Original subtitles

(male announcer) We interrupt our regular evening schedule

to bring you the following special program.

[instrumental music]

September 16, 2259.

The Interstellar Network News

presents "36 Hours On Babylon 5"

with your host Cynthia Torqueman

reporting live from the ISN news center in Geneva.

(Cynthia Torqueman) Good evening. I'm Cynthia Torqueman.

In the hundred or so years

since humanity went to the stars

we've established outposts and colonies

on over two dozen worlds

in 14 solar systems.

Out of all those far-flung outposts

only the Mars colony

plagued by scattered groups of separatists

who have used acts of terror to intimidate

the Earth-loyal majority

has proven more controversial

than the Earth Alliance station, Babylon 5.

Located in a sector of space

near Epsilon Irridonni

designated neutral territory

Babylon 5 has defied the odds

and continued to operate as a free port.

A center for diplomacy, and a showpiece

for the Earth Alliance Resources and Technologies Division.

From its highly publicized debut three years ago

recent polls indicate a growing dissatisfaction

with the time, money, and effort consumed

by this space-born community.

So tonight we take you

to the center of the controversy.

An ISN crew and I recently spent 36 hours aboard Babylon 5

asking hard questions

and on occasion getting in a little over our heads.

In the process of putting this report together

it didn't take us long to learn

the most important rule of survival aboard Babylon 5..

Expect the unexpected.

'This footage was shot'

'from our position on the bridge'

'of the Earth Transport Hyerdol'

'on final approach to Babylon 5.'

(Captain Sheridan) 'Roger, Babylon Control.'

'The voices you are hearing are the ship's captain'

'and B-5 Command and Control.'

(Captain Sheridan) 'Mark.'

(Commander Ivanova) 'Confirmed, Hyerdol. We..'

'Narn transport, Natung'

'return to your holding position at once.'

'I repeat, return to--'

[speaking Narn language]

(Commander Ivanova) 'Centauri vessel, Malios, break off.'

[speaking Narn language]

[explosion]

A terrible explosion.

Conspiracy involving several of these individuals.

Lies, deception and the deaths of hundreds of people.

All this and more in "36 Hours Aboard Babylon 5"

here on the Interstellar Network News.

We'll be back with our story

right after this break.

(male announcer) "36 Hours" sponsored by

Interplanetary Expeditions.

Exploring the past to create a better future.

(male narrator) The Babylon Project was our last best hope for peace.

A self-contained world, five miles long

located in neutral territory.

A place of commerce and diplomacy

for a quarter of a million humans and aliens.

A shining beacon in space..

...all alone in the night.

It was the dawn of the Third Age of mankind.

The year the Great War came upon us all.

This is the story of the last of the Babylon stations.

The year is 2259.

The name of the place is Babylon 5.

[theme music]

[music continues]

(Cynthia) 'Thirty minutes ago an armed vessel opened fire'

on a Centauri transport without warning or explanation.

The bodies of the dead and wounded

are being brought to this central docking area

for transfer to various Medlab facilities on Babylon 5

which are already working beyond maximum capacity.

Behind me is Dr. Stephen Franklin.

Chief of staff, doctor. Dr. Franklin.

...for immediate surgery and full CAT scan.

And I need more regen over here, people!

(Cynthia) 'Dr. Franklin'

'Cynthia Torqueman, ISN news.'

'What happened here?'

Somebody said something about an ambush.

Alright, keep his head elevated 30 degrees minimum

or he'll choke on his own blood.

- Can you say what-- - Look, I'm sorry.

(Cynthia) Captain Sheridan, Cynthia Torqueman, ISN news.

'Do you have any comment on what just happened here?'

No, no comment at this time. Doctor.

(Cynthia) 'What about the Narn vessel that attacked the transport?'

We dispatched a fighter wing to apprehend them.

We won't know anything more

until they're in protective custody.

If you will excuse me, please. Doctor.

(Ambassador Mollari) 'This is exactly the kind of behavior'

that endangers the very purpose of Babylon 5.

This place is dedicated

to finding peaceful solutions to our problems.

For the Narn to carry their vendetta

against our people into neutral territory like this

is reckless and irresponsible.

And though we mourn our own losses

we have felt strongly about our friends from Earth

ever since we first encountered your world

a hundred years ago.

To endanger your people, for no reason.

(Cynthia) 'Then the attack on your transport'

'was completely unprovoked.'

Of course.

(Ambassador G'Kar) 'He's lying.'

Then tell us why your ship opened fire

on the Centauri transport?

I'll issue a statement

after I've consulted with my government.

Are you saying your government sanctioned this attack?

No.

Do you think attacks of this nature

put everybody aboard Babylon 5 in unnecessary jeopardy?

We are already in far greater jeopardy

than you can possibly imagine.

For all the apparent danger in this part of space

it seems to have had little effect on travel.

Nearly quarter of a million humans and aliens are here

at any given moment.

While most are in transit to distant worlds

many others actually live and work here.

What does it take

to call a place like this...home?

Well, it's a, it's a job.

I've been in a lot worse places, let me tell you.

It gets crazy around here sometimes.

You get 50, 60 ships a day coming through here

loading and unloading

and every last one of them is a priority job.

At least that's what they tell us.

Hey, watch those crates over there.

Get 'em over to the side.

- No, no, the other side. - 'Alright.'

We had a couple of problems here last year.

Tried to hit us with some budget cuts.

You know, same old song, but, uh, that's the past.

You got to go along to get along.

You know what I mean?

Overall I've found this

to be a good working environment

and a valuable experience.

I've learned a lot while I've been here.

(Cynthia) 'And you've never felt'

'that your safety has been compromised?'

No, ma'am.

(Cynthia) 'So this has been a positive'

'experience for you.'

'You enjoy working with everyone?'

Yes.

It's a calm, pleasant environment.

I don't think I've ever seen anyone get upset here.

I guess it's the old joke.

You don't have to be crazy to work here, but it helps.

I suppose there is a certain attraction

to being out here on the edge like this

a new frontier.

New frontier is right.

When Babylon 5 went online in 2257

odds makers from New Vegas

to Lloyd's of London were predicting

it wouldn't last six months.

Well, I've never been very much on gambling.

I've never quite found the time for it.

(Cynthia) 'You were originally a starship captain, correct?'

Yeah.

The Agamemnon.

She was a real beauty.

One of the first Omega class destroyers

to come off the construction line after the war.

Our job was part military patrol

part diplomatic mission.

We went around to most of the non-aligned worlds

put in an appearance, kept the peace that sort of thing.

(Cynthia) 'Babylon 5 has been through some dramatic changes'

'in administration since it became operational.'

Would you attribute these changes to...bad management?

'Or to quote former Senator Hidoshi'

'"Is this horse just too big for anybody to ride?"'

Changes are part of the military life.

Everybody goes into this

knowing that tomorrow you could be someplace

that you hadn't even heard of 24 hours ago.

I've been stationed so many places over the years

I-I can't even remember most of them.

But you're right.

Some days this is one hell of a big horse.

You know what the folks back home don't understand.

The ones who've never left Earth

is just how dangerous space can be.

Aside from incidents like this, just the everyday reality

of living your days and nights

in a big tin can surrounded by vacuum.

I remember my first time on a transport

on the Moon-Mars run.

I was just a kid, maybe 17.

A buddy of mine was messing around

zipping through the halls

and he hid in one of the airlocks.

I don't know, I guess he was going to try to scare us

or something, I don't know.

But just as I got close..

...he must have hit the wrong button

because the air doors slammed shut

space doors opened

and he...just flew out into space.

And the one thing they never tell you

is that you don't die instantly in a vacuum.

He just hung there against the black

like a puppet with his strings all tangled up.

Or one of those old cartoons

where you run off the edge of the cliff

and your legs keep going.

You could see that he was trying to breathe

but there was nothing.

The one thing I remember when they pulled in his body..

...his eyes were frozen.

A lot of people make jokes about spacing somebody

about shoving somebody out an airlock.

I don't think it's funny.

Never will.

Although the airlocks on Babylon 5

are considerably safer

the last three years have shown

that the station itself is anything but secure.

In its first year of operation

there were half a dozen murders, three acts of sabotage

including a bomb that blew out two levels

and a barely averted attack by the Vorlon empire.

Since then, there have been 50 deaths by violence.

So the question remains.

Given its cost in lives and money

is Babylon 5 serving any useful purpose

or as we're about to see

is the whole thing falling apart at the seams?

I've just been briefed by my government

and I'm prepared to issue the following statement.

The Centauri ship that was attacked

by one of our vessels

was not simply a commercial transport.

It was secretly transferring weapons of mass destruction

to ships bound for the front lines

where they were to be used in the war against our people.

They have turned Babylon 5

into a weapons supply post

and we cannot allow this to continue.

Even if it means shutting down Babylon 5 completely.

(male announcer) "36 Hours on Babylon 5" continues

with Cynthia Torqueman.

According to figures released

by the newly formed office of public morale

President William Clark has risen

to dramatic new levels of popularity

because of his administration's emphasis

on addressing the needs of Earth.

As a result, recent hearings in Earth Dome

have openly questioned how much time and money

should be invested in a project

that seems perpetually bogged down

in non-human conflict.

So we took that question to Senator Ronald Quantrell.

Well, obviously, Babylon 5 is something

President Santiago believed in very strongly.

And I think we owe it to his memory to try and make it work.

That doesn't exactly sound like a ringing endorsement.

Well, clearly we've taken a lot of heat

and the cost overruns have been appropriately astronomical.

But let's remember that the Babylon Project

was conceived right after the Earth-Minbari war.

At that time, the idea of a diplomatic station

designed to keep anything like that from happening again

was...very appealing.

(Cynthia) 'And now?'

Now?

Well...still too early to tell.

Certainly we've rebuilt our military forces

to a point far in advance of where they were 14 years ago.

If the Earth-Minbari war started today

I think things might have gone a little differently.

So while I'm not sure how much concrete benefit

we really derive from Babylon 5 any longer

I suppose it still does keep us in a...highly visible position

with other races

and, of course, it's very important

to interstellar commerce and trade.

Well, with all due respect to Senator Quantrell

speaking as someone who did his part in the front lines

I'd have to say we still haven't fully recovered

from the Minbari war

and we haven't anywhere near the level of technology

we would need in the event of another major conflict.

And anybody who thinks that we could hold our own

against the-the Minbari, the Centauri

and, God forbid, the Vorlons, is just plain kidding himself.

You sound angry about it.

No...I'm not.

I-it just, it just sounds to me like-like

jingoism and self-deception and armchair quarterbacking.

Anytime you lose a war

you just, you just wait a few years

and you'll hear from everyone who thought that we could've won

if they've had done the fighting.

Except, of course, captain, we didn't lose the war.

'The Minbari did surrender.'

Of course.

(Cynthia) Who are the people who run Babylon 5

and what do they do here?

What are their hopes and dreams?

I'm standing in what's called the observation dome

or C&C, short for Command and Control.

When the captain is otherwise engaged

with diplomatic or business affairs

this place is under the watchful eye

of its perky and energetic commander, Susan Ivanova.

(crew #1) 'We're all green down here.'

Alright, make one more sweep

pulling in whatever you got then head for the barn.

Commander Ivanova, would you mind telling us

what it is you're doing here?

We're investigating Ambassador G'Kar's allegations

that the Centauri transport was carrying weapons

justifying his government's attack.

The HAZMAT team outside is checking the debris

'for any unusual levels of radiation'

'or trace elements that could indicate'

'the presence of unauthorized weapons.'

While we wait for the analysis would you mind telling us

a little about yourself? How you got here?

Well, there's really not much to tell.

I was born in the Russian consortium

but spent most of my life at school abroad.

Um, graduated from OTC ten years ago.

How did you come to join Earthforce?

After my brother Ganya was killed in the war

I felt that I had to try and finish what he started.

That of course, as my luck runs

the war was over before I saw any action.

Now, commander, I'm sure there's more to your story than that.

Yes.

What do I hope for?

I hope to get through this interview

without getting myself fired.

How's that for a start?

I don't know, it's one of those questions

I don't think about in words

maybe because so many times it seems like

if I say what I want, it never comes.

(Cynthia) 'There must be something.'

Yeah.

There are little hopes, I guess.

Every day I get up and I hope nothing will happen.

I'd love to be just bored out of my skull for 24 hours.

And, uh, I guess I keep hoping

that someday, somewhere I'll make a difference

that at the end of the day

everything that we've gone through here

for the past few years will mean something.

[beep] Yeah.

(Commander Ivanova) 'Garibaldi, we just got back the HAZMAT report.'

'We've got a problem.'

See what I mean?

Always something.

So far we've spent most of our time here

talking to the humans.

But aliens make up roughly 42% of Babylon 5's population.

Many of them live here in the so-called Alien Sector

which provides alternate atmospheres

for 14 different species.

Ironically, the alien sector is how the aliens here

refer to the human part of the station

proving once again that beauty and the beast

are in the eye of the beholder.

Probably the most elusive of all the aliens

is Ambassador Kosh Nerannick

a representative of the Vorlon empire

sent here roughly two years ago.

Nothing is known of the Vorlons.

In fact, three expeditions sent into Vorlon space over the years

have never returned.

The Vorlon government said they had met with accidents

and suggested no further expeditions.

Even their appearance is a mystery compounded by the fact

that Ambassador Kosh can only leave his quarters

in an encounter suit which contains his atmosphere

and other life-support equipment.

A few moments ago, while we were setting up this shot

we got our first glimpse of the Vorlon

as he was leaving his quarters just behind me.

This is an ISN exclusive

presented here for the first time.

(ISN cameraman) 'It's Ambassador Kosh over here!'

Mackey, quick! The camera!

'Ambassador Kosh! Ambassador!'

Cynthia Torqueman, ISN news.

Can we ask you a few questions? Ambassador Kosh!

Did we get that? Tell me we got that.

Did we get it?

Second in elusiveness

to the Vorlon is Ambassador Delenn

of the Minbari federation.

After initially refusing several requests

for an interview

she finally agreed to talk to us.

Since very few humans

have ever been allowed on Minbar

perhaps you could start by telling us

a little about your world.

We are the seventh planet from our sun.

Almost one-quarter of Minbar is covered

by our North Polar ice cap.

Because our world is rich with crystalline deposits

many of our cities are cut directly out

of crystal formations.

During the spring, the patterns of color caused by the light

are...breathtaking.

Let's see. What else?

We have, uh, three basic languages.

Len'au, Feek and Audronado

which is the language of the Religious Caste.

Can you give us an example of Audronado?

[speaking in Audronado language]

I'm your friend...in peace.

Your appearance, though, isn't typical of your people, is it?

No.

(Cynthia) 'According to station records'

'you looked quite different a year ago.'

I volunteered for this change in the hope that it would lead

to a better understanding between our peoples.

Over a quarter of a million humans were killed

in the war with your people.

'How do you think the families of those victims will feel'

'about your...change?'

I, uh...I don't know.

I, uh...I would hope..

I think they would feel hurt.

Betrayed.

'That by assuming a human face'

'you're taking a part of us you're not entitled to.'

'What would you say to them?'

To all the husbands and wives

and children and brothers and sisters

of the people who were killed in the war with your people

and now see a Minbari with a human face?

I'm, uh...I'm sorry.

Can...can we, can we stop this? Please?

(Commander Ivanova on radio) 'Ambassador Delenn, you're needed'

'in the Council chambers.'

'Ambassador.'

'Ambassador Delenn.'

We've just been informed that there's been

a new development in the Narn attack.

The Babylon 5 Advisory Council

and the league of non-aligned worlds

have been convened to hear this update.

We've been given permission to record

these proceedings in the Council chambers.

And now, thanks to

Commander Ivanova's investigation

we have proof of what we've been saying all along.

An inspection of the destroyed Centauri

has found conclusive proof

that she was carrying fusion bombs

and support equipment for ion cannons

mass drivers, and heavy-energy weapons.

[shouting]

Now, we have already filed a complaint

with the Centauri government

on the grounds that Babylon 5 is neutral territory

and is not to be used as a staging ground

or a munitions depot.

If I may make an observation--

It is this kind of irresponsible activity, ambassador

that endangers this station and everyone here!

It will not be tolerated!

...transferred outside the station.

Ship to ship.

The risk to Babylon 5 is minimal.

Oh, we've already seen your minimal risk, ambassador.

Caused by their attack on one of our vessels.

Our ships have the right

to carry any cargo they choose.

We will not surrender our sovereign rights.

Sovereign rights of any race end

when they threaten innocents.

They're doing what they always do

using details to distract us

from doing what must be done!

There are seven more Centauri vessels berthed outside

and I have reason to believe

that they also carry weapons of mass destruction

to be used against our people.

My government demands

that these ships be impounded

and their weapons seized!

No, no, no! We will not allow this!

This is Babylon 5 space

and here we have sovereign rights.

Our ships will defend themselves

against any who try to seize them.

Perhaps if the transports return to Centauri space--

No, we cannot allow those ships

to leave here with their weapons.

They'll just turn right around and use them against us.

Then how do you intend to..

[rumbling]

What the hell?

Captain, we need you in C&C.

We've got a shooting war going on out here.

The sounds you hear are heavy weapons

on the Narn and Centauri vessels

doing battle just outside Babylon 5.

The station is on a priority one alert.

And people are being evacuated to shelters.

We're en route to C&C to try and cover the battle.

As we speak our vid systems are being plugged

into the station's external cameras

and communications systems.

And we should be seeing..

(crew member) 'Coming in, reading five.'

'Repeat five incoming hostiles. No reply.'

'Got the beacon targeting systems online.'

(Captain Sheridan) 'Delta leader to hostile vessels.'

'You are ordered to cease fire at once.'

'Do you copy?'

'You are ordered to surrender or we will open fire.'

Damage report.

Levels Brown 90 through 92 report damage.

Hull breech in Blue 70. Dropping pressure doors!

Get a repair crew down there, stat.

- 'Aye, sir.' - Any reply yet?

Negative. Hostile forces continue to fire at each other.

They've started targeting our ships.

(crew member) 'Delta squadron requesting permission to fire.'

Ambassadors Londo and G'Kar are in the league.

They're saying that if we open fire on their vessels

they'll consider it an act of war.

Screw them, we have a quarter million people here to defend.

If they won't stop this, we will.

All fighters, open fire. Fire at will.

(crew member) 'Roger, Babylon control.'

'Delta squad, open fire.'

'Target engines and navigation if possible.'

'But if you have to take them out, do it.'

(crew member) 'Roger, leader.'

'Come on.'

'Come on.'

'Heaters lit.'

'Come to papa. Got it.'

'Bombs away.'

'This is 7. Target's splashed.'

'React, Team 12, go to Blue 26..'

Two Narn vessels destroyed.

Two damaged and out of the fight.

Remaining Centauri vessels are offering to surrender.

Alright, pick them up, bring them in

and throw them in the brig.

And I want every one of those ships scanned for weapons.

And tell Ambassadors G'Kar and Londo

I want to see them in chambers now.

What if they refuse?

Then you can throw them in the--

Ahem.

(crew member) 'Security, there is a major riot going on at the entrance..'

Then invite them again

as firmly and as politely as you can.

This nonsense has gone far enough.

'My main generator is down.'

'And we're backed up.'

(Cynthia) 'The nonsense'

'Captain Sheridan referred to'

'is the Narn-Centauri war'

which, over the past several months

has grown into a conflict

which threatens to spill into other systems

and lead to an escalation of hostilities.

Prior to the battle we just witnessed

ISN spoke with representatives from both sides in order to

better understand the history of this conflict.

Roughly 150 of your years ago the Centauri came to our world.

Narn was a green and fertile place then.

We greeted them in peace

and spent the next 100 years in chains

but we never gave up hope.

We formed a resistance, learned their secrets

turned their own machines against them

and finally drove them from our world.

How did you become involved with the resistance?

[sighs]

My family lived in G'Kamizad

one of the larger cities on Narn.

My father served in a Centauri household

during the last years of the rebellion.

I was barely a pouchling at the time.

My mother was ill

unable to escape through the underground

so we all stayed.

It was a difficult time.

We were striking deep into Centauri resources.

Things were tense.

One day, my father spilled a cup of hot jala

on the mistress of the house, and..

..and she had him killed.

They took him out, tied his hands together

and hung him from a jalwah tree for three days.

I came to him the last night, against my mother's orders

and he looked down at me.

He said he was proud and to go and fight

and be all the things he never was.

Then he died.

The next morning, I ran away

and killed my first Centauri.

Why do you think they invaded back then?

Ah!

Why does any advanced civilization

seek to destroy a less advanced one?

Because the land is strategically valuable.

Because there are resources

that can be cultivated and exploited

but most of all, simply because they can.

You have experienced much the same on your own world.

There are humans for whom the words "Never again"

carry special meaning as they do for us.

How do you respond to reports that your military has lost six

out of the last seven engagements

with the Centauri forces

and now the war consists mainly

of holding actions and forced retreats?

Centauri propaganda.

We will never fall back. We will never surrender!

When we first met the Narn

they were, what, a primitive people.

We gave them technology centuries ahead of their own.

Took them with us to the stars.

Taught them laws, civilized them.

They repaid us with terror and death.

So, you're saying that the Centauri

originally came to help the Narn?

Of course and at considerable expense, I might add.

Which is why we finally left.

We wished them well, but the cost, you've seen.

Then you weren't driven off the Narn homeworld?

Please.

The Narn have rewritten history enough, don't you think?

If they wanted us gone

we were hardly going to force the issue.

But ever since

they have grown more and more irrational.

Have gone out of their way to harm us

to seize entire territory.

Finally, we had to take a stand.

They were the ones who declared war, remember?

Not us.

We want only peace.

"We want only peace."

Both sides say the same thing

but as we've just seen

the reality is anything but peaceful.

With the skirmish outside concluded

and the captured Centauri vessels

about to undergo a complete search

things seem to have calmed down a bit.

What is it?

Jump point forming in Sector 7.

Are they crazy? That's practically on top of us!

[explosion]

(crew member) 'Reading one Centauri battle cruiser.'

Mackey, do we still have a feed from the external monitors?

Are they onli..

I've got Ambassador Mollari on the link.

Put him through.

Ambassador Mollari, what the hell is going on here?

I'm sorry this has come as such a surprise, commander.

But I warned you not to interfere.

You have no right to search or detain our ships.

If we don't act in our own defense

we invite the same from others.

Centauri cruiser is arming weapons, opening her gun ports.

The cruiser will blockade Babylon 5 until our ships

are returned to Centauri custody

intact and unopened.

Any ship attempting to enter or leave Babylon 5

will be fired upon, boarded, and sent back.

We will use the minimum possible level of force.

But if provoked, we are prepared to use deadly force

even against Babylon 5 itself.

(male announcer) ISN, the galaxy's most important network.

John, why aren't you outside playing with the other kids?

They hate me.

Now, John--

It's true.

I'm just..

I'm different, mom.

I can feel what they think about me and they know I can.

I called one of them a liar

because I knew he wasn't telling the truth somehow.

And he just kept hitting me until I said I was the liar.

I just don't know what to do anymore.

Don't worry, Johnny.

We'll take care of it from here.

Mom, look, a Psi Cop.

That's right, Johnny.

You know there are a lot of other kids

who feel just the same way you do.

They're confused and afraid, but they don't have to be.

The problem isn't that other kids don't like you.

Just that they don't understand you, but we do.

'You're special.'

'You're a latent telepath'

about to come into full bloom.

My Johnny, a telepath?

Probably, but to be sure, take him down

to the Psi Corps testing center first thing tomorrow.

How do I find one?

We're everywhere, for your convenience.

We have offices in schools, in children's hospitals.

We even have mobile testing centers

that travel the country, and if he qualifies

we'll give him an education, a job, a purpose.

And we'll pay all his bills for life.

Oh, my.

[chuckles]

Oh, John, I can't believe it.

You've come so far. Just look at you.

We're all so proud.

And I'm proud to be part of the Psi Corps.

So, remember, if you know someone who might be a telepath

or think you might be one yourself

help them get the help they need. Call the Corps.

(male announcer) Call government information

for more on a Psi Corps center near you.

This message has been brought to you

by the Ministry for Public Information

and your local Psi Corps recruitment office.

(Cynthia) 'As we enter our 30th hour aboard Babylon 5'

the Centauri-Narn crisis has not diminished.

The various parties to the dispute

have gathered in Council chambers behind me

in closed session to discuss the crisis.

Meanwhile, all traffic in or out of Babylon 5

has come to a halt, due to the Centauri blockade.

Captain, any progress in the negotiations?

All sides are still talking. That's all I can say for now.

Well, is it true that some of the senate

have suggested that you accommodate the Centauri

by releasing their vessels without further searches?

As the commander of record on Babylon 5

I doubt that the senate

would attempt to undermine my position in these negotiations

by armchair quarterbacking.

Ambassador G'Kar, do you have anything to say?

Only that this should prove once and for all

that the Centauri are a menace to more than just our world.

This kind of thing cannot be allowed.

And we will take whatever steps necessary

to make that perfectly clear to them.

Well, what does that mean? A-Ambassador G'Kar?

Certainly the events on Babylon 5

which took place during your recent visit

are emblematic of what many of us on Earth Dome

have been worried about for sometime.

By placing an Earth installation between warring factions

we risk being drawn into a conflict

that has nothing to do with us or Earth interests.

If we'd not been in that place at that time

a terrible loss of life might have been avoided.

On the other hand, senator, they are at war with one another.

People die in war.

Yes, but it wouldn't have happened in our backyard.

What happened next came with

the reluctant support of Earthdome

but, uh...hundreds of deaths.

I don't see how we can support that sort of thing.

I'm only glad you made it out alive, Cynthia.

We need all the good reporters we can get.

Ten minutes ago, Captain Sheridan

received a coded transmission

from Earthdome on the current crisis.

After considerable negotiations

we've been allowed back in to C&C..

Captain John Sheridan, Babylon 5, to Centauri cruiser.

My government has rejected your demand

that we release your ships.

We will not consider any demand made under terrorist threat.

We have activated our defense grid and are prepared

to defend all ships coming through here.

Any hostile action taken by you

against ships entering or leaving this station

will be considered an attack on Babylon 5 itself

and we will respond accordingly.

If they send back a reply, don't acknowledge it.

'Aye, captain.'

We'll let them sweat for a while.

I hope this works, I know that a defense grid

can probably hold them off, but the repercussions--

Ah, they're bluffing.

I can't believe they'd take on the whole station.

Now that bring Earth on the side of the Narn's.

And the last thing the Centauri want is a war on two fronts.

'Docking Bay 9 just linked in.'

'The transport's ready to go.'

Bring her up. Activate autopilot.

We'll run the transport from here

make sure no one gets hurt.

Just in case they're not bluffing.

Bring the Maintenance Bots around for a closer look.

(crew member) 'Move Secure Cam 23 to high overhead'

'and Maint Bot 9 through 14 at 12 click intervals..'

You realize if they do attack the transport

they'll turn right around and fire on us next

figuring we'll have to retaliate?

I know.

(crew member) 'Transport, maintain approach..'

All tracking stations

if you see their weapons targeting us...open fire.

Any reply from the cruiser?

'Negative, sir. No response.'

Their weapons system is still armed.

I don't like this.

[beeping]

Well, the transport's through. We called their bluff.

(crew member) 'Getting a signal from the Centauri cruiser.'

'They want to talk.'

Open a channel. Let's be gracious about this.

Captain, any thoughts on the--

Second jump point forming in Sector 10.

- Looks like a Narn. - Oh, hell.

Babylon control to Narn cruiser.

We do not, repeat, we do not require assistance.

Do not interfere.

We have the situation under control.

(crew member) 'Narn cruiser powering-up weapons systems.'

No. Listen to me.

We do not need..

(crew member) 'Firing.'

'Back again. A Centauri hit.'

All civilians to the shelters.

Get me that cruiser. I don't care how you do it.

'Aye, sir.'

'Security, heavy damage.'

Close blast doors now.

Ah!

Narns have destroyed the Centauri cruiser.

They're trying to open a jump point.

Can they make it?

I don't think so. They're hit bad.

Jump engines are malfunctioning.

[dramatic music]

As journalists, we would be remiss in our responsibilities

if we suggested that events such as those you've just witnessed

were typical of the situation on Babylon 5.

Like anyone else, they have good days and bad days.

But there can be no question that it is a flash point

that can only grow hotter as time passes.

And yet growth only comes through pain and struggle.

So, perhaps we should allow Babylon 5 time to realize

or, one day, even exceed the dreams

we have invested in it.

We'll be back with some concluding thoughts

right after this message.

After the crisis was over

the debris cleared and the bodies counted

we asked each of the people

involved in this story one question.

Given the danger, at the end of the day

as Mr. Garibaldi said, is it worth it?

Absolutely.

Sure, when things get tense out here, we have to be careful.

Our search of the Centauri vessels we captured

proved they were bringing in weapons of mass destruction

offloading them outside the station

and sending them on to the front lines.

Now that we know that

we can make sure it doesn't happen anymore.

We learn.

That's what humans do.

Misunderstandings aside

yes, I definitely think it's worth it.

We must simply work harder

to make sure we communicate with one another

to prevent this sort of tragic situation

from ever happening again.

A violent attack by Narn forces is an unacceptable response

to a peaceful protest by my government.

And with the intervention of Earth

perhaps...we can keep them

from making a similar mistake in the future.

I don't know anymore.

I used to think so, but now..

Yes.

Of course it is, for the simple reason

that no one else would ever build a place like this.

Humans share one unique quality.

They build communities.

If the Narns or the Centauri

or any other race built a station like this

it would be used only by their own people.

But everywhere humans go, they create communities

out of diverse and sometimes hostile populations.

It is a great gift and a terrible responsibility.

One that cannot be abandoned.

Well..

I guess we'll just have to see...won't we?

Alright, Med 2. Go, go!

Look, if we weren't here right now

half the people in this room would be dead.

Now, that should be a good enough answer for anyone.

Sure. What, are you kidding?

I have a retirement pension to make, you know?

Yes.

But not for any of the reasons that you've probably been told.

The job of Babylon 5 is not to enforce the peace.

It's to create the peace.

And this place was built on the assumption that

we could work out our problems and build a better future.

And that, to me, is the key issue.

See, in the last few years, we've stumbled.

We stumbled at the death of the president, the war

and on and on.

And when you stumble a lot, you, you start looking at your feet.

You know, we have to make people...lift their eyes

back to the horizon

and see the line of ancestors behind us saying

"Make my life have meaning."

And to our inheritors before us saying

"Create the world we will live in."

I mean, we're not just

holding jobs and having dinner.

We are in the process of building the future.

That's what Babylon 5 is all about.

Only by making people understand that

can we hope to...create a better world for ourselves

and our posterity.

I'm Cynthia Torqueman, ISN news.

Goodnight.

[instrumental music]

[theme music]