Going on the offensive is likely to wait, as the Earth Force fleet was badly maulled, there is alot of repair, refit, not to mention rplacement of lost ships, and personnel. I suspect that for now, scouting missions are being sent to locate targets. Then at least raids can planned.
Babylon 5 A Fighting Chance --- A Babylon 5 AU
- Thread starter Harlock
- Start date
mwkillkenny84
Well-known member
This, plus the migraines on the vein of "_Should_ we start to make combined fleets with our most direct allies to a) reduce pressure to our civies until the raiders will get the message that we have yet to start to croak and b) put pressure on the saner Minbari so to have them marginalize the bloodthirsty ones?"
Last edited:
Ghostking 666
Active member
There’s a difference between the standard meddling the Vorlons do to introduce telepathy into races and grabbing one of the resulting telepaths, taking them to the Vorlon home world and turning them into a telepathic super weapon. Lyta is not anyone’s standard.
Silverbullet
Active member
An like that I have a reason to not burn my workplace down and dance on the ashes. Need the monies for the interwebs.
Granted, However P12s could likely have detected Minbari at least enough to make sure gunner crews weren't firing blindly. Though their rarity would mean they would have to be on more heavily armored ships that were feeding targeting data to the others. Of course this would make Earth Fleets particularly vulnerable to decapitation strikes if or rather when a Minbari force figured it out. Still it's a fighting chance where before they were fighting blind in canon. It's all just speculation anyway since this story has solved that issue.
Granted, However P12s could likely have detected Minbari at least enough to make sure gunner crews weren't firing blindly. Though their rarity would mean they would have to be on more heavily armored ships that were feeding targeting data to the others. Of course this would make Earth Fleets particularly vulnerable to decapitation strikes if or rather when a Minbari force figured it out. Still it's a fighting chance where before they were fighting blind in canon. It's all just speculation anyway since this story has solved that issue.
Ghostking 666
Active member
No, they really wouldn't. EA ships could already tell where Minbari ships were, they could see them. What they couldn't do was target them because the Minbari stealth jammer was space magic pixie dust that could distort all none visual means of actually locking on to them(or at least those that didn't take a few minutes setting up) and at the distances space combat happens at in B5, sighting down the gun barrels wont do shit. So unless the telepath could give accurate targeting information, things like distance, baring, speed, direction and do so quickly enough to stop the Minbari from blowing up the ship(a difficult prospect considering how fragile EA ships are to Minbari weapons) and having a telepath on board wont change anything.An like that I have a reason to not burn my workplace down and dance on the ashes. Need the monies for the interwebs.
Granted, However P12s could likely have detected Minbari at least enough to make sure gunner crews weren't firing blindly. Though their rarity would mean they would have to be on more heavily armored ships that were feeding targeting data to the others. Of course this would make Earth Fleets particularly vulnerable to decapitation strikes if or rather when a Minbari force figured it out. Still it's a fighting chance where before they were fighting blind in canon. It's all just speculation anyway since this story has solved that issue.
Chris O'Farrell
Member
As I recall, Minbari Stealth does NOT protect against optical observation, at all. It screws with LIDAR, Radar, Microwaves and quite a few more esoteric sensors, but it does not do a damn thing against visual targeting. It's just that trying to use optical targeting in space at long range leaves you with a lot of incredibly inaccurate guesswork compared to fire control off radar and so on (although I think its canon that thanks to the Minbari war, EA secondary optical targeting is second to none during B5s run) - and its also the reason that when you are close enough, you're perfectly able to hit them. JMS himself has said as much. Ignoring of course the fact that in the TV shows they always fight at visual range, but you know, artistic license...
Anyway, moving on;
I think its clear that Earthforce has to take a time out and regroup itself. Its fleets have been in constant action for quite some time and they have taken heavy losses - if acceptable given the damage they have inflicted in return, which has been horrific, the Minbari pretty much have no mobile fleet units capable of strategic attacks on any scale. And especially with the Dilgar, Narn and Drazi fleets arriving shortly, there are enough ships to give Earth time to regroup (time which the Minbari if they had any brains would use to officially open negotiations but hey, Boneheads...).
In that time, Earth can decide which ships can be rebuilt, which ones are scrap and spare parts and which ones are able to be repaired for action again very quickly and cycled back out. Take the crews off the wrecked ships that are still fit to fight (although I'm sure most crews will be cycling down to Earth for at least a little shore leave and grave time) and rebuild the force. First thing will probably be a supply convoy (hopefully they didn't blow up ALL their freighters at the line!) to Beta to refurbish the two thirds of the fleet that couldn't come with due to needing supplies and repairs.
Given what Sheriden showed the Omegas were capable of, I can see Earthforce demanding every damn one that can be built, even at the expense of Novas and Hyperions - and especially collecting the veteran crews from wrecked ships and shoving them onto these new builds as the new core of Earthforce. But at least for the new few months, if Earth wants to take the offensive and put the Minbari on the backfoot given their lack of ships NOW, they'll need to work with their alien allies. Which actually works on several levels both strategically and politically. Earth can still form the core of the fleet and provide the ground forces but it also presents a much more horrible picture to the Minbari. It's not just the Humans attacking, they are now at war with at least four different powers - which can all be put down to the stupid idea of jumping fleets into their space and telling them to stay out of this fight or the Minbari are totally going to come back and fry their homeworlds!
Shadow Knight
Member
One thing to consider is with the EA retaking those systems that they lost those early fleets in they can attempt to recover any damaged/wrecked ships. Not saying they are going to recover or going to be able to fully repair a whole lot of ships but even a handful that could be repaired might be a nice bonus. Always good to control the battlefield after the fight.
Also I suppose with them winning so many "conventional" battles, i.e. not just in Hyperspace, they also have access to a lot of Minbari wreckage as well.
Also I suppose with them winning so many "conventional" battles, i.e. not just in Hyperspace, they also have access to a lot of Minbari wreckage as well.
There is probably little worth recovering from the EA wrecks besides the raw material. The Minbari weapons seem just too destructive against EA armor. But they might want to go through any Minbari wreckage with a fine-toothed comb searching for surviving pieces of advanced technology to reverse-engineer. They might find useful hints at everything from materials or power distribution to electronic, sensor and computing technology. Take a drive fin and see exactly what that is made of.
I'm expecting to at least see a Drazi fleet show up to assist in a future battle (if the fighting continues) which, if it occurs in an EA system, will lead to some Drazi wreckage to examine.
I'm expecting to at least see a Drazi fleet show up to assist in a future battle (if the fighting continues) which, if it occurs in an EA system, will lead to some Drazi wreckage to examine.
BF110C4
Well-known member
The EA had plenty of Drazi wrecks to covertly examine during the Dilgar War when they send a fleet to support that particular front, they even had plenty of live samples while helping ships in distress after a battle. Thing is that the Drazi ships are made simple on purpose to keep costs down and produce a larger amount of them to support their preferred swarm tactics, so no artificial gravity or complex tech they can get out of it.
If they feel the need to procure some technological samples of the League they will go for either Hyach spinal laser tech, or the Abbai for their shields.
Ghostking 666
Active member
Honestly, they might actually be able to trade their new sensor tech for League technology just like they are doing with the Centauri. The Minbari's stealth jammer field was their "I Win" button for battles against other Younger Races with the sole exceptions being the Yolu and possibly the Iksha. Like the Centauri, the Abbai, Hyach, Vree and Brakiri would be willing to give quite a lot to get their hands on those sensors, at least if the Dilgar don't beat Earth to doing so first(they might not need the Abbai and Hyach's technology(and possibly Brakiri but we haven't seen them use any of Graviton Pulser weaponry yet) but diplomatic relations and trading rights would be just as valuable for the Dilgar and they could always use more Vree technology).
Chapter 16
Harlock
I should have expected that really
16
Cyrus Colony
As strategy went it was actually pretty sound. With Branmer driving for the human homeworld naturally enough all available Earth ships had been recalled for it's defence stripping all of other sectors of their guardians. Even if Earth proved victorious, an unlikely but possible eventuality, their forces would be exhausted and out of position. It would take at least a week to reinforce the frontier which meant until then a bold commander might find some easy glory.
Shakiri was of course such a man, a born warrior and not one to allow a weakness to go unexploited. His failure to capture this star system a few weeks ago had stung him, the lives lost under his command screaming out for vengeance. Once again Branmer had ascended as the supreme commander of Minbari forces and Shakiri was quietly furious. He had to admit the old priest was good and certainly knew how to motivate his followers, but he was no warrior. He didn't have the ruthless edge a true born warrior possessed.
Today he would demonstrate it. Shakiri had determined to take the remaining ships at his disposal, those that had survived the previous assault and some reinforcements from home, and finish the job while the human fleets were depleted and distracted. He wouldn't be capturing any worlds, simply burning them to the ground. Here, Jericho, and the great prize itself Beta Durani which had eluded the Minbari since the beginning of the war.
On paper it was a good plan, the Council hadn't approved it but they had not forbidden it either. They wouldn't dare refuse him if he returned and threw the remnants of the Earth border worlds at their feet. Branmer may still be their darling but Shakiri would not allow himself to be overshadowed, and he absolutely would not let his humiliation stand.
His fleet arrived in good order, despite being a mixture of old and new units they had integrated well performing admirably. Each unit knew its place, assumed the correct position and formation, each of them waiting patiently for orders. Shakiri was prideful but not as foolish as many of his peers, he kept his distance and deployed scout ships to make sure he wasn't walking into a trap. He'd learned a hard lesson and to his credit had adjusted his tactics to compensate.
His problem was that Earth had adjusted it's strategy too. It had also anticipated the possibility that someone may seek to exploit the apparent weakness of drawing its best units back to defend the homeworld.
“Scouts are reporting back Alyt.”
Shakiri still winced at the title, it had honour but he had started getting used to being named Shai Alyt.
“What do they see?”
“Multiple enemy ships, nearly three hundred.”
“Three hundred?” The Minbari leader spat. “How? There should be no more than a handful!”
“I'm bringing them up on the display.” His aide paused, “And Alyt, I am receiving communications.”
“I have nothing to say to humans.”
“It is not a human.”
*
“Minbari Fleet, I am Supreme Warmaster Dar'sen of the Imperial First Strike Fleet. I am joined by Warleader Stro'kath of the Drazi, and Warleader G'Sten of the Narn. This frontier is under our protection, you will turn around and leave immediately. If you do so we will not follow, you may go in peace. If you do not we will defend this civilian colony with all deliberate force.”
He let the words linger for a while before delivering his second punch.
“If you force us to engage, then it will be considered an act of war against our respective nations and we will throw our full might behind the Earth Alliance. Consider carefully your next choices.”
He gave a short nod to the communications officer who ended the transmission.
“Now we get to take bets on whether he's going to open up three more fronts in this war.”
“No one can be that foolish or arrogant.” Battle Captain Fiy'jash spoke up, following her comments with a wince. “Can they?”
“It is fortunate you are not a gambler Captain.” The old commander smiled. “We'll find out.”
Much as he may not want to display it Dar'sen was really enjoying himself. He had been one of the driving powers of the new Dilgar and the society they were trying to form. While the Emperor ruled his failing health meant it was Dar'sen as Supreme Warmaster who was entrusted with the nation. It was not something that left him much time for anything else, and while rewarding he was still a warrior at heart.
Getting back in the fight wasn't something he expected, but when the opportunity arose he wasn't going to ignore it. Strictly speaking Dal'shan should be here commanding this fleet, but as it also contained Narn and Drazi elements he'd been able to justify his presence as a diplomatic necessity. At least until after it was proven all three alien fleets could work together.
That it gave him a chance to command a combined fleet in full scale battle was a bonus. Especially as he could finally join battle with Stro'kath once again, but this time as allies.
“Dilgar Warmaster.” A gruff voice responded curtly over the tachyon link. “This is not your concern, leave the area and do not impede our retribution. This war is just, do not involve yourselves.”
“Minbari Commander, this war is not just. We will not allow civilians to...”
“He shut it down.” Fiy'jash sighed in disappointment.
“Bet you're glad you didn't put any money on it.” Dar'sen smiled, secretly very pleased that he could indulge himself once more. “Launch fighters, power main weapons, standby to advance.”
“Signal from allied forces.” His Captain lined up. “Shall I patch them both through?”
“Please do.”
The main screen aboard his flagship shifted from a tactical display to show both his nearby allies, the gruff Narn G'Sten and equally grouchy Stro'kath appearing.
“Gentlemen, it seems we will be tested. Status?”
“Blue Fleet is ready.” G'Sten returned with complete confidence. “We have fighters deployed and energy mines ready.”
“Most of your ships are quite new and your crews untested, the Minbari are a stern test for a first battle.” Dar'sen commented.
“The G'Quan class is named for one of our greatest leaders, it will not fail to live up to its name.” The Warleader promised. “With the sensors you provided we can engage the Minbari directly. We will do our part.”
“And how about you old friend?” He addressed Stro'kath. “The Minbari are formidable.”
“I've spent a decade chasing raiders and sitting in an office beating politicians. I yearn for a formidable enemy.” The old Drazi grinned wide. “These arrogant fools will do for now, their formations might have been devised by a child but their ships seem tough enough. It'll be a good victory.”
“I will be glad to join both of you in battle.” Dar'sen nodded. “You each know the strategy, deploy as you see fit and engage on my command.”
“As you wish Warmaster.” G'Sten confirmed compliance and ended the signal.
“You're going to enjoy this as much as I am aren't you?” The Drazi chuckled. “You can't deny it.”
“I can't deny it.” Dar'sen laughed. “A bottle of the best Brivari to whoever kills the Minbari flagship.”
“It's already mine.” Stro'kath slapped his hands together and turned to his crew. “Engines to full! Deploy by flotilla and let the devil take the slowest!”
“Good hunting you old lizard.” Dar'sen felt his own enthusiasm building as his allies embraced the battle.
“Break many skulls old Lion.” Stro'kath laughed. “Death or glory!”
The screen cut out as the Drazi made their move, the Narn not far behind.
“Time for us to get moving too Captain.” Dar'sen settled down, calming and composing himself for the task ahead. “Ready long range fire, my compliments to G'Sten, launch energy mines when ready.”
*
The three different fleets had never operated before, training had been scheduled but given how rapidly events had progressed it hadn't happened. Beside some strategy meetings with senior officers the three groups remained largely strangers. The Dilgar and Drazi had some familiarity with each other as enemies in combat, but the Narn were something of a mystery. The next hour or so was going to be fascinating for Dar'sen.
“Fighters clear.” Fiy'jash reported. “I'm reading clean locks from the main batteries. Targeting Minbari capital ships.”
“Any idea which one is in command?”
“No Warmaster, I was unable to trace the source of their communication.”
“No matter, we'll just have to remove them all.”
His Captain continued her work, the younger sister of Warmaster An'jash who had long served as Jha'dur's Battle Captain Dar'sen was content to see careful management and multi tasking ran in the family.
“Narn ships are preparing energy mines for long range disruption fire.”
“Let them fire first.” Dar'sen ordered. “Then follow up with the spinal lasers.”
The Narn Blue Fleet was a potent force, one of three major formations in the regime and possessing an eclectic mix of warships. Their best units were the G'Quan class heavy cruisers, sleek and decorated in an eye catching red and green splinter scheme they seemed a world away from the sluggish double hulled T'Loth cruisers that still formed much of the Narn Navy.
They were a fleet in transition, beside the G'Quan class were several smaller frigate groups also wearing the same bright colours representing newer units, but the bulk of the force still had plainer grey and green heavy hulled ships dating back to the years after liberation. Their fighter swarms also showed a mix of the newer Frazi heavy fighters and older Gorith medium fighters.
Against the Minbari alone they probably had less chance than the humans. By this point Earth had edged ahead of the Narn in technology with the latest Hyperion class ships matching the new Q'Quans, and with Omega and Nova class ships unrivalled among the Narn fleet. While they lacked the toughness of their EA counterparts the Narn did have a respectable turn of speed and still mounted a decent selection of weapons, particularly heavy laser weapons beside the rightly feared energy mines.
The lead group of Narn cruisers loaded their bays, lined up, and fired their mines from extreme range. This far out the chances of a hit were minimal but that wasn't really the point. Narn strategy favoured using energy mines as area denial weapons to detonate at a set point rather than trying for a direct hit as Earth preferred.
The mines began to detonate in loose sequence ahead of the Minbari like an artillery barrage, the Minbari ships not wasting time intercepting shots that were no danger to them. It did force them to alter course slightly and more importantly to redirect their fighter units around the detonating projectiles.
“Minbari are shifting course but still advancing, they don't seem to be considering the Narn a serious threat.” Fiy'jash reported. “They are still considering us the main opponent.”
“Exactly as expected.” Dar'sen nodded. “Let's help keep him looking this way. Commence long range fire.”
Each of the several Dilgar capital ships carried three ship length spinal lasers copied from stolen Hyach technology acquired during the war. They had a clear range advantage over the Minbari and each gun had approximately double the firepower of the largest Minbari Neutron cannon. When the fleet began engaging it at once marked itself as the clear priority target.
The high powered weapons carved neatly into the Minbari heavy ships, cutting into the heavy armour and leaving deep glowing gullies behind. In several places they triggered secondary explosions where they touched fuel, capacitors or munitions dumping flame and burning debris into the void. Ships began to drop back as their power systems and drives gave way, the Dilgar focusing on the core of Sharlins.
“Now let's see what he does.” Dar'sen leaned forward in clear anticipation. “If he loosens formation the Drazi will swarm him. If he stays tight the Narn can saturate his formation with energy mines. If he goes half way between the two and splits into task groups we can take them out one by one with superior local firepower.”
“Combined arms tactics.” Fiy'jash recognised. “Something we couldn't manage before.”
“I learned it from our enemies during the war. Drazi ships alone were dangerous but we had effective counter tactics. But when the Drazi united with Earth Force any formation we used against them left us vulnerable to the other fleet, and vice versa.”
“Combine the technology and expertise of several distinct groups and forge a single unstoppable fleet.” The Captain nodded. “Exactly what Earth Alliance did to us.”
“It's almost impossible to defend against. The only logical choice is to withdraw.”
*
“Continue the attack!”
Shakiri was not going to allow the last pride of the Warrior caste to falter yet again. If he was beaten twice in the same system on the same battlefield his chance of future success would be zero. His ambitions and dreams for future promotion burned up and thrown to the winds.
“Alyt, the enemy is moving to surround us.” His second warned with obvious concern. “Drazi wolfpacks are forming up, the Narn are ready to engage at closer range, and we cannot answer the firepower of the new Dilgar ships.”
“We cannot retreat, not again!” Shakiri snarled. “Detach our frigates and corvettes, send them at high speed to the Dilgar.”
“Alyt?”
“Our faster light ships can avoid their spinal guns and deliver fire to their big ships. While they do that we will deploy fighters against the Drazi, their ships are small and weak, our craft can disable them.”
“And the Narn?”
“We'll finish them after the Dilgar. Keep us in wall formation and accelerate.”
His officers obeyed, for that is all they could do. The core fleet moved faster and continued to advance straight for the Dilgar. As they did so his flanking escorts broke free and moved up rapidly aiming to get in among the Dilgar ships, the graceful blue hulls showing damage in several places but still bravely charging the Dilgar guns.
They executed the orders with precision and courage, but no matter how impressive to watch it was still a critical mistake.
*
“I did not expect that.” Dar'sen allowed. “He's certainly an unpredictable commander.”
“He split his forces.” Captain Fiy'jash wasn't really able to process what she was witnessing. “He split them. In a battle where flexibility and combined arms is key, he divided his fleet.”
“And now we can just eliminate each group without worrying about the others.” Dar'sen exhaled heavily. “Is this really all the Minbari have to offer us?”
“Perhaps next time you'll face Branmer?”
“Only if I can wrestle Jha'dur to the ground and beat her to the punch!” He laughed. “She wants to meet him too, you should see her speak his praises, not often she seems to genuinely relish something anymore. Still,” he focused on the displays again, “better finish what we started. Deploy Drazi groups on the escorts, energy mines on the fighters, then we'll go handle the heavy ships.”
Every part of a fleet had it's strengths and its weaknesses, a good commander made sure each weakness was protected by someone else’s strength. The best commanders knew when to risk those weaknesses for the chance of success, but Shakiri was not such a man. His strategy wasn't bad in theory, but against an enemy that had effective counters to any tactic he could deploy along with the training and numbers to execute it effectively, he was out of his depth.
The combined fleet responded, its components making their move but unlike the Minbari continued to offer support to each other. The Drazi were unleashed, small agile warships racing to be the first into combat, Stro'kath staying close but remaining wise enough to not put himself directly into harms way. The old warrior was too clever to give into his rage and battle lust, the first wave was a place for the young and eager not for someone tasked with coordinating the entire group. All too often Drazi leaders had sought to lead from the front, a noble goal but one enemies like the Dilgar had exploited mercilessly.
They swept in from the flanks and rear using their superior speed and agility to engage the Minbari escorts from favourable positions. While the bigger Sharlins had excellent weapons coverage the smaller Minbari ships were less able, and with the Drazi handily outmanouevring them they were immediately in trouble.
The first few waves of Drazi ships still suffered as they drew fire, even the relatively light weapons of the smaller Minbari ships carving up Sunhawks like butter, but in so doing left their flanks open to follow up attacks.
A mix of particle weapons and missiles bit into the Minbari attack group, the formation beginning to dissolve as Drazi ships weaved in and out of their enemies getting as close as possible to make hitting them all the more difficult. It was a tactic Stro'kath had personally devised to battle the Minbari in the days before they had beaten their stealth systems, it was still useful today.
Shakiri had already deployed his airwings, hundreds of fighters racing to intercept the Drazi ships and begin picking them apart. They represented a serious threat, Drazi point defences were unimpressive and their ships so lightly built a fighter squadron could often break one in a single pass. Minbari Nials were still extremely potent even without their stealth, the few Drazi fighters present would present no real challenge.
The challenge instead came from the Narn who had by now altered position and were lining up for their next energy mine salvo. Under Narn doctrine the prefered targets for mines were fighter squadrons and flotillas of fast attack ships, by sending his craft forward outside the protection of his warship's interception fire they were little more than a swarm of targets.
With obvious satisfaction G'Sten line dup his firing solutions, Shakiri woefully underestimating both the skill and potency of the new Narn fleet. They deployed a wave of mines ignoring the Minbari heavy ships that were primed to meet them and instead enveloping the inbound Minbari squadrons from the side. They were so focused on the Drazi most never even saw it coming.
The detonations would have had minimal effect on a warship, at least not at as area effect weapons, but against fighters they were absolutely lethal. Most were caught in the well timed detonations, the Narn gunners proving their mastery of this particular weapon and their reason for embracing it so wholeheartedly. Behind the mines flew the bulk of the Narn fighter strength, the simple but effective craft wading in to engage whatever units had escaped the mines.
The mainline Frazi fighter didn't have the agility or resilience of a Starfury but it did carry significant firepower and they arrived in large numbers. The fighter duel erupted with the Drazi airwings offering what help they could. With the Minbari escorts fighting a losing battle against the Sunhawks and other attack cruisers it left only the heart of the Minbari fleet.
Stripped of escorts and fighters they were weakened, but these were still Sharlin and Tigara cruisers with all the power that implied. Individually they were still a match for any Narn or Dilgar ship, only Dar'sen's dreadnought potentially having the power to overmatch a Sharlin. Once again though the best ships were useless without commanders equal to the task.
“Move forward.” Dar'sen ordered. “Fire at will, take us into standard weapons range.”
“Yes Warmaster, fleet responding.”
As one the Dilgar fleet stretched forward, the lone dreadnought and several battleships ably supported by assorted frigates and destroyers. Prominent among them were the Sekhmet cruisers, once rarities among the fleet but today the backbone of the Navy. Each Dilgar ship was built from the best tech of the League forced together by Dilgar scientists. Hyach lasers, Abbai shields, Brakiri gravitic propulsion all supported by fighters derived from the best human and Cascan principles.
“Strengthen forward shields.”
“Diverting power.”
“Release fighters, have them engage Minbari weapons as a priority, drive systems after that.”
The two sides began exchanging fire more heavily, the standard Dilgar cruisers entering range of their conventional weapons. Long red traces of laser fire were punctuated by energy pulses, the Minbari responding with raking beams of Neutrons. The shields helped, but Minbari firepower was still all but unmatched and warships began to falter, a pair of cruisers near the flagships exploding one after another.
Across this exchange the Dilgar fighters made their sweep looking to engage the weapon emplacements on the enemy cruisers. It was a dangerous task, Minbari defensive weapons lighting up the sky and claiming multiple craft as they fired missiles and bolter shots into anything that looked fragile.
They only made one pass, enough to make the Minbari target them, to focus their point defences on the squadrons that rushed through their formation. Dar'sen wanted them to do exactly that, he wanted them in wall formation to take on the Dilgar fleet, he wanted them focused inward on the Thorun Dart fighters. He wanted them to not be looking at the Narn.
“Compliments to Warleader G'Sten.” The Dilgar Supreme Warmaster played his final cards. “Burn them.”
After gutting the Minbari fighters the Narn had reloaded, the range had closed, and the Minbari still ignorant of their true threat had lost focus on them. A good commander would have delegated, would have assigned a subordinate to watch all aspects of the battle and monitor where each enemy was. Shakiri was not a good commander, his theory of war was sound but this was no lecture or exercise. He had been too focused on the Dilgar and their formidable ships at the cost of watching his other units.
The energy mines this time were tightly clustered and hit the Minbari battle formation hard. Several made contact with the hulls of the flanking ships releasing their antimatter payload directly into the target with cataclysmic results. Others detonated close enough to fry sensors, melt exposed gun barrels or in many cases disintegrate the thin barely armoured drive fins the Minbari relied on for propulsion. The destruction of the drive systems in particular was a unique disadvantage to the Minbari and one happily exploited by Dar'sen.
“Enemy formation breaking, they're losing their concentration.” Fiy'jash noted clinically performing her task without emotion despite the glory of this unfolding victory.
“Now we end it. All available units concentrate fire on the Minbari core fleet.”
This was the final act, the dart fighters flipped around and came back for more close passes. The Narn warships engaged with their laser and pulse weapons, the Dilgar changing course to unmask flanking batteries and pepper the beleaguered Minbari with a storm of pulse fire. Even worse the Drazi emerged from behind the Dilgar, Stro'kath expertly disengaging his ships from the by now shattered Minbari escorts to finish the grand prize of the heavy cruisers.
The final concentration was irresistible, the timing perfect, the balance of forces working together a marvel. There was room for improvement and scores of allied ships had been shot out of the sky defending this human world, but they had dominated this fight from the beginning. With three of the greatest fleet commanders alive fighting side by side to the best of their abilities it would have been hard to lose.
“Regroup the fleet, pull us back!” Shakiri yelled in an increasingly desperate voice.
“Alyt, we are surrounded! We cannot regroup!”
“Break us out then!”
“We can't, we don't have the strength!” His second yelled back, the holographic curtain display filled with nothing but enemy units and collapsing Minbari ships. “We can't form jump points, if we do they'll smash us while we try to run!”
“Where is our support?”
“Gone, dead, disabled! It's just us!”
“Then... then...” Shakiri pounded his brain, grilled it for any trick, any tactic he had read. Retreat under assault, rapid disengagement, leapfrog by flotilla, emergency jump. None of them were going to work and each second cost him more and more power. It was impossible to halt, he had failed. But he still had one option.
“Signal our surrender.”
For what seemed like an hour nobody around him moved. They all just stared.
“I said issue our surrender!” He shouted more loudly. “I will not die here! Surrender!”
“Y-yes Alyt.” His second accepted. “All ships cease fire, the Minbari fleet declares it's surrender.”
Shakiri couldn't even look at his fellow warriors, their stares burning into him like torches. The gunfire ended, the enemy moving to deploy a corden around them. The Minbari fleet had never given up the fight before, pride and honour would never permit it. Yet Shakiri simply did not want to die, and next to that he could live with the shame. At least he would still be alive to deal with it.
*
“This close!” Stro'kath bellowed over the view screen. “Ten more seconds! Five! I had his flagship locked! He was mine for the killing!”
“Sorry old friend, but we are fighting on behalf of the humans by their rules. If they surrender we must accept.” Dar'sen shrugged apologetically.
“Five more seconds!”
“If it helps you feel better why don't you go aboard and actually receive his surrender?”
“Fine!” The Drazi grunted. “But I'm going to beat that coward so hard his grandchildren will be pissing blood!”
“Just remember to use the gold knuckle duster, he is a fleet commander afterall.”
“We'll finish our bet next time Warmaster, first one to kill a flagship will take the Brivari!”
“I look forward to it.”
The Drazi cut the signal and set about his business leaving G'Sten to talk.
“It was a fine test of our new ships, and a clear victory. The Kha'ri will be celebrating.”
“It was well earned, the Minbari underestimated you and paid dearly for it.” Dar'sen nodded. “Will you be continuing the fight?”
“Most likely, the Kha'ri will wish to follow up on this victory. And you Warmaster?”
“I have duties at home, I'll turn this fleet back over to Warmaster Dal'shan. You will find him just as capable.”
“I look forward to serving with him, and it has been an honour to serve with you.”
“Likewise Warleader, give my best to G'Kar.”
The screen reverted back to its usual tactical readouts, this time showing a very different battlefield.
“Barely a challenge.” The old Warmaster sighed. “How did we do?”
“Sixteen percent casualties. About thirty for the Drazi, less than five percent for the Narn.”
“Better than I expected.” Dar'sen pondered the outcome. “No surprise the Drazi took the most damage, they are still far too eager to rush in.”
“So it appears Warmaster.” Fiy'jash looked through the data. “Has anyone ever captured a Minbari ship before?”
“Only small craft, freighters, a corvette I think somewhere. Never a Warcruiser, never several warcruisers.” Dar'sen smiled. “As war prizes go I don't think you'll find anyone to top this.”
“We also captured a senior Minbari commander. Assuming the Drazi don't beat him to death.”
“We'll turn him over to the humans after our telepaths have given him a thorough debriefing.” The Warmaster decided. “The captured warships we'll divide among our four governments. I expect Earth will be greatly appreciative.”
“Our own scientists are going to drool on their uniforms.” Fiy'jash smiled at the thought. “If we can replicate Minbari armour...”
“And their Neutron weapons.” Dar'sen added. “Either way this is an excellent bounty. We will secure the ships, give the prisoners to Earth. Tell our Marines to be gracious about it but careful, some may not wish to surrender.”
“Yes Warmaster.”
“Communicate our success back to command, and be prepared.”
“For what sir?”
“Jha'dur is going to be furious she wasn't part of taking a Minbari fleet.”
Earth
Geneva
“According to the initial assessment we should have three Sharlin Warcruisers by the end of the week.” President Levy smiled. “They've taken some damage but are mostly operational. Beside that we have several Attack Cruisers, frigates, corvettes and fighters. Quite the haul.”
“Most impressive Madam President, I am genuinely happy for you.” Ambassador Londo Mollari opened a sharp toothed grin. “Truly a remarkable victory.”
“The victory here belongs to our allies, but it is another piece of good news. Between holding the Line above Earth and defending our border it's been a momentous week.” The President related. “Though also a costly one.”
She wasn't exaggerating, the fleet had taken about sixty percent losses with some parts almost completely destroyed. Their comfort was not only in successfully defending Earth, but also that the Minbari fleet had taken an even larger percentage of casualties.
“I would not have expected anyone could turn back a full scale assault by the Minbari.” Londo folded his eyebrows as he mulled over the information. “We have seen them enraged and it is a terrible sight. We did not expect your people to survive.”
“I appreciate your honesty Ambassador, and yet here we are.”
“Here you are.”
Both sides took a little moment of silence. Whatever Londo's personal views on humanity which had appeared to be quite positive his superiors in the Centaurum had clearly written off Earth early in the war. The sudden turnaround appeared to have caught them completely by surprise and left them at a disadvantage.
“The Senate has considered your previous offer Ambassador.” Levy continued. “The exchange of technology, our Earth made advanced sensor technology in exchange for examples of Centauri gravity systems.”
“A fair deal I would say Madam President. Artificial gravity will make all of your ships vastly more efficient and capable, especially your military vessels.”
“And our sensor tech keeps you in the game. Not just against the Minbari, I hear the Centauri have been experimenting in holographic manipulation. Starship scale chameleon nets, that sort of thing.” Levy noted. “That's the sort of thing this sensor tech could also interfere with.”
“You are not wrong Madam President, indeed you are quite well informed.” Londo modulated his response, he was far too good at this to display any sort of surprise or consternation. “And you are right, it is of particular benefit to us also.”
“Then we can conclude a deal Mr Ambassador.” The President nodded. “My trade people will handle the fine details, I am sure we would both appreciate seeing this happen sooner rather than later.”
“We would.” Londo smiled again. “The Emperor also wished me to convey his personal respects and his relief that our friends from Earth are proving so resourceful.”
“The Emperor is too kind.”
“He has a fondness for you I think, he remembers well the day our nations made contact, little did we know how influential you would become.”
“If you had known perhaps you may not have been so welcoming to us?”
“I don't think there was any danger of that Madam President, Earth is very different to the Narn for example. Far more civilised.”
“Yet despite that the Narn sold us weapons, sent ships to defend our worlds.” Levy observed. “Many have died for us, some took great risks trying to negotiate an end to this war.”
“Yes, well.” Londo did not meet the President's eyes. “The Centauri are pleased you are progressing, but we ask you to be wary of the Narn. They are not helping you out of the goodness of their hearts.”
“Of course they aren't, neither are the Dilgar.” Levy dismissed. “The Drazi maybe, their leader is a man of old fashioned honour, but we are well aware the Dilgar and Narn want something from us.”
“Good, good, I would hate to think you were blind to their machinations.”
“Of course, plots aside, they have helped us immeasurably. They have earned much goodwill Ambassador, at this point they could ask for virtually anything and it would pass the Senate.” Levy measured Londo's reaction very carefully. “Representative G'Kar has already floated the idea of a formal Alliance, one that would include mutual defence and assistance in war.”
“Yes, well, it does not surprise me.” Londo knew he was treading on very thin ice. “The Narn have made no secret in their efforts to unite worlds against us.”
“They seem to be doing very well Ambassador.”
“I will admit they did chose wisely in this conflict. Even though it was for selfish reasons they have helped you. It is to our everlasting shame that we, th eLion of th eGalaxy, failed to be good friends to our human neighbours.”
“Nice words Ambassador, but words don't arm our ships or send fleets to help us.”
“I believe that the Centaurum today would be willing to send assistance.” Londo proposed. “Once our ships have the new sensor upgrades so they may effectively battle Minbari alongside you.”
“An excellent offer Ambassador, but at this point we don't need them. Please pass on my thanks to your Government, but we can handle this ourselves with our true friends.”
“Madam President, it wounds me that you do not consider us true friends.”
“There's an old human saying, if the shoe fits...”
“I am not so familiar with human sayings I am afraid Madam President, I have immersed myself in your culture but there are only so many hours in the day!” He grinned widely. “But perhaps there are other aspects of human culture I do understand. For instance, playing one man off against another?”
“We are long beyond that point Ambassador. We can trade for Artificial Gravity from the Dilgar if we must in exchange for broad trade agreements, they would tear our hands off for such a deal.”
“Yes, I have heard the Dilgar do such things in negotiations. Just rumours.” Londo apparently failed to spot the metaphor. “But I am not here completely empty handed. We recognise the situation Madam President, that the balance of power is tipping. It is the wish of the Centaurum to restore that balance.”
“How so?”
“It is better if Earth remains neutral regarding the situation between the Narn and my people. If you aligned against us it would create tension, encourage the Narn to do something rash. That would be, as you say, a bad thing.”
“A threat Ambassador?”
“Absolutely not, I would not threaten a world that just drove off a Minbari invasion!” Londo laughed. “No, no, not at all. But it does reflect a probable outcome. The Minbari are powerful but largely amateurs. The Centauri Navy is both large and very well trained. We would have course never use it against our friends, and Earth is our friend.”
“Is that so.”
“And friends help each other, yes?”
“We have agreed to swap sensors for...”
“What if Madam President,” Londo interrupted, “what if I had something else? Something more important? Something we would offer to help maintain balance and peace?”
“If you want us to cool relations with the Narn this offer had better be the greatest deal in history.”
“I cannot guarantee that, but I can say it will probably win you this war.”
That caught her attention.
“What are you offering Ambassador?”
“The one thing you don't have, that nobody beside us has.” He smiled. “Information.”
From his pocket Londo produced a data crystal and placed it on the President's desk.
“My people have traded with the Minbari for many generations. Our trade has tended to be fairly light but consistent. We have sent Ambassadors, traders, spies, people who have told us many things over the years.”
“For instance?”
“The location of every Minbari planet including their homeworld?” Londo remarked. “Which worlds have orbital defences, ship yards, logistics hubs. The location of restricted zones that are part of their military infrastructure, clan headquarters, their holding locations for mothballed ships? That sort of thing.”
Levy looked very intently at the crystal.
“And the price for this?”
“A treaty of peaceful neutrality with both us and the Narn.” Londo suggested. “By all means offer the Narn your friendship and support in a war, but offer us the same thing. That way if, one sad day, we and the Narn go to war you would be obliged to maintain neutrality.”
“But only in the event of a Narn and Centauri war?”
“Yes, we can handle the others ourselves.” Londo nodded. “In exchange, this information can save millions of lives. Perhaps more.”
She picked up the crystal.
“We are doing well for ourselves so far. Our losses can be replaced, we are on the brink of launching a full scale invasion of Minbari space.”
“Don't underestimate them Madam President. They have been in this position before, their fleets smashed and worlds under attack. They united behind a charismatic leader and struck back even harder. Branmer is a talented leader, and the Minbari shipyards are still intact and mobilising. Without that data it will take you months, maybe years to find and hit the key Minbari centres of industry. By the time you do you will find a thousand warcruisers waiting for you.”
Londo tilted his head.
“But with that, you can attack them immediately and stop the Minbari from gathering their forces and turning their full might against you. I think Madam President, that is worth more than a few weapons and a detachment of warships.”
“I'd like to speak to my cabinet.”
“Of course, keep the crystal, it is encoded.” Londo nodded. “Even your vaunted code breakers would take years to access it, but if you agree to our treaty of friendship, we will send you the cipher.”
“Alright Ambassador, stay nearby, we'll speak in a few hours.”
“Of course Madam President.” Londo stood. “We look forward to once again embracing our true friends from Earth.”
Proxima Three
Orbital shipyards.
Everything was busy, between new construction, repairs, refits and resupply Proxima was filled with warships of all kinds. The various grids of metal, girders and space stations represented the heart of human ship building, the massive array of yards having long since overtaken Earth and Mars as the primary ship building nexus of the Alliance. Its central location and proximity to a major source of Quantium 40 for FTL drives guaranteed it, and the fact Proxima was the last stop before Earth on the only safe jump route in made the system exceptionally well defended.
The war had not touched Proxima yet, the battles having bypassed it's ranks of space stations and satellite based cannons leaving it free to focus on the task of building warships.
“Looks like half the Navy is here.”
Sheridan peered out from under the canopy of the shuttle as the craft drifted between the grey steel forest of yards and beacons, the glimmer of automated welders and construction teams surrounding skeletal new battleships. Most appeared to be Omega class ships that had been commissioned in the first days of the war and were still some months from completion, elsewhere smaller batches of different ships were closer to completion and being rushed out for the next stage of the conflict.
The main attraction for Sheridan was the fleet taking on supplies and undergoing last minute repairs. These were ships that had survived the Line in good enough condition to deploy back to the front, a few hundred vessels of various types that would be reinforced by stripping garrisons from some of the larger colonies and deploying the next wave of recalled crews and reactivated mothballed ships.
It would be a rough formation but under Admiral Hamato there was no doubt it would be combat ready in two weeks. That was the schedule the Joint Chiefs had decided, at the end of that time the fleet would launch a full scale invasion supported by Narn, Drazi and Dilgar warfleets. With the Minbari fleet gutted and the Earth fleet hugely reinforced with allied fleets it was expected to be a swift and one sided assault.
None of the veteran officers believed it would be anything like that easy but if Earth wanted to win it had to take the war to the Minbari. So far there had still been no word of a change and Earth could not afford to wait.
The shuttle curved around to dock at Proxima Prime, the main station in the system where most of the Naval efforts were concentrated. There were already several large vessels close by including a fresh unit of brand new Omega class destroyers hanging beside the station, their central sections slowly rotating in perfect unison.
Far more interesting to Sheridan though were three titanic Explorer class ships beyond them, still relatively new the huge spindly ships were designed to push the boundaries of explored space, building new jump gates and beacons to expand human influence. They also tended to carry vast amounts of materials, pre-fab bases and even small space stations to aid their missions of expansion. Some could also carry full sized survey ships in their vast maw like hanger bays if required.
To see one such ship was rare, to see three was almost unheard of. Only a handful had been completed before the war and most were still so far beyond Earth space they had not yet returned. These particular three appeared to be undergoing their own refits, their usual cargo of base building materials and jump gate components replaced for fuel storage tanks and munitions containers.
The shuttle was cleared through without delay and docked quickly enough, Sheridan was led without a moment to gather himself directly to one of the conference rooms to find it already busy with about two dozen officers. Some he recognised, others he didn't, but central among them was Admiral Hamato working out some details with his subordinates.
“They called you in too hey Swamp Rat?”
Sheridan turned to locate the voice finding himself nose to nose with Jack Maynard, the grinning man offering him a hearty bear hug.
“Glad to see you ain't dead.”
“Likewise Stinky...I mean Captain.” Sheridan restrained himself, aware of the assorted command rank staff around him.
“Yeah, yeah, guess we better save the lively chat for whatever passes for a bar up here.” His old friend scratched his bearded chin. “But it is good to see you, made a name for yourself.”
“Heard you had some fun out near Beta Durani too.” Sheridan grinned. “Busy war.”
“Very busy.” His former commanding officer related. “But we're still kicking.”
“That we are.” Sheridan looked around. “Any word on this?”
“New commands, heard we're getting an upgrade.”
“That so?”
“Well I did, the Cortez, one of the big Explorers outside.”
“You've been gunning for one of them since they started building them.”
“Wish it was under better circumstances. How about you, oh, hey, well done on making Captain.”
“Thanks, I'm happy with the Agamemnon but we took a beating on the Line. She'll be down for at least three months.”
“I guess they need you out there with or without her.”
“Attention on deck!” One of the officers near Hamato called out bringing silence to the various conversations
“Glad you all could make it.” The grey haired Admiral began to speak. “Some of you know each other, for others this is a first meeting. Each man and woman in this room is here because you have demonstrated resourcefulness and courage under exceptional circumstances. You are among the best independent Captains we have available, as such you are being assigned special operations. Captain.”
Hamato stepped aside to allow William Hague to step up, the relatively young Captain already accelerating up the Earth Force rank structure.
“It is with regret I am standing here to deliver this briefing.” He began. “This mission was due to be commanded by Admiral Joe Tennant, I'll do what I can in his place to make it the sort of success we all know he would have achieved.”
He brought up a briefing map.
“Our objective is to commence raiding against Minbari supply lines, transfer points, and any useful targets of industry we can get away with. Our goal is to slow down their operations and give our main offensive better odds of success.”
The map behind him began to filter through various pieces of data, text emerging above several locations.
“We recently acquired valuable intel from the Centauri regarding the disposition of Minbari industry and planets, while this information is old the stagnant nature of the Minbari means all these targets are almost certainly exactly where they were decades ago.”
He shifted more data around.
“We will move into their space and begin operations deep behind enemy lines. Resupply will be impossible therefore we are preparing three Explorer class ships to act as mobile supply bases. We will also be mostly out of contact with home which is why it is imperative the commanders of this operation be able to operate independently and in the most unpredictable circumstances.”
He shifted the map back to an overview.
“You will each have a copy of the data and an area of operations, within that area you are free to pick and choose targets as you see fit, Command trusts your ability to exploit an opportunity when you recognise it. You will also have the best ships we can give you, most of you have already commanded the Omega class and those who haven't are fast learners. I'll assign your individual missions unless there are any immediate questions?”
Nobody spoke.
“Alright, that's all, Admiral.”
Hamato gave a nod.
“This is the first step in our counter attack, understand your assignments, be daring, be bold, you are now the sharp edge of Earth Force against the Minbari. Start slicing them down.”
*
The assorted officers mingled for a while and shared some stories as they were divided into their respective parties. For Sheridan that meant working with two new officers he hadn't met before, and one that he had.
“Mackie!” Sheridan beamed to see his old mentor striding over, the two cementing the greeting with a firm handshake and warm smile.
“Captain Sheridan, has a nice sound to it.” The larger man grinned back Edward MacDougan had been a well decorated commander in the Dilgar War, his tactics on small ship combat had earned him a posting to the Academy afterwards where his lectures were legendary for breaking off into broader discussions on the responsibilities of a Captain. “I hear you're making us old timers look bad out there.”
“Just doing the job you taught me.” He returned graciously. “Between you, Jack Maynard and Bill Hague now I feel like it's someone's retirement party.”
“Yeah, lot of familiar faces. It's good to see so any alive, and hard to think so many did make it this far.”
“They didn't, but we got the job done.”
“We got the job done.” MacDougan echoed sombrely. “And now we have more work to do.”
The big man waved over two additional officers.
“I'm going to be your new commander in the field, our mission is deep range raids into enemy territory Just like Bill Hague outlined. We'll be shouldering most of the burden on this so if you've got any doubts now's the time to speak up.”
“No sir, I'm ready to take the war to the Minbari.”
“Good man. I'll be commanding a nine ship task force divided into three groups of three ships. You are being assigned to group Delta and this will be your immediate superior.”
MacDougan gestured to a small set Indian woman who responded with a polite nod.
“Kaveri Varma.” She introduced herself. Captain. I command the DeSoto, one of the Explorer class you no doubt noticed outside.”
“Pleased to meet you Captain.”
“And this one is Glen McGee, he's going to be commanding the Arethusa alongside you.”
“Happy to meet the man who nuked the Black Star.” A bright eyed man not much older than Sheridan enthused with a clean Canadian twang. “I bet they hate you!”
“So I heard.” He shook hands with a nod.
“You'll be taking the Andromeda, brand new fresh off the blocks.” MacDougan informed. “I know you probably got attached to the Agamemnon but she's out of the fight for a while. We need you back out there Johnny so the Old man brought over your crew and filled the ranks for those who didn't make it.”
“You need us out there that badly?”
“Believe it, we won the last battle but we're stretched mighty thin out there. Our allies are taking some of the strain but we still need to be leading the way.”
Sheridan wasn't entirely thrilled, he'd just about settled into the Agamemnon but there wasn't much else to be done. The Omega class were good ships and his crew had experience with them, it was logical they'd be assigned instead of a crew unfamiliar with the new design.
“We won't let you down.”
“I don't doubt it.” Mackie slapped him on the shoulder with a weighty hand. “Each group is built around one Explorer and two destroyers, all optimised for long range operations. The Explorer will act as a mobile base and supply dock for the Destroyers so you can stay out there for we estimate six months. Maybe more.”
“Normally we can operate independently for over five years.” Varma interjected. “But supporting a combat group will burn through our supplies more quickly, most especially if you are gifted with an abundance of targets.”
“The Explorers will also lead you through hyperspace, they have the most powerful sensor array there is and are designed to skirt the edge of hyperspace. You should be able to avoid detection and lay new jump routes into Minbari space.”
“What if we run into trouble?” McGee asked.
“Explorers are built with minor defensive weapons and a wing of Starfuries.” Varma answered. “We shall have more for this operation as we are swapping out our construction craft for more fighters, but we are not warships. We shall stand at the back of any action, provide to you an overview and real time sensor data for the entire star system, and shall direct you toward targets and threats, but mostly if we are shooting at someone then something somewhere has gone most badly wrong.”
“The Destroyers are going to be doing all the legwork.” MacDougan echoed. “Captain Varma is the eyes and the brain, you two are the blunt weapons.”
“I'll take that as a compliment.” Sheridan chuckled.
“I'll leave your new commander to iron out the rest, it's not going to be an easy one but we've got the best people for the job right here.”
MacDougan made his farewells and joined the next group over which included Jack Maynard, presumably providing command of an Explorer for one of the other groups.
“An Explorer.” Captain McGee offered a respectful nod. “That's a prime assignment, nice work Captain.”
“Thank you.” Varma returned a reserved smile. “I am lucky in having an advanced understanding of Hyperspace physics, exactly what the Explorer Division required.”
“How long have you been out there?” Sheridan asked.
“About five months with the DeSoto, we had barely begun our first voyage when the war began. But before that I commanded a survey ship for a few years. My task here is to use my ship and experience to get your Destroyers into a position to hit Minbari targets and then escape before they have any idea what just happened.”
“What sort of targets are we talking about?”
“Mostly convoys, but we are cleared to engage fixed targets too under the doctrine of calculated risk” Varma explained. “It will be a decision reserved to myself, based on all available data. The DeSoto is being uniquely equipped with additional weapons for this purpose, but I have no intention of taking unnecessary risks.”
“That might be my department.” McGee suggested. “Before the war I was part of a group of Raider Hunters. We went after them with a frigate group, learned their tricks and tactics, where they struck from, how to ambush targets in open space, best ways to strike and fade. Wouldn't be hard to adapt those tricks for our own use.”
“It appears we have the makings of a very troublesome force.” Varma smiled. “We will be more than a nuisance for the Minbari, If we do not take three times our mass in prizes I will be a little disappointed. The more we take, the longer we can exten-"
“Hey Kavalry!”
Kevari looked up sharply, her eyebrows knitting in a flash of annoyance as Captain Maynard walked past with his unit.
“Hello, Captain Maynard.” She forced a smile. “May I offer my congratulations on your new command.”
“Look forward to seeing you out there, take care of old Swamp Rat here!” He waved at Sheridan. “Look forward to seeing who gets the high score out there!”
“It is not really about...”
“We're gonna win!” He grinned. “Good hunting out there!”
There was a pause as Kaveri's mouth was frozen around what she had been going to say before The interruption. “Likewise.” She nodded and audibly exhaled after Maynard was out of earshot. “Everytime that man walks past, I have a headache for the next three days.”
“Kavalry?” Sheridan asked. “You knew him long enough to get a nickname?”
“Yes, it was during the war with the Dilgar. My cruiser was ambushed and destroyed by a rather daring Dilgar frigate while on a mission at the edge of the theatre. I was the only survivor not rescued initially, marooned on what I assume was a former Garmak world, or perhaps a race even older. I was there for months, I missed most of the war and when a ship finally arrived in the system... Guess who was in command?”
“Wait, was it the Cochrane?”Sheridan asked. “An old Artemis class?”
“The same.”
“That was my first posting, Jack was my first Commander, I guess a few years later.”
“I am, of course, eternally grateful to Captain Maynard for recovering me, I was just one shipwrecked soul very far from home, but when he found the debris from my cruiser he continued searching even though it was unlikely he would find anyone so many months later.” Varma related sincerely. “But his command style is… Eccentric, shall we say?”
“No argument here.” Sheridan sifted his own memories.
“It took two months for him to complete his patrol and return me home, at first I was curious. After the fifth round of seeing who could propel themselves farthest on a single can of beans I came to realise I did not really fit in.”
She shrugged.
“He is from a very different world and I found myself infuriated at even minor matters. By the end of the patrol, I could not wait to leave that ship. But, on my way out of the airlock to board Tirrith Station he stopped me and he said as we parted 'May God stand between you and harm in all the empty places where you must walk.' I barely believed it, how could such beautiful words come from a man who took such pride in belching loud enough to be heard through two blast doors?”
“He's definitely a character.” Sheridan smiled. “It's an old Egyptian blessing, I think it came from his own first commanding officer, he shared it with me too.”
“I suppose some thoughts have enough depth to sink into even the most chaotic souls.” Varma smiled slightly. “I look forward to our mission together Captain Sheridan, to survive Jack Maynard with your dignity intact is no small achievement.”
“Next to that I'm sure the Minbari will be nothing.”
Minbari Space
“There is nothing more to say.” Branmer addressed the Council, the overall atmosphere one of unrestrained despondency. “The attack failed in its objective, we are reduced to approximately twenty percent of our pre-war combat strength, and our long range scouts report human, Narn, Drazi and Dilgar fleets massing near Nocalo colony.”
He paused for a response but none was forthcoming so he continued.
“An invasion is inevitable. I have strengthened the garrison on Nocalo and made preparations for harassing raids once the enemy commit their forces.”
“You will not defend Nocalo?” Jenimer finally sounded his voice.
“We have no means to do so. Any ship I deploy there will be lost, we need warships more than we need a border colony.”
“That is a Minbari world you so easily discard.” Morann barely his his fury. “Those are Minbari warriors you abandon on it's soil!”
“They are not abandoned, it is their mission to fight and delay for as long as possible the human conquest of that planet. The longer they fight, the longer we have to regroup.”
The normal round of discussions was notably absent, the usually combative personalities unable to muster much in the way of active debate. Branmer's return had not been a cause of much celebration, the Council already knew from its own scouts the battle had been lost, the gamble had failed.
“The Council will approve Shai Alyt Branmer's strategy.” Jenimer spoke flatly. “We have no choice but...”
“Shai Alyt. You dishonour those words by uttering them in the same room as that man!” Morann spat, Branmer paying him minimal attention. “I demand Sineval be given command! Branmer has led us from failure to failure!”
“Giving Sineval command would throw away what few resources we have left.” Coplann was tired of dealing with the same arguments. “He is even more hot headed than Shakiri, and look what happened there!”
“What happened there?” Neroon spoke up from beside Branmer. “What happened to Shakiri?”
“Alyt Shakiri looked to exploit the weakened human defences by attacking their colonies and transport hubs. He ran into difficulty.”
“His fleet was routed and captured.” Coplann clarified with unbelievable amounts of venom in his words. “He surrendered and was taken alive, many of his ships are now in the hands of our enemies.”
“Did he at least have the presence of mind to destroy our Jammer systems before he handed the ships over?”
“He did not.”
“I see.” Neroon looke dover to Morann. “Any other gifts the Windswords wish to give our enemies?”
“Now is not a time for recriminations.” Branmer intoned. “Our people have faced this situation before, our fleets broken, our worlds invaded, our hope shattered. We returned and stood victorious, we must not lose our faith.”
“Spoken like a priest.” Morann sneered. “A priest who wasted our last full fleet!”
“That would be Shakiri.” Neroon spoke evenly but with barely buried hate. “Twice in fact. If he had not charged headlong into the enemy, twice I note again, we would have had enough ships to reach Earth and decimate their industry. Then take out their shipyards on the way back home.”
“If he had been a warrior he would have...”
“If you question his warrior spirit one more time I will not be restrained.” Neroon said plainly. “I do not care anymore for the sanctity of the council, you have failed the people and I will spill your foolish blood the next time you speak ill of the only man who actually tried to win this war.”
The younger warrior still wore bandages from his wounds on the line, one of his eyes covered with a patch, but there was no question he could still snap Morann like a twig should he wish.
“Your elders squandered our strength, failed to learn from their mistakes, you placed us in a position where we could not win and demanded from Branmer a miracle! A miracle even Valen could not deliver! Then you sneer at him for coming within an inch of doing the impossible! When your own choice for leader is now eating prison food on Beta Durani!”
“Shakiri must have...”
“None of this is going to help our situation.” Branmer did not raise his voice, but it was still enough to enforce silence. There was a very subtle but very clear shift of power taking place as Branmer became more and more active and the Council realised their usual methods were not going to work in this crisis.
“The human secondary fleets will attack soon, the presence of their allies in numbers has allowed them to begin operations with a much smaller force than they would otherwise need. The could be at Nocalo within a week and it will only get worse. Once their main fleets are restored and reinforced they will begin seeking out and engaging far more important planets.”
“Can we stop them?” Delenn asked the relevant question.
“No, we can only slow them down. I have ordered our ship yards focus on producing light ships, frigates and corvettes, to raid human supply lines. These ships are still able to defeat larger Earth ships if required and require less time, resources and crew than a true warcruiser. Indeed I have suspended production of any unit bigger than a Tigara for the next year.”
“You are changing the nature of our fleet?”
“I am. It will be faster, more flexible, less reliant on vessels that used the jammers as their best weapon. A Sharlin is mighty but I have seen them fall in seconds to an Earth Dreadnought broadside. Smaller ships can evade such an attack and still fire back with weapons able to destroy their enemy. A Sharlin is, to quote the humans, overkill.”
“In time we will begin building our heaviest ships again, but for now we must spend our resources wisely.” Neroon added. “We have new designs to also consider, smaller, and cheaper in some cases. Larger and more powerful in others.”
“Crews are the other matter, it is still a month before the next group of retrained personnel will be available.” Branmer informed. “They are enthusiastic but learning to operate a warship takes time and training, I will not commit these forces until I am satisfied they will not be Flarn grazers to the slaughter.”
“And in the meantime we are defenceless?” Coplann asked with trepidation.
“We are not, we have sufficient standing forces to buy us time as required, we simply will not be engaging directly.” Branmer stated. “I have also mobilised the Protectorate.”
“The Protectorate?” Jenimer frowned. “That requires the authority of the Council.”
“You have already given it to me.” Branmer inclined his head. “It needed to be done immediately, I apologise if it is a surprise.”
“The Protectorate are the surviving worlds of our allies in the Great War.” Delenn recalled. “They were virtually destroyed by the Shadows, Valen promised them our protection and eternal friendship.”
“And they returned it.” Branmer nodded. “They have agreed to deploy their forces in this time of our need. Their ships are not so powerful as our main fleets but they are respectable. More importantly they have a core of trained personnel who we can use to fill gaps in our own ranks.”
“You are sending them into battle for us?”
“They are keen to do so, they wish to repay our long protection of their homes.”
“They shouldn't have to!” Coplann snapped. “We are their defenders, does a parent seek the help of his children?”
“When that parent has repeatedly punched himself in the face perhaps he really should.” Neroon shot a sideways glance. “They are already mobilising, we will use them beside our own forces to slow down the humans and later they will stand shoulder to shoulder with us when we strike back.”
“The Protectorate is a large untapped resource, we will use it. We will call upon our allies as Earth has called upon its own and we will be gracious and humble about it.” Branmer dictated. “We do this because we are at the end of our options. We cannot win this alone, indeed we may not win it even with help. I once again say that we need to examine negotiations. The Anla'shok are once again working with the Narn to...”
“The Narn who are currently poised to invade us?” Coplann noted. “I doubt their intentions.”
“The Centauri then?”
“We have detected a large Centauri fleet on our border.” Jenimer informed. “There is a strong possibility they have sensed our weakness and seek to expand at out expense.”
“Emperor Turhan would never take such an aggressive action.” Delenn stated confidently.
“These forces appear to be loyal to House Refa and several of their allies. They are likely operating independently.”
“All the more reason to take decisive action toward peace.” Branmer recommended. “I will prepare for a long war, but I cannot guarantee a victory. Merely endless battle.”
“The time Valen warned us about is approaching, the servants of Darkness will exploit this to their advantage.” Delenn warned. “We must chose our true enemies.”
“And what if the humans are no longer interested in peace?” Moran asked. “What of your dreams then?”
“Then perhaps the darkness is already upon us.”
Cyrus Colony
As strategy went it was actually pretty sound. With Branmer driving for the human homeworld naturally enough all available Earth ships had been recalled for it's defence stripping all of other sectors of their guardians. Even if Earth proved victorious, an unlikely but possible eventuality, their forces would be exhausted and out of position. It would take at least a week to reinforce the frontier which meant until then a bold commander might find some easy glory.
Shakiri was of course such a man, a born warrior and not one to allow a weakness to go unexploited. His failure to capture this star system a few weeks ago had stung him, the lives lost under his command screaming out for vengeance. Once again Branmer had ascended as the supreme commander of Minbari forces and Shakiri was quietly furious. He had to admit the old priest was good and certainly knew how to motivate his followers, but he was no warrior. He didn't have the ruthless edge a true born warrior possessed.
Today he would demonstrate it. Shakiri had determined to take the remaining ships at his disposal, those that had survived the previous assault and some reinforcements from home, and finish the job while the human fleets were depleted and distracted. He wouldn't be capturing any worlds, simply burning them to the ground. Here, Jericho, and the great prize itself Beta Durani which had eluded the Minbari since the beginning of the war.
On paper it was a good plan, the Council hadn't approved it but they had not forbidden it either. They wouldn't dare refuse him if he returned and threw the remnants of the Earth border worlds at their feet. Branmer may still be their darling but Shakiri would not allow himself to be overshadowed, and he absolutely would not let his humiliation stand.
His fleet arrived in good order, despite being a mixture of old and new units they had integrated well performing admirably. Each unit knew its place, assumed the correct position and formation, each of them waiting patiently for orders. Shakiri was prideful but not as foolish as many of his peers, he kept his distance and deployed scout ships to make sure he wasn't walking into a trap. He'd learned a hard lesson and to his credit had adjusted his tactics to compensate.
His problem was that Earth had adjusted it's strategy too. It had also anticipated the possibility that someone may seek to exploit the apparent weakness of drawing its best units back to defend the homeworld.
“Scouts are reporting back Alyt.”
Shakiri still winced at the title, it had honour but he had started getting used to being named Shai Alyt.
“What do they see?”
“Multiple enemy ships, nearly three hundred.”
“Three hundred?” The Minbari leader spat. “How? There should be no more than a handful!”
“I'm bringing them up on the display.” His aide paused, “And Alyt, I am receiving communications.”
“I have nothing to say to humans.”
“It is not a human.”
*
“Minbari Fleet, I am Supreme Warmaster Dar'sen of the Imperial First Strike Fleet. I am joined by Warleader Stro'kath of the Drazi, and Warleader G'Sten of the Narn. This frontier is under our protection, you will turn around and leave immediately. If you do so we will not follow, you may go in peace. If you do not we will defend this civilian colony with all deliberate force.”
He let the words linger for a while before delivering his second punch.
“If you force us to engage, then it will be considered an act of war against our respective nations and we will throw our full might behind the Earth Alliance. Consider carefully your next choices.”
He gave a short nod to the communications officer who ended the transmission.
“Now we get to take bets on whether he's going to open up three more fronts in this war.”
“No one can be that foolish or arrogant.” Battle Captain Fiy'jash spoke up, following her comments with a wince. “Can they?”
“It is fortunate you are not a gambler Captain.” The old commander smiled. “We'll find out.”
Much as he may not want to display it Dar'sen was really enjoying himself. He had been one of the driving powers of the new Dilgar and the society they were trying to form. While the Emperor ruled his failing health meant it was Dar'sen as Supreme Warmaster who was entrusted with the nation. It was not something that left him much time for anything else, and while rewarding he was still a warrior at heart.
Getting back in the fight wasn't something he expected, but when the opportunity arose he wasn't going to ignore it. Strictly speaking Dal'shan should be here commanding this fleet, but as it also contained Narn and Drazi elements he'd been able to justify his presence as a diplomatic necessity. At least until after it was proven all three alien fleets could work together.
That it gave him a chance to command a combined fleet in full scale battle was a bonus. Especially as he could finally join battle with Stro'kath once again, but this time as allies.
“Dilgar Warmaster.” A gruff voice responded curtly over the tachyon link. “This is not your concern, leave the area and do not impede our retribution. This war is just, do not involve yourselves.”
“Minbari Commander, this war is not just. We will not allow civilians to...”
“He shut it down.” Fiy'jash sighed in disappointment.
“Bet you're glad you didn't put any money on it.” Dar'sen smiled, secretly very pleased that he could indulge himself once more. “Launch fighters, power main weapons, standby to advance.”
“Signal from allied forces.” His Captain lined up. “Shall I patch them both through?”
“Please do.”
The main screen aboard his flagship shifted from a tactical display to show both his nearby allies, the gruff Narn G'Sten and equally grouchy Stro'kath appearing.
“Gentlemen, it seems we will be tested. Status?”
“Blue Fleet is ready.” G'Sten returned with complete confidence. “We have fighters deployed and energy mines ready.”
“Most of your ships are quite new and your crews untested, the Minbari are a stern test for a first battle.” Dar'sen commented.
“The G'Quan class is named for one of our greatest leaders, it will not fail to live up to its name.” The Warleader promised. “With the sensors you provided we can engage the Minbari directly. We will do our part.”
“And how about you old friend?” He addressed Stro'kath. “The Minbari are formidable.”
“I've spent a decade chasing raiders and sitting in an office beating politicians. I yearn for a formidable enemy.” The old Drazi grinned wide. “These arrogant fools will do for now, their formations might have been devised by a child but their ships seem tough enough. It'll be a good victory.”
“I will be glad to join both of you in battle.” Dar'sen nodded. “You each know the strategy, deploy as you see fit and engage on my command.”
“As you wish Warmaster.” G'Sten confirmed compliance and ended the signal.
“You're going to enjoy this as much as I am aren't you?” The Drazi chuckled. “You can't deny it.”
“I can't deny it.” Dar'sen laughed. “A bottle of the best Brivari to whoever kills the Minbari flagship.”
“It's already mine.” Stro'kath slapped his hands together and turned to his crew. “Engines to full! Deploy by flotilla and let the devil take the slowest!”
“Good hunting you old lizard.” Dar'sen felt his own enthusiasm building as his allies embraced the battle.
“Break many skulls old Lion.” Stro'kath laughed. “Death or glory!”
The screen cut out as the Drazi made their move, the Narn not far behind.
“Time for us to get moving too Captain.” Dar'sen settled down, calming and composing himself for the task ahead. “Ready long range fire, my compliments to G'Sten, launch energy mines when ready.”
*
The three different fleets had never operated before, training had been scheduled but given how rapidly events had progressed it hadn't happened. Beside some strategy meetings with senior officers the three groups remained largely strangers. The Dilgar and Drazi had some familiarity with each other as enemies in combat, but the Narn were something of a mystery. The next hour or so was going to be fascinating for Dar'sen.
“Fighters clear.” Fiy'jash reported. “I'm reading clean locks from the main batteries. Targeting Minbari capital ships.”
“Any idea which one is in command?”
“No Warmaster, I was unable to trace the source of their communication.”
“No matter, we'll just have to remove them all.”
His Captain continued her work, the younger sister of Warmaster An'jash who had long served as Jha'dur's Battle Captain Dar'sen was content to see careful management and multi tasking ran in the family.
“Narn ships are preparing energy mines for long range disruption fire.”
“Let them fire first.” Dar'sen ordered. “Then follow up with the spinal lasers.”
The Narn Blue Fleet was a potent force, one of three major formations in the regime and possessing an eclectic mix of warships. Their best units were the G'Quan class heavy cruisers, sleek and decorated in an eye catching red and green splinter scheme they seemed a world away from the sluggish double hulled T'Loth cruisers that still formed much of the Narn Navy.
They were a fleet in transition, beside the G'Quan class were several smaller frigate groups also wearing the same bright colours representing newer units, but the bulk of the force still had plainer grey and green heavy hulled ships dating back to the years after liberation. Their fighter swarms also showed a mix of the newer Frazi heavy fighters and older Gorith medium fighters.
Against the Minbari alone they probably had less chance than the humans. By this point Earth had edged ahead of the Narn in technology with the latest Hyperion class ships matching the new Q'Quans, and with Omega and Nova class ships unrivalled among the Narn fleet. While they lacked the toughness of their EA counterparts the Narn did have a respectable turn of speed and still mounted a decent selection of weapons, particularly heavy laser weapons beside the rightly feared energy mines.
The lead group of Narn cruisers loaded their bays, lined up, and fired their mines from extreme range. This far out the chances of a hit were minimal but that wasn't really the point. Narn strategy favoured using energy mines as area denial weapons to detonate at a set point rather than trying for a direct hit as Earth preferred.
The mines began to detonate in loose sequence ahead of the Minbari like an artillery barrage, the Minbari ships not wasting time intercepting shots that were no danger to them. It did force them to alter course slightly and more importantly to redirect their fighter units around the detonating projectiles.
“Minbari are shifting course but still advancing, they don't seem to be considering the Narn a serious threat.” Fiy'jash reported. “They are still considering us the main opponent.”
“Exactly as expected.” Dar'sen nodded. “Let's help keep him looking this way. Commence long range fire.”
Each of the several Dilgar capital ships carried three ship length spinal lasers copied from stolen Hyach technology acquired during the war. They had a clear range advantage over the Minbari and each gun had approximately double the firepower of the largest Minbari Neutron cannon. When the fleet began engaging it at once marked itself as the clear priority target.
The high powered weapons carved neatly into the Minbari heavy ships, cutting into the heavy armour and leaving deep glowing gullies behind. In several places they triggered secondary explosions where they touched fuel, capacitors or munitions dumping flame and burning debris into the void. Ships began to drop back as their power systems and drives gave way, the Dilgar focusing on the core of Sharlins.
“Now let's see what he does.” Dar'sen leaned forward in clear anticipation. “If he loosens formation the Drazi will swarm him. If he stays tight the Narn can saturate his formation with energy mines. If he goes half way between the two and splits into task groups we can take them out one by one with superior local firepower.”
“Combined arms tactics.” Fiy'jash recognised. “Something we couldn't manage before.”
“I learned it from our enemies during the war. Drazi ships alone were dangerous but we had effective counter tactics. But when the Drazi united with Earth Force any formation we used against them left us vulnerable to the other fleet, and vice versa.”
“Combine the technology and expertise of several distinct groups and forge a single unstoppable fleet.” The Captain nodded. “Exactly what Earth Alliance did to us.”
“It's almost impossible to defend against. The only logical choice is to withdraw.”
*
“Continue the attack!”
Shakiri was not going to allow the last pride of the Warrior caste to falter yet again. If he was beaten twice in the same system on the same battlefield his chance of future success would be zero. His ambitions and dreams for future promotion burned up and thrown to the winds.
“Alyt, the enemy is moving to surround us.” His second warned with obvious concern. “Drazi wolfpacks are forming up, the Narn are ready to engage at closer range, and we cannot answer the firepower of the new Dilgar ships.”
“We cannot retreat, not again!” Shakiri snarled. “Detach our frigates and corvettes, send them at high speed to the Dilgar.”
“Alyt?”
“Our faster light ships can avoid their spinal guns and deliver fire to their big ships. While they do that we will deploy fighters against the Drazi, their ships are small and weak, our craft can disable them.”
“And the Narn?”
“We'll finish them after the Dilgar. Keep us in wall formation and accelerate.”
His officers obeyed, for that is all they could do. The core fleet moved faster and continued to advance straight for the Dilgar. As they did so his flanking escorts broke free and moved up rapidly aiming to get in among the Dilgar ships, the graceful blue hulls showing damage in several places but still bravely charging the Dilgar guns.
They executed the orders with precision and courage, but no matter how impressive to watch it was still a critical mistake.
*
“I did not expect that.” Dar'sen allowed. “He's certainly an unpredictable commander.”
“He split his forces.” Captain Fiy'jash wasn't really able to process what she was witnessing. “He split them. In a battle where flexibility and combined arms is key, he divided his fleet.”
“And now we can just eliminate each group without worrying about the others.” Dar'sen exhaled heavily. “Is this really all the Minbari have to offer us?”
“Perhaps next time you'll face Branmer?”
“Only if I can wrestle Jha'dur to the ground and beat her to the punch!” He laughed. “She wants to meet him too, you should see her speak his praises, not often she seems to genuinely relish something anymore. Still,” he focused on the displays again, “better finish what we started. Deploy Drazi groups on the escorts, energy mines on the fighters, then we'll go handle the heavy ships.”
Every part of a fleet had it's strengths and its weaknesses, a good commander made sure each weakness was protected by someone else’s strength. The best commanders knew when to risk those weaknesses for the chance of success, but Shakiri was not such a man. His strategy wasn't bad in theory, but against an enemy that had effective counters to any tactic he could deploy along with the training and numbers to execute it effectively, he was out of his depth.
The combined fleet responded, its components making their move but unlike the Minbari continued to offer support to each other. The Drazi were unleashed, small agile warships racing to be the first into combat, Stro'kath staying close but remaining wise enough to not put himself directly into harms way. The old warrior was too clever to give into his rage and battle lust, the first wave was a place for the young and eager not for someone tasked with coordinating the entire group. All too often Drazi leaders had sought to lead from the front, a noble goal but one enemies like the Dilgar had exploited mercilessly.
They swept in from the flanks and rear using their superior speed and agility to engage the Minbari escorts from favourable positions. While the bigger Sharlins had excellent weapons coverage the smaller Minbari ships were less able, and with the Drazi handily outmanouevring them they were immediately in trouble.
The first few waves of Drazi ships still suffered as they drew fire, even the relatively light weapons of the smaller Minbari ships carving up Sunhawks like butter, but in so doing left their flanks open to follow up attacks.
A mix of particle weapons and missiles bit into the Minbari attack group, the formation beginning to dissolve as Drazi ships weaved in and out of their enemies getting as close as possible to make hitting them all the more difficult. It was a tactic Stro'kath had personally devised to battle the Minbari in the days before they had beaten their stealth systems, it was still useful today.
Shakiri had already deployed his airwings, hundreds of fighters racing to intercept the Drazi ships and begin picking them apart. They represented a serious threat, Drazi point defences were unimpressive and their ships so lightly built a fighter squadron could often break one in a single pass. Minbari Nials were still extremely potent even without their stealth, the few Drazi fighters present would present no real challenge.
The challenge instead came from the Narn who had by now altered position and were lining up for their next energy mine salvo. Under Narn doctrine the prefered targets for mines were fighter squadrons and flotillas of fast attack ships, by sending his craft forward outside the protection of his warship's interception fire they were little more than a swarm of targets.
With obvious satisfaction G'Sten line dup his firing solutions, Shakiri woefully underestimating both the skill and potency of the new Narn fleet. They deployed a wave of mines ignoring the Minbari heavy ships that were primed to meet them and instead enveloping the inbound Minbari squadrons from the side. They were so focused on the Drazi most never even saw it coming.
The detonations would have had minimal effect on a warship, at least not at as area effect weapons, but against fighters they were absolutely lethal. Most were caught in the well timed detonations, the Narn gunners proving their mastery of this particular weapon and their reason for embracing it so wholeheartedly. Behind the mines flew the bulk of the Narn fighter strength, the simple but effective craft wading in to engage whatever units had escaped the mines.
The mainline Frazi fighter didn't have the agility or resilience of a Starfury but it did carry significant firepower and they arrived in large numbers. The fighter duel erupted with the Drazi airwings offering what help they could. With the Minbari escorts fighting a losing battle against the Sunhawks and other attack cruisers it left only the heart of the Minbari fleet.
Stripped of escorts and fighters they were weakened, but these were still Sharlin and Tigara cruisers with all the power that implied. Individually they were still a match for any Narn or Dilgar ship, only Dar'sen's dreadnought potentially having the power to overmatch a Sharlin. Once again though the best ships were useless without commanders equal to the task.
“Move forward.” Dar'sen ordered. “Fire at will, take us into standard weapons range.”
“Yes Warmaster, fleet responding.”
As one the Dilgar fleet stretched forward, the lone dreadnought and several battleships ably supported by assorted frigates and destroyers. Prominent among them were the Sekhmet cruisers, once rarities among the fleet but today the backbone of the Navy. Each Dilgar ship was built from the best tech of the League forced together by Dilgar scientists. Hyach lasers, Abbai shields, Brakiri gravitic propulsion all supported by fighters derived from the best human and Cascan principles.
“Strengthen forward shields.”
“Diverting power.”
“Release fighters, have them engage Minbari weapons as a priority, drive systems after that.”
The two sides began exchanging fire more heavily, the standard Dilgar cruisers entering range of their conventional weapons. Long red traces of laser fire were punctuated by energy pulses, the Minbari responding with raking beams of Neutrons. The shields helped, but Minbari firepower was still all but unmatched and warships began to falter, a pair of cruisers near the flagships exploding one after another.
Across this exchange the Dilgar fighters made their sweep looking to engage the weapon emplacements on the enemy cruisers. It was a dangerous task, Minbari defensive weapons lighting up the sky and claiming multiple craft as they fired missiles and bolter shots into anything that looked fragile.
They only made one pass, enough to make the Minbari target them, to focus their point defences on the squadrons that rushed through their formation. Dar'sen wanted them to do exactly that, he wanted them in wall formation to take on the Dilgar fleet, he wanted them focused inward on the Thorun Dart fighters. He wanted them to not be looking at the Narn.
“Compliments to Warleader G'Sten.” The Dilgar Supreme Warmaster played his final cards. “Burn them.”
After gutting the Minbari fighters the Narn had reloaded, the range had closed, and the Minbari still ignorant of their true threat had lost focus on them. A good commander would have delegated, would have assigned a subordinate to watch all aspects of the battle and monitor where each enemy was. Shakiri was not a good commander, his theory of war was sound but this was no lecture or exercise. He had been too focused on the Dilgar and their formidable ships at the cost of watching his other units.
The energy mines this time were tightly clustered and hit the Minbari battle formation hard. Several made contact with the hulls of the flanking ships releasing their antimatter payload directly into the target with cataclysmic results. Others detonated close enough to fry sensors, melt exposed gun barrels or in many cases disintegrate the thin barely armoured drive fins the Minbari relied on for propulsion. The destruction of the drive systems in particular was a unique disadvantage to the Minbari and one happily exploited by Dar'sen.
“Enemy formation breaking, they're losing their concentration.” Fiy'jash noted clinically performing her task without emotion despite the glory of this unfolding victory.
“Now we end it. All available units concentrate fire on the Minbari core fleet.”
This was the final act, the dart fighters flipped around and came back for more close passes. The Narn warships engaged with their laser and pulse weapons, the Dilgar changing course to unmask flanking batteries and pepper the beleaguered Minbari with a storm of pulse fire. Even worse the Drazi emerged from behind the Dilgar, Stro'kath expertly disengaging his ships from the by now shattered Minbari escorts to finish the grand prize of the heavy cruisers.
The final concentration was irresistible, the timing perfect, the balance of forces working together a marvel. There was room for improvement and scores of allied ships had been shot out of the sky defending this human world, but they had dominated this fight from the beginning. With three of the greatest fleet commanders alive fighting side by side to the best of their abilities it would have been hard to lose.
“Regroup the fleet, pull us back!” Shakiri yelled in an increasingly desperate voice.
“Alyt, we are surrounded! We cannot regroup!”
“Break us out then!”
“We can't, we don't have the strength!” His second yelled back, the holographic curtain display filled with nothing but enemy units and collapsing Minbari ships. “We can't form jump points, if we do they'll smash us while we try to run!”
“Where is our support?”
“Gone, dead, disabled! It's just us!”
“Then... then...” Shakiri pounded his brain, grilled it for any trick, any tactic he had read. Retreat under assault, rapid disengagement, leapfrog by flotilla, emergency jump. None of them were going to work and each second cost him more and more power. It was impossible to halt, he had failed. But he still had one option.
“Signal our surrender.”
For what seemed like an hour nobody around him moved. They all just stared.
“I said issue our surrender!” He shouted more loudly. “I will not die here! Surrender!”
“Y-yes Alyt.” His second accepted. “All ships cease fire, the Minbari fleet declares it's surrender.”
Shakiri couldn't even look at his fellow warriors, their stares burning into him like torches. The gunfire ended, the enemy moving to deploy a corden around them. The Minbari fleet had never given up the fight before, pride and honour would never permit it. Yet Shakiri simply did not want to die, and next to that he could live with the shame. At least he would still be alive to deal with it.
*
“This close!” Stro'kath bellowed over the view screen. “Ten more seconds! Five! I had his flagship locked! He was mine for the killing!”
“Sorry old friend, but we are fighting on behalf of the humans by their rules. If they surrender we must accept.” Dar'sen shrugged apologetically.
“Five more seconds!”
“If it helps you feel better why don't you go aboard and actually receive his surrender?”
“Fine!” The Drazi grunted. “But I'm going to beat that coward so hard his grandchildren will be pissing blood!”
“Just remember to use the gold knuckle duster, he is a fleet commander afterall.”
“We'll finish our bet next time Warmaster, first one to kill a flagship will take the Brivari!”
“I look forward to it.”
The Drazi cut the signal and set about his business leaving G'Sten to talk.
“It was a fine test of our new ships, and a clear victory. The Kha'ri will be celebrating.”
“It was well earned, the Minbari underestimated you and paid dearly for it.” Dar'sen nodded. “Will you be continuing the fight?”
“Most likely, the Kha'ri will wish to follow up on this victory. And you Warmaster?”
“I have duties at home, I'll turn this fleet back over to Warmaster Dal'shan. You will find him just as capable.”
“I look forward to serving with him, and it has been an honour to serve with you.”
“Likewise Warleader, give my best to G'Kar.”
The screen reverted back to its usual tactical readouts, this time showing a very different battlefield.
“Barely a challenge.” The old Warmaster sighed. “How did we do?”
“Sixteen percent casualties. About thirty for the Drazi, less than five percent for the Narn.”
“Better than I expected.” Dar'sen pondered the outcome. “No surprise the Drazi took the most damage, they are still far too eager to rush in.”
“So it appears Warmaster.” Fiy'jash looked through the data. “Has anyone ever captured a Minbari ship before?”
“Only small craft, freighters, a corvette I think somewhere. Never a Warcruiser, never several warcruisers.” Dar'sen smiled. “As war prizes go I don't think you'll find anyone to top this.”
“We also captured a senior Minbari commander. Assuming the Drazi don't beat him to death.”
“We'll turn him over to the humans after our telepaths have given him a thorough debriefing.” The Warmaster decided. “The captured warships we'll divide among our four governments. I expect Earth will be greatly appreciative.”
“Our own scientists are going to drool on their uniforms.” Fiy'jash smiled at the thought. “If we can replicate Minbari armour...”
“And their Neutron weapons.” Dar'sen added. “Either way this is an excellent bounty. We will secure the ships, give the prisoners to Earth. Tell our Marines to be gracious about it but careful, some may not wish to surrender.”
“Yes Warmaster.”
“Communicate our success back to command, and be prepared.”
“For what sir?”
“Jha'dur is going to be furious she wasn't part of taking a Minbari fleet.”
Earth
Geneva
“According to the initial assessment we should have three Sharlin Warcruisers by the end of the week.” President Levy smiled. “They've taken some damage but are mostly operational. Beside that we have several Attack Cruisers, frigates, corvettes and fighters. Quite the haul.”
“Most impressive Madam President, I am genuinely happy for you.” Ambassador Londo Mollari opened a sharp toothed grin. “Truly a remarkable victory.”
“The victory here belongs to our allies, but it is another piece of good news. Between holding the Line above Earth and defending our border it's been a momentous week.” The President related. “Though also a costly one.”
She wasn't exaggerating, the fleet had taken about sixty percent losses with some parts almost completely destroyed. Their comfort was not only in successfully defending Earth, but also that the Minbari fleet had taken an even larger percentage of casualties.
“I would not have expected anyone could turn back a full scale assault by the Minbari.” Londo folded his eyebrows as he mulled over the information. “We have seen them enraged and it is a terrible sight. We did not expect your people to survive.”
“I appreciate your honesty Ambassador, and yet here we are.”
“Here you are.”
Both sides took a little moment of silence. Whatever Londo's personal views on humanity which had appeared to be quite positive his superiors in the Centaurum had clearly written off Earth early in the war. The sudden turnaround appeared to have caught them completely by surprise and left them at a disadvantage.
“The Senate has considered your previous offer Ambassador.” Levy continued. “The exchange of technology, our Earth made advanced sensor technology in exchange for examples of Centauri gravity systems.”
“A fair deal I would say Madam President. Artificial gravity will make all of your ships vastly more efficient and capable, especially your military vessels.”
“And our sensor tech keeps you in the game. Not just against the Minbari, I hear the Centauri have been experimenting in holographic manipulation. Starship scale chameleon nets, that sort of thing.” Levy noted. “That's the sort of thing this sensor tech could also interfere with.”
“You are not wrong Madam President, indeed you are quite well informed.” Londo modulated his response, he was far too good at this to display any sort of surprise or consternation. “And you are right, it is of particular benefit to us also.”
“Then we can conclude a deal Mr Ambassador.” The President nodded. “My trade people will handle the fine details, I am sure we would both appreciate seeing this happen sooner rather than later.”
“We would.” Londo smiled again. “The Emperor also wished me to convey his personal respects and his relief that our friends from Earth are proving so resourceful.”
“The Emperor is too kind.”
“He has a fondness for you I think, he remembers well the day our nations made contact, little did we know how influential you would become.”
“If you had known perhaps you may not have been so welcoming to us?”
“I don't think there was any danger of that Madam President, Earth is very different to the Narn for example. Far more civilised.”
“Yet despite that the Narn sold us weapons, sent ships to defend our worlds.” Levy observed. “Many have died for us, some took great risks trying to negotiate an end to this war.”
“Yes, well.” Londo did not meet the President's eyes. “The Centauri are pleased you are progressing, but we ask you to be wary of the Narn. They are not helping you out of the goodness of their hearts.”
“Of course they aren't, neither are the Dilgar.” Levy dismissed. “The Drazi maybe, their leader is a man of old fashioned honour, but we are well aware the Dilgar and Narn want something from us.”
“Good, good, I would hate to think you were blind to their machinations.”
“Of course, plots aside, they have helped us immeasurably. They have earned much goodwill Ambassador, at this point they could ask for virtually anything and it would pass the Senate.” Levy measured Londo's reaction very carefully. “Representative G'Kar has already floated the idea of a formal Alliance, one that would include mutual defence and assistance in war.”
“Yes, well, it does not surprise me.” Londo knew he was treading on very thin ice. “The Narn have made no secret in their efforts to unite worlds against us.”
“They seem to be doing very well Ambassador.”
“I will admit they did chose wisely in this conflict. Even though it was for selfish reasons they have helped you. It is to our everlasting shame that we, th eLion of th eGalaxy, failed to be good friends to our human neighbours.”
“Nice words Ambassador, but words don't arm our ships or send fleets to help us.”
“I believe that the Centaurum today would be willing to send assistance.” Londo proposed. “Once our ships have the new sensor upgrades so they may effectively battle Minbari alongside you.”
“An excellent offer Ambassador, but at this point we don't need them. Please pass on my thanks to your Government, but we can handle this ourselves with our true friends.”
“Madam President, it wounds me that you do not consider us true friends.”
“There's an old human saying, if the shoe fits...”
“I am not so familiar with human sayings I am afraid Madam President, I have immersed myself in your culture but there are only so many hours in the day!” He grinned widely. “But perhaps there are other aspects of human culture I do understand. For instance, playing one man off against another?”
“We are long beyond that point Ambassador. We can trade for Artificial Gravity from the Dilgar if we must in exchange for broad trade agreements, they would tear our hands off for such a deal.”
“Yes, I have heard the Dilgar do such things in negotiations. Just rumours.” Londo apparently failed to spot the metaphor. “But I am not here completely empty handed. We recognise the situation Madam President, that the balance of power is tipping. It is the wish of the Centaurum to restore that balance.”
“How so?”
“It is better if Earth remains neutral regarding the situation between the Narn and my people. If you aligned against us it would create tension, encourage the Narn to do something rash. That would be, as you say, a bad thing.”
“A threat Ambassador?”
“Absolutely not, I would not threaten a world that just drove off a Minbari invasion!” Londo laughed. “No, no, not at all. But it does reflect a probable outcome. The Minbari are powerful but largely amateurs. The Centauri Navy is both large and very well trained. We would have course never use it against our friends, and Earth is our friend.”
“Is that so.”
“And friends help each other, yes?”
“We have agreed to swap sensors for...”
“What if Madam President,” Londo interrupted, “what if I had something else? Something more important? Something we would offer to help maintain balance and peace?”
“If you want us to cool relations with the Narn this offer had better be the greatest deal in history.”
“I cannot guarantee that, but I can say it will probably win you this war.”
That caught her attention.
“What are you offering Ambassador?”
“The one thing you don't have, that nobody beside us has.” He smiled. “Information.”
From his pocket Londo produced a data crystal and placed it on the President's desk.
“My people have traded with the Minbari for many generations. Our trade has tended to be fairly light but consistent. We have sent Ambassadors, traders, spies, people who have told us many things over the years.”
“For instance?”
“The location of every Minbari planet including their homeworld?” Londo remarked. “Which worlds have orbital defences, ship yards, logistics hubs. The location of restricted zones that are part of their military infrastructure, clan headquarters, their holding locations for mothballed ships? That sort of thing.”
Levy looked very intently at the crystal.
“And the price for this?”
“A treaty of peaceful neutrality with both us and the Narn.” Londo suggested. “By all means offer the Narn your friendship and support in a war, but offer us the same thing. That way if, one sad day, we and the Narn go to war you would be obliged to maintain neutrality.”
“But only in the event of a Narn and Centauri war?”
“Yes, we can handle the others ourselves.” Londo nodded. “In exchange, this information can save millions of lives. Perhaps more.”
She picked up the crystal.
“We are doing well for ourselves so far. Our losses can be replaced, we are on the brink of launching a full scale invasion of Minbari space.”
“Don't underestimate them Madam President. They have been in this position before, their fleets smashed and worlds under attack. They united behind a charismatic leader and struck back even harder. Branmer is a talented leader, and the Minbari shipyards are still intact and mobilising. Without that data it will take you months, maybe years to find and hit the key Minbari centres of industry. By the time you do you will find a thousand warcruisers waiting for you.”
Londo tilted his head.
“But with that, you can attack them immediately and stop the Minbari from gathering their forces and turning their full might against you. I think Madam President, that is worth more than a few weapons and a detachment of warships.”
“I'd like to speak to my cabinet.”
“Of course, keep the crystal, it is encoded.” Londo nodded. “Even your vaunted code breakers would take years to access it, but if you agree to our treaty of friendship, we will send you the cipher.”
“Alright Ambassador, stay nearby, we'll speak in a few hours.”
“Of course Madam President.” Londo stood. “We look forward to once again embracing our true friends from Earth.”
Proxima Three
Orbital shipyards.
Everything was busy, between new construction, repairs, refits and resupply Proxima was filled with warships of all kinds. The various grids of metal, girders and space stations represented the heart of human ship building, the massive array of yards having long since overtaken Earth and Mars as the primary ship building nexus of the Alliance. Its central location and proximity to a major source of Quantium 40 for FTL drives guaranteed it, and the fact Proxima was the last stop before Earth on the only safe jump route in made the system exceptionally well defended.
The war had not touched Proxima yet, the battles having bypassed it's ranks of space stations and satellite based cannons leaving it free to focus on the task of building warships.
“Looks like half the Navy is here.”
Sheridan peered out from under the canopy of the shuttle as the craft drifted between the grey steel forest of yards and beacons, the glimmer of automated welders and construction teams surrounding skeletal new battleships. Most appeared to be Omega class ships that had been commissioned in the first days of the war and were still some months from completion, elsewhere smaller batches of different ships were closer to completion and being rushed out for the next stage of the conflict.
The main attraction for Sheridan was the fleet taking on supplies and undergoing last minute repairs. These were ships that had survived the Line in good enough condition to deploy back to the front, a few hundred vessels of various types that would be reinforced by stripping garrisons from some of the larger colonies and deploying the next wave of recalled crews and reactivated mothballed ships.
It would be a rough formation but under Admiral Hamato there was no doubt it would be combat ready in two weeks. That was the schedule the Joint Chiefs had decided, at the end of that time the fleet would launch a full scale invasion supported by Narn, Drazi and Dilgar warfleets. With the Minbari fleet gutted and the Earth fleet hugely reinforced with allied fleets it was expected to be a swift and one sided assault.
None of the veteran officers believed it would be anything like that easy but if Earth wanted to win it had to take the war to the Minbari. So far there had still been no word of a change and Earth could not afford to wait.
The shuttle curved around to dock at Proxima Prime, the main station in the system where most of the Naval efforts were concentrated. There were already several large vessels close by including a fresh unit of brand new Omega class destroyers hanging beside the station, their central sections slowly rotating in perfect unison.
Far more interesting to Sheridan though were three titanic Explorer class ships beyond them, still relatively new the huge spindly ships were designed to push the boundaries of explored space, building new jump gates and beacons to expand human influence. They also tended to carry vast amounts of materials, pre-fab bases and even small space stations to aid their missions of expansion. Some could also carry full sized survey ships in their vast maw like hanger bays if required.
To see one such ship was rare, to see three was almost unheard of. Only a handful had been completed before the war and most were still so far beyond Earth space they had not yet returned. These particular three appeared to be undergoing their own refits, their usual cargo of base building materials and jump gate components replaced for fuel storage tanks and munitions containers.
The shuttle was cleared through without delay and docked quickly enough, Sheridan was led without a moment to gather himself directly to one of the conference rooms to find it already busy with about two dozen officers. Some he recognised, others he didn't, but central among them was Admiral Hamato working out some details with his subordinates.
“They called you in too hey Swamp Rat?”
Sheridan turned to locate the voice finding himself nose to nose with Jack Maynard, the grinning man offering him a hearty bear hug.
“Glad to see you ain't dead.”
“Likewise Stinky...I mean Captain.” Sheridan restrained himself, aware of the assorted command rank staff around him.
“Yeah, yeah, guess we better save the lively chat for whatever passes for a bar up here.” His old friend scratched his bearded chin. “But it is good to see you, made a name for yourself.”
“Heard you had some fun out near Beta Durani too.” Sheridan grinned. “Busy war.”
“Very busy.” His former commanding officer related. “But we're still kicking.”
“That we are.” Sheridan looked around. “Any word on this?”
“New commands, heard we're getting an upgrade.”
“That so?”
“Well I did, the Cortez, one of the big Explorers outside.”
“You've been gunning for one of them since they started building them.”
“Wish it was under better circumstances. How about you, oh, hey, well done on making Captain.”
“Thanks, I'm happy with the Agamemnon but we took a beating on the Line. She'll be down for at least three months.”
“I guess they need you out there with or without her.”
“Attention on deck!” One of the officers near Hamato called out bringing silence to the various conversations
“Glad you all could make it.” The grey haired Admiral began to speak. “Some of you know each other, for others this is a first meeting. Each man and woman in this room is here because you have demonstrated resourcefulness and courage under exceptional circumstances. You are among the best independent Captains we have available, as such you are being assigned special operations. Captain.”
Hamato stepped aside to allow William Hague to step up, the relatively young Captain already accelerating up the Earth Force rank structure.
“It is with regret I am standing here to deliver this briefing.” He began. “This mission was due to be commanded by Admiral Joe Tennant, I'll do what I can in his place to make it the sort of success we all know he would have achieved.”
He brought up a briefing map.
“Our objective is to commence raiding against Minbari supply lines, transfer points, and any useful targets of industry we can get away with. Our goal is to slow down their operations and give our main offensive better odds of success.”
The map behind him began to filter through various pieces of data, text emerging above several locations.
“We recently acquired valuable intel from the Centauri regarding the disposition of Minbari industry and planets, while this information is old the stagnant nature of the Minbari means all these targets are almost certainly exactly where they were decades ago.”
He shifted more data around.
“We will move into their space and begin operations deep behind enemy lines. Resupply will be impossible therefore we are preparing three Explorer class ships to act as mobile supply bases. We will also be mostly out of contact with home which is why it is imperative the commanders of this operation be able to operate independently and in the most unpredictable circumstances.”
He shifted the map back to an overview.
“You will each have a copy of the data and an area of operations, within that area you are free to pick and choose targets as you see fit, Command trusts your ability to exploit an opportunity when you recognise it. You will also have the best ships we can give you, most of you have already commanded the Omega class and those who haven't are fast learners. I'll assign your individual missions unless there are any immediate questions?”
Nobody spoke.
“Alright, that's all, Admiral.”
Hamato gave a nod.
“This is the first step in our counter attack, understand your assignments, be daring, be bold, you are now the sharp edge of Earth Force against the Minbari. Start slicing them down.”
*
The assorted officers mingled for a while and shared some stories as they were divided into their respective parties. For Sheridan that meant working with two new officers he hadn't met before, and one that he had.
“Mackie!” Sheridan beamed to see his old mentor striding over, the two cementing the greeting with a firm handshake and warm smile.
“Captain Sheridan, has a nice sound to it.” The larger man grinned back Edward MacDougan had been a well decorated commander in the Dilgar War, his tactics on small ship combat had earned him a posting to the Academy afterwards where his lectures were legendary for breaking off into broader discussions on the responsibilities of a Captain. “I hear you're making us old timers look bad out there.”
“Just doing the job you taught me.” He returned graciously. “Between you, Jack Maynard and Bill Hague now I feel like it's someone's retirement party.”
“Yeah, lot of familiar faces. It's good to see so any alive, and hard to think so many did make it this far.”
“They didn't, but we got the job done.”
“We got the job done.” MacDougan echoed sombrely. “And now we have more work to do.”
The big man waved over two additional officers.
“I'm going to be your new commander in the field, our mission is deep range raids into enemy territory Just like Bill Hague outlined. We'll be shouldering most of the burden on this so if you've got any doubts now's the time to speak up.”
“No sir, I'm ready to take the war to the Minbari.”
“Good man. I'll be commanding a nine ship task force divided into three groups of three ships. You are being assigned to group Delta and this will be your immediate superior.”
MacDougan gestured to a small set Indian woman who responded with a polite nod.
“Kaveri Varma.” She introduced herself. Captain. I command the DeSoto, one of the Explorer class you no doubt noticed outside.”
“Pleased to meet you Captain.”
“And this one is Glen McGee, he's going to be commanding the Arethusa alongside you.”
“Happy to meet the man who nuked the Black Star.” A bright eyed man not much older than Sheridan enthused with a clean Canadian twang. “I bet they hate you!”
“So I heard.” He shook hands with a nod.
“You'll be taking the Andromeda, brand new fresh off the blocks.” MacDougan informed. “I know you probably got attached to the Agamemnon but she's out of the fight for a while. We need you back out there Johnny so the Old man brought over your crew and filled the ranks for those who didn't make it.”
“You need us out there that badly?”
“Believe it, we won the last battle but we're stretched mighty thin out there. Our allies are taking some of the strain but we still need to be leading the way.”
Sheridan wasn't entirely thrilled, he'd just about settled into the Agamemnon but there wasn't much else to be done. The Omega class were good ships and his crew had experience with them, it was logical they'd be assigned instead of a crew unfamiliar with the new design.
“We won't let you down.”
“I don't doubt it.” Mackie slapped him on the shoulder with a weighty hand. “Each group is built around one Explorer and two destroyers, all optimised for long range operations. The Explorer will act as a mobile base and supply dock for the Destroyers so you can stay out there for we estimate six months. Maybe more.”
“Normally we can operate independently for over five years.” Varma interjected. “But supporting a combat group will burn through our supplies more quickly, most especially if you are gifted with an abundance of targets.”
“The Explorers will also lead you through hyperspace, they have the most powerful sensor array there is and are designed to skirt the edge of hyperspace. You should be able to avoid detection and lay new jump routes into Minbari space.”
“What if we run into trouble?” McGee asked.
“Explorers are built with minor defensive weapons and a wing of Starfuries.” Varma answered. “We shall have more for this operation as we are swapping out our construction craft for more fighters, but we are not warships. We shall stand at the back of any action, provide to you an overview and real time sensor data for the entire star system, and shall direct you toward targets and threats, but mostly if we are shooting at someone then something somewhere has gone most badly wrong.”
“The Destroyers are going to be doing all the legwork.” MacDougan echoed. “Captain Varma is the eyes and the brain, you two are the blunt weapons.”
“I'll take that as a compliment.” Sheridan chuckled.
“I'll leave your new commander to iron out the rest, it's not going to be an easy one but we've got the best people for the job right here.”
MacDougan made his farewells and joined the next group over which included Jack Maynard, presumably providing command of an Explorer for one of the other groups.
“An Explorer.” Captain McGee offered a respectful nod. “That's a prime assignment, nice work Captain.”
“Thank you.” Varma returned a reserved smile. “I am lucky in having an advanced understanding of Hyperspace physics, exactly what the Explorer Division required.”
“How long have you been out there?” Sheridan asked.
“About five months with the DeSoto, we had barely begun our first voyage when the war began. But before that I commanded a survey ship for a few years. My task here is to use my ship and experience to get your Destroyers into a position to hit Minbari targets and then escape before they have any idea what just happened.”
“What sort of targets are we talking about?”
“Mostly convoys, but we are cleared to engage fixed targets too under the doctrine of calculated risk” Varma explained. “It will be a decision reserved to myself, based on all available data. The DeSoto is being uniquely equipped with additional weapons for this purpose, but I have no intention of taking unnecessary risks.”
“That might be my department.” McGee suggested. “Before the war I was part of a group of Raider Hunters. We went after them with a frigate group, learned their tricks and tactics, where they struck from, how to ambush targets in open space, best ways to strike and fade. Wouldn't be hard to adapt those tricks for our own use.”
“It appears we have the makings of a very troublesome force.” Varma smiled. “We will be more than a nuisance for the Minbari, If we do not take three times our mass in prizes I will be a little disappointed. The more we take, the longer we can exten-"
“Hey Kavalry!”
Kevari looked up sharply, her eyebrows knitting in a flash of annoyance as Captain Maynard walked past with his unit.
“Hello, Captain Maynard.” She forced a smile. “May I offer my congratulations on your new command.”
“Look forward to seeing you out there, take care of old Swamp Rat here!” He waved at Sheridan. “Look forward to seeing who gets the high score out there!”
“It is not really about...”
“We're gonna win!” He grinned. “Good hunting out there!”
There was a pause as Kaveri's mouth was frozen around what she had been going to say before The interruption. “Likewise.” She nodded and audibly exhaled after Maynard was out of earshot. “Everytime that man walks past, I have a headache for the next three days.”
“Kavalry?” Sheridan asked. “You knew him long enough to get a nickname?”
“Yes, it was during the war with the Dilgar. My cruiser was ambushed and destroyed by a rather daring Dilgar frigate while on a mission at the edge of the theatre. I was the only survivor not rescued initially, marooned on what I assume was a former Garmak world, or perhaps a race even older. I was there for months, I missed most of the war and when a ship finally arrived in the system... Guess who was in command?”
“Wait, was it the Cochrane?”Sheridan asked. “An old Artemis class?”
“The same.”
“That was my first posting, Jack was my first Commander, I guess a few years later.”
“I am, of course, eternally grateful to Captain Maynard for recovering me, I was just one shipwrecked soul very far from home, but when he found the debris from my cruiser he continued searching even though it was unlikely he would find anyone so many months later.” Varma related sincerely. “But his command style is… Eccentric, shall we say?”
“No argument here.” Sheridan sifted his own memories.
“It took two months for him to complete his patrol and return me home, at first I was curious. After the fifth round of seeing who could propel themselves farthest on a single can of beans I came to realise I did not really fit in.”
She shrugged.
“He is from a very different world and I found myself infuriated at even minor matters. By the end of the patrol, I could not wait to leave that ship. But, on my way out of the airlock to board Tirrith Station he stopped me and he said as we parted 'May God stand between you and harm in all the empty places where you must walk.' I barely believed it, how could such beautiful words come from a man who took such pride in belching loud enough to be heard through two blast doors?”
“He's definitely a character.” Sheridan smiled. “It's an old Egyptian blessing, I think it came from his own first commanding officer, he shared it with me too.”
“I suppose some thoughts have enough depth to sink into even the most chaotic souls.” Varma smiled slightly. “I look forward to our mission together Captain Sheridan, to survive Jack Maynard with your dignity intact is no small achievement.”
“Next to that I'm sure the Minbari will be nothing.”
Minbari Space
“There is nothing more to say.” Branmer addressed the Council, the overall atmosphere one of unrestrained despondency. “The attack failed in its objective, we are reduced to approximately twenty percent of our pre-war combat strength, and our long range scouts report human, Narn, Drazi and Dilgar fleets massing near Nocalo colony.”
He paused for a response but none was forthcoming so he continued.
“An invasion is inevitable. I have strengthened the garrison on Nocalo and made preparations for harassing raids once the enemy commit their forces.”
“You will not defend Nocalo?” Jenimer finally sounded his voice.
“We have no means to do so. Any ship I deploy there will be lost, we need warships more than we need a border colony.”
“That is a Minbari world you so easily discard.” Morann barely his his fury. “Those are Minbari warriors you abandon on it's soil!”
“They are not abandoned, it is their mission to fight and delay for as long as possible the human conquest of that planet. The longer they fight, the longer we have to regroup.”
The normal round of discussions was notably absent, the usually combative personalities unable to muster much in the way of active debate. Branmer's return had not been a cause of much celebration, the Council already knew from its own scouts the battle had been lost, the gamble had failed.
“The Council will approve Shai Alyt Branmer's strategy.” Jenimer spoke flatly. “We have no choice but...”
“Shai Alyt. You dishonour those words by uttering them in the same room as that man!” Morann spat, Branmer paying him minimal attention. “I demand Sineval be given command! Branmer has led us from failure to failure!”
“Giving Sineval command would throw away what few resources we have left.” Coplann was tired of dealing with the same arguments. “He is even more hot headed than Shakiri, and look what happened there!”
“What happened there?” Neroon spoke up from beside Branmer. “What happened to Shakiri?”
“Alyt Shakiri looked to exploit the weakened human defences by attacking their colonies and transport hubs. He ran into difficulty.”
“His fleet was routed and captured.” Coplann clarified with unbelievable amounts of venom in his words. “He surrendered and was taken alive, many of his ships are now in the hands of our enemies.”
“Did he at least have the presence of mind to destroy our Jammer systems before he handed the ships over?”
“He did not.”
“I see.” Neroon looke dover to Morann. “Any other gifts the Windswords wish to give our enemies?”
“Now is not a time for recriminations.” Branmer intoned. “Our people have faced this situation before, our fleets broken, our worlds invaded, our hope shattered. We returned and stood victorious, we must not lose our faith.”
“Spoken like a priest.” Morann sneered. “A priest who wasted our last full fleet!”
“That would be Shakiri.” Neroon spoke evenly but with barely buried hate. “Twice in fact. If he had not charged headlong into the enemy, twice I note again, we would have had enough ships to reach Earth and decimate their industry. Then take out their shipyards on the way back home.”
“If he had been a warrior he would have...”
“If you question his warrior spirit one more time I will not be restrained.” Neroon said plainly. “I do not care anymore for the sanctity of the council, you have failed the people and I will spill your foolish blood the next time you speak ill of the only man who actually tried to win this war.”
The younger warrior still wore bandages from his wounds on the line, one of his eyes covered with a patch, but there was no question he could still snap Morann like a twig should he wish.
“Your elders squandered our strength, failed to learn from their mistakes, you placed us in a position where we could not win and demanded from Branmer a miracle! A miracle even Valen could not deliver! Then you sneer at him for coming within an inch of doing the impossible! When your own choice for leader is now eating prison food on Beta Durani!”
“Shakiri must have...”
“None of this is going to help our situation.” Branmer did not raise his voice, but it was still enough to enforce silence. There was a very subtle but very clear shift of power taking place as Branmer became more and more active and the Council realised their usual methods were not going to work in this crisis.
“The human secondary fleets will attack soon, the presence of their allies in numbers has allowed them to begin operations with a much smaller force than they would otherwise need. The could be at Nocalo within a week and it will only get worse. Once their main fleets are restored and reinforced they will begin seeking out and engaging far more important planets.”
“Can we stop them?” Delenn asked the relevant question.
“No, we can only slow them down. I have ordered our ship yards focus on producing light ships, frigates and corvettes, to raid human supply lines. These ships are still able to defeat larger Earth ships if required and require less time, resources and crew than a true warcruiser. Indeed I have suspended production of any unit bigger than a Tigara for the next year.”
“You are changing the nature of our fleet?”
“I am. It will be faster, more flexible, less reliant on vessels that used the jammers as their best weapon. A Sharlin is mighty but I have seen them fall in seconds to an Earth Dreadnought broadside. Smaller ships can evade such an attack and still fire back with weapons able to destroy their enemy. A Sharlin is, to quote the humans, overkill.”
“In time we will begin building our heaviest ships again, but for now we must spend our resources wisely.” Neroon added. “We have new designs to also consider, smaller, and cheaper in some cases. Larger and more powerful in others.”
“Crews are the other matter, it is still a month before the next group of retrained personnel will be available.” Branmer informed. “They are enthusiastic but learning to operate a warship takes time and training, I will not commit these forces until I am satisfied they will not be Flarn grazers to the slaughter.”
“And in the meantime we are defenceless?” Coplann asked with trepidation.
“We are not, we have sufficient standing forces to buy us time as required, we simply will not be engaging directly.” Branmer stated. “I have also mobilised the Protectorate.”
“The Protectorate?” Jenimer frowned. “That requires the authority of the Council.”
“You have already given it to me.” Branmer inclined his head. “It needed to be done immediately, I apologise if it is a surprise.”
“The Protectorate are the surviving worlds of our allies in the Great War.” Delenn recalled. “They were virtually destroyed by the Shadows, Valen promised them our protection and eternal friendship.”
“And they returned it.” Branmer nodded. “They have agreed to deploy their forces in this time of our need. Their ships are not so powerful as our main fleets but they are respectable. More importantly they have a core of trained personnel who we can use to fill gaps in our own ranks.”
“You are sending them into battle for us?”
“They are keen to do so, they wish to repay our long protection of their homes.”
“They shouldn't have to!” Coplann snapped. “We are their defenders, does a parent seek the help of his children?”
“When that parent has repeatedly punched himself in the face perhaps he really should.” Neroon shot a sideways glance. “They are already mobilising, we will use them beside our own forces to slow down the humans and later they will stand shoulder to shoulder with us when we strike back.”
“The Protectorate is a large untapped resource, we will use it. We will call upon our allies as Earth has called upon its own and we will be gracious and humble about it.” Branmer dictated. “We do this because we are at the end of our options. We cannot win this alone, indeed we may not win it even with help. I once again say that we need to examine negotiations. The Anla'shok are once again working with the Narn to...”
“The Narn who are currently poised to invade us?” Coplann noted. “I doubt their intentions.”
“The Centauri then?”
“We have detected a large Centauri fleet on our border.” Jenimer informed. “There is a strong possibility they have sensed our weakness and seek to expand at out expense.”
“Emperor Turhan would never take such an aggressive action.” Delenn stated confidently.
“These forces appear to be loyal to House Refa and several of their allies. They are likely operating independently.”
“All the more reason to take decisive action toward peace.” Branmer recommended. “I will prepare for a long war, but I cannot guarantee a victory. Merely endless battle.”
“The time Valen warned us about is approaching, the servants of Darkness will exploit this to their advantage.” Delenn warned. “We must chose our true enemies.”
“And what if the humans are no longer interested in peace?” Moran asked. “What of your dreams then?”
“Then perhaps the darkness is already upon us.”
Harlock
I should have expected that really
Shakiri is one of those people who is very ambitious and great when he has far better people to do his work for him. If he had Neroon as his second he could probably have done very well. Alas Neroon actually has standards
Plus as Shakiri turned out to be a coward in the show, likewise here.
Plus as Shakiri turned out to be a coward in the show, likewise here.
At least he's a few steps above Zapp Brannigan?Shakiri is one of those people who is very ambitious and great when he has far better people to do his work for him. If he had Neroon as his second he could probably have done very well. Alas Neroon actually has standards
Plus as Shakiri turned out to be a coward in the show, likewise here.
Then again, anyone would be a Sun Tzu, Napoleon, or Rommel by comparison...
Harlock
I should have expected that really
Very true
We still have one Minbari leader left in the game, Sineval himself, a man even his most feverish supporters only nominate for command because he is literally the last senior Warrior left alive now
I don't think Branmer will tolerate that sort of thing, especially as he's starting to flex his political muscles a little.
We still have one Minbari leader left in the game, Sineval himself, a man even his most feverish supporters only nominate for command because he is literally the last senior Warrior left alive now
I don't think Branmer will tolerate that sort of thing, especially as he's starting to flex his political muscles a little.