"STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE"
EPISODE SIXTEEN: "THE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN"

         (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)

* * *

        <<Act Four>>

        Hyperspace - down-gradient from Sector 975. 02:20 hrs, EST -- Sept 5th, 2267.

        "All right, people... talk to me. What's our status?"

        "We're almost to the target." Sheynell told Julia, as Warren Holm stood by the telepath's side at the tactical board, ready and willing to take up some of the slack should this battle prove to be as bad as everyone feared it was going to be. "The White Stars are standing by, ready to jump."

        "Okay, kid..." Nathan Gardinier drawled, as the 'Night's Dagger' and its two sister warships maneuvered for jump position, "This is it... Are you ready?"

        Julia froze -- Nathan had said the words, but it had been another voice she'd heard... or, to be more specific... voices. From different times, and different places.

# # #

        "#Are you ready?#" Kosh asked her on Babylon 5, as she stood, entranced by the vision she saw before her -- a vision of what had been... a vision of light -- and of promises.

# # #

        "Are you ready?" Tashann asked her, as she stood beside Dreann at White Star 11's operations station, on the way to Corianna VI. "Ready for the last battle any of us may see?"

# # #

        "Are you ready, Captain?" John Sheridan asked her, as she stood at parade rest in front of his desk in Tuzanor. "Ready to do what has to be done?"

# # #

         Julia blinked -- shook her head, and then nodded fiercely. What in Valen's Name had *that* been about? "We're as ready as we're ever going to be." she agreed. "But first..."

        "First they have to take the bait." Gardinier agreed.

* * *

        "They've finally ejected us from the ship." Fenric observed, as the escape pod raced away from its dark parent at speed. "The battle the Z'shailyl warned us about -- it must be about to begin." And then, all of a sudden -- the pod *hit* something... what, he did not know. But the result was immediate, as the pod's course became erratic. Fenric unleashed a virulent curse in Arabian as it began to tumble, and then, with the help of Shein, began attempting to regain control of the craft, even as it spun down towards the planet below.

        "I think I'm going to be sick." Courtney managed.

        "If we do not regain control of the pod soon..." Fenric ground out, "And re-enter the atmosphere... we will be worse than sick, Courtney... we will be *dead*."

        "Observe!" Shein exclaimed, as she cast a quick glance out of one of the viewports. "Jump points!"

        "The 'Shard'... do you think they're back?" Courtney wondered.

        Fenric nodded, his hands moving over the lifepod's limited controls. "If so... they are not alone. Now..." he muttered, "If I was a comm system, where would I be?"

* * *

         Far above Sector 975's single life-supporting world, the vacuum twisted, and then ripped apart into two jump points -- out of which sprang the lithe forms of two members of the Interstellar Alliance's first White Star Fleet, surrounded by their fighters and those sent from the larger strike cruisers still waiting in hyperspace. Even now, in this age of uncertainty and new warship construction, the White Stars were *still* among the fastest ships in the galaxy... if no longer exactly the most advanced. And this day, the captains of those ships used that advantage to its fullest as they raced down towards the planet below. "Do you see the enemy?" White Star 104's commander asked of his First. "Are they still here?"

        "If they *are* still here, they're hiding from us." the other Ranger replied after a moment, as he listened to the reports coming in from the handful of Ranger fighter pilots that had accompanied them to this place. "Which could be bad news, if they're using as much Shadow technology as the 'Shard of Night's captain says they are."

        "That may well be -- but I get the feeling that they want this battle." the captain observed. "But until they move... we hold our course down into planetary orbit. Because if the Rangers that were left behind are still here..."

* * *

        "Registering Anla'shok carrier signal, sir." Deitz reported, even as Shavann and his fellow fighter pilots brought their now-cloaked fighters out of the atmosphere. "Two White Stars and accompanying fighter escort."

        "So..." Shavann muttered in appreciation, "That's the way it's going to be, then, is it?"

        "Sir?"

        "Wait for it, Mr. Deitz -- wait for it. The enemy is still here, and now that we've arisen..."

* * *

        "Movement detected." one of the fighter pilots suddenly shouted. "In Valen's Name... they're all around us, they're..." A burst of static suddenly erupted from the speakers, even a knife of purple light reached out and tried to swat the flight leader's fighter from space -- but even as that occurred, the other Rangers in the battlegroup were already reacting. "That is confirmed." the First reported, as both captains turned their ships toward the enemy. "Three vessels detected -- and multiple smaller contacts, approaching on attack vector."

        "Are they in firing range, yet?"

        "Not yet."

        "Wait for it..." the captain replied, his expression tense. "Wait for it..."

        "They're in firing range... locking on!"

        "Send the signal -- and break... now!"

* * *

        As one, the two White Stars turned away from each other and accelerated to maximum speed, even as three more jump points shattered the skies around the Shadow-hybrid vessels. Vessels that barely had time to maneuver as the 'Night's Dagger' and her two sister ships erupted from hyperspace. "Target acquired, sir." Rebecca Anderson reported, as Nathan Gardinier rose to his feet. "Ready to fire."

        "Then by all means," Gardinier commanded, "Let those bastards have a taste of their own medicine." As one, the three strike cruisers opened fire, their twin nose cannons and wing pulse cannon catching one of the enemy warships in a cat's cradle of fire -- a cradle that swiftly contracted, even as the smaller fighters and White Stars moved to engage the tinier enemy fighters. A moment later the hull of the Shadowtech warship glowed red, then white... and burst asunder. "Target destroyed, sir -- the other two enemy ships are moving out of firing range, at least for the time being. Do we pursue?"

        "To start with, 'Becca... no. Now that we've made those ships back off, finding those missing Rangers has to be our next priority. Pull the fighters into a screen between us and the enemy, though."

        "I'm on it." Anderson promised.

        "Julia, you're clear to head down to search for them... we'll cover your back while you find your people."

        "Thanks, Nathan." the reply came, even as a barely seen shadow of a different sort moved past the *Night's Dagger* and into a lower orbit. "I owe you one for this."

        Gardinier grinned. "All part of the day's work, in this business."

* * *

        Even as this was going on, even as the White Stars and the other strike cruisers drew a line in the sky with their enemies outside and their colleagues in, the remaining two warships under Prein's command halted their retreat and turned in space. "You are certain that the Others will not blame us for the loss of the ship?" Mathasar asked his Que'zhail.

        "No..." the older Z'shailyl replied, "Not in the slightest. That vessel was merely a prototype -- to be used for experimentation... to be discarded once the experiment was complete -- once we'd achieved the majority of our objectives in this place."

        "And now that this has come to pass?"

        "Now," Prein cunningly replied, "It is perhaps time to press our Anla'shok enemies more closely -- to remind them that not every battle they enter into ends with only minor losses. Send the signal -- I believe it's time for us to call in our reserves."

* * *

        Onboard the *Excalibur*.

        "The sensors are showing more ship movement out there, sir." Matheson reported, as he gazed intently at the results his station board were showing him. "Converging on Sector 975."

        "More Rangers?" Gideon asked.

        "I don't *think* so."

        "All right..." Gideon declared, as he rose from his seat, "Then I guess it's time for us to..."

        "No... not yet."

        "What?" Gideon whirled to face Galen, who had for the most part stayed silent since the crisis had begun. "Galen, what the Hell are you..."

        "Soon." The technomage declared. "Soon they will need your help, Matthew. But not yet."

        "Then when?"

        "I will tell you." Galen replied, even as he and Matheson locked gazes, and nodded knowingly at one another -- an exchange that Gideon almost, but not *quite*... missed.

* * *

        "Detecting a distress beacon, sir." Deitz reported, as the three fighters under Shavann's command continued to claw for altitude. "I think it's a lifepod."

        "If so, it may have been ejected from the enemy vessel which was just destroyed." the Minbari crisply replied, as he and the other two pilots turned their craft towards the new signal. "Perhaps..."

        And then he heard a voice -- a voice that made even the dour warrior break out into a smile. "Attention, attention, to any Ranger vessels operating in Sector 975 -- this is Anla'shok Azhahk Fenric, commanding Landing Team Alpha..."

        "Hor'vai Fenric, we respond." Shavann said.

        "Shavann... is that you?"

        "It is, indeed. The remainder of your command managed to evade the enemy -- and after your capture, we only waited on the return of our Val'na and her command. Now, if you do not mind me asking..."

        "It's a long story." Fenric said, as the three fighters rendezvoused with the lifepod and prepared to grapple, "One that I think you'll find a bit confusing, actually. So did they return?"

        "We did indeed, gentlemen." another, familiar voice announced -- and all of the Rangers relaxed as a shimmery form suddenly moved out of the darkness -- the *Shard of Night*, it's chameleon cloaking system attempting to compensate for the presence of the planet below. "We decided we'd come to look for you while the other Ranger captains were keeping the enemy busy."

        "And for that we thank you, Captain." Fenric declared, as Shavann and Deitz finished grappling the pod and made directly for the *Shard*'s just opened hangar bay. "I have much to tell you -- while we are pleased to see that you and the others have dealt with..."

        "Ah, Hell -- look!" Deitz exclaimed, "It's..."

* * *

        "We've got jump points forming all around us!" Klairika warned -- and just like that, the feeling of victory on the bridge of the *Shard* began to evaporate. "Three more enemy ships entering the system -- similar in appearance if not in *size* to the rest."

        "Damnit!" Dawson swore, as the now much larger enemy force raced towards the Ranger ships. "I *knew* that was too easy."

        "If it's a battle they want, Nicholas..." Julia replied, her face stony, "Then it's a battle they're going to get."

        "Now how did I know she was going to say that?"

        "The answer's obvious, this time..." Sheynell remarked.

        "Even for Drazi helmsman." Dasouri added.

        "We will not be threatened in this manner." Julia concluded. "While some of us have faced the combined might of the Shadows and Vorlons. After that..."

        "You ready for this one, kid?" Gardinier suddenly interrupted to Dawson's great relief, as the rest of the Ranger ships moved to surround the *Shard*.

        "As always, Nathan. Klairika... are they in firing range, yet?" The Brakiri nodded. Which was when, even as she began giving the command to fire... that something completely unexpected occured. "We've got another jump point forming!" Sheynell suddenly cried. "It's...

        Oh *boy*." the telepath gulped.

* * *

        "Well, well... looks like you were right about the 'ships' part, at least." Matheson observed, as the *Excalibur* emerged from hyperspace at speed. "Detecting five ships of unknown configuration, presumably hostile -- moving to engage the Ranger force."

        "Well, we can't have that... now can we?" Gideon said, his eyes hard as agates. "This is Captain Gideon to Ranger commander -- do the words 'fire in the hole' mean anything to you?"

        No reply came -- but then, none was really necessary. "Main gun ready, sir." Matheson said. "Ranger ships are breaking away!"

        "Then by all means, Lieutenant... fire at *will*."

* * *

        No one member of Prein's battlegroup had time to respond, so unexpected was the appearance of the new enemy -- and luck was against the Z'shailyl this day, for three of the five Shadowtech vessels were lined up along the enemy's line of sight. And even as Prein began giving the command to scatter, it was too little, too late... as the ship closest to the blastpoint was torn apart, the others... merely flayed, their hulls glowing like embers, the distinctive arms of the ships almost snapped away by the sheer proximity of the blast. "Gideon." the Z'shailyl growled, even as the Ranger vessels spun around in space and returned to the attack. "He was warned... somehow he was warned." But how?

        "Que'zhail -- the daggership's attack has damaged much of our force beyond repair! We must flee -- or risk suffering the same fate as our brethren!"

        "Activate jump engines, then -- and set course for the rendezvous point." Prein ordered. "Haaker must hear of this." And if one thing was certain in all the possibilities -- that human would not be pleased by this turn of events... not in the slightest.

        At which point the two undamaged hybrid warships turned in space, and fled from the scene of battle.

* * *

        "Val'na... do we pursue?" Klairika asked, her tone hesitant.

        "No..." Julia whispered, as she gazed out, eyes wide, upon the scene in front of her... on the ship she'd sworn to protect -- the ship that had come to save them from the enemy. "We run silent and dark, Klairika... we swore our vows. We swore our vows." To protect -- to watch... to fight. To keep secrets if such actions were necessary. And one of those secrets had almost been broken, this day. If Gideon had only moved a few seconds later... she would have given the order, and the *Shard* would have been engaged in battle when the *Excalibur* arrived. "How did he know?" she asked of the universe.

        "How?"

        An answer to a different question came to her from the *Night's Dagger* on tightbeam a short time later -- the Rangers commanding the two White Stars had attempted to pursue the surviving enemy vessels... but that attempt had failed, as those ships had raced away at a velocity not even the White Stars could match. Faster when they needed to be, and just as deadly, if not more so... then any ship the ISA could field.

        While Julia knew, without a doubt, that they hadn't seen the last of those ships -- and that the worst battle with them was almost certainly yet to come.

* * *

        "Secondary scan complete, sir." Matheson reported, as an increasingly grumpy Gideon paced back and forth within the confines of the bridge. "Same result as before."

        "Just those five ships -- no others?"

        "Yes sir -- two White Stars and three of those new strike cruisers we've been hearing about. If you don't mind me asking, sir... we found and engaged a whole group of the ships you've been trying to find for the last few years... and between us and the Rangers, we managed to destroy four of them..."

        "But what we didn't get was answers, Lieutenant." Gideon replied. "To any of our questions."

        "No, sir... we didn't. Not this time."

        "And you think there's going to be 'another time' do you, Lieutenant?" Galen asked.

        "They'll be back, Galen." Matthew Gideon said, as he left the bridge. "And when they do... we'll be waiting."

        Matheson didn't have to use his telepathic abilities in that moment to know that his captain was holding something back. That response dealt with one of the questions preoccupying the captain -- but not both. Because not only didn't they know *who* was controlling those ships... they also hadn't found any trace of the 'crack unit' the captain thought was dogging their trail. A unit which just might have taken part in the battle just past.

        The answers were out there... now all they had to do was find them. And with that thought in mind, Matheson turned over command of the bridge to the watch officer and headed for bed.

        He didn't see the faint smile on Galen's face as he left... which was just as well. And then the technomage turned away as a voice spoke in his ear... a voice that he and only he could hear. "The crisis -- it has been averted, then?"

        "This time, yes." Galen allowed, "But what about next time?"

* * *

        "You lied to me."

        The box was silent.

        "Were they there?"

        "Yes."

        "Why didn't we see them?"

        Silence.

        "So they can make themselves invisible? Is that it?"

        The box said nothing... and after a moment Gideon muttered a curse and closed it away from the world. The box often wished its masters would ask the right questions... but they never did. Except... except this one had promise. Perhaps the day would come soon when its master would ask the right question.

        Before it was too late.

* * *

        To be concluded...

* * *

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