The Battle For Babylon 5: Civil War II Chapter Forty-Two

As Watt considered his options, which were few and far between, he failed to notice the image on the screen, the image of another Federation starship coming out of warp.

"It's the Tiberius!" said Tompkins.

Watt watched as the Tiberius took up position between the Valkyrie and the smaller ship.

"Their weapons are charging." Tompkins reported. "Phaser banks powered to maximum, all torpedoes are armed!"

Watt turned to face Tompkins.

"All of them? Armed? Are you sure?"

"Yes. Aimed directly at the smaller ship."

Watt watched in amazement as a huge barrage of photon torpedoes launched from the Tiberius towards the smaller ship. At the exact same instance, the Gorgon charged their ion cannons and targeted the Tiberius. As the smaller ship was destroyed by the Tiberius, so the Tiberius was destroyed by the Gorgon.

"The gravity well is gone." Sutek reported. "We now have warp speed."

"Maximum warp!" Watt ordered. "To Babylon 5!"

On the bridge of the Gorgon, Daala looked on.

"Do we follow them?" a young officer asked.

"No." said Daala. "We know where they are going. We will deal with them soon enough."

 

As Sheridan walked through the customs area, his feeling of anticipation grew. Thirty minutes earlier, he had been contacted by Delenn, who had told him she had a surprise waiting for him.

As he saw her, that feeling got stronger. The two friends hugged each other warmly. They were pleased at seeing each other again.

"How is everything going?" Delenn asked.

"You mean the conference? Okay, I suppose. The party from Altor is here, and I hear Lwaxana Troi could be here soon. She's the last thing I need right now."

"You underestimate Ambassador Troi, John. Now come, I have something to show you."

She reached into her pocket and took out a small communicator.

"This is Delenn. Two to beam aboard."

Sheridan was not expecting this. As the beam re-materialized him, he found himself in a rather odd-looking transporter room. At the main control panel a Minbari, and next to him, a young bearded man.

"Welcome aboard the White Star." the man said, stepping forward and extending his hand. "I'm Marcus Cole."

Sheridan shook Cole by the hand.

"The White Star? Is this a ship? What design? What class?"

"It is a ship, John." Delenn replied. "Now come. I will give you a guided tour of this miracle."

As they passed Cole, Sheridan stared at him. Something was different about Cole. Sheridan couldn't tell what, but he knew it wasn't wrong.

 

As Spock sat in his quarters aboard the Scotsman, he looked at the image of Duncan MacCleod on his screen.

"So you're accepting the post then, Ambassador?" Duncan asked.

"Yes." Spock replied. "I can do nothing more to assist the Free Federation from my home on Vulcan. That is why I am contacting you, Admiral. As of this time, the Free Federation military has no commander in chief. I would like you to assume that role, as you did for President Watt."

"I'd be delighted." said Duncan. "But I personally would have chosen someone like Hague, or perhaps Lethbridge-Stewart."

"You have far more experience than any of them, Admiral, in all aspects of life. You are the logical choice for the post. I must leave you now, Admiral. I will speak with you when I arrive at the Time."

MacCleod nodded, and the screen went blank. The first task of Spock's presidential reign was complete. There would be many more harder, and more dangerous ones to follow.

 

As Daala walked around the bridge of the Gorgon, she began to consider her next task. She knew she would encounter the Valkyrie again soon, but she had to keep that thought for later. Then, one of the junior officers out of the Imperial Academy approached her, carrying a data pad. He handed it to her.

"We located the U.S.S. Alexander a few moments ago." the officer reported. "Our sources tell us that General Hague is aboard."

"The Free Federation commander in chief." said Daala. "Are they also headed to Babylon 5?"

"Yes, Admiral. Are we going to destroy the Alexander?"

Daala considered her options for a few moments.

"No. Destroying another ship would prove pointless. But if we were to 'bloody their noses' by killing just Hague, that would be more of a blow."

Daala walked over to the main sensor station.

"Is it possible to fine-tune the sensors to search for just one life sign in particular?"

"It may take some time." the officer reported.

"How long until we can intercept the Alexander?"

"At normal speeds, ten minutes." the junior officer replied.

"You have six minutes to adjust the sensors." Daala ordered.

She strode away, and seated herself in the command chair.

"Set a course to intercept the Alexander." she ordered. "We are about to achieve a great victory for the Emperor!"