Category: Spinoff: Crusade

Some time ago, Earth colonists discovered a planet whose water supply contains an anti-viral agent. An EA destroyer sets up a mining operation near the planet’s major settlement, a group of humans who voluntarily live with 1800’s-era technology. The locals, however, are opposed, and somehow they are causing all sorts of mischief – including the appearance of a giant golden dragon – to impede the effort. The destroyer captain enlists Gideon’s aid, and Galen arranges for him to meet the locals’ protector, an exiled Technomage named Alwyn. Before they can reach some agreement, the locals take hostages, and the captain sends troops. With no one willing to compromise in the resulting standoff, Alwyn resolves to take matters into his own hands, and forces Gideon to decide whose lives are to be saved.

written by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by Mike Vejar
music by Evan H. Chen

Cast: Gary Cole (Captain Matthew Gideon), Tracy Scoggins (Captain Elizabeth Lochley), Daniel Dae Kim (Lt. Matheson), Carrie Dobro (Dureena Nafeel), David Allen Brooks (Max Eilerson), Marjean Holden (Dr. Sarah Chambers), Peter Woodward (Galen), Edward Woodward (Alwyn), Alison Lohman (Claire), Scott Paetty (Lieutenant Meyers), Mik Scriba (Barkeep), Marshall Teague (Captain Daniels), Michael O’Connell (Worker #2), Sophia Santi (Worker #1), Rex Ryon (First man)

LogBook entry by Dave Thomer

Earthforce diverts the Excalibur from its next investigation in order to test a group of refugees from the Drakh War for the plague. The orders do not sit well with Eilerson, who is under pressure from IPX to report something profitable. They are even less popular with the refugees, whose suspicions of Earthforce’s motives only grow when Chambers’ tests confirm they were infected – but probably after they left Earth. Dureena discovers that others escaped her world before the planet-killer destroyed them – but now the plague threatens to finish the job. A borrowed security code helps Gideon uncover the refugees’ past as military test subjects, but before he can offer any help, some of the refugees take Chambers hostage and demand to leave the planet…thus spreading the virus across the galaxy.

written by Fiona Avery
directed by Tony Dow
music by Evan H. Chen

Cast: Gary Cole (Captain Matthew Gideon), Tracy Scoggins (Captain Elizabeth Lochley), Daniel Dae Kim (Lt. Matheson), Carrie Dobro (Dureena Nafeel), David Allen Brooks (Max Eilerson), Marjean Holden (Dr. Sarah Chambers), Peter Woodward (Galen), Peter Deanda (General Thompson), Sharrise Baker (IPX official), Brian Thompson (Robert Black), Eric Ware (Tim), Scott Carollo (Colonist), Nancy Linehan Charles (Villager), Curt Lowens (Old One)

LogBook entry by Dave Thomer

The Earth Alliance convenes a conference on Mars to organize and focus the efforts to defeat the plague. When one of Trace’s former colleagues, a last-minute invitee to the conference, is murdered by a doomsday cult, it renews a crisis of faith for the pilot. Lochley and Gideon clash with each other and with local authorities over control of the investigation, and try to get to know each other better – despite their belief that each already knows the other far too well. Max attempts to escort Dureena through the streets of his hometown, but ends up needing protection himself. A subsequent murder and an attack on Trace set the stage for the cult’s final act – the destruction of Earth’s best minds, and with them, all hope for a cure.

written by Peter David
directed by John Copeland
music by Evan H. Chen

Cast: Gary Cole (Captain Matthew Gideon), Tracy Scoggins (Captain Elizabeth Lochley), Daniel Dae Kim (Lt. Matheson), Carrie Dobro (Dureena Nafeel), David Allen Brooks (Max Eilerson), Marjean Holden (Dr. Sarah Chambers), Peter Woodward (Galen), Alex Mendoza (Trace Miller), Juanita Jennings (Lieutenant Carr), John Novak (Doctor Alain LeBeque), Fred Estrada (Cultist #1), Mario Roberts (Passerby), Jason Rodriguez (Rivera), Harley Zumbrum (Spuser)

LogBook entry by Dave Thomer

While visiting Babylon 5, Gideon tries to secure permission for the Excalibur to investigate a long-dead civilization from the Lorkans, the planet’s current inhabitants. He and Lochley share some quiet time alone – and the Drazi equivalent of a barbecued beef sandwich – on a tour of Down Below, where they become the targets of two Lorkans who wish to put a permanent end to Gideon’s inquiries. Max’s ex-wife asks for his help in settling a debt with a loan shark, but his stubbornness may only make things worse, not only for them, but for their cat.

written by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by Jesus Trevino
music by Evan H. Chen

Cast: Gary Cole (Captain Matthew Gideon), Tracy Scoggins (Captain Elizabeth Lochley), Daniel Dae Kim (Lt. Matheson), Carrie Dobro (Dureena Nafeel), David Allen Brooks (Max Eilerson), Marjean Holden (Dr. Sarah Chambers), Peter Woodward (Galen), Tim Choate (Polix), Timothy Landfield (Lorkan #3), Sal Landi (Rolf Mueller), Jamie Rose (Cynthia Allen), Joel Swetow (Ris), Jonathan Chapman (Brakiri Ambassador), Carl Reggiardo (Drazi vendor), Kathe Weeks (Diane), and Mr. Kitty (himself)

Notes: This episode carries a dedication to Mr. Kitty, pictured in Eilerson’s photograph, who apparently died prior to the airing of the episode. Mr. Kitty was in real life J. Michael Straczynski’s cat. Guest star Tim Choate is better known to Babylon 5 fans as Zathras.

LogBook entry by Dave Thomer

The investigation of a derelict ship brings a colony of mental parasites aboard the ship. Gideon manages to contain them before they take over the entire ship, but they are only willing to relinquish control of the possessed crewmen if the Excalibur lets them loose on an inhabited world. A security officer gives his life to save Max from the parasites, and Max wonders if the sacrifice was worth it. A designer and public relations consultant from Earth overhaul the “look” of the mission to help reassure the viewers at home of its eventual success.

written by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by Stephen Furst
music by Evan H. Chen

Cast: Gary Cole (Captain Matthew Gideon), Tracy Scoggins (Captain Elizabeth Lochley), Daniel Dae Kim (Lt. Matheson), Carrie Dobro (Dureena Nafeel), David Allen Brooks (Max Eilerson), Marjean Holden (Dr. Sarah Chambers), Peter Woodward (Galen), Luanne Ponce (Janey), John Vickery (Mr. Welles), Wayne Anderson (Kevin Sprach), Christopher Michael (Earthforce Captain)

Notes: John Vickery appeared as Minbari warrior Neroon in Babylon 5, as well as the shifty Mr. Welles in the episode The Fall Of Night. This episode was written as a segue into the first produced episodes of the series, and some of its dialogue was a parody of the real-life problems between Crusade’s producers and TNT executives that eventually killed the series. The references to changes in the Excalibur’s decor and uniforms reflected TNT’s demands; in actuality, the costumes and sets seen in Racing The Night and later episodes were what Crusade was originally intended to look like.

LogBook entry by Dave Thomer

Gideon’s sources lead the Excalibur to a world that may have fallen victim to the plague centuries ago. After a crewman is murdered and vivisected despite the planet’s apparent lack of life forms, an investigation reveals a graveyard of alien ships – and attracts a well-armed defense force determined to prevent the Excalibur’s departure. Galen continues to refuse Dureena’s request to be trained as a technomage. Despite his mistrust, Gideon turns once more to his hidden source – the box he won years before.

written by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by Mike Vejar
music by Evan H. Chen

Cast: Gary Cole (Captain Matthew Gideon), Tracy Scoggins (Captain Elizabeth Lochley), Daniel Dae Kim (Lt. Matheson), Carrie Dobro (Dureena Nafeel), David Allen Brooks (Max Eilerson), Marjean Holden (Dr. Sarah Chambers), Peter Woodward (Galen), Brenan Baird (Kulan), Madison Mason (General Miller), Neil Bradley (Drazi Ambassador), Roxanna Brusso (Crew member #1), Jonathan Chapman (Brakiri Ambassador), Adam Clark (Ranger)

LogBook entry by Dave Thomer

A Ranger tips Gideon off on the whereabouts of an alien refugee named Natchok Var, who is on the run with a very important cargo – the sum total of all of his race’s knowledge. That data could include a lead on the cure to the Drakh plague – but to procure it, Gideon and his crew will have to break any number of local laws and assist a fugitive from justice. The captain and Dureena take great personal risks to rescue the man, but Dureena’s lifelong distaste for servitude causes her to set free a shipment of slaves, which alerts the authorities to the Excalibur’s presence. Gideon may have the precious information in his hands, but the price for his crew’s survival will be the life of the man they have just rescued.

written by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by Mike Vejar
music by Evan H. Chen

Cast: Gary Cole (Captain Matthew Gideon), Tracy Scoggins (Captain Elizabeth Lochley), Daniel Dae Kim (Lt. Matheson), Carrie Dobro (Dureena Nafeel), David Allen Brooks (Max Eilerson), Marjean Holden (Dr. Sarah Chambers), Peter Woodward (Galen), Tony Amendola (Natchok Var), Bill Mondy (Nix), Mark Hendrickson (Patron), Peter Welkin (Trulann), Tom Wyner (Aprori Flentam)

Notes: This was the first episode produced.

LogBook entry by Dave Thomer

Legend speaks of a world long dead, its population destroyed by an undetectable, unstoppable killer, whose cities remain untouched. The Rangers find a world that may be the source of the legend, but when the Excalibur arrives to investigate, Galen warns them to turn back. This world has been off-limits even to technomages for over a hundred years. Gideon is determined to see what information this world may have, however. (And Eilerson is equally determined to see what technology may have survived.) Dureena finds a final mesage left by the planet’s inhabitants, but no one can determine what killed them, until members of the landing party start dying in violent fashion. Chambers’ autopsy uncovers the cause of death – and sends Galen deep underground to stop the madness of one of his own kind.

written by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by Mike Vejar
music by Evan H. Chen

Cast: Gary Cole (Captain Matthew Gideon), Tracy Scoggins (Captain Elizabeth Lochley), Daniel Dae Kim (Lt. Matheson), Carrie Dobro (Dureena Nafeel), David Allen Brooks (Max Eilerson), Marjean Holden (Dr. Sarah Chambers), Peter Woodward (Galen), Susie Park (Sogayu), James Parks (Duncan), John St. Ryan (Technomage), Ron Campbell (Belan), Maggie Egan (ISN Reporter), Dustin MacDonald (Guard)

LogBook entry by Dave Thomer

Two aliens are retrieved from a drifting life pod, but instead of showing gratitude when brought aboard the Excalibur, they take a hostage and accuse Gideon of imprisoning, torturing and murdering their race – but when Matheson checks with Earth, there is no record of any contact with this species. Gideon learns from the male alien, Durkani, that his race’s deep space probes have photographed Earth, and that some kind of spacecraft from Earth supposedly crash-landed on their world, causing a firestorm of speculation and paranoia. Durkani and his colleague, Lyssa, have spent years investigating the rumors, the leads, and the scant evidence, until finally the authorities closed in on them and forced them to flee. Durkani believes that he and Lyssa were getting too close to secrets being concealed by the government – secrets pointing to a long-range plan for a takeover by the human race. Of course, Gideon doesn’t believe a word of it…but when another member of the same species approaches in another ship, demanding that Durkani and Lyssa be handed over for summary execution, Gideon wonders if the two might not be on to something very real.

written by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by Jerry Apoian
music by Evan H. Chen

Cast: Gary Cole (Captain Matthew Gideon), Tracy Scoggins (Captain Elizabeth Lochley), Daniel Dae Kim (Lt. Matheson), Carrie Dobro (Dureena Nafeel), David Allen Brooks (Max Eilerson), Marjean Holden (Dr. Sarah Chambers), Peter Woodward (Galen), Josh Clark (Kendarr), Francoise Robertson (Lyssa), Harry Van Gorkum (Durkani), Robert Caso (Maintenance Man), Sandra Gonzalez (Maintenance #2), Eric Whitmore (Security #1), Camila Griggs (Security #2)

Notes: British actor Harry Van Gorkum was one of the final contenders for the role of the Doctor in Fox’s 1996 TV movie revival of Doctor Who; he lost the role to Paul McGann.

LogBook entry by Dave Thomer with notes by Earl Green