<*> Betrayals <*>
by S. M. Stirling.Dell, 1996, paperback.
The T'llin, a peaceful people conquered and enslaved by the Narn, see this as an opportunity to plead their case for freedom. They visit each ambassador, who has a seat on Babylon 5 Advisory Council, but none of those diplomats will sponsor their case at the conference. While returning from such a visit, one of the T'llin leaders is recognized and murdered by Na'Toth, the assistant to the Narn Ambassador.
Now, the peaceful T'llin are convinced that violence is the only way to bring their plight to the conference table. The surviving T'llin leader devises a plan to capture their Narn oppressors, and the apathetic ambassadors. Instead of peace talks and negotiations, the conference agenda is re-scheduled for revenge and high explosives.
This is the sixth Babylon 5 book. It's a "stand alone" book. You can read this book without looking over your shoulder for The Shadows, The Vorlons, The One, etc. The events probably take place between "The Coming of Shadows" and "The Long, Twilight Struggle."
It's nice to see G'Kar up to his gills in trouble and it's entertaining to see Londo trying to come out ahead. There are a couple of inconsistencies in the on/off transport of illegal aliens (REAL aliens without visas!) to and from B5, that nit-pickers might take aim at, but they are trivial. Turn off your targeting systems and just sit back and watch the action.
It's the dawn of the Third Age of Mankind, eleven years after the Earth-Minbari War. The year is 2259. The place is Babylon 5. It's our last, best hope for peace -- even for the Narn and the Centauri; but then again, maybe not.
