Rumors, Bargains and Lies

<h3>Act I</h3>
<p data-rte-fromparser="true">Lennier locates Delenn in a viewing chamber. She's recalling the beautiful cities she remembers back on Minbar, how they stood ageless and eternal, and how the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Grey%20Council%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Grey%20Council%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BGrey%20Council%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="25-16092850155ded14756e261" href="/wiki/Grey_Council" title="Grey Council">Grey Council</a> was revered among the people with great awe. But now, with the Grey Council dissolved and the eternal cities under threat, she's filled with a considerable sense of regret. Did she do the right thing when she broke the Council? Lennier tries to invoke the words of <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Valen%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Valen%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BValen%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="25-16092850155ded14756e261" href="/wiki/Valen" title="Valen">Valen</a>, but since they know the truth about Valen, his words carry a caveat. <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Jeffrey%20Sinclair%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Jeffrey%20Sinclair%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BJeffrey%20Sinclair%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="25-16092850155ded14756e261" href="/wiki/Jeffrey_Sinclair" title="Jeffrey Sinclair">Jeffrey Sinclair</a> left them late last year; everything they are experiencing now, he could not have foreseen. She had made the mistake that the rigors of Minbari society would have momentum: allowing it to keep moving in spite of the Council's absence. Lennier points out that the Council kept the peace by suppressing all the grudges and insults. When it dissolved, that safety valve disappeared. Then he gives the real reason for coming: the <i><a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Takari%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Takari%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BTakari%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="25-16092850155ded14756e261" href="/wiki/Takari" title="Takari">Takari</a></i> has received their signal and is awaiting their arrival in approximately one hour. He's also contacted <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Neroon%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Neroon%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BNeroon%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="25-16092850155ded14756e261" href="/wiki/Neroon" title="Neroon">Neroon</a>, though whether or not he'll heed her message, he doesn't know.
</p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">Sheridan is talking with Ambassador <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Londo%20Mollari%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Londo%20Mollari%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BLondo%20Mollari%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="25-16092850155ded14756e261" href="/wiki/Londo_Mollari" title="Londo Mollari">Londo Mollari</a> in his quarters, and it seems Mollari is a bit annoyed. Sheridan wants him to <i>deny</i> that a defense agreement is in place. He's asked <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22G%27Kar%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22G%27Kar%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BG%27Kar%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="25-16092850155ded14756e261" href="/wiki/G%27Kar" title="G'Kar">G'Kar</a> to do the same. Mollari, understandably, asks what he is trying to do. But once again, Sheridan deflects the question and just says, "Trust me."
</p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">The <i>White Stars</i> rendezvous with the <i>Takari</i>, and Neroon awaits their arrival...along with several members of the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Warrior%20Caste%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Warrior%20Caste%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BWarrior%20Caste%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="25-16092850155ded14756e261" href="/wiki/Warrior_Caste" title="Warrior Caste">Warrior Caste</a>. There is noticeable tension as several <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Religious%20Caste%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Religious%20Caste%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BReligious%20Caste%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="25-16092850155ded14756e261" href="/wiki/Religious_Caste" title="Religious Caste">Religious Caste</a> members stare down the corridor at them. Fortunately, the tension remains quiet until Delenn appears. Neroon explains that he was tempted to ignore Delenn's message, but he was curious. Also, things got a little tense as the White Stars approached as it looked like they were preparing to shoot the <i>Takari</i>. Delenn wishes to talk matters with him one on one. Neroon asks why she'd place her trust in one of the Warrior Caste, and Delenn replies she'll reveal her motive when they're alone. There is a brief standoff when the Warrior Caste members don't step aside for her, but they eventually let her pass, and she and Neroon depart to have their conversation. Lennier leads the Religious Caste members away, but they resent Delenn's treating them with respect. They've heard the rumors of them starting hostilities and of the Religious Caste planning to step aside for them.
</p><p data-rte-fromparser="true" data-rte-empty-lines-before="1">Once alone, Delenn explains her reasoning. Neroon notes that there is some animosity between them since he was chosen to replace her on the <a data-rte-meta="%7B%22type%22%3A%22internal%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22Grey%20Council%22%2C%22link%22%3A%22Grey%20Council%22%2C%22wasblank%22%3Atrue%2C%22noforce%22%3Atrue%2C%22wikitext%22%3A%22%5B%5BGrey%20Council%5D%5D%22%7D" data-rte-instance="25-16092850155ded14756e261" href="/wiki/Grey_Council" title="Grey Council">Grey Council</a>, creating the imbalance that ultimately led to its dissolution. But Delenn does not blame Neroon for that. Despite being Warrior Caste, his motivation is justice, not power. She realizes that in this civil war, a winner means <i>everyone</i> loses as the resentment will boil over and tear their civilization apart. Neroon points out her breaking the Council was key to this civil war. Delenn replies that they need to look forward, not backward. As for why she's talking to him, better an honest enemy than a servile ally. Neroon then confides that he feels the war won't end so quickly. There is a millennium of resentment fueling it, and they are "two against a world gone mad," so Delenn says they need to get their attention, and for that she needs his help. Each realizes doing this was risky, as their Castes could turn against them. Understanding this, Neroon agrees to listen.
</p><p />
<!-- Saved in parser cache with key babylon5:rte-parser-cache:333 -->