Season Four

Lore & Background

Garibaldi returns to Babylon 5 with no explanation for his disappearance, showing unexplained changes in behavior and distancing himself from the command staff. He resigns and relocates to Mars to work with tycoon William Edgars, later subduing Sheridan and allowing him to be kidnapped. It is revealed that Garibaldi was co-opted by the Psi-Corps to spy on Edgars, who is found to be developing a virus to destroy telepaths. With the Vorlons and Shadows gone, Earth's totalitarian government attempts to use the captured Sheridan as a propaganda tool, but Garibaldi—now free from Psi-Corps influence—rescues him. A brief civil war breaks out on Earth, culminating in President Clark's suicide and Sheridan's surrender to Earth forces. Ivanova is critically injured in the war and leaves the station to take command of her own vessel. The League of Non-Aligned Worlds are reorganized into an Interstellar Alliance with Earth, Minbar, Narn, and Centauri acting as a United Nations across the galaxy, with the Rangers as their enforcers. Sheridan is made president of the Alliance, and he and Delenn marry.

In Their Own Story

The season opens with Sheridan returning from Z'ha'dum, having been given 20 more years to live by Lorien. The Vorlons begin destroying entire planets influenced by the Shadows, alarming the other races. Mollari, fearing for Centauri Prime, destroys the Shadow base there and executes Mr. Morden. Sheridan learns the Vorlons and Shadows were caretakers for younger races but have been at war for eons, using younger races as pawns. With help from other ancient races, Sheridan convinces them to leave. Meanwhile, Garibaldi returns, acting strangely, and eventually betrays Sheridan by subduing him for kidnapping. It is later revealed Garibaldi was under Psi-Corps control, spying on Edgars, who was developing a virus to kill telepaths. After freeing himself, Garibaldi rescues Sheridan from Earth's totalitarian government. A civil war ends with President Clark's suicide and Sheridan's surrender. Ivanova is critically injured and leaves. The Interstellar Alliance is formed with Sheridan as president, and he marries Delenn.

Reader's Guide

Key events include Sheridan's return from Z'ha'dum with Lorien, the Vorlons' planet-destroying campaign, Mollari's destruction of the Shadow base on Centauri Prime and execution of Mr. Morden, and the revelation of the Vorlons and Shadows as ancient caretakers. Garibaldi's betrayal and rescue arc, the Earth civil war, Clark's suicide, and the formation of the Interstellar Alliance with Sheridan as president are central. Ivanova's departure and Sheridan and Delenn's marriage conclude the season.

Did You Know?

• Sheridan returns from Z'ha'dum with the help of Lorien, who gives him 20 more years to live.
• Mollari destroys the Shadow base on Centauri Prime and personally executes Mr. Morden.
• Garibaldi is co-opted by the Psi-Corps to spy on William Edgars, who is developing a virus to destroy telepaths.
• The Earth civil war ends with President Clark's suicide and Sheridan's surrender to Earth forces.
• The League of Non-Aligned Worlds is reorganized into the Interstellar Alliance, with Sheridan as its president.