[A furious Delenn attempts to convene the Grey Council.]
AAcolyte
I told you, Delenn, they will not speak to you.
Then they will listen to me! [She tries to go around him, but he blocks her path.] I served the Council for sixteen cycles. I was the chosen of Dukhat to replace him! I held him when he died! His blood is on my hands, his spirit in my eyes, his word on my lips! You will step aside in his name and mine, or–in Valen's name--I will tear this ship apart with my bare hands until I find them! Move aside!
[He wisely moves out of the way.]
. . .
[Delenn speaks to the Council.]
Three years. For three years, I warned you this day was coming. But you would not listen. "Pride," you said! "Presumption!" And now the Shadows are on the move. The Centauri and the younger worlds are at war, the Narns have fallen... even the humans are fighting one another. The pride was yours! The presumption was yours! For a thousand years, we have been awaiting the fulfillment of prophecy. And when it finally happens, you scorn it--you reject it--because you no longer believe it yourselves!
[She confronts one of the Grey Council directly.]
"We stand between the candle and the star, between the darkness and the light." You say the words, but your hearts are empty--your ears closed to the truth! You stand for nothing but your own petty interests!
[She confronts a second Grey Council member.]
"The problems of others are not our concern." I do not blame you for standing silent in your shame. You, who knew what was coming, but refused to take up the burden of this war! If the Warrior Caste will not fight, then the rest of us will!
[Now she confronts the leader, the one who carries the staff.]
If the Council has lost its way, if it will not lead...if we have abandoned our covenant with Valen...! [Grabs the leader's staff and raises it over her head.] Then the Council should be broken...[She snaps the staff in two and throws both halves to the floor.]...as was prophesied! We must stand with the others--now, before it's too late! Between the Religious Caste and the Worker Caste, we control two thirds of our forces! And to you I say, listen to the voice of your conscience! Break the Council, and come with me! Our time of isolation is over! We move now, together, or not at all!
[Sheridan talks to his father before the imminent battle.]
DSDavid Sheridan
Son...I follow the news. Well, I did until ISN went black! I see what's going on. Your mother doesn't like to think about it. You know how she is. John, I can't imagine the kind of decisions that are going through your mind right now. I'm sure they're not easy. The important ones never are. But when push comes to shove, you've always done the right thing. What was the first lession I ever taught you?
Never start a fight, but always finish it.
[Sheridan addresses the entire station before the battle.]
May I have your attention, please? In the last few hours, we have learned that warships are coming this way from Earth. Their orders are to seize command of Babylon 5 by force. As commanding officer and military governor of Babylon 5, I cannot allow this to happen. President Clark has violated the Earth Alliance Constitution by dissolving the Senate, declaring martial law, and personally ordering the bombing of civilian targets on the Mars Colony! He is personally responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocent people! Following these attacks, Orion 7 and Proxima 3 have broken away from the Earth Alliance and declared independence! Babylon 5 now joins with them! As of this moment, Babylon 5 is seceding from the Earth Alliance! We will remain an independent state until President Clark is removed from office! At the end of this current crisis, anyone who wishes to leave for Earth is free to do so. Meanwhile, for you own safety, I urge everyone to stay in your quarters until this is over. That is all.
[Major Ryan, aboard the Alexander, tries to get Captain Hiroshi and her crew to evacuate the heavily damaged Churchill.]
RRyan
Hiroshi! Get out of there! Get to the life pods!
SHSandra Hiroshi
Too late to get out! Our primary systems are hit! We've got fire on all decks now! There's nothing we can do except...[the link goes dead]
RRyan
Hiroshi?...Hiroshi!
[the Churchill plows into the Clark-loyal Roanoke, consuming both ships in a cloud of fire]
[As the immediate danger is cleared.]
Damage to all sectors. They're still fighting in Brown Sector.
Get some more troops down there. Hull integrity?
Not good. EVA teams en route. It's a good thing this stopped when it did. We couldn't take much more. [Jumpgate alarm goes off.] Oh, no!
[Outside, the jumpgate opens and three more Clark-loyal destroyers come through]
DECaptain Drake, EarthForce
This is Captain Drake to Babylon 5. You are ordered to surrender and prepare to be boarded, by order of President Clark.
[Another alarm goes off in C&C]
Captain...jump points forming right on top of us!
[The jump points produce three Minbari cruisers and the White Star, with Delenn in the captain's chair]
This is Ambassador Delenn of the Minbari. Babylon 5 is under our protection. Withdraw...or be destroyed!
DDrake
Negative. We have authority here. Do not force us to engage your ship.
Why not? Only one human captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else.
[after his ship, the EAS Alexander, destroys the Clark-loyal EAS Clarkstown]
MEMaj. Ed Ryan
That's what makes this war different from anything we have ever gone through before. This time, we know everyone we kill.
