A Universe of Change: By Candlelight Defiance
Author: Albert Green Jr.
In association with author RenS and author Ash's Boomstick. Extra special mention Ed Becerra
NOTICE: THIS STORY MAY BE DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE BUT MUST NOT BE SOLD OR EXCHANGED FOR FINANCIAL RETURN IN ANY FORM.
-COPYRIGHT/DISCLAIMER NOTICE-
"Star Trek", "Star Trek: The Next Generation", "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", and "Star Trek: Enterprise" and all related Star Trek related material (and there's a lot these days), it's characters and certain technological devices and/or references to such, from the television shows and movies, maybe or are registered trademarks of, and may be or are copyrighted by Paramount Studios and whatever Corporation it may or may not be owned by.
"Babylon Five", it's characters, certain technological devices and/or references to such, from the television show, past present of near future, may or are registered trademarks of, Babylon 5, characters, names, and all related indicia are trademarks of Time Warner Entertainment Co., LP.
"Forbidden Planet", its characters, certain technological devices and/or references to such from the movie, is the property of Metro Golden Mayer.
"Battlestar Galactica", its characters, and certain technological devices and/or references to such, from the television show, past present of near future, may or are registered trademarks of, and maybe, or are copyrighted by the Universal Studios Corporation and any future owners. By the way, this is NOT BSG2003. This is old school here. (Also, this is only mentioned as a reference to other stories of mine mentioned in this series.
"Stargate and Stargate SG-1", its characters, certain technological devices and/or references to such from the movie characters are the property of Stargate Productions, Gekko Productions Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and the SYFY CHANNEL. We're talking 'Stargate' here and not 'Stargate-SG-1 for the most part. If I live long enough to finish this everything will become clear.
None of the Studios is responsible for the content of this story. Other names and additional characters are the creation of the author who is solely responsible for them.
Additional characters are the creation of the author who is solely responsible for them. Neither Studio is responsible for the content of this story.
THIS STATEMENT MUST ACCOMPANY THE STORY 'A UNIVERSE OF CHANGE' IF DISTRIBUTED. THIS STORY IS FREE OF CHARGE AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR EXCHANGED FOR FINANCIAL RETURN IN ANY FORM. THIS DEDICATION MUST ACCOMPANY ANY DISTRUBUTION OF THIS STORY.
Important information: This story was started in the year of our Lord 2008. So, I am now working on this once more. We won't discuss old age… it is being torn apart and redone. This is radically different from the first iteration.
I thank my family for allowing me to continue to write after all these decades. I thank her again; I thank Andrew Caruthers for his excellent writing style. And I thank Ren and Bob profusely for their contributions to this story and all of their comments and suggestions, without whom this story would have never as entertaining as I pray it will be to all who read it. There are a few others to whom I give thanks to and will mention them as the story progresses. And I must not forget RenS for his heavy contributions in the first version and in this one.
Albert Green Jr. (Skeet)
To everyone who has followed AUOC for these long years, I thank you and honor all of you for your loyalty and your comment, criticisms, and corrections. What you are about to read is a summation of this series so far. To those who are new and know what's going on, you can skip this section.
For those who are coming and reading this for the first time, my new generation, I encourage you to read this portion or you'll be confused as to what's going on. I will try to make it as painless as possible, but if you are truly interested, then I also encourage you to read the entire series before you start here. These stories are found on this site.
The progression of this series and the other stories are as follows: The AUOC series: (1). A Universe of Change. (2). Those Who Stand. (3) Allies in Blood. And now, (4). AUOC: By Candlelight Defiance.
Related stories: The Ruination series The Federation-Cylon war-and I mean old school here, not the new BSG: (1). Evolutions: book I, (2) Evolutions-Gleanings past and future, (3) The Ruination Imperative.
I decided to get crazy to explain what was happening and how the crossovers connected even though they weren't and wrote: 'The Conversation'. This short story connected both series. Next: 'The Ruination War-Search for V'Ger' and this started to crossover into the AUOC series. It's a temp cross and was not meant to last. 'A Thin Veneer: supplements' also crosses over for a brief time as well.
If you read the copyright rules above, you will notice that Stargate is mentioned. This is done for several reasons and I hope to get to that portion after I finish this story. However, in all the series such as 'Those Who Stand', and 'Allies in Blood', there are hints mentioned throughout. Therefore, it was always there, but not at the forefront.
Please Enjoy
A Universe of Change
By Candlelight-Defiance
"The future is always changing. We create the future with our words, our deeds, and our beliefs."—Lady Ladira, Babylon Five: "Signs and Portents"
"Never trust Beings that pose as beings of Light to use the third edge. For in their pride, they tend to lie."—New Minbari saying when speaking of the three-edged sword"
"The Sinhindrea aren't necessarily evil. They just don't care, and that's worse" - Guinan's supplementary interview at Babylon Five.
Chapter One
Babylon Five
July 30th, 2263
Personal log: Susan Ivanova, Commander, Executive officer Babylon Five: Eight days ago, while Earth was under attack by the Sinhindrea, Centauri Prime was struck, and the Centauri somehow beat them off. The official report sent to us has a lot of holes in it, and I suspect they didn't win as much as the Sinhindrea left for reasons of their own. Personally, I suspect that the Sinhindrea are consolidating their forces around Minbar. Centauri Prime suffered, that much we know, but they're being tight-lipped. I've never seen Ambassador Mollari so frightened.
Earth Alliance, Babylon Five and others will have a conference in two days on Laberre, getting everything out in the open and see exactly what our alliance will come up with to assist Minbar. We need to finalize some issues in the treaties everyone signed. The Grand Conference here at B5 is over and the details are about to be hashed out.
I'm sure Earth Alliance is going to ask for everything, including the Fed's kitchen sink, which by the way, is pretty good, but we will see what they get. EarthGov desperately wants shield technology badly and I can't blame them, especially after what's happen at home. Given the situation, the Feds will probably give them their older versions, a generation under what B5 has, and let them start from there. Earth Alliance is playing nice, but it'll take a while before real trust is established between the two of them. Senator Wills isn't helping the situation, especially as the election is coming up. Smart money says he'll lose, but the big corporations are with him and they're all here on B5 plotting. They didn't take the Proxima offer to help very well. They see the handwriting on the wall, and they're planning to try to stop it. It's amazing how they're worried about money when everyone's lives are at risk.
Senator Wills has changed his divisive rhetoric but is still pushing his 'humanity first' agenda, especially since the treaty was signed. He's pushing the new senators into forcing Starfleet to join Earth Alliance instead of remaining a fully accepted as an independent entity. I've also heard rumors that he's pushing for all new technology being used on Earth go through thorough testing and comply with the regulations before being used in Earth Territory. I can understand his concerns and under most circumstances I would agree without hesitation, but I don't trust his motivations. It would take years of testing and analysis before approval. But those doing the testing are the same corporation entities that want to smother the technology in the first place. They cannot stand the competition and everybody knows that they would never certify anything unless they had control over the products and tech. this technology is a dagger at their throats and they will either take control or squash it given half a chance and Wills knows this. He hasn't changed. but Earth Alliance's political landscape has since the attack. An entirely new crop of politicians has sprouted up to replace the ones who died. They're not easily swayed by the 'old man'. But the Feds are watching him carefully.
Picard hasn't officially complained how Earth Alliance obtained gravity and polarized plating from the stolen Star fury, and the Feds don't really care because it's old technology to them. But they are wary of the EA's kleptomaniac propensities.
Those technologies, along with the tritanium ingots the Alliance is trading for, have helped Earth alliance come a long way. That still does not bring us up to Minbari levels. We're still behind the Minbari and even the Narn when it comes to new technologies. But everything is about to change. We all still have a long way to go. Earthforce is keeping Higgins as far away from B5 and the Feds as possible. I think that's a good idea.
B5's still standing because of those new systems, and the Feds are under tremendous pressure to provide something for Earth Dome. Even the Proximans have some kind of energy shield defense for their planet and on their saucers. They're small in terms of numbers, but with the Narn, Drazi, Brakiri, and Klingons working together with them, we'll have a powerful second line of defense, at least that's my expectation and I'm thinking that'll happen if we have enough time.
Everybody seems optimistic as we are coming together for the first time as a unified force. Of course, the Minbari have not come to the table yet and I can see why. Their system is being attack. We're not supposed to know this, but the Sins have attacked their planet and they are doing everything in their power to take their world back. I can't blame them. We're going to have to do something soon if we all want to survive. If the Minbari fall, we all fall.
I still wish I knew what really happened at Centauri Prime because I believe that it's coming back to bite us somehow.
Babylon Five Diplomatic Quarters
Making arrangements and getting to this place in a timely manner, was one of the more difficult arrangements Senator Bruce Wills had done in a while. Transportation was at a premium and difficult to obtain even for one of his station and prominence. He did manage to obtain passage on the EAS Omega Huntsville, Cassandra Holiday, commanding. She and her ship were one of those accepted for the exchange program with the Federation. The woman was one of those who was excited about the program, had requested to be in the program as soon as she heard about it. Wills wasn't happy with her attitude. She was too pro-Federation and didn't share his attitude of caution about these foreigners.
A part of him really didn't want to be here. There were other responsibilities that needed his attention. The election coming up sooner that he'd like. Earth was in a shambles and preparation for said election was proceeding slowly. The people at home required immediate medical help. The numbers of people blinded by the flash were beyond comprehension. Feeding the masses was a challenge but getting better because of Proxima's help and therein lay a problem for him and his election hopes.
President Luchenko was up in the polls, a direct result of the interview that Federation ambassador Guinan gave on Babylon Five and the direct help that the human Federation provided, first helping to save this station and then Earth. The combination derailed his political dreams and sent him scrambling to catch up. Many of his supporters were in North America and were now dead, their resources lost. The polls suggested that his chances of capturing the Presidency were dwindling. With the election barely two months away, he was forced to do something drastic if he were to have a chance at winning.
Ex-President Elizabeth Levy was here acting as ambassador to Babylon Five on behalf of the current president. The woman's popularity was as high as one could get, which was just one of the reasons why Luchenko picked her to be Earth's representative.
Earth's situation was critical, and the economic nightmare wasn't any better. The Sinhindrea aliens tried to destroy the world and almost succeeded, gutting Earthforce in the process. The north American region and a significant portion of the Pan Mexican sector and some of Canada was laid waste. Out of the hundreds of millions of people hit, only seven survived the attack and five had died of plasma burns within the last three days according to ISN reports. Most of the Earth's surface at the area of the weapon's strike was little more than dust. Everything, including viruses, to a depth of a hundred ten meters for thousands of miles in every direction was dead. Wills shivered as he remembered that the attack was only twenty percent of the actual potential.
Ships and crews had sacrificed themselves to save the world, muting the weapon's destructive nature before it hit. A full strike…he didn't want to think about it. That strike and other events cemented his resolve to ascend to the Presidency of Earth Alliance. A strong leader, not unstable like Clark, was required to steer the world during these treacherous times.
His presidential aspirations required him to come to the station to counter Luchenko, and he needed support. The public and press needed to see him here, looking out for his fellow man with strength, determination, and above all, compassion. He also needed support if he were to become the leader to help guide Earth and its colonies through the coming war and to a bright future. That was why he was here.
The CEOs of three major corporations, Pro Zeta, SynthaCorp, and Frazil, were here at B5. They hadn't yet left for Ceti Gamma II, and Senator Wills suspected they weren't very eager to leave Babylon Five anytime soon. It had taken them three weeks to get to the station and it would take another three weeks to return. Being stuck on transport without sufficient escort frightened him so he could imagine how scared they were about the idea of going through wild space filled with those maniac aliens trying to kill everyone. Their colony was well protected against conventional attacks, but protection was a relative concept these days. To the CEO's and colonists of Ceti Gamma II, the attack on Earth proved how defenseless they really were. Their private military assets weren't going to cut it.
Until they came here, the war was something far away that wouldn't necessarily affect them. But the last few days had changed the corporation leaders' mind. They weren't fools. Like many of the Earth Alliance colonies, their colony was far away, inadequately protected and a primary target for the enemies, correction, this enemy of Earth and humanity in general. It wasn't a profitable situation for themselves or their corporations. Every colony was terrified and in serious talks with Proxima III. None of the corporations, Earth Alliance or Wills were happy with that.
It was a fortuitous coincidence that they were on the station since he had wanted to meet with them, anyway. Instead of Vid-chat, he could speak to them face to face now. The CEOs were also anxious to meet with him. And so were the representatives of the United Interstellar Unions: Senior Chapter.
They needed to talk.
Babylon Five
Lorien stood looking through one of the small windows on the station of Babylon Five, contemplated existence. That was what he did. Being such an old entity, reputedly the oldest being in the galaxy, he thought he knew and had seen most everything there was to see. Then he met Guinan.
He felt the power of Q for a timeless instant when he found himself on this station. Then, during his talks with Guinan, he discovered that the Rim was so much more than even he knew. She didn't speak much of it, but what little she did hint at was tantalizing. Those discoveries showed him he hadn't seen nearly enough. So, he began reevaluating his last three thousand years.
At this moment, his thoughts were centered on his old home, Z'ha'dum.
Those who knew of its existence could barely say the name without shivering in fear and disgust. The name itself was merely a convenience.
The planet was an old place, so old that no one knew its true name, save one. Most of the younger races and a few of the middle-born aliens believed that the Shadows were the original inhabitants.
But they were wrong. Z'ha'dum's true history and nature remained a secret even though it was inhabited at one time or another by several ancient species far older than the Shadows, in succession for the last several million years. Many species embraced the darkness of this planet. It called to them like distant lovers, and they came. Its darkness called to those steeped in darkness.
Lorien concluded that it was because the planet wasn't a dead world. but even he didn't know the full truth. The planet was something no one suspected. It was a jewel of darkness and secrets, a place crafted by imaginable powers. It attracted those who craved the darkness, who found comfort in its embrace and made it their home.
The Usbin lived there for more than a hundred thousand years before they left. The multi-limbed Gurminsu lived there almost three hundred thousand years before they also left. Few knew who they were even fewer knew why they left. But if anyone had asked them, their answer would be. To live in such a place, even becoming one with the darkness, was only temporary. One could only wither and die if they remained too long, and so they left. What none of them knew and Lorien only suspected was that there were others there.
They had always been there.
The planet was more than a place devoid of sunlight. It harbored a darkness inherent from the very foundation in the creation of this world. It was created solely to draw in darkness and isolation. No one knew if the planet was natural or artificial. No one knew if its creation was specifically for this purpose, or if it was an aberration of the universe. Indeed, those thoughts never entered any of the inhabitants' minds. It was known only that it was old. It was a dead world that attracted and supported life. An aberration.
No one thought of that fact either, because they had denied them the ability to pursue those thoughts.
There were things neither seen nor heard by any of the inhabitants, except maybe in their dreams. Whatever they were, those entities chose to remain invisible to the lesser inhabitants who temporarily called Z'ha'dum home. Whatever truly walked the hills and valleys, whatever swam in its oceans, was seen by no one, but they influenced everyone that called the planet home. The Darkness thrived in darkness and whatever walked on the planet called Z'ha'dum, walked alone.
The next to the last race to inhabit that world were the Shadows and considering the planet's history and the nature of the Shadows, it wouldn't have been surprising, at least to humanity. Darkness called to darkness. But it was also a place of refuge because of the very existence of its darkness.
Lorien knew and understood that truism and because of that, he felt it his duty to stay and convince them to turn from their own darkness. He spoke to the dancers and they listened to him carefully, took in his lessons, and arrived at the exact wrong conclusions. In the last war, billions of the younger species perished. The Shadows lost that war, but they never surrendered. Instead, they retreated and hibernated, waiting for the time to return and try again. For the Shadows, the question 'what do you want?' was more important to them than the billions of lives lost during the first war and the billions of lives they planned to extinguish again.
Lorien wasn't surprised. But he was a patient being. So, for a thousand years, he waited for them to listen and finally understand what he was saying to them. And waited some more. This was Lorien's weakness. He was perhaps too patient, hoping for something that wouldn't happen.
His eyes were also upon the Vorlons. Like the Vorlons, they listened carefully, but the so-called Beings of Light were so rigid in their thinking they also took the lesson in the wrong light. So, Lorien waited some more and planned to continue to wait until they got it right.
If he had known the truth about Z'ha'dum, then he would have known that the Whisperers insured that his lessons could never be taken to heart. The Vorlons and Shadows wouldn't listen to him, so he decided to wait until they would. Because of his despair, he waited in the worst place imaginable; a place of darkness; a place of shadow. And the First of the First ones waited for both the Shadows and Vorlons to come to their senses and end this useless conflict.
The most ancient of being in this universe resisted the darkness, but its isolation called to him. Lorien shrouded himself in that isolation, hoping the wisdom he was conveying would get through to the Shadows. It was futile as he'd always known. The light of wisdom rarely enlightens those steeped in darkness, especially with so many whispering in the night.
What he never suspected was that those same intangible entities couldn't seduce him into darkness, so they did the next best thing. They seduced him into being patient. If they couldn't turn him, then the next best thing was for him to do nothing and continue to do so. Lorien's strength was turned into weakness and the entities of Z'ha'dum were content.
Ten thousand years ago, the Shadows built their cities on Z'ha'dum and became embroiled in a philosophical battle both figuratively and literally with their rivals, the Vorlons. The debate was so intense and the participants so intractable that their heated debates evolved into a real war with the young ones being used as pawns.
Entire species were snuffed out in the war that happened approximately every thousand years. Among the younger races not privy to the truth, there were various beliefs about the cause of the wars, inappropriately named the War against the Darkness. But the elders of the galaxy understood the true nature of the conflict, and they called it the Two Question Wars.
Lorien called it something else. He named it the War of the Circle. As was his nature, he chose to wait and try to convince his adopted children to turn from their useless argument. But it was not to be.
Something happened, something that no one expected to happen. The dimension gate built by the Vorlons opened and everything changed. That which was contained was free again, and the universe screamed in terror.
The Shadow Empire was no more. The Vorlon Empire was no more. Both Light and Dark fled for the Rim, leaving their charges and the rest of the young races to fend for themselves. They thought they would find safe haven there, and the consequence of their actions ultimately of little importance to the overall scheme of things. The young races left behind would die and in doing so provide the Vorlons and Shadows valuable time to prepare. After all, what was a few thousand years to such as them?
Both Vorlons and Shadows knew that the young races would try to fight against the Sinhindrea and break themselves against the incoming storm. The Vorlons knew that the young races existing in that Third-Space were too weak to resist the Sinhindrea. In the other universe, thousands of worlds were destroyed and thousands more were being destroyed. That galaxy faced extinction, or so that was what the Vorlons believed.
Vorlon and Shadow beliefs shattered during the conference held at Babylon Five. It was the opinion of both that the conference was one of the worst events in history. They were betrayed and humiliated in front of the younger races.
The Vorlon Kosh Naranek had revealed secrets best kept quiet. The much-hated Admiral Janeway from the United Federation of Planets knew far more than she should and took perverse pleasure in revealing her knowledge to the younger races on Babylon Five. The Vorlons couldn't stop her mouth from moving. Kosh Ura wanted to punish her with death so badly.
He didn't dare.
Lorien wouldn't allow him to stop her, stating that she was protected by some great power and that this power would take great pleasure in making the Vorlon race suffer for a very, very long time. The Vorlon leader Kosh Ura believed him.
The other humans and their Klingon allies were much more advanced than they ever should have been. They were aberrations, obviously protected by some other First Ones who must have secreted some young races away to a haven where they could advance unchecked.
Somewhere the Vorlons and Shadows had enemies that decided to interfere with the natural order of things. The human-based Federation ships and crews were formidable and powerful enough to kill Vorlon, Shadow, and Sinhindrea warships. No young race should have such power!
Those others knew too much and were too dangerous. Their very existence demanded extermination. The Vorlons hated them because they weren't controlled by them. The Shadows hated them because they killed their most powerful battlecrabs and got away with it in front of the lesser races and the Vorlons.
The impudent creatures were the primary reasons the young races rejected both elder races. They ignored their elders and decided to band together in the mistaken belief that they could survive the Sinhindrea without guidance. It didn't matter that both elders had no intentions of helping those worms. It was their defiance that infuriated Kosh Ura and the others. That should never have happened. With the Federation literally giving away their technologies (in the Vorlons' opinion), as well as the United Planets crew, (and the Soul Hunters!), and the more advanced Voyager Federation starship, as well as the Klingons, the list stretched seemingly into seemingly infinity was unacceptable! Uncontrolled technological expansion was the recipe for disaster for the younger races.
But they couldn't see since they were too young and foolish. In trying to stop the Sinhindrea, they would soon destroy themselves with advanced technology they were not ready for. That was the philosophical fear of both Vorlons and Shadows. But what if they somehow survived the Great Enemy and not destroy themselves as they should."?
It was all the Federation's fault! The circle, the plans in operation for thousands of years, destroyed because of them!
Then, there was the abomination who pretended to be human. What was Guinan really, and who did she work for?
Originally, the Vorlons and Shadows both dismissed rumors that the Starfleeters were from another reality. The Elders were utterly convinced that the others were from an unidentified, hidden region of space hidden region of space located within forty to sixty thousand light-years. Both races claimed to have traveled the galaxy, but neither claimed to have travelled everywhere, and that's why both were searching for their places of origin. And once they found that region, both Vorlon and Shadow intended to slaughter them all and everyone they were in contact with, including the local races once under their charges, before the Sinhindrea attacked in force. They intended to be long gone, leaving the Sinhindrea with nothing but decimated worlds to conquer. It was fantasy, but one the Elders planned to make a reality if they had the time.
But again, something happened to throw everything into doubt.
The Vorlons, and eventually the Shadows, begrudgingly acknowledged that the rumors might have validity when they intercepted the transmission from a vessel called the Galactica directed towards the other humans. The vessel was unimportant, but the transmission was confirmed by both to be of extra dimensional origin. The transmission came from the hijacked Vorlon gate and was indisputable. It was most convincing. Kosh Ura believed that the other humans were from another universe as strange as it sounded. Logic dictated that humans couldn't have evolved in the exact same way as the humans here, parallel evolutionary theories notwithstanding, but here they were. Everything fit so well. It meant that the other humans were from another universe and beyond Vorlon and Shadow's reach. However, it also meant that the other humans here were cut off and alone. They could be dealt with. Time, however, and Lorien's threat stopped them. The need to escape to the Rim was more important than revenge.
Nonetheless, the unknown First Ones who engineered this made a critical error. It was a faux plan, an elaborate one with points of misdirection everywhere. These other humans hinted that they originated from the Sinhindrea universe, but those hints of the other humans being from that same universe were lies intended to leave the elders down a false trail. These other humans and aliens were from this reality and this galaxy.
The Federation's explanations were all lies meant to misdirect Kosh Ura's people and the Shadows into not searching for the true origin of the Federation and Klingon territories! Those lies wouldn't work, no matter how convincing their proof was in the eyes of the young races. It almost succeeded, but those First Ones, in trying to deceive the Vorlons and Shadows, made one critical error.
The Enterprise, the Ambassador, and the Yeager all possessed the same quantum signature as everyone in the universe. The universe's fingerprint was unique and there was no power in the universe able to circumvent that rule. Their unknown adversaries didn't know that both the Vorlons and Shadows could detect the quantum signatures that made all of their work a magnificent failure.
It also meant that the other humans weren't alone and could call for help the instant the Elders made their move, so again, the Elders couldn't touch them without retaliation. . Guinan was the key. If they could find out her origins, then they could discover where the others were located and deal with them all at a time of their choosing. And when his people found out where they were, both the Shadows and his people would kill them all and remove their disease from existence.
Once the signatures of the first set of interlopers were identified, there wasn't a need to scan Voyager for their quantum signature or that of the other UP ship and crew. Those enemy First Ones were hiding them, protecting them, and the Vorlons didn't dare attack the other humans until they found the location of their home worlds. It was a small mistake, but one that would chart the course of Vorlon and Shadow actions for the duration of the war.
Kosh Ura considered his planned actions. Was it justice for all that those creatures had done, or it was vengeance? Regretfully, he acknowledged the cold truth. It was revenge, and that was more than enough reason because of what they had done to the Vorlon people.
Guinan.
How he hated that creature, but just as importantly, he feared the female thing. She was a First One who wasn't. She was a mortal, but timeless. She seemed harmless but had power to defy the Vorlons and Shadows. She carried her humility like a sword. She killed a Shadow Lord! She was unnatural.
Kosh Ura wasn't the only one who despised her. The other Vorlon leaders who glimpsed her power, power so tightly held in that it was undetectable unless she chose to reveal it, were wary of her and what she represented. Whoever her people really were, they timed it so that his people were not only unprepared and unable to do anything about it, but did it in such a way that the entire Vorlon people were humiliated in front of the lesser races.
The two elder lords participated in many long and sometimes tense discussions concerning that human-looking female thing. They both came to two conclusions. First, Admiral Janeway was protected by a powerful First One, as Lorien had told them. The second conclusion was that Guinan was a First One assigned to protect their thralls. Guinan's superiors had declared war on them.
In Spite of the danger of the Sinhindrea, the Shadow and Vorlon scouts wouldn't rest until they found where those responsible were and punished them and those lesser races they controlled accordingly.
No, it was more than that. It wasn't that they wouldn't rest, it was that they couldn't rest until the Federation and Klingon territories were found. Both races burned with the need for retribution. The seeds planted for their revenge weren't sufficient. That form of revenge would take too long. Ura needed to see firsthand the destruction of the young ones.
Could the elders live with unsated rage, or would they stay and burn the Federation to ashes before the Sinhindrea could? Would the Rim still be available for them? Were they strong enough to keep the Sinhindrea from following them before they were finally strong enough to defeat them? Did they have the willpower to try, or was survival more important than revenge?
If the Sinhindrea were somehow defeated, then his people would return and start over, recreating the Circle once more. The Shadows claimed that they won the debate. They'd discover otherwise, Ura thought viciously. But there was a cost and a unified decision to make.
Sheridan, the so-called Federation, Earth Alliance, the Minbari, who turned their backs on their masters, and the others contaminated by Guinan. Every single one of those races needed to be exterminated and expunged from the collective memory of the Vorlons forever.
Both light and dark needed to decide and decide soon.
Minbari Shagotti Valen'tha
Seat of Power–Grey Council
Destination Chi Draconis–Minbar
Inside his private chamber, Satai Coplann sat on his couch contemplating the single source of light in his room. A candle. He watched it as he flickered, illuminating the room with its light. The dimness in the room reflected his mood of the last few days. The Minbari fleet left Babylon Five three days ago, headed for Minbar. The Sinhindrea were attacking his world, had a foothold on the planet, and were fouling it with their presence. Reading the updated reports filled him with anger and a sense of loss. But it also filled him with rage. His people were dying and there was little he could do about it until he arrived. The invaders hadn't begun slaughtering the population as everyone had expected, but the Sinhindrea were crushing any resistance they came across. This attack differed from their actions perpetrated on Earth.
That world suffered the full wrath of the aliens who intended to sterilize the population and lay waste to the planet. The attack on Minbari was different. All incoming data suggested that the enemy didn't want to destroy it. They wanted to subjugate it. And, as Sheridan had said, their fleet was waiting for the Minbari to attack and when they did, Coplann knew that either they would push the enemy away from Minbar, or they would all die trying, effectively dooming Minbar and the rest of the galaxy to slaughter and death.
The single candle flickered and drew Coplann's attention to it again. Minbar's fate flickered in the same way. If the Minbari fleet failed to remove the Sinhindrea, then Starkiller would be forced to keep his promise to destroy Minbar and that terrified the satai. The others could not allow an enemy to remain in place so close to their worlds. Coplann knew that Sheridan would destroy Minbari because he would do the same thing if he were in his place.
It was frightening to be on the other side of the equation.
Earth Alliance didn't have the power to make good on such a promise, but he knew that those Federationists did. Neroon's reports and the videos were most enlightening but didn't give him the full picture of the people. Granted, he hadn't had the time to examine the reports in detail, but what he read had disturbed him.
Like all Minbari, he believed that those other humans and aliens had technology far above their station and couldn't be relied on to handle it responsibly, evidence aside. He knew of the rumors of their origins, but he dismissed the rumors as fantasy. It was too fantastic to be believed and he also knew that if they were from another universe, then the Vorlons and the Shadows would have immediately attacked and wiped them out. Those First Ones made their attitudes on the subject clear during that unprecedented conference on Babylon Five, before Shakiri went on his ill-advised mission to Z'ha'dum.
Shakiri's plans almost destroyed the Grey Council. True, his mind was contaminated by Sinhindrea telepathy, but his base dreams of power were what fueled the coup in the first place. Those dreams influenced him to imprison the Grey Council, attempt to force Earth Alliance into becoming a vassal of the Minbari and try the same with the Starfleeters, all in the same of saving everyone. Naturally, everyone would be subjected to him as he would be the automate authority over everyone. Coplann still chaffed at that thought. Shakiri was so far gone that he threatened to destroy Babylon Five and Laberre if they didn't surrender to his authority.
Politically, it was a disaster, although under different circumstances, he wouldn't have necessarily disagreed with Shakiri's reasoning. However, the Starfleeters, although small, were a terror he wouldn't have wanted to engage in a war. But he needed information to help resolve the Councils dilemma concerning them.
The Starfleeters helped save the seat of Minbari power at B5, but would they help now? Would they help Minbar when their own station, Babylon Five and Earth and its colonies, threatened? Reports could do only inform so much. He wanted to understand who these people were, not just evaluate reports given to the Council. Coplann prepared himself. In five minutes, he would speak to Alyt Menroi a Star Riders and the others.
One challenge of leadership was listening to people he didn't like. Among these was Alt Kuran, one of Shakiri's followers. He did nothing while the mentally challenged Shai Alyt imprisoned the Grey Council on the Valen'tha. It was a gross breach of protocol, a terrible betrayal of the Minbari people during a time of ultimate crisis.
Then there was Alyt Yunmay, of the clan Blood Knives warrior caste. Both of them and several others had much to answer for in the coming days, but for now, they were needed and Coplann required their input and observations on the Federation. Now was the perfect opportunity to do so as they journeyed towards Minbari and destiny.
Coplann entered the meeting chamber and they greeted him with deep bows by the attendee. Both Yunmay and Kursan seemed especially respectful at the moment. Coplann smiled internally, knowing that they knew that their lives were in the balance. The Minbari didn't take betrayal lightly, and there would be a reckoning.
Of all those in attendance, Alyt Menroi appeared the most relaxed in the satai's presence. The elder Minbari look almost defiant as he stared back at Coplann, almost daring him to criticize his actions with the Federationists.
"Greetings fellow warriors. I called you from your duties to discuss the human colonists who call themselves the United Federation of Planets or the UFOP Starfleeters, as some of the Wind Swords have taken to calling them."
"That acronym sounds like something one tries to avoid stepping in," Yunmay snorted, his opinion about the Starfleet people being well known.
"Yes, it does," Coplann acknowledged. "However, they have done nothing to cause us to insult them, so the council will not use that acronym and advises the other castes to follow their example. From all reports, they have been very respectful other than the incident at the station. That, I will say was an honorable challenge, unlike so other actions that weren't. "
Yunmay and Kursan stiffened. They knew what Coplann was talking about since they were personally involved in the incident.
"We followed the orders of the leader of the Warrior caste," Yunmay said coldly.
"And you almost started a battle between our allies!" snapped a livid Coplann. "Valuable resources needed for Minbar's liberation would have been lost." Taking a deep breath to calm down as much as he could while continuing. "But that isn't the reason we are here," he explained. "I want your opinions on the Starfleeters. What can we expect from them? We know they are powerful, but are they dangerous to our Federation and what is their threat level? The Council has read the reports, but what we need are personal opinions about them. Alyt Menroi, you've had the most interaction with them. Please share your opinions first."
The elder Alyt bowed quickly. "I have spoken and interacted with them since they first made their presence known at Babylon Five in the Earth civil war. We were close to blows before discovering that we were there for the same purpose. The Enterprise and Ambassador penetrated our stealth. I was confident and dismissive of those small ships until their power emissions climbed to full power and locked onto our Sharlins. My subordinates broke the locks several times and each time the reacquired. Within a few moments, they obtained a solid lock we couldn't break. They could hit us with accuracy, which I now know would have been catastrophic. All of us were very displeased with that revelation at how the stealth systems we have relied on for a thousand years were rendered useless against these people. Fortunately, Sheridan stopped us before we started shooting at each other. We were tense around one another, heavily scanning each other for signs of treachery. But what surprised me was their invitation to visit their ship."
"And of course, you went," Yunmay snapped. "Did you not recognize the danger they represented then?"
"Of course," Menroi snapped back. "Visiting their ship represented an opportunity to gauge the threat level of a potential enemy. I'm sure the Blood Knives would have acted differently and started shooting first while possibly, just possibly, thinking later. Sadly, your ship would be in pieces and your crew floating in space because of your stupid decisions."
"You dare!"
"The Blood Knives are not known for their patience, only for their ability to attack threats, whether real or imagined."
Yunmay, clan Blood Knives looked ready to attack Menroi. His clan was volatile at the best of times. Blood Knives identified themselves by the intricate multi-colored jewels implanted into their faces. It represented a form of intimidation and identification. They were a small clan, but a dangerous one when riled. Clan Fire Wings were almost as dangerous but were more stable.
"Enough," cautioned Coplann. "We are not here to insult each other or fight over philosophical differences. I need you to tell me about them," he ordered before everyone came to blows. "Alyt Menroi, continue with your observations."
"Some of my officers and I went onboard the Enterprise," he said. "I confess I didn't expect anything other than the bare formalities. What I did expect was that they wanted to assess us as much as we did them. The fact that they could break our stealth disturbed me and I wanted to determine their technological level as we could not penetrate their ship with our sensors, a condition that should be impossible.
"Their actions to our presence surprised us. Unlike Earthers, these humans weren't tense around us. They gave us a tour of the ship at a level that surprised all of us. We would have never done the same. I met with their crew and officers and spent several hours with them discussing our culture and the differences between them and Earth Alliance. They had no knowledge of the Earth-Minbari war, and as we discussed the conflict, they didn't respond the way I expected. They're quite different and I enjoy their company. Are they dangerous? Yes. Are they a threat? Yes. Are they a threat to us? Yes, because they threaten our complacency and the status quo. Will they threaten us? The answer is no. We've threatened them. They've responded with respect. They could have destroyed Shakiri's forces with ease, but they didn't. They avoided a war Shakiri nearly began, not only with us but with Earth Alliance." He glared at Yunmay and Kursan, who stared back in defiance.
"You stood against your own people," Kursan snarled. "You were Garret's second."
"It was an honorable challenge. Why shouldn't I offer when she was in the right and was the one offended by Aly Rannoann?"
"You should have supported Rannoann. You should have been the first to challenge them."
"Why, simply to prove we're better than they are?" Menroi asked.
"Yes!" Kursan snapped. "They have upset the balance. The younger races needed to be reminded who the Minbari are and to remain in their places."
"We are at war!" Menroi roared. "Not with them and here we are, arguing about our status in the universe. They are honorable and they can help us survive. We need allies, strong ones, and here you are, upset because we lost in honorable combat, one that Alyt Rannoann initiated in front of everyone. He accepted his defeat with honor. He became a friend to Captain Garrett. Satai, if you want to understand the threat level of the Federation Starfleeters, then ask the workers and religious caste on Babylon Five how they feel about them. Ask the Minbari women who are pregnant and those planning to become pregnant. Ask the medical workers castes of their opinions. Ask the Wind Swords, the Star Riders and yes, even a few of the Blood Knives and Fire Wings on B5 how they feel about the Federationers. Ask Draal. Ask the Narns and humans. Ask their once-enemies, the Klingons their opinions. Again, I ask, are they threats and again my answer is yes. Are they a threat to us? My answer is no. Unlike some others in this room. I know allies and friends when I see them."
"But he lost to a human! That's intolerable," Yunmay roared.
"When this war is over and Minbar is safe, I invite you to challenge her and the upgraded Ambassador. When you and your crew die, I will pray a quick prayer to the universe that your souls are accepted despite your stupidity."
Coplann remained silent, content to allow the argument to continue. The various clans of the warrior castes rarely got alone. This discussion however was very insightful. Captain Picard and his people were reshaping the Minbari Federation whether they knew it or not, and although he would never admit it, he looked forward to seeing what the future brought. And his primary question was answered. He would ally himself with the Federation. The small group of humans and aliens would turn the slaughter into a real war where the Minbari might survive. He continued listening as the argument increased in volume. He learned quite a lot, more than he expected.
Then Menroi threw a bombshell direct at him.
"Why is it that the leaders of our people never officially spoke to Picard and the others? You were there during the honor challenge. You saw Voyager cut a Shadow battlecrab three times its size, in half with its weapons. You saw them stand up to both the Shadows and the Vorlons and both backed down! You fled to Babylon Five for protection from the Sinhindrea, and they helped protect you from harm. I find it shameful that you never officially acknowledge any of those actions," he said coldly. "Satai Deneen, and I know she isn't Satai anymore but for me, she is always Satai, and Neroon acknowledged those actions to the Federation. The Council however have ignored them as if they were unworthy of their full attention. You worry about their threat to us. How must they feel about our threat to them when you ack as you have?" he asked , glancing at the others. "Then you want them to help us in the liberation of our home against an enemy the Shadows and Vorlons fled from? Is it pride that keeps our leaders from acknowledging them, or is it fear that you may be submitting yourselves to someone who might be in some way superior to our almighty Federation? Is it easier for us to ask for honorable combat again instead of taking the first few steps towards true friendship when we need it the most?"
The others in the room were utterly silent as Coplann glared at the fell Star Rider man, speechless. His face was set in stone as he tried to formulate a response. Menroi had exposed a glaring weakness in the Grey council. They had ignored the small group of other humans and aliens, yet they were depending on their help in freeing Minbar. There was in a quandary and suddenly, this meeting had turned in a direction he had never anticipated.
Slowly, he opened his mouth to speak.
Babylon Five
Lorien shook his head as he thought about both of his adapted children. Their fantasies were just that, fantasies. The First of the First Ones pushed those thoughts away. What mattered was Z'ha'dum.
The planet may have looked dead, but he always suspected that the planet was somehow alive, a living entity, and it nourished those who loved darkness. No matter what damage the planet suffered, it always somehow harbored life. That was the reason they came to Z'ha'dum. The planet nourished them. However, there was one question that he hadn't figured out.
"Why did I stay on Z'ha'dum for so long?" He turned to the others next to him. All four of them stared into space in silence. "Do you know why, Kosh, or you Guinan?" he asked.
Kosh said nothing because he didn't know the answer.
"You waited until the Shadows were ready to learn," Barkesh said to him.
Guinan merely smiled. "You already know the answer, Lorien," she said. "You know who you are. If darkness couldn't control you through darkness, then the planet chose to control you through isolation. You contemplated when you should have listened.".
"The planet." Lorien nodded in understanding, perhaps truly understanding for the first time.
The Vorlon Barkesh appeared confused. She didn't understand and she detested not knowing almost as much as she feared the Guinan creature.
"I hate this place," she whispered for perhaps the hundredth time.