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lurkers-guide



								<h3>Synopsis by Arturo Magidin (magidin@math.berkeley.edu)</h3>


								<P>

								<i>In the year 2278, a boy and a girl are playing in the Centauri

								Royal Palace, and come upon an open window. Through it, they can see

								the city burning outside. Their nurse finds them and warns that they

								should not be playing there and should not look outside. All the

								windows in the palace except for this one are covered up, and this one

								is for the Emperor. As they are about to leave, they are interrupted

								by Emperor Londo Mollari.</i>


								<P>

								<i>"It's all right," he says. "It's been a long time since I've heard

								the sound of laughter in this room." The Emperor asks them to come

								closer, and the boy identifies himself as Luc Jaddo

								(<a href="../guide/039.html">"Knives"</a>) and

								his sister Lyssa.</i>


								<P>

								<i>Londo offers Luc the opportunity to give one order. "Make it a good

								one," he says. As the boy thinks, Londo prompts him again: "What do

								you want?" "Tell me a story!" Luc replies -- a better answer to that

								question, Londo reflects, than his own.</i>


								<P>

								<i>"A story about great deeds," Londo eventually begins. "About

								armies of light and soldiers of darkness. About the places where they

								lived, and fought, and loved, and died. About great empires, and

								terrible mistakes. A true story. You see, I was there, at the dawn of

								the Third Age...</i>


								<P>

								In the year 2243, in Earth Dome, a young Londo Mollari, liasion to the

								Centauri delegation, arrives at General Lefcourt's

								(<a href="../guide/086.html">"Endgame"</a>)

								office, where the general and a presidential aide are

								waiting. Following Earth's victory in the Dilgar war

								(<a href="../guide/009.html">"Deathwalker"</a>),

								the Earth government has been extending their sphere of influence,

								making deals and treaties with the League of Non-Aligned Worlds. Some aliens

								have been receptive, some hostile, and some are a mystery. Among the

								latter are the Minbari. The General has asked Londo to his office to

								see if he has any information about the Minbari. Londo says the

								Centauri have had some dealings with them in the past, but nothing

								recently. The aide explains that Earth is preparing to send an

								expedition to Minbari space, to see if they pose a threat to Earth's

								expansion, and they need all the information they can get.


								<P>

								Londo advises them to send only one ship. He explains that the Minbari

								are one of the oldest space faring races, and even at the height of

								Centauri expansion they never dared oppose them. The Minbari won't bother

								Earth if they are left alone, he says. But the aide and the General

								are not listening, and are confident that Earth can handle whatever

								comes its way. Londo promises to give them the information they

								requested, but nothing more. "I only hope," says Londo, "that in your

								stumbling around you do not wake the dragon."


								<P>

								Meanwhile on the Minbari homeworld, Lenonn, leader of the

								<i>Anla'shok</i> (the Rangers) is meeting with Callier, a warrior caste

								member. Lenonn has requested more support and men for the

								<i>Anla'shok</i>, who are not well regarded by the warriors. The

								prophecies of Valen indicate that this is the time when the

								<i>Anla'shok</i> will be needed most, but the warrior caste elders

								have denied his request. Lenonn demands to see the Grey Council and

								make his case personally, as is his right. Callier warns that going

								over the heads of the caste elders will offend them, but Lenonn does

								not care.


								<P>

								That night, Lenonn is awakened by silent attendants who escort him

								before Dukhat, leader of the Minbari,  and the Grey Council. Lenonn

								recalls Valen's prophecy that the Shadows would return in a thousand

								years, a time almost upon them now, and says the Rangers are not

								ready; they are few, most of them old and tired, mocked by some even

								in the Grey Council, and by the Warrior caste who consider them an

								embarrassment, who do not believe in the prophecy of Valen.


								<P>

								Dukhat replies that the prophecy also says the <i>Anla'shok</i> will

								arise, so why not wait until there is proof? Besides, prophecy only

								concerns the religious caste; what does Lenonn have for the Workers

								and the Warriors? "All I can say is that I believe," replies

								Lenonn. "What more is there to say?" The rangers need money,

								resources, and people; and Lenonn also suggests contacting the

								Vorlons.


								<P>

								Coplann, a member of the Grey Council and the Warrior caste scoffs at

								the idea. In the last hundred years no ship sent to contact the

								Vorlons has returned. "Let them appear," says Coplann, "to give us

								something to believe in." He takes their absence as further proof that

								no danger exists.


								<P>

								Delenn, not yet officially a member of the Council but in attendance

								nonetheless, suggests instead an expedition to Z'ha'dum, homeworld of

								the Shadows, to verify whether the Shadows have returned. Coplann

								argues that such an expedition would cause panic if it were generally

								known, and Dukhat agrees with him. Therefore, Dukhat announces, the

								Grey Council itself will go to see the truth of the prophecy,

								travelling in secret and via an indirect route. The Council is

								dismissed, and Dukhat returns to his sanctum to meditate. In his

								sanctum, and clearly known to him, are two Vorlons in their encounter suits.


								<P>

								On Earth, Lt. Cmdr. John Sheridan arrives at Gen. Lefcourt's

								office. Gen. Lefcourt offers Sheridan the first officer position

								aboard the Prometheus, which is leading the expedition to the border

								of Minbari space. Sheridan feels an obligation to Captain Sterns, his

								current captain aboard the Lexington, and he does not feel

								comfortable leaving the ship, or joining Capt. Jankowski aboard the

								Prometheus. Capt. Jankowski is considered a loose cannon by people who

								have served under him, and he doesn't handle first contact situations

								"as well as others." Although Jankowski was completely cleared of

								responsibility for something called "the Omega incident," Sheridan

								would rather avoid the situation. Gen. Lefcourt considers this a bad

								move for Sheridan, but if Sheridan wants to shoot his own career in

								the foot, that is his problem. Sheridan is dismissed.


								<P>

								Aboard the Grey Council ship, just prior to the ceremony to officially

								make her a member of the Council, Delenn notices secret supplies

								arriving. She discovers they are brought every week on Dukhat's

								personal orders, and have to do with life support and alternate

								atmospheres. Dukhat overhears her investigations and reminds her of

								the coming ceremony. Delenn confides to him her suspicions, that the

								supplies have to do with Vorlons who may be among them secretely,

								obviously known to Dukhat, but Dukhat neither confirms nor denies

								this. However, he tells her "If you ever have doubt about your

								actions, all you need do is look upon the face of a Vorlon. Once you

								see that all doubt is erased forever." (See Dr. Kyle's comments in

								<a href="../guide/000.html">"The Gathering"</a>;

								also

								<a href="../guide/022.html">"Chrysalis."</a>)


								<P>

								The Prometheus arrives at the given coordinates as the ceremony to

								induct Delenn is taking place. The Prometheus picks up the silhouette

								of the Grey Council cruiser. They were not expecting any ships in this

								area, and Capt. Jankowski does not understand her presence. "Unless

								they are waiting for us," he muses out loud. He does not want to jump

								back out unless thay are detected, however, to avoid putting the jump

								engines under strain, and thinking about the likely medals he will

								receive for bringing information on the Minbari warships back with

								him.


								<P>

								The first officer reminds the Captain that their orders are to avoid a

								first contact situation, but Capt. Jankowski ignores him and orders

								his ships to approach. Their scanners are having a hard time locking on,

								and they cannot pick up anything more than a silhouette, so

								Capt. Jankowski orders them to get even closer, trying to obtain as much

								information as they can before being detected. Over the objections of

								this first officer, he adds, "We handled the Dilgar, we can handle a

								few stray ships."


								<P>

								Aboard the Minbari ship, they have picked up the echo of the Earth

								ships. To confirm whether it is aliens, a member of the Grey Council

								has ordered the scanners on maximum but does not think they should

								bother Dukhat until they have more information.


								<P>

								The powerful scanners are so strong that they interfere with the Earth

								ship's jump engines, so the Prometheus cannot jump

								out. Capt. Jankowski gets more and more agitated, conjecturing that

								this is being done deliberately. He calls a Red Alert, and tries

								telling the Minbari that they mean no harm.


								<P>

								Dukhat is informed of the ships, and that they are talking but cannot

								be understood. The Grey Council member who ordered the scan says they

								are approaching with gunports open, as per Warrior caste custom: a

								sign of respect. Capt. Jankowski misinterprets the gesture and unable

								to tell whether the Minbari have locked their weapons on them because

								of the interference from the scanners, he grows ever more agitated and

								finally orders the ships to open fire. They manage to damage the Grey

								Council ship, mortally injuring Dukhat and shutting down the

								scanners. As Dukhat dies in Delenn's arms, the Prometheus and her

								escort turn around and flee.


								<P>

								A Council member approaches Delenn as she holds the dead body of

								Dukhat. The Council is divided: should they follow the humans to their

								base and take revenge, or wait and try to understand what happened?

								Delenn's vote will break the tie. Delenn, distraught over the death of

								the Minbari leader and mad with grief, votes for revenge: "They struck

								without provocation... there was no reason... Animals! Brutal... They

								deserve no mercy... Strike them down! Follow them to their bases and

								kill all of them! All of them! No mercy!"


								<P>

								<i>"With the death of their leader Dukhat," continues Londo, "the

								Minbari went mad. They swore revenge, and began a holy war which could

								only end with the complete extermination of Mankind..."</i>


								<P>

								Gen. Lefcourt and Gen. Fontaine host a massive briefing for Earth

								Force personnel, where they shows images of dozens of Minbari heavy

								cruisers destroying an orbitting station and Earth cruisers. The

								Minbari are attacking and destroying everything, even ships which are

								not capable of fighting any more. They are not responding to

								communications, and ignoring offers of surrender. Since the first

								engagement, Earth Force has not won a single battle, as the Minbari

								ships are immensely superior and Earth Force cannot even break the

								Minbari stealth technology. The briefing is to make sure everyone

								understands, and relays to their ships, two things. One, that Earth

								Force needs a victory, any victory, to boost morale. "And two,"

								concludes Gen. Lefcourt, "that unless we find a way to defeat the

								Minbari, the human race ends with the current generation."


								<P>

								At the briefing are Sheridan and Capt. Sterns of the

								Lexington. Although the Lexington is an old ship that was not expected

								to see action again, it is being made ready. Also there is Ganya

								Ivanov, a fighter pilot who is visited by his younger sister

								Susan. Susan promises to join Earth Force when she turns eighteen in a

								few months, despite her father's likely objections, and she gives

								Ganya one of her earrings "for luck."


								<P>

								In Geneva, Londo is talking again to the presidential aide. Earth

								knows the Centauri will not intervene militarily, but they would like

								strategic and tactical support from them. And, as Londo points out,

								weapons. Centauri are more advanced, and the weapons may give Earth a

								fighting chance. But although Earth offers to pay any price, the

								Centauri are worried about possible retaliation by the Minbari should

								they find out, and consider the humans a dying race anyway because of

								the war. Centauri Prime will not help.


								<P>

								The aide returns to his office, where G'Kar of the Narn regime

								waits. G'Kar predicted the Centauri would react this way, but the Narn

								are willing to help. When the Narn drove the Centauri away from their

								home, they seized many weapons they have since learned how to

								replicate. They will sell them to Earth, but for a high price. Asked

								if he is worried about Minbari retaliation, he reasons that if the

								Minbari capture any weapons, they will blame the Centauri, which is an

								excellent outcome for the Narn. The aide agrees to the terms, having

								little choice.


								<P>

								The massive Minbari fleet continues its advance. But Delenn has lost

								her taste for the war. "Dukhat would have never approved of this

								slaughter," she argues to another member of the Council. Lenonn agrees

								with her, accusing the Warriors of being afraid of losing against

								stronger opponents, the Shadows, and therefore embracing genocidal war

								against the humans, who have no chance of victory.


								<P>

								Later, when Delenn and Lenonn are alone, Lenonn informs her that he

								has recreated Dukhat's sanctum in this new ship. Only the two of them

								have access to it for now, and he advises her to go there very soon.


								<P>

								When Delenn goes, she finds two Vorlons in their encounter

								suits. One of them identifies himself as Kosh, and shows Delenn a

								projection made by Dukhat before his death. The Vorlons have told

								Dukhat that the Minbari will need allies in the coming war, and

								have specifically mentioned the humans. Dukhat hopes that the person

								hearing the message will help bring them to the war against the

								Shadows on the Minbari side. Kosh further tells Delenn that the humans

								"are the key." Lenonn emerges from the shadows in the sanctum and says

								the war against the humans must be stopped.


								<P>

								Back on Earth, Dr. Stephen Franklin, recently re-enlisted, is

								confronted by Gen. Fontaine. Franklin spent some time hitchhicking

								through space, exchanging medical service for free passage. During

								this time, he came into contact with some Minbari who had been

								seriously injured. He was unable to save them, but performed autopsies

								and took detailed medical notes. He has not provided Earth Force with

								these notes, since he knows they will be used by the BioGenetic

								Division to attempt to create a biogenic weapon to wipe out the

								Minbari. As a doctor, he cannot allow that. Under the Military Code of

								Justice, the General cannot order him to turn in the notes, but

								Gen. Fontaine does not care. He has Franklin arrested and his office

								and home searched. He will be held under arrest until he turns in the

								notes the General "requested." "And God help you, son," Gen. Fontaine

								tells Franklin. "From now on, the blood of every soldier who dies in

								this war is on your hands."


								<P>

								In space, the Lexington and her group have been under hit and run

								attacks for the past few days. They are all tired and under

								pressure. They pick up a lone Minbari short range transport and follow

								it to an asteroid belt, where the transport engines apparently fail,

								leaving the transport adrift. Sheridan realizes it is a trap, but

								before the group can break formation a Minbari heavy cruiser jumps in

								the middle of the group. The hyperspace distortion and the cuirser

								make quick work of the group, destroying most of the ships in a matter

								of seconds. The Lexington is hit and loses engines and

								weapons. Capt. Sterns' chair is hit by flying debris, crushing him to

								death. The Lexington is left adrift in the asteroid belt, the Minbari

								thinking it dead already.


								<P> In Delenn's quarters, Lenonn and Delenn are trying to figure out

								what to do. Until now, the Minbari have only hit outer colonies,

								sparsely populated, but soon they will start approaching the inner

								colonies closer to Earth. Every day they delay will make stopping the

								war that much harder. Delenn suggests opening negotiations with the

								humans, but no member of the Grey Council can go by himself; and the

								humans will probably think it is a trap anyway. But, she suggests,

								Lenonn is respected, and has a history of service and unchallenged

								loyalty, making him a perfect choice. The Minbari know of the deal

								between humans and Narns, and Delenn suggests using the Narn as

								intermediaries to arrange a meeting in neutral territory. Despite the

								dangers, Lenonn agrees, happy to be able to serve his people

								again. With luck, a meeting can take place in three or four weeks.


								<P>

								Adrift on the Lexington, Sheridan comes up with a desperate plan. He

								orders three tactical nukes put on asteroids as mines. When they are

								ready, he sends a distress signal. The Minbari cruiser intercepts the

								transmission and turns back to destroy the Lexington. Before they can

								fire, Sheridan detonates the nukes, destroying the cruiser.


								<p>

								The cruiser turns out to be the Black Star, the Minbari flagship. Upon

								the Lexington's return to Earth, the news of the destruction, the only

								victory Earth Force has managed so far, is the morale boost

								Gen. Lefcourt was hoping for.


								<P>

								Gen. Lefcourt congratulates Sheridan. "You were right to stay where

								you are," the General says. "Thank you for arguing with me." While the

								Lexington is undergoing repairs, Gen. Lefcourt sends Sheridan to the

								rendezvous with the Minbari, now arranged through the Narn. It is to

								take place in an abandonded Earth listening post in the Epsilon system,

								and G'Kar will go as

								a mediator and translator if needed. Dr. Franklin, who has agreed to

								help as his only way out of the stockade, will also go to verify that

								the other party are indeed Minbari. If it is safe and the Minbari are

								serious, negotiators will follow, to surrender if necessary.


								<P> <i>"We all have our orders..." muses Londo. "My orders were to

								prevent the Narns from using the war to establish closer ties with the

								humans. We learned of their mission, and we assumed it was an arms

								shipment. We didn't know. We couldn't know that it was an attempt to

								end the war. And so, I gave the order to intercept it."</i>


								<P> A Narn heavy cruiser delivers G'Kar, Sheridan and Franklin to the

								listening post on the surface of a desolate planet, where they meet

								Lenonn. Lenonn knew Sheridan was coming, and knows what he did to the

								Black Star. He also knows, he says, that it was necessary. "I also

								know many of my people will not forget," adds Lenonn. "I speak for

								them. We must find a way to resolve this, so that many more of your

								people not get killed. We..." but before he can finish, G'Kar is

								contacted by his ship; someone is coming through the jumpgate. Before

								the ship can say anything more, they are destroyed. A Centauri cruiser

								has opened fire on them, and then fires several missiles at the

								surface. In the explosion, Lenonn is mortally wounded. Before he dies,

								he explains that his people will blames his death on Sheridan, so he

								tells Sheridan what to tell them.


								<P> <i>"They never knew who had attacked them," explains Londo. "Each

								side assumed it was a renegade arm of their own government. But it was

								us, and it was my order that destroyed their last chance for

								peace..."</i>


								<P> The Minbari soon arrive to find Lenonn dead. Sheridan, Franklin

								and G'Kar are brought before a hooded Delenn. G'Kar is to be sent away

								and the two humans questioned prior to their execution. But before

								they are taken away, Sheridan starts yelling. "I have a message! I

								know what is in Dukhat's sacred place!" When asked by Delenn what is

								there, he replies <i>"Insil'zha"</i>. Delenn realizes they are not to

								blame for Lenonn's death and orders them released. Although stunned,

								the Minbari obey her. When Franklin asks G'Kar what the word means,

								G'Kar replies "The future."


								<P> <i>"With their one chance for peace ruined, and Lenonn dead, the

								war escalated..." Londo pauses in his story and looks out the

								window. He explains he had all windows blocked, afraid that if he saw

								the burning city unprepared he would break down and cry. "But there is

								hope," he says. "But it will be hard. It will be so very hard..."</i>


								<P> <i>Londo returns to his seat and continues the story. "Where was

								I?  Yes, the war. The humans, I think, knew they were doomed. But

								where another race would surrender to despair, the humans fought back

								with even greater strength. They made the Minbari fight for every inch

								of space. In my life I have never seen anything like it. They would

								weep, they would pray, they would say goodbye to their loved

								ones... and they would throw themselves, without any fear or

								hesitation, on the very face of Death itself, never surrendering. No

								one who saw them fighting against the inevitable could help but be

								moved to tears by their courage, their stubborn nobility. When they

								ran out of ships, they used guns. When they ran out of guns, they used

								knives, and sticks, and bare hands. They were magnificent. I only hope

								that when it is my time, I may die with half as much dignity as I saw

								in their eyes, at the end.</i>


								<P> <i>"They did this for <b>two years</b>. They never ran out of

								courage, but in the end, they ran out of time..."</i>


								<P> On Earth, the Earth Alliance President addresses the military

								forces that are left, and tells them of the fall of Proxima and Beta

								Durani. Earth has also lost contact with Io, and they believe the

								Minbari will bypass Mars and strike Earth directly at any

								moment. Despite broadcasting a surrender and a plea for mercy, the

								Minbari have not responded. To buy more time for the evacuation of

								Earth, every ship capable of fighting is being asked to join the final

								defense of Earth. "We will not lie to you," the President says in

								broken tones. "We do not believe that survival is a possibility. We

								believe that everyone who joins this battle will never come home. But

								for every ten minutes we can delay the military advance, several

								hundred more civilians may have a chance to escape to neutral

								territory. Though Earth may fall, the human race must have a chance to

								continue elsewhere. No greater sacrifice has ever been asked of a

								people, but I ask you now, to step forward one last time, one last

								battle to hold the line against the night. May God go with you all."


								<P>

								Hundreds of ships of all sizes hold position around Earth as the

								Minbari approach in hyperspace. The Grey Council assembles to oversee

								the end of the campaign. On her way to the Council, Delenn stops at

								Dukhat's sanctum and talks to the Vorlons. She says she has failed,

								and the war has taken a life of its own, despite the fact that even

								the Warrior caste has lost its taste for it. She believes that even

								now they would agree to stop if there were a reason to do so, but

								there is none. Running out of time, unsure of what to do, she begs the

								Vorlons to tell her what to do. But they remain silent. As she is

								about to leave, Kosh says "The truth points to itself." Delenn doesn't

								understand, but Kosh tells her to leave before it is too late.


								<P> Alpha group, led by Jeffrey Sinclair, is first to encounter the

								enemy, a scouting party. "Hold the line," orders Sinclair. "No one

								gets through, no matter what."


								<P> The Grey Council oversees as hundreds of Minbari ships jump into

								normal space and start firing. They quickly destroy all of Alpha group

								except for Sinclair himself. Without any weapons left, his ship about

								to explode, he turns on a cruiser intent on ramming it. The Cruiser is

								the Grey Council ship.


								<P> Delenn suggests they capture a human to interrogate him about the

								defenses on Earth. When asked to choose a pilot, she recalls Kosh's

								words and chooses Sinclair's ship. The cruiser uses an energy beam to

								stop and tractor in Sinclair's ship, as the battle continues around

								him. Coplann, a Grey Council member of the Warrior caste, leaves to

								conduct the interrogation. Later, Delenn, unable to watch more death, leaves

								the room, and is intercepted by a troubled Coplann. They were using the

								triluminary to probe Sinclair's mind, and something happened. Coplann

								thinks Delenn and the rest of the Council should see this immediately.


								<P>

								The triluminary glows when close to the beaten Sinclair, an

								indication that he has a Minbari soul. Moreover, as Delenn points out,

								it is not any Minbari soul, but the sould of Valen himself. Coplann

								cannot believe it, but the trilumniary is the holiest Minbari relic

								and cannot be questioned. Delenn reasons that Valen was reborn as a

								human, a sign that humanity is important to the coming Shadow

								War. Since Minbari do not kill Minbari, "we cannot kill them,"

								concludes Delenn. "In the name of Valen, and he who is Valen's shadow

								in this life, we cannot kill them."


								<P>

								The ships are to be ordered to stop immediately. As Coplann leaves to

								see to it, another Council member points out that the rest of the

								Minbari people are not ready to know this, it would cause panic. It is

								suggested that Sinclair's mind be wiped of this memory, to ensure

								secrecy, and that a close watch is to be kept on him to make sure he

								does not remember. "Leave that to me," says Delenn. "We will keep him

								close to us, one way or another."


								<P>

								<i>"For the next ten years," continues Londo, "one question would

								obsess a hundred worlds: Why did the Minbari surrender at the Battle

								of the Line, on the very eve of victory? The answer to that question

								would change the Galaxy forever..." concludes Londo, as he finishes

								his tale.</i>

								<P>


								<i> Londo orders the children out, as he has things to do. Before

								they leave, Luc asks about Sheridan and Delenn and the end of the

								story. Londo tells them that Sheridan became president of a great

								Alliance, Delenn ever at his side. "The story..." Londo says, "is not

								over yet. The story is never over." "Did they live happily ever

								after?" asks Lyssa, the first words she has spoken out loud in the

								presence of the Emperor.</i>


								<P>

								<i>"That remains to be seen..." replies Londo, and the children

								leave. Londo orders several bottles of alcohol and asks that "the

								prisoners" be brought to him in an hour. When the guard leaves to

								execute the order, Londo turns on a projector, where she sees Delenn

								and Sheridan in a cell in Centauri Prime

								(<a href="../guide/061.html">"War Without End, Part Two."</a>)

								Londo takes his cup, and in a mock toast to the

								screen, he says "To the future, my old friends," as he settles back on

								his throne to drink.</i>