The creature is not only feeding on him like a leach but it is also injecting its DNA directly into his blood stream, to what end I do not know but I have a feeling that it can't be good. I am going to try and attack the creature on a cellular level with the use of a…" A series of clicking noises cut off the doctor. "What is that…AAAAAARRRRGGGGG."
Medical Log 3433.9 Dr. Donnelly Cottle
"There are not words to describe what has happened to me. I have been transformed with the others into the night itself. Before I was but a man, a mere doctor, a saver of lives but now I am death incarnate. The Iratus bug it did this to me, to us. Only a few now remain, cursed by the weakness of humanity but soon they will join us in our eternal night, then we can begin to build and prepare for our return to our rightful home, and those that sought our destruction and those that stood by and watched shall know our furry, our anger, and our hate."
A door opened and a second voice joined the first.
"Doctor we have secured the Captain and he is being introduced to the Iratus bug as we speak."
"Excellent we will need his skills."
"The President has completed her transformation and has demanded your presence."
"I expected as much, take me to her."
"Yes sir."
The sound of two men leaving echoed through the room as the medical recorder continued to run, forgotten by its owner for all time.
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The void stretched endlessly beyond human understanding its dark expanse encompassing, all that was, all that is, and all that could be; at its heart stood a single solitary figure.
Jeffrey Sinclair stared out into the dark expanse his mind dazed and confused. Slowly his mind 'woke up' and he remembered where he was last, Earth and the Battle of the Line.
"Am I dead?" He asked aloud not expecting the answer that came.
"You are not dead Sinclair." The voice echoed across the void and yet the words seemed to come from within.
"Who are you and where am I."
"I am a friend and that is all you need to know of me for know. As to where you are; you are in the border land between life and death."
"If I am not dead then why am I here?"
"You are here Sinclair because we must speak, because worlds rest on your shoulders; you are here because the Vorlon circle has been broken and cast into the void."
"Vorlon Circle? Are you a Vorlon?"
A deep throaty laughter erupted in Sinclair's eardrums. "I am not Vorlon. The Vorlon are to me what you are to the Vorlon, child."
"So who are you? What is your name?"
"What is a name but a collection of syllables that does not do its owner justice?"
"What the hell does that mean?"
"Sinclair we have little time, you cannot exist long in this place before your soul will be forced into the void. So be silent and listen. A great darkness has been born, even now it festers and grows and plans. It will descend upon this Galaxy like a plague consuming all that stands in its path."
"So why are you telling me this? A mere human, probably one of the last Human too ever live thanks to those damn Minbari."
"I can feel the hate within you Sinclair. You would do well to cast it out for it poisons your soul and drags you into the darkness."
"Well being the last of your kind makes one feel hostile towards the Galaxy."
"You are not the last of your kind Sinclair, a number of your people have survived the burning of your world and still retain their humanity."
"So what, even if your right and there are more of my kind still alive what does it matter our fleets are gone and home world destroyed. What possible use can we be against this coming darkness?"
"More than you can possibly imagine. There is more but our time here has ended and you must return to your body or it will wither and die. However, before you go hear my words and remember them well. If the Galaxy is to survive the coming storm, you must find to courage to face the darkness on its terms and if you are to heal the wounds that created the darkness, you must look past your hate and see the true face of your enemy, goodbye Sinclair and good luck.
Sinclair groaned as consciousness slowly returned to him, his body felt as if it had been put through a meat grinder. Opening his eyes, he found himself staring up at a rather dull grey ceiling. He tried to sit up only to be stopped by a strong hand being placed on his chest and an old kindly voice speaking softly to him.
"Don't try to move son, better to just rest for know."
"What, who where am I?" Sinclair asked again as he tried to push himself up only to be pushed down by the old man standing next to him.
"I told you not to move." He ordered more sternly this time. "I can see you're the type of man that doesn't like to listen to his doctor. Very well. To answer your questions son you are at the New Haven colony near the old boarder with League of Nonaligned Worlds. Don't know why the Minbari didn't destroy it. Maybe they thought that the 20,000 colonists were not worth their time. Whatever the reason it is the only human world left."
"Earth?"
"Gone. The Minbari destroyed it from orbit." The doctor watched Sinclair's eyes close at the news, a single tear running down his face. "I'm sorry son." He said stroking the man's head before turning away so he could check on his other patients.
"Wait. How did I get here?"
"The EAS Saber was left for dead by the Minbari. They managed to get their jump drive working and found you floating unconscious in your fighter before they jumped here to New Haven. Now go back to sleep, or I am going to hit you over your head with my trusty mallet."
"…"
"Good boy."
AN: In Stargate Atlantis the Iratus Bug becomes the Wraith but in my version it's the humans themselves that transform so don't leave me a review pointing out my change… unless you like it of course.
LET THE CULLING BEGIN! LONG LIVE THE WRAITH!