Editing Raptor 909

{{Ship Data
|italic=y
| image= Raptor 909.jpg
| title= Raptor 909 - "Wild Weasel"
| race= Colonial
| type= Military
| crew = [[Oliver Bear|Oliver "Fanboy" Bear]] (Deceased)<br> [[William Adama|William "Husker" Adama]] (Pilot)<br> [[Coker Fasjovik|Coker "Coker" Fasjovik]] ([[ECO]])
| ftl= No
| role= Recon
| arm= &bull; Ship-to-ship missiles<br/>&bull; Aft "Toaster Slayer" cannon
| def= &bull; Electronic countermeasures
| status= Crashed, [[Battle of Djerba]], {{BCH|42}} ([[First Cylon War]], 10th year)
}}

'''''Raptor 909''''', also known as '''''Wild Weasel''''', is a [[sublight]]-only [[Raptor]] attached to the [[Battlestar (RDM)|battlestar]] ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' (BS 75) in the tenth year of the [[First Cylon War]]. 

==History==
[[File:Raptor 909 noseart.jpg|left|thumb|Closeup of ''Weasel''{{'|s}} nose art.]]
''Wild Weasel'' was crewed by Lt. [[Oliver Bear]], and ECO [[Coker Fasjovik]]. However, Lt. [[Oliver Bear|Bear]] is killed when the ''Weasel'' has a run in with [[Cylon]] forces.<ref name="blood_chrome_script_bear_death">''[[Blood & Chrome]]'' [{{fullurl:File:B&C Pre-Production Draft - 11-30-10 - Version 01.FDX.pdf|page=12}} Pre-Production Draft, 11/30/10], pg. 11</ref> ECO [[Coker Fasjovik|Fasjovik]] was in the process of cleaning up [[Oliver Bear|Bear]]'s blood stains when his replacement, [[William Adama|Ensign William Adama]], who was "[[w:Fresh_off_the_boat|fresh off the boat]]," is assigned by the ship's [[Commander Air Group|CAG]], Captain [[Armin Rios]].<ref name="blood_chrome_script_cleanup">''[[Blood & Chrome]]'' [{{fullurl:File:B&C Pre-Production Draft - 11-30-10 - Version 01.FDX.pdf|page=12}} Pre-Production Draft, 11/30/10], pg. 11</ref>

=== Mission Assignment ===
Shortly after his assignment to ''Wild Weasel'', [[William Adama|Adama]] and co-pilot [[Coker Fasjovik|Fasjovik]] are ordered by [[Commander]] [[Silas Nash]] to escort [[Graystone Industries]] scientist Doctor [[Becca Kelly]] to the [[Scorpia]] [[Scorpion Fleet Shipyards|Shipyards]]. En route, however, [[Becca Kelly|Kelly]] reveals new orders to rendezvous with the [[Battlestar (RDM)|battlestar]] ''[[Archeron]]'' in [[Sector 12]], near [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]]-controlled space.

=== Archeron Engagement ===
Upon arrival at the designated coordinates, [[William Adama|Adama]], [[Coker Fasjovik|Fasjovik]] and [[Becca Kelly|Kelly]] discover ''[[Archeron]]'' destroyed and are pursued by [[Cylon]] [[Raider (RDM)#Cylon War-era Raider|forces]]. They escape after leading the [[Raider (RDM)|Raiders]] through the debris, and outwit them after [[William Adama|Adama]] pilots the ''Weasel'' through the still active [[FTL]] drive.

=== Ghost Fleet Rendezvous ===
With ''[[Archeron]]'' destroyed, Dr. [[Becca Kelly|Kelley]] orders the [[Raptor]] to break radio silence and make contact with an unknown source. Once a reply was received [[William Adama|Adama]] was ordered to take the craft into [[Cylon]] held space, where a [[Colonial Fleet (TRS)|Colonial]] fleet was parked, hiding away. After a brief run in with the fleet's [[Combat Air Patrol|CAP]], the ''Weasel'' is directed to contact the [[Landing Signal Officer|LSO]] aboard the [[Battlestar (RDM)|battlestar]] ''[[Osiris]]'' (BS 54), and land.

=== Djerba Mission ===
Soon after, ''[[Osiris]]'' is tasked by [[Colonial Fleet (TRS)|Colonial]] Admiralty with a combat jump to [[Djerba]], in order to deliver [[Becca Kelly|Kelly]] to a [[Cylon]] comm relay where it is believed she is to upload a malicious command to the [[Cylon]] network. Two [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] pilots from [[Battlestar (RDM)|battlestar]] ''[[Valkyrie]]'' (BS 41), [[Jim Kirby|Jim "Sunshine" Kirby]] and [[Zachary Elias]], are tasked with escorting the [[Raptor]] to the surface.

Soon after launch, all three are followed down by [[Cylon]] [[Raider (RDM)|Raiders]] and engaged. [[Zachary Elias|Elias]] is killed, and [[Jim Kirby|Kirby]] abandons the battle, leaving the [[Raptor]] crew alone. While [[William Adama|Adama]] is successful once more in destroying their pursuers, the [[Raptor]] takes damage and is forced into a crash landing into a large [[w:glacier|glacier]] on the surface of the moon. Despite being in fixable condition, the [[Raptor]] was abandoned by the crew shortly afterwards {{TRS|Blood and Chrome}}.

==Design and Equipment==
''Wild Weasel'' represents a typical [[First Cylon War]]-era [[Raptor]] configuration, featuring several distinctions from the later [[Re-imagined Series]] era craft. The ship lacks [[FTL]] capability, making it dependent on larger vessels for [[w:faster-than-light|faster-than-light]] travel. Its armament includes ship-to-ship missiles and an aft-mounted "Toaster Slayer" cannon, reflecting the more aggressive combat role of [[Raptor]]s during the war period.

The craft features distinctive nose art depicting a [[w:weasel|weasel]], along with the ship's name "Wild Weasel" and number "909" prominently displayed on its sides. The 10th Raptors Squadron logo is also visible, indicating its unit assignment within ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'''s air wing.

==Operational History==
The ''Wild Weasel'' served as part of ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'''s air wing during some of the most intense fighting of the [[First Cylon War]]. Under the crew of [[Oliver Bear]] and [[Coker Fasjovik]], the ship participated in numerous combat missions before [[Oliver Bear|Bear]]'s death in action against [[Cylon]] forces.

Following [[William Adama|Adama]]'s assignment as pilot, the ship's final mission took it deep into [[Cylon]] territory as part of the operation surrounding [[Becca Kelly]]'s classified assignment. The mission, while ultimately successful in its broader strategic objectives, resulted in the loss of the craft on [[Djerba]]'s surface, marking the end of ''Wild Weasel'''s service record {{TRS|Blood and Chrome}}.

==Notes==

===Behind the Scenes===
''Wild Weasel'' is a redress of the [[Raptor]] from the [[Re-imagined Series]], one of the few practical set pieces seen in ''[[Blood and Chrome|Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome]]''. A departure from previously seen [[Raptor]]s in the [[Re-imagined Series]], ''Wild Weasel'' features its name, nose art of a [[w:weasel|weasel]], as well as unit markings and [[Raptor]] number (909) on its sides.<ref name="ProductionDesign">{{cite_web|url=http://www.cgsociety.org/index.php/CGSFeatures/CGSFeatureSpecial/battlestar_galactica_blood_chrome|title=Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome VFX Feature|publisher=CGSociety|date=9 November 2012|accessdate=27 July 2025}}</ref>

The production team deliberately designed the [[First Cylon War]]-era [[Raptor]]s to appear more militaristic and aggressive than their later counterparts, reflecting the different operational requirements during active wartime. The nose art and unit markings were added to give the craft more personality and to show the human element within the war machine.

===Cultural References===
"[[w:Wild Weasel|Wild Weasel]]" is a real-world [[w:United States Air Force|United States Air Force]] term denoting an aircraft tasked with baiting and destroying enemy air defenses. The name choice reflects the [[Raptor]]'s role in ''[[Blood and Chrome]]'' as a reconnaissance and electronic warfare platform operating in dangerous [[Cylon]]-controlled territory.

The [[w:Wild Weasel|Wild Weasel]] mission profile typically involves deliberately exposing the aircraft to enemy detection in order to locate and eliminate air defense systems - a fitting parallel to the ''Wild Weasel'''s mission in the series, where it operates deep behind enemy lines to accomplish covert objectives.

== References ==
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[[de:Raptor 909]]
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