Chapter 30

Satai Shakiri's chambers on the Valna-tha: The Shai Alyt brought the data crystal with the message from the Wind Sword clan elders to Satai Shakiri. "Satai, the elders have sent this message for the Gray council."

Shakiri nodded, "Thank you Shai Alyt."

Shakiri placed the crystal in a data reader and watched the message. Now he proceeded to the Gray council chambers. Once he entered, he summoned the other members of the council. When they had arrived, he placed the crystal in a data reader and then proceeded to address the council.

"We have received a message from the Wind Sword clan elders."

He activated the data reader, and the face of one of the clan elder appeared. "Members of the Gray council. We brought Sineval before us and informed him of his punishment. You will no longer need to worry about him. He took full responsibility for his actions, and accepted the judgment against him. He then ended his life of service to the Minbari people. Also the cruiser Tragotti has left Minbari space, and headed for an unknown destination."

The message ended, and the council members stood there silent.

Satai Delenn looked at Shakiri, "What did he mean he ended his life of service to the Minbari people?"

Shakiri looked at Delenn, "He ended his own life, before the guards could stop him."

"And the Tragotti?"

"As he said, it has left Minbari space. They do not know where it went."

Delenn looked at Shakiri, "I am saddened by your loss Satai, but it was his own choice."

Shakiri said nothing.

"We must try to find the Tragotti, but quietly."

The other council members just nodded in agreement. Delenn looked at Racine, "Send an order to all Shai Alyt's. If they spot the Tragotti, they are to try to get them to return to Minbari space. If the Tragotti refuses, then they are to contact the council at once, so we can track the Tragotti's movements."

"And if the Tragotti fires upon any of them?"

"Then they are to defend themselves only."

"It will be done at once Delenn."

..
The council now proceeded to discuss the terms and conditions that they would give to the Earth Alliance negotiators. After some heated discussions, they settled on the first two conditions. Now Satai Shakiri looked at Delenn, "Satai Delenn in your negotiations with the humans, the warrior caste must insist on one thing."

"And what is that Satai Shakiri?"

He looked at her and told her. The council members were all shocked by this condition that the warrior caste was demanding.

Hedronn looked at Shakiri, "You would ask for this, even knowing what you know?"

Shakiri looked at him, "I ask for this, because the rest of the warrior caste will demand it, they do not know what we know."

He now looked at all of the Gray council members, "If this isn't done, then many warriors may try to continue the fight with the humans. We could end up with a fleet of Tragotti's."

Delenn looked at Shakiri, "Although I do not agree, I know that what you say is the truth."

Now she addressed everyone, "We will ask for this demand, and may Valen forgive us all for it."

..
EA outpost on Edding IV: The crew of the Bull Run had done an excellent job of setting up the negotiations area in the main building. They had also set up temporary quarters for the delegates and security personnel. The Marines from the Bull Run made up the majority of the security detail, but the Anla-shok was also there as well. Most of them seemed to be getting along well, and they were learning each other's languages as best they could in the limited time they had. What surprised a lot of the Confed marines was the fact that most of the Anla-shok spoke the Mopani language. This helped, because at least half of the Marine detail was Mopani. The delegates from EA arrived first and were escorted to the negotiations area. The Minbari arrived, and were also escorted to the negotiations area.

Once all were present and seated, the lead negotiator from the EA, Senator Anya Sobetski, stood and addressed everyone. "On behalf of the Earth Alliance and her Ally's, I wish to thank the Minbari representatives for agreeing to meet with us. With any luck, we can end this terrible war quickly and begin a new future with our Minbari neighbors."

Once she had sat down, Delenn stood and addressed everyone. "On behalf of the Minbari people, I thank you Senator Sobetski. We to wish to end this war as much as you do. We also look forward to a better understanding between our peoples in the future. We hope that both of our peoples can learn from the mistakes of the past and move forward." then she sat down.

..
Now Racine stood, and addressed everyone. "The Minbari people will cease all hostile actions against the Earth Alliance and her ally's. But there are three conditions that we will need the Earth Alliance to fulfill. First, the Minbari Federation will make no reparations for damages that occurred in this war. Second, no Earth Alliance warship, or those of its ally's will enter Minbari space without the permission of the Minbari government. And finally, the Minbari Federation demands that the Captain who caused the death of our leader Duhkat be turned over to us for execution."

Racine had watched closely the reactions of the humans as he made the Minbari conditions known. Most of them reacted well to the first two conditions, but the looks on their faces turned to shock at their third condition. He sat down and awaited their answer. The EA team was quietly talking amongst themselves, and then Senator Sobetski looked at Racine and Delenn.

"We foresee no difficulties in meeting your first two conditions. But as for your third condition, we will need to confer with our superiors. We can't just order one of our captains to be put to death. Is there no way we can negotiate this point?"

Racine looked at her, "No Senator, I'm afraid that this condition is not negotiable, our warrior caste leadership demands this condition."

Senator Sobetski just nodded her head, "I see. Will you allow me 24 hours to confer with President Levy about this?"

Racine just nodded. The Senator looked at him, "Thank you Master Racine."

The delegates from both sides left and proceeded to their quarters.

..
Senator Sobetski's quarters, Edding IV: The Senator had a Gold channel signal sent to President Levy as soon as she entered her quarters. Soon she was looking at the President, and President Levy could see from the look on her face that there was a problem.

"What's wrong Anya?"

"Madame President, the Minbari negotiators have only three conditions for the cessation of all hostilities."

The president looked at her, "What are their conditions?"

She quickly went through the first two conditions, and then she hesitated. The President looked at her, "The first two conditions aren't as bad as we expected."

Senator Sobetski just looked at her, "Madame President, the third condition of the Minbari is that we turn over Captain Jankowski for execution."

The President looked at her, "Anya, are they serious?"

"Yes Madame President."

President Levy just looked down at her desk for a moment. When she looked back up, Senator Sobetski couldn't tell what the President was thinking.

"Anya, I'll have to check with our legal people about this condition. I will get back to you as soon as I can."

"Yes Madame President." and the signal ended.