Movements of Fire and Shadow

MOVEMENTS OF FIRE AND SHADOW
Series	Babylon 5
Season	Season 5
Episode	17
Production Number	518
First Aired	17 June 1998
Broadcast Order	105th
Production Credits
Written By	J. Michael Straczynski
Directed By	John C. Flinn, III A.S.C.
Executive Producer	Douglas Netter & J. Michael Straczynski
Producer	John Copeland
Production Designer	John Iacovelli
Director of Photography	John C. Flinn, III A.S.C.
Editor	David W. Foster
Music By	Christopher Franke
Chronology
Story Date	August 9th - 14th, 2262
Chronological Order
Preceded by	And All My Dreams, Torn Asunder
Followed by	The Fall of Centauri Prime
Broadcast Order
Preceded by	And All My Dreams, Torn Asunder
Followed by	The Fall of Centauri Prime

As the war between the Alliance and the Centauri escalates, Sheridan must contend with two rogue Narn and Drazi generals who want to take drastic action due to Sheridan's inaction. Lyta and Franklin uncover a startling truth behind the Centauri campaign.

Cast

Regular

• Bruce Boxleitner as President John Sheridan
• Jerry Doyle as Michael Garibaldi
• Mira Furlan as Ambassador Delenn
• Richard Biggs as Dr. Stephen Franklin
• Bill Mumy as Lennier
• Tracy Scoggins as Captain Elizabeth Lochley
• Stephen Furst as Vir Cotto
• Jeff Conaway as Security Chief Zack Allan
• Patricia Tallman as Lyta Alexander
• Peter Jurasik as Londo Mollari
• Andreas Katsulas as G'Kar

Guest Starring

• Wayne Alexander as Drakh
• Josh Clark as Kulomani
• Joshua Cox as Lieutenant David Corwin
• Damian London as Regent
• Thomas MacGreevy as Minister
• Bart McCarthy as Daro
• Robin Sachs as Na'Tok

Featuring

• Neil Bradley as Doctor Literada Varda

Cast Notes

• Regular characters who appear in this episode are John Sheridan, Michael Garibaldi, Delenn, Stephen Franklin, Lennier, Vir Cotto, Lyta Alexander, Elizabeth Lochley, Londo Mollari and G'Kar.

Summary

Introduction

Elizabeth Lochley records a log regarding the incidents on Babylon 5 since the conflict escalated further. The Draxis Colony was attacked by the Centauri, resulting in violent retaliations on Centauri aboard the station from essentially every member race. Medlab is doing what they can. John Sheridan visits Lochley with more reports from Garibaldi – Jumpgates are now being targeted. Lochley notes that is crazy, and Sheridan fears it might even dare them to attack B5. Lochley is confident in her new orders for B5's defense, and that not even the Centauri would dare attack until the White Star fleet gets involved.

Sheridan, calmly notes that he recently gave the call order to engage any hostiles and is frustated about the escalation.

Act I

Delenn sees something is up with Sheridan and asks what it is. Sheridan is concerned about their supply of White Stars. They need and increase to replace those lost during the recent wars, and so he has proposed to Susanna Luchenko asking to join a the Minbari project of building a Destroyer class White Star, providing them with the design specifications in return for sharing the financial costs. Luchenko will agree publicly, but only when the Minbari agree first. Delenn agrees to talk to the Minbari about it, with Sheridan also insisting this be done discreetly, which means Delenn must go herself via hyperspace – a dangerous journey now. Delenn, however, cannot be dissuaded from undertaking the journey, and she leaves to make preparations for the departure.

Vir Cotto anxiously awaits Stephen Franklin and Lyta Alexander in his new, separate quarters. He has a favor to ask: the Drazi have not returned Centauri bodies after lost confrontations, and he wants them to go there and put pressure on them to make sure they are not being tortured and are really dead, but also suspects of something else going on. Franklin agrees, though Alexander expressly asks for a higher fee than usual. She states her fee is 500k credits, and which she states isn't up for negotiation, although she somewhat relents at it possibly might be deductible, depending on circumstances.

Londo Mollari is still imprisoned with G'Kar on Centauri Prime. G'Kar suggests he should leave him, but Mollari says he may be doing more good as a prisoner. It is obvious that the Regent must be confronted directly, and therefore Mollari needs supporters, which he assumes would gather simply by having his incarceration known to the public. As they talk, however, a bright flash knocks them unconscious and the wall opens up. Mollari is abducted.

Act II

Mollari is wheeled through a corridor by aliens, Shadow Servants (Surgeons), and taken to a room. He is scanned while experiencing a dreaming. A device is placed on his head, and he is operated on. He starts to awake and observes the aliens, but they watch him in silence. Another alien peers at him and states he "will be sufficient." He passes out again and wakes up in the cell, assuming it was all a dream. He now is certain he needs to get out due to an imminent sense of unease, but without losing face. G'Kar promptly has an idea and induces vomiting. Mollari is suddenly let out by the guard, accompanying him to meet the Regent.

On B5, Lochley arrives at an Interstellar Alliance meeting with Michael Garibaldi and ambassadors Kulomani, Na'Tok and Daro. They each admit they have held their own with White Star support. Lochley suggests they should consolidate their forces, as they each have unique experiences and were hit differently, but it is clear they will not directly co-operate with each other, revealing their lack of commitment to the ideals of the Alliance. Sheridan cuts the argument off and asks about the enemy's strategy and objectives. Garibaldi notes the Centauri seems to have two separate teams: one focused on offensive and another on defensive tactics, with no communication in-between. Na'Tok admits that this strategy is not typical of them. Sheridan asks about their experiences when engaging them and if these have revealed anything regarding their goals, but none of them can give a clear answer. Sheridan notes that this in itself is odd. Lochley is called away. Na'Tok notes on that they should act more aggressive, but Sheridan wants to know more; he refuses the idea of hitting Centauri Prime itself, as it is a civilian target.

Lochley learns from David Corwin about a lone Centauri cruiser in hyperspace. Weapon systems are not active, and odder still, there are no life signs detected onboard. Lochley realizes just in time they are going to destroy the jump gate, and she immediately orders the ship be destroyed. They are able to, but just barely.

Later, Daro (while viewing a video of the jump gate incident) states that the humans do not have the stomach for war and wants to hit Centauri Prime, asking for Naa'Tok's support. Na'Tok is with him.

Act III

Delenn, with Lennier on board, gets a call from Sheridan to catch up. Meanwhile, Franklin and Alexander arrive on Zhabar and have trouble finding the hotel. They are being followed.

On Centauri Prime, Mollari is trying to convince the attending ministers that the Regent is no longer reliable. Cholini, however, repeats the same line; that they are only defending themselves and anything else is propaganda. Mollari has an uphill battle to climb.

Garibaldi informs Sheridan of the impending attack on Centauri Prime by the Drazi and Narn, and urges Sheridan to halt their advance without delay.

Franklin and Alexander meet a Drazi in their hotel room who tries to convince them there are no Centauri bodies, but Alexander reads his mind, realizing he is lying about something. Just then, they are attacked, but Franklin quickly shoots one of the assailants and Alexander telekinetically forces one of them to kill themselves with his own gun (shocking Franklin). She turns back to the first Drazi and gets a location from his mind forcefully, next demanding he take them there.

Act IV

Delenn's White Star is attacked by four Centauri warships in hyperspace.

Franklin and Lyta reach the location, though all they find are many black pods in a large room. Alexander recognizes the devices from what the Vorlons had informed her, but they are attacked before they can investigate any further.

Mollari finds Virini in his room, who says he has made good on his promise to meet Mollari one more time "before the end." Mollari asks him if he issued the attack orders to which he admits, "after a fashion." He then admits he is so tired of being in charge, and that he will be glad when his time is over and that it is Mollari's time soon.

Franklin and Alexander present the pod to Sheridan – it is a Shadow device, capable of remotely controlling the ships. They surmise that either the Regent is acting alone or that a faction within the government is responsible, but a further hint at a third possibility - that a third party is doing so without the knowledge of the Centauri. Sheridan realizes there never was any conventional strategy, and that whoever is behind the attacks wanted the Narn and Drazi to attack Centauri Prime.

Act V

Lennier and Delenn survived their attack, but most of the others are dead and the whitestar is severely damaged. They are now in danger of going beyond the hyperspace beacons and any hope of rescue in time. Lennier is unsure if the distress call is active.

Meanwhile, the Narn / Drazi fleet close in on Centauri Prime, while Virini is oddly noting it will be a good night. Mollari says Virini still has a long life ahead, but the Regent goes on, saying he will be dead by morning, reiterating "they", without explaining. He then says the last thing he was asked to do is already done – sending away all the ships defending Centauri Prime on a false emergency as well as turning off the planetary defense network. Mollari, shocked, backs away and runs away. As G'Kar writes in his cell and Mollari exits the Palace, the Alliance fleet arrives and initiate a merciless bombardment.

DVD Release

This episode, along with the other 21 from Season 5 have been released on DVD with extensive Special Features.

External Link

• Episode guide page for Movements of Fire and Shadow at the Lurker's Guide