ISN Special report, 2271

As we move the commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the Earth Alliance joining the Dilgar war, we look back at some of the famous names to emerge from that war and examine what happened to them after the events of that great and terrible conflict.

Dieter Hauser, President of the Earth Alliance.

One of the most popular Presidents in history, Hauser was applauded for taking a stand against the Dilgar and keeping his nerve and commitment to the war despite mounting human casualties. He served two successful terms before being constitutionally required to step down and make way for a successor. However his legacy managed to give his party two more landslide victories in subsequent elections until the Minbari war destroyed its reputation.

Recently criticism has been levelled against Hauser for his post Dilgar policy of large scale expansion continued through the Levy era, a policy largely blamed for the Minbari war.

Never the less Hauser's popularity remained largely unaffected as he toured universities and peaked public interest in politics and the process of government.

He died peacefully of natural causes in 2266.

Harry Brogan- Secretary of State

Outspoken and fervent Brogan was a controversial and powerful figure in the period leading up to the Minbari war. He strongly pushed for a policy of expansion and was a firm believer of human primacy in the galaxy. Despite strong support he never reached the post of Vice President or was able to fulfil his true dream of attaining the Presidency itself.

He was largely blamed for pushing his son in law, Mike Jankowski, into a position of responsibility he was unsuited for triggering the Prometheus incident. He was due to face trial but disappeared soon after being placed under house arrest. To this day no trace of him has ever been found.

Military-

Alexei Denisov, General, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

Denisov gained popularity among his subordinates and politicians for recognising the Dilgar threat and preparing Earth Force to face it. While faced with the difficult task of balancing military strategy with political necessity Denisov managed to satisfy both sides of his job with remarkably little friction and great success. His organisational changes and restructuring of the military is largely quoted as the second largest reason for victory following the skill and courage of the soldiers themselves.

He served a further eight years as Chairman before stepping down for General Biek and assuming a more conventional post as Commander of the inner colonies defence network. He continued to serve in this role during the Minbari war setting up the Oz Doctrine to try and prolong humanity's survival in the face of overwhelming force.

He was finally killed in action during the Battle of Proxima III

Donald Ferguson, Admiral, EA Sixth Fleet

Following the death of Admiral Hamato Ferguson was promoted to chief of Naval Operations. He served this role throughout the period of re-ordering, often refusing promotion to the joint chiefs to remain on the bridge of a starship in the field, something his mentor Hamato had stressed as being the true post of an Admiral.

He commanded Earth Force field assets in the Minbari war, developing tactics with Denisov to avoid frontal battles and use small groups of ships to delay and distract the Minbari, committing large fleets only in the defence of colonies when there was no where else to retreat to.

He was killed in action defending Beta Durani midway through the war, and his loss was a particular blow to the embattled Earth Forces.

William Hague, Lieutenant, 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron

A gifted officer Hague's talents and leadership potential were clearly recognised by Earth Force. While the navy was reduced following the war Hague was promoted and given command of a Corvette on the Centauri border seeing much action against Raiders. During this time he married his sweetheart, April Green.

In this capacity he fought in the early stages of the Minbari war, successfully destroying a Minbari supply convoy with an ambush of three Corvettes. This victory at once brought him to the attention of the general public hungry for any good news and he was given command of the Heavy Cruiser Endymion. For the duration of the war Captain Hague performed hit and run attacks often deep behind enemy lines relying on pure skill and instinct to avoid the retribution of the Minbari. This private war was one of the few bright points for Earth in the conflict, and by the end of the war Hague commanded a decent sized task force with his first officer Sandra Hiroshi.

He missed the Battle of the Line due to a deep range assignment and as such was one of the EA's few active forces to survive the end of the conflict. His forces saw intense action shoring up the border against incursions by the Ch'Lonas and Koulani, desperate actions every bit as hard as his service in the war.

His actions and fame guaranteed him a position of responsibility in the new fleet, and he was made Chairman of the Joint Chiefs by President Santiago, a position he accepted and discharged truly throughout his service never wavering in his devotion of Earth.

Hague was killed in action during the Civil War, but his legacy of integrity was carried on by his followers and led eventually to victory.

Joe Tennant, Captain, EAS Nemesis

One of the more colourful characters of the war, Joe Tennant earned instant fame as being humanities most indestructible warrior. Despite taking heavy damage his ship survived the war with the highest kill ratio of any EA or allied vessel including the destruction of Deathwalkers flagship.

He commanded the EA Second fleet during the inter war years bearing the rank of Vice Admiral, and continued in this role during the Minbari war. He masterminded several successful guerrilla campaigns raiding Minbari bases over EA colonies and running supplies to ground forces. His luck however ran out at Proxima where his ship was severely damaged and had to be towed home.

The EAS Nemesis was only partially repaired by the time of the Line but still took part under Tennant and a skeleton crew, and while she fought well she was rapidly neutralised by the Minbari above Earth. Fortunately they surrendered before they could wipe out survivors allowing Tennant and several other crew members to survive the battle.

He served as Commander Naval Forces for Santiago before resigning in protest of Clarks early anti alien policies. He was rumoured to have taken part in several covert operations against Clark despite his age, but never formally returned to service during that time.

Ultimately though the 80 year old officer was recalled to duty during the Drakh Crisis as Earth needed every experienced officer it could find, and once again serves as Commander of Naval forces in the field.

Anne Thornhill, Vice Admiral EAS Lexington

As commander of a cruiser squadron from the EAS Lexington, Thornhill saw much action in the war and was later promoted to Command the EA Third Fleet. She led the first battle of the Earth Minbari war taking her veteran forces up against a Minbari fleet at New London Colony. She, and the rest of the elite Third fleet, were lost to the Minbari in that battle, hammering home the extreme technological edge of our enemy.

Robert Lefcourt, Captain. EAS Brooklyn

Lefcourt ended the Dilgar war with a solid reputation having stood up to Jha'dur and helped in her apparent demise. He proved a clever political officer in addition to a decent ship commander and found himself promoted to a desk job helping, and then later commanding Earth Forces exploration division.

He was acquitted of wrong doing in the Prometheus incident and praised for trying to but a balanced officer on the mission to counter Jankowski, despite Sheridan ultimately refusing the transfer. He was often the face of Earth Force in the Minbari war liasing with the Senate and reporting on the state of the war. He was given command of EA fixed defences during the Battle of the Line, but did not have a chance to engage the Minbari due to the surrender.

He continued to command defences in the Sol system under Santiago and Clark, retiring after the Civil War.

Like many officers he was recalled to help fight the Drakh where his experience was vital.

Richard Franklin, Captain, 99th Airborne Regiment

After fighting bravely in the conflict Franklin was singled out for promotion. He was made a Major and transferred to a post in the 509th Regiment, Earth Force Marine Corps. While the change to the Marines was unexpected Franklin embraced the challenge and continued to earn his reputation as a stalwart soldier, being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel after his actions in the Canal Wars.

He was commanding officer of the 509th on the Mining colony of Cyrus when the Minbari war broke out, trapping him and his unit on the planet. He took his troops under ground and in the mines, safe from bombardment, waged an intense guerrilla war against the occupying forces for the duration of the conflict.

The so called Tunnel War was witness to some of the most brutal fighting in Earth Force history, with Minbari incursions into the tunnel mazes being met by the 509th with extreme vigour. The narrow confines removed any technological edge the Minbari had and forced them to fight on Franklin's terms.

He reduced forces emerged from the tunnels after the war to a heroes welcome, and an immediate promotion to Brigadier General followed for Franklin to replace senior officers lost in the war. He served in this capacity during the revolution in the African Block and countering attacks on EA space from the Death World of Janos VII, eventually giving him the rank of lieutenant General and the post of a Divisional Commander.

He served in this role through the Civil War, maintaining command of the Io Corps and avoiding taking sides. He remained a Corps commander until his retirement from front line service. He currently serves as advisor to the EF Academy.

Alfredo Garibaldi, Sergeant Major, 99th Airborne.

Following a leg injury suffered at Balos Alfredo was honourably discharged from the army with a full pension and a chest full of medals. He set up his own private security and investigation agency which proved very successful in the inter war years, often working with government agencies to uncover plots against Earth. He later employed his son, future B5 Security Chief Michael Garibaldi in the agency and taught him the tricks of the trade.

In the early Forties he was diagnosed with a severe neurological disease and given just years to live. A possible victim of Dilgar War Syndrome Alfredo was forced to take a cocktail of drugs to try and prolong his life, gradually growing weaker with each passing year.

When the Minbari war came he immediately volunteered for service, but due his condition was refused. As the war grew more desperate he was allowed to serve as a drill Sergeant on Mars as part of a Militia unit. Towards the end of the war he learned his son was stranded on Proxima, besieged by the Minbari along side many of his friends in the 99th. He joined his other old friends on the Space Race, ran the blockade and landed on Proxima where, despite his illness, he fought superbly against the Minbari with his old friends.

He fought until the last day of the war, where only after hearing of the surrender did he finally succumbed to his illness and fell into a coma, sure in the knowledge his world and family was safe. He died quietly eight months later, six years after the doctors predicted he would.

99th Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (North American Screaming Eagles)

Having earned fame in several major battles of the Dilgar war the unit survived the force cuts that came after the conflict ended. The unit served as a reserve force between wars, seeing action against Mars Rebels, alien incursion and Raiders.

During the Minbari war the Regiment fought with distinction raiding several planet side facilities before fighting in the fall of Proxima. As the last line of defence before Sol Earth Force ordered Proxima held to the last man, and the 99th did.

The unit took part in the legendary battle of the Hamato ridge, an engagement where two human divisions forced eight Minbari divisions into a killing ground, the Valley of Death. All eight Minbari divisions were destroyed, but not before annihilating the human defenders too. Only fifty people survived from over a hundred thousand, several from the 99th including the future Captain of the Excalibur, Matthew Gideon.

The regiment itself however was essentially wiped out, and has never been reformed. It has a memorial on Hamato ridge, and its name is remembered as a byword for bravery beyond the call of duty

EIA

Karl Durban, Director, Earth Intelligence Agency

While much of what the EIA did in the war is still classified, Karl Durban emerged with his reputation and that of his agency greatly enhanced after the conflict. He only served briefly after the war as Director, standing down and taking a post in the government as Defence Secretary by 2235.

He worked his way up, serving as Vice President to Elizabeth Levy during her administration and the Minbari war. Much to the chagrin of his rival Harry Brogan. He was widely tipped to follow on as President after Levy, but the war destroyed the party reputation gained against the Dilgar and allowed opposition leader Luis Santiago to gain a massive landslide victory in the 2250 elections.

After Levy quietly retired Durban ran the party fulfilling a balanced role as leader of the opposition. While he managed to work well with Santiago he was extremely vocal in his opposition to Clark, no doubt aware of the unsavoury connections the new President had.

During the Civil War Clark ordered Durban arrested shortly after Martial Law was declared. Despite his age and long political service Durban still managed to evade Clarks secret service agents and leave Earth right under their noses, a reminder of his near legendary escape from Centauri space in his spy days. Durban made it to the rebel Colony of Beta Durani where he helped run a highly successful resistance movement causing massive headaches for the Loyalist garrison.

When Clark was deposed Durban returned as head of the opposition, and is widely tipped to replace Susana Luchenko as President in the forthcoming elections.

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Victor Chapel, Special Agent, EIA

A key Agent and vital organiser during the war, Chapel succeeded Durban as Director of the EIA in the 2230's. He served in this position for a decade and was due to step down when the Minbari war postponed his plans. Chapel energetically masterminded operations against the Minbari, weaving a tapestry of deception about humanity and its capabilities that the Minbari never saw through until right at the end. His deceptions are cited as one reason why the Minbari were so slow and cautious during their advance into EA space.

While Earth never successfully broke into Minbari computers, the did manage to break their communication codes and the EIA were able to accurately predict where the Minbari would hit next, allowing local forces to prepare themselves as best they could. When the war ended Chapel finally managed to retire honourably, making way for Terry Saunders to take over.

Chapel pursued his own agenda until the Civil War where he was marked as a threat to the administration and was targeted for assassination. After foiling several attempts he escaped to Beta Durani and joined his old friends in countering Clark. Towards the end of the war when Sheridan move don the inner worlds Chapel learned his long lost daughter was being held on Mars in a deep prison facility. Even with his advancing years he insisted on joining the mission, and came face to face with the man who had taken his child so many years ago.

Chapel killed the Psi Cop, but was himself mortally wounded and died soon after.

His daughter, Isabel Chapel, is current Director of the Psi Corps replacement, the TRA.

Jennifer Sakai, Field Agent, EIA

After retiring from the EIA Jenny assumed Captaincy of the commercial freighter Space Race. She served in this role for many years, often working with her friends in the EIA and Alfredo Garibaldi to investigate and act against threats to Earth. During this time she showed her niece, Catherine Sakai, and her son Alfredo Calendar the fine art of piloting a civilian starship successfully, as well as some of the more subtle skills she had learned with the EIA.

During the war she returned to EIA service and used the Space Race with its speed, range and several pieces of 'acquired' League tech to run Minbari blockades and support resistance movements on fallen worlds. During this time she became good friends with William Hague, often operating alongside his deep range raiders.

Her final assignment was running a mission to Proxima, a mission Alfredo Garibaldi joined her on. She was stranded on the planet and remained there until the war ended.

After the war Jenny once more retired from the EIA and resumed her career in the Belt Alliance. In time her son became a successful Captain in his own right and she actively considered turning the business over to him. However all that changed with the disappearance of her niece Catherine. She worked with Jeffrey Sinclair to try and find Catherine but to no avail, though during this time she became aware of the Rangers and their mission.

During the Shadow war she helped train Rangers under Sinclair's request, educating them in the art of espionage and surveillance. Her son eventually joined the Rangers and was selected to command a Whitestar, a role he fulfilled exceptionally for the duration of the war.

Later Jenny was recalled to help her old boss Durban on Beta Durani opposing Clark, a role she proved well suited for moving between resistance groups without detection and delivering vital messages. She helped Vic Chapel rescue his daughter and brought his body home for burial afterwards.

Jenny remains a primary teacher of Rangers and master of the Anla'shok espionage school.

Francis O'Leary, Analyst, EIA

Following his impressive display of natural skill Francis was quickly given greater responsibilities within the EIA code breaking section, heading up the secretive 'Enigma' Section within the EIA. He married his fiancée Heather Laney in 2235 and had two children by the start of the Minbari war.

During this period he became Director of the Code breaking and interpretation department of the EIA and was instrumental in breaking Minbari codes and providing early warning for EA colonies and forces in the path of an attack. His actions saved countless lives, and it was he who discovered the Minbari were planning to hit Earth directly at the end of the war.

Francis was made a Deputy Director soon after and was given responsibility for outer EA territories, running all aspects of intelligence work within those colonies. This later came to include Babylon 5, which became a particular test of his energy.

During this time Francis had maintained cordial relations with his old Colleague Morgan Clark, and so when the Civil War came Francis found himself courted by Clark and promoted to full Assistant Director.

Seeing Clark for what he truly was, Francis accepted the position of responsibility and began actively working against him, feeding information to Hague and B5 whenever he could. Even during the dark days he risked much to combat Clark, sending his wife and children to Minbar with his old friend Jenny Sakai to keep them safe from reprisals as Psi Corps slowly close din on him.

In the final stages of the war Francis successfully shorted out the planetary based nuclear missiles on Earth, preventing them from being used against Sheridan in orbit. After the war he was made full Director of the EIA and served Luchenko in that role during the Telepath crisis, a time which proved to be his most severe test.

Director O'Leary is currently tipped to become the new ISA head of Intelligence, bringing decades of experience to the post.

The Space Race

Unassuming to look at, the little freighter always seemed to show up at the wrong place in the right time. It continued to be upgraded between wars serving the EIA from time to time under its faithful crew. During the Minbari war it ran rings around the Minbari, surviving several incredibly scrapes with vastly superior forces and always coming home.

The ship ran a mission to Proxima towards the end of the war before being recalled half way through along with the rest of the Belt Alliance armed forces. The Space Race was forced to abandon Jenny on the surface and joined its sisters at the Battle of the Line. The ship was last seen ramming a Tinashi class War Frigate, its bays loaded with nukes.

After the war a new ship, the Space Race II was purchased by Jenny Sakai and was similarly modified. Unlike its predecessor this ship was atmosphere capable providing it with a significant advantage on assignments. The ship served both the EIA and the Rangers performing courier operations under its new crew. The ship continues to serve as the private transport of Dominic and Everil O'Leary, children of EIA Director Francis O'Leary.

Aliens

Stro'kath, Warleader of the Drazi

A warrior of the elder days, seen by his followers as a hero who had stepped from the pages of a book, Stro'kath was the greatest hero of the Drazi people and praised as a visionary after the war. His people had suffered greatly, and Stro'kath focused all his energies on rebuilding his nation. He worked closely with Earth to help the reconstruction, rebuilding colonies and seizing a pair of former Dilgar worlds on the border. He was apparently sad to see the Dilgar race die, lamenting the passing of a race with 'Such warrior potential.' Throughout his days he repeatedly praised his battles with Warmaster Dar'sen, pointing out that honourable warriors existed outside the Freehold as well as within it.

Stro'kath was the undisputed leader of the Drazi, proven in battle and practical in politics he was extremely successful in rebuilding his empire. The level of respect he had could not be over estimated. When the Minbari attacked Earth he at once prepared a major fleet to go and help his allies, even in the face of a dire Minbari warning. The Drazi assault force set course for Earth, entered hyperspace, and was never seen again.

With the loss of so many ships Stro'kath found he could not aid Earth further. He provided plans for super Particle Cannons which eventually entered EA service, but could physically do no more, something which caused immense shame to the proud warrior.

After the war Stro'kath again faced reconstruction, just in time for a series of bitter actions as the Centauri expanded into Drazi space after the War of Retribution. When it was revealed this was all a ploy of the Shadows Stro'kath at once pledged the full might of the Drazi to Sheridan's aide, after personally beating the numerous opponents to his policy.

Seeing the immensity of the challenge the ancient warrior chose to lead his people into battle one last time. Few among the Drazi believed they could win, and Stro'kath decided he had to lead by example. Tragically he was killed in action at the Battle of Sector 83.

The Drazi however did not mourn him, celebrating the fact so old a soldier still managed to find a good death in battle. His example served to galvanise the Drazi into fully supporting Sheridan and the ISA charter, though sadly Stro'kath's successors did not have the old soldiers integrity.

Stro'kath remains the epitome of all that is best in the Drazi, and is honoured to this day.

Limak Brocat, Brakiri Minister.

A wily politician and legendary businessman, Brocat correctly gauged the threat of the Dilgar and gained immense credibility when his predictions proved true. Calm and cool in all situations he achieved a leading place in the Krona and actively pushed for an alliance with Earth.

As CEO of Ak Habil, the largest ship builder in the League, he made a fortune during the rebuilding process selling freighters across the galaxy to replace lost ships and churning out Avioki cruisers for the military. By the time of the Minbari war he was Chief of State and answered Earth's call for help.

However before he could deploy ships a battlegroup of Minbari cruisers jumped beneath the Brakiri defence grid and locked their guns on the capital, warning the Brakiri that any who stood with Earth would share their fate. Brocat knew that his world was still teetering on disaster, that the Dilgar bombardment had pushed his ecosystem to breaking point and even a moderate attack would make Brakir uninhabitable. He was also aware that the Drazi had lost a serious chunk of their navy after ignoring a similar warning.

In one of the more controversial decisions in history, he stood down and offered no further help to the Earth Alliance, something which earned him a bad reputation among humans.

Brocat resigned from government after the war and focused on his corporation, waging a bitter war of industrial espionage against his rivals. He supported the Shadow war, and this time when he warned against the threat to Brakir society everybody listened, remembering his prophecy against the Dilgar

Brocat was assassinated soon after by mercenaries believed to be working for a rival company. It later became apparent this company was under the influence of the Shadows. However his death merely proved his points, and the Brakiri united and joined Sheridan's forces fully.

Jha'dur, Deathwalker, Warmaster of the Dilgar Imperium.

The most enigmatic figure of the war, Jha'dur was presumed killed by the EAS Nemesis at the battle of Balos. However no remains or traces of her body were found on her ship, though communication records showed she had been there as it was destroyed. The EIA was forced to leave her file open ended and for several years tried to find her.

During this time EA and League ships located and destroyed several Dilgar hidden colonies and sleeper fleets, moving survivors to Omelos until the sun unexpectedly exploded. Seeming to draw a line under the Dilgar race, further searches were abandoned with Jha'dur written off as dead somewhere on the planet in hiding.

Later evidence showed she had been taken by the Minbari Windsword clan as a form of trophy or prize as well as a source of information about the outside galaxy. In time her cunning allowed her to gain the confidence of several senior warriors and live a comfortable life among them.

While her efforts to aide the Minbari were rebuffed in disgust, she retained a position of influence and after the war began to travel under an alias. During this time she was believed to have visited Omelos. Jha'dur was largely believed to be part of the Windsword plot to kill Kosh and spark an Earth Vorlon war as the neuro toxin given to Kosh had her traditional hallmarks of being a slow acting intensely torturous compound. It is also believed the toxin was slow acting to see if Earth could find a way to beat it, proving itself worthy of her future attentions.

She abandoned Minbari space in 2258 after perfecting her immortality serum, leaving several dead warriors in her wake as final subjects of her research. She is believed to have visited the Markab homeworld before arriving on B5, deploying one of her weapons there that mimicked the mythical Drafa Plague. While unconfirmed Jha'dur had long harboured a special hatred for the Markab after they killed her brother, and the timing of her re-emergence and the first cases of the plague are too close to be coincidence.

Jha'dur was believed killed by the Vorlons after leaving B5, however several anomalies and mysteries remain surrounding the circumstances of her death including some unusual readings from recovered biomass.

While she is believed dead, perhaps most tellingly the EIA has not closed her case file. As long as it remains open this Spectre of the past will not be put to final rest.