Title: In The Gardens Of The Past, Part 25 (Book II: The War Cry, Part 3)
Author: B5Crusader@geocities.com Date: 09-01-98
War Cruiser Pelara Gok, Ser'hal Orbit, Ser'pak Alliance
"Report from docking bay, Shai Alyt. All remaining members of Sha'tha and Spear of Light Roin secured. The Entil'zha's presence on the escape pod has been confirmed. He is said to be fine and requests to come to the bridge." A tech reported.
Sherann nodded his assent, relieved that Valen had survived the fiery death of the Hestanna. He had, perhaps morbidly, watched the Hestanna's final moments as it's remaining crew had used the last of their power to ram the Shadow vessel that attacked them. It had been a spectacular explosion.
It had also seemed to rally the Minbari forces against the K'ran while the same event seem to send a shockwave of fear and disbelief through the K'ran forces. Less then thirty seconds after the Shadow vessel had exploded the remaining K'ran capitol ships had fled into hyperspace, leaving behind hundreds of fighters and thousands more of their warriors on the ground.
"Status of the landing teams." Sherann demanded.
"Sir, the K'ran seem to be using some sort of communications jamming equipment. We are only able to receive communications from Alyt Gurtel's battalion outside of the capitol." One of the technicians reported.
"Put him through." Sherann ordered.
"Anla'shok Felio reporting." A male voice Sherann recognized answered, barely audible from the obvious sounds of heavy weapons fire and explosions.
"Where is Alyt Gurtel?" Sherann asked.
"The Alyt and the command staff were killed during initial landing. Battalion has transferred command to Anla'shok detachment." Felio replied.
"Report situation." Sherann ordered, glancing once to the bridge entrance to see Valen striding toward him, a hint of smoke the only hint of his of his otherwise silent arrival. Valen simply nodded to Sherann as he joined the Shai Alyt in listening to Felio's report.
"Have secured primary landing zone and made contact with Ser'pak forces. K'ran have withdrawn to capitol city. Ser'pak scouts report heavy fortifications and capture of civilians for possible use as hostages." Felio reported.
"What of the other landing forces?" Sherann asked.
A burst of static caused both Sherann and Valen to exchange worried glances. "..known. Lost contact with Bendrelli's Command Group. Believed lost when transport shot down. Have intermittent contact with Anla'shok company assigned to Laerma's regiment."
Sherann shook his head. If true that Shai Alyt Bendrelli was dead, he was amazed that the rest of the vanguard of the invasion hadn't been wiped out. "Understood, Alyt. Hold position and await orders."
"Vis, Shai Alyt." Came Felio's crisp reply before the comm signal went dead.
"We should send the next wave." Valen said.
"I disagree. We have no idea what is going on down there." Sherann pointed out.
"And how is staying here going to change that?" Valen shot back, surprising Sherann with the intensity of his words. Ashamed at the implied cowardice Sherann turned back to the console activating the commline. "Begin phase two."
Outskirts Ser'Pak Capitol, Ser'Pak, Ser'Hal Alliance
Felio sighed as he heard the order over the comm. A nearby Serpkan, the natives of Ser'Pak, cocked his head to one side and narrowed two of its four green, oddly reptilian eyes.
"They are coming, Shla'mar." Felio told the Serpkan soldier, watching in undisguised curiosity as the spines along its back and arms seemed to quiver at his words.
"I tell others. Go." The Serpkan replied and quickly ran from the remnants of a some Serpkan family's home now serving as temporary refuge and headquarters for Felio's Anla'shok contingent.
He watched with some admiration as the thin, wiry being quickly scaled his way through the rubble and disappeared into the haze of smoke, apparently headless of the weapons fire the seemed to light up the dimmed sky.
He glanced around him to see his fellow Anla'shok and a few of the Warriors from Gurtel's battalion resting while they could. Soon enough they all knew they would be expected to walk back into the fiery abyss the K'ran seemed determined to turn this city into.
He smiled with pride at what they had accomplished so far. He had no illusions about what lie ahead. But then her had never had any illusions as to why he was here. He remembered back to a time just mere days ago.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Warcruiser Hestanna, Hyperspace
Crew Barracks
Felio sat on his slanted palette quietly watching the other thirty or so Minbari crammed into the sleeping quarters. Some were like him, silent and watching, others talking with some animation about the upcoming battle, and others cleaned and honed various assortments of hand held weapons, mostly knives and the occasional denn'bok favored by the Anla'shok amongst them.
Felio smiled slightly to himself as he noted that Clan and even caste rivalries had been put aside for the coming battle. Religious templars helped Warriors ready weapons there. A Warrior correcting the hone of the blade of a former Worker turned Anla'shok. 'Valen would be pleased by this sight.'
Esprit was high but none held any delusions of what was coming. Underneath the surface of the boisterous crowd was the unspoken knowledge that some, perhaps none, would survive the next battle. But such thoughts were for later, when the battle had ended and their fates decided.
Felio himself was as high spirited and confident as any of the others had warrant to be. They were not alone, after all. In dozens of other quarters across the ship this scene was playing out again and again. Beyond this ship lay dozens more like it.
He had heard rumors that some thirty seven Minbari vessels had joined the fleet, an amazing feat considering the limited time. So many ships had been sent to patrol for Shadow activity that few could arrive in time for the mobilization. Supporting the fleet were two dozen Markab vessels carrying supplies and medical equipment. He smiled to himself, freely admitting to any who cared to hear that he had been wrong about the Markabs.
He knew some wondered at his presence amongst these people. They were all well trained for ground combat. Felio was not, having been trained to be a pilot and naval officer. His presence was his own doing. He desired to see the face of his sworn enemy. If not them, then he was willing to accept their servants in their stead. Valen had warned against such inclinations and Felio agreed, but he had to do this. He had to.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Present~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
War Cruiser Pelara Gok, Ser'hal Orbit, Ser'pak Alliance
"Secondary launches confirmed."
Sherann nodded in silent acknowledgement to this information, keeping his eyes focused on the small holotable before him. Mirroring him on the other side of the table stood Valen, critically eyeing the information that scrolled in front of them.
"We should concentrate on the capitol. Bendrelli's group is the most secured." Valen noted, casting a glance to Sherann.
Sherann shook his head, frowning. He pointed to the red highlighted areas on the map. "No. Too many of our troops are bogged down to the south and east. If the rest of Laerma's regiment runs into to trouble they will have no support."
"They don't have the support already." Valen noted coldly earning a scowl from Sherann.
"That is true, but why risk more taking the capitol than necessary?" Sherann asked.
Valen sighed in exasperation. "The whole point of this action was to help save the Serpkans, Shai Alyt."
"I know this, Valen. I am merely trying to prevent the loss of Minbari lives!" Sherann growled back, angry at Valen's implied cowardice on his part.
"And I am merely trying to save everyone's lives." The strange Minbari replied calmly, sending a chill down Sherann's spine. Valen smiled slightly. "Will you support Bendrelli's group?"
"I will not waste more *lives* on such a pointless assault." Sherann crossed his arms defiantly.
"You mean *minbari* lives."
"What difference does it make?" Sherann asked, truly puzzled by Valen's attitude.
"All the difference in the universe, Shai Alyt. All the difference in the universe." With that Valen turned away from Sherann.
"Order all Anla'shok to launch in five minutes." He ordered a nearby commtech who instantly complied as Valen strode quickly from the bridge.
"We shall not support you, Valen." Sherann warned, noting for the first time Emphilio's presence on the bridge, watching him. Contempt was plain on her face.
"He knows this." She said quietly.
"Do not defy your clan on this, Alyt. Do not support his action." Sherann threatened.
Emphilio bowed deeply and respectfully. For a moment Sherann was certain she would comply with his order as any lesser ranked member of the Wind Swords would do. The sneering curl of her lips as she straitened told him this was not going to be the case.
"What need does a warrior have for caste and clan when they are Anla'shok. We follow the One." With that she about faced smartly and exited the bridge, leaving Sherann staring after her retreating form.
--------------------------------------------
Hetarr watched patiently as the technician made his final checks over Hetarr's abused fighter. New patches of armor easily stood out from the rest of the craft, but this did not bother Hetarr. The craft's scars were well and honorably earned. There was no need to hide this fact despite the Warrior castes protocol that officers vessels be maintained properly at all times.
His sipped a small cup of tepid tea casting his eyes here and there to watch the launch bay. Dozens of Anla'shok were filing into awaiting Flyers and available fighters. He even spotted a number of warrior caste amongst the number, including some of his own Fire Wings in those numbers.
"Shai Alyt."
Hetarr smiled at the sound of a voice becoming quite familiar to him. "Anla'shok Na." He replied, by way of greeting.
"Your ships seem to be preparing to launch." Valen noted casually, causing Hetarr to smile in amusement at Valen's words.
"Yes, they are." The Fire Wing agreed, turning to look at the other Minbari. He nodded once to Emphilio who stood a pace back and to the left of Valen. 'Good. You can tell the quality of a man by the company he keeps.'
"Will you aid us?" Valen asked bluntly.
"We already have. And will do so again." Hetarr stated, straitening himself. "Unlike some, we Fire Wings to not break our vows."
Hetarr saw a frown flash across Emphilio's face but it disappeared as quickly as it had come. She knew he meant no insult towards her and had let his words pass without comment. 'This is not the Emphilio of old that I know.' Hetarr looked at her somewhat in surprise but Valen quickly regained his full attention.
"The agreement was made by your Clan Elders. I can not hold you accountable to the oaths of others." Valen said, giving Hetarr another chance to withdraw his support.
Hetarr found it odd that Valen would do so, but dismissed his concerns. He grinned. "Aside from the fact that I *am* one of the Fire Wings Elders, then let it be known that *I* swear to support you and the Anla'shok until the end of this no matter where it may take us."
Hetarr watched curiously as Valen cast a glance over his shoulder to Emphilio with a smile. "You were correct. I shall settle our wager later."
"Of course, Anla'shok Na." Emphilio nodded gracefully.
"Let's stop standing around, we have a world to save." Hetarr boomed.
Outskirts Ser'Pak Capitol, Ser'Pak, Ser'Hal Alliance
Felio ducked lower as he felt a shower of rocks and dirt cascade over him. Coughing from the dust filled air he quickly popped up over the wall and fired another burst of PPG fire before returning to the protective cover of the crumbling wall.
Nearby he could see Shla'mar, the Serpkan warrior that had unofficially become the liaison between the Minbari forces and the remaining meager Serpkan military, signalling to his fellow warriors. An instant later, several dozen of the oddly reptilian creatures scrambled over the walls and through the rubble towards the dug in K'ran fighters.
Shla'mar looked over to Felio flashing him a sharp toothed grin that he had learned in short order indicated a Serpkan warrior awaiting orders. Felio simply nodded once and Shla'mar was over the wall despite a hail of PPG fire. He wished the strange alien well, saying a silent warrior's prayer for his safety.
The rest of the Minbari waited and listened as the plan called for them to do. Felio had thought it foolish when Shla'mar had proposed it to him, but he had had little choice in following it. The Serpkan warrior had made it quite clear that he and his fellow warriors would do it with or with out the Minbari's help.
Felio shook his had bemusedly in memory. He had come to really like these Serpkans in a short time. Though not as advanced as the Minbari, he could not fault their warriors loyalty and honor. They were more like the Minbari than many races Felio had met in his warrior career.
'A shame the majority of them are dead.' Felio thought sadly, wincing slightly as he heard a high pitched moan he recognized as the last dying sounds of one of the Serpkan warriors. A haunting sound that he now wished he had never known in this lifetime. It would haunt him forever, joining hundreds of memories that would torment him in his dreams.
Another of the moans was heard. Felio saw one of the Anla'shok twitch at the sound.
"Hold." He snapped angrily. The Anla'shok instantly relaxed but glared at him.
Felio didn't blame him. Sitting here waiting for reinforcements to arrive while the Serpkan warriors died for their world was not what Felio desired. He wished to be with the Serpkans fighting side by side against the common enemy. He wished to honor his caste, his clan, his family.
But more than anything, he wanted revenge. Against the Shadows. Against their allies. To completely and utterly erase their existence and influence from the face of the universe. It was what they deserved!
But his revenge was withheld from him. Again. But he was patient. He had learned to be patient out of necessity when he would have much rather given into the guilt, grief and fear that constantly threatened to consume him and drive him mad. He could not give in. Not until he had finished his quest to destroy the darkness. Honor demanded this from him. And Valen had shown him the path.
Felio hunkered down and narrowed his eyes. Waiting. Listening.
Flyer 232, Outskirts Ser'Pak Capitol, Ser'Pak, Ser'Hal Alliance
Emphilio watched with some envy as Valen gripped an overhead support beam, barely even seeming to feel the weapons fire the struck the hull of the flyer. Emphilio, being somewhat smaller, not for the first time in her career lamented her small frame. Though quite strong, her smaller mass seemed to be constantly buffeted by even the lightest of impacts. She found it rather annoying.
Valen cast a quick glance her way, a small smile creeping to his face at the look that must have been on her face. Emphilio sighed and simply hung on as best she could. She now remembered why she preferred ship board life over that of the infantry.
"Coming to rendezvous point. We're taking heavy fire." The pilot reported calmly, as if discussing nothing more important than a clear day of weather.
"Take us down." Valen ordered, earning a look from the pilot.
"Sir, that is needlessly dangerous." The pilot protested.
"Take us down." Valen repeated in the same tone as before. The pilot sighed and complied as the commander of the Anla'shok keyed in the commline.
"Now."
Spear of Light Roin, Outskirts Ser'Pak Capitol, Ser'Pak, Ser'Hal Alliance
"Now."
Hetarr smiled slightly at the command. "Roin, proceed." He barked the order over the communications channel as he banked his fighter into a steep dive, followed by his remaining roin-mates.
On his targeting screens the signals from the Serpkan scouts came through clearly indicating the locations of the K'ran positions. He quickly locked in the positions to his computer.
As the roin's fighters cleared the cloud cover and could easily see the K'ran weapons emplacements, Hetarr took great pleasure in his next order. "Roin. Ah hell."
Almost instantly the ground before him erupted into fire and smoke as the Fire Wing pilots hit their targets with precision and quickly pulled out of their dives strafing what K'ran positions they could as they flew over the city.
Outskirts Ser'Pak Capitol, Ser'Pak, Ser'Hal Alliance
"Now."
Felio signaled the others near him and then ducked his head for what was coming. Those he signaled in turn also hunkered down where they could. An instant later the sky above them seemed to rain fire and death as the Minbari fighters straffed through the K'ran positions.
Even before the deadly attack had been completed and the minbari fighters had pulled out of their dives, Felio and the others were scrambling to their feet and advancing towards the K'ran positions.
Felio glanced up as a fighter passed over head, dangerously close to the ground. So close in fact he was buffeted by the ships wake. Despite this he grinned as he noted the crest that had been hastily painted on the fighters hull. The symbol of the Anla'shok sitting just above the crest of the Fire Wings Clan.
Quickly turning his attention back to the battle he quickened his pace towards the K'ran lines. He was not surprised to see a large number of dead and wounded in the wake of the fighters strafing run. Without sympathy he ended the suffering of the wounded. It was far more benevolent that the results of what he had seen the K'ran do to the Serpkans.
His face fell as he came across one of the Serpkan scouts they had sent out. It was Shla'mar, the Serpkan he had come to think of as a friend. His fine spines and skin now blackened and charred. The body twisted and broken. Despite this state, Felio could see by the expression on the aliens face that he had died contented and at peace, knowing his world, his people would be saved.
Felio bowed his head and gave the Serpkan a quick warrior's prayer for the alien's soul.
After a few minutes Felio stopped as he heard the familiar whine of a combat Flyer descending. Larger, more heavily armed and armored, the combat Flyers were, in appearance, virtually indistinguishable from the civilian versions common across Minbari space.
Looking behind him, he saw dozens of Anla'shok scrambling from the recently arrived combat Flyer. Just as quickly as it came the Flyer departed.
A cluster of seven or so Anla'shok seemed to hover together near the Flyer's landing site. For a moment Felio wondered why, then realized that Valen was amongst their number. He quickly trotted over to the Anla'shok Na, saluting as he did so.
"Anla'shok Na! You should not be here. This is not a secured area." Felio shouted over the sounds of battle, which were quickly fading into the distance of the city. The K'ran were in retreat.
"No place is secure." Valen replied, looking over the dirty and haggard looking warrior before him. A flash of pride swept through him, but he pushed it aside instantly. There was no time for such foolishness when lives were at stake.
"But we haven't linked up with the rest of the regiment. We need reinforcements!" Felio protested, warily looking around to ensure that no remaining K'ran soldiers were in the vicinity. He doubted there would be in the wake of such a devastating attack, but he dared not take a chance.
"That should pose no problem." The other minbari replied with a slight smile as he gestured to his right.
Felio turned to follow the gesture only to be greeted by the site of a dozen more Flyers depositing more Anla'shok troops to the battle field. He could see an occasional warrior here, a worker there, and a religious caste member scattered through out. The site brought a surprised, but pleased smile to his face.
"Shall we proceed, Anla'shok?" Valen asked.
Felio grinned in amusement and nodded. "Of course, Anla'shok Na. This way."