Editing Athena (TOS)

{{disline|This article discusses the [[Original Series]] character. For information on this character's [[Re-imagined Series]] namesake, see {{callsign|Athena}}.}}
{{Character Data 
    |title= Athena
    |photo= TOS - Series - Athena - Promo.jpg
    |series=TOS
    |photo 2=TOS - LPOG - Athena - Promo.jpg|caption 2={{TOS|Athena}} in a {{TOS|Uniform|battle suit}} on {{TOS|Kobol}} {{OS|Lost Planet of the Gods, Part II}}.|age=
    |colony= [[The Twelve Colonies of Man#Caprica|Caprica]]
    |birthname= Athena
    |callsign=
    |death= 
    |parents=  {{TOS|Adama}} and [[Ila]]
    |siblings= {{TOS|Apollo}} and [[Zac]] (KIA)
    |children=
    |marital status= Single
    |familytree=Y
    |role= [[Core Command]] Operative, {{TOS|Battlestar|battlestar}} ''{{TOS|Galactica}}''
    |rank= 2nd Lieutenant
    |actor= [[Maren Jensen]]
    |cylon=
    |caption={{TOS|Athena}} in her typical {{TOS|Uniform|officer's uniform}}.|name= 
    |sepcon=y
    }}
'''Athena''' is the daughter of {{TOS|Adama}} and sister of {{TOS|Apollo}}. She serves primarily as an officer in [[Core Command]], manning a [[scanner]].

== Biography ==

=== The Peace Conference ===

Athena flies Adama in a [[Colonial shuttle|shuttle]] from ''{{TOS|Atlantia|Atlantia}}'' to ''{{TOS|Galactica}}''. She informs her father that ''Galactica'' is on alert, as Apollo's patrol has run into trouble. After the [[Battle of Cimtar|ambush]], ''Galactica'' returns to collect her fighters. Athena rushes into {{TOS|Starbuck}}'s arms. Starbuck is upset that the {{TOS|Viper|Vipers}} were abandoned by ''Galactica'' during the battle, until Athena tells him that {{TOS|The Twelve Colonies|the colonies}} had been destroyed. Starbuck finds Athena later to apologize for how he acted in the landing bay, and points out that they may not have much time to live. Athena says that she cannot commit to a relationship in the midst of all of the chaos. Athena speaks with Adama in his quarters. He tells her about the conditions on [[The Twelve Colonies of Man#Caprica|Caprica]], and it is apparent that Adama is humbled by the responsibility that has fallen to him. 

=== After the Cylon Attack ===

While on duty in Core Command, Athena checks on Starbuck's status on the flight deck. She catches him in the arms of [[Cassiopeia]] inside one of the {{TOS|Launch tubes|Launch tubes}}. Infuriated, she activates a steam purge of the tube, burning Starbuck (and causing great discomfort for him during his mission through the [[Straits of Madagon]]).

Athena heads down to the surface of [[Carillon]] to the chancery to spend some time with Starbuck, only to find Cassiopeia there with the same thing in mind. The rivalry between the two has officially begun.

Athena is on duty in Core Command when the {{TOS|Cylons|Cylon}} [[Battle of Carillon|attack]] begins. She is surprised to see how quickly the Vipers are able to launch, considering that all the pilots were supposed to be at Sire [[Uri]]'s award ceremony {{OS|Saga of a Star World}}.
[[File:AthenaLostPlanet1.jpg|left|thumb|Athena in a [[Flight training rooms|Viper simulator]] {{OS|Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I}}.]]
Athena prepares the meal at which Apollo announces his intention to be [[seal]]ed to [[Serina]]. Athena gazes longingly at Starbuck, who quickly excuses himself in order to begin preparations for Apollo's bachelor party. Athena is one of the shuttle pilots selected for Viper training when the other [[Warrior]]s develop the mysterious illness. During a training simulation she successfully destroys a {{TOS|Raider|Raider}}, as well as Starbuck. Athena is selected to be Starbuck's wingman during the mission to destroy the Cylon outpost, and he asks that she not shoot him this time. Athena and the other new pilots succeed in their mission, destroying the outpost and securing the medical information needed to combat the illness {{OS|Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I}}.

Athena joins the group that goes down to {{TOS|Kobol}}. She is overjoyed when Starbuck returns unharmed from his Cylon captivity, and runs into his arms. When the Raiders begin their attack, Athena rushes to a Viper to go fight them. The inexperienced fighters begin to fight the Cylons, and are soon joined by the recently recovered veteran pilots. They successfully fight off the Cylon attack {{OS|Lost Planet of the Gods, Part II}}.

When Starbuck is awarded a dinner reservation aboard ''{{TOS|Rising Star}}'', Athena is disappointed that she cannot join him because she is on duty in Core Command. Adama and {{TOS|Tigh|Colonel Tigh}} agree to cover her shift, and she happily leaves to join Starbuck. Meanwhile Starbuck has already made other plans, and has begun a date with Cassiopeia. Athena arrives while Cassiopeia is out of the room, and Starbuck manages to secure another private room in order to juggle the two dates. Starbuck seems to pull it off successfully, leaving each of them one of his insignia as a token of his affection. His plan falls apart when the ladies run into each other as they leave, each holding the same token. 

[[File:AthenaGreetingsFromEarth.jpg|thumb|right|Athena teaches a classroom of students ([[TOS]]: "[[Greetings From Earth]]).]]

Athena puts her rivalry with Cassiopeia aside when she calls her up to Core Command. The signals they are receiving from the Recon Viper lead them to believe that Starbuck may be dead. Cassiopeia recognizes the signals as an [[Aerian merchant code]]. This is enough for Adama to call off the order to destroy the Viper, allowing Apollo and Boomer to get to the bottom of the mystery {{OS|The Long Patrol}}.

Athena is playing [[Compartment bulyarks|a game]] with {{TOS|Boxey}} in the [[rejuvenation center]] when the suicide attack Raiders explode against ''Galactica'' cutting the area off from the rest of the ship. Athena and Boxey help tend to the wounded, and are eventually rescued thanks to the efforts of Apollo, Starbuck, and [[Muffit]] {{OS|Fire in Space}}.

Athena is in charge of a classroom of students when the [[Lunar Avion|Terran Shuttle]] is brought aboard. Students in the class include Boxey and [[Loma]] {{OS|Greetings From Earth}}.  Her appearance in this episode was the last time Athena would be seen in the series.

==Family tree==
{{Adama Family Tree (TOS)}}

== Notes ==

=== Character Conception and Portrayal ===
According to ''[[So Say We All: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Battlestar Galactica]]'', the character of Athena was portrayed by [[Maren Jensen]], a former model who had very little acting experience prior to being cast.<ref>{{cite book/sswa|74}}</ref> Jensen acknowledged learning a great deal on the set from veteran actors like [[Lorne Greene]].<ref>{{cite book/sswa|74}}</ref>

Athena was introduced as Commander Adama's daughter and a bridge officer. Her primary storyline involved a love triangle with [[Starbuck (TOS)|Starbuck]] and [[Cassiopeia]]. A notable scene in the pilot features Athena discovering Starbuck and Cassiopeia in a launch tube and retaliating by activating the [[steam purge]].<ref>{{cite book/sswa|66-67}}</ref>

As the series progressed, Athena's role was significantly scaled back. She, along with the character [[Boxey]], is written out of the show after the midseason two-part episode, "[[Greetings From Earth]]."<ref>{{cite book/sswa|164}}</ref>

=== Re-imagined Series Perspective ===
When developing the 2004 re-imagined series, creator [[Ronald D. Moore]] reflected on the original Athena, stating that he felt the character "had no real role to play" beyond her romantic interest in Starbuck. This assessment led to his decision not to include a direct counterpart of Athena in the new series, believing the character did not serve a vital purpose in the original narrative.<ref>{{cite book/sswa|315}}</ref> 

In a sense, the character of Athena was merged with that of her brother [[Zac]] to form the Re-imagined Series character, [[Zak Adama]].  While Zac and Athena were both Adama's children and the lower-ranking siblings of Apollo, Zac provided the Zak Adama's name and gender, and Athena provided the status of trainee pilot ("nugget") instructed by his/her love interest, Starbuck.

Later in [[Season 3 (2006-07)|Season 3]], Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] gives {{callsign|Athena}}, a [[humanoid Cylon|Cylon]] in whom he confides as a father would to a daughter, and gives her a Colonial Fleet commission. After she rebuffs her fellow pilots' attempts to apply [[Number Eight|her "sister"]]'s former callsign, "[[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]]" to her, the pilots suggest a handful of humorous and affectionate callsigns, but settle on the name "Athena" in the {{TRS|Torn|prose=y}}.

=== Additional Details ===
*The name [[w:Athena|Athena]] is based on a goddess from Greek mythology who was identified by the Romans as [[w:Minerva|Minerva]], also known as [[w:Athene|Athene]].

*In "[[The Long Patrol]]," a [[:File:PersonnelStatus.jpg|computer readout]] lists Athena as a lieutenant. Though this could be correct, however it did not specify if her ranking was either that of a warrior or of a naval nature. While this may well have been an error on the writers' parts, it is considered to be her rank in the Colonial Armed Forces. If we are correct in the equivalence of the ranks, the lieutenant ranking would be consistent with her naval ranking of ensign as well.

* ''According to ''[[Encyclopedia Galactica]]'' (a non-canonical piece of merchandise published in 1979):'' <blockquote>Athena was the youngest of Adama's children. She has an interest in telecommunications which lead her to pursue advance degrees in "ether physics" at the [[Academy]]. During her time there, she created various "improvements computerized (sic) in long-range scanning equipment" and also published "several widely acclaimed essays on the philosophy of science".<ref>{{cite_book|last=Kraus|first=Bruce|authorlink=|authorlinkurl=|coauthors=|year=1979|title=[[Encyclopedia Galactica]]|publisher=|location=|id=|pages=11}}</ref></blockquote>
== Gallery ==

<gallery caption="Athena Gallery"> 
File:Athena Orange Background.jpg
File:Athena - Arms Folded.jpg
File:Athena - Warrior Uniform.jpg
File:Athena Pose 1.jpg
File:Athena Pose 2.JPG
File:Athena - Fire in Space.jpg|A backlot shot of Maren Jensen as Athena during the filming of "[[Fire in Space]]."
File:Galactica women.jpg
File:Athen On Bridge.jpg|A promotional photo featuring the series' leading actors and Maren Jensen.
File:Athenacarillon.jpg|Athena on [[Carillon]] searching for {{TOS|Starbuck}} {{OS|Saga of a Star World}}.
File:Mushies.jpg|Athena and Starbuck enjoying some [[mushies]] on ''{{TOS|Rising Star|Rising Star}}'' {{OS|The Long Patrol}}.
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Characters (TOS)}}

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