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  Transcript by Matthew Murray (mmurray@wsu.edu)     Note: Due to the unusual format of this episode, a transcript is being   used instead of a typical synopsis. The idea of a transcript has JMS'   blessing.      _Bold_ text appeared as subtitles onscreen. _Emphasized_ text   indicates a description of something. (If your browser doesn't show   one or both of those styles, don't worry; it's usually obvious from   the context.)      Horizontal lines separate major scenes; small shifts in location that   might still be considered the same scene are noted by three asterisks   (* * *).      (Brief technical note) The inline images use HTML 3.0 alignment   attributes; their placement may look a little odd on HTML 2.0   browsers, but not obnoxiously so.        _________________________________________________________________                                                                      ISN Network                                 "36 Hours"                             September 16, 2259                                           _________________________________________________________________                                         Announcer          We interrupt your evening schedule to bring you the following          special program. September 16, 2259. The Interstellar Network          News presents "36 Hours on Babylon 5" with your host, Cynthia          Torqueman, reporting live from the ISN News Center, in Geneva.             Torqueman (at anchor desk)          [INLINE] Good evening, I'm Cynthia Torqueman. In the hundred or          so years since humanity went to the stars, we've established          outposts and colonies on over two dozen worlds in fourteen          solar systems. Out of all those far-flung outposts, only the          Mars Colony, plagued by scattered groups of separatists, who          have used acts of terror to intimidate the Earth-loyal          majority, has proven more controversial than the Earth Alliance          station, Babylon 5. Located in a sector of space near Epsilon          Iridani, designated neutral territory, Babylon 5 has defied the          odds and continued to operate as a free port, a center for          diplomacy, and a showpiece for the Earth Alliance Resources and          Technologies division. From its highly publicized debut three          years ago, recent polls indicate a growing dissatisfaction with          the time, money, and effort consumed by this space-borne          community. So, tonight, we take you to the center of the          controversy. An ISN crew and I recently spent 36 hours aboard          Babylon 5, asking hard questions and, on occasion, get in a          little over our heads. In the process of putting this report          together, it didn't take us long to learn the most important          rule of survival aboard Babylon 5: expect the unexpected.             _Video Footage_          _(The bridge of a ship. Babylon 5 is visible outside, with two          much smaller ships in front of it)_                  Torqueman (voiceover)                This footage was shot from our position on the bridge of                the Earth transport Heyerdahl, on the final approach to                Babylon 5. The voices you are hearing are those of the                ship's captain and B5 Command and Control.                        Ivanova                Confirmed Heyerdahl. We...Narn transport N'ton, return to                your holding position at once. I repeat, return to                your...                        [INLINE] Narn ship                Shadraka.                        Ivanova                Centauri vessel Malios, break off.                        Narn                N'tok! N'tok!                          _(The Narn ship fires on the Centauri ship several times,          destroying it.)_             Torqueman (at anchor desk)          A terrible explosion, conspiracy involving several of these          individuals _[pictures of Sheridan, Londo, and G'kar appear          over her shoulder],_ lies, deception, and the deaths of          hundreds of people. All this and more on "36 Hours Aboard          Babylon 5," here on the Interstellar Network News. We'll be          back with our story right after this break.             Announcer          "36 hours...," sponsored by Interplanetary Expeditions.          Exploring the past to create a better future.               _________________________________________________________________                                         _Commercial break_     _________________________________________________________________                                         Torqueman (from a chaotic docking bay)          Thirty minutes ago, a Narn vessel opened fire on a Centauri          transport without warning or explanation. The bodies of the          dead and wounded are being brought to this central docking area          for transfer to various MedLab facilities on Babylon 5, which          are already working beyond maximum capacity. Behind me is Dr.          Stephen Franklin, Chief of Staff. Doctor? Doctor Franklin?             Franklin (to medical assistants)          ...for immediate surgery and full CAT scan. I need more regent          packs over here, people.             Torqueman          Dr. Franklin, Cynthia Torqueman, ISN news. What happened here?             Franklin          I don't know. Somebody said something about an ambush. (to          assistants) All right, keep his head elevated thirty degrees          minimum or he'll choke on his own blood.             Torqueman          Can you say what the reason was...             Franklin          I'm sorry...             Torqueman          Captain Sheridan! Cynthia Torqueman, ISN news. Do you have any          comment on what just happened here?             Sheridan          No, no comment at this time. (to Franklin) Doctor...             Torqueman          What about the Narn vessel that attacked the transport.             Sheridan          We dispatched a fighter wing to apprehend them. We won't know          anything more until they're in protective custody. If you will          excuse me please.                   __________________________________________________________                                            _Ambassador Londo Mollari, Centauri Republic_          This is exactly the kind of behavior that endangers the very          purpose of Babylon 5. This place is dedicated to finding          peaceful solutions to our problems. For the Narn to carry their          vendetta against our people into neutral territory like this is          reckless and irresponsible. And though we mourn our own losses,          we have felt strongly about our friends from Earth, ever since          we first encountered your world a hundred years ago. To          endanger your people for no reason...             Torqueman          Then the attack on your transport was completely unprovoked?             Ambassador Mollari          Of course.             * * *             _Ambassador G'kar, Narn Regime_          He's lying.             Torqueman          Then can you tell us why your ship opened fire on the Centauri          transport?             G'kar          I'll issue a statement after I have consulted with my          government.             Torqueman          Are you saying your government sanctioned this attack?             G'kar          No.             Torqueman          Do you think attacks of this nature put everybody aboard          Babylon 5 in unnecessary jeopardy?             G'kar          We are already in far greater jeopardy than you can possibly          imagine.                   __________________________________________________________                                            Torqueman          For all the apparent danger in this part of space, it seems to          have had little effect on travel. Nearly a quarter of a million          humans and aliens are here at any given moment. While most are          in transit to distant worlds, many others actually live and          work here. What does it take to call a place like this home?             * * *             _Eduardo Delvientos. Dock Supervisor. Guild dockworkers on B5: 1500._          Well, it's a...it's a job. I've been in a lot worse places, let          me tell you. It gets crazy around here sometimes, you got          fifty, sixty ships a day coming through here, loading and          unloading, and every last one of them is a priority job, at          least that's what they tell us. (to a worker) Hey, watch those          crates over there. Get 'em over to the side. No, no, the other          side. (to Torqueman) We had a couple of problems here last          year, try to hit us with some budget cuts. You know, same old          song. But that's the past. You gotta go along to get along, you          know what I mean?                   __________________________________________________________                                            _Second Lieutenant David Corwin. Earthforce personnel on B5: 6500._          Overall, I've found this to be a good working environment, and          a valuable experience. I've learned a lot while I've been here.             Torqueman          And you've never felt that your safety has been compromised?             Corwin          No ma'am.             Torqueman          So this has been a positive experience for you?             (Corwin smiles and nods)             Torqueman          [INLINE] You enjoy working with everyone?             Corwin          (Glancing at Ivanova over left shoulder) Yes. It's a calm,          pleasant environment. I don't think I've ever seen anyone get          upset here.                   __________________________________________________________                                            _Captain John J. Sheridan. Recipient, Earthforce Silver Star for Valor          in Minbari War._          I guess it's the old joke, "You don't have to be crazy to work          here, but it helps." I suppose there is a...certain attraction          to being out here on the edge like this. A new frontier...             Torqueman          New frontier is right. When Babylon 5 went online in 2257,          oddsmakers from New Vegas to Lloyds of London were predicting          it wouldn't last six months.             Sheridan          Hmm. Well, I've never been very much on gambling. Never quite          found the time for it.             Torqueman          You were originally a starship captain, correct?             Sheridan          Yeah. The Agamemnon. She was a real beauty. One of the first          Omega class destroyers to come off the assembly line after the          war. Our job was part military patrol, part diplomatic mission.          We went around to most of the Non- Aligned Worlds, put in an          appearance, kept the peace, that sort of thing.             Torqueman          Babylon 5 has been through some dramatic changes in          administration since it became operational. Would you attribute          these changes to...bad management, or, to quote former Senator          Hidoshi, "Is this horse just to big for anybody to ride?"             Sheridan          Changes are part of the military life. Everybody goes into this          knowing that tomorrow you could be someplace you hadn't even          heard of 24 hours ago. I've been stationed so many places over          the years I can't even remember most of them. But you're right.          Some days this is one hell of a big horse.                   __________________________________________________________                                            _Dr. Stephen Franklin. Chief of Staff. Medlab facility. Speciality:          Xenobiology_          [INLINE] You know what the folks back home don't understand,          the ones who've never left Earth, is just how dangerous space          can be. Aside from incidents like this, just the everyday          reality of living your days and nights in a big tin can          surrounded by a vacuum. I remember my first time on a          transport, on the Moon-Mars run. I was just a kid, maybe          seventeen. A buddy of mine was messing around, and zipping          through the halls, and he hid in one of the airlocks. I don't          know, I guess he was gonna try to scare us or something, I          don't know...But just as I got close, he must have hit the          wrong button because the air doors slammed shut, the space          doors opened, and he just flew out into space. You know, the          one thing they never tell you is that you don't die instantly          in vacuum. Just hung there, against the black, like a puppet          with his strings all tangled up. Or one of those old cartoons          where you run off the edge of a cliff and your legs keep going.          You could see that he was trying to breathe, but there was          nothing. The one thing I remember, when they pulled in his          body, his eyes were frozen. A lot of people make jokes about          spacing somebody, about shoving somebody out an airlock. I          don't think it's funny. Never will.                   __________________________________________________________                                            Torqueman          Although the airlocks on Babylon 5 are considerably safer, the          last three years have shown that the station itself is anything          but secure. In its first year of operation, there were half a          dozen murders, three acts of sabotage including a bomb that          blew out two levels, and a barely averted attack by the Vorlon          Empire. Since then, there have been fifty deaths by violence.          So the question remains, given its cost in lives and money, is          Babylon 5 serving any useful purpose, or, as we're about to          see, is the whole thing falling apart at the seams?                   __________________________________________________________                                            G'kar          I've just been briefed by my government, and I'm prepared to          issue the following statement. The Centauri ship that was          attacked by one of our vessels was not simply a commercial          transport. It was secretly transferring weapons of mass          destruction to ships bound for the front lines where they were          to be used in the war against our people. They have turned          Babylon 5 into a weapons supply post, and we cannot allow this          to continue, even if it means shutting down Babylon 5          completely.               _________________________________________________________________                                         _commercial break_     _________________________________________________________________                                         Announcer          "36 Hours on Babylon 5" continues with Cynthia Torqueman.             Torqueman (at anchor desk)          According to figures released by the newly-formed office of          public morale, President William Clark has risen to dramatic          new levels of popularity, because of his administration's          emphasis on addressing the needs of Earth. As a result, recent          hearings in Earthdome have openly questioned how much time and          money should be invested in a project that seems perpetually          bogged down in non-human conflict. So, we took that question to          Senator Ronald Quantrell.             * * *             _Senator Ronald Quantrell. Chairman: Babylon 5 Senate Oversight          Committee._ (in his office)          Well, obviously, Babylon 5 is something President Santiago          believed in very strongly and I think we owe it to his memory          to try to make it work.             Torqueman          That doesn't exactly sound like a ringing endorsement.             [INLINE] Quantrell          Well, clearly we've taken a lot of heat, and the cost overruns          have been appropriately astronomical. But let's remember that          the Babylon Project was conceived right after the Earth-Minbari          war. At that time, the idea of a diplomatic station designed to          keep anything like that from happening again was very          appealing.             Torqueman          And now?             Quantrell          Now? Well...still too early to tell. Certainly we've rebuilt          our military forces to a point far in advance of where they          were fourteen years ago. If the Earth-Minbari war started          today, I think things might have gone a little differently. So,          while I'm not sure how much...concrete benefit we really derive          from Babylon 5 any longer, I suppose it still does keep us in a          highly visible position with other races, and of course it's          very important to interstellar commerce and trade.             * * *             Sheridan          Well, with all due respect to Senator Quantrell, speaking as          someone who did his part in the front lines, I'd have to say we          still haven't fully recovered from the Minbari war. And we          haven't anywhere near the level of technology we would need in          the event of another major conflict. And anybody who thinks          that we could hold our own with the Minbari, the Centauri, and,          God forbid, the Vorlons, is just plain kidding himself.             Torqueman          You sound angry about it.             Sheridan          No, I'm not. It just...it just sounds to me like...like          jingoism and self-deception and armchair quarterbacking. Any          time you lose a war, you just...you just wait a few years, and          you'll hear from everyone who thought that we could have won if          they'd have done the fighting.             Torqueman          Except, of course, Captain, we didn't lose the war. The Minbari          did surrender.             Sheridan          (Pause, then smile) Of course.                   __________________________________________________________                                            Torqueman          Who are the people who run Babylon 5, and what do they do here?          What are their hopes and dreams? I'm standing in what's called          the Observation Dome, or C&C, short for Command and Control.          When the Captain is otherwise engaged with diplomatic or          business affairs, this place is under the watchful eye of its          perky and energetic commander, Susan Ivanova.             Commander Susan Ivanova (to a ship)          All right, make one more sweep pulling in whatever you got,          then head for the barn.             Torqueman          Commander Ivanova, would you mind telling us what it is you're          doing here?             Ivanova (showing her a control panel displaying the HAZMAT team)          We're investigating Ambassador G'kar's allegations that the          Centauri transport was carrying weapons, justifying his          government's attack. The HAZMAT team outside is checking the          debris for any unusual levels of radiation or trace elements          that could indicate the presence of unauthorized weapons.             Torqueman          While we wait for the analysis, would you mind telling us a          little about yourself, how you got here?             Ivanova          Well, there's really not much to tell. I was born in the          Russian Consortium, but spent most of my life at school abroad.          Graduated from OTC ten years ago.             Torqueman          How did you come to join Earthforce?             Ivanova          After my brother Ganya was killed in the war, I felt that I had          to try and finish what he started. Of course, as my luck runs,          the war was over before I saw any action.             Torqueman          Now, Commander, I'm sure there's more to your story than that.             Ivanova          Yes.                   __________________________________________________________                                            _Security Chief Michael Garibaldi_          What do I hope for? I hope to get through this interview          without getting myself fired. How's that for a start? Hmm. I          don't know, it's one of those questions I don't think about in          words. Maybe because so many times it seems like, if I say what          I want, it never comes.             Torqueman          There must be something.             Garibaldi          Yeah. There are...little hopes I guess. Every day I get up and          I hope nothing will happen. I'd love to be just bored out of my          skull for twenty-four hours. And, uh, I guess I keep hoping          that someday, somewhere I'll make a difference. That at the end          of the day, everything we've gone through for the past few          years will, uh, mean something.             Ivanova (over communicator)          Garibaldi, we just got back the HASMAT report. We've got a          problem.             Garibaldi (getting up)          See what I mean? Always something.                   __________________________________________________________                                            Torqueman          So far, we've spent most of our time here talking to the          humans, but aliens make up nearly forty-two percent of Babylon          5's population. Many of them live here in the so-called "Alien          Sector," which provides alternate atmospheres for fourteen          different species. Ironically, the "Alien Sector" is how the          aliens here refer to the human part of the station proving once          again that beauty... and the beast...are in the eye of the          beholder. Probably the most elusive of all the aliens is          Ambassador Kosh Naranek, a representative of the Vorlon Empire,          sent here roughly two years ago. Nothing is known of the          Vorlons, in fact three expeditions sent into Vorlon space over          the years have never returned. The Vorlon government said they          had met with accidents...and suggested no further expeditions.          Even their appearance is a mystery, compounded by the fact that          Ambassador Kosh can only leave his quarters in an encounter          suit, which contains his atmosphere and other life support          equipment. A few moments ago, while we were setting up this          shot, we got our first glimpse of the Vorlon as he was leaving          his quarters just behind me. This is an ISN exclusive,          presented here for the first time.             _Video Footage_          _(Cynthia Torqueman, wearing an oxygen mask, is speaking with          someone else also wearing a mask.)_                  Man's Voice                It's Ambassador Kosh, over here!                        Torqueman                Maxie, quick, the camera!                        _(The camera pans to reveal Ambassador Kosh.)_                        Torqueman                Ambassador Kosh! Ambassador! Cynthia Torqueman, ISN news.                Can we ask you a few questions?                        _(The doors in front of Kosh close.)_                        Torqueman                Ambassador Kosh! (to camera) Did we get that? Tell me we                got that. Did we get it?                   * * *             Torqueman          Second in elusiveness to the Vorlon is Ambassador Delenn of the          Minbari Federation. After initially refusing several requests          for an interview, she finally agreed to talk to us.                   __________________________________________________________                                            Torqueman          Since very few humans have ever been allowed on Minbar, perhaps          you could start by telling us a little about your world.             _Ambassador Delenn. Minbari Federation._          We are the seventh planet from our sun _[a graphic of Minbar          appears over her shoulder]._ Almost one quarter of Minbar is          covered by our north polar icecap. Because our world is rich          with crystalline deposits, many of our cities are cut directly          out of crystal formations. During the spring, the patterns of          color caused by the light are breathtaking. Let's see, what          else? We have three basic languages, Len'au, Feek, and          Audronado, which is the language of the Religious Caste.             Torqueman          Can you give us an example of Audronado?             Delenn          Neech sach schnek, slem-ba. I am your friend, in peace.             Torqueman          Your appearance, though, isn't typical of your people, is it?             Delenn          No.             Torqueman          According to station records, you looked quite different a year          ago. _[An image of Delenn's old appearance appears over          Delenn's shoulder.]_             Delenn          I volunteered for this change, in the hope that it would lead          to a better understanding between our peoples.             Torqueman          Over a quarter million humans were killed in the war with your          people. How do you think the families of those victims will          feel about your...change?             Delenn          I, uh...I don't know. I uh...I would hope...             Torqueman          I think they would feel hurt, betrayed. That by assuming a          human face, you're taking a part of us you're not entitled to.          What would you say to them? To all the husbands and wives and          children and brothers and sisters of the people who were killed          in the war with your people, and now see a Minbari...with a          human face?             [INLINE] Delenn          I'm uh...I'm sorry, I can't...can we...can we stop this?          Please?             Ivanova (over communicator)          Ambassador Delenn, you're needed in the council chambers.          Ambassador? Ambassador Delenn?                   __________________________________________________________                                            Torqueman          We've just been informed that there's been a new development in          the Narn attack. The Babylon 5 Advisory Council and the League          of Non-Aligned Worlds have been convened to hear this update.          We've been given permission to record these proceedings in the          council chambers.             G'kar          And now, thanks to Commander Ivanova's investigation, we have          proof of what we've been saying all along. An inspection of the          destroyed Centauri has found conclusive proof that she was          carrying fusion bombs and support equipment for ion cannons,          mass drivers, and heavy-energy weapons!             Sheridan (banging gavel)          Now we have already filed a complaint with the Centauri          government on the grounds that Babylon 5 is neutral territory,          and is not to be used as a staging ground or a munitions depot.             Londo          If I may make an observation...             Sheridan          It is this kind of irresponsible activity, Ambassador, that          endangers this station and everyone here. It will not be          tolerated!             Londo          Classified shipments and weapons are transferred outside the          station, from ship to ship. The risk to Babylon 5 is minimal.             Sheridan          Oh, we've already seen your minimal risk, Ambassador.             Londo          Caused by their attack on one of our vessels! Our ships have          the right to carry any cargo they choose. We will not surrender          our sovereign rights.             Delenn          The sovereign rights of any race end with the threat of          innocents.             G'kar          Enough! They're doing what they always do--using details to          distract us from doing what must be done! There are seven more          Centauri vessels berthed outside, and I have reason to believe          that they also carry weapons of mass destruction to be used          against our people. My government demands that these ships be          impounded and their weapons seized!             Londo          No, no, no! We will not allow this!             Sheridan (banging gavel)          This is Babylon 5's space. And here, we have sovereign rights.             Londo          Our ships will defend themselves against any who try to seize          them.             Delenn          Perhaps, if the transports return to Centauri space...             G'kar          We cannot allow those ships to leave here with their weapons.          They'll just turn right around and use them against us.             Sheridan          Then how do you intend to...[there is a loud sound, and the          lights in the room dim suddenly] What the hell?             Ivanova (over monitor)          Captain, we need you in C&C. We've got a shooting war going on          out here.             _Video Footage_          _(Securecam 15 shows several shots being exchanged before one          ship is destroyed. The blast causes debris from the ship to          strike the camera, and the image fades to static.)_               _________________________________________________________________                                         _commercial break_     _________________________________________________________________                                         Torqueman          The sounds you hear are heavy weapons on the Narn and Centauri          vessels doing battle just outside Babylon 5. The station is on          a priority one alert, and people are being evacuated to          shelters. We're en route to C&C to try and cover the battle. As          we speak, our vidsystems are being plugged into the station's          external cameras and communications systems, and we should be          seeing...             _Video Footage_          _(Securecam 02 shows an image of several ships firing at each          other.) _                  Voice of starfury pilot                Coming in. Reading five, repeat five incoming hostiles.                No reply. Got the beacon targeting systems online.                        [INLINE] _(The image shifts to a camera inside a starfury                cockpit.)_                        Voice of pilot                Delta leader to hostile vessels. You are ordered to cease                fire at once. Do you copy? You are ordered to surrender                or we will open fire.                        _(Securecam 08 shows a Centauri vessel destroyed by a Narn ship.                The image shifts to Securecam 23, which captures more                shooting before it is disabled by fire from a Narn ship.)_                         __________________________________________________________                                            Sheridan (in C&C)          Damage report?             Ivanova          Levels brown ninety through ninety-two report damage. Hull          breach in blue seventy. Dropping pressure doors.             Sheridan          Get a repair crew down there, stat.             An Officer          Aye, sir.             Sheridan          Any reply yet?             Ivanova          Negative. Hostile forces continue to fire at each other.          They've started targeting our ships.             An Officer          Delta squadron requesting permission to fire.             Ivanova          Ambassadors Londo and G'kar on the link. They're saying that if          we open fire on their vessels, they'll consider it an act of          war.             Sheridan          Screw 'em. We have a quarter million people here to defend. If          they won't stop this, we will. (to ships) All fighters, open          fire. Fire at will.             Video Footage          _(In the cockpit of the delta leader.)_                  Pilot                Roger, Babylon Control. Delta squad, open fire. Target                engines and navigation if possible, but if you have to                take them out, do it. (to himself) Come on. Come on.                Heaters lit. Come to papa. Got it. Bombs away.                        [INLINE] _(He fires on a small Narn ship as he passes by the                observation dome.)_                        Pilot                This is seven. Target splashed.                   Ivanova          Two Narn vessels destroyed, two damaged and out of the fight.          Remaining Centauri vessels are offering to surrender.             Sheridan          All right. Pick 'em up, bring 'em in, and throw them in the          brig. And I want every one of those ships scanned for weapons.          And tell Ambassadors G'kar and Londo that I want to see them in          chambers now.             Ivanova          And what if they refuse?             Sheridan          Then you can throw them in the...             Ivanova (motioning toward camera)          Ahem.             Sheridan          Then invite them again, as firmly and politely as you can. This          nonsense has gone far enough.                   __________________________________________________________                                            Torqueman          The "nonsense" Captain Sheridan referred to is the          Narn-Centauri war, which, over the past several months, has          grown into a conflict which threatens to spill into other          systems and lead to an escalation of hostilities. Prior to the          battle we just witnessed, ISN spoke with representatives from          both sides, in order to better understand the history of this          conflict.                   __________________________________________________________                                            G'kar          Roughly one hundred and fifty of your years ago, the Centauri          came to our world. Narn was a green and fertile place then. We          greeted them in peace, and spent the next hundred years in          chains. But we never gave up hope. We formed a resistance,          learned their secrets, turned their own machines against them,          and finally drove them from our world.             Torqueman          How did you become involved with the resistance?             G'kar          My family lived in G'kamizad, one of the larger cities on Narn.          My father... served in a Centauri household during the last          years of the rebellion. I was barely a pouchling at the time.          My mother was ill, unable to escape through the underground, so          we all stayed. It was a difficult time--we were striking deep          into Centauri resources. Things were tense. One day, my father          spilled a cup of hot jala on the mistress of the house,          and...and she had him killed. They took him out, tied his hands          together, and hung him from a Jalwa tree for three days. I came          to him the last night against my mother's orders, and he looked          down at me. He said he was proud and to go and fight and...be          all the things he never was. Then he died. The next morning I          ran away and killed my first Centauri.             Torqueman          Why do you think they invaded back then?             G'kar          Why does any advanced civilization seek to destroy a          less-advanced one? Because the land is strategically valuable,          because there are resources that can be cultivated and          exploited, but most of all, simply because they can. You have          experienced much the same on your own world. There are humans          for whom the words "never again" carry special meaning, as they          do for us.             Torqueman          How do you respond to reports that your military has lost six          out of the last seven engagements with the Centauri forces, and          now the war consists mainly of holding actions and forced          retreats?             G'kar          Centauri propaganda. We will never fall back. We will never          surrender.             * * *             Londo          When we first met the Narn they were, what, a primitive people.          We gave them technology centuries ahead of their own, took them          with us to the stars, taught them laws, civilized them. They          repaid us with terror and death.             Torqueman          So you're saying that the Centauri originally came to help the          Narns?             Londo          Of course. And at considerable expense, I might add. Which is          why we finally left. We wished them well, but the cost, you've          seen.             Torqueman          Then you weren't driven off the Narn homeworld?             Londo          Please. The Narn have rewritten history enough, don't you          think? If they wanted us gone, we were hardly going to force          the issue. But ever since, they have grown more and more          irrational, have gone out of their way to harm us, to seize          Centauri territory. Finally, we had to take a stand. They were          the ones who declared war. Not us. We want only peace.                   __________________________________________________________                                            Torqueman          "We want only peace." Both sides say the same thing. But as          we've just seen, the reality is anything but peaceful. With the          skirmish outside concluded, and the captured Centauri vessels          about to undergo a complete search, things seem to have calmed          down a bit.             Ivanova          What is it?             Officer          Jump point forming in sector seven.             Ivanova          Are they crazy? That's practically on top of us.             Officer          Reading one Centauri battle cruiser.             Torqueman          Maxie, do we still have a feed from the external monitors? Are          they on-li...             _Video Footage_          _(Securecam 27 shows an enormous Centauri cruiser appear          through a jump point.)_             Officer          We've got Ambassador Mollari on the link.             Ivanova          Put him through. Ambassador Mollari, what the hell is going on          here?             Londo          I'm sorry this has come as such of a surprise, Commander, but I          warned you not to interfere. You have no right to search or          detain our ships. If we don't act in our own defense, we invite          the same from others.             Officer          Centauri cruiser is arming weapons, opening her gun ports.             [INLINE] Londo          The cruiser will blockade Babylon 5 until our ships are          returned to Centauri custody intact and unopened. Any ship          attempting to enter or leave Babylon 5 will be fired upon,          boarded, and sent back. We will use the minimum possible level          of force, but if provoked, we are prepared to use deadly force.          Even against Babylon 5 itself.                   __________________________________________________________                                            Announcer          ISN. The galaxy's most important network.                   __________________________________________________________                                            _Commercial_                  _(A young boy sits alone in a living room, dejected. His mother                comes in.) _                        Mother                John, why aren't you outside playing with the other kids?                        John                They hate me.                        Mother                Now, John...                        John                It's true. I'm just...I'm different, Mom. I can feel what                they think about me, and they know I can. I called one of                them a liar because I knew he wasn't telling the truth                somehow. And he just kept hitting me until I said I was                the liar. I just don't know what to do anymore.                        _(A Psi Cop appears in the far corner of the room.)_                        Psi Cop                Don't worry, Johnny. We'll take care of it from here.                        John                Mom! Look! A Psi Cop!                        [INLINE] Psi Cop                That's right, Johnny. You know, there a lot of other kids                who feel just the same way you do. They're confused and                afraid, but they don't have to be. The problem isn't that                other kids don't like you, it's that they don't                understand you. But we do. You're special. You're a                latent telepath about to come into full bloom.                        Mother                My Johnny? A telepath?                        Psi Cop                Probably. But to be sure, take him down to the Psi Corps                Testing Center first thing tomorrow.                        Mother                How do I find one?                        Psi Cop                We're everywhere...for your convenience. We have offices                in schools and children's hospitals. We even have mobile                testing centers that travel the country. And if he                qualifies, we'll give him an education, a job, a purpose.                And, we'll pay all his bills for life.                        [INLINE] Mother                Oh my!                        _(A large Psi Corps symbol appears on the screen, with the words                TWO WEEKS LATER below it.)_                        Mother                Oh, John. I can't believe it. You've come so far. Just                look at you. We're all so proud.                        John                [INLINE] And I'm proud to be part of the Psi Corps.                        Psi Cop (to camera)                So remember. If you know someone who might be a telepath,                or think you might be one yourself, help them get the                help they need. Call the Corps!                        [INLINE] Announcer                Call government information for more on a Psi Corps                center near you. This message has been brought to you by                the Ministry for Public Information and your local Psi                Corps recruitment office.                        _(While the announcer is speaking, the words "THE PSI CORPS IS                YOUR FRIEND. TRUST THE CORPS." flash across the screen                for an instant.)_                     _________________________________________________________________                                         _Other commercials_     _________________________________________________________________                                         Torqueman          As we enter our thirtieth hour aboard Babylon 5, the          Centauri-Narn crisis has not diminished. The various parties to          the dispute have gathered in council chambers behind me, in          closed session, to discuss the crisis. Meanwhile, all traffic,          in or out of Babylon 5 has come to a halt, due to the Centauri          blockade. _[Sheridan appears from the council chambers.]_          Captain, any progress in the negotiations?             Sheridan          All sides are still talking. That's all I can say for now.             Torqueman          Well, is it true that some of the senate have suggested that          you accomodate the Centauri by releasing their vessels without          further searches?             Sheridan          As the commander of record on Babylon 5, I doubt that the          senate would attempt to undermine my position in these          negotiations by armchair quarterbacking. _[He enters an          elevator, and G'kar appears from the council chambers.]_             Torqueman          Ambassador G'kar, do you have anything to say?             G'kar          Only that this should prove once and for all that the Centauri          are a menace to more than just our world. This kind of thing          cannot be allowed, and we will take whatever steps are          necessary to make that perfectly clear to them.             Torqueman          Well, what does that mean? Ambassador G'kar!                   __________________________________________________________                                            Senator Quantrell (in his office)          Certainly the events on Babylon 5 which took place during your          recent visit are emblematic of what many of us at Earthdome          have been worried about for some time. By placing an Earth          installation between warring factions, we risk being drawn into          a conflict which has nothing to do with us, or Earth interests.          If we had not been in that place at that time, the terrible          loss of life might have been avoided.             Torqueman          On the other hand, senator, they are at war with one another.          People die in war.             Quantrell          Yes, but it wouldn't have happened in our backyard. What          happened next came with the reluctant support of Earthdome, but          hundreds of deaths...I don't see how we can support that sort          of thing. I'm only glad you made it out alive, Cynthia. We need          all the good reporters we can get.                   __________________________________________________________                                            Torqueman          Ten minutes ago, Captain Sheridan received a coded transmission          from Earthdome on the current crisis. After considerable          negotiations, we've been allowed back into C&C...             Sheridan          Captain John Sheridan, Babylon 5, to Centauri cruiser. My          government has rejected your demand that we release your ships.          We will not consider any demand made under terrorist threat. We          have activated our defense grid, and are prepared to defend all          ships coming through here. Any hostile action taken by you          against ships entering or leaving this station will be          considered an attack on Babylon 5 itself, and we will respond          accordingly. If they send back a reply, don't acknowledge it.             An Officer          Aye, captain.             Sheridan          We'll let 'em sweat for a while.             Ivanova          I hope this works. I know that our defense grid can probably          hold them off, but the repurcussions...             Sheridan          Oh, they're bluffing. I can't believe they'd take on the whole          station. That'd bring Earth in on the side of the Narns, and          the last thing the Centauri want is a war on two fronts.             An Officer          Docking bay nine just linked in. The transport's ready to go.             Sheridan          Bring her up. Activate autopilot. We'll run the transport from          here, make sure no one gets hurt. Just in case they're not          bluffing.             Ivanova          Bring the maintenance bots around for a closer look.             _Video Footage_          _(Securecam 23 shows the transport leaving Babylon 5.) _                  Voice                Move Securecam 23 to high overhead and Maintbot 9 through                14 at twelve-click intervals...                   Ivanova          You realize that if they do attack the transport, they'll turn          right around and fire on us next, figuring we'll have to          retaliate.             Sheridan          I know.             _Video Footage_          _(Maintbot 12 shows the transport making its way toward the          Centauri cruiser.)_             Sheridan          All tracking stations. If you see their weapons targeting us,          open fire.             _Video Footage_          _(Maintbot 17 shows the transport nearing the Centauri          cruiser.)_             Sheridan          Any reply from the cruiser?             An Officer          Negative, sir. No response.             Ivanova          Their weapon system is still armed. I don't like this.             _Video Footage_          _(Maintbot 9 shows the transport begin to pass under the          cruiser. The image shifts to inside the transport, where it          continues under the cruiser with no problems. The image shifts          back to Maintbot 9, where the transport makes its way past the          cruiser.)_             Ivanova (as the officers at C&C clap)          Well, the transport's through. We called their bluff.             An Officer          Getting a signal from the Centauri cruiser. They want to talk.             Sheridan          Open a channel. Let's be gracious about this.             Torqueman          Captain, any thoughts on the...             An Officer          Second jump point forming in sector ten.             _Video Footage_          _(Maintbot 06 shows a Narn cruiser arrive through a jump          point.)_             Sheridan          Oh, hell. Babylon Control to Narn cruiser. We do not, repeat we          do not require assistance. Do not interfere. We have the          situation under control...             An Officer          Narn cruiser powering up weapon systems.             Sheridan          No! Listen to me, we do not need...             _Video Footage_          _(Maintbot 12 shows the Narn cruiser firing on the Centauri          cruiser several times, but hitting once. The image shifts to          Securecam 23 where the Narn ship continues to fire, but is hit          several times in return by the Centauri creature. There are          explosions on both ships.)_             Sheridan          All civilians to the shelters. Get me that cruiser, and I don't          care how you do it.             An Officer          Aye, sir.             _Video Footage_          _(Maintbot 02 shows the Narn ship attacking the Centauri ship,          which causes a piece of debris to fly directly toward the          observation dome.)_             Ivanova          Close blast doors, now! _[The doors close, and the Dome is          rocked as the debris strikes it.]_             _Video Footage_          _(Maintbot 12 shows the two ships exchanging more fire before          the Centauri cruiser is blown apart.)_             An Officer          Narns have destroyed the Centauri cruiser. They're trying to          open a jump point.             Ivanova          Can they make it?             An Officer          [INLINE] I don't think so. They're hit bad. Jump engines are          malfunctioning.             _Video Footage_          _(Maintbot 02 shows the Narn cruiser trying to generate a jump          point and enter hyperspace, but the jump point looks malformed.          The ship begins to explode. The view shifts to Securecam 15,          which shows the remainder of the explosion of the ship.)_             * * *             Torqueman (at anchor desk)          As journalists, we would be remiss in our responsibilities if          we suggested that events such as those you've just witnessed          were typical of the situation on Babylon 5. Like anyone else,          they have good days and bad days. But there can be no question          that it is a flash point that can only grow hotter as time          passes. And yet, growth only comes through pain and struggle,          so perhaps we should allow Babylon 5 time to realize, or one          day, even exceed the dreams we have invested in it. We'll be          back with some concluding thoughts right after this message.                   __________________________________________________________                                                   _Commercial break_            __________________________________________________________                                            Torqueman          After the crisis was over, the debris cleared, and the bodies          counted, we asked each of the people involved in this story one          question: Given the danger, at the end of the day, as Mr.          Garibaldi said, is it worth it?                   __________________________________________________________                                            Garibaldi          Absolutely. Sure, when things get tense out here, we have to be          careful. Our search of the Centauri vessels we captured proved          that they were bringing in weapons of mass destruction,          offloading them outside the station, and sending 'em on to the          front lines. Now that we know that, we can make sure it doesn't          happen anymore. We learn. That's what humans do.             * * *             Londo          Misunderstandings aside...yes, I definitely think it's worth          it. We must simply work harder to make sure we communicate with          each other to prevent this sort of tragic situation from ever          happening again. A violent attack by Narn forces is an          unacceptable response to a peaceful protest by my government.          And with the intervention of Earth, perhaps we can keep them          from making a similar mistake in the future.             * * *             G'kar          I don't know anymore. I used to think so, but now...             * * *             Ivanova          Yes.             * * *             Delenn          Of course it is. For the simple reason that no one else will          ever build a place like this. Humans share one unique quality:          they build communities. If the Narns or the Centauri or any          other race built a station like this, it would be used only by          their own people. But everywhere humans go, they create          communities out of diverse, and sometimes hostile, populations.          It is a great gift and a terrible responsibility--one that          cannot be abandoned.             * * *             Quantrell          Well...I guess we'll just have to see, won't we?             * * *             Franklin (to medics)          All right, med 2. Go. Go. (to Torqueman) Look, if we weren't          here right now, half the people in this room would be dead.          That should be a good enough answer for anyone.             * * *             Delvientos          Sure. What, are you kidding? I have a retirement pension to          make, you know?             * * *             Sheridan          Yes, but not for any of the reasons that you've probably been          told. The job of Babylon 5 is not to enforce the peace, it's to          create the peace. And this place was built on the assumption          that we could work out our problems and build a better future.          And that, to me, is the key issue. See, in the last few years,          we've stumbled. We've stumbled at the death of the president,          the war, and on and on. And when you stumble a lot, you...you          start looking at your feet. You know, we have to make people          lift their eyes back to the horizon and see the line of          ancestors behind us saying, "Make my life have meaning." And to          our inheritors before us saying, "Create the world we will live          in." We're not just...holding jobs and having dinner. We're in          the process of building the future. That's what Babylon 5 is          all about. Only by making people understand that can we hope to          create a better world for ourselves, and our posterity.                   __________________________________________________________                                            Torqueman          I'm Cynthia Torqueman, ISN news. Good night.          
   [14][Next]          [15]Last update: November 29, 1995
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