First comments: TDK said "Dear lord what Fic had the Vorlon's run into the Asgard the mere thought of it brings a smile to my face."

Sadly, Bob Regent the author of 'Consequences of Actions', didn't get to that portion of the story. In truth we were discussing that and some of the possibilities as related to that story. We got as far as the Vree-Asgard meeting in Part II of the story. The idea of the Vorlons screwing with the Asgard gave me goose bumps as well. What could have been done with that…. Anyway I hope that he will continue the story one day. We shall see.

Louie Pastiche said: Not bad, Al! Although, you still seem to be confusing "perimeter" with "parameter."

I believe I have corrected that. Thanks for the catch.

The Sithspawn said: Interesting changes here, especially liked Staleek's proposal to Akhna. (Very romantic if I do say so). Look forward to see what other changes will be added in coming chapters.

They were your suggestions that I took to heart. Scarran politics is - bad. This match has nothing to do with love whatsoever. Are the Peacekeepers any better? We'll see.

Chapter Five

"Sebaceans once had a god called Djancaz-Bru. Six worlds prayed to her. They built her temples, conquered yet one day she rose up and destroyed all six worlds. And when the last warrior was dying, he said, 'We gave you everything, why did you destroy us?' And she looked down upon him and she whispered, 'Because I can.'"

EarthDome

Two days later:

"If Satai Dukhat had been born on Earth, I might have voted for him myself," Morgan Clark told the President, who promptly choked on the water she had chosen to drink just at that inconvenient moment.

"We should call in the physicians," Senator Santiago announced with more than a trace of humor. "Morgan's gone mad."

The head of the powerful Ways and Means Committee flushed crimson. "Dukhat is a consummate politician," he said with an attitude of one who hated to admit anything. "I acknowledge his political talents. When compared to the Centauri, he's like a breath of fresh air. I can understand his motives and manipulations. It's refreshing."

"You also liked the idea that they would share their antigravity technology with us," Senator Sheridan smirked. "Like that idea myself. But it brings us back to the central point. Can we trust these people?"

"They helped us when our people were in trouble," the President said. "They came here in peace. They've openly shared their technology with us and they're more advanced than we; they haven't come with hat in hand."

"So, what's their real motive?" asked Santiago.

"They could be assessing our defensive capabilities," Sheridan told them. "We did defeat the Dilgar by ourselves and that alone shows how dangerous in a fight we'd be. They understand that we're starting to spread across the galaxy. It's a possibility that they may feel threatened by us."

"I don't think so," countered Morgan after a moment's pause, "for several reasons. Did you see, or rather not see their ships? Our best scanners couldn't even lock on to them. Those vessels have more firepower than we can imagine and we can't even see them unless they want us to. Next, is that every other races fears and respects them. Even the Centauri warned us about them. Next, they offered us technology they've had for generations. They've been in space for a thousand years, a point which is agreed to by everybody. Their fleet is rumored, again by everybody, to be huge. There is another rumor that they've been the leaders in an interstellar war that happened over a thousand years ago and they survived. There are a lot of burned out worlds out there that appears to support this. No," he summarized. "I don't think they feel threatened by us. What they did offer us is in effect closer military ties against a common enemy that we know nothing about and frankly that scares me."

"Go on," prompted Sheridan. He knew Morgan was on a roll and although devious, he was a more than able politician.

"I think they're worried about this new group of aliens and maybe we should be, too," said Levy.

"We should be more than just worried," Morgan said matter-of-factly. "The aliens that started all of this were interested in our ships, not theirs. The Minbari were only in the way. I believe we were the intended targets, not them. I just wish I knew about this wormhole technology they seemed so interested in."

"The military concurs with your conclusions," President Levy said. "They're requesting funds for a major buildup; new ships, new designs, a rush on the Nova X project, improved PPGs, the works."

"And who is going to pay for this?" snipped Morgan, "the Russian Consortium? The Canadian Northern league? The stellar corporations? Mars colony is acting up, screaming for more freedoms and independence, yet they can't even supply their own food. Proxima colonies are a breadbasket of the local colonies and they're still struggling. We don't have the money for the kind of rapid buildup they're proposing. It'll take time to add the gravity systems and configure to optimize our newer ships so that we can use the technology to best advantage."

"So you don't agree a buildup is necessary at this time?" Levy asked.

"At this time, no," Morgan answered. "Our forces are as strong as they've ever been. We handled the Dilgar and if these aliens come, we will fight and defeat them, too. However, I'll recommend that we add a little more for research and development."

"I'd recommend an increased patrol roster around the colonies and I respectfully request that we keep the Minbari in the loop," Senator Sheridan said, "especially near their territory."

"Agreed, gentlemen. My time is up," Levy said. "Increase the patrols and get some of our feelers to see if anything unusual is happening in alien space. We'll keep watch and see what happens."

"We're going to have to dig to get the funds for this."

"We haven't raised taxes in three years!"

"Well, Madame President, the time is nigh, as they say. I hesitate to use the 'T' word but things may get sour real quick and better to be safe and sorry. Besides, your numbers are high enough to survive the hike."

"Stop smiling too much, Senator Clark," suggested Levy. "The election's still three years away."

"The election's the farthest thing from my mind, Madame President."

Santiago's cough was loud enough to be heard through the double doors.

Peacekeeper Command: Sebacea:

Command Central, the very heart of the Peacekeeper control was a huge multi-tiered building that extended two hundred stories high and forty six levels deep complete with re-enforced bunkers and defensive systems that could defend large portions of the planet against orbital invasion. The city of twenty million was built around the massive structure, it being the focal point of the city. With a planetary population of twelve billion it reigned supreme as the most important structure on the planet. Ordinary Sebaceans were not allowed on its premises on pain of death. It could be compared to a holy shrine that controlled every faucet of Peacekeeper life.

Most, but not all, Sebaceans were Peacekeepers. Indeed that was what they have been bred for, to keep the peace in the galaxy. They were soldiers genetically designed to protect others. But somewhere down their thousands of years of existence, the Peacekeepers had lost their purpose. They no longer kept the peace by rendering justice, but the maintained the peace by dispensing punishment, terror, brutality and enslavement. The Sebacean people were bred and forced to become Peacekeepers. Those that were found unworthy were either exterminated or regulated to live out their lives as little more than servants.

The Peacekeepers associated with the many races in their territory but they were extremely xenophobic to the point that even extended contact with other species rendered one 'irreversibly contaminated'. That was a death sentence for the Peacekeeper discovered fraternizing with non-Sebaceans. Of course, this law was flexible as some Sebaceans Peacekeepers were more equal than others.

Intelligence Command:

Ten of the senior ranking Commandants sat around the table reading the latest reports of Scarran activity. Ten Admirals were also present and to their chagrin, Grand Chancellor Maryk, Supreme Commander had also decided to grace them with his presence. And with him present, that usually meant a sudden, permanent change in someone's command status. The discussion for today centered on the conflict at Collath between a Peacekeeper command carrier and a Scarran combat group. The Peacekeepers escaped however losses were calculated to be more than fifty two percent. Once again the Scarrans emerged as the overall victors, something that was becoming all too frequent occurrences. The council had been convinced for more than an hour before the Grand Chancellor would elect to speak.

"We need more information," Commandant Krolos demanded, ignoring the Grand Chancellor's glare as best he could. "If the Scarrans have indeed sent such a large force beyond Tormented Space, then we need to know why. This could be a diversionary tactic that will come back to hurt us in the future, or this could be the opening prelude of an attack on Peacekeeper territory."

"True, our disruptor was less informative than I would like," Commandant Triwyne stated. The elder, bald-headed was the most respected member of the council and the most dangerous. His war record was impeccable and few would dare to contradict him when he spoke. "However, when I add this report to others that we've been gathering for the last few mothens, I have come to the conclusion that it isn't an opening for an attack against us."

"Then enlighten us, please."

"First we must consider the size of the force being sent. Six dreadnaughts with a full compliment of support ships are indicative of a major assault against a power or powers unknown. Their direction however takes them away from any of our territories and they are traveling at maximum speed. The next point is that we've received reports that several cruisers were sent mothens earlier in that same general direction, and they have not returned. Next, War Minister Ahkna and War Coordinator Rylack are now traveling together. That means another two dreadnaughts and several battleships added to their fleet."

That caused several of the Commandants to shift nervously as they began to understand where this was leading up to.

"They're going on a conquest mission against someone that requires they have that much fire power at their disposal," said Commandant Brazlar. "We would be hard pressed to defend against that armada without significant backup from other sectors. Who are they trying to conquer and where are they located?" she demanded.

"We are not sure. Intelligence has been sketchy," Triwyne admitted. "But there have been rumors and if they are true..."

"Don't waste our time," the Grand Chancellor growled. "Where?"

"A planet called Earth, or more accurately, Earthforce."

A chill eased its way down Commandant Mele-on Grayza's spine.

"Never heard of it. Has a military sound to it."

"It may or may not be related to the home world of an individual called John Crichton."

"And who is this John Crichton person? What species is he?" demanded the Grand Chancellor."

"He calls himself a Human," Grayza announced with a venom that surprised some of the others. "Outwardly, he appears Sebacean, but he's not. John Crichton is the one whom planned to sell his wormhole technology to the Scarrans. He was the one who practically destroyed Katratzi singlehandedly."

That incident, yes. Maryk had heard of that. One individual was credited for the near destruction of the Scarran seat of power. In one stroke he had done more damage than a dedicated Peacekeeper assault force could have. Interesting. He wondered what the Earthforce culture was like to have been able to produce such an individual. The name implied that there was a command structure designed along Peacekeeper lines. What was equally surprising was that the Human escaped to tell the tale. "Emperor Staleek allowed him to escape?" That little stunt had surprised Peacekeeper Command and Maryk knew about that even if he did not know of the details.

"This is no ordinary alien," continued Grayza. "He has escaped numerous assaults by Command carriers; dozens of Peacekeepers have died when they've gone against him. He has resisted the probing of the Aurora chair. He's escaped Scorpius on several occasions. He is held responsible for the destruction of a command carrier and caused Peacekeepers to embrace of their irrevocably contaminated status. He has escaped and single-handedly killed Scarrans and he is believed to have destroyed a Scarran Dreadnought using wormhole technology. He has resisted Scarran mind probes and almost became co-ruler of the Free Sebacean colonies. The list of his exploits is endless."

The Grand Chancellor was silent. Some of the data he was aware of, other seemingly insignificant incidents had not caught his attention. It was his fault for not reading those reports carefully enough. That was about to change. "It seems impossible for one creature to do such damage. This disruptor; what resources are available to him?"

"Very little," Commandant Brazlar admitted. "Apparently, his base of operations is a Leviathan prison ship called Moya. His associates are fellow prisoners and a former Peacekeeper named Aeryn Sun whom he has seduced to his side. How this happened we are not sure at this time." His smile was imperceptible-almost. "Perhaps Commandant Grayza has more detailed information concerning his-abilities that she could share. He was her prisoner for a time, but he escaped. It was never really made clear as to how."

The female Peacekeeper shot him a look that promised revenge as soon as the opportunity arose. "John Crichton's ability to escape everything thrown at him is legendary."

"Perhaps you should have bound him up or something," suggested Triwyne.

They knew! One of the soldiers opened his or her mouth despite her warnings. Well, whoever it was, was a dead man.

"You should have killed him when you had the chance!" Brazlar snapped.

"He has the secret to wormhole weapons," she insisted. "His talents in evading or escaping captivity are legendary! This is a man who walked onto the Katratzi base with a nuclear device strapped to his body just to make that point."

"And he survived," the Grand Chancellor finished. "I would like to meet this man before I terminate him personally. What type of giant is he, that he is so fearless? Look at you. My best Commanders are afraid of him! I should give him your commands! Where is he now?"

"We are searching for him, but so far he has eluded us."

"Of course he has. Find him!" The Grand Chancellor sat back. "If this one Human is so dangerous and by all accounts from you he is, then the Scarrans cannot be permitted to capture his homeworld. The secrets they may possess could damage us even worse than we he already has. The planet EarthForce cannot be allowed to fall into their hands. Commandant Grayza, you will take your carrier, twenty others and the Celarrian Guard. Destroy the planet and the people before the frelled-up Scarrans discover its secrets and dominate the entire region."

The woman had to keep from smiling too much. Her recreation partner had just given her command of an armada. She knew he was being merciful to her because she was carrying his child. She was in her second quarter now and the pregnancy was progressing fast as was characteristic of her race. But-

"The Scarrans are mothens ahead of us and may already be at war with them," Commandant Krolos said. "We may be too late."

-But, was the baby really his or was the girl gestating inside her John Crichton's? She would know for sure in three weeks. What kind of child would a Nebari/ Sebacean hybrid mixed with Human produce? Would she have to strangle it the moment it was born? No, she wouldn't think about that now. She couldn't.

"If the Humans are as resourceful as this disruptor John Crichton then order Two-One is in effect. Earthforce is to be sanctioned by whatever means necessary. But leave the Scarran fleet alone." The grayed-haired Grand Chancellor glared back at the shocked commandants and captains in the room. "Better that a world dies, than to hand the galaxy to the Scarrans. Make no mistake; if the Scarrans find out the secret of wormhole weapons, we will be in a state of war and that is something I wish to avoid."

"With respect," Commandant Grayza said. "The Scarrans have become more aggressive and they are taking over system by system while we allow them to do so. If they have found the Crichton's home world, then conflict with the Scarrans will be inevitable. If EarthForce has not fallen, we should destroy that world. If the Scarrans have conquered them, then logic dictates that we should strike at them with everything we have."

"That will begin an open war we may not be able to win. We are finding ourselves outnumbered and outgunned. Our people are not adverse for another round of hardship. The Scarrans have been planning this for many cycles and all too soon they will start open actions instead of these little skirmishes."

"We are already at war with them," Commandant Brazlar replied coldly. "Every moment we waste is serving to strengthen the Scarrans and weaken us."

"We need time to prepare our defenses."

"Sir, a defensive strategy with the Scarrans will guarantee their victory, Commandant Androno said. "I recommend that we destroy the Scarran fleet near EarthForce and then sanction the planet. If it is done correctly, the Scarrans may never find out what happened. With that unknown factor hanging over them, they may not begin the war here, giving us more time to prepare."

"A bold plan," the grand Chancellor said. "Mindless, but bold. There is no way we could keep them from sending a hetch communication to their central command. The number of ships I'm sending isn't enough to destroy a fleet of that size. There is no way that they won't find out."

"But that information can be delayed long enough for us to strike at them here," interrupted Grayza. "It may be our best chance to remove the Scarran threat at our throats."

"Commandant Grayza, Follow my orders or I will get someone who will," he said dangerously. Then he sighed, something unheard of being done in front of his command. "What you don't know is that we have lost every single skirmish with the Scarrans in the last three monthens and the real war hasn't even begun. I have to consider what is best for the Peacekeeper nation. We might have to consider a truce before this gets too far out of hand."

"A truce with the Scarrans," Brazlar asked. "Sir, with respect, that's impossible."

"Follow my orders, or consider permanent retirement."

Brazlar's eyes hardened. In Peacekeeper society, retirement mean a shot to the head. What was just said was a blunt threat and he didn't like being threatened by anyone.

"Yes, Sir," said a submissive Grayza. However if the Grand Chancellor had seen her eyes, he would have felt a lot less comfortable than he did at the moment. "The Scarrans will accept no truce, only surrender," Grayza told him essentially defying his implied threat and she was pleased that she was being backed by the others in the room. "That would doom our people and this galaxy to their rule. With the wormhole weapons, they would be invincible."

"Then we may, for the sake of our people, need to initiate a limited surrender."

Grayza betrayed nothing, but inside she was shocked by such an admission. The Grand Chancellor was openly discussing surrender, and worse meant every word of what he was saying. "When these are the signs that all is lost, only then should we consider surrender."

He didn't even notice the tone in which she said those words. "Those signs are rapidly approaching," he admitted in all seriousness.

Again she was shocked. And she was disgusted. Despite his station, he was weak. "A military leader who broaches surrender," she whispered, "is not worthy of command."

"As a nation we will survive. In a war we will lose everything. I am thinking of the welfare of our people."

"No, you are not," she whispered just before she pulled out her weapon. "Death is preferable than subjugation under Scarran rule."

His eyes widen as he realized exactly before the woman carrying his child had said. "You haven't seen the reports. I…"

Before she could shoot him, Commandant Androno shot the former and somewhat surprised Grand Chancellor before he could say anything.

In this case, the truth did hurt.

"For dereliction of duty and cowardice in the face of the enemy," Androno formally announced as he put away his weapon.

"As senior officer I am now officially Grand Chancellor of Peacekeeper Command." Slowly he turned and stared at each and every member present, "Are there any objections?"

Silence.

"Is there anyone more senior than I to take command?" No one said anything. He was the most senior officer and he had performed his duty appropriately according to Peacekeeper tradition and rule of law.

"Commandant Grayza, you were correct concerning the Human disruptor. From the reports I've read, John Crichton is representative of his world. If his people are like him, and this is a strong possibility, then we dare not take a chance and must move carefully. Take all necessary equipment as you will be on your own without reinforcements for some time. Find EarthForce and sanction the planet, if it is necessary. I say this because there is a third option that our former Chancellor hadn't considered. If you can extract the secret of wormhole weapons before you destroy it, so much the better. Do everything in your power to destroy the Scarrans." She nodded and satisfied, he turned to the others. "But, if Earthforce has survived the Scarran assault and you believe that it may be advantageous, I want you to see if an alliance between them and Peacekeeper Command possible. If they survive and you consider them too much of a threat, then sanction their species. Meanwhile, we here will discuss our options in dealing with the Scarrans here. The times for skirmishes are over. We have a war to fight," he said. Now, let's prepare to win it."

Valen'tha on its return trip to Minbar

Dukhat awoke with a start. The Vorlons were gone and with it their protection. Never had the Minbari, indeed the rest of the galaxy been so alone. The time had come when the younger races would have to stand up on their own. Slowly he stood up and stretched lazily. There was food that had been left on the table for him and it was calling. It was nice to eat food from home after the time on Earth. Earth food was strangely appealing and he had sampled many of the local and exotic varieties and preparations, including something called peanut butter in which he found to be quite interesting, but sadly Delenn had refused to even look at it. The look on her face when she first saw it was hysterical and it took much strength not to burst out laughing. Even now he resisted the urge to chuckle at the memories. That's probably why he brought a few jars of it with him.

Honest laughter was so hard to come by. It was something to be treasured.

"Lights," he said.

The lights activated and quickly he dressed. Grabbing a tidbit he ate it quickly and finished preparing for the day's activities. It was these times of the day that he enjoyed the most. Here, he could be free to be himself without the need for pomp and circumstance that surrounded his people like a shroud. Sadly, time was short and the day long, he thought as he resigned himself to becoming the leader of the Minbari Federation again. Touching his wall communicator, he summoned Delenn and Branmer for their morning discussions.

"As you've called, so have we come," Branmer said formally before entering the room.

Delenn repeated the same and had to foresight to have brought several Minbari delicacies with her, something that both Branmer and Dukhat greatly appreciated.

"The Warrior Caste is unhappy with your agreement with the Earthers," said Branmer. "They believe that we can handle the new aliens without the aid of these primitives."

'Well, the day has truly started,' Dukhat thought. "The warriors are restless," he answered. "So much so that they would start a fight with our neighbors if they could. He placed the food back on its plate and stood up, pacing the room. "The Shadows are gone and we've waited and prepared for a war that will never happen. Branmer, one of the reasons why I proposed to go to Z'ha'dum was to calm the fires growing within our warriors. We needed to begin to look forward to the future, not continue to be mired in the past."

"A warrior cannot retain the claim of being a warrior if he has nothing to prove himself against," countered Branmer. "It's one of the reasons why they are so eager to find these creatures that violated our territories and almost killed you."

"My friend, you and the warriors are forgetting one important fact. These aliens weren't after us."

"Does it matter, if they are coming through our territory?"

"I acknowledge your concerns, however remember that the Earthers have as much to be worried about as our territories and protectorates."

"They are arrogant and overly confident in their abilities," Delenn said. "Maybe we should have offered them our protection."

Much to her consternation, Dukhat started to laugh in her face. "Haven't you heard anything I said over the last few days, Delenn? We are connected to those primitives as Branmer calls them."

"Connected how?" she asked. "They are an interesting people, full of contradictions, but I see no connection between them and us. How can we be connected to them?"

"Yes," added Branmer. "How are they connected to us, unless you refer to our connection to the universe?"

Instead of answering, Dukhat stared through the small window into hyperspace. "Be careful of what you ask," he told them soberly. "Some answers can change you forever." Again, he had that look of a lost soul, something that both Branmer and Delenn couldn't fail to notice.

"Dukhat, whatever it is, you cannot carry this burden alone. Sharing always lightens."

"I agree," Branmer said. "We are your friends. She is your successor. Everyone knows that you've picked her," he quickly added. "We knew this when we came to her to decide the fate of those who attacked us and wounded you. Trust us and that trust will be well protected."

Dukhat nodded. "My friends," he said softly. "Life is hard, and secrets are even harder to keep." He was silent for a long time. Finally he decided that now was the time to unburden himself. "Then sit," he said. "It's time to learn a truth, a Vorlon truth that will touch you in ways you've never dreamed of before. It's a truth that can drive our people mad."

The three of them sat down. "We stand between the light and shadow. We are grey," he started. "But there are many shades of grey and most of these truths are not of our choosing. The triluminary is our most sacred relic of the time of the last Shadow war, a thousand years ago. It was carried by Valen himself to show us who he was, a Minbari not born of Minbari. Any Minbari that shares Valen's blood will cause it to respond. Delenn, you are a child of Valen."

"You knew that when you tested me in front of the others of the Grey Council," Delenn said. "You set that up so that they could see."

"Yes, I did. You are Valen's child as am I. Valen was a Minbari not born of Minbar. He saved us and we rewarded him by fearing his children and forcing him to leave our glorious presence," he announced sarcastically, "so that he wouldn't die by our hands."

"I know the story," Branmer said. "It was a shameful time for all of Minbar and our people."

"Valen was given to us in our time of need by the Vorlons. Valen was not Minbari. He was of Human stock."

The two Minbari sat up straight in utter shock.

"I can't be true," Branmer hissed. "Valen couldn't be Human! Those primitives could have never created the base or have such advanced knowledge. The Vorlons would have never condoned such an act of barbarity."

"Minbari never had bits of fur on their faces, like mine, until later after Valen's children mixed into the Minbari population. We have Human genes making us something else, something new. But in the process, the Vorlons made an error and because of that, we have been slowly losing our ability to reproduce. In the last hundred years that condition has been accelerating. Our culture, and martial traditions and relative isolation from other castes have slowly added to the diminishing our people."

"But why would the Vorlons do such a thing?" demanded Delenn. She was sill in shock.

"I believe it was an error, some small thing that was overlooked in their calculations." He sighed. "That's in the past now. But you now know that Minbari souls are being reborn in Humanity. Many, many of our people have carry Valen's blood. The Humans are our cousins."

"No!" screamed Branmer. "This can't be! This can never be brought to light to our people. This Human blood line must be spread across our entire population. I – I wished you had never told me!"

"Secrets change lives," Dukhat warned. "Be careful what you desire to know."

"You were right," Branmer whispered. "It is a horrible secret to know." He stood up. "But it is a burden best shared. No one should know such things alone. You have strength, more than even I knew, Dukhat. I need to meditate, calm my mind so that this secret can be sifted. I am of the religious caste and I will protect this until the time comes when we can bury it forever or tell our people the truth. But I pray that it never comes to that."

"I am not sure who to pray to anymore," Dukhat said. "That choice may have been taken away from us.

A few moments earlier, she had been content in her heritage. Now she no longer knew what that heritage truly was. It did however explain Dukhat's beard and a thousand other small changes in Minbari physiology.

Her voice was calm and measured, perhaps too much so. But in her heart, nothing could ever be the same again. "The universe will provide," Delenn answered without conviction.

The three of them sat in silence and none of them were sure if the universe was indeed that kind.

Caliban Sector

Two weeks later

Captain Tazlax of the Scarran Imperial cruiser Vetrisswemme had been very busy in the last five mothens. Since his sister ships have been destroyed by aliens called the Minbari in that disastrous encounter, he had kept a very low profile, setting up a small base on a hot, but pleasing planet his crew had called Scarro. The world was for the most part barren, but it was rich in mineral wealth. And the small amount of plant life was being cultivated to increase the overall oxygen output. In less than a weeken the fleet would arrive and this small outpost would become a major base of operations in which they could study and subdue the local races.

However, keeping a low profile didn't mean hiding. Tazlax had spent the last few mothens well. After setting up a Hetch dimensional Comsat he remained in constant communication with the approaching fleet. Several of the local races in the immediate are provided a wealth of information concerning the sectors' population. The Humans had a space fleet that could put up significant resistance against a smaller force, but they like everyone else here, had no idea of FTL drives such as Hetch. Instead they used something completely different to achieve faster than light propulsion. That was transmitted as well. Jump space was a new concept and it was something that needed study in order to fully exploit the possibilities.

Besides the Humans there were the Minbari, who by all accounts was the most powerful race around. Hard numbers were impossible to come by, but the aliens captured and interrogated all insisted that they had as many as five hundred ships and that their empire spread out to at least five or more worlds. All the information extracted from the aliens, no matter how trivial was transmitted to War Minister Ahkna. It was too dangerous not to and he was too good a Captain to ignore the small details. One of those details was to make sure that there were no witnesses to his abductions. All ships were stripped of computer data before being destroyed beyond recognition and the remains scattered.

Another one of those details was the data concerning the events between the Humans and species called the Dilgar. That war had solidified the other races behind the Humans who would no doubt come to their aid when his people went after them. That could be a problem if they rendered assistance to the Humans. However if the Minbari were discouraged from participating in the coming war, then the others would scatter and Crichton's people would be left on their own. That was bad enough because if they were anything like the reports on that Humans disruptor, then this would not be an easy battle. The attack, in his personal opinion would require a heavy hand, but that was not his decision. The War Minister would have the final say on how this war would be conducted.

War Minister Ahkna stood impassively watching the stars as they seemed to streak by. But inside she was seething. War Coordinator Rylack, the Emperor's favorite had been most polite and agreed to most of the proposals that Ahkna had submitted for his approval.

She hated his presence.

This was her command, not his. Even though he hadn't said anything, she knew that he was the Emperor's personal spy and any error she made would be reported the instant she made it. Staleek would then have the excuse he wanted to take her head and give command over to Rylack. That oversized Scarran would be forced to eliminate her, after he had his way with her numerous times, which is what he always wanted, in the most humiliating and painful way available.

She feared and hated her leash-master but could not kill him without being blamed and summarily executed. But she was biding her time. It might take mothens to conquer and subdue Earth so she would simply bid her time and not do anything that could get her killed.

The battle fleet began their final orbit around the small blue star to the planet Scarro as named by the sole surviving Captain of the first doomed exploratory force that had been a failure-and a resounding success. Earth's location was known and from what little was known about the planet, it reeked of plant life, giving added hope that the Crystherium Utilia might survive, even flourish there. The plant was so delicate, requiring so many variables so that it could thrive and eventually reproduce that it had its own dedicated maintenance crew. Most planets were not suitable enough to sustain it. But Earth might be and if the rumor was true, the planet might have its own variations of the plant. She would be rich beyond compare. It might even be enough to keep her alive when she accidentally had Rylack vivisected, for the greater good of the Scarran Empire, of course.

The War Minister would have been moderately surprised if she understood how little Rylack desired her position. His attitude resulted from her attitude against him and his perceived threat to her power. He had no interest in her other than making sure she had the resources to succeed in her mission. His dominating approach with her ensured her cooperation for the time being. The presence of the Deathwatch guard from Staleek had helped as well. The guards were completely dedicated to the Emperor and the protections of the flowers. They were charged to follow his orders to the death. The two dreadnaughts he brought established his authority. He also had two Trentran class construction ships carrying enough supplies to build a hunter-class space station, as a land base wouldn't be enough. The star base would give them extra protection and would become the beginning of a new base of operations in this new sector of unexplored space. And, it would be needed. It would be just a matter or time when the Peacekeepers discovered this operation.

The sight of five dreadnaughts plus his settling into orbit was indeed an awe-inspiring and fearsome sight. Battleships aligned in higher orbit while the destroyers were situated two A.U. distant. The construction ship crews eager to do something after long mothens of travel immediately began their work in orbit, while the rest traveled to the surface to began construction there under the watchful eyes of their in orbit protectors.