Is everything ready?
Yes. The royal liner is standing by.
We have adequate warships for protection,
and they're prepared to set forth
as soon as we arrive.
As soon as I arrive.
You will remain here.
I must protest, majesty.
As I expected.
But someone has to remain here
in case there is a crisis.
And you, as Prime Minister,
are first in line of authority.
I wish you would change your mind.
The doctor said your condition is very delicate.
The least amount of stress--
all the more reason why I should go now
while I still can.
What I must do
cannot wait any longer.
Oh.
No need for that now.
When you get to be as old as I,
the trappings of status are not as important
as they used to be. Sometimes
I think our women are right when they shave their heads
and rise above these things.
Majesty--
I will go among them as I am.
There's no need for further discussion.
You have always served me well,
old friend.
And sometimes I think
I do not thank you as much as I should.
Good-bye.
It's absolutely intolerable.
This visit by the Centauri Emperor
is completely unacceptable to my government.
He's a monster,
an--an aberration,
a--a criminal!
His family is directly responsible
for strip-mining my world.
His father personally ordered
the execution of 100,000 Narns!
But he himself did nothing, am I correct?
A technicality!
In fact,
unless I'm mistaken,
the current Emperor has gone out of his way
to offer your world concessions
and return lost territory.
Stolen territory!
Whatever.
Look...
I appreciate the fact that 100 years of blood
isn't something you forget overnight.
But the bottom line is, G'Kar,
that is not my problem.
This station is open to everyone.
Now, if the Emperor wants to come
and visit Babylon 5,
I think it's great.
It raises her visibility,
and it helps the folks back home
think that maybe we're doing some good.
So, you're going to allow this,
even over my objections?
What, did I suddenly turn invisible or something?
Yes, Ambassador...
The Emperor is allowed to come aboard.
Now, if this bothers you,
I suggest you stay in your quarters,
stick your fingers in your ears,
and hum real loud until it's over.
Unless you'd like to try something
as breathtakingly rational
as trying to open up a dialogue.
G'kar,
you are in a position to negotiate directly
with the head of the Centauri Republic.
And you're wasting it on a--a tantrum.
[Sighs]
I shouldn't have expected you
to understand, Captain.
My mistake.
I will not make it again.
G'kar...
Don't do something we'll both regret.
It's too late for that, Captain.
Too late by far.
Captain Sheridan: The Babylon project
was our last best hope for peace--
a self-contained world 5 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...
Captioning made possible by Warner Bros.
[Indistinct chatter]
[Beeping]
Oh. Back again, eh?
That's 3 times this month.
I do a lot of business here.
Anything I can help you with?
No, thank you.
I found what I'm looking for.
And after the Emperor has made his speech,
I've arranged for him to give you an audience.
The whole thing will be recorded.
Does he know what it's about?
He believes it's nothing more
than a progress report on your situation here.
We've taken the Liberty
of writing your speech for you.
I've had experts in psycholinguistics
working on it for weeks.
It's perfect.
Fiery but dignified.
Elegant but strong.
It outlines the decline of our government
and our need for change.
It also makes a few predictions
about what will go wrong next with the economy
and the military.
These predictions-- they will come true?
Already arranged.
Sabotage?
Hmm, a word or two in the right ear.
A critical food shipment delayed.
The method is unimportant.
What matters is that when it comes through,
the Emperor will look weak and shortsighted,
whereas we have our eyes on the future.
Well, you're...
You're asking quite a lot of me.
After I make this speech,
I won't exactly be in favor
with the Emperor and his court, hmm?
True...
For as long as he's alive,
which shouldn't be much longer.
I am told his health is fragile at the best.
When he passes, all that will remain
is the memory that we were right.
We must position ourselves
to move in when the time is right.
Well,
I will leave you to study the speech.
If you have any questions,
you know where to find me.
This conversation
makes you uncomfortable?
Yes.
Yes, it does.
Then for once we have something in common.
On behalf of the Centauri Republic,
I offer the hands of friendship.
On behalf of the Earth Alliance,
I accept.
This is my second-- Commander Susan Ivanova,
chief of security-- Michael Garibaldi,
and Dr. Stephen Franklin,
chief of staff of our medlab facility.
It's an honor.
News of the work you're doing here
has reached even the royal palace
on Centauri Prime,
and I'm deeply moved by the knowledge
that you would choose
to stand in harm's way
in the interest of peace.
Thank you.
If you'd like to come this way,
we can begin your tour.
Oh, uh, doctor,
have you seen much of the Vorlon?
I believe his name is Kosh.
No more than anyone else.
He's always in that encounter suit of his.
Why?
Uh, I've never seen a Vorlon before--
in or out of its shell.
But over the centuries, we've sent
many expeditions into Vorlon space.
None of them returned. Oh, I have heard
many strange stories about them.
The first circle of the kha'ri
have concluded their deliberations.
After much debate,
they have endorsed your plan.
When does the kha'ri feel would be the best time?
The reception--
just before he gives his speech.
There will be greater exposure.
Are you still prepared to go through with this?
Yes.
It is a strange feeling, kha'mak,
to know suddenly
that all the decisions in your life
have brought you to this place...
That there is no longer doubt or uncertainty.
The future now consists of only 3 probabilities.
In the moment that I strike,
the Emperor and I will both die.
For he will die,
and I will spend my life in prison.
Or I will fail and be killed.
For the first time in my life,
the path is clear.
Your majesty...
You asked to see me?
Captain, may I ask you a question?
Depends on the question, I guess.
Why are you here...
In this place,
in that uniform?
Was it your choice,
or were you pressed into service?
It was my choice.
The planetary draft
didn't start until the war...
A few years later.
I guess I wanted to serve something
that was bigger than I was--
make a difference somewhere, somehow.
You seem interested
in why people chose to be here.
It has occurred to me recently
that I have never chosen anything.
I was born into a role
that had been prepared for me.
I did everything I was asked to do,
because it never occurred to me
to choose otherwise.
And now, at the end of my life,
I wonder what might have been.
That's why my father taught me
to live each second
as though it were the last moment of my life.
He said, "if you love...
"Love without reservation.
"If you fight...
Fight without fear."
He called it "the way of the warrior."
No regrets, then?
A few...
But just a few.
You?
Ahh. Enough to fill a lifetime.
So much has been lost.
So much forgotten.
So much pain, so much blood.
And for what...
I wonder?
The past tempts us,
the present confuses us,
and the future frightens us.
And our lives slip away moment by moment,
lost in that vast, terrible in-between.
But there is still time
to seize that one last fragile moment,
to choose something better,
to "make a difference," as you say.
And I intend to do just that.
I want this whole section cleared.
I want every entrance and exit checked and rechecked.
They'll be down any second. So from now on,
nobody gets in without proper I.D.
I don't care if you recognize them
by sight or not.
I take this action without the knowledge
or permission of my government.
Neither should my aide Na'Toth
be held accountable for my actions.
The responsibility is mine...Alone.
I ask that my remains and my personal property
be sent back to Narn...
To my family.
My copy of the book of sh'quon
I leave to Na'Toth
in the hope of her eventual enlightenment.
[Indistinct chatter]
What's the deal on those veiled Centauri women
who follow the Emperor around?
Londo says they're telepaths,
raised together since birth.
They're linked 24 hours a day,
no matter how far apart they are.
What one sees, the others see.
Traditionally, when the Emperor leaves,
2 go with him and 2 stay behind.
Interesting. Mm-hmm.
It guarantees that he knows
what's going on back home
and keeps the royal court up to speed
on what he's doing.
Did the Emperor say
what this important speech was about?
No. He just said it was important.
I was hoping that would be enough
to bring out Ambassador Kosh.
Looks like I was wrong.
That's too bad, considering
what the Emperor said about the Vorlons.
He might not get another chance to see one.
But I guess it was too much to hope for.
Well, speaking of too much to hope for,
look what just walked in.
Excuse me.
Ambassador.
Captain.
I see you've changed your mind
about opening up a dialogue.
I make no promises,
but I will hear what he has to say.
[Weapon powers up]
Ok, pal,
you've got 10 seconds to explain
why you're following me.
I need to talk to you.
About what? Relax, I got him.
So, talk.
That's what I figured.
Take him him down to holding
and keep him there
until the reception's over.
[Whispering]
Your majesty...
I wish I'd known of your condition
when you arrived.
I could have done something,
tried something.
Your government is asking to have you
transferred to your warship.
Now, I told them that moving you right now
could be fatal. I want your permission.
There is...
Something more important than where I die.
A message you must give for me.
Well, if it's important, perhaps
one of your own people should deliver it.
If I did that,
the message might never be delivered.
Now listen to me, doctor.
Listen carefully.
I hear word of this
has already reached homeworld.
Hmm, our competitors are moving into position,
setting themselves up
to ascend the throne the moment he dies.
Before that happens,
we have to rise above the others.
We must do something extraordinary, something...
Unparalleled.
He said, "just pick a target."
I'm sorry?
I believe there is a Narn colony
on the border of Centauri space--
quadrant 14.
Londo?
A colony? It's a listening post.
They've been using it to spy on us for years.
By all rights,
that entire planet should be ours.
Well, then...
Let us take it back.
We couldn't take it without a major assault.
We would lose thousands of lives.
I will take care of it.
Have your contacts in the military
send an expedition to quadrant 14.
I can only guarantee a few ships.
All right. It will be enough.
I hope you know what you're doing, Mollari.
[Sighs]
Find Mr. Morden.
Bring him here.
Londo, don't do this.
I have no choice!
Yes, you do!
Londo, please! Please, please.
I know you don't listen to me,
but I'm asking you just this one time--
don't do this.
There's no turning back once you start down that road.
Do I have to go find him myself?
No.
No. I'll go.
I'll go, and I'll bring him back.
And someday I'm going to remind you
of this conversation.
And maybe then...
Then you'll understand.
I understand...
Just fine.
And by this time tomorrow,
we will be at war with the Narn.
May the great maker forgive me.
I was ready. I had prepared myself.
I had made my peace with the universe,
put all my affairs in order.
I had the dagger in my hand!
And he has the indecency to start dying on his own.
Never in my life
have I seen a worse case of timing.
Well, you'd think he could've waited
a few more minutes before--
[door chimes]
Who is it?
Dr. Franklin.
Maybe it's good news.
With luck, he's feeling better.
All they have to do is prop him up for 2 minutes--
I'll call you back. Uh--uh...
Enter.
Just came from seeing the Centauri Emperor.
How is the poor fellow?
I was so looking forward to meeting him
and opening up...A dialog.
Funny,
he was looking forward to meeting you, too.
He had a message for you.
Given his present condition,
he asked me to relay that message for him.
I have no time for threats.
He wanted to say he's sorry.
What?
He came all the way out here,
risked his health and endangered his life
so that he could stand beside a Narn
in neutral territory
and apologize for all the things
the Centauri have done to your people,
for all the things his family did.
He said...
"We were wrong.
"The hatred between our people can never end
"until someone is willing to say,
"I'm sorry.
"And try and find a way
"to make things right again,
to atone for our actions."
He said it was the only choice
he ever made in his life.
And now that seems to have been
taken away from him.
I had...
I had no idea.
No, I'm sure you didn't.
Maybe that's the biggest tragedy
of the whole damn story.
Reefa's voice: Keep this up, G'Kar,
and soon you won't have a planet to protect.
[Coughs]
[Choking]
The time?
What is the time?
It has begun.
Attack!
All wings, attack!
Shrak, where are they coming from?
What are they?
Keep them away from the colony.
We can't let them get past us!
You're sure it's done?
Yes, the Narn should hear about it soon.
Our forces can move in at anytime.
Then I'll have to move quickly.
There's still one more thing
I have to take care of back home,
an obstacle to remove.
What's that?
Better you don't know.
Mollari!
You!
No, I can explain everything.
I'm going to get you... A drink.
Oh, no, I don't--
sit, sit, sit, sit, Mollari.
It's not everyday I have a revelation,
you know.
2 of your finest.
I've heard something,
and it makes me think
there is still hope for us after all.
I'd believed your people capable of only...
Murder and pain.
But, apparently, there is still
a spark of decency in your genetic code.
It's not much of a foundation,
I'll Grant you that, but...
It's a start.
I never thought I would be saying this, Mollari,
but...
To the health of your Emperor,
and perhaps, to your health as well.
To the Emperor.
And thank you.
No.
It's destroyed?
All of it's gone.
Who could have done this?
Radio: Centauri warships detected.
Closing fast.
Centauri.
Alert the homeworld. Prepare to attack.
Who is it?
Who's there?
Guards!
Aah!
Chief, the prisoner's asking
to speak to you again.
Oh, come on, Zack. Give me a break.
You know the kind of day it's been.
He says it's important.
Ok, fine.
Send him in.
Oh, man.
[Voices on radio]
All right, you got 5 minutes.
I was sent to find you.
I have a message.
I believe it will explain everything.
Play.
Hello, old friend. It's been a while.
I'm entrusting this message to an associate of mine
who has sworn to bring it to you at any cost,
including his own life.
My job on the Minbari homeworld
is more than just representing Earth.
The President doesn't know about that part yet,
and I don't think it would be wise for you tell him.
There's a great darkness coming, Michael.
Some of the Minbari have been waiting for it a long time.
Captain!
We just intercepted
a message from the Narn homeworld
to Ambassador G'Kar.
I thought we didn't eavesdrop
on our Ambassadors.
We don't. This was on an open channel.
I think they wanted us to hear it.
The Centauri have launched a full-scale assault
on a Narn colony in quadrant 14.
Damn it!
The bearer of this message is one of my Rangers.
Some are Minbari, most are humans.
They've been drawn here to learn to work together
and prepare for the fight ahead.
Pause.
We've been here for almost 2 months now,
keeping an eye on things.
We are an army, Mr. Garibaldi.
We're small, but we're growing.
An army needs weapons. They coming through here?
No, but we do have friends here,
and that's all I can say for now.
Resume.
Their job for now is to patrol the frontier,
to listen,
to watch,
and return with reports
too sensitive to entrust to regular channels.
They are my eyes and ears.
Where you see them, you see me.
The first reports from quadrant 14
were confused.
They weren't sure who was attacking them.
But the returning fighters confirmed
that Centauri warships
were leading the assault.
What about our people?
There were over 1/4 million of us there.
There were heavy casualties.
Most of those killed
died in the first few minutes of the assault.
As for the survivors,
well, you know how the Centauri are.
Now that they've taken control,
I doubt we'll see any of them again.
I don't understand
how they could have destroyed our defenses
so quickly.
I'll report more when I learn of it.
I reached out my hand,
and he betrayed me.
He knew,
and he betrayed me!
[Glass shatters]
Aah!
In the name of our friendship,
I ask that you give them every courtesy
and cooperation.
I wish I could tell you more.
I wish I could warn you.
But the others don't think it's time yet.
Stay close to the Vorlon
and watch out for Shadows.
They move when you're not looking at them.
Well, I'll be a son of a--
[beep beep]
Yeah?
Intercom: We've got a yellow alert
in the Ambassadorial wing.
We need help fast. It's g--[Static]
Zack?
Z-Zack?
Unh!
Ohh!
Aah-unh!
Mollari!
That's far enough.
Go to your quarters
and no charges will be pressed.
I mean it, G'Kar.
You will go to your quarters,
and you will go now.
They're doing it to us again.
Step aside, Sheridan.
I won't let this happen, not again!
Then you're going to need all the help you can get.
Set one foot
in Ambassador Mollari's quarters,
you'll either be dead or gone.
Either way, you won't help your people.
They'll kill everyone. Don't you understand?
They've done it before! They'll kill everyone!
Then you're going to have to decide
what's more important to you, G'Kar...
Revenge or saving the lives of your people.
Aah!
No, leave him alone.
Just...
Leave him alone.
It's ok.
Easy.
You should try and save your strength.
Is there anything that you want?
I would very much like to have seen a Vorlon.
How will this end?
[Many garbled voices]
In fire.
What makes you think
you can trust this source of yours?
Let's just say
he comes highly recommended.
You're holding something back.
Yes, sir.
Why?
I gave my word.
You're asking me
to accept sensitive information
without any idea of where it comes from.
I could order you to tell me.
And if I told you, you'd never be able
to trust me with anything confidential
knowing someone above you could order me talk.
All right, go on.
Ever since new years, we've been hearing
about some other major race on the prowl.
My source tells me the rumors are true,
and there may be some link
to the Centauri government.
Now, who or what that link is, I don't know,
but they're definitely getting support.
And you think this other race was behind
the assault on quadrant 14?
It's possible.
If it's true,
they won't want that information to get out.
What information?
All we have here is supposition.
Sheridan's rule number 29:
Always make your opponent think
you know more than you really know.
Now, if your source is right,
we may be able to play a bluff.
Majesty, we have wonderful news.
We have retaken the Narn colony
in quadrant 14.
It fell within a matter of hours,
and not one of our people was hurt
or killed in the process.
All of homeworld is rejoicing.
We are again what we should be.
All we lack is your blessing.
[Whispering]
He's dead.
What did he say?
He said,
"continue.
Take my people back to the stars."
Mollari,
what did he say, really?
He said...
That we are both damned.
Well...
It's a small enough price to pay
for immortality.
Ha ha ha ha ha.
[Door opens]
Ambassador?
[Door closes]
We think we have an idea of how we can help.
I've called a council meeting.
I hope you'll come.
Sheridan?
I will attend.
Thank you...
For stopping me.
Ambassador Mollari,
what about the Narn civilian population?
I'm told there are over 1/4 million of them
at the colony.
Now, will you let them return to the Narn homeworld?
Oh, no, I'm afraid we can't do that.
But I am sure that my government
will find some productive activity for them.
Forced labor camps.
Simple retraining.
We have no desire to misuse anyone.
I should mention
that I have just received permission
by my government
to send observers to the colony.
Their job will be to monitor
the treatment of the civilian population.
They're not welcome.
Well, we're sending them anyway,
unless you'd like to try
shooting down an Earthforce transport.
Personally, I'd advise against it.
My people aren't looking for another war,
but they don't take kindly to being shot at.
The observers will assess the situation,
interview the survivors,
and put together a full report,
including as much as they can find out
about how the colony was conquered so quickly.
I'm sure we'd all be interested
to find out how you did this, Ambassador.
And trust me, if those observers do go there,
they will find out.
I believe...
I believe that I may be
able to convince my government
to allow the colony's civilian population
to leave the area
and safely return to the Narn homeworld,
as a gesture of goodwill.
That would remove the need
for observers from Earth.
Wouldn't you agree, Captain?
Under those conditions, yes.
I'm sure your gesture of goodwill
will be appreciated for what it is,
Ambassador.
Ambassador G'Kar?
Before coming here,
I received a communique!! From my government.
For a hundred years,
the Centauri occupied our world,
devastated it.
We swore we would never let that happen again.
This attack on our largest civilian colony
has inflicted terrible damage
and loss of life.
They have crossed a line
we cannot allow them to cross.
As a result, 2 hours ago,
my government officially declared war
against the Centauri Republic.
Our hope for peace is over.
We are now at war.
And the unfortunate death of the Prime Minister
so soon after the Emperor has had the effect of
tilting the balance of power back home.
Several competing families
have been neutralized,
leaving the present nephew to claim the throne,
a young man who feels as we do about the future.
For the first time in a hundred years,
Ambassador,
our people are on the right track again,
and we have you to thank for it.
You will find the new Emperor's gratitude
most rewarding.
Good day, Mollari.
Good day, reefa.
I'm surprised. You could've asked
to be named to the royal court.
It would've put you in a position
to become Emperor yourself someday.
That's what you want, isn't it?
[Choking]
No, I have no desire to be Emperor.
No, I prefer to work
behind the scenes.
The reward is nearly as great,
and the risk far, far less.
So, I want to thank you again for your help.
You may have saved the lives of 1/4 million Narns.
So then you will give us the cooperation we need?
On one condition.
I want you to keep me informed
as to what you and the other Rangers
hear out there.
We've got a shooting war on our hands,
and we can use all the information we can get.
Consider it done,
as long as you keep our presence here a secret.
You got a deal.
Oh, one last thing.
Aside from me,
does anybody else know you're here?
Just one other.
Recorder: Hello, old friend.