Ambassador...
I've been looking for you.
Uh...
Last week, after you saved my life,
I didn't really get a chance to thank you properly.
I've tried to reach you since then,
but you haven't answered my calls.
Is everything all right?
Being seen by so many at once
was a great strain.
I returned to my ship to rest.
You have a question?
Nobody knows it was you.
Everyone saw something... Different,
something from the legends of their own world.
But it was still a terrible risk.
After taking such care to hide what you really are,
why take that chance?
It was...
Necessary.
Well, as answers go--
short, to the point, utterly useless,
and totally consistent
with what I've come to expect from a Vorlon.
Good.
You know...
I just had a thought.
You've been back and forth to your homeworld
so many times since you got here,
how do I know you're the same Vorlon?
Inside that suit, you could be anyone.
I have always been here.
Oh, yeah? You said that about me, too.
Yes.
I really hate it when you do that.
Good.
Approaching the barrier. Are you ready?
Standing by.
Here it comes.
Almost there.
Eject me.
Don't take the chance.
Not yet.
Get you all the way outside the barrier.
Now.
Damn it, now.
Now.
Good luck.
Goodbye, drasak.
Computer, damage report.
Can we still jump?
Confirmed.
Destination?
Babylon 5.
The Babylon project was our last best hope for peace.
It failed.
In the year of the Shadow War,
it became something greater--
our last best hope...
For victory.
The year is 2260.
The place...
Computer...
How much longer till we reach Babylon 5?
Seven standard hours at present speed.
Redirect as much power as you can
from life support to the engines.
Confirmed.
You know, I'm getting a little tired
of these unannounced visits by vips
who will not tell us why they're coming
or what they're going to do when they get here.
Well, leave it to you
to try and take all the fun out of life.
I mean, come on, where's your sense of mystery,
of adventure?
Are you trying to cheer me up?
No, sir. Wouldn't dream of it.
Good. I hate being cheered up.
It's depressing.
Well, in that case, we're all going to die
horrible, painful, lingering deaths.
Thank you. I feel much better now.
Captain Sheridan.
Commander Ivanova.
David Endawi,
air force special- intelligence division.
Sorry to jump in on you at the last moment,
but I only got my orders
a few days ago.
Can we go someplace private?
What I have to say
is for your ears only.
Of course. Uh, this way.
I would appreciate it if could you have
Ambassador Delenn present as well?
Not a problem. I'll have her meet us there.
[Garibaldi] I got a new one for you, doc.
Yeah, what is it?
He just got off the ship when he collapsed.
Uh, ship was shot up pretty bad.
I checked the cockpit, and he practically
turned off his life-support systems.
My guess is he was saving energy
to make sure he got here.
Any idea why?
Ah, negative.
He must have erased the ship's log
before he docked.
Like the new digs. Just move in?
Yeah, this morning.
Still trying to sort the place out, though.
Definite improvement.
All right.
We'll have Dr. Sanchez do a full workup.
We'll let you know when he comes to.
All right.
Franklin to Sanchez.
Sanchez.
Got a patient here at med lab one.
Can you get up here stat?
Is it serious?
I don't think so.
Looks like uh, exhaustion,
dehydration, oxygen deprivation.
Believe me, he's not going anywhere.
I'm on my way.
Good morning, Ambassador.
I hear you've been looking for me.
Yes. Please.
I have been doing
a great deal of thinking lately.
With the Narn war over,
I think it is time that we...
Reconsidered our relationship.
Oh?
My people have a manifest destiny.
They can achieve it just as well
without the help of your associates,
perhaps better.
So we're no longer necessary?
That's right.
And now that we've done everything
that you have asked,
you'd like us to just...Disappear?
I do believe you have got it surrounded,
Mr. Morden.
Aren't you being a little premature?
After all, your people
are still moving on several other worlds.
You might still need us.
No, I don't think so.
We have danced
our last little dance, Mr. Morden.
Now it is time for you...
To go away.
Ok.
There is one small detail, Ambassador,
a little bookkeeping to close out.
I have to meet with my associates,
but let's say
we reconvene in your quarters
later this afternoon to discuss it.
And then you'll go away?
For as long as you want.
I am here on a matter
of the utmost urgency, Ambassador.
Before I leave,
I will be speaking
with most of the other Ambassadors,
but I wanted to see you first
because of our current good relations with Minbar
and because, as one of the older races,
you might have some knowledge
of the subject at hand.
I will, of course, do anything I can.
Some of you may already have seen this on I.S.N.
We yanked it off the air as soon as we heard about it.
This is gun camera footage
from one of your star furies, is it not?
Yes. Lieutenant Keffer.
He was conducting a series
of unauthorized investigations
into an unknown ship he'd seen in hyperspace.
It cost him his life.
Then you had no knowledge of his investigation?
He didn't talk about it much.
We heard about it
and tried to discourage him from continuing,
but he disobeyed.
Was he authorized
for a first-contact protocol?
No.
Ambassador...
Our research division
has been studying this record for the last 10 days.
It's hard to Gage size in hyperspace,
but it's big and it's powerful
and it's totally unknown to us.
It attacked and killed one of our pilots.
It's clearly from a highly advanced civilization.
We are downplaying this at home,
trying to convince the public
that we know what it is,
where it's from, and that we're not worried,
but we don't have a clue.
My job is to find out what you
or any of the other races know about this ship.
I'm sorry, Mr. Endawi.
I wish I could be of some help you,
but, um, this is the first time
I've seen a ship like this.
You're sure?
Take a good look.
Yes...
I'm quite sure.
I assume nothing like this
has entered Babylon 5 space lately?
No. No, something like that,
I'd recognize it.
All right.
Well, I shouldn't have expected
to hit it right off the bat.
I'll need to speak
with all the other Ambassadors about this,
Captain, strictly on the qt.
This may take a while,
so if you could find me a place to stay...
That's already been taken care of.
If you'll just follow me.
Thank you.
[Endawi] Ambassador.
A few months ago, you told me
about an ancient race--the Shadows.
This is one of theirs, isn't it?
I'm sorry I could not tell him the truth,
but our only chance is in allowing the Shadows
to think we are unaware of their return
while we prepare our own forces.
But you said you'd never seen one before.
That part was true.
Descriptions of these ships
have come down to us from the last great war.
I have never actually seen one
until this moment.
These ships...
Once they target you...
They never stop,
never slow down, never give up
until they have destroyed you.
They're nearly invincible.
I don't believe that.
Every ship has a weakness.
Believe what you will
till experience changes your mind.
Take a good look, John,
and remember it well.
That is the face of our enemy.
Delenn.
Good. There you are.
I was just informed
that someone is looking for you.
This is not a good time.
Uh...
He sent this.
I appreciate your seeing me
on such short notice, Ambassador Mollari.
Nonsense. Even before our new treaty,
there's nothing I would not do
for my dear friends from Earth.
Now you are sure you will not have a drink?
Not while I'm on duty.
Ah.
Well, you see, we Centauri
are always on duty--
duty to the Republic,
to our houses,
to one another.
And so we have made the practice of joy...
Another duty,
one which must be pursued
as vigorously as the others.
Ha ha ha.
You should try it sometime.
Now...
What can I do to be of service?
I was wondering what you might know
about this ship.
We salvaged this record
from a destroyed Earth fighter.
We've never seen anything like it.
Given its strength,
its size,
and its apparent hostility,
until we know otherwise,
we are considering it
a threat to planetary security.
Can you tell me if you've seen this before?
Yes.
In a dream.
A dream?
Yes. I...
I'm standing...
Somewhere...
On Centauri Prime, I think.
And I'm...
Looking up.
And there are ships...
Just like this...
Passing...
Overhead.
First a few...
And then more.
1,000...
2,000.
So many that they block out the sun.
A terrible sight.
Terrible.
That's all?
It is enough.
No, that is all I know.
I'm sorry I could not be of more assistance.
Perhaps one of the others.
Yes, of course.
Thank you for your time,
Ambassador Mollari.
Are you sure this is the place?
Reasonably.
A most unreasonable place for reasonable assumptions.
Drink.
Uh, thank you, no.
If you please, we are waiting for someone.
People come here to drink.
Do you want to draw attention?
No alcohol.
It is safe.
Mister...
Just Marcus.
Of course it's safe.
I know the effect it has on Minbari.
But since most don't,
I figured it would help prove I was waiting for you.
Can I have it back now, please?
You know, I've heard that when these are made,
they're forged in white-hot flame,
then cooled in three bowls.
The first is some kind of ancient holy water.
The second, Minbari blood.
The third, human blood.
They say that when a Ranger dies,
the figures on either side shed three tears--
one of water and two of blood.
And you?
Do you believe this?
I stopped believing in miracles
a long time ago, Ambassador.
Part of the heart goes dead.
It's best to leave it that way.
I need your help, Delenn.
But I suggest we go someplace
a little more private to discuss it.
This way.
We're being followed.
Yes, I know.
This is my party down below.
You want to do business here...
You got to pay.
I don't like extortion.
And idon't like insults.
Funny. With a face like yours,
I thought you would be used to it by now.
That was a bad move. All you had to do
was give us everything you got.
Now...you're still going to give us
everything you got,
only it's going to hurt a hell of a lot worse.
Uhh!
You all right?
Yes.
Yes. Lennier?
Lennier?
I'm fine. Thank you, Delenn.
A Minbari fighting bar.
An old one.
A gift from a friend.
We must hurry. This way.
Captain, you wanted to see me?
Yes, Commander.
It's going to be difficult.
Um, I haven't had a chance to fill you in
on everything until now, and I apologize for that.
But from what I've just heard,
we don't have a lot of time.
This is Marcus. He's a--
a Ranger.
They've been trained to fight the Shadows
and keep an eye on what's happening outside Babylon 5.
The Rangers in this area
are under the direct control of you,
Ambassador Delenn,
and Garibaldi is functioning as your liaison.
Did I leave anything out?
Uh...when did you... How did you--
Captain, the day something happens around here
and I don't know about it, worry.
So what's up?
Marcus?
I came here from zagro 7.
It's a Drazi colony
on the edge of their territory,
it's also the base
of one of our biggest training camps.
I thought the Rangers were being trained on Minbar.
Many of them are, yes.
But there is a wisdom in,
as you say,
not putting all of your eggs
in one basket.
Besides, not all of our people
are comfortable with the idea
of the Rangers.
So with the cooperation
of other governments,
we've created additional
training camps elsewhere.
Two weeks ago,
we were surrounded by Centauri blockade mines.
Any ship trying to leave the blockade is shot down.
It's a small colony with very little of value,
so our guess is that we're the target.
Why hasn't the Drazi government
done anything about this?
The Centauri have captured much larger targets
on the other side of their territory.
They do not have the resources to protect
a colony with so few people
and of such limited strategic value.
We're boxed in on all sides.
We need your help now,
before anyone else is killed
or the camp is invaded.
All you have to do is break the blockade
long enough
for the other Rangers to escape.
Look, to lead an expedition
into Drazi space to take out
a planetary blockade,
you'd need a warship,
major ordinance, a crew.
We don't have those kind of resources.
And we're already in hot water
with the Centauri over the last firefight.
We have the means
if you have the will.
There'll be nothing left behind
that could be linked back to you.
We have no one else to turn to.
Captain, there's one more thing.
We still have a vip onboard.
You leave now,
it's gonna raise 10 kinds of hell.
When I agreed to share command
of the Rangers with Delenn,
I became responsible for their well-being.
I'm not going to abandon them now.
Michael, I'm leaving you in charge of Mr. Endawi.
Tell him anything.
Just buy me as much time as you can.
Will do.
We've spent too much time reacting
when we should've been acting.
Let's take the offensive for a change.
Fire up the shuttle, Commander.
We've got work to do.
I just sent a fake destination
to the station files.
We can proceed to zagro 7 anytime.
Shuttle 1 to Minbari flyer.
Stay close.
Initiating jumpgate sequence.
Since you feel strongly
about going our separate ways,
I wanted to be sure we understood the terms
of our separation.
Ah.
Here we are.
This area over here is for the Centauri.
Conquer all the worlds you like.
We won't bother you...
As long as it's understood
that this area is ours.
You can take anything you want over here,
and we'll take everything we want over there.
What guarantee do we have
that your forces will not decide
to turn around and attack us?
None.
Ambassador, we both know
what promises in treaties mean.
All I can tell you is we have what we want.
The rest is of no concern to us.
Done.
We go our separate ways, and...
We owe each other nothing.
Of course.
Oh, uh...
One small exception hardly worth mentioning.
Uh, this world.
It's on the border of your space,
but we have a vested interest in it.
I've taken the Liberty of asking Lord Refa
to secure it for us. Refa?
Well, you said you wanted nothing more to do with us,
and...he was quite open to my request.
He secured the planet for us,
and now my associates will take custody of it.
The rest is yours.
Good day, Ambassador.
Mr. Morden...
I was thinking.
I have never really seen the ships
that you and your associates
have used in-- in helping us.
Perhaps one of these days--
perhaps.
Meanwhile, as I said...
Tell your forces
to leave the blockade mines,
but to move their ships
out of that area.
You don't want them or anyone else
hanging around
when my associates come for zagro 7.
We're approaching the rendezvous point.
Prepare for return to normal space.
Confirmed, Ambassador.
Would you like to tell us
what's waiting for us on the other side?
A beginning.
[Ivanova] Scanning area.
I'm not seeing anything, but--
wait. I've got a...
What the hell is that?
[Sheridan] My god.
It's beautiful.
Her name is the White Star.
And she's yours, Captain.
This is quite irregular, Mr. Garibaldi.
I was assured that Captain Sheridan
or Commander Ivanova would be available.
They got called away on urgent business.
What kind of business?
I'm not authorized
for that kind of information.
But you're the head of security.
And what kind of head of security
would I be if I let people like me
know things that I'm not supposed to know?
I mean, I know what I know
because I have to know it,
and if I don't have to know it,
I don't tell me, and I don't let anyone else
tell me either. Now, look, we've tried
most of the other Ambassadors.
Why don't you speak to G'Kar?
Maybe he knows something about the ship.
Under the terms of our recent treaty,
I am not authorized to have
any official conversation with the Narn
without Centauri approval.
So you'll ask unofficially.
And I can give you reasonable assurances
that the head of security
will not report you for doing so.
Because you won't... Tell yourself about it.
I try never to get involved in my own life.
Too much trouble.
This is a very strange place you have here,
Mr. Garibaldi.
Thank you.
The White Star
is a new breed of Minbari warship,
smaller than our other fleet ships,
and faster than anything else her size.
It uses both Minbari and Vorlon technology.
Most important, unlike other vessels her size,
this one can make its own jump point into hyperspace.
Very nice, and it looks just different enough
so that it won't be recognized as a Minbari ship.
Yes, exactly.
I'll take two.
I notice you have artificial gravity.
Our ships have to use rotating sections.
Her drive systems are based partly
on magnetic
and gravitational principles.
We've had artificial gravity
for some time now.
This way.
Because we've had some problems recently
with the warrior caste,
we've chosen a crew
from the religious caste.
Many of them helped design this ship,
working in secret.
Even some of the gray council
don't know about us.
It's amazing, Delenn.
I could spend the next couple of days
taking this thing apart
to learn how it works.
But we don't have time for that right now.
Who do I...
The others are not yet
familiar with your language,
but I will be happy to relay your orders
to the crew, Captain.
Thank you, Mr. Lennier.
Put us on course for zagro 7.
[Lennier speaks Minbari]
So I know it is a long shot, Mr. G'Kar,
but if there is anything
you could tell us about this ship...
Finally.
They came to our world
over 1,000 of your years ago,
long before we went to the stars ourselves.
They set up a base on one of our Southern continents.
They took little interest in us.
G'quan believed they were engaged in a war
far outside our own world.
G'quan?
One of our greatest spiritual leaders.
The book of G'Quan is copied by hand
from the original
with every note and line precisely drawn.
This ship and your ship are the same.
I tried to warn the others
that the ancient enemy was returning...
But no one listened.
Perhaps now they will.
But if this is correct...
Why would they just disappear
for 1,000 years?
To all things, there is a time, Mr. Endawi.
Perhaps this is theirs.
You haven't said much since we came aboard.
I don't usually speak
unless I have something to say.
Then we have something in common.
So how did you get involved
with the Rangers?
My brother joined six months before I did.
I said he was being a fool...
Chasing legends,
playing hero.
He came back to warn me about a Shadow attack
on the mining colony I was working at.
Didn't listen.
I got back just in time to see him die.
I'm sorry.
Before he died,
he asked me to finish what he'd started.
I keep my promises.
Approaching zagro 7.
Coming out of hyperspace.
Are the other Rangers ready?
I sent them a message as soon as we came aboard.
Good. Ivanova, have you finished
studying the weapon system?
Ready when you are.
Keep scanning. There's bound to be
a Centauri warship hanging around
to keep an eye on things.
And I do not want to get caught
in a crossfire.
Let's go.
[Speaking Minbari]
Fire.
They're getting our range.
No sign of a Centauri warship?
None.
I don't like it.
They wouldn't just
abandon a blockade like this.
Unless they recalled it.
And just leave all this
behind unprotected?
That doesn't make sense.
Are you sure all your scanners
are working properly?
Would you like to see for yourself?
Yes.
Oh, this is...
This is w--
Delenn, what else can this ship do?
All in good time, Captain.
All in good time.
We're picking up a disturbance. One ship.
Unknown configuration.
Show me.
[Delenn] The Shadows!
In Valen's name...
They've got to be here
for the same reasons we are--the Rangers.
You can't abandon them down there.
I have no intention of abandoning anyone.
How many more of these mines
do we have to take out
before the Rangers can escape?
The next three should give them
a big enough window to get out.
We're not ready for this yet.
Then we'd better get ready and fast.
We came this far.
We're going to finish what we started.
Continue attack.
Aye, sir.
[Speaking Minbari]
Enemy vessel's targeting us.
Evasive action, but keep firing.
It missed.
They never miss.
They don't recognize our ship.
They wanna find out who we are
before they destroy us.
They'll either cripple us
so they can board us or drive us off
so they can follow us.
That should give us
just enough room to maneuver.
We got the last mine in this area cleared.
Marcus, there's your window.
Tell the Rangers to clear out.
[Explosion]
Head for the jumpgate.
Would it not be faster to open a jump point?
I don't want them to know
we have that potential. Now hit it.
We cannot lose them in hyperspace.
They will follow us wherever we go.
I'm counting on it.
[Ivanova] It's still there, Captain.
Good.
Listen to me, Captain.
You don't know what you're dealing with.
The weapons on this ship aren't strong enough
to hurt a Shadow vessel of that size.
We must find help.
We cannot hope to destroy a ship like that alone.
With all due respect, Ambassador...
I've heard that before.
Enemy vessel's closing.
Captain, why didn't you want the enemy to know
we could make our own jump point into hyperspace?
'Cause most ships this size can't do it.
They have to rely on a jumpgate.
As long as it thinks we're in that class,
we've got one extra weapon in our arsenal.
Tell me, Commander.
Have you ever wondered what would happen
if you opened a jump point
while inside a jumpgate?
No, and neither should you.
Earthforce experimented with the idea
during the Minbari war.
They called it the "bonehead maneuver."
No offense. None taken.
Because it's suicide.
Forming a jump point inside a jumpgate
releases a staggering amount of energy.
None of our ships could clear the blast range
before being blown to bits.
But this isn't one of our ships.
Mr. Lennier, what do you think?
Is this ship fast enough
to get out before the gate blows?
I have no idea.
Well, it'll do.
We should just about be
in sector 45 by now.
Tell them to head to the local jumpgate,
best speed.
Captain, why this jumpgate?
It's expendable.
Used to be the Marcab system.
Since they died off, other races
have been using the abandoned gate
to strip the place bare.
I do not like grave robbers.
This should take care of
two problems at once.
Approaching jumpgate.
All right. Stand by jumpgate sequence.
Ivanova, you ride the jump engines.
Be ready on my signal.
You ready?
No.
But you may proceed anyway.
Activate jumpgate sequence...
Now.
Half jump engines on line...Now.
[Engines rev up]
Punch it!
Hang on! Oh!
Aah!
Everybody all right?
Fine, i--i think.
Lennier. Lennier!
Are you all right?
I was just thinking...
That, uh, in all my years at temple,
nothing ever prepared me
for this sort of experience.
Perhaps that, when this is all over,
that I will submit a proposal
to revise the program.
I think that would be a very good idea.
Captain Sheridan.
Commander Ivanova.
So good of you to join us.
Could you please explain to me
where you have been,
what you have been doing,
and why there is a fraudulent entry
in the station logs
about your destination?
Oh, I'd be happy to, Mr. Endawi.
Uh, I'm sorry we left you in the lurch like this.
But we've been--
assisting my government
by towing a disabled Minbari shuttle
to a nearby jump point.
Yes, it took quite a while. We just got back.
And why is there no mention of this
in the station logs?
It seems straightforward enough.
It was a diplomatic shuttle
carrying important government documents.
Uh, we were asked, as a courtesy,
to keep this confidential
to avoid embarrassing the Minbari government.
Now that we've taken care of that...
Is there anything else
we can do for you, Mr. Endawi?
No. As a matter of fact,
I was just leaving.
I have everything I came for.
I'll turn this over
to s.I.D. For analysis,
see what they can make of it.
I'll make sure you get a copy
of my report.
You'll find the report quite complete.
And no one knows what this ship is
or where it came from?
Not that I could determine.
I came across some interesting stories
here and there...
Most of it from a thousand years ago.
I don't know if it has any relevance or not.
Well, we'll leave that
for the experts to tell us.
Good work on this, Endawi.
I'll let you know what we find.
I told you to wait outside.
You could've been seen.
No harm. No one knows who I am.
It's all here.
They don't have much to go on.
A little from the Narns.
Yes. Well, that's to be expected.
But I think we've neutralized that problem.
Nothing else, then?
Not that I can see.
The ship's a complete mystery to all of them.
Good.
My associates will be very happy to hear that.
There's no need to rush things.
Your government can dismiss this
as an isolated incident.
I don't know.
There's something about this idea
of a threat to planetary security
I find very appealing.
As long as we keep the real truth
to ourselves, there's no reason
we can't use this situation
to speed up the program here at home.
Interesting.
What exactly did you have in mind?
Although some of us, like Susan here,
make it a point to watch everything
that happens on Babylon 5,
most of the rest don't have that option.
Now, up until now,
Delenn and I and...
Maybe Garibaldi here have had all the pieces
to what's going on out there--
the return of the Shadows,
the Rangers...
The loss of my wife on zachdoom.
The first thing I learned at the academy
was that a lack of information can kill you.
We can't afford that.
So I'm creating a war council.
We'll meet every two weeks for now
unless something urgent comes up.
The war council will consist of each of us,
whichever Ranger is stationed here at the time,
and a few others I hope to add later.
Now, whatever knowledge or information we have
will be shared among the rest.
There are no ground rules.
Anyone can say anything he or she wants to say.
Well, then I have a question.
I mean, granted, I'm stuck in med lab
most of the time,
and granted, I'm usually the last
to know anything around here.
And granted, we've all been
pretty busy lately,
but could someone please tell me
what the hell these Shadows are?
There are beings in the universe
billions of years older than any of our races.
They walked among the stars like giants,
vast, timeless.
They created great empires,
taught the new races,
explored beyond the rim.
The oldest of the ancients
are the Shadows.
We've no other name for them.