Grey Council
From The Great Machine
Ruling body of the Minbari Federation, formed by Valen. They live in secret, even from their own people, aboard a warcruiser. Members of the Grey Council carry the honorific title "Satai."
Council Structure
The Grey Council originally consisted of 9 members, 3 from each caste, Religious, Warrior, and Worker, with a tenth member chosen by the other nine to be the Voice of the Council. The first Voice chosen for the Grey Council was Valen. The last voice of the Council was Dukhat, who died in 2245.
The Council chamber is swathed entirely in darkness, the only sources of light being nine intense spotlights that cast a ring of lights in which the Council members stand. A tenth and larger point of light sits in the middle of the council when it is occupied, either by the Voice of the Council, or perhaps by someone being interviewed, or interrogated.
The Council is always among the stars, always on the move. The cruiser that bears the Council never stops to take on passengers. Anyone coming to the Council must rendezvous with the cruiser in deep space, far from any outpost or other Minbari cruiser.
The Council is not always in quorum. Many members have other rolls in public service, such as Delenn's appointment to Babylon 5 as ambassador. Most of these rolls are primarily to gather information for the Council, though some exist solely to satisfy the will of the Council. None but the closest confidants - as Lennier to Delenn - have any idea who the members of the Council are.
Appointments to the Council are for life and are rarely refused. They end when the councilor chooses to retire and let another take his/her place, the councilor dies, or the Council chooses to dismiss them.
Decisions made by the Council are decided by a vote. This vote is a simple majority in most cases, but there are some cases in which the Council must be unanimous in its decision, such as the dismissal of one of their number. Once the Council has made it's decision, it is final.
History
Valen formed the Grey Council circa 1250 (by the Earth calendar) at the end of the great war against the Shadows. Valen served as the Voice of the Council for one-hundred years until he departed for the Rim.
In 2245, the cruiser carrying the Grey Council encounters an Earth deep space patrol, led by the EAS Prometheus. Due to a misunderstanding caused by the Warrior Caste officers commanding the vessel, the Earthforce ships opened fire on the cruiser, killing the leader of the Council, Dukhat.
In 2248, during the final battle of the Earth-Minbari War, the Council brings an Earthforce pilot, Jeffrey Sinclair, onboard for interrogation. Twelve hours later, the Council orders a surrender and the war is over.
In the mid-2250's, the Council chooses to put the support of the Minbari government behind the creation of the last of the Babylon stations. As a concession for their financial support, the Grey Council demands that they be allowed to choose the commanding officer.
In 2258, the Council votes to have Delenn become the new Voice of the Council, succeeding her late mentor, Dukhat. She declines, stating that her mission on Babylon 5 was not finished. By a narrow margin (5-4), the Council allows her to remain ambassador onboard the station, though her position of councilor is thrown into jeopardy.
The balance within the Grey Council was disturbed in 2259 when Delenn, who was Religious Caste, was replaced on the council by Neroon, who was Warrior Caste.
In 2260, Delenn broke the Council due to their intransigence over involvement in the upcoming Shadow War. She led the willing members of the Religious and Worker castes to throw their weight behind B5.
In 2261, after a devastating civil war between Warrior and Religious Castes, Delenn re-formed the Council. That new council consisted of 5 members of the Worker Caste and 2 members from each of the Warrior and Religious Castes. Her inaugural statement to the new Council was that "war and religion should work in service to the people; not the other way around." She also stated that the center place of the Council, that which was reserved for the Voice of the Council, would remain empty "in memory of Neroon, until it should be taken by the one who is to come."
Members of the Grey Council
- Former Leaders
- Former Members
- Current Members
- Voice of the Council
- Reserved for "the One who is to come"
- Religious Caste
- Dhaliri
- Bhurlee
- Warrior Caste
- Mazetsch
- Shakat
- Worker Caste
- Durlan
- Katz
- Zakat
- Nur
- Varenn
- Voice of the Council
