CHAPTER 2
After stepping out of the transporter pad, Shelby immediately headed to the bridge of the Kahless were Korras met her.
"Did they give you any trouble?" The Klingon asked.
"No Sir and I'm certain that in the future the last thing the Brakiri will do is question Klingon honor."
"Good…, now give me the data you retrieved. I will go to my quarters analyze it. You have the command."
"Yes Sir…, and where will we go?"
"Back to our previous heading." Korras replied.
Moments later the Klingon fleet went to warp leaving the Brakiri behind, and if they were not impressed so far, the sight of the Klingon ships turning and accelerating to the speed of light in less than a second did the trick.
-oOOo-
"If the humans have associated themselves with those beings, than I believe the Minbari are in for a lot of trouble." The Brakiri Captain casually commented to a crewmember next to him.
Several hours after seeing the Brakiri data, Korras decided it was time to have another council of battle and delineate the next course of action.
"In this region of space, no one uses or ever heard of warp drive. Instead, what is used for interstellar travel is something called jump-engines, which apparently only large vessels have the capability to carry or then jump gates for ships that lack jump-engines. Both methods what they do is create a spatial rift that leads to a dimension called hyperspace where distances in relation to normal space are vastly shorter. This method of travel must be fully analyzed so that its full capabilities can be established."
Korras then paused and glanced around the table before continuing. "In addition, there is also an unexpected surprise. Among the many unknown races that can be found in this region of space, a human civilization whose home-world they also call Earth is equally present."
Immediately sounds of astonishment were heard in the room. "Humans here, this far? It is impossible. It must be a trick of some sort." Shouted Captain Kreen of the IKS B'moth
"Yes, I also found this very disturbing." Korras said. "What do you have to say about this Cmdr.?
"I'm as puzzled has you Sir," Replied Shelby. "In the past century, several duplicates of Earth were also found in the Alpha Quadrant. The responsible for these creations we found out later to be an ancient race called "The Preservers", however what were their intentions for doing it, we never found out. The fact that this far also can exist another duplicated Earth is a complete surprise to me as well."
"Duplicated Earths? That is impossible! How is it that I have never heard of this before?" Asked Captain Marlok of the IKS Qo'nos
"We usually don't put neon signals saying, to see a duplicate of Earth go this way, besides those planets were and still are pre-warp civilizations. We thought it was better to leave them alone until they are ready." Said Shelby
"Bahh Federation morality at is best." Kreen held.
"Anything else of interest Sir?" Shelby asked trying to ignore the last remark.
"Yes there is Cmdr. These humans although not very technologically advanced since only in the last hundred years began to travel through the stars and much like the Brakiri don't even have simple artificial gravity, are currently at war with a much more advanced race called Minbari which seems are about to exterminate. Do you think that the test that Q talked about is for us to save these humans from their enemies?" Korras asked.
But before Shelby could say anything, Q suddenly appeared startling those that had not yet met him."
"Did I just hear someone mention my little name?" Q teased.
"Is this the Being called Q? He doesn't appear to be that impressive." Marlok said rudely.
"Not impressive you say? Well since you do not consider my Klingon form in this General attire impressive enough, how about if I look like an Antican raptor?"
A blinding effect of light erupted from Q and when it faded away, in his place a large ferocious animal appeared. Its appearance roughly resembling that of an Earth dinosaur, but with large thick grey scales covering its entire body, four frontal large fiery red eyes and a very large mouth with teeth measuring approximately thirty centimeters in length. Then another flash of light occurred and again Q appeared as a Klingon.
"How about a Ligonian sea serpent do you think that that will be more impressive? Q asked with a devious smile.
"No, it's enough." Marlok stuttered.
Ignoring the frightened Klingon Q then addressed the rest of the attendants. "So what do we have here? Are we brainstorming? It must be difficult with all those unicellular brains of yours."
"Stop insulting us, do you want us to help the humans in this part of the galaxy and avoid their extermination? Is that your test?" An angered Korras inquired the powerful Being.
"If I told you what the test is that would take all the fun of it and if there is one thing you Klingons need, is to learn how to have fun, but one thing I can tell you, and it is that so far I'm not impressed with your progress. Almost three days have gone by and you are still wandering around like a pack of headless Targs. An Andorian slug would have solved everything by now."
Q then Looked to his wrist and in a flash of light, a small hourglass appeared strapped to it. "Look at the time; I have to go as I'm late to another meeting, but the next time I come in I better see some progress, ta-tá." Q then disappeared.
"I'd pay real money not to see him again." Muttered Shelby
"What are we going to do Sir?" Asked Captain Kovlor of the IKS K'tara
"We are going to proceed to human space and it is better that those Minbari don't get in our way because in the mood I am in, it would be very bad for them. Dismissed." Korras commanded angrily.
Moments later the fleet altered its course and headed towards the Earth Alliance territory.
Almost another day had gone and the tension on the bridge was so thick it almost could be felt. Suddenly four vortexes appeared in the path of the Klingon fleet.
"Sir, four energy vortexes are forming dead ahead and four unknown ships are exiting from them…, sensors read those ships as organic and each measures about half kellicam (1 Km) long." Toran said.
"What? On screen:" commanded Korras.
Immediately in the main screen appeared four almost cylindrical ships, all having a greenish-yellow hull with a dark mottled pattern over and in the front four large curved inward tentacle-like struts, each eradiating tendrils of green energy that converged to the center with a decidedly menacing look.
"Sir we are receiving an audio signal from the lead vessel." Said K'nera
"On speakers." Korras said.
There was an ethereal chime like sound that whispered from the speakers before the words "Go back." were heard.
"We Klingons do not take orders from no one. Identify yourselves immediately" Shouted an enraged Korras.
"The circle must not be broken, go back or you will be destroyed." The voice repeated again in the same musical tone.
From the frontal struts of the strange ships, the green tendrils of energy immediately began to grow in intensity.
"Sir, the power readings from those ships just increased exponentially. I believe those are weapons ready to fire!" said an agitated Tactical Officer.
"BATTLE ALERT, RAISE SHIELDS AND POWER ALL WEAPONS, EVASIVE NOW!" Korras shouted.
As soon as the six Klingon ships began to maneuver, the Vorlons immediately unleash their deadly energy beams. The Kahless was the first to be hit and instantly lost forty percent of its shields. The Ykir, a Bird of Prey which also got hit and despite having its shields at maximum, they weren't powerful enough to stop the energy beam that hit it and was completely obliterated. The K'tara a k'T'inga class ship that also got hit survived, but lost all forward shields and took heavy damage to the front. The remaining Klingon vessels al wildly cartwheeled through space to avoided being hit.
The Klingon response was equally deadly. The Kahless with all its forward disruptors and a volley of torpedoes cleaved into the lead Vorlon ship and almost tore it in half, seconds later exploding spectacularly.
The remaining three Klingon ships that had escaped being hit in the initial salvo, now also were giving their response in the form of torpedoes and disruptor fire. One Vorlon ship was caught in a combined attack from two Klingons ships and quickly also met its doom. The remaining two Vorlon ships despite also having been hit, the damage it suffered was only light. They then maneuvered violently each targeting a Klingon ship. The already badly damaged K'tara after being hit again wasn't able to resist and quickly was reduced to atoms, the Qo'nos, a Vor'Cha also got hit but managed to avoid a full blast only losing its shields and getting moderated damage to the hull. By now, the Kahless and the B'Moth, another Vor'Cha, simultaneously fired against the Vorlon that had destroyed the IKS K'tara and took vengeance on behalf of the fallen Klingon ship.
The last remaining Vorlon ship upon realizing it was heavily outnumbered, accelerated at an incredibly speed and disappeared into hyperspace through a jump point it had just opened.
To Koreas the unexpected encounter was the realization that whatever would happen from now on, certainly was going to be more costlier than what he previously expect and remains of three Vorlon Dreadnoughts and two Klingon ships certainly were a reminder of that.
"From now on I want all ships cloaked at all times…, Lieutenant K'nera, call all Captains aboard immediately. Cmdr., take the command."
About fifteen minutes later after all captain appeared in the war room, an irate Koreas voiced his frustration. "That battle was a total disgrace. In all my years I never saw such incompetence, raw recruits would have fought with more skill. You have brought dishonor to your houses."
In the next half hour, all captains tried to justify why the battle happened the way it did and not more favorably, but Korras clearly did not shared their point of view.
"Enough excuses." Korras said pounding in the table. "From now on I want battle drills around the clock. Is that understood?"
"Yes Sir!" Replied all captains loud and in unison.
"The first warrior to scores below average in the exercises is going to be executed personally by me…, DISMISSED!" Shouted a Korras so enrage it seemed his head was about to explode.
-oOOo-
Light years away in Hyperspace, other events were picking up speed. Hundreds of Minbari vessels of all types were heading to finish what had begun a few years before. The mission was simple; eliminate all traces of the race known as Humans.
In the center of the massive Sharlin class vessel of the Grey Council, nine hooded figures were standing in a low-lit room watching a holographic image. The view displayed was magnificent, showing hundreds of ships spread across hyperspace.
Suddenly a flash of light broke the serenity of the room and when it faded away, there was another hooded figure present. He then removed the hood and although he appeared to be Minbari, all in the council of nine knew that he wasn't.
"Greetings fellow Council Members did I came in time for the big moment?" "Q said smiling.
One of the council of nine took a few steps forward and said.
"You are not a Minbari, who are you?"
"Of course I'm not a Minbari, how can such a wonderful, ravishing, magnificent, and intelligent being as me, be mistaken for such inferior creatures. I only adopted this hideous form so that your limited senses could comprehend me."
"Are you a First One?" Another confused Minbari asked.
"Me a first one? Please don't insult me by comparing me to those presumptuous creatures, I'm Q from the Q Continuum, and I'm as far above those you call First Ones as they are above a microbe."
Suddenly two Vorlons swept majestically into the room and almost all Minbari present were shocked by their presence aboard.
"Leave the young ones, they don't belong to you." Said a Vorlon
"The circle must be complete." Added the other one.
"How melodramatic of you, and why those outfits? Don't you want to share your splendor with your puppets" Q asked, "Maybe I should remove them for you." Q Stated and start to wave is hand.
"STOP!" Both Vorlons immediately shouted.
"Alright, I will let you keep those horrible costumes if you want to, but don't tempt me." Q threatened.
The Minbari council was without words to describe the scene. The creature that called himself Q had the audacity to threaten First Ones and surprisingly wasn't being punished for it. In addition, another intriguing subject and mystery to all the members of the Grey Council except for one of name Delenn, was how did the Vorlons came on board?
"Well, here are you all plus Dumb and Dumber set to arrive at your great destiny." Q said. Then he solely addressed the Vorlons. "You already broke some rules by personally intervening, so I suppose it's okay for me to do the same." Then he waved his hand and the entire Minbari fleet was unceremoniously flung out of hyperspace and into the middle of a nebula.
Seconds later a voice said over a speaker "Reverend council, before we could reach the Humans system, some unexplainable phenomenon just caused our entire fleet to exited hyperspace and end inside a dense nebula… where several large strange structures are being detected."
In the room, the holographic display then began focusing on the strange structures. They just looked like a disorganized agglomerate of thousands of geometric modules of all sizes and shapes.
"What is that?" A Minbari asked.
"You are going to find out very soon." Q said with a large, almost predatory, grin.
"An unknown vessel is approaching at great speed…, it's cube shaped."Was heard over the speaker.
Then the cube approached the nearest Minbari ship.
"The alien ship is ignoring our hails… and began scanning us." The voice on the speaker continued to report.
Then the cube emitted a green beam towards a previously scanned Minbari ship and its hull start being cut and then tractored away.
"Our ship the Denn'sha is being attacked!" Again was heard over the Speaker but this time with a tone of urgency.
Moments later the response of the Minbari was quick and efficient. Almost all Minbari ships in the front line promptly fired all their main weapons on the cube destroying almost a quarter of it and instantly causing its attack to stop. However, before their victory could be properly savored, another cube appeared.
Then another voice was heard over the speakers. This new voice sounded metallic and what it said sent a cold chill deep into the souls of all Minbari hearing it. "We are the Borg. Deactivate your weapons and surrender your ships. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile."
Again, fully expecting that as the previous cube, the new cube could also be easily defeated, the Minbari immediately launched a new brutal attack, but this time to everyone's shock, the new cube seemed to be much more resilient and the ongoing attack on it only was having a minimum effect.
"Delightful aren't they." Stated Q "I will go now, but before my departure, I sincerely wish you all the luck in the universe, because you really are going to need it." Q then disappeared.
TBC