Z'ha'dum (planet)
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| Z'ha'dum | |
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Universe | Babylon 5 |
| Notable races | Shadows |
| Creator | J. Michael Straczynski |
| Genre | Sci-fi |
In the fictional Babylon 5 universe, Z'ha'dum was the homeworld of the ancient, mysterious race known as the Shadows. The planet is near the galactic rim. The Shadows would keep returning to the world every time they were defeated.
Contents |
[edit] Terrain
Z'ha'dum had extensive mountain ranges composed of igneous rock and lava fields from volcanoes of glittering obsidian that tower over sediment-covered plains. Weather patterns were violent, with dust storms covering 1/4 of the planet's surface at any given time. Shadow structures covered 30% of the planet's surface, though most habitations were below ground.
The surface is mostly desolate, with raging dust storms lashing the rocky surface. Stone obelisks covered in Shadow Runes pierce the land. Roughly translated, they say "Every light carries a shadow." The obelisks, made of native sedimentary rock, range from 100 to 150 yards high. They are spaced at a constant 2.43 miles apart and are spread over large parts of the planet, and appear to be concentrated in areas near cave entrances where Shadows dwell. Any other structures that were on the surface, however, did not survive.
[edit] History
[edit] Prior to 2261
The planet had been devastated by previous wars. As a result, the Shadows began living underground. All that was left on the surface was a few ruins. The atmosphere is not breathable by humans, who require oxygen masks to move about on the planet.
The Icarus, a science vessel from Earth found the Shadows, and woke them from their long hibernation. After this the Shadows gave the humans a chance to agree to work with them. Morden agreed to do so, and became the liaison between the Shadows, the Centauri Republic, and President Morgan Clark's government on Earth. Others who refused, like Anna Sheridan, were either killed outright, or were taken and plugged into Shadow ships to act as its central processor. The Shadows built a complex on the surface to accommodate the humans who agreed to assist the Shadows.
When the Shadows learned that Anna Sheridan was plugged into a Shadow vessel, they removed her and sent her to Babylon 5 to bring John Sheridan back to Z'ha'dum in the episode of the same name. Sheridan discovered Anna had been plugged into a Shadow vessel, and that her personality had been destroyed in the process. When the Shadows tried to attack him, he killed the approaching Shadow, and went to a balcony overlooking the Shadow capital city. He set the White Star to ram the city, and set the two nuclear devices on board to detonate. Upon hearing the voice of Kosh, Sheridan jumped into the great pit below the balcony. The White Star exploded, killing Anna Sheridan and destroying the Shadows' capital city.
[edit] 2261
After the capital city was destroyed, Sheridan awoke to find himself underground, with another being named Lorien. Sheridan soon learned that Lorien was not just one of the First Ones (the oldest races in the Universe), He was the first being to gain intelligence in the galaxy.
During his conversations with Lorien, He learns that he is stuck in between life and death. Eventually, Lorien convinces Sheridan to let go of his life. Lorien manages to restore Sheridan's broken body, and the two return to Babylon 5.
Once he arrived, he learned that Delenn had planned a massive attack against Z'ha'dum. He arrived on Babylon 5 to find support wavering, and a large demonstration against Delenn's plans underway. Sheridan climbed the stairs onto a large catwalk, and stunned the crowd with his presence.
| “ | Drazi Ambassador: Captain Sheridan! We thought you were dead!
Captain John Sheridan: I was. I'm better now. |
” |
His new status as the only man to return from Z'ha'dum cemented his support. A demonstration that had been against Delenn's plans turned into a large show of support for Sheridan.
Sheridan is able to force the Shadows and Vorlons to reveal their true purposes to the younger races - that purpose being that each side considers only themselves to be the correct side, and that they were only using the younger races as tools. Sheridan and Lorien are able to convince the two races to go beyond the galactic rim to join the other First Ones who had left, leaving the galaxy to the purview of the younger races. Lorien and the other First Ones also leave the galaxy. Apart from Lorien returning to bring Sheridan back to the other First Ones in 2281, there were no more First Ones left in the galaxy.
[edit] Aftermath
Soon after the end of the war, Alfred Bester arrived on the station. He wanted to be taken to Z'ha'dum to see if there was any technology there that could help free his lover Carolyn from the implants the Shadows put in her brain. Sheridan took Bester to Z'ha'dum on board a White Star. Delenn and Lyta Alexander accompanied them. When they arrived, they found the planet deserted. They found a large evacuation in progress - the Drakh and other Shadow minions were leaving the system for the last time.
Upon seeing the evacuation, Sheridan realized something was very wrong. He had the crew turn the ship around. Within a couple minutes, the planet exploded. After their return to Babylon 5, Sheridan confronted Lyta Alexander in her quarters concerning the destruction of the planet. He all but accused her of triggering the planet's destruct system by telepathy. While she did not admit to trigging the self-destruct, either intentionally or unintentially, she stated that, hypothetically speaking, she might have for any one of several reasons with revenge being the motivator. She cited as reasons the Shadows killing Ambassador Kosh and the treatment of telepaths by Psi Corps in general and Alfred Bester in specific. Sheridan told her that if she ever decided to make such strategic decisions on behalf of Babylon 5 ever again, without consulting the command staff, there would be hell to pay.
[edit] Quotes
- "Z'ha'dum is the homeworld of the Shadows. No one leaves the same as they arrived." - Delenn
- "If you go to Z'ha'dum you will die." - Kosh to John Sheridan
- "Is that it? It looks like hell." - Alfred Bester
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