[video]

[faithmanages]

[Greetings, community. You have a beautiful alien woman staring at you. If it was that kind of sci fi premise, you might be in for a fun escapade.

However, this is NOT that kind of sci fi premise, and she is looking at you like she's not going to take any bullshit.]

This is Ambassador Delenn of the Minbari Federation, aboard the White Star. I have received your transmissions, though your identification code is unknown to us. Please identify yourselves and explain how you have accessed our channels.

Comments

[faithmanages]

It is said among my people that the universe is alive. It then creates souls from itself, in the stars, planets, and people. The souls of people are pieces of the soul of the universe, just as our bodies contain the same molecules that exist in the stars. As we learn more about ourselves and the universe, so the universe learns more about itself.

[embersandashes]

And who are your people, exactly?

... It's an interesting theory. I won't discount it.

[faithmanages]

The Minbari, of the planet Minbar. If my planet does exist in your world, my people have generally preferred to keep out of the way of other planets and races.

[embersandashes]

The Earths that I live on aren't familiar with many - if any - alien races. The planet I grew up on wasn't either.

[faithmanages]

Perhaps that is for the best. My people and the Humans did not have the best of first impressions.

[embersandashes]

Oh? Care to share?

[faithmanages]

Attempts at first contact led to miscommunications, which resulted in attack, which resulted in all-out war. I am sorry to say that the last part in that sequence of events is my doing.

[embersandashes]

Which side attacked? What sort of miscommunications were there?

[faithmanages]

It was a first contact situation, and neither side spoke the same language. A gesture of respect and show of open arms among one caste of my people was interpreted as a threat of attack by the Humans. When we did not withdraw our weapons, they believed they were in imminent danger and fired, with our ships' shields down. Our leader died in the attack, and we declared war, all because of a simple mistake.

[embersandashes]

... I can't blame the humans. I would have ordered them to open fire too, in a situation like that.

[faithmanages]

Yes, and Dukhat realized this just as it was happening, but it was too late to stop it. The rest of us, I'm afraid, did not share his wisdom and reason.

[embersandashes]

Including you?

[faithmanages]

Much to my regret, I made the deciding vote in favor of war.

[embersandashes]

And now you wish you hadn't.

Did you fight?

[faithmanages]

I was not part of the Warrior Caste, and with my duties, I oversaw the battle. I found a way to end it, however, without the complete destruction of the Humans.

[embersandashes]

How did you do that, if you don't mind my asking?

[faithmanages]

I suggested that we capture one of the Humans for interrogation, just as we were breaking through to their homeworld. However, during interrogation, we discovered a terrible secret about them that had to do with our own people, and the revelation would destroy our people.

[She's careful about the way she words it, but given the subject matter, it's understandable, right?]

Because we weren't ready to have this revealed, we had to end our attack.

[embersandashes]

Would you have allowed it to continue if it weren't for that?

[faithmanages]

I had long since lost my appetite for the war, as had the rest of the Council. We had made the Humans pay for Duhkhat's death hundredfold--there was no longer a point to their complete extermination. But we needed a reason to stop.

[embersandashes]

Because stopping for no reason would have made you look weak - like you were giving in.

[faithmanages]

Exactly the Warrior Caste's reasoning, particularly when we were on the verge of victory. The Humans were permitted to believe that they'd turned the tides in a final, desperate battle, compatible with their various mythologies. Our warriors were confused about the order to stand down, but they accepted the Council's wisdom. When a time comes when it is more appropriate to explain further, then we will. But for now, this is enough.