Triluminary
Encyclopedia
Triluminaries are devices in the science fiction
drama
Babylon 5
. The triluminary is a triangular shaped Minbari
crystal with a small chip in the centre. The full extent of its abilities are unknown, although it is said to be the holiest of all relics in Minbari society and thus any readings it gives will not be questioned. The primary use seems to be the ability to detect people who contain the DNA
of the Minbari
prophet Valen
. Valen was really Commander Jeffrey Sinclair
after he traveled back in time with Babylon 4
to help the Minbari defeat the Shadows
in the previous Shadow War
. In one instance Minbari
ambassador Delenn
used the triluminary as part of a device which transformed her into a Human-Minbari
hybrid. In another, 3 of them are used to change Jeffrey Sinclair into a similar hybrid.
Also, in the final moments of the Earth-Minbari War
, the Grey Council
used a Triluminary as they attempted to interrogate Sinclair, whom they had captured. The Triluminary glowed brightly, indicating that Sinclair had Valen's DNA so the Council assumed that Sinclair had Valen's soul and was the reincarnation of Valen himself (rather than the other way around). The Council thus called an immediate halt to the war, since the fact that Minbari souls were being born in human bodies would mean that Minbari were effectively killing each other - a concept abhorrent to all Minbari.
In one episode, Delenn
makes reference to Commander Sinclair getting the Triluminary from Epsilon III, the planet that Babylon 5 orbits which houses the Great Machine
that sent Sinclair back in time. This can be seen in War Without End
, when Zathras
brings a number of crates aboard Babylon 4 from the White Star, including a yellow triangular-prism-shaped box which contained the chrysalis device and the Triluminary (possibly all three Triluminaries). It is likely that the race of beings that built the Great Machine also created the Triluminaries, but this is not known for certain.
Thus, the name Triluminary could refer not only to the fact that it is triangular in shape, but also to the fact that there are three of them, as mentioned by another Minbari of the Grey Council in Babylon Squared
:
"Take it, Delenn, no one will miss it...for a time... we have two others."
The Chip within the Triluminary has been hinted to be portions of the internal mechanisms of an Earth Alliance Commlink, specifically that of Commander Jeffrey Sinclair, as both devices are designed to detect DNA signatures.
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...
drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
Babylon 5
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...
. The triluminary is a triangular shaped 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....
crystal with a small chip in the centre. The full extent of its abilities are unknown, although it is said to be the holiest of all relics in Minbari society and thus any readings it gives will not be questioned. The primary use seems to be the ability to detect people who contain the DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
of the 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....
prophet Valen
Valen
Valen is a character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. Although he has only one scene in the show, he is an important character in the history of the Minbari, and is frequently mentioned...
. Valen was really Commander Jeffrey Sinclair
Jeffrey Sinclair
Jeffrey Sinclair is a character in the fictional universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by actor Michael O'Hare. He was a regular in the first season of the show, as Commander of the Babylon 5 station, and made a number of guest appearances afterward.-Early life and...
after he traveled back in time with Babylon 4
Babylon 4
Babylon 4 is a fictional space station from the television series Babylon 5.In the series, Babylon 4 was the immediate predecessor of Babylon 5 and the largest of the Babylon stations...
to help the Minbari defeat the Shadows
Shadow (Babylon 5)
The Shadows are a fictional alien species in the science fiction television series Babylon 5. Their homeworld is Z'ha'dum. In contrast to the Vorlons, whose philosophy is represented by the question "Who are you?", that of the Shadows is represented by the question "What do you want?", centering...
in the previous Shadow War
Shadow War
The Shadow Wars are a fictional series of wars involving the Shadows in the television science fiction series Babylon 5. There have actually been many Shadow Wars since ancient times in the galaxy. Roughly every thousand years, the Shadows begin a new Shadow War to promote chaos in the universe in...
. In one instance 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....
ambassador Delenn
Delenn
Delenn is a fictional lead character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Mira Furlan.-Overview:Delenn, an alien ambassador and leader from the planet Minbar, is one of the pivotal characters in Babylon 5....
used the triluminary as part of a device which transformed her into a Human-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....
hybrid. In another, 3 of them are used to change Jeffrey Sinclair into a similar hybrid.
Also, in the final moments of the Earth-Minbari War
Earth-Minbari War
The Earth–Minbari War is a fictional war that formed a major part of the back story of the science fiction television series, Babylon 5. The war was fought between the Earth Alliance and the Minbari, an older alien race that overwhelmingly outmatched Earth in terms of technology and weapons...
, the Grey Council
Grey Council
In the Babylon 5 fictional universe, the Grey Council is the governing body of the Minbari Federation. Its members carry the title satai...
used a Triluminary as they attempted to interrogate Sinclair, whom they had captured. The Triluminary glowed brightly, indicating that Sinclair had Valen's DNA so the Council assumed that Sinclair had Valen's soul and was the reincarnation of Valen himself (rather than the other way around). The Council thus called an immediate halt to the war, since the fact that Minbari souls were being born in human bodies would mean that Minbari were effectively killing each other - a concept abhorrent to all Minbari.
In one episode, Delenn
Delenn
Delenn is a fictional lead character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Mira Furlan.-Overview:Delenn, an alien ambassador and leader from the planet Minbar, is one of the pivotal characters in Babylon 5....
makes reference to Commander Sinclair getting the Triluminary from Epsilon III, the planet that Babylon 5 orbits which houses the Great Machine
Great Machine
The Great Machine is an enormous technological complex of networked machines beneath the surface of the planet Epsilon III in Babylon 5.-History:...
that sent Sinclair back in time. This can be seen in War Without End
War Without End
"War Without End" is a two-part story consisting of the 16th and 17th episodes in the third season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5. They were broadcast first on May 13 and May 20, 1996 on the PTEN network in America...
, when Zathras
Zathras
Zathras is a race of characters in the science fiction television series Babylon 5, all portrayed by the late Tim Choate. There were ten of these characters who appeared on several episodes throughout the series...
brings a number of crates aboard Babylon 4 from the White Star, including a yellow triangular-prism-shaped box which contained the chrysalis device and the Triluminary (possibly all three Triluminaries). It is likely that the race of beings that built the Great Machine also created the Triluminaries, but this is not known for certain.
Thus, the name Triluminary could refer not only to the fact that it is triangular in shape, but also to the fact that there are three of them, as mentioned by another Minbari of the Grey Council in Babylon Squared
Babylon Squared
"Babylon Squared" is an episode from the first season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:The episode concerns the yet to be explained reappearance of Babylon 4 and Delenn's visit to the Grey Council....
:
"Take it, Delenn, no one will miss it...for a time... we have two others."
The Chip within the Triluminary has been hinted to be portions of the internal mechanisms of an Earth Alliance Commlink, specifically that of Commander Jeffrey Sinclair, as both devices are designed to detect DNA signatures.