Londo uses G’Kar and Vir to gain power in the Centauri Royal Court. Sheridan is consumed by his analysis of the Shadows’ strategies.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Louis Turenne as Brother Theo. William Forward as Lord Refa.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/064.html
####Backplot

The Minbari have been constructing a fleet of warships based on the White Star design. They are manned by Rangers.

Sheridan has stayed away from Delenn up until now because “she has enough problems of her own.”

There is a thriving underground on Earth opposing President Clark.

Na’Toth is believed to have been on Narn at the time of the Centauri attack ([[The Long, Twilight Struggle]])
####Unanswered Questions

What does the countdown to Z refer to? (See Analysis)

Why didn’t Delenn inform Sheridan of the fleet of White Star-class ships before now?

How long have the Minbari been building the ships?

How big is the White Star fleet?

What will Sheridan use the data crystal given to him by the Reverend for?

Will Virini use the data crystal that Londo gave him? Will it result in Refa’s family being discredited?

Will G’Kar respect Londo more now that he has freed the Narns, or does he see Londo’s ploy as purely self-serving?

How did Londo get G’Kar to listen to him long enough to describe the plot, and how did he convince G’Kar it wasn’t a trick?

Virini mentions that Londo’s house is gathering a lot of funds. Where is Londo getting the money?

Did Refa’s telepath find out about any of the activities Vir has been involved in, such as his work to help the Narn?

What is the real reason for the Shadows’ attack pattern?

Is Na’Toth in fact still alive?
####Analysis

It seems likely that the “Z Minus…” times refer to Z’ha’dum, but they might also refer to a more specific “Zero Hour.” The question remains, what happens at Z? A Shadow offensive? An offensive against Z’ha’dum? Someone’s arrival on or from Z’ha’dum?

G’Kar, in cooperating with Londo and killing Refa, has become an unwitting help to Londo in serving the Shadows. His desire for revenge against Refa and his need to save a small number of his people seems to have served the Shadows’ greater purposes, at least to the extent that Londo’s good fortune is part of their plans.

G’Kar may have been in on Londo’s plan even before he left Babylon 5, possibly even before Vir spoke to him. The story about Na’Toth was solely intended to lure Refa to Narn; there was no need for Londo to deceive G’Kar about his intentions, since G’Kar would almost certainly have been willing to risk a trip to Narn for the sake of two thousand prisoners.

If the already-poisoned Refa could be considered “one who is already dead,” Londo may have just passed by one of his prophesized chances for redemption.

Neroon’s statement in [[Grey 17 is Missing]] that non-Warrior Minbari had constructed ships may have been foreshadowing of the fleet revelation.

Why did Delenn find Sheridan’s attempt to think like the Shadows so abhorrent? Are there things about them she knows but hasn’t revealed yet that would cause that reaction?

Delenn said that the first wave of White Star-class ships was now ready. How many waves are planned?

Now that Londo thinks he has avenged Adira’s death ([[Interludes and Examinations]]) will he be less eager to continue dealing with the Shadows? And will he ever discover that it was Morden, not Refa, who arranged to have her killed?

A few readers have commented that since a replica of the Centauri throne room is being built on Narn, perhaps that’s where Sheridan’s flashforward ([[War Without End part 2]]) takes place. That’s unlikely, though, since Londo forces Sheridan to look out the window and see the devastated landscape of Centauri Prime.
####Notes

The song from which the title is derived, “No Hiding Place,” refers to the Book of Revelation, in which man attempts to hide from the wrath of God in mountains and rocks. Revelation 6:15-17.

During Refa’s death scene, as the vocalist sings, there’s a closeup of G’Kar just as she sings the name “Jesus.” G’Kar-as-Jesus allusions are found elsewhere in the series as well, but this may be the most direct one.

The mass driver attack affected the climate of Narn much as it’s theorized a nuclear winter or asteroid/comet strike would affect Earth: the particles thrown up by the asteroids used in the bombardment have created a layer in Narn’s atmosphere blocking out the sunlight and altering the heating of the atmosphere, which has disrupted the wind patterns on the planet.

Refa’s death scene may be a homage to “Cabaret,” one of JMS’ favorite films. See jms speaks.

Delenn agrees to lead the Rangers, but Marcus must protect her from a deadly threat. Garibaldi investigates a secret level of the station.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Robert Englund as Jeremiah. John Vickery as Neroon. Time Winters as Rathenn.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/063.html
####Backplot

The forces of light are now actively recruiting telepaths, but it’s been a slow process.

Garibaldi’s grandmother was a police officer in Boston. (First mentioned in [[By Any Means Necessary]].)

Valen originally set up the Rangers 1000 years ago, under the control of the Warrior Caste, but they have been inactive until recently.

Grey Sector in B5 is mainly comprised of industrial units.

No Minbari has killed another Minbari in 1000 years.

Delenn’s father died (“passed beyond the veil”) 10 years ago because he was heartbroken about the Earth-Minbari war. Delenn’s mother entered

the Sisters of Valeria.

The security forces on B5 use PPGs rather than bullets because bullets run the risk of puncturing the station’s hull.
####Unanswered Questions

What will be the limits of Ivanova’s promise to Franklin?

How will being chosen as leader of the Rangers change Delenn?

Is Neroon right in suggesting Delenn is taking over control of Minbar?

Who or what was responsible for an entire level of Grey sector being lost from the view of the B5 residents?

What will happen to Grey 17 and the people there?

What will the future relationship be between the Warrior Caste and the Rangers?

Was Kosh present at the ceremony? If not, why not?
####Analysis

Tension among the Minbari castes is increasing. Some members of the warrior caste think Delenn is a religious zealot who is trying to grab hold of military and political power. The warrior caste is unhappy about the religious caste building warships without telling them; believes the Rangers should be commanded by one of them, now that Sinclair has left; and is unhappy about non-Minbari being trained with Minbari in the Rangers.

However, Neroon’s experience with Marcus may change some of these perceptions.

Delenn’s mother joined the Sisters of Valeria. Valeria is also the being that Minbari who were present at Kosh’s appearance in the garden ([[The Fall of Night]]) claimed to have seen. Is this just a coincidence, or is there a deeper relationship?

Jeremiah’s group must have contained some highly skilled computer hackers. Getting the lifts to pass by their level would be the least of their troubles; since the station spins to simulate gravity, lower levels have greater apparent gravity. Everyone below their level would be expecting slightly lower gravity than they’d actually experience. Perhaps the difference would be too slight to alert people in a residential sector, but presumably industrial operations would be affected if gravity was off by a few percent.

Jeremiah clearly knew about Minbari religion, given the similarity of his view of the universe and Delenn’s ([[Passing Through Gethsemane]].) Yet in that episode, Brother Edward clearly hadn’t learned about Minbari beliefs, implying that the Minbari aren’t generally open or forthcoming about them. How did Jeremiah learn about Minbari religion?

Garibaldi’s makeshift gun couldn’t have worked as shown. Even if the steam were enough to detonate the gunpowder in one of the bullets, the first one to go off would almost certainly have been the one closest to the back of the pipe, where the heat was greatest; all the bullets would have been propelled out the pipe at once, and probably at low speed.

Franklin’s backup file on the underground railroad is code-named “Harriet.” This is probably a reference to Harriet Tubman, an escaped slave who was instrumental in running the original underground railroad in the United States.
####Notes

Sinclair’s belongings include a medal for fighting on the Battle of the Line, his identicard, an Earthforce insignia, and the Ranger brooch.

When Garibaldi falls unconscious, the surrounding rubble includes, among other things, a newspaper with the headline “Santiago Elected.” That may indicate the amount of time the cult spent sequestered in Grey 17; Santiago’s re-election took place three years earlier ([[Midnight on the Firing Line]].) It’s unlikely the paper dates from Santiago’s original election; unless his previous term was less than a few years, the previous election would have happened long before Babylon 5 was constructed, possibly even before Babylon 4 vanished in 2254.

Lyta tests the limits of the Shadows’ newly-discovered weakness. Dr. Franklin goes on a journey to discover his place in life, and meets a singer in Downbelow. The new Ambassador Kosh arrives on the station.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Erica Gimpel as Cailyn. Jennifer Balgobin as Dr. Hobbs. Patricia Tallman as Lyta Alexander. Robin Sachs as Na’Kal.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synop/062.html
####Backplot

Lyta has previously carried “pieces” of Kosh with her. This is most likely what she was doing at the end of [[Passing Through Gethsemane]].

At least ten Narn ships have survived the battle with the Centauri, damaged but able to be repaired. A new Narn fleet seems to be gathering.

It takes the White Star 20 minutes to recharge its jump engines after they’ve been taken offline and their energy diverted into the weapons systems.

The Vorlons are a long-lived race, are relatively few in number, and death is a rarity among them. It had been a very long time since a Vorlon had died.

Franklin is a Foundationist. The Foundation apparently borrows customs and beliefs from various cultures, perhaps in the belief that no one people has all the right spiritual answers.
####Unanswered Questions

What was the message the Vorlon ship showed to Sheridan?

Lyta, a P5, could barely hold one Shadow ship at bay. How much telepathic energy is required to defeat a Shadow ship? What effect would a high-rated telepath like Bester have on a Shadow vessel?

Is Lyta still “only” a P5, or has she been enhanced by her relationship with Kosh?

Why does the new Vorlon insist on being called Kosh in public and private? What does he mean by his statement that “We are all Kosh?” (see Analysis)

Where did the pattern in Kosh’s quarters come from, and what does it mean? (see Analysis)

Why did Lyta bleed from her eyes during the battle? Was it just the strain, or is there some deeper explanation?

Why didn’t the forces of Light take the destroyed Shadow craft in tow for analysis?

Why didn’t the Minbari cruiser open fire on the “held” shadows?

Lyta required ‘line of sight’ to the Shadow ship in order to attack it. Did the Minbari telepaths also need to see the Shadows in order to attack them?

How did the Vorlon ship know where to find Sheridan?

Does the “piece” of Kosh that may be left behind in Sheridan have anything to do with Sheridan’s place as “The One?” How might it fit in with Kosh’s statement that if Sheridan goes to Z’ha’dum, he will die? It may explain Kosh’s final words to Sheridan: “As long as you’re here, I’ll always be here.”

Do the Shadows know a piece of Kosh survived?

Does the different style and color of the new Vorlon ambassador’s encounter suit denote anything?

Is this the same Vorlon who was on Minbar in “War Without End”

How did G’Kar manage to persuade the other races to come to Sheridan’s aid in his battle against the Shadows?
####Analysis

The strange pattern which the new Vorlon sees on the screen in Kosh’s quarters could be a representation of Kosh’s death. It could be construed as a diagram of two or more Shadows attacking a Vorlon. It could also be construed as a diagram of Shadows being accompanied by a human. Presumably the human would be Morden, and the images were burned into the wall in some form, silhouettes, when Kosh was killed.

It’s clear that Lyta believes, based on her vision, that Sheridan may hold part of Kosh within him. What that means — for Sheridan, for Lyta, and for Kosh — remains to be seen.

How did the piece of Kosh get into Sheridan’s mind? If it was the result of Kosh’s contact with Sheridan, might G’Kar also have a piece of Kosh following their contact in [[Dust to Dust]]?

More disturbingly, might Morden also have a piece of Kosh, present as he was at Kosh’s death? Perhaps that was why the Shadows brought Morden along; they wanted someone there who could carry part of a Vorlon.

In [[All Alone in the Night]], Kosh tells Sheridan, “I have always been here.” Could he perhaps have been referring to Sheridan’s mind, implying that Sheridan has carried a piece of Kosh for quite some time?

Might the statement that “We are all Kosh” suggest that the Vorlons exist more as a collective whole than as individual entities? (See also JMS speaks.)

The tide may be turning, now that it’s clear that telepaths are effective weapons against the Shadows, especially considering that all major races except the Narn have telepaths. (Which begs the question: what will the Shadows’ response be?)

Telepathic control over Shadow ships is tenuous at best, and may be limited to preventing them from attacking; the three ships being held by the Minbari telepaths were free to flee the scene when G’Kar and the others arrived.

In [[Revelations]], G’Kar told Na’Toth that when Narn warships jump into normal space, they’re briefly out of contact because of the energy drain of the jump engines. Yet the G’Tok was able to fire on the Shadow warship before it even left the vortex. Does that mean that the weapons systems take less energy than establishing faster-than-light communications? Perhaps Narn FTL communication involves the use of the jump engines to beam a signal into hyperspace, and the effect in [[Revelations]] was simply a matter of the jump engines needing to recharge from the ship’s main power source.

The Shadows now probably know that the White Star is capable of solo jumps. It seems Sheridan has decided that keeping that capability a secret is no longer of strategic importance ([[Matters of Honor]].) Or perhaps he figures that the secret is out by now anyway, perhaps as of Delenn’s emergence from a jump point in the White Star in close proximity to Babylon 5, and thus presumably in full view of a large number of people ([[Severed Dreams]].)

The new Kosh’s ship is reddish in color, as is his encounter suit’s eyepiece, perhaps suggesting the link between Vorlons and their ships. Every sentient race, according to G’Kar, has food resembling Swedish meatballs. The Narn call it “breen.” Since the Vorlons have manipulated all the younger races, perhaps Swedish meatballs are really a Vorlon delicacy, part of an intricate plan to defeat the Shadows through culinary unity.
####Notes

In Australian aboriginal cultures, a [[walkabout]] is a ritual in which a young man goes on a solitary journey through the wilderness in an attempt to learn more about his own character and strength.

Metazine, the painkiller Cailyn used, was also used on Sinclair to keep him unconscious in [[And the Sky Full of Stars]].

In the initial UK broadcast, as well as the first-run US broadcast, Patricia Tallman’s first name was misspelled “Patrica” in the opening credits.

JMS wrote both songs in this episode. See jms speaks.

When the ship bearing the new ambassador arrives, Sheridan originally says, “Welcome to Babylon 5.” This line was edited out later.