"What do the sensors say?" he asked.
"Nothing," said Data. "I'm trying every frequency band, but the sensor beams just bounce off the surface. I'm not picking up anything."
Picard turned to Magus and Spock.
"Should we hail them?"
"No," said Magus, closing his eyes. "Ambassador Kosh is... ready to join us now. Please ask your transporter chief to beam him aboard."
Picard nodded to Worf. He then joined Magus and Spock in the transporter room. Moments later the imposing figure of Kosh was before them on the transporter pad. He first acknowledged Magus, then Spock, and lastly, Picard.
"I've set aside quarters for you, Ambassador," Picard said. Kosh gazed down at him. It sent a shiver right down to the sole of Picard's boots.
"Your hospitality is... appreciated, Captain. I will speak with Doctor Magus and President Spock there."
Thirty minutes passed before Magus and Spock went to Kosh's quarters. They found him, as usual, standing. Magus did not bother with the politeness he usually used for other ambassadors. Such niceties meant nothing to Kosh.
"Is everything ready?" Magus asked.
"It is. It orbits the far side of the homeworld. Does President Spock know of what we speak?"
"He does. He should see it at the same time as me."
"Then I will give the co-ordinates to the bridge."
The White Star
On the bridge, they suddenly found themselves moving.
"What's going on?" asked Riker.
"We are changing our orbit," Data replied.
"I gave no such order," said Riker. "Engineering? Did you program a course change, Geordi?"
"It's nothing to do with me, Commander."
Data's panel suddenly came to life.
"I'm picking up a ship nearby, but the sensors must be malfunctioning. They say that a Vorlonn ship is nearby, as well as a Minbari ship, but the readouts say that there is only one ship there."
Then, as they approached the far side of the planet, they saw the ship they were detecting. Data could not believe his displays.
"There is only one ship, Commander, but it appears to contain both Vorlonn and Minbari technology, and another sort of technology I am unfamiliar with."
Then, the turbo-lift door opened, and Magus, Spock, Kosh and Picard entered the bridge.
"Captain, someone's taken control of the ship, and set us on this course."
"I know," said Picard. "Ambassador Kosh did."
"And we've also detected..."
"The White Star, Commander," Magus cut in. "The newest weapon of the Free Federation. A combination of Vorlonn, Minbari and Isterian technology. Once we are near enough, I would like to beam aboard."
Minutes later Kosh returned control of the ship to them, and he, Magus, Spock and Picard beamed aboard the White Star. To Picard, in many ways, the inside resembled a Federation starship. The corridors and much of the hardware seemed the same.
"What is the White Star's speed and weapons capability?" he asked.
"The weapons rival that of a galaxy-class starship," Magus replied. "As for speed, it has a Mark II cavourtie drive, with a few Vorlonn add-ons. It's capable of travelling to the Gamma Quadrant and back in a matter of weeks."
"Before the entrance to the wormhole was destroyed, that was very possible," said Spock.
"I'm talking about without the help of the Bajoran wormhole," Magus replied.
Magus then stopped at a turbo-lift.
"This should take us to the Bridge."
They stepped inside, and moments later, arrived at the Bridge. The scene seemed familiar to Picard, except for a few differences. The layout was similar to that of a Federation starship, with a command chair, operations, navigation, sensor and weapons station. Each of these stations was manned by a Minbari.
"These men and women have been trained in every aspect of the running of this ship," Magus said.
"Warrior caste?" asked Picard.
"Religious caste," Magus replied. "So far, the Minbari Warrior Caste have refused to take sides. Unfortunately, none of them speak English. Fortunately, my friend over there speaks Minbari."
Magus pointed to a young man with long black hair and beard, standing near the navigation console. He smiled as Magus approached him.
"Gentlemen, may I introduce to you Marcus Cole, one of the Rangers who has been in training on Minbar."
Cole smiled, and shook Spock and Picard by the hand.
"It's good to meet you both, and good to be finally able to do something in this war."
"What is your rank aboard this ship?" asked Picard. Cole looked at Magus.
"Marcus holds no military rank," Magus replied. "The Rangers on Minbar do not believe in any military leader, except for Ranger One. That role will be filled shortly."
"Then how do we address you?" asked Picard.
"By my name, of course."
"Now, I'm sure Ambassador Kosh will show you the rest of the ship. There are a few things I must discuss with Marcus."
As Kosh led Picard and Spock away, Magus took Cole to one side.
"How are your studies going, Marcus?" Magus asked.
"They are going well. The Minbari have trained me well. I think I could take on the best in hand-to-hand combat."
"And your weapon?"
Cole reached into his tunic and took out a cylindrical object. He pressed a button on the object, and a sword-like beam of pure energy appeared. It hummed as Cole examined it.
"I can't really see the point in it," he said. "Okay, it may be good for close combat, but useless in a gun fight. Surely a phaser would be a better weapon."
"In some cases, yes, but not in yours. You have a very special gift, Marcus, a gift no one for thousands of light years shares with you. If you are trained properly, you will go far."
"Your training has definitely helped."
"But it may not be enough. You may have to go to Dagobah to complete it."
Cole looked confused.
"Dagobah? Is that a planet?"
"It is, but we will discuss this further later. For now, I want you to take command of the White Star. Set course for Minbar. Once there, you will be relieved of command."
"Yes, Doctor."
Magus activated his communicator, and contacted Spock and Picard, letting them know they should return to the Enterprise. Once they had returned, Cole ordered a course set for Minbar.
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