Disclaimers: Okay... Babylon 5 and its wonderful characters are not mine. They belong to J. Michael Straczynski and Babylonian Productions. No profits are intended.
Okay, on to the story:
NB: FUTURE takes place somewhere between "a race... " and "div loyalties". There's also references to 1st season eps: .Babylon Squared!.
FUTURE: Part 1: Sector 14
By CalR
There was peace... so much peace. She was floating around in an ocean of stars, watching them cascading in sprays of lights. Each time a star touched the flow, she was emitting a sound... a familliar sound. In fact, the sound didn't seem related to the the star spays. As the lights were fading, the sound, a sort of mechanical rustling, became louder and louder.
There was darkness around her. She was lying on her bed in the same position she had when she got to sleep. She took a large breath. Time to change the sheets, she thought. She had wanted to do that since a few days but never had the time.
The sound, was becoming more annoying by the second and she realised it was from her link.
"What? " she growled, her voice roughtened from sleep.
"Commander Ivanova?"
"Corwin, I hope for you that you had a damn good reason to wake me or..."
"A very good one, Commander. Regulations stipulate that a member of the command staff has to be in C&C in these sort of situation. And you were the officer on duty."
Susan Ivanova glanced at the chrono on her nightable.
3H12 am.
Damn. Sometimes I hate my job. She sighed "Okay, lieutenant, what's going on?"
"We don't know exactly, commander. It appears there are some rustle in sector 14. probaby a spacefight. Our sensors have capted lasers and explosions. But no one answers on the radio."
"Lieutenant, sector 14 is forbidden..." began Ivanova. Already she had shed her nightshirt and was frantically searching for a clean shirt.
"That's what I'm notifying you, sir." cut in Corwin. "they appeared from out of nowhere. And they are killing each others outside."
"I'm coming! Tell squadron Delta to scramble. I'm taking the lead! Someone wake up Garibaldi!"
This time, I'll be the one going to there.
She shouldered her vest, slapped her link on her hand and ran out of her quarters.
************
"Okay. Ivanova. You here?"
"Hey Garibaldi. Slept nice?" the voice of the commander echoed loud and clear in the C&C.
"What are you doing outside! Sector 14 is a very dangerous one. Space is not stable there!!" The chief of security hated when he was thrown in a situation like when he didn't have all the elements. Especially à 3 o'clock in the morning.
"I know, Garibaldi. That's why I'm going there. Those ships don't know the danger and we can't communicate with them."
"Security is MY problem. I'm the one with experience with this sector. For what we know, it could be a trap."
"Maybe... but I'm willing to take the risk, and for what I know, you are the STATION's chief of INTERNAL security... Judy! They are in range of our radars. There are a dozen of fighters and... yes, it seems that they are attacking someone! Delta leader to unidentified space ships: you are within Earth Alliance Babylon 5 spacestation's territory. This is neutral space under Earthforce control. Please cease immediatly any hostilities and identify yourself. I repeat, this is..."
"Delta 7 to Delta leader. They have seen us!"
"Delta 4 to Delta Leader. My radar detect several missiles launched at us."
"Break! Break formation! Engage evasive maneuvers!!"
Sounds of explosions are heard throught the speakers.
"Ivanova! What's happening!" yelled Garibaldi.
"Sir. Several of the intruders are attacking the delta squadron!" reported Corwin.
"Scramble dzeta squadron immediatly. Are they in our firing range?"
"No sir."
Garibaldi felt powerless. This was not his place. Ivanova should have been here and him, outside. "Call Sheridan. Now!" Damn Ivanova. You had better come back in one piece or I'm gonna kill you!!!
************
"Delta five! Are you okay?"
"Fine, Delta Leader. Just a few buffetings."
"Okay. From Delta Leader to all fighters. Fire at will. Target their laser turrets and their propulsion, but don't risk your lives!!"
"Targets at 20 km." announced Delta 2 voice.
Ivanova nodded to herself. This was weird. Space missiles were rarely used, and never by small scale fighters.
"Delta 7 to Delta Leader. I can't recognise their configuration!"
The words first contact jumped at Ivanova's mind. "Okay boys. Don't panic. We may have a first contact situation here. We don't know their capacities and firepower so stay clear of them. Don't take any unecessary risks."
"Target at 10 km on approach." said Delta 2.
Ivanova took a short breath:"Attack manoeuver 22. Delta 2 to Delta 5 with me. Delta 6 and 7 left wing. Delta 8 and 9, right wing. Watch out your back and give them hell!"
********
"Captain Sheridan!"
A soft groan. "Later... I'll do the reports later senator ..."
"Captain Sheridan!"
The Earthforce officer lift with difficulty one of his eyelids... and jump out literally of his bed.
At the feet of the bed, his figure trembling slightly, was the spectral image of Draal, the guardian of the Great Machine of Epsilon 3.
"Were you never taught to knock before entering one's quarters?" quipped Sheridan, now fully awake.
"Now is not the time for politeness, Captain Sheridan." said darkly Draal. "I'm here to prevent you and your station from a great danger. Actually your staff is doing the greatest mistake of their lives."
"What are you talking about? Draal, you need to be more specific."
"Don't let IT come on board, Sheridan. IT will kill you and destroy all hope for the future..."
****
"Delta leader to Delta wing. Everything's all right?"
The alarm of proximity suddenly pounded in Ivanova's skull and her training acted reflexively. The starfury did a perfect 180 degrees-turn and fired two shots. The ennemy exploded in silence. That was close.
The attacks of the ennemy were relenteless. They were quick and smart, seeing throught any tactics employed by the starfuries. It was pure luck if they didn't have any casualties
on their side. It was almost if they could...she felt a brief prickling at the base of her neck...
*******
"I don't understand..." said the captain, trying to find a sense in the crytic message of the guardian. "What IT is?"
"The Nemesis. The death of all human race." The holographic projection shimmered and lost a little of definition. "IT is the greatest mistake I allowed to make. A mistake I can't repair..."
****
Ivanova cringed as an ennemy exploded not far from her fighter.
"Delta leader to Delta 4. Thanks Richardson!"
What were they trying to do? And who were they?
The design of the ship was familiar to her, even if she couldn't identify it. As she engaged a duel with a new opponent, she coudln't help but wonder at the strange familiarity.
There was something on the side of the ennemy's cratfs.
"Delta leader to Delta wing. Have someone seen the symbol on their ships?"
"No sir!"
"I dunno. It's black, thought."
Ivanova was escaping a new volley of plasma. She was someone's target again. They were too damn quick!! She let her honed reflexes taking the commands of her fighters and engaged a daredevil manoeuver, drawing a kind of spinning trajectory, breaking, turning and breaking anew. As expected her followed tried to follow her but at the last second, she used her front propulsion: her starfury was now behind her follower: "Hey man!" she said with a slight smile." You didn't know that one, did you?" and as she was going to pull the trigger, she saw the symbol of their attacker.
An omega on a black background.
"Delta leader to delta wing. They're telepaths!! That's why they are guessing our tactics!! Stay out ouf their lines of sight. I repeat, stay out of their lines of sight!! Delta squadron to Omega fighters! Why are you attacking Earthforce fighters? You're breaking regulation 3.22 of 2237!! "
A blast of plasma was her only answer.
"You want war? You gonna get it!" and she pulled the trigger.
******
"Captain?" Corwin worried face appeared on the monitor. "Captain, are you up? We need you in C&C. It's an emergency."
Draal's holo shimmered a last time and disapeared, his words floating a last time to the human's ears: "Time has caught up with us. Remember my words, Captain. Don't let IT come aboard."
Sheridan was bewildered. He was still looking at the place where Draal had just vanished. What was going on?
"Captain?" Corwin's voice was sounding worried.
"I'm coming!" answered Sheridan, searching his uniform. What's going on? I can't close an eye without hell breaking loose!!
*********
"Delta leader, they're trying to escape!"
"Let them go, delta 7. We've won. Still, keep an eye on their trajectory." answered Ivanova not even trying to conceal her glee. Once the earth fighters had stayed out of the ennemies's line of sight, destroying them became a kid's game.
.Delta wing, damage report..
.Delta 2. RAS.
.Delta 3. A little scratched, but I'm still okay....
As she was hearing the report of her squadron, part of her mind turned to the wrecked transport which was left behind. She piloted her fighter next to the appearently dead ship. No symbol, no registration nombers on the hull.
What was on this ship. What could it transport for Psi Corps to take so many risks? Including attacking Earforce fighters to keep it?
TBC