The Battle for Babylon 5: Civil War II Chapter Forty-One

As the Enterprise entered the Minbar system, Worf began his scans.

"One Minbari warship is approaching us," he reported. "Their gun ports are open."

"Do not arm our weapons, Mister Worf," Picard ordered. "Take us to within one thousand kilometers of the ship."

Magus stood next to Picard, watching the Minbari ship approach them. The last time a Minbari ship had approached a Federation vessel in this way, a war started shortly afterwards. Now, they knew the Minbari came in peace.

It was a short time later when Spock, Magus, and Picard stood in the transporter room, awaiting the arrival of Ambassador Delenn. They did not have much longer to wait as Delenn soon appeared before them. She stepped off the transporter pad, and Magus greeted her warmly.

"It is good to see you again, Ambassador... I mean Doctor," said Delenn.

"May I introduce to you the President of the Free Federation, Spock!" Magus smiled, gesturing to the Vulcan.

"I had a feeling that was why you are here," said Delenn. "We must hurry. We have much to discuss."

Moments later they were seated in the observation lounge.

"For some reason, the Warrior Caste are against our working together," Delenn started. "Even though it was foretold centuries ago by Valen himself."

"What about the Worker and Religious castes?" asked Spock. "Will they support us?"

"With their very lives," Delenn replied. "They've read the ancient texts. They know what lies ahead of them."

"And what of the White Star Project?" asked Magus. "How are your engineers proceeding?"

"We are incorporating the data you gave us with every design," said Delenn. "But it won't be completed for at least another six standard months. It is a pity we have none of your dwarf engineers working with us."

"Sadly, they are needed at the Time, to work on our existing ships," said Magus.

Then, Picard's communicator sounded. The call was from Riker.

"Captain, we're getting a transmission from the Valkyrie, for Doctor Magus."

Picard looked over to Magus.

"Put it through to us, number one."

"Here will do."

The image of Watt was soon before them. As soon as he appeared, Magus could tell something was very wrong.

"What's wrong, James?" Magus asked.

"They did it," he said. "Those bastards did it! Traxxor is gone! All life has been obliterated!"

"How could that be?" asked Picard. "The only thing possible of doing that, the Death Star, was known to be in the Delta Quadrant at the time. The nearest thing to that in power, a Star Destroyer, was also there!"

"The 58th finished their scans of the surface three hours ago, while we were scanning the system for... well, anything! We picked up a Federation warp signature and weapons trace in the upper atmosphere, and something else. Look at these pictures."

Watt's image vanished to be replaced by a shaky image of a region of space.

"We managed to get this from a relay station in the outer regions of the system," Watt continued. "It was hit by a shock wave from the attack. That's why the picture isn't very good. I want you to take a look at the ship, or whatever it is."

The picture jumped around, as those watching saw what appeared to be a giant spider-like vessel, appearing from out of nowhere, and vanishing again shortly afterwards. The pictures finished shortly afterwards. Watt's image appeared again. As it did, Delenn looked at Magus.

"We've searched the files, and can find no trace," said Watt.

Delenn looked down at the floor.

"They have returned," she whispered.

"Who have?" asked Picard.

"If this force is working with the Imperials, then we are in more danger than I first thought," said Magus.

Then, Watt looked back.

"I've got to go," he said. "Long-range sensors have just picked up an Imperial Star Destroyer. I'll see you at Babylon 5."

The screen went blank.

"What is going on here?" Picard asked.

"The human race was young when I first encountered a vessel like this," said Magus. "We are in great danger."

 

Shortly afterwards, Delenn boarded the White Star, and continued on her way. Magus had returned to his quarters, to gather his thoughts. A few hours later, he contacted an old friend on Babylon 5. The smiling image of Kor was soon looking back at him.

"I was hoping you would be in touch, Phineas!" said Kor.

Upon seeing the expression on Magus' face, Kor's own expression changed.

"What troubles you?"

"The situation has changed, Kor," Magus replied. "We are soon to be facing a new enemy."

"Who?"

"I cannot tell you now," Magus said. "I will tell you when I arrive. Tell me, how are the preparations going?"

"Very well," Kor said. "The delegation from Altor arrived an hour ago. Because he helped you before, Captain Podley has been placed in charge of his delegation. As usual, he is complaining!"

"Podley wouldn't be Podley if he wasn't!" Magus smiled. "How about Londo?"

"Londo Mollari? He is annoyed at not being invited, but is pleased at the thought of seeing you again!"

"The pleasure will not last," Magus said. "I will have strong words for him when I arrive."

 

As Watt sat in his command chair, he stared at the viewscreen, at the star-lines before him. It had been three hours since they picked up the Imperial Star Destroyer, and had made their exit from the Traxxon system at warp nine. He thought they were safe. He was wrong. The ship suddenly rocked violently.

"What's wrong?" Watt asked.

"I'm picking up an energy surge dead ahead," Tompkins reported. "A jump-gate... no... a double jump-gate is forming ahead of us! We're heading straight for it!"

"Take us out of warp!" Watt ordered. "Evasive maneuvers!"

As they dropped out of warp, the Star Destroyer appeared almost on top of them. O'Rourke used all of her piloting skills to steer them out of the way. Sutek raced over to tactical station, relieving the young officer.

"Where's the Saratoga?" asked Watt.

"Hailing them now!"

Commodore Ross soon looked down upon them.

"We managed to avoid the jump-gate, Captain," said Ross. "We're turning back to assist."

"Negative," said Watt. "One of us has to get to Babylon 5 with the information we have. We'll hold them off, and try to disable them. Valkyrie out."

Ross knew Watt was right. Watt watched as the Saratoga went on ahead.

"We're being hailed," said Sutek. "By Admiral Daala, of the Imperial Star Destroyer Gorgon."

"Put him through."

Watt was surprised when the image of a young, long-haired woman dressed in an admiral's uniform appeared before him. Watt had heard many stories about the Imperial military concerning the inability of a woman to rise through the ranks. If Daala had done this, she had to be special, or have good connections.

"Captain James Watt, you and your crew are wanted by the Galactic Federation. Surrender your ship and prepare to be boarded."

"Not likely, Admiral!"

Watt ordered all communications cut.

"Arm phasers and photon torpedoes!" he ordered. "Target their engines and hangar bays!"

Sutek did as he was told.

"All weapons armed."

"Fire at my mark!"

There was a slight pause.

"Star Destroyer is energizing their cannons!"

"Fire!"

The burst was quick. Two torpedoes each to the engines and hangar bays. While the phasers hit the shields, it allowed the torpedoes to pass through. Imperial shielding wasn't what it ought to be.

"Fire again!" Watt ordered. "Target their cannons!"

But it was too late. The Gorgon's main ion cannon was heated up, and fired. The Valkyrie shook, and it was all Watt could do to keep his footing. Another blast rocked the ship.

"Shields are down to fifty percent," Tompkins reported.

Another blast rocked them.

"Thirty-nine percent, and falling," Tompkins continued.

"Target the ion cannons," Watt ordered. "Fire, and then get us the hell out of here!"

O'Rourke watched her panel in shock as warp power dropped drastically.

"Warp power is almost down to zero!" she said.

"Engineering! What's going on down there?"

Lom raced around the engine room, trying to find out what was going wrong.

"I'm showing no malfunctions, Captain."

Another ion blast rocked the ship.

"Shields down to twenty percent," said Tompkins. "And sensors are picking up another ship on the sensors!"

"On screen."

The smaller ship was soon before them. Although a similar shape to the Gorgon, it was far smaller.

"A huge gravity well is forming around that ship," said Sutek. "It is somehow stopping us from going to warp."

Watt looked at the screen. He was running out of options. If he attacked this new ship, that would leave him open to attack from the Gorgon, but if he didn't deal with this new ship, he wouldn't be able to escape. He was running out of time.