The day of Ro Laren’s preliminary hearing had arrived. As she sat in her cell, dressed in her Starfleet U uniform, the force field lowered and Commander Sleer entered.
“To what do I owe this pleasure?” Ro said sarcastically. “I suppose Servalan wants to make sure I get a fair hearing!”
“You will soon pay for your insolence!” Sleer sneered. “Plotting the death of the Federation President is a very serious offence. You could be sentenced to death.”
“We both know I had nothing to do with the explosion.”
“Enough of this. Get to your feet.”
Sleer motioned to the two guards that were standing outside the door. They came inside and put restraints on Ro’s wrists. Then they lead her out of the building, with Sleet following behind them.
They were soon in the open air, and once they were outside Ro put her plan into action, a plan she had been formulating for the past four days. Raising her arms slight she elbowed one of the guards in the stomach, and while he was doubled over brought her knee up so it connected with his nose. The guard fell to the ground, and Ro rolled over and picked up the phaser the guard had dropped. She then fired at the other guard, rendering him unconscious. Sleer, meanwhile, had drawn his phaser, but he could not aim at Ro. She was too quick for him. Ro, however, managed to fire at Sleer, catching him with a blast to his shoulder. She then ran away as fast as she could before ducking into an alcove not far away. She then managed to aim the phaser at her restraints, breaking them so she could move her arms more freely. She then continued on her journey.
Sleet did not want his wound treated. He insisted on supervising the search for Ro himself. Twenty security teams scoured the surrounding streets of London, but not one of them could find her. Before finally giving in to the pain from his wound Sleer silently cursed Starfleet’s advanced tactical training program, because it was Ro’s knowledge of those methods which gave her an edge in evading her captors.
Na’Toth entered the darkened quarters of Ambassador G’Kar. Things hadn’t seemed the same since the Ambassador had left to go on his journey to who knows where. She stood in the quarters, just looking around, thinking about her current lack of duty because of G’Kar’s absence.
She ventured further into the room, her mind now on other things, most notably the awkward questions she had to answer while attending President Watt’s memorial service on Earth. It was while she was thinking about this that she heard a noise. Someone was in the room with her.
“Who is there? This is an ambassadorial quarter.”
Na’Toth stepped forward to see that the noise she heard was coming from one of the chairs. She stepped forward to see the back of the head of the man seated in the chair. He was Narn.
“It is alright Na’Toth. It is only me.”
She recognised the voice straight away. It was G’Kar. She was obviously pleased to hear his voice again. She rushed around to see the front of the chair. She was about to give a cheerful greeting when she saw the solemn expression on the Ambassador’s face.
“What is wrong? What has happened?”
“I have discovered the secret of Quadrant Thirty-Seven, and it disturbs me greatly. The threat comes from a most unexpected source. Tell me, Na’Toth, are all the ambassadors here on the station?”
“As far as I know.”
“Then ask that new man, Sheridan, to call a meeting of the Council. I wish to put forward the evidence I have gathered on my travels.”
And so a meeting of the Babylon 5 council was called. This was the first council meeting to be chaired by Sheridan. To his right sat Ambassador Mollari, a drink in his hand as always. To his left sat Ambassador Delenn. Sheridan found her new human-ish-type appearance somewhat off putting. During the war ten years previously it had been Sheridan’s duty to kill as many Minbauri as he could Now he found himself sitting next to one.
Ambassador Kosh was also there, along with the representatives of the League of Non-Aligned Worlds.
It was then that G’Kar stepped forward to present his evidence.
“The attack on the Narn outpost in Quadrant Thirty-Seven was no accident. Two days ago, while accompanying a Narn fighter patrol on the Rim we were attacked by the same vessel that attacked our outpost. The ship possessed what could be termed a cloaking device.”
“Then it was Romulan?” said Sheridan.
“No.” replied G’Kar. “This ship was not of Romulan configuration. It was not of Klingon configuration, or Monstron, or any other race that possesses that kind of technology.”
“Get on with it!” said Mollari.
“The ship had the same configuration of a Federation starship!”
There was a hushed silence as G’Kar’s words were greeted with some shock.
“Are you sure?” asked Sheridan. “The Federation does not have cloaking technology. The Treaty of Algeron forbids us from developing it.”
“The ship resembled a Galaxy class starship Captain.” G’Kar continued. “At first I thought it could have been the Enterprise, or the Odyssey, but then I saw the name of the ship before I only just managed to escape with my life intact.”
“What was the name?” asked Sheridan.
“Tannhauser.”
Sheridan activated his communicator.
“Sheridan to Ivanova.”
“Ivanova here.”
“Commander, please check the starship registry. I want to know if there is or ever has been a ship called the Tannhauser in service.”
There was a short pause while Ivanova checked the computer.
“There’s no ship by that name in the files. Never has been.”
Sheridan looked at G’Kar.
“I tell you, it was a Federation ship!”
“It may be someone copying Federation design.” said Delenn. “After all, during their brief alliance the Romulans and the Klingons shared design technology.”
“I’d like to get in touch with Starfleet Command.” said Sheridan. “I’d like to get to the bottom of this!”
“Then do so.” said G’Kar. “But I will tell you this Captain. If the Federation is behind this then it could mean war!”
“Before you say something like that just think of this!” said Sheridan. “It was the Centauri that wanted Quadrant Thirty-Seven, not the Federation!”
Servalan stood in her office, watching as several men changed the surroundings of her office. Gone were the four hundred year old mementos of James Watt the Elder, to be replaced by objects and items more to her liking.
“No…to the left!” she said as someone hung an old Da Vinci paining on the wall opposite her desk.
“That’s it, just there!”
The picture was now in a place to her liking. Then her communicator sounded.
“Madame President, Commander Sleer is here with Admiral Pressman.”
Servalan then began to usher everyone out of her office. When everyone had gone she pressed her communicator.
“Very well, send them in.”
The door soon opened. Sleer was the first to enter, the embarrassment over Ro’s escape still visible on his expression. Behind him was a man whose wrists were bound. This man was former Starfleet Admiral Pressman, currently awaiting charges for breaching the Treaty of Algeron. Ten years previously Pressman had developed the Phase-Cloak, similar to the Romulan cloaking device, but different in that it allowed a ship to pass through any matter, be it an asteroid or another ship. Many men and women had died because they tried to stop Pressman from using it. But it had also saved live recently. On a recent mission to recover the device the Enterprise had been trapped in an asteroid. The device had allowed them to escape.
Pressman now stood before Servalan’s desk. The President could tell that Pressman was not happy to be there.
“You’re probably wondering why I wanted you brought here, Admiral.” she said. “Fifteen years ago you developed the Phase-Cloak.”
“And if it wasn’t for that you’d have lost one of your best ships to the Romulans.” said Pressman.
“I agree. But now you face charges because you wanted to restore the balance of power. Tell me Admiral, how would you like another chance?”
“A chance at what? My career? My device?”
“Both. As I speak tests are being carried out on a new class of starship that is using your Phase-Cloak. So far the tests have gone very well, but I would like someone like you, someone with your knowledge of the device, to oversee the final stages of the test.”
“Are you offering me my rank? What about the charges?”
“I am the President.”
Servalan pressed a few buttons on her computer console.
“As of now you have been officially pardoned of all crimes. All charges have been dropped, and your rank has been restored. When can you leave?”
“That depends. Where is this ship of yours?”
“On the rim. I thought it best that the tests should be conducted there.”
“Isn’t that where a Narn squadron was destroyed not long ago?”
“So it is. Commander Sleer, please see that Admiral Pressman gets his uniform back.”
Sleer then released the restraints from Pressman’s wrists and then led him away.
“Commander!” Servalan called.
Sleer turned and looked at Servalan.
“And see that you can escort someone to their destination safely!”
Sleer did not take too kindly to this sarcastic remark, and yet he knew he could not do anything in response. As soon as Sleer and Pressman had left the officer Servalan leaned back in her chair and admired her new surroundings. She then began to think - all the pieces, all the parts of her ‘Grand Design’ were beginning to fit into place.
“To what do I owe this pleasure?” Ro said sarcastically. “I suppose Servalan wants to make sure I get a fair hearing!”
“You will soon pay for your insolence!” Sleer sneered. “Plotting the death of the Federation President is a very serious offence. You could be sentenced to death.”
“We both know I had nothing to do with the explosion.”
“Enough of this. Get to your feet.”
Sleer motioned to the two guards that were standing outside the door. They came inside and put restraints on Ro’s wrists. Then they lead her out of the building, with Sleet following behind them.
They were soon in the open air, and once they were outside Ro put her plan into action, a plan she had been formulating for the past four days. Raising her arms slight she elbowed one of the guards in the stomach, and while he was doubled over brought her knee up so it connected with his nose. The guard fell to the ground, and Ro rolled over and picked up the phaser the guard had dropped. She then fired at the other guard, rendering him unconscious. Sleer, meanwhile, had drawn his phaser, but he could not aim at Ro. She was too quick for him. Ro, however, managed to fire at Sleer, catching him with a blast to his shoulder. She then ran away as fast as she could before ducking into an alcove not far away. She then managed to aim the phaser at her restraints, breaking them so she could move her arms more freely. She then continued on her journey.
Sleet did not want his wound treated. He insisted on supervising the search for Ro himself. Twenty security teams scoured the surrounding streets of London, but not one of them could find her. Before finally giving in to the pain from his wound Sleer silently cursed Starfleet’s advanced tactical training program, because it was Ro’s knowledge of those methods which gave her an edge in evading her captors.
Na’Toth entered the darkened quarters of Ambassador G’Kar. Things hadn’t seemed the same since the Ambassador had left to go on his journey to who knows where. She stood in the quarters, just looking around, thinking about her current lack of duty because of G’Kar’s absence.
She ventured further into the room, her mind now on other things, most notably the awkward questions she had to answer while attending President Watt’s memorial service on Earth. It was while she was thinking about this that she heard a noise. Someone was in the room with her.
“Who is there? This is an ambassadorial quarter.”
Na’Toth stepped forward to see that the noise she heard was coming from one of the chairs. She stepped forward to see the back of the head of the man seated in the chair. He was Narn.
“It is alright Na’Toth. It is only me.”
She recognised the voice straight away. It was G’Kar. She was obviously pleased to hear his voice again. She rushed around to see the front of the chair. She was about to give a cheerful greeting when she saw the solemn expression on the Ambassador’s face.
“What is wrong? What has happened?”
“I have discovered the secret of Quadrant Thirty-Seven, and it disturbs me greatly. The threat comes from a most unexpected source. Tell me, Na’Toth, are all the ambassadors here on the station?”
“As far as I know.”
“Then ask that new man, Sheridan, to call a meeting of the Council. I wish to put forward the evidence I have gathered on my travels.”
And so a meeting of the Babylon 5 council was called. This was the first council meeting to be chaired by Sheridan. To his right sat Ambassador Mollari, a drink in his hand as always. To his left sat Ambassador Delenn. Sheridan found her new human-ish-type appearance somewhat off putting. During the war ten years previously it had been Sheridan’s duty to kill as many Minbauri as he could Now he found himself sitting next to one.
Ambassador Kosh was also there, along with the representatives of the League of Non-Aligned Worlds.
It was then that G’Kar stepped forward to present his evidence.
“The attack on the Narn outpost in Quadrant Thirty-Seven was no accident. Two days ago, while accompanying a Narn fighter patrol on the Rim we were attacked by the same vessel that attacked our outpost. The ship possessed what could be termed a cloaking device.”
“Then it was Romulan?” said Sheridan.
“No.” replied G’Kar. “This ship was not of Romulan configuration. It was not of Klingon configuration, or Monstron, or any other race that possesses that kind of technology.”
“Get on with it!” said Mollari.
“The ship had the same configuration of a Federation starship!”
There was a hushed silence as G’Kar’s words were greeted with some shock.
“Are you sure?” asked Sheridan. “The Federation does not have cloaking technology. The Treaty of Algeron forbids us from developing it.”
“The ship resembled a Galaxy class starship Captain.” G’Kar continued. “At first I thought it could have been the Enterprise, or the Odyssey, but then I saw the name of the ship before I only just managed to escape with my life intact.”
“What was the name?” asked Sheridan.
“Tannhauser.”
Sheridan activated his communicator.
“Sheridan to Ivanova.”
“Ivanova here.”
“Commander, please check the starship registry. I want to know if there is or ever has been a ship called the Tannhauser in service.”
There was a short pause while Ivanova checked the computer.
“There’s no ship by that name in the files. Never has been.”
Sheridan looked at G’Kar.
“I tell you, it was a Federation ship!”
“It may be someone copying Federation design.” said Delenn. “After all, during their brief alliance the Romulans and the Klingons shared design technology.”
“I’d like to get in touch with Starfleet Command.” said Sheridan. “I’d like to get to the bottom of this!”
“Then do so.” said G’Kar. “But I will tell you this Captain. If the Federation is behind this then it could mean war!”
“Before you say something like that just think of this!” said Sheridan. “It was the Centauri that wanted Quadrant Thirty-Seven, not the Federation!”
Servalan stood in her office, watching as several men changed the surroundings of her office. Gone were the four hundred year old mementos of James Watt the Elder, to be replaced by objects and items more to her liking.
“No…to the left!” she said as someone hung an old Da Vinci paining on the wall opposite her desk.
“That’s it, just there!”
The picture was now in a place to her liking. Then her communicator sounded.
“Madame President, Commander Sleer is here with Admiral Pressman.”
Servalan then began to usher everyone out of her office. When everyone had gone she pressed her communicator.
“Very well, send them in.”
The door soon opened. Sleer was the first to enter, the embarrassment over Ro’s escape still visible on his expression. Behind him was a man whose wrists were bound. This man was former Starfleet Admiral Pressman, currently awaiting charges for breaching the Treaty of Algeron. Ten years previously Pressman had developed the Phase-Cloak, similar to the Romulan cloaking device, but different in that it allowed a ship to pass through any matter, be it an asteroid or another ship. Many men and women had died because they tried to stop Pressman from using it. But it had also saved live recently. On a recent mission to recover the device the Enterprise had been trapped in an asteroid. The device had allowed them to escape.
Pressman now stood before Servalan’s desk. The President could tell that Pressman was not happy to be there.
“You’re probably wondering why I wanted you brought here, Admiral.” she said. “Fifteen years ago you developed the Phase-Cloak.”
“And if it wasn’t for that you’d have lost one of your best ships to the Romulans.” said Pressman.
“I agree. But now you face charges because you wanted to restore the balance of power. Tell me Admiral, how would you like another chance?”
“A chance at what? My career? My device?”
“Both. As I speak tests are being carried out on a new class of starship that is using your Phase-Cloak. So far the tests have gone very well, but I would like someone like you, someone with your knowledge of the device, to oversee the final stages of the test.”
“Are you offering me my rank? What about the charges?”
“I am the President.”
Servalan pressed a few buttons on her computer console.
“As of now you have been officially pardoned of all crimes. All charges have been dropped, and your rank has been restored. When can you leave?”
“That depends. Where is this ship of yours?”
“On the rim. I thought it best that the tests should be conducted there.”
“Isn’t that where a Narn squadron was destroyed not long ago?”
“So it is. Commander Sleer, please see that Admiral Pressman gets his uniform back.”
Sleer then released the restraints from Pressman’s wrists and then led him away.
“Commander!” Servalan called.
Sleer turned and looked at Servalan.
“And see that you can escort someone to their destination safely!”
Sleer did not take too kindly to this sarcastic remark, and yet he knew he could not do anything in response. As soon as Sleer and Pressman had left the officer Servalan leaned back in her chair and admired her new surroundings. She then began to think - all the pieces, all the parts of her ‘Grand Design’ were beginning to fit into place.
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