Sheridan's Duty : Agamemnon's Last Charge (Babylon 5)

[ThatRebel17]

You gotta hand it to Earth for this one, for it's raw power. Earth had 20 of it's Heavy Cruisers disabled and away and not able to defend Earth. All that defended Earth was the defense grid and a few ships. Yet it still managed to inflict HEAVY casualties on a MULTI-PLANETARY force. Imagine if the defense grid never turned towards Earth, and those 20 Heavy EA ships where there to defend Earth.... Earth might have won against an entire multi-planetary force. Gotta give them credit for that.

[asrafoo]

who the hell is he to decide to go on a suicide mission on behalf of the entire crew without even telling them?

[AstroSpartian]

@asrafoo He's the captain. As captain, he has to make difficult choices on behalf of his ship, and there was simply no time to tell everyone.

[cb11082]

I wish this show was on netflix.

[trollson66]

The +most+ impressive visual from B5 - the Agamemnon emerging from the flames. Have not seen it since, probably, the first run. Great to see it again.

[zaishe18]

2:45 Sheridan you're making a mistake. Let it destroy Jersey Shore!!

[Fiffization]

Hey, she played a Romulan Commander in Star Trek: The Next Generation. In the episode where Counselor Troi is abducted and turned into a Romulan.

[676Qtip]

@sbergman27 As was already stated, Sheridan issued the order before the defense platforms began firing. The LASERs were probably not visible wavelength. Regardless the writing for this series was phenomenal, an unprecedented quantity of the show written by JMS himself with his signature vision.

[umjackd]

Whatever anyone says, the Starfury is still the coolest damn spaceship ever conceived.

[roguelead72]

@umjackd I rate it up there with X-Wings and Colonial Vipers as the coolest fighters in Sci-fi.

[gajustempus]

@umjackd the Starfury is, by physics, the only LOGICAL fighter out of all others we've seen this far.

X-Wing might be nice in an atmosphere, but fails when is comes to Sir Isaac Newton :)

Almost same for Colonial Vipers. Nice planes, but no Space Fighters at all

[umjackd]

@gajustempus I liked X-Wings when I was a kid, but after a while I failed to see what the point of the X-foils were. Of course, I'm no aeronautics engineer, but eh.

But the Starfury is cool, flexible, and makes incredible sense.

[gajustempus]

@umjackd same here :)

yet I dislike the Starfury for ONE point: The pilot's WAY too exposed. I mean - one shot from an 180° * 360° angle and you can take out the pilot without damaging the fighter at all except for the cockpit.

[umjackd]

@gajustempus To be fair, in almost any form of space combat, the pilot is fatally exposed, especially with small fighters. Any shot anywhere on the craft is going to suck.

Which is why it's a good thing it's so maneuverable.

[Scioneer]

The Agamemnon was a tough ass ship to handle that kind of explosion so close to her after sustaining so much damage already.

[black25330]

"Target?" "The Middle East" "Hmm... Nah, fuck it. Let's get lunch."

[2009worstyearever]

good thing they checked what the target is. Could you imagine: "Target?" "Erhm, Uzbekistan" "Oh. well, thats too bad. launch repair crews"

[Cheburashka207]

@2009worstyearever "Target?" "Erhm, London".

Burn,british pricks,burn!!! LOL

[ScreamingTc]

Has anyone been able to make out the name of the Omega Destroyer taking the full broadside of missiles at 1:33 ? It's driving me nuts trying to get a clean enough shot to make out the name.

Edit: Using a rather blurry screen grab, and the Omega wiki, it turns out it's the EAS Theseus. Well, that's me having been ultra-geeky. Do I win anything? I mean apart from peace of mind.

[Spionsilver]

JMS must have seen the future.. no wonder the story of B5 somehow resembles the actual ongoings of today..especially the B5 / Earth war angle.. but who wants to be the B5 ..as there arent many us american heroes left..

the thrill is to see who are the shadows..

and who are the vorlons..

[porpus99]

no matter how many times i play Galactic Civilizations i always name my flagship Agamemnon, just because of this episode of B5

[qawamity]

The best part? Explosions on the bridge that didn't have rocks flying everywhere. Seriously, who the fuck packs rocks inside their consoles?

[Fektthis]

Was this show always this cheezy? Because, come on, this is laying it on pretty thick here. This has more cheese than a sporting event in Wisconsin.

[StarFoxKitsune]

Best. Episode. Ever!

-NO

No?

-Best. SERIES. EVER!!!

Even better than Star Trek?

-YES!!!

[sbergman27]

Did she really need to waste 30 seconds of the 10 minutes presenting the information so theatrically. Couldn't she just have slammed her hand on the button and said, "Captain! He's turning the goddamned lasers on the Earth! Stop him quick! You've got 10-1/2 minutes!".

I mean, really.

[ArchonSG1]

@sbergman27 She's a Politician. You know of *any* politician whom won't try to make themselves look better or distance themselves from an issue if they can help it?

[sbergman27]

@ArchonSG1 I should be careful in answering, since I've never seen a single episode of Babylon 5. But... if her entire constituency is vaporized, wouldn't that cost her a lot of votes?

[TheShadowwolf88]

@ArchonSG1 Agreed 5 seconds off actual work and GODS KNOW how much bullshit!

[BlastEMFF]

@sbergman27 you know how women like to talk



[black25330]

@sbergman27 never mind the fact that every ship would have seen the lasers turning any way. The writing for this show was SO LAME!!

[saquist]

@sbergman27 Yeah but what defense grid do you know of takes 10 mins to charge up....

It's all drama. Those beams should have fired instantly.

[sbergman27]

@saquist Defense grids are problematic, from both the operational and plot-device points of view. It's the engineers job to bring them up. And it's the script-writer's job to bring them down. As a writer, you can sometimes just have V'Ger disable the grid upon arrival. Sometimes you can have it infected by a hyperworm. And sometimes you just have to improvise. For the poor engineers, it's their Kobayashi Maru. A no-win scenario where the writers have the final say.

[saquist]

@sbergman27, Indeed. 

[Baseshocks]

@saquist I guess you could argue Clarke's backdoor program took time to pass the safety firewalls to reprogram them to fire on Earth.

[ingotjuh]

@sbergman27 Wouldn't you be scared and in shock when you'd realize this?

[dreckonia]

any human will ram that plataform with out thinking

[trysill]

"We are there" Simple But such a great line! Gives me goose bumps!

[sunnchilde]

This was John's finest moment as a leader. Who would have thought that a Minbari fleet destroying all of Earth's defense grid would be a good thing?

[satanicmechanic86]

I really miss this show. Outstanding science fiction.

[MultiKronblom]

I find it very strange that the president should have control over thë

defence, that would be the assignment for the military.

[SerialSnowmanKiller]

@MultiKronblom The president of the U.S. is supreme commander of the American military. He doesn't personally command battles or order troops most of the time, but he IS in charge. Judging from a comment Sheridan made early in season 3, I would imagine the Earth Alliance works much the same way. In any case, I'm sure that Clark's first order of business once he declared martial law was to assume any governmental powers he didn't already have.

[OriginalLictre]

@MultiKronblom Clarke had circumvented normal command procedures repeatedly, for example when he created the Political Office and had it take responsibility for off-earth security, to be handled exclusively be members of the Night Watch.

He was dealing with Morden and the Psi-Corps, until Bester realized that the Psi-Corps had been subverted and started working with B5, in the interests of humanity in general, and Telepaths specifically.

[MrRich2u]

@Brianboro67 If i'm not mistaken she was an actress from yuogslovia. I believe she one some very prestigious awards from the local film market.

[Ralfast]

Dr. Chakwas tried to arrest the President?

[ArchonSG1]

@Ralfast Different Universe but yeah. :)

[Trek001]

@ArchonSG1 Was she also not a Romulan commander in Star Trek TNG? I think she commanded the Warbird that Troi took over

[faa788]

@Ralfast Wow nice catch! Funny how so many of these actors always pop up in sci fi shows and games

[Alamandorious]

@Ralfast Should've called in Shepard =)

[saquist]

@Ralfast

OMG is that really Dr. Chakwas

[boltonkevin]

Some great parts for Mira Furlan:

"We are there"

AND

"John!!!!!"

CLASSIC LINES

[TechnoMageB5]

@boltonkevin Don't forget "be somewhere else"!

[crystallineentity]

I've now watched b5 all the way through twice through... and i have to say this is my favourite/best scene.. Sheridan finally coming home, that scene at 3.45 with the burning Agamemon recklessly charges the finally platform in a last ditch attempt to save the Earth is brilliant... the buildup music is lovely and emotional... and finally when its over Sheridan is home after 3 seasons of struggle, strife and love... and he is home but at what cost?

[neovoltron25]

@crystallineentity

Yeah. I was thinking of the same question. Sheridan resigned from Earthforce, Marcus died, and Ivanova left B5. So to be honest, every victory has a price.

[TheShadowwolf88]

And finally when Clark were definately loosing did those slobs decide to arrest him!

[FreeApophis]

One of the worst scenes... I see I funny note on a table... oh I know they fire in 10 minutes... really stupid.

[DarthWoo]

@FreeApophis I know the dialogue doesn't really reflect it too well, but Clark did also kind of have that nifty touchscreen interface on his desk that might have probably given her a clue as to the status of the defense grid.

[KaneinEncanto]

@FreeApophis Or an assumption on her part that it is what he did and knows the particle beams take 10 minutes to fully charge for firing...

[Washu1973]

All power to engines, give me ramming speed.

[Raguleader]

Clark thought Sheridan was a staunch Loyalist. He was right. Unfortunately, Sheridan wasn't loyal to Clark, he was loyal to the Constitution that Clark was violating.

[ArchonSG1]

Sheridan was Clark's ace in the Hole so to speak since Clark was pretty sure if anyone was a son of Earth and one that didn't take too well to Aliens, it would be him. Clark banked on the hope that if anyone would take a hard stand against any alien and do what is best for humanity even at the expense of said aliens, it would be Sheridan.

Then Delenn happened, who is rather cute for a space elf. Ya ya, no pointy ears but a space elf is a space elf damnit!

[williamskidfears]

@ArchonSG1 Not quite. Sheridan took the assignment as a favor to General Haig, as part of the resistance against Clark.

His feelings for DeLenn(and vice-versa)took them both by surprise.

BTW, it was a good thing Sheridan DIDN'T die. Earthdome should remember what happened the LAST time someone close to DeLenn got whacked by Earthers.

[Pandawan316]

@ArchonSG1 Amen to that!

[porpus99]

@ArchonSG1 Of course Delenn was a major factor in that, but do not forget Kosh. Kosh was Sheridan teacher in many way. Taught him not only about the universe, but how to perceive it. Then he and Sheridan were both one for a time. If it was not for Kosh, would Sheridan have survived Za'ha'Doom? Would they have been able to kill Ulkesh?

[OriginalLictre]

@ArchonSG1 Regardless of Sheridan meeting Delenn, Sheridan WAS a true son of Earth, and a humanitarian. It's simply that Clark did not understand that the larger needs of Earth and Humanity were not for either an isolationist or a human-centric racist.

Sheridan was attentive to conspiracies and a member of a high-ranking group of military officers who were suspicious of Clarke, even before he was pushed into command of B5. He just was able to hide it well.

[umjackd]

@ArchonSG1 Wasn't just Delenn. Sheridan's a patriot idealist who sticks to his principles. I think with or without Delenn he would have picked the side he did.

[BMWM3GTRLOVER]

Agamemnon FTW!

[WingZeroAlpha]

Actually, let me rephrase that last part: Sheridan was made CO of B5 because Clark valued Sheridan, believing him to be a jingoistic hardliner like him and his staff. That said, it wasn't until Sheridan ousted the Nightwatch (I would imagine) did Clark begin to see him as a threat.

[WingZeroAlpha]

Personally I always preferred the Agamemnon to the White Star as the "main ship" in the series. I wish the writers had adapted it to B5 the same way the Defiant was adapted to DS9.

[ScreamingTc]

@WingZeroAlpha B5 always did itself a service by not doing it the same way. It certainly marked itself out for being more logical then other sci-fi, and had a much better grasp on the logistics. Capital ships were worth their weight in gold, and weren't something to be used lightly. Even the EA armada holding Mars consisted of only 30 Omega destroyers and their support ships. So it'd be hard to believe that Earth gov would have wasted such a valuable resource in loaning an Omega to B5.

[WingZeroAlpha]

@ScreamingTc So we're to believe that a unified Earth government, complete with an equally unified economy base, as well as a ten year window for production (canon claims the first Omegas were rolled out after the Minbari War), was only able to produce a two digit number of Omegas? That's logical? A Call To Arms would certainly disagree, since there seemed to be more than 30 Omegas (if not a triple digit number) involved.

[ScreamingTc]

@WingZeroAlpha You're looking at it in terms of numbers alone, without thinking of the politics and tactical situation. Earth is still a singe planet, and it's colonies were in open revolt against the Clark administration. By that point in the war a lot of ships had defected, been lost or had turned neutral in the affair. Even the EA command staff weren't all on Clark's side. 30 ships is all that Clark could muster that he knew would be follow the orders, illegal or otherwise.

[WingZeroAlpha]

@ScreamingTc At that point in the war, Babylon 5 had also seceded, so of course there would have been no reason to grant them the Agamemnon. However, I was referring to before that point, specifically during the Narn-Centauri War when Earth was making preparations in case they ended up getting involved (which was the whole reason for General Franklin's raid on that one fortress).

[WingZeroAlpha]

Between that and when the "I've wanted Santiago dead for so long..." message got put out, the EA had both the reason and the resources to spare one Omega for B5's usage, because it wasn't until the latter occurred that the EA Civil War occurred. Before that, aside from actions taken by General Hague to look into Earthforce One's destruction, nobody suspected Clark, much less opposed him. Besides, the only reason Sheridan was CO of B5 in the first place was because Clark trusted him (at first).

[WingZeroAlpha]

@ScreamingTc For a real world reference, the United States only has its own economy to rely on, yet we have around sixty Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in service, not to mention eleven aircraft carriers and twenty two cruisers plus amphibious assault ships and the like (add them all together that's over a hundred ships in service), and we did that all on our own dime. Imagine what a unified Earth could produce...

[WingZeroAlpha]

...especially at the time of B5, when all the nations of Earth (even Russia and Africa of all places) are economically strong, not to mention the likes of Mars and the other EA colonies adding to the pot. Overall, I think EarthGov would have been able to spare one Omega for B5; in fact, it would have been logical at the time of the latest Narn-Centauri War, since B5 is in close proximity to their area of space.

[michaelhviper]

I wonder what happened to the Agamemnon after this battle, like was it scrapped or was it refitted after this?

[jeffman52001]

One of the most all time greatest moments on "Babylon 5", love it when Captain John Sheridan, in command of the Agamemnon, along with the fleet save Earth from President Clark's "scorched earth" policy. The scene when the Agamemnon comes out of the explosion brought tears to my eyes, tears of joy. Great scene from the Season 4 episode of "Babylon 5" entitled "endgame. So glad that President Clark blew his own brains out.

[Excelsior2007]

Best moment in the whole series is when the Apollo comes charging in to the rescue. Reminds me of the Pegasus in Exodus part II of Battlestar Galactica.

[laur3ooo]

@Excelsior2007 It should because this came first and who knows how many similar scenes came before it.

[Jazokills]

@Excelsior2007 I t completely reminded me of that too, when i saw this a couple months ago with my dad, i was freaking out at the epicness.

[Rhron]

The senator who had multiple roles in Star Trek, at least twice did she played the role as Romulan captain.

[toddsmitts]

@Rhron Actually if you look at the IMDb pages of B5 guest stars, you'll find a lot of them worked on Star Trek as well.

[josamen]

@Rhron I thought the senator looked familiar but couldn't remember where I'd seen her before