Telepath War
Encyclopedia
The Telepath War is a conflict in the fictional Babylon 5
universe. This conflict occurs a few years after the events of the television series, and before the events of the Crusade
television series. Although the war was set up in the last few episodes of Babylon 5, and the after effects shown in Crusade, the events of the Telepath war have not been shown either on screen or in spin-off novels, though there is a flashback episode set towards the end of the war in one episode of Crusade.
s") and rogue telepaths against the Psi Corps
. The Psi Corps attempts to take over the Earth Alliance
government, a chain of events set in motion by President Clark's positioning of telepaths in stations of authority they would not have otherwise achieved. The Psi Corps also runs a number of concentration camps to "re-educate" the rogues they capture, and kills civilians who have sheltered rogue telepaths. John Sheridan
and the Interstellar Alliance
intervene in the situation. The normal humans and rogue telepaths win this war, although there are many casualties (including Lyta Alexander
and Lennier
).
is one such fugitive from justice. He manages to remain at large for several years. Michael Garibaldi
finally removes the mental blocks Bester had planted to prevent Garibaldi from harming him, and vigorously pursues Bester.
Eventually, Bester reaches Paris
. He lives for a time under an assumed name, Claude Kaufmann, and begins a relationship with a local businesswoman. Garibaldi is instrumental in apprehending Bester. Bester is tried and convicted of crimes against humanity, sentenced to life in prison, and forced to take telepathy-inhibiting drugs. He dies more than ten years later.
The producers of Babylon 5: The Lost Tales
had hoped to eventually cover some aspects of the war in that series, but in the end only very little was covered regarding the telepath wars in the Lost Tales. Rumors have since been floating around that there may be a future dvd release covering the telepath wars in detail. To date though, only part of an episode of Crusade (TV series)
has covered it.
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...
universe. This conflict occurs a few years after the events of the television series, and before the events of the Crusade
Crusade (TV series)
Crusade is a spin-off TV show from J. Michael Straczynski's Babylon 5. Its plot is set in AD 2267, five years after the events of Babylon 5, and just after the movie A Call to Arms. A race called the Drakh have released a nanovirus plague on Earth, which will destroy all life on Earth within five...
television series. Although the war was set up in the last few episodes of Babylon 5, and the after effects shown in Crusade, the events of the Telepath war have not been shown either on screen or in spin-off novels, though there is a flashback episode set towards the end of the war in one episode of Crusade.
The Conflict
The war pits non-telepathic humans ("mundaneMundane
In subcultural and fictional uses, a mundane is a person who does not belong to a particular group, according to the members of that group; the implication is that such persons, lacking imagination, are concerned solely with the mundane: the quotidian and ordinary...
s") and rogue telepaths against the 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...
. The Psi Corps attempts to take over the 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...
government, a chain of events set in motion by President Clark's positioning of telepaths in stations of authority they would not have otherwise achieved. The Psi Corps also runs a number of concentration camps to "re-educate" the rogues they capture, and kills civilians who have sheltered rogue telepaths. John 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 Interstellar Alliance
Interstellar Alliance (Babylon 5)
The Interstellar Alliance is a fictional interstellar government of civilizations in the Babylon 5 universe.Formed in 2261 AD in the aftermath of the liberation of Earth and the Shadow War, the Interstellar Alliance was formed between the Minbari, Narn, Centauri, the Earth Alliance and the...
intervene in the situation. The normal humans and rogue telepaths win this war, although there are many casualties (including Lyta Alexander
Lyta Alexander
Lyta Alexander is a character from the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Patricia Tallman.Lyta was introduced in the pilot episode "The Gathering" as a telepath assigned to the Babylon 5 space station by the Psi Corps, a fictional organization...
and Lennier
Lennier
Lennier is a character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Bill Mumy. He is Minbari and acts as ambassadorial aide to Delenn throughout most of the series.-Background and career:...
).
Aftermath
Following the war, the Psi Corps is disbanded, and a new Psionic Monitoring Commission founded to replace the corps. A number of Psi Corps members are charged with war crimes. Many serve time in prison for their crimes. Others escape justice, and the commission dedicates itself to hunting down these war criminals. Alfred BesterAlfred Bester (Babylon 5)
Alfred Bester is a Babylon 5 character played by Walter Koenig. He is a senior Psi Cop and a recurring antagonist in the series. J. Michael Straczynski named the character after the science fiction writer Alfred Bester, since telepathy is a recurring theme in his work .-Early Life and Career:The...
is one such fugitive from justice. He manages to remain at large for several years. Michael Garibaldi
Michael Garibaldi
Michael Garibaldi is a lead fictional character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Jerry Doyle.-Overview:...
finally removes the mental blocks Bester had planted to prevent Garibaldi from harming him, and vigorously pursues Bester.
Eventually, Bester reaches Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He lives for a time under an assumed name, Claude Kaufmann, and begins a relationship with a local businesswoman. Garibaldi is instrumental in apprehending Bester. Bester is tried and convicted of crimes against humanity, sentenced to life in prison, and forced to take telepathy-inhibiting drugs. He dies more than ten years later.
The producers of Babylon 5: The Lost Tales
Babylon 5: The Lost Tales
Babylon 5: The Lost Tales is an anthology show set in the Babylon 5 universe. It was announced by J. Michael Straczynski, creator of Babylon 5, at the San Diego Comic Con in July 2006...
had hoped to eventually cover some aspects of the war in that series, but in the end only very little was covered regarding the telepath wars in the Lost Tales. Rumors have since been floating around that there may be a future dvd release covering the telepath wars in detail. To date though, only part of an episode of Crusade (TV series)
Crusade (TV series)
Crusade is a spin-off TV show from J. Michael Straczynski's Babylon 5. Its plot is set in AD 2267, five years after the events of Babylon 5, and just after the movie A Call to Arms. A race called the Drakh have released a nanovirus plague on Earth, which will destroy all life on Earth within five...
has covered it.