Chapter Three
"Doctor Phlox, how is she doing?" Captain Archer asked stepping into the sickbay, located in one of the most well protected areas of the ship at the centre of E-deck.
"Resting comfortably," Phlox said turning away from a small work station. "The effects of hyperspace apparently put quite a strain on her physiology." He paused as he joined Archer, leading him to the large display above the imaging chamber. "After studying these readouts," Phlox explained. "I have to agree with Doctor Summers. She does indeed appear to have put herself in a healing trance. These are the results of the neural imaging scan I took when we first brought her in."
On the display, Archer could see a computer generated image of T'Pol's skull and brain with the neural pathways clearly visible and apparently extremely active. "Now look at this image," Phlox pulled up a second image. "This is the scan I took just a minute ago..." A second image almost identical to the first one appeared. But with very apparent differences. "You can see her neural pathways are nowhere near as active as they were. This shows that her condition is stabilizing."
"So, she's going to wake up soon?" Commander Tucker got up from T'Pol's side. "I mean she's not going to be like this forever. Is she?" The concern was quiet clear in his face.
"Oh, she'll wake up," Phlox reassured him. "When she is ready. Though, she'd come round much quicker if a Vulcan adept at this were to assist her."
Archer nodded. "Keep me updated..." As Archer spoke, he gestured for Trip to join him as he headed for the exit. "Trip," he said. "I just spoke with Captain Hernandez. She said something about subspace being incompatible with hyperspace..."
Trip nodded. "Yeah," he agreed. "That's what I was going to the bridge earlier to tell you. We can't form a subspace field nor use any of our subspace technologies while in hyperspace. That means..."
"Warp drive is useless in hyperspace," Archer and Trip echoed each other.
Archer glanced at Trip as they reached the turbolift. "You didn't get any new light shows in the engine room, did you?"
Trip smiled, knowing what the captain had meant. Back when they'd been in the Expanse, they'd discovered that the Cochrane Equation wasn't always constant; usually when they ran into one of the numerous spatial anomalies that used to frequent the former region of space. "No, thank God. We didn't have to shut the reactor down. This time."
O-O-O
Lying in her bed, Tru groaned as he door chimed for the third time.
"Go away," Tru finally said reaching for the bedside intercom control. "I don't feel like having visitors."
"It's George," she heard a familiar voice say "I just got off duty. Wondered if you felt like talking?"
Tru sighed, knowing she should have expected her to show up. "Come back in five," Tru said pulling the covers over her head. "I'm not exactly decent."
"Doesn't bother me," George could be heard saying. "I am girl you know." Even though Tru couldn't see the young looking communications officer, she could imagine her rolling her eyes as she spoke into the intercom.
"Oh, get in here before you wake up the entire deck," Tru half laughed, rising out of the bed. "Besides, I doubt you're in any better state of dress than I am."
Walking over to the door, she opened it, letting her friend enter. "You sure just got off?" Tru said as George walked into her quarters. She didn't look like she had just gotten off. She had her training pants on and her sports bra. "Judging by that sheen of sweat on your forehead, you've just ran round E-deck a couple times."
"True," George smirked. "Thought I'd ask you to join me. That way, you work out that funk..." George's voice trailed off as she saw what Tru was wearing. A decidedly non-regulation blue form fitting tank top and panties. George's smirk expanded into a grin. She'd never seen Tru wear stuff like this before. "And, you say you have trouble getting guys."
"George," Tru sniffed the air proceeding to pinch her nose to emphasise with a very Californian accent. "You like, really stink." The Bad Valley girl accent caused them both to go momentarily into a fit of giggles.
"Anyway," George said. "I brought some chocolate. I figured you might need some comfort food."
"Yes, I do!" Tru agreed. "Truth be told, I ate my supply." Tru sighed. "Thanks for coming." Given the effects hyperspace was having on her, George was the only person she could be around.
"At least I can be good for something. I stole this from the galley." George said jovially as she placed the massive slab of milk chocolate on the table. She reached out and held Tru. "Seriously, you sure you're okay?"
"Well I'm better anyway," Tru said. "I'm barely feeling the psychic onslaught now.
George nodded. "The captain asked the people in the quarters around yours to hot bunk temporarily."
"Thank her for me," Tru acknowledged. "But, I think I've got a handle on it now."
"Thank you for covering my ass back on the bridge," George said "Captain Hernandez was wondering why I didn't affect you the way the others did."
"Not a problem," Tru said. "I merely said you had strong mental blocks and probably a mutation which allowed you to avoid telepathic scans."
"I heard T'Pol is in a coma?" George enquired, remembering T'Pol's condition.
"Healing trance," Tru corrected. "I'm worried about T'Pol. She isn't disciplined enough in the mental abilities of the Vulcan race. In fact, I'm surprised she even knew about the trance. Guess she's being doing some reading."
"I suppose you will have to train her to better control her mental abilities." George said thoughtfully.
"Yeah," Tru acknowledged. "She'll need it. I'm going to go over there in a few hours; see if I can help her recover a bit quicker."
"I heard she likes Enterprise's engineer," George said conversationally. "Charles Tucker?"
"You mean Trip?"
"His nick name," George told her. "That name brings back a few bad memories." The bad memory was when she lost her virginity to a guy who also called himself 'Trip'. Her Trip, had slept with her, and then left her. She still wanted to strangle the bastard.
"How long was it before you could go near a zero-g toilet?" Tru asked, changing the subject.
"A year, and it's just the toilet seat." George said, trying to forget that memory. "Besides, if you were killed by one, you would be finicky around one. Stupid Soviet-era space station."
"You're one hundred and ninety and you still have the body and looks of an eighteen year old," Tru tried not to be too loud, "You know how many people would kill for that." Tru laughed, which made George feel better. She had adopted her in a way, as her smaller sister. Tru had witnessed George as she took her grandfather's soul. One thing George had not expected, was that Tru could see the soul of her grandfather due to their closeness and their telepathic nature.
"Hey," George countered, giving Tru a jovial poke in the chest. "You're almost in your forties, and you still look like a teenager too."
"True, I guess I have to thank my genes for that." Tru said.
"Plus, you can have a life, get married have children." George trying to cheer Tru up couldn't hide her sadness when she added. "I can't."
"I guess," Tru nodded, reaching for the chocolate George had brought. "No one has it easy."
"Yeah, you're strong Tru, I know you can get through this," George paused, an idea cropping into her head. "I hear, they're showing Back to the Future in the Mess in a few minutes. Make you feel more relaxed for when you go to Enterprise."
Tru smiled. "Well, you're certainly not going wearing that, are you?" Tru indicated George's training outfit.
"Fuck no," George said, completely shocked at the notion. "Figured I'd borrow one of your outfits."
"Not without a shower you're not!" Tru gave George a friendly shove in the direction of her wash room. "Get in there."
O-O-O
"Come in," T'Pol's voice came from the intercom as Tru waited for the door to open.
The door opened to reveal Commander Tucker sitting down on the floor.
"I hope I was not interrupting," Tru noticed the signs of a hasty clean up. "We had a training session?"
"No, not at all. We were, um..." Trip started.
T'Pol saved him. "Vulcan Neuropressure."
"Ah, good stress reliever," Tru said noticing the shades of green on T'Pol's cheeks were reaching as were the shades of red on Commander Tucker. It was clear, that it had been a bit more then that.
"If you will excuse me," he went towards the door. "Commander, nice to see you again."
The door closed behind Trip as Tru turned to T'Pol "You don't need to be ashamed."
"But, it is an emotion."
"Emotions are not bad," Tru tried to explain. "Surak's teachings were not to suppress your emotions. But to keep them from controlling you."
"That is pretty radical, even for T'Pau." T'Pol remarked.
"Emotional control is not emotional suppression." Tru expanded, remembering what her grandfather had once told her. "It is to know when and where to express them. Emotions are a tool, they can help or they can hurt. They can also guide, though they can easily mislead. This is why experiencing emotion is not enough. You need to understand them, to become one with them. Then you can truly keep them in balance. But, there is always a chance that you may lose control."
"I..." T'Pol began to speak, but trailed off realising Tru hadn't finished.
"Loosing control is not a bad thing, you learn more from a mistake than from success." Tru paused. "I believe you said something similar once to Ambassador Soval."
"I," T'Pol continued. "Wanted to thank you for what you did earlier."
"My pleasure," tru nodded.
"I did not know that you could do a mind meld."
"My grandfather taught me," Tru smiled. Though that smile T'Pol observed held a faint touch of sadness. "He travelled the Earth, learned so much from our world."
"I am glad," T'Pol acknowledged. "If not for you, I might have not gotten out of the healing trance."
"Well, the fact that you were able to pull it off," Tru complimented her. "And, that you did it without any formal training means that you're a strong telepath. Which will make this easier."
"I know you might have sensed some of..." T'Pol tried to say.
"Don't worry T'Pol, your secrets are safe with me. The ones I saw. As a doctor, my Hippocratic Oath is something very special to me."
"Thank you," T'Pol did an uncharacteristic attempt at a smile.
"You're getting better at it," Tru laughed. "You hurt my new younger brother and I swear, I'll kick your ass back to the Milky Way. Cradle robber!"
"I have no intention of hurting..." T'Pol started to say. "What did you just say?"
"Never mind," Tru said reaching out for the Katra points on T'Pol's face. "Time for the next lesson," Tru paused for a moment, calming herself inwardly. "My mind, to your mind..."
O-O-O
"Captain," Mayweather said glancing back at Archer who was sitting in the command chair watching the roiling view of hyperspace on the viewscreen. "Thirty seconds to the Babylon 5 hyperspace beacon."
"Stand by to revert back to normal space," he commanded. "Hoshi, hail Columbia and the Wreckers."
At the communications station, Lieutenant Sato contacted the two ships. "You're on."
Ahead, the image on the viewscreen changed to show the view of two bridges. On the left, was the Columbia's bridge, while the right side showed the Wreckers's. "Miss Polinger, Captain Hernandez," Archer said. "We're almost there. You two ready?"
"Standing by," Hernandez said smiling. "I'll be glad to leave hyperspace. Nothing to look at."
"We'll activate the jump gate sequence on your command," Polinger said. "Oh, one thing. There should be no need to hail Babylon 5. They'll hail us. They'll pick up our silhouettes as we go through the jump gate. They'll recognise your silhouettes as unknown and initiate first contact procedures."
"Understood," Archer said. "Enterprise, out." He glanced to his left, where Commander T'Pol was diligently working at her station. "You picking up anything on sensors?"
"Yes," T'Pol confirmed. "I'm reading a small satellite like object that appears to be emitting a continuous broadband tachyon transmission. Most likely the hyperspace beacon." T'Pol paused. "Ten seconds..."
"Hoshi," Archer said. "Tell Miss Polinger to activate the jump gate."
O-O-O
"Commander, jump gate activation," Lieutenant jg Corwin said from the pit in the centre of Babylon 5's command and control deck. "Silhouette suggests it's the Wreckers caravan and two unknowns."
"Unknown?" Commander Susan Ivanova, the stations executive officer, stood before the command console just in front of the large porthole looking out into space. Directing her gaze to the jump gate, she watched as it created the familiar blue jump point within the struts and waited for the trade caravan to emerge. Wonder what Polinger found this time? Ivanova thought. An instant later, she saw five brief flashes of light deep within the jump gate as the Wreckers caravan emerged along with the two unknowns which appeared to be escorting the caravan. One of the unknowns towing a battlewagon on the end of a long cable.
The unknowns, Ivanova observed seemed to be comprised of a saucer with a catamaran like structure mounted on its top surface and leading to a roll bar-like structure at the rear of the two ships with a pair of pylons, each leading up to strange looking cylindrical nacelles. The nacelles glowed a bright red on their front ends and had blue glowing elements down their flanks. She wouldn't have called them beautiful looking, in the way the White Star was. But, they did have an elegance about them.
"Yes, Commander," Corwin confirmed. "Looks vaguely Vree-like. But with differences. Should I initiate contact?"
"No," Ivanova said. "Get Captain Sheridan on the link. I think he needs to be here."
"Sir," Corwin informed her. "Isn't he in the hearing with Citizen G'Kar?"
"Damn it," Ivanova cursed. "Hail them and tell them to stand by. I'll contact the captain."
O-O-O
"We're back in normal space," T'Pol said aloud almost neutrally. Archer though, thought he could hear a slight sigh of relief come from her. "Subspace sensors appear to be operating normally." She had been in her healing trance for almost six hours, and then only the presence of Commander Tucker would comfort her. Archer was grateful for the training Commander Summers has been giving her during the past three days they had been in hyperspace. This had allowed her to come back to her station, were he needed her the most.
"Full scan," Archer commanded, rising from his chair and walking round to stand beside T'Pol. "What are we picking up?"
T'Pol turned away from her main console, activating the viewer behind her. "A small O'Neil style space station and numerous mid-sized spacecraft similar in design to the Wreckers."
"On screen," Archer said, directing his gaze forward. On it, he could see a long cylindrical shaped space station. The main body of which appeared to be slowly rotating. Not all of it rotated he observed. The station looked to have a spine mounted on it's top surface with a pair of docking clamps extending beyond the forward end. About three quarters the way back, he saw a set of twelve solar panels in sets of six mounted on either side that extended both above and below the station.
"My," Trip said looking up from the small engineering station on the right side of the bridge. "That must have been one hell of a job building a station like that. If I'm reading this right, it's over eight kilometres long and has a mass of two and half million tons."
"You call that small? It would dwarf any of our space stations," Reed said, taking a moment to glance at the image on the viewscreen.
"If you go by Gerard O'Neill's original design, which called for a cylinder roughly thirty kilometres in length and six kilometres in diameter, it is small."T'Pol defended her statement.
"Captain," Sato said glancing up from her station. "Message from Columbia. They had no problems returning to normal space."
Archer nodded absently. "Biosigns?"
"Two hundred and seventy thousand," T'Pol said. "Humans and numerous unknown biosigns. It appears to be a very large population centre."
Archer smiled in agreement.
"Captain," Sato said. "Babylon 5 is instructing us to stand by. I think they're waiting for someone more senior in command to talk to us."
Archer simply nodded.
Meanwhile, deep within Babylon 5, Citizen G'Kar stood at the defendants table of the stations court room. He was flanked on his left by the station's security chief, Michael Garibaldi and on his right by Captain John Sheridan, the commanding officer of Babylon 5.
"Citizen G'Kar," the black robed female human judge enquired. "You are aware of the charges made against you?"
"I am," G'Kar confirmed solemnly.
"And yet, you still decline presence of counsel?" the judge asked, confusion evident on her face.
G'Kar just nodded at the judge who sat at the raised bench.
"Very well," the judge went on. "To the charges of assault on Ambassador Mollari, assault on Vir Cotto, use and purchase of prohibited material, how do you plead?
"Guilty, your honour." G'Kar said just as solemnly.
The judge nodded, then turned her gaze on Sheridan who rose in response. "Captain, you wished to speak on behalf of the defendant?"
"Yes, your honour." Sheridan began. "I would only like to point out that during the period he was under the influence of Dust, he was not acting rationally or deliberately. And, that may constitute extenuating circumstances."
"I'm sorry, Captain," the judge shook her head. "But, I can't agree. Had G'Kar seized the first person he came across, your argument might have carried some weight. But, he deliberately went to Mollari's quarters, assaulted and seized his person. In my book, that constitutes premeditation."
Sheridan nodded, glancing at G'Kar who reciprocated the gesture with a nod of his own. Then, he directed his gaze back to the judge.
She continued. "Since there are no outstanding point to be contested, and the plea has been entered. I am now ready to pass judgement. Citizen G'Kar, it is the decision of this court..." As she spoke, G'Kar maintained his solemn stance. "...that you be confined to this stations prison facilities for a period of no less than sixty days." She finished her statement, with a bang of her gavel.
With the judgement passed, Sheridan rose and moved away from G'Kar, allowing him to talk briefly with Garibaldi.
It was then, during this moment, he heard his comlink go off. Raising it to his mouth, he answered the call. "Sheridan, go."
"Captain," He heard the filtered voice of Ivanova say. "I think you had better get up here. The Wreckers caravan just came through the jump gate with a pair of unknowns. I'd have followed first contact procedure myself. But..."
Sheridan cursed inwardly. "But, what?"
"One of the unknowns appears to have a disabled battlewagon under tow," Ivanova sounded worried. "And, as you know we've still got Bester with us."
Sheridan at once knew what she meant. They had to deal with this delicately. The last thing they needed was a psi cop like Bester throwing his weight into the mix. Even with his telepathy suppressed as it was. "Understood," Sheridan said. "I'll be right up."
O-O-O
Several tense minutes later, aboard Enterprise, Lieutenant Sato turned to Archer. "Captain," she began. "We're being hailed by Babylon 5."
Finally, Archer thought to himself. He was wondering if they were ever going to signal them properly. "On screen," he commanded.
Looking up at the viewscreen, he saw the image change from the view of the station to that of a fair haired male of similar age to himself. Maybe couple years older. The person he spoke to, appeared to be wearing a very martial looking blue uniform with a dark brown leather collar and band down the uniforms right breast. In the background, Archer could see several others working on various consoles and displays.
"Unidentified ship," the male began. "I'm Captain John Sheridan of the Earth Alliance Station Babylon 5. Please identify yourselves and your reason for being here."
Archer smiled pleasantly. At least this man had the decency to transmit a visual feed along with the audio. He also seamed a lot more reasonable. But, whether he could be trusted, had yet to be seen. "I'm Captain Jonathan Archer..." he stated as he watched the image on the viewscreen. "... of the Starship Enterprise. The other starship, is the Columbia under Captain Hernandez. I'm not sure I see why I have to explain my reason for being here. I was under the impression this was a free port, isn't it?"
Sheridan nodded. "It is," he confirmed. "But, under the circumstances..."
"... I feel I have to ask." Especially given what's happening back home and your apparent human appearance, Sheridan thought sitting back in chair at his personal station on the command deck.
"Captain," Archer said. He was an apparent human male, and judging from the image on his monitor, was dressed in what appeared to be a blue jumpsuit-like uniform similar to what he remembered NASA astronauts used to wear. "It was not our intention to come here at all. At least," he paused a beat. "It wasn't until we answered the distress signal from the Wreckers. They hired us to escort them here after we successfully dealt with the raiders who were attacking them."
Sheridan nodded. That answered his question as to why they'd come here and why they had that battlewagon under tow. "I take it," he said. "That you have prisoners aboard your vessel?"
"Not on mine," Archer said. "But, the Columbia does. I know Captain Hernandez wants to get them off her ship."
"Understood," Sheridan said. "Would you and your senior staff like to come over? You can hand over your prisoners, collect the reward and we can discuss things formally."
"We'll be over in twenty minutes," On the display, he saw Archer nod and then glance off to the side. The monitor reverted to displaying a systems diagram of the station.
"Susan," Sheridan asked glancing to the side where Ivanova had been covertly monitoring the communication. "What did you make of him?"
"He seems pretty straight forward, I could tell you more when we meet." She paused looking at her screen. "I can tell you this much, the lead ship just altered it's course pulling enough g's to squash whoever is in it." she paused again. "Hmm... It's now holding position relative to the station. Whoever he is. They must have very advanced propulsion."
O-O-O
"That was a trip I can tell my grandchildren about," Kat looked around the bridge.
"We should contact the Transport Association," Mal reminded her. "They will need more credits than we have to offer, and more work."
"Plus, we can get more high end merchandise due to their protection." She knew her brother too well. "Uh oh."
"What is it?"
"I just got the news," Kat pointed to the monitor "Looks like pops got himself in trouble," She shook her head." he is in the stations prison facilities."
"What the hell did he do now?" Mal, despite his Narn Heritage was raised and lived with humans most of his life, a fact which alienated him from most of his culture. With one exception. Ambassador G'Kar, or 'Pops' as they called him. They had met him when he had discovered that there was an ambassador from the Narn on the station, over two years ago. From him, he'd learnt a bit more about his Narn heritage. Even though G'Kar had offered to bring him back to 'his people', he would never leave his sister or his adopted culture. G'Kar had grown close to both of them, even granting both of them dual citizenship. Hence both him and Kat had both Earth Alliance and Narn passports. It had helped greatly with their many ventures, as people tended to trust either one or the other, but not both.
"It looks like he attacked the Centauri ambassador, Londo Mollari," she could see why he would do such a thing, but it was too rash.
"Sounds just like him," Kat nodded. "Call up the transport association; we also need to make arrangements to go see him."
Kat knew that the two hours of deceleration in order to dock with babylon 5 was going to drive Mal crazy.
O-O-O
"We've entered the parking orbit, assigned to us by Babylon 5." Hernandez's could be seen on the viewscreen. Her expression eager. Hernandez had yet to be involved in any first contact situations, and she apparently intended to savour it as much as Archer did.
"Ready for your first first contact?" Archer asked grinning as he glancing up at her.
"Yes," Hernandez's grin faded a moment. "We're getting the prisoners into their shuttlepod, now. I was just about to head down to the launch bay."
"Good," Archer nodded. "We were just about to head over ourselves. Lieutenant Sato," Archer continued as Hernandez's image winked out and was replaced by a view of the space station. "Please notify Babylon 5 that we're ready to head over."
"Yes, sir," Sato replied sounding a little disappointed that she wasn't joining them. Hoshi, enjoyed first contacts almost as much as Archer did because of the new languages it brought her into contact with. "Babylon 5 has cleared the landing pattern; we've got priority clearance."
"Hoshi," Archer said. "You'll get your chance to go aboard. Besides, I think we're going to be here a while." He glanced over to the engineering station. "Trip," Archer continued. "I don't need to tell you to take good care of Enterprise." Archer said as he headed for the turbolift, allowing the chief engineer to take his seat.
"I will, Captain," Trip assured him glancing back from the command chair he now occupied. "You take care of her as well.".
"We will Trip," Archer responded knowing his concerns.
O-O-O
Sheridan was probably enjoying this more then he should. The reason he'd first joined EarthForce was so that he could go on the greatest adventure of his life. He'd wanted to be an explorer, not stuck in some tin can tied to a desk; attempting to mediate disputes between any two or more of the various alien races represented on Babylon 5. It was rare, he knew, for someone in his position to have first contact with a new race. Especially so deep inside known space.
"They've just launched their shuttles," Ivanova said coming alongside him. "They should be here in few minutes." Ivanova paused checking a readout at the command station. "Damn," she corrected herself. "Make that a minute; those ships are fast."
"What's our friend Bester up to right now?" Sheridan asked, worried that the psi cop could throw a spanner into the works. If he learnt of the first contact situation, he be barging his way in trying to learn if they had telepaths.
"Talking with his superiors," Ivanova said darkly as the two headed through the exit. "Assuming he's telling the truth; which I doubt. I just can't shake the feeling, he's hiding something."
Sheridan silently agreed. "When isn't Bester hiding something," he paused as they arrived at a transport tube. "All right, lets go." Raising the hand he wore his link on, he activated it. "Sheridan to Garibaldi."
"Garibaldi," his security chief could be heard saying. "Go."
"Michael," Sheridan told him. "I need you to get down to the VIP dock. "We've got a first contact situation, and they want to hand over prisoners."
"Swell," Garibaldi's filtered voice replied. "I'll be there shortly. Want me to bring along a couple deputies?"
O-O-O
The docking bay re-pressurised itself, while both crews waited. When after a minute, the bay had pressurised, Security Chief Michael Garibaldi looked at the shuttles in small wonder; they were so small, yet also so fast. A moment later, the doors in the side of the three shuttlepods opened up revealing their occupants. As the crews emerged, he noticed the soldier-types dressed in combat camouflage fatigues with some sort of sleek black rifle held at the ready in their hands. He also noted that what he presumed were the officers, were also armed with some sort of side arm in holsters at their waists.
"I am sorry," Garibaldi said holding his hands up with his palms outward. "But, there are no weapons allowed on Babylon 5. Except for authorized personnel."
"Not a problem," the lead male said nodding. "All right, you heard him. Leave your phase pistols and pulse rifles in the shuttlepods."
"Captain," one of the male officers said in a very English sounding accent. This officer, Garibaldi noted, had red piping over his shoulders. "Are you sure it's wise to leave ourselves unarmed. We're going into an unknown situation. If they do prove..." Almost at once, Garibaldi knew this guy was his counterpart. He seemed to be just as paranoid about security as he himself was.
"Malcolm," the one who'd agreed to leave their weapons aside said. Absently, he noticed that this officer had yellowish piping on his shoulders. "This is their station. We follow their rules while we're aboard."
"Yes, sir," the one called Malcolm replied as he took off his pistol and placed it back inside the shuttlepod. A moment later, the other soldiers and officers began removing their weapons from their holsters and placed them in the shuttlepod. When they all appeared to be disarmed, Garibaldi followed Sheridan and Ivanova's lead in approaching the shuttles. Shuttlepods, he corrected himself inwardly. Remembering what he'd heard one of them saying.
The lead officer, stepped forward. "I'm Captain Jonathan Archer of the Starship Enterprise," Archer said pleasantly. He indicated the woman with long dark hair tied back in a ponytail. This woman also had yellow piping. "This is Captain Erika Hernandez of Columbia."
Guess that coloured piping indicates what division they serve in, Garibaldi thought to himself.
"Pleasure," Sheridan said shaking hands with Archer. "I'm Captain John Sheridan, commanding officer and military governor of Babylon 5. First off, I just want to thank you for rescuing our citizens."
"Our pleasure," Hernandez said. "Starfleet regulations require us to respond to any allied or neutral vessel in distress. It's great to be part of a first contact situation. Jon has been doing that for the past three years. Made the rest of us jealous." She paused thoughtfully. "Oh sorry. Manners. This is my security officer Lieutenant Alexa Folie, and my chief medical officer Commander Tru Summers."
Archer nodded. "This is my executive and science officer Commander T'Pol and my security officer Lieutenant Malcolm Reed." As Archer spoke. Garibaldi allowed himself a slight smile. He'd been right in his thinking about the English sounding officer.
"I guess it's my turn," Sheridan chuckled. He seemed a bit over exited, Garibaldi thought, not that he could blame him. This was the job Sheridan had originally wanted. "My executive officer, Commander Susan Ivanova, and the chief of security on Babylon 5, Michael Garibaldi."
"Then it is you who I need to talk to," the dark skinned, green eyed security chief from Columbia came over to him. "I'm here to escort the prisoners to you're holding facilities so that we can unshackle them for you."
"Thanks," was all he could say. Whoever these aliens were, they had extremely attractive females. It also seemed that they were a mix of two races. Either that, he thought. Or it's some sort of mutation. "Captain," Garibaldi said looking at his commanding officer. "You'll be all right?"
"Yeah," Sheridan confirmed. "Escort Lieutenant Folie and their prisoners to the holding cells."
The security detail grabbed the prisoners as both security chiefs exited the bay. A few moments later a lieutenant entered the area with a printed letter. As John read it, Archer noted Sheridan's face become taut with concern and seemed get somewhat upset. "Idiot," Archer could have sworn he heard Sheridan mutter under his breath.
"Captain," Sheridan looked up from the communique. "After I hailed you, regulations required me to make a report back to Earth Central and EarthGov. "They just sent me this report." Sheridan paused. "Am I right in saying, you had a run in at the Wolf 359 Deep Space Rendezvous Point with an EarthForce destroyer?"
Archer nodded neutrally, wondering where this was leading.
"I've been ordered by General Hague and the joint chiefs of staff to formally apologise for the actions of Captain James McTaggart and the crew of the EAS Invincible. Their actions were neither authorised nor approved by EarthGov, or the joint chiefs. I'm also to inform you that at some point in the next week, the Invincible will be making a stop over here and that McTaggart is to apologise in person." Sheridan handed the communique to Archer. "You can keep this copy and read it later at your leisure."
"Well," Archer said trying to lighten the mood. "At least you're not all trigger happy."
Sheridan smiled, indicating the bay's personnel exit. "If you will follow us? I've had a conference room set aside so we can talk in more privacy. You shouldn't have to worry about security, we have personal all over the station and you're VIPs after all."
"So how exactly did you end up in our space?" Sheridan asked as the group walked down a corridor. "Also if you don't mind me asking, what species are you?"
"Believe it or not I'm fully human," Archer said glancing at Sheridan. "So is Captain Hernandez, and most of the crew here. With the exception of Commanders T'Pol and Summers."
"Summers," Ivanova said glancing at the Columbia's chief medical officer. That's a human name."
"Yes," Summers nodded. "I am three quarters human, one quarter Vulcan. Commander T'Pol though, is a full blooded Vulcan."
"It seems you have a long story to tell," Ivanova responded. She paused, thinking how to ask her next question. "Is an all female officer crew normal for your people?" She'd noticed, that Hernandez's crew seemed at least to be almost completely female.
"Every ship has it's own demographics," Hernandez said. "Some ships like Enterprise have as many females as males aboard. Others can have more males or females. Columbia seems to have a lot of female officers, so I can't say yes or no." Hernandez admitted.
They approached the conference room, Archer saw that it had clearly been set up for this type of meeting. In the centre, was a table with what he was beginning to recognise as the EarthForce insignia insignia etched onto the glass top. It was also worn as a badge on left breast of the EarthForce officers uniform; a stylised 'E' over 'A'. On one of the walls, Archer could see audio-visual equipment and what appeared to be a small computer terminal.
"We have ice water," Sheridan said. "We didn't exactly know what species you were and weren't sure about dietary requirements, so we stuck with the basics."
"Commander T'Pol is vegetarian," Archer supplied. "But otherwise we can eat most normal foods."
"Lieutenant Reed..." Summers added automatically. "...has an allergy to Bromelain; commonly found in pineapples, though he still eats them I hear." She shot the Lieutenant a disapproving scowl, unaware that he took regular injections so he could eat them. "Lieutenant Folie is lactose intolerant."
"It helps to have a medical officer around," Sheridan laughed to ease the embarrassed Archer who had forgotten all about Reeds allergies.
"Please sit," Ivanova gestured as the group sat down. A moment later, emerging from another entrance, they saw some of Babylon 5's enlisted personal bring in the ice water.
"Well Captain," Archer began leaning on the table. "I believe you want some answers?"
"Yes," Sheridan nodded. "We do."
"I think Commander T'Pol can explain this better than I can," Archer said glancing T'Pol. "Commander?"
"I'm listening," Sheridan said to her.
O-O-O
Garibaldi's day was certainly getting better. He might be dealing with prisoners, but at least they're weren't psi cops. And as far as psi cops went, he thought Bester was the worst. Surprisingly, he thought, the prisoners that were being handed over actually seemed glad to be going into his custody. Silently, he wondered what they'd seen that had mollified them so much.
"So you're saying you're human?" Garibaldi said conversationally as he led the Columbia's security chief to Babylon 5's holding cells.
"Yes," Lieutenant Folie rolled her eyes, a habit she'd picked up from Lieutenant Lass. "I just said that."
"Swell," Garibaldi said. Guess I had that coming, didn't I? "So, how did you end up in security? And, where you from?"
"Family tradition," Folie said. "My family have a history of being cops in Detroit, Michigan and Beverly Hills, California. At least until my family moved to Mars. I however, broke that tradition by joining Starfleet."
"Wait a minute," Garibaldi was confused. Detroit? Beverly Hills? Mars? How the hell can they be from the Sol system? "Look, Miss," Garibaldi conveniently forgot her rank. "I was born on Mars. Next thing you're going to tell me is that Vorlons are really angels."
"Lieutenant, not Miss," Folie said a little annoyed. "I know it sounds strange. Your captain is probably thinking the same thing." Folie paused, it was her turn to be confused. "Vorlons?"
O-O-O
Ivanova's mouth was still hanging open. "Susan," Sheridan asked. "Are you okay? Do you want to look like a fish?"
"Are you kidding?" Ivanova blurted out, forgetting about the presence of their guests for a moment. "They claim that they are from another Earth. Which exists in another galaxy to boot! The Columbia's executive officer is supposedly a descendent of the great Marco Ramius."
"Oh great," Sheridan mouthed to himself. "Please God, have someone stop her from going on and on about her Russian heritage and how great Ramius is."
"Can I meet him?" Ivanova asked, unabashed. "To confirm your story." Marco was quiet handsome. She mentally slapped herself. These people are unknowns, they could be lying through their teeth. I mustn't let Russian Pride overtake common sense, Ivanova told herself.
"Her... Sean Ramius is female. She also makes a killer Salad Olivie," Hernandez corrected.
"Darn my Russian pride," Ivanova scolded herself again. My favourite form of potato salad. Her mouth opened again.
"Susan, please stop it." Sheridan was clearing getting unnerved.
O-O-O
Standing before the entrance to the cell, Garibaldi glared at the last prisoner as he was ordered into the last cell. "Step back into the cell," Garibaldi ordered.
The prisoner complied. "And extend your arms out in front," Folie said. "Hands just beyond the door."
As the prisoner complied yet again, Folie held her control padd up and pressed a couple of controls. The cuffs separated and dropped to the floor just outside the cell.
"That's the last of them," Garibaldi said, shutting the cell door on the prisoner.
"Yeah," As Folie reached down, picking up the cuffs, she heard it again. "Chief, what is that racket?"
Garibaldi smiled. "Oh, that's just Citizen G'Kar singing to his heart''s content. I think he's happier in here, than out there." He indicated the station.
As they walked down the cell block, trying to ignore G'Kar, Garibaldi activated his link. "Garibaldi to Sheridan."
"Sheridan, go."
"Prisoners are secure," Garibaldi told him.
"Understood, Chief," Sheridan said before closing the channel.
"Lieutenant," Garibaldi said eyeing the cuffs. "Those look impressive."
"Sorry?" Folie said.
"The cuffs you used," Garibaldi explained. "The way you didn't need physical contact with the prisoner to remove them."
"Yeah," Folie agreed. "Usually, once they're in place, we don't remove them. We just separate or attach the two halves."
"Wish we had that," Garibaldi said as they arrived at his office.
Folie paused in thought, considering what he just said. The technology behind the cuffs was pretty basic. She doubted it would be a violation to conveniently lose a pair. "Here," she said giving him a pair of the cuffs and the control padd. "Keep them. Just don't tell anyone I gave you them."
Garibaldi smiled, escorting her into what was the nerve centre for station security.
As soon as she stepped in, she was immediately immersed by a multitude of overlapping sounds and information. In the centre of the room was a free-standing transparent vertical cross section of the station. Just inside, was a fairly large station at which one of Garibaldi's deputies was sitting, watching some of the security footage. His uniform, Folie thought, didn't fit him properly.
"Lieutenant," Garibaldi said. "I don't suppose your captain has a credit account to deposit your reward credits into?"
"No, sorry," Folie said simply.
"Not a problem," Garibaldi told her. "Zack, run off a cashiers cheque would you. Lieutenant, it can be exchanged for hard credits at any bank."
"Okay then," The cheque printed out, ripping it off he handed it to her. "Here it is. You can get hard credits at any bank."
"Thank you," Folie accepted the slip of paper.
"Well, you did a public service," Garibaldi said, escorting her back out the room. It was time for him to escort her back her own people. "Ah, just to let you know. We will need to have a commissioned officer from either ship to provide a witnesses testimony."
"That is fine," Folie nodded as they walked down the corridor. "I will inform the captain."
"You know," Garibaldi said conversationally. "I was having a look at the securecam footage of the battlewagon. You cut into it pretty neatly."
"Not neatly enough," Folie half growled to herself. "We actually tried to avoid casualties," Folie explained. "It was our intention to take out only their power plant. Unfortunately, doing so also disabled their decompression safeties. So when we punched through their hull, most of the crew..."
Garibaldi nodded. She didn't have to say any more. Instead, he changed the subject. "Tell me about your Mars."
O-O-O
"When I was speaking with Miss Polinger en route here," Archer said. "She told me you have an organisation called Psi Corps?"
"Yes," Sheridan confirmed. "Officially, Psi Corps exist to protect, control and identify telepaths. Human telepaths that are born in the Earth Alliance, that is." Although, people like Bester would say otherwise. Sheridan mentally added. These humans were autonomous and separate from the Earth Alliance and were not subject to Earth Alliance laws concerning telepaths.
"From what we have heard they are not very well liked," Archer commented.
"Not really," Sheridan agreed, thinking of Bester. "No."
"Why do you oppress your telepathic population?" T'Pol enquired.
Sheridan thought about how to put that. "We have to make sure they get the proper training so as to not hurt themselves nor others," he explained. "While I don't agree with most of what Psi Corps does. I do agree with that." Sheridan paused. "If I may ask, how do you handle your telepaths?"
"We don't," Archer said. "We don't have any human telepaths."
"Really? None?" Sheridan rose his eyebrows in surprise.
"We have some people with clairvoyance," Archer said thoughtfully. "Basic prediction of cards. Mostly stuff attributed to enhanced intuition. Most of our experience with telepathy, has been with other races. They're either telepathic or not."
"You have entire races who are telepathic?" Ivanova asked, understanding the implications.
"Yes," T'Pol confirmed. "It tends to vary with the individual and the race. For instance most of my race are touch telepaths." T'Pol expanded. "However until very recently, most Vulcans considered use of these abilities as abhorrent behaviour. As a result, most Vulcans lack the training to use them." T'Pol finished.
"You mean you're a telepath?" Ivanova stepped back fast.
T'Pol nodded, taking a sip of her water. "Do not be afraid, I am not well trained in telepathy. Additionally, I would consider it an invasion of privacy to use those abilities without permission."
"Sorry," Ivanova said taking her seat again. "But, I just don't trust telepaths."
"But," Commander Summers looked at her for a moment. "You're telepathic aren't you?"
"I thought," Ivanova said accusingly. "You didn't use your abilities without permission?"
"We don't," Summers reassured her. "But, my mixed heritage has given me the ability to tell when other telepaths are nearby."
O-O-O
"You telling me," Garibaldi asked as he approached the conference room being used for this first contact meeting. "Your Mars has state rights?"
"Yes," Folie said. "Ever since it's founding. They have an equal voice in the senate. It set the precedence for the other colonies we founded."
"Swell. Your United Earth seems like a good place to live." Garibaldi thought aloud. "Too good," he added under his breath.
"It is, ever been to the original Disneyland in Anaheim or Sea World in San Diego? I loved watching the killer whales. Too bad the humpbacks went extinct."
"San Diego exists on your Earth?"
"Yes, I have been there once. Went during my academy training. It was a nice city."
"Do you have pictures?"
"Why do you ask?"
Garibaldi scratched his head "Our San Diego was nuked by terrorists."
"Ouch" was all she could say.
"Yeah," Garibaldi agreed. "It's now an underwater memorial. At least, we still have humpback whales!"
"I'd love to see them!" Folie said as they entered the conference room.
"See what, Lieutenant?" Hernandez asked her as her voice had carried over.
"They still have humpback whales, sir. Sorry for being loud." Folie took a deep breath, calming herself down. She'd loved sea animals, ever since she was a child. Her fascination with the sea and everything in it, she suspected, had been because Mars lacked oceans.
The meeting continued as the two officers took their places.
"Do not worry, Commander Ivanova's telepathic ability will stay a secret. Especially from Psi Corp." Archer assured them.
"I can't speak directly for the United Earth government," Commander Summers paused. "But, should they find out, and you need protection. I believe the captains would be happy to give you or anyone who does not wish to be under the thumb of the Psi Corps asylum aboard our ships."
"Yes we would," Archer agreed with the idea of giving shelter to persecuted humans.
"Assuming the telepathic abilities are similar, I could even help them learn how to not only control themselves but to stop anyone from scanning them or even detecting them."
"Training a telepath could be a chore," Ivanova said, remembering some of the telepaths she'd known. "They usually have emotional problems."
"Who doesn't have emotional problems," Summers nodded. "We are all sentient beings. I do have a degree in psychotherapy as well as exobiology and my Medical Doctorate."
"That is good to hear," Ivanova said, she sensed that they were honest. But, it frightened her. Her mother's suicide still lingered. Right now she didn't know this Tru Summers, but time would tell if she would take her offer of help. Nothing usually came free, she knew all too well.
"Since we have gotten the essentials out of the way," Sheridan said calmly. "Would you care for a tour of the station?"
"Yes we would love to see the station," Hernandez and Archer both said at the same time. "Looks like you owe me a drink Jon." Hernandez added.
"Blast it," Archer pretended to be smitten and laughed.
"By the way," Sheridan said after moment. "I have to warn you to be careful of anyone with the Psi Corps insignia. We've currently got an official from that organisation with us. Alfred Bester."
"Should we worry about him scanning us?" T'Pol asked.
"He's a psi cop," Sheridan informed her. "Normally, they're job is to simply enforce the Earth Alliance's laws regarding telepaths. But, I trust him only as far as I can throw him. Right now, we've got him on a drug that suppresses his abilities. However, it should be wearing off soon, and I wouldn't put it past him to try something if we run into him."
O-O-O
The cell opened as a Human and a Narn entered it. "Hi Pops."
"Kat," G'Kar said rising from where he'd been sitting to hug her. "G'Quinn! It is good to see you two."
"I wish it was not under these circumstances," Kat told him. "I heard what you did."
"No, it is better this way." G'Kar whispered. "Being in here allows me to think." He resumed his normal voice. "So, how was the trip?"
"Very exciting," Kat told him. "We met humans from another galaxy. They seem like good people and very technologically advanced, I would say on par if not greater then the minbari."
"More advanced than the Minbari?" G'Kars eyes lit up with excitement as Kat nodded. "Tell me more!"