Author's Note: Sorry for the long delay between postings. I had a lot of RL issues that kept me from writing for a while. Now I'm back and will continue to push this story along. Thanks for your patience!

Chapter 15

Niznik Vox took a moment to study the suite that had been his home for the past year. Most of his things were packed and had been placed on top of his bed. Vox came to a halt when he spied his reflection in his dressing mirror. As he gazed at the 'lieutenant commander' rank insignia on the strap of his tunic, his door chimed.

"Enter," Vox announced into the air.

Captain Tynen strolled through the portal after it had slid open and said, "Are you ready to go, old girl?"

Vox graced the Captain with a winsome smile and drawled, "Not really but I suppose it's too late for me to back out now."

Tynen smirked and said, "You've got that right, Vox!" I've already called dibs on your room and slated it to become my new audio den!"

Niznik rolled his eyes at the man. "You are such a geek, Jason! Besides, my suite wouldn't cut it as your new audio den; it doesn't have the proper acoustics!"

The Captain chuckled at that. "I could never put anything over on you, old girl. Don't worry; your room will be kept exactly as you've left it." Then Tynen gently placed his right hand upon Vox's left shoulder and rested it there for several moments.

A part of Vox, the Jezri part that had been Tynen's older lover twenty years ago, wanted nothing more than to kiss the still boyishly handsome man. But Jezri's lover was now a married man and Niznik could never experience what Jezri had had with Jason.

Now the two officers shared a comfortable silence until Tynen glanced at Vox's gear. "I'll have your things transported to the Echo."

"Thank you," Vox said, his voice pouring everything that Jezri, Niznik, and Vox all felt toward the man standing before them.

Tynen smiled and simply nodded. Then he escorted Vox from his suite.

Several minutes later, as the turbolift they'd taken to Deck 7 swept open, Vox was brought up short in surprise as the long, straight section of corridor leading to the transporter room's entrance was lined by crewmembers standing at parade rest.

"Attention on deck!" Tynen barked. As Vox chanced a glance at the Captain, their shipmates snapped ramrod straight. As a warmth began to flood Vox's entire being, Tynen drawled, "Well, they're waiting, Commander."

Vox nodded, turned to face down the corridor, squared his shoulders, and proudly strode past the line of crewmembers with the Captain at his side. Moments later, when they'd reached the entrance into the transporter room and stepped inside, Vox discovered that the line terminated with members of the Alpha shift of the Bridge crew and the Senior Officers. Standing there were Lieutenants Rager and Mazan, Lt. Commanders Rad and Rex, Major Vanderweg, Dr. Shron and Captain V'Lar. The six officers, even V'Lar, regarded him silently with their respect and affection apparent in their eyes.

While Vox stood there basking in their appreciation for him, Tynen marched to the head of the line and snapped to attention. That was Vox's cue to take his place on the transporter pad. He stepped up on the platform, turned to regard his captain and asked, "Permission to leave the ship, sir?"

"Permission granted. Good luck and God speed, Commander."

"Thank you, sir," Vox said simply.

Tynen smiled then nodded to the transporter operator. The last thing Vox saw before he arrived on the USS Echo was the faces of his friends as he dematerialized.

#

"Lt. Colonel Harolikar?"

The C.O. of 5 Gorkha Rifles, the regiment also known as the "Frontier Force," turned to face the EarthForce Commander who'd called out to him. The commander was the XO of the Hyperion cruiser Valley Forge. At the moment, his regiment was awaiting transport in the cruiser's cargo hold.

"Colonel, the Federation starcruiser Valkyrie says she's ready to 'beam' your men on board. They say to place your men in the designated area a platoon at a time.

"Understood, Commander. Thank you and good luck."

"God speed, Colonel," the XO said then shook Harolikar's hand and strode away.

"All right, men," Harolikar announced, "move into the designated square by platoons and prepare for transport!"

After a chorus of acknowledgements by his Indian and Nepalese platoon leaders, the men of his first platoon soon dematerialized from the target square. After they were gone, the next platoon entered the square, each man also carrying their personal equipment. Soon, the process was repeated.

Finally, when the last platoon had entered the target square, Harolikar entered as well. Moments later, he experienced a brief sensation of displacement before he found himself inside another ship's cargo bay.

Seemingly awaiting him was a tall, Nordic-looking man garbed in a Federation MACO's uniform. The man approached Harolikar and offered his right hand in welcome. "Colonel Harolikar? I'm Major Hans Vanderweg. I'm the C.O. of the Valkyrie's MACO battalion. "

Shaking the man's hand, the colonel said, "Well met, Major. I am Lt. Colonel Bal Singh Harolikar, C.O. of 5 Gorkha Rifles. My men and I are happy to be on board your wonderful vessel."

"We appreciate that, Colonel. Captain V'Lar wishes for me to extend her compliments to you and your men. She says we should be underway soon to transport your men to Titan. I understand that our ETA is one standard Earth hour."

Harolikar tried valiantly to not let the surprise show on his face. From Earth to Titan in an hour?! These Federation starships made EarthForce vessels seem like canoes versus speedboats!

As the colonel struggled to maintain his composure, Vanderweg continued his briefing. "We've had ship's manufacturers fit out forty phase rifles for your men and enough battle armor to equip your entire regiment."

Harolikar narrowed his eyes at the other man and asked, "Excuse my ignorance, Major, but could you tell me what exactly is a 'phase rifle?'"

"Let's see…well, a phase rifle is a modulated particle beam weapon. It has a low setting to heat up the molecules in a particular target, a medium setting to impart a neural stun to a humanoid target, and a high setting to punch through solid objects or to disrupt the neurological systems of most humanoids. The highest setting would kill most humanoid targets. Now the battle armor is carefully designed ceramic plates which have been engineered to dissipate the energy imparted by a plasma or particle weapon discharge. The armor should handle two or three direct hits from the PPG weaponry most of the civilizations on this side of the galaxy tend to use during combat."

"So…let me get this straight. This armor would allow my men to take a direct strike from a Minbari PPG weapon and survive it?"

"Yes, sir."

A gleam began to show in Harolikar's eyes as he considered the possibilities these new weapons had provided to him. "Major, let us talk more about this armor and please, don't leave anything out!" he exclaimed as he clasped the other man on his back and led the major over to his platoon leaders.

TBC