Chapter Four
"Now for the most important question," Garibaldi announced, scratching his head as Sheridan gave an inward groan. "Do you have Daffy Duck?"
"You mean Donald?" Alexa looked confused.
"What?" Garibaldi looking utterly shocked.
"Kidding," Alexa smiled. "Had you going there for a moment. We've got all the famous Loony Toon characters. Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig..."
"Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century!" Garibaldi grinned at Commander Summers impression of the announcer. He was, to say the least, very impressed.
"So you share some of our cultural history?" Sheridan glanced at Archer as they walked down a corridor.
"Yes," Archer agreed. "It's beginning to look that way. It's strange how much we have in common. Given how far apart United Earth is from the Earth Alliance, I'd have thought our histories would have been completely different."
"I hope you don't find this an odd question," Sheridan asked. "But, have you ever heard of a an old television show called Dallas?" Sheridan seemed a bit nervous. It wasn't exactly something one would normally ask at a first contact situation. But, he just had to know.
"No, I haven't," Archer was never into television shows. "I usually follow water polo and other sports. Not television shows."
"It is a 20th Century show. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I haven't seen it." Summers informed him.
"You see," Sheridan said neutrally. "We have lost the episode where it is revealed who shot the main character, JR. So, we have no clue as to who it was who shot JR. It is one of the questions which everyone especially the Vree and the Brakiri wanted to know." He tried to explain. "It is a big cultural mystery of sorts. The Brakiri even have a two billion credit reward for a copy of the episode."
"I don't have a clue," Summer said humorously. "I am more into science fiction and fantasy. If I may, I could ask someone else." She took out her communicator and flipped it open, activating it. "Summers to Columbia."
"Columbia here," a woman's voice could be heard through the device.
"George, didn't you say you watched Dallas once with a friend?"
"Oh God," the filtered voice of Lieutenant Georgia Lass could be heard saying. "Don't remind me. Roxy made me watch that horridly dated show. I wanted to wash out my eyes with holy water after seeing it." Summers could picture George shaking her head and rolling her eyes in her signature move of disgust.
"Well, do you remember who shot JR?" She hoped that George would remember.
"Are you trying seriously to get me to hurt you on purpose?" Summers could feel the death stare from over the hand held communicator.
"It's important," She pleaded, then added in a small bribe. "I'll let you borrow that red dress you like."
"Well," Lass paused, trying to remember. "It was Kristin Shepard. They really liked to show women as sluts back then. Fucking retarded chauvinistic male producers."
"George, Archer and Hernandez are with me," Summers said carefully. "So are the senior members of the station."
"Oh, oops! Sorry!" Lass's voice rose a few octaves.
Summers shook her head. "Do we have a copy of the episode on file?"
"You have to be pulling my leg, why would you want that?" Lass knew that Summers had a weird taste in movies. All the sci-fi crap. She was more into the action movies.
"There is a two billion credit reward for a copy from an alien race called the Brakiri." Summers explained.
"You're fucking kidding me," Lass sounded incredulous. "Let me check." For a moment, the channel went quiet. Well mostly quiet, Summers acute hearing could make out the sound of tapping and and reciprocating bleeps. "No, unfortunately not. Though we would be charged with a war crime for spreading that show across the cosmos"
"I approve of George," Ivanova said quietly, causing everyone to stare at her. Sheridan's mouth opened in shock. "And he tells me I look like a fish."
O-O-O
"Their technology is amazing," Kat started, leaning up against the cell wall. "We felt more like we were in a luxury hotel rather than a starship."
"True. I bring gifts," Mal took out a refrigerated container which G'Kar opened up.
"Carrot juice?" he inquired as he opened the drink container sipping it. "Tastes fresh, and Swedish meat balls." He added, noticing the rest of the container.
"Yes, he had that almost every day," Kat complained jovially. "Pig!"
"Big talk ," Mal countered. "Miss 'I must have my cup of hot chocolate and chocolate bars every day.'" Mal teased back.
"Do they have hydroponics?" G'Kar wondered as few ships had that luxury.
"Not from what I was told," Kat answered. "But, they can resequence proteins and carbohydrates to make simple foods and beverages."
"So, this is recycled material," G'Kar drank more of it. "Good stuff."
"Yes, we were surprised also," Kat agreed. "Though the ships do carry some stored foods as well as the resequenced material."
"We had real beef steak!" Kat remembered fondly. It was a rare to find fresh meat on a starship. "They made good Swedish meatballs as well. That is why we brought you some."
"Besides their great food," G'Kar enquired. "What makes you say they are more advanced than the Minbari?"
"They are able to accelerate to ten percent of light light speed within seconds," Mal told them. "They have artificial gravity on shuttles smaller than this cell, and they were able to gut a battlewagon with a single shot of their shipboard weaponry."
G'Kar's eye balls were close to coming out of his sockets.
"That is not all," Mal remembered. "They don't use hyperspace to travel the stars. They used something called warp drive."
"Warp drive?" G'Kar had never heard of such a technology.
"All I know is that they generate a field to bypass the light speed barrier and push the ship beyond the speed of light, all within real space." Kat explained.
"This sounds familiar," G'Kar said. "I seem to recall the Centauri had a similar drive. But, they could only go a little faster than the speed of light, which didn't allow for very efficient travel between the stars. They were never able to perfect it either. They abandoned it when they discovered hyperspace. So how did they discover this warp drive?"
"Someone called Zefram Cochrane, the humans in that galaxy learned to travel the stars on their own. They then made first contact with a race called the Vulcans, who helped them clean up their environment, repair their ecosystem from the damage inflicted in their third world war. They eliminated poverty and hunger. All this within two generations."
"It must have cost them a pretty penny," G'Kar thought aloud, remembering the outrageous prices the Centauri had charged the Earth Alliance for jump drives and other technologies.
Mal chuckled. "That, is what I thought as well. They gave those particular technologies freely."
O-O-O
"Wow," Archer said glancing out the window of the core shuttle as it left the forward part of the station and emerged into the main part of Babylon 5 – a massive cylindrical garden. "Quite the garden spot you've got here, Captain." Looking down, Archer could see intermixed with the greenery various structures from what looked like commercial and office complexes to residential blocks.
"Yes," Sheridan agreed. "That was my reaction too when I first took command of Babylon 5, just over a year ago now. We call it the garden, and it runs all the way from the aft half of red sector – the commercial heart of the station – to grey sector where most of the stations maintenance areas are. There is everything from a sports complex, swimming pools, a baseball field to meditation gardens. It's even got a zen garden."
"Do they hold water polo matches?" Archer asked, remembering the time he'd jokingly asked Commander Tucker if they could get a swimming pool aboard Enterprise.
"You know," Sheridan said. "I think they have from time to time. Not that I ever get the chance to go for a swim these days. The most I manage to get is the occasional pitching session on the baseball field."
"That's where he goes when he's frustrated," Garibaldi said informally. "So he can work out his aggression at various diplomats."
"Know the feeling," Archer agreed. "Getting the hang of playing baseball on an O'Neill must have been a chore." He was remembering the cloister effect associated with centrifugal force used to produce the effect of gravity.
"Huh?" Ivanova said, looking confused. "What do you mean?"
"Yes, the players have to learn to adjust for the cloister effect," Garibaldi replied making Ivanova groan inwardly. Starfleet people seem to have a good amount of knowledge on things. Archer must have read up on the physics of the station before they arrived. She made a mental note that Garibaldi was smarter then he let on, she always suspected this, but this was something she could not overlook.
"Captain," T'Pol said. "I noticed on the station map, that there are a further two further sectors. What are they?"
At once, Sheridan and Ivanova winced. "Brown sector and fusion plant. Brown sector is an area of the station that has never been fully fitted out." Ivanova answered for Sheridan. "The area is inhabited mostly by the lurkers. It's not a nice place exactly to visit."
Archer's communicator came to life. He flipped it open. "Archer here."
"Captain," Lieutenant Sato's voice could be heard saying. "Sorry to bother you. But, the Babylon 5 transport association wants to meet with representatives from our ships to iron out the deal the Wreckers proposed."
"Alright, have Ensign Mayweather fetch Lieutenant Lass and go meet them."
"Captain, a request?"
"Yes, you can join them," Archer said smiling inwards. "After all, they might need a translator."
"Thank you, sir," the communication ended, but he could imagine her cheering on the other side. She had been itching to visit the station ever since they had arrived.
"Sorry to be prying, what deal?" Sheridan enquired.
"Well, to put it bluntly," Archer said as he put his communicator away. "Our credits are limited and we will eventually need spare parts, and other materials. We are offering our services as armed escorts."
"Captain, do you mind if we go meet up with them? I'd like to go see the zen garden." Summers asked.
"Sure," Hernandez agreed. "Take Lieutenant Folie with you."
"Yes, sir," Folie acknowledged. To Garibaldi. "Come with?" Garibaldi nodded.
"I'll also help escort them," Ivanova spoke up. "Besides, I want to meet this Lieutenant Lass; she seems like a person I would like."
"Swell," was all Garibaldi could say.
"Then it is settled?" Hernandez asked.
"Yes," Archer nodded.
"Good, you owe me that drink." Hermendez teased.
"Speaking of which," Sheridan suggested. "Why don't I take you to Earhearts. The station's EarthForce personnel club bar."
"Sounds like a plan," Reed said who needed a good stiff drink, after sitting through a very long and boring meeting.
O-O-O
"Come on Travis," Lieutenant Sato said rising from her station. "We've just been given permission to go over."
"What?" Commander Tucker said glancing up at the communications officer and helmsman. "How come you two get to go over the station before I do?"
"Captain's orders," Ensign Mayweather said grinning as the relief helmsman took over his station. "Besides, I think the captain wants you to keep his chair warm for him."
"So now I'm a chair warmer," Trip said giving Travis and Hoshi a mock glower. "Remind me to tell the captain to bar you two from future landing parties."
"Oh, Ensign," Hoshi said glancing back at her station as she called the turbolift. "Contact Columbia, tell Lieutenant Lass we'll meet her in their launch bay."
"Aye, sir," the relief officer said as he went to work at the communications station.
"And, Commander," Hoshi said as she and Travis stepped into the turbolift. "That will never happen as long as Captain Archer needs a translator."
"And, a haggler," Maywether added as the turbolift closed.
O-O-O
"They give the technologies freely?" G'Kar asked, not sure he'd heard that right. He'd never heard of any race who gave away technology freely.
"Yes, they are very much into humanitarian aid." Kat proudly said, with Mal nodding to confirm.
"Then the home world can be healed, once we free it from the Centauri" G'Kar paused in his thinking.
"They also protect races who have not achieved warp," Mal added. "They do not interfere with their cultures nor enslave them." He was thinking bitterly about how the Centauri had taken the young Narn race and turned them into slaves. "While they do observe and study the culture of races without warp, they wait until they have achieved it, before making first contact. This way they can talk with them on an even footing."
"I want you two to help them as much as you can," G'Kar wished Narn was in the other galaxy rather then this one. They seemed to know how to treat other races and cultures with respect. Something this galaxy needed a big dose of.
"Yes, maybe they can help us free Narn!" Mal said grinning.
"Don't be foolish young one," G'Kar told him. "They are still only two ships. We will need to earn their confidence, but if they are as good as you claim, they would be powerful allies." He reached into his pockets "Here is access to some accounts that the Centauri did not manage to get."
"You want us to buy their technology?" Kat asked.
"No, from what you tell me they will need materials, you will need the currency in case they require assistance."
"But, aren't we manipulating them?" Kat protested.
"They help the weak," G'Kar said. "They respect other cultures. Most importantly they protected you when you needed it the most. Actions are stronger than words." He paused, looking up at the ceiling. "I need to think more." He faced the two again. "Have faith. Help these people with their troubles, and who knows, we might get something great in return. The universe is good about that. You humans call it Karma, I believe."
O-O-O
"Hey, Lieutenant. Over here," Summers waved as she saw Lieutenants Lass and Sato with Ensign Mayweather entered the currently empty passengers lounge.
"Hey Tru," Lass said. "Nice to finally see a friendly face. Feels like I just passed through customs at Seattle-Tacoma International."
Summers just grinned. Being part of the first contact party, had had its advantages; like bypassing customs. "The Wreckers crew paged us through babcom, the stations internal communications system. They told us to wait for them here.
"I hate meetings, Lets hope this one's short." It was common knowledge on the Columbia that Lieutenant Lass's hatred of meetings was legendary. What wasn't common knowledge was why. Summers though, knew it stemmed from Lass's employment at a temping agency in the early 21st Century, shortly after she'd died, and been forced to endure numerous pointless meetings.
"I hate meetings as well," Ivonova admitted, reminding the others of her presence. "It's easier just to do it. Too much talk."
"It just reminds me of the 'get to know your coworker meetings or outings," Lass told Ivanova. "Those still haunt me. There are some things you never want to know about people, especially about your coworkers."
"Very true," Ivonova agreed, thinking of Garibaldi's second favourite thing in the universe and how he insisted on showing it to everyone; namely Daffy Duck.
"So how is the station?" Hoshi asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Pretty nifty," Summers told her. "We're going to see the zen garden after we make sure you meet up with the Wreckers."
"Zen garden?" Hoshi enquired, going all puppy eyed. "I can't remember the last time I saw one. Could I join you? Please." Commander Summers, technically being a senior officer could allow her to join the others.
"We sorta, kinda need a translator," George reminded her, upset that she was being forced to go to a meeting while Hoshi wanted to go off sightseeing.
"Don't worry, they speak Earth Standard," Kat's voice could be heard from behind them. "Besides we'll be there with them. If you'd come with us?"
"Earth Standard?" Lass enquired.
"Used to be called English," Kat told them.
The smile on Hoshi's face grew an inch wider. "So I take it that is a yes?"
"Ah, not fair," George muttered under her breath. "God this fucking pisses me off."
"Life isn't fair young one" Ivanova tried to sound serious and all knowing.
Young one my ass, I'm older then your great great great great grandmother, George thought to herself.
"Gee, thanks Obi Wan." She gave Mayweather a friendly shove. "Let's go Travis, follow Kat."
"But..." Travis protested, wanting to be introduced to the new people.
"Move it or loose it, Ensign," Lass said, glaring at the helmsman. Garibaldi shivered.
"Yes, sir," Travis said weakly. He'd heard that if you got on her bad side, she could make your life miserable; even if she was on another ship. The two followed Kat into the Zocalo.
"Wow," Ivanova said, impressed as she began leading them in the direction of the garden. "She's bossy all right."
"Yeah," Summers agreed. "She can get that way. Big mouth on her as well. She doesn't admit it, but she's a lot smarter than she lets on."
"Don't misunderstand me," Ivanova looked up feeling a bit of pride, she'd finally met someone whom had a very similar mentality as herself. "I meant that as a compliment. Maybe with more experience and wisdom she might reach the same level as I."
Summers laughed. "You haven't seen her at her best. This is her on her..." she said the words slowly to emphasise them. "...best behaviour."
"Looks like you got a rival," Garibaldi chuckled, getting a cold stare from Ivanova.
"Excuse my manners," Summer said, realising she hadn't made the introductions. "Lieutenant, junior grade, Hoshi Sato." Summers indicated the direction of the Zocalo. "That was Lieutenant, junior grade, Georgia Lass with Ensign Travis Mayweather."
"Michael Garibaldi, chief of security." He shook the young lieutenant's hand.
"I'm Commander Susan Ivanova, executive officer." She shook Hoshi's hand also.
"Pleasure," Hoshi said. "I can't wait to meet some of the aliens you have here."
"I hear your a linguist?" Garibaldi had heard that she was good at it as well.
"Yes," Hoshi nodded. "I can speak several languages and used to hold a professorship at a university in Brazil. I've been trying to learn Minbari, it's very interesting."
"Wow, that is a chore," Garilbaldi told her. "They have three languages. Worker, Warrior and Religious." Garibaldi had heard she was good, but most people rarely spoke more then two or three languages.
"Really," Sato said raising an eyebrow. "I only heard one dialect in the broadcasts." Garibaldi thought she looked like the proverbial kid in the equally proverbial candy store.
Wondering just how good, the linguist actually was, Ivanova switched to her native Russian. "I bet she thinks learning a language is easy." She chuckled.
"It is if you know how," Hoshi answered fluently in Russian. Ivanova raised her eyebrows.
"You speak Russian well," Ivanova complimented. "I'm impressed. You don't even have an accent."
"Thank you," Hoshi, unlike other people Ivanova had met, seemed earnest. It was refreshing to say the least.
"My," Summers said aloud. "The view is different from down here."
"Yeah," Folie nodded in agreement. "it looked so small from the sky tram." She paused, then corrected herself. "I mean the core shuttle."
"There is a sky tram?" Hoshi glanced up, spying two of the tracks that they ran along. She couldn't see any of the trams,
"There are three core shuttles," Folie told her.
"Commander Ivanova," a female voice could be heard saying from behind them. "Mister Garibaldi. A pleasure to see you here." Hoshi glanced in the direction of the speaker, noticing a slender woman with long dark hair and what appeared to be a bony crest running behind her head above level with her eyes.
"Ambassador Delenn," Ivanova greeted her. "Visiting the zen garden again, I see?"
"Yes I find it relaxing," Delenn said. Show paused, noticing the others that were with Ivanova and Garibaldi. They all looked to be human, well mostly human. One of them did seem to have more pointy ears than the others. "You have visitors?" Delenn asked; curious as to who these new people were.
"Yes," Ivanova explained. "These are officers from the two new ships who are visiting us."
"Ah," Delenn said smiling. "A pleasure to meet you. I am Delenn of the Minbari. Ambassador to Babylon 5."
"This is Lieutenant Alexa Folie," Ivanova began. "Lieutenant Hoshi Sato and Commander Tru Summers."
Delenn nodded politely.
"Sim'wa," Hoshi greeted her in Minbari. "It's an honour to meet you."
"Sim'wa," Delenn returned. She paused before reverting back to Earth Standard. "I am honoured that you speak my language."
"I am learning, your dress reminds me of a kimono, it is very pretty. You also have lovely hair"
Hoshi commented on the long dark hair the Minbari female wore.
"Thank you very much, your hair seems to be nice as well. Too bad you keep it tied up."
"Starfleet regulations" She explained.
"That language sounds a lot like Elven, as written by J.R.R Tolkien." Summers said absently.
"That's funny considering your ears," Garibaldi winced as he felt himself get poked in the ribs. "Commander..."
"Commander Summers is mostly human," Ivanova explained, figuring that Delenn would understand due to her transformation the previous year, becoming part human. Both Commander Summers and Delenn were hybrids of a sort. "Her ears are the result of her mixed heritage. She is part Vulcan."
"Really?" Delenn enquired. "What is this Elven? Who is Tolkien?"
"Elven is a language created by Tolkien, a writer on Earth, in the 1960s," Summers explained. "There are several dialects of it. They are derivatives of various Earth languages. Anyhow. It forms part of the mythos surrounding the Lord of The Rings, The Hobbit and The Sylmarian."
"Could you speak some of the language?" Delenn asked, sounding curious.
"I am not well versed," Summers admitted. "Though, I do know a poem which was translated into Western Common or English as the book is written in it. It is one of my favourites, though it is fairly sad. It's about an elven king, named Gil-galad."
"May I hear it?" Delenn asked, her curiosity rising rapidly.
"Very well," Summers nodded, recalling the poem:
"Gil-galad was an Elven-king.
Of him the harpers sadly sing: the last whose realm was fair and free between the Mountains and the Sea. His sword was long, his lance was keen, his shining helm afar was seen; the countless stars of heaven's field were mirrored in his silver shield. But long ago he rode away, and where he dwelleth none can say; for into darkness fell his star in Mordor where the shadows are."
Delenn went pale as she heard the last line. How do they know of the Shadows? Delenn thought rapidly. "What do you know about the Shadows? What is this Mordor?"
"Mordor was the realm of Sauron," Summers went on. "One of the great evils of Middle Earth. It is the focus of the Lord of The Rings. I have the books, and and the movies if you wish to take a look."
"Yes, I would very much like to," Delenn was both intrigued and surprised. How can they know about the Shadows? She thought again. The Earth of that period had only just started venturing into space. They shouldn't have had any genuine knowledge of aliens, let alone Shadows.
"I hope you enjoy them," Summers said. "I have to say, my favourite character is Legolas, though George's favourite is Strider or Aragorn, the ranger from the north." George had seen so many jerks in her long life that she confessed to Tru that she would have loved to have known someone as noble and cool as Aragorn.
"Ranger?" This was disturbing, yet very revealing. Is that a subtle reference to the Anla'shok?
"Yeah, the rangers are cool," Summers continued. "They fought the evil that came from the shadows of Sauron and Mordor. They walked the paths less travelled." As she spoke, Summers had noticed the colour draining from Delenn's face. "Are you okay, Ambassador?"
"Yes," Delenn nodded abruptly, trying to brace herself from the shock. How could have this human writer known so much, she needed to know more, and she needed to speak with the Vorlon, Ambassador Kosh. This Tolkien must have had a Minbari soul, Delenn realised. I have to find out more about the books and movies she referred to.
O-O-O
"My God," Doctor Steven Franklin was mortified. He had arrived at the bar to take a break from all of the stress, and to meet the newly arrived Humans from another galaxy.
"They killed seven million people? Without any provocation? What kind of monsters are they?" Sheridan's reaction was echoed across the other EarthForce personal. They had suffered heavy casualties in the Earth/Minbari War and that only accounted for roughly two hundred and fifty thousand or so people. Even the attacks on the Narn by the Centauri did not cause that high of a death toll.
"The desperate kind of people," Captain Archer told them. "They were lied to by another race into believing that we would cause their extinction. That was the initial trial weapon, it was roughly the size of a shuttlepod."
"Smaller actually," Lieutenant Reed added. "The final third weapon was even larger than the Enterprise. The particle beam weapon the probe fired cut a swath of destruction from mid-Florida to Venezuela"
"That kind of firepower is scary, how did you beat them?" Sheridan's curiosity was rising.
"A lot of luck. We got help from an Andorian, Commander Shran, who helped us fight the escort fleet. We also managed to reason with the Xindi and defeat the real people pulling the strings.
"Your alien allies came to help you?" Sheridan said surprised. "During the Minbari War, our allies didn't."
"They weren't allies at the time," Archer admitted. "More like acquaintances. We'd had a few run ins with them. He 'owed me one'. We are allies now, however. They helped form the Coalition of Planets after we were attacked by a hostile race called the Romulan Star Empire."
"The Coalition of Planets?"
"Yes. United Earth, Vulcan, the Andorian Empire, Rigel, Denobula, Coridan, and Tellar." Archer looked at T'Pol to confirm he was correct. "They're the core members of the Coalition of Planets."
"The final weapon was destroyed before it could destroy Earth," Archer said. "Thank God."
"They built a death star?" Franklin was speechless.
"No, The Death Star was much bigger, and I believe the effect of the planetary destruction was much quicker."
"You have Star Wars as well?" Franklin was puzzled how so much of their histories were the same.
"T'Pol, You have seen Star Wars?" Reed was equally amazed.
"I saw it on the ship," T'Pol said neutrally. "During one of the movie nights, with Commander Tucker."
"Who is that?" Franklin whispered into Reed's ear.
"Her boyfriend," he replied. "It's no use whispering, she can hear you from across the room."
"Well, he is one lucky bastard." Franklin tried to save himself.
"So," Sheridan asked. "You got any more stories from your conflict with the Xindi?"
"Well," Archer said thoughtfully. "There was the Battle of Azati Prime. I'll let Lieutenant Reed tell the story, since I was kind of indisposed at the time."
"Now," Sheridan said, taking a sip of his drink. "This I've got to hear."
"Well," Reed began. Even now almost two years later, he could still recall the events as clearly as if they had happened yesterday. "At the time, Enterprise had been hiding behind a moon just outside of the systems detection grid..."
"Four Xindi vessels," Reed reported from his station on the dimly lit bridge as T'Pol emerged from the turbolift."Closing fast."
"Hail them," T'Pol commanded, glancing at Ensign Sato at the communications station, as she took the command chair.
"No response," Hoshi shook her head in frustration."
Glancing up from his station, Reed looked alarmed as he realised they intended to attack. "They're charging weapons."
"Hull plating," T'Pol commanded, somehow giving the order a sense of urgency without altering her tone or even raising her voice. "Ensign," she continued, addressing Ensign Mayweather at the helm. "Evasive manoeuvres."
"Aye, sir," Reed said, then paused as he saw something new. "Incoming!"
An instant later the ship lurched violently as a thunderous explosion could be heard echoing through the decks, forcing him to grab the edge of his console just so he wouldn't go flying.
"Return fire," he heard T'Pol order, flicking his eyes to the centre of the bridge, he saw her gripping the arms of the command chair. "Damge report."
"Helm is sluggish," Maywther called from the helm as he furiously entered new command and instructions. "Direct hit to the forward port RCS assembly. Attempting..." He broke off as the ship lurched again. "...to compensate."
"Comms. are being jammed!" Hoshi announced.
"Hull plating at thirty percent," Reed said, firing the ships phase cannons as he locked a photonic torpedo on an insectoid ship. "Torpedo away... Direct hit!"
"Sounds like you were being pounded," Sheridan said thoughtfully. "I don't think I'd have wanted to be there."
"You wouldn't have," Archer agreed talking a sip from his pint. "You should have seen the ship after I managed to get back to it."
"So," Franklin asked. "Where were you while your ship was being pounded?"
"Me," Archer said. "I was in a Xindi brig; trying to convince my captors to abort the launch of their weapon. At the time, I was completely unaware of the attack on Enterprise. It wasn't until the reptilians came back that I learnt of the attack." He paused. "Malcolm..."
"As you surmised," Reed nodded at Sheridan. "The battle was not going well for us. We'd lost our defensive and offensive systems. The helm wasn't responding and the hull had been torn up in too many places to mention..."
"We've got breaches on C, D and E!"
"Close them off," T'Pol commanded him.
Reed tried, but he wasn't getting any response. The ship had taken too many hits and the instructions weren't getting to their destinations. "The bulkheads aren't responding. We're venting atmosphere..."
He trailed off as the ship lurched violently. In the ceiling, the central lighting panel broke away and crashed to the deck in a rain of sparks forcing Mayweather to dodge away from the helm as fires broke out. The bridge was slowly filling up with smoke. "Another breach on C deck. E deck's de-pressurising! We can't take much more of this."
Reed broke off, as suddenly everything went calm. The deck was no longer shuddering and even the sound of rumbling explosions had ceased. The only sound was the crackling of overloaded consoles and and the whine of the atmospheric recycling systems struggling to clean the atmosphere. For almost a full ten seconds no one spoke. It was Reed who broke the silence. "They've ceased firing. Moving off, back into the system."
"Ensign," T'Pol said urgently. "Get us out of here."
"I don't think we're going anywhere," Mayweather said remorseful. "Thrusters are down."
O-O-O
"High five," Lieutenant Lass exclaimed raising and slapping the palm of her hand against Ensign Mayweather's as he reciprocated the gesture.
"We did good," Maywether agreed, giving her a grin that showed off his pearly white teeth. "I think my father would have been proud of our negotiating skills." He paused and grinned again. "I mean, haggling skills."
"Are you kidding," Lass said humorously. "We kicked some ass."
"I must say I'm impressed with your tactics," Kat complimented as she joined the two Starfleet officers, approaching from behind them. "I don't think you're going to have any trouble getting contracts. In fact," she paused. "I think you're going to have more problems turning potential contracts away."
"I would not have expected something like this from someone so young," Mal agreed. He'd learned a few things from Lieutenant Lass and the dark skinned ensign as he observed them negotiating. It was a rare thing for him to learn something from someone else; usually, he was the one doing the teaching. A short distance ahead, was the Zocalo where they were to meet up with the others.
"Thanks for helping us set up the credit account," Lass said sounding grateful. Since she was glancing at Kat as the small group headed down a stair well, she didn't notice the tall dark haired and bearded human coming up the stairwell. A moment later, they collided.
After a moments recovery, she glared at him at him. "Would you look where you're going."
"Pardon," a thick English accented voice replied.
Lass looked up. Hello tall dark and handsome; if Tru were here she'd be comparing him to Aragorn, she thought. He was dressed similarly in that cloak thing he was wearing. Carefully, she schooled her features, trying to avoid looking like a smitten teenage schoolgirl. "Do you bump into people often?" She smirked.
"Actually, most people around here tend to look ahead, when walking." the English fellow remarked
That is because they have something to look forward to, Lass said to herself. "Did you include yourself in that remark?"
"I believe I said most people," the man replied.
"Most doesn't mean all," she rebutted. "It's part of the whole. Not the whole."
"Is that supposed to be clever?" he looked in her face, the dark piercing eyes.
"No. Clever would be learning to tie your shoe laces, which you need to do." A smirk formed, her eyes turned to face away, as George walked past him.
Marcus Cole looked down, remembering he wore belt buckle boots. She had gotten him, with the simplest trick in the book. Who was this blonde girl, she looked young, yet her presence gave an aura of age; way beyond what her years should. "Who is she?" he said to no one in particular.
"My hero," Mal answered passing him to follow Lieutenant Lass, or George as he was beginning to think of her.
A moment later, George caught up with Kat, who was walking ahead with Travis. "Do you know that guy?"
"No, I have seen him around though," Kat admitted, noticing the slight blush in Lass's cheeks. "He is quite handsome, isn't he?"
Quite? Be still this heart of mine, George thought. Good thing I'm undead. "He's okay."
"Aren't we supposed to meet them at the pool area?" Travis was making sure he remembered correctly..
"Yes, something about renting the area for the promotion party for Lieutenant Hoshi Sato." Kat remembered.
"Ah, yes," they had delayed the celebration due to the adverse effects of hyperspace on Commanders T'Pol and Summers.
O-O-O
As Archer, Reed, Hernandez and T'Pol left the EarthForce only club with Sheridan and Doctor Franklin, Sheridan looked at the Starfleet officers. "Quite a story," he remarked. "I'll have to tell you the story of the Black Star some time."
"Thank you for showing us a great time," Hernandez shook Sheridan hand.
"Same here," Archer agreed.
"You're leaving?" Sheridan had enjoyed their company. He knew that Archer had barely scratched the surface on his discoveries while exploring space.
"Yes, I am afraid duty calls." As if to punctuate his words, his communicator beckoned him with its familiar chirp. "Archer here."
"Sir," the voice of Ensign Maywether came through the device. "We have everything settled, we also set up a main credit account for the ships; once we get the roster to the station bank, we can assign individual credit accounts for the crew."
"Good to hear," Archer said sounding pleased. Hernandez had been right after all about Lieutenant Lass. "I was worried Lieutenant Lass's bluntness might have caused issues."
"No sir," Mayweather told him, pausing. "She was a natural. We robbed them blind, thanks to her. She's as skilled as my father was... Maybe more."
"I told you she was a great haggler." Hernandez smiled, feeling pleased with her junior officer.
"We're going back to the ship," Archer said. "What are your plans?"
"We're going to meet up with Commander Summers and the rest; To rent the pool area."
"For Lieutenant Sato's promotion party?" Hernandez enquired, remembering that the crew wanted to celebrate Hoshi's promotion and having to wait. Starfleet, though steadily growing, was still a fairly small organisation, so promotions were always big things, regardless of the rank involved. A party on the station, near a pool would be much more fun then what it would have been on-board either Columbia or Enterprise.
"Yes, sir."
"Good, off to it then." Archer closed the communicator.
Okay Okay I'll ask, "Captain," T'Pol asked. "I have a request."
"Yes, Commander?"
"I was wondering if I could stay on the station?" No, I will not ask that bluntly!
"Sure," Archer agreed. "You going to meet up with the rest of the group, I don't want anyone going off alone."
"That might be an option, I heard Commander Tucker wants to visit the station. He can accompany me."
There happy?
"That sounds reasonable," He knew that they had resumed their relationship, and he wished them well. "I'll make sure he takes the shuttlepod back when we return to Enterprise."
O-O-O
"I hope..." Garibaldi said as he escorted the psi cop, Alfred Bester, and his prisoner through one of the cargo bays on route to the docking bay. "...you don't mind the rush to get you off station, Mister Bester. But the doc says that injection is going to wear off soon. You know how it is."
"I do indeed," Bester agreed as he walked alongside the Babylon 5 security chief. "For what it's worth, Mister Garibaldi, I enjoyed working with you." Pausing, he turned and faced Garibadi. Coming from the direction of the docking bay, he could hear a pair of footsteps. "We made a good team. Perhaps we'll do it again sometime."
"Not a chance," Garibaldi said, stalking off as he silently indicated for the guards to carry on and escort Bester's prisoner to the docking bay.
Smirking, Bester turned to the new arrivals and indicated for the newer male psi cop to go with the guards. He wanted to talk to the female cop. "You couldn't have gotten here two minutes earlier?
"I tried to send to you," the female cop said. "But, I couldn't get through. Any reason I should have been here earlier?"
"Something has been going on," Bester commented as they started heading for the docking port. "I just wish I knew what."
"A first contact," she told him. "There's two unidentified ships holding position just outside the station."
"Ah, interesting," Bester commented. "We'll finish our business here later. You know, I said all along this Dust idea wasn't going to work. We spent five years developing this stuff, tying it into the latent genes and it hasn't produced one telepath of acceptable strength among the normal population. Oh, well. At least we got it out of the hands of aliens and back among humans where it belongs."
O-O-O
"Yes!" Trip exclaimed, nearly jumping out of the command chair on Enterprise's bridge. Thank you, I love you, he mentally spoke to T'pol.
"Sir," the crewman at the helm asked, turning in his seat. "Are you okay?"
"Yes," Trip said a little quickly, forcing himself sit sit back in the chair. "Why do you ask?" I can't wait for them to get here. Trip added, trying to sound calm as the crewman at the communications station indicated he wanted his attention.
"Sir," the crewman said. "There's a signal from Captain Archer."
"On speakers," I can kiss you for this, in fact I will, he mentally tried to project. "Having fun?" Woo Hoo.
"It's a very interesting place," Archer commented. "I'm about to come back over. But, Commander T'Pol is staying for a while. Want to join her?"
"Yes, sir," he said. And, no I am not acting like a child.
O-O-O
"Wait a minute, you're not from the Earth Alliance? Or even this galaxy?" Delenn enquired incredulously. How can humans exist in two different galaxies? Is this a sign? "Do the Minbari exist in your galaxy?"
"Not as far we know," Commander Summers told her. "The only sentient species we found that exists in both galaxies are humans."
"Are you sure, you just don't look alike?" Delenn asked, knowing that some species could evolve to look like each other.
"We did do some tests to confirm it," Summers said. "There are a few minute genetic variations, but essentially we are the same species. That is not the only remarkable thing. Our planet's geography is the same, even the systems even are alike. We have the same type and number of planets."
"Really?"
"Our histories are the same, up to a certain point as well. The mid 20th century," Summers looked at Ivanova for confirmation.
"Yes, she is right," Ivanova confirmed. "We went through a few of our major historical events. In fact, their humanity went into deep space sooner than we did, you're from the 22nd Century if I am not mistaken."
"Yes," Summers nodded. "Our first contact was in the 21th century. April 5th, 2063 to be precise. That went rather peacefully. We have had a few conflicts, but we have managed to make peace with most of the hostiles."
Delenn nodded, remembering the words of her mentor Dukhat, who had felt that contact with humanity would be important to them. Perhaps this, she realised, was a way for the universe to assure the presence of the humans. They must have been brought here to help fight the Shadows in the upcoming war. That, Delenn knew, brought up another question. Who had brought them to this galaxy? Delenn was confused. But, she knew one thing. These people were a noble people; more so then the people of the Earth in this galaxy. They wanted to explore the galaxy, discover other races, make friends.
O-O-O
The refitting of the captured Raider Battlewagon was going well. They had sealed the hull breaches and repressurised the hull and were bringing everything else up to specifications. Including tweaking the output of the fusion drive and other systems to bring them up to United Earth standards. Well, as close as they could anyway. The fusion plants were quite large, yet their efficiency was something left to be desired.
"Apparently, this transphasic isotope of Potassium they refer to as Quantium-40, is what allows the passage into hyperspace," Lieutenant Commander McCoy was telling Tobin Dax, who was examining the drive with her. He was, she noted, getting paler by the minute.
"We need to get gravity plating on this thing," Dax complained. He didn't like working in zero-g environments; it gave him motion sickness. "Oh sorry, yes. They use it as a focusing element to channel energy to a specific point in space. This causes the tear they make into and out of hyperspace."
"So it works in a similar way to our deflector dish?"
"Yes, in principle," Dax nodded. "Though we would not be able to rip a hole into hyperspace with our dish; it lacks the required Quantium-40."
"Do you think we could incorporate Quantium-40 into the deflector?" McCoy wondered aloud. "That way we could get the same effect as the jump engines on this ship."
"Theoretically, yes." Dax nodded. "It's meant to focus energy. I would not want do anything to the dish until we can test it safely. The last thing we need, is to fry our deflector dish. What we need to do, is build a prototype and see if we can generate the jump point into hyperspace and vice versa." He broke off as
McCoy's communicator chirped, demanding her attention.
"McCoy here," she said after flipping the small device open.
"Sir, you told me to call when the star position extrapolation program had finished it's calculations."
"On my way," she informed the voice on the other end. "Let's go before you vomit all over the place." McCoy added as she put the communicator back in her pocket.
O-O-O
Tears of joy were coming down Lieutenant Hoshi Sato's face. "I can't thank you guys enough." They had not told her why they were headed to the pool, until she overheard George and Travis talking about what to get her as a gift. They were waiting outside, checking the facilities out, as George, Commander Ivanova, and surprisingly Ambassador Delenn had gone inside to help obtain the facilities.
"Hoshi, It's the least we could do, now that we can afford it." Travis commented
"And, we are closer to family then ever," Summers added.
"What do you mean?" Garibaldi commented. He'd just arrived back from escorting the notorious Alfred Bester off the station. He felt like he needed a shower. The guy made him feel dirty.
"While it is true that there are humans here, there is a gap in the culture," Alexa admitted. "We do have our extremists." The memory of John Fredrick Paxton and his Terra Prime movement was still fresh. "But most of humanity is not as xenophobic nor as prejudiced against differences as they are here." Seeing the hurt look on Garibaldi, she added. "Not saying that your people are bad, just different."
"So, are we still on to watch the Bruce Willis movies?" Garibaldi had never heard of the actor, until Lieutenant Lass swore he looked like him, which made a few of the others make the connection.
"Yes," Alexa confirmed. "At least, once I get permission for you to visit."
The door opened as the Ambassador Delenn and the others came out. "You really didn't have to."
"Think of it as a welcome to the neighbourhood present," Delenn said. Then asked. "What do you do at a pool party?"
"You mean besides, swim, and get smashed?" George got a cold stare from Tru and Ivonova.
"Swim?" Delenn paused, understanding dawning on her face. "I have never swam before."
"Then let us make up for you picking up the tab, and buy you some swim wear."
"Good idea," Kat smiled. "Lets go shopping, and I think I know just the place."
George spoke up suddenly. "You're invited as well, Commander Ivanova."
"But, I don't have any swim wear either," Ivanova complained
"Not a problem, we can get both of you something to wear. Which reminds me, I need to go dig up my swimming suit." Kat hoped she remembered were she put her swimming wear, it had been ages since she had had a swim.
Ivanova in a swimsuit, Garibaldi thought. Swell.
O-O-O
"Patch it through here, Crewman Mason." Archer ordered, then accepted the transfer as the incoming transmission alert popped up on his desktop. "Is everything okay over there?" The image of Hernandez appeared on the small desktop monitor in his ready room. She looked worried, he thought as he petted Porthos, who was sitting on his lap.
"Well, Lieutenant McCoy's little project bore fruit."
"Little project?" Archer enquired
"Yes," Hernandez gave a subtle nod to Lieutenant Samantha McCoy her science officer, who took over.
"I was trying to find out," the Columbia's science officer told him. "If the wormhole took us through not only space but time as well."
"How?"
"Theoretically it wasn't that hard. It took the computers a while, but they managed it."
"Please explain," he hated it when people started spouting technobabble at him. T'Pol had learned to keep it at a minimum when briefing him.
"We know the distance between us and the Milky Way," McCoy explained. "The computer takes star positions, as we know them based on the Vulcan star charts of the Milky Way, then I had the computer reverse extrapolate star positions, as they would be."
"And?"
"They didn't match up," McCoy told him. "The stars were off; not by much, but enough. I was able to match the stars after I had it run the simulation past the marker point."
Archer was getting impatient. "So, what does this all mean?"
"If this is right, we are over two hundred years in our future. If we go by our calender, we're in the mid to late 24th Century."
"Oh boy," Archer said to himself.