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								<h3>Synopsis by Arturo Magidin (magidin@matem.unam.mx)</h3>


								<p>

								Near a Drazi colony on the border of Drazi space, the Centauri and

								Drazi fight one another.


								<P>

								<img align=right alt="" width=160 height=120 src="/lurk/gif/105/MOFAS00.jpeg">

								<i>Lochley's personal journal: "The Centauri War continues to spiral

								out of control. The threat of retaliation has already reached Babylon

								5. Over half a dozen Centauri have been murdered in just the last

								three days. In an attempt to reduce the number of casualties, I've

								doubled security on every level. It hasn't helped."</i>


								<P>

								Sheridan stops by Lochley's quarters late at night. He wants to tell

								her about the latest information. According to reliable, but still

								unconfirmed reports, the Centauri are targeting enemy

								jumpgates. Lochley is aghast. This is a violation of every rule of

								civilized warfare. And if the hyperspace beacon system fails, it will

								hurt the Centauri as much as anyone else. It makes no sense.


								<P>

								Sheridan agrees. This means, he says, that the Centauri are out of

								control, and may even strike at Babylon 5 itself. Moreover, he has

								just authorized the White Star fleet to fire on any Centauri vessel

								engaged in hostilities against Alliance ships. Babylon 5 is no longer

								neutral in this conflict.


								<P>

								Over breakfast, Sheridan is trying to ask Delenn for something he

								doesn't really want to ask. Since the Alliance has been using White

								Stars against pretty much every size of ship.  Since the Shadow War,

								through the battle for Earth, and now the Centauri War, they've lost a

								lot of them. Sooner or later they will run out of ships. They need

								more ships, and they need bigger ships as well.


								<br clear=all>


								<P>

								<img align=right alt="" width=160 height=120 src="/lurk/gif/105/MOFAS04.jpeg">

								Delenn agrees in principle, but thinks it will not be easy to

								arrange. The Grey Council authorized the construction of the White

								Star ships for use in the Shadow War. To develop similar

								vessels, but of entirely new classes, would imply an enormous

								expense. But Sheridan points out that the expense can be spread around

								now. He has suggested to President Luchenko of the Earth Alliance a

								joint Earth-Minbari project. Minbar will provide the specs and

								material for a destroyer class ship, and Earth will handle the

								construction and expenses. Since they will also benefit from the

								technology involved, Luchenko is willing to go ahead... if the Minbari

								agree to it first. So Sheridan needs Delenn to contact the Grey

								Council and propose it.


								<P>

								The problem is that she needs to do it in person. The project must be

								kept secret until the first prototypes start rolling out of the

								assembly lines. And the hyperspace routes from Babylon 5 to Minbar are

								no longer safe, with the war going on. Nonetheless, Delenn agrees to

								do it. After all, it is impossible to live without risks.


								<P>

								Franklin and Lyta arrive at Vir's temporary quarters. He has been

								moved to help protect him, and he has asked both of them to come

								because he needs their help. The biggest losses the Centauri have had

								have been against the Drazi. According to the Declaration of

								Principles of the Alliance, opposing sides should exchange bodies of

								those killed, returning them to their own people. The Centauri have

								been honoring this, but the Drazi have refused to return any bodies of

								Centauri dead. Vir thinks something is going on.


								<br clear=all>


								<P>

								<img align=right alt="" width=160 height=120 src="/lurk/gif/105/MOFAS07.jpeg">

								Vir wants Franklin to put pressure on the Drazi, as head Medical

								Officer of the Alliance, and Lyta to tell if they are hiding

								something. Franklin can also tell if the bodies were killed in space

								or elsewhere, find out if there is a reason they refuse to return them

								in the first place. Franklin points out he would have to go to the

								Drazi homeworld, but Vir has made all the arrangements for

								this. Franklin agrees, provided Sheridan approves.


								<P>

								But Lyta will not do it for free. Her fee will be five hundred

								thousand credits, to be deposited in an account to help rogue

								telepaths escape the Psi Corps. Vir is taken aback, as it is more than

								he can afford. And Londo is, as Vir puts it, "otherwise engaged."


								<P> In fact, Londo is in a cell with G'Kar (<a

								href="../guide/104.html">"And All My Dreams, Torn Asunder"</a>). G'Kar

								tries to get him to leave, but Londo will not. For one, it is a

								question of principle: he said he would go wherever G'Kar

								did. Besides, he figures he can be of more help in there. The people

								will be outraged when they find out he is being held in prison without

								being charged, and the popular outcry will force the Centarum to take

								a stand. They may even have to issue a cease fire over the Regent's

								objections. He'll wait until morning. It has been three days since he

								has been in the cell, more than enough time for the people to get

								organized.


								<P>

								G'Kar and Londo start getting ready to go to sleep when a bright

								light flashes; they both fall to the ground unconscious, and robed

								figures grab Londo and drag him out of the cell, leaving G'Kar behind.


								<br clear=all>


								<P>

								<img align=right alt="" width=160 height=120 src="/lurk/gif/105/MOFAS17.jpeg">

								The figures are aliens. Londo is put on a table, taken through dark

								corridors to a dark room, where he is examined. A device is stuck

								through his throat, and the aliens continue their preparations. When

								they are done, Londo awakes briefly, and sees the aliens over

								him. "Who are you?" he asks, "What do you want with me?" Another

								shadowy alien comes by (<a href="../guide/097.html">"In the

								Kingdom of the Blind"</a>) "Yes," the

								new arrival whispers. "He will be sufficient." A mask descends on

								Londo's face, as his vision blurs. Then, he awakes with a start.


								<br clear=all>


								<P>

								<img align=right alt="" width=160 height=120 src="/lurk/gif/105/MOFAS22.jpeg">

								It is morning. He is back in the cell with G'Kar. It appears it was

								only a nightmare. Londo says he has to get out. He has the feeling

								something is terribly wrong, and he needs to be out to deal with

								it. But he needs to save face. G'Kar obliges, by vomiting, creating a

								horrible smell. Londo is "rescued" by a guard, who gags and coughs at

								the stench.


								<P>

								On Babylon 5, Sheridan, Garibaldi, and Lochley arrive for a meeting

								with the Narn, Brakiri, and Drazi generals. According to them, with

								the help of the White Stars, they are holding their own against the

								Centauri. But the Narns have taken heavy losses on their already

								depleted forces. Lochley suggests they consolidate their defenses: the

								Drazi could send some ships to help the Narns, and so on. But the

								Brakiri ships will not take orders from Drazi, according to the

								Brakiri general. And the Drazi, claims the Narn, will not take orders

								from them. The Drazi general, on the other hand, claims they can win

								by themselves and do not need help from others. Clearly, no

								cooperation is possible.


								<P>

								Sheridan also wants to get a sense for the Centauri

								strategy. According to Garibaldi, the Centauri fleet has divided in

								two; one wing is defending their bases, and the other wing is

								attacking others, with little to no exchange between the two

								wings. Which, according to the Narn, is atypical of

								Centauri tactics. Furthermore, no overall strategy is apparent. Very strange

								indeed.


								<P>

								Lochley is called to C&amp;C. After she leaves, the Narn suggest pooling

								their forces and launching an offensive. The Drazi agrees; they want

								to hit Centauri Prime. But Sheridan will not allow it, as it would

								mean hitting civilians. The Brakiri points out that such

								considerations have not stopped the Centauri. Nonetheless, Sheridan

								does not yield, and he forbids any attacks on civilians.


								<br clear=all>


								<P>

								<img align=right alt="" width=160 height=120 src="/lurk/gif/105/MOFAS31.jpeg">

								In C&amp;C, Corwin explains that a lone Centauri cruiser is approaching

								through hyperspace. Their weapons are off, but the jump engine shows

								unusual readings, and there are no life signs. Lochley realizes the ship

								is going to blow the jumpgate, and orders Alpha Squadron to destroy

								the cruiser. They manage it, barely, although the explosion causes

								some minor damage to the gate. It was far too close.


								<P>

								Now alone, the Drazi and Narn generals take the near miss as an

								indication that the humans cannot fight this war properly. The Drazi

								suggests they join forces and attack Centauri Prime. The Narn general

								agrees. On this, at least, they can work together.


								<P>

								Sheridan contacts Delenn and Lennier, who are already en route to

								Minbar. The gate at Babylon 5 will be out for a couple of days. Delenn

								is relieved everyone on the station is fine. She is two days away from

								Minbar, and has already scheduled a meeting with the Grey Council.


								<br clear=all>


								<P>

								<img align=right alt="" width=160 height=120 src="/lurk/gif/105/MOFAS34.jpeg">

								On Centauri Prime, Londo is talking with several ministers, trying to

								muster support to move against the Regent. But the Defense Minister

								disagrees. According to him, Centauri ships have been engaged only in

								defensive actions. The rest is propaganda. The other ministers

								agree. The Ministry of Defense will not back Londo in a move against

								the Regent.


								<P>

								On Babylon 5, Garibaldi runs to Sheridan's quarters. He just found out

								that thirty percent of the Narn and Drazi fleets have disappeared.

								Garibaldi thinks they are on their way to Centauri Prime, but there is

								no time to get proof. Sheridan needs to get between them and the

								planet, or several million civilians will die.


								<br clear=all>


								<P>

								<img align=right alt="" width=160 height=120 src="/lurk/gif/105/where.jpeg">

								On the Drazi Homeworld, Franklin and Lyta meet with a Drazi

								doctor. The doctor claims they have not returned Centauri bodies

								because they have none; the dead were in such disarray in space that

								it was impossible to put them together. But Lyta knows he is lying,

								and accuses him of it. Then, two Drazi climb down onto the balcony and

								start firing. Franklin gets one of them with a PPG, and Lyta stands up

								and uses her mind to force the second Drazi to shoot himself in the

								head. The Drazi doctor is horrified and tries to leave, but is stopped

								by Franklin. Lyta scans him, and then yells "Take me there! Now!"

								Franklin and Lyta lead the Drazi out at gun point.


								<P>

								On Babylon 5, Sheridan has assembled a White Star strike team, and

								they head out to Centauri Prime. Elsewhere in hyperspace, Delenn's

								ship detects four Centauri warships. Too many to fight. And before

								they can notify Babylon 5, the Centauri fire and damage the White

								Star. The ship starts spinning out of control, and fires break out

								inside.


								<P>

								On the Drazi Homeworld, Franklin and Lyta arrive at a research

								facility, and discover why they were almost killed: the Centauri ships

								had no crew, only some black pods attached to the controls. Lyta

								recognizes them, just as more shots are fired at them from inside the

								facility. Lyta grabs a pod, and they both run out.


								<br clear=all>


								<P>

								<img align=right alt="" width=160 height=120 src="/lurk/gif/105/MOFAS51.jpeg">

								On Centauri Prime, Londo enters his quarters and finds the Regent

								there. The Regent rambles a bit, and later acknowledges that he gave

								the attack orders, "after a fashion." He also says his time is almost

								over; he will die soon, and he is glad of it.


								<P>

								In hyperspace, Sheridan receives Franklin's report. Lyta explains that

								the pods are leftover Shadow technology. The Vorlons left the

								information behind in her. The pods are organic devices, used to

								control ships from a distance. This is why the Centauri military

								leaders did not know about the attacks, and why the defensive and

								offensive wings of the fleet did not mix. All attacking ships are

								being controlled through the pods. Sheridan wonders how the Centauri

								got their hands on them, but Franklin points out many Shadow servants

								were left behind when Z'ha'dum exploded (<a

								href="../guide/073.html">"Epiphanies"</a>). It is possible one of

								these races sold them to the Centauri. Or, as Lyta points out, a third

								party may be using them to frame the Centauri. The Drazi kept the pods

								secret so they wouldn't have to turn them over to the Alliance, and

								because they have always competed with the Centauri for trade; a war

								is in their best interest.


								<P>

								Sheridan realizes now why they couldn't figure out the Centauri

								strategy: there was none. The objective was to turn everyone against

								the Centauri so they would attack them.


								<P>

								Delenn's ship is adrift in hyperspace, half destroyed. Delenn and

								Lennier are still alive, the only ones left on the bridge. The jump

								engines are off line, and most of the crew is dead. The few other

								survivors are trapped in lower decks, unable to get through the

								debris. They have enough fuel left in the thrusters to keep from

								drifting too far off the beacon for now (<a href="../guide/026.html">"A

								Distant Star"</a>). Lennier can't even tell if the distress signal is

								working, and his leg is broken. "This is bad, then," says

								Delenn. "Very bad," confirms Lennier.


								<br clear=all>


								<P>

								<img align=right alt="" width=160 height=120 src="/lurk/gif/105/MOFAS65.jpeg">

								In his cell on Centauri Prime, G'Kar writes as the Narn and Drazi

								fleets approach. Elsewhere in the Royal Palace, Londo and the Regent

								are still talking. Londo asks the Regent to recall the ships, make

								peace. "There will be peace," says the Regent. "But it will not

								last. It never does. They said so. They also said I would be dead by

								morning, and that tomorrow you would be Emperor." Londo wants to know

								who <i>they</i> are, but the Regent does not answer. Instead, he

								continues: "They asked me to send away all the ships guarding Centauri

								Prime on a false emergency, and turn off the planetary defense

								network." The Regent did so, just before coming to see Londo. "No!"

								Londo says horrified, and runs out to a courtyard. In the sky, he can

								see jump points opening in outer space.


								<P>

								High above Centauri Prime, the jump points open and Drazi and Narn

								ships jump back into normal space. They open fire...