War Without End
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War Without End is a two-part episode from the third season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5.
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Plot synopsis
The Babylon 5 crew must venture through time to take Babylon 4 into the past.
Detail
On Minbar, Ambassador Sinclair receives a letter from 900 years ago. The contents of the letter are not revealed, but Sinclair immediately travels to Babylon 5. Delenn (who received a similar letter) and Sinclair board the White Star with the command staff and head to Sector 14 which has been quarantined since Babylon 4 disappeared without a trace. On the way, Delenn reveals that in the last Shadow War, the main base of operations was destroyed. But as if an answer to their prayers, a replacement arrived. Babylon 4 was sent 1,000 years into the past. 6 years ago, as Babylon 4 neared completion, the Shadows recognized the station for what it was, and attempted to destroy it. The next thing Delenn shows the crew is the White Star destroying the Shadow vessels 6 years in the past when Babylon 4 first disappeared. In the course of the mission, Sheridan's time stabilizer is damaged and he becomes unstuck in time, actually travelling into the future about 20 years. He is on Centauri Prime, and Londo is the Emperor. It is made clear that he is to be executed because the allies of the Shadows came to Centauri Prime after the Army of Light drove them from their home on Za'Ha Dum. The planet was devastated, and the people blamed Sheridan and Delenn.
Back on Babylon 4 the crew places the time controlling equipment from the great machine on Epsilon 3 into place, and after some time Sheridan returns from the future. The station's crew is successfully evacuated by Sinclair and Garibaldi from 2 years prior when the station reappeared in the season 1 episode Babylon Squared. Once everything is in place, Sinclair informs the rest that he will not be returning with them. The system isn't fully automatic, and someone must ensure the station arrives at the right time and place. Aboard the White Star, Delenn reveals what will happen to Sinclair. 1,000 years ago, human and minbari souls began to merge. Minbari souls were being born in human bodies. Something significant happened to cause that. Her transformation into a half-human, half-minbari was an attempt to restore the balance, and she used a machine that her people discovered 1,000 years ago. Because, if the Minbari were to find Babylon 4 with a human on board, they would never have accepted it. Marcus then repeats to himself "a Minbari not born of Minbar ..." the most prominent description of their holiest figure, Valen.
Arc significance
- The fate of Babylon 4 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 - he traveled with the station into the past. Sinclair used the triluminary to transform himself into the Minbari Valen, and completed the circle.
Production details
Trivia
During the first season, the episode Babylon Squared showed the station's reappearance, and the rescue of the station's crew. In War Without End, viewers see the Babylon 4 story from a behind the scenes angle, and learn what truly happened to the station.
In the scene where Delenn sees a vision of the future, she is in the quarters of Captain Sheridan watching him sleep. The doors open and a lady's voice says "Hello, you must be Delenn". Delenn drops the water globe she is holding. This vision of Delenn's will be seen at the end of "Shadow Dancing" and the beginning of "Z'ha'dum". The woman who speaks to Delenn is Captain Sheridan's wife, Anna.
External links
- Lurker's Guide Episode Page (Part 1)
- Lurker's Guide Episode Page (Part 2)Template:Sf-stub