What happened after the fall of Centauri Prime?

[alpha128]

We see Narn and Drazi ships attack Centauri Prime from space in The Fall of Centauri Prime. We see the Centauri capital still burning in "War Without End".

The first episode was set in 2262, and the city is still burning in 2278. Are we meant to believe that the city was still burning all that time? Or were the original fires put out and the Drakh did something in the intervening years?

[Jan]

We see Narn and Drazi ships attack Centauri Prime from space in The Fall of Centauri Prime. We see the Centauri capital still burning in "War Without End".

The first episode was set in 2262, and the city is still burning in 2278. Are we meant to believe that the city was still burning all that time? Or were the original fires put out and the Drakh did something in the intervening years?

No, it's not still burning. Completely separate sets of circumstances, but yes the Drakh are involved.

To be honest, it's been too long since I read the Centauri Prime trilogy to really discuss it well so hopefully others will chime in. But if at all possible, I *highly* recommend that you find and read the "Legions of Fire" trilogy by Peter David. It tells you everything you need to know about Londo and the keeper, the Drakh and how Vir progressed to being a worth emperor.

[Melanie]

Spoilers for the Legions of Fire trilogy coming up.

The Drakh had bombs planted on Centauri Prime. Londo knew that Vir was leading the resistance and had been giving hints about the Drakh as much as his keeper would allow. He was referencing old earth literature and stuff like that so the Drakh would think it was just a normal conversation between old friends. With help from the Technomages Vir had found out about the keeper.

Toward the end of the third book Shiv'kala (the Drakh who gave Londo his keeper) wanted Londo to do something. I don't remember what it was, but Londo tried refusing and Shiv'kala threatened to use the bombs. Londo guessed that Vir and the rest of the resistance had found and disabled them, but they didn't know about them and Shiv'kala detonated one third of them. This is the fire you see in War Without End.

Londo then remembered his conversation with Elric many years ago.

"I see a great hand reaching out of the stars. The hand is your hand. And I hear the sounds of billions of people calling your name."

"My followers?"

"Your victims."

I don't remember exactly how the rest of it played out. Londo made sure to write stuff down and set up recorders for when he told the story of the Earth-Minbari war to Senna and those kids we saw in In the Beginning. Vir later made sure everyone knew what had been going on there.

[alpha128]

No, it's not still burning. Completely separate sets of circumstances, but yes the Drakh are involved.

To be honest, it's been too long since I read the Centauri Prime trilogy to really discuss it well so hopefully others will chime in. But if at all possible, I *highly* recommend that you find and read the "Legions of Fire" trilogy by Peter David. It tells you everything you need to know about Londo and the keeper, the Drakh and how Vir progressed to being a worth emperor.

Thanks for answering my question. I figured the Drakh were responsible.

[alpha128]

Spoilers for the Legions of Fire trilogy coming up.

The Drakh had bombs planted on Centauri Prime. Londo knew that Vir was leading the resistance and had been giving hints about the Drakh as much as his keeper would allow. He was referencing old earth literature and stuff like that so the Drakh would think it was just a normal conversation between old friends. With help from the Technomages Vir had found out about the keeper.

Toward the end of the third book Shiv'kala (the Drakh who gave Londo his keeper) wanted Londo to do something. I don't remember what it was, but Londo tried refusing and Shiv'kala threatened to use the bombs. Londo guessed that Vir and the rest of the resistance had found and disabled them, but they didn't know about them and Shiv'kala detonated one third of them. This is the fire you see in War Without End.

Melanie, thank you for the detailed explanation!