“You’ve hypothesised all this from one destroyed probe?”

“We’ve had a little… extra information on that score.”

“The planet is known to my friends,” spoke up a female voice. Sheridan kept his expression perfectly level, but he turned to see a woman step out from behind the table. “There was once a powerful, technologically advanced race living there. My friends came across some exiles from that race and they told us everything we needed to know.” Susan Ivanova smiled and Sheridan dug his fingernails deeper into his palms, keeping his hands behind his back.

“It appears that your scouting mission was sloppy, Captain,” said Clark. “I wonder where else you have been negligent.”

“With respect, Vice President,” Sheridan said coolly. “I had to perform complete scouting reports on four star systems in the space of three weeks at a time when the Babylon was poorly manned, poorly equipped and in poor condition.”

“We are at war, in case you hadn’t noticed. We have neither the resources nor the time to give you everything you ask for. You will simply have to make do with what you have, but we still expect nothing but the best from you. If you can’t give us that, then maybe we should appoint someone who can.”

“Morgan, please,” whispered President Crane wearily.

“Actually, the Captain is not to blame,” Ivanova said. “Almost certainly amongst the technology on that planet are sophisticated cloaking devices. If it weren’t for my friends’ prior knowledge, then I doubt anyone could find it.”

“Your instructions, Captain,” Hague said, “are to go to this planet, and make a full survey of the resources available to us. You are to lay claim to that planet in the name of the Earth Alliance and begin the construction of bases and encampments for scientists and tacticians to evaluate the technical resources there. If anyone… anyone at all – friend or foe – tries to stop us laying claim to those resources, then you are to destroy them. You are not to flee under any circumstances. Is that understood?”

“Perfectly, General. Will Miss Ivanova be accompanying us?”

“No,” Susan said. “I’m sure you can handle this one on your own. If you do need any more firepower however, I’m sure I could dispatch a few of my friends to go along with you.”

Sheridan nearly winced. He remembered what Susan’s friends had done to those two Minbari cruisers at Vega 7. “That will not be necessary. I’m sure they’ll be needed here in case the Minbari attack.”

“That need not concern you, Captain,” said President Crane. “The information we gained from the prisoner you brought – gained by Mr. Welles and verified telepathically by Miss Alexander – indicates that the Minbari will not attack until the power struggle within their Grey Council is resolved. They cannot choose a new leader until the period of mourning for their old one is over, and that will not happen for several months. You need not worry about the Minbari.”

“Yes, Madam President.” Sheridan made a formal bow and salute and stalked from the chamber. Only when he was outside did he realise that he had dug his fingernails so tightly into his palms that he had drawn blood.

“It could be a coincidence,” Corwin said. He looked at Sheridan’s furious expression. “All right, so maybe it’s not a coincidence.”

“She had to know. Somehow, Susan knew about this.” Sheridan was sitting casually in his small ready room off the bridge of the Babylon, lounging back in his chair and resting his feet up on the control panel. It was hardly the proper posture, but he didn’t care. “How could she have known?” He looked sharply at his second. “Have you had any contact with Miss Ivanova lately?”

“No. I don’t know what it is. It’s like she’s been avoiding me.”

“I did a little digging into her personnel file. It was exemplary. First class. That’s why she was entrusted with such a secretive and high class mission but… I don’t know what it is. There’s something… oh, I wish I could put my finger on it. I’m sorry to bother you with this, David, but have you noticed anything unusual… anything at all?”

“Aside from the fact that she’s been ignoring me completely for over two months?”

Sheridan groaned. “Aw hell. You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“No, sir. I have noticed something. She’s changed. She’s very different from the woman she was. It’s… almost like I’ve lost her again.”

Sheridan silently cursed himself. Why did he never notice these things? “I’m sorry, David. I shouldn’t have…”

“No, sir. We all have a duty to humanity, and to the Resistance Government. That takes precedence over private concerns.”

“Not always. How long until we get to Euphrates?”

“Three and a half hours or so.”

“Long enough. You – go and have a talk with G’Kar. Tell him how you feel. Believe it or not, he’s damned good at this sort of thing. That’s an order, Mr. Corwin. I know it won’t be easy, but at least talk to him. He has a rare gift, and we should at least get some use from it, don’t you think? Call it part payment for ferrying him out here. Mr. Corwin… that is an order.”

“Yes, sir.” Corwin did not move. “Sir? Who are you going to talk to?”

“I… don’t know.” Then he smiled softly. “Yes, I do.”

“Ah, Captain.” Delenn smiled softly. “It is… good to see you. My thanks for bringing Neroon’s message to me.”

“It was… my pleasure,” he said, looking at her carefully. She was seated on her small cot, hands folded demurely in her lap, seemingly at peace with the world and everything in it. Sheridan knew better. He’d read some of the transcripts from her interrogation by Mr. Welles, and he knew that Delenn was definitely not at peace, with anything. Beneath the demure exterior lurked a soul at conflict with itself, perhaps even more than Sheridan’s was.

Was that the reason he had come here? When all was said and done she was still a Minbari, and not just any Minbari, but a Satai. Welles had not uncovered the precise rôle she had played in the war, but Sheridan did know that she had been a powerful and respected member of the Grey Council. She had represented one side of a dangerous power struggle in the Council. How much blood was on her hands? How much of a part had she played in the instigation of war against his people? How much pain and loss did he owe to her?

And why had he come here seeking peace?

“Was I interrupting anything?” he said slowly, hesitantly.

“No,” she replied. “I was just… meditating. It has become harder for me of late.”

“You miss your friends? Your home?”

“I would be lying if I said that I did not, but no… it is more than that. I long ago accepted that I would go where I must, and I would go into darkness as easily as light.”

Sheridan shook his head. “I don’t think I caught any of that.”

“I am sorry. Our ways must seem… strange to you. I have little right to cling to them, I suppose. I am not on Minbar any longer. I am alone here, and fully aware of how I am regarded by those around me.”

“Nothing will happen to you,” he said. “Everyone on this ship knows that you are not to be harmed. They won’t disobey my orders. I promise you that.”

“I am not afraid, Captain. This body is but a shell. There are few people who can touch me in any way as to hurt me.”

“But Welles did.” Delenn looked away slowly. “Welles managed it. I’ve read the transcripts of your questioning. I saw what you looked like when I got back. Look at me, Delenn!” She turned and met his eyes. “Everything he said to you was true, wasn’t it? Everything he got from you was true.”

Softly: “Yes. It was. The blood of billions is on my hands, and I can find no reason to justify it to myself. The war was not fought for a good cause, for duty, or honour, or light. It was fought for anger and pride and selfishness. It has taken me a long time to realise this, Captain. Far too long.”