Babylon 5 and its characters with the exception of Epsilon Squad were
created by J. Michael Straczynski and copyrights are held by Warner
Bros. And TNT. The characters of Epsilon Squad, as well as the
characters of Rei Ayanami-Miranami and Danielle Asuka Langley are my
own creation. Please ask for my permission to use them in your own
fics.
Neon Genesis Evangelion was created by Project Eva and copyrights are
held by Gainax in Japan and A.D. Vision in the U.S. Please let me know
if there are any other copyright holders for either series I may have
missed, as I'm not out to make any sort of material gain; I'm merely
expressing my interest in both these series. In other words, please
don't sue me.
Author's Notes:
This story takes place during Season 5 of Babylon 5, after #99
"Phoenix Rising" and before #103 "Darkness Ascending."
To make this story work, I took the events in Evangelion and
plopped them into the Babylon 5 universe at the same time as they
actually occurred (2000-2015). The following events occurred in the B5
universe at the same time as in Eva: Episodes 1-24, followed by the
events of the Rebirth and End of Evangelion movies. This story takes
place in 2262. For purposes of this story, episodes 25 and 26 never
happened.
The Third Impact was not as severe as was depicted in End of
Evangelion. This was due to make the story more plausible. Between 1/2
and 2/3 of the Earth's population was lost in the Third Impact
(instead of everyone). Shinji and Asuka discover they are not the only
survivors of the Impact and they relocate to Geneva where they lay the foundation for the International Earth Alliance, which became the
Earth Alliance after meeting the Centauri. I am also making the
assumption that the Angels have not truly gone away as was inferred in
the Eva movies. They just left and went somewhere else. Nerv did not
survive the Third Impact, but was later reestablished by the Earth
Alliance. Seele would survive the Impact, and they would be responsible
for the terrorist nuking of San Diego in 2055. The bombing would cost
Asuka her life and Shinji becomes obsessed with finding the members of
Seele and spacing them for their crimes. By 2060 the members of Seele
were found hiding in Tokyo-4, and were spaced soon after.
Well, enough of the preliminaries, let's get on with it!
Babylon 5: Angels
A Babylon 5 / Neon Genesis Evangelion crossover
by Mark Craig
Part 1 - Angels on the Rim
In all of human history, only two events have ever endangered
mankind's very existence in the universe. The most recent was the
Battle of the Line, the last battle of the Earth-Minbari War, where
Earthforce sent some 20,000 Starfuries against the advancing Minbari
fleet. Only 200 pilots survived the battle and the Minbari
inexplicably surrendered, thus ensuring the human race would continue.
But far more devastating were the Second and Third Impacts. In 2000,
entities known only as "Angels" began to appear on Earth; the 1st
Angel, known as "Adam," was responsible for the Second Impact of 2000
over Antarctica. The United Nations created an organization called
Gehrin, later renamed Nerv, to combat this threat. Commanded by Gendou
Ikari, Nerv completed several of its Evangelion units to help combat
the Angels. The only problem was, only children who were all born
within nine months of Second Impact could pilot the units. In 2015,
Nerv found five Children to pilot the Evangelion units. The Angels
reappeared in the city called Tokyo-3, and each time the Eva units
could defeat them. The costs to these children were their innocence,
their sanity, and in at least two cases, their lives. After the Angels
left, Nerv officer Major Misato Katsuragi made a startling discovery
during her research into the Second Impact: That research revealed
that mankind was the 18th Angel. An organization called Seele set out
on what was called the Human Complement Program . To accomplish this
they completed the mass-produced Evangelion units 5 through 12. They
would ultimately combine with Eva-01, piloted by Shinji Ikari, to
cause the Third Impact, costing the lives of up to 2/3 of Earth's
population. Mankind would survive and recover their civilization from
out of the LCL and into the planets of their solar system. Within less
than 150 years, they established colonies on the moon, Mars, the
Jovian moons, and the Titan colony near Saturn. Then they met the
Centauri and from that time on walked among the stars.
"Commander, we're approaching Sector 999."
The announcement disrupted Commander Rei Ayanami-Miranami's train
of thought. When the Special Operations frigate Perry was out on a
mission for Earthforce, or more to the point, Nerv, Rei often found
herself thinking of those events which Nerv and Seele perpetuated to
cause the Third Impact, now nearly 250 years ago. Especially now,
since they had assigned the Perry to figure out where the Angels came
from, where they went after the Third Impact, and what the possibility
was for their return. If the Angels did return, it could mean a
possible Fourth Impact. It was mankind's darkest hour, she reflected
on the Third Impact, and look what we have become as a result. Are we
more evolved now than before? Judging by recent events: The Dilgar
War, the Earth-Minbari War, the Shadow War, and the Earth Civil War of
2260, one would think not.
"Very good, Lt. Commander Akagi. Prepare to jump to normal space on my order."
"Yes, Captain," said the crisp voice of Lt. Commander Mina Akagi.
"Jump engines on-line and awaiting instructions."
"Stand by," In the seven years since they had given her command of
the Perry at the insistence of Nerv, or so the rumors went, Rei had
come to appreciate Akagi's competence as the ship's executive officer.
Certainly that qualified her for a better posting than a small frigate
searching the Rim for an enemy that may not exist. But Akagi had turned
down seven promotion offers from Earthforce to stay aboard the Perry
and its mission to find evidence of the Angels, and where they went
after the Third Impact. Certainly Earthforce and Nerv did not believe
the Angels were gone forever, her orders said as much, though no one
has seen them since the defeat of Nagisa Kaworu, an Eva pilot who
turned out to be the 17th Angel. Taking one glance at the Nerv emblem
on her blue Earthforce uniform, as she often did while on a mission,
and another at the cropped-blonde head of her exec, Rei gave the order.
"Jump."
The yellowish-orange vortex formed in front of the Perry and in
moments the ship was back into the sane realm of normal space. Travel
in hyperspace always made Rei slightly nervous, mostly because one can
easily become lost in hyperspace if the navigational beacons are lost,
like the Explorer ship Cortez in 2259. A starfield of orange, blue, and
green hues presented itself before the ship. But the beauty of those
stars also held dangers for the unwary here on the Rim.
Rei took in the starscape for only a moment before she turned to
Lt. Maury, the navigator. "What's the nearest planet from our present
position?"
Lt. Maury called up star charts on his console. "Captain, the
nearest planet is in Sector 35x12x32, Earthforce designation M-235.
First discovered by the Tycho deep-space probe in 2104. The probe
indicated some ruins of what may have been an advanced civilization,
but the ruins appear to have been deserted for centuries."
"Estimated time of arrival?" Rei asked.
"At maximum speed, 1 hour, 17 minutes, Captain."
"Very well. Helm, set a course for M-235, best possible speed."
"Yes, Captain," said Lt. Dana Mihoshi, the Perry's helmsman.
"Course plotted and laid in. Ready to execute on your order."
"Proceed, Lieutenant."
Mihoshi executed the order and the Perry turned on a new
alignment, heading for the planet M-235. Rei got up from her command
chair and headed for the bridge doors. "Commander Akagi, you have the
bridge. Contact me when we approach M-235."
"Will do, Captain," Akagi said.
"Captain," said the voice of the communications officer, Lt.
Michelle McDonald, "We've just received a coded Gold Channel
transmission from Nerv headquarters. It's from the Commander herself."
Rei and Akagi exchanged a look of surprise mixed with concern. Why
would the Commander send out a message herself? She had never done so
before; she always had one of her subordinates send all communications
between Nerv and the Perry. This breach of procedure was suspicious to
say the least. But considering this was Nerv, what exactly was 'breach
of procedure?'
"I'll take it in my quarters, Lieutenant," Rei said after a
moment. "Meanwhile continue on course and run continuous sensor sweeps
on maximum range. If there's anything out there, I want to know about
it."
"Understood, Commander," Akagi said as Rei exited the bridge.
"Computer," Rei said at the desk in her rather Spartan quarters,
"decode Gold Channel transmission from Nerv headquarters."
"Voice identification and command passcode authorization
required."
"Commander Rei Ayanami-Miranami, Earthforce Special Operations
frigate Perry. Authorization code: Omega-2-3-Zulu-9. Passcode:
Longinus."
"Identification and passcode confirmed. Decoding Gold Channel
transmission."
Moments later a stern-looking woman appeared on the monitor. Rei
knew her as well as anyone could, yet she was still shrouded in
mystery. She sported cropped red hair and chiseled features which made
her look like she came back from the Ice Age (the earlier one). They
said in Nerv headquarters that her green eyes could burn straight into
one's soul. The woman was dressed entirely in black, in clothing
similar to the all-black uniforms worn by Psi Cops. Rei knew she had
once been in Psi Corps, had in fact once been a Psi Cop. Neither Rei
nor anyone else involved with Nerv, or even in EarthGov for that
matter, knew her real name; they knew her only in hushed whispers by
her code name: Thirteen.
"Greetings, Commander Ayanami-Miranami," said the woman in cool
pleasantness.
"Commander," Rei nodded. "It is most unusual for the Nerv
commander herself to contact us directly. If I may ask, is there a
special reason for this?"
The woman arched an eyebrow. "I see we were right in choosing you
for this mission, Commander. I have always believed if you want to
ensure something is done properly, you should do it yourself. It is my
understanding you're heading for Sector 999, is that correct?"
"We just jumped in a few minutes ago. We're currently on course
for planet M-235 and we'll begin our investigation there."
"Have you found any signs of the Angels yet?"
"None so far, though we are just beginning our scans in this
sector. We should learn more in a couple of hours."
"I should hope so. You must understand, Commander, there has been
a great deal of unrest concerning rumors of a return of the Angels here
on Earth. The Earth Alliance has charged us with determining if there
is any truth to these rumors. I need those answers, but I want them
right, and I want them clear. Our very existence as a species depends
on it. Understood?"
"Understood."
"Very good, Commander. I will expect a full report of your
findings on M-235 in twelve hours. Good luck on your mission. Nerv
headquarters out."
With that the transmission ended. I never thought you were any
sort of humanitarian, Thirteen, Rei thought. I always thought it was a
mistake to bring Bureau 13 in as a part of Nerv. Too many black
projects and hidden agendas for my comfort; in the end, that was the
cause of the Third Impact. I've never really believed that mankind
had ever reached a deadlock in evolution as Katsuragi's research
claimed to reveal back in 2015 after Kaworu's demise. The Third Impact
wasn't necessary; it could have been prevented if Seele weren't so
obsessed with the Human Complement Program.
She found her bright red eyes turning toward the circular window
just behind her desk, another habit she had developed these last
several years searching for the Angels, to gaze at the stars lying
beyond. She had found out she could lose herself among those stars, and
she found it to be quite peaceful to her. Just gazing at the stars
was undoubtedly the most effective relaxation technique she had found
since joining Earthforce.
I sure could use it now, she thought as she drifted off to sleep.
I don't particularly relish having to deal with Thirteen under the best
of circumstances. The woman makes solid nitrogen look warm...
Rei suddenly awoke to an unearthly scream around her. Glancing
quickly around, she found herself in the cockpit of Eva-00, still in
her blue Earthforce uniform. Perched some 150 meters in front was the
unmistakable form of Lillith, known in Earthforce history as the 2nd
Angel, arms stretched in a cruciform pattern, and small growths where
its legs should have been, suspended over a pool of yellowish liquid.
The twin-tined longinus spear stabbed out of the upper torso, about
where the heart would be in a human. The Eva inched towards Lillith.
Rei tried to manipulate the controls, but her body refused to respond.
The closer she came to it, the more she realized Lillith was actually
nailed to a cross. Had Lillith always been like that since the
Second Impact? Or was it something Nerv had to do to defeat it. Very
few records still existed concerning Lillith in Earthforce history. The
Eva suddenly removed the longinus spear from Lillith, just like what
happened almost 250 years ago, and Lillith started to grow as it did
before.
The scene shifted again to a Nerv a shadow of what it once was
after Seele's attempted takeover. JSSDF troops under Seele's influence
stormed the Nerv complex in Tokyo-3 ruthlessly massacring everyone in
sight. The troops cut to pieces everyone wearing a Nerv uniform: men,
women, even children. Seele wanted no prisoners, and no one left alive.
Rei had never seen such unnecessary death in all her years in
Earthforce. Because of Nerv's influence over EarthGov under President
Clark, the Perry had mostly been spared from the civil war which ended
last year. She saw Major Katsuragi sacrificing herself to save Shinji
Ikari, and Eva-05 through 13 surrounding Eva-02 intent on destroying it
and its comatose pilot.
Rei then found herself once again facing Lillith, but Eva-00 was
gone. Lillith had fully developed out since the spear was removed.
Gendou Ikari was nearby, imploring her to let him go with her to merge
with Lillith. Rei noticed she was still in her Earthforce uniform. She
knew she would refuse Ikari, though. She wasn't too sure how she knew;
she read the records of what happened. Her counterpart, known only as
Rei III, did refuse and merged with Lillith alone, thus eliminating
Ikari's last chance to control the Third Impact. Without looking back,
she stepped forward and into Lillith...
Rei snapped awake to beeping from her link. Not another dream. I
thought I would be over this by now. "Ayanami-Miranami. Go ahead."
"Commander," came Akagi's voice, "we're approaching M-235."
"Initiate planetary scans, Lt. Commander. I'm on my way to the
bridge."
"Yes, Commander."
Moments later Rei was back in the command chair gazing intently at
the dead brownish world outside the Perry's forward view ports, her
dream long forgotten. "Okay Mina, what've we got?"
Akagi, who also doubled as the ship's head researcher, checked the
on-board sensors. "M-235 is unremarkable, Commander. Very thin
atmosphere, incapable of supporting life forms. It is comprised of
various unremarkable ores. Rather ordinary, actually"
"That's what they said about Z'ha'dum," Rei reminded her.
"Anything more?"
"The planet's been subjected to meteor storms over the years. The
surface is heavily cratered, but I'm picking up what looks like ruins
on the planet surface."
"That's similar to what the original probe found. Signs of what
was once a thriving civilization."
"Yes, Commander. However, by my readings, these settlements appear
to have been abandoned for some time. At least a thousand years,
perhaps more."
"Hmm. An archaeologist's playground. Anything unusual on the
surface?"
"Not yet," Akagi started to say, then something on one of the
sensor displays grabbed her attention. "Just a minute. Commander, I'm
picking up some kind of energy surge just beneath the surface at
planetary grid reference 170x105."
"Any idea as to what it could be?" Rei asked in slight concern.
"I'm not sure," Akagi admitted. "It's difficult to isolate. It's
coming from a large crater about ten meters beneath the surface."
Another pause. "What the hell? Commander, it's dissipated. Now I'm
picking up a similar energy reading at grid reference 183x109."
This is too strange. Something has to be going on down there. "Lt.
Commander, could this possibly be the work of the Angels?"
"It's impossible to be sure. The energy signatures don't match
anything in Earthforce records on the Angels. But that data is over 200
years old, so it's a distinct possibility."
That tears it! We have to investigate this more closely, but I
have a bad feeling about this. With decision in mind, Rei got up from
her command chair. "Lt. Commander Akagi, the ship is yours. I'll grab
the Thunderbolt and check this out personally."
"Commander," Akagi warned, "I don't recommend it until we have
some idea of what's down there."
"Noted. But the possibility of the Angels being here is too great
to just ignore. I have to be certain before reporting anything to
Earthforce. Contact the fighter bay. I want Thunderbolt Omega prepped
in five minutes." Rei knew Akagi hated her captain flying unto unknown
situations like this. But it couldn't be helped. They had to find the
Angels at any cost. Brooking no further argument, Rei turned and left
the bridge.
Minutes later Rei launched from the Perry's bow in her customized
Thunderbolt Omega provided as an experimental craft by Nerv. The Omega
was equipped with extended sensors, more power, and slight
modifications to its weapons systems as compared to the standard
Earthforce Thunderbolt which was brought into service in 2260. The
fighter was also equipped with an Absolute Terror, or AT, Field. The AT
Field functioned in a similar manner as a deflector shield, but it was
the device which enabled the Eva units to combat the Angels in 2015,
because two AT Fields could cancel each other out. Nerv first
discovered the technology after the Second Impact from studying Adam
and Lillith, and for years it was believed lost after the Third Impact.
Nerv was able to reacquire the technology in 2257 and secretly
installed AT Field generators on Thunderbolt Omega and the Perry; they
were currently the only two Earthforce ships so equipped. Even
EarthDome was largely unaware that this technology was reacquired by
Nerv, as obsessed as Nerv was with security. Even more so now after
Thirteen became Nerv's commander in 2259.
Akagi kept Rei updated on the locations of the energy surges. Two
more surges flared up in the time it took her to launch from the
Perry's hangar bay. She set out on a course which would take her to the
approximate center of all four energy surges.
"Perry to Thunderbolt Omega," Akagi's voice came over the comm
channel. "Energy surge now detected at grid reference 168x109. We're
reading you at 75 kliks from the center of the disturbances."
"Confirmed," Rei replied. "I'll make a high-altitude pass first,
then I'll swing back around for a lower second pass."
"I still don't recommend this, Commander," Akagi advised. "There
are too many unknowns in this type of situation."
"That's why I'm out here, Lt. Commander." Rei activated the
fighter's special sensor packs and primed the Thunderbolt's two probe
drones. "And I plan on using probe drones to gather our surface data.
Just be prepared to receive the telemetry."
"Roger that, Omega."
Rei extended the Thunderbolt's wing spoilers for atmospheric
flight. She ran a final diagnostic check on all the sensors to ensure
they were on-line. Her navigation system indicated she was twenty
kilometers from the target area.
"Commencing 60-kilometer altitude run, Perry. Data recorders on-
line."
"Confirmed, Omega, we're ready to receive."
Akagi sat in the Perry's command chair, a concerned look crossing
her otherwise pleasant face. This wasn't the first time her captain has
taken off to conduct investigations like this herself. Ordinarily this
would be considered a breach of protocol according to Earthforce
regulations, but she long since knew Rei had her own way of doing
things, and many Earthforce regulations didn't really apply to Nerv
personnel like Rei and Akagi herself even though they wore Earthforce
blue. Not to mention the fact that Rei's way of doing things included
going off without any regard for her own safety.
"Commander," said Lt. Maury, "she's entering the area of the
disturbances. Both probe drones have been launched. They will strike
the ground and begin transmitting in 18 seconds."
"Understood. Keep a solid fix on her position at all times. Is
Mobius Squad standing by in the hangar bay?"
"Yes, Commander, they report ready to launch on your order."
"Good. I hope we don't need to send them in."
A few more tense seconds passed. The probe drones struck the
ground and transmitted telemetry on schedule. This coupled with the
Thunderbolt's sensor readings added to the information the Perry was
getting using its own sensor packages.
"Commander," announced Ensign Moltoy, now manning ship's sensors,
"sensor data starting to come in now. I'm picking up Pattern Blue
readings."
Oh, damn, they're here, Akagi thought.
"Commander Miranami's on the link," reported Lt. McDonald.
"Perry, this is Thunderbolt Omega," Rei said once the data from
the probes started coming in. "The probes are picking up multiple
Pattern Blue energy readings beneath the surface. Definite Angel
signatures."
"Confirmed, Commander," Akagi said, her voice tight with concern.
"We're reading the same up here."
"I haven't been able to isolate any sources yet. I'm going in for
a closer look."
"Roger that. Godspeed, Commander."
With readings this strong, how can she not have any sort of
localized sensory contact? This didn't make sense. Even at this high
altitude, there would be something definite the sensors would pick up.
Rei took the Thunderbolt on a downward arc, banking into a deep canyon
leading into the large crater where the first energy reading had been
detected. The readings intensified the closer she got until they went
off the scale. She flew into the yawning mouth of the crater. And there
it was.
"Computer, confirm data recorders on-line."
"Affirmative. All recorders on-line."
A tannish-black thing lain on its back rose up from the ground,
its molecular-thin arms retracted. Rei had never seen this before
except in some of the dreams she has had since becoming the Perry's
captain, but she recognized the thing as Zuriel, the 14th Angel. Two
other Angels slowly began rising out of the ground several hundred feet
below the Thunderbolt, joining Zuriel.
Holy Mother! Rei's mind screamed. Three of them! One at a time was
bad enough for the Evangelion pilots, but three scarcely bore thinking
about.
Rei found herself back in Eva-00. She had witnessed the 14th Angel
appearing over the skyline of Tokyo-3, had blasted through eighteen of
Nerv's 22 levels of shielding before it ultimately penetrated the
Geofront. She had seen its thin arms shear off Eva-02's arms in the
blink of an eye, and Eva-02 was also minus a head and it ceased
functioning. Her own Eva-00 was minus an arm after dealing with an Eva-
03 possessed by the 13th Angel. On the link to Eva-02, Asuka screamed
bloody murder as the feedback to the pilot was too intense to bear. It
happened so fast Nerv Central couldn't disconnect the crippled unit in
time. Without another thought, she charged at the thing with an N2 mine
in hand.
Bloody hell! Why are these visions happening now? Maybe the
appearance of the Angels has something to do with it. "Perry, this is
Thunderbolt Omega, are you getting this?"
"All of it, Commander," Akagi said in disbelief. "I recommend you
get the hell out of there."
Rei noticed Zuriel turning its attention towards her Thunderbolt
as she flew by. She couldn't see enough of the other two to determine
what they were, and she didn't want to hang around to find out, either.
"Agreed. Prepare a Gold Channel transmission to both EarthDome and Nerv
headquarters. Tell them we have found the Angels, and they may be
preparing for a possible Fourth Impact." She banked the Thunderbolt
away from the three Angels and accelerated upward at maximum velocity.
"Also get the jump engines on-line. I want to get out of here as soon
as I return to the ship."
"Will do, Commander."
As soon as Rei brought the Thunderbolt into the hangar bay, the
Perry opened up a jumppoint and left Sector 999. No sooner was Rei back
on the bridge than Lt. McDonald reported. "Commander, I'm getting a
Gold Channel transmission from EarthDome. It's President Luchenko."
Rei and Akagi exchanged looks. "Looks like our discovery shook up
a few people in EarthDome," Rei said. "I'll take it here, Lieutenant."
Rei brought up a monitor next to her command chair. Seconds later
the face of Earth Alliance President Susanna Luchenko appeared, an
obviously worried look on her normally pleasant face.
"Madame President," Rei said respectfully.
"Commander Ayanami-Miranami," Luchenko began, "I have just been
informed of the Gold Channel transmission you sent concerning the
return of the Angels. I have to be honest, Commander, I've read about
what the Second and Third Impacts have done to Earth, and we are very
concerned about a possible Fourth Impact which could finish the human
race on Earth once and for all. That is why Nerv was restored to what
it once was. And I'm finally beginning to realize what Nerv has not
been telling us of its missions involving Special Operations. Now that
the Angels have been found, is a Fourth Impact possible?"
"Yes, we believe it is. But Madame President, if Earth acts now,
we may be able to stop the Angels before that happens. We may be able
to avert the Fourth Impact."
"I see. Commander, as of now, I am taking full charge of this
situation. I have already notified Nerv headquarters. They won't be
exactly enthusiastic about what they consider an outsider calling the
shots regarding the Angels, but they will just have to deal with it. I
do not believe Earthforce can defeat the Angels in its present state;
we're still rebuilding ships lost during last year's civil war, and our
forces are spread thin. I need you to take the Perry to Babylon 5 as
soon as possible. There you will rendezvous with the Warlock-class
destroyer Griffin and the battleship Missouri. We must inform the
Interstellar Alliance on the situation because I feel it will only be
with their help we will be able to defeat the Angels. I'm sending a
Gold Channel transmission to Captain Lochley as well as President
Sheridan informing them to expect your arrival. How soon can you reach
Babylon 5?"
"Lt. Maury?"
"A direct course would bring us to Babylon 5 in eighteen hours,
twenty minutes."
"Very well," said Luchenko. "I wish you good luck on your mission,
Commander. Our people will depend on its success. EarthDome out."
Rei stowed the monitor away and turned to Lt. Maury. "Okay,
Lieutenant, you heard the lady. Set course for Babylon 5." I have a bad
feeling about this, she thought. This mess is going to get real ugly
real fast.
End part 1
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