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Babylon 5 / Crusade Season 4

Into The Fire

Babylon 5Ivanova waits impatiently as she ferries Lorien around space in one of the White Star ships, attempting to make contact with more of the First Ones before the fateful convergence of the Shadow and Vorlon fleets. In the meantime, Sheridan with the rest of the White Star fleet in tow is busy attacking both sides’ targets to make sure that the ancient enemies will accept the invitation to face each other at Coriana 3. Londo, now in a position of power as Prime Minister of Centauri Prime, works at a feverish pace to remove Shadow influence from his world before the Vorlons arrive to destroy the planet. Londo at last disposes of Morden and the Shadow ships berthed on Centauri Prime, but his own presence may doom his people. When the Shadow and Vorlon fleets collide at Coriana 3, Sheridan forces the issue right down their throats in order to end the war. But even with the help of Lorien, Sheridan is only beginning to realize what will be required of him to bring the Shadow War to its conclusion.

Order now!Download this episodewritten by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by Kevin James Dobson
music by Christopher Franke

Cast: Bruce Boxleitner (Captain Sheridan), Claudia Christian (Commander Ivanova), Jerry Doyle (Garibaldi), Mira Furlan (Delenn), Richard Biggs (Dr. Franklin), Bill Mumy (Lennier), Jason Carter (Marcus Cole), Stephen Furst (Vir), Jeff Conaway (Zack Allan), Patricia Tallman (Lyta Alexander), Andreas Katsulas (G’Kar), Peter Jurasik (Londo), Wayne Alexander (Lorien), Julian Barnes (Durano), Damian London (Minister), Ed Wasser (Morden)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Babylon 5 / Crusade Season 4

Lines of Communication

Babylon 5Delenn is alarmed by the arrival of an emissary from Minbar who warns her of impending civil war on her home world. She sets out on a journey back home to try to quell the impending conflict. With all supply lines to the station cut off, and ISN broadcasting the official propoganda line that Babylon 5 is the staging ground for the subversion of Earth, Sheridan tries to come up with a way to fight the hail of lies being fed to the general populace. His answer is to revamp the war room into a broadcast studio and begin transmitting the “Voice of the Resistance” from there with your host, the very reluctant (and tired) Susan Ivanova. Terrorist attacks on Mars create a tense situation for Franklin, who is trying to enlist the help of the rebels on Mars – but not if they continue to use those tactics. Delenn discovers that the Minbari emissary Forell has sold out to a race called the Drakh, who have their own plans for Minbar. And Delenn is sure that there is a connection between the Drakh and the Shadows.

Order now!Download this episodewritten by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by John C. Flinn III
music by Christopher Franke

Cast: Bruce Boxleitner (Captain Sheridan), Claudia Christian (Commander Ivanova), Jerry Doyle (Garibaldi), Mira Furlan (Delenn), Richard Biggs (Dr. Franklin), Bill Mumy (Lennier), Jason Carter (Marcus Cole), Stephen Furst (Vir), Jeff Conaway (Zack Allan), Patricia Tallman (Lyta Alexander), Andreas Katsulas (G’Kar), Peter Jurasik (Londo), Marjorie Monaghan (Number One), Paolo Seganti (Phillipe), G.W. Stevens (Forell)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Babylon 5 / Crusade Season 4

Between The Darkness And The Light

Babylon 5As Sheridan’s interrogation continues, Garibaldi makes his way to the Mars resistance base, trying to convince them that contrary to the ISN reports, he was brainwashed by Bester into betraying the resistance and handing Sheridan over to the authorities. But with tensions running high among the rebels, they simply take Garibaldi hostage until Lyta scans him, proving that his claims about mind alteration are true. Garibaldi, Franklin and Lyta slip into the facility where Sheridan is being held, and Garibaldi uses his newfound popularity among Earthforce loyalists to gain access to the captain, though force is needed to break him out. Meanwhile, Susan has taken Sheridan’s place at the head of the swelling resistance fleet, but finds that her plans for a massive strike on Mars have been discovered by Earthforce. But with some of her support fleet already too close to Mars to abort the mission, Susan proceeds with the attack, and finds out that Earthforce has a new class of destroyer which integrates Earth and Shadow technology. Her fleet succeeds against the overwhelming odds, but Ivanova pays dearly for the victory, leaving Sheridan to resume his command of the resistance fleet.

Order now!Download this episodewritten by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by David J. Eagle
music by Christopher Franke

Cast: Bruce Boxleitner (Captain Sheridan), Claudia Christian (Commander Ivanova), Jerry Doyle (Garibaldi), Mira Furlan (Delenn), Richard Biggs (Dr. Franklin), Bill Mumy (Lennier), Jason Carter (Marcus Cole), Stephen Furst (Vir), Jeff Conaway (Zack Allan), Patricia Tallman (Lyta Alexander), Andreas Katsulas (G’Kar), Peter Jurasik (Londo), Marc Gomes (Eisensen), Bruce Gray (Interrogator), Marjorie Monaghan (Number One), David Purdham (Captain James), Musetta Vander (Felicia), Greg Poland (Guard), J.P. Hubbel (Evan), James Laing (First Guard), Anneliza Scott (Assistant)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Babylon 5 / Crusade Season 5

The Fall of Centauri Prime

Babylon 5Sheridan arrives at Centauri Prime, too late to stop the Narn and Drazi fleet from laying waste to the planet. They cease their bombing upon his arrival, only to demand the aid of the White Stars against the returning Centauri fleet. Delenn and Lennier limp through hyperspace, trying to avoid the Centauri while remaining detectable to would-be rescuers. Londo’s past returns to haunt him, and bring him one step closer to his ultimate fate.

Order now!Download this episodewritten by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by Douglas E. Wise
music by Christopher Franke

Guest Cast: Wayne Alexander (Drakh), Simon Billig (Ranger), Damian London (Regent), Robin Sachs (Na’tok)

Appearing in footage from Into The Fire: Ed Wasser (Morden)

LogBook entry by Dave Thomer

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Babylon 5 / Crusade TV Movies

A Call To Arms

Babylon 5On the eve of the fifth anniversary of the formation of the Interstellar Alliance, Garibaldi – who has been heading up the project to construct a new destroyer-class starship with Earth, Minbari and Vorlon technology – picks up President Sheridan for a secret test run of the new vehicle. However, the test run is neither successful nor secret. Unknown to Sheridan or Garibaldi, a technomage called Galen is watching them, against the wishes of his fellow wizards. Galen uses the technological magic of his order to contact Sheridan secretly, warning him that the Drakh – the surviving servants of the Shadows who engineered the Alliance’s war with Centauri Prime – are preparing to ascend to the throne of their former masters by launching an attack on Earth. Galen drops a hint about the planet Daltron 7, and is then gone. Galen also sends Sheridan a vision of Babylon 5, and Sheridan immediately sets off for the station at top speed with Garibaldi in tow, sketching a handful of faces from his vision…faces of people whom he has never met.

After arriving at the station, the faces from Sheridan’s vision begin to appear – Dureena Nafeel, a skilled thief and the last known survivor of the Shadow-destroyed world of Zander Prime, and Captain Anderson, an Earthforce officer who, like Sheridan and Dureena, has been contacted by Galen through mysterious visions. With three pieces of the puzzle together, Sheridan puts a plan into motion to stop the Drakh before they can attack Earth, until Anderson points out that his Earthforce heavy cruiser may not be enough to stop the Drakh if they now command abandoned Shadow technology. Sheridan, Dureena and Anderson quietly slip away, returning to the proving grounds for the two new destroyers and hijacking both ships. Soon, the Excalibur and the Victory – under the command of Sheridan and Anderson, respectively – are en route to Daltron 7. But upon arrival, they find an annihilated world and a dead Drazi, the only remaining face from Sheridan’s vision. The Drazi, however, left a recorded message with a warning – the Drakh have revived a Shadow planet killer, the most powerful weapon in their arsenal, and intend to use this to wreak vengeance on Earth.

Sheridan convinces Captain Lochley to warn Earth of the impending attack as the Excalibur and the Victory race to lead the battle. But when the Drakh assault on Earth is over, the human race’s days are numbered, the Earth’s ecosystem poisoned with a lethal, contagious, time-released toxin of alien origin. And all at once, nothing will ever be the same…

Order the DVDsDownload this episodewritten by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by Michael Vejar
music by Evan H. Chen

Cast: Bruce Boxleitner (President John Sheridan), Jerry Doyle (Michael Garibaldi), Jeff Conaway (Security Chief Zack Allan), Carrie Dobro (Dureena Nafeel), Peter Woodward (Galen), Tony Todd (Captain Leonard Anderson), Tracy Scoggins (Captain Elizabeth Lochley), Tony Maggio (Drake), Michael Harris (Bishop), Scott MacDonald (First Officer), Wayne Alexander (Drakh), Carlos Bernard (Communications), Burt Bulos (Navigation), Ron Campbell (Drazi), David Coburn (Minbari Ranger), Matt Gallini (Rolf), Valeria Ghiran (ISN Reporter), Marjean Holden (Navigation), Endre Hules (Yuri), Tim O’Hare (First Mage), Tom Ramirez (Second Mage), LaRita Shelby Mullen (Lynne), Kayla Spell (Sarah)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Babylon 5 / Crusade Spinoff: Crusade

War Zone

CrusadeIn the aftermath of the Drakh War, Earth Alliance ships pursue remnants of the Drakh fleet. The government has moved to Mars, and those trapped behind the Earth quarantine have already begun to surrender to despair. The EA assembles a team of scientists and soldiers to crew the Excalibur and search the galaxy for any clue that may lead to a cure before all life on Earth ends. Despite the government’s attempt to maintain control of this politically delciate mission, two participants in the War are determined to take their place in the effort. On its shakedown cruise, the Excalibur has its first opportunity for action: save a team of archaeologists from an advancing Drakh army, and salvage the Drakh’s fallen ship.

Order the DVDswritten by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by Janet Greek
music by Evan H. Chen

Cast: Gary Cole (Captain Matthew Gideon), Tracy Scoggins (Captain Elizabeth Lochley), Daniel Dae Kim (Lt. Matheson), Carrie Dobro (Dureena Nafeel), David Allen Brooks (Max Eilerson), Marjean Holden (Dr. Sarah Chambers), Peter Woodward (Galen), Alex Mendoza (Trace Miller), Tim Thomerson (Sentator McQuate), Chris Comes (Aide), Maggie Egan (ISN Anchor), Don Fischer (Captain Henson), Mark Hendrickson (Drakh Captain), Elijah Majar (Crew #1), Rebecca Markham (Sam), Brook Parker (Lieutenant Ross), John Sanderford (Mr. Ames), Will Schaub (Jenson), Otto Sturcke (Ensign)

Notes: The episode Racing The Night was originally intended to lead off the series, but TNT insisted that series creator J. Michael Straczynski turn in a script with more action and introductions to the characters (since production delays meant that Crusade didn’t premiere until half a year after the Babylon 5 movie A Call To Arms, which was meant to segue between the two series). As such, the inclusion of elements like the mutiny aboard Gideon’s ship and the obviously 20th century news footage were last-minute additions. Galen and Dureena were both introduced in A Call To Arms, as was the Excalibur herself; Marjean Holden also appeared in that movie, though not in her regular Crusade role of Dr. Sarah Chambers.

LogBook entry by Dave Thomer with notes by Earl Green

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Babylon 5 / Crusade Spinoff: Crusade

The Path of Sorrows

CrusadeThe crew brings a seemingly-imprisoned alien aboard the Excalibur. Although it is completely cut off from physical contact with anyone, Gideon discovers that it is able to communicate. It forces him to relive first his abandonment by his ship as it unsuccessfully fled a Shadow vessel, and then his winning of a strange box in a poker game from a man who seemed happy to lose it. Expecting the creature to use this information against him, he is surprised when it instead offers forgiveness. Matheson also receives forgiveness for an episode from his past – his inadverdent role in the destruction of a Psi Corps base during the Telepath War. Galen, however, accuses the creature of feeding off the others’ pain and refuses to accept that it values forgiveness. Seeking to discover why, the creature and Galen relive the slow death of his lover, betrayed by other technomages and stranded without any of their technology and equipment. In his grief, Galen denies the possibility of any plan or order to the universe, unable to believe that any design would include her death, and Isabell promises to prove him wrong. After the creature is returned to its home, for other travlers to find, Matheson offers Galen a hint that the promise has ben fulfilled…if he can believe in the impossible.

Order the DVDswritten by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by Mike Vejar
music by Evan H. Chen

Cast: Gary Cole (Captain Matthew Gideon), Tracy Scoggins (Captain Elizabeth Lochley), Daniel Dae Kim (Lt. Matheson), Carrie Dobro (Dureena Nafeel), David Allen Brooks (Max Eilerson), Marjean Holden (Dr. Sarah Chambers), Peter Woodward (Galen), Mark Blankfield (Jenson), Gary Graham (Bruder), Sophie Ward (Isabelle), Dawn Stern (Allison), Daniel Guzman (XO), Kevin Major Howard (Officer), Matt O’Toole (First man), Patrick St. Esprit (Captain Ross)

LogBook entry by Dave Thomer