“The Coming of Shadows” is episode nine of season two of Babylon 5.
In the royal palace on Centauri Prime, the home world of the Centauri Republic, the Centauri Emperor is being told that the royal liner is standing by and that they have sufficient warships as an escort. The ships are simply waiting for their arrival. The emperor corrects the man, his prime minister, and says the ships are waiting for him. The prime minister is going to remain behind in case of crisis. The prime minster begs the emperor to reconsider; the doctors says his condition is very delicate. The emperor has made up his mind, and refuses the wig one of his attending women hands him. He says that perhaps Centauri women have the right idea by shaving their heads.
On Babylon 5, G’Kar is telling Sheridan that the visit to the station by the Centauri emperor is unacceptable to the Narn government. G’Kar says that the emperor is a monster and a criminal. His family were responsible for strip mining the Narn home world; his father was responsible for ordering the execution of 100,000 Narn. Sheridan points out that the emperor himself has done nothing, something that G’Kar considers a technicality. Even though the emperor has gone out of his way to offer concessions and return territory to the Narn.
Sheridan understands that a hundred years of blood is difficult to overcome – but that’s not his problem. Babylon 5 is open to everyone, and Sheridan is happy that the emperor wants to visit the station. G’Kar asks if Sheridan is going to allow the emperor to visit over the Narn Regime’s objections. Sheridan says yes. If G’Kar wants he can stay in his quarters with his fingers in his ears and hum loudly. Or he could open a dialogue. Sheridan thinks passing up this opportunity is a mistake, but G’Kar says that he shouldn’t have expected Sheridan to understand. As G’Kar leaves, Sheridan asks him not to do anything they will both regret. G’Kar replies that it’s too late.
Elsewhere on the station, a man arrives and it seems he has an interest in Garibaldi.
As the Centauri emperor’s fleet arrives through the jump gate, Lord Refa is meeting with Londo. Refa says that they have arranged a meeting between the emperor and Londo, one that will be recorded. They’ve also written a speech for Londo; a fiery one that makes certain predictions. Predictions that have been arranged to come true. Vir does not appear to be happy with how the conversation is going. Londo says that the speech will not make him popular with the emperor, and Refa agrees – for as long as the emperor lives. And he’s dying. After Lord Refa leaves, Londo asks Vir if the conversation made him uncomfortable. When Vir says that it did, Londo replies that this gives them something in common for once.
The emperor arrives to be greeted by Sheridan and the senior staff. The emperor asks Dr. Franklin about Ambassador Kosh, as he’s never seen a Vorlon, either within or without an encounter suit. The Centauri sent many expeditions into Vorlon space. None returned. In his quarters, G’Kar is being informed that the First Circle has endorsed his plan. Which is to kill the emperor.
Before his reception, the Centauri emperor speaks to Sheridan. Is seems he has something planned, which the emperor hopes will make a difference. However, on his way to the reception, the emperor collapses. Lord Refa tells Londo that their rivals are acting on Centauri Prime – so Londo decides to take up the offer Morden made him in “Revelations”. Vir tells him not to do it, that he will regret it, and even Londo realises he’s crossing a line – but he does it anyway.
G’Kar is seriously annoyed that the emperor inconsiderately started dying before he could assassinate him. Then Franklin brings him a message from the emperor, one which greatly surprises G’Kar. Which Franklin thinks is sad. However, it’s too late. As Londo says: ‘It has begun.’ Garibaldi also gets a surprising and unexpected message.