Sheridan tricks the League of Non-Aligned Worlds into accepting his proposed defense pact. Delenn tries to work with an old rival to defuse a brewing Minbari civil war.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

John Vickery as Neroon.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/079.html
####Plot Points

The League of Non-Aligned Worlds has agreed to give the White Star fleet authority to operate as a police force along its borders.

Civil war has broken out in the Minbari capital city.

Three quarters of Clark’s cabinet resigned in protest of his martial law decree.
####Unanswered Questions

Is Neroon really betraying Delenn?

The episode focused on the religious and warrior castes. What happened to the worker caste? Are they participating in the fighting, and if so, which side have they taken?
####Analysis

Will the Non-Aligned Worlds’ pledge to help Sheridan with any larger missions extend to his conflict with President Clark? Even in its diminished state, the combined forces of the Non-Aligned Worlds’ navies would likely be a great asset if the conflict came down to a direct, prolonged series of battles. On the other hand, intervening in internal Earth matters isn’t what the ambassadors had in mind; they might balk at sending their ships to die for the cause of overthrowing Earth’s government.

By allowing the White Star fleet to patrol Centauri space in search of the Drakh (among others,) Londo has given Sheridan direct influence over the ability of the Shadows’ allies to exact their revenge on Centauri Prime. Perhaps that’s the source of Londo’s comment in [[War Without End part 1]] about Sheridan allowing the Shadows’ dark servants to slip through to Centauri Prime; if Sheridan uses the White Star fleet for some larger mission as he hints he might, it’ll presumably be at the cost of Centauri Prime’s defense against the Drakh.

During the conversation between Londo and the Drazi ambassador, Londo’s duplicity is underscored by the staging of the scene. In most of the scene, two images of Londo can be seen: his reflection in the mirror or his portrait. The rest of the time his face is obscured by a curtain.

In the past, Delenn has attempted to preserve Lennier’s innocence (e.g. by trying to leave him behind in [[Atonement]].) But from Lennier’s point of view, she has an innocence of her own, and he sees himself as its guardian.

Neroon may not be betraying Delenn at all; he told Shakiri the he knew the religious caste’s counterattack plans, but Delenn made no mention of a counterattack. It’s possible his departure was, in fact, all part of Delenn’s plan; Lennier wasn’t privy to the conversation between Delenn and Neroon, so he wouldn’t know the details and would be fooled by Neroon’s departure.

By revealing how much she relies on Lennier, Delenn may have given valuable information to an opponent. Neroon was honorable enough and helped Lennier, and seems uninterested in directly battling or hurting Delenn (if he’d been interested in that, he wasted several opportunities while on her ship.) But if Neroon passes the information along to Shakiri, Lennier may find himself in danger.

Neroon said of the situation on Minbar, “We are a world gone mad.” That’s the same thing one of the council members told Delenn in [[Atonement]], before declaring, as Neroon did, that the fire would have to burn itself out and couldn’t be stopped. Yet the Earth-Minbari War did stop abruptly; perhaps the same will happen in this case.

Neroon’s comment about loving a good mystery also echoed [[Atonement]], in which Delenn said to the Grey Council that mysteries are a gift from the universe and shouldn’t be ignored.

The religious caste member said he heard Delenn say, “The religious caste could not be allowed to win this war.” But she actually said, “The warrior caste cannot be allowed to win this war. The religious caste cannot be allowed to win either.” Was he simply embellishing a half-overheard comment (e.g. if he only heard the second sentence up to “win”) or did he choose to ignore or lie about the context?

The religious caste has been the butt of jokes about surrendering “ever since the war,” according to the same religious caste member. Clearly that can’t be referring to the Shadow War, since they didn’t surrender. Does the comment indicate that most Minbari still consider the Earth-Minbari War to be the major war of recent memory? Since the warrior caste is the group making the jokes, the implication is that they didn’t particularly participate in the Shadow War.

The two storylines in the episode can be seen as point and counterpoint on the subject of deception and secrecy (the title is evidence that this isn’t an accident.) Delenn kept her plans secret from her compatriots and nearly died with them as a result. Neroon was attacked for the same reason. Sheridan kept secrets as well, and asked Franklin and Londo to lie for him, and it helped his plans come to fruition.

Lennier’s deception played into the theme; he kept the true nature of the sabotage from Delenn, with no immediate ill effect. However, it’s possible that by maintaining Delenn’s excessive faith in her caste, Lennier in fact deprived her of vital information she’d do well to take into account in the future.

Ivanova held fast to the ideal of truth, but every other major player in the story participated in some form of deception: the rebellious religious caste members hid their plot, the League ambassadors kept their “knowledge” of the new enemy from Sheridan, and Neroon lied to either Delenn or Shakiri about his intentions.
####Notes

Delenn mentioned this as the second time she’d seen Lennier near death. The first was in [[Convictions]], in which he risked his life to save Londo Mollari.

Ivanova tells Sheridan that Marcus is waiting for him on channel 4. That’s a reference to the network that shows B5 in the UK.

Editing glitch: during the opening scene, a piece of food appears on Marcus’ fork while the camera shifts to Sheridan; the scene shifts again and he hasn’t picked the food up yet.

Garibaldi takes on a new job. The resistance’s counter-propaganda broadcasts begin. Sheridan proposes a plan to protect the Non-Aligned Worlds from raiders.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Tim Choate as Zathras. Denise Gentile as Lise Hampton. Mark Schneider as Wade. Charles Walker as Ben.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/078.html
####Plot Points

Wade and his group still consider Garibaldi expendable.

Lise Hampton, Garibaldi’s ex-lover ([[A Voice in the Wilderness part 1]]) divorced her first husband and eventually married one of the richest men on Mars, William Edgars. Among other things, Edgars is the owner of the largest medical research center on the planet.

Sheridan has proposed to assign the Rangers to patrol the borders between the various parts of alien-controlled space, protecting civilian transports from the Drakh ([[Lines of Communication]]) and others.

The Centauri have had contact with the Drakh in the past, but long enough ago that nowadays they’re considered little more than legends. Zathras had nine brothers, all named Zathras but with slightly different intonations.
####Unanswered Questions

What exactly was the substance Lise was picking up?

Were Wade and Lise and their contact telling the truth about the telepath virus, or was the substance something else entirely?

Who were the gunmen? Were they with Psi Corps, or were they rogue telepaths? What did they mean by the phrase, “To the future?” (See Analysis)

Why didn’t Garibaldi fire at the telepath?

Did Wade know about Garibaldi’s past association with Lise? Was she part of the test, to see how emotional stress would affect his performance?

Does William Edgars’ job offer conflict with whatever plans Wade and his cohorts have for Garibaldi, or is his employment just another part of the plan?

Why didn’t Edgars show Garibaldi his face?

What was in the message Lise left for Garibaldi?

Why did she send it using her maiden name?

Did G’Kar and Londo take Sheridan up on his offer?
####Analysis

If Garibaldi takes the job, will he be working close to William Edgars? That would imply he’ll also have frequent contact with Lise, which likely wouldn’t be easy for either of them.

His consideration of the job offer is at odds with the glimpse of his programming, if that’s what it was, in [[The Illusion of Truth]]. In that flashback, Garibaldi recalled being drilled over and over with the idea that he worked for nobody but his captors. Of course, if Edgars is involved with his captors, that might not be inconsistent.

It’s also possible his captors want to get him close to Edgars, and that by taking the job he’d in fact be following their implanted orders.

Edgars claimed to have checked up on Garibaldi. Checked up on him how? Garibaldi himself has said on more than one occasion that his past is checkered at best, and his history isn’t too closely guarded a secret (for example, the Senator knew about him in ([[The Gathering]].) Maybe Edgars was taking Garibaldi’s performance as security chief on Babylon 5 into account, or maybe his “checking up” involved talking to whoever captured Garibaldi ([[Whatever Happened to Mr. Garibaldi?]])

The Daffy Duck cartoon Garibaldi was watching (1953’s “Duck Amuck!”) can be viewed as a metaphor for his situation; depending on what was done to him after his capture ([[Whatever Happened to Mr. Garibaldi?]]) he may well no longer be in control of his own fate, and is certainly being influenced by forces he can’t detect.

If the researchers are correct and the human telepathy genes can indeed mutate into a lethal virus, what are the parameters? Likely it’s something that’s telepathically transmitted. For example, it might cause a telepath to broadcast noise on whatever medium telepaths use to read thoughts. Telepathic interference can cause physical effects (Ben Zayn doubling over in [[Eyes]], or Lyta’s bloodied eyes in [[Walkabout]]) so it’s not inconceivable that telepathic broadcasts of the right type could kill someone attuned to them.

Which begs the question, was this some kind of genetic timebomb intentionally implanted by the Vorlons when they modified humans to give them telepathic ability ([[Z’ha’dum]]?) Since the Vorlons, according to Morden, created human telepaths to use as weapons against the Shadows, perhaps the Vorlons also put a time limit on human telepathy so it wouldn’t remain once the upcoming conflict with the Shadows was resolved.

That would put a different spin on the disappearance of Narn telepaths ([[Ship of Tears]].) The Book of G’Quan was probably correct about the Shadows killing most of the Narn telepaths. But maybe the reason the gene never resurfaced in the Narn population wasn’t that it wasn’t strong enough, as G’Kar supposed, but that it was only designed to last a few generations, and once the previous Shadow War was over, its time simply ran out. Of course, that assumes the Vorlons implanted telepathy into the Narn.

The threat isn’t limited to Psi Corps; Ivanova’s latent telepathy makes her vulnerable to any sort of disease that’s transmitted between telepaths.

The fact that Wade was cooperating with Lise in her effort to get the vial into her husband’s hands implies that he’s at least somewhat sympathetic to telepaths, and perhaps to the Psi Corps. If he were one of the people who wanted to see all telepaths dead, presumably he’d’ve arranged for the vial to quietly vanish on its way to Lise. That ties into the apparent contradiction mentioned above between Garibaldi’s programming ([[The Illusion of Truth]]) and his consideration of Edgars’ job offer.

The telepathic assassins’ closing phrase bears some similarity to a description of another telepath: Talia Winters in [[A Race Through Dark Places]].

Lurker: You tipped the balance. I felt it when we were joined. You’re more than you think you are. Talia: Then what am I? Lurker: The future.

The last time Garibaldi resigned, even briefly (“In the Shadow of Z’ha’dum”) he offered up his gun, his station ID, and his link. So did the security staff who resigned rather than join Nightwatch in [[Point of No Return]]. Why did Garibaldi keep them this time? Was he perhaps intending to return at some point?

Sheridan said of Garibaldi, “I don’t like the company he’s been keeping.” How does Sheridan know what kind of company Garibaldi has been keeping? Is he having Garibaldi watched? And is he referring specifically to Wade’s people? If so, what does Sheridan know about them?

Was there a reason Sheridan kept the lights in his office low when he met others there, or was it just a directorial touch?

Franklin commented to Ivanova that Mars was cold. But in [[Racing Mars]], the tunnels where Franklin and Marcus were staying were noted as uncomfortably warm. Significant, or was Franklin simply referring to the surface, which is indeed cold?
####Notes

In [[Babylon Squared]], Zathras complained, “Zathras warned, but nobody listens to poor Zathras.” In this episode, that’s doubly true: even Zathras doesn’t listen to Zathras.

G’Kar’s artificial eye is now brown, rather than red like his natural one or blue like its initial color ([[Atonement]].)

The onscreen logo displayed while Garibaldi spoke to William Edgars read “EI” (presumably short for “Edgars Industries” or some such.) Underneath, it read, “Mars – Phobos – Deimos.” Phobos and Deimos are the two moons of Mars. Presumably this implies that there are people living or working on those moons, which in fact are little more than large asteroids and would thus be attractive for microgravity pharmaceutical research.

William Edgars’ voice was played by Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

The telepaths’ PPG blasts penetrated the floor of the air duct. In [[Grey 17 Is Missing]], Garibaldi commented that PPGs are used rather than traditional guns because they don’t penetrate hulls. Of course, an outer hull is likely quite a lot thicker than an air duct wall, and likely made of material with a higher melting temperature, so this most likely isn’t a contradiction.

Franklin and Marcus try to convince the leaders of the resistance to go along with Sheridan’s plan to unseat Clark. Delenn investigates a series of attacks on Minbari allies. Minbar begins to slide toward civil war.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Marjorie Monaghan as Number One. Paolo Seganti as Phillipe. G.W. Stevens as Forell.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/077.html
####Plot Points

At least one race, the Drakh, made its home on Z’ha’dum during the Shadows’ tenure there. They evacuated before Z’ha’dum’s destruction and are in search of a new home and revenge against the people who defeated their masters.

Marcus and Franklin have convinced the resistance movement on Earth and Mars to follow Sheridan’s lead, and to refrain from future terrorist attacks aimed at destabilizing Earth’s government.

Ivanova is preparing for an additional job, as head of the “Voice of the Resistance,” an attempt to counter ISN by broadcasting opposition views, as well as messages intended for the resistance fighters themselves, to Mars and Earth.

ISN, meanwhile, seems to be preparing Earth’s citizenry for an eventual assault on Babylon 5, building up public support for such a move in advance.

Sheridan was involved in the suppression of the food riots on Mars after the Earth-Minbari War, for which he’s resented by some Mars residents.
####Unanswered Questions

Are the Drakh the only survivors of Z’ha’dum? How many of them remain?

Are the Drakh the ones responsible for planting Keepers on the Centauri Regent ([[Epiphanies]]) and Captain Jack ([[Racing Mars]])?

Why did the Drakh emissary appear to shimmer? Do the Drakh have access to the Shadows’ invisibility technology?

What does the warrior caste hope to gain by forcing the other castes out of cities?
####Analysis

Franklin has bought into Sheridan’s cult of personality, though it’s not entirely clear why. His reaction to the skeptical resistance leader is exactly the kind of thing Garibaldi complained about in [[Racing Mars]], and may be counterproductive in that it makes Garibaldi’s allegations all the more credible.

Phillipe bombed the Red Planet Hotel, which was where Franklin and Marcus were staying. Was the appearance of the Earth security forces there a coincidence, or were they after Franklin and Marcus?

Why does Sheridan think he has the power to promise Mars independence after Clark is out of office? Does Sheridan plan to assume the presidency himself? Or was that simply more improvisation on Franklin’s part? Presumably not; it’s unlikely Sheridan gave him the authority to make that kind of promise without consultation.

How will Sheridan break through Earth’s jamming of outside broadcasts? Franklin was able to get a message back to Babylon 5, but presumably it’s a thornier problem to try to broadcast programming to all of Earth. Perhaps he’ll enlist the help of Draal; Epsilon 3 likely has the power to cut through whatever interference Earth can muster. Delenn is unlikely to be able to provide any Minbari assistance, considering what’s going on on Minbar, though the White Star fleet might be useful mobile transmitters.

If Number One indeed treats all her former lovers like she treated Phillipe, Franklin may be in for a rough ride.

In the first scene with Franklin, Number One rubbed her neck, similar to Captain Jack before his Keeper was discovered ([[Racing Mars]].) Any significance, or just a stiff neck?

The Drakh ships, especially the transport, looked more Vorlon in design than Shadow. Have they looted the Vorlon homeworld as well, or is it just a coincidence?

The Drakh aren’t the only race who worked for the Shadows, though of course they might have been the only ones to escape with technology from Z’ha’dum. Neither the surgeons and pilot in [[Ship of Tears]] nor the creature in [[The Long Dark]] were Drakh in appearance, though the latter arguably bore a resemblance when it was shown briefly reflected in Mariah’s tube.

It’s also possible the Drakh weren’t allies of the Shadows at all; the Vorlons may have similarly had minor races acting as aides, and those aides would likely be just as upset as the Shadows’ about Sheridan and Delenn driving their masters away. Of course, the statement that the Drakh had just lost their home would seem to indicate that Delenn’s supposition about their association with the Shadows was correct; the Vorlon homeworld is probably still intact.

The Drakh may have some kind of group mind. At the very least, they have a different notion of personal identity than most other races. They appear to regard the name “Drakh” as both a collective name and a personal one, and their emissary interrupted Forell before he could utter Delenn’s name, dismissing it as “unimportant.” On the other hand, they’re familiar enough with the notion of individual names to recognize Delenn’s once it was spoken.

Delenn’s reaction to the destruction of White Star 16, while arguably justified, bore similarity to her reaction to the death of Dukhat: ordering a relentless attack on those responsible. Of course, this time she was in control of the situation and wasn’t enraged, but it’s interesting in light of her earlier comment that she wouldn’t repeat the mistakes made during first contact with humanity.

Delenn commented to Sheridan that she felt humans could have been Minbar’s most dangerous enemy due to their ability to form communities of diverse elements. This echoes her comment in [[And Now For a Word]], in which she said that the forming of communities was one of humanity’s greatest strengths.
####Notes

Marcus said he was from Arisia Colony. That’s a reference to the Lensman series by E. E. “Doc” Smith.

Sheridan referred to the Drakh as “wild cards.” And in fact, “Drakh” is “card” pronounced backwards.

One of the Minbari seen reacting in fear from the Drakh emissary is Dennis Michael, a CNN entertainment reporter and a big fan of the series. He was also a Narn in [[Comes the Inquisitor]].

As the Drakh emissary entered the White Star’s bridge, the lights on the wall dimmed.

The real reason the Drakh shimmered, according to special effects technician Ken Busick, was that the costume didn’t look convincing enough.

So to give the Drakh an otherworldly appearance, the scene was digitally manipulated in postproduction.

Franklin and Marcus arrive on Mars to begin their undercover mission. Sheridan confronts Garibaldi about his behavior.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Mark Schneider as Wade. Donovan Scott as Captain Jack. Clayton Landey as Number Two. Marjorie Monaghan as Number One.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/076.html
####Plot Points

Mars has been subjected to a news blackout and an embargo for at least as long as Babylon 5 has, likely as far back as their refusal to submit to martial law in [[Severed Dreams]]. People on Mars have heard little more than vague rumors about the Shadow War. They also appear to know nothing about the Rangers.

Someone has begun planting Keepers ([[War Without End part 2]]) on members of the Earth resistance movement with the apparent intent of wiping it out.

A Keeper can be partially removed, but portions remain embedded in the victim, and the rest of the organism grows back, sometimes within hours.

Garibaldi has pledged to support a group that claims to feel the Army of Light has become a cult of personality centered on Sheridan, and that this will ultimately damage the cause. Garibaldi feels the same way, he says, and that’s why he said what he did during the ISN interview.

Ivanova has begun setting up amnesty deals with smugglers to keep the station supplied with food and spare parts.
####Unanswered Questions

Who planted the Keeper on Captain Jack?

How did they know about his involvement with the resistance?

Who are the people Garibaldi promised to help?

What was the large ship being escorted toward Mars by a group of Starfuries?

“Woo hoo?”
####Analysis

The head of the group that recruited Garibaldi may have betrayed his true intentions with a slip of the tongue. When he first spoke to Garibaldi, he said Sheridan’s actions weren’t good for Earth, weren’t good for business, and weren’t good for the President — not something likely to come from the mouth of someone opposed to Clark.

The second time Garibaldi met with the mysterious group, the leader made a point of saying, “Are you with us?” several times. Could that be some kind of key phrase related to whatever was done to Garibaldi while he was captured ([[Whatever Happened to Mr. Garibaldi?]])

That phrase, or one like it, was used by someone else: Sheridan, who shouted, “Are you with me?” to the assembled crowd in [[The Summoning]]. If “Are you with us?” was indeed a key phrase, Sheridan inadvertently foreshadowed it earlier in the episode, when he told Delenn that he could make Garibaldi come around “if I could just find the right words.”

Since Garibaldi knows the group is planning to move against Sheridan at some point (they told him as much,) perhaps his acceptance of their offer is, instead of a rejection of Sheridan, actually part of a plan to root out possible threats to Babylon 5’s security. If so, a natural question is, does Sheridan know about that plan, or is it Garibaldi’s doing? Was the confrontation between Sheridan and Garibaldi just a premeditated ploy to help Garibaldi gain the trust of the new group? Sheridan’s conversation with Delenn after the first confrontation argues against that idea, but it’s still plausible.

It’s also possible the Brakiri woman was a setup, sent by the group to fawn over Sheridan at just the right time and push Garibaldi over the edge.

Garibaldi’s rejection of Sheridan parallels Judas’ rejection of Jesus. Both were part of their leader’s inner circle. Sheridan’s warning to Garibaldi to stop undermining him can be read as analogous to Jesus’ warning to Judas at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:24: “woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.”) John 13:2 says the Devil caused Judas to betray Jesus; Garibaldi has also been influenced in some way, in his case by Psi Corps ([[Whatever Happened to Mr. Garibaldi?]])

Many scholarly analyses ascribe motives similar to Garibaldi’s to Judas. Tim Rice’s lyrics for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar,” while perhaps not scholarly, put it succinctly:

My mind is clearer now.

At last all too well I can see where we all soon will be.

If you strip away the myth from the man,

You will see where we all soon will be.

Jesus!

You’ve started to believe

The things they say of you.

You really do believe

This talk of God is true.

And all the good you’ve done

Will soon get swept away.

You’ve begun to matter more than the things you say.

When Marcus discovered Jack aboard the transport ship, he had his arm around Jack’s neck. Why didn’t he feel the Keeper? Does it have some way of hiding itself, or was it simply that Jack was wearing heavy clothing to cover his lower neck, and Marcus couldn’t feel anything through the fabric?
####Notes

Marcus’ comment about hating parasites is probably a reference to [[Exogenesis]], in which his friend Duncan was taken over by an alien parasite.

Minbari have 52 rituals related to relationships. Sheridan and Delenn have now completed the first three. One is the female watching the male for three nights, and the third (according to Delenn, who called it the Third Movement of Love and Mutual Understanding) is the mutual exploration of pleasure centers.

Garibaldi’s hair loss is due to something a smuggler brought aboard the station.

The Pope is a woman in 2261, according to Garibaldi. During his second confrontation with Sheridan, he said, “He’s not the Pope. He doesn’t look anything like her.”

The subcommander and head of the resistance cell called themselves “Number Two” and “Number One,” a nod to the cult classic “The Prisoner.” Another reference to “Number One” can be found in [[Signs and Portents]].

The name “Captain Jack” is a nod to the Billy Joel song of the same name.

A slight glitch: When Captain Jack ripped open the insta-heat pack, Franklin said, “That’s beef and potatoes.” But his lips don’t match those words; apparently the original line was something different.

Marcus and Franklin were playing “I Spy” when they discovered a spy.

Delenn is recalled to Minbar to resolve a problem concerning her relationship with Sheridan, and must finally face up to her role in the Earth-Minbari War. Sheridan sends Marcus and Franklin to Mars on a secret mission.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Brian Carpenter as Callenn. Reiner Schone as Dukhat.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/075.html
####Plot Points

After the last Shadow War, Valen, who was still genetically partially human ([[War Without End part 2]],) had children. The children, fearing persecution because they weren’t pure Minbari, fled Minbar until after Valen’s death. They returned and had children of their own, spreading human genes through the Minbari population to the present day.

Valen’s body was never found after his death.

Delenn is a descendant of Valen, and as such had some human DNA even before her transformation in [[Chrysalis]].

The Grey Council elected not to make contact with humans, who they heard about through the Centauri. When the Grey Council’s cruiser came upon the human convoy some time later ([[A Late Delivery from Avalon]]) only Delenn, who had researched humans in the meantime, knew which race they belonged to. Dukhat realized that the Minbari practice of approaching with gun ports open could be dangerous, but before his order to close them could be carried out, the Earth ships attacked.

Enraged over the death of Dukhat, Delenn gave the order that started the Earth-Minbari War. She was later unable to stop it from proceeding.

The Triluminaries used by the Grey Council were made specifically for Sinclair. They activate in the presence of Sinclair/Valen’s DNA. They were made on Epsilon 3 and brought back in time by Sinclair ([[War Without End part 2]].) Franklin has given G’Kar a prosthetic eye, which can see and transmit images to G’Kar’s brain even when it’s not in its socket.
####Unanswered Questions

Why was Valen’s body never found? Is he perhaps still alive or in suspended animation?

In [[Babylon Squared]], Delenn was given a triluminary and told there were still two left. Why was Sinclair given three of them, when only one was required to operate the chrysalis machine? ([[Chrysalis]], [[War Without End part 2]])

Did Delenn maintain the secret of Valen’s human DNA, allowing Callenn to cover up for her as he suggested?

Exactly what is the dreaming? Does it have a will of its own, or does it simply stimulate the dreamer’s subconscious?

How far can G’Kar’s eye transmit? Is it useful for spying purposes?
####Analysis

Callenn said the number of Minbari with traces of human DNA were beyond measure. A rough estimate can be made, however. If Minbari couples have, on average, two children, and have children at age fifty (since Minbari have longer lifespans than humans, a longer delay between generations is plausible) then in a thousand years, there would be twenty generations of Valen’s descendants, the most recent numbering about 1,000,000. That estimate assumes no interbreeding among his descendants, and a variation in the number of children of the first few generations could greatly alter the number. Still, it’s a useful discussion point.

1,000,000 probably works out to a tiny fraction of the Minbari population, which, it’s not unreasonable to assume, is many billions of people spread across various worlds despite Lennier’s claim ([[Points of Departure]]) that Minbari population has been on the decline for some time.

On the other hand, if Valen’s descendants were markedly more prolific than average Minbari, e.g. with a 30-year generation time rather than a 50-year one (and both numbers are pure conjecture!) there’d have been 33 generations, with 8,600,000,000 in the most recent, in which case the term “countless” would easily apply. Obviously interbreeding, very probable in a population that size, would reduce the number markedly.

Either way, a substantial percentage of the Minbari population most likely still has pure Minbari genes. This is supported by Dukhat’s reaction to the triluminary glowing when Delenn touched it; if Valen’s progeny were in fact a large percentage of the population, presumably previous Grey Council members would have triggered the triluminary.

Callenn’s horror at the prospect of human DNA mingling with Minbari genes parallels the newscast in [[The Illusion of Truth]], which attempted to suggest that Delenn and Sheridan wanted to introduce Minbari genes into humans. In fact, just the opposite has occurred.

David, Delenn and Sheridan’s son ([[War Without End part 2]],) will be a direct descendant of all three of The One. Dukhat’s conversation with Delenn is echoed years later when Lennier arrives on Babylon 5 ([[The Parliament of Dreams]]) and she tells him the same thing Dukhat told her: “I cannot have an aide who will not look up. You will be forever walking into things.”

In [[Rumors, Bargains, and Lies]], Delenn said she’d been training Lennier as Dukhat trained her. Delenn eventually succeeded Dukhat as leader of the Minbari, both in this episode and in [[Babylon Squared]], though she turned the position down in both cases. Will the parallel between Lennier and Delenn in her youth continue into the future? Is Lennier destined to a prominent place in Minbari society?

Dukhat said he could override the Council’s decision to avoid contacting the humans. What is the relationship between the Council and the leader? Do they simply serve as an advisory body, with the final decisions ultimately made by the leader?

Lennier’s pledge to Delenn, to be by her side through fire, storm, darkness, and death, echoes the pledge of the Nine to the One in the Minbari ceremony in [[The Parliament of Dreams]].

Delenn feels responsible for the Earth-Minbari War. Her father committed suicide, heartbroken over the war ([[Grey 17 Is Missing]].) Does Delenn thus feel personally responsible for her father’s death?

Why did Dukhat suspect Delenn was descended from Valen? With so many descendants, he couldn’t have followed Valen’s entire bloodline, even assuming it was all documented. Perhaps he simply researched the heritage of all the acolytes working with the Grey Council.

Delenn’s childhood vision ([[Confessions and Lamentations]],) in which a figure appeared to her in a temple and said he wouldn’t allow “any of my little ones” to come to harm there, takes on new significance now. If the figure was some kind of manifestation of Valen, “little ones” might have referred to his descendants, and the vision might have been Delenn’s first clue that she was somehow related to him. If so, the vision was probably a powerful motivating force for her, perhaps even the source of her belief in her own destiny.

If Delenn told Dukhat about the vision, or he found out about it some other way, that might explain his suspicion that she was a descendant of Valen.

Did Dukhat know Valen was part human? Callenn was aware of it; was it common knowledge among the Grey Council after Sinclair was interrogated and the triluminary indicated his relation to Valen? ([[And the Sky Full of Stars]])

Do Valen’s descendants have distinguishing features? Perhaps the presence of human DNA explains why a small number of Minbari men have facial hair, e.g. Dukhat, Draal (“A Voice in the Wilderness”) and Kalain ([[Points of Departure]].)

In [[Soul Hunter]], the soul hunter recalls that the Minbari made a wall of bodies to stop Dukhat’s soul from being taken. Although soul hunters appeared as the battle began, no attempt to stop them was shown, and Delenn was seeminly unaware of them as Dukhat lay dying in her arms.

Perhaps the soul hunter was speaking metaphorically; there were so many Minbari dead that their ability to sense death didn’t lead them to Dukhat in particular. However, since the soul hunter recognized Delenn years later, he must have arrived at Dukhat at some point, perhaps after she ordered the attack on the humans.

Zack’s discomfort with his new uniform mirrors his discomfort with the Earthforce uniform in [[Voices of Authority]].

G’Kar is wearing rags around his eye in the flashforward in [[War Without End part 2]]. Where was his eye? Destroyed or discarded, or simply recharging or sending him images from somewhere else?

Ivanova is likely still the leader of half the Drazi on Babylon 5. She wore the green leader’s sash to the party. Presumably the fact that all the formerly green Drazi are now wearing purple ([[The Geometry of Shadows]]) didn’t cause any problems.
####Notes

One of the heavy cruisers in the Prometheus convoy is the Hyperion ([[A Voice in the Wilderness part 2]].) The name can be seen briefly on the side of the ship in one scene. According to coproducer George Johnsen, that was intentional, not just an accidental reuse of a computer model, implying the Hyperion escaped from the Minbari counterattack on the Earth base.

More than five days may have elapsed between the first scene, Zack’s fitting, and the second, the arrival of Callenn and his entourage. (“Thirdspace”)

A slight inaccuracy: The ship carrying Franklin and Marcus is shown to have zero gravity. But the exterior shot shows its engines firing. The resulting acceleration (in the vacuum of space, any thrust will result in acceleration) would have pushed all the objects in the cargo hold toward one of the walls. Of course, it’s possible the engines were glowing but not actually in use; perhaps they were in some sort of standby mode.

Continuity glitch: During the conference scene with Sheridan, Franklin, and Marcus, Franklin is reading over his documents with the folder flat on Sheridan’s desk. When the view shifts to show all three characters, Franklin is holding the folder.

The tune sung by Marcus is “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General,” from “The Pirates of Penzance” by Gilbert and Sullivan. Marcus misquotes the song slightly: he says, “quote the facts historical,” when the original lyrics are, “quote the fights historical.”

Delenn’s family name, Mir, may be a reference to Mira Furlan’s first name.

Sheridan’s line about his true face being mashed up against a pillow and drooling was based on a rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated message commenting on [[Shadow Dancing]], where the Minbari ritual was first introduced.

ISN sends a team to do a second story about Babylon 5.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Jeff Griggs as Dan Randall.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/074.html
####Plot Points

Clark has reinstated the Earth Senate in some form. It has begun investigating alleged alien influence in the entertainment industry and extracting confessions and lists of collaborators from writers and directors.

Sheridan’s father was a diplomat. The family farm has been burned to the ground, and his father’s whereabouts are unknown.

Earth, according to ISN, is slowly retaking Mars from the rebels who took over when Clark’s forces attacked ([[Severed Dreams]].)
####Unanswered Questions

Will the newscast prove convincing to people on Earth?

Where is Sheridan’s father? What about his mother?

What names did Sheridan give his father?

Is Garibaldi’s salvage business as it appears, or is he using it as a cover for other activities?

How did Randall get into the cryogenic freezer area? If it’s really restricted as he says, someone must have let him in.
####Analysis

Psi Corps presumably now knows the fate of the telepaths; two of their names are plainly visible behind Randall (see Notes.) Will the Corps try to come after them? What about the allies of the Shadows, who may have some interest in the telepaths’ implants? If Shadow ships were left behind (not unlikely, considering there were lots of them buried underground) they’ll need pilots who’ve gone through the proper preparation ([[Messages From Earth]]) and the telepaths are ready-made candidates.

Garibaldi seems to have turned against Sheridan completely, going so far as to allude to him as “the devil.” Is that a direct result of his programming (or whatever was triggered by the message in [[Epiphanies]]) or is there some other reason?

ISN’s new title sequence reflects the provincial, Earth-centric views of the Clark government: after a flight through space, the sequence ends up centered on Earth and the Moon.
####Notes

The newscast was broadcast on April 12, 2261. Four historical events were cited as taking place on the same date: Yuri Gagarin’s flight into space (April 12, 1961,) President Clinton’s establishment of a “Commission on the Future” in 1999, the start of construction of the first lunar colony in the Sea of Tranquility in 2018, and the founding of the Psi Corps in 2161.

The confession of the director bore strong resemblance to the confessions extracted by the House Un-American Activities Commission in the US during the 1950s. In that case it was Communists and homosexuals, not aliens, but the focus on entertainers was the same, as was the practice of demanding lists of collaborators. Those who refused to cooperated were “blacklisted,” and found themselves unable to get work in Hollywood.

In fact, the names cited are based on actual people blacklisted in the 1950s. Beth Trumbo is likely a reference to writer Dalton Trumbo, Adrian Mostel to producer Adrian Scott and actor Zero Mostel, and Carleton Jarrico to writer Paul Jarrico.

Paul Jarrico died in an automobile accident on October 28, 1997, the day after receiving a standing ovation at a Hollywood ceremony honoring the surviving blacklisted screenwriters.

Two names are visible on the cryogenic freezers during Randall’s report. One, Carolyn Sanderson, is Bester’s love ([[Ship of Tears]].) The other is John Flinn III, one of the show’s directors.

The psychological phenomenon of hostages sympathizing with their captors is the Stockholm syndrome, not the Helsinki syndrome as stated in the episode. Some readers have commented that both names are correct, but that appears to not be the case according to psychological literature. For example, “Stockholm syndrome” appears 30 times in the journals of the American Psychological Association from 1887 to 1999, but “Helsinki syndrome” isn’t mentioned even once.

The newscast misspelled Yuri Gagarin’s name; it was spelled “Gargarin” on the screen.

Bester arrives with news of an Earth Alliance plan to further isolate Babylon 5. Garibaldi delivers some surprising news to Sheridan.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Walter Koenig as Bester. Damian London as Minister.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/073.html
####Plot Points

With his Shadow allies gone, President Clark now views Babylon 5 as a significant threat to his power. There are still elements of the Psi-Corps loyal to the Shadows.

The telepaths rescued from the Shadows in [[Ship of Tears]] are being kept aboard Babylon 5 in cryonic suspension until a means can be found of disentangling them from their implants.

Lyta’s telepathic powers have definitely been enhanced by the Vorlons, to the point where she can easily block a scan by a P12-level telepath while making telepathic contact across several light-years.

Z’ha’dum has been destroyed, but not before the Shadows’ allies left with unknown quantities of Shadow technology and artifacts.

The Shadows’ allies have arrived on Centauri Prime and begun deploying the keepers seen in [[War Without End part 2]].

After receiving a strange message from an unknown source, likely related to what was done to him in [[Whatever Happened to Mr. Garibaldi?]]

Garibaldi has resigned as head of security. Zack has been promoted to take his place.
####Unanswered Questions

Since some in the Psi Corps apparently still side with the Shadows, did the Corps participate in the looting of Z’ha’dum? If not, is the Corps in contact with the looters?

Did all the Shadows’ allies go to Centauri Prime, or are there more of them headed for other destinations?

Exactly how powerful is Lyta now? Does she in fact have additional programming of which she’s not yet aware?

What does Bester know about Lyta that she doesn’t want others to find out?

What was the message Garibaldi received? If it activated an implanted personality or some hidden programming, why did he resign after receiving the message?

What exactly were the “station lock-down codes” Garibaldi gave Zack? Are they something Garibaldi knows, or something he might have kept a copy of?

What is Bester’s “ace in the hole?” Is it Garibaldi?

How does he plan to recover Carolyn?
####Analysis

Even Bester isn’t let in on the entirety of Clark’s plan, just the part involving the Black Omega squadron. What else is planned? Bester’s superior said the plan involves the Ministry of Peace and the Nightwatch, at least.

Apparently Bester either isn’t strong enough to scan his superior without being detected (telepathic strength may determine one’s placement in the Corps, so that’s not surprising,) or he’s loyal enough to the Corps as a whole to simply accept his boss’s statement that he doesn’t need to know the entire plan.

Bester took quite a personal risk by warning Babylon 5 of Clark’s impending plan. The entire plan was known only by a select few, according to Bester’s superior; presumably only Bester and his superior knew about the Black Omega operation. If that was the only part of the plan that failed, some degree of suspicion would naturally fall on Bester as head of the squadron, subjecting his recent activities to scrutiny. And if even one Nightwatch member noticed Bester’s presence on Babylon 5 — not too farfetched, since he entered through a public customs area — Clark’s people would presumably be able to put two and two together and conclude that Bester must have leaked the information.

The Shadows, according to Anna Sheridan ([[Z’ha’dum]]) believed they’d die if anything Vorlon touched Z’ha’dum. Many of them did die when Sheridan arrived with a piece of Kosh. And now Lyta’s telepathy, enhanced by the Vorlons (and, indeed, genetically seeded by the Vorlons in the first place) has triggered the destruction of Z’ha’dum itself.

Why did Sheridan not realize where the Shadows’ minions were headed? In [[War Without End part 1]], he saw that they had gone to Centauri Prime. His failure to do anything about their arrival there probably explains Londo’s accusation in that episode.

The pattern of light in Garibaldi’s message resembles the light shining on him from above in the escape pod in [[The Summoning]].

Why did Bester, who took pleasure in needling Garibaldi on his previous visits to Babylon 5, make no inquiry about Garibaldi’s absence from the station’s command staff?

If Garibaldi’s resignation is indeed a sign that he’s been programmed, the programming may be much more subtle than the Control personality implanted into Talia Winters ([[Divided Loyalties]].) The effect of the programming may simply be to cause Garibaldi to become disillusioned about Sheridan and his cause. That would be useful to Clark, who could use Garibaldi as a weapon in his propaganda attack on Babylon 5.

On the other hand, it may be that Garibaldi’s programming hasn’t been fully activated, and his resignation is his own choice; he may believe he can’t be trusted until he can piece together what happened to him, and doesn’t want to be in a position where he can compromise Babylon 5.

In either case, Garibaldi’s situation was foreshadowed in [[Divided Loyalties]], in which he pretended briefly to be Control while Lyta was sending the password to the command staff.

Was Delenn’s remark to Sheridan, “We are old souls,” a casual observation, or does it have something to do with Minbari-human soul migration? Might it relate to her observation in [[Soul Mates]] that Minbari believe that souls that have known one another in one life meet again in later lives to relive good relationships and to correct bad ones?

Do the Vorlons have allies like the Shadows do? If so, are they looting the Vorlon homeworld? The Vorlons have been known to keep members of other races on their homeworld (e.g. Sebastian in [[Comes the Inquisitor]]) and presumably those people were left behind when the Vorlons departed the galaxy. What will become of them?

At least some Vorlon technology was left behind: the White Star Fleet. That would seem to give Sheridan a huge military edge against Earth, whose armed forces aren’t even on par with the Minbari, let alone the Vorlons. (Assuming, of course, that Clark and the Psi Corps didn’t manage to procure any Shadow technology.)

Who is in charge on Centauri Prime? The minister told Londo that the position of regent was mostly ceremonial. Londo is off on Babylon 5, presumably not spending his time dealing with matters of state. That would seem to leave a rather large power vacuum.

Why did G’Kar return to Babylon 5? It’s not a sanctuary for him any more, now that the Centauri have left Narn. Perhaps he was simply returning to collect his belongings, or perhaps he intends to resume his role as ambassador from Narn.

Sheridan’s comment about further troubles at the beginning of the episode, “But that’s tomorrow,” echoes Vir’s admonition to Londo to be happy about his victories ([[Into the Fire]].)

Zack and Garibaldi parallel each other to some extent. Garibaldi was willing to go on instinct and hire Zack when he was warned against it. Sinclair made the same leap of faith by hiring Garibaldi ([[The Gathering]].) Further, Zack’s socializing with Lyta parallels Garibaldi’s interest in Talia Winters. Given the way Garibaldi is acting now, do these parallels foreshadow any unpleasant developments for Zack?
####Notes

Bester founded the Black Omega Squadron.

The season-three theme music was played at the end of the end of this episode during the original US broadcast, just like [[The Long Night]] and [[Into the Fire]].

A visual pun: Zack commented to his staff that he wanted to get away before the next person came through the customs area, since with his luck it’d be the Second Coming. The next people through the door were three Kings — Elvis impersonators, a little far from Bethlehem.

The Army of Light mounts its final assault. Londo learns some surprising information about Morden.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Ed Wasser as Morden.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/072.html
####Plot Points

The first of Lorien’s people were effectively immortal, but later generations grew old and died.

The Shadows and Vorlons never attacked one another directly because their goal wasn’t to defeat the opposition in a military sense, but to convince their charges, the younger races, to forsake the opposing philosophy. Along the way, both races lost track of who they were and what they wanted.

All the First Ones, including the Shadows and Vorlons, are gone, ushering in the third age of mankind (which seems to refer to the younger races as a group, not just humanity.) In the first age, man was too primitive to be considered part of the larger picture. In the second age, man was intelligent and aware of the greater world, but his fate was manipulated by outside forces. Now, with all the older races gone, man has entered an age of self-determination.
####Unanswered Questions

What lies beyond the galactic rim? Why do all the elder races want to go there?

How far did Lorien’s broadcast of the conversations with the Vorlons and Shadows extend? Just to the crews of the ships at Coriana 6, or more broadly than that?

Does Londo sending Vir back to Babylon 5 mean that Vir is now the Centauri Ambassador?
####Analysis

The First Ones were of surprisingly little help, considering the trouble to which Ivanova and Lorien went to secure their assistance. They amounted to little more than strange-looking guns, just there to pop in, destroy the Vorlon planetkiller, and do little else (though one of them can be seen destroying a few Shadow and Vorlon ships.) Why were the Shadows and Vorlons seemingly undisturbed by the intervention of their peers, preferring instead to continue fighting as before? Why didn’t the First Ones do anything about the Shadow planetkiller?

It could be argued that they had to be present because Lorien needed them to see that it was time to depart. But given how reclusive most of the remaining First Ones were, they could likely have remained right where they were without ever significantly affecting mankind’s reign of the galaxy. Only the Shadows and Vorlons were actively interfering with the younger races. For all intents and purposes the remaining First Ones were already gone anyway.

Sheridan’s plan — luring the Shadows to Coriana 6 with false information, then planting bombs in nearby asteroids — is the same strategy he employed to good effect against the Black Star during the Earth-Minbari War ([[There All the Honor Lies]].)

The representation of the Shadows and Vorlons while Sheridan and Delenn were talking to them was symbolic of their nature. The Shadows moved around, shifted form, and spoke with many voices, representative of chaos. The Vorlons were frozen in ice, cold and aloof and unchanging.

The episode’s title can be read as a reference to a crucible, which certainly fits the theme of the storyline. Sheridan brought together the concentrated forces of the Shadows, Vorlons, the First Ones, and the younger races; as they were all forced to interact, they were transformed.

How did Londo know Morden was accompanied by Shadows? Perhaps he simply put two and two together after noticing the strange sounds near Morden in [[Interludes and Examinations]], but this is the first evidence that Londo has been doing research on Morden’s associates.

What happened to the Shadow hit by the guard’s weapon? Was its body recovered? In [[The Long Dark]], when the Shadow warrior was killed, it didn’t leave a body behind, so perhaps it’s some kind of standard protection mechanism used by the Shadows and their servants.

By killing Morden and destroying the Shadow base, Londo has probably sealed the fate of Centauri Prime as seen in [[War Without End part 2]] As Morden said, the Shadows may be gone, but they have allies, and Londo told Sheridan in that episode that the Shadows’ allies were the ones laying waste to Centauri Prime.

Whether those allies will also be responsible for putting the keeper on Londo isn’t clear. If so, they would appear to be after more than simple revenge, since they were trying to extract information from Delenn.

Ironically, if Londo had left the base and Morden alone, the Vorlons would have turned back anyway, since their planet-killer was summoned to Coriana 6 before it fired a shot at Centauri Prime. Of course, he had no way of knowing that.

When he first appeared in [[Signs and Portents]], Morden asked G’Kar, Delenn, and Londo what they wanted. Later, in “In the Shadow of Z’ha’dum”, he asked the same of Vir. The irony is, only Vir actually ended up getting exactly what he asked for.

As the Vorlon ship passed overhead, Londo and everything around him fell under its shadow, underscoring the point about Londo’s Shadow involvement.

After Selini was destroyed, Morden clutched almost desperately at his pendant. Just a reflex, or was it perhaps some form of link to the Shadows?

Given his fate when Sheridan destroyed the White Star on Z’ha’dum, and the fact that only extreme intervention restored any semblance of his physical body ([[The Hour of the Wolf]]) Morden may qualify as “the one who is already dead” from Lady Morella’s prophecy ([[Point of No Return]].) By killing Morden and thus condemning Centauri Prime to the dismal future seen 17 years hence, Londo has plausibly given up a chance to redeem himself.

The Shadows themselves may have departed, but what have they left behind? Many of their ships were manned by other races. Did the pilots leave for the Rim as well, or are there still Shadow ships flying around the galaxy? What about their cities on Z’ha’dum, and the ships they buried on worlds all over the galaxy? Did all their representatives on Earth and elsewhere leave too?

Similarly, is the Vorlon homeworld now accessible to anyone who cares to visit? What did the Vorlons leave behind?

Lorien also may have left something behind, namely the ship he and Sheridan took to Babylon 5 in [[The Summoning]].

Who will force mankind to step down when our time has passed? The Vorlons and Shadows likely wouldn’t have left were it not for Lorien’s intervention. With both of them, and their peers, gone, there’ll be no father figure to coax mankind out of the way millions of years hence, when we’re the mysterious elder race meddling in the affairs of the newcomers.

Perhaps that role will be filled by Jason Ironheart ([[Mind War]].) He indicated he’d be back in a million years.
####Notes

In the initial US broadcast, the end credits were accompanied by the theme music from season three, not season four.

Reflecting his increased status, Vir’s hair appears to be somewhat longer in this episode than previously.

The space background in the opening sequence, when the White Star awaits the arrival of more First Ones, is from a Hubble Space Telescope photo, part of the Eagle Nebula.

The island of Selini, shown being destroyed by Londo, bears strong similarity to the island of Sicily, Italy, as seen from space.

The scene in which Lorien tells Ivanova about his people and about his immortality was originally written for the previous episode, [[The Long Night]]. That’s why it takes place aboard Babylon 5 rather than the White Star, forcing a rather strange detour to the station when Ivanova would have wanted to head directly to the scene of the battle. When Lorien says, “I was told you were ready to leave,” he’s referring to Ivanova’s departure on Sheridan’s mission to find more First Ones. To cover for this inconsistency, an extra line of voiceover dialogue was added to the first scene in the episode, Ivanova telling Lorien that they need to get back to Babylon 5 and rejoin the fleet.

Lorien said there were six First Ones, but only five can be seen leaving the scene of the battle. Of course, the sixth might have left separately, or Lorien could have been referring to himself.

When Londo arrives in the throne room, he gathers his WITS about him: he orders the unnamed Minister to gather the ministers of War, Information, Transportation, and Security.

As the Army of Light prepares to strike, Londo and Vir continue to plot Cartagia’s downfall. Ivanova and Lorien look for more First Ones. The Shadows unleash a terrible new weapon.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Wortham Krimmer as Emperor Cartagia.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/071.html
####Plot Points

The Shadows have deployed a planet-killer of their own, striking against Vorlon-aligned worlds much as the Vorlons are decimating worlds touched by the Shadows.

After the success of his assassination plot, Londo has taken Cartagia’s place as head of the Centauri, though for the moment only as prime minister, not as emperor.

Making good on his promise to G’Kar in [[Whatever Happened to Mr. Garibaldi?]] Londo has ordered the withdrawal of Centauri forces from Narn.
####Unanswered Questions

Who were the Centuari nobles in the secret meeting with Londo and Vir?
####Analysis

Now that Narn is free, will G’Kar retain his stature? Or will most of his countrymen come to feel the way the Narn in the palace did, that G’Kar’s sacrifice wasn’t significant and doesn’t give him any special moral authority?

It’s unlikely the Narn could mount any meaningful offensive against the Centauri regardless of their antagonism, given the near-total destruction of their fleet and the razing of their planet. But G’Kar’s warnings have a habit of being ignored until it’s too late ([[Revelations]] and [[The Long, Twilight Struggle]], to name two instances) and given the justifiable rage many Narn no doubt feel, they may well ignore him again.

The Narn clearly don’t know why the Centauri really left their world. How will they react if and when they learn that it was a bargain on G’Kar’s part, not the stubborn resistance of the Narn people as a whole, that caused their invaders to leave?

In [[Falling Toward Apotheosis]], Garibaldi speculated that in a week’s time, the crush of incoming refugees would overwhelm Babylon 5’s resources. That doesn’t seem to have happened. Has the diversion of people to the surface of Epsilon 3 gone smoothly enough to take the load off the station?

This episode marks the first time Sheridan has been shown ordering someone to certain death, though perhaps it’s something he had to do during the Earth-Minbari War as well. His death and rebirth on Z’ha’dum likely makes such orders more credible: he was willing to die for the cause, so he’s clearly not sending others into the fire just to save his own skin. Delenn, on the other hand, might not be ready for that aspect of command; as Lennier pointed out in [[Grey 17 Is Missing]], she holds individual lives in high esteem and is reluctant to risk them even for a greater good.

What did Londo mean when he told the other Centauri that when he died, there would be a reckoning? He could have been referring to his own alleged complicity in the death of Prime Minister Malachi, or to a reckoning for Refa’s actions. If the former, he was probably thinking in particular of his rather ignoble death, strangulation at the hands of G’Kar as foreseen in his dream ([[The Coming of Shadows]], [[War Without End part 2]].)

Although it was clearly unintentional (see jms speaks) one of Vir’s earliest appearances has what could be considered foreshadowing of his killing of Cartagia. In [[Born to the Purple]], Londo asks Vir, “What do you want, you moon-faced assassin of joy?” Vir has turned out to be an assassin, and by killing Cartagia, Vir has undone some of the damage that began when Londo first answered Morden’s question, “What do you want?” in [[Signs and Portents]].

Another possible unintentional foreshadowing of Vir’s actions was the Minbari rebirth ceremony in [[The Parliament of Dreams]]. During the ceremony, Delenn handed out fruits while she recited a Minbari holy text. As she gave Londo his fruit, she spoke of birth; Vir’s, death and renewal. Obviously it wasn’t JMS’s intent at the time, but Londo can be seen as bringing on the birth of the newly ascendant Centauri Republic by helping Refa bring Cartagia to power. Vir brings its death in the form of the assassination, and its rebirth in the resulting shift in power.
####Notes

The poem recited by Sheridan at the end of the episode was probably left by Sinclair, who quoted it to Delenn as far back as [[The Gathering]], It is Tennyson’s “Ulysses.”

When Londo first saw G’Kar, G’Kar commented that his eye offended Cartagia. That’s no doubt a Biblical reference, to Matthew 18:9.

G’Kar’s newfound vision bears some resemblance to Norse mythology, in which the god Odin sacrificed one of his eyes in exchange for the ability to perceive things beyond the normal senses.

In the initial US broadcast, the third-season theme was played over the closing credits.

The Shadow weapon was devised by Harlan Ellison.

Effects glitch: About a half-second before the executive producer credit, as the fleet is leaving Babylon 5, some Starfuries enter the picture on the right side. As they appear, they flicker out of existence for a frame or two. The effect is visible (barely) at normal speed, more obvious in slow motion.

The Vorlons step up their battle against the Shadows. Londo uncovers a new wrinkle in his plan to unseat Emperor Cartagia. Sheridan asks Garibaldi to remove Kosh from the station. Delenn gets a surprise from Sheridan.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Ed Wasser as Morden. Wortham Krimmer as Emperor Cartagia. Wayne Alexander as Lorien.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/070.html
####Plot Points

With the help of Lorien and the original Kosh, Sheridan has successfully removed the new Vorlon ambassador from the station, possibly killing it in the process.

Lorien healed Sheridan at Z’ha’dum by transferring some of his own life energy into Sheridan. Sheridan has at most 20 years left to live.

Londo owes Sheridan a favor.

Emperor Cartagia has plucked out G’Kar’s eye, as Londo saw in his dream ([[The Coming of Shadows]].)
####Unanswered Questions

Why is Lorien keeping such close watch on Sheridan?

How does Sheridan plan to stop the Vorlons?

Why did Kosh’s ship go berserk during the battle? What was it trying to do? (See jms speaks)

Now that the Vorlons have been seen without their illusions in place, will they still bother to maintain their angelic facades around the younger races?

What was the Vorlon “cause” that compelled Lyta to cooperate with them? Did they explain their true motives to her, or did they feed her a palatable lie?
####Analysis

Sheridan and Lorien appear to have gotten to know each other well. What has each of them been getting from the relationship? So far, Lorien doesn’t appear to be feeding Sheridan specific information about the Vorlons or the Shadows (though that could be happening offscreen.) He seems to be providing moral and philosophical support more than anything else, aside from the occasional dose of life energy. What is Sheridan giving him in return? Presumably it’s something worth leaving Z’ha’dum to get.

Sheridan authorized the transfer of refugees to Epsilon 3 without even consulting with Draal. How does he know Draal wouldn’t object? If the planet is still available as a defense mechanism for the station, Draal would most likely need to tell the crew where to set up camp, lest they put refugees right on top of an underground weapon. It’s also interesting that the surface of Epsilon 3 is apparently habitable, given that oxygen masks were required to breathe underground ([[A Voice in the Wilderness part 1]]) Perhaps the crew is assuming Draal will provide an appropriate atmosphere.

Kosh expressed outrage, not surprise, that a human could mentally imprison a Vorlon. Perhaps the Vorlons have a weakness like the Shadows’, and can be contained by sufficiently powerful telepaths.

Is the difference in color between the two Vorlons significant? It may simply be due to the fact that what emerged from Sheridan wasn’t just Kosh, but a combination of Kosh, Sheridan, and Lorien.

Delenn recognized Kosh immediately. Does that mean she had previously seen his true form? If so, it was most likely in [[Chrysalis]], though why he would let her see through his mask then isn’t clear, since he most likely projected an image to her in [[The Fall of Night]].

Lorien’s healing technique resembles that of the healing machine from [[The Quality of Mercy]]. Could that machine be used to further extend Sheridan’s life, or Lorien’s, for that matter? How much life does Lorien have left?

When he used it on Z’ha’dum, it obviously extended to the original Kosh as well, since Kosh was able to battle his successor.

Sheridan’s shortened lifespan may be the terrible price Delenn mentioned in the flashforward in [[War Without End part 2]]. At that time, 17 years in the future, he would only have another two or three years left to live, barring other developments. (See jms speaks)

Kosh gave his life willingly to stop the other Vorlon. Perhaps that goal was what he needed to live for, his version of Sheridan’s devotion to Delenn. If he had to come to terms with his own death as Sheridan did, such self-sacrifice was presumably somewhat easier when the time came.

Is the original Kosh the only Vorlon to oppose what’s going on now? Perhaps they’re factionalized much like the Minbari, and the new Kosh represented the more belligerent faction, which has the upper hand at the moment. In any case, why did the original Kosh care about the younger races more than his replacement?

How much of Kosh is still left in Sheridan in the form of memories and knowledge? Was Kosh’s presence instrumental in putting together whatever plan Sheridan has in mind?

Londo clearly plans to strike at Cartagia on Narn, where presumably he’ll be an easier target than he is in the royal palace. But even if he succeeds, what then? The Shadows will still be on Centauri Prime, with only a few days left until the projected arrival of the Vorlon fleet. It’s unlikely Morden and his associates would look favorably on a request to leave the planet, and even if they went away immediately, Centauri Prime would still have been touched by the Shadows and thus would still be a target.

By failing to suggest a punishment for G’Kar, Londo has likely just wasted his first chance for redemption: saving the eye that does not see ([[Point of No Return]].)

Cartagia’s vision of the end of Centauri Prime (“Let it all end in fire”) may be related to Kosh’s reply to Emperor Turhan in [[The Coming of Shadows]], to whom he said that things would end “in fire.”

In fact, Kosh may have been saying more than the Emperor knew; perhaps he foresaw the deployment of the Vorlon planet-killer, or believed it likely, and figured it’d be used against Centauri Prime. If so, how long have the Vorlons been planning their current course of action?

Garibaldi theorized to Franklin that he might have been caught in the hyperspace backwash when the Shadows pulled out. This was first mentioned as a danger in [[Signs and Portents]], in which Sinclair warns Ivanova to stay away from the raider mothership to avoid being pulled into its backwash.
####Notes

The list of sites accepting refugees from Ventari III, as shown in Ivanova’s broadcast:

• Tizino Prime (presumed destroyed later in the episode)
• Mokafa Station
• Drazi Fendamir Research Colony
• Kazomi III
• D’Grn IV
• L’Gn’Daort
• Nacambad Colony
• 7 Lukantha
• Oqmritkz
• Velatastat
• Lesser Krindar
• Greater Krindar

The rightmost head in Cartagia’s shadow cabinet is Andreas Katsulas (G’Kar.) See jms speaks.

“Apotheosis” means “elevation to divine status,” or more simply, deification.

The two Koshes left the scene of the firefight through the ceiling. If they were headed for space, they took the long way there; to get outside through the ceiling, they’d have to pass through the center of the station.