Nightwatch (Babylon 5)
The Nightwatch is an organization that features in Babylon 5.
Contents |
History
In time, their organization grew stronger and more important on Earth where they gained considerable support at EarthDome. (Episode: The Fall of Night)
By the end of 2259, Mr Welles from the Nightwatch accompanied ambassador Frederick Lantze to Babylon 5 who had been dispatched by EarthDome to investigate the possibility of forming a non-aggression pact with the Centauri Republic. During his time at the station, Welles consulting with the local members of the Nightwatch in order to determine loyalty, information and secure further members by offering advancement to them. His time managed to determine numerous occupants such as store owners showing signs of sedition due to their opposition of Earth policy. They informed Welles who told Mr Lantz that the crew at Babylon 5 were conducting fighter squadron practices using Centauri combat models. These Nightwatch members later informed Welles who in turn told Lantze that a Narn heavy cruiser known as the G'Tok was being offered sanctuary by Captain Sheridan. This opposed the Earth Alliance's plans to comply with the Centauri though John Sheridan went against these diplomatic efforts. (Episode: The Fall of Night)
On Earth, growing tensions saw the Clarke administration institute a government purge of individuals on charges of sedition, immoral conduct and even spying for alien government. The threat to basic freedoms saw EarthGov announce a moment of crisis that required an extreme response with these changes being said to be minor and temporary until the crisis was over. As a result, the political landscape in the Earth Alliance was changed with further powers being given to the Nightwatch Division. It was claimed that these were needed to keep Earth safe and ideologically pure. In 2260, Ms Julie Musante was dispatched as a political officer by the Ministry of Peace to Babylon 5 but was recalled after news came of President Clarke's involvement in his predecessors assassination. (Episode: Voices of Authority) The Nightwatch branch on Babylon 5 were given even increased powers to monitor dissident actions and report it. (Episode: Messages from Earth) After martial law was declared in the Earth Alliance, the Political Office declared that all security arrangements on Babylon 5 were meant to be handled by Nightwatch. The command crew of Babylon 5 managed to engineer an event that saw the majority of the Nightwatch being detained and removed from the station. (Episode: Point of No Return)
Despite this victory, several members of the Babylon 5 Nightwatch division managed to escape capture where they were told to lay low but one cell was deployed to eliminate Captain Sheridan. They were responsible for kidnapping Ambassador Delenn along with additional hostages where they attempted to force the Minbari war cruisers from Babylon 5 in order to clear the area for Clarke loyal forces to retake the station. (Episode: Ceremonies of Light and Dark)
It was believed that Nightwatch was monitoring the Sheridan family in case their son John Sheridan sent any of his operatives to contact them on Earth. (Episode: Atonement) During the battle to liberate Earth, Sheridan made a broadcast to declare that they sought to disband the Nightwatch that had been supporting President Clark's government. (Episode: Endgame)
Overview
It was considered a completely separate branch from the Ministry of Peace. All signs of sedition that included ideal comments were meant to be reported to their headquarters. Once there, the administration in charge would determine which actions were against Earth Alliance security. They would often seek to recruit others as informants and promised benefits to them such as promotion in ranks. Such individuals would be asked to watch activities and reports that were dangerous or disloyal with these being claimed as a great service to Earth. Within set areas, the Nightwatch members were responsible for recruiting new members into their number. Reports would be filed back to the Nightwatch headquarters with these being determined as disloyal or not with these being even simple comments or ideals. (Episode: The Fall of Night) The various branches of the Nightwatch were led by a liaison who received orders from headquarters at the ministry and passed them to their comrades. (Episode: Messages from Earth)
In time, political changes made by President Clarke's administration led to further expansion into the Nightwatch Division's role. It was considered inappropriate for Earthforce personnel to criticize the government or its decisions. Any violations of these rules would lead to the offender facing fines and penalties. For civilians, the rules required Nightwatch to simply catalogue information and pass it to their superiors. Further new policies were instituted that expanded the range of investigations that could be carried out by Nightwatch members that included looking into pass associations of individuals including families and friends. As a result, personnel who joined the Nightwatch became a branch of the political office and thus their scope was widened with increased authority. This included the right to examine publications and determine if they were ideologically correct with revised rules of evidence introduced to provide some flexibility. These extreme conditions were considered a suitable response after reports of growing corruption and sedition in the Earth Alliance government. (Episode: Voices of Authority)
Afterwards, they gained permission to monitor electronic messages and media for signs of sedition with them being even allowed to observe command personnel if they showed suspicious activity. No one was considered above suspicion though members of the Nightwatch along with their immediate superiors were considered loyal to Earth. (Episode: Messages from Earth) At its height, the organization were even allowed to get its members to replace local security forces and forcibly even arrest command personnel for acts of sedition. (Episode: Point of No Return)
Members
- Welles : a black haired white male who was the head in charge of the Nightwatch program. (Episode: The Fall of Night)
- Julie Musante : a blonde white female from the Ministry of Peace's Nightwatch Division assigned as a political officer to Babylon 5 by the Senate Oversight Committee. (Episode: Voices of Authority)
Notes
- The Nightwatch were introduced as antagonists in Babylon 5.
Appearances
- Babylon 5: "The Fall of Night"
- Babylon 5: "Voices of Authority"
External Links
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