Airdate: January 21, 1997 Written by J. Michael Straczynski Directed by Janet Greek Episode #: 89 Production # : 502
Guest stars: Robin Atkin Downes as Byron.
Babylon 5 gets a new commanding officer, Captain Lochley. As Sheridan prepares for his inauguration, an unknown assassin plots to kill him. A group of rogue telepaths asks permission to form a colony on the station.
Babylon 5
The jumpage opens and the EAS Acheron delivers the station's new commanding officer: Captain Elizabeth Lochley. Her ship docks and the captain meets with Lt. Corwin. Corwin greets the new captain and brings her up to speed on the station. Lochley is surprised that she is not being met by the entire command staff. However, as Corwin puts it, Babylon 5 is "different." Captain Lochley is surprised, but she is ready and anxious to get started. Lochley believes that she will be able to get Babylon 5 running smoothly and efficiently soon.
Mars
A Ranger is being held captive. The captor places a music box at his feet and talks to him.
Captor: "Time to go. It's nothing personal, but we need to send a message to Babylon 5. That's what you Rangers are for, right? Carrying messages. So, you're the right person at the right place at the right time. For me, anyway."
He pulls out a PPG and prepares to kill the Ranger.
Captor: "Oh. Almost forgot. Any final words?"
Ranger:"We live for the One. We die for the One."
Captor:"One out of two ain't bad."
He shoots the Ranger, who dies instantly. After the Ranger is dead, he puts a sign around the Ranger's head that says "Special Delivery for Babylon 5.
Babylon 5
Sheridan and Delenn prepare to leave for the day. They're living together now. They both have a busy day ahead of them, and they share a quick breakfast. Sheridan tells Delenn a story about his early days in Earthforce.
Delenn: "You're a very strange man, even for a human."
Sheridan: "Why, thank you."
Sheridan recevies news that Captain Lochley has arrived on station. Sheridan and Delenn discuss their living arrangements. They both have business that has to be done in their quarters, and they're alternating between each other's quarters. The situation is only temporary until the new facilities on Minbar are complete.
Sheridan: "Wherever you are is home enough for me."
Sheridan enters his old office, which now belongs to Captain Lochley. They greet each other and Sheridan gives command of Babylon 5 to Lochley. They discuss Babylon 5's situation. The station will remain an independent state until the Alliance formally buys it from Earthforce. Sheridan tells Lochley that Babylon 5, although an independent state, will have an Earthforce CO to help remind people that although the station is independent, no one will forget where it came from.
Sheridan: "Putting someone from Earth in charge here will help to cement us with the folks back home."
Lochley wants to know why she has been put in charge of the station. Sheridan tells her that he asked specifically for her because she is a good diplomat, a truthful speaker and a good fighter. He believes she can handle the situation. Speaking her mind, Lochley says that she will not be Sheridan's voice on Babylon 5. She wants complete control of the station. Sheridan agrees. Political decisions will belong to Sheridan, but Lochley is in complete control of the military aspect of station control.
Garibaldi and Zack are going over the security measures for Sheridan's inauguration. Zack is annoyed by Garibaldi's paranoia, but understands his concern. As they are passing through the Zocalo, the same man who murdered the Ranger eavesdrops on Zack and Garibaldi.
Captain Lochley reports to Medlab at Corwin's request. They examine the Ranger's body. He was found floating in a commercial stasis pod outside the station. Corwin shows her the sign that was placed around the Ranger's neck. Lochley looks stunned.
The computer in Sheridan's quarters displays a text message, a death threat. The message says that as of that moment, Sheridan is officially a dead man.
As Captain Lochley eats lunch in the Zocalo's food court, she notices that she is being observed by a strange man. Suddenly, everything becomes quiet. Although people are still hustling around, she can't hear anything they're saying. The man approaches her and introduces himself.
Lochley: "I'm sorry, but I'm. . ."
Byron: "Working. Yes, I can see. Books, policies, regulations. My name is Byron. It's important that you meet me in Brown 3 in 2 hours. Come alone."
Lochley: "Why should I do that?"
Byron: "My people are coming."
Suddenly, she can hear everything again. Just as quickly as Byron appreached, he leaves without being noticed. Franklin links in and asks Lochley to come down to Medlab.
G'kar's quarters
G'kar is working on his book. His door chimes and President Sheridan enters.
G'kar: "Ah, Captain. . .that is, Mr. President, you're up late."
Sheridan: "You know, I don't think I'll ever get used to being called that."
G'kar tells him about a Narn tradition. Newborn Narns are given temporary names that last until they are 10 years old. At that age, they are allowed to choose their true name of adulthood. G'kar compares Sheridan's new title to his "true name."
G'kar:
Sheridan tells G'kar that he's heard about how good his book is. Sheridan says that G'kar is an outstanding orator. He has given wonderful speeches and addressed. He asks G'kar to write the Oath of Office and a Declaration of Principles for the new Alliance. He can think of no one who can do a better job.
G'kar: I'm flattered. Well, then you shall have it. I shall dedicate myself to nothing else from now until the inauguration. I will not sleep, eat, drink, nothing. The words and I will be locked in mortal combat until one of us surrenders. Goodbye. Go on."
Sheridan, a bit amused, leaves.
Medlab
Captain Lochley enters and asks Dr. Franklin how the Ranger died.
Franklin: "PPG shot straight to the heart. The superheated helium tore through his ribcage, incinerated his heart and broke the 15th and 16th vertebrae."
Franklin reports that the Ranger has been dead for nearly a week, but that he was only in space for a few hours before the maintenance bot found him floating near the station.
Lochley: "Meaning he was killed elsewhere and dumped outside. So somebody wanted him to be found here. The question is why."
Franklin has no answer, but does say that the murder was very expertly executed. The shot caused instantaneous death, and the evidence points to a well trained, disciplined killer. Lochley is concerned that the murder may be connected to Sheridan's inauguration.
Brown sector
Captain Lochley meets with Byron. He appears as mysteriously as he disappeared earlier. Byron thanks her for coming.
Lochley: "I came because your little performance earlier was a pretty clear indication that you're a telepath. A strong one, therefore potentially dangerous, which is why I didn't come alone."
Security guards enter and search Byron and the other telepaths for weapons. Satisfied that they are unarmed, Lochley allows Byron to make his point.
Byron explains that they are all telepaths who refused to join the Psi-Corps or take sleepers. All they want is a place to call home. Byron explains that they do not believe in violence, and they want to live on Babylon 5 for a time. B5 will be a sanctuary for telepaths, and eventually, they will leave the station and colonize their own world for telepaths who do not want to join the Psi-Corps. Byron introduces the rest of the telepaths. Each have their own special qualities. Simon, the youngest, does not talk, but he projects images into Lochley's mind. She sees flowers, an indication that Simon likes her.
Lochley suggests that they be examined by Dr. Franklin to make sure they'll all healthy. Byron says that they will earn their keep and work, but all they want is a home.
Delenn and the Gaim representative speak. The Gaim ambassador thanks Delenn for her help, and Delenn says that the Gaim were helpful during the Shadow War, and she hopes that they will continue to be close allies in the future. The Gaim returns to her quarters and Delenn leaves. At the same time, the Ranger killer enters the Gaim's quarters, pulls out a PPG and kills her. After he is finished, he steals the helmet from her encounter suit.
Sheridan enters his quarters and orders the computer to play his messages. The computer displays the death threat, and then plays an audio message. The message tells about several former presidents who died or were assassinated in office after a war was over. The message sender accuses Sheridan of being a murderer, and says that he is going to kill him. He will accomplish his mission because he claims to be a lone gunman, a person who is willing to sacrifice his own life to kill his target.
Sender: "Maybe I'll go to Hell for that, but I'm taking you with me."
Dr. Franklin examines Simon. Franklin asks about Simon. Simon flashes a picture of himself and a girl to Franklin. Byron doesn't know who she is, but he says the Simon feels responsible for her death and wants to make up for it someday. Franklin suggests some treatment, but receives a call for a meeting of the command staff. After he turns to return to Simon, he finds that they have all disappeared.
Sheridan meets with his friends in Lochley's office. Garibaldi wants to postpone the ceremony in order to bring in more guards and troops, but Sheridan doesn't want to look like a coward.
Sheridan: "I refuse to go through life trapped inside of a bubble."
Londo tells Sheridan that inaugurations are a symbol to assassins that a new target has been selected. Sheridan, however, knows he is as much a target today as tomorrow or the day after next. He wants to be in touch with the public and actually do some good, unlike Earth politicians who hide behind glass, steel and bodyguards. Franklin commends his idea, but says it's dangerous and foolish.
Sheridan: "Our new friend just said all the security in the world can't stop a lone gunman dedicated to exchange his life for the target's. And he is right. So you may as well live instead of being a prisoner."
Lochley agrees with Sheridan. She defends his right to continue the ceremony. Sheridan concurs with her, and the ceremony will continue as planned. Lochley leaves and Garibaldi follows her.
Garibaldi: "What the hell was that all about?"
Lochley: "Excuse me, but by all rights, you shouldn't have even been in that meeting. You're not technically head of security, you're a civilian. A consultant at best, an annoyance at worst."
Garibaldi: "Sometimes I think he's a martyr in training. In this situation, you have to defend him against himself."
Lochley: "Really. Well then perhaps you should re-enlist to insure his protection. Because otherwise, your opinion really doesn't count for much."
Garibaldi: "I was here for a hell of a long time before you ever showed up."
Lochley: "That's right, you were. And then you left. I really don't think that leaves much more to be said."
Captain Lochley leaves a very angry Garibaldi in her wake.
Simon crawls through the air ducts and stumbles across the assassin's quarters. He sees a telepathic vision of the assassin shooting Sheridan with a PPG. After the vision is over, he accidentally backs into the wall of the duct. The assassin hears him, and quietly pulls out a PPG and shoots at the ceiling. When he sees blood trickle down the wall, he quickly packs up his belongings and rushes out of his quarters. Simon, badly injured, struggles to make his way out of the air ducts.
As guests arrive for Sheridan's inauguration, Delenn and Sheridan discuss the presence of the security officers.
Sheridan: "I though we agreed on a discrete presence of guards."
Delenn: "This is discrete. Garibaldi's idea was to strip-search everybody as they came in."
Sheridan: "I'm glad you talked him out of it. I have no desire to see Londo naked."
Londo hears this, but takes it good-naturedly. Delenn asks where Garibaldi is; Sheridan says he is analyzing the death threat to try to find out who it is.
Garibaldi checks the voiceprint against criminal records from human and alien archives. He turns up no subjects until he compares the voice pattern against current Earthforce personnel. The computer reports that it will have to download the information from Earthdome.
Back at the reception area for Sheridan's ceremony, the assassin, attired in a Gaim encounter suit, enters.
The computer gives Garibaldi a match on the voice print. Garibaldi links in to Zack and identifies the assassin as John Clemons, formerly Major John Clemons, Earthforce. He worked for Clark and went underground after Clark killed himself. He is wanted for murder. He has nothing to lose by dying, thus his planned assassination of Sheridan.
As the "gaim" ambassador watches, Simon stumbles into the reception area. He projects the images of Clemons shooting Sheridan with the PPG. As everyone sees this in their minds, Clemons removes the helmet from his Gaim disguise and pulls out a PPG. Guards surround Sheridan and fire at him, but not before Clemons takes a hostage and shoots one of the guards. Clemons escapes and Zack's men follow him, but Simon and the guard are both dead. G'kar asks if they plan to postpone the ceremony.
Sheridan: "No. He had his chance, and he blew it. He won't get this close again. We need to make sure they all understand we will not be intimidated. We can take it."
Sheridan and his party leave the reception area to proceed to the inauguration site: the observation area, which boasts a huge window overlooking Epsiolon 3.
Clemons enters the Cobra Bays and attacks a starfury pilot, knocking him out. Clemons boards the starfury and launches the ship. Garibaldi picks up the launch in the security office and rushes away to get his own starfury.
Sheridan's party enters the observation area. G'kar prepares to make his speech to the party.
G'kar: "Whoever speaks for the Alliance speaks with one voice for many. Consequently, this book contains the first page of every holy book of every race that has joined the new Alliance. Whoever speaks for the Alliance does so with the understanding that it is the inalienable right for every sentient race to live free, to pursure their dreams, to address wrongs in their own society without fear of retribution, to believe as their conscience requires, and also to respect the rights of others to believe differently, or not at all. Do you, John J. Sheridan. . ."
As G'kar prepares to finish the address, Clemons manuevers the starfury to the window of the observation area. He allows everyone but Sheridan to leave. Delenn, however, takes her place at Sheridan's side.
Sheridan: "If you fire at this range, you're just as dead as me."
Clemons: "That's okay by me. You've ruined my life, Sheridan. You've ruined my career, my family and my world. Now it's time to pay the piper."
Sheridan: "And what will this accomplish? Even if you kill me, the Alliance will go on."
Clemons: "Maybe it will, maybe it won't. It doesn't matter to me much, either way. Just as long as you're dead."
Just before Clemons fires his weapons, Garibaldi maneuvers behind him a attaches the grapple of his starfury to the fuselage of Clemons' ship. Garibaldi hits the engines and pulls them both out of firing range of Sheridan. When they are clear of the station, Garibaldi releases Clemons' ship, the station defense grid activates and destroys the starfury.
Back on the station, G'kar re-enters the observation area.
G'kar: "Do you want to be President?"
Sheridan: "Yes."
G'kar: "Put your hand on the book and say I do."
Sheridan quickly puts his hand on the book and concludes his oath of office.
G'kar: "Fine, done, that's it."
G'kar marches away. Sheridan and Delenn embrace each other.
Sheridan's office
Byron enters Sheridan's office. Sheridan expresses his gratitude for Simon's saving Sheridan's life. He knows that Lochley refused sanctuary to the telepaths, but Sheridan puts their interest in the "political" category and he says that he will allow the telepaths to form a colony on Babylon 5. The station will donate a small portion of Brown sector to them. Byron thanks him and leaves to tell the others.
Franklin: "Was that wise?"
Sheridan: "We both know there's a telepath war coming. When that happens, it won't hurt to have a few of our own. "
Garibaldi enters Lochley's office. It is somewhat disarrayed, as she is having it made to her own personal liking.
Garibaldi: "I just stopped by to see how you're settling in."
Lochley: "Just fine, thank you. What do you want?"
Garibaldi: "Nothing, really. I just wanted you to know I thought about what you said, about re-enlisting. The bottom line is I've never been really big on uniforms, and I've got someone on Mars who needs me, so I can't re-sign with Babylon 5."
Lochley: "I understand."
Garibaldi: "I talked to the President a while ago -- you know, I like the sound of that: 'I talked to the President' -- anyway, he agreed we should set up a covert intelligence division. Now, mostly it'll be used to keep track of what everyone else is doing. Granted, military intelligence is kind of an oxymoron, but, anyway, the new head of covert intelligence of the Alliance is pleased to meet you. Anyway, Captain, I guess I'll be seeing you at the next meeting. "
Lochley: "I guess so."
Garibaldi: "I finished compiling the stats of the late assassin and noticed that you served with him a few years back."
Lochley: "Yes, I did. He was a good soldier, a fine officer. But I guess time can change people."
Garibaldi: "Yeah, I guess it can at that. Oh, by the way, I was wondering: which side of the big fight were you on at home?"
Lochley: "I was on the side of Earth, Mr. Garibaldi. Weren't we all?"
