No Surrender, No Retreat

No Surrender, No Retreat describes the events of 2261 as they appear in Season 4 of Babylon 5. It explores in detail the personalities, events, and technology that shape the next million years of civilized evolution. Used in conjunction with the other season books and the core Babylon 5 RPG, No Surrender, No Retreat allows the Games Master to extend his games beyond 2259. Characters can participate in the grand sweep of the Great War, assist the Mars colonists in their bid for independence, or stand firm against the alien influenced Sheridan and his mad war of conquest.

This book begins with a discussion of the main characters of Babylon 5, including some old friends from Sheridan's days as an Earth Force captain. These characters place an indelible mark on the age to come simply by being the right people, at the right place, at the right time. The major characters from the proceeding seasons also receive a new treatment, reflecting their personal growth over the last year.

The main bulk of the book consists of an episode-by-episode recording of the season's events, along with analysis and pertinent information about new technologies and trends revealed. Each episode description concludes with campaign hooks for characters engaged in various common games. Everyone in the galaxy, from common merchants to bounty hunters and heads of state will have to relearn what it means to be alive in a world they can forge for themselves. The section finishes with a potential timeline of events, allowing Games Masters and players to see what is going on in the galaxy at a given time. Some episodes lack textual clues to set them in time; others have specific dates mentioned, or events that can be dated given the in-show information.

The last three chapters of the book contain specific rules information for the Babylon 5 RPG, including new equipment, prestige classes and some new ships (including the Warlock Class cruiser). These expand upon the information contained in the other season books. Information about the various Vorlon ships, as well as the host of other, smaller vessels, is reserved for the soon to be released Babylon 5 tabletop game.

Of all of the seasons, Season 4 is the most dramatically dense and emotionally affecting. Events stack up one upon the other, carrying the unwise along. The wise, people like Delenn, Sheridan, and Neroon, recognize these events not as the tide of destiny but rather are ripples of change. It is a time when a single man can alter the fate of the galaxy, where brave hearts and bold vision count for more than guns and steel. It is a time for legends to rise up and walk the galaxy once more. The crew of Babylon 5 may be the most obvious of those legends but they do not stand alone. Characters surviving the events of this season have the opportunity to write their names among the stars for all eternity.