Z'ha'dum (planet)
| Z'ha'dum | |
|---|---|
| Universe | Babylon 5 |
| Notable races | Shadows |
| Created by | J. Michael Straczynski |
| Genre | Sci-fi |
In the fictional Babylon 5 universe, Z'ha'dum is the homeworld of an ancient, mysterious race known as the Shadows. The planet is near the galactic rim. The Shadows return to the world every time they are defeated, until their final departure from the galaxy in 2261.
Probably inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Khazad-dûm', the dwarvish name for Moria in Middle Earth.
Z'ha'dum has extensive mountain ranges composed of igneous rock and lava fields from volcanoes of glittering obsidian that tower over sediment-covered plains. Weather patterns are violent, with dust storms covering one-quarter of the planet's surface at any given time. Shadow structures cover 30% of the planet's surface, though most habitats are below ground.
The surface is mostly desolate, with raging dust storms lashing the rocky surface. Stone obelisks covered in Shadow Runes pierce the land. Roughly translated, they say "every light carries a shadow". The obelisks, made of native sedimentary rock, range from 100 to 150 yards high. They are spaced at a constant 2.43 miles apart and are spread over large parts of the planet, and appear to be concentrated in areas near cave entrances where Shadows dwell. Any other structures that were on the surface, however, have not survived.
By the twenty-third century the planet has been devastated by previous wars. As a result, the Shadows have begun living underground. All that is left on the surface are a few ruins. The atmosphere is not breathable by humans, who require oxygen masks to move about on the planet.
The Icarus, a science vessel from Earth, finds the Shadows and inadvertently wakes them from their long hibernation. After this the Shadows give the crew a chance to agree to work with them. Morden agrees to do so, and becomes the liaison between the Shadows, the Centauri Republic, and President Clark's government on Earth. Others who refuse, like Anna Sheridan, are either killed outright, or taken and plugged into Shadow ships to act as central processor units. The Shadows build a complex on the surface to accommodate those humans who agreed to assist the Shadows.
When the Shadows learn that Anna Sheridan is plugged into a Shadow vessel, they remove her and send her to Babylon 5 to bring John Sheridan back to the Shadow homeworld in the episode "Z'ha'dum". Sheridan discovers Anna has been plugged into a Shadow vessel, and that her personality has been destroyed in the process. When the Shadows try to attack him, he shoots at the approaching Shadow, and escapes to a balcony overlooking the Shadow capital city. He orders the White Star to nose dive into the city, and sets the two nuclear devices on board to detonate. Upon hearing the voice of Kosh, Sheridan jumps into the great pit below the balcony. The White Star explodes, killing Anna Sheridan and destroying the Shadows' capital.
...
Wikipedia