Babylon 5

'This is Earth Alliance Destroyer Acheron'

'to Babylon 5. We've got your package.'

'Confirmed, Acheron.'

'Lieutenant Corwin is standing by'

'for delivery in Docking Bay 4.'

'Roger that, Babylon control.'

'Maintenance, go to Docking Bay 7.'

'Maintenance, to Bay 7.'

Captain Lochley.

Lieutenant David Corwin at your service.

Lieutenant. I thought I was going to be met

by the entire command staff.

Yes, ma'am, but, uh

Mr. Garibaldi just got back from Mars

and even though he's not technically on staff anymore

Zack Allan is our new chief of security these days.

He's up to his ears helping Zack get ready

for Sheridan's inauguration

as president of the New Alliance.

And Dr. Franklin had an emergency in Medlab...

Lieutenant, lieutenant.

Is it always like this around here?

No. No, it, well..

Actually, yes.

It's-it's hectic, ma'am.

Well, a hectic station is the first sign

of a poorly run station.

We'll change that.

I've got everyone standing by in C and C

waiting to meet you as soon as you're settled in.

Good, good. I wanna jump right in.

Always takes a while when you have a change in CO.

The sooner we get on with the transition, the better.

If there's anything you need to know about the station..

Just personalities, any internal conflicts

I need to be made aware of.

Beyond that, I've thoroughly researched

Babylon 5's operational procedures

personnel records..

I'm, uh, pretty much up to speed on all the reports.

Uh, with all due respect

there's a lot that doesn't fit into a report.

Then the report is incomplete.

Just trying to save you trouble, captain.

It's been my experience that as long as you run

an efficient operation

don't go looking for trouble, you'll do just fine.

Oh, that's one of the things I was trying to tell you.

Around here we don't have to look for trouble.

On B-5, trouble comes looking for us.

Time to go.

I just want you to know it's nothing personal..

But I need to send a message to Babylon 5.

That's what you rangers are for, right?

Carrying messages from one place to another.

So you're the right person in the right place

at the right time.

For me, anyway.

Oh!

Almost forgot.

Any final words?

We live for the one.

We die for the one.

Well, one out of two ain't bad.

And so it begins..

There is a hole in your mind. What do you want?

No one here is exactly what he appears.

Commander Sinclair is being reassigned.

Why don't you eliminate the entire Narn homeworld?

I see a great hand

reaching out of the stars.

Who are you?

President Clark signed a decree today declaring..

These orders have forced us to declare independence.

Unless your people get off

their encounter suited butts and do something.

You're the one who was.

If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die.

Why are you here?

Do you have anything worth living for?

I think of my beautiful city in flames.

Giants in the playground.

Now get the hell out of our galaxy!

We are here to place President Clark

under arrest.

Hey.

I thought you were gonna sleep in a little.

I was about to make breakfast.

I can't.

'I have to get back to my quarters and change.'

'The new Gaim ambassador has asked for a meeting'

as soon as possible.

He wants to introduce himself

before the inauguration. Less awkward that way.

May I ask you a question?

Delenn, you're-you're living here now

at least part of the time.

Ask whatever you want.

Why are there wet socks

hanging in the shower?

I just washed them.

Don't you use the thermal unit?

For everything else, yes.

I, uh..

I guess it's kind of a tradition.

See, when I first joined Earthforce

I was assigned to the 54th North American unit

and the sergeant of our squadron..

We used to call him Sergeant Slaughter

was the toughest, meanest DI we ever saw

and he used to wash his own socks every morning.

He told us

"I'm gonna live forever. You know why?

"Because I never leave the barracks unless I know

"I've got something to do when I get back.

"The only kind of man that gets killed

"is the man who is done doin'

"whatever it is he's doin'.

"And I know I'm gonna come back alive

"'cause I got socks to wash.

Any of you maggots got a problem with that?"

I assume you said no.

Ooh, loud and clear.

The next morning at reveille, we-we came up with

this big ceremony and we all took a vow

that for as long as we were in uniform

we would wash our own socks every morning.

You know, I think it's the first time I ever saw

old Sergeant Slaughter actually smile.

The newly elected president of the Interstellar Alliance

about to be officially sworn in

washing his own socks?

You're a very strange man, even for a human.

Why, thank you.

Sheridan. Go.

'Captain Lochley's aboard, sir.'

'We just got her settled in.'

Uh, good, uh, have her meet me in my office

in 20 minutes.

Lochley?

Ivanova's replacement.

So much for breakfast.

My place tonight?

Yeah, I guess.

Uh, I am gonna be working late here, though, tonight.

You know, I hope this is going to work

alternating between your place and mine.

Oh, I know, I know.

But, uh, there is no room here for my belongings

I don't have room for yours

and I should conduct Minbari business

in Minbari surroundings.

Yeah.

It's good to keep things separate for now.

Until we can move to the new facilities on Minbar.

Assuming you're still comfortable

with that prospect.

I won't lie.

I'm gonna miss this place when that time comes.

It's going to take me a while

to get used to living on your world

but we do need a permanent headquarters

for the Alliance, and that's the logical choice.

The bottom line is..

Wherever you are..

Is home enough for me.

Captain.

Mr. President.

It's good to see you again.

Thank you, sir.

I assume you've received my orders from Earthdome.

I have. The orders have been authenticated.

Effective this date, you have full

and complete authority in running Babylon 5.

The station is under your direct command.

Welcome aboard.

Thank you.

Uh, please, be seated.

Uh, do you have any questions about the arrangement?

Uh, yes, sir, it's my understanding that

Babylon 5 is to remain an independent state

pending decision by the Alliance

to formally buy it from Earth.

That's correct.

Then why bring in someone from Earthforce

to run things? Why not someone else?

Tradition, for one thing.

For another..

We're still trying to heal the wounds

from the civil war back home.

'Putting someone from Earthforce in charge of B-5'

will help cement us with the folks back there.

Military and civilian.

That's why I wanted to make sure you got here

before we started this silly inauguration business.

In a way, it's saying..

We're independent.

But we'll always remember where we came from.

I hear you asked for me in particular.

Why?