[various answers to Torqueman's final question: "Given the danger, at the end of the day...is it worth it?"]
Absolutely. Sure, when things get tense out here, we have to be careful. Our search of the Centauri vessels we captured proved that they were bringing in weapons of mass destruction, offloading them outside the station, and sending them on to the front lines. Now that we know that, we can make sure it doesn't happen any more. We learn. It's what humans do.
Misunderstandings aside, yes! I definitely think it's worth it. We must simply work harder to make sure we communicate with one another to prevent this sort of tragic situation from ever happening again! A violent attack by Narn forces is an unacceptable response to a peaceful protest by my government. And with the intervention of Earth, perhaps we can keep them from making a similar mistake in the future.
I don't know any more. I used to think so, but now...
Susan IvanovaYes.
Of course it is. For the simple reason that no one else would ever build a place like this. Humans share one unique quality: They build communities. If the Narns or Centauri or any other race built a station like this, it would be used only by their own people. But everywhere humans go, they create communities out of diverse and sometimes hostile populations. It is a great gift, and a terrible responsibility--one that cannot be abandoned.
SQSenator Quantrell
Well...I guess we'll just have to see...won't we?
All right, Med 2--go, go! Look, if we weren't here right now, half the people in this room would be dead! Now that should be a good enough answer for anyone.
EDEduardo Delvientos
Sure! What, are you kidding? I have a retirement pension to make, you know?
Yes. But not for any of the reasons that you've probably been told. The job of Babylon 5 is not to enforce the peace. It's to create the peace. And this place was built on the assumption that we could work out our problems and build a better future. And that, to me, is the key issue. See, in the last few years, we've stumbled. We stumbled at the death of the President, the war, and on and on. And when you stumble a lot, you...you start looking at your feet. Well, we have to make people...lift their eyes back to the horizon, and see the line of ancestors behind us, saying, "Make my life have meaning." And to our inheritors before us, saying, "Create the world we will live in." I mean, w-we're not just...holding jobs and having dinner. We are in the process of building the future. That's what Babylon 5 is all about.
[Lyta has tested all high- and medium-ranking station personnel -- but one -- for the traitor's psychic trigger.]
The further you go from the center of power, the less likely it is we're going to find the person that we're looking for.
[She pointedly turns and looks at Ivanova.]
Susan Ivanova
I suggest you move those eyes somewhere else...while you still have them.
[last lines of the season]
Susan Ivanova
It was the end of the Earth year 2259, and the war was upon us. As anticipated, a few days after the Earth-Centauri treaty was announced, the Centauri widened their war to include many of the Non-Aligned Worlds. And there was another war brewing closer to home. A personal one whose cost would be higher than any of us could imagine. We came to this place because Babylon 5 was our last, best hope for peace. By the end of 2259, we knew that it had failed. But in so doing, it became something greater. As the war expanded, it became our last, best hope for victory. Because sometimes peace is another word for surrender...and because secrets have a way of getting out.
[ISN news shows Lt. Keffer's recordings of a Shadow vessel]
NNewscaster
When our ship encountered a distress beacon attached to an EarthForce recording device, these images, released exclusively to ISN, were found on that recording. Strategic analysts in Earth Dome have indicated they don't know who this new race might be, but promise to find out.
Season 3: Point of No Return
[Ivanova chides Sheridan on his impatience over an arriving VIP on a mysterious mission.]
Susan Ivanova
Leave it to you to try and take all the fun out of life. I mean, come on, where's your sense of mystery, of adventure?
Are you trying to cheer me up?
Ivanova
No, sir! Wouldn't dream of it.
Good! I hate being cheered up. It's...depressing.
Ivanova
So, in that case...we're all going to die horrible, painful, lingering deaths.
Thank you. I feel so much better now.
[The White Star is fleeing a Shadow ship in hyperspace, and Sheridan has an idea for beating it.]
Tell me, Commander...have you ever wondered what would happen if you opened a jump point while inside a jump gate?
Ivanova
No! And neither should you! EarthForce experimented with the idea during the Minbari War. They called it the Bonehead Maneuver. [to Lennier] No offense.
[more curious than offended] None taken.
[Ambassador Kosh meets with Ivanova in Docking Bay 13.]
Susan Ivanova
Ambassador. You wanted to see me?
Yes. Formality. Ritual. You should be informed.
Ivanova
Informed of what?
[a surprise passenger emerges from Kosh's transport]
Hello, Commander. I said I'd be back.
[opening lines: Cmdr. Ivanova and Brother Edward watch their seniors, Capt. Sheridan and Brother Theo respectively, play chess]
Susan Ivanova
You realize this is an extremely dangerous situation.
BEBrother Edward
He's been through much worse.
Ivanova
I think he's doomed.
BEBrother Edward
Not a chance.
Ivanova
Care to put money on that?
BEBrother Edward
Gambling is one of the lesser sins. I've always thought if you're going to sin, you may as well go for one of the really big ones.
I asked for Captain Sheridan!
Ivanova
Um...He's busy.
Ivanova
Really? Love 'em, myself. To me, everything's a surprise! You're a surprise. This place is a surprise. You see this? [She holds up a finger.] Paper cut. Hurts like hell! Anybody else would be upset, but to me, it's just one more wonderful surprise! I mean, I even surprise myself sometimes! So I guess there's nothing wrong with me surprising you. Right?
[Draal's angry facade cracks, and he bursts out laughing.]
I like you! You're trouble!
Ivanova
[laughing in relief] Well, thank you! That's the nicest thing anybody's said about me in days!
[Ivanova and Marcus are trying to communicate with the "Walkers," the First Ones near Sigma 957]
WWalkers
Vorlons Tavutna Chog!
I think you just hit a nerve. The Vorlons must owe them money or something.
Ivanova
At least it tells us that they understand our language. They're just not willing to speak to us in it.
Who knew they were French? ...Sorry.
. . .
[while waiting for a response from the Walkers]
Ivanova
Damn it! I really don't want to screw this up!
Then don't. The Minbari taught me, "Claim victory in your heart and the universe will follow."
Ivanova
Fine. Great. Claim victory in your heart and up your...
[the Walkers reappear]
Ivanova
"Zog"? What do you mean, zog? Zog what? Zog yes, zog no?
[the Walkers' ship turns to leave]
It's leaving. My guess is "zog" means "no".
Ivanova
Like hell. I am not letting them leave here without saying yes.
Really? And how do you propose stopping them? Perhaps a big red and white sign with the word "stop" on it? ...I'll put a bucket on my head and pretend to be the ancient Vorlon god Boogee.
Ivanova
[gets an idea] That's it!
Ivanova
No, I meant the Vorlons. Open a comm channel now!
[Bester calls ahead to warn of his imminent arrival.]
I'm in pursuit of an individual who's a danger to your station, Earth, and the Psi Corps.
Susan Ivanova
Well, that's two legitimate things to worry about.
[The "conspiracy of light" worries about exposure by Bester.]
And after that, there are only two options. He turns us in, we're court-martialled, then shot for treason. Or we kill him, before he has a chance to tell anybody.
I will not support murder. We can not kill him.
Ivanova
Can we wound him? Just a little?
You know, I've been stuck in this tin can for three years. I haven't taken a vacation--okay, okay, it's my fault, I had the leave coming, I just didn't take it. And the pay sucks, I knew that when I signed on! And nobody said I'd survive the job! Now, I give you all that. But where in my contract does it say that I have to eat the same food for breakfast every day for three years?
[matter-of-fact] Paragraph 47, Subsection 19, Clause 9A. You can find it in the index under S.U.A.E.I.
SSSheridan, Susan Ivanova
[in unison] Shut Up And Eat It.
[A funeral service for the pilots killed in the battle for Babylon 5]
In breaking away from Earth, we have begun a difficult and uncertain journey, and none of us can see its end. But our cause remains a just one. That truth honors and sanctifies our fallen comrades who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we might carry on the work that is ahead of us. We are gathered here today to honor their memory and their names.
Susan Ivanova
Hamilton. Rodriguez. Spinelli. Singh. Osterman. Massey. Cooper. Kim. Indari. Nagashima. Lietz. Mankowski. [as she reads the names, a line of torpedoes files out of the docking ring, watched over by a squadron of Starfuries]
From the stars we came. To the stars we return, from now until the end of time. We therefore commit these bodies to the deep.
Babylon 5 · 626 quotes
