Recap and discussion of 5 x 17 – Movements of Fire and Shadow

The end is near. Things are falling part. I am reminded of G’kar (Season 2, episode 2: Revelations) quoting The Second Coming by Yeats:
G'Kar:
[quoting Yeats' "Second Coming"] Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
All hell is breaking loose!

We open with a Centauri and Drazi battle and the Drazi are taking a beating. Lochley says in her log that Centauri are being murdered on B5 and she’s had to double their security. Franklin is working hard to keep up with the casualties. The war is spinning out of control, she says.

Sheridan comes to see Lochley. He tells her that the Centauri have begun targeting Hyperspace beacons and that he has given the go-ahead to the White Stars to engage. Babylon 5 is no longer neutral.

He then goes to Delenn and asks her if she can go to Minbar and ask the Grey Coucil and ask if they can help Earth develop some Cruiser Class white Stars to fight the Centauri. She says she will go right away. He tells it must be secret.

Delenn does mention something that Sheridan asked her to wear that makes her feel silly… an odd moment of lightness in this darkest of dark episodes.

Garibaldi calls and tells Sheridan that news is coming in from the front lines.

Franklin and Lyta arrive at Vir’s quarters and he asks them to go the Drazi homeworld and find out why no bodies have been returned to the Centauri. This is one of the rules of the Alliance (and of all civilized worlds, it’s implied). Franklin readily agrees but Lyta tells him she wants 500 thousand credits, to help make a homeworld for her people. He offers 400 then agrees to her price. Lyta is no longer soft and sweet.


G’kar and Londo are still in a cell. G’kar tells Londo he needs to get out and see what is happening. Londo says it’s a matter of principle and he cannot leave now without losing face. There is a flash of light, G’kar and Londo are knocked out and Londo is maybe taken away and probed by some Roswell greys and a Drakh.

He is returned and we nor he and G’kar are sure if it was real or a dream. G’kar makes the room too disgusting to stay in, giving Londo a way out.

Lochley and Sheridan are meeting with the council and Sheridan is very concerned that there doesn’t seem to be a strategy for what the Centauri are doing (sound Familiar?). The Drazi and narn secretly decide to attack Centauri Prime without the Alliance.

Lochley is called away. A Centauri ship is trying to come through the gate to blow it up. She scrambles ships and blows it up with little damage to the gate. Sheridan reports this to Delenn and tells her about Franklin and Lyta going to the Drazi homeworld.

Londo meets with the Ministers and they basically tell him everything is fine and they will not go along with any plan he has to overthrow the Regent.

Garibaldi tells Sheridan that a large portion of both the Drazi and Narn fleets have gone missing and are presumed heading to Centauri Prime for an attack. A quarter million Centauri civilians may die. John calls for his White Star in order to try to stop this.

Franklin and Lyta are on the Drazi homeworld and they talk to a doctor and Lyta senses hostility and that he is not telling them something. Two Drazi appear with guns and try to kill them. Lyta forces one to kill himself with her mind. Franklin is shocked and the Drazi doctor tries to run away. They catch him and Lyta reads his mind this time and makes him take her to where the Centauri dead are.

Sheridan is on his way to Centauri prime. Garibaldi can’t reach the Narn or Drazi fleets and Delenn’s ship is attacked by 4 Centauri vessels.

Lyta and Franklin are taken to the room with beds with a black pod in each one. No bodies. These are all they found in the ships. Lyta knows what they are.


Londo finally meets with the Regent, who tells him that his time is almost over and soon Londo will be emperor.

Sheridan gets a message from Lyta and Franklin. The pods are leftover shadow tech that allows the ships to be run remotely. They have never had crews at all. Lyta hints that perhaps some of the Shadow allies had set up the Centauri for destruction. The Drazi kept quiet because it was in their own self interest to do so.

Delenn’s ship is a wreck and while Lennier has activated the distress beacon, he doesn’t think there is much hope.


The regent reveals to Londo that ‘they’ ordered him to send all the Centauri ships on a fool’s mission and to deactivate the defense grid around the planet. Londo is horrified and runs outside to see hundreds of jumpoints forming all over.

We see Narn and Drazi ships shooting and the episode ends.

*

Quotes:
In a moment of levity before darkness falls:
Londo Mollari: No. I said where you go, I go. It's become a matter of principle.
G'Kar: You picked a terrible moment in your social evolution to develop principles. Perhaps you can start with something simpler. The moral equivalent of the opposable thumb, for instance.

And these completely chilling lines;
Regent: And there was something else they told me to do. And I did it just a few moments before I came to see you. The last thing I will ever have to do for them. And in a way I'm glad it's over.
Londo Mollari: What did they ask you to do?
Regent: To send away all the ships guarding Centauri Prime on a false emergency and turn off the planetary defense network.
Londo Mollari: No.
Regent: I think I'll stay and watch from here. The sky should be lighting up any time now. I imagine it will be quite beautiful.
Londo Mollari: No! - - No!

*

Questions:
1. What did the aliens DO to Londo?
2. Do you think that ALL of the ministers really thought that the Centauri were only defending themselves?
3. Were you surprised at the shadow tech?
4. How did you feel about the new abrasive Lyta? (or possible assertive?)
5. What would G’kar have said the Drazi’s proposal to go after the Centauri homeworld?

*

Sources:
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517672/quotes/?tab=qt&ref_=tt_trv_qu
The Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5: http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/guide/105.html
The Babylon Project: http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/Movements_of_Fire_and_Shadow
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movements_of_Fire_and_Shadow
Sadgeezer’s Cult Scifi Portal: http://sadgeezer.com/Babylon-5-Season-5-17-Movements-Fire-and-Shadow.htm