Arriving on Babylon 5

Telepaths Telepaths 108108 109 disappearance of Babylon 4 as the entire project seemed preparation. More sensitive or vital duties, such as weapons All Alone in ill-fated, with many humans beginning to believe in the technicians, command staff and security are all EarthForce, ‘Babylon Curse’. However, the goals of the Babylon Babylon 5 Technical however. Project were still worthwhile and, many felt, more needed Specifications than ever. Diplomacy among the major races of the galaxy, the Night The Command Staff including the Minbari, acquired additional funding so Earth Length: 7,962 metres The most senior EarthForce offi cers on board Babylon 5 The Babylon 5 diplomatic station is a city in space, located would not have to bear all costs of construction alone and Diameter: 840 metres form the Command Staff, and have become well known within neutral territory in orbit around Epsilon 3, a desolate so Babylon 5 was fi nally approved and built in the same Solar Panel Span: 2,070 metres personalities because of both their position and actions and uninhabited planet. Designed as a political meeting system its predecessor, though in orbit around another Displacement: 2.5 million metric tons since the station went on line. In overall command is place for all races of the galaxy, its goal is to prevent war planet, Epsilon 3. Gravitation: 0g – 1.41g Commander Jeffrey Sinclair, a surprisingly junior rank through negotiation, compromise and the active promotion Typical Gravitation: 0.9g – 1.35g for such an important position on board a diplomatic of peace. However, it is also a vibrant and rich marketplace, Few believed Babylon 5 would share any greater success Cargo Capacity: 20,000 metric tons per 24 hour period station. He is assisted on station operations by Lieutenant attracting traders and merchants from hundreds of worlds than the previous stations but, against all odds, it went Commander Susan Ivanova, a bright and extremely capable to meet and do business. Babylon 5’s success has ensured online in late 2257. Already, the station has experienced Dock Workers: 1,500 fi rst offi cer from the Russian Consortium. The immediate its place in the galaxy, as a centre for alien races to meet, disasters and potentially explosive diplomatic situations, Station Personnel: 6,500 Command Staff is rounded off by Chief of Security Michael engage in politics and further understanding between them. including a threatened attack by an entire Vorlon war Transient Population: 250,000 Garibaldi and Chief of Medical Staff Dr Stephen Franklin. fl eet in retaliation for the attempted assassination of their Technically, their immediate aides are also considered part As implied by its name, Babylon 5 is the fi fth space fi rst ambassador, Kosh. Led by Commander Sinclair and of the Command Staff, but together these four have fi nal station spawned by the Babylon Project, all of which were supported by the ambassadors of many governments, the Arriving on Babylon 5 authority on Babylon 5 and have become well respected by constructed after the Earth/ Minbari War in order to avoid station personnel on board Babylon 5 have proved to be With an average of fi fty to one hundred ships arriving every those serving beneath them. such confl icts taking place in the future. Babylon 1, 2 and dedicated to their task and, thus far, have cleanly dealt with day through the jumpgate, all bringing visitors and cargo, 3 (the fi rst was actually called the Babylon Station) were every emergency situation they have faced. Back on Earth, Babylon 5 is a hub for diplomats and traders. On any given destroyed during construction, either through structural many still doubt Babylon 5 will survive long, and will day, the station is a thriving and bustling environment, with failure or sabotage by terrorists opposed to humans soon be claimed by either destruction or fi nancial cutbacks visitors constantly streaming through customs, bargaining Dockers’ Guild Night the in Alone By far the largest workers’ union on board Babylon 5, over forming closer relationships with alien governments. made by a government already pouring billions of credits in the Zocalo or taking advantage of the multitude of 1,500 dockers belong to the guild, headed by their foreman Babylon 4 simply disappeared without trace twenty-four into other avenues of space exploration. As the station facilities available on board Babylon 5. Neeoma Connoly (see p213). Bound by government hours after it went on line and its fate remains one of the enters the year 2258, it is set to face many more trials in its contract and forbidden by law to strike, despite being galaxy’s greatest mysteries. EarthGov initially resisted mission of peace. Whether arriving by shuttle from a large space liner or efforts by certain senators to fund a fi fth station after the warship, or travelling on board a smaller spacecraft, a civilians, relations between the Dockers’ Guild and the visitor will enter Babylon 5 through the Docking Portal Command Staff have always been strained as fi nancial and proceed through the Central Docking Hub that links cutbacks from EarthGov have consistently cut into the dock sixty pressured holding bays to space outside. From here, working budgets. Life has become hard for the workers any cargo is unloaded by the army of dock workers living and though they are considered an essential component on the station while passengers disembark and make their of Babylon 5, being responsible for the loading and way through customs, monitored by EarthForce security unloading of all the cargo that passes through the station, Alone in the Night the in Alone teams. Once identifi ed and scanned for weapons or other they are understaffed and over-scheduled to the extreme. illegal goods, the visitor is now free to travel through the Miss Connoly has warned that an accident is bound to station though certain areas, particularly in Blue and Green happen soon, citing the fatigue her workers are constantly Sector, remain off-limits to unauthorised personnel. This experiencing and the poor quality of dockside equipment. still leaves many areas to explore, with hotels, bars, casinos Commander Sinclair is sympathetic to her wishes but is in and shops all supporting a thriving leisure industry on no better position to alter the station’s budget than she is. Babylon 5. Few visitors stay long, as space travel can be incredibly expensive, with most arriving and then departing Transport Association with business complete within just a few days. There are Steadily growing in membership, the Transport Association few permanent residents on Babylon 5 aside from station is a collection of freelance pilots and ship captains who personnel and lurkers in Downbelow who have no money to have grouped together to form an ad hoc union in order leave the station anyway. to gain a better bargaining position against EarthForce directives. In reality, the Transport Association has little The vast majority of personnel on the station are human, real power, as members have too many interests of their though aliens can also fi nd work in civilian areas, often in business and diplomatic areas such as translation, Command Staff of Babylon 5 information gathering and menial tasks. Commander Jeffrey Sinclair Though operated by EarthForce, most of the eight thousand personnel are Chief of Security Lieutenant Commander Chief of Medical Staff actually civilian contractors, performing Michael Garibaldi Susan Ivanova Dr Stephen Franklin the myriad of tasks vital to keeping the (Security & Surveillance) (Command & Control) (Medlab) station functional, including unloading cargo, sanitation, maintenance and food 110 111 Alone in the Night the in Alone Alone in the Night the in Alone Alone in the Night the in Alone Alone in the Night the in Alone 146146 147 present on Io in December, whether in EarthForce or as Downbelow may have many opportunities to earn a Games Master will weave multiple plot lines into his private citizens, they would be advised to clean up any few extra credits unloading cargo from arriving ships Campaigns on scenarios, providing his players with a wealth of adventure operations currently being conducted under the radar, or performing other errands – perhaps following an as he draws inexorably to the campaign’s conclusion which so to speak, as Lianna will be ruthless in her pursuit ambassador or other important individual, keeping track should prove momentous. This takes a great deal more of presidential security, leaving no stone unturned of security team patrols or flat out stealing treasured Babylon 5 work than a series of unrelated or semi-connected scenarios, with respect to potential threats – unfortunately, she items. However, this may bring them into conflict with for both the Games Master and his players but, when it is has a good nose for problems and will happily inform station security, the targets of their illegal activities, and The Babylon 5 roleplaying game has enormous scope for complete, the campaign will prove to be memorable for all Io’s security teams to deal with any wrong-doing she even their employers, if the job turns sour or absolute exciting scenarios, emotionally charged storylines and concerned. discovers. secrecy is required. The Games Master can insert any grand-sweeping campaigns. The events of 2258 to 2262 G The plot to assassinate President Santiago is a good number of scenarios into his campaign through this and beyond shaped an entire galaxy and players have a Neither method of approaching the Babylon 5 roleplaying one to get the players involved with if they are method, bringing players back on track to his main full living, breathing setting to explore. Whether fighting game is inherently right or wrong. So long as the Games serving the Earth Alliance in any way, though it is story arcs, or just providing some lighter and unrelated alongside the armies of light, consorting with dark powers Master and players all enjoy themselves, or otherwise recommended that they never know exactly what tasks scenarios within a full blown campaign.

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