“Ceremonies of Light and Dark” is episode eleven of season three of Babylon 5.
In the previous episode, “Severed Dreams”, Babylon 5 had declared independence from Earth. They managed to defeat the first ships sent to retake the station but the second lot would have overwhelmed them, leaving no choice but to surrender – until Delenn arrived with four Minbari war cruisers, causing the EarthForce ships to retreat back into hyperspace. As Delenn pointed out, only one EarthForce officer had ever defeated a Minbari war cruiser, and he was behind her. They were in front.
This episode begins with shuttles leaving Babylon 5 as Ivanova watches from C&C. Sheridan asks if that’s the last of the Nightwatch; she replies that it’s the last that Garibaldi has found. So far. Others are civilians heading for Earth, Mars and the colonies on Proxima and Orion. Garibaldi arrives with his arm in a sling; he says he fractured his elbow and wrist when they went hand to hand with the marines who tried to board the station. He thought he’d be fine with just bandages, but Franklin insisted on more.
Sheridan asks how it is out there. The chief says that it’s quiet; after all, it’s not every day they secede from Earth. People are most upset about the com channels being down. Sheridan isn’t going to put them back up until they’ve added some insurance. The computer that runs the station was installed by Earth Central, and they have all the access codes. If they open up the channels, Earth Central will be able to send a message to override the system, erase their passwords and shut them out. Garibaldi tells the captain it will not be too much of a problem to change the passwords. He also asks how long Sheridan is not going to wear his uniform. For, after the fight to free Babylon 5 from Earth, Sheridan had stated he wasn’t wearing it again. Sheridan tells Garibaldi that he will not wear the uniform until things are over, as he can no longer justify wearing an EarthForce uniform. Sheridan is heading out to make the rounds to reassure people that they are in control of the situation. Garibaldi suggests that the captain take an armed escort; Sheridan replies that doing so would defeat the purpose.
Delenn is with Lennier speaking to four other Minbari. She says the captain wishes to convey his thanks to their captains for help saving the place – they represent each of the four Minbari war cruisers. After the four leave, Lennier tells Delenn that the fleet captain wishes to come aboard for a tour of the station. Delenn asks what Lennier’s opinion of the situation is. He says that opinion doesn’t come into it. Prophecy said that they would reunite with the other half of their souls to fight a war against an ancient enemy. And this is what they have done. Delenn replies that prophecy is a poor guide to the future; you can only understand it when the events are upon you. And the prophecies are not all good ones. There is no guarantee that any of them will survive.
Sheridan is out and about and a man is watching him through a rifle’s scope. He is about to fire when another comes up behind him and stops. The second man says to the first that he was told to wait. The sniper complains that he had a clear shot. He is told that if he shoots Sheridan, he will go down a martyr and 500 men will stand up where he fell. Before this is over, they will have their pound of flesh.
Delenn and Lennier next see Marcus, and asks him what he thinks. Marcus says that Earth was never his government, just a place that sent books and vids and took 30% of their income. Delenn wants to have a rebirth ceremony. Marcus does not feel it is a good time. A rebirth ceremony is to signify great change coming or great change being here, and people need to heal. Delenn thinks such a ceremony would help, but Marcus replies that everyone will be busy with ceremonies of their own.
Elsewhere, Sheridan and the other staff are in dress uniform, as are those attending. For they are having a funeral to honour their fallen comrades, and the coffins are sent into space.
Lord Refa arrives and greets Londo, who offers him a drink. Refa accepts, as it has been a long journey. He asks Londo what was so important that he had to drag Refa here rather than Londo heading to Centauri Prime. Londo replies that he has been heading there quite a bit, and it’s good for Refa to come to him from time to time.
Londo has been studying the reports from the front lines – and he emphasises the plural. He asks if there is anyone on their borders with whom the Centauri are not currently at war. Refa replies they need room to expand. Londo’s response is that only an idiot fights a war on two fronts and only the heir to the throne of the kingdom of idiots fights a war on twelve fronts. Which is a valid point.
Refa insists that they can handle it, that their resources are greater than Londo thinks. Londo brings up Mr Morden and Refa pleads ignorance. Then Londo shows Refa a hologram of Morden talking about an agreement he made with Refa. Londo says he has made a habit of recording important meetings – just so things don’t fall through the cracks.
Mr Morden and his associates worry Londo – as well they should – and he tells Refa that, after the Narns were defeated, he took steps to put some distance between them and Morden. He feels Morden’s associates are carving a deep dark hole in the universe and, when they go down, they will take anyone near them with them as well.
Lord Refa tells Londo he doesn’t appreciate their allies’ strength. Londo actually appreciates it very well. Which is why he is concerned about the dozen small wars they are involved in that have weakened the Republic’s main line of defence if their erstwhile allies turn on them. Refa insists that won’t happen and Londo agrees, for Refa will take steps to prevent it.
Londo tells Refa that he will break off his relationship with Mr Morden. Refa insists he isn’t a fool to cast aside Morden like Londo did, as Morden is the key to Refa’s eventual rise to the throne. Londo tells Refa eh will do it, because Londo has asked him and because Refa’s loyalty to his people is greater than his ambition. And because Londo has poisoned his drink. Londo carefully details the poison and says they are returning to the old ways, and poison was the weapon of choice for the old republic. So Refa will bolster their lines of defence and sever ties with Morden.
Ivanova and Sheridan are in Garibaldi’s office entering their command codes to alter the system passwords. Delenn arrives, and wishes to speak to Sheridan. His part done for now, the captain follows her. Delenn talks about the rebirth ceremony, and says that a small part was demonstrated two years ago when they exchanged religious customs (in “The Parliament of Dreams”). Delenn wishes to invite the senior staff, some representatives of the League, G’Kar – and Londo. Sheridan says that Londo is the last person he would invite; Delenn says that’s why he was her first choice.
The man who stopped the sniper from shooting Sheridan earlier is now hosting a meeting. He tells the others that everyone in the Nightwatch who hasn’t been discovered is to keep a low profile. Apart from them. They have been authorised to proceed. Sheridan is not their primary target either. One comments that they can’t do anything until the Minbari war cruisers are gone. And that’s their target. Delenn got the cruisers to come through sheer force of personality, so they are going to kill Delenn and make it look as if her death is Sheridan’s fault. So the cruisers will leave and Earth can move back in. If the intent is to paint the people working for Earth as a creepy and disturbing bunch of psychopaths, this meeting does a good job of it.
Garibaldi and Ivanova are ready to reset the computer system. They just need to power it down and the new passwords will work when it comes back online. So Garibaldi shuts it off and says it will restart in 10 seconds. Ivanova says she hates this bit, as she’s always afraid she’s broken something. The system comes back up but, instead of the fairly neutral female voice, it is that of a cranky man (voiced by Harlan Ellison). This new voice has rather more personality, and it’s a grumpy one. Garibaldi realises what has happened; back when they built the station they tried to install an AI subroutine, but shut it down when it didn’t work right. The AI must have come back on when the system is rebooted. Now to figure out how to shut it down again.
Delenn is not having much luck getting people to agree to the ceremony. Marcus clearly has something against the idea – he explains later – having, by the sounds of it, deliberately missed it during his training on Minbar. Londo expects such to have women, drinking and debauchery – not to have to tell a secret never told to anyone and to give away something of great value. So he will have other plans. G’Kar is too busy to attend – he wants the Narns to convince station security that they are worth keeping on.
When the cruiser captain arrives on the station, he and Delenn are taken prisoner by the Nightwatch holdouts. If the Minbari cruisers do not leave, both hostages will be killed. So, they have to find where they are being held and how to rescue them from their captors. Plus Garibaldi is finding the AI highly annoying – it keeps complaining at him.