title: The Janissary: The Final Conflict
author: Firsid Barsa
description: Firsid Barsa was born in South Africa, grew up in the United States, studied at Moscow University, has a Masters degree in Russian Literature, and is keenly interested in Russian and European history of the Jacobin and Napoleonic periods. Barsa is a prize-winning poet and has also published a short story in a romance magazine. The author of The Janissary Trilogy, whose hobbies include alpine skiing and figure skating, currently lives in a small town in the state of Connecticut.
zlib_text: BRIDGE
  
  **1/13/2151 1704 HOURS** ****
  
  > > > **“Captain Archer,” Roan said without preamble. “I have been instructed
  > to read you the following statement.** _ **Enterprise,**_ **your presence in
  > Sarkassian territory is an act of aggression, which we take as indication
  > that hostilities exist between our two peoples. Should you wish to provide
  > an explanation for your presence, it must be given according to the
  > protocols of Contact between the Empire and outside races. Only ministerial-
  > level officials may preside over such contact. Do you wish to provide such
  > an explanation?”**
  
  > > > **“I’ve already told you—”**
  
  > > > **“Captain, do you wish to provide such an explanation to the
  > appropriate government official?”**
  
  > > > **Reed saw the captain visibly holding his temper. At that second, his
  > display beeped, and he looked down and saw something else.**
  
  > > > **The two Sarkassian ships had charged their weapons systems.**
  
  ![](Images/image00140.jpeg)
  
  ****
  
  ![](Images/im