Chapter 3 – Part Three – Meetings
Within twenty minutes of his discovery the information had been relayed to Cartagia who had requested that he arrive in 'his own time,' which like many others, he took to mean immediately and on pain of certain death. So he hurried, not daring to dawdle believing it all to be some royal prank. Having done very little exercise over the years he had developed not just a slight paunch – he was positively rotund.
Arriving somewhat a fluster, he bowed reverently, "Majesty," he wheezed, noticing immediately that the royal face seemed taken back by the speed of his arrival, torn between amusement and anger.
"I said in your own time, not arrive puffing and panting"
"I am sorry but…but...I…..thought," He stammered, "it was a test of my devotion so I came as fast as possible"
Eyes alight with humour once more, "Aaaah…that is good," pausing lost in thought temporarily. "So how long do you think before we can establish a full base there?"
"I have just come from meetings with the Ministers of Intelligence and War, both of whom state we can make a stable presence there within a month"
"Excellent news!"
It was then a rumbling could be heard deep within the Palace, slowly increasing in intensity.
"What was that?"
"Must be one of my aides running tests on the wormhole device," he said hoping it was true. By royal decree the device had been to be moved into the palace - mainly he suspected that the Emperor wished to keep an eye on things. Gradually it stopped and things returned to normal once more, as both stared out the windows looking at Centauri Prime.
"She's beautiful don't you think Majesty?" He's lost in thought again! He pondered irritably.
"Oh…of course Morkel, I was just thinking…." Never having chance to finish the sentence as screams were heard from within the Palace, "What have you done!" he raged not bothering with innocent until proven guilty shtick. "Guards!"
Royal Guards were stationed at the door, but they did not respond, or move.
"I command your obedience immediately!" He roared once more.
"Majesty we must run," Beyel urged grabbing an Imperial sleeve.
It was only when blood began to pour from their eyes that Cartagia realised something was very, very wrong. Two monsters in organic armour walked into the room, two clawed hands crushed the skulls of both guards. Noticing that the Emperor was standing bolt upright, unable to move, it was then he weighed the alternatives, stay and die or run like a screaming coward hoping that they would not bother with such as him.
Deep within Cartagia's mind it probed eradicating any psychic defences, reaching, reaching until it/they found a tendril of something familiar but it could not grasp. So burrowing further sought to find out all things hidden. Going past recent and childhood memories it went ever deeper…until…no it could not be true….the hated enemy were here! Emerging from the Emperor's mind it mentally retreated back to its own body ready to depart back to its home galaxy.
Its hive mind allowed its findings to be instantly relayed. Discussions were already taking place on how they were to react. The huge armour immediately it turned around and walked the way it had come. Unable to hold back his curiosity stayed ten paces behind the being, at all times, until it walked back towards the wormhole device vanishing into eternity – but not before he got the address of where it went to. Got you he proclaimed silently. Quickly he ran back to Cartagia to see if he was alive or dead. In space above their home world the strange three kilometre long alien ship launches a devastating retaliatory strike at those who would shield the enemy. Before they can awake and act they vanish into superluminal travel.
Captain Sheridan stared into space, bored, not the even the least bit interested in what the non-Federation Ambassadors had to say. So far all had petitioned for entry into the UFP, none had yet been accepted – so all had sent representatives to the station in order to show their continual interest. These meetings occurred once a month to discuss and air any problems in the hopes of preventing them escalating. As such they tended to start out very formal affairs and then downgrade into informal, eventually degenerating into total anarchy – pretty much what is happening now. Today was no exception. Most of the time he had to try and act like he was interested, or at least paying attention.
Not today.
The mysterious aliens that the Federation had not even been able to identify occupied most of his interest and their reason for attacking, so he sat there waiting patiently for the shouting to stop. The wait was short as Centauri Ambassador, Mollari, stormed into the room – his sudden appearance silencing everyone.
"Aaah there you are. Having a meeting and not inviting me?"
Ignoring the Centauri ambassadors accusing tones and wagging finger not two meters away proved to be impossible, "I placed the invite in your calendar personally" He rebutted.
"I beg to differ." Londo turned to the crowd who had become blessedly silent. They had been making an awful racket as he had walked in. "Has he told you about the attacks in Centauri space? On Centauri Prime itself!"
Knowing he would not win this argument Sheridan chose to remain silent. It was then the shouting started again.
"None of your home worlds are safe!" Mollari's hand waved triumphantly.
Ivanova eyes were already doing what she desperately wanted to do - throwing daggers at ambassador while harbouring brief and pleasant thoughts about strangling Mollari, slowly. A deep sigh escaped her lips she could be doing so many better things…like…like…if only something would come to mind!
"Silence!" Her voice was like thunder as everyone in the room fell quiet once more.
"Thank you," her commanding officer's tones were grateful. "We have only just found out about it and we were hoping to speak to you privately after the discussion here"
He cast a doubtful glance, "I'm sure you were Captain. Perhaps in an hour then?"
"Yes. Come to my office and we shall discuss anything we can do"
It was then the white robed Delenn walked into the assembly, her eyes fearful, her tones were pensive. "John if I might have a word privately for one moment."
He smiled, glad to have an excuse to get out of here, unfortunately as much as he liked to spend time with her, he knew that there was some problem that she wished to discuss.