Recap and Discussion: 2 X 10 GROPOS

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GROPOS = Ground Pounders

So here we learn a little more about EarthForce, the politics back on Earth, Stephen Franklin's past, and Michael's sexual hang-ups.
I asked for this one to recap because of one more really fun secondary character: Elizabeth Durman.


Dodger.

Oh, and General Richard Franklin who’s not a bad character either.


First the general plot. The Narn-Centauri conflict is causing ripples throughout the other worlds. Earth is trying to position itself for maximum advantage and protection of its interests. To that end Earth has agreed to assist the Shilassen Triumvirate in their civil war.



Ivanova is kicking back late at night in C&C, listening to Corwin spout philosophy, when six EarthForce ships come thru the jumpgate and request, if not demand, docking space. The force is led by the legendary General Richard Franklin of the 366^th Infantry Division. Sheridan hops to when he arrives, and it amusing to see him as a junior officer for once. He doesn’t get this intimidated by General Hague later on. General Franklin demands billets for 25000 troops, and answers Sheridan’s question that yes, Stephen is his son, but he will take care of notifying him of his arrival.



The soldiers march off their transports in columns. The ‘request’ for billets and the classified nature of the mission, as well as the docking demands is playing havoc with Susan’s orderly life.

Note: the scrolling billboard admonishes arrivals to the station to not leave packages unattended. Familiar.

The general explains the actual mission to the command staff. At the briefing the general mentions Alfredo Garibaldi, who served under him in the Dilgar war.


'So much for genetics.'

The operation is code named Sudden Death. The name is appropriate, given that intervening in a civil war is not generally a good idea. The Senate is undercutting Sheridan’s authority a bit here by using their ostensible refusal to help the Triumvirate to conceal the movement of troops. The general plans a sudden strike on a rebel stronghold that is a death trap. In addition they plan to arm B5! With the Narn and Centauri at war the Senate believes the other races are bound to become more aggressive and Earth must keep pace. Besides with B5 armed it can be a fallback position.
So, an arms race then. Awesome. That always works out.

This is very funny with hindsight activated. Enough armament to take on an Earth warship? Very useful!


Keffer comes home to bunkmates. There is male bonding.

The Franklins at home. Stephen presses Markab fruit juice on his dad who prefers OJ (just like Sheridan). Turns out the General is a xenophobe of sorts. Yuk. Stephen accuses his father of murder which seems a bit out of line.



Soldiers are billeted in Medlab. There’s that brain again. And a skull. Stephen is angry. Stephen and Susan almost had a moment there. Meet at the Eclipse…a date!



Which turns out to be less of a date and more of a rant over drinks. Susan remarks Stephen’s father is a bit of a tyrant…perfect material for a general. Stephen says it was tense at home and when his father wasn’t at home there was the waiting, the terrible waiting, watching the newsvids from the front. Stephen left, lost himself among the stars. He didn’t talk to his father for years. Susan says he should to talk to him,  and tells Stephen about her father and not to wait. Stephen guesses the mission is not a cake run to Io.

Meanwhile, Delenn is suspicious about the presence of troops.  ‘We are all slaves to our histories.’ Another home truth. She and Garibaldi share a moment interrupted by a bar fight. As Delenn leaves she is threatened by a group of ground pounders.


In comes Dodger. Delenn runs to ask Garibaldi to intervene. Garibaldi obliges and afterwards asks the Sgt. Major who is kicking GROPO butt, to overlook the ruckus.


Dodger and Garibaldi have a moment. Nice butt? Yes. Yes it is.

Somewhere in the distant past I ranked the male butts of B5. Garibaldi came in second. Just so you know.

The General and Sheridan play tabletop war games. It doesn’t look good. The General and Stephen have another fight. The General asks Sheridan whether he considers himself a murderer. He is brooding over Stephen’s remarks. Sheridan replies that killing is part of a soldier’s job. Sheridan tells him some truths about Franklin. That he is a man of principle. They discuss father-son relationships.

Lou lets Mike take Dodger out. Thanks, Lou! She wants him to take her to a good restaurant, then to his quarters. I like a woman who knows what she wants.

On to the R rated part of the episode. Well PG-13 anyway. Michael starts to talk, way, way too much. Some sort of weird Catholic scruples? What does this confession of confusion have to do with anything? He goes on and on, all about himself.


Dodger gives him the side-eye and a badass lecture about priorities.

Back to the command staff discussing the upcoming festivities. Mention of Ms. Connolly and the Dockworkers Guild! Drink!
Another mention of taking on a warship! Foreshadowing FTW!
The general comes to talk to Stephen again. Miscommunication is rife in this episode.
‘I’m your father. And your superior officer.’ Boy that must come in useful in family meetings.


Big moment. Big hugs.

Keffer bonds with his bunkmates. Michael meets up with Dodger again. She has a bad feeling about this tour. She doesn’t believe it’s a coffee and cake run. Big fight in the casino. Nice to see the girl GROPOS kicking ass. Here comes the Sgt. Major, the General, and Captain Sheridan to break it up.
And…off they go to the impossible battle.


You’ll never know what you missed.

Ain’t it the truth.


And look! It’s Jane!


Earth has won the battle and secured the fortress, but at a very high cost. While the crowd watches the report on ISN, Stephen sees his father and is immensely relieved.

Meanwhile, the casualty lists come in. Garibaldi and Keffer take a look.


And we see the dead, all the ones we met, and many more. Does this count as collateral damage in the Narn-Centauri conflict? Or shall we put this down to Clark? Or Morden and the Shadows? Or the hawks among the Senate? Saber rattling is equal opportunity among the various races in the galaxy.
No one hates war more than a career soldier.

There is an awful lot about fathers and sons in B5. And some father-daughter (or close) relationships. There is very, very little about mothers. Mostly tragic.

Garibaldi was raised by his father; they were very close. Not sure what happened to his mother. Sheridan is very close to his father. His mother gets only a sideways mention and never appears. Delenn has daughter-like mentor relationships with Draal and Dukhat, and was estranged from her own father although she was very fond of him. Her mother left their family for a calling. Stephen is estranged from his father, and out of contact with his mother, and his four overachieving sisters. And of course there’s poor Susan.

Michael and Dodger. As much as I love Dodger, she should have picked a less conflicted bed buddy. Lise? Talia? Never discuss previous girls, with whom you’ve already struck out, with the current one who is all over you! What a maroon! Dodger gives him an earful and a grunt’s eye view of war. It’s a carpe diem ethos she holds to, and why the hell not?

Keffer, Large, and Yang. The usual unlikely buddies scenario. I always have feels for the rookie in over his head in these stories. Poor Yang.

And lastly, a nice look at Susan and Stephen. There is unexplored depth there, and some see subtext. At the very least, good friends and comrades. They are so cute together…



Let's talk GROPOS!