The Political and Legal Impossibility of Prosecuting Captain John Sheridan
By the time of President Morgan Clark’s death by suicide, Earth had endured a descent into dictatorship, martial law, and outright tyranny. The evidence of Clark’s crimes was overwhelming and widely known—his corruption had been exposed, his methods had been brutal, and his war against his own people had been catastrophic. Attempting to court-martial Babylon 5 Captain John Sheridan—the leader of the resistance against Clark’s regime—would have been politically untenable and likely impossible from both a legal and practical standpoint.
To fully understand why, we need to examine:
The sheer scale of President Clark’s crimes.
The legal and political consequences of exposing those crimes in a trial.
The restored government’s need to move forward and Sheridan’s leverage.
1. President Clark’s Crimes and Their Implications
Clark’s reign of terror began even before he officially took power, with his direct involvement in the assassination of President Luis Santiago. From that moment forward, he systematically reshaped the Earth Alliance into an authoritarian state, removing dissenters, suppressing opposition, and employing increasingly extreme measures to consolidate control.
A. Assassination of President Santiago (2259)
The catalyst for Clark’s rule was his complicity in the assassination of President Luis Santiago. Clark conveniently stepped down from EarthForce One just before the ship was destroyed at the transfer point off Io, strongly indicating prior knowledge of the attack. The official story covered this up, but those within the military and government had long harbored suspicions. The truth of this assassination had been exposed by the time Sheridan led the rebellion, meaning that Clark’s entire presidency was illegitimate from the start.
B. Purges and Military Restructuring
Once in power, Clark systematically purged EarthForce of officers he believed to be disloyal. Those who questioned him or remained neutral were either reassigned, imprisoned, or outright disappeared. Others, whom Clark believed to be more sympathetic to his ideology, were promoted into key positions.
The restructuring of EarthForce led to a dangerous polarization—some officers remained loyal to the principles of the Earth Alliance Constitution, while others became loyal only to Clark personally.
Clark’s government heavily promoted those willing to follow orders without question, leading to a dangerous military hierarchy where brutality was rewarded.
Officers who resisted or refused unlawful orders were arrested, removed from command, or executed.
C. The Night Watch and the Suppression of Civil Liberties
Clark’s most insidious method of consolidating control was through the Night Watch, a political paramilitary force designed to root out dissenters. This organization:
Encouraged spying and denunciations, turning ordinary citizens against each other.
Was given increasing power to detain, interrogate, and arrest individuals without due process.
Became a de facto secret police force, ensuring fear and compliance.
Night Watch was a direct attack on the fundamental freedoms of Earth’s citizens, and as resistance against Clark’s rule grew, it became increasingly oppressive. The organization’s excesses—public executions, detainments, and disappearances—were widely condemned once Clark’s rule collapsed.
D. The Blockade of Proxima III and Military Atrocities
One of Clark’s most egregious war crimes was his treatment of Proxima III.
After the Proxima system declared independence from EarthGov in protest of Clark’s policies, Clark responded with a military blockade and indiscriminate bombardment of civilian areas.
EarthForce ships, still loyal to Clark, were ordered to attack civilian targets, commit war crimes, and enforce a siege against their own people.
Many EarthForce captains, including those on Proxima III, refused these orders, further illustrating the divide in the military.
The blockade of Proxima III was a turning point in the resistance against Clark, and by the time of his fall, the surviving civilians and military officers who had suffered under this blockade were eager to see justice done.
E. Bombing of Civilians on Mars
Clark’s brutality extended beyond Earth to its colonies, particularly Mars. When Mars began to resist his rule, Clark ordered the indiscriminate bombing of civilian targets to break their will. This included:
Targeting population centers, resulting in the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians.
Attacks on hospitals and supply lines, ensuring maximum suffering for those who opposed him.
Use of EarthForce assets to suppress resistance rather than focusing on military targets.
The attack on Mars was widely condemned and became one of the most infamous acts of Clark’s rule. It further cemented the view that he was a dictator willing to murder his own citizens to maintain power.
F. Torture and Killings of Political Prisoners on Earth
Under Clark’s rule, those arrested for protesting or resisting were often tortured, interrogated, and in some cases, executed. This included:
Political dissidents, journalists, and former senators who spoke out against the regime.
Military officers who refused to follow illegal orders, many of whom were tortured for information.
Civilians falsely accused of treason, subjected to brutal treatment in government-run detention centers.
These actions made Clark’s government one of the most oppressive regimes in Earth’s history, and any attempt to prosecute Sheridan would have only further exposed these atrocities.
G. The Psi Corps and Shadow Influence
Clark’s government allowed the Psi Corps to be infiltrated by agents of the Shadows, further corrupting EarthGov.
The Psi Corps had become an unchecked force, given enormous power under Clark’s rule.
Many high-ranking Psi Corps officials were working directly with the Shadows, further cementing EarthGov’s descent into authoritarianism.
Telepaths were used to infiltrate opposition groups, brainwash individuals, and suppress rebellion.
The exposure of Psi Corps' ties to the Shadows would have been another devastating revelation in any trial against Sheridan.
The public would have demanded accountability for these crimes, making any attempt to prosecute Sheridan seem absurd in comparison.
2. The Legal and Political Consequences of a Sheridan Trial
Attempting to prosecute Sheridan for his role in the rebellion would have had disastrous consequences for the new government.
A trial would have put Clark’s crimes on full display.
The reinstated Senate and free press would not support prosecuting Sheridan.
There was a risk of EarthForce splitting again, leading to another potential crisis.
3. Luchenko’s Pragmatism and Sheridan’s Leverage
Acting President Susanna Luchenko should have recognized that trying to prosecute Sheridan was politically and practically impossible. Instead, she opted for a pragmatic solution—persuading Sheridan to resign from EarthForce rather than face charges. This ensured:
Political stability for the new government.
Continued positive relations with the Interstellar Alliance.
Avoiding a public spectacle that would further damage EarthGov’s credibility.
Conclusion
A trial against Sheridan was never a realistic possibility. The sheer weight of Clark’s crimes, the public’s perception of Sheridan as a hero, and the political need for stability would have made it impossible for Luchenko to prosecute him without risking EarthGov’s credibility and stability. Instead, her decision to persuade him to resign was the most pragmatic choice—allowing Earth to heal without reopening wounds that could lead to further conflict.
Sheridan wasn’t just pardoned—he was vindicated by history.
Analysis of the Babylon 5 fourth season episode "Rising Star"
I've always felt that Luchenko's demand that Sheridan resign was, well, silly and unrealistic. The scene would have been much better had she made it as a request, not a threat, urging that he resign to help EarthForce heal from the wounds of the civil war. Appealing to Sheridan's sense of duty, pointing out that a court-martial that the Joint Chiefs were pushing for would only inflame the situation. And that she would say to Sheridan that she needed time to root out the Clark loyalists in the military and in the rest of EarthGov, asking that any help he could give her new administration in that regards would be greatly appreciated. She would promise there would be a full accounting, as well as the public revelation that Shadow forces had infiltrated EarthGov.
To fully understand why, we need to examine:
The sheer scale of President Clark’s crimes.
The legal and political consequences of exposing those crimes in a trial.
The restored government’s need to move forward and Sheridan’s leverage.
1. President Clark’s Crimes and Their Implications
Clark’s reign of terror began even before he officially took power, with his direct involvement in the assassination of President Luis Santiago. From that moment forward, he systematically reshaped the Earth Alliance into an authoritarian state, removing dissenters, suppressing opposition, and employing increasingly extreme measures to consolidate control.
A. Assassination of President Santiago (2259)
The catalyst for Clark’s rule was his complicity in the assassination of President Luis Santiago. Clark conveniently stepped down from EarthForce One just before the ship was destroyed at the transfer point off Io, strongly indicating prior knowledge of the attack. The official story covered this up, but those within the military and government had long harbored suspicions. The truth of this assassination had been exposed by the time Sheridan led the rebellion, meaning that Clark’s entire presidency was illegitimate from the start.
B. Purges and Military Restructuring
Once in power, Clark systematically purged EarthForce of officers he believed to be disloyal. Those who questioned him or remained neutral were either reassigned, imprisoned, or outright disappeared. Others, whom Clark believed to be more sympathetic to his ideology, were promoted into key positions.
The restructuring of EarthForce led to a dangerous polarization—some officers remained loyal to the principles of the Earth Alliance Constitution, while others became loyal only to Clark personally.
Clark’s government heavily promoted those willing to follow orders without question, leading to a dangerous military hierarchy where brutality was rewarded.
Officers who resisted or refused unlawful orders were arrested, removed from command, or executed.
C. The Night Watch and the Suppression of Civil Liberties
Clark’s most insidious method of consolidating control was through the Night Watch, a political paramilitary force designed to root out dissenters. This organization:
Encouraged spying and denunciations, turning ordinary citizens against each other.
Was given increasing power to detain, interrogate, and arrest individuals without due process.
Became a de facto secret police force, ensuring fear and compliance.
Night Watch was a direct attack on the fundamental freedoms of Earth’s citizens, and as resistance against Clark’s rule grew, it became increasingly oppressive. The organization’s excesses—public executions, detainments, and disappearances—were widely condemned once Clark’s rule collapsed.
D. The Blockade of Proxima III and Military Atrocities
One of Clark’s most egregious war crimes was his treatment of Proxima III.
After the Proxima system declared independence from EarthGov in protest of Clark’s policies, Clark responded with a military blockade and indiscriminate bombardment of civilian areas.
EarthForce ships, still loyal to Clark, were ordered to attack civilian targets, commit war crimes, and enforce a siege against their own people.
Many EarthForce captains, including those on Proxima III, refused these orders, further illustrating the divide in the military.
The blockade of Proxima III was a turning point in the resistance against Clark, and by the time of his fall, the surviving civilians and military officers who had suffered under this blockade were eager to see justice done.
E. Bombing of Civilians on Mars
Clark’s brutality extended beyond Earth to its colonies, particularly Mars. When Mars began to resist his rule, Clark ordered the indiscriminate bombing of civilian targets to break their will. This included:
Targeting population centers, resulting in the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians.
Attacks on hospitals and supply lines, ensuring maximum suffering for those who opposed him.
Use of EarthForce assets to suppress resistance rather than focusing on military targets.
The attack on Mars was widely condemned and became one of the most infamous acts of Clark’s rule. It further cemented the view that he was a dictator willing to murder his own citizens to maintain power.
F. Torture and Killings of Political Prisoners on Earth
Under Clark’s rule, those arrested for protesting or resisting were often tortured, interrogated, and in some cases, executed. This included:
Political dissidents, journalists, and former senators who spoke out against the regime.
Military officers who refused to follow illegal orders, many of whom were tortured for information.
Civilians falsely accused of treason, subjected to brutal treatment in government-run detention centers.
These actions made Clark’s government one of the most oppressive regimes in Earth’s history, and any attempt to prosecute Sheridan would have only further exposed these atrocities.
G. The Psi Corps and Shadow Influence
Clark’s government allowed the Psi Corps to be infiltrated by agents of the Shadows, further corrupting EarthGov.
The Psi Corps had become an unchecked force, given enormous power under Clark’s rule.
Many high-ranking Psi Corps officials were working directly with the Shadows, further cementing EarthGov’s descent into authoritarianism.
Telepaths were used to infiltrate opposition groups, brainwash individuals, and suppress rebellion.
The exposure of Psi Corps' ties to the Shadows would have been another devastating revelation in any trial against Sheridan.
The public would have demanded accountability for these crimes, making any attempt to prosecute Sheridan seem absurd in comparison.
2. The Legal and Political Consequences of a Sheridan Trial
Attempting to prosecute Sheridan for his role in the rebellion would have had disastrous consequences for the new government.
A trial would have put Clark’s crimes on full display.
The reinstated Senate and free press would not support prosecuting Sheridan.
There was a risk of EarthForce splitting again, leading to another potential crisis.
3. Luchenko’s Pragmatism and Sheridan’s Leverage
Acting President Susanna Luchenko should have recognized that trying to prosecute Sheridan was politically and practically impossible. Instead, she opted for a pragmatic solution—persuading Sheridan to resign from EarthForce rather than face charges. This ensured:
Political stability for the new government.
Continued positive relations with the Interstellar Alliance.
Avoiding a public spectacle that would further damage EarthGov’s credibility.
Conclusion
A trial against Sheridan was never a realistic possibility. The sheer weight of Clark’s crimes, the public’s perception of Sheridan as a hero, and the political need for stability would have made it impossible for Luchenko to prosecute him without risking EarthGov’s credibility and stability. Instead, her decision to persuade him to resign was the most pragmatic choice—allowing Earth to heal without reopening wounds that could lead to further conflict.
Sheridan wasn’t just pardoned—he was vindicated by history.
Analysis of the Babylon 5 fourth season episode "Rising Star"
I've always felt that Luchenko's demand that Sheridan resign was, well, silly and unrealistic. The scene would have been much better had she made it as a request, not a threat, urging that he resign to help EarthForce heal from the wounds of the civil war. Appealing to Sheridan's sense of duty, pointing out that a court-martial that the Joint Chiefs were pushing for would only inflame the situation. And that she would say to Sheridan that she needed time to root out the Clark loyalists in the military and in the rest of EarthGov, asking that any help he could give her new administration in that regards would be greatly appreciated. She would promise there would be a full accounting, as well as the public revelation that Shadow forces had infiltrated EarthGov.
36-40, F
