From tww@pegasus.ualr.edu Fri Jan 10 10:58:59 1997 Date: Thu, 02 Jan 97 09:34:04 -0600 From: "Timothy W. Wofford" To: b5-creative@lists.best.com Subject: Honor / No Honor The Minbari and the Narn, along with other races, seem to be overly preoccupied with "honor" compared to the Humans, at least in their conversations. So this story came about in reaction to the question 'where or what do Humans find/have honor?' As I said this is a 'reaction' to this discussion we had after finals while sitting around in the Physics department; so the writing is probably not too good. Any comments / recommendations about / improvements in the writing style, or grammar, or mechanics, or the plot or lack there of one will be greatly appreciated. After all I am only a lowly Grad Student. The characters and situations in the story are the property of Warner Bros. & JMS, no copyright infringement is intended, for entertainment only, and all other normal legal disclaimers. Honor / No Honor by Timothy W. Wofford email: tww@curie.ualr.edu [NOTE: This story takes place the day after "Gray 17 is Missing"] circa 22:00 War Room A hard day on Babylon 5, the Shadows attacked a colony in that day's early morning hours, and refugees had been arriving all day. This had the effect of causing the command staff to become a little stressed, O.K. they were all cranky. "Captain," Commander Ivanova said as she set down, looking a bit ragged. "You've been studying the Shadows battle tactics for some time now, and by that look on your face its not good." "No Commander, No. Its not good. How's the latest batch of refugees doing." was Captain John Sheridan tired reply. "This way is the war room, Alit Neroon." calmly stated Lennier. Earlier Neroon had asked to see the command areas from which Delenn, as Entil'Zha, would be leading the Rangers. Delenn was wary, especially after what had happened to Marcus, but she had consented. So as Lennier announced where they were approaching; Delenn watched. The door cycled open and Neroon stepped in side. The first thing he (Neroon) saw when he stepped inside was the Captain and Commandeer discussing something at the center table. A slight frown crossed his feathers at the sight of Sheridan. He quickly tried to re-school his feathers before Delenn saw them, but she had still seen the frown as she entered. Seeing a tech. at doing something; Neroon walked over to see just what the tech was working on. When he saw the tech Dithering a peace of test equipment, Neroon frowned even deeper with No attempt to hide it this time. Neroon's apparent attitude was worrying Delenn, but he was off again, and this time towards John. "Commander the Fi'cheall have come up with an interesting tactics for their telepaths." Captain Sheridan said in a tone of thoughtfulness. "What they did was instead of using their telepath to just block & interference with the enemy; they dropped two torpedo-mines and had the telepath confuse the Shadow vessel as to the location of one of them. When the ship dodged one of the torpedo-mines the other homed in and detonated." As Neroon briskly approached the table his frown and his anger ever deepening. The captain continued, paying the Alit no mink, and with a slight smile in his voice he continued. "This allowed the Fi'cheall's ship to escape and it at least caused some moderate damage to the lead Shadow vessel." As Neroon Reached the far end of the table he could Not contain his anger at what this 'Starkiller' was saying any longer. "WHAT!?!" the Alit angrily shouted toward the Captain. Everybody jumped and went silent hearing this. They instantly registered Neroon leaning over the table and starring venom towards the Captain. The warrior continued "You! StarKiller!, are advocating the same Dishonorable tactics as you used in the last war. I was told, resonantly, that you are a Great Warrior," he spat. "HA! NO warrior would ever use such barbaric dishonorable tactics." Finished Neroon. You could have heard a pin drop in the war room. The Humans were afraid of what might happen next. Delenn & Lennier were mortified by what had happened thus far. And Captain Sheridan's face soured as his anger boiled. In a tightly controlled voice the Captain said. "I Beg you pardon Alit, but I'm NOT a Warrior, I'M A SOLDIER." Sheridan stressed as he pressed on "And I ask you to tell me in words 'Just what do YOU Know about Honor & War?" Time froze in the war room. Neroon outraged at Starkiller's arrogance took up the gauntlet, and yelled back "I know that a true warrior does Not Cower behind mines or hid behind deceptions; he faces off against his opponent. That is the only honorable way for a warrior to fight a war or any thing else." Hearing this John Sheridan slowly smiled; a smile that seemed to say you contemptuous arrogant fool. "Alit, I Differ with you." The Captain calmly stated purposely omitting 'beg to' before differ. "In war, Honor is only found in the 'just' treatment of your subordinates; in your 'respect' for your superior officers and their orders; in your 'protection' of the men & women under your command and the civilians; in your 'care' for ANY wounded; and in your 'humane' treatment of ALL Prisoners Of War, meaning NO Torture, Absolutely none." The Captain stressed all the while on every face around Neroon, Pride in the Captain, Their Commander began to show. John pressed onward "As for the Battlefield, since it is ALWAYS Wrong thus Dishonorable to kill ANY sentient being, Except when to save a life, you will only find Dishonor when you are on the battlefield and you kill the enemy. Alit, we Both know, that in war we often find ourselves in a situation where we must either Kill OR Be Killed, but even in times of war it is still Dishonorable to kill any sentient being including the enemy for their lives DO count & matter." John finally and calmly finished, and took a deep clean breath. Neroon was shocked to here this from 'Starkiller', and dismayed to feel slightly below this standard. At his Neroon clamped his mouth shut and marched out of the war room, leaving all other behind. Back in the war room Ivanova gave John a hardy Pat on the back. While the tech's and crew around said their congratulations, even Lt. Corwin, in a rare moment without any nervousness, gave a loud applaud. All the time on everyone's face showed their Pride in and Commitment to what The Captain had just said. And Delenn, she just softly smiled, stepped up to John, and gave him a very slow and passionate kiss. [END]