Sx04 - A Call to Arms

[bunniefuu]

Meanwhile, on Earth and Minbar,
preparations continue...

...for next month's celebration marking the
fifth anniversary of the Interstellar Alliance.

Aside from one brief conflict with the
Centauri Republic early in its first year...

...ISA President John Sheridan
has delivered on his promise...

...to maintain peace
among all its member worlds.

Although ISA Vice President Delenn
continues to make appearances...

...during these preparations, Sheridan
himself has not been seen for several days.

Speculations on his absence ranged
from the flu to a goodwill mission to Narn.

In other news, ground was broken today
in Earth Dome for a monument...

...dedicated to the many who d*ed
in the recent telepath crisis, including...

That's him.

All right, move us away
as soon as he's onboard.

Tell them to have some dinner ready.
He's probably hungry. And if he's not, I am.

I appreciate you getting into this, Michael.
I haven't been able to be as involved...

...in the construction of the new ships
as I'd have liked.

You got a galactic empire to run.
Leave the nuts and bolts to the other guys.

Kicking butt is what I do for a living.

Speaking of which,
how are things going on Mars?

Couldn't be better.

You know, I never figured myself
for the corporate type.

I mean, think about it, me...
Me, running Edgars Industries...

...one of the biggest corporations
on Mars. I mean...

But I, you know, I love it.

But you know me...

...if there's something I can do to help,
I'm here.

Good.

I take it you have talked
to the head of construction.

- What's his name, Drake?
- Drake.

I've talked, I've yelled, I've screamed.
He's a bright guy...

...but he has to get everything
just perfect before he'll sign off on it.

Since nothing's ever perfect,
nothing gets finished.

I understand his caution.
A job like this...

...reverse-engineering Minbari and Vorlon
technology so it'll work with human tech?

I mean, it's never been done before.

Yeah, but once we're done, you are
gonna have the leanest and meanest...

...fleet on the block.

Of course, once the other races
find out about it, they are gonna go nuts.

I know. So far, though,
we've been able to hide the funding...

...and Delenn's kept everyone's attention
back on Minbar...

...getting ready for the anniversary.
Nobody knows we're even here.

Yeah, we hope.

- Excuse me, Mr. President?
- Yeah?

We've cleared all the shipping lines.
We're ready to jump.

Good. Proceed.

One thing's for sure,
even if anybody does know we're here...

...no one's gonna be able to follow us
from here on out.

I haven't seen anything yet that could
keep up with a White Star on full burn.

Galen.

Galen!

- The circle requires your presence.
- I'm busy.

They know of your activities.

You will come to them...

...or they will come to you.

Either way,
you will be called to account.

We are all called to account
sooner or later.

And to whom am I supposed
to explain my behavior this time?

To everyone involved.

Everyone?

Must be a very large room.

- Galen.
- All right. All right.

Show me the way.

The long road.

But then, it always is a long road,
isn't it?

And you...

You may be called to account
even sooner than you imagined.

Mr. President.
We've arrived at the rendezvous point, sir.

Good. Lock in coordinates,
prepare to jump to normal space.

Ready to jump at your command.

Jump.

Should be coming into visual range
any time now.

I hope this was worth it.

I haven't seen anything on these ships since
the initial designs came across my desk.

If it's anything like what I saw here
a week ago...

...I think you're gonna like this.
Yeah, I think you're gonna like this a lot.

There she blows.

Our first two prototype destroyers.

Mr. President, Samuel Drake.
It's an honor to meet you, sir.

- Mr. Garibaldi, it's good to see you again.
- I can tell.

So let's begin the tour, shall we?

So far, we've only been able
to get the gravitetic propulsion system...

...to provide a workable gravity
of slightly less than G.

After three months of trying...

...Mr. Garibaldi suggested
that we declare victory and move on.

I figured less than a full G
was better for everybody anyway.

I kind of like the idea that every time
I come onboard I weigh pounds less.

Incidentally, sir, I wanted to thank you
for bringing me aboard.

It's not easy for Mars-born citizens
to get work on major Earth contracts.

Well, I don't have much patience
for that kind of politics.

Under the terms of the Alliance...

...Mars-born and Earth naturals
are entitled to equal opportunities.

Besides, you were highly recommended.

We decided on a non-standard
bridge configuration...

...based on the submarine model.
Linear instead of circular.

From the captain's chair,
it's a straight throw back and across...

...to the other compartments.

Map room.

Conference room.

Navigation and helm controls.
Com system. Weapons.

We designed the controls
along Earthforce lines...

...to make them easier for us to deal with.
The system's very intuitive.

You can run it like almost any other ship.

It's what's inside that sets her apart
from anything else that's out there.

How does she handle?

We don't actually know.

Well, we wanted to wait until you got here
and she was completely fitted out.

Don't you think you should find out
whether or not this thing...

...will actually go anywhere before you
spend a lot of time polishing the chrome?

What if this new propulsion system
doesn't work?

All the tests have indicated that...

Yes?

Message for President Sheridan
on Stellarcom. It's Delenn.

You can take it in the conference room,
Mr. President.

Attention. Reactor is back online.

Repeat, reactor is back online.

Drake...

...did I or did I not tell you
to take her out before I got back here?

Did I not introduce you to the theory
that it doesn't have to be perfect...

...let's just see if it works?
- Yes, but...

Well, then, let me introduce
you to a new theory:

Shut up and do exactly what I say.

- Now, ease her out of space dock.
- Yes, sir.

Cast off ties, prepare to ease away
from space dock.

- Engines are good to go.
- Ready to engage at your command.

- Power up.
- I'm sure there won't be any problems.

Engage main engines.

- Drake...
- Tracking power loss.

...was that a problem?
- So it would seem, sir.

Message received. Ready to display.

Okay, let me see it.

Mr. President?

Mr. President?

You okay?

You were in here almost half an hour.

Oh, no, I just got here.

The message was scrambled, gibberish.
Must've hit some kind of interference.

You were looking at gibberish
for minutes.

You wanna do that,
swing by my place some time...

...I'll show you
some th century television.

Look, Drake has a few bugs to work out.

It's nothing serious,
but it's gonna take a little while.

So why don't you get some rest
and we'll finish up the tour later.

Fine. Fine.

Good idea.
I guess I'm more tired than I thought.

And now, we're gonna figure out
how to get this thing moving.

Or you're gonna go outside and push.

Things were so much easier on Babylon .

Weapons violation.
Weapons violation.

Ma'am?

Ma'am!

Can I see you over here?

I guess you didn't read
the postings outside.

Babylon has a strict weapons policy.
Now, either you give me...

...whatever you're carrying
or I'll have to ask you to leave the station.

All of it.

You can pick it up when you leave.

Thanks.

Where do the lost people go?

- Who?
- The forgotten, the castoffs, the neglected.

The lost people.

Downbelow. Brown Sector.

Do you hear that?

- Hear what?
- Listen.

- I don't hear anything.
- Exactly.

No birds, no animals...

...no voices, no machines...

...no insects, starships...

...or music.

You are hearing the sounds
of a dead world.

A m*rder*d world.

- An att*ck?
- A test.

Can you imagine?

All this, just for a test.

- This is a dream.
- No, not a dream. A nightmare.

And if sometimes dreams come true...

...then what of our nightmares?

- Who are you?
- A friend.

My name is Galen.
I called to you earlier.

The message from Delenn.
That was me.

I apologize for the deception.

A connection was necessary
for the electron incantation.

- I thought you said this world was dead.
- It is.

The K*llers have returned
to check on their handiwork.

We should go.

I doubt they can pick up on my probe,
but there's no point risking it.

Remember what you have seen.

They must have got it fixed.

Well, it ain't pretty, but at least
it'll get us out to the f*ring range.

- You get to live another minutes, Drake.
- Yes, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Good night!

No.

No, I can't be back.

- I can't.
- Can't you?

- Aren't you?
- You.

This is not your world,
Dureena Nafeel.

But it shares the same fate
as your world.

When the time comes to choose your target,
be sure to pick the right one.

Because you will only get one sh*t.

You were having a bad dream.

And have awakened to another.

What's your name?

Dureena.

Dureena Nafeel.

Do you have the mark?

Show us!

Who trained you?

Who brought you into the Thieves Guild,
taught you our ways?

Mafeek of Tripani .

Mafeek is known to me.

- Who was his teacher?
- Gant the Elder.

And how long have you been a thief?

Long enough to be good at what I do.

But not good enough to avoid being seen,
captured and restrained.

I didn't exactly hide the fact
that I was looking for you.

I wanted to check in and the quickest way
to do that was to draw your attention.

I was captured because I chose to be.

There was no reason to treat me this way.

Had I known the level
of your hospitality...

...it would have been you on the floor,
not me.

You talk pretty good
for someone who's all chained up.

What chains?

You made your point.
You made your point!

We welcome you.

Welcome you, as one Guilder
to another. Welcome.

While you're here...

...you'll live by our rules:

Do not interfere in the activities
of any other member of the Thieves Guild.

Do not betray our presence
to the authorities.

We support rigged games,
petty theft, con jobs...

...pickpocketing,
black marketeering and barter...

...but nothing violent.

Nothing that will cause the authorities
to notice us.

We will take percent of your earnings
in exchange for a place to stay...

...and, of course,
the pleasure of our company.

If by some chance you are captured
by the authorities, you are alone.

We cannot help you.

- Do you have any questions?
- No.

Then you can go.
I'll have this one show you out.

- Don't touch me.
- One last thing!

Your kind is unknown to us.

You are very far from home,
Dureena Nafeel, wherever that is.

What are you doing here?

I don't know.

Good morning. You're just in time
for the weapons demonstration.

- Shall we?
- Any time you're ready.

- You are ready, aren't you?
- Ready, willing and able. Aren't we, Drake?

Yes, sir.
All hands prepare for level one test f*ring.

Repeat, prepare for level one test f*ring.

Weapons control, stand by.

Weapons control, aye, aye, sir.

Target, degrees by degrees
by degrees.

by by , aye, aye, sir.

- Confirm target lock.
- Fire.

What do you think, Mr. President?

Well, I'm a little disappointed.

That wasn't much more firepower
than the average White Star.

Now, these ships are supposed
to pack a bigger punch.

Well, then, I guess we're just
gonna have to deliver on that promise.

You see, that was level one.
Drake, go to level two.

Sir, about the main g*ns,
there's a slight...

- A complication.
- What kind of complication?

The enhanced weapons array
is based loosely on Vorlon designs.

They were intended for ships far more
advanced than we're capable of building...

...with a far greater energy reserve.

f*ring the main g*ns
takes virtually all of our power.

So they should only be used
as a last resort.

Duly noted. Now, would you like
to take a sh*t at our next target?

Let's say that big asteroid
over there, huh?

Yeah. Mr. President.

- You may fire when ready.
- Weapons control, ready to fire.

- Aye, sir.
- Target bearing by by .

Nine by by , aye, aye, sir.

- Target locked, ready to fire.
- Ready to fire, sir.

- Fire when ready.
- No!

No, we can't.
How did we?

How did we what, sir?

That's Earth out there.

- What?
- I said, that is Earth...

Sir?

Nothing.

Prepare to fire.

Standing by.

- Well, fire.
- Fire.

f*ring main g*ns.

As I said...

...it drains nearly all of our energy,
leaving barely enough for gravity control.

We can't navigate or fire again
for at least a minute.

Which leaves the ship vulnerable.

Yes, sir.
For one minute.

A lot can happen in a minute.

I said, a lot can happen in a minute.

It's a mistake!
You shouldn't have brought him here.

Bad enough
you've been sending probes outside...

...sending signals that could be tracked
back to us, but this?

You're endangering all of us!

We agreed to have no contact
with the outside.

And if our silence
means the death of billions?

You said I should explain myself
to all involved.

He is involved,
whether he knows it or not.

Galen, this is premature.
We can't make contact without proof.

We can't get proof unless we contact
someone on the outside. This is insanity!

Perhaps that's true,
but these are insane times.

And this one.

Is he the best you could do?

As a matter of fact, yes.

He is the one person
who can give us what we need.

We all know what is at stake here
if I am right.

Yes, we must protect ourselves...

...but we cannot do so
by abandoning those we left behind.

All right.

We will allow this one contact,
but no more.

And if your actions compromise
our hiding place...

...if we risk death because
of your actions, understand...

...that you will be the first of us to die.

They're upset with you.

Not upset, afraid.

Fear makes wise men foolish.

In my case,
I can only hope it makes fools wise.

Do you know who...

What we are?

Well, you called this
an electron incantation...

...you and the rest are in hiding...

...so my guess is, you're techno-mages.

You use technology
to simulate the effect of magic.

I met one of your kind before.

He was joining the rest of you
in leaving known space.

We came to this place
during the Shadow w*r...

...to prevent our secrets
from falling into the wrong hands.

And though the w*r is over,
our leaders are in no hurry to return.

So we will continue hiding
for a bit longer.

Twenty, more years, just to be safe.

They like being safe.

And where is this place?

- Wrong question.
- I'm hip.

Listen to me carefully, Sheridan.
We don't have much time.

The connection between us
is a delicate one.

Do you recognize...

...this place?

Z'Ha'Dum.

The Homeworld of the Shadows
before they left for the Rim.

An ancient race
dedicated to chaos and destruction.

They left, but their allies remained.

Some of them you know as the Drakh.

We've been watching the Drakh
for some time.

We knew that sooner or later,
those who had once served other masters...

...would choose
to become masters themselves...

...and continue the work
the Shadows began.

Lately we've heard rumors...

...stories from other races
who've encountered the Drakh.

We think they are preparing to move...

...testing their resources,
weapons, capabilities.

But with the Shadows gone
and their world destroyed...

...how much power can they have?
- That is what you will have to find out.

- Why me?
- Because...

...I believe they're going
to start their w*r...

...by attacking Earth.

Remember, it was humans who organized
the w*r against their masters, humans...

...who finally obliterated them.

Such things are not quickly forgotten.

- You said resources. How much do...
- No, I have told you all I can...

...and some of what I suspect.
I am not allowed to tell you more.

The rest...

...you and your companions
must learn on your own.

But...

...do not tell anyone...

...what you are doing or why...

...or most especially, who told you.

The Drakh have spies everywhere.

If they know we are watching,
they will move before we can prepare.

I don't think anybody
would believe this anyway.

The dreams, all of this...

They'd think I was crazy.

Hell, I don't even know
if any of this is real.

But you're curious enough to find out,
which is why I chose you.

Your spirit is such that you will go...

...even if it means going alone.

I wish I were going with you.

I wish I could help,
because if I'm right...

Oh, my friend...

...unless you act...

...Earth may suffer the fate of Daltron .

Mr. President?

Mr. President?

I was saying that the hull
is a plasteel crystalline alloy...

...capable of refracting percent
of any energy w*apon used against it.

Although, as I'm sure you can imagine,
that percent can mount up pretty fast...

...in a major battle. We should always...
- We have to go.

- What? But we just...
- Tell the White Star to pick us up.

We have to go
and we have to go right now.

Go where?

It was above the faces.

Over them all.
Babylon .

John.

Mr. President.

You wanna tell me why we're heading
to B in such a rush?

No.

Not yet, because I'm not even sure
I believe it myself.

I have to find out if what I think is...

...is.

And what if "is" isn't?

If it isn't, then it's not.

But if it is...

Well, there you are.

Look, why don't we stop by Minbar.
We can see Delenn.

- You've been under a lot of pressure lately...
- I'm fine. And we are going to Babylon .

Right.

Absolutely.

Whatever you say.

I'll just get some work done
while you're...

...drawing
- Good.

Oh, while you're at it...

...see what you can find out about
a planet named Daltron .

Never heard of it.

Me either.

- Is it important?
- Could be.

Get Captain Lochley at B
on the line.

I'll be in my quarters, chasing fireflies.

- Are you sure about this, captain?
- Quite sure, commander.

Why? Is there a problem?

No, sir. It's just...

Our last instructions
from Earth Dome ordered us...

...to Vega colony
for a routine security patrol.

Now we've changed course
for Babylon without notifying HQ.

Phil, you worry too much.

Now, go on with your status checks.

I know what I'm doing.

I hope.

Lockdown complete.
Switching over...

- Captain, good to see you.
- And you, Mr. President. Quite a surprise.

Well, perhaps not that much
of a surprise.

I need you to do me a favor.
I want you to run these pictures...

...see if these people
are on the station.

The likenesses may not be exact,
but should be close enough...

...for the computer to do an analysis.

- Are you sure they're here?
- No.

But if they're not,
they will be soon. I think.

Do you have any idea
what this is about?

Not a clue.

Better keep our eyes open down here.
Let me see that picture again.

- Roger that. Squad six, report.
- Squad six reports...

She's making a run for it. Let's go!

- Hold it!
- Hey!

Hey, we just wanna...
We just wanna talk.

- Get her!
- Get her.

Well, I'll give you this one.
She's a dead match for the drawing.

Who is she?

You don't know?
You drew her.

It's a long story.

What's her name?

Dureena Nafeel.
She got here a few days ago.

Judging from the half-dozen
purses and wallets she had...

...when the guards found her,
I'd say she's a petty thief.

But a good one, to steal that much
without anyone noticing it.

Where is she from?
I've never seen an alien like that before.

Zander Prime.

I thought that was a dead world.

It is, now.

Zander Prime was wiped out
during the Shadow w*r.

During the last days of the w*r...

... the Shadows revealed
their biggest w*apon:

A death cloud capable
of engulfing whole worlds.

Thermonuclear missiles
from the death cloud...

... penetrated deep into the planetary core,
where they exploded...

... destroying the planet
from the inside out.

Zander Prime was one of the last
planets destroyed by the Shadows.

We thought no one had survived.
Until now.

We told her we were
throwing her off the station.

We'll bring her by to see you
on her way to deportation.

Might make her
a little more cooperative.

- Yes?
- We've got Captain Anderson...

... of the Charon online.

He wants to speak with
the president, says it's urgent.

All right. Put him through.

- You know this guy?
- I don't think so.

Hello, Mr. President.

By any chance,
have you been looking for me?

So it would appear.

- Mr. President.
- Captain.

So you were drawn here
same as I was.

Yes, sir. You know,
it's good to meet somebody...

...who won't think I'm crazy if I say
the man in my dreams told me to find you.

Well, if you're crazy,
then we're both crazy.

Good.

Dureena Nafeel, this is captain...

Hey! Hey! Hey! Let go!

I said, let go!
What the hell is wrong with you?

My world is dead! My people, my family,
they're all dead and it's your fault!

So? You think he's losing it?

Oh, I don't know.

I mean, on the one hand, two of the
pictures he gave us did pan out.

On the other hand,
it could be random chance.

All I know for sure is that
he is not behaving rationally.

It's almost as if he's acting under
some kind of outside influence.

Well, could be.
All this started when he got a signal...

...that was supposedly from Delenn.
The signal was a mess.

I figured it got scrambled,
but it could have been coded...

...downloaded directly
into his brain somehow.

There don't seem to be
a lot of choices.

Either something really is happening...

...or someone's trying
to make him think it is in order to...

What? Discredit him?

- End the Alliance?
- Yeah, maybe.

All we can do is keep an eye on him,
because if he's right...

...we'll need to be here to help him.
And if he's wrong...

...we may have to intervene
before somebody gets hurt.

I don't understand it.

Why did you say I k*lled your world?

- It was a w*r. Both sides...
- We had nothing to do with it.

We were neutral.

When worlds near us
were being destroyed...

...we called to you for help.
You did nothing.

There was nothing we could do.

Our forces were scattered
out all over the place.

Other worlds were threatened.
We were barely hanging on.

We didn't hear about your planet
until it was too late. By the time...

- You could have done something.
- No!

Now, for years after the w*r,
I asked myself the same question:

Could I have done more? Could we
have saved more lives than we did?

But the truth is,
even if we had heard in time...

...we didn't have anything
that could stop a Shadow planetkiller.

We were outgunned.

Dureena, you are angry with me
because you see me as a symbol...

...for what happened to your world,
but I am not responsible.

The Shadows gave the orders...

...but they didn't pull the trigger.
- What are you talking about?

The Shadows had others working
for them who carried out the orders.

They're called Drakh.

And the Drakh
are still out there, Dureena.

Dureena. Dureena.

You're looking for a target,
a way to make someone pay...

...for the death of your world.

You picked me because
you thought you couldn't get to them.

But you can.

I can give you a chance
to strike back at those responsible...

...for the death of your world,
before they do the same to someone else.

Then perhaps that is what
the dream meant.

I thought they were memories
of what was...

...but perhaps they are warnings
of what is yet to come.

One thing, Mr. President:

There are three of us in this drawing.

- Where's the other one?
- The Drazi?

I don't know, and that worries me.

Should we wait
for him to get here?

No. If Galen was right and the Drakh
are preparing to move...

...any delay could be costly.
We have to go...

...and hope that he catches up
with us later.

It's true. It is me.

I don't understand.
Why us?

I don't know, but I assume we each bring
something unique to the mission...

...that increases the odds
of its success.

Speaking of which,
Mr. President...

...we may have
a serious problem.

The type of forces you're talking about are
beyond anything I've ever fought before.

Now, my ship can take us into the battle,
but against odds like this...

...you're gonna need something a lot bigger
and nastier than an Earth destroyer.

I think I just may have the thing.

- Good morning, captain.
- Mr. Garibaldi. Sleep well?

Yeah. Yeah, I did.

Boy, I needed it too.
So where's the president?

Well, I thought
he was coming with you.

No. When he didn't call,
I figured he'd be meeting me here.

Well, that's odd.

- Lochley to C & C.
- C & C online.

Did you send Sheridan the message
about our meeting this morning?

Yes, captain, but he's been working
and hasn't checked in.

If he hasn't checked in,
how do you know he's working?

- That's what the message says.
- Show me.

Hello. This is the president.

I'm busy with affairs of state and
can't come to the link right now.

At the chime, leave a message
and I'll get back to you...

... at the earliest opportunity.

- Oh, he wouldn't...
- lf he wanted to skip out, he could.

He knows all the ways
in and out of here.

Is the White Star
still berthed outside?

- Affirmative.
- That's a relief.

No, wait. Were there any
departures during the night?

Just one,
the Earthforce destroyer Charon.

Hell. Listen, I want you to get me
an outside frequency.

I wanna get on the line ASAP
with Samuel Drake.

Who?

- Yes, sir, Mr. President.
- Mr. Drake, we have a breach in security.

Our communication frequency
has been cracked and Mr. Garibaldi feels...

...there are certain people that may use it
to send you false or misleading information.

I see. If I may ask,
where is Mr. Garibaldi?

Consequently, you are not to receive
any further messages...

...unless they come
through on this frequency.

Block everything else
out of your system.

Do not acknowledge, receive
or answer them for any reason.

- Is that understood, Drake?
- Yes, sir.

Good. I'm counting on you.

We're en route and will
be there shortly. End signal.

You talked to your crew about this?

- I have.
- What about you?

Are you sure you
wanna do this?

You'll be going AWOL,
risking your career.

During the civil w*r, we had a chance
to join your side and we didn't.

We were wrong.

When this dream came to me,
I didn't know if it was real or not.

That's why we came.
If you hadn't been here...

...I would have written it off
as a delusion and moved on.

But you were here
and Earth is in danger.

And this time, I intend on being
on the winning side.

Now, the crew feels the same way.

We let you down once.
We won't do it again.

Thank you, captain.
So is everything ready?

- I think so.
- Then we're in good shape.

I see. And what does the phrase
"good shape" mean...

...on the planet where you live?

Mr. President, I'm sorry.
We're not ready.

We didn't think you'd be back so soon.

It's all right. Mr. Drake,
meet Captain Anderson.

I brought him along
to see the tour.

I see. This is quite irregular.

- He hasn't been cleared.
- And a few of his friends.

No. No, no.
This is out of the...

We don't have the facilities
for a tour.

- You can't go in there.
- Of course they can.

Now, tell me that part again
about how the systems...

...were designed
to use standard Earthforce controls.

So it won't be too hard
to learn how to run this thing, right?

- Well, yes, but...
- Yeah, good.

...you're not supposed to be here.

I repeat. This is White Star
to Samuel Drake.

Please respond.

No good, sir.
They're blocking us.

Damn it.

It doesn't make any sense, sir.
Why would he go back there?

It's not as if he's going
to steal the ships or any...

- He wouldn't, sir.
- If he thought he needed them...

...and he thought he was right,
he'd do it.

Victory to Excalibur.
We're ready to go.

Arm gravitational engines.
Ahead one-quarter.

Unable to comply. We are still
locked into spacedock.

Problem solved.
Set course for...

Unless you act...

...Earth may suffer
the fate of Daltron .

Set course for Daltron .

Prepare to jump to hyperspace.

Jump.

Daltron dead ahead, sir.

This can't be.

The reference table on Daltron describes
this as the next best thing to paradise.

Clear skies, warm weather.

Ship, environmental
analysis of planet.

Nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere in proportions
dangerous for human life forms.

High degree of carbon ash and
particulate matter in upper atmosphere...

... indicative of surface eruptions.

Temperature of planetary core
far below normal levels.

- Anomalous surface details.
- What kind of surface details?

Detail on navigation display.

- This is what they did to my world.
- But it doesn't make any sense.

Daltron was well
outside the w*r zone.

Besides, the w*r's
been over for six years.

Any att*ck here, even this far off
the main routes...

...we would have heard
about it by now.

Are you picking up any life forms,
anything at all?

Negative on life forms.
We're picking up one power source.

- Identify power source.
- Distress signal is of Drazi origin.

Fire up a shuttle,
tell Captain Anderson to do the same.

We are going down there.

Notify Captain Anderson that
the president ordered...

...an excursion down to the planet.

This is it.
This is the place I saw in my dream.

- Anything beyond that northern ridge?
- Aye, sir. There's a plateau...

...that stretches yards or so.
Checking it out.

Report back in about five.

I found the beacon!

And something else.

Is this the Drazi we were supposed
to meet up with?

Well, it's hard to be sure,
but, yes, it looks like him.

Looks like somebody
got to him before we could.

I want the body searched.

Maybe you can find a note or something
to explain what happened here.

- Here's the planetary report, captain.
- What is it?

I had my crew do a detailed surface
analysis. Scan the planetary core...

...back-check records, see if anybody
made a report about what happened.

- And?
- Look, I wasn't in the Shadow Wars...

...you were, so I didn't see
these death clouds...

...but are you sure this is caused
by a Shadow planetkiller?

I'm positive. Nothing leaves a pattern
of craters like we saw from above.

I've never seen anything like it
before or since.

And this all happened
six years ago, right?

Correct. The Shadows left
and took it with them.

Well, we have a serious
problem, then, Mr. President.

Because if what I'm reading is correct,
this just happened over a week ago.

Look, the Drazi looks like
he's been dead for only a few days.

He might have seen something.

- Anything on the body?
- Negative, sir.

- So it's a dead end.
- Not necessarily.

Hey! Hold on.
Wait a minute.

Male Drazi have a pouch
under their left arm.

There's a skin flap. You can't see it
if you don't know what to look for.

Drazi smugglers use it to transport
small items into other parts of space.

If he was in trouble and wanted to
make sure it wasn't found...

...it'd be the logical place to hide it.

How did you know the Drazi had
a skin pouch under their arms?

It's not a pouch.
At least, not technically.

It's their reproductive area.

Why'd you have to tell me that?

Hey, lady. Dureena!

Listen, the only thing valuable
I carry on me is my watch.

I want you to know that in case this
ever comes up in the future. Okay?

You did well back there.

But I can't help wondering how someone
who's supposedly just a pickpocket...

...knows so much about smuggling
and alien life forms.

I'm more concerned
with what you said.

You said you b*at the Shadows.

You said they went away
and took their weapons...

...the weapons used
to m*rder my people.

You were wrong.

We knew they'd hidden
some weapons on other planets...

...as a safety measure.

But we didn't think anyone else knew
where they were or how to use them.

But the Drakh knew.

They probably helped build
the damn things.

- So this has happened before?
- Leftover Shadow tech?

Yeah, a few times.
But nothing this major.

- Then what happened?
- We got our butts kicked every time.

Perhaps I should just
sh**t myself now...

...and save myself a great deal
of time and trouble.

But no. No, that would be selfish.

As their enemy, they would have terrible
plans for you if we do not stop them.

That's it.

First I will sh**t you,
then I will sh**t me.

I would consider it a public service.

- I'm honored.
- You're welcome.

It was terrible, Mr. Garibaldi,
absolutely terrible.

Sheridan was like a madman.

He just broke in here
and stole the prototypes.

You should've seen the look in his eyes.

- I was sure he was going to k*ll me.
- Yeah, whatever.

- Did he say where he was going?
- No.

He was in a big hurry to get there,
I can tell you that.

Then where the hell..?

Wait a minute. He wanted me...

...to check out a planet
out on the deep range.

What was the name?

Dal... Dal... Dal...

- Daltron .
- Is that where he went?

I don't know, but it's a lead.
It's the only one we got.

I can have you shuttled back...

No. No, no.
After what I've been through...

...I wanna be there
when you catch him.

Besides, those two prototypes
are my babies, Mr. Garibaldi.

I should be there when they're found.

All right. All right, I think they've got
a spare bunk room downstairs.

Why don't you check with Lennox,
see what he can do for you.

Garibaldi to bridge.
Set course for Daltron .

Best speed.

Captain, we've managed to get
a clear signal through to Earth.

Good. Put it through.

- Hello, Lynne.
- Leonard.

My God.
Where have you been?

They've been calling,
saying you've deserted.

I haven't deserted. Let's just say
I've been transferred by a higher force.

Listen, I can't really talk
on an open channel.

I just wanted to make sure
that you and Sarah were okay.

We're fine.
I'm just worried about you.

I'll be fine.
You know how I am.

Hey!

Hi, Sarah. Are you okay?

Yeah, I'm okay,
but I had a bad dream.

I dreamed I was being a chased
by a monster and it ate me.

She's saying she won't
go to sleep tonight...

- ... because the monsters will get her.
- They will.

No. No, they won't.
I'll make sure of that.

No matter where I am, far or near...

...I'm gonna keep those monsters
away from you. I promise.

Captain. They've got the
Drazi data crystal decoded.

I'm on my way.

I gotta go, Lynne.
Sarah, now, you get some rest.

And you listen to your mommy, okay?

- I love you, Lynne.
- I love you too, Leonard.

And the dreams spoke to me.

They called to me to come to this place.

When I arrived, the destroyer was here.

I sent a probe in to examine it.

It looked like this.

- Maybe you should...
- No. I'm all right.

Just promise someday
you'll let me k*ll that thing.

- It isn't alive.
- No?

It is a terrible thing,
a slayer of worlds...

... an echo of the darkness
we thought had finally left us.

When it was finished, the others
who were with it took it away.

I followed them to this location.

I would have investigated further,
but there were too many.

So I am returning to Daltron
to see if there are any who can be saved.

Then...

... I will wait for the others
in my dream to come.

With luck...

... the dark ones will not find me
before they can arrive.

End message.

- Mr. President.
- Yes?

- Yes, captain, what is it?
- Check your long-range scanners.

We've got company.

Show me.

Are those Drakh?

They're either Drakh or the weirdest looking
pizza delivery trucks I've ever seen.

- Have they taken any hostile action?
- Negative, sir.

We're picking up scanners.

I think they're trying to figure out
who and what we are.

They don't recognize our ships.

Good. That's what I was counting on.

Let them get closer, captain.

Understood.

We'll lay low until we can see
right down the g*n ports.

Keep your finger on the trigger.

If they do anything suspicious,
knock them down.

Sir, we're getting a transmission
from the Drakh ship.

Receive transmissions but do not respond.

Video or audio.

If we can get a look at them
without them getting a look at us...

Coming through.
Message is in Interlac.

Using auto-translation system.

You have no business in this area.

Who are you?

Identify yourself.

It's the face of the enemy.

- Don't respond.
- Wait, wait.

I have a better idea. Send them
a reply in Interlac audio only.

Tell them...

...we came to attend to our enemies but
found someone had already dealt with them.

We were hoping to thank
whoever was responsible.

It doesn't matter
how powerful they are.

They'll need all the allies
they can get.

Let's see if we can convince them
we could be that ally, see what happens.

Send it.

- What was that?
- Transmission coming in...

...on Drakh frequency.
Extremely powerful.

Tachyon-enhanced. It definitely came
from outside the system.

- There's no way to trace it.
- Are you sure it was meant for them?

- Positive.
- What's their position?

They've stopped their approach.
Holding steady.

I don't like this.

- Any further communications?
- No, sir.

Damn! I knew it was too easy.

All hands, man battle stations!

Communications, jam their transmissions.

Navigation, give me full power
to the engines...

- as soon as...
- Here they come!

Anderson, take the two-one approach.

- We'll go after the others.
- We got them, sir.

Forward g*ns...

...prepare to fire.
- Aye, sir. The target's coming into range.

Enemy ships are locking on...

...f*ring.

- Damage report.
- Minor damage to the outer decks.

The hull appears to be refracting
away most of the energy.

Outstanding.

Weapons control, fire!

- She's making a run for it.
- Stay with her.

Distance to target.

Two thousand kilometers
to optimum f*ring range.

Closing fast.

Sixty seconds to target acquisition.

Fifty-five.

Fifty.

What the hell is that?

We're getting nothing
on the scanners.

It's like a null field out there.

Absorbing everything, even the light.

And those ships are headed right for it.

How long before they enter the field?

Thirty seconds.

Prepare to fire main g*ns.

- Captain, if the main g*ns are fired...
- I know.

- Stand by to fire.
- Aye, sir.

Main g*ns powered up and standing by.

Stand by.

Fire!

Temporary power loss.
Fifty seconds to rebuild.

- Distance to null field?
- Ten seconds.

Navigation...

...just an idle thought.
Does this location by any chance...

...correspond with the one
in the Drazi recordings?

- Yes, sir.
- That's what I was afraid of.

- Are you sure they went in there?
- Aye, sir.

But we can't read anything
beyond the null field.

What the hell is that?

Hard to starboard, right now!

- Rear g*ns, fire!
- Aye, sir.

- Excalibur, what happened?
- Fleet is on the move. All of them!

They sent after us
the only ships they could spare.

Listen, captain, I don't think
any of their ships are jump-capable...

...so I've got a plan.
- What is it?

Run and hope they're not fast enough...

...to follow us into the jump point
before it closes. Stand by.

- Prepare to jump.
- Standing by.

Jump!

- Are you picking up the enemy fleet?
- Aye, sir.

They're riding the primary
hyperspace beacon in this area.

Ten thousand kilometers ahead of us,
moving fast.

Take us off the hyperspace beacon,
we'll try to slip past them.

They're as fast as their slowest ship.
We've got an edge.

Put us on a course for Earth,
maximum burn.

Get me Captain Lochley on Babylon .

Captain, call coming in for you.
It's President Sheridan.

Put it through.

Mr. President. I'm glad
you finally decided to check in.

- We've been worried about you.
- You've got good reason to be worried.

I'm about three hours ahead of a Drakh
as*ault fleet headed right for Earth.

And captain, they've got
a Shadow planetkiller with them.

I see. Well, perhaps if you were to
stop off here on your way...

- ... we could discuss...
- Damn it, I know how this sounds...

...but it's true.
Now, I've contacted Delenn.

She's calling in as many Alliance ships
as she can get on short notice.

But that's not enough.

We need a full-scale mobilization
back home.

Earth isn't gonna scramble every ship
they've got because I tell them.

- Then you'll have to be more persuasive.
- Why me?

Because you're still part of Earthgov.

They're still wary of me...

...given what happened the last time
I brought a fleet into Earth space.

Captain Anderson doesn't have the clout
and since he went AWOL to join us...

...his word's not gonna count for a lot.

- You're asking the impossible.
- Then I am asking the right person.

Elizabeth...

... if you've ever believed me,
ever trusted me...

... trust me now.

You haven't seen
what a death cloud can do. I have.

It'll wipe out all life on Earth
unless we stop it.

Hell, I don't even know if we can stop it.
All I do know is that we have to try.

All right. I'll...

I'll do what I can.

Thanks.

I'll be in touch.

Now, get me Garibaldi.

- Lochley to C & C.
- C & C online.

Activate Gold Channel one.

Put me through to Earth Dome...

...President Susanna Luchenko's office.

- Captain, it's in the morning there.
- Thank you. I know.

Always knew I'd get court-martialed
for something someday.

May as well be now and get it over with.

- What's up?
- Something odd.

We had an anomaly
in the communications system...

...during a routine check.
A sustained coded message...

...routed through the Stellarcom system
tapped into the main power...

...to boost the signal beyond the usual.
- Somebody wanted to call home.

No, sir. I don't think that...

- Incoming signal from President Sheridan.
- Put it on-screen.

Michael, the balloon's gone up.

We've got an att*ck fleet headed for
Earth. They've got a Shadow planetkiller.

And how do you know they're
heading for Earth, another dream?

Yes. But more than that.
Look at the timing, Michael.

This is the fifth anniversary of the Alliance,
the primary thr*at to the Drakh...

...and whatever plans
they have for the future.

The Alliance was born because
humans got into the Shadow w*r.

Can you think of a better target?

I don't wanna argue with you.

I just wanted to warn you because
the Drakh know we're onto them.

Well, if there is a leak,
you may wanna look close to home.

I got a message from Babylon
a little while ago.

That woman who joined up with you
is a member of the Thieves Guild.

It's an organization of crooks, con artists,
extortionists, you name it.

She's got a record as long as your arm.
I wouldn't trust her any further than that.

Is this true?
Why didn't you tell me?

There's no sense belonging to a secret
group if you tell everybody about it.

But if I were your leak...

...I'd be stupid, since I could've
been k*lled alongside you.

k*lled how?

We were approached by four Drakh ships
trying to make contact.

Suddenly, they just att*cked.

They knew who we were.
They recognized our ships.

It's not possible.
Nobody's seen the design.

- They couldn't have known.
- That's my point.

Now, they att*cked just after receiving
an extremely powerful transmission.

Someone told them who we were.

Someone knew where we'd gone
and identified our ships.

But that's...

- This transmission, when did it come in?
- About hours EST.

That's about the same time that...

I think we found the leak.
I will have to call you back.

Michael...

There's a colony one jump from here.

- You're gonna drop me off and I'm...
- Why did you do it, Drake?

The Alliance went to bat for you.

They gave you the chance that nobody
else back on Earth would give you.

- So why?
- The Drakh made me a better offer.

And you don't care what happens
to Earth as a result?

Why should I? They never cared
about what happened to me.

- I say let them burn.
- That's an easy thing to say, Drake.

Maybe even easy to do.
Nice and impersonal.

But pulling the trigger,
turning my head into a canoe...

...you got the stones for that?
- Just stay away from me!

If you are gonna blow my head off,
you do it now...

...or I am gonna tear your heart out.
And if you do sh**t me...

...the rest of my people
will be all over you.

What they'll do to you
is worse than anything...

...that I could dream up
in a thousand years.

And I can dream real dark.

You are gonna tell me everything
that's going on around here.

You're gonna tell me
everything that you know...

...or I am gonna turn you over to them.

- Yeah.
- Yeah.

You were right, John.
After some convincing...

... our friend confirmed
the Drakh are headed for Earth...

... to try and make a statement
to the Alliance by wiping out Earth.

They may have a good chance
of pulling it off.

I hope Lochley was successful
in convincing Earth...

...to mount a full-scale operation.

We should be entering Earth space
anytime now.

All right.
Anything else?

Yeah, good news.
It appears the Drakh...

... only have one planetkiller,
the one the Shadows left behind.

They don't want anybody to know...

... same as the U.S. Didn't want
anyone to know...

... they only had two nukes
when they went after Japan.

But if we can stop this one, we won't
have another one to worry about.

Yeah. Well, we still have to stop this one.
That won't be easy.

Standing by.
Ready to enter Earth space.

Well, I have to go, Michael.
It's time.

Get here when you can.

If we fail, we'll need someone
to pick up the pieces.

Save as many survivors as you can.
Assuming anyone...

I'll see you on the other side, Michael.

Excalibur out.

Alert the Victory
and jump to normal space.

I just hope they believed Lochley.

This is General Yuri Mikhailovich Denisov
of the Hermes to Excalibur.

- Do you copy?
- Confirmed, Hermes.

We are all here as you requested,
but so far we have seen nothing.

- General...
- Certainly, on behalf...

...of the Russian Consortium...

...which has lost many of our citizens
in recent conflicts...

...it is our hope that this exercise...
- This is no exercise.

Good God.

General, listen to me.
The fleet is not our main concern.

Leave them to the defense grid.

The death cloud itself is the real danger.

They will try to knock
your fleet aside...

...to position their planetkiller
where it can strike.

- You have got to stop that from happening.
- What do you want me to do?

Captain Anderson and I
stand the best chance of taking it out.

Give us a flying wedge of ships to help
punch a hole through their defenses...

...and get us within striking range
of that thing.

And then what?

Then we k*ll it. Somehow.

- Delta .
- We've got a target lock.

- Fire.
- f*ring.

- Now. Come about.
- Fire.

- Distance to target.
- , kilometers.

Fire forward g*ns. Maximum power.
Full dispersion pattern.

At this range, the beams will disperse.
It won't do any damage.

I don't want damage.
I wanna find out what that thing's made of.

Aye, sir. f*ring.

There. Some of them
went right through.

The others were stopped.

That tells us there's a superstructure
of some kind inside.

Now, if it's solid, we can hit it.

If we can hit the right point,
we can destroy it.

Scanners to maximum.
Full spectrum.

Starting at infrared
and moving outwards.

Nothing we had before
could penetrate that thing.

- Let's see how advanced this ship is.
- Aye, sir.

Come on, come on.
I could paint this thing in oils by now.

There.

My God. How are we supposed to stop
something like that?

- It's as big as a planet.
- David and Goliath.

You just have to find the right point.

When the time comes
to choose your target...

...be sure to pick the right one...

...because you will only get one sh*t.

There it is.

That has to be the control center.
It's right in the middle of it.

- We hit it with everything we...
- No.

- Excuse me?
- You hit that part and you'll fail...

...and your planet will be destroyed.

Well, we don't have much time.
We can't take too many hits like that.

Then listen!

Your friend was right about me.
I am a thief, and proud of it.

I work like a thief, I live like a thief
and I think like a thief, and so do they.

The first thing a thief learns is the biggest
jewels aren't hidden in the safe.

They're hidden in a box next to the safe.

They're never in the obvious place.

So you learn to look
where they don't want you to look.

Maybe they assumed no one could
penetrate the death cloud's center.

And maybe they did.
So they would know...

...that the centerpiece
would be the obvious target.

So they'd reinforce it
but move the main segment...

...of the control system elsewhere.
- Such as?

Here. Magnify.

Looks like a joint between parts of
the device, same as others, right?

Nothing special about it. Why's it
surrounded by short-range weapons?

Why are they determined to protect it?

If it's just one more joint
in the mechanism...

...there'd be no reason
for the extra weapons.

- Unless it's more than it appears.
- Yes. Exactly.

Sheridan, we're monitoring your situation.

Enemy ships closing in on our position.

Time is running out.

We can get one or the other,
but not both.

Whatever you're gonna do,
you better do it fast.

I wouldn't be here
if there wasn't a reason.

If I didn't have something to contribute.

Now, maybe it's not a thing.
Maybe it's a way of thinking.

I know I'm right.

Engines at full.

All weapons prepare to fire
as soon as we're within range.

Which target?

Hers.

- Fire!
- Fire!

- Fire!
- Fire!

- Fire.
- Fire.

Weapons fire is not getting through,
captain.

Auto-defense systems are bad enough,
but we had more ships join the defense.

- How long until it can hit Earth?
- We're minutes away, sir.

Main rear weapons are hit.

- How bad?
- They're destroyed, sir.

My daughter's out there, Phil.

I made a promise to her that
I'd protect her from the monsters.

What kind of father am I
if I can't keep my promise?

- You stay on the helm. Get me Sheridan.
- Aye, sir.

Sheridan, standard weapons fire
isn't getting through.

- I know.
- There's only one thing to do.

You fire your main g*n...

...it'll put you
out of commission for one minute.

Then we'll cover you until
you can navigate your way out.

At this range, all we'll be able to do
is knock out some of those ships.

Exactly. But at least you'll clear the way
so that we can use our main g*ns.

And then you can cover us.

Just open up the door, Mr. President.

We'll take it from there.

Ready main g*ns.

Stand by to fire.

Fire.

Main target missed by . degrees.

Looks like you won't get your chance
to sh**t either of us.

I've grown accustomed
to disappointment.

Ramming speed.

Aye, sir.

Sir. The Victory, she's breaking away.

What?

Anderson.

Sir. The mechanism,
it's moving all around us.

Missiles active on all sides.

The impact must have activated
the mechanism prematurely.

Sheridan to fleet command.
Everyone clear out.

I repeat: Evacuate the area.

Get us the hell out of here. Fast.

Faster.

This is as "faster" as I can go.

Sir. Look.

What is it?

What happened?

Galen?

The circle requires your presence.

The Romans had a phrase for it.
They called it "poisoning the well."

What they couldn't conquer, they k*lled.

After they were driven from an area,
they poisoned the wells...

...so no one could live there.

It's the ultimate act of spite.

If they can't have it, no one can.

So they've finished analyzing
whatever it was...

...the Drakh sprayed into
Earth's atmosphere?

It's a biogenetic plague.

Earth has been completely quarantined.
No one's allowed in or out.

The death cloud was the only one
the Drakh had left.

But it wasn't the last w*apon
in their arsenal.

From the complexity of its structure,
the bioweapons division back home...

...thinks the plague was probably
engineered by the Shadows.

- How much time do they have?
- This looks like it's the only bright spot.

Apparently the Drakh didn't have time
to finish adjusting it to our biology.

Or they just didn't know how.

But either way, it's going to take time...

...for the plague to adjust to a new host.

Now, they're saying five years.
Could be less.

And some people will be affected
by it sooner than others.

But probably five years
is the best guess for now.

And at the end of five years?

Every man, woman and child of Earth...

...will be dead.

Unless they can find a cure.

If the plague was created
by Shadow technology...

...centuries ahead of our own...

...how do they plan to solve it
in five years?

They can't.

But since this came to us from outside...

...then maybe we can find
a cure out there.

I mean, we know there are other races
as old as the Shadows.

One of them must have found a cure.

We'll find them.

We have to.

I've told President Luchenko...

... that we'll put all the resources
of the Alliance...

... and the White Star fleet
at their disposal.

We'll turn the Excalibur
into a traveling research vessel...

... manned by the best crew we can find.

The Rangers will search
every corner of space...

... looking for clues to a cure.

Then the Excalibur and her crew
will go in to follow it up.

Legend said one day
the real Excalibur would return...

... in our greatest hour of need.

I guess this is it.

What about the rest of the new fleet
you were building?

The Drakh hit the construction dock
on their way out.

Years of work wiped out in a second.

Oh, we'll start over, but it'll take time.

Until then, the Excalibur...

...is the only one of her kind.

Those who command the Excalibur
will never stop...

... never give up and never slow down
until a cure is found.

And we'll take any help we can get,
wherever and whoever it comes from...

... because this is a cause
that surpasses borders...

... and differences and distrust.

This is a mission
about the survival of Earth itself.

What we do over the next five years...

... here, at home and across the darkness
between the stars...

... will determine
whether an entire world will live...

... or die.

It's a fight we can't afford to lose.

And we won't.

We won't.