Babylon 5 Chronology

GROPOS. Buffer served in the Corps for 25 years before being killed in the 2258 Mars Rebellion.

John Sheridan begins to argue over principles with his father David until they both agree to accept their differences. But all through their disagreements, they never stop talking and John never stops loving his father.

Conjecture, from GROPOS.

Birth of Talia Winters.

Conjecture, from Divided Loyalties.

Birth of David Williams in Paterson New Jersey.

Crusade:Each Night I Dream Of Home. Williams is 32 years old.

After leaving Jesuit School, Jeffrey Sinclair begins working in construction.

Elizabeth Lochley having left home to escape her alcoholic father, lives with her friend Zoe in an apartment in a burned out hotel. Between having a good time the two were always cold, hungry, sick and had to do things to survive. Lizzy would tell Zoe her over use of drugs would kill her. Unable to carry on, Zoe takes an overdose and dies, choking on her own vomit. Lizzy returns to the apartment and finds Zoe’s body on the bathroom floor with cockroaches all over her Upset and scared she calls her mother and 10 hours later, her father turns up with half a dozen off duty Marines from his platoon to take her back. In spite of everything her father had done, she was pleased to see him. She stops using drugs and begins to sort out her life.

Day Of The Dead. The Wheel Of Fire establishes her father was an alcoholic.

John Sheridan visits Tibet to see the installation of the new Dalai Lama. When the ceremony is over they sit down to a simple meal of rice, steamed vegetables, fruits and green tea. After they finish, the Dalai Lama asks him "Do you understand?" Sheridan is not sure what he means, the Dalai Lama says "A good beginning.You'll be even better when you understand what you don't understand".

Points Of Departure. Sheridan was 21 when he went to Tibet.

John Sheridan decides to join EarthForce, feeling he wants to serve something bigger than himself, and make a difference somehow and somewhere. He has trouble sleeping while preparing for the academy, and his father David hears him moving about his room. Knowing the sound of rainfall will help his son sleep, David quietly slips outside and turns the hose on John's roof until he finally falls asleep.

The Coming Of Shadows and Messages From Earth.

John Sheridan passes his exams and enters the academy. The first lesson he learns is that a lack of information can kill you. One of his tutors is Robert Lefcourt.

The Deconstruction Of Falling Stars. Sheridan joined EarthForce after the Dilgar Invasion and his brief involvment with Buddhism. Matters Of Honor reveals the first lesson he learned at the academy. Endgame establishes Lefcourt as one of his tutors.

Cadet John Sheridan is assigned to the 54th North American Unit. He and the other cadets call the Squad Sargeant "Sargeant Slaughter". He is the toughest, meanest Drill Instructor they ever saw. Sargeant Slaughter washed his own socks every morning and he would tell his cadets "I’m gonna live forever you know why? Because I never leave the barracks unless I know I’ve got something to do when I get back. The only kinda man that gets killed is the man who is done doing whatever it is he’s doing, and I know I’m gonna come back alive ‘cos I got socks to wash. Any of you maggots got a problem with that?". The cadets give him a loud and clear "No". The next morning at reveille, the cadets come up with a big ceremony where they all take a vow that for as long as they were in uniform, they would wash their own socks every morning. It is the first time they see Sargeant Slaughter actually smile.

Elizabeth Lochley joins the EarthForce academy.

Conjecture, from Strange Relations and Day Of The Dead.

After studying the selection criteria Director Johnston uses for his personal telepaths, Psi Cop Alfred Bester begins conditioning likely candidates to respond only to his orders when the time comes for Bester to assassinate him.

Deadly Relations:Bester Ascendant. Bester has been conditioning candidates for 20 years.

Psi Corps finally catch up with Sofie Ivanova on her 35th birthday. As a telepath, she is given the choice of joining the Corps, imprisonment or taking sleepers. Sofie elects for the sleepers. For the next 10 years she receives a weekly injection from Psi Corps technicians, slowly destroying her spirit. To hide their daughter Susan's latent abilities, Andrei and Sofie move her from school to school to keep one step ahead of the Corps and she is educated abroad. Susan is constantly reminded to tell no one of her ability.

Midnight On The Firing Line and Legacies. Ivanova describes what happened when the Corps caught up with her mother. In Divided Loyalties, she reveals the lengths her parents went to hide her from the Corps.

Jeffrey Sinclair enlists in EarthForce Defence. While at the academy, he discovers the works of Alfred, Lord Tennyson. The poem Ulysses becomes a personal favourite of his.

And The Sky Full Of Stars. Knight Two details Sinclair's enlistment.

The Parliament Of Dreams establishes Sinclair's liking of Tennyson.

During the miners strike on Ganymede, the father of Neeoma Connally is shot. His death makes Neeoma dedicate her life to protecting workers rights.

Stephen Franklin takes his first trip in a transport on the Moon-Mars run. Whilst aboard the transport, one of his friends is fooling around in an airlock when he accidentally opens the spacedoor and is killed. Franklin is powerless to help, watching his friend floating around the transport looking like a puppet with it's strings all tangled up. When they recover his body, Franklin sees the frozen look in his friend's eyes and never forgets it. Afterwards, he never finds spacing jokes funny.

And Now For A Word. Franklin made this trip when he was 17.

At the academy Captain Edward MacDougan poses moral conflicts for his students, among them John Sheridan, as part of their training. He does this saying soldiers aren't machines they have to think, to decide whether an order is moral or not.

No Surrender, No Retreat. Sheridan reminds MacDougan about his academy lessons.

Expected to join the military like his father and grandfather, Stephen Franklin tells his father Richard he is going to study to be a doctor. He is unhappy about his son’s career choice, but he tells him "We have to go our own ways".

Stephen Franklin begins studying for his medical degree at Harvard University. He tells his tutor in alien history, anatomy and culture Dr Vance Hendricks, he wants his name to go down in history. Franklin becomes a favourite pupil of his.

Conjecture, assumes Franklin went to Harvard this year. Infection, Hendricks reminds Franklin of his desire to be famous.

Birth of Galen, the child of two techno-mages.

The Passing Of The Techno-mages:Casting Shadows. Galen was 21 when he was initiated into the ranks of the techno-mages.

Birth of Isabelle, daughter of techno-mage Burell and a non mage.

February. Luis Santiago is voted in as President of the Earth Alliance.

Midnight On The Firing Line. Santiago has served two terms of office before winning his third in February 2258.

Young Talia Winters is taken in by the Psi Corps. On her first day at the centre she cries all the time until an older telepath, Abby, gently scans her mind creating a safe and warm place there.

Spider In The Web. Talia was 5 years old when the Corps took her in.

Andrei Ivanov tells his daughter Susan about the Hour of the Wolf. He tells her it’s the time between three and four in the morning when you cannot sleep, and all you can see are the troubles and problems and the way your life would have gone, but didn’t. In times like these, Andrei would take a large glass of vodka to keep the Wolf away, and then he would take three very small glasses of vodka just in case the Wolf had cubs.

Conjecture, from The Hour Of The Wolf.

Neroon of the Star Riders clan of the Minbari Warrior Caste, begins serving aboard the Ingata under Shai Alyt Branmer.

Legacies. Neroon had served under Branmer for over 15 years.

On a field trip as part of his studies, Stephen Franklin visits the San Diego nuclear wasteland.

Conjecture, from The Fall Of Centauri Prime.

EarthForce cyber experiments culminate with Project Lazarus. Having failed in their efforts to hardwire computers into healthy minds, EarthForce scientists decide to use subjects on the verge of death. Accident victims, wounded soldiers and coma victims have their brains hard wired with a computer intelligence, whilst a deep telepathic scan focusses the subject on the moment of death. The computer takes control while the individual repeatedly dies subconsciously, and is left devoid of conscious thought. The experiments are later abandoned.

Spider In The Web. Sheridan says the project files he has are 20 years old.

Tuesday April 15th. Birth of Jonathan Harris in Tuscon Arizona. Later in life he becomes psychologically disturbed and develops a multiple personality.

The Corps Is Mother,The Corps Is Father. From Harris’ computer biographical display.

Londo Mollari enters an arranged marriage with Timov, the daughter of Algul.

Soul Mates. Londo and Timov have been married for 20 years.

John Sheridan graduates the academy. He feels ten feet tall when he puts his EarthForce uniform on for the first time.

John Sheridan and Elizabeth Lochley meet fresh out of Officer Training School. They hit it off, fall crazy in love and get married. But after 3 months of arguments that could peel paint off the wall, they realise what a terrible mistake they’d made, fall crazy out of love and divorce.

John Sheridan is assigned to the Moon-Mars patrol under Captain Jack Maynard. He thinks Jack knows everything, and Jack gives Sheridan the nickname "Swamp Rat". He also teaches Sheridan an old Egyptian blessing; "God be between you and harm in all the empty places where you must walk". Sheridan tells Jack that he wants to command and Explorer class ship one day.

Elizabeth Lochley’s commanding officer tells her the worst thing she can say, when someone asks why you took a job is, "Because a friend asked you to".

A Tragedy Of Telepaths.

After completing his training at AirDome, Jeffrey Sinclair becomes a fighter pilot.

And The Sky Full Of Stars. Knight Two details Sinclair's enlistment. AirDome is established as the pilot training facility in Eyes.

Stephen Franklin studies under Dr Everett Jacobs, who helps him when he has trouble with Xenobiogenics. He also tutors Franklin in first aid, marking him 3.7. Between classes, Jacobs would tell stories of all the things he saw on his travels. Years later, Franklin would credit Jacobs help for getting him through to his graduation.

Hunter, Prey. Franklin studied under Jacobs for 2 years.

Jeffrey Sinclair is promoted to Squadron Leader.

And The Sky Full Of Stars. Sinclair was promoted less than a year after becoming a pilot.

Michael Garibaldi is assigned as a security officer to the ice mining operation on Europa working with fellow officer Tafiq Azir, who later leaves and becomes a private Security consultant. Corruption is rife at the facility, half the staff are taking bribes while the other half couldn't care less. Being the only officer trying to do his job properly, Garibaldi comes under a lot of pressure from people around him and as a consequence begins drinking heavily. All that changes when he meets Frank Kemmer, a pilot on the Jovian moon run. The two become friends, Frank helps Garibaldi to sober up and he is soon welcomed into the Kemmer family. Frank's daughter Lianna calls him "Uncle Mike". When Garibaldi is close to exposing the racketeering on Europa, the criminals rig the shuttle pad to explode, killing Frank. Garibaldi is framed for the explosion, he is found negligent and blackballed through out the system. After telling Frank's family the truth, he starts drinking heavily again.

Survivors. Frank's death was 17 years ago. Garibaldi catches up with Tafiq in The Ragged Edge.

Catherine Sakai enters the academy.

To Dream In The City Of Sorrows. Assumes Catherine entered when she was 17.

Leo Rosen becomes convinced his brother Alex is having an affair with his wife Sheila, in spite of his brother’s denials.

Thirdspace. Leo first accused his brother 20 years ago.

Lieutenant John Sheridan signs aboard the E.A.S. Lexington under Captain Sterns.

Conjecture, from In The Beginning.

Michael Garibaldi goes to work security at Fortune City. Breaking up a drunken fight he hits boxer Walker Smith with a shock stick, knocking him out. When he comes to, they becomes friends with each other.

Conjecture, from TKO.

Stephen Franklin graduates Harvard University. Unwilling to go home because of the pressures there and inspired by the stories of Dr Everett Jacobs, he starts hitchhiking, trading his services as ship's doctor for passage rather than serve a long internship. During his voyages he visits Markab, picking up a taste for a fruit drink called Orcha. He befriends Markab physician Lazarenn, who observed that Franklin believed everything was a test to be passed and a puzzle to be solved.

And The Sky Full Of Stars and Hunter, Prey. Franklin was 22 when he began hitchhiking. Shadow Dancing establishes he didn't serve an internship and his problems at home. GROPOS establishes his liking for Orcha. Confessions And Lamentations, Franklin and Lazarenn's friendship goes back to his hitchhiking days.

Londo Mollari has a dream about his own death. In it he is an old man and both he and a one eyed Narn are throttling each other.

The Very Long Night Of Londo Mollari. Londo first dreamt of his death 20 years ago.

Leo Rosen’s accusation about his brother Alex having an affair with his wife finally drives Sheila away. The family side with Alex and Leo is made to look a fool. The two brothers don’t speak again until 2261.

Thirdspace. The two haven’t spoken in nearly two decades.

February. Elizabeth Levy becomes the President of the Earth Alliance.

Conjecture, from In The Beginning and Chrysalis. The Presidential term of office is 5 years.

On Beta Durani, Stephen Franklin comes to the aid of survivors from a crashed Minbari ship, doing all that he can to save them. Ultimately they all died but Franklin was able to make notes on their language, DNA, physiology and some aspects of their culture.

In The Beginning. Franklin aided the Minbari while he was hitchhiking.

Squadron Leader Jeffrey Sinclair is assigned to train academy pilots at AirDome. He meets cadet Catherine Sakai and literally takes her breath away when he executes a hairpin backwards loop followed by a spinning barrel roll. After nearly blacking out from Sinclair's manoeuvering, she angrily accuses him of being a dangerous show off. Sinclair tells her she wouldn't cut it as a pilot and was close to insubordination. They soon realise it is love at first sight. Living together, Catherine becomes acquainted with Sinclair's other love, Tennyson.

To Dream In The City Of Sorrows details their first meeting. The Parliament Of Dreams establishes Catherine's acquaintance with Tennyson.

Wednesday May 9th. Birth of Elysha Demeter, daughter of John Demeter.

Racing Mars. Captain Jack's daughter was 18 2 days ago.

Dr Robert Bryson, a palynologist archaeologist and cultural anthropologist becomes fascinated by the search for eternal life. For the next 20 years, he is obsessesd with trying to find a way to extend human life spans beyond the 110-115 years current medicine can give to people. His pursuit of this goal takes him all over the galaxy. Working with alien races who have longer life spans than humans, he learns of various references to Soul Hunters in their cultures.

River Of Souls. From Bryson’s comments it would appear that he at some point in his search, learned of Soul Hunters eventually leading him to one of their archives.

Susan Ivanova becomes obsessed with radical Neo Communist author Kushoyev. After whining and pouting with her father Andrei, who thought Kushoyev's work would destroy Russian culture, he relents and takes up an invite to attend on of his readings with Susan. After the reading is over, Andrei and Susan attend a question and answer session where she asks her idol a question she spent days working on. Kushoyev says the question is the most foolish thing he had ever heard and had no intention of bandying words with a bourgeois little twit barely out of diapers. She is crushed by this. Andrei stands up and says his daughter is neither a bourgeois or a twit and had been out of diapers for many years, and his writing had yet to rise above the contents of said garments. He adds that were he not a man of peace, he would horsewhip Kushoyev through the streets of St Petersburgh, something his father should have done years ago.

Susan is mortified, but feels better when Andrei takes her hand and says "It was a good question, Dushenka".

TKO. Susan was 13 at the time of this incident.

Amanda Carter, granddaughter of famed Mars Colony ship pilot John Carter, falls in love with Abel Horn, a member of the Free Mars movement. Amanda is introduced to Free Mars because of her strong support for Mars independence.

Spider in The Web. Amanda fell in love with Abel 15 years ago.

After living together for a year, Catherine Sakai and Jeffrey Sinclair 's relationship ends.

Saturday July 12th. Alisa Beldon is born in Los Angeles Incorporated to Eliot and Esperanza Beldon.

Legacies. From Alisa's computer biographical display.

The Vorlon Empire covertly contact Dukhat, the leader of the Minbari Grey Council. They tell him that they will need allies for the coming war against the Shadows predicted by Valen and instruct him to seek out a race called Humans.

The Minbari learn that the Centauri have had dealings with humans for a number of years. The issue of contacting the humans is one that vexes Dukhat and the Grey Council,they are described as primitive, passionate and dangerous. Dukhat favours contact them while the Council say no. The Worker Caste fear their position will be weakened by new sources of food and "alien" artefacts, the Religious Caste are worried about the impact of strange primitive ideas and the Warrior Caste say not to have anything to do with a violent inferior race as they are a waste of time and resources. Dukhat takes Delenn into the Council chamber and in front of those assembled, he asks her opinion on the issue. She quotes the wisdom of Valen, justifying the need to contact the humans. Dukhat vilifies the Council for not showing the curiosity of a simple acolyte. After the meeting he chooses Delenn to be his aide. She begins an investigation into the human race.

Dukhat tells Delenn "If you can create sufficient fear in your enemies you might not have to fight them. Always remember terror is also a form of communication".

The Caste Elders refusal of more support for Lenonn and the Anla'shok forces him to exercise his right to meet with the Grey Council. Putting his case to Dukhat and the Council, Lenonn says the Anla'shok are not ready for the coming war with the Shadows prophesied by Valen. They need more money, resources and people. The remaining Anla'shok are few in number, growing old and tired of the watching and waiting, weary of the mockery from members of the Council, especially the Warrior Caste who feel they are an embarrasement. Lenonn suggests contacting the Vorlons, but Coplann says the Vorlons are aware of the prophecy. Standing in for Satai Kodroni, Delenn suggests an expedition to Z'ha'dum to see if the Shadows have returned. Coplann says to send an expedition would cause undue panic. The Warrior Caste have sent ships there, finding the space around Z'ha'dum mined with traps and ancient defence systems, and other races claiming the planet as their own. His reluctance prompts Dukhat to suggest the entire Council go to Z'ha'dum to investigate. Taking only a few support vessels and stopping off at outposts on the way to keep the mission secret, so as to avoid panic before making the final jump. Returning to his sanctum Dukhat tells Kosh, the Vorlon waiting there, "Now it starts". Before the Grey Council begin their journey to the Rim, Dukhat leaves a message with Kosh to be played to Delenn after his death, saying that when the darkness comes they will need many allies and urges her to seek out and contact the humans.

Author's note:Delenn and Coplann’s comments imply that not all the Shadows were on Z'ha'dum. As the crew of the Icarus woke them, this suggests the Shadows they encountered, already out of hibernation, were not the entire Shadow race. The further implication is that some of them were based on other worlds and returned after the revival of others of their kind.

July. The Executive Officer on the E.A.S. Prometheus is transferred to the E.A.S. Churchill.

The President of the Earth Alliance and half of General Robert Lefcourt's staff go down with a flu virus.

David Sheridan beats General Lefcourt in a poker game, winning forty credits. Lefcourt doesn't pay up straight away and is convinced David was cheating.

In The Beginning. Sheridan reminds Lefcourt he still owes his father the money.

A mission to the edge of Minbari space is authorised to see if they represent a threat to Earth Alliance plans to expand their sphere of influence. Leading the fleet will be Captain Jankowski and the E.A.S. Prometheus. Londo Mollari, the liason to the Centauri delegation, is called into a meeting with an EarthGov Senator and General Lefcourt to learn what the Centauri know about the Minbari. Londo tells them they have had no contact in years, but when the Republic was expanding, they avoided confronting them. He recommends sending one ship to the Minbari border, any more could be perceived as a threat and the ships would not return. In order to avoid a confrontation, Lefcourt and the Senator ask for the locations of the Minbari military forces, and Londo reluctantly agrees to obtain the information for them.

Lieutenant Commander John Sheridan is called into General Lefcourt's office and offered the post of Executive Officer on the Prometheus. Sheridan refuses the offer because he feels Captain Jankowski is not the ideal choice for first contact situations, and because of the Omega incident, would not want to go against the orders of his senior officer.

On the day of Delenn's investiture to the Grey Council, a transport docks with their cruiser while in hyperspace. She asks the Captain about his cargo and learns it is enviromental support equipment. Dukhat's appearance stops her questions, but Delenn lets him know she suspects the equipment is being supplied to provide for an alternate atmosphere.