"STAR AND CIRCLE: THE SEEKER'S FIRE"
EPISODE EIGHTEEN: "SOUL SEARCHERS"

* * *

        (disclaimers and associated descriptions in overture)

* * *

        <<Act Four>>

        GC 9117-C - in orbit about the gas giant. 09:31 hrs, EST - Dec 5th, 2267.

        Miranda Feist had been in many battles since she'd knelt to swear her vows on the smooth tiled surface of the temple in Tuzanor - but this one, inarguably, was the most lopsided one to date... and the ratio was *not* favoring the good guys. Outnumbered and outgunned - the only thing that was saving them was... she swore as several enemy fighters scored direct hits on her White Star's primary hull. "Damage report!"

        "Registering sixty percent hull loss along the keel - the hull's regenerating, but if we take another hit in that quadrant, we're probably going to have a hull breach." the other Ranger reported, as other members of the crew sought to contain the more minor but still significant electrical damage to the various bridge systems. "The thing is - if they wanted to destroy us, why are they only sending in their fighters? It's almost like they're toying with us, like they're..."

        "Waiting for something." Miranda agreed, as off to the side the pinpoint defence systems on the *Tu'Fahr* obliterated half a dozen of the enemy fighters. "And I've got a nasty sneaking suspicion we're about to get the rug yanked out from under us, here. Can you get a hold of the 'Shard'?"

        "Negative, Captain - they're jamming us."

        "Why am I not surprised to hear that..." Feist muttered. "These bastards have us between a rock and a hard place. And we can't abandon G'Kael to go to the *Shard*'s aid, either - if we lose the Councillor and his ship, the Narns will never forgive us."

        "Your orders, Captain?"

        "We hold the line against those fighter wings, for as long as it takes for the crew of the *Shard* to get our people out of there safely." Feist cursed again as another flurry of neutron cannon fire rattled her ship. "Come *on*, Julia, get them out of there already!... I don't know how much more of this we can take."

* * *

        ISAS 'Shard of Night', engaged with the enemy. 09:33 hrs, EST.

        "You're *sure* we can't fire the main gun?" Julia asked again, as Dasouri swept the *Shard* along the flank of the much larger enemy warship that had jumped into the clear eddy occupied by the Shadow base minutes earlier, that jump out safely clear of the dangerously explosive hydrogen gas beyond.

        And speaking of 'dangerously explosive' - Julia grimaced as Sheynell shook her head somberly, while the harsh thunder of pulse cannon fire sounded from all three of the battlecruiser's engine mounts. "Not unless you want to ignite ten thousand cubic kilometres of hydrogren, we can't." the *Shard*'s tactical officer reminded her. "I don't like it any more than you do, but we're limited to pulse cannon and local pinpoint defence *only*. The only thing that's saved us so far is that the enemy seems curiously recluctant to engage us directly..."

        Unfortunately, as both Rangers found out a moment later, that was about to change.

* * *

        Onboard Shadow technology warship. 09:35 hrs, EST.

        "Enough of this." the commander snarled, "This meddling little witch is beginning to *irk* me. Fire control! - bring missile batteries Alpha and Beta to bear on the *Shard of Night*."

        "Ready." the tactical officer reported.

        The commander's mouth twisted into a sneer. "Then by *all* means... fire at *will*."

* * *

        "Oh *no*," Sheynell breathed, as dozens of missiles leapt from between the spines of their shadowtech opponent, "Not again!" With mounting horror, Julia watched those weapons cross the distance between the two ships, and again was reminded of this enemy's capability of virtually instant target lock on her ship. Somehow it didn't seem to matter whether they were in stealth mode or not, because...

        "Pinpoint defence systems are trying to respond!" Larieken cried, as the missiles closed to pin-point range. "Hold on, we're not going to get them all!"

        Impact - Julia's face went white as the *Shard* bucked beneath them, and keeled off to port. "Registering seven impacts." Sheynell reported, her hair now disheveled as sparks flared from her station. "Also three hull breaches on decks four, six and nine - damage control teams are enroute."

        "The shadow technology warship is retreating." a puzzled Larieken observed. "Moving back towards the base."

        "We were a nuisance to them only..." Julia whispered, "Without our primary weapons, we weren't really a threat at all." She took a deep breath - she didn't want to admit it, but someone had to. "People, we're in over our heads, here - get us as far away from that warship as possible while still keeping as close to the base as we can. Sheynell, what of our fighters?"

        "Mr. Fenric and his people have returned to their previous englobement around our position." the telepath reported. It was then a report reached the bridge from the lower decks, and Sheynell's eyes widened and then filled with pain as she turned to face her captain. "The lower decks are reporting casualties, Julia... several of them serious. Veyshahk and his people are already on site, attending to the various cases."

        Her expression grim, Julia nodded, the movement sharp - but for now she found herself, as always in battle, living from one moment to the next. "Understood - Larieken, are the damaged sections..."

        "Automatically sealed from the rest of the ship." Larieken confirmed. "Val'na - we should watch for any movement on the base - if I am right, the enemy is interested in one thing and one thing *only*... and that is not to take prisoners."

        "I think you might be right about that, Larieken." Sheynell agreed. "If they'd wanted to destroy us, they've already had plenty of opportunities... that attack was only a warning. What they want is the *base*."

        "If you're right, we need to keep a watchful eye out for our people." Julia ordered. "Dasouri, just as soon as they're ejected from the base, set an intercept course."

        The Drazi nodded. "This Ranger understands, and will obey."

* * *

        Onboard the Shadow base. 09:37 hrs, EST.

        His expression triumphant, Mordechai came to a halt before the servant who named himself the Keymaster, and bowed, that movement deep and full of respect. "Greetings, sir - as it has been, so shall it always be. We are here - ask of us what you will."

        The Keymaster smiled, and inclined his head in turn. "Of course I shall, my young pupil. *What do you want*?"

        "The power to make a *difference*." Mordechai declared. "To make our enemies pay for what they've done to us. To take back what should have been ours in the first place."

        "Ah." the Keymaster exhaled, raised his arms up high, and turned about to face the searing purple point of light at the heart of the base. "As it has been, so shall it always be. The gate is open - this place is yours, as has been intended from the start."

        The sinister grin on the Lieutenant's face widened - he was sure to get a *promotion* for this, maybe even more! "Not half bad - so how long have you been waiting here?"

        "Long enough to know it is time for us to go." the Keymaster replied.

        Mordechai then decided to ask the questions that had been burning inside him ever since he'd learned of this mission. "One thing I have to ask - if you were going to join with us anyways, why did you wait for us -- make us look for you... hide this place?"

        The Keymaster shrugged. "Because I *could*, of course. Because THEY gave me the moral authority to pick a side at a time and place of my own choosing. I chose your side because you and your masters stand the greatest chance of winning. And also... because even now, some of THEM would have their revenge for what has been done to them. Some... but not all."

        "I understand." Mordechai said, as he turned to face the Rangers and Narns that the Keymaster had pinned against the wall prior to their arrival. "And now it's time for us to deal with these... intruders."

        "Yes..." the Keymaster agreed, as he raised one hand to tap upon the inky black surface on his wrist. "It is, indeed. And *this* is how we shall do it." Mordechai jumped and let out a cry as the away team sent by the enemy *sank* into the black surface - and then a moment later the base shuddered as one of its outer segments spalled away and fell into the gas giant atmosphere beyond. "Quite simple, really."

        "*How* did you do that?" Mordechai managed, his composure briefly shattered.

        The Keymaster laughed. "I will teach you the secrets of this place soon enough, Lieutenant. For now, however - I believe the time has come for us to depart." And then, as an astonished Mordechai watched on, the Keymaster tapped in another series of commands - and the *entire* base began to reorient itself, and abruptly sprang into motion.

        "My God! This base - it's a ship, too?"

        "It is what I want it to *be*." the Keymaster stated. "Warn the people in your own vessel - we are translating to hyperspace in one minute exactly." Mordechai did as he was bid - and scant seconds thereafter the Shadow base shimmered and vanished from sight, followed shortly thereafter by the commander's warship and its fighter screen, who departed through a *slightly* more conventional jump point.

* * *

        In orbit about the Jovian. 09:41 hrs, EST.

        "Damnit, what's going on?" Feist demanded, as an all too familar warning sounded on the White Star's bridge. "Tell me that doesn't mean what I *think* it means?"

        "I'm afraid..." Feist's First replied, her tone hesitant, "I'm afraid that it does, Val'na. I've just registered two jump translations in the atmosphere, one conventional, and the other..." The younger Ranger paused then, and swore. "All other enemy forces are disengaging - the larger warships are opening jump points!"

        Miranda's face went white as she figured it out - *two* jump translations, he'd said - one conventional... and the other, not in the slightest. "In Valen's Name... have they've stopped jamming us, yet?"

        "Stand by!"

* * *

        Within the gas giant atmosphere. 09:43 hrs, EST.

        Completely out of control, the black fragment of bioarmor that had once been a part of the now-departed Shadow base tumbled through the atmosphere, slowly sinking as it went into the clouds below - at least, that was, until multiple beams of force stabbed down from the more than six hundred meter long gray and purple warship hanging just above it - beams that steadied the fragment and quickly drew it up beneath the hull of that ship, a hull pierced and scored by missile wounds that were, even now, beginning to heal. "We've got it." Sheynell confirmed, as a worried Julia paced back and forth across the bridge in front of her chair. "Comm channel open."

        "Klairika... can you hear me?"

        There was a moment's pause, and then a voice came back to them, a familiar voice. "We hear you, Val'na."

        Julia relaxed. "Thank goodness - Klairika, do you have any injured among you?"

        "Negative," the Brakiri replied, "Although the experience of passing through what we thought was a solid wall is not one I want to repeat *any* time soon."

        Julia frowned. "I beg your pardon?"

        "I will explain *everything* in due course - may I assume that our mutual enemies have... departed along with the base?"

        She was about to reply when an insistent chime filled the air around her. "We've got an incoming transmission from White Star 101." Sheynell reported. "Val'na Feist for you on Channel One."

        "Feist to 'Shard of Night' - what's your status?" the other Ranger asked Julia, as the connection was completed and an image of White Star 101's bridge rippled down.

        Julia took a deep breath. "We took some bad hits from the enemy during the firefight down here, Miranda - and there's quite a few injured onboard, as well."

        Feist nodded. "I figured that would be the case. What of the base and our away team?"

        "The base and the enemy warship that came for it jumped - but before they did, a part of it fell off - a piece containing our people."

        Feist let out a sigh of relief. "That's good news... but as for the rest - even with the help of the Narns we were outmatched by the enemy. While it didn't matter that we were the first to get here... because it looks like whoever was in charge of that base had their mind made up right from the start."

        "I can confirm that." Klairika added over internal channel. "I can also tell you that the leader of the group that came for the base appeared to be a human."

        Julia closed her eyes, and shivered. This was, inarguably, their largest failure to date - their lucky streak, it seemed, had just come to a sudden and abrupt end. And if it was true, *if* humans were the ones in charge of the Shadowtech warships - the implications were... disturbing at best, and terrifying at worst. "Julia," Sheynell said, "G'Kael for you, on Channel Two."

        She looked up as the image split to show the bridge of the *Tu'Fahr*. "So..." the Councillor said, "I caught some of your conversation, Captains - it would appear that our mutual enemies now have what they want."

        Julia nodded, her eyes hollow with pain and exhaustion. "Whatever technology was on that base..."

        "An energy source, to be certain." Klairika replied, as the *Shard* slowly ascended towards space with its cargo in tow. "And almost certainly the means by which to take their conflict with the Interstellar Alliance to the next level."

        "As of now, it's either them or us." G'Kael warned "Anla'shok! - the President and his Council must be warned."

        "Yes..." Now, the question was, how best were they to tell President Sheridan that his worst fear was about to come to pass? Julia returned to her seat, and placed her chin between her hands, deep in thought. "And Valen asked the Nine..." she whispered, "Will you follow me into darkness, into fire... into death?"

        "And they responded - we will." Larieken countered, his expression solemn.

        "Then follow." Feist finished for them all. "Val'na Tikopai - are your jump engines online?"

        Julia glanced in Sheynell's direction, and the telepath nodded. "Good." Feist continued. "The sooner we get underway, the better."

        "And who's going to tell the President the bad news?"

        Feist cleared her throat, and glanced away. "As senior Ranger on this operation...

        That duty falls to me."

* * *

        Mars - Main Dome - near the offices of the Earthforce Joint Chiefs of Staff. 10:07 hrs, EST.

        Her thoughts composed, Bethany moved through the bustle of Mars Dome towards her destination, her mind once more on the peculiar dream she'd had before the *De'Molay* had jumped out the day before... something which, more and more in the past few hours, she was beginning to doubt had only been a dream.

        <Once you take this step, forever will it guide your life>.

        She gave her Earthforce dress uniform a sharp tug, and nodded - there had been a time when she would have fought against this outcome with the best of her ability... but then something Susan had said to her a short time before came back to her, and she smiled and nodded. <For every situation, there is a time to fight and a time to stand aside - all you have to do is recognize those times, and make the right choices>. This was the right choice, she knew it was!... but even so, she paused as she reached the threshold of the General offices. <Once you cross this threshold,> the voice from the dream warned her, <There is no turning back>.

        "I know that, damnit." She whispered. "I've always known." And then she stepped inside.

        "General?" the officer at the front desk observed with a frown, "You're early."

        Bethany sighed - she hadn't even been promoted yet, and already they figured it was a done deal. "I know that, thanks - is General Shakotu available? There's... something we need to discuss."

        "One moment, please." The aide told her - and shortly thereafter the General emerged from his inner sanctum with a smile and a ready word. "General Tikopai - and who's an eager beaver this morning, eh?"

        "Actually, *sir* - if you wouldn't mind, I'd appreciate it if you'd call together the rest of the senior brass who are here at the moment - and could we go to the conference room, please? There's... there's something I have to tell you."

* * *

        Hyperspace - down gradient from System GC 9117-C. 10:11 hrs, EST.

        "You know what?" Nicholas told Julia as she emerged from Veyshahk's domain, "I'm really getting tired of people shooting missiles at us. And damn it all, the point defense systems should have stopped them!"

        "Except, of course, that would only be true if our counter- measure systems had been effective in scrambling a least a portion of the brains in those missiles - and they weren't. Somehow the designers of those ships have devised a way to make our countermeasures all but obsolete."

        "And so they all got through - what to do, what to do..." Nicholas raised a hand to his chin, now deep in thought. "Lesaki and I are going to have to try and recalibrate those systems and also the darklight stealth grid, as well - the next we encounter those bastards, Val'na, I promise you they won't find us so easy a target."

        "Of course..." Julia glanced back at the medical bays, and it didn't take the engineer long to figure out what it was she was thinking about.

        "The injured - how are they doing?"

        "Veyshahk's taken care of most of them for us - but not all. Four of our crew are seriously injured enough to warrant transferring off ship and back to Minbar. They need care we can't provide here."

        "That's rough news." Nicholas replied, his tone somber. "In that case, we're going to need replacement crew."

        Julia nodded sharply. "We are indeed - just as soon as Val'na Feist calls the President, I'm going to put in a request for a rendezvous with another Ranger warship so we can pull off a crew transfer. The way things are going, we can't afford to operate light shifts."

        "So when's she supposed to be making this call?"

        Julia checked her chronometer. "Right about now, as a matter of fact."

* * *

        Interstellar Alliance Headquarters, the office of the President. 10:13 hrs, EST.

        "Mr. President!" Chiraval told Sheridan from his office door, "There's a call for you from White Star 101 on Channel Six."

        "Good!" Sheridan replied, as he sipped deeply from the cup of coffee on his desk, "I've been waiting for Captain Feist's call for some time now - put it through to my desk, please."

        The Minbari nodded, and a moment later an image of the blonde-haired Ranger appeared in front of him. And it only took Sheridan seconds after that to figure out from the expression on her face that the news was not good.

        Not good... at all.

* * *

        Mars - Offices of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - primary conference chamber. 10:15 hrs, EST.

        "Gentlemen - let's not beat around the bush, here. I know you're not going to like what it is I'm about to tell you... but as someone close to a friend of mine once said, when you go one way and your heart is going another, there's something wrong. Gentlemen, I have to obey the calling of my heart, even though it means turning aside from the only life I've ever known."

        "Captain," Shakotu replied, his tone full of warning, "What exactly is it you're trying to tell us, here?"

        Bethany shuddered - she was going to do this, she WAS going to do this... "All I've ever wanted is to serve and protect the peoples of Earth, and even when our leaders declared me a traitor, that resolve never faded. But at the same time, sirs, you have to understand that my family have always been, how can I say it?... free spirits. We're at our best when we're uncontained and free to act, and at our worst when we accept the chains others would tie around our feet. And the thing is, sirs, in the end, that's what your offer amounts to - a chain around my feet, tying me to this place - a cage from which I can see the stars... but cannot be free to touch them."

        "Captain - you've been given warnings before about your conduct." another general observed, his eyes black with anger, "And now you dare to think you can refuse this promotion? Let me make one thing clear to you at this time - as of right now you will never captain a starship again as long as you're a member of Earthforce."

        Bethany took a deep breath, and did her best to restrain her anger - of course they were going to say that - she had to be brave... "I know that, sir - and as such... as such, it is my intent to *resign* my commission in Earthforce at this time."

        Pandemonium. A minute or two passed, and then as the mutter of voices finally faded to a low background murmur, Shakotu rose to his feet, and came to stand before her. "Captain - be very sure about this... is this really what you want? Because once you take this step, there can be no turning back."

        Another echo of the dream - Bethany shivered. "Yes, sir - I know that, too. But yes - my decision's firm... and final."

        "One thing I have to ask at this time - why..."

        Bethany finally smiled. "Why am I doing this? As someone else close to me has said recently - 'I got a better offer."

        One of the Generals cursed at that. "Sheridan - it's *Sheridan* you're talking about, isn't it? What did he offer you?"

        "Actually, a post as Commissioner of the recently created Interstellar Alliance Mediation Authority. And also the chance to see parts of the galaxy I never got to visit during my Earthforce career. It was... too good an opportunity to pass up. I couldn't refuse."

        Shakotu sighed. "I see. In that case, Captain..." the General held out his hand. "Good luck with your new career - you'll need it."

        Bethany took Shakotu's hand and shook it firmly. "Thank you, sir - for everything."

        Others in the General staff were not so kind, however. "Captain - we expect you to have your personal belongings off of the Warlock Class Destroyer *De'Molay* no later than 13:00 hrs this afternoon. After that moment you will be treated as a civilian, and as such, trespassing on military property."

        Bethany tried not to laugh. "I understand, sir - and will comply." And with that said, she turned towards the door with a spring in her step. The future... awaited.

* * *

        Shortly thereafter...

        "Goddamnit, Veyan! - you assured us that Tikopai would accept our offer! And now this happens - what the Hell are we going to do now?"

        "We roll with the punches and carry on, gentlemen." Veyan Shakotu replied. "One thing is for certain, however...

        Our loosest cannon - just got *looser*."

* * *

        Colorado Springs, Earth - 03:30 hrs, Local Time.

        It was the noise that first alerted Kaitlyn to the fact that someone was downstairs - the problem with this, however, was the fact that none of the lights had been turned on. Her parents had told her they were going to be late coming back from the company Christmas Party, but if it was them, then why hadn't they turned the lights on? Her eyes black with worry, Kaitlyn left her room and headed down the stairs. "Hello? Is anyone there?"

        The young Observer never saw the black-clothed figure step out from around the corner behind her - never felt the hypo spray being pressed to her neck until it was too late to do anything about it. And promptly slumped into the arms of the man who had done the deed a moment after that.

        The dark clothed operative raised his link to his mouth. "Infiltrator Prime to Control - the *prize* is in hand. Stand by." The operative covered the body of his 'prize' in a dark cloth, picked her up in his arms and then, making sure not to be seen, made his way back out the same way he'd come in, carefully locking the door behind him. Shortly thereafter, the operative and the young girl he'd come to this place to kidnap were on their way by unmarked transport out towards the nearby mountains - their destination, an apparently unremarkable meadow bounded by a tall stand of pine trees. Trees which were being used, however, to conceal an equally unmarked atmospheric flyer from plain view.

        Several more moments passed - and then that flyer rose quietly into the air on its belly jets, and vanished into the night sky.

* * *

        Asteroid Base - 11:00 hrs, EST.

        "Gentlemen!" the General roared, as he raised a glass high in salute, "To victory!"

        All the other officers on the base roared the words, and then Rahkeel leant across the table towards his host. "So - now that you have what you want, now that this Lieutenant of yours has succeeded in his aims..."

        "What comes now?" General Ari Ben Zayn smoothly inquired. "You will have the answer to that question soon enough, Minbari... soon enough everyone will realize what is coming next. The wind blows through the branches of the Interstellar Alliance, friend...

        And the storm is coming." Ben Zayn laughed. "A storm sufficient to rock Sheridan's galactic empire to its very core. After all - no matter how strong it is...

        Eventually, every tree must fall."

* * *

        To be concluded...

* * *

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