Beating Back the Horde
The man before him asked, "What is going on?"
The Traveler sighed and sat down, after ensuring that it was okay.
"So. You are aware that there are various worlds and universes."
Harry nodded. "That's obvious considering how I got to where I am."
"Right. Now you are aware that I spend my time hopping from dimension to dimension, universe to universe, injecting a little help in fending off destruction in one way or another."
Harry nodded.
The Traveler sighed. "One universe and its various dimensions are centered around a space station set about 250 years from now. You have aliens and forces that are completely different than what exists here. Even space flight uses different technologies than what can be found in this dimension. There is a space station, run by humans, which tends to be a nexus within that universe. It is the center of a fight for the survival of that entire region of space and all of the lifeforms which live there."
Harry nodded, considering that. "Okay. That's interesting. So what's the problem?"
With an utter serious look the Traveler replied, "It's about to be destroyed by an invasion of ancient space aliens shaped like spiders that are darker than Voldemort ever was."
Buffy, who had been listening, asked, "You mean like Demons?"
The Traveler considered that. "You know? In a way that is almost exactly what they are. I just ended up in a firefight with them – which was still going on when I retreated to get reinforcements – and the most effective tools I used were my Patronus Charm and phoenix song from my animagus form – both were devastating. My problem is that it isn't one or two – it's hundreds. And the defenders were in the middle of retreating when I showed up."
Harry took a moment to get his mind around that. "Is there a time constraint?"
The Traveler shook his head. "Not really. The one advantage I have is that I can control when and where I arrive when I am moving deliberately. So if it takes a month to get things together than I can deal with that. I'd rather take longer and show up prepared than try to go back quick and possibly be unsuccessful."
Harry nodded. "Then perhaps we can call together a meeting. Many of the slayers are being trained for going offworld with Stargate Command. We also have a cadre of combat-experienced wizards – the age of the lazy wizard is over." Harry looked bleakly serious at that. "There's too much to worry about if we allow ourselves to get complacent."
The Traveler agreed. "Well, I'll take whatever help I can get."
It took a few days, but very soon the Traveler was in a meeting with Harry Potter, Ragnok of the Goblin Nation, Buffy Summers-Potter, Faith Lehane-Longbottom, Neville Longbottom, a Roman-Catholic Cardinal (the wizards and goblins, remembering their debt, had insisted on a representative from the Pontiff having a presence within their council), General George Hammond of Stargate Command, his best team, and a representative from the newly created international oversight committee.
Harry Potter, as chair of the meeting, got it under way. "Okay, folks. Today we have somewhat of a strange request. I assume most of you remember our guest or have had an explanation of who he is?"
Everyone around the room nodded. Some were fascinated, some nervous, and some just interested.
"He has come with a request for aid – of a combative nature. I will let him explain." He turned to the Traveler and said, "Marek. Please explain in detail what is going on."
Marek stood and said, "I come before you for assistance with an event which, if not defended against, could spell the death of up to 100 Billion people and the destruction of any of thirty species of sentient beings, including the humans of Earth within the dimension I speak of."
That got their attention.
And so the traveler explained the brief history that he was aware of from the particular universe and its various dimensions. He explained the races and he explained the space station Babylon 5.
"Babylon 5 is, perhaps, the most important nexus for civilized sentient life within the Milky Way in that peculiar dimensional cluster. Conceived by humans who had been, only a short time earlier, on the brink of destruction, it offered an answer to the lack of understanding, the lack of cooperation, the lack of widescale diplomacy between the various races and worlds. It is a distinctly human creation, though in most dimensions there was financial and material support from other major races as well. However, it is also the nexus between a fight between the forces of Order and Chaos. A fight that takes up a million years of history is reaching the critical stage. This station, envisioned as the last best hope of peace has become the last, best hope for victory. If this station is destroyed, that is, possibly, the end of any hope for salvation."
The council, listening to this, was caught up in the story of a band of humans and aliens attempting to overcome a million years of fighting.
Harry Potter, Supreme Mugwump, said, "For my part, the debt that came from being saved cries out for some form of recompense. I will gather enough wizards to at least help overcome this initial situation – free the station. After that – we'll wait and see."
Buffy added to what her husband said. "My slayers have been training for a couple of years. The oldest ones are getting antsy. But the organization needed to use them hasn't been finalized yet – we're still months away." She looked at the Traveler. "You said these aliens are demonic – or at least on the Dark end of the spectrum?"
The Traveler chuckled ruefully. "About as Dark as you can get. Their original purpose was to promote evolution by promoting chaos – but they have become the enemy. The light side, in that dimension posing as angels and Gods, are not much better. They pretty much manipulate the evolution of every younger race. It's a, as the military members will understand, clusterfuck." The Cardinal crossed himself and the traveler said, "Sorry, Your Eminence."
The Cardinal chuckled ruefully. "Considering you hold the rank of a Patron Saint within our Church – the beatification has been very quietly already been pushed through and announced within the magical community – I think I can forgive you."
George Hammond said, "I'd like to help. My people will need the least setup time. But I would have to justify it to the various governments."
The traveler considered that. "Well, if we can actually save the station, perhaps I can convince the people who run it to give up a record of technical specs on the guns and ships they use. It might not be exactly the same as what is used in this dimensional cluster, but I am certain that some most physics principles are identical. I know they use superheated helium, for example, in their energy pistols – it prevents accidental damage to walls and hulls in space. We can also see if they can front the chemical formulas for the alloys they use in building their ships. I will admit – you are actually further along in some things. The humans, at least, don't have access to how to build a gravity generator, which is information known to many other species in that universe. So proving what you people might have worked out will probably open the door to even more technology they have access to."
Hammond considered that. While he was a military man, he knew that advanced technologies used in less militaristic uses was actually a prime reason for the push to go into space. "What kind of technology do they use to transfer information?"
"Data crystals, I believe."
Hammond nodded. "We have access to that technology."
The Cardinal said, "You also will have to take people to minister to those who are there."
Faith said, "Will all due respect, these people are in a fight for their lives – I don't think they need spiritual help as a priority."
The Cardinal chuckled. "I was speaking of ministering to their physical needs and injuries. You can't just send fighters – you'll also need to send healers and support. Perhaps food and other items that will be needed." He paused. "But they probably could use a Chaplain or two as well."
The Traveler chuckled. "I know that some of the people, at least, are catholic, protestant, Jewish, and Muslim. I will say that space travelers don't pay as much attention to religion as others. Likely because their religious beliefs have been manipulated for so many uncounted millennia."
Buffy asked, "Will holy water work against them?"
The Traveler said, "Don't know. Never tried it." He considered it. "I do know that phoenix song and a Patronus powered by the love of a Goddess did damage to them. But while Dark, they are not demonic in the same way." He then added, "They are immortal beings who have mental communication. I don't think that those fighting them know that mental attacks will interfere with their ability to operate their ships."
Harry considered that. "I'll have to get some strong legilemencers."
The Traveler said, "If you remember the fake Moody and how he taught us to overcome the Imperius, it might be a good idea to do that. There are no real magic users in that universe, but they have telepaths. The stronger ones can create almost an Imperius-like effect. The telepaths, the more unscrupulous ones, would fit very well with our old Potions teacher at his worst."
Harry replied, "Anyone we take will be ready, or as ready as I can make them."
Neville piped up, "Ragnok? In the past there have been enchanted items against legilemency. Would such items prevent one wearing it from performing legilemency as needed?"
Ragnok considered that. "No. It would take some effort to enchant enough items, depending on how many are sent."
Hammond had a question. "What exactly is legilemency and what does he mean Imperius-like? I think I'm missing details." Harry explained the various terms and a brief synopsis of his history. Hammonds eyes widened. "Once this crisis is resolved, I believe we'll need to talk about the possibility of getting something to protect those we send through the gate. If we can prevent possession or mental attacks, it would make our people safer."
Jack O'Neil nodded in agreement. "I'd wear anything to prevent a Goa'uld from being able to possess me."
Ragnok said, "Something to talk about later. For now, we need to speak to those whom might need to be notified. General, you will need to speak to the leaders of your people. Lord Potter, you will need to speak to the Ministries. I will need to speak to the clan leaders. Lady Summers-Potter, you will need to speak to your Slayers." He turned to the Traveler. "I believe that you have some initial agreement. How far and how many will depend on the various groups."
The Traveler nodded. "I will be able to provide some wealth – I have access to quite a bit of gold to finance this."
Ragnok nodded. "Something to consider. I would suggest putting together all of the information you can on the situation as it is, including a detailed mock-up of the station and the likely insertion point. We will have plans to make once we can get the details."
It took more meetings and then it took over two months of intensive training. The military people involved wanted things to be as tight as possible – though not many actually military members would actually be involved.
For the most part, the group would be hit-wizards, slayers, SG-1, and, as an added bonus, one Ha'tak that ally Jaffa were willing to commit. It would have the full complement of Al'kesh and Death Gliders.
Many favors were promised as a result of that.
The Ha'tak would also carry the personnel. The Traveler would move some of the slayers and the transport rings would move others.
The orders were to destroy and many of the individual Shadows as possible, to harass the ships, but to allow for an escape by the Shadows. It was decided that without a path to retreat, the Shadows would not surrender but would kill as many as possible. The Ha'tak would also ensure that anything targeting the station for destruction would be destroyed quickly.
A wealth of potions and supplies would be carried as well to help with the cleanup. Included also was rations for quite a lot of people for a few weeks at least. The military had suggested MRE meals – the wizards and witches were not impressed. As a result, besides the stores, a few house elves had been included to prepare meals for the troops.
Knowing that they would be in space where there was little ambient magic, the strongest magic users available would actually bond the elves to ensure that they survived and were not weakened. A few goblin units would also come. Included were a couple of warding specialists to see if any types of wards or protections could be put into place.
Everyone knew that while every effort would be made to get them out alive, there was a high chance that there would be significant casualties.
Finally, it was deemed that the preparations were as good as they could make them and the assault and rescue group were gathered together onto the Ha'tak which would be their base of operations.
The Traveler concentrated and, as he had done with the Battlestar Pegasus in the past, he opened a window to another time and place for the ship to fly through.
Susan Ivanova and David Corwin, the only personnel still alive on the bridge of Babylon 5, knew that while there had been a respite earlier, the tide was once again turning back against them.
Suddenly, however, a special distortion appeared very near the station. Susan called, "What the hell is that?"
"Uknown! There's a ship coming out – and there is no record of that profile. I have no clue what it is. But," he paused, "it has a pyramid on top." He shrugged when the Lt. Commander looked at him.
Suddenly, several smaller craft were released by the larger vessel. They were very much relieved when the smaller craft, as well as the larger, started firing at the invading ships.
They were astonished when one of the small shadow attackers fired at one and it shrugged it off and returned fire, destroying the attacker.
"Commander! Those ships have shields of some type!"
Michael Garibaldi and Jeffrey Sinclair had paused for a long moment when their sudden savior had disappeared with a claim that he was going for reinforcements. Sinclair was just about to give out further orders when a light appeared where the man had disappeared from and he reappeared – along with several other men and women.
The men and a couple of women were in robes that looked to be made of leather of all things and all of them had those sticks.
The rest of the women were in a medley of other clothing and were carrying crossbows and swords of all things. These women took one look at the enemy they were facing and, with a scream of defiance, ran straight toward them – much faster than any human had a right to be.
One of the men wearing robes that looked very similar to the man who had saved them earlier walked over and said, "We need to coordinate the battle. Tell me where you need our people to go."
At the same time, the Ha'tek was transporting over healers and doctors in an area behind the lines of attack as confirmed by the scanners. The Al'kesh (all three of them) were transporting groups of wizards and slayers as determined by SG1 who were on the bridge of the Ha'tak,
The House Elves just popped themselves after the wizards.
Just as Sinclair was getting details on exactly how widespread the counter-invasion force was, a swan made of light, very similar to the large stag that he had seen earlier, flew up to the man, this Harry Potter, that he was talking to and said, "Infirmary being set up in tents in the garden. Send all wounded here."
Though his credulity was stretched, Sinclair was still the leader of Babylon 5 and he started working with those that had miraculously appeared.
It was a hard-fought battle. But within two hours, the Shadows had suffered enough defeat that they withdrew.
Babylon 5, for the moment, had survived.