John Sheridan (Babylon 5)

John David Sheridan1(?? - 2281), played by Bruce Boxleitner, is a fictional character in the universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5.

Campaign Against Clark

When Earth Force ships destroyed two refugee ships, Sheridan began a campaign to topple Clark's administration. He first led a task force to Proxima VII to break the blockade of the planet. Following the breaking of that blockade, Sheridan then headed towards Earth. Sheridan's old ship, the Agamemmnon showed up and joined with his forces. While touring the Agamemmnon, Sheridan received a message from Michael Garabaldi that his father had been captured by Clark's forces, and asked him to come to Mars.

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That turned out to be a trap. Right after arriving on Mars, Sheridan was captured by Clark's forces. For the next week he was interrogated and tortured by Earth Force interrogators. Sheridan was able to successfully resist them despite intensive drug and psychological pressure. Sheridan was rescued by Garabaldi after Bester released Garabaldi from his telepathic conditioning.

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Captain Sheridan returned to the fleet. He and the fleet then went on to the final engagements of the campaign. Sheridan was able to use Shadow modified telepaths to disable most of Clark's ships at Mars - this saved many thousands of lives on both sides. Sheridan then took the fleet to Earth. Seeing that their fortunes had changed, the resistance on Earth had went to arrest Clark, but Clark committed suicide before he could be captured.

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In a last spiteful act, Clark turned the planetary defense system back on to Earth. Earth Alliance Senator Crosby was able to contact the fleet and communicate what Clark had done. The fleet then proceeded to destroy the defense platforms before they could fire on the planet. But the missiles fired by the platforms damaged or destroyed many ships in the process. One last platform was operational and was ready to fire. Sheridan's damaged ship was the only one in range - his ship had no weapons. Seeing no other choice, Sheridan ordered the Agamemmnon ram the platform, which would narrowly avert the destruction of the Eastern Seaboard of North America. At the last minute, however, one of the ships previously disabled over Mars, which had managed to repair the damage done to it, enters orbit and destroys the battery, saving the Agamemnon and Earth.

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Aftermath

Under political pressure, Sheridan resigned his EarthForce commission. Even though Sheridan had done the morally correct thing, the President felt that Sheridan had to pay some sort of price for his actions. She offered amnesty for all who followed Sheridan, as well as allowing Sheridan to retain his military pension and leave with full honors. After the President put the amnesty in writing, Sheridan agreed to resign. The next day, the President gave a press conference. Sheridan announced that he could not remain in EarthForce - his remaining would only continue the divisions in EarthForce.

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During that same press conference Delenn and G'Kar addressed the gathering. It was at this press conference that she announced that the members of the League of Non-Alinged Worlds had voted to dissolve themselves, and enter into a new Interstellar Alliance. She invited Earth to join the Alliance. The Alliance offered to show humans how to create artificial gravity, which would allow for more efficient space vessels and installations that did not require rotating sections. Earth agreed to join the Alliance, and also agreed to grant Mars independence. To the shock of the Earth Forces, Sheridan was named the first President of the Interstellar Alliance. Sheridan's former organization suspected that he knew he was going to get that position from the beginning, making his military commission resignation not a punishment, but merely part of a personal career advancement. Sheridan and Delenn returned to Babylon 5. The couple were married at this time. He promoted Susan Ivanova to Captain as one of his last acts as an EarthForce officer. Still grieving over the death of Marcus Cole, Ivanova decided to leave Babylon 5 and take command of a new Warlock class ship.

Related Topics:
Interstellar Alliance - Mars - Delenn

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