Season 2, Episode 20:
The Long, Twilight Struggle
A number of meetings are taking place, one on Centauri Prime, where Londo and Lord Refa meet up, and another on Babylon 5, where Delenn suddenly starts smiling as a light fills her quarters and boisterous laughter is heard. "Hello, dear friend."
Sheridan has just gotten out of the shower when that light appears and Draal, keeper of the Great Machine stands before him. He invites the captain down to the planet to talk.
Another meeting is between G'Kar and his uncle G'Sten. G'Sten is there because the war is not going well, and if nothing changes soon, the Centauri will be victorious. They have one chance, the Centauri supply depot at Gorash 7. The assault will leave the Narn homeworld vulnerable as it will take the entire fleet to do it, but if they're quick, the Centauri are going to have to take a long while to rebuild their invasion infrastructure, which will give the Narn time to rally some help and additional defenses, which is what G'Sten and the Kha'ri are banking on... and leaves G'Kar feeling extremely anxious.
The Centauri already know about the planned attack and Refa wants to make the most of it and call G'Sten's bluff: the Centauri will assault the Narn homeworld directly. Londo points out that if they just plunge toward Narn, the Narn fleet will just turn right around and then the Centauri will be up to their necks in their own blood, which is why Refa wanted to speak with Londo: he asks Londo to arrange for the outpost to be defended by Londo's "associates". Between keeping the Narn busy and possibly destroying much of the fleet outright, it will give them plenty of time and room to enact the obliteration of Narn.
Yes, obliteration. Refa and much of the rest of the militant wing of the Centaurum are done messing around, and have no intention of trying to conquer an intact Narn again like last time. This time, the Narn will be at the Centauri's feet and "will be kept there"... by using orbital mass drivers to devastate the planet into either surrendering or otherwise. Londo, although growing increasingly horrified by the scope of the plan, ultimately agrees with extreme reluctance, though he states Mr. Morden and his associates are beginning to worry him, and he says this is the last time.
Sheridan and Delenn are preparing to leave, but Garibaldi is not happy about it, and even more so about them going alone. They are both determined, and eventually he relents. As they set off, Londo and Refa also depart for the Narn homeworld.
On the station, Franklin shows G'Kar a Narn who was interrogated by the Centauri about defenses around the Narn homeword and also has information about Centauri ships being sent away without explanation. He mentions how the Minbari bypassed several Earth colonies during their war and went straight for Earth itself, and he thinks the Centauri are doing something similar.
Sheridan and Delenn arrive on Epsilon III, Delenn guiding the way to the Heart of the Machine.
G'Kar calls G'Sten and tries to persuade him to call off the attack and defend the homeworld, but they're too far along now.
Sheridan and Delenn finally reach the Heart and find Draal there. He compliments Delenn's new look and mentions Sheridan's involvement in a conspiracy of light. Sheridan tries to feign ignorance but Draal assures him his secrets are safe here.
In his quarters G'Kar is praying as the Narn fleet emerges from hyperspace. They are quickly met by Shadow vessels which begin decimating the fleet, eliminating most of them in a matter of minutes. The few remaining try to retreat into hyperspace, but their jump points are destabilized by energy emissions from the Shadow vessels and collapse on them crushing the ships caught in them. G'Kar opens his eyes and extinguishes a candle.
Draal is explaining what life is like on Epsilon III when he suddenly pauses, saying he's picking up a flurry of signals and then tells them to get back to the station. Before they go, he tells Delenn he thinks it's time to introduce Sheridan to the others. After they leave, he calls to one of the Great Machine's tenders:
- Draal: Zathras! Zathras! Never around when he's needed...
On station, Ivanova informs Garibaldi of the assault on the Narn homeworld, and tells him to be ready to lock down the station. Meanwhile, ISN starts reporting on the bombardment. As a crowd in the Zocalo watches, an angry Narn decks a nearby Centauri and a riot breaks out. Sheridan and Delenn arrive on the station to the sound of emergency sirens and he orders security to escort her to her quarters while he goes to C&C.
At the Narn homeworld, Londo watches in horror as the Centauri fleet uses mass drivers to hurl asteroids down on the planet creating huge explosions and clouds of dust that are seen from orbit.
The attack lasts for days, as the station is locked down with only armed security guards patrolling the corridors. What few details ISN are able to get describe a scene of horrific devastation on Narn, with hundreds of thousands dead and planetary infrastructure in tatters. The other governments, including the normally-aloof Vorlon Empire, lodge official protests against the attack, but the Centauri are unswayed. G'Kar manages to get in touch with home, only to find that the Kha'Ri intend to surrender - it's either that, or it seems the Centauri really will go through with killing everyone on the surface of Narn. But before that, they have one last order for G'Kar - "the hardest one [we] have ever asked of you". Soon after, he slowly makes his way into Sheridan's office and requests sanctuary.
Londo arrives on station and arranges a meeting of the League of Non-Aligned Worlds. At the meeting, he announces the Narns' unconditional surrender. He then begins listing the terms of the surrender. First, the Kha'Ri will be disbanded and the members subject to arrest and trial. Sheridan requests Earth be allowed to send observers, but is denied.
Second, any Centauri murdered by a Narn will result in the execution of five hundred Narns, including the perpetrator's family.
Third, a council of the Centauri's own choosing will be set up to govern Narn. And finally, the last of the Kha'Ri, G'Kar will step down as ambassador and return to Narn for trial. Sheridan refuses this on the grounds that he has agreed to allow G'Kar sanctuary. Delenn quickly backs him up and Londo relents, but insists that G'Kar be removed from the proceedings. Sheridan says they will wait...
- Londo: NOW!!!
There is stunned silence as the two glare at each other then look at G'Kar, who slowly rises and begins to speak.
- G'Kar: No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever. There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom. Against that power governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand. The Centauri learned this lesson once. We will teach it to them again. Though it take a thousand years, we will be free.
After the meeting, Londo watches the news report on the surrender and the Centauri victory celebration, as well as their plans to annex several other worlds, provoking fears of expansionism.
Sheridan meets with G'Kar and offers help in any way he can, and G'Kar accepts. Sheridan is then asked to meet Delenn in the conference room.
He arrives to find a large group of people who she introduces as the Rangers, and have been assembled to fight the Shadows. They were under the command of Delenn, but she now offers joint command to Sheridan and he accepts, promising to draw a line against the darkness and hold it no matter the cost.
This episode contains examples of:
- Action Film, Quiet Drama Scene: After the scene of the bombing of the Narn homeworld, and the riots caused by the news reaching the station, scenes are shown of deserted corridors (with armed security in full riot gear standing guard in all of them) and Sheridan brooding in his office as ISN keeps up a running monologue describing the ongoing bombardment.
- Badass Army: Sheridan is introduced to and given command of the Rangers.
- Badass Boast:
- Draal tells Sheridan that anyone who wants to learn his secrets would have to dig through three miles of rock, and no one who tried would survive the attempt.
- Sheridan's speech at the end of the episode.
- Batman Gambit:
- Londo expresses concerns to Refa that the intercepted Narn communications re: the Gorrash VII attack might be this. He fears it's misinformation meant to get the Centauri to draw off their forces while the Narn strike elsewhere. Refa admits others in the Centaurum and Centauri military have expressed similar concerns. However, Refa's convinced that it's authentic because it has just the right ring of desperation to be true (and he's ultimately proven correct).
- Finding Londo resistant to calling in the Shadows again, Refa appeals to Londo's patriotism. He argues that Londo truly wishes to serve his people — if he wishes to bring them back to their full glory — his cooperation will allow them to end the war here and now with only a minimal of Centauri casualties. It works, as Londo very grudgingly agrees to contact his associates one more time.
- "Bringer of War" Music: The Holst rhythm is heard as the Narn fleet is jumping into normal space, preparing for the attack. It changes to discordant electronics as the Shadows appear and make quick work of them.
- Cassandra Truth: G'Kar warns G'Sten that the attack should be called off, but it is disregarded. Just as G'Kar fears, it proves a disastrous blunder.
- Casting Gag: W. Morgan Shepard was one of the finalists to play G'Kar before it went to Andreas Katsulas. His playing G'Kar's uncle here gives us a taste of what that might have been like.
- Colony Drop: The Centauri use illegal Mass Drivers to bombard the Narn homeworld from orbit with asteroids.
- Continuity Nod:
- Londo mentions his Duel to the Death with Urza Jaddo and asks Refa how many more friends this will cost him.
- Delenn also tries to fill some of the gaps in her vocabulary, as she demonstrates to Sheridan:
Abso-fraggin-lutely, dammit.- Also counts as Foreshadowing: After Sheridan and Delenn leave the planet, Draal calls for Zathras.
- During the bombardment, ISN quotes Senator Quantrell.
- The Centauri's actions in this episode lend credence to G'Kar's earlier accusations that the Centauri were using Babylon 5 as a waypoint for Mass Driver components.
- In the Council meeting after the Narn have surrendered to the Centauri, Sheridan again says that Earth reserves the right to send observers to ensure the humane treatment of prisoners, but this time Londo denies the request outright.
- In the Council chambers, there is still one seat labeled for the Markab, but there are no Markab left alive to fill it.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: The Narn's entire home fleet versus (at least) four Shadow Battlecrabs. The Narn only manage to cripple one of the ships (demonstrating that the Shadows aren't invincible), but most of their fleet is easily destroyed in the battle. A handful of ships attempt to escape, but the Shadows do something to their jump points causing all of the Narn ships to be destroyed during their jump.
- Curb Stomp Cushion: While utterly outmatched the Narn fleet does manage to focus their fire and do serious damage to one Shadow ship, not that it helps them at all.
- Death Glare: Sheridan's gets a lot of use during the Council scene, and Delenn's isn't far behind. When the two of them start glaring in tandem, even Londo shuts up.
- Disproportionate Retribution: Londo announces that under the new Centauri occupation, the penalty for the murder of any Centauri by any Narn will be the execution of 500 Narns, including the perpetrator's family.
- Accompanied by an Eye Take from the pak'ma'ra ambassador.
- Dying Candle: G'Kar is praying in his quarters surrounded by candles while the Narn fleet mounts a desperate attack on a Centauri supply depot, but are met and quickly eviscerated by the Shadows. As the Narn fleet falls, along with it their last hope, G'Kar opens his eyes and puts out the last candle still lit.
- Early-Bird Cameo: Of a musical variety. The Freaky Electronic Music during the Narns' battle with the Shadows will be part of the new theme song in season 3.
- The End of the World as We Know It: The Centauri basically deliver this to the Narn, blasting the planet, as the ISN reporter and Quantrell say directly, "back into the Stone Age". We, along with Londo, get a bird's-eye view of it happening (though we don't get a ground view until season 3).
- Everyone Has Standards:
- No one in the League of Non-Aligned Worlds even bothers to hide their repulsion at Londo's extreme terms. The pak'ma'ra ambassador, in particular, seems to be absolutely seething. Sheridan's reaction to the terms is quite telling.
Sheridan: (very, very calmly) Is there anything else?- Londo certainly wants to win the war against the Narn but strongly protests the use of mass drivers against them, because they have been outlawed by every civilized race including the Centauri and because doing so would violate several treaties the Centauri have signed. He also expresses reservations about relying on the Shadows and is growing very wary of them as allies.
- In the past, the pak'ma'ra had not exactly been shown, or seen in-universe, in the best of lights. During Londo's listing of terms, however, the camera takes a moment to pointedly focus on the utter disgust of the pak'ma'ra ambassador at the barbarity of the "treaty", particularly concerning the "500 Narns for every Centauri, including the family" stipulation. And one must remember that the pak'ma'ra are carrion eaters, aka they eat corpses of other beings. For the ambassador to be disgusted by the Centauri terms makes it clear that these are appalling even for them.
- The bombing of Narn is a war crime so heinous that even the Vorlons, who pride themselves in taking no interest in the affairs of other races, issue a statement condemning the act.
- Facial Dialogue:
- Londo doesn't say a single word while watching the bombing of the Narn homeworld, but the emotions he's feeling - grief, horror, shame, determination - are written all over his face. And then a (lowercase s) shadow passes over it...
- Londo briefly looks as though he's going to speak when G'Kar begins addressing the League, but hesitates and stops, giving a hint that for all his bluster and the demands he makes on behalf of his government, Londo himself is deeply troubled by events and can't bring himself to interrupt or block G'Kar's speech.
- Failed a Spot Check: Played for Laughs when Draal's hologram first appears to Sheridan. He starts upon the introduction and his theatrical spiel...and only realizes partway through that Sheridan's just come out of his shower and is dressed only in a bathrobe. An embarrassed Draal politely offers to come back after Sheridan's finished dressing. And then promptly resumes his monologue once Sheridan assures him it's no big deal.
- Hope Spot:
- With the conquest of Narn, Londo hopes that his people's aggressive expansion will finally be sated (and he won't have to call upon Morden and his associates again). Unfortunately, his final scene and reaction to the news from Centauri Prime makes it clear the annexation of Narn was just the beginning.
- Franklin passing on the intel shared by one of his deceased Narn patients to G'Kar. Surely, G'Kar will pass on the intel to G'Sten and their last major fleet will avoid springing the trap Refa and Londo have laid. Unfortunately, G'Sten feels the evidence is only circumstantial and it's not enough to call off the attack (especially as they're in the middle of launching when G'Kar frantically tries to reach his Uncle).
- Irony: With their mass drivers, the Centauri bomb the Narns back to the Stone Age with literal stones.
- Kick the Dog: Londo is doing his job as Ambassador and has to sell his people's actions to the League of Non-Aligned Worlds. However, and despite his guilt, it's clear he can't help taking some satisfaction at kicking his old rival (i.e. G'Kar) off the Council. Being blocked from extraditing him to the Centauri by Sheridan is arguably one reason for his overreaction (on top of having to perform for his superiors back home).
- Large Ham: Draal. It's expected, as he's now played by the Klingon Hambassador from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
- Locked Out of the Loop: Despite being a high-ranking member of the Kha'Ri, G'Kar learns that his colleagues have been giving him incomplete weekly briefings. G'Sten grimly explains that they're trying to perpetuate the belief that the Narn are holding their own to the general public when in fact they're getting their asses kicked.
- Loophole Abuse:
- As part of the terms of their surrender, all members of the Narn Kha'Ri are ordered to turn themselves over to the Centauri. G'Kar is the only member of the Kha'Ri not on Homeworld or in Narn space thanks to his posting and they know the authority and inspiration he can grant their people in the dark days ahead. So, they order him to go to Sheridan and to request sanctuary on Babylon 5. After all, Earth didn't sign the surrender agreement and while the Centauri are participants in the Babylon Project, they are not sponsors and have no jurisdiction there. Sheridan, who's absolutely disgusted by the bombardment of Narn, is more than happy to grant G'Kar sanctuary (with an equally disgusted Delenn backing him up).
- Londo then responds to Shridan's Loophole Abuse with his own. He can't do anything about G'Kar's political asylum, but he is able to get G'Kar removed from the Station's Advisory Council and from the council chambers themselves. After all, as the Kha'Ri has been dissolved, G'Kar has no legal or political standing to speak on behalf of the Narn and thus can no longer be included on the Council.
- My God, What Have I Done?:
- Londo's reaction to the bombardment of Narn by mass drivers. He doesn't actually say it; he doesn't need to. His face says it all. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop Londo from throwing his weight around in Council chambers immediately afterward, though at least some of that is a case of being the one who has to announce the official Centauri government policies and knowing that the show he is putting on there is being watched closely by the same people at home who just mass drivered a billion sentient beings to death.
- There's a spectacularly poignant shot during G'Kar's speech where Londo and G'Kar's faces are the only ones in frame. G'Kar is very pointedly not looking at Londo, but Londo can't look anywhere but at G'Kar. The shame and self-loathing is written in every line on Londo's face.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: G'Sten dismissing G'Kar's concerns that Gorrash VII was a Centauri trap. It gets him and the last major Narn fleet all killed — and leaves the Narn homeworld defenseless for the Centauri orbital bombardment.
- No-Sell: The initial fire from the Narn fleet has no effect on the Shadow warships.
- Not Now, Kiddo: A variation. Since G'Kar is G'Sten's nephew, G'Sten hanging up on his desperate call about Gorrash VII being a likely trap is technically an example.
- The Nth Doctor: Draal is played by John Schuck rather than Louis Turenne. They Hand Wave this by saying the Great Machine has made him younger and more fit.
- Nuclear Weapons Taboo: When Lord Refa suggests the use of mass drivers against the Narn homeworld, Londo protests that they have treaties outlawing them. Refa dismisses these treaties as "ink on a page."
- Out-of-Character Alert: Centauri procedure is to not move on to the next target before their current objective is secure, so when they pull warships away from several active battlezones without explanation, G'Kar is convinced that they intend to attack the Narn homeworld. The rub of G'Sten's dismissal of this evidence is that even he (more or less) concedes it is odd...but there are also any number of alternate explanations (such as the Centauri encountering heavy Narn resistance).
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Earth and the Minbari lodge protests over the use of mass drivers, but the fact that the Vorlons also lodge one shows that what the Centauri are doing is a really bad thing.
- Prayer Is a Last Resort: While G'Kar has demonstrated his spiritual side on a number of occasions, this is the first time we see him praying. He sits at the altar where the Book of G'Quon is, surrounded by lit candles, whispering fervently. Light years away, a Narn force sent to attack a Centauri supply depot is ambushed by the Shadows and quickly annihilated. As the Shadows leave, G'Kar stops praying and extinguishes the candles.
- Realpolitik: Despite his misgivings and regrets regarding the bombardment of Narn, Londo announces the official policies of the Centauri government at the Council chambers shortly afterward. He does insist that G'Kar leave as he is no longer officially an ambassador, but he doesn't challenge G'Kar's political asylum claim despite it conflicting with said government policy.
- The Reveal: Zathras, the alien who took Babylon 4 with The One, is revealed to be an inhabitant of Epsilon III in a particularly sly manner, when Draal calls for him after Sheridan and Delenn leave.
- Remember the New Guy?: G'Kar's Uncle G'Sten.
- Rule of Symbolism:
- As G'Kar comes to request sanctuary, the first thing seen is his shadow, and during the scene his face is obscured by shadows as he comes to seek the protection of the leader of the Army of Light.
- As Londo watches the Centauri bombardment of the Narn homeworld, a shadow overtakes him.
- Screw the Rules, They're Not Real!: Refa dismisses Londo's concern about the use of illegal mass drivers by calling the treaty banning said weapons "Ink on a page." He is proven correct; while protests are raised over the use of mass drivers, the protests do nothing to stop the Centauri atrocities.
- Seeking Sanctuary: Following the fall of their homeworld, the remnants of the Narn Regime order G'Kar to seek political asylum on Babylon 5.
- Spanner in the Works: The Narn attack on Gorrash VII might have worked if the Centauri military hadn't intercepted the attack plan (or if Refa hadn't used his clout to overrule the concerns of the Centaurum and Centauri military — to say nothing of twisting Londo's arm to get the Shadows involved).
- Standard Starship Scuffle: Completely averted for the only time in the series. The engagement starts at maximum range, and is over long before the two fleets are close enough to appear on screen together.
- Suddenly Shouting: Londo during the council meeting.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: G'Kar's evidence that the Gorrash VII fleet is actually walking into a trap is ultimately circumstantial and second-hand. As G'Sten points out, there are any number of other possible explanations for the abnormal Centauri fleet movements (such as heavy Narn resistance). With so much hinging upon this strike (and the fleet already launching), G'Sten is ultimately unwilling to postpone or cancel the attack based on G'Kar's concerns. It's debatable if firsthand testimony from the dying Narn that Franklin spoke with might have swayed him.
- Title Drop: Draal speaks of "the long, twilight struggle to come".
- Tranquil Fury:
- Pretty much the entire council to Londo's cruel terms of surrender for the Narn. Sheridan, in particular, is obviously seething. But the cake goes to G'Kar. How he carried himself, his "freedom" speech, even the way he walked out. It is magnificent.
- Also Garibaldi when he and his security team meet Londo as the latter comes aboard B5 following the bombardment and surrender of Narn. Between his Death Glare and curt, clipped speech it's clear that he now considers their friendship over.
- Villain Has a Point: Refa dismisses Londo's concerns about violating the treaty against using Mass Drivers, seeing the treaty as a powerless formality. He is sadly proven correct: the most anybody does about the Centauri using mass drives is protest.
- The War Has Just Begun: G'Kar promises in his final speech to the council.
- Weapons of Mass Destruction: Mass drivers, which hurl asteroids down onto the planet. They've been outlawed by every civilized race. Notably, even the normally indifferent Vorlons are mentioned as having lodged a protest after the Centauri use mass drivers against Narn.
- Wham Episode: The Narn-Centauri War comes to a sudden close with Narn's surrender, G'Kar being removed as ambassador, and Sheridan is given command of the Rangers.
- Written by the Winners: In his speech to the League after the war is over, Londo claims that the conflict began with the Narn's declaration of war, completely omitting that the Narn only declared war after the Centaurinote wiped out one of their colonies and killed thousands of their people.
