Rumors, Bargains and Lies

From The Great Machine

Episode Title: Rumors, Bargains and Lies
Episode Number: S4E13
Original Air Date: May 12, 1997
DVD Release Date: January 6, 2004
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Director: Mike Vejar
Guest Stars: John Vickery

1 Preview
2 Synopsis
- 2.1 Main Plot
3 See Also
4 Characters
- 4.1 Season 4 Cast

[edit] Preview

While Delenn tries to end the Minbari Civil War, Sheridan continues his plan to protect the League worlds.

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot, character development, or ending details follow.

Sheridan persuades Londo and G'Kar to permit the White Star fleet to patrol their borders. Fearing that the leaders of the League of Non-Aligned Worlds will balk at the idea of his fleet flying along their territory, Sheridan concocts a convoluted scheme to hint at suspicious happenings along the aliens' borders but withhold his help until it is requested.

En route to Minbar to deal with political upheavals that have finally erupted into civil war, Delenn vows to end the conflict single-handedly. She believes that her disbanding the Grey Council has left Minbar without leadership, and the resulting conflicts are her fault.

Neroon of the Warrior caste meets with her, and despite his past disagreements with her, he agrees with Delenn that they will reach an amicable solution which will not require either of their castes to surrender. But Delenn's own Religious caste followers believe that her private meetings with Neroon will result in a betrayal of her own people, and plan to ritually sacrifice themselves and anyone else on board to prevent it.

And on the station, Sheridan's cunning plan could backfire unless he stoops just low enough to plant some the right information in the right places.

Neroon, departing to return to his fellow warriors, intends to make sure than Delenn's peace plan backfires. (Attrib: B5 LogBook [1])

[edit] Main Plot

Sheridan keeps everyone guessing what he is up to when he gives a series of unusual instructions to the station staff and ambassadors.
Delenn tries to work with an old rival to defuse a brewing Minbari civil war.
Sheridan tricks the League of Non-Aligned Worlds into accepting his proposed defense pact by using their fear of the unknown against them.