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lurkers-guide


								<h3>Synopsis by Matthew Murray (mmurray@wsu.edu)</h3>


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/042/hands.gif" alt="">

								On Centauri Prime, Londo meets with Lord Refa in the Emperor's throne

								room.  Refa explains to Londo that the war with the Narn is about to

								end, much sooner than originally expected, and that Londo himself will

								be the "architect" of the victory.<br clear=all>


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/042/draal1.gif" alt="">

								Aboard Babylon 5, Delenn meditates in her quarters.  While she is doing

								so, she senses a presence.  "Hello dear friend," she says, and a voice

								chuckles all around her.  C&C detects an energy surge coming from

								Epsilon 3, and informs Ivanova, who in turn informs Sheridan, just out

								of the shower.  Ivanova's message is interrupted by a voice coming from

								behind Sheridan.  He turns around and sees Draal standing there.  Draal

								tells Sheridan that he has been watching, and introduces himself.

								Sheridan tells Draal that he knows Draal took custody of Epsilon 3,

								although Draal corrects him saying that the planet took custody of him

								instead, returning to him his youth both in appearance and health.

								Draal wants to invite Sheridan, and one other, down to the

								surface for a visit at Sheridan's earliest convenience.<br clear=all>


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/042/narn.gif" alt="">

								G'Sten, G'Kar's uncle, tells G'Kar that the war with the Centauri is

								not going well, and that Narn defenses have been severely weakened,

								rolling back thirty years of territorial gains.  G'Sten explains

								that the Kha'Ri is trying to make the Narn believe that they are

								holding their own against the Centauri, though that is far from the

								truth.  G'Sten says that their one chance is to attack the Centauri

								supply depot at Gorash 7, which will require the entire Narn fleet.  G'Kar

								points out that, if the forces are taken away from the homeworld, it

								will make it vulnerable.  G'Sten realizes the risk, but insists that

								there will only be a very short

								period when the homeworld won't be defended.  G'Kar offers to go along,

								but G'Sten declines, saying that G'Kar's work on Babylon 5 may be even more

								important, and that, were G'Kar's father alive, he would be proud.


								<p>

								Delenn steps off the elevator and meets Sheridan to tell him that Draal

								appeared to her as well.  The two continue on together.<br clear=all>


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/042/treaty.gif" alt="">

								Refa tells Londo that he strongly believes that the Narn are planning an

								attack on Gorash 7.  Londo asks

								if Refa's forces will be waiting for the Narn there, and Refa

								tells him that he needs Londo's forces there instead, because the

								Centauri forces will be carrying out an all-out attack on the Narn

								homeworld.  This idea troubles Londo, who tries to convince Refa to

								pursue another course of action, but Refa says it isn't necessary -- they

								will be using mass drivers, powerful weapons outlawed by every species,

								which will decimate the cities, and allow nearly effortless takeover of

								the planet.  Londo tells Refa that he is troubled by his allies and

								their strength, but Refa doesn't understand his reluctance.  Londo

								tries to warn Refa that moving too quickly might cause things to spin

								out of control, but Refa won't listen, telling him that numerous

								Centauri battleships are waiting hyperspace for Londo's go-ahead, and

								that this action will save thousands of Centauri lives.  With

								only a little more convincing, Londo agrees to use his allies, as long

								as it is for the last time.  Refa assures Londo that this is the last

								time their assistance will be needed, as the Narn will be defeated, and

								this time, the Centauri will not allow the Narn to be free again.


								<p>

								Garibaldi expresses great doubt about the message received from Draal,

								but Delenn insists that Draal is who he claims.  Even Sheridan is

								somewhat troubled by his altered appearance, though Delenn assures them

								that he looked that way when he was younger.  Garibaldi suggests it may

								be a trick, and that the message might be faked, but Delenn refuses to

								believe him.  Ivanova reports that tests run on the message determined

								it was sent from below the planet's surface, verifying that Draal did

								indeed send it.  Despite this, Garibaldi still wants to send a security

								team, but Sheridan says he is only allowed to bring one other, namely

								Delenn.


								<p>

								Londo meets up with Refa again, and Refa tells him that it is time to

								leave for the Narn homeworld--they will be on the first ship so they

								can oversee the victory personally.  "Come Londo," Refa tells him.

								"Destiny awaits."  Meanwhile, Sheridan and Delenn board a shuttle and

								head down to Epsilon 3.<br clear=all>


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/042/medlab.gif" alt="">

								G'Kar goes to MedLab, where Dr. Franklin is waiting for him.  Franklin

								tells him that one of the Narn refugees he treated was

								captured and interrogated by the Centauri, and that the questions

								involved the Narn homeworld's defense systems, and were particularly

								urgent.  The refugee transport got away easily because the Centauri

								warships guarding the planet pulled out with little explanation.  This

								puzzles G'Kar, as he knows the Centauri to be very thorough.

								Franklin explains to G'Kar that, during the

								Earth-Minbari War, the Minbari did something very similar just before

								they attacked Earth.<br clear=all>


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/042/bridge.gif" alt="">

								Sheridan and Delenn arrive on Epsilon 3 and begin searching the tunnels

								of the planet.  They arrive at a large walkway

								across a huge chasm, which strikes Sheridan speechless.


								<p>

								G'Kar urgently tries to convince G'Sten that the Centauri are planning

								to attack the Narn homeworld, but G'Sten won't listen, saying the

								mission is too far along to stop it without proof.


								<p>

								Sheridan and Delenn arrive in Draal's chamber and see his body in the

								depression, running the planet.  An image of Draal appears and addreses

								them, commending Sheridan for his work aboard Babylon 5.  Draal

								explains that he has explored the many secrets of Epsilon 3 and has

								learned much about the galaxy, and Sheridan himself.  He also knows

								about Sheridan's conspiracy of light.

								Sheridan tries to deny it, but Draal knows better,

								and assures him the information is safe.  Draal explains that he said a

								year earlier that Epsilon 3 would remain dormant until such a time as

								it was needed, and that this is such a time -- he's prepared to place

								the planet at Sheridan's disposal, one of the first alliances

								of the coming war.  Draal tells Sheridan that he is not alone in the

								struggle, and that, should they succeed, there is a great possibility

								of hope.<br clear=all>


								<p>

								<img align=middle width=160 height=120 src="/lurk/gif/042/042-10.gif" alt="">

								<img align=middle width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/042/battle1.gif" alt="">

								<img align=middle width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/042/battle2.gif" alt="">


								<p>

								As G'Kar prays fervently,

								the Narn ships come out of hyperspace above Gorash 7 and prepare for

								the attack.  They don't detect any ships at first, but several

								Shadow ships soon appear and begin moving toward them, ready for the

								attack.  G'Sten tries to activate the jump engines, but they must

								recharge first.  G'Sten orders an attack against the ships, and though

								the Narn score several hits with their energy mines, the weapons of the

								Shadows are much more powerful, easily able to cut through the Narn

								ships.  The Narn warships are destroyed one by one.  Several warships

								combine their firepower and manage to sever a spine from one of the

								Shadow ships, but it's a futile victory.  Defeat imminent, G'Sten orders

								the remaining ships to

								open jump points and flee, but the Shadows fire something into the

								vortices, disrupting them and causing the remaining Narn cruisers

								to be destroyed mid-jump.  An undamaged Shadow ship connects to the

								injured one, revitalizing it; then all the Shadow ships vanish.

								G'Kar, sensing the outcome somehow, grimly ceases his prayer.<br clear=all>


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/042/draal2.gif" alt="">

								Draal tells Sheridan that it probably isn't a good idea to tell the

								Earth government of the new alliance.  Delenn asks Draal if he is

								able to handle living alone on the planet.  Draal explains that he has

								the stars to keep him company, in addition to the others who live on

								the planet and help maintain the machine.  "There is one, in particular,

								who..."  He touches his head.  He tells Sheridan that he is hearing

								distress calls and that Sheridan needs to leave immediately.  Sheridan

								rushes on ahead, and Delenn tells Draal that she hopes to see him more

								often.  They exchange a quick goodbye and she leaves.  "So much to do,"

								he says, "so little time.  We must get to work.  Zathras!  Zathras!"

								he calls, but no one arrives.  "Never around when you need him."


								<p>

								Ivanova tells Garibaldi about the Centauri attack on the Narn

								homeworld, and that she is worried what will happen when word about the

								attack hits the station.  He prepares for the coming riots, and says

								she should send out a general alert as soon as possible.


								<p>

								"We interrupt this program with this late-breaking story," says an ISN

								reporter, as the patrons of the Zocalo watch.  "Officials in EarthDome

								confirm that the Centauri Republic has begun a devestating frontal

								assault on the Narn homeworld.  Reports continue to come in, alleging

								that the main Narn fleet has been neutralized and that Narn is

								completely encircled by its enemies.  Neither government has yet

								confirmed nor denied these reports, though some messages relayed from

								Narn seem to corroborate the stories of massive destruction and

								death...."  The tension becomes too much and a fight between the Narn

								and Centauri patrons of the Zocalo breaks out.


								<p>

								The general alert is sent out as Sheridan and Delenn arrive back on the

								station.  Sheridan asks Ivanova what the situation is, and she tells

								him that Garibaldi is doing the best he can.  Sheridan has a security officer

								escort Delenn to her quarters.  Ivanova explains to Sheridan that she

								has heard little more than rumors, though she does know that the

								Centauri have used mass drivers in their assault.


								<p>

								<img width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/042/bombard1.gif" alt="">

								<img width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/042/bombard2.gif" alt="">


								<p>

								The war is not going well for Narn as the Centauri ships use mass

								drivers to pummel Narn's cities with asteroids.  As the destruction

								continues, Londo watches, helplessly, at a window in the lead ship of

								the fleet.


								<p>

								"With the planetary bombardment in its fourth day," the ISN reporter

								reports as the C&C staff watches, "the Narn government continues in

								its refusal to surrender.

								Minbari, Vorlon, Earth, and other governments have filed official

								protests with the Centauri Republic for their use of mass drivers

								against the civilian population.  But, so far, the protests have had no

								effect.  Although communication with the Narn homeworld is difficult at

								best due to the continued attacks, word has reached ISN of cities

								utterly destroyed, hundreds of thousands of casualties, the total

								elimination of power and water over most of the Narn planetary

								surface.  Most of their major cities have fallen, food shipments have

								stopped, the planetary economy has collapsed, and medical treatment is

								virtually non-existent.  Government analysists predict that, unless the

								Narn government surrenders soon, their entire infrastructure will be

								totally destroyed.  To quote Senator Ronald Quantrell, 'They're being

								bombed back into the stone age.'"  Sheridan can take no more and orders

								the feed shut off.


								<p>

								G'Kar is barely able to maintain contact with the homeworld.  The Narn

								on the other end says that the only way to survive is to surrender.

								G'Kar asks what will happen to the Narn on Babylon 5, but there is no

								way to know what the terms of the surrender will be.  G'Kar offers to

								return, but as the only member of the Kha'Ri not on the homeworld,

								his contact says, G'Kar should stay alive as long as possible.  The Narn

								delivers one

								last message to G'Kar from the Kha'Ri, which he says is the hardest

								thing he's ever had to ask of G'Kar.


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/042/sanct.gif" alt="">

								G'Kar slowly enters Sheridan's office.  "Captain Sheridan, I... I've

								been instructed by government to come to you and ask for... sanctuary."


								<p>

								Londo arrives at his quarters to find Garibaldi and a contingent of

								security guards, placed for his protection, there.  Londo tells

								Garibaldi to inform Sheridan that he wishes to convene a meeting of the

								advisory council

								and the League of Non-Aligned Worlds.


								<p>

								"A little over five standard hours ago," Londo tells the Council

								and the League, "the conflict which began with the Narn declaration of

								war came to an end.  The Narn Regime has offered complete and

								unconditional surrender.  The terms imposed by the Centauri Republic

								are as follows.  One, the ruling body, known as the Kha'Ri will be

								disbanded and its members subject to arrest and trial for the

								commission of war crimes against the Centauri."


								<p>

								"Earth requests the right to send observers to these hearings,"

								Sheridan says.


								<p>

								"That request is denied," Londo tells him.  "Two.  To prevent further

								acts of terror by the Narn against our people, from this day on, the

								penalty for the murder of any Centauri by any Narn will be the

								execution of five hundred Narns, beginning with the perpetrator's own

								family.  Three.  A provisional ruling council appointed by my

								government will take up the responsibility of rebuilding a more

								civilized Narn government as a colony of the greater Centauri

								Republic."


								<p>

								"Is there anything else?" Sheridan asks.


								<p>

								"Yes," Londo replies.  "Just one thing.  Because the Narn homeworld is

								now a protectorate of the Centauri Republic, we reserve the right to

								determine who can speak for Narn.  As a result, Ambassador G'Kar may no

								longer represent the Narn in any official capacity whatsoever.  His

								appointment as ambassador to Babylon 5 is hereby withdrawn.  As the

								only member of the Kha'Ri still at large, Citizen G'Kar will return to

								Narn for trial."<br clear=all>


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/042/tyrant.gif" alt="">

								Sheridan tells Londo that G'Kar has been granted

								sanctuary.  Londo tries to protest, saying that the agreement between

								the Narn and Centauri had important stipulations about the Kha'Ri, but

								Sheridan tells him that neither he nor Earth signed that agreement, so

								they are not bound by it.  Delenn stands up, informing Londo that the

								Minbari government also stands behind Sheridan's decision, and

								that G'Kar may remain for as long as he likes.  Londo gives in, but

								demands that G'Kar be removed

								from the Council chambers immediately.  G'Kar painfully

								complies, but he has a few final words for Londo.  "No dictator... no

								invader... can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever.

								There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom.

								Against that power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand.

								The Centauri learned this lesson once.  We will teach it to them

								again.  Though it take a thousand years, we will be free."


								<p>

								Londo watches ISN as the reporter tells of the post-surrender events.

								"And dancing in the streets as Centauri Emperor Cartargia declared a

								week-long public celebration to commemorate the recapture of the Narn

								homeworld.  In related news, the Centauri Republic today announced

								plans to annex several smaller worlds adjacent to Narn space, declaring

								them protectorates of the Republic.  While government spokesmen insist

								that the Centauri do not have any expansionist plans beyond retaking

								the Narn homeworld, others in Earthdome are less sure."


								<p>

								Sheridan tells G'Kar that he will miss G'Kar's imposing presence in the

								Council chambers, and that he wants to help G'Kar in any way he can to

								win back his planet.  He offers his hand to G'Kar, who hesitates at

								first: "The last time I

								offered someone my hand, we were at war twenty-four hours later."

								As Sheridan leaves,

								he is contacted by Ivanova; Delenn wants to see

								him in the conference center.  He goes to meet her.<br clear=all>


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/042/rangers.gif" alt="">

								When he arrives, he finds that she and Garibaldi, and a large number of

								other humans and Minbari, are in the room, waiting for him.  Delenn

								tells him that the people in the room have come to meet him and pledge

								themselves to him -- they are the Rangers, Garibaldi explains, who have

								been coming through the station to help fight the coming darkness.

								Sheridan asks why Garibaldi didn't tell him; Garibaldi says

								that he made a promise not to.  Delenn explains to Sheridan that

								Babylon 5 must be the fortress of Light to stand against the darkness,

								and the Rangers are to help with that.  The Rangers were under her

								direct command, but she gives equal authority to Sheridan.


								<p>

								Sheridan addresses them all.  "I don't quite know what to say... For

								the last year, things haven't exactly been going our way.  I was

								starting to wonder if it would ever get better.  I think it just did.

								Tell the other Rangers, the ambassadors, everyone in this army of Light

								that Babylon 5 stands with you.  Tell them... tell them that from this

								place, we will deliver notice to the parliaments of conquerers that a

								line has been drawn against the darkness, and we will hold that line,

								no matter the cost."