The search for Deveraux had proved fruitless. He could be found nowhere aboard the station. So Garibaldi decided to try another lead. He stood on the cargo bay searching through some packing crates when Burton entered.
“You wanted to see me Chief?”
“Yeah, any word about our missing person?”
“We can’t find him anywhere. It’s like he just vanished!”
Burton looked down at Garibaldi as he searched through the crates.
“What are you doing Chief?”
“This cargo belongs to Deveraux. It was meant to go out on a freighter yesterday but it had engine trouble. I was hoping I’d be able to get some lead from here. They say you can always tell what a man is like by his luggage.”
Garibaldi continued to search through the crates, taking out several small packages.
“What does the manifest say these things are?”
Burton looked down at the records.
“Medical supplies.” he replied.
Garibaldi took one of the small packages and opened it. He took out a small box covered in something that looked like clear plastic. Inside circuits could be seen.
“Medical supplies huh?” he said, examining the object. “Looks like some sort of jamming device.”
He began to take a closer look at the object.
“There’s some numbers on the side here. I can just make them out. One-oh-one-oh-one-oh-five. That’s the gold channel for Starfleet One. Who would want to jam their transmissions?”
Meanwhile, Burton opened another of the packages. This one was slightly larger than the one Garibaldi had opened. Opening the box he took out a circular device which seemed to have some sort of aerial in it.
“What’s this?” he said.
“Looks like some sort of triangulation system.”
“There’s some numbers on the side here. Can’t make them out though.”
Garibaldi took the device and examined it.
“It’s set to detonate from a distance. These numbers are the coordinates.”
He began to look more closely.
“Oh-oh-one-five-nine. That would put it just off the jump-point near Io.”
His mind began to work overtime. Then it suddenly hit him like a ton of bricks.
“Oh my god! It can’t be!”
He quickly activated his communicator.
“Garibaldi to Sheridan! We’ve got a problem!”
“What is it Chief?”
“Not over the line Captain. Meet me in my quarters, ultraviolet priority!”
“Understood. Sheridan out.”
Garibaldi then turned to Burton.
“Stay here. Keep an eye on this cargo!”
He then raced off into the distance. Once he was out of sight Burton activated his communicator.
“This is Burton. He has found out.”
Garibaldi had only gone down two corridors before someone stopped him - Deveraux.
“I tried to warn you Mister Garibaldi.” he said. “You don’t know what you’re getting into. You’re in too deep!”
Suddenly Deveraux’s men appeared behind him. Each were carrying phasers. Garibaldi went for his phaser but it was too late. Suddenly a blast ripped into him - from behind. There was nothing he could do. He slumped to the ground and rolled over to his back. It was then he saw the man who had shot him. It was Burton. The next thing he felt was dizziness. He looked down at the gaping wound caused by the phaser blast. He then lost consciousness.
Sheridan had gone to Garibaldi’s quarters, but there was no sign of him. He had spent the past half hour or so looking for the security chief but he continued to draw a blank. Then he went back to his own quarters in the hope that Garibaldi would have turned up there. Again, a blank. After getting a glass of water Sheridan was about to leave his quarters when his door buzzer went. Sheridan gave the enter command and was about to chastise Garibaldi when he saw it was Ambassador Kosh.
“My apologies Ambassador.” said Sheridan. “I thought you were Mister Garibaldi.”
Sheridan appeared uneasy before Kosh. He had never seen a Vorlon without an encounter suit before. Neither had anyone else. He did not like the mystery that surrounded the Vorlon race.
“I came here to discuss something with you Captain.” said Kosh. “To discuss something that may affect humanity.”
Sheridan appeared uneasy. He didn’t have the time for all of this Vorlon claptrap, but he knew he couldn’t say that to Kosh’s face, if he had a face that is.
“Please, Ambassador, excuse me. I have a major problem at the moment. Mister Garibaldi has gone missing. Nobody can find him.”
Kosh bowed his head.
“I understand Captain. Please excuse me.”
Sheridan then left Kosh alone. The Vorlon could tell something major was about to happen.
For what seemed like hours Garibaldi had crawled along the corridor, one hand clutching his wound, the other dragging him along the floor. Each movement was more painful than the last, but he knew he had to get to the life. He had to tell Sheridan the information. Then, through hazy eyes, he saw the doors to the turbo-lift. With one final painful pull he crawled into the lift. The door closed behind him. He was on his way.
G’Kar sat in his quarters, exhausted, slumped over the table, sleeping. He did not notice the door open, and Na’Toth entering.
“Ambassador G’Kar?” she said in a quiet voice.
There was no movement from G’Kar. Then Na’Toth gave him a gentle prod. He began to wake up. Yawning, he began to rub the sleep from his eyes.”
“What is it Na’Toth? I’m very tired.”
“I’m afraid I have some bad news Ambassador. We’ve just received a report from Quadrant Thirty-Seven. The military outpost has been destroyed. The outpost, three heavy cruisers and five fighter squadrons have all been destroyed!”
A look of horror appeared on G’Kar’s face. He could not believe his ears.
“There were over ten thousand warriors there! Are all of them dead?”
“I’m afraid so Ambassador. They received a distress signal on the Homeworld, but when a ship arrived they found nothing. Everything had been destroyed!”
G’Kar bowed his head low.
“Leave me Na’Toth. I wish to be alone.”
Na’Toth did as she was asked. Never before had G’Kar felt such sorrow.
In one of the many bars on Babylon 5 a birthday was being celebrated. Everyone was enjoying themselves. Nobody noticed the life arrive from the cargo bay area. They did notice it’s occupant however. From out of the lift Garibaldi staggered, still holding his wound. He only walked a few steps before he fell to the ground once more.
Garibaldi was quickly taken to MedLab where Doctor Franklin and an emergency team quickly went to work. Sheridan watched from afar as they tried to stop bleeding and regulate his heartbeat. An oxygen mask was placed over his nose and mouth but Garibaldi soon ripped it off. He then motioned for Sheridan to walk over. Once he was near Garibaldi grabbed him by his lapels.
“You have…to stop them!”
“Who Michael?”
“They’re going to…kill him! They’re going to kill the President near Io!”
Garibaldi said no more. He slipped into unconsciousness. Franklin pushed Sheridan out of the way as he went to work. Garibaldi was wheeled away into the operating room. Sheridan then activated his communicator.
“Sheridan to Ivanova. Get me Starfleet One now!”
He then raced away in the direction of the Operations room.
President James Watt arrived on the bridge of Starfleet One as they neared the Jupiter station. Captain Johnson looked around as he saw the President enter.
“Everything is read for your speech Mister President.” Johnson reported.
“Thank you Captain.”
Then Johnson noticed a light flashing on the panel on the arm of his chair.
“Strange. Environmental controls are failing.”
Suddenly the lights went dim, and it started to get very hot. Then some sort of gas began to seep in through the air vents. Before the crew could do anything they felt dizzy and were soon unconscious. Everyone, including President Watt, was out like a light. The computer voice then began to speak.
“Authorization code acknowledged. Ship going to automatic control.”
Starfleet One then continued on it’s way to Io.
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