Jinkrat

This article has a separate continuity. This article is in the Richard Hatch Novelizations 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.

Jinkrat is an agriculturalist from Gemoni who becomes the leader of a rebellion among the fleet's refugees with the wake of the Battle of Kobol.

Background

Jinkrat is an agriculturalist from Gemoni who lives peacefully until the last battle for Kobol. He never touches a rifle or laser pistol until that battle, and never thinks he will kill a man, either in battle or in anger. However, tragedy transforms him when his six-year-old son dies from a fever during the crisis. The boy perishes burning with fever, covered in sweat, without access to good water or healers. When Jinkrat's family desperately calls for help, they are told there is "no help now for anybody by the order of Commander Apollo"—part of the fleet's triage protocols. Unable to do anything but pray, Jinkrat watches his son die in his arms.

This loss destroys Jinkrat's respect for the ruling order and fills him with bitter anger toward Commander Apollo and the Colonial command structure. His remaining son, Koren, becomes the person he loves more than life itself—the only thing standing between Jinkrat and complete despair.

The Rebellion

Rising to Leadership

When the fleet becomes trapped in the Ur cloud and faces critical shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies, Jinkrat emerges as the leader of desperate refugees aboard Rising Star. The refugees, starving and hopeless after sectares without adequate rations, believe that Apollo and the Colonial Warriors are hoarding supplies for themselves.

Jinkrat organizes the refugees into a fighting force. His rebels take six Colonial security guards prisoner in the casino and threaten to execute them unless a secton's worth of food is released. They claim the Colonials have real food on Galactica, not just pellets, and are deliberately withholding it. The rebellion spreads throughout Rising Star, with rebels raiding through the ship armed with plenty of weapons.

Manipulation by Aron

Sire Aron, a member of the Council of Twelve, contacts Jinkrat via jerry-rigged comm, presenting himself as "the only one of the highborn who seemed to take an interest in his people's plight." Aron greets Jinkrat warmly as "friend" and expresses deep concern for the rebel leader's situation. When Jinkrat reports that Athena's team attempted to board Rising Star and took his injured son Koren for medical treatment, Aron whispers "Lords" with apparent concern.

Jinkrat reluctantly reveals that his people have planted a bomb aboard Galactica, explaining he had no choice. The rebels have no Vipers and can only defend hand-to-hand. He knows the Colonials will simply starve them out without such leverage. When Aron asks about the bomb's location, Jinkrat refuses to reveal it, convinced that Apollo would use torture to extract the information. He believes Apollo has already starved thousands and taken the air from the transport barge, killing its crew and passengers.

Aron promises that the Council has ordered all Vipers grounded and food, fuel, healers, and medicine sent to Rising Star. Jinkrat exclaims "Praise the Lords of Kobol!" at this news. However, he refuses a cease-fire until the supplies are actually delivered, noting that hope is "a word I have almost forgotten." Aron gives his "word of honor, by the Lords of Kobol" to watch over Koren when the boy is brought to Galactica for medical treatment.

After ending the communication, Jinkrat prays—something that has become hard for him. His fate hangs on the word of a man he does not trust, and his boy is in the hands of strangers. He swears that if any harm comes to Koren, Apollo and the warriors will see such rage as no man has ever seen, and no man will stand in his way.

Confrontation with Athena

When Athena's team arrives at the Rising Star with the injured Koren, Jinkrat approaches surrounded by grim-faced, ragged but heavily armed men and women. He is tall but not as tall as Apollo, slightly more heavily built, with a worn face marked by heavy lines. A fresh scar snakes across his right cheek. Though difficult to judge his age, Athena guesses he was very young when the fleet fled the Cylon destruction of the Twelve Colonies.

Jinkrat wears the fitted jacket of an agriculturalist, though pockets have been added for munitions. He bristles with weapons but does not wear them as a man comfortable or used to them. His greeting to Athena is filled with grief and sadness: "So, you wish to take another son of mine." When Cassiopeia introduces herself as a healer, Jinkrat recognizes she is from Gemoni and a brief smile crosses his face. A kind of silent communication passes between the two Gemonese.

Jinkrat goes to Koren's side, brushing through his armed rebels as if they were children, ignoring the Colonial Warriors' deadly weapons, kneeling by his son with no trace of fear or apprehension. He tells Koren, "You have not been honest," referring to the boy's participation in fighting. Despite his stern words, a genuine smile crosses his hard-bitten face when he jokes with Koren. Athena senses that Jinkrat, despite his hardness, is neither dishonest nor greedy.

Standing and straightening his shoulders like a military commander—"as imperious as Cain had ever been"—Jinkrat tells Athena she may take his son to the doctor aboard Galactica, but he must be returned safely within three days. If not, she will lose the hostages. He reveals that a bomb has been planted aboard Galactica that will detonate in three sectares, crippling the battlestar and destroying all that the "highborn in command hold dear." He places Koren in the custody of Cassiopeia, his fellow Gemonese.

When Athena tries to explain the rationing and fuel redirection necessities, Jinkrat responds that he knows of the "redirection" of fuel—it cost more than two hundred lives. Though Athena tells him they are not his enemy and are doing everything humanly possible, Jinkrat is nearly trembling with rage and hatred aimed at her. His final words to Koren are: "Stay strong. Be well. I wait for the moment that we meet again."

Apollo initially believes Jinkrat is another "junior Baltar" motivated by greed, trying to take control by force. However, upon reflection, Apollo realizes the situation does not make sense. If Jinkrat had been diverting fuel and food, why would he now be demanding supplies through hostages and terrorist threats? Athena makes clear that the people on the Rising Star have genuinely gone without food for sectares—they are starving and desperate, easily manipulated into believing the warriors are hoarding everything.

Discovering Koren's Disappearance

When Apollo contacts Jinkrat to inform him that Koren has gone missing from sickbay, the rebel leader's face changes from tense sternness to complete disbelief. He says slowly, "I have lived all these yahren, all these yahrens, and I never imagined that—" His eyes blaze with fury as he accuses Apollo of being responsible, refusing to believe the commander's assurances that Koren simply wandered off. Jinkrat demands to speak with Cassiopeia, whom he placed in charge of his son.

When Apollo explains that Cassiopeia was with him when Koren disappeared, Jinkrat concludes that Apollo has "done something with her as well." He gives Apollo twenty centons to return Koren safely, threatening to detonate the bomb if the deadline is not met. He fears his son will be killed if he does not act. Despite Apollo's word that Koren will be found safe, Jinkrat closes the communication without responding.

Reunion and Reconciliation

Meeting Apollo

When Jinkrat arrives at the Council Chambers with a small party of hard-faced, raggedly clothed but heavily armed men, Koren runs to him crying "Dad! Dad!" and buries his face in Jinkrat's tunic. Apollo sees his enemy for the first time and notes that though Jinkrat cannot be any older than himself, he looks far older. The care of untold trouble marks his face, with a vivid red scar twisting across his cheek. His eyes burn brightly with rage and hatred.

Apollo feels unexpected pain watching Koren's enthusiastic reaction to his father. He realizes that no matter what Apollo has and Jinkrat lacks, the rebel leader has something precious: his son. Jinkrat looks beyond Koren's shoulders, stroking the boy's head, and turns to thank Aron for fulfilling his promise.

The Confrontation

During the Council meeting, Jinkrat initially tells Apollo he should have let Koren speak first. When Apollo confronts him about the bomb in sickbay that nearly killed Sheba, Jinkrat denies it, insisting he knows who Sheba is and that she "risked her life willingly." Apollo mentions Koren told him about Jinkrat's dead son, and asks coldly, "Is my son of any less worth than your high born people, Apollo?"

Jinkrat's voice is no longer angry but cold, full of bitterness and resentment. He accuses Apollo and Adama before him of telling lies for yahrens, claiming everything is for the good of the fleet while "all the others there behind you mattered nothing." He declares that the refugees gave up everything so the warriors could be comfortable, not hungry, warm, with fuel for their Vipers while children starved and mothers watched their children die.

Jinkrat reveals that Apollo would never have even known his name if he had not stepped forward to lead the rebellion. He tells Apollo—within Koren's hearing—that he did not want to say this in front of his son, but Koren needs to understand what a boy like him means to "a great man like you, Commander Apollo, son of Adama." He declares that unlike Apollo, he has no great name or house—Koren is his son and his heir. Thanks to Apollo, Koren is all Jinkrat will ever have, and he will do anything to keep the boy from harm. He concludes bitterly that if not for fate, Apollo would never have known Koren's name—he would have been "just another of the faceless, the nameless, dying and suffering in service of your endless wars and destruction."

The Fight

When Apollo leaps forward enraged, Koren puts his small body between the two men—all that keeps Apollo from tearing Jinkrat apart. The boy falls to the floor and Apollo leaps over him to attack. Jinkrat throws a glancing blow that hits Apollo's cheek, but Apollo responds with crushing force. He lands a right in Jinkrat's midsection, brings his knee into Jinkrat's chin, then grabs Jinkrat's collar and begins pounding his head with rapid, sharp blows. Apollo is in a "red-filmed rage," giving Jinkrat a blow for each betrayal he has endured. With one great, thundering blow, Apollo splinters the bridge of Jinkrat's nose, and blood spurts out brilliant red.

A small voice cries "Stop! Stop!" and Koren's tearstained face appears inches from Apollo's bloody fist. The boy pleads, "Apollo, stop! You're killing my dad!" This breaks Apollo out of his rage. Jinkrat struggles to sit up with Koren's help, and though battered and bloody, his eyes still burn. Apollo realizes Jinkrat is not the traitor—he is just trying to save his people, as Apollo is trying to save his own.

Making Peace

Jinkrat stands facing Apollo and declares, "I did not put that bomb in the sickbay. I ordered that it be placed above the engine chamber, where it would disable the Galactica, but injure no people, save for an accidental mishap." He explains he would never have endangered Cassiopeia, to whom he entrusted Koren, nor the people in sickbay where he knew she would take his son. Apollo draws a quick breath and agrees: "No, I don't think that you would."

Jinkrat's eyes fill with grief as the anger leaves him. He says, "My goal was not for more people to die. I want everyone—high and low—to live." Apollo responds, "That is my goal too, Jinkrat." The rebel leader slowly admits, "I think I—understand—why you made some of the choices you did, Apollo. I cannot say what I would have done in your place. Even in the battle, Apollo. I understand why no medical help could be sent for my son. We prayed. It was all we could do."

However, Jinkrat still does not understand why Apollo took the food and fuel that Aron was sending to the refugees. Apollo insists he did not, explaining they do not know where the barge has gone and that there are traitors throughout the fleet. Jinkrat notes that Aron said Apollo was holding the supplies for his own use and that of the warriors, but the suspicion in his voice is almost gone. Apollo firmly declares, "Never. You have been betrayed, Jinkrat, but not by me." Jinkrat nods and responds, "I fear that you have been betrayed as well, Apollo."

In the now almost totally silent Chamber, Jinkrat moves first, stepping haltingly toward Apollo and offering his hand. He says, "We may not be friends, Apollo, but I believe that you are an honest man." Apollo takes the rebel leader's hand. Koren cries "Dad!" and Jinkrat stiffly accepts Apollo's brief embrace, looking down at his son and shaking his head. Both men laugh when Koren proudly declares, "I may only be twelve yahrens, but I'm not dumb!" Apollo ruffles Koren's hair.

Assassination

Neither Jinkrat nor Apollo notice Aron moving away from the Council members or the array of guards behind Jinkrat. As the two men part to discuss the still-unmet needs of the refugees, Jinkrat's brow wrinkles and he turns as if hearing something others cannot. Apollo watches his face change and grow suddenly alarmed. One of Jinkrat's men—secretly working for Aron—has a laser rifle pointed at them. Apollo cries "No!" but black-shirted Council guards rush forward too slowly.

Apollo feels Koren's small body hitting his as the assassin fires. Jinkrat crumples and falls. The guards' lasers flash and the assassin falls. In the pandemonium that follows, with Jinkrat's remaining guards struggling with the black-shirts, someone cries "He's dead!" Apollo's heart sinks when another voice confirms, "Jinkrat's dead!" One of Jinkrat's men cries bitterly, "Space junk! That's all Jinkrat ever was to any of them."

Apollo later reflects that Jinkrat is now gone, Koren orphaned, and the fleet in disarray—all because of one man's greed and manipulation. He remembers the brief moments when he stood as one with Jinkrat, recognizing the man's fundamental honesty and shared goals.

References

 

Subject: Characters