| Chameleon | ||
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| [show/hide spoilers] Spoilers hidden in infobox by default only. | ||
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Name |
{{{name}}} | |
| Birth Name | ||
| Birth Date | {{{birthdate}}} | |
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| Nickname | Captain Dmitri | |
| Introduced | The Man with Nine Lives | |
| Parents | ||
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| Family Tree | View | |
| Serial Number | {{{serial}}} | |
| Portrayed by | Fred Astaire | |
| Chameleon is a Human/Cylon Hybrid | ||
| Chameleon is an Original Series Cylon | ||
| Related Media | ||
| @ BW Media | ||
| Additional Information | ||
| Chameleon in the separate continuity | ||
| [[File:|200px|Chameleon]] | ||
A charming and aging con man, Chameleon just happens to be Starbuck's father.
Life as a Con Artist[edit]
Chameleon was separated by the Cylon raid at the settlement of Umbra on Caprica. He had been something of a professional wagerer due to his vast knowledge of chancery games, which might explain Starbuck's natural fascination with chanceries. However, Chameleon's current occupation is basically making do with his ability to naturally con people out of money (TOS: "The Man with Nine Lives").
Life in the Fleet[edit]
Among other false occupations, Chameleon been known to pose as a genetic tracer, a head of Inter-Fleet Broadcasting, and the Livestock Ship's commanding officer, Captain Dmitri. Misrepresenting himself as Dmitri, he crosses three Borellian Nomen—Maga, Bora and Taba—who in return swear a blood trail to exact revenge. The Nomen track him to Rising Star, where Chameleon courts Siress Blassie. apparently taken by his charm aboard the shuttle Canaris and while attending a type of orchestral symphony.
In an act of self-preservation, Chameleon manages to escape, meeting up with Starbuck and Apollo in Rising Star's chancery, while Lieutenant Boomer and Flight Sergeant Jolly mince words with the Nomen in the recreation area. Chameleon talks about his past on Caprica and about losing a son, which spoke volumes to Starbuck. Chameleon finds his chance for protection, portraying himself as a genetic tracer and stating that Galactica's equipment would be just the thing needed to do testing to determine if they were indeed father and son.
To play up the lost father-son relationship, he tells Starbuck that Cassiopeia reminds him much of his wife. Starbuck admits to him that Cassiopeia was the only one he ever considered getting sealed to.
Later on, Chameleon attempts to tell Starbuck the truth when in the launch bay, where Starbuck admits to thinking of dropping out from the Colonial service to join him in reuniting lost children with their parents. Chameleon never gets the chance as Maga and Bora trespass into the bay, attacking Starbuck while attempting to discern where "Captain Dmitri" was.
Chameleon manages to save Starbuck from the Nomen by firing the Viper's lasers into the launch tube, throwing Starbuck clear of the tube. Miraculously the Nomen survive and are apprehended.
Chameleon later admits that he deceived them all, explaining the whole story of the Nomen's blood trail (TOS: "The Man with Nine Lives").
Hiding the Truth[edit]
The con man also believed that the story of being Starbuck's Caprican father as false, however tests prove otherwise. Chameleon manages to convince Cassiopeia not to reveal these results to Starbuck, saying that he would rather be his friend, especially since Starbuck wanted to recapture yahrens that could never be recaptured.
Chameleon promises Cassiopeia that he would tell Starbuck when he had been Sealed, much to her disbelief.
Commander Adama remands Chameleon to the custody of Siress Blassie, who supports his rehabilitation into society for his actions, but takes it with joy since he and Starbuck were now only friends (TOS: "The Man with Nine Lives").
Notes[edit]
- The analog for Chameleon in the Re-imagined Series is Dreilide Thrace.