The Earth-Minbari War (2245 – 2248)

Origins and Initiation

• The Earth-Minbari War began in 2245 due to a tragic first contact mishap. An Earth Alliance fleet, commanded by Captain Michael Jankowski, encountered a Minbari warcruiser. Misinterpreting Minbari open gunport communication protocol as a threat, Captain Jankowski ordered a preemptive strike. This unintentional affront resulted in the death of Dukhat, the revered Minbari leader, provoking the Minbari Federation into a holy war against humanity.

Early Conflicts and Minbari Dominance

• The Minbari, technologically and militarily superior, swiftly overpowered the Earth forces. Significant early battles included the destruction of the Earth Alliance fleet at the Battle of the Linea Colonial and the massacre at the Battle of Orion VII.

The Human Resistance

• Despite heavy losses, Earthforce continued to resist. Defensive strongholds included Earth’s Mars Colony and the Proxima III colony, which attempted to hold back the Minbari advance.
• Under the leadership of General Lefcourt and Admiral Hans Foch, Earthforce employed guerrilla tactics and hit-and-run strategies to slow the Minbari, despite severe disadvantages.

The Battle of the Line (2248)

• The culminating battle of the war, known as the Battle of the Line, took place in 2248. This final stand was formed by Earth’s last remaining defenses, comprising over 20,000 Earthforce personnel in desperate attempts to protect Earth.
• Human volunteers, including future Babylon 5 Commander Jeffrey Sinclair, manned the last line of defense, knowing that survival was unlikely. Sinclair was subsequently captured by the Minbari and interrogated, triggering events crucial to the war’s abrupt end.

The Mysterious Surrender

• Inexplicably, the Minbari halted their attack and surrendered just as they were on the verge of total victory.
• This surrender was later explained as a result of the Minbari discovering through their interrogations that humans carried Minbari souls, specifically through Sinclair’s memories. This spiritual revelation led them to cease hostilities, believing that attacking humans would be akin to destroying their own people.

Aftermath and Reconstruction

• The war’s end in 2248 left Earth and its colonies devastated, with casualties in the millions and significant infrastructural damage.
• The Earth Alliance focused on rebuilding, strengthening military defenses, and fostering better diplomatic relations to prevent future misunderstandings. Babylon 5, built as a neutral ground for diplomacy, was part of these efforts.