Grey Council
Encyclopedia
In the Babylon 5
fictional universe
, the Grey Council is the governing body of the Minbari Federation. Its members carry the title satai. Delenn
, one of the main characters of Babylon 5
, is a member of the Grey Council.
1,000 years before the Shadow War, the Grey Council comprised three representatives from each of the three caste
s - Worker, Warrior, and Religious - for a total of nine individuals. From time to time, the council had an additional member, a leader who served as a guide for the council. It is not known if this person had a vote or not; nor is the scope of their authority known. Dukhat, who served in this role, indicated that he could override the Council, but it is not clear if this power arose from his personal authority or qua the leader of the council.
For about 1,000 years, the Grey Council ruled over nearly every aspect of Minbari life, choosing its own membership and meeting in space aboard a Sharlin
class Minbari cruiser. Its name is interconnected with its purpose through a sacrament repeated by its members: "I am Grey. I stand between the candle and the star. We are Grey. We stand between the darkness and the light."
The title of Satai is used exclusively for members of the council. Ambassador Delenn
is satai, but wishes her title to remain secret on the Babylon 5 station (the reasons for this are given to the viewers very early in the plot, in the movie Babylon 5: In the Beginning
). Commander Jeffrey Sinclair
first learns about Delenn's title (and, inferentially, membership of the council) in the second episode of season 1, Soul Hunter
.
During their final assault at Earth, a battle that became known as the Battle of the Line
, the council took Jeffrey Sinclair
prisoner for questioning. Interrogating him using a triluminary
, the council learned that Sinclair had the soul of Valen
. Minbari believe in a form of reincarnation
, where the souls of each generation are reborn into the next; faced with a human with a Minbari soul, the council concluded that Minbari souls were being reborn in Humans. Traditionally, Minbari do not kill Minbari, presenting the council with an acute ethical dilemma
: the war against the humans had become a war in which Minbari were unwittingly killing people with Minbari souls. The Council decided, however, that neither Minbari nor Humans were ready for this truth. Sinclair's memories of the interrogation were erased, and the Warrior caste Generals were told to surrender - but not why. The perception that this was done by the Religious Caste (although the decision was made by the council, in which the Warrior Caste had as many votes as the Religious Caste) resulted in a rift forming between the Religious and Warrior Castes, culminating in a brief civil war after the Grey Council was broken by Delenn.
In 2258 Delenn was recalled to lead the Grey Council. Delenn felt that she should remain on Babylon 5. She asked the council to reconsider their decision, which they did. She returned to the station.
In 2259 Sinclair was reassigned to be the first Ambassador to Minbar. Later in 2259 Delenn was removed from the Grey Council. She was replaced by Neroon
—a member of the warrior caste. This led to four warriors on the council, a break from the balance of the past.
engulfed the galaxy, the council as a whole took a "wait and see" approach to the situation. In 2260, President Clark of Earth declared martial law on Earth, the colonies, and outposts. In response to this and other recent events, such as wars among members of the League of Non-Aligned Worlds and the fall of Narn, the Grey Council said, "The problems of others are not our concern."
Delenn was enraged when she heard of the council's response, and felt that the council's unwillingness to act was jeopardizing their chances of winning the war. Delenn defied the Council's refusal to see her and entered the Council's chamber. She denounced their cowardice, shamed them for abandoning their duty, shattered the Council's ceremonial staff, and broke the Council in accordance with Valen's prophecy. When Delenn walked out of the council chambers a few minutes later, five of the nine members went with her. It is not documented who remained behind; it is often assumed that these were the four members of the Warrior caste.
Once the council was broken, the Minbari people were focused on winning the Shadow War. The disagreements between the castes were put aside during the conflict.
After the war was over, a vacuum of power began to grow. The rift between the Religious and the Warriors continued to grow, and soon became a full blown crisis. On Minbar, in one city that sat on the edge of the southern polar cap, those of the warrior caste who lived in the city evicted the religious caste members from the city. Those Minbari were forced to walk across the polar region to another city, and many of them died from hunger and exposure. The warriors also stopped honoring agreements that the religious caste had made on behalf of the Minbari people with other species. Delenn became aware of the crisis, and returned home to Minbar.
Eventually the rift erupted into a brief civil war between the two castes. Delenn surrendered the Religious caste to the Warriors. She then went into the Starfire Wheel. This tool was used to choose leaders in the time before Valen. The Wheel directed energy into a circle. Eventually it would consume those who stood in the circle. Those who were not meant to lead would leave the circle before it consumed them, and the caste that the consumed candidate belonged to would assume rulership. The Warrior leader joined Delenn in the circle, but he could not stand the energy and jumped out. Delenn nearly died in the circle, but was saved by Neroon, who underwent a deathbed conversion to the Religious caste before the Wheel consumed him.
However, the makeup of the council was changed. Instead of three from each caste, Delenn changed the structure. Five from the Worker caste were called. Two members each from the Religious and Warrior caste were called to serve on the council. Delenn did this to give the Worker caste a majority voice among the Minbari people - who she felt were ignored for far too long considering that when temples for the Religious caste or ship for the Warrior caster were needed, it was the Worker caste who built them. When presenting the new Grey Council, Delenn said that religion and war had to exist in the service of the people, not the other way around.
The one additional spot for the leader was reserved by Delenn in memory of Neroon. She said that the spot was reserved for The One that was to come. After that, she left the council floor to give them the opportunity to lead the Minbari people.
Delenn later convinced the Grey Council to participate in a joint Earth-Minbari project to construct a destroyer-class White Star vessel. Eventually this cooperation resulted in the creation of the Victory-class destroyers.
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
fictional universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
, the Grey Council is the governing body of the Minbari Federation. Its members carry the title satai. Delenn
Delenn
Delenn is a fictional lead character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Mira Furlan.-Overview:Delenn, an alien ambassador and leader from the planet Minbar, is one of the pivotal characters in Babylon 5....
, one of the main characters of Babylon 5
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
, is a member of the Grey Council.
Early history and structure
Founded by ValenValen
Valen is a character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. Although he has only one scene in the show, he is an important character in the history of the Minbari, and is frequently mentioned...
1,000 years before the Shadow War, the Grey Council comprised three representatives from each of the three caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
s - Worker, Warrior, and Religious - for a total of nine individuals. From time to time, the council had an additional member, a leader who served as a guide for the council. It is not known if this person had a vote or not; nor is the scope of their authority known. Dukhat, who served in this role, indicated that he could override the Council, but it is not clear if this power arose from his personal authority or qua the leader of the council.
For about 1,000 years, the Grey Council ruled over nearly every aspect of Minbari life, choosing its own membership and meeting in space aboard a Sharlin
Sharlin Class Warcruiser
The Sharlin Class Warcruiser is the main starship used by the Minbari Federation in the fictional Babylon 5 universe. Also commonly known as the Minbari War Cruiser, the Sharlin class is very large but conflicting sizes have been noted by different resources...
class Minbari cruiser. Its name is interconnected with its purpose through a sacrament repeated by its members: "I am Grey. I stand between the candle and the star. We are Grey. We stand between the darkness and the light."
The title of Satai is used exclusively for members of the council. Ambassador Delenn
Delenn
Delenn is a fictional lead character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Mira Furlan.-Overview:Delenn, an alien ambassador and leader from the planet Minbar, is one of the pivotal characters in Babylon 5....
is satai, but wishes her title to remain secret on the Babylon 5 station (the reasons for this are given to the viewers very early in the plot, in the movie Babylon 5: In the Beginning
Babylon 5: In the Beginning
Babylon 5: In the Beginning is a science fiction television movie set in the Babylon 5 fictional universe. It was written by J. Michael Straczynski and directed by Michael Vejar....
). Commander Jeffrey Sinclair
Jeffrey Sinclair
Jeffrey Sinclair is a character in the fictional universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by actor Michael O'Hare. He was a regular in the first season of the show, as Commander of the Babylon 5 station, and made a number of guest appearances afterward.-Early life and...
first learns about Delenn's title (and, inferentially, membership of the council) in the second episode of season 1, Soul Hunter
Soul Hunter (Babylon 5)
"Soul Hunter" is an episode from the first season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.- Summary :Lt. Cmdr. Susan Ivanova and Commander Jeffrey Sinclair stand near one of Babylon 5's entry bays, waiting for the station's new medical chief of staff, Dr. Stephen Franklin...
.
Earth - Minbari War
During a period concluding in the mid 2240's, the Grey Council was led by Dukhat, until his death during a disastrous first contact with humans. The Council's cruiser encountered a flotilla of Earth Alliance ships, and approached with gun ports open, a gesture of respect in the tradition of the Minbari Warrior Caste. The earth ships (under command of a captain with a reputation for recklessness) misinterpreted the gesture as prelude to an attack and attacked the Council's ship. Dukhat suffered fatal injuries in the attack. Voting 5-4 - the fifth vote provided by a grief-stricken Delenn - The Council declared war on humanity. Over the next two years, the Minbari overcame tenacious resistance and routed Earth forces.During their final assault at Earth, a battle that became known as the Battle of the Line
Battle of the Line
In the Babylon 5 fictional universe, the Battle of the Line was the final battle of the Earth-Minbari war. The Battle of the Line was a desperate attempt by the Earth Alliance to stop a Minbari combat fleet from attacking Earth. Over 20,000 Human defenders fought in the battle; including most of...
, the council took Jeffrey Sinclair
Jeffrey Sinclair
Jeffrey Sinclair is a character in the fictional universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by actor Michael O'Hare. He was a regular in the first season of the show, as Commander of the Babylon 5 station, and made a number of guest appearances afterward.-Early life and...
prisoner for questioning. Interrogating him using a triluminary
Triluminary
Triluminaries are devices in the science fiction drama Babylon 5. The triluminary is a triangular shaped Minbari crystal with a small chip in the centre. The full extent of its abilities are unknown, although it is said to be the holiest of all relics in Minbari society and thus any readings it...
, the council learned that Sinclair had the soul of Valen
Valen
Valen is a character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. Although he has only one scene in the show, he is an important character in the history of the Minbari, and is frequently mentioned...
. Minbari believe in a form of reincarnation
Reincarnation
Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
, where the souls of each generation are reborn into the next; faced with a human with a Minbari soul, the council concluded that Minbari souls were being reborn in Humans. Traditionally, Minbari do not kill Minbari, presenting the council with an acute ethical dilemma
Ethical dilemma
An Ethical dilemma is a complex situation that will often involve an apparent mental conflict between moral imperatives, in which to obey one would result in transgressing another....
: the war against the humans had become a war in which Minbari were unwittingly killing people with Minbari souls. The Council decided, however, that neither Minbari nor Humans were ready for this truth. Sinclair's memories of the interrogation were erased, and the Warrior caste Generals were told to surrender - but not why. The perception that this was done by the Religious Caste (although the decision was made by the council, in which the Warrior Caste had as many votes as the Religious Caste) resulted in a rift forming between the Religious and Warrior Castes, culminating in a brief civil war after the Grey Council was broken by Delenn.
Aftermath of the Earth-Minbari War
When the fifth and final Babylon station—Babylon 5—was built, the Minbari provided support for construction on the condition that they got to choose the commander. The Grey Council used this to have Sinclair selected as the Commander of the station. Council member Delenn became the Minbari Ambassador to the station in order to remain close to Sinclair.In 2258 Delenn was recalled to lead the Grey Council. Delenn felt that she should remain on Babylon 5. She asked the council to reconsider their decision, which they did. She returned to the station.
In 2259 Sinclair was reassigned to be the first Ambassador to Minbar. Later in 2259 Delenn was removed from the Grey Council. She was replaced by Neroon
Neroon
Neroon is a fictional character in the universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, portrayed by John Vickery. He was a recurring guest character throughout the series.-Background:...
—a member of the warrior caste. This led to four warriors on the council, a break from the balance of the past.
Shadow War and the aftermath
As the Shadow WarShadow War
The Shadow Wars are a fictional series of wars involving the Shadows in the television science fiction series Babylon 5. There have actually been many Shadow Wars since ancient times in the galaxy. Roughly every thousand years, the Shadows begin a new Shadow War to promote chaos in the universe in...
engulfed the galaxy, the council as a whole took a "wait and see" approach to the situation. In 2260, President Clark of Earth declared martial law on Earth, the colonies, and outposts. In response to this and other recent events, such as wars among members of the League of Non-Aligned Worlds and the fall of Narn, the Grey Council said, "The problems of others are not our concern."
Delenn was enraged when she heard of the council's response, and felt that the council's unwillingness to act was jeopardizing their chances of winning the war. Delenn defied the Council's refusal to see her and entered the Council's chamber. She denounced their cowardice, shamed them for abandoning their duty, shattered the Council's ceremonial staff, and broke the Council in accordance with Valen's prophecy. When Delenn walked out of the council chambers a few minutes later, five of the nine members went with her. It is not documented who remained behind; it is often assumed that these were the four members of the Warrior caste.
Once the council was broken, the Minbari people were focused on winning the Shadow War. The disagreements between the castes were put aside during the conflict.
After the war was over, a vacuum of power began to grow. The rift between the Religious and the Warriors continued to grow, and soon became a full blown crisis. On Minbar, in one city that sat on the edge of the southern polar cap, those of the warrior caste who lived in the city evicted the religious caste members from the city. Those Minbari were forced to walk across the polar region to another city, and many of them died from hunger and exposure. The warriors also stopped honoring agreements that the religious caste had made on behalf of the Minbari people with other species. Delenn became aware of the crisis, and returned home to Minbar.
Eventually the rift erupted into a brief civil war between the two castes. Delenn surrendered the Religious caste to the Warriors. She then went into the Starfire Wheel. This tool was used to choose leaders in the time before Valen. The Wheel directed energy into a circle. Eventually it would consume those who stood in the circle. Those who were not meant to lead would leave the circle before it consumed them, and the caste that the consumed candidate belonged to would assume rulership. The Warrior leader joined Delenn in the circle, but he could not stand the energy and jumped out. Delenn nearly died in the circle, but was saved by Neroon, who underwent a deathbed conversion to the Religious caste before the Wheel consumed him.
The New Grey Council
After Delenn had endured the Starfire Wheel, she rebuilt the Grey Council to lead the Minbari people. Again, nine individuals were called forth to serve on this council.However, the makeup of the council was changed. Instead of three from each caste, Delenn changed the structure. Five from the Worker caste were called. Two members each from the Religious and Warrior caste were called to serve on the council. Delenn did this to give the Worker caste a majority voice among the Minbari people - who she felt were ignored for far too long considering that when temples for the Religious caste or ship for the Warrior caster were needed, it was the Worker caste who built them. When presenting the new Grey Council, Delenn said that religion and war had to exist in the service of the people, not the other way around.
The one additional spot for the leader was reserved by Delenn in memory of Neroon. She said that the spot was reserved for The One that was to come. After that, she left the council floor to give them the opportunity to lead the Minbari people.
Delenn later convinced the Grey Council to participate in a joint Earth-Minbari project to construct a destroyer-class White Star vessel. Eventually this cooperation resulted in the creation of the Victory-class destroyers.