Babylon 5 A Fighting Chance --- A Babylon 5 AU

[WAR]

But regarding side stories and such, sure, could do that. I also have an aim to tidy up the original Dilgar fic same as I did with this one. No huge changes just added texture and a few additional scenes early on, plus sorting the technical stuff.

Can you tell us what chapters had new content added to them so we can be in the look out?

 

[Harlock]

On the Dilgar fic? None yet, I haven't started But when I get to it it will be mostly character pieces to make their evolution more smooth. Stuff with the Space Race crew, Jha'dur and probably Garibaldi. Those were always areas that needed more in my view.
Plus I'll be adjusting structure, spelling etc. None of that stuff was proofread first time through as I was usually in a huge rush and thought I'd do it later. Though not exactly this much later

Revised chapters will be posted here and eventually AO3

 

[Harlock]

As a small note today I started writing the sequel.

 

[Knowledgeispower]

As a small note today I started writing the sequel.

this is fantastic news,(insert sarcasm for the next part of the sentence ) now I expect it done by the end of next month even if you have no sleep to do so

 

[Culsu]

As a small note today I started writing the sequel.

Great, sir! Looking forward to the next installment of this saga.

 

[mwkillkenny84]

As a small note today I started writing the sequel.

Sweeto!

When it is done, linkage, I will gladly comment in it!

 

[kclcmdr]

As a small note today I started writing the sequel.

Hail the Author.... we wait with patience.

 

[Tryglaw]

As a small note today I started writing the sequel.

By the way, do you plan for the sequel to include some form of wrap-up? We didn't really get a proper "closure" how the war transitioned into peace, what were the peace terms and their impact on politics (be it internal Minbari or interplanetary).

Otherwise I can't wait for the fix.

 

[Harlock]

Yes
I didn't want to commit too much on that at the time as I wasn't sure what I wanted the post war Galaxy to look like. Things like the internal cracks, the Babylon project, the Trigati, Clark etc. How close I want to keep to canon and what gets changed.

Early parts of the next fic will establish the situation, broadly this is an armistice but not exactly peace. Earth and Minbar are both still heavily armed and although Branmer does want peace his position is weak and he has a lot of rivals for his job.
The Narn are aggressive, Centauri short tempered, Minbari unstable and Earth mass producing warships. Almost like someone is trying to set up a whole bunch of wars from the shadows... which I guess is no surprise to anyone who has seen the show

There will be some big changes from the start. Nobody knows the Valen thing so Sinclair's path is different, the Babylon project happens because there is still a desire to avoid war but given there is a lot more political instability it is already considered a failure before it even starts. A lot of the Narn/Centauri stuff initially will stay the same but there is the Dilgar wild card to consider which can tip things.

But it will be the EA and Minbar which sees major changes and both will follow a very different route.

 

[mwkillkenny84]

Clark

If (note the IF) I remember it correctly Clark's political agenda worked because the Earth/Minbari War was a clusterfrak that saw Humanity in danger of going the way of the dinosaurs with all the other powers (barring a 'disappeared' assistance from the Brakiri and token smuggled Centauri weapons from the Narns) being bullied into not helping Earth putting out a better fight by the Minbari.

Here Earth got help, greatly (even if many in the upper echelon detest the fact that one of the driving force behind said help was Deathwalker), and the War was as much as a clean win as possible for Humanity.

How would a xenofobic/expansionist at other race's expences platform work here for Clark (unless Clark here is using a different agenda to propel forward his political career)?

 

[Harlock]

Yea things are different and there won't be that same level of Xenophobia. You will still have plenty of anger and hate focused on the Minbari as the war did carry a hefty death toll among humanity but less than canon.
Anti-Minbari feeling will be enough to get Clark up to the VP post (And I'm guessing that he must have had a good amount of political skills too to make the job) but he won't have the level of support needed to oppress his opponents as he did in canon.

But with different circumstances there may be other means to his goals for human supremacy

 

[mwkillkenny84]

But with different circumstances there may be other means to his goals for human supremacy

My general impression was that Clark was a pure-breed career politician whose goal (reaching power/position of power and staying there as much as possible, the higher and longer the better) was masked under a Xenophobic political agenda.

 

[BF110C4]

My general impression was that Clark was a pure-breed career politician whose goal (reaching power/position of power and staying there as much as possible, the higher and longer the better) was masked under a Xenophobic political agenda.

He can do both, with a dash of Nero's burning of Rome to make people remember that his endgame is to own everything or left the rabble with only ashes.

That said the other great difference is that enough of a core of the old Earth Alliance military actually survived this conflict so the future forces are not going to align themselves with a psychopath the way the original forces, mostly composed of too young and bitter flag officers and naval captains, did during the civil war.

 

[Tryglaw]

He can do both, with a dash of Nero's burning of Rome to make people remember that his endgame is to own everything or left the rabble with only ashes.

There had been theories / indications Clark might have had a Drakh keeper planted, so the "choice" to burn Earth would not have been actually his...

That said the other great difference is that enough of a core of the old Earth Alliance military actually survived this conflict so the future forces are not going to align themselves with a psychopath the way the original forces, mostly composed of too young and bitter flag officers and naval captains, did during the civil war.

Well, yes, after near-extermination EarthForce and Humanity at large not wanting payback would make the suspension of disbelief go cry in the corner...

 

[paulobrito]

So, the next generation of Earth warships is going to get a quantum leap in capabilities? Like artificial gravity, improved weapons and armor, more advanced - thanks to the Dilgar - targeting systems, etc...
The real question is - they are going to be Vorlon, Shadow, or independent aligned?
Any option - I'm very interested in reading.

 

[Harlock]

It is about a ten year jump, thanks to Centauri grav tech Warlocks entered service in the first half of the 50s so would be fairly common by the show. The EA is definitely stronger but so are the Minbari as Branmer is gearing them up to face the Shadows.
With two big powers building large modern fleets you can imagine other powers may look to similar precautions. Quite tense times I'd expect.

 

[paulobrito]

Consider me very interested .

 

[Silverbullet]

Has the Warrior Caste’s power been broken?

Are the Protectorate Races about to take independent steps into the wider Galaxy or remain isolated?

I know things are about to get real with the Grey Council being dead, but will a new Council be chosen or is Branmer El Presidente?

 

[Harlock]

these things I shall address mainly in story as they are very big plot points The Minbari are going to be very different as we go on and much less stable. There is a new Council but Branmer has much influence.
He will also still be alive during the time of the show and play a big part in the plot

 

[Spartan303]

It is about a ten year jump, thanks to Centauri grav tech Warlocks entered service in the first half of the 50s so would be fairly common by the show. The EA is definitely stronger but so are the Minbari as Branmer is gearing them up to face the Shadows.
With two big powers building large modern fleets you can imagine other powers may look to similar precautions. Quite tense times I'd expect.

Hence the need for the Babylon stations.