Babylon 5 s04e11 Episode Script

As reports continue to come in about the harsh conditions aboard what was once the shining beacon of Earthforce, Babylon 5 messages smuggled out indicate that humans continue to be subjected to cruel oppression by alien groups aboard the renegade outpost.
And every day more people are asking, "When will Earth intervene? How much longer can we allow our citizens to endure this mistreatment?" Why do you keep watching that garbage? You know it upsets you.
I'm gathering intelligence.
- You're winding yourself up like a watch.
- It helps me focus.
You heard that part about intervention? They are laying a foundation for another assault.
Only this time it will look like a rescue mission instead of an unprovoked attack.
- How long until they move? I don't know.
Not for a while yet.
They'll keep the war drums going as long as they can whip everyone up back home, turn them against us.
- Commander? - Thanks.
We're getting a signal from Dr.
Franklin on Mars.
It's weak.
- It's barely even getting past the jammers.
- I'll put it through.
I repeat.
This is Lost Lamb to Big Bad Wolf.
Do not respond.
I repeat, do not respond.
We have arranged a meeting with the board, who send its regards.
We are continuing on schedule and hope to come home soon.
We will check in again at prearranged time on second coded frequency.
I repeat, board meeting is on.
Well, that was good and cryptic.
Keeping the transmission short cuts down on the risk of it being tracked back here.
As long as Babylon 5 doesn't respond there's no way anyone can know who the message was meant for.
If Clark knew that someone from Babylon 5 was here - He'd go fusion.
- Oh, big time.
The important thing is the captain knows we're set to meet with the rest of the Resistance as soon as they arrive.
I hope it does some good.
Some of the others aren't as reasonable as I am.
In case you hadn't noticed, Earthforce is closing a noose around us.
We estimate they'll capture the rest of Mars by the end of the year unless something is done.
I'm worried some of the others will get more aggressive.
Stephen! There's been an explosion at the Red Planet Hotel.
Took out a security force from Earth.
They say it's a terrorist attack by the Resistance.
Ten civilians were killed in the attack.
Also, there have been more attacks against transport ships along our border, Delenn.
Not against our own ships but the smaller worlds who've been aligned for centuries.
- The Norsai have been the hardest hit.
- We've always guaranteed their protection.
Why haven't our ships been sent to help them? With the Grey Council no more the three castes are concerned with protecting their own interests.
The Alliance Norsai was initiated by the religious caste.
Now that the war is over, the warrior caste are refusing to help.
Do you know who's responsible for these attacks? No.
So we have sent for more information.
Perhaps the situation is not as bad as the reports have indicated.
It was the year of fire.
The year of destruction.
The year we took back what was ours.
It was the year of rebirth.
The year of great sadness.
The year of pain.
- And a year of joy.
- It was a new age.
It was the end of history.
It was the year everything changed.
The year is 2261.
The place, Babylon 5.
- John.
- I was just about to call you.
- Would you like to have dinner tonight? - I can't.
There have been a number of attacks against several worlds on the border of Minbari space.
Since the warrior caste will not act, I have to look into it.
That's interesting timing.
There have been similar attacks outside Pak'ma'ra space.
I guess it was inevitable.
Everyone suffered heavy losses during the war.
Only a matter of time before someone took advantage by sending out raiding parties.
But to attack without provocation.
The Norsai are a peaceful people who've relied on our protection for centuries.
So I'm going to take out a flight of White Star ships to investigate.
Since it was a religious caste that promised them protection, I have an obligation.
Can't you send out Lennier? It might be dangerous.
John, it pleases me that you care for what I have become but never forget who I was what I am and what I can do.
You're right.
All right.
Go ahead.
I'll see you when you get back.
We have to let Donovan know everything went according to plan.
- What? - You son of a - What? What did I do? - Out! This is private.
- What did I do? - Out! You know damn well what you did.
That bombing was unauthorized.
- I checked with Donovan! - Donovan's Earthside! Whatever he thinks, he doesn't run the Resistance.
Mars is my territory and you don't pull this kind of crap without authorization.
I saw the security squad checking in.
There wasn't time! A call takes 10 seconds.
Do you know what I can do to you in 10 seconds? In 10 seconds I can cripple you for life.
In 10 seconds I can break your skull open and scoop out your brains for cat food! I've got 10 dead civilians on the deck, Phillipe and they're going to hold me responsible.
They'll be looking for me long after you go home to Earth.
I don't care what you do back home, but here you answer to me and you don't do anything! You don't breathe, you don't move and you don't blow things up unless you check with me first! Clear? Tell me, is this how you treat all your former lovers? As a matter of fact, yes.
Whatever you've got to say, it damn well better be worth it.
Looks upset.
- Think it's something we said? - Hope not.
I'd sooner face an entire Shadow fleet than what just walked past us.
Sorry.
Still can't get used to the time difference here.
It must be past midnight back at the station.
Everybody all asleep in their beds.
- At which time we hope to present a series on Minbari War Syndrome and examine how it can affect some of our war veterans.
They will explain how someone with as noted a reputation as Captain Sheridan could go from war hero to alien collaborator without realizing the damage he's doing to his own world.
- Up yours, you lying sack of - In part seven of our continuing report we will examine in greater detail the mistreatment of humans trapped on Babylon 5.
Our job, as always, is simply to state the facts and let the truth attend to itself.
Leave me alone.
Can't I get just one night of uninterrupted sleep around here? Lights.
Low.
- Yes? - Susan, it's me.
Open.
- I've got it! Damn it, Susan, I've got it! - What? Look, if they want to play games, well, fine.
We can play games too only we can play them better because we've got the truth on our side.
You can't kill the truth.
Actually, you can kill the truth, but it always comes back to haunt you.
- Hello? - Come on, I'll show you.
- I think we can make this work.
- John? What? Don't you think I'd better change first? Oh, yeah.
Right.
Sorry.
I hadn't noticed.
Thanks.
I'll just Wait a minute.
What do you mean you didn't notice? What am I, chopped flarn? Okay, granted, I don't have any interest in you, you don't have any interest in me but if you barge in here in the middle of the night, the least you could say is: "Nice outfit, lvanova.
" And then go on a tear.
Nice outfit, lvanova.
You are such a Men, it's always the same.
Yeah, this will work.
John, I've been here before.
For this, you woke me up? Why not? You gave me the idea.
I'm going to sit over here until you tell me what the hell you're talking about.
During the last phase of the war, you were on the BabCom system updating everyone on evacuations, safe zones, rescues which planets had fallen.
- Yes, I know.
I hated it.
You were great at it! You have a face people trust.
I'd rather have a face people fear.
Well, that too, but See, it occurred to me that if we could do that here, on a small scale why not on a larger scale? I mean, ever since we broke away from Earth solid information has been rare as gold.
We've had to rely on smuggled data crystals, rumors, stories.
All they have to go on back home is what ISN tells them.
So why not solve two problems at the same time? Why not come up with a way that we can turn the war room into I don't know.
The voice of the Resistance.
Susan, during World War II, the French Resistance used to go on the air for one hour a night, always from a different location broadcasting the real news about the war.
Providing intelligence for the resistance fighters, encouraging Germans to defect.
Well, why can't we do the same thing here? Why do I get the ugly suspicion that you're volunteering me for this job? I accept your offer.
Now, you go get some sleep and we will talk about this again tomorrow.
If he weren't my commanding officer, I swear I'd shoot him dead.
You've been up for some time, Delenn.
You should sleep.
I will.
I was thinking.
I'm very disturbed by what you told me about the warrior caste.
Since the war I haven't been paying as much attention to events back home as I should have.
How is it? The Grey Council was the force that held us together, Delenn.
That is why Valen created it.
Each caste had an equal voice.
Without it, it has become difficult.
And there have been rumors.
It is said that the warrior caste are trying to form a new council of its own.
I've heard in the cities of Sikar and Dronya where once the three castes lived together peacefully the warrior caste have forced out our caste driving them to the wastelands.
At least, that is the rumor.
Do you believe it? Dukhat says when there is good news, we always ask if it is true because it is so difficult to believe.
But when there is bad news, we rarely inquire because it is so easy to believe.
So, yes, Delenn, I do believe but I very much wish that I did not.
All right, I want to thank all of you for coming.
I know that getting here was difficult for you considering the extent to which President Clark has been restricting travel.
Captain Sheridan has asked me to convey several messages.
First, to express the outrage we all feel about how Mars has been treated.
It was Clark's decision to bomb civilian targets that prompted our decision to secede from the Alliance.
That and a small fleet of ships coming your way.
It's just a little easier to make the grand gesture when someone is pointing a gun at your head.
Yes? Now, that's just not fair! No one's forgotten Sheridan helped put down the food riots after the Minbari war.
- People here still haven't forgotten that.
- The point is the captain is willing to set aside all differences and focus on what needs to be done now.
Right now you need all the allies you can get.
He wants you to know that we have not forgotten Mars or Proxima 3.
We are putting together a coalition that will move against Clark at the appropriate time and he wants your support.
Provided you understand this is directed against the person, not the position.
I knew it.
What are you taking us for? What are you selling? Some of you want to overthrow Earthgov as payment for what it's done for you.
Fair enough.
I was raised on Arisia Colony, which was sucked dry by Earth taxes and ruined by Earth corporations, so I sympathize.
But if you go that way, you'll lose any support you might have back home and jeopardize the greater mission: Getting rid of Clark.
Towards that end, the captain wants you to stop bombing civilian targets.
- It does no good and it never has.
- We have to send a message! You are! You are, but it's the wrong message! It makes everyone back home more sympathetic to Clark's position.
You're driving people away when you should be trying to bring them around to our side.
You talk about our side, but we haven't seen help coming from Babylon 5 lately.
Sorry.
Been a trifle busy lately with a little war that threatened to wipe out this entire sector.
Before you think it's got nothing to do with you the creature we found on one of your people when we got here would seem to indicate that the forces behind that war are also responsible for some of the problems here.
We need to know that we can rely on you to carry out any instruction from Babylon 5 over the next several months without question.
No matter how strange they may sound.
We need you to trust us.
And we need you to be patient.
Hold off on the bombings for a while.
Is that all you have to say? No.
Captain Sheridan gave me one last message.
He said, "I know we are asking a great deal but in exchange for your cooperation you have my guarantee that when this is over Mars will finally be recognized as an independent state.
We're supposed to believe one man? Yes! If it's the right man.
Oh, yeah? And what if I said I'd sprout wings and fly to New York? In your case, I'd say you were crazy, but if Sheridan said it l'd tell him to stop on the West Side and pick me up some bagels! This is what you have been dying for and you are no closer to your goal now than before! Clark's forces will keep closing in on you whether you sign up with us or not.
And in six months, the Resistance will be dead! Now, we're offering you a chance.
We'll give you support and a real target which is a lot better than bombing civilian targets on your way to the gallows! This is the location where most of the attacks have taken place.
- Are you receiving anything, Lennier? - I'm picking up a distress signal.
Scanners indicate it's a Pak'ma'ra military transport.
Put us on course.
- Do we have visual? - Putting it through.
- Translate.
- Winshakarr to any ships.
Are being attacked.
Please, help! All ships, attack formation! Engines hit.
Life support no longer functioning.
Dark enemy.
This is Delenn of the Minbari.
We are en route.
How many ships are attacking? Too many.
Too many.
It's gone.
Are we close enough to pick up the ships that attacked it? Yes.
On-screen.
Be careful, Delenn.
We don't know the reasons for the attack and we've never seen any ships like those.
I was there at the first contact with Dukhat, Lennier.
I do not make such mistakes twice.
Open a channel.
White Star fleet to attacking ships.
Identify yourselves.
- Can you translate? - No.
I'm sending Interlac alphabet and language codes on a clear channel.
This may take a moment.
- Delenn - In a moment, Forell.
- White Star Minbari.
- Yes.
- Who are you? - Drakh.
Drakh.
Is that your name or the name of your species? Yes.
Delenn, there's a problem.
We are not translating that.
It's coming through in Minbari.
But you sent them our language codes.
No, I sent them Interlac.
It's easier to translate.
They're using our language, but I didn't send it to them.
But how can that be unless Unless they've had some prior contact with our people.
Do not move, Delenn.
- Forell, you would threaten me? - Only as necessary.
Minbari do not kill Minbari.
I do not need to kill you to cause you pain.
Why are you doing this? To prevent you from acting against them till you've heard what we have to say.
- And then what? - That is up to you.
And them.
Tell the other ships to follow us.
Well? I'll give you this much you can be pretty convincing when you want to be.
They still have to check with their own people, but for now you've got their support.
And mine.
Because I think we can trust you, even if you are a liar.
- I don't know what you're talking about.
- Come on, Franklin.
Don't play me for stupid.
I was there.
You didn't know about the bombings until you got here.
ISN isn't airing that information outside Earth.
They don't want to encourage anyone else to do the same.
So if you didn't know about the bombings how could you carry a message from Sheridan about it? Well, I Couldn't.
The captain wouldn't like it any more than you do and since you were having a hard time with the others, I thought You thought you'd give me a little outside support.
Yeah.
So, like I said, you're a liar but you're my kind of liar.
Thanks.
You're welcome.
I was there too, you know.
Didn't thank me.
You were the one that always told me that being a Ranger is a thankless job.
I know, but it wouldn't hurt once in a while, just for the sheer change of pace.
- Ask me, I think she likes you.
- Come on.
No, it's just business, that's all.
I was just helping her out of a difficult situation.
That's all.
Fifty credits says that's not all she wants you to help her out of.
Come on, Marcus, you are such a - Romantic? - Yeah.
We're still in a war here, Stephen.
Only now it's a different kind of war.
Maybe the worst of the two.
It's hard to know who to trust.
A situation like this makes you afraid.
Makes you want to reach out to someone who may just feel the same way as you do about things who might be willing to risk this much to help you when the rest of the world couldn't give a damn.
Oh, Franklin, I almost forgot.
Since it was your hotel that was bombed this morning, you're on your own.
Maybe you'd like to join me for dinner tonight.
I can't promise much, but it'll be the best we can pull together.
Sure.
We're short-handed on guard duty tonight.
If you could help Love to.
- That'll be 50 credits.
- Don't you start with me, Marcus.
Don't.
- Come on, you cheap bastard.
- Marcus, look Sorry.
Gotta go.
Guard duty.
Touch passion when it comes your way, Stephen.
It's rare enough as it is.
Don't walk away when it calls you by name.
- How much further? - This is far enough.
We're here.
These Drakh who are they? - Friends.
Tell them to allow the life-pod on board.
He will not be armed.
You have my word.
Who are you? Are you a Drakh? Emissary.
Speak for Drakh.
I brought you another.
This one is important.
She can be of great help to us.
Her name is Unimportant.
Tell.
What I told you before was true.
The warrior caste has formed a council of its own.
With the Grey Council gone, there's nothing to hold them in check except them.
You cannot use them to attack our own people.
That is not my intent.
Listen to me, please.
My family was at Sikar when the warrior caste decided it no longer wished to share its resources.
They were driven out, their personal fliers destroyed and forced to walk to the next city.
But Sikar is on the edge of the southern polar region.
Most of them died from cold and exposure before reaching Drogani.
My family did not survive.
Minbari do not kill Minbari but when it is the elements, the night, the cold well, is that truly murder? I didn't know, Forell.
- I'm sorry.
- The word is now only spreading but the others don't believe it could happen to us.
But it is just how it happened in the days before Valen.
Because they didn't believe, they will not act.
If we allow the warrior caste to take control of Minbar, it will be too late.
We must have allies.
Even if we do not use them.
That they exist at all will make the warrior caste reconsider.
So you have gone to outsiders.
What other choice is there? You have ships, but you are still outnumbered.
The Drakh can help.
They've offered us protection in exchange for allowing them to move into deserted worlds along our borders.
- What? - We don't give shelter to thieves who prey on innocent ships.
They only use force against military vessels who threaten them first.
Their presence along the border will help keep us safe in case we once again descend into the chaos of civil war.
The Drakh want peaceful relations.
They want only a place to have for their own because Because they have just lost their home.
Yes.
There was an evacuation, some kind of natural disaster, they said.
This homeworld of yours, did it have a name? Yes.
- What was it? - Home.
Home.
I'm sorry if I had to force you to come here but there was no other way.
If the others should hear of this, tell them truthfully that you were forced to come.
I could not have harmed you but it was important that you see them for yourself.
We can be the salvation of our society.
You belong to the Grey Council.
You can take their offer to the religious caste.
They will respect you.
I will consider your offer.
Tell the others that we will meet here again in seven days.
I will give you my answer then.
They know.
Thank you.
You will not regret this, Delenn.
Delenn.
- You didn't say who you were bringing.
- There wasn't time.
Tell the other ships to stand by.
Let me know as soon as the emissary has left.
- Why are you? - Don't you understand? Sheridan and I defeated the Shadows, drove them and their allies from Z'Ha'Dum which was then destroyed.
They worked for the Shadows, Forell.
Now you brought me right into the middle of them.
No.
You must be mistaken.
- It's possible - No.
I felt it as soon as I saw him.
I have been to Z'Ha'Dum.
I saw the evacuation.
We defeated their masters and now they seek to become masters themselves and destroy those who defeated the Shadows.
Now that they know who I am, they will attack as soon as it is safe to do so.
Drakh shuttle is leaving.
Can't we open a jump point, escape before they can attack? No.
They would detect the energy spike and destroy us before we enter hyperspace.
- We can outrun them.
We're faster.
- Once we're moving, yes.
But we have to fight inertia to gain top speed.
That will take several seconds.
That's all they will need to destroy us.
What are they waiting for? We've drifted closer to their mothership.
If they attack, they'll damage it.
Let us use that against them.
Lennier, have you ever seen the warrior caste training flights? - Yes.
- Have you seen them skin dancing? - I have.
- Can you do the same thing? Not without approximately five years of additional training.
That would be no, then.
But I can program the parameters into the ship's artificial intelligence matrix.
And what do you do then? Touch that button and pray very, very fast.
Start working.
Move us away from the other ships slowly.
Let them think we are leaving as planned.
Enemy weapon systems powering up.
- Have they locked on yet? - No.
They won't until they're ready to fire.
Link all the other ships into our control system.
- They're locking on! - Now! - How long until maximum thrust? - Almost there.
Approaching optimum speed.
Activate jump engines.
Break off now! I'm sorry, Delenn.
I did not know.
I thought I was helping our people.
I thought No.
I am sorry, Forell.
I should never have been away this long.
What's our status? Damage is substantial, but auto-repair systems are functional.
Setting a course for Babylon 5.
Who said we were leaving? They destroyed ships from League worlds murdered their crews, destroyed White Star 16.
And now they will pay the price.
The Drakh mothership is heading for the jumpgate.
- How fast? - Fast.
Be faster.
Hold on! End this.
The target is Yes, Lennier, I see.
Delenn, it would seem that we have a problem at home.
I know.
Call the other ships, Lennier.
Take us to Babylon 5.
Curious thing about humans.
Minbari cities remain untouched and unchanged for centuries.
I leave for three days and you redecorate.
Me and my bright ideas.
But once this place is online we'll finally be able to get our story out to the fleet the colonies, even Earth, if we can slip past the jammers.
I heard about what happened to you out there.
While you were gone, we heard about more attacks.
Some of the ships were identical to the ones you ran into.
You still think it came from Z'Ha'Dum? Positive.
There's no way of knowing how many other raiders are out there.
These Drakh worry me the most.
Wild cards.
Just what we need.
It never seems to end, does it? You know, my grandfather once told me: "The duration's going to be a lot longer than the war.
" Never quite understood that until now.
It isn't just the other races.
John, there are problems waiting for me on Minbar.
The caste system is falling apart.
If we don't pull it back together again, there will be civil war.
So I'm going home for a while until this is fixed.
It may take some time but I think in some ways the time apart will be good for us.
Good for you.
How so? Before the war Dukhat wanted to know more about your people so I began studying your history.
I came to the conclusion that of all the races we had encountered humans were the most dangerous.
Because humans form communities.
And from that diversity comes a strength no single race can withstand.
That is your strength.
And it is that which makes you dangerous.
Ever since you came back from Z'Ha'Dum you've been acting as if nothing had changed trying to put it all back the way it was.
I've tried to talk to you about what Lorien said that you have only 20 years left, but you don't want to talk about that.
You've turned your attention back toward Earth distracted yourself with this.
That is why you're so angry with Mr.
Garibaldi.
But as long as he's outside things can never be the way they were.
While you were at Z'Ha'Dum you were touched by destiny.
You cannot just simply walk away from that.
I know.
I know.
It's just that I'm I'm tired, Delenn.
Sometimes I feel as if I've been carrying this station on my back and crawling through broken glass for three years.
We each have our obligations.
Mine, for now, is to return home.
I must rebuild the Grey Council and you must finish the work that is ahead of you.
Fighting a war is easy.
Destroying is easy.
Building a new world out of what's left of the old that is what's hard.
But that is your strength.
So much has fallen apart out there.
You must help to put it back together.
How will your leaving make this any easier for me? You've been holding back.
Trying to protect all of us from the parts of you that changed at Z'Ha'Dum.
You've tried to act as if nothing had changed.
But I know your heart, John.
You can fool the others but you cannot fool me.
What is left requires that you be dangerous and I think you would be more comfortable doing that if I were not here.
Would it make a difference if I asked you not to go? Would you want it to make a difference? No.
I suppose not.
Well, how long before you have to leave? Tomorrow morning.
Dinner? Love to.
Have you heard from Marcus and Stephen? Not since before you left, which is what I figured.
I'm sure Stephen has his hands full.
Oh, Stephen.