A Tragedy of Telepaths
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"A Tragedy of Telepaths" is an episode from the fifth season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5.
Synopsis
Londo and G'Kar rescue Na'Toth from imprisonment on Centauri Prime, while the situation on Babylon 5 with the telepaths escalates.
The telepaths have made their home deep in brown sector and are on hunger strike to try to obtain a planet of their own. Sheridan is busy with the attacks on shipping, so Captain Elizabeth Lochley calls on Bester for help to resolve the situation. Zack tells her the telepaths are using suggestion to slow down attempts to cut through to them. Lochley decides she will make an attempt to reason with them by going through the air ducts to talk to them.
While continuing their investigation at the royal palace in the capital city of Centauri Prime, Londo and G'Kar discover that the latter's former aide Na'Toth, long believed to have been killed in the bombing of Narn, is alive and being held in a prison cell; she has been left there since the days of Emperor Cartagia, and G'Kar is aghast and enraged that she was simply forgotten. Knowing that they do not have the political authority to simply release Na'Toth, G'Kar and Londo manage to sneak her out of the cell and hide her in Londo's quarters while they work on a plan to get her back to Narn.
The Drazi meanwhile have found debris from Brakiri ships after the latest attacks, and plan to introduce it as evidence at the council meeting.
Lochley makes it through to Byron, and tries to reason with him. He will not compromise, and finally she asks why she was allowed to see him. He says that it was to say goodbye.
In the council meeting the Drazi are threatening to destroy Brakiri ships, but meanwhile the Gaim have found Drazi debris after the latest attack on their ships. Sheridan points out that analysis shows the debris was cut off the ships, not blasted off, and is an obvious plant. He pleads for more time to work out the source of the attacks, but the ambassadors have run out of patience.
Londo gets Na'Toth onto a transport ship by dressing her as a veiled Centauri lady, and escorting her whilst pretending to be raucously drunk so no one will pay attention to them, as everyone at the royal court is trained to ignore any inappropriate behavior.
Bester arrives on the station, and some of the telepaths panic and attack the guards, stealing weapons.
Sheridan meanwhile has dispatched the Whitestar fleet to patrol the borders with the threat they will fire on any ship taking action against other members of the Alliance.
Na'Toth is transferred to a Narn ship, and is returned to her homeworld successfully, although still deeply traumatized and ill from her long confinement. G'Kar thinks she will recover...in time.
Bester's bloodhounds arrive on the station and the assault on the telepaths' stronghold starts.
According to JMS, "a tragedy" is the collective noun for telepaths.
Spoo
This episode involves a food called spoo. The foodstuff had become a running gag among Babylon 5 fans[1] and has been mentioned in other episodes[2] and included in a fandom cookbook.[3]
Arc significance
- The alliance is starting to show signs of cracking under the shipping attacks.
- The telepath crisis continues to worsen.
References
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-10-29. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ O'Callaghan, Scott (2000-11-02). "Babylon 5 - 'Geometry of Shadows'". Space.com. Archived from the original on 2005-02-07. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Briggs-Wallace, Emerson; Smith, Steve (June 1998). Dining on Babylon 5: Human Edition - The Ultimate Collection of Space Station Cuisine. UK. ISBN 0-7522-1143-9.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Production details
"A Tragedy of Telepaths" was originally titled "Cat and Mouse."
This marks the first appearance of actress Julie Caitlin Brown as Na'Toth since Season 1, and her last appearance as the character in the series.