Babylon 5: I’ve Found Her | Project - Story

19 February 2254
The bridge of EAS Monolith

     A slight, fleeting vibration swept through the giant ship as the launch mechanism released a single Starfury into the red vastness of hyperspace. As the launch status report shined green on the multiple control panels on the bridge of EAS Monolith, the tension became a bit less obvious - another risky operation in hyperspace was complete. One of many in the last couple of days...
     Alex Torn, navigation officer, found himself biting his own nails. 'Uh-oh, he thought nervously, 10-hours shift will do that to you... Eventually...'
     "Return to the Perseus, Alpha 1. Vathan - Kotok - Sheffer." - the calm youthful voice of CDR Downard rose over the quiet electronic whispers of the bridge.
     "Will do. Thank you, Sir." - the pilot replied.
     'Brave one' thought Torn, shivering. Flying through hyperspace alone, in one-seater, without the carrier craft... Crazy, to say the least... The tiny ship hastily rushed out of the hangar and swept around the bow of the carrier, quickly getting out of the way. About time.
     "Sigma squadron, continue patrolling. Navigation, set course to Hilak, 12 by 49 by 129." - ordered CDR Downard, still holding the comm button, for all fighters to hear.
     "Eye, Sir" - Torn's reply was swift and automatic, his fingers fluently punched the console, adjusting ship's sensors for the next beacon. As soon as the signal was acquired, the motion started. Feeling the building G-load, Torn tried to put his thoughts together. They were moving, but the Sigma Squad was still outside, which means that they won't follow the mothership to Hilak - the strong tides on that route required a big ship with enough power to fight them. So, the Sigma will be heading to another destination. But where? The only other route was to Kotok, where Alpha 1 was also heading. Are they supposed to track him? Unlikely, unless they have a homing beacong attached to their target...
     He looked across the bridge at Downard. His console was too far away to see the details, but it was definitely in tracking mode and there was a clean target - a bright white dot in a blue frame, floating in the red background! They've surely bugged this guy, otherwise there's no way to track him from such distance...
     "Is there anything wrong with your console, Mr.Torn?" - asked Downard, catching his glance and meeting it with a tight jaw.
     "No, Sir, I'm sorry, Sir" - the reply came quickly and then the incident was over.

NEXT - The Black Case