Signs and Portents:
A full synopsis of this episode can be obtained at the Lurkers Guide
This episode provides us with our first ever glimpse of a youthful "Dome Tech #1". When first seen, he is seated at a console in the sunken area of C& C. His hair - not crew cut at this stage, is ruthlessly slicked back in an acceptably martial fashion, although it curls profusely around his collar.
Corwin - Commander, we've just received confirmation from Delta wing. They're closing in on the Achilles' last known position.
Sinclair - Good. (Lapses into silent thought)
Dome Tech#2 - Something wrong commander?
Sinclair - Up until now, the raiders have been hitting closer to Babylon 5, but this new attack is almost a full sector further away. (Pause) Call up a cargo manifest on the Achilles - let's see what she's carrying.
Dome Tech#1 - On it. (During the last couple of lines of this dialogue, Corwin is just visible, working diligently in the background.)
***************
C&C. Corwin is standing just within the main entrance to the Observation Dome, operating a detached monitor unit with quiet efficiency.
Sinclair - What ships are due to arrive or depart in the in the next 2 hours?
Corwin - (appears to be calling up and examining a list of scheduled departures) Traffic's light…just a couple of survey ships…and a Centauri personal liner.
Sinclair - Registration?
Corwin - The Lord Kiro and Lady Ladira. Sheduled to depart Bay 12 in…10 minutes.
Sinclair - That might be it. Tell Garibaldi to stand by with Alpha Flight. I'm heading for Bay 12.
Corwin - (Nods in confirmation)
***************
C&C. Corwin - standing again, this time back in the central, sunken area of the dome.
Sinclair - (Striding towards the front of the Dome) Status.
Corwin - Centauri liner is out, and trying to activate Jump Gate sequence.
Sinclair - (Opening a channel to Garibaldi via his personal link) Ok Mr Garibaldi. Move in. Hit 'em and reel 'em in.
Garibaldi - Will do.
View moves to Garibaldi seated in Starfury
Garibaldi - Ok people - lets move.
CGI sequence of Starfuries launching, accompanied by suitably dramatic music
View cuts back to C&C
Sinclair - The ship's too small to make its own jump point, and with our jump gate closed the nearest one's 6 light months away, and Garibaldi at his back, we've got them boxed in on all sides. We can wait them out if we have to.
Corwin - Commander, jump point forming in sector 3.
Sinclair - What??
External CGI sequence of Raider's mother vessel emerging from a jump point, then back to C and C
Sinclair - So that's how the Raiders get in and out o fast. A vessel that size would have to be capable of solo jumps.
CGI shot of Raider fighters launching, then once more, back to the Observation Dome
Corwin - They're moving in attack formation.
CGI shot of raider vessels approaching station
Corwin - Weapons systems locking on.
Sinclair - Close blast doors and prepare for attack.
(Ominous music as raider ships continue to advance towards Babylon 5)
*****************
At this point viewers of the UK terrestrial television channel Channel 4 are subjected to an ad break. 3 minutes of artistic Mercedes commercials, and adverts for telephone chat lines inviting viewers to converse with people clad only in their underwear. You can tell that Babylon 5 is broadcast at 2.00am in the UK, can't you?
Ad break ends, taking us into a Corwin free intermission, in which Lady Ladira makes a prophetic announcement, Kosh and Morden look menacingly at one another, and we are treated to the type of terrifically exciting space warfare sequences that are only ever witnessed in American Sci-Fi programmes with fantastically large special effects budgets
Action reverts to C&C
Sinclair - Recalibrate the defence grid along the cargo bay for long range firing pattern.
Camera returns to Corwin, seated once again at his workstation. We receive our first decent close-up shot of the character, initially looking back at Sinclair, before turning to face his monitor
Sinclair - Range between two and three km spread.
Corwin - I'll have to take it off line for a moment.
Sinclair - Do it.
A schematic diagram of the defence grid and cargo bay area appears on Corwin's monitor, and a stream of data flows across the screen.
Sinclair - Babylon 5 to Alpha leader. Drive them towards the back of the station.
Garibaldi - Confirmed
Action returns to the thrilling space battle, and then, finally back to C&C
Sinclair - Let me know when they're in position
Dome Tech#3 - One minute
Corwin - Defence grid reactivated. Target range 3.9 km.
Sinclair - Now we close the Box. (Activates link) Babylon 5 to Delta wing. Proceed.
Babylon 5 is the creation of J. Michael Straczynski (All hail the Great Maker!), and is a trademark of Warner Brothers, TNT, PTEN and Babylonian Productions. All copyrights and trademarks are implied and aknowledged. This site is operated on a strictly non-commercial basis and exists for the purpose of comment and review. It is neither endorsed by nor affiliated to any of the companies or individuals listed above and no infringement of copyright is intended.