Warren Keffer

Warren Keffer, played by Robert Rusler, is a fictional character from the television science fiction drama Babylon 5.

Related Topics:
Robert Rusler - Fictional character - Science fiction - Drama - Babylon 5

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Keffer was a starfury pilot in Babylon 5's Zeta squadron. The squadron was, at that time, the station's elite squadron and they piloted the new starfuries brought by President Santiago during his visit.

Related Topics:
Starfury - President Santiago

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Keffer was one of the pilots ordered to hold position against advancing Minbari fighters during the incident with the Trigati (Season 2 Episode 1, Points of Departure). The rogue Minbari were trying to start a conflict by provoking Capt. John Sheridan, "star killer," into attacking. Keffer and the other pilots let the advancing fighters pass without incident.

Related Topics:
Minbari - Trigati - Points of Departure - John Sheridan

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Keffer later participated in the rescue of an Explorer class starship lost in hyperspace. A friend of Sheridan's was captain of the Explorer ship and he committed Babylon 5's Zeta squadron to a rescue attempt (Season 2 Episode A Distant Star). The squadron made themselves into a chain, relaying hyperspace beacon information through the chain and pressing deep into hyperspace. The chain was broken when a Shadow battlecrab jumped into hyperspace. The Shadow ship destroyed the Zeta leader and left Keffer spinning in hyperspace. Keffer used the angle of the Shadow ship's path to determine the location of the hyperspace beacon. He fired his cannons in the direction of the beacon. Keffer was thought lost, until he followed another Shadow vessel to the jumpgate and escaped hyperspace. After the incident Keffer was promoted to Zeta squadron leader, and he developed an obsession with the Shadow vessels he'd seen.

Related Topics:
Explorer class starship - Hyperspace - A Distant Star - Shadow battlecrab

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Keffer continues to search for the vessel in hyperspace, taking out his starfury when off duty.

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Later Keffer is forced to share his quarters with two "Ground Pounders" who are using Babylon 5 as a base for an attack mission (Season 2 Episode "GROPOS"). Keffer became friends with the GROPOS, including the massive veteran PFC Large. After the GROPO mission, Keffer reads a report that shows all the soldiers he'd met, friend and enemies, were dead.

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Keffer continues to search for the Shadow vessel, what other pilots call "the ghost". When the captain learns of the search, he orders Keffer to stop his unauthorized flights. Keffer later learns of a pilot from another squadron who has seen the ghost, a ship with a black shimmering hull, "big as death and twice as ugly," that screams in your mind when it passes. The pilot tells Keffer of a unique neutrino trail he detected when he saw the Shadows. Keffer sets his starfury sensors to detect this trail.

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After the surrender of Narn to the Centauri, a Narn warship appears in Babylon 5 space (Season 2 Finale, The Fall of Night). During an incident, Zeta squadron is ordered to escort the Narn vessel through the jumpgate. As they move through hyperspace, Keffer detects the neutrino trail. He breaks off to investigate. Keffer finds the Shadow ship, taking video with his gun camera. The Shadow vessel turns on the starfury. Keffer loads the recording into a buoy and launches it into space. The Shadows fire their beam weapon, killing Keffer and destroying his starfury.

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The buoy is later discovered and the information given to ISN. They broadcast the images, revealing the Shadows' existence publicly for the first time. The images become a point of controversy on Earth, leading to a Ministry of Peace investigation and eventually used to cause public fear of an alien threat to the planet.

Related Topics:
ISN - Ministry of Peace

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