First Ones

The First Ones is the collective name of a group of aliens from the television science fiction drama Babylon 5.

The First Ones are the ancient alien races of the galaxy, the first organisms to achieve sentience and the first to become spacefaring. Of these races, Lorien's was the first, with Lorien himself being the first among them. They were followed by the Shadows, who were discovered and taught by Lorien's people. Other races also appeared, among them the Vorlons, the Walkers at Sigma 957, and others. Together they achieved great enlightenment and technological advancement. Over time, however, many of these races left the galaxy, some dying out, others heading beyond the galactic rim into the void of intergalactic space. Of the few who stayed behind, most remained for reasons known only to them, but of these remaining races, two would be charged with the guardianship of the younger races (the Minbari, Narn, Centauri, Humans and others). These two are the Vorlons and the Shadows. The others after the Great War 10,000 years ago remained in isolation and allowed only Lorien to visit.

Over the millennia, the Vorlons and the Shadows became engaged in a war over their different philosophies. The Vorlons believed that the best way to teach the younger races was through order, law, and discipline, while the Shadows believed that the best path to teaching younger races lay through chaos, conflict, and strife. So embroiled did these two races become, so involved in their own conflict over their philosophies that they themselves lost their way, setting up an endless cycle of wars in which the younger races were pitted against each other as pawns.

Besides the Vorlons and Shadows, there were other members of the First Ones in the galaxy. The first human sighting of one of these races occurred in 2258 when the survey ship Skydancer piloted by Catherine Sakai encountered a strange alien ship while investigating the planet Sigma 957. With the outbreak of the Shadow War in 2260, it was decided that it would be in the interests of those fighting the Shadows to seek out assistance of these remaining races. In 2260, a White Star commanded by Commander Ivanova and Ranger Marcus Cole made contact with the Walkers of Sigma 957. Though initially turned down in their request for assistance, Ivanova was able to goad the Walkers into agreeing to provide assistance in the upcoming Shadow War when the time was right.

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