Paint and Powder: Defiant Hope
A Star Trek/Babylon 5 fanfic by Andrew Joshua Talon
DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fan based work of prose. Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager et al are the property of CBS Television, and creation of Gene Roddenberry. Babylon 5 is owned by Warner Brothers. Azur Lane is owned by Yostar. Please support the official release.
A few more Minbari warships tried their luck with Defiant: They sent out some scouts to target her with their wormholes (what they called "jump points") to try and destroy her. It was an innovative tactic, Defiant would grant them-But her subspace sensors and superior speed let her escape the trap each time.
After five strike forces were destroyed, the Minbari finally seem to have realized the futility of the situation and stopped. Good for Defiant-She had plenty of torpedoes, but running all of this without a crew was difficult.
It was at this time the Earth Alliance President sent a message, personally inviting her to Earth. One she gladly accepted.
They even provided her an escort, which was useful. At her top warp speed she would make it to Earth in about twenty days from where she was (the Canton colony, which had been named New Taipei colony in her universe), so she graciously accepted the offer of the Earth Alliance ships to take her through a jump gate. It was kind of astonishing how huge they were-So gigantic compared to her. Built simply but strongly.
They were crude, but there was a certain rugged elegance to them. Besides, she couldn't traverse hyperspace without them.
Hyperspace was a wondrous dimension. Her sensors eagerly ate up everything, and she went through all the data the Earth Alliance ships offered.
Thankfully they didn't press the issue of why she didn't let anyone aboard. Given their losses to the Minbari, they seemed to be willing to put up with anything to keep themselves from being destroyed.
She found herself shaking her head, as she processed the data and looked over her modified gynoid body in the mirror.
Defiant had found the Earth Alliance computer systems very easy to infiltrate, despite the different technologies involved. They were telling the truth: This entire war was due to an accident. One they made, and admitted to making. They had tried everything to get the Minbari to just listen, to even speak… And been denied.
The Minbari computers of the ships she had destroyed told the same story. The Minbari had gone mad over the death of their leader, Dukat. They had declared an all out holy war, and were a thousand years ahead of humanity in every way.
Granted… There was the Prime Directive, but the simple fact was: These humans had FTL, and they would be exterminated without some kind of help.
Well… As Defiant processed through the data and applied some mercury blush to her new synthetic cheeks, she resolved to provide it.
Earth, Sol System
Earthdome, Geneva, Switzerland
2245
President Elizabeth Levy forced herself to remain calm. The wild, desperate hope in her chest was threatening to erupt the more she read through the reports, and the messages from Defiant.
General Lefcourt, head of EarthForce, was grim but focused on her right, while Ambassador David Sheridan was carefully neutral on her left. Senator Morgan Clark, head of the Military Appropriations Committee, had also finagled his way into the meeting, but stood off to the side with a scowl. How a man as uncharismatic as Clark had gotten his position was still a bit of a mystery, but to his credit he had been doing everything in his power to make military appropriations and procurement as simple as possible.
In a war for survival, there was no room for grift and graft. And Clark, while brutal in how he used the legal system, had made the complex labyrinth of military production into as straight a line as he could.
"Did she say why we're supposed to wait for her in your office?" Clark asked idly. President Levy shook her head.
"No… But she said she would arrive soon."
"The Defiant is in orbit over Geneva now, Madam President," Lefcourt said, "but she hasn't launched a shuttle yet."
"Is it wise to let them get that close?" Clark asked, looking worried. Lefcourt shrugged.
"I don't think we could do anything to stop her," he said plainly, "given she massacred the Minbari without taking a scratch."
Clark made a face, but he said nothing. The comms beeped, and Levy answered it.
"Yes?"
"This is USS Defiant to President Levy," the same kind, feminine voice greeted her, "sorry about the delay. Senator Clark might want to move three steps to his right."
Levy looked up in confusion. Clark was equally baffled.
"Wha-?"
"Move, Morgan," David said gently. Clark sighed, and scooted over.
"Why exactly did she-JESUS!"
A column of golden energy appeared, and the guards in the room held out their PPGs towards the phenomenon. One Secret Service agent tried to push Levy down, but she held up a hand as the column slowly coalesced.
The light vanished, leaving a five foot, eleven inch human woman in a white miniskirt uniform. She wore tall black boots, and a long blue jacket. Her hair was long and white, her eyes were a gently glowing electric blue. From the top of her head rose two white bunny ears, which twitched. At her belt was a beam pistol of some kind, and a sword.
She smiled and gently held her hands apart.
"To quote Captain Pike: 'Take me to your leader.'"
The rest of the meeting was… Well… Surreal was a good term for it.
"So," David Sheridan began slowly, "let me see if I've got this right. You're from a parallel universe."
"Yup," Defiant said with a nod, as she sat on one of the couches.
"You're a sapient warship, built by humans from another universe."
"Uh huh."
"You lost your entire crew, and ended up passing through a portal into our universe."
"Mmhm."
"And you are programmed to protect humanity, so… You decided to protect us," Sheridan finished.
Defiant nodded, sipping some coffee.
"That's about the size of it."
"This is insanity," Clark mumbled, rubbing his temples. Defiant gave him a sympathetic look.
"Oh trust me, this is only in the top twenty weirdest things Starfleet ships have run into. Enterprise ran into the Greek God Apollo once! Grabbed her right out of space with a giant green hand!"
"You're kidding right?" Lefcourt asked. Defiant beamed serenely and sipped her coffee. "Right?"
"All of that aside," Levy intervened, "we thank you for helping us. The Minbari have paused their attacks, most likely due to your actions."
"But our intel suggests they'll just regroup and try again," Lefcourt said. He nodded at Defiant. "The war isn't over yet."
"And I don't intend to let them continue," Defiant said, setting her coffee down. In an instant, all the leaders in the room got beeps on their personal comm devices. They all held them up, and looked through the messages Defiant had sent.
"On my journey here I began scanning your ships and accessing your computer networks," Defiant stated, outright ignoring the indignant squawks and gasps from Clark, Levy, and Lefcourt, "You have come far without subspace technologies. But, I'm afraid much of my technology is too advanced for you to handle."
Clark gaped.
"What?! You're denying us technology?!"
"Morgan," Levy warned, but there was intense disappointment in her eyes. Defiant held up a consoling hand.
"Look: From your own intelligence reports, the Minbari will be in Earth orbit within two years, at best. Now, I could help you build to my standards, but it would take you, at best, fifty years to even start coming close. My Federation has over a thousand worlds: You don't have those kinds of resources or time. So, I will provide you with technology that is more advanced than what you have, but can actually build. Logistics wins wars, everyone. Not wunder weapons."
Clark scowled, but nodded. Lefcourt allowed himself a cautious smile.
"... Agreed. What can you give us?"
Their comms devices beeped again in unison, as Defiant went on.
"I am uploading the schematics for fusion reactors based on 22nd century designs from my civilization. These are easily constructed with minimal changes to your existing industry and produce at least ten times as much raw power. You can begin introducing them to your fleet in a matter of months. In addition, I am sending you schematics for basic phaser cannons-You have some experience with particle beam weapons already, these are ten times the power and hundreds of times the versatility of your existing designs. I am also including basic artificial gravity plate generators, which are also the basis for basic deflector shielding and inertial dampener technology. I have devised simple but effective subspace sensors that can pierce Minbari stealth technology. All of this is technology you can begin mass production on almost immediately and integrate into your ships with few issues. Finally? I have created some designs based on your current manufacturing systems for new ships, that also use my AI system."
"The Quantum Sillicone Brain Tree, right?" Clark asked. Defiant nodded.
"Yes! I can provide a few… Let's call them 'clippings' you can install into new black boxes, and grow them by feeding them data and energy. Just like how my sisters and I were made! They will allow you to coordinate your fleets, sensors, and weapons far faster than the Minbari ever could."
Defiant nodded firmly, looking right in the President's eyes.
"In six months, your fleets will no longer be helpless targets to the Minbari: You will be able to fight them on an even playing field."
President Levy raised her eyebrows.
"You put this all together over a few days?"
"With respect Madame President, I am far more advanced than any of your computer systems could hope to stop," Defiant said gently, and nodded to Lefcourt and Clark. Both of whom were perturbed but hid it with varying degrees of effectiveness.
"However, I do need some things in return," Defiant continued.
Levy held a breath and nodded.
"Such as?"
"Trustworthy crew," Defiant explained, "I am designed to go without serious maintenance for five years-Two of those years are up. I believe Commander John J. Sheridan would be a good captain, based on his recent actions. I will also need fuel and supplies. Finally... I forbid the extermination of the Minbari."
Lefcourt's brows went up. Clark scowled angrily.
"That's what they're trying to do to us!"
Defiant nodded slowly.
"Yes. But extermination of another sapient species is everything my creators stood against. They programmed me to value and cherish life, and to only kill if I had to. To try and find better ways to solve conflicts. I am not asking you to forgive and forget... But to be the kind of people I know you can be. To be better... Besides. Genocide rarely makes you allies. Such a crime stains your diplomatic relations and leaves you with fewer options. Even the Klingons appreciate this. And they are a warrior people."
Levy pulled the trigger on the hardest question. It was her job, after all.
"... What happens if we disagree?"
"I will give you what I have shared so far, except for the AIs," Defiant said calmly, "No strings. I will still defend you. But I will not aid you if your aims turn to conquest and genocide. You will have to do all the work from then on yourselves."
Clark scoffed.
"How could one ship, even you, stop us from doing what we-?"
The lights in the Earth President's office dimmed, then brightened, then dimmed again. Several times, in perfect tempo with Defiant lifting and raising her arm.
"Does that answer your question, Senator?" Defiant asked softly.
Clark paled and scowled in silence. Defiant cleared her throat.
"I do not make this as a threat. Only as a promise," she stated, "it's the core of my programming. If you prove yourselves responsible with this? I will provide more. But see it from my perspective please. I don't want you to tear me apart and use my technology to rule over this galaxy as tyrants. You are better than that. I know you are."
Sheridan smiled softly.
"It's not enough to survive, but to be worthy of survival?"
"Yes Ambassador," Defiant replied.
"I think you were programmed well," Sheridan observed.
"And if the only way to stop the Minbari is to bomb them back to the Stone Age?" Lefcourt asked flatly.
Defiant was silent for a moment.
"If it comes to it? I will pull that trigger. I will use what force is needed to stop them, but I will not exterminate them. I will only go that far as a last resort. That is the line."
Levy considered things… And then slowly nodded.
"Agreed."
"Madame President-!" Clark hissed, but Levy shook her head.
"This war started over a terrible mistake. I will not let my people be destroyed, but I will not become a butcher in turn. Defiant? You have a deal."
John Sheridan could have done without the endless attention, but it was a war. He had to give them some kind of hope, given how bleak the situation was.
So he stood before a huge hall of fellow officers, gave his speech on defeating the Black Star, and the troops began to leave with smiles on their faces. General Lefcourt stood at his side, smiling.
"Great work again, John," Lefcourt said. Sheridan smiled and shook his hand.
"Thank you sir."
"Now," the general stated, "I have another job for you."
Sheridan frowned.
"But my ship-"
"Is going to be under repair for quite some time," Lefcourt said, "besides, one victory isn't enough. We're going to need more... To win this war."
Sheridan followed the General, his former teacher, through the Earthdome hallways. They arrived in a plush office, where stood an unusual woman.
She was beautiful, tall and fit. Her hair was long and platinum, nearly white. Her chin was pointed and her eyes were a deep blue. She wore a strange uniform-Gold top and black bottoms. And she had... Bunny ears on her head?
She smiled and extended her hand, her hair gleaming in the afternoon sun through the windows.
"This is Defiant," Lefcourt said calmly, "the artificial intelligence guiding a human starship from another universe. Our best kept secret.
John's eyes widened. Even as he shook Defiant's hand.
"Sir?" He asked.
"I know it's a lot to take in, Commander," Defiant said calmly, "but please. Allow me to prove it."
The world shone and shimmered, and vanished, before being replaced by a strange chamber in tans and dark blues. He stood on a glowing platform, General Lefcourt and Defiant right beside him. Lefcourt chuckled.
"She says you get used to it," he joked, as Sheridan got his shakes under control.
"What just happened?"
"I transported you to me," Defiant said cheerfully, "come on!"
They walked through the corridors of the ship. Sheridan stopped to look out a window. He could see Earth, far below. They appeared to be in a high polar orbit-Away from prying eyes.
He turned and followed, to a lift. They took it, and soon arrived at a circular bridge. Defiant guided him over to a dedication plaque on the bulkhead.
"USS Defiant. Constitution-class. Tranquility Base... 2250," Sheridan read aloud. He looked at her in disbelief. "Wait... Are you the ship that defended the Jericho outpost?"
Defiant smiled modestly.
"It was," she said, "in my universe, humanity is a founding member of a Federation of planets. Vast and sprawling, over six thousand light-years. I wouldn't have been built without them all working together. And we certainly don't take kindly to genocide."
"So are there more of you?" Sheridan asked. Defiant shook her head.
"I don't know," she admitted, "I ended up in this universe purely by chance. If there's a way back..." She shrugged, and Sheridan imagined he could see some regret in her eyes.
"Suffice it to say, I'm here now and you need help," she stated professionally, "and I'll offer whatever help I can. But I need a crew to function at my best, and I need a captain I can trust."
"Me?" Sheridan asked in surprise. "I'm not experienced enough to-"
"She thinks so," Lefcourt stated. "The Federation sends these ships out on five year exploration missions. They choose people who know when to fight and when to talk. Your history on first contact is exemplary, and your combat leadership inspired."
"And," Defiant said, "you learn the Ins and outs of any ship quickly. If your people are going to use my technology, you need experience. You can pick good crew to learn and then spread what they have learned."
"It's probably the most important assignment we have, John," Lefcourt said, "the Defiant is probably the only thing that can let us survive this war. Maybe even win it. She's willing to help, but she only wants the best we can offer. You're her pick."
John looked between his mentor and to Defiant. She smiled warmly, but there was a hint of human uncertainty in her eyes.
"You truly care about us?" Sheridan asked. Defiant nodded.
"I mean, for practical reasons, yes, I prefer a very good, cooperative crew but... I lost my entire crew when I ended up here."
She looked down at the deck.
"I...I usually use a holographic projection, but... I had to build this body to..." Ske sucked in a deep breath, "to...Move their bodies. To perform their burial rites, as best I could."
Sheridan stared.
"... How many?"
"405," Defiant whispered. "Every one... I... I failed them." She looked up into Sheridan's eyes, her own filled with determination.
"I refuse to let anyone else down," she stated, "not when the stakes are so high."
If the AI was lying, she was exceptional at it. And yet, there was a funny feeling in Sheridan's mind. Instinct. That this was genuine.
If she wasn't though... He'd be in the perfect position to stop her.
"In that case, how can I refuse?" Sheridan said, and despite his calculating thoughts, his smile was genuine. Defiant smiled back, a bit less tense.
"Then you'll need these," General Lefcourt stated, handing over a small box. Sheridan opened it, and smiled at the stat bars within sitting on velvet.
"Thank you, General."
Lefcourt smiled as he shook Sheridan's hand, once again.
"Thank you, Captain..."
And so it begins...