The Babylon Project
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A mysterious figure in the distant future chronicles the legacy of Babylon 5 and the Interstellar Alliance.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

Cast Notes[]

Summary[]

Introduction[]

John Sheridan, President of the new Interstellar Alliance, returns to Babylon 5 together with his new wife, Delenn. As the two enter the station, they are greeted to loud applause and much jubilation. Sheridan takes Michael Garibaldi and Stephen Franklin to task for setting it up since they know he hates pomp and circumstance. However, Garibaldi counters it cannot be helped. Morgan Clark is dead, Earth is returned to its proper government, the ISA has been established, and now he and Delenn are married; there is more than enough reason to have "one hell of a party." Londo Mollari then enters with G'Kar and muses on how Centauri celebrations contrast to those of the humans. Centauri state weddings are somber affairs, whereas this level of celebration is reserved for state funerals. Indeed, Londo goes on to comment that his people consider it a bad omen for a wedding to be celebrated with such enthusiasm beforehand, which causes the others to walk away without reply, much to his puzzlement and G'Kar noting on his insolemnity.

In private, Delenn herself has misgivings about all this celebration that she regards as insincere/uncalled for, but Sheridan assures her the excitement will pass soon. What they have accomplished for the future of the galaxy: a legacy that will endure for untold years to come, even if they personally won't be remembered.

ISN cameras display footage of them passing as part of a newsfeed, but the feed suddenly breaks up. The disruption message is due to a "temporal distortion," revealing the footage to actually be the result of a temporally based video recall system. The computer system resets to correct the error, and an unseen user resumes the current program, retrieving video records for the time period of 2262 to 3262.

Act I[]

Accessing Historical Database — Date of Record: 2 January 2262

The first record retrieved is an edition of ISN Nightside, a late-night newscast that explores topics in-depth. The evening's topic brings up the ISA after Earth decided to join the newly established alliance. News anchor Derek Mitchell recalls how swiftly events have gone by in the last few weeks and dedicates the newscast to taking time to "pause and consider" on everything that has led up to the present day.

Present on Babylon 5, correspondent Jim Bitterbane goes into a brief history of John Sheridan, describing his origins as the son of diplomat David Sheridan and his generally modest upbringing before going into his early Earthforce career, which began shortly after the Dilgar War, noting on his distinctions during the Earth-Minbari War and the Mars Food Riots. Bitterbane then goes on to recognize that the Interstellar Alliance will be his greatest challenge yet as he will face the challenge of cementing an alliance of such disparate and sometimes hostile races.

Returning to the studio, Mitchell convenes a panel of experts to debate the issue: Senator Elizabeth Metarie from Earthdome, Leif Tanner from Mars, and political commentator Henry Ellis. Ellis is blatantly critical of Sheridan, thinking the Alliance to be doomed from the start, while Tanner stands neutral and precognize the necessity of allowing some time to pass before judging Sheridan and the Alliance. Meanwhile, Metarie notes that Ellis was once a supporter for the Clark regime, a position that may be biasing his perceptions, making his statements less credible. Going on to the question of whether or not the Alliance will make a difference, Tanner immediately cites a difference being made with his homeworld. Metarie is more reserved, noting that Sheridan has a lot to handle, but that his past experiences indicates his willingness and capability to measure up to the challenge, at which Leif Tanner also agrees stating his belief in his character. Mitchell give the panel members one final commentary, at which Ellis makes a final note - and this time he has a serious criticism, that sooner or later, Sheridan will have to resort to force?

The video record ends and proceeds to the next.

Act II[]

Accessing Historical Database — Date of Record: 2 January 2362

The second record retrieved is dated one hundred years later. It is an educational stellarcast, a discussion among three university faculty members delving into the history of the Interstellar Alliance - a century after its founding. In particular, the discussion turns to the legacy of Sheridan and Delenn, as one of the panelists asks if their accomplishments have been overrated. One particular event is cited by one of the panelists; the permission by Sheridan to house a group of rogue telepaths on Babylon 5 which ultimately resulted in unrest that eventually turned violent, even resulting in suicide. The discussion briefly cuts to footage from 2262, showing Medlab severely damaged focusing on a hostage: Michael Garibaldi. He pleads with his off-camera abductors to end the apparent crisis and try to negotiate a peaceful solution. On a screen next to him, President Sheridan appears to announce that the ISA will not negotiate with hostage takers nor give in to terrorist demands. Someone raises a PPG, but the footage cuts out just as a trigger is pulled.

Returning to the studio, the criticism of Sheridan is immediate on him dealing with this situation, next going into his 'manipulation' of public relations; how he was able to even stage his own death in a way to help cement support. The discussion pivots to Delenn rejecting her advanced age as ridiculously improbable, but there is a sudden alarm as someone else intrudes the studio: Delenn herself, well over a century old, followed by aides. Frail but still able to challenge the panelists with choice words defending her husband's deeds, states that perhaps they are the ones who are overrating themselves and disregarding their responsibilities as true academics, instead resorting to plain slander without any hesitation or reflection. The stellarcast host and his two panelists look away in shame, only with a witless rebuffal.

The recording ends with her uttering "Goodbye."

Act III[]

Accessing Historical Database — Date of Record: 2 January 2762

This record skips ahead five hundred years into the future. The record is taking place in a holographic studio being used to recreate the conference room aboard Babylon 5 as it appeared in 2262.

A man, Daniel, enters the room and begins logging and recording himself. He reveals that Earth is under the rule of a faction called Politdivision that feels overly burdened by the conditions imposed by the Interstellar Alliance. The purpose of this holographic session is to try to undo support for the ISA by deconstructing the key figures of that Alliance. He creates holographic replicas of Sheridan, Delenn, Garibaldi, and Franklin as they appeared in 2262.

Wanting to proceed with this deconstruction gradually, he begins by programming the holograms with personalities, consistent with the time frame on display. They are then animated, and he begins to converse with them. Having confirmed they are stable, he begins to gradually modify their behavior so as to facilitate their deconstruction. However, a malfunction has emerged, one Daniel seems unaware. The replica of Garibaldi is programmed with his original personality, a very suspicious personality that cannot help but snoop. As it turns out, the replica has figured out that he and the others are holograms and are used to to falsify actions of the real historical figures. The other replicas hear about this and piece things together from memories inserted into them by the program. The Earth Alliance is facing an internal struggle over resources, and the ISA is becoming a point of friction, dividing the population into two opposed equal sides. While the regime opposes the ISA, just as many – particularly among the Earth colonies – support it.

The man resets the scene to a outer corridor, presumably on Babylon 5, with soldiers lined up. This time, he reprograms the Sheridan replica and makes it speak like a brutal warmonger, prompting it to order a firing squad execute several cowering prisoners (both Delenn and Franklin reacts to this display suggesting they must act, but are put into passive mode by the operator). Next, he recreates Medlab and reprograms the Franklin replica to be in the process of conducting genetic experimentation, as he logs the purpose of this. After that moment, the Garibaldi replica starts cut into the scene. He reveals that he knows about Daniel's identity, and begins speaking with him in a confiding manner, until Daniel eventually admits that the propaganda program is just a prelude to a surprise attack. Garibaldi then reveals that his AI programming has just broken free of the restrictions imposed by the studio's systems and thus cannot be turned off, further informing him that he has transmitted their entire conversation to the regime's adversaries. As a result, they have immediately launched a preemptive counter-strike against Politdivision's military facilities, which Garibaldi states is more humane than targeting civilians as PolitDivision had planned to demoralize their now adversaries. As it so happens, the studio on which they stand is on a military installation. Daniel panics and flees the studio, while Garibaldi bids his holographic friends to "rest easy."

A bright explosion fills the holographic reconstruction and the record ends.

Act IV[]

Accessing Historical Database — Date of Record: 2 January 3262

This record, set one thousand years from the initial record begins with what appears to be a monk, Alwyn Macomber, adjusting a video camera. The room he is in is rustic, reflecting a pre-technological or severely less technological society. The monk begins recording, but then has to open the door when the bell rings. In comes an acolyte, Brother Michael, who has some questions for the monk. Michael appears to be having misgivings because their monastery has not been accepted by Rome. This particular monastery has tasked itself with record keeping, as the Great Burn that resulted from the Second Earth Alliance Civil War destroyed most of the technological and historical records on Earth. Brother Michael has trouble accepting the content within the preserved archives he is reading, words which apparently recount Sheridan and his closest associates in a manner similar to the Bible. This is particularly problematic for him to acknowledge to be factual, as his task as a scribe is to copy these words. Most worrying for him is the prophecy that the Rangers will one day come to restore Earth's lost knowledge. Brother Alwyn tries to reassure Michael by pointing out that one needs both reason and faith to survive. He deliberates that, also, given that people now distrust science because of its role in the Great Burn, perhaps the Rangers are walking among them in secret, waiting for the day when the people can once again put their trust in science. His faith somewhat restored, Brother Michael leaves.

Once alone, Brother Alwyn walks up to one of his hidden cameras and speaks to it – revealing himself, in private, a Ranger walking among the people, just as he had suggested. He makes a report on the current situation and briefly opens his wardrobe where he keeps his Ranger uniform. Ever since the Great Burn, the Rangers have been working to rehabilitate Earth civilization. It has been a very slow and tedious process, intended to help re-acclimate those still on Earth to make contact with space again, but it will happen only for those who have a more accepting mindset. He also notes to further observe Brother Michael, considering him a potential recruit. With a final reassurance of their task ahead and reiterating the typical Ranger motto with a sign off, the record ends.

Act V[]

Humanencounter

A Human within an Encounter suit.

The computer notices that all records that could be retrieved for a period of one million years have been gathered and archived. The Watcher instructs the computer to transmit these records to New Earth, where he will also be proceeding shortly. The computer reminds him that the Sun is about to go nova, being in in its final, unstable stage. Before he departs, the Watcher comments on how Earth will end swallowed in fire but not in darkness, remarking about how the human race and civilization has achieved to create the world they believe their ancestors would have wanted for their descendants, and now is about to leave their ancestral home one last time, forever, but will always remember their origins. As he finishes, he changes into a being of energy and enters his encounter suit, revealing the human race has finally transcended into beings of energy. His ship, which bears the symbol of the Anla'shok, leaves the Solar system as the Sun finally destabilizes and goes nova, consuming the humans' ancestral home in fire.

The scene returns ends with Sheridan and Delenn's bedroom, back in 2262. A restless Sheridan muses about what kind of legacy they will leave behind. Will they be remembered in a hundred years? Not to mention a thousand? Delenn replies that it does not matter. They did what they did because it was the right thing to do. History itself will be the ultimate judge.

Memorable quotes[]

"You do not wish to know anything. You wish... only to speak."

Delenn

"This is how the world ends: swallowed in fire, but not in darkness. You will live on: the voice of all our ancestors, the voice of our fathers and mothers to the last generation. We created the world we think you would've wished for us. And now we leave the cradle for the last time."

The human from the distant future

"Dedicated to all the people who predicted that the Babylon Project would fail in its mission. Faith manages."

Final words


Notes[]

  • J. Michael Straczynski indicated that the premature nova of Earth's sun (the sun's explosion should occur much more than one million years in the future) was caused by an unknown race opening jump points within the sun to decrease its mass.
  • According to Straczynski, humans and Minbari have reached a First One-like existence a million years in the future. Narns and Centauri have not, but are not extinct. This would seem to contradict Kosh's statement in "Midnight on the Firing Line" that Narns and Centauri are "dying people" although this can be interpreted as a death of their cultures and attitude, becoming something greater for both species. A path certainly set by the Book of G’Kar for the Narn and Vir’s rule as Emperor of the Centauri Republic.
  • Mankind's eventual evolution was potentially foreshadowed by Delenn as she described the human race using the same words in Babylon Squared she would later use to describe the First Ones ("to walk among the stars like giants").
  • Straczynski confirmed that "New Earth" is the Vorlon homeworld.
  • Since the series finale had already been filmed as the original end of Season 4, this episode was the first production of Season 5.  
  • The scene in Medlab was written before the rest of season 5, which existed only as an outline when this episode was filmed, due to the need to produce the episode quickly in order to have it ready to play on PTEN in the finale spot.  

DVD release[]

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

External Links[]

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