CHAPTER 5
Location: Geneva, Earth alliance.
The attitude of Senator Morgan Clark had left everyone perplex and not knowing what reaction to expect from the alien. Even Shelby, the more familiarized with Korras didn't know exactly what reaction he would have, but to her relief, the Klingon incredibly seemed to be refraining from taking any immediate action.
Fortunately, before things could get more out of hand, President Levy promptly intervened. "SENATOR CLARK, SHUT UP, no one is attacking you, and you have no authority whatsoever to order anyone's detention!"
"But Madame President, you certainly can see that they are lying. I am sure that we can make them confess their true intentions, for all we know they can be working with the Minbari and this is an elaborate attempt to catch us off guard when we are must vulnerable, just look how they appeared so suddenly and their ridiculous claims about other humans. You can't be this gullible and believe in them so blindly." Clark ranted incoherently.
"No one is blindly believing in anyone Senator, now calm yourself or I will have to ask you to leave." Levy replied.
"But Madame President I..." Before Clark could finish the sentence Levy interrupt him.
"Enough Senator, I'm not going to repeat myself again." Then she turned her attention again to Korras and Shelby. "I apologize for the senator's overreaction. Obviously our current situation is impairing his thinking."
Shelby then came forward. "Yes Madame President I understand that the situation may be stressful and what I stated difficult to assimilate, but the facts remain and even though the Klingon databanks are not as detailed on my Homeworld as the Federation ones, they still have plenty information." Then Shelby showed President Levy a small PADD in which images began to appear.
The first image shown was the full view of a cloud-covered blue planet in whose orbit besides the myriad of vehicles of many sizes and shapes that were seen traveling in all conceivable directions, also several space stations were seen. However above all others, one structure easily stood out so massive it was and from bottom to top easily measured several kilometers in height, its shape vaguely resembling that of a mushroom with a long wide stalk.
Then as the image continued to pan, now saucer shaped ships were seen in the background, some of which were surrounded by structures that resemble jump gates. Next the image zoomed some more and a closer look allowed to perceive the shape of one of the planet's continents, it was Africa. Afterwards the image coalesced into highly futuristic cities and buildings with lots of green spaces that little resemble the ones Levy was familiarized with, except in old Sci-Fi movies that she remembered from her childhood.
"These images are very impressive but you have to forgive of us if we still need more proof than what you have shown us, how about that technology you describe as instantaneous transportation over vast distances? We are willing to pay for it; it would be a good way of establishing relations of confidence between us." A High-ranking Military Officer said.
"Up to now you have done nothing more than to doubt everything that we said and even so you expect that we share with you such advanced technologies? Trust has to work in both directions so you really must get your priorities straight." Said Korras, increasingly irritated with the attitudes of these Humans.
"Please do not be offended, you must understand that we need time to digest all that you have said, unfortunately time is something that we cannot afford right now as we are fighting for our salvation and in desperate need of any technology that could help us to turn the tide of the war. We are prepared to pay you a very generous amount of credits for this transportation system and other technologies you may have." Vice President Santiago said.
We value honor and trust above everything else so your credits are nothing to us, not mentioning that even if we give you the schematic of such a technology as teleportation, you would not know where to begin as your technology is too primitive." Korras countered, just as his communicator emitted a small sound.
"Korras here, what is it."
Captain Kreen voice was then heard. "We detected three contacts at the edge of the system, however since they are generating much interference and we can't confirm their identity, I ordered Captain Marlok to proceed under cloak and investigate."
"Understood Captain, I will issue further orders shortly, Korras out."
Meanwhile coming from a nearby building, a man in a Military uniform hastily approached President Levy and informed her that as the Klingons, their listening station in Pluto had also detected unidentified contacts, just before all communications with the station were lost. The probability of the contacts being Minbari were very high.
"It seems the Minbari are finally coming, is there anything you can do to help us? You seem to be a very advance race, if those contacts are really Minbari we don't have any chance to stop them and by the end of the day all life on this planet will end." Levy almost begged.
"I'll see what I can do but first I demand that he apologize to me and my Fist Officer." Korras pointed to Clark.
"NEVER!" Clark shouted. "Don't you see what you are doing Madame President? You are handing our last hope of salvation to an alien that we don't know nothing about besides those ridiculous stories that they told us."
"Senator you will apologize immediately or I will make sure you will be aboard the first ship that is sent to face the Minbari." Said an increasingly irritated Levy
"You cannot do that, you don't have the authority." Replied an exasperated Clark that started to walk away.
"Stop him!" Commanded President Levy and immediately two nearby guards grabbed Clark that began to struggle to get himself free.
"If you don't apologize to the Brigadier and Cmdr. Shelby you can be certain I will carry out what I said."
A very reluctant and furious Senator Clark then apologized but clearly not in a much felt manner.
"Is that enough Brigadier?" It asked a hopeful President hoping that the answer was an affirmative one.
"For now it is." Korras said and then continued. "I'm not familiar with Minbari tactics and their way of thinking it would be helpful if you could provide me with the assistance of a skillfully warrior of yours."
"What do you think General?" Levy asked a near General.
"Well maybe Commander Sheridan, he is one of the best we have in showing results against the Minbari." The General replied.
"Lieutenant, inform General Lefcourt immediately, Cmdr. Sheridan is to take the first shuttle and come here immediately." Said Levy to the man that earlier on had brought her the dreaded news.
"That is not necessary just inform our ship of his exact location and we will take care of the rest." Korras stated. "Two to beam up." Korras spoke to his communicator and seconds later, he and Shelby turned into shimmering columns of light that slowly faded away.
"You are a traitor that is selling us to aliens, but you are going to pay for this I will make certain of that." Spouted an enrage Senator Clark still being hold by two guards.
Meanwhile Brigadier Korras and Commander Shelby had just materialized on the transporter room of the Kahless.
"Commander, wait here for their warrior and then take him to the Bridge."
"Yes Brigadier." Shelby acknowledged.
-oOOo-
Meanwhile many light years away.
"Captain's log stardate 52083.1 three days have passed since we crossed Q's wormhole and so far regardless of all our best efforts, we still haven't found Brigadier Korras' fleet. …" Then before Picard could initiate the next paragraph of his log, he noticed that the Enterprise had drop out of warp, so he called the bridge. "What happened Number One, why did we drop to impulse?"
"We're trying to figure that out Captain, all systems seem to be in working order but without any apparent reason we just exit from warp and aren't being able to engage it again." Riker's voice was heard over the speaker.
"Could it be some space anomaly that we stumbled into?" Picard inquired.
"Nothing that so far we were able to detect Captain, but whatever it was, it only affected the Enterprise, all Klingon ships remain at warp." Riker replied over the comm.
"I'm on my way, Number One." Picard uttered. Then he exited his ready room and entered the Enterprise's bridge, just as General Tanas had appeared in the main viewer demanding to know why de Enterprise was falling behind.
"Why did you lowered your speed Captain? Is there anything I should know?"
"Something just caused us to exit warp and so far we don't seem to be able to reengage it, General. But as we speak we are trying to identify the cause and correct it." A baffled Picard informed a clearly unhappy Klingon.
"Time is of the essence, so I suggest that you do it quickly, or the Klingon Empire will have to pass without your "precious assistance"." Then without further ceremonies, the Klingon cut the transmission making the image of the main viewer change to one of showing the Klingon fleet still at warp quickly increasing their distance to the Enterprise.
"He really seemed heartbroken if we couldn't continue with him." Riker said sarcastically.
"I felt it too Number One." Picard replied in kind and then called the Enterprise's Chief Engineer.
"Geordi, did you already found out what happened and why we aren't being able to go to warp?"
"I still have no clue Captain, no anomalies are being detected and all systems are functioning within normal parameters, but as soon we try to generate a warp field it collapses immediately."
Suddenly behind Picard, a familiar voice was heard. "Well, well, look what was that the cat dragged in?" a cheerful Q stated.
"Q, I should have known you were the one behind this." A not surprised Picard stated.
"You seem to be in an awful bad mood Jean-Luc, did someone kicked a dog of yours or something" Q teased.
"You know very well what's going on. After all it was you who started it by taunting the Klingons with your old routine of "lesser beings need to prove their worthiness." The Klingons are already a space faring race for thousands of years and if anything, now with their new leadership they are more restrained than ever, so why testing them now?"
"Jean-Luc, please don't strain that little brain of yours in matters that surpasses your capacity of understanding, it would be akin a worm try to comprehend that its universe is more vast than the hole it crawls in."
"Despite your regular claims that your "reasons" are beyond the understanding of lesser beings, I must say that so far I always found them rather simplistic."
"Ouch… that really hurt Picard." Q made a shocked face trying to appear offended, but like a bad actor, only managing to do a very bad impersonation.
"I came here to visit old friends and for my trouble what I get is nothing but accusations, innuendos, and insults. I think I'll just leave now."
"Wait…" Picard called Q. "Before you go, just undo whatever you did that is preventing us from going to warp."
"Ah…, and the accusations just keep on coming…, why I continue to endure such distrust is beyond me." Q continued with his bad acting.
"Stop it Q, you are not convincing anyone and you know it!" An exasperated Picard spouted.
"What make you think that I did anything to your precious ship?"
"Simple, once everything that could have caused our current situation is eliminated as a possibility, whatever remains in this case it is you, must be the cause. I don't know what's you game this time, but besides the Klingons, a Federation Officer is also involved and I intend to do everything in my power to make sure that that she returns home safe and sound."
"Are you talking about the human female that is hanging out with the Klingons?" Why do you care about her, she's got no sense of humor whatsoever and is even more boring than the dead fish you call First Officer." Q stated awhile-eyeing Riker from head to toes, causing the Enterprise First Officer to roll his eyes in annoyance.
"Yes, it's because of Comdr. Shelby we are here. Now, if you don't want to end this farce you call a test, then let us go our way while you also can go do whatever it is you do when not harassing us."
"I'm afraid I can't allow that mon ami. However if you really want to be part of the "farce" as you call it, I am willing to let you in, but it will be in my terms. What do you say?" Q opened his arms wide and gave a smile while one of his canine teeth sparkled.
"And what terms are those Q?" Picard asked.
"You can't not go with them." Q pointed in the direction of the main viewer where before getting out of visual range Tanas ships were last seen. Then in a flash of light, a Federation PADD just materialized in Picard's right hand.
"Instead you can go there..." Q pointed to the PADD's screen where some coordinates were seen. "…or you can go home, those are your choices Mon Capitane."
"Assure Cmdr. Shelby's safety is our main mission Q. Will we find her here in this coordinates?"
"Picard, you are really stubborn, but then that is why I like you. Let me put things this way, if you really want to find a precious Federation Officer that wanders in this part of the woods I assure you that you can find her there. Now I have to go somewhere else, so make your choice Jean-Luc. Bye-bye." Then in a flash of light Q disappeared.
"Are we really going to those coordinates?" Riker pointed to the PADD Picard was holding.
"We don't have much choice Number One. For now we have to play Q's game if we want to find Cmdr. Shelby." Then Picard headed do the helm console and handed the PADD to Data."
Seconds later Data reported that the coordinates had been inserted in the navigation computer and all systems were ready.
"Mr. Data prepare to engage warp speed eight." Riker voiced.
"Course ready, sir" Data acknowledged.
"Make it so" Picard commanded. Then the Enterprise wheeled around several degrees and warped away into the depths of deep space.
-oOOo-
Around the Narn Home world, a small blue shuttle was descending towards the planet, and as its occupants had done previously they were heading to a meeting with the natives of the below planet, and saying that those natives were anxious to know the nature of this meeting was really an understatement.
Minutes later the shuttle landed and from it, three hooded figures exit. Several Narns that were waiting then escorted them to a nearby building. The main room of that building was very large and circular with many rows of Narns seated all around in ascending order.
The Narns that had escorted the hooded figures then exit the room leaving the Minbari alone in the middle of the circular room.
Then a Narn stood up and spoke. "Welcome to the Kha'Ri, my name is G'Kar may I enquire why are the Minbari honoring us with their presence.
Then the lead of trio spoke. "We are here due to a matter of extreme importance to all races. A thousand years ago we fought against the forces of darkness and manage to defeat them. Since then we have been the bearers of the light, but several days ago our deep fears became reality when servants of the Shadows once again immerged with the intention of bring chaos to order. As before we stood to them, but in the ensuing battle we lost many ships and warriors, now it is time of all races to join forces and with our leadership destroy the Shadows and all its allies as in the past. "
"When did this happen?" Another Narn asked.
"It was several days ago, a disguised Shadow came and launched upon us his dark servants, now you must chose if you are with the forces of light or the forces of darkness.
"This is all very sudden and we must know more of what is happening." Yet another Narn indicated.
"We had been very patient with you Narns, we know that you sold weapons to the humans but we decide to look to the other way because that was of no consequence, but the forces of darkness will not wait and if the forces of light are not quickly assembled we may not be able to stop them this time. You have until our departure from orbit to state your intentions, but bear in mind, that who is not with the forces of light, is with those of darkness and then must be destroyed with them." The Minbari on the right threatened
The three Minbari then exit the room and went towards their shuttle, leaving behind a group of very incredulous Narns in a very hot discussion of what to do next.
Sometime later before the Minbari ship leave orbit, a Minbari entered in the Grey Council Chamber bowed respectfully and said. "Venerable Council Members we receive a message from the Narn ruling body, they have agreed in joining us against the dark forces." Then he bowed again and left.
"The forces of light are growing soon we will be strong enough and the Shadows will be defeated once again." One of the nine said to the others.
-oOOo-
Location: Remote Minbari Colony.
Since the integration of this remote solar system in the great Minbari Federation, this place had been uneventful and not even a thousand years ago, when the Great War against the shadows happened this place had seen any action. Therefore, it wasn't now that this was expected to happen so only a small force of four Sharlins, six Tinashi frigates and according complement of fighters was present.
Suddenly without warning, a strange unidentified vessel was detected, so a single Sharlin war-cruiser was dispatched to intercept the intruder and punish it for its audacity.
On Bridge of the intercepting Minbari warship, Alyt Santory of the warrior cast and belonging to the clan of the Moon shields was happy that some unwary trespasser had been fool enough to enter Minbari territory as he was dying of boredom and something that could distract him even if briefly certainly was an welcome change.
"What readings do we have from the intruder?" The Alyt asked to the Minbari in charge of the sensor array.
"The sensors must be malfunction because the readings don't make any sense." The Minbari replied.
"And why wasn't this problem detected before?" Alyt Santory roared.
For years he waited to have a chance to exhibit his skill in war and demonstrate that he deserved more than be relegated to this forsaken place, but now that something had happened, his ship and crew were failing him.
"It's not my fault Alyt, the diagnostic system does not show any malfunction but the data doesn't make any sense, it states the intruder decelerated from many times the speed of the light to a quarter in mere seconds and no living creature can survive that, not even our advanced dampening systems could compensate that deceleration."
"Show me its image." The Alyt commanded.
Immediately in the middle of the bridge, a holographic image of ship with the shape of a cube appeared.
"In name of Valen what is that? No know race in its right mind would build such thing?" The Alyt stated to nobody in particular. "How much time to intercept it?" Santory questioned.
"Twenty seconds Alyt." The Minbari operating the sensors answered.
"Open the gun ports and hail them." The Alyt commanded.
The Order was carried out immediately but no reply was given and seconds later as if the mighty Minbari warship did not exist, the cube simply ignored it and continued traveling towards the nearby planet.
"Nobody ignores Alyt Santory of the Moon Shields, target that monstrosity with all weapons and fire at will." The Alyt shouted.
Immediately the Minbari warship performed a U-turn and unleashed the full mighty of all its fearsome weapons upon the cube, causing…, almost no visible damage. Then the cube stopped and emitted a single a green beam towards the Sharlin causing it to burst in a fiery explosion and turning what once had been a mighty warship, into nothing more than a drifting wreck. The cube then simply resumed its previous course as if nothing had happened.
TBC