Narn - Government

Government

The Narn Regime is the government of the Narn. The regime is led by the "Kha'Ri"; it is basically a large council with different levels (called "circles") of authority. The first circle consists of the national elite who form planetary policy and handle relations with other alien races. Before the Narn-Centauri War (see below), the Kha'Ri's membership consisted mostly of the veterans and leaders of the Narn's successful guerilla war against the Centauri, which may account for the Kha'Ri's near-obsession with constantly humiliating and defeating the Centauri. The Narn Regime is a young empire, having grown rapidly since their independence from the Centauri Republic in the early 23rd Century. Clever diplomacy, a pragmatic approach to arms dealing, and investment in building up their own military were all characteristics of the Narn Regime in the decades leading up to the Shadow War. For instance, the Narn were the only major power willing to sell effective weapons to the Earth Alliance during the Earth-Minbari War, albeit secretly considering the threat of the Minbari turning on them for aiding their enemy. The fact that their weaponry was derived from Centauri designs also raised Narn hopes that the older race might suspect their former occupiers and attack them instead of Narn.

The devastation inflicted upon the Narn homeworld left them little choice but to either accept a long, difficult attempt to restore the ruined climate and biosphere of their planet - or to establish and defend colonies that could send back resources to sustain the dying Narn homeworld. The Narn chose this latter option, resolving to expand their economy and influence as quickly as possible, and by any means necessary. They sold any technology and/or weapons of value to anyone who could afford to pay for it, including groups branded as criminals and pirates by other races. Using technology and orbital shipyards inherited from the Centauri, they swiftly built a starfleet of their own and secured several nearby planets in the first few years of their independence. The speed with which the Narn empire grew was all the more impressive given their lack of technological advancement prior to the arrival of the Centauri. In order to achieve, the Narn adopted policies that tended to emphasize ruthlessness and a pragmatic approach to diplomatic agreements. When they felt themselves strong enough, the Narn began to bully and plunder other races just as the Centauri had done to them. They were often aggressive and brutal, not hesitating to use threats or outright force to seize disputed regions or settle conflicts in their favor. Thus, it is not surprising that many races, even those who continued trading with the Narn despite their dissatisfaction with Narn policies and actions, had ambivalent or negative opinions of the Narn Regime and the Narn in general. They won few friends among the other races, even among those races that traded with them, who too often found themselves on the wrong side of perceived Narn double-dealing—a failing initially seen by the Narn as a small price to pay, until they realized too late during the Narn-Centauri War that they could not survive without allies, and that they had alienated any potential friends.

The Narn Regime at its greatest expansion, besides the Narn homeworld, also included a number of colonies and planetary systems such as Che, Zok, Dros, and Sigma 957. Narn territory also included vital border sectors with the Centauri such as Quadrants 14 and 24. These holdings made the Narn Regime a major power in the galaxy. However, this situation was not to last.

Early on in the series, the Narn government is portrayed as unscrupulous and aggressive. (Midnight on the Firing Line) A sneak attack on a Centauri outpost sets the stage for reprisals by the Centauri that ultimately result in the virtual destruction of the Narn Regime. Later episodes such as Deathwalker, where the Narn try to take custody of a Dilgar prisoner, and Legacies, when they try to buy a human telepath, do little to improve the poor reputation the Narn have for being opportunistic and thirsty for influence and power.

When the Narn find out that they cannot win the war with the Centauri they have been so desperate to start, a different side of the Narn becomes apparent. They are courageous and capable of exhibiting an extraordinary degree of self-sacrifice, such as when a Narn warship allows a group of civilian ships to escape by putting itself between Centauri battleships and a jumpgate. (Acts of Sacrifice) This courage extends beyond their own species, as with the Narn helping Babylon 5 defend itself from President Clark's forces in Severed Dreams.