#ONLY ONE HUMAN CAPTAIN HAS EVER SURVIVED BATTLE WITH A MINBARI FLEET.

[therighthandofvengeance]

[hxans]

"This is Ambassador Delenn of the Minbari. Babylon 5 is under our protection. Withdraw or be destroyed."

"Negative. We have authorite here. Do not force us to engage your ship."

"Why not? Only one Human captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else!"

Delenn of the Religious Cast and Chosen of Dukat vs. Sister Beatrice

Remember: don't vote on "who would win in a fight", but on "who, when given a task that fits her skillset and talents, would do that task better: more comprehensively, faster, with more pizzazz, with less collateral, etc."

Endorsements! "What is she good at?"

Delenn of the Religious Cast and Chosen of Dukat, Babylon 5: Leading her people in the eradication of humanity and the saving all humans single handedly. The expulsion of the old ones from the galaxy so the younger races can grow.

Sister Beatrice, Warrior Nun: Oh my GOD what is she NOT? Mastery in various martial art forms, fluent in Lord knows how many languages, master strategist, BOMBS, and always has a kind word for those who need them.

[karlibetazoid]

Finished my rewatch of #Babylon5 , 10 years (-ish?) apart from the last time I watched it (thank you Mr. Straczynski and HBO 😎) and all I could think of is "I need more B5 memes".

Here goes a post to try to convince you of watching it.

Through this rewatch, there were many laughs and some tears.

I NEED to find nice Z'ha'dum memes or at least a fun compilation of all the times everybody said "Do not go to Z'ha'dum" to #Sheridan.

Must say I loved the scripts' consistency, quite remarkable! The overall care for the characters' arc and layers 👌🏼 And the guest writers (cheff kiss). I mean; Neil Gaiman's ep? Absolutely stunning 😁

Guest stars were fun to catch too.

Londo battling bugs is me battling bugs at home. Exact same exaggeration 🤭😂 Great Maker !!

It got a little "too military" for me at some points but I truly watched it for the philosophic/religious/comic/life-centric tone and the non-human centric approach. I always got a nice sense of diversity and (linguistic / gender) representation from this series, even the first time I watched it many years ago. -Within the boundaries of the time and the network- Well done 💟

"Only one human captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your life, BE somewhere else!". (Delenn).

RIP Mira Furlan, what a great actress she was. And what a life. Many B5 actors and actresses have gone beyond the rim, sadly, but I really felt Mira's recent passing :(

You can read a bit about Mira's life and what B5 meant to her, here.

What I like about this series is that it tells us a deep story about values, imperfect beings, human and non-human alike. Life is the center value, but in the struggle there is a lot of death, darkness, treasons, wars and horrible deeds conducted by governments or corporations to peoples; or among individuals.

We get some nice ideas on life, death, language, culture, politics, loyalty, religion, philosophy, technology, and social (in)justice.

The future is all around us, waiting in moments of transition to be born in moments of revelation. No one knows the shape of the future or where it will take us. We know only that it is always born in pain. — J. Michael Straczynski.

G'Kar: I believe that when we leave a place, part of it goes with us and part of us remains. Go anywhere in the station when it is quiet, and just listen. After a while, you will hear the echoes of all our conversations, every thought and word we've exchanged. Long after we are gone, our voices will linger in these walls for as long as this place remains. But I will admit that the part of me that is going will very much miss the part of you that is staying. — J. Michael Straczynski

We get to know some very interesting characters, like Zathras. No-one listens to poor Zathras, but us the viewers get a privileged view-point 🤭😁 I think Zathras must be one of the most beloved side charcters of B5.

We got reintroduced to one sci-fi actor we already knew from Trek. In this case, a nice, complex and cold psi-villain👨🏻‍✈️

A final note on Straczynski, Michael O' Hare and mental health struggles >> here. RIP Michael.

Hoped you liked this post and that you consider watching it 😄😁

[brightlotusmoon]

Anyway, in the middle of the 1990s 'Babylon 5' predicted the end of the 2010s

Delenn:

The universe puts us into places where we can learn. They are never easy places, but they are right. Wherever we are is the right place and the right time.

The molecules of your body are the same molecules that make this station and the nebula outside, that burn inside the stars themselves. We are star-stuff. We are the Universe, made manifest, trying to figure itself out. And, as we have both learned, sometimes the Universe needs a change of perspective.

We believe that the Universe itself is conscious in a way we can never truly understand. It is engaged in a search for meaning, so it breaks itself apart, investing its own consciousness in every form of life. We are the Universe, trying to explain itself.

All life is transitory, a dream. We all come together in the same place, at the end of time. If I don't see you again here, I will see you in a little while, in a place where no shadows fall.

Also Delenn: "Only one human captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari Fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else!"

("I have served the Council for 16 cycles. I was the chosen of Dukhat to replace hiim. I held him when he died. His blood is on my hands, his spirit in my eyes, his word on my lips. You will step aside in his name and mine or, in Valen's name, I will tear this ship apart until I find them!"

"Three years. For three years I warned you this day was coming. But you would not listen. Pride, you said, presumption. And now the Shadows are on the move. The Centauri and the younger worlds are at war, the Narns have fallen. Even the Humans are fighting one another. The pride was yours, the presumption was yours. For a thousand years we have been awaiting for fulfilment of prophecy, and when it finally happens, you scorn it, you reject it. Because you no longer believe it yourselves. 'We stand between the candle and the star, between the darkness and the light.' You say the words, but your hearts are empty, your ears closed to the truth. You stand for nothing but your own petty interests. 'Problems of others are not our concern.' I do not blame you for standing silent in your shame. You, who knew what was coming, but refused to take up the burden of this war. If the warrior caste will not fight, then the rest of us will. If the Council has lost its way, if it will not lead, if we have abandoned our covenant with Valen, the Council should be broken, as was prophecied. We must stand with the others now, before it's too late. Between the worker caste and the religious caste we control two thirds of our forces. Do you, I say, listen to the voice of your conscience? Break the Council, and come with we. Our time of isolation is over. We move now, together, or not at all.")

[puck1919]

Ten Female Characters Meme

LIST YOUR 10 FAVOURITE FEMALE CHARACTERS FROM 10 FANDOMS, AND TAG 10 PEOPLE

Tagged by @jonquilclegane

(I'm bad at picking favorites and ranking things, but I've sure got a list of ten characters!) ^_^;

---

Disney Animated Canon - Belle

One of my first favorite characters, really.

---

MCU - Agent Peggy Carter

Did I agree, artistically, with Steve's ending in Endgame? No. But does my enjoyment of the ship override my writing sensibilities? ...Also, no. Peggy deserved better.

---

Fullmetal Alchemist/Brotherhood - Izumi Curtis

I mean, what can I say about the character writing in FMA/FMAB that hasn't already been said? Izumi is a fantastically complex mentor character, and a banner example of how you can write someone who is badass and soft at the same time.

---

Star Wars - General Leia Organa-Solo, Princess of Alderaan

Leia is the Mal'ary'ush. I could read Tumblr meta about her and her journey as a Jedi and a politician all day.

---

Babylon 5 - Ambassador Delenn

(Relevant dialogue:)

Delenn: This is Ambassador Delenn of the Minbari. Babylon 5 is under our protection. Withdraw or be destroyed! Earth Force Officer: Negative! We have authority here. Do not force us to engage your ship. Delenn: Why not? Only one human captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari Fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else!

Ambassador Delenn was a huge influence on how I write Sigyn, if you couldn't tell. Graceful, intelligent, more likely to use manipulation and soft power than threat of force but 100% will wreck your shit if you press her, and eventually turns every man around her into a simp. XD

---

Pirates of the Caribbean - King Elizabeth Swann-Turner

Another one where, really, what can I say that hasn't already been said? I will say, though, that I am more likely to watch At World's End than Pirates 1 if I want to watch one of the Pirates movies.

---

Kim Possible - Kim Possible

One of my first OCs was based on her character. I still work with the OC, but there's been some significant drift between Kim and the OC.

---

American Girl - Samantha Parkington

In the Ambassador Delenn/Princess Leia category of "Ladies do not start fights, but they can finish them". Slight handicap in that she's 10, but eventually, one gets over that.

---

The Legends of Tortall - Lady Kelandry of Mindelan

(Book only character, so using popular fancast of Gwendoline Christie as a face claim)

Tamora Pierce is an excellent writer of women characters, but Kel was the protagonist that I found myself most attached to, surprisingly. Physically, I'm much more like Alanna, and I tend to gravitate towards characters with cool powers, but I love the story of the Protector of the Small quartet the most, and Lady Knight is one of my frequent rereads.

---

A Series of Unfortunate Events - Violet Baudelaire

Checks very many boxes for me - Smart? Yes. Adventurous? Yes. Takes matters into her own hands when she must? Absolutely.

---

Tagging: @goodliest, anyone else who wants it! ^_^;

[ellsey]

I’ve been rewatching Babylon 5 on HBO Max, and I’m all in my feels about this show right now. I want to do proper rewatch posts, but I may do Elementary too. And Remember WENN. Idk. 

Anyway a few B5 thoughts:

The 1st season is...rough. Even knowing what’s going to happen. Although it definitely improves towards the end as they get heavier within the mythology and overarching storyline for the show

Bruce Boxleitner is still a hottie idc

I mean look at that face y’all

They did an amazing job making Londo someone you both hate and love

But really Vir holds the key to my heart

He’s so precious

I kind of wanted G’kar to beat up Londo though for real

I hate when Garabaldi is possessed by Bester or whatever last half of season 4

Definitely missed Ivanova in season 5

Speaking of season 5, I kind of hate Byron. I mean...he basically started a telepath sex cult. Which sounds more exciting than it was.

But props to Lyta for getting it

Ed Wasser doesn’t get enough credit for how amazing an actor he was

Seriously Morden was deliciously evil

I love Delenn with all my heart, but she kind of wanted to have her cake and eat it too with regard to Sheridan and Lennier. I mean, it was obvious Lennier was in love with her. A smart cookie like Delenn had to know. I kind of think Delenn liked the admiration and devotion of Lennier, but she was clearly in love with Sheridan and liked being part of the interstellar super couple.

But also...Lennier honey...look at your life, look at your choices

Let’s go back to Delenn. Like, I’m 100% positive she came out of her cocoon, read a book about being human, read about human dating, and immediately eyed Sheridan as the most attractive human around. 

Honestly same Delenn

Nothing in television will ever be more baller than Delenn rolling up in “Severed Dreams” and giving that speech. 

“Only one human captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else.”

I would have married her too after that.

Oh man, I almost forgot my second most baller moment of the show: making Sheridan’s first kiss with Delenn her 1000000000th or whatever because she was future Delenn. 

[roseglass]

I just watched this episode two days ago and it’s still one of my favorite hours of tv *ever*, over 20 years later.

I’ve been trying to think of some way to tell you how much what you did means to me. And, well, ‘thank you’ seems poor and inadequate.

[cuddlewumpus]

My favorite quote from Babylon 5:

"Only one human captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari Fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else!"

Absolutely badass!

[gabolange]

Babylon 5!

For the favorite character meme!

Delenn. I was introduced to the show out of order (deliberately) and the very first episode I saw was “Severed Dreams.” And so the thing that hooked me on the show, on the character, on John and Delenn as a ship, on all of it was: “Only one human captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else.”

And then of course I watched the rest of it. Delenn’s courage always astonishes me. She chooses to undergo the chrysalis despite not knowing the outcome. She defends Babylon 5 at great cost to herself and her people. She takes on the Grey Council in the name of protecting what is right, she takes on xenophobia among her own people and challenges their assumptions, she takes on the risk that she might die in so many ways. She is a seasoned commander and a brilliant ambassador and so completely funny. She falls in love with someone who she knows she will outlive, and then marries him anyway. She faces a new dawn alone with so much resolve. She is Entil’zha. 

Delenn is one of my forever favorites, one of those characters I met when I was young enough to be awed by and learn from her strength. She’s the best.

[stardustinthesky]

ONLY ONE HUMAN CAPTAIN HAS EVER SURVIVED BATTLE WITH THE MINBARI FLEET. HE IS BEHIND ME. YOU ARE IN FRONT OF ME. IF YOU VALUE YOUR LIVES BE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THIS IS AMBASSADOR DELENN OF THE MINBARI. BABYLON 5 IS UNDER OUR PROTECTION. WITHDRAW OR BE DESTROYED.

[st-just]

Only one human captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else.

Delenn

[firefaerie81]

Delenn

Gah, I still need to finish B5.

First impression: Hm, she seems mysterious.

Impression now: She’s my second favorite after Susan.  She’s the kind of character who manages to be a total badass without throwing a single punch, and she’s also wise and compassionate.

Favorite moment: “Only one human captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari Fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else!”

Idea for a story: ???

Unpopular opinion: ???

Favorite relationship: Sheridan and Lennier are easy choices, but I just really loved that one episode where Delenn asks Susan for help with her hair, and they just basically have a spa day.

Favorite headcanon: ???

[poetponyofmidgard]

“...Only one human captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari Fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else!” ~Delenn #babylon5 #severeddreams

[onetwistedmiracle]

"Only one human captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari Fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else!"

I am Grey. I stand between the candle and the star. We are Grey. We stand between the darkness and the light.

"We are all born as molecules in the hearts of a billion stars, molecules that do not understand politics, policies or differences. Over a billion years, we foolish molecules forget who we are and where we came from. In desperate acts of ego, we give ourselves names, fight over lines on maps and pretend that our light is better than everyone else's. The flame reminds us of the piece of those stars that lives on inside us, the spark that tells us, "You should know better". The flame also reminds us that life is precious, as each flame is unique. When it goes out, it's gone forever, and there will never be another quite like it. So many candles will go out tonight, I wonder some days if we can see anything at all."

"All life is transitory. A dream. We all come together in the same place at the end of time. If I don't see you again here, I will see you in a little while, in the place where no shadows fall."

Capt. John Sheridan : I wish I had your faith in the universe. I just don't see it sometimes.

Delenn : Then I will tell you a great secret, Captain. Perhaps the greatest of all time. The molecules of your body are the same molecules that make up this station, and the nebula outside, that burn inside the stars themselves. We are starstuff. We are the universe made manifest, trying to figure itself out. And as we have both learned, sometimes the universe requires a change of perspective.

"The universe puts us into places where we can learn. They are never easy places, but they are right. Wherever we are is the right place and the right time. The pain that sometimes comes is part of the process of constantly being born."

[gen-the-witch]

"Why not? Only one human Captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari fleet. He is behind me. You, are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else."

THIS IS AMBASSADOR DELENN OF THE MINBARI. BABYLON 5 IS UNDER OUR PROTECTION. WITHDRAW OR BE DESTROYED.