Chapter 59 (John Sheridan)
Sheridan scanned the command deck and saw the one person who should be down on the planet with the Minbari, Jankowski.
He still had no information on why this poor excuse of a human was allowed to join this mission, but he needed every hand available.
The President was right about that.
Jankowski was entrusted to command the fighter squadrons, which would protect the ship if any surprise Minbari attacked them. It was a simple job and Sheridan knew the Minbari would not attack. The colony was way outside their transport points and the Minbari only had a small settlement. There was no need for a Star Cruiser to patrol this part of space. However, Sheridan could not help but think that Jankowski was deliberately looking for trouble.
"Captain," Jankowski began. "I need to take my team on patrol to scout the asteroids for any resources we could take back with us. This planet might be good for mining once the colony has been exterminated."
Sheridan looked down at his electronic tablet, analysing the report that had been wirelessly transferred to it. It seemed like a harmless plan, but it required the entire flight team and Sheridan was not comfortable leaving his ship without protection. "Are you sure you need all those men? It seems a bit excessive for a scouting mission."
"If you want the job done quickly, using all the men will speed up the survey."
Sheridan considered the remark and then replied. "I'll give you half the team. I don't want this ship defenceless if the Minbari decide to hit us with a surprise attack."
"But Sheridan, look out there…Nothing-""That's an order Jankowski, now get of my bridge before I demote you to pilot!" Sheridan interjected as he rose from his command chair. It was a tall order to listen to his rambling and the asshole deserved no special treatment especially after his sole involvement in dragging the human race into a fight they had no hope of winning. Then again after watching the soldier perform down on the colony, perhaps the president finally had a weapon that could defeat the Minbari.
Sheridan looked up from the display and watched as each pilot's designation appeared on the screen above the main monitor. It showed their basic life signs and coordinates.
Once in space, Sheridan could pinpoint their exact location on any monitor he saw fit. He especially kept his eye on Jankowski because he was the type of man who had a damaged reputation to restore, despite his ability to get it all wrong.
"Sir?" asked an ensign sitting at the workstation next to him. "I'm not detecting any Minbari on the planet. It seems our package has completed its task. Orders?"
"Run more scans until we're absolutely sure there're no more Minbari down there. I don't want to land a research party and suddenly get attacked by a group who have been hiding in caves."
Although it seemed impossible any more Minbari could be hiding, the ship's scanners should penetrate the dense rocky surface. Sheridan just wanted time to survey the creature as it aimlessly wandered the surrounding land with no goal in site.
"I want two teams of personnel ready to deploy on my mark. Team one will scout out the colony for any survivors, while team two remains in orbit on standby. When the all clear is sound, Team two will de-"
An urgent message burst through the communication system, "Captain, I've detected a small vessel leaving the planet's surface…it's a Minbari Transport."
Jankowski's face appeared on the screen. His eyes burned with desire to kill the Minbari. He was pumped up and ready to go. "I have the men, sir. Just send my team out and we can neutralize them!"
Sheridan had reservations about that idea. Although it would be good to stop the Minbari before they could leave for hyperspace, he could not help but feel there must be a hidden trap or scenario they'd overlooked. Sheridan knew a small transport could travel some distance, but after dancing his hands over the transport's life-sign scans, he was cautious at best.
"Sheridan, my men are ready, we need to strike now." The tension in Jankowski's voice was so strong, everyone on the command deck felt it.
The Minbari transport was now on screen. Sheridan could see the blue fragile ship depart the planet's immense gravity. In just a few minutes, it would be in deep space, ready to travel through the hyperspace gate and into oblivion. Yet Sheridan was still concerned about the Minbari transport and its inhabitants. No one would risk that many people on a short trip unless-
Sheridan was just about to order the fighter group to stand down and hide, but Jankowski had already left the confines of the asteroid and his cohort of fighters careered forward, determined to pick off the Minbari transport.
"Jankowski! I did not give you authorisation to leave the asteroid field! Return to your positions!"
"I can get it, Captain! They're in reach!"
Sheridan knew the man was trouble from the moment the president allowed him on the mission. How many deaths will it take before the bosses know he cannot be trusted? He failed at his own command and now he's about to send this party into a trap.
"Jankowski, it's a trap, that transport is going to-"
Too late…
As the trio of hotheads gunned for the lone Minbari transport, the space around them lit up in an upheaval of fury as a jump point opened right in front of them. Fighters scattered in all directions as they tried to dodge the forming vortex. Then, as if expecting the eye of the storm to be clear, a monstrous Minbari cruiser jumped right into the middle of them, firing stabbing beams of hot energy, vaporising two fighters. A third Starfury accidentally flew into the cruiser's side fin while the rest panicked.
Sheridan shot up in anger and cursed the very man himself. This was what he had been afraid of, a direct confrontation with the Minbari.
As calls for help echoed throughout the open communication channel, Sheridan had no choice but to put the new and improved weapons and shields to the test.
"All hands, prepare for battle," Sheridan ordered.
The screen in front of him would have been clear if it was not for the Minbari battle cruiser. Its huge radar signature covered the centre of the display and suddenly disappeared without warning. It was uncommon for the Minbari to jump into a hostile environment without jamming the enemy's radar, but after a short pause, Sheridan knew the Minbari had not been initially looking for battle. They were merely on a mission to find out what happened to the colony.
With the humans now in the picture the Minbari had now charged all its gun ports and was ready for a fight. Sheridan did not want an engagement, but that asshole Jankowski, forced his hand. If he had a moment to himself, he would have liked to call his wife and tell her how much he loved her before embarking on a battle that could cost him his life.
Now, as he stared the Minbari cruiser down its gun ports, he issued the order that would take them out of their hiding spot and for the first time, test their mettle.
"Helm, take us out, all stations. Shield control; give us full charge on the shields and weapons. I want a direct hit with maximum power!"
His crew exchanged nervous glances. Sheridan knew what they were thinking. No human vessel had withstood a direct battle without any casualties. Nonetheless now was not the time to dwell on such matters. Their cover was blown once the Minbari saw the Starfuries and fighting in the asteroid field would put undue pressure on the shields. The smashing of asteroids on the outer hull signalled the end or the beginning.
"Shields will be online with modified frequency in ten seconds, sir." the shield helmsman confirmed. He was one of the select few to learn about the operations of the new shield that was installed on some vessels. If anything went wrong, it would be his job to fix it. John Cho taught extensive lessons to a select few students and Sheridan was glad to have one of those students onboard.
"Sir, the Minbari cruiser is turning in our direction. I'm detecting scanners…they've seen us!"
Sheridan shot the shield operator a desperate look. "Where's that shield?"
"Should be online now sir!"
Completely soundless it was a new and daunting experience for him. He expected some kind of noise from the shield reactor, that's what he'd always heard on the vid-screen shows, but with silence all around, it was hard to believe an invisible barrier protected his vessel. Was it really on?
"Energy spike from the enemy cruiser! She's ready to fire!"
Sheridan looked towards his firing control officer, "Target that ship and fire the moment they're ready!"
Sheridan would normally wait for the other ship to open fire first. However he knew that one shot from a Minbari beam cannon would vaporise his ship within seconds.
Taking his seat, Sheridan watched the asteroids bounce off each other on the viewer. With just a few layers of asteroids to go, the showdown was about to begin.
With every breath he took the Minbari cruiser grew in size until it filled the screen. Its menacing sky-blue tint made it look just as deadly as the Minbari cruiser he had encountered back on the rescue mission. It looked exactly the same. No changes. Could this be the same cruiser I encountered before?
Suddenly light flared up all around one of the gun ports. The Minbari had just opened fire. Before Sheridan had the time to react, its beam had hit the shield. Caught in the act of his own fear, Sheridan slowly opened his eyes once the commotion had settled. Everyone was panicking, flinching in their seats at the sudden realization that death was moments away.
But it wasn't.
"Status report!" Sheridan ordered.
"The enemy scored a direct hit, but the shield is holding."
Another voice spoke out; it was the shield control officer. "Shield capacitors are at sixty five percent charge, Sir." Sheridan felt the 'but' already in the man's words. "We've only got enough energy to deflect one more shot. If they fire on us the shield will discharge."
Sheridan shot to his feet, "Fire everything we've got. Disable that ship's weapons."
Sheridan knew that no amount of firepower they had, even the Narn enhanced cannons, would damage that ship enough to immobilize it. So targeting and disabling its weapons would give them a chance to escape.
The Agamemnon opened fire with its newly installed weapons and it began to strike decisive blows against key locations on the Minbari ship. Sheridan instructed each strike to hit a vital system and so far, not a shot was wasted.
A large number of shots were targeted towards the weapon ports of the cruiser. Other shots were directed at scanning and targeting arrays. Sheridan was filled with pride as each shot struck home. He felt the glory of his own success course through his veins as more blasts hit the enemy ship true and steady.
Then it fired back again. This time Sheridan saw the effect of the shield.
Travelling at near- relativistic speeds, the Minbari beam hit the shield and dissolved like ripples in a puddle. The common deadly yellow beam changed into a misty blue haze as it moved through the contour of the shield.
But there was a problem.
Each strike before had been short stabbing beams, this time the attack was continuous.
"Shields almost drained," Sheridan rushed over to the shield control panel and watched in horror as the charge rapidly depleted towards zero percent.
"Fire the damn weapons now before they…"
Lights dimmed and the bridge shook as the Minbari beam penetrated the shield and burned a hole into the aft side of the ship. Right on cue, Sheridan heard the whirling sound of weapons discharging and the monitor flickered from the successful attack, lit up with red streaks of light.
It was starting to look bad when suddenly the Agamemnon began firing back at the Minbari ship. The Minbari vessel took decisive strikes, each aimed at knocking out its weapons and scanners.
Two gun ports went down.
Then five.
More strikes against the Minbari vessel were met with unrivalled success while Sheridan's crew cheered in victory as the weapons continued to fire at pre-programmed coordinates.
As the blazing light show dissipated, the crippled Minbari cruiser limped off, leaving the Agamemnon victorious. Sheridan glanced at his bridge crew. He felt some level of victory, but deep down he also knew the attack had come very close to total annihilation. If the shield had failed sooner, he could not think of the consequences. His ship carried vital information about the new warrior and it was now imperative to get that information back to the President.
Then one issue rose to the front of his mind!
Sheridan shot to his feet, "Where's that asshole hiding?"
Frantic scans of the area revealed Jankowski had been hiding in the asteroids that circled the planet. Sheridan surmised that he turned tail and ran, hiding in the nearest corner. Then, to rub it in, a communications channel opened as Jankowski called in.
"Captain, the Minbari are vulnerable! Take them out now before –"
Sheridan interjected, voice laced with anger, "How dare you issue orders on my watch! You have disobeyed a direct order, murdered your own unit and alerted the Minbari to our presence!"
"But the Minbari are right there, claim vengeance and shoot them out of the sky!"
"This ship does not have the firepower to destroy a Minbari Cruiser, only disable it. Don't you know how powerful the Minbari ships are? All their cannons on the rear of the ship are still operational, they'll take us out with one shot…"
"That should be no problem for you Captain! You're the Black Star killer after all…"
Sheridan swallowed the anger and it churned in his stomach to disbelief. Jankowski's use of the word killer portrayed him as a mass murderer who enjoyed taking life. This was not his way! Jankowski's comment hit home. He had been the only one who had won a victory during the whole war and that blip of a man was the individual who started it all.
Sheridan looked towards his second in command and he had something important to say, he could see in his eyes. "Sir, if you do destroy his ship, none of us will think badly of you. We all want him dead."
Sheridan fell into his chair. The fabric was warm and comfortable, unlike the situation.
In one hand he had Jankowski's life, the man who started this whole war and incited the destruction of Earth. On the other, his crew wanted him to destroy the man's Star Fury and him along with it. No matter how much he wanted to, could he really do such a thing?
With his ship crippled, and the cause of it outside like a defenceless puppy, Sheridan made his choice.
"Tell all the recon teams to return to the ship. We're leaving."
Sheridan switched the channel over to Jankowski. "You have enough life support to get you down to that planet. I suggest you leave now before the Minbari detect you. . If I see you again, Jankowski, I will personally kill you on the spot. You don't deserve to be called a human."
Sheridan closed the channel before Jankowski had the chance to reply. Once all personnel returned to the ship, Sheridan ordered his ship into hyperspace, leaving Jankowski to fend for himself. He hoped that he would never have to see that man again. The Minbari finally would have their man, if they searched the area.