Recap / Babylon Five S 04 E 11 Lines Of Communication

A Drakh.

Sheridan: You have a face people trust.

Ivanova: I'd rather have a face people fear.

Sheridan: Well, that too, but...

ISN is on in C&C and Sheridan is planted in front of the screen winding himself up...or gathering intelligence. Whatever. He notes that Earth is setting up for a "rescue mission", but it won't be for a while. Just then a signal come in from Franklin. He says the board meeting is on, confirming that he has met the Resistance and the meeting is a go.

After signing off, Franklin and Number One have a short talk about the situation. Earth Force is closing in and some of the others are getting desperate. To drive the point home, Marcus rushes in with news: the Resistance has bombed the Red Planet hotel, taking out an Earth security force and ten civilians. Number One rushes off.

On Babylon 5, Delenn is being informed by a Minbari named Forell of attacks in Minbari space against some of their allied races. The alliances were forged by the Religious Caste, but without the Grey Council the Warrior Caste is no longer defending them. Delenn decides to investigate personally.

In space, a fleet of dart-shaped ships destroy another ship.

Delenn comes up to C&C to talk to Sheridan about the attacks. Sheridan says there have been other attacks outside pak'ma'ra space, someone is either trying to take advantage of the aftermath of the Shadow War or looking to stir up trouble. Since one of the races affected is under Minbari protection, she is going out. Sheridan balks, asking if she couldn't send Lennier, it could be dangerous. Delenn gently puts him in his place, and he assents.

Number One is far more forceful in doing the same to one of her own, Phillipe, as she rakes him over the coals for the bombing, and especially that he did it without checking with her first. She reminds him that Mars is her territory and she's the one who will be held responsible for everything the Resistance does there.

Number One: I don't care what you do back home, but here you answer to me. And you don't do anything, you don't breathe, you don't move, and you don't blow things up unless you check with me first! Clear?
Phillipe: (nods) Tell me, is this how you treat all your former lovers?
Number One: As a matter of fact, yes!

She storms past Franklin and Marcus, who note she looks upset.

Back on station, Sheridan is still watching ISN when he suddenly gets an idea. Ivanova is asleep when her door chime goes off, and she drags herself out of bed and answers the door as an enthusiastic Sheridan charges in going on about how he has it, and they can play their own games. He's about to drag her off when she points out she's still in a nightgown and robe. Sheridan didn't notice.

Ivanova: Wait a minute? What do you mean you didn't notice? What am I, chopped flarn? Ok, granted I don't have any interest in you, you don't have any interest in me, but if you're going to come barging in here in the middle of the night, the least you could say is, "Nice outfit, Ivanova," and then go on a tear.
Sheridan: (gobsmacked) Uh, nice outfit Ivanova.

Ivanova gives him a hard stare then goes into her room, muttering under her breath. A short time later he brings her to the War Room. He reminds her about how she was giving the announcements about refugee sanctuaries and Shadow and Vorlon movements. She hated it, but he thought she was great at it. He wants to do something similar, the Voice of the Resistance, giving the real news about the war, providing intelligence for Resistance cells, encouraging enemy officers to defect, and Ivanova gets the sneaking suspicion she's being volunteered for this. Sheridan accepts her "offer".

Sheridan: Now get some sleep, and we'll discuss this in the morning. (walks off)
Ivanova: If he weren't my commanding officer, I swear I'd shoot him dead.

In hyperspace, Delenn leads a flotilla of White Stars to the area of the attacks, and she discusses the situation on Minbar with Forell. Without the Grey Council the castes are beginning to fracture, and the Warrior Caste seems to be trying to form its own ruling body, and forcing the other castes out of certain areas. At least, that is the rumor. He walks off and Delenn muses on what he said.

On Mars, Franklin begins addressing the assembled Resistance leaders, and bring several messages from Sheridan. He conveys the outrage they felt over the bombings ordered by Clark, telling them it was one of the reasons they seceded themselves. The Marsies are a bit skeptical. Sheridan helped put down the food riots after the Minbari War, and they still remember that. Marcus assures them Sheridan is willing to set aside all differences and work together. He is putting together a coalition to move against Clark, the person not the actual Earth government. There is a minor uprising at that, but it is quickly quelled, reasoning that trying to overthrow Earth will only prove ISN right. And to that end, Sheridan wants the bombing of civilian targets stopped. It drives people away when they should be trying to bring them around.

Number One asks where Babylon 5 has been all this time, and Marcus explains a little about the Shadow War, and points out that the incident with Captain Jack proves that they are at least partially responsible for what's going on now. Franklin then asks that they carry out any instruction from Babylon 5 without question. And he has one more message: after everything is done, Mars will finally be recognized as an independent state. This is met with scoffs of disbelief, but Franklin presses on.

Franklin: This is what you have been fighting and dying for and you are no closer to your goal now than before. Clark's forces will keep closing in on you whether you sign up with us or not, and in six months the Resistance will be dead! Now we're offering you a chance. We'll give you support, and a real target, which is a hell of a lot better than bombing civilian targets on your way to the gallows!

He stares at them, daring anyone to challenge him. No one does.

As the White Stars arrive at the target location, Lennier picks up a Distress Signal from a pak'ma'ra ship. They are under attack from unidentified forces. Then the signal is lost. As the White Stars approach the aggressors turn toward them. Delenn orders a channel opened, and after an initial message in an alien language a message comes through in Minbari. Delenn realizes the only way that could be possible is if they already had had contact with one of their people. Forell pulls a gun on her. He doesn't want to her doing anything until she has a chance to speak to them. He has them follows the aliens, called the Drakh, somewhere else.

On Mars, Number One finds Franklin and Marcus and tells them they have their support, for now, and hers. Even if they are liars; Sheridan couldn't have known about the bombings, and so couldn't have sent a message, but it helped her out so she isn't complaining too much. Marcus notes that she didn't thank him at all, and begins teasing Stephen about her liking him. Moments later, she comes back and offers dinner since their hotel is now rubble. Oh, and Marcus has guard duty. She walks off again and Marcus starts gloating that he was right, but gives Stephen a little advice.

Marcus: Touch passion when it comes your way, Stephen. It's rare enough as it is. Don't walk away when it calls you by name.

The White Stars arrive at their destination, where a much larger ship is waiting. It launches a small pod craft to rendezvous with the White Star and a dark, hooded figure with a skull-like face comes aboard. It introduces itself as an emissary for the Drakh. Forell begins explaining that everything he said earlier was true. The Warrior Caste has formed its own council and without the Grey Council there is no one else to hold them in check. Forell's family was in one city where the warriors drove them out, forcing them to walk to the next city, while many died of exposure. Delenn apologizes for not knowing, but Forell insists things are returning to the days before Valen, and believes that if they have allies the Warrior Caste will hold back. All the Drakh are asking for are several unoccupied worlds in their space. They only want a place of their own because, Lennier realizes, they no longer have one. Delenn asks if their homeworld has a name, but only gets "Home". Forell urges her to take their offer and she says she will consider it. As the emissary leaves, Forell thanks her. "You will not regret this, Delenn." The emissary hears and recognizes her name and as it leaves, Delenn orders the fleet to prepare for battle.

Forell protests, but Delenn explains that the Drakh are from Z'ha'Dum, servants of the Shadows who now seek to fill the void their masters left and take revenge on those who drove the Shadows off. As the shuttle leaves, the warships turn and begin powering their weapons. They're boxed in, but the Drakh haven't fired because they are too close to their mothership to attack without damaging it. Delenn decides they should escape by flying along the mothership's hull until they have enough momentum to escape. She makes it look like they're leaving while Lennier programs the flight into the White Star, and just as the Drakh are ready to fire, they execute. The ships engage in a high-speed chase along the hull until the White Stars gain enough speed to jump into hyperspace. As they race for the jump points, several of them take hits, one is destroyed and Forell is fatally injured. With his dying breath, he apologizes for bringing her here, but she apologizes for staying away from home for so long.

She asks for a status report, and Lennier reports they are mostly operable. He's about to plot a course for Babylon 5 but Delenn countermands him.

Delenn: They destroyed ships from league worlds, murdered their crews, destroyed White Star 16, and now...they will pay the price.

As the Drakh regroup, the White Stars jump back in, guns blazing. They quickly massacre the smaller gunships, but the mothership begins making a run for it. Delenn orders them to race out in front of it then they turn and fire their main gun right down its spine, blowing it wide open.

The fleet then returns to Babylon 5, as Delenn considers what she needs to do next.

After getting home, she comes into the War Room, which has been completely changed. Sheridan has information about more Drakh ships in different areas, but Delenn has more bad news. She tells him the situation on Minbar is deteriorating and she needs to go there. It will take some time, and she's not sure when she will be back. She also thinks the time apart will be good for them. She tells him he keeps trying to pretend things haven't changed, which is why he's pouring his energy into the Earth problem. He's been holding back the parts of himself that have changed, but Delenn isn't fooled. He needs to be dangerous and she thinks he would be more comfortable doing that without her around. For her part, she needs to go and deal with the the problems on Minbar before they tear her people apart.

Sheridan quietly asks for dinner, and she agrees.

On Mars, another couple is through with dinner and past the polite stage, as Marcus sits by himself playing with his pike.

This episode contains examples of:

• A House Divided: Without the Grey Council, the Minbari have become this.
• Aliens Speaking English: Or speaking Minbari, rather. The White Star meets the Drakh, making First Contact between the two races. After Lennier sends them language files, they begin transmitting a message in Minbari. Only one problem: Lennier sent them language files in Interlac, not Minbari, which reveals that they have met the Minbari before.
• Ape Shall Never Kill Ape: Minbari do not kill Minbari, but where there's a will...(see Loophole Abuse)
• As You Know: Franklin explaining his message to Number One, who has probably had to send similar messages herself and should know all this already.
• Back Story: The Mars Resistance has not forgotten the time that Captain Sheridan served with the task force that put down the Food Riots.
• Beneath the Mask: Delenn refers to this in regarding how Sheridan is trying to act like his old self, but she isn't fooled.
• Berserk Button: Number One charges off as soon as she hears about the bombing and about looks ready to flay Phillipe alive over it.
• Brick Joke: A somewhat bittersweet one. When Sheridan and Delenn first see each other this episode, he tries to ask her to join him for dinner, but she has something to take care of. At the end, after explaining that she's going to Minbar and why, he asks again and she accepts.
• Call-Back:
  • Marcus and Franklin's mission to Mars finally pays off.
  • The effects of the breaking of the Grey Council are being felt more sharply.
  • ISN is still going on about Minbari War Syndrome.
  • Franklin refers to what happened to Captain Jack.
• Common Tongue: Interlac is apparently supposed to be an easy-to-use language to facilitate communication between alien species quickly.
• Continuity Nod:
  • "Atonement"
    • Forell quotes Dukhat.
    • Delenn makes reference to the First Contact with the humans.
    • Marcus relaxing by opening and closing his Den'bok.
  • When Forell pulls a gun on Delenn, Lennier can be seen in the background with his hands in the Minbari fighting pose.
  • The Red Planet Hotel was where Stephen and Marcus were staying. Number One makes the most of it.
• Death March: The Warrior Caste on Minbar attacks the Religious Caste, destroying their ships and forcing them to walk to the next city. Since this city was at the planet's polar region, many of them died from exposure. It is strongly implied that this was a deliberately lethal form of Loophole Abuse to get around the Minbari rule against killing other Minbari.
• Distress Call: One from the pak'ma'ra ship that leads Delenn to the Drakh.
• Do a Barrel Roll: "Skin Dancing", which involves smaller ships flying as close to a larger enemy ship as possible to avoid taking fire. The White Stars do this while accelerating so they can pick up enough speed to escape before they can be shot down.
• Does This Remind You of Anything?: Marcus sitting at his guard post, listening to Stephen and Number One making love somewhere behind him as he plays with his fighting pike.
• Early-Installment Weirdness: In this episode, the Drakh we meet moves stiffly, and is CGI'd with several overlapping copies of himself moving at slightly different speeds, for a creepy effect. In all subsequent appearances, they will move normally and come without CGI blurriness.
• Enemy Mine: Sheridan is teaming up with the Mars Resistance. The last time he and they had anything to do with each other, it was on opposing sides during the Food Riots.
• Fauxshadow: The design of the Drakh ships, and their use of a Mathematician's Answer, might make a viewer suspect that they'd been modelling themselves on the Vorlons. We soon find out that's not the case.
• Good Is Not Soft: Delenn does not suffer betrayal lightly.
• Got Volunteered: Sheridan does this to Ivanova.
• Hyperspeed Escape: The White Star fleet narrowly escapes a Drakh ambush and jumps to Hyperspace...
  • Hyperspeed Ambush: ...then turn right around, jump back into real space and demonstrate to the Drakh the consequences of their action.
• Kubrick Stare: Delenn facing down the Drakh mothership as she orders its destruction, "End this."
• La Résistance: The Mars Resistance, of course.
• Loophole Abuse: The Warrior Caste have driven the Religious Caste from several of the southernmost cities on Minbar. Many of the Religious died from exposure before reaching shelter. Minbari do not kill Minbari, but apparently driving them out into the snow where they'll probably die is okay, because it's not you doing the killing, is it?
• Mathematician's Answer:
  Delenn: Is [Drakh] your name, or the name of your species?
  Drakh: Yes.
• The Mole: An unwitting one, Forell is revealed to already be in contact with the Drakh, and while he thinks he's doing good, he puts Delenn in a very dangerous position.
• Not Distracted by the Sexy: Lampshaded by Ivanova when Sheridan comes barging into her quarters while she's in her nightgown.
  Ivanova: Wait a minute? What do you mean you didn't notice? What am I, chopped flarn?
• Power Glows: The Drakh weapons emit green light when they're ready to fire.
• The Remnant: The Drakh, one of the Shadows' allied races, who are now apparently trying to take over as the main force of darkness.
• The Revolution Will Not Be Civilized: Some of the Mars resistance, Phillipe in particular, feel this way, willing to sacrifice a few civilians to take out targets of opportunity. Franklin's counterargument is...
• The Revolution Will Not Be Vilified: ...that their current actions are only driving people away and proving Clark's point for him.
• Romantic Wingman: Marcus turns this on its side a little as he's trying to get Stephen to pick up and act on Number One's overtures rather than talking up Stephen to her.
• Snowy Screen of Death: When the White Star loses the distress signal.
• Spot the Thread: Doctor Franklin delivers multiple messages from Captain Sheridan. One of these messages being an order to cease attacks on civilians. Afterwards, Number One points out that given the blockade and communications blackout (which had been mentioned repeatedly recently), there's actually no way Sheridan could know any such attacks had happened.
• Spy Speak: "Lost Lamb to Big Bad Wolf, the board meeting is on"
• Translation Convention: The scene in which Lennier and Delenn are surprised to find that the Drakh already speak fluent Minbari is performed entirely in English; by implication, this conversation (and any other where Minbari are speaking among themselves) is actually in Minbari, but translated for the audience's benefit.
• Voice of the Resistance: Sheridan hits upon the idea here, and volunteers Ivanova for it.
• We Come in Peace — Shoot to Kill: The Drakh are first presented by Forell as potential allies but it quickly becomes apparent where they come from and when they realize who they're meeting with they prepare to attack.
• Woken Up at an Ungodly Hour: Ivanova is less than pleased when Sheridan comes barging into her quarters in the middle of the night with his latest idea.
• Woman Scorned: Number One is not happy when Phillippe bombs the hotel, leaving dead civilians in the aftermath, and she chews him out pretty good. Bonus points for them actually being ex-lovers.
• Working with the Ex: Phillipe is Number One's ex, but right now is her subordinate.
• Your Terrorists Are Our Freedom Fighters: One of the warnings Franklin and Marcus give, that the people of Mars won't care if the Resistance is fighting for their freedom if they're as likely to be killed by said freedom fighters as Earth Force.