GROPOS (Episode)

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  • Episode Title: GROPOS
  • Episode Number: S2E10
  • Original Air Date: February 8, 1995
  • DVD Release Date: April 29, 2003
  • Writer: Lawrence G. Ditillio
  • Director: Jim Johnston
  • Guest Stars: Paul Winfield, Art Chudabala, Ryan Cutrona, Ken Foree, Morgan Hunter, Marie Marshall

Contents

[edit] Preview

Babylon 5's position of neutrality is strained when an Earthforce General arrives with 25,000 infantry troops.

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot, character development, or ending details follow.

A flotilla of Earthforce ships arrives at Babylon 5 to prepare for a top-secret raid on the planet Akdor, which has not only requested aid from Earth to quell a civil war, but is also conveniently close to Narn and Centauri territories in the event Earth should take a more active role in the emerging war.

25,000 Earthforce Marines are billeted at the station for a few days awaiting their mission - of which they know nothing - and they wreak havoc, crowd the station crew, start bar brawls, and threaten Delenn, among other things. Not all of the ground-pounders are bad, as one falls for Garibaldi, and an odd couple of a seasoned veteran and a rookie recruit befriend Lt. Keffer.

The man leading the GROPOS into battle is General Richard Franklin, a distinguished Earthforce soldier who hopes to spend his entire stay at B5 avoiding his estranged son. (Attrib: B5 LogBook [1])

[edit] Main Plot

  • The station crew meets war at first and second hand.

[edit] See Also

[edit] Characters

General Richard Franklin, Private Yang, Sgt. Major Plug, P.F.C. Large, Private Kleist, P.F.C. Dodger

[edit] Season 2 Cast

[edit] Notes

The thrust of this episode is the ties formed in wartime, and the anguish these ties cost, whether through the uncertainty of a friend or loved one's return from a particular conflict, or through the loss of companions old and new to the demons of war.

Previous episode:
The Coming of Shadows
B5 Episode Guide Next episode:
All Alone in the Night
firstones