("The Few and Far Between", Envoi)

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

(disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)

* * *

        <<Envoi>>

        ISAS 'Shard of Night' -- returned to patrol. 17:15 hrs, Sept 5th, 2267.

        "Welll... I have to say you look better then you did before you went to bed." Nathan Gardinier wryly observed, as Julia reclined in her ready room chair, her latest cup of tea in hand. "The stand down we decided on after battle's end helped, then?"

        Julia opened her mouth, and then paused. Her sleep had been plagued by nightmares, to tell the truth... visions of alternate might-have-been's, and fears of what was yet to come. But she couldn't tell him that -- not yet, at least. "We may be rested again, Nathan... but all the sleep in the world isn't going to defend us against our enemies when the time comes. I get the feeling that this encounter was meant to be more of a test then anything else -- that our new enemies, whoever they may be, wanted to see how we'd react when they unveiled their ships and flung them against us."

        "That may be." Gardinier finally agreed. "All the same... maybe they've been scared off by what happened today. After all, only two of the five ships they fielded survived the battle."

        "The two *largest*." Julia reminded him. "Also probably the newest and fastest. Nicholas and his people are going over the records of the battle -- and he went so far as to suggest that the other three ships may have only been prototypes... and that the two ships that escaped might have been the first of their main production line."

        "The first, huh?" Gardinier snorted. "So you think there's someone out there building whole squadrons of these things? If that's true..."

        "If that's true -- they'll be back, Nathan... and soon. And we have to be ready when that happens."

        "We will be." the other Ranger promised. "Every month now new ships are coming off the production lines at Minbar -- new strike cruisers and second-generation White Stars to add to our forces. When those ships return, Julia... we'll be ready for them."

        "l sure hope you're right." The questions neither of them had wanted to discuss remained unasked, however -- what did the powers-that-be behind those ships want? And how far would they go to achieve those ends? "So where are you bound next?"

        Gardinier shrugged. "Oh, here and there -- but to start with, we're off to Babylon 5. Seems that the High Council wants us to take part in some sort of wargame that Sha'vei'e Pratchett and Lanniel have organized..."

* * *

        Medbay. 17:40 hrs.

        "So you're sure she's all right?" Fenric asked again.

        "Other then a case of shattered nerves and the dehydration that all three of you suffered during the course of your imprisonment... yes, reasonably sure." Veyshahk allowed, as Courtney finished putting on her uniform in the other room. "And while I agreed with our captain's request to keep you in Medbay overnight for observation, all of my observations suggest that none of you have suffered any lasting harm from your encounter with the enemy. As such, Hor'vai Fenric, you are now cleared to return to active duty."

        "Told you so." Courtney archly observed, as she and Fenric left Medbay together. "Thanks for worrying about me, though."

        "Our friends are few and far between out here, Miss Ellis. We are Rangers, and we have to stick together. And now that the doctor has alleviated my concerns, perhaps..."

        "Dinner?" Courtney inquired. "The food the doc gave us during our stay wasn't, um, the tastiest onboard... if you know what I'm saying?"

        A smile crept onto Fenric's face. "On that point, we are agreed, Miss Ellis. Lead on, then... and I shall follow."

* * *

        Elsewhere, a junction between hyperspace and realspace was once again opened... and shortly thereafter the two surviving warships under Prein's command entered the rendezvous point... and they were not alone. Far from it, as a matter of fact. A few more minutes passed -- and then the Z'shailyl and his Favored Claw made their way onto the *largest* ship in the area... to find Guttricht Haaker waiting for them. Among others.

        "So..." Haaker observed, after Prein had explained how the engagement had gone, "The prototypes have served their purpose, then... while we have given the Rangers cause to believe that we can be easily defeated." A smile. "They will discover soon enough how wrong this assumption is."

        "We can justify the sacrifice of the prototypes at this time." another human in the room allowed. "But no more. The next time we take our ships against the Rangers, Haaker -- our backers would like to see a little more concrete proof that these ships can do what you and the others claim they can."

        "Be assured, Director... you will get it soon enough." Haaker promised. "We are almost ready to move."

        "And what of the Changeling's hybrid warship?" the other man challenged. "What of Gideon and his *Excalibur*? How do you explain their unexpected appearance?"

        "You would speak of technicalities, while I speak of manifest destinies?" Haaker snorted. "Both Tikopai and Gideon, as well as their respective crews and ships, will be dealt with at the appropriate time, and *in* the appropriate place. Our pieces are in place, Director -- all of them.

        And when the time comes -- the princess will learn that even the prettiest apple can have a worm hiding inside it."

* * *

Return to "The Seeker's Fire" Episode Index