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After a bit of a holiday last issue,Dave Handy returns qwith his excellent update of the T.V. sci-fi scene. STAR TREK:DEEP SPACE NINE / STAR TREK VOYAGER / BABYLON 5 ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ BY DAVE HANDY EDITED BY BUN HELLO AND WELCOME TO THIS SECOND EDITION OF STAR TREK AND BABYLON 5 NEWS SO FAR THIS YEAR, DEEP SPACE NINE HAS STARTED ITS FOURTH SEASON, STAR TREK VOYAGER IS INTO ITS SECOND SEASON AND BABYLON 5 IS INTO ITS THIRD SEASON OF J M STRACZYNSKI'S FIVE-YEAR ARC. WITHOUT WASTING ANY TIME LETS GET ON WITH THE NEWS. STAR TREK:DEEP SPACE NINE ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ SEASON FOUR ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ TO DATE, NINE EPISODES OF SEASON 4 HAVE BEEN MADE AND SHOWN IN THE STATES. THE SEASONS OPENER, 'WAY OF THE WARRIOR', IS BEING RELEASED ON VIDEO IN THE UK ON FEBRUARY 26th ( FURTHER DATES TO FOLLOW ) EPISODE ONE - 'WAY OF THE WARRIOR' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ THE KLINGONS BELIEVE THAT THE DOMINION, LED BY THE CHANGELING FOUNDERS , HAVE TAKEN OVER THE CARDASSIAN GOVERNMENT AND LAUNCH AN ALL-OUT ATTACK ON CARDASSIA. AS THE FEDERATION AND KLINGON EMPIRE PEACE TREATIES BEGIN TO DECAY, SISKO FINDS DEEP SPACE NINE STRANDED TOO CLOSE TO WHAT IS ON THE VERGE OF BECOMING A WAR ZONE AND ENLISTS THE AID OF STARFLEET'S ONLY SERVING KLINGON, WORF ( FROM THE DECOMMISSIONED ENTERPRISE ), TO SERVE AS MEDIATOR. USING THE DEFIANT, SISKO MOUNTS A RESCUE OF THE CARDASSIAN GOVERNMENT TO SHOW GOWRON THAT THE KLINGONS ARE IN ERROR, BUT KLINGON HONOUR HAS A WAY OF IGNORING THE TRUTH WHEN IT MIGHT LEAD TO EMBARRASSMENT. EPISODE TWO - 'THE VISITOR' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ AN AGED JAKE SISKO RELATES THE STORY OF HIS LIFE TO AN ASPIRING WRITER AND TELLS HOW HIS FATHER DIED IN AN ACCIDENT ABOARD THE DEFIANT WHEN JAKE WAS ONLY EIGHTEEN. THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE, JAKE HAS BEEN REVISITED BY HIS FATHER, TRAPPED IN A MOMENT OF TIME AND HAS DEVOTED HIS LIFE TO TRYING NEW WAYS OF BRINGING BENJAMIN SISKO HOME. EPISODE THREE - 'HIPPOCRATIC OATH' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ WORF BECOMES DETERMINED TO STOP QUARK FROM CARRING OUT CRIMINAL ACTS ABOARD THE STATION, ESPECIALLY AS ODO SEEMS CONTENT TO IGNORE THE FERENGI'S DEALS. MEANWHILE DOCTOR BASHIR AND CHIEF O'BRIEN ARE TRAPPED IN THE GAMMA QUADRANT ON AN ISOLATED PLANET WITH A GROUP OF JEM'HADAR. GORAN'AGAR, THEIR LEADER, IS FREE OF THE DRUG ADDICTION THAT ENSLAVES THEM TO THE DOMINION AND FORCES BASHIR TO FIND A MEANS TO SIMILARLY FREE HIS TROOPS. EPISODE FOUR - 'INDISCRETION' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ SIX YEARS AGO A CARDASSIAN TROOP CARRIER DISAPPEARED SOMEWHERE IN SPACE, LEAVING THE CREW AND BAJORAN PRISONERS MISSING, PRESUMED DEAD. WHEN A FERENGI SHIP DISCOVERS PART OF THE SHIP IN ORBIT AROUND AN M CLASS PLANET, KIRA MAKES A PERSONAL JOURNEY TO TRY AND FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO A FRIEND OF HERS ABOARD. HOWEVER, THE CARDASSIANS ALSO HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE SHIP AND GUL DUKAT IS ASSIGNED TO JOIN HER. AS THE TWO OLD FOES HAVE TO LEARN TO WORK TOGETHER, KIRA FINDS OUT MORE THAN SHE BARGAINED FOR REGARDING HER FORMER ENEMY. EPISODE FIVE - 'REJOINED' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ A TRILL SCIENTIFIC TEAM ARE INVESTIGATING WAYS OF CREATING ARTIFICIAL WORMHOLES TO USE AS ACCESS TO OTHER QUADRANTS. AMONGST THE TRILLS ASSIGNED TO DS9 IS LENARA KAHN, A HOST TO ONE OF DAX'S PREVIOUS HOSTS' WIVES. AS THEY WORK TOGETHER, THEIR INITIAL NERVOUSNESS GIVES WAY TO REKINDLED MEMORIES AND EMOTIONS, DESPITE THIS BEING TRILL SOCIETY'S MOST HEINOUS CRIME. EPISODE SIX - 'LITTLE GREEN MEN' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ TAKING NOG TO JOIN STARFLEET ACADEMY, ROM AND QUARK ENCOUNTER A PROBLEM IN ORBIT AROUND EARTH. THE ONLY WAY OUT APPEARS TO BE TO DUMP A LOAD OF DECIDEDLY ILLEGAL MERCHANDISE QUARK HAS BROUGHT ALONG FORA DEAL. HOWEVER, IN DOING SO THE SHUTTLE IS THROWN BACK INTO EARTH'S PAST: THE 1950's TO BE PRECISE. THE THREE FERENGI ARE MISTAKEN FOR INVADING MARTIANS BY PARANOID US AIR FORCE PERSONNEL AND WHILE ROM WANTS HIS MOTHER AND NOG TRIES TO REASON THEIR WAY OUT, QUARK SEES AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME EVEN BETTER BUSINESS. LIKE SELLING THE PRE-ATOMIC EARTH SOME 24th CENTURY WEAPONRY. EPISODE SEVEN - 'STARSHIP DOWN' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ TO AVOID A JEM'HADAR ATTACK IN THE GAMMA QUADRANT, THE DEFIANT IS FORCED TO HIDE IN THE UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE OF A PLANET, CAUSING SHIPWIDE DISASTER. KIRA TRIES TO KEEP A BADLY INJURED SISKO CONSCIOUS WHILE WORF ATTEMPTS TO TURN ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS INTO STARFLEET OFFICERS. DAX MEANWHILE IS TRAPPED IN AN ELEVATOR WITH BASHIR, BOTH CONVINCED THEY WILL SOON DIE AND NEEDING TO GET A FEW THINGS OFF THEIR CHESTS. EPISODE EIGHT - 'THE SWORD OF KAHLESS' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ DAX IS ACCOMPANYING HER OLD FRIEND KOR ON HIS QUEST TO FIND THE LEGENDARY SWORD OF KAHLESS. WORF JOINS THEM, BUT ALTHOUGH FINDING THE ARTEFACT IS EASY, IT HAS A BIZARRE EFFECT ON THE TWO KLINGONS. THINGS ARE FURTHER COMPLICATED WHEN AN OLD ENEMY RETURNS TO HAUNT WORF, SEEKING A RETURN TO A GLORY HE BELIEVES TO BE RIGHTFULLY HIS. EPISODE NINE - 'OUR MAN BASHIR' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ GARAK JOINS BASHIR ON THE HOLODECK WHERE THE DOCTOR HAS CONCOCTED A JAMES BOND-STYLE SPY DRAMA. MEANWHILE A TRANSPORTER ACCIDENT CAUSES THE STATIONS COMPUTER TO USE THE HOLO-SUITE AS A HOLDING AREA FOR THE BODY PRINTS OF THE DEFIANT'S CREW. BASHIR REALIZES THAT NOT ONLY ARE THE SAFETY PARAMETERS OFF HE ACTUALLY CANNOT LET ANY HARM COME TO HIS 'ENEMIES' WHO NOW WEAR THE BODIES OF HIS CREW-MATES. LIEUTENANT JADZIA DAX - PROFILE ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ SCIENTIFIC DUTIES ABOARD DEEP SPACE NINE ARE HANDLED BY STARFLEET LIEUTENANT JADZIA DAX. DESPITE THE HUMAN FEMALE APPEARENCE, THE SCIENCE OFFICER IS AN ALIEN BEING KNOWN AS A TRILL - A 'JOINED SPECIES' CONSISTING OF A HOST BODY WHICH CONTAINS A SYMBIOTIC, INVERTEBRATE BEING. ca. 2069 - THE DAX SYMBIONT IS BORN. STARDATE UNKNOWN - DAX HOSTED BY LELA, A MOTHER AND ONE OF THE FIRST WOMEN TRILL LEGISLATORS. STARDATE UNKNOWN - DAX HOSTED BY TOBIN, NERVOUS AND INTROVERTED ENGINEERING WHIZ AND FATHER. STARDATE UNKNOWN - DAX HOSTED BY EMONY, A GYMNAST AND MOTHER. ca. 2220 - APPROXIMATE TIME JADZIA REPORTED DAX LAST HAD A 'REAL ROMANCE'. STARDATE UNKNOWN - DAX HOSTED BY AUDRID, A MOTHER OF AT LEAST TWO AND ONE- TIME HEAD OF THE SYMBIOSIS COMMISSION. ca. 2280-85 - DAX IS HOSTED ( BRIEFLY ) BY SHUTTLE TEST PILOT TORIAS, WHO MARRIES THE JOINED TRILL NILANI KAHN AND DIES IN A SHUTTLE TEST FLIGHT HIS WIFE HAD WARNED HIM AGAINST TAKING. 2285-86 - DAX HOSTED BY THE MALE MUSICIAN JORAN BELAR FOR SIX MONTHS UNTIL THE HOST'S DISCOVERY AS A MURDERER AND HIS DEATH, A FACT COVERED UP BY THE TRILL SYMBIOSIS COMMISSION UNTIL 2371 TO AVOID SCANDEL. 2286-2367 - DAX HOSTED BY HARD-LIVING, WOMANIZING DIPLOMAT CURZON, WHO IS OVER 100 YEARS OLD WHEN HE DIES. HE NEGOTIATES FOR UNITED FEDERATION OF PLANETS WITH THE KLINGONS, WHERE HE MEETS AND BEFRIENDS KOR, KANG AND KOLOTH; HE LAST MEETS THEM IN 2289 OVER BLOOD OATH TO AVENGE THEIR SONS' KILLER. MEDIATES KLAESTRON IV PEACE IN 2339, WHERE HE HAS AN AFFAIR WITH LEADER TANDRO'S WIFE. MEETS SISKO AT PELIOS STATION, BEFRIENDS AND MENTORS HIM FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS. CURZON IS A MEMBER OF THE SYMBIOSIS COMMISSION AND KNOWN AS A 'NIGHTMARE' FIELD DOCENT FOR TRILL INITIATES; HE EXPELS YOUNG JADZIA FROM HOST TRAINING TO MAKE HER WORK HARDER - AND TO AVOID HER LATER REALIZING HE'D HAD A CRUSH ON HER. AT SOME POINT, HE FATHERS A CHILD. 2341 - BIRTH OF TRILL NATIVE AND FUTURE HUMANOID HOST JADZIA; HAS TWO PARENTS, ONE SISTER. PRE-JOINING ACADEMIC DEGREES INCLUDE EXO- BIOLOGY, ZOOLOGY, ASTROPHYSICS AND EXOARCHAEALOGY. SPENDS THREE YEARS AS AN INITIATE. 2367 - JADZIA MAKES HISTORY AS THE ONLY INITIATE WASH-OUT TO COME BACK SUCCESSFULLY WHEN SHE'S JOINED TO THE DAX SYMBIONT. CURZON FINALLY ACCEDES TO HER REQUEST TO SUCCEED HIM, FEELING GUILTY ABOUT HIS INITIAL REJECTION OF HER AND HIS OWN FEELINGS. SHE TAKES UP KLINGON MARTIAL ARTS. 2369 - AS A LIEUTENANT IN STARFLEET, JADZIA DAX IS POSTED TO DEEP SPACE NINE, AND IS REUNITED WITH SISKO. DISCOVERS BAJORAN WORMHOLE TO THE GAMMA QUADRANT. IS ACCUSED OF CURZON'S ALLEGED MURDER OF GENERAL TANDRO, LEADER OF KLAESTRON IV, BY ZEALOUS SON AND FOUND INNOCENT WHEN WIDOW'S AFFAIR WITH CURZON IS REVEALED. 2370 - AIDS IN PUT DOWN OF BAJORAN COUP WITH KIRA AND SISKO. SURVIVES SHORT- LIVED SYMBIONT THEFT BT REJECTED HOST CANDIDATE VERAD. SUPERVISES FIRST INITIATE TRAINEE, ARJIN, AND SURVIVES UNAUTHORISED QUEST WITH KOR AFTER TAKING UP CURZON'S BLOOD OATH WITH KLINGON FRIENDS. 2371 - JADZIA EXPERIENCES NIGHTMARES OF REPRESSED MEMORY , AND UNCOVERS THE SECRET OF DAX'S THEFT BY JORAN SOME YEARS EARLIER ON TRILL. READY TO RESIGN FROM STARFLEET TO JOIN NEW MATE ON DIMENSION-SHIFTING MERIDIAN WORLD BUT REMAINS BEHIND WHEN HER CONVERSION PROCESS WON'T WORK. UNDERGOES TRILL RITE OF CLOSURE - 'ZHIAN'TARA' - TO MEET ALL OF THE PREVIOUS DAX HOSTS. 2372 - PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT COMMANDER. AGAINST TRILL TABOO AND THREATENED EXILE FOR SYMBIONTS WHO 'REASSOCIATE' CONSIDERS REMATING WITH FORMER HOST TORIAS'S WIDOW'S SYMBIONT KAHN IN ITS CURRENT HOST , LENARA - UNTIL SHE SUCCUMBS TO TRILL SOCIAL PRESSURE. SECRETLY HELPS WORF AND KOR IN A QUEST TO DISCOVER THE FABLED SWORD OF KAHLESS. VIDEO RELEASE DATES FOR THE ABOVE EPISODES IN THE UK ARE AS FOLLOWS:- DEEP SPACE NINE : 4.1 FEBRUARY 26th '96 'WAY OF THE WARRIOR' DEEP SPACE NINE : 4.2 MARCH 11th '96 'THE VISITOR / HIPPOCRATIC OATH' DEEP SPACE NINE : 4.3 MARCH 25th '96 'INDESCRETION / REJOINED' DEEP SPACE NINE : 4.4 APRIL 1st '96 'LITTLE GREEN MEN / STARSHIP DOWN' BABYLON 5 NEWS UPDATE ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ THE THIRD SEASON OF BABYLON 5 , WITH ITS CONFIRMED UMBRELLA TITLE 'I AM BECOME DEATH , DESTROYER OF WORLDS' ( SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING KOSH WOULD COME UP WITH ) , WOULD APPEAR TO BE DOING SO WELL IN AMERICA THAT WARNERS ARE CONSIDERING MAKING A B5 MOVIE FOR STRAIGHT TO VIDEO RELEASE. THE FILM WOULD ENTER PRODUCTION AFTER THE THE THIRD SEASON HAS BEEN SHOT, AND THERE IS TALK OF IT BEING RELEASED IN WIDESCREEN FORMAT. IF THE PROJECT COMES OFF,IT WILL BE AN INNOVATIVE NEW DIRECTION FOR SCI-FI TELEVISION. WHILE THE THIRD SEASON IS BEING AIRED IN THE STATES , THERE IS TALK IT WILL BEGIN ON CHANNEL 4 IN THE FIRST HALF OF APRIL. GIVEN CHANNEL 4's AVERSION TO SCREENING BABYLON 5 AT AN ADULT TIME , IT IS LIKELY THAT IT WILL BE GIVEN THE 6 PM SLOT ON SUNDAY'S. THE CURRENT RUNNING ORDER FOR SEASON THREE IS AS FOLLOWS :- 'MATTERS OF HONOUR' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ RANGER MARCUS COLE ARRIVES ON BABYLON 5 AND SEEKS OUT DELENN. SHERIDAN IS GIVEN THE 'WHITE STAR' - A SPACESHIP CONSTRUCTED WITH VORLON AND MINBARI TECHNOLOGY - AND FACES HIS FIRST BATTLE WITH THE SHADOWS , WHILE MORDEN MEETS WITH SOME OTHER ALLIES. 'CONVICTIONS' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ A GROUP OF MONKS ARRIVE ON BABYLON 5 , AND IVANOVA SEEKS THEIR HELP IN TRACKING DOWN A SABATEUR. 'A DAY IN THE STRIFE' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ WHILE THE CENTAURI TRY TO BRING A PUPPET NARN AMBASSADOR TO THE STATION , AN ALIEN PROBE THREATENS BABYLON 5 WITH DESTRUCTION. 'PASSING THROUGH GETHSEMENE' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ KOSH SUMMONS LYTA ALEXANDER BACK TO THE STATION , AND ONE OF THE MONKS DISCOVERS A HIDDEN PAST. 'VOICES OF AUTHORITY' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ MARCUS COLE AND IVANOVA ASK DRAAL'S ASSISTANCE IN CONTACTING MORE OF THE FIRST ONES. 'DUST TO DUST' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ BESTER RETURNS TO BABYLON 5 WHEN AN ADDICTIVE DRUG SWEEPS THROUGH THE STATION. G'KAR DISCOVERS A TERRIBLE TRUTH. 'EXOGENESIS' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ WHILE INVESTIGATING SOME STRANGE OCCURANCES DOWN BELOW , DOCTOR FRANKLIN AND MARCUS COLE UNCOVER AN INVAISION OF PARASITIC ALIENS. 'MESSAGES FROM EARTH' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ BABYLON 5 COMES INTO CONFRONTATION WITH EARTHFORCE WHEN SHERIDAN FINDS OUT A STARTLING TRUTH ABOUT PRESIDENT CLARK , AND THE NIGHTWATCH ATTEMPT TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE STATION. 'POINT OF NO RETURN' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ AS BABYLON 5's COMMAND TEAM BEGINS TO UNRAVEL , THE NIGHTWATCH THREAT BECOMES DESPERATE. PROPHETESS LADY MORELLA GIVES LONDO ANOTHER GLIMPSE OF HIS DESTINY. 'SEVERED DREAMS' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ NO PLOT DETAILS , OTHER THAN THE SITUATION FOR BABYLON 5 CHANGES INEXORABLY. 'CEREMONIES OF LIGHT AND DARK' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ NO PLOT DETAILS , OTHER THAN THIS EPISODE REVEALS SOME OF LENNIER'S PAST. 'A LATE DELIVERY FROM AVALON' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ NO PLOT DETAILS AVAILABLE. 'SIX TRANSIT VIR' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ NO PLOY DETAILS , OTHER THAN THIS CONCENTRATES ON VIR AS HE TAKES HIS LEAVE OF LONDO. 'SHIP OF TEARS' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ BESTERS ROLE IN THE SHADOWS / PSI CORPS ALLIANCE IS REVEALED. 'INTERLUDES AND EXAMINATIONS' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ NO PLOT DETAILS AVAILABLE. 'WAR WITHOUT END' ( PARTS ONE AND TWO ) ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ AN OLD FRIEND RETURNS TO BABYLON 5 : AMBASSADOR SINCLAIR IS BACK , IN- TENDING TO PULL BABYLON 4 THROUGH TIME. LOOKING WAY AHEAD AT THE CONCLUSION TO THE FIVE YEAR ARC , J MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THR FINAL EPISODE WILL BE ENTITLED EITHER 'SLEEPIMG IN LIGHT' OR 'FAREWELL' , AND HE HAS ALREADY PLANNED THE FINAL SCENE. THIS EPISODE CONCLUDES THE FIVE YEAR ARC , AND THERE WILL BE NO BABYLON 6 - ALTHOUGH A SPIN-OFF SERIES COULD POSSIBLY EMERGE FROM A 'SIDE- STORY' THAT RUNS THROUGHOUT THE SERIES. J MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI HAS SAID THAT "IT WON'T BE THE SAME SERIES , OR THE SAME TITLE" - ALTHOUGH HE HAS HINTED THAT SOME OF THE BABYLON 5 CHARACTERS MAY BE INVOLVED. COMMANDER SUSAN IVANOVA - A CHARACTER PROFILE ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ BORN AUGUST 30th , 2230 IN St PETERSBURG , ONE OF THE PRINCIPLE CITIES OF THE RUSSIAN CONSORTIUM OF EARTH , Lt COMMANDER SUSAN IVANOVA WAS ASSIGNED TO BABYLON 5 IN 2258 , REPLACING THE STATIONS FIRST VICE-COMMANDER LAUREL TAKASHIMA WHO WAS REASSIGNED TO THE RIM , THERE TO SUPERVISE THE EARTH- MINBARI BORDER FOR POSSIBLE MILITARY THREATS. IN HER FIRST YEAR ABOARD , SHE CAME UNDER THE COMMAND OF COMMANDER JEFFERY SINCLAIR. WHEN HE WAS LATER REASSIGNED AS AMBASSADOR TO THE MINBARI HOME WORLD , HER NEW COMMANDER , CAPTAIN JOHN SHERIDAN , RECOGNIZING HER CONTINUED EXCELLENCE , PROMOTED HER TO FULL COMMANDER IN 2259. RAISED AS A JEW BY HER PARENTS , ANDREI AND SOFIE , WE LATER LEARN THAT SHE HAD A BROTHER , GANYA , WHO ALSO SERVED IN EARTFORCE , BUT WAS KILLED IN THE EARTH-MINBARI WAR , AND THAT SUSAN ENTERED THE ACADEMY AT THE YOUNGEST ALLOWABLE AGE. ALTHOUGH SHE IS DOING HER BEST TO PUT THE PAST BEHIND HER , SUSAN STILL RESENTS THE MINBARI , HOLDING THEM RESPONSIBLE FOR HER BROTHER'S DEATH. SUSAN'S MOTHER WAS DISCOVERED TO BE TELEPATHIC AND WAS FORCED BY PSI-CORPS TO SUPPRESS HER NATURAL ABILITIES BY MEANS OF WEEKLY 'SLEEPER' INJECTIONS - SINCE SHE WOULD NOT VOLUNTARILY CHOOSE TO JOIN THE ORGANISATION. AFTER TEN YEARS OF THIS MEDICATION , SOFIE TOOK HER OWN LIFE AND AS A RESULT SUSAN HARBOURS A DEEP MISTRUST , NOT TO SAY HATRED , OF THE PSI-CORPS. SUSAN IS HOWEVER DEEPLY COMMITTED TO HER JOB AND HER SKILLS AS A PILOT ARE WELL KNOWN. SHE PREVIOUSLY SERVED WITH CAPTAIN SHERIDAN AT THE TRANSFER POINT OFF IO AND THEY SHARE A MUTURAL RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER'S ABILITIES. SHERIDAN IS ALSO A CAREER MILITARY OFFICER WHO HAD NOT SOUGHT THE BABYLON 5 POSITION , PREFERRING INSTEAD TO CAPTAIN A STARSHIP. HOWEVER , SINCE COMING ABOARD , HE HAS HAD TO ADJUST TO THE FINE ARTS OF DIPLOMACY AND HAS DECIDED THAT SUSAN SHOULD SHARE THIS WORK WITH HIM. SHE IS A HIGHLY INTELLIGENT DEDICATED CAREER MILITARY OFFICER AND SEES HER ASSIGNMENT TO THE STATION AS A NATURAL SPRINGBOARD TOWARDS GETTING HER OWN COMMAND ONE DAY. TO DATE , SHE HAS AN EXCELLENT CAREER RECORD WITH NO DISCIPLINARY SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET. PHYSICALLY STRONG AND CAPABLE , SHE IS HOWEVER VERY FORMAL AND A HARD PERSON TO GET TO KNOW , POSSESSING A DRY HUMOUR THAT SOME HAVE TAKEN TO BE SARCASTIC - SHE DOESN'T TELL JOKES , BUT SHE CAN DELIVER A WRY ONE-LINER WITH A DEADPAN EXPRESSION. ON DUTY , SHE IS A DEDICATED PROFESSIONAL , BUT OFF DUTY SHE LIKES NOTHING BETTER THAN TO LET HER HAIR DOWN ( LITERALLY ) AND UNWIND WITH A FEW DRINKS IN THE BAR. ALTHOUGH GARIBALDI IS PROBABLY HER CLOSEST MALE FRIEND ON THE STATION , IT WAS SURPRISING TO SEE A DEEP FRIENDSHIP DEVELOPING BETWEEN HER AND THE PSI- CORPS TELEPATH TALIA WINTERS. AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED , SUSAN DISTRUSTS PSI- CORPS AND WILL NOT VOLUNTARILY SUBMIT TO A TELEPATHIC SCAN. HOWEVER , IN THE LATE SEASON TWO EPISODE 'DIVIDED LOYALTIES' ( WHICH FINALLY UNMASKED TALIA'S REAL PERSONALITY ) , SUSAN HAD TO SUBMIT TO A SCAN BY LYTA ALEXANDER AND REVEALED HER OWN LATENT ABILITIES AS A NATURAL UNTRAINED TELEPATH BY SENDING UP A MENTAL BLOCK IN A MOMENT OF NEAR PANIC. AS THE WAR AGAINST THE SHADOWS LOOMS EVER NEARER AND EARTH ALLIANCE BECOMES MORE ISOLATIONIST , IT WILL BE INTERRESTING TO SEE HOW SUSAN WILL RESPOND TO THE INEVITABLE CHOICES FACING HER , NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS WHETHER TO STAND WITH HER FRIENDS ON BABYLON 5 OR PRESERVE HER MILITARY CAREER WITH EARTH FORCE. BABYLON 5 VIDEO RELEASE DATES :- BABYLON 5 VOL. 9 MARCH 18th '96 'A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS Pts 1+2 / BABYLON SQUARED' BABYLON 5 VOL. 10 APRIL 22nd '96 'LEGACIES / CHRYSALIS' BABYLON 5 VOL. 11 JUNE 17th '96 'POINTS OF DEPARTURE / REVELATIONS' STAR TREK VOYAGER ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ VOYAGER HAS NOW ENTERED INTO ITSSECOND SEASON AND SEVERAL EPISODES HAVE ALREADY BEEN VIEWED OVER IN THE STATES. HERE IN THE UK , THESES EPISODES ARE STARTING TO BE RELEASED ON VIDEO ( DATES AT THE END OF THIS ITEM ). THE FIRST SEVEN EPISODES OF SEASON TWO ARE :- EPISODE ONE - 'INITIATIONS' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ COMMANDER CHAKOTAY LEAVES VOYAGER IN A SHUTTLECRAFT TO PERFORM A SOLITARY INDIAN RITUAL , KNOWN AS THE 'PAKRA'. HOWEVER , HE DRIFTS INTO KAZON-OGLA TERRITORY AND BECOMES THE TARGET OF A KAZON YOUTH WHO IS IN THE MIDST OF ONE OF HIS PEOPLES RITUALS. EPISODE TWO - 'NON SEQUITER' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ IS HARRY KIM CRAZY WHEN HE COMES TO AFTER PASSING OUT TO FIND HE'S ON EARTH WITH NO RECORD OF EVER HAVING SERVED ON THE U.S.S. VOYAGER ? HIS FIANCE , FRIENDS AND SUPERIORS IN SAN FRANCISCO ARE BEGINNING TO WONDER ABOUT THE YOUNG STARFLEET WHIZ - UNTIL HE DISCOVERS THAT TOM PARIS WAS NOT ABOARD THE U.S.S. VOYAGER EITHER. HIS ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT PARIS AT THE REAL SANDRINE'S BAR IN MARSEILLES ( SEEN IN THE HOLOBECK PROGRAMS ) LEAD TO TROUBLE - FIRST WITH THE ARROGANT LOSER PARIS , HERE A STRANGER , AND THEN WITH STARFLEET OFFICIALS WHO THINK HARRY IS A MAQUIS SPY AND EVENTUALLY SHACKLE HIM. IT'S ALL PART OF A PARALLEL SLIP-UP , BUT THE DRIVEN HARRY IGNORES THE WARNINGS OF AN ALIEN IN HUMAN GUISE WHO'S BEEN SENT TO MAKE SURE HE'S ALRIGHT AFTER THE 'TIME STREAM' ACCIDENT. HARRY WOULD RISK LOSING ALL IN THIS HAPPY REALITY THAN SEE PARIS NOT GET HIS SECOND CHANCE , SO HE GAMBLES IT ALL IN BOTH UNIVERSES ON A RISKY RECREATION OF HIS SHUTTLE ACCIDENT TO SET THINGS STRAIGHT - AND EVEN WINS OVER THE 'OTHER' PARIS , WHO SACRIFICES HIMSELF FOR A BETTER 'REALITY'. EPISODE THREE - 'PARTURITION' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ AFTER CRASH-LANDING ON A PLANET DURING A FOOD SCOUTING MISSION , NEELIX RESOLVES HIS JEALOUSY OF PARIS OVER KES THROUGH THEIR NURSING OF A SPACE- FARING REPTILOID ALIEN'S HATCHLING WHICH THEY FIND ON THE PLANET. EPISODE FOUR - 'PERSISTENCE OF VISION' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ DUE TO WHAT IS DISCOVERED TO BE THE PERNICKETY MENTAL ABILITIES OF A TURF- CONSCIOUS ALIEN , JANEWAY AND THE CREW FIND THEMSELVES STUCK , ONE BY ONE , IN AN INDIVIDUALISED AND UNDENIABLE FANTASY OF THEIR OWN DOING - LEAVING IT TO THE DOCTOR TO FINALLY RESCUE THEM FROM THE EFFECT. ALONG THE WAY WE NOT ONLY REVISIT THE CAPTAIN'S FIANCE , MARK , AND THE DOG , MOLLY , BUT THJE CAST OF HER GOTHIC ROMANCE HOLONOVEL. THERE'S ALSO IMAGES OF TUVOK'S WIFE T'PEL ; PARIS'S STALWART AND DISAPPROVING ADMIRAL FATHER , AND A SURPRISING HINT OF ATTRACTION BETWEEN B'ELANNA AND CHAKOTAY , WHICH SHOCKS EVEN HER. EPISODE FIVE - 'COLD FIRE' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ THE CREW OF VOYAGER COME FACE TO FACE WITH THE LONG SOUGHT FEMALE CARETAKER - WHO SURPRISINGLY APPEARS AS A YOUNG GIRL. JANEWAY SOON DISCOVERS SHE'S NOTHING LIKE THE MATE WE SAW IN 'CARETAKER' . IN THE END THE CREW GET THE IMPRESSION THAT HEY HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST OF THIS ALIEN , NAMED SUSPIRIA. EPISODE SIX - 'MANEUVERS' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ THE KAZON ARE BACK - AND SO IS SESKA - IN A STORY WHICH INTRODUCES EVEN MORE OF THE MANY KAZON SECTS AND EXPLORES THEIR INTERNAL FIGHTING. SESKA WAS LAST SEEN WITH THE KAZON-NISTRIM , A SECT ON THE DECLINE , WHOSE FIRST MAJE CULLAH WAS DESPERATE TO REGAIN POWER , IF NOT PRESTIGE. THE RAPID-FIRE PLOT TWISTS AND TURNS THROUGH A KAMIKAZE SHUTTLE RUN , TECHNOLOGY DUELS BETWEEN SESKA AND THE VOYAGER CREW , AND A HIGH STAKES SUMMIT OF NISTRIM , MOSTRAL , HOBII AND OGLAMAR MAJES. PERHAPS THE MOPST INTERESTING THREAD HERE IS THE BEGINNING OF A PERSONAL GUILT CHAKOTAY FEELS FOR SESKA'S BEING LOOSE TO STIR UP TROUBLE , AND THE VENDETTA HE UNDERTAKES TO STOP HER , WITHOUT AUTHORISATION. BUT EVEN IF HE WINS THIS BATTLE , THE FIGHT'S NOT OVER : SESKA REVEALS SHE HAS IMPREGNATED HERSELF WITH CHAKOTAY'S D.N.A. TO BEAR HIS CHILD. EPISODE SEVEN - 'RESISTANCE' ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ A SEEMINGLY SENILE OLD MAN IS CONVINCED JANEWAY IS HIS DAUGHTER AND TALKS OF FREEING HIS WIFE AND HER MOTHER FROM THE PRISON OF THE ALIEN MOKRA ARMY OCCUPYING THEIR ALSAURIAN HOMEWORLD. TUVOK AND TORRES ARE CAPUTURED AND INTEREGATED BY THE MOKRAN'S WHO ARE TRYING TO SQUEEZE NEWS OF THE ALSAURIAN RESISTANCE FROM THEM. THE VOYAGER OFFICERS HAD BEEN USING THE RESISTANCE MEMBERS AS CONTACTS , TO BUY NEEDED TELERIUM FOR THE U.S.S. VOYAGER'S WARP DRIVE INJECTORS. IN THE END , JANEWAY AND HER 'FATHER' CAYLEM , MAKE AN UNLIKELY AND TOUCHING DUO AS THEY TAKE ON THE MOKRA PRISON WHERE HER CREW- MATES ARE BEING HELD - AND CAYLEM SHOWS HIMSELF A HERO STILL. STAR TREK VOYAGER VIDEO RELEASE DATES ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ STAR TREK VOYAGER : 2.1 'INITIATIONS / NON SEQUITUR' FEBRUARY 26th '96 STAR TREK VOYAGER : 2.2 'PARTURITION / PERSISTENCE OF VISION' MARCH 11th '96 STAR TREK VOYAGER : 2.3 'COLD FIRE / MANEUVERS' MARCH 25th '96 STAR TREK VOYAGER : 2.4 'RESISTANCE / PROTOTYPE' APRIL 1st '96 WELL THAT'S ABOUT ALL FOR THIS ISSUE. IF YOU WISH TO SEND IN ITEMS , QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS ON TOPIC'S THEN PLEASE SEND YOUR ENQUIRES TO :- 'BUN PD' DAVE HANDY C/O KEITH HUNNYBUN 12 ALBANY ROAD 30 ALBANY ROAD OR NEWPORT NEWPORT ISLE OF WIGHT ISLE OF WIGHT PO30 5JE PO30 5JA