Chapter 19

Flight deck TCS Bull Run: Megan Daniels was waiting for the shuttle from the Mastiff, and she smiled when she saw Nosann step off the shuttle. "So how are your people doing?"

"Most are good, but a few are still very hurt."

"I'm glad to hear that, I just wish we could have saved more."

"As do I Megan, as do I."

The guard looked at him, "I must return to my cell now, I have much to tell my comrades about your people."

"Do you mind if I walk with you?"

Nosann smiled, "I would like that."

As they walked in silence, he looked at her, "Have you thought about what I asked you?"

Megan looked at him, "Yes I have, and I think I would like that. Maybe when the war is over."

Nosann nodded, "Yes you are right, after the war would be gooder."

Megan giggled a little. "What is funny?" Nosann asked.

Megan looked at him, "I think you mean better, not gooder."

Nosann just nodded, and smiled, "Thank you, my English is still not best."

"Well you speak it better than some humans I know."

Now Nosann laughed, "I thank you, and I will try to get better."

Megan smiled, "Well then, I will help you with your English."

"I would like that."

..
Brig TCS Bull Run: The anla-shok prisoners saw Nosann enter the brig area, escorted by a young human female. His second looked at him, "We were worried Nosann, you have been gone for some time."

Nosann smiled, "There is no need to worry my friends, I have been safe. How have you been treated?"

"Surprisingly well Nosann, these humans do not act as we were told they would act."

Again Nosann smiled, and he turned to Megan, "My comrades have been well in my absence, and they are surprised by the way your people have treated us."

Megan looked at him, "Why?"

He looked at her, "We were led to believe that all of your people were savage barbarians, and that we should show your kind no mercy. But your brothers actions and the actions of the others have proven to me that that is not true."

Megan's eyes began to tear up, and Nosann put his hands on her shoulders, and then gently hugged her. The young anla-shok looked at him now, "Why is she upset Leader Nosann?"

Nosann looked at Jassaron, then spoke loud enough for all of the anla-shok to hear him, "Her older brother, who was her protector gave his life to save mine. I have sworn my life to her, to be her protector, and her friend. These humans have proven to me that we are wrong about them, even now the other humans are helping to care for our injured brothers and sisters on their other ship."

..
The other rangers looked at Nosann, they knew that the oath he had sworn was not one done lightly. Nosann's second looked at him, "Her brother must have been a very special man, please tell her that we grieve with her as well."

"He was, he was," was all that Nosan said.

Megan looked at Nosann, "What were you talking about?"

"I told them of what your brother did for me, and they asked me to tell you they grieve with you."

Megan's lower lip trembled a bit. "I also told my friends of all of the things your people have been doing to help my people. They must let our people know that humans are a good and kind race."

Megan looked at him, then she whispered in his ear, "How do I say thank you in your language?"

Nosann whispered the words in her ear, and then she turned to the Minbari anla-shok, "Thank you."

All of the anla-shok bowed to her.

..
Captain Grove's ready room TCS Bull Run: Captain Grove was rubbing his eyes, it had been a long day, and he still had reports to review. The monitor on his desk beeped. He touched it, "This is the captain."

"Sir, you have a signal from the admiral."

Jeff rubbed his eyes, "Ok put it through."

A moment later, he saw Admiral Douglas, "Jeff, how do you feel about a little trip?"

"What sort of trip sir?"

"Well, Jeff it seems that the Minbari want to talk, and maybe they and the EA can end their shooting war."

"That's good to hear sir."

"Yes it is Jeff, but as a gesture of good faith, the EA want us to return the Minbari prisoners. And I agree with them."

"So you want the Bull Run to take them home?"

"No Jeff, just to the meeting site."

"And where is the meeting taking place?"

"In the Edding system, and with any luck, it should only take you about 30 hours to get there. But we have to arrange the transfer of the Minbari, and see to their safe keeping until they get back to their own people."

"Yes sir, we'll get on it right away, so when do we get underway?"

"Well Jeff I would like you to be underway in 12 hours, if possible."

"Yes sir, we'll be ready to go by then."

"Good, I'll have Dr. Lloyd send all of the data on her patients to your MO."

"Yes sir, I'll let him know."

Now the Admiral looked at him, "Jeff, Lt Commander Sinclair asked if he could go along with you on this flight, and since you are technically traveling in Earth Alliance space, I thought it would be good to have a representative of the EA along."

Captain Grove just nodded, "Not a problem sir, I'll make the needed arrangements."

"Thanks Jeff."

The signal ended, and Captain Grove knew that they had a lot to do and little time to get it done.

..
Captain Grove thought for a moment, then got up and headed for the brig. When he arrived, he went to Nosann's cell. "I need your help Nosann, you and your rangers."

Nosann looked at him, "How can we help?"

"In a few hours, the Minbari prisoners will be transferred from the Mastiff to the Bull Run. You and the other prisoners are being returned to your people."

Nosann smiled, "That is a good thing Captain, but how can we help?"

"I would like it if you and your rangers would help to keep your people under control during the flight, and during the transfer. And I thought that you could help us set up an appropriate holding area for your people."

"How soon before the others are returned to Minbar?"

"Well if all goes well, about 3 days."

Nosann turned to the other rangers, "The humans are returning all of the Minbari prisoners. They have requested our help. I believe that we should help them. Does anyone disagree?"

The other anla-shok all nodded in agreement. "We will help you Captain."

"Thank you Nosann."

For the next two hours, the marines and the rangers worked on transforming one of the gyms into a large holding area and Captain Grove told Nosann all that he knew of the transfer. Soon the area was ready, and the Captain informed the Mastiff.

..
Brig of TCS Mastiff: Colonel Ellison entered the holding area, and whistled loudly. All of the Minbari prisoners were now looking at him. He activated a monitor on the wall, and soon the face of Nosann could be seen by all of the prisoners. "My fellow Minbari, I am anla-shok Nosann. The humans have arranged to have all Minbari prisoners returned to our people. They will be escorting you to shuttles to move you all to the ship I am on. Once we're all here, we will be leaving this system, and heading to a meeting with a representative of the Minbari. If all goes well, all of the prisoners will be back with the Minbari in 3 days. I ask you in Valen's name, do not do anything to disrupt this transfer. Think of your fellow Minbari, we've seen a side of the humans that few if any of our people know about. They have shown us mercy, and have treated our wounded. Would we Minbari show the same kindness to an enemy? As the humans have shown us their best face, we must now do the same." and the message ended.

Colonel Ellison turned off the monitor, and went to the first cell. He opened the door and held out a set of manacles. To his surprise, none of the Minbari prisoners gave him or any of the other guards any trouble. Soon the prisoners were loaded into the shuttles and were on their way to the Bull Run.

The Admiral called him for a report, "Well sir, I have to admit, whatever Nosann said to them seemed to work. I've had more trouble from flight cadets than I had from all of the Minbari."

"That's good to hear Colonel. Maybe things are starting to look up for once."

"Maybe sir, maybe."

..
Prisoner holding area TCS Bull Run: The majority of the Minbari prisoners were brought to the holding area, while a few were taken to sickbay because of their injuries. An Alyt walked up to Nosann, and she bowed to him.

"Anla-shok Nosann, I am Alyt Dosamar of the Soul of Minbar. I've thought about what you said back on the first ship, and you were correct. Our people dieing would not have served a greater purpose. By letting the humans help us, you have shown all of us that we may have been wrong about the humans. But I must ask you, I have heard a story that I find hard to believe."

"What story would that be Alyt Dosamar?"

She smiled as she looked at him, "I have heard from listening to our guards that a human was killed saving a Minbari. Is this story true?"

Nosann looked at her, and she could see the emotion in his eyes, "Yes Alyt, it is true. A very brave young man named Captain Daniels gave his life to save mine. And the humans then punished the man who killed Captain Daniels."

Alyt Dosamar bowed again, "Thank you anla-shok Nosann for all you have done for our people. And for opening our eyes to the truth."

Nosann returned the bow, and went back to helping the other Minbari prisoners.

..
Bridge of TCS Bull Run: Captain Grove was in his command chair, and he looked at the helmsman, "Set our course for the jump point, and take us out, half speed."

"Aye aye sir."

The Bull Run was soon moving and when they were out far enough, the captain ordered cruising speed. "How long to the jump point?"

The navigator looked at her console "6 hours sir."

The Captain looked at his XO, and got up from his chair, "I'm going to my quarters, call me in 5 hours Ian."

Commander Wesley nodded, and took the chair after the captain left the bridge. Commander Wesley looked at the course that was laid out, and then reviewed the information that the EA had given them about the Edding system. The planet they were going to was an icebound world, with no habitable areas. He contacted the quartermaster and had them start preparing ground gear for a winter environment, just in case.

..
Bridge of CRN Cruiser Asheval: The XO went to his Captain, "So sir, what is it this time? Pirates, raiders or some other nuisance?"

Captain Kalebar looked at him, "No Abram, nothing like that, we're going to disrupt a Narn weapons deal someone in intelligence found out about."

The XO smiled, "The Narn's huh. Good, it's about time we put them back in their place."

The Captain smiled as well, "Your right, ever since we gave them their freedom, they've been getting very pushy."

The XO looked a little worried now. "What's wrong Abram, worried about the Narn's?"

Abram smiled, "No sir, I'm just worried that they won't put up much of a fight."

Both men started to laugh.

..
Holding area TCS Bull Run: Megan Daniels entered the holding area looking for Nosann. A few of the Minbari looked at her, wondering what this human wanted. One of the warriors spoke to her, "Why are you here?"

Megan smiled, "I'm looking for ranger Nosann."

The woman smiled, "So Nosann has you interested in him?"

From the smile on her face, Megan felt that the woman had the wrong idea about her and Nosann. "No, he is my protector."

The Minbari woman blushed a little, "You are Miss Daniels? I have heard the story of your brother, and what he did. I am sorry for your loss. Please forgive my wrong assumption."

Megan smiled, and this help put the woman a little at ease, "That's alright, no hard feelings."

"Thank you."

As she turned to leave, the woman hesitated, then spoke, "Why did your brother save Nosann? After all he was an enemy."

Megan looked at her, "Because it was the right thing to do."

Alyt Dosamar just nodded her head. "Nosann is resting over there." and she pointed to the far corner of the room. Megan thanked her and went over to where Nosann was sleeping.

..
Nosann was resting quietly, and Megan just looked at him. She was about to leave, when he woke up. "Ah Megan. It is good to see you, what brings you here?"

Megan looked at him, then at her watch, "It's 0900, remember your English lesson."

Nosann nodded, "I am sorry, I was up late, some of our people became ill when the ship 'jumped' last night."

Megan smiled, "Don't worry, 'jump bellies' only happens to a few people. But it get's easier after a few jumps."

Nosann nodded again, "How many more 'jumps' will we make?"

"I don't know, but if you want, maybe the Doc can give your people something for it."

"Thank you I will check with the Doctor about that. Now I believe it is time for my lesson."

..
Bridge of TCS Bull Run: The flight to the Edding system had been uneventful for the crew and others on the Bull Run,except for a few bouts of jump sickness in the Minbari prisoners. But the med staff had handled that rather easily. Jeff Sinclair was on the bridge when they jumped into the Edding system. He was amazed at how they could travel so far in such a short amount of time. He turned to Captain Grove, "You know Captain, it would have taken us at least 2 to 3 days to travel this far in hyperspace."

As soon as they jumped in system, the Captain launched two flights of Rapiers, one to patrol the system, and the other to act as the CAP.

"So Ian, how long to the rendezvous time?"

"10 hours sir, with in system flight, that will leave us about 4 hours before the Narn ship arrives."

Captain Grove just smirked a little, "Leave it to computers to mess up a flight estimate."

He heard a few chuckles from the bridge crew; he even heard a small snort from Ian.

"Well sir, that's why they call it an estimate,"

"So they do Ian, so they do."

The captain called out, "Helm plot a course to Edding IV, best speed."

"Aye aye sir."