Airdate: April 28, 1997
Episode # : 77
Production # : 411
Guest stars: Marjorie Monaghan as Number One, Paolo Seganti as Phillipe and G.W. Stevens as Forell.
Babylon 5
Sheridan sits in his office in C & C. He watches a biased report on ISN regarding the Babylon 5, the "former shining beacon of Earthforce." ISN states that Babylon 5 is mistreating humans. Ivanova enters and asks Sheridan why he is watching ISN.
Sheridan:"I'm gathering intelligence."
Ivanova doesn't believe it. A message comes in from Franklin, who informs the station that he has arranged a meeting with the leaders of the Resistance.
Mars
Franklin transmits his message and then confers with Number One about meeting with the other leaders. Marcus sprints in and informs Franklin and Number One that a terrorist attack has taken out a security force from Earth and killed ten civilians. Number One stomps off in rage.
Babylon 5
Forell, a Minbari, informs Delenn that an unidentified race has attacked the Nor Sai, an unarmed, agrarian race who rely on Minbar for military protection. The Warrior Caste has refused to help the Nor Sai.
Space
Unidentified ships, somewhat Vorlon in appearance, attack defenseless space vessels.
Babylon 5
Sheridan attends to his duties in C & C. Delenn comes in.
Sheridan: "Delenn, I was just about to call you. I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner tonight."
Delenn: "I can't. Lately, there have been a numberl attacks on worlds on the borders of Minbari space. Since the Warrior Caste will not act, I have to look into it."
Sheridan: "That's interesting timing. There have been similar attacks outside Pak'ma'rah space. I guess it was inevitable. Everyone suffered heavy losses during the war. It was only a matter of time before someone tried to take advantage of that by sending raiding parties."
Delenn: "But to attack without provocation. The Nor Sai are a peaceful agrarian people who have relied on our protection for centuries. I'm going to take out a flight of White Star ships"
Sheridan: "Can't you send out Lennier? It might be dangerous."
Delenn: "John, it pleases me that you care for what I have become. But never forget who I was, what I am and what I can do."
Delenn leaves and Sheridan is unhappy, but resigns the fact that she is right.
Mars
Number One blasts a Resistance member for the unauthorized bombing of the civilian target.
Number One: "I've got ten dead civilians on the deck Phillipe!!! You don't breathe, you don't move, and you don't blow things up unless I tell you first, clear!?!"
Phillipe: "Tell me, is this how you treat all your former lovers?"
Number One: (leaving angrily) "As a matter of fact, YES!!"
She leaves and passes Franklin and Marcus.
Number One: "Whatever it is you have to say, it damn well better be worth it!"
Franklin: "Think it's something we said?"
Babylon 5
Sheridan watches more of ISN's propaganda. He turns off the vidscreen after hurtling a few choice comments toward the ISN reporter. Suddenly, a light goes on in his head. . .
Ivanova's Quarters
Ivanova lets Sheridan in, who goes on a roll. He has an idea about how he can fight ISN's propaganda war.
War Room
Ivanova: "John, I've been in here before. You woke me up for this??"
Sheridan tells Ivanova that they can fight back against the ISN propaganda. During the Second World War, the French Resistance went on the air every night, updating people about the war. Sheridan wants to do the same thing. Babylon 5 will tell its side of the story, with Ivanova as anchor. Sheridan calls it the "Voice of the Resistance." Sheridan picked Ivanova because she has a face people trust.
Ivanova: "I'd rather have a face people fear."
Sheridan: "That too. . ."
Ivanova: "Why do I get the ugly feeling that your volunteering me for the job?"
Sheridan: "I accept your generous offer" Sheridan leaves
Ivanova: "I swear, if he wasn't my commanding officer, I'd shoot him dead."
White Star fleet - hyperspace
Delenn tells Forell that she is upset about the reports of the Warrior Caste's behavior. Forell informs her that a rumor is circulating that the Warrior Caste is forming their own council. With no Grey Council, nothing can keep the Warrior Caste in check. Delenn regrets her long absence from her people.
Babylon 5
Franklin and Marcus meet with the Resistance leaders. A heated discussion ensues, but Franklin gets the point across that Sheridan has not forgotten about the Resistance on Mars and Proxima 3.
Resistance leader: "We need to send a message to Earth"
Marcus: "You are, but its the wrong message."
Franklin: "Sheridan wants you to know that we will support you, but remember we're opposed to the person [Clark], not the position."
Franklin and Marcus convince the Resistance that the Shadow War dealt with Mars; the existence of the keepers proves that.
Number One: "Is that ALL?"
Franklin: No, the Captain asked me to pass along one more thing: he promises that when this is all over, provided you cooperate, Mars will be recognized as an independent state!"
Franklin's last statement turns heads and brings the leaders to attention. Franklin has obviously gained their support.
Space
The White Star fleet jumps out of hyperspace. Lennier reports of a distress signal. Delenn orders the fleet to intercept. In range, the visual screen shows several unidentified ships attacking a Pak'ma'rah military transport ship.
Delenn: "How many ships are attacking you?"
Pak'ma'rah officer: "Too many. . . too many. . . "
The ship is destroyed, and Delenn decides to open a channel to the unidentified ships: to prevent an unneeded war like the one with the humans. They aliens respond only in their native language; Lennier sends out Interlac, a universal translating code. The aliens then speak in Minbari (English) and identify themselves as the "Drakh" Delenn realizes that they aren't using the translation codes. . .
Delenn: "How can this be? Unless, they have had some prior contact with out people. . . "
As she turns to Forell, Forell pulls a gun and orders her to remain still.
White Star
Delenn: "Minbari do not kill Minbari. Why are you doing this?"
Forell informs Delenn that he is holding her prisoner in order to prevent a misunderstanding between the Minbari and the Drakh. He wants her to hear their side before she makes a decision.
Mars
Number One congratulates Marcus and Franklin on their meeting with the other leaders. She says that they have the support of the Resistance, and her. She leaves, and Marcus bets 50 credits that Number One likes Franklin. Number One re enters, informs them that, since their hotel was bombed, they are out of a room. She invites Franklin to dinner and assigns Marcus to guard duty. . .
Marcus: "That'll be 50 credits Steven!"
Space
The White Star fleet approach a Drakh mother ship. A transport leaves the mother ship and sets course for the lead White Star vessel. The Drakh emissary arrives on board, scares everyone with his appearance but means no harm [for now]. Forell informs Delenn that the Drakh are the only one who can hold the Warrior Caste in check, i.e., the Minbari need the Drakh. Delenn agrees to give an alliance some thought.
Forell: "Thank you. You will not regret this, Delenn."
Drakh: "Delenn. . . "
Delenn and Lennier know the Drakh are from Z'ha'dum, and know the Drakh will attack as soon as the White Stars are safely away from the mother ship. As the Drakh transport leaves, the Drakh slowly power up their weapons systems.
Space
The White Star vessels are too close to the Drakh mother ship for the Drakh to safely attack. The White Star ships, although fast, can't outrun the Drakh because it would take too long to accelerate to safe speeds. Delenn strikes an idea:
Delenn: " Lennier, have you ever seen the Warrior Caste's training flights?"
Lennier: "I have"
Delenn: "Have you ever seen them skin dancing?"
Lennier: "I have"
Delenn: "Can you do the same?"
Lennier: shrugs, considers "Not without approximately five years of additional training."
Lennier: "But, I can program it into the ship's artificial intelligence matrix."
The fleet slowly powers up. Drakh weapons power up. White Star ships assume attack formation and accelerate quickly. As they reach maximum velocity, a White Star is destroyed but the rest escape into hyperspace. Nearly all of the ships sustained heavy damage. On Delenn's vessel, heavy objects fall from the bulkheads; one strikes Forell on the head:
Forell: "I thought I was helping our people. . . I thought. . . [dies]"
Lennier: "Setting a course for Babylon 5. . . "
Delenn: "Who said we were leaving? They destroyed ships from League worlds, murdered their crews. Destroyed White Star 16. And now, they will pay the price."
Space
White Star ships exit hyperspace and Pearl Harbor the Drakh. The smaller Drakh fighters are quickly destroyed, and firepower is concentrated on the escaping mothership.
Delenn: "How fast are they?"
Lennier: "Fast!"
Delenn: "BE FASTER!"
The Drakh mother ship attempts to escape. White Star vessels pour heavy fire onto it. Lennier overtakes and passes the mother ship. He then initiates a 180 and takes aim on the mothership.
Delenn: "End this"
Lennier concentrates maximum firepower on the Drakh vessel and destroys it in front of the local jumpgate. The battle over, Lennier and Delenn discuss the political problem on Minbar, and set course for Babylon 5.
War Room
Delenn enters the War Room. It's a mess. Sheridan is sitting on a flight of steps.
Delenn: "Curious thing about you humans. Minbari cities remain untouched and unchanged for centuries. I'm gone for three days, and you redecorate."
Sheridan laughs. He admits that the new room will allow B5 to fight back against Clark. He heard about Delenn's engagements with the Drakh, informs her of more of their attacks.
Sheridan: "Wild Cards, just what we need. You know, my grandfather used to tell me the duration's going to be a lot longer than the war"
Delenn tells Sheridan that she must return to Minbar to try to clear up matters and restructure the Minbari government. Sheridan is unhappy, but Delenn convinces him that time apart may be good for both of them, because Sheridan can take care of his "Dirty work" while she's not present, and he would be more comfortable with it that way. Delenn says she must leave in the morning:
Sheridan: "Dinner?"
Delenn: Love to." smiles
They leave the war room, arm in arm.
Mars
Marcus sits in a tunnel all by himself. Guard duty. Bored, he opens and closes his fighting pike. Bored. Out of nowhere, Number One moans:
Number One: " Ohhhhhhh, Steven!"
Marcus continues playing with the fighting pike, all by himself. . .
