Gropos

"Gropos" is an episode from the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.

Synopsis

A EarthForce battlecruiser and several ships arrive at Babylon 5 without announcement. Their commander, General Richard "Firestorm" Franklin, instructs the station's crew to find housing for 25,000 infantrymen - also known as "groundpounders" or "gropos" - for the next few days. In private, Gen. Franklin explains that while obstinately they are on a troop transport mission to Io, they are actually preparing to launch a military attack on rebels on the planet Akdor, and are waiting for Earth Congress to confirm the action. Gen. Franklin tells the senior staff to not tell anyone else about this, and requests Sheridan's help due to his former experience on Akdor.

The additional staff make the station over-crowded, forcing some station crew to double up and raising tensions around the station. Keffer is forced to share his quarters with two gropops, Privates Large and Yang, whom he comes to bond with over the next few days. Minbari ambassador Delenn is accosted by some gropos, but Private Elizabeth "Dodger" Durman steps in to fight off her fellow soldiers. After Delenn tells Garibaldi how Dodger came to her rescue, Garibaldi assures she does not get punishing by her commanding officer. As a way of thanks, she accepts a tour of the station from Garibaldi, when ends up in his quarters. However, as they are preparing to sleep together, Garibaldi had doubts about rushing into things, having past concerns around issues of trust. Dodger storms off, annoyed.

Meanwhile, the General meets with his son, Dr. Franklin. Their first meeting is cold, as the General resents Dr. Franklin's decision to approach xenobiology rather than solely human patients, while Dr. Franklin expresses concern that his father left him, his mother and his sister without any idea if he would be returning home. Ivanova overhears some of their arguing, and privates talks to Dr. Franklin that she and her father did not see eye to eye, but she never had the chance to make up before he passed away, and urges Dr. Franklin to do the same. Similarly, Sheridan tells the General that he and his father never agreed, but came to agree to disagree and still loved each other. Both Franklins resolve their differences and make up for lost time.

A fight breaks out between the gropos and staff station just as news from Earth arrives. Dodger helps Garibaldi to stop the fight before the troops are ordered out. As they are boarding, Garibaldi comes by to say goodbye to Dodger, and she gives him a long kiss goodbye, promising to see him again.

Some time later, the station returns to normal when the first reports from Akdor arrive. Dr. Franklin is happy to see the General alive, reporting on the state of the attack, but both Garidbaldi and Keffer receive bad news that Dodger, Large and Yang were among those killed in action.

Arc significance

• The episode establishes the troubled relationship Dr. Franklin has with his father, although much of that conflict is resolved during this episode. Among the points of contention is a virulent xenophobia that apparently runs through Earth Force, which the villainous President Clark will exploit for his own ends.
• The station's defense grid is enhanced, now "capable of taking on a warship," a capability that B5 will put to the test numerous times in the future.

Production details

Full names of P.F.C. “Large” Turnbow and P.F.C. “Dodger” Durman are not in the episode credits, but are referred to in the episode (Turnbow visually and Durman both visually and in dialog). There is a reference to Dodger's first name later in the Fifth Season.

References

External links

• GROPOS on IMDb

• Gropos at The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5