Babylon 5: The Sinclair Years
2258
Week 52: Shadows assassinate President Santiago
2259
Week 26: Major Krantz joins the Rangers and sends his Second to Babylon 5 to recruit and train some of the Lurkers. Garibaldi is made aware of this and is sworn to secrecy, Ivanova finds out anyway but does not reveal this until the rest of the command staff are made aware of the Rangers and Shadows
Week 42: Delenn takes command of the Rangers after dissolving the Grey Council and orders the design and construction of the White Star fleet
Week 52: Fall of Narn; Kosh reveals himself to save Sinclair from a Centauri assassin
2260
Week One: Shadows begin attacking League worlds
Week Eleven: Garibaldi recieves a communique from Talia Winters on Mars
Week Twelve: Ivanova recieves a distress signal from a future Babylon 5
Week Thirteen: All civilian and military communications to Babylon 5 from Earth cease
Week Fourteen: No more transports arrive at Babylon 5 from the Solar System
Week Fifteen: EarthForce considers Babylon 5 station destroyed
Week Sixteen: Garibaldi and Lyta Alexander arrive at Mars. It's a
trap conceived by Psi Corps. Garibaldi is captured, Lyta barely escapes
back to Babylon 5.
Week Seventeen: Sinclair and Zathras take Babylon 4 back one thousand years. Before
this he tells Sinclair he is the One Who Was, he tells Delenn she is the
One Who Is and he tells Ivanova she is the One Who Will Be
Week Thirty: Marcus Cole arrives at Babylon 5 in White Star One. He informs
Delenn that the Warrior Caste has seceded from the Minbari Federation. Lieutenant-Commander
Ivanova, Zack Allan, Lyta Alexander and Doctor Franklin are told about the Rangers and the
Shadows. Zack takes over Security in Garibaldi's absence. Ivanova promotes herself to Commander and takes over overall control of Babylon 5.
Week Thirty-Two: With the aid of the
Mars Resistance and the Rangers who smuggle them to Mars, Lyta and
Franklin successfully rescue Talia.
Week Thirty-Three: Kosh restores Talia's original personality
Week Forty: The beginnings of a Telepath Colony on Babylon 5. Lurkers and others are recruited by security and maintenance with the absence of new recruits from Earth.
Week Fifty : Citizen G'kar is captured on Narn and brought to Centauri Prime.
Week Fifty-Two: Telepath War Round One: Psi Cops via their dupes seize control of a dozen Earth warships, several outposts and all colonies beyond Mars, including Io.
2261
Week One: Clark isolates Earth and Mars from the rest of the Earth Alliance and declares Martial Law
Week Two: Lyta returns to Mars to organise resistance against the Psi Corps
Week Four: The Drakh begin to attack League Worlds randomly using Centauri Prime as a base
Week Fifteen: The EAS Agamenmon, under the command of John Sheridan, recieves a distress signal apparently from Babylon 4.
Week Thirty-Five: Fall of Centauri Prime. Shadows install Londo Mollari as puppet Emperor. Unknown to Mollari they establish a base on Centauri Prime.
Week Forty: Garibaldi returns to Babylon 5
Week Fifty-One: Minbari renegades begin attacking Earth Alliance outposts
Week Fifty-Two: Realising his mistake but unable to challenge the Shadows or Morden directly, Londo arranges for G'kar to escape back to Babylon 5 to warn Ivanova about the Shadows. In return he ends the occupation of Narn.
2262
Week One: Garibaldi takes over Ivanova's role in Command and Control.
Week Ten: Telepath War Round Two; Garibaldi betrays Ivanova by allowing a covert team of Psi Cops aboard to destroy the Telepath Colony. Shadows, who came alongside the Psi Corps insertion, murder Kosh. Vorlons retaliate by attacking planets associated with the Shadows or hiding Shadow vessels.
Week Eleven: Ambassador G'kar donates 300 Narns to help with station security. Lyta returns to Babylon 5.
Weeks Twenty to Thirty: Telepath War Round Three; Open conflict between ships loyal to Clark or the Psi Corps and those opposing
Week Forty : Vorlons reveal their Planet Killers
Week Forty-One: Ivanova and Delenn order the Rangers to seek out the remaining First Ones.
Week Forty-Four: Lyta removes the Psi Corps conditioning from Garibaldi
Week Forty-Two: Telepath War Round Four; Psi Corps military and research bases on Earth and Mars are destroyed.
Week Forty-Five: Valen returns to Minbar and unites the castes. Delenn sets up new Interstellar Alliance; Minbari Federation, Epsilon 3, Narn Regime and Babylon 5 are founding members. The former League worlds join later.
Week Forty-Seven: Earth anti-Clark forces join with Minbari Warrior Caste forces in destroying Vorlon Planet Killer
Week Forty-Eight: First Ones destroy second Planet Killer.
Week Fifty: Agamenmon tows Babylon 4 to the Epsilon system; Ivanova takes over Rangers for President Delenn using the station as a base. Other races are permitted to join the Rangers.
Week Fifty-One: Sinclair-Valen resumes command of Babylon 5 just as the Shadow Death Cloud approaches the Epsilon System.
2263
Week One: To end the Shadow War once and for all Lyta destroys Z'ha'dum by turning its defenses against itself, after commandeering a White Star for the purpose. Drall dismantles the Death Cloud after the Shadows shut it down.
Week Two: Garibaldi, Franklin and Talia kidnap President Clark; being smuggled in and out of EarthDome by General Hague. The connections between Clark, the Psi Corps and the Shadows are revealed in public.
Week Four: First Ones convince Vorlons to leave galaxy; beginning of Third Age of Mankind
Week Thirty: The reconstituted Earth Senate removes bans on telepaths serving in the military and dismantles the resettlement camps for rouge telepaths. There are still stiff penalties against unauthorised scans.
Weeks Thirty to Forty: Sporadic attacks by Clark loyalists against Alliance members
Week Forty: Shadow tech illegally held by elements of the Earth Alliance is confiscated and destroyed.
Week Fifty: The Earth Alliance joins the Interstellar Alliance
2264
John Sheridan elected President of the Earth Alliance
2265
The Psi Corps is officially disbanded and all dupes reprogrammed by order of the EA Senate but Lyta Alexander is exiled from the Earth Alliance along with other resistance leaders. Eventually a small group of followers settle on Vorlon after dismantling the local jumpgate to avoid retaliation.
2272
G'kar elected Interstellar Alliance President
2278
Mollari and G'kar kill each other to avoid Shadow retribution. On Mollari's death, 100 fusion bombs connected to Mollari's central nervous system as a dead man's switch, detonate destroying all remaining Shadow vessels and thralls. Vir Cotto crowned Emperor. Execution of Morden. Centauri Republic joins IA.
Sunday 29 April 2012
Friday 30 March 2012
STAR TREK 25
The Federation and Star Trek in the Twenty-Fifth Century, a work of fan fiction.
100 years after the climax of the Dominion War, Will Riker is still alive and begins his million-year contest with Q and Abdel.
Q is Picard's nemesis, admittedly very much based on/ripped off of Mr Mxyplik [sic] and Batmite (of DC fame). Riker finds out that Q manipulated the Borg into their repeat attempts to assimilate Humanity, due to the Q Continuum's belief that Mankind will overtake them in evolutionary development (admittedly this takes off Childhood's End but the Borg being manipulated is my idea).
Cardassia Prime is still under joint Federation and Klingon occupation, with (the) Cardassians able to become Federation citizens only through joining Starfleet or other government organisations.
This is a Federation that is showing more of its dark side.
Many Federation citizens are openly expressing their wishes to join the Borg Collective, now that its Queen has been overthrown after a failed attempt to assimilate now-Admiral Riker.
Many 'Borgies' are arrested, charged with treason and sent to Federation penal colonies. Protesting at this, many Federation planets and colonies secede while others bar their citizens from joining Starfleet.
Starfleet itself is now generally concerned with carrying out anti-smuggling operations and arms embargoes.
A descendant of Ambassador Spock is now the Praetor of the newly-formed Vulcan-Romulan-Reman Alliance, which is now part of the Federation. However, the Romulan fleet is still intact and Remans are barred from being Federation citizens unless they join Starfleet.
Starfleet officers often trade places with their Romulan counterparts while Vulcans can be officers in both militaries and all starships now have 'Armour' (i.e. from the risible 'Voyager' finale) and cloaking technology and can thus effectively be shielded while cloaked.
A 'Dominion Remant' still exists with the Founders themselves joining the UFP as a single citizen entity. Many Jem'hadar provide security for both the Federation and the Remnant, which itself is run by a Council of the leaders of its various protectorates, the Vorta having returned to a primitive state and the Jem'hadar being cured of their Ketrasel White addiction (although warriors often carry a supply as sustenance in emergency).
Starfleet has possession of a Queen-era Borg cube, its crew defecting during the Queen's final months, and access to Transwarp. All Starships have a Data as emergency science and engineering head and a 'Zimmerman' as emergency medical head.
The Klingon Empire now includes several former Cardassian and Federation colonies. The Empire is now much more democratic with all members becoming citizens at age 18, although Warriors/the Nobility become citizens at 13 and can inherit property and become officers in the Klingon Defence Forces. Conversely, the Federation mostly consists of autocratic/class-ridden regimes like that on Betazed and others in the Star Trek franchise/canon.
Copyright Neil Thurogood 2012
Ideas and justifications.
1.What if Riker still had the powers of Q, and the Borg are aware of this, but had to refrain from using them for fear of retarding Mankind's development? He does teleport however and remains eternally middle-aged and disease-free.
2.Ideal super-villain: an immortal Human who wishes to die but constantly endangers others trying to end his own life; being 'Abdel' aka the Biblical Adam (you can tell from a lack of a belly-button and his hermaphrodism).
3.Realistically, wouldn't some people want to be Borg as opposed to forceful assimilation especially if suffering from a terminal disease or just old age?
4.Humanity evolves back into amphibians (as implied in 'Voyager') leaving Riker, Abdel and Data as the last Humans.
5.Riker solves the Q-Abdel problem a million years from now by luring him to an uninhabited planet and finally using his powers to destroy them both, thus freeing Humanity and the wider galaxy.
6.Several other fictional universes coalesce into the previous two scenarios, e.g. Watchmen, Space:Above and Beyond, Forever War/Forever Free, Babylon 5 and The X-Files.
Copyright Neil Thurogood 2012
The Federation and Star Trek in the Twenty-Fifth Century, a work of fan fiction.
100 years after the climax of the Dominion War, Will Riker is still alive and begins his million-year contest with Q and Abdel.
Q is Picard's nemesis, admittedly very much based on/ripped off of Mr Mxyplik [sic] and Batmite (of DC fame). Riker finds out that Q manipulated the Borg into their repeat attempts to assimilate Humanity, due to the Q Continuum's belief that Mankind will overtake them in evolutionary development (admittedly this takes off Childhood's End but the Borg being manipulated is my idea).
Cardassia Prime is still under joint Federation and Klingon occupation, with (the) Cardassians able to become Federation citizens only through joining Starfleet or other government organisations.
This is a Federation that is showing more of its dark side.
Many Federation citizens are openly expressing their wishes to join the Borg Collective, now that its Queen has been overthrown after a failed attempt to assimilate now-Admiral Riker.
Many 'Borgies' are arrested, charged with treason and sent to Federation penal colonies. Protesting at this, many Federation planets and colonies secede while others bar their citizens from joining Starfleet.
Starfleet itself is now generally concerned with carrying out anti-smuggling operations and arms embargoes.
A descendant of Ambassador Spock is now the Praetor of the newly-formed Vulcan-Romulan-Reman Alliance, which is now part of the Federation. However, the Romulan fleet is still intact and Remans are barred from being Federation citizens unless they join Starfleet.
Starfleet officers often trade places with their Romulan counterparts while Vulcans can be officers in both militaries and all starships now have 'Armour' (i.e. from the risible 'Voyager' finale) and cloaking technology and can thus effectively be shielded while cloaked.
A 'Dominion Remant' still exists with the Founders themselves joining the UFP as a single citizen entity. Many Jem'hadar provide security for both the Federation and the Remnant, which itself is run by a Council of the leaders of its various protectorates, the Vorta having returned to a primitive state and the Jem'hadar being cured of their Ketrasel White addiction (although warriors often carry a supply as sustenance in emergency).
Starfleet has possession of a Queen-era Borg cube, its crew defecting during the Queen's final months, and access to Transwarp. All Starships have a Data as emergency science and engineering head and a 'Zimmerman' as emergency medical head.
The Klingon Empire now includes several former Cardassian and Federation colonies. The Empire is now much more democratic with all members becoming citizens at age 18, although Warriors/the Nobility become citizens at 13 and can inherit property and become officers in the Klingon Defence Forces. Conversely, the Federation mostly consists of autocratic/class-ridden regimes like that on Betazed and others in the Star Trek franchise/canon.
Copyright Neil Thurogood 2012
Ideas and justifications.
1.What if Riker still had the powers of Q, and the Borg are aware of this, but had to refrain from using them for fear of retarding Mankind's development? He does teleport however and remains eternally middle-aged and disease-free.
2.Ideal super-villain: an immortal Human who wishes to die but constantly endangers others trying to end his own life; being 'Abdel' aka the Biblical Adam (you can tell from a lack of a belly-button and his hermaphrodism).
3.Realistically, wouldn't some people want to be Borg as opposed to forceful assimilation especially if suffering from a terminal disease or just old age?
4.Humanity evolves back into amphibians (as implied in 'Voyager') leaving Riker, Abdel and Data as the last Humans.
5.Riker solves the Q-Abdel problem a million years from now by luring him to an uninhabited planet and finally using his powers to destroy them both, thus freeing Humanity and the wider galaxy.
6.Several other fictional universes coalesce into the previous two scenarios, e.g. Watchmen, Space:Above and Beyond, Forever War/Forever Free, Babylon 5 and The X-Files.
Copyright Neil Thurogood 2012
Friday 2 March 2012
Babylon 5 questions and answers part six.
53.Thought I'd take a shot at estimating the enlisted and non-commissioned ranks,
generally speaking assuming they are based on those currently used by the United States Marines Corps and include the Warrant Officer grades used by the US Army. Those of the Royal Air Force and USAF are also included.
I've placed the Warrant Officer grades (those used by the US Army) ahead of the enlisted ranks somewhat in line with the system used by the British Army (which uses two Warrant Officer grades above the rank of Staff Sergeant) on the basis that these positions would be based on a combination of experience, certain skills (specifically pilot in most cases) and the duty to command enlisted and commissioned personnel from multiple branches of the service. Evidently, Warrant Officers in EarthForce are situated between/below the Commissioned ranks. Based on Navy terminology (e.g. Command Chief Petty Officer), with reference to in-show references to 'sector' and using the term 'Master Sergeant' where appropriate to maintain consistency, a good guestimate is as follows:
Fleet Master Sergeant>Colonel
Force Master Sergeant>Lieutenant Colonel
Sector Master Sergeant>Commander
CWO5>Major
CWO4>Lieutenant
CWO3>Second Lieutenant
Chief Warrant Officer (CWO2)>Ensign
Warrant Officer (WO1)
GROPOS/EarthForce Marines Corps:
CWO5=Command Sergeant Major
CWO4=Sergeant Major
CWO3=Master Gunnery Sergeant
CWO2=Master Sergeant
WO1=Gunnery Sergeant
E4=Staff Sergeant
E3=Sergeant
E2=Private First Class
E1=Private
Navy (outposts/bases):
CWO5=Command Master Sergeant
CWO4=Chief Master Sergeant
CWO3=Senior Master Sergeant
CWO2=Master Sergeant
WO1=Technical Sergeant
E4=Staff Sergeant
E3=Senior Technician
E2=Leading Technician
E1=Technician basic
Air Crew/Starfury support staff:
CWO5=Command Master Sergeant
CWO4=Chief Master Sergeant
CWO3=Senior Master Sergeant
CWO2=Master Sergeant
WO1=Technical Sergeant
E4=Staff Sergeant
E3=Senior Crewman
E2=Leading Crewman
E1=Crewman
Warship/Cruiser:
CWO5=Chief Master Sergeant
CWO4=Master Gunnery Sergeant
CWO3=Gunnery Sergeant
CWO2=Master Sergeant
WO1=Technical Sergeant
E4=Corporal
E3=Specialist
E2=Crewman First Class
E1=Crewman
Non-commissioned Flight Corps:
CWO5=Chief Flight Master Sergeant
CWO4=Senior Flight Master Sergeant
CWO3=Flight Master Sergeant
CWO2=Flight Sergeant
WO1=Staff Sergeant
E4=Corporal
E3=Specialist
E2=Crewman First Class
E1=Crewman
Security:
CWO5=Chief Warrant Officer
CWO4=Chief Warrant Officer
CWO3=Chief Warrant Officer
CWO2=Chief Warrant Officer
WO1=Warrant Officer
E4=Staff Sergeant
E3=Sergeant
E2=Private First Class
E1=Private
54.A note; RAF enlisted ranks: Master Aircrew
Warrant Officer, Flight Sergeant Aircrew,
Flight Sergeant, Chief Technician,
Corporal
Senior Aircraftman
Leading Aircraftman
Aircraftman
USAF: three First Sergeant grades above Staff Sergeant
Along similar lines, perhaps the following grade system can be used as an alternative unified rank and grade system:
CWO4=Command Chief Warrant Officer
CWO3=Senior Chief Warrant Officer
CWO2=Master Chief Warrant Officer
CWO1=Chief Warrant Officer
E9=First Sergeant
E8=Warrant Officer
E7=Master Sergeant
E6=Staff Sergeant
E5=Sergeant
E4=Corporal
E3=Specialist
E2=Private First Class
E1=Private
53.Thought I'd take a shot at estimating the enlisted and non-commissioned ranks,
generally speaking assuming they are based on those currently used by the United States Marines Corps and include the Warrant Officer grades used by the US Army. Those of the Royal Air Force and USAF are also included.
I've placed the Warrant Officer grades (those used by the US Army) ahead of the enlisted ranks somewhat in line with the system used by the British Army (which uses two Warrant Officer grades above the rank of Staff Sergeant) on the basis that these positions would be based on a combination of experience, certain skills (specifically pilot in most cases) and the duty to command enlisted and commissioned personnel from multiple branches of the service. Evidently, Warrant Officers in EarthForce are situated between/below the Commissioned ranks. Based on Navy terminology (e.g. Command Chief Petty Officer), with reference to in-show references to 'sector' and using the term 'Master Sergeant' where appropriate to maintain consistency, a good guestimate is as follows:
Fleet Master Sergeant>Colonel
Force Master Sergeant>Lieutenant Colonel
Sector Master Sergeant>Commander
CWO5>Major
CWO4>Lieutenant
CWO3>Second Lieutenant
Chief Warrant Officer (CWO2)>Ensign
Warrant Officer (WO1)
GROPOS/EarthForce Marines Corps:
CWO5=Command Sergeant Major
CWO4=Sergeant Major
CWO3=Master Gunnery Sergeant
CWO2=Master Sergeant
WO1=Gunnery Sergeant
E4=Staff Sergeant
E3=Sergeant
E2=Private First Class
E1=Private
Navy (outposts/bases):
CWO5=Command Master Sergeant
CWO4=Chief Master Sergeant
CWO3=Senior Master Sergeant
CWO2=Master Sergeant
WO1=Technical Sergeant
E4=Staff Sergeant
E3=Senior Technician
E2=Leading Technician
E1=Technician basic
Air Crew/Starfury support staff:
CWO5=Command Master Sergeant
CWO4=Chief Master Sergeant
CWO3=Senior Master Sergeant
CWO2=Master Sergeant
WO1=Technical Sergeant
E4=Staff Sergeant
E3=Senior Crewman
E2=Leading Crewman
E1=Crewman
Warship/Cruiser:
CWO5=Chief Master Sergeant
CWO4=Master Gunnery Sergeant
CWO3=Gunnery Sergeant
CWO2=Master Sergeant
WO1=Technical Sergeant
E4=Corporal
E3=Specialist
E2=Crewman First Class
E1=Crewman
Non-commissioned Flight Corps:
CWO5=Chief Flight Master Sergeant
CWO4=Senior Flight Master Sergeant
CWO3=Flight Master Sergeant
CWO2=Flight Sergeant
WO1=Staff Sergeant
E4=Corporal
E3=Specialist
E2=Crewman First Class
E1=Crewman
Security:
CWO5=Chief Warrant Officer
CWO4=Chief Warrant Officer
CWO3=Chief Warrant Officer
CWO2=Chief Warrant Officer
WO1=Warrant Officer
E4=Staff Sergeant
E3=Sergeant
E2=Private First Class
E1=Private
54.A note; RAF enlisted ranks: Master Aircrew
Warrant Officer, Flight Sergeant Aircrew,
Flight Sergeant, Chief Technician,
Corporal
Senior Aircraftman
Leading Aircraftman
Aircraftman
USAF: three First Sergeant grades above Staff Sergeant
Along similar lines, perhaps the following grade system can be used as an alternative unified rank and grade system:
CWO4=Command Chief Warrant Officer
CWO3=Senior Chief Warrant Officer
CWO2=Master Chief Warrant Officer
CWO1=Chief Warrant Officer
E9=First Sergeant
E8=Warrant Officer
E7=Master Sergeant
E6=Staff Sergeant
E5=Sergeant
E4=Corporal
E3=Specialist
E2=Private First Class
E1=Private
Wednesday 8 February 2012
Babylon 5: Questions Answered and Unanswered part 5
48. re. 'The Lost Tales' and Lochley's promotion-do we take that the rank of Colonel outranks the specific rank of Captain? Or take with a modified pinch of salt? The the whole 'Quantum' space thing seemed like a bit of a gimmick, or even a prank on Sheridan's part to freak out the journalist interviewing him, so why take Lochley's promotion seriously?
49. What happens to Earth's homeless under President Clark? Are they just randomly sectioned (or imprisoned) as only the insane would 'choose' to become homeless?
50. Ditto 'fixing the economy':maybe the unemployed or underemployed can join Nightwatch no questions asked in return for fifty credits a week (JMS has stated a credit is equivalent to pounds sterling now) and being able to avoid the 19.00 hours curfew (and presumably a hold on rent or mortgage payments/it's probably considered treason to evict a Nightwatch member anyway?) i.e. to basically spy on their neighbours and keep up the global Nightwatch presence. Perhaps 'Workfare' programmes also.
51.If the Narns or a Narn nation in the thirteenth century did have space travel is it possible that the extermination of the Narn telepaths resulted in the deaths of 99% of their population in order to sufficiently weaken the telepath gene, hence their reversion to agrarianism?
52. Navy: Admiral positions could be substituted for General but generally speaking the Navy uses the same ranks as the Infantry. I am assuming the two 'Knights' in 'A Sky Full of Stars' both outrank Commander Sinclair (but are not Generals) and that Colonel replaces what would otherwise be Brigadier General, again allowing for Lochley's promotion to Colonel.
The important assumption is that because leaders of carrier groups and fleets are given the designation of 'Captain' then presumably this is a term for ship and fleet leaders and not one single rank. However an observation of the rank insignia worn by Captain Sheridan, Commander Sinclair ("The Gathering"), Colonel Bin Zayn and Major Kemmer show a comparison with real/existing insingia for Lieutentant Colonel (US Army). Specifically, the insignia worn by both Sinclair and Kemmer would lead to the assumption that they both occupy positions equivalent to Lieutentant Colonel, while the three officer's various salutes to each other would indicate that Colonel (or perhaps specifically Lieutentant Colonel) directly outranks Commander which directly outranks Major .Colonel Bin Zayn himself wears one command bar on his shoulder insignia, compared to Sheridan's two bars (and Commanders Sinclair and Ivanova's onebar).
I think from this information we can assume that there are differing ranking systems in each department of EarthForce but the differing ranks can be directly compared with (at least) one rank above another in any chain of command always outranking the one below.
Therefore, ranks are somewhat staggered so that
Major General or Rear Admiral outranks Full Colonel
which outanks Lieutentant Colonel and Captain
who outrank Commander
which outanks Major or Lieutenant Commander
who outrank Sector Captain or Lieutenant
which outranks First Lieutenant
which outranks Second Lieutenant
however, John Copeland (B5 producer) is quoted as saying that all EarthForce branches have the same ranking structure, with the first six officer ranks being the same as the modern US Navy (i.e. Ensign to Capain) with the ranks of Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel and Major being above Captain and below Admiral and General. At first this doesn't seem to make much sense, particularly when (Major?) General Franklin defers to Captain Sheridan as an equal and Majors Kemmer and Krantz saluting Commander Sinclair.
An explanation for this could be that there are several chains of command and officers can be in more than one at a time, being:
First, what I would refer to as a "Command" or (perhaps) Infantry chain of command, covering division and installation commanders, hence; Sinclair as a commander outranks Kemmer who is technically General Netter's Executive Officer and Sheridan is equal to General Franklin. A commander in this fashion will ahev authority over any security and medical personnel
Second, security; hence Major Kemmer outranks Security Chief (Warrant Officer) Garibaldi
Third, Navy and Marines Corps; hence Colonel bin Zayn outranks Commander Sinclair, "Dodger" (Private First Class) salutes Captain Lochley as a superior, Captain Lochley herself can be promoted to Colonel and Richard Franklin (later General) can serve as a first officer aboard a starship
Fourth, presumably, would be the equivalent of the Air Force
Five, medical corps
Six, perhaps military intelligence
and seven perhaps covers (part of) the Psi Corps. Certainly Lieutenant John Matheson had had enough training while still in Psi Corps to be accepted in two years as an officer in EarthForce when Psi Corps was disbaned after the Telepath War. Regardless, it is implied that there are at least four members of the Joint Chiefs.
Presumably "Admiral" refers to one of the heads of the various EarthForce branches and "General" is the same as Admiral or General, "Major" being a one-star or Brigadier General etc. General Franklin's rank of Major General could be a title, he probably has the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. This (and the alternative style ranks below) are consistent with the amount of EA starships commanded by a captain/the distinct lack of admirals; all non-generals who are given the command of a starship refer to themselves/are referred to as "captain", within a fleet or battle group there is probably an internal chain of command. These commanders are probably the admirals mentioned in the show, while some presumably would have an actual rank below that of Captain. In show members of the Joint Chiefs are referred to as General, so perhaps staff/flag officers as:
General
Lieutenant General
Admiral
Vice Admiral
and Rear Admiral
However it should be mentioned that for pilots RAF ranks are apparenly used also
e.g. Pilot Officer, Flying Officer, Flight Lieutenant, Squadron Leader, Wing Commander and Group Captain, instead of the navy-style ranks.
Also, if Kemmer is basically equivalent to a Brigadier-General, how did she get promoted so quickly?
An alternative, but less meandering system could be;
Commissioned ranks EarthForce:
Joint Chiefs of Staff=Admiral
Vice Admiral
Colonel=General
Lieutenant Colonel=Lieutenant General
Captain=Major General
Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Major
Lieutenant
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
all in the same chain of command, with starship captains being any fleet commander ranking below Vice Admiral who is not a Major
48. re. 'The Lost Tales' and Lochley's promotion-do we take that the rank of Colonel outranks the specific rank of Captain? Or take with a modified pinch of salt? The the whole 'Quantum' space thing seemed like a bit of a gimmick, or even a prank on Sheridan's part to freak out the journalist interviewing him, so why take Lochley's promotion seriously?
49. What happens to Earth's homeless under President Clark? Are they just randomly sectioned (or imprisoned) as only the insane would 'choose' to become homeless?
50. Ditto 'fixing the economy':maybe the unemployed or underemployed can join Nightwatch no questions asked in return for fifty credits a week (JMS has stated a credit is equivalent to pounds sterling now) and being able to avoid the 19.00 hours curfew (and presumably a hold on rent or mortgage payments/it's probably considered treason to evict a Nightwatch member anyway?) i.e. to basically spy on their neighbours and keep up the global Nightwatch presence. Perhaps 'Workfare' programmes also.
51.If the Narns or a Narn nation in the thirteenth century did have space travel is it possible that the extermination of the Narn telepaths resulted in the deaths of 99% of their population in order to sufficiently weaken the telepath gene, hence their reversion to agrarianism?
52. Navy: Admiral positions could be substituted for General but generally speaking the Navy uses the same ranks as the Infantry. I am assuming the two 'Knights' in 'A Sky Full of Stars' both outrank Commander Sinclair (but are not Generals) and that Colonel replaces what would otherwise be Brigadier General, again allowing for Lochley's promotion to Colonel.
The important assumption is that because leaders of carrier groups and fleets are given the designation of 'Captain' then presumably this is a term for ship and fleet leaders and not one single rank. However an observation of the rank insignia worn by Captain Sheridan, Commander Sinclair ("The Gathering"), Colonel Bin Zayn and Major Kemmer show a comparison with real/existing insingia for Lieutentant Colonel (US Army). Specifically, the insignia worn by both Sinclair and Kemmer would lead to the assumption that they both occupy positions equivalent to Lieutentant Colonel, while the three officer's various salutes to each other would indicate that Colonel (or perhaps specifically Lieutentant Colonel) directly outranks Commander which directly outranks Major .Colonel Bin Zayn himself wears one command bar on his shoulder insignia, compared to Sheridan's two bars (and Commanders Sinclair and Ivanova's onebar).
I think from this information we can assume that there are differing ranking systems in each department of EarthForce but the differing ranks can be directly compared with (at least) one rank above another in any chain of command always outranking the one below.
Therefore, ranks are somewhat staggered so that
Major General or Rear Admiral outranks Full Colonel
which outanks Lieutentant Colonel and Captain
who outrank Commander
which outanks Major or Lieutenant Commander
who outrank Sector Captain or Lieutenant
which outranks First Lieutenant
which outranks Second Lieutenant
however, John Copeland (B5 producer) is quoted as saying that all EarthForce branches have the same ranking structure, with the first six officer ranks being the same as the modern US Navy (i.e. Ensign to Capain) with the ranks of Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel and Major being above Captain and below Admiral and General. At first this doesn't seem to make much sense, particularly when (Major?) General Franklin defers to Captain Sheridan as an equal and Majors Kemmer and Krantz saluting Commander Sinclair.
An explanation for this could be that there are several chains of command and officers can be in more than one at a time, being:
First, what I would refer to as a "Command" or (perhaps) Infantry chain of command, covering division and installation commanders, hence; Sinclair as a commander outranks Kemmer who is technically General Netter's Executive Officer and Sheridan is equal to General Franklin. A commander in this fashion will ahev authority over any security and medical personnel
Second, security; hence Major Kemmer outranks Security Chief (Warrant Officer) Garibaldi
Third, Navy and Marines Corps; hence Colonel bin Zayn outranks Commander Sinclair, "Dodger" (Private First Class) salutes Captain Lochley as a superior, Captain Lochley herself can be promoted to Colonel and Richard Franklin (later General) can serve as a first officer aboard a starship
Fourth, presumably, would be the equivalent of the Air Force
Five, medical corps
Six, perhaps military intelligence
and seven perhaps covers (part of) the Psi Corps. Certainly Lieutenant John Matheson had had enough training while still in Psi Corps to be accepted in two years as an officer in EarthForce when Psi Corps was disbaned after the Telepath War. Regardless, it is implied that there are at least four members of the Joint Chiefs.
Presumably "Admiral" refers to one of the heads of the various EarthForce branches and "General" is the same as Admiral or General, "Major" being a one-star or Brigadier General etc. General Franklin's rank of Major General could be a title, he probably has the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. This (and the alternative style ranks below) are consistent with the amount of EA starships commanded by a captain/the distinct lack of admirals; all non-generals who are given the command of a starship refer to themselves/are referred to as "captain", within a fleet or battle group there is probably an internal chain of command. These commanders are probably the admirals mentioned in the show, while some presumably would have an actual rank below that of Captain. In show members of the Joint Chiefs are referred to as General, so perhaps staff/flag officers as:
General
Lieutenant General
Admiral
Vice Admiral
and Rear Admiral
However it should be mentioned that for pilots RAF ranks are apparenly used also
e.g. Pilot Officer, Flying Officer, Flight Lieutenant, Squadron Leader, Wing Commander and Group Captain, instead of the navy-style ranks.
Also, if Kemmer is basically equivalent to a Brigadier-General, how did she get promoted so quickly?
An alternative, but less meandering system could be;
Commissioned ranks EarthForce:
Joint Chiefs of Staff=Admiral
Vice Admiral
Colonel=General
Lieutenant Colonel=Lieutenant General
Captain=Major General
Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Major
Lieutenant
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Ensign
all in the same chain of command, with starship captains being any fleet commander ranking below Vice Admiral who is not a Major
Wednesday 11 January 2012
Babylon 5: Questions Answered and Unanswered part 3
37.Don't argue with me on this one: between half and two thirds Starfury and shuttle pilots wear enlisted uniform/less than half ever wear the same uniforms as commissioned officers. Yes I know some could be technicians but why would technicians need a pre-battle prep talk from Sheridan (S2, 'The Fall of Night')?
So I am assuming the following [IF GROPOS/Earth Force Marine Corps, Security and the Navy all the same terminology at Specialist-level and higher (i.e. PO3)]:
Paygrades by rank
Command Master Chief (PO)/Sergeant-Major: as Lieutenant Commander
Master Pilot: as Lieutenant
Senior Pilot: as Second Lieutenant
Paygrades enlisted personnel (being nine for consistency)
[Pay Grade →
Branch of Service ↓ E-1 E-2 E-3 E-4 E-5 E-6 E-7 E-8 E-9
Army PVT PV2 PFC SPC - CPL SGT SSG SFC MSG - 1SG SGM - CSM - SMA
Marine Corps Pvt PFC LCpl Cpl Sgt SSgt GySgt MSgt
Navy SR SA SN PO3 PO2 PO1 CPO SCPO MCPO - CMDCM]
Master Chief (PO)/Pilot
Senior Chief Petty Officer/Junior Pilot
Chief Petty Officer
Petty Officer (1st Class)
2PO
3PO
Crewman: as Private First Class
Crewman: as Private
Crewman recruit: as Private (unranked)
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Command_Master_Chief_Petty_Officer
Pilot insignia based on those shown in
http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/Earth_Force_Ranks#Other_Insignia
Alternately:
Master Pilot=Lieutenant
Senior Pilot=Lieutenant (junior grade)
Pilot=Ensign
Junior pilot=Ensign/Cadet
38.The specific rank of Ensign is actually never mentioned until 'Crusade' in Gideon's flashback to the EAS Cerberus. Ditto Lieutenant (junior grade) until series 3 (specifically Corwin's promotion to Full Lieutenant, whereas in series 2 he is a 'Second Lieutenant'). I considered including these ranks in the enlisted ranks but it made more sense to insert only the Petty Officer and Pilot positions. There is no mention of the rank of Corporal so I am assuming GROPOS follow the US Army ranking system, at least up to a point and then Naval ranks take over.
39.How far does the Shadow's fear of telepaths go? Is it then in their interests to develop the younger races away from a Vorlon-style development and hence the repeated conflict with the Vorlons?
40.Conversely, would a development towards Vorlon-style telekinesis in e.g. Humans create less resource-hungry civilisations and therefore less need for conflict over resources? The Shadows could see this as well and it may be in both races' interests if organic technology (at least the ability to simply grow ships in a vacuum) were developed by the younger civilisations. The Shadow wars' aim could be to stimulate development while at the same time stifling growth so no race is a threat to any of the First Ones.
41. Re. Starfury pilots possible ranking system
Major=Master Pilot
Lieutenant=Senior Pilot
Lieutenant (junior grade)=Pilot
Ensign=Junior pilot
Four 'pilot' levels also correspond with the mentioned four non-command security levels and could be considered to use the same ranking system...except the security officers on Babylon 5 are certainly all non-coms. Earth Force Security does have Commissioned Officers but these are not the general peacekeepers/gendarmarie that would cover Earth Alliance outposts and colonies.
The series two episode 'GROPOS' shows most clearly the uniforms used by the enlisted men. A design used for NCOs outside of battle dress shows a pattern similar to the shade of blue over blue used by at least some pilots but is two shades of a pale cream instead. Obviously Keffer and other pilots wear the blue and blue uniform but personnel associated with the Starfury squadrons are seen on many occasions wearing the two pale cream uniforms. One example is the (NCO?) who tries to come on to Kodath in 'Born to the Purple'. I should add that the technical staff on B5 wear a combination of blue and grey overall-type uniforms, apart from the Officers stationed in C and C.
42. Again, could the Shadow-Vorlon dichotomy come from the First One's apparent theology? Namely Loriens' assertion that the First Born were naturally immortal and that later 'generations' (i.e. races) were more numerous while having progressively shorter lifespans. Perhaps a cull of some sort was desired, certainly the Shadows would feel threatened by any large alliance of younger races, such as that which defeated them in the past. Perhaps the reduced lifespan gives a kind of urgency to the Shadow's cause while the Vorlons seem more content to watch and wait. Maybe the Shadows even believe that repeated wars prevent worse conflicts breaking out in the future-or they simply wanted somone they could relate to on their level.
37.Don't argue with me on this one: between half and two thirds Starfury and shuttle pilots wear enlisted uniform/less than half ever wear the same uniforms as commissioned officers. Yes I know some could be technicians but why would technicians need a pre-battle prep talk from Sheridan (S2, 'The Fall of Night')?
So I am assuming the following [IF GROPOS/Earth Force Marine Corps, Security and the Navy all the same terminology at Specialist-level and higher (i.e. PO3)]:
Paygrades by rank
Command Master Chief (PO)/Sergeant-Major: as Lieutenant Commander
Master Pilot: as Lieutenant
Senior Pilot: as Second Lieutenant
Paygrades enlisted personnel (being nine for consistency)
[Pay Grade →
Branch of Service ↓ E-1 E-2 E-3 E-4 E-5 E-6 E-7 E-8 E-9
Army PVT PV2 PFC SPC - CPL SGT SSG SFC MSG - 1SG SGM - CSM - SMA
Marine Corps Pvt PFC LCpl Cpl Sgt SSgt GySgt MSgt
Navy SR SA SN PO3 PO2 PO1 CPO SCPO MCPO - CMDCM]
Master Chief (PO)/Pilot
Senior Chief Petty Officer/Junior Pilot
Chief Petty Officer
Petty Officer (1st Class)
2PO
3PO
Crewman: as Private First Class
Crewman: as Private
Crewman recruit: as Private (unranked)
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Command_Master_Chief_Petty_Officer
Pilot insignia based on those shown in
http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/Earth_Force_Ranks#Other_Insignia
Alternately:
Master Pilot=Lieutenant
Senior Pilot=Lieutenant (junior grade)
Pilot=Ensign
Junior pilot=Ensign/Cadet
38.The specific rank of Ensign is actually never mentioned until 'Crusade' in Gideon's flashback to the EAS Cerberus. Ditto Lieutenant (junior grade) until series 3 (specifically Corwin's promotion to Full Lieutenant, whereas in series 2 he is a 'Second Lieutenant'). I considered including these ranks in the enlisted ranks but it made more sense to insert only the Petty Officer and Pilot positions. There is no mention of the rank of Corporal so I am assuming GROPOS follow the US Army ranking system, at least up to a point and then Naval ranks take over.
39.How far does the Shadow's fear of telepaths go? Is it then in their interests to develop the younger races away from a Vorlon-style development and hence the repeated conflict with the Vorlons?
40.Conversely, would a development towards Vorlon-style telekinesis in e.g. Humans create less resource-hungry civilisations and therefore less need for conflict over resources? The Shadows could see this as well and it may be in both races' interests if organic technology (at least the ability to simply grow ships in a vacuum) were developed by the younger civilisations. The Shadow wars' aim could be to stimulate development while at the same time stifling growth so no race is a threat to any of the First Ones.
41. Re. Starfury pilots possible ranking system
Major=Master Pilot
Lieutenant=Senior Pilot
Lieutenant (junior grade)=Pilot
Ensign=Junior pilot
Four 'pilot' levels also correspond with the mentioned four non-command security levels and could be considered to use the same ranking system...except the security officers on Babylon 5 are certainly all non-coms. Earth Force Security does have Commissioned Officers but these are not the general peacekeepers/gendarmarie that would cover Earth Alliance outposts and colonies.
The series two episode 'GROPOS' shows most clearly the uniforms used by the enlisted men. A design used for NCOs outside of battle dress shows a pattern similar to the shade of blue over blue used by at least some pilots but is two shades of a pale cream instead. Obviously Keffer and other pilots wear the blue and blue uniform but personnel associated with the Starfury squadrons are seen on many occasions wearing the two pale cream uniforms. One example is the (NCO?) who tries to come on to Kodath in 'Born to the Purple'. I should add that the technical staff on B5 wear a combination of blue and grey overall-type uniforms, apart from the Officers stationed in C and C.
42. Again, could the Shadow-Vorlon dichotomy come from the First One's apparent theology? Namely Loriens' assertion that the First Born were naturally immortal and that later 'generations' (i.e. races) were more numerous while having progressively shorter lifespans. Perhaps a cull of some sort was desired, certainly the Shadows would feel threatened by any large alliance of younger races, such as that which defeated them in the past. Perhaps the reduced lifespan gives a kind of urgency to the Shadow's cause while the Vorlons seem more content to watch and wait. Maybe the Shadows even believe that repeated wars prevent worse conflicts breaking out in the future-or they simply wanted somone they could relate to on their level.
Sunday 8 January 2012
Babylon 5: Questions Answered and Unanswered part 2
25. Sheridan as Kosh/Kosh as Sheridan. If this is the case and Kosh is a future Sheridan travelling backward into the past this does explain both why Kosh knows so much about the Human residents of B5 and why at the same time he seems to know so little about Humanity in general. If we accept that, for example the Kosh in 2258, has Sheridan's knowledge from 2259 to 2281 then we can see why he would, for example, be so concerned with Talia Winters. He would know about the sleeper agent built into her subconscious and would create a back-up Talia in the eventuality that the sleeper agent becomes dominant. The recording of a traumatic memory-i.e. when Talia scanned the Martian criminal-could be sufficient to do this.
26. Majors, Lieutenant Commanders and Sector Captains. With the apparent interchangable use of army and navy ranks in Earth Force the question begs: which ranks are simply titles or equivalent ranks and which are the 'real' ranks?
27. Is Captain a particular rank or does it simply cover commanders of bases or carrier groups? Is Major a rank in both Navy and Marines/do they just have the same ranks or does the rank refer to an officer acting on behalf of a Flag Officer (or even the President e.g. Leanna Kemmer) or their subaltern e.g. Ed Ryan?
28.'Sector Captain' is mentioned in 'The Gathering', similarly, in the US Coast Guard, 'Sector Commander' is equivalent to 'Captain' in the Navy. Perhaps Commander Sinclair is meant to occupy a position similar to a Sector Commander? Which makes sense considering B5's position in neutral space both as a free port and early warning system in case of an invasion of the Earth Alliance. Similarly, Garibaldi could have the rank of Command Master Chief Petty Officer; as opposed to Chief Warrant Officer (which I suppose would imply the presence of more than one Warrant Officer on the station)
29. As both 'Commander' and 'Sector Captain' are mentioned, perhaps 'Sector Captain' is equivalent to the rank of 'Commander' in the space navy? Regards to the US Coast Guard, 'Commander' refers to the rank of Captain or Rear Admiral. 'Captain' also refers to any officer of junior rank who commands a ship.
30.There are 10 pay grades for commissioned officers (USCG) covering:the four junior ranks (Ensign,Lieutenant Junior Grade,Lieutenant and Lieutenant Commander); the two positions of Commander and Commodore; plus Flag Officers: Rear-Admiral (upper and lower), Vice-Admiral and Admiral.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organization_of_the_United_States_Coast_Guard
Considering the actual ranks portrayed, being no Admirals on-screen and officers such as 'Commander' Galus and 'Lieutenant Commander' Takashima being referred to as simply 'Lieutenant' and also being consistent with Captain Lochley's promotion to Colonel ('Lost Tales'):
Ranks
General
Lieutenant-General
Major-General
Colonel
Commander
Major
Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Positions
Captain, from commander of a corvette or small outpost to that of a fleet division
(below Lieutenant-General, above Major)
Lieutenant Commander, e.g. the head of department on an outpost
[i.e Garibaldi-head security, Laurel Takashisma/Susan Ivanova-head station operations, Dr Stephen Franklin-head of Medlab
(Lieutenant or above)
32. Re.'The Deconstruction of Falling Stars'-when did Sheridan, Delenn, Garibaldi and Franklin have their neural pathways/personalities mapped and stored and was this done post-mortem? Similarly, did this have their consent and was this a common practice,perhaps initially used by Psi Corps (this is implied somewhat in 'Dust to Dust') and then brought into wider knowledge when Psi Corps was disbanded?
33.Note: usually only Lieutenant Generals are seen leading fleets in Earth Force.
34.How advanced is Narn genetic engineering, as G'kar (a Narn) seems perfectly convinced he can successfully impregnate Lyta (a Human)? He has had gills implanted so he can obtain oxygen in some of the more noxious atmosphere's of the alien sector, why not further 'modifications'. Or is Human/Narn compatibility a result of Vorlon genetic engineering?
35.Is it possible that the Minbari and Centauri are the only races to have naturally evolved telepathy? Delenn seems somewhat telepathic, albeit on a very superficial level, and universal telepathy in the Centauri could result in universal precognition?
36.I assume all Drazi are hermaphrodites?
25. Sheridan as Kosh/Kosh as Sheridan. If this is the case and Kosh is a future Sheridan travelling backward into the past this does explain both why Kosh knows so much about the Human residents of B5 and why at the same time he seems to know so little about Humanity in general. If we accept that, for example the Kosh in 2258, has Sheridan's knowledge from 2259 to 2281 then we can see why he would, for example, be so concerned with Talia Winters. He would know about the sleeper agent built into her subconscious and would create a back-up Talia in the eventuality that the sleeper agent becomes dominant. The recording of a traumatic memory-i.e. when Talia scanned the Martian criminal-could be sufficient to do this.
26. Majors, Lieutenant Commanders and Sector Captains. With the apparent interchangable use of army and navy ranks in Earth Force the question begs: which ranks are simply titles or equivalent ranks and which are the 'real' ranks?
27. Is Captain a particular rank or does it simply cover commanders of bases or carrier groups? Is Major a rank in both Navy and Marines/do they just have the same ranks or does the rank refer to an officer acting on behalf of a Flag Officer (or even the President e.g. Leanna Kemmer) or their subaltern e.g. Ed Ryan?
28.'Sector Captain' is mentioned in 'The Gathering', similarly, in the US Coast Guard, 'Sector Commander' is equivalent to 'Captain' in the Navy. Perhaps Commander Sinclair is meant to occupy a position similar to a Sector Commander? Which makes sense considering B5's position in neutral space both as a free port and early warning system in case of an invasion of the Earth Alliance. Similarly, Garibaldi could have the rank of Command Master Chief Petty Officer; as opposed to Chief Warrant Officer (which I suppose would imply the presence of more than one Warrant Officer on the station)
29. As both 'Commander' and 'Sector Captain' are mentioned, perhaps 'Sector Captain' is equivalent to the rank of 'Commander' in the space navy? Regards to the US Coast Guard, 'Commander' refers to the rank of Captain or Rear Admiral. 'Captain' also refers to any officer of junior rank who commands a ship.
30.There are 10 pay grades for commissioned officers (USCG) covering:the four junior ranks (Ensign,Lieutenant Junior Grade,Lieutenant and Lieutenant Commander); the two positions of Commander and Commodore; plus Flag Officers: Rear-Admiral (upper and lower), Vice-Admiral and Admiral.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organization_of_the_United_States_Coast_Guard
Considering the actual ranks portrayed, being no Admirals on-screen and officers such as 'Commander' Galus and 'Lieutenant Commander' Takashima being referred to as simply 'Lieutenant' and also being consistent with Captain Lochley's promotion to Colonel ('Lost Tales'):
Ranks
General
Lieutenant-General
Major-General
Colonel
Commander
Major
Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Positions
Captain, from commander of a corvette or small outpost to that of a fleet division
(below Lieutenant-General, above Major)
Lieutenant Commander, e.g. the head of department on an outpost
[i.e Garibaldi-head security, Laurel Takashisma/Susan Ivanova-head station operations, Dr Stephen Franklin-head of Medlab
(Lieutenant or above)
32. Re.'The Deconstruction of Falling Stars'-when did Sheridan, Delenn, Garibaldi and Franklin have their neural pathways/personalities mapped and stored and was this done post-mortem? Similarly, did this have their consent and was this a common practice,perhaps initially used by Psi Corps (this is implied somewhat in 'Dust to Dust') and then brought into wider knowledge when Psi Corps was disbanded?
33.Note: usually only Lieutenant Generals are seen leading fleets in Earth Force.
34.How advanced is Narn genetic engineering, as G'kar (a Narn) seems perfectly convinced he can successfully impregnate Lyta (a Human)? He has had gills implanted so he can obtain oxygen in some of the more noxious atmosphere's of the alien sector, why not further 'modifications'. Or is Human/Narn compatibility a result of Vorlon genetic engineering?
35.Is it possible that the Minbari and Centauri are the only races to have naturally evolved telepathy? Delenn seems somewhat telepathic, albeit on a very superficial level, and universal telepathy in the Centauri could result in universal precognition?
36.I assume all Drazi are hermaphrodites?
Tuesday 3 January 2012
Why are there no trade unions in Star Trek?
Why Babylon 5 rules.
Simply because it portrays a variety of fictional organisations which are not species-specific and this is uncommon in science-fiction
Being:
The Order of Technomages (Human and Centauri, possibly also Drakh and others);
The Thieves Guild ('A Call To Arms' had a 'Dureena's People',a Pak'ma'ra, a Narn, a Hayach, one or two Drazi and several Human members, plus those of other races);
The Transport Pilots Association (Human, Minbari and others were seen;Episode 'A Day in the Strife)
and The Rangers (initially Minbari, then Minbari and Human, then finally citizens from all members of the Interstellar Alliance were allowed to join from 2262).
OK I guess that's it but in science fiction you usually get very specific orders (i.e. the Order of Wizards and the Jedi Order); civilisation-specific governments or federations; and crime syndicates. Yes the Jedi are not only Human but entrants do have specific requirements/abilities.
I suppose the Indigent Alien Benevolent Fund described in 'Matter' counts as a pan-species organisation, as does the Culture itself. However an outsider has to petition (part of) the Culture for membership (of the Culture) or be recruited as a mercenary by Special Circumstances.
I suppose the Indigent Alien Benevolent Fund could be classed as a form of welfare state and the Culture as a civilisation so I suppose they don't count as such (!) and cannot be compared to the organisations of Babylon 5.
Grrr,I'll put it this way: Why are there no trade unions in Star Trek? It doesn't have to be 'just the Federation and the Orion Syndicate'!
Simply because it portrays a variety of fictional organisations which are not species-specific and this is uncommon in science-fiction
Being:
The Order of Technomages (Human and Centauri, possibly also Drakh and others);
The Thieves Guild ('A Call To Arms' had a 'Dureena's People',a Pak'ma'ra, a Narn, a Hayach, one or two Drazi and several Human members, plus those of other races);
The Transport Pilots Association (Human, Minbari and others were seen;Episode 'A Day in the Strife)
and The Rangers (initially Minbari, then Minbari and Human, then finally citizens from all members of the Interstellar Alliance were allowed to join from 2262).
OK I guess that's it but in science fiction you usually get very specific orders (i.e. the Order of Wizards and the Jedi Order); civilisation-specific governments or federations; and crime syndicates. Yes the Jedi are not only Human but entrants do have specific requirements/abilities.
I suppose the Indigent Alien Benevolent Fund described in 'Matter' counts as a pan-species organisation, as does the Culture itself. However an outsider has to petition (part of) the Culture for membership (of the Culture) or be recruited as a mercenary by Special Circumstances.
I suppose the Indigent Alien Benevolent Fund could be classed as a form of welfare state and the Culture as a civilisation so I suppose they don't count as such (!) and cannot be compared to the organisations of Babylon 5.
Grrr,I'll put it this way: Why are there no trade unions in Star Trek? It doesn't have to be 'just the Federation and the Orion Syndicate'!
Babylon 5: Questions Answered and Unanswered
1.In "The Gathering" the exiled Minbari sect is almost certainly the Windswords clan; "The most militant of all our Warrior Castes"-Lenier, episode 'Deathwalker'
2.Regardless of their real identity their motive for framing Commander Sinclair for the attempted assassination of Kosh would be identical to those of rouge elements in Earth Force:They would wish to distance Sinclair from the Grey Council believing him to be too close to them.
3.Presumably the Windswords would also believe the Minbari Government to be too close to the Vorlons and would wish to sever this link. It may seem unlikely that they would wish to ally themselves with former enemies, but the schism between the Minbari Warrior and Religious castes over the decision by the Religious Caste (specifically Delenn) to surrender at the Battle of the Line could be a reason to ally themselves with former enemies to enact revenge on Delenn and the Religious Caste.It is also possible that a Vorlon attack on Babylon 5 would result in Delenn's death.
4.The Windswords and Kosh's assassin both refer to Sinclair "having a hole in your mind".
5.A war between the Earth Alliance and the Vorlon Empire could result in a stalemate if the other races/federations do not side with the Vorlons as the Vorlons may be reluctant to destroy or occupy Earth and it would be impossible to destroy or embargo all Earth's colonies if the Earth Alliance has allies among the other federations. The Vorlons would also be short of ground troops without allies among e.g. the Narns or the Minbari and ultimately these would be needed even in an interstellar war to subjugate hostile populations.
6.Presumably if hostilities did break out the Earth Alliance would finally accept the Centauri Republic as an ally. Minbari society would be split; but the majority of the Warrior Caste may again side with their former enemies the Humans, again maybe simply to spite the Religious Caste or to expand the Minbari sphere of influence/overthrow the Grey Council.
7.Again, the supposed conspirators would want to alienate the Vorlons and a war may be the only opportunity for Earth to obtain Vorlon technology. Elements in the Earth Alliance are often quite prepared to endanger the lives of Humans and aliens in order to access 'new' technologies so this supposition is hardly far-fetched. If these elements were allied with the 'Knights' (see 20) and the Windswords they may believe a war with the Vorlons to be survivable if not winnable. Episode 'Deathwalker' also suggests an element of cooperation between clandestine EA and Minbari elements.
8.This may be a shot in the dark but there are enough suggestions that the Vorlons are really Human; there certainly is a distinct possibility that Kosh is Human. In fact I think it is very possible that 'he' is a version of John Sheridan (commander B5 2259 to 2261) who experiences time backwards from Sheridan's 'death' in 2281.Of all the B5 races there is no mention of any aspect of the Vorlon's culture,other than the name/title/rank Kosh and Vorlon. Instead we see Kosh at various times researching Earth culture and history. Is he preparing for his "future" or re-remembering his past?
9.Kosh was prepared to reveal his true nature to save Sheridan's life. Plus, Marcus 'jokes' that Kosh is Merlin then states that Merlin (as in The Magician) was able to predict the future by remembering it, as he 'aged backwards'.
10.The Ranger, one million years into the future seen in 'The Deconstruction of Falling Stars' (s4), is seen transforming into a ball of bright light before entering a Vorlon-style encounter suit. This doesn't necessarily mean that 'all the Humans became all the Vorlons' but the Vorlons themselves could be a kind of composite race of (perhaps only individuals) who were sufficiently evolved. This certainly happened to Jason Ironheart who states he will see 'you' (presumably referring to Humanity) in 'a million years'('Mindwar'). Of all the B5 races there is no mention of the Vorlon's culture, instead we see Kosh at various times researching Earth culture and history. Is he preparing for his "future" or re-remembering his past?
11.This process could have happened to Sheridan as his body was never recovered.
12.Who IS blowing up all the Suns? The Hand?
13.Why are Ivanova and Delenn often depicted wearing veils as if at a funeral,and why was Delenn a Human in Mollari's vision?
14.Was General Hague aware of and in contact with the Rangers, as his signal for Sheridan was once delivered by a Ranger? Would he arrange for Earth Force officers, unhappy with the police-state measure introduced by (then) Vice-President Clark in 2258 ('Eyes'), to defect to the Minbari? Hauge himself need not have direct knowledge of the Rangers for this to happen, but any officer doing so would almost certainly be directed to the Rangers. Ivanova herself even suggests she'd rather serve the Minbari than Earth Force because of her treatment. Perhaps this would have been a plot opening if Claudia Christian had left in the second series?
15.Similarly, why weren't (some of) the Rangers recruited or trained on Babylon 5?
Perhaps if Sinclair was still Commander this would have happened?
16.Presumably Sinclair was the first Human to join the Rangers but if this was the case how could he have been the first to have heard of them? I am referring to Marcus' brother and Marcus' own assertion that he had to live on Minbar for a year to learn the Minbari language in order to complete his Ranger training.
17.Marcus arrives at Babylon 5 just less than a year after Sinclair would have left B5 for Earth before going to Minbar.
18.However, Delenn describes Sinclair as being the first Human to live permanently on Minbar and that he is the first of many so other Humans could have lived on Minbar briefly. There were EA ambassadors to Minbar on a temporary basis before Sinclair was assigned there in the beginning of 2259 and Humans could have joined the Rangers without actually undergoing Ranger training. Plus the Rangers did have a training camp in Drazi space.
19.It is possible that (basic? full?) Ranger training takes six months while entry to the Rangers could be based on previous military experience or prior knowledge of Minbari, a qualification any veteran of the Earth-Minbari war or any ambassador or free trader dealing with the Minbari would have. The simplest answer anyway is that a number of Humans had heard of the Rangers in 2258 or earlier. I guess with hindsight the Rangers seem kind of tacked on. I don't know if they really add anything to the plot. Perhaps Humans and Minbari would have joined forces anyway as a result of both sides' civil wars if Sinclair continued to command B5 instead of leaving to lead the Rangers.
20.Who exactly were the two 'Knights' ('A sky full of stars') and would they be part of the same cabal of officials who plotted to assassinate Kosh/was Laurel Takashima part of the same cabal?
21.How much knowledge of these plots did the Psi Corps and Vice-President Clark have? Did they even initiate them?
22.Santiago would have been elected EA President in 2254. Around this time both the Psi Corps and the EA government, via Interplanetary Expeditions, would have some knowledge of the Shadows' existence from the discovery of a Shadow Vessel on Mars.
Clark could have kept the Shadows' existence a secret from Santiago while at the same time establishing an alliance between himself, IPX, the Psi Corps and the Shadows.
23.Who exactly IS Justin? Was he also part of the Icarus' crew or was he recruited by the Shadows much earlier?
24.I suppose if the Vorlons did manage to successfully exterminate Humanity (and if unchecked they would have destroyed Earth, Mars and possibly B5 to eliminate those influenced by the Shadows) Humanity would still be intact through: Justin and Morden (living on Z'ha'dum), Alisa Beldon (Minbar) and Sebastian (Vorlon). Plus possibly Anna Sheridan and other Human thralls of the Shadows and maybe Lyta Alexander if she was on Vorlon at the time. Plus Delenn and (millions of) other Minbari have Human ancestry as she is descended from Sinclair.
1.In "The Gathering" the exiled Minbari sect is almost certainly the Windswords clan; "The most militant of all our Warrior Castes"-Lenier, episode 'Deathwalker'
2.Regardless of their real identity their motive for framing Commander Sinclair for the attempted assassination of Kosh would be identical to those of rouge elements in Earth Force:They would wish to distance Sinclair from the Grey Council believing him to be too close to them.
3.Presumably the Windswords would also believe the Minbari Government to be too close to the Vorlons and would wish to sever this link. It may seem unlikely that they would wish to ally themselves with former enemies, but the schism between the Minbari Warrior and Religious castes over the decision by the Religious Caste (specifically Delenn) to surrender at the Battle of the Line could be a reason to ally themselves with former enemies to enact revenge on Delenn and the Religious Caste.It is also possible that a Vorlon attack on Babylon 5 would result in Delenn's death.
4.The Windswords and Kosh's assassin both refer to Sinclair "having a hole in your mind".
5.A war between the Earth Alliance and the Vorlon Empire could result in a stalemate if the other races/federations do not side with the Vorlons as the Vorlons may be reluctant to destroy or occupy Earth and it would be impossible to destroy or embargo all Earth's colonies if the Earth Alliance has allies among the other federations. The Vorlons would also be short of ground troops without allies among e.g. the Narns or the Minbari and ultimately these would be needed even in an interstellar war to subjugate hostile populations.
6.Presumably if hostilities did break out the Earth Alliance would finally accept the Centauri Republic as an ally. Minbari society would be split; but the majority of the Warrior Caste may again side with their former enemies the Humans, again maybe simply to spite the Religious Caste or to expand the Minbari sphere of influence/overthrow the Grey Council.
7.Again, the supposed conspirators would want to alienate the Vorlons and a war may be the only opportunity for Earth to obtain Vorlon technology. Elements in the Earth Alliance are often quite prepared to endanger the lives of Humans and aliens in order to access 'new' technologies so this supposition is hardly far-fetched. If these elements were allied with the 'Knights' (see 20) and the Windswords they may believe a war with the Vorlons to be survivable if not winnable. Episode 'Deathwalker' also suggests an element of cooperation between clandestine EA and Minbari elements.
8.This may be a shot in the dark but there are enough suggestions that the Vorlons are really Human; there certainly is a distinct possibility that Kosh is Human. In fact I think it is very possible that 'he' is a version of John Sheridan (commander B5 2259 to 2261) who experiences time backwards from Sheridan's 'death' in 2281.Of all the B5 races there is no mention of any aspect of the Vorlon's culture,other than the name/title/rank Kosh and Vorlon. Instead we see Kosh at various times researching Earth culture and history. Is he preparing for his "future" or re-remembering his past?
9.Kosh was prepared to reveal his true nature to save Sheridan's life. Plus, Marcus 'jokes' that Kosh is Merlin then states that Merlin (as in The Magician) was able to predict the future by remembering it, as he 'aged backwards'.
10.The Ranger, one million years into the future seen in 'The Deconstruction of Falling Stars' (s4), is seen transforming into a ball of bright light before entering a Vorlon-style encounter suit. This doesn't necessarily mean that 'all the Humans became all the Vorlons' but the Vorlons themselves could be a kind of composite race of (perhaps only individuals) who were sufficiently evolved. This certainly happened to Jason Ironheart who states he will see 'you' (presumably referring to Humanity) in 'a million years'('Mindwar'). Of all the B5 races there is no mention of the Vorlon's culture, instead we see Kosh at various times researching Earth culture and history. Is he preparing for his "future" or re-remembering his past?
11.This process could have happened to Sheridan as his body was never recovered.
12.Who IS blowing up all the Suns? The Hand?
13.Why are Ivanova and Delenn often depicted wearing veils as if at a funeral,and why was Delenn a Human in Mollari's vision?
14.Was General Hague aware of and in contact with the Rangers, as his signal for Sheridan was once delivered by a Ranger? Would he arrange for Earth Force officers, unhappy with the police-state measure introduced by (then) Vice-President Clark in 2258 ('Eyes'), to defect to the Minbari? Hauge himself need not have direct knowledge of the Rangers for this to happen, but any officer doing so would almost certainly be directed to the Rangers. Ivanova herself even suggests she'd rather serve the Minbari than Earth Force because of her treatment. Perhaps this would have been a plot opening if Claudia Christian had left in the second series?
15.Similarly, why weren't (some of) the Rangers recruited or trained on Babylon 5?
Perhaps if Sinclair was still Commander this would have happened?
16.Presumably Sinclair was the first Human to join the Rangers but if this was the case how could he have been the first to have heard of them? I am referring to Marcus' brother and Marcus' own assertion that he had to live on Minbar for a year to learn the Minbari language in order to complete his Ranger training.
17.Marcus arrives at Babylon 5 just less than a year after Sinclair would have left B5 for Earth before going to Minbar.
18.However, Delenn describes Sinclair as being the first Human to live permanently on Minbar and that he is the first of many so other Humans could have lived on Minbar briefly. There were EA ambassadors to Minbar on a temporary basis before Sinclair was assigned there in the beginning of 2259 and Humans could have joined the Rangers without actually undergoing Ranger training. Plus the Rangers did have a training camp in Drazi space.
19.It is possible that (basic? full?) Ranger training takes six months while entry to the Rangers could be based on previous military experience or prior knowledge of Minbari, a qualification any veteran of the Earth-Minbari war or any ambassador or free trader dealing with the Minbari would have. The simplest answer anyway is that a number of Humans had heard of the Rangers in 2258 or earlier. I guess with hindsight the Rangers seem kind of tacked on. I don't know if they really add anything to the plot. Perhaps Humans and Minbari would have joined forces anyway as a result of both sides' civil wars if Sinclair continued to command B5 instead of leaving to lead the Rangers.
20.Who exactly were the two 'Knights' ('A sky full of stars') and would they be part of the same cabal of officials who plotted to assassinate Kosh/was Laurel Takashima part of the same cabal?
21.How much knowledge of these plots did the Psi Corps and Vice-President Clark have? Did they even initiate them?
22.Santiago would have been elected EA President in 2254. Around this time both the Psi Corps and the EA government, via Interplanetary Expeditions, would have some knowledge of the Shadows' existence from the discovery of a Shadow Vessel on Mars.
Clark could have kept the Shadows' existence a secret from Santiago while at the same time establishing an alliance between himself, IPX, the Psi Corps and the Shadows.
23.Who exactly IS Justin? Was he also part of the Icarus' crew or was he recruited by the Shadows much earlier?
24.I suppose if the Vorlons did manage to successfully exterminate Humanity (and if unchecked they would have destroyed Earth, Mars and possibly B5 to eliminate those influenced by the Shadows) Humanity would still be intact through: Justin and Morden (living on Z'ha'dum), Alisa Beldon (Minbar) and Sebastian (Vorlon). Plus possibly Anna Sheridan and other Human thralls of the Shadows and maybe Lyta Alexander if she was on Vorlon at the time. Plus Delenn and (millions of) other Minbari have Human ancestry as she is descended from Sinclair.
Monday 2 January 2012
Descendant
Descendant ten million days from home
Following the signal of the long-dead
The Vanished, who's time ran out
Descendant of the Pilot
Eve of the ten million days
Only a hundred vials, daughters all self-impregnated by miniature Adams
The one descendant finds the Lost Tribe of the Vanished
Now barely literate, they soon learned to read the old letters
And the new
Descendant,aged but still young
Herself childless but so many siblings
Now themselves landlord-tenants of a dozen stars
Descendant sends the signal
"We are here"
That shines for a hundred million nights
Then makes the long way back
To the Old Place
The Homestead
[note ten to power seven days equals 28,000ish years]
Descendant ten million days from home
Following the signal of the long-dead
The Vanished, who's time ran out
Descendant of the Pilot
Eve of the ten million days
Only a hundred vials, daughters all self-impregnated by miniature Adams
The one descendant finds the Lost Tribe of the Vanished
Now barely literate, they soon learned to read the old letters
And the new
Descendant,aged but still young
Herself childless but so many siblings
Now themselves landlord-tenants of a dozen stars
Descendant sends the signal
"We are here"
That shines for a hundred million nights
Then makes the long way back
To the Old Place
The Homestead
[note ten to power seven days equals 28,000ish years]
The Gathering:Whodunnit?
The Pilot Episode for Babylon 5 (titled 'The Gathering')
concerns a plot to assassinate Kosh, the newly arrived ambassador from the Vorlon Empire. The assassin nearly succeeds, putting Kosh into a poison-induced coma, but through the efforts of B5 staff an antidote and the identity of the real ambassador is revealed just as a retaliatory Vorlon fleet arrives.
Through the resident telepath, Lyta Alexander, and the use of a "changeling net" the assassin frames Station Commander Sinclair for the attempted murder. Meanwhile, Narn Regime Ambassador G'kar arranges via a trial by the Babylon 5 advisory council, and by secretly contacting the Vorlon government, for Sinclair to be shipped to the Vorlon Homeworld for trial.
On the face of it there were only two conspirators in the plot: the assassin himself and a Human tech-smuggler named Varner. The assassin, a member of an exiled Minbari sect, arranged for Varner to provided him with said changeling net. He then kills Varner and succeeds in convincingly impersonating several B5 residents and staff, including Sinclair, Varner himself and Lyta Alexander by constant use of the changeling net. However, a boarding pod was discovered attached to the station's hull indicated the involvement of a third party.
It was assumed by Sinclair and his staff that the Minbari assassin arrived on a Narn transport, however the third party could easily have been rouge elements in the Earth Alliance or the Vorlons themselves. The reason for suspecting the Narns is that the Narn transport initially refused to submit to a weapon's scan then, later on, G'kar relented "in the interests of interstellar cooperation". Presumably, the boarding pod would have departed the Narn vessel after its arrival in B5 space and before G'kar changes his mind about the weapon's scan.
It was certainly reasonable for Sinclair to suspect G'kar and it was even in G'kar's interests to make Sinclair believe this to show that the Narns are not to be messed around with, but this does not mean the Narn Regime was responsible. There are several reasons not to suspect the Narns:
1. If they were responsible the entire crew of the Narn ship would all have to be conspirators and this could be considered unlikely as an increase in the number of conspirators would increase the probability of the plot being revealed prematurely.
2.G'kar was very keen to make an alliance via Delenn with the Minbari Federation. He would not jepordise this by starting a war with the Vorlons.
3.A Earth Alliance shuttle only requires one pilot and could even be put on a programmed course to and from Babylon 5. Plus, official EA ships would not be scanned for weapons as they are entitled to bring weapons aboard B5!
4.The assassin also used Takashima's palm print to access Varner's quarters. A copy of the second in command's palm print could only be obtained by a high ranking official or officer in the Earth Alliance, possibly Takashima herself.
5.If Takashima or another EA officer was involved their motive could simply be their promotion as a replacement for Sinclair would almost certainly be required if he were killed or imprisoned etc.
6.The Vorlons themselves may be invloved as they probably had the technology to revive Kosh. Also, it is strange that they would allow Sinclair to stay on the Vorlon Homeworld when they insisted Dr Kyle allow Kosh to die to protect his identity.
Reasons to suspect elements in Earth Force or the Earth Alliance:
7.Elements would certainly wish to remove Sinclair from B5 as he was percieved by some to be too close to Minbari Ambassador Delenn.
8.Certain groups advocate an isolationist stance for the EA and have resorted to violence to achieve these ends.
9.Ditto 'Home Guard' a faction which blames aliens for Earth's problems and believe aliens have too much influence in EA policy.
10.The breeching pod used by the assassin first appears moving from behind a shot of an Earth Alliance shuttle!
I think by considering the evidence and the motives the conspiracy was between the exiled Minbari sect described and high-ranking officials in Earth Force, particuarly as both sides would want to discredit Sinclair and the Minbari Government.
It is, however, entirely possible that the Vorlons arranged the whole thing as an excuse to provide a show of force, both to show that the Vorlons have considerable firepower and the will to use it and simply to avoid being dismissed as legends. Many sentients have only heard of the Vorlons but only, presumably, the Minbari have had any real contact with them so it is entirely reasonable for most sentients to dismiss the Vorlons as a fictional race, a hoax perhaps perpetuated by the Minbari themselves. Also,for reasons revealed later in the series, Sinclair would have been on of the few Humans allowed to live on Vorlon so they would be happy to keep an eye on him until needed.
The Pilot Episode for Babylon 5 (titled 'The Gathering')
concerns a plot to assassinate Kosh, the newly arrived ambassador from the Vorlon Empire. The assassin nearly succeeds, putting Kosh into a poison-induced coma, but through the efforts of B5 staff an antidote and the identity of the real ambassador is revealed just as a retaliatory Vorlon fleet arrives.
Through the resident telepath, Lyta Alexander, and the use of a "changeling net" the assassin frames Station Commander Sinclair for the attempted murder. Meanwhile, Narn Regime Ambassador G'kar arranges via a trial by the Babylon 5 advisory council, and by secretly contacting the Vorlon government, for Sinclair to be shipped to the Vorlon Homeworld for trial.
On the face of it there were only two conspirators in the plot: the assassin himself and a Human tech-smuggler named Varner. The assassin, a member of an exiled Minbari sect, arranged for Varner to provided him with said changeling net. He then kills Varner and succeeds in convincingly impersonating several B5 residents and staff, including Sinclair, Varner himself and Lyta Alexander by constant use of the changeling net. However, a boarding pod was discovered attached to the station's hull indicated the involvement of a third party.
It was assumed by Sinclair and his staff that the Minbari assassin arrived on a Narn transport, however the third party could easily have been rouge elements in the Earth Alliance or the Vorlons themselves. The reason for suspecting the Narns is that the Narn transport initially refused to submit to a weapon's scan then, later on, G'kar relented "in the interests of interstellar cooperation". Presumably, the boarding pod would have departed the Narn vessel after its arrival in B5 space and before G'kar changes his mind about the weapon's scan.
It was certainly reasonable for Sinclair to suspect G'kar and it was even in G'kar's interests to make Sinclair believe this to show that the Narns are not to be messed around with, but this does not mean the Narn Regime was responsible. There are several reasons not to suspect the Narns:
1. If they were responsible the entire crew of the Narn ship would all have to be conspirators and this could be considered unlikely as an increase in the number of conspirators would increase the probability of the plot being revealed prematurely.
2.G'kar was very keen to make an alliance via Delenn with the Minbari Federation. He would not jepordise this by starting a war with the Vorlons.
3.A Earth Alliance shuttle only requires one pilot and could even be put on a programmed course to and from Babylon 5. Plus, official EA ships would not be scanned for weapons as they are entitled to bring weapons aboard B5!
4.The assassin also used Takashima's palm print to access Varner's quarters. A copy of the second in command's palm print could only be obtained by a high ranking official or officer in the Earth Alliance, possibly Takashima herself.
5.If Takashima or another EA officer was involved their motive could simply be their promotion as a replacement for Sinclair would almost certainly be required if he were killed or imprisoned etc.
6.The Vorlons themselves may be invloved as they probably had the technology to revive Kosh. Also, it is strange that they would allow Sinclair to stay on the Vorlon Homeworld when they insisted Dr Kyle allow Kosh to die to protect his identity.
Reasons to suspect elements in Earth Force or the Earth Alliance:
7.Elements would certainly wish to remove Sinclair from B5 as he was percieved by some to be too close to Minbari Ambassador Delenn.
8.Certain groups advocate an isolationist stance for the EA and have resorted to violence to achieve these ends.
9.Ditto 'Home Guard' a faction which blames aliens for Earth's problems and believe aliens have too much influence in EA policy.
10.The breeching pod used by the assassin first appears moving from behind a shot of an Earth Alliance shuttle!
I think by considering the evidence and the motives the conspiracy was between the exiled Minbari sect described and high-ranking officials in Earth Force, particuarly as both sides would want to discredit Sinclair and the Minbari Government.
It is, however, entirely possible that the Vorlons arranged the whole thing as an excuse to provide a show of force, both to show that the Vorlons have considerable firepower and the will to use it and simply to avoid being dismissed as legends. Many sentients have only heard of the Vorlons but only, presumably, the Minbari have had any real contact with them so it is entirely reasonable for most sentients to dismiss the Vorlons as a fictional race, a hoax perhaps perpetuated by the Minbari themselves. Also,for reasons revealed later in the series, Sinclair would have been on of the few Humans allowed to live on Vorlon so they would be happy to keep an eye on him until needed.
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