Archibishop Machiatto, in chrage of the Catholic Crusader Force, received with huge disgust the news from Mimbar. The end of the war, the surrender of the remaining Minbari forces at their homeworld and the Vorlon intervention jeopardize their plans. But the muslim authorities of the UIN voted to keep going no matter what.

The Minbari colonies of Shengol and Pagati, following the hypersoace routes from Nocalo, were the choosen to raid. Nocalo, Tareleen, Valusha and Drala Thoth were leveled by the nuclear hit-and-attacks, so there weren't too many options in the area.

Pagati, like every single Minbari settlement was build like a triangle, with every vertice occupied by one of the three Castes quarter. General Mohammed of the UIN Federal Army decided to make a landing right over the Warrior Caste quarter, using suicide squads as first wave. Those suicide squads were a mix of soldiers and armed civilians with PPG standard weaponry and explosive vests.

The Catholic units were not pleased, but the land forces were under muslim authority.

The landing craft, mostly Kestler shuttles, manouvered, waiting for AntiAicraft fire that never came, the Minbaris were aware of the Federation surrender and waited in resignation the Earth occupation.

Earth personel descended and started to move to the surroundigs, going building by building with guns blazing, in a few hours most of the Quarter has been captured. All Warriors were drafted to the streets and forced to kneel with the hands on the back.

Immediatly the Minbari warriors were counted and every ten men one was pulled a side. Those selected were alligned in the streets in groups of twenty or more, and executed. Plasma shoots from the improvised firing squads pierced the proud warriors, who died staring in anger to them.

The report of the succesful operation reached Earth Alliance territory in just 24 hours, and in fear of a Vorlon retaliation Earth Alliance declared DEFCON 2 and the leaders of the UIN and the Indonesian Consortium were summoned to EarthDome.


EarthDome, Geneva

Main Conference Room, Earth Alliance Presidential Palace

-Good evening gentlemen-said President Levy. In the table were the Presidents of the two supranational entities supporting the Crusaders/Muyahiddin troops. From right to left, the leaders of the United Islamic Nations, the Indonesian Consortium, and also an observer from the Holy See, which now was relocated to Malta. Other religious leaders from the muslim community, like shiite sheiks from Iran and sunni from Northamerica and the African Block, were there too.

-As you already know the Minbari Federationhas surrendered to our Fleet in Minbar. But what you don't know yet is this...-she said, activating the screen behind her. The video show a recording of the end of the battle and the Vorlon intervention.

-I don't understand, who are they?-asked Al Hadad, president of the UIN.

-The Vorlon Empire. A very very old race, allied to the Minbari. According to their records are extremely advanced and powerful, and our intelligence agrees with those statements.

-So, this Vorlon asked us to stop and, spare their remaining forces?-asked Cardinal Flores, the Vatican Observer.

-Yes. But now, after we accepted and proceed with the occupation of Minbar and the Minbari Federation, your forces attacked two Minbari Colonies. And as far as I know, the Minbari don't defend theirselves. I'm affraid war crimes were commited, and the Earth Alliance broke the Ceasefire agreement with the Vorlon.

-Oh Allah! You can't be serious!

-EarthForce have been ordered to not interfere with the Crusader/Muyahiddin Fleet mainly because we can't afford a civil war nor here nor in the battlefield. But I won't risk another war against an advanced race either. If the Vorlon ask, I will wash my hands and let them take care of this issue. Do you understand, gentlemen?

-The Retribution Fleet only wish to bring justice for the War crimes commited by the Minbari. It's not our intention to rebel against EarthGov or provoke a war with anybody!

-I'm glad to hear it, mr. President. But I don't know if the Minbari or the Vorlons will accept that explanation. And if the Hague Tribunal raise charges against, we will not be able to look to the other side.

-What are you asking, Ma'am President?What do you want from us?

-Call your forces back, withdraw to Earth Alliance territory immediatly. I will offer the Minbari a Pardon to them in exchange of your forces. It's all I can do.

-Fair enough. We will call them back.

-Thank you Mr. President.


Governor's Plaza

Tuzenor

Minbar

Minbari Federation, Earth Alliance Protectorate

Delenn stormed the Governor's office followed by a dozen Minbari in Religious Caste robes. Knowing she had entered the building, Governor Santiago gave the order of Stand Down and let the Minbari Ambassador to enter the place as she wished, so the GROPOS if the 101st Airborne, mostly North American, made way.

-Mister Santiago-said Delenn as soon she entered, leaving her escorts outside, and trying to supress her anger and fury-I want an explanation!.

A little surprised by the good level of english of the Minbari, the Governor tried to evade the question. He had alredy been informed about the results of the muslim/catholic forces.

-Ambassador, good to see you again! Is there anything I could do...?

-Yes! You could start to send your fleet and protect our last colonies from your Religious Caste armies!

-What?! We don't have such a thing as a Religious Caste, and much less an Army of...

-Don't lie to me! Those were the terms of our surrender! The same terms your Fleet Commander signed with the Vorlon! And now your forces are killing unarmed Mimbari who have surrendered! That's barbaric!!!

Ahhh, another show of Minbari hypocresy, taught Santiago. What an opportunity to confront these supposed older aliens.

- Ok, I agree with you that killing an unarmed person is barbaric. We have laws in the Earth Alliance, you know, that forbidde our forces of do things like that, laws and treaties that have already centuries. And I think that our forces in Minbar have respected those laws to the letter, am I right, Ambassador?

-Yes, Mr. Santiago, we hace nothing to say about your occupation forces here, but..

-Excellent, because those occupation forces are the ones I am responsable of. I have no jurisdiction beyond this system. But don't worry, I will contact EarthDome and tell them about your legitimate concerns...

Pontius Pilatus would be proud, he think.

-I'm affraid that's not enough! Minbaris are being executed! And you are doing nothing. Nothing!

-Because I can't Ambassador. Believe me, I do agree with your goverment, and I want this crimes end, right now. Just as I wanted those same crimes ended when your Warrior caste comited them zuring the war. And I understand your impotence and frustration and anger, because I, and all humanity suffered it during the war.

-It's not the same! You killed Dukhat!

-No. We didn't. Jankowski did. Against our orders and without even knowing it. And we offered our surrender, and his head to appease you, and you refused. We did everything, even an incondicional surrender, and you just ignore us and kill everyone you pleased. We engage and fought your Warrior Caste, you engage everyone.

Delenn was stalled by those arguments. The Minbari believed all humans were considered responsable, and accountable, for Dukhat's death, but human rules of engagement had the moral high ground. And then Governor decided to put some real pressure on the Minbari representative.

-And by the way, we know who gave the vote to declare war against Earth Alliance, Satai Delenn...

-How...? It's not possible...How do you know who am I?!

-We have now access to all your records, databases, libraries, everything. We have already looked at the Valen'tha, and imagine our surprise when we find out Dukhat wanted to ally with us. We would accepted such alliance, Satai Delenn. We were affraid of being the next target of the Centauri imperialism. And we now also know about the Shadows. A bunch of ancient nazis and nietcheans I'm affraid, we would supported you against them, 'cause we are not barbaric. We went to war to defend others in exchange of nothing, you know? We would defend the League or even you if a genocidal species roamed the galaxy again. But you are so blind by your hate, you Satai Delenn went against your own Leader politics just for revenge!

That was just too much for her. How dare he of saying things like that?

-Blind?!-she ask, while with her left hand pull a small jewllery from her pockets, a ring, and after a few seconds she wear it in her right hand. Enough of these Human, she taught.

-The only blind here are you, human!-she said, filled with anger and hate, and activated the ring, creating an artificial gravity field around Governor Santiago. With a small movement the field increased by two and the body of Luis was pulled down, falling on his knees and fighting for air. But immediatly after the two gates at the sides of the desk opened violently, and several GROPOS in full armor, with their PPG rifles aiming at Delenn, entered. She barely could avoid being scared to death with the soldiers coming out of nowhere with guns ready to fire. The sound of the plasma guns activating and the screams of the Earth soldiers made her step back two steps.

-Freeze!

-Turn it off!

-Drop your weapon! Now!

Delenn remove the ring from her hand and throw it to the nearest soldier. As soon as she done it,two soldiers advanced and restrain her, but the still weak Governor stopped them.

-Release... Release her!

The two soldiers left her and stepped back two meters, with the weapons aiming at her.

Luis Santiago took a site, trying to get some breath, while his secretary ask for a medic.

Delenn stood there, looking at him in anger and shame, looking from time to time to the soldiers aiming at her.

-You are a member... of the Religious Cast, right?

She remain silent.

- I know you are... Now let me... let me tell you something... about Earth beliefs...

There was a religious leader on Earth... 2200 years ago... who teaches us to love our enemies. He said if someone hits you in the face, in one of your cheeks, you show him the other one too. So that's what I'm going to do with you. It will be a lesson, the very opposite one you wanted to teach us. Your aggresion against me it's a sin of your entire race, because you are a Satai, not a captain acting against his superior orders like in our case. But don't worry, I forgive you. I will show the mercy you don't had, as the advanced civilization we are. Go in peace, and please tell your people the next time a Minbari use this damned ring, we will shoot the bearer on sight. Good day.


Tuzenor, the sacred city of the Minbari. Thousands of blue cristal towers reaching for the clear skyes, waterfalls and gardens everywere. And now GROPOS. Everywere. Watchtowers with Heavy PPG emplace.ents, barbed wite and landmines, Thor MBTs patrolling the city, cracking the veautiful streets with their weight, and the Earth Alliance flag in many corners profaned the place. Earthforce remained professional and NEVER a single man or woman started an incident. Weekly every persoel went to psicological counseling, and a s soon PTSD or other issues started to gain foothold, and they were rotated back to Earth space.

The Earth Alliance economy was barely holding. The huge fleet was expensive, and the new Protectorates in the Minbari Federation and Protectorates were adding more space to control and patrol.

The EarthGov decided to use this opportunity to explore beyond Minbari territories. According to their databases, no other powers inhabited the area, except for the Vorlon and the Streib, a small power who had the bad idea of abduct Minbaris and experiment with them.


Sorpigol System
Minbari Federation Protectorate

The Nova Dreadnought Temistocles Battlegroup were deployed to the far side of the Minbari border. With two more Hyperion cruisers and four Olympus corvettes it had the responsability of guard the outreaches of one claimed system of Sorpigol and other five unclaimed.

In the far side of the known hyperspace trade routes, Commander Jeffrey Sinclair was deployed to the Temistocles, as a way of keeping him on duty without to much stress or combat. It was like a vacation, some boring patrolling and training duty, zero stress and a little paperwork.

-Captain Price, permission to come aboard-he said, after leaving the fighter bay.

-Permission granted. I am quite impressed by your profile, Commander. You earned quite fast your wings, and made a lot of damage to the Boneheads, even before the upgrades.

-Thank you sir.

-As Uncle Ben said, with great power comes great responsability. So, I want you to become CAG of this ship. We have good pilots, but many are used to Drone Furies, so... you know, some real combat experience would come handy.

-Absolutely, sir. I'll do my best, you can count on that, sir.

-Excellent, Commander. Lt. Commander Dexter would show you your quarters, and the ship. Dismissed.

-Sir- said with a nod, and followed Lt. Cmdr. Dexter into the ship.

Lt. Delaware aproaches, with a small paper.

-This just came sir. Looks like we are gonna colonize one of the systems in the area.

-We, Lt.?

-Earth Alliance, sir.

-So, are we gonna stop being an occupation army and become IPX security or what?

-I guess so, sir. They should pay us a little more for that, at least some shares or something.

-Nah, those shares are worst than casino chips. Another crisis and you would end up in bankrupcy.


Five years later

EarthDome, Geneva

Earth

The proposal of the EarthGov made some effect on the LONAW worlds, most of goverments supported it without much thinking, only the Yolu and the Koulani were delaying the decision. But the main concern was in the Centauri Republic. Lord Refa was trying to convince Emperor Turhan about the dangers of having Earth Alliance as a new superpower, with the Minbari as a Protectorate, and the dangerous weapons and technologies upgrading the former obsolete human armada.

However Turhan was a wise man, and with the counsel of his wife decided to support the Babylon Project. The imperialist Republic was a thing of the past, he said, and the future was friendship and cooperation with its neighbours, mostly human. And he saw humans were resented of the Centauri neutrality during the war.

Lord Refa had other plans, and the succesor to the imperial throne, Lord Carthagia, was on them. But he need buy time. And that's why he was in the human capitol.

After a long walk inside the Earth Senate building, he arrived to án office. Senator Clark's office. After being announced, the guards opened the door, and the Earth Senator invited him in.

-Lord Refa, it's a pleasure. Take a sit, and tell me, what can I do for you?


Epsilon Eridani

Brakiri Cruiser Brakos

A dozen of Earth ships were orbiting Epsilon 3. The place, mostly forgotten by the interestellar community, was coming to life as soon as several ships entered by the local Jump gate. Right now a Drazi Sunhawk, a Brakiri Cruiser and a couple of Vree X'ill Saucers were standing near the Earth vessels.

-The Vree are here-said the Brakiri Ambassador. The Drazi delegates had just arrived. The leader, a General called Tusgor, answered.

-Do you think they will join our proposal?

-Yes, they are very close to humans. This is a new galaxy, General. Earth Alliance is the future. The League is a complete faliure, and the Centauri... As soon as Emperor Turhan dies...

-They will return to their usual foreign relations. The only ones they feared were the Minbari.

-Now they fear the humans. And soon, us.

The Drazi smiled.


Sol system.

Somewhere in the asteroid belt.

Sorrunded by the infinite rocks of the Belt, the Earth Force officers look thru the windows of the O'Neill class station. General Leftcourt turn to face his companions and said

-How much for the first batch is finished?

-Two months. When the 7 th Shipyard is ready, the production of the next wuold be reduced to one month.

-The Centauri will be really pissed off.

-That's the idea, General.

Outside a huge shipyard, a replica of the Neur Hansa Orbital Shipyard, was hiding inside a huge asteroid. Four huge batleships were being builded. One of them was almost finished. Her name was EAS Warlock


Epilogue
System Azeroth
Ten light years rimward Sorpigol System
Minbari Federation outer border
Commander Sinclair was summoned to the bridge. Captain Price greeted him as soon he entered, and guide him to his office.
-Commander, I have a little mission for you. The IPX guys in the outpost found something in the Azeroth 7 orbit. An alien structure, covered by ice-explained, showing several pictures on the screen.
-Do you need a recon mission, sir?
-Yes, Commander. Do you think you could use the new Super Aurora?
-The new Beam guns are an overkill for this, sir, but I could shoot some asteroids in the way there.
-Perfect. As soon as you get there the IPX would take charge. Still bored with this babysitting tasks?
-Deep space exploration it's not what I signed for, sir. I could use some dogfighting though.
-Only some stupid pirats in LONAW space, nobody is stupid or crazy enough to piss us off now. But who knows, perhaps this alien artifact activate some Bajoran Wormhole, and the Dominion Armada would come. Be careful what you wish for, Commander. With a small laugh Sinclair grab the dossier, and after reading the first pages asked.
-These greedy SOBs of IPX are allways looking for some profit. I guess this new element is what caught their curiosity, sir-said, pointing to the sensors readings on the artifact.
-Yes, one of the eggheads call it Element Zero, his eyes were wide open like a kid in a Candy Store. So, if that's all, you are dismissed. You can ask the IPX eggheads for more boring details.
-I will do, sir. Thank you sir.
He grab the dossier and walk away to the Mess Hall.