Recap and discussion for 4 x 15 – No Surrender, No Retreat

Another episode that reflects modern times. I could fix a lot of things if I had a Whitestar fleet.

“Enough is enough!” - John Sheridan, Babylon 5, Sept 2, 2261

Sheridan has called the council together. He tells them that he is now asking for something from then since he has been patrolling their borders with the Whitestars. He wants them to all send one destroyer class ship from each world to help protect Babylon 5 and he wants them to sever ties with Earth. Ivanova tells them that 10,000 civilians have been killed in attacks on Proxima III. Sheridan says it’s time to do something but he thinks the alien races should not get involved, as to not give Clark more ammunition in his anti-alien campaign.

All this while, Starfuries are flying all around, training and drilling for the coming attack. They are going to liberate Proxima III

"From now on, Earth stands alone. We're taking back Proxima III, we're taking back Mars, and then we're going to take back our home, or die trying."

Marcus rushes into the meeting with info about Proxima III and how the colony is running out of time. They are blockaded by Earth and are being attacked as well. He says the Heracles and the Pollux destroyed the civilian transports and are blockading the colony. John asks Marcus if they can identify the other ships who have not fired on civilians. He will give them a chance to defect. He says they must commit totally to this operation. "No surrender, no retreat."

Garibaldi shows up at Londo’s apartments to ask for some help in getting to Centauri space though we do not find out why. Vir lets slip that Londo is at a meeting and he lets slip what Sheridan is about to do. Garibaldi says he will things his own way to save Earth. (I have to admit, I am SICK of Garibaldi by now.)

Ivanova is getting the Starfury crews ready. She tells them they have codes to communicate and they must use them since they can’t trust any others… even voices. "Trust Ivanova, trust yourself. Anybody else, shoot him."

Sheridan sends three White Stars toward Earth – one by earth and two by mars. They a re the decoys to make Clark think they are going to attack Earth. Perhaps he will pull some of this ships away from Proxima III. The Whitestar fleet will be hiding in Hyperspace near Proxoma III. Marcus says they are taking fire already on the colony.

Londo goes to visit G’kar though G’kar doesn’t seem at all interested in making nice. Londo proposes they sign a joint agreement of mutual support with Babylon5 and G’kar is angry and uninterested, ignoring all of Londo’s friendly overtures and refusing to drink with him. Londo leaves, rather sadly.

Sheridan briefs the pilots and off they all go into hyperspace – Whatestar II has the B5 logo painted on her so there can be no mistaking who the ship belongs to.

There is a battle. I shall not describe it but suffice to say, one ship is very aggressive, one is blown to bits and in the end, the battle goes to Sheridan. One Commander, who relieved the Captain of duty to save her shipmates from senseless death, is going to repair her ship and keep the captain under arrest. One of the other will help the colonists on Proxima III to rebuild. Two more will join Sheirdan and fight Clark and his dictatorship.



Back on B5, Londo is sitting morosely in the bar, drinking, when G’kar joins him and says he will sign the agreement but not on the same page and takes that drink he refused before. When he leaves, Londo smiles, a bit sadly but a smile.

The Voice of the Resistance announces the liberation of Proxima III, the joint statement by the narn and Centauri.

Garibaldi leaves for Mars, saying he will never return.

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Quotes:
“Enough is enough!” - John Sheridan, Babylon 5, Sept 2, 2261

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Questions/discussion:

1. The problematic thing in these eps is Garibaldi. How much is his mind control and how much is him? He seemed to resent Sheridan from the beginning. I am actually quite surprised at how angry I am at him.
2. Do you think G’kar meant to sign the agreement all along? Was he just letting Londo suffer a little because he could?
3. Sheridan said: “Our mandate is to defend Earth against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Now Clark has become that enemy. Your oath is to the Alliance and to the people back home, not to any particular government.” Comments?
4. Is it still treason if you’re doing the right thing?
5. Wouldn’t these men and women who commanded the ships have given it more thought that we see them do, considering that they may have family in harm’s way back on Earth? Or did they figure it’s now al or nothing?

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Sources:

Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5: http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/guide/081.html
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517674/trivia?tab=qt&ref_=tt_trv_qu
Babylon Project: http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/No_Surrender,_No_Retreat