History Recap / BabylonFiveS01E13SignsAndPortents

'''Season 1, Episode 13''':
!Signs and Portents

* ShoutOut: Sinclair's question to Ladira after seeing the vision is the same one [[Literature/AChristmasCarol Scrooge asked the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come of his own future]].

* WhamEpisode: We see the Shadows for the first time, Morden's first appearance and a vision of the destruction of Babylon 5.

Some time later G'Kar is in his quarter when Morden visits. He only wishes to ask the ambassador a question: "What do you want?" G'Kar is initially confused but after repeated askings finally begins to tell him: To destroy the Centauri, to ruin their homeworld and visit everything they did to the Narns back upon them. Morden listens and when G'Kar is finished, he asks, "AndThenWhat" G'Kar is not sure. Morden leaves, looking disappointed. G'Kar stares after him a bit then says, "Nonsense!"

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: Though we have yet to see the consequences of Londo's and G'Kar's wishes, we get every impression that neither will be happy with the results.

* TitleDropChapter: "Signs and Portents" is title of the season, and this episode gives us our first taste of the main villains.

* CurbStompBattle: The Raiders lose against Babylon 5 but they do put up a decent fight. When the Shadows appear it's over in a single shot.

-->'''Morden''': ''(''[[SlasherSmile smiles]]'') Yes.''

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: The usually cryptic Kosh tells Morden (and also presumably the Shadows accompanying him) in plain English to piss off.

* YouDoNotWantToKnow: When Londo says he'd like to know how Morden got the Eye back, the man simply says, "No, you wouldn't," then leaves.

* DetectEvil: Members of the Grey Council seem to be able to sense the presence of the Shadows.

Garibaldi meets with Sinclair and tells him what he's found out. Jeff was very far down the line for command of Babylon 5, but everyone else -- generals, admirals, ambassadors, the whole brass -- were rejected by the Minbari. They gave their support to the Babylon Project with the condition that they would have say over who was put in command, and they wanted him. As for why, neither of them can think of a reason.

* DetectEvil: Minbari, or at least members of the Grey Council, seem to be able to sense the presence of the Shadows.

** Garibaldi's investigation reveals that Sinclair was not the first choice to be the commander of Babylon 5 and that officers of higher rank & greater prominence were in line to receive command of the station but were rejected by the Minbari. It hints at a further connection with the Minbari, but also sets up the later episode [[{{Recap/BabylonFiveS01E16Eyes}} Eyes]].

* YouDoNotWantToKnow: When Londo says he'd like to know how the mercenary got the Eye back, the man simply says, "No, you wouldn't," then leaves.

They are interrupted by a distress signal from a Starfury. It's been ambushed by raiders and is being overwhelmed. Sinclair scrambles a response but it's too late.

Sinclair, Ivanova and Garibaldi are discussing the raider situation. They've been getting bolder and are attacking closer and closer to Babylon 5, too close to escape through any jumpgates. Sinclair puts Delta Wing on alert, then asks to talk to Garibaldi. He recounts what happened when he was forced to re-live his experience at the Battle of the Line and what he remembers from it. He's gone as far as he can and asks Michael to see if he can get any further.

A freighter, the ''Achilles'', is cruising to the next jumpgate when raiders suddenly appear. They immediately go to full thrust and send out a distress signal. Babylon 5 receives the call and launches Ivanova leading Delta Wing to assist. Six speaks into his communicator, saying they've taken the bait and to keep them busy.

The ship leaves the station and Alpha Wing launches and begins pursuit, but a jump point forms nearby and a large ship with raider fighters appear. A firefight erupts and Kiro's ship docks with the raider mother ship in the confusion. Sinclair orders Garibaldi to drive the raiders toward the back of the station and when they are in position orders Delta Wing in through the jumpgate.

With the fighters in place and station defenses ready, Sinclair orders both wings and the defense grid to fire, creating a gauntlet that obliterates the raider ships. The mother ship, however opens a jump point and escapes.

Later, Sinclair and Garibaldi discuss the aftermath of the battle, with Garibaldi mentioning that Kosh's encounter suit was damaged but the Vorlon won't say how. Sinclair then has Londo and Ladira come into his office and demands to know what was on that ship that the raiders wanted. As he speaks Ladira picks up a drink, but as she looks into it she sees the raider ship emerge from hyperspace. Inside, Kiro is speaking with the raiders, sounding more like a partner than a hostage. He was working with them to get the Eye so he can make an attempt to become Emperor. The raiders have different ideas. They have no illusions that the Centauri nobility will follow him just because he has the Eye, but they know how much it's worth and if they can ransom it, and Kiro, they might be able to buy another mother ship, maybe even two.

An alarm suddenly sounds and they go to see what the problem is. Outside, the space in front of the ship seems to shimmer and a huge and terrifying alien ship materializes before them, then fires a beam weapon which carves the raider ship up like a hunk of well-aged spoo. Aboard the station, Ladira drops her mug on the floor.

* CavalryBetrayal: The raiders are actually on Kiro's side, until he is aboard their ship, at which point they take him prisoner and announce their intention to ransom him and the Eye back to the Centauri.

* DramaticDrop: When Ladira sees Kiro's death aboard the raider ship. Followed by DramaticShattering.