Babylon 5: In the Beginning

---

It is said that in every age,

there is one singular event...

...that forever changes the world

around us.

A nexus, if you will.

It is said that the future

is always born in pain.

The history of war is the history of pain.

If we are wise, what is born of that pain...

...matures into the promise

of a better world...

...because we learn

that we can no longer afford...

...the mistakes of the past.

But in the pain of that war,

the future was born.

A future that would one day...

...have a name whispered

on a hundred worlds.

A final refuge for dreams...

...and our last best hope for peace:

Babylon 5.

[Children laughing and squealing]

LUC:
Can't catch me.

Boo!

CENTAURI WOMAN:

Luc? Lyssa? Where are you?

No.

You shouldn't be here. You can't play here.

Luc, Lyssa.

LUC:
What happened to the buildings?

They fell down.

Some bad people made them fall down.

That's why all the windows in the palace

are covered so you can't see.

If they find out you've been looking...

Then why is the window here

if you're not supposed to look?

CENTAURI WOMAN:

This is the Emperor's window, Luc.

He's the only one who can look

out of the palace.

That's why we can't stay.

We have to go before...

LONDO:
No, it's all right.

It's been a long time since I heard

the sound of laughter in this room.

A very long time.

Let me see them.

LONDO:
And what are your names?

Luco Deradi. And this is my sister, Lyssa.

LONDO:
She doesn't talk much, does she?

No, she's always quiet.

We think maybe

there's something wrong with her.

Yes. Or something very right.

The quiet ones are the ones

that change the universe, Luc Deradi.

The loud ones only take the credit.

[Coughing]

Are you really the Emperor?

I sometimes ask myself the same thing.

Yes, I am the Emperor.

Here, you see...

This is the seal of the Centauri Republic.

Only the Emperor can wear it.

So, either I am the Emperor,

or I am in a great deal of trouble.

Or both.

Come here, you.

For the next five minutes...

...you are the Emperor of what was once

the vast Centauri Republic.

You may give one order.

Any order you desire.

Make it a good one.

What do you want?

- Tell me a story.

- Luc...

LONDO:
No, no. It's all right.

He did far better with that question

than I did.

What kind of story would you like to hear?

I want a story about great battles and wars

and bravery and heroes and villains!

I see.

And what does your sister want?

Nothing.

She says she wants to hear a true story.

LONDO:
Very well.

Then I will give you both what you want.

A story about great deeds...

...about armies of light

and soldiers of darkness.

About the places

where they lived and fought...

...and loved and died.

About great empires, terrible mistakes.

A true story.

You see,

I was there at the dawn of the Third Age.

It began with the Humans.

They are the quiet ones

I mentioned before.

They changed the universe...

...but in doing so paid a terrible price.

It began 35 of their years ago.

Their homeworld is a place called Earth...

...located in a fairly uninteresting part

of the galaxy.

We had never bothered much

with that area before.

It had little military or strategic value.

But as a culture grows decadent...

...it becomes intrigued by art...

...by trinkets, by eccentricity.

And the Humans had art and trinkets...

...and eccentricity to spare.

But it was none of those traits...

...that would cause so much death

and pain.

They have an expression:

"Pride goeth before a fall."

And their pride was their undoing.

I know.

I was there.

Mollari, good.

I'd like you to meet General Lefcourt.

Londo Mollari,

liaison to the Centauri delegation.

- Pleasure to meet you, sir.

- Likewise.

Please, sit.

- How is your president? Well, I hope.

- Much better.

I just saw her in the red room.

She's starting to get some of the color

back in her cheeks.

LEFCOURT:
This damn flu's got

half of my staff down sick.

I suggest you give her a little of this

before she eats.

I brought it from Centauri Prime

when I heard she was ill.

It will completely eliminate her symptoms

in two, three hours at most.

Thank you. I'm sure she'll appreciate it.

LONDO:
My pleasure.

Now, gentlemen, perhaps you will tell me

why you have arranged for this meeting.

AIDE:
Of course.

General?

Following our victory against the Dilgar,

we've taken advantage of the good will...

...of other worlds to expand our sphere

of influence.

We've made trade deals

and mutual defense treaties...

...with the League of Non-Aligned Worlds.

Most of the races have been very receptive

to our advances.

Others, downright hostile.

And a few are still a mystery to us.

What do you know

about a race called Minbari?

We have had some dealings with them

in the past...

...but nothing in recent years. Why?

We'll send an expedition to their border...

...to see if they threaten our program

to expand our sphere of influence.

LEFCOURT:
We understand that a third

of their population is dedicated to warfare.

They have a warrior caste.

Not exactly the same thing?

Semantics.

We need to know all we can about them.

Then send one ship. One ship only.

Anything more could be perceived

as a threat.

And if that were to happen...

...I assure you

they would never return home.

My people can handle themselves.

We took care of the Dilgar,

we can take care of the Minbari.

Arrogance and stupidity

all in the same package.

How efficient of you.

AIDE:
Just a minute...

LONDO:
Listen to me.

The Minbari are one

of the oldest spacefaring races.

Even at the height of the Centauri Republic

when we were expanding in all directions...

...we never opposed the Minbari.

If you do not bother them,

they will not bother you.

Perhaps.

But that decision's already been made.

All we're asking is that you give us

whatever you've got...

...on the location of their military forces

so we can avoid contact.

LONDO:
No, this is foolish.

LEFCOURT:
Excuse me for saying so...

...but it sounds like you're concerned with

keeping your monopoly on our business.

Minbari have no interest in alien affairs

or alien business.

And I resent your implication.

I've tried to help you.

You've refused to listen.

There you are.

I will get you the information you ask for,

and that is the end.

Good luck with your mission, gentlemen.

I only hope that in your stumbling around...

...you do not wake the dragon.

Good day.

LONDO:
They didn't listen, of course.

Arrogant men never do.

Sadly, arrogance has never been...

...exclusively a Human trait.

It travels between the stars

like solar winds.

CALLIER:
I never tire of this view, Lenonn.

It amazes me to think that Valen himself

stood where I am standing...

...so many years ago.

Yes. I often feel his presence here.

Thank you for coming, Callier.

I'm honored that you should travel so far.

It is the least I can do

for the honored leader of the Anla-Shok.

I'm not certain about the "honored" part.

I know what they say about me.

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