Editing Battle of NCD2539

{{Battle Data
| name= Battle of NCD2539
| image= 3x7-BattleOfNCD2539.jpg
| description= 
| conflict=[[Cylon Attack|Second Cylon War]]
| date= c. [[Timeline (RDM)|Day 851]]
| place=The region of [[NCD2539]], above/north
| result= Tactical draw <br />''Galactica'' withdrawl<br />[[The Fleet (RDM)|Colonial]] objective to infect [[Resurrection Ship]] failed<br />Death of Cylon hostages by suffocation outside of downloading range
| combatant1=Remnants of the [[Colonial Fleet (TRS)|Colonial Fleet]]
| combatant2=[[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]
| co1=Admiral [[William Adama]]
| co2=[[Basestar command]]
| strength1=''{{RDM|Galactica}}''<br />[[Vipers]]<br />[[Raptors]]
| strength2=4 [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]]<br />[[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raiders]]<br />[[Heavy Raider]]s<br />1 [[Resurrection Ship]]
| shiploss1= None
| shiploss2= Unknown
| casualties1=None
| casualties2=Unknown, dozens of Raiders
| prev=[[Battle of New Caprica]]
| next=[[Battle of the Algae Planet]]
| series=RDM
}}


The '''Battle of NCD2539''' occurs when the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]], having recently taken several infected humanoid Cylon prisoners from an [[Torn|epidemic]] basestar, attempts to rid itself of the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] threat through the use of a virulent biological weapon.

President [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] provides the presidential authorization required for the use of biological weapons.  ''{{RDM|Galactica}}'', leaving all civilian ships at a safe location, jumps to a location in open space near [[NCD2539]], where a known Cylon supply route lies.  Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]]'s intent is to lure Cylon forces, including coverage by a [[Resurrection Ship]], into the area so that when the Colonials execute their infected Humanoid Cylon prisoners, [[Resurrection (RDM)|download]] of their consciousnesses would infect the Cylon populace with a [[Lymphocytic encephalitis|human virus with a bioelectric pathogen]] that could eventually annihilate the Cylon race. 

Shortly after ''Galactica'' arrives, two scouting [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raiders]] jump into the vicinity, then jump away after observing ''Galactica''.  Three basestars, later joined by a fourth and a Resurrection Ship appear within minutes.  As part of their feint, ''Galactica'' launches multiple Vipers and Raptors, with the latter firing an open salvo of missiles into the Cylon Raider swarm.

No one in [[CIC]] knows that ''Galactica'''s prisoner compartment is vented as an act of mission sabotage (the saboteur being [[Karl Agathon|Karl "Helo" Agathon]]), asphyxiating the prisoners before the Resurrection Ship is in range.  With the Cylons now nearby, Admiral Adama orders the execution of the Cylon prisoners.  Attempting this, the prisoners are found to already be dead.

With the objective no longer possible, Admiral Adama aborts the mission, ordering his pilots to land and returning his battlestar to the Fleet ([[TRS]]: "[[A Measure of Salvation]]").

==Analysis==

[[File:3x7-BattleOfNCD2539RaptorsFiring.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Raptors firing missiles.]]

In this engagement, [[Raptors]] are shown loaded to the teeth with weapons systems. In the past {{TRS|Miniseries|The Hand of God (RDM)}}, Raptors have rarely been depicted in actual combat, preferring instead to hang back while coordinating battlefield logistics. They have been shown armed in a few prior episodes ([[TRS]]: "[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]," "[[Fragged]]"), and this is their most prominent combat role to date. The Raptors are using the external missile pods and cannons introduced in "[[Exodus, Part I|Exodus, Part I]] & [[Exodus, Part II|II]]" and engage in the same maneuver used to launch the decoy drones during the [[Battle of New Caprica]].

Despite the damage inflicted during the Battle of New Caprica, ''Galactica'' shows her durability here by engaging in combat operations, successfully holding off a Cylon fleet for a short duration without suffering damage. At least some of the ship's [[Weapons in the Re-imagined Series|point defense guns and main batteries]] appear functional.



{{clear}}{{Battles (RDM)}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial Battles]]
[[Category:Colonial Battles (TRS)]]
{{indicator|TRS}}[[Category:TRS]]

[[de:Schlacht von NCD2539]]