Okay, I have a ton of acknowledgements to get through and some comments to answer before we get started here.
First to a boatload of new people that have placed all of my stories on author and story alert I say thank you and bless you all. It is my hope (and the other authors as well) that you enjoy these stories. We're working on them and even if real life stomps us as it usually does, we are on the case. Any questions please contact us and we will get back to you ASAP.
Workerbee31: Thanks for your comments! We hope to keep your interest up in the coming future!
Anon: Thank you. We mock the English language all of the time. We are working to mock less.
The Grandiloquent Demagogue: Right now, the Q are the top of the line as far as we know but they will not be in this story per se. The Organians are above the Vorlons. The Metrons are younger but stronger and more technologically advanced. They First One group will stay out of it for the most part. However, the interference by the Vorlons and the would-be interference by the Shadows were halted by the Alpha quadrant First Ones and the Author-me. Otherwise, believe me this story would be a lot longer and more complex. Read today's entry concerning Earth Alliance. Life is about to become more complicated for them. Star trek's attitude has been formed by Roddenberry and as such sometimes especially in the TNG series, it comes across as you say, namby-pamby, but that isn't always true, and the authors and myself and a few others have had hot discussions concerning this. As you read the entire story, there are discussions throughout showing the attitude changes that will happen from TOS to the Voyager era. They will be a lot more militaristic due to the numbers of enemies lining up to take them out. The stronger you are the more people want to knock you down.
Dresbuscam: We don't want to kill ourselves adding everyone. But the Kzinti have NOT been forgotten. They will be mentioned in the upcoming chapter of ATV (main story).
Cmartist-Thank you. Check out 'that other site' for details as to when the chapters come out.
Tosann- Be careful and don't hurt yourself (smile). There was a comment in a future log by Picard discussing Federation findings about the truth of the Dominion war in their time line at their time from some 80 years in the future. The Vorlons were behind it and in ATV-2 we will explain why. That was placed there to show that the Vorlons hadn't given up at all.
Worker 72: The dominion war? No. Even if we do another ATV we will only reflect on that not deal with it. The Ramifications though, yes and the reasons why. Why they ended DS9 that way I will never know, but hey.
The Sithspawn: In this I disagree with you. This reality represents a fusion of two universes so to speak and Vorlon influence is a lot more intensive that we know. More on this later. I didn't say that they were omnipotent, but they have their fingers in a lot of things as was said in canon.
Walter D. Wormack: Hey, Sir: Khali is simply a jerk with a PhD who believes he knows everything and insists that others are wrong because they are not as smart as he is. Plus this is a chance to make a name for himself big time and he does not want to blow it. And we do have plans for that character starting now. Also you said you were thinking about writing something. What happened? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do it anyway.
Grochek1: More on the Minbari spy today! The 'other spies are on BA-1
Hey, Samael03 or Glory or whoever you are today: If you wish to ask a legitimate question or make a sensible comment, please do. I will always answer you. But if you continue to act like a three year old, then you will be treated like one. I think you can do better but if you can't, well you will be treated like you treat others.
On with the story.
Chapter 6
"Public Relations"
Becerra Alpha One
Three days earlier:
When the Miranda, USS Hiroshima exited warp, the lone Minbari worker caste had the opportunity to see something that few Minbari had seen or lived to tell of. The Colonial station…no, he corrected himself. These people weren't Earthers, these Humans originated from another world on the other side of the galaxy. These Humans and their allies were wreaking havoc on his people believing that they had the right to savage the Minbari because of what had been done to them. Untold numbers of his people were dying yet here he was on a Federation ship begging for help from an enemy that in their righteousness would show no mercy. Yet they had. And by that action he was elated but at the same time more than a bit perplexed. He had come to them hoping for mercy by expecting death.
Lonach, a grandfather to a dying child the daughter of his middle daughter, his beloved Elanee; father to young dead sons; husband to a wife that had hadn't even recognized him as she went into the final stages of this horrible affliction that ran in his family; and formally of the Blue Sector Worker Caste had been surprised that he had made it this far. Thinking back to the beginning of this journey, he almost began to cry. The Glory of Tir had been all but vaporized by the Klingon warships in the Pagati sector while on patrol. Three Tinashis and thousands of Minbari were killed but it was the loss of Lonas, his only surviving son that had effected him deepest. Not even the loss of his two daughters because of the war had shredded his soul so deeply.
His entire family had been lost to him with the exception of one, his grandchild, his beloved Zeavwe. Two other young sons died of the same illness that claimed their mother before they even reached the age of five years. Lonach had always suspected that perhaps this was nature's balance for having no problems reproducing where others had so much difficulty.
The Blue Sector caste flew transport shuttles. That was their responsibility. What possessed him to steal a shuttle and pilot it through the jump gate to the system where the fighting had been reported with his granddaughter was not foolish act of suicide. It was an act of complete and total desperation, his reasoning as flimsy as the thinnest sheet of paper.
The Glath system had been denuded of its defenses, the Sharlins ruined, destroyed, helpless before a terrible enemy that seemed all but unstoppable. When his old, obsolete shuttle exited the jump gate, he half expected to be destroyed. The Federation ships were small but up close they looked like mountain ranges. He had immediately upon exiting started transmitting across all frequencies. In a matter of moments a UFOP ship appeared using their FTL drive. Transmissions from the alien ship demanded that he power down. He did so, not wishing to antagonize the enemy and therefore he allowed his transmission to speak for him. After an eternity he felt it a distant pulling. And he disappeared along with his little Zeavwe. Instantly he found himself on the starship. Such power!
Aliens with huge guns were now pointed at him and for the first time he felt frightened as he held his granddaughter close. Flanked by several guards, another Human entered the strange transport room. He was dressed in red and his eyes looked cold. The fur on his head was a dark brown mixed with grey and he looked dangerous.
I'm Captain Kevin Avon Northington," the alien said to him. Lonach was surprised that he could understand him. "Why were you stupid enough to come into a war zone in an unarmed shuttle bringing a child?"
"Captain, I wanted to save my child," answered the old Minbari. "My people could not save her. I chose to come to those who might be able to."
The Captain was somewhat at a loss. The Glath system wasn't heavily defended by the Minbari as it was a protectorate of the Minbari Federation. It had become increasingly obvious that the Minbari were leaving their non-Minbari citizens as the war became increasingly difficult for them.
With this prisoner there came a hard decision. He could easily transport them to the protectorate world and that would be that. But he was a product of the USS Jonestown. None of the Officers, young or old, did things they way they should have been done on that ship. Besides, he was curious. He couldn't let this go without at least a precursory check.
When the ship's doctor scanned the child, she blanched and dragged the frightened three year old to sick bay.
That was ten days ago. Now he was on the alien station and the doctors were swarming all over his only child and he dared to believe. Tulann and the others may have been right. The Grey Council tried to keep them quiet by placing them in exile.
They might as well have tried to stop the wind.
UFP: Earth:
…"How do you feel about the Earth Alliance telepathic citizens asking for political asylum? And would the make such a dangerous journey from Earth Alliance to flee here?"
There were a dozen or so questions about telepaths thrown at Ambassador David Sheridan simultaneously and the verbal assault had caught him completely unprepared. There had been so much-the recent trip through the looking glass had simply floored him and he was completely unaware of anything concerning telepath refugees. His mind was still reeling from the information discussed with his son. The history of that other Sheridan – His son John should have destroyed that the instant it was transmitted by that Minbari – what little history he had given him, was making him rethink this entire war. John wasn't in any better shape as he spent a bit of time trying to absorb what had been given to him. There were so many tantalizing bits of information, but what had been omitted was even more mysterious and raised many questions that begged to be answered.
The alien Federation vessels and that Minbari warship that had accompanied them exited the passageway at the exact same moment as his ships but no trace of them was found, presenting another mystery to be solved. Fast speculation was that they entered into their own time-space reality but no one was talking, especially the Feds. There hadn't been time to digest it all when this newest revelation hit. The Senator-Ambassador had prepared to discuss the colonists, not renegade telepaths. And just what were telepaths from Earth doing here and how did they get here? He knew very little about telepaths and was somewhat at a loss for words.
PsiCorps representative Arati Mehta however wasn't at a loss. "What did you say?" she asked, stunned by this completely unexpected development. She wasn't happy about that revelation at all and it showed. Next to her, Bester's and Yang's anger and concern began to grow. How could telepaths have gotten here to this world? And whatever the answer was, that Underground Railroad had to be closed and quickly. All of the other telepaths in the entourage unanimously agreed.
Bester tried to remain impassive but they had to be blips, telepaths that had rejected PsiCorps and remained in hiding, something he couldn't understand the logic of. The blips were strange aberrations. How could any telepath not believe in the corps?
"There are telepaths from your world that have asked for asylum from your Earth," the reporter explained. "They claim that they were persecuted into either joining the PsiCorps organization, or drugged into permanent stupors, or even imprisoned. Is any of this true? Do you treat your citizens that way?"
"The PsiCorps organization exists for the protection of all telepaths, Mehta answered, staring the reporter in the face. "I do not know what you've heard, but our organization exists to help and protect telepaths on 'our Earth'. There was a time when we were feared and hated and many of us were killed, murdered because non-telepaths treated telepaths as if we were some sort of disease to be exterminated. Earth Alliance helped to develop the PsiCorps for their protection as well as ours. Rules were imposed and we were able to form families. Now, no telepath needs to be afraid because the PsiCorps is family and we protect our own. The PsiCorps is mother, the PsiCorps is father. That is our motto and it's true. We are family, something we were denied by our real families when they discovered we were different, that we had abilities beyond normals." She paused for a moment to frame the correct words. The Federation had little to no experience with human telepaths and it would be important to present the correct image to these people if she were to be able to engage the Federation telepaths and bring them into the family. "All telepaths, no matter how strong or weak they are, are required to become part of the family simply because there is no other way to guarantee their safety and security. It is true that those few sad individuals who choose not to join for whatever reason do take drugs to suppress their gifts so that they may live their lives among the normals without the fear of being hurt or that they would unintentionally use their gifts to frighten others."
"So there's no truth to the rumors that you have a forced breeding program and that the drugs used on telepaths cause psychosis and death?" asked the same reporter.
"None whatsoever," answered a very indignant Arati. "But I have a question. Do you always treat foreign dignitaries in such a manner as soon as they disembark from a long journey?"
"Do you plan to see the defectors?" another reporter asks completely ignoring her question.
"There are no defectors here," she said sweetly and with absolute conviction. "They may have grievances however misplaced they may be, but I am sure we can work things out and they'll come home."
EA Achilles
Captain John Sheridan and Captain Jeffery Sinclair finished looking at the recording from the Minbari Shai Alyt of the Blood of Saints for the fourth time. Slowly, John took the personal crystal from the data recorder and then smashed it, then stepped on the pieces for good measure.
Jeffery did nothing to stop him, preferring simply stare at the wall. "I wish he'd never sent that."
Neither man had known the other that well before they had reviewed the information that had been given them. Sheridan's data interweaved with the Starfury pilot's so much that he decided to allow Sinclair to view it. That prompted both men to share their private messages with one another. The information was shocking, disturbing, and in total need of being destroyed after viewing. The shared data would mark the beginning of what would be a long and deep friendship throughout the coming turbulent years, as Earth Alliance and the Federation began their political courtship.
John shook his head. "What could have been," he muttered. "Clark starting a civil war…I find it hard to believe that the man would have allowed himself to fall so low. How many people were killed? And what price did that other me have to pay to break away from Earth Alliance?"
"The other 'us'," corrected Sinclair. "They both paid a price on Babylon Five because of their convictions."
"I need a drink."
"You become President and I become the leader of the Rangers on Minbar." Jeffery laughed and a moment later, John joined him. "I can see us both being shot as soon as we return home."
John nodded slowly. "I've shown this to my father but it was imperative that no one else saw that information. Our careers would be over, and I can only imagine how many of our people would want to put us on ice for the rest of our lives. But I am glad that Earth survived without the help of the Federation and that the Minbari have become allies, as strange as that sounds." Suddenly he slammed his fist hard onto the table. "We're a victim of someone else's manipulations! How many times has it occurred over an over and over?"
"That depends – if our war is the result of the same actions by our Vorlons. But the Shadows…I'm glad we don't have to deal with that here."
John stretched. "Let's hope 'that' goes better here in our universe, than it did in the other."
Both men looked at one another in mutual understanding. The spider-like creatures generated a sense of natural fear, dread and hatred like nothing else had ever done. The Shadows, his Shadows – and that thought made him shiver – had made an agreement to stay out of the war and not interfere in any way, thank God.
The public data concerning the truth about the Shadows and Vorlons, and the impending war, and the relations between Earth Alliance, the Federation and the Minbari would be deemed invaluable for analysts in the next few decades. Clark's actions and the results would certainly raise a few eyebrows and both men had speculated whether the Feds would be allowed to see it. They may not take kindly as to what happened to their ships and people in that other universe. Fortunately that wasn't John's or Jeffery's problem, as they would kick it upstairs.
"Well," Captain Sheridan said. "Ship's secured. Let's see what Paris looks like on this Earth."
Earth (Starfkeet) Orbit
Londo and his group were next. To his chagrin the Narn had gone first through the transportation device inside the station. Unlike the Starfleet ships systems, these transportation devices were dedicated to getting people off of the stations and onto their respected destinations as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Oh, no, shuttles took too much time and these Humans had the need to hurry and get to wherever they were going as soon as 'humanly' possible. That thought made him smile a bit. These devices 'were' convenient and he couldn't wait to see if his people could acquire such technology. That alone would change the face of Centauri Prime.
And that thought again amazed him. These people weren't concerned about the military importance of such devices as much as they were concerned about damaging the 'culture' of the people that would acquire it. Their Prime Directive was very strange, especially since it required that you respect the rights of others. He'd read it several times and each time, he discovered something new. Yes, the documents were that of an enlightened people but he could also see the dangers of overdoing it, allowing their high-minded ideals to overdo it. As he continued to think about it, it occurred to him that with such a thing the Narn situation would have never occurred. And instead of being surrounded by hostile or at the very least indifferent aliens, the Centauri influence would have spread much further. Strength came in numbers and with peace if this Federation model was true. Yes, they had serious disagreements, but look at their progress! They were strong without having to prove it to anyone. Well, he admitted that that wasn't exactly true; they did have enemies but in the end these Humans and their allies were strong.
Seeing the next group of people disappearing, turning into sparkling bits of quantum energy brought him back to the present. The transporters were frightening but…he could get used to them quickly enough and the fact that they were safe made him feel much better in light of the fact that the Narn were treated better than the Centauri. It was a shame that of all the Narns that they could think of sending, G'Kar was numbered among them. That one was an arrogant vicious brute and should have been, in Londo's humble opinion, the very last Narn on his planet chosen as a representative. But alas, it wasn't his choice because if it had been, then none of them would be here in the first place.
Londo did reluctantly admit that he understood why the Narn had to be here. The rebuilding of their home world was a great enticement as much as the trade agreement with his people was. If the talks turned out satisfactorily then the Centauri would be as the Humans say 'filthy, stinking rich'. It was little wonder why the Emperor agreed to these trade talks despite the war raging between the Humans and their allies, and the Minbari. By now, he had little faith that the Minbari could survive this war with these other Earthers and the Klingons. And after the war, the surviving Minbari would be in dire straits. Their territory would most likely be invaded by scavenger's intent on looting and pillaging what was left. Truly the idea was tempting even to the Centauri – if it weren't for the Vorlons. No one knew what they really thought or how they would respond if their allies lost but nothing good would come of it. The Emperor knew as well but again if the trade talks went as planned, the Centauri wouldn't even need Minbari scrapes.
"We're ready for you now Ambassador," the Federation transporter person told him. "Your baggage has already been transported to the surface."
The young-looking human didn't seem old enough to serve food to customers. Why would they have an Ensign running something as complex as a machine that breaks down the body into billions of parts and then re-assembling them back – correctly – thousands of miles away? Great Maker!
Well," Londo gulped. "Let us get this over with, yes?" he said as he stepped onto the platform. He turned towards the other Centauri nervously following. "Hurry up. We can't keep destiny waiting." The collective look on their faces was the only thing that kept his hearts beating. "Everyone take a deep breath."
"Energizing."
The world disappeared in twinkling lights only to reappear at the hotel moments later. Quickly he checked to see if everything-preferably his body parts- had come along for the ride. Satisfied, he got his first glimpse of the hotel. The Centauri Ambassador stared at the view in front of him and smiled. The central hall of the hotel literally dripped with the richness of its people. The beautiful, plush, royal blue carpet was thick enough to sink into. Chandeliers, giving and reflecting light in a manner he'd never seen before delighted his senses. The sheer elegance of the reception area gave hints to how his people would be treated. A slight frown threatened to break out when he saw the Narn, but the sight of them opened-mouth staring at the splendid surroundings, caused it to die stillborn. Everything around him pointed to one word.
"Decadence."
Yes, he could get used to this.
-+-
Slowly he rambled towards the transporter, no more eager than the other Centauri to be torn apart and rebuilt somewhere else by the whim of the Federation enemy of all things Minbari.
"Energizing."
Turo Condari was terrified. The Earther technology had been intimidating. Now it was more than frightening. The real Turo Condari was dead, murdered and replaced by the Minbari agent Nur of the Blood Knives clan. So far, he'd been lucky, and no one had really noticed if he had acted a little strange when compared to the others. Years of training specifically for a mission like this, had barely served to keep him from suspicion. The dozens of unsuspected Centauri nuances served to keep him isolated from the others and that served to keep him from interaction with the others. He enjoyed the solitude.
But now-
– But now the last two weeks of his life flashed in front of his mind. Space station Becerra was an undeniable testament to the arrogance and power of the alien federation that had dared to challenge Minbari might. Securrity on the station had been tight enough to stop him from completing his assignment. The chameleon net had proven useless. The one time he had occasion to use it, the UFOP internal sensors had detected the supposedly stealth device and it automatically shut off and Nur had no chance to even get close enough to the Pirate or the murderer Kirk before they had left to plague his people. Incensed, he nearly triggered the explosives in his body in the station and kill as many of these aliens as he could. However when he discovered the true purpose of the Centauri traveling to the Alpha quadrant, he discovered that he could redeem himself in a more effective manner befitting one of his profession.
The trip to get to this abominable planet had been most fascinating. It was a sad thing that he would not be able to report the wealth of information that he'd acquired to his superiors but that was impossible. Surrounded by enemies was a disturbing thing but being so immersed in his character, he was pleased that no one had discovered his cover.
Surprisingly, unlike Centauri foodstuffs, the Human foods –the fruits and vegetables – were far more palatable than he had imagined. Those, he enjoyed, the only good things that the enemies had to offer. Contrary to popular opinion, many Centauri didn't drink but even so, he had nursed a few drinks to maintain the illusion he had so carefully cultivated. Drugs countered the deleterious effects experienced by the Minbari who ingested alcohol but it gave him terrific headaches. That was just fine since most other Centauri attributed them as the results of hangovers. That helped to improve his cover.
The passageway, so unlike hyperspace went on forever, but the lights and colors inside were beguiling. Flying through a planet that wasn't really there almost made him lose control of his bodily functions like some of the Centauri had. The appearance of the two enemy vessels filled him with concern for the war. Just by glancing at them, he could recognize their power and from the awed glances of the Federation crew he knew he was correct. The vessels they lay claimed to dangerous bad enough, now both enemies were creating new and even more dangerous ships to lay waste all that he knew.
That Minbari warship, like nothing he'd ever seen before shocked him to his core. He wanted to demand why they were in league with the Humans and Klingon beasts. A dark thought began to push into his mind continuing to haunt him no matter how he tried to push it away. The ship could have belong to 'the others', the dark Minbari those who would ally themselves with the Shadows. That would explain the differences in the ship's design and the fact that they would so willingly ally themselves with the enemies of the Light. It also served to answer why the Minbari onboard had not destroyed the ship. Traitors, all! The only blessed thing was that the Ashen were allies and that the Vorlons would soon join the war and rid his people of these creature's blight forever!
The transporter effect swept him and the others away and he nearly stifled a scream as he was suddenly concern for his soul. Would this device keep him whole or separate the spirit from the body? It was like experiencing sudden death and an agonizing rebirth all at the same moment. He hadn't had any pain but the uniqueness of the transport frightened him as much as it had the Centauri. But the Minbari was concerned for his soul
Moments later he was staring around in astonishment at his new surroundings. Checking his body to make sure that he was indeed complete, he stepped off of the transporter pad. Londo was in front of him talking about how decadent this hotel was and maybe seeing the owners so that it could possibly be franchised to Centauri Prime.
Nur continued to remain in character but he was furious. The Ambassador was acting as if the war had already been won by the UFOPers and their servants! Filled with fresh determination, he vowed to kill as many of these creatures as possible when they met at the Federation council.
Unknown to the Minbari, a madman Garth of Izar once a Federation starship captain, had discovered a variation of the same type of sub-nuclear explosives he carried underneath his fingernails. It was completely undetectable in its inert form, but he was happy that the Federation sensors had failed to detect it. For generations the secret of the explosive was a carefully guarded secret among the Blood knives clan. When combined, the explosive components would generate a small fusion reaction that would cook his body within thirty nanoseconds. The calcium and traces of lithium in his bones would complete the reaction and the resulting explosion would vaporize everything inside of a kilometer.
"More than sufficient," he muttered. He would die knowing that his enemies would burn with him
"Did you say something?" asked Londo, overhearing the whispered comment.
Nur recovered quickly. "I said that this is more than sufficient."
"Yes, yes," Londo said. "Wherever Earthers are, they appreciate the creature comforts. That is one of their greatest traits." He turned away from Nur to speak with the others. "No gawking until we reach our rooms, yes?"
Nur followed the others smiling as foolishly as the other Centauri. One last great meal, a tour of the Human city and a fateful meeting that would prove once and for all that the Minbari were a power to be feared no matter how far away their enemies were located.
The Solar Le Clément hotel:
Paris:
The hotel was spacious and comfortable, five-star in every way; however PsiCops Alfred Bester and Roberta Yang were not really interested in the ambiance. They were worried. This development and rocked them and plans to talk to this Earth's telepaths had been waylaid by the presence of the defectors.
"Calm down," Arati told them. "Yes this was unexpected but these people already knew of the PsiCorps."
"Yes," Roberta agreed. "But we don't know what they told the Federation about us or our plans. If we can't maintain some sort of damage control, then the political repercussions will be severe. If these blips are allowed to stay they'll conceivably start a hemorrhage that will ruin PsiCorps."
"I'm aware of that. I will want the both of you to talk to them, find out how they got here and convince them to return home!"
"And just how do we do that?"
"That's your problem," Arati coolly told him. "Arrangements are being made for you to meet and convince them to return home. Toni will mediate," she said referring to another high-ranking member of Psi Corps. "I need to talk to the telepaths here and convince them to join us or at least consider our mutual plights." There had been a request by PsiCorps to meet with the telepaths of this Earth and were somewhat surprised that there were only ninety human telepaths known to exist, which made little sense to have so few. There had to be more, possibly in hiding for some unknown reason. The known ones of course knew one another but they'd gone their separate ways and nothing like a PsiCorps was known to exist. That was about to change. "If I can get them on our side, this debacle will be worth it."
"It shouldn't be too much of a problem convincing them to return home," replied a perplexed Bester. "I don't understand why they left in the first place. This isn't their world. These aren't their people. Home offered security and safety for all of our people. These people have rejected us and for what?"
"I have some information. They're located with the other Earth Alliance refugees on the Archanis IV colony," Roberta told them. "The Klingons used to claim that sector but since their alliance, things have improved. I am given to understand that there are also a few Klingons located on the planet. It's near the original hyperspace transit and therefore that planet will be a major hub between both the Federation and Klingon territories and our space."
"So you're saying that this Archanis IV will become a very rich planet, lots of trade and commerce backed by the protection of both governments, with the Earth Alliance colonists in the middle of everything."
"Yes," Roberta said. "So, the escapees will not be alone. That is a tempting prospect."
"It makes no difference," countered Bester. "The teeps will not be accepted by the colonists. You know as well as I do that eventually they will be hounded and persecuted."
"I wonder," Arati commented. "These mundanes are different here and we must take that into consideration. They don't have the ignorance – I should rephrase that – prejudices that our mundanes have. But they're still mundanes and eventually the fear will begin to express itself and their anger and hatred will take over. That's the reason why we're here to contact and offer our protection to the telepaths here."
"And what about the Betazoids," Roberta asked. "Will there be talks between us and them?"
"I've arranged to speak to them, sort of a meet and greet. They're aliens and it will take time for me to understand their motivations. But they're also telepaths and humanoid ones at that, very close to the Human species and that gives us a basis to develop a working relationship. But that's my problem. I want you to understand this. We need to get these runaways home, however if we can't then they must represent PsiCorps in this part of the galaxy. They are still Earth Alliance members as the colonists are and subject to the rules and government of Earth Alliance, not the Federation. Toni will impress this on the teeps. No exceptions. If the Federation loses and our Earth is destroyed, we will have to have some place to seek refuge."
"I don't think that the Minbari will win," Bester said. "They've lost almost every battle against the allies. Unless they pull of some sort of miracle, I don't see them continuing the battle for the next two months."
"I agree with you," Roberta said. "Notice that these people are not even overly concerning about the Minbari retaliating. They should be more concerned."
"I think they are," said Arati, "for our world. "They believe they can protect it and you can feel their confidence. But if they can't, we'll come here and make our stand. And that's the other reason why were here. We need to make friends here, start influencing them and extend our relationships here. We have a chance to mold them to our will, starting with their telepaths. Our analysis of the Federation ruling council has suggested the reason the Vulcans have so much influence is because they are a telepathic race."
"The entire race?" asked Bester. That was an interesting question. The Vulcan Ambassador had married a Human. Did that make him a well placed spy for the Vulcans on the Humans? That was indeed something to think about.
"That's correct. Being telepathic, they're higher on the food chain people. That's why they're in charge. It's so obvious. And while we're doing this, take this into consideration. If it's true that there are less than a hundred natural telepaths on this Earth, then this strongly suggests that our Earth is more advanced than this one by numbers alone. Our Earth is most likely the original Earth and these people aren't going to like that when they come to the same conclusions. They will feel disillusioned and it will be Earth Alliance's – and ours – responsibility to help them through this. You remember how we collectively felt when we are told that we were some sort of copy. I believe they'll feel worse. We'll have to help guide them through this."
Then we need to get to the blips as soon as possible before they can make things worse."
"Absolutely."
"I will inform our hosts right away."
Paris, streets of:
"So Mister Vernon, what do you think of this Paris?" Professor Amir Rajiv Khali, PhD of Xenopsychology & Xenopolitics, asked his favorite graduate assistant.
The tall blond smiled almost hysterically as he took in his surroundings. Khali had not even bothered to see his room but had instead dragged his two grad students into the city to begin his study of the culture and locals, comparing them to his home and his city of Paris. "It looks like ours, but different," Samuel told him. A lame answer, but it was all that he could think of at this second. "The buildings are obviously different but the landscape, the geography is identical at first guess.But what strikes me is that several of the monuments are identical, taking into account the age differences and environmental factors. The historical figures look different and should by definition act uniquely within their environment so the question is why is so much so similar?"
"I agree with your line of thought," Khali told him. "Earth must be something truly special for them to create this planet in our Earth's image. We should even be calling this planet Earth as it's a copy. Maybe we should start called it Terra," he mused. "Make sure you record everything."
"Yes, Professor." The twenty-five year old checked his float-cam, floating next to him. The camcorder was very expensive with a small battery powered engine that allowed the camera to literally fly and hover at the owner's command. The professor trusted him with the video-camera more than he trusted Theresa Anderson, his other grad student.
As was custom, the grad students walked just behind him, no more than a step of two but it was something that the Professor had well, not exactly insisted upon it, but strongly suggested. He wanted his field of view unencumbered.
"There are so many aliens here," exclaimed Theresa. The numbers of Andorians and other obviously humanoid aliens co-mingling so easily with Humans wasn't surprising. It was just like on the Becerra station, however here it hit home. It wasn't just a PR campaign by the Feds, it had been real.
"Of course there are Theresa," Khali told her. "These high numbers of aliens walking around freely without restriction serves as confirmation to my hypothesis. They're corrupting the very fabric of this society from within. Humanity can't grow in communities such as these. The conflicts, the social differences, the sexual compatibility even among the Human-like aliens will dilute the purity of Humanity physically as well as culturally."
"I don't necessarily agree with your suppositions, Professor," Theresa said. "They're living in peace and…"
"That's why you're struggling so hard to get your Ph D, Miss Anderson," Khali sarcastically responded. "You fail to see the obvious. I'm trying to help you understand, but you seem to be focuses in all of the wrong directions. I suggest that you maintain some semblance of common sense and keep quiet, and listen to me. And maybe, just maybe, you will achieve something rather than be relegated to the ignominy of the masses."
"Yes Sir."
"As I was saying, despite their apparent advances, these people are predetermined to suffer the same fate as the Centauri who moral decay has been recorded by many xeno-sociologists in the last fifty years. Ibn Khaldun was correct in his belief that each dynasty has a certain amount of provinces and lands, and no more. When the dynastic groups have spread over the border regions, their numbers are necessarily exhausted. This, then, is the time when the territory of the dynasty has reached its farthest extension, where the border regions form a belt around the center of the realm. If the dynasty then undertakes to expand beyond its holdings, its widening territory remains without military protection, and is laid open to any chance attack by enemy or neighbor. This has a detrimental result for the dynasty. That was a direct quote from his book by the way," he told both students. "Memorize it, if you haven't already.This world's decay is the result of the Federation's overenthusiastic expansion and a loss of a definitive leadership whose direction…"
"Professor," Theresa said, interrupting him which caused him to frown. "He also wrote that all records, by their very nature, are liable to error because of several reasons. Partisanship towards a creed or opinion, overconfidence, a mistaken belief in the truth, the inability to place events, especially these new events here and now, in a real context, ignorance of the laws concerning this changing society and, my favorite, the common desire to gain favor of those of higher ranks, by praising them, by spreading their fame. Aren't we," and she meant 'you', "being influenced by our experiences in Earth Alliance in our categorization of these people. Our experiences are reflecting attitudes towards these individuals. They are completely different both racially and ethnically from us even if their Earth-"
"Terra."
"'Earth' is similar. There is a tendency for us to exaggerate these differences between groups because of our lack of understanding and our general beliefs that we're better than them." There, she said it. Now all she had to do is to wait for the explosion.
"Are you implying that I am not being objective in my observations?" he continued walking not even designing to look at her but anyone with eyes could see the hostility radiating from him and pointed directly at the young twenty-four year old blond. "I resent that Miss Anderson. I've been in this field longer than you've been alive. I've forgotten more that you'll ever learn, so don't tell me that I'm not being objective. I am trying to save these Humans here from moral decay and eventual destruction. That you don't like my methods, fine. But keep your opinions to yourself."
"I believe they call it in-group favoritism mentioned by a Hewstone and his group way back in 2002," she continued, completely ignoring him. "You're characterizing this Earth and I believe that you are stereotyping according to your prejudices for this world in favor of our own. You've been biased since you've met the Federation Humans and it clouding your judgment on every observation you've had since we set foot on the Concordat."
Sam, his eyes pointed in every direction but theirs, tried to blend into the background as much as possible. Those two were at it once more and he had learned long ago to stay out of their little conversations. Their arguments were the stuff of legend back home and he wondered why the Professor kept her around. Their contempt for one another was well known. What was it that she had over him?
"I challenge you to find anyone, besides yourself, would claim that I am being biased towards these people in any way," snapped Khali. "It is absolutely clear to anyone with a degree and a little experience that these people are headed towards disaster, their technology not withstanding. Their Humanity has been filtered through the eyes of a thousand aliens and they can't even see that any more. Senator Clark's theories on cross cultural alien contamination was amateurish at best but he had a solid grasp on the workings of Humanity and the dangers that resulted when someone other than Humans dominated Humanity. When my observations are published, both worlds will be enlightened. So keep your thoughts to yourself and maybe you'll let something slip into your brain besides your own opinions."
"I am sure Professors Steinberg and Yamata will have somewhat of a different perspective on things," she countered.
Khali stopped dead in his tracks. "Miss Anderson no one is forcing you to keep me as your advisor." Her thesis was in direct contrast to his upcoming papers and why he hadn't been able to discourage her had given him many sleepless nights. "You can leave whenever you want. In fact I suggest that you return to the hotel pull out your little computer, write down what few gleanings of insight you may happen to stumble upon, and stay there until we've completed our efforts here."
"No, Sir," she retorted. "Not yet. My father paid for your studies and grants, and that means I'll be here whether you like it or not. You are not going to deprive me from developing my own personal awareness, knowledge, and skills in multicultural awareness on a parallel world by forcing me away from all of the action. If I decide to get another advisor my work will stand on its own without your help," she defiantly added.
The professor as so angry now he could barely speak. Everything he worked for, his reputation, his status could be undone by this twenty-four year-old little snot. If she published in opposition of his own conclusions, the scandal would be unavoidable. Despite her nobody status, she was here with him on this world and people would take her work seriously. There was no choice something had to be done quickly to discredit her before she could start and ruin his reputation. No one respected a Professor whose student had tried to upstage them. He needed to distract her somehow."
"And Uncle Clark was an arse."
"So is his niece," Khali muttered to low for anyone to hear. He needed to talk to Arati.