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BABYLON 5:
BROKEN CIRCLES INTERTWINED

PART ONE
IN THE BEGINNING



CHAPTER 1
THIRD AGE OF MANKIND



It was the dawn of the third age of mankind. Ten years since the end of the Earth - Mimbari War and things had forever changed throughout known space.

The Minbari went back to their territory ignoring the galaxy around them. The exception being the Humans which they seemed to not quite covertly keep an close eye on for reasons unknown. Every space capable race knew better than to go anywhere near their borders after the Minbari came so close to exterminating the Humans.

The biggest changes came from the Humans. Earth had quickly reclaimed her destroyed colonies and began aggressively exploring for new worlds to colonize. With Earth Force seriously depleted from the war and Earth’s economy in tatters the humans pressed on as if the war never ended.

Earth Force continued to build ships at an incredible rate while trying to grow their economy in a post war isolationist atmosphere.

Once the war ended, Earth’s fair weather allies returned to trade with humanity as if nothing had happened. They were in for a rude awakening. Humanity had no use for allies that were without honor. It was decided that the Earth Alliance would go it alone. All the Empires, Republics, Confederations and Regimes could go to hell.

During the war no allied alien government came to the aid of the Earth Alliance out of fear of reprisal from the Minbari. They all stood by and watched as the Minbari slaughtered Humanity. Not one alien species honored its military alliance with Earth. Only the Narn offered any form of assistance in the form of covert arms sales at astronomical prices. In the future, if any of Earth’s former allies ever needed help Earth would show up to watch them burn.

Earth Stood alone.

Most of the alien governments in the region understood Earths attitude but expected that the economic hardship would force them to soften their stance. They were wrong.

In the ten years since the wars end Earth’s economy had recovered and indeed was in overdrive. Coupled with the Special Projects Division that had been born at the outset of the E/M war, major technological break throughs and a renewed sense of purpose the rest of the galaxy would regret turning their backs on Earth.


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Several key events were put into play at the onset of the E/M War. Earth needed to match the more advanced races militarily. That meant acquiring artificial gravity, gravimetric propulsion, increased power generation capabilities and superior weapons.

Earth Force ships could not compete with the power generation capabilities of either the Minbari or the Centauri. Earth had no clue what the Minbari used to power their vessels but it was known that the Centauri used matter/anti-matter fusion. Earth couldn’t even begin to develop matter/anti-matter reactors but came up with a good alternative. The Enhanced Quantium-40 Fusion Reactor (QFR).

The primary reason for the increase in colonization was in large part due to Earths search for Quantium-40. Decades prior to the E/M war, Earth had developed a small prototype quantium-40 fusion reactor. Given the scarceness of Quantium-40 throughout known space any increased power output was offset by the astronomical costs involved. With the war going badly from the outset, Earth Force could have cared less about cost effectiveness. Unfortunately the Enhanced QFR project had been developed but not deployed in several Hyperion prototypes under construction when the E/M War ended.

Once in production, what the QFR did was allow Earth to generate power levels equal to 90% that of the Centauri’s matter/anti-matter fusion reactors. That being just the first generation QFR developed and integrated into Earth’s warships starting in 2248. By 2251 Earth had located, mined and refined more Quantium-40 than the Centauri and all the League of Non-Aligned Worlds combined.

The second and most striking thing Earth did was develop shield technology. Three months after the start of the E/M war it was obvious that Earth would loose. As a desperate act to stave off destruction Earth Force put together a strike force of specially trained P-12 Telepaths. As an Abbai gun ship approached the damaged Narn transport that was used as a trojan horse it lowered its shield in an attempt to render assistance and the telepaths went to work. Within twenty minutes the Abbai Patrol Gun Ship 47 disappeared without a trace. It was the first time Earth had used its telepaths in a direct military role. It would be a harbinger of things to come.

Seven years later the shields protecting the newest Earth capital ships were sufficiently different and enormously more powerful than what the Abbai utilized. Should any “Aliens” take note there would be no way of tracing the origins back to Earth’s act of piracy. Since these ships were kept away from the borders and the shields were not to be used unless there was no other choice it was highly unlikely that anyone would discover that Earth ships had shield technology until it was too late.

As a result of the same “raid” Earth also acquired another working example of a gravimetric drive system. This single technology resulted in ships with artificial gravity and inertial dampeners. Coupled with several captured ships from the Dilgar War, Earth now had the ability to analyze the two radically different tech bases which finally gave way to a working understanding of those crucial systems which had eluded them.

The results of these and numerous other technologies was the Warlock Class Destroyer. Launched in 2255 at an initial rate of 9 per year they are the ace in the hole for Earth force. By 2263 the rate of production increased to 45 per year and is anticipated to reach 225 per year by 2270. Earth needed a warship capable of going toe-to-toe with a Minbari War Cruiser, holding the line against attacking fleets, capable of seizing any planet or colony with a minimum of casualties and plowing through planetary blockades. Thus the Warlock Class Destroyer was born.

In addition to the Warlock Class Destroyer Earth began developing plans for the Victory Class Battle Ship in even greater numbers than the Warlock Class. The Victory Class was intended purely as a hunter killer against the largest most powerful ships known to exists. The first prototypes would not be completed until after 2265. Once in services they would fear no ship including that of the Minbari.

The Hyperion Class Heavy Cruisers, Nova Class Dreadnoughts and Nova-X Class Dreadnoughts renamed Omega Class Destroyers were being upgraded throughout the fleet. While the Omega Class Destroyer production was phased out due to the fact that a rotating section was no longer needed, the Hyperion Class Heavy Cruisers were being modernized and upgraded to be able to take on the most advanced alien ship. Additionally schematics for the new Hyperion Mk III Super Cruiser were on the drawing board to eventually replace the upgraded Hyperions.

Over the last ten years Earth had colonized 145 Earth type planets, established an additional 317 Quantium-40 mining colonies, built hundreds of manned military outposts and thousands of automated listening posts on the Alliance borders to protect its territories.

Since the end of the E/M war the population of the Earth Alliance had sky rocketed. The population had doubled and showed no signs of slowing. It was now common place to find families with 12 children while many families had more. In another few generations, Humans would outnumber the combined populations of the Narn, Centauri, The League of Non-Aligned Worlds and the Minbari. Having come so close to extinction at the hands of the Minbari the government had pushed the population increase and the people had been more than willing to support this policy.

As a precaution against humanity ever being wiped out by an alien race concentrating on Earth the humans had sent billions of colonists to the stars under its control. It was this dispersion of humanity that actually spawned Earth’s massive economic growth and allowed Earth Force to spend more than most of the known species combined on defense.

The biggest secret that the humans harbored was not an act of piracy against the Abbai gun ship or similar acts against other species or the technologies that had been developed from these thefts. It was not the fact that Earth was preparing for a genocidal war of revenge against the Minbari. It was that while searching every corner of the Earth Alliance for quantium-40 they made a great discovery.

In Antarctica they found a large ring made entirely of highly refined pure quantium-40. They found what appeared to be a control device for the ring and more importantly they found an outpost that clearly had been built by an as yet unknown race of First Ones. Interplanetary Expeditions (IPX) determined the control device for the ring to be at least 50 million years old. It appeared that the unknown First One’s outpost had been abandoned approximately 30 millions years ago. The technology encountered rivaled that of the Vorlons perhaps even surpassing it.

Finding that outpost would change humanity and the galaxy forever. The question is would Earth use its newly acquired knowledge and power for revenge against those who had wronged humanity? And that includes far more than just the Minbari.






TBC
In Chapter 2

Now this is an interesting premise. I would certainly hope that they wouldn't be using what I absurdly assume is the Stargate to send GROPO's about on foot ala SG-1. B-5 AU is one of my favorite things to read up on, it's such a rich universe, not to mention that seeing our own little species evolving into little hardasses tugs at the old heart-strings. Post another couple chapters, let's see where this goes.

I was wondering if you were ever going to post that story in this forum or not. So, when and why did you decide to join up F-302?

ElPintoGrande wrote:Now this is an interesting premise. I would certainly hope that they wouldn't be using what I absurdly assume is the Stargate to send GROPO's about on foot ala SG-1. B-5 AU is one of my favorite things to read up on, it's such a rich universe, not to mention that seeing our own little species evolving into little hardasses tugs at the old heart-strings. Post another couple chapters, let's see where this goes.

I think you will find this story rather unique. I have enjoyed writing it and hope you enjoy reading it.

This is a crossover which isnt. All I am going to say. You will see what I mean soon enough.

I am an avid fan of SG-1 and I also really like the B5 Verse. It was a refreshing point of view for Humans not to be top dog and yet just strong enough fo most folks to stay out of their way.

Robo Jesus wrote:I was wondering if you were ever going to post that story in this forum or not. So, when and why did you decide to join up F-302?

I have had a lot (I mean a LOT) of requests to post this story on FF.Net.

It will be a cold day in hell before that happens.

This site was mentioned as an alternative so here I am.

Looks interesting. How do the other alien races act around Earth these days? I.e. do the Narn merchants get subjected to high import duties, do the Shadows secretly support the build-up, are the vorlons having fun sneaking into Earth space, etc?

Also, how do the Minbari react to the new technologies being developed? Are there arguments between the warrior and religious caste about why the war was stopped, leading to a faster civil war?

I guess there is no B5 station, but a military outpost in the star system instead? I wonder what will happen to the Great Machine?

Looks like an interesting story so far, keep it up.

CHAPTER 2
CHESS AMONGST THE STARS
January 2281



Lord Refa had more than enough of Emperor Londo Mollari. That old fool new nothing or cared nothing for the glory of the Centauri Republic. He and he alone, with the help of his new “associates” would restore the glory and might of the Centuari.

He was responsible for pushing the Narn back to their homeworld. He was responsible for the gains made against the Drazi and other League of Non-Aligned Worlds (LONAW). He alone would be responsible for bringing Earth into the Republic and thus ensuring his rise to the throne and the Centauri’s place as the undisputed power in known space.


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As the leader of the Anla’Shok or Rangers Lennier should have delegated this assignment to a more appropriate level. His duty and honor to Satai Delenn required that he personally pursue this investigation.

For five days Whitestar 17 had stealthily followed the growing Centauri Fleet. It now consisted of six Primus Class Battle Cruisers and thirty-six Vorchan Class Attack Cruisers.

Lenniers first thoughts were that this would be part of the gathering force that would finally end the Blockade of Narn and destroy their world. That assumption had proved wrong after day two. The Centauri fleet was now assembled near the Earth Alliance border.

If the Centauri were going to invade the Earth Alliance then this fleet was not sufficient other than to cause havoc for a short period of time. They were too far from any of the Earth Alliances core systems.


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Admiral Kurnahn had been given a great honor. One that would result in his rise within the royal court. He of course relished his ascension within the court and couldn’t wait. He hated the humans. They look to much like Centauri for his taste but that was not the main reason. After the Minbari’s mysterious surrender to the Humans at the battle of their homeworld the Centauri had offered to assist Earth in its post war rebuilding activities as any friend would. That offer of assistance and friendship had resulted in a harsh slap to the Centauri’s collective face.

Every attempt over the last thirty-four years was met with more insults. Those insults were about to be addressed.

His orders were simple. Attack one of the human unpopulated border systems with an automated listening post and wait. Wait to see the response time of the humans. Wait to see what they responded with and to wait to see how they responded once they knew who attacked their listening post. Since the E/M war ended the Humans had threatened war at every turn to anyone attempting to enter their space. They had become just as xenophobic as the Minbari. Lord Refa believed the big difference was the Minbari had the power to back up this attitude while the primitive humans did not.

As the fleet formed up the order was given. “Jump.”


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The Centauri Fleet had arrived in humans space several hours ago and began attacking their listening post. As a matter of point the listen post was a series of system wide orbiting satellites and automated ground based surveillance stations that tracked everything that passed near the system in both normal and hyperspace. All information from the outpost was relayed further back into Earth space.

Lennier agreed with the Warrior Caste that this type of system was primitive and most unlikely to provide the humans an effective means to monitor their borders but the humans had built thousands of these listening outposts.
The Rangers had concluded that Earth lacked the ships to properly patrol all of their expanded territories so this was the best solution that the humans had devised.

Lennier watched as the Vorchans fired upon every Human asset in the system. After 8 hours everything had been located and destroyed but rather than leave the Centauri fleet formed up and stood its ground.

They were waiting for the Humans.


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The arrival of the Centauri fleet was immediately picked up by the advanced cloaked Monitor Class Surveillance Satellites hiding in a station keeping orbit around the boarder system JTX113. Every border system had at least three MCSS lurking in hyperspace and three more located approximately half a light year out from the systems star in normal space. Since most ships leaving hyperspace existed within a few hours travel time at most from its intended destination the cloaked MCSS located well outside the systems last planet remained all but undetectable. Upon the Centauri's arrival Sector Command was notified which sent out a squadron of upgraded Hyperions to investigate. An older Warlock Class Destroyer was relatively close and was also dispatched.

Sector Command notified all military units in the area and increased status alert for the sector to DEFCON 3. Having notified Earth Force Command and requesting heavy back-up incase the Centauri were willing to commit more than the force already in system, Sector Command sat back and watched in real time as the Centauri began attacking the decoy surveillance system.


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It had purposely taken the humans thirteen hours for the first ships to arrive and Lennier had already figured out that was one of the objectives for the Centauri. The Centauri now knew the response time of Earth Force to it borders and they also knew that only nine Hyperions was a weak response to investigate what should have appeared as an invasion.

He glanced at his communication officer who simply shook his head in the negative. So neither side wanted to talk. Well that meant the he would witness the beginning of the escalation of the Centauri’s attempt to regain its former glory. Lennier walked about the bridge to reassure himself that all sensors were an passive mode and the stealth systems were functioning properly. As he sat back in his command chair he regretted the loss of life that was about to occur. Even if they were only Human lives.

The six Primas launched their thirty-six sentri fighters which headed straight for the Hyperions. The Hyperions response was to close ranks into a dangerously tight formation. Lennier knew that was a bad idea when facing Centauri fighters but before he could continue his thoughts the sentris came within defensive fire of the Hyperions. The range was incredible, nearly 225000 kilometers. The weapons fires was of an energy that the passive sensors were having trouble identifying. The results were quite final. Within fifteen seconds the sentris had all been eliminated.

As the sensor displays filled his view it was now revealed. They were not energy weapons but projectiles moving at the extreme upper limits of light speed. Space might be a vacuum but that vacuum was not absolute and the high speed of the projectiles caused friction with dust particles and stray hydrogen atoms. It seems the humans had greatly improved their primitive rail guns.

As soon as the sentris were eliminated the nine Hyperions launched fifty four Starfuries. These were the newer Thunderbolt StarFuries with four gravimetric engines, 12 forward/6 aft MK XII compressed unidirectional compressed ion cannons, 10 MK VIII nuclear missiles, and one 6 barreled gatling rail cannon.

As the thunderbolts approached the Vorchans they launched 162 high speed missiles and then took evasive actions. Half broke to the left of the Centauri formation while the other half broke to the right. As they made their arcs around the Vorchans which were pouring defensive fire into the missiles the thunderbolts increased speed to sixty percent of light speed. It took mere seconds and Lennier couldn’t believe the maneuvers of the Earth fighters. As the thunderbolts passed the Vorchans they came into range of the six primas which were now attempting to put some distance between themselves and the approaching Earth fighters. The fighters launched another 162 missiles at the six Primas and then made another looping maneuver which would circumnavigate the bulk of the battle zone.

The missiles launched at the Vorchans impacted first. Of the 162 missiles only forty-seven made to their designated denotation points. Point defenses from the Centauri had eliminated the rest. The blast from the missiles were enormous. At 500 megatons each the missiles were designed to destroy their targets by area detonation and not direct impact. Of the 36 Vorchans 6 were destroyed outright and another 7 were listing with all power systems off line. The remaining 23 were all damaged to some degree or another.

Before the massive fireballs that engulfed the Vorchans died down the Primas Battle Cruisers encountered the same fury. The main difference was that with fewer ships and the same number of missiles only Admiral Kurnahn’s flagship survived as his was the first ship to flee and the furthest from the detonations.

All of the Minbari on board whitestar 17 were shocked. The Humans had devastated the Centauri force. True it was done through surprise tactics, primarily through unheard of speed, but this was not what any Minbari would have thought possible.

The Hyperions where now moving in firing plasma cannons and particle weapons at the still intact Vorchans. As they passed a damaged Vorchan they attacked and destroyed it but the main focus was on the battle capable ships.


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Admiral Kurnahn picked himself off the deck of what remained of his ship. Power was failing as was life support. The bridge displays when they were working showed the humans had engaged the functional Vorchans. Much of his fleet was severely damaged and the number of lost ships was soon approaching those still combat worthy.

Refa had provided him with an emergency beacon with an independent power source. He had specific instructions not even think about activating it unless it was a dire emergency. He couldn’t think of anything more dire than his current situation. He knew that Lord Refa would incur a high price for activating the beacon but Kurnahn could not care less at this point. He limped over to a special console activated the power source and keyed in the code. The message was sent and now all he had to due was survive long enough to actually be saved.

As the powerful distress signal was activate it was picked up by the Earth ships, by the whitestar, by the MCSS and by three Shadow vessels which set course for the source of the signal.


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Six Vorchans had coordinated a full out running attack on the left flank of the humans ships. Each Vorchan fired multiple shots from their forward ion cannons. The ion bolts heading straight for their target and were intercepted by an energy barrier whose outline was lit up a bright translucent blue by the impact on its outer edges.

Lennier jumped out of his seat. One second he was certain the first Earth ship was about to be destroyed and the next second he saw the massive firepower hurled towards the Earth ship strike an energy bubble. Lennier went over to tactical which was analyzing the information everyone had just seen. While on passive, the sensors didn’t get detailed information but what they revealed was amazing. The Human ship survived the attack and concentrated all of its return firepower on one ship. The Vorchan that was targeted was destroyed before it had completed its run. The Hyperion then target a second Vorchan in the same manner destroying it as well. The 4 remaining Vorchans broke off and tried to rejoin the rest of its dwindling fleet

It was impossible the Humans had in the blink of an eye developed gravimetric drives, extremely improved weapons and energy shields. Even the Minbari had not achieved that technological break through. The warrior caste on the Grey Council would go ballistic.

Lennier was still viewing data when his tactical officer shouted “Shadows!” Everyone on the bridge simply stopped and looked up at the holographic display as three Shadow Battle Crabs shimmered into existence.


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The Earth and Centauri forces had spent the last forty-five minutes tearing at each others throats much to the regret of the Centauri. Considering the advanced age of the upgraded Hyperions they had fared better than anyone in Earth Force would have guessed. At least for this battle the Hyperions had the element of surprise but next time the Centauri would adapt their tactics and things would not be so easy.

Aboard the EAS Cerberus Captain Maycols was conducting a battle strategy Earth had termed Fluid Engagement. He was about to order a concentrated effort against what he believed was now the Centauri ship commanding the battle when his tactical officer was alerted by the MCSS. “Sir we have three unknown contacts approaching in hyperspace, very fast and very power. Their energy wake is enormous and is a match for the Destroyers”. Maycols quickly decide to change tactics and disengaged the Centauri. The Centauri might run but that would mean leaving behind survivors and ships which Earth would use to embarrass them across all the known worlds.

“Commander, time until the Destroyers arrive?” Commander Johnson took a breath “best guess would be 3 minutes. Given their course and speed if they are the hostiles we believe them to be and intend to engage us as they enter normal space they should arrive at one of these two coordinates. Any place else and they would loose the element of surprise.

“Open a channel to the other ship and to the fighters.” Maycols didn’t like the unknown, if he did he would have been a explorer. He liked knowing the odds and doing his best to beat them. “All right everyone thus far we have done an excellent job and I commend each and everyone of you. But we have uninvited guest coming to the party and I don’t like party crashers. I want all the fighters to lock onto the area that tactical is downloading to your systems. You are to launch all of your remaining missiles four seconds before a jump point is anticipated to open then high tail it back to the squadron for screening operations. I want all Hyperions to fire your heavy plasma cannons at he second set of coordinates. Lets get this done people time is running out fast.”


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“They Knew! They Knew!” Lennier watched as the Shadows were still shimmering into existence when he saw the Earth fighter’s remaining 216 missiles detonate into an on coming shadow vessel completely vaporizing it in a single massive explosion. How had they known. Even the Minbari couldn’t detect Shadow vessels until they chose to appear.

The nine Hyperions had also begun pumping hundreds of compressed plasma bursts at one of the other Shadow vessels. While the first one died in a fiery death at the hands of the starfuries missiles the second of the three was badly damaged where the spines seemed to meet the main body. Its screams were felt in the minds of every living thing in this system.

The third Shadow vessel managed to avoid most of the in coming fire and struck out at the closet Hyperion bringing its shield down to forty-five percent. Surprised but undeterred it struck at the same ship again completely overwhelming its shields. The EAS Nimrod knew it was in trouble as there were overloads all over the ship and her captain ordered her retreat from battle. Unfortunately Nimrods retreat was not fast enough as the third attack by the shadow vessel sliced into the hull but never making it completely through the hull before the slicing purple beam ceased.

Once again Lennier couldn’t believe what he was witnessing. A Shadow beam could cut down any ship with a single shot but this puny Earth ship had survived not one but three shots.

Unfortunately despite the continued fire by the other eight hyperions the Nimrod was struck again and this time was followed by numerous secondary explosions until finally it went up in its own little nova.

The second damaged shadow ship managed to get a shot into one of the other Hyperions that had gotten careless thinking the ship damaged beyond usefulness. The results to the Hyperion was not severe as its shields held but to the damaged shadow vessel it was a death warrant as the other Hyperions despite trying to engage the last shadow vessel took the time to target the damaged ship with everything they had.

The second shadow vessel died with a agonizingly prolonged scream as its death was slow as compared to the death of the first one. It was literally ripped to shreds.

The final Shadow vessel seemed stunned. It just hung in space for a few seconds and then charged at the lead Hyperion. Five quick shots and a second hyperion followed the Nimord. The shadow vessel had adjusted its tactics and was keeping the lead ship between itself and the remaining Hyperions. The Earth ships were trying to keep from screening each others line of fire but the Shadow ship was just to agile. No one from Earth had ever seen anything move like that before.

Just as the Shadow vessel was about to fire on a third Hyperion a jump point opened up and out came the EAS Enchantress firing a bright yellow beam from an extended boom that emerged from the bow of the ship several hundred meters catching the Shadow vessel like vise. Almost immediately the yellow beam cut right through the bio-armor and existed out the other side. Before this massive energy beam ceased cutting through the Shadow vessel dozens of other weapons mounted across the hull of the Warlock Class Destroyer opened fire tearing the Shadow vessel to pieces. The Warlock and Hyperions continued to fire on the remains of the Shadow ships until the last remnants were vaporized.


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Every Minbari on the whitestar was speechless. The Humans had engaged the Centauri and were winning when the Shadows showed up and got their ships blown out of existence. Lennier could only think of one thing. He had to get what they had just witnessed to the Delenn and the Grey Council as soon as possible. It didn't matter what happened here next. It didn't mater if the Centauri escaped , were captured by the Humans or simply obliterated. The galaxy had just changed.

Lennier had just confirmed that the Shadows were now on the move and the Centauri were in league with the great darkness. It explained the Centauri military successes as of late.

All that paled against what he had just witnessed from the Humans. The Warrior Caste would not take this well. They still advocated the destruction of the Humans. On the positive note if the Centauri are now working for the Shadows and they just committed an act of war against the Earth Alliance then the Humans are not working for them. The fact that the Shadows attacked the Earth vessels after they began beating the Centauri fleet only confirmed his suspicions.

Perhaps some good could come from this.


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Captain Maycols breathed a sigh of relief as the battle came to an end. His tactical officer informed him the MCSS had tracked the Minbari ship of unknown design leaving the system. No doubt to report back to their leaders and eventually their Vorlon masters.

The battle was far from over. They still had Centauri to deal with and Search and Rescue operations for any possible survivors of the Nimord and Avenger.

The repercussions of this battle scared Captain Maycols to the core. The destroyers were still around. Their ships were nearly identical for the two found on Mars and Ganymede in the Sol system after the E/M war. More chilling, they were an exact match for the Destroyers from the database in the Antarctic Outpost.

Even worse they were allied with the Centauri. “Fine.” They can burn together.







TBC
In Chapter 3

Now THAT is what I'm talking about! About time the humans got some. I'm really interested in how you've tied the two (or possibly more) universes together. ::Requisitions More::

ElPintoGrande wrote:Now THAT is what I'm talking about! About time the humans got some. I'm really interested in how you've tied the two (or possibly more) universes together. ::Requisitions More::

Given what we know of the histories of SG-1 and Babylon 5 they come together to fit like a glove.

though this isnt a typical crossover.

CHAPTER 3
CONSEQUENCES
February 2281



The Grey Council stood in complete darkness as the holographic display finished its reenactment of the battle against the Humans by the Centauri and Shadows for the second time. As it ended Lennier walked in the center of the circle of nine and a bright light shined down from above. “The Rangers have had two weeks to review the events the you have just witnessed. I can tell that you already noted the gravimetric drives as well as the energy barriers protecting the Earth ships.” There were several mumbles of acknowledgement from the members of the Warrior caste which were swearing insults and making threats to no one in particular. “What I wish to point out is this.” Lennier then pressed a button on the control device in his hand and the scene where the Shadows emerged repeated itself.

“As you can see the Humans were able to detect the Shadows approaching and changed tactics to counter their arrival. How this was done is unknown and we have no theories at this time. Based on their response it appears they had at least several Earth minutes advance notice.”

No one including Delenn had noticed since the Humans continued to fire on the Centauri ships while redeploying but now that it was pointed out it was obvious as Lennier played that sequence of events again. All the members noted how the Earth ships while still engaging the Centauri took up new attack positions.

Satai Neroon was the first to ask “How? How is any of this possible? We fought the humans and they are not capable of any of the things we have witnessed here. These ships that fought against the Centauri are little more than their pathetic vessels from the war with us! I can see some modifications, primarily to the aft section, but I cannot believe what you have just shown us. It is not possible.”

“The Warrior Cast is aware of the large Earther ship that arrived towards the end of the battle. That class has been in service for many years and are quite primitive. Look at it. It is not a proper ship. I refuse to believe that such a ship is capable of striking down a shadow vessel is a single shot.”

Neroon paced for a few seconds gathering his thoughts. “Lennier are you certain that these are in fact Earther ships?” It was a valid question.

“Yes” was Lennier’s only reply.

Let us assume that as impossible as it is that you are correct. Do the Rangers have a any ideas as to how this is possible?”

Lennier had two, both spelled disaster for the Minbari. “Actually, we have come up with only two plausible explanations and I can guarantee that both will greatly upset everyone who hears it.”

Lennier paused and looked at the robed figures standing around him and then continued. “The first and best possibility is that the Humans have indeed managed to develop technology that it took the Minbari longer than a thousand years to develop and in some cases appear to surpass us.” As all the Grey began to grumble amongst themselves. It was Delenn that asked the question that Lennier had hoped someone would ask. “Why is this nightmarish theory the better of the two options?” She had a strained look that Lennier in all his years of service to Delenn had never seen.

Lennier bowed to Delenn and replied “Because if the Humans did not develop these technologies then they were given to them by another race. The only races that could have done such a thing is one of the First Ones. We know by this battle that it was not the Shadows so by a process of elimination it would have to be the Vorlons. That would imply that the Vorlons are helping the Humans to a greater degree than they have done for us. I don’t even want to consider what that implies for us a race or as allies of the Vorlons.”

Satai Shakiri was rabid with hatred “We should have eliminated those vermin long ago and yet that is no longer an option. IS IT! Minbari do not kill Minbari. Even if a Minbari soul inhabits a Human?” It was a question but it was also a statement. It was said with such disgust that Delenn could not face his fixed gaze upon her. Shakiri just let everyone know that the Warrior Caste would do what was deemed necessary. Besides he was of the belief that not all Humans had Minbari souls and that left plenty of room to teach these humans their place. He then turned to face Lennier pointing a finger at him ”With respect Lennier I believe the Rangers missed another option. The Vorlons would not betray us in the manner you suggest. Who here would face them and accuse the Vorlons of betraying their most loyal of allies?”

“I believe the more plausible answer is that we need to teach the Abbai the meaning of respect. We know the Abbai have such technologies and I believe it is time for them to share with the Minbari what they have obviously shared with the Humans.” It was clearly a challenge to the rest of the Grey Council. One that was not taken up by anyone.

The room was silent. Not the kinda of silence that is slightly awkward when one should speak but missed his que. This silence was long and dreary lasting what felt like an eternity. Shakiri was talking about starting a war with one of the most peaceful races known to the Minbari. What were the minbari becoming if they actually carry out such actions?

The Warrior Caste was not looking at the larger picture. The shadows were on the move and Satai Shakiri was in denial. Blinded by hate and prejudice and unable to act on those impulses for fear of killing one of their own. When it came to Humans all Minbari faced the same dilemma. The Humans were changing either by their own devices or with the aid of others. Lennier hoped that the Grey Council would see this as an opportunity but the initial response seem to indicate otherwise.

As the Grey Council broke into two distinct and opposing camps to discuss the ramifications of events just viewed a mentally exhausted Lennier excused himself and said he and his crew would be available to answer any further questions.


************************************


Emperor Londo Mollari was furious so much so that he had trashed his private office when the news had reached him. That traitor Refa had invaded the Earther’s space. The force he sent had not only been defeated but absolutely crushed. As if things couldn’t get worse he had called for help from his “associates” and they too were destroyed. Earth now had access to samples of Centauri advanced technology. Even worse the Earther's propaganda system, in this case known as ISN, had broadcast the entire battle to any government that was capable of receiving their transmissions.

Everyone from the Narns to the Minbari had now witnessed the defeat of a numerically superior Centauri force by a smaller primitive Earther force. Well perhaps not so primitive after all.

The League of Non-Aligned Worlds was now solidifying their resistance to Centauri incursions into their space. Incursions that Refa was also responsible for. The Minbari had sent a representative stating that since the Centauri were now “puppets” of the ancient darkness that any Centauri ship encountered by the Mimbari would be eliminated. Further the Mimbari had deployed hundreds of warships along the Centauri regions of their border. The Narn which had been teetering on surrender despite that the fact that a large percentage of their remaining fleet was protecting their last possession, their home world, was now as defiant as ever. It seems the Narn believe if the Humans could defeat the Centauri then the Narn could as well.

This madness had to stop!

As Lord Refa entered the throne room he was greeted by a somber Emperor. Refa was accompanied by the Brakiri Nidrom that was ever present. Refa knew he would have to defend the recent events but he was not concerned for his associates had insured him that all would work out.

Emperor Mollari stared at Refa for a few moments then nodded to his personal guard which fired heavy particle weapons at nothing. A few seconds later two invisible “things” appeared and then vaporized.

Nidrom had charged forward screaming “No” but was caught and restrained by several of the royal guards.

Mollari’s blood red darkened face had a look of pure vengeance as he turned to long time rival “Now that we are alone we need to talk.” As Refa began to reply Mollari cut him off. “I think you misunderstand Refa. When I say we need to talk I mean I will talk and you will listen. Yes!”

Refa said nothing but he bowed his head out of respect and fear.

“You have committed yet another treasonous act of war. This time against the Earthers and unlike the other times with the Narn and LONAW you have done so after I told you no more! This time you failed miserably and you have been caught. Your actions have embarrassed the Republic as a whole and the Emperor personally. You will not escape my judgement on this.”

Turning to the ever present yet rarely spoken Nidrom all he saw was the rage from the death of his associates. “As for you I have decided that your head will grace the royal gardens for as long as it may remain atop the pike that I have personally picked out for you. “ Londo turned to the three royal guards that were currently restraining him. “Take him away. Make sure he still has brain activity when his head is secured on the pike. I will be along shortly to inspect your expertise.”

Refa was now terrified he was certain that whatever the Emperor had in mind it would be far worse than what the condemned Nidrom just received.

Londo needed a way to calm things down. The last thing the Republic needed was a four front war. The Minbari were looking for an excuse and he was not going to give them any reason to involve themselves in Centauri affairs. “Lord Refa what ever shall I do with you? I am tempted to kill you myself but I do not believe such an action is quite fitting for the Emperor.”

“I am inclined to agree your Majesty” was Refa’s only reply.

Londo could hear the cracks in his voice. “I am feeling most generous today. As of this moment I am stripping you of all your titles and properties. Your house will be dissolved and it members will also be stripped of title and property. Their property will be transferred to House Mollari and your peoples will be sold into slavery. You on the other hand I have plans for. You will craft a personal apology to the Earther’s claiming full responsibility for the incursion into their territory. You will visit each of the League worlds and declare a cease fire. You will claim responsibility for the hostilities and announce we will withdraw from League space. Once you have done this I will decide you final fate. I suggest you excel at this assignment if you wish to live.

“What of the Narns?”

Once our flanks have been secure along the League boarder we will finish the Narn and put an end to them once and for all. Then we will deal with the Humans!”

“NOW LEAVE ME!”


************************************


President Robert Lancaster had been in office for only a short period. His last desire was to be the President who got humanity involved into another major war with an advanced race so close to the core systems. So be it.

The Centauri were not to be let off the hook with a simple “Oopps, I am so sorry. Won’t happen again.” Lancaster knew better. Their actions in JTX113 had been deliberate and calculated. It was clearly a first step. If Earth didn’t respond the Centauri would finish their more pressing business and then return in force. While the Centauri would loose such a conflict they would still be able to inflict significant damage to the Alliance border colonies. That had to be avoided. Destiny beckoned and Earth would not be distracted. What came to the President’s mind was “the best defense is a good offense.”

Plans had already been put into motion but Earth Force wanted several months to insure minimal human casualties and maximum affect. While only the upgraded Hyperions and first and second generation Warlocks would be used the message sent would be loud and clear.

Lancaster was no stranger to dealing with recalcitrant aliens. He had been a strike leader of three wings of thunderbolts during the Qo’RR conflict in 2263. Their government refused to talk attacking like wild dogs whenever they encountered an Earth ship, colony or outpost. Earth quickly decided the best way to bring someone like the Qo’RR to the negotiating table when they refused all attempts at communication was to beat them to a pulp.

Three weeks, hundreds of destroyed Qo’RR warships and 6 dead worlds later the Qo'RR found that negotiating with Humans was not such a bad alternative. Eighteen years later and the Qo’RR still adhered to the terms of the peace treaty and kept a respectful distance from the Earth Alliance colonies in the area.

The Centauri were much like the Qo’RR. They needed to understand that if you start a fight that it’s not over until it’s over. It only takes one side to start a fight but it takes both parties to agree when its over, providing there are still two sides left when the fighting is over. And you have to be prepared to loose. Not everyone was willing to turn their cheek or simply surrender. The Centauri threw the first punch and Earth Force believed that collectively the Centauri had a glass jaw. One significant military action should take care of them for the foreseeable future.

President Lancaster knew that if they used their most advanced assets that they would draw too much attention and Earth was not yet prepared for that. Earth was not looking for a war. In fact it was thought that this single military response would keep the Centauri and other younger races at bay.

Earth’s response would have to be carefully orchestrated or humanity would find itself exposed, vulnerable and at war.

The Joint Chiefs insisted on implementing the very tactics of divide and conquer used in JTX113. Captain Maycols had simply taken advantage of the existing Centauri formation. This time it would be deliberate in the hopes that when the other alien governments analyzed Earth’s tactics they would draw false conclusions. That could prove vital if the Centauri declared war on Earth.

The number of ships used in Operation ”K.O.” would make this the largest single offensive battle in Earth Force history. The sole reason for the size of the armada was if the Centauri went on the offensive, they would believe that an even larger force would be required to be successful and strip Centauri Prime to the bone to be sure of having sufficient numbers of ships. That would leave their home world practically naked. If this scenario came to pass Earth Force would “cut off the snakes head” and completely destroy Centauri Prime.

The real concern for the President and the Senate is the welfare of the close smaller colonies. Of the 145 Earth type planets officially within the alliance 97 were completely beyond the reach of or totally unknown to the Centauri thanks to the StarGate. Most of the rest now had sufficient populations and a large enough military presence to be considered reasonably safe. Seventeen agricultural colonies however were quite vulnerable. Despite their small populations (most numbering no more than 800,000) they were extremely important to the Alliance as they were part of the planetary network that made up the bread basket for Earth’s thirty-eight billion very young souls. Keeping those planets safe would be a major effort without giving away their true importance. If the Centauri discovered their importance they could cause a great deal of damage to the economy which included severe food shortages. Having the other more densely and better defended agro-planets increase food production would take time, perhaps several local planetary seasons. Not to mention the ensuing transportation problems until adjustments could be made.

The biggest unknown was since the Centauri had allied themselves with the Shadows, how would they react. Every intelligence asset Earth had indicated that the shadows were still not acting openly. If Maycol’s task force would have been destroyed the Shadow view was that no one would be the wiser.

The President and Joint Chiefs were gambling that the Shadows weren’t ready and with the Centauri out of the picture they would have to regroup before they came out in the open.

Decades of advancement and preparation were about to be vindicated. Earth’s response would be swift, surgical, effective and as subtle as smashing an egg with a twenty pound sledge hammer.


************************************


Space around the Narn home system was getting crowded. The remnants of the Narn fleet had raced to return and protect their home world. The Narn fleet now consisted of 145 G’Quan Heavy Cruisers, 344 Th’Nor Class Cruisers and several thousand Frazi Heavy Fighters.

Three months had passed since the Humans broadcast the defeat of the Centauri Fleet that violated their space. In that span the Centauri had apologized to the Humans, enacted a cease fire with most of the LONAW and had substantially increased its invasion fleet within the Narn System itself.

The fleet arrayed against the remaining Narn forces was massive. The Centauri already had in the outer system 1,800 Vorchans, 500 Primas, several hundred troop ships as well as over a thousand military and civilian cargo ships filled with supplies the Centauri would need for the occupation. Convoys of supply ships were constantly entering and existing the system. The final days of freedom for Narn had arrived.

Every Narn able to pick up a weapon was training for when the Centauri troops landed. Those who were physically unable to fight were working double shifts to continue production of military hardware for the coming battle.

The Centauri were prepared. Thousands of Centauri warships filled the outer reaches of the Narn’s home system. They were going to take the planet and teach the Narn who their masters were once and for all. Taking the planet wouldn’t be the hard part. Holding it by force of arms would be easy. Teaching the Narn their place, that would be the hard part. Better to kill them all and be done with them.


************************************


G’Kar was deep underground as he watched the Centauri fleet begin to move towards the inner system. He had wanted to join his brothers in space to fight off the Centauri. As a senior member of the Kah’ri he was ordered by the military to remain on Narn while the battle in orbit took place. He would have plenty of opportunity to combat the Centauri once they landed.

G’Kar watched as the Narn Fleet adjusted itself as the Centauri fleet approached. They were still several hours from the home world and the wait was agonizing. Suddenly G’Kar was stunned at what his monitors were showing.

Hundreds jump points opened simultaneously between the closing Centauri fleet and the defending Narn Fleet. Another set of jump points opened above the Solar plane and before the first ships existed the jump points hundreds of bright yellow energy beams impacted against the top of the Primas Battle Cruisers. Each yellow beam impacted on the thin armor of the Centauri battle cruisers and sliced right through the ship. Each Primas was targeted in the area that housed their main reactors and the results were spectacular. For each shot fired one Primas died. As the energy beams continued G’Kar began to see ships. Human ships. Hundreds of very large humans ships.

At the same time a fleet of Hyperion heavy class cruisers existed hyperspace surrounded by a swarm of thousands of fighter craft. The fighters instantly broke away from their mother ships heading towards the outer system while the hyperions headed straight for the Centauri fleet of Vorchans that was moving in system towards Narn.

“G’Dynn get me numbers and classes on those ships and try to establish communications with the Humans.” G’Kar was literally hopping from one foot to the other. He was acting like a man whos feet had been jolted by an electrical shock.

“Sir there are approximately 300 Warlock Class Destroyers and 900 Hyperion Heavy Cruisers with over 5,000 fighters”. G’Kar just watched as the first shots fired by the Human Warlocks destroyed everything they touched. In this case 300 Primas Battle Cruisers. At the same time as the Warlocks primary weapons were striking their targets the numerous weapon turrets they mounted opened fire on the remaining Primas. The Primas returned fire with every available ion cannon but each impact on the human ships was intercepted with the bright blue glow of an energy barrier.

The Vorchans too were firing every weapon they could at the Humans weapons lock or not. The Hyperions merely shrugged of the attempts.

“We are receiving an incoming transmission from the Humans.” a technician stated and then the air was filled with a Human voice and the screens lit up showing the Human’s face. “This is Admiral Susan Ivonava of the Earth Alliance to all Narn Forces. This is not your time and not your fight. If you enter into this skirmish your ships will be fired upon and destroyed. This is your only warning. We will be gone shortly. Conserve your force and Do Not engage the Centauri. When we leave you will allow any Centauri ships capable of entering hyperspace to leave unmolested. You are of course welcome to any and all wreckage in this system once we are gone. Ivanova out.”

Everyone in the command bunker watched as the last Primas died. The Warlocks then opened hundreds of jump points and left the system before even crossing the plane of the main body of the Vorchan formation leaving 900 Hyperions to face off against 1800 Vorchans. Time since the Humans enter the system was one minute and nine seconds.

The 5,400 fighters pre-launched in hyperspace had already broke off from the hyperions and headed for the Centauri troop transports and cargo ships with remarkable speed. The Vorchans were forced to split their forces in half which meant that the odds against the hyperions were now basically one to one.

G’Kar was mesmerized. The Vorchans chasing the Earth fighters were rapidly loosing ground and despite the fact that the Vorchans were constantly firing their ion cannons the Earth fighters had quickly moved beyond their range. And the gap was widening. The now fleeing transports were to slow to escape the fighters wrath. None of the support ships could open a jump point to hyperspace. As one the 5,400 Thunderbolts launched all of their missiles. The space between the transports and the cargo ships filled with 54,000 long range nuclear missiles aimed at 450 lumbering troop transports and 1,219 cargo ships. It was a sight never seen by any race from any time. The huge explosions as the missiles detonated melted into one another and then seemed to just keep expanding like a growing monster of fire consuming everything it touched.

Each one of those troop transports carried 10,000 Centauri troops along with their equipment. In the blink of an eye the Centauri had lost at least 4,500,000 ground troops not including as many as 750,000 from crews of those ships and the Primas Cruisers. If the Narn Intelligence Service was correct that constituted over eighty-five percent of the Centauri Republic’s available ground force.

The instant the missile attack had been launched the fighters turned as one 90 degrees making a wide lazy arc under the solar plane back towards the Hyperions.

The instant the fighters missiles were launched 300 jump points formed and again bright yellow beams of energy leapt out of the jump points destroying everything they touched. The Warlocks returned to the battle field several hundred kilometers directly behind the Vorchans in pursuit of the Human fighters which were caught completely off guard. Every weapon system on the Warlocks including missiles opened up simultaneously on the remaining Vorchans and were blown away in the span of seconds. For the Human ships it was considered point blank range unlike the initial assault against the Primas Battle Cruisers and the result was completely devastating.

As the Warlocks exited hyperspace they were accompanied by their own compliment of 12,600 Thunderbolt Star Furies launched in hyperspace. The Human fighters broke from the destroyers and headed for the 900 Vorchans currently in a long range duel while closing in to intercept the Hyperions.

Trapped between the newly arrived fighters and the Hyperions the Vorchans began to take evasive maneuvers. Unfortunately the first Vorchans to “Bug Out” did so in a panic and caused the entire Centauri formation to turn into a huge cluster fuck. It also had the affect of reducing their return fire by sixty-seven percent. The Vorchans toward the center of the formation were trapped while the ones at the edge were unsure which avenue would lead to salvation.

With the Hyperions facing them, over 12,000 fighters armed with deadly long range nuclear missiles, the 5,400 fighters returning from their raid on the now destroyed transports and cargo ships plus the very deadly 300 Warlocks moving in from behind, the remaining Centauri forces broke in every direction seeking to save themselves.

Several Vorchans attempted to open jump points to make their escape. The result was uncoordinated vortexes opening right on top of their fellow ships.

As Vorchans existed the main body of their attack force they were picked off by a few bright yellow energy beams of the Warlocks at long range that had already decimated the other half the entire Vorchan force.

The Vorchans died in a fiery death as the 12,600 Thunderbolts launched all their missile. The Hyperions were flooding the area with their various energy based weapons systems and anti-ship missiles adding to the destruction. The entire battle lasted less than eight Earth minutes. The fire power used against the Centauri forces was complete overkill. G’Kar had realized the Humans were sending a message and not just to the Centauri but to all the known races.

One of the communications techs stated the Humans are on the comm channels again. G’Kar looked at the technician with minor annoyance “well, put it through!”

“This is Admiral Susan Ivanova to any survivors of the great and mighty Centauri Republic. On behalf of the President of the Earth Alliance and its citizens we have a message for your Emperor. The Earth Alliance NOW accepts your apology for attacking our territory without provocation. Unless you would like us to “accept” your next apology in person never violate our space again!” With that the transmission was cut.

Twenty minutes later the fighters returned to their mother ships and jump points began opening throughout the system. It was over and Narn still lived. The system was littered with wreckage, Centauri wreckage and to G’Kars way of thinking it was as beautiful as any work of art he had ever seen.

The entire underground command bunker was silent. The only sounds coming from the consoles of various equipment. The silence was broken by the sound of laughter. A gut wrenching laughter as G’kar was barley able to stand, tears running down his face as be leaned against a plotting table to prevent himself from falling to floor.

All eyes were on G’Kar but he didn’t care as he continued to laugh harder and louder. He didn’t care and before his senses registered it others in the control room soon joined in his laughter.



************************************



They had arrived in hyperspace around the Narn system several days before the destruction of the Centauri forces.

They had watched and they had recorded.

They lay hidden several light minutes off the hyperspace beacons used by so many races and were well concealed from prying eyes.

They had remained for an additional thirty-six hours after the destruction of the Centauri forces and now they were leaving.

They were the 2,100 Victory Class BattleShips and 6,500 Hyperion MkIII Super Cruisers of Earth Force’s 8th Fleet to keep an a watchful eye on Admiral Ivanova’s attack group to insure that no one attempted to cast a shadow on her parade.

They were needed elsewhere.







TBC
In Chapter 4

Nice, a massive warlike Earth Alliance, Too bad the dilgar war still dead here in this bab5 AU as well.

Hooah! I'll have to agree with the Narn assesment of the battle... Complete and utter overkill. Beautiful.

I saw the more advanced version of this story at Spacebattles, hopefully you can bring this one up to that point.

It is my intention to post a new chapter every Sunday night/Monday morning until the story is brought up to speed. Since there are only 13 chapters thus far it shouldn't take that long to catch up.

Complete overkill indeed: The Shep would be pleased.

CHAPTER 4
FLIGHT OF THE NECROMANCER
April 2281



Captain David Martel was on the bridge of the EAS Necromancer going over ship status reports. In the days following their victorious encounter with the Centauri during the battle at Narn the adrenalin high throughout the ship had subsided and was replaced by boredom and something else.

All was not well aboard the EAS Necromancer and from the communiques they had received the problem was not confined to his ship.

Earth Force had planned and implemented the attack in the Narn system to grab the attention of the Centauri in the hopes of scaring them off long enough for Earth to “fix” herself.

Initial intelligence reports were that it worked.

It had worked too well.

The battle had saved the Narn’s home world and in the short term was considered a bonus. The Narns would regroup and return to bite the Centauri in the ass. In the long term it mattered little to Earth..

The battle had also put every alien government on notice that if you crossed Earth we had the ability and the will to make you pay dearly.

Despite Earth Force’s military success the battle had created a crises that was not expected. The service members who took part in the battle were revolted by the casual slaughter of over 5,000,000 Centauri. In the span of less than an hour they had taken more Centauri lives than the Minbari had Humans lives during the entire E/M War. The numbers weren’t even close.

The question running rampant throughout his crew was “what did that make them?”

While no one was questioning their duty or the reason for the attack many were questioning their humanity. They had attacked and killed millions at an ridiculous rate. In the grand scheme of things it was a strategically defensive move yet the individuals responsible for the actual deaths had a hard time feeling “good” about their actions. According to computer records there was an alarming number of queries into the procedures for resigning ones commission.

What the EAS Necromancer needed was something useful and positive to do. While the Series 2 Warlocks had headed to refit yards at Proxima 3 and Tau Ceti the Series 1 Warlocks were sent out on light duty.

They would not be upgraded any further. They were too outdated. It would be cheaper and quicker to simply build a new Warlock than upgrade the Series 1 to spec.

After a quick stop over to resupply the light duty they received was the patrol of the Markab System. It was better than augmenting the colony ships when colonist out stripped berths on the massive vessels. He hated transporting colonist. At any rate they would be on station for only 45 days. After that they were to head to Earth for the standard pomp and circumstance along with some well earned shore leave.

The Markab had been extinct since 2259 as a result of a plague. Since then the system had become a hotbed of illegal activity. The powers that be felt it would be safe enough yet provide just enough action to keep their thoughts focused.

The minute the EAS Necromancer jumped in system every pirate ship and low life either hightailed it out of the system as fast as possible or hunkered down and went dark in the hopes of being unnoticed. Not that any of that mattered. His orders were not to interfere with any activities that didn’t directly endanger his ship or crew. They were there only to show that they were there (damn politics).

Eight days in system and there was no action, nothing. David wished for something to get the juices flowing. He wasn’t too picky anything would be fine. Perhaps a search and rescue mission or a humanitarian relief operation or a first contact with a peaceful race. Anything as long as it wasn’t dangerous. For he too had his full measure of “action” lately.


************************************


Jennifer Singh had spent a lot of time in her quarters over the last several days. As a strong P-12 telepath she was having a hard time keeping the sour mood of the crew from bleeding into the edges of her mind.

Captain Martel had completely understood but she could not help feel she had somehow let him down. He was her Captain and friend. Since the bonding ceremony over fifteen years ago they were practically inseparable.

She too shared the Captain’s, and most of the crew for that matter, view on the Battle of Narn. They had done what was needed but she couldn’t help but feel a piece of her soul had been stained in the process.

The worst part was it stirred memories and feelings she had fought hard to come to terms with. Feelings that she thought she had dealt with but clearly had not.

When Jennifer was a little girl, eleven to be exact, she snuck out of her house in the suburbs of New Delhi to watch the fireworks in the night sky. Her mother had demanded she to stay iin her room and be good. She had went out her bedroom window while her mom was glued to ISN on the vid display. That of course was where she had learned that there were fireworks outside.

She stood there gazing up at the night sky with wonder in her eyes as the sky lit up with various different colors. So many lights so bright in the sky. She was really excited until her mother had ran out of the house and grabbed her like she was about to fly away.

Jennifer knew she was in trouble but it had been worth it. Until she looked at her mother. Instead of getting “that look” that said you are in so much trouble young lady. She saw pain in her mothers eyes along with tears. Her mother was crying and shaking like a leaf.

Jennifer had forgotten about the lights in the sky. Her mother had never acted that way. She was now terrified because her mother was.
Then the lights stopped.

It wasn’t until three days later that Jennifer was told her father and two older brothers were not coming home. She also found out her favorite older cousin was dead as well. She didn’t understand. But she would.

The Minbari had killed them and she had stood there looking up enjoying the death of her family. On that day she experienced a hate so powerful it nearly consumed her young mind. She was far from alone.

She had never really recovered from the guilt of that night when Psi-Corp came for her a little over a year later. She had demonstrated some unusual abilities and she was literally pulled away from her only family. Her mother.

For the next year and a half all she heard was “The Corp is Mother, The Corp is Father.” Her father was dead and she was taken from her mother. She wasn’t buying it.

The came the reforms. She didn't understand them, she was only thirteen but they had changed everything. What she understood was that she was returned to her mother with a caretaker to teach her how to control her abilities so she wouldn’t hurt anyone. She was never happier. Two years later she went back to the Corp as a volunteer for advance training with her mother at her side. The Corp employed her mother in one of the many offices and provided them with free housing, medical and a whole host of extras.

Instead of the Corp being Mother and Father the Corp was now more like a nanny/tutor that helped develop ones abilities to their fullest while integrating them into society.

At twenty-nine she volunteered to serve in Earth Force as a civilian telepath. She had no desire to actually bear the burden of command nor did she desire to be just another officer or worse yet, a Ground Pounder (GroPo). So she volunteered for the Symbiosis Project. She knew it sounded ominous but in fact was quite a coup for improved Earth Force capabilities.

The Symbiosis Project was a volunteer program to pair Earth Force officers with telepaths that would serve as an edge once they had earned a command of their own. Only the most promising officers were considered. It was a life long commitment.

The paring was quite simple. A long list of telepaths and long list of Earth Force officers.

Each Normal and Telepath was asked to review the files of potential candidates and then choose from most wanted pairing to least. The criteria was based on every aspect of the person to be considered. Rarely were the names at the tops of the lists identical but when the then current lists of both sides were compared she and David Martel were at the top of each others list.

Initially, for Psi-Corp it meant having their people in places of power which was at one point important for them. Not that any of that mattered now.

It Earth Force gave abilities never imagined.

With the Genesis Project came the introduction of genetic screening and enhancement in 2253. Today nearly ten percent of the children born have some form of Psi ability and those levels were steadily climbing.

While most barely rated as P-3’s a small but growing number were very high P-12’s. High enough in fact that there was talk of revising the Psi Scale.

Four years before David had earned his command of the EAS Necromancer they had been paired. It was a little difficult at first but they soon became friends and then trusted colleagues. Before they realized it they had also become lovers. While they were no longer intimately involved she still loved him. The problem was while he loved her he was not in love with her. His heart belonged to the Necromancer. Being a telepath she knew this before David did. Over the years their relationships matured and is considered the epitome of what the Symbiosis Project was designed to accomplish.

Jennifer Singh shot out of her bed. “What was that?” she asked herself. She slowly opened her mind and...”Oh Shit!”

Mentally she contacted the other telepaths ordering them to combat stations. She then activated her link to the Captain explaining they were not alone and he should quietly get the crew to battle stations. She advised he should hold off taking any actions that would give away the fact that they knew they were being watched until the telepaths were ready to assist.


************************************


Its orders were clear. Its masters wanted answers about the Vorlon pets gone astray. If the Vorlons could not control what they claimed as theirs then its masters would. It visited many places seeking just the right opportunity and the right type of target.

A single desirable target vessel had been found alone far from it place of strength. It had already called for backup because its masters had said they were a danger to it.

It was now accompanied by three others of its kind. They would kill their prey yet take care to preserve its hulk for its masters.

Together they would not fail.


************************************


As Jennifer Singh entered the bridge Captain Martel never turned to acknowledge her presence but mentally they had already exchanged every piece of information available to each other.

“Tactical, are sensors picking up anything unusual?” He knew the answer would be no but he had held out a ray of hope.

“No Sir, were are clear on all scans,” came the replay from the sensor station.

The decision made he ordered the EAS Necromancer to alter course and head for the jump gate.

Commander Hauser approached and quietly spoke “what’s up skipper” We aren’t turning tail are we?”

Martel looked at his first officer. He was one of the exceptions to the general feeling among the crew. In fact his XO reveled at the sheer destruction that they had participated in at Narn.

“Your damn right, we run and keep running until every telepath on this ship says otherwise. Don’t give me that look they are here for a reason. Before this is over I really hope you don’t find out what that reason is.”

As the EAS Necromancer realigned its vector for the jump gate sensors began to pick disturbances which were instantly identified as four Destroyer vessels. The really big ones.

“Now that’s what I call trouble, Helm make sure we are on a straight line for the gate, I want the jump engines on-line and begin charging the main cannon.” Activity around the bridge went from subdued to controlled frenzy.

Jennifer walked up to Captain Martel and looked right at him “Are you nuts?” she asked. He may be a tactical genius but there were times she would swear he was insane.

“If we stay in normal space they will over power us. So we run. At least in hyperspace we have other options.”

She new his argument for she had heard it in his mind as he thought of his options. And though he was brilliant that didn't mean she was at all comfortable with his final decision.

As they got into visual range of the gate there was a shadow vessel sitting directly in front of it daring them to approach.

“I want maximum burn, redline the engines but what ever happens don’t deviate for this course and don't slow down. How long until we can divert power to the shields?”

Earth Force had developed a rather simple strategy for fighting in space. There were basically three options or combinations of the three.

Run, Fight or Hide.

He could not successfully engage four Destroyers at once, hell he would have run with just one. They were far to maneuverable for his ship. A Warlock was designed to be tough and fast. It could outrun anything the younger races had but it turned like a ship in concrete. It was a very serious design flaw. One not corrected even in the Series 7 Warlocks.

Trying to hide was pointless. There was no place to hide and if they tried to activate the stealth mode generators the Destroyers would wait them out and call for reinforcements. Again they would die.

The problem still remained. Unless they could get to hyperspace they were outnumbered, outgunned and trapped in system. They would receive no help in time while the enemy could already have reinforcements on the way.

The EAS Necromancer picked up speed it made an unwavering beeline for the gate. The other three Destroyers which were spread out with the intention of initially surrounding them had taken up pursuit courses.

“On my mark activate the jump gate” the seconds ticked on as David sat in his chair silently trying to cover his fear from the rest of the crew. Jennifer was there mentally supporting him.

“Activate the gate” Martel ordered.

“Sir, the first ship has taken a position directly between the struts approximately 5000 meters from the entrance.” the sensor tech informed

“Excellent. Bring the main cannon on-line but don’t activate targeting scanners” He looked over to Commander Hauser “this is your chance James, I want a manual lock, no gadgets to give us away. Its a straight shot. Go kill us a Destroyer!”

“Sir” a voice was calling out “the three other are closing on us.” Intercept time 197 seconds” with that several monitors began a countdown.
The Destroyer in front of the jump gate had begun to fire purple slicing beams at the forward shields which were now down to eighty percent and falling.

Martel walked over to Hauser placing his hands on his shoulder “Hold your fire...hoold......hooold................hoooold...................FIRE!”

With that the intensely bright particle beam leapt from the boom that housed the barrel of the particle cannon and the Destroyer was holed by the yellow beam which continued on through the vortex into hyperspace.

“Lets just hope there is no welcoming party on the other side. Now get a weapons lock on that thing and rip it to shreds and do it fast. Anyone who hits the struts of the gate is fired, understood.” Even now David’s sense of humor was intact. Looking at the clock counting down they had less than a minute before they were toast.

As the EAS Necromancer cleared the debris of the first Destroyer they were traveling in excess of 60 PSL. No on had ever been known to enter hyperspace through a jump gate at such speeds. If they hit the struts it was game over.

Lt Cmdr Chen shouted out “Entering the gate in three, two, one” and before anything else could be said they were in hyperspace as they shot through the jump gate like a bullet.

Captain Martel gave the most insane order anyone had ever heard. “Activate the jump engines and open a jump point in the jump gate before it closes.”

Hauser didn't hesitate and the results were devastating. For the Destroyers. One had attempted to follow the EAS Necromancer right through the jump gate and was vaporized in the ensuing explosion.

During the E/M war the same tactic was considered as a weapon to be used against the Minbari. The problem was that no ship could outrun the blast and was in turned also destroyed. It was known as the “Bone Head Maneuver.”

What made this time different was the fact that they were already traveling at an incredible speed and while once in hyperspace that end of the explosion would be greater than in normal space there speed was just enough.

Another voice called out “Sir there are two destroyers still in pursuit but are now only thirty-seven seconds before they can intercept us.”

Captain Martel looked at James and then at Jennifer “And then there were two.” The look on there faces was priceless. Even Jennifer had not expected that, well good. It was nice to know he could still surprise her.

They were in real trouble. It would normally take several minutes to recharge the main cannon but the engines were running at full power and with the shields up it would takes almost twenty minutes to get a full charge. To fire before then would let the enemy know something had changed. That was unacceptable.

“Sir the Destroyers a closing at a much slower rate but they are still gaining”

Without tuning Martel asked Jennifer “Is there anything you can do?

When she did not answer he turned and saw sweat starting to appear on her upper lip and forehead. She was the only reason they were so far back. Without her and the other telepaths this would already be over.

“Shut down life support and all non-military power drains and get my cannon back on line. Jenn can you hold out?”

She didn’t answer but sent him his answer telepathically “with only two she would try”. The other telepaths were not nearly as strong as she was and were under severe stress.

“Captain to Med lab One get medical teams to the telepaths current locations they are going to need you soon. Captain out.”

Hauser came up to Miss Singh. She was starting to look bad. “Sir the main cannon should be on-line by the time to you let us know what the plan is.”

As the EAS Necromancer sped deeper and deeper into hyperspace she performed a 180 degree vertical flip and as its bow started it downward arch the main cannon fired at the closest Destroyer clipping the spines on its left side. While the enemy wasn’t destroyed to did however break off pursuit and quickly fell far behind the fleeing humans. The EAS Necromancer continued it’s flip in one flowing motion until it was back to its original orientation.

The remaining Destroyer began to open fire but with each shot it began to fall behind. Forty-five seconds without any retaliation and it was again closing in. It appears they had limitations as well.

It was an unorthodox maneuver. One that would have been impossible with the older ion drives but was well within any modern ships capability. Martel wondered if he was the first to ever try it.

“And then there was one” that coming from the one of the enlisted. David could not help but smile.

“Shit, Shit, Shit.” Hauser was really pissed. “Sir that maneuver cost us some time.

“Captain” came a voice from Lieutenant Ross at navigation “we are one minute from leaving the beacon system.”

Now that was a problem. Without the advance sensors the Victory's used the EAS Necromancer had the same limitations as everyone else. They had one minute to get that Destroyer off his ass or they would be “lost” in hyperspace.

“Noted, Keep us on course. Don't let a little thing like the lack of beacons worry you. We got bigger problems.”

“Take the main cannon off line, it won’t do us any good in the time we have left and begin dispersion fire from all aft batteries. I know it won’t kill that bastard but maybe it will slow it down and give us some breathing room.”

Jennifer was now beginning to turn white. Considering her Indian background that meant she was in serious trouble both mentally and physically. David nudged her over to his command chair and forced her to sit. “David you need to hurry, whatever you do, do it now!” The pain on her face was clear.

“Commander, I have an idea. At the speeds we are traveling and with the gravitational eddies we aren't going to hit anything with our pulsed weapons at least not at this distance.”

Hauser looked at his Captain and shook his head “Please tell me you are going to purposely let that death machine close in on us?”

Martel laughed “Whats the matter I thought you liked a good fight?”

“Please, think of something else skipper!”

David was enjoying this new found attitude in his XO “Actually I have. I was thinking we would repeat out last stunt. Only this time we magnum launch our missiles and then once they are away blow the pods and let then slam into whatever is directly behind us. Hopefully they will hit that thing if it survives the barrage.”

Hauser was stunned. Sure the missile pods were modular. It made for rapid rearming. Instead of taking the time to reload the silos you simply replaced the pods. There were even emergency charges incase there was an “incident” with the missiles. But to blow the struts to use as a weapon was insane.”

“Sir....” Martel cut him off. “The decision is made and look at the readouts the engines are not going to last more than fifteen minutes at this speed and I for one am not going to wait. Lord knows where we will be if do. And quite frankly I have had more than had enough.”

David turned to the main engineering console and looked over the readouts “James we are in trouble even if we finish that thing off so the sooner the better.”

“Computer activate self=destruct sequence. Three second countdown commence standard activation based SDC-3 sequence with the life signs of the Captain, XO, Chief Engineer and Chief Medical Officer or on verbal authorization from myself, Miss Jennifer Singh or Commander James Hauser.
The computers chimed in a monitone voice confirming the self-destruct parameters.

“Hey boss, whatcha doing?” it was a very concerned XO this time.

“Just in case. We are running out of time and options. I don’t intend to give them their prize if we fail.”

Twenty seconds later the EAS Necromancer began another 180 degree flip and the Shadow vessel changed its vector slightly to avoid the main weapon.

As one the two weapons pods omega launched all twenty four of its heavy missiles and its thirty-six smaller missiles.

The smaller missiles were a misnomer for each one carried a 1GT anti capital ship warhead. The larger missiles carried warheads known as planet busters. The 12Gt warheads were designed for taking out planetary fortresses and primary military targets such as space stations.

Usually the warheads carried by the EAS Necromancer were capped at 1GT but with the quick refit the new pods she received were intended the more modern Warlock series. There simply weren’t any older pods at the supple station.

The results of the explosions were amplified by hyperspace and a massive shock wave was approaching even as the charges activated by the engineering crews blew the missile pods from their housings.

When all was said and done the Destroyer was no where to be found.

“Helm reduce speed to 10 PSL Ok people its time to choose. Hang out in hyperspace and drift further into the abyss or open a jump point and take our chances.” It wasn’t a question. It was the Captains way of telling his people they were going to do something really stupid. They didn’t have a choice.

The jump engines would be on-line in few minutes and David was feeling much better. They had just beaten some very big odds. Now they faced even bigger odds, getting home.

As they entered normal space a purple beam lanced out at the long boom extending from the bow of the EAS Necromancer cutting it clean off.

“SHIELDS NOW!” David was shouting. As the shields activated his ship began to shake wildly as repeated beams tore into his shields. “All power to the shields.

All he heard was voice in the background “shields down to sixty-one percent, forty-eight, Twenty-One....”

“Computer Masada. I repeat Masada”

The last thougth to run through Martel’s mind was HOW?

Three seconds later the EAS Necromancer became a nova as the six enhanced QFR’s overloaded and the safeties disengaged. The resulting explosion vaporized three of the closets Shadow vessels, out right destroyed five more while the two that were farthest from to the explosion survived to die a slow death.






TBC
In Chapter 5

That was very good...

Come on..chapter five!!

Ok,

Where is the next chapter... were dying here...