CHAPTER 3
It was shocking that the new cube ship could survive such a devastating attack, however Minbari don't give up. They had hundreds of battle ready warships crewed by the best warriors. Warriors those that a thousand years ago had defeated the shadows, so certainly it would take more than some ridiculous cube ship to defeat them.
All the Minbari ships immediately started vectoring towards the cube and unleashing upon it the full might of their entire arsenal, the same armament that in the past so well had served them. Hundreds of beams then hit the hull of the cube, so it wasn't surprising that soon more serious damage could be seen in it. However, the enemy reply was overwhelming. Cutting green beams started pouring from all its sides and each shot had the devastated effect of easily being able to completely obliterate even the most powerful Minbari warships. Then something more horrifying began to happen. Dozens upon dozens of the Minbari ships started to report that hundreds of aliens had begun to appear seemingly out of thin air aboard them.
Initially, the Minbari could easily kill these grotesque aliens that seemed to be part machine and part living being. Then some type of energy barriers began covering them and slowly entire ships started to be overrun and as if that wasn't bad enough, it appeared that Minbari that previously were thought to be dead, were resurrecting and turning against their fellow Minbari companions.
One Alyt instructed his ship to open a jump point were the first cube still was and that surprisingly had started rebuilding itself at an incredibly rate. Unsurprisingly and as always had been the case of when that tactic was used, the cube was destroyed in an apocalyptic explosion. After having seen this successful tactic worked, another Alyt commanded his ship to do the same and soon the fighting cube was also destroyed.
Fifteen minutes had gone by since the beginning of the battle and the Minbari fleet had won, but the price was staggeringly high. Almost one hundred ships from a total of eight hundred had been lost.
Suddenly three more enemy vessels appeared and they were very different from the previous ones. Two despite still being cube shaped, had their hulls armored while the third one had a configuration that more resembled that of a distorted and malevolent diamond.
Several Minbari vessels again start powering their jump engines in order to use again the successful jump-point attack tactic, but this time the jump-point energies were deflected back resulting in greatly destruction in the Minbari fleet. Stubbornly other ships tried the jump-point tactic again but the result was as catastrophic as before. Soon it became clear that the old and successful tactic wasn't no longer a valid option.
The course of the battle changed immediately an in a few short minutes one third of the Minbari fleet was destroyed or under enemy control by the boarding Borg drones. Plus there was so much surrounding destruction around that the Minbari ships still operating were having difficulty coordinating their attacks, still the Minbari bravely continue to fight as they would rather die than run from a battle. Meanwhile inside the Minbari command ship the two Vorlons unexpectedly addressed the Grey Council.
"We must return." One Vorlon said.
"The Circle must remain unbroken." The other added.
"Are you asking us to run from this battle?" asked a member of the nine.
"The light must prevail." The first Vorlon stated.
"But we fought the Shadows and we are the bearers of the light. Surely you can see that these abominations are Shadow servants and must be stopped at any cost." Another member of the Grey Council retorted.
"Much is at risk, you do not comprehend." Again the second Vorlon spoke.
"Much is to be done, WE MUST GO NOW!" The Vorlon now reiterated in a threatening tone.
A confuse Minbari start walking towards a nearby console and pressed a button.
"Alyt Durhan this is Satai Coplann we are leaving immediately, order the fleet to jump to hyperspace now."
Voice on speaker. "Satai are you commanding that we run from the battle? There are thousands of Minbari trapped on boarded ships, we cannot leave them behind."
"You will do as I command." Coplann demanded.
As the combatant Minbari ships successively received the go order and grudgingly began to disengage from battle, began entering hyperspace through hundreds of freshly generated jump-points and leaving behind not only an indescribable scene of wreckage and destruction, but also many fellows Minbari trapped in assimilated Minbari ships and left to a destiny worse than death.
-oOOo-
Meanwhile in the Beta Quadrant:
The IKS Kempeth had reached the fleet and informed the Klingon High Council of the past events. At first, Chancellor Martok and the High Council were skeptical, but the visual evidence recorded by the Kempeth's sensors and the visual log of the Kahless Bridge was overwhelming proof.
Needless to say that the High Council went overboard and immediately ordered the entire fleet that had been in the Borg exercises to cross the wormhole and go assist Koreas battle group.
The Kahless Bridge records had also shown Cmdr. Shelby stating that the Q Being had previously appeared on Federation ships, namely the Enterprise where Ambassador Worf had served.
Immediately Starfleet Command was called and requested that Ambassador Worf returned home immediately in order to provide assistance to a matter of great importance to the Klingon Empire. Apparently a powerful being named Q had established contact with some Klingon ships. Soon after, Starfleet informed the Klingon High Council that the USS Enterprise that had happen to be at Earth on maintenance, was already in route to meet the Klingon fleet with Ambassador Worf onboard and also ready to provide any assistance necessary.
-oOOo-
Location: Alpha Quadrant.
"Captain's log Stardate 52080.3, the Enterprise just arrived at the indicated rendezvous point, and we are waiting the arrival of General Tanas so that as requested by the Klingon High Council, Ambassador Worf could be transported to his ship. The Klingons believe that because of Ambassador Worf previous encounters with Q, his advice will be useful. Additionally Starfleet also informed the Klingons that the Enterprise will also be ready to provide any aid that they deemed necessary."
"Mr. Data you are certain that no Klingon ships have yet arrived?" Picard inquired.
"Positive Captain, All the sensors are function within normal parameters but there is yet no signal of any Klingon ship in the…." but before Data could finish the sentence, the space in the front of the Enterprise shimmered and a massive fleet of Klingon warships appeared from thin air.
"There must be more than two hundred ships out there." Riker exclaimed in astonishment.
"Two hundred and fifty four ships to be precise Commander." Data specify.
"Klingons never make things small do they Worf." Deanna Troi joked looking at Worf standing next to her.
"You are correct Counselor, contrary to others, we Klingons do not think small." Worf answered pretending be offended by the remark although all those that knew him could tell that it was not the case.
"Hail them Mr. Data." Picard commanded.
"Communications are open Sir." Data said after taping the controls in front of him. Them the main viewscreen image changed from the forward view of showing the Klingon fleet to the image of General Tanas.
"Greetings General, we arrived as quickly as possible, Ambassador Worf is ready to be transported to your ship and the Enterprise is also ready to provide any assistance necessary.
"That is not necessary Captain, we Klingons can solve our own problems so let's not waste more time speaking, the sooner the Ambassador comes aboard the sooner we can go our way." Tanas replied dryly.
Worf then addressed to Tanas. "General, This ship and its crew had more contact with Q than anyone that I know. I think it is unwise to discard the Enterprise's aid, so I ask that you reconsider and accept Captain Picard offer."
"As you wish Ambassador, let's not waste more time and end this meaningless conversation." Said an irritated General that suddenly cut communications, causing the main viewscreen to again go back to the familiar forward view.
"Mr. Worf we all appreciate your faith in this ship and crew, but if our offer of help will be the cause of problems I…." Before Picard could finish Worf interrupted him.
"It will not cause any problems Captain, as I said before your help will be appreciated." Then Worf headed to the turbolift that would take him to the transporter room.
Minutes later the entire Klingon fleet and the Enterprise warped towards the wormhole that Q created.
-oOOo-
Location: Delta Quadrant.
A very unusual event could be seen in orbit of Centauri Prime, a Minbari warship was orbiting the planet. Several hours ago, the Grey Council informed the Centauri that they would arrive imminently and without discussion demanded an immediate hearing with Emperor Turhan. But the more strange thing was the insistence that between the Minbari's shuttle landing place and the Emperor's quarters, nobody was to be in sight.
Minutes later the Minbari shuttle landed near the entrance of the Centauri Imperial palace and after the door opened, four figures exit from it, two were dressed in grey with their heads covered by hoods while the other two were much different, it were wearing what appear to be some sort of large environmental suits. Minutes later, they entered the quarters of a very nervous Centauri Emperor.
"I'm much honored to have you in my modest quarters what can I do for you?" The Centauri Emperor asked in reverence.
Some ethereal sounds were heard as one of the Vorlons with the lighter color in his environmental suit glided forward and the iris in his head widened. Then after what appeared to be some musical hums, he said. "The circle is being disrupted the light must prevail or the darkness will destroy everything."
"Can you be a little more explicit?" A perplexed Turhan asked.
"The future is in danger, actions must be taken and the forces of darkness must be fought." The Vorlon said again.
"What forces of darkness are those and what have they done?" Turhan asked in confusion.
"Who is not with the light must perish." The Vorlon answered.
Then both Vorlons turned around and glided out from Turhan's quarters.
Then one of the two hooded figures stated. "The Centauri must choose if they are with the light or the darkness, time is running out what is your choice?"
The Centauri Emperor didn't know what to say, he didn't have the courage to oppose the Minbari and what he suspected to be First Ones, but he also didn't want to go to war without knowing what was happening.
"Can't you elaborate a little more? Who is the enemy, what have they done?" Turhan asked to the Minbari.
"You must gather your forces and join us in the light or both the Centauri and the dark forces will be destroyed." Having said that the two Minbari also exit and minutes later their shuttle took off leaving behind a desperate Centauri Emperor.
TBC