From: "Aubrey W. Adkins" Subject: Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 6 of ---(WIP) Date: Tue, 06 Jul 1999 17:57:16 -0400 Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 6 of ---(WIP) Criticism is welcomed. Without, it there can't be any improvement. Address criticisms to [xazqrten@norfolk.infi.net] Think of this as a space opera. All characters/places/persons not belonging to the writer are the sole properties of their owners, PTEN, WB, JMS, and will be turned over to the owners at the request of their agents. All other characters/places/persons are public domain. Rated PG-10 (Vocabulary ******************************************************************************** The ship had been commissioned six months before and been on its maiden deployment for five of them. They had visited several EA worlds and outposts, but the major portion of their deployment had been relentless drills. "Don't you think you are overdoing it a bit, captain," asked Owens referring to the numerous drills they had been conducting, almost without break. "What is the problem with them, XO?" asked Ivanova. "The crew is tired." "That is why, they will continue. I want a crew that can fight in their sleep, when they are so tired, and worn out, they have to lean against one another to stand at their stations, under any conditions you can throw at them. Then we will rest, commander. When we get back, I want to have all of my crew with me, not dead because someone was too tired to man his station. I don't like to lose my people." "Yes sir." "I am not here to win a popularity contest, commander. When we return, I intend to hand someone the best combat vessel in the fleet, with a crew second to none." "Approaching Glenthorian beacon, Captain Ivanova," said the navigator. "Jump to normal space when we reach it and hold our position. I haven't received traffic saying our visit is authorized. The last thing I need, is a scared IA member trying to shoot us out of space." The jump point opened and the Ares entered normal space. The helmsman immediately brought them to a halt. Susan waited for communications to establish contact with the world. Three whitestars approached the Ares and hailed her. "Unidentified ship, identify yourself and state your purpose for being here?" requested the minbari on Susan's display screen. "This is the EAS Ares. We are here for a visit. We are waiting for confirmation traffic from EA headquarters on earth. If it suits you, we will return to hyperspace and wait there. We don't want any trouble." "You look familiar, captain," stated the minbari. "Well, I am a human female, and I am told we all look alike to the minbari." "Not true captain. I am Captain Sheraun of this vessel, Whitestar 71. Your ship configuration is not familiar to us." "Our commissioning was all over ISN. Maybe you need to update your intelligence service. John never was good at the housekeeping details." "Hold station, captain. I have a reply to my query of ranger headquarters." Susan sat and waited, watching the minbari male, and he was a very large one, talk to someone off to one side of his command chair. "Captain Sheraun," said Susan. The minbari turned to face her. "I didn't introduce myself. I am Captain Susan Ivanova of the EA." The minbari's expression changed to one of instant recognition. "My apologies, Captain Ivanova, for not recognizing you. I am confirming your request for visit approval. It seems someone forgot to send it to the Glenthorian Ambassador on earth." Ten minutes passed before the minbari spoke again. "I passed your request straight to the local Earth ambassador and he has received approval for your visit from the local government. If you will follow us, we will lead you to an orbit slot above the planet." "Helm, follow them in," ordered Susan. *********************************************************************** "Low orbit has been achieved, captain," announced the navigator "Noted," responded Susan. The Ares was in a low orbit three-hundred kilometers above the planet's surface. It could easily be seen from the surface. "Captain. The shuttle from Whitestar 71 is about to dock," commented the helmsman. "Tell the hanger bay, I am on my way down," responded Susan. *********************************************************************** Susan watched the captains of the three whitestars that had intercepted her coming across the hanger bay work area. The area was almost large enough to hold a whitestar, if you could get it through the bay doors. However, they weren't large enough by far. They were designed to permit entry of large shuttles and troop insertion craft. "Welcome aboard EAS Ares, gentlemen," greeted Susan. The three were a different lot. The minbari was the size of a medium building, with a "Greek God" physique. The other two were humans, but were much shorter than the minbari. One looked to be of African desent and the other a mixture of at least three ethnic groups. All three walked with the gait Susan had learned to associate with highly trained and experienced rangers. "Captain Ivanova," replied Sheraun, "I would like to introduce my fellow ship commanders. Captains Arnold and Misket of the Whitestars 34 and 87 respectively." Susan shook hands with all three. "It is just past lunch, but if you haven't eaten, I'll get the wardroom chef to make some sandwiches and soup. Unless you would like to tour this bucket first?" "I think a sandwich and soup would be great, Captain Ivanova," replied Misket. Susan made a call on her wrist comm unit, then said, "Please call me Susan. I get enough of the captain' routine from my officers and crew." "Just how many are in your crew?" "Not quite two thousand, Sheraun. A few more than on your whitestar." "Just a few," he laughed. "We ran scans on your ship, captain. I have never seen anything with so many weapons in my life," commented Arnold. "It isn't an EA standard issue destroyer. I am responsible for all the firepower being on it. I got a destroyer shot out from under me, when I encountered four Drakh cruisers, in an ambush, a couple of years ago. I don't intend for that to happen again." "You led a group of whitestars against an ambush by advanced destroyers carrying shadow technology during the EA civil war, didn't you?" asked Sheraun. "Yep! Got those shot out from under me, too, but not before we sent them straight to hell. I just thank heavens, they didn't have something like the Ares." "From what our scans revealed, this thing would be very hard to kill. I am not sure a whitestar group could do it," commented Misket. "Take my word for it, they couldn't and I should know," responded Susan. The conversation had been going on all the while they were walking through the ship. Without warning, Susan stopped and opened a door. "This is the wardroom, gentlemen. Let's get a snack and something to drink," said Susan. "I sent a shuttle to the planet's surface to bring up the earth ambassador and several representatives of the local government. The earth ambassador requested it. I think they want to set up some ground rules before you send down liberty parties," noted Sheraun. "It only makes sense," replied Susan. "You can't play the game if you don't know the rules." Thirty minutes later they were notified that the earth ambassador and the local officials were about to land in the hanger bay. *********************************************************************** "Welcome aboard the Ares Ambassador." turning to the Glenthorian officials, "Gentlemen. Welcome aboard the EAS Ares. I hope our visit becomes a pleasant memory for all of us." "Well spoken, Captain Ivanova. I should introduce myself. I am David Sheridan." "You are John's father." He nodded assent. "I am very pleased to meet you, sir. I thought you were retired?" "I was, but this world and the assignment was too good to pass up. Besides, I wanted some distance between me and Earthdome for a while." Smiling at him, Susan replied, "You surely,have that in abundance, sir." "John is proud of your accomplishments, Susan. You don't mind if I call you, Susan, do you?" "Not at all, sir." "I must introduce to these gentlemen. They have never seen anything like this ship before." "Neither have most other people, Mister Ambassador." "Susan. This is Karrl Nidel and his assistant, Gunh Jord. They are charged with familiarizing you, your officers and enlisted men with what they can expect on the surface. They will cover local customs and laws. Most of them are similar to what you expect in any civilized society. However, they will concentrate on the ones most likely to be trouble spots or sore points. I am requesting they remain aboard and give presentations to each liberty section before it departs for the planet," said David. "No problem at all, Mr. Sheridan," replied Susan as she keyed her comm unit and spoke quietly into it. "The head steward is arranging quarters for them now. We will use one of our briefing rooms for their presentations." "We won't need interpreters, captain," commented Mr. Nidel. "We got the assignment because we are fluent in both English and Interlac. We have some equipment to help with our presentations." "It is being taken to the largest briefing room we have, even as we speak. After we finish with what we are doing here, I will have you shown to the briefing room and also to your quarters. You do understand you will be escorted at all times, as will be Mr. Sheridan. It has to do with safety and security." "I actually prefer being escorted, Susan," noted Sheridan. This is a very large ship. It is easy to get lost, and touching the wrong thing can have unpleasant results." "You would be amazed at how many visitors have to learn those lessons the hard way, Mr. Sheridan," replied Susan. "No I wouldn't, young lady," he responded laughing. His comment got laughs from everyone in the party. "I am hosting a small party tomorrow evening, Captain Ivanova. I would appreciate it if you could attend," offered Ambassador Sheridan. "I will make my best effort to attend, ambassador," responded Susan. ****************************************************************************** The party had been going on for almost two hours and Susan and her XO had met more officials than they would have believed. Most of the IA worlds were represented. "What do you think, Pat?" asked Ivanova. "I think I don't want to be a diplomat or politician," he responded. Smiling, she replied, "That makes two of us." If she could have only known the future. The week long visit was marred by only one mishap. The crewman that got drunk and started a bar fight had been made to pay for the damages, and at Captain's Mast was awarded a reduction in rate and enough extra duty to keep him out of trouble until they returned to earth. The engineering personnel appreciated his being assigned to cleaning filters on the sewage recycling systems. *********************************************************************** In the year following the conversation, he had with his XO, just before their visit to the planet Glenthor, Susan drove her crew to the breaking point. They visited a number of planets in the IA and many that were out on the edge of Interstellar Alliance space. At every stop Susan let liberty go as much as operations permitted. After the results of the one mishap on Glenthor, there weren't anymore such incidents. After leaving the Glenthorian system, the Ares made a circuit of the most distant outlying areas of IA space. She encountered raiders half a dozen times and destroyed three raider motherships. The captured raiders were dropped off at the nearest IA member planet. The last incident had been a month before Ares jumped for Babylon 5. It was the last stop before home. Finally they arrived at Babylon 5, two weeks early, and she had granted maximum liberty. It was obvious to those on Babylon 5 that the Ares crew were very proud of who they were. They had the toughest captain in earthforce and the meanest ship. Pride in who they were kept them from behaving as most crews did after a long deployment, as did the knowledge that Captain Ivanova would personally flay the skin off anyone who didn't behave properly. Owens smiled to himself. She was one hell of a skipper, regardless of sex. *********************************************************************** 2147 Babylon 5 "Captain Lochley, look at the display!" exclaimed Corwin. Stunned, the captain watched several monitoring receivers lose output as their front ends burned out. "Lt. Corwin. What did that?" "It looked like the same power surge we saw before, only this one is off the scale." "The Ares?" "It has destroyed or badly damaged eight cruisers. Captain. Look." She did. The displays showed more than a dozen cruisers starting to wander off course. "Lt.?" "Sensors show no life signs on them, Captain." "Could the sensors be damaged?" Corwin shrugged his shoulders. *********************************************************************** 2148 Epsilon III Draal watched the melee from the safety of The Great Machine. He noted that Lyta was a very efficient killer. More than half the Drakh crews were dead, and at this rate, she would run out of Drakh to kill in a few minutes. In a spectrum that the humans sensors could not detect, Draal watched the light display as Lyta went about her gruesome task. It was impressive and outright frightening to see so much power wielded so efficiently, ruthlessly and without compunction. He determined he would visit her when she had finished her business with the Drakh. *********************************************************************** On ship after ship the Drakh first felt a light touch on their mind, then excruciating pain as every blood vessel in their heads exploded. There wasn't time to even cry out. In less that five minutes Lyta had personally killed more than seven thousand Drakh. Every single member of every single crew was dead. The accompanying support ships crews and troops fared no better. *********************************************************************** The Ares had been hit by fire from several Drakh cruisers that apparently were on full automatic. The hits had inflicted heavy damage to several outer hull areas, but no fires were started and the damage was limited to the immediate impact area. However, the fighters trying to fly through it to get to the station were a matter of another sort. Maya was young and untrained, but she was managing to break up some of the fighters before they impacted the Ares' hull. It was helping, but it might not be enough. The reactors on the Ares were all maxed out far past the redline. One had been shut down just before it would have exploded. The weapons on the ship were all running hot beyond safe levels, but taking them off line was not an option. "Keep firing until they melt!" ordered Ivanova. "If we don't survive it won't make any difference. If we do, I take the responsibility. Helm! Bring us around and give the starboard side a firing line. Port weapons throttle back. Be careful. Try not to kill any of our own or shoot up the station. Starboard weapons, give them every thing you have when you're unmasked. SWO, how are we holding up?" "At this rate, captain, we won't have a system undamaged, when we get finished, if we survive." Susan knew her people were giving her everything they had. She was doing great harm to her ship's systems, but in her mind there was no choice. They must have destroyed at least fifteen cruisers and, with the help of Babylon 5 resources, more than a thousand fighters and still there were more than a thousand or so to kill. The behavior of the Drakh cruisers made her believe that Lyta had come through. But, she had been correct. The fighters were the real danger due to sheer numbers. She had to destroy the remainder of the cruisers, because many had been setup for automatic engagement. They might have a dead crew, but the computers still operated the weapons systems, and they weren't dead. She looked at the displays and noted that some of the cruisers were exploding or otherwise breaking up. "Good old Lyta. Dependable as usual." "Captain?" asked the nearby console operator. "Nothing. I was just mumbling to myself." She had lost count of the collisions her ship had sustained, and she wasn't looking forward to the damage assessment pictures or repair costs. The ship was continuously shaking under the impacts. They had even been grazed by a cruiser that opened a jump point almost on top of them. Maya had deflected it just enough to keep it from being a direct square hit. Somewhere along the line, Susan realized, they were going to get out of this alive, and she had to fight back tears. ****************************************************************************** 2150 Babylon 5 Lyta was finished slaughtering the Drakh and turned her attention to the cruisers that still were a threat to ships within gun range. She began overloading their power plants and destroying them. It didn't take long. Then, she turned her attention to the remaining fighters. The station's and Susan's fighters were making good with their efforts, but they were badly outnumbered. There were many more fighters than there had been cruisers, but the idea was the same. Overload the power plants and they would self destruct. Finally she was finished. It had taken about an hour to completely destroy the Drakh threat. It would have been so much easier if there hadn't been any non-combatants in the area. It took a great deal of focus to keep from accidentally killing any of them. No one would ever know how hard that had been, and no one would ever know exactly what she had done. Well, maybe, Draal, but he didn't count. "Hello, Lyta," said a godlike voice, as Draal became visible in the room. She just looked at him, tiredly. "I was right. You are dangerous. Today proves it." She didn't answer. "You aren't happy to see me, are you?" She still just looked at him. "What's wrong?" "I have ignored you and you didn't go away, so, I suppose you must be real, or as real as a hologram gets." "I thought we were friends," he said in a lighter tone. "I don't have any friends, Draal. I have people who notice me, when they need me." "That's not true. Captain Ivanova likes you very much." "Okay. I have one friend." "Then there is Delenn and G"Kar and Mister Garibaldi. There are many more if you will allow them to be." "Friends complicate things, Draal." "Can I ask a favor of you, Lyta?" Her eyebrows arched as she looked at his image. "You are joking?" "Not at all. It would be a valuable experience for you." "Draal. You are beginning to sound like a used shuttle broker." "The last time a telepath got close to the machine was Captain Ivanova some years ago. It did things for her, it won't do for me, yet." "She got in that thing, didn't she?" "Yes." "You want me to get in that thing? Are you nuts?" "Yes and no." "Which answer goes with which question?" she asked, sarcasm dripping from her words. Draal honestly looked hurt by her sarcasm. "If I do this, Draal, you take all the credit for saving the station. You help me plausibly deny any involvement in the whole situation." "I can't do that, Lyta." "It's that or no deal." Draal's, image showed consternation on its face. "I don't like it, but it's a deal." "Don't cross me, Draal." "How could you even think such a thing. Besides, I've seen what you can do. I'll be waiting." *********************************************************************** 2245 Babylon 5 C&C "How badly damaged are we Mr. Corwin?" "We took half a dozen hits from undamaged fighters, but we have repair parties on the scenes. Unfortunately two of them penetrated the outer hull before exploding. There are many smaller hits from fragments of the ones that have been destroyed. Those are very minor and pose no danger, Captain. We also took some hits from stray fire from the Drakh cruisers and the tertiary batteries of the Ares. However the damage from the Ares fire didn't do major damage." "Put me through to the Ares." "Yes, sir." "Elizabeth. How are you faring?" "Six hits, with damage control on the scenes, some fire from the Drakhs and some stray fire from you. Yourself?" "I'm sorry about the stray fire. We are beat and shot all to hell, but no casualties in the crew except for some of my pilots. I lost ten birds and six pilots. We had some crew members injured from being thrown around, but nothing more serious than a broken arm." "I am almost tempted to say, "God smiled on us today"." "Elizabeth. She did, and her name is Lyta Alexander." Lochley hesitated for almost a minute, and then answered, thoughtfully, "I know. I think she burned out half my monitor receivers when she did it." *********************************************************************** On Centauri Prime, the Drakh leaders were trying to assess what happened to the fleet they had sent to destroy Babylon 5. There had been communications as they prepared to jump into Epsilon III space, then without warning, they had suddenly and without explanation, terminated. It wouldn't be long before they heard the news from their human conspirators on Earth. The lack of adequate explanations would cause them to remove Babylon 5 from their list of primary and secondary targets. *********************************************************************** 0100 EAS Ares Susan moved the Ares closer to the station and a position that would allow use of a shuttle without subjecting it to exposure to the litter from the destroyed fighters and cruisers. Exiting her shuttle with Maya, Susan was walking through the customs area when she met Lyta going in the opposite direction. "Lyta. Where are you off to?" "I have been invited out." "By whom?" "Draal." "Do you want me to keep Maya here?" "Yes. I shouldn't be gone too long." With that she continued on her way after giving Maya a big hug and kiss. Susan and Maya continued down the passageway. Susan turned and looked at Lyta's receding back and wondered what the hell she and Draal were cooking up. Whatever it was, it would be good. She would bet on it. "You don't understand mom, do you, Aunt Susan?" Susan looked at the youngster and replied, "I don't think anyone except Lorien has a clue where your mother is concerned. She makes Kosh look like a simple, easily understood motormouth." Maya gave her a puzzled look. "Ask your mother," Susan said with a wicked smile. It was then and there, Maya formed the opinion that adults were nuts by genetic flaw. From her point of view, nothing else made a bit of sense. *********************************************************************** 2200 Babylon 5 time In the intensive care of the Earthdome hospital, General Leftcourt was lying in the bed watching one blank display waiting from any word from the Epsilon III area. There had been no word out of the area since the Drakh jamming had begun just about an hour ago. He was speaking to President Luchenko on a second circuit. "If they are still there, they aren't answering our hails, Madam President." "If the station has been destroyed, there will be major hell to pay General. Just who left her undefended?" "I am conducting an investigation now, but it looks like General Lang and his staff are the culprits. I won't know for a while. I will keep you informed. I have another matter to discuss if you don't mind." "Does it have to do with Babylon 5?" "Yes and no." "Why didn't you just say maybe, General?" "There is one EA ship in the area of the station, or rather there was." "Explain that, please?" "The Ares was at Babylon 5. Her CO requested a short R&R for her crew before they had to face the media blitz planned for them. I gave her permission to adhere to her original arrival schedule." "So what is the problem?" "General Lang through General Nelms issued her orders to return at once. She referred Nelms to me and I told him she had permission to extend her stay there. Then Lang had one of your staff issue written orders countermanding my verbal orders to her, right after my accident." "So the short story is, Captain Ivanova disobeyed a direct order and remained at Babylon 5. Is that about it?" "Almost. Her request also included the request that she remain at the station, until we could get another ship or ships to assume duties as area guard. We have had one there ever since her last ship was shot up by the Drakh. I agreed with her assessment of the situation." "She seems to do whatever she thinks is necessary, whatever be damned. It is getting to be a problem with certain people in this outfit." "There is a bright side, Madam President.' "Enlighten me general." "We got a chance to do a quick analysis of the data transmitted by Babylon 5's hyperspace monitor buoys. From the size of the Drakh fleet, it is almost certain the Ares is destroyed, and the station with it. She was up against at least thirty to one odds ship for ship and at least fifteen to one concerns fighters, when the stations fighters are factored in. No. Madam President, I don't think we have to worry about Captain Ivanova, her ship or crew at all." "That's a morbid way of putting it, general." "Short story is, Captain Ivanova has been an embarrassment to certain people in this government, who would love to dance on her grave. Is that about it, Madam President?" Even through the monitor she gave Leftcourt a blistering look. He had struck a sore point. He knew that Susan would be court martialed and dismissed from the service, if Luchenko had her way, if she survived the attack. Luchenko still stewed from the fact John Sheridan was no sooner canned from earthforce, than he became president of the Interstellar Alliance, her equal or better. ******************************************************************************** 0130 Day 4 Babylon 5 On Babylon 5, Susan was meeting with Lochley in her office. "When do you want to reestablish communications with earth, Elizabeth?" "I am in no hurry. Those bastards left me defenseless on purpose. I think we have some traitors very high up in Luchenko's cabinet and/or staff. The Drakh had too up to date information. Someone knew about this attack, and wanted the Ares out of the danger zone." "I agree, but how do we prove it?" "It's too bad we can't get Lyta to help us. She could find the bastards or bitches without any trouble at all." "Funny. You don't like her and think she is too dangerous to have around, but you wouldn't hesitate to use her to find the guilty parties. You sound a lot like John Sheridan in that respect. It's why Lyta doesn't trust any of us. We only want to use her." Lochley looked shocked at what Susan said. It hadn't occurred to her to look at it that way. She was a perfect example of what Lyta detested most. "I am open for ideas." "I have decided to resign my commission as soon as we reestablish a link with earthdome. As a civilian, I won't be held in check by the chain of command. I can go after Lunchenko and her lackeys in the media like Lyta did with Psi Corps. Maybe I can kill her chances of reelection and we can get some decent leadership in that office. It is, at least, a legal avenue of action." *********************************************************************** "General we need to talk." "I am all ears, Madam President." "I mean in person." "I am not going anywhere for a while." Lunchenko arrived in his room in less than an hour. "Madam President. Pardon me for not standing up. I am getting very weary. The doctor would tape my mouth and blindfold me if he thought it would help." The president sat down in a chair by the general's bed. The aides stepped outside and closed the door leaving Leftcourt and Luncheko alone. "Do I have a traitor or traitors on my staff or in my cabinet, or do I just have some incredibly naive and stupid people working for me?" "I can't answer that right now, but I will before long, Madam President. I am going to use some unorthodox methods to get to the bottom of this. You don't want or need to know the details." "The John Sheridan approach, I presume." "Something like that." "If Babylon 5 is gone, so is my government. There will be a cry for impeachment and removal from office." "Does that mean, if Babylon 5 somehow survives, you are going to owe whoever is responsible for its survival?" Twisting in her seat, Lunchenko nodded agreement. "You know Captain Ivanova is a survivor.' "If she found a way to get out of that situation alive, she could probably be elected herself. After all she is very popular with electorate and has been since she helped Sheridan depose Clark." "She will tell you, herself, she is not a politician. She is a combat commander, and at that, she is second to no one. If you want my opinion, she will make a damned good general and one day an outstanding Chairman of the JCS. "Believe it or not General, in spite of our differences, I do value your opinion, especially when it concerns the military." "Don't worry, she is a doer, and as a politician, she would drive her handlers absolutely crazy. I still think she and the Ares are gone, but I am praying otherwise." "I didn't take you for a religious man General." "I'm not, but it can't hurt to hedge our bets. Are you going to court martial her?" "I think so. If for no other reason, when she is acquitted, it will leave her record clean. If we don't there will those who will always use the doubt to nip at her heels. As you point out, she is to valuable to lose." "You do know that she was never notified of her impending promotion. We thought it would make for a great surprise to spring it on her at the celebration. It would have been a hell of a "welcome home" present." *********************************************************************** END PART 6 From: "Aubrey W. Adkins" Subject: Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 7 of ---(WIP) Date: Tue, 06 Jul 1999 17:58:54 -0400 Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 7 of ---(WIP) Criticism is welcomed. Without, it there can't be any improvement. Address criticisms to [xazqrten@norfolk.infi.net] Think of this as a space opera. All characters/places/persons not belonging to the writer are the sole properties of their owners, PTEN, WB, JMS, and will be turned over to the owners at the request of their agents. All other characters/places/persons are public domain. Rated PG-10 (Vocabulary *********************************************************************** 0145 Day 4Babylon 5 Susan and Lochley were in her office waiting for the scrambled gold channel to be enabled. The channel came on line showing General Leftcourt lying in a hospital bed and the Earth Alliance President Lunchenko sitting beside him. Susan looked at the expressions on their faces. They were priceless. "Madam President, General Leftcourt. I assume you weren't expecting to see my face again," commented Susan. She continued with a perfectly earnest expression, "I am sorry to sorely disappoint you, but I couldn't help it. Instinct raised its ugly head." "Captain Ivanova. It is a pleasure to see you survived, stated Lunchenko. "With all due respect, Madam President, I sincerely doubt that. However, I am not here to trade words with you. General Leftcourt. I have transmitted a preliminary damage report to you on the sub-channel. The crux of it is, the Ares is pretty badly shot up. We suffered considerable hull damage from collisions with Drakh fighters and one Drakh cruiser. The damage from the cruiser gunfire was pretty bad, too. I have included pictures detailing the hull damage. We lost one reactor and damaged three more from excess heat and fried some of our weapons from overheating." The video of the damage to the hull of the Aries replaced Susan's image on the screen." Over the link she could hear the intake of breathe by both the general and the president. Lunchenko asked, "How many casualties, captain?" "We lost ten fighters and six pilots, most from friendly fire. They were hit by stray fire from the station. The Drakh fighters never got a chance to be used as such. We suffered no fatalities onboard the ship. However, there are some broken bones from being bounced around during the collisions. Sorry, general, but it was the best I could do." She was treated to absolute silence from the general and president as a response. "General. There is one more thing. My resignation is also being forwarded on the sub-channel. It is effectively immediately. I will turn over the Ares to Commander Patrick Owens, my XO, as soon as I return to the ship. He is a good man." She hesitated then continued, "Sorry to rob you of your chance to make political hay out of my former career, Madam President. General. Here is Captain Lochley." Susan stepped out of camera range and was replaced by Captain Lochley. "Hello, General Leftcourt. I am sorry to be talking with you under these circumstances, but things have been a bit hectic lately." She had pointedly ignored the president. "Elizabeth. I hear you had some excitement earlier. You should share it with the rest of us." "I'll keep that in mind for the future, general." "How bad is it, captain?" "We took six major hits, but only two resulted to penetrations of the outer hull before exploding. We have been hit by a great many small fragments, but a paint job should take care of most of that. We lost ten civilians, and four members of the repair parties. Almost all of the civilians were people from down below who would not evacuate the areas. I am afraid Captain Ivanova's ship caught all the real hell, general. We had help, but if Captain Ivanova hadn't disobeyed her orders and remained here, you and I would not be having this conversation." "What kind of help, Captain?" asked Luchenko. "I am afraid I can't discuss that with you, Madam President. However, general if you visit in the near future I will be happy to enlighten you." "I will be very interested Captain Lochley. Keep the circuit open. I need to talk to the president." "General?" demanded Luchenko. "Whatever she knows, she is not willing to put it out on a communications channel, not even an encrypted one." "Any idea why?" "Considering that it was one of your people who ordered the Ares away from the area, I don't think she trusts you, Madam President. If you were her, how would you respond?" "I'm not her, general." "No ma'am. You most certainly are not." "What are you going to do with Captain Ivanova?" Looking at the hardcopy of Ivanova's resignation, he responded, "According to this piece of paper, I have limited choices. If I accept her resignation, she is no longer an earthforce captain, and there isn't much we can do. If I don't accept it and we try to prosecute her, she will murder you in the media, and personally, I think that is her objective. She considers you a traitor." "Do you, general?" "I am not the one who is going to crucify you and your administration." "I can still court martial her." "I am afraid your political career may be over, Madam President. I suspect the house will impeach you and the senate will convict you. You have made many enemies, and this woman is a damned war hero. As you already mentioned, no court martial will convict her, considering the results of her disobedience. The public and the legislature would skin them alive." "What are my options?" "I am not your political adviser. I am a soldier, as is Captain Ivanova. I am sure your staff will have some really good ideas, if you still trust them." "Are you going to accept her resignation?" "That depends entirely upon you and what you do over the next few days. I suggest that whatever it is, you get it done before the Ares starts home. If you haven't, I will file this with the chief of earthforce personnel." "Thank you, General Leftcourt" she said then opened the door and left. *********************************************************************** 0230 Day 4 Epsilon III Standing in front of Draal and The Great Machine, Lyta waited. After a few moments Draal stepped from the alcove that had been holding his body. "Let me guess, you are the real Draal?" "You are a hard woman, Lyta Alexander." "Just why do you want me to get into that infernal machine?" "It will give you a chance to learn about yourself from a different perspective." "That may not necessarily be a good thing, Draal." "That's true, but we won't know until you do it." "What do I have to do?" "Just step into the machine and relax. You should have an easier time than Captain Ivanova did." Looking at the old minbari, doubtfully, she did as he instructed and stepped into the machine and relaxed, closing her eyes. At first the experience was similar to what she had experienced earlier when she killed the Drakh. Then she mentally reached out and in a moment she could sense the whole sector. It was as if someone had put her senses through a massive amplifier. She thought about Minbar and Delenn and the scene shifted to the planet Minbar. She wondered if she could do this without the machine, but figured not. She played with the expansion of her senses the machine provided, then she turned her inquiries inside the massive databanks of the machine. She found records of the Vorlons and their doings spanning centuries, including what they had done on many worlds to breed telepaths. She found files covering a promising earthling line of descent, and the possibility that it could eventually be bred to a point where it could be finally engineered into the ultimate weapon for eradicating the Shadows and their minions. The plans for this weapon were laid out for her to see the data of its capabilities. It was noted that upon final activation when there were no more Vorlons, there would be no further need for any safety precautions, and as such it would become unlimited in power and survivability, with no limit on lifespan. It would be the absolute ultimate killing machine against which nothing the Vorlons could imagine could stand, with its single function being total annihilation of the Shadows and any thing touched by them, the ultimate doomsday weapon. Lyta recoiled in horror. She was seeing the history of her family and her own fate at the hands of Kosh and his brethren. She now knew what she was. It terrified her at what she could do, and she couldn't even commit suicide to prevent any of it. Worse she had made another like herself, Maya. She continued going through the files and there it was, she was intended to be able to breed others like her, with any species at hand. Her mind screamed anger and hopelessness, but there was no one to hear or respond. In an instant she thought of Lorien and there he was standing in front of her. "You shouldn't have entered the machine, Lyta." "I don't want to be what I have seen." "You don't have a choice." "What can I do to prevent myself becoming what they intended?" "You could have done nothing, but I could and did." She looked at him with tears of remorse in her eyes. "When you and I were alone, before Sheridan, Kosh, and company killed Kosh, I made some changes of my own and gave you part of me to hold the destructive elements in check." "I just finished killing several thousand Drakh." "That can be loosely classified self defense." "I don't want to become an uncontrolled killing machine." "You won't. They forgot to take away your human feelings and emotions. They thought their meddling made it unnecessary. They were wrong." As he finished talking, he began to fade away and for a moment, Lyta seemed to find herself somewhere beyond galaxies, but it quickly faded. She didn't know if had been real or her imagination. Shaken to the depths of her soul, Lyta disengaged herself from The Great Machine." "Well?" asked Draal. "It was fantastic, Draal, except for the last part. I learned things about myself, I would rather not know. Terrifying things, no one should know." "Are you the better for it?" "Remains to be seen, Draal. It remains to be seen. Ask me in about five-hundred years or so." "I found those files by accident. I thought you should know." "It was a unique experience, at the very least." "Good-bye, Lyta," said Draal as he returned to The Great Machine. "If you ever need me, I'll be here." "Thanks, Draal." *********************************************************************** 0230 Day 4 Babylon 5 On her way back to her ship, Susan ran into Wayne, Evans and their delegation. "Are all of your people okay, Charley?" "Yes. We spent the time in one of the waiting areas of the central core shuttle system. I see you survived. How badly did they damage your ship?" "We got beat all to hell, but I only lost six pilots. Now, I have to write the letters to their families. It is never easy, and I hate it." "I've never had to do anything like that. I hope I never have to." "It comes with the territory. By the way, are your quarters serviceable?" "I don't know. We are on our way to check them out. I will let you know." Ivanova continued on her way to her ship, with Maya still in tow. For such a youngster, she had real stamina. Susan attributed it to her Vorlon heritage. Back on the ship, Susan called her XO into her office. "What is the good word, captain?" "There isn't any Pat. You don't have to call me captain, anymore." Looking puzzled, he asked, "What do you mean?" "I submitted my resignation to General Leftcourt about an hour ago. I informed him I would turn command of the Ares over to you. So I suppose now is as good a time as ever. Commander Owens, I surrender command of the EAS Ares to you at this time. The change of command is duly recorded and notarized." "But captain..." "I told you Pat. I am no longer in command of this ship." The stunned Owens said, "At least get a night's sleep before you leave." Then he turned and left the captain's office. *********************************************************************** 0700 Day 4 Babylon 5 C&C Lochley looked at the clock on her desk. It would be forty-five minutes before the day watch came on duty. She was tired from the happenings last night. She called her XO's office and left her a message to call a department head meeting for 0830. She wanted to get a better handle on the details of the damage and efforts to repair it. She also had a number of diplomats who would have to be assigned temporary quarters for the time being. She would leave the commercial quarters and such to her supply department people. After all, that's what they got paid for. Corwin stuck his head in and greeted her, "Good morning, Captain." "You were up until 0300, Lt. What are you doing here this early?" "It is my watch, Captain. "So it is. Then, good morning to you, Lt. I hope this is the dullest day of our careers." "So do I, sir, but that's not likely." Breathing a sigh of resignation, she ended the conversation with, "I know." *********************************************************************** General Leftcourt had been awakened very early to the news that General Lang and three of his senior staff had been brutally murdered in their quarters, even though they had been under armed guard. "Give me the specifics, Brad?" "It appears the assigned guards were shot with tranquilizer darts containing a very fast acting and powerful sedative. They will have bad headaches for a day or so, but otherwise they suffered no harm. The bodies are badly mangled, and it is evident, the intention was to inflict as much pain as possible during the process." "Whoever wanted Lang and his people out of the way has made it clear, that they were reprisal killings. That's why the guards are still alive." "That's going to make our investigation extra tough." "That's why we get the big bucks, Brad." "Speak for yourself, general." Their banter was interrupted by an incoming call. The logo on the screen indicated it originated in the Interstellar Alliance Headquarters. The logo faded and was replaced by the image of IA President John Sheridan. "Good morning, General Leftcourt. I thought you might have retired by now." "I'll be fighting retirement when they shovel dirt into my grave. What can I do for you Mr. President?" "For starters call me John. Seriously, though, general, I can't establish communications with the Ares. I know Susan Ivanova is her CO. Is there a problem?" "Depends on how you define "problem", John." "Okay. What happened to you? That looks like a hospital bed." "Would you believe an automobile accident?" "I'll take your word for it. What are all the wires and IV's for? Are you in intensive care?" "For the moment. The doctor is going to move me to a regular room later this morning. I was in pretty bad shape when they brought me in. I have some nasty fractures, a punctured lung and a few other things wrong. Other than that, I am just fine, as long as I don't breathe too deeply." "I heard about the upcoming promotion for Susan and wanted to extend my congratulations. She out did me." "I wish you wouldn't. We haven't told her yet, and there are some other problems." "I didn't know. May I ask what they are, if they aren't a security issue." "She resigned her commission last night, John." There was a shocked look on Sheridan's face. "That's hard to believe, General. May I ask why?" General Leftcourt then filled Sheridan in on what had happened over the last few days, as he understood it. Sheridan listened closely, and when Leftcourt finished, he asked, "Do you really think your accident was just that, considering things as a big picture?" Leftcourt thought if over for a minute and replied, "I will have it looked into, John. You make a very good point. Now I have a favor to ask of you. Convince Susan to withdraw her resignation. I will hold it as long as I can. She is too good to just let go to waste." "I will give it my best shot, general." "And John. My name is Tom." The image of Sheridan was replaced by the EA logo. "Brad. You heard the man. It seems that we have more to investigate than we thought." "Yes sir. I will get right on it." As the door closed behind his aide, the general's, communications circuit signaled an incoming call. The face on the screen was that of a commander he didn't immediately recognize. "How did you get me, commander?" "I don't know, general. I called your office and I suppose they transferred the call." Then Leftcourt recognized him as Susan Ivanova's executive officer. The call header must have carried the ship's CO identifier. "What is your problem, Commander Owens." "It's Captain Ivanova, sir. Early this morning she transferred command of the Ares to me, claiming that she had resigned her commission." "So, what's the problem?" It was obvious the commander was experiencing great stress at the situation. He wondered what made some people able to command such loyalty from those they commanded. If he knew what it was he would bottle it, and require all his commanders to take it daily. "I was hoping you could do something to change her mind. I mean, tell her it was illegal, or something like that." "I am sorry, commander, but it is legal, and I don't have much leeway in the matter." Looking like a whipped little boy, Commander Owens replied, "I am sorry to have bothered you, general. Please accept my apologies." As Owen's image faded from the screen, the doctor had entered the room unnoticed. "I wish, I had people like him working for me." "Don't we all, doctor. Don't we all." "That man is hurting. If I didn't know better, I'd think he loves his CO, whoever he is." "His CO is a she, doctor. From what I know of her, and I know a lot, she is as hard as nails, smart, beautiful and she truly cares for her people. She made us redesign a whole ship class over that item." "I'd like to meet her. She sounds interesting." "She is, doctor. She is. She may end up being the youngest general we have ever had in the earthforce." General Leftcourt was rewarded by seeing the doctor's eyebrows raise almost an inch. *********************************************************************** 0700 Day 4 aboard EAS Ares "Come on munchkin, rise and shine. You need to shower before we leave," said Susan Ivanova. "Aunt Susan. I am not a munchkin." Leaning over to kiss the awake, but still sleepy, little girl, Susan replied, "I bet you don't even know what a munchkin is, do you?" Rubbing sleep from her eyes, Maya responded, "No." "Then how do you know you aren't one?" Maya thought about that, but didn't answer. Instead she got up and headed for the head and shower. In a minute Susan could hear the water running. There was a knock on the office door. Susan yelled, "Come in!" from the shower room. Commander Owens entered. "Is there anything you need, captain?" "Pat. I told you, I am not a captain anymore. Call me Susan." Susan started packing the suitcase she had brought with her when she had first officially took command of the Ares. It was much easier to pack it this time. She only had to pack her underwear and workout clothing. She had no further need of her uniforms, so she left them hanging in the closet. "You can get rid of these," she said indicating the uniforms in the closet. "I won't be needing them anymore." "I don't understand. Why are you quitting? It doesn't make any sense?" "Pat. There are things I must do. We were hung out to dry and die. I am going to tear up Earthdome, and the people in it, until I learn why, and by whom. I can't have the necessary freedom of movement and action as long as I wear that uniform. I don't want to quit, but I don't see any alternative. Does the crew know yet?" "Are you kidding? They knew before I did. They aren't very damned happy about it, either, sir." Susan gave up. The XO and the rest of her crew would always see her as the captain, whether she was or not. As she boarded the shuttle taking her to Babylon 5, Susan Ivanova looked around the hanger bay one last time. *********************************************************************** 0815 Babylon 5 Day 4 Susan rang the buzzer for Lyta's quarters. The door opened and she and Maya entered. Maya immediately ran to her mother and gave her a big kiss and hug. "Mom. Aunt Susan quit her job." Lyta looked at Maya then Susan. "So now it's mom. What happened to mommy?" "Mommy is for little kids," announced Maya. Lyta took her into her arms again and hugged her for a long time, nuzzling her neck as she did so. "Good morning, Lyta." "Susan. You quit?" Susan sat down at the table and Lyta served up cups of tea for the three of them. Taking a sip of the tea she explained what she considered the whole mess. Lyta listened attentively and said nothing until after Susan was finished. "Why don't you let your friends do the dirty work, and keep your career intact?" Susan, looking confused, asked, "What do you mean?" "I mean let people who know how to fight just as dirty as your detractors, Lunchenko and her bunch, do your fighting for you. We have Michael Garibaldi, expert at dirty infighting, is filthy rich, and can finance it, and has more people who owe him than you could count with a computer; not to mention the intelligence network he put into place helping me take down Psi Corps. General Leftcourt and his friends who supported your promotion to captain when Sheridan recommended you. John and Delenn Sheridan who have been your friends for years and know everyone who's anybody, and are owed political and other favors by some very powerful people, and last , but not least, me. I have people who owe me in places you would never imagine, both normals and telepaths, and I am not to bad at mind reading myself. There is no reason for you to throw your career away. I will bet Leftcourt is sitting on that resignation you submitted. You have many friends, Susan. You don't have to go it alone," said Lyta, with great intensity. "What about this?" she asked, tapping her head with her forefinger. "No one has to know about that. The people who already do will never tell." "Mom," interrupted Maya. "Aunt Susan doesn't need anyone to help her block anymore." "How do you know that?" "During the fight, when things were completely crazy, Aunt Susan maintained perfect control. Besides, I just know." "There you have it, Susan." "I need to think this through, Lyta. I don't have a place to stay, yet." Lyta stepped to the communications panel and called Charles Wayne. When he answered, she asked, "How are you fixed for space, Charley?" "Okay, I suppose. Why?" "Susan needs a place to stay for a while." Grinning from ear to ear, he replied, "She is welcome to stay with me." "Now you have a place to stay, Susan." "Can I leave this here while I go make arrangements to return to earth?" she asked, jerking her thumb at her suitcase. "Why not just drop it at Charley's quarters. It is only two doors down the passageway and you have to go in that direction to get to the travel agency offices." Picking up her suitcase, Susan replied, "I suppose I'll see you later." "Susan. We are about the same size. I have some trousers and skirts that would go well with your former uniform blouses. It will take the pressure off for needing to buy clothing. "Lyta. All you ever wear is black." "It matches my hair." "Okay. I'll check back with you about lunch time. Will that be okay?" "It will be fine." After Susan left, Lyta looked at Maya and asked, "How can you be so sure her blocks are working properly?" "I tested them." "When and how?" "During the fight she got really involved in the battle. It was going like crazy with so much going on. I tried to break her blocks. I could have broken Mr. Wayne's blocks with the way I tried to break hers. She didn't even notice. She might not be able to read minds, but no body except us will ever be able to read her." "For a four year old, you surely seem grown up." "Physically, I am four years old in human terms, mom. Mentally, because of the Vorlon part of me, I am equal to a normal human adult." "I'll keep that in mind." *********************************************************************** 0845 B5 Charles Wayne's quarters Susan had no sooner put her suitcase down than Charley was smothering her with a very intimate kiss. Finally the kiss ended and Susan got her breath back. "It's early for that Charley." "I am so happy that you are okay," he replied, nuzzling her neck and nibbling her earlobe. "I was afraid I wouldn't see you again." "I have to do some light shopping. I need some decent clothing. Lyta offered to loan me some of hers, but I want to see what is available. Besides, I have to arrange passage back to earth." Hugging her again, Charley said, "I have to arrange a couple of meetings for today. I will call supply and arrange for you to get a pass card for the door. I should have that done by nine thirty. Close the door when you leave." Then, looking at her wistfully, he left. Susan looked around and then laid down on the bed. In less than two minutes she was fast asleep. The fight the night before had wrung her out more than she had known. She was still sleeping when Charles returned just before noon. *********************************************************************** 1215 Zocalo Lyta was sitting eating lunch with Larry Evans, Maya and three of her Glenthorian associates when Lochley approached her. Lyta looked up to face Lochley, but said nothing. "Do you have any idea where Captain Ivanova is, Lyta?" With a perfectly straight face, she replied, "I don't know a Captain Ivanova." "You know perfectly well whom I mean." "Do I?" "Have you seen Susan?" "I saw her this morning just after 0800. She went to Charles Wayne's quarters to stow her suitcase. She said she was going to shop for a few clothing items and arrange passage back to earth. If you wish, I will contact Charles and see if he can help." "I would appreciate the effort." "She didn't even notice you, Larry." "Nothing new. Like I said, there isn't anything between us." "Bull," retorted Maya. "What do you mean by that young lady?" demanded Lyta. "You and Mister Evans should lower your walls sometimes. You don't have to scan. The captain's feelings were almost screaming," answered Maya. "Screaming what?" asked Larry. "She was so happy you are okay, after last night. She wants to make things right between the two of you." Larry looked at Lyta. "Maybe all is not lost. But telepaths still creep her out and I am a telepath." "You don't creep her out, Mister Evans, even though you are a telepath. Mom. She wants to be friends with you. She knows what you did, and she is grateful. She understands you are dangerous, but she no longer sees you as a personal threat." "You got all that just from when she was just here?" "Yes, and so could you if you would just listen." "Consider it taken under advisement." As she departed the Zocalo, Lochley realized Lyta's answers were meant to say, she knew about Susan's resignation. After last night, Lyta didn't seem so dangerous anymore. Susan had been correct. She should make an effort to get to know Lyta better as a person, instead of an it. *********************************************************************** 1300 MedLab 2 The isolation room was set up and the first Drakh corpse had been place on the examination table. Drs. Hernandez, Fuhara and a team of four assistants were making final preparations. The scanners were programmed to make successive sweeps at differing angles to provide three dimensional images of the internal layout of the body. There would be a number of these scans taken with the body placed in several positions. From the scans they could build a model of the body that could be electronically stripped down layer by layer to reveal all of the elements of the body. After the scans were done and measurements made, small samples of skin and hair would be analyzed. The last parts of the autopsy would involve opening the body and doing observation and further testing on the organs themselves. Captain Lochley wanted to know what had killed this Drakh and its fellow crewmen since theirs had been one of the cruisers that had remained intact. The doctors were discussing the images generated by the scans. They were intrigued by what looked like large scabs located on the chest area of the alien on the table. They looked more like a symbiotic creature than everything else. Before the internal investigation started they removed one of the "scabs" and set it up for individual high resolution scans. What they found was that the creature was mostly a mass of neurological fibers, with no indication of a respiratory or digestive system. A search of the files turned up pictures of something similar investigated by Dr. Steven Franklin, former Chief of medical Staff on Babylon 5. They learned it was called a keeper, for lack of a better term. The autopsy revealed that both the Drakh had died from the simultaneous rupture of all the blood vessels in their brains and the symbionts had died from lack of oxygen from the host. The report was forwarded to Captain Lochley. She would decide that the data generated from the autopsies, conducted by her medical staff, would be forwarded to earth for further analysis. She intended to send some of the recovered Drakh bodies as well. They had better facilities there than she did on Babylon 5. They had discovered that there were at least two different members of the Drakh race. They looked very different, but were genetically so close that only fine detailed analysis showed the differences. *********************************************************************** END PART 7 From: "Aubrey W. Adkins" Subject: Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 8 of ---(WIP) Date: Tue, 06 Jul 1999 18:00:27 -0400 Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 8 of ---(WIP) Criticism is welcomed. Without, it there can't be any improvement. Address criticisms to [xazqrten@norfolk.infi.net] Think of this as a space opera. All characters/places/persons not belonging to the writer are the sole properties of their owners, PTEN, WB, JMS, and will be turned over to the owners at the request of their agents. All other characters/places/persons are public domain. Rated PG-10 (Vocabulary ******************************************************************** 1145 B5 Day 4, Charley Wayne's quarters. Looking at Susan's sleeping form, it occurred to Charley that she must have been totally wasted after the fight with the Drakh. He sat down on the bed, leaned over her and gently brushed his lips against hers. She responded by putting her arms around his neck and pulling him down on top of her. Slowly she opened her eyes in surprise. She let him up and, apologized. "Sorry, Charley. I thought I was dreaming. What time is it?" "It is lunch time. I am debating, but I think we should go get something to eat, before anything else." Susan pulled him back down and lunch was forgotten for the time being. It was just after 1230 when Charley and Susan joined Lyta, Larry, and their group for lunch. Lyta looked at them and didn't need to guess what they had been doing. She was beginning to think there must be rabbit genes in the two of them somewhere. However, she kept her thoughts to herself. She noticed that Larry and Maya could read them the way she did. "Captain Lochley was looking for you about fifteen minutes or so ago, Susan," stated Lyta. "I don't suppose she mentioned what it was about?" "Not a hint." "It couldn't be important or she would have had security after me. Zack saw me with Charles a few times. Charles' place is where he would start looking if they wanted me." "Susan. Why don't you hold off buying anymore clothes for now and delay buying a ticket to earth?" "You have something in mind, Lyta. What is it?" "I'll let you know later. After lunch why don't you go with Charles and Larry. It will give you a chance to see them do their thing." "Why do I feel that you are setting me up?" "What could I possibly be setting you up for? Susan Ivanova, you are the most suspicious person I know, Michael Garibaldi excluded." "You have a knack for interfering in other people's business, not that it is necessarily a bad thing." They finished lunch and as Susan and the others went one direction, Lyta waited till they were out of sight, and then she headed for C&C with Maya in tow. *********************************************************************** 1315 B5 Day 4 Lochley's office "What can I do for you, Lyta? I know this isn't a social call," asked Lochley in a disinterested, dismissing tone. "Better question is, what can I do for you?" retorted Lyta. "Just what can you do for me?" "Well for one, I think I may have a way to get Susan to retract her resignation. Would that be of any interest?" Lochley looked up at her and said, "Maybe you should have a seat. I am very interested." Lyta sat down and in the chair across the desk from Lochley, and Maya got comfortable on the couch. "Just how can you help with Susan and her problem?" "I could just mentally force her to retract it, but I would never do that. However, there is someone whom she trusts implicitly and he and/or she may be able to convince her that there is a better way. In fact, I will bet on it." Lochley looked at Lyta for more than a minute, trying to figure out her place in all this. She had been told that Draal had helped destroy the Drakh, but she didn't believe it. His own admission had indicated as much. "Continue." "Her former CO, John Sheridan, and his wife, Delenn, are as close to Susan as her family was. Maybe even closer. If there is anybody she will listen to, it is they." "How do you propose we proceed?" "You contact Sheridan and discuss it with him. However, for Christ's sake, don't mention me. It would be the kiss of death. When you are ready, I will get Susan up here, and you can turn John loose on her." "Just for curiosity's sake, what do you get out of this? Why are you going to this much trouble, when it is no concern of yours?" "As hard as this for you to believe, I'm getting nothing out of this except the satisfaction of knowing Susan's career is intact. She is my friend, and even though it is none of my business as such, it can hurt my friend, and I won't allow that. I don't know about you captain, but I try to take care of my friends, what few I have." "I will be in contact." Lyta and Maya left. Well down the passageway, waiting for the lift car, Maya took Lyta's hand and looked at her, saying, "You just made a lot of points with the captain, mom." "Explain?" "You put an extremely high value on friendship. She is not accustomed to people like that." *********************************************************************** 1500 Day 4 Lochley's office "What can I do for you Dr. Hobbs?" asked Lochley. "My people have finished a preliminary autopsy on two of the Drakh corpses that were brought in. The findings ask more questions than they answer," answered Hobbs. Smiling, Lochley asked, "You just love to keep me in suspense don't you?" "Never, captain. The two we examined had no visible injuries. The internal examination revealed that every blood vessel in their brains has been exploded. They died of the most massive strokes in history. Their deaths were quick, but excruciatingly painful. There are some symbiotic creatures attached to them that we are still studying. By tomorrow I should have a fairly complete report for you." "Do you have any ideas what could have caused these strokes?" "Not a clue, at this time, captain." "Thank you, Dr. Hobbs." Lochley might not know exactly how, but she was sure the who was Lyta Alexander. *********************************************************************** 1600 Day 4 Lochley's office Lochley had established a link with Sheridan's headquarters on Minbar, however, she had forgotten the time difference. A very sleeply Sheridan was looking out of the screen at Lochley. "I am sorry Mr. President, I forgot about the time difference." "It's okay, Elizabeth. What can I do for you?" "You can talk some sense into Susan Ivanova, John." Sheridan regarded her image on the screen for a minute. "Is this your idea?" "No, it is a friend of hers. The friend thinks she is making a big mistake, and should let her friends, who are good political infighters, do her dirty work. I think it is a good idea, too." "Who is the friend wanting this intervention?" "She made me promise not to tell you." "Let me get back to you in the morning, your time." "Thank you, Mr. President." "John works better, Elizabeth." She stared at the logo on the screen for almost a minute, then went back to work. The damage reports on top of the regular station reports made her envy Susan her ship, even if it was shot all to hell. *********************************************************************** 2000 Day 4 Zocalo Lyta, Susan, Larry and Charles were having dinner in the Fresh Aire. There was a music act that featured magic to music, and the quartet wanted a little entertainment after the diversion of the past few days. Suasn, looking behind Lyta, spotted Lochley coming in their direction. "Don't look now, but I think we have company." Larry looked around and frowned when her saw whom Susan was referencing. "Did you invite her, boss?" Lyta nodded, no. "If she asks if she can join us, you can just say no," said Charles, "Personally, I have nothing against her." "Evening Lyta, Susan, guys. Lyta can I see you first thing in the morning? I looked into what we were discussing earlier. It looks like a go, but I won't know for sure until then." "Is 0800 okay?" "Fine. Good evening," she said and walked away. "I think we should have invited her to join us," commented Charles. "I still can," noted Lyta. "Larry?" He nodded, yes. Lochley was fifteen meters away when she stopped in mid stride. Inside her head, she heard, Turning around slowly, she was scanning every face in sight. Her gaze rested on Lyta. Again came the request, She walked back over to Lyta's table. "Did I hear you?" "Yes," replied Lyta. "We haven't ordered yet. Please sit down." Larry held a chair for her and she sat down. Lochley was cautiously studying the foursome. "Sometimes, we forget our manners, Captain Lochley," said Larry. Lochley smiled a weak smile. She didn't often get asked to join anyone for dinner. If fact she couldn't ever remember it happening on Babylon 5, discounting Lyta's dinner invitation of the other night. It put her into very close proximity to Larry Evans. She appreciated that. She could interact with him and not stick her foot in her mouth. "I know you don't want to talk business, captain, but how is the station faring?" asked Larry. "We took considerable damage to the outer hull and two areas inside. One was the diplomatic area about a hundred meters down the passageway from your quarters. The other was in Brown section. There were people there that had not evacuated when ordered to do so and had hidden from security. There were a number of casualties. It's frustrating. Almost of all of the killed were unnecessary. A few were killed when we filled the outer compartments with nitrogen. Susan gave me the idea when she described her ship's preparations for battle. You can only do so much. We, literally, carried them out, and they crept back in when they were out of sight of security." "You had a station with a quarter of a million people on it, captain. You made the right decision. If someone commits suicide in spite of your best efforts, you can't hold your self responsible," commented Charles. "I wish it were that easy," replied Lochley. "Hope it never gets any easier, Elizabeth. It keeps you from becoming callous and desensitized to the plights of others," added Lyta. [Coming from you, that means a great deal,] thought Lochley to herself. Lochley looked at Lyta with a puzzled look on her face. "It's something Maya told me I should learn how to do." The appetizers arrived and the quintet ordered dinner. Lochley was feeling really good. If asked, she couldn't explain why. She noticed it the other night at that dinner. It had to have something to do with being in close proximity to the other four at the table. The conversation drifted to the dinner and dancing of the other night. Susan and Charles unabashedly talked about their relationship and their feelings for one another. Lyta wondered if things weren't moving kind of fast for them. Their response about love at first sight made her laugh. The feelings they were broadcasting were there for every telepath present to feel. Lyta picked up on Lochley's change of well being and finally realized that Susan and Charles were broadcasting their feelings so powerfully, that Lochley was being caught up in them. Dinner arrived and the conversation took a back seat to the eating. During the dinner the entertainment started. The first presentation of the floor show was over and recorded music began playing for the intermission. Diners were moving to the floor to dance to the music. Susan and Charles went to dance. "If you weren't in uniform, captain, I would ask you to dance," said Evans. "Ask me, anyway," replied Lochley. As the moved to the dance floor, Lyta could feel the desire they had for one another. {Maya had really been right,] she thought to herself. [There was so much to be experienced without invading anyone's privacy.] She wondered why Psi Corps had dissuaded this amongst its telepaths. [Might have something to do with keeping ones sanity.] On the dance floor, Evans didn't hesitate to hold Lochley as close as possible. The station captain, in uniform, dancing with a civilian caused heads all over the restaurant to turn. The two of them were oblivious to the stares. The rest of the evening passed quickly and it was time to leave. Susan and Charles, arm in arm, were the first to leave. Lochley asked Lyta and Larry to walk to her quarters with her. "Won't you come in. I need to talk to you for a minute?" asked Lochley. Lyta and Larry did. Drinking tea at the table, Lyta asked, "What's on your mind?" "I called John Sheridan as you suggested. He agrees with your ideas, but he doesn't know they were yours." "If he ever learns the universe will end, but continue." "He is making some arrangements, I assume, or at least making contacts. He is supposed to call me in the morning. I want to be able to get Susan to my office on short notice when he does." "I will have Charley stay close to her. All you have to do is think my name very hard and I will respond." "I thought telepathy was line of sight?" "Psi Corps misinformation. Once I have been in your mind I can read you anywhere on the station, so can Maya. The normal telepath can't do that." "I know I can't, captain. I can contact another telepath if I am familiar with them, but not at opposite ends of the station." "I have a babysitter wondering where I am, so I have to be going," said Lyta. "I would like another cup of tea if you don't mind, captain," said Larry. "No problem," responded Lochley. As Lyta was leaving, Lochley asked, "Can I have a word with you, alone?" "Of course," Lyta responded. Walking out into the deserted passageway with Lyta, Lochley waited until the door closed. Standing facing Lyta, Lochley looked at her feet then at Lyta's face. Looking her in the eyes, she said, "This is hard for me, Lyta. I have been mistaken about you. I owe you more than a few apologies...what I am trying to say is, I am sorry for how I have treated you in the past." Lyta just listened and made no reply. "I would like to be your friend. Like you, I don't have many..." "I would like that, Elizabeth. We can't change the past, but we can begin a new future. Besides, it seems that we love some of the same people, even when they don't love us in return." "Thank you." "Goodnight Elizabeth." Lochley returned to her quarters. *********************************************************************** "Girl talk," said Lochley entering her quarters. "Boy talk would be suspicious," replied Evans. "I need a shower, Larry. I won't be long." Ten minutes later Lochley reentered the room dressed in pajamas. Larry could smell the clean smell she emitted from across the room. He characterized it as a feminine smell and it aroused him. He couldn't believe himself. She wore no perfume, still she had an effect on him. "You don't wear much perfume." "Not normally, just some unscented deodorant." "You smell good." "Thank you." "Is there any more tea?" He took the cup and moved to sit on one end of her sofa. She sat at the table. "I feel awkward," said Evans. "Why?" "I haven't been in a woman's quarters like this in a while, not counting the other night." "I haven't had a man in my quarters for a long time either, excepting the fiasco the other night." "Let me guess. You have steered clear of relationships because of your career." "It hasn't left me much time for them. If you want to command and you are a woman, a stable relationship and, God forbid, a family are totally out of the question." "You have a command, probably your last." Lochley looked at him hard, when he said that. He continued, "Let's face it. They aren't going to give you another ship after your tour here. Nothing they could give you would be anything but a step down, unless you get command of a fleet or something like that. No, Elizabeth, you should get command of a major installation, and for that, they will have to promote you. Even assignment to a general's senior staff will be a step down. Either they promote you and give you a major command, probably earth based, or they retire you. In any event after Babylon 5, your spacefaring days are over." While Evans had been talking, Lochley had moved over to the couch and reclined so she was looking up at his face with her head resting in his lap. His arousal state increased by several points. Her smell was hitting his nostrils hard. He began to finger her hair, lightly. "You may very well be correct. I can't imagine what could be a challenge after this station." Evans didn't answer. He looked into her eyes and continued to fondle her hair, letting his fingers trace the outlines of her face. He was getting an overpowering urge to kiss her. She made it easy by shifting her position and putting her hand behind his head and pulling it down far enough to kiss him lightly. "I don't bite, Larry." He let her kiss him again, not so lightly this time. She tasted wonderful. Larry hadn't felt a woman's tongue in his mouth in more years than he could remember. With his breathing increasing and his pulse heading toward the sky, he let his left hand and fingers play across her incredibly flat hard midsection. She continued to kiss him very deeply. When she moved his hand to her right breast, his breathing almost stopped and his heart began to hammer in his chest. Larry's walls were coming down and he began project his passions into Lochley's mind as he felt hers in his. All he and Lochley would remember of this would be a recollection of overwhelming need and incredibly blinding passion. *********************************************************************** Lyta arrived at her quarters and sure enough, Emily was on the bed with Maya cuddled to her, both breathing the deep slow pace of those who sleep deeply and at peace with the universe. Lyta decided not awaken Emily. Instead she got an extra blanket and pillow and went to sleep on the couch. At 0600 Lyta was up, showered and dressed. She was fixing breakfast when the door chimed. It was Larry Evans. It was obvious that he had a hard night. "Are you okay, Larry?" "Just a little tired." "Didn't you get any sleep, last night?" "I just knew there was something I was forgetting." "You look like you need a shower and about three days sleep." "I'll settle for a good cardiologist." Lyta set a cup of coffee in front of him. "I don't suppose you want to talk about it?" "Not much to talk about. Two people who have ignored or suppressed their needs and desires for a couple of decades decide to quit suppressing and ignoring, that's all." Lyta leaned over and kissed Larry on the cheek. "I am happy for you." "This isn't a one night stand, Lyta. I think something serious is in development here." "Is that what both of you want?" "I do and I think she does, too. She has realized that after Babylon 5, there are no challenges that interest her in earthforce. She doesn't care, now, if she becomes a general or not. She got the most challenging command of all, this station. I think she wants to start a family before biology prevents it." "Do you want a family, Larry?" "I really think, I do." "Then the two of you have my best wishes for success." "Elizabeth said she would be calling you about 0700-0800. She figures that gives everyone time to take care of whatever." "I like the whatever. What do we have on the front burner today?" "Nothing until this afternoon. The ambassador we were to meet with is still in sickbay. He was injured worse than he first thought. His quarters were directly over one of the explosion areas. A bit more and he would be history." "Works out good for me and Elizabeth concerning Susan." "It's none of my business, but what is going on there?" "I'll let Elizabeth tell you what she thinks is appropriate." Lyta put in a call to Charles' quarters. A sleepy looking male face was staring out of the screen at her. "Morning, Charley, is Mistress Rabbit up and around yet?" asked Lyta. She heard a laugh from somewhere off the screen. "We are up, now." *********************************************************************** "Good morning, John. You are looking well. What can I do for you?" asked Susan Ivanova. The image of her former CO was looking out of the screen at her. "I hear that you have resigned your commission. Isn't that rather drastic?" "I suppose that depends upon your perspective," she replied. "I agree, but in this case it isn't necessary. I have made some calls and the situation is being handled. You have friends who aren't too happy about the situation." "You make me feel like a little girl, John. I am not helpless." "I know," he replied. "However, people with plans for your future want to handle this their way." "People with plans for my future? John, what the hell does that mean?" "Let me rephrase that last statement. You have an unlimited future and your friends want it to stay that way. There is still a great deal you have to offer to those around you. Don't screw it up on a whim, Susan. Call Tom Leftcourt and withdraw your resignation." Without warning Delenn's face replaced John's on the screen. "Susan. I have been your friend for a long time. We all have a destiny. Mine is to serve my people and I do. Yours is yet to be determined, however, it won't happen if you throw your career away. You are where the universe wants you." Susan looked to one side at Lyta who was taking all this in. she shrugged and turned her hands palms up in front of her. Lochley gave her the same expression as Lyta. "My friends tell me I should listen to and heed your advice," responded Susan. John looked over Delenn's shoulder and asked, "Just how did you manage to survive that attack?" "I had help from Draal," answered Susan. "Susan. I know Draal and his machine, remember? I know he only had the planetary defenses at his disposal. Try again?" "My best friend helped me." "Susan, is Lyta there?" asked Delenn. "I might have known!" interjected John. "Was it Lyta?" "I am not a liberty to say. I promised them I would not get them involved,' answered Susan. Lyta looked at Susan, and in a low voice said, "It's okay, I will be out of here before they can do anything." Susan looked off screen at Lyta. "I heard that," said the image of Delenn. "I would know that voice anyplace." "She will be gone before you get here, Delenn." "We will be coming to the station shortly, Susan. There is some semi-official business we have to take care of. I hope to see you before you leave," said John. "Susan, I want to speak to Lyta, please?" asked Delenn. Stepping up behind Susan, Lyta put her arms around her and asked Delenn, "What do you want, Delenn?" "You disappeared when you left Mars. May I ask why?" inquired Delenn. "I wasn't ready to settle down. I still have a lot of work to do, and a family isn't in the cards," answered Lyta. "Your disappearance devastated Sheraun and disappointed me. I thought you would settle on Minbar. You would be a most welcome addition." "I appreciate all your efforts, Delenn. I really do, but I have work to do, and I can't be known in the place I am doing it. One day I will explain," replied Lyta. "We won't let Sheraun know where you are. You don't have to leave Babylon 5 because of us. I know you helped Susan, and I am afraid to ask how, so I won't. Good luck." "She's your best friend?" asked John. Holding Lyta's arms around her midsection and with Lyta's head resting on her shoulder, Susan replied, "Most certainly, John. She has saved my ass from the Drakh, twice now. She also has helped me with a very personal problem. The one I told you about when Talia was unmasked." Sheridan thought that over for a minute. "I see. Maybe you can explain that when I see you again?" "I will." "Lyta. You know this is hard for me, but thank you," said John. "I only did what I had to do. I didn't have any choice," she answered. "There are always choices, Lyta, but I understand what you mean," replied John. "I will call General Leftcourt, John. I am trusting you to see to the other." "I will be seeing you soon, Susan." With that the channel was closed. *********************************************************************** In Sheridan's office on Minbar. "That was hard, Delenn." "I know, but it was appropriate. She is still giving." "She said she had no choice. She couldn't allow the Drakh to kill all those people. Why do I hate her? It doesn't make any sense, Delenn. It just doesn't make any sense." "One day it will, John. One day it will." "What do you mean by that?" "I can't tell you." "Can't or won't?" "I know why you feel as you do, but I can't tell you. I have a mental block that prevents it." "Lyta?" "I don't know for sure. It is she or Lorien, but I don't know which?" "Well, since there isn't a telepath that can break a block like that, I will just have to wait." *********************************************************************** "Hello, General," said Susan to the image on the screen. "You look much better than you did the other day." "I feel a hell of a lot better, too. What can I do for you Captain Ivanova?" asked the general. "I feel that I may have not acted in everyone's best interest when I submitted my resignation the other day." "That's putting it mildly. Do you wish to withdraw it?" "Yes, sir." "You can't. It was never accepted in the first place. If, after the board of inquiry finishes its investigation into your latest transgression, and the boards findings are acted upon, you still wish to resign, you may resubmit at that time. Do I make myself clear?" "Yes, sir." "I see that you are looking much better, Susan. I accept that you have been under a great deal of stress lately, and lack of support from Earthdome hasn't helped the situation. Having friends who can help never hurts. I look forward to seeing you in the near future." "Yes, sir," answered Susan. At that point the channel was closed from the other end. "You should get back into uniform, Captain Ivanova. You are setting a bad example for your troops," commented Lochley. Lyta stood up and hugged her friend. "You did the right thing, Susan." Susan started to leave and Lyta was following. "Lyta. Please stay for a minute," requested Lochley. *********************************************************************** Day 5 Aboard EAS Aries "Good morning, Captain Ivanova," said Owen's, cheerfully, saluting her as she approached. "Why do I get the feeling, you knew about this before I did?" "We received the confirming message about an hour ago. It came straight from the office of the Chairman of the JCS, captain." "Why am I not surprised. The old goat had his finger on the release button and was just waiting for my call. John must have had him on another line while he was talking to me. It is a conspiracy, commander, a conspiracy." "Yes, sir. I'm sure it is. The general doesn't like to lose his best people," replied Owen's. "How would you know about that, commander?" "Just an educated guess, captain." By the time Susan changed into her uniform, her desk had become laden with a stack of papers in the "in" box. Near the top were the messages concerning the assignments to the board of inquiry and their arrival schedule. The messages also delineated the preparations of records, logs and all other pertinent files that would be reviewed, including those dealing with the operations of the weapons and engineering systems during the times of the attack. The records from Babylon 5 for the same period were being requisitioned from the station in the same message. It had listed both the Ares and Babylon 5 under the "TO:" heading. The Ares would remain in the Babylon 5 area during the inquiry. Susan's liberty stay was being extended. Other messages dealt with arrival of shipyard engineers, planners and estimators whose purpose was to make the necessary preparations for the repair/overhaul of the Ares. *********************************************************************** "Exactly what do you want, Elizabeth?" asked Lyta, sitting back down. "Susan told me you helped her come to terms with some very old biases and fears. She said I should ask you for similar aide. If I am not out of line, I am asking for your help.' "I will do it. It will be one night soon, while you are asleep," replied Lyta. "Can I ask a personal question?" Lyta nodded. "Do you love Captain Ivanova?" "Yes. I never had a sister or brother. For me she is like family." "I thought so. She is much more than just a friend. "Yes." "Thank you, Lyta." Lyta took her leave. Lochley thought how much Lyta's feelings for Ivanova were like the feelings she had for her deceased friend, Zoe. *********************************************************************** "Madam President, I would like your personal aide Jack Garvey to accompany our investigation team. Is that possible?" asked General Leftcourt. "Is there any reason for him in particular, other than the fact that he made the call to Captain Ivanova?" "No. I think that one is enough. I feel he needs enlightenment." "If she kills him, I will hold you personally responsible." "Not to worry, Madam President. Susan has better control than that. At least I think she does. Anyway, it will be interesting how he comports himself. He will have some explaining to do during the investigation." "Are you going to court martial her?" "I don't know what the board of inquiry will recommend? It's their call." "And you did hand pick the board, didn't you?" "Of course, and it is made up of senior officers with years of command experience, particularly in starships. It is a jury of her peers, so to speak." "The press will scream whitewash." "I doubt it. You don't know the people in Captain Ivanova's corner. They are spelled "clout" in very large letters. I heard they have already started investigations of their own. The press will have plenty to print, and it won't be crucifying the good captain." "I suppose that means me?" "I honestly have no idea, Madam President." *********************************************************************** END PART 8 From: "Aubrey W. Adkins" Subject: Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 9 of ---(WIP) Date: Wed, 07 Jul 1999 19:34:52 -0400 Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 9 of ---(WIP) Criticism is welcomed. Without, it there can't be any improvement. Address criticisms to [xazqrten@norfolk.infi.net] Think of this as a space opera. All characters/places/persons not belonging to the writer are the sole properties of their owners, PTEN, WB, JMS, and will be turned over to the owners at the request of their agents. All other characters/places/persons are public domain. Rated PG-10 (Vocabulary ********************************************************************* "Susan, you aren't serious, are you?" asked Jack Garvey. "I am afraid so, Jack. They have a data crystal video of you giving Captain Ivanova the orders, and they have traced the origin of the confirmation message," answered president Susan Luchenko. "I didn't think a military board of inquiry could subpoena a civilian witness?" "This one can, and you are right, you certainly didn't think. You may have murdered my career, what was left of it. I suggest you go there and tell the damned truth, no matter how bad it looks. If you try to cover up anything they will hang both of us. Be warned that there are a number of non-Earth Alliance human telepaths on the station. I would not rule out them having you scanned." "That is illegal." "For our telepaths it is, however, there is a group of them there for trade negotiations that have diplomatic immunity. If one of them conducts an unauthorized scan, all we can do is lodge a complaint, and the most that will happen is the telepath will have to leave the station. So, just tell the damned truth." *********************************************************************** Day 8 Babylon 5 Lochley's quarters It was 0200 on the third day after Lyta had agreed to help Lochley with a visit to her past memories. Lochley and Evans had made love and were in a very deep sleep. "What are you doing here, Larry?" asked Lochley looking at her lover. "I don't know. Where are we?" he responded. "I don't know either, but it looks familiar for some reason." The scenery changed and Lochley recognized her home. She was only five years old and her parents were leaving her with her aunt and uncle for the evening as they left for a dinner party. Her parents hadn't been gone long before her uncle watching a video hoisted her up on his lap. Suddenly she realized where she was and what was about to happen. She screamed, but there was no sound. It all happened as it had before, every sickening detail. Twisting and turning she could see Larry standing by watching, not offering to help. Her mind kept screaming to no avail. As Larry watched what was transpiring, tears began running from his eyes. Elizabeth realized that Larry couldn't help. He hadn't been there the first time it had happened. All he could do was watch in abject horror. The scenes of the abuse, her lack of support from her parents, and their disbelief belief, when she finally got up enough courage to tell them, kept replaying themselves. They not only didn't believe her, but they accused her of making the stories up and punished her. Finally she could take no more and she ran away. Her life as a runaway, her use of alcohol and drugs to numb the memories, it was all replaying and she was trapped in it. She could feel the hands of the lowlifes she sold her body to pawing her in their simple lust and gagged at the things she did for them, only to barter for her next fix, so she could escape her reality. Finally she was found by her father and brought home. She was thirteen and had suffered more than any human should endure. She was locked up and detoxified. Her father wasted no time on the punishment. Her mother meekly said nothing. She was confined to her room, allowed no friends and constantly monitored. Even when she was in school, he had her closely watched. She endured this until her uncle came to visit and tried to take up where he had left off. She had been home for all of eight months when this occurred. Up until then she had behaved and applied herself to her school studies. Elizabeth fought off the attack by her uncle and in doing so had permanently crippled him. Her father was furious and had her remanded to a criminal juvenile facility. It was a virtual prison for unruly children. Elizabeth escaped and was on the run again. She met her friend to be, Zoe, in the facility. It took little time for the two of them to start panhandling to pay for food and shelter. When the panhandling wasn't working they sold whatever they had, mostly themselves. The alcohol and drugs came quickly. They sold themselves for money to buy fixes or for the fixes themselves. Elizabeth and Zoe had been on the streets for almost two years when Elizabeth returned to their "apartment" and found her friend in the middle of the trash-strewn floor with a needle still in her arm. She had overdosed and choked on her own vomit. Elizabeth sat and cried for a very long time. The event scared her so badly that she went a to shelter and asked for help. She eventually was put in a foster home. The foster parents were everything her parents weren't. She finished school and because of her age her records were permanently sealed. When she academically won a scholarship to the earthforce academy, she knew her life could really amount to something, but only if she maintained tight control over it. When she and John Sheridan ran off and had a quickie marriage it was doomed to failure. Her need for control was so great, she wouldn't let him make any decisions, so they had it annulled. It had lasted barely three months, a lifetime for her. As Lochley was reliving these events, Larry could only watch and cry. He would do anything to help her, if only he could. The scenes shifted to other parts of her life and she experienced the results of the decisions she had made. In many of the scenes, she saw how her forgotten past had caused her to make a less than optimum decision, sometimes with regrettable results. The last of these had been her handling of Lyta as she was being arrested, locked up and thrown off the station. The visions faded as a mist moved to cover the scenery. Larry was still there. "You saw it all?" "Yes, Elizabeth. I saw it all," he replied. After a moment, he continued, "Now, how do we use it to make things better?" "I don't know, but I am willing to try and learn." "That's all any of us can do. I will help, if you will let me." Elizabeth put her arms around his neck and kissed him. Everything slowly faded out. *********************************************************************** Lochley slowly fought her way to a waking state in response to her morning wake-up call. She was in bed with Larry and his arms encircled her as he snuggled up to her. She managed to turn far enough to kiss him. He awakened and returned it. Then he let her go so she could get up. Doing her morning exercises, she said, "I had a very vivid dream last night. You were in it." "What was it about?" he asked. "I relived the some of the most horrible times of my life. It was so real, I can still taste the booze and drugs." She stiffened as she realized what she had just said. Larry didn't reply. He waited for her to continue. "Do you think Lyta had anything to do with it?" He shrugged his shoulders, "Maybe." "Did I say something wrong?" she asked. "Not at all. I assume your remark was about something out of your past. I figure you will talk about it when you feel like it." "I have done some awful things in my life, Larry. Things I am very ashamed of." "Haven't we all?" Lochley looked at him and remembered his admission of illegal scans, when he was in Psi Corps counterintelligence. He had a good point. "Were you there with me, Larry?" "Yes." "How? Why?" "You will have to ask Lyta. It must be her doing?" "You know my darkest secrets. The abortions, all of it?" "Everything, even the part about you being sterile because of the botched abortion. You have paid a very heavy price for your transgressions." She looked broken at that. "It is not my place to judge you, Elizabeth. As far as I am concerned you have paid for your past. Anything more would be unfair and serve no useful purpose. I don't suppose Sheridan ever knew or even knows now." "No. Only you and Lyta if she is responsible for the dreams. That all happened in San Diego, before it was nuked. The records and the people who knew are all gone. The records are just so much ash." "Then, leave it there." She finished her exercises and took a shower and dressed. She hugged him and kissed him before leaving for C&C. *********************************************************************** "Good morning, Larry," said Lyta as he entered her quarters. She had ordered breakfast and it arrived at the same time that Larry did. "I had an interesting dream last night." "Tell me about it," she replied. Larry did and kept watching her face while he did. She never changed her expression. He continued to eat and talk and hoped he never had to play poker with her. "She asked me to do for her, what I had done for Susan. I was surprised when you were the figure she chose for her confessor. Susan, of course, used her mother and brother. It says something about how she sees you." "I am distressed that she can't have children. I get the impression she wants them very badly." "Maybe she might consider adoption. She could give a child or children the love she never had." "I am going to let her be the one that breaches subjects like that." "I think maybe another session might be more helpful. I will concentrate on the good things she remembers." "Are you going to talk with her about last night?" "Of course. Don't we have some meetings today?" *********************************************************************** Lochley had a full day ahead of her. She had notified the habitation department of the board of inquiry berthing requirements, but she hadn't heard anything from them. It was not going to be a picnic. She would have more brass aboard for the next couple of weeks, than had attended the commissioning of the station. She had read the message and counted two three-star generals and at least half a dozen two and one-star generals, plus a cadre of captains and colonels. Someone was gunning for bear, and the bear they were gunning for was Captain Susan Ivanova. She felt sorry for Susan. Her recent decisions and actions would be dissected to death looking for the means to hang her out to dry and end her career. They had enough senior officers to hold a board of inquiry and a general court martial, if it was deemed necessary. This much horsepower could only bode ill for Susan. Then, it occurred to her, that she might very well be a target of the inquiry. She couldn't see how, but she couldn't dismiss the possibility out of hand. She reread the list and realized that one of the Lieutenant generals was from the JAG office as were a few of the lower ranked senior offices. Susan would need representation as might she. Maybe that was the purpose of a few of the legal eagles. Her intercom buzzed and Lt. Corwin's voice said, "Captain. Lyta Alexander is requesting to see you." "Send her in, Mr. Corwin." Lyta entered the office and closed the door behind her. "I hope I am not interfering with your regular business." "You aren't. Please sit down." Lochley handed the message she had been reading to Lyta. Lyta looked at it and whistled. "Are they moving earthforce headquarters to Babylon 5 or what. It looks like anybody who is anybody is coming here." "That was my first reaction. This is the list of people on the board of inquiry, and some to spare. The last paragraph says there will be others added to the list in later messages. I noticed that one of the civilians on the list is the SOB who issued the orders for the Ares to depart the area just before the attack. I am considering helping Susan skin the bastard alive." "Let me handle it. There is no need to soil your hands," said Lyta, in a voice that left Lochley with chills. "I think it is going to be a very interesting few weeks or so." "I agree. Elizabeth. We need to talk about last night." "Why was Larry in my nightmares. I hesitate to call them dreams?" "I don't know," replied Lyta. "In Ivanova's case it was her mother. The thing is, I don't pick the person in the dream. You do." "Are you telling me, of all the people I have known in my life, I chose Larry to share my innermost fears, dreads and the like with?" "I am not telling you anything, Elizabeth. I only tell you what others have seen. You will have to draw your own conclusions, and Larry was really there with us." "Is this all there is?" "Normally, yes, but in your case, I will try one more time. You were sleeping with Larry when I did it this time. His closeness and your intimacy may have affected the process." "You want me to kick him out for a few nights?" "I want you to be normal as possible. I want you to perceive yourself under the best conditions for you. Do you think kicking him out will help?" "I don't know. I do know, I don't want to kick him out." "There, you've answered your own question." "I don't want to be a bad hostess, but there are some crocodiles trying to bite me in the butt." "That's okay. I know the feeling. I will be talking with you later," saying that, she left. *********************************************************************** The next night Lochley was in the embrace of Larry Evens, both deeply asleep when the dream occurred. It was as before only with much more detail. Lochley awakened abruptly as her wake-up call sounded. She found herself once again wrapped in her lover's arms. She settled back and snuggled even closer to him. It felt warm and secure. Elizabeth slowly realized what part of her dreaming mind was telling her. Her only regret was, there would be no children. The wake-up call sounded again and Elizabeth gently worked her way free from Larry's embrace. She did her exercises, showered and dressed. She kissed him gently so as to not wake him and went to work. As she walked down the passageway to the lift, it occurred to her, since she couldn't have children, there was always adoption. *********************************************************************** Day 9 Babylon 5 "Welcome aboard Babylon 5 General Sanchez," said Elizabeth Lochley, as she saluted the chairman of the board that could destroy the careers of both her and Ivanova. Sanchez, smartly, returned her salute. "Quite a place you have here, captain." "It keeps us busy, general," she replied. "Why do I get the feeling that is a gross understatement?" "It's not a bad as it looks. It gets somewhat easier with time, sir," she responded. Then she introduced her XO and support department heads. "You didn't displace any of your people did you?" asked Sanchez. "No sir. We had flag spaces already available, and the ones we couldn't put there, are housed in available quarters in the ambassador quarters section. The damage suffered during the attack did put a crimp in our available space. As per your directions, everyone O-6 and below are in duplex quarters where available. In a few cases the more junior officers are bunked four to a space. It was the best we could do." "It will suffice, captain. I learned long ago, getting blood out of a rock is not a paying proposition." "Gentlemen." She told the general's group, "These personnel will show you to your assigned quarters, and aide in getting your luggage delivered to your quarters." "I am remiss, Captain Lochley. Let me introduce to our senior JAG representative, General Arthur Marsh." "Pleased to meet you, General Marsh. I can't remember us ever having JAG personnel aboard before," replied Lochley. "As far as I know, Captain Lochley, there hasn't been a need before now," replied Marsh, "Discounting the civil war." "It is lunch time, General Sanchez. I took the liberty of having lunch held over. I thought you might appreciate a decent meal after several days on a transport." "We do, captain." Turning to his other personnel, he stated, "You heard Captain Lochley. They are holding lunch for us. As soon as you find out where your quarters are located, beat feet to the wardroom and eat. The people who are acting as guides will show you where it is." "After you get settled general, I would appreciate meeting with you and General Marsh and any others of your group you choose, to go over the arrangements for your space requirements and security," requested Lochley. "Most certainly, captain. I will call you after I have settled in and tried your cuisine." Lochley watched the group make its way toward the Zocalo and wondered if she would still have a career when they departed. *********************************************************************** Two hours later General Sanchez entered Lcokley's office. "Kind of small isn't it, Captain Lochley?" "It was large enough for my predecessors, general, and it has worked well for me these last few years. Speaking of few years, when are they going to send my replacement? I've been here almost five years now." "Sorry, captain. That isn't in my department. Five years is a very long time for one assignment. However, Babylon 5 isn't just another duty station. It is unique, and not just anybody can run a place like this." "I suppose, if I retire, they will have no choice, but to replace me." "That is true, but what of your career?" "I had it explained to me why, I won't be promoted beyond my present rank, and why I won't get another assignment, general." "Oh?" "After this place, what would offer a challenge? Even if I were promoted to flag rank, anything after here would be a bore. Even running a department on earth would just be highly paid paper shuffling. With all due respect, there is no challenge there, General Sanchez." The general sat and thought about the statement for several minutes. Finally he replied, "I hate to admit it, but you may very well be correct in that assessment. From an importance standpoint, it doesn't get much more challenging that Babylon 5, unless you are a member of JCS, and on a day to day basis, even that is lacking in immediate challenge." "Let me show you what we have planned to support your efforts." With that Lochley handed the general copies of diagrams and layouts and began giving him details. ****************************************************************************** Ivanova had been kept busy during the last few days, examining the internal damage to her ship and getting all the data crystals from the numerous monitor stations and ships internal recorders sorted out, labeled and copied. She would supply all the originals to the board of inquiry, but she would also keep backup copies, just in case. She had been notified when the brass arrived by Lt. Corwin as soon as their transport cleared the jumpgate. It was 1500, and it was already a long day. She was looking forward to a quiet evening with Charles. Smiling to herself, just the thought made her feel better. She was jerked back to reality by the signaling of an incoming call on the communications system. She accepted the call. "Good afternoon, Susan," said the image of Captain Lochley. "Are you free for dinner this evening?" The question made her stomach churn. She knew what was coming. "Do I have a choice?" she asked, already knowing the answer was no. Lochley waited almost a minute, and looked off-screen, before answering. "You always have a choice, Susan," she replied. "Bullshit, Elizabeth. We both know better," she replied bitterly. "Is that a yes or no?" Lochley inquired. "I will be there. Where and when?" she replied. Lochley looked off-screen, obviously conversing with someone out of camera range. "At the Fresh Aire at 2000." Susan closed the channel and sat back in her chair. [They aren't even going to wait until the board convenes. Why am I not surprised?] Her office door opened and Commander Owens stuck his head in. "What do you need, Pat?" "I just wanted to let you know the shipyard people are here. Each one has been assigned a personal escort from the areas they will be working in." "Thanks, Pat." "Something wrong, skipper?" "It's hard to say. I have been summoned to dinner by the people sent to hang me out to dry. I guess they can't wait for the evidence." "I hope everything goes well, captain." "Ever hear the term "kangaroo court", Pat?" He shook his head, no. "It is a court proceeding where guilt and punishment have already been decided. Sort of like, "I've made up my mind, don't confuse me with facts"." "Sheesh." Ivanova just looked at him as he turned and left. *********************************************************************** "Captain Lochley. You never told Captain Ivanova what the dress code was," said General Sanchez. "I am sure she will wear something appropriate, general." "I had hoped for something not so formal. We will be very conspicuous in uniform." "General Sanchez. We will be conspicuous no matter what we wear, but I would prefer civilian clothing, too." "Will you notify Captain Ivanova?" "Sure, but I suspect she will wear a dress uniform anyway." "Why?" "She is attending under orders, and for that she will wear a uniform." "No one gave her any orders." "When I looked at you, while I was talking to her, she understood that someone from the board of inquiry was in my office. She knew you were here before you got off the shuttle, general." General Sanchez thought about it for a minute, then said to Lochley, "I suppose, uniforms it is." "Yes sir, general. Sir. I would like to invite a couple of friends since this isn't supposed to be formal." "Is it anyone I might know?" "Only from ISN newscasts, possibly, sir." "Very well, captain. I will see you at the restaurant tonight." After General Sanchez left, Lochley called her yeoman and ordered him to make the arrangements, then she called Lyta and invited her. Lochley fully expected Lyta to wear her black work outfit, since she hadn't even asked who else would be there. Lochley doubted that Lyta would be impressed by the brass. Lyta had made it obvious in the past, not much impressed her. *********************************************************************** Lochley and Ivanova arrived first, had themselves seated and ordered drinks, orange juice for both of them. "You don't have to drink juice, Susan." "I know, but this isn't a good time for me tonight, Elizabeth. It's not like having dinner with you, Lyta and the guys." "Well, they are going after my head too. I had a bunch of civilians get themselves killed." "Maybe we can arrange adjacent prison cells. It is the least they can do." "They can hang us out to dry, but we know we did the right thing. They can't take that away from us. Hell, Susan, for women, we didn't do too badly." "I heard that," said a male voice. Generals Sanchez and Marsh had approached them unnoticed. "Don't get up, ladies," said Marsh. "We are many things, general, but ladies isn't one of them," replied Susan. The men ordered drinks. "Don't you girls drink anything stronger than juice?" inquired Sanchez. "Not anymore," answered Lochley. "Only when I am alone or with friends," answered Ivanova, looking Sanchez directly in the eyes. Sanchez saw a fire there he hadn't seen in anyone in at least twenty years. This woman was ready to fight. She was probably always ready to fight. The remainder of the dinner party was arriving. When they were seated there were three empty chairs between Lochley and Ivanova. Everyone had ordered drinks and appetizers. General Sanchez introduced Lochley and Ivanova to the other members of his party, all were flag officers. "I thought you were going to invite some civilian friends, Captain Lochley?" asked Sanchez. "I did, but sometimes their meetings run long. Remember, civilians don't keep timetables the way we do, general," responded Lochley. Several of his party were staring across the restaurant at something. Sanchez turned his head to see what it was. What greeted his eyes were two gentlemen in tuxedos and a ravishing redhead. "The redhead is my guest, general," offered Lochley. Susan looked at Lochley and whispered, "You invited Lyta?" Lochley responded, "And Larry and Charles." "Are you nuts?" Ivanova whispered leaning over toward Lochley. Lochley looked at Susan and replied, "Of course not." "Ladies, let's not fight over the guests," said Marsh. Lyta waited until Larry and Charles were seated then seated herself. "We were held up, in a meeting," stated Lyta as means of explanation. "I hope we didn't miss anything interesting." Lyta looked around the table slowly, then asked, "I take it none of you has ever seen a woman before?" "Yes, they have. Just not one like you. Miss...," said General Sanchez. "Alexander, general, Lyta Alexander," answered Lyta. The waiter came and took the drink and appetizer and meal orders for Lyta and her friends. Lyta whispered something into his ear and handed him a credit chit. One of the other officers continued to stare at Lyta. "Is there something wrong, Mr.?" asked Lyta. "No ma'am. It's just that you look familiar for some reason. I just can't quite remember from where." "Well, that's no surprise. After all, my picture was all over ISN a couple of years ago. It was in the post office, too. Hell, it might even still be there," answered Lyta. "That's not why I remember it," the man answered. Then thinking hard, he looked at her again. "Now I remember. My son has it on the wall in the front room of his home. It is over the top of his family pictures." Lyta looked at him, oddly. It was obvious that she had expected any answer except this. Sanchez and Marsh were following this exchange with disguised interest. Before it could go any farther, the appetizers arrived and everyone began serving themselves from the food laden serving plates. They had worked their way through the appetizers and General Sanchez took it upon himself to introduce his group to Lyta and her associates. The man who had told Lyta about the picture was named Ames. "You were saying something about my picture, Mr. Ames," commented Lyta. "Yes, ma'am. I remember now. When I asked him about it, he said it was there in honor of your leading the rebellion against Psi Corps." Lyta just continued looking at the man. "I don't quite understand." "My son is a telepath. He couldn't abide what he saw Psi Corps doing, so he went rogue. They don't like rogues, much less P-10 rogues. He was branded a traitor and sent to a rehabilitation camp. You already know what that means. He spent almost fifteen years there. Your people freed him, literally, and the demise of the corps meant he could try to build a life. He is married and has a daughter. She is a telepath also. He feels he owes you everything." "I hate to destroy his image of me, but I was never anything, but a poster child. I was an image. We knew that pictures of old and beaten telepaths would never get attention, but someone like me presented as the leader. It got attention. I made good copy and pretty pictures, nothing more." Generals Marsh and Sanchez had been following the exchange with great interest. The Alexander woman was good. "Would any of you want to be used on a recruiting poster for earthforce?" asked Lyta. Then she followed with, "Of course not. You want to show well built young men and pretty young women in settings that get the attention of the target audience. That's all we did. However, Mr. Ames, it pleases me very much that we could help your son. All people are valuable to us. People like your son are why we did what we did. All we want is to be treated like humans." "You have his thanks and that of the rest of my family." "You were only a front?" asked Sanchez. "I hate to disappoint you, General Sanchez, but that is all there was to it. I am, or was, when there was a Psi Corps, a registered P-5 commercial telepath. Just a run of the mill, midrange teep," replied Lyta. "Miss Alexander, how about when you were thrown off Babylon 5?" asked another man, whose name was Fitzgerald, according to his nameplate. Lyta ignored the question and instead said, "If you gentlemen want good conversation, I recommend you get Captain Ivanova to tell you about the Shadow War. I hear you didn't get much information about it because of Clark's policies." "General?" inquired Susan. "I'm game. I don't even know what is was supposed to be about," answered Sanchez. *********************************************************************** END PART 9 From: "Aubrey W. Adkins" Subject: Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 10 of ---(WIP) Date: Wed, 07 Jul 1999 19:36:02 -0400 Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 10 of ---(WIP) Criticism is welcomed. Without, it there can't be any improvement. Address criticisms to [xazqrten@norfolk.infi.net] Think of this as a space opera. All characters/places/persons not belonging to the writer are the sole properties of their owners, PTEN, WB, JMS, and will be turned over to the owners at the request of their agents. All other characters/places/persons are public domain. Rated PG-10 (Vocabulary ********************************************************************* As Susan began to talk, she heard Lyta's voice in her head, Susan had a captivated audience. Even Charles and Larry were intrigued. Larry. Being a counter intelligence agent for the corps had heard some of the story, but it wasn't much compared to what he was hearing now. Lyta excused herself and left the table. She met a feline looking gentleman at the bar and engaged in conversation. She returned just as the meal was arriving and seated herself. Generals Marsh and Sanchez, even though they were paying attention to Captain Ivanova, kept an eye on the redhead. Both noted that, unconsciously, she behaved as if she owned the whole place. As they ate, Susan continued her stories and answered questions about parts of them. She had their undivided attention. Anyone watching would have noticed that Lyta seemed unaware of the conversation, as if she already knew all of it. As she wound down her story, Sanchez looked at Lyta and inquired, "You seem preoccupied, Miss Alexander. I take it you have heard these stories before?" "Sorry, general. You were saying?" "You have heard these stories before?" he repeated. "Yes. I suppose you could say that." "What's for dessert?" asked Charles. "Whatever you order from the list, Mr. Wayne," answered Marsh. "What do you think of the tales Captain Ivanova told us, Miss Alexander?" asked Marsh. "I think she has a bright future successfully working in conditions that include being up to your tush in alligators," was her retort. This brought a laugh from everyone at the table. The waiter was taking orders for dessert and after dinner drinks when a non-descript man stepped up to the table opposite Lyta and pulled a PPG, charging it as he pulled it. The people at the table except for Lyta, Ivanova, Lochley, Sanchez and Marsh scattered from their seats diving for cover. Lyta didn't blame them. The stranger leveled the weapon at Lyta's head and stood there aiming it at her. Lyta's mouth twisted in a smirk of a smile. Sanchez and Marsh could see the man straining to pull the trigger. They noted that the three women had not tried to escape, and Lyta was taunting the assassin with a half smirk-smile on her face. It was obvious she was in total control of the situation. Lochley had called security. Less than three minutes passed between the time Lochley called them and security arrived. Sanchez was impressed. It was a very speedy response, considering the size of the station. Apparently, Captain Lochley kept her people on top of their jobs. Lyta looked at the senior security officer and said, "Take him to the high security area of MedLab 1, and inform Dr. Hobbs that he has a keeper. It would probably be best to sedate him. When she is ready, I will help with her examination." The security officer looked at Lochley and she nodded, yes. Sanchez smiled at the take charge way Lyta had handled the situation. The way Captain Lochley deferred to her judgement, literally screamed that Lyta Alexander was much more than she professed. The redhead really intrigued him now. Ivanova looked at Lyta and thought, Sanchez had been watching everything Lyta and the two captains had done tonight. Something had just occurred to him. Lyta's actions left no doubts that she was indeed a leader, and tonight convinced him that she was top dog amongst the three women. She hadn't asked or suggested to the security personnel, she had actually commanded them. As the desserts and after dinner drinks were being served, Sanchez looked at Lochley and asked, "Just why was Miss Alexander banned from Babylon 5, Captain Lochley?" "She was caught buying arms for use in terrorist attacks on the Psi Corps. She was providing them arms, communications equipment, the whole shooting match, general. That made her a terrorist by association, if not in fact," answered Lochley. "Why wasn't she returned to earth after you arrested her." "Psi Corps didn't send anyone to pick her up, and some senator intervened, and charges were dropped. Psi Corps never identified her as a rogue, so I had to let her go, but it was stipulated that she never return." "Yet. Here she is. Interesting situation, captain." "Well, general. She is here on a diplomatic passport, and has comported herself in a manner consistent with her position as a member of the Glenthorian diplomatic trade consul. Legally she can stay as long as she likes." "I see," he replied and let the subject drop. The music had been playing for awhile and Susan and Elizabeth excused themselves to dance with Charles and Larry. Lyta watched them head for the dance floor and wished Commander Owens was here. She would like to dance with him again. "A credit for your thoughts, Miss Alexander?" asked Sanchez. "You would be paying way too much, general," she replied. "You don't like to talk much, do you?" "You are very observant, general." "Miss Alexander, are you always this rude," asked one of the other dinner guests. It was Fitzgerald, again. "If by that do you mean, am I not impressed by the company, well, no, I am not. I didn't ask to be invited, and Captain Lochley didn't clue me in on who would be here. If she had, I wouldn't have come. Do you have any more questions?" Lyta shot back. "Earlier you said something about a keeper in conjunction with the fellow who wanted to shoot you. Would care to elaborate?" asked Marsh. "No. Ask Dr. Hobbs. She has the files from Dr. Franklin's findings concerning them," answered Lyta. "How did you know he had one?" asked Fitzgerald. Lyta shot him a look that said he had overstepped his bounds, and curtly answered, "None of your business." Fitzgerald couldn't believe anyone would have the nerve to talk to him in this manner, especially some snot-nosed young woman. "You need to learn some manners, young lady!" he snapped. From his position, Sanchez could see fire flare in Lyta's eyes. He realized that Fitzgerald was in real danger. He snapped, "Pat. You're out of line!" Fitzgerald could tell from the tone of Sanchez's voice and the expression on his face that he had erred badly and would hear about it tomorrow. To save face he made an excuse of not feeling to well and took his leave. He also saw that Lyta was ready to come across the table at him. Just what he didn't need, an incident with a diplomat. As Fitzgerald left, Sanchez looked at Lyta and said, "My apologies, Miss Alexander. His behavior was inexcusable and not up to the standards I expect of my people." "No harm done, general," responded Lyta. Ivanova and Lochley returned to the table with their escorts. "What happened to General Fitzgerald?" asked Lochley "He decided to call it a night," responded General Ames. The others at the table snickered. Susan and Elizabeth looked at Lyta, with "what did you do" looks on their faces. "Don't look at me," responded Lyta, to the unvoiced question. One by one the other officers excused themselves and left, until only Lyta, Susan, Lochley, their escorts, and the two senior generals left. Susan, Lochley and their escorts headed back to the dance floor, leaving Lyta and the two generals. "I don't know about you fellows, but I have a babysitter waiting for me. If I don't get back before she goes to sleep on my bed with my daughter, I'll have to sleep on the couch," she explained. "We are living somewhat in your direction, why don't we walk with you. We both have to get an early start tomorrow," stated Sanchez. "As you wish, gentlemen." The two older men left with the young looking redhead, "You paid for yourself and your associates. You were an invited guest," commented Marsh. "Gentlemen. My best friend is on trial for her career. Elizabeth is in hot water, also. You two are tasked with destroying them. I don't like the idea that I was entertained by my friends enemies." "You consider us enemies?" asked Marsh. "To me, you mean nothing. To my friends you are the enemy. I remember how Sheridan was treated after deposing Clark, and giving the government back to the people to whom it rightfully belonged. So, I know a bit about "justice"." "What do you plan to do about it?" inquired Sanchez. Lyta stopped and looked both men straight in the eyes, "Absolutely nothing. However, the wheels that can have already been set into motion." "Exactly what does that mean?" asked Sanchez. "Do you men understand all the ramifications of the phrase "do unto others, that which you would have done unto you"?" Both of them looked at her with perplexed expressions for at least two minutes before one of them, Marsh, answered, "I think so." "I will explain, just so there is no misunderstanding. They get a fair unbiased hearing and judgement, and everything is fine. Screw them over and you and everyone in your little group will regret the day you were born for the rest of your lives," said Lyta in a voice that made chills run up and down both men's spines. "Are you threatening us?" asked Marsh. "Not at all. It is a personal promise, from me to you." "You seem sure of yourself," replied Sanchez. "Would the two of you like a sample of what you can be made to suffer?" "You wouldn't!" retorted Marsh. "I would, but it would serve no good purpose. If they deserve to be ruined, then we have no quarrel. I will be listening to the evidence and will know what everyone of you say and do." "It is illegal for you to do unauthorized scans." "I don't intend to scan anyone. That is as crude as throwing rocks. Let me show the two of you." Lyta grasped their minds and started to expand her senses until first they could see and hear what was happening in the Zocalo, then they were looking at the space around Babylon 5. A freighter was just exiting the local jumpgate. She zeroed in on it until they could see the registry number. Then they were back in the passageway. "Call C&C General Sanchez, and ask about that freighter and its registry number." He did and the response matched what he had just seen. "Do you understand, now, how I am going to know what goes on during the inquiry?" "That wasn't any trick, Lyta," responded Sanchez. "Of course it wasn't. I just want you to understand my point of view." "There is something you should know, though. All the officers involved with this inquiry have held independent commands of starships with the exception of the JAG and his staff. However, all of them have served on fleet ships and almost all of them have been in battle. The entire board was personally approved by General Leftcourt. The two captains will get a scrupulously fair hearing. It is imperative that every aspect of the procedure be above reproach. That is why Arthur is heading up the legal team," said Sanchez. "Can I assume, you're Arthur?" asked Lyta. "That's me," answered Marsh. "Were you told anything about the bash that had been planned for Susan when she got back to earth?" asked Sanchez. "I am not on anybody's mailing list, general." "I am going to wait and let Leftcourt explain it to you, when he gets here," said Sanchez. "Do either of the captains know he is coming here?" "No one but the two of us knew, and now you know," replied Sanchez. "I'll keep it to myself." "Give us a chance to do our jobs. You may be surprised what can be found when the desire is present." They had reached the entrance to officer country, and Lyta was about to continue on her way, when Sanchez asked one more question. "You killed those Drakh, didn't you?" Lyta just gave him her best poker face look in response to his statement. "I know all I need to know," replied Sanchez. "Yes, but neither of you will tell anyone else." With that she turned and walked away. "Wonder what she meant?" asked Marsh. It was then, inside their minds, Now, they realized exactly what she meant. ********************************************************************* Just before he entered his quarters, Sanchez asked Marsh, "What do you think?" "About what?" "About tonight, the dinner, Ivanova, Lochley, Lyta, the whole shooting match?" "Ivanova is impressive in person. She tells good stories. Lochley is reserved, but impressive in her own way. Lyta...frightening." "I agree with your assessment, except for Lyta. I think terrifying might be more appropriate." "Why?" "I think she only showed us the least of her abilities tonight." The following day, Sanchez would learn more that would bolster the suspicion he had just voiced. ****************************************************************************** Day 10 Babylon 5 Sanchez and Marsh walked into the wardroom at 0630. Captain Lochley was already halfway through her breakfast. "May we join you, captain?" asked Marsh. Lochley indicated the empty seats at the table and said, "Certainly, sir." Sanchez and Marsh gave their orders to the steward. "Captain Lochley." Began Marsh, "What is yours and Captain Ivanova's relationship with the two men Miss Alexander brought to the dinner last night?" Looking at Marsh and Sanchez with an expression that would freeze steam, "She answered, "I fail to see what that has to do with your board of inquiry, general. I understood you were investigating the decisions we made concerning the recent attack. Was I mistaken?" "Let me rephrase the question," interjected Sanchez. "Do the two of you have a relationship with them?" "With all due respect general, my answer is the same as for General Marsh, except I would appreciate it, if you would define relationship, sir." Sanchez and Marsh were surprised. She had, in so many nice words, told them to mind their own damned business. She had made it plain that she wasn't afraid of them or what they might find. Sanchez remembered what Lochley had told him about how she saw he career. She was not blowing smoke. "You are quite right captain, about it not directly pertaining to the inquiry. However, when it comes to evaluating the whole scenario, it is pertinent," said Marsh. "Think what you will, general. To be blunt, I sleep with him. I hope that satisfies your little boy curiosity. As a matter of fact, the odds are very good that we will be married in the near future and I will be retiring about the same time, unless I am forced out before that. Also, for the record, he's a former psi cop. You will have to ask Susan about her relationship for yourself. If you will excuse me, sir." Then she got up and left. "You didn't handle that very well, Arthur," said Sanchez. "I will let you ask Captain Ivanova." "You never were up to the real fight." "I think her reply will make Lochley's look tame," answered Marsh. "Do you think anyone on the board is really going to care about their personal relationships?" "No, but the media will damn sure make what they can of it. We need to be on top of it before they start nipping at our heels. If both of them are former psi cops, and it looks like they are, we could have a media disaster on our hands." "I hadn't considered that." *********************************************************************** Susan had just settled into her paperwork mode when the communications panel signaled an incoming call. "Accept," she said, and found herself looking at Lochley. "Good morning, Susan. I hate to interrupt you, but we may have a problem." "What kind of problem, Elizabeth?" "Sanchez and Marsh just grilled me about what our relationships are with Charles and Larry." "It's none of their damned business." "In a nice way, I told them as much, and was threatened that it could affect the results of their inquiry." "I told you they were sent to hang us out to dry. Do you think they would ask a male captain what his relationship was, if he had a girlfriend? Not on a bet, the double standard bastards." Lochley closed out the circuit and Susan went back to working her way through the mass of reports, messages and other paperwork that filled her 'in' basket. An hour later she had worked her way through slightly less than half the items in the in basket when her yeoman put another large batch in. "How am I going to get to he bottom of this basket, if you keep adding more than I finish?" "Beats me, captain. I suppose that's why they pay you the big money," replied her yeoman. "Ha! Big by whose standards?" Her yeoman shrugged his shoulders in reply. Just after the yeoman left, her communications panel signaled an incoming call. It was General Leftcourt. "Good morning Susan" said Leftcourt. "Good morning, general. To what do I owe this honor, sir?" "I have a problem. Actually two problems really. I need your help and Captain Lochley's to deal with them," he replied. "If I can help, general, I will. What do you need from me and Elizabeth?" "Your cooperation and understanding," he replied. "Just tell me what to do, sir." "Generals Sanchez and Marsh made an inquiry of Captain Lochley, and the proverbial feces impacted the ventilation distribution driver." "I think I know what is coming, but I am listening anyway, sir." "You laid into the president the other day. In truth some of your anger was misguided, but was in the ballpark. She is having difficulties with her political career here on earth. She has made a few decisions that could have been better. Haven't we all, at one time or another? Her political foes have really done a number on her, rightly or wrongly, and some members of her staff have just out and out screwed up big time." "What does that have to do with me and Elizabeth, sir?" "The two of you are the center characters in this inquiry, and therefore are under the spotlight. The two of you have male companions." Leftcourt held up his hand to cut Ivanova off. "Under any other circumstances, no one would give it a first thought, much less a second. However, this situation is anything but normal. So, they get noticed. That in itself would present no real problem, if they weren't telepaths." Susan just sat and listened. She gave nothing away in her expression. "The media is all over the place out there according to my sources. Many of them are not advertising themselves. You remember the hatchet job ISN did on John and Delenn Sheridan, when Clark was in power, well, they haven't all gone away. Some of them are in bed with the various political factions back here. Some of them would like to make hay with the military, and a number of them would like to get rid of the president." Susan remained silent, thinking to herself. He had valid points, too many of them. "You understand the situation Captain Ivanova?" "Yes sir, general. I understand completely. Your people will have our complete cooperation." "Thank you, Susan. You won't regret it. I promise." With that he closed the channel. *********************************************************************** Looking into his other communications screen, he said, "Manuel, are you satisfied?" "Yes sir. I am sorry to get you involved in this, but I expected Captain Ivanova would have handed me my head, literally." "You would be right. She has single-handedly busted up more than one bar, and put people in the hospital in the past. She is very accomplished in martial arts and hand to hand combat. Work with her and Elizabeth. They are very sharp, hard working, dedicated people." "Thank you, General Leftcourt." Leftcourt closed the channel. In Lochley's office, Sanchez said, "I am sorry for the misunderstanding this morning, Captain. As General Leftcourt said, normally your personal relationships would be nobody else's business. I apologize for handling it so badly." With a sigh, Lochley said, "It's behind us, general. It's what ahead with the politicians and media that worries me." "Don't feel like the Lone Ranger, Captain Lochley." Elizabeth smiled at the use of such an outdated phrase as Sanchez departed. *********************************************************************** It was 0930 and the technicians had set up the holographic display systems and large screen two dimensional displays. Sitting in the center position of the along table, Sanchez looked at the gathered group and asked, "Is there any reason we can't get this show on the road? Lt. Morris, begin the presentations." Standing to one side of the large 2D screen, a slender woman in an EA uniform sporting Lieutenants bars, started to talk. "General Sanchez, gentlemen. We have collected recordings of communications between Babylon 5, Earthdome, Minbar, and the Ares. They have been arranged in the order they occurred. You have also been supplied transcripts to follow along and notate as desired for further analysis. When we get to the holographic presentations, you will be provided with a means of noting time stamps for further replay. If there are no further questions, I will begin the presentation." The rest of the morning and afternoon was taken up watching the various communications records and asking legal and other questions, and defining parameters concerning same. *********************************************************************** "Good morning, ambassador," said Lyta as she entered his quarters. "I wish you would use my name instead of my title," Lyta. "We are friends as well as business associates." "As you wish. What are our meetings schedule?" "Looking at the changes we had to make because of the attack, they have had to be spread out over a longer period of time, it looks like about three weeks of work for you and your telepath staff." "I am going to leave some of them behind with you when this is finished. Sort of an insurance policy, so to speak." "Speaking of leaving people behind, what is happening with Larry Evans and Charles Wayne?" "They have become involved with Captains Lochley and Ivanova respectively," answered Lyta. "This isn't affecting their performance, is it?" "Not at all, Harly. However, when the Ares departs, we will probably lose Charles. I am afraid he and Susan are quite serious." "He is a good man. I hope the captain realizes what she is getting." "She does. Believe me, she does." "I suppose we will lose Larry, too?" "That one is harder to call. I will leave him behind, when I leave. However, since Lochley is likely to be here for some time to come, he will still be available to you. That is if you don't mind him working for us, while he and she pursue their agenda. I don't see any conflict of interest." "Nor do I. They make an interesting combination." "This is not for public consumption, but the reason the Wayne-Ivanova pairing will work is she is also a telepath." "EA allows telepaths to command their combat vessels?" "Not on your life. They don't know. She has hidden it all her life." The ambassador chuckled mirthfully. "What is so funny, Harly?" "Their most powerful combat vessel, under command of their finest combat commander, and she is a telepath, one of the group of most hated people on earth. You have to love the irony, Lyta." "I hadn't thought of it that way, but now that you mention it." "We don't have anything on the agenda for today, but I am having lunch with the Centauri and Narn ambassadors. I would appreciate your company at the occasion." "I would be delighted. Can I bring Maya? I promise she will behave." "Of course. She has always behaved when she has been at functions. For a four year old, she acts extremely mature. I have seen other human children of her age and they act just like children. Sometime, I would like to learn your secret." "You will never believe the truth. I guarantee it." "Would you care for a walk. I need to get out and see what is going on in other parts of the station." "Let me get Maya. She needs to get out, too." *********************************************************************** "What do you think, Arthur?" asked Sanchez as he took another bite of his sandwich. "I think we need to broaden this investigation. I want to know what ships have been here within the last month, who ordered them here, and who sent them away and why. Captain Ivanova smelled a setup when no one else did. No wonder she is the top combat commander in the EA." "She seems to have very finely honed survival instincts," answered Marsh. "I agree. I'll put Bill on it right after lunch. Do you know what they called Captain Ivanova when she was XO of Babylon 5?" Marsh shook his, no. "She was known, behind her back of course, as the "Ice Queen"." "You would never believe it now. She is anything but," replied Marsh. "I guess it just takes the right person." "What are the odds that it would happen to her and Captain Lochley at the same time, and with telepaths, both of whom are associates of the Alexander woman?" asked Marsh. "Are you saying you smell something wrong?" "Not at all. It is just a coincidence. However, it is an odd one." "We could investigate her." "I don't think we want to go there. Some things are better left alone," commented Marsh. "Captain Lochley, would you join us for a bite of lunch?" asked Sanchez. "No thank you, general. I just wanted to let you know that the IA and EA have informed me that we will be receiving replacements for the guard the Ares is presently supplying, sir," she replied. "Thank you, captain." After Lochley left, Marsh asked, "Did she seem less than pleased with the idea of eating with us?" "I don't know. Even after the General Leftcourt call, she seems to be keeping her distance. I think maybe, Captain Ivanova's skepticism is rubbing off on her. I suspect we will never make their Christmas lists." "I just wish, Leftcourt had been straightforward with them before we got here. It would have made this job a lot easier." "Maybe that's why he has let things play out the way they have. Nobody is going to be able to accuse us of whitewashing this inquiry." "As if we would have." "It is getting time to get back to business," said Sanchez, finishing his after meal coffee. *********************************************************************** END PART 10 From: "Aubrey W. Adkins" Subject: Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 11 of ---(WIP) Date: Wed, 07 Jul 1999 19:37:34 -0400 Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 11 of ---(WIP) Criticism is welcomed. Without, it there can't be any improvement. Address criticisms to [xazqrten@norfolk.infi.net] Think of this as a space opera. All characters/places/persons not belonging to the writer are the sole properties of their owners, PTEN, WB, JMS, and will be turned over to the owners at the request of their agents. All other characters/places/persons are public domain. Rated PG-10 (Vocabulary **************************************************************** "Hello, Vir," greeted Lyta. "Miss Alexander. It has been a while," answered the Centauri ambassador. As Vir seated himself, Ta'Lon the Narn ambassador arrived. Introductions were made, and Lyta asked Vir, "How are things in the royal court these days?" "It's not a good subject for conversation these days, Miss Alexander." "Call me Lyta, Vir. We aren't formal today." "Lyta?" asked Ta'Lon, "Would I be out of line if I asked where citizen G'Kar is now?" "Not at all. However, he dropped me and Maya off on a colony on the edge of IA space. I haven't heard from, or seen, him since. He could literally be anywhere." "Ambassador Hental. You want to talk trade with the Centauri Republic?" asked Vir. "Actually, I would like to make preliminary explorations with both your peoples concerning trade. I know about the political situations, but since my planet didn't even belong to any alliance at that time, I was hoping we could begin with clean slates," replied Hental. "I will approach trade people back home," answered Vir. "As will I," added Ta'Lon." "What do you think will happen to Captains Ivanova and Lochley?" asked Vir. "I really don't know. I suspect this inquiry is as much political as anything else, so normal logic probably doesn't apply. At best they won't be relieved of command or dismissed." "A Narn acting like Captain Ivanova with the same results would be promoted for initiative," commented Ta'Lon. "Privately, the same would apply to any Centauri captain who fared as well, after the proper public censure of course," added Vir. "We don't have space fleets yet, but any commander who saved a large city by his own initiative would be rewarded. The people who endangered it would be properly punished," noted Harly. "We will have to wait and see," replied Lyta. The conversation turned back to interstellar trade and politics. Maya had to fight sleep, as she thought the conversation less then thrilling. ****************************************************************************** It was almost 1600 when Commander Owens dropped by the captain's office. He noted that her "in" basket was much lower than it was that morning, and her "out" basket was overflowing. "Shouldn't you call your yeoman to empty that thing, captain?" The yeoman must have overheard him, because at that time he came in and emptied the captain's "out" basket and added a handful to the "in" basket. "It is a never ending stream, Pat. The more I finish, the more he brings in. Sometimes I feel like Sisyphus." "That's why they pay you the big money, captain." "Ha!Ha!Ha!" she replied. "Heard anything from the first day of the inquiry?" "No, and in this case, no news is definitely good news." "I understand they are getting records for the last three months from all over the EA and IA. I heard they think this thing may be bigger than anyone first thought." "All that interests me is how high they are going to hang me and Elizabeth. We're the low people on the totem pole, and the most politically expendable." "Do you really think they will trash you, sir?" "In a heartbeat, commander." "Will you be seeing Mr. Wayne this evening?" Susan shot him a "what business is it of yours" look. "You should know there are a couple of pools being run on the ship." "What kind of pools, Pat?" "Oh, the engagement announcement, the wedding announcement, and the due date pools come to mind." Susan sat up straight and asked, "Just what the hell is that supposed to mean?" "Members of the crew see you with him, and they talk. They think you two make a great couple. I have heard many of them comment that your hard edge is a little softer, lately. They like it." "Me getting soft! What I do is my business, but their reaction isn't exactly what I would have expected. I thought maybe they wouldn't have quite as much respect for a CO that had a boyfriend." "You have driven this crew harder than I have ever seen any crew driven before, but it wasn't an ego trip, like some I have seen. This firefight proved to them how much you care for them. We didn't lose one crewmember, and the pilots we lost weren't from not making sure they were ready for anything. You're their CO, but you have acted like their mother. Not intentionally, but that's how they see it. You have their respect, captain. Never doubt that." "For your information, yes, I plan to see him later this evening. Anything after that is private. Do I make myself clear, commander?" "Yes, sir." ******************************************************************************* 1700 Babylon 5 Wardroom "When do we want to start the interviews?" asked Marsh. "I want to give the boys a couple of days to get the other records. I want everything we have seen, scrutinized to answer the questions we have asked today. I figure Monday will be soon enough," answered Sanchez. "What did you think of the 3D presentations?" "You first," answered Sanchez. "I still don't believe you can do that with a ship of that size, and I saw it done." "Now you know why she is the most respected combat commander in the EA. I want to know how they did it. I have never seen or heard of those tactics," responded Sanchez. "You do have to respect her, even if you don't like her." "I think, I understand what Leftcourt sees in her. She is different," said Sanchez. "I don't know about you, but I want a drink." "I'll buy," answered Sanchez. ****************************************************************************** Sanchez and Marsh were enjoying their drink in front of a Zocalo café when Captain William 'Bill' Powers approached their table. "We have begun gathering the data you want General. However, due to delays, we may not have it all by Monday," said Powers. "We will start with what we have by then and play the rest of it by ear," answered Sanchez. "You must have a talented ear," commented Lyta Alexander, who had approached unnoticed. "What can I do for you, Miss Alexander," asked Sanchez. "Better question is what I can do for you," she responded. "Captain Powers meet Miss Lyta Alexander, former terrorist," offered Marsh. Powers looked the woman over. She was dressed in black pants, shirt and a vest to match. Her red hair was brilliant in the Zocalo lighting. She was a knockout. "My pleasure, Miss Alexander," he replied offering his hand. Lyta looked at it for almost a minute, then took it and shook it. Her hand was warm and soft, but her grip was viselike. "If you will excuse me," he said, looking at the generals, "I have some more work to do. Miss Alexander." Won't you have a seat Miss Alexander?" asked Marsh Lyta pulled out a chair and sat down, not waiting for someone to do it for her. "What did you mean by 'what you can do for us'?" asked Sanchez. "How much do the two of you know about the 'telepath' problem?" Looking at one another they answered in Unison, "What 'telepath' problem?" "I thought that went away with the Psi Corps," stated Marsh. Sanchez nodded agreement. "It is a result of that. It seems that many Psi Corps senior personnel didn't like the idea of being put on a short leash. They are freelancing their abilities, to whomever will pay. They don't seem to care about ethics, either, which in itself is not surprising, since they didn't follow the rules anyway, when they were with the corps." The two men thought about the possible ramifications of what Lyta had just said for almost five minutes before responding. In the mean time she had ordered a drink and snack. "The media could use these telepaths to scan us without our knowledge and release stories and speculations using the information," stated Marsh. "Good call, General Marsh." "How can you help us with that?" asked Sanchez. "Do either of you fellows fish?" They both nodded yes. "You know what bait is, then. I will supply you with telepaths to escort your people at all times. They can jam anyone trying to gather stray thoughts and detect the scan attempts. I will deal with the errant teeps. I was sent here because these non-attached teeps were interfering with our negotiators. We have been dealing with them. However, they are getting wise to us. You offer us a chance to sneak up on them, so to speak." "How do we know your people are trustworthy?" asked Sanchez. "Truthfully.... You don't. All you have is my word, but consider this, would I do anything to endanger the careers of Lochley and Ivanova? I hardly think so. At the present time, your best interests and mine are congruent. I have already shown you that I can get any information I desire." "We will consider your offer, Miss Alexander and get back to you," offered Marsh. "Don't take too long. You might want to read the newspaper and watch ISN broadcasts, too. They will let you know what kind of leaks you have. I can also plug those leaks, too." That ended the conversation. Lyta finished her snack and drink, and left them sitting, mulling over what she had just told them. Later that evening as they sat in their quarters and watched ISN, the breaking news about the Board of Inquiry sent to Babylon 5 was the leadoff story. It only took a few minutes for the men to realize someone in their group was talking out of class. Before the newscast had ended they had conferred and decided to accept Lyta's offer. They learned from her, it wasn't free or cheap. They struck a deal and Lyta's people began to escort the Board of Inquiry members and their staff, the next morning. By the end of that day there were six fewer former Psi Corps people selling their talents, and several leaks were plugged, when they were put out of business. The usual anonymous sources were nowhere to be found for the media. Lyta and her telepaths put the fear of God into those who would play such games. Since the media were excluded from the proceedings, because of the classified nature of the evidence and testimonies, the effectiveness of her people was evident by the lack of items concerning the inquiry making their way into the broadcasts and papers. All the media could do was speculate, and they did, with endlessly talking head experts. *********************************************************************** Susan and Elizabeth both accosted Lyta about their male friends working for the Board of Inquiry. Lyta carefully explained what was at risk and placated them. The men did not discuss anything they heard or observed at the panels meetings. All they could do was listen to the questions of the two women and tell them they couldn't comment. ****************************************************************************** It had been several days since Charles and the rest of Lyta's people had begun working for General Sanchez. Susan Ivanova and Elizabeth Lochley were coming to terms with their situations, even though they didn't like them. Charles was supporting himself on his elbows as he studied Susan's face. "I just wish you could tell me something, Charley." His answer was to put his mouth over her left nipple intending to gently maul it with his tongue until she quit talking. She was playing with his hair when he shifted to kissing her deeply. "Chermfg thisnd fdair." "Raising his head he asked, "Did you say something?" "Breathing heavily, she said, "I said, "This isn't fair"." "What isn't fair?" Before she could answer he kissed her again. She gave up trying to talk and returned his kiss. A scene similar was happening between Lochley and Evans in her quarters. Evans cut off her questions with a kiss and never gave her a chance to say anything else before he put forth his best efforts. The conversation was lost after that. ****************************************************************************** Day 17 Babylon 5 "Describe to me the procedure you used to clear civilians out of the areas that were to be filled with non-burnable gasses, Mr. Allen?" requested the captain doing the questioning. "We did a walk-through making anyone in an area leave ahead of us, leaving any possessions they couldn't carry on their immediate person behind, and then we secured and put a seal on the doors. The idea was, if anyone went back in, we could tell because the seal would be broken. Then we stationed guards at the entry points into each sector," answered Zack. "Then how did anyone manage to get back into the places?" asked the captain. "We didn't know it at first, but they killed or badly injured a number of our guards and reentered the sections just before the gasses were pumped in. It wasn't until we did full investigations and autopsies on the bodies that we were able to determine more or less what happened," responded Zack. "What were you able to determine?" "We found evidence pointing to the people who had killed or injured our guards. We also found that many of the people who had gone back into the spaces were looking for drugs and so forth that had been left behind. There were fights that resulted in most of the dead bodies we found. A few of them died from suffocation before they could get back out of the spaces." "So in short, Captain Lochley's decision to evacuate people from these areas and fill them with non-flammable gasses, did not, in fact, result in any of these civilian casualties, except for those people who brought it upon themselves?" "No sir." "What did you think of Captain Lochley's decision concerning this evolution, Mr. Allen?" asked General Fitzgerald. "I thought it was a good idea at the time. I still do. The only thing I had any question about was whether we would have time to evacuate the spaces. It turned out that we did. It did take all of my people and a number of rangers to get it done." "Mr. Allen," asked General Ames, "How were you able to learn of the time of death of the guards with such accuracy?" Zack smiled for the first time, and responded, "They had numbers and checked in every fifteen minutes. When they didn't check in, in their assigned order, we went to investigate. By then, we didn't have enough time left to search through the space again, so we resealed it, and replaced the guard, sir." The captain polled the panel for further questions and receiving none, dismissed Zack as a witness. The panel heard several more witnesses to how the protection of the station had been handled. At the end of this time, they broke for lunch. They would question Captain Lochley about her decisions after lunch. ***************************************************************************** Please explain what happened over the last week or so concerning the station, Captain Lochley?" asked the appointed questioner. "Could you be more specific, mister prosecutor?" responded Lochley. "I am not a prosecutor, Captain Lochley." "My error. Could you be more specific," she repeated. "Can you explain what happened over the last week or so?" "I will have to refer to station records. I can't remember what is in all the reports, I receive. For example, we had a problem with the water supply in hydroponics, but I don't remember all the particulars. However, the records are available." She responded. "That isn't what I mean, captain." "Exactly what do you mean. I will answer any question to the best of my ability, but I can't read your mind. After all, I'm not a telepath." She replied. This caused muffled laughter in the room. "This isn't funny, captain." "It wasn't meant to be! Captain!" she shot back. Then continued, "I will answer questions that are properly stated, however, I will not participate in a fishing expedition. Again, I ask you to be specific!" The captain, Conrad according to his name tag, looked at the panel of generals in desperation. All he got was a wall of blank faces. They weren't going to help him, and Lochley was going to fight every step of the way. "When did you first learn of a danger to Babylon 5, captain? "It was while I was shopping for a dress with Captain Susan Ivanova just after she arrived here at the station." "Please elaborate, captain." "Susan and I were shopping for dresses to wear to a dinner. Susan was invited to dinner by a friend and she got permission to invite me. While we were actually shopping she asked me where the normal station guard was. I told her I didn't know, and with the way things are around here, I hadn't noticed them leave. We agreed to discuss it later. We discussed it later after she had told General Leftcourt she wanted to extend her stay in order to give her crew a chance to do some last minute shopping and to unwind, before they had to face what was planned for their return to earth. She told him it would be a good idea for her to stay until EA and IA could get a guard reestablished. I understand General Leftcourt supported her ideas." "Let the record show that General Leftcourt indeed supported Captain Ivanova's evaluation of the situation and her solution." Captain Conrad waited until the entries had been made, including appending a copy of the transcript of the referenced conversation with General Leftcourt. "What can you tell us about Captain Ivanova's response to return to earth early?" "What do you want to know?" she responded. "You were with her when she received the call from a member of the president's staff to return to earth, immediately, weren't you?" "Yes. It was President Luchenko's personal aide, a Mister Jack Garvey, if I am not mistaken." "There were written orders to confirm Mister Garvey's verbal orders, were there not?" "I don't know. Her ship's communications equipment was suffering from intermittent problems, so she shifted her guard to the station. We never received the orders. It may be that while we were getting the guard shifted that they were amongst several messages we missed. We asked for retransmission of the missed messages, but I don't remember us receiving it." "There is a record of it being sent and resent, so we know it exists. We have had our investigators go over both Babylon 5 and Ares communications records and can find no trace of it ever being received." "I very sorry to hear that, captain." Lochley knew that without the confirmation message being received by Susan, the possibility of her being tried for disobeying orders was up in smoke, since, Garvey himself, not being in the chain of command, had no authority to issue orders to a military commander. She would like to know what had happened to the message. Captain Conrad didn't seem to be bothered that it had vanished. "I am sure you are, Captain Lochley. Without that message, Mister Garvey's communication has no weight." Continuing on, he asked, "Why did you fill the extreme outer area spaces with nitrogen?" "I got the idea from Captain Ivanova. She described how her ship prepared for combat by evacuating the outer areas and replacing the atmosphere with non-flammable gas, cut down on damage because fires could not burn and get out of control. Also, she added that since the spaces would have to be inspected and repaired by personnel wearing self-contained breathing systems, it presented no undue danger to the crew. True, Babylon 5 is not a warship, but due to the extremely large number of civilians on board, fire is an even greater danger than it is aboard a warship. therefore, I concluded it might be a good idea for us, if the necessity ever arose. It did, only a day or so later." "Your security chief has already given his account of how your order was implemented. Considering the amount of damage your station sustained and the limiting of that damage to the immediate impact area, it appears it was a good strategy." Captain Conrad looked at the table where Generals Sanchez and Marsh were sitting and Marsh nodded his head. "What is your relationship with Lyta Alexander?" "I know her. She is a friend of Captain Ivanova's." "You have had run-ins with her in the past?" "I once arrested her on suspicion of terrorist activities." "What happened with that incident?" "The charges were withdrawn and I released her." "Didn't that seem odd to you?" "I was ordered to arrest her, and I did. I was subsequently ordered to release her, and I did. As far as I was concerned, the order to release her closed the matter." "You know she was involved after that with the downfall of Psi Corps during the telepath war?" "So. What does that have to do with this inquiry, captain?" answered Lochley, flatly. "One last area of concern, Captain Lochley. It's your relationship with Mister Larry Evans." "What do you want to know, captain?" "When and how did you meet him?" "I was introduced to him and Charles Wayne at the dinner with Lyta Alexander and Captain Ivanova." "Was there anything out of the ordinary about the meeting?" "In what respect?" "Were you set up?" "I don't think so. While dancing with Larry, Mr. Evans, I asked how they came to attend. He explained that Lyta asked the Glenthorian staff, including her telepaths for two volunteers to have dinner with the captain of the station and the EA destroyer alongside. She apparently got no 'volunteers' and used a lottery to pick two 'volunteers'. According to Mr. Evans they thought they would have to listen to Lyta and two middle-aged men talk about trade negotiations. He admitted that he was pleasantly surprised. I suppose you could request they testify to the truth of the story." "We will see. Just what is your relationship at this time, with Mr. Evans?" "Bluntly. We are lovers. That is, we sleep together and have sex. Is that what you wanted to hear, captain. Also, we are leaning toward making it a permanent situation. By the way captain, when did it become illegal for a military person of one sex to have a relationship with a telepath of the opposite sex?" "That was the answer. As far as I know, captain, it isn't illegal. It just presents some security problems." "Captain. Nothing I do aboard this station or have done since taking command has been classified. Since, I intend to retire, when I am relieved of command, I fail to see a problem. If it is, I will tender my resignation before the day is out. Unless you have questions that are more pertinent than the ones you have just asked, I have work to do, a station to run, and request to be dismissed from these proceedings." Conrad looked at Sanchez, Marsh and the rest of the panel and was rewarded with silence. "No further questions, captain. You may go." Lochley left the room without looking at the inquiry panel. Lochley was the last witness to be questioned for the day. The panel started reviewing the days results and integrating that with their other data. ******************************************************************************** Looking at the panel after everyone else had left the room, Sanchez, asked, "Anything anyone want to discuss before we call it a day?" "What were the questions about the Alexander woman relationship with Lochley aimed at?" asked Fitzgerald. "I wanted to establish that they weren't friends or even friendly acquaintances," replied Marsh. "We're using her people working with station security to keep our leaks to a minimum, aren't we?" asked Fitzgerald. "Yes we are. Her people are waiting outside to escort us. The leaks have dried up, since I employed them," answered Sanchez. He continued, "It is driving the media up a wall, too." "I for one, don't see any problem with Lochley. I know, my son is a telepath, but they aren't any more likely to be a security risk than any one else. I am more interested in learning who orchestrated, and supported the attack on the station, and I will bet there aren't any telepaths involved," stated Ames. Nobody argued with his assessment of the situation. "Then, all we have to do for the Lochley portion of this inquiry is write up the report and recommendation. Is that what you gents are telling me?" asked Sanchez. Heads nodding agreement were his answer. "I want a few days to question Ivanova's crew. We need a delay anyway. We have big brass who want to be observers when we tear her apart, if we can," said Sanchez. "That might not be easy, general," said Fitzgerald. "You aren't telling me anything I don't already know," responded Sanchez. ******************************************************************** END PART 11 Part 12 will be awhile.... From: "Aubrey W. Adkins" Subject: Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 12 of ---(WIP) Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 17:03:58 -0400 Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 12 of ---(WIP) Criticism is welcomed. Without, it there can't be any improvement. Address criticisms to [xazqrten@norfolk.infi.net] Think of this as a space opera. All characters/places/persons not belonging to the writer are the sole properties of their owners, PTEN, WB, JMS, and will be turned over to the owners at the request of their agents. All other characters/places/persons are public domain. Rated PG-10 (Vocabulary ************************************************************************** "Good morning, captain," said Commander Owens as Susan entered her office, prepared to attack the days mountain of paperwork. "You are assuming a lot, Pat," she responded. "The first group of crewmen just left for the Board of Inquiry interrogations." "I know. This is their chance to really do it to me. I have been on their asses for almost a year and a half. Finally they get a chance very few crewmen ever get, a chance to take their CO down. It should make for interesting reading when they are finished." "You don't think much of your crew, do you?" "It doesn't matter how I feel, Pat. By the time the prosecutor gets through with them, even the ones who might like me will sound like the hounds from hell. Lawyers are like that." "You don't have much respect for the integrity of the legal profession." Susan had to sit down and hold onto her desk to keep from falling to the floor laughing. Even then her sides were beginning to hurt. With tears in her eyes, she said, through laughs, "Pat. You are one hell of a comedian." ***************************************************************************** "How would you characterize Captain Ivanova, Ensign Lyle?" asked Captain Conrad. "Are you speaking in general terms, sir, or do you have something specific in mind?" answered the ensign. "This is getting tiresome, ensign. Just answer the question!" shot back Conrad. "With all due respect sir, do you have something specific in mind or just general terms?" In desperation, Conrad snapped, "What do you think of your commanding officer, ensign?" Sanchez, Marsh and the others seated their table were having trouble concealing their amusement at the exchange. Ensign Lyle was the tenth crewman interviewed that morning and like the others he was offering no information. Every shred of information was having to be dragged out of him. If someone was willing to trash their CO, he or she hadn't appeared before the board yet. "I like her, Captain Conrad. She works us hard, but the time goes by really fast. She is a much better CO than my last one." After verbally fencing with the ensign for fifteen minutes, Conrad dismissed him from the witness stand. He had come to the conclusion, trying to nail Captain Ivanova down by getting statements from her officers and crew was a waste of time. However, the next person up was a seaman who had been demoted, restricted and awarded considerable extra duty at Captain's Mast by Ivanova, because of an incident on a planet named Glenthor, almost a year ago. Surely this fellow would have something bad to say about the good captain. To his dismay the seaman was no help. The young man explained that the captain had sent each individual crewmember a personal message outlining what was expected of them when they went ashore, and what repercussions could be expected for failure to behave properly. He also explained that crewmembers were required to send a personal response acknowledging receipt of the message and acceptance of the terms outlined in it. He readily explained what he had done and what the results had been. He had paid restitution, been demoted, restricted from the next four liberty stops and thirty days of cleaning sewage filters. He admitted he hadn't liked the extra duties, but he accepted that he had went out of his way to merit it. He stated that he had earned his lost rate back, since being punished, and no he didn't fault the captain. After all, she hadn't forced him to go on liberty, get dog drunk, make an ass out of himself, and damage private property. Conrad dismissed the man and turned to the board members, "I suggest we break for lunch, gentlemen." General Sanchez adjourned the board for lunch with 1300 designated as reconvening time. **************************************************************************** "What do you think Arthur?" Asked Sanchez. "About what?" "Captain Ivanova. She hasn't showed any interest in our proceedings. I would have thought, she might be interested in what her crew said about her," replied Sanchez. "She knows there isn't anything she can do to change what is, and what will be said. I think she isn't wasting time on it. Getting her ship ready for repairs is a big job. Personally, I think it speaks well of her. She has her priorities, and worrying about us isn't on her list." "True. Most officers, I know or have known would be sweating blood about now. I am impressed by her crew's testimonies. They all seem to like her, in spite of her being a hard taskmaster," commented Sanchez. "Maybe getting them out of this last firefight alive has something to do with it. She lost no crew and what few pilots she did lose were unavoidable, friendly fire accidents. How many commanders do you know who have crews that are that good?" "Point taken." "Captain Conrad had been listening to the two senior board members and asked, "The two of you don't seem like you want to hang Captain Ivanova out to dry." "Wrong, Captain. Give us a good reason and we will do just that. So far, I haven't even seen or heard anything remotely resembling any wrong doing on her part," replied Marsh. "Make that two of us, captain. I will bet that none of the other board members will disagree with us. If you can make a case, we will take appropriate action, otherwise, she walks," added Sanchez. "Make me the third," commented Fitzgerald. "I have watched the videos and heard from members of her crew. Everything, so far, leads me to want to give her a medal. The videos show a crew and pilots honed to as sharp and edge as I have ever seen. I see a crew that loves their CO, even when she drives them up against the wall. Hell, even the kid she busted likes her. Captain Ivanova has her faults, but I don't think they fall under the purview of this board." "We will see, general," responded Conrad. "Don't make this personal, captain. Do your job. If you make it personal and it backfires, this woman will rip your guts out and hand them to you on a plate," responded Sanchez. "I will tell you now. You aren't about to scare or intimidate her, and she has a temper." Captain Conrad looked at Sanchez and Marsh. He had just been warned, in so many words, get it done and over with. ******************************************************************************* "Are you going to lunch, captain?" asked Owens, sticking his head in her office. "Only if you buy, commander." "Deal." She and Owens sat down at an unoccupied table and ordered lunch. "What's on your mind, Pat?" "How can you ignore the proceedings going on over on the station?" "Nothing I can do will change anything they are doing, so why worry about it. I have work here that has to be done. We have to quantify our damage, identify what parts we will need and work with the shipyard personnel to be ready for repairs when we get back. That won't wait." "I heard a rumor this morning. It's about when you were XO on the station." "You might hear anything concerning that period of my life. It all depends on whom you talk to." "I am told they called you, "The Ice Queen". "Not to my face, they didn't." "I have known you for almost two years, now. I haven't seen anything that would remotely make anyone think that." "I have changed since those days, Pat. Changed for the better, I hope." "May I join you, captain?" asked a gray haired gentleman in coveralls. "Captain. This is Norman Kelly, the chief engineer in charge of the personnel helping us get ready for the shipyard," said Owens. "Please do, Mr. Kelly. I have been remiss in my duties. I should have made your acquaintance before now." "No problem, captain. Me and my people have been too busy to do much more than sleep, shower and shave between shifts. The damage to your ship is massive, even though for the most part it is largely superficial. It's just that there is so much of it." "Would you believe me, if I told you I didn't do it on purpose." "Actually, yes. Yes, I would. You don't look like the type to destroy her ship just for the hell of it." Owens chuckled at the discourse. "How bad is it, Mr. Kelly. I mean what you have seen so far?" "Financially, it is a disaster area. Functionally, you are in very good shape. The only question is, of course, will EA be willing to pay for the repairs. They have been very shortsighted in the recent past. The legislature thinks you can run a military force on the hot air that gets spewed out at the finance committee meetings." "I take it, you don't agree." "Captain. You are only as safe as the people who are protecting you. Whether it is a bodyguard, the police or a military, doesn't matter. If you don't pay for it, you can't have it. That is a rather simple idea." "Are you getting the support you need from my people?" "It couldn't be better, captain. You have a very professional crew." "We try, Mr. Kelly." "You can call me Norman, captain." "My upbringing won't allow me to do that, Mr. Kelly. You must be almost as old as my father would be, and I was taught to respect my elders." "As you wish, captain." "However, if you wish, you can call me, Susan." "Susan, it is, captain. I like the name." Ivanova and Owens were finished eating and bade Mr. Kelly, good day. On her way back to her office, Susan said to Owens, "I like him, Pat. I just know we will get an excellent repair job, if we get the money." "I have to make inspection rounds, captain. I need to feel like I know what is going on, even if I don't." ******************************************************************************** "Chief. Tell us about Captain Ivanova," said Conrad. "What do you want to know, captain?" asked the obviously very old, grizzled chief petty officer on the stand. The old man was at least two decades past normal retirement age and, most likely, even older than generals Sanchez and Marsh. Conrad was getting visibly angry. He had questioned thirteen crewmembers today and everyone of them had been totally uncooperative. This old chief might be the worst of the lot. "How does she compare to the COs you have served under in the past?" "With respect to what, captain?" "Can't any of you people just answer a question, without verbally fencing with me!" exclaimed Conrad. The chief looked at Conrad then at the board members, before answering, in a quiet level voice, "With all due respect, young man, I can answer any question you can ask. It isn't my fault, if you don't know how to properly ask a question." The quiet, level tone in the old chief's voice left no doubt in anyone's mind that he thought very little of Captain Conrad or his outburst. There were sidelong glances amongst the board members, but no one commented on the scene. Conrad went back to the table he and his associates were using and conferred with his colleagues. He sat down as another captain got up from his seat at the table and approached the stand. "Chief. If I were to ask you to give Captain Ivanova an overall rating, comparing her with all the COs you have served under in your career, how would you rate her on a scale of one to ten?" "I'd have to give her an eleven, sir." "Obviously, you think very highly of your CO." "Yes, sir." "Chief. What is it about Captain Ivanova that commands so much respect from you?" The old man thought about it for a minute, then answered, "Her priorities, captain. Those are what impress me the most." "Care to elaborate, chief." The old man smiled, "Not at all, sir. The two things at the top of her list are the well being of her crew and safety of her ship. She is a rare bird, captain. She puts her career well down the list below, her crew, ship and responsibilities to, as she puts it, humanity." "I don't suppose you know why that is, do you?" Smiling again, he responded, "Sure do. Her theory is, if she takes care of her crew and ship, they will take care of her, and the rest will fall into place. That's why she trains us until we are ready to drop. When the time comes to do what is necessary, she wants us to be able to do it without thinking about it. She feels that if you have to think about it, you may be dead before you can act. I have to tell you, captain. I agree wholeheartedly with her on that philosophy." "So, she pushes her crew pretty hard?" "Yes, sir. Very hard, but not as hard as she pushes herself." "You seem to know a great deal about your skipper, chief. How is that?" "As you can see, I am an old man. Fifty one years in earthforce, so far. I have children older than she is. Why do I know? I talk to her. I talk to her a lot. For some reason she respects my knowledge and experience. I think the most important reason is, I don't ever talk about the things she confides in me. She is my CO, but she is a person first. Do I like her? Damned right I do. I only wish there were more like her. I don't think that's likely though. All you kids think about is your careers, captain. Does that answer your question?" "Yes it does, chief. Thank you." With that he turned to the board and got no indications any more questions being necessary. Looking back at the chief, he said, "You are excused, chief." Walking back to the table he looked at Conrad. Conrad just looked at him and said nothing. The last witness to be questioned was Lieutenant Colonel Frances Munoz, commander of the marine detachment stationed aboard the Ares. "Colonel Munoz. How long have you been attached to the Ares?" asked Conrad. "Since they brought her power systems on line, captain." "What is your opinion of Captain Ivanova? "In comparison to former senior officers I have served under before, she stands out as one of a kind. She's what we marines call a real kick-ass CO." "Could you be a bit more specific, colonel?" "She is very smart and has balls the size of boxcars, even if she is a female." "What do you mean by, even though she is a female." "I mean she is the equal to any male, I have served with or under in her fearlessness. I will follow her into battle anytime. Which is more than I can say for you, captain, or any other officer in this room, no disrespect meant." Captain Conrad was expecting an answer, but not this one. He was taken aback and it showed. "What causes you to feel this way, colonel?" "If you have investigated the good captain, as I expect you have, you will have learned, she works out with my marines. In fact she has been teaching them hand-to-hand combat. She also leads our calisthenics workouts. It may surprise you that, in spite of her age, she can run most of my men into the dirt. She can also beat the hell out of many of them. Those she can't beat, she makes them pay dearly for their victories. If you knew anything about her, captain, you would realize these questions are a waste of time. If I have to be in a fight, I would be proud to have her cover my back. Is there anything else you want to know about her, captain?" Conrad looked at the panel, no one made any indications of further questions. He looked back at the colonel and said, "You are excused, colonel." As he left the colonel looked back at Captain Conrad and the board and said, "Last, but not least, gentlemen, she is also extremely beautiful." Every man on the board smiled a broad smile at the remark. Captain Conrad looked at the board and said, "Gentlemen, that is all of the people we planned to question. The only persons left are Commander Owens and Captain Ivanova. When do you want to question them?" "We will save their questioning for the last thing we do, captain," said Sanchez. "We have plenty to think about and discuss. We also have to delay the final part until several other parties arrive." "Gents, if you will put together all your comments, recommendations and any other thoughts about this inquiry together and give them to Captain Powers by 0800, Three days hence, I will have them put into some semblance of order, have them printed up, and distributed to you for review and consideration," commented Marsh. "This board is adjourned until further notice, gentlemen. I hope you take the extra time to investigate or ask any questions that might arise. If necessary, we can reconvene on two hours notice. Does anyone have any questions?" Everyone shook their head, no. "Captain Conrad. I need a word with you," said Marsh. The general took Conrad aside and asked in a whisper, "What the hell are you doing, captain. You seem to be going after Captain Ivanova with a vengeance?" "With all due respect, sir, I am doing the job I was sent here to do," answered Conrad. "I don't know what Leftcourt had in mind sending you here in your present capacity, but be glad you don't work for me. Do you understand, captain?" Marsh's tone left no doubt in Conrad's mind what would happen to him, if he worked for Marsh. "Yes, sir." With his piece said, Marsh went to join Sanchez. *************************************************************************** He had been walking aimlessly through the passageways on a route that would eventually take him to the area of the Zocalo. He needed a drink or two after today's inquiry activities. The threat from General Marsh still reverberated in his mind. He hadn't noticed the woman who was walking beside him. "A credit for your thoughts, captain," said the redhead dressed in black. With a start he looked at her. "I am sorry. You were saying?" "A credit for your thoughts, captain," she repeated. "I am sorry, ma'am. I don't think I know you." "We haven't been introduced yet. My name is Lyta Alexander. Yours is Jason Conrad, captain, earthforce." "You have me at the disadvantage." "I arranged for the telepath escorts for the board of inquiry officials." He smiled. "What can I do for you, Miss Alexander?" "It's what I can do for you that's important." "How so?" "You have been all over the place this evening without any escort." "I am not an important official. I just ask the questions, and lately I haven't been pleasing everyone." "Is that your job, pleasing everyone, or is it getting at the truth, whatever that may be?" Conrad looked at the brash redhead and asked, "I don't suppose I could buy you a drink and dinner?" "Free food and drink! Lead on, captain," she laughed. They had been sitting at the caf table long enough to eat supper and have several drinks. Conrad was relaxed. He liked this woman. There was something about her that he found very appealing and it wasn't just her looks. She was more than just beautiful, but he couldn't put his finger on it. "It works out really well, captain. You take me to dinner and walk with me, and I serve as your telepath escort." "You and Captain Ivanova are good friends?" "That is an understatement. It is much more than that. She is as close to me as any member of my family ever was. She is like a sister." "It doesn't bother you that I have to try to tear her down?" "Not at all. I know her, and you will fail. I have been following your activities and, so far, you have been very thorough. That's as it should be. Any less on your part, would be a disservice to her and earthforce." "I don't like what I am having to do." "It makes you the perfect inquisitor. If you enjoyed it, you would be tempted to manufacture evidence. That would not be good!" "Inquisitor. Interesting choice of words, Miss Alexander." "You bought me supper and drinks. That entitles you to call me, Lyta." "Only if you call me Jason. Deal?" "Deal." They finished their drinks and left the cafe. Lyta agreed that a walk in the gardens would be nice. Somewhere during their walk, she got him to start talking about himself. Finding seats in the middle of the garden, they sat back and talked, rather Conrad talked about growing up, joining earthforce and why he never married. "I am sorry, Lyta. I have been hogging the conversation." "Not at all, Jason. You are an interesting man. Have you considered what you want to do after you retire from earthforce?" "Not until now. I think after this inquiry is over, retirement is going to be my only choice. I am alienating the hell out just about everybody." "That's not true. You seem to have a number of talents and abilities that have been wasted by the military. How would you like to change that?" He actually stared at her. "Are you offering me a job?" She just looked back at him. "What do I have to do?" "Just retire after the inquiry is over." "What if the inquiry goes badly for Captain Ivanova?" "My offer has nothing to do with how the inquiry does or does not end." He was confused. She made the offer with no strings attached. "You don't mind if I ask what the job is?" "After the inquiry, I will discuss particulars. You can then, think it over and, accept or decline my offer. It is as simple as that. There are no strings of any kind." "Can I ask why?" "I travel a lot and I have varying interests. When I find talent that is compatible with my interests, I make offers that seem to suit the individual. I don't actively seek out anyone, but if they come to my attention, well..." "You are as interesting as you are beautiful, Lyta." Smiling a big smile, she said, "Remember, kissing up to the boss only works all the time." They both laughed, and Conrad realized he felt on top of the world. Checking his watch, he noted, "It is late, Lyta. Today was not one of my best, but you have made it much brighter. I think I need to sleep on all this." Lyta escorted him back to his quarters. The door opened, and his roommate Captain Powers saw him shake hands with Lyta, before he entered the room. "Keeping strange company, aren't you, Jason." "No. Why?" "She is Captain Ivanova's best friend." "So she told me. What's the point?" "It might look like you are being influenced by outside interests." "I think my performance will put any thought of that to rest. I wandered off with out an escort and ran into her. She performed the escort service. After all she is providing the telepaths we are using as escorts." "I forgot about that. You have a point." ******************************************************************************** Lyta's being with Conrad did not go unobserved. Reporters for several news organizations starving for anything to do with the inquiry or its participants latched on to the couple, shooting video from a distance to be used for voiceovers by the talking heads. None of them had enough gall to stick a camera in their faces. The redhead had a reputation and it was bad. They knew who she was, and that she was wanted as a terrorist from the telepath war. That was enough to make them keep their distance. Less than twelve hours later, ISN was the first to feature video of Lyta and Conrad having dinner. The talking heads and voiceover kept up a clamor about the possibilities of outside interference with the inquiry, by focusing on Captain Ivanova's friendship with Lyta. It was hot air, but it pulled in viewers just by suggesting improprieties. The other news operations were close on ISN's heels with their vitriolic version of the same insinuations. ******************************************************************************** "Captain. I think you should look at the ISN broadcast," said Owens, sticking his head into her Susan's office. Looking up at him, she asked, "What's worth watchimg?" In response, he stepped over to her communications display panel and activating it and selecting the ISN feed. The video was of Lyta and a man in an earthforce captain's uniform.' Susan recognized him as the Captain who had tried to make her crew give damaging testimony about her. Her first inclination was to call Lyta and give her hell for being seen with him. Then she listened to the voiceover and talking heads and realized it was all speculation and the video was intended to convey guilt by association. "Thanks, Pat. I will ask Lyta about it this evening." "Captain. He's the one who dragged our people over the coals." "I know, Pat. Your reaction is the one they are hoping people will go for. It generates an audience even when there is no substance in the report." After listening to the report carefully, he replied, "I see your point, captain. You know you and I are next in the board of inquiry's hot seat." "I will worry about, when I am sitting in it. I have nothing to hide or be afraid of. Well, nothing to be afraid of anyway. We all have something to hide, even if it is nothing more than bed wetting at the age of three." "I have to hand it to you, captain. You are as cool a customer as I have ever met, maybe even cooler," he responded as he was leaving. ******************************************************************************* Owens had been gone about twenty minutes when there was a knock on susan's office door. "Come in." The door opened and a very old man in chief's work khakis entered the office. "Good morning, Chief Comer. What can I do for you?" asked Susan. "I was looking for a place to hide from my division officer." "We can do that. You can load test my couch while you hide." "Thanks, captain." Susan went back to reading and marking up the papers in her "in" basket. After several minutes she looked at Chief Comer. "what's bothering you chief. Is it the ISN report?" He shook his head, no. "That report isn't even good crap, captain... No. the thing bothering me is this young Captain Conrad. I have seen zealous prosecutors before, who were trying to make a name for themselves. He doesn't fit that category. I have talked with all the crewmembers they interviewed yesterday. He seems to be on a personal vendetta for you, sir." "That's odd. I have never met him. I don't know him or his family. I can't imagine what I could possibly have done to cause him to hate me, unless I somehow screwed over one of his friends." "Anything is possible, captain. In reference to the ISN broadcast, you have some interesting friends." "You mean Lyta. She is different, chief." "She's gorgeous, captain. I think, I'd like to meet her sometime." "You know she is a telepath. She is providing the telepath escorts for the board members." "If she is your friend, captain, I trust her. I wondered who the civilians were that always seem to be in close proximity to the board members when they are out and about. If you don't pay close attention, you won't notice they are there. But then, I suppose that's the idea in the first place." "You are worried about the outcome of this inquiry, aren't you?" "Honestly...yes I am. I don't trust these board members as far as I can throw Babylon 5. I also heard a rumor that Leftcourt and some of his cronies are coming here for the last part of the boards inquiries. The word is that is why they have delayed questioning you and the XO." "I trusted the general to be fair. I should have known better. I can see it now. This will be when they let in the media and cameras. Pat and I will be the spectacle. I knew politics was behind this inquiry. I thought maybe General Leftcourt had left those days behind him." "You and Captain and your redheaded friend caused a great deal of embarrassment for, the EA, earthforce and and others. They have very long memories, Captain Ivanova. However, it is possible that they want to be here for your vindication." "Will you take bets on that belief, chief?" "Not even if I use your money to cover them." "What was your DO looking for you anyway?" "He isn't. I just made that up as an excuse to load test your couch and talk. Truth is, I haven't even seen him since quarters this morning." As he said this, Chief Comer was heading for the door. "Chief. The door is always open." "Thanks, captain." "Susan liked Comer very much. He was from the old school. Most had forgotten what that was." She made up her mind to take him to meet Lyta. ******************************************************************************* It was 0900 and Captain Conrad was sitting at the table in the room he shared with Captain Powers scrutinizing the printed transcripts of the interviews with crewmembers of the Ares. In a second pile were the reports from his investigating electronics and computer experts who had gone over the communications systems of Babylon 5 and the Ares with fine tooth combs. They had been unable to find anything to dispute Captains Ivanova's and Lockley's theory as to what happened to the written orders for the Ares to depart Babylon 5 space as verbally ordered by Jack Garvey, President Luchenko's staff member. The incoming call signal sounded, and Conrad accepted the call. "Captain Conrad. I don't suppose you have seen the latest ISN broadcast have you?" demanded General Marsh. Looking confused, Conrad replied, "No, sir. I haven't. Why?" "It seems you and Miss Alexander are their lead story this morning." "I don't understand what you are talking about, sir." "I suggest you watch ISN and learn. Your career is in jeopardy as it is." "Is this another threat, general? They are becoming tiresome." "Watch your mouth, captain." "I plan on calling it quits when this inquiry is over, general. Go threaten someone else, sir. If having a career means working for people like you, then it won't be any real loss." With that he broke the connection. ************************************************************************** END PART 12 From: "Aubrey W. Adkins" Subject: Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 13 of ---(WIP) Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 15:15:06 -0400 Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 13 of ---(WIP) Criticism is welcomed. Without, it there can't be any improvement. Address criticisms to [xazqrten@norfolk.infi.net] Think of this as a space opera. All characters/places/persons not belonging to the writer are the sole properties of their owners, PTEN, WB, JMS, and will be turned over to the owners at the request of their agents. All other characters/places/persons are public domain. Rated PG-10 (Vocabulary) ****************************************************************************** "I think, General Marsh, you may have just stepped over the line," said Sanchez. "You threatened the man for no good reason. If he is doing what Leftcourt instructed, you may have to eat everything you just said." "What is your point?" "Leftcourt wants this Board of Inquiry to leave no doubt in anyone's mind that it did the best job of getting out the truth of the situation possible. Here we have a legal investigator and top notch prosecutor trying his level best to tear Ivanova down and failing, so far. He's probably Leftcourt's pit bull. He certainly looks like it. He has been led to believe the general really wants her cut down to size, and he is trying to do just that." "He is trying to do his job and I am crapping all over him. Is that what you are saying? What is Leftcourt trying to do anyway?" "I can only guess, but I may not even be in the ballpark. We are going to lose Conrad and that is a damned shame. I know his record. He is about the best legal investigator in earthforce, and because of you he is calling it quits," said Sanchez. "So what?" "Now. Nothing. He is not listening to anything you say anymore. Maybe you should have asked him why he was with Lyta, first. There may have been a good reason. What if, just for argument's sake, he went for a walk, and there wasn't anyone handy to escort him, and while he is walking, he runs into her, and she reminds him that he needs an escort, and she volunteers, and since he is out and she is a rather beautiful woman, he takes her to dinner. Then they are filmed and put on screen with voice overs and talking heads making all the noise. Just suppose." said Sanchez, hesitating for a moment. "Did you actually listen to the crap they were spewing? It was all speculation and conjecture. There wasn't one shred of real information in the whole damned broadcast, except the part about her and Ivanova being friends. Damn it Arthur, you are a lawyer, think like one!" "What are we going to do about Conrad?" "What do you mean, we, white man? I am not going to do anything, and I think you have done enough already." There was a noise behind them as the communications system printed out a message hardcopy. Sanchez stepped over to the panel and tore off the paper. It was addressed to General Leftcourt and carbon copied to Generals Sanchez and Marsh. It was short and to the point. It requested transfer to the retired list as soon as the inquiry was finished. If that wasn't possible, then the message was to be considered the official resignation of Captain Jason Conrad immediately upon the completion of the Board of Inquiry. "I think this says it all, Arthur. You don't need to give it anymore thought. You probably have your own copy in your quarters." Sanchez handed the paper to Marsh. "He wasn't bluffing." "You had any doubts that he was serious?" "Not anymore," responded Marsh. "I am going to try and see Lyta Alexander. I am curious about last evening." ****************************************************************************** "Thank you for having lunch with me Miss Alexander," said Sanchez. "What can I do for you, general?" "You and Captain Conrad had dinner last night." She smiled and laughed. "It was just a chance meeting, general. He was out walking, so deep in thought, he didn't even hear me when I first greeted him. He had forgotten about getting an escort, so I told him I would be his escort, since I am a telepath. He offered that for my trouble, the least he could do was buy me dinner and drinks. I accepted. After dinner we went walking in the gardens, and he told me about growing up, joining earthforce, what his dreams had been, and how he regretted never having married. I think he just needed someone, anyone, to talk to. He seemed in good spirits when I left him at the door to his quarters. I saw the ISN piece. It was garbage. I hope he isn't in any kind of trouble. It was just an innocent chance meeting." "No. He isn't in any trouble. I was just curious" "Just as long as you aren't jealous." "Nothing like that, Miss Alexander." Lyta attacked her sandwich and soup with gusto. And studied Sanchez's face. He was lying. Conrad had gotten into trouble, big time. If he hadn't, they wouldn't be having this conversation. She lowered her blocks like Maya was always telling her to. There it was loud and clear, Conrad had submitted his resignation. Sanchez was worried about what Leftcourt would do as a result of the situation. He was worried for himself, but even more so for Marsh. "A credit for your thoughts." "No, you don't want to know my thoughts, general." "Yes, I do want to know your thoughts." "Why are you lying about Conrad? What are you afraid of Leftcourt will do to you and Marsh when he finds out what you are doing to Conrad? Are sure you want to hear more?" "It is illegal for you to scan me." "Yes it is, but I haven't scanned you. You are broadcasting your thoughts so loudly, I could sense them even if I was at the other end of the station. Psi Corps never made it public knowledge that a decent teep doesn't have to scan a normal to hear their surface thoughts. We learn to put up walls to keep those thoughts out. That's why my people escort yours, general. If we jam, then a regular teep can't hear your peoples stray thoughts. Right now I am jamming anyone from hearing your thoughts. That was the deal we made. I intend to keep it." "I think Leftcourt is running mine and Marsh's teams in the blind. I think Conrad was supposed to really try to take Captain Ivanova down. He is one of our very best legal investigators and has a very impressive record of delivering the goods, so to speak. If he can't nail Ivanova, then no one can. It will leave her squeaky clean. I think that's exactly what Leftcourt wants. Captain Conrad will follow whatever orders Leftcourt gave him to the letter, no matter the consequences." "That I do believe," responded Lyta. "The downside is that Marsh's actions will probably cost Conrad his career." Lyta was finished and rose to go, "General Sanchez. Let me leave you with something to think about. As my late friend Kosh might say, remember the question, consider the answer, the one least feared is the most dangerous." "What does is that supposed to mean?" "Somehow, general, I don't think you would have liked Kosh." After saying that, she walked away, leaving Sanchez with his mouth open, prepared to talk, but having no one to listen. ************************************************************************** It had been ten days since Lyta had last talked with Sanchez. She was visiting Susan on her ship. "Susan. Has anyone told you this is a very large ship?" asked Lyta. "Only everyone who visits it for the first time. To what do I owe the honor of this visit?" "Nothing in particular. I just wanted to see where you work." "I have just been told that General Leftcourt will be arriving on Babylon 5 later this afternoon." "Isn't he the guy I screwed up with the teepsicles, at the end of the civil war?" "He's the one. Would you care to meet him?" "If it doesn't require any effort on your part. Aren't you supposed to be grilled tomorrow?" "Yep. Obviously he and a few really senior staff members are here to enjoy the show. He called me and asked me to cooperate with the investigators when this thing began. I knew they wanted my blood, but I let myself believe it would be a fair inquiry. Get out your stupid crayon and color me all over." "You really think, they want to tear you down?" "Is the pope catholic?" "Do you want me to be there?" "What could you do?...Let me rephrase that. I don't think they will allow you in, security and all that." "Who do you think is providing them with most of their security?" "YOU!" Lyta nodded. "I'll be damned." "I don't doubt that at all." "It might not be a good idea. John is going to be there with Delenn. I am afraid of what he is going to witness." "They aren't here yet, are they?" "They will probably arrive this evening." "You're right, it will be better if I don't go. I will watch from my quarters." "I almost forgot, you can do that, can't you?" Lyta smiled. "You want the nickel tour?" "If you let Commander Owens escort me, I'll go for the quarter tour. It won't hurt to let some of your crew drool." "Let me see what I can do." She used her hand comm unit and called Owens. He was happy to be her escort. **************************************************************************** Owens and Lyta had been walking the ship for almost an hour when they heard the ship's intercom broadcast and emergency and ordered medical personnel to the required location. "That's just up ahead Lyta," said Owens quickening his pace in to a slow run. Lyta stopped where she was. Dropping her blocks she was mentally assaulted by the intense thoughts of people in extreme pain. Tapping into one set of thoughts Lyta could "see" the reason for the emergency. Two crewmembers were trapped under a fallen I-beam support structure. It had broken loose while having its supports reinforced. As she finished analyzing the situation, the medical response team and damage control party arrived on the scene. The medical team quickly assessed the conditions of the crewmembers and determined that without immediate emergency surgery they wouldn't make it. The damage control party was desperately looking for some means to move the beam. They quickly sent for heavy jacks and cutting equipment, but the medical team leader told them it would take too long. Lyta had assessed the condition of the crewmembers and knew they would never make it out alive. She had a decision to make. It was none of her business, and it could inadvertently reveal more than she could afford. Knowing it could screw up her plans, she decided. Concentrating hard she willed the metal beam to literally dissolve and at the same time she mentally reached into the bodies of the crewmembers and closed off the internal bleeding. The noise coming from the area of the accident ceased as awe struck men and women watched as the huge I-beam reduced itself to metal dust. The medical team wasted no time getting the injured personnel onto stretchers, and moving toward the ships sickbay. Lyta walked up to the accident area and looked around. "I guess, I missed all the excitement?" One of the damage control party looked at her strangely and asked, "What are you doing in this area?" "She's with me, ensign. We were just down the passageway when the accident occurred." "I didn't mean to get in the way, Pat." "You aren't. The ensign is under a lot of stress. You wouldn't believe what just happened. "I'll take your word for that," answered Lyta. "I am afraid I must cut our tour short, Lyta. I need to make a complete report of the accident and tell the captain. She is not going to be happy." "Not losing her crewmembers will go a long way toward her not feeling too badly. Accidents d happen." "We don't even know how badly they are hurt. How come you are so sure they will be all right?" "Just a feeling, Pat. Just a feeling." "...and that's about it, Captain Ivanova. I cut the tour short to get working on the report and inform you." "You say the beam just dissolved into metal dust?" "Yes sir. I need to get on the report, captain." Commander Owens started to walk away, and barely heard Susan say in a low voice to Lyta, "Thanks, Lyta. That's two more I owe you." Turning his head to look back, he saw Lyta smile at Susan in response and wondered. "You don't owe me, Susan." "I know and that bothers me." "Why?" "You never ask for anything?" "If that's all that bothers you, you have nothing to worry about." "I have been notified that Commander Owens will be in the hot seat first then me. I get to be the finale. I have also been informed that I am being relieved of command." "When?" "I was informed that it will be after the Board of Inquiry is finished. Talk about telegraphing the outcome, I don't suppose there is much doubt what the final report is going to look like." "They did it to Sheridan, and he literally saved the whole damned planet. Don't worry Susan. I can always use someone with your talents, and I pay a hell of a lot better that earthforce." Looking sideways at her friend she said, "You are joking." Then seeing the look on Lyta's face, she remarked, "You are not joking!" "I am a businesswoman, Susan, a damned good one. I only hire the best." "Lyta, I have to get ready for tomorrow. Maybe I can finish your tour before they take her away from me." ***************************************************************************** It was all over ISN by noon. It had been leaked that the Chairman of the JCS was going to be observing the questioning of Captain Susan Ivanova and her XO, Patrick Owens during the final days of the Board of Inquiry about the attack on Babylon 5. It was learned from anonymous, highly placed sources that it had already been decided to relieve Captain Susan Ivanova of command of the EAS Ares. It was also being reported that the number of high ranking officers was to enable, an immediate court martial of Captain Ivanova for failure to follow orders, endangering the Ares, and damaging EA property. The experts and talking heads, using much stock footage and what little video the networks and newspapers had been able to shoot on Babylon 5, were having a real field day with Ivanova's reputation, family name, and friends, including John and Delenn Sheridan, Michael Garibaldi and especially, the terrorist, Lyta Alexander. It was worse than a feeding frenzy by hungry sharks or piranhas. At some point, the news media seemed to be reporting on one another's reports. *************************************************************************** In Leftcourt's quarters, Sanchez and Marsh were discussing the coming events. "I thought we were trying to keep the media from getting hold of this general?" said Sanchez. "You have done exactly that, and done it well. However, I am not sure using this Alexander woman's telepaths for your security was the best idea in the world." "Maybe not," offered Marsh, "But it has kept media leaks down to zero, since we have been using them. We know they haven't talked to anyone because none of our actions have made it into the news." "There is that. Where do we stand concerning Captain Ivanova?" "Conrad has been unable to turn up anything to use against her, but he tells me he is going to try a different approach on her XO. Something about her flouting safety precautions and hiding classified data from earthforce." "Sounds like I made a good choice sending him here. I am going to hate like hell losing him. I don't suppose either of you want to explain what is driving him, do you? If you don't, that's okay. I will find out eventually." ************************************************************************* Lyta was walking down a passage way heading for the station park area with Maya in tow. She intended to spend some quality time with her daughter. They were walking amongst the trimmed hedgerows and talking about Susan's upcoming birthday. "Why are you interested in Aunt Susan's birthday," said Lyta. "It is a good reason to have ice cream and cake," responded Maya. "For all your Vorlon heritage, that sounds like a little human girl talking." "Gee whiz mom, just because of my heritage, it doesn't mean I can't enjoy things." "What kind of cake did you have in mind?" "You mean, I have a choice?" "Of course. However, you might want to ask Aunt Susan what kind she likes." Looking sideways at her mom, she answered, "That seems fair enough." "Maya, have you "assisted" Susan and Lochley with getting along with Charles and Larry?" "No, you said not to. I like it, but I did not help it. When are we going home?" "I have a couple of more weeks work. There are more telepath problems here than I first thought." They were approaching the child play area of the park and Lyta looked for something to sit on. She found a standard park bench. Maya proceeded to the play area and started climbing the monkey bars. Lyta closed her eyes and relaxed. She could sense any danger, long before it became a threat. She was letting her senses wander all over the station. She was aware of the petty and not so petty crimes being committed from all over the station. She was jarred back to her position on the bench by laughing female voice. She knew who it belonged to, Susan. "Lyta, if you are sleepy, you have a bed," joked Susan. "Hello, Susan. What brings you to the kiddy area?" "Charley and I are just out for a walk. I didn't know the park had a children's play area." "Since you don't have kids, that's understandable." "Boss, you looked like you were zonked out." "I was practicing letting my senses wander over large areas.' "You are the nosy neighbor to end all nosy neighbors," commented Susan. She continued, "If you were letting your senses wander, did you pick up on my queasy stomach?" "No. Why?" "I been heaving my guts up more or less all day. It started yesterday." "Maybe it's stress about tomorrow." "I haven't felt stressed. I've been too busy." "Stop by medlab and ask Dr. Hobbes or one of her staff?" "I'll do just that." "Why don't you have dinner with us?" asked Charles. "I didn't realize it was that time of evening." "It's a little early, but since you have Maya with you." At the mention of Maya, Lyta looked to see what she was doing. Hanging upside down just like the typical kid, and laughing up a storm with another child, who was already there playing when she arrived. "I don't think she's ready to leave, just yet." "You can meet us later," said Susan. "When and where?" asked Lyta. "I'll let you know," answered Charles. ****************************************************************************** John and Delenn Sheridan walked through familiar surroundings when they exited the customs/immigration area of the arrival/departure area of Babylon 5. Their ranger body guard was about three meters in front of and two meters behind them. Lochley met them as they cleared the customs area. "You didn't have to meet us, Elizabeth," said John. "Protocol, Mr. President." "We aren't here in an official capacity, Elizabeth. I am here to see an old friend." "The way things are going, I am sure a friendly face will be welcome to her. Hello, Delenn." With a small bow, she replied, "Greetings, captain." "An older man with white hair cut marine boot camp style, stepped close, and said warmly, "Hello, John." "General Leftcourt. What brings you all the way out here?" replied Sheridan. "Business, John. I am presiding over Ivanova's change of command. She just doesn't know it, yet." "I have been watching ISN and I haven't heard that term, not even once. All I have heard is the speculation about why she is being relieved of command." "Let's talk about this somewhere else, John." "Delenn?" "I want to see Lyta, if I can." The men walked away leaving Lochley, Delenn and a pair of bodyguards standing just outside the customs area. "You have a question, captain?" "Your relationship with Lyta, how did it come about?" Smiling, Delenn explained that her first dealings with Lyta had been before she had scanned Kosh. Lyta was then a commercial telepath and she had done a number of jobs for her. They had even shared a few meals and she had been impressed with Lyta's integrity. Lyta had been recalled from Babylon 5 to Psi Corps headquarters, and that was the last she had been seen for almost two years. When she returned to Babylon 5, she was a rogue telepath on the run, but she had to expose a Psi Corps mole on the station, who presented a danger to the command crew, first. She had used her to get the necessary meeting with the station staff. It turned out that the station commercial telepath was the mole and Lyta exposed her just before she could become a member of the station command staff inner circle with all that foreshadowed. "She put herself in extreme danger for people she didn't even know?" asked Lochley. "That surprises you," said Delenn. "Yes. It does. Well, it would have before, but not now." "What changed your mind?" "She had plenty of time to get her people off the station before the attack. She chose not to. Instead, she helped us defeat the Drakh. That says something about her." "Yes it does. It says she doesn't like Drakh. How do you know it was her?" "Draal told me and Captain Ivanova." "You know how to find Lyta, so I am going back to work, Delenn." "Are you going to attend the Ivanova crucifixion, tomorrow?" "I hadn't planned on it, but now, I am not so sure. I have to think about it." ****************************************************************************** "Tell me, general, just what the hell is going on? I thought this was to be a Board of Inquiry, not the reincarnation of the Spanish Inquisition," said Sheridan. "It was, John. I think I got too smart for my own good," he said, then added, "Can we talk about this over a drink? I have some very good stuff in my quarters," responded Leftcourt. Sitting on the couch in the general's quarters, Sheridan nursed his drink, waiting for Leftcourt to answer the question, he had asked as they were leaving the customs area. Playing with his drink, Leftcourt spent several minutes thinking about his response. The door chimes sounded and Leftcourt said, "Come in." Sanchez and Marsh entered the room. Leftcourt indicated the bar and told them to serve themselves. "What are they here for, Tom?" asked Sheridan. "I want them to tell you how things have gone since the board started its work. Then I will explain what I was trying to do. Then we will try to determine how the train got off the track," responded Leftcourt. "You go first, Arthur," said Sanchez. It didn't take long for Marsh and Sanchez to paint a picture of an ordinary board of inquiry that had somehow became an all out quest for the head of Captain Susan Ivanova. Leftcourt explained that Captain Conrad was supposed to investigate Susan and provide her with a clean bill of health. "I thought having someone honestly trying to find fault with her, who wasn't under the direct control of Generals Marsh and Sanchez would be the best way to exonerate her, of any charges that might be dreamed up, by anyone trying to make political points out of the attack. Apparently I was mistaken, and some very good people are going to be ruined because of it." "You said "people" general. Who else besides Susan is going to suffer?" "I am losing Captain Conrad because of General Marsh and probably Susan on general principles. I don't see how she will be able to trust anyone after this debacle. That is two of the best at what they do. I'd say that is a heavy price for someone doing what was the right thing. How high is too high, John?" "Losing either of them is too high, Tom. There has to be a better way." "Conrad has already submitted his resignation papers to the Bureau of Earthforce Personnel. I expect to see a response before the board finishes its job." "I pulled your chestnuts out of the fire concerning Clarke and his cronies, but this is outside my purview," responded Sheridan. "I will be observing tomorrow. I want to see just what kind of circus this has become." There was silence for a few minutes, then Sheridan asked, "Tom. You remember the fiasco at Mars during the civil war?" "You are never going to let me forget about that. Are you?" he asked. "That isn't why I brought it up." "How did you ever manage to control those telepaths to get them to do what they did?" "I didn't." "Would you mind explaining it for me?" "You watched ISN and other newscasts and read the papers during the telepath war?" "Yes. So?" "Remember the young woman they touted as the rogue leader?" "Yes. She would be hard to forget. Knockout redhead, if memory serves me." "Blame her. She awakened and controlled them until they merged with your ships' systems, and she did it, while standing outside a bunker on the surface of Mars." "Bull, John. No telepath is that strong. Not even a top psi cop could pull that off." "You asked, and I told you the truth. If you choose not to believe me, that's your business. If you want to meet her, she is on the station." "I thought she is still wanted for her activities during the war." "There is an active warrant outstanding for her arrest. You can make points by arresting her and returning her to earth. She is here on a diplomatic passport, but that shouldn't be a problem. There is also a hundred thousand credit reward being offered by private parties for her, dead or alive." "A hundred thousand credits and she is loose under everyone's nose. Why hasn't anyone tried to take her in?" "Who says they haven't?" "I have never heard anything about such an effort." "Tom, dead men tell no tales," replied Sheridan. "She is dangerous." Sheridan nodded assent. Leftcourt looked at Marsh and Sanchez. "This is the woman handling your security?" "Yes sir, and she is doing a very good job of it," answered Sanchez. "Tom. If she contracted to supply security, she will do a very good job of it. Whatever else she might be, a security risk isn't one of them," commented Sheridan. Then he added, "I wouldn't hesitate to use her services, if I needed them." ****************************************************************************** "Do I get to go to dinner with you and Aunt Susan?" asked Maya, as she and Lyta took a long walk back to her quarters. "Yes, you do, sweetheart." "I have a secret." "Do you want to share it?" "Yes, but you have to promise not to tell anyone?" "You have my word, sweetheart. What is the secret?" "Aunt Susan is pregnant." Looking stunned at this announcement, Lyta asked, "How do you know?" "I just do. There is a life force inside her. I can sense it, but it isn't complete." "Does she know?" "No. I would be able to feel it if she did." "I won't tell her. However, it explains her being sick and throwing up." "Aunt Susan is sick?" "It's called "morning sickness". Why I'll never know, since it occurs at all times of the day. It is part of being pregnant." "Then, I don't ever want to be pregnant." "If I'd felt like that, you wouldn't be here." "I am here, so you must of not minded." "Wrong, oh, young one. I didn't learn about it, until I was already pregnant with you. So, there." Upon returning to her quarters, Lyta found the waiting message image blinking on the communications panel screen. "Accept messages," She said. The image of Delenn greeted her and said, "I stopped by, Lyta, but you were out. Please give me a call when you return." Lyta made tea, then placed a return call to Delenn. The image of Delenn came on the screen. "Hello, Delenn. I see you are here for the crucifixion of Ivanova. What can I do for you?" "I thought you might have dinner with me." "I have a dinner date sort of. It is with Susan and her boyfriend. I and Maya were invited. I am sure you will be more than welcome. I don't know what time, but I expect it to be early, since Maya is going." "It sounds good. With you present, I won't need my bodyguards." "You give me too much credit, Delenn." "Call me when you know when and where," replied Delenn, closing the channel out. "Mom, that was Aunt Delenn?" "Yes, it was, sweets." "That thing on her head looks like a crown." "It is what remained of her head bone after her transformation." "What was she before?" "She was a full blooded minbari female. Now she is about half minbari and half human." "We are human, right?" "Not exactly." "I look like a human, and so do you?" "Everybody is not always what they appear, especially us. I will explain when you are older." "It's because of the Vorlon heritage, isn't it?" "Yes it is, dear." ****************************************************************************** END PART 13 From: "Aubrey W. Adkins" Subject: Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 14 of ---(WIP) Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1999 14:52:33 -0400 Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 14 of ---(WIP) Criticism is welcomed. Without, it there can't be any improvement. Address criticisms to [xazqrten@norfolk.infi.net] Think of this as a space opera. All characters/places/persons not belonging to the writer are the sole properties of their owners, PTEN, WB, JMS, and will be turned over to the owners at the request of their agents. All other characters/places/persons are public domain. Rated PG-10 (Vocabulary) ****************************************************** The door chimes sounded. Interrupting the conversation between Ivanova, Charles and Lyta. "Come in!" said Lyta. Delenn walked through the door and was greeted By Susan and Lyta. She turned and dismissed her bodyguards, saying, "I will contact you later tonight, when we return here after dinner." The guards bowed slightly and left. "What's with the bodyguards, Delenn?" inquired Ivanova. "They have become a requirement of my positions, wife of the IA president and Entil'za." "Better you than me," replied Susan. "Why did you dismiss them, Delenn?" asked Lyta. "Since I am going to be with you, they are redundant." "I think you put too much faith in my abilities," responded Lyta. "Delenn, this Charles Wayne. He is one of my top aides and Susan's boyfriend. Charles. Let me introduce you to Delenn Sheridan. She is a most formidable person." Charles stood, came around the table and shook hands with Delenn. "I am pleased to meet you ma'am." "Please, call me Delenn." "Hi, Aunt Delenn. Mom says I can go to dinner with you tonight." "Delenn turned to face the youngster. You have grown a bit since I last saw you.' She offered her arms and Maya ran to her. She picked her up, hugged her and got a bunch of kisses in return. Delenn put Maya down and took a seat at the table. Susan picked that time to jump up and run to the head. They could hear retching sounds coming from the facility. Delenn looked at Lyta, but she wasn't giving anything away. "How long have you and Susan been seeing each other, Charles?" asked Delenn. "Almost a month," he replied. Delenn looked at Lyta again and grinned, "I see." Lyta knew that Delenn had figured it out. Susan reentered the room and took her seat. "This illness won't keep you from dinner will it, Susan?" "No. I will just have to watch what I eat." ****************************************************** Susan and Charles led the dinner party to the restaurant. Maya walked behind them, but in front of her mother and Delenn. Lyta and Delenn walked several paces behind them. "How long have you known, Lyta?" whispered Delenn. "Since this afternoon. Maya told me she sensed a separate life force inside Susan," Lyta whispered in response. "Susan doesn't even know yet?" Lyta shook her head, no. Delenn looked at Maya. This would require further conversation, when she could get Lyta alone. ****************************************************** "Mind if I use your comm panel, Tom?" asked Sheridan. "Be my guest," he responded. Sheridan retrieved the message from Delenn telling him she was going out with the girls, but it didn't specify which girls. He could imagine who they might be. "Tell you what, John. Let's go out for a drink and dinner. We might run into them," said Leftcourt. Looking over at Sanchez and Marsh, John said, "You fellows are welcome to come along if you wish." Leaving a message for his aide as to his whereabouts, Leftcourt left with the others for his first "Boys' Night Out" in more than twenty years. ****************************************************** Somewhere in Downbelow, a half dozen men were listening to another man tell them how they could make an easy hundred thousand credits. "You don't have to blow up the station or anything like that," said the man. "Just what or who is worth a hundred thousand credits?" asked one of the lurkers. The fellow, talking about the money, passed around a picture of Lyta Alexander and her daughter. "We want the mother dead or alive. The operative word is "dead". The daughter is of no concern. You can kill her or leave her, whatever pleases you. The mother is named Lyta Alexander. She used to be a commercial telepath." "What ain't you telling us?" asked a different lurker. "If she's worth a hundred thousand credits dead or alive, why ain't someone whacked her, yet?" "We aren't sure. Several people who have tried, haven't been heard from since," the man told them. He was lying, a number of people had tried and died for their efforts, but that wasn't for them to know. "It's up to you how and when you do it, but it must be before this board of inquiry thing is completed. That gives you three days at most. After that we will still pay, but we won't be able to provide any assistance." "What assistance are you going to provide?" asked the first lurker. "There will be several people stationed around to provide backup, if you need it, also to help you escape. You won't see them, but they will be there." Shortly after that meeting the man who had done the talking met with one his shooters. "Have our people shadow them. Let them make a move and draw attention, then take her out. Kill them, too, if you are successful getting her. I see no point in leaving any stray witnesses." "I assume you mean all six." "Of course." ****************************************************** After the man left the lurkers started talking amongst themselves. "I tell ya Mike, this stinks worse'n the garbage down here." "Whatcha mean, Dennis." "Man, this suit waltzes in here and offers us a hundred thousand credits to off this Alexander broad. Hell, he coulda bought us fer a hunnert." "Dennis is right. Why come here, when he coulda got the real thing for a tenth of that." "I ain't lookin' no gift horse in the mouth." "I agree with Dennis. Leave me out," said Mike. "I think this is gonna get us whacked." As Dennis and Mike were leaving, the other men continued talking. "I heard she froze a guy that tried to kill her the other night. I ain't sure I want to do this." "Okay, Bobby. You don't hafta, but if you go near security, I'll snuff ya myself." "I ain't gonna hafta. If'n she don't kill ya, that suit guy mor'n likely will. He ain't gonna want any loose ends, and we's loose ends," said Bobby. ****************************************************** John led the generals through some of the not so reputable bars on the station. It was like kids in a candy store. The ranger body guards discouraged the regular patrons from bothering the three men. John wondered exactly what Delenn was doing. He resented the fact that she could be spending time with Lyta. ****************************************************** Susan had invited Lochley and Evans to join them, also. It made for a table of seven. They had ordered appetizers and the conversation which started about Susan's and Elizabeth's relationships lasted until they were ready for their main meal. "You are scheduled to be questioned tomorrow, Susan?" asked Delenn. "Yes. I am the star attraction. I think I am beginning to feel like Jesus must have" answered Ivanova. "Can't be the same Susan," noted Lochley. "There are only seven of us here this evening." It was at that time that Sheridan, three generals and two guards walked up to the table. "You were saying we were six short?" asked Lyta. "My mistake," replied Lochley. "Generals Sanchez and Marsh, I'd like to introduce my wife, Delenn," said Sheridan. "Pleased to meet you gentlemen. Good evening to you General Leftcourt," replied Delenn. "Captain Ivanova, this is a pleasure," said Leftcourt. "Speak for yourself , general. With all due respect, this is most definitely not a pleasure for me," responded Ivanova. "I am sorry about that." Ivanova never replied, instead, her eyes drilled holes in Leftcourt, Sanchez and Marsh. Lyta watched the exchange in silence. She wasn't part of this mess and didn't intend to be. She noted Sheridan glaring at her. She ignored him. She noticed that Maya was paying complete attention to the scene. She would have to ask her about it later. "Mind if we join you?" asked John. "I had planned on a private dinner with my friends, John. You are welcome to join us. They aren't," stated Susan flatly. "That is no way to be, Susan," said John. Susan signaled the waiter and when he arrived, she said, "I need our check." "It is too late to cancel your orders, ma'am," said the waiter. "Not a problem, put it on the check and give it to the five of them," she said, indicating John, the generals and the bodyguards. "Yes, ma'am," he answered, quickly computing the check. "Susan, you don't have to do this," replied Sheridan. "John. Go to hell and take your bastard friends with you. I am sorry, Delenn," she said then she and Charles went to meet the waiter and pay the check. "Good evening, Delenn," said Lochley, as she and Evans followed Susan and Charles out of the restaurant. Lyta and Maya sat and watched with interest. Lyta waited to hear Delenn take John's head off. She wasn't disappointed. "What you have just done, John, is inexcusable. She had a right to eat with whom she pleased. You had no right to insist she allow them to join us. It is obvious these men mean her ill will, and yet, you insisted she have dinner in their presence. I expected better of you!" snapped Delenn. Her voice easily was carrying all over the restaurant. For their part the three generals looked like they wanted to be anywhere, but here, now. "You talk about dinner with friends, what about her?" "She was invited by Susan, you and they weren't. Besides, Lyta is not the issue here. You're extremely rude and bad manners are inexcusable." "Where are your bodyguards?" "Don't try to change the subject, John Sheridan. I don't need bodyguards when I am with Lyta, and you know it. Take your friends and go somewhere else." Leftcourt could see this escalating into a real nasty fight and tried to get John to give it up. "John, don't do this. We are in public. Let it go." Incensed, John Sheridan stomped off, the three generals going with him. Delenn signaled the waiter. "Yes, ma'am?" he inquired. "The dinners our friends abandoned, can you give them to someone who might put them to good use?" Understanding her meaning, he smiled and replied, "It would be my pleasure ma'am." "I am sorry about the scene, Lyta." "It was educational, Delenn. Wasn't it educational, Maya?" "Very, mom, very." "Delenn, how much do you know about what they are planning to do to Ivanova? I was told by Sanchez that Leftcourt had something planned, but that I should ask him what it is. I don't see that as being likely before they have at Susan tomorrow. I am considering doing some real damage to these people." "I don't know what is planned. I came in on the end of a conversation between Leftcourt and John, but John would not tell me what it was about. I suspect it had to do with Susan. What kind of damage are you talking about?" "The kind that has them waking up in the middle of the night for the rest of their lives and finding out they have peed and crapped all over themselves. The more I think about it, the better I like it. I will let John off the hook only because he is your husband." It was then that their dinner arrived. "Wait until it is all over Lyta. It might not be what it seems. I find it hard to believe John would help them ruin Susan. He loves her like a younger sister, and is very proud of what she has accomplished." They were just finishing up the meal, and waiting for after dinner coffee, the real thing, when Maya was pitched forward by the impact of a shot from a PPG rifle. Lyta responded instantly reaching out and finding the shooter's thoughts. Every blood vessel in his head erupted, killing him instantly. She was searching for other thoughts when three lurkers from three different directions pointed PPGs and tried to pull the triggers. She grabbed their minds and deep scanned them finding their memories of the man who had hired them. They were dead from massive hemorrhaging in their brains before their bodies fell to the floor. She was reaching for any other thoughts when she felt the stinging sensation of two PPG impacts against her back. She kicked Delenn's chair over causing her to sprawl onto the floor. A PPG blast passed through where she had been sitting and scorched the table in front of Lyta. She found the thoughts she was looking for and seized the minds associated with them. In a moment she had ripped their minds apart and got what she wanted. The assassins were left in a vegetable state of mind, from which they would never recover. In less than three minutes security started arriving. Lyta was bending over Maya when Delenn pulled herself up off the floor. Her vision was met with picture of the scorch mark on the table where she had been sitting. If Lyta hadn't kicked her chair, she would be dead. She saw Lyta bending over Maya and realized both of them had been shot. The back of Lyta's vest had been burned off, making the skin underneath visible. As Lyta picked up Maya, Delenn could see the scorched area where she had been shot. She was breathing, but appeared to be unconscious. "I have to get Maya out of here, Delenn. Let's go, we can answer questions later." Carrying Maya, Lyta made a hasty exit through the back door of the restaurant with Delenn close behind. It took her fifteen minutes to reach her quarters using some passageways that most people avoided. In her quarters, Lyta took a quick shower and changed clothes into a new outfit that was a twin for the one she had been wearing. She quickly bathed Maya who was regaining consciousness and dressed her in clothing that matched what she had been wearing in the restaurant. "How do we look, Delenn?" "Just like you did in the restaurant. What now?" "There is something I must do first," said Lyta. Then she closed her eyes and concentrated. In security control one of Zack's men was putting the data crystals, from the cameras that had been monitoring the area of the shooting, into the safe. He closed the safe door and reset the lock. Lyta reached inside and mentally crushed the crystals. "Now we stroll back down there like nothing happened, after I get rid of this burned clothing." Five minutes later, Lyta returned from her disposal mission and they walked back to the area of the restaurant. It was swarming with security personnel. Zack Allen was in charge and getting reports from a dozen people. Captain Lochley was just arriving on the scene and began talking to Zack. There were people who were obviously reporters crowding around trying to get comments or any other tidbits out of Zack and Lochley. Lyta, Maya and Delenn walked up to them and waited to be noticed. Lochley noticed them first. Then the news hounds turned lights and cameras on them, and began clamoring for comments from the wife of the IA president. They wanted to know what she had seen, heard, or thought she had seen or heard. Lochley and Zack pushed through the reporters and hustled Delenn away from them. They took no notice of Lyta and Maya. Since they weren't readily known, they were ignored. Some of them would regret it later, after they realized they had missed a chance to grill the leader of the rogue faction of the Telepath War about her relationship with Delenn and John Sheridan. They had been so hungry for a fast story, they had missed a really good one. After getting Delenn away from the reporters, she said, "Looks like you were lucky. Someone, or several someones, shot up the table we were sitting at earlier." "We know," said Lyta. "We were sitting there. We got the hell out before someone got lucky." Zack looked at her suspiciously, "Was it you they were gunning for?" "Why would anyone be gunning for me, Zack. If I had thought about it at the time, I would have asked, but I had Maya and Delenn in danger, and wanted to get them out of the line of fire." "I have heard that there is a pile of money on your head. I don't suppose you know anything about that, do you?" "You give me too much credit Zack. I damn near got killed, and I am the one getting grilled. What's wrong with this picture?" "The shooters we have found are dead or mental vegetables. We don't have much to work with." "I am sorry, Zack, but that isn't my problem." "You are right, Lyta. It isn't. I just wish we had more to work with. This was a professional hit attempt," he said and paused, "It looks like the lurkers were intended to distract the target, you and/or Delenn and people around them while the snipers did the job." "Zack, how do you know they're mental vegetables?" asked Lyta "We don't officially, but Dr. Hobbes' people did real quick neural scans, and the three we found alive have neural scans that look like what you would expect from a carrot," he replied. Lyta looked at Delenn then said, "I didn't know you had that kind of sense of humor, Zack." "It is a statement of fact, Lyta. Funny is not the word that comes to mind, but talk about justice." "We left in a hurry, Zack. I think the waiter and manager would appreciate us paying the rest of our check." Lyta, Delenn and Maya went to find their waiter. Delenn looked at Lyta, "He let you go too easily." "I know. When he gets the stories from people who saw us get shot he will be on me like stink on...well, you get the idea." "Yes. John has used that expression in the past. It is rather descriptive." They found the waiter and settled the remainder of their check, then departed. "I will escort you to your quarters, Delenn. By now, I am sure John has heard about the shooting and he will be, rightfully, concerned about your safety." "I have had quite enough excitement for one day," responded Delenn. When Lyta left Delenn at her quarters, John was not there. Lyta had seen a face in that group of media hounds and it looked familiar. She would take a walk back to the area and see what she could find, but first she had to divest herself of Maya. ****************************************************** Lyta reentered the area of the shooting and began to scan the faces. It took more than a few minutes, but she found what she was looking for. He was sitting at a bar having a drink. Lyta took a stool beside him that had just become unoccupied. "I heard there was some excitement here earlier?" The ruggedly handsome man looked to see who had addressed him. He was not disappointed by what he saw. A tall slender redhead, classification about twelve or thirteen on a scale of one to ten. "I don't know you and am poorer for it. My name is Dan Randall. I freelance for the news networks. You are correct there was some excitement earlier. Can I buy you a drink?" Lyta smiled and replied, "Certainly. A martini would be fine." In spite of her being with Delenn earlier, the overshadowing of the minbari woman had kept anyone from noticing her. It meant that her notoriety from the Telepath War had waned, to the point that in public no one would even notice her. She had destroyed the recordings from the Zocalo area monitors, so there wasn't any record of her and Maya being shot, and witnesses' stories seldom matched, so there wasn't much chance of Zack and his people getting anything useful from them. It didn't take long for her to agree to accompanying Randall back to his quarters. Some of his contemporaries saw them leave, and wondered how he had managed to get the redhead to leave with him, so quickly. In Randall's quarters he made drinks while Lyta took a seat on the small couch and asked, "Exactly how did you get such a good story on John and Delenn Sheridan." Randall wasn't sure he heard the question. "What was that?" "The story on the Sheridan's during the civil war. It was an impressive piece. I was wondering how you managed to get them to make so many compromising statements?" "It was all in the editing," he replied, "I just kept asking questions and filming parts of the station. It is amazing what can be done with creative editing. Why are you so interested?" "Delenn and I are old friends." Something about the way she said that got his attention. "You're old friends?" "Very good friends as a matter of fact. I suppose, a fact is not something you would readily recognize, if it bit you in the ass." Leaving the drinks on the table, Randall sat down in the chair. "Now that you have me alone what are your plans. I assume they are not congruent with mine." "Quit worrying, Danny boy. I am not going to do anything to hurt you, not personally. I just want information. I will use it to ruin you and trash your reputation. When I get through, no one will hire you for a news story again. Well almost no one. I am sure some sleezeball needing a good spindoctor will hire you." "Just how do you propose to get this information?" "You really don't remember me. I guess you were to busy manufacturing news, to watch any of the real newscasts during the recent problem with the telepaths." Slowly, it dawned on him who she was. You were the leader. The woman who was always in the news." "That was or is me. I am a telepath, and you will give me everything I want." "Unauthorized scans are illegal. Even you must know that." "Earth Alliance laws only pertain to human telepaths. Despite my appearance, Danny boy, I assure you, a DNA sequencing will reveal, I am not human." Lyta retrieved the not forgotten drink from the table. "I have heard what deep scans do. I have some friends that used to be psi cops." "I believe you. However, I won't do any damage, and you won't even remember bringing me here. You will remember me making some excuse, and leaving you before we got here." "Not even a psi cop could do that?" "I'm not a psi cop. It's been a long day, Dan. Why don't you lay down on the bed and relax." Randall took one long gulp and finished his drink. He seemed to forget Lyta was there. He took his shoes off and walked over and lay down on the bed, yawning as he did so. Within two minutes of laying down, Randall was fast asleep. Twenty minutes Lyta let herself out of his quarters and returned to her own. The next morning, Randall awoke to find that he had slept in his clothes. Getting up and heading for the sonic shower, it occurred to him that he must have been dead tired, and trashed out, to fall sleep without undressing. ****************************************************** The bald-headed man looked at the display. "Isn't it rather late there?" "Yes, Michael, but I want to get this ball rolling. Please put in the number one crystal that I left with you." It took a minute then her screen picture went blank, changed to random noise and then resolved itself in to Garibaldi's face. On Mars Michael's system went through the same process. "Okay. Lyta. Give it to me." "Do you remember the reporter that trashed John and Delenn during the earth civil war, Dan Randall. Well, I ran into him a little while ago and got some really interesting information from him." "I take it, he didn't volunteer it?" "He didn't object, but he won't remember anything about it." "What do you have?" "Locations for the raw footage he shot, the edited version of their interview, the rest of that show, plus a number of other shows he did. I got the names of people who arranged his accesses and helped him do the editing. I am sending it hardcopy now. You know a number of people in the media. I like to think that a good expose is still a god audience magnet. The best part of it is that it's all true. We just become anonymous sources." "Let me see what I can do. I won't get back to you, but if we succeed, you should see it on the vids before long. Anything else?" "General Arthur Marsh. I want to know all you can find out about him, family, friends, past record, whatever is available. That I need ASAP." "I am on it Lyta. I know this doesn't make us even, but it is whittling away at it." "I don't expect this to be free, Michael. Just send me a bill at the Glenthorian consulate on earth." "Talk to you later, Lyta," Michael said, then broke the connection." "Who was that?" asked a very sleepy voice from the direction of the bed. "I had some business with Uncle Michael, sweetheart. Now, go back to sleep." In a few moments she heard the heavy slow breathing of Maya as she returned to a deep sleep. ****************************************************** "It was an interesting evening, John. Even without the stage play," said Leftcourt. Sharing a nightcap with the general, he asked, "What stage play?" "The one featuring you and your wife. It had a real life quality about it," he chuckled. "I didn't find it amusing." "No, I don't suppose you did. I think you really pissed off Susan. I don't understand. I thought you and she got along fairly well." "So did I. This inquiry is out of hand and going badly." " I just know she thinks she's been set up. I am afraid I am going to lose her." "If this evening is any indication, I think my credibility with her is in the toilet or at least badly damaged." "Let's face it, my showing up just when ISN is reporting that regardless of the board results, she will be relieved of command isn't helping." "Why not just tell her why you are really here. There is no reason to spring this on her. I am surprised you have been able to keep it out of the press these last couple of weeks. Surely it isn't a secret back at headquarters." "Actually, it has been, John. Lochley knows because I wanted her to help with some preparations, I wanted done here before Susan started for earth. Lochley wasn't told that Susan hadn't been informed, and apparently no one else has told Susan anything. With what is going on, nobody is going to talk about it now." "I guess it doesn't matter now. She never had the star, so she won't miss it." "It's a shame, too, John. Even the president was looking forward to the occasion." "After the way she got rid of me, I find that a little hard to swallow. I can't believe she would pass up the chance to trash the former second in command of the civil war." "She had no choice in your case, John. It was either that or dismiss every officer that either supported Clarke or at least didn't object to his policies. She would have had to fire eighty percent of the officer corps. She chose what she thought was the lesser of two evils. Ivanova has outperformed her contemporaries to such an extent it is embarrassing to her detractors. The woman is all balls, John. Just like you." "It is getting late and I have a hostile wife waiting for me. I'd best be going for my health. Thanks for the drink, Tom." Walking Sheridan to the door, Leftcourt shook his hand, saying, "I'll see you in the morning, if you survive the night." On his way to his quarters, Sheridan ran into Lyta. "Aren't you out a bit late?" "Don't worry. I can take care of myself!" she shot back. [Understatement of the millennium], he thought to himself, as she walked on by. ****************************************************** In his quarters, Sheridan found his wife waiting up for him. "I really am sorry about the scene in the restaurant, Delenn." "You should have stayed. You missed all the excitement." "I'm missing something, Delenn, what excitement?" "There was an attempt on Lyta's life shortly after you left. I almost got shot. I would have, but she kicked my chair over taking me out of the line of fire. The shot missed me and ruined the table." "She almost got you killed?" "It wasn't her fault, John." "How close did they come to her?" "Maya and Lyta were hit. Lyta was hit twice." "What were the weapons used?" "Military PPG assault rifles." "How badly was the kid hurt." "She was rendered unconscious, and her dress was burned where she was shot, but she is okay, now." "Did they catch the shooters?" "Yes and no." "Four were killed and three were left mental vegetables." "I just saw Lyta in a passageway on my way here. She looked very pissed off. I suppose getting shot twice can do that to a person." "You have personal experience?" John just looked at her. She had made a joke out of a serious situation. Things would be okay. He could say something to Lyta about it, but it would be a waste of time. What was interesting though was Maya had apparently inherited much, if not all, of what her mother was. Now, there were two of them. ****************************************************** END PART 14 From: "Aubrey W. Adkins" Subject: Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 15 of ---(WIP) Date: Sun, 08 Aug 1999 19:35:06 -0400 Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 15 of ---(WIP) Criticism is welcomed. Without, it there can't be any improvement. Address criticisms to [xazqrten@norfolk.infi.net] Think of this as a space opera. All characters/places/persons not belonging to the writer are the sole properties of their owners, PTEN, WB, JMS, and will be turned over to the owners at the request of their agents. All other characters/places/persons are public domain. Rated PG-10 (Vocabulary) ****************************************************** "What can I do for you, General Ames?" asked Sanchez of the image on his comm screen. "It is very late." "I have something bothering me that won't wait until morning." "You have my undivided attention." "I have been reviewing transcripts of the interview sessions with the various witnesses. I see a pattern that is alarming me. I am filing a formal complaint on the methods of Captain Conrad in dealing with members of Captain Ivanova's crew. It has all the earmarks for a smear campaign, and I refuse to be a party to such an action." "It is your right to file such a complaint, but there could be repercussions." "I take that as a threat, and I don't like threats. Consider my complaint filed. If this continues, I will launch an investigation of my own. I promise, General Sanchez, it won't be popular with anyone. I am too damned old for this kind of crap." "Your complaint has been officially, duly noted." "Thank you, General Sanchez." ****************************************************** Lyta wasn't really looking where she was going. There wasn't anything on the station that could present a danger to her. She was concentrating on finding the man who lined up the assassins. She was also feeling very mean. To be honest, she was more pissed-off than she had ever been before in her life, and she wanted to hurt someone, and walking these passageways was a surefire way to attract someone deserving of pain. She wasn't disappointed for long. She rounded a corner and came face to face with a pair of large men brandishing knives. She looked at them and smiled. The larger of the two men looked at the smiling redhead they were confronting, and immediately realized they had made a bad mistake. He knew who she was, but the knowledge did him no good. His partner lunged at her and screamed as he went down, both his legs shattered from the knees down. The larger man turned to run and felt the bones in his legs splinter. His screams covered the sound of Lyta's receding, catlike footsteps. She never looked back. A security patrol team found them about fifteen minutes later, moaning and whimpering in pain. They called it in to security HQ. "Just what we need," said Zack. "We got four dead killers, three carrots, and now two cripples. Would someone tell me what the hell is going on tonight. We haven't had this much madness and mayhem in more than a year." Thirty minutes later he got another call in from another patrol. They had found three more crippled thugs in a Downbelow passageway. He allowed as to how if it didn't stop, they might be out of jobs by morning for lack of crooks. Two hours later Zack was called by Medlab one. The doctor on duty complained that if they received anymore people, he would have to send for help from the off duty staff. Zack sympathized with him, but reminded him that his people weren't doing the damage. They were only sending what they found in to see them. ****************************************************** It was four in the morning while she was walking through a passageway where a dozen people, holding tickets for that day on ships leaving for earth were berthed, when she picked up the thoughts she was searching for. "I couldn't find the other three, Oliver. They seem to have disappeared. The others are dead or worse." "Don't worry about it, Frank. I won't leave any loose ends." Frank looked up at his friend and found himself looking into the business end of a PPG pistol. "Oliver, this is not a funny joke." "It's not supposed to be. You are the only loose end that can tie me into this thing, Frank. It's not personal, you understand." Oliver squeezed the trigger of the PPG, but nothing happened. He tried repeatedly, but the weapon didn't fire. Then the door to the quarters swung open. In walked the redhead he was sent to have killed. His heart rose in his throat and his stomach churned. "Hello, gentlemen, and I use that term very loosely. I have been looking for you. You had my daughter and me shot at. I want to know who sent you?" The door swung shut behind her. Both men looked at her and said nothing. "I am not with security, but, of course, you already know that. You don't have to tell me anything. I can just rip it out of your minds." "That is illegal," said Frank. Lyta chuckled and said, "Odd that you mention that. However, I am not a citizen of the Earth Alliance, so their rules don't apply. In any case I have a diplomatic passport. So, I'm not worried about legalities. Now, I am asking only one more time. Tell me. Who sent you?" she asked in a soft voice. "Oh, you might appreciate that your snipers did hit me and my daughter, for all the good it did." Neither man said anything. Looking at Frank, she said, "You're the smaller fish. I will start with you." She reached into Frank's mind and began to tear it apart, until she had all the information he had about the operation. It wasn't much. "Listen. I will make you a deal. I'll tell you anything you want to know." Lyta watched him look at what was left of Frank in horror. The information he had was literally screaming to get out. She sifted everything he had to offer and found some interesting pieces and names and faces of other people involved in the effort to kill her. "Can we make a deal?" "You already did, when you refused to talk the first time, I asked you. You will make a well dressed bunch of broccoli, Oliver. Between your trigger men, Frank and you, I will have made a regular garden salad. Goodbye, Ollie." She reached into his mind and shredded it to a point just short of death. Then she left them and went back to her quarters. She had gotten what she needed, physically destroyed two dozen thugs, and still had time to get a couple hours sleep before Susan's crucifixion got started. She smiled to herself thinking of the madhouse Zack must be presiding over about now. ****************************************************** Zack was standing in front of Lochley's desk. "Captain Lochley, we have had more than thirty incidents last night, resulting in more than two dozen people being sent to Medlab, all of them with serious injuries. Two of them have fried brains like the three shooters we found." "Any suspects, Zack." "I figure it's someone seriously trying to put me and my troops in the unemployment line, captain," said Zack with his version of wit. Lochley laughed. "At this rate, how long do you suppose that will take?" "I don't know, but what bothers me is, we have absolutely no physical clues to these incidents." "I will listen to any theories you care to put forth." "I only know one person who can do this kind of damage, and leave no physical clues. Someone who can do it, without any physical contact." Lochley looked up at him, "I can see where this is going, Lyta Alexander. Zack. Is she the first person you always think of in cases like these?" "No sir. Only when she is on the station." "Can you prove anything about her being involved?" "No sir. Seeing who was trashed, these incidents aren't exactly on the top of my must solve list. One thing though, none of the people assaulted can seem to remember anything about their assailant, but considering their chosen professions, I don't suppose we should be surprised." "Just keep me informed," she said and waved him on his way. Zack left her office thinking that this Lyta, if she was the one who did it, wasn't the Lyta he used to have a crush on. ****************************************************** Lyta was up, showered and dressed when Larry rang her doorbell. "What do we have on the agenda today, Larry?" "Believe it or not, we have no meetings scheduled. You can go hunting for fun and profit." "Maybe we could get seats for the Ivanova dog and pony show." "Where do you get these idioms, Lyta?" "I think it is a bit of Garibaldi rubbed off on me. I spent too much time with him watching old vids from the twentieth century. They seemed to have a catch-phrase for everything back then." "I'd rather not spend time listening to any board of inquiry testimony." "That makes two of us. I am going to spend a lot of quality time with Maya today. So, I might be anywhere on the station." "I heard about last night, Lyta." "It sounds worse with each telling, than it really was. There were four shots fired, and fortunately no one was hurt. They caught the shooters." "That's not what I heard from Elizabeth. She said they found what was left of them. Some of what she described sounded like they ran into a mind shredder." "I don't know any mind shredders, Larry." "Lyta, I would bet you can do a fair imitation of one. I have never met another telepath who can even begin to compare to you in raw power." Lyta pointed to the sleeping form of Maya. "She can and does." "That comes as no surprise, considering who her parents are." ****************************************************** It was just past 0830 and Commander Pat Owens was sitting in the chair that had been used by the previous "witnesses". Captain Conrad was just starting to question him. "Tell me commander, what is your evaluation of your CO?" asked Conrad. It was the same question he had lead off with when he questioned every other member of Captain Ivanova's crew. "With all due respect captain, it isn't part of my job to evaluate my CO. That's the job of her superior officer," answered Owens. "What do you think of your CO, Mr. Owens?" "I think she is beautiful." "That's not what I meant." "Exactly what did you mean, Captain Conrad?" "In general, what do you think of Captain Ivanova?" "She is the best CO I have served under to date." "Why?" "Have you ever been an XO, Captain Conrad?" "No. that has no bearing on the question." "Quite right, captain. However, it has everything to do with the answer." "Explain." "If you have never been an XO, and in charge of hundreds of people, doing myriad jobs, and worked at that job for a CO, you would not understand my explanation. From my past years of experience, Captain Ivanova rises as the overall best of them." Looking at Lt. General Fitzgerald, he said, "No offense intended, general." "None taken, commander," answered the general. Conrad changed his line of questioning and opened up on Ivanova's conduct during builder's trials for the Ares. "Tell the board about the builder's trials for the Ares," said Conrad. "We went out for several weeks, ran myriad tests on installed equipments, and put the engineering plants and navigation systems through their paces, as required by the standards, which were used as the basis for her construction. We kept logs and submitted them to proper authorities when we completed the trials." "You and or Captain Ivanova didn't forward all the logs. In fact, you had them revised before submitting them." Owens said nothing and just looked at Conrad, obviously waiting for him to continue. "Well, commander?" "Do you have something besides hot air to back that statement up, sir?" "We have statements from the engineer in charge of the builders trials tests and evaluations team." "If you don't mind sharing them with the rest of us, I, for one, want to see these "facts" This stopped Conrad in his tracks. "It will take some time to get the affidavits." "I am in no hurry, Captain." Conrad looked at the board table and saw General Leftcourt smiling. He wondered at what or whom. "While we obtain the papers, I want to talk about the your record, commander." "Good, captain. You talk, and I'll listen." "Don't be a wise ass, commander." "Why not, captain. I have nothing to lose. Ask General Leftcourt." Conrad approached the general and asked in a whisper, "What is he talking about, general?" Leftcourt replied, "He, like you, is calling it quits. He isn't kidding, son. He has nothing to lose. Do you realize what this does to my plans?" This piece of information seemed to take the starch out of Conrad. He replied, "No, sir." He was beginning to realize that he had been given a task no one wanted to see completed. Well, damn them all. He would do his best to complete it, Leftcourt and company be screwed. "Commander Owens, what was it about you that caused Captain Ivanova to choose you for her XO? The Ares was the most prestigious assignment any commander could want. How did you beat out much more qualified competition?" "It was easy, captain. She wanted someone who would stand up to her, and say to her face, "You are wrong, captain, because...and not back down." I was the only candidate with a track record of doing just that. As a matter of fact, I spent time in the brig, and was court-martialed for doing it during the civil war. Does that answer your question, sir?" "Yes, I suppose it does, commander." Conrad knew he was wasting his time with Commander Owens. This man could not be coerced, threatened, or browbeaten into saying anything that could be used against Captain Ivanova. He also would not give any answer except the shortest possible. "Why did Captain Ivanova offer her resignation to General Leftcourt, even before there was a Board of Inquiry convened for this investigation?" "Maybe you should ask her, or maybe General Leftcourt, sir." "You are not being at all helpful, commander." "That is the general idea, captain. If you want to hang Captain Ivanova, you will have to do it without my help, sir" "The point of this inquiry, commander, is to get out the truth." "What truth are we discussing, Captain Conrad?" "Do you realize that you can be court-martialed for your behavior here today, commander." "Then, I have nothing more to say to you or this court, captain." Rising and starting to leave, he shot, "I will see you at my court-martial, captain." Seeing Owens preparing to leave, Captain Conrad told, him "Sit down, commander, or I will file charges." Continuing to rise, Owens looked Conrad in the eyes and said, "You have the easy part done, captain." Then he left the room. General Sanchez looked at the board members and said, "Gentlemen, that concludes today's proceedings. We will convene at 0800 tomorrow." The board members moved around the table to leave and Conrad went back to his table. "Captain Conrad," said Sanchez. Conrad turned to face the Sanchez. "Yes, sir." "I want a word with you, privately," said Sanchez walking to an empty corner of the room. Conrad followed him. Sanchez told him in a low whisper, "I think, I have had enough of your bullying tactics. This is a Board of Inquiry, not an inquisition. If, when you question Captain Ivonava, you behave like you did today, I will court-martial you, and see you behind bars, before you are allowed to resign. Do you understand, captain?" "Yes, sir." Leftcourt walked over to Sanchez and Conrad. "Anything I should know about?" "He won't let me do my job, general." "Your job, captain, was to make sure Captain Ivanova was clean. What you are doing now is far beyond that. Nobody in this room could stand up under the scrutiny your people have subjected Captain Ivanova to. Let someone else question her," said Leftcourt. "Unless you remove me from this position general, I will conduct the questioning of Captain Ivanova. My career is finished, so I might as well go out doing it my way. You can fire me, but think about one word, media," spat Conrad. Conrad walked away from the generals. "I think, I made a mistake, in assigning him to this job," said Leftcourt. "Not necessarily, general. He has been pushed and shoved around on this endeavor by all sides. I think he meant well in the beginning, but somewhere, he, somehow, got the idea he had to prove something to someone. He is blinded by that idea, and now he will do it, if only to prove that he is above being coerced." "We can't stop this train, Manuel. So far, Ivanova is bulletproof. I am glad, I don't have to be scrutinized like she is." "Maybe, sir, you were right about her after all. If she withstands this, and that is a big if, your plans will probably work." "Either I get to preside over her court-martial or her promotion. I am wondering how change of command, became relieved of command in the news. By now she must think she has really been hung out to dry." "Hasn't she?" "Not intentionally." "Sort of like being killed, isn't it. Much better it be an accident than on purpose. However, general, from the point of view of the killed, it doesn't really matter." Leftcourt looked uncomfortable at that statement. ****************************************************** Sitting in the wardroom enjoying a cup of coffee, Leftcourt looked across the table at John Sheridan and asked, "What do you make of it, John? Has Conrad lost it?" "I don't know. He seems to have focused in on Susan. This doesn't seem like the same guy you told me about, earlier. Could someone have gotten to him?" "I don't see how. He has been guarded by Lyta's people and our own telepaths ever since he arrived." "How about between the time you assigned him and he left to come here?" "What are you getting at, John." "Going on what you told me about him, and what I observed today, I am led to believe that a telepath may have messed with his mind. They did it to my chief of security, Michael Garibaldi, during the Shadow War." "Great. What can I do about it?" "Nothing, however, I know someone who might be able to help." "Who?" "The same person who saved Garibaldi's butt, then helped him save mine?" "Will they be willing to help?" "They will if Delenn explains what is at stake. Since it is probably something a telepath did, Conrad may not be able to agree to what we want to do." "I will handle that. You convince your person to help. As soon as you say it is a go, I will get Conrad to my quarters, and we will do it there. What happens if we fail?" "The incident will be erased from his mind. He will never remember it." "I will be waiting for your call, John." ****************************************************** "You want me to what?" "Delenn. This is for Susan's sake." "So you say. You think Lyta is going to buy it?' "I don't know. That's where you come in." "John, she is going to be angry. You treat her like dirt, then come around asking her to do this." "I don't care what she thinks of me. We suspect someone has used a telepath to screw with Conrad's mind. All we want Lyta to do is look inside and see. If there has been tampering, we want her to remove it." "Do you truly understand what you are asking?" "Yes, Delenn, I do." "What if she refuses?" "Susan's career is probably over, Conrad will be court-martialed, Leftcourt's plans will be dead on arrival, and a number of people are going to be left high and dry." "I will talk to her. I make no promise of results." "That's all I ask, Delenn." "Are you going to pay her this time?" "Yes. You can negotiate the price." ****************************************************** In her quarters, Lyta, expressionless, sat listening to Delenn explain what was wanted. When she finished there was silence as Lyta studied her friends face, and thought over what she had just heard. "You are kidding, right? I mean, this has to be a bad joke, Delenn. If it isn't, you are out of your mind. You are asking me to do something that I don't like to do, and for what? To keep some overage male kids from suffering the consequences of their actions." "It would be a straight business arrangement?" "Do you agree with this idea?" "No, but I know Susan could be destroyed if you refuse." "If you can't sweet talk me, try to bribe me, and if that fails, use blackmail. You would do well in politics on earth, Delenn. However, I am not worried about Susan. If they force her out, I will simply hire her at about twenty or thirty times what they are presently paying her. After all she has lots of experience running large operations on a shoestring budget. I will do it for money. I mean, all the money you guys didn't pay me in the past." "How much?" "I figure with interest and penalties, five hundred thousand credits should do it." Delenn was stunned at the sum mentioned. "I don't know if they will pay that much." "I can be bought, Delenn, but it's going to be damned expensive. The days of freebies are over." "I will have to discuss it with John." "You can use my communications panel. Delenn, if he or Leftcourt even hesitate, the price doubles and each time after that. I love Susan, but her career is not the be all to end all. I will take care of her." Delenn made the call and John and Leftcourt both appeared on the screen. "What is the news, Delenn?" asked John. "I need to explain something first, gentlemen. She will do it for money. The deal is, every time you balk at the amount she wants, the price doubles. She isn't worried about Susan. She said she will take care of her." "How much does she want, Delenn?" "She says you owe her for past work, during the Shadow War, Civil War ,and for the work concerning the Enphili. She figures that with interest and penalties, added to what this job should cost, comes to five hundred thousand credits." The panel screen went blank. In Leftcourt's quarters, the general looked at John. "Tell me that was a joke." "Lyta doesn't like to mess inside peoples' minds, unless it is for self-defense, or something of that nature. She was short-shifted in the past, and it was my fault. I am afraid the amount is deadly serious. I expect she will want payment first." Leftcourt sat nursing his drink, thinking the matter over. It wasn't her problem. He had created it, by being too damned smart for all of their own good. She could probably salvage a bad situation. Taking the bull by the horns he looked at John and said, "Ask if she will let it be rolled into the bill for the security services she is providing." John appeared on the screen again. "Delenn, can General Leftcourt roll the money into the bill for the security services?" Delenn looked at Lyta, off screen. Lyta nodded, yes. "It's a deal, John. She wants to meet with you and Leftcourt before she proceeds." "Bring her over here." "We are on our way." ****************************************************** "You don't look too happy, captain," noted Susan's XO from the door of her office. "Are you surprised? Tomorrow they get to take me apart. I never expected to be destroyed by my so-called friends. I mean, I expect an enemy to try to take me out. That is part of what we are. What they are going to do to me tomorrow, reminds me of the worst of Night Watch and the Clark administration. My mother always told me to "trust no one". She knew what she was talking about." "Has your telepath friend ever left you holding the bag?" "Lyta? No way. She offered me a job, if my career goes south." "Then you can't really lose, can you?" "Not from a money standpoint. I just don't know if I am up to running a big corporation." "You ran Babylon 5 for four years, I think you would do just fine." "I wonder what Captain Conrad has planned for me. If it wouldn't result in brig time, I would kick his ass so badly, he would be in Medlab for a month... There is something about that image I like, a lot." "I seriously doubt, they will give you that satisfaction, captain." "Spoilsports, that's what they are," she said chuckling to herself. Then added, "I am off to see Charley, commander. I will come aboard in the morning to get dressed for the circus." She finished her statement then hurried to the head. Owens could hear her up-chucking. When she came back in the room, she was greeted by her XO smiling at her. "What's so funny, Pat." "Have you seen the medical officer about your "illness"." "Not yet. If it doesn't go away by tomorrow, I will go see him after the inquiry is over." "I know this is going to piss you off, but there is a new pool, captain." "What kind of pool is it this time? I told you how I feel about pools." "Yes sir, I do. This pool is a Due Date Pool." Frowning at him, she asked, "Due Date Pool?" "Yes sir, captain. As you know I'm married. As a matter of fact so are a good many members of this crew. They also have children, so they are familiar with some of the things that situation causes. One of them is a little syndrome misnamed "morning sickness"." Susan looked at him for a few moments, then the light bulb lighted in her head. "Oh my God! I can't be pregnant." "I beg to differ, captain. You and Mr. Wayne have been behaving in a manner conducive to generating new life. Let me be the first to say it. Congratulations, Captain Ivanova." Susan sat on the edge of her desk, looking stunned at the revelation. "Pat, I am going to sickbay and get Dr. Fowler to give me some sugar pills to take. You will pass the word around that I caught something on the station. After the inquiry is over, I will see the doctor for my physical, and he will let it slip that I am pregnant. I just don't want any of the crew letting it slip on the station, before the inquiry is over. Is that asking too much?" "No, but I don't think the crew would talk about it if they knew, and were asked not to. They wouldn't do anything to screw you up now." "Let's do it my way. This is going to kill my image as a hard-ass." "I hate to tell you, captain, but as far as the crew is concerned, you lost that image a long time ago." "That may explain why the crew doesn't seem to be afraid of me lately. I'm losing my edge." "I will see you in the morning, before you leave for your turn in the barrel, captain." ****************************************************** "What do you need from us, Miss Alexander?" asked General Leftcourt. "I need to know exactly what you had planned for this board of inquiry, and specifically what Captain Conrad's part in it was. General Sanchez said you would fill me in on the details when you arrived. In order to know what to look for, I need to know what he should have been doing. I can't guarantee that he will even have any evidence of tampering. At any rate, anything I learn can't be used in court. However, it won't stop me from finding them, and seeing that they get their just rewards. There's no charge for that follow-up. It's on the house." "The inquiry was put together to investigate the attack on the station, and try to determine just what was involved. Since, it looked like Susan might have disobeyed orders in staying here, and becoming involved in the firefight, I wanted someone to go over her actions with a fine tooth comb, and see what they could find. The worst case scenario, in my opinion, was she disobeyed orders for a good and valid reason. That being the case she would be court-martialed and found not guilty because she had information not available to Earth Dome. It would be found that she acted in the best tradition of the military, in carrying out her duties and responsibilities. Since she is a captain and a commanding officer, she is given quite a bit of leeway in interpreting her orders. It is part of having to be an independent commander. Captain Conrad is one of our very best investigators. I figured he would do his normally thorough job, and find nothing that merited any further action. After all, she helped save a quarter million people and this space station. That calls for some slack in interpreting her actions. Conrad was fine during the investigation of Captain Lochley, and found what we expected. She did a fine job of handling the situation to the best of her abilities. We expected the same for Susan, but Captain Conrad seemed to suddenly go on a mission to destroy her, and embarrass all of us who supported her, after the civil war. In talking to Captain Conrad, I have become convinced that there is something wrong with him, something of which he is not aware." Lyta looked at Sheridan. "It's his show, Lyta. Just remember Garibaldi, and what Bester did to him. My only concern is for Susan's well being and her career." Delenn sat quietly taking it all in. "I don't think I need to be here for the remainder of this," she said, getting up to leave. "I will see you later, Delenn," answered John. General leftcourt put in a call to Captain Conrad's quarters. ****************************************************** Conrad took the call, and put on his shoes, shirt and jacket to go to Leftcourt's quarters. "Man you must have really screwed up to be called on the carpet at this time of day," commented his roommate. "In spades," he replied. ****************************************************** "Let's go out for dinner, Charley. I like to think of it as my equivalent of the last meal." "Just the two of us, or do we want company?" "Your call, Charley." "I would like to invite your friend, Delenn. Lyta is doing a job for her husband and General Leftcourt." "Any idea what it is?" "No, but it is costing them a small fortune." "How small?" "Lyta wouldn't say anything about what the job is, but she said she got them for half a million credits." Susan let out a whistle that could have carried half the length of the station, if the quarters door had been open. "Who is she going to kill? I mean for that money, you could put out contracts on half the officers in earthforce." "I don't have the slightest idea. She said she would tell us in a few days, if it went well." "Maybe Delenn knows." ****************************************************** "I can't tell you, Susan." Taking another fork full of food, Susan asked, "Can't or won't?" "I am sorry, Susan. I can't tell you. If all goes well, you will learn about it before you are relieved of command." Lt. Corwin was walking across the Zocalo when he spotted, Susan, Delenn and Charley having dinner. Unaware that Susan did not know about her upcoming promotion, he stopped at the table and said, "Congratulations on the promotion, Captain Ivanova. It couldn't happen to a more deserving person." Saying what he had on his mind, Corwin walked off. He was mystified at the puzzled expression on her face. "I don't suppose either of you know what the hell that was about?" Delenn and Charley both nodded, no. "I know what it is. The good Lt. is having a joke at my expense. His way of rubbing my nose in the situation, revenge for making his life miserable when I was XO." "His congratulations seemed sincere, Susan," said Charley. "You haven't been around the station long enough, Charley, or you wouldn't take so much at face value." "She is correct, Charles," added Delenn. "You are called Entil'za. What does that mean?" It means she is the "boss" ranger, Charley. What is commonly known as the HAKIC." "What is a HAKIC?" "It's an acronym. It is shorthand for "Head Ass-Kicker-in-Charge"." "Oh." "Susan is correct in her first description, Charles. It is the title for the head person in charge of the Anla'shok, or what you call the rangers. ****************************************************** END PART 15 From: "Aubrey W. Adkins" Subject: Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 16 of ---(WIP) Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1999 21:11:45 -0400 Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 16 of ---(WIP) Criticism is welcomed. Without, it there can't be any improvement. Address criticisms to [xazqrten@norfolk.infi.net] Think of this as a space opera. All characters/places/persons not belonging to the writer are the sole properties of their owners, PTEN, WB, JMS, and will be turned over to the owners at the request of their agents. All other characters/places/persons are public domain. Rated PG-10 (Vocabulary ***************************************************** Conrad entered Leftcourt's quarters and found the general, John Sheridan and Lyta Alexander waiting for him. "This is as different a group as I would expect to see in one place," he commented. "Have a seat Captain Conrad," said Sheridan. "What might this meeting be about," he asked with interest. "It's about you, Jason," said Lyta. Looking at Leftcourt, he said, "General, if this about my having dinner with Lyta, I can explain." "It has nothing to do with that, captain. It has to do with the change in your behavior during this inquiry." "Jason," said Lyta, "We have reason to believe someone has messed with your mind." "Why? Is it because I am trying to get at Captain Ivanova?" "Yes and no. I said I might have an offer for you in the near future. The truth is, I have been monitoring your performance and it has changed drastically since the inquiry began. I propose to find out why, at the request of John and the general." "What are you going to do to me?" "I am going to do a deep scan on you. I would do one in any event, before we accepted you for employment. This will get it done for all purposes at one time." "If I don't agree?" "You can refuse me, Jason, however, in my case it means I can't employ you. I think your mind was altered by a telepath before you ever left earth for Babylon 5. The only way I can prove it one way or the other is by deep scanning you." "What are the dangers?" "Fair question. If it were a psi cop doing it, you could count on a lot of pain and discomfort and some damage, maybe even permanent. The way I do it, you won't feel it at all. You won't suffer any discomfort or damage. If you did, it would be a waste of my time in doing it for my purposes." "Okay. What do I have to do?" "Just lay down on the couch and get comfortable. It works better that way." Sheridan moved to sit on a chair at the table, and Conrad took off his jacket, loosened his tie and reclined on the couch. Lyta gave him a pillow to rest his head on, pulled up a chair and sat down, taking his hand in hers. "Are you comfortable?" "Very," he said, smiling at her. She smiled back. "Go to sleep, now," she said softly and he did. "This is going to take a while, guys. I need quiet. I don't want anything to distract me." "Let's go to my place, Tom," said John. They left Lyta alone with Conrad. ***************************************************** "What do you think, John?" "She straightened out Garabaldi, and Bester and company had more than a week to work on him. They only had a few hours at best to work on Captain Conrad, so it shouldn't be nearly as hard for her to find and correct whatever they did." "I wonder what that business about employment meant?" "No idea, Tom. Lyta is now a business woman and apparently has access to the heads of some very large companies. She could be doubling as a headhunter for them. She would make a very good one." "Jason put his request for either retirement or resignation in almost two weeks ago. His retirement request was turned down even though he has twenty-five years of service. He was deemed too valuable to let go. They had to approve his resignation because he is actually beyond the time when he needs to sign another continuance letter. They can't hold him, so they forced him to give up all his retirement benefits and pension. I am going to find out who is responsible. They are going to regret their actions." "I wouldn't worry about his pension and benefits, Tom. I am betting Lyta has all that covered and more." "What makes you think that?" "I know Lyta. She doesn't do things half-way. She skinned us, didn't she?" Leftcourt chuckled, "Yes, she did." ***************************************************** "I find the idea of you changing from a full minbari to your present state fascinating. I mean I never heard of anything like it before." Delenn looked at Susan. "Someday, Susan, you will have to tell him about the other time, and how it came to be." "He won't ever believe me." "How do you know," asked Charles. Susan smiled, "Let's make a small wager, Charley?" "You are on. What are we betting?" "If I win, I get to name it. If you do, you get to name it." "Name what?" Delenn looked at Ivanova and realized she knew about her pregnancy." "Our baby." "Our......what?" replied Charley, stumbling over his words. "Our baby. That's why I have been heaving my guts out." "How did you learn this?" asked Delenn. "You knew, Delenn." "I suspected because of your being sick. Lyta knew for sure, because Maya could detect your baby even at this early stage." "Lyta knew for sure, and didn't tell me?" "Yes." "I learned from Commander Owens, my XO. He said the crew already had a date due pool going. I would like to keep this under wraps until after the inquiry is over and done." ***************************************************** Conrad was looking at the building in front of him. It looked like a really good product. The angles were soothing to his eyes, while at the same time mesmerizing the thoughts. He was proud of what he was building. He only had complete the facade. "It's beautiful, son. But it won't last very long." Turning to look at the much older distinguished appearing gentleman, he exclaimed, "Dad!" "I'm hurt son. I thought I was doing a fair impression of the tooth fairy." "What are you doing here? You're dead." "Okay. So I'm dead. Now that we have that established, can we talk?" "Sure. What do you want to discuss?" "This building you are so proud of. I have looked it over inside and out. You have cut corners and used substandard materials. I thought I taught you better?" "Looking sheepishly at his father, Jason Conrad admitted, "I couldn't get the materials called for in the building plans, dad. I scoured every source I could, and came up short. I didn't have a choice." "Son, you always have a choice. If you couldn't get what was called for in the quantity you needed, why didn't you scale back the plans, or if that wasn't accceptable, cancel the project Nothing is worth having your good name turned into synonym for cheap, worthless or worse." "Like I said, I didn't have a choice." "Show me why you didn't have a choice, son?" Jason led his father back to his office and made a vid-phone call." The face that appeared on the vid-phone was familiar to his father. He had dealt with him before a long time ago. "Jason. I see you haven't finished the building." Stepping into pickup range, the older Conrad said, "He won't be finishing the project. In fact, I am going to see that it is torn down immediately." "Maybe you and I should talk, before you do anything hasty." "I see nothing to talk about. The building is coming down, as soon as I can get back there." "I am sorry," said Jason, "Dad has never been one to listen." The screen went blank, and Jason hurried after his father. When he finally caught up to him, he was in a crane getting ready to strike the building with a wrecking ball. As Jason yelled at his father to stop a limousine roared up to the site and stopped. The man on the vid-phone and several associates jumped out of the car. The other men pulled weapons and began firing at the crane cab. The wrecking ball struck the facade and pieces of it began to fall around the men from the limousine. The vid-phone caller jumped back into the car just as several large pieces of facade fell on his associates. The engine of the car roared to life, but before the car could move away, another very large piece of the facade, weighing several thousands of kilograms, fell on its roof crushing it and killing the driver and passengers. Jason ran to the crane cab. It had been shot full of holes and his father was bleeding profusely from numerous wounds. Crying, Jason, through tears, asked, "Why, dad? It didn't have to be this way." Wheezing and choking on his own blood, his father coughed out a response, "No choice. They would never have quit. Better this way, son...you win...," he gargled as life left him. Conrad cried and blubbered like a small child as the entire scene faded out. Jason found himself standing in a beautiful meadow filled with myriad brightly colored flowers spanning the entire visible spectrum. In the close distance he saw mountains covered with trees at the bottom with majestic bare tops reaching for the sky. He couldn't imagine where he was, but he could love living here. He became aware that he wasn't alone. He turned to face his companion, a beautiful slender redhead. "Lyta? What are you doing here?" "Looking after your best interests. What else?" "Where are we?" "Funny you should ask that question, seeing as how this is your dream?" "My dream! I've never been here before. I have no idea where or what this place is." "It is probably your dream of the perfect place to live." "I'll buy that just for argument's sake, but what are you doing here?" "I am here, so you can show me all the reasons why I should hire you. Demonstrate your honesty, integrity, intelligence, the whole shooting match to me." "Okay, but you may be disappointed." "Let me be the judge of that." In analogy form in the dream, Jason showed her his life, what he valued most and why, and everything he could think of to give her an accurate picture of himself. It took him a month in his dream world to accomplish the task. "Well?" he asked. "Quite impressive, Jason. I would have bet you didn't know yourself as well as you do." "All this is fine, but how do I measure up to your expectations?" "Actually you don't measure up at all. You exceed them by a large margin. I am impressed." ***************************************************** "John. She has been at it for almost five hours. Delenn is going to be getting back pretty soon." As if on cue, the door opened and Delenn entered, dismissing the bodyguards for the night as she did so. "John, Tom, what are you two doing here?" "Waiting for Lyta to finish with Conrad," replied John. Delenn went in to the kitchenette and put on a pot of water to make tea. Tom, John, do either of you care for tea? Leftcourt looked at his drink, now with only a sip in the bottom of his glass and responded, yes. John nodded, no. Delenn was pouring tea for herself and Leftcourt when the doorbell chimed. "Come in," said John. The door opened and Lyta entered. The three of them looked at her expectantly. "It is going to be all right. I found where his mind had been influenced and it's gone. When he wakes up in the morning he will be his old self, maybe even better. I know who did this to him and I am going to correct the error of their ways." "It took you long enough," commented Leftcourt. "Yes it did. My primary guideline was not to harm him. He's not just a piece of meat to be trimmed up. He's going to be even better than he was, because I let him see all that made him what he is. You have no idea the quality of man you have lost, general. I know what I am getting and am damned happy." "You know about his resignation being accepted?" "Of course. I went through his mind with a fine toothed comb with him showing me the way. There isn't anything I don't know about him. He is going to work for me, and I bet he marries one of my female teeps, before it all said and done." "Can I ask what you will be paying him?" asked Leftcourt. "He is going to be managing a security company, I and my associates are setting up to monitor our on world and off world operations. He will be operating independently with only occasional oversight. He will have complete medical coverage, including dental, company car, aircraft, shuttle and spacecraft as needed. There are stock options, stock sharing and bonuses based on performance." "Yes, yes, yes, but what is his starting salary?" "That will be subject to review after the first six months, but I expect it to go up at that time." "Lyta! What will his basic starting pay be?" asked John. "Two million credits a year, to start." There was absolute silence from the other three, and shock. Lyta looked at John and said, "I'm not allowed to hire you." "That's incredible," remarked Leftcourt." "You think so? Wait until you see what I'm going to offer Susan. I only hire the best, and I, actually my associates, pay them accordingly." "That's more than four times as much as I have been paid in my whole fifty year career," stated Leftcourt. "Quite likely general. As you see, pushing Jason out is the biggest favor anyone in the military has ever done for him. I would appreciate it if you let him sleep till morning, before sending him back to his quarters." Leftcourt agreed to her request. "I need to use your communications unit, John. I need to contact Michael." Sheridan pointed to the unit and said, "Help yourself." It took a couple of minutes for the call to go through. "It is early, Lyta. This had better be good." Lyta motioned for the other three to come within the video pick-up range. Garibaldi could see Delenn, John and Leftcourt. [Jesus, she has a lot of horsepower, there], thought Michael. "I take it you have been following the ISN and other reports of what has been transpiring here on the station?' "It's been wall to wall, Lyta. I have heard a lot of speculation, but not much in the way of facts. What are they trying to do to Susan?" "That's what I am calling about," she replied, then held up a data crystal. "Remember the one I gave you?" "Yes," he replied, "I need a minute to get it out of my safe." "When you do put it in into the crystal port of your system and push the secure button." Michael did as she instructed and on her screen his image disappeared to be replaced by random noise. Lyta put her crystal into the port on the panel and pushed the secure button. In just over a minute she had a clear picture of Garibaldi. On his screen the display changed from noise to one of Lyta and the people with her. "Now we can talk. Michael, someone on earth arranged for some former psi cops to screw with Captain Conrad's mind. He's the guy gunning for Susan. I straightened his mind out. I also got the identity of the telepaths and several of the other people involved. Short and sweet, I want you to find them and detain them. I will come to Mars and talk with them. I plan to find out who instigated this and show them the error of their ways. I will pay the expenses involved. This one is for Susan. I know you still have the connections. The others here will corroborate the story. Can I count on you?" "You are never going to let me off the hook are you," he replied smiling. "It's your punishment for welcoming me aboard Babylon 5, so long ago. The hardcopy I just sent has the particulars." "I'll get back to you ASAP. What a quartet you guys make." Lyta broke the circuit and pocketed her crystal. "They can break the codes," commented Leftcourt. "It is a non-repeating code, general, constructed in the Vorlon language. No race has yet been able to decipher the language, much less a code based on it." "You can read and write Vorlon?" "...and speak it for all the good it does now. However, it is fantastic for generating encryption codes." Looking at Leftcourt she added, "If you used every supercomputer on earth on that transmission to Mars, it would take several hundred years to come close to breaking it." "I don't suppose you would consider a business arrangement?" asked Leftcourt. "If you want to buy codes, I can arrange that. The code generating technology isn't for sale. You don't have what it takes to generate them anyway. Let me know if you are interested." "You would be able to break them though, wouldn't you?" "No. We have a company dedicated to continuously testing them and so far, unless you have the code, and start it at the same time as both ends of the circuit, it is unbreakable on any useable time frame. I define useable time frame as twelve standard months for military purposes. We even sell equipment that can switch between several crystals during a transmission on a second by second basis. We tried to figure out how long it would take to break a transmission encrypted using it. When the estimate reached thirty million years we stopped the calculation." "Can I get back to you?" "Of course." "Who do you sell this stuff to, Lyta?" asked John. "Anyone who wants or needs secure communications. So far, we have restricted it to businesses on Glenthor, but we are considering selling to anyone who can afford it. I know about the military uses, but we see it as a privacy issue." "What's to stop someone from buying one crystal and duplicating it, without paying for the second crystal and so on?" "Each crystal is a single pass crystal. It is encoded to prevent duplication. Each crystal can support a thousand hours of use for high speed text. If you use if like I just did, it is only good for ten hours." "There isn't an anti-piracy scheme yet that couldn't be defeated," commented Leftcourt. "Let me worry about that, gentlemen," Lyta responded with a wicked smile. "I think it is time to call it a night." After Lyta left, Tom looked at John and asked, "What do you think?" "I think, if she has a whole company dedicated to code breaking, she probably has broken most of the codes we use. She is capable of understanding and building equipment that uses Vorlon technology, and they were several million years ahead of any of us younger races." "Sometimes, John, you give me a headache." "I could say the same, Tom." "Both of you give me a pain, but it is much lower on the anatomy," shot Delenn. "Goodnight, John, Delenn. I will see you in the morning." After Tom had left. "It looks like Lyta delivered the goods again, John." "You knew she would." ***************************************************** Susan had returned to the Ares, showered, made herself presentable and put on her best fitting tailored uniform. It was guaranteed to elicit wolf whistles. Looking at her reflection, she was pleased at the effect. "Good morning, Captain. Is there anything you want to pass on to me before you go into the lions' den?" asked her XO. Susan handed him a brown envelope, saying, "I will call you when they have finished with me. At that time, you are to open this, and immediately send it to Department of Earthforce Personnel. I have a copy that I will hand deliver to General Leftcourt. Is that understood, Commander Owens?" "Yes sir, captain. May I ask what it is?" "It is my resignation. It will bypass Leftcourt, so he won't be able to intervene, this time." "I will be waiting for your call, Captain." "Thank you, Pat. I guess I had better be going. Mustn't keep the gentlemen waiting." As Susan walked down the passageway from her office, Commander Owens felt a sharp aching pain in his heart and a lump in his throat. He had served with many fine officers in his career, but never one like her. As Susan approached the shuttle loading area, she encountered Chief Comer. Good morning, chief. What brings you down here this early in the morning? I thought you didn't stand watches anymore?" "I don't, captain. I was waiting for you." "Waiting for me?" "You don't think I dress up like this for fun, do you?" "Not really. So, what do you have in mind?" "Cheerleading, Captain, cheerleading, better known as moral support." Susan just looked at him for a few moments and saw the expression reflected in his eyes. "Come on, chief. We have a date with the inquisitors." Chief Comer smiled to himself. She reminded him so much of his oldest daughter. "With any luck, chief, I will introduce you to my very best friend in the whole universe. She has saved my ass twice in three years." [That, I am looking forward to, captain,] he thought to himself. ***************************************************** "Mom are you going to Aunt Susan's appearance today?" asked Maya. "No, dear. I can see and hear all I need to from here. I think she will do all right." "That Conrad man seems to really want to get her." "Don't worry about him. Everything is back where it should be." "You interfered." "Yes and no. I simply put things back the way they should be." "You interfered." "Whatever," her mother said, ending the exchange. ***************************************************** Susan removed her jacket and sat down at the place indicated at the table facing the board officers. Chief Comer sat with the few observers allowed in the room. "I would like to call Mister Jack Garvey, if it pleases the board," said Conrad. Garvey swore oath to testify to the truth, and took the seat that had been designated for "witnesses". "Mr. Garvey, you are the assistant chief of staff to President Luchenko?" "Yes sir." "It has been established with the data crystal recording that you did issue verbal orders to Captain Ivanova to return to earth immediately, so I won't ask about that. However, Mr. Garvey will you explain the circumstances that led you to make that call?" "Yes sir. On the day of the call, I received a request from General Lang to make the call. He explained that General Nelms, who had been given responsibility for coordinating the various events for the "Welcome Home" celebration planned for the Ares, was having trouble with her commanding officer, Captain Susan Ivanova. She was ignoring his direction to return early, since the celebration had been moved up. Lang explained that General Leftcourt would normally intervene, but he was in the hospital, in intensive care, as the result of an automobile accident. Since I had dealings with General Lang in the past, I didn't question his request, although in hindsight, I should have, since, the president's schedule for the weeks prior to the celebration were chock full of meetings with various heads of state. Those meetings couldn't just be rescheduled on a whim. If I had thought it through, I would have realized that General Lang's request was out of place. However, that is all hindsight." "So, there was no legitimate reason to have the Ares return before her regular scheduled arrival?" "No sir. None whatsoever." "What do you know about the follow-up message validating the orders you issued?" "Nothing. Lang said he would have them transmitted as soon as I finished the call. I do not know if they were ever sent." "The record shows the message was sent. However, the ship experienced a glitch in its message processing equipment and lost about a hundred numbers. From what we can determine only about ninety percent were ever serviced, in spite of requests from EAS Ares for retransmittals. The message with orders validation never got retransmitted." John whispered to Delenn, "She's off the hook. Officially, she did not disobey orders." This fact wasn't lost on Chief Comer. Anyone who might have looked, would have seen tears forming in his eyes. Susan was stunned. Conrad was throwing his own case out the window. There had to be some mistake. It could only mean that he had what he needed in the questions with which he would grill her. Her mind was trying to imagine what he had up his sleeve, but she could not imagine what it would be. "Mr. Garvey, what do you know about Captain Ivanova?" "Only what I have read in the papers and saw on the video news programs. I have to say, what I have seen lately paints a completely different picture, than the one presented a few years ago, just after she and Captain Sheridan led the rebel force to earth that deposed Clark." "What is your opinion now?" "I watched the recordings of the recent attack on Babylon 5, and I am damned impressed by her actions. It's too bad that the public won't be given the opportunity to see what she and her ship did. If they ever saw that, they wouldn't carp about how much it cost to build and operate." At this point, Susan's mind was beginning to go numb trying to figure out Conrad's strategy. Everything he was doing was butchering and gutting any charges, he or the board of inquiry might bring against her. There was no logic to what he was doing. The only thing she could think of was, maybe Lyta had screwed with his mind, but she wouldn't do that. Lyta would just wait until she was out of the service, and give her a job. "Your testimony hasn't exactly painted a very pretty picture of you, Mr. Garvey. You seem to be unusually honest in this testimony. It's not what I have come to expect out of politicians or their staff. Why today?" "The president told me to tell the truth, no matter who got hurt, or looked bad as a result. I am just following orders, captain." "As do we all, Mr. Garvey." looking at the panel, he asked, "Anymore questions, gentlemen?" Silence was his answer. "Thank you, Mr. Garvey. That is all." Looking at the panel, Conrad gave Mr. Garvey time to find a seat. **************************************************************** END PART 16 From: "Aubrey W. Adkins" Subject: Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 17 of ---(WIP) Date: Sat, 14 Aug 1999 22:35:39 -0400 Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 17 of ---(WIP) Criticism is welcomed. Without, it there can't be any improvement. Address criticisms to [xazqrten@norfolk.infi.net] Think of this as a space opera. All characters/places/persons not belonging to the writer are the sole properties of their owners, PTEN, WB, JMS, and will be turned over to the owners at the request of their agents. All other characters/places/persons are public domain. Rated PG-10 (Vocabulary ***************************************************** "Captain Ivanova," said Leftcourt. Susan was sitting ramrod straight in her chair. Inside she was wound tighter than any spring had a right to be. "Yes sir," she answered non-commitally. "You may remain at your table for your questioning." "Yes sir." "Captain Ivanova," began Conrad. Would you tell us about the testing you did on the Ares during builder's trials?" "What do you want to know, Captain?" She asked in a monotone. "What was the purpose of the tests?" "To determine the ship's limits of capabilities." "Why? Weren't the standard trials and tests sufficient?" "For what they were intended, yes." "But not for what you wanted?" "No." "Why not?" "They only test the ship to the specifications in the building contract. If the ship meets these standards it is acceptable to the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, who is the contract officer's representative for the earthforce procurement department." "Why aren't they good enough for you?" "The people who purchase the ship, the people who build it, and the people who accept it, do not have to fight the ship in battle. I do. When I go into a fight, I want to know exactly how far I can push my crew and ship before they fail to perform. My life and those of my crew depend upon that knowledge, but I don't suppose you have any idea of that kind of responsibility, since you've never held a command of any kind." "What tests did you run to get your data?" "Reactor overload capacity, acceleration, deceleration and maneuvering tests." "Describe the reactor overload test?" "We ran it in conjunction with the acceleration test. Simply put, I ordered the reactor shutdown controls to be manned while we did a run-up of the reactors power to the point that the overload safeties shut down the reactor. The man at the manual shut-down switch was just in case the automatic cutouts failed. I elected to make those a manned position for fighting the ship. There was never any real danger since we had manually operated backup cutout switches." "Did you provide copies of the tests results to builders representative and Supervisor of shipbuilding?" I provided copies of the builder's tests and trials results. However, the results of my tests were not included in the provided copies." "Why not?" "Ever since I got the Zeus shot out from under me, when I was ambushed by a decoy call for help from four Drakh cruiser-carriers, I have felt that someone sold me out. The ambush was in a very isolated area, and the odds, of it being luck on the part of the Drakh, were just too large to ignore. So, I kept the original data crystals of the results of my tests, and provided a copy in person to General Leftcourt. He agreed that this data could not be safeguarded if it were available on a networked computer. I classified it top secret (eyes only). Those who have needed that data were provided only what was actually required. That was my ace in the hole during the attack on Babylon 5. The Drakh never knew exactly what they were up against." "You admit disobeying the orders from Mr. Garvey to leave Babylon 5?" "He is not in my chain of command, and has no authority to issue me orders. The president can direct the chain of command and order me to take an action, and I am required to obey that order. I don't have any problem with that at all. The chain of command then assumes responsibility for those actions, unless it is an illegal order, such as were issued by the late President Clark to destroy innocent civilians. In that case, the responsibility is mine. I can't use them as an excuse in a war crimes court." "The tactics we saw you use during the attack. Where did they come from?" "Before we departed on our patrol, I managed to get four programmers assigned to the ship. Their specialties were weapons and navigations programs software. During the patrol we simulated every possible scenario we could imagine. We used our own fighters to simulate attackers. After every simulation, the programmers rewrote parts of the software factoring in the absolute maximum limits of the ship's capabilities. They developed algorithms to combat every one of those scenarios. Then we reran the simulations to see if the ship's computers could integrate the required maneuvering with the required weapons deployment. If earthforce had to pay us overtime, earth would be bankrupt. However, I think our performance during the Drakh attack, and the results of that performance, exonerates my efforts, and reflects favorably on the efforts of my officers and crew." "Do you have a boyfriend, Captain?" "You know I have." "He is a telepath, isn't he? In fact he is a former psi cop." "Yes, he is." "Doesn't that cause some security problems?" "If I were anyone else, it might." "Would you care to explain that?" "Captain Conrad, members of the board, I am what is called a freak of nature. I am immune to telepathic scans. My mother was a telepath and died while taking sleepers. I learned from birth to block telepathic scans. I don't know how I do it, I just do it. You can test me using the telapaths you brought with you. There must be at least one P-11 or P-12 amongst them. I give them permission to scan me, if they can." This answer caught Conrad by surprise. It was the last answer he expected. Leftcourt indicated one of the telepaths the board had brought with it. The man, somewhere in his middle thirties, stepped forward. "Try to scan her." The telepath stepped over to Ivanova's table and looked straight into her eyes. A minute later he turned to face the board. "Gentlemen, not only can I not scan her, I can't even feel her mind at all. If I weren't seeing her with my eyes, I wouldn't know she was here. I have never encountered anyone like her before, nor have I ever heard of anyone like her before." "Thank you, son," said Leftcourt. The telepath returned to his position. Conrad looked Susan in the eyes for a long moment. She still didn't understand what was going on. He had tore her people apart as much as he could, and then he asks her questions any child could field. Something was wrong. Then it occurred to her, they didn't need to rake her over the coals. This was only for show. The real decisions had been made days or weeks ago. The notification that she would be relieved of command had been the real indicator for her. Guilty as charged, don't bother with facts. Inside she felt intense pain at what was being done to her. Conrad looked at General Leftcourt and the expression on his face told him, it was time to quit. He turned to face Susan and said, "That concludes your questioning, Captain Ivanova." That was her cue. Susan started to lift her hand to her mouth to call Commander Owens, but her arm wouldn't move. She struggled to raise it, and got nothing for her efforts. "It there a problem, Captain?" "I need to call my XO, sir." "Go ahead, Captain." Susan was visibly struggling to move her arm, but couldn't. "Captain Ivanova, is there a problem?" Asked Sanchez. "I can't move my arm, General." Susan had a surprised expression on her face. That didn't go unnoticed by Leftcourt and the rest of the board. Susan tried to move her arm, and it moved without hesitation. She moved it around to be sure it was okay. "Is everything all right, Susan?" Asked Leftcourt. "Yes sir, it is now." "I need to clear up a misconception. You are not being relieved of command." "I'm not!" "You have been with the Ares almost two years now. It is time you moved on to your next assignment. What we are going to have is a change of command. Ares gets a new skipper and you get a new assignment." Susan sat silently trying to digest what she had just heard. She wasn't being canned. She tried her best to show no emotion at the statement, and succeeded admirably. "What is my new assignment, General?" "We have been very impressed at your ability to use your and others' experience to improve our overall performance in the field. You demonstrated that with your insistence on changes to the Ares and its performance recently. You are being assigned to the Department of Design and Procurement. They are responsible for ship and weapon design and procurement. They oversee all our shipbuilding efforts. They also oversee all the equipment and weapon design and procurement. You are due to report no later than sixty days from the time you turn over the Ares to her new skipper." "Who is the new skipper?" "Your XO." "Commander Owens. Does he know? He submitted his request to retire more than a week ago." "Not yet. I didn't know about his request. You should both receive the official notification of you new assignments sometime later today." "If his retirement request is approved, it will negate his assignment. Was his assignment going to be permanent, or temporary until Ares gets back to the shipyard?" "It will be permanent. Your evaluations of him convinced the review board that he has been held back too long." "What do you mean, held back?" "His assignment comes as a result of his promotion to captain. You are responsible for that. As a matter of fact, a good many of your crew and officers are being promoted and reassigned. Serving under you has been a real boost to a number of careers." "They are only getting what they have worked for and deserve. Who will I be working for when I get to my new post?" "You will still be working for me?' "I mean, General Zaleski is the commanding officer. Will I be on his staff?" "I am afraid he is retiring in a couple of months." "Have you decided on his replacement?" "That's already being taken care of." John, Delenn and Chief Comer walked up to Susan and Leftcourt. "Chief, don't I know you from somewhere?" "That's entirely possible, General?" "Does this mean Susan is off the hook, Tom?" Asked John. "For the time being. I don't know about in the future. We will just have to keep an eye on her." Leftcourt looked at the chief again, trying to remember where he had met him before. The chief was smiling at him. Like a wraith Lyta approached them through the now crowded room. "Congratulations, Susan," she said and unashamedly hugged her friend. "I told you to trust your friends." "They are going to make a bureaucrat out of me, John." "Couldn't happen to a more deserving person, at a more appropriate time," he replied. Susan shot him a look that said, "Watch it, bud." "I suppose it's time for you to get the whole truth, Captain Ivanova." "General. The only truth I am interested in, is that I am not being hung out to dry." "That was never our intent. Your telepath friend will explain what happened to you later." Susan looked at Lyta, who nodded, yes. "Susan. I want to be the first to say congratulations," said John, shaking her hand. Susan looked at Delenn, who was smiling. "It wasn't a joke. Corwin was sincere." Looking at John and Leftcourt, Susan explained, "Lt. Corwin stopped at our table last night and congratulated me on my promotion. I thought he was rubbing my nose in the inquiry." "It's for real Susan. You are relieving General Zaleski." "Sir, that billet is for a major general, I am only a captain." "Not for long. During the change of command you are being promoted to brigadier general. It is a permanent promotion. When you relieve General Zaleski, you will be temporarily promoted to major general for the duration of your assignment. That can be made permanent if performance warrants. I think you will give the heavy hardware a new look." It was all Susan could do to keep her feelings in check. Chief Comer stepped in front of her and took her hands. "Captain. Please take a walk with me?" Susan let him lead her our of the room. "Where are they going," Asked John. "He is taking her away from here so she can cry, John," said Delenn. "Gentlemen, it's a woman thing. You wouldn't understand," commented Lyta. Leftcourt looked at Lyta and said, "Yes, I would. We put her through hell." "No. You did not, General," stated Lyta. "I know who did, and they will regret it." "Of that, I have no doubt," said John under his breath. ***************************************************** Chief Comer stopped at spot in the gardens that seemed temporarily devoid of people. He indicated a well worn park bench. Susan sat down, fighting to hold her emotions in check. The chief went around behind her. He handed her a very large handkerchief over her shoulder. It's clean. Putting his hands on her shoulders and massaging them, he said, "You have been through a lot, Susan. Let it out. You have earned it." Susan softly cried until her tears stopped flowing. All the while, Chief Comer talked to her the same way he would his own daughters. Twenty minutes after they arrived, they departed the area. Susan's eyes were red from the crying. At the first public lavatory she went inside and did her best to fix her make up. When she came back out the chief was waiting. "Nice recovery job, Captain." She was once again his superior officer, but for those twenty minutes he had been her substitute father. "Shall we go back and face my friends, Chief." "Yes sir." ***************************************************** As Susan walked over to where John, Delenn and Leftcourt were standing talking, Lyta approached her. "I have to leave Susan. I have business waiting. I will see you later. Dinner would be fine." "I will let you know time and place." ***************************************************** The yeoman came into the captain's office with a handful of messages. Owens appeared to be preoccupied. "Is something wrong, sir?" "No. I am waiting for a call from the captain." Looking at the desk clock, he said, "I thought she would've called by now. They must be flaying her inch by inch." "I think you will find these messages of particular interest, sir. I would like to be the first to offer my congratulations to you." Looking puzzled, Owens asked, "What are you talking about?" "You are going to be the new skipper, sir. Captain Ivanova is being promoted and transferred. The change of command is to take place two days after the board of inquiry finishes the witness testimony phase. That should be this afternoon." Owens sat quietly absorbing what he had just been told. The yeoman placed the messages on the desk in front of him. He read the first one. It wasn't a joke, these were his orders. He looked at the second message. It was Captain Ivanova's orders. "Thank you, Yeoman Straus." He reread the messages several times to be sure the words didn't magically change. They remained the same. Captain Ivanova would be turning the Ares over to him again. This time for real and keeps. He smiled and laughed at the timing. The captain was being assigned to a desk, at the very time she being pregnant and needed to be somewhere besides a combat vessel. Her timing was impeccable. He reread his message again, and began laughing so hard, he almost fell out of the chair. "What is so funny, sir?" In reply, Owens picked up a message that had come in early that morning, just after the captain had left for her "barrel" appearance, and handed it to the yeoman. Straus read the message and then looked at the XO. It was the message informing him that his transfer to the retired list was approved, effective upon arrival of EAS Ares in earth orbit. It was dated before the message notifying him of his promotion. It negated the promotion notification. The irony of those two messages would be common knowledge throughout the ship before the hour was out. "Yeoman Straus wait a moment. I want you to que up a message for me. When I tell you, or whoever is on watch, to do so, I want it sent, immediately." "Yes sir." ***************************************************** Susan looked at her friends and said to Leftcourt, "There may be a problem General." "Your telepath boyfriend isn't a problem, he was working for the military long before he met you. He has been checked out a number of times over the years. His present employer has no qualms about giving us all her information concerning him and his activities since he left psi corps." "That isn't the problem I have in mind, sir." "What is the other problem?" "I am pregnant." Leftcourt thought about it for a minute, then responded, "It appears that we promoted and transferred you just in time. It wouldn't look good having an expectant mother taking the Ares into another firefight. People would scream "bloody murder"." "It won't be a problem?" asked John. "Not now it won't. She will be pushing a desk and more papers than you want to imagine, but in her new capacity, it poses no problem at all. I just haven't ever seen a major general in a maternity uniform before. She is doing a lot of firsts." Unnoticed Sanchez and Marsh had approached the group. "She will also be the only major general I ever met, who would look devastating in a mini-skirt," commented Sanchez. "Gentlemen, this is undignified," commented Delenn. "That's what it is, gentlemen," agreed Susan. John motioned to Susan for her to do a slow turn. She did. "What was that for?" asked Susan. "Just noting that our comments, undignified though they are, happen to be accurate," added Marsh. "Face it, Susan," said Leftcourt, "You are not the average run of the mill general, not by any stretch of the imagination. However, for better or worse, you are very beautiful." "Well, just for the record, the only thing those compliments will get you, is a dance with me, if you happen to be in the area where Charley and I are dining this evening." "Let me officially close this thing," said Leftcourt. Stepping to the panel table, he banged on it with a tumbler to get everyone's attention. "Ladies and gentlemen this phase of the inquiry is concluded. However, I don't want to see anything in the media that hasn't been cleared by either General Sanchez, General Marsh, or me." ***************************************************** "I am back commander," said Susan entering her office. "I brought a visitor with me." General Leftcourt walked in and, and Owens stood up and snapped to attention. "At ease, commander." Owens stood at ease, saying nothing. "Have you heard the news, yet, commander?" asked General Leftcourt. "I have the message transferring Captain Ivanova to the Department of Design and Procurement," answered Owens. "I also have the message approving my request for retirement. Is that what you are referencing?" "There should have been a message telling you that you were being promoted, and reassigned as CO of the Ares." "Oh, there was, but since I am retiring, I haven't given it any thought." "I wish you would." "I don't think so, General. I have been away from my family for twenty-two of the last twenty-four months. When this ship reaches earth orbit, I'm history. I plan on making up for lost time with my wife and kids. I have a twenty-month daughter, I have never seen. So, I don't think so, General." "I can have your retirement authorization rescinded." Owens punched a button on the desk comm panel and said, "Message center this is the XO." "Yes sir," came the answer." "Send it. Notify me, when it is receipted for." "Yes sir." "What was that all about, Pat?" Asked Susan. "I expected the heavy-handed approach when you showed up with General Leftcourt. It seems that people like him always think they can have things their way." "I know you submitted your papers for retirement, commander, but that is at the convenience of the service commander." "Yes sir, I know that. However, periodically, I have to sign a letter of continuance in order to stay on active duty. When that time comes, if I haven't signed one, I can resign on the spot, without giving any notification. I have twenty-five years of service as of today, and my letter was due to be signed two weeks ago, according to personnel." Owens handed him an envelope. "What is this, commander?" "That is my hole card, General. When I read those assignment messages, I figured I could depend on you doing exactly what you have attempted to do. That is your copy of my resignation. The message that I just sent is to the personnel people. As of midnight tonight local, General, I will be a civilian." "I don't understand? Why are you throwing a twenty-five year career out the window." "Because I stood up for what I thought was right, my promotion to commander was held up. I was promoted on my third time up. When I should have been a captain, I was in the brig, and court-martialed for refusing to kill innocent people. I watched Captain Sheridan be thrown on the trash heap, because he did what was the necessary and right thing to do. I watched you and your board try your best to hang Captain Ivanova. I watched you and many like you tow the line and follow Clark's orders, even when you knew they were illegal. None of you had one bone in your bodies. You haven't ever made a decision that might possibly jeopardize your valuable career. Don't pretend to be surprised at my decision. Being a captain in the same military as you and the board, is more than my stomach can handle, sir." At that moment the comm panel beeped. "XO, go ahead." "Your message has been received and receipted for, sir." "Acknowledged." Leftcourt was fit to be tied. "Commander, you will regret this." "With all due respect, sir. I already regret not getting out of this outfit after my court-martial. Captain, I need to go pack. I have to be off the ship in a few hours." "Go ahead, Pat," replied Susan. "Well, your panel got results, General. For your information, he was sitting here waiting to transmit my resignation, as soon as I signaled. I was trying to send him that signal when I had trouble moving my arm. Lyta wouldn't let me send it. I am wondering if she made a mistake, sir." General Leftcourt went over and sat down on her couch. "How could things have gone so wrong. This isn't what was supposed to happen." "There is desire, and there is reality, General. This is reality." "I wonder if I could make a deal with the commander?" "What kind of deal?" "He takes the promotion, sees the ship through the overhaul, repairs and upgrades, then turns her over to a new CO. It's going to be almost a year and a half before she comes out of the yards. He was there with you. He knows more about the ship than any other senior officer aboard. Some of the officers being promoted and reassigned will be leaving at various staggered points throughout the overhaul. Will you talk to him?" "I am inclined to say, no, General. That should have been your approach in the first place, when he turned down the assignment. It's like he said. You senior officers only seem to have one mode of operation." "You aren't being very helpful." "I didn't create this fiasco, General. I am beginning to have second thoughts about accepting my promotion and reassignment. It has occurred to me that I am in a position similar to Pat. The difference is, I don't have enough time in to retire. I only have twenty years of service so far. But letter signing time is already past. I think I will see what Lyta has to offer. I hear she is paying Captain Conrad a fortune to start. Hell, I must be worth at least a tiny fortune." "She offered him a basic salary of two million credits a year, with a salary review after six months. She said if we canned you, she would pay you even more. If it's money you want, you can't do better than what she is offering." "I'm looking at what I'm paid, what I just went through, and I am looking at what I will be doing for the rest of my career, what there is of it. I have to ask myself, "Why on God's green earth have I not resigned, and taken Lyta up on an offer"." "Will you talk to Commander Owens?" "For all the good it will do, I will speak to him." "If he refuses after you talk to him, I suppose we can send her back with the ops boss in charge." "If I don't quit, I'll take her back." Susan pushed a button on her desk comm panel and her yeoman came in. "Escort General Leftcourt back to the hanger bay." After the general left, Susan walked to Owens' stateroom and knocked on the door. "Come on in," responded Owens. "What can I do for you, Captain?" "I was asked to talk to you before you leave." Owens stopped putting clothing into his suitcase. She noticed that he was packing none of his uniforms. "I see you are traveling light." "A change or two of skivvies and toothpaste and floss. Also one extra pair of pants and shirt. They are uniform, but with a sweater, no one will even notice. I don't have any civvies. Now, what do you want, Captain? You didn't come down here to shoot the bull." "Pat. Have you thought of what this means to your family. I mean, you don't even have a job ready." "Odd, that. Civilians deal with those uncertainties every day, and do it successfully. Are you implying that I can't hack it on the outside, Captain?" "No. That wasn't what I meant. Some headhunter outfit will snap you up for a corporate position in a minute. General Leftcourt stuck his foot in his mouth, again." "That seems to be a habit with him and his cronies." "You have been in this with me every step of the way, Pat. I don't have a family, so I won't pretend for a second to understand your sacrifice. You were my right hand, and supported me when I needed it. I owe you big time, and there isn't any way I can repay you. I'm where I am, in part, due to your efforts. I only met your wife and kids once, but I got the feeling she was very proud of you, and the fact that you got this XO position, when many, so called, better qualified people, didn't. Is it fair to her, after all she has seen you through, to throw it away, without asking her how she feels about it?" "You're cheating, Captain, but I have played to a stacked deck before." "Do me one last favor, Pat. Talk to Lyta before you leave." "Okay, but she isn't going to change my mind either." Susan went back to her office and called Lyta. "I hate to ask another favor, Lyta, but he is one hell of a fine officer, and I hate to lose him. He is the perfect choice to see the Ares through her repair and overhaul yard period." "Give me a thirty minute warning before you bring him over. I need to make some preparations." ***************************************************** "You want me to what?" Exclaimed Garibaldi. "Locate his wife and get her in front of a comm panel. Make sure she has her children with her." "Lyta, I didn't know you went in for skullduggery." "Like hell, you didn't." "I'll get back to you." ***************************************************** END PART 17 From: "Aubrey W. Adkins" Subject: Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 18 of ---(WIP) Date: Fri, 20 Aug 1999 17:32:05 -0400 Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 18 of ---(WIP) Criticism is welcomed. Without it, there can't be any improvement. Address criticisms to [xazqrten@norfolk.infi.net] Think of this as a space opera. All characters/places/persons not belonging to the writer are the sole properties of their owners, PTEN, WB, JMS, and will be turned over to the owners at the request of their agents. All other characters/places/persons are public domain. Rated PG-10 (Vocabulary ***************************************************** Susan's office door opened and Owens stuck his head in. "I'm leaving, Captain." "I thought you were going to talk to Lyta for me?" "I will, but I need to get over to the station, so I can get a ticket on the first ship going to earth. There is one leaving first thing in the morning and the agent is holding a ticket for me. I don't have a charge card, so I have to pay cash." "Why don't you get disbursing to cut you a travel voucher. You are entitled to transportation back to your home." "To do that I would have to stick around another day or so. I have no intention of being here when the Ares departs. Besides, I can file for reimbursement with any earthforce installation after I get home." "By the way, where is home, now?" "My wife and kids moved to Mars after we deployed last year. I don't think finding employment is going to be any problem." "I am going to be on the station later. You are welcome to have dinner with me and Charley." "Thanks, but no thanks, captain. I would make people too uncomfortable." "I will contact you through Babylon 5 C&C later for the talk with Lyta. I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you, captain." "I will take that under advisement, commander." "Only for seven more hours, captain." ***************************************************** Susan and Charley were in Lyta's quarters. "What is your plan of attack, Lyta?" asked Susan. "Simple really. I am going to hit him in the face with his wife, and in the solar plexus with his children. Michael told me that it has been announced on ISN, that the board of inquiry has completed is questioning of witnesses, and that you have been exonerated of wrongdoing, and are being reassigned. There is a change of command scheduled for day after tomorrow and your XO is being promoted and will take over command of the Ares. His wife has seen the newscasts. He is going to have to explain to her and them, why he is turning it down. She has been with him since he graduated from the academy." "You, Lyta Alexander are the most sneaky, underhanded, conniving woman, I know....Myself excluded, of course." commented Susan. "Of course, and those are my best qualities," retorted the redhead. "Michael has talked to her and their kids. She is so proud of him, she can't stand it. The children are ecstatic that daddy is going to be a captain." "God, Lyta. If this doesn't work, they will be devastated." "I know, but you told me to pull out all the stops. I have something else to offer him, but I don't think he will listen." Susan's link beeped and she responded. "Captain Ivanova. We have a call for you from Commander Owens." "Put him through." "When will Lyta be available, captain?" "Meet him in the Zocalo and bring him here. Garibaldi is standing by with his family." "Commander, I will meet you at the bar outside the restaurant we danced in a few weeks ago." ***************************************************** The doorbell chimed and Lyta called out, "Come in." Commander Owens entered and said, "Good evening, Lyta. Captain Ivanova asked me to talk to you before I left for Mars." "Have a seat, Pat. Can I get you some tea? It's fresh." "Let's get this over with, Lyta. I already have passage booked to Mars. I leave at 0100 in the morning." "I see you aren't wasting any time." "I am listening." "Pat. There is no reason to be rude to me. I haven't done anything to hurt you." "This isn't the best day of my life, Lyta. Everybody is trying to tell me what is best for me." "Is that what you expect me to do?" "Frankly, yes. I know you are very good friends with Captain Ivanova." "I am, and her name is Susan." "Not to me. The only things I call her are captain, sir, or Captain Ivanova. She is or was my commanding officer. She is not my friend." "I imagine, if you ask Susan, she will tell you she considered Captain John Sheridan her very good friend, in spite of the fact he was her CO." "That is irrelevant to this situation." "I once worked for a Vorlon that used that word a lot." "Was he your friend?" "I confess, you got me there, Pat. I never really knew. I think to him I was nothing more than an intelligent pet, who made a good weapon." "Give me the spiel, Lyta. I am listening." "They want you to stay, accept the promotion and take the Ares through its yard period. You have knowledge that rivals that of Susan about the ship, its abilities and its quirks. The deal would be when the Ares completes her final testing after departing the shipyard, you will be allowed to retire, and another captain will be assigned as her CO. I am going to add one detail of my own. If you do this for Susan, it gives the Ares the advantage of having a good friend handling the purse strings, and gives the purse holder the confidence of having someone who knows what the hell they are doing, running the military end of the show on board the ship. I will guarantee that upon retirement, you will walk into a senior executive position in a major company on Mars, or any other planet, or colony within the limits of the IA. The pay will be more than adequate to compensate for the extra time you spend in earthforce." "I will give you credit, Lyta. You know how to dangle one hell of a carrot, but no sale. This board of inquiry was the straw that broke this camel's back." "Then before you leave will you do me one small favor? It will only take a few minutes, and it won't cost you anything, except the time." "Okay." Lyta punched a button on the comm panel and the face of Michael Garibaldi appeared. "Are they ready, Michael?" "They sure are, Lyta." "Put them on." "Pat. I will be waiting in Charlie's quarters. Just call there when you are finished. Take as long as you wish. The call is paid for." As Lyta left, Owens' wife and children moved into camera range. ***************************************************** In Wayne's quarters the doorbell chimed. "Cone in," said Wayne. "He's on the comm system with his family, Susan. I don't hold any hope that he will reconsider," said Lyta. "Why not?" "Apparently this is not something that just happened in the last few weeks." "I showed you his record. He hasn't forgiven them, for holding him back when he was a junior officer. By all rights he should have been a captain several years ago. The brig time and court-martial didn't help. His hatred of many of the senior officer corps runs deep because of the civil war." "In spite of that, you want me to convince him to stay? I think this is one time I won't be able to deliver, Susan. Wipe out a Drakh fleet, piece of cake. Change Pat's mind...isn't going to happen." Lyta stepped to the comm panel and placed a call to Mars. A few minutes later she had Garibaldi on the line. "What now, Lyta?" "I don't think this is going to work, so I have another little favor to ask." "You are beginning to sound like I used to." Lyta motioned Susan to the panel. "Hello Michael." "Garibaldi's face lit up. Susan, what can I do for you. This is the first time you and Lyta have ever double teamed me." "Michael, if Lyta's efforts go south, can you help Pat find a job. He is one hell of a good XO. I think he would be an excellent manager." "Coming from you, that is a very good recommendation. For you and Lyta, I will do what I can. I have a few positions that need someone who is a leader in them, who won't hesitate to tell me to go take a flying......on the proverbial rolling donut." "You won't be disappointed Michael," said Susan. "I know that." "Thank you, Michael," added Lyta. Garibaldi broke the circuit on his end. "How long did you give him to talk to his family?" asked Susan. "As long as he wants. I can afford it," replied Lyta. ***************************************************** "Hello, Pat," said the woman on the screen. "Hi dad," chimed in the three younger girls, "Long time no see." The woman on the screen held up a forth daughter, this one less than two years old. "Her name is Lynn, Pat." "Charlie, you look beautiful, the girls look great." "That sounds like a biased opinion to me." "It's the one that counts." "We just saw the ISN newscast. You and your CO aren't going to be prosecuted." "We got lucky, Charlie. They were gunning for Captain Ivanova. I wouldn't cooperate with them, so I think I made some more enemies in the senior officer corps. Add that to the feelings left over from my court-martial, and there are a lot of powerful people who have no use for me." "The newscast said you were going to be promoted and become the CO of the Ares." "Dad, we are so proud of you," said the oldest of his daughters. "Mom has told us how hard you've worked, and the sacrifices that have been made getting here," said the youngest of his teen-aged daughters. Dad, it's been almost two years now. When are you coming home? "Honey, it's a real feather in your cap. You not only make captain. You are getting the most wanted ship assignment in earthforce." "Sweetheart, you have stayed with me when many would have called it quits. I know it has been hell for you and the children, but..." "What's wrong, Pat" "The newscast had most of the story, but it was not quite accurate. Before the orders were issued, I had put in for retirement and been approved. That made the orders invalid. I got a visit from General Leftcourt. He said the retirement approval could be canceled, whether I liked it or not. When he said that, I transmitted my resignation to the bureau and got an acknowledgment. There isn't anything he can do about that. He got mad as hell, but it won't do him any good. Since I never signed my latest request for continuation of service, I was free to quit on the spot. I did. I have forfeited all of my retirement pay and benefits. We're back at square one. Since I resigned, I am not entitled to any severance pay. The only thing I am entitled to is a ticket home and my last month's paycheck. After that we will be living on our savings until I can find a job. " "I should be hurt and disappointed, but I'm not, really. I remember when you were passed over, the fiasco over the Farragut incident, and now this board of inquiry thing. They've been hanging you and Captain Ivanova for weeks in the media, but the story about your exoneration lasted less than one minute. That, and the fact that you are not popular with your contemporaries, since you were chosen, over them, for the XO job, and not popular with your superiors, because you dodge bullets, are good reasons for calling it quits. I wish you hadn't had to forfeit your retirement. Judy is going to be starting college in a couple of months. This is going to make it rough." "I can work part time and go to school part time, mom. Besides, I got a scholarship that will pay for the tuition and books. If I live at home, it won't be too bad," replied his oldest daughter. "Pat, honey, I will see what I can find. If I can find something temporary, maybe it will take the pressure off you, and give you time to find a decent job. When are you coming home?" "My ship leaves at 0100 in the morning. It's not a direct flight, so it will be over a week. If all goes well, I will be home by next Friday." "We'll be waiting for you." "I love all of you?" "We love you dad," said the girls in unison. His wife broke the circuit. Owens sat looking at the BabCom logo, and tears started running down his cheeks. Very quietly he cried to himself wishing there had been some other way, but his pride told him there wasn't. Thirty minutes later, having washed all indications of his emotional outburst from his face, he signaled Lyta that the call was finished. ***************************************************** On Mars, Garibaldi had taken the call from Lyta and Susan in his inner office. After the call was ended, he switched the equipment and monitored the call being made from his office. Owens had a good family. Not many women would have stayed with a man through the trials, tribulations, and separations that Owens had experienced during his career. Michael wasn't surprised at the Leftcourt approach to Owens. He hadn't had any use for the bastard ever since the civil war. One day when he had some spare time, before the old goat croaked, he would try to repay to him some of what he had visited on others. As the screen went blank on the comm panel, Garibaldi reentered his outer office. "Everything all right, Mrs. Owens?" "As well as can be expected, Mr. Garibaldi. I want to thank you for your courtesy." "A friend asked me to help get you in contact with your husband. I am glad to be of service." Charlie Owens and her daughters got up to leave. "Mrs. Owens, could I have a word with you?" Charlie gave her youngest child to her oldest. "We will be right outside, mom." "Please sit down." "What can I do for you, Mr. Garibaldi?" "That's supposed to be my line." Charlie waited for him to continue. "Some friends told me about the problem you and your husband are having. They asked me to lend you a hand, if I could. It seems that I can. I owe one of them big time, several times over. I don't think one of them is ever going to let me off the hook, and the other one will kick my fat butt, if I don't help. You can see the fix I am in. That's where you and your family come in." "What are you saying?" "What is your specialty?" "I used to be a dance instructor. I have a degree in business, but the birth of my oldest daughter, and Pat's feelings about children, mothers and one parent being at home, took me out of the workforce. The subsequent children have kept me out ever since. Now, I have another young one. I don't know how I am going to be of any help to him." "I have a great many jobs that I have trouble filling. However, none of them involve dancing, but I am going to have a fellow named Harvey Winston contact you. He is my chief of personnel. I am willing to bet that we have something that fits the bill for you. Hell, I can guarantee it. I look forward to meeting your husband when he gets here." "Who are your friends that you would do this for us?" "One is Lyta Alexander. She has saved my life a number of times. I have never been able to return those favors. The puzzled look on Mrs. Owes' face told him she did not recognize Lyta's name. "Remember the Telepath War? The redhead whose picture was always in the news? That's her. She's as good a friend as you can want." "Who is the other?" "She is Lyta's best friend. She is a nasty, kick-ass brunette, earthforce officer, Captain Susan Ivanova, commanding officer of the EAS Aries, your husband's boss for the time being." "I didn't even know you until a few hours ago. I have never met Lyta Alexander. I have met Captain Ivanova only once at an official luncheon. I think I was introduced, but that was it. Why do this for us?" "Why not? Oh, one more thing. We have a very good work-study program for students who don't mind pulling their own load. You might want to look into that. We also have scholarships for bright students who need help. It is something Lyta suggested I do. So far, it has worked extremely well. We graduated our first engineering class this last semester. I hate to throw you out, Mrs. Owens, but there are some things that need my attention." "Thank you, Mr. Garibaldi." "You are welcome, ma'am." ***************************************************** In Lyta's quarters, Pat was facing Lyta and Ivanova. "I appreciate the call to my family, but my answer remains unchanged." "There is something you should both know. There was never any intent to hang either of you out to dry. Captain Conrad had his mind messed with by a couple of psi cops, before he came to Babylon 5. I know because last night I went in, and undid their handiwork. I learned who the psi cops were, they were careless with names when they were working on him, and I know who was responsible for them doing it. Conrad never had in it for you, Susan. In fact, after I straightened his mind out, it was quite obvious, he has a great deal of respect for you." "I kept wondering in the inquiry, what his tactics were going to be. If he wanted to ruin me, he was going about it in an odd way. It drove me up the wall." "Pat let me play back his questioning of Garvey and Susan for you. Close your eyes." Owens closed his eyes and found himself in the inquiry room. He watched as Conrad questioned Garvey and Ivanova. "I don't believe it," he commented. "That was the real Jason Conrad. He is quite a nice man, really." "Did you really hire him?" "Most certainly, Susan. He is very good at what he does." "Leftcourt told me what you were offering him." "For the responsibility he is assuming, the pay is appropriate. Are you planning to quit?" "After these last few weeks, I have to think about it, very seriously. Besides, after this place, running anything else should be a piece of cake, and most CEOs don't have to worry about getting their asses shot off by the Drakh." "What time are you and Charley going to dinner?" "We will come by about 1915 or so." "Pat. Did I lie, about not trying to sell you a bill of goods?" "No. No you didn't." ***************************************************** Lyta walked into the departure lounge about 0015 and looked around. There was Owens sitting dozing in a seat waiting for his flight to be announced. "Hello, Pat," Lyta said sitting down in the empty chair beside him. "You should have come to dinner. John and Delenn came. You would have enjoyed the conversation. Captain Lochley and Larry Evans were there, too. There was music and dancing." Owens looked tiredly at Lyta. "What are you trying to say?" "I would have enjoyed dancing with you one more time. So much for wants." He checked his watch. "They should be boarding in a few minutes." "I know. I wish things could have worked out differently. I understand why you couldn't withdraw your resignation. I knew you wouldn't, even before the call to your family." "Then, why waste the cost of the call?" "Did you consider it a waste for you?" Looking sheepish, he responded, "No. It was very thoughtful, Lyta." "Your family is going to be waiting for you on Mars, and so is Michael Garibaldi. You remember the bald guy who answered my call, and put your family on the line. He will be waiting for you, too." "Why?" "Why not? Besides he owes me and Susan." "You and the captain?" "The three of us are old friends along with Delenn and John Sheridan. Well, not John in my case." "You're telling me, Captain Ivanova had something to do with this besides trying to keep me on active duty?" "You're surprised. I told you Susan was your friend." "Captain Ivanova always has been different from my other COs." "When the ship pulls in after being shot all to hell and being away for almost two years, she will have no family waiting for her. Well, she didn't in the past. That's changing with Charley. Funny part is now she won't be going out on patrols anymore." The announcing system blared the next departure in several different languages. "That's my call, Lyta." Lyta stood up and kissed him. "Tell your wife she has a wonderful man for a husband, and tell Michael Garibaldi, this does not let him off my hook." "I envy the man who finally gets you, Lyta." She watched him walk away until he was out of sight. ***************************************************** "Good morning, captain," said her yeoman putting the days message traffic in her "in" box. "I will take your word for that," she answered. Her XO was gone and she wasn't in a terribly good mood, but she kept it to herself. She and Pat had been through a lot together. If truth be known, she had come to think of him more like a brother than just her XO. His leaving left an empty spot in her heart. It remained for her to learn what the brass had in store now. There would be no change of command ceremony, at least not here at Babylon 5. There was an interesting message in the morning traffic. Commander Owens' resignation was being held pending disposal of his approved retirement request. Interesting situation, this one was. It seemed like there were times when the various parts or the Department of Earthforce Personnel didn't know what was being done in the others. She read the "To:" heading and saw that Leftcourt was the lead "for action" addressee. There was one notifying her and Leftcourt that a new candidate was being dispatched to assume command of the Ares. She would be promoted on schedule and turn over the command whenever the new CO arrived, ceremony was optional. She wasn't familiar with the new CO's name, so she detailed her yeoman to pull together what he could on the man. She wanted to know who she was turning the ship over to. ***************************************************** 1130 It was 1130 when Susan decided to break for lunch. She never ceased to be amazed at how much paper could accumulate in the span of a day. She walked down to the wardroom and ordered lunch. "May I join you, captain?" asked Norman Kelly. "Certainly, Mr. Kelly." "Captain, I would like to request me and my crew be allowed to ride the ship back to earth. We can continue our work on the way, and it will save a lot of money on our transportation." "I have no problems with that, but I am not going to be taking her back." "Why not?" "I am being reassigned, and they are sending a new CO." "I haven't seen Commander Owens this morning. He usually stops by and has coffee with me. He didn't make it today." "Commander Owens is on his way back to earth. He resigned his commission, yesterday." "I am sorry about that. I was looking forward to working with him and you during the repair and overhaul period. Now, it looks like I won't have either of you to depend on." "I am being assigned to the Department of Design and Procurement." Through bites of food, he asked, "You aren't a "pork chop", who will you be working for, or have they told you? I know the fellow who runs that command. He is a good man. I have worked with him and his people for a long time now. I have also worked with his predecessors. After all, I've been doing this for a while now. Sometimes it can be frustrating though, they are sticklers for rules and regulations." "I will be working for General Leftcourt." "Odd. I would have expected them to assign you to a staff position there." "General Zaleski is retiring in about two months." "Do you know who his replacement will be?" "Me." Kelly looked at her for a long moment. "That's a two star, pork chop, billet captain." "I know. That was my response, when I was told." "Are they downgrading it?" "No. I am being promoted to brigadier general. That's why I am leaving the Ares. I am then being given a temporary promotion to major general upon assuming command. At least that's what Leftcourt told me. I just work here." "They would seem to be pushing you very hard." "Tell me about it. I only became a captain a little less than five years ago. I would like to think I've earned the rank, but sometimes I wonder." "I've seen this happen before. They get a hot running outstanding young officer, then push him for all he's worth. It gets him into the higher ranks early where he can make a difference for a long time to come." "I agree, but I'm a she." "That much would be obvious to a legally blind man. However, the fact remains, you are being pushed. You apparently have qualities they want in the general officer corps. I remember working with you, although not directly, on the Ares. I was privy to your demonstrations and arguments when her design was being finalized, and when we were finishing her construction and testing. You impressed the hell out of me then. Others were apparently making notes. You haven't disappointed anyone, yet." "Would you believe, I was XO on Babylon 5 for four years?" Kelly whistled, "You don't get the easy ones do you?" "I was a Lcdr when I took over the XO billet." "I think you will work out just fine with your new assignment. You have the main ingredients in excess, tenacity and ability." "Time will tell." "I appreciated the conversation, captain, but I have to get back to whip cracking." ***************************************************** 1200 Susan was kicked back on her office couch conducting light leak checks on the inside of her eyelids, when the comm unit on her hand chirped. "Go." "Captain, we just received notice that General Leftcourt wants to see you onboard the station." "Put me through to him." "You want to see me, general?" "You have seen your morning traffic. There is something in it we need to discuss." "If it's about Owens..." "It isn't. If you can make it, I will expect you in my quarters in three hours." "Yes sir." [So much for the light leak tests.] Stepping over too her desk, she noticed papers that hadn't been there when she went to lunch. She read them and knew what Leftcourt wanted." ***************************************************** 0730 "Lyta," said Charles Wayne. Pausing in her efforts to eat her breakfast. "Go ahead, Charley, talk, and let me finish eating." "Susan and I have become engaged. We plan to marry day after tomorrow. She wants to have John and Delenn Sheridan there, and you to. She wants me to come to Earth with her. Is that going to be a problem?" Lyta nodded her head, no. "I think it's great, mom. Do I get to come?" "You are going to be part of it, Maya," replied Charley. "Larry, I want you to be my best man." "I accept," he replied over his coffee. "We need a bridesmaid. Do you suppose Elizabeth, might agree to do that?" "I will ask." Lyta straightened up in her chair and seemed to be listening. "Boss, is something wrong?" asked Larry. "He's here. His ship just came through the jump gate." "How could you know that?" asked Charles. "I have been in Sheraun's mind before. I can sense him a very long way off." Larry looked at Charles. Neither had ever heard of a telepath who could sense someone thousands of kilometers away. "We know you aren't any regular garden variety telepath, boss, but no telepath can sense someone that far away," said Larry. Lyta looked at him, and replied, "Whatever you say, Larry." She used the comm panel to call Delenn. When Delenn answered the call, Lyta said, "I thought you said Sheraun wouldn't be here." "He isn't supposed to be," replied Delenn. "How do you know he is here?" "I felt his mind, when his ship came through the jump gate." "I will check on it, and get back to you." "She wasn't surprised that you could sense him?" asked Charles. "Delenn knows more about me that either of you do." "You have lots of secrets, don't you?" inquired Charley. "More than my share," replied Lyta. "Have you had trouble with him?" asked Larry. "I wouldn't call it that. I think situation might be more accurate." Larry thought for a moment, then smiled to himself. "What is funny, Larry?" asked Charley. "Lyta. Is this the minbari that wants to marry you?" asked Larry. Softly, she replied, with regret in her voice, "Yes." "You love this guy, don't you?" asked Charles. Wistfully, she replied, "Yes. Very much, but I can't allow it. Not now, maybe not ever." "We have a meeting at 0930 and another at 1200," noted Larry. ***************************************************** 0800 "John. What is Whitestar 71 doing here?" asked Delenn. "I don't know. You're responsible for their assignments." Delenn activated the comm panel and placed a call to her headquarters on Minbar. It took a few minutes for the connection to be made. When it was, her chief of staff (CoS) appeared on the screen. "Entil'za, how may I be of service?" "What is Whitestar 71 doing at Babylon 5?" Her CoS consulted something off to the side of the screen. "Entil'za. Whitestar 84 is scheduled to start its next patrol. Since Whitestar 71 had just finished a long patrol in the Glenthorian sector, we sent it to replace Whitestar 84. Is there something wrong?" "No. I just didn't expect it to be here." Delenn executed a small bow and broke the circuit. "See. I told you, I didn't have anything to do with its being here." "Sheraun is the ship's commander," noted Delenn. "Maybe she won't know he is here. He won't have any reason to come aboard the station." "She sensed him before his ship cleared the jump gate." "I keep forgetting just how powerful she is." "When are you starting back to Minbar?" "Not until after Susan's wedding." "When is that?" "Day after tomorrow. Also, General Leftcourt says they are having a small promotion ceremony this afternoon for Susan," said John. "It's being held in the wardroom and we are invited." "She has come so far since she first reported aboard the station. She was a young uptight, to use a human term, Lcdr." John laughed, "She was running her tail off, trying to keep this place in one piece, when I came aboard. She had worked for me, years before. She has been an outstanding officer and a damned good friend." "Lyta seems to think so, too." "They are a pair. Both can be harder than Shadow armor, and softer than cotton candy. Can you believe, twice Lyta has been on the spot and saved her from certain death at the hands of the Drakh." "The universe puts us in the right place at the right time. It is up to us to make the best of it, and Lyta usually does." "I am going for a stroll and do a bit of observing. I'll be back in time for lunch." "Good. I have some business with our ambassador, and the ranger commander assigned to the station." ***************************************************** END PART 18 From: "Aubrey W. Adkins" Subject: Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 19 of ---(WIP) Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1999 21:04:00 -0400 Adventures of Lyta After G'Kar Part 19 of ---(WIP) Criticism is welcomed. Without, it there can't be any improvement. Address criticisms to [xazqrten@norfolk.infi.net] Think of this as a space opera. All characters/places/persons not belonging to the writer are the sole properties of their owners, PTEN, WB, JMS, and will be turned over to the owners at the request of their agents. All other characters/places/persons are public domain. Rated PG-10 (Vocabulary) ****************************************************** 1100 "You are going over to the station, Captain?" Asked his first officer. "Yes. There is someone there, I am looking for. At least there was a week or so ago," replied Sheraun. "How can you be so sure, sir?" "No one else could have destroyed that Drakh fleet. I am betting she is there. Entil'za Delenn will help me find her." 1245 The large minbari in the ranger uniform was passed through customs and immigration without delay. Sheraun went to the first public access comm panel available. He made two requests. The first was for the quarters location of Entil'za Delenn, and the second was for Lyta Alexander. The first was returned in a few seconds. The second came up negative. Sheraun was miffed. Lyta could have erased the records of her presence from the database. "A credit for your thoughts, Captain," said a female voice from close behind him. Turning he found himself looking down at a female earthforce captain. He immediately recognized her from their earlier meeting. "Captain Ivanova. I heard about your little firefight. I believe that is the human term for it." "I could have done without it. Did you notice how much damage they did to my ship?" "The visual looks bad, but sensors indicate that the real damage is very minor. You have a good ship." "It gets the job done. Who are you looking for?" "Entil'za Delenn and Lyta Alexander. I found where Delenn is staying, but the database has no information on Lyta." "Lyta is here. She just doesn't like people knowing where. I didn't know you knew her." "Yes. We met several years ago. She was traveling with Ambassador G'Kar." "I take it, she made an impression on you?" "You could say that. Do you know where I can find her?" Susan thought for a minute. This guy knew Lyta, and from what she could feel of his emotions, when she had told him she was here, his level of anxiety had gone through the ceiling. "I suggest you ask Delenn, Captain. I don't know what the relationship is between you and Lyta, but I get the impression, it is more than just a passing fancy. Lyta is my best friend. I won't do anything to hurt her." [Even if I could.] "As you wish," he replied, obviously disappointed. Unknown to both of them, Lyta was observing the encounter from a vantage point about ten meters away. Looking at Sheraun and sensing his feelings for her, made her stomach churn, and her heart ache. She didn't want to admit it, but she loved the big minbari. However, she knew now was not the time or place. Maya at her side felt the turmoil her mother was experiencing. Lyta glared at her daughter. Maya looked up at her mother's face. She turned and looked in Sheraun's direction and zeroed in on his mind. ***************************************************** 1315 "I will leave until he is gone, Delenn," said Lyta to her friend. "I need to take Maya home. She is getting old enough to get started on a formal schooling program." "You should see him, Lyta. You can tell him, you are no longer interested, and he should get on with his life. It will be doing him a favor. He asked where you are staying, but I didn't tell him." "It may not be that easy, Delenn. You don't understand the depths of his feelings for me. I made the mistake of kissing him like I wanted to make love to him, and I did. It was a mistake, but it is done. If he could have handled it, then, I would have." "I don't understand?" "I will show you, but it may disgust you?" Lyta put her arms around Delenn and kissed her deeply on the mouth while feeding back the pleasure to her, and felt Delenn's pleasure and fed it back to her. A minute later, Lyta stepped back, and Delenn had to hold onto the edge of the table to keep from falling. "Do you understand, now, Delenn?" Trying to get her thoughts sorted out, Delenn was slow to respond. "I have never experienced anything that intense before." "For a man, Sheraun to be precise, it is much more intense. He actually lost consciousness." Delenn just stared at her. "I am not human, Delenn. You, most of all, should understand. That's why it's best, I don't see him again. The other reason is, I do want him, but I can't have him. Maybe in the future, but not now." "What about Susan's wedding. Are you going to miss that? Are you going to the small ceremony for her promotion today?" "I didn't know about the promotion ceremony. I will just have to miss her wedding." There was a knock at the door, it was Susan. "Lyta is leaving, today, Susan." "Why?" "To avoid an encounter with Sheraun." "You saw him today?" "He was talking to you, just outside the customs area." "I don't understand, Lyta. What is he to you? I felt his anxiety level go through the roof when I told him you were still on the station. Is there something between the two of you?' Asked Susan. "He thinks so." "Tell her the truth, mom," commented Maya. "What truth, Lyta? This is me Susan Ivanova, your number one best friend." "He is very much in love with me, and wants to marry me." "And?" Lyta didn't answer immediately. Susan looked into her friends eyes, and studied her face. "My God. This big minbari owns your heart, Lyta Alexander. Tell me I'm wrong." Lyta still didn't answer. "It's true. I just find it hard to believe." "Why?" responded Lyta. "You are powerful beyond imagination. You can trash a Drakh fleet as easily as I step on a cockroach, kill and cripple with a thought, but you can't handle how you feel about this minbari warrior. What do you think, Maya?" "I don't have to think, Aunt Susan. I know." Lyta glared at her daughter. "And?" Asked Susan "You are right." "I have to run. Leftcourt is expecting me," said Susan. "Susan. What time is the ceremony?" Asked Delenn. "I don't know what you are talking about, Delenn," said Susan as she hurried out the door. ***************************************************** 1415 In Leftcourt's quarters. "Someone screwed up Susan. The guy they want to send as a replacement has no shipboard experience above the division officer level. I don't know how long it will take to assign some one competent to the billet." "I'll take her back, general. I am going that way anyway. The shipyard supervisor requested that he and his people be allowed to make the transit on the ship, and I agreed, it's a good idea. Also, I am going to get married in a couple of days, and I plan to take my new husband back with me, unless someone has objections." "It's your ship. I don't think anyone, who values his physical health, will object. By the way, I am taking care of the Owens matter." "It's okay, general. Lyta and I talked to an old and mutual friend on Mars. Pat won't have any problems. " "Who is the friend?" "The former head of security on Babylon 5, Michael Garibaldi. He owns and runs Edgar Industries with his wife, Lise. She is the former Mrs. Edgars." "You seem to know a lot of people with money and influence." "If Michael hadn't handled it, Lyta would have. She has some interests on both Mars and Earth." Leftcourt consulted his watch. "It's time we made our way to the wardroom. We have business there." Susan led the way. ***************************************************** 1400 "Entil'za Delenn. Do you know where, Lyta is staying?" Asked Sheraun. "Yes, but I don't think she wants to see you." "With all due respect, Entil'za, I want to hear her tell me that. The fact that she eluded us at Mars, doesn't mean she is not interested in me." "You know what she can do. It must be obvious even to you, she is not human." "I agree, she is not human, but, then, neither am I." Delenn looked up at the big ranger. He would not take no for an answer. "I will tell Lyta you are here. I wouldn't be surprised if she already knew." "Thank you, Entil'za." ***************************************************** 1415 Sheraun was feeling good. She was here and he was going to get to see her. He was humming to himself as he made his way to the office of the ranger in charge of rangers on Babylon 5. Passers by looked oddly at the humming minbari. Since most all minbari on the station in particular always seemed so serious, Sheraun's actions did draw attention. Stepping into the office, Sheraun asked the young ranger at the desk, "Where is the senior ranger?" "He is in the inner office, sir." A middle aged narn, in superb physical shape even for a narn warrior, stepped into the front office and looked the visitor up and down. "Welcome to Babylon 5, Captain Sheraun. How may I be of assistance?" "I am looking for Lyta Alexander. I thought you might know where I can find her." "Most people would rather avoid her, especially those on the wrong side of the law, but that would not include you." "I am on the right side of the law. At least I think I am." "I wasn't casting aspersions on you, Captain. I meant that most people prefer to avoid her. It is safer." "I don't understand?" "Recently, someone tried to kill her and her daughter. They just missed killing Entil'za Delenn during the aborted attempt. She had dismissed her guards earlier, not that they would have made a difference. There were seven individuals involved." "I just saw Entil'za Delenn and she said nothing of this." "Since neither she nor Lyta or her daughter were hurt, she doesn't consider it anything worth wasting time on. Besides they picked up the assassins or rather what was left of them." "What do you mean by, what was left of them?" "There were four of them killed outright. Their brains looked like someone exploded a device within them. The other three are vegetables. They have only basic activity, enough to keeping them breathing and their hearts beating. They have decided to let nature take its course. They are not providing any life support of any kind." "Does anyone know what happened to them?" "According to security, there are no clues. The same night they had two more vegetables come in to medlab with more than two dozen crippled lurkers just so the medlab boys wouldn't feel ignored. They don't have any clues there either." "There must be something. I find it hard to believe that much mayhem just happened in that period of time. That is a stretch even for Babylon 5." "I have heard a couple of rumors, but I don't put much stock in them." "Why don't you offer me a cup of tea, and tell me about it?" The narn motioned him into the back office. Taking a sip of the tea, Sheraun commented, "Good tea. Now, what are these rumors you have heard." "Remember these are just rumors," insisted the narn, "They say that the mother and daughter were actually hit by the gunfire, and that Lyta kicked Delenn's chair over just in time to keep her from being hit. Personally I don't believe the part about Lyta and her daughter being hit. However, there are several people who swear they saw them leave through the restaurants back door, and that the back of her clothing was burned away." Sheraun chuckled. "Sounds like some of the patrons had too much to drink." "I agree, but two of the witnesses were their waiter and the establishment manager, and they were cold sober. When they were seen about thirty minutes later they were wearing the same clothing, and it wasn't burned. So, I guess you can believe it or not. I choose not to." "What does Delenn say happened?" "She claims she heard the PPG fire, and was kicked to the floor. She also claims she doesn't know where the other shots went. She only knows one of them hit the table where her plate had been." "What else were you going to tell me?" The security chief, Zack Allen, believes the assassins were dealt with by Lyta. He has voiced the opinion that the other vegetables were her doing. He even believes she crippled most, if not all, of the lurkers that showed up in medlab the same night. She must be a regular one woman crime wave, but only if you accept Mr. Allen's fantasies." Sheraun laughed, "I am trying to picture Lyta as a one woman crime wave." "I told you, they weren't believable." "You did, and I agree." Finishing his tea, Sheraun asked, "Any real news or other information that I should know while we are on patrol here?" "Nothing that I know of. Since the attack, it has been very quiet. The IA members are rotating their warships through here in order to give the station additional protection. If it hadn't been for Captain Ivanova and the Ares, we would be history." "She is a very formidable opponent." "The Drakh learned that one the hard way. They had to know she and the Ares were here." "The knowledge did them no good, apparently?" Putting his hand across his heart the narn bowed slightly and said, "Please come again, and may Valen be with you." Sheraun returned the salute and walked out of the office. ***************************************************** 1445 "Hello, Mr. President." "Hello, Captain Sheraun. What brings you to Babylon 5?" "We are relieving Whitestar 84, Mr. President. Since we are here, I decided to visit the station ranger." "You wouldn't be looking for a particular redhead, would you Captain?" "I might, but she doesn't want to be found." "Since you are here, why don't you attend Captain Ivanova's promotion ceremony. I am heading there myself. You remember her. She annihilated Clark's advanced destroyer group during our civil war." "She is being promoted?" "They are making a brigadier general out of her." "I think I would like to attend." "I don't think there's much chance of running into Lyta there. She doesn't care for military types." ***************************************************** 1445 "Lyta. General Leftcourt and his staff are having an informal promotion ceremony for Susan in the wardroom. I have been invited to attend. I think Susan would appreciate you being there. After all, in some ways you are very responsible for her being here to be promoted," said Delenn from the comm screen in Lyta's quarters. "I will come by your quarters. Give me a few minutes." "I will be waiting." Lyta looked at Maya, and asked, "Do you want to come along?" Maya jumped off the bed and was pulling Lyta's hand toward the door, almost before she finished asking. ***************************************************** Delenn was waiting for Lyta's knock. The door opened on the first push of the bell. "Let's be off, Lyta. We don't have too much time." 1500 Lyta, Delenn, Maya and Delenn's guards arrived outside The station's wardroom. The guards took up positions on either side of the door. The women entered. Inside the wardroom, Leftcourt and Ivanova greeted Delenn. Lyta and Maya stood in back of the room. The room was full of officers that made up the board of inquiry and station officers who had wished to attend. Susan looked to where her friend was standing, and was greeted by Lyta shaking her head, no. Lyta was using an old teep trick to keep her and Maya from being noticed. She studied the people who were present. She recognized all of the board members and most of the station officers who were present. She had been aware that Sheraun was on the station as soon as his shuttle arrived. She wondered why Lyta was so sensitive to him. It bothered her. Maya was looking up at her mom. Lyta tensed up inside. He was just outside the wardroom. The door opened and in came John Sheridan followed by a very tall Minbari dressed in a ranger uniform sporting warrior caste trimmings. Lyta could feel her heart pound in her chest. Her anxiety went off the scale. She couldn't understand her reaction to him. She hadn't even reacted this strongly to Byron, and he had been a telepath. Sheraun wasn't even a telepath. Maya was aware of the changes in her mother's physiology. It was becoming interesting from her point of view. It was obvious she was very much in love with the minbari, even if she wouldn't admit it. John and Sheraun approached Susan, Delenn and Leftcourt. "Tom. I would like you to meet one of our whitestar captains. Sheraun of the Minbari warrior caste." "Pleased to met you. John didn't use your clan name?" "My family has all but disowned me, general. They may even have done that by now. I haven't spoken to any of them in many years." Marsh and Sanchez wandered over and were introduced. Captain Lochley entered the room and approached Leftcourt. "Shall we get this show on the road, General Leftcourt?" Stepping to the small podium that had been set up, the general tapped a tumbler on its edge to get everyone's attention. "If you gentlemen and women will grab a seat, there a few things that need to be said, before we get to the main reason for this gathering. As you all know, we completed the witness questioning phase of the inquiry. There have been some good and bad results come out of those proceedings. To put them in some perspective, I have asked one of those affected by them to give you a short explanation. Jason, it all yours," said Leftcourt, indicating a neatly dressed civilian in the back of the room. Coming to the podium, Jason introduced himself. "For anyone who doesn't already know, my name is Jason Conrad, formerly of earthforce. The general thought it would help if I explained the prior proceedings. Between the time I was assigned to the board of inquiry as chief investigator, and the time I left earth for Babylon 5, I was abducted by several former psi cops and they messed with my mind. The purpose of this was to destroy the credibility of this board, and ruin the stature of anyone who supported it. There was also the desire to destroy Captain Ivanova and me. That is quite a lot to swallow. However, there is a telepath aboard Babylon 5 who was able to identify the damage and repair it. This is how I and others learned the extent of what was done to me and why. The downside is that I conducted an extremely thorough background investigation of both Captain Ivanova and her former XO. My investigators combed through their careers and lives before they joined earthforce. We were looking for anything that could be used either against them or as leverage to elicit what we desired. I am happy to report that we failed, but not before my actions in this endeavor forced me to resign my commission, or before Commander Patrick Owens, former XO of the Ares, resigned his. It almost resulted in the resignation of Captain Ivanova. She was prevented from communicating with her ship and submitting her resignation papers. The upside is that we know who the former psi cops involved are, and whom they were working for. The telepath informed me that none of the information gained can be used in a court of law. So, there isn't much that the legal system can do. However, the telepath recently informed me that those psi cops are in custody, and will be shown the error of their ways, whatever that means. Bluntly speaking, not one of you other officers could stand up to the scrutiny to which we subjected Captain Ivanova and Commander Owens. A cursory look at your records revealed as much. Captain Ivanova and Commander Owens have several major flaws. They are brutally honest in their dedication to duty. They love earth and her peoples with all their heart, and they will do what they see as right to protect her and her peoples, regardless of personal cost. Both have put their lives and careers on the line in that pursuit. Commander Owens finally quit. He was not popular with most of you for his actions in the civil war. He refused, at risk of his life and career, to follow illegal orders and kill innocent civilians. How many of you hunkered down and followed orders hoping to escape justice for your cowardice during the war. If you think that's too strong, look in the mirror. Captain Ivanova followed Captain Sheridan and led his forces in battle during the civil war. We have seen the thanks that Captain Sheridan received. Once again the cowards won and he was forced to resign. I was a lowly investigator during the war and as such I have a treasure trove of information about people places and things that did, and did not occur then. I am thrilled to see Captain Ivanova put on another stripe. I just wonder how many of you she will have to fight in the future. You all have one thing to look forward to. You won't have to face her in actual deadly combat. The worst that can happen is you will get a paper cut waving sheets around as you argue over budgets and such. I would feel badly about resigning, except that I have been hired in to run a business at a starting salary, that is seven times as much as I earned in my whole earthforce career. I have finished. Thank you again, General Leftcourt. "Jason. Who is the telepath you referred to?" Asked Sanchez. Conrad looked to the back of the room, Lyta nodded. "The lady who is providing the telepaths for our board security," he answered leaving the podium. Heads turned to look where Conrad had been looking. Sheraun turned, although he already knew, who it had to be. He hadn't noticed her when he had entered the room. There she was, flaming red hair pulled back into what the humans called a "ponytail" looking even more beautiful than he remembered and she had a young girl with her. There was no mistaking the family resemblance. The last time he had seen Maya she was wearing diapers and crawling around, getting ready to walk. Sheraun noted that Maya looked at him almost staring. Lyta just returned his gaze. Looking her in the face this close cause his heart to skip beats, and a tight sensation in his stomach like someone squeezing it in a giant hand. ***************************************************** Gentlemen and ladies, if may, I believe we should get to the main attraction," said Leftcourt from the podium. Captain Ivanova, John, Chief Comer will you please come up here. The rest of you military types please make three ranks and dress off, so we can show some semblance of military protocol. If the civilian attendees will line up behind the military, we will do this right." Susan, John and the chief stepped forward. Leftcourt relinquished the podium to Susan. "Gentlemen, and not so gentlewomen, that's you, Delenn and Lyta," began Susan, "I did not expect to live through the Earth-Minbari War, but I did. I didn't expect to survive the Vorlon-Shadow war, but I did. Then we had our civil war, I surely didn't expect to live through that one, especially not when I, and our whitestars, took on Clark's advanced destroyers. We were outnumbered and outgunned, but I got out of that alive, at the cost of the life of someone very special, and lot of good people. I kept my rank and was even promoted, but it was at the cost of a very good friend's career. There seems to be a very large price tag attached to every one of my pieces of good fortune. When the Zeus was shot up, so badly they had to decommission her, I got lucky, sort of. We lost crew and pilots, but thanks to another friend most of us got out alive and brought the ship back. Then the Drakh attacked the station and thanks to a friend, I am able to live to tell another tale. This one was expensive. It cost two outstanding officers their careers. I am not happy about that at all, but I am assured it is being handled, so those responsible get their just rewards. Since I know who is handling it, I feel very sorry for those who will be receiving those rewards. However, this is supposed to be a happy occasion, and I am happy to be with my friends on this special occasion." Susan stepped to one side of the podium and Leftcourt addressed the gathering, "I will read from the authorization for Captain Ivanova's promotion. It gives me great pleasure, as the president of the Earth Alliance, to authorize your promotion to the rank of brigadier general in the earthforce. Your performance as a captain has been exemplary and an outstanding example for all your brother earthforce officers. Your career is one of long and faithful service to the Earth Alliance and its citizens. This promotion is authorized on "this date". Signed Susan Luchenko, President, Earth Alliance. Congratulations General Ivanova. Gentlemen if you will do the honors." John Sheridan and Chief Comer stepped to Susan's sides and carefully removed her captain's shoulder boards and handed them to Leftcourt. Then, they fastened her new ones in place. Chief Comer shook her hand and congratulated her, he was followed by John Sheridan, and General Leftcourt and the remainder of the officers gathered in the wardroom. Delenn gave her a hug and congratulated her, then Sheraun shook her hand and did the same. Everyone in the room had given their congratulations except Lyta and Maya. They stood to the back of the room. Susan walked over to her and hugged her very tightly, "I owe a hell of a lot of this to you." "You owe me nothing, Susan. You earned this by putting your life on the line for what you believe in. It is a result of your efforts. Congratulations. I know your mom, dad and brother would be very proud of you. I am." Susan looked at Maya and offered her a hug, Maya accepted and whispered in Susan's ear, "It will be a boy." Susan kissed the youngster and put her down. "How can you be so sure?" "It's a Vorlon thing, Aunt Susan," she said softly, to low to be overheard. Susan went back to the rest of the group, and Lyta started to leave, only to find her way blocked by Sheraun. She didn't notice the noise level in the room go down as Sheraun stood in her way. People were turning to watch the confrontation. The tall redhead looked up at the huge minbari. "What's on your mind, Sheraun?" "You. You have managed to avoid me for a long time. Why?" Lyta looked around at John and Delenn. It was apparent that she wasn't happy. "I didn't know he would be here, Lyta," said Delenn. "I didn't think you would be here," commented John. Lyta's heart was pounding. She was close enough to smell him and she was responding. Her breathing rate increased. Sheraun's heart was racing and he was becoming excited. Her smell was driving him almost out of his mind. What neither knew is, they had never responded to someone of the opposite sex like this before. "You are blocking my way," she said. "I've been looking for you for almost five years. The least you can do is talk with me." "Not here, not now." Maya walked over to him and looked up. Sheraun picked her up and kissed her on the cheek. "You have grown quite a bit, young lady." "That won't work, Sheraun," said Lyta, softly. "I think she likes me, Lyta." Ivonava whispered to Delenn, "Do I see, what I think I see?" "He is Lyta's weakness, and she knows it." "He's not even a telepath." "She knows that." "I can feel the emotions even this far away." "What do you feel?" "Fire." Delenn looked questioningly at Susan, "Fire?" "It's the only way to describe it." "Okay," Lyta said, softly. Sheraun put Maya down and put his hand under Lyta's chin and tilted her head up. Without hesitation he kissed her lightly on the lips. Everyone in the room could sense the sparks generated by that kiss. Sheraun stepped aside and let Lyta pass, then followed her and Maya out of the room. John looked at Delenn. "What did I just see?" "You saw Lyta meet her match," said Susan. "Do you think, maybe, the big fellow likes the redhead?" Asked Chief Comer. "That redhead, Chief Comer, is the friend I told you about," said Susan. Several of the generals looked at the chief and laughed. General Ames said, "That may be the understatement of the year, chief. By the way, Chief, where have we met before?" ***************************************************** END PART 19