Great Machine
From The Babylon Project
The Great Machine is a technological marvel of unknown abilities and origin located below the surface of Epsilon 3.
The Great Machine is powered by massive fusion reactors. The complex machine requires a sentient intelligence to regulate its operation. It also contains a subterranean defense system, capable of firing missiles and powerful particle beam weaponry at ships in or near orbit.
An unknown race of humanoids lives within the machine and tends to its mundane functions in order to not burden the machine's operator with such minutiae. Zathras is the name of one family of these caretakers.
In the 13th century (Earth time), shortly after the First Shadow War, Valen traveled to Epsilon 3 and received the three Triluminaries.
Around 1750, the last members of the race that built the Great Machine left Epsilon 3. They left a guardian, Varn, to operate machine until it would be needed five hundred years later.
Prior to the construction of Babylon 5 in orbit of Epsilon 3, scans of the planet show no traces of life or prior civilization.
In 2258, Varn was dying. Without his presence, the machine would steadily lose control and, if approached, explode. Draal was chosen to be the new operator.[1] & [2]
The Great Machine was responsible for sending Babylon 4 back in time to serve as a base for the Minbari during the First Shadow War.[3] & [4]
Susan Ivanova, with the cooperation of Draal, used the immense power of the machine to carry the Voice of the Resistance broadcasts to Earth's colonies and outposts.[5]
