2.04 "A Distant Star" Trivia Quiz

Answer: swamp rat

This is from the beginning of the episode, where we first learn about the nicknames. Ivanova: "We've just received a message for you from Captain Maynard of the Cortez. It's...uhm...rather rude sir..." Sheridan: "Rude?" Ivanova: Unless all your friends call you 'Swamp rat'..." Sheridan: [laughing] "Ah, that's an old nickname and a long story."

Answer: stinky

Ivanova lets Sheridan know that the Cortez is arriving throught the jump gate: "Captain? I believe your friend 'Stinky' has arrived..."

Answer: rabbit food

This is the conversation between Dr. Franklin and Sheridan in medlab after Sheridan is through with his physical. Franklin: "No meat, no fat, lots of vegetables." Sheridan: "Rabbit food!" Franklin: "Well, it's only for a little while, Captain...We'll get those ten pounds off in no time." Sheridan: "Who's 'we'?" Franklin: "Well, a doctor and his patient are a team, Captain. Don't you agree?" Sheridan: "Sure! And since we're a team - why don't you do the 'diet' part?"

Answer: Cortez

All four choices are names of people who led expeditions to explore North America. The Cortez is an explorer ship, designed for long-duration missions in deep space. The Cortez has been out on the Rim for the last 5 years without ever coming in to port.

When the ship came through the jumpgate, we were able to see the amazing size of the ship, as it was almost the length of the station.

Answer: expanding Russian frontier

Franklin puts Ivanova on a food plan. Ivanova: "If everything is satisfactory, Doctor, I'll be returning to my duties." Franklin: "Just one last thing, Commander. I worked out this food plan for you." Ivanova: "Are you telling me to go on a diet? I'll have you know I don't have an ounce of fat in my body. I exercise vigorously once a day despite my injury, and--" Franklin: "When you do eat, you don't eat enough of the right things. You have deficiencies in calsium, iron and several other minerals. And it's hampering your recovery. Now, I recommend iron supplements, and an increased diet...food plan, to replenish you system." Ivanova: "I'll gain weight!" Franklin: "Briefly, yes." Ivanova: "Figures. All my life I've fought against imperialism, now suddenly I am the expanding Russian frontier." Franklin: "But with very nice borders."

Answer: Garibaldi

Garibaldi was away organizing the shipment of Bagna Cauda. Here is a funny bit of Sheridan and Maynard's conversation during this scene where they are catching up on old times and swapping stories. Sheridan: "Well, there was that time when you took leave on Mars and that dancer as I recall!" Maynard: "Captain Sheridan!" Sheridan: "Yes, Captain Maynard?" Maynard: "July 12th, 2253?" Sheridan: "Oh? Forget I said anything...forget I said anything!"

Answer: 10

This is said a couple of different times in this scene. Sheridan looks pretty darn good for being ten pounds overweight. Sheridan: "10 pounds?" Franklin: "Well, a 10-pound gain isn't too bad, but you could afford to lose it. Here's a list of foods I want you to avoid. No meat, low fat. Lots of vegetables." Sheridan: "Rabbit food." Franklin: "Well, it's only for a little while, Captain. We'll get those 10 pounds off in no time."

Answer: Sheridan

With Maynard on the station, Sheridan begins feeling questioning his position on the station. Maynard points out that he never thought that Sheridan would ever get tied down to a desk. Sheridan replies: "Well, it's a hell of a desk to be tied to." Later, Sheridan blows up at Garibadli for bothering him with the small details of security.

Sheridan later confesses what he is feeling to Ivanova: "I command starships, Susan, not cities in space. These problems, the...the petty complaints, the endless bickering, the constant negotiations. Jack Maynard said this isn't what I was trained for, and he's right. I mean, I am constantly sandbagged, swamped, drowned, and snowed under by nothing but trivia. I mean, look at this desk. I can't find a thing on it. You know me. Is this me? Huh?" ... "They have turned me into a bureaucrat, a politician! Now, I tell you one thing: If the primates that we came from had known that some day politicians would come out of the genepool they'd stayed up in the trees and written evolution off as a bad idea!" Ivanova tries to reassure him that this isn't just any old desk job and he should stop feeling sorry for himself, but it doesn't help. Only Delenn is able to help him accept his position: "The Universe puts us in places where we can learn.

They are never easy places, but they are right. Wherever we are, it's the right place...and the right time. Pain that sometimes comes is part of the process of constantly being born."

Answer: Orwell

Orwell helps Garibaldi get all the ingredients he needs for the Bagna Cauda shipped to Babylon 5 from Earth. As Garibaldi is waiting in the cargo bay for the shipment, Delenn sees him there and they have a conversation (which we don't see). When Franklin is examining Delenn, we find out that Garibaldi said that he was waiting for a new delegation to arrive, the Bagna Cauda.

This tips Franklin off, and he heads off to go find Garibaldi to prevent him from breaking his diet.

Answer: Bagna Cauda

Franklin and Garibaldi are in Garibaldi's quarters waiting to eat. Franklin comments that he can feel his arteries clogging already. They take their first bite, and Franklin comments that it is really good. Garibaldi: "You think that's good, wait until dessert." Franklin: "Well now, wait a minute. I didn't authorize dessert." Garibaldi: "No? Then you can't have any." Franklin: "What is it?" Garibaldi: "Doesn't matter, you're not getting any."

Answer: ancient Egyptian blessing

Sheridan says this to the starfury squadron as they go to rescue the Cortez in hyperspace. Sheridan also says this again in the episode "Shadow Dancing," when Ivanova and Marcus depart to scout out Shadow activity. Here's the relevant quote from that episode. Ivanova: "We are ready to go, Captain. Any last minute instructions?" Sheridan: "Beside from an old Egyptian blessing, I can't think of a thing." Ivanova: "Then we'll see you...when we see you."

Answer: Garibaldi

The three of them are sitting in the Zocalo staring unhappily at the meals in front of them. Sheridan says: "This is all his [Garibaldi] fault, you know?" Garibaldi: "Wait a minute!" Ivanova: "I agree! This whole diet thing..." Garibaldi: "Food plan!" Sheridan/Ivanova: "Whatever." Garibaldi takes Ivanova's plate, Sheridan takes Garibaldi's, and Ivanova takes Sheridan's.

The three are quite happy until Dr. Franklin approaches, clearing his throat. They switch their plates back and each take a miserable bite of food (Sheridan, with lettuce sticking out of his mouth).

Answer: Shadows

As funny as it may appear, he was actually rescued, indirectly, by the appearance of a Shadow ship. Keffer was able to calculate the coordinates of the jumpgate by the reappearance of the Shadow ship. This encounter leads him to become obsessed with finding out what it was, and eventually it kills him.

Here is Keffer's description of the Shadow ship: "As for what it was, I don't know. There was just this feeling that something dark and dangerous had gone by. You know that feeling like somebody just walked on your grave? That's the only way I can describe it."

Answer: food plan

Since Garibaldi is the first person to be put on the food plan by Franklin, here is that conversation. Franklin: "People don't eat right. Skipped meals, eat strange things at odd hours. I mean, someone has to look after your health." Garibaldi: "Okay, fine. Diet." Franklin: "No no no no. Food plan." Garibaldi: "Got it."

Answer: starstuff

Delenn to Sheridan: "I will tell you a great secret, Captain. Perhaps the greatest of all time. The molecules of your body are the same molecules that make up this station, and the nebula outside, that burn inside the stars themselves. We are starstuff, we are the universe, made manifest, trying to figure itself out.

As we have both learned, sometimes the universe requires a change of perspective." At the end of the episode, Sheridan is in his office talking to Ivanova. Sheridan: "Ever had a long talk with ambassador Delenn, Commander?" Ivanova: "Yes, from time to time. Why?" Sheridan: "She and the universe...seem to have a special relationship." Ivanova: "Don't we all?" Ivanova leaves, leaving Sheridan alone.

He sits there for a second, thinking about what people have said, and then says to himself: "Starstuff!"