katadder said:Alexb83 said:captainsmirk said:Do the Minbari really need the White Star?
Then again does the EA really need the Excalibur?
On the timeline thing, the White Star is introduced in Matters of Honour, first episode of Season 3. It may be crewed by Religious Caste Minbari but is effectively given to Sheridan, not really available for Minbari use...
The Grey Council is broken in Severed Dreams episode 10 of Season 3.
In Grey 17 is Missing, Episode 19, Neroon a senior Warrior Caste leader accepts that the Rangers are loyal to Delenn as "the One".
And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place episode 20 of season 3. The White Star fleet is ready for action and is revealed to Sheridan. It is still crewed by Religious Caste Minbari (loyal to Delenn) but commanded by Rangers (loyal again to Delenn). So the fleet doesn't appear until 10 episodes after the breaking of the Grey Council.
At what point are the White Stars under the command of the Grey Council? Or the Warrior Caste?
Nick
At all points up until the breaking of the council, they were under the control of the council. Afterwards whilst they're under Delenn's control (she is Minbari!) - the Whitestar is simply put at Sheridan's disposal because Delenn (A Minbari Satai) orders it to be so.
As to whether or not the Minbari need the Whitestar - does the ISA need allied fleet members? Does the EA need the Victory (as you point out). No - these are just arbitrary expansions to fleet lists by Mongoose to give them flexibility (and no doubt to sell extra models). The option for Minbari to field a WS in their fleets is no different, and just as justifiable - and can either be achieved by having it in their list, or having all ISA member fleets get a reciprocal 1FAP of ISA ships in any game (as the ISA do, the other way around).
ISA can use other fleets ships as thats part of the charter for joining the ISA, you provide additional ships. the same cannot be said to go back the other way. the ISA will defend your borders but wont go under your control. also if every member could use a WS you could end up with WS fighting each other for member states in a campaign, which would never happen, however other races do fight themselves so its not a problem the ISA having member ships.
you will not get whitestars in your minbari fleet. They were built specifically as a fleet seperate to the minbari war machine.
The ISA charter wrt the rangers as laid down in Rising Star says nothing about ships being provided to the ISA, it mentions only inviting members to give volunteers to join the rangers. They will provide information to help members enforce their security but not intervene themselves. Also the boomf about the ISA upholding the sovereignty of other races flies in the face of the ISA controlling anyone elses' ships in battle.