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== Memorable quotes ==
 
== Memorable quotes ==
 
{{quote box|You should never hand someone a gun unless you're sure where they'll point it.|'''Sinclair''', to Zento}}
 
{{quote box|You should never hand someone a gun unless you're sure where they'll point it.|'''Sinclair''', to Zento}}
  +
 
{{Quote box|My father followed G'Lan. My mother didn't believe in much of anything.|Na'Toth and G'Kar.|What do you believe in?|Myself.|Too easy an answer. We all believe in something greater than ourselves. Even if it's the blind forces of chance.|Chance favours the warrior.}}
 
{{Quote box|My father followed G'Lan. My mother didn't believe in much of anything.|Na'Toth and G'Kar.|What do you believe in?|Myself.|Too easy an answer. We all believe in something greater than ourselves. Even if it's the blind forces of chance.|Chance favours the warrior.}}
   

Revision as of 00:14, 17 April 2010

By Any Means Necessary is an episode from the first season of Babylon 5, which is collectively entitled Signs and Portents.

Cast

Starring

Also starring

With

Guest starring

Featuring

Uncredited

Cast notes

Summary

Intro

From C'n'C, Lt. Comm. Ivanova deals with a large number of ships all vying to dock at the station at once. Among them is a Narn freighter, the Tal'Quith, which insists on docking immediately, as it is carrying a highly important, perishable item for Ambassador G'Kar. Ivanova links to a dock worker, Eduardo Delvientos, about the Narn ship. Despite being desperately short handed and having equipment problems, Delvientos agrees to take care of the freight immediately. During the docking process, a malfunction prompts another ship to begin launching as the Narn ship enters. The Narn captain panics and fires up his engines. This leads to a collision that destroys the freighter and causes severe damage in one of the docking bays.

Act I

A fire burns in the damaged bay, trapping a number of workers. Rescue teams are let in and pull them out. One of the men, Delvientos' brother Albert, is dead.

In his quarters, G'Kar conducts a prayer ritual, but is interrupted by Na'toth. She tells him about the accident with the Tal'Quith, and explains that its loss destroyed the G'Quan Eth plant it was transporting.

G'Kar meets with Ivanova and Commander Sinclair as they discuss the accident with Neeoma Connoly, the union representative for the Docker's Guild. Connoly insists her workers are not to blame. Michael Garibaldi enters and confirms the accident was caused by equipment failure. G'Kar insists that compensation is due to the Narn Regime before quickly leaving to attend another matter.

G'Kar goes to the Zocalo to search for another G'Quan Eth. He runs into Londo Mollari, but has no time to exchange insults. Na'Toth meets up with him, informing him that there is no way to have another G'Quan Eth delivered in time, but that someone aboard the station has one--none other than Mollari.

Senator Hidoshi contacts Sinclair over the commander's latest budget increase requests. He tells him there is currently no more money to be had, telling him that Sinclair is on his own. The Senate is clearly not concerned with the Guild situation, as the workers are bound under a government contract to accept what they agreed to, without the ability to either quit or strike. Ivanova then tells the commander that all docking has ground to a halt because a large percentage of the workers have called in sick--a blue flu.

Act II

The Dock Workers all gather in one of the bays with Connoly. They suggest a strike, but Connoly insists they hold off on that. Garibaldi arrives to bring Connoly to Sinclair. She chides Garibaldi for not standing on their side, but Garibaldi does not raise to the bait. Connoly agrees to go with him.

Sinclair asks Connoly to get the Dockers back to work, warning that if the Senate decides to step in it could involve implementing the Rush Act. Connoly believes this will never happen, as it would guarantee popular sentiment at home and on the station would turn in the Dockers' favor. She refuses to have her people go back to work in the same conditions.

Londo returns to his quarters to find G'Kar waiting for him. Londo takes great pleasure in having G'Kar at a disadvantage. He knows G'Kar needs the G'Quan'Eth before the end of the Days of G'Quan to be used in a religious ceremony. G'Kar offers to buy it, and Londo laughingly offers it for an outrageous amount. G'Kar angrily storms out.

Senator Hidoshi contacts Sinclair about the illegal strike, worried about the consequences if it continues. He explains that the Senate Labor Committee is sending Orin Zento to negotiate with the Guild. Hidoshi tells Sinclair that he must back up Zento's actions, whatever they are, even if troops are needed.

Act III

Orin Zento arrives about twelve hours later, arranging with Sinclair to meet with Garibaldi and prepare for the worst.

G'Kar, meanwhile, contacts Londo, having managed to raise the 50,000 credits Londo demanded for the plant. Londo, however, tells him that the plant is not for sale at any cost. He reminds him of Ragesh III, telling him that this is his revenge. Privately, G'Kar rages at Na'Toth (who, as she is not a follower of G'Quan, is not as perturbed as he is). G'Kar tells her that he has one last chance to get the plant, but if he should fail he wants her to do something for him.

Zento meets with Connoly and the Dockers, insisting that there is no more money (despite the increase in military spending on the station). No one is appeased by anything Zento has to say. Zento insists they are bound by their contract and by budget constraints. Delvientos insists that their equipment will never last the month and that they will not be pushed around. Zento counters by threatening to invoke the Rush Act. Sinclair suggests a recess until the morning, which is accepted by both sides.

Sinclair is contacted very early the following morning by Zento. He angrily informs the commander that the dock workers have dropped all pretenses and are fully engaged in a full out strike. Zento again threatens to invoke the Rush Act. Immediately afterward, G'Kar contacts Sinclair and insists on meeting with him immediately. Overwhelmed, Sinclair reluctantly agrees to meet him before the meeting between Zento and Connoly.

G'Kar explains at the meeting about the G'Quan Eth plant and how important it is to his religion. As the highest ranking member of his faith on the station, it is his duty to provide one for the Narn followers. Sinclair agrees to talk to Londo, but is doubtful that he will be able to change his mind.

Sinclair goes directly to Mollari and appeals for him to sell the plant. Londo obstinately refuses, telling him he would rather burn the plant than hand it over. Sinclair informs G'Kar of the bad news before going off to deal with Zento and Connoly.

The meeting does not go well, as both sides refuse to give an inch. Zento invokes the Rush Act, certain he will get confirmation of it from the Senate within the hour. He tells Sinclair to have the security forces get ready to arrest Connoly and anyone who stands by her side. Connoly still stands strong, knowing the consequences.

Act IV

Mary Ann Cramer, reporter for ISN, follows Sinclair into C'n'C, hoping to get a comment about the strike. Moments later, Mollari storms in, with G'Kar right behind him. Londo accuses G'Kar of stealing the statue of one of the Centauri gods from their temple, a charge that G'Kar vehemently denies. Sinclair has Ivanova usher them all out of C'n'C before turning his attention to the strike. Senator Hidoshi contacts Sinclair, confirming that the Rush Act has been implemented, and instructs Sinclair to end the strike immediately. Sinclair reluctantly orders Garibaldi to move his security teams into place (in full riot gear).

When word of the Act reaches the Guild, they stand strong when Garibaldi and his teams arrive. Garibaldi announces they are all under arrest, at which point a riot erupts. It continues until Sinclair orders Garibaldi to pull his men back out. He then goes in with Connoly and Zento and announces a solution to the strike: as he has been given full authority to end the strike "by any means necessary," he opts to end it by reallocating money earmarked for the station's military budget to meet the Guild's demands. He also grants a blanket amnesty to all the workers. The workers enthusiastically embrace the deal and immediately go back to work.

Sinclair now sets to work at resolving the situation between Londo and G'Kar.

Act V

Meeting the two ambassadors, Sinclair orders G'Kar to return the statue and informs Londo he is confiscating the flower. Londo is annoyed, but agrees not to fight the action, seeing as how the Days of G'Quan are over and thus it is too late for G'Kar to use the plant. After he leaves, Sinclair points out to G'Kar that it may not be too late (the ritual is supposed to occur when the first sunlight comes above the G'Quan Mountains on Narn; Sinclair points out that that light--from 10 years ago--traveling through space is just about to reach the station). G'Kar happily accepts this solution and sets off to prepare the ceremony.

Back in his quarters, Sinclair gets a final transmission from Senator Hidoshi. He commends Sinclair for what he did, but warns him that he may have made some enemies (in addition to Zento, who has refused to let the matter rest).

Memorable quotes

"You should never hand someone a gun unless you're sure where they'll point it."

Sinclair, to Zento


"My father followed G'Lan. My mother didn't believe in much of anything."
"What do you believe in?"
"Myself."
"Too easy an answer. We all believe in something greater than ourselves. Even if it's the blind forces of chance."
"Chance favours the warrior."

Na'Toth and G'Kar.


Continuity

Image Category

Category:Images by episode (By Any Means Necessary)

DVD release

This episode, along with the other episodes from season one, has been released on DVD with extensive special features.

External links