“The Long Night” is episode five of season four of Babylon 5.
The episode opens with Sheridan recording his personal log. They are almost ready to strike, and the next few days will either mark the beginning of a new age – or the death of everything they have worked for. He continues with the log at the end. Sheridan is in the War Room when Ivanova approaches him. A ship on the edge of Vorlon space saw something. It was inevitable, the way the Vorlons were attacking Shadow bases and colonies where they had influence, that the Shadows would strike back. Ivanova compares it to two giants fighting in a sandbox, not caring who gets crushed beneath them. The captain asks how bad it is and Ivanova suggests he see for himself. A world, on which there used to be a colony that supported the Vorlons. There is some sort of cloud over the planet. Prior to the arrival of the Shadows, there were two million sentients on the planet. They are now all dead. Ivanova thought the Vorlon planet-killers were scary, but this Shadow weapon – they don’t even know what they are looking at.
Londo is holding a secret meeting on Narn. For, in the previous episode, “Falling Towards Apotheosis”, Londo had suggested to Emperor Cartagia that he execute G’Kar on his homeworld, to show everyone the god-to-be that was Cartagia. To lure Cartagia off Centauri Prime. And the emperor agreed. Londo tells the other Centauri that they all know why they are here. What happens will determine the fate of Centauri Prime; it will stand or fall depending on what they do in the next 17 hours.
One of the others says that they should not move hastily and Londo agrees, but they have no choice. No-one in the royal court prevented a madman from taking the throne until it was too late. Another tells Londo not to blame them. Prime minister Malachai could have prevented it, but Malachai is dead thanks to Londo’s friend Lord Refa, in “The Coming of Shadows”. Londo was a part of it all along. Londo replies that Refa never told him his plans for Malachai, but Refa paid the price. Londo made sure of it (by luring Refa into the hands of some rather annoyed Narns in “And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place”). Londo admits that, when he dies, there will be a reckoning. But that will have to wait.
What matters, Londo tells the others, is what they do now. Another says that there has to be another way and Vir responds. He wishes there was, but with Shadow vessels on Centauri Prime and the Vorlons headed that way, they must get the Shadows off homeworld before the Vorlons arrive. And they will not leave as long as Cartagia is alive. Which is why Londo lured the emperor here, away from the royal court where he will be vulnerable. They have no choice; by the end of the day either Cartagia will be dead or Centauri Prime will be destroyed.
Sheridan is sitting, brooding by all appearances, when Ivanova enters. He asks how it is; another ten ships have joined the fleet. It’s the biggest the commander has ever seen, the biggest anyone has ever seen. Six months ago, they were fighting each other – and Sheridan changed it. Ivanova has dreamed of leading a fleet like this into battle and now she’s going to do it. At the very least, they will go down fighting.
That, Sheridan says, is why he wanted to talk to Ivanova. He doesn’t want her with the fleet, at least at first. There is something he wants her to do. Ivanova was looking for more of the First Ones when she stumbled across the Vorlon fleet in “The Summoning”. Sheridan wants her to continue the search. Ivanova replies that there be no more First Ones but apparently Lorien says there are. They need more of the First Ones to stand a chance.
Ivanova does not like the idea. Any time anyone has told her they would wait for Ivanova or come for her, they haven’t. She can’t do it anymore. She wants Sheridan, as one soldier to another, to promise that he won’t protect her, won’t hold her back. That she will be with the fleet at the end no matter what. Sheridan promises, and wants the commander to leave as soon as possible. Lorien has been notified.
On Narn, the court is being entertained by a jester and Londo is gazing out of a window. Cartagia tells him to have fun; Londo found he needed a break from the fun. Cartagia is amazed at the room’s appearance, as it is almost identical to the throne room back home. Cartagia tells Londo that he has decided to take Londo with him. A god needs a high priest and Cartagia has chosen Londo. They will not be on Centauri Prime when the Vorlons come; they will watch from a distance. They will head back once G’Kar’s execution is finished and then, boom. Londo excuses himself; he has to check on some arrangements.
The arrangements are G’Kar. Who is now missing an eye thanks to Cartagia; his eye offended the emperor. It doesn’t matter; G’Kar can see things clearly now. An empty eye sees an empty heart. Londo tells G’Kar that his execution is set for later that day. He will be paraded in front of his people first, to humiliate G’Kar and use him to strip away their last hope. Then kill him. That is the plan. G’Kar’s chains have been weakened, though, and the palace guards bribed. The emperor’s personal guards cannot be and it is G’Kar’s job to distract them for a few moments. Londo and the others will take care of the rest. G’Kar asks Londo if he knows his heart is empty; Londo replies that G’Kar’s heart will be dead if he doesn’t act as agreed. G’Kar must not harm the emperor or his people will never be set free. Leave that to Londo and the others.
Londo, as he is leaving, hears a noise. For during the entertainment, a jester made fun of Cartagia. The jester has just been killed. In Londo’s quarters, Vir arrives with something for Londo. Nobody seemed to be even checking on him. This is why Londo sent Vir, for everyone knows that Vir is incapable of doing anything really dangerous or subversive. Vir objects to the word ‘incapable’ and Londo tells him to accept the compliment.
The package contains a small cylinder. There is an undetectable amount of neurotoxin and it has to be delivered directly to the target, between the hearts. When a button is pressed, a needle comes out and the target’s hearts stop. Once the needle is removed, an organic sealant closes the wound. The toxin acts very quickly, almost instantaneously. Londo would have preferred it didn’t use the world ‘almost.’ It is time, and G’Kar is being paraded.
In the throne room, Cartagia tells Londo he had G’Kar’s chains replaced as they looked weak. When G’Kar is brought in, the emperor reads some charges and tells G’Kar that the penalty is death by vivisection and how does G’Kar plead. G’Kar does not plead anything, simply seizes the chains. Which Cartagia tells G’Kar he cannot possibly break. He is wrong. G’Kar attacks the guards and Londo escorts the emperor away. Cartagia’s whining is annoying Londo so he tells the emperor to be quiet. And Cartagia hits Londo, causing him to drop the assassination device. Cartagia grabs Londo by the neck, then turns away. Straight into the needle that Vir is holding. Cartagia’s last words were that he was to be a god. Puny god. With the emperor dead, Londo gets a new job, one he didn’t ask for. The Narns try to give G’Kar one as well.
The Vorlons and the Shadows are doing hit and run stuff. Just enough firepower to protect their planet killers. They are doing the same as the allied fleet is – building their forces for a big assault. Neither is attacking the homeworld of the other side; they have some rules of engagement. One of the next targets of the Vorlons is a major inhabited planet. So a decision is made to attempt to lure the Shadows and Vorlons into attacking each other. Much of the episode is spent on Narn, ending the Centauri/Narn conflict again.