222: The Fall of Night

When the Centauri appear to be infringing on the territories of races other than the Narn, representatives from the Ministry of Peace and Nightwatch arrive to strike a peace accord between humans and the Centauri.  A Narn ship arrives on the other side of Epsilon 3 in hiding to request safe haven, which Sheridan grants.  One of the representatives, Frederick Lantz, is angered by Sheridan's decision as his real motive is to sign a non-aggression treaty with the Centauri and his actions could jeopardize the goodwill they are trying to generate.  Mr Welles, representing Nightwatch, tries to recruit Ivanova to the cause, without success; he also congratulates the station's Nightwatch personnel on their efforts, chiding Zack Allen for not being "watchful" enough.

A Centauri ship arrives to engage the Narn ship but as it is in the protection of the station Sheridan is forced to open fire.  The station takes a lot of damage but the Centauri ship is destroyed.  Lantz urges Sheridan to issue a public apology, but en route for the engagement Sheridan is forced to abandon a transport in mid-air which has a bomb aboard.  At Delenn's urgence, Kosh leaves his encounter suit to fly up and rescue Sheridan.

To the amazement of all watching, the unsuited Vorlon resembles an angelic figure from each of their religions - except Londo, who admits later he saw nothing.  Warren Keffer, investigating the mysterious activities in hyperspace, finds what he is looking for at the cost of his own life.  However, he is able to eject a recorder buoy, which is found and broadcast on ISN, marking the first public sighting of a Shadow vessel.  The existence of the Shadows is no longer a secret...

Notes: The Centauri are invading Drazi and Pak'ma'ra space, an indication that they have common borders.  Nightwatch are beginning to enforce their powers against sedition and possible treason (see In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum and Voices of Authority).  Keffer mentions the loss of his friend Galus (see A Distant Star).  Kosh's appearance is different to each respective race who witness his emergence - indicating that the image is a projected one (see In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum).  Kosh was first seen outside his encounter suit (but behind a screen) in Midnight on the Firing Line, and the true Vorlon form is first seen in Falling Toward Apotheosis.

What did Londo really see when Kosh emerged from his encounter suit?  Click here to find out!

The soundtrack of this episode is available on CD.

Guest Cast: Roy Dotrice (Lantz) appeared as Father in the TV series Beauty and the Beast, and John Vickery (Mr Welles) has also appeared as Alyt Neroon.   Robin Sachs makes his first appearance as the Narn Captain Na'Kal (see also Walkabout); he has previously appeared as the Minbari Hedronn.

Ivanova:

"It was the end of the Earth year 2259, and the War was upon us.

As anticipated, a few days after the Earth-Centauri treaty was announced, the Centauri widened their war to include many of the Non-Aligned Worlds.

And there was another war brewing closer to home - a personal one whose cost would be higher than any of us could imagine.

We came to this place because Babylon 5 was our last, best hope for peace. By the end of 2259, we knew that it had failed - but in doing so it became something greater.  As the war expanded, it became our last, best hope for victory.  Because sometimes, peace is another world for surrender, and because secrets have a way of getting out..."