From: "NEIL COLLINS" Subject: Consequences Date: Sat, 13 Dec 97 00:39:07 UT Title: Consequences By: Daniel Collins Part: Seventh of the Earth-Minbari War Phase * * * * * * * * * * Continuing from A Beginning With Hope * * * * * * * * * * The Earth Alliance has reached mid 2246, many of the vessels that have survived have been refitted with the new Narn weapons. All this happening whilst the Earth Alliance fight the Minbari, the Omega class starships continue to be rebuilt, the Narn map out the galaxy, and the worlds fall to the Minbari. It's now too obvious that the Minbari are getting closer to Earth, they've closed in all around, but the humans are proving a formidable enemy. This was all explained in prophecy, all explained. Everything in the universe can be explained, everything can be... or can it? * * * * * * * * * * The truth of the matter is that the Earth Alliance isn't capable of winning the war. All of the Minbari warships have the ability to trick sensors on battle, making it impossible for Earthforce to target them. It's a hopeless battle, but no end is near... * * * * * * * * * * > The New Feeling, The Old Ways < The Cruiser EAS Lexington had been since refitted with Narn weapons, to accompany the Earthforce standard ones. The crew hoped that in the next engagement, they'd prove more effective against the Minbari. The Lexington was now on a course to rendezvous with several cruisers, the California, Thomas Paine, Horatio and the Omega. These cruiser would defend Centirss IV. A major colony of the Earth Alliance, plus a base of operations for the military. Right now, Ground Pounders are being shuttled to the surface to protect the planet, and it's inhabitants. The GROPOS are to be most careful in their attempts. When the Minbari took over Galvor, it was a virtual slaughter. It couldn't happen again, never again... Nevertheless, the Lexington and her crew continued to the rendezvous point, where they'd make their stand... The Lexington's crew new what they had to do this time round, simply guard the planet and stop the Minbari from getting any closer to Earth. If they did, there was no defense behind them, the Minbari would reach Earth in no time. Why they didn't just slip by through Hyperspace was a question that lay un answered, but irrelevant at this time. Robert Torrey, still in command, walked across the bridge, "Status," "ETA, 5 minutes, Minbari cruisers detected three point five nine light years away and closing in. We'll get there first." Valdimyre replied, glad he had some good news up his sleeve. "Very good, Open a Channel to the Omega..." "Captain, we welcome your suggestion, but incase you haven't noticed, the Minbari are three light years away!" Captain Shourne said. "Okay, I understand, but it puzzles me why no one ever thought of it." "Surely you must realise that the Minbari are so advanced that they'd pick out mines if they new they were there." Shourne retorted. "If they KNEW they were there." "I'm in no mood for a debate, we have to engage their warships now. It's...there's not enough time." "Okay then." Torrey gave up "Fine." The Lexington took a defensive position near the California, and prepared for the upcoming fight. "Ready fighters." Torrey said. "Aye Sir, fighter bays standing by." The California, recently refitted with Narn weaponry too, and survived the attack on Galvor, if survived were such a word. Retreated because they had to. Longseld sighed, and realised she was feeling sorry for herself. if there was one thing that was impossible to forget, it was the day that ISN viewed the bombing of Galvor, and the slaughter of the colonists. And why did they get slaughtered, because the California and the fleet couldn't stand their ground. Because the Minbari were too powerful. Because she was too soft, and too caught up in "Let them make the first move" positions that she changed. Stuff the lot, there was a new Longseld forming beneath her skin, and she could feel it ready to erupt... "Report." She called, waking out of her trance. "Minbari cruisers closing. Two point Five Light Years away, the Omega has ordered all ships to launch fighters and ready all weapons." Telford said. "Okay, launch fighters and ready the new weapons." Longseld had been so caught up in her sorrow lately, she forgot to give Telford his promotion, it left her mind as absently as those colonists died on Galvor. Galvor, would see her die under her stress. She couldn't let go. The other ships launched their fighters, one by one exiting the bow hangers, and every pilot knew, that this could be their last mission. It was time to be optimistic, but as the California's fleets came around to the Omega, they could see the deadly speckled stars that lay ahead. Small, but deadly ships, approaching fast, and without fear of the Alliance. The California had it's full four fleets of Starfuries, and so, large numbers of fighters built up and expanded outward toward the Minbari ships, and then they stopped, just ahead of the Omega. * * * * * * * * * * > The Minbari Don't Look For Revenge, The Minbari Look For Honour. < The Earth Alliance fleet dwarfed the Minbari armada, but it didn't mean anything. Size was nothing. The Minbari would fight for their people. And in the same position, Earth would do the same. Just as it has proven many times, even though defeated so many times. The Omega held it's position, Shourne sat uncomfortably in his Command Chair. "Open Channel to the Fleet, send this: Fire when fired upon, let them make the first move." "Sure, I let them do that at Galvor." Longseld thought. "Understood, awaiting further instructions." Torrey responded. The Minbari closed in toward the fleet. Several fighters took a defensive position against the Starfuries, and the cruisers lines up against some of the Earth Alliance forces. "Narn weapons at ready, Sir." Lt. Telford told Longseld. "Right, power them up for 100% burst." Longseld acknowledged. "Sir?" "You heard me." "But..." Telford was more than confused with her order. "Lieutenant, you're a good officer, and I don't want you to get jittery now, you heard my order, I'm sure you understood my order, so just carry it out." Longseld said. In all his experience, the Captain had never explained herself, he knew something was wrong, but followed her instructions. Aboard the Omega, things got to a point where the crew were literally losing the toilet training abilities, the tension was felt by everyone. It was attacking everyone. "Sir!" "What is it?" Shourne asked, bright and alert. "It's the California, she's powered up weapons..." "Huh? California, respond! Disengage your weapons." "Sorry," Longseld said, "This is for Galvor Colony!" "What are you thinking? Galvor? You couldn't have prevented that!" "Sir, no reasoning will help now, the Minbari have powered their weapons and targeted the California." the Ensign said, "Do we target them?" "No matter how I look at this situation, we have but one choice. The California is one of our ships, therefore we must protect her. Yes, target the Minbari." The Minbari vessels held their positions, and then the lead ship fired a powerful and destructive green beam of energy at the California. The Omega moved into a more defensive position as the Starfuries flew out toward the Fighters. A Red beam flew out toward the Minbari cruisers, but missed by far. Several shots of lasers from the Starfuries brushed past the enemy fighters. The Lexington swung round to protect the California, which was taking the most damage. "Fire Narn weaponry!" Longseld yelled across the bridge. "It's no good, we can't hit them!" "Sir, Jump points!" Telford called. "Where?" Longseld asked. The Minbari closed in toward the Earthforce ships. As the Lexington swung in toward the California, two jump points opened. One behind the Lexington, the other behind the Thomas Paine which was giving cover fire for the Horatio. Three cruisers in each flew into normal space, the Earth Alliance was surrounded... * * * * * * * * * * > No Surrender, No Retreat. < Now nearing defeat, even without the loss of any ships, the Earth Alliance had to stand their ground. The Narn weapons weren't really helping, but they couldn't give up, they couldn't retreat, so they fired away. Now surrounded by nine Minbari cruisers, Earthforce ordered all Starfuries back to a more defensive position. Several green beams fired from everywhere made this impossible as they all collected several Starfuries in their paths... "I will not give up! Keep firing!" Longseld called. "Aye Sir," Telford replied, "Firing." Several red beams accompanied by red lines of laser pounded toward the cruisers. It looked as though they struck the ship, but they didn't. "I must destroy those ships! It's what I have to do!" "Sir, you must realise this battle is a no win situation." Telford said. "You must realise you can't! You couldn't have helped what happened at Galvor, you can't take the burden as you are, let go..." " I can't, I have to do this." The bridge rocked as the ship was hit. "The California is taking the brunt of it all sir, she's on fire." Valdimyre said, "She's going." "We must do what we can, keep firing." Torrey said. The Minbari were winning, and that was a usual tale in this war. The few Earthforce vessels surrounded, with no escape. "Captain, our weapons are offline, and there's no where to run." "But there is!" Longseld said, "Give me helm control." "Helm?" Telford asked "You don't want to...." "I have to do this! You don't understand!" The California powered up it's rear engines, the Lexington couldn't give cover fire anymore. By the looks of things, the California was flying directly toward the Minbari cruiser. "Don't do it. Stop!" Torrey called to Longseld. "I have to, goodbye." was the reply. "Sir, I'm reading a large power surge from all Minbari warships." As the California powered toward the Minbari vessel, it fired. The green stream of light lashed out toward the California's Command Level. The beam impacted, and the ship spun out of control, away from the cruiser. Then, to finish it all, the defense for Centirss IV was destroyed as each Minbari fired it's weapons into the centre of the Earthforce fleet. The beams sliced away at everything they touched... From the centre, the beams moved out, in a destructive, but a somewhat beautiful pattern. The Omega, the Thomas Paine, Lexington, California and the Horatio, all destroyed in the blink of an eye. Centirss IV was now up for the taking. The Minbari launched their shuttles which descended to the planet surface. The lives of the Earthforce fleet, were nothing compared to what the Minbari would do to the colonists... * * * * * * * * * > Too Late To Help < Now that the shuttles had landed on the planet surface, the Minbari cruisers moved away and prepared to jump back into Hyperspace. Just as that happened, a Jump point formed, just next to the ships. Three Earth Alliance cruisers came through and fired out toward the Minbari ships. The beams didn't reach their targets though, as the Minbari made the jump. Out of time. The flagship was also Omega class, and was escorted by two Hyperion class vessels, surrounded by Starfury bombers. The bombers moved toward the planet and begun destroying some of the Minbari shuttles. Their mission would be to retake the colonies. The Omega moved in toward the wreckage, what remained of the Earthforce fleet. The silent space filled with wreckage, is suddenly flooded with transmissions from the ship, "This is Captain John Sheridan of the Earth Alliance vessel Agamemnon, if anyone can hear me, please respond." Sheridan looked out into the debris. He knew no one would be alive out there, but for the record, he tried. "Take us back," he said to his crew. "Let's go, file a report to Earthdome." "Aye Sir." The Agamemnon and the other two ships moved off and flew into their jump point. Leaving the colonists, and the dead from the Earthforce fleet. * * * * * * * * * * TO BE CONTINUED... * * * * * * * * * * By Daniel Collins. How will the future unfold for the Earth Alliance? Find out in the continuation. * * * * * * * * * *