Londo introduces Vir to a surprising new acquaintance. A heavy influx of Narns to the station raises suspicions.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Carmen Thomas as Lyndisty.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/056.html
####Backplot

Ivanova has been in the military for 13 years.

The Centauri are attempting to pacify the Narn homeworld’s population. Among other techniques, they send troops to Narn villages to root out aggressive citizens and “put them to sleep.” Sometimes entire villages are found to be aggressive and are burned to the ground.

Vir, using his power as head of the diplomatic office on Minbar, has been running a Schindleresque underground railroad for Narns. He created a fake persona in the Centauri government, “Abrahamo Linconi,” and faked death certificates for over two thousand Narn after “Linconi” ordered them transferred to work camps on Centauri Prime.

The Centauri consider marriage for the sake of love rather than politics a radical act.

Vir’s uncle doesn’t think highly of him, claiming that Vir is capable of “a well-deserved humility.”

Vir has an interest in human history.
####Unanswered Questions

How was Ivanova able to flesh out Vir’s fake official, whose records were presumably in the Centauri Republic’s private databases?

What did Vir and Lyndisty do with the bound Narn? Obviously Vir didn’t kill him, but what did he tell Lyndisty?

Will Lyndisty’s family cancel the arrangements now that Vir has been demoted?

Does G’Kar know of Vir’s efforts? Will he be able to forgive Vir in spite of himself ([[Comes the Inquisitor]]?)
####Analysis

If Ivanova and Allen could follow the paper trail to discover that Vir apparently sent thousands of Narn to their deaths, others might be able to as well. Vir may find himself a target if any Narn who aren’t in on his secret manage to access the records in question. Certainly Lyndisty is still in danger; lots of other Narn would undoubtedly like to get their hands on someone with her history.

Vir can still help the Narn if he chooses, though it’ll be riskier. He presumably has retained his post as Londo’s attache, which should have some authority in itself. And by tempering Londo, however slightly, he may do more good than he did on Minbar.

Vir isn’t alone in wanting to help the Narn; he referred to others working with him. Will those others be able to continue, especially with Ivanova’s assistance?

The presence of other Centauri might explain how she was able to access the Centauri government’s files.

Given Londo’s feelings about bugs, what will his reaction be when he sees an arachnoid Shadow warship for the first time? Perhaps his fear of insects (and spiders) stems in part from his dream ([[Matters of Honor]].)

There may also be a parallel between Londo’s insect hunt and the typical Centauri attitude toward the Narn, who they regard as little more than bugs on two feet. If that parallel is intentional, Londo’s line about the insects “evolving before my eyes” might have some relation to the Narns’ changing position in the universe — with G’Kar’s help (and some prodding from Kosh) they’re becoming something quite different than they were mere months earlier.

Evidence of the pressures of independence are starting to appear: B5’s officers now drink an unidentified liquid instead of morning coffee and the ambassador of a major race — albeit an ally of the government the station opposes — can’t get a maintenance crew to his quarters. The loss of Earth funding and support is likely to grow worse over time.

Vir’s smuggled Narn are considered dead by the Centauri — perhaps making one of them the subject of Lady Morella’s prophecy to Londo, that he “must not kill the one who is already dead” ([[Point of No Return]].)
####Notes

The title is something of a pun; it’s Latin for “thus passes the man” (roughly speaking.) It’s probably a reference to the saying “sic transit gloria mundi” (“thus passes the glory of the world.”)

The Nightwatch orders its members on Babylon 5 to target Delenn in an attempt to undermine Minbari actions during the recent crisis. Londo presents Refa with an ultimatum.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

William Forward as Refa. Paul Perri as The Sniper. Don Stroud as Boggs. Kim Strauss as Lenann.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/055.html
####Backplot

In the old days of the Centauri Republic, poison was a common political tool.

Some humans learned the Minbari language from POWs during the war.

The rebirth ceremony in [[The Parliament of Dreams]] was just a small part of a much larger renewal ceremony, traditionally performed in response to, or in anticipation of, a great change. Lennier believes B5’s inhabitants are currently between two such changes.

The Minbari prophecy foretells fire and darkness after the two halves of the Minbari soul unite to combat the ancient enemy.
####Unanswered Questions

How many more Nightwatch members are still on the station?

Did Garibaldi’s people get rid of the artificial intelligence?

What else is buried in B5’s computer system? (At least one unfriendly thing, as shown in [[A Spider In the Web]].)

Who does Lennier believe Delenn is fated for? Sheridan? If so, is that due to his observation of the growing relationship between Delenn and Sheridan, or due to something in the prophecy?

What was Delenn planning to give up and to tell someone at the ceremony?
####Analysis

Londo is playing a dangerous game with Refa; Refa will no doubt not take kindly to having his life threatened, and may retaliate against Londo either overtly or behind the scenes. Refa seems to have much of the royal court in his pocket while Londo’s influence has waned since he broke off his association with Morden. Londo may find that he’s bitten off more than he can chew.

However, the extent of the risk he’s taking is a good indication that his realization of the dark nature of his former pact with Morden is complete; after this it will be very hard to turn back. It’s interesting to note, though, that his basic goal hasn’t changed, only his methods; note that he tries to dissuade Refa by talking about how dangerous the current Centauri policies are to their people. Londo is still first and foremost a patriot, not unlike G’Kar (at least until Kosh’s revelation in [[Dust to Dust]].)

Londo and Sinclair have something in common; Londo’s poisoning of Refa bears a passing resemblance to Sinclair planting a transmitter in G’Kar’s intestinal tract. Or rather, claiming to — which raises the question, did Londo really poison Refa, or just say so? Like Sinclair, Londo might figure that the poison that doesn’t exist can’t be flushed out by doctors.

How did the Nightwatch get so much information about the Minbari, especially the details of Delenn’s means of getting the war cruisers to Babylon 5? It may be as simple as Earth’s normal intelligence channels, which, under Clark, presumably make at least some of their findings available to the Nightwatch.

Boggs’ claim that the Minbari “think [Delenn]’s the second coming!” indicates that many among the Minbari agree with Delenn’s assessment of herself as the chosen one, the vehicle of prophecy (see also [[Comes the Inquisitor]].) Marcus also hints at this when he tells Delenn that his brother believed in the Rangers and in her; apparently her involvement with them is richer in symbolism than has previously been hinted at. How, and whether, that relates to the nature of Sinclair’s involvement remains to be seen.

This isn’t the first time Delenn has been referred to as “the second coming,” at least indirectly. G’Kar quoted a passage from the Yeats poem of the same name in [[Revelations]], a passage visually accompanied by Delenn’s first look at her new appearance. Ominously, that Second Coming refers to the Antichrist.

The Army of Light is now dressed in black uniforms. Whether that’s an intentional contrast on Delenn’s part, or simply her fashion sense, only time will tell.
####Notes

The voice of Sparky the Computer, the artificial intelligence, is Harlan Ellison. Sparky’s name is visible both in the ending credits and, very briefly, as the last line item in the computer’s status messages when it reboots.

The recording Londo shows Refa is slightly wrong; Morden was sitting when he mentioned Refa’s name ([[Matters of Honor]].)

The station logo on the wall in C&C has changed. It used to be a 5 with a pair of olive branches overlaid, presumably signifying peace; now it’s a 5 over a sword. The new logo can also be seen on the top of the conference room table in the scene with Delenn and the officers from the Minbari ships.

There’s a minor continuity glitch involving the new logo. When the command staff walks into C&C in the final scene, the camera pans across the side of C&C to show the startled techs. The new logo is visible on the wall between two computer displays. But in the next shot of the same wall, there’s no logo there.

“Dem Bones” was also sung in the final episode of “The Prisoner.”

The formation in which one of the Starfuries peels away as the squadron performs a fly-by of the caskets is called the Missing Man formation. It is used today whenever a flyby is part of military honors at a funeral.

As Delenn and Marcus wait for Lenann, a “Wet Floor” sign can be seen in a corridor in the background.

Sheridan’s closing line, “Babylon 5 is open for business,” echoes Laurel Takashima’s in [[The Gathering]]. In both cases it marked a new beginning for the station.

Sheridan’s line to Ivanova, “My hypocrisy only goes so far,” is a Mark Twain quote.

Don Stroud got his scar by jumping into a crowd of men with knives to stop a woman from being raped, according to former story editor Larry DiTillio.

The eulogy recited by Sheridan is the same one spoken by Ivanova in [[Soul Hunter]].

When President Clark tries to seize control of Babylon 5 by force, Sheridan is faced with the prospect of severing the station’s ties with Earth. Delenn receives disturbing news from a Ranger.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Bruce McGill as Major Ryan. Kim Miyori as Captain Hiroshi. James Parks as Drakhen.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/054.html
####Backplot

The former Minbari leader, Dukhat, died in Delenn’s arms. Before he died, he named her as his chosen successor.

Clark has been filling command positions with his people since taking office, thus enabling him to retain control of most of Earth Force; many officers who oppose his policies feel forced to go along, since their superiors will accuse them of treason otherwise.

The Shadows have formed alliances with many of the non-aligned worlds, allegedly to protect them from Centauri aggression; later, they’ve prompted those races to attack their neighbors with the belief that association with the Shadows is a guarantee of victory.
####Unanswered Questions

Was Londo finally able to leave the station? Where was he going? (Or, if he was coming aboard, where was he coming from?)

Is there more to the prophecy of the return of the Shadows, or has it now played itself out, leaving the future uncertain?

What does Sheridan’s mother do with her time?

What has ISN known for a year but been unable to talk about? Did they find out about Santiago’s death, or perhaps about Earth’s involvement with the Shadows?
####Analysis

Sheridan said he wanted to keep Draal a secret, and thus didn’t ask for help defending the station. But anyone with two eyes now knows he has some interesting non-human technology at his disposal; he used the Great Machine to broadcast his holographic image all over the station. While Earth has free-floating holography (such as the Knights’ image of Sinclair at the beginning of [[And the Sky Full of Stars]]) it’s a far cry from what Sheridan did.

Five hooded Councilors followed Delenn from the council chamber; presumably the remaining four were all warrior caste, as established in [[All Alone in the Night]]. (Only three are visible onscreen, but the whole Council wasn’t visible at the start of the scene, either.)

Where did the religious and worker castes get three Minbari warships and the crews to pilot them? Are there more on Delenn’s side, or just those? In [[Matters of Honor]], Lennier implied that the religious-caste crew of the White Star was rare, if not unheard-of. Did some of the warrior caste side with Delenn? (See jms speaks)

Delenn’s confrontation with the Grey Council is counter to her own stated goal of laying low so the Shadows aren’t forced to attack immediately. She accused them of standing by and doing nothing in the face of Shadow encroachment — but doing nothing was exactly what she insisted on in “In the Shadow of Z’ha’dum”, among other places. If the warrior caste had moved to prevent some of the non-aligned worlds from warring, as she seemed to be suggesting, it surely would have alerted the Shadows to the fact that their return has been discovered.

On the other hand, it may be that she was accusing them of not even preparing for eventual open conflict with the Shadows; perhaps she believed their current indifference would continue even after the army of light was fully assembled.

Finally, she may have wanted them to simply take a stand in the local conflicts without addressing the Shadows’ presence directly.

Sheridan’s secession from the Earth Alliance plays directly into Clark’s hands in some respects. Clark can use the secession, and the Minbari involvement, to paint a picture of an alien-supported military coup against an elected civilian government, further proof of the need for martial law, the Nightwatch, and other draconian measures. No doubt he’ll be able to make that version of the story believable to a large number of people back home, thus solidifying his power base.

Why did only four destroyers jump into Babylon 5 space for the initial attack? Perhaps the fleet commander didn’t want to increase the chance of casualties from friendly fire, but that seems dubious at best; or perhaps he didn’t know there were more ships on the way.

Which side of the war does the Agamemnon and its crew support? Will Sheridan be forced into conflict with his old ship, something he definitely doesn’t want? ([[Messages From Earth]])

Given the reason for the Minbari surrender during the war ([[Points of Departure]]) would Delenn have made good on her threat to fire on the Earth ships? Minbari religious beliefs would forbid her from doing so, though she might well consider it a necessary evil.

During the initial attack on the Alexander, Major Ryan claims that they can’t jump to hyperspace without losing their fighters. But fighters have been shown jumping alongside a larger ship before — some emerged with the destroyers to attack Babylon 5 later in the same episode — so what would have kept the fighters from jumping with the Alexander? (See jms speaks)

The Shadows are apparently perfectly willing to double-cross the Centauri, at least in words. By offering to protect the League worlds from Centauri aggression, when the Centauri are using the Shadows to act out that aggression, they’ve effectively taken control of both sides of any potential Centauri border conflicts. What they’ll do with that control, and why they want it, remains to be seen.
####Notes

The new Starfury in this episode is called a “Thunderbolt”.

Many of the Nightwatch members in this episode are production staff members, including the production secretary and an assistant director.

Minor effects mismatch: A group of Starfuries attacks a friendly destroyer. Its name is clearly visible as the Churchill. But the scene immediately cuts to Major Ryan reacting to the hit — even though he’s on the Alexander, not the Churchill. (See jms speaks)

Just after Major Ryan says, “Right down their throats,” a Starfury shoots another one with B5 in the background. For one frame, the exploding Starfury is replaced with a bright yellow square; then the explosion replaces it.

Four ships emerge from the jumpgate at the end of act three, two Omega-class destroyers and two older Hyperion-style heavy cruisers (“A Voice In the Wilderness, part 2”.) But we only see and hear about two, the Agrippa and the Roanoke. One possible explanation is that the destroyer rammed by the Churchill isn’t supposed to be the Roanoke; since Sheridan offers assistance to the Roanoke at the end of the battle, that’s plausible. However, the rammed ship’s name is (barely) visible as “Roanoke” during the collision.

One of the two destroyers in the second wave was called the Nimrod; the second was the Olympic.

The Roanoke is named after an early English colony in North Carolina. After a hard winter, a ship came to check on the colony and found it totally deserted, no sign of the inhabitants or of a struggle, just the word CROATAN carved into a tree. The fate of the colonists was never discovered.

The Agrippa was probably named for the famed Roman general/admiral, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. He served for Octavian (Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus), the nephew of Julius Caesar. He was the inventor of the harpax, or harpago, which was a pole with a hook on the end which was attached to a rope. Fired toward another ship, it allowed the two ships to be pulled together, allowing the Romans to board. It was first used in 36 BC at the battle of Naulochos (Mylae), and later at the battle of Actium, where it helped to defeat Mark Anthony’s fleet, leading to the eventual crowning of Octavian as Augustus, the first Roman emperor in 27 BC.

In the UK video release, three seconds were cut from the episode, presumably from one of the boarding-party fight scenes.

As the Earth Alliance plunges toward civil war, internal strife threatens to shatter the command structure of B5. Zack’s loyalties are put to the test when the Nightwatch is ordered to take over station security. Londo receives another glimpse of his des
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Majel Barrett as Lady Morella. Marshall Teague as Ta’Lon.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/053.html
####Backplot

After the death of a Centauri emperor, custom states that his spirit lives on in the body of his consort, who speaks both for herself and her late husband.

Londo is destined to become emperor. That part of his future cannot be avoided, according to Lady Morella. Vir is also destined to become emperor. One will become emperor after the other dies, but it’s not clear which.

Londo has already passed up two chances to avoid the destiny he fears awaits him. There will be three more. He must save the eye that does not see. He must not kill the one who is already dead. And failing those, at the last, he must surrender himself to his greatest fear, knowing that it will destroy him.

One result of G’Kar’s Kosh-inspired revelation in [[Dust to Dust]] is the belief that humans are the key to the salvation of the Narn race. He also believes, as Kosh suggested, that the Narn must give up their pride and their vengeance or risk being completely destroyed, and that his people must sacrifice themselves by the hundreds or even the millions if all are to benefit in the end.
####Unanswered Questions

Is General Hague on his way to the station?

What impact will Sheridan’s new security forces have? Will they immediately turn Earth against him?
####Analysis

One of Londo’s two squandered chances was undoubtedly his action in [[The Coming of Shadows]], which sparked the Narn-Centauri War. The other is less clear. Perhaps it was his initial meeting with Morden, or the attack on the outpost in [[Chrysalis]]. It may also have been his decision to ask the Shadows to defend Gorash 7 ([[The Long, Twilight Struggle]],) without which the Centauri wouldn’t have been able to crush the Narn as thoroughly as they did.

“The eye that does not see” might refer to the Eye, the symbol of Centauri nobility that marked the start of Londo’s association with Morden ([[Signs and Portents]].) It may also refer to G’Kar’s eye, which appears to be injured or missing in Londo’s dream ([[The Coming of Shadows]].)

The one who is already dead might be Morden, who’s officially dead according to Earth Alliance records (“In the Shadow of Z’ha’dum”) or perhaps G’Kar, whose old life is certainly gone. It’s also possible that it refers to the memory of someone who is to die; Londo may be presented with an opportunity to discredit someone who would otherwise serve as a martyr. Along similar lines, it may refer to the wishes of someone already dead; for instance, destroying the chance for peace that Emperor Turhan sought before his death, something that would have been the Emperor’s legacy.

Another possibility is a connection to the transfer of Minbari souls to humans; the owner of a particular previously-deceased Minbari soul (perhaps Sinclair) may prove troublesome to Londo in the future.

Londo’s greatest fear might be the downfall of the Republic, or perhaps his own death.

It’s likely Londo will squander at least the first two of his remaining chances, given the fact that there will be a third — assuming Morella is correct.

What did Sheridan and the others say to convince Zack to go along with their ruse? It may have been as simple as convincing him that the order from the Political Office was illegal, just like Sheridan told the trapped Nightwatch members. Using that to convince him would have been the safest course of action, since as a loyal officer he’d be inclined to go along with the plan even if his sympathies had shifted toward Nightwatch.

What were all the non-security Nightwatch members doing during the crisis? Were they unaffected by the takeover order in the first place, and thus largely unconcerned with what was going on?
####Notes

An official press release about Majel Barrett’s appearance is available.

Many of the Nightwatch members in this episode are production staff members, including the production secretary and an assistant director.

Lady Morella is said to be returning from a visit to Ragesh 9. The Ragesh system is the same one attacked by the Narn in [[Midnight on the Firing Line]].

As the Senate continues to investigate President Clark, an archaeologist brings news of a development back home that forces Sheridan to act against the Earth government. The Nightwatch tightens its grip on the civilian population.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Nancy Stafford as Dr. Kirkish.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/052.html
####Backplot

Seven years ago, an archaeological team working for Interplanetary Expeditions (see [[Infection]]) discovered a disabled Shadow ship buried 300 feet under the Martian surface, underground for at least a thousand years. Another Shadow ship, apparently with the cooperation of Earth, finished excavating the first, and both flew away. Garibaldi was witness, and recovered a Psi Corps badge from the site. See comic issue 8, “Silent Enemies.” Most of the archaeologists have died or disappeared since.

More recently, a second Shadow ship was discovered under the ice on Jupiter’s moon Ganymede.

A Shadow ship requires a living being at its core; the two merge, becoming one entity. If the pilot isn’t properly prepared, the result is a confused, insane ship.

Translating the Book of G’Quan is considered sacrilege by the Narn. “It must be read in the mother tongue, or not at all,” says G’Kar.

Shadow forces have continued to build up on the edge of Centauri space.
####Unanswered Questions

What were Shadow ships doing on Mars and Ganymede a millenium ago? Was Earth involved in the last war?

How does Delenn know that Shadow ships have sentient beings at their core? What else does she know about them that she hasn’t told Sheridan?

What kind of preparation is needed to properly merge with a Shadow ship?
####Analysis

Sheridan’s unwillingness to fire on the Agamemnon may be a sign of trouble to come; he’s not ready to think of Earth’s military as an enemy. How long that loyalty will last is unclear, but at some point, if conditions on Earth continue to escalate and Sheridan continues to act covertly against the government, he’ll be forced to choose between firing on his own people and death or capture.

The White Star is a Minbari vessel, yet Sheridan believed the Agamemnon would be able to track it. (See [[Points of Departure]].) Perhaps that was simply because the White Star was in Jupiter’s atmosphere; it was thus unable to outrun the Agamemnon, and could be tracked via atmospheric disturbances.

The White Star is a formidable vessel, in any case; it has as much firepower as several Narn heavy cruisers, judging by its attack on the Shadow vessel (see [[The Long, Twilight Struggle]],) although this Shadow ship might have been smaller than those faced by the Narn. The Agamemnon was able to damage the White Star, but only after it had been grazed by a Shadow weapon and subjected to atmospheric conditions far outside its safety limits.

G’Kar’s book should make for interesting reading now that he knows what’s going on from Londo’s point of view as well as his own ([[Dust to Dust]].) Given his visitation by what he believes to be G’Lan in that episode, will he consider his writings to be on the same level as the Book of G’Quan? More importantly, will other Narn feel the same way, and become followers of the Book of G’Kar?

Dr. Kirkish says of Earth, regarding the Shadows, “They want us to become more like them.” What does she mean by that? How can humans become more like Shadows, and what would that entail?

Someone on Earth wanted to go behind the Shadows’ backs; if the Shadows discover that (assuming they don’t already know,) the consequences for Earth could be disastrous. Assuming, of course, that the Shadows didn’t tell Earth about the second ship for their own reasons.

The events on Mars make it clear that the Shadows were awake to some degree before the Icarus visited Z’ha’dum (“In the Shadow of Z’ha’dum”.) The Icarus visited Z’ha’dum in 2256, but Kirkish saw a functioning Shadow vessel seven years ago, in 2253. The Psi-Corps connection also implies that the Shadows were aware of humanity at the time.

Given Marcus’ apparent disregard for secrecy ([[Exogenesis]]) Ivanova would be well-advised to make sure his chart is destroyed or hidden lest a Nightwatch sympathizer stumble across it.

Perhaps the Shadows bury their ships underground intentionally. Since the ships are at least partially alive, it’s even concievable that the Shadows bury an egg or something similar, then dig up the fully grown ship later on. In that case, where else are such ships buried? Do the Shadows know, or did they lose track of their ships in the last war?

The Shadows attacked the mining colony where Marcus and his brother lived ([[Matters of Honor]].) Could they have been trying to prevent the miners from discovering another buried ship?

Now that the Agamemnon has observed the White Star at close proximity, Earth Force will presumably treat it as hostile on sight in the future. That will probably severely limit Sheridan’s ability to finesse his way out of another fight.

The Shadows are far from alone in requiring living beings to merge with their machinery. In fact, it seems to be a staple of advanced technologies in the B5 universe:

• The Ikarran weapon in [[Infection]].
• The anti-agathic drug in [[Deathwalker]], which required an extract from another living being.
• The Great Machine in Epsilon 3, which goes berserk without a core (“A Voice in the Wilderness”.)
• Shadow ships, as shown here.

Are Vorlon ships similarly powered? They show up as living beings in scans, though that isn’t conclusive one way or the other.

Delenn’s promise to Sheridan, “I will watch and catch you if you should fall,” is strikingly similar to the Soul Hunter’s comment to her when she was being held captive: “You will feel as if you are falling; do not be afraid, I will be there to catch you.” ([[Soul Hunter]].)
####Notes

Narn is written from right to left.

“Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom” is a variation on a quote from Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States (1801-1809.) The original meaning was that people should closely watch their governments to avoid excessive encroachment on personal liberty; its use by a Nightwatch member is especially ironic.

The events on Mars were first revealed in the comic series, issues “Survival the Hard Way” and “Silent Enemies,” six months before this episode’s first airing.

Garibaldi also made a reference to the story contained therein in the first-season episode [[Infection]].

In the middle of the White Star’s jump to hyperspace, there’s a single frame of note. The frame takes place as the White Star emerges into hyperspace, as it heads toward the camera. The hyperspace background changes to what looks like an alien cityscape. Apparently it’s a shot from Hypernauts, a children’s sci-fi show whose special effects are being done by B5’s effects company. (See jms speaks.)

Marcus and Dr. Franklin combat an invasion by parasitic aliens that attach themselves to humans. Ivanova investigates the possibility of bringing a new member into the conspiracy.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Joshua Cox as Corwin. Aubrey Morris as Duncan. James Warwick as Matthew Duffin.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/051.html
####Backplot

A race of symbiotes, the Vindrizi, has existed for half a million years. They were created as recorders, observing events all over the galaxy so that others can learn about the past when all the books and records have been swallowed by the next dark age. They survive by passing from host to host, always seeking volunteers who have nothing left to live for and want to live out their lives participating in a grand endeavor.

The Shadows have been building up forces in sector 800, near the border of Centauri space.
####Unanswered Questions

What is the “package” from Mars that Marcus is waiting for?

Why are the Shadows building up their forces in sector 800?

Will Corwin prove problematic for the conspiracy of light?

Who created the Vindrizi half a million years ago, and what made them think such living histories would become necessary?
####Analysis

It’s never made clear how much time has passed before the Vindrizi’s departure, but it’s odd that Sheridan and company didn’t jump at the chance to get all the information they could about the Shadows and the previous wars while the Vindrizi were still aboard. Of course, it’s possible such discussions took place, but they’re never mentioned.

Now that Sheridan and his people know about the Vindrizi, perhaps they’ll call upon them in the future.

What came in on the ship at the beginning of the episode? The two people waiting for the ship were quite happy to see it arrive. Were they not yet joined with the Vindrizi, or did the ship simply carry more of their kind?

Marcus seems a good deal less concerned with secrecy than his coconspirators; he was talking to Garibaldi openly, and loudly, about his network of contacts in a public place. By contrast, Ivanova and Sheridan didn’t even want to be seen with him at the Earhart’s party for fear of raising questions.

Why is Ivanova so hostile toward Marcus? Have her last few romantic experiences made her want to discourage any new developments in that area? (For example, [[The War Prayer]] and [[Divided Loyalties]].)

During the medical staff meeting, Franklin mentions that there’s a need for Drazi blood. Is the station being flooded with Drazi refugees, much like it was with Narn refugees while the Narn-Centauri War was at its peak? If so, is Babylon 5 becoming a sort of haven for refugees of all stripes?
####Notes

Duncan’s line, “I don’t like being poked by doctors,” is also spoken by the main character Alex in Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange.”

The ship carrying the Vindrizi is called the Dyson, most likely named for physicist Freeman Dyson.

Marcus quotes from Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” to Garibaldi, and from Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” when he wakes Duncan up. Note that Marcus refers to Macbeth as “the Scottish play,” and replaces “Macbeth” with “Marcus” in his quote — there is a superstition among actors that referring to Macbeth by name is bad luck. (See jms speaks)

The particular Macbeth quotes are from Act II, scene 2:

Methought I heard a voice cry “Sleep no more!

Macbeth does murder sleep” — the innocent sleep,

Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care,

The death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath,

Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course,

Chief nourisher in life’s feast.

Then, a moment later:

Still it cried “Sleep no more!” to all the house.

“Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor

Shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more.”

Glamis and Cawdor are two earl titles that Macbeth holds.

Marcus refers to his fighting staff as a “Copeland J5000” while trying to convince the Vindrizi it’s a medical instrument. That’s most likely a reference to producer John Copeland.

The Vindrizi’s musing about what they’ve experienced is reminiscent of Batty’s dying words at the end of the movie “Blade Runner.”

An addictive drug with telepathic effects is found on the station, prompting a visit by Bester. G’Kar reaches a turning point.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Walter Koenig as Bester.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/050.html
####Backplot

Londo’s original assignment to Babylon 5 was at the direct request of Emperor Turhan, who chose him after everyone else turned the position down.

Dust, an addictive drug, allows non-telepaths of several races to probe the minds of others, experiencing all the victim’s memories and thoughts in the space of a few minutes. Unfortunately, this leaves the victims unconscious, and telepathic victims never recover. The more often Dust is taken, the more is required to achieve the effect the next time. Dust was originally developed, and is apparently still being produced, by Psi Corps in an attempt to induce permanent telepathy in normal humans; the experiment has been a failure so far.

The Narn used to have telepaths, long ago, but they and their families were exterminated. The genes for telepathy were too weak in the survivors to allow the Narn to breed natural telepaths, but their abilities can still be unlocked, briefly, by Dust.
####Unanswered Questions

How much does G’Kar know about Londo’s association with the Shadows? Did Kosh stop him before he was able to discover everything?

Why did Kosh stop G’Kar? (See Analysis)

How did Kosh know what was happening?

Was Bester telling the truth about the Psi Corps combatting secret threats to the human race, things ordinary people never hear about? If so, what are those threats?

What happened to the Narn telepaths? (See Analysis)

Will the Dust have a permanent effect on G’Kar, such as giving him some measure of telepathic ability?

What did the Corps learn from Talia? Was she actually dissected, or was Bester just baiting Garibaldi? Did they find out about Ironheart’s gift ([[Mind War]]?)
####Analysis

What is the rest of the Psi Corps’ business on Babylon 5? Perhaps it involves Lyta Alexander; her presence is probably common knowledge by now.

The extermination of Narn telepaths may be connected to the Shadow occupation of the Narn homeworld in the last war. See [[Voices of Authority]]. Or perhaps the Centauri were responsible, during their previous occupation. It’s also possible, though perhaps less likely, that the Narn killed all their own telepaths.

G’Kar asks Londo if being helpless helps him understand the plight of the Narn. But the reverse effect may have taken place as well; G’Kar has experienced at least some of the past several years from Londo’s point of view now, and thus presumably understands why Londo did what he did. Whether that understanding can lead to forgiveness, though, is another question.

Kosh’s intrusion into G’Kar’s probe of Londo can certainly be viewed as manipulation, especially given the use of the image of G’Lan. What Kosh is trying to achieve by appearing to G’Kar, and why he’s willing to interfere with the Narn and Centauri now when he expressed no interest in them before ([[Midnight On the Firing Line]]) isn’t clear.

In addition to the mention of the Narn and Centauri being alone and dying, reminiscent of “Midnight On the Firing Line,” Kosh also tells G’Kar, “I have always been here.” This echoes Kosh’s statement in Sheridan’s dream in [[All Alone In the Night]]. It’s still not entirely clear what he means, however. Could it have something to do with the “path” revealed to Ivanova in [[Voices of Authority]]?

Kosh may have stopped G’Kar to prevent him from learning too much about the Shadows, on the assumption that G’Kar would likely speak out about them in public. Since the forces of light are still gathering, that’d be something Kosh would want to prevent. It’s also likely that Kosh was maneuvering G’Kar to be of greater use in the future, perhaps testing his ability to influence G’Kar’s behavior through the use of religious visions.

Probably just a coincidence: Kosh ends G’Kar’s quest for Shadow information in Londo’s mind by saying, “It is enough.” That’s exactly what Londo said to Endawi ([[Matters of Honor]]) after recalling his dream of the Shadow ships flying overhead on Centauri Prime.

Did G’Kar overdose on Dust? It is possible that he was about to die, given the intensity of all the images he was seeing – the drug hasn’t been tested on Narn. And that would be consistant with Kosh’s previous appearances, when Sheridan was in danger of dying ([[All Alone in the Night]] and [[The Fall of Night]].) Is Kosh’s direct manipulation restricted only to near-death appearances?

Who are the characters in G’Kar’s vision? The man on the tree is his father (which G’Kar mentions, and which fits with his recounting in [[And Now For a Word]].) It’s not clear who the second person is, the old man. G’Quon, perhaps? The third person we know as G’Lan, from G’Kar’s exclamation in [[The Fall of Night]].

Kosh dodged the Vorlon question when G’Kar put it to him; in response to being asked, “Who are you?” the vision replied, “I am who I have always been,” a self-referential answer that conveys reflection rather than information.

Kosh’s statement about sacrifice can be interpreted to cover the entire Narn race; he may be saying that the Narn (and perhaps the Centauri, given his earlier statement about the two races) must die so that the rest can live. If that interpretation is correct, Kosh is preparing G’Kar to accept the death of his people as inevitable. Will G’Kar continue to fight for the Narn?

Vir’s position on Minbar was a joke to Londo (strictly a means of getting him out of his hair) just as Londo’s position was originally viewed.

Could Vir parallel Londo’s ascension to power, potentially rising to great importance in the coming war? Given his newfound affinity for the Minbari, and his distaste for Londo’s politics (and especially Morden,) he could be a great ally of the Army of Light. On the other hand, Londo did get Vir the position in the first place, and at the time he told Delenn that it was to get Vir out of danger.

Franklin continues to be on edge; could this be a consequence of his stim habit? ([[A Day in the Strife]])
####Notes

Dust has been mentioned before; for example, in [[Hunter, Prey]], Max, the kidnapper, asks Dr. Jacobs if he’s a dust smuggler.

A possible inconsistency: Bester said the Corps had been working on Dust for five years. But in [[Survivors]], Garibaldi recalled a Dust problem on Mars 17 years ago. Perhaps the Corps took over production of an existing drug, or perhaps the Corps worked on Dust for five years sometime in the past.

The Dust vendor’s two aliases, Lindstrom and Morgenstern, are the surnames of two characters from the comedy series “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”

Morgenstern means “morning star,” one of the names used to refer to Lucifer in Judeo-Christian texts.

Draal helps the crew attempt to contact more of the First Ones. Sheridan works to hide his conspiracy from the Nightwatch.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Shari Shattuck as Julie Musante. John Schuck as Draal.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/049.html
####Backplot

Morden was directly involved in the assassination of President Santiago, and was in contact with then-Vice President Clark at the time.

There is bad blood of some kind between the Vorlons and at least some of the First Ones.

G’Kar’s operatives have told him something of the Rangers, though they don’t know the whole story. He suspects Delenn is involved somehow.

The Ministry of Peace is planning to purge a number of high-level officials from the Earth government on charges of sedition, immoral conduct, and espionage. It has gained even wider powers recently, including the ability to investigate people based on past associations.
####Unanswered Questions

Why were the First Ones upset at the Vorlons? Could it be related to the reason the Vorlons stayed behind when the other First Ones left?

What did they say to Ivanova?

What does G’Kar want Garibaldi to find out from the Book of G’Quan? The book mentions the Shadows; how detailed is its information?

How did the Machine record the conversation between Clark and Morden? Is it monitoring all communications in a vast region of space, or does it concentrate on Shadow-related conversations?

What impact will the recording have?

Will Musante return to the station? What did she make of Zack’s question? Will she link it to the release of the recording?
####Analysis

The First Ones at Sigma 957 were annoyed at the mention of the Vorlons, suggesting that the two races had a disagreement at some point in the past. Perhaps the Vorlons prevented, intentionally or otherwise, the final defeat of the Shadows in the previous war. It could also have something to do with the Vorlons’ manipulation of younger races ([[The Fall of Night]].) Perhaps the Vorlons didn’t depart with the other First Ones because they weren’t allowed to do so.

“When it is time, come to this place. Call our name. We will be here.” But what is their name? Does Draal know? Did the recognition code the White Star sent call them by name, or is this an additional hurdle to obtaining help from the Sigma 957 aliens?

The manifestation of the First Ones bore some resemblance to a Native American totem, or an African wood figure. Coincidence, or are the Vorlons far from the only visitors to Earth?

Ivanova was able to extract more information from the Great Machine than any normal human could have, according to Draal, and she managed to find a pretty specific recording in what must have been huge mountains of data (literally!) Is that due to her latent psi ability? What would happen if a full telepath like Lyta were to step into the machine? (See below.)

The Shadows (if that’s what they were) sensed Ivanova’s “presence” at Sigma 957. That implies that the Machine was actually projecting something there rather than passively scanning, and that the projection was tangible enough to provoke Ivanova to comment that the enemy “knows my name,” an odd remark in itself.

There may be something significant in Draal’s use of the term “the enemy” to describe Ivanova’s visitors; he didn’t say “Shadows.” On the other hand, given that she heard the typical Shadow chitter and that the floating lights were in the same pattern as the glowing Shadow eyes seen by Sheridan in Kosh’s vision (“In the Shadow of Z’ha’dum”, and in the season three title sequence) it’s probably safe to assume that she was in fact being observed by the Shadows.

Just how much contact there was between Ivanova and the Shadows wasn’t clear. Did they find out enough about her to know about the conspiracy of light? Did they have a hand in her discovery of the Clark recording? Given their apparent affinity for chaos in the ranks of potential enemies, the release of the recording and the subsequent upheaval on Earth might be exactly what they want.

The fact that Ivanova was able to escape the Shadows by returning to the “path” that connects all living things is perhaps more significant; what does it imply about the Shadows that they’re somehow excluded from that path? Does that have anything to do with their motive in participating in war after war across the millenia?

Presumably the machine was projecting Ivanova’s consciousness out among the stars; her greater-than-expected control over the machine, as mentioned above, suggests that the experience was telepathic in nature. That implies that to sense her, the Shadows must have some telepathic abilities as well; or perhaps they have a machine like Draal’s that can provide the equivalent.

The path might be related to the way telepathy works in the first place; if all life is connected on some level, then perhaps telepaths are simply beings who can make use of those connections. The Shadows’ involvement with Psi Corps ([[Matters of Honor]], among others) suggests that they consider telepaths important; that may relate to their apparent exclusion from the path as noted above. There may also be a reason they chose to use the Narn homeworld as a base in the last war ([[Matters of Honor]]) — the Narn have no telepaths of their own ([[The Gathering]].) A more sinister possibility is that the Shadow occupation is the reason there are no Narn telepaths; perhaps the Shadows eliminated them, leaving the Narn without the genetic code for psi ability. If that’s true, they may be cultivating contacts with the Psi Corps so they have an easy way to do the same to humans when the time comes.

The assignment of a “political officer” to military units is reminiscent of the way in which the Soviet Union maintained control over military units.

Each unit had its own political officer whose job it was to maintain ideological purity. These officers were tolerated at best, and were generally despised and feared.

Another link to Soviet history was Musante’s allusion to purging a number of high officials in a very public and permanent way. This brings to mind the purges experienced by the Soviet Union in the 30s — the great show trials of prominent individuals, the mass purges of the army (which wrought such havoc over the military that, by the time that the Soviets were actively engaged in World War II, most of the experienced officers had been removed, thus weakening the Soviet army to the point where the Germans felt they could easily defeat the Soviets.)

Why would Musante have to be recalled to Earth? Is she the low-level operative she appears to be, or someone more important? Perhaps the Nightwatch is simply short-staffed enough that they need all the manpower they can get to deal with such a potentially damaging situation.

Delenn’s denial of knowledge about the Rangers was an out-and-out lie, not a deception or a mistruth or a careful omission. Whose honor was she protecting, or does that rule no longer apply to her? ([[There All the Honor Lies]]) Perhaps, since her transformation, she no longer feels quite so bound by Minbari tradition; on the other hand, she still seems to cite it regularly.

Zack’s uniform troubles may be a metaphor for his situation; he doesn’t know where he fits in the scheme of things, and is uncomfortable no matter what he does.

Now that Ivanova has made contact with the First Ones at Sigma 957, might the forces of light be able to use the quantium-40 (if there actually is any on the planet) that Catherine Sakai was sent to investigate in [[Mind War]]?
####Notes

The First Ones at Sigma 957 were first seen in the first-season episode [[Mind War]]. Although the existence of the First Ones hadn’t been revealed at that point, G’Kar’s description of this race coincided almost exactly with Delenn’s description of the First Ones, an early piece of foreshadowing.

Julie Musante is named after two fans, Julie Helmer and Mark Musante.

Musante’s Earth-bound ship is the Loki, named for the Norse god of fire and mischief.

The silhouetted figure on the Nightwatch poster on the wall during Musante’s presentation bears a striking resemblance to the figure of Lenin used in Soviet propaganda posters between World Wars I and II.

The same figure also appears to have a raven on its shoulder, reminiscent of Ivanova’s appearance in Sheridan’s dream in [[All Alone in the Night]].

The skeletal spines sticking out of the Sigma 957 aliens’ ship are made of a computer model of a human footbone replicated and arranged in rows; that earned the ship the nickname “the footbone ship” at Foundation Imaging. There are also some triceratops parts used in the model.

Ardwight Chamberlain, who does Kosh’s voice (or rather, the English translation thereof) was also the voice of the First One in this episode. (See jms speaks.)

####Overview

Lyta Alexander returns to the station at Kosh’s behest. One of Theo’s brothers discovers that he may have a hidden past.
####Guest Stars

Brad Dourif as Brother Edward. Louis Turenne as Brother Theo. Patricia Tallman as Lyta Alexander.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/048.html
####Backplot

Mindwipes were instituted after Earth decided that they were more humane than the death penalty. They are apparently not very complete; the old memories remain in some form or another, but are inaccessible without the intervention of a telepath. (See also [[The Quality of Mercy]].)

Minbari religion is based on the notion that souls are part of a larger whole, of the universe itself, which is in the process of trying to discover itself. Souls can only be perceived via the physical bodies they inhabit, but the real soul is something only dimly related to the body.

Valen, the great Minbari spiritual leader and founder of the Grey Council, appeared a thousand years ago. He is believed to be a Minbari not born of other Minbari, according to Lennier.
####Unanswered Questions

What happened to Lyta? Was Kosh inhabiting her body? Was the body not even Lyta’s to start with? She has gills on her neck that allow her to breathe in Kosh’s quarters, and several health problems have been completely repaired. What else did the Vorlons do to her, and why?

Given how easily she pulled the information from the Centauri, have her telepathic powers increased? Or could any P5 do the same?

What did she see on the Vorlon homeworld?

Why is Londo so anxious to find out what she saw that he’d resort to threatening her?

What was Lyta’s mission for Kosh? Why does he want an aide all of a sudden, when he hasn’t had one before?
####Analysis

If Garibaldi and Sheridan are any indication, mindwipes are widely considered to be insufficient punishment for serious crimes. How widespread that perception is isn’t known.

Could the techniques used to put a mindwipe in place be related to the method used by Bureau 13 to implant hidden personalities ([[Divided Loyalties]] and, more ominous, comic #8, “Silent Enemies”?) Both seem to involve submerging one personality and causing another to become dominant, though in the case of Control, it’s not clear which was the original.

Edward’s execution was not only a sort of crucifixion (notice how he’s suspended from the metal frame) but also resembles Sheridan’s suspension from what looks like the same kind of frame in [[Comes the Inquisitor]].

Might Valen have been a Vorlon, or a Minbari under Vorlon influence? If, as Lennier says, he was truly not born of Minbari parents, that strongly suggests he wasn’t Minbari at all, and Vorlons certainly have the power to appear as Minbari.

If Minbari consider the universe to be a manifestation of a single soul, how did they ever find it conscienable to fight the Earth-Minbari War? (see jms speaks)

The Vorlons didn’t hear, or didn’t respond, to Lyta’s signals, and took five days to respond to her telepathic broadcast. What’s interesting is that they apparently didn’t come until she was nearly unconscious. Could that be related to what happened to Sheridan in [[All Alone In the Night]]?

Maybe she was only able to make contact when, as Kosh said of Sheridan, her mind was quiet enough to hear the Vorlons. Or, of course, it could simply have taken them several days to locate and reach her, in which case they could even have been responding to the non-telepathic signals.

Why didn’t Franklin notice Lyta’s gills? Perhaps he did and didn’t feel they were worth mentioning (gill implants aren’t completely alien concepts; G’Kar has them, as noted by the assassin in [[The Gathering]].) It’s also possible she didn’t get them until her errand in the middle of the episode. Franklin did note that she had elevated oxygen levels in her bloodstream, though, which would tend to indicate both that she had the gills before he examined her and that he didn’t notice them. Given the powers of illusion Vorlons have demonstrated, covering up gills would probably have been a small matter with Kosh’s help.

Whatever left Lyta to enter Kosh’s suit looked a lot like the creature inhabiting Sheridan in [[Knives]]. Could Sheridan have inadvertently been inhabited by a Vorlon? Certainly it would be consistent with him being made to see things that weren’t there; Kosh clearly has that power.

Psi Corps may have strict rules against unauthorized scans, but Sheridan and Garibaldi don’t hold those rules in particularly high esteem. Now that they have a non-Corps telepath at their disposal, someone whose loyalty is presumably above reproach thanks to her association with Kosh, will they begin calling her in on a regular basis?

The Centauri telepath, likewise, seemed to show contempt for the Corps’ regulations. What regulations, if any, are Centauri telepaths obligated to follow? Clearly they’re not simply allowed to roam freely, since Londo had this particular telepath’s name on a list.

If Lyta can implant nightmares, other psis can presumably do the same. We’ve seen one nightmare: Londo’s prophetic dream. Is it possible that someone or something implanted it in him? (He says, in [[Midnight on the Firing Line]], that Centauri have such dreams as a matter of course, but that doesn’t rule out an external influence.)
####Notes

The title, as noted in the episode, is a Biblical reference. In the New Testament, Matthew 26:30-50, Jesus goes to Gethsemane with Peter and two others to pray and contemplate his imminent betrayal. They fail to keep watch over him, and Judas is able to lead the Romans to Jesus.

Gethsemane is also referred to, not always by name, in Mark 14:32-52, Luke 23:39-51, and John 18:1-13.

Delenn’s opinion of Garibaldi’s eye-for-an-eye attitude echoes that of Gandhi, who said, “An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.”

Malcolm, Edward, and Charles are all names of rulers of Scotland.

The names Edward and Charlie may also be a reference to two H.P. Lovecraft stories. In “The Thing On the Doorstep,” a character named Edward falls in love with a woman whose grandfather has shifted his soul into her body, replacing hers. In “The Strange Case of Charles Dexter Ward,” the title character becomes obsessed with the memory of an ancient ancestor.

Shooting began on September 11, 1995.

####Overview

Sheridan and Ivanova try to deal with an association of cargo pilots. An alien probe makes first contact with the station. G’Kar’s position among the Narn is threatened by the arrival of a Centauri-appointed liaison.
####Guest Stars

Stephen Macht as Na’Far. Marshall Teague as Ta’Lon. Anne Betancourt as Dr. Gonzalez.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/047.html
####Backplot

The Centauri diplomatic mission on Minbar has been closed for several years.
####Unanswered Questions

Who sent the probe?

Will Franklin’s continuing use of stims have greater repercussions, especially now that he’s willing to lie about it?

What will become of Na’Far? And of Ta’Lon, for that matter — will he remain on the station, and will he look after Sheridan?
####Analysis

Vir is leaving Londo just when Londo seems to need him most; Londo is becoming darker and darker, as his conversation with Na’Far demonstrates. Now he’ll have nobody to slow his descent (though it’s not clear how much he listened to Vir in the first place.)

The favor Delenn owed Londo was most likely the one he earned by transporting her and Draal to Epsilon 3 in [[A Voice in the Wilderness part 2]].

Franklin’s stim use is nothing new; it was touched on as recently as [[Confessions and Lamentations]]. He may feel he has no choice and no problem, but he seems to be ignoring the example of Dr. Rosen in [[The Quality of Mercy]], who lost her medical license over her stim use.
####Notes

A picture of the probe is available.

Vir’s departure has, in part, a real-world cause: actor Stephen Furst is starring in a sitcom on the Fox network. He will still appear on Babylon 5 from time to time.

Sheridan’s reference to the probe as a “berserker” is probably a nod to Fred Saberhagen’s “Berserker” novels, which feature huge automated war machines that seek out and destroy sentients.

A small gaffe: At the end of the episode, when the probe is headed away from the station, Sheridan asks the tech if there are any security bots in the area. The tech replies that there is just one, at 5000km. The next shot is of the bot in question, except that there are clearly 2 bots in the shot, and they look identical.

A related goof: Sheridan orders a securebot sent to look at the probe, but the display on the screen reads “Maintbot 12.”