Changed Circle
by Warringer
Chapter Twenty Six
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The members of the Gray Council were in turmoil. Dukhat had awoken just about two weeks ago and wasn't even able to walk properly. But still, he had called for a meeting of the Full Gray Council.
Even worse, he had personally talked to the Warriors, trying to bring them away from their War with the Terran Union.
"This is outrage," one of the Warrior Satais said as he looked at Dukhat, who was sitting in a hover chair, the only way for him to move at all at the moment," The Terrans have attacked us. Their attack has injured every single one of us, especially you, Dukhat."
Dukhat just gave the Satai a level look.
"Than you don't know the latest news," he said and than glanced at Delenn for a moment," Delenn has already contacted the Terran Union through the Rangers and the Narn. And..."
He wasn't able to speak as the Warriors glared at Delenn and started to speak at the same time. Or better yell at the same time. The Workers just gave her a curious glance, as they had finally found back to their normal neutrality between the Warriors and the Religious Caste.
"Silence," Dukhat finally said with a firm voice and had that silencing effect he desired.
The Warriors still glared at Delenn, but held themselves back in respect of Dukhat, who still was the greatest leader of the Minbari since Valen in their minds.
"Enter, Lennon," Delenn said and the leader of the Rangers entered the circle of the Nine members of the Gray Council.
"I have personally send Lennon for the talks," Delenn said with a voice that carried an equal firmness as had Dukhats," And he has returned with a few very interesting news."
Lennon bowed at the Satais and cleared his throat.
"Very interesting indeed," he said," I have talked to the man known as Starkiller to the Warriors Caste."
The Warriors were silent as they looked at Lennon. Major John Sheridan, Starkiller, the man who had destroyed the Black Star with his crippled ship was one of the few humans the warriors did respect. And he had earned that respect.
"They have proof that the attack on the Valen'sha was a defect in the fire control computer of the Von Braun."
Again the Warriors started to speak at the same time, trying to question Lennon about this proof, until Dukhat silenced them once more.
"Lennon will give us his report, than we will question him."
Lennon bowed at Dukhat and continued.
"Furthermore they have proof that the defect was sabotage by several humans controlled by a foreign force."
He made a dramatic pause.
"And they found out that the foreign force is the old enemy of the Light. The Shadows."
At his last sentence, a holographic projection started to play, showing how the President of the Terran Union, Mark Ryan, killed two Shadow underlings with his weapon, before pointing the weapon at the head of the man under their influence.
The silence that followed was so deep that one could hear it, until Lennon continued.
"Several of the leading personalities were under Shadow influence," he said and the holographic projection changed to show a Terran Court," They have killed all Shadows in their presence and sentenced the men and women under Shadow influence to death for treason."
The holo changed again, showing how a man, the subtitle called him Morgan Clarke, was placed in front of a firing squad and killed by several HV bullets.
"The Terran Union wants for our races to come to a peaceful solution for all this. They are willing to give the planets of the Protectorate back to us and only call for one condition."
Again he made a pause for effect.
"They want the Warriors responsible for the deaths of five million humans and Dilgar on the colonies destroyed during the first attacks on the Terran Union. They are going to be put before a court to face charges for genocide."
The turmoil followed by the last sentences by Lennon was greater than before.
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Doctor Mai Ling looked at the screen in front of her and frowned. How could something as large as that lay under the surface of Mars for so long and without anyone noticing it?
The AIs put in charge of the excavation of the Shadow battle ship had finally finished to completely excavate the ship and brought it out to its full dark glory.
Mai Ling shuddered as she looked at that ship. It reminded her too much of a spider and the black color didn't help any. She turned away from the screen and looked at the holographic projection of Livingston, the AI in charge of the excavation. She knew that humans weren't allowed into a radius of a hundred kilometer from the ship and that only AIs and robots were working on it, and the excavation on Europa.
"How long until you get through the armor?"
Livingston shrugged and sighed.
"I have no idea. Every time we try to open the armor some sort of black stuff comes out of it and repairs the area we just destroyed. As if it was alive."
Mai Ling raised an eyebrow.
"'Black Stuff'? Not very scientific."
Livingston sighed again.
"Don't tell me. But we managed to get a good look at the stuff before it destroyed one of our electron microscopes. We are dealing with Nano Tech."
"Nano Tech?"
"Much more advanced than ours. We currently try something new and want to use forcefields specially designed to hold back Nano Tech for the next try. But I think we will fail again. Those Nanites are smaller than anything we have."
"Well, try your best," Mai Ling said," We need to know everything we can about the Shadows. They will come for us when they realize that they can't longer manipulate."
"We will try, Doctor. But don't await a wonder. That thing is a tough motherfer."