Adama Glare
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The Adama Glare (also known as the Glare of Death) is a formidable psychological weapon in the arsenal of William Adama, superstar. It is an alternative to Bill Adama's other main weapon, the Shield of Disapproval, activated by sudden eye-aversion.
The Adama Glare is most noticeably used on subversives, traitors, Cylons, and rogue presidents as well as people close to Adama who have screwed up, including family and subordinates.
The Adama Glare has the intended effect of accomplishing whatever Bill Adama needs to get done, such as calculating a blind jump... in his sleep, defeating a Cylon army... with a drunk XO and one hand tied, skinning Cylons... for couch leather, and other astonishing feats. Legend has it that the roving red Cylon eye moves side to side so as to avoid direct contact with the awesome power of the Adama Glare. This is in fitting with the Glare's apparent effect on humanoid Cylons, who have no such defensive apparatus. Some humanoid Cylons are also affected by the Shield of Disapproval. So far, the only Colonial immune to the Adama Glare is Doc Cottle, who is able to scowl intensely while making important medical decisions. Helena Cain resisted a Glare once, but the strain resulted in permanent back problems, exacerbated psychotic tendencies, and future vulnerability to the Adama Growled Ultimatum, a much weaker psychological weapon that failed to affect even D'anna Biers on a later occasion. Other strong opponents such as Kara Thrace have been sent away in tears.
The Adama Glare is presumed to be responsible for the conspicuous absence of New Caprican wildlife. It is also credited for Bill Adama's ability to bring audiences to tears with his acoustic rendition of "All Along the Watchtower". During the Cylon occupation of New Caprica, a treaty between the Cylons and Baltar's government ruled use of the Adama Glare a war crime, with Cylons claiming it was directly responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Cylons, most of whom were too broken-hearted to resurrect. Ironically, this prevented the Cylons from developing a Glare of their own, much to the consternation of the Brother Cavil model, who spent the rest of the occupation unsuccessfully pitching new ideas for psychological weapons. Ultimately, Number Five was put in charge of psychological warfare (using the primitive but effective "shout and point guns around" method), with the Cavil model reassigned to curmudgeonry and social commentary on a full-time basis.
Notes
- "Sooner or later, the day comes when you can't hide from the Adama Glare." - Bill Adama
- "Gods! His ego is shriveled up like a dried raisin!" - Dr. Cottle's unabashed medical opinion on the effect of the Adama Glare on human beings.