Editing Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo 6

{{separate continuity|universe=TOS|cont=Dynamite Comics}}

{{Comic Data
| image =BSGDOA05CovAMayhew.jpg
| title=Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #6
| series=Dynamite
| issueno=6
| episode=
| writer= [[Dan Abnett]]
| penciller=[[Dietrich Smith]] 
| inker= 
| colorist= [[Fran Gamboa]]
| letterer= [[Simon Bowland]]
| editor=
| cover= [[Mike Mayhew]] (Cover A)<br/>[[Dietrich Smith]] (Cover B)<br/>[[Livio Ramondelli]] (Cover C)<br/>[[Ardian Syaf]] (Cover D)
| published=May 2015
| collects=
| collected=[[Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo (Trade Paperback)|Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo]]
| reprints=
| reprinted=
| isbn= 725130224408
| prev={{comics|doa|5}}
| next={{comics|vol3|1}}
}}

: ''[[Starbuck (TOS-DE alternate)|Starbuck]] and [[Athena (TOS-DE alternate)|Athena]] have refused to accept that [[Apollo (TOS-DE alternate)|Apollo]] is gone, and their unsanctioned mission to prove that he surv<nowiki/>ived has led to catastrophic consequences for [[The Fleet (TOS-DE alternate)|the Fleet]]. After years of silence, the [[Cylons (TOS-DE alternate)|Cylons]] have found humanity again, and are closing in greater numbers than ever before to complete the extinction of mankind.''<ref>{{cite_web|url=https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513022440806011|title=
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE DEATH OF APOLLO #6 (OF 6)|date=|accessdate=07 November 2021|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>

== Plot ==

* [[Ambush by the Super Basestar|With the ambush in progress]], Major [[Apollo (TOS-DE alternate)|Apollo]] and Captain [[Athena (TOS-DE alternate)|Athena]] are directing the deployed [[Viper (TOS-DE alternate)|Viper]] screens against the onslaught of the [[Cylons (TOS-DE alternate)|Cylon]] [[Raider (TOS-DE alternate)|Raiders]]. While Apollo orders ''[[Atrius Cargo]]'' to pull in tighter for better protection, Athena vainly coordinates the defense of the ill-fated ''[[Taurus Axillon]]''. With ''Axillon'' gone, Athena redirects forces to cover ''[[Raxis]]''.
*Colonel [[Tigh (TOS-DE alternate)|Tigh]] and Commander [[Adama (TOS-DE alternate)|Adama]] discuss the situation near the wall map, with Adama reflecting that the Cylons have them cold.
*Captain [[Starbuck (TOS-DE alternate)|Starbuck]] appraises the situation from his Viper: Raiders are pushing down the center of [[The Fleet (TOS-DE alternate)|the Fleet]], while [[Hybrid missile carrier|hybrid missile carriers]] attack the Fleet's tanker formations.
*Starbuck is told no more Vipers are available, to which he adamantly advocates for an offensive strike against the basestar, otherwise the Fleet will be destroyed.
*Athena relents to the request, advocating moving three Viper screens to attack the basestar to Adama. Adama refuses on the basis of the basestar being virtually impervious, thus making any offensive Viper run futile.
*With their only course of action being purely defensive, [[Omega (TOS-DE alternate)|Omega]] informs Tigh that only 16 Vipers of dubious status in reserve. However, with no pilots available, Apollo volunteers for duty but is quickly rebuked by Adama.
*Tigh asks Adama for permission to stand relieved in order to pilot one of the reserve Vipers. Adama reluctantly concedes, ordering Tigh to have two Vipers prepped: he is joining his friend. 
*Apollo is reminded that he cannot fight, and Adama instructs his son to "run this war" so that he may "bring us to victory," leaving both his children to run the defensive operation. 
*Adama and Tigh, now in brown and beige Colonial Warrior uniforms, enter their Vipers and launch into the fray to take out their first Cylons in a long while. 
*The Cylons begin jamming all Colonial transmissions to prevent further coordination. Athena runs countermeasures while [[Countess]] [[Sephoni]] enters core command. She informs Apollo of [[Psionic|her divination]] of a weak point in the super basestar's shielding: a seam in the shielding overlap that would allow a precise [[fusion missile]] strike.  
*With the jamming up, this information cannot be shared to the Vipers already aloft, and so Apollo makes the decision to fly one of the reservist Vipers and carry the payload himself.  
*He orders the launch bay techs to prep his Viper with the needed ordnance, and launches. After remarking that he's not dead after the acceleration from the tube, Apollo makes a solemn promise to Athena (who cannot hear him) that he won't take any unnecessary risks.    
*After making his way through the Raider screens, the jamming is thwarted and Athena communicates the basestar's vulnerability to the fighters in action. Adama expresses his displeasure at Apollo's disobedience, while Starbuck is able to break free of the defense line and lend support to Apollo. With Starbuck's missile payload exhausted, he is forced into a subordinate position of supporting Apollo's attack run, despite expressing concerns about the g-forces aggravating Apollo's injury.  
*While Starbuck takes out four Raiders, Apollo makes his way to the target and launches the missile. The super basestar is destroyed and, while Apollo was not caught up in its explosion, his Viper is unable to course-correct from its direct flight-line into the nearby star.  
*His friends and family are helpless as Apollo's fate is sealed.   
*In ''Galactica''<nowiki/>'s [[Life science|life sciences]] bay, the comatose [[Xam]] taps "GONE" repeatedly on the digital pad at his hand.  
*After the battle, Adama makes a speech before an assembly of ''Galactica''<nowiki/>'s crew, including [[Boxey (TOS-DE alternate)|Boxey]] and [[Muffit (TOS-DE alternate)|Muffit]], to commemorate the loss of Warriors before a monument to Apollo, consisting of a Warrior's helmet and a Viper model. He promises to find [[Earth (TOS-DE alternate)|Earth]] "even if I must search every star in the heavens and live a ''thousand'' lives."  

* 

== Notes ==

=== Releases ===

* An additional exclusive subscription variant cover (Cover D) featuring the work of [[Ardian Syaf]] was made available to "comic shop subscribers and limited to initial orders."

=== Nods ===

* The last page of this issue commemorates the memory of ''[[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Battlestar Galactica]]''<nowiki/>'s creator [[Glen A. Larson]].
* The Viper's control column with the firing button shows up here, a nod to the Original Series' continual close-up depiction of this particular set piece during battle sequences. 

* 

=== Errata ===

* Tigh uses the word "old dogs" to describe himself when volunteering to pilot one of the reserve Vipers, instead of the proper term "[[daggit]]." The issue recurs again when Tigh uses the term "dogfight" later in the issue.
*Adama refers to the current situation as a "dark hour," when it should be "dark [[Centar|centon]]."
*The ships depicted in [[The Fleet (TOS-DE alternate)|the rag-tag Fleet]] are more reminiscent of the Re-imagined Series' crafts, notably with the inclusion of ''[[Zephyr]]''.
*The interiors of both the corridors and the launch bay are taken from their Re-imagined Series counterparts. 
*The Vipers show a coloration of the red stripes of [[Mark II Viper|their Re-imagined counterparts]], instead of the Original Series' orange.
*The only interiors depicted that mirror the Original Series' aesthetics are the [[Launch tube (TOS)|launch tubes]] and [[core command]].
*The depiction of the last Viper that Apollo boards in the launch bay is a hybridization of both the Original and Re-imagined Vipers, although in the next issue, the craft is more in line with the Original Series' depiction.

* 

== Analysis ==

* As with previous issues written by [[Dan Abnett]], there are direct ties to the events of ''[[Galactica 1980]]'', including [[Apollo (TOS-DE alternate)|Apollo]]'s death and [[Boxey (TOS-DE alternate)|Boxey]]'s ascension as a Warrior. A majority of the comics published tend to eschew ''1980'', ignoring it in the way that creator [[Glen A. Larson]] had as "[[Starbuck (TOS)|Starbuck]]'s bad dream."
*While Apollo's death in this issue is a definitive event, left vague was whether or not Apollo died en route to his star dive due to his head injury.
*Interestingly, the Cylon side of the story is untold throughout this series, with all action being Colonial driven. In the course of other ''Battlestar'' stories, there is often an antagonist visibly leading the charge: be it an [[IL-series]] Cylon ([[Lucifer (TOS-DE alternate)|Lucifer]], [[Abbadon]], et al.), [[Baltar (TOS-DE alternate)|Baltar]], the [[Imperious Leader (TOS-DE alternate)|Imperious Leader]] itself, or even [[Count]] [[Iblis (alternate)|Iblis]]. This leads any nuanced motivations of the Cylons, outside of their desire to exterminate humanity, nebulous: namely why they recovered and kept Apollo alive. (Although it could be inferred that this was done to allow his rescue, so that the rescue party could lead the Cylons to the Fleet, as Apollo suspected at the [[Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo 5|end of the previous issue]].) 

* 

== Questions ==

* Will [[Boxey (TOS-DE alternate)|Boxey]] become a [[Warrior (alternate)|Warrior]]?
* Will [[The Fleet (TOS-DE alternate)|the Fleet]] find [[Earth (TOS-DE alternate)|Earth]]?
* What other sinister war machines will the [[Cylons (TOS-DE alternate)|Cylons]] concoct? 
* Will [[Xam]] recover from his coma?
* Where is [[Cassiopeia (TOS-DE alternate)|Cassiopeia]]?

* 

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

* ''[[Adama (TOS-DE alternate)|Adama]] joins the [[Viper (TOS-DE alternate)|Viper]] defense.''
*:'''Adama:''' I remember how to fly. I can be of ''some'' use in this dark hour. ''[[Apollo (TOS-DE alternate)|You're]]'' running this war. I have ''absolute'' confidence in you [[Athena (TOS-DE alternate)|both]]. Everybody counts right now. ''Everybody.''
*:'''Apollo:''' Which is why you should grant me flight pri--
*:'''Adama:''' You're not ''fit!'' Get back to your stations. ''Now.'' Apollo, you have core command. ''Run'' this war. Bring us to ''victory.'' I'll do ''my'' part.
*''[[Starbuck (TOS-DE alternate)|Starbuck]] flies with Apollo one last time.''
*:'''Starbuck:''' Apollo! ''Abort!'' Get back to the ''Galactica''! ''I'll'' handle this, you crazy loon.
*:'''Apollo:''' Nice to see you ''too'', 'Buck... I see your missile racks are ''empty''.
*:'''Starbuck:''' Yeah, I used all my [[Fusion missile|fusion warheads]] up. It got a little ''busy''.
*:'''Apollo:''' Then you ''can't'' handle this. A fusion missile is the ''only'' thing that's going to cut it.
*:'''Starbuck:''' Space-sucking f-- Apollo! I don't ''care''! ''Abort!''
*:'''Apollo:''' Negative, Starbuck... this is just the way it's got to be. It's just the way things ''work'' out sometimes.
*:'''Starbuck:''' Apollo! When you ''pull out'' of the run, the ''g-force'' will--
*:'''Apollo:''' I know. Just watch my back.
*''Apollo takes out the [[super basestar]].''
*:'''Apollo:''' The commander said, ''"Bring us to victory"''. I was just following his order. 'Buck? I... I think I took some minor damage in the explosion. Stick's ''jammed''...
*:'''Starbuck:''' ''(sees Apollo's Viper on a collision course towards a star)'' Apollo! Pull out! ''Correct course! Apollo!'' Correct course ''now!'' Apollo! ''Pull out of that dive!'' '''''Apollo!''''' ''(no response)''
*''Adama speaks before an assembly after the battle.''
*:'''Adama:''' We have suffered before. We have ''lost'' before. But we have ''endured'', and we have ''survived''. And we will ''continue'' to survive. Hope lies ''ahead'' of us, always. The hope of a ''new life'' and of ''peace.'' But as we strive to find the [[Thirteenth Colony (TOS-DE alternate)|Thirteenth Colony]], we must pause to honor the ''memory'' of those who make our hopes possible. The [[Warrior (alternate)|Warriors]] who give their lives defending mankind. The men and women who make the ''ultimate sacrifice'' so that the rest can live. One, this day in ''particular''. My son Apollo. And I swear, even if I must search every star in the heavens and live a ''thousand'' lives. .. in his name, I ''will'' find the shining planet known as [[Earth (TOS-DE alternate)|Earth]].

== Related Imagery ==

=== Covers ===
<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:BSGDOA05CovAMayhew.jpg|alt=Cover A by Mike Mayhew.|Cover A by [[Mike Mayhew]].
File:BSGDOA05CovBSmith.jpg|alt=Cover B by Dietrich Smith.|Cover B by [[Dietrich Smith]].
File:BSGDOA05CovCRamondelli.jpg|alt=Cover C by Livio Ramondelli.|Cover C by [[Livio Ramondelli]].
File:BSGDOA05CovDSubSyaf.jpg|alt=Cover D by Ardian Syaf.|Cover D by [[Ardian Syaf]].
File:BSGDOA05CovEIncen10SmithBW.jpg|alt=Cover E by Dietrich Smith. (B&W Incentive)|Cover E by [[Dietrich Smith]]. (B&W Incentive)
File:BSGDOA05CovFIncen15SyafBW.jpg|alt=Cover F by Ardian Syaf. (B&W Incentive)|Cover F by [[Ardian Syaf]]. (B&W Incentive)
File:BSGDOA05CovGIncen25SmithRed.jpg|alt=Cover G by Dietrich Smith. (Red Monochrome Incentive)|Cover G by [[Dietrich Smith]]. (Red Monochrome Incentive)  
</gallery>

=== Preview Pages ===

: ''Please Note: These are used for promotional purposes by the publisher, and are provided here in the same vein.''
<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:BSGDOA051.jpg|alt=Page 1.|Page 1.
File:BSGDOA052.jpg|alt=Page 2.|Page 2.
File:BSGDOA053.jpg|alt=Page 3.|Page 3.
File:BSGDOA054.jpg|alt=Page 4.|Page 4.
File:BSGDOA055.jpg|alt=Page 5.|Page 5.
</gallery>

== External links ==
*{{Archivelink|url=https://dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513022440805011|title=Dynamite.com - BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE DEATH OF APOLLO #5 (OF 6)}}
*{{Archivelink|url=https://dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513022440805041|title=Dynamite.com - BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE DEATH OF APOLLO #5 (OF 6) EXCLUSIVE SUBSCRIPTION VARIANT COVER}}
==References==
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