Babylon 5: In the Beginning Page #3

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It's been a long day

and I must go to my sanctum...

...and meditate on this in private.

Good day, Delenn.

Now, it starts.

KOSH:
Yes.

SHERIDAN:
You wanted to see me, sir?

Yes. Come in, Commander. Have a seat.

How's your father?

He's fine, sir. He sends his regards.

He asked me to remind you, respectfully...

...that you still owe him 40 credits

from last week.

Yes, yes. I'll get it to him eventually.

It's a sad state of affairs when

a fine diplomat has to resort to cheating...

...at poker.

I can't think of any other way

the man could've beat me.

I have an opportunity for you, Commander,

and I suggest you take it.

We're sending out a mission

to the border of Minbari space.

The ships involved will survey

the disposition of their forces...

...and determine if the Minbari

have any hostile intentions towards us.

I want you on that ship as first officer.

I'm already assigned to the Lexington.

LEFCOURT:
The Lexington is an old

patrol ship that'll never fight again...

...if Captain Sterns has anything

to say about it.

He wants to finish his tour and retire with

his parts and pieces still in working order.

He's a good man and a fine officer.

He's loyal to his crew.

I feel I have an obligation to return

that loyalty.

I appreciate that.

But career advancement depends

upon high visibility assignments.

This is an important mission.

When it's over, you'll be that much closer

to your own command.

Can I ask what ship is leading

the expedition?

The Prometheus.

Captain Jankowski lost his X O

to the Churchill two weeks ago...

...and has been looking for a replacement.

You would fit in perfectly.

I know some of the officers

who have served under him.

He doesn't handle first contact situations

as well as others.

Ever since the Omega incident...

The military tribunal cleared him

of all responsibility for what happened.

Yes, I understand that.

But if I can speak frankly...

The men under his command

consider him a loose cannon.

I'd rather not walk into a situation...

...where I might have to go up

against my own CO if things got hot.

Don't misunderstand me.

I appreciate the effort, General.

And you're right. This is a plum

assignment and a fast-track to promotion.

I can't leave Captain Sterns in the lurch.

And I don't really feel comfortable

with the situation on the Prometheus.

Sheridan, you are the most stubborn man

I have ever seen.

And mainly at your own expense.

All right.

If you want to shoot your career in the foot

who am I to stand in the way?

Dismissed.

Yes, sir.

DELENN:
Excuse me.

Did you just pilot in that transport?

Yes.

It is dangerous to deliver cargo

while in hyperspace.

Why did your crew

take such an unusual risk?

I do not ask questions, I only follow orders.

Whose orders?

I'm told they came from Dukhat himself.

The deliveries must not attract

undue attention from outsiders.

But why the secrecy?

I don't know.

Once each week we are given

a different rendezvous point.

We wait, and a ship arrives.

They transfer cargo to our ship,

and we bring it here. That's all I know.

You must have some information

about your cargo.

Something to do with life-support systems,

alternate atmospheres, that's all I know.

What kind of alternate atmosphere?

DUKHAT:
Delenn!

It is almost time for the ceremony.

You're not prepared.

Are you reconsidering the invitation

to join the Grey Council?

No, of course not.

How could you even ask such a...

Because a member of the Grey Council

wouldn't bother herself...

...with such trivial details

as cargo shipments and transports.

No, Master, of course not.

Except when it may involve larger issues.

You see, only an alien life form

would require an alternate atmosphere.

What of it?

DELENN:
I was only thinking

of what you said earlier...

...and remembering that

from time to time...

...aliens have come to us

pretending to be Vorlons.

Since no one alive has ever seen them,

it's easy to be deceived.

Are you saying I'm being deceived?

I'm not saying anything.

I did not say anything then,

and I'm not saying anything now.

Unless you are saying

you've seen a Vorlon.

I am saying even less than you.

Except for this:

When the darkness comes,

if you ever have doubt about your actions...

...all you need to do is look into the face

of a Vorlon.

Once you see that,

all doubt is erased forever.

Now we must hurry,

or you'll be late for your own ceremony.

[Scanner beeping]

FIRST OFFICER:

Approaching next rendezvous point.

Very good.

Prepare to jump to normal space.

FIRST OFFICER:

Navigation, prepare to jump.

NAVIGATION:
Roger that, Bridge.

Jump engines standing by

at your command.

Jump.

DUKHAT:
Why do you come here, Delenn?

I come to serve.

Who do you serve?

I serve the truth.

What is the truth?

That we are one people, one voice.

Will you follow me to fire?

Will you follow me to darkness?

Will you follow me to death?

I will.

Then follow.

[Scanner beeping]

Sir, we're picking up a silhouette

at the edge of scanner range.

JANKOWSKI:
I thought this area

was supposed to be...

...well outside the Minbari transfer points.

FIRST OFFICER:
Aye, sir. It is.

There's no reason they should be here.

Unless they're looking for us.

FIRST OFFICER:
Should we jump back

to hyperspace?

Negative. We just jumped in.

I don't want to put more strain

on the engines than we have to.

Besides, if it is them,

I want to see if we can get a look at them.

Captain, our orders were to avoid

any first contact situation...

...unless authorized to do so.

JANKOWSKI:
I'm well aware of our orders,

Commander.

Now take us in at oblique angle,

keep the scanners on the maximum.

If we do this right,

they're not even going to know we're here.

Aye, sir.

DELENN:
I am become Grey.

I stand between the darkness and the light.

Between the candle and the star.

Scanners confirm target

is unknown vessel.

We read two primary vessels

and several support ships.

Let me see it.

[Dramatic instrumental music]

That's all we've got so far?

Just a silhouette?

FIRST OFFICER:
Scanners are having

a hard time locking on.

They may be using some sort

of stealth technology.

Is there any hostile action yet?

FIRST OFFICER:
Negative, sir.

They still may not have noticed us yet.

Bring us in closer.

I want as much information as we can get.

Sir, our orders are to avoid...

They are to bring back information

on the Minbari and that's what we'll do.

If we bring back a profile on a warship...

...they'll be handing out medals

by the bucket.

We handled the Dilgar,

and we can handle a few stray ships.

Now, bring us in closer.

FIRST OFFICER:
Aye, sir.

The sensors have detected an echo

which seems to be following our course.

They may be alien ships on approach.

I've told them to go to maximum power

on the scanners so we can verify.

There's no reason to concern Dukhat

with it until we know more.

[Scanner beeping]

FIRST OFFICER:

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