Chapter 52

" A Veneer Shredding"

Proxima Star system:

EarthForce Command in the sector stared wide-eyed at the scores of warships bearing down on their position at frightening speed. They looked like no Minbari ship ever seen but their characteristic fishlike ships were unmistakable. Waves of thirty Minbari ships each, moving faster than they'd ever seen, arced towards the command center; but their flight movements were strange. Those observations however were lost to the moment as they open fire. Beams of blinding green energy crashed into the control center incinerating everything they touched. Men and women, computers, equipment; everything flashed into burning embers before they were literally vaporized. Thousands of screams echoed briefly through holed and melting corridors…

The command structure disintegrated as forty Ashen cannon beams struck the largest space-dwelling structure cutting it into small even as it assisted in it own destruction by blowing itself apart. Nothing remained of the original and still the Ashen continued firing, destroying the remaining fragments tumbling through space.

Another group of Ashen went after the main drydocks, blowing pass all point defenses that were barely able to target the warships, and began to tear them apart. The secondary commander center and four thousand crew members died moments later as Ashen heavy ships sliced it and everything else in their paths into small fragments. A thousand Ashen fighters engaged and slaughtered the greatly outnumbered and disorganized Starfury squadrons with impunity. EarthForce warships stationed in hyperspace were attacked and destroyed without regard to the dangers of hyperspace combat. One heavily damaged Hyperion was allowed to survive and the Ashen sent it fleeing.

On Proxima III, Global Defense Satellites attempted to lock on and fire at another two hundred Ashen Travin fearlessly moving into close orbit. With C&C lost, the automated systems were unable to accurately target any of the ships. But they activated and the G.O.D.s fired nevertheless. Missile batteries defaulted to proximity configuration and guidance computers did their best to identify and eliminate their targets. None of the missiles survived the anti-missiles defense established by the incoming Ashen. The few missiles that got close enough, released their multi-megaton warheads. Their primal energies bathed space all round them and it did nothing to slow down the Ashen protected by their crystalline armor. From orbit, the Travin vessels easily removed the defensives surrounding the planet and proceeded to systematically destroy every trace of civilization of on the planet. To those who read the report later would have naturally assumed that the people struck first never knew what hit them, but they would have been in error. The people on the planet did have the time – mere instants – to realize full import of was happening. Then they died.

Proxima Four would share the same fate as soon as the Shuumtian entered orbit five minutes later. Eighty million people, their ships, all three Alpha quadrant ships, their drydocks and resources, their domed cities; everything ceased to exist as the Ashen sterilized the system of Human life. It took them three hours to turn a world teeming with life both Terran and alien into a mostly lifeless rock.

-+-

A Commander of the warrior elite moved towards the Shalytni Admiral. His white tunic-styled uniform swayed gracefully in accordance to his movements. "It is done, Supreme Shalytni Tavasci."

"The system is ours," his superior acknowledged. Pupiless eyes danced in the darkness. With a thousand capital ships hitting the enemy from three directions, there was no way they could have lost to such inferior beings. "The other two thousand ships are now free to enter the system. Establish and secure perimeters. How many ships did we lose?"

"We lost twelve, with seventeen suffering various degrees of damage. The Dark ships were effective in targeting us and in combat. They are worthy adversaries and should be removed from the field with all dispatch."

"We shall see," he replied. "We will encounter and destroy them in time. Our orders are to remain here to serve as a knife to the throat of Earth. That planet itself is nothing and we will destroy it. But we will wait until the dark ones withdraw. If they do not then our orders are to destroy Earth Alliance and render it lifeless by whatever means at our disposal, and thereby do what the Minbari could not. If they are unwise then they will attack us and die. We will cut them to pieces."

"In Valentia's blood, may our victory be sweet."

"As We will."

Somewhere in Minbari Territory:

Delenn flinched as a heavy door clanged shut behind her. She licked her lips and fingered a green ring on her hand. Ahead of her stood a guard whose arrangement of sashes of bone crest design announced his membership of the Wind Swords clan. He coldly regarded her.

"You're not of the Wind Swords. Nor are you a Warrior. Leave."

She marshaled her reservoir of command, stood straight and strode toward the guard who then took up a defensive stance and touched his holstered Sha'ann PPG.

"I have come to speak with the prisoner."

The guard said, "the prisoner may only be seen if—"

Silently and slowly, Delenn took out a device from within her robes. The guard tensed at this action, but then instantly recognized the device. He snapped to attention and stared directly ahead, not seeing her anymore.

Nodding, she put the triluminary back into her robes. At least the present madness hasn't affected this warrior's ability to recognize one of the Nine, she thought. Her footsteps echoed in the short corridor. Arriving at the portal at the end of the corridor, she took a breath. Delenn was aware of the surveillance cameras hidden throughout this facility. She waved a hand over a side panel and the heavy portal iris open.

Beyond was a suite that could be called comfortable if not for the confinement. It wasn't decorated in the Minbari style. Delenn could see an alien being checking herself in a mirror. She had to admit that in spite of her barbarity, she cut quite a figure in her native military uniform decorated with regalia details.

Delenn shivered slightly when the alien's glittering eyes looked at the Minbari's reflection in the mirror and smiled, revealing feline fangs. She turned smoothly, crossing over to stand before Delenn, taking the role of a gracious host.

"Good morning."

The Satai was slightly surprised to find that the alien's voice was soft and cultured. It was in contrast with the image of the most infamous Warmaster of the Dilgar who had invaded the non-aligned sectors and decimated whole worlds to further her own research. It contrasted with the image of a woman who was wanted for crimes against sentients in the entire known galaxy. Jha'dur also occupied the blurry gray area between prisoner and guest: though she was free to go as she pleased, anyone outside the Minbari Federation could recognize her so she was obliged to stay here, under guard.

"Jha'dur." Delenn paused, wondering if she would dare push the Dilgar. Then she said, "Death walker."

Jha'dur chuckled. "So they call me!" She spread her arms, indicating herself. "Appropriate, isn't it? Dressed for battle at a time when a war is coming close to Minbar."

Delenn studied the infamous woman in front of her. It had been over twenty years since the Dilgar War so Jha'dur should have looked much older. What was her secret? She chided herself. She didn't come to find out cosmetic secrets. The Wind Swords should have left her to the mercies of the League Worlds and the Earth Alliance. The Grey Council had only found out about Jha'dur's shelter among the Wind Swords when the war with Earth began and the Warriors came to the Council offering terrible weapons that she had made for them.

"You want to know about my weapons," said Jha'dur. Then she smiled coldly.

Delenn shifted her stance, fingering her ring once more. The discussion in the Grey Council had been kept secret, sealed to the flame. A leak in the Council? "How did—"

"I know. I have my means." She purred. "You're losing the war against the Humans and their allies."

The Satai flinched at the statement of fact. Jha'dur smiled at her reaction. "The pain of a statement is proportional to the amount of truth in it. Once, you thought that victory was months away. Since then, Humans and their allies have bled you. Funny, isn't it?"

Delenn scowled. "The death of our warriors is not a laughing matter."

"I wasn't referring to that," she answered. She stared at the young female Minbari as if trying to see into her soul. "Earth turned the tide against my people. I had thought that the Minbari would be the avalanche that the Humans could not stop. Yet, here we are, discussing the – possibilities."

"Yes," Delenn whispered.

"My race is gone, their names cursed in history. Even my home world no longer exists. I am the last of the Dilgar." Jha'dur mischievously looked pointedly down at Delenn, making her uncomfortable with the implications of a similar fate for the Minbari people and for herself. For a moment, she imagined herself as a Jha'dur—Delenn, the last of the Minbari and a 'guest' of some alien Empire. Or even a prisoner in a multi-planetary trial charged with crimes against sentience. She pushed away the images.

"Jha'dur, we have a problem. I need to speak with you of this."

"'We', being the Grey Council. Or rather, 'we', being just you? You're one of the Nine, I expect."

For a while, Delenn thought to deny it. It was foolish, she realized now. As foolish for one as important as herself to be alone with this dangerous criminal. "I am, yes."

Jha'dur's nostrils lifted as she gently, like an animal, tested the air. Then she smiled with pleasure. "Sit. Please."

Delenn complied by sitting in one of the comfortable chairs in the suite. Jha'dur waited politely till she was settled, then sat down herself in another similar chair and faced her happily.

"You're so young to be in the Grey Council. It's because of Dukhat, isn't it? Apparently, he liked you. And you liked him, too."

"I never thought about it."

"Your first lie to me, Delenn. How sad. May I call you Delenn?"

The Minbari said nothing. She had never given her name. Jha'dur's 'sources' must have been quite helpful.

"Tell me…. Do you think Dukhat wanted you, sexually? True, he was much older, but—do you think he visualized…scenarios, exchanges…? While he mentored you?"

Delenn trembled and gasped as she suppressed her rising anger and her temptation to use her ring on Jha'dur. "Why are you doing this?"

Jha'dur purred. "People don't always say what they're thinking…they just see to it that you don't advance. I find it helps to say what you think. Much easier to move on with that, isn't it? For example…." She gestured at a picture hanging on a wall, an orbital image of a green and blue planet. "Omelos." She named the world wistfully. "My home, long since gone but still close to my heart." Once more she stared hard at the young Satai. "I can smell your fear, Delenn; the fear of Minbar suffering the fate of Omelos."

"I wonder," Jha'dur added, enjoying Delenn's discomfit very much. "When the war is done, will the name Minbar be known only to scholars of history?"

Silence reigned in the room as Jha'dur took a bottle filled with a blood-red liquid and poured herself a drink. The revolting whiff of alcohol tickled Delenn's nose.

Delenn decided to take control of the conversation. "When the war began, the Wind Swords offered us…weapons." She had paused because she hesitated to call what Jha'dur designed weapons. "They are being offered again. Why give them to us?"

"Because by saving me, you've allowed the Dilgar to live on through me. It's only fitting that Minbar should benefit from my research."

Disgust twisted the Council member's face. "It was a mistake; an error on the Wind Swords' part. You slaughtered mercilessly! Exterminated entire races! Committed acts beyond the belief of all sentient beings!"

"The Wind Swords said you were sentimental—a fatal flaw! Tell me, did that help in your decision to pursue the Humans who killed Dukhat?"

Dukhat lay dead before Delenn. She screamed in wrenching pain and sobbed terribly.

A Council member came up to her and said, "Delenn, we need to strike back but the Council is divided. Do we follow them back to their base and take revenge or do we wait? Try to find out what happened? Yours is the deciding vote, Delenn."

Delenn looked down at Dukhat's dead body. "He was the best of us…. They struck without provocation, there was no reason. Animals. Brutal. They deserve no mercy!"

She rose and moved toward the Council member. Crazed, she beat him on the chest as she shouted, "Follow them to their base and kill them! Kill all of them!"

The Council member left. Delenn continued screaming through her sobs. "No mercy! No mercy!"

Delenn sat in her chair silently. That moment of rage has drowned the Human worlds in blood. That moment of rage has led to the spilling of Minbari blood. It has also led to the coming of the Shadows and the Ashen.

So much happened because of just one moment of rage. And although she was the youngest and the most inexperienced, was this really all her fault? Did she bear the ultimate responsibility?

She brought herself out of her reverie. "You have not answered my question."

"You know the way of command and judgment." The Dilgar smiled appreciatively. "Very well. My research will insure that the galaxy remembers me. It will be a monument to the Dilgar vision."

"A monument?"

"Delicious irony, don't you think; that those who cursed us will compare us to the Minbari for the rest of time? It is the way of things, Delenn. The superior destroys the inferior. In the final analysis, the Dilgar have won!"

"That will not happen. The superior do not have to destroy the inferior. You know about the Protectorate worlds. At the end of the last Great War, we could have left them to starve, but we didn't. The superiority of any race ends when they needlessly destroy innocents." Delenn then showed her distaste of Jha'dur. "We have never experimented on entire sentient species. And we never will."

"No? Then consider this. You and the rest of your kind take blind comfort in the belief that we are monsters—that you could never do what we did! Everyone in your war is falling upon each other like wolves! I suggest that you think again. This war will make what we did pale in comparison! The billions who are murdered by the Minbari, the Ashen, the Humans and their allies will be the continuance of my work! And what of your parents, Delenn? Your mother's in the Sisters of Valeria religious order, isn't she? And your father? Left behind and forgotten as you climbed the ladder all the way to the Grey Council, as far above your own father as the Vorlons are above you. What are they like now? Are they those Minbari who are grumbling against your government, tired and doubtful of the war? Or are they like those proud Warriors whose bloodlust blind them? Not like us? In order to win this war, you will use my weapons! In so doing, you will become us! That's my monument, Satai!"

Her every word stung Delenn like a tiny precise dart into the core of her soul. She struggled with the mighty temptation to use her green ring on Jha'dur. She refused to become like Death walker or any of her people. Still, she imagined crushing the former Dilgar Warmaster with the force of gravity through her ring. She quickly stood up, turned and left, Jha'dur's laughter following behind.

Delenn was composed until the portal to Jha'dur's suite iris shut behind her. Shaken, she touched her fingers to her face and was surprised to find it wet. Tears. She bowed her head, glad that the guard was still staring forward at the outer portal.

She watched the tears drip down to the floor. Drip, drip, drip. She was quietly crying for herself, for her parents, for her people, for those killed in the war because of her moment of rage beside Dukhat's body, even for those killed by the Minbari. Drip, drip, drip. Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead. How could Delenn apologize to all of them?

She found she couldn't.

When Delenn reached her flyer, her attendant moved forward and respectfully bowed, waiting to be noticed. She didn't want to be bothered. The words of the Warmaster still weighed too heavily on her mind, but the attendant was insistent and duty demanded it's due. "What is it?" she snapped.

"The Grey Council must convene," the female Minbari said. "There is a message from the Earther Federation."

She wanted to ask what was so important that the Council had to come together to hear it, but she didn't. The attendant would not have such information and if she did, she would never announce it. But Delenn hated this message already. It had to be bad news. But maybe, just maybe, the Federation message contained terms for their surrender. More tears clouded her eyes.

In a sea of despair, she could only hope.

At the Edge of Minbari territory:

Within three hours the USS Knowles and Romanoff jumped to warp heading for the Minbari staging post at the military base close to Pagati, both command crews had been pooled together into the Centaur class' briefing room.

"Alright, as you are all aware, the Minbari have attacked and killed several million civilians during their attacks on the border worlds of the Earth Alliance. In response, the command staff of the Starfleet forces in the Orion Sector has requested we shift our recon missions further into Minbari space," Pavel said. "As such once we have moved into their patrol zones both ships will go to minimal emissions. Commander Riley."

A mid-sized man stood up from his chair and typed a command into the computer, the lights dimmed. Commander Kevin Riley was the Romanoff's Executive Officer as well as its chief weapons officer; his pre-prepared briefing came up on the main screen as well as some of the smaller ones on the table.

"The charts we have received from both the Centauri and from the salvaged Minbari warships have pointed to our target as a secondary staging point. Considering our successes against their main fleets and forward stations, we have forced them to stage further away from our major patrols. As a response to this a dozen two ship recon teams have been sent into Minbari space."

"What are our Directives, Sir?" Ensign Schakowsky of the Knowles asked.

"We get in close enough for the Knowles to scan the system and the forces in the surrounding areas, the Romanoff will draw off any guard units that we may encounter. We're not a heavy cruiser people; we get the info and get out. Once far enough out we'll use the Knowles to disappear," Riley replied.

"If the Romanoff is forced to leave the system to lead off the Minbari the Knowles will get out with the information. If we are forced further in then the Knowles is to leave immediately," Chekov responded. "The loss of a single ship is better than both."

"Speak for yourself," Uhura responded. "I intend for both of us to get out unscathed."

The screen changed as the latest information that had came up on the main screen, the Minbari stations defense posts and patrols as of the last week were evident to those in the room.

"This information is several days old, since the attack on the Alliance outposts as well as the Minbari incidents with the Gorn the enemy have started to reinforce a dozen other areas." Chekov stood from his chair. "The system we are approaching was a shipyards and replenishment centre for their Inter system patrols."

The computer animation bleeped as a dozen positions were highlighted and information posted over them. In addition a number of ships and satellites were placed around the planet and the stations in orbit, estimations of defensive measures and ship numbers also come up. Uhura imputed a few commands bringing the largest of the stations into view, a half and half blueprint and solid framing of the station came up.

Finished, she spoke. "The stations and defensive posts are the system's main dangers to our ships. The pure power and number of weapons are quite dangerous compared to the Minbari ships. Several days ago the USS Ticonderoga and escort were sent into one of the evacuated posts across the other side of Minbari space."

A film clip began showing one of the Fleet's Miranda class refits approaching an abandoned Minbari station. The entire system was empty with sections of the planet aflame. The Minbari had left little behind except this single station and its defensive satellites. Noting this, the Ticonderoga continued in slowly shields to full and weapons armed.

Nothing came from the station as the Miranda closed in. Scans showed no life signs and only the station's backup generators functioning. The recording picked up the communications of the two ships as well as the sensor scans, however they were not expecting anything untoward

Two seconds later a targeting scan was picked up.

Three seconds later the Ticonderoga was hulled.

From the very edge of even the Federation ships own weapons range the station massive defense cannons opened up. The weapons were several times the power of the main weapons of a Sharlin; combined with the fact that three were now locked onto the forward saucer hull of the Miranda even their shields would not hold.

Six massive pulses slammed into the forward shields of the Miranda, the first four disabling the shields leaving two of the powerful neutron weapons to enter the ship's hull and exit just underneath the rear shuttle bays. Two massive holes now decorated the ship through almost every deck of the cruiser.

The unseen escort was caught unawares and could only watch as three more pulses slammed into the front of the saucer shattering its armor and blowing chunks off of the front of the Ticonderoga. Finally both ship's weapons came into play as a half dozen torpedoes and the Ticonderoga's heavy cannons slammed into the bare hull of the station.

Two hundred and fifty megatons of explosive force serve well enough to blow a hole through the station silencing the enemy's guns. A second salvo from both ships put an end to the trap that they had so easily fallen into.

The filmed ended as the lights of the briefing room returned to their normal illumination.

"What were their losses Captain?" asked the Romanoff's helmsman.

Chekov nodded to Uhura who responded her voice tight. "The Ticonderoga was understaffed due to their mission. They took one hundred and thirteen losses out of one hundred sixty crewmembers. Most were lost to decompression and radiation poisoning from the Minbari weapons as they cut through the ship."

The assembled command crews looked devastated by the losses one of their fellow ships had taken, the Mirandas were seen as sisters to the Centaur Class crews and the loss of any was a hard hit."

Chekov looked over his crewmates, he had lost a ship himself as he and his former Captain had sent it to its death. The losses of crew from both the Reliant and the Enterprise were just as bad. Few of his own crew had been through anything like that even Riley and Uhura had left the Enterprise before that day.

"We go in get the information and get out. The Knowles is the priority. We have to we keep this ship between anything else that may get close. While this is not a volunteer mission I am not willing to take a ship into what may be a suicidal endeavor. Any crew that we can do without on either ship will be taken off the ship by the warp capable shuttles and await our return." Riley Said.

"That's it people. We get in and out and that's it. Dismissed."

The two crews left the room quickly to return to their respective ships or posts; only three of the ship's crews stayed behind.

"Alright Pavel, spill it," Riley said.

"What?" Pavel asked innocently.

"Whatever was in those orders that you haven't told the rest of the crew." Kevin Riley looked them both over. "I'm guessing Captain Uhura knows already or she would be as demanding as I am."

"Kevin," Chekov began. "What do you know of your twentieth century history?"

"I did the majority of the historical thesis at the Academy of the two world wars and the cold war aftermath."

"Does the name Doolittle mean anything to you?"

Something clicked in Kevin's brain as he looked at his Captain and he stared incredulously at the small Russian and the dark skinned African. He sat down and looked at the screen that Chekov had punched up.

"You can't be serious Pavel!"

"Orders from command, Kevin. A raid small enough one to keep the civilian toll down, but enough to force the Minbari to hold back some of their forces. A Doolittle Raid on one of their oldest and most populous worlds."

"That's if they take the bait."

"Oh, they will," Uhura said. "I can guarantee you this."

"So, Sirs, what are our orders?"

Becerra Alpha One:

"We have had reports from our two ships at Proxima III," General Chang said. "There was a massive attack there involving hundreds of ships. We believe that there are no survivors."

Bennett cursed soundly. "I was hoping that Kirk's speech would have backed them off. Evidently I was wrong. General Order 24 is implemented as of now. This order cannot be countermanded except by myself, or Vice Admiral Kirk. Were you able to get details?"

"Of course, Admiral," Chang responded coldly. "We estimate that the attack lasted less than an hour. The Minbari attacked in overwhelming numbers, giving no mercy – exactly as I would have done, if I were in their place."

The one-eyed Klingon nodded to an Ensign and a three dimensional image appeared and showed schematics of the Minbari attack vessels swarming the system. Video showed the ships attacking and destroying everything in their paths. Power ratings on the ships were huge and the group watched as a Federation starship was intersected by at least five beams coming from several vectors. The image died a moment later as the Klingon vessel transmitting the data packet was blown into atoms.

"As you see, these ships are of a different configuration than the standard Sharlins and Shagotti class vessels that they have previously used to attacked us. They are a completely different class, more efficient and more dangerous. These are of the same class as the ones attacking the station. We believe that this is a major attack aimed at the heart of the Earth. The Empire has been insulted," the Klingon General announced in grandiose style showing that this had nothing to do with insult. There was a cold, cold gleam in his eyes, something that promised death and major destruction.

Admiral Bennett glared at the joyful Klingon General. There was no way he would even try to argue. If what he suspected was true, the Minbari had just slaughter millions of more people. He would secretly pay good money to see his former adversaries lock horns with those bloodthirsty savages. "How many days to the Proxima system?"

"Maximum warp, twelve days," Chang said. "I checked. The Klingon fleet is massing. I have decided that we will be the ones to destroy their fleet. But as you are aware, we have two wings of war-birds already on their way there. Those forty ships will be there in less than four days. They will harass the Minbari until I arrive. And I promise that it will be glorious."

"I'm sure it will be," the Admiral said. "Do what you have to do," he continued, thereby giving the Klingon authority to do what they wanted to the Minbari there. Without another word, he turned to his Adjutant. "Inform Alliance Earth of the situation, condition red. All ships on alert. Any Minbari ship in the system is to be removed with prejudice. Send all information to our fleet there and to Earth Alliance. I want another three hundred ships enroute to Alliance Earth in two hours. And where is Kirk?"

"He's on the Lincoln conferring with Captain Spock and the others on his away mission."

"We're upping the schedule," the Admiral growled. "I want him and his force to leave immediately."

Somewhere in Minbari Territory:

"You will use my weapons," reflected Jha'dur out loud. Since there was no one to hear her, she could afford to indulge herself. 'I believe I have outstayed my welcome' she concluded. No, Delenn was a bit too young, too idealistic to see the truth glaring in front of them. But, oh, yes; she had potential to be as monstrous as any of the nearly extinct Dilgar, maybe even Jha'dur. However, she was still too naïve to see how dark her people had become.

For the last half hour, the former world killer had been thinking hard. She was a 'guest' of the Wind Swords but that didn't mean she was unaware of everything that went on concerning the war. When the Minbari had declared war and eventually attacked Earth, she reveled at the oncoming carnage. The Humans should have been exterminated there and then; her heart would have been soothed by the slaughter of those people that had doomed her species. None of the younger races could have resisted the collective rage of the Minbari attempting to fulfill their destiny, and the Humans were no exception. Earth should have died in flames. Nevertheless, in her heart, she knew – she knew that it wouldn't be as easy as everyone expected. The Dilgar were almost as technologically advanced as the Centauri and still the Earth Alliance had defeated her people in a year. The arrival of the other Humans had changed the equations. These colonials that the Minbari insisted on calling them – they weren't and the Minbari knew it even as they denied it – used dazzling technology that the Minbari couldn't counter even with the limited help from the Vorlons.

She smiled at that particular thought. She wasn't supposed to know that the Vorlons were covertly helping her 'hosts'. That thought brought another smile to her face. There were a lot of things she wasn't supposed to know, but she had her resources. Even the knowledge of the assassin hiding among the Centauri on the space station hadn't escaped her spies, particularly since it was her bomb design he was intended to use to kill the much hated Admiral of the United Federation of Planets. Jha'dur wasn't proclaimed by her people as Warmaster for nothing. She took care to notice the things around her.

The Human's broadcast had told her more than even she had expected to discover. If even half of what was shown was true, then there was no way the Minbari, even with the help of the Ashen, could beat the Humans and their allies. The brazen presence of that space station announcing itself for all to see should have been a warning sign if ever there was one. And the televised speech by the First One indicating that they had a treaty with the Federation should have told the Minbari that the war was over. But they allowed their fear and pride to continue in this doomed endeavor. Yes, Delenn was more naïve than she knew. The great Minbari Federation would shortly be facing slaughter and when they saw it racing towards them like an unavoidable avalanche, then they would run to the last of the Dilgar. Delenn may have said no, but the others…well, Jha'dur understood and it would only be a matter of time before they came to her demanding weapons, her knowledge, her technological innovations and theories; everything she had. And when the Ashen discovered that she was a guest of the Wind Swords, her 'freedom' would be over. She'd no longer be a 'guest' but instead, a condemned prisoner, sentenced to death as they bled her secrets from her body. The Ashen would demand her cooperation and then kill her as soon as her usefulness to them was over and her desperate hosts wouldn't lift a finger to stop them. The Ashen were more ruthless than their brethren knew. It was a shame they couldn't see it.

That fate was unacceptable. She intended to live forever.

No tears, no regrets; only the hot blood of survival and yes-

-Justice.

-And the pleasure of watching a dead and ruined Earth, burning.

Fifteen minutes later, the lone warrior guarding the Dilgar Warmaster was inside her quarters, dead. Of the last Dilgar, the one they called Jha'dur; there was no sign other than a slight chill that shrouded her former home.