“The Quality of Mercy” is episode twenty-one of season one of Babylon 5.
Londo is speaking to a senator from back home, who is telling him that his duty on Babylon 5 is not only to prevent other races from getting the upper hand but to forge relations with potential allies. London says that this is difficult because few are as trusting as he is; the senator says that the Emperor will be happy with any progress Londo makes in this matter. Londo is not impressed.
On exiting his quarters, Londo bumps into Lennier. He asks if Ambassador Delenn has returned yet; Lennier says that she will be away for a few more days. Londo then asks Lennier about himself, as they have not spent much time together – and Lennier gives what is essentially a summary of his entire life in a couple of sentences.
Londo says that this is unfortunate, and turns to leave. Lennier wants to know why this is unfortunate; according to Londo, it is the duty of the assistant to an ambassador to know everything he can about other species. Londo says that he will make room in his schedule to fill in the gaps in Lennier’s education, by showing him the Babylon 5 that Londo knows. Lennier is uncertain about this idea – an uncertainty that is probably justified.
Elsewhere, a Karl Mueller is appearing in court before Ombuds Wellington. Mueller is charged with the murder of two people and a security officer. The Ombuds finds him guilty of murder in the first degree; sentence will be passed later.
Ivanova is looking for Dr. Franklin in Downbelow. He’s running a free clinic, which is by definition unauthorised, and Ivanova is not happy to have found out through the grapevine that Franklin is diverting supplies. She would prefer that he let her know instead. Ivanova does mention the number of people waiting to see the doctor, which is far less than he expected.
Garibaldi, Commander Sinclair, Talia Winters and Ombuds Wellington are discussing the Mueller case. Garibaldi would be happy to space the man; he is also certain that Mueller is responsible for more deaths than the three he has been found guilty of. That this is not the first time that Mueller has killed. Garibaldi would like him spacing, but the Ombuds says that is only for mutiny or treason.
This leaves three legal options. The first two are to ship Mueller back to Earth or imprison him on Babylon 5. Earth doesn’t want Mueller back, and won’t pay to ship him, and the station doesn’t really have enough space. Which leaves the third option. This will require Talia poking around inside Mueller’s mind, something she did with a murderer back on Mars Colony and something she really does not like. Nor does any telepath, which is why there are so few who do it. Wellington says she can’t go on a fishing expedition – as Garibaldi would like – for evidence of other crimes though.
The lack of patients has Dr. Franklin poking around. He has heard of a Laura Rosen who is practicing unlicensed medicine; when he finds her, she has a man and herself hooked up to a piece of alien machinery. Rosen was expecting the doctor to turn up at some point. She says she doesn’t know how the alien machinery works, only that it does. Franklin is convinced that Rosen is a fraud, so digs deeper – and doesn’t find what he expected.
Mueller is sentenced to death of personality, after which he will be given new memories. So Talia has to go inside his head first. The head of what is actually a serial killer, one who is proud of the deaths he has taken. Talia won’t need to do any fishing to find evidence of more murders – Mueller is happy to share.
Londo first takes Lennier to a ‘dance’ club, before hearing of the latter’s research into probability. At which point Londo decides that a game of poker would be a good idea. Lennier was definitely right to be dubious.