Chapter 32

President Levy's Office: President Levy was looking out the window of her office, when the comm. unit on her desk buzzed. She hit the switch, "Yes."

"Madame President, General Leftcourt just called. He said to tell you that he and the Captain would be at your office in twenty minutes."

"Thank you."

The president closed the channel, and then looked back out the window. She felt a single tear run down her cheek, and she wiped it away. She was about to ask a man to voluntarily give up his life. Even though she knew what was at stake, she knew that this was going to be the hardest thing she had ever done. She had been an Earthforce officer during the Dilgar war, and had ordered men and women to go on missions that they might not come back from, but this was very different. There was no coming back from this mission, and she knew it. Now she said a silent prayer for strength and courage, then she prepared for her meeting with Captain Jankowski.

..
Twenty-five minutes later, General Leftcourt, Captain Jankowski, the JAG and the president were sitting in her office. The president activated the switch on her desk and the white noise field activated. She turned to Captain Jankowski, "Captain, I take it that the general has filled you in on our situation."

"Yes Ma'am."

"Captain, I have been informed that I can't legally order you to do this. So I have asked that you be brought here, so that you can have the opportunity to volunteer."

Captain Jankowski cut her off, "Madame President. The general has already filled me in, and I don't need a soft sell job to get me to go."

He stood up and came to attention, "Madame President, I am formally requesting to go on this mission."

She looked at the JAG and then him. "Captain Jankowski. You do understand that there is no coming back from this mission?"

"Yes ma'am I do."

"Before I agree Captain, I need to know why you're volunteering for this mission."

The captain had a slight glistening in his eyes. "Ma'am, my ego and arrogance started this war. Right now I have the blood of thousands on my hands. By going on this mission I can, in a small way, atone for my crimes. And I can hopefully prevent the deaths of billions of other people."

"I see."

Now the president stood up, "Captain Jankowski. On behalf of all of the citizens of the Earth Alliance, I thank you. May God bless you in this mission, and watch over you."

She looked at the General and the JAG, who both then stood up. The three of them saluted Captain Jankowski. He returned the salute, and then the president held out her hand, which the Captain shook.

"Again thank you captain."

..
After the others had left, the president opened a gold channel signal to Senator Sobetski. The senator could see that the president looked like she had been crying, but she said nothing. "Yes Madame President."

"Anya, inform the Minbari that Captain Jankowski is on his way to the negotiations, he should be there within eighty hours. Also tell them that we agree with their other conditions as well."

The president saw the slight look of shock on her face and raised her hand. "Anya, believe it or not, the Captain volunteered to go."

"Yes ma'am. I'll inform the Minbari representatives immediately."

"Thank you Anya, for every thing."

The signal ended, and now the Senator knew why the president had been crying.

..
Minbari representative's quarters: Senator Sobetski made her way to the Minbari quarters, and was ushered in to see Delenn. "Miss Delenn, I've just spoken to President Levy. She wanted me to inform you that the Earth Alliance has agreed to all of the conditions set forth in our earlier meeting. Captain Jankowski should be here in about eighty hours."

The Senator was trying to judge Delenn's reaction, but there was none. "Thank you Senator, I'll inform my government immediately. The formal agreement can be finalized as soon as possible."

"Of course Miss Delenn."

Senator Sobetski turned and left Delenn's quarters, and as soon as the door closed, Delenn sat down and started to cry.

..
Lennon's quarters TCS Bull Run: Lennon was meditating, when the buzzer on his door sounded. He got up and answered the door. He saw Commander Sinclair standing there. "What can I do for you Commander?"

Commander Sinclair looked at him, "Can I come in?"

"Of course Commander, I am being impolite."

Once he was inside and the door closed, he looked at Lennon. "Tell me if it's true."

"What would that be Commander?"

Sinclair looked at him now, "Is it true that your government wants Captain Jankowski turned over to them?"

Lennon looked shocked for a moment, and then looked at the Commander. "This is the first that I have heard of this. But it doesn't surprise me."

He went over to the desk and sat down, and he pointed to the other seat, which Sinclair sat in.

"Commander, how much do you know about the Minbari government?"

"Not to much really, no one on earth does."

..
Lennon looked at him now, "Our government has a supreme ruling body known only as the Gray council. It is composed of three members from each of the three castes. Three workers, three religious, and three warriors. The major decisions are handled by the council, and a majority vote is needed to pass any decision."

"That's similar to our Senate."

"Yes it is, but the Gray council has the final say in any matter that pertains to the people of Minbar. So when you tell me that one of the conditions for this peace treaty is that your people turn over Captain Jankowski, I know that that condition was most likely put forward by the Warrior caste members of the council."

"But why would they want him?"

"Because the Warrior caste will want blood for blood."

Lennon turned on the monitor on the desk and touched the screen a few times. "I have been looking over the major religions of your world Commander. I have found an interesting quote from one of you Holy Books. I believe it is called the bible."

Sinclair just looked at him, "And what did you find?"

..
"I found this quote in the book of Leviticus. It goes, "If anyone takes the life of a human being, he must be put to death. Anyone who takes the life of someone's animal must make restitution-life for life. If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. As he has injured the other, so he is to be injured. Whoever kills an animal must make restitution, but whoever kills a man must be put to death. You are to have the same law for the alien and the native-born. I am the LORD your God.""

Commander Sinclair just sat there for a moment, and then Lennon looked at him. "I am afraid that many of our warrior's feel the same way Commander. They will demand the life of Captain Jankowski for the life of Duhkat."

"So what's going to happen to Captain Jankowski?"

"He will most likely be turned over to the warrior caste leaders, and be charged with the death of Dukhat. After that, he will most likely be executed by the warrior caste."

..
Sinclair and Lennon just looked at each other for a moment. "Your Captain Jankowski must be a truly brave man to give himself up to an enemy."

Sinclair just shook his head, "No, he's an Earthforce officer who's trying to protect the people of the Earth Alliance."

"Either way Commander, I don't know of many who would do what he has been asked to do."

Sinclair just nodded, "Hero's are a rare breed in the universe Lennon. No matter what species you're from."

Lennon just sat in his chair and silently nodded his head in agreement.