Chapter 10

"Failure is always an option."

Earth Orbit

Earth Alliance

The Prometheus and Achilles drifted in space close by the other their weapons locked in an overlapping defensive sphere. Above them and to the fore of the Earther ships, the free Jaffa Ha'tak sat watching the incoming enemy fleet. All possible ways out in the three dimensions of space were cut off either by the gravity well of Earth or the surrounding EarthForce ships of all kinds, most several times larger than any of the vessels in the small Allied fleet, that were edging closer by the moment. Twenty of the close to one mile-long dreadnaughts was already in weapons range and adding to that were more appearing from positions all around the planet. Other cruisers and carriers were streaming forward. Fighters launched from all angles helped to close the cocoon the capital ships had begun. It was a token effort at best the SGC ships were well known to be capable of taking fire from hundreds of fighters without any trouble. A number of ships approached from the orbital shipyards, easily identifiable as refits using SGC exchanged technologies each were slightly faster and more powerful across the board than the normal ships. The fact that they were smaller Hyperion cruisers did not make them any less dangerous to the SGC ships. The fact that the refit scanners could not pierce standard Prometheus class ECM was causing consternation across the board by Earth Alliance forces trying to get a solid lock as far away as possible from the smaller, but highly respected 'other Earther' ships.

"Twenty ships in immediate range, Sir," identified Robson. "Dreadnaughts mainly, a few nuke carriers and a hell of a lot of fighters. No sign of activation of their main planetary defenses, but we are reading attempts to lock on using the main planetary scanner arrays. They're possibly powerful enough to get a partial lock on us."

"How long?"

"At this rate, twenty minutes maybe a little more."

"The second a single ship fires on us, I want that ship dead. Spool up the main cannon and order the Achilles to do the same. If I have to, I will blow every ship and station I have to into their component parts to get out of here. "And," he added, "contact the Ha'tak. If any of us are fired on then they can have free reign, kill anything that gets in the way."

"Aye, Sir."

The two human cruisers maneuvered ponderously as they cleared the gravity well of Earth. Their damaged systems still kept them from accelerating any faster, however both ships railguns locked onto fighters and smaller ships while missiles and cannons began targeting anything that came into range. From the rear of the Prometheus six missiles targeted the most dangerous of their enemies –

– EarthDome itself.

"Sir, those missile cruisers are packing modified nukes," Carter exclaimed. The surprise was evident in her voice.

"How modified?" he demanded, concerned by Carter's concern.

"I'm reading what looks like an enriched naquada warhead. I think they figured out how to use Quantium-Forty as a weapons system."

"How the hell did they figure that out?"

"My guess they found out about our naquada warheads and realized the Q40 could do something similar. Naquada is not Q-40. They're the same base element but in combination with different minerals gives it different properties. The naturally mineral with elements native to our galaxy gives us naquada but most likely not here. For them its Q-40 that's in abundance. The differences gives both minerals different properties. I can see why they don't use them normally. I imagine it's a lot more complicated to make an explosive Q-40 derivative and the yields are much less compared to naquada but it does allow an increase in explosive force by several dozen times the usual yield. "

"How many can we take?"

"I don't know, Sir. Their yields at best are about one fourth of ours. But, I really don't know how many hits we can take."

"Any chance of beaming the warheads off those ships?"

"No, Sir. Their own countermeasures and some heavy q-40-based radiation are blocking a decent fix on them. We'd need to be on top of them before we could even think about it and by then we'd be taking hits."

"Redirect priority fire against all of their missile cruisers and anything else with those nukes on board," O'Neill ordered. Looking at the comms officer he nodded, "and put me through to that idiot Harris." The screen to the side changed as Harris allowed the communication to go through.

"Are you ready to surrender, O'Neill, or do I have my ships fire?"

"Fire on me General, and find out what six multi-gigaton nukes does to your planet," O'Neill smirked. His eyes were cold as ice. "You have the arrogance to try to take MY ship by force and expect me to have no say about it? You must have seen those 'people' that are currently floating out there. They attacked and killed members of my crew in an attempt to force us to give over our vessels. That attempt has perturbed me Harris," he told the EarthForce general in a slow almost monotone-like voice. "But you are starting to annoy me and as a great man once said 'you wouldn't like me when I'm angry'."

"You're bluffing." Harris' face showed no emotion, but his forehead had little beads of sweat large enough to be visible onscreen.

"Your people murdered mine; I'd call it proportional response." O'Neill sat back. "This isn't my Earth and if the people I've met are any indication of what this version is like we're better off without you. The fact is Harris, that we've met your kind before several times, several tried to kill us, some tried to enslave us. Others simply wanted to use us to wipe out their enemies and then turn on us. Sound familiar?"

"You can't escape this system O'Neill. Any attempt to leave will result in your ships' capture and or destruction."

"Try it Harris. We're leaving. Anyone in our way, they die," Jack replied. "Be sure you want to lose so many millions of people before you take us on, because we're not the only ones here and I doubt you would want to take on our allies either."

The sweat was running down his sideburns now. "With the technology that we gain from your ship we'll be able to take on anything in this galaxy," he said as confidently as he could to O'Neill.

"So it turns out moronic bullshit is a human trait no matter the universe. Did you listen to anything I said in the meeting Harris? Our enemies could wipe out dozens of our best ships in seconds without trying. Your fleet would be wiped out to a man in minutes with Earth likely a few minutes after that. I don't have a problem with killing every single person on every ship coming at us but I really don't want to fill in the paperwork that comes with it. Now, get out of the way and I won't have to do either."

The screen blanked as the communication was cut off by the Dreadnaught. O'Neill looked to the Tactical officer who nodded indicating that the EA fleet were still trying to lock onto the three SGC ships. Their ECM making a mockery of every scanner the EA had, but with the volume of fire that the EarthForce ships could churn out every second, even visual targeting would help the Dreadnaughts score hits on the already sabotaged warships.

Communications were picked up between the EA warships, the space stations and predictably a number of offices at EarthDome. The fleet surrounding the SGC ships sat in place, cannons still scanning for anything to lock onto and missile hatches open, and warheads primed.

"Anything?"

"Not much,General. We've broken their encryptions. General Hague is trying to shout down Harris and a few of the Senators who believe we started the fight," Carter responded. "It doesn't look like they believe him. Harris is demanding orders to take us or not."

"Time to ECM failure."

"Another ten minutes then they'll be able to get a partial scan."

"Hyperdrive?"

"Three minutes to full activation, the damage done by the boarding parties wasn't too bad," Carter replied. "But we're too hemmed in to jump, Sir there is the other choice. We have the other Ha'taks awaiting us at the anomaly system."

"We won't need them. I can get us the space to get out. Send a message to the other ships to follow us in when we open the window."

"Yes, Sir."

"Communications, get me EarthDome."

EarthDome

Geneva

Earth Alliance

"What do you mean they failed?"

"It seems that the ships have a form of defense against any unauthorized intrusions. They removed my soldiers and deposited them into deep space where they died due to the decompression!" A blacked out screen allowed only a distorted voice to emit from Senator Clark's com unit. "B-13 is not used to such set backs as this, we have no agents capable of getting close and if they manage to recover any of those bodies our very being may come to light. In this case, we are willing to allow the Tau'ri ships to escape our hands for the moment, we will find other routes to get what we want."

"This is the perfect time to take those ships!" Clark all but shouted at the monitor.

"The second they open fire we can overwhelm them and take what we want from their blacked hulls. O'Neill can and will be put on trial for treason in an open court and we will have yet another chance to show the moronic public the 'facts' about alien contamination of a human culture!"

"Keep your diatribe to yourself. Perhaps you didn't understand me, Clark so I will say this again, we no longer have the resources nor the proclivity to attack the Tau'ri ships again. Almost every soldier and agent in our pocket is now compromised or dead. It will take time and resources we can ill afford to bring our organization back up to the power we had until today. Do not attempt to contact us again Senator, or we will take measures to make sure you never try again."

The screen died as the Bureau Thirteen operative killed the connection. Inside his office however Clark was seething. For years he had been a willing ally to them, influencing and changing policies all over the Alliance. Now they had decided to leave him high and dry and alone in case the Tau'ri found out the truth about what had happened. Growling at the disconnected screen, Clark walked out of his office to sheer pandemonium. Secretaries and guards, senators and governors were running around attempting to get to the underground bunkers or simply away from the dome itself. Grabbing one of the closest people he shouted over the din. "What the hell is going on?"

"The Tau'ri ships have gone nuts. Their weapons are targeting right on EarthDome!" the clerk shouted. Yanking his sleeve from the senator's hands the young man ran to the lift heading for the shelters.

Shocked at the news Clark ran back into his office and tapped into the main EarthDome Command communications systems, his not so legal wiretaps allowing him access higher than his position would usually allow.

***

"…. Been told by General Hague and his staff, the incident on your space station was not our doing. The fact that fifty or more of your people attempted to take over my ships could be considered as an act of war, something that you really don't want." O'Neill came on the screen. "Now I don't really care about wiping out a billion or so people, I've done much worse over the years against those trying to kill my Earth and I sure as hell don't have a problem doing it again. I have three ships that combined will kill your fleet this planet and anything else that annoys me. I have no reason to stay and no reason to help the Earth Alliance any more than Colonel Taylor already has. Any chance of an alliance was over the second your people tried to pirate my ship. Murdering my people has just made me madder."

"General O'Neill, surely we can come to some arrangement! The attack on your ship wasn't sanctioned by this office, nor any of my cabinet," Levy explained. "If it was an EarthForce attack then it was done under the noses of everyone in command down here or on the station."

"I suppose it was magic was it Madam President, someone had the clearance to let fifty heavily armed and armored men and women onto my ships through your 'secure' space station and damage my ships. There is little to nothing that you people have that we can't take on. We gave you the chance you needed to take on the Minbari and now you will have to deal with the circumstances of your betrayal."

"I'm ordering our people to stand down General. I won't try to stop you but please at least allow us to try to make amends. The war with the Minbari has destroyed almost a third of the Alliance's military power and destroyed almost every outpost outside of the main colonies. Blame us for what has happened if you want to, but don't let that blame fall on the innocents of the colonies or on this world. We will find whoever ordered this attack and they will be handed over for justice." Levy took a breath. "Attacking and killing allies or even those that are unknowns is against every military and senatorial decree we have and we won't let them continue to risk this alliance between our peoples."

"You have the capability to see the Minbari ships, you have your modified railgun systems and it seems you have some very powerful saturation nukes available. There is no reason for us to stay. We have our own troubles at home. I'm already guessing that your generals have decided not to give us the ships we requested as part of this treaty because of their blatant attack on us."

"I don't know about that, General. The military seem to take a dim view of politicians at the moment."

"The military have a problem with politicians full stop, in BOTH galaxies not just this one," O'Neill replied. "The fact is that the politicians here in your universe are responsible for allowing this war to start by sending ships somewhere they had no reason being. For us the military are all that's kept both our own race and yours from total destruction so far, and for that we have been attacked or abused by politicians and so-called allies…including some of those that are currently illegally tapping this communications line."

***

Clark stumbled back his arm flailing to shut down the wire tap and secure the computer from outside interference, something that was too little, too late. The communication channel had allowed the Tau'ri ships to break into his files and simply remove them wholesale erasing his passwords and cracking encryptions in mere moments!

His monitor stayed locked onto the communications link while the entirety of his life's work was forcibly ripped from him; schemes, blackmail, bribes, anything that had managed to benefit him in his career.

***

"Six of your senators have just had their entire databases erased and transferred right to my ships Madam President. Once we find out who allowed this to happen then we will take action. For now I will pull my ships away from your fleet and back towards the station, weapons deactivated but understand that I will not hesitate to turn it to slag the first sign of aggression."

"We understand," Levy replied. "Our ships are pulling back as we speak."

"Carter?"

"Alliance ships are holding position, Sir. Our ships are pulling away."

"Time?"

"Were ready now."

"Madam President, I believe that this is now over."

With that O'Neill shut off the communications link between his ship and EarthDome. With that signal, the Achilles raced forward, engines blazing. A hyperdrive window appeared a mere hundred meters from the massive space station. The Achilles disappeared through it with a flash of light and the Prometheus was hot on its heels, the much larger Ha'tak coving their backs as the two damaged vessels escaped.

Seconds later the Jaffa vessel itself jumped through the still open window passing through without incident. With a final flash the window shut leaving the EarthForce vessels sitting motionless and bewildered.

Valen'tha

Modified Shargotti Class Cruiser

En route to Mid Range Station Hali'ror

The Valen'tha dropped out of hyperspace three light years out from the closest of the mid range stations from the Earth Alliance borders. All around her sixteen Sharlins and more than fifty other vessels sat in formation, enclosing the council's ship. With the Earthers on the offensive for the first time since the opening days of the war, the council needed to be protected.

Another jump point bloomed open as another ship dropped out of hyperspace its IFF flashing identifying it as a critical information courier from the front lines and in response the entire fleet slowed to a relative stop. Constant scans bombarded the small warship as it approached the massive Shagotti, weapons locked onto every move that the courier made.

"What is the trouble, Shai Alyt'Na?" asked Delenn.

"A courier from Command post Va'la'hu has requested boarding permission, we've dropped out of hyperspace to take them on." The ship's master bowed slightly at her entrance. "The gravitation fluxes were starting to increase in violence in this sector, we'll be here a few hours."

"I understand and thank you for your patience."

"My honor is to serve, Satai."

A shudder rang through the ship as the two vessels linked up. Their docking ports secured and pressurized, the inner doors opened to the exhausted and bruised face of Alyt Vel'rann. Quickly he was ushered to the ante room of the Grey council itself. This allowed him to compose himself before he would have to face the Council. The loss of his fleet would damage the defenses of the immediate area around the border regions. The door opened silently and as he attempted to see past them the interior appeared black and foreboding. He knew a number of the council by name and others by reputation, but that knowledge did nothing to assail his fears as he walked through the door, the panel closing behind him. He walked forward as a light turned on bathing him in radiance. He stopped and bowed his head.

"We are Grey. We stand between the Candle and the Star, between the Darkness and the Light." A disembodied voice said from in front of him. "Alyt Vel'rann, you have come to us with news."

"Yes, Satai I do. Several days ago, two hundred ships under my direct command were dispatched by Satai Coplann to attack the Earther forces arrayed at their major colony at Proxima. Scouts have led us to believe that a large concentration of enemy ships had been consigned to attack several of our own systems. As a precaution we came in from range with our stealth fields at maximum. It was not enough, as my ships came under attack from mines and from long range fire from the Earther ships. By the time we had made it into range our ships were outgunned and outflanked. However as we closed, we were blocked by the arrival of a number of unknown ships, each with weapons and technologies not native to this area of space. A second ship much like the type we saw of the newcomer vessel. Two other unknowns appeared with massively superior armaments to our own, calling themselves 'Jaffa' who claim to be allies of the newcomers."

"Then this arrival means that the Achilles and her ilk could return home, or that many more may come through to assist the Earthers," spoke Morann. "How much of a danger are these new ships?"

"They are very dangerous, Satai. They use some form of plasma weaponry that is much more powerful than any that I have seen before. If the Earthers were to garner that technology then they would be able to destroy our ships at range with impunity. Their ability to see our ships will allow them to destroy us in moments without harm to their ships. Each of the vessels were similarly shielded and armored like the original ship. The Earther ships if they do have these new technologies will wipe us out as we have attempted to do to them."

Morann lowered his hood. "We have lost more ships in the weeks preceding this meeting than in several hundreds of years that we have been watching and awaiting the Shadows, or their spawn. Then what is your opinion, Shai Alyt?"

"I have no answer, Satai. The fleet has taken losses and with assistance the Earthers will continue to take our ships apart as well as increasing their own numbers. At best this war will become a stalemate as we fight ship for ship, world for world, until exhaustion destroys us both and we all become targets for the larger powers in this region of space."

"Then we must take this to another level, this war has been for show until now, proof that we can overcome even the most powerful of other races within this area of space. The humans made a mistake which they have already paid for," Morann said. "This war should have been over long ago. With new technology and allies the Earthers have become much more dangerous. They may not accept a compromise or ceasefire and the Warrior caste will not allow the destruction of so many of our ships to go unanswered."

"The Earthers are still strong enough to cause damage on an unprecedented scale even without weapon or defensive upgrades. With the ability to see our ships their larger heavy weapons could cripple even our biggest ships. Pure numbers will play against us. Their ships are functional to a degree above any of the other races. If this war continues then new designs may come into use against us, some that may be capable of destroying our Sharlins one on one."

"Preposterous," The third of the warriors replied. "They may be able to see our ships but our weapons and armor are clearly in advance of their own."

"You are correct Satai," Vel'rann replied. "However their defensive technologies if suitably upgraded will make our advances over them useless at best. Fighter attacks will become worthless as they enhance their defense grids. The newcomers have already proven that their relatively thin armor and shielding can take multiple attacks from our largest weapons. If scaled up in size and thickness to the Earther warships, they will be able to approach and destroy entire fleets with impunity. The damage done to the Valen'tha herself from the human's original attack proves the threat that their weapons could have to our vessels."

"Then something will have to be done before this can happen!"

"How? We have taken many losses during this war." Teronn of the workers replied. "The shipyards are building new vessels and bringing the mothballed fleet to full alertness as quickly as possible. However we are no where near ready for a full scale deployment."

"The only way to stop the humans would be to drive straight for their inner planets. We have located the planets of Beta Durani and Proxima. The human homeworld is very likely to be heavy reinforced and defended due to the attacks. We have a possible location for the planet but if we do follow through with this attack then we may lose more ships in one day than in the last thousand years combined," Morann replied. "Their home world and the entire system would be protected by their new scanners and by their most able ships currently not deployed against us. Our losses would be catastrophic allowing the humans to retaliate against our worlds if we fail."

"Then we may have to make the attempt to end this war a different way." Delenn began. "We request a ceasefire and terms to end this war. The humans have made many attempts to apologize for what happened. They have requested terms of a ceasefire and even of outright surrender before they are all destroyed. This war has gone too far as it is. Genocide is not the answer to what happened and maybe we should have realized this from the start. We have never gone this far before even against the Streib, nor the allies of the shadows. Why have we done so against the humans?"

"It was you yourself that gave the order Delenn, to wipe them all out for this attack!" a religious member countered. "This war is for the memory of Dukat and to show that we are still a power that is not to be trifled with."

"Is it?" Teronn dropped his hood, "Shai Alyt Vel'rann."

"Satai?"

"Of us all, you have fought the humans. You have returned from a battle you had no hope of winning yet you seem to have no rancor against the people that have destroyed your forces so completely."

"The Earth forces were capable of destroying us completely. We were outnumbered, outgunned and incapable of escaping the combined forces of the Earthers and the newcomers. However we were allowed to leave by their commander for no other reason than he could."

"Weakness or humility?" Delenn pondered. "We would not have allowed the humans to escape such a trap. We would not have allowed any one of their ships to return to their world to let them know what happened."

"Then we have to decide, do we attack and destroy their home system or do we attempt to make peace with them?" asked Sharonn. "Neither would be acceptable in the current climate but it may be the only way for us to finally end this conflict once and for all."

"It is my belief that the humans are now for the first time a truly worthy adversary," Morann explained. "Enough that if we continue this war that we will end with the annihilation of our forces, enough that other enemies may take advantage of our losses to take their vengeance. The Streib amongst others are simply biding their time as we have always known. In addition if the stories about movement on the rim is in fact truthful, then we would be facing a war with the Shadows with no forces to defy them."

"Then how do we contact the humans?" Germann asked, "We have never requested contact with them and have never been willing to give quarter against their forces."

Vel'rann's head rose as he prepared to speak. The council was willing to end this war before more clans were all but wiped out against the much more capable ships of the newcomers and their Earther allies; something he and others of the lesser members of the Warrior caste had been hoping for for quite some time. The loss of his ships could lead to the entirety of the Star Shield clan being absorbed by the Blood Knives or the Wind Swords. "There may be a way," he suggested. "We request a ceasefire by way of the Anla'shok. We send a party of each caste to make this request through the newcomers ships. One ship sent without stealth and broadcasting under what the humans term a 'White Flag'."

"Are you volunteering, Shai Alyt?"

"I am the only Shai Alyt that has been up against their newest warships and lived to tell the tale. I am willing to donate one of my own ships to the Anla'shok to do this. It is my belief that this General O'Neill will be willing to meet with me due to his actions at Proxima," he replied. "If not, then I shall have at least regained the honor that I lost with my defeat. The choice of how this council proceeds is of course yours. It is simply my opinion."

"Anlashok'na Lenonn has already made the attempt to contact the humans of the newcomers." Delenn whispered, "As you know a Sharlin with a full Anla'shok crew was sent to the area that the newcomers were first discovered. They have not been seen since nor have any of them made any attempt to contact us."

"The ships that were sent?" Germann asked.

"We have heard nothing of them either. It may mean that they were totally destroyed or something is stopping their communications from making it back. With the technology that the newcomers have either could have happened. However I do doubt that the newcomers would have fired first. They have not done so to date and I do not think it would be likely to change in the foreseeable future," Sharonn replied. "The Earthers and the newcomers both may listen to a request from us simply because they have not had one before."

"We have never truly had contact with the Earthers before. With the exception of the declaration of war our people have not even talked to the human's leaders," Teronn agreed. "A request for a ceasefire will be seen as either a request of one equal to another or simply as a way out of this war that we may lose."

"Something that the Warriors will not be happy with," Morann warned. " Many see this as training for what is to come, others as rightful retribution for the attack whilst others are clamoring for the war to end. With so many of our best and brightest lost so quickly, several clans and alliances will not stand by while we allow the war to end on terms that are not our own."

"We can continue to build the ships we need to fight. We can recommission every ship we have held in reserve, but for how long?" Germann asked. "Every one of our Sharlins and Shagottis take time and resources to build, resources that may end up in short supply at the rate we are forced to replace lost vessels. The warriors may crew them, we may build them, but if we lose every ship we build, every warrior we send, even if we win, what will we have accomplished? I have to agree with this proposal; however we cannot vote this without a full council."

Delenn looked perturbed, she had been the last to be indicted into the grey council and was now almost the dominant voice within the same. There were members of the warrior caste that had been decided upon as the successors of those what would fall or would pass on naturally. Many were dead with others currently standing at the front lines awaiting the next phase of the war.

"The warriors must send for their next Satai," she replied. "We can however allow for our forces to step back and regroup and reinforce allowing us the time we need to bring this decision to a close."

"We have few left that can be called upon. Many have been killed in recent campaigns against the Earthers." Morann grimaced. "However with the death of Coplann we instigated a retrieval of Shai Alyt Sinoval from the fleet opposing the Earther's Orion System. He will return here on the Kala'hi within two days."

Sinoval was already well known as one of the proponents for continuing the war against the Earthers to its conclusion. His request to destroy the colonies as well as the military of the Earth Alliance had been turned down and the man himself censured for the very thought of murdering civilians. Unfortunately for the warriors he was a powerful and influential type with a cunning mind. The fact he was one of the few candidates left for a position on the council was a problem that the Warrior caste would have to deal with.

With Sinoval as a member of the Council, Morann and Sharonn were worried that war with the Earthers would not end but would increase in scope and in brutality. It was fortunate that his own caste as well as others would deny his requests. For the first time in hundreds of years a political appointment would be simply for show and not for fairness.

"With his arrival we shall prepare for the ending of this war. Shai Alyt Vel'rann we thank you for your help and your information. Return to your ships at the frontier station and await our call. If we are to continue with this attempt at peace then we will need your assistance," Delenn said.

"I live to serve the Council. I shall have one of my ships readied for the mission in case it is needed." Vel'rann bowed.

"You may leave, thank you."

Vel'rann walked from the room towards the bright light indicating the open doors of the main meeting room. Stepping out, the crystalline portal slid close sealing the eight remaining members of the Grey Council away from the outside world. Grimacing at the thought of Sinoval becoming the next Satai he walked away and to the docking bay. He had work to do and only two days to get it done.

Courtor System

Dimensional Rift

Unclaimed Space

Three massive warships had entered the system only a few minutes ago. They had faced the two Ha'taks that had been left behind to guard the rift. Seeing the two much smaller warships the Minbari had demanded the location of their missing ship and people. Needless to say the demands had not gone over well with the Jaffa.

"I think that could have gone better," Rak'nor mumbled.

"It could have. It is fortunate we were not forced to fire on the Minbari. These ones seem to be more patient than those whom our allies in the Tau'ri have met before." His second Hak'lor had spoken up. "It may be because we are not human or that they recognize fellow warriors."

"That would be preferable to destroying inferior ships and warriors. Too much of that has happened in the service of the false gods," Rak'nor agreed. "But if what we have heard of this universe is true then these Minbari may not be the true warriors they claim to be. Murder of a race for the loss of one man is not war. it is genocide."

"We should proceed to the landing bays, they will be here soon."

A small speck detached itself from the closest of the gigantic warships. A shuttle-like craft accelerated towards the Ha'tak on an elliptical course as a contingency plan in case the shuttle was misinterpreted as a weapon and not as a transport. Far below the pel'tak, a single docking bay opened up the inner atmospheric shield astonishing the approaching Minbari flyer.

Approaching silently the tiny craft slipped through the shield and into the bay, touching down flanked by a squadron of fighters on each side and more than a hundred Jaffa surrounding the area. Weapons were in evidence but not aimed at anyone. Slowly a hatch lowered from the rear of the flyer disgorging a trio of Minbari dressed in the uniforms of the Warrior caste.

"I am Far'nir of the Warrior Caste."

"I am Rak'nor, Commander of this vessel."

"We are here to request information on the whereabouts of one of our ships. She was last known to be approaching this system to look for the location of the rift that brought your people and those of your allies to this part of space." Far'nir said. "It is gracious of you to allow for us to board your vessel. It was fortunate that we were able to meet under different circumstances than our ships had against the other vessels."

"Indeed," Rak'nor nodded, "If you would come with us, we have much to tell you about the rift and your ship."

"By all means."

Far'nir and his two man escort followed the Jaffa commander and his executive officer. A large room had been set aside close to the hanger bay. Formally used to hold the effects of the Goa'uld that had once owned the vessel the room had been turned into a meeting place for Jaffa leaders and those that they were to converse with. Rak'nor gestured to the three Minbari to sit while he and others took chairs on the other side, a few moments later the doors sealed shut and locked themselves.

"Simply a precaution, Shai Alyt."

"You know of our ranks?"

"Indeed." Rak'nor began, "Several days ago the Jaffa Nation came upon two vessels in a region of space that has been claimed by an ally of our people. One ship was identified as a vessel belonging to a race that call themselves Centauri. The other a wreck that was discovered to contain a number of other aliens, a ship that is identical to those that you have approached on."

"Then they survived."

"Not all, I am afraid." Hak'lor replied. "The rift is unstable and the crews of both ships were all but wiped out by the energies contained within it, the few survivors have succumbed to some kind of disruption in their bodies. Most have died already. Neither Centauri, Minbari and our own medical equipment has been unable to bring them out of their comas, nor strengthen them enough for another voyage through the rift."

"Then they will die away from home and away from their people." One of the Minbari whispered, "We wish then for our ship and our people to be returned by your own as soon as possible, too many of our greatest leaders have been lost in this war it is only right we should return those we can to the surface of our world."

"That may be a problem. The bodies of many of your crew as well as the vessel itself have been taken from us by an unknown assailant," Rak'nor snarled. "They stole both ships and murdered the crews of several of our ships. What few survivors there were aboard were killed in the attack. Our ships are searching for any clues that may give inform us of who or what is responsible for this travesty."

The eyes of one of the Warriors narrowed before he spoke. "You expect us to believe that a phantom destroyed your ship and stole our people from us? Every ship that has come through that rift has been a bane to the people of Minbar, thousands of our people dead from the actions of these new humans."

"The Tau'ri are an honorable people," Rak'nor responded. "They would not have attacked unless you had attacked them first. The fact that they are human and were thought to be outgunned by your ship had your cruiser fire first. We have the communications logs for transmission to the Tau'ri homeworld directly from their own computer systems. If you had known how to approach the Tau'ri, would you have destroyed them as you are trying to do to there brothers and sisters?"

"Perhaps once, yes." Far'nir responded honestly. "But the ship sent to contact the Tau'ri as you call them was one of peace, an attempt to end the conflict between us and them before it stretched too far."

"Would that have included the humans of this universe?"

"I do not know," Far'nir pre-empted his aide. "Many ships have been lost to the Earthers and the Tau'ri. I do not know if this war would have ended or would have just stopped that between us and the newcomers. For now however, we are going to need to contact our world to inform them of what is happening here."

"Very well. You are free to use our communications or return to your ship," Rak'nor replied glad for the ease in tension between the two sides. "We will find what happened here Shai Alyt, and we will take our vengeance on those that have wronged us both."

"We shall return to our ship and thank you for your assistance. If it is as you say then it is my wish that you may destroy your enemies as they have wronged you."

"May you die well," Rak'nor responded.

"As may you."