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146 lines
6.4 KiB
146 lines
6.4 KiB
<h3>Synopsis by Katrina Glerum (kat@midwinter.com)</h3>
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<p>
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Once again the station mobilizes for war. The murder of 10,000 refugees
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fleeing Proxima 3 has forced Sheridan to decide that it's time to retaliate
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against Clark.
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 alt="" src="/lurk/gif/081/nsnr.jpeg">
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Sheridan calls a full Council meeting first thing in the morning. In return
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for the safety his White Star patrols have brought to uneasy borders, he
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declares all League World military treaties with Earth null and void. As
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Starfuries run drills outside, Ivanova requests that each government
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contribute a military vessel to the defense of the station. Other than
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that, they must take no part in the war.
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<p>
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"We're going to take back our home. Or die trying," Captain Sheridan
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concludes.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 alt="" src="/lurk/gif/081/warmap.jpeg">
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Marcus races through the station to the War Room with a data crystal that
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holds intelligence detailing the Earth Force blockade of Proxima 3. Of six
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destroyers, two were responsible for shooting down the transport.
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<p>
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Meanwhile, even though Franklin admits little progress on freeing the
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Shadow-implanted telepaths, Sheridan demands that he get them mobile as
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quickly as possible for an imminent mission.
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<p>
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To Ivanova he explains his plan for attacking Proxima 3. By offering the
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combatants a chance to surrender or defect, he will attempt to minimize the
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Earth Force losses; nevertheless he will destroy any ship that fights back.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 alt="" src="/lurk/gif/081/permission.jpeg">
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Vir is roused from a nightmare by Garibaldi at the door. When Garibaldi
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asks for Londo, Vir lets it slip out that the Ambassador has gone to speak
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with G'Kar, then divulges the plan to attack Earth. Vir is surprised that
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Garibaldi is disgusted with Sheridan's move. Even though he doesn't always
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agree with Londo, Vir says he continues to follow, because sometimes Londo's
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right.
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<p>
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Close quarters maneuvers continue outside under Lt. Corwin's supervision.
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Ivanova orders the fighters to only accept commands that are encrypted with
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the code of the day. Corwin remarks that they should trust no one.
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<p>
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"No," Ivanova remarks acerbically. "Trust Ivanova. Trust yourself.
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Anybody else? Shoot 'em."
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 alt="" src="/lurk/gif/081/doitfast.jpeg">
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The destroyer Starfuries patrolling hyperspace near the Proxima 3 jump gate
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are oblivious to the fleet of White Stars gathering in the murky redness
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there. Marcus learns that the resistance on the planet's surface is being
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demolished by Clark's ground forces.
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<p>
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G'Kar's writing is interrupted by Mollari's entrance. They take a couple of
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shots across each other 's bows until Mollari admits that he didn't come to
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fight but to talk. The past years have been very hard on both of them.
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G'Kar snorts in derision, but Mollari continues humbly, thanking G'Kar for
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his actions and endurance that set both of their worlds free, telling G'Kar
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that he has come to respect him deeply.
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<p>
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G'Kar scorns both the thanks and the respect.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 alt="" src="/lurk/gif/081/pourback.jpeg">
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Mollari forges ahead angrily. He is a patriot, he shouts, and yet, through
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ill judgment he himself became his own enemy. So can he possibly
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"understand who the enemy is?" Perhaps not. But he can understand
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friendship, and the humans of Babylon 5 have been friends. Thus he has
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convinced his government to put their full support behind Sheridan, and
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requests that G'Kar do the same. Pouring out two drinks, he proposes a
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toast "to the humans, and to the bridge that they created between us, in the
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hope for a better future, for both our worlds."
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<p>
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As Mollari waits with glass raised, G'Kar pours his drink back in the
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bottle. With heavy disappointment, Mollari departs.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 alt="" src="/lurk/gif/081/review.jpeg">
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Sheridan and Ivanova have the difficult task of prepping the Starfury crews
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for battle. They are told to defend themselves with deadly fire and come
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home alive, yet show mercy to any non-combatant.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 alt="" src="/lurk/gif/081/logo.jpeg">
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Sheridan departs for the front leaving Ivanova to command the station. His
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flagship White Star 2 sports newly painted Army of Light logos on the wings.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 alt="" src="/lurk/gif/081/battle1.jpeg">
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The commander of the fleet blockading Proxima 3 orders two destroyers to
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attack the White Stars that jump out of hyperspace on the opposite side of
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the planet. When he recognizes the ships as Sheridan's he orders his
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destroyers to attack. Macdougan, the captain of the Vesta, engages John in
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a conversation about the legality of Clark's orders. When Macdougan refuses
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to enter the fray, fleet commander Hall grants a field promotion to
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Macdougan's second, a rank he enjoys for about 60 seconds until the Vesta's
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crew ends it.
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<p>
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The Pollux is destroyed, two vessels stand down, and another withdraws.
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Fearing a tribunal more than death, Captain Hall orders his crew to continue
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the fight until his own second relieves him of command and surrenders.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 alt="" src="/lurk/gif/081/captains.jpeg">
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Sheridan calls the captains of the surviving destroyers together and offers
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them the choice of going home or joining up. When they object to his
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methods he argues that they swore to protect Earth, that they work for all
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humans, not for Clark in particular. In the final analysis one ship
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withdraws, one joins the defense of Proxima 3, and two join Sheridan.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 alt="" src="/lurk/gif/081/sign.jpeg">
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As he drinks alone again in morose contemplation, Londo notices a shot
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raised to the lips of another nearby. Sternly G'Kar orders Londo to issue
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the joint statement of their worlds' support of Sheridan. He refuses to
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sign it on the same page though. G'Kar departs just as rapidly leaving the
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Ambassador choked with emotion.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 alt="" src="/lurk/gif/081/garibaldi.jpeg">
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As the Voice of Resistance announces the victory and encourages other Earth
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Force vessels to defect, Garibaldi leaves the station for Mars vowing never
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to return.
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<br clear=all>
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