Then, a smaller group broke off from the main armada and joined the Centauri ships, and a new attack again began, this time on the Narn colony itself. The inhabitants didn't stand a chance.
News of this new development in the war soon reached John Sheridan on Babylon 5, and he was none too happy. Shortly afterwards he summoned Ambassador Mollari to his office, and it appeared that Mollari knew as much about this as he did.
“I don't know what to say, Captain!,” said Mollari. “The Centauri Republic has not made any pact with any other race in the quadrant. Why would anyone want to assist us? It is a matter between us and the Narns! It has nothing to do with anyone else!”
“Are you sure?” asked Sheridan. “How can you be sure that your government, behind your back, hasn't made any secret deal with another power in the Alpha Quadrant. I'm getting garbled reports of Sontarran warships entering the quadrant and rumors that Sontarran ships helped in that battle.”
“We haven't had any contact with the Sontarrans for decades! Why would they help us now?”
“I don't know. Perhaps you had better try and find out!”
Mollari did just that. A short time later he entered his quarters and began to contact his homeworld. Then, a familiar face entered his quarters, a face he did not expect to see for some time.
“Mister Morgan! What are you doing here?”
“There is no need for you to contact your homeworld, Ambassador. Everything has been taken care of.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You are about to contact your government about the help your forces received in their last battle. At this moment in time, these new allies are helping the Centauri forces launch another offensive.”
“How did you know that?”
“I have my sources, and as I said, there is no need to contact your homeworld. Everything is under control. Everything is taken care of.”
“Then this is something to do with you!”
“I cannot say. It is part of a larger plan. All I can say is that the Centauri Republic will soon win this war, and you will be hailed as a hero.”
The Mars colony was the next to feel the backlash after the presidential election debacle, only they went one step further than the people of Altor. This time it was a full-scale riot. The Federation security forces could not cope. Millions upon millions protested at the recent events.
Then something happened, something the protestors did not expect. Ten Jem'Hadar troop carriers appeared in orbit, and hundreds of Jem'Hadar warriors arrived on the surface. The Federation security forces did not know what to do when they saw the Jem'Hadar quell the riots, using as much force as they could. But, as on Altor, the security forces did not have their hearts in their jobs.
“Their slowing down to impulse speed,” Alonzo reported.
“What system is this?” asked Devon.
“Largely unexplored, Commander,” Walman reported. “Only one M-class planet, known as G-eight-eight-nine. No known life forms.”
O'Neill watched as the ships took up a standard orbit.
“What are they doing?” asked Devon.
“Sensors are picking up several smaller craft leaving the ships,” said Welman. “Identified as TIE fighter class.”
“Imperial!” said O'Neill. “What would they want with this world?”
“Possibly to set up a base here,” said Devon.
“There are several troop transport ships leaving as well,” said Walman. “And I'm also picking up something else... massive transporter activity!”
“The Imperials don't have that sort of technology!” said Devon.
“They do now!” said O'Neill. “We have to find out what's going on down there! Commander, lead an away team.”
Just as Devon was about to assemble her team, Walman picked up something on his sensors.
“I'm picking up a massive energy surge, Commander.”
“From the ships? Their weapons?”
“No. From the planet!”
Then they watched as a massive energy burst came up from the planet's surface and hit several of the TIE fighters and one of the troop transports. They stood no chance against this unexpected attack.
“What happened?” asked O'Neill.
“You said there were no life forms on this world!” said Devon.
“I don't know what happened,” said Walman. “It's as if the planet just attacked them!”
“This is serious!” said O'Neill. “Devon, assemble your team! I'm coming with you!”
With the Scotsman having docked with the Pegasus station, Captain Pendragon and Admiral McCloud walked down the corridor to the Operations Room.
“You should have seen them,” said Pendragon. “There were literally hundreds of them, Imperial, Sontarran! I've never seen so many bloody ships!”
“It must have taken months for an invasion force of that strength to gather,” said MacCleod. “The Imperials have forces all over the Delta and Gamma Quadrants as far as we know. You were wise to come back here.”
Then, as they entered Ops, Plato called them over.
“Sensors are picking up a Federation starship entering the system,” Plato reported. “Wagner-class, only one life-form aboard.”
“On screen,” Pendragon ordered.
The image now before them was not one they were expecting. It was the U.S.S. Valkyrie.
“We are being hailed,” said Plato.
“Put it through.”
A picture of a well-dressed man was now before them. Only MacCleod seemed to recognize him.
“Greetings, Captain Pendragon. I am Anton Mordrid. I have a present for your Free Federation, the Valkyrie herself!”
“Anton, you old war-dog!” said MacCleod. “It's good to see you again!”
“You also, Duncan, but where is Phineas?”
“He's not here,” said Pendragon. “And we don't know where he's gone!”
“I needed to speak with him. The Alpha Quadrant is being invaded!”
“We know,” said Pendragon. “I just had a close run-in with them. What do you know of this force?”
“I would rather we discuss that in person, Captain Pendragon. Permission to dock with your station.”
“Permission granted, Mister Mordrid.”
“That's Doctor Mordrid, Captain. I will see you shortly.”
No comments:
Post a Comment