Servalan sat rather smugly in the office which had formerly been occupied by James Watt the Elder. She surveyed the décor with some distaste. Old pictures of aircraft and spacecraft which Watt had flown lined the walls. The office was dominated by an oil painting of Babylon 5. Against the opposite wall in a glass case was Watt’s old Anglo-Force costume. A sneer passed across Servalan’s face…Anglo-Force, a concept, in her view, outdated even in the barbaric times which were the Twenty-First century.
Sleer entered. Servalan whirled around to greet him.
“It’s no good Sleer.” she said. “This entire office will have to be redecorated. I have seen space precincts decorated with more taste.”
Sleer smiled at the joke.
“Madame President, I have serious news for you. The U.S.S. Flying Scotsman has been detected heading for Sector 001.”
Once more Servalan smiled.
“Magus is even more old fashioned than Watt was. Have Commander Travis intercept him. Do we have any starships in the area?”
“Only the Enterprise at present.” replied Sleer.
“Then contact Captain Picard and have him rendezvous with Travis. I would like someone there in case there is an ‘accident’ involving our esteemed Ambassador Magus.”
Sleer bowed low and went to make the arrangements.
It was 2.30 in the morning, and Commander Blake quickly put on his uniform as he walked along through the darkened corridors of the Attorney General’s office. He had been called in at this early hour by Admiral Quinn, who had said that there was some sort of computer malfunction. Walking into the officer he was greeted by Quinn, complete with five o’clock shadow.
“What is this emergency Admiral?” Blake asked.
“Someone has managed to gain access to our files.” Quinn replied. “Somehow they are getting into files I’ve never heard of before!”
“But why call me? I’m not exactly a computer expert!”
“You’re the only one currently available. You know this system better than me Commander. I hope you can make some sense of it!”
Blake walked over to one of the terminals and sat himself down. Quinn was about to join him when his communicator sounded. After a brief conversation he went over to Blake.
“I’m afraid I’m going to have to leave you to it Commander. Urgent duty calls.”
Blake nodded, and Quinn left him alone in the darkened office. As Blake had said he was no computer expert, but he could tell something was wrong when he entered the system. He soon found the files that someone had managed to gain access to. The files were marked ‘Top Secret’. Then what was in the files appeared on the screen. The files had been opened by Servalan, and at first Blake could not believe what he was seeing. The files documented shipments made to Babylon 5, authorised by Servalan, and to be collected by a man called Deveraux, who was then to take them to Io. It took a few minutes for things to click. He remembered hearing how a man called Deveraux had been killed by a guard on B5, and how the same man had shot Michael Garibaldi. The conclusion he had come to horrified him.
The second file he saw was similar to the first and documented the authorisation of the cargo to B5 for Hector Frankenstein’s experiments, experiments that were illegal. Then, for some unexplainable reason, the computer seemed to repair itself without Blake doing anything to it.
But Blake had some evidence that could clear the name of Thomas Leacock and his friends in the Istari. But how could he go about revealing this information? And who would believe him? Was it by chance that he saw this information? Perhaps someone was trying to draw his attention to it.
Commander Blake was at a loss to explain what had happened. Reporting the computer malfunction repaired, but now what he had seen, he started to make his way home. It was now five in the morning, and as he had to be back at the Attorney General’s office at ten o’clock he decided to try and get back to sleep. As he walked through the streets the sun was just beginning to rise. He walked along, convinced he could hear someone behind him, footsteps following him. When he turned around however nobody could be seen. He continued to walk for a few hundred metres when suddenly a young woman jumped out in front of him. Then a man appeared behind him. Both were carrying phasers.
“My name is Ravella.” said the woman. “You are coming with us.”
“I will do no such thing!” said Blake.
“I had hoped you would come along willingly.” said Ravella. “Richie?”
Blake turned around to see the man, Richie, reach into his pocket and take out a hypo-spray. Before Blake could do anything Richie injected him and he fell into a deep sleep.
The next thing Roj Blake saw was a mist. His eyes were still hazy as he began to come around. When his eyes cleared he began to look around. He did not recognise the surroundings. He seemed to be in some sort of underground cave or tunnel. It was dimly lighted. Then, as he began to sit up he saw the woman, Ravella, approaching him. She was carrying a glass of liquid. She handed the glass to Blake.
“Here.” she said. “Drink this.”
“What is it?”
“Just water. Hurry. There’s someone here who wants to see you.”
Doing as he was told Blake quickly drank the water. He then got to his feet and followed Ravella out of the cave.
The scene that greeted Blake startled him. All around the caves and tunnels were suffering people, people who lived below what used to be termed ‘the breadline’. Blake did not think that such poverty existed on Earth anymore. He thought that such a thing was a thing of the past. Ravella led him past what seemed like hundreds of people.
Then they came to a separate cave. The light inside this cave was slightly brighter than anywhere else in these underground caverns. Ravella led Blake inside. Once inside they saw an old man who was tending to a young woman who was injured. The old man looked up when they entered.
“He’s here.” said Ravella.
The old man stood upright.
“Thank you Ravella. You may leave us now.”
Ravella did as she was told. The old man went up to Blake and stared at him in the face.
“You don’t recognise me, do you?” he said.
“Should I know you?”
“You should, but then your short-term memory was erased four years ago.”
“My memory erased? What on earth are you talking about? My mind has never been wiped!”
The man led Blake out of the cave and into another so they could have more privacy.
“I shall explain. My name is Bran Foster. I first met you six years ago when you first came to the Attorney General’s office as a young ensign.”
“I was only there for a short time before I was posted to the Utopia Planitia yards on Mars. I don’t recall meeting any Bran Foster.”
“That is because your memory was erased. You see, shortly before you graduated from Starfleet Academy and young woman was elected to the Federation Senate. Everyone was surprised when she won the election because of who she was standing against. No one thought that Servalan would beat Pierce Campbell-Bannerman. But then you and I stumbled onto something. The election had been rigged, votes had been brought. It seemed that Servalan had some friends in very high places.”
Blake pointed his finger at Foster.
“You’re the one who sent me the information! You caused the so-called computer malfunction. You knew I would find that information. Why?”
“As I said before we uncovered evidence that would have put that witch Servalan in prison, instead I was imprisoned and your memory was erased, and you were packed off to Mars, none the wiser. But now I believe the time has come Commander. The information I showed you is just the tip of the iceberg. There is much more, much more than can show our new President for what she really is!”
Foster led Blake over to a desk and showed him several files. One file in particular caught his eye.
“This file is about James Watt’s inauguration on Babylon 5. I thought that was something to do with Tarak Queeg defecting to the Orks and the Eldars.”
“Three months before Senator Servalan had a secret meeting with Lanriel Nightland, the Eldar Clan Lord. My sources tell me the inauguration was discussed. Also, do you remember the Galactic Empire’s attack on Deep Space Nine and the Bajoran wormhole?”
Blake nodded.
“Six months before the attack the Empire knew nothing of the wormhole and DS9. Then, while Servalan was visiting the Sontarran Homeworld she had a secret meeting with Admiral Thrawn of the Galactic Empire. She gave them the blueprints of the station. The only thing they needed was a safe way of bringing the Death Star through the wormhole. That’s why they needed Jadzia Dax.”
“If all of this is true then we should present this evidence to Admiral Quinn, or Admiral McCloud!”
“I don’t think it would work Commander. Already things are beginning to change. The one man who could have helped us has been declared an outlaw, there is already a new Chief of Security, and the Time of Legends has been declared off-limits. No, we must plan what we are going to do carefully. We cannot just rush in like fools.”
Then Richie came rushing in, phaser in hand.
“Bran! We’ve got trouble!”
The three of them ran out the cavern, the sound of crying people and phaser fire in their ears. When they entered the main cavern the first thing they saw was Federation troops, clad in black, firing their phaser rifles at everyone, killing them instantly. When Foster tried to stop them he was shot also. Richie was hit a few seconds later, to be followed by Ravella. Then Blake saw one of the troops adjust his phaser rifle, and then, before Blake could do anything, the phaser blast hit him. He fell to the ground. The last thing he saw was the face of Bran Foster, the man who had said was once his friend, now dead.
Sleer entered. Servalan whirled around to greet him.
“It’s no good Sleer.” she said. “This entire office will have to be redecorated. I have seen space precincts decorated with more taste.”
Sleer smiled at the joke.
“Madame President, I have serious news for you. The U.S.S. Flying Scotsman has been detected heading for Sector 001.”
Once more Servalan smiled.
“Magus is even more old fashioned than Watt was. Have Commander Travis intercept him. Do we have any starships in the area?”
“Only the Enterprise at present.” replied Sleer.
“Then contact Captain Picard and have him rendezvous with Travis. I would like someone there in case there is an ‘accident’ involving our esteemed Ambassador Magus.”
Sleer bowed low and went to make the arrangements.
It was 2.30 in the morning, and Commander Blake quickly put on his uniform as he walked along through the darkened corridors of the Attorney General’s office. He had been called in at this early hour by Admiral Quinn, who had said that there was some sort of computer malfunction. Walking into the officer he was greeted by Quinn, complete with five o’clock shadow.
“What is this emergency Admiral?” Blake asked.
“Someone has managed to gain access to our files.” Quinn replied. “Somehow they are getting into files I’ve never heard of before!”
“But why call me? I’m not exactly a computer expert!”
“You’re the only one currently available. You know this system better than me Commander. I hope you can make some sense of it!”
Blake walked over to one of the terminals and sat himself down. Quinn was about to join him when his communicator sounded. After a brief conversation he went over to Blake.
“I’m afraid I’m going to have to leave you to it Commander. Urgent duty calls.”
Blake nodded, and Quinn left him alone in the darkened office. As Blake had said he was no computer expert, but he could tell something was wrong when he entered the system. He soon found the files that someone had managed to gain access to. The files were marked ‘Top Secret’. Then what was in the files appeared on the screen. The files had been opened by Servalan, and at first Blake could not believe what he was seeing. The files documented shipments made to Babylon 5, authorised by Servalan, and to be collected by a man called Deveraux, who was then to take them to Io. It took a few minutes for things to click. He remembered hearing how a man called Deveraux had been killed by a guard on B5, and how the same man had shot Michael Garibaldi. The conclusion he had come to horrified him.
The second file he saw was similar to the first and documented the authorisation of the cargo to B5 for Hector Frankenstein’s experiments, experiments that were illegal. Then, for some unexplainable reason, the computer seemed to repair itself without Blake doing anything to it.
But Blake had some evidence that could clear the name of Thomas Leacock and his friends in the Istari. But how could he go about revealing this information? And who would believe him? Was it by chance that he saw this information? Perhaps someone was trying to draw his attention to it.
Commander Blake was at a loss to explain what had happened. Reporting the computer malfunction repaired, but now what he had seen, he started to make his way home. It was now five in the morning, and as he had to be back at the Attorney General’s office at ten o’clock he decided to try and get back to sleep. As he walked through the streets the sun was just beginning to rise. He walked along, convinced he could hear someone behind him, footsteps following him. When he turned around however nobody could be seen. He continued to walk for a few hundred metres when suddenly a young woman jumped out in front of him. Then a man appeared behind him. Both were carrying phasers.
“My name is Ravella.” said the woman. “You are coming with us.”
“I will do no such thing!” said Blake.
“I had hoped you would come along willingly.” said Ravella. “Richie?”
Blake turned around to see the man, Richie, reach into his pocket and take out a hypo-spray. Before Blake could do anything Richie injected him and he fell into a deep sleep.
The next thing Roj Blake saw was a mist. His eyes were still hazy as he began to come around. When his eyes cleared he began to look around. He did not recognise the surroundings. He seemed to be in some sort of underground cave or tunnel. It was dimly lighted. Then, as he began to sit up he saw the woman, Ravella, approaching him. She was carrying a glass of liquid. She handed the glass to Blake.
“Here.” she said. “Drink this.”
“What is it?”
“Just water. Hurry. There’s someone here who wants to see you.”
Doing as he was told Blake quickly drank the water. He then got to his feet and followed Ravella out of the cave.
The scene that greeted Blake startled him. All around the caves and tunnels were suffering people, people who lived below what used to be termed ‘the breadline’. Blake did not think that such poverty existed on Earth anymore. He thought that such a thing was a thing of the past. Ravella led him past what seemed like hundreds of people.
Then they came to a separate cave. The light inside this cave was slightly brighter than anywhere else in these underground caverns. Ravella led Blake inside. Once inside they saw an old man who was tending to a young woman who was injured. The old man looked up when they entered.
“He’s here.” said Ravella.
The old man stood upright.
“Thank you Ravella. You may leave us now.”
Ravella did as she was told. The old man went up to Blake and stared at him in the face.
“You don’t recognise me, do you?” he said.
“Should I know you?”
“You should, but then your short-term memory was erased four years ago.”
“My memory erased? What on earth are you talking about? My mind has never been wiped!”
The man led Blake out of the cave and into another so they could have more privacy.
“I shall explain. My name is Bran Foster. I first met you six years ago when you first came to the Attorney General’s office as a young ensign.”
“I was only there for a short time before I was posted to the Utopia Planitia yards on Mars. I don’t recall meeting any Bran Foster.”
“That is because your memory was erased. You see, shortly before you graduated from Starfleet Academy and young woman was elected to the Federation Senate. Everyone was surprised when she won the election because of who she was standing against. No one thought that Servalan would beat Pierce Campbell-Bannerman. But then you and I stumbled onto something. The election had been rigged, votes had been brought. It seemed that Servalan had some friends in very high places.”
Blake pointed his finger at Foster.
“You’re the one who sent me the information! You caused the so-called computer malfunction. You knew I would find that information. Why?”
“As I said before we uncovered evidence that would have put that witch Servalan in prison, instead I was imprisoned and your memory was erased, and you were packed off to Mars, none the wiser. But now I believe the time has come Commander. The information I showed you is just the tip of the iceberg. There is much more, much more than can show our new President for what she really is!”
Foster led Blake over to a desk and showed him several files. One file in particular caught his eye.
“This file is about James Watt’s inauguration on Babylon 5. I thought that was something to do with Tarak Queeg defecting to the Orks and the Eldars.”
“Three months before Senator Servalan had a secret meeting with Lanriel Nightland, the Eldar Clan Lord. My sources tell me the inauguration was discussed. Also, do you remember the Galactic Empire’s attack on Deep Space Nine and the Bajoran wormhole?”
Blake nodded.
“Six months before the attack the Empire knew nothing of the wormhole and DS9. Then, while Servalan was visiting the Sontarran Homeworld she had a secret meeting with Admiral Thrawn of the Galactic Empire. She gave them the blueprints of the station. The only thing they needed was a safe way of bringing the Death Star through the wormhole. That’s why they needed Jadzia Dax.”
“If all of this is true then we should present this evidence to Admiral Quinn, or Admiral McCloud!”
“I don’t think it would work Commander. Already things are beginning to change. The one man who could have helped us has been declared an outlaw, there is already a new Chief of Security, and the Time of Legends has been declared off-limits. No, we must plan what we are going to do carefully. We cannot just rush in like fools.”
Then Richie came rushing in, phaser in hand.
“Bran! We’ve got trouble!”
The three of them ran out the cavern, the sound of crying people and phaser fire in their ears. When they entered the main cavern the first thing they saw was Federation troops, clad in black, firing their phaser rifles at everyone, killing them instantly. When Foster tried to stop them he was shot also. Richie was hit a few seconds later, to be followed by Ravella. Then Blake saw one of the troops adjust his phaser rifle, and then, before Blake could do anything, the phaser blast hit him. He fell to the ground. The last thing he saw was the face of Bran Foster, the man who had said was once his friend, now dead.
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