Antono Refa

From The Great Machine

(Redirected from Lord Refa)

For other instances of the name "Refa", see Refa (disambiguation)

Lord Antono Refa (played by William Forward) was a powerful Centauri of the Royal Court, from an ancient noble house, who became first a political ally of Ambassador Londo Mollari and then a great rival to him. Refa was part of a planned coup in 2259 that would have assassinated Centauri Emperor Turhan, had the aged monarch not succumbed to a weak heart first. He and his allies then helped set the infantile, insanely dangerous Emperor Cartagia on the throne.

Lord Refa first appeared on the station in 2259, when he arrived to enlist Londo's support for his coup -- after hearing of Londo's Shadow-aided success in Quadrant 37.

Refa spawned several plots to destroy any who opposed his rise to power, including Londo's close personal friend and dueling comrade, Urza Jaddo (Knives) and Prime Minister Malachi (The Coming of Shadows).

He was personally responsible for ordering the attack on the Narn homeworld; a cruel, heinous attack involving the use of mass-drivers and asteroids plucked from space. (The Long, Twilight Struggle, And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place)

When Londo decided to sever his connections with Mr. Morden and his Associates, they sought Lord Refa's help instead. Refa arranged for Centauri blockade mines to be deployed around the Ranger training facility on Zagros 7. (Matters of Honor)

Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow. Affecting people who have not seen/read: Ceremonies of Light and Dark

When Londo learned of Refa's alliance with the Shadows, he summoned him to the station to convince him to encourage Cartagia not to attack worlds that have no value, to bolster the lines of defence around Centauri Prime, and to have nothing more to do with Mr. Morden.

Refa: They are the key to my eventual rise to the throne. Why would I abandon them?

Mollarri: Because I have asked you... And because your loyalty to our people should be greater than your ambition... And because I have poisoned your drink...

[...]

Mollari: If you do not comply, one of my agents in the royal palace will introduce you to the second half of the poison. To your health, Lord Refa.

Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow. Affecting people who have not seen/read: And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place

Soon, Londo had enough of Refa's scheming and backstabbing. He especially wanted revenge after Morden supplied convincing (faked) evidence that Refa had murdered Adira Tyree (Interludes and Examinations). Refa was lured to Narn with the hope of humiliating and destroying Londo and house Mollari by finally capturing G'Kar for execution.

Hello, Refa. If you are seeing this message...it is because in a very few minutes, you will be dead. You have taken from me that which I loved, Refa. You also took the life of Prime Minister Malachi, a good and dear friend. You have inconvenienced me and threatened my position in the Royal Court and weakened our defences by your constant warfare...

I have given G'Kar documents, which prove that you are the one who orchestrated the bombing of the Narn Homeworld against my advice; that you personally were involved in the creation of death camps and genetic cleansing programs; that you are personally responsible for the deaths of five- or six-million Narns. And I think they would like to thank you personally for your efforts.

You see, it is not enough for me to simply kill you, Refa. I could do that at home or here. But through your death on Narn I will discredit your house and all opposition in the Royal Court.

Goodbye, Refa.

In underground catacombs, deep beneath the buildings formerly housing the Kha'Ri, G'Kar watches, nods, then walks off as a mob of angry Narn beat Refa to death with their bare hands, leaving only his face and a planted data-crystal intact for identification.