History Recap / BabylonFiveS01E19AVoiceInTheWildernessPart2

!A Voice in the Wilderness, Pt. 2

* MeaningfulName: Though it is never explicated onscreen, the episode title resonates with the role of the Great Machine's sentient heart. Varn had been watching Babylon 5 all this time, judging for when the moment was right to approach its crew/the Council, and Draal will now be doing the same. Moreover, by stating there will be a time when the Machine is needed and the other races are able to handle the responsibility of its power, Draal is essentially preparing the way for what will hopefully be a coming salvation against [[{{Foreshadowing}} "the darkness"]], just as the Biblical voice in the wilderness, John the Baptist, was preparing the way for Jesus Christ.

* YouDidntAsk: Invoked by Sinclair when he tells Pierce about the jamming device required to bypass Epsilon 3's defenses. Pierce believes him, because Sinclair is already being uncooperative and not volunteering any information, but in this case the ''real'' reason he didn't tell Pierce about the jamming device before is that he just made it up [[DelayingTactic to stall for time]].

* JurisdictionFriction: Captain Pierce is ordered to divert to Epsilon 3 to take control of the station. Commander Sinclair had previously been promised that he would have the final word on any [=EarthForce=] goings on in the region by right of being the commander of the station. They have serious disagreements on how the situation should be handled. At the end of the episode, Captain Pierce relays a message he had received confirming that Sinclair had authority, and expresses his... regrets, if he overstepped his boundaries.
** In this case, the source of the conflict was that Captain Pierce had seniority by right of rank, but Commander Sinclair had seniority by right of ''position''. Pierce, not being in Sinclair's chain of command, ultimately did not have any authority over him.

* YouDidntAsk: Invoked by Sinclair when he tells Pierce about the jamming device required to bypass Epsilon 3's defenses. Pierce believes him, because Sinclair is already being uncooperative and not volunteering any information, but in this case the ''real'' reason he didn't tell Pierce about the jamming device before is that he just made it up to stall for time.

Later he is up in the observation dome, half-regretting making the call. Delenn finds him there, and he takes the opportunity to ask her why she didn't come to the commander when they realizes what had to be done. Delenn tells him that if she had, Sinclair would be the one down there now, that he, too, is seeking a purpose, but that his destiny lies elsewhere. She got Londo to go along by making a deal, and she now owes him a great favor, but she thinks he enjoyed himself and that it awakened something inside him long buried. That comment reminds Michael of his conversation with Lise and he walks off, leaving Delenn looking out at the stars.

Sinclair has no time to breathe as another ship comes through the jumpgate. It's commander, Takarn, apparently of the same race as Varn, claims the machine as his own, that he and his people have been looking for it for 500 years, and gives an ultimatum of ten hours for them to leave, but Pierce calls back and gives them nine hours to withdraw.

Sinclair heads up to C&C to find that Pierce has figured out that the jamming device was a ruse and is preparing to send another expedition. Sinclair warns him that they have received confirmation that the machine will self-destruct if they approach, but Pierce brushes it off as Varn trying to protect whats down there. Sinclair is not willing to take the chance and threatens to shoot down Pierce's ships if they attempt a landing. Pierce eventually backs down.

At a bar, Garibaldi is watching the news with dismay while a group of drunks is watching it like it were a game show. Eventual Garibaldi has enough of their callous attitude and forcefully shuts them up before stalking off.

Sinclair heads up to C&C to find that Pierce has figured out that the jamming device was a ruse and is preparing to send another expedition. Sincair warns him that they have received confirmation that the machine will self-destruct if they approach, but Pierce brushes it off as Varn trying to protect whats down there. Sinclair is not willing to take the chance and threatens to shoot down Pierce's ships if they attempt a landing. Pierce eventually backs down.

* YouDidntAsk: Invoked by Sinclair when he tells Pierce about the jamming device required to bypass Epsilon 3's defenses. Pierce believes him, because Sinclair is already being unco-operative and not volunteering any information, but in this case the ''real'' reason he didn't tell Pierce about the jamming device before is that he just made it up to stall for time.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: As a young and foolish Centauri, Londo swore that he would do doing something brave and noble. [[spoiler: He will do so twenty years into the future by allowing G'Kar to kill him to help Sheridan and Delenn escape from the Drakh-controlled Centauri Prime.]]