The Excalibur encounters the Pizarro, an EA Explorer-class ship that has been converted into a colony ship, carrying frozen humans and supplies. Gideon learns that Mars has been busy converting much of the Explorer class into colonial generation ships.

On Centauri Prime, Neroon discovers the Drahk infestation and flees, just ahead of pursuit by the Drakh, the Centauri, and the Rangers.  He meets up again with Marcus, and together they make their way to the Excalibur.

On Mars, Dr. Chambers continues to treat Lise, but with little success.  Garibaldi, who has temporarily set aside his company's main task of making Mars more self-sufficient now that Earth is no more, searches for clues as to what caused the poisonings.  He traces the contaminated food back to the Pro-Zeta Corporation, a rival firm on Mars with ties to the old EarthGov.  He finds clues that there may have been more to the incident than simply a mistake in packaging or refrigeration.  He investigates further.

Talia Winters travels to a mental hospital on Mars and visits Laurel Takashima, a resident patient there.  Takashima appears in terrible condition; her mind is fading, and she sits in a chair all day, staring dully into space.  Using a tiny bit of her telepathic power, Talia manages to reach Takashima, who tells her that she's sure her condition is the result of the conditioning Bester and Psi Corps gave her before sending her as a double agent to Babylon 5.  Talia is still somewhat "normal," Laurel tells her, only because her conditioning came somewhat later than Takashima's--but the clock is ticking, and soon enough, Laurel warns her, she will end up in the same condition.  Talia asks what they're doing to help her, and Laurel responds that they've tried everything, but nothing seems able to break the last of  the telepathic conditioning.  Only Alfred Bester could do that, she speculates.  Distraught, Talia flees the hospital.

Arriving aboard the Excalibur, Neroon meets with Gideon and Galen and describes what he saw on Centauri Prime.  He suspects the Drakh are in complete control of the Republic.

In his quarters, Neroon makes a secret transmission.

In his quarters, Marcus continues to puzzle over the hit-list given to him by Forrell, trying to find any connections.  There appear to be none.

Elizabeth Lochley continues to hide out aboard Babylon 5, mainly in DownBelow, an area she remembers all too well.  Meanwhile, Ivanova surreptitiously makes calls in an effort to find help for her, and to get to the bottom of things, without going so far as to bring trouble down on herself or the station.

Aboard Excalibur, Gideon calls EarthForce and reports to Major Lee that he's found evidence to suggest that the Drakh may be involved on Centauri Prime.  Major Lee replies with a noncommittal remark or two and signs off, leaving Gideon puzzled. 

Sometime later, EarthForce General Chartier calls and demands to speak with Gideon.  Before Gideon can take the call, Galen appears and warns him that he would be well-advised to be "unavailable" for the moment. Gideon considers this, especially in light of his previous conversation with Lee, and has Matheson take the call instead.  Matheson tells the General that Gideon has been called away on an emergency.  Chartier replies that the Excalibur is being recalled to Mars and that Matheson is to locate Gideon immediately and pass along that message.

"I don't like the timing on all of this," Gideon states flatly.  "I think I'd better make myself scarce for a little while."

"That would be wise," Galen replies.

On Babylon 5, President G'Kar receives the secret coded message from Neroon.  "Pack my bags," he orders.  "We're going on a trip."

DarkCrusade is the Crusade Alternate Universe story--
the complete, five-year Crusade saga, following one slight change in 2261, "the year everything changed."
Story, design, and layout by Van Allen Plexico. Send correspondence and comments to vplexico@bellsouth.net
Babylon 5 and Crusade created by J. Michael Straczynski and property of Warner Communications.