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.)