It was here now, and it would create order from the chaos. It would bring about the future, and the ultimate victory. A thousand years ago they had failed, due to the weaknesses of certain members of their race. They had had a chance for absolute victory, and it had slipped from them. That would not be so this time.
The Enemy were here already. That did not matter. That was irrelevant. They would fail. They would be defeated and destroyed, and all trace of them wiped from the galaxy.
The Vorlon cruiser emerged into the skies above Kazomi 7, and at that exact moment, across the planet, certain people noticed. Delenn of Mir sat up in her chair by the bed of the unconscious John Sheridan, who moaned in his delirious sleep. Ambassador David Sheridan swore loudly, but accepted that he had gained more time than might have been expected.
And Lyta Alexander started, her eyes glowing with an immortal light, as she awaited the arrival of the one she would have to follow.
'So, Mr. Morden, what have you been up to since our last meeting? A fair few months ago, was it not?'
Londo slowly poured a drink of brivare for himself, and held the container up towards Morden as an offer. With a shake of his head, the human refused. Londo nodded, and walked back to his seat.
'It's been over a year and a half by my calender, Emperor Mollari. I've been…. busy. Business here and there. You know how it is. I had a fair amount of meetings and arrangements on Proxima. I spent some months as a…. guest of Primarch Sinoval and his charming people. Exquisite hospitality there, let me assure you. Anyway, I heard of your recent…. troubles here and thought it prudent to come and offer my assistance.'
'We could do with some, let me tell you. But…. to be honest, Mr. Morden?'
'Honesty is the foundation of all lasting partnerships, Emperor.'
'Not among my people, it isn't.' Londo smiled, and sipped at his drink. 'We are gravely weakened by our recent…. how did you describe it? Troubles, yes. We cannot let word of this weakness leak out to the other races, least of all the Narns. When the time is right, we will make our presence known to the United Alliance of Kazomi Seven and to…. the other races. But for the time being….
'Well, you understand, I am sure…. we cannot go on bended knee to other races. Not even to your associates, Mr. Morden. And I am afraid I still do not know nearly enough about you…. or them.'
'Ah. You weren't this…. cautious before.'
'I was a landless and rootless wanderer when I accepted your offer on Sanctuary. Now I am the Emperor, and the lives and souls of every single Centauri rest on my shoulders. A little caution is understandable, is it not?'
'Oh, indeed. And I respect your candour. Very well then. What do you wish to know? Ah…. is this room…. secure?'
'It is my personal, private audience chamber. Which means of course that every noble in the Republic has tried to bug it at one time or another.' He chuckled, and sipped some of his drink. 'But for the moment…. there are no listening devices. There are five guards outside the door, and twelve more at various strategic points along the corridor. The only other person in this room is my personal bodyguard there…. Mr. Lennier, whom I trust with…. my life, amongst other things.
'Trust me, Mr. Morden. Everything you tell me will be in the best of hands.'
'Shaal Lennier, yes.' Morden looked at the Minbari, standing silent and still in the corner of the room. 'Yes, of course.
'Well…. what do you wish to know?'
'Who are your associates, for a start? And what do they want with me? Nobody ever offers something for nothing.'
'True enough, and they will benefit from this deal just as much as you will, Emperor Mollari.
'But…. to begin at the beginning. I was once an employee of an Earth company called Interplanetary Expeditions. Have you heard of them?' Londo shook his head. 'They were an archaeological company who investigated alien ruins on dead worlds, looking for leftover technology and so forth.'
'Ah yes. Sounds rather like some of the departments of our Ministry of Resource Procurement. A bunch of corrupt megalomaniacs to a man.'
Morden chuckled. 'Well, IPX was not quite that bad. Anyway, when the war with the Minbari came we suffered badly, but we recovered during the aftermath and absorbed certain other smaller companies. All rather boring business history stuff.
'About seven or eight years ago, I was part of a Government sponsored team, looking for alien technology on certain worlds in uninhabited areas of space. We needed anything that could help us oppose the Minbari. One of the worlds we visited was on the border of Narn space, in a fairly backward area. It was called Sigma Nine-five- seven.
'Something…. lived there. Aliens…. ancient ones. They contacted us, in a spirit of…. interest, I suppose. They explained to us what they were, and what they wanted, and we did the same. In exchange for certain…. services…. they provided clandestine help for my people, and my company.
'You do know of the Vorlons, don't you, Emperor Mollari?'
'The Vorlons? They are your…! Great Maker. Yes, I know of the Vorlons. But…. this raises a few more questions than it answers, Mr. Morden. The Vorlons are…. from what I was told, anyway…. enemies of the race called the Shadows, correct?'
He nodded.
'Then why did they do nothing when your Government made an alliance with the Shadows?'
'They didn't exactly do nothing. Unfortunately a different faction from the Vorlons who greeted me were in power for a long time. They were more…. peaceful, and did not want to risk a direct confrontation with the Shadows — except for the engagement at Proxima a few years ago.'
'I was there,' Londo muttered.
'Well, this…. peaceful faction recently lost power, and my associates among the Vorlon hierarchy took over. They are more inclined to direct action. In time…. they will try to remove the Shadow influence from my Government…. but they wish to help as many other races as they can first. Including yours.'
'I see…. Other races? What about the Alliance?'
'A Vorlon Ambassador is being posted there as we speak. Ha'Cormar'ah G'Kar has had a long and beneficial relationship with my associates, so he should welcome their assistance.'
'And so would we. But…. here is the question, Mr. Morden. The sixty-four thousand ducat question. What will this help cost?'
'We wish only to benefit the younger races in the galaxy. But…. there is a small price. They would like to post a permanent Ambassador here. They may also require…. at some point in the future…. assistance from your Government, should they elect to go to war with the Shadows. They will definitely not ask anything more than you can pay. Supplies, perhaps. A garrison for their vessels here. Support ships, maybe.
'But they can offer you a great deal. Help in ending this war with the Narns…. and military assistance should it be needed. They will also be able to rid you of these…. problems…. with the Shadow Criers. They have as much interest in that as you do.'
'Hmm….' Londo looked deep into his glass, swilling the remains of his brivare around. It had gone cold by now. 'You make an interesting argument, Mr. Morden. I assume you have full authority to conduct a formal treaty?'
'Oh yes. Completely.'
'An alliance with the Vorlons…. It is a more than tempting offer, Mr. Morden, but I must discuss matters with my Government. I assure you that only they will know of your offer. In the meantime, you may feel free to treat this palace as your home.'
'I would be honoured, Emperor. I leave you to your deliberations, then. Good night.'
'Good night, Mr. Morden.'
Londo was deep in thought as Morden left.
There is a finite level of rage that most people can manage: a built-in limit to just how angry they can get. For some, this level is higher than for others.
Delenn very rarely rose to the upper levels of her anger, certainly not in the way that people such as Sinoval
