lurkers-guide/synops/049

<!-- TITLE "Voices of Authority" -->

<h3>Synopsis by Matthew Murray (mmurray@wsu.edu)</h3>

<p>
While Garibaldi and Zack Allen are walking down the corridor, Ivanova
calls Garibaldi, telling him there is a code 7-R, and Garibaldi says he
will be right there.  Zack asks about the code, which he is unfamiliar
with, but Garibaldi skirts the issue and leaves.

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/049/meeting.gif" alt="">
He arrives at the meeting of the Babylon 5 war council where Delenn is
talking about her ideas for the necessary gathering of new allies for
the coming war.  "Many times over the last million years," she
explains, "the Shadows were fought to a standstill by the First Ones,
races immeasurably older than our own.  After the last war, a thousand
years ago, we believe the First Ones went away forever, passing beyond
the galactic rim where no human or Minbari has ever ventured.  But the
Vorlons remained.  It is possible that some of the others may still be
around." She explains that some had gone to rest where they would not
be bothered, while still others walk among the stars on unknown
errands.  Marcus warns that the First Ones are very old, and possibly
very dangerous, but Delenn says that they need all the help they can
get.  Since they must be found and contacted in person, Delenn has invited
someone else to help: Draal.  He approves of the idea, warning them
that, though it may be extremely dangerous, it will definitely be
"fun."

<p>
Draal explains that Epsilon 3 contains stores of information that may
be helpful in locating the First Ones, though the information about the
First Ones suggests no one approach their dwelling places.  Sheridan
agrees to go down to Epsilon 3, sort through the information, and
discover how they can best proceed next.

<p>
Zack Allen meets Julie Musante, from the Ministry of Peace, in the
docking bay.  She explains that she will be on the station for a while,
and would like her bags taken to appropriate quarters.

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/049/newword.gif" alt="">
G'Kar approaches Delenn while she shops at a kiosk, and asks how she
and Minbar are doing.  He expresses concern at the many closed meetings
with Captain Sheridan she has been attending lately.  She tries to
explain it away, but when he asks what she knows about Rangers, she
claims she knows nothing.  G'Kar explains that his contacts speak of
both human and Minbari Rangers, and she acknowledges that this does
seem extremely unlikely.  She leaves, but G'Kar promises to figure out
this puzzle.<br clear=all>

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/049/musante.gif" alt="">
Sheridan arrives in his office, where Musante is waiting for him.  She
explains that she was assigned as a political officer for Babylon 5,
since some of Sheridan's recent actions haven't been very politically
astute, and that her position is to help Sheridan make decisions that
reflect more favorably on the Earth government.  Sheridan says that
she isn't required on a military outpost, but Musante says that the
station must answer to the demands of the Earth government.  Sheridan
refuses to share his authority with her, but she insists her job is
merely to advise, and that the final decision has already been made.
She sets up a dinner date with him to learn more about the station and
recent events, and he tells her that, though he has a previous
engagement, he will attend.  He calls Ivanova at C&C and tells her that
she will have to go to Epsilon 3 in his place.

<p>
Zack shows Musante to her quarters, and she explains that it will be
his job to tell her everything she needs to know that Sheridan deigns
not to tell her.  Since he is a member of the Night Watch, he has
priorities as well that must be fulfilled.

<p>
When Ivanova arrives on Epsilon 3, Draal is at first angered by the
surprise, but she manages to convince him that surprises can be good
things.  He laughs, deciding he likes her, and ushers her further into
the complex.

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/049/dinner.gif" alt="">
At dinner with Musante, Sheridan tries to convince her that the
Centauri will continue to move in on the League of Non-Aligned Worlds,
but Musante insists that Earth would never align with a hostile
government.  She tells Sheridan he should find ways to express these
concerns without causing problems on Earth.  She tells him that Earth
has managed to solve most of its problems, since all of the trouble on
Earth with poverty, the homeless, criminals, and prejudice are caused
by those who refuse to work and those who are mentally unstable.  She
explains that, sometimes, the only way to deal with problems is to
redefine them.  Sheridan accuses her of ignoring the problems, but she
says it isn't necessary to point out society's flaws to their leaders,
and that anyone that does so is a troublemaker and unpatriotic.  She
says that these are examples of the things she wants to help Sheridan
with, and that she only wants to help Earth and protect Babylon 5.  She
says that she doesn't want to see him hurt and that she could come to
like him...  quite a lot.<br clear=all>

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/049/ivanmach.gif" alt="">
Draal and Ivanova approach the matrix, where Draal's physical body
rests within.  The image of Draal vanishes, and he removes his body
from the matrix.  Ivanova puts hers in.  He tells her to relax and open
her mind.  "But whatever you do, do not stray from the Path."

<p>
Ivanova finds herself travelling through the depths of space.  "I can't
breathe."

<p>
"It's all right," Draal tells her.  "Try to calm your mind.  Focus.
All life forms are connected.  Look for the Path.  Look for the Path."
<br clear=all>

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/049/path.gif" alt="">
"I see it," she says as a strange ribbon of blue begins to form before
her eyes.

<p>
"It is the power that binds us, one to another, across the darkness of
space.  Focus on the First Ones, on the most ancient of ancients.  Let
the Path take you to them."

<p>
As Draal speaks, the Path becomes more and more solid and visible, and
Ivanova begins her journey upon it.  After a few moments, she arrives
at a familiar planet.  "I know this place... I've seen it on the star
charts.  Sigma 957.  They were here.  I can feel their footprints in
the sand.  Hear their words... whispered on the wind."  She travels
around the planet, seeing it from all sides, and it seems to change,
some of it nearly vanishing into surrounding space, while other, more
mysterious forms come to its surface.  "It's beautiful.  They're coming
back again... soon.  I can... Draal? Draal, something's wrong.  Draal,
I'm not alone."  She looks away from the planet.  It sees me.  It knows
I'm here.  It... It's pulling me in.  Can't stop it."  In the fabric of
space, four points of light, which look very much like eyes, begin to
form and approach her.

<p>
"It is the enemy," Draal warns.  Pull away!  Go back to the Path!"

<p>
"I can't.  It... It knows I'm here.  It knows my name!"

<p>
"Break off!  I can't pull you off without killing you.  Pull away!
Don't look at it!"  Ivanova succeeds in looking away just as the
fingers of light are about to reach her, while still others appear, as
if they were reinforcements.

<p>
"That's it," Draal tells her as the image ends.  "Come back now..."

<p>
"Wait... there's something else," Ivanova says as she finds herself in
a new new place, orbiting Jupiter, over a year ago.  "That's EarthForce
1 before it exploded!  I can warn them!  I can save the President!"

<p>
"No, it's too late.  You're seeing the shadow of things long gone."

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/049/clark.gif" alt="">
The image freezes, and a new one appears, drenched in static.  It is
the form of Vice-President Clark, sitting at a desk.  "I have wanted
Santiago dead for so long," he says.  "I wasn't sure we could really
pull it off.  You're sure it's done?"

<p>
Another voice, a deep male voice, that of Morden, responds.
"EarthForce 1 will never return from Io.  The power is now yours,
Clark.  Mr.... President."

<p>
This image vanishes in a sea of static, and Ivanova once again sees
herself above Jupiter watching EarthForce 1 explode.  She turns her
head away, and the image ends.  Draal helps her out of the machine.

<p>
"I do not understand!  A normal human mind should not have been able to
do that!"

<p>
"I saw it... I saw it all," she tells him.  "The image I saw... the
message.  Can you record it?"

<p>
"Yes, but how..."

<p>
"Do it, please.  It's the proof we've needed that President Santiago
was assassinated, that Clark was behind everything.  We've got it.
We've got it."

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/049/seduce.gif" alt="">
Sheridan takes Musante into his quarters, where he fixes her a drink.
While he is busy, she takes the opportunity to undress, and comes over
to him.  He tries to refuse her advances, but changes his mind and
lunges into a deep kiss with her when an image of Ivanova appears.  She
soon vanishes when she sees what she interrupted, and Sheridan breaks
out of the embrace.  He quickly enters another room, where Ivanova is
waiting.  She tells him that she knows where the First Ones are, but
they will have to hurry.  He says he is occupied, but tells her to
contact Garibaldi.  She begins to tell him about Clark's message, but
doesn't have time.  Musante calls out to him, and Ivanova knows she has
to leave.  "Good luck, Captain.  I think you're about to go where
everyone has gone before."  She vanishes just as Musante enters.  Musante
is quite perplexed when he hurries out again.

<p>
G'Kar approaches Garibaldi, asking where Ivanova is, and Garibaldi tells
him that she was called away on urgent business.  G'Kar prods Garibaldi
further, but he won't say anything, which incenses G'Kar.  He asks
Garibaldi if what the Centauri have done has removed from him the
respect he has earned, since he can't get a straight answer from
anyone.  G'Kar says that, though the two of them had never been
friends, they had also never been strangers.  Garibaldi says that he
doesn't know anything that could help out him or the Narns.  G'Kar
tells him that perhaps he can help Garibaldi instead, and rushes off.

<p>
Zack approaches Musante, who is eating her breakfast.  He asks how her
meeting with Sheridan went.  "When it comes to your union situation
here," she tells Zack, "he must be a very good negotiator.  I've never
seen anyone come up with so many creative ways of saying 'no' to a
simple proposition."  Zack says that he prefers saying yes, but doesn't
get much further.  She tells him that she has called a meeting to go
over political protocol, and that she expects him to be there.  He
leaves, but Garibaldi, sitting nearby, has seen the entire exchange.

<p>
Ivanova arrives on the bridge of the White Star, expecting to see
Lennier, but finding Marcus instead.  He explains that he speaks
Minbari, and she tells him to set course for Sigma 957.

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/049/nightwch.gif" alt="">
Musante addresses the members of the Night Watch, telling them that,
from this point on, it is no longer appropriate for EarthForce
personnel to publically criticize the government or its decisions, and
that Night Watch investigations have been expanded to include past
associations.  Several members of the Night Watch, including Zack, seem
distressed by this, but she explains that, in the future, certain
individuals in the government will be expelled under charges of
sedition, spying for alien governments, and immoral conduct.  "With our
basic freedoms at stake, no response can be too extreme."  She says
that the "abridgements" of traditional rights are only temporary and that
everyone will have to do their part to keep Earth "safe and
ideologically pure."

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/049/ships.gif" alt="">
The White Star arrives at Sigma 957, finding nothing.  Marcus tells Ivanova
that there is nothing to do but wait, and that she should take time out
for herself occasionally.  Ivanova gets angry at him talking about her
personal life, but is interrupted with a sensor beep.  The space near
Sigma 957 fills with a web of energy, from the center of which
springs an enormous black vessel, with many strangely-shaped
protusions, and covered in dancing lights of all colors.  As the ship
approaches, the White Star's energy begins to drain, and as they move
away, a small stream of energy extends toward them.  On the bridge, an
image of one of the First Ones appears, and Ivanova tells it of their
situation.  Though it registers no comprehension of what she is saying,
when she mentions that they have sided with the Vorlons, the figure is
not happy.  She asks for their help fighting the Shadows, but the image
vanishes as the First Ones consider their decision.

<p>
Sheridan and Garibaldi watch the recording of Clark's transmission with
Morden.  Sheridan is excited that they finally have the proof they
need, but Garibaldi asks what they can do with it, without raising too
many questions.  Sheridan says he will send it to General Hague, and
with built-in security measures assuring the recording's validity, the
evidence will finally put them where they need to be.

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/049/zog.gif" alt="">
The waiting continues, and eventually the First Ones reach their
verdict: "Zog."  When the ship begins to move away, Ivanvoa and Marcus
interpret it to mean no.  Ivanova insists that she will not let them
leave until they agree to help, and a sarcastic comment from Marcus
gives her an idea.  She opens a comm channel and tells the First Ones
that the Vorlons said that they wouldn't be up for a fight, and that they are
not needed to help.  "Come to think of it, we've got the Vorlons.  We
really don't need much more help, do we?"  As she continues to praise
the Vorlons, the First Ones become more and more angry.  She promises
to move away and let them know when the fighting is over.  The First
Ones seem to get more and more angry, but eventually the previous image
of the First Ones reappears.  "When it is time, come to this place.
Call our name.  We will be here."  The ship vanishes, leaving the
White Star alone.

<p>
Garibaldi and the rest of his security team watch an ISN broadcast
about the release of evidence linking Clark to Santiago's death; the
Senate is opening investigations.  Garibaldi tells the team to try to keep
everything under control, and says that Musante has been recalled to Earth.
Zack especially is unable to grasp the idea of an assassination, but
Garibaldi is in no mood to hear it, since he knows that Zack told her
more than he should.  He says that, after what happened earlier, it was
a long time before he could trust anyone.  Zack says that Garibaldi
doesn't trust him, since code 7-R doesn't exist.  Zack asks him what is
really going on.  "Night Watch says the only people who have to worry
are the ones with something to hide," Zack says.  Garibaldi asks
him if he has a charge to make, but Zack says he doesn't, and that he's
walking a tightrope, and that he doesn't know what to do.  Zack
leaves, telling Garibaldi not to talk to him for the rest of the day.

<p>
Ivanova reports the events of the mission to Sheridan, who tells her
that they will need all the First Ones they can find.  She asks about
the situation with President Clark, and Sheridan tells her that
everything is a mess, but the truth has been released.

<p>
Zack escorts Musante to the docking bay.  She tells him that she
doesn't expect to be gone very long and that this situation is exactly
what she hoped to avoid.  Zack asks her about code 7-R, but she tells
him she never heard of it.  She hears the boarding call for her ship,
and says she needs to go, promising that they will find who is
responsible and punish them.

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/049/book.gif" alt="">
Late at night, Garibaldi is asleep when he is awakened by his door
chime.  He groggily turns the lights up low, gets up, and answers the
door, to find G'Kar there.  "I told you I could help," he says,
thrusting a large tome into Garibaldi's hands.  "The Book of G'Quan.
Read it.  We'll talk afterward."

<p>
"I... I don't read Narn," Garibaldi protests.

<p>
"Learn!"  G'kar says as he leaves hastily.

<p>
"He hates me," Garibaldi says to himself as he makes his way back to
bed.  "They all hate me.  That's why they're doing this.  To make...
me... crazy." He flops onto his bed, issuing one last command before he
goes to sleep.  "Lights."