Authors Notes: I hope that you like this little Chapter. I promise it's not sad like the last one.

Chapter 17

Minbari space: Kosh Naranek's ship came into regular space, and moved close to the Valen'tha. He made his way to Dukhat's chambers, and met Kosh Ulkesh there. "What did you discover?"

"The newcomers are mostly human."

"That's impossible, humans are not that advanced. Could they have been touched by the shadows?"

"I do not believe so, and neither does the father first one."

"Why did you contact him?"

"Because there was first one technology on one of the ships."

Kosh Ulkesh became irritated, "First one technology, how did they get that?"

"I am unsure, but he believes that these humans are from another dimension."

"I see, that would explain many things. But will the circle still hold?"

"I am unsure, but father first one said, "It will hold if it's destined to hold." And I do not question his wisdom."

"You are far to trusting, but the father first one has never been wrong. We will leave this matter to our brethren."

"I agree."

"Do we inform our child Delenn of Dukhat's message?"

"Yes, she must know, before this madness creates a break in the ring."

"I agree, inform Lennon of the Anla-shok to speak to her, and have her come and see us."

..
Guest quarters on The Valen'tha: Lennon was in deep meditation, and yet as sharp as his senses were, he did not hear the Vorlon approach. He heard the melodic voice of Kosh Naranek, "Lennon, it is time."

Lennon looked at the Vorlon, "I agree, it's almost past the time to stop this madness."

"Go to Delenn. Have her come to see Dukhat's message."

Lennon nodded his head, "I will go at once. She will be there within the hour."

"Good." and Kosh withdrew. Lennon stood up and prepared himself, then he proceeded to Delenn's chambers.

He stood outside her door and awaited her answer, "Come in." and the door opened.

"Ah Lennon, do you have news of this new race?"

"No Delenn, I have something more urgent to talk to you about."

"What could be more urgent Lennon?"

"Delenn, I have seen to it that Dukhat's sanctorum was rebuilt here on this ship. Only you and I may access it for now, I believe that you should go there, and very soon."

Lennon stressed the words 'very soon' subtly, but Delenn believed she caught their meaning.

"Of course old friend, I will go at once."

Lennon just bowed his head, and withdrew.

..
Dukhat's sanctorum Valen'tha: Delenn passed her hand over the sensor, and the door opened. She stepped inside and almost immediately felt the loss of her friend and mentor all over again. She walked up to his alter, and wondered to herself, "What would Dukhat think of our war with the humans, and now their new ally?"

She wondered why Lennon has asked her to come here, and she turned to leave. Then she saw them, two aliens in protective suits. "Are you Vorlon's?"

She heard a melodic reply, "Yes."

Delenn looked doubtful, "I must see to be sure."

Kosh Naranek's suit seal opened, and Delenn was bathed in a bright light. She saw the face of the Vorlon, and knew that he was truly a Vorlon. Then his suit closed and resealed itself.

"Why have you summoned me here?"

The Vorlon who had spoken moved forward, and a holographic display started, it was Dukhat. "Delenn. If you're seeing this message, then I am dead. I have entrusted it to the Vorlon's, to see that it is delivered to you at the right time. If we have not already done so, we must seek out a race that is not yet known to us. A race known as humans, for the Vorlon's have told me that they will be our allies in the next shadow war. We must find this race and convince them to join with us in this new coming battle against the darkness. Please help me with this service Delenn, it is our best chance to defeat the shadows in the coming confrontation." the message ended, and Delenn stood there in shock.

"He did not know, he could not know. The very beings he sought as allies would kill him. Now we hunt them down like animals. Oh Valen, what am I to do?"

She heard Lennon's voice behind her, "We must find a way to stop this madness, to much precious time has already been lost."

Kosh Naranek spoke "Yes, end it."

Delenn looked at him, "How, how do we end this? There are those on the council that would welcome an end to it, but there are others who will not be satisfied until all of the humans are dead."

Kosh Naranek turned to Kosh Ulkesh, "They must be told."

"I agree, but not everything."

"Yes, I will tell them only what they need to know."

..
Kosh turned to Delenn and Lennon. "The newcomers that you seek information on."

Delenn looked at him, "What about them?"

"They are humans, but they have been touched by a first race."

Delenn looked at him, "Was it the shadows?"

"No."

"Are they like the other humans, except for their technology?"

"Yes."

Delenn began to form a plan in her mind, "This bit of information will be very useful. Lennon, you will present it to the council tomorrow, and then I will suggest a temporary truce, so that we can better prepare ourselves if we are to meet these new humans in battle again. And judging from the councils reaction to the report filed by Branmer, the warrior's will welcome the time to prepare."

Lennon looked at her, "But who will approach these humans?"

Delenn looked at him now, "No one from the gray council could do it, but someone who is above questioning. It must be someone who has dedicated his whole life to the service of others. He could approach the humans and their new allies."

Lennon smiled at her, "I would be honored to do this service for the Minbari people."

Delenn smiled now, "Our spies tell us that the Narn are secretly supplying weapons to the Earth Humans, perhaps through them, we could make unofficial advances."

Now Lennon smiled, "I'll have my Rangers contact the Narn, with any luck, I can meet with these humans, and we can begin to end this war."

Delenn smiled, "How soon do you think you can meet with them?"

"With any luck, 10 days."

"What about their language Lennon?"

Lennon smiled now, "Many of the Rangers have been learning the human language, for the purpose of learning more about them. I will be able to talk with them."

Delenn looked at him again, "I pray to Valen that this works old friend."

"It must Delenn, it must."

..
Gray Council chamber: The members of the Gray council met the next morning. They were told that the Anla-shok had information on the new allies of the Earthers. Lennon came before the Gray council, and stood in a center spot of light.

"I come before you with information on the new allies of the humans of Earth."

All of the council members circles came on, and they stood there without saying a word. Lennon stared at them, and began, " The new allies are another group of humans. But they have been touched by one of the first races, much as we have been helped by the Vorlon's."

One of the members spoke, a male voice, "Are these new humans in league with the shadows?"

"No."

"How can you be sure?" asked a female voice.

Lennon looked around the room, "Because the information came from a Vorlon."

There were murmurs among the council members now. One of the council members stepped forward, and dropped his hood.

"No Minbari has ever seen a Vorlon, except the very insane or the very foolish."

Lennon looked at Satai Racine. "Was Dukhat a fool, or was he insane?"

Satai Racine looked at him, "You would say that about Dukhat?"

Lennon looked at him, "Of course I would not, you did. Because it was through Dukhat that I met the Vorlon's."

Now the murmurs were even more frantic as the council members whispered between themselves.

..
Another council member removed his cloak, "Master Lennon, are you telling us that Dukhat had met with the Vorlon's?"

"Yes I am Satai Keddonn."

"But why Lennon?"

"To help us to prepare for the coming war with the shadows."

Racine looked at him now, "How are we to prepare for the coming war with the shadows?"

Lennon looked at him, and said three words, "Stop this war."

Racine laughed, "You must be joking, this war is good preparation for our upcoming war with the shadows. If Dukhat were here, he would tell you that himself."

"NO."

Everyone turned and looked at Delenn, and they could see that she was visibly shaking. Racine stepped over to her, "Are you alright Satai Delenn?"

"No I'm not alright Racine, and I won't be alright until this war is ended."

"But Delenn, it was your vote that started the war."

She looked at him, and he could see the strength and determination in her eyes. "Then I was wrong. I was hurt and I wanted someone to pay for my pain."

"And they will pay, all of them." Racine said smugly.

..
Lennon looked at him, "Satai Racine, if a wild Gok bites you. Should all the Gok on Minbar be exterminated?"

He looked at Lennon, "Of course not."

Lennon shook his head now, "So you would show compassion to a wild animal, but not a sentient being. And we say the humans are barbarians."

Racine looked at him, and Lennon saw the anger in his eyes, "What would you have us do then Master Lennon?"

"I say that we should meet with them, and finally hear their side of things."

Racine laughed, "And why would we do that?"

Lennon put himself nose to nose with Racine, "Because it was Dukhat's wish."

Racine looked at him now, "And how are we to know that? Are we to find some sort of mystical seer to contact Dukhat's soul?"

Lennon said nothing, and then went to a data reader and placed a crystal in it. An image of Dukhat appeared before them all.

"If you're seeing this message, then I am dead. I have entrusted it to the Vorlon's, to see that it is delivered to you at the right time. If we have not already done so, we must seek out a race that is not yet known to us. A race known as humans, for the Vorlon's have told me that they will be our allies in the next shadow war. We must find this race and convince them to join with us in this new coming battle against the darkness. Please help me with this service, it is our best chance to defeat the shadows in the coming confrontation." the image of Dukhat then faded.

The members of the council were now silent, and Delenn stepped to the center of the circle. "We have heard Dukhat's final wish. Should we ignore it? Or should we do everything we can to carry it out? We will reconvene in an hour, go and meditate on your response to Dukhat last wish."

The members of the Gray council all withdrew from the chamber, except for Delenn and Racine. He looked at her, "You don't really believe that this message is real do you?"

"Yes I do."

"Why Delenn?"

"Satai Racine, Dukhat once told me that if I ever had any doubt about my course of service in my life, I need only look at the face of a Vorlon, and I would know that all was right."

Racine looked at her curiously, "Have you seen a Vorlon?"

She smiled, and with a look of calm on her face she looked at him. "Yes I have."

He looked at her, "I must see this Vorlon, so I may know the truth Delenn."

"Of course, come with me."

..
Gray Council Chamber: The members of the gray council arrived at the appointed time, and were about to vote. Satai Racine stepped into the center of the circle.

"A vote has to be made, do we continue to fight the humans, or do we meet with them as Dukhat had wished? I vote that we meet with them."

Satai Shakiri looked at him, "Are you sure of this Racine?"

"I have never been more sure of anything in my entire life Satai Shakiri."

He turned to the others of the council, "Please make your vote known now." Only two of the lights above the council members went out. Racine and Delenn both smiled at this.

"Then it is decided, we will meet with the humans, and try to end this war. Then we will seek their aid in the coming war of the shadows."

Satai Rathenn spoke now, "How will we open the lines of communication?"

Delenn stepped forward, "I have asked Lennon to be the council's contact with the humans. He has served the people of Minbar his entire life. Can anyone suggest anyone better?"

All were silent.

"It is decided then, we start to mend our paths with the humans. We will take no further aggressive actions against them. We will wait and see how Lennon's meeting with them goes."