lurkers-guide/synops/067

<h3>Synopsis by Katrina Glerum (kat@midwinter.com)</h3>

<p>
A week has passed since Captain Sheridan's ill-fated mission to Z'ha'dum and
Garibaldi's disappearance.  No one on Babylon 5 is taking this turn of
events harder than Commander Ivanova, who stalks the station lost in another
world and spends sleepless nights regretting the circumstances that have
brought her to command.  Meanwhile, Londo has returned to Centauri Prime at
the request of Emperor Cartagia, Delenn fasts in prayer, and G'Kar
transcribes it all with his hard won equanimity.

<p>
Ivanova's progress in the art of diplomacy vanishes as she tries to browbeat
the remaining League worlds into an attack on Z'ha'dum in the Shadows' hour
of weakness, or at the very least, to convince them not to abandon the
defense of Babylon 5.  The Gaim representative is most succinct in stating
that the War Council members only "wish to find your captain," who must
certainly be dead.  They perceive this alliance to be useful in fighting a
war for survival, not victory, which makes a mission against Z'ha'dum simply
suicide.  The meeting breaks up bitterly.  In her anger with the selfish
League worlds, Delenn has not ignored the fact that again the new Kosh has
not deigned to attend, and she vows to find out why.

<br clear=all>
<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/067/cartagia.jpeg" alt="">
With great excitement, the Emperor's Minister leads Londo to a private royal
audience.  They find the Emperor a vapid young man preening at himself in a
mirror, proud of his ability to set trends in the court, and amused to be
able to toy with the powerful head of House Mollari.  He orders Londo to
"handle the arrangements" (without explaining the purpose) and mentions a
mysterious personage who has specifically requested Londo's expertise on
Centauri Prime.

<br clear=all>
<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/067/dead.jpeg" alt="">
In Londo's absence, Vir is receiving the Ambassador's intelligence reports,
one of which he passes on to Ivanova.  To her distress it is a description
of Sheridan's actions on Z'ha'dum and his final, presumably fatal, plunge.
"With any luck we won't see Mr. Morden's face around here any more," Vir
laughs, trying to cheer her up.

<br clear=all>
<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/067/morden.jpeg" alt="">
Londo doesn't have that kind of luck, however.  He returns to his chambers to
find the horribly disfigured form of his enemy waiting.  Morden somehow escaped
death from the White Star's bombs, but at a high cost.  Londo asks about
Sheridan.  "Which one?" Morden responds.  As Londo watches and listens with
growing revulsion, Morden explains that the Shadows are moving some of their
forces off Z'ha'dum in case their enemies decide to attack.  They did it
before, a thousand years ago, planting their ships like seeds all around
the galaxy.  Now they've convinced Cartagia to let them set up a base on
Centauri Prime.  Londo refuses to assist the Shadows, but Mr. Morden
just laughs, "You're afraid of what someone else might do in your place."

<br clear=all>
<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/067/kosh.jpeg" alt="">
Lyta and the Vorlon meet Delenn in the garden.  Speaking for her master,
Lyta expresses impatience and closedness.  The Vorlon refuses to assist in
keeping the Alliance together, in sharing his intentions, or in mounting an
investigative mission to Z'ha'dum.  Sheridan's life or death is
"irrelevant.  He has opened an unexpected door.  We do now what must be done
now.  His purpose has been fulfilled."  As Kosh leaves, Lyta apologizes and
follows.

<br clear=all>
<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/067/gkar.jpeg" alt="">
Zack finds an intruder in the Chief's quarters.  His quick hopes are dashed
when it turns out to be G'Kar paying his respects to Garibaldi's spirit
(including "household god" Daffy Duck.)  Recalling Garibaldi's acceptance
and support of his own spiritual transformation, G'Kar vows to repay the
debt by finding the Chief and bringing him home.

<br clear=all>
<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/067/shadow-arrival.jpeg" alt="">
The Minister eagerly beckons Londo out to the royal Sand Garden.  To the
Ambassador's  horror he recognizes a scene from his worst nightmare.
Hundreds of Shadow ships are passing overhead.  Inside, the
Emperor is beside himself with glee.  When Mollari attempts to pull him away
from the window, he instantly finds a guard's knife at his throat.  "What
did they give you?" Londo demands.  If the Shadows hide behind the Centauri,
"when the war comes here, our people will die first!"  Such a sacrifice is
perfectly acceptable to the Emperor, for the Shadows have promised to give
him godhead.

<p>
Londo stumbles from the throne room in horror.  "He is insane!" he utters to
the Minister.  With great trepidation, the Minister warns him about the ones
who have said this in the past, and how their severed heads now grace the
Emperor's private chambers where he talks to them late at night.

<p>
A long stream of energy pours out of Lyta Alexander into the Vorlon's
encounter suit.  It is clearly not the joyful burden it used to be,
and Lyta looks weary and haggard.  She mentions that it feels
"darker" to carry the new ambassador, and asks if anything is wrong.  The
Vorlon only dismisses her and orders her not to interfere with his plans.

<p>
Late that night, Mollari wakes Vir up to demand his immediate presence on
Centauri Prime.  He is not the only restless man in the palace that night.
The Emperor is paying a visit to his heads to tell them about the day's success.

<br clear=all>
<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/067/go.jpeg" alt="">
On the station, a refreshed looking Lyta goes to Ivanova's quarters with a
proposition.  She finds the commander brooding over her vodka.  Ivanova
explains the meaning of the "hour of the wolf."  It's that 3-4 o'clock in
the morning time when fears and regrets and worries seize your mind so you
can't sleep.  It's where Ivanova has been living for the past seven days.
Lyta brings her a new hope, or at least a plan for action.  If they take the
new White Star to Z'ha'dum, Ivanova can scan for Sheridan's signal while
Lyta blocks the Shadows and scans for the piece of Kosh still alive in him.
Ivanova is only too happy to try, but knows there will be no rescue mission
for them if they fail.

<br clear=all>
<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/067/trio.jpeg" alt="">
With Delenn and Lennier aboard they hop out of hyperspace near Z'ha'dum.  As
soon as she begins blocking, Lyta's eyes turn oil black, not a hint of white
left.  Ivanova sends a message to Sheridan's link, Lyta searches for Kosh,
and Delenn uses Lyta's scan to project a call to John.  The captain does not
respond, but something else does.  The Eye which had almost trapped Ivanova
when she used Draal's machine
(<a href="049.html">"Voices of Authority"</a>)
appears and mesmerizes
them all.  Ivanova orders the ship down to the planet, but the White Star
flips around instead and jumps into hyperspace.  Lennier had set a failsafe
to escape in case he was unable to hit a trigger once every two minutes.
They snap out of it, but they are all deeply moved.  The Eye spoke to them
in the voices of their fathers.

<p>
Their mission failed.  They cannot reach Sheridan.  But deep inside
Z'ha'dum, a shapeless form shuffles down a tunnel.  A gold command bar drops
to the dust.

<p>
As soon as Vir arrives, Londo tells him about the Emperor's madness, and the
intrigues of court.  "And yet, in all of this, you have somehow managed to
walk through the corridors of power and not be touched.  I can only assume
you have not been paying attention!"  Mollari continues, "I need a friend,
Vir, and I need a patriot.  You are both.  Will you help me?"  Agreeing, Vir
beams beatifically -- until Mollari informs him that they must now assassinate
Emperor Cartagia.

<p>
Commander Ivanova makes a personal log.  Biting back her tears she admits
that the captain is dead and now she must continue his work.  She still needs
some help, but she knows where to find it.

<p>
Deep within Z'ha'dum, John Sheridan shivers in front of a tiny fire.  A
tall, bearded figure approaches.  He only answers John's questions with
questions.  Nevertheless, he seems pleased and intrigued by what he has found.