Re: They guessed the acronym.
Re: Lennier and Lyta.
The early drafts of "The Path of Sorrows" did indeed have Lyta as the main guest character, that teep prisoner on Mars who is helped by Matheson. At the end of Matheson's flashback, when Lyta is arming the bomb that will destroy the complex, a Minbari (whom we only see from behind) is holding off the guards with a fighting pike. Lyta calls out, "Lennier!" Then we cut to Matheson and his escape. We see the base explode below him as his shuttle pulls away
but we never actually see Lyta and Lennier die in the blast. This is a classic JMS tease, he shows us a situation and - perhaps - its outcome, but not the context. Even as originally written JMS did not have to have the pair die during this incident, even if he still planned to have them die during the Telepath War.
When they couldn't get Pat Tallman for the episode and had to change the character to another teep, they also cut the reference to Lennier. Not because JMS had changed his mind about Lennier's fate, but because it no longer made sense for Lennier to be there if Lyta wasn't. For whatever reason, his connection was with her, not with the Teep rebellion generally.
If this was indeed supposed to be where the two of them died, then JMS is now free to create other circumstances. But it is pretty clear that neither of them is around after the war. When the
Rangers pilot was in production and word got out that one character from
B5, a "fan favorite", would appear in the film, many people assumed it would be Lennier. JMS said on line that it wouldn't be, and that the movie would take place
after the war. Asked point blank if Lyta died in the war, JMS said "Yes." Asked about Lennier he said, "Right around there, yeah." Which is interesting in itself, but still suggests that Lennier dies
as a result of his participation in the Teep War, even it happens earlier in the war than the original plan, or after the fighting has stopped. G'Kar, of course, was the "fan favorite", and he refers to Lyta's death obliquely: Asked if he really travelled around the galaxy for two years he confirms the story and mentions his companion, then sadly adds, "She's gone now."
We know that the IA intervened (decisively) late in the Teep War because on his death bed Bester still blames Sheridan for his defeat, this is spelled out clearly in the Telepath Trilogy. (Which also reinforces what we know about Lyta.)
I haven't read the Centauri trilogy since it was originally published, but perhaps KoshN can remind us of any hints about Lennier's fate that those books might contain.
When asked about not mentioning her among the dead in "Sleeping in Light," jms said if Zack has been there, "maybe he would've named Lyta (or maybe not, given what happens with her later)."
Anybody ever wonder where Zack got that limp?
Regards,
Joe
