stars. The shrinking of the Centauri Republic hastened as the Narn made war against them, and it took many systems to bleed their raw fury. The Narn finally stopped at Quadrant 37, claiming it as theirs and constructing an outpost--along with what they called a civilian colony. This colony was little more than a listening post, and the Centauri took every opportunity to vigorously complain about its existence. Their empire was crumbling, their voices little more than the impotent cry of a great civilisation long past its time. The Centauri would certainly not risk going to war over a world with so little to offer no matter what the Narn used it for.
The balance changed in 2258 when the Centauri finally began to find the will to strike at the Narn. Quadrant 37 was the first system the Centauri struck, harnessing a powerful and ancient alien race known as the Shadows, wiping out the Narn colony within minutes. After the death of Emperor Turhan and a further attack against another planetary system in Quadrant 14, Centauri forces flowed into Regime space to enslave their age-old enemy once more. Even when the Narn forced invaders from their homeworld for the second time in history, the Centauri were able to retain possession of the strategically important but otherwise fairly worthless Quadrant 37. Wait long enough, however, and everything changes. On this day, Quadrant 37 was being returned to the Narn as part of the reparations the Centauri were being forced to pay the governments of the ISA. It had been an easy system to let go, as it represented billions of credits of reparations that the Centauri government no longer had to pay.
Shaw considered the system’s brief history as he gazed at its second and ‘main’ planet, steadily growing larger as the Intrepide sped through space towards its rendezvous with Narn and Centauri politicians on its surface. He started slightly as Badeau’s voice floated up from close behind.
‘Strange, isn’t it?’ she asked. ‘A planet so dead and yet so valued by some. Is it, I wonder, worth the blood that has been spilt here?’
He turned to face his Captain. ‘Well, the Narn certainly think so. I heard they gave up billions of credits for this place.’
Badeau looked directly into his eyes. ‘But why? Why do you think it is so precious to them?’
‘Well, not for the resources. . .’
‘Certainly not. Barely worth the effort when you have as many systems under your control as the Regime does.’
‘Its strategic position then.’
Badeau gave a small sigh--a little sadly, Shaw thought. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Even now, the Narn are considering the day when they will fight the Centauri once more. I have heard it said that both the Narn and Centauri are lost people, that the galaxy should just blink and let them pass. I have no doubt it would be easier for everyone concerned, and yet how can we take that seriously?’
‘There is some argument to suggest that the Narn have rights to this place. Both sides have agreed to swap Quadrant 37 for a portion of the reparations due to the Regime . . . This may help keep the peace between them.’
‘Will it?’ Badeau raised an eyebrow and then shook her head. ‘We are here as peacekeepers, but I fear we are doing nothing more than giving the Narn a position of advantage for the future. They will either use it or the Centauri will fight against it. I believe that when the Centauri pulled out of the ISA, we lost our last, best hope for peace between them and the Narn.’
‘Captain--Sabine. You seem . . at a loss. You think this is, what, a fool’s errand?’
‘I don’t know. We all do what we can and, as Rangers, we are here to make sure the transfer takes place smoothly and the present peace is continued. I do not know what evil we serve in the future. Give me the squabbles among the old League, the hunger for technology of the Earth Alliance or any one of the galaxy’s other perpetual problems. I genuinely believe the ISA is
The balance changed in 2258 when the Centauri finally began to find the will to strike at the Narn. Quadrant 37 was the first system the Centauri struck, harnessing a powerful and ancient alien race known as the Shadows, wiping out the Narn colony within minutes. After the death of Emperor Turhan and a further attack against another planetary system in Quadrant 14, Centauri forces flowed into Regime space to enslave their age-old enemy once more. Even when the Narn forced invaders from their homeworld for the second time in history, the Centauri were able to retain possession of the strategically important but otherwise fairly worthless Quadrant 37. Wait long enough, however, and everything changes. On this day, Quadrant 37 was being returned to the Narn as part of the reparations the Centauri were being forced to pay the governments of the ISA. It had been an easy system to let go, as it represented billions of credits of reparations that the Centauri government no longer had to pay.
Shaw considered the system’s brief history as he gazed at its second and ‘main’ planet, steadily growing larger as the Intrepide sped through space towards its rendezvous with Narn and Centauri politicians on its surface. He started slightly as Badeau’s voice floated up from close behind.
‘Strange, isn’t it?’ she asked. ‘A planet so dead and yet so valued by some. Is it, I wonder, worth the blood that has been spilt here?’
He turned to face his Captain. ‘Well, the Narn certainly think so. I heard they gave up billions of credits for this place.’
Badeau looked directly into his eyes. ‘But why? Why do you think it is so precious to them?’
‘Well, not for the resources. . .’
‘Certainly not. Barely worth the effort when you have as many systems under your control as the Regime does.’
‘Its strategic position then.’
Badeau gave a small sigh--a little sadly, Shaw thought. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Even now, the Narn are considering the day when they will fight the Centauri once more. I have heard it said that both the Narn and Centauri are lost people, that the galaxy should just blink and let them pass. I have no doubt it would be easier for everyone concerned, and yet how can we take that seriously?’
‘There is some argument to suggest that the Narn have rights to this place. Both sides have agreed to swap Quadrant 37 for a portion of the reparations due to the Regime . . . This may help keep the peace between them.’
‘Will it?’ Badeau raised an eyebrow and then shook her head. ‘We are here as peacekeepers, but I fear we are doing nothing more than giving the Narn a position of advantage for the future. They will either use it or the Centauri will fight against it. I believe that when the Centauri pulled out of the ISA, we lost our last, best hope for peace between them and the Narn.’
‘Captain--Sabine. You seem . . at a loss. You think this is, what, a fool’s errand?’
‘I don’t know. We all do what we can and, as Rangers, we are here to make sure the transfer takes place smoothly and the present peace is continued. I do not know what evil we serve in the future. Give me the squabbles among the old League, the hunger for technology of the Earth Alliance or any one of the galaxy’s other perpetual problems. I genuinely believe the ISA is
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