Chronicles Chapter 11

Atlantis, Lantia

Pegasus Galaxy

A slight knock at her door caused Elizabeth Weir to look up from the report she was reading to note the pressence of her cheif medical officer Dr. Carson Beckette.

"Carson, what can I do for you?" Elizabeth offered with a warm smile.

'I've completed most of my preliminary workup on SSG Peters Dr. Weir. Its truly remarkable." Carson said with the enthusiasm of a kid on Christmas morning. Weir wasn't all that surprised. Carson had a natural curiosity that was common to the expedition. His willingness to embrace the unknown and work in new feilds of medical science had made him Elizabeth's prime candidate for the position of Chief of Medicine for Atlantis...well that and a degree in virology and infectious diseases didn't hurt either; it was a position he fullfilled remarkably well considering the unending challenges he faced. Closing her labtop and straightening in her seat Elizabeth Weir motioned for him to continue.

"Physically for a human he's on a level all his own, I've identified some unique proteins in his blood I cant identify along with muscle and bone density far greater then a normal human which is probably what makes him capable of taking on the Wraith and Minbari as we've seen him do. But thats not the most interesting thing." Carson enthused as he activated a monitor and brought up a split screen picture; both sides showing a human brain. On the picture to the left swirls of yellow and amber covered much of the brain with the occasional spots of blue. The picture on the right was a different story. Instead of shades of yellow, amber and red flowed in almost equal measure throughout much of the brain indicating much higher levels activity. Elizabeth Weir was no expert but even she could see the difference to know it wasn't natural, at least for a human anyway.

"So what am I seeing here?" Weir asked to spur Beckette on.

"Increadible levels of brain activity, far higher then a normal human with one exception."

"And who was that?" Weir asked.

"General O'neill." Carson stated catching an amused look from Elizabeth Weir. "Several years ago General O'neill had an encounter with an ancient device. A repository of knowledge. It activated areas of the brain that were previously dormant and increased brain activity to unheard of levels. SSG Peters levels while advanced are still no where near that level." Carson explained as he manipulated the controls of the monitor. The screen shifted again to another picture this one a split screen from top to bottom. Elizabeth couldn't be certain but the brain on the top half seemed slightly larger then the one on the bottom half.

"This is another scan I took of his brain, please note the slight difference in size. His brain is actually slighly smaller then our own making it more energy efficient-"

"And consistent with human evolution." Elizabeth broke in to the surprise of her Cheif Medical officer.

"Exaclty." Carson stated in surprise. Grinning slightly Carson couldn't help himself in wondering how she knew what he was going to say. "I didn't realize you were an expert in human evolution Elizabeth?"

Returning his good humor with her own smile "Im not Carson." She opened her labtop and turned it to Carson, It showed a picture of a strikingly beautiful woman along with a dossier of her work. "I've just been reading up on Dr. Sloan Parker and her work, The SGC just forewarded it to me. Its remarkable the work she's pioneered."

"Aye, I've been meaning to look over her work and compare it with the data I've gathered on SSG Peters. I definetly have to meet this woman." Carson smiled.

"You just may get that chance." Elizabeth offered with a somewhat bittersweet smile. "That wasn't the only thing the SGC forewarded. SSG Peters is to be transfered Earth side immeadiatly."

"What? I don't understand Elizabeth didn't General O'neill say that you were in charge of this investigation?" Carson asked.

"He did." Elizabeth said with what seemed barely controlled anger. "But the Pentagon and the IOA overruled his decision, They want Peters Earthside ASAP where he will be 'debrifed' by the NID. Given that Stargate Command is still distracted by events happening in the other universe and the Wraith are on the move again here in Pegasus, Im surprised this hasn't happened sooner." she sighed. "I've already informed Colonel Sheppard who wasn't happy about it, But John has an offworld mission coming up that requires his attention."

"So who's taking him back? What with Colonel Sheppard's team going offworld." Elizabeth Weir looked him in the eyes and gave him a dazling smile.

Gateroom One hour later

Dr. Carson beckette waited at the base of the Stargate while the stargate began the dialing process. On one hand he was happy to be returning home but on the other hand the thought of leaving Atlantis for any period of time made him uneasy, as if he were abandoning his post. Looking to the main corridor that ended at the gate room Carson noticed Staff Seargent Peters flanked by a squad of marines. Upon further scrutiny Carson was relived for the fact that the man wasnt in handcuffs and wore his marine combat uniform with pride. At his side was Lt. Aiden Ford who kept tossing uneasy glances at Peters. The poor lad couldn't help it Carson thought since it had been Peters who had been able to subdue the good Liutenant who was under the influence of the Wraith emzyme.

"Liutenant, Seargent." Carson greeted.

"Doc." Ford greeted with a smile. "He's all ready to go."

"Aye, And you Liutenant?" Carson asked.

"Going home for some leave I have saved up. Besides, after recent events I think I need to get out of Atlantis for a while and spend some time with my family." There was an uncomfortable silence that follewed that statement. Carson could understand how he felt, he'd witnessed just how hard the young Liutenant had taken what he'd done when the emzyme had finally worn off, Ford hadn't been quite the same cheerful fellow since. Some time with his family would be good thing for him, Carson just hoped it wouldn't be the last time he saw him. grudgingly Carson returned his attention to the Stargate.

Up on the Balcany crosswalk between the control room and Dr. Weirs office a lone occupant leaned against the railing watching the preceedings below, well not alone for long. It had been a custon of Elizabeth Wier to see teams going offworld off but this time she realized she had company in the form of Captain Jillian Thorne. Turning to face her guest Weir noticed that she seemed intent on the young seargent, so intent infact she didn't notice the good doctor until she was also leaning against the railing next to her.

"Saying your goodbyes Captain Thorne?" Weir asked lightly.

"I have a feeling I'll be seeing him again soon enough." Thorne answered.

"You two were close?" Dr. Weir asked.

"Were both different. Unique in our own respective ways its only natural that we would form a friendship based on our similar experiences." Thorne shrugged.

"uhh huh" Weir responded with a barely contained smile, this situation sounded very familiar. The Stargate activated at this point and just before peters and his entourage stepped through he turned to lookup at the walkway. Thorne offered a brief smile that Peters returned before he turned away and was gone."

"Just so you know." Weir began again when the Stargate deactivated "I've been studying up on military protocal." Thorne didn't exactly know where Dr. Weir was going with this line of conversation. "Particularly the rules of franternization. I'm no expert now but I don't believe those rules apply to your situation the same way they do to certain others. For one thing you're not in the same chain of command and two your not in the same service." Thorne gave her an amused look. "Just something to think about." Elizabeth said as she patted Thorne on the shoulder and went into her office.

Stargate Command,

United States, Earth.

General Landry was rummaging through his paperwork which unfortunatly consisted mainly of status report and mission after action reports, one the most alarming of which was a report relayed from SG-7 of the Jaffa and two of their frontier worlds being wiped out from unknown assailants, which was just what Stargate command needed to deal with right now landry thought darkly. turning to the initial report relayed from the newly designated Gateway station made for grim reading as well. Gagarin and Longbow were confirmed destroyed, the Odyssey was M.I.A and the surviving 304s all had extensive damage that would require time in drydock. In essence the 'fleet' was now effectively combat inefective. Meaning Prometheus and the 302 squadrons were now Earths only form of defense, since Daedalus was still five days out. Landry knew the IOA was already up in arms over this disasterous deployment of Earth resources, particularly as the Earth Alliance had failed to notify the SGC and the IOA of shadow technology and its deadly potency. Even now the IOA was preparing a delegation in the form of Mr. Woosley and Ambassador Shen Shioyox but Landry didn't hold out much hope for this meeting. Landry couldn't put his finger on it but it seemed there had been a sudden...shift in the Earth Alliance's attitude toward the SGC and Earth in general. Or had it been there all along and we're just now noticing it?

"General Landry sir?" Landry turned to find Cheif Master Sergent Walter Harriman standing at his door.

"What is it Cheif?" Landry asked bruskly. He really wasn't in the mood for more bad news but had the sneaking suspicion from the look on Harrimans face thats just what he was going to get.

"Sir Agent Barret and a Mr. Atwood are here to see you."

"Send them in." Landry said surpressing a groan. This Peters situation was another thing he'd rather not deal with right now but the NID and the Pentagon had been adament which meant in turn the IOA was adament as well.

Landry looked up in time to see two men enter his office. One was agent Barrett who needed no introduction the other was a stocky middle aged man who's polite smile unerved Landry slightly.

"Agent Barrett, Mr. Atwood welcome to the SGC." Landry stood to greet the two men shaking their hands in turn.

"Thankyou General." Barrett said then motioned to his companion. "May I present Director Walter Atwood the new director of the NID." Now that came as a surprise to Landry since that particular piece of information wasn't covered in the NID's communique. Catching Landry's surprised look Barrett quickly explained. "Mr. Atwood has only recently been appointed to the head of the NID. When he heard of the developing situation in Atlantis he decided to personally investigate the matter." Landry turned to face the head of the NID square on.

"And why would the Director of the National Intelligence Directorate be interested in this situation?" Landry asked cautiously.

"Lets just say that I have some personal experience regarding this matter General." Atwood replied diplomatically. Landry motioned for both men to take their seats as he sat down in his chair.

"Be that as it may Director Atwood I'd like to know why it was so important to turn over one of the Atlantis's expeditions finest soldiers. The man has done nothing wrong except for the fact he's different." Landry observed.

"Did you read the communique we sent you?" Atwood asked knowing the General had.

"I have." Landry confirmed. "Im still finding it a little hard to wrap my brain around the concept but the man has proven his loyalty to this command. I personally don't care if he's a member of this new species your report keeps going on about. I've always tended to take the measure of men one at a time, not judge an entire race based on the actions of a few extremists."

"We're not judging the entire race General." Barrett said quickly.

"And yet the first thing you do upon discovery is demand we turn him over for debriefing."

"Its a long complicated story General. One that I don't have time to go into." Atwood stated curtly.

"Then Im not releasing him to your custody until I get some answers and a guarentee that he wont be harmed."

Atwood sighed then withdrew a cell phone from his pocket. "General with just one press of a button I can have the secretary of Defense on the line. And he can order you to hand over Staff Seargent Peters."

laughing slightly in amusement at this not so subtle (and innefective) form of intimidation Landry motioning to the red phone on his desk " What a coincidence all I have to do is press a button to take this to his boss if I need to. Your oh so subtle attempts at intimidation don't scare me Director Atwood and I don't like people screwing with those under my command, be they human, alien or Dominant."

"What are you proposing General Landry?" Atwood said with an impresed look on his face. It occured to Landry that the man might not have expected the General to stand against him on this matter, of course he didn't know Hank Landry and Landry was a firm believer in taking care of those under your command.

"If we do this I want my people present." Landry stated firmly.

"Out of the question." Atwood said with an emphatic shake of his head.

"General when it comes to internal matters of National and Planetary security the N.I.D takes the lead when investigating." Agent Barrett said.

"I am aware of your organizations mandate Agent Barrett." Landry responded. "It still doesn't change the fact I'm not going to let you have him unless my people are present."

"A joint investigation?" Atwood asked skeptically. "Is that what your proposing?"

"Exactly." Landry confirmed.

"And if we refuse?" Atwood asked.

"Director the last thing either of us need is another turf war." Landry's tone implied this was more so for the NID then the SGC's benefit since it was the SGC that typically came out on top in past scuffles between the two organizations. Still, Landry was smart enough to realize the importance of cooperation with the NID, and since this situation did present a problem to his command he wanted it delt with as soon as possible, and that required the help of the NID. "We stand more to gain by working together to quickly resolve this situation." And help move past the bad blood that still existed between the two organizations Landry didn't add.

Agent Barrett and Director Atwood shared a look at that statement, judging from the look on Barretts face he seemed willing to accept it, Atwood on the other hand was harder to read but Landry hoped the man was capable of seeing reason and not let the typical washington burrocratic ego get in the way.

"Very well General." Atwood began cautiously. "We'll play this your way, for now. However, special Agent Barrett will be in charge of this investigation." Atwood stated firmly. Landry wouldn't have had it any other way. He'd read Barretts record prior to his arrival and was impressed with the man's instincts; he'd already taken down four trust cells trying to breach facilities related in dealing with technology from the stargate and interdimensional gateway. In short he was as sharp as they came.

"Agreed." Landry confirmed after appearing to consider the option.

"So who did you have in mind to tag along with me General?" Barrett asked.

20 Minutes later

"Are you serious!?" Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell gasped in shock, feeling like he'd been hit with the mother of all haymakers. Having been called into Landry's office along with Dr. Jackson, Camron believed they would be leaving through the gateway in search of the still missing Odyssey as well as any survivors from the Headhunters. The mission he'd gotten instead almost caused him to loose his military bearing.

"Completly serious Colonel." Landry said curty. "You'll be leaving within the hour and you'll be assisting agent Barrett but more importantly you'll be keeping an eye out for Staff seargent Peters. I've got a feeling there's alot more to this then the NID is telling us."

"Wouldn't be the first time." Daniel remarked sardonically.

"Like what sir?" Mitchell asked.

"If I knew that I wouldn't be sending you now would I?" Landry asked with a trace of sarcasm. "In any event you'll be my eyes and ears on this."

"We're stretched pretty thin right now General." Daniel observed.

"More so then you know Dr. Jackson." Landry sighed. "The IOA has gotten comfortable with the idea of having a squadron of starships on hand to ward off any threat. Now we find ourselves almost in the exact same position we were in more then eighteen months ago when we first made contact with the Alliance. The IOA isn't exactly jumping for joy."

"what about the search and rescue sir?" Mitchell asked.

"Captain Gideon and Colonel Carter are already leading the Search and Rescue from the Excalibur along with a flotilla of over fifty Earthforce ships. Believe me Colonel they're as hopefull as we are of finding survivors, so I think they've got it covered. This Peters situation is quite frankly getting in the way and I want it resolved and I want it done now."

"And since Teal'c is with SG-7 on Dakarra..." Daniel began knowingly.

"That leaves just the two of you." Landry confirmed. "But you wont be alone you'll have Agent Barrett and Dr. Beckette who just arrived from Atlantis with Staff Seargent Peters."

"While were on this topic, what is the story on this Peters and his situation general?"

"We dont have time for the long version so I'll be brief. Apparently there is another form of humanity that has been here on Earth for some time and they don't exactly like us."

"Say again sir?" Mitchell asked with raised eye brows.

"You heard me correctly." Landry confirmed.

"So what is it we're investigating General?" Daniel asked.

"The origins of this supposed new species and discover their intent towards the larger body of humanity in general." Landry rose from his desk and led both men to the briefing room where Agent Barrett, Dr. Beckette, and seargent peters were already seated and waiting.

"Gettlemen please take your seats." Landry began without preamble. Once seated Landry turned his glower on staff seargent Peters. "Seargent Peters do you understand the situation we find ourselves in?"

"I do general." Peters answered.

"What can you tell us then." Landry asked.

"My people are fractured; split between two oposing camps. One favors coexistance while the other favors domination and extermination."

"Lovely bunch you got there." Mitchell snorted.

"To that end neither side has an advantage since both are roughly equal in terms of size, resources and influence over our people. Neither side has moved openly for fear of provoking the other."

"A Dominant cold war?" Daniel asked.

"In essence yes Dr. Jackson, but with humanity caught in the middle."

"You know, the more I hear about this the less and less I like it." Mitchell said.

"Then you're going to like what Im about to tell you even less Colonel Mitchell. The extremist element posses weapons, terrible weapons, Biological plauges that have been enhanced to deliver the maximum effect on an unsuspecting human population. Our scientist predict this would wipe out roughly seventy to eighty percent worst case scenario and up to as much as ninety in the best case." You could have heard a pin drop in the room it had gotten so quiet as none of the occupants had realized what was trully at stake. "Judging by your reactions Im sure you've come to the same conclusion as I have that this is unnaceptable."

Carson spoke up "I don't understand something, wouldn't your people be affected as well?"

"No doctor. The extremists developed vaccines for our people insuring that incase of a outbreak we would be immune."

"Dear God." Carson breathed. "Biological warefare." Peters only nodded in accent of the doctors assesment.

"Why?" Daniel asked his voice tight with tension. "I mean why do they feel the need to wipe us out?"

"The most primal instict known to man Dr. Jackson. Fear. My people feared discovery and what it would mean; our evenatual enslavement or extermination. That belief coupled with the fact many of our people believe that since we're stronger and smarter then you that makes us a superior form of life. Its not that hard to immagine that such an extremist group would form."

"So where do we start then?" Agent Barrett asked wanting to get down to buisness. How or why didn't really matter to him at this point, only that the extremists be found and neutralized.

Peters leaned back in his seat deep in thought. "I would suggest Los Angeles, Its where Dr. Sloan Parker and Dr. Ed Tate pioneered their work on my people. When they discovered what the extremists were up to they set about to find a cure. At present I do not know the status of their progress...if they've made any."

"Well we at least have a starting point." Mitchell pointed out looking to each member in turn. "I guess we're off to LA"

Geneva, Switzerland

Earth Alliance

Richard Woolsey wasn't used to being kept waiting, the gradual wearing down of the minutes serving quite nicely to heat up his growing frustration to boiling point. His presence here was not an errand he greatly relished but as a diplomat and envoy from the IOC it was part of his job, the proverbial rough that came with the smooth.

Finally he was called through, a pretty secretary ushering him through the door to the office of Senator McKinsey, the man responsible for the EA's dealings with the IOC and a man who O'Neill never went near without a crucifix and bottle of Holy water to hand.

"Mr Woolsey is it?" The Senator stood in his nicely furnished office within Earth Dome. "Take a seat."

"Senator." The Bald man said curtly. "I was hoping to address the President?"

"Susanna is a little busy right now." McKinsey said with feigned warmth. "But I have authority to act for the Earth Alliance. SO, what is on your mind?"

Woolsey cleared his throat, looked up and started.

"I have a few questions from my superiors, both military and civilian."

"Earth Alliance is always happy to help out our allies."

"Indeed." Woolsey said without conviction. "What is Shadow technology?"

McKinsey let his pleasant façade drop a little. "Dangerous question there representative."

"Why?" Woolsey pressed on.

"Shadow tech is a spectre that haunts these halls." The Senator answered. "One of the former President Clark's little pet projects, the sort of pet that swallowed you whole and absorbed your mind."

He smiled again.

"And I do mean that literally."

"So you have had experience with Shadow tech?" Woolsey asked. "personally?"

"No, not in person, I've just read about it, classified reports." He answered. "Most of it you'll have seen for yourself. The Shadows were an ancient race, uncounted millions of years old and they had perfected bio tech. They seeded that tech across the galaxy, encouraged others to experiment with it and in so doing moth closer to shadow ideals."

"Like Clark tried?"

"To an extent." McKinsey nodded. "See Shadow tech doesn't work by itself, not the stuff we had. You had to combine it with sentient beings to work. You'll probably find Minbari out there with Shadow tech in them, they'd be plugged into the hull to run the ship. Over time they became the ship."

"Absorbed by the bio tech." Woolsey guessed.

"Pretty much." McKinsey confirmed. "After Clark went we shut the whole thing down, way too illegal and unethical for continued development."

"So the EA has no Shadow tech?"

McKinsey shrugged. "Nothing you need to kill someone for, but we're still using some principles we uncovered. For example the Marathons have a hull alloy based on inactive Shadow tech mixed with Morbidium and refractive plates. But active Shadow tech? Too dangerous."

"So you've known this for quite a while then Senator?" Woolsey approached his point.

"I have."

"And you didn't tell our people at the SGC?"

McKinsey shrugged. "It never came up."

"never came up." Woolsey repeated. "Did you think it might be useful information to share, say before we went up against ships armed with this technology?"

"It was decided the information would not have made a difference." McKinsey said.

"Really?" The IOC man grunted. "And you thought you had the authority to make that decision for us?"

The Senator folded his arms. "I have the authority to decide what is and is not deemed acceptable for sharing, yes, that's my job Mr Woolsey."

"Then you're doing a piss poor job of it Mr Senator!"

McKinsey tightened his muscles. "I'm beginning to find your attitude a little off putting Representative."

"Catch up, because I'm way past off putting Mr Senator!" He lashed on some sarcasm. "You withheld valuable information from the SGC, information directly related to a threat we were facing!"

"I fail to see…"

"A threat which cost us two ships and a thousand lives!" Woolsey barked. "A threat that has put five of our ships out of action and left Earth with just one, count them Senator, one combat available ship for homeworld defence!"

"Are you blaming me for the loss of your ships?"

"You withheld information that could have saved lives!"

McKinsey laughed grimly. "I don't think so Woolsey, if anyone is to blame for your losses it's the undertrained gung ho attitude of your crews!"

"How dare you!" Woolsey slammed his fists on the desk. "Those people died fighting for your world!"

"They died because they were ordered to, because their superiors know how much profit they can make out of tech from my world!" McKinsey shot back. "Don't get all noble with me boy, this comes down to the same thing it always does, cost versus benefits."

"I can't believe it!" Woolsey sneered. "You're saying those people died so the SGC could make a quick buck?"

"More than that, so they can push forward their whole world centuries." The Senator replied. "You hold patents to designs that will make billions, trillions, more even! You're little group is worth a fortune, well worth a thousand lives and you know it."

"They fought to save lives!"

"Yeah, looks good on the news doesn't it? But don't play that game with me. You have as much to gain from this as we do."

Woolsey was bordering on fury.

"If you had revealed details on Shadow tech…"

"What? What would it have done?" McKinsey asked. "Made your ships faster, Stronger, made your weapons better? It would make no difference."

"We could have altered tactics, not gone charging in and…"

"And just let Earth Force bear the brunt while your ships flitter back and forth not getting their hands dirty?"

"That isn't what I was going to say! It isn't…"

"You know while we're on the subject of sharing, where the hell did those Asgard shields just show up from on the Excalibur?"

Woolsey narrowed his eyes. "They were a loan so you could fight back."

"A loan?" McKinsey nodded. "Your ships have them as standard."

"Yes, but…"

"But what? They're good enough for you but too good for us?" The Senator snapped. "We're not worthy of your main stream defences but hey, it's only Earth Force, give them our cast offs!"

"Your ships outgun any force in this galaxy!"

"Well clearly they don't or else they'd still be here wouldn't they?"

Woolsey bared his teeth. "We have treaties with the Asgard not to share their secrets."

"Really, so these agreements with Aliens are worth more than agreements with us?"

"When they can just make half your world vanish in the blink of an eye, you're damn straight they mean a lot to us!"

"And when the lack of those systems can make half my world vanish in the blink of an eye, then what?" McKinsey pressed. "You save your own skins, do only what is required. Don'tt ry and take the moral high ground representative. You whine about a thousand dead, we lost thirty thousand! The Minbari are in a full scale civil war! You got off this light Woolsey and don't you dare forget it!"

"We are in a dangerous position Senator." Woolsey said coldly. "A position we need not be in save for helping you!"

"And without our help what position would you be in anyway? Without our shipbuilding techniques, weapons and power technology, what then?"

"We'd have more than one ship over Earth!"

"One ship and a whole bunch of EA built defence satellites!"

"That haven't been modified to face the threats the IOC is confronted with at home!"

"Not my problem, we did our part." McKinsey shot back. "And when you get called upon to do yours, you whine at the cost. Any failings are yours, not mine!"

"Need I remind you we helped save this world three times and counting?"

"Helped Woolsey, helped being the word." McKninsey pointed. "We'd have made it fine by ourselves."

"Maybe next time you can try!"

"And maybe next time you want something from us I'll make you crawl on your knees for it!"

Woolsey shot to his feet. "You haven't heard the last of this Senator!"

"Nor have you Representative." McKinsey sneered.

The Proxima Star System

One day later.

The Debris field was slowly dispersing, the untold thousands of tons of metal, crystal and bio-armour scattering across millions of cubic miles. The local authorities would have to recover as much as possible, such debris was a major shipping hazard and the Belt Alliance stood to make a tidy profit from so much scrap, but there were other priorities first.

Swarms of small ships combed the site of battle, scanning and seeking survivors. They ranged in size from tiny shuttles to full sized warships, immense destroyers slowly pushing through the wreckage with surprising care and consideration. The heavy ships used their sensors to try and pick out life signs, energy signatures, air pockets, anything that could signal a survivor. When they did the smaller ships darted forward, dragging the wreckage back to the parent ship so it could be pried apart in safety.

Prominent among the rescue efforts were the core of the IOC fleet, the four operation ships of the 304 type. They had taken a beating from the huge numbers of enemy ships and most bore the scars of battle, molten armour, deep silver edged hull breaches, well used guns and empty missile silos among them. They were however still largely in one piece though they'd each require several weeks yard time to become fully operational again.

The battle had been won and the tremendously powerful enemy flagship had met its match, but the toll was still high. Two IOC ships had been lost and a third was still missing, the EA and Narn had lost their most elite squadrons, and the Minbari had seen their best warriors wiped out fighting one another. It was a disaster for all sides, especially as all four groups had much more pressing external threats to confront at the same time, either Drakh, or Goa'uld, or Wraith, or any number of others. The actions of the Windswords were regarded with incredulity, no one understood what they hoped to gain from this or how such violence served them. It made no sense.

"I think we've got another one." Sam Carter spoke up. "Possible life signs, four or five I'd guess, up on the right."

Captain Gideon glanced over, then turned to his First Officer.

"Okay Lieutenant, let's get some ships out there."

The Excalibur waited in the centre of the efforts, as the largest vessel it was the natural choice as centrepiece. Its corridors and cargo bays were already full of people in various states of injury and distress, much like the other vessels trawling through space. A small group of recovery craft rushed out and grappled the designated piece of wreckage, clawing it back to the ship where it was brought into the hangar deck and rapidly cut to pieces. A small group of injured people were recovered safely, though by this time it was becoming less and less common to find living survivors.

"Put us back on search pattern." Gideon ordered. "We've still got a lot of space to cover."

"Hell of a mess out there." Matheson remarked.

"You were expecting flower beds Lieutenant?" Gideon jostled a little. "From what I heard this was a nasty fight."

"Sure looks that way." The Telepath agreed, utilising his own skills to seek out survivors. "Latest reports from Minbar say there's a full scale war going on between the two main clans."

"After this I can believe it." Gideon sighed. "This whole Alliance thing went down fast. Things are falling apart."

"It'll hold together." Matheson said simply. "We're in a war, we have to."

"Maybe, but if it can happen to the Minbari, it can happen to us too."

"Captain, I think I finally got something." Carter called. "Very faint trace on the sensors, but it looks like Trinium."

Gideon turned. "Some debris?"

"A hull fragment, not enough to account for the loss of a ship though."

"So the Odyssey could still be in one piece."

The Odyssey had been out of touch since the start of the rescue operation, no trace of her had yet been found among the other detritus.

"If she's out there, based on the vector and location of this fragment, she was heading for Proxima IV."

"Hope they didn't hit the place, the wildlife down there is lethal." Matheson grimaced. "Jurassic Planet."

"I suggest we send a ship to check it out, follow up the lead." Carter spoke. "Best one we've had."

Within a minute the Korolev was advancing through space at high speed, her sensor network peering through space for a sight of her sister. The Russian owned vessel had been acquired by rather dubious means but had been handled well in the fight with Colonel Checkov distinguishing himself and his crew.

"I have a strong signal sir." His Executive announced, tapping the still English written controls. "Could be them."

"Move in." Checkov ordered. "Odyssey, this is Korolev, respond."

"No answer sir."

The Colonel huffed. "This is Korelev, respond, if you can hear me, respond."

"Approaching visual range sir."

"Very well, let me see."

There was a brief moment of expectation, and then the image appeared on screen, an almost intact 304 type warship. Checkov could not restrain a laugh as the sensor data flowed in confirming it still had atmospheric integrity.

"There she is!" He beamed. "Inform Search command we have her!"

The crew set about informing their associates, and soon several ships were on their way to join them.

"Colonel, I read sensors and engines are down on the Odyssey. Looks like comms damage too."

"No doubt why she was so elusive."

"She looks solid, but scans show she has well over a thousand people aboard."

"Must have picked up some other survivors." Checkov guessed. "Bring us along side and prepare to beam aboard some of those people, share the load a little."

"Yes sir."

"Then send me over, I shall bring good news!"

The grinning Russian flickered, then materialised on the bridge of the Odyssey, chuckling at a surprised looking Emerson.

"Comrade!" He exclaimed merrily. "The Russian Federation offers a helping hand."

"I'll be glad to take it." Emerson grinned, the two Colonel's shaking hands with clear relief. "We were getting pretty short on air down here, life support took a beating along with everything else."

The bridge was full of people, not just the duty crew but numerous EA staff and a few Rangers too. Many were in rough shape, scorched and dirty, but they were alive and that counted for a lot.

"We will move these people to safety." Checkov said. "More ships are on the way."

From the bridge crowd a blue jacketed officer stepped up.

"Colonel, what happened?"

"Colonel Checkov, Captain Ivanova." Emerson introduced. "We beamed her clear of her ship before it went south."

"A lucky escape." Checkov nodded. "We won Captain, the Excalibur defeated the traitor flagship. It harmed no one else."

Ivanova was clearly glad of the news. "Well done Matthew Gideon."

"That is a Saint Petersburg accent is it not Captain?"

Ivanova smiled slightly. "And I'd put yours as just outside Moscow."

"Good ear Captain." Checkov laughed. "We will get you back home soon."

As they spoke several of the more injured people were beamed away, swiftly relocated to dedicated medical vessels.

"We will take you under tow to Proxima." Checkov spoke to Emerson. "We have secured some dock space, President Sheridan has guaranteed us enough resources to patch up our damage."

"Should be enough to get us home for a full refit." Emerson confirmed. "Guess that's what it's like to fight a real battle."

"We won, we held it together, kept our tactics, and we won. What more could we ask for?"

Emerson recalled the burning wrecks of the Longbow and Gargarin, the sea of shattered allied ships.

"We paid our price for victory." He said simply. "We earned it this time."

ISA Excalibur

Gideon rose from his chair. "There she is."

"Odyssey confirmed." Carter smiled widely. "And she has other survivors including Captain Ivanova."

"What about Leonard?" Gideon asked about his counterpart. "Captain Anderson?"

Carter did not reply in words, just an apologetic look. "No confirmation. They recovered a lot of people from the Victory, but they haven't found him."

Gideon slowly looked down.

"He could be among the injured, or still out there…" Carter offered.

"Thank you Colonel." Gideon replied quietly. "I think we're done here. You have the bridge Lieutenant Matheson, keep searching this grid, I don't want to leave anyone behind out here. I know what that feels like."

He walked off the bridge in a dejected state, retiring to his quarters with a long sigh. He hadn't known Anderson well, but he knew him well enough to feel his loss and share great sympathy for his family.

He unbuttoned his jacket and activated the video screen.

"Computer, replay sensor record eighteen dash five dash nine."

The screen activated, showing the mass of the Drala D'Vost, the vile enemy vessel coated in Shadow technology. But he wasn't looking at it.

"Enhance grid four." He ordered. "Magnify."

Part of the screen altered, sharpening up to show a tiny object near Saturn highlighted against the yellow world. As the image cleared it revealed the profile of an EA Warlock class Destroyer, but not a normal one. Like the Minbari ship it was clad in black and surmounted by long spines.

A Shadow tech warship, a human one. After all the denials and outrage, they still existed. Gideon stared at it with cold hatred, seeing in that ship a glimpse of an enemy more dangerous than any Drakh.

"Computer, copy record to this terminal only. Then delete all traces on my authority."

"Confirmed."

He took the crystal from the terminal, squeezed it in his palm, then locked it away. He had other things to do right now, but soon, very soon, he would find that ship and those who built it.

Centauri Prime

Royal Palace

Londo's distressing eyes slowly glazed at a nearby window veiled by white and silky drape, a peculiar precaution enacted the day he became the Emperor of the Centauri Republic. Every window of the throne room was covered, thus obscuring the view in both ways and it was deliberately done by the Drakh to keep Londo in submission. It was simply a torture, both psychologically and emotionally, and it was a simple but very effective method - loneliness. All these years he was confined to loneliness sitting alone in the throne room at the mercy of Keeper.

Londo sighed as the thought of being not a free man and tormented by the fate and his 'masters' until his death frightened him to the core. He considered about committing suicide time to time. What I have done so much to entice this fate, Great Maker?

His actions, ambitious greed, and arrogance bought him to a dreadful fate that greatly worried him about his people and the civilization of Centauri Republic slowly being dismantled by Drakhs, and it was their revenge for killing their beloved masters on that island with fusion bombs. Indeed, the words of Morden about the retribution was being carried as promised, and now his head was sitting top of a pike completely exposed to the natural element, it had rotted down to the bone. He wondered if Morden's head was smiling at him at present. His demeaning yet sinister smile indeed did have a powerful signify behind it. Whenever he smiled, the trouble followed. The trouble did come to him.

The keeper's mere presence reminded him how deadly yet powerful the influence of the Shadows still linged long after their great departure.

Chaos. Destruction. Death.

These three principles were what all the Drakh wanted - they demanded for it as a measure of the punishment for the deaths of their Shadow masters and its minions on that fated day. He blew up an island with three fusion bombs killing nearly all of them.

He closed his eyes and remembered a very particular day on Babylon Five several years ago that set fate in motion. That was his meeting with Modern at busy area. It took him long time to realize how badly he underestimated the gravity of situation. Ah yes, that day I bought a great misfortune on myself and my people thank to my greed and ambitions. I wished I could change all that.

"My associates need a voice and an ear in the Centauri royal court. If you violate the terms of our agreement, my associates may turn their eye toward your home world." Morden frowned.

"Then, we shall pluck it out." Londo replied coolly.

Morden stepped up into Londo's face and his voice filled with anger. "If you put yourself between us and our objectives, you may come to regret it."

"There is nothing you can do to me, Mr. Morden ...that has not already been done. Good day."

The associates indeed did kept Morden's promise of reprisal for not abiding the terms he made with the Shadows which their sinister influence run very deep almost anywhere in the galaxy, that was the price he paid for underestimating Morden and his associates.

The doors whispered open, interrupting his alone and silent moment of self-reflection followed by presence of a royal guard. The guards head bowed as he entered the throne room. It seemed that someone important was waiting outside the throne room. The young guard glazed directly at his emperor and spoke, "Your majesty, Lady Morella wishes to see you."

Londo looked up surprised, nearly elevated at mere mention of the seerer who foretold him of the terrible future. He chuckled, sipping a cup filled with Centauri's finest alcohol, and glanced at his left shoulder where the keeper remains but unconscious from the alcohol's influence.

At first, it was an accidental discovery when Londo tried to drink himself into intoxication or even unconsciousness in attempt to put a painful torment behind him only to discover the keeper was rendered cataleptic. It was a simply effective method to do anything without Drakh knowing it, even for a brief time.

Only briefly. It was enough to do something useful.

He gestured to the guard with a subtle smile. Finally, nothing would please him more than Lady Morella visiting him. "Bring her in and you will remain outside the room. Go now."

"Yes, your majesty" The young guard bowed his head, spun around, and exited to inform her that the emperor wished to see her privately.

It did not take long before the seerer strolled into the room alone and unescorted with her eyes remain fixed on Londo. The emperor used to an ambitious noble man who betrayed the dream of her deceased husband during his visit to Babylon Five when he and late Refa shattered it by starting a devastating war with the Narns. That path led to a destruction and devastation inflicted on the Centauri Prime at the hands of combined Narn and Drazi fleet several years later, it was for revenge for what the Centauri have done to them. Not mention to the fact the Vorlons nearly destroyed it with a dreaded planet killer before Sheridan told them to get the hell out of galaxy at very last minute the planet killer was powering up to eradicate all life forms on the Centauri Prime. Londo had bought the wrath of so-called associates on his home world.

"Londo!" She said with a faint smile as her eyes glazed at Londo's left shoulder. He was quick to catch that this woman no doubt was fully aware about the Drakh and his keeper due to her extraordinary ability - foreseeing the future.

"Lady Morella! I am pleased that you are here. You have no idea how grateful I am to have you in my company! It had been awhile since we saw one another eyes to eyes."

She smiled sadly at Londo. "You became Emperor!"

"Now we know who will die, I finally understood what you told me and Vir years ago." Londo nodded his head and sipped a cup slowly. He spoke up with confidence he had on the knowledge. "I suppose your presence has do something with a human ship, one that does not belong to our universe?"

"Yes." Morella said as she looked around the throne room and noticed the windows covered with white drapes. She realized that it was their way to keep the Londo in submission, doing their bidding. "It changes nearly everything. A New future had come to me. The future is no longer the same as the one I told you on Babylon 5."

Londo's face grimaced, not liking his current predicament let alone a new destiny. "The future is always very reluctantl at revealing what await us." He remembered what Morella told him about the future being reluctant. "Yes, I recalled that conversation we had between us on Babylon Five, lady. I have new recurring dream that began months ago, it showed me a different one. "

"The future is always changing. We create the future, with our words, with our deeds, and with our beliefs. That ship changed your future and it is my hope that it may give you a chance for a better end." She raised her arm and pointed at Londo. "You still have one last chance of redemption and you will know when you see it."

Londo chuckled dryly and drank one more. "It's good to know the chance of having redemption is still there but that would unfortunately require my death anyways."

"Yes. Take my hand." She extended her right hand to Londo. "I have something to show you."

He was petrified to see a glimpse of his new future especially his horrifying demise. Here in this room he would die at hand of one-eyed and aged G'kar in the future. Something urged him to take a chance and he did. He hesitantly reached out and firmly clasped her hand.

He gasped for air as something entered his head and his right arm stiffened. It was the images of his new future.

He saw a fiery and giant hand was reaching out of the sun and it was his hand. It was reaching toward the Centauri Prime. He remembered what one of technomages named Elric told him of his future. The fate of his home world and billions of the people was now at his hand. They were already his victims when he took the crown.

The city was on fire. The outlines of city was illuminated by raging and blistering flames as they slowly spread from a building to another, some buildings exploded and crumbled down into ground. It didn't take him very long to recognize it was the capital city. Walking down the ruined street, all he saw were plenty of dead bodies spewed all over the street and in the building, they were Drakh and Centauri soldiers stumped cold in great numbers. He turned his head toward the sounds of intense gunfire. Londo wanted to see the battle but the ground rumbled faintly. The dusts and tiny debris danced all over the ground trembling. His head arched upwardly toward dark skies and saw hundreds of Drakh vessels roaring overhead, they have come to seek the ultimate revenge on his beautiful and glorious world long damned by his ambition.

Now Londo found himself in a different place, very alien and murky perhaps somewhere inside the alien starship. He vaguely remembered this place from his new recurring dream. He dreaded of what he saw in front of him - older version of himself kneeing down on a solid floor, bruised and weak but his pride was still intact. He could see few visible bloodstains on the older emperor's royal clothes and royal medallion was missing. He took a look around the room noticing that older Londo was not alone, kneeing next to him was visibly aged G'kar with an eye patch, like his older counterpart he was battered although he took it far worse than older Londo. His fierce eye stared into his captors, the Drakhs.

He knew what unimaginable things they have done to his future self and G'kar. He had seen what the Shadow minions and allies have done to their victims long before he ascended to the highest power of Centauri Republic. It was simply horrifying and wantonly suffering for anyone to endure.

Undeterred by dire situation they have found themselves in, older Londo mustered all his strength to stand up slowly and steady and stared at G'kar silently for a moment. The next moment that took the Drakhs by surprise was when he quickly retrieved a small, short blade that was hidden in his collar and sliced a fine line on his right palm, and took few steps toward G'kar.

With a loud grunt coming from a Narn, G'kar did same thing as he stood up and slashed his hand with a concealed blade, staggered toward a battered Centauri attempting to reach for older Londo's extended hand. Both of them looked at each other in silence and started to laugh, their laughter confused their captors who wondered if both of them have gone insane.

Older G'kar turned to a particular Drakh whom Londo recognized him as the leader of Drakhs, his name was Shiv'kala and he was responsible for placing a keeper on him. The Narn uttered a word with a smirk on his face and waved one-handed, "Bang!"

As for his older self, he seemed to be enjoying this moment and laughing. "As for you, my nemesis for years, you are very stupid enough to let me on your ship. Go to hell." He reached out and grabbed G'kar's hand. "Boom!"

Shiv'kala tensed up as he realized what was going on and he let out a scream. A brilliant, seething light surrounded them followed by intense heat. It came from Londo and G'kar.

Londo was back on the surface of Centauri Prime, this time on Royal Palace. He wondered why the prophecies seemed to be centered near or on the Royal Palace. Perhaps it signified an important site of the power and fate. Standing on the garden in the palace's backyard was four individuals, two adults and two young children, looking into a blue sky to see something. He wondered what they were looking at so he looked up only to see a second sun appearing in the sky in time. It was much brighter than a sun and it rapidly expanded before fading away completely. These people seemed unaware of Londo's presence. A young boy excitedly pointed at a dazzling illumination and a young girl gasped at the sight, recoiling into arms of a young woman who was standing next to a noble man. Londo's eye widens as he recognized this man, it was clear this person was older Vir with a royal Centauri medallion, a sign that Vir had became new emperor as foretold years ago. A young woman next to Vir looked very familiar to him, she used to be a young girl whom Londo took her into his care few years earlier after her foster family threw her out for some reasons. It dawned on him that she was daughter of decreased Lord Refa, Senna, all grown up. They looked sadden and comforted each other.

He stared at older Vir and whispered his name, "Vir…"

In single blink he found himself back at the throne room still grasping Morella's hand, disoriented and astonished, he just had seen the future especially his demise.

"Now you have seen the future." She took few steps toward the emperor and bend into his face. "That is your destiny."

"I saw some of your vision in my dream!"

"I am afraid it's a sure sign of your impending death, nothing had changed that part." She said. "The darkness still awaits you, Londo."

"That is a price of my past doings. I would rather pay them for my people and my homeworld rather than allowing them suffering for my doings." He replied. "However it is almost good to know that I wouldn't die by my friend's hands."

She walked toward one of the windows and peered through the curtains, seeing a beautiful sight of the city fully restored from the last attack. "Admirable… yet miserable."

"I and Lord Refa, we opened that door for the darkness to come to this world on the day he died." He said, sipping the cup. "How could we have known it?"

"You don't. Temptation ensured both you would never see it, so enticing in short term and very damaging in the long-term."

Londo didn't say anything, staring at Morella in silence and realized she was right.

"We already forgave you when you took the throne." She twirled with a serious looking on her face and her tone had changed. "You must heed the vision, it will be one of a few aids in the future you will ever have. It will lead you to your last redemption. Now, we must bid you farewell and we are afraid that our time together is dwindling." Her eyes made a beeline toward the emperor's shoulder, a subtle clue he immediately picked on indicating the keeper would wake up soon. "We have faith in you with our world in your hands. Make no mistake, we will not see you again, this is our last time we will see eye to eye. Farewell, your majesty."

Good grief, her late husband must be speaking through her, it had been years since last time she spoke like that way. Londo froze. He was surprised by the change of her tone although he took his time to bid her a final farewell.

"Thank you…" Londo said with a nod. "…for having a time with me and giving me a little hope. Farewell, Lady Morella."

She bowed with a sad smile in final respect to her comrade who used to beg her to grant his wish for years, seeing the future, and departed the throne room leaving him alone to his imminent destiny, a cruel but embraced fate. Last thing she heard from the emperor was a soft sigh before departing the room.

Morella was greeted by a presence of one of her loyal followers – an intimidating-looking Centauri male in civilian apparels, standing next to a pair of royal guardsmen guarding the entrance of throne room.

"Lady, they are already taken care of." A Centauri male reported and smiled at the guards standing still mindlessly. He used to be a royal guardsman serving late Emperor Tuhran and Lady Morella retained his service after death of his husband. He was a high-level telepath, making him a very useful asset to her. "They wouldn't remember us being here within five minutes."

"Good, we wouldn't want whoever lingers in the shadow aware of our intentions." She said and pointed at other side of the hallway. "We need to leave here, come."