From akosut@ace.nueva.pvt.k12.ca.usThu Jun 22 23:04:36 1995 Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 22:48:04 -0700 (PDT) From: Alexei Kosut Reply to: b5-creative@best.com To: Babylon Five Creative Subject: Story! "The Cost of Liberty" Chapter One It's been a while since the last B5 story I sent to this list, and I figure it's time I wrote another one, so here goes. Like some of my others, this does not take place on board Babylon 5, but on an Earth Alliance vessel. However, you may find it familiar anyhow... This story takes place during the first season of the B5 universe (though it contains spoilers through "Points of Departure" and a small bit from "All Alone in the Night"), and it contains (though not in this chapter) some major speculation that I'm quite sure will *not* turn out to be true (though you never know), but makes for an interesting plot. So hah. Also, I figure I'll use this oppurtunity to point out that this and most other stories posted to the B5-creative mailing list are archived by me at , or via FTP at ftp.nueva.pvt.k12.ca.us:/pub/babylon5/stories/ And on with the show... Please send me some comments or suggestions or something. I'd like them, please. The next peice of this story will get posted here when I get around to writing it. Hopefully soon. . Oh, and read the next paragraph carefully. It's not what you might think. = ----------------------------------------------------------------------- = "It was an early Earth president, Abraham Lincoln, who best described our current situation: 'The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise to the occasion. We cannot escape history; we will be remembered, in spite of ourselves. The firey trial through which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor, to the last generation. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, our last best hope of Earth.'" -- Captain John Sheridan, upon taking command of the Earth Alliance Ship Aggamenon. =- Babylon 5 -= "THE COST OF LIBERTY" - Copyright (c) 1995, Alexei Kosut, all rights reserved. This document - may be freely distributed. Babylon 5 is a registered trademark of the - Prime Time Entertainment Network (PTEN), and is used without permission. - All rights to this document will be unconditionally surrendered to J. - Michael Straczinski, Babylonian - Productions Inc. or PTEN upon request. This story begins soon after "The Quality of Mercy". = Chapter One = Suddenly, the computer beeped. "Warning: The specified area of memory is restricted," intoned the mechanical voice. "Please enter security clearance." "Second Lieutenant Mark Irwin, EAS Aggamenon. Serial number 34-858-S77A. Security code: seven alpha five delta niner." After a moment, the computer beeped again. "I'm sorry, you are not cleared to access secure information. This console has been deactivated." The screen went dead, and Irwin laughed softly. The Aggy (as the crew liked to call it) was one of the first Omega-class cruisers to come off the line after the war, and there were a couple of flaws in its design. One of them was in the security system: According to Earthforce regs, if an unauthorized attempt to access Gold-level memory is made, the bridge is to be notified at once. But the Aggy didn't do that, it just made a note in the security log, which was hardly ever reviewed. This thought in mind, Irwin leaned over to the wall panel. He hit a switch and the computer console reactivated. He pulled a small device out of his pocket and flipped it on. He began to work earnestly, as he only had a couple minutes to make sure nothing that went wrong. = -- = Captain John Sheridan leaned forward in his command chair and frowned. Standing, he turned and addressed the tactical officer. "Commander, what's that transport ship doing there?" Lieutenant Commander Ronald Datum glaced at Sheridan. Confused, he asked "What transport, sir?" Sheridan turned back to face the viewscreen. "That trans-" He broke off, staring at the screen. "Sir?" inquired Datum after a moment of silence. Taking a couple steps backwards, Sheridan's voice grew concerned. "It was there just a moment ago. I saw it; a class four cargo transport." "I didn't see anything, sir. I can run the sensor logs if you like." "Do it." Datum punched a few keys and the monitor above Sheridan's head flickered on. "Go to time index thirty-three dot seven seven five," he instructed. Sheridan stared for a moment at the image. "There's nothing there," reported Datum. "I can see that, Mister," snapped Sheridan suddenly. "Sorry, sir... If you like, I can run a diagnostic of the sensor system." Sheridan waved his hand and sat down. "No, thank you, Commander. It was probably just fatigue. I didn't get nearly enough sleep last night." Still staring at the monitor, neither Sheridan nor Datum noticed the computer tech on duty re-enter from the port lift and take his station. With a smug on his face, Lieutenant Irwin sat down and glanced at Sheridan. Mission accomplished, he thought to himself. - TO BE CONTINUED - --/ Alexei Kosut /--------/ Lefler on IRC ----------------------------/ The viewpoints expressed above are entirely false, and in no way represent Alexei Kosut nor any other person or entity. /-------------- From akosut@ace.nueva.pvt.k12.ca.usMon Jul 3 21:44:47 1995 Date: Mon, 3 Jul 1995 18:56:07 -0700 (PDT) From: Alexei Kosut Reply to: b5-creative@best.com To: Babylon Five Creative Subject: Story! "The Cost of Liberty" Chapter Two Here is the second chapter of "The Cost of Liberty", a Babylon 5 story about the EAS Aggamemnon under the command of Captain John Sheridan. The first part, and in fact most all of the Babylon 5 stories sent to this list, are archived at my Babylon 5 Creative archive, available via the WWW at http://www.nueva.pvt.k12.ca.us/~akosut/b5/stories/ and via FTP at ftp.nueva.pvt.k12.ca.us:/pub/babylon5/stories/ Oh, and just for the heck of it, the paragraph about Sheridan's previous first officer, Commander Michson, refers to another of my stories, "The Firey Trial", in which that character appears. Also, I'd really appreciate any comments or suggestions you might have (please. pretty please with sugar on top). I expect chapter three (of four or five, btw) to be ready soon, perhaps tomorrow, or perhaps not until next week. Depends how busy I am. =- Babylon 5 -= "THE COST OF LIBERTY" - Copyright (c) 1995, Alexei Kosut, all rights reserved. This document - may be freely distributed. Babylon 5 is a registered trademark of the - Prime Time Entertainment Network (PTEN), and is used without permission. - All rights to this document will be unconditionally surrendered to J. - Michael Straczinski, Babylonian - Productions Inc. or PTEN upon request. = Chapter Two = The EAS Aggamemon had been docked at Io for almost three days, and the crew was getting restless. So when the ships tactical officer, Lieutenant Commander Datum, called out "Captain!", it was somewhat of a welcome distraction. Sheridan turned in his chair. "Yes, Commander?" "I've just received word from Station Io Control. The last of our personell transfers are aboard. We're free to go." "Good, let's get underway." He turned to the helm. "Major, set course for grid location five four seven slash three six." "Course set, sir," replied the young officer. "Take her out," ordered Sheridan before turning back to Datum. "Oh, Commander?" "Yes, sir?" "Tell the new XO to meet me in my office in ten minutes." = -- = While the ship was speeding through hyperspace, Sheridan was sitting in his office. He put down the flimsy he was reading and let his mind wander. His previous first officer, Commander Michson, had been transfered to the Magellan the week before. Sheridan regretted seeing the man go, but the Magellan was an Explorer ship, and in the same situation, Sheridan would have gone too. His replacement had an impeccable service record, but Sheridan knew that it was often hard for an officer to come on to a ship in the middle of a tour, and he... He was interrupted by the door chime. "Come," instructed Sheridan, and a tall woman wearing a blue Earthforce uniform walked in. She saluted. "Commander Elise Hemmingway, reporting for duty, sir." "At ease, Commander," responded Sheridan, gesturing towards the chair opposite him. "Have a seat." "Thank you, sir," said Hemmingway, sitting. "Welcome to the Aggamemnon." extended Sheridan, waving the flimsy in the air. "Your previous CO, Captain Kryston, had some very nice things to say about you. I hope they're all true." "Well, sir," began Hemminway, when she was interrupted by the beeping of Sheridan's link. He tapped it, and Lt. Commander Datum's voice came through. "Sir, could you come to the bridge? There's something I'd like to show you." = -- = Pointing at his console's display, Datum turned to Sheridan. "You see, sir? The sensors are registering almost two thousand kilograms of mass in the aft habitat sector that is unaccounted for." Sheridan frowned. "Odd. Any explanation?" "None that I can see. I'd like to run a full diagnostic of the sensor system. It might simply be a malfunction." "Agreed. Get started right away." Datum turned to his console and began to enter commands. Sheridan sat down in his command chair. Hemmingway, who had been hovering on the bridge for the last few minutes, addressed the Captain. "Sir, may I be dismissed from the bridge? I need to attend to some... personal business," she said, nodding towards the head. "Dismissed," replied Sheridan, and Hemmingway walked off. "Sir, I'm putting the sensors into diagnostic mode. We'll be blind for about five hours," said Datum. "Acknowledged, Commander." At that moment, the ship suddenly lurched. The helm officer cried out, "Captain! We've dropped out of hyperspace." Turning to Datum, Sheridan instructed, "Bring the sensors back on line." "Aye, sir... Captain, I'm reading raiders." "How many?" "Twenty-six fighters, and ten larger vessels." "Damn. Go to level three alert status. Ready the ship for battle." = -- = Not five minuts later, Sheridan was frowing. The last remnants of the raider fleet were now fleeing into hyperspace, having been throughouly beaten by the Aggamenon's firepower. He had not expected them to be so easily beaten; they should have put up more of a fight. "Stand down from general quarters," he instructed the crew over the intercom. "All decks, send damage and causualty reports to the bridge, stat." "Well, sir," said Datum, "I'm glad that's over." "Yes," replied Sheridan. "So am I." He paused, then continued. "You know, Commander, I thought I saw another freighter out there, with the raiders." Surprised, Datum frowned. "Of course. Sensors reported four freighters. After all, they have to have some place to keep their loot." "No, this was different. It was... it looked like the one I saw last week, the ship the sensors said wasn't there." "You think it was the same one?" "No, it was larger. But it was painted the same way. Dark blue, with a red stripe." Datum tapped a key on his console. "Sensors didn't record any ship matching that description." "It was probably nothing." Sheridan smiled, "Just something I ate for breakfast. The new cook we picked up on Io isn't exactly what I would call five-star." "Yes, sir. And Captain, I'm no longer reading that extra mass. My guess is that it was a transient malfunction, and when I restarted the sensors to do the diagnostic, it was wiped from the system." Sheridan frowned. "Possibly. But just in case, I want you to do that diagnostic. We won't arrive at Alpha Iridia for another sixteen hours, wmake good use of that time." "Aye, sir." Just then, Commander Hemmingway stepped back onto the main platform of the bridge. "Did I miss anything?" - TO BE CONTINUED - --/ Alexei Kosut /--------/ Lefler on IRC ----------------------------/ The viewpoints expressed above are entirely false, and in no way represent Alexei Kosut nor any other person or entity. /-------------- From akosut@ace.nueva.pvt.k12.ca.usTue Jul 4 21:30:21 1995 Date: Tue, 4 Jul 1995 21:28:54 -0700 (PDT) From: Alexei Kosut Reply to: b5-creative@best.com To: Babylon Five Creative Subject: Story: "The Cost of Liberty" Chapter Three Viola! Chapter three of "The Cost of Liberty", my Babylon 5 story about the EAS Aggamenon under the command of Captain John J. Sheridan. The first two chapters are available (as are most stories that have been sent to this list) from my Babylon 5 Creative archive at http://www.nueva.pvt.k12.ca.us/~akosut/b5/stories/ and via FTP, at ftp.nueva.pvt.k12.ca.us:/pub/babylon5/stories/ As always, any comments, critisims, flames, MiSTifications (don't ask, please), and whatever else are more than welcome. In fact, I'd really like some thoughts on how this story is turning out. The final part, chapter four, will hopefully be sent to the list later this week, but I want to get some comment on this one first. I think it's one of the better that I've written. Anyhow, on with the show: =- Babylon 5 -= "THE COST OF LIBERTY" - Copyright (c) 1995, Alexei Kosut, all rights reserved. This document - may be freely distributed. Babylon 5 is a registered trademark of the - Prime Time Entertainment Network (PTEN), and is used without permission. - All rights to this document will be unconditionally surrendered to J. - Michael Straczinski, Babylonian Productions Inc. or PTEN upon request. = Chapter Three = Choosing her words carefully, Commander Elise Hemmingway addressed the Aggamemon's senior staff. "I've had the engineers go over every inch of the jump engine. They say there's no sign of malfunction." Captain Sheridan slammed his fist down on the table. "Well, damnit, why did we drop out of hyperspace like that?" Her composure not altered a bit, Hemmingway turned towards Sheridan. "Unknown, sir. There's no explanation." Sheridan sighed. "Well, thank you, Commander. Now, unless there's any other business..." The ship's tactical officer, Lt. Cmdr. Ronald Datum, raised his hand slightly. Sheridan nodded in his direction. "Yes?" "I've finished the sensor diagnostic, sir. The sensors are fine, but I've found a glitch in the sensor log." "What sort of glitch?" asked Sheridan, glancing around the table. Datum leaned forward in his seat. "I can't figure that out, sir. When I examine the log, it looks fine, but the computer reports a data integrity failure." Hemmingway put her hand to her chin. "That suggests the log could have been modified. We should investigage." "Good idea, Commander." aknowledged Sheridan. I want our best computer tech on it right away." "Yes, sir. That would be..." She glanced down at her computer console, and tapped a key. "...Second Lieutenant Mark Irwin, sir." = -- = "Captain," came the voice from the helm. "We're approaching Alpha Iridia. Fifteen minutes until jumpgate." "Good," acknowledged Sheridan. "Earthforce wants to make our presence felt in this sector, and the sooner the better, as far as I'm concerned." At that moment, Datum turned to Sheridan. "Captain," he said. "I have an update on the raider situation from navigation." "What is it?" "They've been able to track the hyperspace vector of the raider's ships. Destination is... the Gamma Iridia system." Surprised, Sheridan glanced upwards at his tactical officer. "But that's not even half a light-year from here." "That's what it says, sir." Sheridan pivoted back to the front of the bridge. "Helm, set new course: Take us to Gamma Iridia, maximum speed." "Aye, sir," came the response. Datum leaned forward and softly spoke in Sheridan's direction. "Captain, I was wondering if I could have a word with you. In private." = -- = "Twenty seconds to jump-point formation." "Maintain course," ordered Sheridan. "Go to level three alert status, prepare the ship for battle." "Aye, sir," affirmed Datum. "Ten seconds." Commander Hemmingway entered the bridge from the port entrance, and took up a standing position near Sheridan. "Five seconds," reported the helm officer. "Four... three... two... one..." The Aggememon dropped out of hyperspace, and all hell broke loose. "Captain, I've got jump points forming everywhere!" yelled Datum. On the viewscreen in front of him, Sheridan saw the raiders scrambling to escape. "Destinations?" he demanded. "I'm reading Felden Prime, Babylon 5, Omega Station... looks like every free trading post in the quadrant." "Damn. We'll never be able to track th..." Sheridan froze. "Computer: still view of area seven and magnify." Datum turned to look the display that Sheridan was staring at. On it he saw a medium-sized bulk transport, a freighter painted dark blue with a red stripe, just as Sheridan had described it. His mouth dropped open. "Well, I'll be damned." - TO BE CONTINUED - --/ Alexei Kosut /--------/ Lefler on IRC ----------------------------/ The viewpoints expressed above are entirely false, and in no way represent Alexei Kosut nor any other person or entity. /-------------- From akosut@ace.nueva.pvt.k12.ca.usThu Jul 6 22:26:58 1995 Date: Thu, 6 Jul 1995 22:05:31 -0700 (PDT) From: Alexei Kosut Reply to: b5-creative@best.com To: Babylon Five Creative Subject: Story: "The Cost of Liberty" chapter four Well, here it is... the fourth and final chapter of my B5 story "The Cost of Liberty". Chapters one through three are available, along with almost every other creative work posted to this list, at my Babylon 5 Creative archive, located on the World Wide Web, at the URL http://www.nueva.pvt.k12.ca.us/~akosut/b5/stories/, or via the File Transfer Protocal service at ftp.nueva.pvt.k12.ca.us:/pub/babylon5/stories/ I'd really really really really really really appreciate comments and thoughts on this story (really!). Thanks. =- Babylon 5 -= "THE COST OF LIBERTY" - Copyright (c) 1995, Alexei Kosut, all rights reserved. This document - may be freely distributed. Babylon 5 is a registered trademark of the - Prime Time Entertainment Network (PTEN), and is used without permission. - All rights to this document will be unconditionally surrendered to J. - Michael Straczinski, Babylonian - Productions Inc. or PTEN upon request. = Chapter Four = Captain John Sheridan stared at the image of the freighter, tranquil and silent while the chaos of battle surrounded him. "Captain," yelled his first officer, Commander Elise Hemmingway. "They're getting away." "Let them," intoned Sheridan quitely. "Stand down from alert," he instructed. "Sir?" "You heard the order, Commander," snapped Sheridan. Hemmingway frowned, but did as she was ordered. "Yes, sir." >From the tactical station, Datum called down. "Captain, the last one just left." Sheridan nodded in Datum's direction and gestured towards the monitor. He turned back to Hemmingway. "Do you recognize that ship, Commander?" "No, sir." "I think you do," replied Sheridan. Taking a step backwards, Hemmingway tilted her head. "What exactly are you implying, Captain?" "When we were first attacked by the raiders, when we dropped out of hyperspace, you weren't on the bridge, were you?" "I had to use the-" "No," overrided Sheridan. "You didn't. You lied. Yesterday, you said that the engineers didn't know why the ship had stopped, that was a lie too." "Sir!" protested Hemmingway. "Lieutenant Commander Datum double-checked, and it turns out there's a perfectly good reason the ship stopped. It was ordered to. And according to the records, you entered that command." Hemmingway stood there, face to face with Sheridan, silent, unmoving. "That's not all, Commander. Lieutenant Irwin did as he was told, he investigated the sensor logs." Sheridan turned to the lower deck of the bridge, and gestured for Irwin to come over to him. "Lieutenant, tell the Commander what you found." "Well, sir," stammered Irwin. "Well, I found that the records had been altered." Not turning his head, Sheridan continued to stare at Hemmingway. "In what way?" he demanded. "Well, the external sensors had been modified to not record a couple of ships. And the internal sensors were programmed to ignore what appears to be storage containers in the cargo bay." Hemmingway remained silent. Irwin continued. "I cross-checked the sensor log to the security database. Commander Hemmingway's computer override code was used to make the changes." Sheridan's voice took on a hard edge, and, steadily, he spoke to his first officer. "This ship... My ship... was being used as a transport... to smuggle goods." He began to raise his voice, his hand gesturing sharply with every phrase. "I want to know what, I want to know who, I want to know why, and I want to know now!" Not moving, Hemmingway didn't make a sound. "Damnit, tell me!" shouted Sheridan. Hemmingway looked around, looked back at Sheridan, and spoke softly. "I don't remember." She paused. "Sir." Sheridan groaned and buried his head in his hands. "Take her away," he instructed to the waiting guards. = - Several weeks later: January 2, 2259 - = "Gold channel communications open. Signal is secure," spoke the computer as the face appeared on the monitor. "Mission accomplished, sir," intoned Irwin. The man, hundreds of light-years away, smiled. "Yes. Thank God that bastard is gone at last. I couldn't stand him." "Agreed, sir. That's why I did it." "Well, enough of that. Were there any problems?" "Not here. Using Hemmingway as a decoy worked perfectly. Sheridan's a real jarhead, didn't suspect a thing." "So I've heard. You know, there's been some discussion in Earthdome of putting him in command of Babylon 5, what with Sinclair going to Minbar and all. He might be a good choice." "May be." Irwin paused, unsure if he should bring up... "Sir, speaking of Babylon 5, I've heard that there were some problems there." The voice became grim. "Yes. There were some complications. The whole operation was almost ruined - more the reason to put Sheridan in charge of the place. Luckily, though, we got everything worked out in time." "That's good, sir." "Well, I've got to go. I have lots of business to take care of." "I can quite imagine. After all," said Irwin with a smile. "You're the new President of the Earth Alliance." And both men laughed heartily. =- THE END -= --/ Alexei Kosut /--------/ Lefler on IRC ----------------------------/ The viewpoints expressed above are entirely false, and in no way represent Alexei Kosut nor any other person or entity. /--------------