Bojay (TOS-RH)

This article has a separate continuity. This article is in the Richard Hatch continuation separate continuity, which is related to the Original Series. Be sure that your contributions to this article reflect the characters and events specific to this continuity only.

For the canonical depiction of this character, see: Bojay.

Bojay is a veteran Colonial Warrior and ace Viper pilot who serves aboard Galactica. He is one of the most skilled pilots in the Fleet, considered by Starbuck to be the only pilot capable of outflying him besides Apollo and possibly Sheba.

Apollo ranks Bojay among the best pilots the fleet has ever seen or will ever see, placing him alongside Starbuck, Sheba, and Boomer. Bojay's exceptional abilities make him comparable to Starbuck, whom Apollo considers the best pilot he has when selecting personnel for a critical diplomatic mission to the Chitain.

Background

Bojay originally served under Commander Cain before the Fall of the Colonies.

Early Life and Career

As a boy, Bojay harbored doubts about his aptitude for becoming a warrior. He worried his reflexes were inadequate and questioned his ability to master the demanding mathematics required of pilots—subjects as challenging as those expected of astronomers, including paraboloids, vectors, loci, and basic ballistics. However, his hands guided his brain toward mechanical understanding, revealing exceptional talent in areas where he could physically interact with technology.

Bojay ultimately proved competent in all required areas. His first flight experience convinced him there was no greater pleasure, though he later declared it tied with another significant life experience.

Lost and Presumed Dead

Bojay disappears during a reconnaissance mission with a pilot named Jinx. Apollo loses contact with him after this mission and presumes him dead. In reality, Bojay survives but suffers a severe head injury causing complete amnesia. He becomes stranded on a remote planet with no recollection of his identity or past.

A patrol dispatched by Commander Cain eventually discovers Bojay on the planet. However, his changed appearance prevents recognition—even Apollo fails to identify him upon their eventual reunion. His physical transformation proves so complete that being presumed dead serves as an effective disguise. Bojay is notably large and powerfully built, possessing sufficient physical strength to lift Apollo off the ground in a bear hug.

Without his memory, Cain's personnel assign Bojay to mining operations on Poseidon. A second accident—a cave-in striking his head—helps restore his identity just as the Fleet prepares to depart the system.

Return to Service

When Bojay reunites with Apollo aboard Galactica, he works as a launch bay technician. His coveralls are streaked with grime and grease, ill-fitted to his large frame and giving him a shabby appearance. Despite this condition, Apollo recognizes an inherent dignity in the man.

Bojay expresses frustration at his technical assignment, complaining that his superiors doubt his flying abilities. He dismisses this assessment while asserting his continued piloting competence. Standing close to Apollo, he voices disgust at arrogant young recruits who claim warrior status without truly understanding its meaning.

Apollo reassures him that circumstances may soon provide opportunities to demonstrate his abilities. This prediction proves accurate as Bojay returns to active flying status.

Confrontation with Disrespectful Cadets

While repairing a Viper in the launch bay, Bojay endures mockery from Trays and his companions. The young pilots find amusement in watching an elder warrior serve them in a subordinate role. Trays issues imperious commands demanding expedited service.

Apollo witnesses this disrespect and physically confronts Trays, warning that Bojay could easily outfly him. Apollo delivers a stern lecture about respecting veterans who have sacrificed everything for the Fleet. Bojay attempts to defuse the situation out of embarrassment, but Apollo continues making clear the young pilots are vastly inferior to veterans like Bojay.

Return to Combat

Starbuck dramatically vindicates Apollo's faith in Bojay when preparing for a critical battle. He publicly removes Trays from his assigned Viper and orders Bojay to take his place. Bojay reacts with disbelief at his good fortune before enthusiastically stripping off his grimy coveralls. Starbuck justifies the substitution by declaring Bojay a far superior pilot—the only one who has ever outflown him besides Apollo and possibly Sheba.

During subsequent combat, Bojay validates Starbuck's assessment. Flying Trays' Viper, he demonstrates exceptional skill by intercepting a Cylon Raider attacking the transport Cerebus. He positions his Viper between the transport and the Raider before opening fire, sending the flaming wreckage spinning toward Kobol trailing black smoke.

The bridge crew of Daedalus responds with enthusiastic cheers as Bojay destroys a cluster of pursuing Chitain Stingers in rapid succession. Athena questions when Trays became so skilled, prompting Apollo to clarify that Starbuck substituted Bojay for the younger pilot.

Role as Mechanic

Following these events, Bojay fully transitions into work as a first-rate mechanic and technician while maintaining his piloting abilities. He earns a reputation as the Magician for his exceptional Viper repair and maintenance skills.

Bojay's philosophy holds that first-rate mechanics are valuable in peacetime but essential during war. He diagnoses problems by analyzing the sound and pitch of engines in aging Vipers, determining salvage potential and repair requirements. This expertise makes him invaluable to ace pilots—effectively allowing him to participate vicariously in their missions, just as he had done as an active pilot.

Initial resentment from pit crews when a pilot enters their domain quickly dissipates as Bojay proves his competence. Engineering personnel judge by results, and Bojay consistently delivers.

Bojay maintains particular affinity for older Vipers, recognizing shared characteristics as aging warriors. When properly maintained, these ships provide young pilots with exceptional performance. He applies the same philosophy to himself—several young female warriors demonstrate interest in him despite his receding hairline.

Physical signs of aging become evident: wrinkles, occasional blemishes, receding hairline, and developing paunch. Bojay accepts the hairline recession as it prevents hair from obscuring his vision, while viewing his additional weight as insulation. He maintains his reputation so long as his eyes remain clear and his hands steady.

His relationship with Starbuck remains strong during this period. Starbuck regularly visits while Bojay works, and Bojay claims unique communication with the ships he repairs. He teases Starbuck that his Viper feels neglected and eagerly reveals its problems.

Personality

Bojay possesses sharp wit and sarcastic humor that makes him popular among fellow pilots. He easily exchanges barbs with Boomer and Starbuck in the good-natured ribbing characteristic of veteran Warriors.

Despite advancing age, Bojay maintains confidence in his piloting abilities and appeal to women. He responds to Starbuck's teasing about his vitality by asserting that women still find him irresistible despite his years.

He demonstrates fierce loyalty to fellow Warriors and refuses to tolerate disrespect from younger pilots. During patrol in the Ur cloud, when Trays mocks his age, Bojay delivers a crude but effective retort that leaves Boomer struggling to contain laughter.

Bojay's experience provides wisdom he shares with others. He counsels Starbuck about relationships with women through self-deprecating humor. When Boomer sarcastically asks if they are discussing temporal displacement theories or geriatric stamina, Bojay dismisses him.

He also demonstrates remarkable perceptiveness regarding his friends' emotional states. During patrol over Paradis, Bojay immediately recognizes Starbuck's unspoken concerns about Athena, accurately identifying the relationship as the source of his friend's distraction.

Service Record

Mission to the Ur Cloud

Bojay participates in critical missions during the Fleet's entrapment in the Ur cloud. He flies patrol with Boomer searching for Troy, Dalton, and Trays when they become lost in the bizarre region where normal physics fails.

During the search, Bojay experiences disorienting effects firsthand. His instruments malfunction and communications with the younger pilots fail. He exhausts all technical approaches attempting to reestablish contact, but he and Boomer must ultimately return to Galactica when fuel reaches critical levels.

The experience weighs heavily on Bojay. When Boomer offers reassurance that the younger pilots will find escape, Bojay expresses concern about Trays making errors. Even upon spotting a mysterious silver crescent in the Ur cloud, Bojay's primary concern remains the safety of their fellow Warriors.

When Dalton, Troy, and Trays successfully return after discovering Pegasus wreckage and recovering Commander Cain's body, Bojay meets Starbuck in the launch bay. He delivers news of Dalton's safe return before revealing the shocking discovery that Cain survived and awaits in sickbay.

Warning and Arrest

After Starbuck absorbs the news, Bojay attempts to warn him about deteriorating conditions aboard Galactica. Before providing full explanation, Council Security forces storm the launch bay. A guard strikes Bojay when he tries to speak. They arrest both him and Starbuck, throwing them into a cell where they collide upon entry.

Sentencing and Condemnation

When Sire Aron convenes a tribunal to condemn the prisoners, Bojay receives a death sentence. After charging Apollo, Athena, Tigh, and Gar'Tokk, Aron declares that Bojay has forfeited his Colonial Warrior rights by assisting traitors and sentences him to execution.

Bojay responds defiantly but receives a vicious blow to his head, sinking to the floor. Starbuck and Apollo immediately kneel beside him. When Starbuck begins cursing the attackers, dozens of rifles aim at his head.

Service at Paradis

Following these events, Bojay continues active service when the Fleet reaches Paradis. He becomes one of Starbuck's preferred wingmen, valued for reliability comparable to physical constants. Starbuck even wishes he could find a woman as dependable as Bojay or Boomer.

He flies patrol with Boomer and Starbuck, engaging in characteristic banter over communications. During one flight, he jokes with Starbuck about relationships, demonstrating that veteran Warriors maintain humor and camaraderie despite their ordeals.

Bojay expresses philosophical views about command and isolation. When discussing Commander Athena's challenges, he observes that even those who depend on commanders experience different loneliness than wilderness isolation. Leadership responsibility creates an isolating cocoon of decisions and regrets.

During this period, Bojay helps train new recruits while maintaining his Viper maintenance role. He spends less time with ships and more time with young cadets, teaching both piloting and life skills. His friends notice only subtle signs of this activity—occasional bruises or cuts, and deep circles under his eyes from sleep deprivation.

Working with Troubled Youth

After the destruction of the ship Gardener, Bojay suffers internal distress though he gives no outward sign. The only behavioral change is spending less time with Vipers and more time with young cadets. He roams corridors during sleep shifts seeking the most incorrigible youngsters—those his companions consider beyond reclamation.

He becomes a one-man missionary and social work team, deliberately leaving his weapon behind when confronting the worst youths—those who might readily attack him for money. Those who attempt violence learn quick lessons as Bojay transforms from kindness into devastating physical force, delivering overwhelming but non-crippling responses. The social worker then swiftly returns, earning complete attention and respect.

When with Dalton, Rhaya, Troy, and Trays, Bojay remains friendly, open, helpful, and good-natured—still part of the old group. However, he refuses to discuss his nocturnal activities. His friends notice the bruises, cuts, and exhaustion, but attempts to draw him out fail.

Atmospheric Flight Training

During the Fleet's stay on Paradis, Bojay participates in exercises teaching atmospheric versus space flight skills. Veteran pilots help cadets understand that atmospheric flight requires different instincts—faster reactions, banking maneuvers, gliding techniques, and wind compensation. These skills prove essential as the Fleet commits to extended planetary presence.

Bojay discusses training challenges with fellow pilots, observing the extreme youth and inexperience of new recruits. When Rhaya jokes about primitive creatures, Bojay clarifies they are dealing with children.

He acknowledges the difficulty of conducting initial training with only simulators and classroom instruction, but emphasizes that experienced pilots must fulfill their duty. Bojay notes his advantage over others—his Viper repair responsibilities provide respite from constant recruit training. He can break from working with difficult youngsters by returning to mechanical work, an escape route unavailable to full-time instructors.

When Dalton jokingly requests instruction in Viper repair, the group shares laughter. Bojay accurately describes their challenge—pilot ranks have been severely diminished, requiring recruitment from untrained populations to restore proper force strength.

Heroic Rescue from Fire

Exhaustion potentially contributes to Bojay's eventual injury. Though always careful during fires and experienced in such situations, standard procedure requires rest before entering raging infernos like burning launch bays.

Initially his love of Vipers drives him to take exceptional risks, but he subsequently finds something more worthy of extreme danger. During a launch bay fire, Bojay spots two young cadets, Hass and Kender, trapped on the wrong side of closing doors. He notices other cadets fleeing without looking back—a display that fails to impress him.

Ignoring warnings to stay clear, Bojay plunges into the flames. Through smoke and soot, he hears one boy explaining he returned for the other. Bojay has come for both. Smoke inhalation affects the semi-conscious boys, complicating his efforts to carry them toward manually-closing doors.

One cadet slips from his grasp, but he successfully pushes the other through to safety. The fire brigade leader's shouts do not dissuade him from reentering for the second cadet. He appreciates the sincere warnings and urgent curses but accepts that death, if it comes, is his fate.

Relationships

Apollo

Bojay and Apollo share history dating back yahrens before Bojay's disappearance. Their reunion is warm and emotional, with Bojay affectionately greeting Apollo and engaging in friendly competition about piloting abilities. Apollo dismisses Bojay's claims of superiority while Bojay playfully questions whose memory has failed.

Apollo demonstrates faith in Bojay by advocating for his return to active duty. Bojay validates that faith through exceptional combat performance. Apollo's public defense against disrespectful cadets reveals the depth of their mutual respect.

Boomer

Bojay and Boomer are old friends with deep mutual respect and understanding. They communicate economically when necessary, reading each other's intentions through gestures. During missions, they coordinate seamlessly, demonstrating wordless cooperation developed over years of flying together.

Their friendship includes constant good-natured ribbing. When Bojay and Starbuck discuss relationships over communications, Boomer interjects sarcastically about temporal displacement theories and geriatric stamina.

Starbuck considers both Bojay and Boomer as reliable as physical constants—the highest compliment a pilot can offer.

Starbuck

Bojay's relationship with Starbuck features mutual respect and humor. Starbuck publicly declares Bojay superior to himself as a pilot—remarkable praise given Starbuck's legendary status. Bojay serves as Starbuck's confidant, listening to romantic troubles and offering wry observations about relationships.

The two share a warrior's bond forged through combat and shared danger. When trapped in the Ur cloud, Bojay's primary concern beyond survival is the safety of Starbuck's daughter Dalton. After her safe return, Bojay prioritizes informing Starbuck of this critical news.

Bojay demonstrates remarkable insight into Starbuck's emotional state, immediately recognizing his friend's concerns about Athena before Starbuck mentions her.

Their friendship extends to lighthearted moments. When Bojay provides a bright pink cloth strip to wrap Starbuck's bleeding hand after a Noman ritual, Starbuck questions its origin. Bojay's casual response about getting around makes all three warriors—including Boomer—laugh together.