The Babylon Project
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:''This article refers to the planet '''Z'ha'dum'''. For other uses, see [[Z'ha'dum (disambiguation)]]''.
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:<small>''This article refers to the planet '''Z'ha'dum'''. For the Season 3 episode, see: [[Z'ha'dum (episode)]]''.</small>
 
 
{{planet
 
{{planet
 
|image=[[Image:Zhadum01.jpg|300px]]
 
|image=[[Image:Zhadum01.jpg|300px]]
 
|fgcolor=#000000
 
|fgcolor=#000000
 
|name=Z'ha'dum
 
|name=Z'ha'dum
|race=[[Shadows]]
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|race=[[Shadows]]<br>[[Drakh]]<br>[[Wurt]]
|affiliation=Chaos
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|affiliation=
 
|capitalcity=
 
|capitalcity=
 
|population=
 
|population=
  +
|habitability=Cold, arid climate<br>Atmosphere unbreathable to humans<br>1.3 Standard gravity<ref name=CastShad>[[Casting Shadows]]</ref>
|habitability=Destroyed
 
 
|star=
 
|star=
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|system=Alpha Omega system<ref name=IDp.207>[[Invoking Darkness]] (p.207)</ref>
|system=
 
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|sector=[[Omega sector]]|fate = Repeatedly nuked from orbit <small>(Eons before 2257)</small><br>Self-destroyed <small>(2261)</small>}}
|sector=
 
}}
 
   
{{quote|If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die.|[[Kosh]]}}
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{{quote box|If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die.|[[Kosh]]}}
   
'''Z'ha'dum''' is the home planet of the [[Shadows]], and for countless millennia the home of [[Lorien]].
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'''Z'ha'dum''' is the home planet of the [[Shadows]], and for countless millennia the home of [[Lorien]].<ref name="whatever">[[Whatever Happened to Mr. Garibaldi?]]</ref>
   
  +
==Location==
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Z'ha'dum's official [[Earth Alliance]] designation is '''Alpha Omega III''', meaning it is the third planet of its star. The planet is located on the rim of known space. It is approximately a four day jump from the [[Epsilon Eridani]] system.<ref>''[[Z'ha'dum (episode)|Z'ha'dum]]''</ref>
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  +
==Physical Characteristics==
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Z'ha'dum is covered in extensive mountain ranges. The temperature averages 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the gravity is approximately 1.3G. The mountains are made of igneous rock and the plains of sedimentary rock. Violent dust storms cloak roughly 25% of the planetary surface at any one time. The planet has an extremely dry atmosphere with low levels of carbon monoxide, which would prove fatal to humans within about an hour. There is also a background level of radiation, suggesting the planet was nuked approximately one thousand years ago.
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  +
Stone pillars ranging from 100 to 150 yards in height cover most of the planetary surface. They are spaced exactly 2.43 miles apart from one another. The pillars are covered in characters from the Shadow language.<ref>''[[The Shadow Within]]''</ref>
   
 
==Geography==
 
==Geography==
By the twenty-third century, Z'ha'dum was a blasted, charred wasteland. Its surface was marred by the many attacks that drove the Shadows away from the planet eon after eon. When they returned at the Dawning of the Third Age, their cities were kept mostly underground.
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By the twenty-third century, Z'ha'dum was a blasted, charred wasteland, its surface marred by the many attacks that drove the Shadows away from the planet eon after eon. When they returned at the dawning of the Third Age, their cities were kept mostly underground.<ref name="shadow">[[In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum]]</ref>
   
 
==History==
 
==History==
{{quote|Z'ha'dum is the homeworld of the Shadows. No one leaves the same as they arrived.|Delenn}}
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{{quote box|Z'ha'dum is the homeworld of the Shadows. No one leaves the same as they arrived.|Delenn}}
 
[[Image:Zhadum02.jpg|thumb|The crew of the Icarus explore Z'ha'dum]]
 
 
[[Image:Zhadum03.jpg|thumb|Z'ha'dum, moments before its destruction]]
It is unknown if Z'ha'dum was the homeworld of the Shadows as a species, but for most of their long history they considered it their home. This was due to the presence of [[Lorien]], one of the [[First Ones]], who lived in a deep chasm on the planet for over one million years.
+
It is unknown if Z'ha'dum was the homeworld of the Shadows as a species, but for most of their long history they considered it their home. This was due to the presence of [[Lorien]], one of the [[First Ones]], who lived in a deep chasm on the planet for over one million years.<ref name="whatever" />
 
The last time the Shadows would be driven from the planet would be at the end of the [[First Shadow War]], in roughly the thirteenth century A.D. Some of their race managed to remain, but were in a state of hibernation. One thousand years later, during the [[Babylon Project]]'s early days, the Shadows returned. They slowly rebuilt their great cities. They also began to recall some of the ships that they had hidden throughout the galaxy after the War.
 
 
One of their ships had been hidden on [[Mars]]. When [[Earthforce]] crews uncovered it, they reactivated an ancient beacon. Days later, the Shadows sent a second ship to retrieve the first one. The [[Psi Corps]], however, had managed to plant a homing beacon inside. In [[2257]], [[Interplanetary Expeditions]] was commissioned to send a ship (the [[Icarus]]) to Z'ha'dum on an exploratory mission--most of the crew was apparently unaware they were being used, that the planet was where the Shadow vessels had been tracked to.
 
   
 
The last time the Shadows would be driven from the planet would be at the end of the [[First Shadow War]], in 1261<ref name="shadow" /> Some of their race managed to remain, but were in a state of hibernation. Nearly a thousand years later, the Shadows returned. They slowly rebuilt their great cities. They also began to recall some of the ships that they had hidden throughout the galaxy after the War.<ref name="message">[[Messages from Earth]]</ref>
[[Image:Zhadum02.jpg|left|thumb|300px|The crew of the Icarus explore Z'ha'dum]]
 
   
 
One of their ships had been hidden on [[Mars]]. When [[Earthforce]] crews uncovered it, they reactivated an ancient beacon.<ref name="message" /> Days later, the Shadows allies sent a second ship to retrieve the first one. The [[Psi Corps]], however, had managed to plant a homing beacon inside. In [[2257]], [[Interplanetary Expeditions]] was commissioned to send a ship (the [[Icarus]]) to Z'ha'dum on an exploratory mission--most of the crew was apparently unaware they were being used, that the planet was where the Shadow vessels had been tracked to. The Icarus' long range probe awoke the Shadows hibernating there.
When the Icarus arrived on Z'ha'dum, they found it seemingly deserted. They quickly awoke some of the Shadows, however, and those members of the crew who would not serve willingly were said to have been killed. However, [[Morden]], [[Anna Sheridan]], and [[Justin]] were enslaved by the Shadows. It is possible that the other crew members were simply integrated into various Shadow vessels to fight in the upcoming war.
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When the Icarus arrived on Z'ha'dum, they found it seemingly deserted. They were captured by the Shadows, and those members of the crew who would not serve willingly were said to have been killed.<ref name="shadow" /> However, [[Morden]] and [[Anna Sheridan]] were "enslaved" by the Shadows.<ref>[[Z'ha'dum (episode)|Z'ha'dum]]</ref> It is possible that the other crew members were simply integrated into various Shadow vessels to fight in the upcoming war.
   
 
===Third Age of Mankind===
 
===Third Age of Mankind===
 
Once the shadows had been defeated and left for beyond the rim, the [[White Star]] went to investigate Z'ha'dum, only to see a mysterious fleet (almost certainly the [[Drakh]]) leaving Z'ha'dum moments before the entire planet exploded.<ref>[[Epiphanies]]</ref>
[[Image:Zhadum03.jpg|right|thumb|175px|Z'Ha'Dum, moments before its destruction]]
 
Once the shadows had been defeated and left for beyond the rim, the [[White Star]] went to investigate Z'ha'dum, only to see a mysterious fleet (almost certainly the [[Drakh]]) leaving Z'ha'dum moments before the entire planet exploded.
 
   
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
*According to JMS the name "Z'ha'dum" is of Minbari origin and rougly [[List of Minbari words and phrases#Z'ha'dum|translates]] as "Death of the future", while the novel [[The Shadow Within]] (considered mostly canon) which details the story of the Icarus and it's voyage to Z'ha'dum reveals that the Earth codename for the mysterious planet is "Alpha Omega 3". Alpha and Omega, when used together can often refer to the "beginning and the end" or the "beginning of the end" as they are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet, respectively. So it appears that both the Minbari and Human name for this world mean roughly the same thing.
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*According to JMS, the name "Z'ha'dum" is of Minbari origin and roughly [[List of Minbari words and phrases#Z'ha'dum|translates]] as "Death of the future", while the novel [[The Shadow Within]] (considered mostly canon) which details the story of the Icarus and its voyage to Z'ha'dum reveals that the Earth codename for the mysterious planet is "Alpha Omega 3". Alpha and Omega, when used together can often refer to the "beginning and the end" or the "beginning of the end" as they are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet, respectively. So it appears that both the Minbari and Human name for this world mean roughly the same thing.
   
  +
==References==
  +
<small>{{Reflist|2}}</small>
 
[[Category:Planets]]
 
[[Category:Planets]]
 
[[Category:Shadows]]
 
[[Category:Shadows]]

Revision as of 03:02, 2 September 2018

This article refers to the planet Z'ha'dum. For the Season 3 episode, see: Z'ha'dum (episode).


"If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die."

Kosh


Z'ha'dum is the home planet of the Shadows, and for countless millennia the home of Lorien.[3]

Location

Z'ha'dum's official Earth Alliance designation is Alpha Omega III, meaning it is the third planet of its star. The planet is located on the rim of known space. It is approximately a four day jump from the Epsilon Eridani system.[4]

Physical Characteristics

Z'ha'dum is covered in extensive mountain ranges. The temperature averages 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the gravity is approximately 1.3G. The mountains are made of igneous rock and the plains of sedimentary rock. Violent dust storms cloak roughly 25% of the planetary surface at any one time. The planet has an extremely dry atmosphere with low levels of carbon monoxide, which would prove fatal to humans within about an hour. There is also a background level of radiation, suggesting the planet was nuked approximately one thousand years ago.

Stone pillars ranging from 100 to 150 yards in height cover most of the planetary surface. They are spaced exactly 2.43 miles apart from one another. The pillars are covered in characters from the Shadow language.[5]

Geography

By the twenty-third century, Z'ha'dum was a blasted, charred wasteland, its surface marred by the many attacks that drove the Shadows away from the planet eon after eon. When they returned at the dawning of the Third Age, their cities were kept mostly underground.[6]

History

"Z'ha'dum is the homeworld of the Shadows. No one leaves the same as they arrived."

Delenn
Zhadum02

The crew of the Icarus explore Z'ha'dum

Zhadum03

Z'ha'dum, moments before its destruction

It is unknown if Z'ha'dum was the homeworld of the Shadows as a species, but for most of their long history they considered it their home. This was due to the presence of Lorien, one of the First Ones, who lived in a deep chasm on the planet for over one million years.[3]

The last time the Shadows would be driven from the planet would be at the end of the First Shadow War, in 1261[6] Some of their race managed to remain, but were in a state of hibernation. Nearly a thousand years later, the Shadows returned. They slowly rebuilt their great cities. They also began to recall some of the ships that they had hidden throughout the galaxy after the War.[7]

One of their ships had been hidden on Mars. When Earthforce crews uncovered it, they reactivated an ancient beacon.[7] Days later, the Shadows allies sent a second ship to retrieve the first one. The Psi Corps, however, had managed to plant a homing beacon inside. In 2257, Interplanetary Expeditions was commissioned to send a ship (the Icarus) to Z'ha'dum on an exploratory mission--most of the crew was apparently unaware they were being used, that the planet was where the Shadow vessels had been tracked to. The Icarus' long range probe awoke the Shadows hibernating there. When the Icarus arrived on Z'ha'dum, they found it seemingly deserted. They were captured by the Shadows, and those members of the crew who would not serve willingly were said to have been killed.[6] However, Morden and Anna Sheridan were "enslaved" by the Shadows.[8] It is possible that the other crew members were simply integrated into various Shadow vessels to fight in the upcoming war.

Third Age of Mankind

Once the shadows had been defeated and left for beyond the rim, the White Star went to investigate Z'ha'dum, only to see a mysterious fleet (almost certainly the Drakh) leaving Z'ha'dum moments before the entire planet exploded.[9]

Notes

  • According to JMS, the name "Z'ha'dum" is of Minbari origin and roughly translates as "Death of the future", while the novel The Shadow Within (considered mostly canon) which details the story of the Icarus and its voyage to Z'ha'dum reveals that the Earth codename for the mysterious planet is "Alpha Omega 3". Alpha and Omega, when used together can often refer to the "beginning and the end" or the "beginning of the end" as they are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet, respectively. So it appears that both the Minbari and Human name for this world mean roughly the same thing.

References