Babylon 5 / Crusade – Page 9 – theLogBook.com Episode Guides

Appearances and Other Deceits

By theLogBook.com
July 28, 1999

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

Racing The Night

By theLogBook.com
August 4, 1999

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

Babylon 5 / Crusade Spinoff: Crusade

The Needs of Earth

By theLogBook.com
August 11, 1999

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

Babylon 5 / Crusade Spinoff: Crusade

The Memory of War

By theLogBook.com
August 18, 1999

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

Babylon 5 / Crusade Spinoff: Crusade

Visitors From Down The Street

By theLogBook.com
August 25, 1999

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

Babylon 5 / Crusade Spinoff: Crusade

Each Night I Dream Of Home

By theLogBook.com
September 1, 1999

Gideon is most annoyed when a member of the Earth Senate commandeers the Excalibur for a high-security mission (about which its crew is told nothing). He’s even more mystified when Senator Redway’s enigmatic mission takes the Excalibur back to Earth, and instead of an aide, the Senator has his plumber in tow. Stopping just long enough to rescue a heavily damaged Starfury piloted by Captain Lochley, Excalibur arrives safely at Earth, where a shuttle on autopilot is launched from the Earth, releases a sterile life pod, and is destroyed. The pod is opened under heavy quarantine, and its occupant is none other than Dr. Stephen Franklin, head of xenobiological research for the Earth Alliance, the lead researcher tackling the problem of the plague – and a carrier of the deadly virus. For Franklin to study the Drakh virus closely, he must take readings as it infects a new victim. Senator Redway’s plumber, whose fiancee is trapped on Earth, has volunteered to be infected so he may return home for his wedding. Eager to break the news to his intended, Mr. Williams breaks radio silence and contacts her on Earth…but when the Drakh intercept the transmission, they realize that it must be part of the search for a cure, and they set out to destroy the Excalibur once and for all.

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), Richard Biggs (Dr. Stephen Franklin), Lance Le Gault (Senator Redway), Timothy Williams (David Williams), Liz Lavoie (Carole Miles), Carl Reggiardo (Drakh)

LogBook entry by Dave Thomer

Babylon 5 / Crusade TV Movies

The Legend Of The Rangers: To Live And Die In Starlight

By theLogBook.com
January 19, 2002

In 2265, the Interstellar Alliance discovers a previously unknown race moving near the fringes of its territory. There is no sign of who they are, what they want, or why they are there, save their destruction of a long range vessel flown by the Rangers. The Minbari elders who govern the Rangers enlist the aid of Citizen G’Kar in the investigation. The Narn ambassador gladly volunteers his help…his travels through the galaxy suggest that once again, powerful forces of darkness are on the move.

While on Minbar, G’Kar intercedes in the case of David Martel, a human Ranger who had been in line to command a ship until he violated the Rangers’ central code. With his captain injured and his ship outnumbered and unable to fight, he retreated to save the life of his crew, despite the Ranger vow never to break off in combat. G’Kar’s intercession saves Martel from expulsion, but rather than a top of the line ship, he is given command of the Liandra, a twenty-year-old relic in less then spaceworthy condition, whose previous crew met with disaster. The crew is mostly a collection of Martel’s friends and Rangers who have thus far been outsiders – Minbari second-in-command Dulann, weapons specialist Sarah Cantrell, healer Firell, communications/translation specialist Kitaro Sasaki, intelligence operative Malcolm Bridges, political/first contact expert Tafeek, Narn engineer Na’Feel, and Drazi Tirk. The latter two are the first representatives of their races to serve as crew on a Ranger vessel.

The Liandra’s first assignment seems routine enough – escort a warship carrying Alliance delegates to a security conference on a colony world. It is not long before the routine is broken, as the unknown race makes contact in a decidedly hostile way, perhaps confirming G’Kar’s fears. The warship is destroyed, the delegates barely saved, the Liandra heavily damaged, and its first officer gravely wounded. Martel and his crew’s only hope of returning home is to unravel the mystery of the previous crew’s and somehow defeat their mysterious pursuers…and this time, he can neither retreat nor surrender.

written by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by Mike Vejar
music by Christopher Franke

Cast: Dylan Neal (Captain David Martel), Andreas Katsulas (G’Kar), Alex Zahara (Dulann), Myriam Sirois (Sarah Cantrell), Dean Marshall (Malcolm Bridges), Warren T. Takeuchi (Kitaro Sasaki), Jennie Rebecca Hogan (Na’Feel), Mackenzie Gray (Minister Kafta), David Storch (Tafeek), Enid-Raye Adams (Firell), Gus Lynch (Tirk), Todd Sandomirsky (Tannier), Andrew A. Kavadas (Captain Bart Gregg), Simon Egan (Minbari crewman), Bernard Cuffling (Sindell), Chris Robson (Ranger), Rob Morton (Drazi diplomat), Eric Schneider (Cloaked figure), Mark Antontuk (Wounded Minbari)

LogBook entry by Dave Thomer

Babylon 5 / Crusade TV Movies

The Lost Tales: Voices in the Dark

By Dave
July 31, 2007

Over Here: Col. Lochley asks a Catholic priest to come to Babylon 5 a few days before President Sheridan is to arrive for the Interstellar Alliance’s tenth anniversary celebration. A crew member who recently returned from a vacation on Earth had been complaining of hearing voices before finally barricading himself in a section of the station. The crewman, Burke, is now restrained within a security cell and claiming to be possessed by a demonic spirit. The priest is skeptical at first, suspecting mental illness or some kind of hoax. But after a demonstration of the being’s power, he is convinced. He is unsure whether or not to try to perform an exorcism immediately, or summon additional help from Earth. If he calls for help, the word of the reason will spread. And while this may cause some panic, it would also lead to a renewed purpose for a Church that has been declining toward irrelevance. The demonic being claims this is, in fact, its purpose – that it was trapped in space by God so that starfaring humans would find reason to believe. The being’s apparent eagerness to be exorcised gives Lochley and the priest pause: there is another agenda here. But denying the demon’s wish would seem to condemn Burke to suffer, and that responsibility may be too much to bear.

Over There: En route to Babylon 5 for the anniversary celebration, Sheridan begrudgingly gives an interview to ISN. He mentions his regret that Londo will not be at the celebration to represent the Centauri, but that his ship will be picking up Prince Regent Vintari, third in line to the throne. The night before the rendezvous, Galen appears to Sheridan in a dream, and shows him a vision of the destruction of New York City. In 30 years, he says, Emperor Vintari will attempt to restore the Republic’s former glory by destroying an old adversary: Earth. This can all be prevented if Sheridan will simply kill Vintari now. But when Sheridan meets the young man, who already feels trapped by the political intrigues of the Republic, he begins to doubt that he can kill a man for actions he has not yet committed.

written by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by J. Michael Straczynski
music by Christopher Franke

Cast: Bruce Boxleitner (President John Sheridan), Tracy Scoggins (Col. Elizabeth Lochley), Peter Woodward (Galen)

LogBook entry by Dave Thomer

Babylon 5 / Crusade

The Road Home

By theLogBook.com
August 15, 2023

Having departed Babylon 5 to take up residence at the Interstellar Alliance’s new headquarters on Minbar, Sheridan is amused when one of his first official presidential duties amounts to cutting the ribbon on a new Minbari power facility. But when reality begins distorting around him, Sheridan is told that the power source used is tachyons – and due to his previous time travel experiences during the mission to save Babylon 4, he is once again susceptible to becoming unstuck in time. But he’s also unstuck in reality as well, as his multiple seemingly random slides across the multiverse lead him to experience alternate realities, many of them involving losing to the Shadows in the Shadow War. A visit to the Great Machine beneath Epsilon 3 reveals two disturbing truths: first, that there are many, many more where Zathras came from, and second, Sheridan’s visits to other realities threaten every timeline. And inexplicably, something – or someone – is pursuing him through time and space with what he assumes is hostile intent. His jumps do eventually bring him back to a Babylon 5 that isn’t at war or under imminent threat of destruction, and that’s where his pursuer finally catches up with him.

written by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by Matt Peters
music by Michael McCustion, Kristopher Carter and Lolita Ritmanis

Cast: Bruce Boxleitner (President John Sheridan), Claudia Christian (Commander Susan Ivanova), Peter Jurasik (Londo Mollari), Bill Mumy (Lennier), Tracy Scoggins (Captain Elizabeth Lochley), Patricia Tallman (Lyta Alexander), Paul Guyet (Zathras / Commander Jeffrey Sinclair), Anthony Hansen (Michael Garibaldi), Mara Junot (Reporter / Computer Voice), Phil LaMarr (Dr. Stephen Franklin), Piotr Michael (David Sheridan / Trudan / Marcus Cole), Andrew Morgado (G’Kar / Starfury Pilot), Rebecca Riedy (Delenn / young Sheridan)

Notes: First teased in late April 2023 with a steady stream of further announcements and information following over the next couple of months, The Road Home is the first Babylon 5 project since The Lost Tales (2007), featuring a largely new cast to replace the many members of the original live-action cast who have died since the end of the series’ original run. J. Michael Straczynski told social media followers that all of the surviving original cast members were asked if they had any objections to the recasting necessary to tell the story, and that if any of them had objected, the project would have been halted.

Though the opening scenes match up fairly well with Sheridan’s departure as depicted in Objects At Rest (1998), we then fast-forward to a time after Sheridan and Delenn’s arrival on Minbar, with no hint or mention of that episode’s shocking developments involving Lennier (it may also be significant that we do not see Lennier again in the original series timeline); perhaps Sheridan’s socklessness is what triggered Lennier. Sheridan’s earlier exposure to tachyons occurred when his damaged time stabilizer left him exposed in War Without End Part 1 (1996); Though scenes in the alternate timeline in which Babylon 5 is directly attacked by the Shadows recall an alternate-timeline Ivanova’s distress call in that episode, it’s not the same timeline (particularly since Sinclair is still in command).