Record keeping: "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. He's just a kindly old man."

Well actually it's an Adolph Hitler clone named William Morgan Clark.

This man, this character, was, as I said before, never given any lines to speak. He was always in the background but he was present in every situation involving Earth Alliance during those days of civil war and before. The fact that he was never really given front role status in 'Babylon Five' makes him all the more terrible. Forget the fact that he gave the orders to bomb Mars Colonies and a bunch of others as well as trying to take over B5. He created the Ministry of Peace and the Ministry of Justice. He allowed reeducation camps. He made thousands of people 'disappear'. He openly terrorized his own people and colonies. He initiated a scorched Earth policy, willing to destroy every living thing on Earth because he was about to be kick out of power. He actually pushed the button! What can you imagine he would have done if he had extended his rule to aliens? Do you believe he would not have started a cleansing program?

Cartoon character? He could be compared to one.

If we were to create characters like Stalin and Hitler and a host of real-life others, people would call them comic characters, because all of useven now we can't fully comprehend that people could be so truly evil…and have other people willingly follow such filth.

Was Clark a monster? Beyond a shadow of a doubt and he has a huge number of real-life counterparts that we thnkt God every day don't have the power to do what they really want to.

Please enjoy

Chapter XIX

BOOK II

'Clark Rules'

EarthGov: Earth Alliance

Seat of Power location: Geneva, Switzerland.

Presidential suite

Time: 9:45PM

President Clark's secured tablet beeped, letting him know his expected visitor had arrived right on time. It was a good thing, too. He was expected at a dinner honoring his latest victory over the last of the Minbari holdouts (for which he was glad he was having this meeting now (those dinners were boring and why did those dinners have to be so late?). The remaining warrior clan and their pathetic squadron of ships had nevertheless been a thorn in his side. With the new Earthforce's faster ships equipped with shields patrolling Earth Alliance territories and hunting down the Minbari-turned-pirates, their days were finally numbered and that predication was proven right. They were finally caught and completely demolished, marking the end of all space-borne Minbari resistance.

The reservation located on a desert world, was now completely pacified with no hope of outside support. They could now die out in peace while Earth colonize their old world. He gave permission for that years ago as a fitting recompense for everything they had done to Earth and its colonies. It wasn't as if the survivors of the bio-weapons attack were leaving the reservation planet ever again, they were dying as a species anyway. Their reproductive system had failed. They were going extinct and he believed it couldn't have happened to a better race.

It also was delicious irony. Extinction for a species that tried to kill him and every person on Earth just because humanity killed one of their lousy leaders in an incident that they were responsible for in the first place, and eternal life for him the true lord of Earth and humanity, (and a select few other important leaders of the new Supreme Earth Alliance). He found that balance more than acceptable.

EarthDome security knocked politely and opened the door to allow an older, immaculately dressed, white-haired man to enter. He was about six feet two and had a laid back (upon first impression) manner. The man smiled and respectfully nodded. His greeting exuded humility.

"Hello Mister President."

Clark wasn't fooled by this man's demeaner for a moment.

This man wasn't some simpleton, some throw-away messenger boy. He was a high-level courier, one of the chosen of the associates he'd never laid eyes on. This man was not someone to be trifled with, so Clark allowed himself to be respectful in kind. After all, he was a premier diplomat himself. And being a diplomat, his instincts always scream not to call this man by his first name. However, the man never actually offered his surname in their several meetings and Clark never asked because although he wouldn't admit it, he was always afraid when in Jason's presence, unlike the other man Mister Morden who also was a courier and an agent of the Associates. There was something about the man that made him wary though that feeling didn't stop him from meeting with the man.

Those concerns didn't mean that he didn't know who he really was. Facial recognition had identified the man as Jason McGuire, an archaeologist stationed on an IPX survey ship that was declared missing years ago as it explored the Rim. The entire crew of the ship have been officially labeled as lost but Clark knew that several of them had survived including a woman of interest named Anna Sheridan, the traitor John Sheridan's wife. For some reason they had changed allegiances and now followed their alien associates. He never understood the reasons why they did so, but it really didn't matter because they had helped him achieve his dream. He had even stopped asking for Mrs. Sheridan whom he wanted to use as bait for that traitor husband of hers.

Jason had requested this meeting which made Clark somewhat nervous. His alien associates had done him a favor, a major one and now it was a good possibility that they were coming to collect. Those associates of his had never asked for anything even though they had given him the world literally. He suspected that the price is going to be very high but he was willing to pay it as long as it didn't cost him his own life. His personal safety was paramount and it was because of this that reason why he had hidden weapons systems placed in his office. Right now, they were locked onto the stranger. If Jason tried anything that Clark consider the threat, then them man will receive an automatic death sentence by PPG. It was a well-known fact that Clark never inactivated those weapons systems while he was in his office, especially while he was alone. This man and his associates had done him a great favor but that didn't mean that he wouldn't kill them in a second if he believed that his life was in danger.

"Jason, I'm glad to see you and please call me Morgan," Clark said pleasantly. It was quite out of character and a testament at how seriously he took the man's associates. Only a few people called him Morgan and those who did knew it was a sign of trust that the president bestowed on those of importance.

"Mister. President, Morgan. it is good see you again. I must apologize for my delaying of this meeting however had to travel very long way to get to see you," Jason spoke. "I know that your time is very valuable so I won't keep you long. My associates have been very pleased by your progress and they wanted me to tell you that they wish you to continue doing what you doing for the benefit not only of Earth Alliance, but for the galaxy at large. They see the need for strong leader believe that leader is you. Because of changing circumstances, my associates will be leaving this part of the galaxy for undetermined period of time. Because you've done such a great job, they wished you to know this. They also wish me to inform you that because of your service and effectiveness in changing the face of the galaxy they officially acknowledge that you no longer owe us any debts."

Morgan Clark was very relieved, but he was also very suspicious. No one ever gave anything to anyone for nothing and here they were releasing him from a debt that he knew he was required to someday pay back. There had to be a catch. "Jason, I don't understand what you trying to tell me. Are you saying that I owe nothing to your associates?"

"That is exactly what I'm saying, Mister President. They have found you to be quite capable. They also believe you're quite capable dealing with the Centauri and Emperor Catagia. The man is quite unstable as you well know."

Both men knew that was an understatement. "Yes, I'm fully aware that," affirmed Clark. "He's quite insane."

"True." Jason smiled at Clark which sent shivers down his spine. "That is why my associates wish that you eventually deal with him as we know you must. But that is not a major concern at this moment. The Centauri are finishing off the Narn. It would take some time to completely integrate what's left of their society under Centauri rule and the Emperor will be busy dealing with that so there's no need for immediate concern."

That was excellent news because he had a lot of other projects to deal with before he dealt with the Centauri, namely the little war he had instigated already, which brought him back to his main question he been waiting to ask to Jason. "Have your associates found the home world of the Achilles and Jack O'Neill?"

"Yes, they have," Jason answered. The president's eyes lit up in excitement. This is what he was waiting for more than a decade. "Unfortunately," Jason continued, "that world is almost four months distant by jump space from the home worlds of the Colonies of Kobol. We have stationed buoys throughout jump space that will lead to the planet. But if you decide to go there then you would have to follow the directional buoys exactly, otherwise the eddies and storms will destroy your ships as they try to travel if they do not follow the exact course."

Clark barely heard the last of those words. His mind focused on retribution. To be within striking distance of his goal filled him with rarely experienced joy. As he calmed down, the analyst in him once again took over. He required more information. "Do you associates have any idea of the defense capability of that world? How many ships? How many allies, and what their capabilities are?"

"No concrete details," Jason lied. "We do know that they have approximately fifty warships capable of causing damage to Earth alliance war vessels. We also know that their allies are fractured and have tendencies to fight among themselves. Those allies are days away using their type of FTL which gives you an idea of how far they are from Earth."

Clark nodded. He knew that the Achilles and the Prometheus were incredibly fast so he calculated that the world's allies had to be dozens of parsecs away at the very least. His mind refocused on Jason who was continuing to speak.

"It would take time to come to the world's aid if they were called in the first place. Their alliance is not stable. Aliens," Jason sniffed, causing Clark to smirk. Other than these associates, whom Clark didn't fully trust either, aliens were rarely to be trusted. "For all intents and purposes, that world is a world alone, relying only on itself."

Clark felt absolutely ecstatic although again he didn't show it. "Do you have any idea of how much they've advanced since we last saw them?"

"They haven't really advanced that much since they were last here in our universe," Jason lied again. "Despite some of the technologies they got from their alien allies, they are still basically stuck in the 21st century mindset. Most of the countries on that planet are fractured and there's a lot of infighting as you would expect for their time period which emulates our Earth. There is very little trust between the major nations of the world. When you're ready to strike it would not be against the unified world but against a fractured one so you should be able to do what you plan," Jason darkly added. "However, a word of warning. Do not underestimate them or you may suffer unacceptable losses."

This is what he wanted to hear. He had directions to O'Neill's planet. once he finished with the Colonials, he would have a base from which to finish what he had originally started so many years ago. It meant changing plans for being a simple raid to an established base of operations against the faux Earth.

"No, I won't underestimate them," the President dismissed.

Jason handed him a data crystal with all of the information that the president had wanted. Three hundred ships would be more than enough to eliminate all resistance although the cost would be high. Once that was accomplished, the GROPOs would do their job and take what was rightfully his. Then the fake Earth burn and what was left of O'Neill, Colonel Taylor and the Achilles along with it.

"My associates wish to once more thank you for what you have done. One day we may return to renew our friendship. They also wish to give you a gift from this other universe. The gifts will be delivered to you in two days."

William Morgan Clark looked at the man warily, his excitement all but vanished. He was one to always look at a gift horse in the mouth he didn't trust gifts freely given. "What is this gift that your associates are offering us?"

"It is a device that we have discovered in this other universe that allows instantaneous transport of people and materials from one star system to another safely. The distance is limited only by the amount of power that you invest. It is called a stargate and we are delivering three of them to you. Think of it as a type of intergalactic transit system. For example, if you have one stargate on Earth and another stargate on Proxima then all you have to do is dial the Proxima gate to activate and step through and instantly you're on Proxima. It is a great and wondrous device and giving you three of them for your own personal use. If you wish, two of the stargates can be set up and the third can be studied so that you can learn the secrets of instantaneous wormhole travel. Or you can place and use all three of them as you wish. These are long-distance gates so they can be only one per solar system but again, the distance of the placement is up to you and is determined by the amount of power you push into it. It is my associate's gift to you for being of such a great service to them.'

Clark frowned at the man. He had listened to the other world agent Daniel Jackson as he had described such a device during that last and only meeting. He didn't believe such a thing could exist and that the man was lying. Apparently, he'd been wrong. But to give such a gift was troubling. He knew he wouldn't have done it. "Why given us such a gift, not that I'm not appreciative but why you giving such wondrous devices to us?"

"There are many such gates in this other universe. Three of them will not be missed. Our universe needs such technology in my associates believe that you are the one to utilize them properly. Use them well, Mister President"

"Oh, I will," Clark answered. Already he could think of hundreds of uses for such devices, after he had been thoroughly checked out first, of course.

Later, after Jason had left office, President-for-life William Morgan Clark thought about the gifts he was promised and what he had learned from Jason. Four months was long time to be in jump space; however, it was worth it to get to Earth, correction O'Neill's planet, and exact what he wanted from them. Obviously, the associates had no idea of the treasure trove of technological advances that world had. And he wanted it all. His associates had told Jason that they had a limited number of warships available to defend the planet. Those words made Clark almost laugh. Their weakness would make it all the easier for him to do what he needed to do.

With so many things going on in so many relevant revelations it was going to be hard for him to sleep tonight but he would. Tomorrow was going to be a very busy day for him.

Safely on board his ship, Jason McGuire smiled to himself. The meeting had gone as well as could be expected with Clark. He was aware of the guns pointed at his direction but he didn't worry about it, neither did his two associates who were with him. There was no real danger because Clark really wanted to know the information that Jason had. And again, the man smiled.

Clark thought that his associates were essentially stupid, or a more accurate way to describe it, he believed that his associates were less smart than he was.

In the room where Jason was, two Shadows, his associates, phased into view. They looked at him curiously.

"President Clark believes is like so many of the younger races. He thinks us fools not to realize the technological advances that this other Earth has. The only thing that he saw were his own plans and grab for power." One of the arachnoid-like looking aliens to his left lowered his head and raised it in agreement. "The human does not realize that we understand all too well the dangers the Tau'ri represents to our plans. We have no intentions of allowing him access to such advanced and dangerous technology as the Vorlons learned to their sorrow."

"That's why you plan to destroy that world before Clark ever gets anywhere near it." The words were a statement, not a question.

"You understand the situation as well as any," the second Shadow intoned. "Their ability to resist our telepathy and mental probes makes them very dangerous and unknown factors that we cannot easily account for. Their power threatens us and we will not allow such a young race to stand against us."

"But are they really that young?" questioned the first Shadow.

"Yes and no," the second Shadow responded, much to Jason's confusion.

"We should study them."

"No, we have decided. We will kill them. Clark and his forces will find nothing but ashes when they arrive. He has enough power as it is and we need not allow him more. It is in our best interests to destroy the young race while they are still young enough to be contained."

Jason was somewhat surprised by the note of fear he heard in their voices about the Tau'ri. For Jason and the others, it was easier to use the name Tau'ri rather than Terrans as it avoided confusion among his own peers.

Some of the locals called them the Fifth Race. Neither he nor is masters knew what that meant. His masters however didn't like the sound of it. It was believed that they would one day become a middle-borne race and become that much harder to eradicate if allowed to continue their evolution.

If they were such a threat to his masters then the world needed to be eliminated. It had happened before and it would happen again. Such was the way of his masters will, and he trusted them to make the right decisions.

The Shadow transport passed through the dimensional rift without incident and vector towards its new home. His masters had a lot of work to do and several worlds to kill if they were going to make this new galaxy theirs. The Drakh and the planet killers were certain to do the job even against the Tau'ri.

Note: The rift or what wis know to Earth as the Achilles Rift, as stated in the beginning of the story is much larger than anyone suspects. The Achilles opened a tiny portion of it. I will go into deatils as to how the EA managed to get through.

Note 2" In WW the Earth Alliance did not come through the rift. In Shadows, the did. In Consequences of Actions by Ash's Boomnstick, he alone will decide if he tells that tale.

Take care people for now.