Previously, in STAR AND CIRCLE, "The Seeker's Fire"...

        It is a mission betrayed both from within and without, but also a stroke of luck that leaves the battlecruiser Shard of Night trapped in hyperspace, its location unknown to its enemies... while the senior crew of that ship, including their captain Julia Tikopai, soon decide that the only way they might summon help is through the P12 telepathic gifts wielded by their tactical officer, Sheynell Keynes. A call for help that first attracts the attention of three youthling Fen previously aided by the crew of the Shard, and then Lieutenant John Matheson, the first officer of the starship Excalibur. Soon enough, Matheson convinces his CO, Matthew Gideon, that the Rangers need their help, and the search is on.

        At the same time, other missions are also ongoing. First and foremost among these is the operation conducted by the technomage Galen and his associate Vejar, as well as that mage's young apprentice, Jaida Tefano. A mission that first leads the three to the ancient Soul Hunter fortress named Cathedral and then onto a ship owned by the man who commands the forces of Bureau 13. Shortly thereafter that infiltration succeeds at its objective, that being to wrest control of the young Observer named Kaitlyn Hughes away from Mr. Molyneux, and release her to work out her own destiny.

        Meanwhile, Dr. Max Eilerson has been assigned the goal of identifying the individual in charge of the Shadowtech armada attacking the worlds of the Interstellar Alliance, even as a renegade within that fleet decides to defect, taking his creation with him... while other Rangers, including Nathan Gardinier, the commander of the strike cruiser Night’s Dagger, are also hunting for the Shard and her crew, a path that will eventually lead Gardinier and his followers to join the force protecting the Excalibur - and to the very first meeting between Gideon and the Ranger who has spent most of the last year protecting his command.

        Finally, General Ari Ben Zayn and his followers, their preliminary moves complete, are heading towards their primary target - a target that may very well be destroyed if Ben Zayn cannot be stopped.

        Who is there to stop the juggernaut his fleet has become?

* * *

        System GC 31771-H - 06:40 hrs, Earth Standard Time - Dec 12th, 2267. The Shard - captain's quarters.

        "To sleep, perchance to dream..." Julia whispered, a smile on her face as she pirouetted around on one heel to take in the panorama around her. A vista made real by the re-invigorated holographic systems of her command... systems only cleansed of the effects of Illithan's virus bomb during the hours in which she'd slept.

        A sleep deeper then any she'd enjoyed in days. A sleep made possible by knowing that a great many Rangers, both comrades and friends, had come a long way looking for her and her crew. Rangers who would stop at nothing to make sure they would be safe while Nicholas and his crew worked their wonders.

        And also, of course, by the presence of the enormous knife-blade form of the Excalibur, holding position above them. Then it was that Julia's smile faded - Captain Gideon hadn't said much to her after Galen's revelation the night before, and even though he'd done his best to be pleasant to her at the time, it hadn't been hard for her to see the anger lurking under the surface of that politeness. Whether he was angry at her, at Galen, at President Sheridan, or maybe just at the universe in general, had yet to be determined, though.

        A question that important, of course, was unlikely to stay unanswered for too long - and now all the parties in question were rested...

        <chime> Julia turned towards the door as it opened, revealing the familiar figure of Larieken beyond. Protector, friend, comrade in arms, he'd been all those things to her in the last seven years, and more - and now add to that the role of messenger as well - a message that would shortly be leading her into the lion's den. "The signal?"

        "Has come, at the agreed upon time." the Minbari confirmed, his expression solemn. "The captain of the Excalibur sends his regards, and suggests that you join him for the morning meal at this time."

        An old tradition, this was - a tradition begun in sea, now transferred to space and out among the stars. An event where compliments might be exchanged, and compacts established. Julia took a deep breath as she slipped into her dress uniform jacket of black and silver, and then draped one of her ash-grey cloaks about her shoulders for good measure. For all that she'd hob-nobbed with the mighty and powerful in the ISA for years now, and even though she'd met Gideon's doppelganger in the other universe months before - the truth was, while she'd been trained by the best not to fear death, she was afraid of this moment, and what this man might say to her. But if any of them were to survive, this meeting was one she could not avoid.

        "In that case, Larieken," she replied, "I'd best not disappoint him."

* * *

        The Excalibur - captain's quarters. 06:47 hrs, EST.

        "Tell me, John," Matthew Gideon asked his first officer, as Matheson leant against the wall of Gideon's quarters and heard his captain out, "Do you think I'm crazy to be doing this? Last night, I came this close to losing it, to giving those Rangers... no, to giving that kid a piece of my mind..."

        "In order," Matheson replied, "No, not really - and well... you didn't. And I think I know why."

        Gideon nodded, his expression difficult to read. "Galen, for all that he's a pain in the ass at the best at times, implied that we have to join forces with these Rangers, or else - and he wouldn't have done that without a damn good reason."

        "I can think of a few, actually."

        "A few, huh? Just for starters there's that secret White Star battlecruiser they're flying round in - a ship whose crew have, for all we know, probably been protecting us since we began hunting for the cure..."

        "Secret meaning unique - unique probably meaning one of a kind." the telepath agreed. "Two crews, two unique ships - who's to know what we can accomplish together?"

        "Or so we're lead to believe." Gideon countered, as the two Earthforce officers left his quarters and moved off down the corridor. "But before we go anywhere, everything, and I do mean everything, has to come out in the open. To work together implies trust, and I have to be sure that Captain Tikopai isn't holding out on me before I'll trust her or any of her crew. Captain." Gideon shook his head, still not quite able to believe what he'd been told. "For God's sake, when I was her age, I hadn't even made Lieutenant yet!"

        "President Sheridan obviously had his reasons for thinking she could get the job done - and maybe after breakfast, you'll understand them too. I'll be on the bridge overseeing tactical coordination with the other Ranger ships in the fleet if you need me, sir. And once we get some word on where the big battle's going to be, you'll be the first to know."

        "I'll try to keep that in mind." Matheson nodded briskly and headed off towards the nearest transport tube, leaving Gideon alone with his thoughts and plans... and with time to reflect on the message the apocalypse box had given him when he'd asked it the only question that seemed to matter at the time.

        Why.

        The answer it had given him hadn't settled his mind, of course.

        So that some may survive.

* * *

        Elsewhere.

        While the greater majority of the Interstellar Alliance forces presently in the field had held their position at the primary rendezvous point for most of the past standard day, as had been the case during the Shadow War and many times since then, the Anla'shok had once again been called upon to seek out signs of enemy movement, to hunt through the vastness of Alliance territory looking for any clues about where that enemy might attack next.

        For the seventy-ninth command of the First White Star Fleet, that hunt was about to pay off. "Is it them?" the captain of that vessel asked his first, as he rose from his command chair. "Is it..."

        "Their main fleet?" the other Ranger replied, his expression maddeningly calm given the situation. "Yes, sir... almost certainly. Our sensors are showing over three dozen vessels close to a mile in length in that formation, a multitude of smaller scout-class warships... and also what appears to be a flagship of some kind."

        "In Valen's Name!" the captain managed, after the image of that ship appeared in front of him, "I'd thought I'd seen the worst that could be accomplished with Shadow technology - it would appear that I was wrong. Their heading - is it taking them towards any of the ISA member worlds?"

        "One moment - attempting to match course..." The other Ranger looked up from his instruments, not even trying to hide his dismay. "Yes."

        "Which one?" The first officer told him. "You're sure?"

        "Unless they alter their course at any point, they will reach their target in less then thirty six hours. Sir."

        "In that case," the captain replied, "We've got a problem - and we've got a job to do. Put us on course for the main fleet rendezvous point... best possible speed."

* * *

        In their long service to the Ancient Masters that had once lived on a planet obliterated by choice and not chance, there were many things the various servant races of the Shadows had learnt - and one of those was to obey orders at all times. Even though that age was now gone and another had replaced it, even as the identities of their masters had changed, that constant remained. A constant that the Z'shailyl named Viknahz wearily acknowledged as his scout vessel moved through hyperspace towards its next point of search.

        The Vekh'shivalht had not been pleased when the plan formulated by his renegade Minbari ally had failed - had indeed unleashed his displeasure upon their Que'zhail shortly thereafter. Aazhvar in turn had ordered the Z'shailyl to search amongst all the worlds nearby, looking for the vessel-of-light the Vekh'shivalht had once named Adversary. A warship which once again seemed to wear the cloak of darkness its name implied...

        "We approach the next system in the area, Zhail'xi." Viknahz's Favored Claw reported. "It is, of course, your choice whether we will waste our time searching this one, when so many have revealed nothing more than rock and lifeless worlds..."

        "It is better to look then to be accused of missing our target, yes?" The other Z'shailyl nodded sourly and a moment later the scout vessel slipped through transition and into normal space. "And now we have fulfilled our obligation..."

        "Zhail'xi - hold!" Viknahz whirled angrily about to face one of the younger members of his crew. "This place - this place is not deserted."

        "Show me." The youthling Z'shailyl nodded, eager to prove his worth to his commander, and a moment thereafter an image sprang into being, showing a multitude of tiny vessels, and one larger - a vessel that Viknahz had no trouble recognizing. "So - it is the human daggership - the very one that has so plagued the Drakh Entire since their attack against the primeworld of the humans. Interesting."

        "More interesting than you suspect, Zhail'xa." the Favored Claw added, his expression now intent. "Observe." An instant later the image zoomed in, to reveal... "That is, is it not, the vessel we seek?"

        "Yessss..." Viknahz finally managed, "The Dark Ones' favor be with us at last! Take us out of this place... slowly, so as not to attract the attention of the foe."

        "And then?"

        Viknahz's mouth twisted into a mirthless smile. "Why then, the countdown to battle begins anew."

* * *

        Far above the Z'shailyl vessel and even farther away from the small congregation of Interstellar Alliance vessels huddling close to the heat of GC 31771-H's unremarkable star, another and far more unusual vessel held station, its occupant patiently watching the pattern unfold beneath him. "So," the Soul Hunter that thought of itself as 'Praetor Questus' whispered, "Once again the circle turns. From the depths of despair you have moved to the peak of triumph, thinking yourself released from your defeat. And now the web of foes you have spun tightens around you once more."

        The Praetor Questus could easily concede that the one he watched had survived her first great crisis - was even close to joining forces with the master of the human vessel named Excalibur, as had been prophesized... but as the Soul Hunter had just observed, it was a mistake to believe that everything would end as the Rangers had planned.

        This was not over - would not be over until the line was once more drawn in the sand... until that sand was drenched in the blood of the warriors who had sworn to defend Sheridan's Alliance against the darkness.

        The Praetor Questus nodded, his thoughts once more content. That battle was coming. And until it was done, he would watch... and wait.

* * *

        Several sectors distant from the watchers and the watched, a more or less conventional Earth Alliance transport made its way through hyperspace accompanied by a ship that could not be more unconventional - a hundred and ten meter long black dagger of Shadow technology that was capable, Max Eilerson knew, of hiding itself from detection on a moment's notice. Now this was something that IPX would definitely be interested in, if only he could figure out how Ben Zayn and his boys had pulled it off...

        "Hey, Doc - you still awake?"

        Eilerson cleared his throat before turning to face the image of the man who'd defected from the other side a short time before, and just for good measure decided to show up right on his doorstep. "The next time I sleep deeply, Mr. Kavanagh, will either be at the victory celebrations for this war or when I'm dead. Now, do you have something important to say to me, or..."

        "Actually, as it turns out, I do." the renegade replied. "My sensors are telling me we'll reach the Excalibur in about forty minutes time - and you may be interested to know they're not alone. There appears to be a great number of Ranger warships in the near vicinity - both conventional and otherwise."

        "And what the Hell's that supposed to mean?"

        Kavanagh laughed. "Oh, you'll find out the answer to that question soon enough, Doctor. For now, though, I think you should be more concerned with what I'm going to tell Captain Gideon. It'd be nice to have someone on my side when I make my presentation."

        "This wouldn't have anything to do with the 'dirt' you mentioned earlier, would it?"

        "Now that you come to mention it, it would, actually. You see, Doc, when a madman like Ari Ben Zayn tries to take over the galaxy, they always like to have a few aces hidden up their sleeve, hammers to hold over their terrified victims, and the like. The idea being, the good General has a fun time smashing a fleet or two before forcing President Sheridan into a position where Ben Zayn's dictating the terms. He gets what he wants and Sheridan gets what he wants... but for a price."

        "We're not just talking about a ceasefire here, are we?"

        "Oh no, not at all. Y'see, there's something Sheridan wants just as badly as he wants this war won for the good guys. Something he would do just about anything to obtain. And if the data I've brought out with me is accurate, Ben Zayn has it."

        Eilerson's eyes widened as he figured it out. "The cure. That god-damn... he's got the cure?"

        Kavanagh nodded. "And if we handle this right,

        So will we."

* * *

        [Cue Dramatic Music]

        KLAIRIKA ALIDIAE
        We are the Watchers...

        [Klairika standing on the bridge of the SHARD OF NIGHT, an image of the EXCALIBUR hanging in the air in front of her.]

        SHEYNELL KEYNES
        We are the Warriors.

        [Images: Sheynell at the tactical station, the battlecruiser firing its main gun and destroying a Drakh capital ship]

        LARIEKEN
        We are the Guardians...

        [Image: Larieken defending his Captain against Z'shailyl attackers, warrior pike in hand]

        VEYSHAHK
        We are the Healers.

        [Image: Veyshahk at his desk in MedSection, an image of the Drakh virus on his computer screen.]

        DASOURI and NICHOLAS DAWSON
        We are the exiles...

        [Image: Nicholas in Engineering, Dasouri at the helm of the SHARD]

        JULIA TIKOPAI
        And I am the Seeker.

        [Image: Julia's face, lit by candles, the stars of the Galaxy beyond]

        KLAIRIKA ALIDIAE
        We are the Rangers of the SHARD OF NIGHT, in this, the Earth Year 2267.

        [Image: The SHARD OF NIGHT enters, from the left...]

        JULIA TIKOPAI
        This is our story.

        [... before engaging darklight mode, and going into hyperspace.]


* * *

STAR AND CIRCLE:
“THE SEEKER’S FIRE”

* * *

‘STAR AND CIRCLE’ created by David Goldingay
<dgolding@connect.ab.ca>

* * *

Legal Disclaimer:

BABYLON 5, CRUSADE and all characters and situations thereof are the creations and copyrighted property of J. Michael Straczynski and Babylonian Productions, "BUREAU 13" the copyrighted property of Tritac Games (1983). All other characters and situations on this site are the copyrighted property (1997-2000] of David G. Goldingay. These non-profit creations are for the purposes of private entertainment only. Original characters and situations are copyright of the author.


* * *

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