The old man replied with one word. None.
When pressed for clarification, he obliged. Orders had been sent from the Vorlons. No action was to be taken. Kazomi 7 was to face this threat alone. And if it was destroyed, so be it. No help was to be given. No one was to be told.
But there was one thing the old man did not tell them, one thing they did not need to know.
The interrogation of the Shadow agent had been done through the network. Once Mr. Byron had pulled the information from the man's mind, it would be free in the network, floating around, transmitted between countless nodes, as indeed it had been to the Vorlon High Command.
Somewhere in that vast network, the information could be accessed by one with the sensitivity to do so.
But surely no one existed. No one attuned enough to the nodes to access them without the Vorlons' permission.
No, there was no such person. There was nothing to worry about.
Kazomi 7.
That was it. Corwin did not know how he knew, but that was it. The information just leapt into his mind. The attack on Greater Krindar was all a distraction aimed at keeping them away from Kazomi 7.
"You know this, don't you?" he asked. Several of his bridge crew started, but he was not talking to them. There was no answer, none that he wanted to hear. "Carolyn. You know about this, don't you."
From nowhere, from the edges of his mind, came a reply, a soft whisper from the horizon. Yes.
"What is it? What are they going to do?"
Must not.... say....
"Carolyn, please! We need to know. I won't let you be hurt."
Destroy it.
"Destroy what?"
Kazomi Seven.
The General had once told Corwin that what marked out a great leader from a good one was that a great leader could react within a split second. There was no time for arguments, no time for debate, no time for thought. Time only for action.
"Get me through to Daro and Kulomani," he snapped quickly. "Muster every ship from the area. Get a signal to Proxima, Kazomi Seven, everywhere. Recall all Starfuries."
"What is it, Captain?"
"We're going to Kazomi Seven. And quickly."
Vejar looked up and smiled humourlessly. "I have been expecting you, brother," he said softly.
"Of course you have," said another voice, one that left no echoes, carried no breath. A voice that came from light years away. "Why else the spirit circle, the prepared drink?"
Vejar shrugged. "A premonition, no more. I do not believe the others are happy that you are involving yourself."
"Oh, I plan on involving myself in much more than just this, brother. I will not be hidden in the shadows forever."
"I doubt there are any shadows big enough for you to hide in."
"You always did have a way with words."
Vejar sighed. "Why have you come here, brother? I have been here ever since you all left for your sanctuary, and you have not deigned to visit me before."
"Things are changing, and quickly. The war is almost over. I will argue that we may be able to return once the Lords of Chaos have departed from this galaxy. I will of course be denied that request, but I will at least try."
"The peace will not bring any greater safety for us than the war did. Less, even."
"I know, but we will at least be able to act. An alliance is forming, a secret alliance, a secret commonwealth of races and peoples and factions. It is just beginning, tiny strands across the stars, little threads between one person and another. They do not know each other yet, but it is there. Their leader has already been named, has already chosen the destiny. Through them, we can act."
"I know. I have sensed something similar. Some have come to me, requesting my aid. Delenn, the Drazi.... others. I cannot offer it to them, to any of them. That is not our way."
"Then it should be. I will make it our way."
"What your propose.... it is dangerous, brother."
"Of course it is. What is the point otherwise, hmm?"
"I see. I think you should go now. Something is going to happen here. The air has been thick with warnings all day."
"You are on a former Drazi world, brother. The air is always thick. How you tolerate it I do not know."
"I am serious. I pray we do not see each other again."
"I think we will."
"As do I. Go with grace, and power be your servant, not your master. I think we will talk again, brother.... Galen."
"Oh, we will. Be sure of that."
Delenn knew it would be a difficult meeting before she even set foot in the chamber. There was something about the whole affair. She had heard reports that Vizhak had been on Kazomi 7 for weeks. She had been unable to contact him on the Drazi homeworld. Taan Churok had been unusually secretive. She had even heard he had gone to see Vejar, and returned in a foul mood. She had also gone to speak with Vejar, and had been turned away by the strange apparitions on his door. She had thought she could hear conversation beyond.
Besides, there had been something in the air. It had felt.... dark and thick and heavy.
Something was going to happen, she knew it. She tried to reach out to Lorien, but there was nothing there. She also tried to touch Lyta, for a brief glimpse of friendship, but again there had been nothing. The two had shared no more than a few words since Delenn's return from the dead. She did not even know exactly where Lyta was.
And then there was this sudden calling of a meeting of the Council. The whole Council. Vizhak had issued the summons. He was not even supposed to be on the planet.
She entered the Council chamber to find it filled with a ponderous silence. She looked at the people before her, and all of them could sense it. Something was wrong.
They were all here. Lethke, G'Kael, Taan, Major Krantz, representatives from the fleets. Vejar's seat was not surprisingly empty and there was no sign of Ulkesh, but beyond that only one person was missing. Her eyes passed over Vizhak's empty place. She had a strange feeling it would not be empty for long.
As she took her seat at the head of the table, she glanced at the corner of the room. The data crystal shards she had noticed before were gone. Evidently someone had come and cleaned the area.
"What is the intent of this meeting?" she asked. The silence was shattered, and the grim tableau of seated figures broke. Lethke leaned forward, G'Kael leaned back, and Taan Churok was the first to speak.
"Message from homeworld," he said. "From Government. Vizhak will bring it."
"He has returned, then?" G'Kael enquired. "At least he sees fit to let us know he has returned. A little lesson, my friend. Drazi do not sneak around very well. One day, that unfortunate problem will get you all in trouble."
"Drazi not sneak at all. Not know of which you speak, Narn, but be silent."
G'Kael nodded, and then sat back again.
"Taan, what is the nature of this message?" Delenn asked. "Is it so serious as to require the whole Council?" She was feeling very uncomfortable about this.
"Vizhak will say."
That instant, Vizhak entered. There was something about his arrival, a dark wind that brought grim tidings with it. One look at him, and Delenn knew this was bad.
He went to his seat, but did not sit down. He cast cursory glances around the table, and then began to speak. "Have consulted with Government on homeworld. Have talked to military. Have talked to priesthood. Have received orders from Government today.
"Kazomi Seven is to be returned to Drazi people. Is to be Drazi world once more. Not Alliance world, not Narn world or Brakiri world or Minbari world or human world. Is to be Drazi world."