04x05 - The Long Night

[bunniefuu]

Captain's personal log.

We're almost ready to strike.

The next few days will either mark
the beginning of a new age...

...or the death of everything
we've worked for.

We just got a report from a ship
passing through Sector 900...

...on the edge of Vorlon space.

It was inevitable, with Vorlons attacking
Shadow bases all over the place...

...and wiping out colonies
where Shadows have influence.

They were bound to strike back.

It's like two giants fighting in a sandbox.
They don't even care who gets stepped on.

- How bad is it?
- See for yourself.

This used to be a colony that was
supporting the Vorlons.

- What is that?
- Unknown.

At first we thought
it was a dust cloud...

...figured they were being bombed
from space. Then it began moving.

Before that cloud got there,
whatever it is...

...there were 2 million sentients
living on that planet.

They're all dead now.

You know, I used to think that
the Vorlon planetkillers were scary...

...but now, I don't even know
what I'm looking at.

We couldn't get a reading on it.

Giants in the playground.

You all know why we are here.

What happens in the next little while
will determine the fate of Centauri Prime.

Homeworld will stand or fall depending
on what we do here in the next 17 hours.

Mollari, we shouldn't move hastily.

No, we shouldn't.

Unfortunately, we have no other choice.

No one in the royal court was willing
to stand up and prevent a madman...

...from taking the throne
until it was too late.

Don't blame us for this, Mollari.

Prime Minister Malachi could've
stopped him, but Malachi is dead...

...thanks to your friend Lord Refa.

You were part of it all along.

Refa never told me his plans for Malachi,
and he has paid the price for his actions.

I made sure of that.
Still, when I die, there will be a reckoning...

...but it will have to wait.

What matters is what we do now!

There has to be another way.

I wish there was, but with the Shadows'
vessels based on Centauri Prime...

...and the Vorlons coming,
we don't have any time.

We must get their ships off of the
Homeworld before the Vorlons arrive.

And they will not leave as long
as Cartagia is alive...

...which is why I have lured him here.

Away from the royal court, he is vulnerable.

- Londo...
- There is no choice!

By the end of this day,
either Cartagia is dead...

...or Centauri Prime will be destroyed.

It was the year of fire.

The year of destruction.

The year we took back
what was ours.

It was the year of rebirth.

The year of great sadness.

The year of pain.

- And a year of joy.
- It was a new age.

It was the end of history.

It was the year everything changed.

The year is 2261.
The place, Babylon 5.

You're far away again.

Sit.

How is it out there?

We just had 10 more ships join the fleet.

It's the biggest thing I've ever seen.

Hell, no one's ever seen
a thing like this before.

When you consider six months ago
half of them were fighting each other...

...it's amazing. And you brought
them together. You should be proud.

You know, all my life,
I have dreamed of going into battle...

...commanding a fleet like this.

Now we're gonna do it.

No matter how it ends up,
we're gonna go down fighting.

Susan, that's what I was thinking about.

I don't want you with the fleet,
at least not at first.

- Don't you dare...
- Susan...

There's no way in hell you're
leaving me behind! Not this time.

I'm not asking you to stay behind.

There's something I need you to do.

You were looking for more of the First Ones
when you found the Vorlon fleet.

I need you to finish what you started.

We looked everywhere
and came up empty.

Maybe there just aren't any more left.

Lorien says there are.
He can help you find them.

Look, we need every resource
we can get.

If we can have some of the First Ones
onboard, we have a chance.

If not...

It's funny, this morning I remembered
a story I hadn't thought about in years.

I was 10.

My father was away on business,
and my mother was...

Well, she'd been on the sleepers
for so many years.

Psi Corps control freaks
wouldn't leave her alone.

It's the same refrain over and over again.

"Sleepers or prison.
Sleepers or prison."

I was downstairs.
I was playing with my dolls.

I know. It's hard to believe, but even
I played with dolls once upon a time.

Seems like a lifetime ago.

Anyway, she came downstairs...

...and she just watched me play.

She had the strangest look on her face,
like she was trying to burn that moment...

...into her mind so she would never,
ever forget it.

So I asked her if she'd play with me,
and she said:

"Of course, Susatchka,
but I want you to wait for me next door...

...at cousin Magda's house.
I'll come for you soon."

So I went, and I waited,
and I waited, and it got dark...

...and my father came home,
and then some other men showed up.

And then my father told me
that my mother had gone away.

It wasn't until later that I found out
that she took her own life.

That she had come down to watch me play
so that she could have...

...one perfect memory
to take with her into heaven.

Whenever someone has told me
they would wait for me or come for me...

...it hasn't come true.

I can't do that anymore, John.

Not unless I'm sure.

What do you want me to do?

I want you to make me a promise, not as
my friend, not as my commanding officer...

...from one soldier to another.

Don't protect me. Don't hold me back.

I want you to promise me that
I will be there with the fleet at the end...

...no matter what happens.

I have just enough trust left in me
to believe you.

You'll be there.

When do you want me to leave?

As soon as possible.
Lorien's already been notified.

Susan.

I don't think I ever told you
what a good friend you've been...

...and how proud I am of you.

I just...

Before you left, I...

I just thought you should know.

Thank you.

- Good night, captain.
- Good night, commander.

Mollari, here, come away
from the window.

You're missing all the fun.

There was too much fun, Majesty.

I needed a break.

Isn't it amazing what they've done here?

It's almost identical
to the throne room back home.

Mollari.

I wanted you to know...

...I have decided to take you with me.
- Majesty?

A god must have a high priest, must he not?

And when the Shadows rise
from the ashes of Centauri Prime...

...and reward my loyalty with godhood,
I want you to be the first one in my temple.

I haven't decided
where to build it yet, but...

You will not be on Centauri Prime
when the Vorlons come?

Of course not.
You and I will watch from a distance.

We'll head back as soon as we've finished
with G'Kar's execution, and then...

You see?

You'll excuse me, Majesty...

...but I have to go and check
on some arrangements.

G'Kar.

Great Maker.

Your eye.

Cartagia?

My eye offended him.

Doesn't matter.

I can see things now
that were invisible to me before.

An empty eye
sees through to an empty heart.

Your execution has been set for later today.

Cartagia will parade you
before your people, humiliate you...

...use you to strip away their last hope.

And then...

Then he will k*ll you.

At least that is the plan.

My people are in place.

Your chains have been weakened,
the palace guards bribed.

His personal guards cannot be bribed.

That is where you come in.

You need only to distract them
for a few moments.

We will take care of things from there.

Can you do it?

Your heart is empty, Mollari.

Did you know that?

I know that your heart
will be dead soon...

...if you do not act as I have instructed you.

G'Kar, remember...

...do not harm him.

If you touch him,
your people will suffer...

...and never be set free.

Leave him to us.

Humor is such a subjective thing,
don't you think, Mollari?

Yes?

You have it?

Good. There wasn't a problem?
You weren't seen?

I don't think so.

I kept checking, but as far as I could tell,
nobody was even trying to follow me.

That is why I sent you.

Everyone knows
that you are incapable...

...of doing anything
really dangerous or subversive.

Oh, that's good.

I don't know about incapable.

They always over-wrap these things.
You have to be a magician to open it.

I mean, you know,
if I put my mind to it, I mean...

I suppose, I mean, it's just that...
Once, I did take...

- Vir!
- Yes.

Take the compliment for what it is.

Very nice.

Good workmanship.

Did he give you any instructions?

Yes. The dose of neural toxins is very small,
completely undetectable.

Okay, but because it is so small, it has
to be delivered directly into the target.

You couldn't just put it in his food.
It wouldn't work.

It wouldn't get past his tasters, anyway.
Go on.

You must place it right here, between his
hearts, and then press that button.

The toxin will paralyze his neural system,
which will cause his hearts to stop.

And then when you pull it out,
an organic sealant will cover up the wound.

You won't be able to see it, unless you
knew what you were looking for...

...and we hope that they won't be.

- How fast does the poison work?
- Very quickly.

He said almost instantaneously.

Almost?

How fast is "almost"?

Time enough for him to stagger back
into the main room and cry out:

"Londo k*lled me!"

Or maybe just enough time
for him to say, "Londo k*lled..."

Maybe he won't even get that out.

He'll just maybe go, "Lon..."

Or maybe he'll just be totally delirious
and say everything backwards and say:

"k*ll Londo!"

I was just making a play on the...

Well, it's time.

They're going to parade G'Kar
before the leaders of some local towns...

...to encourage cooperation, yes?
We must be there.

They must not see you are afraid.

Be strong.

Our guest is almost here.

Now you will watch
and see the justice of Cartagia.

Swift, but fair.

Tempered by wisdom,
yet unwavering in retribution.

Remember what you see here today,
for it is the stuff of legends.

Just to be on the safe side, I had his chains
replaced by my personal guards.

The others looked weak.

Citizen G'Kar, you stand accused of acts
of v*olence against the Centauri Republic...

...directing insurrection
against our lawful rule.

You are charged with m*rder,
sedition, treason, terrorism...

...and an assortment of other charges
listed on the docket.

The penalty for these crimes
is death by vivisection.

How do you plead?

How do you plead?

You cannot break those chains.
They are made of solid kirrilium.

Majesty, this way.
Hurry. Hurry.

Completely irresponsible.
The chains weren't secured.

I can't have it getting out.
They'll have to be k*lled.

- Majesty...
- All of them, k*lled! Incompetent behavior!

Absolutely incompetent.

- Be quiet!
- Quiet? Quiet?

You would tell the stars
to darken on a whim?

Would you tear down mountains because
their height offends you? Who are you?

Where were you?!

Where were you when my destiny
was written in those stars?

Where were you when the gods
themselves shined down upon me?

You dare to speak to me?

No. You can burn.
You can burn with Centauri Prime.

You can burn with the rest.

Burn with the cities, burn with
the temples, burn with all of them!

No!

I was to be a god, you understand?

- A god...
- The emperor has collapsed.

We think it is his hearts.

Hurry. We need a doctor.

We have just come from His Majesty's bed.

The emperor is dead.

I personally supervised the royal physician.
There is nothing to be done.

It is as if his hearts just gave out.

The emperor believed in heeding
the wisdom of the gods.

Well, twice, the emperor
of the Centauri Republic...

...has d*ed while acting in relation to Narn.

Emperor Turhan while trying to make peace,
and now Cartagia.

I believe Cartagia would say
that this is a sign from the gods...

...a sign to leave this place forever.

I concur.

We have taken our revenge for the w*r.

Outside there is nothing but rubble.

There is nothing to be gained here.

And there is much to be done back home.

We have three days to correct
the emperor's misjudgment...

...about the Shadow vessels
now based on Homeworld.

Yes, we must act quickly.

Cartagia has no heirs,
and there's no clear line of ascension.

Nor do we have time
to appoint a new emperor.

I therefore nominate Londo Mollari...

...of the House Mollari
to the position of prime minister.

- Minister, l...
- No one is more qualified...

...to deal with this thr*at
to planetary security.

Does this have your blessing?

Yes. Yes. Yes.

We are yours to command,
prime minister.

I've finished compiling the latest att*cks
by the Shadows and the Vorlons.

They continue to target support facilities
and colonies that have taken sides.

It's all hit-and-run stuff.

They come in with enough firepower
to protect their planetkillers...

...then blow everything up
and jump out.

Perhaps they're doing what we're doing,
building up their forces for one big as*ault.

Exactly. I've received...

They're using these att*cks to keep
the other side off-balance, soften them up.

I don't understand why they don't
att*ck the other side's Homeworld.

In the interim...

Lorien says there are rules
of engagement between the two.

The Shadows said basically the same thing,
but what are the rules?

You were saying something, Lennier?

Yes. I was about to...

- Yes?
- Captain, we've got a signal...

...coming in for Ambassador Delenn.
It's from White Star 14.

I ordered several Ranger ships to the areas
where these att*cks have taken place...

...to see if they could
get more information.

Put it through, please.

Entil'Zha, we found a colony
under att*ck by Shadow forces.

The Shadow planetkiller has just appeared.
We've sent a probe to investigate.

Show me.

In Valen's name.

Scanners indicate the missiles have
penetrated the surface of the planet.

Burrowing straight down.

Ten miles.

Twenty.

I don't believe it.
They're nearly to the planet's core.

Wait, they've stopped. It's...

Ericsson?

Ericsson, what was that?

Electromagnetic pulse coming from
the surface. We caught a piece of it.

The missiles have detonated near
the planet's core. Thermonuclear reaction.

Thousands of megatons
times thousands of missiles.

The planet's core is breaking up.

We're registering massive tectonic
movement, atmospheric disruption.

It's falling apart from the inside out.

In another 10, 12 hours,
there won't be anyone left alive down there.

Anyone want to tell me how
we're supposed to stop that?

We are outclassed, boys and girls.

If we knew where either side
was gonna hit next...

That is what I've been trying to say.

Our ships have seen
the Vorlon fleet massing in hyperspace.

Based on their movements,
we've calculated where they will strike.

It's in the report.

Sector 70, by 12 by 5.

There's only one inhabited planet
in that sector. It's Coriana 6.

There are over 6 billion people
on that planet.

I know.

Ericsson, keep this frequency open.
I'll need to talk to you later.

I may be asking a great deal
of you and your crew.

Convene the League Worlds.
We'll meet here in an hour.

And make sure they've seen this
before we start.

It'll scare the hell out of them.

Vir?

Vir, where are you?

Come on. We have to go.

We do not have time for games, Vir.

The ship is waiting.

I was toasting Emperor Cartagia...

...and since he wasn't here,
I drank for him.

And then, I couldn't be rude,
so I had to drink with him.

And so, first it was me drinking for him,
and then him drinking for me.

And then I kind of got
into this kind of cycle.

And then... Clumsy Cartagia,
his glass broke.

And, well, maybe it was my glass, actually.

Would you like some?
Because... You know what?

I think this is Cartagia's glass after all,
so it'd be quite appropriate, don't you think?

You're drunk.

Well, absolu... Positi...

Oh, you betcha.

I figured it always worked for you, Londo.

Look, let me...
Let me ask you something.

How much more before I can look
in the mirror and not see myself?

Because I keep looking,
and I'm always there.

And right now, I don't want to see me.

You're behaving like a fool.

You did what was necessary.

You've saved the lives
of millions of our people.

He had to be stopped.
He...

Don't you understand it?

I've never done anything like this before.

I close my eyes, and I always see his face!

Don't you know that all I ever wanted
was just a good job?

Small title, nothing fancy.

A wife I could love...

...and maybe even one that could
actually love someone like me.

I never wanted to be here.

I never wanted to know
the things that I know or to do...

To do the things that I've done.

I know.

I know, Vir.

I never wanted you in that hall.

I never wanted you to...

I remember when
you first arrived on Babylon 5.

You were so...

...full of life, innocent.

I was not kind to you.

I treated you poorly.

I think that I did that
because I was envious of you.

Envious that you had come
so far and were still...

...innocent in your way.

You still believed.

I, on the other hand...

I cannot tell you that your pain
will ever go away.

I cannot tell you
that you will ever forget his face.

I can only tell you that it was necessary.

You may have helped to save our people.

You did a hard thing.

But you still have your heart,
and your heart is a good one.

You would not be
in such great pain otherwise.

That means there is still hope for you...

...and for that I find I still envy you.

What's that?

Fireworks.

Yes, they've learned that we are leaving...

...and that soon Narn will be free.

For my part, good riddance.

It was always more trouble
than it was worth.

I'm sure it will cause me problems
back home...

...but I gave G'Kar my word.

Set them free in return for his help.

I will keep my promises.

My honor is all I have left.

I still need you, Vir.

There is much work to be done back home
if we are to save Centauri Prime.

The ship leaves shortly.

Drink your last drink.
Meet me there.

What was it all for, I wonder?

What was any of it for?

Look, I don't know any more
than you do, all right?

Where is Sheridan?
I figured he'd be back by now.

The natives are getting restless.

I'm sure he is deciding what to say to them.

Good luck.

May I have your attention.

By now, you have all seen
the same reports we have.

You know what we're facing.

The Vorlons are going to hit Coriana 6.

We can't allow that.

I had hoped to go against them
at a time and place of our choosing...

...but with 6 billion lives at stake,
we don't have that luxury anymore...

...so we're going to launch
our counteroffensive.

Phase one will require
one-third of our fleet.

Their job will be to slow down
the Vorlon advance, buy us a little time.

You'll receive your targets in priority order.

You hit them hard,
you hit them fast, and get out.

You don't have to destroy the target,
odds are you won't be able to.

But you'll tie up their resources
long enough to get our forces in position.

We will then gather the entire fleet
outside the orbit of Coriana 6.

That is where we will draw the line
against the Vorlons.

You spoke of a second phase.

Alongside our fleet,
we'll have several of the First Ones.

We've been in the process
of locating them for some time now.

How many we'll have, I do not know.

But...

There is an invitation we have to make.

I want the Shadows there as well.

- The Shadows?
- With all due respect...

They've been dancing around each other
ever since this became a sh**ting w*r.

Taking out support systems,
colonies, destroying supply lines.

They've been avoiding direct confrontation,
and I think I know why.

That's the other reason
for delaying the Vorlon advance.

We are going to force the issue
by making sure the Shadows are there...

...when the Vorlons come out.

If they want Armageddon,
then let's give it to them!

How?

Lf, as you say, they have
avoided direct confrontation...

...it is doubtful that they will come
simply because we ask them to.

I know.

So we'll have to try another way.

Yes?

I'm re-encoding this message
every 10 seconds...

...so have your system keep up with us.
I don't want to be intercepted.

Ericsson, a little while ago
I said that I might be asking...

...a great deal of you and your crew.

I've just sent four more ships
to rendezvous with your position.

Once they arrive,
you will proceed to enter Shadow space.

Your target is a small base on Dorak 7.

I know the one, sir.

Captain, it's only 10 light-minutes
from one of their main staging areas.

They'd be able to counterattack
almost instantly.

We're aware of that.

We're transmitting a file
to you on a subchannel.

That file contains information about a secret
base we've established near Coriana 6.

Most of the fleet will be there
when it goes online in three days...

...but, Ericsson, if this information
falls into the hands of the Shadows...

...they'll launch an att*ck against that base
just before it becomes operational.

Don't worry, sir, we won't
let it fall into the wrong hands.

You misunderstand me.

We want it to fall into their hands.

We want them in the Coriana system
in three days.

We're planning a little party for them.

But, Ericsson, if this information
comes too easily, they won't believe it.

We need them to believe it's real.
Real enough to fight for, real enough to...

You're not a married man,
are you, Ericsson?

No.

No, sir, I'm not.

Well, there's that, at least.

What about the other four ships?

They won't have anything of value.

You'll provide cover,
allowing them to escape.

Your ship has the only copy of this file.

Ericsson, billions of lives
are counting on this.

- Lf there were any other way...
- Understood.

We'll put up a good fight.

If there's anything
that you or your crew need...

...anyone you want us to get ahold of...

They're Minbari, captain.

They knew what they were signing on for.
So did I.

We've finished receiving the file.

Captain, how long before
the other ships get here?

Ten, maybe 12 hours.

Then we'd better get ready.

You can count on us, sir.
We'll get it done.

I know you will.

In Valen's name.

In Valen's name.

Why are you celebrating?!

We drove them away.

They knew they could not
enslave us forever...

...and we drove them off through strength.

Is that what you think?

Try to understand.

The strength that defeated the Centauri
is not from weapons or arms.

G'Kar, you are tired.

You're hurt.
You're not seeing this as we do.

I see, G'Lorn.

I see better than you can imagine.

When you've rested,
we will thank you properly, as is your right.

There will be celebrations
in the street, G'Kar.

Your name will be a blessing
to any who speak it.

And then... Then, G'Kar, you will
lead us against our oppressors.

You will be the instrument
of our vengeance.

With you directing us,
we will finally destroy the Centauri.

You have just tossed someone
off that throne.

Would you put another
in his place so quickly?

The Kha'Ri spoke with many equal voices,
not the one voice of a single leader.

We need strength to lead us,
fire to forge us.

We saw that in the Centauri,
learned that from them.

Then you have learned the wrong lessons.

I will not take the throne.

If the Kha'Ri is restored, I will take
my place among them, but that's all.

I did not fight to remove one dictator
just to become another myself!

- But the Centauri...
- Are a lost people!

They are to be pitied.

They are already on a course
for self-destruction.

They do not need help from us.

We need to redress our wounds,
help our people, rebuild our cities.

We must strike back!

No.

I never thought you a coward, G'Kar.

We suffered and d*ed during
their occupation. Where were you?

What have you endured?

What have I endured?

What have I endur...?

Target destroyed.

Shadow vessels still coming after us.

Engines damaged.

Get away while you can.
We'll cover you!

They're coming in!

Ericsson to rest of White Star fleet,
can you receive?

We need help.

Is anyone there?

We can't let them take us alive.

In Valen's name.

Is it...?

It's over.

The Shadows took the bait.

There's no turning back now.

No. The att*cks on Vorlon targets
have begun.

The rest of the fleet is waiting for us.

Then we should go.

Captain's personal log.
Final entry.

We're going into the heart of the fire,
on one side the Vorlons...

...on the other, the Shadows,
and us in the middle.

Whether any of us will ever come back...

...I don't know.

When I took command of Babylon 5
I found a note on my desk.

Someone had left it there for me.

It was a poem by Tennyson.

I still remember the last part of it.

Though we are not now of that strength
Which in old days moved earth and heaven

That which we are, we are

One equal temper of heroic hearts

Made weak by time and fate
But strong in will

To strive, to seek
To find, and not to yield