“No Compromises” is episode one of the fifth and final season of Babylon 5.
It is recommended that the feature length “Babylon 5: In the Beginning” be watched between the season four finale, “The Deconstruction of Falling Stars”, and this episode.
This episode opens with an Earth destroyer coming through the jump gate and hailing the station. They inform Lieutenant Corwin that they have his package and he heads to meet a shuttle in a docking bay. The ‘package’ is Earthforce Captain Elizabeth Lochley. After the events of “Rising Star”, Sheridan is now president of the Interstellar Alliance and Ivanova was promoted to captain, then left the station to command a destroyer. So, they are lacking a commander.
Lochley thought she would meet the entire command staff. Corwin apologises; Garibaldi has just got back from Mars and is technically not on the staff, Zack is the current chief of security and Garibaldi is helping him plan Sheridan’s inauguration. Dr Franklin has an emergency in Medlab. The new captain asks if it’s always like this on the station and Corwin says no… before admitting yes, it is. It’s a bit hectic. Lochley thinks a hectic station is a sign of a poorly run station. She may not know just what she is getting into.
Lochley just wants to know from Corwin about any personality conflicts, because she’s thoroughly researched everything else and is up to speed on all the reports. Corwin tells her that some stuff doesn’t get into reports. In Lochley’s opinion, that means the report is incomplete. On a comment about looking for trouble, Corwin tells her you don’t need to – it comes looking for you.
On Mars, a Ranger is tied to a chair and a man playing a music box tells him that it’s nothing personal, he wants to send a message to Babylon 5. That’s what the Rangers are for, after all. He kills the Ranger and hangs a sign around his neck saying ‘Special Delivery for Babylon 5.’
New opening credits, unsurprisingly, recap the events of 2258-2261 before opening with 2262.
Sheridan and Delenn are in his quarters – neither quarters are big enough for the both of them and they are waiting for the new facilities on Minbar to be constructed. Sheridan is informed that Lochley is aboard. Outside the station, a bot approaches something that looks like it has a body inside it.
Sheridan, in his meeting with Lochley, tells her she has complete authority when it comes to running the station. Lochley has a question. Babylon 5 is remaining independent pending a decision by the Alliance to buy it from Earth, so why have an Earthforce officer in charge. Partly tradition, and partly to heal the wounds caused by the civil war. Sheridan asked specifically for Lochley; she has handled a number of missions without resorting to force, but is capable of using it if necessary. She knows diplomacy and how to fight. And speak her own mind. Lochley wants to run the station her way or not at all; Sheridan agrees, saying he will not interfere except in political or Alliance decisions. Lochley then gets a link saying there is something she needs to see. A man watches her leave.
Garibaldi is micromanaging Zack about Sheridan’s inauguration. The man from Mars is also present, having a drink. The thing floating outside is the dead Ranger from Mars. And a threat message is sent to Sheridan’s quarters.
The man who watched Lochley earlier speaks to her whilst she is eating, asking for a meeting. Only he wasn’t actually there when he did. Franklin has finished the autopsy on the Ranger. G’Kar is working in his quarters when Sheridan comes to see him. Sheridan has been thinking about G’Kar’s book, which Garibaldi says is very well written. The swearing in ceremony is missing two things; an oath of office and a declaration of the principles of the Alliance. Sheridan wants G’Kar to write them. G’Kar is both flattered and terrified, but agrees.
The man who asked Lochley for a meeting is a telepath, and there are others who refused to join the Psi Corps. They have lacked a home, and would like to stay on Babylon 5 until they can have their own world. The killer from Mars has sent Sheridan a voice message as well, mentioning several presidents who have died, or been killed, in office. He says that’s the price they pay for their decisions. Now it’s Sheridan’s turn to pay for causing the civil war. All the security in the world cannot stop a lone gunman who is willing to die in the process. This makes Garibaldi rather paranoid and many want to call off the inauguration. Sheridan disagrees with this and Lochley agrees with him. It does lead to the most comically short and unpretentious swearing-in ceremony ever. Garibaldi and Lochley are getting off to an abrasive start, and the telepaths may be a problem in the future.