Visions of Peace (17 page)

Sheridan’s image disappeared and the newscaster was back.

‘In summary again, EarthDome was destroyed at 09:50 EST yesterday by what has been called by President Luchenko a terrorist action. The bomb, apparently of alien construction, devastated a huge area around Geneva. The death toll currently stands at over 68,000, but this is expected to rise drastically over the coming days as relief teams comb the region. Messages of support and pledges of assistance have been received from Mars colony, the Narn Regime, Minbar and many governments from the former League of Non-Aligned Worlds. Though many government staff were killed in the attack, EarthGov assures us it is still a functioning body. Coming up, an analysis of the Centauri Republic’s military and possible response scenarios from our EarthForce liaison, Ted Chang.’

‘Mr. Shaw, you have a call,’ Tilanna said to him, penetrating the lethargy that inactivity brought to his system. ‘From Tuzanor.’ She gestured to his screen, and he switched the console from ISN to the communications network.

‘Orders?’ he asked.

‘From Sheridan himself, I was told.’

They watched the digits scroll past on the screen for a few seconds before a weary looking Sheridan appeared. Shaw guessed he had been without sleep for longer than they had, given the timing of the attack.

‘Michael, Tilanna, good,’ he started. ‘I apologise for not getting back to you earlier but I hoped to present you with some solid information. Unfortunately, we still have nothing we can conclusively use.’

‘We still don’t know it was the Centauri?’ asked Shaw.

‘Oh, we are pretty sure the attack was by Centauri,’ Sheridan answered candidly. ‘What we cannot prove is exactly which Centauri. I cannot imagine for a moment this was an official action by the Republic--say what you like about the Emperor, and I can say a lot, but Mollari is not a terrorist. I know him too well. We suspect a rogue element, perhaps not even within their Centaurum, but a conspiracy looking to achieve God knows what. I am uploading information from our investigation, including a resume of House Kaado which our intelligence has implicated.’

The data crystal locked into the interface next to Shaw’s screen began to flash its white light as information flowed across the gulf of space between Minbar and Mars.

‘I am giving you both a critical mission, consisting of two parts. First, play diplomat to President Luchenko. She is a good woman but she is also a consummate politician. Earth is hurting right now and its people have a habit of demanding action, any action, when wounded. As a politician, her instincts may be to respond to their pressure. I am also certain some in EarthForce are pressing for a military response as well.’

‘We are to act as the ISA’s representative here?’ Shaw asked.

‘You are to stop a war at all costs,’ said Sheridan. ‘We already know Luchenko is receiving offers of military support from the Narn and other worlds. They all have vested interests in open warfare with the Centauri and may try to take advantage of this. I do not want a situation whereby I am forced to place White Stars between the Centauri and a combined fleet of ISA members. That battle would mean the end of the ISA and everything we have striven for over the past year. Do you understand?’

‘We do, Mr. President,’ said Shaw. ‘We’ll advise Luchenko. I just hope I can get her to listen to us. Was there something else?’

‘Yes. Take the information I have just transferred to you and begin your own investigation there in Earth space. We only have access to half of what we need here, and you may be able to uncover something at your end. Try to backtrack the bomb and see where the path leads. The Earth Alliance did their own check using information we gave them--that is how they discovered the device before it detonated. Try to find something, anything, that leads blame away from the Republic and toward the real terrorists.’

And if the trail does lead to the Republic itself?’ Shaw queried.

Sheridan sighed. ‘Then war may be inevitable. Report whatever you find to me. We’ll try to keep everything together here. Any questions?’

‘Mr. President,’ Tilanna said hesitantly. Sheridan acknowledged her . ‘I am not Anla’Shok and know of the Earth Alliance only as it relates to us. I believe I am not the right person to act as Mr. Shaw’s assistant in this.’

Though it seemed obvious to hear her say it, Shaw was surprised to discover Tilanna had been harbouring reservations about her own abilities, just as he had. In the past, she was utterly serene, as though there was little that could not be achieved. In fact, he associated this trait with all Minbari. To hear one have doubts shook him a little, making them seem more, well, human.

Sheridan smiled, a little sadly, at her. ‘You have just been promoted to a temporary position within the Rangers, Tilanna. Michael needs all the help you can give him over the next few days. And, knowing the Religious Caste, your temple training has given you all the tools you need to face anything in this galaxy. I have some experience in that. Is there anything else?’

‘No, Mr. President.’

‘Then I wish you both good luck. You have served the Rangers well so far, but we must ask you to continue striving. The peace of the galaxy rests on all of us now.’

‘You can count on us,’ Shaw promised before the link was broken. He and Tilanna looked at one another for a brief moment.

‘A chance to be heroes,’ said Tilanna with a half-smile.

‘Business as usual,’ said Shaw with a confidence he did not entirely feel. ‘Come on, we have a lot of work ahead of us.

July 7th 2263, House Kaado, Centauri Prime

The manor was still and silent, the night shrouding its magnificent gardens. Even the royal guardsmen on patrol kept out of sight, silently watching for intruders, however unlikely they might be. Tastefully positioned spotlights, their combined effect sculpted by one of the leading artists of Centauri Prime, highlighted the exquisite architecture of the main building, turning it into a bright display and a nocturnal landmark for miles in every direction. This far from Imperial City, it remained a solitary and unchallenged beacon in the darkness.

Inside its long tiled corridors and plush chambers, few stirred. The servants and slaves still awake went about their duties like clockwork, ever mindful of the penalties of disappointing the master of the house. Some were on hand to respond to any whim or demand that Veneta Kaado or his guest might make, whatever the hour, but most were simply engaged in the normal running of a household of this size, a never-ending task.

Veneta and his sole remaining conspirator, Territt, were beneath the manor, in a small complex Kaado had commissioned from a military expert in security. It could, in theory, be turned into a bunker, leaving any would-be attacker no choice but to literally dig the inhabitants out. Inside, Veneta had ensured all conveniences due a noble were on hand in copious quantities. He had also constructed a command centre of sorts, which he could use to monitor any aspect of House Kaado’s interests, usually in real-time. Here, the bunker diverged from its military ancestry, replete with expensive tapestries, priceless masters from a dozen worlds and soft furnishings that would not tax him should long hours be required here. Kaado did not expect to ever lock down the bunker and survive for any great length of time, isolated from his enemies. However, the look of envy on Territt’s face as he showed the conspirator this luxurious stronghold thrilled Kaado.

He had absolutely no doubt that Territt’s own household would sport a similar, probably larger, bunker in the coming months, but the important thing was that he had been first. A trend would certainly start among the Great Houses and he would achieve a certain amount of respect as its instigator. Money meant a lot in Centauri politics, but it could gain a noble so much more when allied to a healthy imagination and a will to get things done.

Their third conspirator, Verlime, was not present. He had scurried back to his own manor within Imperial City when Veneta and Territt had confronted him with scandalising records and images confirming his liaisons with a slave girl belonging to another House. All engineered by Veneta, of course, as he had ensured months ago that Verlime would meet a young Centauri woman who matched his subconscious ideal of a female. To within 96.4%, Veneta’s experts had assured him. This, combined with his overt complicity in the attack on Earth, would keep Verlime’s silence for now. There was always the possibility that Kaado and Territt would need a scapegoat if their plans went awry and if not, well, Verlime would not live to see the next year.

Kaado and Territt watched broadcasts on the giant screen that took up most of the wall in front of them. They leapt from channel to channel, viewing the reports from a dozen worlds as news of the attack began to filter in, toasting each other with Veneta’s most prized stash of Brivari. If now was not the time to break open a bottle or two of his most expensive vintages, he did not know when it possibly could be. Right now, an ISN broadcast from the Earth Alliance was playing. The two nobles took a perverse pleasure in watching the people of Earth try to comes to terms with the disaster they had created, and though they monitored other channels from other races, time and again they came back to ISN.

Together, they mocked their Emperor’s statement, jeered Sheridan’s plea for calm, and goaded the screen as Luchenko promised a measured response. For this brief time, both forgot about the politics of Centauri Prime and the probable future that would see them at odds as they played for the same political territory. They simply basked in the knowledge of a job well done. For those few short hours, they were true comrades. All good things had to come to an end though.

‘This is not going fast enough for my liking,’ said Territt. ‘I’m going to give the order for escalation.’

Veneta’s head was spinning slightly from the amount of Brivari he had consumed. ‘Ah, back to business then,’ he lamented.

Smiling, Territt reached for a commlink lying on the floor beside the large sofa where he sprawled. ‘It won’t take long. With any luck, we may see it live on ISN. Earth has a habit of sending reporters into battle.’ Activating a coded and scrambled channel, he placed a pre-arranged call to a close ally long ago manoeuvred into owing him a great favour. Time to collect.

‘Vocator?’ he asked. When he received the expected response, he simply said one word.

‘Proceed.’

July 7th 2263, The Urza Jaddo, Beta III

From the main viewport of the bridge of the
Urza Jaddo
, Vocator Barini could look down the entire length of his battlecruiser. Hands behind his back, he listened to the bridge crew behind him complete their status checks with the other sections of the
Jaddo
and its companion ships. Lights from a hundred smaller viewports glittered beneath him across the purple and grey armoured hull, the ship’s thick hide housing a veritable town floating in space. At its prow were two heavy lasers capable of slicing through enemy vessels and a dozen turrets studded the topside of the ship. In his mind’s eye he could see the two other identical battlecruisers just behind the
Jaddo
. Satisfied that he had been given the right tools for his mission, he paced slowly toward the rear of the bridge, mounting the three small steps that raised his command seat on a plinth above the crew.

Easing his large frame into the comfortable sagid-hide chair, Barini waited until his first officer reported that his crew and ship were both ready for action.

‘Have the
Protera
and
Voxa
signalled us?’ he asked.

‘Yes, Vocator,’ came the reply. ‘Both report all systems green and ready for battle.’

‘Excellent. Are the Sentris still tracking the target?’

‘Yes, Vocator. The target is stationary at the same coordinates.’

Barini could sense the anticipation in his crew. They did not know the reasons for the squadron of battlecruisers being here or why they were attacking the Earth fleet. In fact, he had not been told the full reasons himself. Still, Minister Territt had been most generous in the past, elevating him within the Centauri military and personally seeing him offered command not only of the
Urza Jaddo
but this entire squadron. However, the crew’s anticipation and the excitement on the bridge were palpable. For too long the Centauri had been pushed around by every other race, its people under ruinous taxes to pay for reparations they did not deserve to pay. A chance to strike back at their enemies now presented itself. The real whys and wherefores were unimportant. They were actually doing something about their situation and Barini was not entirely immune to this emotion.

He stood up and cleared his throat to make sure he had the attention of the entire bridge.

‘My friends, the great Centauri Republic has been through a long night.’ Barini recited the speech given to him by the Minister precisely, knowing his words were being transmitted throughout the
Jaddo
and the other battlecruisers. Of its veracity he had little idea, but he knew some truth was surely buried within. He learned early in his career not to question the orders of his superiors too closely and was happy to accept the Minister’s words, especially considering what his co-operation would earn him later.

‘The humans, too, have suffered a great tragedy, of that you have no doubt already heard. However, they have blamed we Centauri for this dreadful event. Once more we are subjected to the lies and prejudice of other races jealous of our superiority and they will try anything to bring us down.’

There were more than a few nods among the bridge crew, many of whom, Barini knew, had lost family and friends during the Narn and Drazi attack on Centauri Prime. ‘The Earth task force we are about to go into battle against has recently withdrawn from Republic space,’ he continued. ‘They have already attacked our colony at Ragesh and destroyed several civilian liners that had docked there.’ There was now a collective gasp of astonishment from the crew and it was well they were surprised, thought Barini. Attacking civilian shipping was an act of barbarity, one the Centauri had been accused of by the Interstellar Alliance. For one of the Alliance’s member governments to now do the same was hypocrisy of the highest order.