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News From Space: Space Planes and Space Colonies
Tag: the great machine
Worlds of Babylon 5
This would be the fourth installment of my "Worlds Of" series, this time in honor of my favorite sci-fi show of all time. Like the show itself, the worlds that were featured here were richly detailed, multi-layered, and part of an intricate and cohesive universe. Though the show only lasted five seasons and the spin-off attempts failed, J.M. Straczynski was able to give most of the locales for his story a fair amount of treatment.
Centauri Prime:
The homeworld of the Centauri race and the seat of power for Republic. In ancient times, it was home to both the Centauri and the Xon, two sentient species that battled for thousands of years for control of the planet. Eventually, the Centauri exterminated the Xon, a victory which is celebrated annually with lavish feasts and celebrations. From these humble yet violent origins, the Centauri emerged to become the dominant power in the quadrant, conquering many races at their zenith, including the Narns.
Many locations of interest are to be found on Centauri Prime. These include the Royal Palace, home of the Royal Court and Centaurem, the Senate Building, the Great Temple, and the Imperial capitol. In the buildup to the Narn-Centauri war, the Royal Palace became the scene of intrigue as forces loyal to the puppet-Emperor Cartagia and Lord Refa began assassinating those who got in their way.
After the war was over, things once again became interesting as the mad Emperor made an Alliance with the Shadows and gave them the island of Cellini, hoping they would pay him back by making him a god. This alliance put the planet in danger, as the Vorlons had begun destroying any and all planets that were being used by the Shadows. In the end, Londo was forced to destroy Celini with tactical nukes to eliminate the Shadow vessels and prevent the Vorlons from destroying the planet.
Almost immediately after the war was over, the Drakh infiltrated Centauri Prime and began using it as their base of operations. After implicating the Centauri in a series of attacks on Alliance shipping, war was declared against the Republic. This war ended with the surrender of Centauri Prime after Narn and Drazi forces slipped into the system and began bombarding the surface with impunity. According to expanded sources, the planet would also be devastated when the Drakh were discovered and detonated a fusion bomb in the capitol to cover their escape.
Earth:
The homeworld of the human race and administrative center of the Earth Alliance. By 2258-62, when the show takes place, a number of changes have happened to the place we call home. For starters, the capitol of the EA is established in Geneva, the headquarters of which is known as Earthdome. It is from here that the President exercises authority over Earth and all the Earth Alliance's colonies.
Every nation on the planet has joined as an administrative "consortium", contributing members and money to the upkeep of government. Earth is also home to the Psi Corps, the institution that monitors and trains telepaths for the Earth Alliance. This place is also the home of the Psi Cops, the authorities who track down and arrest "rogue telepaths" – those who choose not to register or take suppressants.
Just prior to the Shadow War, President Clarke declared martial law, effectively ending democratic government on Earth. The colonies thenceforth were administered by armed force, and Clarke himself forged an Alliance between his office, the Shadows, and the Psi Corps. For years, he ruled with impunity, until a coalition led by Sheridan and the White Star fleet arrived at Earth in 2262. Rather than face overthrow, Clarke shot himself and programmed the planetary defensive network to obliterate the surface. The satellites were narrowly stopped by Sheridan's fleet, thus saving Earth from being turned into "scorched Earth".
During the Drakh War, Earth became exposed to a deadly plague. This bio-weapon was of Shadow design and introduced into the atmosphere by Drakh ships after they failed to destroy Earth with a Shadow planet-killer. After five years under quarantine, the Interstellar Alliance ship Excalibur discovered a cure and introduced it to Earth. The planet was saved! However, hints given at the end of season 5 indicate that 500 years after the formation of the Alliance, Earth was devastated in a terrible civil war, returning its inhabitants to a primitive level of development.
One million years after the formation of the Alliance, Earth was abandoned by the decedents of the human race, who had evolved to the point of transcendence. After downloading all historical records, the last of the human race left the system for the last time. The sun went supernova shortly thereafter, destroying everything in the system.
Epsilon 3:
The third planet of the Epsilon Indi system and the world that Babylon 5 sits in orbit of. Coincidentally, it is also home of the Great Machine, a subterranean alien artifact of immense power. Not much is known about the species that built it, as the last known inhabitants, outside of the current custodians, died out as a result of a religious schism or fled into deep space.
Thereafter, the Machine was maintained by Varus, one of the last of their species, with the help of ten assistants named Zathras. As he neared the end of his life, the machine began to break down, causing the planet to become geologically unstable. This in turn alerted some of the surviving Epsilonians who were looking for the planet in hyperspace. When they emerged, a confrontation ensued between the aliens, B5, an Earth Alliance cruiser.
This was resolved when Draal, a Minbari member of the religious caste, assumed control of the machine and used its defenses to destroy the invaders. He warned that anyone else attempting to possess the planet's secrets would meet with the same fate, but later pledged his allegiance and the resources of the planet to Sheridan and Delenn's alliance. This went beyond mere weapons, as the Great Machine was also capable of seeing through time and space, which was intrinsic in both finding other First Ones and uncovering proof of Clark's conspiracy.
Aside from the Great Machine, Epsilon 3 also boasted an extensive underground city filled with many technical wonders. According to Commander Sinclair, these included computers the size of buildings and components that were miles in length. In season four, when B5 needed components to boost the signal of their "Voice of the Resistance" transmissions, they found what they needed on the planet below.
Narn:
According to Narn sources, Narn was once a fertile planet with lush rainforests and vast oceans. This changed when the Centauri arrived and occupied the planet for over 50 years. During this time, the planet was strip mined, ruthlessly exploited, and reduced to the status of a slave colony. Much damage was also done during the Narn war of resistance, as Centauri forces bombarded the surface from the orbit.
After the Narn's proved victorious, efforts to restore the natural greenery were mounted. However, these apparently took a back seat to the need to equip the Narn regime's military forces, a policy which demanded that this trend of exploitation continue. As a result, the planet's climate remains,in the words of Londo: "dry, red, depressing."
The bombardment of the Narn homeworld during the Narn-Centauri in season two didn't help matters much either. After many hours of being pulverized from orbit with asteroids, most major cities were devastated, electricity and power grids were knocked out, and virtually all infrastructure was reduced to rubble. This also had the effect of kicking up massive amounts of dust into the atmosphere which caused terrible storms and made the climate colder and more harsh.
With the liberation of the Narn towards the end of the Shadow War, efforts to rebuild the planet once again began in earnest. This time, with the Interstellar Alliance and G'Kar's influence as their guide, the Kah-Ri ensured that the needs of its citizens were their top priority. Thenceforth, attempts to rehabilitate the climate and rebuild infrastructure were placed ahead of revenge and military spending.
Minbar:
The homeworld of the Minbari Federation and their seat of government. As one of the older races in the quadrant, Minbar boasts some of the oldest cities, temples and buildings in the known universe. Most of these are built from indigenous crystal, contributing to the natural beauty of the surface. Colder than Earth's climate and with stronger than normal gravity, the Minbari are a hearty race known for their strength and endurance.
It is here that the ancient capitol of the Minbari Federation is located. The towering triple-spired government palace is here, even though the Grey Council conducted its affairs from space. The Anla'Shock Temple of Temple of Varenni are also to found in the capitol, the former being used by the Rangers and the latter being an ancient site where the castes would come together to select leaders during the time before Valen.
Another city of importance is Tuzanor, the home of Valen, the Anla'Shok training grounds where the Rangers receive their basic training, and home to the Interstellar Alliance once Delenn and Sheridan relocated it to Minbar. Just outside the city is the historic Mount H'Leya, where Valen, accompanied by a pair of Vorlons, delivered his holy "Times to come" speech during the first Shadow War.
During 2261, shortly after the Shadow War, Minbar became embroiled in a brief civil war between the Religious and Warrior Castes. This was due to deep-seated divisions which had been exacerbated by the Earth-Minbar War and the destruction of the Grey Council. It ended when Delenn invited Shakiri to the Temple of Varenni, where they would both enter into the Wheel of Fire to demonstrate their willingness to sacrifice themselves. Shakiri withdrew, but Delenn did not, prompting Neroon to save her and sacrifice himself on behalf of her. Thereafter, Delenn indicated that the Grey Council would be dominated by the Worker Caste to prevent such wars from happening again.
Sigma 957:
The ancient homeworld of the Walkers, one of the First Ones who had left the galaxy after the First Shadow War. The name itself was given to them by the Narns, who's regime was the closest government to border their world. Apparently, they named them as such because they considered the inhabitants to be giants, so great and powerful that it was best to keep out from underfoot!
In 2258, Catherine Sakai did a fly-by of the planet to search for trace elements. During her mission, a massive ship appeared off her bow and her ship was disabled. When she was rescued at the behest of Ambassor G'Kar, he told her simply "There are things in the universe billions of years older than either of our races. They are vast, timeless. And if they are aware of us at all, it is as little more than ants…and we have as much chance of communicating with them as an ant has with us. We know. We've tried. And we've learned we can either stay out from underfoot, or be stepped on."
In season 3, during a visit to Epsilon 3 to see Draal, Ivanova was able to see this world and feel the "footprints" of the Walkers with the help of the Great Machine. This was the first indication that their alliance had as to the whereabouts of other First Ones. Shortly thereafter, Ivanova and Marcus traveled there aboard a White Star to make contact with the Walkers. After a strained conversation, Ivanova was able to secure their agreement to join their alliance.
Vorlon Homeworld:
Much like the Vorlon race itself, their homeworld is steeped in mystery. Throughout the B5 series, mentions are made of the planet the Vorlons call home, but no details are ever given beyond the limited testimony of Lyta Alexander. As the only human to witness the inner workings of the Vorlon culture, she found herself in a unique position, acting as a sort of bridge and ambassador. However, other than her, no one has ever seen their world and those who have tried have either been destroyed or disappeared without a trace.
As for Lyta Alexander, her voyage to the Vorlon homeworld took place shortly after she made contact with the mind of Ambassador Kosh and broke from the Psi Corps. After weeks of waiting on the edge of Vorlon space, she was eventually admitted after sending out a telepathic signal. When asked what it was like, she said simply "you wouldn't believe me if I told you."
However, some tidbits were given by Lyta as time went on. For one, it is revealed that the Vorlons possessed artifacts of immense power, which humanity and the younger races would only ever be entitled to once a million years had past. This was revealed after the Vorlons had left known space, but had thought to leave their automated border defenses in place and active. In addition, it was also here that Lyta witnessed the Vorlons extensive efforts to modify humans and other sentient's to produce telepaths. This consisted of large facilities where hundreds of thousands of beings were kept in suspension tanks and either enhanced or modified to exhibit telepathic abilities in the first place.
Zhabar:
The homeworld and seat of power for the Drazi freehold, this planet was first shown in season five of B5 and played a rather important role in the plot. Noted for its hot, arid climate, the Drazi homeworld is also notorious for its crowded cities, narrow streets and small buildings with large vistas.
Much of this information comes from Garibaldi, who traveled here in 2262 on behalf of Alliance Covert Intelligence. According to Garibaldi's contact on Zhabar, the curious architecture and city planning are throwbacks to earlier eras where the Drazi designed their cities to be impassable to siege engines. In addition, the small roomed architecture also harkens back to previous ages, when the Drazi lived predominantly outside.
After the Shadow War, this world became the focal point of much attention as Centauri agents infiltrated in order to kill Garibaldi's contact. Though they failed to kill Garibaldi, his contact, and the Drakh-Centauri connection, remained a secret for some time. However, during a subsequent trip by Lyta and Dr. Franklin (at the behest of the Vir Cotto), they discovered that the Drazi were storing captured Shadow devices here. These devices were taken from destroyed Centauri vessels, and the Drazi were apparently hoping to keep them for themselves.
Z'ha'dum:
Much like the planet the Vorlons call home, the Shadow's homeworld is also steeped in mystery. However, several people have walked in its surface or witnessed if from orbit and lived to tell the tale. For instance, the elusive man named Mr. Morden, who came to Z'ha'dum as part of the Icarus crew, enlisted with the Shadows and then became their chief representative to the younger races.
The second person to witness the planet was G'Kar, who travelled to the rim at the end of season 1 to investigate the destruction of the Narn outpost in Quadrant 37. He described the place as a dark world, "where nothing has walked for a thousand years". His description proved quite apt, as the Shadows and their allies all lived underground in order to hide their presence.
The third and final visit came from John Sheridan, who had been forewarned by Kosh that if he went to Z'ha'dum, he would die. He was right, after a fashion. During his visit to their craggy world, he received a tour of their underground facilities and even a bird's eye view of the capitol. Right before he blew it all away with two massive thermonuclear bombs and fell to his supposed death. But because he was saved by Lorien, the First One who lived within the planet for eons, his life was restored. As such, he was the only one to visit Z'ha'dum, outside of their willing servants, and live.
Speaking of Lorien, it is noteworthy to mention that for millions of years, Z'ha'dum was the place he called home. During his time with Sheridan, he explained that it was for this reason that the Shadows kept coming back there, out of respect for a First One that was even older than them. This would seem to indicate that Z'ha'dum was not in fact the Shadows homeworld, but merely a world they used as a base of operations whenever they returned to this part of the galaxy. But given their incredible age, this should not come as a surprise. Whether it was the Vorlons, the Shadows or any other First Ones, their true point of origin has probably been lost with time and forgotten by even them.
By storiesbywilliamsin Sci-Fi June 26, 2012 August 12, 2014 2,772 Words7 Comments
B5, Season 3 Best Episodes (cont'd)
Season three was loaded with significant episodes, many of which were clustered towards the end of the season. My second installment is therefore dedicated to the final six episodes of season three. Together, they developed or wrapped up some pretty big plot threads from this and other seasons and included (but were not limited to) the temporal plot involving B4 and the Great Machine, the prophecies of Valen, the Shadow War, Londo's rivalry with Refa, what happened to Sheridan's wife, and his fabled trip to Z'ha'dum.
7. War Without End (Parts I and II):
The episode opens on Mimbar, where Sinclair, now head of the Rangers, receives a letter from the past. It is addressed to him specifically, and was penned by Valen some 900 years ago! He immediately leaves for B5, where Delenn has received a similar letter. This coincides with strange behavior coming from Epsilon 3, where the Great Machine has become active and has begun opening a temporal disturbance in a nearby sector. When she begins examining the disturbance, Ivanova sees a transmission from the future, where B5 is being destroyed and she is calling for help.
Sheridan meets with Delenn and Sinclair. She shows him footage from the last Shadow War. Apparently, at that time the Mimbari and First Ones were preparing for an assault on the Shadows when the station that served as their rallying point was destroyed. All seemed lost, until a new station appeared out of nowhere and was offered to them by Valen himself. Sheridan sees the footage of it and is shocked. It was Babylon 4! Sinclair is similarly shocked, having been aboard the station years back when he was commander of B5 and it first appeared in their sector of space. He had been told then by Zathras that it was being taken to serve in a war, but did not imagine it was being taken into the past.
They also see that the Shadows tried to destroy it shortly after it was completed, but a ship arrived to protect it. That ship was none other than the White Star. Sheridan now understands what they must do: the Great Machine has opened a time portal so they can travel into the past, save B4, and then bring it into the past so it will help the Mimbari and First Ones win the last Shadow War. They set out, Delenn, Sheridan, Sinclair, Ivanova, Marcus and Zathras to the portal and enter it. Zathras equips them with devices that are meant to keep them "stuck in time" (i.e. immune to the effects of time travel).
On the other side, they dispatch the Shadow vessels which are attacking and board the station. However, Sheridan's temporal device is damaged and he becomes "unstuck in time". While the others prepare B4, Sheridan gets a glimpse of the future. He is on Centauri Prime, which has been devastated in the war, and where Londo is preparing to execute him and Delenn. However, Londo frees him at the last minute, showing him that he's been the victim of a Shadow device that controls him, and then asks a one-eyed G'Kar to kill him. However, the device awakens and Londo and G'Kar end up strangling each other. Vir enters shortly thereafter and dons the Emperor's necklace. He is now Emperor, all of which was foretold.
Sheridan becomes unstuck again, but not before Delenn implores him not to go to Z'ha'dum. He travels back into the past, where he sees Sinclair from years before, and Zathras gives him his time device. He then jumps back to the present and begins working with the others again to prep the station for travel. They carefully avoid running into Sinclair and Garibaldi from the past, retrieve Zathras, and prepare to leave. Sinclair volunteers to stay behind and guide the station back, but Marcus knows he's not planning on coming back. Sinclair reveals that it has been his destiny to do this, and once they leave him and the station jumps, Delenn explains…
She recounts how beginning a thousand years ago, Mimbari souls began to be born in human bodies, how Valen prophesied that their two races were bound, and how if the station had arrived in the past with a human on board, the Mimbari never would have accepted it. Marcus puts it all together, quoting the ancient saying of how Valen was "a Mimbari not born of Mimbari." We then cut to B4 where SInclair uses the same Chrysalis Delenn did to undergo a transformation that will make him half-Mimbari, half-human. He then turns up in the distant past and offers the station to the Mimbari, identifying himself as Valen.
This episode not only capped off the whole mystery of what happened to B4 and the whole temporal plot thing, it also explained, quite mind-blowingly, why the Mimbari and humans were connected, what happened at the Battle of the Line, and the whole mystique and prophecy that surrounded Sinclair and the Shadow War. In short, Sinclair was destined to take B4 back in time, ensure that the younger races and First Ones won the last Shadow War, so that this time around, they would have a fighting chance.
We also see why he was thought to have a Mimbari soul when he was captured by the Mimbari. The device that the Mimbari used to examine him, a relic given to them by Valen, was a device tuned to his DNA. Hence why it glowed in his presence, it was identifying it's owner! Delenn's transformation, which she did at the end of season one, was sort of a karmic pay-back then. She became half-human/half-Mimbari in order to complete the exchance of DNA/souls that was begun in the distant past by Sinclair. With the prophecy and temporal plot now complete, their alliance is now set to fight and win THIS Shadow War.
Memorable Lines:
Marcus: Captain, if I were you, I'd quit while I was ahead. Back on Minbar, there was a saying among the other Rangers: "The only way to get a straight answer out of Ranger One was to look at every reply in a mirror while hanging upside down from the ceiling."
Sheridan: Did it work?
Marcus: Oddly enough, yes. Or after a while you passed out and had a vision. Either way, the result was pretty much the same.
Sinclair: I've come along way to be here for this. I'd hate to just turn around and go back again. besides, I think we'd work well together. Like Butch and Sundance, Lewis and Clarke, Lucy and Ethel.
Sheridan:… Well, when I joined Earth Force, the sign said "greatest adventure of all". If they only knew! Okay, let's do it. (to Sinclair) Lucy and Ethel?
Sinclair: Zathras, this is very important. When you meet me again, it will be me, but it won't be me now. So you're not to say anything to me that might change the past. Do you understand?
Zathras: Zathras understand. No. Zathras not understand. But Zathras do! Zathras good at doings, not understandings. Zathras honored to meet you… for many reasons. Zathras also honored to meet you (to Sheridan) for other reasons.
Sheridan: Such as?
Zathras: Oh no. Draal give Zathras list of things not to say. This was one. No, not good. Not supposed to mention one, or "The One". Oh! Uh… you never heard that.
Sheridan: What else is on this list of things you're not supposed to mention?
Zathras: Zathras… does not remember. But if Zathras remember later, Zathras tells you.
Sinclair: I need Lennier to stay on the ship. Can you get the equipment up here by yourself?
Zathras: Yes, yes! Zathras is used to being beast of burden to other people's needs. Very sad life! Probably have very sad death, but at least there is symmetry!
Sheridan: Londo? What am I doing here?
Londo: Welcome back from the abyss, Sheridan. You're timing, as always, is quite exceptional… just in time to die!
Sinclair: All my life, I've had doubts about who I am, where I belonged. Now, I'm like the arrow that springs from the bow. No hesitation, no doubts. The path is clear.
Londo: What am I doing is something someone should have done a long time ago. Putting you out of my misery! A fitting punishment for your crimes.
Sheridan: What crimes? I –
Londo: The crime of neglect! The crime of convenience! During your little war you drove away the Shadows, oh yes! But you didn't think to clean up your mess. If a few of their minions, their dark servants, came to Centauri Prime… well, where is the harm in that, yes? Hmm? You want to see the harm? Do you?! (shows him to the window. Centauri Prime has been devastated) There is the legacy of your war!
Sinclair: ready?
Delenn: Why do your people always ask if someone is ready right before you are going to do something massively unwise?
Sinclair: Tradition!
Sheridan: But this couldn't happen, not in this amount of time! What year is this?
Londo: This is the last year, and the last day, and the last hour, of your life! Seventeen years since you began your great crusade, seventeen – (coughs) I am tired. Take him back to his cell. Sheridan… make your peace with whatever gods you worship. You will be meet next time I send for you. I cannot recall my world from what it has become, but I can thank you properly for your role in it.
Ivanova: You said move, how'd you know they were coming?
Marcus: Didn't. But right now would be the worst time to be discovered, so it was logical it would happen now. Like I said, I don't believe in luck. (Accidentally opens the panel they've been looking for) On the other hand…
Delenn: The war is never completely won. There are always new battles to be fought against the darkness. Only the names change. But we… we achieved everything we set out to achieve. We created something that will endure for a thousand years. But the price, John… the terrible, terrible price! I didn't think I'd see you before the end…
Londo: We all have our keepers, you see? I gave a very good performance… yes. It was satisfied. Doesn't care why I do what I do, as long as I do it… as long as you are dead. (shows the Shadow implant) It cannot hold its liquor, you see? I have learned that if I drink enough, I can put it to sleep for just a few minutes. A few minutes where… I am myself again. But the few minutes are growing shorter and shorter. So… we do not have much time. My life is almost over. My world, all I hope for, gone. You two are my last chance… for this place, for my people, for my own redemption… In exchange for your lives, all I ask is that you and your allies help to free my people. I can do nothing more for them. Go now, quickly. You do not have much time…
Sheridan: I'm being pulled back!
Delenn: Then take these words back with you to the past. Treasure the moments you have, savor them for as long as you can, for they will never come back again. John, listen to me. Do not go to Z'ha'dum, do you understand? Do not go to Z'ha'dum!
Ivanova: We're running out of time.
Zathras: Cannot run out of time. There is infinite time. You are finite, Zathras is finite. This is wrong tool. No, not good. Never use this.
Marcus: You always said half a truth was worse than a life. You've kept us going so fast we haven't had time to think. This system isn't fully automatic is it? Someone has to ride this thing into the distant past, and it's a one way ticket. Whoever goes isn't coming back…
Sheridan: Is this true? (Sinclair nods)
Marcus: Fine, I'll take her out.
Sinclair: Marcus, I'll take it back because I've always taken it, and I always will. It's already happened.
Ivanova: You don't know that!
Sinclair: Yes I do. You asked what brought me here. Before I left Mimbar, I was given a letter from nine hundred years ago. (gives Sheridan the letter)
Sheridan: Who's handwriting is this?
Sinclair: Mine. I wrote this from the past. From nine hundred years ago, it's as simple as that… My whole life has been leading to this.
Zathras: All Mimbari belief is around three… All is three! As you are three… as you are One. As you are The One. You are The One who was. You are The One who is. And you are The One who will be. You are the beginning of the story, and the middle of the story, and the end of the story, that creates the next great story! In your hearts, you know what Zathras says is true. Go now! Zathras' place is with the One who was. We have… a destiny!
Delenn: That door is closed forever, but it is not the only one. Lennier told you that a thousand years ago, Mimbari and human souls began to merge. Mimbari souls were being born in human bodes. Something happened that opened that door between us. My change was in part to even the scales and restore balance between our races using the device my people discovered a thousand years ago. You see… if my people had found Babylon 4 with a human aboard, they would have never accepted it.
Marcus: Dear God! A Mimbari not born of Mimbari!
Sinclair/Valen: I welcome you and present this place to you as a gift. I am called Valen, and we have much work ahead of us…
8. Walkabout:
Doctor Franklin continues his walkabout, and explains how he's "looking for his other half" which he lost awhile back. A replacement Vorlon arrives on the station, identifying himself as Kosh ("we are all Kosh," he explains). He is incensed over Kosh's death and blamed Lyta, and demands to know if any part of him survived. She hears Kosh's voice when talking to Sheridan and believes that he might be carrying a part of him after all.
G'Kar gets a visit from the Captain of the G'Tok, the Narn warship that Sheridan gave sanctuary to in season two's Fall of Night. He tells G'Kar that several Narn ships survived the war due to the Centauri's haste to get to their homeworld. They are marshalling now and waiting for an opportunity to strike back. G'Kar tells them they need to focus on keeping the station safe for the time being, and that B5 is of great significance.
Sheridan and his war council plan to field-test telepaths against a Shadow vessel, which they learned in a previous episode are vulnerable to telepathic jamming.The G'Tok is initially planned to provide escort, but G'Kar is told by its Captain that they must preserve their ships until the time comes to liberate the Narn homeworld. He agrees, but is confronted by Garibaldi who reminds him that the entire point of their alliance is that they are supposed to be looking out for each other, not themselves.
Sheridan takes Lyta and a White Star and heads into a zone of engagement where they come face to face with a ship. Lyta is initially overwhelmed, but when Sheridan touches her, she gets a vision of how Kosh died. Enraged, she managed to jam the Shadow vessel and they destroy it. However, they are forced to drain their jump engines to get enough power to kill it with their guns. More ships arrive, and Lyta is too drained to fight them. Things look dire, but G'Kar arrives with the G'Tok and several other League ships and force the Shadows to run. For the first time ever, the Shadows have been forced to retreat!
They return to the station victorious, and Lyta confides in the new Kosh that "someone" might have a piece of Kosh in them. The Vorlon is understandably intrigued…
Sheridan and his alliance see for the first time that Shadow vessels can be beaten using telepaths. This will prove of great value to them in the coming war. This episode is also the first time that we see that a part of Kosh is living inside Sheridan, which may very well save his life when the time comes. The reintroduction of the G'Tok and the revelation that Narn ships survived the war will also prove important to the fledgling alliance, as is G'Kar decision to commit them to the Shadow War rather than focusing on striking back against the Centauri. It also introduces the new Vorlon, who we are shown is not at all like the original Kosh. In addition to his appearance, his demeanor seems much harsher and more strict, traits which will become clear as time goes on.
Londo: A Narn heavy cruiser? This is intolerable! By treaty, all Narn warships are to be turned over to Centauri forces!
Garibaldi: Yeah, well we didn't sign that treaty. You got a problem, call Earth. If they didn't forced us to break away, we wouldn't need a mutual protection agreement. That means we take every ship we can get!
Londo: And what guarantee will you give me that the cruiser will not open fire on a Centauri vessel as it approaches Babylon 5, hmm?
Garibaldi: It's the same guarantee I gave when I promised that none of the other Narns would break into your quarters in the middle of the night, and slit your throat.
Londo: Mr. Garibaldi, you have never given me that promise.
Garibaldi: You're right… sleep tight!
Na'Kal: Breen! You've managed to import breen from Homeworld! How?
G'Kar: It, uh…isn't actually breen.
Na'Kal: But… the smell, the taste—!
G'Kar: It's an Earth food. They are called Swedish meatballs. It's a strange thing, but every sentient race has its own version of these Swedish meatballs! I suspect it's one of those great universal mysteries which will either never be explained, or which would drive you mad if you ever learned the truth.
Sheridan: Uh, before you go. Your government neglected to tell me your name. How should I refer to you when we're alone?
Vorlon: Kosh.
Sheridan: Ah, yes, I understand that's how we're to refer to you publicly but… privately?
Ivanova: Ambassador Kosh is dead.
Vorlon: We are all Kosh.
Sheridan: He's a Vorlon alright.
Ivanova: Yep!
Garibaldi: What the hell are you doing?
Franklin: Well, it's a long story.
Garibaldi: Why is everything's around here a long story? Why isn't anything ever a short story, a paragraph? Look, just give me the short version, okay?
Franklin: Alright… Walkabout.
Garibaldi: That's it?
Franklin: Well it's either that or the long version so you take your pick.
Garibaldi: Stephen… you don't really believe there are two of you, do you?
Franklin: No, it's a metaphor! All right, there isn't literally another me walking around the station. But the principle is real! I realized I didn't have any idea who I was when I wasn't being a doctor, and I think I was using the stims to avoid facing that. Now I gotta fix it.
Garibaldi: How?
Franklin: By going walkabout. You just leave everything, and you start walking. I mean, the Foundation adopted the idea from the Aborigines back on Earth. The theory is, if you're separated from yourself, you start walking and you keep walking until you meet yourself. Then you sit down, and you have a long talk. Talk about everything that you've learned, everything that you've felt, and you talk until you've run out of words. Now, that's vital, because the real important things can't be said. And then, if you're lucky, you look up, and there's just you. Then you can go home.
Garibaldi: You know how crazy this sounds? You're a doctor… a scientist?
Franklin: And?
Garibaldi: And what?
Franklin: Exactly!
Sheridan: As you know, Mr. Garibaldi recently uncovered information which seems to indicate the Shadows have a weakness. Now there ships are based on organic technology that may be vulnerable to telepathic interference. In theory, a telepath might be able to jam their central operating system leaving them vulnerable to attack.
G'Kar: I noticed a number of conditional phrases in that. "Seems to indicate a weakness", "maybe", "in theory"…
9. And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place:
Lord Refa and a high-ranking minister of the Centauri royal court arrive on the station with the intention of ending the rivalry between him and Londo. However, it quickly becomes clear that they both intend to dispose of the other. Londo tells Vir of his plan, to lure G'Kar to a trap on the Narn homeworld by getting Vir to tell him that his former aide – N'Toth – is being held there. He will then capture him and present him to the Emperor as a gift, and thus win favor over Refa. Vir doesn't want to but is forced when Londo threatens his family. Vir complies and delivers the message to G'Kar.
Vir is kidnapped and telepathically scanned, and Refa plans to intercept G'Kar for himself. G'Kar appears to take the bait and travels to Narn where he sees the devastation from the war. When Refa's forces arrive to kidnap him, he is shocked to see that G'Kar and Refa are actually working together. G'Kar activates a hologram recording where Londo tells him everything. It turns out the plan he told Vir was a ruse to lure Refa to Narn where G'Kar's Narns would then kill him in revenge for all he did to them. Londo in turn gets his revenge against Refa for his suspected role in poisoning Adira. Before they beat him to death, G'Kar puts a data crystal on Refa's person that implicates him in helping the Narn resistance, as a way of "playing both sides" so that he could maneuver his way to the throne.
Sheridan is going over the Shadow's war plan, hoping to divine their strategy. The attacks seem random, but their tactics in the field appear very logical. It doesn't make sense, until Sheridan looks at the overall pattern and sees that their true aim is to drive refugees to one sector of space, where they can then attack and eliminate them all. They now know where the Shadows will attack next, and plan to make a stand there.
B5 gets a new flock of visitors, a group of religious leaders who are personal friends and colleagues to Brother Theo, the Catholic monk who came aboard the station awhile back. They begin holding services to counter all the fear and uncertainty that has been pervasive since Clark took over back home. After days of being stuck reviewing the Shadow's battle plans, Delenn drags Sheridan to a service, thinking it will do him some good. They take part in a rousing version of "And the rock cried out, no hiding place" as Refa is beaten to a bloody pulp by G'Kar's Narns!
Sheridan is able to crack the Shadow's strategy, thus putting him and their alliance in the perfect position to mount a counter-attack. We know then that a major battle is about to take place, and soon! Londo finally rids himself of Refa, and does so by cooperating with G'Kar. G'Kar, in turn, gets his first glimpse of the Narn homeworld after its devastation in the war. He will return later, and his many actions will lead him to be viewed as a religious icon by his people.
Reverend William Dexter: Are you starting in already, Theo? I tell you, in fifty years of living and forty years of serving the Lord, I have never met a sorrier soul than Brother Theo here!
Susan Ivanova: Well, I wouldn't say…
Brother Theo: Thank you! But I'd prefer to leave judgments as to the state of my soul to someone better qualified, and perhaps a bit less loud!
Rev. Dexter: But it says in the Bible to make a joyful noise unto the Lord!
Brother Theo: [grinning] I've heard you sing, Will. And take my word for it, that is not what the Good Lord had in mind when He said, "a joyful noise"!
Delenn: Ivanova sent me to find you. She said you haven't been sleeping, you have hardly been eating; she said that you have been, in her words, "carrying on cranky." I looked up the word "cranky." It said "grouchy." I looked up "grouchy," it said "crotchety." No wonder you have such an eccentric culture: none of your words have their own meaning! You have to look up one word to understand another. It never ends.
Sheridan: [not paying attention] Something here doesn't make sense.
Delenn: That is what I thought when I came across "crotchety." This cannot be a real word, I said.
Sheridan: The Shadows keep attacking random targets! Very illogical! On the other hand, once engaged, their tactics are very successful! Very logical! It's–it's a contradiction!
Delenn: Unless the random attacks are logical in some way we haven't yet determined.
Sheridan: Exactly.
Delenn: So you have been sitting here trying to think illogically about logical possibilities, or logically about illogical possibilities.
Sheridan: Hm? Yes, yes.
Delenn: Well, no wonder you are cranky! [he looks at her in confusion, oblivious to everything she's just said] Grouchy? Never mind. Your face just broke the language barrier.
Rev. Dexter: Every day, here and at home, we are warned about the enemy. But who is the enemy? Is it the alien? Well, we are all alien to one another. Is it the one who believes differently than we do? No, oh no, my friends. The enemy is fear. The enemy is ignorance. The enemy is the one who tells you that you must hate that which is different. Because, in the end, that hate will turn on you. And that same hate will destroy you.
10. Shadow Dancing:
Having discovered where the Shadows will attack next, Sheridan and Delenn begin rallying the League worlds to send as many ships as they can to Sector 83 to participate in a counter-attack. They are reluctant, since it will mean lessening their defenses around their own worlds; but in time, they agree to send what they can. Ivanova and Marcus are sent ahead to scout out the area, and while they are gone, Marcus begins to show clear signs that he loves her.
A Shadow scout ship arrives shortly thereafter and spots them. They engage it an are damaged, but manage to keep it from sending a distress signal. The main fleet jumps in as schedules, and Sheridan commits his forces. The fight is difficult, but once again, the Shadows are stopped and forced to retreat. Though their losses are roughly 2 to 1, this is the first time a full-scale attack has been beaten back, and they know the Shadows will not be too happy about it.
Speaking back in Sheridan's office, he, Ivanova and Delenn begin to understand what the dream Sheridan experienced when he was aboard the Strieb ship means. In essence, he learns that he saw of several things to come, like Ivanova being a latent telepath, that they would be working with Bester, and lastly, that his "equal but opposite" would be looking for him. This last bit he doesn't understand, but he knows that the Shadows are likely to try and hit B5 next. So far, they've left it alone for various reasons, but now that they've hurt them, it's only a matter of time before they come knocking…
Franklin is still on walkabout, and gets stabbed when he tries to intervene in an assault. While bleeding out on the floor, he finds his "other self" that tells him his problem is that he keeps running away from his problems. After realizing he wants his old life back, his other self tells him to get up and fight for it. He narrowly makes it back to the station's main area where people find him and take him to medlab. He wakes up and talks to Garibaldi, telling him he found what he needed, which was a "short, sharp kick to the head." He is there when the wounded begin to arrive and takes over medlab, telling Sheridan he wants to come back.
Having been beaten, the Shadows send a ship to B5 with a single passenger. They board the station, pass through security and head for John's quarters without incident. Back in his quarters, Delenn and Sheridan spend the night together. She watches him sleep, which is apparently a Mimbari custom, and leaves the bedroom just in time to see Anna Sheridan – John's wife, who he they all thought was dead – as she walks in the door.
The alliance has come together for the first time to repulse the Shadows, which is a major victory for them. However, they know that this has made them vulnerable aboard B5, since the Shadows know that it has become a rallying point for the younger races. Their reaction, apparently, was to send in Anna Sheridan, who was long thought to have perished at Z'ha'dum. Instead, it seems that she is alive and working with them, much like Morden.
In addition, we get to see what Sheridan's dream aboard the Strieb ship really meant. The "man in between", his "equal but opposite" (i.e. his wife) who has been looking for him, has apparently found him! Also, the scene where Anna Sheridan walks in and Delenn drops a snow globe onto the floor was foreshadowed in War Without End. After experiencing it, Delenn says she just felt like someone "walked over her grave". She now understands what it meant.
Delenn: We have before us an opportunity to strike at our mutual enemy, the Shadows. If our information is correct, this could be the biggest engagement of the war to date. We do not know how many of their ships will be there, so our only chance is to have as many as possible on our side. We need all of you to cooperate.
Drazi Ambassador: If you wish cooperation, why don't you tell us what the mission is?
Lennier: If we discuss this openly, there is every chance the enemy will learn of our plans. You must trust us.
Brakiri Ambassador: How can we trust you if you will not trust us?
Delenn: Because so far, we have kept every promise we have made. We told you that telepaths could slow the advance of the Shadows. We supplied you with telepaths if you did not have your own. We have saved the lives of many of your people. If we have not earned your trust by now, then please go. Nothing more will be required of you…
Susan Ivanova: That's a lot of ships.
Marcus Cole: That's a bloody awful lot of ships.
Ivanova: Jump engines back on line yet?
Marcus: No. If I signal the fleet, this lot might pick it up. If they do and we can't get away…
Ivanova: Well…who wants to live forever?
Marcus: I do, actually! But what the hell…
Ivanova: Captain… you okay?
Sheridan: I'm not sure… Ever since Kosh died, I've been remembering a dream. Last year, when I was hurt, he got inside my head. He spoke to me, sent me this images. One of them was you saying "do you know who I am?" A week later, you tell me you're a latent telepath, said sometimes you don't know who you are… At one point, I was wearing the uniform of a Psi Cop.
Ivanova: Well, we're working with Bester now and that was unexpected… so that tracks. Anything else?
Sheridan: He sent me the image of Garibaldi saying ("the man in between in searching for you")
Ivanova: "The man in between"… he might have meant Sinclair.
Sheridan: Maybe, but I don't think so. Somehow it doesn't feel right. The last thing was you dressed all in black, as if for a funeral… you said ("you are the hand")
Ivanova: "You are the hand"? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Why would I say anything as dopey sounding as that?
Sheridan: I don't know, but if Kosh sent it, it must have meant something.
Delenn: Odd that he would use that image though…
Sheridan: Why?
Delenn: Well, you have two hands do, you not? Each equal and opposite?
Ivanova: So you're saying that the man in between is your equal and opposite?
Sheridan: (remembers seeing an image of himself in the dream) Maybe.
Ivanova: Well, if that's what it is then the man in between knows who you are and now that we've kicked him hard and where it hurts…
Sheridan: Assuming it means anything. Signs, portents, dreams… next thing we'll be reading tea leaves and chicken entrails. All we do know is that we are vulnerable now… We should expect something to be coming our way sooner or later. The way our luck works, probably be sooner!
Franklin: I can't go back, but I can appreciate what I have right now, and I can define myself by what I am, instead of what I'm not.
Sheridan: And what are you?
Franklin: Alive. Everything else is negotiable.
Anna Sheridan: Hello. You must be Delenn. I'm Anna Sheridan. John's wife.
11. Z'ha'dum:
Sheridan's wife, Anna, has come to the station to meet with him. She explains that her ship which was working for IPX had been sent to Z'ha'dum to investigate the remains of a lost civilization. She confirms what the knew about a Shadow vessel being discovered on Mars, which once activated, flew off to the rim of known space. However, IPX had placed a probe aboard and learned the signal stopped there. Though the mission was deemed one of exploration, their real purpose was to track the ship back to its base.
When they got there, they found the Shadows (though that name is apparently a misnomer) and began to learn from them. After an accident, the crew became stranded and remained behind of their own accord to keep learning. She tells Sheridan that they have so much to offer the human race, if they would just be welcomed. All they want if for Sheridan to come to Z'ha'dum to hear their side of the story…
At about the same time, G'Kar shows Ivanova a series of tactical nukes that they have obtained from the Gaim. They plan to use these in their next encounter with the Shadows, using them to mine an area and then detonating them when they approach. The fact that they are difficult to detect is one of their advantages.
Naturally, Sheridan is both confused and enraged by all that is happening. He tells Delenn that he was only able to begin rebuilding a life with her because she and Kosh gave him every reason to believe that Anna was dead. Delenn confesses that there was always some chance she'd be alive, that she's choose to serve rather than die, but she held it back for fear John would run off to try and save her. Meanwhile, Franklin puts Anna through a battery of tests to confirm that she is truly Sheridan's wife and not a clone or duplicate of some kind.
Though all the tests prove that she is indeed Sheridan's wife, Franklin finds one anomaly with her. Months back, when they retrieved a shipment of telepaths bound for Z'ha'dum, they noticed that they all carried implants in their brains and corresponding devices on the outside of their heads. Marks on the back of Anna's head are consistent with these. John agrees to go with Anna to Z'ha'dum and sees an image of Kosh before he leaves, repeating his warning that if Sheridan goes there, he will die.
Vir finds Londo drinking on the Zocola. He says he's recieved some "bad news" from back home, that he is to be the Emperor's adviser for maters of planetary security. He suspects this promotion is just so they can keep an eye on him. They are interrupted by a "friend" of Morden's who tells Londo that he must leave the station… immediately. Delenn meanwhile finds a time-delayed recording left by Sheridan explaining to her that he's going to Z'ha'dum even though he knows its a trap. His reasons have more to do with what he saw of the future when they on B4 than anything else. He saw that they had won, that the price had been immense, and that Delenn told him not to go to Z'ha'dum. He thinks perhaps the devastation he saw was the result of him not going. He believes he can accomplish something by going, and that he must put that above his own desires.
When Anna and Sheridan arrive at Z'ha'dum, they are met by Morden and a new man who says his name is Justin. He tells Sheridan that a million years back, the First Ones walked amongst the galaxy. In time, most went away or died out, but two stayed behind as shepherds to the younger races. One are the Shadows, the other the Vorlons. Initially, they worked together, but at a certain point, they're differences in ideology led them into conflict. The Vorlons believe that development comes through order, whereas the Shadows believe in promoting through chaos. This is why they periodically return to the known universe and promote conflict. Those that are weaker are destroyed, but those that survive are made stronger. Sheridan is told that humanity has been selected as one such race because the Shadows "see potential" in them.
The only obstacle to their plans right now is Sheridan's alliance. Sheridan asks why they simply haven't killed him then, to which they reply that if they did, he'd be martyred and someone would replace him. Instead, they want him to join their side, since he can't hope to keep the younger races together anyhow. Sheridan interrupts them to reveal that he knows what they've done to his wife, how they altered her by putting a Shadow implant in her mind and effectively killed the woman he knew. Realizing the jig is up and that he won't cooperate, they threaten him and a Shadow enters to take him away. Sheridan retrieves his hidden PPG and begins shooting his way out.
Back at B5, Shadow vessels surround the station and threaten to destroy it. They begin deploying fighters and Ivanova inquires as to the status of their nukes. G'Kar reports that two are missing. Sheridan is then cornered on a balcony overlookign Z'ha'dum after escaping from Justin and Morden. Anna confronts him and tells him there's no escape and that though she is not his wife, she can still make him happy. Sheridan decides to program the White Star to crash into the city and detonate its payload. Before it crashes through the city's dome, he hears Kosh's voice telling him to jump into the chasm below. He does, the nukes go off, and the Shadows leave B5.
Everyone suspects they have left because they don't think B5 is a threat anymore, which can only Sheridan has died. In addition, they notice that one of their Star Furies, which was being piloted by Garibaldi, did not return. Delenn and Ivanova are devastated, and the season ends with G'Kar narrating a section from the book of G'Quan that talks about suffering, transition and change.
In this season finale, Sheridan finally fulfills his promise and goes to Z'ha'dum to confront the Shadows. As Kosh predicted, he apparently dies there as well. However, he also learns a great deal from the encounter, things the Vorlons have been holding back. Up until now, he and the others have been under the impression that Vorlons and other First Ones have always stood against the Shadows. Now we come to understand that they used to be allies who followed rules of engagement, but who have since become enemies competing over who's influence is dominant. The entire nature of the war will change because of this.
With the introduction of the tactical nukes, we also get to see what their plan is for the next big battle, which will take place during the next season. Sheridan's use of them on Z'ha'dum will also alter the Shadows own tactics, forcing them to move much of their forces off the planet. It will also change the Vorlons tactics too. All of this will be of extreme importance as the war continues in season four…
Delenn: Humans have a phrase: "What is past, is prologue." Minbari also have a phrase: "What is past, is also sometimes the future."
Ivanova: So the next time we find out where the Shadows plan to strike, we can mine the area. And as soon as they come out of hyperspace—
G'Kar: Then, as you so concisely say, "Boom!"
Sheridan: So… why not just kill me?
Justin: Doesn't work, somebody'd just come around and replace you. That's always been the trouble with creating martyrs. We brought you here, hoping you would understand us… work with us, not against us. You're important. You're what they call a nexus. You turn one way, and the whole world has a tendency to turn the same way. Let go of those other races. You can't hold them together.
Justin: Work with us or…
Sheridan: Or you'll do to me what you did to Anna! …Oh the memories are there, the voice is there, the DNA is there. But the personality… I look in her eyes and the woman I love, the woman I married… She would never go along with this!
G'Kar: It was the end of the Earth year 2260, and the war had paused, suddenly and unexpectedly. All around us, it was as if the universe were holding its breath… waiting. All of life can be broken down into moments of transition, or moments…of revelation. This had the feeling of both… G'Quan wrote, "There is a greater darkness than the one we fight. It is the darkness of the soul that has lost its way. The war we fight is not against powers and principalities, it is against chaos and despair. Greater than the death of flesh is the death of hope. The death of dreams. Against this peril we can never surrender." The future is all around us, waiting in moments of transition, to be born in moments of revelation. No one knows the shape of that future, or where it will take us. We know only that it is always born…in pain.
By storiesbywilliamsin Reviews January 9, 2012 January 11, 2012 7,127 WordsLeave a comment
B5 Best Episodes
After going over B5's five seasons, the best lines from the series, and just about everything in between, I found myself thinking about what the best episodes in the series were. To be fair, there were quite a few, and I couldn't possibly fit them all into a single posting. So I figure I'll list my favorite episodes season for season, over the next few days, breaking of course to respect the holidays! No work on Christmas!
So enjoy the following personal selections of the best episodes of B5, at least the ones I thought were the best. And Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to all! Enjoy the time off, see the family, get some good swag! And if there's time, try to get out and enjoy the weather! It doesn't snow much here, but I plan to get to some slopes soon and take in as much as I can.
And so it begins… Here are the best episodes, at least in my humble opinion, from the first season of Babylon 5:
Soul Hunter:
A mysterious alien craft drifts to B5, its lone crewman brought to medbay. When Delenn sees him, she panics and tries to kill him. Apparently, the alien is a Soul Hunter, a race of people who believe the soul dies with the body. They are thusly dedicated to preserving the soul of the individual by artificial means. In the course of the episode, it is revealed that this particular hunter was there when Dukhat died, and missed his opportunity to harvest his soul. Now he is driven, to the point of killing people, so that he won't miss another. The Soul Hunter tries to kill Delenn and capture her soul, and Sinclair risks his life to save hers. Another Soul Hunter comes to the station to claim the first hunters soul, and reflects with Sinclair on how it is their lot to be feared.
In the course of harvesting Delenn's soul, the Soul Hunter sees into her mind and learns what she and the Grey Council intend for Sinclair. When he and Sinclair get into a fight, he reveals it to him by saying: "She is Satai! They are using you! They're USING YOU!" Sinclair learns that Satai refers to a member of the Grey Council, that Delenn is one such person. He is further intrigued when a semi-conscious Delenn looks up at him and says "I knew you would come. We were right about you…"
Memorable Quotes:
Franklin: It's all so brief, isn't it? Typical human lifespan is almost a hundred years, but it's barely a second compared to what's out there. It wouldn't be so bad if life didn't take so long to figure out. Seems you just start to get it right and then…it's over.
Ivanova: Doesn't matter. If we lived 200 years we'd still be human, we'd still make the same mistakes.
Franklin: You're a pessimist.
Ivanova: I'm Russian, doctor. We understand these things.
The Parliament of Dreams:
It is a week of religious and cultural festivals on the station, each member race holding a ceremony that celebrates the dominant faith on their world. For the Centauri, this involves a lavish ceremony that commemorates the war between the Centauri and the Xon, two sentient races that once inhabited their homeworld. For the Centauri, it involves prayers and a rebirth ceremony. G'Kar's own involvement is tempered however by news from home from an old rival that he is dying, and that he has paid an assassin to kill G'Kar as well. Meanwhile, Sinclair meets his old girlfriend, Catherine, and they rekindle their old romance.
This episode introduces a number of important characters and plot elements that will come up again later. For one, the Mimbari rebirth ceremony will figure prominently in season three when B5 breaks away from Earth. Lennier and Na'Toth, the aides to Delenn and G'Kar, are also introduced for the first time.
Without a doubt, Londo stole the show this time around. The best lines are almost totally his. However, G'Kar got some good ones in as well.
Narn Courier: Are you Ambassador G'Kar?
G'Kar: This is Ambassador G'Kar's quarters. This is Ambassador G'Kar's table! This is Ambassador G'Kar's dinner! Which part of this progression escapes you?!
Londo: Do you know what the last Xon said just before he died? [clutches chest] AAAAGGGHHHH!
G'Kar: The Earthers have a phrase: Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. I believe they stole it from us.
Londo: (to Delenn) Have I ever told you that you are very cute for a Minbari? (to Garibaldi) Oh! And you are cute, too, in an annoying sort of way. Everybody's cute. Everybody's cute! Even me. But in purple, I'm stunning! (Passes out.)
Vir Cotto: Ah! He has become one with his inner self!
Garibaldi: He's passed out.
Vir: That too.
Mind War
An old flame of Talia Winters, Jason Ironheart, arrives on the station. It seems that after some rather interesting experiments, he has changed drastically, his psionic powers having been greatly enhanced. The Psi Corps are naturally after him, and a confrontation ensues on the station during which time Ironheart undergoes a transformation and becomes a being of pure energy. At the same time, Sinclair's girlfried Sakai undertakes a mission to Sigma 957 for Interplanetary Expeditions to investigate mysterious sightings. After ignoring G'Kars warnings that the planet is not safe, she has a near-brush with death when a massive First Ones ship appears. She is narrowly rescued by forces dispatched by G'Kar, and is given some cryptic words by him as to what she encountered upon her return.
This episode introduces a good deal about the Psi Corps and its hidden agenda. We also learn for the first time that there are beings in the B5 universe that are billions of years old and are still out there. The First Ones play a major role in later episodes when the Shadow War begins, particularly the ones from Sigma 957.
G'Kar: Let me pass on to you the one thing I've learned about this place. No one here is exactly what he appears.
Talia: Do you know what it's like when telepaths make love, Commander? You drop every defense, and it's all mirrors: reflecting each other's feelings deeper and deeper… until, somewhere along the line, your souls mix. And it's a feeling so profound it makes you hurt. It's the only moment in a telepath's life when you no longer hear the voices.
G'Kar: (referring to an ant on a flower) I have just picked it up on the tip of my glove. If I put it down again and it asks another ant, "What was that?" …how would it explain? There are things in the universe billions of years older than either of our races. They are vast, timeless. And if they are aware of us at all, it is as little more than ants…and we have as much chance of communicating with them as an ant has with us. We know. We've tried. And we've learned we can either stay out from underfoot, or be stepped on.
And the Sky Full of Stars:
Two mysterious agents come to Babylon 5, named only "Knight One" and "Knight Two", who are seeking Jeffrey Sinclair. After capturing him, they place him into a state of deep hypnosis and begin questioning him about the Battle of the Line and the missing 24 hours in his head. The battle is described as a massacre, how the entire force defending Earth was being decimated, but how in the midst of it all, the Mimbari surrendered for reasons unknown. The "Knights" suspect that it had something to do with Sinclair and how he was brought aboard a Mimbari cruiser since it coincided with the Mimbari's declaration of surrender.
After being heavily dosed with drugs and asked what happened, Sinclair begins to remember what happened. He recalls how he was brought aboard the Mimbari Cruiser after being shot down, how they examined him with a mysterious device that glowed in his presence, and that he saw Delenn there. Garibaldi attempts a rescue, but Sinclair manages to escape on his own and wanders the station in a semi-conscious state. After nearly killing several personnel, who he sees as Mimbari, Delenn confronts him and convinces him to put his gun down. Sinclair wakes up in medlab sometime later, healthy and restored, and tells Delenn he remembers nothing (which is a lie). He decides to redouble his efforts to find out what really happened when he was aboard the Mimbari cruiser, and Delenn is given orders to kill him if he does remember something.
This episode is the first time that Sinclair begins to truly realize what happened to him at the Line. It is clear that from this point onward, Sinclair will risk everything to discover the truth, and that Delenn will be forced to either kill him or reveal everything. It is also shown that there is a secret conspiracy on Earth to eliminate all alien influence that goes beyond the Home Guard, who were revealed in a previous episode.
Sinclair: Everyone lies, Michael. The innocent lie because they don't want to be blamed for something they didn't do, and the guilty lie because they don't have any other choice.
Signs and Portents
Raider activity is increasing in the sector, and Sinclair and his forces are on the watchout for their ringleader. Meanwhile, some new visitors come to Babylon 5. The first is a Centauri Lord named Kiro and his mother – Lady Ladira, a Centauri prophetess – who sees the station's destruction in a vision. His is apparently on B5 to delivering The Eye, a royal Centauri artifact, to Londo, who is then to return it to the royal court on Centauri Prime. In the midst of this, he admits to Londo that he longs for the old days when their people were still the dominant power in the region. Londo shares the same feelings, but feels helpless to do anything about it.
At the same time, a stranger named Mr. Morden comes to the station and is meeting with every ambassador and asking them one simple question "What do you want?" Delenn dismisses him without explanation after seeing a dark shadow cast over him, G'Kar tells him he wants revenge on the Centauri, and Londo says he wants a return to the old days when his people controlled the stars. Only Londo's answer appears to satisfy him and he prepares to leave, but not before a Raider party mounts an attack on the station. Kiro is kidnapped, the Raiders are dispatched, and Morden is confronted by Kosh and told to leave. Aboard the Raider ship, it is revealed that Kiro hired the Raiders to steal the Eye and stage his kidnapping so he would have the Eye for himself. They are about to betray him when a Shadow vessel appears and blows the ship up.
Back at the station, the Eye is returned to Londo and his reputation saved. He is overjoyed and told by Morden they will come to find him again soon. Meanwhile, Ladira, who predicted her son would be killed by "shadows" shows Sinclair her vision of the station's destruction. She leaves, and things carry on.
This episode introduces Morden and gives viewers their girst glimpse of the Shadows. We also get the first hints that the Shadows will be helping Londo and his feeding his ambitions for power. In exchange for what, we don't know, but it seems clear that the Shadows intentions are not benign.
Lord Kiro: She's been wrong before. On my first birthday, she said that someday I would be killed by… shadows.
Morden: What do you want?
Londo: To be left alone!
Morden: Is that it? Is that really all, Ambassador?
Londo: All right. Fine! You really want to know what I want? You really want to know the truth? I want my people to reclaim their rightful place in the galaxy. I want to see the Centauri stretch forth their hand again, and command the stars! I-I want a rebirth of glory, a renaissance of power. I want to stop running through my life like a man late for an appointment, afraid to– to look back, or to look forward. I want us to be what we used to BE! I want… I want it all back, the way that it was! Does that answer your question?
Morden: Yes. Yes, it does.
A Voice in the Wilderness (Parts I and II)
Draal, an old mentor of Delenn's, arrives on the station to see her. Her confides in her that the Grey Council is not what it used to be, and that the Council seems uninterested in the suffering or concerns of others. Meanwhile, a riot on Mars puts everyone on the station on high alert, especially Sinclair and Garibaldi who have strong ties there. Garibaldi enlists the help of Talia Winters in order to get a signal to Mars so he can speak to his ex-wife who was wounded in the riots. She is remarried, and Garibaldi is heart-broken to learn this.
But the big news comes from the planet them, Epsilon III. Draal, Londo, Delenn, and Sinclair are all contacted by a vision of a strange alien who appears before them and warns them of impending destruction. After a few attempts to land on the planet, Sinclair, Londo, Draal and Delenn find that only they are able to approach the planet safely. When they arrive, they find a subterranean facility filled with super-advanced machinery. At the core of it is the alien they saw in their visions, and he appears to be dying. After bringing him back to medlab, he further warns them of their destruction.
At the same time, an Earth Alliance Cruiser shows up with orders to assume control of the surface. Sinclair refuses to give it, and says that control over the sector belongs to B5's commander (aka. him!). Another ship arrives shortly thereafter, one that appears to be run by members of the same species as the alien that was running the great machine. He tells Sinclair that these people are a faction that split from their world a long time ago and are very dangerous. B5 and a Earth Force Cruiser are told to stand aside by the hostile aliens so that they may land and assume control over the planet, but Sinclair and the ship's Captain decide to fight it out.
Ultimately, Draal decides to merge with the machine and destroys the alien vessel. He then warns all parties aboard the station that the great machine will remain a secret until the time is right, and no one will be allowed access.
This episode introduces the great machine on Omicron 7 and previews the important role it will play in the coming seasons. We also get to see Lise Hampton, Garibaldi's ex-wife, who will play a significant role in later episodes. The Mars revolution is also shown to be well underway, which will figure prominently when Clark takes control of Earth and Sheridan and his forces fight to overthrow him. Finally, we are told that Londo, Draal, Delenn and Sinclair all share a common characteristic: the capacity for self-sacrifice, thus previewing what will come of them as the show goes on.
Londo: The next day, I woke up, I saw her in the light of day, sleeping against my arm, and I decided I would rather chew off my arm than wake her up.
Garibaldi: Aw, that's sweet.
Londo: No, no! She had a voice that could curdle fresh milk.
Ivanova: Worst case of testosterone poisoning I've ever seen!
Londo: Here, 6000 years of recorded history, a history that includes remarkable composers, astonishing symphonies, but what is the one song that half of them sing to their children generation after generation? (Sings the hokey-pokey) It doesn't mean anything. I have been studying it for seven days, I had the computer analyse it. I swear to you it does not mean a thing!
Draal: I am sending this message to all free parties involved in the struggle for control of this planet. It belongs to none of you. It belongs only to itself and to the future… If enlightened self-interest should prove insufficient for the cause, understand this! The defensive systems on this world are now fully operational. Do not attempt to come here again. Any approach will be met with resistance, any ship attempting to land will be destroyed. When the time is right we will be here, waiting for you, but not until then. Goodbye…
Babylon Squared:
The episode opens with Sinclair ordering their Starfury squadrons to investigate a neighboring sector after they detect some unusual tachyon readings coming from the area. Further investigation reveals that a station has appeared in the area, the elusive Babylon 4 which disappeared years ago without a trace! Sinclair and Garibaldi mount a rescue mission to evacuate all the personnel.
Meanwhile, Delenn returns to Mimbar to speak to the Grey Council. Apparently, she has been selected to be the next leader after Dukhat, but indicates that she cannot take up the role because her mission to B5 takes precedence, mainly because of the prophecy that involves her and the station. By the end, she is given the Council's leave to return to B5 and resume her mission, and also is entrusted with a device known as a "Triluminary".
After landing on the station, Garibaldi and Sinclair meet the commander who tells them that the station is "unstuck in time". One minute, it was about to go online in the past, the next, it found itself several years in the future. While on board, Sinclair begins having visions, apparently from the future when B5 is attacked and destroyed. They also find a strange alien on board named Zathras who explains to them that the station is needed for a war in another time. He also reacts strangely when he sees Sinclair, who he temporarily mistakes for "The One".
Eventually, the station becomes unstuck again and everyone is forced to evacuate. Zathras asks to be left behind because he belongs there, and tells Sinclair he must go because he "has a destiny". Zathras awakens in some distant time and sees "The One" standing above him, but when they remove their helmet, it is revealed to be Sinclair, but much older.
This episode explains the mystery of Babylon 4 for the first time, how it disappeared without a trace just after completion, and how a war in some other time was involved. Sinclair's involvement is also established, as it is an older version of himself that is "The One". On top of that, we are given some subtle hints that B5 will be attacked in the not-too-distant future, adding to Lady Ladira said about B5's destruction. The Triluminary, which will make an appearance in the final episode of the season, is also shown. Finally, Zathras is introduced, as is the temporal plot that involves him and will be completed in season three.
Zathras: Zathras not of this time. You take, Zathras die. You leave, Zathras die. Either way, it is bad for Zathras.
Zathras: Great war. Terrible war. Much killings. Everyone fighting. A great darkness. It is the end of everything. Zathras warn, but no, no one listen to poor Zathras, no. Great war. But, great hope of peace. Need place. Place to gather, to fight to organise…to help save galaxy on the side of light. So they tell me. Must have. Or it is the end of all. The One leads us. The One tells us to go, we go. We live for The One. We would die for The One. We pull this place through time to save us all.
Sinclair: Fasten, then zip. You?
Garibaldi: Fasten zip. (Sinclair chuckles.)
Sinclair: How much longer?
Garibaldi: One hour, fifty seven minutes. (pause) Want to talk socks?
Chrysalis:
A border dispute between the Narn and Centauri over quadrant 37 and Sinclair and the station are brought in to mediate. Morden, the mysterious character from "Signs and Portents" returns and offers Londo his help. Shortly thereafter, Shadow vessels appear in Quadrant 37 and completely destroy the Narn forces, station and colony. When G'Kar learns of the attack, he becomes afraid, as he knows that none of the known races could have done it, which can only mean someone else is out there… Londo is also afraid given the sheer destruction that this little "favor" resulted in, but Morden tells him not to worry. The Narns are his enemy, and his "associates" stand with him.
Sinclair proposes marriage to Sakai, she says yes, and Garibaldi is asked to be best man. Meanwhile, an investigation into the death of a lurker reveals that there is a conspiracy aboard B5. When he investigates further, Garibaldi discovers that there is a plot to assassinate the president, and some of its agents are on board the station. When he finds the culprits, his second shoots him in the back. While in medlab, he warns Sinclair that the president is about to die. Sure enough, he's right! At the transfer point on Io, the president's ship, Earth Force One, blows up, apparently due to a reactor malfunction. Strangely, the VP was not on board at the time, apparently due to an illness, and takes the office of president.
Finally, Delenn begins to undergo a transformation using the Triluminary. Before she does, she meets with Kosh. He reveals himself to her, after which, she is sure of what she must do. She learns shortly before this that Sinclair has learned about what happened to him at the Line and agrees to tell him the truth. However, with everything else that is going on, he is unable to make their meeting and arrives to find her in a cocoon in her quarters. He laments all the changes and upheavals to Sakai, saying "Nothing's the same anymore." The season ends on this uncertain note…
Delenn's Chrysalis, which is apparently part of a larger prophecy begins here. The Shadows are also revealed again, and their attack on the Narns makes G'Kar highly suspicious. He becomes aware of the fact that there is a dark and powerful force out there somewhere. The president is assassinated and the conspiracy back at Earth is revealed to be larger and more powerful than anyone suspected. Clark assumes the presidency, and will later be revealed to be behind the conspiracy that is taking over Earth.
Londo: But this — this, this, this is like being nibbled to death by… what are those Earth creatures called? Feathers, long bill, webbed feet… go 'quack'…
Vir: Cats.
Londo: Cats. I'm being nibbled to death by cats.
G'Kar: It wasn't the Humans. The Centauri don't have the will. The Vorlons don't care. The Minbari wouldn't do it. The other races aren't powerful enough for a strike like this… There's someone else out there Na'Toth.
Morden: (talking to two Shadows) Yes. I think he's ready… Perfect for our needs… No. No. He suspects nothing. When the time is right, Ambassador Mollari will do exactly as we wish. Destiny is on our side.
Kosh: And so it begins.
Sinclair: Nothing's the same anymore.
And so ends season one! Everything that is of significance in the series has been established, previewed, or hinted at. All that remains now if for all these developments to be taken up a notch before they get fulfilled or explained in seasons three and four. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays folks, see you after the break!
By storiesbywilliamsin Reviews December 24, 2011 December 24, 2011 3,953 WordsLeave a comment


Tomato juice is a popular beverage with many nutritional and health benefits. While tomatoes are botanically a fruit, they're treated as a culinary vegetable. Juicing vegetables is a good way to add more important foods to your diet.
Tomato juice is a good source of copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, niacin, pantothenic acid, thiamin, and vitamin K. It's also a great source of folate, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin, B6, and vitamin C.
One cup of tomato juice contains 8.6 grams of sugar. Be aware of this, as it can add up, but it's not nearly as high in sugars as a fruit juice.
Help prevent colds and illness by boosting your immune system. Tomato juice has some great immune boosting properties, namely vitamin a and c, iron, and folate. These vitamin and minerals help keep the body running at peak performance. They will help fight the effects of stress, reduce inflammation, and fight oxidative stress.
In addition to the many vitamins and minerals found in this juice, it also includes an important pigment (carotenoid), lycopene, which has many healing benefits. This is the bright red pigment that gives a tomato its colour. It's found most prominently in the skin of the tomato, so eating a whole tomato may have additional benefits.
Lycopene is particularly beneficial for reducing pro-inflammatory compounds related to cancer. It's also shown to significantly decrease inflammatory markers in overweight women (though these markers did not decrease in obese women).
Here's another study that found tomato juice to reduce inflammatory molecules. This is beneficial for reducing the risk of many diseases and damage throughout the body.
Lycopene also reduces the risk of tumour growth in the breast, colon, liver, lung, and prostate. Furthermore, drinking tomato juice has also shown to suppress lymphocyte DNA damage caused by radiation.
Tomato is part of the nightshade family, which means some people may have a lower tolerance to it. Tomatoes are also acid, so too much can cause acid reflux, and other gut problems. Most people can tolerate tomato juice in conservative amounts, but be careful not to overindulge.
The biggest concern with tomato juice is the potential for high sodium levels. You can find low sodium options, which are far healthier than any "original" variety. A cup of original tomato juice contains roughly 27% of your daily sodium intake, while a reduced sodium option should be closer to 6%. Even better, make your own tomato juice.
It's best to avoid alcoholic tomato drinks, or at least know that it's not going to be good for your overall health.
Tomato Juice is one of my favorite juice. I really like to take Tomato Juice 3 to 4 times a week. This will help me to increase my body strength. Thanks for share this special article.


Make me cool I am sure you are able to make this Irish girl look very cool. She doesn't know how to do it herself. Change anything you want, eyes, hair, skin tone and clothes. Make her very beautiful and when you are satisfied, you can print the result to have a look at it later.
Sweetheart Dress Up 14Play this dress up game by dressing up this cute sporty girl. Sweetheart Dress Up 6Dress up this little girl. Give her a different haircut or different clothes. Sweetheart Dress Up 11The beautiful girl and the romantic beach match pretty well. The fact that various color in her hair is real stand out. Besides,you must be fond of the outstanding clothes. Feel Free! Sweetheart Dress Up 1In this nice girls game you can choose the clothes you like most. Select the nicest colours and best combinations. You will surely make it something beautiful! My Dream GirlThis game has no description Sweetheart Dress Up 4In this nice girls game you can choose the clothes you like most. Select the nicest colours and best combinations. You will surely make it something beautiful! Girl in LoveThis girl is in love and she is going out with her boyfriend on valentines day. Make sure she's dressed nicely. Sweetheart Dress Up 12This cute little girl is having a slumber party. She invited all her friends to sleep over and she needs your help in choosing the cutest pijama for that. Paris GirlsDo you love fashion' Do you love Paris' These 3 girls definitely do! They love to do some shopping in Paris to find the most fashionable outfits. And once you have a real Paris outfit, you'll need of course a trendy make up, too. So this will be a total Paris makeover for these 3 girls. I think you'll love this great Paris Girls dress up game!


May 24, 2018 caelanb Jasper, Alberta Comments Off on Elk and Deer and Bears, Oh My!
We see a lot of wildlife on the trails in Jasper. On a ride this afternoon, my group had a lucky sighting of a mama bear and her cub! She was not terribly concerned about us, and so we all made some noise and eventually she and her cub ambled away.
The horses, for their part, were equally unconcerned about the bears. A lot of people who come on rides expect that the horses would be afraid of bears, but the bears I've seen have usually tended to be more afraid of US. A whole group of people on horses looks pretty scary to a bear. Our horses seem to accept bears as just a part of the scenery.
I originally misidentified them as black bears, based on the size of the mama and the black of the cub. The mama was brown, but "black bear" is kind of a misleading name because the black bear actually comes in three different colours: black, cinnamon/brown, and honey. Black bears are also far more commonly seen around our trails. However, after a consultation with my boss, I found out that these two are actually grizzly bears!
It's a young mama, which explains her smaller size, and apparently grizzly cubs can be black. You can see in the picture below that the mama bear has a wider face than a black bear, as well as that distinctive grizzly hump between her shoulders, which will get bigger as she grows up more.
I am somewhat glad that I didn't find out she was a grizzly until after, because I probably would have been a lot more scared at the prospect of facing a mama grizzly bear than just a mama black bear! Luckily it all ended well anyway, and we got the bonus of having such an amazing sighting.


long layered v shaped haircut .long layered v shaped haircut For Inviting. long layered v shaped haircut will talk about long layered v shaped haircut. long layered v shaped haircut For Inviting is very proper to use, does not call for a lot of points….


Easy Vasectomy ReversalⓇ has a registered trademark from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and it is a minimal invasive office procedure with no scalpel and no needle techniques.
OSMC developed a powerful website, EZvasectomy.com, with rich information on vasectomy reversal. Dr. Shu does the same day consultation to finalize the consultation on the day of surgery, so the patients don't need another trip for the initial consultation if they live far away or out-of-state. Moreover, the patients are able to register their vasectomy reversal procedures by filling out the online registration form in the website.
A vasectomy reversal is a microsurgical procedure that reconnects the vas deferens where it was interrupted by a vasectomy. Although vasectomy has historically been considered a permanent sterilization procedure, current advances in microsurgery over the past 15 years have greatly improved the success rate of vasectomy reversal.
The common reasons for vasectomy reversal are a new relationship or remarriage following a divorce or having a change of heart and a desire for more children. There are occasional unfortunate individuals who have lost their children and want to have more children.
Easy Vasectomy reversal® procedure is performed in the One Stop Medical Center on a come-and-go basis. The actual operating time for a vasectomy reversal procedure can range from 2 to 2.5 hours, depending on its complexity. A local anesthetic is used. The patient returns home or to a hotel room after the vasectomy reversal procedure, but Dr. Shu requests that out-of-town patients stay in the Twin Cities area for at least one day following the vasectomy reversal procedure before returning home.
A preoperative consultation is an important step in planning on vasectomy reversal. Thanks to the Internet, the patients can get all information on vasectomy reversal from a well-designed high quality website.
The following topics related to vasectomy reversal are addresses in our website and will be discussed in a preoperative vasectomy reversal consultation.


This course will demystify the guided implant surgery process and how a GP dentist can reach the final product with great efficiency and predictability. Cases from tooth-borne to completly edentulous will be reviewed.
Dr. Mirzayan reports no disclosures relative to this program.


All the tourists travelling to Bhutan require a Bhutan Visa except the travelers from India, Maldives and Bangladesh. It is processed through a local tour operator in Bhutan such as BLUE MOON TOURS & TREKS.
Bhutan Tourist Visa is issued only when a confirmed booking through a local or international Travel agent has been made. No foreign embassies/ organizations issue Bhutan Tourist Visa. A Valid passport copy and the Bhutan visa application form duly filled must be sent to us at least a month before the tour.
A Visa approval letter is issued by the Government of Bhutan which will be sent to the travelers through email or fax. The travelers have to show the visa approval letter while boarding the Druk Air Flight. The actual Visa will be stamped on arrival in Bhutan.
For travelers entering Bhutan by land, two passport size photographs are required on arrival in the border.
A visa fee of US $ 40 is payable. The Visa fee can be sent with the tour payment.
-Accommodation in twin Sharing Basis.
These FIT surcharges are non commissionable.
US $ 20 and US $ 40 per person is payable as tourism development fund and Visa fee respectively. These are one time fees.
The cost we offer does not cover any form of insurance. We recommend that you have a insurance cover to protect against unforeseen accidents or mishaps. We do not have such policies in Bhutan.
Accommodations are provided on twin sharing basis. An additional single room supplement of US $ 25 per person per night is applicable incase of single room reservations.
There shall be no charge for delayed arrivals or departures due to weather conditions, Druk Air problems or road blocks. The tourist must however bear the cost of accommodation, transportation, food and other services required.


Bird has a 6.75 ERA with a save in five relief appearances for the Rangers in his first big league action.
Texas will make a corresponding move before Friday's series opener against Houston to fill Bird's spot on the 25-man roster. The Rangers were off Thursday after sweeping a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels.


text:
California Industrial Hygiene Services, Inc.
Top 10 Winery Violations
Home Featured Topics Top 10 Winery Violations
We hope this information is useful to your winery. We suggest developing a checklist from this information and performing an inspection to identify your liabilities and areas for improvement. The results of the inspection can then be used to develop an action list, establish priorities, and identify topics for discussion with supervisors and employees. Of course, we would appreciate your consideration should you choose to use an independent consultant. We can work with the company at various levels of involvement ranging from addressing specific items or areas to supplementing, or serving as, the health and safety staff on an on-going basis.The following information is compiled from 100 winery inspections performed between August, 1996 and May, 2000 by Cal/OSHA. The regulations cited most frequently are listed below, beginning with the most frequently cited violation. The regulations referenced in this article can be viewed in their entirety on the Cal/OSHA website at http://www.dir.ca.gov/DOSH/dosh1.html. Select "Regulations" from the horizontal menu near the top of the page and perform a search for the topic of interest.
Section 5144: "Respiratory Protection".
This section governs the selection and use of all respirator types from disposable dust masks to self contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs). The most frequently cited item within this section is the failure to develop and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures and elements.
Section 5157: "Permit-Required Confined Spaces".
In general terms, a permit-required confined space meets the definition of "confined space" and also has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere or any other recognized serious safety or health hazard. Fermentation tanks which contain organic material are an example of permit-required confined spaces since the contents will continue to ferment and produce carbon dioxide thereby posing an asphyxiation hazard to employees who enter the tank to clean it out or perform other maintenance tasks. Sumps, hoppers, silos, and other confined spaces must be evaluated to determine whether they meet the definition of "permit-required".
The most frequently cited items within this section relate to deficiencies in preparing the space properly prior to entry. In particular, the absence of testing to evaluate the atmosphere in the space with a calibrated direct-reading instrument prior to entry is a common violation. Another frequently cited item is the lack of a written permit space program that complies with the regulations and outlines the policies and procedures pertaining to confined space entry at the facility.
Section 3203: "Injury and Illness Prevention Program".
Every employer is required to establish, implement, and maintain an effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). The basic, required elements of the IIPP are defined within the regulation. The absence of the written program or the inadequacy of the program are cited most frequently. This is followed by inadequate documentation of periodic inspections and employee training which are required elements of an IIPP.
The IIPP is synonymous with health and safety program and is considered the cornerstone of the Cal/OSHA regulations. The IIPP establishes the policies and procedures for the implementation of an effective safety program by the facility. The inspector will almost always ask to see a copy of the company IIPP during their visit.
Section 5162: "Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment".
The most frequently cited element of this section is the absence or inadequacy of an emergency eyewash. An emergency eyewash is required whenever the eyes of an employee may come into contact with a substance which can cause corrosion, severe irritation, or permanent tissue damage. Some examples of locations where eyewashes may be required are charging stations for forklift lead acid batteries and areas where corrosive substances such as sulfuric acid or sulfur dioxide are used.
The eyewash must be plumbed or self-contained and meet certain criteria as defined by ANSI Z358.1-1981 (American National Standards Institute specifications). Water hoses, sink faucets, or showers are not acceptable eyewash facilities. The eyewash must operate "hands free" once it is activated and supply adequate flow for at least 15 minutes. Personal, hand-held eyewashes which meet the requirements of the ANSI standard may support a plumbed or self-contained unit but must not be used instead of them.
Section 461: "Permits to Operate Air Tanks".
This section requires a permit to operate compressed air tanks. The permit must be posted under glass in a conspicuous place near the tank or in a waterproof container secured to the unit.
Any tank that has a volume of 1.5 cubic feet or less and is equipped with a safety valve which opens when the pressure reaches 150 psi does not require a permit but must comply with the other requirements pertaining to air tanks such as construction.
Tanks must be inspected by a qualified inspector. Most companies contact Cal/OSHA and pay a fee for the inspection and the permit. Insurance companies are another source of qualified inspectors.
Section 5194: "Hazard Communication".
This section requires employers to provide employees information about the hazardous substances to which they may be exposed. This is often referred to as the "Right to Know" regulation. The regulation requires a written hazard communication program outlining the facility's policies and procedures regarding how this will be achieved. The employer must use material safety data sheets (MSDSs), appropriate labels and other forms of warning, and training to insure employees receive the required information.
Employers are most frequently cited for not having an adequate written program or for not fully implementing their written program.
Section 4002: "Moving Parts of Machinery or Equipment".
This section is cited when moving parts of machinery are not properly guarded. All machines or parts of machines which "create hazardous revolving, reciprocating, running, shearing, punching, pressing, squeezing, drawing, cutting, rolling, mixing or similar action, including pinch points and sheer points, not guarded by the frame of the machine or by location" must be guarded. Crushing areas, conveyors, and bottling lines are examples of areas which must be evaluated to insure adequate guards are installed. The equipment in maintenance shops such as grinders, saws, etc. should also be periodically inspected to insure adequate guards are in place.
Section 2500.8: "Flexible Cords" and Other Miscellaneous Electrical Hazards.
Actually, if all citations which are related to electrical hazards were considered together, this is the number one cited hazard in wineries. The section most frequently cited pertains to the use of flexible cords including extension cords. Flexible cords cannot be used in lieu of fixed wiring in a location. In other words, a flexible cord cannot be used to provide electricity to a piece of equipment when an electical outlet or other permanent modification should be made to accommodate the equipment.
There are certain exceptions to this rule. One is for portable equipment, such as hand tools, which are regularly moved from place to place. This is enforced rather strictly and the fact that equipment or a machine could be moved, or is occassionally moved, does not meet this exception. Pedestal grinders and other shop equipment such as table saws, refrigerators, overhead light fixtures, etc., which are used primarily at a specific location are not considered portable.
Also, extension cords must not be attached to building surfaces, cannot be "daisy-chained", and cannot be strung through doors, windows, or over or through walls.
Other commonly cited items are the failure to maintain suitable access and working space around electrical equipment such as circuit breakers, shut-offs, switches, control panels, etc. (Section 2340.16) and the failure to guard energized parts of electrical equipment operating at 50 volts or more against accidental contact (Section 2340.17). Guarding usually consists of an approved cabinet or enclosure.
Section 3210: "Guardrails at Elevated Locations".
Wineries have been cited for not installing guardrails on the open sides of work locations more than 30 inches above the floor, ground, or surrounding working areas. Examples of areas that may be overlooked and require guarding include platforms or other elevated locations which are accessed for maintenance or storage.
A standard guardrail consists of a top rail, midrail, and posts. A toe board must be installed if falling tools or materials would create a hazard to employees working below. The vertical height of the guardrail must be 42 to 45 inches measured from the upper surface of the top rail. The guardrails must support 20 pounds per linear foot applied either horizontally or vertically downward on the rail.
Section 3314: "Cleaning, Repairing, Servicing and Adjusting Prime Movers, Machinery and Equipment".
This section pertains to "lockout/tagout" of machinery when performing maintenance or servicing equipment. This includes activities such as removing a jammed object. Crushing and bottling machinery and conveyors are examples of equipment which may require lockout/tagout procedures. When working in a confined space, equipment which allows the flow of water or material into the space must be locked out to prevent inadvertant engulfment or other injury to the entrants.
The regulation requires that machinery be stopped and the power source de-energized or disengaged, and, if necessary, the moveable parts must be mechanically blocked or locked out to prevent movement during the work. A written energy control procedure must be developed and utilized. Employees must receive training on the procedures and the employer must perform periodic inspections to make sure the procedures are utilized.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl