Laura Roslin faction

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The Laura Roslin faction is an ad-hoc conspiracy of Colonials who supported and aided in breaking President Laura Roslin from the Galactica's brig, who kept her in hiding, and may assist in reinstating Roslin as the effective leader of humanity. Most of the participants hid their participation in order to maintain their positions aboard the Galactica, with only a few openly defying Colonel Saul Tigh's declaration of martial law.

The impetus of this conspiracy occured after the tragic death of unarmed civilians by a group of marines, who were lead by an inexperienced Viper pilot, during an operation to procure needed supplies for the battlestar.

The conspiracy to free Roslin, as of "Resistance", openly includes:

  • Laura Roslin herself.
  • Captain Lee Adama, who coordinated with other members of the conspiracy and piloted the Raptor. He was imprisoned in the brig along with Roslin but was often released on parole in order to carry out his duties as the CAG.
  • Elosha, Roslin's priest, escaped with Roslin aboard the Raptor.
  • Billy Keikeya, Roslin's aide, assisted in breaking her out of prison but refused to escape with her, ostensibly because he did not approve of Roslin's decision.
  • Kara Thrace, who begins the factioning by disobeying orders and leaving for Caprica in the captured Cylon Raider for the Arrow of Apollo.

Conspirators whose involvement has been kept secret include:

  • Doctor Cottle, who signed an authorization to release a Raptor for flight ops. He later claimed that he was forced to do so at gunpoint, but this may have been to cover himself—all we see is when Roslin herself initially approaches him.
  • Petty Officer Dualla, who had a number of covert meetings with Lee and got a series of orders signed in order to cover for Roslin's escape, including closing causeway B (the main escape route) as well as, presumably, authorization to launch the Raptor.
  • Lt. Felix Gaeta, who Dualla seems to include on the plot, covers up the off-logged calls made throughout the course of the conspiracy when asked by Col. Tigh.
  • Corporal Venner, the Marine assigned to guard Roslin, had been sneaking her chamalla during her incarceration and included himself in on the escape plot, asking another unnamed Marine to punch him in the face to create the appearance that he was knocked out in the jailbreak.
  • Helo, who returned with Starbuck from his exile on Caprica and has accepted his part of the search for the Tomb of Athena. As he has not been on Galactica since the Cylon Attack began, he is only becoming fully aware of the significance of his participation. No others on Galactica know that he has returned and is still presumed dead.
  • Racetrack, who falsely claimed her Raptor was having technical problems as an excuse for Lee Adama to go to the hanger bay.

Non-members of the conspiracy who nonetheless assisted include:

  • An unnamed Marine private who accosted Laura Roslin on Causeway B, but did not fire upon her or otherwise prevent her escape.

At the end of "Resistance", Roslin's getaway crew meets Tom Zarek aboard Cloud Nine, a meeting that Lee Adama arranged, figuring that Zarek's network would have the resources necessary to help Roslin. Roslin, naturally, has reservations, and for good reason—Zarek, a convicted terrorist, was arguably in on a plot to assassinate Roslin in "Colonial Day". Nonetheless, she grudgingly concedes that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend", accepting Zarek's help.

Interestingly, Ellen Tigh, who in "Colonial Day" seems to become a Zarek operative, is the one encouraging her husband to take extreme measures in asserting his authority. This might suggest the possibility that she was trying to set up Tigh in a blatantly bad position, in order for Zarek to come in and "save" the populace from him.

Dr. Gaius Baltar, the elected Vice-President of the colonies, expresses the opinion to Col. Tigh that given Roslin's imprisonment, he is the legitimately serving President. Despite this adherence to the Articles of Colonization, Baltar seems uninvolved in the Roslin faction as of yet, as he is busy during the events of "Resistance" with other things.

In Home, Part I and Home, Part II, Adama returns to Kobol in order to reunite the fleet. It is Dualla who convinces Commander Adama to reunite the fleet, pointing out that deep down Adama is upset that he failed in his promise to bring everyone to Earth, and that "children are separated from their parents". After finding Roslin's landing party on Kobol, Adama chooses to again recognize her as the President, ending the break.