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:''For information on this character's [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]] counterpart, see [[Cain (TOS)]]. | |||
{{Character Data | {{Character Data | ||
|photo=CainH.jpg | |photo=CainH.jpg | ||
|age=49-50<ref>According to the script for "[[Razor]], | |age=49-50<ref>According to the script for "[[Razor]]", young Helena Cain was nine years old at the time of the [[Battle of Tauron]]. See: [[Sources: Helena Cain]].</ref> | ||
|colony=[[Tauron|Tauron]] | |colony=[[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Tauron|Tauron]] | ||
|birthname=Helena Cain | |birthname=Helena Cain | ||
|callsign= | |callsign= | ||
|seen= Pegasus (episode) | |seen= Pegasus (episode) | ||
|pseen=Pegasus | |pseen=Pegasus | ||
|death= Shot in the head by [[Gina Inviere]] | |death= Shot in the head by [[Gina Inviere]] ([[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]). | ||
|parents= [[Saundra Cain|Mother | |parents= [[Saundra Cain|Mother]] and [[Cain (father)|father]] killed in the first [[Cylon War]] <ref name="watcher-forbes">{{cite_web|url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2007/11/battlestar-ga-1.html|title='Battlestar Galactica: Razor' cuts to the heart of the matter|date=20 November 2007|accessdate=22 November 2007|last=Ryan|first=Maureen|format=|language=}}</ref> | ||
|siblings= [[Lucy Cain]]† (killed in the first Cylon War) | |siblings= [[Lucy Cain]]† (killed in the first Cylon War) | ||
|children= | |children= | ||
| Line 19: | Line 20: | ||
|cylon= | |cylon= | ||
|name= | |name= | ||
}} | |||
Admiral '''Helena Cain''' hails from the colony | Admiral '''Helena Cain''' hails from the colony [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Tauron|Tauron]], and is the commanding officer of the [[Mercury class battlestar]] ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'' at the time of the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]]. She is a hard woman, unafraid of making difficult decisions and unflinching in her will to do what she sees as right. These traits sometimes compel her to feel that she has been left no choice but to take controversial, unpopular and morally questionable choices. | ||
==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
===Childhood=== | ===Childhood=== | ||
Helena Cain was born during the first [[Cylon War]]. On the last day of the war, Tauron was under attack by Cylon [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]] and [[Cylon Centurion Model 0005|Centurion]] ground forces. Her sister [[Lucy Cain]] and her [[Cain (father)|father]] were pinned down in a building under heavy fire. When her father was injured trying to escape, he told Helena to get Lucy to a shelter, before dying. The two made it out of the building, | Helena Cain was born during the first [[Cylon War]]. On the last day of the war, Tauron was under attack by Cylon [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]] and [[Cylon Centurion Model 0005|Centurion]] ground forces. Her sister [[Lucy Cain]] and her [[Cain (father)|father]] were pinned down in a building under heavy fire. When her father was injured trying to escape, he told Helena to get Lucy to a shelter, before dying. The two made it out of the building, but outside Helena panicked, left Lucy in a field of rubble and ran away to hide in a container. When Cain came out again after the Cylons retreated, she found only her sister's doll on the ground ("[[Razor]]", extended version). These traumatic events were formative for her future. | ||
===Cylon attack and guerrilla warfare=== | ===Cylon attack and guerrilla warfare=== | ||
When ''Pegasus'' is scheduled for an extensive overhaul at the [[Scorpion Fleet Shipyards]], Cain has regular meetings with [[Gina Inviere]], a civilian contractor working for the [[ | [[Image:Cain and gina.jpg|thumb|right|Cain dining with [[Gina Inviere]].]] | ||
When ''Pegasus'' is scheduled for an extensive overhaul at the [[Scorpion Fleet Shipyards]], Cain has regular meetings with [[Gina Inviere]], a civilian contractor working for the [[Ministry of Defense]], to work out the details of the retrofit. The two eventually become romantically involved. | |||
Shortly before the [[Cylon attack]], Lieutenant [[Kendra Shaw]] is assigned to the battlestar as Cain's personal aide. When the lieutenant fails to make it to [[CIC]] immediately after her arrival, Cain chews her out in front of the crew, but breaks into laughter after Shaw leaves, showing that she isn't always as hard as she appears to be. | Shortly before the [[Cylon attack]], Lieutenant [[Kendra Shaw]] is assigned to the battlestar as Cain's personal aide. When the lieutenant fails to make it to [[CIC]] immediately after her arrival, Cain chews her out in front of the crew, but breaks into laughter after Shaw leaves, showing that she isn't always as hard as she appears to be. | ||
When the Cylons [[Fall of the Scorpion Fleet Shipyards|attack the shipyards]], Cain is in her quarters, working out and going over efficiency reports. She makes it to CIC and immediately orders the battlestar unmoored. When the navigational computer is discovered to be offline and nuclear missiles are inbound, Cain orders a [[blind jump]] to escape certain destruction. With many of her crew dead and the destruction of the Twelve Colonies confirmed, she | When the Cylons [[Fall of the Scorpion Fleet Shipyards|attack the shipyards]], Cain is in her quarters, working out and going over efficiency reports. She makes it to CIC and immediately orders the battlestar unmoored. When the navigational computer is discovered to be offline and nuclear missiles are inbound, Cain orders a [[blind jump]] to escape certain destruction. With many of her crew dead and the destruction of the Twelve Colonies confirmed, she holds a speech vowing to take revenge on the Cylons. However, in a private dinner with her XO [[Jurgen Belzen]], [[Jack Fisk]], Inviere and Shaw, she promises that she has no intention to unnecessarily waste lives or resources in an emotional quest for revenge. | ||
Shortly later, a Cylon communications relay is detected, which the crew believes to be an easy target. On arrival, one squadron of Vipers is launched. However, 15 squadrons of [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raider]]s suddenly appear because, it turns out, the target is actually a Cylon staging area. XO Belzen urges Cain to recover their Vipers and retreat, but instead she seemingly forgets her earlier promise and orders the launch of all remaining fighters, which Belzen refuses to do in the face of such odds. Cain asks the XO for his side arm, and shoots him in the head with it in front of the crew. She then turned to Fisk, promotes him to XO, and orders him to launch the rest of the Vipers. Fearing for his life, he does so. At the same time, Inviere disables the main gun batteries and allows a group of [[Cylon Centurion]]s to board the ship, causing many deaths. Shaw reveals her as a Cylon agent in CIC and Cain orders her arrest | Shortly later, a Cylon communications relay is detected, which the crew believes to be an easy target. On arrival, one squadron of Vipers is launched. However, 15 squadrons of [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raider]]s suddenly appear because, it turns out, the target is actually a Cylon staging area. XO Belzen urges Cain to recover their Vipers and retreat, but instead she seemingly forgets her earlier promise and orders the launch of all remaining fighters, which Belzen refuses to do in the face of such odds. Cain asks the XO for his side arm, and shoots him in the head with it in front of the crew. She then turned to Fisk, promotes him to XO, and orders him to launch the rest of the Vipers. Fearing for his life, he does so. At the same time, Inviere disables the main gun batteries and allows a group of [[Cylon Centurion]]s to board the ship, causing many deaths. Shaw reveals her as a Cylon agent in CIC and Cain orders her arrest. ''Pegasus'' manages to win the [[Battle of the Communications Relay|battle]], but with staggering losses. | ||
Cain is deeply stung by Inviere's betrayal, her feelings toward her erstwhile lover turned into hatred and scorn. Cain gives [[Alastair Thorne]] free rein in interrogating the Cylon for information, suggesting "pain ... degradation, fear, shame." This sets the tone for the interrogations, ultimately leading to measures such as gang rape. | Cain is deeply stung by Inviere's betrayal, her feelings toward her erstwhile lover turned into hatred and scorn. Cain gives [[Alastair Thorne]] free rein in interrogating the Cylon for information, suggesting "pain ... degradation, fear, shame." This sets the tone for the interrogations, ultimately leading to measures such as gang rape. | ||
When ''Pegasus'' happens upon a small civilian | When ''Pegasus'' happens upon a small civilian fleet, Admiral Cain decides to strip it of resources and personnel, including their FTL drives. The civilians, however, refuse the cooperate. Resistance is particularly vocal on the ''[[Scylla]]''. When a boarding team led by Shaw and Fisk fails to make the civilians cooperate, Cain orders the team to shoot the families of every conscript who refuses to obey. Shaw fires the first shot and eventually 10 people are killed, thus breaking the resistance. Cain is very impressed by Shaw's actions in the civilian standoff and promotes her to the rank of captain, explaining that Shaw has the qualities of a "razor"; someone who is able to shut down all emotions and inhibitions in battle in order to survive. | ||
Despite the impossible odds, Cain intends to sustain a campaign of guerrilla warfare against the occupying Cylon forces. She then led the battlestar away from the [[The Twelve Colonies | Despite the impossible odds, Cain intends to sustain a campaign of guerrilla warfare against the occupying Cylon forces. She then led the battlestar away from the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]], following a Cylon fleet that trails what they discovered as the fellow battlestar ''[[Galactica]]'' ("[[Razor]]", "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]"). | ||
=== | ===Galactica=== | ||
Upon meeting up with Commander [[William Adama]]'s [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] six months later, she as ranking officer assumes command and transfers personnel from ''Galactica'' to ''Pegasus'', including [[Lee Adama]] and [[Kara Thrace]], indicating that Adama has let military discipline become too lax. Cain is more interested in fighting the Cylons, seemingly oblivious to the point that she and the ships around her are all that was left of the human race, whose survival is more paramount than offensive assaults. While Adama initially welcomes such attacks against a mysterious Cylon force that followed the Fleet (to stop it from following them), his attitude begins to cool about Cain's very strict and unmerciful leadership. | |||
[[image:caingalact.jpg|left|Admiral Cain, meeting up with the crew of ''Galactica''.|thumb]] | [[image:caingalact.jpg|left|Admiral Cain, meeting up with the crew of ''Galactica''.|thumb]] | ||
Cain's actions also raise concerns with President [[Laura Roslin]]. Cain recognizes Roslin and her former role as Secretary of Education. After the Fleet command transfer from Adama to Cain, Roslin makes several attempts to call Cain to request supplies for the civilian fleet, but all of Roslin's calls are ignored. | Cain's actions also raise concerns with President [[Laura Roslin]]. Cain recognizes Roslin and her former role as Secretary of Education. After the Fleet command transfer from Adama to Cain, Roslin makes several attempts to call Cain to request supplies for the civilian fleet, but all of Roslin's calls are ignored. | ||
After the fatal assault of one of her crew members, Lieutenant Thorne, Cain arrests Chief [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] and Lieutenant | ===Court-martial, standoff=== | ||
After the suspect fatal assault of one of her crew members, Lieutenant Thorne, Cain arrests Chief [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] and Lieutenant [[Karl Agathon]] and has them flown to ''Pegasus'', under Adama's protest, since traditionally a trial is held on the ship where an incident has occurred. Cain uses ''Galactica'''s log against Adama when he asks for a tribunal; Cain notes that Adama dismissed the last council unilaterally when the verdict did not suit him. Cain summarily court-martials the prisoners herself in a matter of hours, sentencing them to death. A displeased Commander Adama orders an assault crew to ''Pegasus'' to bring his men back. Cain responds by deploying her squadrons of advanced Viper Mark VIIs against Adama's museum collection of Viper Mark IIs in a tense standoff ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]). | |||
The tense game of chicken is ended by a sudden appearance by Starbuck, flying the [[Blackbird]] as she returns from her unofficial recon mission on the unknown Cylon ship. Starbuck transmits the pictures she took of the [[Resurrection Ship]] back to ''Pegasus'''s CIC. Upon Thrace's return to ''Pegasus'', Cain is so impressed with her performance that she promotes Thrace to Captain and ''Pegasus'' [[CAG]], replacing the competent but uncreative and inflexible Captain [[Cole Taylor|Taylor]]. Cain tasks Starbuck with planning the joint strike on the Resurrection Ship. | |||
===Attack on the Resurrection Ship, and assassination=== | |||
[[Image:Gina-Cain.jpg|thumb|Admiral Cain held at gun-point by [[Gina Inviere|her Cylon prisoner]].]] | |||
After Captain Thrace briefs both Adama, Apollo, and Cain on her plan to attack the Resurrection Ship, Adama pulls Starbuck aside and outlines a plan to assassinate Cain following the attack. At the same time, Cain instructs [[Jack Fisk]] to lead a detachment of marines to "terminate Adama's command" after the battle ([[Resurrection Ship, Part I]]). | |||
When the moment arrives, both commanders decide to not say the code words signaling their execution orders. This leaves Thrace and Fisk visibly relieved. Cain survives Adama's plan, ironically, because Adama solicits advice from [[Sharon Agathon|the second copy of Sharon Valerii]], who reminds him of his decommissioning speech that asked whether humanity asked itself if it deserved to survive ([[Miniseries]]). That is, an assassination Cain by Adama would be a good example of why humanity deserved to be exterminated. Although it may have been due to realizing Adama's value as a commander during the battle, the reasons for Cain staying her hand were never revealed, and remain a topic of debate among fans. | |||
Adama | Unfortunately for Cain, shortly after Adama's window to assassinate Cain had passed, [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] helps Inviere escape from the brig. Inviere makes her way to Cain's quarters and surprises her by holding her at gunpoint. Knowing Inviere was going to kill her for Cain's abuse, and a soldier to the end, Cain's final words are "[[Frak]] you." Inviere shoots Cain in the head at point-blank range; killing her instantly. | ||
Cain's | Cain's funeral is given full military honors, with Fisk and Thrace giving eulogies. Fisk takes command of the Pegasus and Thrace gives a touching speech that; while she only knew Cain briefly, she obviously admired the woman, stating "We were safer with her than we are without." ([[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]). Several months later, Adama tells his son that he can't find any faults in Cain's tactical decisions, and refuses to pass judgment on her, because he has people to keep him in check when he is in danger of going down a similar path, and never had to go through Cain's situation in the first place ([[Razor]]). | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
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*Helena Cain is inspired by the character of Commander [[Cain (TOS)|Cain]] from the original ''[[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Battlestar Galactica]]'', portrayed by the late [[Lloyd Bridges]]. | *Helena Cain is inspired by the character of Commander [[Cain (TOS)|Cain]] from the original ''[[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Battlestar Galactica]]'', portrayed by the late [[Lloyd Bridges]]. | ||
*Unlike Commander Cain in the Original Series, Admiral Cain is a superior officer to Commander William Adama. The Original Series's Adama held | *Unlike Commander Cain in the Original Series, Admiral Cain is a superior officer to Commander William Adama. The Original Series's Adama held a higher rank than Cain, and relieved him of command for a time in the two part episode, "[[The Living Legend, Part I|The Living Legend]]". | ||
=== Behind-the-Scenes === | === Behind-the-Scenes === | ||
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*Cain's sexual orientation was revealed in ''Razor'', which Forbes, in the "Making of" featurette on its original DVD release, stated came as a surprise to her. | *Cain's sexual orientation was revealed in ''Razor'', which Forbes, in the "Making of" featurette on its original DVD release, stated came as a surprise to her. | ||
*Forbes guest starred as Dara Timicin in the ''[[MemoryAlpha:Star Trek: The Next Generation|Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' episode "[[MemoryAlpha:Half a Life|Half a Life]]" and had a recurring role as Ensign [[MemoryAlpha:Ro Laren|Ro Laren]] during the last three seasons of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', with the character at one point earmarked to join the spinoff series ''[[MemoryAlpha:Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' | *Forbes guest starred as Dara Timicin in the ''[[MemoryAlpha:Star Trek: The Next Generation|Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' episode "[[MemoryAlpha:Half a Life|Half a Life]]" and had a recurring role as Ensign [[MemoryAlpha:Ro Laren|Ro Laren]] during the last three seasons of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', with the character at one point earmarked to join the spinoff series ''[[MemoryAlpha:Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''. ''Battlestar Galactica'' executive producer [[Ronald D. Moore]], also a ''TNG'' veteran, wrote for her character in the episodes "[[MemoryAlpha:Disaster|Disaster]]" and "[[MemoryAlpha:The Next Phase|The Next Phase]]". | ||
=== Production === | === Production === | ||
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*Cain's given name, Helena, was not spoken in dialogue initially, but was posted in episode summaries on Scifi.com (initially misspelled as "Nelena"). Her name is first spoken by Colonel [[Jurgen Belzen]] in "[[Razor]]". | *Cain's given name, Helena, was not spoken in dialogue initially, but was posted in episode summaries on Scifi.com (initially misspelled as "Nelena"). Her name is first spoken by Colonel [[Jurgen Belzen]] in "[[Razor]]". | ||
*Cain's habit of expediting meetings by conducting them without chairs is borrowed from UN Ambassador [[Wikipedia:John R. Bolton|John R. Bolton]] (Source: [[Podcast:Pegasus#Act 2|Podcast:Pegasus]]). Within the show, the lack of chairs is said to stem from her preference to stand because of her back problems | *Cain's habit of expediting meetings by conducting them without chairs is borrowed from UN Ambassador [[Wikipedia:John R. Bolton|John R. Bolton]] (Source: [[Podcast:Pegasus#Act 2|Podcast:Pegasus]]). Within the show, the lack of chairs is said to stem from her preference to stand because of her back problems ([[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]). | ||
=== Separate continuity === | === Separate continuity === | ||
* In [[Dynamite Entertainment]]'s [[comic]] books, Helena Cain and ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'' make a one-shot appearance in ''[[Battlestar Galactica: Pegasus]]'', and she is mentioned again in ''[[Battlestar Galactica: Origins 6]]''. In ''Origins 6'', Captain [[Alexa Cain|Alexa "Pugnacious" Cain]] is noted as Helena's mother, who had divorced her husband well before the [[Battle of Tauron]]—the last battle of the First Cylon War. However, "Razor" makes it clear that Helena's mother was named "[[Saundra Cain|Saundra]], | * In [[Dynamite Entertainment]]'s [[comic]] books, Helena Cain and ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'' make a one-shot appearance in ''[[Battlestar Galactica: Pegasus]]'', and she is mentioned again in ''[[Battlestar Galactica: Origins 6]]''. In ''Origins 6'', Captain [[Alexa Cain|Alexa "Pugnacious" Cain]] is noted as Helena's mother, who had divorced her husband well before the [[Battle of Tauron]]—the last battle of the First Cylon War. However, "Razor" makes it clear that Helena's mother was named "[[Saundra Cain|Saundra]]", and that she was on [[Hypatia]], [[Tauron]] at the time of that last battle, which is when she died. | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
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[[Category:People from Tauron]] | [[Category:People from Tauron]] | ||
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