Nightwatch (Babylon 5)
Encyclopedia
In the Babylon 5
science fiction
universe, Nightwatch was an Earth Alliance
paramilitary
organization set up during the Presidency of Morgan Clark
. Like the Gestapo
of Nazi
Germany
, Nightwatch became the secret police
organization of Clark's New Order.
) to report on crimes especially subversion
. Because of this, Babylon 5 security officer Zack Allan
decided to join Nightwatch. He was in it for the extra money, but soon became more and more disturbed over the course of events, and the escalation of Nightwatch's activities. Zack became increasingly worried about the erosion of civil liberties
that was happening with Nightwatch around.
With events on Earth coming to a head, Captain Sheridan
and the others knew that the Nightwatch was a threat that would have to be dealt with. When Clark issued the martial law
orders, Nightwatch was ordered to take over station security. Sheridan found a loophole in the orders for Nightwatch to take over station security - they had been issued by a civilian office outside the normal chain of command and were therefore invalid.
Knowing he finally had a way of dealing with Nightwatch, Sheridan approached Zack, who agreed to help the command staff take care of the Nightwatch threat. Zack went to his Nightwatch superiors and revealed that a ship
was arriving with a number of Narn
who would take over station security. Believing that they could catch Sheridan in the act, nearly all the Nightwatch personnel went to the airlock
where this ship was supposed to be docking. When everyone was assembled in the docking area, Zack gave the orders that sealed the Nightwatch personnel in the room. Sheridan then arrested all of them for attempted mutiny and failure to respect the chain of command. Each Nightwatch operative was ordered to come out one at a time and surrender their weapons and equipment. Sheridan then revealed that the local Narn population was then going to take over Babylon 5 security, as he put it, hiding a lie within the truth.
. All the known Nightwatch personnel were sent back to Earth. A small covert team remained. They were able to take Minbari
hostages briefly, but were all either killed or captured when the station's command staff rescued the hostages. However, Nightwatch continued tightening its grip back on Earth and Mars (with help from Psi Corps
) until Sheridan's fleet liberated said planets late the following year.
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
universe, Nightwatch was an Earth Alliance
Earth Alliance (Babylon 5)
The Earth Alliance is the name of a fictional alliance of the nations of Earth and off-world colonies in the television series Babylon 5. The transition of Earth government from a democratic, elected government to an authoritarian, militaristic one and back to a democracy again is a major theme of...
paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
organization set up during the Presidency of Morgan Clark
Morgan Clark
William Morgan Clark is a fictional character and a major antagonist from the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, portrayed by Gary McGurk. His character rarely appeared on-screen, but is a major off-screen presence in the show....
. Like the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
of Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Nightwatch became the secret police
Secret police
Secret police are a police agency which operates in secrecy and beyond the law to protect the political power of an individual dictator or an authoritarian political regime....
organization of Clark's New Order.
Beginnings
Nightwatch began by offering extra credits to various people to be their eyes and ears (See: In the Shadow of Z'ha'dumIn the Shadow of Z'ha'dum
"In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum" is an episode from the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:Sheridan holds Morden in custody and learns some of what happened to the expedition on which his wife was lost....
) to report on crimes especially subversion
Subversion (politics)
Subversion refers to an attempt to transform the established social order, its structures of power, authority, and hierarchy; examples of such structures include the State. In this context, a "subversive" is sometimes called a "traitor" with respect to the government in-power. A subversive is...
. Because of this, Babylon 5 security officer Zack Allan
Zack Allan
Zack Allan is a character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Jeff Conaway. He regularly appeared in the show from season 2 onwards. During the second and third seasons of the series he was a security officer on the Babylon 5 station...
decided to join Nightwatch. He was in it for the extra money, but soon became more and more disturbed over the course of events, and the escalation of Nightwatch's activities. Zack became increasingly worried about the erosion of civil liberties
Civil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
that was happening with Nightwatch around.
With events on Earth coming to a head, Captain Sheridan
John Sheridan (Babylon 5)
John J. Sheridan is a lead character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Bruce Boxleitner. For most of the series, he is the commander of the Babylon 5 station; during the series' final season he is the President of the Interstellar...
and the others knew that the Nightwatch was a threat that would have to be dealt with. When Clark issued the martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
orders, Nightwatch was ordered to take over station security. Sheridan found a loophole in the orders for Nightwatch to take over station security - they had been issued by a civilian office outside the normal chain of command and were therefore invalid.
Knowing he finally had a way of dealing with Nightwatch, Sheridan approached Zack, who agreed to help the command staff take care of the Nightwatch threat. Zack went to his Nightwatch superiors and revealed that a ship
Starship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
was arriving with a number of Narn
Narn
The Narn are a fictional alien race in the universe of the Babylon 5 television series. Their homeworld is also called Narn.-Homeworld:Narn is the homeworld of the Narn and the Narn Regime. Its day is 31 hours long. Prior to the Centauri's first invasion, Narn was a healthy green planet. Now it...
who would take over station security. Believing that they could catch Sheridan in the act, nearly all the Nightwatch personnel went to the airlock
Airlock
An airlock is a device which permits the passage of people and objects between a pressure vessel and its surroundings while minimizing the change of pressure in the vessel and loss of air from it...
where this ship was supposed to be docking. When everyone was assembled in the docking area, Zack gave the orders that sealed the Nightwatch personnel in the room. Sheridan then arrested all of them for attempted mutiny and failure to respect the chain of command. Each Nightwatch operative was ordered to come out one at a time and surrender their weapons and equipment. Sheridan then revealed that the local Narn population was then going to take over Babylon 5 security, as he put it, hiding a lie within the truth.
Downfall
The Nightwatch presence on B5 ended after the station declared independence from the Earth AllianceEarth Alliance (Babylon 5)
The Earth Alliance is the name of a fictional alliance of the nations of Earth and off-world colonies in the television series Babylon 5. The transition of Earth government from a democratic, elected government to an authoritarian, militaristic one and back to a democracy again is a major theme of...
. All the known Nightwatch personnel were sent back to Earth. A small covert team remained. They were able to take Minbari
Minbari
The Minbari are a fictional alien race featured in the television show Babylon 5. The Minbari characters of Delenn and Lennier figure prominently throughout the series; Neroon, Draal, and Dukhat are less prominent Minbari characters....
hostages briefly, but were all either killed or captured when the station's command staff rescued the hostages. However, Nightwatch continued tightening its grip back on Earth and Mars (with help from Psi Corps
Psi Corps
In the fictional universe of Babylon 5, the Psi Corps is an agency of the Earth Alliance responsible for all humans with telepathic or other para-psychological abilities anywhere within Earth controlled space. All persons with Psi abilities are required to either join the Corps, face lifetime...
) until Sheridan's fleet liberated said planets late the following year.