The day begins and Captain Lochley begins her morning routine and recording her personal log on the current situation.
- Lochley: My first CO once told me, "If someone asks why you took on a job, the worst answer you can give is, 'because a friend asked me too'." I should have listened, this place is one long exercise in frustration.
Despite being against it from the start, dealing with the telepath colony falls to her, since Sheridan is stuck dealing with the Alliance members worlds who have all started blaming each other over the recent attacks. The teeps, well, they're an annoyance, one that they think will be dealt with severely in short order, something Lochley fears they're right about, but the attacks are costing them money, so that's what they're focused on now. Besides, they think they're all trapped in one place, but they don't know that some of them possibly have gotten out. Lochley's trying to keep a lid on that for as long as possible. Londo and G'kar are still on Centauri Prime, so they can't help, so that means Lochley's pretty much on her own here, she has an idea, but it's not a very good one and no one's going to like it.
- Lochley: And God's honest truth is I don't think we're gonna get out of this without a lot of dead people on the deck. Maybe a whole lot of dead people.
She ends her log then has has C&C send a message to Earth, Psi Corps, specifically, Bester. She needs his help.
In Brown Sector, teams are trying to cut through the welded shut doors, but progress is slow. The telepaths keep making the workers think there's a bomb on the other side. Bringing in a new one takes time, and by then the telpaths have welded another three inches of metal to the other side. But this is more than a single telepath could do without line of sight, so there has to be a whole mass of them back there. Lochely asks if there's any other way in. The only possible way is the maintenance ducts, but that's not exactly safe, and only one person could fit through. Lochely tells him to find one, she's going in. Zack tries to protest but she orders him to do it anyway.
Inside, Lyta asks if Lochely was there, and if Byron managed to get a message to her. He tried, but he has no way of knowing if she got it. All they can do is wait.
Londo is at the Royal Palace going over some unusual numbers; despite being at peace, production of military hardware is up 15%. He wonders why.
- G'Kar: Well, with everyone now on the same side, perhaps you're planning to invade yourselves for a change. I find the idea curiously appealing. Once you've finished killing each other, we can plow under all the buildings and plant rows of flowers that spell out the words, "Too annoying to live," in letters big enough to be seen from space. Would you like some spoo? It's fresh.
Londo is not amused, and disgusted by the notion of fresh spoo. It needs to age to achieve the proper flavor. Only Narns could stomach it fresh. So where was all that fresh spoo going? It was headed to the south end of the palace, and G'Kar suddenly wants to know what's over there. Nothing really, most of it's shut down...except the cells. G'Kar demands to be taken there.
A guard lets them in, and they look around the darkened cell. When Londo calls out, he and G'Kar are surprised to hear chains moving in response. They're even more surprised not to mention shocked when a female Narn appears, one both are quite familiar with. It's Na'Toth, G'Kar's old attache. Na'Toth at first fears that G'Kar is a captive as well, but he assures her that the war is over and Narn is free. He asks how she got here, and she recounts some of what happened when Narn was attacked.
- Na'Toth: We had no warning, we saw nothing, heard nothing, until a second star appeared in the morning sky. And then the sky exploded. Five million Narn killed in the first few minutes of the attack. There are no words, G'Kar. It was as if the Universe itself had turned against us and said, "Die...die...die..."
Londo listens, his own feelings watching the bombardment resurfacing.
When Na'Toth awoke again, she found a Centauri officer standing on her throat, then she awoke again on the ship to Centauri Prime, taken as a trophy. G'Kar demands to know what she is still doing here, but Londo doesn't know. She was probably put here by Cartagia, and then forgotten so the order was never countermanded. Londo recounts how years ago he found a guard standing over apparently nothing in the courtyard, and through research discovers that two hundred years before, the daughter of the emperor ruling at that time arranged for a guard to watch a flower growing there, but because the order was never countermanded, that spot continued to be guarded long after there was no need. G'kar nonetheless demands Londo order her release, but the order came from an emperor, it can only be undone by an emperor. Or the regent, but his cooperation is unlikely. He offers to do it when he becomes emperor, but that's too long for G'Kar seeing how ill she is. He insists they find a way to get her out, or he will burn the palace to the ground with everyone in it.
Lochley comes to where Zack has found an open duct. She orders him to give her an hour then seal it up if she's not back. She tells him help's coming and everything he needs to know is on her desk just in case. He offers her a PPG, but she figures it won't help if they really mean her harm. She begins making her way through the ducts as Garibaldi briefs Sheridan on the situation, including her plan. Sheridan thinks she's crazy but Garibaldi doesn't think the ones beyond the blockade are the problem. He's worried about the ones who got out. They may resort to sabotage if they're left to run loose. Sheridan says he'll talk to Lochley when she gets back. In the mean time, Garibaldi has some new information; a piece of metal found by Drazi forces in the aftermath of another attack. It's Brakiri, and appears to have been blown off in the fight. The Drazi intend to bring this up in the next council meeting. Sheridan orders extra security be present.
As Garibaldi begins to leave, Sheridan begins musing on the situation, how things seems to be unraveling and instead of trying to hold it together, everyone is pulling every thread they can in every direction.
- Garibaldi: You really want an answer to that?
Sheridan: You got one?
Garibaldi: Yeah. Why is it that we always break up our history by the wars, not the years of peace? The Hundred Years War, the War of 1812, the first three world wars, the Dilgar War, the War of the Shining Star, the Minbari War, the Shadow War. Why the war and not the peace? Because it's exciting. And because on some level people like to see something big fall apart and explode from the inside out. And right now John, we're that something.
Lochley manages to make it to the other side, and asks to be taken to Byron. He greets her and she brings them up to speed on what's been going on outside, that due to a case of bad timing, they pulled their little stunt just as the attacks came to light, so now the member worlds are convinced they're in on it, which means a telepath homeworld is pretty much a non-issue at the moment, so this stand-off is pointless. Byron disagrees, but Lochley insists surrender is their only option where everyone lives, but Byron insists they will stay until their point is made. And if the others want to see them dead first, they will die if need be. Byron is set, but Lochley appeals to anyone else who wants to leave. No one takes her up, and Lochley asks why they asked her to come. Byron says he wanted to say good-bye, and to thank her for, if not being kind, then at least being fair.
Londo has managed to calm G'Kar down, and they are now working together to save Na'Toth. G'Kar informs Londo that he has contacted his government, and they will have a ship standing by. That just leaves the matter of getting Na'Toth onto their ship without killing anyone, raising alarms or anyone noticing.
There's a knock at the door, and a young woman comes in to inform him that there will be a ship for Babylon 5 later that night. Londo thanks her, then has her close the door. He then has her turn around, looking her over, then has her take off her dress. G'Kar is initially irritated, but that lasts about two seconds after she starts taking things off. She asks what he wants to do next, but he just wants to borrow her clothes. She's rather understanding, several years with Cartagia in the house apparently jade you to such things.
The Alliance is in the Council Chambers where Delenn recognizes the Drazi to present their findings. The Drazi ambassador shows the piece of metal whcih has been analyzed and found to be of Brakiri origin, and posits that the Brakiri have been working with the telepaths to steal shipping information. The Brakiri ambassador takes umbrage at that, but the Drazi continues. He announces that they have dispatched warships to the edge of Brakiri space and will destroy a Brakiri ship for each one of their own destroyed, the two ambassadors are about to get into each others faces, but Delenn recognizes the Gaim ambassador who also has some information to share.
The Gaim have also found foreign metal in the remains of one of their ships, but this one is Drazi. Now the Drazi ambassador is on the defensive as the Brakiri ambassador begins accusing him of pretty much the same thing, working with the other races only to steal from them. Sheridan thinks this is all a trick from someone trying to turn the Alliance against itself. He had Garibaldi do his own analysis and found that they were not blown off any ship, they were cut off. Then they were planted somewhere they would be found for just this thing to occur. Sheridan doesn't know who is responsible, and Delenn urges them to give them more time so they can gather more informatino and get to the bottom of this. The Drazi declares that any ship crossing Drazi space without authorization will be destroyed, then storms off.
Londo comes to Na'Toth's cell, and gives the guard there new orders, he is to retire from this cell, wait three days then come and see that this section is walled up so no one will discover what has happened here. The guard leaves and Na'Toth asks if he has come to kill her. Londo tells her no, but Na'Toth intends to kill him at the first opportunity. Londo just tells her to get in line. G'Kar comes in and they begin working.
Bester arrives on Babylon 5 and Lochley greet him in the docking bay. He reminds her that this would not end well, but now that he's here it'll be taken care of.
In Londo's quarters, G'Kar has gotten Na'Toth dressed in the Centauri gown. Londo asks if she can walk to the landing bay, and G'Kar says she can walk across the planet if need be. Londo puts a veil over her face, then they begin moving out. Na'Toth asks how they will avoid being noticed, but Londo has the exact opposite in mind. He takes a drink, splashes the two of them with some of it, then, Na'Toth on his arm, boldly heads out into the court, loudly laughing carousing and getting in people's faces, all of whom gamely try to ignore the sight of their prime minister making a drunken fool of himself.
- Londo: Oh, Great Maker, I cannot wait to be back on Babylon 5 where at least it will be quiet!
On Babylon 5, one of the rogue telepaths, Thomas, is spraying "Free Byron" on a corridor wall when another comes up with news that Bester is here. They decide that they need to fight now.
Bester is brought to where they were trying to cut through. The worker from earlier keeps insisting there's a bomb on the other side, but Bester is able to dispel their influence. With that, the worker is able to continune working.
Thomas and his cohorts break into a security station and demand access tot he armory. They force a guard to think of the combination and force him to scan his palm print.
Cutting through the barricade is going much more smoothly now, but Thomas' crew shows up and begin showing off their new firepower. In the fight, several guards and telepaths are killed. Bester is somewhat flippant about it, which really gets under Zack's skin, but Bester doesn't care much for the mundanes, they're not his people. They're inside the barricade, but he'll deal with them. What family doesn't have its issues?
Bester's "family" are in a dark mood, Byron in particular about people killing in his name. He feels he has to stop it.
Sheridan calls the Drazi, Brakiri and Gaim ambassadors to his office where he and Delenn show them the Drazi ships that were dispatched to watch the Brakiri. Then they show them the White Stars that were sent to watch the Drazi watching the Brakiri. If the Drazi attack, the White Stars will attack as well, the same for the other two. The ambassadors protest that this is a violation of their sovereign rights, but when they joined the Alliance, they agreed that the Alliance would have jurisdiction over conflicts between member worlds. They cannot just attack one another without either leaving, or suffering the consequences. The Gaim asks what they propose. Sheridan asks for more time; they need absolute proof before they take any action, but once hey have it they will support any action the member worlds decide on. Or they can take their own action, and get more first-hand accounts of White Stars in action. The ambassadors relent, but the Drazi is not happy. He warns they will not forget this, and that this is the single mistake that could lead to a great fall.
Londo and G'Kar watch as Na'Toth is transferred to the ship that will take her back to Narn. Londo asks if she will be alright, and G'Kar says she is strong, but it will take some time for her spirit to heal. He believes she can do it. Londo seems to think breaking her out was the most fun he's had in years, and decides to go get something to eat. G'Kar just stays and watches as the ship jumps into hyperspace.
More of Bester's forces are arriving on Babylon 5, and he leads them off to get ready for action as Lochley get ready for bed.
- Lochley: Personal log, June 18, 2262. I don't think I've had a good night's sleep since I got here and tonight's no exception. But, I have to sleep; tonight is the calm before the storm and I may not get another chance for some time. Tomorrow the storm comes, tomorrow the killing begins. And, God help me, I can't think of any way to stop it.
This episode contains examples of:
- Air-Vent Passageway: Lochley uses them to circumvent the telepaths' barricade.
- Appeal to Force / Gunboat Diplomacy: When the ambassadors won't listen to reason, there are always White Stars.
- The Atoner: Londo. It is arguably his primary motive in helping G'Kar break Na'Toth out of prison; even more than G'Kar's threats.
- Batman Gambit: Londo comes up with his plan because he knows the members of the royal court, guards included, will ignore inappropriate behavior.
- Bookends: The episode begins with Lochley getting out of bed and ready for the day, recording her log, and ends with her getting back into bed, recording her log.
- The Bus Came Back: Na'Toth, after being absent from the show for well over two seasons, appears for the final time in this episode.
- Call-Back:
- The situation from last time continues on.
- Na'Toth recounts what happened during the fall of Narn. Londo also thinks back to it.
- Calm Before the Storm: The episode ends with Lochley name-dropping it in her Captain's Log as she gets ready for bed after calling in Bester and Psi Corps bloodhound units to clear out a group of rogue telepaths that have sealed themselves away in one part of the station, lamenting the killing that will start in the morning and wishing she could see a way out of it.
- Chick Magnet: Directly referenced by G'Kar as Lara starts taking her dress off right in front of him.G'Kar: Oh, it's animal magnetism, what can I say?
- Creepy Crossdresser: Lara, the female Centauri courtier, reveals that Emperor Cartagia used to borrow her clothes.
- Exact Words: Though the guard obviously believes that Londo is ordering him to starve Na'Toth to death and then cover up her body, Londo doesn't actually say that is what he's doing. He tells the guard that Na'Toth will not need any food or water brought to her cell (Because they are sneaking her out) and that after three days he is to wall up the hallway so nobody finds what is left of her (An empty cell with only her prisoner clothing left behind).
- False Flag Operation: The Drakh are planting debris from other races' ships on the site of their attacks seeking to turn each race against one another.
- Gilligan Cut: Londo is commenting that he is looking forward to going back to Babylon 5, because he thinks things will be more quiet there; cut back to a section of Babylon 5 where we find the telepaths making mischief (vandalism) and deciding to making an open revolt.
- Impossible Mission: Get the sole Narn captive out of the royal palace without anyone noticing? Dress her up as a Centauri woman and make such a drunken fool of yourself that everyone pretends you don't exist.
- Jedi Mind Trick: The telepaths slow efforts to cut through the barricade by making the workers think there's a bomb on the other side. Bester later uses the same trick to convince the last worker that there's no bomb.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Though it is never brought up, the situation wouldn't have escalated into violence if Lochley hadn't called Bester.
- P.O.V. Cam: Done a couple of times to get close-up shots of reactions to Londo's drunkenness.
- Refuge in Audacity: Londo gets Na'Toth out of prison by first dressing her up as a Centauri woman (including a face-covering veil), then he pretends to be drunk and staggers through the palace halls with her on his arm, laughing loudly and making a scene. The guards and courtiers do exactly what he expects them to, and look everywhere but at them.
- Urban Legend: Londo's anecdote about the flower is directly based on a historical urban legend involving Catherine the Great and a rose bush.
