History Recap / BabylonFiveS04E09Atonement

** ThePatriarch: Callenn.

* StockEpisodeTitles

* UnstoppableRage: Delenn's reaction to Dukhat's death.
-->"No mercy! No mercy!"
** The Minbari in general during the war with the humans. As one of Delenn's colleagues tells her, they are "a world gone mad", and the fires of their madness cannot now be controlled; they must burn out over time.

Later in his office, he briefs Stephen and Marcus on a mission he's sending them on. Clark's propaganda machine has been pounding on them for weeks and Sheridan wants to make a counter move before it's too late to do anything. He's sending them to make contact with the Resistance on Mars. That will enable them to establish alternate lines of communication and begins getting ready for the inevitable fight with Earth. Franklin will go representing B5 command staff, since he's not as likely to draw attention as Sheridan, and Marcus will act as his bodyguard. And they are to leave as soon as possible, since it will take a long time to go the roundabout way.

On the ''Valen'tha'', Dukhat marches past, calling Delenn for to come with him. He brings her before the Grey Council and begins explaining an issue they have been debating for some time, whether or not to make contact with a race known as humans. Each of the three castes has said "no", and he asks if she would like to hear why.

* FantasticRacism: Callenn seeks to keep Minbari "pure".

On a Warcruiser, Dukhat marches past, calling Delenn to follow him. He brings her before the Grey Council and begins explaining an issue they have been debating for some time, whether or not to make contact with a race known as humans. Each of the three castes has said "no", and he asks if she would like to hear why.

As she speaks, a regal looking Minbari appears, sitting perfectly still as a younger Delenn approaches nervously. He invites her to sit with him and tell him her name, Delenn of the Family of Mir, a name he recognizes.

* AwfulTruth: Callenn clearly regards the fact that many modern Minbari have human DNA as this, and Delenn is able to use it to leverage an agreement where he approves her marriage as an ancient Minbari reconciliation custom in exchange for her keeping it to herself.

* DiedinYourArmsTonight: Delenn holds Dukhat in his final moments.

* AltarDiplomacy: Minbari have a custom dating back to the days when they actually made war on each other where the winning side would offer a daughter in marriage as a symbol of life. Delenn's family decides to pass off her marriage to Sheridan as this.

* UnstoppableRage: Delenn's reaction to Dukhat's death.

* WartsAndAll: Delenn fears that her standing with Lennier would be harmed from his knowing her involvement in starting the Earth/Minbari War. [[Heartwarming/BabylonFive She's wrong]]; Lennier holds no grudge despite losing family on the Black Star.

The worker caste are worried about their position if new sources of food and artifacts becomes availible, the religious caste are worried about the influence of a primitive and violent culture on their own, and the warriors just think they're not worth the effort. He then asks Delenn what she thinks. She tries to protest, but he insists, with some mild prodding, she give an answer. With the entire leadership of her people watching her (probably glaring at her), the girl tries to stammer out an intelligent and thoughtful-sounding answer, that the Universe presents mysteries (such as the humans) as a gift, and that common politeness would demand at least attempting to understand it.

Later, Lennier comes with a scroll of family histories that he "obtained" from the archoves of the Grey Council. Delenn waves it in Callenn's face, explaining that she is a descendent of Valen, originally the human Jeffrey Sinclair. After his change, Valen was still partially human, and passed that down through his children to the modern age. How many, she asks, carry his legacy? Callenn admits they cannot be counted. Delenn decides that she will make the case that she was never fully Minbari to begin with and so there will be nothing to lose by marrying a human. Callenn fears it will cause [[AwfulTruth great confusion among their people]], but since Delenn is not willing to relent, he comes up with an alternative. In ancient times, after a war between their peoples, the winning side would [[AltarDiplomacy give a daughter in marriage to the other as a symbol of life]]. He offers to pass her union with Sheridan as this tradition, an offering to the humans who died in the Earth-Minbari War, which he imagines would be a great sacrifice. Delenn just gives him a knowing smirk.

Back on B5, Sheridan is waiting as Delenn arrives. She just tells him everything's fine now. He's simultaniously amused and annoyed that she won't say what it was all about but the important thing is she's back. As they walk off, she asks about Stephen and Marcus, who are already on their way to Mars. Sheridan thinks they'll probably turn this into a sight-seeing tour, take the time to enjoy themselves.

-->'''Delenn''' Perhaps anothe might be better suited to...\\

The worker caste are worried about their position if new sources of food and artifacts becomes availible, the religious caste are worried about the influence of a primitive and violent culture on their own, and the warriors just think they're not worth the effort. He then asks Delenn what she thinks. She tries to protest, but he insists, with some mild prodding, she give an answer. With the entire leadership of her people watching her (probably glaring at her), the girl tries to stammer out an intelligent and thoughtful-sounding answer, that the Universe presents mysteries (such as the humans) as a gift, and that common politness would demand at least attempting to understand it.

He and Delenn return to the Council Chamber, where the display shows a groups of unknown ships approaching their location. Delenn believes thay are human ships (she'd done some investigating on her own) but they cannot understand their transmissions. Per Warrior Caste tradition they are approaching with gunports open, but when Soul Hunter ships appear, they realizes something terrible is about to happen. Dukhat orders the ports closed, but the human ships open fire, doing serious damage to the cruiser and killing many on board. Dukhat is among those wounded, and as Delenn tries to pull him to safety he dies in her arms. Moments later, another of the Council comes tells her the Council is split on whether to pursue and exact revenge, or wait to analyze what happened and asks for her vote to break the tie. Grief-stricken, Delenn orders retaliation, strike them all down, kill them all!

The worker caste are worried about their position if new sources of food and artifacts becomes availible, the religious caste are worried about the influence of a primitive and violent culture on their own, and the warriors just think they're not worth the effort. He then asks Delenn what she thinks. She tries to protest, but he insists, with some mild prodding, she give an answer. With the entire leadership of her people watching her (probably glaring at her), the girl tries to stammer out an intelligent and thoughtful-sounding, that the Universe presents mysteries (such as the humans) as a gift, and that common politness would demand at least attempting to understand it.

As Delenn follows him out, she asks if they will make contact. No, they will be even more stubborn and overruling them at this point would do no good, but she has impressed him enough to take her on as his personal aide. She is astounded, but gladly accepts.

** Sinclair going back in time and becoming Valen had more ramifications than just reorganizing Minbari society.

-->'''Dukhat'': You have a proud heritage, Delenn of Mir, prouder than you know.