Last episode: To Live and Die in Starlight
The background story for David Martel, our lead character, is that he left the scene of a battle while commanding a Ranger ship called the Enfalli. His friend of three years, a Minbari named Dulann, and what seems to be a reasonably new friend, a human named Sarah Cantrell, were there at the time. Early on in the telemovie, it is now a short while after the events on the Enfalli. While his fate is being decided by the Rangers Council, David is assigned to menial jobs. We see that he is currently guarding a Minbari industrial complex, and has been told to stop some people smuggling Dust. He hears a twig crack, and he is on the defensive. But it is just Dulann. Amidst some more friendly banter, they both dispatch the smugglers who soon appear. Dulann is in fact here to fetch David, as the Council has made up its mind on what to do with him. We then visit the Ranger Council headquarters on Minbar. Here we meet Tannier and Sarah. Tannier finds it rather stupid that the Council needed to even deliberate on David's fate. To him, David acted without honor by retreating from a combat zone and violating the principles of the Anla Shok. Sarah, on board the Enfalli at the time, defends David. Tannier explains he has no quarrel with Sarah, but implies that he most certainly does with David. Then, as the scene ends, we see an old friend lurking in the shadows. He's listened to the conversation, but for what purpose? Moments later, a large ship arrives, the Valen. By all accounts it's a large ship, one that might have gone to David if it wasn't for his troubles. It's actually going to our friend Tannier. David surmises that it would probably have gone to Tannier anyway, and makes comments to suggest he doesn't like the Valen anyway. "In space things don't have to be aerodynamic," he explains. "You can put a really big engine on a brick - which pretty much looks like what they've done." After some character building scenes, David notices another ship, the Liandra. David can't believe she's still flying, but Sarah explains the alliance needs all the ships it can get. The Liandra, however, has a history of its own, some believing it to be cursed. Its last crew were all found dead on board, and no one knows what happened to them.
Aired: Saturday January 19, 2002

Dylan Neal - David Martel (photos) Jennie Rebecca Hogan - Na'Feel Simon Egan - Minibari crewman Warren Takeuchi - Kitaro Sasaki Eric Schneider - Cloaked Figure Rob Morton - Drazi Diplomat Eric Schneider - Cloaked Figure Chris Robson - Ranger Todd Sandomirsky - Tannier Bernard Cuffling - Sindell