THE TEARS OF CREATION

HYPERSPACE

My god, how the fear overwhelmed him!
The Technomage knew he must act quickly or everything everywhere was going die!
It wouldn't be long now. The Excalibur was only a few minutes away=85. just a few minutes=85.
Faster. Faster!
Galen pushed his arrowhead black ship to its limit. Stealth be damned. This was more important then secrecy. There were only a few that Galen needed to hide from=85.but none of them frightened him as the nightmare that was about to befall all existence.
There she is!
Galen pulled out of Hyperspace nearly on top of the giant ship=85.which was soon hailing him.
=93Galen, what the hell are you trying to pull?"
Matthew Gideon. He always got straight to the point. That's what the Technomage always liked about him.
There was no time for banter right now however.
=93Matthew clear me for landing. This is of most dire importance." Galen said with his usually dramatic flare.
Yet Gideon could tell that this was ...different. He had seen his friend frightened before. This seemed more urgent.
=93 Your cleared Galen. Come up to the main conference room=85.Galen?"
Gideon searched the screen,93 Galen ?"
He couldn't see him.
=85Until he felt a hand on his shoulder. He didn't even look. He knew who it was=85
=93 O.K. Galen tell me what is so important..."

=93Sector 14?" Gideon gasped.93 Galen, my god=85why there?"
He started to pace around the table," From what I've heard about that place=85."

Galen leaned forward,93We must Matthew!"
=93The fabric of space is weak there, we will be able to determine the extent of the damage being done."
The Technomage pulled back and faced his friend, his determination was etched in his face.
=93Matthew, the technomages have records of this phenomenon. We have lost members of our own order, condemned to wander forever in a strange universe=85powerless=85lost."

=93That's my point Galen," Gideon's hands emphasizing his feelings,93 Should we endanger the only hope of earth finding a cure for the Drahk plague and search for 91weak' spots in space?"

Galen's face became grim.
=9o you wish to see the plague that will befall earth if we do nothing?"
He moved a couple of feet from the Captain, the room darkened suddenly.
That is until a glow emanated from Galens open palm. It was holographic footage of a battle.
Gideon recognized the Whitestars and Mimbari cruisers as well as other league ships. They were defending Babylon 5 from ships, which he had never seen before. The unknown ships were smaller then a Whitestar, however they seemed to be just as powerful. The defenders were doing everything they could to slow the strange ships, but the aliens swarmed, swallowing them in gulfs of fire.

=93Who are they?" Gideon asked.

=9eath=85 Horror=85 Nightmares of creation." Galen whispered. He looked upon is own hologram in fear, the reflection of death in his eyes.
=93They come from a different dimension that some call =91Third-Space'," he said as he deactivated the spell.93Sheridan and others drove them back 4 years ago, after being released back into our space."

=93They must have hungered to return after that confrontation=85" Galen trailed off, his attention turning inwards.

=93 What makes you say that Galen?" asked the captain. Galen didn't respond.
Gideon walked to his friend grabbing by the shoulders.93Why Galen?" He asked loudly.

Galen look into Matthews eyes, the captain could see the fear. Galen was radiating it.
=93The universe has been torn! Cut open!" he blurted.
=93Everything! Time, space, Dimensions are all bleeding into each other."

Gideon stares in disbelief. =93Galen=85I=85I'm not sure I under=85"

The Technomage now grabbed him by the shoulders and looked intensely into his eyes93Everything is going to die=85.all life=85all dimensions. First all time and space will combine into one. Then it will all collapse=85but not before we are killed by the nightmare! We must stop it!" Galen loosened his grip as what was said sunk in.

=93And going to sector 14 will help us do this?" Asked the Captain.

=93 I will tell us how far along it is." Answered Galen.

Gideon turned and walked back onto the bridge. With Galen close behind
=93Helm set course for sector 14=85right by Babylon 5."

SECTOR 14

The Excalibur slid from hyperspace effortlessly. Graceful as a swan it slowed until it was imperceptibly moving.
=93Captain we have arrived at Sector 14." Reported the helmsman.

Gideon stepped closer to the main monitor. =93Well Galen=85it's your show. What are we looking for=85"

=93Captain=85we have detected a vessel." Reported Lt Matheson.93Its=85adrift."

Gideon and Galen both looked at each other, each slightly apprehensive.
=93Lets see it."

The vessel was nothing more then a glittering spec at first, yet as it was magnified detail came out.
No one recognized its design. Sleek and silvery, elegant, with exaggerated lines. The three prong shape, the swept booms and wings=85it was extremely unique.

=93Any life signs?" Gideon Asked.

Matheson looked towards his Captain.93Yes sir=85six life forms."

=93Well Galen, they don't look like they are from around here=85should we go over and say hello?"

Two shuttles approached the glittering Starship. The Excalibur's sensors detected what could be hangers on the wing structures. Determining that was the best point for entry both shuttles settled just in front of the doors.
Computer experts onboard the Excalibur spent 20 minutes trying to break into the ships programming, but to no avail.

=93Captain, no luck here." Reported the technician.

=93We have to consider a more direct approach=85" Matheson was saying, but before he could finish the large hangers opened on their own.

Gideon looked around the shuttle seeing stunned looks on his crew.

=93Excalibur?" Asked Gideon93Was that us?"

Galen interrupted the response,93It was I Matthew. Shall we?" he said with a gesture towards the open hanger.

Gideon puffed out a laugh and told the Excalibur to 91forget it'.

The Shuttles landed in the expansive bays. Debris was strewn about. Containers, and large drums spread throughout the hanger. It was obvious the ship went through hell before it got here.

=93 There is artificial Gravity here." One of the armed solders commented.

=93 Yes85" Galen said with hesitation.

What was Galen thinking, Gideon wondered.

The group gathered and moved towards the huge entrance. With a wave from Galen the doors open for the party and the solders took point. They all slowly moved forward, each solder covering another from attack. Gideon, Galen, Dr. Chambers and two guards brought up the rear.

The team would pause waiting for directions from the Technomage. Galen would close his eyes and cast a spell of93Clairvoyance". His unique casting allowed for a more unique application of this spell. Each Technomage applied their spells differently from one another. Some would speak it aloud, some would use hand gestures. Galen visualized the spells in his head. It was a very rare and difficult form of casting=85and had consequences which he would never speak aloud. Not after everything he had done with this power before. He would never tell=85.

He found what they were looking for.
His eyes snapped open.

=93I have found the Command deck." He said and took the lead of the group. He stepped quickly forcing the boarding party to lightly jog to keep up.

It was quite a walk, but for the crew of the immense starship Excalibur it was nothing new. Eventually they slowed, seeing Galen standing at a large entrance. Gideon walked up to stand beside the Technomage.

Inside the entrance he could see a large open command area. In the center what seemed to be a Pilots chair and several officer stations along the perimeter.

There was a woman unconscious in the pilot seat as well as two other men out-cold on the floor. All were bleeding from various wounds. They too must have been thrown around from what-ever cast them here.

Dr. Chambers moved in immediately to the pilot who was bleeding from the ears, a sure sign of a serious head injury.

=93She needs immediate help" exclaimed Chambers as she scanned the woman.93We need to get her back to the Excalibur."

The Captain looked around the alien bridge=85looking for some clue too who these people might be, to no avail. He needed something=85

Chambers stood up to face Gideon,93She is critically injured Captain! We have to get her in the O.R. now!"

Gideon was about to give the OK when a voice he did not recognize spoke.
=93Who the hell are you people?" The man said sluggishly. He just came out of unconsciousness and sat himself up against the pilot seat center.
Gideon went to the injured mans side, Galen and Chambers one the other.

=93I am Matthew Gideon of the Earth Alliance Destroyer Excalibur. We are here to help."

The man looked at the people kneeling around him quizzically.93Earth=85.Alliance=85..I don't=85"
=93Relax=85your injured." Chambers said as she comforted him.

=93Who are you?" Galen asked, his gaze bowering into the man.

=93I'm Captain Dylan Hunt of the Commonwealth Starship Andromeda=85"

Gideon looked from Doctor to Technomage before he looked back at Captain Hunt.

=93The Common-What?"