Babylon 5 (1994–1998): Season 5, Episode 17 - Movements of Fire and Shadow - full transcript

Personal journal,
Captain Elizabeth Lochley: Addendum.

The Centauri War continues
to spiral out of control.

The threat of retaliation
has already reached Babylon 5.

Over a half dozen Centauri have been
murdered in just the last three days.

Fifty CCs of hydromorphazine.
Medlab 2, let's move. Go. Go.

- Franklin.
- Got another in Red 4.

Yeah, I'm right there.

In an attempt to reduce
the number of casualties...

... I've doubled security on every level.

Excuse me. Pardon me.

It hasn't helped.



All right.

Let's get him to Medlab 2.
Everybody, clear on out.

Move on out of the way.

If this continues, we may have no choice
but to quarantine the Centauri.

We'll have to try and limit them
to parts of the station...

...where they won't run into anyone
they're currently at war with.

Unfortunately, that seems to be just
about everyone right now.

So my options seem to be
somewhat limited.

Yes?

Mr. President.

You're up late.
It's almost 2 in the morning.

Yeah, I know.

I was just on my way
to my quarters.

Figured I'd stop by
and bring you up to speed...



...on the latest from Mr. Garibaldi.

We've had reports,
unconfirmed but reliable...

...that the Centauri have begun targeting
enemy jumpgates.

But...

...that's a violation of every rule
of civilized warfare.

Wars come and go,
but the jumpgates have to go on.

Otherwise the entire hyperspace
beacon system falls apart.

If that happens it'll hurt them
as much as anyone else.

I know, but they're doing it anyway.

They're completely out of control.

Which means they might even
be willing to strike here.

I've considered that possibility.

We're on Level 2 alert.

The defense grid is online
24 hours a day.

And I've stationed half our fighters
outside the station...

...the other half are standing by
in hyperspace.

I don't think we're gonna have
to worry about it for a while, though.

Even the Centauri have to realize that
Babylon 5 is vital to the peace process.

I don't think they'll come after us
until the White Star fleet gets into it.

Exactly.

I gave the formal "go" order
a few hours ago.

The White Stars are authorized to fire
at any Centauri warship...

...engaged in combat
with Alliance vessels.

Any hope of neutrality
Babylon 5 had until now...

...just went up in smoke.

- Lochley to C & C.
- C & C online.

We've got a problem.

And so it begins.

- There's a hole in your mind.
- What do you want?

No one here is exactly what he appears.

Nothing's the same anymore.

Commander Sinclair is being reassigned.

Why don't you eliminate
the entire Narn Homeworld?

I see a great hand reaching out of the stars.

President Clark has signed a decree
declaring martial law.

These orders have forced us
to declare independence.

Unless your people get off their
encounter-suited butts and do something...

- You're The One who was.
- lf you go to Z'Ha'Dum, you will die.

Why are you here?

I think of my beautiful city
in flames.

Giants in the playground.
Get out of our galaxy!

We are here to place President Clark
under arrest.

Something's bothering you.
What is it?

I need to ask you to do something
I don't want to ask you to do.

Well...

...if it's about my wearing
those little...

- No.
- I appreciate the gift.

And I didn't say I wouldn't wear them,
I just said that...

...for me, from a Minbari perspective,
I thought it looked silly.

No.

It doesn't have anything
to do with that.

Business, then.

Since we got into this war...

...l've been going over
the files of our resources: Ships.

We lost a lot of White Star ships
during the Shadow War...

...the battle for Earth,
and we're bound to lose more...

...now that we're in this
with the Centauri.

Sooner or later
we are going to run out.

I know. The problem is we've been using
them against everything...

...from medium-size cruisers
to full-blown destroyers.

So far they've been able to hold their own
against ships five, six times their size...

...and that's commendable,
but we can't keep doing that.

Exactly.

We are going to need more ships, Delenn.
Bigger ships.

That may be a problem.

The Grey Council approved the White Star
fleet for use during the Shadow War.

We were fortunate
to inherit them afterward.

But the resources in going back
and building a whole new class of ship...

Can be spread around a little.

I just had a courier deliver a message
to President Luchenko...

...suggesting a joint Earth/Minbari project.

Now, we'll start with one
or two prototypes.

You'll provide the design specs
and the material...

...for a destroyer-class White Star.

Earth handles the finances
and the construction.

And her government benefits
from the new technologies involved.

Very tidy.
I assume she said yes.

Well, she said she'd say yes...

...if the Minbari said yes first.

She's not gonna stick her neck out
if it's not gonna happen.

So you would like me to contact
the Grey Council and propose this.

Done.

Why were you so reluctant?

I need you to go there
in person, Delenn.

This has to be done in secret...

...until the first prototype
rolls off the assembly line.

But the hyperspace routes from here
to Minbar are not safe...

...we've got Centauri all over the map,
we've got firefights every inch of the way.

- Lf you run into trouble...
- I'll walk out of it.

More dignified that way.

- You don't have to do this.
- I know.

I'll arrange to leave
at the first opportunity.

All right.

But don't take any unnecessary risks.

People always say that.

They want to find lives
in which risk is unnecessary.

There's only one problem
with that:

It's impossible.

- Sheridan, go.
- Mr. President...

... we've got more reports
from the front line coming in.

All right. My office, 20 minutes.

Yes.

- Vir, you wanted to see us.
- Yes, yes, thank you for coming.

Please, sit.

I'm sorry about the accommodations.

The captain had me moved here
because my other quarters weren't safe.

- Too many people knew where they were.
- That's fine, Vir.

So, what's up?

I have a favor to ask both of you.

As you know, our ships have
been in combat with...

...well, just about everyone, really.

Our biggest losses have been
in the Drazi space.

They are real good fighters.

Not terrific conversationalists...

...and their table manners can
make you go blind in one eye...

...but really tough behind
the weapons consoles.

But on the occasion that we've
destroyed one of their ships...

...we have always returned
their bodies to them.

They have not done the same
for us in return.

Well, the exchange of bodies during
hostilities is a key point...

...in the Declaration of Principles.

Now, the Drazi signed on,
same as everyone else.

I know, but they're still not
returning the bodies.

That's unfortunate, Vir,
and I feel for you...

...but what are we supposed
to do about it?

Well, it's the way that they're
refusing to return the bodies...

...that makes me think there's something
else going on behind the scenes.

You, as the chief medical
officer of the Alliance...

...you could put pressure on them
into returning the bodies.

And a telepath, a good one...

...could find out what they're hiding
and where and why.

Vir, this isn't exactly
my area of expertise.

- Now, Mr. Garibaldi...
- Would not know what to look for.

I mean, what if they're not
releasing the bodies...

...because our people
are still alive...

...and they're just torturing them
for information?

I mean, you could find out who died
in space and who died elsewhere.

You know this means going
to the Drazi Homeworld.

Well, I have a Vree transport
standing by.

And since they're declared
neutral in the war...

...they would have no problem
landing on Drazi Homeworld.

You're the only one
who could do this.

Please say yes.

- I'll have to clear it with the president.
- I'll abide by his decision.

- Thank you. Thank you both.
- I haven't said yes, Vir.

- I'm sorry. I assumed that you were...
- Don't.

I'm willing to go along
and help out Stephen.

We've worked well
together in the past.

But considering the risk, I have to ask
for a slightly higher fee than usual.

Well...

- All right, I can...
- 500,000 credits.

That's a lot of money, Lyta.

Depending on how the war goes, that could
be as cheap as one credit per body.

- I could do 4, but...
- It's 5 or I stay home.

This is the uplink address
for the account.

The money goes into a general fund...

...to be used in helping other telepaths
escape the Psi Corps...

...and eventually secure
a Homeworld of our own.

Consider this a charitable donation.

Hell, it might even be deductible.

I'll be in my quarters when you've
made up your mind. Good day.

- Has she changed, or is it me?
- Oh, she's changed.

Have you talked to Londo about this?
Maybe he could pull some strings.

The prime minister is otherwise
engaged just now.

I still think you should leave, Mollari.

No. I said where you go, I go.

It's become a matter of principle.

You picked a terrible moment in your
social evolution to develop principles.

Perhaps you could start
with something simpler.

The moral equivalent
of an opposable thumb, for instance.

- Mollari, your people are at war.
- I know.

And while it pains me to be in here...

...I think that I may do more good
in here than out there.

G'Kar, the regent either ordered
the war directly...

...or allowed others to act on his behalf.
Either way...

...the only way to stop this war
is to go up against the regent himself.

In order to do that without being executed,
I have to have supporters.

Now, when the word gets out...

...that the prime minister is being
held without charge...

...in a cell in the royal palace,
the people will be outraged.

Even the Centaurum
will have to respond.

Demonstrating that the regent
is not acting responsibly...

...is the first step in countermanding
his orders to our ships.

The Centaurum may even issue
a cease-fire over his objections.

I see. And how long do you plan to wait
for this popular uprising to take place?

Just until morning.

That would make three days.
More than enough.

Now, please...

...leave me alone.
I am tired...

...and I need to get some...

Adira.

Who are you?

What do you want with me?

Yes.

He will be sufficient.

You were having a nightmare.

Yes.

Terrible.

- What time is it?
- Morning.

I woke up when I thought I heard
the expected angry mob...

...coming to storm the palace
on your behalf.

But it was just you.

- Did you know that you snore?
- I have to get out of here.

That's what I've been saying
for some time now.

No, I have to get out of here now.

I have this feeling something
is terribly wrong.

You're at war with everyone
in the known universe.

- Perhaps you were thinking of that.
- No, more than that.

I have to get out.

But I have to be sure I save face.

I said I would stay with you
until they released you.

So...

...how can I?
- Leave it to me.

- What are you doing?
- I have to concentrate.

Concentrate on what?

Last night's supper.

No, wait. There has
to be another way. Wait!

Thank you!

Who knew they could make
such a stench as that!

Great Maker,
I don't even want to think about it.

I couldn't stay in there
a moment longer.

And the smell was not
the worst of it.

It was the burning in my eyes!

I think my buttons are melting!

Mr. President. As you requested,
Generals Na'Tok, Daro and Kulomani.

Thank you for coming, gentlemen.
I believe you all know Captain Lochley.

Since time is precious to us all,
I won't keep you.

I just wanted to get a personal report
on the progress of the Centauri conflict.

With the help of the White Star fleet,
we are holding our own, Mr. President.

Several incursions on Brakiri Space
have been beaten back...

...in just the last 24 hours.

The Narn Homeworld and territories
have experienced similar attacks.

With the depletion of our forces
after our last experience with the Centauri...

...we would've suffered
even greater casualties...

...without the assistance
of the White Star fleet.

Am I correct in that each
of your governments...

...is primarily engaged in defending
your own borders?

Yes.

Why haven't you consolidated
your forces?

The Drazi have endured fewer losses
in recent months.

You could send some ships
to the Narn sector of space...

...the Brakiri could...
- Brakiri will not take orders from Drazi.

And the Drazi, I'm sorry to say,
will not take orders from us.

We can win this war on our own.

We do not need their guidance.

We have experience with the Centauri
that might prove useful.

We know all we need to know.

I thought this was supposed
to be an alliance...

...all of you working together
in common cause.

We are, in our own individual
and sovereign ways.

We can settle this later, captain.

At the moment...

...what I am trying to get from all of you
is a sense of their strategy.

We've detected two different parts
of their program.

One part is designed to protect
their bases from attack...

...while the other wing engages primarily
in offensive maneuvers.

Has there been any exchange
between the two?

Little or none. It's like having a defensive
and offensive special team in football.

Is this typical of their strategy,
General Na'Tok?

No.

- Perhaps they have changed.
- Yeah, maybe.

It's strange, though.

Anyway, those are their tactics.
What is the overall strategy?

You can't just fight a war to fight a war
and honk off your neighbors.

There have to be definitive and,
to their minds, achievable goals.

Now, what are they?

What does it look like they might be?
Are they moving toward anything?

Their strategy has not
yet become clear.

And this doesn't seem strange to you?

Lochley, go.

We've got a situation
developing up here, captain.

On my way.

If you'll excuse me.

What does seem strange to me...

...is that we are reacting
and not acting.

We have the resources to be
more aggressive...

...to strike at their holdings
in a more meaningful way.

Why are we not doing so?

Our first goal should be
to draw a line in space...

...contain their forces and then...
- We will win the war more quickly...

...by attacking the Centauri Homeworld,
as they have attacked ours!

No! I won't sanction that.

Military targets are one thing,
but if you hit Centauri Prime...

...you are hitting civilian targets!

They have not hesitated
to kill our civilians!

Now, I know that.

- But you can't...
- Mr. President...

...we must have our revenge.

This isn't about revenge, general.

This is about taking out
their ability to make war.

We strike cleanly, surgically,
and we do not hit civilian targets.

Do I make myself absolutely
crystal clear?

Okay, what do we got?

One of the long-range hyperspace probes
picked this up a few minutes ago.

It's definitely a Centauri cruiser.

- Shall I go to red alert?
- Not yet.

If they have people on this station,
they'll know we've seen them.

- Any sign of support vessels?
- Negative. Just one cruiser.

That doesn't make sense.

A war cruiser that size
would never go out alone.

- Is Alpha squadron still out there?
- Standing by.

Getting some additional readings
from the probe.

- Weapons systems currently not active.
- Well, that's encouraging.

Getting some unusual readings
from the jump engines.

Could be an error in the scanners.

Life signs read...

Captain, life signs read negative.

There's no one aboard that cruiser.
She's on auto-control.

Captain Lochley to Alpha squadron.
Break and attack! I repeat, break and attack!

Roger that.
Alpha squadron heading in.

She's gonna blow the jumpgate.

Jump engines at critical mass.
Approaching overload.

She'll probably open a jump point,
come through and blow it sky-high.

Thirty seconds to jump.

Move the struts as far apart as we can.

- We minimize the damage when it explodes.
- Ten seconds.

Alpha squadron,
I want that ship out of my sky!

Damage report.
How bad was the gate hit?

Most of the energy was deflected forward
by the jump point instead of spreading out.

Minimal damage to jumpgate struts
and control mechanisms.

- Structural integrity?
- It's holding together.

Get a repair crew out there ASAP.
All traffic will stand by during repairs.

That was too damn close.

If it had gotten all the way
into the jumpgate...

- I want those long-range probes extended.
- They're at maximum now.

Use the Starfuries to boost the signal.
I do not want another situation like this.

Very sloppy of them.

It's as I told you, Na'Tok.

The humans do not have
the stomach for this war.

We will end it as it should be ended:

By striking the Centauri Homeworld...

...if you are with us.

The Narn government has no special
love of the Centauri or its citizens.

We are with you.

Is everyone all right?

Inside the station, yes.

Two Starfury pilots who were guarding
the jumpgate were wounded...

... one killed in the explosion.

Lochley's got the place buttoned up tight.
They won't get a second chance.

How badly was the gate damaged?

Well, it'll be out of commission
at least two or three days.

That means the civilian traffic
will be stranded.

Fortunately, the White Stars and other
warships can jump in and out on their own.

It looks like I was worried about you
when I should've been worried about us.

- How long until you get to Minbar?
- 48 hours, your time.

I've already spoken with the Grey Council,
told them I need to talk to them...

...though I haven't said why.
- Good.

And let me know when
they come to a decision.

I could use a little good news
right about now.

Well, I should be getting back
into things, Delenn.

It's frantic around here,
and with you and Stephen gone...

- Stephen is gone? Where?
- I thought you knew.

Stephen and Lyta took off
for the Drazi Homeworld...

...about a day before you left.

Some kind of mission of mercy.

- Lf you turn that the other way, maybe...
- Yeah, you're right.

- Why don't you ask somebody?
- No, I got a map.

- What is this with men?
- Excuse me.

Excuse me.

All right, here we go.

- Are you sure you know where we're going?
- Yeah, it's the same hotel...

...that Michael stayed at.

He said the room service is good
and the food is cheap...

...and the staff is friendly.

Meaning the food stinks,
the rooms are small...

...and the staff will knife you in the back.
- Exactly.

All right, I think it's...

It's that way.
Well, now, don't worry, all right?

We only have a few hours before
our contact. You got that? Let's go.

And there is no one more fond
of the regent than I am.

It was I who recommended him
for the position...

...after the death of Emperor Cartagia.
The Centaurum agreed.

After having endured so much pain
and suffering, he seemed...

...a safe choice.

- Apparently we were wrong.
- I disagree.

You disagree? On what basis?

Minister Cholini,
as head of the defense ministry...

...you know that our ships
have been used to...

Defend the Centauri holdings
from enemy attack, that's all.

That's not true. I have seen our ships
attack members of the Alliance.

I'm not responsible for what you have
and haven't seen.

All I can tell you is that I'm in daily
contact with our fleet commanders...

...and their orders, straight from
the regent, have never altered.

We've been on a strictly
defensive footing from the beginning.

Anything else is propaganda.

Now, if you wish to move
against the regent...

...l'm afraid you must do it without
the backing of the Ministry of Defense.

Good day, Mollari.

What?

- Mr. President...
- Do you have to lean on the doorbell?

I'm sorry.
I ran all the way over here.

You gotta see this.

This is the latest on the disposition
of our forces.

Thirty percent of the Narn
and Drazi fleets have gone missing.

- What?
- They tried to hide it...

...but we got IDs on all the ships
in the fighting area.

They left just enough behind to defend
their assets. The rest took off.

- I think they're headed for Centauri Prime.
- I need proof.

We don't have time.
You are the only one who can stop them.

You gotta get between them
and the target...

...or we'll end up with a quarter million
dead Centauri on our hands.

Damn it!

Get me a White Star, any of them.
I don't care, just so long as it's fast.

- How much head start do they have?
- Unknown.

They could have started
when we were meeting.

If that's true, Michael,
I'll skin them alive. Come on.

- Dr. Franklin?
- Yes.

- Dr. Literana Varda. We spoke.
- Yes, come on in.

I was hoping that was you.

This is my associate.
Lyta Alexander, this is Dr. Varda.

Honored.

I cannot stay.
We're very busy right now.

But I have checked as you asked.

We have no Centauri bodies here.

I see. And do you know
where the bodies are?

Out there.

I surveyed the damaged ships
and the bodies were in such disarray...

...that you could not put them together
and make sense of it.

Just parts floating in space.

Why are you lying to us?

- I'm not. This is an outrage.
- Lyta, down!

Lyta.

Varda!

What are you hiding? What?

What? What is it?

Take me there. Now!

- Any word from Na'Tok?
- Negative.

All right, keep trying.
We're heading out.

I just hope to God
we get there in time.

Here we go again. Hit it.

- Gravimetric engines online.
- Navigational thrusters ahead.

- We're two jumps from home, Delenn.
- Good.

Any further news from Babylon 5?

No, not since the...

- What is it?
- Trouble.

I read four Centauri warships.
Too many to fight.

Evasive maneuvers.

They've seen us.

Jump to normal space.
Notify Babylon 5 before...

Which way?

Which way?

You tell us which way or I'm gonna
give you back to her. You understand?

Left.

Let's go.

Open it.

Open it.

Let's see what the hell was so important
you were willing to kill us for it. Come on.

Holy...

I don't get it. Where are all the bodies?
What is this stuff?

There are no bodies.

The attacking Centauri warships
were empty.

No crew members aboard, no one
to capture, no bodies to return.

There were only these attached
to the system.

I know this.

I know what this is.

Run! They're onto us!

Hello, Mollari.

Regent?

I told you we would speak again
before the end.

I've always try to keep my promises...

...especially to those who have
been kind to me...

...as you have been.

It is no burden.

Regent, I've been trying
to see you for some time.

- Our ships...
- Yes.

I know.

Then you gave the order.

After a fashion.

I have always tried to do
the right thing. You know.

When circumstances allowed.

- Yes, we all do, regent.
- Yes.

And now it is your time.

Mine is almost over.

I have to say...

...l'll be glad of it.

I'm so tired of it all, Londo.

I'm glad...

...I won't live to see what follows.

Why?

What is going to follow?

What do you mean there
were no crew aboard?

Garibaldi said that there were two separate
Centauri fleets engaged in the war:

One defensive, one offensive.

But no one in the Centauri military
knew anything about the attacks...

...only that they were defending themselves
against us. Now we know why.

This isn't making sense.

This is leftover Shadow technology,
Mr. President.

The Vorlons gave me information on them
in case I ever ran across one.

I understand a few years ago
one was found by the Psi Corps.

It's an organic device used to control
a ship from a long distance.

You put two or three of these onboard
a starship and you don't even need a crew.

How the hell did the Centauri
get their hands on them?

Well, that's the real question.

We know that a lot of aliens
who worked for the Shadows...

... got away with their technology.
How much, we don't know.

But it's possible that one of these races
sold the stuff to the Centauri.

With the cooperation of a few others
in charge of the military...

...the regent could run an offensive war
without the military knowing about it.

But there's another possibility.

A third party could use these devices
to set up the Centauri...

...turn everyone against them.

And the Drazi, they wouldn't tell anybody
about these things.

They've always competed
with the Centauri for trade.

A war would be in their best interest.

Besides,
this is pretty advanced technology.

If they told the Alliance, they'd have
to turn over the devices for study.

And meanwhile, the attacks go on.

Of course.

Of course!

That's why we couldn't figure out
a strategy behind the random attacks.

We couldn't see a goal
because there was no goal.

There was no strategy beyond
alienating everyone in the Alliance...

...turn them against the Centauri so that...

So they'd attack!

Listen, all the White Stars
in your area are out.

Can you get out of there
in one piece?

- I think so.
- Good.

Get ahold of Garibaldi if you can.

Tell him he has to keep trying
to reach the Drazi and Narn fleets.

Now, they are jamming us, but he has
to get through to them before it's too late.

Give me everything you've got!

The lives of several million people
are riding on this.

Delenn.

Lennier.

What...?

Delenn...

...we've been hit. Badly.

I managed to get to the consoles
and check on our condition.

How bad is it?

Jump engines are off-line.

Most of the crew are dead.

There are a few survivors
on a lower deck.

They can't get past the debris
between levels.

We have enough power
in our navigational thrusters...

...to keep from going too far off
the beacon.

But once they run out...

...we'll start to drift.

- Distress signal.
- Activated.

But I can't tell if it's working or not.

And my leg...

...appears to be broken
in two places.

This is bad, then.

Very bad, Delenn.

It's going to be a pretty night.

The last one I will ever see.

You shouldn't talk that way, regent.

You still have many years ahead of you.

That's why it's important
to recall the ships.

- We can still make peace.
- Oh, there will be peace...

...for a while.

It never lasts, really.

They said so.

They said both things, actually.

That there will be peace
and that it won't last.

They also said I would be dead
by morning.

And that tomorrow...

...you will be emperor.

They said many, many things.

Things I didn't want to hear.

Things I didn't understand.

And things I didn't want to understand.

"They"? Who are "they," regent?

Oh, you will find out for yourself
soon enough, Londo.

You shouldn't rush your last free hours.

And there was something else
they told me...

...to do.

And I did it just a few moments
before I came to see you.

The last thing I will ever have
to do for them.

And in a way...

...l'm glad it's over.

What did they ask you to do?

To send away all the ships...

...guarding Centauri Prime...

...on a false emergency...

...and turn off
the planetary defense network.

No.

I think I'll stay...

...and watch from here.

The sky should be lighting up
anytime now.

I imagine...

...it will be...

...quite beautiful.

No!

No.

[ENGLISH]