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A Measure of Salvation

2006-11-11T16:47:39Z

Antarctica moon: /* Questions */

{{Episode Data
| title= A Measure of Salvation
| image= Season 3 - Promo - AMOS - Six and Three on Lush Area.jpg
| season= 3
| episode= 7
| guests= [[Lucy Lawless]] as [[Number Three]]
| writer= [[Michael Angeli]]
| story=
| director= [[Bill Eagles]]
| production= 307
| rating=
| US airdate= November 10, 2006
| UK airdate=
| dvd=
| population= 41,420
| prev= [[Torn]]
| next= [[Hero]]
}}

== Overview ==
:''[[Lee Adama|Apollo]] and [[Sharon Agathon|Athena]] are dispatched to interrogate the dying [[Cylons]] on board the infected baseship, and learns how [[Baltar]] is helping their adversaries; the virus inspires [[Lee]] to come up with a new strategy.''

== Summary ==
=== On [[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]] ===
*A boarding party comprising of Raptors and vipers investigate the derelict basestar. Among the boarding party are [[Lee Adama]] and [[Sharon Agathon|Athena]].
*Aboard the derelict, marines explore the corridors, finding the humano-cylon models dead. Athena attempts to access the derelict basestar's Hybrid, but was unsuccessful.
*Some [[Humano-Cylons|"skinjobs"]] around the control center begin to revive, and advise the boarding party of the situation regarding the probe and subsequent infection of the Cylons. One of the infected Cylons, a [[Number Eight]], addresses Athena as "traitor".
*The boarding party and prisoners are en route back to Galactica when the derelict explodes.
*The boarding party and prisoners are quarantined while Major Cottle finds out if the virus effects humans. The human members of the boarding party are cleared while Athena is ordered to stay put, as her blood work hasn't been done. [[Karl Agathon|Helo]] is infuriated, but wants to be notified as soon as her results are available.
*Major Cottle begins investigating the survivors, who advises that the virus can be treated, but not cured for Cylons. [[Laura Roslin|President Roslin]], [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]], Apollo, and Helo discuss the idea of taunting the vaccine in exchange for information. A [[Simon]] is brought before them, and informs them that the entire baseship was abandoned, because resurrection would infect the others. He also mentions that Baltar provided the information towards Earth.
*Aboard ''[[Colonial One]]'', Apollo details a plan of possibly eliminating the entire Cylon race, by executing them in range of a [[Resurrection Ship]]. Helo scoffs at the idea, considering it genocide. President Roslin informed the two that she will consider both viewpoints.
*Aboard ''Galactica'', Athena finds she's immune due to carrying [[Hera]]. Helo discusses the proposed plan, and Athena understands. At the same time, Admiral Adama discusses the issue with Roslin on ''Colonial One'', saying the attack can't proceed without presidential order. Despite the ethical ramifications, the President authorizes the biological attack.
*Galactica jumps to a Cylon supply line, and launches Vipers and Raptors to draw a basestar and Resurrection Ship. In the midst of this, Helo initiates a plan to thwart the execution, unplugging what looks like a standard power connector from an environmental control box.
*The Cylons jump into the area, with Resurrection Ship in tow. Adama orders the execution of the prisoners.
*Apollo leads a team to execute the prisoners, but finds that all the prisoners have been killed prior to the Resurrection Ship arriving. Adama orders a recall, and Galactica jumps away without sustaining any major damage.
*Helo converses with Athena about what he did. He maintains that what he did was right, regardless of the consequences.
*Aboard ''Colonial One'', Adama reports that the prisoners were suffocated due to a failure in the environmental controls. Roslin is quick to point out one or two might be responsible, but Adama closes the issue. Subsequently, the virus was most likely an accidental exposure, similar to one reported 3000 years ago. Adama points out that they're on the right track to Earth, but Roslin points out so are the Cylons.

=== On a [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] ===

*Aboard the bastestar, Baltar is being interrogated by Three and Caprica-Six, knowing about the beacon. Three and Caprica-Six imply that Baltar is connected to the virus and to Galactica. Baltar attempts to reconcile, only to be confronted by Centurions.
*In his "projection", his mental Six tells him to relax. Meanwhile, his body is being subjected to torture; Caprica Six is visibly disturbed by the torture and backs away.
*Baltar's torture continues as Three continues to interrogate Baltar regarding his supposed involvement with the virus. In his mind, he attemps to avert the pain by making love to his mental Six. Despite extreme pain, Baltar endures.

== Questions ==

* Will [[Caprica-Six]] continue to stand by and permit Baltar's mistreatment at their hands?
* Where is Caprica-Six's own internal Baltar in all of this?
* Of the Cylons, which type told the basestar to self-destruct: [[Hybrid]] or [[Cylon agent]]? Considering her quite odd look after the destruction, might it have been Athena?
* What kind of new start are the Cylons planning for Earth? Just a new home planet, an attempt at human Cylon relations not tainted by the destruction of the Twelve Colonies, or something else?
* Why was the beacon left behind on the basestar?
* Why did an entire Cylon fleet (including a Ressurrection Ship) jump to the encounter with ''Galactica''? Why was the Ressurrection Ship not left behind somewhere else, as it was done in previous battles?
* Is D'anna in love with Baltar?
* Does D'anna think Baltar is the Cylon messiah?
* Why is Gaeta so surprised to hear that Baltar is alive, given the fact that he was actually there when D'anna offered Baltar to be evacuated from New Caprica?
* Why does [[Simon]] so quickly claim science can not provide a solution to the infection?
* How can an encephalitis virus be [[downloaded]] in a data stream?
* Why is a presidential order required to use a biological weapon, yet there has been no previous indication one was required to use a nuclear weapon?
* Why wasn't the execution squad in place and waiting with the prisoners so the plan could have been implemented in a timely manner?
* Since the plan was to execute the prisoners then jump away, why wasn't the jump drive already spooled up and ready?
* The environmental controls seem to have been circumvented by [[Karl Agathon]] pulling a single plug. In a combat ship aren't there cascading fail safe systems to protect against such catastrophic failures from simple system malfunctions?
* In his discussion with [[Laura Roslin]] at the end of the episode, [[Admiral Adama]] is aware that sabotage was involved in the death of the Cylon prisoners, yet he states there will be no investigation. While this creates a number of potential implications, first and foremost with the knowledge of recent internal conflicts and the continued potential for other [[Cylon agent]]s, this both subverts his authority and creates serious concerns regarding ship and fleet safety. Why wouldn't he be seriously concerned and want to aggressively pursue this matter?
** Admiral Adama knows that most likely the sabotage was committed by "Helo" and/or "Athena". He values both of them and prefers that they not be prosecuted. He himself had some moral reservations about this operation and may be somewhat relieved it wasn't implemented. Regarding the possible presence of Cylon agents, all known physical Humano-Cylon types have been identified and presumably eliminated in the Fleet.

== Analysis ==

It should be noted that the Cylons would have quickly cured themselves of this "Plague", if Galactica had succeeded in infecting them. It was quickly noted in the episode that Sharon was immune herself because residual fetal cells from Hera created effective antibodies against the virus. Cylons lack the immunity to effectively counter the encephalitis inducing virus, and any attempt at normal vaccination would not work because the Cylon immune system would create antibodies against the vaccine (this occurance seems to beg the question on Cylon immmunity). Hera is immune to the virus because she is a hybrid Human-Cylon. That she is now in the custody of the Cylons, Baltar would have quickly utlized her immunity, as he previously did on Roslin, as capital to further his self-preservation amongst them. He could quickly devise a serum using Hera's immune cells to innoculate the population due to the similar biology of Hera and the Cylons; this would overcome the obstacle of traditional vaccination.

The wider implications of such an event could have been religiously meaningful to the Cylons. Cylons have time and again shown religious deference by sometimes overlooking rational explinations. By saving the Cylon race Hera could have been elevated to Messiah status, if her very creation has not already ordained her as one to the Cylons because their God proclaimed her creation.

There is a fundamental flaw in the plan [[Apollo]] develops: Even if the virus successfully infects the [[Resurrection Ship]], the other [[Cylons]] would isolate that individual ship, thus preventing a widespread epidemic. The resulting impact on the Cylon fleet would be no greater than previous destruction of the resurrection ship in "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]".

== Notes ==
*According to an [http://www.nowplayingmag.com/content/view/4175/58/ interview] with executive producer [[David Eick]], episodes 5 and 6 are a two-part story in which ''Galactica'' discovers a dying Cylon Baseship, and deals with a plague that has befallen the Cylons.
*[[Survivor count|Fleet population]] is 41,420. Barring any births, there is an unaccounted loss of at least two since "[[Torn]]".
*The story behind the Lion Nebula beacon and the virus may have been inspired by the lunar lander [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surveyor_3 Surveyor 3]. Before launching in 1967, its camera was accidentally contaminated by a common bacterium. When the camera was recovered by Apollo 12 astronauts, the microbes returned to life, having survived two and a half years of vacuum, radiation, and temperature extremes.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

== Official Statements ==

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Kandyse McClure]] as [[Anastasia Dualla]]
* [[Aaron Douglas]] as Chief Petty Officer [[Galen Tyrol]]
* [[Tahmoh Penikett]] as Captain [[Karl Agathon|Karl "Helo" Agathon]]
* [[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Doctor [[Cottle]]
* [[Matthew Bennett]] as [[Number Five]]
* [[Rick Worthy]] as [[Simon]]
* [[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Leoben Conoy]]
* [[Bodie Olmos]] as Lt. [[Brendan Constanza|Brendan "Hot Dog" Constanza]]
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Lt. [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
* [[imdb:0461101|Tiffany Lyndall-Knight]] as [[Hybrid]] (credited)
* [[imdb:nm0669826|Eileen Pedde]] as Sgt. [[Mathias]]

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 3)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Michael Angeli]]
[[Category:RDM]]

Exodus, Part II

2006-10-23T05:22:42Z

Antarctica moon: /* Questions */

{{Episode Data
| title= Exodus, Part II
| image=TighAdamaReunion.jpg
| season= 3
| episode= 4
| guests= [[Lucy Lawless]] as [[Number Three]]
| writer= [[Bradley Thompson]] <br/> [[David Weddle]]
| story=
| director= [[Félix Enríquez Alcalá]]
| production= 304
| rating=
| US airdate= 2006-10-20
| UK airdate=
| dvd=
| population=
| prev= [[Exodus, Part I]]
| next= [[Collaborators]]
}}

== Overview ==

:''Commander [[Lee Adama]] of the battlestar ''[[Pegasus (RDM)| Pegasus]]'' has serious doubts about the success of the [[New Caprica]] rescue mission by ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''. On New Caprica, [[Saul Tigh]] decides the consequences for his [[Ellen Tigh |wife's]] betrayal of [[The Resistance | the Resistance]]. Aboard ''Galactica'', Admiral [[William Adama]] executes a dramatic rescue plan.''

== Summary ==

*On ''Pegasus'', [[Lee Adama]] and [[Anastasia Dualla|Dualla]] talk of ''[[Galactica]]'s'' mission. Adama worries heavily that Admiral Adama's mission will fail and of what future responsibilities he may have as the leader of the rest of mankind. His wife tells him to not give up hope.
*On New Caprica, [[Samuel Anders]] confronts [[Saul Tigh]] about [[Ellen Tigh|his wife Ellen's]] betrayal and tells him that either Tigh "takes care" of Ellen, or someone else less sympathetic will do so.
*Ellen Tigh explains her recent actions, that she would do absolutely anything to save Saul, including betraying the resistance. Tigh consoles her and provides her a drink when she asks. She falls unconscious, her drink having been poisoned by her husband. He says that he loves her, rests his head on her corpse, and weeps.
*On ''[[Colonial One]]'', [[Gaius Baltar]] tells the Cylons that they have failed in their experiment and suggests the Cylons simply leave. A [[Number Three|Three]] voices the concern that one day the descendants of mankind might exact vengeance upon the Cylons, should they be left to their own devices.
[[Image:Saulellen.jpg|Saul handing Ellen her poisoned drink.|thumb]]

*Suddenly, dozens of explosions can be felt and seen. The [[Battle of New Caprica]] has begun.
*Anders and the resistance team has set a series of explosions that mimic a Colonial attack and causes chaos. [[Tory Foster]] commands a team of section leaders in the evacuation and orders [[Maya]] to head for her ship with [[Hera|Isis]].
*Anders and a large group of resistance fighters retrieve weapons from beneath the [[Pyramid (RDM)|Pyramid]] court to rescue the detainees in the [[New Caprica Detention Center|detention center]].
*In space above New Caprica, ''Galactica'' deploys a squadron of Raptors and Vipers. The Raptors launch [[swallow]]s to mimic the EM signature of two Colonial battlestars. The Cylons pick them up and fall for the ruse, moving two basestars with their Raiders away from the planet.
*When [[Leoben Conoy]] leaves the residence inside the Detention Center to aid with the fighting, he keeps [[Kara Thrace]] inside. She assaults him and tries to escape, but he knocks her unconscious.
*[[Tom Zarek]] tasks [[James Lyman|Jammer]] to protect [[Laura Roslin]] as she makes her way to ''Colonial One''.
*At the entrance to the shipyard, where the Cylons keep the grounded Colonial vessels, a team under Tigh and [[Galen Tyrol]] are pinned down by [[Cylon Centurion]]s.
*The Cylons detect the decoy drones, but ''Galactica'' jumps deep into the planet's atmosphere and launches its remaining Vipers. Before colliding with the ground, the ship jumps back into space. The Vipers begin to attack targets on the ground and clear the way.
*As others are freed from the Detention Center, Anders finds his unconscious wife and carries her away, but when Thrace awakens, she goes back to retrieve [[Kacey]].
*The battle is turning against ''Galactica''. Her FTL drives are down, weapons are offline and there is heavy structural damage from the atmospheric entry. Four Cylon basestars are closing in and the battlestar is soon bombarded from all sides with no hope of survival. At that moment ''Pegasus'' joins the battle, Lee Adama having disobeyed his father's orders. He opens fire with the forward batteries and destroys one basestar in the opening salvo.
*The Cylons realize that they have lost and decide to evacuate the planet. [[Number Three]] volunteers to stay behind and set off the nuclear weapon that was left in the city for such a contingency. She offers Baltar a place with the Cylons and leaves.
*The Colonial ships initiate intra-atmosphere [[FTL|jumps]] from New Caprica as soon as they become airborne.
*''Pegasus'' is heavily bombarded by missiles, having left all of her Vipers back with the rest of the civilian Fleet. Admiral Adama realizes that his son has planned a one-way mission for ''Pegasus'', and orders recall of ''Galactica's'' fighters.
*On ''Colonial One'', [[Felix Gaeta]] accuses Baltar at gunpoint of having betrayed everyone. Gaeta admits his guilt in idealistically believing in Baltar's initial vision, but realized in the end that Baltar was only thinking about himself. Baltar admits his own guilt and begs Gaeta to shoot him. However, Gaeta relents, giving Baltar a final chance to redeem himself: stop Three from setting off the nuclear bomb.
*With ''Pegasus'' dying, Lee Adama orders everyone to abandon ship. He sets the ship [[CBDR]] with a basestar as the last of the crew leaves in Raptors. ''Pegasus’'' collision destroys another basestar. The remains of ''Pegasus’'' starboard [[flight pod]] collides with and destroy another basestar.
*Kara Thrace retrieves Kacey, but Conoy has returned and confronts her. She appears to give in to his demands, says "I love you," and kisses him. However, Thrace uses the diversion to stab him. She picks up Kacey and leaves with Anders.
*Three searches [[Dodona Selloi]]'s tent, but the [[oracle]] has left. Outside, [[Caprica-Six]] and Baltar find Hera next to [[Maya]]'s body, still alive. Three arrives, asks to hold the child, and leaves with her. [[Caprica-Six]] says Three no longer intends to detonate the nuke, then leaves the planet with Baltar.
*Laura Roslin and a group of resistance fighters enter the now abandoned ''Colonial One'' and are the last ship to leave the planet.
*On ''Galactica'', many people are reunited as Tyrol immediately takes charge of ushering the incoming refugees. When Thrace shows Kacey to Tyrol, another woman walks by and recognizes the girl as her daughter, whom the Cylons had taken away. The mother thanks Thrace for rescuing Kacey. Thrace is shocked by the relevation that Kacey is not her daughter after all, but gives her up.
*Admiral Adama welcomes Tigh back aboard, and tells him he brought everyone back. Tigh quietly replies, "[[Ellen Tigh|Not all of them]]." The colonists in ''Galactica's'' [[hangar deck]] begin chanting "A-dam-a, A-dam-a..." and carry the admiral on their shoulders. Adama turns to see Tigh wandering off, numbed with grief.
*Tory Foster tells Roslin that neither Maya nor Hera can be found, and it seems likely neither made it off the planet. Foster apologizes, but Roslin muses that this was part of something bigger than them.
*Admiral Adama shaves off his mustache and returns to a fully staffed [[CIC]], aboard the now very loud, bustling corridors of ''Galactica''.

== Questions ==

*With Baltar missing at the conclusion of this episode, who will become the President of the Twelve Colonies?
**[[Tom Zarek]], as Vice President, seems to have the best claim. Since he chose to become a political prisoner rather than collaborate with the Cylons, he has probably retained his good standing in the public eye. If Baltar had him removed from office, he could probably make a good case that such an action was illegal.
**Laura Roslin's decision to evacuate on Colonial One may not have been an expression of her intent to claim the presidency. Colonial One had been her home for the first nine months that the fleet spent on the run. Zarek may have opted to evacuate aboard the ''[[Astral Queen]]'', as he has previously served as a leader and representative of that vessel and her passengers.
**However, [[Saul Tigh]] seemed to expect that Roslin would assume the presidency ([[Precipice]]), and when boarding Colonial One, she makes herself at home at Baltar's desk as if she intends to do so.
**The Colonial Government has scheduled elections ([[Bastille Day]]), although it has also called special elections before ([[Colonial Day]]). As of this episode, it has been about a year and five months since the last presidential election, so it is unlikely that another is scheduled in the near future.
*What will be the final disposition of the ''Pegasus'' officers, and the military retirees who have returned from New Caprica?
**Saul Tigh's injuries may prevent him from resuming his post as XO of ''Galactica''. Additionally, he has been outranked by [[Lee Adama]] since "[[The Captain's Hand]]".
**Lee Adama's command, the ''Pegasus'', has been destroyed. Given Tigh's incapacity, he may begin service as XO of ''Galactica''. He has also expressed dissatisfaction with his military career ([[Final Cut]]) and may wish to retire from fleet service, or resume his earlier duties of military liaison to the civilian government.
**It will be difficult to justify replacing [[Louanne Katraine]] as CAG, given the length of her service since the foundation of New Caprica, and her skill as a pilot, shown to have rivaled or outstripped even that of Kara Thrace by the time of "[[Scar]]".
**[[Kara Thrace]] is retired, and although she will probably be recalled to active duty, she will probably not be permitted to resume her former occupation as CAG of ''Galactica'', so long as Katraine is serving in that position competently.
**[[Anastasia Dualla]] is now an officer, and will not be eager to resume NCO-level tasks. [[Hoshi]] held her former position on ''Pegasus'', and is now be available to serve on ''Galactica''.
**[[Felix Gaeta]] is retired, and will have to answer for the crimes of Baltar's administration, despite his covert affiliation with the resistance. [[Karl Agathon]] and [[Aaron Kelly]] have both been shown performing Gaeta's duties in CIC on ''Galactica'', and one of them may replace him.
**[[Cally Tyrol]], [[Galen Tyrol]], or both may choose to remain retired to raise their son, Nicholas. We have not yet seen young children being raised on board ''Galactica'', although there is a [[Boxey (RDM)|precedent]] for keeping a civilian minor onboard.
*What consequences will Ellen Tigh's death have for her husband?
*What equipment and personnel were left behind on [[New Caprica]]?
**In order to build [[New Caprica City]], the ships were at least partially stripped and supplies were offloaded.
**Medical supplies were running low as of "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]", although apparently the colonists were resupplied by the Cylons.
**Are there any people alive remaining on New Caprica after the exodus, due to wounds or infirmity? Were there any detention facilities which the [[New Caprica Resistance]] failed to liberate? Did anyone besides [[Gaius Baltar]] stay behind willingly?
*If the civilian ships only needed to get a few hundred feet off the ground in order to use their FTL drives and escape, why do ''Galcatica'' and ''Pegasus'' need to engage the basestars? Is this just to keep the Raiders, Heavy Raiders, and missiles from being used on the civilian fleet, on the surface below? (Note: it is not in dispute that having ''Galactica'' launch its fighters within the atmosphere is important so they could attack the Centurions and few raiders there.)
**As with the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]], the Cylons could destroy the city with a single nuclear bomb in orbit. The plan appears to force the Cylons to be too distracted by the battlestar's offenses (Raptors at first, then the battlestar itself) to worry about the actions on the planet. ''Galactica'' jumps intra-atmosphere to minimize detection by the basestars.
*Will Gaeta be the target of persecution or assassination as a collaborator? Or will people believe in him when he is found out to be the secret informant?
*Will [[Cally Tyrol]] identify Jammer as the NCP officer who released her, based on his voice?
*''Galactica's'' escape seems questionable. Most or all of ''Galactica's'' Vipers were launched during the atmospheric maneuver. Later, after the four basestars start pummelling ''Galactica'', its situation is dire, facing explosive decompressions and with its FTL disabled. Adama says, "Then that's it. It's been an honor." ''Pegasus'' immediately appears and uses its superior weaponry to engage the basestars, destroying one in the first volley, so Adama orders the FTL to be fixed. Soon, Helo reports that most of the civilian ships have jumped, that FTL is back online, and that ''Pegasus'' is taking "a hell of a pounding." Adama orders his Vipers to land so that ''Galactica'' can leave. The next shot is Vipers landing, but weren't they all at the surface? How long does it take a Viper to climb into orbit? Real-world atmospheric escapes take several minutes, at least. How much damage were the basestars and battlestars doing to each other in this time?
**We aren't seeing events in real-time. Several minutes can lie between scenes that appear to happen right after another. Sometimes it is simply necessary to compress things in order to fit them into one episode.
**There may be several key differences at play between an escape from New Caprica's atmosphere and a real-world atmospheric departure, such as a lower [[Wikipedia:Karman line|atmospheric boundary]], more powerful thrusters on the Vipers, etc.
*Why did Kara Thrace wait so long to stab Leoben? She could have done it before even kissing him.
**Possibly, Thrace intended to insult to injury by her quick betrayal, but also, she needed to ensure that the Cylon agent was completely off his guard.
**It's also possible she is not as strong as we think, and truly felt something for Leoben in those few moments.
*What about the Cylons, such as Leoben, who were killed during the insurection? If they were dependant on a resurrection facility on New Caprica, is said facility still operational? If not, is there a resurrection ship in range?
**Perhaps Base Stars have the capability to serve as resurrection facilities. This may make sense given their need to operate independently in deep space
*What, besides ''Galactica'' and her crew, was gained by the sacrifice of ''Pegasus''? Most of the civilian ships had already jumped to safety, and ''Pegasus'' did not bring any Vipers along to escort the remainder, opting instead to leave them to defend the small civilian fleet it had been protecting. If nothing was gained besides the survival of ''Galactica'', the sacrifice was a costly and foolish mistake - the fleet has lost the more advanced of its two battlestars, and along with it, its ability to manufacture new Vipers ([[Scar]]).
**That's a good question, and from a purely military mission perspective you're right. Pegasus' intervention seems to have been made solely because of the personal feelings of its commander. For the Cylons, the destruction of Pegasus and the retrieval of Hera compensate to an extent for the loss of three base stars and 30,000 human prisoners.

== Analysis ==

*Either the scenes aren't in order or Baltar is not aware of what is going on. In the Gaeta-Baltar scene, Baltar says, "The Cylons have a nuke in this complex. Nobody, and I mean nobody, is getting off this planet alive unless I stop D'Anna." But this is after most of the civilian ships have already jumped.

*Further, until Hera is discovered by Baltar, Three is still looking to set off the nuke -- even though it is clear that the colonists are all long gone.
**It's possible Three wasn't seeking to set off the nuke, but said she was as a ruse to go seek answers about her premonitions concerning Hera.

*In general, the Cylons seem to have left the planet implausibly underguarded. Considering the strategic nature of the site, as well as the well-known fact that two battlestars remained at large, one would have expected the Cylons to have an overwhelming amount of protection for the planet -- perhaps dozens of basestars. Furthermore, it is hard to believe that the Cylons were not keeping closer tabs on the whereabouts of the launch keys.
**It has been established beforehand that the Cylons are overstretched with the occupation. This could account for the lack of protection. At any rate, four basestars against two battlestars is hardly an even match, let alone two half-strength battlestars.
***A Basestar does not seem to be a 1 to 1 match for a Battlestar. They lack offensive and defensive gun batteries, the ability to maneuver quickly, and have a critical design flaw that is easily exploited (central hub holding the six arms together). Basestars depend on missiles and large numbers of raiders. Adama felt that the Galactica, even barely manned, could hold up to two Cylon Basestars.

*When faced with their impending death, both Ellen Tigh and William Adama choose to accept it in a quiet, dignified manner.

*With the former crew of ''Pegasus'' onboard ''Galactica'' now, the ship has something close to its standard crew size. (Galactica's crew was deduced to be 2,693 in the episode "[[Water]]", and Pegasus's was introduced with a crew count of 1,752 in "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]" (see [[Crew tally]]). William Adama notes that over half of the crew has settled on [[New Caprica]] in "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]", and Lee confirms that both ships are at half-strength in "[[Occupation]]".) Military operations should be much smoother now, and repairs to the ship in general are more feasible.

*While the combination of the ''Pegasus'' and ''Galactica'' air groups give the latter battlestar a full-strength fighter wing, the Fleet has suffered the loss of its most advanced and best-armed warship. With it also went the capability to build replacement Vipers, unless one of the civilian ships can be converted for such a purpose. Defensively, the Fleet is pretty much back to the position it was in when it left the Colonies.

== Notes ==

* There is also a TOS comic named ''[[Exodus!]]''
* Both parts of "Exodus" were originally planned as one episode. However, it was quickly realized that the story was far too large for one episode and it was split in two. This happened before with "[[Scattered]]" and "[[Valley of Darkness]]" and "[[Resurrection Ship, Part I|Resurrection Ship]]." It also helped save money because the construction of New Caprica, the extensive location shooting, the number of actors, as well as the special effects for "Exodus, Part II" were very expensive and the production was over budget.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

*''Discussing the failure of the occupation:''
:'''Number Three''': What would you have us do, Gaius?
:'''Gaius Baltar''': Leave. Pack up your centurions, and go. Please. Go.
:'''Number Three''': And then what? What would you do if we really just left you here? You'd live out your lives in peace and never trouble yourselves with thoughts of us again? Or would you raise your children with stories of the Cylon, the mechanical slaves who once did your bidding, only to turn against you? Killers who committed genocide against your race, the occupiers of this city until we just ran away? Would you tell them to tell the story to their children, and to their childrens' children, and nurse a dream of vengeance down through the years so that one day they could just go out into the stars and hunt the Cylon once more?
:'''Gaius Baltar''': Blood for blood ...has to stop one day.

*''Roslin heads to Colonial One''
:'''Roslin''': My ship's up there.
:'''Zarek''': You sure have a sense of the dramatic.

*''Adama comes to accept ''Galactica'''s end''
:'''Admiral Adama:''' Then that's it. It's been an honor.

*''After Hearing Pegasus Has Joined Galactica
:'''Admiral William Adama''': Damn You, Lee ...Thank You, Lee.

*''As the two Adamas reunite after the battle:''
:'''Admiral William Adama''': I guess you didn't understand my orders.
:'''Commander Lee Adama''': I never could read your handwriting.

*''Adama welcomes Col. Tigh back to ''Galactica''
:'''Adama:''' You did it, Saul. You brought them back.
:'''Tigh:''' Not all of them.

== Official Statements ==

== Guest Stars ==
*[[Michael Hogan]] as [[Saul Tigh]]
*[[Aaron Douglas]] as [[Galen Tyrol]]
*[[Tahmoh Penikett]] as Lt. [[Karl Agathon|Karl "Helo" Agathon]]
*[[Nicki Clyne]] as [[Cally Henderson Tyrol|Cally Tyrol]]
*[[Alessandro Juliani]] as [[Felix Gaeta]]
*[[Kandyse McClure]] as [[Anastasia Dualla]]
*[[Michael Trucco]] as [[Samuel Anders]]
*[[Richard Hatch]] as [[Tom Zarek]]
*[[Rick Worthy]] as [[Simon]]
*[[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Leoben Conoy]]
*[[Kate Vernon]] as [[Ellen Tigh]]
*[[Matthew Bennett]] as [[Number Five]]
*[[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
*[[Luciana Carro]] as Lt. [[Louanne Katraine|Louanne "Kat" Katraine]]

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{episode list (RDM season 3)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Bradley Thompson]]
[[Category:Episodes written by David Weddle]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Félix Enríquez Alcalá]]
[[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Exodus, Part II]]

Exodus, Part II

2006-10-23T01:21:58Z

Antarctica moon: /* Questions */

{{Episode Data
| title= Exodus, Part II
| image=TighAdamaReunion.jpg
| season= 3
| episode= 4
| guests= [[Lucy Lawless]] as [[Number Three]]
| writer= [[Bradley Thompson]] <br/> [[David Weddle]]
| story=
| director= [[Félix Enríquez Alcalá]]
| production= 304
| rating=
| US airdate= 2006-10-20
| UK airdate=
| dvd=
| population=
| prev= [[Exodus, Part I]]
| next= [[Collaborators]]
}}

== Overview ==

:''Commander [[Lee Adama]] of the battlestar ''[[Pegasus (RDM)| Pegasus]]'' has serious doubts about the success of the [[New Caprica]] rescue mission by ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''. On New Caprica, [[Saul Tigh]] decides the consequences for his [[Ellen Tigh |wife's]] betrayal of [[The Resistance | the Resistance]]. Aboard ''Galactica'', Admiral [[William Adama]] executes a dramatic rescue plan.''

== Summary ==

*On ''Pegasus'', [[Lee Adama]] and [[Anastasia Dualla|Dualla]] talk of ''[[Galactica]]'s'' mission. Adama worries heavily that Admiral Adama's mission will fail and of what future responsibilities he may have as the leader of the rest of mankind. His wife tells him to not give up hope.
*On New Caprica, [[Samuel Anders]] confronts [[Saul Tigh]] about [[Ellen Tigh|his wife Ellen's]] betrayal and tells him that either Tigh "takes care" of Ellen, or someone else less sympathetic will do so.
*Ellen Tigh explains her recent actions, that she would do absolutely anything to save Saul, including betraying the resistance. Tigh consoles her and provides her a drink when she asks. She falls unconscious, her drink having been poisoned by her husband. He says that he loves her, rests his head on her corpse, and weeps.
*On ''[[Colonial One]]'', [[Gaius Baltar]] tells the Cylons that they have failed in their experiment and suggests the Cylons simply leave. A [[Number Three|Three]] voices the concern that one day the descendants of mankind might exact vengeance upon the Cylons, should they be left to their own devices.
[[Image:Saulellen.jpg|Saul handing Ellen her poisoned drink.|thumb]]

*Suddenly, dozens of explosions can be felt and seen. The [[Battle of New Caprica]] has begun.
*Anders and the resistance team has set a series of explosions that mimic a Colonial attack and causes chaos. [[Tory Foster]] commands a team of section leaders in the evacuation and orders [[Maya]] to head for her ship with [[Hera|Isis]].
*Anders and a large group of resistance fighters retrieve weapons from beneath the [[Pyramid (RDM)|Pyramid]] court to rescue the detainees in the [[New Caprica Detention Center|detention center]].
*In space above New Caprica, ''Galactica'' deploys a squadron of Raptors and Vipers. The Raptors launch [[swallow]]s to mimic the EM signature of two Colonial battlestars. The Cylons pick them up and fall for the ruse, moving two basestars with their Raiders away from the planet.
*When [[Leoben Conoy]] leaves the residence inside the Detention Center to aid with the fighting, he keeps [[Kara Thrace]] inside. She assaults him and tries to escape, but he knocks her unconscious.
*[[Tom Zarek]] tasks [[James Lyman|Jammer]] to protect [[Laura Roslin]] as she makes her way to ''Colonial One''.
*At the entrance to the shipyard, where the Cylons keep the grounded Colonial vessels, a team under Tigh and [[Galen Tyrol]] are pinned down by [[Cylon Centurion]]s.
*The Cylons detect the decoy drones, but ''Galactica'' jumps deep into the planet's atmosphere and launches its remaining Vipers. Before colliding with the ground, the ship jumps back into space. The Vipers begin to attack targets on the ground and clear the way.
*As others are freed from the Detention Center, Anders finds his unconscious wife and carries her away, but when Thrace awakens, she goes back to retrieve [[Kacey]].
*The battle is turning against ''Galactica''. Her FTL drives are down, weapons are offline and there is heavy structural damage from the atmospheric entry. Four Cylon basestars are closing in and the battlestar is soon bombarded from all sides with no hope of survival. At that moment ''Pegasus'' joins the battle, Lee Adama having disobeyed his father's orders. He opens fire with the forward batteries and destroys one basestar in the opening salvo.
*The Cylons realize that they have lost and decide to evacuate the planet. [[Number Three]] volunteers to stay behind and set off the nuclear weapon that was left in the city for such a contingency. She offers Baltar a place with the Cylons and leaves.
*The Colonial ships initiate intra-atmosphere [[FTL|jumps]] from New Caprica as soon as they become airborne.
*''Pegasus'' is heavily bombarded by missiles, having left all of her Vipers back with the rest of the civilian Fleet. Admiral Adama realizes that his son has planned a one-way mission for ''Pegasus'', and orders recall of ''Galactica's'' fighters.
*On ''Colonial One'', [[Felix Gaeta]] accuses Baltar at gunpoint of having betrayed everyone. Gaeta admits his guilt in idealistically believing in Baltar's initial vision, but realized in the end that Baltar was only thinking about himself. Baltar admits his own guilt and begs Gaeta to shoot him. However, Gaeta relents, giving Baltar a final chance to redeem himself: stop Three from setting off the nuclear bomb.
*With ''Pegasus'' dying, Lee Adama orders everyone to abandon ship. He sets the ship [[CBDR]] with a basestar as the last of the crew leaves in Raptors. ''Pegasus’'' collision destroys another basestar. The remains of ''Pegasus’'' starboard [[flight pod]] collides with and destroy another basestar.
*Kara Thrace retrieves Kacey, but Conoy has returned and confronts her. She appears to give in to his demands, says "I love you," and kisses him. However, Thrace uses the diversion to stab him. She picks up Kacey and leaves with Anders.
*Three searches [[Dodona Selloi]]'s tent, but the [[oracle]] has left. Outside, [[Caprica-Six]] and Baltar find Hera next to [[Maya]]'s body, still alive. Three arrives, asks to hold the child, and leaves with her. [[Caprica-Six]] says Three no longer intends to detonate the nuke, then leaves the planet with Baltar.
*Laura Roslin and a group of resistance fighters enter the now abandoned ''Colonial One'' and are the last ship to leave the planet.
*On ''Galactica'', many people are reunited as Tyrol immediately takes charge of ushering the incoming refugees. When Thrace shows Kacey to Tyrol, another woman walks by and recognizes the girl as her daughter, whom the Cylons had taken away. The mother thanks Thrace for rescuing Kacey. Thrace is shocked by the relevation that Kacey is not her daughter after all, but gives her up.
*Admiral Adama welcomes Tigh back aboard, and tells him he brought everyone back. Tigh quietly replies, "[[Ellen Tigh|Not all of them]]." The colonists in ''Galactica's'' [[hangar deck]] begin chanting "A-dam-a, A-dam-a..." and carry the admiral on their shoulders. Adama turns to see Tigh wandering off, numbed with grief.
*Tory Foster tells Roslin that neither Maya nor Hera can be found, and it seems likely neither made it off the planet. Foster apologizes, but Roslin muses that this was part of something bigger than them.
*Admiral Adama shaves off his mustache and returns to a fully staffed [[CIC]], aboard the now very loud, bustling corridors of ''Galactica''.

== Questions ==

*With Baltar missing at the conclusion of this episode, who will become the President of the Twelve Colonies?
**[[Tom Zarek]], as Vice President, seems to have the best claim. Since he chose to become a political prisoner rather than collaborate with the Cylons, he has probably retained his good standing in the public eye. If Baltar had him removed from office, he could probably make a good case that such an action was illegal.
**Laura Roslin's decision to evacuate on Colonial One may not have been an expression of her intent to claim the presidency. Colonial One had been her home for the first nine months that the fleet spent on the run. Zarek may have opted to evacuate aboard the ''[[Astral Queen]]'', as he has previously served as a leader and representative of that vessel and her passengers.
**However, [[Saul Tigh]] seemed to expect that Roslin would assume the presidency ([[Precipice]]), and when boarding Colonial One, she makes herself at home at Baltar's desk as if she intends to do so.
**The Colonial Government has scheduled elections ([[Bastille Day]]), although it has also called special elections before ([[Colonial Day]]). As of this episode, it has been about a year and five months since the last presidential election, so it is unlikely that another is scheduled in the near future.
*What will be the final disposition of the ''Pegasus'' officers, and the military retirees who have returned from New Caprica?
**Saul Tigh's injuries may prevent him from resuming his post as XO of ''Galactica''. Additionally, he has been outranked by [[Lee Adama]] since "[[The Captain's Hand]]".
**Lee Adama's command, the ''Pegasus'', has been destroyed. Given Tigh's incapacity, he may begin service as XO of ''Galactica''. He has also expressed dissatisfaction with his military career ([[Final Cut]]) and may wish to retire from fleet service, or resume his earlier duties of military liaison to the civilian government.
**It will be difficult to justify replacing [[Louanne Katraine]] as CAG, given the length of her service since the foundation of New Caprica, and her skill as a pilot, shown to have rivaled or outstripped even that of Kara Thrace by the time of "[[Scar]]".
**[[Kara Thrace]] is retired, and although she will probably be recalled to active duty, she will probably not be permitted to resume her former occupation as CAG of ''Galactica'', so long as Katraine is serving in that position competently.
**[[Anastasia Dualla]] is now an officer, and will not be eager to resume NCO-level tasks. [[Hoshi]] held her former position on ''Pegasus'', and is now be available to serve on ''Galactica''.
**[[Felix Gaeta]] is retired, and will have to answer for the crimes of Baltar's administration, despite his covert affiliation with the resistance. [[Karl Agathon]] and [[Aaron Kelly]] have both been shown performing Gaeta's duties in CIC on ''Galactica'', and one of them may replace him.
**[[Cally Tyrol]], [[Galen Tyrol]], or both may choose to remain retired to raise their son, Nicholas. We have not yet seen young children being raised on board ''Galactica'', although there is a [[Boxey (RDM)|precedent]] for keeping a civilian minor onboard.
*What consequences will Ellen Tigh's death have for her husband?
*What equipment and personnel were left behind on [[New Caprica]]?
**In order to build [[New Caprica City]], the ships were at least partially stripped and supplies were offloaded.
**Medical supplies were running low as of "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]", although apparently the colonists were resupplied by the Cylons.
**Are there any people alive remaining on New Caprica after the exodus, due to wounds or infirmity? Were there any detention facilities which the [[New Caprica Resistance]] failed to liberate? Did anyone besides [[Gaius Baltar]] stay behind willingly?
*If the civilian ships only needed to get a few hundred feet off the ground in order to use their FTL drives and escape, why do ''Galcatica'' and ''Pegasus'' need to engage the basestars? Is this just to keep the Raiders, Heavy Raiders, and missiles from being used on the civilian fleet, on the surface below? (Note: it is not in dispute that having ''Galactica'' launch its fighters within the atmosphere is important so they could attack the Centurions and few raiders there.)
**As with the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]], the Cylons could destroy the city with a single nuclear bomb in orbit. The plan appears to force the Cylons to be too distracted by the battlestar's offenses (Raptors at first, then the battlestar itself) to worry about the actions on the planet. ''Galactica'' jumps intra-atmosphere to minimize detection by the basestars.
*Will Gaeta be the target of persecution or assassination as a collaborator? Or will people believe in him when he is found out to be the secret informant?
*Will [[Cally Tyrol]] identify Jammer as the NCP officer who released her, based on his voice?
*''Galactica's'' escape seems questionable. Most or all of ''Galactica's'' Vipers were launched during the atmospheric maneuver. Later, after the four basestars start pummelling ''Galactica'', its situation is dire, facing explosive decompressions and with its FTL disabled. Adama says, "Then that's it. It's been an honor." ''Pegasus'' immediately appears and uses its superior weaponry to engage the basestars, destroying one in the first volley, so Adama orders the FTL to be fixed. Soon, Helo reports that most of the civilian ships have jumped, that FTL is back online, and that ''Pegasus'' is taking "a hell of a pounding." Adama orders his Vipers to land so that ''Galactica'' can leave. The next shot is Vipers landing, but weren't they all at the surface? How long does it take a Viper to climb into orbit? Real-world atmospheric escapes take several minutes, at least. How much damage were the basestars and battlestars doing to each other in this time?
**We aren't seeing events in real-time. Several minutes can lie between scenes that appear to happen right after another. Sometimes it is simply necessary to compress things in order to fit them into one episode.
**There may be several key differences at play between an escape from New Caprica's atmosphere and a real-world atmospheric departure, such as a lower [[Wikipedia:Karman line|atmospheric boundary]], more powerful thrusters on the Vipers, etc.
*Why did Kara Thrace wait so long to stab Leoben? She could have done it before even kissing him.
**Possibly, Thrace intended to insult to injury by her quick betrayal, but also, she needed to ensure that the Cylon agent was completely off his guard.
**It's also possible she is not as strong as we think, and truly felt something for Leoben in those few moments.
*What about the Cylons, such as Leoben, who were killed during the insurection? If they were dependant on a resurrection facility on New Caprica, is said facility still operational? If not, is there a resurrection ship in range?
*What, besides ''Galactica'' and her crew, was gained by the sacrifice of ''Pegasus''? Most of the civilian ships had already jumped to safety, and ''Pegasus'' did not bring any Vipers along to escort the remainder, opting instead to leave them to defend the small civilian fleet it had been protecting. If nothing was gained besides the survival of ''Galactica'', the sacrifice was a costly and foolish mistake - the fleet has lost the more advanced of its two battlestars, and along with it, its ability to manufacture new Vipers ([[Scar]]).
**That's a good question, and from a purely military mission perspective you're right. Pegasus' intervention seems to have been made solely because of the personal feelings of its commander. For the Cylons, the destruction of Pegasus and the retrieval of Hera compensate to an extent for the loss of three base stars and 30,000 human prisoners.

== Analysis ==

*Either the scenes aren't in order or Baltar is not aware of what is going on. In the Gaeta-Baltar scene, Baltar says, "The Cylons have a nuke in this complex. Nobody, and I mean nobody, is getting off this planet alive unless I stop D'Anna." But this is after most of the civilian ships have already jumped.

*Further, until Hera is discovered by Baltar, Three is still looking to set off the nuke -- even though it is clear that the colonists are all long gone.
**It's possible Three wasn't seeking to set off the nuke, but said she was as a ruse to go seek answers about her premonitions concerning Hera.

*In general, the Cylons seem to have left the planet implausibly underguarded. Considering the strategic nature of the site, as well as the well-known fact that two battlestars remained at large, one would have expected the Cylons to have an overwhelming amount of protection for the planet -- perhaps dozens of basestars. Furthermore, it is hard to believe that the Cylons were not keeping closer tabs on the whereabouts of the launch keys.
**It has been established beforehand that the Cylons are overstretched with the occupation. This could account for the lack of protection. At any rate, four basestars against two battlestars is hardly an even match, let alone two half-strength battlestars.

*When faced with their impending death, both Ellen Tigh and William Adama choose to accept it in a quiet, dignified manner.

*Vipers are seen to launch from ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'s'' starboard flight pod. This was pressurized and converted into a museum gift shop prior to the [[miniseries]] and remained so as late as "[[Valley of Darkness]]". It has apparently been refit for launch operations since that time. This is important, as it will be necessary to accomodate the Vipers and Raptors formerly attached to ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]''.

*With the former crew of ''Pegasus'' onboard ''Galactica'' now, the ship has something close to its standard crew size. (Galactica's crew was deduced to be 2,693 in the episode "[[Water]]", and Pegasus's was introduced with a crew count of 1,752 in "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]" (see [[Crew tally]]). William Adama notes that over half of the crew has settled on [[New Caprica]] in "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]", and Lee confirms that both ships are at half-strength in "[[Occupation]]".) Military operations should be much smoother now, and repairs to the ship in general are more feasible.

== Notes ==

* There is also a TOS comic named ''[[Exodus!]]''
* Both parts of "Exodus" were originally planned as one episode. However, it was quickly realized that the story was far too large for one episode and it was split in two. This happened before with "[[Scattered]]" and "[[Valley of Darkness]]" and "[[Resurrection Ship, Part I|Resurrection Ship]]." It also helped save money because the construction of New Caprica, the extensive location shooting, the number of actors, as well as the special effects for "Exodus, Part II" were very expensive and the production was over budget.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

*''Discussing the failure of the occupation:''
:'''Number Three''': What would you have us do, Gaius?
:'''Gaius Baltar''': Leave. Pack up your centurions, and go. Please. Go.
:'''Number Three''': And then what? What would you do if we really just left you here? You'd live out your lives in peace and never trouble yourselves with thoughts of us again? Or would you raise your children with stories of the Cylon, the mechanical slaves who once did your bidding, only to turn against you? Killers who committed genocide against your race, the occupiers of this city until we just ran away? Would you tell them to tell the story to their children, and to their childrens' children, and nurse a dream of vengeance down through the years so that one day they could just go out into the stars and hunt the Cylon once more?
:'''Gaius Baltar''': Blood for blood ...has to stop one day.

*''Roslin heads to Colonial One''
:'''Roslin''': My ship's up there.
:'''Zarek''': You sure have a sense of the dramatic.

*''Adama comes to accept ''Galactica'''s end''
:'''Admiral Adama:''' Then that's it. It's been an honor.

*''After Hearing Pegasus Has Joined Galactica
:'''Admiral William Adama''': Damn You, Lee ...Thank You, Lee.

*''As the two Adamas reunite after the battle:''
:'''Admiral William Adama''': I guess you didn't understand my orders.
:'''Commander Lee Adama''': I never could read your handwriting.

*''Adama welcomes Col. Tigh back to ''Galactica''
:'''Adama:''' You did it, Saul. You brought them back.
:'''Tigh:''' Not all of them.

== Official Statements ==

== Guest Stars ==
*[[Michael Hogan]] as [[Saul Tigh]]
*[[Aaron Douglas]] as [[Galen Tyrol]]
*[[Tahmoh Penikett]] as Lt. [[Karl Agathon|Karl "Helo" Agathon]]
*[[Nicki Clyne]] as [[Cally Henderson Tyrol|Cally Tyrol]]
*[[Alessandro Juliani]] as [[Felix Gaeta]]
*[[Kandyse McClure]] as [[Anastasia Dualla]]
*[[Michael Trucco]] as [[Samuel Anders]]
*[[Richard Hatch]] as [[Tom Zarek]]
*[[Rick Worthy]] as [[Simon]]
*[[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Leoben Conoy]]
*[[Kate Vernon]] as [[Ellen Tigh]]
*[[Matthew Bennett]] as [[Number Five]]
*[[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
*[[Luciana Carro]] as Lt. [[Louanne Katraine|Louanne "Kat" Katraine]]

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{episode list (RDM season 3)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Bradley Thompson]]
[[Category:Episodes written by David Weddle]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Félix Enríquez Alcalá]]
[[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Exodus, Part II]]