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.”)