Even older than the Vorlons,
this dark and mysterious race wanted to help the
evolution of the younger races with chaos and war.
Appearance:
Spider-like creatures who can usually only be seen in
ultraviolet light.
Telepathy:
Nothing is known of the telepathic abilities of
Shadows. Still, telepaths are able to interfere the
workings of Shadow vessels, or more precisely the living
creatures that function as their central processing
systems.
Homeworld:
Although the Shadows have military bases all
around the galaxy, their main base of operations is on a
Rim world which the younger races call Z'ha'dum. Whether
or not they are native to this planet is not known. The
Shadows are not the only inhabitants of Z'ha'dum, but
share the planet with their Drak Servants
History:
When most of the First Ones left beyond the rim a million
years ago, Vorlons and Shadows
were left behind to act as guardians to the younger
races. For a long time there was an understanding between
the two races despite their diagonally opposite
philosophies: Vorlons believed in order and discipline
unlike the Shadows to whom chaos meant evolution. In time
both the Shadows and the Vorlons forgot the true meaning
of their mission and an understanding turned into a fight
over power and dominance.
Every thousand years Shadows left their hiding places
to spread chaos among the younger races. They allied
themselves with some races, urging them to start wars
with others or just used the race to their own benefit.
The Narns for example were
enslaved by the Shadows somewhere in the 14th centure
(Earth time) and a military base was constructed on their
homeworld. The Shadows also had almost all Narn telepaths
and their families killed. In the end the remaining
telepaths, led by G'Quan, drove the Shadows away. Another
defeat soon followed as the Minbari together with the
Vorlons and some of the remaining First Ones forced them
to retreat back to their hiding places.
In mid 2200's the Shadows slowly began gathering their
forces, finding new allies from among humans and even
helping to found the Psi Corps. In 2254 their allies
recognised Babylon 4 as the base that during the previous
war had appeared out of nowhere and had helped the
Minbari to win. Attempts to destroy the station failed as
John Sheridan, Delenn, Jeff Sinclair and their allies
travelled back in time to prevent them. Three years later
Earth research vessel Icarus arrived to Z'ha'dum, the
homeworld of the Shadows, in order to investigate the
remains of the ancient civilisation. The Shadows found
the ship and captured the crew. Those who would not serve
were either killed or merged with Shadow vessels to
function as their central processing units. At least one
member of the crew, Doctor Morden, agreed to serve and
worked as a contact between the Shadows and their allies.
Between 2258 and 2261 Morden made several deals with
the Centauri - first with Londo, then with Refa and
finally with Emperor Cartagia. He promised to restore the
former glory of Centauri and the Shadows did help them to
defeat the Narns. Still, it wasn't until 2260 that the
Shadows began attacking younger races, including some of
their former allies, openly. Their opposite number, the
Army of Light, had not been idle either. When Sheridan
managed to persuade the Vorlons to participate in the
battles, the Shadows revenged this by killing Vorlon
ambassador Kosh and when he brought all the younger races
together, they struck back by sending his wife (presumed
to have died on the Icarus) to lure him onto their side.
Still, Sheridan was not willing to change sides and,
after having learned the Shadows' true motives, destroyed
their capital with two 500 megaton fusion bombs. The
Vorlons took advantage of this and began persecuting all
those who had helped the Shadows and the Shadows in
return started destroying the home worlds of those races
that had allied with the Vorlons.
By early 2261 Sheridan had created the biggest fleet
in history by bringing all the younger races together.
The Vorlons and the Shadows were forced to meet face to
face as the other First Ones helped the younger races
turn against their guardians. After the younger races had
proved their strength, all First Ones, led by Lorien,
left beyond the Rim.
Even though the Shadows had left the galaxy, their
legacy was still alive. Led by the Drakh, the Dark Servants left
Z'ha'dum to revenge the defeat of the Shadows.
|