History Recap / BabylonFiveS03E10SeveredDreams

* SymbolicallyBrokenObject: When Delenn dissolves the Grey Counsel, she also breaks the staff traditionally held by the leader of the Grey Counsel.

With that, they make final preparations and wait for the attack. Ivanova requests to lead the Starfury squadron, which Sheridan only agrees to when she points out that they're facing an unprecedented situation that flies in the face of their training. Moments later, the attack force comes through the jumpgate and the lead ship, the ''Agrippa'', orders them to surrender. As the ''Alexander'', ''Churchill'', and station launch fighters, Sheridan tries to talk the loyalist fleet down:

** The EAS ''Alexander'' is named after UsefulNotes/AlexanderTheGreat. The ''Churchill'' is, obviously, named after UsefulNotes/WinstonChurchill, whom Sheridan has [[{{Recap/BabylonFiveS02E16InTheShadowOfZHaDum}} referenced before]], making this something of an IronicName as well.

Meanwhile, Delenn and Lennier bring Dr. Franklin to a wounded Ranger in the docking bay. They need to get him past security, but they don't know which of the Narns they can trust, but G'Kar, who suddenly appears, does and offer to help.

Sheridan gives orders for the station to ready for battle, then goes to make a call. Delenn arrives on the Council's cruiser and forces her way in to see them. She delivers a blistering recount of their faults and inaction, accusing them of being lost in their pride, and no longer believing the prophecies that had lead them for a thousand years. She siezes the leader's staff, and breaks it, and the Council. She then calls those who will to follow her as she storms out, five of the hooded figures following after her.

* DeadlineNews: The feed is cut as the ISN studio comes under attack by government forces. The last we see of the broadcast is debris hitting the desk in front of the two reporters, Jane and Rick, after which the station [[WeAreExperiencingTechnicalDifficulties goes off the air]].

* FreezeFrameBonus: When the GunshipRescue forces the second Earth Alliance task force to jump out, they do not use the nearby jumpgate they arrived through a moment ago before advancing on the station. They are in ''such a rush'' to get out they open their own jump point.
** Which would be why they used the jump gate to arrive. Jump engines take time to charge up, using a local jump gate means you have fully charged jump engines in case you need to beat a hasty retreat. . . and three Minbari warcruisers and an unidentified ship commanded by a righteously pissed Minbari is a very good reason to decide to be somewhere else.

* MeaningfulName: The EAS ''Roanoke'' is named after an early English colony in North Carolina that was later found to be totally deserted with no sign of the inhabitants (or of a struggle), just the word CROATAN carved into a tree.

** The EAS ''Alexander'' is named after UsefulNotes/AlexanderTheGreat. The ''Churchill'' is, obviously, named after UsefulNotes/WinstonChurchill, whom Sheridan has [[{{Recap/BabylonFiveS02E16InTheShadowOfZHaDum}} referenced before]].

* WhamEpisode: President Clark orders Mars bombed for refusing to enact martial law, resulting in multiple colonies breaking away from the Earth Alliance. Then Clark sends Earthforce squads to multiple colonies and outposts to assert authority over them, resulting in Babylon 5 joining the breakaway colonies. Delenn faces down--and breaks--the Grey Council.

* HollywoodTactics: Garibaldi arranges a sensible defense to repel the invaders, but the Narns don't listen and [[LeeroyJenkins charge headlong to the entry point]]. Garibaldi is forced to abandon the defensive position to back them up.

With that, they make final preparations and wait for the attack. Ivanova requests to lead the Starfury squadron, which Sheridan only agrees to when she points out that they're facing an unprecedented situation that flies in the face of their training. Moments later, the attack force comes through the jumpgate and the lead ship, the ''Agrippa'', orders them to surrender. The ''Alexander'', ''Churchill'', and station launch fighters; Sheridan tries to convince enemy fleet commander Captain Smith not to obey these obviously illegal orders, but the loyalist forces commence their attack.

Hiroshi's news is that Clark is sending his forces to seize direct control of the outer colonies, including Babylon 5. This means Babylon 5 is absolutely screwed, as is the ''Alexander''; the loyalist forces know that the ''Alexander'' is in B5 space, and even if they didn't, they're coming for the station anyway. Although the other governments will be horrified, they can't intervene due to the chaos caused by the Shadows, so B5 is on its own. Hiroshi and Ryan leave, and Sheridan asks Ivanova, Garibaldi and Franklin if they surrender or fight.

With that, they make final preparations and wait for the attack. Ivanova requests to lead the Starfury squadron, which Sheridan only agrees to when she points out that they're facing an unprecedented situation that flies in the face of their training. Moments later, the attack force comes through the jumpgate and the lead ship, the ''Agrippa'', orders them to surrender. The ''Alexander'', ''Churchill'', and station launch fighters, while Sheridan tries to talk them down, but the loyalist forces commence their attack.

Hiroshi's news is that Clark is sending his forces to seize direct control of the outer colonies, including Babylon 5. This means Babylon 5 is absolutely screwed, as is the ''Alexander''; the loyalist forces know that the ''Alexander'' is in B5 space. She and Ryan leave, and Sheridan asks Ivanova, Garibaldi and Franklin if they surrender or fight.

Major Ryan meets with Sheridan and gives them a rundown of the situation, and it's not good. General Hague is dead, killed in the fight with the ''Clarkstown'', and public opinion is actually in favor of martial law, since it actually seems to be a benefit, and ISN can't say too much or they'll be shut down. The only hope is Mars' refusal of the order. Sheridan doesn't think Clark will be able to do much about it, but soon after a message comes that Earthforce is bombing Mars.

Hiroshi's news is that Clark is sending his forces to seize direct control of the outer colonies, including Babylon 5. She and Ryan leave, and Sheridan asks Ivanova, Garibaldi and Franklin if they surrender or fight.

The ''Alexander'' is in one of those fights right now, with the cruiser ''Clarkestown'' in pursuit, and firing a shot that strikes the ''Alexander'' amidships. On the bridge, the man in command, Major Ryan, reluctantly authorizes opening fire on the other ship, and the ''Alexander'' easily destroys the ''Clarkestown''. Ryan comments on how he met the ''Clarkestown's'' CO before -- General Hague introduced them -- and how this war is different, for now they know everyone they kill. He comments that he'll have to find something to say to ''both'' their wives... but for now, the ''Alexander'' needs repairs, and there is only one safe port for them: Babylon 5.

Major Ryan meets with Sheridan and gives them a rundown of the situation, and it's not good. General Hague is dead, killed in the fight with the ''Clarkestown'', and public opinion is actually in favor of martial law, since it actually seems to be a benefit, and ISN can't say too much or they'll be shut down. The only hope is Mars' refusal of the order. Sheridan doesn't think Clark will be able to do much about it, but soon after a message comes that Earthforce is bombing Mars.

* Foreshadowing: After the destruction of the ''Clarkstown'', Major Ryan solemnly talks about how General Hague introduced him to its now late captain. He also says that he'll try to find something to say to ''both'' of their wives, implying that General Hague was also killed.
* ForgottenSuperweapon: Ivanova and Sheridan debate asking for Draal's help. Sheridan wants to keep Draal a secret and wants the fight to be "clean" - Earthforce vs Earthforce. When the second wave of Earth ships arrives, it seems to be implied that Sheridan would give up. WordOfGod from JMS is that Sheridan didn't want to give Clarke the excuse to try again and de-legitimize B5 in the eyes of the Earthforce rank and file. President Clark has the Shadows as allies and they would ambush the station later in the series. [[invoked]]

-->"I have served the council for sixteen cycles. I was the chosen of Dukhat to replace him. I held him when he died. His blood is on my hands, his spirit in my eyes... his word on my lips. You will stand aside in his name and mine, or, ''in Valen's name'', I will tear this ship apart with my bare hands until I find them!"

With that, they make final preparations and wait for the attack, which comes moments later as the attack force comes through the jumpgate and the lead ship, the ''Agrippa'', orders them to surrender. The ''Alexander'', ''Churchill'', and station launch fighters, while Sheridan tries to talk them down, but the loyalist forces commence their attack.

* DumbassHasAPoint: By forcing the issue and making a head-on charge into the boarding Earthforce troops, the Narns forced them to engage in battle with them and the Babylon 5 security troops in a relatively enclosed area away from the civilian population... and from some of their troops making their way to the command deck.

Fighting is fierce and losses are heavy on both sides. Garibaldi goes to repel a boarding crew, but the Narns [[LeeroyJenkins rush ahead]] of him and get caught in a killing zone. The ''Churchill'' takes catastrophic damage and rams an enemy destroyer, [[RammingAlwaysWorks destroying both ships]]. Ivanova collides with another fighter and is forced to eject, while the boarding action has devolved into a giant brawl in close quarters. Finally the last enemy ship is destroyed, but almost immediately a new wave arrives. Then a set of jump points form right next to the station, but it's three Minbari warcruisers, and the ''White Star''. Delenn declares that Babylon 5 is under her protection, and when the loyalists try to protest, she practically dares them to try something, going as far as to remind them that Babylon 5 is commanded by the only Earthforce captain who managed to defeat a Minbari fleet. The attack fleet leaves rather than engage Minbari ships.

* DontMakeMeDestroyYou: What Delenn's warning to the Clark-loyalist fleet boils down to. She knows her fleet will decimate Captain Drake's fleet in short order should they continue attempting to arrest Sheridan, and there's no better way to make that clear than to invoke Sheridan's victory over the ''Drala Fi'', Earth's only victory in the war. Captain Drake, initially making this sort of threat himself, quickly realizes the implications of a Minbari fleet protecting the "Starkiller" and wisely chooses to retreat.

* DontMakeMeDestroyYou: What Delenn's warning to the Clark-loyalist fleet boils down to. She knows her fleet will decimate Captain Drake's fleet in short order should they continue attempting to arrest Sheridan, and there's no better way to make that clear than to invoke Sheridan's victory over the ''Drala Fi'', Earth's only victory in the war. Captain Drake wisely chooses to retreat upon realizing what Delenn is saying.

* WhamEpisode: President Clark orders Mars bombed for refusing to enact martial law, resulting in multiple colonies and outposts, Babylon 5 included, breaking away from the Earth Alliance. Delenn faces down--and breaks--the Grey Council.