“Lines of Communication” is episode eleven of season four of Babylon 5.
ISN is on and the anchorwoman is telling more rubbish about Babylon 5, how messages smuggled out claim that humans are being oppressed by aliens and people are asking how long before the government intervenes. Sheridan is watching this and Ivanova asks him why he’s watching it, as it just upsets him. Sheridan replies that he’s gathering intelligence; Ivanova thinks he’s just winding himself up. Sheridan says it helps him focus. EarthGov will be planning a new assault, but this time it will be portrayed as a rescue mission, not an unprovoked attack.
Ivanova gets a report about a signal coming in from Dr Franklin on Mars. He tells them not to respond and that he has arranged a meeting of the board. The doctor is currently with Number One; he’s been deliberately vague in the signal so that it can’t be tracked or even know who the signal was for. If Clark knew that someone from Babylon 5 was on Mars he’d get a little upset. Number One tells him that Earthforce is closing the noose; the rest of Mars will be captured by the end of the year. Then Marcus runs in; there has been an explosion at the Red Planet Hotel, targeting a security force from Earth. It’s said to be an attack by the resistance, but ten civilians have been killed.
On Babylon 5, Delenn is being briefed by another Minbari, Forrell, about more attacks on ships in the Minbari border worlds. Not on their own ships, but on those who have been allied for centuries. Minbari ships haven’t been sent to help because, with no Grey Council, the three castes are pursuing their own interests. The latest attack was on the Norsai and, as the religious caste was responsible for the alliance with the Norsai, the warrior caste is refusing to help. They do not know who is responsible. Forrell suggests that it may not be as bad as reports indicate. Cut to a ship being attacked by unknown vessels – lots of unknown vessels.
Delenn enters C&C and tells the captain that she can’t join him for dinner. There have been attacks on a number of worlds on the borders of Minbari space, and as the warrior caste is not doing anything, Delenn has to go look. Sheridan mentions that there have been similar attacks outside Pak’ma’ra space. Perhaps someone is taking advantage of the end of the war. Delenn is taking out a White Star flight to investigate; Sheridan wants to know why Delenn can’t send Lennier because it might be dangerous. She is touched by his concern, but tells him not to forget who she was, is and wand what she can do.
On Mars, Number One is yelling at another member of the resistance, Phillipe. She is really not happy about him setting of an unauthorised bomb on her territory. Phillipe replies that there was no time, he saw the squad checking in. She says that a call would have ten seconds and explains what she could do to him in ten seconds. She is definitely irked. Number One returns to Marcus and Franklin and tells them that whatever they have to say had better be worth it. Marcus comments to Franklin that she seems upset. He hopes it’s nothing they said.
ISN is now talking about Minbari War Syndrome, or how a decorated war hero – Sheridan – can turn into an alien collaborator. The reporter claims that they just say the facts and let the truth attend to itself. This gives Sheridan an idea. So he heads to see Ivanova. In the middle of the night – he’s lucky he’s her commanding officer. Sheridan tells Ivanova that if Earth wants to play games, they can to, and they can play better because the truth is on their side, and you can’t kill the truth. Then corrects himself, saying you can, but it comes back to haunt you later. He wants Ivanova to come with him; she asks if she hadn’t better change first. Sheridan hadn’t noticed. Ivanova takes offence at that.
They head to the War Room – which Ivanova has seen before – and the captain tells her that she gave him the idea. During the war, Ivanova was on Babcom updating everyone as to what was going on. Ivanova says she hated it. Sheridan tells her she was great, she has a face people trust, Ivanova would rather have a face people fear; she has that as well. Sheridan wants to do it on a larger scale. Solid information is rare and back home ISN is all they have. So he wants Ivanova to be the voice of the resistance. Ivanova feels that Sheridan is volunteering her for the job; he accepts her offer. Then tells her to get some sleep.
On Delenn’s White Star, Forrell tells her she should get some sleep. She tells him she is disturbed by the actions of the warrior caste; Delenn has not being paying attention to events back home. Forrell says that the Grey Council held them together; that’s why Valen created it. Each caste had an equal voice. Now the warrior caste is forming a new council of their own and apparently forcing out the religious caste from their cities.
On Mars, Marcus and Franklin are at the meeting of the resistance leaders. Franklin explains that it was Clark’s bombing of civilians on Mars that made the station secede. Phillipe thinks an armed fleet helped; many have not forgotten that Sheridan helped put down the food riots on Mars after the Minbari War. Marcus tells them that the resistance needs all the help they can get. Babylon 5 is forming a coalition against Clark – but it’s directed at the person, not the position. And stop bombing civilians, it sends the wrong message. Babylon 5 has been busy with the war and, before anyone says that’s nothing to do with them, Marcus mentions the creature found on Captain Jack in the previous episode, “Racing Mars”. They believe that the forces behind the war are responsible for some of the problems back home.
Delenn’s ships pickup a distress call from a Pak’ma’ra military transport that’s asking for help. It’s being attacked by other ships – too many other ships. Delenn has never seen the attacking ships before. They are apparently the Drakh – and it seems they have had some contact with other Minbari. Delenn and Lennier work out something about the Drakh and it’s worrying. The problems back on Minbar are also worrying, and will need dealing with before there’s a civil war.