Chapter 24

Guest quarters Beta Durani station: "So this is all that you found in Jeanne's system?"

"Yes sir, the only thing that was unusual was a small amount of an unknown chemical."

"Any idea where it came from?"

"We believe it was inhaled sir, most of what we found was in her lung tissue."

"Were you able to analyze it?"

"I'm afraid not sir, we didn't find enough to determine exactly what it is, or how to block it."

"And the deep scan?"

"It didn't provide us with any more useful information."

"I see, thank you."

Alfred Bester looked at him, and the Psi-corp doctor knew he had been dismissed. Once he had left, Alfred looked out at the Confed ships and thought, "This is only a temporary setback. The corp will have your technology admiral, that I promise."

..
Conference room 10 TCS Mastiff: Admiral Douglas had ordered a Captains call for 09:00, he wanted to tell his people what the Earth Alliance had offered them. When everyone was seated, he laid out the EA's offer, and asked for opinions.

Commander Ross spoke up, "Well sir, if the Vega system here is anything like our Vega system, I say go for it. There are more raw materials in the asteroid fields than we will know what to do with, and the Planet Vega III has many of the natural resources that we would need."

"You're right commander, if the systems are the same. So I want to send a group of ships to the system to check it out. So at 22:00 tonight, the Normandy, the Cu Chulainn, and the Avenger will head to the Vega system. I will contact the Bull Run and have Captain Grove inform the Minbari that the ships will be going there to survey the system. We wouldn't want any other incidents right now."

All of the Captain's just nodded. He looked at Captain Motamba, "Be careful Ajana, be nice if you meet anyone, but be on your guard."

"Yes Admiral."

"Now a special note that I think you should all know about. Recently, someone brought a telepath on board the Mastiff. Colonel Ellison believes it was an attempt to gain information about our tech. The telepath was incapacitated, and was unable to scan anyone. So as a precaution, I suggest that you pull all of your Firekan personnel from their regular duties, and post them in sensitive security areas. The reason for this is in the medical report from Dr. Lloyd. Any questions?"

None of the captains said anything. The rest of the meeting was routine, and soon the Captains were headed back to their ships.

..
Captains Ready room TCS Bull Run: Captain Grove had gotten a message from Admiral Douglas, and then he had asked Mr. Lennon to come to his quarters. When he arrived, the Captain offered him a cup of tea that he accepted.

"So Captain, why did you need to see me?"

"Well Mr. Lennon, I wanted to let you know that a small group of our ships will be moving to the Vega system."

Captain Grove raised his hand, "I assure you that their intentions are peaceful. They're only going there to survey the system as a possible place for us to settle on."

Lennon looked at him, "How many ships are going?"

"Only three, a cruiser, a destroyer and a frigate."

Lennon looked at him, "I will inform my people, and let them know your intentions. And Captain, thank you for telling me."

Captain Grove smiled, "Admiral Douglas wants to avoid any accidents, that could possibly derail the peace process."

Lennon nodded, "He sounds like a wise man, I would like to meet him someday."

"I think we can arrange that Mr. Lennon."

"Thank you captain, but that can wait for another day. Stopping this war is our main priority right now." Captain Grove just nodded his head in agreement.

..
Crew Gym TCS Bull Run: Nosann was instructing Megan about the use of the denn'bok, when the other Minbari arrived. Most of them went about their workout routines, but one of them came up to Nosann. "Anla-shok Nosann, why do you defile the Anla-shok by teaching this human?"

Nosann looked at him, "She wishes to be an anla-shok, and I will defend her right to try."

The Minbari warrior looked at Megan, then again at Nosann. "I know what her brother did for you, but she is a human. She can not become an anla-shok."

By now, most of the Minbari had stopped what they were doing, and were watching the 'discussion'. Megan came up beside Nosann, "I take it he's upset about something."

Nosann turned to her, "It's nothing, go back to your practicing."

Megan looked at him, "Nosann, tell me."

Nosann looked at her, "He doesn't believe that you should be training to be an anla-shok."

Megan looked a little miffed. "Does he think it's because I'm a weak little girl?"

"No, it's because you're a human."

Megan looked at the warrior, as if sizing him up. She then spoke to Nosann, while never breaking eye contact with the warrior.

"Nosann, tell him what I say word for word."

"Are you sure of this Megan?"

"Oh yeah, I'm sure."

"Alright, I'll translate." then he spoke to all present, "Everyone, hear her words that I will speak for her."

"Go ahead Megan."

..
"You believe me unworthy, because I am a weak human."

"You believe me unworthy, because I am a weak human."

The warrior looked at her, "Yes I do."

"Yes I do."

Megan looked him square in his eyes, "Then I challenge you. The first to yield, or become unconscious loses."

"Then I challenge you. The first to yield, or become unconscious loses."

Never looking away the warrior sneered at her, "What do I get when I win."

"What do I get when I win."

"If you win, I will not continue to study to be an anla-shok, but when I win, I will continue my studies."

"If you win, I will not continue to study to be an anla-shok, but when I win, I will continue my studies."

The warrior looked at her and nodded, and then picked up a training staff, and began to twirl it as he started to circle around her. Megan took her fighting stance, and waited for him to move.

..
The marine guard saw what was happening, and called for back up, which arrived in moments. They entered the gym, and the Minbari stood between them and the two combatants. Megan could hear the commotion, and spoke loudly. "Sergeant Meyers, is that you?"

"Yeah Megan it's me."

"Sarge, I need to do this, please don't interfere."

"You sure Meg?"

"Oh yeah, I can take this butthead."

"Alright then."

Nosann spoke to the other Minbari, "Let them see this as well."

The Minbari separated, and allowed the Marines to see the contest. Soon a large circle had formed around the two of them. Now Megan looked at him and just smiled. He moved forward swinging his staff, she sidestepped, and blocked him. He tried to sweep her legs, but she blocked him, and countered with her own strike, which clipped his jaw. He staggered back a little, and he could taste the blood in his mouth.

..
They went back and forth for almost ten minutes, with strikes and blocks, finally he contacted and hit her hard on her left arm. Megan felt the bone snap, and nearly screamed from the pain. The Minbari, who was slightly winded, looked at her, "I have crippled you, yield now."

Nosann translated, and Megan looked at the warrior, "Like hell I will."

She took the staff in one hand now, and set herself. He looked at her, "So be it."

He came at her with an overhand strike that would have killed her if it had connected. But Megan had spun to her right, and came at him with a solid kick to the side of his head. He was slightly stunned by this move, but then Megan followed the kick with a strike to his left knee, and he went down hard. She looked at him, and saw that his leg was clearly broken.

"Do you yield?"

"Do you yield?"

"Never."

"Never."

Megan looked at the warrior as he was trying to get up. Before he could, she kicked him as hard as she could in the nether regions, and his eyes just rolled backwards into his head, and he fell back to the ground. Her move had elicited a quiet groan from everyone in the crowd, Human and Minbari alike.

As he lay there, one of the other Minbari came over and checked him. "He is unconscious. She has won."

..
Captain's ready room TCS Bull Run: The captain and Lennon were just finishing they're meeting when the call from the XO came in.

"Captain, we may have trouble in the gym."

"What sort of trouble?"

"Between the Minbari and one or more of the crew."

Captain Grove looked worried, "Get a full security detail down there now, I'm on my way."

"Yes sir."

Lennon looked at him, "No captain, we're both on our way there."

Captain Grove just nodded. A few minutes later, he and Lennon arrived at the door just outside of the gym. The security squad leader saw him, and nodded.

"Captain, it seems crewman Daniels is fighting a Minbari."

Lennon looked at the Marine, "How are they fighting?"

"They're using staffs sir."

Lennon nodded, "Captain Grove, can we see the inside of the room?"

"Yes of course, but we should stop this."

"I don't think that would be wise Captain."

Captain Grove looked at him, "WHAT?"

Lennon looked at him "There will be many Minbari who will disagree with my choice to train her as an anla-shok. She must be able to defend herself, and if she wins, then the stories of the Daniels family bravery will spread even faster among my people."

Captain Grove looked at him for a moment, "Alright, we'll do this your way, for now."

"Thank you captain."

Now the captain went to the comm. panel and had the video feed sent to panel they were at.

..
All of them watched as Megan and the Minbari went at each other, and Lennon even found himself admiring her style with the staff. Then they watched as her arm was broken, and how she still refused to quit. When they saw the final blow, all of them winced a little. Lennon looked at Captain Grove, "I think we can go in now."

When they entered the room, the Minbari and humans alike parted for them, as the two of them walked toward Megan.

Captain Grove looked at her, "Alright, how did this start?"

She stood up as straight as possible, "My fault sir, I challenged him, and he accepted."

Captain Grove looked at her, and then he looked at Lennon. "Well, how do you wish to handle this?"

Lennon looked at him, "There is nothing to handle. There was a fair challenge, and a fair fight."

Now he looked at Megan, "Your style is still rough, but I believe F'hursna Sech Durhan will be pleased to help you better it. Especially after I tell him of your victory."

Now he looked at the Captain, "I think we should get these two to your medical room."

..
Alpha sickbay TCS Bull Run: Captain Grove and Lennon watched as the staff worked on the two combatants. When the doc was finished with his exams he went to the Captain. "Well doc, how are they?"

Doc stretched a little, "Not to bad, some contusions, and abrasions. Meg's got a busted Ulna. And the Minbari fellow's got a shattered kneecap, a few chipped teeth, and a large amount of swelling in his groin. I'd say two weeks recovery time."

"That's good to hear doc. Do me a favor, tell Crewman Daniels that I want to see her when you're done with her."

"Sure thing Captain."

As the doc left, Lennon and the captain left the sick bay. Lennon looked at Captain Grove, "I hope that you're not to hard on her captain."

Captain Grove looked at him, "Well she did break about 6 regulations, but I think we can get by with administrative punishment."

"I hope that is not to harsh captain."

"No Mr. Lennon, it isn't."

Now he was smiling, "That is good, because she has much more training to do. And I believe that I have a message to send."

"Of course."

As the two of them headed for the bridge, Captain Grove found himself starting to like this old Minbari.