Editing Galactica 1980 4

{{separate continuity|universe=1980|cont=Dynamite Comics}}

{{Comic Data
| image =Galactica 1980 4 cover.jpg
| title=Galactica 1980 #4
| series=Dynamite
| issueno=4
| episode=
| writer= [[Marc Guggenheim]]
| penciller= [[Cezar Razek]]
| inker= Cezar Razek
| colorist=[[PC Siqueira]]
| letterer=[[Bill Tortolini]]
| editor=
| cover= [[Lucio Parrillo]]
| published=
| collects=
| collected=
| reprints=
| reprinted=
| isbn=
| prev=[[Galactica 1980 3]]
| next=''End of Series''
}}


== Plot ==

* At [[Baltar (TOS alternate)|Baltar]]'s order, the Cylons begin landing ground forces around the world while [[Gaius Zee]] reflects on "what it feels like to be wrong." In the United States' continuity bunker [[Mount Weather]], [[Troykus Adama]] asks [[Troy Adama]] where their {{TOS|Viper}}s are. Meanwhile, Baltar sinisterly reminisces on how Commander Adama was right on how [[Earth (1980 alternate)|Earth]] was just like [[Caprica (TOS)|Caprica]] aboard the [[basestar (TOS)|basestar]] ''[[Omega-Monthu]]''.
* In just ten [[centon]]s, the Cylons' invasion of Earth results in a death toll that rivals the combined death toll of both of Earth's [[w:World War|World War]]s.
* In the bunker, Adama desperately formulates a plan using Earth's nuclear arsenal during a discussion with Doctor [[Felix Mortinson]] and Troy.
* Outside the bunker, [[Warrior]]s use [[turbocycle]]s and craft from the Fleet to defend Earth from the Cylon [[Raider (TOS)|Raider]]s in Earth's atmosphere.
* U.S. President [[Jimmy Carter]], the Adamas, and Mortinson make way via helicopter to a nearby nuclear silo. During the ride, Mortinson inquires about the government's contingency plans for an extinction-level event; Carter replies in the negative. 
* Aboard ''[[Rising Star (TOS)|Rising Star]]'', Zee decides to flee from the fighting, hoping to create his "own race." This plan is thwarted by the Cylons, who destroy ''Rising Star'' with a missile from an inbound Raider—Zee disabled the weapon system three [[yahren]] ago in need of parts, and thus was unable to deal with the missile.
* Carter, Mortinson and the Adamas land at Langley Air Force Base in Langley, Virginia. Fifty Vipers landed there and were armed with nuclear warheads. 
* Baltar and Lucifer discuss the disposition of the remaining Colonial ships; Baltar mulls over not knowing what Adama's planning. Adama's plan is a suicide mission for large numbers of Colonial pilots, whose craft are outfitted with nuclear warheads as they have no means of launching the nuclear warheads via missile. Troy balks at Adama's idea to pilot Troy's Viper, but Adama gives him no choice.
[[File:Hamilton - 1980 comic.jpg|thumb|right|Jamie Hamilton makes a cameo appearance in issue #4]]
* As the attack continues, Lucifer reports that the Fleet's ships are heading toward them. Baltar finds the idea absurd, likening it to "gnats against an oak." Lucifer receives a hail from Commander Adama, who is leading a squadron comprising of Vipers, shuttles, and freighters. Adama wants to speak to Baltar personally. 
* Baltar and Adama (whom Baltar calls "Bill") converse as the squadron draws fire from Adama's Viper. Adama inquires as to Baltar's motivations for aiding the Cylons in genocide of the human race; Baltar replies that the answer is "obvious:" immortality. Baltar notes that the Cylons are immortal, like the stars. Adama corrects his faulty logic, resulting in both their deaths and the destruction of ''Omega-Monthu''.
* On Earth, Troy hears his grandfather's last transmission, in which Adama declares that he's coming home to his family and friends—all lost during the journey to Earth. 
* Six [[quatron]]s later, Troy is perfecting his grasp of English while answering Ms. [[Hamilton (alternate)|Hamilton]]'s questions as they drive to a shipyard in Guymon, Oklahoma. At this shipyard, the only ship—the "right ship," according to Troy—that they are capable of building with the resources available: the [[battlestar (1980 alternate)|battlestar]] ''[[Adama (battlestar)|Adama]]''.

== Notes ==

* This comic's title is "The Night the Cylons Landed," an obvious nod to the ''Galactica 1980'' episode of the [[The Night the Cylons Landed|same name]].
* The cover art for this issue is based on the original cover artwork for the novelization of the {{TOS|Battlestar Galactica|Original Series}} pilot, "[[Saga of a Star World (book)|Saga of a Star World]]," which was itself based on promotional artwork for the Original Series.
* The comic notes that the Cylon purge of [[Caprica (TOS)|Caprica]] took "approximately two [[centar]]s" to complete, even with the advanced weapons technology that were hundreds of years in advance of Earth's. 
* The [[turbocycle]] makes its debut during the Battle for Earth.
* This comic continues hybridizing both separate primary continuities—the Original and the Re-imagined Series—not only by Baltar calling [[Troykus Adama]] "Bill," but by the general design of Earth's [[Adama (battlestar)|first battlestar]] that aesthetically mirrors the Re-imagined Series' ''{{RDM|Galactica}}''.
* The deaths of [[Cassiopeia]], {{TOS|Apollo}}, {{TOS|Athena}}, {{TOS|Starbuck}}, and [[Tigh (1980 alternate)|Tigh]] are confirmed during Adama's final transmission before ramming his Viper into ''Omega-Monthu''.

== Analysis ==

* Nuclear warheads are capable of bypassing both Colonial and Cylon shield technologies. 
* Troykus Adama recognizes his error in judgment and seeks to take measures into his own hands, much like [[William Adama]] does throughout the Re-imagined Series—most notably during his attempt to rescue the Colonial survivors that the Cylons enslave on [[New Caprica]]. 

== Questions ==

* What will happen in 1981? 
* Did the Cylon fleet transmit the coordinates to Earth before its destruction? 
* What social and political effects have the existence of extraterrestrial life inflicted Earth's population? 
* Will the Colonials continue their own form of government, or have they totally assimilated themselves to Earth's social and political structures? 

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

* ''[[Baltar (1980 alternate)|Baltar]] and [[Lucifer (1980 alternate)|Lucifer]]'' discuss how laughable a counter-attack against them would be:''
: '''Baltar:''' What could they possibly fight back with, I wonder. Harsh language?
: '''Lucifer:''' Perhaps. I find their dialects grating on my central processing unit.

* ''Commander [[Troykus Adama]] and [[Troy Adama]] discuss their suicidal counter-attack plan:''
: '''Troykus Adama:''' There's no way to launch these "nukes" from our ships. And our ships are the only ones who can reach their basestars in orbit. 
: '''Troy Adama:''' You're asking every Colonial pilot to sacrifice themselves. 
: '''Adama:''' Not ''every'' Colonial pilot. I'm taking your [[Viper (1980)|Viper]]. 
: '''Troy:''' You can't... 
: '''Adama:''' Actually, I was a damn fine pilot, back in the day. 
: '''Troy:''' I mean, I won't let you kill yourself. 
: '''Adama:''' I think you'll find I'm not giving you a choice, Boxey. This plan is humanity's only hope of survival. And my only hope of ''redemption''.
: '''Troy:''' This wasn't your fault—
: '''Adama:''' Wasn't it? I could have sent emissaries. I could have sent a single Viper. Instead, I parked the ''[[Galactica (1980 alternate)|Galactica]]'' twenty feet over the roof of their leader's home. How could that move ''not'' have been interpreted as aggression? 
: '''Troy:''' In hindsight—
: '''Adama:''' Maybe so... but it's bad enough these pilots' lives will be added to my conscience.

* ''Commander Adama indulge in conversation before Adama kills them both:''
: '''Adama:''' Perhaps you can indulge me, in these final moments of both our lives... What could the Cylons possibly give you that would make the genocide of your entire race palatable? 
: '''Baltar:''' You mean it's not obvious? '''''Immortality.''''' The Cylon race is immortal, Bill. Their lifespan as infinite as a star's. 
: '''Adama:''' Even stars die, Baltar. Some sooner than others. They die in a torrent of nuclear fire. Here... '''''let me show you.'''''

== External links ==

* [http://www.dynamiteentertainment.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C725130132147 ''Galactica 1980 4''] at Dynamite Entertainment

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