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lurkers-guide



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


								<p>

								While the station is being repaired, both inside and out, Sheridan goes

								to the rock garden, where he meets Ambassador Kosh.  He tells Kosh

								that, ever since Kosh had saved his life the previous week, he hadn't

								thanked him

								properly, and that Kosh hadn't returned his calls.  Sheridan asks Kosh

								if everything is all right.


								<p>

								"Being seen by so many at once was a great strain.  I returned to my

								ship to rest.  You have a question?" Kosh asks.


								<p>

								"Nobody knows it was you.  Everyone saw something different, something

								from the legends of their own world.  But it was still a terrible

								risk.  After taking such...such care to hide what you really are, why

								take that chance?"


								<p>

								"It was...necessary."


								<p>

								"Well, as answers go:  Short to the point, utterly useless, and totally

								consistent. What I've come to expect from a Vorlon."


								<p>

								"Good."


								<p>

								"You know... I just had a thought.  You've been back and forth to your

								homeworld so many times since you got here, how do I know you're the

								same Vorlon?  Inside that encounter suit, you could be anyone."


								<p>

								"I have always been here."


								<p>

								"Oh yeah?  You said that about me too."


								<p>

								"Yes."


								<p>

								"I really hate it when you do that."


								<p>

								"Good," Kosh tells Sheridan as he leaves him alone in the garden.


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/045/marcus.jpeg" alt="">

								A large ship, piloted by a Drazi, blasts off from a planet, under

								constant fire from two orbiting stations.  The ship flies toward the

								barrier around the planet, and manages to get through it, being

								slightly damaged in the process.  After the ship breaks through the

								barrier, the pilot launches a smaller ship from it, which flies away,

								escaping just as the larger ship is destroyed.  The smaller ship is fired upon

								and hit, but still able to make the jump to its pilot's destination:

								Babylon 5.  In order to speed up the trip, the pilot orders all

								non-necessary life support power to the engines.


								<p>

								Sheridan tells Ivanova, who is with him in the docking bay, that he is

								tired of the unannounced visits of V.I.P's from Earth, since they are

								never given enough information.  The man they are waiting for arrives

								and introduces himself as David Endawi, who asks that they go somewhere

								private, and that Ambassador Delenn join them.


								<p>

								Garibaldi brings the pilot of the small ship into the new Medlab

								facilities, and Franklin tells Garibaldi that he will have Dr. Sanchez do an

								examination, and inform him of the results.  Garibaldi leaves, and

								Franklin examines the man, dressed in the uniform of a Ranger.  He

								calls Sanchez to inform her he needs her help, but upon turning

								around, the Ranger is gone.


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/045/mordbar.jpeg" alt="">

								Londo is sitting at a bar drinking when Morden arrives, per Londo's

								request.  Londo tells Morden that he has been doing a great deal of

								thinking and now, that the Narn War is over, they should reconsider

								their relationship.  He feels that the Centauri no longer need the help

								of Morden's associates.  Morden asks Londo if he is being premature in

								his desire for them to disappear, since they might not know what lies

								ahead, but Londo tells him he is sure, and wants Morden and his

								associates to "go away."  Morden agrees, telling him that he will meet

								Londo in his quarters later, after meeting with his associates, to

								discuss the dissolving of their partnership.


								<p>

								Sheridan, Ivanova, Delenn, and Endawi are in Sheridan's office when

								Endawi asks Delenn if, as a member of the older races, she has any

								information about the mysterious ship that Lt. Keffer recorded shortly

								before his death.  Endawi asks what Keffer knew about the ship, and

								Sheridan and Ivanova insist they didn't know what he knew about it.

								Endawi explains that the ship is obviously from a highly advanced

								civilization, and that they are worried about the threat the ship might

								represent, and it is his job to gather information about it.  Delenn

								apologizes to Endawi, but tells him she has never seen a ship

								of this type before.  Endawi asks her if she's sure, but she insists she is.

								Endawi asks if

								a ship like this had entered Babylon 5 space, and Sheridan says no.  Endawi

								asks for

								quarters to stay in until he has been able to talk to the

								other ambassadors, and Ivanova escorts him out.  After they leave,

								Sheridan asks if the ship belongs to the Shadows, who Delenn had told him

								about several months earlier.  Delenn acknowledges this, saying that it

								is important to convince the Shadows that they are unaware of the Shadow's but

								that she didn't lie:  she had never actually seen on of their  ships before.

								She says

								that Shadow ships are relentless and nigh invincible, but Sheridan

								doesn't believe it.  She tells him that he will only feel that way

								until he sees what they can do.  "Take a good look, John.  That is the

								face of our enemy."


								<p>

								Lennier meets Delenn and tells her that someone is looking

								for her.  When she tries to brush him off, Lennier changes her mind by

								presenting the

								badge of the man brought into Medlab, which Delenn recognizes immediately.


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/045/lonendaw.jpeg" alt="">

								Endawi meets with Londo, and asks him what he knows about the ship from

								Keffer's recording.  Londo tells Endawi that this is the ship he has seen in

								a dream

								where he is standing on Centauri Prime, with similar ships passing

								overhead, until their numbers grow so great, they blot out the sun.  But,

								Londo says that's all he knows about the ship, and apologizes that he

								couldn't be of more help.  Endawi thanks Londo, and leaves.


								<p>

								Delenn and Lennier, in disguise, venture into Downbelow and enter a

								tavern, where they sit down.  The ranger comes up to them and gives

								them drinks, which they initially do not accept, but soon do in order

								to avoid drawing attention.  Lennier tastes the drink and discovers it has no

								alcohol in it.  The Ranger, who identifies himself as Marcus, says it

								proves he was waiting for them, since very few know of alcohol's

								effects on Minbari.  Marcus tells Delenn he needs her help, but would

								prefer to discuss it in private.  They leave the tavern, but are

								followed.  They soon run into a group of thugs, who insist they give

								over their possessions.  Marcus pulls out a Mimbari staff, and begins fighting

								the thugs.  Delenn and Lennier join in, and the thieves are soon

								defeated.  The three of them quickly run away.


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/045/initiatv.jpeg" alt="">

								Ivanova enters Sheridan's office, where he, Garibaldi, Delenn, Lennier,

								and Marcus are already waiting for them.  Sheridan tries to explain the

								Rangers to her, but she has already known about them for a long time.

								Marcus tells all of them that the he came from Zagros VII, a Drazi

								world, where there is a Ranger training camp, created partly for

								safety, and partly because certain Minbari are uncomfortable with

								the Rangers.  Marcus explains that the planet was blockaded two weeks

								earlier by the Centauri and that he believes the Ranger camp is the target.

								He pleads for Sheridan to help the Rangers

								evacuate.  Garibaldi says that they don't have the means for such an

								attack, since it would require a powerful warship and crew, but Marcus

								tells him they have the means, if Sheridan and the others have the will.

								Ivanova reminds Sheridan of Endawi, and Sheridan tells Garibaldi to take

								charge of him while the others prepare to go to Zagros VII.  They soon

								board a shuttle, file a fake destination in the station's log, and

								they, and an accompanying Minbari flyer, head out.


								<p>

								Morden tells Londo that he wants to make sure that the Centauri are

								clear on the details of their separation.  He brings up a map of the

								galaxy and draws a line on it, showing the quarter of it which the Centauri may

								conquer at will.  As long as they don't trespass into the territory of

								Morden's associates,

								there won't be any problems.  Londo asks how he can be sure that Morden's

								associates won't attack him, and Morden says he can't, but

								that they have what they want, and aren't concerned with the rest.

								Londo quickly agrees to Morden's conditions, but Morden tells him there is one

								more condition.  There is one world, on the edge of the Centauri

								boundaries, that his associates want custody of, and he has already

								convinced Lord Refa to secure it until his associates can arrive.  When

								Londo asks if he might be able to see the ships of Morden's associates one day,

								 Morden tells Londo ominously to ensure no Centauri remain near Zagros VII

								when his associates get there.


								<p>

								The shuttle and the flyer pull out of hyperspace and arrive near a

								beautiful, strange, magnificent ship.  "Her name," Marcus tells them, "is the

								White Star.  And she's yours, Captain."


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/045/know.jpeg" alt="">

								Endawi protests to Garibaldi that he was assured Sheridan and Ivanova

								were available, but with some quick double-talk, Garibaldi

								convinces Endawi that he isn't allowed to let himself know where they

								went.  He suggests that Endawi talk to G'Kar unofficially, since the

								Centauri-Earth treaty prohibits official contact with the Narn.<br clear=all>


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/045/engine.jpeg" alt="">

								As they explore the ship, Delenn explains that the White Star is a new

								type of Minbari warship--smaller and faster than normal, an amalgam of

								Minbari and Vorlon technology.  It looks just different enough so that

								it cannot be identified.  She takes them to the bridge, where the crew,

								consisting of members of the religious caste, busily prepares the ship

								for its mission.  Sheridan tries to order them to Zagros VII, but

								Lennier says he must act as interpreter, since most of the crew isn't

								familiar with English.  The ship blasts off toward Zagros VII.<br clear=all>


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/045/gquanshd.jpeg" alt="">

								Endawi asks G'Kar if he knows anything about the mysterious ship.

								With an exclamation of relief G'Kar turns an opened Book of G'Quan

								toward Endawi, where there is a picture which bears a striking resemblance

								to the Shadow ship.  "They came to our world over a thousand of your years ago,

								long before we went to the stars ourselves.  They set up a base on one of our

								southern continents.  They took little interest in us.  G'Quan believed they

								were engaged in a war, far outside our own world."


								<p>

								"G'Quan?"  Endawi asks.


								<p>

								"One of our greatest spiritual leaders.  The Book of G'Quan is copied

								by hand from the original with every note and line precisely drawn.

								This ship and your ship are the same.  I tried to warn the others that

								the ancient enemy was returning.  But no one listened... Perhaps now

								they will."


								<p>

								"But if this is correct, why would they just disappear for a thousand

								years?"


								<p>

								"To all things, there is a time, Mr. Endawi.  Perhaps this is theirs."


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/045/bridge.jpeg" alt="">

								While on their way to Zagros VII, Ivanova asks how Marcus became a

								Ranger, and he explains it was because of his brother, who died trying

								to warn him about a Shadow attack on the mining colony where he was working.

								Marcus promised his brother he would carry on the mission.  The White

								Star comes out of hyperspace, near Zagros VII, and approaches the

								planet.  They call the Rangers and tell them to be ready to escape.

								The White Star destroys the mines and stations around the planet, but

								too easily.  Sheridan can't believe there wouldn't be a

								Centauri warship guarding it, and asks Lennier if the scanners are

								working properly.  To prove they are, Lennier shows him, displaying

								more of the White Star's unique abilities.  Ivanova detects a

								disturbance, and they put it up on the screen.  It is the ship they all

								saw from Lt. Keffer's flight recorder: A Shadow ship.


								<p>

								Sheridan declares that the Shadows must have come for the Rangers who he

								promises not to abandon.  Delenn insists they aren't yet ready to fight, but

								they aren't given much of a choice when the Shadow ship attacks.  The White Star

								manage to maneuver out of the way of its attack, which shocks Delenn,

								since the Shadows never miss.  After they clear the last mine blockading

								the Rangers, they tell the Rangers to clear out.  Sheridan tells Lennier

								to proceed to the jumpgate since the Shadows won't suspect that the

								White Star can open a jump point because of its small size, and he wants to

								keep every advantage he can.  Delenn says the ship will follow them

								wherever they go, and Sheridan says he's counting on it.  The White

								Star enters the jumpgate, with the Shadow ship following close behind.


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/045/shadgate.jpeg" alt="">

								Delenn pleads with Sheridan to call for help.  They don't have any

								chance of destroying the ship alone, since it is so much bigger than they

								are.  Alluding to the Black Star Sheridan tells her that he has heard that

								before.

								As they continue through hyperspace, Sheridan asks Ivanova what would happen if

								they were to open a jump point while inside a jumpgate, and Ivanova

								explains that it would be suicide: the energy released would be too

								great to escape from.  Sheridan asks Lennier if the White Star is

								quick enough to escape, and Lennier says he doesn't know.  Sheridan says

								that they are probably near sector 45, and that they should use that

								gate to try the maneuver.  It is the jumpgate near the Markab

								homeworld, which other races have been using the strip the planet

								bare.  The White Star opens the jumpgate, while activating her jump engines.

								Just as the point forms, the White Star escapes the jumpgate which explodes

								in a

								fierce burst of energy, which damages the White Star, but destroys the

								tailing Shadow

								ship.


								<p>

								The original shuttle and Minbari flyer arrive back on Babylon 5 to be

								met by Mr. Endawi, who demands to know why they lied about where they

								were going and what they were doing.  Sheridan and Delenn say that they

								had to tow a Minbari diplomatic shuttle to a nearby jumpgate.  They

								apologize, but Endawi is on his way back to Earth.  He tells them he

								has all the information he needs, and that he will send a copy of the report.


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/045/earthdom.jpeg" alt="">

								Back on Earth, Endawi presents his information to a senator in Earth

								Dome, telling her what he found, though he reached nothing conclusive.

								She tells him that she will inform him of what they find.  Soon after

								he leaves, two other men come into her office.  One of them is Morden,

								and the other is a Psi Cop.  She tells them that there is

								little information, and that the ship is a complete mystery to everyone

								on Babylon 5 except legends.  Morden suggests that the Earth government

								dismiss it as an isolated incident, but the telepath disagrees, saying that a

								threat to planetary security could be useful in speeding up the program at

								home.  Intrigued,  Morden asks him to explain.<br clear=all>


								<p>

								<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/045/warroom.jpeg" alt="">

								Sheridan, Ivanova, Garibaldi, Franklin, Delenn, and Marcus sit around a

								large table while Sheridan outlines his plan for a War Council: Whatever anyone

								learns they will share every two weeks, in hopes that together they can achieve

								more than they can working separately.  Sheridan tells them that they

								can say anything they like during these meetings.


								<p>

								Franklin says, "Well, then, I have a question.  Granted, I am stuck in

								Medlab most of the time, and granted, I'm usually the last to know

								anything around here, and granted, we've all been pretty busy lately,

								but could someone please tell me what the hell these Shadows are?"


								<p>

								Sheridan indicates to Delenn that she should explain, which she does.

								"There are beings in the universe billions of years older than any of

								our races.  They walked among the stars like giants, vast and

								timeless.  They created great empires, taught the new races, explored

								beyond the Rim... The oldest of the Ancients are the Shadows.  We have

								no other name for them..."