theQ - Babylon 5

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theQ

It is the dawn of the third age of mankind, the middle of the twenty-third century. Man is far from alone in the universe.

A hundred years ago, humanity made contact with its first alien civilization -- or more to the point, they made contact with us. Before the arrival of the Centauri, we were confined to our own solar system, forced to use slow sleeper ships to explore the universe. The Centauri gave us the stars, offered us the use of their "jumpgates" -- portals into hyperspace -- and later, taught us to make our own. In exchange for this and other technologies, they asked only for trinkets, novelties to sell back home.

In the eighty years that followed, humanity flexed its muscles, expanding outward at a rapid pace. When a group of less powerful races was attacked by an invading army, Earth came to their aid, cementing its role as a major galactic power, if a young, brash one.

The wave of euphoria came crashing down when humanity made contact with a mysterious race called the Minbari. The Earth-Minbari War began with a misunderstanding, a human captain and a Minbari commander too quick on the trigger. Thanks to bad luck or something darker, our first meeting with the Minbari resulted in the death of their supreme religious and political leader. To the Minbari, what followed was a holy war, vengeance for the murder of their spiritual leader. Earth was no match for the technologically superior Minbari, and they easily beat us back to our home planet.

Then, without explanation, as their ships closed in on Earth and wiped out our last desperate defenses, the Minbari halted their advance and surrendered. Only an elite few knew why.

The Babylon Project was conceived in the aftermath of the war. Modeled after the United Nations, it would be a meeting place, neutral ground where the powers could meet and work out their differences peacefully.

The first three Babylon stations were sabotaged in mid-construction. The fourth was completed, but just as it was about to go online, it vanished without a trace. The Earth government would have stopped there, but some of the alien governments, seeing the value of a meeting ground, offered financial assistance for the construction of a fifth station. Naturally, there were strings attached.

Babylon 5
is the story of the last of the Babylon stations, the last hope for a galaxy without war. It begins in the year 2257 with the opening of the Babylon 5 station.

Ambassador Delenn

A member of the Minbari Religious Caste, Ambassador Delenn has traveled widely and met a great deal of alien life forms. She spent many years as a member of the Gray Council and was present at the death of the Minbari leader, Dukat. In 2259, Delenn transformed herself into a half-human, half-Minbari being in order to create greater understanding between the two races. However, her actions were disowned by most Minbari and she lost her position on the Gray Council to Neroon of the Warrior Caste. This marked the first time the council had been disproportionately Warrior Caste in 1,000 years.

Dr. Stephen Franklin

Babylon 5's resident physician, Dr Stephen Franklin, will bend or break any rule to save a life and always refuses to accept defeat. The son of the legendary war hero General Richard Franklin, while studying at university Stephen Franklin said that he wanted his name to go down in history. He left home to hitch-hike across the galaxy, swapping his medical skills in return for rides, and joined Earth Force during the Earth-Minbari War When he was asked to hand in his notes on the Minbari to help create biogenic weapons, he destroyed them because of his commitment to preserving life. Dr Franklin has four sisters, Juanita, Maria, Celia and Kathy, and is a member of a new multi-alien religion known as Foundationalism. He has been alternately denying and fighting a growing addiction to stims.

Security Chief Michael Aifredo Garibaldi

For Michael Garibaldi, Babylon 5 represents a last chance for redemption. The son of a security officer, the grandson of a female Boston cop, Garibaldi's irreverent sense of humor and long-standing drinking problem have contributed to his colorful service record.

Prior to boarding Babylon 5, he was fired from his last five assignments for "unspecified personal problems" and was appointed as the station's security chief simply because Commander Jeffrey Sinclair insisted on it.

They had met on Mars when Garibaldi was suffering from drinking problems. Garibaldi saved Sinclair's life, and they both encountered a Shadow craft.

It was on Mars that a friend of Garibaldi was killed by a bomb intended for him. This caused Garibaldi to turn to the bottle again after blaming himself. Garibaldi gradually cut off all ties with Mars, even with Lise Hampton, with whom he once had a relationship.

He served as a soldier in the Earth-Minbari War and is a trained pilot and has many other skills. Garibaldi knows Babylon 5 better than anyone else and is finally beginning to find a purpose to his life aboard the station.

He was injured after finding evidence of an assassination attempt on the Earth president. He has become close to only a few of the residents, notably Ivanova, G'Kar, and Mollari. However, he did have a soft spot for Talia Winters.

Off-duty, Garibaldi has a love for cooking and cartoons; his second favorite thing in the universe is the Daffy Duck classic, Duck Rogers in the 24th and a 1/2 Century.

He was missing for weeks when the Shadows surrounded the station. On his return, a medic found nothing wrong, but he could not remember anything about the missing time. It was discovered that, during the battle to liberate Earth and Mars, he had been programmed by Psi Cop Bester to betray Sheridan. After making amends and clearing his name, Garibaldi is now the Chief Warrent Officer of the Alliance of Free Worlds.

(Lieutenant) Commander Susan Ivanova

As Babylon 5's first officer, Susan Ivanova supervises all day-to-day operations aboard the station. Born on August 30, 2230, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Earth, Susan Ivanova was educated away from her homeland. Ivanova had to overcome several tragedies in her life, including the suicide of her telepathic mother, Sofie, and the death of her brother, Gayna, during the Earth-Minbari War.

She developed a dislike of Psi Corps after her mother turned out to be a latent telepath and was given drugs to suppress her abilities. Ivanova watched as her mother slowly withdrew from her family and then tragically ended her life. This is one reason for Ivanova's point-blank refusal to be scanned.

She grew away from her father and joined EarthForce. Her father, Andrei, died shortly after she assumed her post aboard Babylon 5. His death raised issues of faith for her.

Efficient and hard-working, Ivanova has always been proud to be part of EarthForce and served with John Sheridan on lo and it was Ivanova who met the captain when he was transferred to Babylon 5.

She hates to show weakness and her dry sense of humor is often perceived as being pessimistic.

She has worked her way up the ranks on her own merits. A trained and accomplished combat pilot, she has a short temper and a quick wit and is always there with a comment or two.

Her dislike of Psi Corps caused her a few problems in the past. She initially hated Talia Winters, the station's commercial telepath, but they grew closer. In her spare time she seems to like reading, drinking coffee, and relaxing in general.

Lieutenant Commander Ivanova was promoted to the rank of Commander by Captain Sheridan in 2259.

She was invaluable during the Shadow War, looking after the running of the station when Captain Sheridan did not return from Za'ha'dum. She also managed to find all the remaining First Ones for the final battle and persuade them to join.

After the battle to liberate Earth and Mars. Ivanova left Babylon 5 and was assigned a ship's command.

Ambassador Londo Mollari

Londo accepted his post aboard Babylon S because nobody else wanted it. He enjoys drinking, gambling and female company Although he has married three times, he has yet to find a true and lasting love, except for a brief affair with a Centauri dancer named Adira.

Ambassador Londo Mollari He yearned for the old days of the republic, when the Centauri dominated large regions of space, and made a deal with the Shadows to reclaim it. This started the war between the Narn and the Centauri.

He would particularly like to wipe out the entire Narn race. Obviously, this caused tension on the station between Mollari and others, mainly Ambassador G'Kar of the Narn Regime. The Centauri invaded the Narn homeworld and then pulled out, leaving it virtually barren.

Mollari realized what he did and set about tying to put things to rights. When G'Kar was taken by the Centauri, Mollari managed to set up an elaborate plan to rid Centauri Prime of the Shadows and free G'Kar and his people. When the emperor died, Mollari was left virtually in charge of the Centauri until the Centauri can work out the bloodline and appoint a new emperor.

Mollari's wish is that he will die doing something noble and brave, but it is doubtful that his wife believes he will (he did have three wives but was granted a divorce from two of them by a previous emperor).

Mollari seems to find himself in situations he would rather not be in, usually of his own making. He has admitted to having dreams about the future that have come true.

Like many Centauri, Londo believes that he has seen his death in a dream. According to his vision, he will die strangling a Narn. When he first saw Ambassador G'Kar, Londo recognized him as the Narn from his dream. Incidentally, Londo was Centauri Emperor in his dream. Londos involvement with the Shadows launched a cataclysmic series of events that threaten not only the Babylon project, but much of the galaxy.

Lyta Alexander

Born December 10, 2225, on Earth, Lyta Alexander was the first commercial telepath assigned to Babylon 5 in 2257. Following the assassination attempt on Ambassador Kosh, Alexander was recalled to Earth where she faced interrogation from the Psi Corps. She subsequently escaped to Mars and is now a rogue telepath. She returned from the Vorlon homeworid in 2260, and took up part-time residence at Babylon 5, working for Kosh.

Captain John Sheridan

Captain John Sheridan assumed command of Babylon 5 on January 9, 2259, following the reassignment of Commander Sinclair. The son of a diplomatic envoy, Sheridan learned to stand up for himself and his beliefs at an early age. He has always been a strong patriot and joined EarthForce in the hope that he would somehow make a difference for his people.

During his time as an EarthForce officer, Sheridan has been assigned to so many different posts that he can't remember half of them.

He began his career serving under Captain Jack Maynard on the Moon-Mars patrol and was also posted to the jump point at lo, where he first worked with Susan Ivanova.

As Captain of the Starship Agamemnon during the Earth-Minbari War, Sheridan destroyed the Minbari flagship, the Black Star, and several accompanying vessels by mining the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter Although it was EarthForce's only clear-cut victory during the conflict, the Minbari feel that he won the battle dishonorably and refer to him as Starkiller.

Prior to his assignment to Babylon 5, Sheridan commanded the Agamemnon on deep-space patrol.

He was always President Santiago's first choice to replace Sinclair. During his initial months aboard Babylon 5, Sheridan had problems adjusting to his new assignment, and he still sometimes yearns to be back in command of a spaceship once more.

Sheridan is haunted by the loss of his wife, Anna, who was serving aboard the Icarus when it was mysteriously destroyed while investigating ancient ruins on Z'ha'dum.

His wife Anna was killed out on the Rim in 2257. it was later found that she had been taken over by the Shadows, and they later used this against him. His sister visited him on the station to talk about his wife just after he got the command.

During the Shadow War; Sheridan enlisted the help of virtually all races and attempted to destroy the Shadows's homeworid. Za'ha'dum. This led to his death and to the discovery of the very first First One, Lorien. Lorien gave Sheridan life again, and Sheridan came back to the station to organize the final battle. When the Vorlons started attacking, he let out a piece of Kosh, the first Vorlon ambassador and again died. Lorien brought him back to life a second time.

During the final battle between the allies, the Vorlons, and the Shadows, it was Sheridan who worked it out that the enemies wanted us to choose between the order and the chaos that they stood for. He stood up to them and persuaded them to leave fro the Rim. After leading the liberation of Earth, Sheridan resigned his commission and was named president of the new alliance of Free Worlds.

He has a younger sister, Elizabeth, and is a descendant of General Philip John Sheridan of the Union Army.
Since his childhood, Sheridan has always had an incessant curiosity. He met the Dalai Lama when he was 21 and maintains a keen interest in all religions and all alien races.

He insists on giving a "good luck" speech within 24 hours of assuming a new command, collects information about secret organizations and black projects, tells corny jokes, loves fresh fruit and baseball, speaks a few words of Drazi and is partial to an occasional Jovian Sunspot.

Sheridan has married Ambassador Delenn.

Commander Jeffrey David Sinclair

Jeffrey Sinclair served as Babylon 5's first commander and subsequently became the first Earth Ambassador to live permanently on the Minbari homeworld.

Born May 3, 2218, on the Mars Colony, Sinclair comes from a long line of fighter pilots that can be traced right back to World War II and learned everything he knows from his father.

He enlisted with EarthForce in 2237, became a fighter pilot in 2240 and was promoted to squad leader shortly after.

While studying at the Academy, Sinclair began his on/off relationship with Catherine Sakai and also developed his love for the works of Tennyson.

Sinclair is haunted by his experiences during the Earth-Minbari War and is one of the 200 survivors of the Battle of the Line.

During Earth's historic stand, Sinclair attempted to ram a Minbari warcruiser but mysteriously blacked out just before impact. He awoke 24 hours later to learn that the Minbari had surrendered on the verge of victory.

Eleven years later, Sinclair discovered that he had been taken aboard the cruiser and found to have a Minbari soul.

It was the Minbari who insisted that Sinclair be appointed as Babylon S's commander.

During his tour of duty aboard the station, Sinclair was willing to sacrifice his own life for the safety of Babylon 5 or any of its crew and, as Garibaldi once pointed out, tended to put himself in the line of the fire a bit too often.

He demonstrated a respect for all religions and revealed that he had spent three years being taught by Jesuits.

Following the mysterious death of President Santiago, Sinclair was recalled to Earth and reassigned to the Minbari homeworld as an Ambassador.

The Earth Alliance is unaware that he is building an army of light, known as the Rangers.

Sinclair would not return to Babylon 5 until July 2260, on a mission prophesied by the Minbari leader Valen 1,000 years earlier.

Talia Winters

In 2258, Talia Winters became the second commercial telepath assigned to Babylon 5. Winters was brought up by Psi Corps from the age of five and never knew her mother and father. The Corps arranged her marriage to Matt Stoner, which was subsequently annulled when Stoner lost his telepathic abilities. Prior to working on Babylon 5, Winters was assigned to the Mars Colony and also worked for the political bureau. During an unofficial internal investigation aboard Babylon 5, Winters was exposed as an unwitting Psi Corps spy and sent back to Earth.

Vir Cotto

As Ambassador Londo's assistant, Vir has watched his masters descent into darkness but has been unable to stop it. Vir was sent to Babylon 5 because his family didn't want him to be anywhere near them and receives little respect from Londo. He likes gadgets and toys, especially computer games, but isn't much of a drinker. He was briefly assigned to the diplomatic mission on Minbar in 2260

Zack Allan

Once an unassuming security officer, Zack Allen found himself torn between his Babylon 5 duties and his involvement with EarthForce's Nightwatch. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2259, and became Babylon 5's security chief in 2260.

Lennier

Prior to assuming his role as Delenns aide aboard Babylon 5, Lennier had spent all his life in a Minbari monastery learning the ways of the Religious Caste. A member of the Third Fain of Chudomo, Lennier has studied the 97 dialects and sub-tongues of Minbari and ranked as Master Adept' in the laws of probability. He also has a passion for history and is skilled in Minbari martial arts. During the Earth-Minbari War, Lennier lost several members of his family when the Black Star was destroyed.

Ambassador G'Kar

Ambassador G'Kar has dedicated his life to advancing the cause of the Narn race and would like nothing more than the annihilation of the Centauri.

As a young Narn, G'Kar saw his father die at the hands of his Centauri master and swore to serve his people ever after. This has brought him into conflict with others, especially Ambassador Mollari who once invaded his world.

He was a leader during the War of Independence and is a firm believer in the teachings of G'Quan. Despite his bitterness after the suffering he has seen, he can be a kind person and has helped many, including the planetologist Catherine Sakai.

G'Kar was a member of the third circle of the Kha'Ri, the Narn ruling body.

Following his people's defeat in the Narn/Centauri War, G'Kar accepted sanctuary aboard Babylon 5.

Of his sacrifices, not the least of these was the loose of one of his eyes (now has an artificial one). He lost it when he was caught by the Centauri while searching for Garibaldi and was tortured. He helped Mollari with a plan to rid Centauri Prime of the Shadows and thus free the Narn homeworld.

G'Kar was offered "emperor" of Narn but turned it down due to the endless circle of tyranny and counter blame in the Narn/Centauri war.

Na 'Toth

Na'Toth was appointed as G'Kar's ambassadorial aide when her predecessor, Ko'Dath, was killed during an "unfortunate accident" with an airlock. Although her father was a disciple of G'Lan, Na'Toth, like her mother, has no religious beliefs. She took a blood oath to kill Jha'Dur, the Deathwalker, and was sponsored by Li'Dak of Fifth Council. It is assumed that Na'Toth was killed during the Centauri attack on Narn.

Ambassador Kosh Naranek

Like all Vorlons, Ambassador Kosh Naranek is shrouded in mystery. Nobody knows how he spends most of his time aboard the station and he tends to speak in riddles. Kosh usually wears an encounter suit, which is said to contain his atmosphere, but the almost fatal attempt on his life in 2257 suggested that the suit is little more than a disguise. Babylon 5's dock crew refuse to go near Kosh's ship. which is docked in Bay 13. During 2258, Kosh developed a special link with Captain Sheridan. At the end of the year, the Vorlon left his encounter suit and revealed himself as a creature of light to save the Captain from certain death

Bester

Bester embodies the more sinister side of the Psi Corps. He is a highly trained Psi Cop and will do anything to safeguard telepaths, including killing.

It seems that he is always tracking things and people to Babylon 5, usually renegade telepaths.

He is not averse to illegal scans and prefers telepathic communication.

With all his experience on Babylon 5, he has slightly warmed to the crew members despite their loathing of him, which they do not try to hide. He is usually forced to cooperate with the crew, which he finds amusing.

One of his loves, another telepath, was sent by the Psi Corps to be used by the Shadows in their vessels. He came to Babylon 5 for help, and they were able to rescue her. However, she has Shadow technology grafted into her and has to be kept in cryogenic suspension until it can be figured out how to remove it. It is due to this that Bester occasionally helps Babylon 5. However, he is not to be trusted.

Bester claims that he is married and has a five year old daughter.

Morden

Little is known about Mr. Morden, the human representative of the Shadows. In 2259, Captain Sheridan learned that he was serving aboard the Icarus when it exploded above Z'ha'dum

Lieutenant Commander Laurel Takashima

Babylon 5's original first officer, Laurel Takashima met Commander Jeffrey Sinclair while working at Mars Colony Security. Following the assassination attempt on Ambassador Kosh, Takashima was recalled to Earth and is currently on a "classified mission."

Dr. Benjamin Kyle

During his brief tenure as Babylon 5's first medical officer, Dr. Benjamin Kyle saved Ambassador Kosh's life by opening his encounter suit and performing emergency surgery. Like Laurel Takashima, Dr. Kyle was recalled to Earth shortly after the assassination attempt.

Warren Keffer

One-time leader of Zeta Squadron. Warren Keffer encountered a Shadow ship in hyper-space during the rescue of the Cortez and became increasingly obsessed with learning the truth about what he had seen. Keffer was declared missing in action when his star-fury was destroyed at the end of 2259.

Marcus Cole

One of the Rangers trained on Minbar by Sinclair to fight the Shadows. Skeptical at first. he joined the Rangers when his brother. also a Ranger, was killed trying to help him Marcus is obliged to finish the work his brother began He is British. albeit several generations removed from Earth, and is permanently assigned to Babylon 5.

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