"The Minbari put great emphasis on art, literature, and music." Yes, but say instead they are decadent people interested only in the pursuit of...of dubious pleasures. The dubious part is very important. It doesn't mean anything, but it scares people every time.
S3Point of No Return
I thought the purpose of filing these reports was to provide accurate intelligence!
Vir, intelligence has nothing to do with politics!
GSGeneral Smits
Captain. I'm sure you've been following the news.
Yes, sir. If I may ask, what's your opinion?
GSGeneral Smits
My opinion has nothing to do with this, Captain, and neither does yours! Our job is to follow orders from the Commander in Chief and respect the chain of command! If you have different opinions, I suggest you file them in a deep dark place where nobody'll ever find them! Am I clear?
You must understand, Ta'Lon. I have had a revelation!
What kind of revelation?
A most profound and substantial one, Ta'Lon. The kind of revelation that transforms your mind, your soul, your heart--even your flesh--so that you are a new creature, reborn in the instant of understanding.
That was a stirring reply, Citizen G'Kar. Unfortunately, while all answers are replies, not all replies are answers. You did not answer the question that I asked. What do you understand now that you did not understand before?
[over the PA system] This is the Captain. If I can have your attention! As of this time, 0315 Earth Standard Time, I am placing you under arrest for conspiracy to mutiny and failure to obey the chain of command. The order for Night Watch to take over Babylon 5 security came from the Political Office! The Political Office, despite its connection to the President, is a civilian agency outside the direct chain of command! Orders affecting military personnel must come from within the military hierarchy, starting from the President, through the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to your immediate superior officers. A Senator cannot give you a direct order! A governor cannot give you a direct order! And neither can the Political Office! Make no mistake, this is an illegal order! Now, we've contacted Earthdome and requested confirmation of this order through proper channels. But, since we seem to be having trouble with communications, this may take several days. Until then, you have two choices. You can stay where you are, or you can leave, one at a time. On your way out, you'll turn in your link, identicard, and weapons. You'll be restricted to quarters until the revised orders come in. When that happens, anyone who wants to file a complaint against me can do so. Otherwise...have a pleasant stay. Oh, and one other thing. If I were you, I wouldn't use my weapons on the airlocks. They're a solid beryllium alloy. The ricochet is a killer.
MLady Morella
What we are about to say is for your ears only, Ambassador Mollari. We will not repeat it to others in the Royal Court, and suggest you do the same. If it comes out, we will deny this conversation ever took place.
Of course.
MMorella
You have a chance few others will ever have, Mollari. You still have three opportunities to avoid the fire that waits for you at the end of your journey. You have already wasted two others. You must save the eye that does not see. You must not kill the one who is already dead. And at the last, you must surrender yourself to your greatest fear, knowing that it will destroy you. Now if you have failed all the others, that is your final chance for redemption.
I...don't understand!
MMorella
The future reveals itself only reluctantly, Ambassador. Take the sign for what it is. Look for it when it appears!
I will. Thank you!
MMorella
One more thing. You will be Emperor. That part of your destiny cannot be avoided.
I see.
MMorella
[to Vir] You will also be Emperor.
[Vir starts laughing.]
MMorella
Why are you laughing?
I...I thought you were joking!
MMorella
We do not joke in the face of prophecy, Vir.
Lady Morella, please! We cannot both be Emperor!
MMorella
Correct. One of you will become Emperor after the other is dead. That is all we see and all we wish to see.
S3Severed Dreams
[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 report.
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!
[deflated] How many?
Four!
[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.
S3Ceremonies of Light and Dark
Prophecy is a poor guide to the future. You only understand it when the event's already upon you.
[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.
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.
[Londo is disturbed by front-line reports of Centauri conflicts.]
Now, I have been studying these reports from the front lines. You'll note the plural form--lines. Is there anyone along our border with whom we are not currently at war?
We need room to expand.
Only an idiot fights a war on two fronts. Only the heir to the throne of the kingdom of idiots would fight a war on twelve fronts.
. . .
[Londo insists that Refa discontinue his association with Morden's "associates".]
RRefa
You walked away from the greatest power I have ever seen! And now you expect me to do the same? They are the key to my eventual rise to the throne! Why would I abandon them?
Because I have asked you. Because your loyalty to our people should be greater than your ambition. And because I have poisoned your drink.
[Lord Refa looks in astonishment at Londo]:
Yes...and it is very interesting poison. It comes in two parts. Both are harmless on their own. But when combined...quite lethal. The first settles into the bloodstream, and the intestinal walls. It stays there for years. Silent...dormant...waiting. When the other half of the poison enters your system the two meet, have a little party in your cardiovascular system...and suddenly, you are quite dead.
RRefa
Why? Why did you do this?
To guarantee your cooperation! And because sooner or later, you would do it to me! As we are returning to the old ways, Refa, and poison was always the instrument of choice in the old Republic, being something of a sentimentalist, I got here first.
These quotes come from Wikiquote's Babylon 5 pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.