Messages from Earth
Encyclopedia
"Messages from Earth" is an episode from the third season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5
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Upon meeting with the War Council, Dr. Kirkish reveals that many years ago, she was part of an archeological dig on Mars that was able to unearth a Shadow ship buried beneath the soil. Her expedition team witnessed as another Shadow vessel arrived days later and finished digging out the first Shadow ship; both vessels subsequently escaped. Kirkish and her team were then dispersed and were told to keep the discovery a secret.
Now, she reveals that another Shadow vessel has been located, this time on Ganymede. However, unlike the ship on Mars, Earthforce is not willing to let go of this one and instead plans to use it by merging a human with it in an attempt to control the ship.
Sheridan takes the Whitestar to Ganymede in an attempt to destroy the Shadow ship before it can be used. He does this under extreme risk, as the entire Solar system is riddled with early warning systems which will detect the Whitestar and possibly expose him as a member of the "conspiracy of light" aimed against President Clark.
While en route to the Solar System
, Delenn and Sheridan share an intimate moment in the Whitestar's sleeping quarters. Sheridan tells Delenn a story about how his father helped him sleep prior to a big examination in the Earthforce academy by spraying the roof with water from a hose in order to mimic the effect of rain. Delenn, promptly, orders the Whitestar acoustics to create the sound of rain so that Sheridan can relax and sleep prior to their arrival on Ganymede.
However, upon arriving, they were unable to stop the awakening of the Shadow ship. Delenn claims that because the human selected to serve as the CPU (or pilot) of the Shadow ship is "unprepared", the merger is flawed, making the Shadow ship "insane." Soon enough, the Shadow ship obliterates the Ganymede base where it was being kept, and then chases the Whitestar into Jupiter.
Sheridan plans to use the tremendous atmospheric pressures on Jupiter in order to defeat the Shadow ship. He plunges the Whitestar deep into Jupiter's atmosphere as the Shadow ship gives chase. The Shadow ship's weapon detonates some of the local hydrogen, causing Lennier to think that it's a new weapon.
The Whitestar bolts out of the atmosphere at the right moment whilst the insane Shadow ship was unable to do so. The ship plunges further into Jupiter's atmosphere where it is eventually destroyed.
On their way out of Jupiter's atmosphere, however, the Whitestar is intercepted by the EAS Agamemnon. The Whitestar stays just beneath the atmosphere to avoid the Agamemnon, but the warship continues to attack them in order to force them out. Running out of options, Delenn suggests that they open a jumppoint inside Jupiter's atmosphere. Lennier tries to object to the idea, noting that the jumppoint will cause a tremendous explosion in Jupiter's hydrogen-rich atmosphere. But, they proceed with the maneuver anyway, allowing the Whitestar to rapidly escape destruction.
Meanwhile, on Babylon 5, members of the Nightwatch grow suspicious about the sudden (and lengthy) disappearance of Captain Sheridan.
It is revealed at the end of the episode that Earthforce claims that the base on Ganymede was destroyed by an "alien ship" (the Whitestar) which the EAS Agamemnon pursued all the way to Jupiter and then destroyed. Using this incident to fuel paranoia and anti-alien sentiment on Earth, President Clark declares martial law, effectively neutralizing the inquiry regarding his involvement in former President Santiago's assassination as well as allowing him more leg room to implement his xenophobic and totalitarian plans for Earth.
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
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Synopsis
Marcus Cole escorts Dr. Mary Kirkish, a former member of Interplanetary Expeditions, to meet with the Babylon 5 War Council about something that is so secretive that Marcus had to initially defend Dr. Kirkish from assassins who don't want her information to be released.Upon meeting with the War Council, Dr. Kirkish reveals that many years ago, she was part of an archeological dig on Mars that was able to unearth a Shadow ship buried beneath the soil. Her expedition team witnessed as another Shadow vessel arrived days later and finished digging out the first Shadow ship; both vessels subsequently escaped. Kirkish and her team were then dispersed and were told to keep the discovery a secret.
Now, she reveals that another Shadow vessel has been located, this time on Ganymede. However, unlike the ship on Mars, Earthforce is not willing to let go of this one and instead plans to use it by merging a human with it in an attempt to control the ship.
Sheridan takes the Whitestar to Ganymede in an attempt to destroy the Shadow ship before it can be used. He does this under extreme risk, as the entire Solar system is riddled with early warning systems which will detect the Whitestar and possibly expose him as a member of the "conspiracy of light" aimed against President Clark.
While en route to the Solar System
Solar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
, Delenn and Sheridan share an intimate moment in the Whitestar's sleeping quarters. Sheridan tells Delenn a story about how his father helped him sleep prior to a big examination in the Earthforce academy by spraying the roof with water from a hose in order to mimic the effect of rain. Delenn, promptly, orders the Whitestar acoustics to create the sound of rain so that Sheridan can relax and sleep prior to their arrival on Ganymede.
However, upon arriving, they were unable to stop the awakening of the Shadow ship. Delenn claims that because the human selected to serve as the CPU (or pilot) of the Shadow ship is "unprepared", the merger is flawed, making the Shadow ship "insane." Soon enough, the Shadow ship obliterates the Ganymede base where it was being kept, and then chases the Whitestar into Jupiter.
Sheridan plans to use the tremendous atmospheric pressures on Jupiter in order to defeat the Shadow ship. He plunges the Whitestar deep into Jupiter's atmosphere as the Shadow ship gives chase. The Shadow ship's weapon detonates some of the local hydrogen, causing Lennier to think that it's a new weapon.
The Whitestar bolts out of the atmosphere at the right moment whilst the insane Shadow ship was unable to do so. The ship plunges further into Jupiter's atmosphere where it is eventually destroyed.
On their way out of Jupiter's atmosphere, however, the Whitestar is intercepted by the EAS Agamemnon. The Whitestar stays just beneath the atmosphere to avoid the Agamemnon, but the warship continues to attack them in order to force them out. Running out of options, Delenn suggests that they open a jumppoint inside Jupiter's atmosphere. Lennier tries to object to the idea, noting that the jumppoint will cause a tremendous explosion in Jupiter's hydrogen-rich atmosphere. But, they proceed with the maneuver anyway, allowing the Whitestar to rapidly escape destruction.
Meanwhile, on Babylon 5, members of the Nightwatch grow suspicious about the sudden (and lengthy) disappearance of Captain Sheridan.
It is revealed at the end of the episode that Earthforce claims that the base on Ganymede was destroyed by an "alien ship" (the Whitestar) which the EAS Agamemnon pursued all the way to Jupiter and then destroyed. Using this incident to fuel paranoia and anti-alien sentiment on Earth, President Clark declares martial law, effectively neutralizing the inquiry regarding his involvement in former President Santiago's assassination as well as allowing him more leg room to implement his xenophobic and totalitarian plans for Earth.
Arc significance
- G'Kar, still in the brig, is seen writing the Book of G'KarBook of G'KarIn the Babylon 5 science fiction saga, the Book of G'Kar was a book that was written by the former Narn Ambassador G'Kar. The book is considered one of Narn's most holy books...
, though not mentioned by name. - IPX previously found a ShadowShadow (Babylon 5)The Shadows are a fictional alien species in the science fiction television series Babylon 5. Their homeworld is Z'ha'dum. In contrast to the Vorlons, whose philosophy is represented by the question "Who are you?", that of the Shadows is represented by the question "What do you want?", centering...
ship on Mars. This will turn out to be the same ship which Earthforce attached a homing beacon to, allowing them to track it to Z'ha'dum and then send an archeological team aboard the Icarus, which Mr. Morden and Anna Sheridan are a part of. - The Psi CorpsPsi CorpsIn the fictional universe of Babylon 5, the Psi Corps is an agency of the Earth Alliance responsible for all humans with telepathic or other para-psychological abilities anywhere within Earth controlled space. All persons with Psi abilities are required to either join the Corps, face lifetime...
badge presented by Garibaldi hints towards the link between the Psi Corps and the Shadows. - The Psi CorpsPsi CorpsIn the fictional universe of Babylon 5, the Psi Corps is an agency of the Earth Alliance responsible for all humans with telepathic or other para-psychological abilities anywhere within Earth controlled space. All persons with Psi abilities are required to either join the Corps, face lifetime...
has uncovered another Shadow ship on GanymedeGanymede (moon)Ganymede is a satellite of Jupiter and the largest moon in the Solar System. It is the seventh moon and third Galilean satellite outward from Jupiter. Completing an orbit in roughly seven days, Ganymede participates in a 1:2:4 orbital resonance with the moons Europa and Io, respectively...
. - SheridanJohn Sheridan (Babylon 5)John J. Sheridan is a lead character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Bruce Boxleitner. For most of the series, he is the commander of the Babylon 5 station; during the series' final season he is the President of the Interstellar...
and DelennDelennDelenn is a fictional lead character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Mira Furlan.-Overview:Delenn, an alien ambassador and leader from the planet Minbar, is one of the pivotal characters in Babylon 5....
take the White Star to Ganymede and destroy the Shadow vessel. - It is proven possible to perform a hyperspace jump in atmosphere. Sheridan will use this knowledge in later strategy.
- President Clark declares martial lawMartial lawMartial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
throughout Earth Central.