“Sic Transit Vir” is episode twelve of season three of Babylon 5.
Ivanova comes into C&C and all the staff are wearing new uniforms. It looks as if more than the command staff’s uniforms were designed in the previous episode, “Ceremonies of Light and Dark”. However, Ivanova is not wearing a new uniform. She doesn’t appear to be wearing anything at all. She is carrying as if everything is normal and finally realises that everyone is staring at her. At which point Ivanova screams – and wakes up because, of course, this is a nightmare.
On Centauri Prime Vir is in the throne room carefully examining the throne when a minister comes in. Vir claims that he was only looking, not touching. The minister says that the emperor has just finished reading Vir’s reports on Minbar and compliments Vir on his hard work. Even if some bits read as if they were written by Ambassador Mollari. Vir admits Londo advised him on a few things. The minister replies that he thought as much, saying Londo is of the old school, where he thinks they need to be protected from the truth. However, they live in perilous times, and they must have accurate information on other worlds. He advises Vir to follow his own judgement in the future.
The minister continues, saying that a ship has been arranged to transport Vir to Babylon 5 as soon as he is ready to travel, then on to Minbar. Before Vir leaves, the minister tells him a new joke he has heard. ‘What is more dangerous than a locked room full of angry Narns? An angry Narn with a key.’ Vir returns to his own quarters and opens the door, revealing a whole bunch of perhaps less than happy Narns, one of whom closes the door behind Vir.
On the station, Ivanova is talking to Sheridan. She says that she has had one bad dream after another, most of them sounding fairly stereotypical in nature. She continues, saying that last night she dreamed she walked into C&C totally… unprepared. Sheridan tells the commander that it’s only to be expected. All her dreams place Ivanova in unfamiliar territory, which is where they are right now. He asks Ivanova when she joined EarthForce; she’s been in it for 13 years. Sheridan continues, saying that they are both career military. They define who they are by what they do, and they left that behind when they broke away from Earth. Ivanova replies that she’s dealt with that; Sheridan says she has, consciously, but her subconscious is still coming to grips with it. Besides, it could be worse – Ivanova could be having dreams where she showed up for work naked. Then she would be in real trouble.
Londo is in his quarters, trying, and failing, to swat something. He calls maintenance, and says he called them two hours ago about a bug in his quarters. Maintenance says they are a little busy. Londo says he does not like insects, or things with eight legs – except for one race with eight legs, and that’s because they are terrible at cards. The person on the other end says that since the change in status, there has been a backlog. And hangs up. Londo then decides to try a sword, and eventually manages to stab the insect. He stares at it, commenting that the insect is smaller than he thought. Then he realises it is smaller – there are more of them. Then his door chimes and a Centauri woman enters, asking Londo if he is Ambassador Mollari. Londo replies that for her he would be anything she wants.
Vir arrives on the station, but Londo is not there to greet him, like he usually is. Sheridan is spoken to by Delenn, who asks how things are going with his government. He replies they are quiet, where Babylon 5 is concerned. Clark has to do deal with problems back home, so Babylon 5 is out of the picture. For now. The resistance is gathering forces and putting people into place.
Sheridan continues, saying that every time he has seen Delenn recently, they have been in the middle of a crisis or a revolution. This is the first time in months there has been quiet, and it won’t last long. Sheridan says he would like to take advantage of this and see Delenn tonight. She replies that he’s seeing her now. Sheridan would like to see her in a different light. Candlelight, for dinner, tonight. For tomorrow may bring another crisis or battle. Delenn agrees (Sheridan is sadly not a great cook).
Vir arrives at Londo’s quarters, and Londo greets him, asking how was his flight and how was the royal court. Londo asks if Vir’s reports went over well, and if Vir told them that Londo had helped with them. Vir replies that he didn’t need to – they noticed Londo’s help right away. Carefully not pointing out that said help was not really appreciated. Londo continues, asking if anything interesting happened when Vir was back home. Vir says no, but he doesn’t look to be entirely truthful. There was that room full of Narns for one thing.
Londo tells Vir he has a surprise for him, and tells someone out of sight they can come out, and the Centauri woman from earlier does. Londo tells Vir that his wife has come all this way to see him. Vir points out that he isn’t married; apparently, in a few days he will be. Vir will soon be spending the rest of his life with his fiancée, Lyndisty.
Vir wants to know how they can be married as they have never met. Lyndisty tells him it’s all been arranged, Vir’s uncle and Lyndisty’s mother thought it would be a perfect union of their two houses. Vir replies that Lyndisty knows nothing about him. She knows he is the envoy to Minbar, that his reports are well regarded and that Vir’s star is in ascendance. Besides, the ambassador has told her all about Vir. On Vir’s concerned look, Londo tells him that he only told Lyndisty the good parts. It was a short conversation. Vir says that he always wanted to marry for love. Lyndisty says to give her a chance, and he will marry for love.
Zack arrives in C&C to speak to Ivanova. On seeing the view, Zack comments that it’s like being naked in front of the universe. So Ivanova quickly moves things on. Zack has something he would normally run by Garibaldi, but it’s more Ivanova’s business. More Narns than usual have been passing through the station, mostly escaping their homeworld. Zack agrees with Ivanova that this is a good thing, but the name of the Centauri who approved the travel orders caught his eye. Abrahamo Lincolni. Ivanova asks since when that is a Centauri name. Zack agrees, and shows her the office the orders came from.
Vir is walking with Lyndisty, who is talking and being quite forward, kissing him. She says that everything has been done that must be done and they will be married. Everything that is but what is between them. Vir seemed to enjoy the kiss, for he returns it.
Then Vir arrives in Ivanova’s office. He says he was otherwise engaged. As in literally engaged as well. Ivanova tells Vir he isn’t making any sense. He says that’s the kind of day he’s having. Ivanova shows him the Abrahamo Lincolni travel papers and he tells the commander he had hoped to tell her before she found it. The orders all came from Vir’s office on Minbar and, as Vir is the only one there who knows about Earth history…
Vir says he needed a name to put on the papers, for he lacked the authority to sign them. So he invented someone who did. The Narns are being shipped off their homeworld; it sounds like it’s to work camps, but Vir explains it’s better than being back on Narn for them. They came voluntarily, but many Centauri would rather see the Narns suffer back home than live comfortably on Centauri Prime.
Vir is walking with Lyndisty again, when a Narn appears saying he has found the murderer and attacks with a blade. Sheridan, who is currently having his dinner with Delenn, gets the notification about the assault in progress. As he’s nearby, he rushes to help. He gets cut in the process but Zack and security turn up and shoot the Narn dead. Now, it turns out that before the Narn attacked, he said a phrase, one which means he has blood oath. So it isn’t a random attack, but a personal grudge. Vir cannot think of any reason why a Narn would swear blood oath against him.
Investigations continue and thinks are not what they seem. Why Vir had a room full of Narns who appeared angry, yet did not attack him, is revealed. Vir also asks Ivanova for advice with women, as he lacks experience. Which gets to be a slightly uncomfortable conversation for Ivanova. The only other person Vir could ask is Londo, and he does not feel that is a good idea.