Babylon 5: Legions of Fire - Out of the Darkness
Encyclopedia
Babylon 5: Legions of Fire – Out of the Darkness is a Babylon 5
novel by Peter David
.
and wraps up most unfinished plot lines from the main "Babylon 5" TV series .
The novel covers the period from May 2274 to January 2278, although
most events concern December 2277-January 2278, roughly 15 years
after the founding of the Interstellar Alliance
and roughly 14
years after the events at the end of Season 5 of the Babylon 5
TV series.
The novel is considered canonical as its plot is reportedly based in large part
on J. Michael Straczynski
's script notes .
The book was reviewed by "The 11-th hour" web magazine. The review was critical of the literary merits of the novel but stated that its main strength lies in providing closure to all the unresolved plots lines of the Babylon 5 TV series.
controlled by the "keeper" that a Drakh
named Shiv'kala put on
Londo in Episode The Fall of Centauri Prime
of
the Babylon 5 TV series.
Much of the novel is written in the form of Londo Mollari's secret diaries, which he wrote over the years in the short periods while his keeper was unconscious after Londo's heavy alcohol consumption.
The Drakh have built a power base on Centauri Prime, directed from a giant structure called the "Tower of Power". However, the Drakh still operate in secret and have not revealed their presence to the Centauri public. The Drakh's main instrument is the power-hungry and megalomaniac Centauri Prime Minister Durla. Through telepathic manipulation the Drakh influence Durla's dreams and feed his megalomania by projecting grand visions of conquest and revenge against the Interstellar Alliance. With the Centauri economy largely rebuilt after the devastating assault of Drazi and Narn
fleets in The Fall of Centauri Prime
of the TV series, Durla is overseeing a secret construction of a giant military armada. Durla's and the Drakh's efforts are frustrated by the Centauri resistance movement called "The Legions of Fire" led by the ambassador to Babylon 5 Vir Cotto
. Durla's populist, militaristic and xenophobic policies are supported by the Centauri military, and he unleashes a reign of terror intended to marginalize and destroy all internal opposition and now directed even at the once powerful Centauri noble houses.
Several familiar characters from the Babylon 5 universe make appearances here and are given greater role. Thus Londo's ex-wife Mariel, who tried to poison him in episode Soul Mates
of the TV series, is now a much pampered wife of Prime Minister Durla. Mariel is in love with Vir, possibly due to a technomage
spell that Vir put on her years earlier in a moment of frustration. Mariel is beaten savagely by Durla who wants to demonstrate that, despite his affection for Mariel, he is not being controlled by her or by anyone else. Subsequently Londo takes Mariel under his protection.
A beautiful Centauri woman called Senna, who made her first
appearance in TV movie Babylon 5: In the Beginning
as the
caretaker of the two Centauri children Luc and Lyssa, is revealed to
be the daughter of Lord Refa. Senna is now a prominent courtier
close to the emperor. She is in love with Vir and is helping
him with the work of the resistance. Vir is also assisted by two
technomages, Gwynn and Finian. Vir and the technomages know about the presence of the Drakh and their control over Londo, but are as yet unaware of the Drakh fusion bombs planted
all over Centauri Prime.
sphere of influence by attacking numerous smaller worlds at the
edges of the Alliance' space. Although John Sheridan
and
Delenn
realize the danger posed by the Centauri military
expansion, they are, for the time being, unable to convince the
Alliance to act.
G'Kar operates secretly on Centauri
Prime, disguised as a Centauri using a changeling net. He collects intelligence about the Centauri military build-up and shares it with Sheridan. During
Durla's public speech attended by Londo, a disgruntled Centauri
nobleman attempts to assassinate Durla and slightly injures Londo in
the process. The assassin is stopped by G'Kar, whose identity is
revealed. G'Kar is arrested but is given protection by Londo. G'Kar
spends a year as Londo's "guest", but is not allowed to leave.
Meanwhile, on Minbar
, during a birthday party for Sheridan and
Delenn's son David, his parents give David an urn that
Emperor Londo Mollari presented to them years earlier, in Objects at Rest
of the TV series. Unbeknownst to them, the urn contains a Drakh
keeper at the bottom. Later, when David is in his room alone, the keeper jumps out
of the urn and attaches itself to David's shoulder. Under the
keeper's influence, David steals a ship and travels to Centauri
Prime, where he is delivered into Durla's hands.
Upon learning of this, Londo has a physical confrontation with Durla
but is prevented from substantive action by his keeper. As revenge
for Londo's outburst, Durla imprisons G'Kar and takes out his (synthetic) eye.
Attempting to rescue David, Sheridan and Delenn secretly travel to
the Centauri Prime where they are apprehended by Durla, who intends
to use their deaths to humiliate and demoralize the Alliance.
At the same time Michael Garibaldi
meets with Vir Cotto on
Babylon 5 and Vir finally reveals to him the presence of the Drakh
on Centauri Prime and their role in the events of both the past
15 years and the last few days.
Vir travels urgently to Centauri Prime, intending to help rescue
David. There Vir has a dinner with Londo. Speaking metaphorically to
fool his keeper and invoking the imagery of Cervantes' Don Quixote,
Londo lets Vir know that the "Tower of Power" is the main center of
the Drakh influence on Centauri Prime.
Durla's grand armada is almost ready to launch a devastating frontal
attack on the home-worlds of the main Alliance worlds. When Durla is
giving a speech to the adoring public before the start of the
attack, Vir's "Legions of Fire" explode a huge bomb deep in the
underground tunnels underneath the "Tower of Power". The "Tower" is
destroyed and the presence of the Drakh is finally revealed to all.
Vir addresses the Centauri public using the holographic broadcast
system and explains that the Drakh had secretly duped and
manipulated the Centauri for years.
In spite of all the evidence, Durla refuses to believe his eyes and
to accept that his "grand visions" were caused by the Drakh
manipulations. Durla guns down his ministers, who tried to reason with him,
and intends to transmit the attack "go" orders to the military
armada waiting in the hyperspace. Mariel stops him, and in a
struggle they both fall from a balcony to their deaths.
The Drakh Shiv'kala then demands that Londo tell the public that the
Drakh have been "secret friends" helping the Centauri and that Londo
continue with Durla's plans, including attacking the Alliance and
executing Sheridan and Delenn. Londo refuses, mistakenly believing
that Vir's resistance movement already knows about the Drakh's
fusion bombs and has de-activated them. Shiv'kala detonates one
third of the bombs and Centauri Prime is devastated. Horrified,
Londo agrees to the Drakh's demands. The technomages helping Vir
quickly find and neutralize the remaining Drakh bombs.
While heavily drunk to keep his keeper unconscious, Londo summons
G'Kar, who finally learns the truth about Londo's keeper. While
G'Kar is hiding in a small dressing chamber, Sheridan and Delenn are
brought before Londo on his orders. With the keeper still asleep,
Londo asks Sheridan and Delenn for their help to free the Centauri
in exchange for their freedom, and they finally see Londo's keeper
on his shoulder. Here the novel closely follows parts of the TV series Episode War Without End
where Sheridan saw flashes of his future, including talking to Delenn in a jail cell and the meeting with Londo where Londo's keeper is revealed.
Sheridan and Delenn are then taken by the guards to
Londo's private ship where they are reunited with David, who is
unconscious and has been heavily sedated to control his keeper. The
three of them escape to Minbar.
In the throne-room Londo asks G'Kar to kill him to prevent the Drakh
from thwarting Londo's plans. G'Kar reluctantly agrees but, while he
is attempting to strangle Londo, the keeper awakes and fights back.
Londo and G'Kar are locked into a furious struggle and they both
die.
Vir returns to the throne room hoping to help Londo and finds both
Londo and G'Kar dead. There Shiv'kala confronts Vir and tries to
kill him but Vir manages to escape and travels to Minbar. The Drakh
leave the Centauri Prime and a power vacuum is created.
On Minbar Dr Stephen Franklin
examines David, who is being
physically restrained to neutralize his keeper. Franklin tells
David's parents that the only way to free David is to kill the Drakh
who created the keeper controlling the boy.
support of Sheridan, Alliance and the technomages, Vir's claim is
accepted by the Centauri noble houses. The mighty Centauri fleet is
given a new task: to hunt and destroy the Drakh.
Vir returns to Centauri Prime as emperor and marries Senna. While in
his private room, Vir is accosted by Shiv'kala. Shiv'kala has been
shunned by the other Drakh for his failure to control Londo and he
returned to take a personal revenge on Vir. Shiv'kala reveals to Vir
that his is the Drakh who produced David Sheridan's keeper. Before
Shiv'kala has a chance to kill Vir, Michael Garibaldi jumps out of a
closet where he has been hiding and fires two fatal PPG shots at the
Drakh. Vir tells the dying Shiv'kala that he and Garibaldi set a
trap for him, expecting his pride and vengefulness to overcome his
common sense. Vir finishes Shiv'kala off with a PPG shot to the head, and at the same moment David Sheridan
is freed from his keeper.
With the Alliance's help, Vir and Senna
set out to rebuild Centauri
Prime. They plan the giant statues of Londo and G'Kar to be built at
the two ends of the capital city, standing symbolic guard over it.
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
novel by Peter David
Peter David
Peter Allen David , often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, movies and video games...
.
Overview
The story concludes the trilogy Legions of Fire by Peter DavidPeter David
Peter Allen David , often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, movies and video games...
and wraps up most unfinished plot lines from the main "Babylon 5" TV series .
The novel covers the period from May 2274 to January 2278, although
most events concern December 2277-January 2278, roughly 15 years
after the founding of the Interstellar Alliance
Interstellar Alliance (Babylon 5)
The Interstellar Alliance is a fictional interstellar government of civilizations in the Babylon 5 universe.Formed in 2261 AD in the aftermath of the liberation of Earth and the Shadow War, the Interstellar Alliance was formed between the Minbari, Narn, Centauri, the Earth Alliance and the...
and roughly 14
years after the events at the end of Season 5 of the Babylon 5
TV series.
The novel is considered canonical as its plot is reportedly based in large part
on J. Michael Straczynski
J. Michael Straczynski
Joseph Michael Straczynski , known professionally as J. Michael Straczynski and informally as Joe Straczynski or JMS, is an American writer and television producer. He works in films, television series, novels, short stories, comic books, and radio dramas. He is a playwright, a former journalist,...
's script notes .
The book was reviewed by "The 11-th hour" web magazine. The review was critical of the literary merits of the novel but stated that its main strength lies in providing closure to all the unresolved plots lines of the Babylon 5 TV series.
Basic story background
At the outset of the novel, Londo Mollari is still the Centauri Emperor. He is stillcontrolled by the "keeper" that a Drakh
Drakh
The Drakh are a fictional alien race in the Babylon 5 universe. The Drakh were dark servants for the race of First Ones known as the Shadows. They appeared in the fourth and fifth seasons of Babylon 5 as well as the television movie, A Call to Arms...
named Shiv'kala put on
Londo in Episode The Fall of Centauri Prime
The Fall of Centauri Prime
"The Fall of Centauri Prime" is an episode from the fifth season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5. This is a key episode in the series, as it marks the final downfall and story completion of Londo Mollari, one of the major characters on the series.-Synopsis:As the episode begins...
of
the Babylon 5 TV series.
Much of the novel is written in the form of Londo Mollari's secret diaries, which he wrote over the years in the short periods while his keeper was unconscious after Londo's heavy alcohol consumption.
The Drakh have built a power base on Centauri Prime, directed from a giant structure called the "Tower of Power". However, the Drakh still operate in secret and have not revealed their presence to the Centauri public. The Drakh's main instrument is the power-hungry and megalomaniac Centauri Prime Minister Durla. Through telepathic manipulation the Drakh influence Durla's dreams and feed his megalomania by projecting grand visions of conquest and revenge against the Interstellar Alliance. With the Centauri economy largely rebuilt after the devastating assault of Drazi and Narn
Narn
The Narn are a fictional alien race in the universe of the Babylon 5 television series. Their homeworld is also called Narn.-Homeworld:Narn is the homeworld of the Narn and the Narn Regime. Its day is 31 hours long. Prior to the Centauri's first invasion, Narn was a healthy green planet. Now it...
fleets in The Fall of Centauri Prime
The Fall of Centauri Prime
"The Fall of Centauri Prime" is an episode from the fifth season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5. This is a key episode in the series, as it marks the final downfall and story completion of Londo Mollari, one of the major characters on the series.-Synopsis:As the episode begins...
of the TV series, Durla is overseeing a secret construction of a giant military armada. Durla's and the Drakh's efforts are frustrated by the Centauri resistance movement called "The Legions of Fire" led by the ambassador to Babylon 5 Vir Cotto
Vir Cotto
Vir Cotto is a character from the fictional Babylon 5 universe, played on screen by Stephen Furst. He is a Centauri male who was from a family of minor nobility, who would eventually become the Centauri Ambassador to Babylon 5, and then became the Emperor of the Centauri Republic in 2278.Vir Cotto...
. Durla's populist, militaristic and xenophobic policies are supported by the Centauri military, and he unleashes a reign of terror intended to marginalize and destroy all internal opposition and now directed even at the once powerful Centauri noble houses.
Several familiar characters from the Babylon 5 universe make appearances here and are given greater role. Thus Londo's ex-wife Mariel, who tried to poison him in episode Soul Mates
Soul Mates
"Soul Mates" is a second season episode of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:Londo Mollari brings his three wives, all of whom barely tolerate him, to the station for the purpose of divorcing two of them as part of a special boon granted by the Centauri Emperor...
of the TV series, is now a much pampered wife of Prime Minister Durla. Mariel is in love with Vir, possibly due to a technomage
Technomage
The Technomages are a group of sentient beings from the fictional Babylon 5 universe. The technomages shown in the television series are primarily human, but in the "Technomage Trilogy" books, apprentices and mages of other races including Centauri are named. They are described as using "science to...
spell that Vir put on her years earlier in a moment of frustration. Mariel is beaten savagely by Durla who wants to demonstrate that, despite his affection for Mariel, he is not being controlled by her or by anyone else. Subsequently Londo takes Mariel under his protection.
A beautiful Centauri woman called Senna, who made her first
appearance in TV movie Babylon 5: In the Beginning
Babylon 5: In the Beginning
Babylon 5: In the Beginning is a science fiction television movie set in the Babylon 5 fictional universe. It was written by J. Michael Straczynski and directed by Michael Vejar....
as the
caretaker of the two Centauri children Luc and Lyssa, is revealed to
be the daughter of Lord Refa. Senna is now a prominent courtier
close to the emperor. She is in love with Vir and is helping
him with the work of the resistance. Vir is also assisted by two
technomages, Gwynn and Finian. Vir and the technomages know about the presence of the Drakh and their control over Londo, but are as yet unaware of the Drakh fusion bombs planted
all over Centauri Prime.
Main events
While Durla's grand fleet is being built, the Centauri expand theirsphere of influence by attacking numerous smaller worlds at the
edges of the Alliance' space. Although John Sheridan
John Sheridan (Babylon 5)
John J. Sheridan is a lead character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Bruce Boxleitner. For most of the series, he is the commander of the Babylon 5 station; during the series' final season he is the President of the Interstellar...
and
Delenn
Delenn
Delenn is a fictional lead character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Mira Furlan.-Overview:Delenn, an alien ambassador and leader from the planet Minbar, is one of the pivotal characters in Babylon 5....
realize the danger posed by the Centauri military
expansion, they are, for the time being, unable to convince the
Alliance to act.
G'Kar operates secretly on Centauri
Prime, disguised as a Centauri using a changeling net. He collects intelligence about the Centauri military build-up and shares it with Sheridan. During
Durla's public speech attended by Londo, a disgruntled Centauri
nobleman attempts to assassinate Durla and slightly injures Londo in
the process. The assassin is stopped by G'Kar, whose identity is
revealed. G'Kar is arrested but is given protection by Londo. G'Kar
spends a year as Londo's "guest", but is not allowed to leave.
Meanwhile, on Minbar
Minbar
A minbar is a pulpit in the mosque where the imam stands to deliver sermons or in the Hussainia where the speaker sits and lectures the congregation...
, during a birthday party for Sheridan and
Delenn's son David, his parents give David an urn that
Emperor Londo Mollari presented to them years earlier, in Objects at Rest
Objects at Rest
"Objects at Rest" is the penultimate episode from the fifth season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:Delenn and Sheridan relocate to Minbar; Lennier betrays Sheridan when an accident takes place on board the Minbari cruiser transporting him and Delenn to Minbar.Michael...
of the TV series. Unbeknownst to them, the urn contains a Drakh
keeper at the bottom. Later, when David is in his room alone, the keeper jumps out
of the urn and attaches itself to David's shoulder. Under the
keeper's influence, David steals a ship and travels to Centauri
Prime, where he is delivered into Durla's hands.
Upon learning of this, Londo has a physical confrontation with Durla
but is prevented from substantive action by his keeper. As revenge
for Londo's outburst, Durla imprisons G'Kar and takes out his (synthetic) eye.
Attempting to rescue David, Sheridan and Delenn secretly travel to
the Centauri Prime where they are apprehended by Durla, who intends
to use their deaths to humiliate and demoralize the Alliance.
At the same time Michael Garibaldi
Michael Garibaldi
Michael Garibaldi is a lead fictional character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Jerry Doyle.-Overview:...
meets with Vir Cotto on
Babylon 5 and Vir finally reveals to him the presence of the Drakh
on Centauri Prime and their role in the events of both the past
15 years and the last few days.
Vir travels urgently to Centauri Prime, intending to help rescue
David. There Vir has a dinner with Londo. Speaking metaphorically to
fool his keeper and invoking the imagery of Cervantes' Don Quixote,
Londo lets Vir know that the "Tower of Power" is the main center of
the Drakh influence on Centauri Prime.
Durla's grand armada is almost ready to launch a devastating frontal
attack on the home-worlds of the main Alliance worlds. When Durla is
giving a speech to the adoring public before the start of the
attack, Vir's "Legions of Fire" explode a huge bomb deep in the
underground tunnels underneath the "Tower of Power". The "Tower" is
destroyed and the presence of the Drakh is finally revealed to all.
Vir addresses the Centauri public using the holographic broadcast
system and explains that the Drakh had secretly duped and
manipulated the Centauri for years.
In spite of all the evidence, Durla refuses to believe his eyes and
to accept that his "grand visions" were caused by the Drakh
manipulations. Durla guns down his ministers, who tried to reason with him,
and intends to transmit the attack "go" orders to the military
armada waiting in the hyperspace. Mariel stops him, and in a
struggle they both fall from a balcony to their deaths.
The Drakh Shiv'kala then demands that Londo tell the public that the
Drakh have been "secret friends" helping the Centauri and that Londo
continue with Durla's plans, including attacking the Alliance and
executing Sheridan and Delenn. Londo refuses, mistakenly believing
that Vir's resistance movement already knows about the Drakh's
fusion bombs and has de-activated them. Shiv'kala detonates one
third of the bombs and Centauri Prime is devastated. Horrified,
Londo agrees to the Drakh's demands. The technomages helping Vir
quickly find and neutralize the remaining Drakh bombs.
While heavily drunk to keep his keeper unconscious, Londo summons
G'Kar, who finally learns the truth about Londo's keeper. While
G'Kar is hiding in a small dressing chamber, Sheridan and Delenn are
brought before Londo on his orders. With the keeper still asleep,
Londo asks Sheridan and Delenn for their help to free the Centauri
in exchange for their freedom, and they finally see Londo's keeper
on his shoulder. Here the novel closely follows parts of the TV series Episode War Without End
War Without End
"War Without End" is a two-part story consisting of the 16th and 17th episodes in the third season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5. They were broadcast first on May 13 and May 20, 1996 on the PTEN network in America...
where Sheridan saw flashes of his future, including talking to Delenn in a jail cell and the meeting with Londo where Londo's keeper is revealed.
Sheridan and Delenn are then taken by the guards to
Londo's private ship where they are reunited with David, who is
unconscious and has been heavily sedated to control his keeper. The
three of them escape to Minbar.
In the throne-room Londo asks G'Kar to kill him to prevent the Drakh
from thwarting Londo's plans. G'Kar reluctantly agrees but, while he
is attempting to strangle Londo, the keeper awakes and fights back.
Londo and G'Kar are locked into a furious struggle and they both
die.
Vir returns to the throne room hoping to help Londo and finds both
Londo and G'Kar dead. There Shiv'kala confronts Vir and tries to
kill him but Vir manages to escape and travels to Minbar. The Drakh
leave the Centauri Prime and a power vacuum is created.
On Minbar Dr Stephen Franklin
Stephen Franklin
Stephen Franklin is a lead character in the fictional universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by the late Richard Biggs. He serves as the chief medical officer on the Babylon 5 space station.-Personality:...
examines David, who is being
physically restrained to neutralize his keeper. Franklin tells
David's parents that the only way to free David is to kill the Drakh
who created the keeper controlling the boy.
Aftermath
Vir makes a claim for the title of the Centauri Emperor. With thesupport of Sheridan, Alliance and the technomages, Vir's claim is
accepted by the Centauri noble houses. The mighty Centauri fleet is
given a new task: to hunt and destroy the Drakh.
Vir returns to Centauri Prime as emperor and marries Senna. While in
his private room, Vir is accosted by Shiv'kala. Shiv'kala has been
shunned by the other Drakh for his failure to control Londo and he
returned to take a personal revenge on Vir. Shiv'kala reveals to Vir
that his is the Drakh who produced David Sheridan's keeper. Before
Shiv'kala has a chance to kill Vir, Michael Garibaldi jumps out of a
closet where he has been hiding and fires two fatal PPG shots at the
Drakh. Vir tells the dying Shiv'kala that he and Garibaldi set a
trap for him, expecting his pride and vengefulness to overcome his
common sense. Vir finishes Shiv'kala off with a PPG shot to the head, and at the same moment David Sheridan
is freed from his keeper.
With the Alliance's help, Vir and Senna
Senna
-Individuals:* Ayrton Senna , a former Brazilian F1 driver and triple World Champion* Bruno Senna , a F1 driver and nephew of Ayrton Senna* Danzy Senna , a novelist* Marcos Senna , a Brazilian-Spanish football player...
set out to rebuild Centauri
Prime. They plan the giant statues of Londo and G'Kar to be built at
the two ends of the capital city, standing symbolic guard over it.