The week-long national syndication window opens for the 54th episode of J. Michael Straczynski’s science fiction series Babylon 5. This episode marks a major turning point in the series as the show’s main characters and titular space station secede from the Earth government of which they’ve been a part since the beginning of the series. The episode features an unprecedented amount of CGI for an individual episode of a television series, and goes on to win a Hugo Award for Best Short Form Dramatic Presentation. 
All hell has broken loose within the Earth Alliance. Fighting between General Hague’s rebel forces and President Clark’s loyalists have spilled a great deal of blood on both sides, and when the governor of Mars refuses to implement Clark’s martial law decree, civilian colonies on Mars are bombed. Hague’s ship, the Alexander, arrives at Babylon 5, but Hague himself has died in a recent battle. Joined shortly afterward by another rebel ship, Sheridan prepares to declare Babylon 5 an independent state – a state which must brace itself for an inevitable attack from Clark’s forces. If the battle is lost, not only with many on Babylon 5 lose their freedom…they will also very likely lose their lives.
written by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by David J. Eagle
music by Christopher FrankeCast: Bruce Boxleitner (Captain John Sheridan), Claudia Christian (Commander Susan Ivanova), Jerry Doyle (Security Chief Michael Garibaldi), Mira Furlan (Delenn), Richard Biggs (Dr. Stephen Franklin), Bill Mumy (Lennier), Jason Carter (Marcus Cole), Stephen Furst (Vir), Jeff Conaway (Zack Allan), Peter Jurasik (Londo Mollari), Andreas Katsulas (G’Kar), Kim Miyori (Captain Sandra Hiroshi), Rance Howard (David Sheridan), Phil Morris (Bill Trainor), Bruce McGill (Major Ed Ryan), James Parks (Drakhen), Jonathan Chapman (Religious Minbari), Joshua Cox (Lt. Corwin), Maggie Egan (ISN Reporter #1), Matt Gottlieb (ISN Reporter #2), Kim Strauss (Narn)
LogBook entry by Dave Thomer