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329 lines
18 KiB
329 lines
18 KiB
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<h3>Synopsis by Matthew Murray (mmurray@cc.wwu.edu)</h3>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/080/midnight.jpeg" alt="">
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Garibaldi is asleep in his quarters when he receives a call from
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William Edgars. Edgars tells Garibaldi he has a new assignment: to
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make sure a new delivery coming through Babylon 5 gets through customs
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without incident and makes its way safely to Io. Edgars explains that
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he doesn't trust the government, the couriers, or his competitors to
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leave the packages--containing compounds for his pharmaceutical
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research department--alone. Garibaldi tells Edgars he will do the job,
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but asks when Edgars might want him to come to Mars. "In the fullness
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of time, Mr. Garibaldi," Edgars replies before signing off.
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<p>
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Sheridan is in his quarters, unable to sleep. He calls C&C, asking if
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they have been able to contact Delenn on Minbar. They haven't, due to
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fighting in the capital city. Sheridan hasn't heard anything from her
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since she left, but asks to be informed if they learn anything new. He
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resumes trying to sleep.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/080/surrounded.jpeg" alt="">
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On Minbar, the capital city is in flames and most of the buildings are
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in ruins. Delenn arrives in the hallway of one of the buildings, where
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Lennier is treating some of the many wounded. Lennier tells her that
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they have received word from the leader of the Warrior Caste. "His
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forces have surrounded the city. He says, if we don't surrender by
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tomorrow, for the good of our people, he will end the war by destroying
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the city and everyone in it."
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<p>
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Lyta is in the Zocalo with a woman who wants to hire her for freelance
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telepathy work. Though all of Lyta's qualifications are in order, the
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woman will not hire her when she learns that she is no longer
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affiliated with Psi Corps. Lyta protests, but the woman will not change
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her mind--her company needs to be protected from possible lawsuits and
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other problems. She says that, until Lyta rejoins Psi Corps, there is
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nothing she can do.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/080/warriors.jpeg" alt="">
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Neroon arrives on one of the Warrior Caste ships and meets with the
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Caste's leader, Shakiri. Shakiri says that the actions of the Religious
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Caste--in trying to get Neroon to turn against the Warrior Caste--prove
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they are unfit to lead the Minbari. Neroon asks what the cost of the
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war will be. Shakiri tells him that the cities can be rebuilt, and
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that the Minbari who die in the city will be reborn into the next
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generation, but that those deaths will prevent a greater loss of life
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in the future. Shakiri says that war should be only be entered into for
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practical gains, and that the sooner the Religious Caste learns
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that--due to their actions in the Earth-Minbari war--the better. He
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thinks that, when Delenn sees the rest of her caste dying, she will
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surrender in order to end the loss of life. Neroon asks if it is wrong
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to value life in that manner, but Shakiri says that life and death
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are only two consequences, both equal, and that Warriors look upon
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death as a release of obligation. Shakiri tells Neroon to go rest.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/080/honest.jpeg" alt="">
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Zack is in the docking bay, trying to organize things, when he notices
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Garibaldi, off discreetly in the corner, dealing with another
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gentleman. He starts to investigate, but is interrupted by another
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security officer, asking what he should do about a new
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arrival--Bester. Zack asks why Bester is coming to the station this
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time. Bester insists he has not come to the station for any
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business with the Command Staff, but is there for personal reasons. He
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promises he will stay out of trouble, and though Zack tries to protest, Bester
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points out it is a free port, and that he has a right to be there.
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Zack tells Bester he has to check with the captain, and Bester promises
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to wait. Zack goes to do so, but on the way, investigates
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the corner where, a few moments earlier, he saw Garibaldi and the
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strange man, who are now gone. Zack runs after him and tries to find
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out where the package went, but Garibaldi insists he knows nothing
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about it. Zack asks if Garibaldi is working for William Edgars, bringing
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packages through illegally, but Garibaldi won't confirm or deny it. Zack asks
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why Edgars, an extremely wealthy and reclusive industrialist, would want to
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work with Garibaldi, which Garibaldi finds offensive--he is honest, and minding
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his own business. Zack asks how honest Garibaldi's work is, but
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Garibaldi finds it just as honest as breaking away from Earth, taking
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over military equipment, and starting their own independent state.
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Garibaldi tells Zack not to bother him, and leaves.
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<p>
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Delenn is waiting for Lennier in one of the rooms in the capital
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building. When he arrives, Delenn tells him they have reached a
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decision, and she wants him to relay a message to the Warrior
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Caste--the Religious Caste is prepared to surrender, when and where the
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Warrior Caste wishes them to do so.
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<p>
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"...And news has reached us that a squadron of Starfury pilots, sent to
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conduct raids against Proxima 3 in hopes of forcing them to accept
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President Clark's martial law decree, have defected, joining the
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Proxima resistance. This makes the fourth major defection in the last
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two weeks. Refugees from sectors 400 through 600 are being taken in by
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the medical colonies at Beta Iridani and the MacArthur midrange
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colony..."
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/080/offer.jpeg" alt="">
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Lyta is interrupted watching the Voice of the Resistance in the Zocalo
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when Bester arrives. She is not very happy to see him, and tells him
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to say what he has to say and leave. Bester tells her he knows she is
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looking for work, since the corporations she wanted to work for called
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Psi Corps to check on her. Lyta tries to deny what he's saying, but he
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knows better--the command staff is getting along fine, but since Lyta
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has no support mechanism, her life of being a freelance freedom fighter
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isn't paying well enough for her to subsist much longer. Bester says
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he wants to make a deal with her--he will add her name to a list of
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deep undercover agents, allowing her to work and make a living. She
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will have to wear the symbol, the gloves, and give ten percent of her
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fees to the corps, and, after she dies, she will have to give her body
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to Bester. He knows that the Vorlons altered it, and that he feels
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that what they have done for her could be done for many more telepaths
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later, allowing them to be more than what they are. He shows her a
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contract, which he explains will be null and void if she doesn't die
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from natural causes, since Sheridan would never turn her body over
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otherwise. Lyta, however, is not impressed, and turns down his offer.
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She walks away, but is noticed by Garibaldi on her way out.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/080/killdelenn.jpeg" alt="">
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Neroon tells Shakiri that the Religious Caste has agreed to
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surrender. In order to prove that the Warrior Caste intends
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to lead differently than the Grey Council, Neroon suggests that Shakiri
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accept the surrender on the planet, in the Temple
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of Varenni, where disputes were settled before Valen, and where new
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leaders were selected in times of war. In addition, the temple will distribute
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a record of the surrender throughout Minbar. Shakiri agrees. Neroon has one
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question: he wants to know what will happen to Delenn after the
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surrender. Shakiri says that, in order to prevent her working
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against them in the future, they will make sure the ship on which she
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travels to Babylon 5 after the surrender never reaches its
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destination.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/080/noscan.jpeg" alt="">
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Lyta is making dinner in her quarters when Zack arrives. He tells her
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that Station Resources wants her to move to smaller quarters. Lyta is
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very upset, but Zack explains that, with the Vorlon government gone,
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she no longer has any source of income, and needs to leave.
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She is very upset, but says she will try to find some way of working it
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out. Zack is about ready to leave when he tells her that he needs to
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hire her for a job--he wants her to scan Garibaldi without his
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permission. Lyta is unwilling to do that, even for Zack. She might
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consider it if it were someone else, but the two of them go back a long
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way. No matter how much she needs the money, she isn't
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willing to violate everything she's been taught. Zack apologizes and
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leaves.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/080/fight.jpeg" alt="">
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Garibaldi is at his table, just finishing up with someone who wants
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Garibaldi to find his dog and cat, who are attempting to take over the
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galaxy. Lyta arrives and tells him that she needs a job, and
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that, because of her breaking with the Psi Corps, she can't get work
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with anyone she trusts. Garibaldi explains to her that he doesn't use
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telepaths, and doesn't trust them, but notes that, should he hire her,
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he can also annoy Bester. He asks how wide her range is, and she
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explains that it is much further than official records indicate. Garibaldi
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says that he needs someone who can watch out for him in his dealings
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with Edgars. Garibaldi agrees to give her a portion of his own salary,
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but is interrupted when Bester arrives. They exchange a few words, but
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Bester claims that Garibaldi is no longer worth his attention, and
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begins walking away. As he walks by, Lyta tells Garibaldi that Bester
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scanned him. This outrages Garibaldi who chases after him and backs
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him against a wall. He demands to know why Bester scanned him, but his
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anger is noticed by some security guards, who restrain him and drag him
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away. As Lyta chases after him, Bester finds that Zack, too, saw the
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whole thing.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/080/instructions.jpeg" alt="">
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Delenn, Lennier, and some other members of the Religious Caste, are
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walking toward the temple. Lennier laments that they are surrendering,
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but Delenn says that the day is not yet over. She gives him a small
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tube, and says all the instructions are inside. They enter the
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temple. The rite of surrender begins, and Shakiri tells
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Delenn that this day is the beginning of a new age for their people,
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and that the hostilities can finally stop. She says that she speaks
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for the Religious Caste, and that they surrender. This overjoys
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Shakiri, who starts talking about rebuilding their cities and the
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Grey Council. Delenn, however, is not finished. She says that the
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Religious Caste does not give up their sovereign right to form a new
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government. She says that Dukhat found no dishonor in surrender, and
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the she recognizes the superior forces of the Warrior Caste, that the
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Religious Caste helped to arm and train. Though the Warrior Caste may
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be stronger, they aren't necessarily wiser. She says that she doesn't
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want to throw away all they have done for the past thousand years, and
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that the Temple of Varenni was used to bring the reality of war to its
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leaders, and not just those who fight and die on the front lines. She
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makes a gesture, and a hole in the ceiling opens, casting a bright
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white light into the circle on the floor. She explains that, if they
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are ignoring the wisdom of Valen, they must completely return to the
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ways of the Ancients. The leader of each of the warring castes would
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step into the circle on the floor, and the Starfire Wheel would open,
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and its fire begin to destroy the leaders. Those who were afraid would
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send others to enter the fire, or escape, and whoever reamined in
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the fire to sacrifice their life would be representative of the true
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Caste that should lead the Minbari people. Shakiri vehemently objects,
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but Delenn insists it's tradition, and that she is willing to endure
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the Starfire Wheel for the good of the Minbari people. If the Warrior
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Caste will not do likewise, they don't deserve to lead. She steps into
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the circle of light on the floor. "Valen said, 'Will you follow me
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into fire?'" she says. "Will you?"
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<p>
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Lennier protests, but Delenn will not move, and instead begs Lennier to
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carry out her instructions should she die. Shakiri doesn't move, so
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Delenn asks if he concedes leadership, if it is too easy to send others
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to die for him, but that he isn't willing to die for his Caste. The
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Starfire Wheel opens further, and the light around Delenn grows
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stronger. Shakiri insists that the entire thing is madness and
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refuses, but Neroon points out that Shakiri said that a Warrior does
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not fear death, and asks why he is afraid. Shakiri asks if he speaks
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for the Religious Caste, but Neroon says he speaks for their people,
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and wants to know who he speaks for, and what he is willing to do--the
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other Minbari people, all watching, want to know as well. Shakiri
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steps forward and enters the light, as the Starfire wheel opens
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further. Shakiri tries to convince Delenn to walk out with him, but
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she refuses--he insists there are other ways, but Delenn says he should
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have thought of that before he tore the Minbari people apart. Shakiri
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jumps from the light, but Delenn does not leave, as Neroon tells
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Lennier she promised to do. Lennier says she is making a point, for
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all Minbari. The Starfire Wheel opens further, nearly all the way, and
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Delenn is no longer able to withstand its force.
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<p>
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"No!" cries Neroon as he runs forth. He forces himself into the light,
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picks up Delenn, and hands her through the light to Lennier. Standing
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in the flame, he cries out, "I was born Warrior Caste, but I see now...
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The calling of my heart... is Religious! The war is over! Listen to
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her! Listen!" The Starfire Wheel opens completely, and the light
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utterly engulfs him. In mere seconds, he is gone, and only the smoking
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circle, where he once stood, remains.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/080/firelyta.jpeg" alt="">
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Garibaldi is again asleep in his quarters when another message from
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Edgars wakes him up. Though he is very upset, he manages to contain
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his anger long enough to listen to Edgars. He has found out that
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Garibaldi has hired Lyta, and doesn't want her to work for Garibaldi if
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Garibaldi is working for him. Garibaldi asks why Edgars wants to help
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telepaths, but not to employ them. Edgars says he doesn't trust telepaths.
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He says that, if Garibaldi wants to keep his job, Lyta must not work for him.
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<p>
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Bester is in the Zocalo watching Lyta and Garibaldi have a heated
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discussion. Lyta becomes very angry and storms away from the table, as
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Bester simply sits and smiles. "Personal log: Bester, Al. August 3rd,
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2261. By provoking Mr. Garibaldi, I have put him even further at odds
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with his former associates, and further on the path I need him to
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folow. What I came here to get, I got--even her." We now see Lyta
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inside her quarters, wearing long black gloves, and the PsiCorps symbol
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on her chest. Bester's contract is lying nearby, as she sadly looks at
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what she has once again become in the mirror. "Guess you could call it
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a bank shot," Bester continues. "Yes... I've had a nice day."
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<p>
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On the Grey Council ship, Lennier tries to convince Delenn that she
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should wait before doing what she is planning, but she won't postpone
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it a moment longer. Lennier says that, when she enters the Council
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Chamber, what transpires will be broadcast all over Minbar.
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/080/council.jpeg" alt="">
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She enters the chamber where the nine circles of light surround one in
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the middle. None of them are occupied. She steps into the center
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light, and proclaims that she is about to restore the Grey Council.
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She calls forth the members of the new Grey Council--two Religious, and
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two Warrior. There are still five spaces vacant, but the
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tradition must be broken-- there can no longer be three of each Caste.
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She calls forth five other Minbari, all from the Worker Caste. She
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explains that, when the Religious Caste and the Warrior Caste fight,
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the Workers are caught in the middle--they build the ships for fighting
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and the temples for praying, and they look to the other Castes to guide
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their hands. The Workers want to do only what is best, and, from
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now on, the Religious and Warrior Castes will be in the service of the
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people, not the other way around. She steps from the center circle of
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light, and explains that it is reserved in memory of Neroon, until the time
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it will be filled by the one who is to come. She advises the
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Council to judge wisely and well, as the leader of the Minbari,
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then leaves so that the Council may begin.
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<p>
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Ivanova comes into Sheridan's quarters, in a fury. She holds up a data
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crystal and explains that it was taken by a transport bringing relief
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supplies to Proxima 3. The crystal contains footage of an Earth Force
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destroyer decimating a convoy of unarmed transports. She says that the
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transports indentified themselves as only carrying wounded refugees, over
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10,000 civilians in all. She says she's going to put the
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video on Voice of the Resistance as soon as she calms down.
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<p>
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Sheridan, likewise, is outraged. "This madness has gone on long
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enough. I don't care if we're not ready, I don't care if we're
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outnumbered or outgunned, I don't care what ISN says about us. This
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stops, and it stops now! Now, if earth wants to declare war on us,
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then it is time that we took the war to Clark. You tell the others...
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Starting right now, we fight back and we fight back hard!"
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<p>
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"I thought you were looking for some other way than firing at our own
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ships," Ivanova asks. "They were following orders."
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<br clear=all>
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<p>
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<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/080/war.jpeg" alt="">
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"Any crew that executes an order like that is guilty of war crimes, and
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they deserve whatever they get," Sheridan continues. "No, we're riding
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in, Susan. Anybody who wants to defect and join us, fine. If they get
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in our way, we will knock them down. If they kill one of our ships,
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we'll kill three of theirs. And we keep going. We never slow down,
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and we won't stop... We're going after the colonies, then Mars... and
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then Earth. And God help anybody who gets in our way."
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