Babylon 5 s02e22 Episode Script

Target acquired.
| Locking on.
Firing.
That's a fox one, C&C.
Confiirmed, Delta 7.
- You're dead, Zeta Leader.
| - Damn it! Good shooting, Delta 7.
Are you okay? I started to black out for a second, | but it passed.
All right, everyone pay attention | and learn from Zeta Leader's mistakes.
Now, if the enemy does | something unexpected don't try and keep the lock- on.
Get out of the line of fiire before you | try re- acquiring your target.
And remember this: Some aliens can handle G- forces | better than we can.
And the Centauri are willing to put | their fighters on autopilot and risk blacking out if it gives them the optimum | firing position when they come out.
This is C&C.
We've got | an emergency back here.
Recommend you head back to the barn.
All right.
On my way.
Zeta Leader, you and the rest | of Zeta Squadron continue practicing - this maneuver until you get it right.
| - Yes, sir.
Sometimes I get so close and yet it seems I'm shut out | of the important things.
It's a useless feeling.
The ambassador is going through | changes.
He even looks different.
Indeed.
And with the military stampeding | over everyone and everything.
People coming and going | and secret meetings.
You never know what it's all about, | until later when it's too late.
And they never listen to us.
Makes me nervous.
- Same time tomorrow? | - Sure.
Captain? The Drazi and Pak'Ma'Ra | ambassadors are waiting in your office.
They say it's absolutely urgent.
- How's the squad doing? | - Good, but they should be better.
I want our fighters put through | training exercises three times a week.
With everything going on, we need | them in top fighting condition.
I'll see to it personally.
And if they don't get any better, | I'll start issuing live ammo.
That should have | a very inspirational effect.
Are you sure about this, ambassador? Yes, most sure.
We do not mistake.
The Centauri have invaded | both our territories.
They've taken one of our listening posts.
| They say they have liberated it.
We hear they are preparing | to attack other races, other worlds.
War is spreading.
| Soon, perhaps, they even attack you.
The Babylon Project was our last, | best hope for peace.
A self- contained world, fiive miles long, | located in neutral territory.
A place of commerce and diplomacy for a quarter of a million | humans and aliens.
A shining beacon in space, | all alone in the night.
It was the dawn | of the Third Age of mankind.
The year the Great War | came upon us all.
This is the story of the last | of the Babylon stations.
The year is 2259.
| The name of the place is Babylon 5.
- Ambassador Mollari, as you requested.
| - Captain, I was in the middle-- - What the hell do you think you're doing? | - Don't address me in that tone of voice.
I came here out of goodwill.
| I was told-- Your forces are moving in | on the Drazi and the Pak'Ma'Ra.
You are destabilizing the whole area.
What's wrong? Bombing the Narn back to the Stone Age | wasn't enough for you? We are trying to stabilize | the region, captain.
Putting a buffer zone around the | Centauri Republic will lessen tensions and decrease the risk of conflict.
You call it a buffer zone.
| The Drazi call it an invasion.
They are exaggerating.
| We are merely establishing a presence.
Well, where does that presence end? | Tell me that, ambassador.
Show me on the map | where it's going to end.
Londo.
Everything is falling apart, and the | Centauri are at the center of it all.
Can't your people see that? Can't you see that? I do not have to listen to this.
Your authority ends | at Babylon 5, captain.
Do not start getting | delusions of grandeur.
You will not survive them.
He's not the Londo | I used to know anymore.
It used to be you could talk to the guy.
| You could reason with him.
He was a pain in the butt, but he was | our pain in the butt.
And now.
You're the closest thing he has | to a friend here.
- Is there any way to get through to him? | - Not as long as he's afraid.
As long as he's afraid? Look into his eyes sometime.
| He can see how fast things are moving.
For Londo, it's like being | stuck on a wild horse.
You don't wanna get thrown, | so you hang on even harder.
He's trapped.
Half the time I'm so furious | with the guy I could break his neck.
The other half, I feel sorry for him.
So, what do you figure | on doing about this? I made a full report to Earth Dome.
They could ignore the problem as long | as it was the Narn and Centauri fighting.
But with the other races | getting involved.
Sheridan.
Wejust had an Earthforce ship | carrying a VIP come.
It's Frederick Lantz | from the Ministry of Peace.
On my way.
Well, what do you know.
Maybe somebody actually read | my report for a change.
Don't hold your breath.
I could sleep for a week.
Every time I close my eyes, all I see are | TAC displays and firing solutions.
I just wish I knew what has | the captain so rattled.
- Maybe it's the ghost.
| - What ghost? A couple guys say they saw | something in hyperspace coming back from a job | in Sector 1 4.
Sounds like they've been | sucking thruster fumes.
- Anybody else see it? | - No, just them.
Said it looked like a cross between | a spider and your worst nightmare.
Get your hands off me.
| Don't touch me! Mr.
Lantz, welcome.
| It's good to see you.
Thank you, captain.
Mr.
Welles, my codirector.
He's in | charge of the Night Watch program.
- A pleasure.
| - Commander Ivanova.
- Charmed.
| - How are you? I want you to set aside an office for me | to interview the Centauri ambassador and those of the League | of Non- Aligned Worlds whose territory has been infringed.
- Already done.
| - Good.
I'd like to check in on | the local members of the Night Watch.
It's not a problem.
| Commander Ivanova is your liaison.
- If you need anything, just ask.
| - Excellent.
Thank you.
I must say, I'm relieved to see you.
I feared Earth would never get involved | in the Centauri problem.
We can't stand by forever.
| Our voice has to be heard.
It never hurts to get a first- hand look | at what's really going on out here.
Just to be sure we're doing | the right thing.
Hey, Mitch.
How's it going? I thought you Zeta Squadron types were | too good to hang out with the rest of us.
Come on.
Who told you that? One of your crew called our furies | a bunch of old rust buckets.
So we didn't have our fighters | hand delivered by the president.
I'm not getting into this.
I got no problem with anybody who | jumps into a starfury and rides fire.
Scuttlebutt is we're getting new furies | next year, and you're next to get them.
- Come on, I just wanna talk.
| - About what? - The ghost.
| - I don't have to-- It was jet- black.
A shade of black so deep, | your eye just kind of slides off it.
And it shimmered | when you looked at it.
A spider, big as death | and twice as ugly.
When it flies past, it's like | you hear a scream in your mind.
I saw it too.
Go on.
It killed Commander Galus.
- I heard about Galus.
Not about this.
| - I filed a report.
But when it happened my systems were | blown out, so I couldn't record anything.
And there was nobody out there | to back me up, no evidence.
They figured he got hit | by a hyperspace shock wave.
I swore I'd prove something was there, | like nothing we've ever seen before.
I tried looking for it on my own, | but the captain told me to lay off.
I gotta find it, prove what happened.
Look, pal, if you really | saw this thing you'd have to be out of your mind | to look for it.
Maybe.
The Council Chambers | are for interviews with the Drazi and | Pak'Ma'Ra ambassadors.
- You'll have complete privacy.
| - Good.
Pen.
Pen.
Pen.
Thank you.
Looks like an antique.
My wife gave it to me last Christmas.
Do you realize it's almost | Christmas back home? It's easy to forget out here.
We don't have seasons in Babylon 5, | but I noticed.
Have you ever been to | the winter solstice festival in Geneva? It's quite marvelous.
Fireworks and songs and costumes | and food as far as the eye can see.
And the children.
How many grandchildren do you have? Does it show? Yeah, in the dark.
Well, that's why I'm here, you know.
To give them a legacy | from the old man.
A better world.
And you, any children? But family though, yes? No, not anymore.
- The war? | - Among other things, yes.
So you understand.
Yes, there's been enough death.
Time for something better.
Well, we must hurry.
Don't want to keep anyone waiting.
Captain, picking up a jump point | forming in Sector 39.
That's the other side of the planet | where only we can see.
Yes, sir.
- They don't want to be noticed.
| - Opening now.
Reading one Narn heavy cruiser.
| She's hailing us.
Put her through.
This is Warleader Na'Kai | of the star cruiser G'Tok.
Are you Captain Sheridan? Yes.
If you'll forgive my saying so I didn't know any Narn | heavy cruisers had survived the war.
We were on deep patrol, | evaluating potential targets when the Centauri struck Homeworld.
Since then we have | been fiighting for our lives.
Alone, without reinforcements, | we will be hunted down and destroyed.
But with the support of others, we may | one day help liberate Homeworld.
To achieve that end, | we must remain free and Babylon 5 is our only hope.
We have expended the last | of our energy in getting here.
We request sanctuary.
Commander, I hope | I'm not disturbing you.
No.
What can I do for you? I thought we could talk | for a moment, informally.
This is about as informal as I get.
| Please, have a seat.
- Would you like some tea? | - Thank you, no.
Tell me, commander, | are you happy here? I suppose so.
We've been so busy lately, | I haven't given it much thought.
I wish you would.
I like to know as much | as I can about the people I work with and your record is exemplary.
| You've moved up through the ranks without a patron or connections, | just through hard work.
And now you're a commander | on a high- profile base like this.
- You should be proud.
| - Well, thank you.
I was wondering what you thought | your next step might be.
Well, for the time being, | I'm very happy right here.
Five years down the road, | I don't know.
Maybe running Babylon 5 | if the captain decides to move on.
Although the idea of captaining | a starship has a certain appeal.
Why? The Night Watch is becoming | more important back home.
We have considerable support | within Earth Dome.
The way you're going, I'm sure you'll get | that starship within five years or so.
But why not shave a year | or two off that? We could do that for you.
- In exchange for? | - Your support, your help.
Your position here could benefit us | as much as we can help you.
You have access | to certain information.
Certain reports about the comings | and goings of ships, people and cargo.
Activities which may strike you | as potentially dangerous or disloyal.
You could be of great service | to Earth.
Does Mr.
Lantz know | about this conversation? The Night Watch is a separate division | of the Ministry.
I just thought we should be discreet.
Of course.
Mr.
Welles.
As you say, I have access | to a great deal of information so I've been very aware | of the Night Watch for some time now.
What I saw worried me, and now | I see that my worries were justified.
Commander-- I've gotten where I am | through hard work and loyalty.
Loyalty to the people I work with loyalty to Earth and loyalty | to the ideals of the Alliance.
What you're asking violates all three.
So it takes me a few more years | to get my own ship.
One way or another I'll get there.
| When I do, I'll have done it honestly.
Without selling out a friend | or betraying a confidence.
My hands are clean.
Are yours? You really don't understand, | but that's all right.
The offer will remain | open indefinitely.
Fine.
Open.
And no one else knows of this? Not yet.
The ship is waiting | on the other side of Epsilon 3 where incoming ships won't see it.
Since all data comes through here, | no one will see it until we want them to.
Thank you.
This is the first good news I've had | since the occupation began.
- Will you give them sanctuary? | - I can't see any reason why not.
We're giving them equipment | to make repairs.
After that's done, | I'll formally notify Mr.
Lantz.
- Mr.
Lantz? | - He's here from the Ministry of Peace.
- He's looking into the Centauri problem.
| - Then Earth is ready to take sides? I sure hope so.
- Could I speak to him? | - I don't see why not.
He'll be in the Council Chambers | until 7.
Thank you, captain.
| I'll go and prepare.
So this is strictly an informal meeting.
I'm glad to see we're adding | new members to the Night Watch even though I don't recall seeing | any recent reports from you, Mr.
Allan.
- Hasn't been much to report.
| - How strange.
Your associates have filed reports.
One of them describes | potentially disloyal acts on the part of a storeowner | in the Zocalo, one Xavier Darabuto.
He said he thought the new import regs | were a little nuts, but I don't think-- Sedition comes in small packages | as well as large ones, Mr.
Allan.
Now, perhaps this storeowner is | nothing more than a vaguely | dissatisfied citizen.
How can we tell the troublemakers | from the bystanders unless we're kept informed? I thought we could exercise | our own discretion.
Of course you can.
But the Night Watch | exists to protect our people from misinformation | and harmful ideas.
Sometimes those harmful ideas | can be very subtle.
You might not recognize them, | but we will.
I know, I just-- I have reports from the others on dockworkers consistently late | for work, sabotaging efficiency.
Several of your Lurkers | have spoken to reporters about poor conditions here | and at home.
Two more shop owners have openly | criticized presidential decisions.
Have you nothing to report? Well, I guess.
I guess I haven't | been thinking in those terms.
- I'm not sure I'm comfortable with it.
| - Let's make it easy for you, shall we? Can you verify the report about | the storeowner that I mentioned? He's been named.
So you're not adding anything new, | just confirming what we already know.
I guess.
I mean, yeah.
I heard him talking, | but it's just talk.
That's fine.
There, you see? That wasn't so bad.
You learn.
You're flexible.
You show great promise, Mr.
Allan.
Great promise, indeed.
I brought it.
I couldn't get my gun camera around | in time to get a picture but my sensors picked up a change | in local hyperspace when it went by.
It left a trail of neutrino emissions | like nothing I have ever seen before.
It's all here.
Configure your sensors | to look for the signature emissions.
If it's there, | sooner or later, you'll find it.
- Thanks.
| - Don't thank me.
You go out looking for that thing, | you're looking for death.
From now on, I've got no part of this.
Well, thank you again, ambassador.
| You've been most helpful.
That covers the League | of Non- Aligned Worlds.
I think I'm now ready to speak with | Ambassador Mollari, if you'd take me? Commander, I've been looking for you.
- I take it this is Mr.
Lantz? | - Yes.
How can I help you? This is G'Kar, formerly | Ambassador G'Kar of the Narn Regime.
I understand you're here to investigate | the situation with the Centauri.
Well, yes, within certain guidelines.
- If we could speak for five minutes-- | - That's not possible.
- But if you'll just-- | - No, I'm sorry.
Maybe later? Commander? Repairs are going slowly.
With our energy resources down, our | medical systems are barely functioning.
We can't give proper care and attention | to the sick and wounded.
What if you took your | jump engines off- line? If we shut down the engines, it would | take some time to reactivate them.
It would leave us open | and vulnerable to attack.
As long as you're in Babylon 5 space, | we'll protect you.
You have my word.
Take care of your people.
We will take the engines off- line now.
| Thank you, captain.
Captain Sheridan? Mr.
Lantz, what can I do for you? I've received some disturbing reports, | and I was hoping you could explain them.
I understand you've been conducting | fighter exercises all week.
That's correct.
We have to keep | our squads at peak efficiency.
And I've heard from Mr.
Welles that you have been using | Centauri combat models.
- How did you find-- ? | - That's not important.
Is it true? Have you been teaching your forces | to fight the Centauri? With everything going on, | it seemed prudent.
No.
This must stop at once.
This jeopardizes everything, | my entire mission.
I don't understand.
| You came to investigate the Centauri.
Well, I had to look at the situation | before I could proceed.
However, I'm satisfied | with what I've seen.
I've contacted Earth Dome, | and they have authorized me to proceed.
Proceed with what? I'm here to sign a non- aggression treaty | with the Centauri.
Before I leave here, there will be | an Earth- Centauri alliance that will guarantee | peace for Earth.
We will, at last know peace in our time.
Mr.
Welles, I'm sorry | I missed the meeting but there's something | you should know.
I can't believe it.
A non- aggression treaty | with the Centauri? That's like trying to make nice | with a piranha.
Sooner or later it's gonna bite you.
This gets us out of the way | so the Centauri can take other worlds.
Earth wants peace and they're willing | to sacrifice everybody else to get it.
You know, I can remember the first time | I put on this uniform.
I felt 1 0 feet tall.
Like I could take on the whole galaxy | before breakfast.
Now I look at it.
It's just cloth.
I don't know what it means anymore, | what it stands for.
It's gonna be a new year | in a little over a week.
Maybe 2260 is the year | that we redefine it.
Make it mean something again.
Which reminds me.
Merry Christmas.
| Happy Hanukkah, whatever.
- No, I can't.
| - Yeah, you can.
Thank you.
Really, I-- I don't really have one of these.
- What is it? | - It's shrapnel from the Black Star.
Earthforce archives had | a few pieces in storage.
Took some doing, | but I talked them into giving me one.
Why? Everyone said it was impossible | to take out a Minbari war cruiser.
But you did it.
| The way things are going I figured it might be nice to have a | reminder that the impossible is possible.
Captain Sheridan, I demand | to speak with you at once.
What is it now? I have been informed that you have | been sheltering a Narn heavy cruiser.
You will turn it and its crew | over to us at once.
I'm sorry.
Your signal is breaking up.
| I'll have to call you back.
- Captain-- | - End! Run diagnostic.
How the hell did he find out? Must've been Welles.
| He has people everywhere.
Damn it.
Come on.
Londo wouldn't be open with this | unless he'd warned his government.
Company's coming.
Open up a channel to the Narn ship.
| We must get him out fast.
Online.
Na'Kai, how long before | your jump engines are repaired? Not for some time.
Why? The Centauri know you're here.
| Can you navigate? - Yes, but-- | - Jump point opening.
Centauri battle cruiser demands | we turn over the Narn warship to them.
Stand by.
| Keep this channel open.
They're between us and the jumpgate, | blocking the way out.
- I have Ambassador Mollari on the link.
| - Stall him.
I promised that we would protect them | as long as they're in our jurisdiction.
I won't break that promise.
Launch Zeta Squad.
| Tell them to surround the Narn ship.
Scrambling fighters.
Captain? Captain, what are you doing? | I've just heard-- The treaty hasn't been formalized yet.
| I promised them sanctuary.
Once again, you're jeopardizing | everything I've worked for.
I'm sorry.
Will someone please escort | Mr.
Lantz off the command deck? - Zeta Squadron ready for launch.
| - Launch.
Put Ambassador Mollari through.
- Captain Sheridan! | - The Narn ship is under my protection.
I have guaranteed | the right of free passage.
Once its engines are repaired, | it will leave Babylon 5 space.
After that, it's no business of ours.
I've assigned a fighter squad to escort | the cruiser safely out of Babylon 5 space.
You tell your cruiser | to withdraw at once.
If they open fire on any of our fighters, | I will respond with deadly force.
End.
Send a copy of that transmission | to the Centauri battle cruiser.
Then activate defense grid.
Fighters are in position.
| Can you move to the jumpgate? - Yes, but not very quickly.
| - Give me the best you can.
Centauri battle cruiser is changing | position, moving to intercept.
Their weapons system is active, | gun ports are open.
- Are they targeting our fighters? | - They're targeting the Narn vessel Zeta Squadron and us.
- Return the favor.
Target their ship.
| - Targeting, aye.
Zeta Squadron, stand by.
| Continue escorting her out.
If you are fired upon, return fire.
| Fire at will.
Confirmed, Babylon Control.
| Heat them up, people.
Close blast doors.
Centauri weapon system locking on.
They're trying to provoke us | into making the first move.
I don't think so.
- We've got an energy spike! | - Oh, hell.
lnterceptors, fire! Zeta 1 through 5, break and attack.
| Everybody else with me! lnterceptors running hot.
- 90%%% capacity and dropping.
| - They're getting through.
Launch everything we've got! | Time on target! Time on target, aye! Hold on! Massive damage to Centauri vessel.
Scramble all medical ships.
| There's time.
It's too late.
Oh, my God.
The Centauri are furious | over this incident.
What was I supposed to do? Stand by | and let them blow this place to bits? - You destroyed a Centauri warship! | - You're damn straight! If I hadn't, we wouldn't be here | to have this conversation.
They fired first, Mr.
Lantz.
I have | an obligation to protect this station.
You had no business | helping a Narn cruiser.
- So I should disobey regulations? | - What regulations? General Order 47.
Earthforce personnel | are required to answer distress calls and assist any vessel not currently | involved in hostilities against Earth.
Now, it may not have been | politically convenient but morally and legally, | it was the right decision.
The Centauri government accuses you | of moving Babylon 5 from neutrality | to a pro- Narn position.
If I may interject.
Captain Sheridan | is correct in his assessment.
He acted in accord | with Earthforce regulations.
I've spoken with the joint chiefs, | and they support his actions.
- Thank you.
| - However the decisions leading up | to those actions are another matter.
If we'd known as soon | as the Narn cruiser appeared there would've been time | to inform the Centauri who wouldn't have had | to find out secondhand.
In the spirit of our treaty we could have turned over the warship | while allowing the crew itself sanctuary.
They wouldn't have cooperated.
They'd have come earlier and done | the same.
You can't reason with them.
You're quite wrong there.
We have reasoned with them, | and they have shown great patience.
Now, despite their loss, and given the | fact that their ship did fire first they're willing to drop the whole | matter in exchange for an apology.
Apologize for doing my job? Like hell! This isn't a request, captain.
It's a direct order from | the joint chiefs and the president.
Now, you have two choices: Apologize or disobey a direct order | from your superiors.
As this would be an act of | insubordination, you would be removed and someone more reasonable | would be installed to replace you.
We've arranged for a meeting | of the various ambassadors in one hour in the Zen Garden.
As settings go, it's better suited | to offering the olive branch and more public.
I suppose this apology is | already written? No need.
You can phrase | the apology any way you see fit.
As with everything else, | it's the thought that counts.
Zeta Leader, how long are we | supposed to stay with this thing? Just until she's clear of another gate | and we're sure nobody's following us.
Computer, what've you got? Registering unusual changes | in local hyperspace matching provided specifiications.
Neutrino emissions up 8 percent.
This is Zeta Leader.
| Breaking off to investigate something.
Stay on course.
I'll catch up.
Confiirmed.
I apologize.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry we had to defend ourselves | against an unwarranted attack.
I'm sorry that your crew was stupid | enough to fire on a station filled with a quarter million civilians, | including your own people.
And I'm sorry I waited as long as I did | before I blew them all straight to hell.
As with everything else it's the thought that counts.
Got you! Computer, follow unidentified ship.
| Begin recording.
G'Kar, you shouldn't be here.
I heard what happened.
| I thought if I spoke on Sheridan's behalf-- That may not be wise.
I still have a few supporters | in the League.
They will listen.
Being scanned by unidentifiied ship.
| Changing course.
Attach homing beacon | and eject system record.
Welcome to CoreTrans.
| Please watch your step.
This is a low- gravity area.
| Please hold handrails at all times.
Approaching Station 2.
| Please stand away from the doors.
Computer, emergency override.
| Open shuttle doors! In Valen's name.
Oh, my God.
Emergency alert, we've had | an explosion in the core shuttle.
- We need rescue jetpacks.
| - What are you doing? The ground rotates at 60 miles an hour.
| If we can't catch him, he'll be killed.
You won't have time.
Kosh, you know what is at stake.
If you are going to do anything, | you must do it now.
- We'll get there in two minutes.
| - You've got 30 seconds! We can't do it.
Valaria.
Droshalla.
G'Lan.
Kosh? - I wanted to see how you were doing.
| - I'm fine.
Fine.
The whole station's talking | about what happened.
Every race that was in the garden | saw something different yet the same.
- A being of light.
| - Yes.
Each according to his or her type.
But it was Kosh, wasn't it? That's what he meant when he said | if he left his encounter suit he'd be recognized by everybody.
For millions of years, the Vorlons have | visited other worlds, guided them and-- Manipulated us? Programmed us so that when we saw | them, we would react the right way? It is, as you say, | a matter of perspective.
What matters is that he has revealed | himself to those who understand: You and me and those | who have been watching.
The Shadows will know | what Kosh has done.
They will worry, afraid that he | would not reveal himself unless the Vorlons were prepared | to stand against them.
- Are they? | - I do not think so.
But as long as the Shadows believe the rest of us are unaware of their | existence, we have time to prepare.
Let's just hope that nobody | finds out about them until-- Captain, Zeta Squadjust got back.
| Lieutenant Keffer is missing.
It was G'Lan.
| I saw him with my own eyes.
He swooped down | as was told in the old stories.
No, not G'Lan.
| Droshalla, whose light fills the world.
It doesn't matter.
| It was a good sign for the coming year.
This place has been blessed.
And you, Ambassador Mollari, | what did you see? Nothing.
I saw nothing.
It was the end of the Earth year 2259, | and the war was upon us.
As anticipated, a few days after the | Earth- Centauri treaty was announced the Centauri widened their war to | include many of the Non- Aligned Worlds.
And there was another war | brewing closer to home.
A personal one whose cost would be | higher than any of us could imagine.
We came to this place because Babylon 5 | was our last, best hope for peace.
By the end of 2259, | we knew that it had failed.
But in so doing, | it became something greater.
As the war expanded, it became | our last, best hope for victory.
Because sometimes peace is | another word for surrender and because secrets have | a way of getting out.
When our ship found a distress beacon | attached to an Earthforce recorder these images, released exclusively | to ISN, were found on that recording.
Strategic analysts in Earth Dome | have indicated they don't know who this new race might be, | but promise to fiind out.