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.
Previously on Babylon 5:
The Earthforce Special Operations frigate Perry comes to Babylon 5
after discovering the Angels on the planet M-235 out on the Rim,
Commander Rei Ayanami-Miranami requests assistance from the
Interstellar Alliance in dealing with the Angel situation. Afterwards
she meets Danielle Asuka Langley, who tells her that everything about
her past was nothing more than a lie concocted by Nerv. Then the 15th
Angel arrives, followed by the 11th Angel which infects Babylon 5's
computers. Starfuries are launched and Danielle joins the fight in Eva-
02. During the fight Lt. Commander Jesa Marason is attacked by the 15th
Angel after the Starfury pilot is the first to penetrate the Angel's AT
Field, driving him into a suicidal rage before he is pulled away from
the Angel by two other pilots. Danielle is successful in killing the
15th Angel at the cost of her ability to pilot an Eva. Babylon 5
obtains a program from Nerv which eliminates the 11th Angel.
Afterwards, the Interstellar Alliance Council votes to attack the
Angels at M-235. Upon hearing this news, Jesa volunteers to pilot Eva-
02 in the battle. Danielle adamantly refuses at first, but relents when
he promises to come back alive, and he is found to have a synch rate of
over 70%. Three days later Rei informs those involved in the battle
which Angels they will be facing and Sheridan lays out his plan. Jesa's
close friend Allishar learns why Jesa's piloting the Eva.
Well, enough of the preliminaries, let's get it on!
Babylon 5: Angels
A Babylon 5 / Neon Genesis Evangelion crossover
by Mark Craig
Part 11 - The Beginning and the End
By 0500 the next day Babylon 5 was already a bustle of activity.
Shuttles flew out and returned to the various ships delivering people
and supplies which would be needed for the coming journey to M-235.
Patrols of Starfuries and Thunderbolts meandered around the station and
the fleet a few kilometers away as Lochley put Tau and Zeta Squads on a
four-hours-on/four-hours-off schedule until the fleet's return. Though
it was unlikely another Angel attack would occur, the patrols were
necessary to maintain station security. Those who have attacked the
Alliance shipping lanes still lurked about out there. Lochley was
surprised they haven't intensified their attacks to take advantage of
the situation. They may have heard about the Angels, too, and are
waiting to see what they do to us before acting, she thought. In their
place, that's what she would have done.
To defeat your enemy, you must know your enemy. That was one of
the first things her first commanding officer told her, just before the
Earth-Minbari War. In the end of that war, they knew their enemy; they
just couldn't defeat their enemy. The Battle of the Line was evidence
enough of that. Could the same be true with the Angels? Could they be
defeated when we knew who and what they were? Based on what happened
with the 11th and 15th Angels five days ago, she had to believe they
could be defeated. But at the same time, Lochley was a realist. She
knew by the time this day was over, there would be a lot of dead people
on the deck. Probably a whole lot of dead people. And again Sheridan
would be the one to lead them, just like the Battle of Coriana-6. It
seemed fitting in a way, she thought as she stood at her post in C&C.
As she stood in the controlled chaos, she silently wished them all a
safe return.
Jesa was wide awake by 0530. During the night he dreamed of
meeting a fourteen-year-old red-haired girl on a grassy knoll near what
was once Tokyo-3. He had recognized the city from his Earth history
classes back in AirDome. He knew this had to be the girl whose voice he
heard in the Eva's entry plug. He recognized her as Danielle's
ancestor: Soryu Asuka Langley.
"Who are you?" she asked. "Are you the one for whom the Evangelion
is meant for?"
"I think so," Jesa answered.
She nodded. "Yes, I remember you now, Jesa Marason. You are the
Descendent of Suzuhara who was destined to ride the Eva in the battle
to come. You intend to undertake this task?"
"I have no choice," he answered. "I must do this."
"I know," Asuka said. "But if you destroy my Eva, I swear I will
forever haunt you for the rest of your unworthy life."
A strange dream that was, Jesa thought as he finished his shower.
It was understandable enough, though, given what he'd been through the
last few days. With a deliberate and visible effort, he shoved those
thoughts out of his mind and concentrated on the task at hand, mentally
steeling himself against what would surely come. After donning his
uniform he exited his quarters without looking back, heading for his
waiting shuttle to take him aboard White Star Prime. He saw Danielle as
he exited the transport tube on Blue-1, and they walked quickly
together to the waiting shuttle in Bay 16. In the interim, no words
were spoken. No words were necessary.
They boarded the shuttle and within minutes they were aboard White
Star Prime. They reported directly to Sheridan once they were aboard.
Twenty minutes after their arrival, Sheridan received word the fleet
was ready to get underway. With White Star Prime in the lead, the fleet
departed Babylon 5 and entered the jumpgate.
Twelve hours later Jesa lay on one of the diagonal Minbari bunks
reading an X-Files novel. He'd bought old paperbacks from the series
the last time the Churchill returned to Earth before the civil war;
they dated from before Second Impact. He'd never been able to even
think of sleeping on these Minbari beds, not since the first time he
was ever on a White Star back in late 2260, when he slept on one of these same bunks. That was an eventful night in itself as he fell off
the bed three times from too much tossing in his sleep. The third time
he landed on his head and that fall gave him a mild concussion, which
resulted in him being taken off flight status for three days. The
Minbari believed that to sleep horizontally was to invite death, but
after that incident Jesa thought the opposite; to sleep diagonally was
inviting death even more than sleeping flat. That was why he insisted
on a flat bed in his quarters on White Star 7 during the Crystal Tokyo
mission, much to the chagrin of the Minbari who made up his quarters.
That had worked out in the end, more or less. But still, he didn't
figure on getting much sleep on this particular mission. He would be in
the Eva's entry plug in less than six hours to battle whatever awaited
him and the Alliance fleet at M-235. For years, Jesa had found the best
way to prepare for a crucial mission was to not think much about it
until the time came. This time around, that philosophy suited him just
fine, as he had no particular desire to even think about the
Evangelion, let alone pilot the thing.
The door behind him opened, causing him to turn in the bunk.
However, he again miscalculated where the edge was and he was on the
floor in a heap before he knew what the hell happened. Adding insult to
injury, the book fell on top of his head, making an impromptu paper
hat. "Dammit! Not again!" he growled. When would he ever learn that
Minbari beds were narrower then human beds? Oh, I wish I were back on
Babylon 5 right now. He removed the book, looked up, and saw Danielle
standing in front of him. He could tell she was trying to keep from
laughing at his misfortune. Damn, now she thinks I'm a klutz, too. What
the hell else can happen today?
"Are you okay, Jesa?" Danielle asked after she managed to control
herself.
"Yeah," he said, picking himself off the floor, "I think so. Just
took a nice hit on my pride, that's all."
She smiled warmly. "Well, you'll live for a while, anyway."
He returned the smile and chuckled. "I suppose I might at that."
He leaned back on the bed and took a deep breath. "So, what brings you
here?"
"I just wanted to see how you were doing, Jesa."
"So far, so good," he replied. "Just don't ask me anything about
the Eva."
Danielle nodded. "Not a problem."
Jesa looked at her intently, wondering what was going on behind
those blue-gray eyes of hers. She had a caring, concerned look he had
seldom seen in anyone during his lifetime. Jesa had never really
considered himself overly romantic. He always believed all those cheap
pick-up lines Rico routinely used in the bars and casinos on Babylon 5
to be completely worthless. Jesa was a man who preferred actions to
words; that being why he chose to become a fighter pilot in the first
place. He had little time for that sort of extracurricular activity
since the civil war began. He had to keep himself busy, after all, to
take his mind off what happened to Jenelle. As a result, he
concentrated on his job to the exclusion of all else for some months
after Babylon 5's secession. Not that he wasn't attracted to women
since that fateful April day in 2260; surely that was not the case. He
was in a high-profile position as a pilot and a squad leader. But could
he love someone like that again after being forced to kill Jenelle?
He had to admit to himself it was possible given the fact Danielle
seemed to genuinely love him. Heaven knew there was plenty of evidence
to support that argument over the last five days, and she was quite
attractive in her own right. What Jesa wasn't sure of was whether he
was ready to commit himself to a relationship. Well, as the Guardian
Senshi Chrono might say, it would be decided in the fullness of time.
The question was, would they survive that long?
"What are you thinking, Danielle?" Jesa asked.
"Just wondering what you're thinking about."
"Everything except what's out there," he said. "I'm trying to work
something out."
"Oh?" Danielle said, intrigued. "May I ask what?"
"Something about myself before we face the Angels. Because I may
never get another opportunity to do so after today." He paused,
fighting to figure out what to say next.
"What is it, Jesa?"
"This doesn't come easily for me, not since we seceded in '60, so
bear with me."
"Whatever it is," Danielle reassured him, "you can tell me."
He fumbled around a bit more for the right words. He could tell
Danielle would hang onto the next words he spoke; she was obviously
wanting to hear him in the worst way. He remembered talking like this
with Jenelle back in AirDome, and he had the same difficulty in
speaking his feelings then as well. Tell her, you idiot!
Jesa took a deep breath. "All right. I have a confession to make,
Danielle. I have truly loved only one person in my whole life. Two
years ago I was forced to kill her during the battle when Babylon 5
seceded from Earth. That day is still the most tragic of my life, and
not a day goes by when I don't think about what happened back then.
Ever since, I never thought I could feel love like that ever again.
Until now."
"Jesa," Danielle said softly, surprised at what she was hearing.
"Are you trying to say you're in love with me?"
He stared at her in complete shock at what she said. Her words cut
through everything and got right to the heart of the matter. She
accurately surmised his true feelings without him having to say
anything further. In that way, she was just like Jenelle.
For his part, Jesa nodded and softly said, "Yes, I am."
He noticed Danielle had a stunned look on her face. Then a smile
like none he had ever seen before graced her face while tears of
apparent joy began to flow. She then ran to him, encircling her arms
around him in a tight embrace, burying her face in his chest. After a
moment, he gently lifted her head up so the only direction she could
look was into his eyes. He took his right hand to her face and used the
thumb to wipe off the flowing tears. Danielle in turn pulled Jesa down
towards her and gave him a slow, lingering kiss like a summer dew,
embracing him even tighter. They remained like that for several
moments, their attentions only for each other. At that exact moment,
Jesa began to realize she could be the one he's been waiting for. He
fleetingly wished they could stay embraced like this forever, but he
knew there was work to be done, and they reluctantly broke the kiss.
She broke slowly away from him heading for the door.
She turned and smiled at him again. "I love you, too, Jesa," she
said. "I'll see you again when this is all over." And she stepped out
before he could say anything further. Jesa returned to the bed,
forgetting to pick up the book, and he stared at the ceiling above him.
Forget about getting any sleep now, he thought. For the second time
in the last five days, he felt his whole body was charged like an
electrical wire. He found he couldn't stay in the bed for long and he
got up and paced around for a few moments and returned to the bed. He
couldn't sit still for more than a few minutes at a time before getting
up and pacing around again, practically buzzing all over with what had
just happened minutes ago. It wasn't until he left the room for the
hangar bay and the waiting Eva-02 about five hours later that he
finally got that out of his mind.
"Mr. President, we will enter Sector 999 in thirty minutes."
Sheridan sat in the command chair of White Star Prime when he
heard the announcement from Korann, a Minbari Ranger who came from the
warrior caste. Korann was fairly young for a Ranger but in the last few
years he gained a great deal of experience. His headbone was slightly
larger than normal which Sheridan was told was common for his clan, as
were his steel gray eyes. His clan was known as the Grey Swords, and
they were reputed to have the sharpest senses of all the Minbari. Also
unlike most members of the warrior caste, Korann had developed a
tolerance for humans and he harbored almost no ill will towards them
after the Earth-Minbari War. In fact, he had even developed a liking
for some humans such as himself and Lt. Commander Marason.
"Very well, Mr. Korann. Inform all ships to assume attack
formation. I want everything in place when we jump to normal space."
"Yes, Mr. President," Korann replied. After a few moments he
looked at his console with some satisfaction. "All ships report they
will be ready."
"Good. Commander Miranami, contact the hangar bay and tell them to
prepare to activate Evangelion Unit 02. Also prepare Thunderbolt Omega
for five-minute launch."
"Certainly, Mr. President," Rei said from an aft console with two
of her officers from the Perry who would be monitoring the status of
both Commander Marason and Eva-02 during the battle. Rei had also
instituted a backup crew aboard the Perry which would be monitoring the
status of both Eva and pilot as well. A quick check of ship's status
assured Sheridan everything was ready. He checked in with all the
attack groups as well once they had assumed their formations. Everyone
assured him they were ready. All he and the others had to do was wait.
Once she had completed her task, Rei stood up. "Mr. President,
I'll leave things from this end in the capable hands of Lt. Maury and
Ensign Moltoy. I must prepare Thunderbolt Omega."
Sheridan nodded. "I understand. Good luck, Commander."
"To all of us, Mr. President." With that said, Rei left the
bridge.
Sheridan turned his attention back to the forward viewports,
mentally steeling himself for what would surely come. Good luck to us
all, he thought, suddenly recollecting the information on the Evas he
reviewed before beginning this mission. And especially good luck to
you, Commander Marason.
Jesa entered the hangar bay, where crews busily prepped Eva-02 and
Thunderbolt Omega. His own Starfury was also there, looking nearly new
after being serviced since the last mission. The one with that Angel,
he thought briefly. He saw Rei and Danielle overseeing final
preparations for Eva-02's launch. Jesa had to force himself to look at
the Eva as he approached them. He was surprised to see Rei wearing a
flight suit. Danielle was clad in orange maintenance coveralls. Damn,
she even makes those look good, he thought. I wonder if she would do
that...no, you idiot, get that head of yours out of the damned gutter!
You've got no time to be thinking lascivious thoughts right now! Still,
I bet she would.
"Right on time, Commander Marason," Rei said, the both of them
turning around. She then went to a nearby tech to retrieve something.
"You ready for this, Jesa?" Danielle asked.
"As I'll ever be. It's a struggle to look at the Eva, knowing what
I know now."
Danielle nodded. "I know. That's why I didn't want you to pilot
it. I know the effect an Eva can have on a person. In all honesty, I
still wish you wouldn't pilot this thing. But I know you have to, that
nobody else can. But I'm also selfish when it comes to someone I care
about. And that hasn't happened often in my life. I've been known as a
selfish, arrogant, and conceited bitch, Jesa. That's not an easy title
to maintain, I can assure you. It takes years of hard work and
discipline. In some ways, I still am. So if you don't come back from
this, I'll never forgive you for it!"
Rei returned before Jesa could reply, handing him a red bundle. If
she had overheard what Danielle had said, she hid it well. "Put this
on."
Jesa looked curiously at the bundle. "What is it?"
"It's a plug suit. It'll help you attain better synch with the Eva
if you wear it, and we can better monitor your status."
He opened the bundle and looked suspiciously at the plug suit. It
looked like it was made to fit a fourteen year old. At least it looks
like it's made for a guy, though.
"You actually want me to wear this thing?" he almost demanded. On
Rei's nod he shook his head. "Lots of luck. It's about fifteen years
too small for me."
"It'll adjust itself for you," Danielle said, trying not to laugh. She sidled over next to Jesa. "Besides," she whispered, "you'd look
good in it and I want to make Wonder Girl jealous."
"Right," Jesa said, not entirely convinced. "I don't even think
that's even possible."
Danielle shrugged. "You never know until you try."
Shaking his head, Jesa tossed the plug suit to the deck at Rei's
feet. "I don't think so, Commander. You and your people may want me to
wear this thing, but I've shown I don't need it to pilot the Eva, and I
won't be a guinea pig for your damned Nerv experiments, either. I'm
going to pilot Eva-02 my way or not at all. Now if you'll excuse me, I
have a job to do."
With that, he stalked off to the entry plug. Danielle quickly ran
off to him. "Jesa, wait. I know what you're saying and I agree with
you. I don't exactly put Nerv at the top of my sweetheart parade. But
Wonder Girl over there may have a point."
"That was just another cheap attempt for Nerv to control me," Jesa
said. "Well, if they think that, they're sorely mistaken. I'm not a
Nerv puppet like she is. Nerv can go to hell in a handbasket for all I
care. I'm only doing this for all of us."
"I know you are," Danielle said, embracing him one last time.
"Remember what I said and come back from this alive and well."
"I will," he said and he climbed up to the entry plug.
"Good luck, Jesa," he heard Rei say behind him.
He turned around and saw both Rei and Danielle standing at the
Eva's right shoulder. He gave them a small smile. "Good luck," he said,
popped the hatch and climbed into the entry plug.
"Mr. President," Lt. Maury said. "Hangar bay reports Eva Unit 02
ready for activation."
"We are now entering Sector 999," Korann added.
"Very well," Sheridan replied. "Activate Evangelion Unit 02. All
ships, prepare to jump to normal space on my mark. Launch fighters as
soon as we leave hyperspace."
"Acknowledged, Mr. President," said Ensign Moltoy. "Commencing Eva
activation."
"A-10 nerve connection confirmed," said Lt. Maury. "S2 engine on-
line. LCL injection complete. Commencing neural connections."
"Checklist cleared to 2610," Ensign Moltoy continued. "1.2 to
borderline. 1.0, 0.8, 0.5, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1. Critical voltage achieved,
borderline passed, no malfunctions detected. Evangelion Unit 02
activation complete."
"Synchronization rate at 75.3%," said Lt. Maury. "Eva-02 is armed
with a palette rifle, two progressive knives, and the Nerv X20 positron
rifle directly connected with the S2 engine."
I hope that's enough weapons for what we're getting into, Sheridan
thought. "Status of Thunderbolt Omega?"
"Commander Miranami is now aboard and is in launch preparations,"
said Lt. Maury. "We'll be ready to launch on your order."
"All ships report ready," Korann said from his console. "Jump
engines on-line and awaiting instructions."
"Stand by. Move the Eva into launch position."
Yes, Mr. President."
Here I am, back in this thing again, Jesa thought. He heard the
voice of Asuka speaking German again while the neural connections were
being made. Just afterward, another voice joined in, a faint sound of
an older woman, maybe it was actually Asuka's mother. He'd heard about
what had happened to during some of the early tests of this Eva when
part of her mind somehow fused with the Eva. That could explain the
voices he was hearing in the entry plug. Her mind was speaking to him,
but he couldn't make out what was being said because he didn't know
German. He would remember the phrases, though, and query their meaning
once this was all over. If he survived.
Jesa felt the Eva being moved into launch position just outside
White Star Prime's hangar bay. He saw the blue and white positron rifle
mounted on the right arm. The palette rifle was mounted onto the back
where he could get it if needed. Heaven knows I will, he thought. The
left fin also contained one of the Eva's two progressive knives. The
giant box cutter. The other was a standard Eva-size dagger mounted on
the back where he could get it. The plug instruments showed all systems
to be normal. Normal for this thing, anyway. Breathing a silent prayer,
he sat inside the Eva and waited.
"Eva-02 now in launch position," Lt. Maury reported.
"Release restraints," Sheridan said.
"Yes, sir. Releasing primary and secondary restraints. Disengage
safety locks one through fifteen."
"Restraints released," added Moltoy. "Safety locks disengaged."
Sheridan nodded. Here goes nothing. "All ships, this is White Star
Prime. Jump."
The space near the planet M-235 was quiet and relatively peaceful.
Then multiple jumppoints formed near M-235 as Sheridan's Interstellar
Alliance fleet began disgorging into their assigned formations, with
White Star Prime leading the charge. As soon as ships emerged, they
launched fighters of a multitude of types: Starfuries, Thunderbolts,
Minbari Nial fighters, Narn Frazi heavy fighters, even the three
Crystal Tokyo ships launched fighter-sized versions of their own
battlecruisers.
Sheridan surveyed the scene before him This sector looked peaceful
enough until Korann snapped him back to reality.
"Mr. President, I'm picking up multiple Type Blue readings ahead
of us, encircling the planet."
"How many?" Sheridan asked.
"Six."
The six Angels, Sheridan thought. "Give me a tactical, Mr.
Korann."
Korann did so, and a curtain of light formed in front of and above
Sheridan which revealed the six Angels surrounding the planet. Five
were arranged in a pentagonal formation around the planet: Zuriel, the
14th Angel, was near the planet's north pole, Arumisaeru, the 16th
Angel, was positioned near the planet's equator to Sheridan's left in
its normal double-helix ring form, below that one floated Shamshel, the
4th Angel, its energy-whip tendrils extending from either side.
Opposite was the 7th Angel, Israfel, looking like nothing more than a
three-eyed figment of a kid's imagination Completing the pentagon was
Sahaquiel, the 10th Angel with its blob-like thin form with three eyes.
The sixth, which looked like the 3rd Angel, Sachiel, appeared in the
center.
Just as I feared, Sheridan thought. "Launch Eva-02 and Thunderbolt
Omega. All ships go weapons hot. Fire when I give the order."
"Understood," Korann said.
"All right, Epsilon Wing," Ivanova said over the link, "You know
what you have to do."
Laura nodded, though she knew Ivanova wouldn't see it. "Yes,
Captain. Give Eva-02 fire support."
"Right. Good luck, Epsilon Wing."
Within moments the Starfuries of Epsilon Squad launched into space
from one of the Griffin's launch bays, with Laura in the lead, moving
towards White Star Prime and Jesa in Eva-02. I hope nothing happens to
him in that demonic contraption, because if anything does, I won't
forgive him or Nerv for it!
"Okay, everyone, let's break into 2-by-2 groups. Jesa's going to
need all the help he can get out there."
"Will do," everyone said. The Starfuries split into a series of
diamond formations and angled towards Eva-02.
"Good luck, Jesa," Laura thought.
Jesa heard Sheridan give the launch command and he thrust down
from the White Star. He them moved ahead when he cleared the lower
hull, and them he saw them. So military intelligence is right for once,
he thought bemusedly. Six Angels. Oh, lovely. He checked the power
levels on the positron rifle and targeted the 3rd Angel. His sensors
told him their AT Fields were up, but so was his. He hoped the 200-
year-old rifle wouldn't explode on him or something inconvenient like
that. Old weapons had an occasional tendency to do that if not properly
maintained, and he hardly believed sitting around since the Third
Impact on M-235 qualified as "proper maintenance." Still, if it
operates as the Eva did, he shouldn't expect any problems. Thunderbolt
Omega flew in to his left and he saw the rest of Epsilon Squad form in
around him in 2-by-2 groups.
"We're with you, Jesa," Laura said over the link. "Do your best."
"As am I," Rei added.
"Okay, Angels," Jesa said. "Business just picked up around here,
and it's time for you to pick up the check."
"Fighter launches completed," LaSalle reported from her position
near the Griffin's command chair. "All weapons systems armed and ready.
Range to 10th Angel 20,000 kilometers."
"Very good," Ivanova said. "Head for the 10th Angel. Keep an eye
on the White Star Prime and the Eva. Lock all weapons on target and
prepare to fire."
"Understood, Captain. Weapons locked and ready to fire on your
order."
"Mr. President," Korann said from his console. "I'm reading an
energy surge within the 3rd Angel. It's firing."
Sheridan saw the 3rd Angel open fire with a purplish beam of
light, impacting a Drazi Sunhawk cruiser and two Minbari Nial fighters.
The beam expanded outwardly in two additional directions forming a
cruciform pattern, the secondary beams destroyed another Drazi cruiser
and four Narn Frazi fighters.
After the initial volley, Sheridan issued the order. "All ships,
fire at will. I repeat, fire at will."
Weapons fire lanced out from all ships at the six Angels, nearly
all hitting their AT Fields and bouncing harmlessly away. The 3rd Angel
retaliated with another blast from its eyes, nearly wiping out all of
Hawk Squad from the Missouri, and a couple more Narn fighters.
"Range to 3rd Angel 20,000 kilometers," Korann reported.
"Eva-02 is accelerating towards the Angel," said Ensign Moltoy.
"Synch rate has increased to 82%."
"Catch up with him," Sheridan ordered. "Epsilon Squad, Thunderbolt
Omega, move in."
"He's locked the positron rifle on the Angel and is about to
fire," said Lt. Maury.
As soon as the Angel fired the first time, Jesa started an
internal timer in the Eva and stopped it as soon as it fired again.
Forty-three second recharge time. If I move now I can engage that SOB
before it fires again.
He kicked in the Eva's thrusters to maximum burn, enabling the Eva
to move almost as fast as a Thunderbolt. Bringing the positron rifle to
bear on the Angel, he dropped the AT Field to fire. When the targeting
systems registered a lock-on, he pulled the trigger. An intense white
light shot out of the rifle and slammed into the Angel's AT Field. At
the same time, Rei in Thunderbolt Omega let fly with some plasma rounds
of its own, its own AT Field up, as did all of Epsilon Squad. The light
from the positron rifle faded after a few seconds and Jesa let loose
with the palette rifle, throwing depleted uranium pellets, knowing the
positron rifle had to cool for one minute before it could be fired
again. After a few seconds of that, he could tell the AT Field was
still up, so he put the palette rifle away and extracted the
progressive knife.
Activating the AT Field again, he charged at the Angel. Twenty
seconds left before it could fire again. The two AT Fields met and
neutralized each other. The Starfuries opened fire on the Angel as Jesa
stabbed at the core. He struck dead center but the Angel grabbed the
Eva's right arm and stabbed it with an energy lance.
Pain like none Jesa ever felt before shot up his right arm. Bloody
hell, this is even worse than that knife fight I got into on Mars when
I was a kid. Aiming the positron rifle at the Angel's head, he let
loose a point-blank shot, blowing the Angel's head clear off. The
Angel's left arm shot out and stabbed at Epsilon 2, blowing off the
upper left thrusters. Phil retaliated by firing off two missiles, both
striking the Angel's arm and exploding. Come on, Phil, get the hell out
of here! Jesa thought.
The Angel's head quickly regenerated and turned its attention to
the crippled Starfury. Without warning it shot another cross-shaped
blast and struck the Starfury dead center, vaporizing it and nearly
hitting two others and White Star Prime.
"Phil, noooo!" Jesa yelled, grabbing at the progressive knife
again. The Angel, seeing what Jesa intended to do, grabbed the Eva's
left arm before he could take the knife, wrenching it in a way where it
was not intended to bend. In sheer agony, Jesa grabbed his left arm,
nearly screaming in pain. In the midst of the pain he managed to raise
the Eva's right knee up and deliver a swift kick in what would be the
groin area in a human. The strike knocked the Angel off balance and
Jesa delivered another kick on top of the progressive knife, driving it
deeper into the Angel's core. His arms still burning from the abuse the
Eva took he again charged at the Angel.
Danielle watched the fight from White Star Prime's bridge sitting
next to the Nerv techs monitoring the Eva's progress. She winced when
she saw the 3rd Angel grab the Eva's right arm and stabbed it with that
lance, then turn around and kill a Starfury. She hoped it wasn't Laura,
and a quick check of the strategy boards showed it wasn't. It was Phil
Castro in Epsilon 2. She determinedly rose up, no longer able to stay
out of this fight and she left the bridge unseen by anyone, heading for
the hangar bay. Hang on, Jesa. Just hang on for me. I'll be right
there.
From the bridge of the Griffin, Ivanova saw the 3rd Angel initiate
the fight, nearly annihilating Hawk Squad, and the two Drazi cruisers
were the first to charge at the blob-like 10th Angel, followed by the
White Stars and the surviving fighters. Ivanova ordered all guns to
fire at the center of the Angel.
"Captain," said Ensign Carter from the tactical console, "I'm
reading a possible aspect change in the Angel. Reading localized
intensification of its AT Field in Quadrant Two."
"It's getting ready to fire," LaSalle said, going over to Carter's
console. "Looks like it's targeting one of the Drazi ships. The
Kaliban."
"Ah, hell," Ivanova grunted. "Griffin to Drazi Sunhawk Kaliban,
the Angel's targeting you, break off, break off!"
Too late, the Angel fired a piece of itself wrapped in an AT Field
at the Kaliban, striking it amidships as it tried to turn away, and it
exploded in a red-orange fire. The other Sunhawk, the N'Ka'Mul,
summarily opened fire on the Angel.
When the light from the explosion died down, Ivanova ordered,
"White Stars 20 and 21, strike it from the port side, 22 and 23, from
the right. Target forward guns on the center of the Angel and fire on
my order."
"Aye, Captain," Carter said. "Main guns locked on target."
"Griffin to all our fighter groups. Fire in the Hole, repeat, Fire
in the Hole. Forward guns, fire!"
The Griffin's four main forward guns lashed out in anger at the
center of the Angel, striking the AT Field. The fighters joined in
striking that same spot with their plasma cannons. Moments later the
four White Stars struck the Angel from opposite sides weapons blazing.
"Captain," said Carter, "I'm reading two, correction, three
identical intensifications in the Angel's AT Field. Quadrants One,
Three, and Four. They're targeting the White Stars...and us."
"Oh, hell," Ivanova swore. "All hands, brace for impact."
Within seconds the Angel fired, directly hitting White Star 22 in
the bow and it exploded in a yellow-orange fireball. White Star 21 took
a grazing hit in the lower hull and the shot also hit White Star 20 on
the port side, destroying the port engine nacelles. Both blasts also
eliminated several Starfuries and Thunderbolts.
The third shot struck the Griffin on the rotating gravity section
amidships. The bridge shook violently as some consoles blew out,
briefly showering the aft section of the bridge in sparks. The impact
also knocked Ivanova out of her chair and LaSalle off her feet. Carter
held the sides of his console in a viselike grip trying to stay at his
post.
Ivanova picked herself up off the deck and returned to her command
chair, not noticing the black soot spotting her face or the fact her
neatly tied up hair was now disheveled. "Damage," she called.
"LaSalle got up and checked the damage control console in the
forward section. "Structural damage in Decks 15, 16, 18, and 19. We
took a hit in the central carousel. One more like that will disable the
carousel and we'll go z-gravity. Primary computer core damaged and off-
line. Secondary computer core on-line. Damage and fires indicated in
Hangar Bays Three and Five."
"Casualties?"
"Medbays report twenty-two fatalities, thirty more injured so
far."
Too damn many, Ivanova thought. "Weapons status?"
"One forward main weapons bank damaged, pulse cannons and
secondary guns still on-line. Main guns recharging," LaSalle indicated.
"Main guns will be ready to fire in eighteen seconds," added
Carter.
"Lock pulse cannons and all secondary guns on target," Ivanova
ordered.
"Aye, Captain," Carter said. "Pulse cannons and secondary guns
locked on."
Ivanova stared defiantly at the Angel. "Fire!"
Yellowish fire spouted rapidly from the pulse cannons and
secondary guns and into the center of the Angel's AT Field, right at
the large center eye. Falcon Squad also joined in, striking at that
same spot as did the surviving Drazi Sunhawk and White Star 23.
"It's buckling," Carter reported urgently. "The AT Field's
buckling."
"Maintain continuous fire," Ivanova ordered. "Let's see how much
it takes to kill one of these things."
Then Carter noticed something on his console. "Captain, the Angel
has re-intensified its AT Field. It's heading right for the Drazi ship
and the three remaining White Stars as well as us. Range now 10,000
kilometers and closing awfully fast."
Oh, hell, it's trying to ram them. "Griffin to all ships, break
off, break off!"
Sadly she was too late as the Angel suddenly put on some speed and
Rammed the three White Stars and the Drazi Sunhawk, destroying White
Stars 20 and 21. White Star 23 managed to get away unscathed, and the
Drazi Sunhawk took only minor damage. The Starfuries of Falcon Squad
escaped, but five were destroyed in the attack.
"Pattern Orange," Carter said. "AT Field is down. Main guns ready
to fire."
"Target the center eye and fire at will," Ivanova said coldly.
The main guns fired again, their baleful red beams lancing into
the center of the Angel and penetrated all the way through the thin-
bodied Angel. However, before they could celebrate it got one more shot
off which directly impacted the Griffin's bow.
The bridge nearly exploded around Ivanova. Still more consoles
blew out, portions of the ceiling collapsed, a large chunk crashed on
an already-sprawled LaSalle, pinning her legs to the deck. A similar
piece barely missed Ivanova's head and crashed on the deck in front of
her. The main lights went down and the red emergency lights kicked on.
Carter slumped bloodily over after the tactical console exploded in his
face, his hair and uniform smoldering. The air reeked of burnt wiring
and flesh. Ivanova ran over and she and Ensign McMichael lifted the
chunk of debris off LaSalle.
"You all right, Claudia?" Ivanova asked.
"My legs, I think they're broken," she replied in a maelstrom of
pain. "My right arm too."
"Medical team to the bridge." Thank God she's still alive, Ivanova
thought. The Angel, what about the Angel? "Status."
Lt. Simon Tasuki, the helmsman, picked himself up off the deck and
back to his station. Ivanova could see blood trickling down his face.
She then noticed her own uniform was torn in the left arm and that it too was bleeding.
"Captain, main guns off-line," he reported, checking his console.
"Secondary guns still operational. Pulse cannons operational at reduced
power levels. Explosive decompression in Decks 2 through 5, 8, 10, 12,
and 15. All areas sealed off. Helm and navigation off-line. Main
engines functional at reduced-power levels. Jump engines are down. Fire
control systems off-line. I'm reading a 60% failure in the secondary
computer core. Primary core still off-line. Hangar Bays Two and Four
destroyed. Main launch bay destroyed. Ship gravity reduced to 0.73G.
Main power off-line. All primary life-support systems are down,
Captain. We're functioning on reserve power only."
Damn, Ivanova thought, we're dead for sure.
"Intership communications down," added Lt. Teresa Trevor, the
communications officer. Her red hair was as disheveled as Ivanova's and
covered with soot. "Only personal links are operating."
"Damage reports still coming in from all over the ship," Tasuki
said.
Ivanova surveyed the damage around the bridge of her once-new
ship. What a mess. One Angel did this much damage. "Status of the
Angel?" she said as medics arrived on the bridge to tend to the
injured.
"Stand by, Captain," Tasuki said. "Main sensors off-line. Trying
for visual."
The static-filled main view screen cleared to reveal the Angel
staring down balefully at what was left of the Griffin, now only a few
kilometers off the bow.
"Oh, my God, Captain, it's about to fire again," Tasuki said.
"Backup sensors indicate AT Field intensifying. It's back at Pattern
Blue."
"We couldn't survive another hit like that, could we?" Trevor
added.
Ivanova gave the Angel another defiant glare. The beauty of being
Russian, she thought. It doesn't get any more hopeless than this.
When the Griffin moved in to battle the 10th Angel, the Missouri
and its group were making headway towards their engagement with the
16th Angel, Arumisaeru, which resembled nothing more than a large
golden-colored glowing double-helix ring. Captain Emily Lind eyed this
particular Angel with a mix of curiosity and outright fear. She knew
full well what the Angels were capable of, especially this one.
She looked around the bridge, and all eyes were glued to the
forward view screen as they approached the Angel. Lind couldn't blame
them, really. The Angel was an awe-inspiring sight. And, she had to
admit, it was beautiful. But then again, so was a cobra, only this
time, she knew they were going to get bit. The question then became:
was this cobra's bite fatal?
"Range to target 15,000 kilometers," said Lt. Milo Miles, the
Missouri's tactical officer. "Sensors indicate AT Field is active.
Angel is registering Pattern Blue."
As I expected, Lind thought. "Maintain course, all ahead 2/3.
Stand by on all weapons."
"Maintaining course, all ahead 2/3," said Ensign Hiyama, the
helmsman.
"Standing by, Captain," Miles said.
"Captain," said Lt. Daniel Stevenson, the communications officer,
"The Griffin has engaged the 10th Angel. Sheridan's group has now
engaged the 3rd Angel. All others will engage their respective targets
in thirty seconds."
"Very well. Mr. Miles, tactical display on main screen."
"Aye, Captain."
The main screen changed to a diagram of the immediate area around
the Missouri. She was at the center of the group, flanked by White
Stars 3, 7, 9, and 10 and the two Drazi Sunhawk cruisers, the Execution
and the Fearless. Out ahead were all seven of the Missouri's fighter
squadrons; four squadrons of Starfuries and three of Thunderbolts. Out
ahead of the them was the Angel they were approaching, which stood
stationary for the moment; it rotated rapidly in place.
"Missouri to all ships," Lind said over the link. "White Stars 3
and 7, break formation and move in on the left flank with Sunhawk
Execution. Wraith, Obsidian, and Dragonfly Squads follow them. White
Stars 9 and 10, Drazi ship Fearless, and Hellion, Gamera, and Storm
Squads flank the Angel on the right flank. We'll head right for the
center and meet when this Angel's nothing more than a memory."
"Understood," came the reply from all ships in the Missouri's
group and they spread out in a classic double-ended attack pattern. The
intent was to hit the Angel in three different directions at once. One
of the more effective classical attack patterns dating back to the
American Civil War.
"Main visual ahead. Helmsman, follow them in, all engines ahead
full. Firing teams, stand by to fire on my order."
"All ships have acknowledged and are ready to fire," reported
Commander Reider.
"Range 10,000 kilometers and closing," added Miles. "It's bearing
directly ahead of us, still reading Pattern Blue."
"Stand by," Lind said, knowing full well timing was the key. "All
ships, lock all your weapons on locations in the AT Field directly
ahead of you."
"All weapons locked on target, coordinate 120x13x32," Miles said.
"Range 8,000 kilometers."
"All ships, fire at will, fire at will."
Local space was ablaze with lancing beams from the Missouri's
group bombarding the Angel's AT Field in precise locations. The AT
Field itself flared up as the attack continued for several seconds
before the weapons went silent to recharge.
"Damage?"
"Minor damage to AT Field, but it is still active," Miles
reported. "Wait a minute. Captain, the Angel has just gone to Pattern
Orange. Reading a possible aspect change in target."
"It's going to counterstrike," Lind said. "All ships, break off
now!"
The Angel's twin helixes merged into one and separated and it
suddenly lunged at the evading ships, its ends splitting off into a
multitude of branches. Damn, this thing's fast, Lind remarked to
herself. Starfuries and Thunderbolts were summarily struck by several
of the tentacle-like strands and what appeared to be organic growths
began to appear on the fighters spreading throughout their
superstructures like wildfire. Next to be hit were the Drazi ships and
two of the White Stars.
Lind then heard the horrifying screams from her pilots and knew
what Commander Miranami had meant by this Angel having an "infectious
personality."
"Obsidian Leader, I've been hit," reported Obsidian 3. "What the
hell is this?! It's infecting me!"
"This is Wraith 2, I'm getting the same thing."
"It's taken my ship over," said Dragonfly 7. "I can't control it
any more. I have no control, no control, this is not good."
"It's gotten into my flight suit," said Obsidian 12. "It's ahhhh!"
"Captain," said Stevenson, "White Stars 3 and 9 report they too
have been hit by one of these Angel strands."
"Let me see," Lind demanded.
The view screen shifted to a visual of White Star 3 in direct
contact with one of the rope-like strands. The Angel had struck the
ship on the starboard side. The bridge crew could see what looked like
something growing all around the White Star, like a fungus or a virus,
infecting everything it touched, organic or otherwise. The growth took
on a veinous-like structure all around the ship. What the hell is this
thing?
"Captain, White Star 9 reports a 10% bio-fusion with the Angel."
Then the explosions came. Starfuries and Thunderbolts self-
destructed almost en masse in an attempt to rid themselves of the
Angel. The severed strands, though, merely found new targets to infect
as the surviving fighters sought refuge from this onslaught. The
Angel's infection affected the two Drazi ships in such a way they went
on a direct collision course with each other."
"Missouri to Drazi ships, what the hell are you doing?"
"Drazi have no choice, Captain Lind," said the captain of the
Execution. "Angel taken over all our systems, we have no control.
Attempting to reach lifepods."
"Farewell, Captain," replied the captain of the Fearless.
Before Lind could say anything further the two ships rammed each
other and set off an explosion bright as a small sun, temporarily
blinding the crew from the view of the Angel. Suddenly White Star 9
turned and fired on the Missouri, striking the port bow. Three
Thunderbolts also turned around and opened fire on their mother ship.
The bridge shuddered violently, knocking half the bridge crew out
of their seats. Damn that thing, using our own weapons against us!
"Damage?" Lind demanded.
"Hull damage on Decks 3, 5, and 6," Reider reported. "Main power
down on Deck 5. The three Thunderbolt pilots have ejected their
lifepods. The Angel's taken over their systems."
"Target the three Thunderbolts and fire."
Fire from the Missouri's secondary guns destroyed the three
pilotless Thunderbolts. Then White Star 9 fired again, striking
amidships. The bridge lights flickered as the sensor and communications
consoles blew out.
"Communications are down, Captain," Reider said. "Damage to Decks
15 and 16. Main weapons systems off-line. Main sensors also off-line."
"Effect repairs," Lind said. "Back us away, helm, all back 2/3.
Lock secondary guns on White Star 9."
"But, Captain-" Miles said.
"You have your orders, mister. Now target that White Star and
destroy it before we all go down!"
"Aye, Captain," Miles replied. "Secondary guns locked on. Captain!
White Star 3 is closing in on the port side! It's firing, too!"
As soon as those words came out the bridge shook again as the
Missouri was hit on the port bow. The bridge lights died out completely
this time to be replaced by the red emergency lights.
"Damage to Decks 4, 7, and 8," Reider said. "Casualty reports
coming in from all over the ship. Launch Bay Three damaged and
unusable. Hangar Bays Five and Six destroyed."
"Correction, Mr. Miles," Lind said. "Target both White Stars,
engines and weapons only, and fire when ready."
"Aye, Captain. Guns locked on target and firing."
Fire from the Missouri penetrated the skins of the two White Stars
as their weapons and engines blew out under the attack. The Angel
pressed its attack, infecting still more Starfuries and turning their
guns towards the embattled battleship.
"Captain, All of Obsidian Squad has been infected, as is half of
Wraith and all of Gamera Squads. The Angel's taken over all their
systems. They are preparing to fire on us."
Oh, bloody hell, this just gets better and better, Lind thought.
End Part 11
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