First Ones
The First Ones are a group of elder races that feature in the Babylon 5 universe.
Contents |
History
The First Ones were a number of ancient and powerful alien races that once inhabited the universe. (Episode: In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum) Among the oldest of their number was Lorien who was the very first of his kind with all being born naturally immortal. Their people were kept in check by their birth rate with a handful ever born and though immortal some did die of illness or injury whilst others simply went away. Lorien's people were the only ones that were naturally immortal with those that followed them giving a finite lifespan. During their reign, Lorien's race discovered the Shadows and Vorlons when both were infant races where they were guided and nourished in their development alongside the other First Ones. In time, most of these died whilst the others simply passed beyond the Rim into the darkness between galaxies. (Episode: Into the Fire) As such, the other First Ones were considered his metaphorical children or younger siblings. Around a million years ago, Lorien claimed that the Shadows once understood his words but over the millennia their understanding became distorted. (Episode: Whatever Happened to Mr Garibaldi?) The First Ones were noted for being billions of years old that were vast and timeless entities that walked the cosmos long ago. During their rise, they forged great empires, explored the universe and taught the younger races of their time. Among the oldest of their number was a race of beings known as the Shadows who battled with the other First Ones for millions of years. Slowly, over those millions of years, the First Ones decided to pass beyond the stars where they never returned and others disappeared. (Episode: In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum) Across millions of years, the Shadows were fought to a standstill by the First Ones. (Episode: Voices of Authority)
When the First Ones departed for beyond the Rim, two of their number were selected to be shepherds to the younger races with one being the Vorlons and the other being the Shadows. A difference in ideology saw the orderly Vorlons come into conflict with the chaotic Shadow's approach. (Episode: Z'ha'dum) Around 10,000 years ago, the ancient races of the First Ones last walked the cosmos openly in their battle with the Shadows. They managed to defeat their ancient enemy but the Shadows were not destroyed but went into slumber. (Episode: In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum) Around 1,000 years ago, the Shadows would return to their places of power and stretch out their hand where they mobilized their forces quickly. However, an alliance of worlds that included the Minbari allied together with the few remaining ancients in order to strike at them. Afterwards, the remaining First Ones went away though only one remained behind to serve as guardians to the younger races. This was the Vorlons who watched and waited for the return of the Shadows though they could not operate openly in fear of being recognized by the younger races. (Episode: In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum) It was believed by many that the First Ones had passed away forever by going beyond the Galactic Rim where the younger races had never ventured. However, some were believed to had remained behind where legend spoke of them going to sleep in secret places deep beneath their ancient cities where none could bother them whilst others walked among the stars on errands that could not be understood by younger species. The Rangers had been taught by the Minbari to avoid the locations where the First Ones walked due to the danger posed by them. (Episode: Voices of Authority)
Around 2258, certain members of the Narn Regime such as Ambassador G'Kar were aware of the existence of the First Ones as beings who were vast and timeless entities that were billions of years older than the younger races. In the same year, Catherine Sakai would have an encounter with one of these entities at Sigma 957. (Episode: Mind War) In the mid-23rd century, the Shadows were awakened from their slumber on Z'ha'dum by the Earth ship Icarus whereupon they prepared for the next war. Remembering their lesson from the last war, the Shadows decided to gather their forces slowly and secretly manipulated events in known space. This saw the Vorlons operate with the Minbari Federation in preparation to assemble forces against them with this coming into effect by 2259. (Episode: In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum) During 2260, the conspiracy of light headed by Captain John Sheridan at Babylon 5 sought to prepare for the coming of the Shadows and tried to find allies in the conflict. This saw them consulting the Great Machine of Epsilon III in order to find some of the First Ones with one of their number being located at Sigma 957. Once there, Commander Susan Ivanova managed to convince one of their number to aid in the coming Shadow War. (Episode: Voices of Authority) On Z'ha'dum, the near dead Captain John Sheridan met Lorien in the chasm where the first one saved him from death. (Episode: Whatever Happened to Mr Garibaldi?) Commander Susan Ivanova sought to find more of the First Ones in 2261 as allies against the Shadow's when the Ranger's were being assembled for a strike against Z'ha'dum itself. (Episode: The Summoning) She was later accompanied by Lorien in enlisting the six remaining First Ones for the final battle at Coriana VI. (Episode: Into the Fire)
Overview
Each of the races of First Ones was considered immeasurably older than the younger races such as mankind and Minbari. The First Ones were considered the most ancient of the ancient species. They were said to not think like younger races and were old, powerful, dangerous who did not like to be disturbed. First Ones were said to be dangerous and unpredictable entities that could not be easily contacted. By the Third Age, it was believed that they had grown tired of constant warfare and had lost interest in the affairs of the younger species. The likes of the Rangers of Minbar had been taught that the First Ones were unlike anything they had experienced before and that they were engaged in tasks beyond comprehension whilst bearing aware of the existence of other races. Some of their number could even destroy space stations of younger races and not even realize that they had done so. (Episode: Voices of Authority) First Ones were quite capable of killing another of their kind but this was a very difficult task to accomplish for a member of the younger races. (Episode: Falling Towards Apotheosis)
The Walkers were one such race whose ships could emit an energy drain that left the vessels of younger species without power. (Episode: Voices of Authority)
Background
Agents of Gaming identified the following as races:
Mongoose Publishing created an RPG set in Babylon 5 mentioned the following as First Ones:
Appearances
- Babylon 5: "In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum"
- Babylon 5: "Voices of Authority"
