2.15 "And Now For A Word" Trivia Quiz

Answer: Expect the unexpected.

Here is Cynthia Torqueman's opening comments on the program: "Good evening, I'm Cynthia Torqueman. In the hundred or so years since humanity went to the stars, we've established outposts and colonies on over two dozen worlds in fourteen solar systems. Out of all those far-flung outposts, only the Mars Colony, plagued by scattered groups of separatists, who have used acts of terror to intimidate the Earth-loyal majority, has proven more controversial than the Earth Alliance station, Babylon 5. Located in a sector of space near Epsilon Iridani, designated neutral territory, Babylon 5 has defied the odds and continued to operate as a free port, a center for diplomacy, and a showpiece for the Earth Alliance Resources and Technologies division. From its highly publicized debut three years ago, recent polls indicate a growing dissatisfaction with the time, money, and effort consumed by this space-borne community. So, tonight, we take you to the center of the controversy. An ISN crew and I recently spent 36 hours aboard Babylon 5, asking hard questions and, on occasion, get in a little over our heads.

In the process of putting this report together, it didn't take us long to learn the most important rule of survival aboard Babylon 5: expect the unexpected."

Answer: Interplanetary Expeditions

This episode was cleverly done, as it was presented solely as a newscast. ISN's commercial breaks corresponded to the network newsbreaks that we watched just like if you were watching a normal newscast. The announcer comes on with a 'word from our sponsor' bit for IPX: "36 hours..., sponsored by Interplanetary Expeditions. Exploring the past to create a better future."

Answer: David Corwin

Here is some of that interview. Corwin: "Overall I've found this to be a good working environment and a valuable experience. I've learned a lot while I've been here." Torqueman: "And you have never felt that your safety was compromised?" Corwin: "No, Ma'm." Torqueman: "So, this has been a positive experience for you. You enjoy working with everyone?" Corwin: "Yes.

It's a calm, pleasant environment. I don't think I have ever seen anyone get upset here."

Answer: Franklin

Here's Franklin's interview: "You know what the folks back home don't understand, the ones who've never left Earth, is just how dangerous space can be. Aside from incidents like this, just the everyday reality of living your days and nights in a big tin can surrounded by a vacuum. I remember my first time on a transport, on the Moon-Mars run. I was just a kid, maybe seventeen.

A buddy of mine was messing around, and zipping through the halls, and he hid in one of the airlocks. I don't know, I guess he was gonna try to scare us or something, I don't know...But just as I got close, he must have hit the wrong button because the air doors slammed shut, the space doors opened, and he just flew out into space. You know, the one thing they never tell you is that you don't die instantly in vacuum. Just hung there, against the black, like a puppet with his strings all tangled up. Or one of those old cartoons where you run off the edge of a cliff and your legs keep going. You could see that he was trying to breathe, but there was nothing.

The one thing I remember, when they pulled in his body, his eyes were frozen. A lot of people make jokes about spacing somebody, about shoving somebody out an airlock. I don't think it's funny. Never will."

Answer: a quarter of a million

Cynthia uses this as leverage against Delenn during her interview, bringing her almost to tears by the end. Cynthia: "Over 1/4 of a million humans were killed in the war with your people. How do you think the families of those victims will feel about your...change?"

Answer: Johnny

Here'a a transcript of that commercial. Mother: "John, why aren't you outside playing with the other kids?" Johnny: "They hate me." Mother: "Now, John..." Johnny: "It's true. I'm just...I'm different, Mom. I can feel what they think about me, and they know I can. I called one of them a liar because I knew he wasn't telling the truth somehow. And he just kept hitting me until I said I was the liar. I just don't know what to do anymore." Psi Cop: "Don't worry, Johnny. We'll take care of it from here." Johnny: "Mom! Look! A Psi Cop!" Psi Cop: "You're right, Johnny. You know, there are a lot of other kids who feel just the same way you do.

They're confused and afraid, but they don't have to be. The problem isn't that other kids don't like you, it's that they don't understand you, but we do. You're special. You're a latent telepath about to come into full bloom." Mother: "My Johnny, a telepath?" Psi Cop: "Probably, but to be sure, take him down to the Psi-Corps testing centre first thing tomorrow." Mother: "How do I find them?" Psi Cop: "We're everywhere, for your convenience. We have offices in schools and children's hospitals. We even have mobile testing centers that travel the country. And if he qualifies, we'll give him an education, a job, a purpose. And, we'll pay all his bills for life." Mother: "Oh my!"

Answer: "The Psi Corps is your friend. Trust the Corps."

Here is the other half of the commercial (Two weeks later). Mother: "Oh, John. I can't believe it. You've come so far. Just look at you. We're all so proud." Johnny: "And I'm proud to be part of the Psi Corps." Psi Cop: "So remember. If you know someone who might be a telepath, or think you might be one yourself, help them get the help they need. Call the Corps!" (Secret message flashes on the screen briefly in large white letters while the announcer is speaking) Announcer: "Call government information for more on a Psi Corps center near you.

This message has been brought to you by the Ministry for Public Information and your local Psi Corps recruitment office."

Answer: Sheridan

Here is some of Sheridan's main interview. Sheridan: "I guess it's the old joke, "You don't have to be crazy to work here, but it helps." I suppose there is a...certain attraction to being out here on the edge like this. A new frontier." Torqueman: "New frontier is right.

When Babylon 5 went online in 2257, oddsmakers from New Vegas to Lloyds of London were predicting it wouldn't last six months." Sheridan: "Hmm. Well, I've never been very much on gambling. Never quite found the time for it." Torqueman: "You were originally a starship captain, correct?" Sheridan: "Yeah.

The Agamemnon. She was a real beauty. One of the first Omega class destroyers to come off the assembly line after the war. Our job was part military patrol, part diplomatic mission. We went around to most of the Non- Aligned Worlds, put in an appearance, kept the peace, that sort of thing." Torqueman: "Babylon 5 has been through some dramatic changes in administration since it became operational. Would you attribute these changes to...bad management, or, to quote former Senator Hidoshi, 'Is this horse just to big for anybody to ride?' Sheridan: "Changes are part of the military life. Everybody goes into this knowing that tomorrow you could be someplace you hadn't even heard of 24 hours ago. I've been stationed so many places over the years I can't even remember most of them.

But you're right. Some days this is one hell of a big horse."

Answer: Corwin

Torqueman: "Given the danger, at the end of the day, as Mr. Garibaldi said, is it worth it?" Garibaldi: "Absolutely. Oh, sure, when things get tense out here, we have to be careful. Our search of the Centauri vessels we captured proved they were bringing in weapons of mass destruction, off-loading them outside the station, and sending them on to the front lines. Now that we know that, we can make sure it doesn't happen any more. We learn. That's what humans do." Londo: "Misunderstandings aside, yes, I definitely think it's worth it. We must simply work harder to make sure we communicate with one another, to prevent this sort of tragic situation from ever happening again.

A violent attack by Narn forces is an unacceptable response to a peaceful protest by my government. With the intervention of Earth, perhaps we can keep them from making a similar mistake in the future." G'Kar: "I don't know any more. I used to think so, but now..." Ivanova: "Yes." Delenn: "Of course it is, for the simple reason that no one else would ever build a place like this. Humans share one unique quality - they build communities. If the Narns or the Centauri or any other race built a station like this, it would be used only by their own people.

But everywhere humans go, they create communities out of diverse and sometimes hostile populations. It is a great gift, and a terrible responsibility, one that cannot be abandoned." Senator Quantrell: "Well, I guess we'll just have to see, won't we?" Franklin: "If we weren't here right now, half the people in this room would be dead. Now that should be a good enough answer for anyone." Delvientos: "Sure, what are you kidding? I have a retirement pension to make, you know?" Sheridan: "Yes, but not for any of the reasons that you've probably been told. The job of Babylon 5 is not to enforce the peace, it's to create the peace. This place was built on the assumption that we could work out our problems and build a better future, and that to me is the key issue. You see, in the last few years we've stumbled. We've stumbled at the death of the president, the war, and on and on. And when you stumble a lot, you start looking at your feet. We have to make people lift their eyes back to the horizon and see the line of ancestors behind us saying, 'Make my life have meaning,' and to our inheritors before us saying, 'Create the world we will live in.' We're not just holding jobs and having dinner. We are in the process of building the future. That's what Babylon 5 is all about. Only by making people understand that can we hope to create a better world for ourselves and for posterity."

Answer: False

Torqueman: "So far, we've spent most of our time here talking to the humans, but aliens make up nearly forty-two percent of Babylon 5's population. Many of them live here in the so-called Alien Sector, which provides alternate atmospheres for fourteen different species. Ironically, the Alien Sector is how the aliens here refer to the human part of the station proving once again that beauty...and the beast...are in the eye of the beholder. Probably the most elusive of all the aliens is Ambassador Kosh Naranek, a representative of the Vorlon Empire, sent here roughly two years ago. Nothing is known of the Vorlons, in fact three expeditions sent into Vorlon space over the years have never returned.

The Vorlon government said they had met with accidents...and suggested no further expeditions. Even their appearance is a mystery, compounded by the fact that Ambassador Kosh can only leave his quarters in an encounter suit, which contains his atmosphere and other life support equipment.

A few moments ago, while we were setting up this shot, we got our first glimpse of the Vorlon as he was leaving his quarters just behind me.

This is an ISN exclusive, presented here for the first time." Although she doesn't get her interview, she does get a couple of images of him.

Answer: Zack Allan

Corwin was interviewed about the normal working conditions in C&C for the Earth Force officers. Torqueman tries to get some juicy personal information out of Ivanova but fails. Delvientos adds his insights into the running of B5 as one of 'the little people': "Well, it's a...it's a job. I've been in a lot worse places, let me tell you.

It gets crazy around here sometimes, you got fifty, sixty ships a day coming through here, loading and unloading, and every last one of them is a priority job, at least that's what they tell us...We had a couple of problems here last year, try to hit us with some budget cuts. You know, same old song.

But that's the past. You gotta go along to get along, you know what I mean?"

Answer: Garibaldi

Here's Garibaldi's interview. Garibaldi: What do I hope for? I hope to get through this interview without getting myself fired. How's that for a start? Hmm. I don't know, it's one of those questions I don't think about in words. Maybe because so many times it seems like, if I say what I want, it never comes." Torqueman: "There must be something." Garibaldi: "Yeah.

There are...little hopes I guess. Every day I get up and I hope nothing will happen. I'd love to be just bored out of my skull for twenty-four hours. And, uh, I guess I keep hoping that someday, somewhere I'll make a difference. That at the end of the day, everything we've gone through for the past few years will, uh, mean something." Ivanova links in: "Garibaldi, we just got back the HASMAT report. We've got a problem." Garibaldi: "See what I mean? Always something."

Answer: 7

Here's Delenn's interview. Torqueman: "Since very few humans have ever been allowed on Minbar, perhaps you could start by telling us a little about your world." Delenn: "We are the seventh planet from our sun. Almost one quarter of Minbar is covered by our north polar icecap. Because our world is rich with crystalline deposits, many of our cities are cut directly out of crystal formations. During the spring, the patterns of color caused by the light are breathtaking. Let's see, what else? We have three basic languages, Len'au, Feek, and Audronado, which is the language of the Religious Caste." Torqueman: "Can you give us an example of Audronado?" Delenn: "Neech sach schnek, slem-ba. I am your friend, in peace." Torqueman: "Your appearance, though, isn't typical of your people, is it?" Delenn: "No." Torqueman: "According to station records, you looked quite different a year ago." [They show a picture of her first season appearance] Delenn: "I volunteered for this change, in the hope that it would lead to a better understanding between our peoples." Torqueman: "Over a quarter million humans were killed in the war with your people. How do you think the families of those victims will feel about your...change?" Delenn: "I, uh...I don't know. I uh...I would hope..." Torqueman: "I think they would feel hurt, betrayed. That by assuming a human face, you're taking a part of us you're not entitled to. What would you say to them? To all the husbands and wives and children and brothers and sisters of the people who were killed in the war with your people, and now see a Minbari...with a human face?" Delenn: "I'm uh...I'm sorry, I can't...can we...can we stop this? Please?" Ivanova links in: "Ambassador Delenn, you're needed in the council chambers. Ambassador? Ambassador Delenn?"

Answer: hanging

Here's a section of one of the interviews with G'Kar. G'Kar: "Roughly one hundred and fifty of your years ago, the Centauri came to our world. Narn was a green and fertile place then. We greeted them in peace, and spent the next hundred years in chains.

But we never gave up hope. We formed a resistance, learned their secrets, turned their own machines against them, and finally drove them from our world." Torqueman: "How did you become involved with the resistance?" G'Kar: "My family lived in G'kamizad, one of the larger cities on Narn. My father... served in a Centauri household during the last years of the rebellion. I was barely a pouchling at the time. My mother was ill, unable to escape through the underground, so we all stayed.

It was a difficult time--we were striking deep into Centauri resources. Things were tense. One day, my father spilled a cup of hot jala on the mistress of the house, and...and she had him killed.

They took him out, tied his hands together, and hung him from a Jalwa tree for three days. I came to him the last night against my mother's orders, and he looked down at me.

He said he was proud and to go and fight and...be all the things he never was. Then he died. The next morning I ran away and killed my first Centauri." Torqueman: "Why do you think they invaded back then?" G'Kar: "Why does any advanced civilization seek to destroy a less-advanced one? Because the land is strategically valuable, because there are resources that can be cultivated and exploited, but most of all, simply because they can. You have experienced much the same on your own world. There are humans for whom the words 'never again' carry special meaning, as they do for us." Torqueman: "How do you respond to reports that your military has lost six out of the last seven engagements with the Centauri forces, and now the war consists mainly of holding actions and forced retreats?" G'Kar: "Centauri propaganda. We will never fall back. We will never surrender."

Answer: Narn and Centauri fighting outside the station

Here are some of the comments made by Londo and G'Kar concerning the Narn-Centauri War and the Narn attack of a Centauri supply ship at Babylon 5. Londo: "This is exactly the kind of behavior that endangers the very purpose of Babylon 5. This place is dedicated to finding peaceful solutions to our problems. For the Narn to carry their vendetta against our people into neutral territory like this is reckless and irresponsible. And though we mourn our own losses, we have felt strongly about our friends from Earth, ever since we first encountered your world a hundred years ago. To endanger your people for no reason." Torqueman: "Then the attack on your transport was completely unprovoked?" Londo: "Of course." G'Kar: "He's lying." Torqueman: "Then can you tell us why your ship opened fire on the Centauri transport?" G'Kar: "I'll issue a statement after I have consulted with my government." Torqueman: "Are you saying your government sanctioned this attack?" G'Kar: "No." Torqueman: "Do you think attacks of this nature put everybody aboard Babylon 5 in unnecessary jeopardy?" G'Kar: "We are already in far greater jeopardy than you can possibly imagine."