Chapter 28

Shai Alyt's quarters of the Cruiser Tragotti: The Shai Alyt looked at the face on the monitor in front of him. "Are you certain of this information?"

"Of course I am, I was on duty when the message from Lennon came in. He was reportedly told by the humans, so there wouldn't be any incidents."

The Shai Alyt smiled to himself, "Well my friend, it appears that there will be an incident. If the council expects us to allow these humans to kill our clan brothers and sisters, and go unpunished. Then they are sadly mistaken."

The man on the monitor just looked at him, "Do you think that the humans will be expecting trouble?"

"Even if they are, you've said that they are only bringing in three ships. We will outnumber them five to one."

"But sir, these human ships are not like the earther ships."

"I know that is why I am bringing all the ships that I can."

"I must go my friend, good luck on your hunt."

"Thank you, and again thank you for the information."

The signal closed, and the Shai Alyt got up and headed to the cruiser's bridge. "Alyt, inform the battle group that we are going hunting. We know where some of the human killers of our clan brothers and sisters will be soon. Have all ships prepare to jump to hyperspace in 5 minutes."

The Alyt looked at him, "On what course sir?"

"To the Vega system."

Soon the ships were jumping into hyperspace, and into an unknown future.

..
Bridge of Anla-shok Frigate Cloud of Sorrows: Anla-shok Orenn looked at the scans of the Vega system, his group of ships would be there in another hour. He prayed to Valen that they wouldn't be forced to do something rash. If he and the other ships were lucky, then the human ships would arrive, do their scanning and leave peacefully. But something deep inside his heart told him that that might not happen.

He turned to the comm. tech, "Has there been any further word on the Wind Swords battle group?"

The tech looked at him and just shook her head no. This lack of information worried him, but there was little he could do about it now. Orenn turned to his second, "I pray to Valen that we can reason with the others."

"And if you can't Orenn, will you fire on them?"

Orenn looked at his second, "Only if they fire upon us first, and then only to cripple their ships."

His second looked at him, "You know that the Wind Sword clan is the most volatile of the warrior caste clans. They will most likely fire on us for standing with the humans."

Orenn looked down at the deck for a moment, "I know my friend, I know."

..
Bridge of TCS Normandy: Captain Motamba looked at his watch, "XO, how long to the Vega Jump point?"

"Two hours sir."

"Comm. send to the Cu Chulainn and the Avenger, I want all ships at condition one before we jump."

"Aye aye sir."

"CAG, I want a full fighter screen launched as soon as we clear the jump point."

"Yes sir, I've got a full squadron of Sabre's ready to launch."

The XO looked at the Captain, "Sir, if I didn't know better, I would think you were a little worried."

"Not worried Mary, just cautious."

"But sir, the Admiral has already informed the Minbari that we would just be exploring the system. If we go in there with an aggressive posture, any Minbari in the system may think that we mean to cause trouble."

The captain looked at her, "I'm not going to start any trouble, but I'm also not going to back away from any either. And I want us prepared for anything."

The XO looked at him, "Yes sir. I still think you should play it a little less intense."

"Duly noted Mary. And Mary, when we arrive, try the frequency we were given."

"Yes sir."

Two hours later the small group jumped into the Vega system.

..
Bridge of the Cloud of Sorrows: Orenn watched as an energy spike lit up the scanners, and then some strange swirling mass appeared. From that mass came three warships. His comm. tech looked at him, "Sir, the ships are sending a signal on frequency two sir."

Orenn looked at her, "Let me see."

An image of a dark skinned human appeared before Orenn. "This is Captain Motamba of the TCS Normandy. We are here to scan the system, and then we will depart. We don't want to cause any trouble."

Orenn smiled to himself, and then nodded to the comm. tech. "This is Anla-shok Orenn on the Cloud of Sorrows. Welcome to the Vega system. My old friend thought you might need a little help, so we are here to assist you any way we can."

Captain Motamba smiled, "That's good to hear. We were afraid that some of your less than friendly warriors would be here. With the peace talks going on, we don't want any incidents that could hamper them."

"We feel the same as you Captain. But I think you should know, that some of our warriors might still arrive and try to interfere."

"Then I suggest that we do our scanning as quickly as possible then."

"I agree, our ships will help with the scanning, and then turn the results over to you."

"Your help is appreciated Anla-shok Orenn."

The two then set up a system wide course that would allow them to scan the system in the least amount of time.

..
Bridge of the Cruiser Tragotti: The Shai Alyt nodded, and a vortex to normal space formed. His reinforced battle group exited to normal space, and he immediately began to scan for the human ships. His scanner tech noted unusual readings on the long-range scan and informed the Alyt. They both looked at the readings, and the Alyt nodded.

"Sir, we have something unusual on long range scan. I believe it is the human ships."

The Shai Alyt smiled, "Set a course, and inform all of the ships."

"Yes sir."

"How long to intercept?"

"Thirty minutes sir."

"Good, soon these humans will know what happens when you challenge the Wind Sword clan."

Everyone on the bridge smiled after he said that.

..
Alpha flight on patrol: Lt. Nichole 'Burnout' Davidson picked up the multiple energy spikes on her scanners, and ran them through her flight comp. "Alpha leader, this is Alpha 8. I've picked up multiple energy spikes that the FC shows as hyperspace exit points."

"Eight, this is lead. What vector?"

"Lead, I show them at 275.48 and 40 degrees down."

"Roger that eight. Alpha flight, come to new heading. 275.48 and try to keep a low profile."

The rest of the flight acknowledged and soon were headed for the new coordinates. Alpha leader Capt Angie 'Topknot' Xian soon showed 15 Minbari ships on her long-range scanner. She had the FC mark their course and speed, and had her flight take up a parallel course. Now she keyed up a tight beam signal to the Normandy.

"Home plate this is Alpha flight. We have 15, I say again one five Minbari ships on an intercept course with you. ETA is about three zero mics. Sending data, over"

"Alpha flight this is CAG. Have they spotted you? Over."

"Negative home plate. We're running in stealth mode over."

"Roger that Alpha flight stand by."

"Roger home plate standing by."

..
Bridge of the TCS Normandy: Captain Motamba heard the report from Alpha flight, and came to see the data. "Comm., get me Orenn on the line."

"Yes sir."

Soon Orenn was on the monitor. "Anla-shok Orenn, our patrol picked up 15 Minbari ships inbound. They have set a course for our current location. Do you know anything about this?"

Orenn's head looked down. "It is something that I had hoped would not happen Captain Motamba. The ships are of the Wind Sword clan, and I believe that you and your people had a run in with one or more of their ships."

Captain Motamba just nodded, "One of their ships opened fire on two of ours, and then was destroyed. The Admiral was able to bluff the other ship, and they didn't attack."

Orenn looked at him, "I don't think it will be that easy this time."

"Is there any way we can avoid a fight Orenn?"

"I can try to talk to them, but the Wind Swords can be," Orenn seemed to be searching for a word, "Pork headed."

The captain smiled, "I think you mean Pig headed. Well, we'll try to talk first then, but I want you to know Orenn. We will defend ourselves."

"I understand Captain, I just pray to Valen that that will not be necessary."

The signal ended, and the Captain looked at the XO and the CAG. "Launch the remaining fighters, and have the Cu Chulainn and Avenger take positions Zed two."

Both of them nodded and followed his orders. 10 minutes later the group was ready for combat, but the Captain was hoping that it wouldn't come to that.

..
Bridge of the Cruiser Tragotti: They were 5 minutes from the targets, when the comm. tech received a signal. "Shai Alyt, I have Anla-shok Orenn signaling us."

"Show me."

Soon he saw the face of Anla-shok Orenn. "Hello Shai Alyt, welcome to the Vega system."

"What do you want Anla-shok, I'm busy."

"I know why you're here, and I want to try to persuade you to leave the system. Even now the Gray council is negotiating an end to this war. What you're about to do could cause it to continue."

"Do you think I care what the gray council does? These humans killed my clan brothers and sisters. For that crime, they must be punished."

"Shai Alyt, your ship opened fire on two of the humans ships. They were just defending themselves. Is that a crime?"

"Anla-shok Orenn, my fight is not with you, withdraw and let us give these humans the punishment they deserve."

"I'm afraid that I can't do that Shai Alyt. I have my orders."

The Shai Alyt looked at him, "You would fight your own people? You would kill Minbari?"

"I will do what I must Shai Alyt. But I will not fire first. If anyone will be guilty of killing Minbari this day, it will be you."

..
The Shai Alyt looked at him again, "Anla-shok Orenn, you have two frigates and six cutters. I have two cruisers, five frigates and eight cutters. You will not be able to stand against us."

"I won't have to for long. Once you fire on us, the honor of the Wind Sword clan will be gone forever. You and your clan will become outcasts to all Minbari. Even now, we are sending this signal out to all Minbari ships and stations. What you do today, all will know. The final call is yours Shai Alyt."

The signal ended, and the Shai Alyt looked at the faces of his bridge crew. He knew that they all would do whatever he asked of them, but he couldn't ask them to dishonor the entire clan.

"Comm. open a signal to the Anla-shok."

"Yes sir."

Soon he was looking at Orenn again. "Anla-shok Orenn, we will withdraw. But know this, the Gray council; the humans and the Anla-shok have made an enemy today. This is not over."

"You have made a wise decision Shai Alyt. I pray to Valen that someday you will understand that."

The signal ended, and the Shai Alyt looked at his Alyt. "Signal all ships to jump to hyperspace and make for home base."

"Yes sir."

A few minutes later, the battle group was entering hyperspace.

..
Bridge of TCS Normandy: Captain Motamba watched the signal between the two Minbari ships, and then saw that the larger group was leaving. He called Orenn, "Anla-shok Orenn, I want to thank you for what you and your people did for us, and what you were willing to do for us. You saved many lives today, Human and Minbari alike."

"Thank you Captain. I'm just glad that he saw the reason in not attacking us."

"So am I Orenn, so am I."

The captain had his ships stand down, and the two groups quickly finished their scans of the system. As the Confed group was preparing to leave the Vega system, the Captain contacted Orenn.

"I just wanted to thank you again Orenn, and I hope we can meet in person someday, under better circumstances."

Orenn smiled, "I think I would like that Captain. May Valen watch over you and your crew."

Captain Motamba smiled now, "And may the winds of good fortune always be at your back."

The Confed group then jumped out of the system, and made their way back to home base.