Midnight on the Firing Line
From The Great Machine
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| "Midnight on the Firing Line" An episode Babylon 5 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Episode No. | Season 1, Episode 1 | |
| Writer(s) | J. Michael Straczynski | |
| Story by | ||
| Director | Richard Compton | |
| Special guest(s) | ||
| Production No. | 103 | |
| Nielsen Rating | ||
| US airdate | January 26, 1994 | |
| UK airdate | ||
| DVD release | November 5, 2002 (US) | |
| Date | ||
| Extended Info | ||
| Episode Chronology | ||
| Previous | Next | |
| Babylon 5: The Gathering | Midnight on the Firing Line | Soul Hunter |
Contents |
[edit] Preview
Station leaders face the saber rattling of potential war when a mysterious attack on the Centauri agrarian planet Ragesh 3 brings long-festering hatreds between the Centauri and Narn to a boil. Meanwhile, raiders are attacking shipping lanes near the station.
[edit] Synopsis
[edit] Intro
A surprise attack results in the capture of a Centauri agricultural colony on Ragesh 3 by forces initially unknown.
Meanwhile, on Babylon 5, newly-assigned second-in-command Lieutenant Commander Susan Ivanova is getting accustomed to her new post when she learns of the crisis and informs Commander Sinclair. The news is quickly passed among the other ambassadors, finally arriving at the ears of Londo Mollari.
[edit] Act I
Ambassador Mollari demands that Commander Sinclair and the other ambassadors turn over any information they have on the attack. Sinclair suggests an emergency meeting of the Babylon 5 Advisory Council and the League of Non-Aligned Worlds.
On the command deck, Lt. Cmdr. Ivanova receives a distress call from a registered transport. The last message received mentioned "Raiders." Garibaldi, having long believed they would return, heads for the fighter bay. As he leaves, newly-arrived Psi Corps telepath Talia Winters checks in with Commander Ivanova, as per Psi Corp regulations. The commander, however, is less than willing to deal with Ms. Winters at the time.
Garibaldi and his fighter group find the freighter, discovering no life signs. They recover the black box and return to the station.
Receiving sensor data from Ragesh 3, it soon becomes apparent to the Centauri that they have been attacked by the Narn, which causes Londo Mollari great distress. This prompts Londo to confront Narn ambassador G'Kar in the Zocalo, almost attacking him.
[edit] Act II
After being intercepted and held back by station personnel, Londo has a personal meeting in his quarters with Commander Sinclair to apologize for the incident with G'Kar. There, he shares with the commander his dream of how, twenty years from now, he and G'Kar will kill one another, their hands wrapped around one-another's throat. He also shares the reason he takes the attack on Ragesh 3 so personally. He got his newphew, Carn Mollari, a position as head researcher at the colony, and is infuriated he does not know his fate.
Sinclir visits Ambassador Kosh to personally inform him of the emergency session of the council. It is there he sees the ambassador's encounter suit abandoned, and what can only be described as a floating ball of light behind an opaque screen. As he turns his back, a bright flash crosses over his back, and the commander whirls around to see the suit closed and active again.
The Centauri government decides to let the colony go to the Narn without a fight, causing Londo to question his own government. Against his government's wishes, the Centauri ambassador plans to go to the emergency session and call for a vote to impose economic sanctions on the Narn.
Sinclair, meanwhile, warns G'Kar of the continuing blood-feud between the Narn and the Centauri. While G'Kar tries to get Sinclair on his side with flattery, even resorting to guilt, Sinclair returns his attempt by mocking the great Narn military for their choice of hitting a civilian target. As he walks away from an infuriated G'Kar, Sinclair is stopped in the hallway by Garibaldi, who has found a link in the Raider case. One ship on a particular list has not been attacked yet, but this time, it is carrying refugees.
[edit] Act III
Shortly before the session, Commander Sinclair is instructed by EarthGov to vote against sanctioning the Narn. This is a course of action he strongly disagrees with, so when he finds out that a nearby shipping convoy is being attacked by Raiders, he takes the opportunity to personally command a starfury flight against them. He leaves Ivanova to deal with the council, pointing out that she has not personally received any instructions from EarthGov regarding the Narn situation. His implied, but unstated, orders are for Ivanova to vote against the Narn.
At the council session, G'Kar presents a video from Ragesh 3 in which it is declared that the Centauri colonists had been disillusioned by their government and invited the Narn to take over the planet. Embarrasingly for Londo, the statement is read by his own nephew, Carn. Further, G'Kar exposes that even the Centauri government is not willing to protest the Narn aggression. The Narn occupation of Ragesh 3 is thus presented to the council as a fait accompli.
[edit] Act IV
When Sinclair's force encounters the Raiders, they flee, but he manages to track them to a command and control vessel hidden in a nearby asteroid field. After the ensuing battle, he uncovers the evidence needed to turn the tide on the Narn: a Narn technical advisor to the Raiders, who was privy to all the battle planning details about Ragesh 3.
Londo returns to his quarters, where he assembles a hidden weapon, intending to track down G'Kar and kill him. On the way, he bumps into Talia Winters, who senses his intention, and shares her discovery with Garibaldi. Michael intercepts Londo on the way, warning him if he touches a weapon he will kill him. Londo tries to argue with Garibaldi, but Garibaldi says he knows exactly how he feels. Londo then asks if Garibaldi would truly have killed him. Garibaldi replies yes, and the two part with mutual, if not irritating, respect.
Returning to Babylon 5, Sinclair reveals to G'Kar that he knows the Narn invasion was not invited, and threatens to expose this information and thus embarrass the Narn Regime. G'Kar concedes, and the Narn withdraw from Ragesh 3.
Talia Winters finally catches up with Ivanova in the casino, as per Garibaldi's suggestion. There, Ivanova reveals the reason she has been cold, even rude, to the telepath since she arrived on the station, and why she hates the Psi Corps so virulently.
[edit] Ending
Having been rebuffed by Talia Winters, Garibaldi finally finds someone to share his "second favorite thing in the universe" with. Who? Ambassador Delenn of the Minbari. What? Recordings of old Daffy Duck cartoons.
The Earth Alliance election has ended, with incumbent Luis Santiago having won. Learning of this, Sinclair has had enough for the day and retires to bed. As the lights fade, Lt. Commander Ivanova's voice comes over the link telling him there is a problem.
[edit] Main Plot
- Crew of the station are introduced: Commander Jeffrey Sinclair, Lt. Commander Susan Ivanova, Security Chief Michael Garibaldi, and Telepath Talia Winters.
- A long running feud between Ivanova and the Psi Corps is set up.
- The election of the Earth Alliance is nearing its final hours, with a dead heat between the two leading candidates. In the end, incumbent president, Santiago, is re-elected for a second term as President of Earth Alliance, defeating his opponent Marie Crane.
- Narn-Centauri conflict is set up.
- Raiders longterm subplot is set up.
- Londo's prophetic dream of how he will die is described.
- Londo's "diplomatic staff" is introduced in the form of Vir Cotto
[edit] Unfilmed Moments
Scene: Observation Dome where Ivanova says "...should I just go ahead and snap your hands off at the wrists?" Their conversation continues as normal. Afterwords is this:
He [Garibaldi] keeps working as the door agains opens...and suddenly the other Techs straighten as Ambassador Kosh enters. He takes his time, looking at everything, studying it all. Ivanova nudges Garibaldi, who checks it out. Ivanova straightens, moves to Kosh. The lens in his encounter suit irises open and closed as he examines everything.
Ivanova: Ambassador Kosh. Welcome to the observation dome.
No answer. He keeps looking at everything.
Ivanova: Would you...like a tour of our facilities?
Nothing. He moves towards the great window. Peers out at the stars. His lens irises wide open.
Kosh: (quiet awe) Ahhh....
Just then the incoming SHIP we saw coming toward Babylon 5 a few moments ago passes overhead, lights shining down onto Kosh and silohouetting him against the stars.
Kosh: Beautiful
Kosh turns fully to Ivanova
Kosh: I will miss this. When it is gone.
On that note he exits. Garibaldi rises, looks to Ivanova:
Garibaldi: I really hate it when he does that.
[edit] Guest stars
- Paul Hampton as Senator
- Peter Trencher as Carn Mollari
- Doug Netter as EA President Luis Santiago (uncredited)
