War Without End
Encyclopedia
"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. It marks the return of Michael O'Hare
, who by mutual agreement departed the show as a regular after season one, reprising his role as Jeffrey Sinclair
for the character's final appearance on the show. The story resolves many of the threads from "Babylon Squared
", which detailed part of what happened to the Babylon 4
space station.
receives an enveloped message on Minbar
, which has been in a sealed case "for over 900 years". He immediately sets off for the Babylon 5 space station where Delenn
has received a similar looking envelope. On Babylon 5, a message is received from sector 14, where Babylon 4 had disappeared. The message appears to be a distress call from Commander Ivanova
, but details are unclear and the message is garbled. Garibaldi
sets off in a Starfury
to survey the sector. There he finds a temporal rift being sustained by a tachyon beam from Epsilon 3, home of the Great Machine
. He is able to get a clearer version of the message which shows the fall of Babylon 5 due to an attack by Shadow vessels. The message is time-stamped to occur eight days in the future.
After Sinclair arrives at Babylon 5, Delenn escorts him, Marcus
, Ivanova, Lennier
, and Captain Sheridan
to the White Star, and set off for the rift. En route, she explains that late in the last Shadow War
, the great Minbari
starbase was destroyed, and it seemed the war would be fought to a standstill or a defeat. In their hour of greatest need, a new station appeared; Babylon 4. She also shows them records obtained from the Great Machine from the period just before Babylon 4 vanished for the first time. The record shows the White Star saving B4 from a Shadow attack, and confirms that they are the ones responsible for stealing Babylon 4. Zathras
joins them to prepare the White Star and her crew for time travel. He issues time stabilizers to each crew member, to prevent them from becoming "unstuck in time." Before reaching the rift, Sinclair has Sheridan contact Garibaldi, and send him back to Babylon 5 without revealing his presence.
The White Star journeys six years into the past, and destroys a flight of Shadow fighters carrying a fusion bomb meant to destroy Babylon 4. However, a shockwave from the explosion reaches the White Star and damages Sheridan's time stabilizer. He becomes unstuck in time, disappears from the White Star, and finds himself seventeen years in the future, as a prisoner of the old Emperor (Londo Mollari) on Centauri Prime. Londo reveals that Sheridan's war resulted in the Shadow's defeat, but also reveals that their dark servants have come to Centauri Prime. Londo shows Sheridan the Centauri capital city through the palace windows, and it is in ruins.
The White Star docks with Babylon 4, and its crew disembarks to prepare the station to be transported through time.
core by tampering with the sensor system to create a false reading indicating a hull breach, causing an evacuation of nearby B4 personnel, and sealing the pressure doors in that sector.
On the future Centauri Prime, Emperor Mollari sends away Sheridan to his cell, where he is met by Delenn. She tells Sheridan that she didn't tell them anything, and that their son is safe. Sheridan is confused, but Delenn tells him she loves him, and they kiss. He tries to explain to her that he doesn't belong in this time, and doesn't know what is happening, and she realizes by the look of innocence in his eyes that this is the future glimpse that he once explained to her.
They are taken back to Mollari, who apologizes for being drunk, but states that it is the only way to keep his Keeper asleep. In exchange for their lives, they pledge to free Centauri Prime. He sends them away to a ship to escape. G'Kar enters, who Mollari calls his 'old friend.' He tells him that his Keeper will awaken any second, preventing his released prisoners from getting out alive. Londo tells G'Kar that they have unfinished business and G'Kar starts to strangle him. At first, Londo accepts his fate, but the eye of his Keeper snaps open, and Londo fights back with vigor, and they strangle each other to death. Vir
enters, discovers the bodies, and claims the imperial seal.
Before arriving at the shuttle, Sheridan is racked with pain as he is pulled back in time. Just before he vanishes, Delenn pleads with him not to go to Z'ha'dum
. Back on B4, Sheridan rematerializes inside a space suit that Zathras has jury-rigged
to help stabilize Sheridan in time. Together with Sinclair, Sheridan proceeds to the power core where they attach the equipment necessary to control the time shift. As they power up the equipment, a power surge causes Sheridan to become unstuck in time again, and inadvertently sends Babylon 4 four years into the relative future, to the time where it appeared in "Babylon Squared
".
Delenn experiences a brief future 'time flash', of a woman in a doorway greeting her, in her surprise she lets go of a snowglobe, letting it fall to the floor and shatter. Sinclair returns from the power core, and removes his helmet, appearing greatly aged. He explains that, because he was previously exposed unprotected to a time field in "Babylon Squared" that he now ages at a greater rate the closer they come to their own time, which is the reason he didn't want the similarly exposed Garibaldi to join the mission.
Zathras goes off to fix Sheridan's time stabilizer, but is captured by Babylon 4 guards in the process, and is introduced to the Garibaldi and Sinclair from the time of "Babylon Squared". Ivanova goes to B4's C&C
and, after it has been cleared of personnel, sneaks in to adjust the power levels and prevent any further power surges. Delenn sees Sheridan appear and gives him her own stabilizer, taking his suit, causing her to become unstuck in time.
The past Sinclair and Garibaldi, together with Zathras, see a blue suited figure appear in the central corridor, who Zathras identifies as "The One." Sinclair attempts to touch the figure's hand, but he is thrown back. In the confusion, Zathras gives his fixed time stabilizer to the figure, who promptly vanishes. Repeating the events from "Babylon Squared". As they are evacuating, a beam falls from the ceiling trapping Zathras. Unwilling to leave him to die, Sinclair attempts in vain to free him, but Zathras tells Sinclair that the station is about to disappear and that they must leave. The previous Sinclair and Garibaldi flee the station, leaving Zathras behind. As their shuttle departs, the present-day Sinclair tries to send a message to Garibaldi to "watch (his) back"
but the message fails to reach the shuttle. Returning to Zathras, the blue suited figure approaches him, and removes its helmet, revealing Delenn.
The crew prepares to depart the station, but Marcus observes that someone must remain to pilot Babylon 4 back to the past, and that Sinclair has been withholding this from them. Marcus volunteers to stay with the station, but Sinclair tells him that he must take the station back, because he has always taken the station back. As they depart, Sinclair pulls Sheridan, Delenn, and Zathras aside. He tells Zathras that he is confused, because initially Zathras identified Sinclair as "The One" but later, stated that Delenn was. Zathras explains that Sinclair is "The One who was" Delenn is "The One who is" and Sheridan is "The One who will be."
The White Star debarks Babylon 4, and returns to its own time, having averted the destruction of Babylon 5 as seen in the future distress call. As the crew wonders what will become of Sinclair, Delenn states that the Minbari of one thousand years past would not have accepted Babylon 4 if a human had been aboard. Marcus exclaims "Dear God! A Minbari not born of Minbari." Back aboard Babylon 4, Sinclair activates a triluminary
device to enter a chrysalis, as Delenn had done.
One thousand years in the past, Minbari cruisers approach the station, and two Minbari board it. They are greeted by Zathras
who leads them to two Vorlon
s outside of their encounter suits hovering over Sinclair, who now looks like a Minbari. He introduces himself as Valen
, and announces that they have great work ahead of them.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series Babylon 5
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...
. They were broadcast first on May 13 and May 20, 1996 on the PTEN
Prime Time Entertainment Network
The Prime Time Entertainment Network was a United States television network launched in 1993 by the Prime Time Consortium, a joint venture between Warner Bros. Domestic Television and the Chris-Craft group of independent stations...
network in America. It marks the return of Michael O'Hare
Michael O'Hare
Michael O'Hare is an American actor, best known for playing Jeffrey Sinclair in the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Biography:Michael O'Hare was born in Chicago, Illinois...
, who by mutual agreement departed the show as a regular after season one, reprising his role as Jeffrey Sinclair
Jeffrey Sinclair
Jeffrey Sinclair is a character in the fictional universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by actor Michael O'Hare. He was a regular in the first season of the show, as Commander of the Babylon 5 station, and made a number of guest appearances afterward.-Early life and...
for the character's final appearance on the show. The story resolves many of the threads from "Babylon Squared
Babylon Squared
"Babylon Squared" is an episode from the first season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:The episode concerns the yet to be explained reappearance of Babylon 4 and Delenn's visit to the Grey Council....
", which detailed part of what happened to the Babylon 4
Babylon 4
Babylon 4 is a fictional space station from the television series Babylon 5.In the series, Babylon 4 was the immediate predecessor of Babylon 5 and the largest of the Babylon stations...
space station.
Part One
At the start of the episode, Entil'Zha Jeffrey SinclairJeffrey Sinclair
Jeffrey Sinclair is a character in the fictional universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by actor Michael O'Hare. He was a regular in the first season of the show, as Commander of the Babylon 5 station, and made a number of guest appearances afterward.-Early life and...
receives an enveloped message 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...
, which has been in a sealed case "for over 900 years". He immediately sets off for the Babylon 5 space station where 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....
has received a similar looking envelope. On Babylon 5, a message is received from sector 14, where Babylon 4 had disappeared. The message appears to be a distress call from Commander Ivanova
Susan Ivanova
Susan Ivanova is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Claudia Christian.-Character overview:...
, but details are unclear and the message is garbled. 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:...
sets off in a Starfury
Starfury
The Starfury fighter is a fictional vessel used by Earthforce, the military branch of the Earth Alliance, in the science fiction television series Babylon 5...
to survey the sector. There he finds a temporal rift being sustained by a tachyon beam from Epsilon 3, home 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:...
. He is able to get a clearer version of the message which shows the fall of Babylon 5 due to an attack by Shadow vessels. The message is time-stamped to occur eight days in the future.
After Sinclair arrives at Babylon 5, Delenn escorts him, Marcus
Marcus Cole
Marcus Cole, played by Jason Carter, is a fictional character in the universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. He was a regular in the third and fourth seasons of the show...
, Ivanova, Lennier
Lennier
Lennier is a character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Bill Mumy. He is Minbari and acts as ambassadorial aide to Delenn throughout most of the series.-Background and career:...
, and Captain 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...
to the White Star, and set off for the rift. En route, she explains that late in the last 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 great Minbari
Minbari
The Minbari are a fictional alien race featured in the television show Babylon 5. The Minbari characters of Delenn and Lennier figure prominently throughout the series; Neroon, Draal, and Dukhat are less prominent Minbari characters....
starbase was destroyed, and it seemed the war would be fought to a standstill or a defeat. In their hour of greatest need, a new station appeared; Babylon 4. She also shows them records obtained from the Great Machine from the period just before Babylon 4 vanished for the first time. The record shows the White Star saving B4 from a Shadow attack, and confirms that they are the ones responsible for stealing Babylon 4. Zathras
Zathras
Zathras is a race of characters in the science fiction television series Babylon 5, all portrayed by the late Tim Choate. There were ten of these characters who appeared on several episodes throughout the series...
joins them to prepare the White Star and her crew for time travel. He issues time stabilizers to each crew member, to prevent them from becoming "unstuck in time." Before reaching the rift, Sinclair has Sheridan contact Garibaldi, and send him back to Babylon 5 without revealing his presence.
The White Star journeys six years into the past, and destroys a flight of Shadow fighters carrying a fusion bomb meant to destroy Babylon 4. However, a shockwave from the explosion reaches the White Star and damages Sheridan's time stabilizer. He becomes unstuck in time, disappears from the White Star, and finds himself seventeen years in the future, as a prisoner of the old Emperor (Londo Mollari) on Centauri Prime. Londo reveals that Sheridan's war resulted in the Shadow's defeat, but also reveals that their dark servants have come to Centauri Prime. Londo shows Sheridan the Centauri capital city through the palace windows, and it is in ruins.
The White Star docks with Babylon 4, and its crew disembarks to prepare the station to be transported through time.
Part Two
Marcus and Ivanova secure the area between the White Star and the fusionNuclear fusion
Nuclear fusion is the process by which two or more atomic nuclei join together, or "fuse", to form a single heavier nucleus. This is usually accompanied by the release or absorption of large quantities of energy...
core by tampering with the sensor system to create a false reading indicating a hull breach, causing an evacuation of nearby B4 personnel, and sealing the pressure doors in that sector.
On the future Centauri Prime, Emperor Mollari sends away Sheridan to his cell, where he is met by Delenn. She tells Sheridan that she didn't tell them anything, and that their son is safe. Sheridan is confused, but Delenn tells him she loves him, and they kiss. He tries to explain to her that he doesn't belong in this time, and doesn't know what is happening, and she realizes by the look of innocence in his eyes that this is the future glimpse that he once explained to her.
They are taken back to Mollari, who apologizes for being drunk, but states that it is the only way to keep his Keeper asleep. In exchange for their lives, they pledge to free Centauri Prime. He sends them away to a ship to escape. G'Kar enters, who Mollari calls his 'old friend.' He tells him that his Keeper will awaken any second, preventing his released prisoners from getting out alive. Londo tells G'Kar that they have unfinished business and G'Kar starts to strangle him. At first, Londo accepts his fate, but the eye of his Keeper snaps open, and Londo fights back with vigor, and they strangle each other to death. Vir
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...
enters, discovers the bodies, and claims the imperial seal.
Before arriving at the shuttle, Sheridan is racked with pain as he is pulled back in time. Just before he vanishes, Delenn pleads with him not to go to Z'ha'dum
Z'ha'dum
Z'ha'dum is the final episode of the third season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Teaser:Anna Sheridan, John Sheridan's lost wife, returns to the station, unexpectedly showing up at Sheridan's room, much to the shock and anxiety of Delenn. Anna attempts to get close to...
. Back on B4, Sheridan rematerializes inside a space suit that Zathras has jury-rigged
Jury rig
Jury rigging refers to makeshift repairs or temporary contrivances, made with only the tools and materials that happen to be on hand. Originally a nautical term, on sailing ships a jury rig is a replacement mast and yards improvised in case of damage or loss of the original mast.-Etymology:The...
to help stabilize Sheridan in time. Together with Sinclair, Sheridan proceeds to the power core where they attach the equipment necessary to control the time shift. As they power up the equipment, a power surge causes Sheridan to become unstuck in time again, and inadvertently sends Babylon 4 four years into the relative future, to the time where it appeared in "Babylon Squared
Babylon Squared
"Babylon Squared" is an episode from the first season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:The episode concerns the yet to be explained reappearance of Babylon 4 and Delenn's visit to the Grey Council....
".
Delenn experiences a brief future 'time flash', of a woman in a doorway greeting her, in her surprise she lets go of a snowglobe, letting it fall to the floor and shatter. Sinclair returns from the power core, and removes his helmet, appearing greatly aged. He explains that, because he was previously exposed unprotected to a time field in "Babylon Squared" that he now ages at a greater rate the closer they come to their own time, which is the reason he didn't want the similarly exposed Garibaldi to join the mission.
Zathras goes off to fix Sheridan's time stabilizer, but is captured by Babylon 4 guards in the process, and is introduced to the Garibaldi and Sinclair from the time of "Babylon Squared". Ivanova goes to B4's C&C
Command and Control (military)
Command and control, or C2, in a military organization can be defined as the exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated commanding officer over assigned and attached forces in the accomplishment of the mission...
and, after it has been cleared of personnel, sneaks in to adjust the power levels and prevent any further power surges. Delenn sees Sheridan appear and gives him her own stabilizer, taking his suit, causing her to become unstuck in time.
The past Sinclair and Garibaldi, together with Zathras, see a blue suited figure appear in the central corridor, who Zathras identifies as "The One." Sinclair attempts to touch the figure's hand, but he is thrown back. In the confusion, Zathras gives his fixed time stabilizer to the figure, who promptly vanishes. Repeating the events from "Babylon Squared". As they are evacuating, a beam falls from the ceiling trapping Zathras. Unwilling to leave him to die, Sinclair attempts in vain to free him, but Zathras tells Sinclair that the station is about to disappear and that they must leave. The previous Sinclair and Garibaldi flee the station, leaving Zathras behind. As their shuttle departs, the present-day Sinclair tries to send a message to Garibaldi to "watch (his) back"
Chrysalis (Babylon 5)
"Chrysalis" is the final episode of the first season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:Mollari and G'Kar argue about Quadrant 37....
but the message fails to reach the shuttle. Returning to Zathras, the blue suited figure approaches him, and removes its helmet, revealing Delenn.
The crew prepares to depart the station, but Marcus observes that someone must remain to pilot Babylon 4 back to the past, and that Sinclair has been withholding this from them. Marcus volunteers to stay with the station, but Sinclair tells him that he must take the station back, because he has always taken the station back. As they depart, Sinclair pulls Sheridan, Delenn, and Zathras aside. He tells Zathras that he is confused, because initially Zathras identified Sinclair as "The One" but later, stated that Delenn was. Zathras explains that Sinclair is "The One who was" Delenn is "The One who is" and Sheridan is "The One who will be."
The White Star debarks Babylon 4, and returns to its own time, having averted the destruction of Babylon 5 as seen in the future distress call. As the crew wonders what will become of Sinclair, Delenn states that the Minbari of one thousand years past would not have accepted Babylon 4 if a human had been aboard. Marcus exclaims "Dear God! A Minbari not born of Minbari." Back aboard Babylon 4, Sinclair activates a triluminary
Triluminary
Triluminaries are devices in the science fiction drama Babylon 5. The triluminary is a triangular shaped Minbari crystal with a small chip in the centre. The full extent of its abilities are unknown, although it is said to be the holiest of all relics in Minbari society and thus any readings it...
device to enter a chrysalis, as Delenn had done.
One thousand years in the past, Minbari cruisers approach the station, and two Minbari board it. They are greeted by Zathras
Zathras
Zathras is a race of characters in the science fiction television series Babylon 5, all portrayed by the late Tim Choate. There were ten of these characters who appeared on several episodes throughout the series...
who leads them to two Vorlon
Vorlon
A Vorlon is a member of a fictional alien species in the Babylon 5 television series and fictional universe. The Vorlon species is a member of the First Ones, a group made up of the earliest species to gain sentience in the galaxy...
s outside of their encounter suits hovering over Sinclair, who now looks like a Minbari. He introduces himself as Valen
Valen
Valen is a character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. Although he has only one scene in the show, he is an important character in the history of the Minbari, and is frequently mentioned...
, and announces that they have great work ahead of them.
Arc significance
- The fate of Babylon 4Babylon 4Babylon 4 is a fictional space station from the television series Babylon 5.In the series, Babylon 4 was the immediate predecessor of Babylon 5 and the largest of the Babylon stations...
is finally revealed. Babylon 4 was taken into the distant past, and became the base of operations for the Minbari and the Vorlons during the last war with the Shadows. - The ultimate fate of Ambassador Sinclair is revealed - Sinclair has become one of the holiest figures of Minbari history, ValenValenValen is a character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. Although he has only one scene in the show, he is an important character in the history of the Minbari, and is frequently mentioned...
, who will lead them to victory during the first Shadow War, form the Grey Council, and founded large parts of their societal structure. As well as this, we see flashbacks from season one which relate to Sinclair's Minbari nature. This also explains how Valen knew that the Shadows would return exactly one millennium later. - The only time that the One who was, the One who is, and the One who will be are seen together in the same episode. However, all three characters appeared in separate scenes in the Season Two episode "The Coming of ShadowsThe Coming of Shadows"The Coming of Shadows" is a key episode from the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5. It won the 1996 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.-Synopsis:...
" and the prequel TV film Babylon 5: In the BeginningBabylon 5: In the BeginningBabylon 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....
. - The third prophecy made by Morella concerning Mollari is revealed as is the prophecy that both Mollari and Vir will both be Emperor.
Inconsistencies with "Babylon Squared"
- In B2, Major Krantz says that Zathras suddenly appeared in the middle of a conference room after a time-flash. Here, Zathras is caught by security guards while rummaging through a box of equipment. An attempt was made to film the scene as described, however by agreement of the Director and Straczynski, the scene was dropped and redone, due to being too long and requiring an awkward and unnatural setup.
- The B2 scene where Delenn puts her hand on Sinclair's shoulder and says that they have to go, shows her wearing a red robe. In this episode, she is wearing dark brown. Also, the computer voice announcing "Present time atmosphere now breathable" does not appear in WWE's version of this scene. (We never find out what the computer was talking about in B2 when it mentioned the atmosphere being breathable.)
- When 'The One', clearly wounded, appears at the end of B2, there are grunts of pain coming from its suit - in a male voice. In WWE, we learn that this is Delenn, and so we should have heard a female voice.
- In B2, according to Zathras, Babylon 4's motion through time was stopped by The One so that the station's original crew could evacuate. However, in WWE, the station appears in 2258 accidentally, when Major Krantz orders the powering up of the fusion reactor. Also, the idea of faking a reactor accident to get the crew away was Ivanova's, not any of the versions of The One (Sinclair, Sheridan or Delenn).
- WWE shows that Major Krantz knew of the explosion of the Shadow fusion bomb, and the presence of possibly hostile intruders aboard his station. He does not mention any of this to Sinclair in B2.
- More so an inconsistency with the series, in the opening shot of "War Without End" (Part One), text is displayed over the planet shot of Minbar, but claims the planet to be of the 'Minibari Federation', rather than 'Minbari Federation'.
External links
- Lurker's Guide Episode Page (Part 1)
- Lurker's Guide Episode Page (Part 2)