The Long, Twilight Struggle
Encyclopedia
"The Long, Twilight Struggle" is an episode from the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5
. Its title alludes to a speech given by John F. Kennedy of the same name.
learn of a Narn
plan to destroy a Centauri supply and communications base at a system, Gorash 7. A senior minister in the Centauri government, Lord Refa
, convinces Centauri ambassador Londo Mollari to use his contacts with the Shadows to stop the Narn attack. However Londo has become afraid of reports of his so called "Associates" and tells Refa that the Centauri must win this war by themselves and that this is the last time he will call upon the Shadows. While the Shadows engage the Narn, Refa and Mollari will join the Centauri fleet for an all-out attack on the Narn homeworld.
The Narn commit nearly their entire battle fleet to the attack and hyperspace to Gorash 7. However several Shadow ships are waiting for them and jump from hyperspace. Within minutes the numerically superior Narn fleet is completely wiped out by the Shadow ships. Among those killed is the Narn Warmaster G'Sten, uncle of Narn ambassador G'Kar.
Using their now overwhelming advantage over the Narn, the Centauri launch their final attack on the Narn homeworld, using universally outlawed mass driver
s for planetary bombardment. Within a few days most of Narn's major cities are in ruins, millions of Narns are dead, and the planet's economy and infrastructure are on the verge of total collapse. In an act of sheer survival, the Narn Regime agrees to an unconditional surrender
to the Centauri, who quickly occupy the Narn homeworld and re-enslave its people. The Narn ruling council, the Kha'Ri, is arrested by the Centauri and charged with war crimes; it is assumed that most of the Kha'Ri members will be executed by the Centauri.
G'Kar asks Sheridan
for, and receives, sanctuary
aboard Babylon 5, as the Centauri have ordered him arrested, after stripping him of his ambassador
ial status.
Draal
, the keeper of the Great Machine
on Epsilon 3, invites Sheridan and Delenn
to visit, and during the visit offers assistance in the coming Shadow War
. The existence of the Rangers
is revealed to Sheridan, and Delenn transfers equal authority over the Rangers to him.
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...
. Its title alludes to a speech given by John F. Kennedy of the same name.
Synopsis
The CentauriCentauri (Babylon 5)
The Centauri are a humanoid species in the fictional universe of the Babylon 5 television series. They were the first alien species to make open contact with the human race. Their homeworld is Centauri Prime, a small Earth-like planet consisting of two large continents and several smaller islands...
learn of a 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...
plan to destroy a Centauri supply and communications base at a system, Gorash 7. A senior minister in the Centauri government, Lord Refa
Lord Refa
Lord Antono Refa is a fictional character from the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by William Forward. He is a regular guest character in the second and third seasons.-Personality:...
, convinces Centauri ambassador Londo Mollari to use his contacts with the Shadows to stop the Narn attack. However Londo has become afraid of reports of his so called "Associates" and tells Refa that the Centauri must win this war by themselves and that this is the last time he will call upon the Shadows. While the Shadows engage the Narn, Refa and Mollari will join the Centauri fleet for an all-out attack on the Narn homeworld.
The Narn commit nearly their entire battle fleet to the attack and hyperspace to Gorash 7. However several Shadow ships are waiting for them and jump from hyperspace. Within minutes the numerically superior Narn fleet is completely wiped out by the Shadow ships. Among those killed is the Narn Warmaster G'Sten, uncle of Narn ambassador G'Kar.
Using their now overwhelming advantage over the Narn, the Centauri launch their final attack on the Narn homeworld, using universally outlawed mass driver
Mass driver
A mass driver or electromagnetic catapult is a proposed method of non-rocket spacelaunch which would use a linear motor to accelerate and catapult payloads up to high speeds. All existing and contemplated mass drivers use coils of wire energized by electricity to make electromagnets. Sequential...
s for planetary bombardment. Within a few days most of Narn's major cities are in ruins, millions of Narns are dead, and the planet's economy and infrastructure are on the verge of total collapse. In an act of sheer survival, the Narn Regime agrees to an unconditional surrender
Unconditional surrender
Unconditional surrender is a surrender without conditions, in which no guarantees are given to the surrendering party. In modern times unconditional surrenders most often include guarantees provided by international law. Announcing that only unconditional surrender is acceptable puts psychological...
to the Centauri, who quickly occupy the Narn homeworld and re-enslave its people. The Narn ruling council, the Kha'Ri, is arrested by the Centauri and charged with war crimes; it is assumed that most of the Kha'Ri members will be executed by the Centauri.
G'Kar asks 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...
for, and receives, sanctuary
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
aboard Babylon 5, as the Centauri have ordered him arrested, after stripping him of his ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
ial status.
Draal
Draal
Draal is a fictional character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played first by Louis Turenne and later by John Schuck.-Overview:...
, the keeper of the Great Machine
Great Machine
The Great Machine is an enormous technological complex of networked machines beneath the surface of the planet Epsilon III in Babylon 5.-History:...
on Epsilon 3, invites Sheridan 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....
to visit, and during the visit offers assistance in the coming Shadow War
Shadow War
The Shadow Wars are a fictional series of wars involving the Shadows in the television science fiction series Babylon 5. There have actually been many Shadow Wars since ancient times in the galaxy. Roughly every thousand years, the Shadows begin a new Shadow War to promote chaos in the universe in...
. The existence of the Rangers
Ranger (Babylon 5)
Rangers are a fictional class of warriors that play a prominent role in the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-History:...
is revealed to Sheridan, and Delenn transfers equal authority over the Rangers to him.
Arc significance
- The Centauri defeat the Narn and conquer their home planet with the aid of Londo's ShadowShadow (Babylon 5)The Shadows are a fictional alien species in the science fiction television series Babylon 5. Their homeworld is Z'ha'dum. In contrast to the Vorlons, whose philosophy is represented by the question "Who are you?", that of the Shadows is represented by the question "What do you want?", centering...
allies, ending the Narn-Centauri War mini-arc. - The existence of the Rangers is revealed to Captain Sheridan.
- Draal returns and forms an alliance with Babylon 5.
- The Centauri assault fleet uses illegal mass drivers to bombard the Narn homeworld with large meteors. The surface damage caused by the meteors leads to great negative changes in the planet's climate; these changes will become apparent in later episodes of the series.
- G'Kar is no longer an ambassador and he receives sanctuary by Sheridan.
- According to the terms of the Narn surrender for every Centauri killed by any Narn, the penalty will be the death of five hundred Narns and the perpetrator's own family.
- During the mass bombardment of the Narn homeworld, a long zoom shot focuses on Londo watching the bombardment. He seems to be quite aware that he has damned himself.