Babylon 5 and Crusade: Re-Imagined

[DigificWriter]

Hi all. Some time ago, I set out to re-think and re-imagine both Babylon 5 and its spin-off series, Crusade, with an eye towards possibly producing a pair of virtual series in the vein of the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica. I no longer have the time to actively pursue turning my ideas into full-fledged VS projects, but wanted to let people see what I'd come up with, so I'm posting the Series Bibles for both my versions of B5 and Crusade.

Babylon 5
Developed by L. David Elmer
"Babylon 5" originally created by J. Michael Strazinski​

THE BACKSTORY​

The year is 2258. Humanity has gone to the stars, and found that we are not alone. We have moved quickly out, establishing relations with other civilizations that have let us leapfrog technologies via an information and cultural exchange with at least one other culture. Many contacts have been friendly. Some have not been quite so benign.​

The Earth/Minbari War​

In the year 2245, catastrophe resulted from the failed first contact between Humans and Minbari. An ambassadorial vessel of Minbari origin approached an EA vessel, with the intention of opening a peaceful dialogue. Unfortunately, because this was a first encounter, nothing was known of the customs or even the language of the Minbari. The Minbari knew this, and had prepared to speak in words that they thought Humans WOULD understand.

Unfortunately, as has happened in Earth's history before, a few misspoken words combined with the general fear of the unknown led the Humans to believe that this was not a peace envoy but the beginnings of an invasion force, and so they responded in kind by firing upon the Minbari vessel.

This error committed by the Humans would prove even more costly than even they first thought. It turned out that the vessel they had fired upon contained the Minbari spritual leader; their "Pope," if you prefer. Upon his death, it was deemed by the Minbari that all citizens of Earth would pay with their own lives.

Although their initial attempt at contact with the Humans was a peaceful one, the Minbari would prove equally enthusiastic... and technologically superior... in waging an all-out invasion of Earth. Dozens upon dozens of Earth's ships fell to Minbari weaponry, barely even making a dent in their enemy's armor before being blown into a million pieces. Indeed, aside from one or two minor successes, all hope seemed lost when, for reasons unclear, the Minbari halted their invasion and surrendered to the enemy they had almost erased from existence.

In the aftermath of the war, and the resulting peace treaty, a project was undertaken to create a space station that would serve two very important functions: 1) It would be a port of call and 2) it would be a sanctuary for all races, human, Minbari and others alike. Unfortunately, it would take 5 tries before the project would take full shape.

BABYLON 5 - THE STATION​

BABYLON 5 is a space station in neutral space more or less central to all five of the different alliances, human or alien. To get to one or the other, you have to pass by the station, which functions as a port of call for travelers from across the galaxy, both human and alien.​

Ten kilometers long and four kilometers wide, Babylon 5 is divided into separate, discreet sections that rotate at differing speeds to provide different gravities to accommodate those who come to the station.​

The station’s interior boasts living quarters, customs areas, docking bays, meeting areas, a casino, several bars/nightclubs, command and control domes fore and aft, a bazaar, and a decent defensive grid. In addition, each of the various federations has one official representative aboard the station, and, together with a coalition of representatives from non-aligned planets and civilizations, they make up an ‘advisory council’ which functions as a sort of miniature United Nations.​

REGULAR CHARACTERS​

Jeffrey Sinclair​

Commander Jeffrey Sinclair participated in the Earth-Minbari War, and was present during the final battle of that conflict, when the entire Minbari war fleet was mobilized and directed towards Earth. During the fighting, Sinclair – who served during the war as a Starfury platoon leader – watched as his entire platoon was wiped out around him, and made a tactical decision to ram a nearby Minbari war cruiser. During his attack run, Sinclair blacked out, and woke up 24 hours later to discover that the war was over and that the Minbari had surrendered. In the years since the war’s end, Sinclair remained haunted by his lack of memories during the 24 hour period between when he blacked out and when he woke up, and his preoccupation and obsession with that, as well as the reasons for the Minbari’s surrender, hindered his career, making his appointment as Babylon 5’s commanding officer somewhat surprising. Sinclair is portrayed by John Schneider, best known for his roles as Bo Duke on Dukes of Hazzard and Jonathan Kent on Smallville.
​

Laurel Takashima​

Lieutenant Commander Laurel Takashima earned commendations from her Earth-based superiors in the Earth Alliance military for exceptional service during the ‘food riots’ that gripped Mars Colony, but was unable to earn an official promotion from her immediate superiors because she refused to succumb to a local colonial culture of corruption and graft. By the time Jeffrey Sinclair arrived on Mars to begin tenure of service as the Earthforce military administrator there, she was openly flaunting and breaking Earthforce rules and regulations, a practice Sinclair convinced her to stop. When he is assigned to Babylon 5, Sinclair brings Takashima with him, tapping her to serve as his First Officer aboard the station. As first officer, Takashima is the person in charge of overseeing the station’s day-to-day operations, and is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the needs of the station’s various inhabitants and visitors, including the 4 ambassadors, working in conjunction with the station’s security office to ensure the safety of the station and the people who work on, live on, and visit it. Takashima is portrayed by Maggie Q (Maggie Quigley), best known for her starring role in The CW's Nikita, Hong Kong-based films such as Naked Weapon, and supporting roles in films such as Rush Hour 2 and Around the World in 80 Days.​

Michael Garibaldi​

Michael Garibaldi’s career in Earthforce has been riddled with problems, many of them caused by an addiction to alcohol that has plagued him for much of his adult life. After bouncing from job to job, Garibaldi eventually ended up being assigned to Mars Colony, where he met Jeffrey Sinclair and Laurel Takashima. When Sinclair is assigned to serve as Babylon 5’s commanding officer, he personally recruits Garibaldi to join him on the station as its Chief of Security. Garibaldi is played by Michael Trucco, best known for his work as Samuel Anders in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica.​

Stephen Franklin​

Doctor Stephen Franklin might, at first glace, be an interesting choice to serve as Babylon 5’s chief medic and the administrator of its spacious Medlab, primarily because he is relatively inexperienced compared to some of his more distinguished colleagues within Earthforce. However, what he may lack in experience, Doctor Franklin more than makes up for in skill, as his rather immense knowledge of xenobiology makes him ideally suited to his position. Although he was born on Earth, Franklin spent most of his early young adult years traveling the galaxy, and has therefore been more ‘exposed’, you might say, to the environments and peoples whose health he has been entrusted with. Franklin is portrayed by Shemar Moore, best known for his roles on Birds of Prey and CBS’ Criminal Minds.​

Talia Winters​

A telepath, Talia Winters’ abilities manifested themselves at the age of 5, and she was – as required by law – immediately sent to be raised and trained by the Psi Corps under the supervision of a woman named Abby. During her training, Talia also began to manifest signs of telekinetic ability, which caught the attention of the Psi Cops – the newly minted ‘security arm’ of the Corps – and one of its junior members, Alfred Bester. Bester eventually supplanted Abby as Talia’s instructor and mentor, and later went on to become the director of the Psi Cops, using his influence to get an assignment to Babylon 5 as the official Psi Corps representative aboard the station. Despite a sense of personal gratitude towards Bester, Talia holds no real loyalty to either him or the Psi Cops, despite his best attempts to convince her to become an official operative for the organization. Talia is portrayed by Scarlett Johansson, whose numerous film credits include Iron Man 2, The Prestige, The Black Dhalia, and Lost in Translation​

Lyta Alexander​

A telepath like Talia Winters, Lyta Alexander was raised and trained by the Psi Corps, but chose to distance herself from the group as she grew up and began to rebel against the ‘conventional wisdom’ that telepaths keep themselves aloof and apart from ‘regular’ human beings. Her feelings about whether or not it was right for telepaths to segregate themselves from the rest of humanity alienated her from her fellow telepaths – including Talia, with whom she briefly trained – and earned her the ire of Alfred Bester, who was able to lawfully force her to take drugs designed to suppress her telepathic abilities after he became the director of the Psi Cops. Lyta later chose to stop taking the drugs, and comes to Babylon 5 to live and work as an unlicensed commercial telepath. Lyta is portrayed by Amy Adams, whose numerous film credits include The Fighter, Disney’s Enchanted, Julie & Julia, and Charlie Wilson’s War.​

G’Kar​

The son of a slave, G’Kar spent most of his early childhood fighting for survival – both for himself and for his father – whose safety hung upon the whims of their Centauri owners. This tumultuous upbringing not only fostered in him a deep-set sense of pride in both himself and in his people, but also a deep-set and abiding hatred of the Centauri and all they stand for. These qualities – coupled with his humble origins and a fiery temper – have led many to question his appointment as the Narn ambassador to Babylon 5, a position that, it is whispered, is only due to the recognition he attained by virtue of marrying into an aristocratic Narn family. G’Kar is portrayed by veteran actor Joaquim de Almeida, best known for his work on the FOX television series 24, and for his roles in the films Clear and Present Danger and Desperado​

Londo Mollari​

At first glance, it would be easy to dismiss Londo Mallori as being frivolous and a bit dandified, particularly given his penchant for drink, good food, and the company of women (the latter being a trait which has been both a boon and a curse, given that he has been married three times). However, appearances can often be deceiving, and such is the case with Londo. Possessed of a keen mind and equally keen sense of ambition, Londo relishes his appointment as the Centauri ambassador to Babylon 5, primarily because he sees it as the perfect opportunity to help his people regain their past glory and re-establish themselves as a shining power in the galaxy. Londo is portrayed by Mark Sheppard, best known for his recurring role as Badger on Joss Whedon’s cult Sci-Fi television series Firefly.​

Delenn​

Delenn is somewhat of an enigma, both amongst her own people and amongst the people with which she serves as the Minbari ambassador to Babylon 5. As a devout member of the religious caste, Delenn achieved a position on the Grey Council, an influential ‘subcouncil’ within the Minbari government, but her views have begun to clash with those of other Minbari, particularly in the aftermath of the Earth/Minbari War, and her appointment to Babylon 5 drew a lot of speculation and attention towards her. In addition to a nigh-unshakeable faith, Delenn is innately curious and willing to open her mind to new ideas, qualities that can serve her well in her position aboard Babylon 5. Delenn is portrayed by Michelle Forbes, best known for her recurring roles as Ro Laren on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Helena Cain on the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica.​

RECURRING CHARACTERS​

Zack Allan​

Like Michael Garibaldi, Zack Allen has a somewhat checkered past that has hindered his advancement through the ranks of Earthforce’s civilian security force. When he first met Michael Garibaldi, the older man immediately recognized his talent for law enforcement and requested that he be assigned to serve on Mars Colony, an assignment that led to a resurgence in his career. When Garibaldi is assigned to serve as Babylon 5’s Chief of Security, he asks Allen to follow him to the station to serve as his personal aide and Chief Deputy. Zack is portrayed by Justin Hartley, best known for his role as Oliver Queen/Green Arrow on Smallville​

Lennier​

Lennier was raised in a temple on Minbar, and was indoctrinated from childhood with the tenets of the Minbari religious caste, and with a deep-set love for his people and their ways. Unlike Delenn, who befriended the youngster and took him as her personal aide and attaché, his faith is more ‘traditional’ in nature, yet, despite some of the philosophical differences between them, he is steadfastly loyal to her, considering her to be both a friend, mentor, and confidante. Lennier is portrayed by Jamie Campbell-Bower, best known for his starring role as King Arthur on Starz’ new drama Camelot.​

Na’Toth​

Na’Toth is the daughter of Shu’Toth, a member of the Kah’ri, the ruling governmental body of the Narn Regime, and was assigned to serve as part of the diplomatic contingent assigned to Babylon 5 despite the deep-set philosophical and tempermental differences between her father and the station’s Narn ambassador, G’Kar. Na’Toth quickly established herself as a dedicated worker, and was singled out by G’Kar to serve as his primary aide and attaché. Na’Toth is portrayed by Tabrett Bethell, best known for her recurring role as the Mord’Sith Cara on Legend of the Seeker.​

Vir Cotto​

A member of a Centauri family of somewhat minor nobility, Vir was assigned to serve as the personal aide to Londo Mallori just prior to the latter’s appointment as the Centauri ambassador to Babylon 5. Considered somewhat of an embarrassment, Vir’s family petitioned Londo to take Vir as an assistant in order to put as much distance between him and them. Londo and Vir make an interesting pair, mainly because of their disparate personalities: Vir is much more introspective and less egregious than Londo, and feels it is his duty to attempt to rein in the ambassador’s more outrageous impulses. Despite their differences, however, Vir is extremely loyal to Londo, and would willingly lay down his life for him. Vir is portrayed by Alan Tudyk, best known for his role as Hoban “Wash” Washbourne in Joss Whedon’s cult Sci-Fi television series Firefly.​

Carolyn Sykes​

An independently licensed trader and merchant, Carolyn Skyes operates her own spaceship, the Ulysses, working with representatives from all of the major alien races to facilitate the purchase and shipping of various goods. Her travels frequently bring her within range of Babylon 5, which gives her an excuse to stop by the station to see Sinclair, with whom she has maintained a somewhat tumultuous, but always passionate, relationship that has seen its share of ups and downs, but remains strong nevertheless. Carolyn is portrayed by veteran film and television actress Dana Delany, whose numerous film and television credits include Moonlighting, Magnum P.I., and Tombstone​

Morden​

A civilian resident of Babylon 5, Morden seems to seek out and foment more than his fair share of trouble. He can often be seen offering to help people 'change their fortunes' for the right price, and develops working relationships with both Londo Mallori and G'Kar, although neither is aware of his interactions with the other, and offers to help them achieve what they both most desire, representing for Londo someone who sympathizes with and can recognize his desire to see the Centauri Republic recapture its bygone glory, and representing for G'Kar someone who understands the need for revenge and the anger created by oppression. Morden is portrayed by Sasha Roiz, best known for his role as Samuel Adama in Caprica, the prequel spin-off to the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica.​

Alfred Bester​

Like Talia Winters and Lyta Alexander, Alfred Bester is a telepath, but his abilities are far more powerful and focused than either of theirs. Bester is the director of the Psi Cops, the ‘security arm’ of the Psi Corps, and the person responsible for ensuring that anyone who is born with or manifests telepathic ability be taken in and trained by the Corps. However, he also seems to have his own agenda as well, one that may or may not conform directly to and strictly with the organization’s tenets, directives, and objectives. Bester is portrayed by Bruce Boxleitner, best known for his role as John Sheridan on the original Babylon 5.​

Kosh Naranek​

The enigmatic representative of the Vorlon Empire assigned to Babylon 5, Kosh keeps himself aloof from the rest of the station’s populace, preferring to interact with the station’s crew and his fellow ambassadors primarily through the utilization of aides and attaches rather than conducting business face-to-face. Kosh is voiced by Ardwright Chamberlain, who also provided the voice for the character on the original Babylon 5.​

 

[DigificWriter]

Crusade
Developed by L David Elmer
“Babylon 5: Crusade” originally created by J. Michael Strazinski​

THE BACKSTORY​

The year is 2267. Most of the galaxy’s major sentient alien races have banded together to form the Interstellar Alliance, a somwhat utopian government whose mission is to facilitate the sharing of resources and trade amongst its member worlds as they try to rebuild in a galaxy torn apart by the chaos of a violent conflict known as the Shadow War. As the galaxy prepares to celebrate the 5-year anniversary of the Shadow War's end, a race of beings called the Drakh suddenly show up out of nowhere and unleash a virulent plague that will wipe out all life in the known universe within 5 years. Faced with a race against time to cure the plague, the Excalibur – a state-of-the-art warship built with technology developed during the Shadow War - is dispatched on a crusade to uncover more about the Drakh and find a way to cure the plague before it wipes out all sentient life in the galaxy.

The Shadow War​

A bloody and destructive conflict that began in the year 2260, the Shadow War was the end result of machinations and scheming precitipated and facilitated by a race of ‘higher beings’ – who came to be known as Shadows - who had ruled most of the known universe hundreds of millenia ago, enslaving many of the universe’s sentient ‘lower races’ and building a galactic empire that stretched across miles and miles of space. Over the course of two years, the conflict laid waste to many worlds, and changed the future of the galaxy, decimating entire alien civilizations and creating a power vacuum that was ultimately filled by the formation of a unified governing body known as the Interstellar Alliance.

The Telepath War​

Although labeled a ‘war’ by many, the Telepath War was actually an internal conflict on Earth that began in late 2263 and lasted for 9 months, forever reshaping the course of life for humans living both on the planet and on its many colonies. Sparked by ‘regular’ humans who were still suffering from two long years of oppression at the hands of Earth’s government, whichi had become a dictatorship under the leadership of a man named Morgan Clark who had allied himself with telepaths and used a telepathic organization – the Psi Cops – to implement and enforce his oppressive edicts and policies, the conflict led to the complete dissolution of the Psi Cops and the total reformation of their ‘sister organization’, the Psi Corps, which instituted a new set of policies and rules designed to alleviate tensions between telepaths and regular humans.

REGULAR CHARACTERS​

Leonard Anderson​

The Excalibur’s commanding officer, Leonard Anderson is a devoted father and husband and a man of strict principal and discipline. Prior to the Drakh attack that infected Centauri Prime and the member worlds of the ISA – including Earth – with the plague, Anderson commanded the EAS Charon, and began receiving strange dreams – dreams shared by ISA President John Sheridan – in which he saw visions of Sheridan, an alien woman (Dureena), and a dead world. Drawn to Babylon 5 by these dreams, Anderson accepted an assignment to accompany Sheridan to Duralan 7, the planet both he and Sheridan saw in their dreams, a mission that resulted in their first contact with the Drakh and the realization that they were about to unleash a devastating attack on Centauri Prime and the member worlds of the ISA, including Earth… however, Anderson and Sheridan returned from Duralan 7 too late to stop the attack, arriving just after its conclusion. In the aftermath of the attack, Anderson is offered official command of the Excalibur by Sheridan, and accepts the mission to find a cure for the Drakh plague. Anderson is portrayed by D.B. Woodside, best known for his recurring roles as Derrik Altman on Hellcats, President Wayne Palmer on 24, and Robin Wood on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Matthew Gideon​

Matthew Gideon joined the Earth Alliance military in 2259, and was posted to the EAS Cerberus, where he distinguished himself due to his ability to quickly assess and deal with problems. During a mission near the edge of known space, the Cerberus’ engines suddenly failed, and Gideon volunteered to travel outside the ship in an EVA suit and fix them. During the operation, however, the Cerberus was suddenly attacked and destroyed, leaving Gideon as the only survivor. Three days later, Gideon woke up in a medical facility on Omega VII, unaware of how he had gotten there. After spending several days recovering, Gideon returned to Earth, was debriefed by his superiors, and given a promotion to Lieutenant and an assignment aboard the EAS Hyperon, where he remained throughout the majority of the Shadow War, eventually ascending to the rank of Commander. At the time of the Drakh attack, Gideon was commanding an Explorer-class vessel on a deep-space patrol mission, and was unavailable to assist in the defense of Earth. Upon returning to Earth space in the aftermath of the attack, Gideon and his ship are ordered to come to Mars and meet with President Sheridan who debriefs him on the Excalibur’s mission and offers him a position aboard the ship as its First Officer. Gideon is played by John Pyper-Ferguson, best known for his supporting roles on the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica and its prequel spin-off, Caprica.

John Matheson​

A telepath with a rating of P6, John Matheson – like most registered telepaths – grew up being trained by the Psi Corps, and once befriended Lyta Alexander – a woman who became famous – or infamous, depending on your point of view and/or affiliation – for defying the Corps and participating in the Shadow War. During the events of the Telepath War, Matheson was ordered by one of his superiors, a man named Bruder, to interrogate a rebel telepath named Alison. During the interrogation, however, she tapped into his mind using her own abilities and convinced him to abandon the building he was in just moments before it was stormed by a group of her fellow rebels. The experience left Matheson questioning his loyalty to the Psi Corps and forever changed the course of his life. Following the end of the Telepath War and the reformation of the Psi Corps, Matheson applied to join the ISA military and was accepted almost immediately, eventually rising to the rank of Lieutenant and receiving an assignment to serve as the Navigation Officer aboard the EAS Charon. Following the Drakh attack and the release of the plague, Matheson joins many other members of the Charon’s crew in transferring to the Excalibur to serve as that ship’s Navigation Officer, and is promoted to Lieutenant Commander. Matheson is played by Alessandro Juliani, best known for his role as Felix Gaela on the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica.

Sarah Chambers​

Doctor Sarah Chambers felt the burden of responsibility from an early age; as the eldest child in her family, she was constantly reminded by her mother that she would one day have the responsibility of looking after her siblings. That deep sense of responsibility was what drove her to enter medical school and, following graduation, join the Earth Alliance Health Organization. Following the events of the Shadow War, Doctor Chambers joined the EAHO’s successor agency, the ISAHO, and was on Mars during the Drakh attack on Earth. Forced to remain there due to the quarantine placed on Earth, Chambers is present on Mars when Captain Anderson begins assembling the command crew of the Excalibur, and agrees to accept a posting aboard the ship as its Chief Medical Officer, turning down a similar position aboard the science vessel Olympus. Doctor Chambers is portrayed by Rhona Mitra, best known for her starring role in Underworld: Rise of the Lycans.

Zack Allan​

The former aide to Michael Garibaldi, Zack Allan replaced him as the Chief of Security aboard Babylon 5 after he (Garibaldi) retired to help run the Mars-based Edgars-Garabaldi Corporation with his wife, Lise Hampton-Edgars-Garabaldi. In the aftermath of the Drakh attack, Allan accompanies Captain Elizabeth Lochley on a Starfury recon mission during which they are both wounded. After they are rescued by the Excalibur, Allan becomes the ship’s defacto Chief of Security and an official member of its crew. Allan is portrayed by actor Justin Hartley, best known for his role as Oliver Queen/Green Arrow on Smallville.

Max Eilerson​

A civilian scientist and archeologist working for Interplanetary Expeditions, Max Eilerson grew up on Mars, and was known as a child prodigy with a gift for understanding alien languages and technology. At the time the Drakh launched their attack on the major worlds of the ISA and Centauri Prime, Max and a small crew of fellow IPX scientists and archeologists were en route to the planet Ceti IVto study ruins on the planet, and were thus able to avoid being infected by the Drakh plague. Upon arriving on Ceti IV, Eilerson and his crew discover a Drakh war cruiser. Unfortunately, the cruiser is carrying an especially potent canister of the plague, which infects and kills many of Eilerson’s companions, prompting him to send out a distress call that is relayed to Babylon 5 and answered by the Excalibur. When the ship arrives, Eilerson seeks out Captain Anderson and informs him that he has translated the Drakh language and hacked into their technology, which prompts Anderson to offer him a position aboard the Excalibur. Eilerson is portrayed by Tahmoh Pennikett, best known for his role as Helo on Battlestar Galactica and Paul Ballard on Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse.

Dureena​

Beautiful, sultry, and dangerous, Dureena showed up on Babylon 5 a few weeks before the release of the Drakh plague and took shelter amidst the denizens of Down Below. Recognized by the members of the station’s Thieves Guild as a kindred spirit, Dureena was adopted into their ranks, but was quickly apprehended by the station’s security personnel at the request of President Sheridan, who had seen her face in his dreams. Dureena accompanied President and Captain Leonard Anderson – as well as the rest of Anderson’s crew from the EAS Charon – to Daralan 7, where they discovered that the Drakh were about to unleash a devastating attack on the rest of the planets in the known universe. In the aftermath of the Drakh attack, Dureena asks to accompany Captain Anderson and his crew on their mission to find a cure for the Drakh plague, vowing to help prevent the worlds of the ISA – and Centauri Prime – from suffering the same fate as that of Daralan 7 and her own planet, which had also been wiped out by the Drakh. Dureena is portrayed by Vanessa Marcill, best known for her role on NBC’s Las Vegas as Samantha Marquez.

Galen​

Not much is known about the man known as Galen. In the days prior to the release of the Drakh plague, he appeared to ISA President John Sheridan in his dreams, showing him a vision of a dead world, and warning him not to forget what he’d seen. In the immediate aftermath of the Drakh attack on Earth and the release of the plague, Galen arrives on Babylon 5 and approaches President Sheridan, revealing that he is aware of the Excalibur’s mission and requesting that he be allowed to accompany the ship and her crew on their journey. Despite knowing very little about him, Sheridan signs off on Galen’s request after recognizing him as the figure who had appeared to him in his dreams. Galen is portrayed by Peter Faccinelli, best known for his role as Carlysle Cullen in the film adaptations of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight novels.

RECURRING CHARACTERS​

Trace Miller​

A gifted pilot, Trace was part of the IPX expedition to Ceti IV and one of the few not killed by exposure to the undiluted Drakh plague. Following the arrival of the Excalibur, Miller accompanies Eilerson aboard the ship to serve as part of the ship’s bridge support staff and a backup to Navigation Officer Lieutenant Commander Matheson.Miller is portrayed by Fran Kranz, best known for his role as Topher Grace on Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse.

John Sheridan​

The President of the Interstellar Alliance, Sheridan is a vaunted and decorated war veteran, and was the commanding officer of Babylon 5 during the events of the Shadow War and the events which led to it. As the President of the ISA, Sheridan is responsible for comissioning the Excalibur and overseeing and directing its mission. Sheridan is portrayed by Bruce Greenwood, who appeared in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek as Captain Christopher Pike.

Elizabeth Lochley​

Following the official formation of the Interstellar Alliance and John Sheridan’s resignation as commanding officer of Babylon 5, Elizabeth Lochley was picked to be his successor because of her stellar service record in the former Earth Alliance mililtary, and her decision to defy her superiors and side with Sheridan and his officers after the depth of President Morgan Clark’s treachery and collusion with the Shadows was made public just prior to the official start of the Shadow War. Mere days after the Excalibur begins its mission, she takes a Starfury from Babylon 5 on a recon mission, but falls victim to an ambush and is wounded. After being rescued by the Excalibur, she becomes a temporary passenger aboard the ship. Captain Lochley is portrayed by Claudia Christian, best known for her role as Susan Ivanova on the original Babylon 5.

Stephen Franklin​

The former Chief Medical Officer aboard Babylon 5, Doctor Franklin left his position aboard the station following the events of the Shadow War in order to become the Head of Xenobiological Research at the ISAHO (Interstellar Alliance Health Organization). Following the Drakh attack, Franklin is one of the first individuals to examine victims of the plague they unleashed and, as a result, is asked by President Sheridan to sign on to the Excaibur as a medical attache whose primary mission is to assist Doctor Chambers and the ship’s medical staff during the ship’s search for a cure to the plague. Franklin is portrayed by Shemar Moore, best known for his roles on Birds of Prey and CBS’ Criminal Minds.

Lyta Alexander​

A telepath with a psi level of P5, Lyta Alexander was present during most of the events of the Shadow War, and, despite having rejected the authority of the Psi Corps and its police arm, the Psi Cops, became a key figure during the Telepath War, eventually becoming the new head of the Corps in that conflict’s aftermath. At the time of the Drakh attack, she is on Mars Colony addressing the concerns of a group of telepaths calling for the reinstitution of the Psi Cops, and meets with a former colleague of hers, John Matheson. She later encounters the Excalibur and Matheson again after they uncover evidence suggesting that the Drakh used human telepaths as test subjects to determine the plague’s effects, and, after forwarding their findings back to Earth, chooses to remain with the ship as a passenger.

Jane Egan​

A reporter for the Interstellar News Network, or ISN, Jane Egan was a witness to many of the most significant events in the universe, reporting on many of the key moments of the Shadow War, as well as on the events surrounding the Drakh’s direct attack on Earth and the release of the plague there. In the aftermath of that attack, she travels to Mars to cover the launch of the Excalibur, and, while there, is invited by President Sheridan to actually accompany the ship during its voyage and report on its mission progress firsthand, an offer she glady accepts. Egan is portrayed by Kate Walsh, best known as Doctor Addison Grey on Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice.

 

[Expo67]

I think in the best interests of Babylon 5, as well as out of respect to JMS, that both B5 and Crusade be left the way they currently are.

It's bad enough that Battlestar Galactica got remade.

It's worse enough that somebody had the foolish idea to remake a piece of shit and make it an even bigger piece of shit(Galactica 1980).

Babylon 5 and Crusade are fine the way they are.

As Tom Horn(1980)once said "Consider that my last word in the matter."

 

[DigificWriter]

You are entitled to your opinion, but I undertook the task of 're-imagining' both series because, as an ardent B5 fan, I thought it would be a fun creative challenge. Crusade was actually the more daunting of the two series to re-imagine because of the fact that it was so short-lived and its production was so riddled with problems, but I'm proud of the bibles I created for both it and B5, and would genuinely like to bring both VS projects to fruition at some point.

 

[DarKush]

Any plans to re-imagine Legends of the Rangers?

 

[DigificWriter]

Any plans to re-imagine Legends of the Rangers?

Not currently, although one of the earlier drafts of my Crusade series bible did include the Liandra's crew as recurring characters.

Some trivia about the two re-imaginings:
* I initially developed Crusade to essentially stand on its own, which is one of the reasons why there is no mention of the Drakh being connected to the Shadows; it is also the reason that the Drakh plague's effects are so widespread, and the reason that Galen and Dureena have so much 'mystery' to them.

* I ended up changing some of my cast for both series, but there was never any question in my mind who was going to play Delenn, Londo, or Vir; Forbes, Sheppard, and Tudyk were the first people who came to mind when I started thinking about current actors and actresses and who might best fit each of the Babylon 5 characters.

* Even though Sheridan and Ivanova don't appear in this final draft of the series bible, they were both going to be brought in, first as recurring characters and later as regular characters.

 

[Kaziarl]

As much as I love B5 and Crusade, and think as Expo does that it's just fine as it is, I can also acknowledge the fact that in many places the writing was a little stale. I think as long as the core of the story, and the very well written story arc that encompassed the whole series, remain intact a little polishing here and there could do it some good.

 

[BrotherBenny]

...Kate Walsh, best known as Doctor Addison Grey on Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice.

I also think that B5 and Crusade should be left alone.

Just an FYI, Kate Walsh plays the character of Addison Montgomery (formerly Addison Montgomery-Shepherd) not Addison Grey.

 

[Mistral]

Interesting idea-and your choice for Londo is perfect. Perhaps you could write a few short stories reimagining some key points of the saga to give us a taste of how it would go?

 

[DigificWriter]

I unfortunately don't have time to create short stories, but I do have some 'season outlines' for Babylon 5 that I can post.​

Babylon 5 Season 1​

Theme: Like the first season of the original series, the first season of the rebooted Babylon 5 is primarily about setup and foreshadowing. However, unlike the first season of the original series, the rebooted B5 Season 1 tells a fairly cohesive narrative, with nearly every one of its 22 episodes factoring into said narrative.

Subtitle: As in the original series, each season of the rebooted Babylon 5 has a label or subtitle that describes the overall thematic thrust of the season. In keeping with the season’s theme of setup and foreshadowing, the title for the first season is “Against the Rising Tide”.

Cast:
John Schneider as Commander Jeffrey Sinclair
Maggie Q as Lieutenant Commander Laurel Takashima
Michael Trucco as Security Chief Michael Garibaldi
Shemar Moore as Doctor Stephen Franklin
Scarlett Johansson as Talia Winters
Amy Adams as Lyta Alexander
Joaquim de Almeida as Ambasador G’Kar
Mark Sheppard as Ambassador Londo Mallori
Michelle Forbes as Ambassador Delenn

Also Featuring: Justin Hartley (Zack Allan); Jamie Campbell-Bower (Lennier); Tabrett Bethell (Na’Toth); Alan Tudyk (Vir Cotto); Dana Delaney (Carolyn Sykes); Sasha Roiz (Morden); Bruce Boxleitner (Alfred Bester); Alan Scarfe (Draal); Hugh Jackman (Refa); and Ardright Chamberlain (voice of Kosh Naranek)

Episode Guide​

1x01/1x02 - And So It Begins: The 2-hour season and series premiere deals with the official opening of the Babylon 5 station, and with an assassination attempt against the Earth Alliance President, Louis Santiago that also mortally injures the newly arrived Vorlon ambassador, Kosh Naranek.

1x03 – A Piece of Advice: This episode deals with the political firestorm ignited when Narn warships launch an unprovoked attack on a Centauri agricultural colony and the scheming of a man named Morden, who deliberately seeks out both Londo Mallori and G’Kar and tries to motivate them to use the incident for their own personal gain as well as for the political gain of their respective governments.

1x04 – A Question of Genocide: This episode deals with Doctor Franklin trying to cure a virulent outbreak of a strange disease that seems to only affect non-humans.

1x05 - Pirates of the Milky Way: This episode deals with the crew of Babylon 5 tracking down and stopping space pirates who have been recently attacking civilian and government vessels traveling to and from the station, with Sinclair's on-again/off-again girlfriend Carolyn Sykes getting caught up in the situation.

1x06 – Reliquary: This episode is a partial continuation of the previous episode, with Carolyn coming to the station to spend some relaxation time with Sinclair following her ordeal with the pirates, only to become the inadvertent cause of a new crisis for him and the rest of the ship’s crew when a mysterious and ancient artifact that she recently acquired begins running amok aboard the station.

1x07 – The Common Man: This episode deals with the problem of social inequality, as Sinclair is forced to contend with accusations that the ‘lower class’ citizens of the station are basically being ignored.

1x08 - Well of Souls: This episode deals with the arrival aboard the station of an alien who claims that he can see, communicate with, and harvest people’s souls at the exact moment of their death, and his seeming obsession with both Delenn and Sinclair, and sees Sinclair learn that Delenn might know something about his missing memories from the Battle of the Line.

1x09 - In the Mind of the Beholder: This episode introduces the Psi Cops, the ‘security arm’ of the Psi Corps, and the organization’s director, Albert Bester, and deals with Talia receiving a visit from an old friend and mentor who tells her that he too is in danger from the Psi Cops and Lyta being arrested by Psi Cop agents for illegally using her abilities.

1x10 – The Tribulations of Mr. Mollari: This episode deals with Londo Mallori being accused of being a traitor to the Centauri government by a longtime political rival of his named Refa, who accuses Londo of selling his ‘Purple Files’ – a set of disks containing classified information about the Centauri Republic, including the strength of their military and secrets pertaining to their government – to some of the Republic’s enemies, prompting Londo to enlist help from Morden in a desperate bid to clear his name.

1x11 - Comes a Pale Rider: This episode deals with the political intrigue and controversy created when an alien woman arrives on Babylon 5 and formally requests that Commander Sinclair give her amnesty, and with Lyta Alexander recruiting Talia Winters to help her try and save Ambassador Kosh’s life after he collapses during a meeting due to lingering complications from the injuries he received during the attack that killed President Santiago weeks before.

1x12 - Merchant of Grace: This episode deals with an attempt by Commander Sinclair to smooth over the political tensions that have gripped the station in recent days by organizing a ‘cultural festival’ designed to expose the station’s residents and visitors to the cultures and religions of Earth, Minbar, Centauri Prime, Narn, and the planets which make up the League of Nonaligned Worlds, and with Doctor Franklin having to struggle with moral and ethical questions – as well as his own personal religious beliefs - after he encounters a sick alien child who can apparently heal others.

1x13 - Judgment: This episode deals with Albert Bester returning to Babylon 5 to personally investigate Talia’s actions during the events of “Comes A Pale Rider”, since said actions are against Psi Corps regulations.

1x14 - Slouching towards Epsilon: This episode deals with Draal - an old friend of Delenn's - coming to the station to tell her about a monumental discovery he made concerning a strange living machine that is located on Epsilon 3, the closest planet to the station, prompting Commander Sinclair and Lyta Alexander to join him and Delenn on an expedition to investigate the machine.

1x15 - Bones of the Dragon: This episode deals with Carolyn Sykes coming into the possession of a cache of strange bones that seem to be of particular significance – for both good and ill – to Ambassador Kosh and Morden, and with G'Kar using Morden to negotiate a contract between the Narn and another alien race that Morden claims will be beneficial to the Narn and help G’Kar cement his place in Narn history.

1x16 - Rough Beasts of Empire: This episode deals with Londo being recalled to Centauri Prime in order to help resolve a political power struggle resulting from the sudden deaths of the Centauri emperor and his only son.

1x17– Through a Glass Darkly, Part 1: This episode deals with the sudden reappearance of the Babylon 5 station station, and with Delenn undertaking a secret journey to the station by herself.

1x18 – Through a Glass Darkly, Part 2: This episode deals with the fallout from the previous episode, and sees Delenn trapped aboard the Babylon 4 station in an alternate future time where the entire universe is in the midst of a devastating war.

1x19 – From One Hand to the Other: This episode deals with fallout stemming from the deal that Morden struck with G’Kar in “Bones of the Dragon”, as G’Kar is accused by his own government of trying to start a war with the Centauri.

1x20 – Valley of Shadows: This episode deals with Londo, through Morden, convincing the newly installed Centauri emperor, Cartagia, to begin a plan to recapture some of the Centauri Republic’s former territory.

1x21 – Against the Rising Tide, Part 1: This episode deals with Garibaldi uncovering information about the assassination of President Santiago that implicates a member of Babylon 5’s crew in the attack, Kosh revealing to Delenn that he knows what she experienced during the events of “Through a Glass Darkly, Parts 1 and 2”, and Emperor Cartagia - acting on Londo's suggestion from the previous episode ("Valley of Shadows") - by sending Centauri warships to attack a Narn outpost.

1x22 - Against the Rising Tide, Part 2:This episode deals with G’Kar confronting Londo about the Centauri attack on the Narn outpost, Delenn deciding to reveal to Sinclair the truth concerning his missing memories and the reasons behind the Minbari's surrender at the Battle of the Line, and Garibaldi being shot in the back during the course of his ongoing investigation(revealing to the audience the identity of the traitor within Babylon 5’s crew).

 

[DigificWriter]

Babylon 5 Season 2​

Theme: The theme of Season 2 is failure and deterioration.​

Subtitle: The subtitle for Season 2 is “The Abyss Before My Feet”, which is taken from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings”, and is a reference to the social and political ‘abyss’ that begins to develop as the season progresses.​

Cast:
John Schneider as Commander Jeffrey Sinclair
Maggie Q as Lieutenant Commander Laurel Takashima
Michael Trucco as Security Chief Michael Garibaldi
Shemar Moore as Doctor Stephen Franklin
Scarlett Johansson as Talia Winters
Amy Adams as Lyta Alexander
Joaquim de Almeida as Ambasador G’Kar
Mark Sheppard as Ambassador Londo Mallori
Michelle Forbes as Ambassador Delenn​

Also Featuring: Justin Hartley (Zack Allan); Jamie Campbell-Bower (Lennier); Tabrett Bethell (Na’Toth); Alan Tudyk (Vir Cotto); Dana Delaney (Carolyn Sykes); Sasha Roiz (Morden); Bruce Boxleitner (Alfred Bester); Bruce Greenwood (John Sheridan); Rebecca Gayheart (Susan Ivanova); Ian McShane (President Morgan Clark); Jeffrey Coombs (Neroon); Liam Hemsworth (Emperor Cartagia); Mark Hammil (voice of Ulkesh); and Ardright Chamberlain (voice of Kosh Naranek)

Episode Guide​

]2x01 – Matters of Great Importance: This episode deals with Delenn deciding to indefinitely postpone giving him the information he’s been looking for concerning his missing memories after Sinclair, still dealing with the attack on Garibaldi, learns that his girlfriend Carolyn Sykes has disappeared.

2x02 – Downbelow: This episode is a follow-up of sorts to the Season 1 episode “The Common Man”, and deals with Zack Allan – acting as interim Security Chief – investigating a recent spike in illegal and shady activity in the lower sections of the station.

2x03 - Councilus Populusque Minbari: This episode introduces the character of Neroon, a member of the Minbari Warrior caste, deals with the government and culture of the Minbari, as Delenn is met on Babylon 5 by representatives of the ‘Grey Council’, a sub-sect within the Minbari government and of which she is a member, who are concerned about the growing tensions between the Narn and Centauri governments.

2x04 – LIVE!: This episode deals with a film crew from the Interstellar News Network - also known as ISN - coming to Babylon 5 to film a documentary detailing the day-to-day lives of the station’s crew and to chronicle the tumultuous events that have occurred aboard the station since its opening and posing the question of whether or not the station’s initial mission – to serve as a beacon of peace in an otherwise hostile universe – has been successful.

2x05 – Divine Rights: This episode deals with Doctor Franklin helping a young girl – the religious ‘figurehead’ of a newly arrived alien cult – after her guardians object to him treating her after she is discovered in the Zoccolo by Zack Allan and brought to Medlab.

2x06 – Who are You?: This episode deals with the EAS Agamemnon - an Earthforce warship commanded by Captain John Sheridan, a hero of the Earth-Minbari War - stopping by the station, and with G'Kar holding a 'closed-door' meeting with Morden, who suggests that he approach Talia - who is dealing with questions of her own sexuality after a chance meeting with the Agammenon's first officer, a woman named Susan Ivanova - a 'unique' business opportunity.

2x07 - Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner: This episode introduces Earth Alliance president Morgan Clark and deals with him making an official state visit to Babylon 5, igniting protests from some station residents who are opposed to his politics and those of his predecessor, the late President Santiago.

2x08 – The Cost of Order: This episode deals with Talia being contacted by a mysterious man who tells her of growing tensions on Earth between telepaths and non-telepaths, and asks for her help in dealing with the situation.

2x09 - Homefront: This episode deals with Talia traveling to Earth to personally investigate the accusations raised by her visitor in “The Cost of Order”, accompanied by Lyta, where she runs into Susan Ivanova, who has taken a leave of absence from the Agamemnon to return to Earth to say goodbye to her father, who is dying of a terminal illness. Their chance encounter leads to a one-night-stand, during which Ivanova breaks down and reveals that her mother was a telepath who wasted away due to the harsh treatments prescribed by the Psi Corps after she refused to register with them.

2x10 – Bearer of Bad News: This episode deals with Kosh receiving a visit from another Vorlon, named Ulkesh, who brings him disturbing information about the relationship between Londo and Morden… information he later chooses to share with Sinclair, who confronts Londo with the information, prompting him to return to Centauri Prime with Morden as his guest.

2x11 - One Step Closer to Darkness: This episode deals with Emperor Cartagia ordering a full-scale assault on another Narn outpost, only to encounter resistance from the Narn, who subsequently declare war against the Centauri as a result of the altercation.

2x12 - Truths Revealed: This episode deals with Sinclair being abducted by two mysterious individuals who subject him to intense mind scans, and with Delenn discovering a prophecy that impacts her decision to postpone giving Sinclair the answers he’s seeking herself.

2x13 - An Honest Conversation: This episode is a direct follow-up to the previous episode (“Truths Revealed”) and deals with Sinclair, having recovered some of his missing memories from the Battle of the Line, confronting Delenn with what he’s discovered.

2x14 – Offers of Generosity: This episode deals with Neroon returning to the station to meet in secret with G’Kar and offer him a deal that could possibly result in the Minbari officially joining the Narn/Centauri conflict on the Narn’s behalf.

2x15 – Two for the Road: This episode deals with Delenn discovering Neroon’s meeting with G’Kar and trying to keep her government from officially joining the war, which brings her into direct conflict with Neroon and reveals that the two have a personal rivalry stretching back to the days of the Earth-Minbari War and that seems to be connected to Sinclair and his missing memories, and with Kosh meeting with Sinclair to reveal information he received from Ulkesh (back in “Bearer of Bad News”) concerning the true cause of the Narn-Centauri War.

2x16 – From Centauri with Love
This episode deals with Emperor Cartagia sending Londo to Earth meet directly with Clark and request that Earth get involved in the Narn-Centauri conflict on the Centauri’s behalf in response to the Minbari officially joining forces with the Narn.

2x17 – Enemy of Mine Enemy: This episode deals with Sinclair contacting G’Kar and giving him the information he got from Kosh about the ‘shadows’ (see “Two for the Road”) and asking him to pass it on to the Narn government in the hope that it will convince them to end their war with the Centauri before it escalates further.

2x18 – With Eyes Wide Open: This episode deals with G’Kar researching the information that Sheridan gave him about the ‘living shadows’ and taking it to his government.

2x19 – Desperate Times: This episode deals with Ulkesh returning to Babylon 5 to speak with Kosh about recent events, and with Kosh – in response to Ulkesh’s visit – contacting Delenn and requesting that she accompany them (him and Ulkesh) on a mission to Minbar.

2x20 – I Stand Upon the Brink (Part 1 of 3): This episode deals with G’Kar resigning his position as Ambassador after the Narn government refuses to listen to his warnings about the ‘living shadows’ – beings mentioned in an ancient book of Narn scripture – who have apparently allied themselves with the Centauri and are ultimately responsible for the outbreak of war between them (the Centauri) and the Narn, and with Delenn, Kosh, and Ulkesh’s visit to Minbar.

2x21 – The Abyss Before My Feet (Part 2 of 3): This episode deals with someone attacking Kosh while he, Ulkesh, and Delenn are on Minbar.

2x22 – As the Footsteps of Doom (Part 3 of 3): This episode deals with Kosh – dying as a result of the attack in the previous episode ("The Abyss Before My Feet") – revealing to Delenn that he not only knows what led to the Minbari surrendering at the Battle of the Line, but that the secrets the Minbari discovered that day are inexplicably linked with the Narn-Centauri conflict and the things she experiended during the events of “Through a Glass Darkly, Parts 1 and 2” and tasking her with seeing that the things he’s told her are disseminated to the rest of the galaxy.

 

[Mistral]

Very interesting lay out so far. You have the other seasons?

 

[DigificWriter]

Yes, and I'll post them within the next couple of days.