I apologize for the delay in posting this chapter. I am mired in the final days of my studies. Soon, I will move out of the country to Brazil. Worry not! While the story may be put on the back burner while I settle down in my move, I will continue it as best as I can.
"Are you sure, Ambassador?" Ivanova was slightly queasy about this.
The Pak'ma'Ra ambassador's translator globe glowed as it spoke. "Yes, most sure. We do not mistake!"
The Drazi ambassador appeared exasperated with the situation. "The Centauri have invaded both our territories. They have an ally. It appears and disappears like a ghost. It has destroyed one of our listening posts. We hear they are planning to attack other races, other worlds. War is spreading! Soon, perhaps, they even attack you!"
Ivanova and Sheridan looked at each other with a sense of unease and dread. It could only be the Shadows. Only they could appear and disappear like ghosts in the night.
USS Enterprise-A
"What?!" shouted Captain Kirk. His eyes were positively bulging.
"Yes, sir," said Captain Sulu. He hated having to break this to his friend and former captain. "We didn't come here on our own. The Hur'q brought us here. I don't know if we can go back home. I doubt it's possible without the Hur'q's transpatial technology."
It was so cruel. To have Kirk's hopes raised so high only to be shattered by this cosmic joke. He listened to the soft noises of the bridge.
"And Jim," continued Sulu. "We didn't come here alone. We had a Klingon ship and a Romulan warbird with us."
"Romulans! Klingons! Can it be any more complicating?!" McCoy demanded.
"Actually…." Sulu turned to press in commands into a console, bringing files from his own starship over to Kirk's ship. The main viewscreen switched from a view of Babylon 5 to a recording. Centauri warships and fighters danced with Hur'q bioships. Occasionally, a Klingon K'Vort-class warship could be seen shooting at the Hur'q.
Dr. McCoy widened his eyes at the sight. "I don't know how you survived that…." The doctor trailed off when black ships appeared and purple beams began licking at the Hur'q.
"I see."
Spock carefully studied the huge vessels with spines and a black hull that moved like oil. He noticed that whenever a bright light, like the nearby Vree homestars of Zeta Reticuli, shone behind the spines, they turned almost transparent. He had never heard of such biotechnology before and that was saying a lot. "Who are they?"
Sulu shrugged. "Even the Centauri didn't know who they were. My science officers believe these aliens have been operating for quite a long time. Here…." Sulu pressed another button, bringing another file up on the main viewscreen. It was an orbital view of the ruddy scarred surface of Vulcan. Debris made a slanted line through the middle of the screen.
Kirk and McCoy glanced at Spock. As far as they could tell, Spock didn't feel anything for this planet. The doctor scoffed. It was likely that Spock was using logic to distance himself from this version of his homeworld. Sulu made one more adjustment in the file setting and the viewscreen magnified at a part of the debris line floating over Vulcan. Several of the debris were shriveled black…things.
McCoy squinted at the main viewscreen. "These look like skin left in the water too long."
Sulu nodded. "Analysis indicates the battle happened in the middle thirteenth century, Earth time." The captain of the Excelsior looked at Spock, clearly expecting answers from the Vulcan. Spock obliged.
"The information obtained at Babylon 5 indicates that the Vorlon Empire, the only star nation advanced enough to have bioships, has existed for millennia, if not eons. However, the vessels you encountered do not match what vessels we could see from the Vorlons. To anticipate your next question, I have serious doubts that the residing Vorlon ambassador would provide any information whatsoever."
"What are the Vorlons?" Sulu wanted to know, since nothing like the Vorlons appeared to exist in the home universe, as far as he knew.
Spock almost frowned. Almost. "The Vorlon ambassador appears to be a form of semi-corporeal silicon-based lifeform with some impressive mental abilities. At least, that was the reading I was getting before the ambassador destroyed my tricorder from five feet away."
"You…you took a reading of an ambassador of one of the biggest local powers??" That alone would severely strain any diplomatic relations, if there were any in the first place in the home universe.
Captain Kirk nodded. "We have to be prepared. This part of the galaxy is destabilizing and the Centauri are at the center of it. These black ships at battle sites a thousand years apart. The Vorlons being as testy as Melkotians. Everything in this universe seems to be waiting for an explosion. A big one. Do you know, Sulu, that the Centauri used energized asteroids to bomb the Narn homeworld back to the Stone Age?"
Sulu stared at Kirk in shock. In the home universe, the use of such weapons would quickly convince the Federation Council and Starfleet Command to apply the rarely used power of embargo on the offending world or star nation along with a strongly-worded official protest.
Kirk looked around the bridge at the crew working. "The Centauri war with the Narn ended too quickly and too easily and they are looking for the next kid on the block to bully." He sighed. "The Federation has it easy. Peace, prosperity and the complacence that comes with them. This is not a complacent universe. Sooner or later, we will be in the middle of a galactic war and we must be ready for it. Sulu, is your ship up for a test and a reconnaissance?"
Sulu nodded. Kirk looked at Spock, turning the burden over to the science officer.
"Mr. Scott and I have been studying the use of hyperspace in this quantum reality. A hazardous type of space travel, but nevertheless used by every world capable of building orbital craft or more. We do not have the space for a hyperdrive, or jumpengine as it is called here, on any of our ships, but Mr. Scott believes we could use the main deflector dish and the power of the warp drive to open. However, we need the required element Quantium-40 or, at least, more dilithium. We are still studying the problem."
"Aye," added Scotty. "The sensor equipments and the leftovers of the Transwarp Experiment on the Excelsior would give us a wee bit more information about hyperspace."
Captain Sulu said, "All right. I can go now. Where am I going? Can you tell me about hyperspace?"
Kirk handed Sulu a compadd. "All information on hyperspace is in here. And the jumpgate activation codes and beacon frequencies are here too. You're going to the jumpgate at Vreetan in the Zeta 2 Reticuli System. From there, you are to investigate our transition point."
"Zeta Reticuli…isn't that Tranome Sar in the Romulan Empire?" It would be odd to be able to go into what was supposed to be Romulan space without any harm. Of course, there were the Centauri to worry about.
Scotty nodded. "Aye. It would take 12 days at Warp 9 through 50 lightyears of space." The Scotsman smiled mischievously before continuing. "Hyperspace cuts that down to eight days at low impulse speed."
Sulu stared. Warp 9 could only be maintained for hours at best, and that was with the new technologies acquired from the failed Transwarp Experiment. He could already see the implications. If he could use the warp drive in hyperspace he might be there in mere hours. Too bad the Federation couldn't get this technology.
A beep sounded in Pavel Chekov's console, attracting everyone's notice. The Russian called out, "Jumpgate activation."
Scotty nudged Sulu. "Watch. Ye will like this."
The main viewscreen abandoned the view of ruined Vulcan and showed the jumpgate activating. A vortex exploded into existence and a large dark gray boxy vessel slipped out of the swirling blue vortex. The middle section of the vessel slowly moved in its centrifugal work.
Sulu was amazed. If only they could bring this technology back to the Federation. The vessel was huge but appeared bulky with none of the smooth aesthetic lines of Starfleet vessels. The message was clear: it was a warship, pure and simple. The lighted label on the warship was in an English script. EAS Agrippa. He looked back at Scotty in surprise.
"Aye, Sulu. It's an Earth ship. Amazing, isn't it? No gravity, but whatever they could get from centrifugal force."
Sulu wished he could stay and study this Earth ship instead of going into hyperspace. "Well, I better prepare my ship for this mission."
Kirk nodded smilingly. "Spock and Scotty will go with you. We can take care of ourselves here."
Babylon 5
Sheridan was a little uneasy. Instead of the usual simple EarthForce transport, this MiniPax representative used an Omega-class destroyer as a taxi service. He put on his diplomatic smile as two men appeared on the landing ramp. One of the men, surely the MiniPax representative, was Frederick Lantz. The last time they spoke was when Mr. Lantz relayed the orders to seize the Hakudo Maru and put its people under arrest. His smile slipped before he covered by saying, "Welcome aboard, gentlemen."
Mr. Lantz smiled warmly and extended a hand. "It is a pleasure to finally come to the famed Babylon 5." Lantz turned to the slightly shorter man with black hair. "This is Ken Welles. He is the co-director of NightWatch for the Ministry of Peace."
Mr. Welles nodded. "When I heard that Mr. Lantz was heading to Babylon 5, I thought I would come along and check on the status of NightWatch out here."
Sheridan and Ivanova stole quick side glances at each other. He hoped that they were here only for the Centauri problem. He could imagine Garibaldi scoffing skeptically. "Well, then, Mr. Welles, you are also welcome. This is Commander Susan Ivanova, my XO in charge of station operations. Come right this way and we will show you to your quarters."
Ivanova nodded as they walked out into a corridor. "I must say, I'm relieved to see you. I was afraid Earth was never going to get involved in the Centauri problem."
Lantz laughed heartily. "We can't stand by forever, you know. Our voice has to be heard!"
Mr. Welles said, "Well, it never hurts to get a first-hand look and see what's really going on out here. Just to be sure we're doing the right thing."
Lantz leaned closer to Sheridan. "I will need a room where I can meet with the Centauri ambassador and interview any other ambassador that has a problem with the Centauri. Any ambassador at all, including the latest addition. It will need to be private."
Sheridan nodded somberly. "Already done, Mr. Lantz." The Centauri were certainly not the only people that MiniPax was concerned about. Captain Kirk and Director T'Sara should be warned.
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Londo's patience was nearly gone when the computer finally gave a chirping signal. It was finished downloading into a datacrystal. Plucking the crystal out of the computer console, he called for Vir.
"Vir, take this crystal and guard it with your life!"
Vir nervously took the conical datacrystal and rolled it in his fingers. "Wh…what is it?"
"Ah, Vir, you shouldn't know. We won't have a telepath picking the information out of your bungling mind, won't we?"
Eying Londo suspiciously, Vir knew that he was not going to carry the crystal on his person all over Babylon 5. He wasn't sure if his friendship with Londo made him immune to the ambassador's brand of the Great Game. "What do I do with this?"
"Vir! Didn't you hear what I said? Guard it with your life! Until you give it to the Lady Timov, of course."
"L...l...Lady T-timov? She's coming h-here?" Vir's last encounter with that woman was not at all pleasant. He decided to rearrange his entire schedule to give himself the least chance of meeting Timov more than once.
Londo sighed as he got up from his seat to the window facing the garden of Babylon 5. "I weary of you ever being able to read between the lines. You're going to Centauri Prime and drop this crystal directly into her lovely hand." The ambassador turned around to Vir. "I want you out of here. For a few days at least. But beware Timov! She's a malignity. Malignity commands respect, not fondness. She has the natural ability to make ordinary people become acutely aware of their own intellectual and moral shortcomings. I don't want you to be reduced to a gibbering idiot at the Royal Court."
Vir was feeling annoyed at this reminder. He had already become acutely aware of this when Timov and Londo's two ex-wives came to Babylon 5. He bowed to Londo and turned to leave the baroque quarters. He had a ticket to Centauri Prime to purchase.
"And Vir…. You know…Timov's name, spelled backward in the Earther language, is 'vomit.' Do not try kissing up to that." Londo laughed as Vir's face blushed hotly and the attaché quickly left.
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Delenn gazed at the stars from the observation rotunda. There. The jumpgate activated, opening a yellow vortex into hyperspace and that extra-universal starship moved cautiously towards the open jumpgate. Unlike most other ships in this part of the galaxy, it was all geometric shapes. A thought crossed her mind that the Vorlons should have liked this outward sign of order. Upon crossing the threshold of the vortex, the white-blue starship elongated and vanished into hyperspace. The vortex collapsed.
She turned to the human in that strange but obviously military uniform. The burgundy color of the uniform tunic reminded her of the red wine that Earthers seem to be fond of drinking in formal functions. "Captain Kirk, what do you call that ship?"
Kirk smiled at the stars. "The Excelsior. She's a beauty, isn't she?" He turned to the woman who seemed to be a Minbari-human hybrid. She claimed that her biological parents were entirely Minbari and she was evasive and reluctant to go in depth about how she can to be hybridized. "But, Ambassador, I prefer my ship, the Enterprise, anytime, any day."
"I do not claim to understand the human insistence in applying gender to what is essentially an inanimate space vehicle. Among my people, only the warrior caste treats our ships as anything more than ships. But no gender, merely…giant swords for them to wield. This preference for a particular ship…. I've also noticed it among humans. Captain Sheridan has expressed a longing for his former ship, the Agamemnon."
As far as Delenn knew, only the Vorlons had similar sentiments for their ships, but it was with very good reasons.
Kirk arched an eyebrow in a very Spock-like way. Delenn may be a representative of an alien species whose star nation that fought a genocidal war with Earth about 10 years ago, but Kirk could recognize a fondness beyond friendship anywhere. He felt it for Spock. Still…he couldn't imagine the circumstances that would overcome barriers set up by such a war. "Yes, Ambassador. It is said that a captain's primary love is his starship. There's a saying among the Maori, an ancient seafaring people on Earth's Pacific Ocean. 'A ship is alive. Treat her well and care for her properly and she will fight for you against the Father of Storms.' Or 'him' if the captain happens to be a woman and do not prefer the female sex."
"A saying that the Minbari warrior caste would think is wise." Delenn's eyes glittered mischievously.
A man dressed in a fighter pilot's uniform entered the observation rotunda. "Ah…. Oh, Ambassador." The man nodded a greeting at Delenn and turned his attention to Captain Kirk. "Captain, I'm Lieutenant Warren Keffer, leader of Zeta Squadron."
Kirk smiled brightly. "Ah, the elite fighter squadron. Even though in my Starfleet, fighters are limited to starbase and planetary defenses, I can see that your squadron's performance is exemplary."
Lt. Keffer grinned lopsidedly. "Thank you. I'm actually here to ask…. Your universe has many alien races, right?"
"Yes…."
"I wonder if you know of a race with ummm…a kind of ship that's…jet black. A shade of black so deep your eye just kinda slides off it. And it shimmered when you looked at it. A spider big as death and twice as ugly. And when it flies past, it's like you hear a scream in your mind…. I'm sorry this must sound silly to you."
Kirk and Delenn shared a glance. Kirk knew just what this Lieutenant Keffer was talking about. Delenn appeared carefully neutral. Too carefully neutral, Kirk thought. "Lieutenant, I don't know any race with the kind of ships you describe. Your description may sound familiar to the crew of the Excelsior."
Delenn's eyes showed surprise, but her face was carefully schooled to show no emotion. Kirk, having known Vulcans, could catch the surprise in the Minbari ambassador. Keffer's face brightened with hope for more information.
"However, the ship has just left. You will have to wait to ask them. You can make an appointment with our ambassador."
"Yes, sir." Dejected, Keffer turned and left the rotunda.
Kirk peered at the Minbari ambassador. Delenn must have known about what Keffer was talking about. "Do you know what he's talking about, Ambassador?"
"I have not seen any ship that fits his description." She smiled. "And Captain…call me Delenn."
"If you'll call me J—James." Kirk smiled back. He had been about to give her the privilege of calling him 'Jim' but he didn't trust her that much yet.
USS Excelsior
The inertial dampeners struggled to cancel out the constant vibration in the Excelsior as hyperspace battered the starship with gravity waves and eddies. Already, Sulu and the bridge crew were feeling the early stages of Hyperspace Travel Syndrome as dizziness and nausea came while they studied this dimension. They couldn't tell whether they were going forward, backward, sideway, up or down, so Captain Sulu ordered the main viewscreen shut off and the crew now had to rely on sensor readings. Even so, the starship's sensors were reduced to 20 effectiveness by hyperspace. Anything beyond that range meant the ship detecting an annoyingly high number of sensor ghosts.
It was fortunate they had all those sensor equipments from their last mission of studying gaseous and gravity anomalies.
"Are we ready?" Captain Sulu asked Captains Spock and Scott.
"Aye. Any more of this insane hyperspace and I canna guarantee a spotless deck for you." Scotty pressed a hand to his ponderous belly as he turned away from a monitor showing the roiling cauldron of jumpspace. His face had a decidedly similar tint as Spock's face. "Ach, I've felt spacesickness before, but this is ridiculous. It be more like seasickness!"
Sulu made expressions of sympathy. He made a mental note to order Dr. Altos Viger to create a supply of anti-HST Syndrome medicine. He pressed a button in his chair. "Sulu to Engineering."
"Engineering here."
"Mr. Gabler, take us to warp one. Slowly."
"Aye, aye, sir."
A warp bubble slowly formed around the Federation starship within hyperspace. The bubble wavered, deformed and reformed as it was constantly assaulted by gravity waves and eddies of the roiling red hell. The starship's maneuvering thrusters kept firing to correct its own position and course.
Lieutenant Commander Devon Gabler ran as alarms wailed in Engineering. Steam suddenly spewed from a conduit next to the warp core and a new alarm wailed. Gabler shouted for other engineers to attend to the problem and everyone pulled their masks from their environment collars onto their faces. The Chief Engineer slammed an intercom button hard enough to hurt his hand. "Captain! We can't keep this up! The stresses of hyperspace are too much for a stable warp bubble." Yet another new alarm rang out. The computer announced that the reactor chamber is in danger of irradiating itself. "Sir!"
"All right, Gabler. Shut it off. Switch to impulse, but keep the enhanced structural field. " Disappointment could be heard over the intercom. Gabler let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. At least, the impulse engines would allow the starship to go faster than local ships. Turning from the intercom, he shouted at the engineers clad in white radiation suits.
Babylon 5
Citizen G'Kar looked as if he was about to burst out of his clothes with excitement. His red eyes bored into the eyes of another Narn on the StellarCom monitor. "Oh, WarLeader Vin'Tok! This is the first good news I've had since the occupation began! You will call for any other surviving ships?"
"Already done, Citizen. The G'Tok, commanded by Na'Kal, just came in. The new alliance is already doing wonders for us. I'm the current military leader of the Narn Resistance, but we will defer to you, of course. You are the only free member of the Kha'Ri left."
G'Kar bowed with arms crossed on his chest. "Thank you, Vin'Tok. Captain Sheridan just informed me that a representative from a section of the Earth government called the Ministry of Peace is here to investigate the Centauri."
The Narn WarLeader leaned forward to peer across countless lightyears at Citizen G'Kar. Hope bloomed stronger on his red eyes. "The Earth Alliance is ready to take sides?"
"I really hope so! If Earth joins in the new alliance, we'll be able to force the Centauri out of our space! G'Quon bless us all, Vin'Tok. I must go and catch this representative before he leaves the Council Chamber if we are to bring a taste of Homeworld's fall to Centauri Prime!"
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Ken Welles smiled as he accepted a datacrystal from a female member of NightWatch. He raised it to look at how the light refracted through the crystal. "Your patriotism will be noted and rewarded."
The woman nervously glanced over her shoulder as if someone was about to burst through the door to Mr. Welles' guest quarters. "Ummm, I'm still not sure about this. I could be breaking the chain of command by giving you this without my superiors knowing."
Welles raised an eyebrow and looked down at the woman. "Feeling guilty about your service to Earth?"
Her face reddened. Welles grinned brightly and reassuringly. "Do not worry. The fact that you feel so strongly about following your superiors shows promise for our struggle against the encroaching corruption touching our Motherworld. This is why we are called NightWatch, for we keep watch in the night against the potential rape of our Motherworld."
A chirping beep sounded from the communication monitor. Welles turned to the sound. "Ah! Just in time. I've been waiting to catch it off ISN and you're lucky to see it with me!" The woman beamed in pleasant and proud surprise as the NightWatch co-director ordered BabCom to open the channel. The image of President Morgan Clark came onscreen. The president of all humanity was speaking at a podium in front of the Earth Senate. Above and behind him hung a huge sculpture showing the planet Earth protected by a laurel wreath. Rising out of the top of Earth was a hand gripping a stylized torch. The golden silk cloth behind the sculpture was arranged in radiating folds to make Earth appear more like a sun than a mere planet. A shining beacon of humanity scattered among the stars.
"…everybody denounces violence. Violence, such as the recent Istanbul-Geneva Train Bombing, will end as we end the war. Violence will end as we end hunger and poverty on Earth. If we are to remain strong in the face ofadversary, the same scum that has always assailed the goodness of humanity will give up as the Minbari gave up when they came up against our human determination at the Line…."
Mr. Welles ordered BabCom to record the rest of the president's speech. "As you can see, my dear, we must be firm and determined."
"But what about—"
"Do not worry. I am sure it's fine. After all, the Captain, the one man who survived battle with the Minbari, will understand and applaud your patriotism."
The woman sighed in relief. She gave thanks to Mr. Welles and left his quarters. The NightWatch co-director gazed again at the refracting beauty of the datacrystal. They were fortunate to have a technician of Babylon 5's Command and Control as a member of NightWatch.
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Ambassador Miranda Jones was walking down a corridor when an alien appeared out of nowhere. However, the bubbling thoughts of excitement warned her long before the alien appeared.
"Ah! The ambassador from the other universe! I don't know how an ambassador can represent an entire universe…. Anyway! Where are you going on this fine day?"
Miranda thinned her lips. Such impertinent positivity. She'd already heard of G'Kar's odd…fascination for pale-skinned females. The jewels in her sensor net gown glittered in the light as she bowed slightly. "Citizen G'Kar. I'm going to see Mr. Lantz."
"So am I! Might I have the pleasure of your company to the Council Chamber?"
Miranda carefully and primly held out a hand for G'Kar to carry on the way to Mr. Lantz. Soon the entrance into the Babylon 5 Advisory Council Chamber came into view, and they entered. Mr. Lantz was just finishing with the Brakiri Ambassador Lethke. Lethke glanced at the new arrival and gave a bright encouraging smile. Lethke shook hands with Lantz and left.
"Mr. Lantz," Ivanova said. "This is Miranda Jones, Ambassador of the United Federation of Planets."
Lantz studied the extra-universal woman and studiously ignored G'Kar. Her fashion of dress was elegant, if a bit too rich for a mere ambassador. There was something odd about how Miranda looked at him. Sure, her attitude screams unavailability for any date. Somehow, when she looked at him directly, she wasn't seeing him. A characteristic of her alien species?
"This…it's amazing how human you look, Madame Ambassador. You might as well be Centauri if not for your hair."
Miranda looked as if she wasn't sure whether she should feel insulted or tolerate the Earther's ignorant arrogance. "It is because I am human, Mr. Lantz."
"You…I apologize. You don't seem like someone who came from Earth."
Miranda's lips pulled into a smile of pride as she stood straight. "Perhaps it's because I spent most of my young life on Vulcan for studies on the mentalic science."
"Mentalic…?" Lantz peered at Miranda suspiciously. It didn't sound like something you'd have in a Tibetan monastery.
"Telepathy, Mr. Lantz."
Lantz stared at Miranda in shock. He wasn't the only one as Ivanova and G'Kar looked at the Federation ambassador. Both Earthers unconsciously took a step backward. Ivanova slammed down all the blocks she could have at hand even though she sensed no scanning at all.
A teep! Lantz's diplomatic smile slipped. A teep as an ambassador, a government official! It was every true Earther's fear. As far as Earth knew, only the Orieni used a telepathic government and the Centauri broke their empire in a war at the beginning of the twenty-first century.
Unfazed, Miranda turned to G'Kar. Irony dripped from her voice. "I presume I was summoned here to discuss Federation relations with Earth. And that you are here to investigate the Centauri. I feel that the Centauri wars are currently more important than…." Her lips twisted into an ironic smirk. "my mind. This is Citizen G'Kar of the Third Circle of the Kha'ri and formerly Ambassador of the Narn Regime."
G'Kar opened and closed his mouth, then shook himself out of thoughts of pale-skinned telepathic women. "Yes. Well. Since you are here to investigate the situation with the Centauri—"
Lantz decided to avoid the topic of telepathic ambassadors for now and focus on the relatively easier problem of the former Narn ambassador by interrupting G'Kar. "Uh, well, yes, within certain guidelines."
"Thanks to the Federation ambassador's generosity, I could speak to you for just five minu—"
Lantz interrupted once more, earning a frown from Miranda. He spoke rapidly. "No, I'm afraid that's not possible at the moment."
Miranda stepped forward. "Citizen G'Kar has legitimate—"
"No!" Lantz nearly shouted at Miranda. He was now backing away from the telepathic woman, seeking to get out of the Council Chamber. "A teep! We'll deal with the situation later!" He swiftly turned about to step through the entrance. "Commander?"
Ivanova gave an apologetic look at G'Kar and a nervous glance at Ambassador Miranda. G'Kar stared at the shrinking back of Frederick Lantz with frustration.
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"Thank you, Captain." The Vulcan woman called T'Sara dipped her head in grateful respect. "We appreciate your promise of sanctuary." The commscreen went dark. Even as the last of the light faded from the dark monitor, Frederick Lantz barged into C&C with Commander Ivanova and Mr. Welles in tow.
"Captain Sheridan! I hear you have been running fighter exercises all week. Mr. Welles tells me you are using Centauri combat models!"
A female technician cautiously peeked over her shoulder at the group. Sheridan was now looking concerned. "How did you find—"
Lantz abruptly raised a hand to stop Sheridan. "That's not important! Is it true? Have you been teaching your forces to fight the Centauri?"
"Well, with everything that's been going on, it seemed prudent."
"With that pirate ship sitting so comfortably over there? No! No, this must stop at once! This jeopardizes everything, my entire mission!"
Ivanova stepped in, looking puzzled. "I don't understand. You were sent to investigate the Centauri."
Lantz looked at Ivanova, then at Sheridan with exasperation. "Yes! I had to look at the situation before I could proceed. However, I'm satisfied with what I've seen. I've contacted EarthDome, and they have authorized me to proceed."
Sheridan had had enough. He was illegally ordered by EarthDome to seize the Hakudo Maru. He had been hoping that the Earth would take sides against the Centauri, thereby uniting the League of Non-Aligned Worlds against not only the Centauri, but also for the coming war. And now to have this arrogant MiniPax pen-pusher come here and humiliate him in front of the entire C&C…. "Proceed with what?"
Mr. Lantz puffed out his chest with pride. "I'm here to sign a non-aggression treaty with the Centauri. Before I leave here, there will be an Earth-Centauri alliance that will guarantee peace for Earth! We will, at last, know peace in our time!"
As Sheridan and Ivanova gaped in surprise, Lantz held up a datacrystal. "Now, Captain Sheridan, you are ordered to send a signal into hyperspace."
USS Excelsior
Captain Sulu squinted at the main viewscreen, trying to spot the light that would be a Centauri battlecruiser. While the Hyperwarp Experiment didn't come through yet, going at maximum impulse had cut the hyperspace travel time to Vreetan down from eight days to two days. Of course, the high speed meant the stresses of jumpspace nearly tearing off a warp nacelle, but Scotty, being the miracle worker he was, fixed the problem in time. Once out of the Vreetan jumpgate, the starship warped out of the system to the transit point.
And now, the Centauri were maintaining a small fleet at the transit point. It was frustrating. They were staying out of tachyon sensor range so they couldn't get a detailed reading of where they had first transited into this universe. Sulu was momentarily tempted to strike up an alliance with the Vree and come back with a fleet of battlesaucers at his back.
An alarm chirped from the Tactical station and Lieutenant Akaar returned from the General Situation station to look into it. "Captain, sensors are detecting a ship…. I don't know if I should say it's decloaking."
"Onscreen."
A triangular ship, reminiscent of 21st century Earth delta-wing military aircraft, had appeared out of nowhere. There was no characteristic shimmer of a cloaking device. It was smaller than a Federation Sydney-class starship, only 30 meters long. It was also completely black. Sulu glanced back at Akaar. "Organic?" The Capellan man shook his head.
Then it was not a member of those terrible black bioships. Hopefully.
Janice Rand gave a surprised squawk. "Captain! They're hailing us on subspace!"
This universe is full of surprises! "Visual!"
The main viewscreen switched from the image of the sleek delta-wing black ship to that of a…field of unblinking stars. Confused, the bridge crew blinked at each other while Janice checked her instruments to make sure the communication channel was actually open. Then a face appeared as a black hood was raised. An oddly alien human-looking face gazed from inside what was now clearly a hooded black robe.
"I am Galen, Technomage. Very few have forced me to have difficulty tracking them. You are one of those few." Galen smiled. Oddly, it was a kind of smile that added to, rather than detracted from, the seriousness of his face.
"I'm Hikaru Sulu, Captain of the Federation—"
"Starship Excelsior. I know, I know. You are fond of lengthy introductions. Didn't you hear what I said? I tracked you all over my universe. I bring an urgent warning. The Enterprise and Hakudo Maru are in danger. Go back to Babylon 5."
Sulu was skeptical. Kirk and T'Sara could take care of themselves. "But…."
"Captain Sulu, you can't do anything about the puncture in the circle, not with a Centauri fleet there. But you can do something about your sister ships."
Puncture? Did this odd man mean there's a hole between the two universes? Hope rose in Sulu. "I…. Thank you, Mr. Galen."
"Please. Call me just Galen. Or Mr. Technomage. Or Good Samaritan. Or Good Sam. Whichever suits you. I prefer Galen. Your continuum distortion drive, amazing as it is, is simply not fast enough. A return trip to the Vreetan Jumpgate would take too much time. Allow me to open the door for you."
"But…the hyperspace navigation beacons…."
Galen sighed. "Must you be systematic in the middle of a crisis? Then again, it helps to keep options open. Options that my universe desperately needs. My ship's navigation system does not need hyperspace beacons. Let me be your guide to Babylon 5."
Sulu nodded. It was a big step to trust this unknown stranger, but if this 'technomage' was telling the truth, Kirk may need his help.
A jumppoint opened and the Excelsior went back into hyperspace, then the technomage vessel followed through, its black hull now glaringly obvious against the yellow of the jumppoint. Once gone, the jumppoint collapsed.
Babylon 5
Once the damnable Frederick Lantz and Ken Welles left after making sure he sent the signal into hyperspace, Sheridan barked an order at Lieutenant Corwin. "Open up a channel to Captain Kirk! We've got to get them out of here fast!"
"Online!"
Sheridan anxiously leaned onto a console as he looked at the commscreen. "Captain Kirk, you must leave. Take the other ship and go to your planet at 40 Eridani."
Captain Kirk frowned and sat up straight, looking more like an admiral than a captain. "We have had enough of attempts to hound us out of your space. Why should we leave when u claim this is neutral space?"
"Someone's coming! Can you…use your distortion drive now?"
"Distor…? Oh, the warp drive. Yes, but…."
Ivanova shouted, "Jumpgate activating!"
Sheridan was surprised to see a Centauri Primus-class battlecruiser jumping out of the gate, closely followed by two Vorchan-class attack cruisers.
Corwin glanced up from the pit. "Centauri battlecruiser is demanding we turn over the Enterprise to their custody!"
Sheridan had expected EarthForce to use mercenaries, like Raiders, black ops vessels, or allies like the Lumati or even the Ch'Lonas. He was even afraid it would be EarthForce itself coming. But the Centauri…? "Stand by! Keep this channel open! Get me Ambassador Mollari now!" He anxiously looked at Ivanova. "What's Captain Smith doing?"
"The Agrippa is turning to face the Centauri. No open gun ports. So far."
"I gave the Newcomers my word that we could protect them as long as they're in our jurisdiction. I'm not about to break that promise! Launch Zeta Squad. Tell them to surround both ships!"
"Scrambling fighters. Both? You think the Centauri might take the Hakudo Maru?"
Sheridan shrugged uncertainly.
Corwin was nearly stabbing his own head with his communication headset. "I've got Ambassador Mollari on the link!"
Frederick Lantz barged into C&C, furious. Didn't MiniPax have anyone who doesn't barge in, doesn't get outraged all the time? Ministry of Peace, hah! "Captain! Captain, what are you doing?! I've just heard—"
"The treaty hasn't been announced or formalized yet. I promised them sanctuary!"
"And once again, you're jeopardizing everything I've worked for! This is getting to be a habit!"
Sheridan had more than enough about MiniPax. "I'm sorry! Will someone please escort Mr. Lantz off the command deck?" A technician took Lantz's arm and almost dragged him out through the door. At least there was someone who wasn't too loyal to NightWatch.
Ivanova looked up from her console. "Zeta Squadron ready for launch!"
"Launch!"
After making sure he could see the pinpricks of fighters making their way to the extra-universal ships, he turned to Corwin. "Ok, put Mollari through!"
The Centauri ambassador glared at Sheridan from the monitor. He was feeling slighted by the delay in seeing Sheridan. The décor behind Londo suggested that he wasn't in his quarters, but in his personal liner. Sheridan drew his lips back in a sneer. He'd heard that the ambassador's ship was designed to withstand most forms of assassination, including a station blowing and crumbling around the ship. Londo had been expecting this little Centauri surprise.
"Captain Sheridan! You will turn the Enterprise and its crew of murderers over to us at once!"
Controlling his anger at Londo, Sheridan evenly said, "The Newcomer starship is under my protection. I have guaranteed the right of free passage. I've assigned a squad of fighters to escort the cruiser safely out of Babylon 5 space. Once it's out of Babylon 5 space, it's no business of ours. You tell your ships to withdraw at once! If they open fire on any of our fighters, I will respond with deadly force! End!"
Londo was opening his mouth for a retort when the monitor went dark. Sheridan ordered Corwin to send a copy of the transmission to the Centauri warships. "Then activate defense grid." He hoped that the Centauri wouldn't open fire. It would be madness with over a million lives at stake, and it would start many new wars across Known Space. Even the Centauri were not powerful enough to avoid the fate of the Dilgars. Especially when the station carried the Minbari and Vorlon ambassadors. He hoped to God that the Centauri realized this.
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"The Centauri are arming weapons. Lasers, particle pulse, ion cannons, the works," reported Commander Chekov. "And sir, Babylon 5 is arming weapons. Particle weapons, laser, and plasma cannons. Ciwilian and commercial wessels are clearing the area."
Federation shields could easily handle lasers, but those other weapons could do damage. It was a good thing that their ion cannons fired only focused shots of ion or Federation starships everywhere would be in trouble. The main viewscreen showed the Zeta Squadron fighters taking positions around the Enterprise and the Hakudo Maru.
Uhura looked over her shoulder, holding her earpiece. "Captain, they're demanding we surrender and to prepare to be boarded."
Captain Kirk waved a finger at Chekov. "Send our apologies. Raise shields and arm all weapons. Order the Hakudo Maru to leave the system."
"Arming weapons," complied Chekov.
"Mr. Redpath, keep us between the Centauri and the Hakudo Maru."
"Aye, sir."
"Captain Kirk," Sheridan said through the still open audio channel. "Fighters are in position. Can you make it out of the system?"
"I think I'll stay." Kirk was determined not to let the Centauri chase him all over the galaxy. It was a good thing that Spock was away on his mission.
"Your choice, Captain." Sheridan clearly sounded like he'd prefer to have Kirk follow T'Sara in flight.
"Keptin!" The Russian tactical officer sounded anxious. "The Centauri are targeting Enterprise, the fighters and Babylon 5!"
Uhura shouted, "Director T'Sara is offering her ship's defenses."
"Belay that. Order her to take the ship away from here…." Kirk trailed off as he studied the main viewscreen which was now showing the three Centauri warships slowly advancing.
Chekov reported, "They're locking and firing!"
The Centauri Primus battlecruiser unleashed a barrage of energy weapons, half at the Federation starship and half at Babylon 5. The two Vorchan attack cruisers swiftly advanced in an attempt at a pincer maneuver, all the while, shooting at the Enterprise and the Babylon fighters.
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"Interceptors, fire!" Sheridan watched aghast as the Centauri barrage reached for Babylon 5 and the Enterprise. The interceptor cannons knocked down most of the incoming energy bolts. He didn't think the Newcomer starship had interceptors.
Then he saw the Centauri energy bolts splash against a heretofore invisible energy barrier in front of Kirk's starship.
The Newcomers actually didn't need interceptors.
Then red bolts shot from the white starship in retaliation. Ivanova gasped in surprise. "Captain! They have a direct lock on the Centauri gun ports! An accurate lock!"
Indeed, some of the red bolts found their marks, while others were forced to glance off by the Centauri gravitic shielding. And the warships were moving!
Sheridan squinted, trying to see the Agrippa hanging in space, apparently doing nothing. He frowned. They had been informed that the destroyer was under orders from MiniPax to take no action at all. Not even to protect a station filled with over a million lives!
"Captain," said Corwin. "The Enterprise is requesting you move the fighters away from it to give it room to maneuver."
"Order Zeta Squad to move off, but keep the Vorchans away from the Hakudo."
The Enterprise swiveled on its axis and made a slingshot maneuver around a Vorchan, firing a torpedo at its rear. The photon torpedo detonated spectacularly, destroying the Vorchan's engines, putting it out of the action. Many of the Centauri weapons missed the starship as it moved. Fighters dodged weapons fire and returned fire. The other Vorchan managed a shot at the Hakudo Maru, but the red ship was similarly protected by an energy force shield.
No wonder EarthForce wanted those ships. Sheridan could now see how the shield technology could make Babylon 5 a stronger fortress against the coming darkness. He was horrified and angered when another barrage from the Primus managed to get past the interceptors and blasted through one of the projecting booms of the Forward Stabilizers of the null-grav cargo bay.
Sheridan had had enough. Before he could angrily order all guns to open fire on the offending Primus, phasers and photon torpedoes flew from the Enterprise, hitting the Primus with full force. Two torpedoes found their way under the belly of the Primus and impacted on the tapering gravity-generating tail of the battlecruiser. The Primus soon listed, trailing debris and plasma.
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"Sir!" shouted Chekov. "Reading a matter/antimatter reactor core breach on the lead ship!"
All too quickly, the battlecruiser became flames and debris flying in all directions. The Enterprise's shields sparkled as debris rained upon it.
Shocked, Kirk watched as the fire faded in the extreme cold of space. So many dead due to himself in this universe already. And many more would die, if he couldn't help it. Thankfully, his precious starship wasn't too damaged. Just the shields in the yellow zone.
The still functional Vorchan turned its wrath onto the tiny starship that had dared destroy a battlecruiser of the Great Republic. It came in firing all weapons. Babylon 5's weapons switched target from the destroyed battlecruiser to the attack cruiser. Lieutenant Keffer ordered all fighters to attack and block the rushing Vorchan. The Enterprise's shields glowed as they bore the brunt of the weapons fire.
The starship's sensors detected something, forcing Chekov to be distracted. He could ignore it, but small troubles had a way of growing if unheeded. Seeing what the sensors were telling him, he was surprised. "Keptin! The Earth wessel, the Agrippa, it's arming weapons!"
"Finally!" Kirk felt that the Earth destroyer was very late, but better late than never.
"But, sir, they locking on us."
"What?!"
Uhura pointed at the main viewscreen. "Sir!"
The jumpgate activated once more and spat out another Earth Omega-class destroyer. It immediately opened gun ports and opened a channel to everyone in the Epsilon Eridani System.
"This is Captain Yuan of the Earth Alliance ship Ares. The crew of the Hakudo Maru is under arrest for piracy, destruction of EarthForce property, the murder of EarthForce personnel, the aiding and abetting the escape of a prisoner, resisting arrest in the Janos System and the transport of contraband. According to the terms of the Earth-Centauri Non-Aggression Treaty, the crew of the Enterprise is under arrest for the murder of Centauri nationals and the destruction of Royal Navy property. Do not interfere. Repeat, do not interfere. Do so at your peril."
Uhura caught yet another system-wide open announcement and put it on speakers.
"This is Captain Sheridan, commander and military governor of the Earth station Babylon 5. This is Babylon sovereign space and diplomatic neutral space. The treaty is not announced or formalized yet. You do not have jurisdiction in this space. Repeat, you do not have jurisdiction. These ships have the right of sanctuary in Babylon space. I have just been instructed by the Babylon Advisory Council that the League of Non-Aligned Worlds has extended its formal protection over the Enterprise and the Hakudo Maru and their crews. Proceed and you risk causing interstellar incidents with the members of the League of Non-Aligned Worlds."
There was a hesitation over tachyon and Kirk tensed. Then: "Negative, Babylon 5. Negative. Earth does not acknowledge the League's protection. It has not been formalized with the Earth Alliance. Stand down, Babylon 5, or face a court martial and be charged with the illegal shelter of criminals, treason and sedition."
Captain Kirk was horrified. Could this be the first firing shots of a civil war in the Earth Alliance? It's not his Earth, but damn it, civil war between humans is a human civil war! He'd heard rumors about terrorism on Mars and Earth, but this is a fight between Earth military personnel and he's causing it! He needed to do something to prevent that. The last internecine conflict in Kirk's humanity was the swift Martian Revolt resulting in the Fundamental Declaration of the Martian Colonies in 2065, two years after First Contact.
"Uhura! Open a channel to all ships and Babylon 5! This is Captain James T. Kirk of the Federation starship Enterprise. Babylon 5, we can handle ourselves. Ares and Agrippa, we will defend ourselves. You know what happened to the Centauri. I beg you to reconsider this action."
The Hakudo Maru was now aiming its pointing nose at the Ares. Sensors showed the red Surak-class ship arming weapons and locking onto the Earth destroyer. The anxiety level on the Enterprise's bridge went up a few notches at that. If Director T'Sara allowed herself to be pressured by her people's hatred of EarthForce, especially that guilty warship, Kirk would have to choose sides in an Earth civil war and bring the League of Non-Aligned Worlds into the internecine conflict. It would be extremely messy.
The surviving Centauri Vorchan opened fire on the Enterprise, lighting up her shields. Kirk held on for balance in his command chair.
"Jumpgate activation!" shouted Chekov. He now dreaded the wondrous wormhole-like opening of the vortex into hyperspace. The jumpgate had so far spit out hostile warships. A star appeared to flash in the dark center of the swirling blue vortex and a white-blue vessel came out quickly. And it was closely followed by a tiny delta-wing black craft.
"It's the Excelsior!" Ensign Redpath shouted with relieved excitement.
Captain Sulu's starship fired waves of photon torpedoes which reached past the Earth destroyers, briefly reddening the gun-metal gray armor of the Omegas, and hit the Centauri Vorchan. Captains Smith and Yuan of the Agrippa and the Ares, respectively, were surprised to see that the Federation torpedoes' range extended so far and were so accurate.
The Vorchan attempted to evade, but the torpedoes were able to track the attack cruiser. A series of explosion began to rip the Vorchan apart.
"My God…," whispered Uhura sadly.
A final wave of photon torpedoes tore into the Vorchan and a final explosion converted the attack cruiser into a rapidly expanding fiery cloud of gas and spinning debris. The vertical wings of the Vorchan now spun dangerously in space.
Kirk ordered Uhura to reopen frequencies to the Earth ships and station. He had to be strong to prevent a greater tragedy than the present battle. "That ship belongs to my Starfleet. Do not think of attacking it or the Hakudo Maru. The Hakudo Maru is a Federation civilian research ship under protection of Starfleet. If two Earth warships couldn't overcome the defenses of a mere research vessel, they can't handle two fully armed Federation Starfleet vessels. Can you dare to repeat the mistake at Janos 7 in full view of the known worlds?"
After a while of tense watching, the two Earth destroyers turned around and maneuvered around the Excelsior and Galen's little black ship, entering the jumpgate into hyperspace. Various forms of relief were expressed throughout the Epsilon Eridani System.
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Captains Kirk and Sulu walked past Lantz and Welles. They glared at each other as the Starfleet captains entered Sheridan's office, the Earthers with wounded pride and the Federationers with contempt. Sheridan was calming himself down from the argument with Mr. Lantz over his actions concerning the extra-universal ships and the Centauri.
John Sheridan quickly wore an expression of shamed apology. "Captains, I'm sorry about the nasty surprises the jumpgate has been springing on us…." Sheridan thought bitterly, And I still have one more apology to do, courtesy of the Ministry of Peace!
Captain Kirk grinned. He had his own surprise to spring on Sheridan, courtesy of Spock, Scotty and that odd 'technomage' Galen. "Life is full of surprises. We gotta catch 'em all or we all fall down. Speaking of which, we have a proposal to prevent future surprises…."
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"Zeta Leader. Any idea how long we're supposed to stay with this thing?"
Lieutenant Keffer glanced out his fighter's windows at the gleaming chromatic mini-station hanging in the maelstrom of hyperspace. Occasionally, automatic thrusters maintained its anchorage at this specific spot hidden by wisps of hyperspace gas. It was a scanner buoy provided by the Newcomers to detect ships approaching the Babylon Gate. Apparently, the large device used some other method than tachyon to scan accurately and much farther than tachyon scanners could. Keffer replied admonishingly, "Just until we're sure no one will find it and take it."
An alarm beeped on Keffer's control panel. The leader of Zeta Squadron perked up. "Computer, what've you got?"
"Registering unusual changes in local hyperspace matching provided specifications. Neutrino emissions up eight percent."
Keffer was excited. Finally, he could prove to all that the story of the Ghost in hyperspace is true. A spider big as death and twice as ugly. "This is Zeta Leader. Breaking off to investigate something. Stay with the scanner buoy. I'll be back."
Another fighter pilot's voice filtered out of the speakers. "Confirmed."
Lieutenant Keffer instructed his fighter to follow the trail of neutrino emissions, hoping to catch his quarry of the mystery black ship that murdered Commander Galus when they were helping the Earth explorer ship find its way back to Babylon 5.
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Most of the ambassadors on Babylon 5 were gathered in the Zen Garden for the expected formal apology from Captain Sheridan to Ambassador Mollari. They conversed in small groups, one of the largest being comprised of League ambassadors around Captains Kirk, Sulu and Spock, and Director T'Sara. Ambassador Mollari scowled at everyone else as the others gave him a wide berth. Away from the group, Delenn and Lennier stood with Ambassador Kosh who was intently studying the Federationers. Hidden in the shrubs of the garden was G'Kar. Unseen by all, hidden in the garden plants, was the technomage Galen, eavesdropping and recording everything by holding forth a small frosted glass ball on his open palm.
"Ambassador Kalika," Spock was saying. "We are most grateful for the formal announcement of League protection for us. When we can, we will return the favor for the League worlds, especially the rare harmonious peace of the Abbai."
The Abbai ambassador bowed and ignored the looks of envy on the other ambassadors for the Federationers' special attention for the Abbai. "Thank you, Captain Spock. We do what we can to have peace among the stars."
Hearing that, Delenn and Kosh looked at each other and, coming to a silent agreement, Delenn led the Vorlon ambassador to a secluded part of the Zen Garden.
Spock said, "Perhaps a League summit could—"
The noise of an explosion caused everyone in the station's garden section to look up at the core shuttle. A shuttle car was already burning and raining debris and they could just see a man falling out of the shuttle. It was Captain John Sheridan.
"In Valen's Name!" Delenn whispered in horror.
Kirk snatched his communicator out of his belt and opened it. "Kirk to Enterprise! Lock on Captain Sheridan and beam him out!"
"Captain, we don't have a lock on Sheridan! There's too many lifesigns on the station and he doesn't have a biolocator on him."
"Fine! Just beam every human within meters of the explosion on the Core shuttle!" Kirk watched as Sheridan made an expanding spiral around the core as the Earther captain fell in a straight line and the ground centrifugally spun around the station's axis at 60 miles per hour.
"All right, sir. Narrowing transporter lock now."
Spock leaned over to whisper to Kirk. "Captain Sheridan has thirty seconds before the impact on the ground kills him."
Kirk yelled into the communicator. "Hurry!"
Then a golden light covering a core of intense blue-white light rose out of the tree line of the garden. Various forms of surprise and awe overcame the gathered ambassadors.
"Valeria!"
"Droshalla!"
"G'Lan!"
Kirk, Sulu and Spock looked up with the others and stared at the glowing form. The vision wasn't as clear for them as it was for the others. It was more like a humanoid figure hidden within a cloud, some features peaking out now and then. Once in a while, it seemed as if the figure became an amorphous core of ice-colored light. It reminded Kirk of the Organians and the Thasians. The general impression of the being within the light was that of an angel. A hairless human angel.
Spock whispered, "Kir'Alep…."
Captain Sulu also whispered. "Ninigi…."
Even though the ambassadors' rapture was sincere, Kirk could hear confused skepticism and uncertainty in Spock and Sulu. He remembered Spock's tricorder reading of the Vorlon ambassador: "The Vorlon ambassador appears to be a form of semi-corporeal silicon-based lifeform with some impressive mental abilities."
Was the ethereal being of light Ambassador Kosh? Kirk felt uneasy, even afraid. The Organians and the Thasians were limited to one home star system, as far as the Federation knew. An entire interstellar empire of Organians…. No, the Vorlons were more like the testy Melkotians than the Organians. Melkotian-like aliens controlling an empire with a greater volume than the Federation, the Romulan and the Klingon Empires. If the Vorlons were truly like that angelic being now approaching Sheridan, he would have to tread carefully around the Vorlons.
A voice crackled out of Kirk's still open communicator, startling him out of his reverie. "Initiating transport."
The glowing golden being was reaching out with both arms, huge translucent wings rippling out of flowing fluttering white-gold robes, then starlight covered Sheridan. The Earth captain vanished. The angelic being appeared startled. Quickly covering up, Kosh pointed up, as if heavenward, and appeared to stare knowingly straight into Kirk's eyes. The angel moved to another area of the garden where the Vorlon ambassador could sneak back into his encounter suit unseen.
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Captain Sheridan smiled. "Thank you, Captain Kirk, for that unusual…rescue." Transmat technology! He'd heard of the Vree dimensional slip technology, but even the Minbari disdained that technology which was severely limited by energy demands and the requirement of stationary locations. To find that there's a technology that was a hell lot more flexible than the slip tech…. He was sure the universe would change drastically at that fact. Although he wasn't too sure about the method itself. Being taken apart at the quantum level didn't sound too appetizing. As soon as he returned to his quarters, he had taken an extremely thorough self-examination in the shower.
Delenn bowed, smiling her thanks at Kirk. She was also troubled by the Newcomers' teleportation technology. The implications were far-reaching. Perhaps it was a good thing she didn't align the Minbari Federation against the Newcomers. Added to force shield technology, the Newcomers could easily capture ships and conquer worlds, yet they chose not to. She sincerely hoped the Centauri or any of the servants of the Shadows couldn't get their hands on those technologies. "Thank you, James. Perhaps it is…prudent for you not to utilize that form of travel in public."
Kirk waved off Delenn's gratitude and concerns. "We handled the Centauri and the Earth warships, didn't we? I'm sure no one would want to tangle with use after this."
Sheridan nodded. "The whole station is talking about what happened. Every race that was in the garden saw something different, yet the same! A being of light!" He gave a wry smile. Transmat technology! "A being of light that took me out of this universe entirely. Maybe to heaven or to another universe and I came back. Like the angel Gabriel did with Muhammad the Prophet. What a miracle!"
Delenn conceded. "Yes. Each according to his or her type."
Kirk peered at the Minbari ambassador suspiciously. "But it was Ambassador Kosh, wasn't it?"
Delenn nodded. How did he know? Didn't he get a similar rapturous reaction to seeing Kosh in the flesh? "Captain Kirk, I am sure John needs his rest. We will…discuss matters with you later."
The Starfleet captain frowned at Delenn, miffed at the dismissal but gave a diplomatic smile and nod. Once he left Sheridan's quarters, Delenn turned to Sheridan, smiling but with a look of seriousness in her eyes. "John, we have matters of import to discuss ourselves…."
USS Enterprise-A
"Say," said Dr. McCoy. "Who is Ninigi?"
"Oh," replied Captain Sulu as he glanced at the returning commercial traffic on the main viewscreen. "He was a kami, a divine spirit sent to Japan by the sun goddess Amaterasu. He brought a sword, a mirror and a jewel to create the imperial regalia for his grandson, Jimmu Tenno, the first emperor of Japan. His Attendants became the first Shinto priests.Did the Vorlons visit our Earth?"
McCoy shook his head. "If they did, why was the vision so blurry to us, yet so clear to the locals?" Shrugging, the doctor turned to Spock. "And who is Kir'Alep?"
"An ancient Vulcan god of peace and acceptance. Legends claim that he came down from the sky to help Surak succeed in spreading his philosophy on my homeworld and end the dangerous internecine warfare tearing my people apart." Spock wore a look of speculation on his Vulcan gaunt face.
It would appear that the Vorlons visited many worlds in this universe and conditioned the indigenous species into having a favorable view of them.
Spock wondered…. Did the Vorlon Empire have a counterpart in their home universe?
"And it came to pass at the end of the Babylonian Earth Year 2259 that there was wailing and gnashing of teeth at the wicked alliance between the dark princes of Earth and Centauri Prime. The banners of war were raised and the independent worlds were assailed as the Darkness rose to dim the very stars, and the Dark One broke through his Seal to lay his dread hand upon the worlds lit by these stars. Women wept and men quailed as the nations of the stars were rent like rotting cloth.
Even as the first horseman called Conquest passed, leading those deceived by the temptations of conquest and riches thereof and the second horseman announced the coming of War, hope was born in Babylon the Great. The Blessed Sheridan was taken, as the angel Gabriel took the prophet Muhammad on ancient Earth, for enlightenment. It was learned in Babylon the Great that where the universe has shed one tear, it would weep thousands. Let the tears flow, O Great Babylon, the last best hope for victory. Weep for your salvation!"
—from The Breaking of the Seal by Lyssa Deradi of House Jaddo, Counsel-Sister to Lucco Deradi, High Governor of Immolan 5 for the Serene Republic of Centauri Prime, year of publication unknown.
You tuned to the ISN channel, wondering about the rumors of battles and miracles at Babylon 5, and the voice of the newscaster floated out of the snowing static on your vidscreen. "…when our ship found a distress beacon attached to an EarthForce recording device…."
The static cleared up. It was a gun camera footage from Lieutenant Keffer's fighter. A huge black ship of thorny spines was clear against the roiling redness of hyperspace. To you, the ship looked like it was made of crude oil. The organic look made you think of the legendary Vorlons and you wonder whether this alien species was as advanced and powerful.
"These images, released exclusively to ISN, were found on that recording. Strategic analysts in EarthDome have indicated they don't know who this new race might be, but promise to find out."
The terrifying black ship wheeled about, firing a purple beam. Static abruptly filled your vidscreen as the purple beam appeared to swing to touch the camera.
President Clark's speech to the Earth Senate is based on a speechin there-election campaign of President Richard Nixon concerning 'bums' (university students, especially the protesters at Kent State and Jackson State) in 1970.