####Overview

A sharp increase in raider activity has the station on the defensive. Londo obtains a priceless Centauri artifact. A mysterious stranger visits the station’s alien ambassadors.
####Guest Stars

Gerrit Graham as Lord Kiro. Fredi Olster as Lady Ladira. Ed Wasser as Morden.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/013.html
####Backplot

The Minbari refused to support Babylon 5 until Commander Sinclair was named as the Earth Alliance representative.

The emperor of the Centauri hasn’t been seen in public for some time, contributing to an erosion of the government’s credibility in the eyes of the Centauri populace.
####Unanswered Questions

Who or what is Morden, and who does he represent?

What do Delenn and Kosh know about him?

Why did the Minbari want Sinclair in charge of the station?

How big and organized are the raiders?

What impact will the Eye have on Londo’s career? Will he even return it to the Emperor, or will he try to use it for his own gain?

How did Mr. Reno get his hands on the Eye?

How did Morden’s associates locate the raiders and recover the Eye?

Who will escape on the shuttle in Ladira’s vision? When will the vision come true, if ever, and what will the circumstances be?
####Analysis

Delenn and Kosh clearly have some sort of perception beyond normal senses, be it telepathy or something else. Kosh’s seems to be much more advanced.

Delenn’s perception seems to be connected to the appearance of the triangle on her forehead. Note that this triangle was also present when Sinclair was interrogated by the Grey Council at the Battle of the Line (cf. “And the Sky Full of Stars.”)

Kosh recognized what Morden was immediately. That suggests previous contact between the Vorlons and Morden’s people.

Kosh said, “They are not for you,” referring to humans, though that’s not completely clear from the episode itself. (See jms speaks)

Morden and Kosh appeared to have fought, resulting in the damage to Kosh’s encounter suit. Since Morden continued to go about his business, perhaps Kosh capitulated or lost the fight, or perhaps he was only interested in stopping Morden from seeing Sinclair. One interesting thing about this alleged fight is the light that shatters behind Morden as the scene ends — just a power surge from the attack, or something else at work?

Babylon 5 may be destined for destruction, apparently with only a single shuttle escaping in time. (cf. [[Babylon Squared]])

Where did Morden’s disembodied voice come from at the end?
####Notes

This episode has the most complex battle sequence to date, spanning nearly an act and a half.

The raider on Babylon 5 is “Six,” a tip of the hat to “The Prisoner.”

Ed Wasser, the actor who played Morden, also appeared as the main C&C technician in the pilot movie, “The Gathering.” The same character? JMS won’t say.

As Sinclair and Garibaldi left the lavatory, another person entered. From the person’s appearance, it seemed to be a woman, even though they were leaving the men’s room (the “Male” symbol was clearly visible on the wall outside.)

Date glitch: When Ivanova is awakened by the computer, it claims the date is Wednesday, August 3, 2258. But August 3, 2258 is a Tuesday, not a Wednesday. The error is probably due to a miscalculation of leap years.

This episode’s title may be a nod to Norman Corwin, one of JMS’ favorite writers. Corwin’s radio drama “On a Note of Triumph,” broadcast at the end of World War II, examined how the war started and what lessons it carried, and contemplated what would happen once it was over. The quote in question:

Signs and portents!

It was no furtive tapping on the window sill at night,

But clamorous pounding in the public square.