A Klingon K'Vort-class cruiser dodged enemy fire with fast maneuvers and fired disruptors and photon torpedoes in retaliation. A Centauri Vorchan-class attack cruiser blew apart under the returning fire. The Ki'tang's shields sparkled as they resisted the impact of Centauri weapons and debris.
"Na'Dath," said General Moghar, "the Centauri are howling!" He grinned ferally at the commander of the Narn Air and Space Defence who was holding onto a support beam as the Klingon warship shook under Centauri fire.
Na'Dath said, "Your ship is most impressive." He watched as another missile exploded against Klingon shields on the main screen. Beyond the battle, he could see a planet covered in the clouds of pollution and acid rain. Tuchanq, the last Narn-held world. Technically, it was no longer Narn. A rebellion occurred upon the Kha'ri's surrender to the Centauri and the forty Narn governors of the world were now imprisoned by the Tuchanq rebels.
Narn warships swarmed around the Ki'tang, eager for vengeance against the Centauri who had come upon hearing of the Tuchanq rebellion. Shields weaker and less finely tuned than that of the Klingon warship protected each ship. The enemy was finding them too difficult to bring down.
Soon enough, the battle was over. Most of the enemy warships were destroyed or disabled. The disabled ships were then savagely destroyed by vengeful Narns.
The general looked at the scene. It was glorious. These Centauri were every bit as crafty and treacherous as the Fek'lhri back home. The Narns had been a nice surprise. A people forged in the fires of war and oppression! Very like Klingons, except the Klingon Empire had never been conquered. And Klingons knew honor. The Narns knew honor, of a sort, but they were as unscrupulous as members of the High Council. A worthy ally against this universe's twisted version of the Fek'lhri. He turned to an officer. "Begin transport of warriors to the capital on Tuchanq. Crush the rebels."
A Klingon warrior pounded his chest in salute. He turned to leave the bridge, but he paused when the general gave one more order.
"And, Klaan…. Bring us…what's her name, Na'Dath?"
"Elder Stateswoman nuViel Roon."
Moghar grunted his thanks. "Bring us her head, Klaan."
When the warrior was gone, Na'Dath turned to the general. Klingons. A frightening people. They appeared to love battle. If what they said was true, they were actually the Xon, so feared by the Centauri.
"What is your procedure in conquest?"
Moghar revealed his fangs in a smile again. "Traditionally? We would occupy the alien homeworld, execute all government officials, and install an Imperial Overseer to put down any further resistance." Upon seeing Na'Dath eyes glaze in memory, he added, "I know that is what the Centauri have done to your homeworld. But we would not be so unnecessarily wasteful about our slaves' lives. And…we would not tuck tails and run if the conquest proves too difficult to hold." He laughed uproariously.
The Narn commander nodded, although he appeared nervous at the thought of Klingon occupation. He wondered what would have happened if the Centauri lost their Xon War and the Xon came to Narn. "Once Tuchanq is secure, we will begin systematic raids of Centauri ships and outposts. You will, of course, help us, General. My spies tell me the Centauri are pulling ships out of 'unimportant' areas of space to deal with an alien invasion." Na'Dath slammed a fist into an open hand. "Soon, the way will be open for Liberation!"
Moghar grinned. He could already hear the songs sung about this glorious and righteous campaign.
Outside the Turan System (formerly Quadrant 27), Centauri Republic
Vor Talle surveyed his domain. The Primus-class battlecruiser Demola, survivor of battles with the Narn, the Newcomers and others. For good reason, he was proud of this domain.
In the War of Retribution, known elsewhere as the Narn-Centauri War, the Demola had an idiotic captain in Lord Va Mota, to whom may all of the gods refuse entry into each of their heavens. Above the planet Keeli, the battlecruiser was ambushed by the Narns. If it wasn't for the tactics of former First Officer Vor Talle, the ship would have been destroyed upon Va Mota's death in that attack.
Yes, Captain Vor Talle had reason to be proud of his warship.
"Milord!" said a bridge officer loudly. "The scanners are detecting something vectoring on us. It appeared out of nowhere!"
Talle leaned forward on his command chair that seemed more like a throne for his domain. "Boy, give me a view of that 'something.' It better not be more of those Narn insurgents."
On the viewer, Captain Talle could only see what appeared to be a metallic cube in the distance. He never heard of any alien species applying geometry to starship designs. Even the Newcomers at Babylon 5 only had a loose application of geometry.
It must be a new alien species. A potential First Contact situation.
"All right, boy, inform the sector command at Batain that we have a possible First Contact situation." Talle studied the approaching cube. "Great Maker, it's huge! Create a tachlink to the alien vessel. Send Interlac protocols, then send: I am Captain Vor Talle of the Centauri Royal Ship Demola. In the name of His Most Illumined Majesty, Narleeth Cartagia Jarn, by Grace of the Great Maker, Emperor of Centauri Prime, Defender of the Republic, Voice of the Gods, The Empire Made Flesh, we bid you welcome to the Great Centauri Republic."
"Sir, they're answering on audio."
A voice like that of a billion men and women speaking as one came through the speakers.
"We are the Borg. You will disarm all weapons and escort us to Centauri Prime where we will begin the assimilation of your culture and technology. If you attempt to intervene, you will be assimilated. Resistance is futile."
Nervous uncertainty crept up Vor Talle as the Borg cube approached closer. Such cold confidence! He had heard rumors of a disaster near the Vree System. The Royal Admiralty had tried to quiet it down, but rumors always leak wherever the Great Game is played.
"Great Maker, it is huge…." Murmured the Centauri captain. Could these aliens be connected to the mysterious destruction of the colony at Morbis? Such power, size and certainty were usually the province of…First Ones. Vor Talle was not a fool like the late Lord Va Mota.
"Activate jumpengines! Open a jumppoint to Batain! Warn the Batain Sector Command! Warn Homeworld!"
The Demola lumbered around away from the Borg cube as a jumppoint opened and shrill calls rushed out from the battlecruiser all the way to Centauri Prime. The calls were for help, but mostly, they were warnings.
A Borg tractor beam captured the Centauri battlecruiser.
Vor Talle screamed, "It's not supposed to happen! No!" His death dream had predicted he would die at a great battle in a star system lit by a fire-colored nebula.
Green pillars of light appeared in the center of the bridge. The light dissipated to reveal the most horrific beings the Centauri ever saw. They were little more than walking machines. What flesh showed through the black machine parts were pale grey, the color of unprepared corpses. There was no expression on their faces. None at all.
The six Borg drones began to march outward, reaching for Centauri crewmen to assimilate.
Vor Talle stood from his command throne and pulled out his sword of captaincy, preparing to defend himself. Other crewmembers used Tromo Handguns to fire phased plasma pulses at the drones. To almost no effect.
Personal force shields! Impossible!
A drone raised an arm towards Talle. The captain lobbed it off with his Kutai sword and took a quick look at the communications officer. The officer was struggling in the grasp of a drone, his face a rictus of agony. His veins were turning grey and his skin was turning deathly pale. So this is the 'assimilation' that the aliens spoke of. Talle ran to the engine control panel. He panickly pressed the buttons that activated the Demola's thruster engines that would push the battlecruiser into the still open waiting jumppoint. The ship, dwarfed by the Borg cube, vibrated as it struggled in vain against the Borg tractor beam holding it captive. The cube fired a small red missile, hitting the tail of the battlecruiser. There was no apparent damage, but the missile's purpose was to knock out the jumpengines. The jumppoint wobbled and collapsed, showing the Borg missile's success.
Stranded and trapped by the terrifying aliens, Captain Vor Talle prepared himself for the Great Maker and his patron, Kotan, God of Navies. He turned his sword around, the hilt now facing the approaching drones. He drove the sword into his own hearts just as a drone reached for him and his neck.
Babylon 5
T'Sara was sitting at Garibaldi's desk. Her Vulcan calmness made the station security chief uncomfortable. No one could be that calm, that…centered. Even the most serene priest would fidget about being in a security officer's office.
"Officer, I apologize for the problems we have caused you."
Garibaldi narrowed his eyes. "No shit! The captain's pretty upset about it."
T'Sara raised an eyebrow at the human's emotional outburst and continued speaking as if the outburst didn't occur. "We will attempt the apprehension of Dr. Howard and Mr. Carlson. Our long-range sensors have determined that the stolen shuttle was on a course to 40 Eridani."
Garibaldi shook his head in wonder. Their propulsion drive was an impossible technology. Too bad there was no jumpgate in that star system. And no hyperspace beacon either. Damn. They could just overtake the shuttle by going through hyperspace. The gravity echo of 40 Eridani's three stars made hyperspace travel too dangerous for Earth ships. Which was why Earth hasn't charted the inner Alpha Centauri System. Yet. With technology exchanges with the Newcomers, they would be able to enter any star system at will!
But he had a criminal and a terrorist to catch. "So he's escaped. Gone. Thanks to your lax security."
T'Sara only appeared impassive, expressionless. It irked Garibaldi that he couldn't get any emotional reaction from her. People getting emotional tend to say things they didn't want others to know.
"Chief Garibaldi, to reiterate, we will attempt the apprehension of the two men. I will take my ship to 40 Eridani. Certainly, there is an incentive for us to investigate that system."
"Yeah…. Your homeworld is there, isn't it? In your universe, anyway."
"Indeed."
Garibaldi hated letting anyone with connections to a criminal out of his sight and reach. "All right, you can go…. On one condition: that Zack Allan go with you."
"Agreed."
Garibaldi stood up politely, letting T'Sara know that she could go. "Good luck, ma'am."
xxxxxxxxx
Having determined that no one with a jumpengine could jump into the 40 Eridani System, Captain Kirk has given the Hakudo Maru permission to investigate that system. The red slender ship's warp ring emitted a blue glow and the ship vanished into a warp flash out of the Epsilon Eridani System.
xxxxxxxxx
Lady Timov raised an eyebrow skeptically and said, "If you say so, husband."
Londo shut off the vidscreen, cutting the link to his wife on Homeworld, and turned around in thought. So the House Refa is gaining pre-eminence at the Royal Court? According to his damnable wife, Lord Refa had convinced the Emperor that the new improvements at Tolonius would be all they needed to repel this latest alien incursion. Any courtier would be reassured and be convinced that Refa had the Republic and the Imperium in his best interests.
But Londo was not a jaded courtier. He knew that Refa had the Imperial Throne in his sights. It was time to surgically remove that blight of a man.
But how? The new aliens, by the reports of his sources, were making straight for Homeworld. He needed to somehow convince the Royal Navy to muster a mighty fleet in the defense of Centauri Prime. To do that, he needed to first convince the young fool, Cartagia. And to do that, he needed to pry Refa's claws off the young man and the throne.
Londo called up an image sent by one of his eyes-and-ears within the Royal Admiralty on the vidscreen. It was a distant tachyon scan of the alien invader. A silhouette of a very large cube. The ambassador was a loyal republican, a patriot, and he loved Centauri Prime as one would a wife. Even so, he was not blind about the strength of the Centauri military. He needed allies.
There was a problem.
The Centauri Republic, thanks to his own dealings with Mr. Morden, and to the idiocy of Refa and the Centaurum, had alienated almost every civilized planet in Known Space. Even the Newcomers were alienated. Londo thought that Captain Kirk and his henchmen would rudely refuse to help those who had too long sought their downfall. Besides, they were only two ships. No. He needed a powerful un-alienated ally. An ally with vast powerful fleets. A thought came in his mind. No. Certainly not Morden's associates. He was not about to go back to that slick human, not after extricating himself out of his dark clutches. Finally, an idea occurred to him. Londo went to work on the necessary official documents before calling for an appointment with a certain ambassador.
xxxxxxxxx
Captain James T. Kirk watched in horror as the Borg cube so coldly cut down a Centauri fleet. First the alien probe now flying outside and now this. He looked up from his desk at the two men facing him.
"Spock, what do you make of this?"
"It would appear that these aliens indeed originate in our quantum reality. As evidenced by this recording, the aliens appear to be more capable of handling an entire fleet than a Federation starship. Considering the varying technological levels of this quantum reality, I have serious doubts about the locals' ability to…resist the Borg."
Kirk looked back at Spock with raised eyebrows. He had caught the small humor, macabre though it was. "Galen? What can your colleagues do about this threat?"
The oddly alien-looking human silently stared down at Kirk, thinking. Finally, he said, "My order is constrained by rules. Some of these rules are not too unlike your Prime Directive. If we reveal ourselves, we would be a target of greed across the galaxy. Those whose interests would be threatened by our existence would…seek to eliminate us. I can only help in the context of your own actions."
Kirk slowly nodded. It was true that Galen did nothing until Kirk did something then technomagical help would appear however reluctantly. "Spock, I believe the timetable for our plans has been stepped up."
"Indeed."
Kirk took a compadd out of a locked desk drawer and handed it to Spock. "Give the orders to Captain Sulu. Tell him to go to Abba IV at top speed through jumpspace."
Spock agreed and left the office.
Galen studied Kirk. "You can't go home so you've decided to bring home to you. Admirable. We'll see if it's feasible."
Kirk smiled. He had finally decided not to let the technomage push his buttons. "Remind me to tell you about Captain Jonathan Archer and a marauding drone ship in the pre-Federation days."
xxxxxxxxx
"I don't want to go to Minbar!"
"Oh, of course you want to go to Minbar! Everyone wants to go to Minbar! It is the vacation spot of the season! Assuming you're part of the 'long robes and head bone' set!"
Vir Cotto gave a look of exasperated exhaustion to the Centauri ambassador. "Londo…."
Londo sighed. Why did he constantly let Vir, a mere diplomatic attaché and a member of a minor House, challenge him? He knew why anyway. It was a lucky person in power who has a trusted someone to contradict him, to always tell him the truth no matter how painful or embarrassing. Several past emperors even tried to make that official by having a 'truthspeaker' by their side.
He suddenly remembered the story of Emperor Ludo. A truthspeaker slapped Ludo in full view of the Royal Court for "allowing" the Shenaro slaves to revolt. Smarting from such a public embarrassment, Emperor Ludo had ordered all of the Shenaro exterminated.
Perhaps some people are not so lucky to have such contradicting friends acting as truthspeakers.
"Vir, it's a good career move for you. From time to time you'll come back here, report to me. We will, uh, do a little business together." Londo pantomimed drinking as he said the last sentence.
Vir scoffed skeptically. "And who will take care of things while I'm gone?"
"I am quite capable of taking care of myself, Vir. I want you away from here. It is not a good place for you. That alien probe out there is going to destroy this place if the Earthers don't answer all of its questions. I doubt they will succeed. You must leave here. I want to protect you!"
Vir made a frowning face. "I don't want to be protected!"
"Well, I'm afraid it's not your decision. It's already done! You have been promoted! You'll earn more money, receive more attention, women may even come to find you attractive—in time. I know it is a great burden, but I think that you will adjust. Now, I must go! I'm late for my transport to Centauri Prime!"
Vir now appeared confused. "Centau—? Londo, if I leave, you will be alone!"
"Augh! I have always been alone! Pack up! Now! I'm not going to come back from Homeworld only to find your body floating uselessly around here when the alien probe is done with Babylon 5!"
The ambassador took a deep breath and calmed down. He hated to admit it, but he needed Vir for his plans. "Vir…. I know you've heard about the alien incursion in the Republic. I'm going to Homeworld to take care of it. You will be a lot more help for me on Minbar than here."
Vir once more looked confused. He pointed at a vague direction. "How? Minbar is that way, away from Homeworld!"
"We…uh…. Vir, we may need allies against this incursion. The Minbari are the most powerful and advanced star nation in Known Space. If you get them around to our side, our homeworld may yet survive…."
Horrified understanding finally dawned on Vir's face. He stared as Londo walked out of the quarters.
Near the Turan System, Centauri Republic
Drone 5 of 80 online. Species: Centauri—designated Species 5768. Origin point: Brackesh 9, a colony of the political entity designated Centauri Republic. Obsolete designation tag: Vor Talle. Obsolete hierarchical occupational tag: captain in the Centauri Royal Navy.
Identify relevant technology: a transdimensional propulsion system, descriptor designation: jumpengine and jumpgate.
Assimilation of Species 5768 at priority level 6.45. Interspatial investigation confirmed: no transwarp conduit has been constructed in Quantum Reality 002. Unable to utilize transwarp coils for high-speed assimilation. Optimize warp navigation path to Centauri Prime. Requirement for a unicomplex for the establishment of a unimatrix for this universe at priority level 5.83.
Near the Immolan System (Beta Hydri System), Centauri Republic
Dr. John Howard cursed his luck. The Vulcan-built shuttle Hak'Mar had stalled and dropped out of warp due to something absorbed into the intake manifolds. The archaeologist was a scientist, not an engineer. And Robert Carlson was not much help, either in spite of his experience in maintenance and engineering. Damn Vulcan engineering!
Nevertheless, he had forced Carlson to don a spacesuit and go clean out the intake manifolds outside. They needed to reach Centauri Prime as soon as possible and offer their services to the Centauri government. This way, they could have their revenge against both the Federationers and the Earth Alliance.
Revenge.
And yes, survival.
The Federationers never truly understood that. John Howard thought of opening the frequency with Carlson to urge him to hurry. They could never know if there were pirates or "Raiders" as Carlson called them around here. He reached towards the communications console.
He couldn't move. It was as if his body suddenly decided to paralyze itself. He suddenly had the sense that someone was in the room with him. Impossible. With Carlson outside on the warp torus, he was alone. Bright, almost blinding, white light began to shine through the windows of the shuttle from outside. The shuttle began to vibrate.
John Howard began to feel the cold sweat of unaccustomed terror. What was going on? He strained to look at the viewscreen that the computers had automatically focused on the source of the white light. A large dark saucer-shaped vessel hung above the shuttle, colored lights flashing across its silvery hull. There was no apparent source of the blinding white light coming through the windows of the shuttle.
He managed to croak past the paralysis. "No!"
A glittering white light flashed and spun through the room and Dr. Howard was no longer in the room, leaving only his clothes on the chair.
John Howard found himself lying on a hard table, naked. He was sorely tempted to shiver in the cold air, but he was too paralyzed even for that. He took a sharp breath when he saw his captors.
Huge black eyes glittered out of grey mouthless faces whose contours almost suggested skulls. The room they were now in was full of darkness and silver lights. The aliens gazed down at Howard. The archaeologist found that he could now move his head. He turned to look over the side of the table through the aliens' robes that appeared to be woven of dark grey spider webs. He could see the former terrorist, Robert Carlson paralyzed on another table floating in the darkness, also naked.
Howard looked back up at the aliens and managed to say "Wha…. What are you doing? Who are you? What do you want?"
The aliens looked at each other. Howard had the feeling that they were telepathically communicating with each other. How else could they talk with no mouths? The group of aliens surrounding Howard's table then parted, allowing Howard a clear view over the other side of the table. He squinted into the darkness beyond the silver lights. What was that? It looked like someone dressed in white slowly coming out of the darkness.
When the person in white finally came close enough to the silver lights, Howard gasped. The person now looked older, ripened, but was better looking now, if that was possible.
"You…?"
The grey aliens then closed ranks and one of them bent down toward Howard and aimed a tool at his face. A red light shone out of the tool into his eyes and he fell into unconsciousness.
Babylon 5
Captain Kirk shielded his eyes as the blast whitewashed the main viewscreen. His starship shook in response to the blast.
"My God…," whispered Dr. McCoy. "That's a big explosion! What is it?"
Spock calmly supplied the answer. "The detonation measured at approximately 500,000 megatons. Just when the alien probe's organic hull began to break down, sensors were able to ascertain the type of explosive it used. It is tricobalt."
"My God! That's not a probe…it's a Tiffany lamp on steroids!"
Spock ignored McCoy's emotionally illogical response and continued. "Tricobalt, as you know, is ineffective against shielded vessels. Unshielded targets, however, would be vaporized by the blast."
Kirk nodded. Babylon 5 was not shielded. Most local species do not even have the technology, although there were rumors. He had sent off the Excelsior not only because of the Borg problem, but also because of this probe. The Hakudo Maru was sent off for similar reasons. Many of the alien ambassadors have already fled in their own ships. Kirk could have gone with Sulu or to this universe's version of Vulcan, but he was not about to abandon his allies. Babylon 5, he knew, was too important. Still, the space station was too vulnerable for such importance. It was a case of putting too many eggs in one basket. "Spock, is our shield technology compatible with Babylon 5?"
The Vulcan took a few seconds to think about that. "While it would serve to preserve the space station from future aggression, we cannot guarantee the fact that EarthForce would learn of the technology and abuse it. Including using it against us."
Kirk frowned and nodded. Spock had a point. It was frustrating. He needed to work with his ally, Sheridan, but the alliance was severely limited by the Earth Alliance's antagonism with the Federationers. The only way he could openly work with him was for the Earth government to undergo a much more favorable reform or for the station to secede from Earth. Considering this President Morgan Clark, a reform was extremely unlikely. Any secession would entail a rebellion or even a civil war.
Kirk didn't want that. A civil war is horrifyingly wasteful. Besides, in this age of interstellar travel, humanity was supposed to be a unified species. The galaxy was too dangerous for any star nation to remain fractured. It would get too messy if any other species was brought into a civil war.
And now this alien incursion into Centauri space. Kirk had no love for the Centauri. They were too much like Romulans. Like Romulans, they treated serious matters as if they were a chess game. Still…he felt responsible for the incursion. By investigating the alien interspatial device at Titan 5, he created a way into this universe. Considering the current level of Federation technology, he could have created a fleet of starships and quickly conquered an empire in this part of the galaxy. And this alien invader appeared more advanced than the Federation. If he didn't do something about it, millions, if not billions, would die. Even though he was an excellent military strategist, military matters were distasteful to him.
"The Shadows…," Kirk quietly murmured.
"Sir?" Spock's naturally sharp ears caught it.
"Oh, just thinking aloud. This galaxy is falling into a war and our home universe has apparently produced another war on top of that."
"Jim, I am confident that we will prevail. Captain Sulu will see to that."
The Abbai System
"Approaching jumpgate, sir," reported Lieutenant Commander Kruton Lojur.
Sulu would be glad to be out of jumpspace. He didn't like the vibrating and jumping motions that the gravity eddies created for his starship in spite of the inertial dampeners. Dr. Altos Viger had been complaining about having to constantly create anti-spacesickness medicine for the crew. "Slow to one quarter impulse."
"One quarter impulse, aye."
The navigator, Lieutenant Angelo Tiffe, had to concentrate on his instruments to be completely sure of the starship's position in hyperspace. Hypernavigation was still a new science to him, and it was too often confusing with the lack of apparent direction in this hellish dimension. After a moment of near-panicked study, he relaxed and called out, "Arriving at the coordinates."
"Jump."
A vortex swirled open in hyperspace and the Excelsior slipped into it and fell out of a jumpgate. Soon enough, a planet loomed before it. Oceans covered most of it so that there were only islands and a few small continents. Satellites around the planet automatically activated and focused on the starship. A ship, alerted by the satellites' activity, approached.
Sulu studied the alien ship on the main viewscreen. It was strangely beautiful, all fluid lines. It was sea-green and fragile-looking. A pod was situated in front of a ring. Another, but much larger, ring was at the back of the ship, connected to the thin body with filaments that appeared as fragile as the threads of a spider web. The rings had purple stripes, and gold script ran down the thin center of the ship. It looked very aquatic.
Ensign Tuvok reported, "The ship's weapons are almost nonexistent. They seem to rely on electronic disabling and shields. Most of that vessel is devoted to equipments related to shield generation. Sir, the orbital satellites have created a network of shields around the planet."
Sulu glanced at Tuvok in surprise. A planetary shield? Even the Federation did not shield its planets, preferring the delicate technology to protect sensitive facilities and bases.
Janice Rand turned in her chair to the captain. "Sir, they're hailing us."
"Onscreen."
A female Abbai now looked back at Captain Sulu. Her head fins gently rippled in the movement of water that filled her ship. "This is the Abbai Matriarchate defense ship Shain. Please state your identity and intentions."
"Sir," warned the security officer Akaar. "Sensors are detecting more vessels converging on us."
Sulu stood up from his command chair. "This is Captain Hikaru Sulu of the Federation starship Excelsior. I wasn't aware that we must explain ourselves. I thought our envoy has spoken to your empress and council of matriarchs."
The Abbai woman smiled and turned to signal at an offscreen officer.
Tuvok reported, "The orbital shield satellites are deactivating and the other Abbai ships are returning to their previous positions."
Sulu was relieved. "Thank you, madame."
The Abbai captain bowed her head in respect. "Ambassador Gillian Taylor has been most kind and honorable to us. Please accept our apologies for our rash alert. We have heard reports of marauding ships in interstellar space, ships too powerful to be merely Raiders. The last time this happened, we were…lax in our vigilance. Abbai colonists suffered from Dilgar depravities on Tavita, and the Hyach-Abbai colony on Beshilay died when the Dilgar cracked the planet's crust in a weapon test."
Sulu nodded. While he didn't know about the Dilgar, this bit of information was horrifying. Crack an inhabited planet's crust to test a weapon? "Understood. My Federation's Starfleet would have done the same."
"Captain Sulu, I am aware of your…teleporter technology. I am told that you can teleport down to our homeworld to meet your ambassador and the Empress-Mother. Your Captain Kirk's proposal is…intriguing to say the least."
Captain Sulu smiled. They have been hooked already.
Tesoss, Ssumssha (Abba IV), homeworld of the Abbai Matriarchate
Gillian Taylor stood on the bedrock in an environment suit, gazing up at the shimmering pinpoints of lights. She turned at the appearance of new light. A transporter column revealed Captain Sulu in his own environment suit. The starship captain nearly stumbled in the watery environment. He grinned at Gillian as he quickly regained his balance and oriented himself to being underwater.
Gillian smilingly pointed up at the reef ceiling through which many tiny holes were punched through. The sunlight shone through the holes into the water cave. "Isn't it beautiful?" She swept her suited hand around through the water. "This is the Star Caves of Tesoss. Five thousand years ago, the ancient Abbai built the Star Caves and made these holes to accurately represent all the major stars as they were in the spring equinox at the time."
Sulu admired the effect of liquid stars shining above in the water. "Spectacular!"
Gillian knew that the Star Caves would impress Sulu. In the Federation, this site would be a tourist destination as famed as the Egyptian pyramids on Earth, the great statues on Vulcan's Plains of Gol, and the Wall of Heroes on Andoria. "We don't know the exact purpose, but many believe the Caves were used in a ritual of divination like in Stonehenge back on Earth. A star-reading divination that the Abbai call 'Yemfai'. Amazing, isn't it? Amphibian species seem to share our dreams of touching the stars!"
An Abbai woman swam into the cavern through an entrance, her robe fluttering in the water. When she was able to stand on the rock floor, Sulu was again impressed, this time by her queenly stance. It was a stance that only elderly Vulcans could rival. The Abbai woman reminded him of Akaar's mother, Regent Eleen of the Ten Tribes of Capella IV.
Gillian slowly bounced through the water and tried her best to curtsy in her environment suit to the Abbai woman. By way of introduction for Sulu, she said, "We are honored by your presence, Most Serene Majesty, Natar Yrisha."
The Natar, the Empress-Mother of the Abbai, smiled and turned to the human man. "You must be Captain Hikaru Sulu. The council of matriarchs, the Marti, is intrigued by the proposal sent by your Captain Kirk. Clarification is required for our understanding."
This was it. The moment of conviction. Captain Sulu drew himself up as much as possible in his environment suit. "Your Majesty, we know that you are the strongest proponents of the League of Non-Aligned Worlds. Your people are the most pacifistic in this universe. The League has the greatest potential in becoming a multiracial star nation. Even so, there are…weaknesses that need to be addressed. The League is more like a confederation whose members are motivated by self-interest. As a result, you cannot present a strong united front. This is why the League cannot stand when a stronger power like the Minbari and the Centauri makes demands on the League."
Yrisha's head fins shivered as she bristled at Sulu's truthful observation of the League. But a truly good monarch listens to the truth no matter how distasteful it is. "We admit this. We remember how the Minbari themselves dared to intimidate each of the League Worlds into violating our mutual defense treaties with Earth during the Earth-Minbari War. What can we do about this?"
Sulu said, "Create a closer federation than the League has right now. The greatest barrier to such a closer alliance is the mutual independence of the League's military forces. Each world still retains its control of its separate force. What we, the United Federation of Planets, propose is that the League establishes a single central military command for all the League forces."
Yrisha glanced at Gillian in surprise, then looked back at Sulu. "It is unlikely that it would be acceptable. The Abbai people won't venture beyond their space. Our mutual defense treaties with other League worlds and Earth are enough to keep the peace."
"Peace? What peace? The peace you have is a watchful peace, not the peace of a confident and comfortable nation. When I came here, your planetary defense lit up. Lit up at one single starship! Your defenders told me about their worries about reports of marauding ships raiding the space lanes. Your Majesty, your League is a collection of cold wars! Espionage, sabotage, technological thievery and raiders. Many of your worlds are antagonistic to each other! The Drazi, the Gaim, the Brakiri, the Pak'ma'Ra! I learned that in the Dilgar War, none of you could decide who would lead the defense against Dilgar aggression. As a result, one League planet after another fell to the Dilgars. Millions died. Your inability to band together efficiently against a menace is why Beshilay was destroyed. This is why your colony of Tavita fell and you had to labor to recover the colony at high cost. If it wasn't for the Earth Alliance, there might be a Dilgar Imperium replacing the League of Non-Aligned Worlds." Sulu shook his head in wonder. "Then you repaid Earth's generosity by allowing yourselves to be forced by the Minbari to sit back and watch as your saviors were butchered to the brink of extinction. Where was the unity that defeated the Centauri at the Battle of Nu'Shok? Where?"
Gillian watched Yrisha with wide anxious eyes. If Sulu wasn't careful about his harangue, the empress would be so offended that Abbai diplomats would be ordered to turn the entire League against the Federation.
Receiving only silence from the monarch, Sulu continued, "Now…. Now there are Shadows moving in the night out there, waiting for the right moment to destroy all the hard work that the League has done. On top of that, aliens from my universe are invading the Centauri. I seriously doubt that the Borg will be satisfied with the Centauri. There are rumors of shielded Centauri warships attacking League worlds and outposts. The League Worlds hold strategic, but poorly defended, locations in Known Space. My people once had to deal with this in the Romulan Wars. Mutually antagonistic species! My God, if it weren't for us, the Vulcan diplomats and the war, the Andorians would be at war with the Vulcans and Tellarites! But through perseverance and mutual alliances, a great Federation resulted from our wartime cooperation. The League of Non-Aligned Worlds could realize something like the Federation! With all the diverse technologies and resources at your disposal, your worlds could even surpass the Minbari themselves!"
Natar Yrisha's eyes became starry as Sulu spoke of what the League could do. The ability to stand up to the Minbari and the Centauri…. Perhaps…perhaps with enough time, even the Vorlon Empire would have to respect this new League that the Newcomers propose!
"Captain, you are very convincing. But there are worlds that need more convincing that you have given us. What place can be the seat of this new League?"
Sulu shared a triumphant look with Gillian Taylor. "If all of you agree…. We will provide the plans for a Trojan-class starbase…a powerful form of Federation space station, with all the technologies involved in the plans. You choose the place for it. You choose either a station or a planet to hold the seat of this new alliance. I would recommend the Abbai System for the peace and harmony it can exemplify for the whole League. Agree, and we will freely give all of you our shield, gravity-control and warp drive technologies. No more shall even Abbai ships be forced to devote all of themselves to shield generation-related equipments. We will help improve and refine the Vree dimensional slip teleportation technology and all of you shall benefit from it. As for the rest, you must share and combine all of your own technologies…. Synergize! Federalize! An InterStellar Alliance greater than the League could ever be! You are more than you know, and if you do not change, you will always be less than you want to be!"
Yrisha looked up at the Star Caves' reef ceiling, at the sunlight peeking through the holes that located ancient major stars. She remembered when Jha'Dur Deathwalker was discovered on Babylon 5. The League may not have been unified in the Dilgar War, but they showed righteous unity by sending ships together to Babylon 5 for Jha'Dur. To have that again without worrying about the safety and peace of the Abbai System…. She finally came to a decision. "Captain Sulu. We will disband the League of Non-Aligned Worlds in favor of this proposal of an InterStellar Alliance."
Babylon 5
Commander Susan Ivanova glared out of the CC window at the commerce vessels jostling for places in their way into the Earth space station. This was getting to be a headache. She found herself fantasizing about activating Babylon 5's defense grid and blasting the more annoying ships out of her sky.
Ivanova could see the jumpgate activating. A Vorlon transport slipped out of the vortex. Naturally, Ambassador Kosh had precedence over all those irritating civilians in gaining entrance into the station. Fortunately, most of the civilians knew this as well.
Lieutenant David Corwin looked up from the command pit. "Ambassador Kosh is requesting that you meet him in Bay 13."
Ivanova frowned. This was unusual, but then Vorlons made it a matter of fact to be unusual. She nodded curtly. "Tell him that's fine. I'm on my way."
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Ambassador Kosh's ship came to rest in its docking cradle in Bay 13. Ivanova straightened herself in preparation for meeting the mysterious ambassador and stepped forward closer the transport. Why would Kosh want her there?
Ivanova sensed a presence behind her and she turned in alarm around. What the…? How did Kosh get there behind her? Was he even on his ship?
"Ambassador. You wanted to see me?"
That odd voice blanketed in orchestra-like music came out of the ambassador's flashing translator on his encounter suit. "Yes. Formality. Ritual. You should be informed."
Ivanova studied the Vorlon carefully. "Informed of what?"
"Returning." Kosh's head turned to look past her, causing Ivanova to look back at the Vorlon transport. A part of the transport's side appeared to collapse into itself. Ivanova widened her eyes as a human form emerged out of the darkness in the ship and glided up to her. Glided, not walked.
"Hello, Commander. I say I'd be back," said Lyta Alexander.
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The Federation Ambassador Miranda Jones waited for the core shuttle to arrive. She was not comfortable in the shuttle station. The gravity this close to the middle of the station was so weak as to be non-existent. She was afraid that if she jumped, she might float off the station platform to oblivion. Her sensor net soon registered the arrival of two core shuttle cars into the station. Finally, she could get her mind off the distraction of the ordinary and get to work on the negotiations with the League ambassadors on League reformation.
The doors of a car opened in front of her. Miranda was surprised to 'see' someone known only in descriptions. "Weren't you here on Babylon 5 before I came? Captains Kirk and Spock told me about the situation with Miss Talia Winters."
Lyta coldly looked up and down at the Federation ambassador. Miranda was an element of this universe's foreign contamination. The Circle has been disrupted because of her and her colleagues. She was supposed to come back to Babylon 5 much later, but the latest puncture from the other universe had forced events. "Ambassador."
Miranda moved to stop Lyta from walking around her. "Pardon me, Miss Alexander. I heard that a human came on a Vorlon transport. Would that be you?"
Lyta narrowed her eyes and mentally reached out to determine Miranda's telepathy. The Federationer, to her surprise, was a very strong telepath, possibly a little stronger than P12. Possibly P13 or P14, even though those levels didn't officially exist in the PsiCorps, yet. It didn't matter. Thanks to her benefactors, she could be more powerful than that. She was satisfied to find that Miranda's mind was now only in the 'receive' mode. Good.
"Yes, I respect your mind," said Miranda. "We do not have something like this PsiCorps organization, but we do have high ethics."
Lyta's eyebrows climbed up her forehead in surprise. Were her thoughts leaking so much out of her mind? She slammed down barriers to keep her mind to herself. "Excuse me, Ambassador." She tried to step around Miranda only to be stopped once more by an elegant hand on her arm.
"Please call me Miranda. The Federation would like to have good relationship with the Vorlon Empire. I would like have good relations with telepaths of your caliber. We can…open minds to each other, learn about each other. I am curious about you and what you have seen on the Vorlon homeworld."
Lyta frowned with distaste. Expose herself to extra-universal contamination? "I'm sorry, Ambassador, but I'm really late. If you'll excuse me…." The Earther turned away from Miranda and walked towards the lift that would take her down to the Garden level from the core shuttle station.
Miranda made one more attempt to reach out for Lyta. "Miss Alexander, I understand that the PsiCorps is looking for you."
Lyta turned around back to Miranda, looking suspicious. Was that a veiled threat? She was a little disappointed that the blind woman couldn't see the annoyance on her face. Miranda continued, her first words surprising Lyta once more.
"But I can see you. You're annoyed and suspicious. The Federation and I do not like what we know of the PsiCorps. If they come looking for you, we can…help protect you. Grant asylum for you."
Lyta slowly walked back to Miranda, speaking. "You don't have to. Let them come. They would find out a lot more about the Vorlon mind than they would appreciate. I am not with the PsiCorps anymore. Their rules do not apply to me anymore." Lyta was now close enough to lean forward close to the Federation ambassador's face. "If anyone would interfere into my life, interfere with my relationship with the Vorlons, I'd find him. I'd plant a nightmare deep into his mind, so deep not even your precious Vulcans could find or remove it. And that person would spend every night for the rest of his life…screaming!"
As Lyta briskly walked away from Miranda, the ambassador quietly spoke at her retreating back. Quietly, but her voice carried the authority of a Vulcan volcano. "There is no need for threats, Miss Alexander. My telepathic colleagues and I are bound only by ethics, not rules. Come against us and you wouldn't like what the Federation can do to aggressors!"
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Vir Cotto was looking miserable as he carried his luggage under his arms. Beside him was Londo Mollari, smiling reassuringly. Londo was also carrying luggage. When they came upon a doorway in the docking bay, Vir looked back at Londo.
"Go on, Vir. You will do fine. Butter up the Minbari, then I will take care of things on my end. If we do well, we will fight alongside the Minbari!"
"I don't know…." Vir doubted that the Minbari would ever stoop to giving the Centauri a helping hand against the Borg. His people haven't been exactly…honorable. Creating a Centauri-Minbari alliance was a heady assignment. Perhaps too heady for someone like himself.
"Oh hush! Go…. Go on!"
Vir sighed and turned towards the Minbari transport waiting to take him to Minbar. Londo, satisfied, nodded and turned to step through another doorway. Beyond it was his personal liner waiting to take him to Centauri Prime. In spite of his smile, Londo wondered if he wasn't going home to…die with his beloved homeworld.
Near the Beata System, Centauri Republic
One vessel detected on course to a jumpgate on edge of the adjacent planetary nebula. Identification analysis in Centauri database: a luxury liner designated the Cygnus, property of the Walt Disney Conglomerate, Earth Alliance. Hull configuration: spherical. Primary occupants: Species 5618, human.
Incongruence!
Species 5618 do not have interspatial capabilities. Quantum signature scans reveal the species to be native to Universe 002. Query: Is Species 5618 an inherently transdimensional species? Assimilation priority of Species 5618 raised to level 6.84. Download information to Buoy 004 and launch the buoy to the interdimensional passage. Recommend the investigation of the original Species 5618 by the Borg Collective.
Approach to weapons range of Species 5618 vessel. Transmission active. "We are the Borg. Existence as you know it is over. You will be assimilated. Your biological and technological distinctions will be added to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile."
Species 5618 vessel attempting to escape. Species 5618 vessel attempting to summon military assistance from primitive hierarchy of Species 5768, Centauri, in adjacent star system. Activate tractor beam emitter 8. Target acquired. Begin transport of drones 145 through 203. Assimilate the occupants.
We shall comply.