Ten days later, Delenn was in the broadcast room, waiting for Susan to finish her telecast. Except for one message, Delenn hadn't heard a word from her husband since he left eight days ago.

"Susan." Delenn said as the Commander passed her.

"Delenn! I'm sorry; I didn't see you there. What's up?" Ivanova asked pleasantly.

"I was wondering what the latest news was. Have you heard from John?" She asked hopefully.

Susan shook her head. "Sorry Delenn, but they can't risk sending any unnecessary radio chatter. Nothing's happened to him, we would've heard about that. All the information I have is about the progress of the fleet really. I'm really sorry." Susan could see how disappointed the other woman was. She felt for her. Ivanova knew that Delenn wasn't really expecting any news from her husband, she was just hoping beyond hope.

"Delenn, there you are!" Lennier came rushing into the broadcast room, robes flying. "This just arrived." He thrust some flims into her hands. She read the Minbari script quickly, her eyes widening as they advanced across the page.

"Lennier, have a Whitestar standby to take us. We'll leave tonight." Delenn was all business, and redirected her attention to Ivanova. "Susan, can you send a message to John for me?" At Susan's questioning stare, Delenn clarified. "Fighting has broken out in a few isolated areas of my planet between the castes. If this is not contained now, there will be civil war. I have to go sort things out at home. Tell John. Please, if you can?"

Ivanova could only nod. As Garibaldi had once quaintly put it, the universe was going to hell in a hand basket.

"Of course Delenn, I'll do what I can, but It'll probably only be able to be a short text message." Delenn smiled. She was grateful for any help the commander could give her. She put a hand on Susan's shoulder, thanking without words for her help. Then she spun around and left to pack.
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Delenn boarded the Whitestar. Despite the fact that she was heavily pregnant, the crew did not object when she took the command chair. She contacted C&C.

"Babylon control, this is Whitestar 54 requesting permission to activate jumpgate."

"Confirmed Whitestar 54," Came Susan Ivanova's voice over the speaker. "Oh and Delenn, John sent a reply for you. We received it a few minutes ago. Uploading to your system now."

Delenn smiled at the thought of her husband; alive, well, and most likely still thinking about her every second he could spare. The holo-display came down from the cabin ceiling. The message was short, only five words in text format.

Be careful .I love you, it said. A tear came to her eye. She would be careful, and she would see him again soon. Then she ordered the crew to set course.
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Delenn! Delenn!" Lennier gently shook her awake.

"Lennier, what is it?" Delenn tried to extract herself from her groggy state.

"We just received a message from Minbar. Fighting has broken out in the capital."

Delenn knew what this meant. She had hoped they could avoid it. She thought that if she had gotten there in time, she might have been able to rebuild the Grey Council. But now it was to late. "Civil war," was all she said.

"Yes Delenn. The warriors have declared an all out war against our caste. There are stories floating around all over the place. Some of the rumors are that they are bombing the capital, in an attempt to drive all of our caste out."

While Lennier was talking, Delenn's mind had already begun thinking through possible courses of action. She had tried to work out a plan of sorts, for this sort of eventuality. But now she wasn't sure her plan would work. And she was afraid. She knew that the salvation of her people and her world would only come at a terribly high price. But she had no alternative. If she didn't act, she knew that many more people would die needless, senseless deaths.

"Lennier. Call Neroon. Ask him to meet us in the Trulann system in 3 days." Lennier looked at her, puzzled. It had been a simple enough order, but he wondered why she would want to meet with one of the Warrior Caste, especially one who had tried to kill her a year before. But the Minbari etiquette that was ingrained into him told him that understanding was not required, only obedience. He did not understand Delenn's motives, but he vowed that he would carry out her order. He bowed, and left to contact Neroon.

Delenn looked back at the bed. She doubted that sleep would come back to her tonight. She went to a corner, and lit a candle, and tried to meditate on her plan. As she settled down, she felt the baby kick her. She smiled sadly, and rubbed a gentle circle over her unborn child. Before she knew it, tears were running silently down her face.