Points of Departure (''Babylon 5'')

"Points of Departure"
Babylon 5 episode
Sheridan in Command and Control
Episode no.	Season 2 Episode 1
Directed by	Janet Greek
Written by	J. Michael Straczynski
Production code	201
Original air date	November 2, 1994
Guest appearance(s)
Richard Grove (Kalain) Robin Sachs (Hedronn) Robert Foxworth (General William Hague)

"Points of Departure" is the first episode of the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5. It first aired on November 2, 1994. The DVD brochure included with season two teases the episode by saying "New station chief Capt. John Sheridan is tested by a warship leader (Richard Grove) who wants to goad him into initiating a battle so that Minbari forces can justify a counterattack on Babylon 5."^[1]

The episode is noteworthy for the replacement of the show's protagonist and hero, and for the manner in which change in the opening title sequence's narration foretells a major change in the status quo that later in the season, rarities in 1990s television for which the episode was praised.^[2][3]

Synopsis

A week has passed since the death of President Santiago. Commander Sinclair has since been recalled to Earth and subsequently assigned as Earth's ambassador to Minbar. Security chief Garibaldi remains in critical condition in medlab, and Minbari ambassador Delenn remains within a cocoon in her quarters, closely guarded by her aide Lennier. Ivanova, managing the station in lieu of Sinclair, is relieved to hear that the Earth Alliance has assigned Captain John Sheridan, currently commanding the destroyer Agamemnon, as the new station commander. After giving Sheridan a tour of the station, Ivanova is curious why Sheridan was selected, as he has a poor reputation among the Minbari for his role in the Earth-Minbari war, having been given the nickname "Starkiller"; Sheridan points out he was second on President Santiago's list to run Babylon 5.

The Minbari Hedronn arrives on the station and immediately heads towards Delenn's quarters. He stern warns Delenn through Lennier that her decision, even if it was informed by prophecy, has forced the Gray Council to take steps they had not planned to at this point. As he leaves, Hedronn catches sight of Kalain, the captain of the renegade warcruiser Trigati which has been evading detection for over a decade. Hedronn tries to learn Kalain's purpose on the station, but Kalain threatens him to leave the station immediately. Hedronn goes to warn Sheridan and Ivanova, explaining that the Trigati had disobeyed the order to end the Earth-Minbar war after Minbar's surrender, and to be on their guard. Kalain knocks out a guard in the station's diplomatic wing, and Sheridan believes that Delenn may be a target. They arrive at Delenn's quarters where Kalain is holding Lennier at gunpoint, but readily gives it up when asked to surrender. Kalain is taken to the brig but gives no information to his purpose when questioned.

Sheridan and Ivanova encounter Lennier, who wants to speak to them in private. Lennier explains the events at the end of the Earth-Minbar war. Minbar had been close to a total victory in Earth's space but the Gray Council, encouraged by Delenn, recognized they have not actually studied a human, and Delenn selected one to bring aboard - Sinclair. To their surprise, they found that Sinclair had the soul of the Minbari within him, and, in line with their beliefs that Minbari souls find new vessels when their host dies, recognized that souls of deceased Minbari have found their way into humans. Fearing they were killing other potential Minbari souls, the Gray Council ordered the Minbari to surrender though they did not explain why, a decision that did not sit well with the warrior caste, and which led to the Trigati going renegade. Lennier cautions that Kalain may be trying to restart the Earth-Minbar war.

Suddenly the Trigati jumps in near the station, preparing to go to battle. Sheridan orders the station's own fighters to launch and take a defense stance. The Trigati demand Sheridan turn over Kalain, but Sheridan learns he has committed suicide with a poison-containing tooth. As the Trigati launches their own fighters, Sheridan realizes the station is able to lock onto to them, something they were unable to do during the war. He realizes that the Trigati wants to force Sheridan to attack first to justify an attack, even if they die as martyrs. Sheridan refuses to engage, and instead sends a signal out into hyperspace. A second Minbari warcruise arrives, warning the Trigati to surrender. The Trigati first attempts to escape through a jump gate but the second warcruise disables its engines. In turn the Trigati's crew causes their ship to self-destruct. Though Sheridan thanks the warcruiser for their help, the Minbari note their regard for the crew of the Trigati and states its has been a "dark day" before they depart. Sheridan explains to Ivanova that prior to leaving the Agamemnon, they had been searching for the Trigati too along with the Minbari, and knew the warcruiser was waiting in hyperspace before it was sighted again.

As the episode ends, Sheridan finally gets to give his standard welcoming speech after assuming a new command, insisting it is good luck if he gives it within twenty four hours of taking command. However, since the dome is on standby, no one is present in Command and Control to hear it.

Cast

Arc significance

• Sinclair, the commander of Babylon 5 during the first season, is transferred to Minbar as Earth Ambassador. His story is continued in a series of comics and the novel Babylon 5: To Dream in the City of Sorrows. He is also seen again in the second and third seasons.
• Captain John Sheridan assumes command of Babylon 5. We learn that the Minbari still resent him because of his victory over them in the Earth-Minbari War and protested his command assignment to the station they helped fund.
• The Minbari Grey Council chose to surrender at the Battle of the Line because, after capturing Sinclair during the battle and examining him, they learned that he was carrying a Minbari soul. The Grey Council then learned that Minbari souls were being reborn into human bodies. Since Minbari do not kill one another, they chose to surrender rather than continue to kill their own souls. However, believing that neither the warrior caste nor humans would accept the truth, they had chosen to keep this fact from both groups.
• Sheridan was President Santiago's second choice to command Babylon 5 after Sinclair. The new President, Morgan Clark, likes him because he believes he will be tougher in dealing with alien races on the station than Sinclair was.
• The Grey Council's order to surrender at the Battle of the Line was bitterly opposed by much of the warrior caste. This has led to a growing rift between the religious and warrior castes in Minbari society. The rift will eventually lead to a civil war on Minbar in the fourth season.
• Delenn did not consult with the Grey Council about her transformation, and they do not approve of her decision.

Historical references

• The Earthforce Alliance personnel only lounge is called Earhart's after famous female aviator Amelia Earhart.^[4]
• The ship John Sheridan begins the episode in command of is called the Agamemnon, which was also the name of several ships in the British Royal Navy.^[4]
• In his "lucky speech," Sheridan quotes from Abraham Lincoln, who was president during the American Civil War.^[4]

Production details

• In 2013, series creator and writer J. Michael Straczynski revealed that the reason Jeffrey Sinclair left the show is because actor Michael O'Hare "suffered from delusions and paranoia due to mental illness." Straczynski's remarks indicated that "the most important truth of O'Hare's struggle with mental illness is that he loved the fans, that they were what sustained him during the difficult times in his life."^[5]

External links

• Points of Departure at The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5

References