509 – Babylon 5 – The Gathering

In 1993 plucky writer J. Michael Straczynski attempted to take on the seemingly unassailable Star Trek for the mantle of best TV Space Opera not Intended for Children.  This, Babylon 5: The Gathering, is where it all begins. Join Simon and Eugene on this special look at the Babylon 5 pilot. If you’d like more of our take on Babylon 5, we’re releasing a special patron’s only podcast series where we take a look at every episode, one-by-one.  For more details check it out here at the Fusion Patrol Patreon Page. Synopsis: It is the year 2257 and Babylon 5 is an Earth Alliance space station deep in neutral space.  Designed as a meeting place for all races, it is the home to the Advisory Council – a council made up of the most powerful races in the known galaxy.  In addition to the Earth Alliance, the Minbari Federation, the Narn Regime and the Centauri Republic, the Council will soon be welcoming their fifth and final member, an ambassador from the mysterious and powerful Vorlon Empire. [expand title=”More…” swaptitle=”Less” tag=”strong”] The station is commanded by Earth Force Cmdr. Jeffrey Sinclair and his second-in-command, Lt. Cmdr Laurel Takashima.  The existing four Ambassadors represent various facets of conflict.  The Centauri Republic is represented by Lando Molari.  The Republic was once a powerful force in the galaxy, now waning.  The Narn, represented by G’Kar, are a young and vital people, having secured their freedom from the Centauri, they now seek power and revenge.  The Minbari ambassador, Delenn, is contemplative and enigmatic, like the Minbari.  Ten years ago they waged a devastating war against the Earth Alliance, only to surrender on the verge of victory, for no apparent reason.   There are still hard feelings between Earth and Minbar, but Delenn seems to have a friendly, if guarded, friendship with Sinclair. The Vorlons are almost a complete unknown.  They jealously guard their secrecy and almost never interact with the other worlds.  The presence of a Vorlon Ambassador is indeed a rarity. When the Vorlon ambassador Kosh arrives, Sinclair is momentarily trapped in an elevator, when he arrives to greet the ambassador, he is lying prone on the floor, his body entirely encased in an environmental suit.  Babylon 5’s Medical chief, Benjamin Kyle must try to find out what happened and save his life.  One problem, the Vorlons absolutely refuse to allow the Ambassador’s environment suit to be opened.  They prefer to keep their secrets than keep the Ambassador alive. Sinclair disregards that and, trusting Dr. Kyle’s oath of patient confidentiality, he orders him to proceed and to never tell anyone what he has seen.  What he learns is that Ambassador Kosh has been poisoned.  If they could figure out how the poison was introduced, they might be able to synthesize an antidote. With it seeming likely that the powerful Vorlons will extract violent revenge if Kosh dies, Kyle conspires with Takashima to save his live, bypassing Sinclair to protect him.  Their plan, to convince the station’s licensed telepath. Lyta Alexander, to illegally brain-scan Kosh, hoping to “witness” the poisoning.  She is convinced and discovers two things – how and where the poison was administered and who did it.  Jeffrey Sinclair. The information does help them identify the poison and work begins on an antidote.  Meanwhile, although the nature of the “witness” is not disclosed, Earth removes Sinclair from his duties concerning the investigation and the Advisory Council. In Council, G’Kar makes a surprise move: He recommends that Sinclair be turned over to the Vorlons for trial.  While it looks like the motion is deadlocked, 2 to 2, G’kar pulls another surprise:  He’s contacted the Vorlons and received their vote.  Sinclair is to be remanded to the Vorlons as soon as the Vorlon transport arrives. Security Chief Michael Garlibaldi has been working on the case since the beginning and everyone has an alibi except Sinclair.  In fact, the elevator shows no sign of a malfunction, either.  Things are not looking good for Sinclair. Garibaldi has some things that are still outstanding.  A small one-man boarding pod was found attached to the outside of the station.  A tech runner named Del Varner has been seen on the station, which is odd since he is wanted by Earth and is subject to arrest upon arrival.  When the search his room, they find his corpse. Sinclair has all but given up, but his girlfriend Carolyn talks him into fighting, so he does. In the Medical Center, Lyta has stopped by to inquire about Kosh’s condition.  Unseen to Dr. Kyle, Lyta is switching off things she probably shouldn’t.  When he becomes suspicious, she tries to kill him, but he fights her off with a medical laser.  Escaping the room she comes face to face with a very surprised Lyta Alexander and Cmdr. Sinclair. They’ve worked in out.  Varner was supplying a Changeling Net, and Illegal piece of military gear that allows one to adopt the image of any other person.  They are illegal because of his dangerous they are to the wearer.  Someone, using the changeling net, was delivered to the station via the boarding pod and has framed Sinclair. Using internal sensors, the track down the power emissions of the changeling net and Sinclair and Garibaldi chase him down.  He is revealed to be a Minbari who tells Sinclair, “there is a hole in your mind.” Just before he activates a personal self-destruct bomb.  Sinclair barely escapes before a section of the station is blow out.  In control, Takeshima and her team struggle to regain control of the station – which they eventually do. Later, Kosh takes his place on the Council, and Delenn reveals to Sinclair that she was able to identify the culprit.  He was a member of a sect that broke away from the Minbari after the war with Earth. Babylon 5 re-opens for business. [/expand]