Delenn
SPECIES: Minbari
HOMEWORLD: Minbar
DATE OF BIRTH: Unknown
ORGANISATION: Religious Caste
STATUS: Minbari Ambassador to B5
ALLEGIANCE: Light
ACTRESS: Mira Furlan
The Minbari Federation's ambassador to Babylon 5 from 2257 and a former Satai, or member of the Grey Council, a body she was offered the leadership of after 20 years service but declined to accept, despite being named by Dukhat as his successor as he died in her arms in 2242. She was present at the Battle of the Line, selecting Jeffrey Sinclair's Starfury for capture in order to learn more about Earth's defenses prior to the planned ground attacks, and then convincing the Grey Council that the humans were the ones mentioned in Valen's prophecy and that they should cease hostilities. Despite her involvement in the war her father, who used to take her to temple on his shoulders, was heartbroken by it and he died shortly afterward, while her mother had joined the Sisters of Valeria shortly after her birth, only seeing her daughter twice since then. When Babylon 5 became operational she was chosen to represent the Minbari Federation as she was the most traveled member of the Grey Council, and issued orders to kill Jeffrey Sinclair should he discover what had happened to him aboard the Minbari War Cruiser, and also to try to resolve the debate about whether the humans really were the race mentioned in Valen's prophecy. While ensuring that Jeffrey Sinclair was not aware of the events at the Battle of the Line she formed a close working relationship, providing him with information on the Vorlons prior to the arrival of Kosh Naranek on Babylon 5 for example.
She was eventually expelled from the Grey Council for disobeying orders not to change into a hybrid Human-Minbari form using the chrysalis device, a process that she went through in early 2259, but was allowed to remain the Minbari ambassador to Babylon 5. As a result of this change she is widely considered something of a freak, shunned by both sides, rather than seen as a bridge between the two races that she considered herself to become according to the prophecy of Valen that she had been following. Shortly after this she assumed command of the Rangers operating within the Euphrates sector at the request of Jeffrey Sinclair who had reformed the organization soon after arriving on Minbar. As the pressures of the upcoming conflicts with a corrupted EarthGov and the Shadows grew Delenn gradually became involved with John Sheridan, comforting him when he was doubting his value as Babylon 5's commander, explaining that the universe ensures everyone is in the right place at the right time, and defending him when his was accused of murdering Levell. Eventually giving John Sheridan, for whom she had recently declared a willingness to die for to Sebastian, joint command of the Rangers in the area following the climax of the Narn-Centauri War.
Despite being formerly dismissed from the Grey Council Delenn was later to return to it in 2260, acting upon the news that they had decided not to become involved in the imminent was against the Shadows brought to her by the Minbari Ranger, Drakhen. When the Grey Council ignored her requests to help in the struggle she shamed the religious and worker castes into fighting, breaking both the Grey Council and its symbolic staff in the process, leading three Minbari War Cruisers and the White Star to Babylon 5 to drive of an imminent assault by Earth Force ships loyal to President Clark. This was an act that led to Nightwatch targeting her for assassination in an attempt to leave the War Cruisers no reason to stay and thus clear the way for a second attempt at recapturing the station by Earth Force ships. Delenn formerly introduced G'Kar to the War Council shortly afterwards, suffering a great deal of emotional stress in the process as she apologized for not confirming G'Kar's belief that the Shadows had returned to Z'ha'dum, even though she knew that the Narn would die in their millions as a result.
Following the departure of Jeffrey Sinclair as Entil'zha, when he traveled back in time aboard Babylon 4, she was nominated as his successor to lead the Rangers by Rathenn, although her assumption of this position of military power was vehemently opposed by Neroon who described her as "a religious zealot propelled by prophecy into a position of military and political power". He then threatened to kill her rather than allow her to proceed, despite the Minbari taboo against this imposed by Valen, unless she turned control of the Rangers over the the warrior caste under whose jurisdiction the Rangers had originally come. His determination was stymied however by Marcus Cole who challenged him to a duel, invoking both Den'cha and then Valen's name, demonstrating to Neroon that humans were prepared to die for a Minbari while he was contemplating killing one of his own kind, a realization that finally made him accept Delenn as Entil'zha.
"THE ONE WHO IS"