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No Surrender, No Retreat

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NO SURRENDER, NO RETREAT
Babylon 5, Episode 4x15
Production number: 415
First aired: 26 May 1997
81st Babylon 5 episode to be aired
Production Credits
Written By: J. Michael Straczynski
Directed By: Michael Vejar
Executive Producer: Douglas Netter
& J. Michael Straczynski
Producer: John Copeland
Production Designer: John Iacovelli
Director of Photography: John C. Flinn, III A.S.C.
Editor: Skip Robinson
Music By: Christopher Franke
Episode Chronology
Story Date: September 2nd - 4th, 2261
Chronological Order
Preceded by: Moments of Transition
Followed by: The Exercise of Vital Powers
Broadcast Order
Preceded by: Moments of Transition
Followed by: The Exercise of Vital Powers
Episode Gallery

Spurred by atrocity, Captain John Sheridan assumes the offensive in the Earth Alliance Civil War, starting with the liberation of Proxima III. Meanwhile, Londo Mollari and G'Kar begin the slow process of rebuilding their frayed relationship.

Contents

CastEdit

StarringEdit

Guest StarringEdit

Co-StarringEdit

FeaturingEdit

Cast NotesEdit

SummaryEdit

IntroEdit

"Captain's personal log, September 2nd, 2261 — Enough is enough."

As the White Star fleet assembles outside Babylon 5, the station once again assumes a wartime footing. The war room, currently hosting the Voice of the Resistance, now prepares for a new campaign. In the Cobra Bays, Starfury squadrons are being prepared and launched by Lieutenant David Corwin.

Captain Sheridan and Commander Susan Ivanova call an emergency meeting of the Babylon 5 Advisory Council and League of Non-Aligned Worlds, to the grumbling of officials like Ambassador Londo Mollari. Sheridan apologizes for the earliness of the meeting, but says the matter is urgent. He is now imposing a price for the continued patrolling of the White Star fleet around their borders, which has seriously curtailed raids and border clashes. Each race must contribute a destroyer to the defense of Babylon 5. They must also sever all ties with the Earth Alliance except for humanitarian reasons. This is because B5 is about to take the offensive in response to President Clark's atrocities.

"From now on, Earth stands alone. We're taking back Proxima III, we're taking back Mars, and then we're going to take back our home, or die trying."

Act IEdit

A shuttle brings in Marcus Cole, who rushes to the War Room with hot intelligence from Proxima III. The colony is rapidly running out of time; they need help soon. The colony is currently blockaded by six Omega class destroyers, including the Heracles and Pollux: the two destroyers responsible for the civilian deaths. Apart from these known hostiles, there is little intel on the stance of the other destroyers. Sheridan proposes hitting the colony in a multiple-wave assault: surrounding the hostile forces and convincing the rest to withdraw or defect. But this will mean fully committing to the campaign to the very end: "No surrender, no retreat."

The doorbell awakens Vir Cotto, still having nightmares about assassinating Cartagia. When he opens the door, Michael Garibaldi stands outside, looking for Mollari. Cotto notes that he is absent, but lets slip that he is going to see G'Kar. He also comments on Sheridan's new offensive. Garibaldi seems hostile about Sheridan's actions, and will pursue a different avenue.

The station is now on high alert. Starfuries are on constant patrol, and even communications between them is being kept under tight security to prevent false orders. As Ivanova notes, the operational phrase is, "Trust Ivanova, trust yourself. Anybody else, shoot him."

Act IIEdit

Sheridan reports to the war room. He has Ivanova send three White Stars to Earth space, two by Mars and one to Earth. Their mission is diversionary: to distract Clark with the flybys, which will cause him to call in his forces and pull them away from the Proxima System, while the main force gathers in hyperspace away from the Proxima beacon, so as not to be detected. Meanwhile, Marcus communicates with the Proxima Resistance. They are being hit hard by Clark-loyal reinforcements, but they relay information on which destroyers are holding back.

Mollari goes to see G'Kar. Ever since their return to Babylon 5, they have been falling back into their usual trading barbs, although G'kar's words have grown especially bitter since his imprisonment. Mollari is here with a proposal: a gesture of mutual support towards the Earth Alliance Resistance. G'Kar refuses to participate, however.

Sheridan briefs the Starfury pilots about the incoming mission, noting this will be one of their hardest missions: initiating combat against fellow Humans, an action Sheridan would not have condoned if there were any alternative. As Ivanova assumes command of the Station, Sheridan leads the combined fleet into hyperspace in the White Star 2, which he has painted with the B5 logo.

Act IIIEdit

Marcus transfers to the White Star 2 when it arrives near Proxima. Sheridan then initiates his battle plan. The first wave will be three White Stars jumping out on the far side of the planet. Aboard the Heracles, Captain Trevor Hall learns of unknown contacts and sends the Pollux and Nemesis after them. Sheridan figures the loyalists are splitting up to keep watch on the rest, so he proceeds with phase two: a squadron jumping on the near side. This time, Hall realizes that it is Sheridan he is facing. He prepares for a fight as a signal is received. To his shock, it is coming from the local jumpgate as the main fleet appears behind him. Commanding the Vesta, Captain Edward MacDougan tries to convince Sheridan to withdraw, but instead Sheridan notes "Mackie" is about to engage in support of illegal orders. Hall orders the Heracles to open fire, beginning the Battle of Proxima III.

Act IVEdit

Sheridan's forces initially concentrate on the known hostiles, the Heracles and Pollux, while Sheridan tries to figure out where the other ships stand. He is relieved to learn most of the other ships do not wish to fight. The Furies does not respond to a flyby, the Juno withdraws without engaging, and MacDougan heeds Sheridan's call and refuses to fire. Hall angrily orders MacDougan's first officer to take command, but the crew eventually subdues him, allowing MacDougan to stand down as well.

Nevertheless, there are losses, including a White Star that comes under heavy fire from and crashes into the Pollux, destroying both ships. Meanwhile, the Nemesis surrenders only after taking severe damage. Soon, only the Heracles is remaining, and Hall knows he is "dead either way" and intends to go down fighting. However, his first officer, Commander Sandra Levitt, refuses to let the rest of the crew go down with him. She orders the crew to relieve him of command and then complies with Sheridan's order to surrender.

The battle is over; Proxima III is free, but at a heavy price. Sheridan requests the captains of the remaining ships to meet aboard White Star 2 in one hour to determine their stance.

Act VEdit

Sheridan meets with Captains MacDougan, Eckland, and Kawagawa, and Commander Levitt to discuss what they will do from here. They can withdraw from the theater, stay to defend Proxima from retaliation, or join Sheridan. The Earthforce COs understandably have questions about Sheridan's motives, but Sheridan notes that Clark is taking the Alliance in the direction of dictatorship and that their oaths are to the people, not to the government. His goal is simply to remove the Clark regime; he intends to let the people decide if it was justified, once they regain their rightful say. Most importantly, he wants human support: without that support, the fight will simply look like aliens attempting to attack and conquer Earth. The COs eventually ask for some time alone to discuss the issue among themselves.

Back on B5, G'Kar eventually sits down next to Mollari in the Zocalo. He finally agrees to sign the joint statement of understanding . . . "but not on the same page." Much relieved, Mollari accepts.

MacDougan reports to Sheridan on their decisions. Levitt will withdraw from the theater and take the Heracles to Beta IX for repairs, and keep Captain Hall under arrest. Eckland will remain at Proxima with the Furies. He Kawagawa and will join Sheridan. Pleased, Sheridan shakes Mackie's hand.

Ivanova anchors a transmission of the Voice of the Resistance, announcing the liberation of Proxima III and using this as a rallying cry for Earthforce ships to defect and join Sheridan. She also announces the joint statement by the Centauri and the Narns. As the news airs, Garibaldi enters the docking bay. He is leaving the station for Mars, apparently never to return.

Memorable quotesEdit

“

"Captsin's personal log, September 2nd, 2261—Enough is enough."

– Sheridan


Continuity notesEdit

DVD releaseEdit

This episode, along with the other episodes from season four, has been released on DVD with extensive special features.

External LinksEdit

Retrieved from "http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/No_Surrender,_No_Retreat?oldid=49001"
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