“Atonement” is episode nine of season four of Babylon 5.
It is suggested that the later-filmed “Babylon 5: Thirdspace” be watched between this episode and the previous one, “The Illusion of Truth”, as that is when it is set.
Zack is being fitted for a new uniform by some Minbari with Lennier’s assistance as a translator. Zack is not happy and is complaining about the uniform. He is told that it looks fine. Zack does not have a high opinion of Minbari dress sense, saying that Vorlons have more fashion sense. One of the Minbari stabs him with a needle. Zack says it was deliberate. Lennier agrees. Lennier asks the others to leave – not exactly telling them off. Once they have gone, he says to Zack that the problem with the new uniform is not the new uniform. Which is true. Accepting the new uniform feels like admitting that Garibaldi is not coming back. Zack would prefer to wait longer but Sheridan says it’s important that things get back to normal. Which Zack does not believe will happen until Garibaldi is back.
A Minbari flyer leaves a Minbari cruiser and docks with Babylon 5. Delenn meets the Minbari party and she is asked if she is ready to leave, She requests another date. Callenn, the Minbari who appears to be the party’s leader, asks if she will tell Sheridan she is leaving. She will, but she will not tell him why. Callenn suggests Delenn tell the truth, for if the Dreaming does not go well, she will not be allowed to return to Sheridan.
Ivanova is wearing a green Drazi scarf – in “Geometry of Shadows” she ended up as the Drazi Green Leader – and tells C&C when they link her that the Drazi ambassador has invited her to a religious festival. It’s supposed to be a hell of a party. In Medlab, Dr Franklin is fitting G’Kar with his new prosthetic eye. It’s designed for humans and so it’s blue; G’Kar initially exclaims that it is not his proper colour. The doctor says that can be adjusted; the important thing is that it works. G’Kar agrees. Franklin tells him that the eye needs taking out at night to recharge, and should be washed before reinsertion. G’Kar should turn the eye off when he takes it out, for it will continue sending an image. As Franklin answers a call from Sheridan asking the doctor to swing by his office and bring Marcus as well G’Kar has removed his eye and is looking at himself with it.
Sheridan passes a transport tube just as it arrives and Ivanova shoves a semi-conscious Drazi off her. She has a cane – that happened the last time she partied with the Drazi – and is covered in garlands. She tells the captain not to ask as she limps away. Sheridan arrives at Delenn’s quarters and sort of loses his train of thought when he sees her dress. Delenn wants them to go out for dinner, as it has been some time. She also wishes to finish the Minbari ritual of watching him sleep for three nights. They had one night on the White Star, one night on the station – in “Shadow Dancing” when what used to be Anna arrived – so Sheridan owes her a night. Sheridan realises that something is up; all Delenn says is that she has to go to Minbar for some old business and may be there some time.
Sheridan’s meeting is with just Dr Franklin and Marcus. President Clark is hammering the station in his propaganda war – allowing the news crew to film them in the previous episode did not go well – and the problem with the big lie is if you repeat it long enough people start to believe it. They can’t let that happen. They will need to start going against Clark sooner than they wanted and before they are ready. Which is what Clark is provoking them to do. However, if they wait too long, they will be unable to move at all and Clark will have wiped out all their credibility.
With the quarantine and lines of communication cut Sheridan says they are blind, deaf and stranded. So Sheridan wants Marcus and Franklin to setup alternative lines of communication and transit. They are to head to Mars Colony to coordinate with their allies there. Sheridan would do it himself but his face is on too many wanted posters. Franklin is credible as a replacement and Marcus will be his bodyguard. Marcus says that, with all the changes they will need to do, it will be a very long trip, two to two and a half weeks each way. So Franklin says they had better get started. Sheridan doesn’t want his father’s disappearance looking into; if Clark had him, he would have said.
Delenn leaves Sheridan’s quarters that night and heads off. Lennier calls out as she passes, as he wondered if she was going to leave without telling him. His place is at her side. Always. Delenn warns Lennier he may learn things that change his opinion of her. Lennier is going anyway.
On Minbar, Callenn tells Delenn that she has been brought before her clan as no Minbari has ever taken an offworlder as a lover or a mate. It has been forbidden since they first contacted another race. Yet, without consultation or approval from her clan, Delenn has made herself genetically compatible with humans and selected one as a mate. This is a great concern. If Delenn’s decision affected only her, it would be her decision, but it affects the laws, rules and history of their society. They must determine if Delenn’s choice is the calling of her heart or something else. After the Dreaming, the leaders of Delenn’s clan will hear her case. If they decide against Delenn and Sheridan being together, she must give her word that she will honour their decision. She gives it.
Lennier and Delenn head to the Whispering Gallery, where a drink is consumed first. Delenn has been in the Dreaming once, before she was on the Grey Council. She was the protector and guide for another. Dukhat. Delenn first sees Dukhat, then his death. Then the intervening events are covered in more detail. Dukhat wanted to speak to the humans, the Minbari not having done so at that time, but the Grey Council did not. This resulted in the misunderstanding that led to the Earth-Minbari War. All of which could probably have been avoided if the Grey Council had just spoken to the humans first rather than it being done so in a way that led to the battle in which Dukhat died. Some interesting background information and the majority of the episode revolves around Delenn and her reminiscences.