Episode 11: To Kill A Thief.
May 27th 2258.
Guest Stars:
Jurgen Prochnow as Roland Anderson.
Michelle Rodriguez as Alison fernandez.
Brenden Gleeson as David McCollugh.
Fisher Stevens as Rasheed Isanda.
Jerry Doyle as Michael Garibaldi.
Andrea Thompson as Talia Winters.
Concerned by the recent appearance of the drug Tempest, Ben and Rathenn decide to visit the one place where someone must know of it, Babylon 5. A nice easy flight brings them to the station.
Scouring the Zocalo and Down Below proves fruitless, no one seems to know much more than rumours of a new addictive drug appearing in Centauri space. It is then that they run into David McCollugh at a bar in the Zocalo. He is surprised to see them but feels this was a fortuitous meeting. He says that Anderson is onboard the station and looking to prepare another expedition, if Ben and Rathenn would be interested. With no leads on Babylon 5, they agree to meet with Anderson and see what the job entails.
McCollugh contacts Roland Anderson and they arrange a meeting in one hour. Ben takes this time to speak with his old boss, Michael Garibaldi. They discuss Ben’s life on Tantalus, and about Tempest. Garibaldi has heard nothing of the drug, and with his contacts and ear to the ground, would have heard something if it was being brought aboard the station.
Rathenn waits in the Zocalo for Ben to return, and notices Talia Winters engaged in a meeting with two businessmen. Curious about the Psi Corps, he tries to ascertain if she is scanning the two men. He is sensed by Talia though she cannot say who was using telepathy in the area. After her meeting she leaves in a bit of hurry.
Soon everyone involved is at a bar in the Zocalo, though Anderson makes a point of sitting across the bar from Rathenn. He explains that a survey ship belonging to one of his clients has ceased communications and Roland has been asked to assemble a team to investigate.
Anderson explains that the survey ship had been sent to a backwater system named Ulata, and that the ship had several scientists of differing fields onboard. One of their last transmissions said that they had found something, and were very excited, though they did not mention what it was.
He says that he will have the last transmission logs readied onboard the Liberty, but Ben says they have their own ship and would prefer to use that. Anderson agrees, but days that the rest of the team must go as well, which Ben and Rathenn have no problem with. So, with the mission laid out, Anderson says he’ll have supplies transferred to their ship from the Liberty.
Within an hour they are loaded and ready to depart the station. Rasheed is the more experienced pilot so he takes the helm. During the flight, Rathenn runs through the last logs sent by the expedition. They had found several animals on one world and then, the records state that they found the wreckage of a crashed vessel. On the back of the pilot’s corpse was a black device connected to him by several long cables. When they removed the box, the cables were absorbed back into the box. The last transmission says that they have been called back to Earth, but artificial static blanks out who has recalled them.
Their first stop is the Yolanda system, which sits on the coreward edge of EA territory, and houses a small outpost. The ship is buzzed by a small flight of Starfuries and Rasheed transmits their flight plan to the station. At least if something goes wrong, they won’t be far from help.
Four days after leaving B5 they reach the Ulata System and perform a scan of the area. They detect several worlds but no sign of any vessels in orbit. Checking the logs, they head for the seventh planet, where the expedition found the crashed ship. Scanning the surface finds the dig site, so Rathenn and the others take a shuttle down to have a look around.
The wreak has been corroded in the atmosphere of this planet so very little is left apart from a few chunks of black metal and a lot of dark coloured dust. Other then the expedition and them selves, it does not look like anyone else has been here.
Meanwhile back onboard the character’s ship, Ben notices the JumpGate open to allow something out of the system but his scanners cannot find a vessel leaving the system. Then, just as quickly as it opened, the JumpGate closes.
After returning to the ship, and learning from Ben about the mysterious activity at the JumpGate, they do a quick flyby of the planet where the expedition picked up animal life forms, and then head for the Gate. As they reach the gate, it activates and throws an EA model shuttle tumbling towards them. Ben is not quick enough to dodge the incoming shuttle, and they collide with a bang. Regaining control, Ben turns his ship around and tries to grapple the other ship. Once that is complete, they realise that this is from the expeditions main ship.
After bringing it aboard, they find the pilot dead from a deed knife wound to the chest. His Identicard reveals him to be one of the scientists from the expedition, and a check of his logs reveals that the captain of the expedition has gone mad and started murdering the crew! He has set the ship on course for the Djinn system, which Rasheed says is quarantined because the main world has a bronze-tech society. After a brief discussion, everyone agrees to head to Djinn and try to stop whatever it is the Captain is up to.
The Djinn system is asteroids and one habitable world. The scanners detect the Survey Ship in orbit. Scans of the ship reveal numerous life signs but only one of them is human. They bring the ship into the hanger of the larger vessel. Ben and Ratheen done spacesuits and head out into the hanger, to seal the doors. As they approach the remaining shuttle in here, a woman runs out brandishing a length of pipe! Quick thinking and diplomacy calm her down.
She is Dr. Helen Taylor, head of Xenobiology on the expedition. Once given food and water, she explains that several days ago, after they brought the wreckage and black box onboard, the Captain lost it. He stalked the corridors slaughtering the crew. She hid in the spare shuttle and he left her alone. Two days ago he took the last shuttle and headed down to the planet.
After putting Doctor Taylor safely aboard their own ship, Ben and Rathenn explore the Eagle Eye (the survey ship). They find several dead bodies murdered by the maniacal captain. One of them, strangely enough, is dressed in a Psi Corps uniform. As they approach the storage areas, they find chunks of black metal and samples of the black dust. Rathenn takes a vial of the dust and lump of the alien metal. There are also plenty of dead animals – lack of food and water.
At the rear of the ship, they detect movement in the darkness. A large alien spider-like creature floats through the zero-gravity to attack them! It seems to concentrate its attacks on Ben, biting him once or twice, and injecting venom. It seems to shrug off most of his PPG shots. Rathenn has a clever idea, and races back to the science labs to collect vials of acid and other chemicals, which he throws over the creature. Writhing in pain, the Spider vanishes back down into the engineering corridors. Ben drops the pressure doors and vents the air in that section, killing the spider and its brood.
Now, they check the ships logs, and learn that the expedition was financed by IPX (InterPlanetary Expeditions), and that the corporation called them back to Earth after they found the black box on the pilot’s corpse. Does this mean that Anderson works for IPX?
Next course of action is to find the Captain. Scans of the planet easily find the power source, and so Ben and Rathenn decide that they will get the box back and deal with the captain. They head down in a shuttle, and land a few miles south of the settlement where the energy source was detected. Unfortunately they are spotted by a hunting party, who charge at the “demons from the sky!” Ben scares them off with a few PPG shots into the air.
Now having seen the native dress, Rathenn makes two suitable cloaks to cover himself and Ben, allowing them access to the settlement. A plan that works well. They wander the markets looking for anything unusual and then Rathenn sense telepathy being used in a shrine. They investigate and find a priest, who speaks English. He explains that he knows they are sky gods, and that the mad one is not the promised one that he claims to be. He has sent out many of the locals to dig up something in a quarry several miles to the north. When asked how he knows their language, he says he learnt it through reading the mad one’s mind.
With the priest in tow, they approach the palace. The priest gets them in past the guards to the throne room. Rathenn then tells him to get his people away from the dig site for their own health. Enraged at this intrusion, the Captain (now with the black box and its tendrils visible on his back) draws a knife and attacks. Ben and Rathenn do their best to fight but the Captain is too strong, and it takes all their efforts to just keep him at bar. Rathenn then grabs a spear from a guard and plunges it into the black box on the captains back. The box crumbles to dust and the Captain drops to the floor dead from his wounds at last.
They take his body back to the shuttle and do a fly by of the dig site. The locals had been forced to start uncovering another black ship. Back on board the suvey ship, Rathenn collects drilling explosives and returns to the ship, burying it again beneath tons of rock.
Episode 12: The Curse of Tantalus.
June 8th 2258.
Guest Stars:
Mira Furlan as Ambassador Delenn.
Scott Bakula as Captain Jake Cunningham.
Juaquin Phoenix as Lt. Jean-Paul Barbeau.
Stephen Fry as Ezra Molitor.
Julianna Margulies as Doctor Marissa Fletcher.
The episode starts with Rathenn and Ben sitting in Rathenn's office talking work. The door opens and Lt. Barbeau enters with a small security team. The two of them are to be taken to the Ombuds office immediately. Ben instantly realises that this is probably because of the breach of quarantine at Djinn. They go along with Barbeau without protest.
Arriving at the Ombuds court, they find the investigation in full swing. Ombuds Wellington thanks them for coming and explains that this is indeed an inquery over the events at Djinn. He explains that they have heard testimony from Roland Anderson, Michael Garibaldi (both by Stellarcom), IPX and Captain Cunningham. All that is needed now is their explanation. Ben steps up and offers testimony, while Rathenn remains quiet. When asked if Rathenn has anything to add, he says that Ben covered it well. Ombuds Wellington accepts that their actions were a result of events beyond their control and that both acted appropriately, no charges will be brought forth.
Ben is upset to say the least, and catches up with the Captain to ask what that was all about. All Captain Cunningham knows is that IPX filed a report with Earthdome and this was a natural result of that. He does have some good news at least... later this evening, Tantalus finally gets it's Chief of Medlad and Centauri Liasion Officer. Both Ben and Rathenn are invited to the party in the officers lounge at 21:00 hours.
That night, Ben and Rathenn attend the party and meet Doctor Fletcher, though Ezra Molitor spends his time with prominent Centauri present. Ben invites the doctor to their table, and the three of a good chat until Captain Cunningham steals her away to meet the other command staff. Shortly, Ben notices that the Captain recieves a message over his link, looks concerned, makes his excuses and leaves. Ever curious, Ben sneaks out to use a terminal, which he uses to access the records to see what was so important. The records show that a Minbari cruiser just entered the system and is on approach to the station. Ben quickly informs Rathenn and both head up to C&C.
Upon arrival, Captain Cunningham informs Rathenn that Ambassador Delenn has arrived and is asking to speak with him directly. He also informs Ben that if he is found accessing restricted files again, his record will receive a black mark.
The three of them head to the docking bays in time to see a Flyer enter. Delenn emerges with four religious caste aides. Captain Cunningham welcomes her onboard though he expresses some concern that he was not informed. The ambassador says that she is not here for an official visit, instead she came to speak with Rathenn. Rathenn and Delenn retire to a private office, while Ben and the Captain relocate back to C&C.
Rathenn and Delenn speak of the Shadows and what it was that they found on both Djinn and the site of the original expedition (see l1). Delenn says that the parts recovered are reminiscent of a Shadow Scout Vessel. It certainly appears that the agents of the Ancient Enemy are preparing for their return. Following their talk, Rathenn arranges quarters for the ambassador and her aides.
Ben and Rathenn return to the party, but notice that Ezra is not present. Ben attempts to track him down with the computer but fails because Ezra has not been given a link as yet. Eventually the new Liaison Officer turns up, and makes the rounds of the party. As the early hours dawn, everyone makes their goodbyes and heads to bed.
In the morning, there has been a problem. A man has been brought to medlab, suffering from an unknown condition. He is running a dangerous fever, and coughing up blood. By the time the characters arrive, he is unconscious. Records show that he was picked up on the deck above the two sealed levels. At first, Rathenn suspects that it is the same drug they have been chasing down but Doctor Fletcher confirms that it is some kind of infection. Rathenn performs a difficult mind scan and senses fear, terror and gets a brief image that makes him think of empty maze-like corridors.
Ben and Rathenn head down to the sealed entrances, but find the seals still intact. They spend a good while searching the area and do find a concealed entrance behind a fake bulkhead. Opening it reveals an airlock that has been used recently. They inform Cunningham, grab a med-kit, torches, and containment suit from medlab. Cunningham sends a recorder with them, just in case. Thus prepared, they head inside.
The corridors are maze-like, just as Rathenn saw in the patient’s mind. As they wander, they find a couple of Centauri corpses laying the passageway. Checking them over reveals they died from explosive decompression. They take a sample and head on, eventually reaching a chamber containing mining equipment and over a hundred dead bodies piled against the walls, all the same as the two in the corridor. They inform the Captain what they have found and notice that none of the bodies show any markings or indication of what houses they belonged to, despite some being obvious noble Centauri.
Further through the corridors and down a level, they find dozens of bodies in a medbay, all shot with energy weapons before the decompression. A search finds a data crystal that contains information to partially explain the situation:
The miners found a buried alien hanger on one of the outlying moons. Although there was no ship present, there were canisters marked with unknown symbols. The Centauri had opened them to find a powder inside (checking records, Rathenn realises that this powder was similar to the powder found onboard the derelict at Endregaard), and shortly after everyone began to fall victim to a fatal disease. House Molitor sent help, but in fact their guards forced everyone down here. Ezra Molitor lead them, per his fathers instructions. Ben suggests brining Ezra in for questioning, but its too late and he is in medlab unconscious with the illness.
Following this, Captain Cunningham seals down the station pending the outcome of this infection.
Rathenn and Ben return to the main chamber where all the bodies are, and Rathenn comes to the conclusion that the bodies have been moved recently. Pushing the bodies aside, he finds four small metal plates have been welded onto the interior wall. With this information, Cunningham sends a maintenance-bot to investigate. It finds four circular holes in the exterior wall that could well have come from a slug thrower by the looks of them.
Returning to medlab, they find a number of other people (mainly Centauri) have fallen afoul of the disease. Ben grabs a scanner unit, and after wandering the station realises that the virus is airborne and now (thanks to the air recycling) is on all levels of the Tantalus Station.
Rathenn scans Ezra’s mind and senses fear, and disgust. He also catches a glimpse of Centauri House guards forcing victims into the hanger, and Ezra raising an old earth style revolver. Part of the puzzle is explained.
Ben puts a call into Mika on Centauri Prime. Mika is not available but he does get to speak to an aide. Ben explains the situation on the station and asks if Mika could send the vaccine that was used on Endregaard. The aide says he will forward the information to Mika.
Shortly, Mika makes contact and says that he will send a shipment of all that he has to help combat the outbreak. He asks how this happens, and Ben explains about House Molitor and Ezra’s actions here. Mika is most interested by this revelation.
In less than two hours (rather too quickly), a Centauri ship arrives with the medical supplies, but too late to save Ezra. Along with the vaccines, Mika has sent a purifier that if placed in the air recycling system will remove the airborne particles. Also, it seems that to avoid a political embarrassment, House Molitor has been folded into Mika’s House. An interesting outcome to the events of Tantalus.
With the outbreak contained, Ambassador Delenn boards her ship and departs for Babylon 5. Ben and Rathenn take a flight out over the site of the hanger but find a quake has covered it up in the years since the events onboard the station. All they can tell is that by an examination of the site, and the records the Centauri left, this hanger would have held a single vessel of incredible size.
As a final parting gift, Mika (the new owner of Tantalus) hands it over to the Earth Alliance as a good will gesture.