ForevaXena's FanFic . . .

Babylon Five:  The Kelly Leick Chronicles
Part Four:  Flight Of The *Asura*

by Daniel Stevens

DISCLAIMER:  This story is based upon the Book Series 'The Psi Corps Trilogy', by J. Gregory Keyes, which is itself based upon the TV Series 'Babylon 5', by J. Michael Straczynski, which is property of Babylonian Productions, and Time-Warner.  It is especially based upon the second book of the series, titled 'Deadly Relations'.  No copyright infringement is intended.


SYNOPSIS:  Enclosed is an excerpt from the Personal Log of Acting First Officer Jenny Winters, of the Psi Corps registered Patrol Cruiser *Asura*, with material added to the log entry from the time it was recorded.  Adapted to story format.

All special notes can be found with the preceding story, titled 'Jenny Winters and the Psi Cop'.

"Personal Log of Acting First Officer Jenny Winters, of the Psi Corps registered Patrol Cruiser *Asura*, for 18 July 2206.

Kelly's starting to worry me.  I wish she'd get more rest.  I know that she's worried that our cover story about looking for rogues who have escaped the Solar System will be exposed as just that, and our true mission found out.  That worries me, too, but losing sleep over it won't help anything, or anyone.

In other ways, the Mission is going well.  In the two months since we left Earth, we've surveyed four systems that look promising.  We are now approaching the Sigma Draconis System, and are hopeful of that one, too.  If all goes well, not only will our people soon have a planet of our own that is suitable for colonization, but the mundanes will have enough other worlds to settle to finally relieve the crowding back on Earth.  Thus, everyone wins."

Just then, Jenny senses the approach of a very familiar, and far more powerful, mind.  A Psi Cop's mind.  She turns in time to see Captain Kelly Leick float in, and strap herself into another chair.  They exchange smiles of purest affection, as Jenny suspends the terminal.

'Jen, I know you're worried about my not sleeping.  Thanks for caring, but there's no need.  Doctor M'Lila has given me a choice between resting up, or being relieved of duty until I do.'

"Whatever it takes, Kelly."

'Like I said, thanks for caring.  By the way, those three blips we picked up in the last system are doing just fine.  I have them bunking with the bloodhound squad.'

Jenny smiles quizzically at that.

"How are the hounds taking that?"

'Just fine.  Gives both them and the rogues someone new to talk to.  I saw how lonely the blips were on that rock when I deep scanned them.  As for the hounds, two months is a long time not to see any new faces.'

"Glad to hear they're getting along so well."

'Well, we need the rogues anyway, to substantiate our cover story.  Besides, aside from their one mistake, they're okay.  I kind of like them.  I'm hoping to convince them to join Psi Corps voluntarily before we get back.'

"Kelly, I know you succeeded with me, far better than you could have reasonably hoped for.  But not all rogues are susceptible to reason and kindness.  For example, a lot of that Resistance Cell you recovered me from would have preferred to die rather than join up, I'm sorry to say."

'I know, but I can still hope, can't I?"

With a warm, loving smile, "Sure you can,  That's one of the things I've come to love so much about you.  You're willing to try.  Far be it from me to discourage you."

Just then, over the com system, "Captain Leick to the Bridge!"

'Jen, care to join me?', as Kelly unstraps, and floats out of her best friend's quarters.  Jenny unstraps herself from her chair, and follows.

**********************************************************************************

A few minutes later, on the*Asura's* rectangular, brightly lit, and rather cramped Bridge.  Captain Kelly Leick has just finished strapping herself into the Captain's Chair, which is situated dead center, and which swivels at her will.  Jenny has just strapped herself into her chair, at her duty station in one corner, as well.  As the forward viewscreen shows, the *Asura* is still in the reddish maelstrom known as hyperspace.

"What's the deal?"

"Captain, we've picked up some com traffic from the system up ahead.  Human, from the sound of it."

"Rogues?"

"We're not sure, Captain.  Could be."

Kelly hits her com button.

"This is the Captain.  I need two hounds up on the Bridge, stat.  Leave your gloves in your lockers - you won't be needing them."

"They're on their way, Captain."

When the two hounds reach the Bridge, Kelly Leick removes her gloves, places them where they won't float away, then extends her hands to the hounds. Each hound takes a hand, then they face forward, and concentrate.

A minute later, "Thanks anyway, guys.  The people on that other ship are all mundanes.  Damn *pirates*, at that!"

Then, Kelly hits her com button again, this time for the entire ship.

"Red Alert!  All hands to battle stations!"

One of the Bridge Crew turns to address his Captain.

"Captain, with all due respect, pirates are EarthForce's concern, not Psi Corps."

"Unfortunately, if we left this situation to EarthForce, by the time they got here, that scum would be long gone.  Our job is to enforce the law, and since we're the only such force available, it falls to us."

"Understood, Captain."

**********************************************************************************

Half an hour later, the *Asura* is closing on the pirates.

"Captain, we're in range. Jump Engines are fully charged and ready."

"Very well.  Prepare to jump."  Then, "Jump."

A moment later, the *Asura* emerges from a vortex of blue energy, into normal space.

"Hail the pirate ship."

A moment later, "Captain, you have an open channel."

"This is Captain Kelly Leick, of the Patrol Cruiser *Asura*, speaking to the pirate ship before us.  You are ordered to surrender immediately, or we will open fire."

The pirate ship responds by opening fire on the *Asura*.

"I'll take that as meaning 'Go to Hell'.  Forward Batteries, return fire."

The *Asura's* fire proves to be much more accurate, and much more effective, than the pirates'.  Soon, the pirate ship is reduced to a hulk, no longer capable of further resistance.

"Cease fire."

A moment later, "They're hailing us."

"Now, that's better.  Audio only."

"(Crackle!) - surrender!  I repeat, we surrender!"

"Very good.  What's your present status?"

"Our engines and weapons are gone, and life support is failing.  Also, we have wounded over here."

A quick long range mindscan confirms all of the above, as does the *Asura's* scanner array.

"Very well.  Prepare to be boarded.  We'll secure your wounded first, then the rest of you."

"Thanks."

"Tell it to the Judge.  *Asura* out."

Then, Kelly turns to the two hounds, who had remained on the Bridge all through the fight.

"Have the wounded taken to Medical.  Put the rest in the brig!"

"Aye, Captain."

The hounds depart, to carry out Captain Leick's orders.  Then, Kelly hits her com button again.

"Bridge to Medical.  Doctor M'Lila, prepare to receive enemy casualties."

"Aye, Captain."

*******************************************************************************

Some days later, still orbiting Sigma Draconis two.  The pirates have been dealt with, according to Captain Leick's orders.  Their logs and booty have been transferred over to the *Asura*, as evidence, and the battered, empty hulk blown out of the stars.  The planetary survey is making excellent progress.  Everything else is pretty much routine - until now.

Suddenly, Jenny gets a call on her com unit.

"Jenny Winters, report to my ready room stat!"

"On my way, Kelly."

When Jenny gets to Kelly Leick's ready room, she sees the cold fury on her best friend's face, in her now hard brown eyes, that she had sensed earlier.

'Jen, have a seat!  You're going to love this!  It's from Director Johnston himself!'

Jenny does so, and straps herself in.  Kelly activates the terminal, to replay the message.

"*Asura*, you are hereby ordered to return to Earth immediately, and to turn over all of your planetary survey data to the Colonization Bureau.  Any delay in your compliance will result in you and your crew being listed as rogues, and dealt with accordingly."

Jenny's jaw drops, as her head begins to ache from the flood of rage pouring off of Kelly.

"Kelly, surely you don't think..?"

Kelly gently squeezes Jenny's hand, and tries to smile reassuringly to her best friend.

'Of course not, Jen.  I *know* you better than that, even without scanning you.  But whoever *did* betray us has sown the wind, and I'm afraid we'll all reap the whirlwind - teeps and normals alike.  The only good thing about it is that it probably won't happen in our lifetime."

"Apres moi, le deluge'.  Is that it?'

'I'm afraid so.  It will be your little girl of your and Nikolai's, and my two kids with Claude, who will face the coming storm, or else their children, if any.  I'm sorry."

'Not your fault, Kelly.  So, what now?'

'We have no choice but to obey.  But, as to whoever did betray us, I'd be willing to bet that it was another Psi Cop, who was afraid of losing the enormous power we have over teeps.  *DAMN* whoever it was for being such a shortsighted fool!'

Kelly slams her free fist *hard* against the nearest bulkhead.  Somehow, though, such a display is so much less satisfying in zero gravity.

'Kelly, for what it's worth, I'm sorry, too, that it ended this way.'

'Thanks, Jen.  Coming from you, it's worth a lot to me.  But right now, we have to get to the Bridge, to break the bad news.'

A couple of minutes later, "All hands, this is the Captain.  We have just received orders to return to Earth immediately."  After a moment, "Helm, set course accordingly."

A moment later, "Course plotted and laid in, Captain.  Jump Engines are ready at your command."

"Very well.  Prepare to jump."  Then, "Jump!"

The *Asura* disappears into the orange-yellow vortex of energy that appears before it.

*******************************************************************************

Some days later, in hyperspace.  Captain Leick is on the Bridge.  So is Jenny Winters.

Suddenly, one of the Bridge Crew speaks.

"Captain, we've picked up another ship, of unknown configuration."

"On screen."

The image that appears looks like a big black shimmering bug of some sort.

"All hands, Yellow Alert."  Then, "Communications, hail them.  Interlac audio only."

Just as the *Asura's* com station does so, everyone on board hears a shriek that cuts them to the very soul.  Then, the other ship fires upon them, completely destroying the *Asura's* Jump Engines, and severely damaging their Main and Auxiliary Power.  However, just as suddenly, the enemy ship breaks off the entirely unprovoked attack, and flees in apparent terror.

"Damage report!"

After a moment, "Captain, the Jump Engines have been completely destroyed!  Main and Auxiliary Power have been hit pretty badly, too!  We also have twelve confirmed dead, and several more wounded, some severely!"

"Shit!"  A moment later, "Communications, send out a distress signal, and set it on auto repeat."

"Aye, Captain."

*******************************************************************************

A few days after the attack.  Auxiliary Power has been restored, after a fashion, but Main Power has proven to be a hopeless case.

Jenny reports to Kelly in the latter's ready room.  The temperature aboard ship is already close to freezing, and the air is starting to get a little thick.

"Kelly, our supplies are running dangerously low in certain critical items.  If Earth doesn't send help soon,.."

'I know.  It would appear that we're all in for a nice long nap.'

"Cryonic suspension?"  A moment later, "Understood.  Desperate situation calls for desperate measures."

'Exactly.'

"I'll go alert Doctor M'Lila."

'Very well, Jen.'

A few minutes later, on the Bridge.

"All hands, this is the Captain.  Due to a series of unfortunate developments over the past few days, we have been left with no other option except to initiate emergency cryonic suspension procedures.  I want our sick and wounded, both crew and prisoners, to go into hibernation first.  Then, our healthy prisoners, and finally, the rest of the crew.  Our medical personnel shall supervise the operation.  I want this to go smoothly, and by the numbers, as always.  I look forward to seeing *all* of you on the other side of this ordeal. Good luck to you all.  Now, *move* it, people!"

As it turns out, Kelly Leick and Jenny Winters are among the last crew members to go into the deep freeze.

THE END

Back to FanFic Index