Battlestar Wiki - User contributions [en]

William Adama

2010-11-05T22:32:15Z

BlackValkyrie:

:''For information on William Adama's [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Original Series]] counterpart, see [[Adama (TOS)]].''
:''For other people named the shortened version of William, see: [[Bill (disambiguation)]].''
{{Character Data
|photo=William Adama.jpg
|caption=William Adama as the commander of the last battlestar, ''Galactica''.
|photo 2=Willie_Adama.jpg
|caption 2=William Adama at age 11 in ''[[Caprica (series)|Caprica]]''
|age=73 (at the time when he reached New Earth)
|colony= [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]], of [[Tauron (RDM)|Tauron]] descent
|birthname= William Adama
|callsign= Husker
|nickname= Willie (as a child)<br/>Billy (during the First Cylon War)<br/>Bill / The Old Man (later in life)
|seen= Miniseries
|death= Presumably on Earth, c. 148,000 BCE
|parents= [[Joseph Adama]] † (father)<br/>[[Shannon Adama]] † (mother)
|siblings= [[Tamara Adama]] (sister) †
|children= [[Lee Adama|Leland J. Adama]]<br/>[[Zak Adama]] †
|marital status= Divorced ([[Carolanne Adama]] †);<br>Temporarily co-habitated with [[Laura Roslin]] aboard ''Galactica''
|familytree=Y
|role=Commanding Officer, [[Galactica type battlestar|battlestar]] ''[[Galactica]]''<br/>Military leader of the [[The Fleet (RDM)|civilian Fleet]]
|rank=Admiral
|serial=204971<ref>This information is from his [[:Image:Bill Adama's dogtag serial.jpg|dogtags]].</ref>
|cylon=
|actor=[[Edward James Olmos]]<br/>[[Nico Cortez]] ([[Razor]])<br>[[Sina Najafi]] (''[[Caprica (series)|Caprica]]'')
|sepcon=Y
}}
Admiral '''William Adama''', a veteran of the [[First Cylon War]], is the commanding officer of the [[Galactica type battlestar|battlestar]] ''[[Galactica]]'', and the highest ranking officer left in the Colonial Fleet after the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]].

== Background ==
*William Adama (named after his [[William Adama (grandfather)|deceased grandfather]]) was born in 69 BCH on Caprica, the son of [[Joseph Adama]] and [[Shannon Adama]] and raised in [[Qualai]], a small coastal community ([[CAP]]: [[Caprica pilot|Pilot]]; [[TRS]]: "[[Hero]]"). His father was a [[Tauron (RDM)|Tauron]] immigrant and an attorney specializing in criminal defense and civil liberties with ties to the [[Ha'la'tha|criminal underworld]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Litmus]]", "Hero"; [[CAP]]: [[Caprica pilot|Pilot]]). His mother was an accountant ([[TRS]]: "[[Hero]]"). Both his mother and his sister, [[Tamara Adama|Tamara]], died in a suicide bombing on the [[Maglev 23]] when he was 11. He was still in school when the First [[Cylon War]] started ([[TRS]]: "[[Razor Flashbacks]]," Episode 1). During his childhood, he was considered small for his age and would often be beaten by his peers ([[TRS]]: [[List of Deleted Scenes (RDM)/Season 3#99|deleted scene]], "[[Exodus, Part II]]"). Because of anti-Tauron prejudice, Adama's father assumed the more Caprican-sounding surname Adams, but eventually the family reverted to the original Tauron name after 58 BCH ([[CAP]]: [[Pilot]]).
*After the death of both his mother and sister, Adama becomes estranged from his father, who is indirectly involved with the creation of the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] after his uncle, [[Sam Adama]], violently secures the [[meta-cognitive processor]] ([[CAP]]: [[Caprica pilot|Pilot]], "[[Know Thy Enemy]]"). As a result of this estrangement, Sam assumes a parental role in Adama's life, much to his father's chagrin, and as a result becomes rebellious ([[CAP]]: "[[Rebirth]]", "[[The Reins of a Waterfall]]", "[[There is Another Sky]]"). His grandmother, [[Ruth]], encourages Adama's pursuit of his Tauron culture, even offering him uncharacteristically chilling advice in the process ([[CAP]]: [[Pilot]], "[[Gravedancing]]", "[[There is Another Sky]]").
*Adama served late in the [[Cylon War]] as both a [[Raptor]] and [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] pilot, his first assignment being on ''[[Galactica (TOS)|Galactica]]''. His first mission behind enemy lines was in a Raptor undergoing an unknown mission ([[TRS]]: "[[Razor Flashbacks]]," Episode 1; "[[Sine Qua Non]]"). He allegedly gained the call sign of "Husker"<ref>Adama's callsign is misspelled as "Husher" in the [[Battlestar Galactica (2005 Novel)|Miniseries novelization]], which is considered a [[BW:SEPCON|separate continuity]] source.</ref> on account of his baritone "graveled" voice. During his time on ''Galactica'', he had a romantic relationship with [[Jaycie McGavin]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Razor Flashbacks]]", Episode 1). He proved a gifted pilot, shooting down his first [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] on his very first combat mission, for which he received a commendation ([[TRS]]: "[[Razor Flashbacks]]", Episode 3; "[[Hero]]").
*In the last week in the war, Adama served on ''[[Galactica]]'' when the battlestar was boarded by Cylon forces. He recalled to his friend [[Saul Tigh]] a dangerous Cylon tactic that tried to turn the battlestar's power against itself ([[TRS]]: "[[Valley of Darkness]]", [[List_of_Deleted_Scenes_-_Season_2_(RDM)#Valley of Darkness|deleted scene]]).
*Furloughed by [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|Colonial Fleet]] after the war's end, Adama found work as a deck hand on a [[Sedulana|merchant fleet civilian freighter]], where he met [[Saul Tigh]], who became a long-time friend ([[TRS]]: "[[Scattered]]", "[[Valley of Darkness]]").
*Adama married [[Carolanne Adama]], whose family had political influence with the defense subcommittee and pulled to get Adama reinstated to the Colonial Fleet. Adama (now a major) himself arranged for Tigh's reinstatement two years later.
*William and Carolanne Adama had two sons, [[Lee Adama|Lee]] and [[Zak Adama|Zak]], before the pressures of Adama's career and the time he spent away from home in active service began to place a strain on their marriage, and the two eventually divorced ([[TRS]]: [[Miniseries]], "[[A Day in the Life]]").
*While elder son Lee showed promise as a Viper pilot, younger Zak Adama did not. [[Kara Thrace]], Zak's flight instructor and lover, certified him for basic flight despite his poor flight skills. Later, Zak Adama was killed in an operational flight. Zak's death would cause a rift between Commander Adama and his older son for nearly [[Act of Contrition|three years]] until Thrace admits her error to both of them.
*Adama rose through the ranks of the peacetime fleet, becoming the executive officer of the battlestar ''[[Columbia (RDM)|Columbia]]'', before becoming the commander of the battlestar ''[[Valkyrie]]''. About six years <ref name="hero">While dialogue from "[[Hero]]" places these events at 1 BCH, this contradicts previously established dates about the time Adama and others served on ''Galactica''. See [[Hero#Analysis]] for a detailed explanation why ''Battlestar Wiki'' chooses to treat this as a continuity error.</ref> prior to the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]], he was ordered by Admiral [[Peter Corman]] to escort a [[Stealthstar|stealth scout ship]] over the [[Armistice Line]]. The mission was a failure, and in an attempt to cover up, he ordered the ship and its pilot shot down. Ever since, he had felt guilt, both over shooting down his own pilot and over the possibility that his actions resulted in the holocaust. According to Tigh, this mission brought his star into descent, and he was given command of ''Galactica'' as a graceful way of easing into retirement.
*Adama has the rare combination of qualities that make up a good leader: insight, the ability to naturally command respect, a common touch that enables him to relate to the enlisted personnel under his command as well as his officers, intuition, intelligence, a strong belief in his own abilities, and the ability to take the advice of others. These qualities are reflected in the fact that personnel of all ranks aboard ''Galactica'' hold him in high regard, and know that he is approachable ([[TRS]]: [[Miniseries]]).
*Adama mistrusts politicians, and sometimes places too strongly a value of loyalty to those he regards as family and friends. From his uneasiness to [[Laura Roslin]]'s unexpected assumption of the Presidency, to the tolerance and patience of his friend, Saul Tigh, and [[You Can't Go Home Again|his stubbornness to save Kara Thrace]], Adama shows a dogged determination that few others care to confront.
*Adama does not share the majority of Colonial beliefs in the gods ([[TRS]]: "[[Razor]]"), although he has come to accept that his people's scripture may have relevance to the search for Earth ([[TRS]]: "[[Home, Part II]]").
*Several notable assignments and reassignments during his 45-year career in the Colonial Fleet ([[TRS]]: "[[Hero]]"):
**D6/21311 - First commission: battlestar ''Galactica'' fighter squadron
**E4/21312 - Commendation for shooting down Cylon fighter in first combat mission
**D5/21314 - Mustered out of service post-armistice
**R6/21317 - Served as deckhand in merchant fleet and as common [...] aboard inter-colony tramp freighters
**D1/21331 - Recommissioned to Fleet
**D6/21337 - Major: battlestar ''[[Atlantia (RDM)|Atlantia]]''
**R8/21341 - Executive Officer: battlestar ''[[Columbia (RDM)|Columbia]]''
**C2/21345 - Commander: battlestar ''[[Valkyrie]]''
**C2/21348 - Commander: battlestar ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''

<br/>

<gallery>
Image:Young Adama.jpg|William Adama during the first Cylon War ([[TRS]]: "[[Razor]]").
Image:Youngadamafamily.jpg|A somewhat older William Adama and his two sons.
Image:Adama freighter.jpg|Adama aboard an inter-colony tramp freighter ([[TRS]]: "[[Scattered]]").
</gallery>

== Character History==

=== Childhood ===

* At age 11 (58 [[BCH]]), William "Willie" Adama held the family name of "Adams," as it was changed to hide the Adamas's [[Tauron]] ethnicity. It is after the death of his [[Shannon Adama|mother]] and [[Tamara Adama|sister]] at the bombing of [[Maglev 23]] that his [[Joseph Adama|father]] made aware of his Tauron heritage ([[CAP]]: [[Caprica pilot|Pilot]]. Following their deaths, he becomes estranged from his father, and his uncle, [[Sam Adama]], takes Adama under his wing and introduces him to life as a Tauron—and soldiers of the [[Ha'la'tha]]—ignoring his scholastic responsibilities. His grandmother, [[Ruth]], aids in his exposure to his Tauron heritage ([[CAP]]: "[[Rebirth]]", "[[The Reins of a Waterfall]]", "[[Gravedancing]]").
* He and his father later undergo a Tauron ritual that is meant to deal with the loss of loved ones, and this seems to aid in the reconciliation between them ([[CAP]]: "[[There is Another Sky]]"). At the time, he is unaware that his father had [[Daniel Graystone]] create an [[Tamara-A|avatar]] of his dead sister; he knew they were friends, but is oblivious to the circumstances that putrified this friendship ([[CAP]]: "[[Gravedancing]]").

=== The Fall of the Twelve Colonies ===

[[image:Mini_Adama_Tigh_DRADIS.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Commander Adama and Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] plot a course to [[Ragnar Anchorage]] in the [[Miniseries]].]]

*At the time just prior to the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|Fall]], William Adama serves out his final weeks as commander of the battlestar ''[[Galactica]]''. After some 50 years of service, the historic warship is in the process of being decommissioned, and it is one of Adama's final duties to formally hand her over to the [[Colonial Ministry of Education]], which would operate the ship as a living museum and educational center commemorating the [[First Cylon War|original Cylon War]].
*As a retirement gift, several members of [[Galen Tyrol]]'s deck crew find and restore Adama's old [[Viper Mark II]].
*On news of a renewed Cylon attack, Adama's first thoughts are, "Dead. We're all dead" ([[TRS]]: "[[Home, Part II]]"). Despite this, as well as the presumed loss of his [[Carolanne Adama|ex-wife]] in Caprica City, he unhesitatingly takes control of the [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|Colonial Fleet]] after [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Picon|Picon]] Fleet Headquarters is destroyed and Admiral [[Nagala]] is killed.
*At Ragnar Anchorage, Adama deduces that [[Number Two|Leoben Conoy]]'s "allergies" are really the effect of Ragnar's cloud's electro-magnetic radiation upon the [[silica pathways]] composing a Cylon brain, despite the fact that the existence of [[Humanoid Cylon|biological Cylons]] is presumably unknown to humans at that time.<ref>See [[Miniseries, Analysis#Commander William Adama|Miniseries, Analysis]] for hypotheses concerning Adama's curious ability to quickly deduce Conoy's real nature.</ref>
*Once President Roslin convinces Adama the futility of fighting against overwhelming odds, and with what may be the last 50,000 humans who remain anywhere, he makes the switch to the more tactical thinking that keeps the Colonial Fleet at least one step ahead of their Cylon pursuers.
*From the outset, he is savvy enough to give every single survivor of the devastating attack on the Colonies a reason for hope for the future: the legend of [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]. This falsehood [[Tomb of Athena|comes back to haunt him]] as the weeks continue, as Roslin is aware of this lie to the crew and states this privately to Adama.

=== From the Colonies to Kobol ===

*Adama continues to face the problem of infiltration within the Fleet by [[humanoid Cylon]]s as well as [[Demand Peace|dissenting humans]] who protest or terrorize others in the Fleet. Adama continually redefines the boundaries of military and civil leadership. After some [[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II|serious missteps between he and President Roslin]], the two later become friends as well as influential leaders.
*[[Sharon Valerii]], a trusted [[Raptor]] pilot who served with Adama for two years, reveals herself unwittingly as a Cylon sleeper agent and shoots Adama at point blank range after a [[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II|critical mission near Kobol]]. Cottle [[Fragged|eventually repairs]] the damage to Adama's body, but Adama's psyche takes the larger hit while he repairs the [[Resistance|damage to the Fleet]] he and Col. Tigh have caused in arresting President Roslin, as well as the existence of a [[Sharon Agathon|second copy of Valerii]].
*While at first Adama takes a similar stance to Tigh in assuming a hard military posture, a conversation with [[Anastasia Dualla|Dualla]] helps him realize that, despite the problems, the Fleet is his family, and the family must stay together. After finding the [[Tomb of Athena]] with Roslin and reuniting a [[Laura Roslin faction|factioning of the Fleet]], Adama firmly buries the hatchet between himself and Roslin publicly.
*In a desperate plan, Adama trusts the second Valerii to help [[Flight of the Phoenix|ward off]] a [[Great Cylon Turkey Shoot|massive Cylon fleet]]. Despite his "gut" feelings about the Cylon, he finds common ground often with her, even apologizing to her after a [[Resurrection Ship, Part I|distasteful incident]].

<gallery>
Image:Attack adama.jpg|Adama seconds after having been shot by [[Sharon Valerii]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]").
image:Home_pt1-Adama.jpg|Adama paints a model naval ship while talking to [[Anastasia Dualla|Dualla]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Home, Part I]]").
</gallery>

=== ''Pegasus'' ===

*Adama stoically accepts Admiral [[Helena Cain]]'s overall command. Wary of her behavior and her crew, Adama follows his own truism: stick to what you know, until you find something better.
*Matters with Cain's unusually totalitarian command style come to a head when Cain makes [[Pegasus (episode)|several highly questionable orders]] that lead him to face off with her battlestar and her command in a [[Standoff Between Galactica and Pegasus|military challenge]]. While the issue is [[Resurrection Ship, Part I|temporarily defused]], Adama is told by, of all people, President Roslin that Cain is a threat to the safety of the Fleet's citizens and must be eliminated.
*Adama avoids killing Cain after realizing that he would become the monster that the Cylons believed they were, unaware that she has plotted his demise as well.
*With Cain's fate sealed not by Adama but [[Gina Inviere]], a frail President Roslin promotes Adama to Admiral. He gives her a simple, affectionate kiss, which she returns, signifying another change in their turbulent association ([[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]).

=== New Caprica ===

[[Image:Adama being carried Exodus-Pt-II.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Adama being carried by crew and civilians after the [[Battle of New Caprica]] (mid left).]]

*Adama's sense of justice with Roslin holds when he confronts her about [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II|a conspiracy]] involving her re-election. Roslin admits the conspiracy but she is certain disaster will strike if [[Gaius Baltar]] becomes president. He agrees, but convinces Roslin that the correct course of action is to acknowledge a miscount and cover the conspiracy.
*When ''[[Cloud Nine]]'' and two other ships blow up as a result of [[Gina Inviere]]'s last effort of sabotage, Adama is privately infuriated at new President Baltar's refusal to investigate, and begins to wonder if he hadn't made a mistake.
*A year later, Adama commands ''Galactica'' manned by a skeleton crew as the flagship of a defense fleet, consisting of all ships unable or unwilling to make planetfall on [[New Caprica]]. He now sports a thick mustache, and has apparently taken up smoking. Adama feel lonely in command after he allowed many people close to him to settle on the planet despite his initial refusal. Eventually he grants [[Saul Tigh]] leave to take his wife [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]] and go as well. His friendship to [[Laura Roslin]] appears to have deepened and the two share a carefree day during Founders' Day celebrations on the planet, marking the formal ground-breaking of New Caprica City ([[TRS]]: "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]", "[[Unfinished Business]]").
*Shortly after the election, Adama and/or President Baltar commissions Petty Officer Anastasia Dualla a lieutenant (junior grade), skipping the initial commissioned rank of ensign. Aside from pilots, she is the only NCO shown to receive a commission. On the morning after the Founders' Day celebration, Adama approves her transfer to Battlestar ''Pegasus'' to join his son and her lover, Commander Lee Adama.
*During the year in orbit, he mends fences with [[Sharon Agathon|Sharon]]. Although he valued her advise earlier, he called her a "thing" or "it" and treated her such. While becoming estranged from the people around him, Adama grows much closer to Agathon, having personal conversations with her and he allowing her to decorate her cell with chairs, tables and other amenities and she has apparently become an advisor of sorts to him ([[TRS]]: "[[Precipice]]"). He permits [[Karl Agathon|Helo]] to marry her, and she adopts his surname, Agathon, thereby further separating herself from the identical Sharon Valerii who shot Adama.
*With Colonel Tigh released from active duty and beached on New Caprica, Adama promotes Lt. Karl Agathon (Helo) to captain and appoints him Executive Officer of ''Galactica,'' thereby demonstrating both the trust he has in Helo despite the latter's marriage to the Cylon prisoner, and his unwillingness to split families.
*Not long after Tigh leaves, a massive Cylon fleet bears down on New Caprica. After a brief discussion with [[Lee Adama|his son]] aboard ''Pegasus'' they order the understaffed Fleet to escape to pre-arranged Jump coordinates. The admiral issues the jump order with a reminder: "We're leaving... but we'll be back."
* Frustrations over the lack of a plan and problems during exercises lead to a conflict with his son whom he attacks over his weight gain and perceived softness. While Lee is pragmatic and doesn't believe that they can rescue the people on New Caprica in their state, his father drives everyone to their limit, thinking it is his misjudgments that brought them into the situation.
*He only forgives himself for leaving almost everyone behind after a conversation with Agathon, where she explains that, after being through so much herself, she discovered that she first had to forgive herself in order to get through it. In her opinion, the human race can't survive if Adama can't forgive himself.
*He commissions Agathon as a Colonial officer shortly after making contact with the [[New Caprica Resistance]], showing complete trust in her. She asks how he knows that she won't betray him and he replies he doesn't, stating "that's what trust is." Eventually a rescue plan takes shape, but Adama decides to go to New Caprica alone, ordering his son to take over as guardian of the Fleet should he not return. Despite their differences of opinion, the two have a heartfelt goodbye.
*Although sustaining losses, and with the last-minute assistance of Lee and ''Pegasus'', Adama is able to [[Battle of New Caprica|successfully pull off the rescue attempt]]. He is lauded by his crew and the civilians for this. He also shaves off his mustache, signifying a new beginning ([[TRS]]: "[[Occupation]]" through "[[Exodus, Part II]]").

=== Flight from New Caprica to "Maelstrom" ===
*Adama is awarded the [[Medal of Distinction]] for his 45 years of distinctive service in the Colonial Fleet. To him this is a penance for the harm that he caused in the past, and his belief that he might have been the cause of the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Hero]]").
*In an effort to alleviate tensions on ''Galactica'', Adama [[Unfinished Business|holds a boxing tournament]], disregarding rank, allowing people to work out built up frustrations. He himself joins the festivities by challenging Chief [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]]. Beaten, he declares that he let everyone too close to him, which ultimately led to the fracturing of their family on New Caprica, and vows to not make that mistake again.
*After the discovery of the [[Temple of Five]] on the [[algae planet]], four Cylon [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]] jump into orbit. A meeting with the Cylons occurs on ''Galactica'', but Adama threatens to nuke the planet should the Cylons make a claim to it. A standoff occurs, and when the Cylons try to launch six Heavy Raiders, Adama orders the arming the ship's [[missile tubes]]. This frightens the Cylons, who recall five of the six and Adama orders a stand down ([[TRS]]: "[[The Eye of Jupiter]]", "[[Rapture]]").
*With the capture of [[Gaius Baltar]], Adama and President Roslin are faced with a dilemma of what to do with Baltar. They try various methods of interrogation, including food and sleep deprivation, threats, and even an [[interrogation drug]], to find out what the Cylons know about the location of Earth. Adama apparently has previous experience with the drug and, after suggesting its use, acts as the interrogator, showing his darker side ([[TRS]]: "[[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]").
*On his wedding anniversary, Adama is plagued by memories of his [[Carolanne Adama|ex-wife]]. He wonders about the nature of his relationship to Roslin, not admitting that it could turn into a romantic one. He is also unsure how to treat his son, having a hard time telling him his personal feelings: "proud, stubborn and angry", but "coming into his own". While loving his son, he prefers to interact with him as an admiral to a subordinate officer, believing Lee knows how he feels. Upon Roslin's recommendations, he offers his son to organize Baltar's upcoming trial. Although not sure if Lee will have the time, he gives him [[Joseph Adama]]'s old [[Arts and Literature of the Twelve Colonies#Law books|law books]]. It is also revealed that Adama does memory exercises to enable him to know everyone on his crew by name ([[TRS]]: "[[A Day in the Life]]").

=== [[Kara Thrace]]'s death, resurrection and the final leg of the journey to Earth ===
* By chance, Adama is selected to be a judge at the trial. Two weeks after [[Kara Thrace]]'s [[Maelstrom|death]] he is still distraught, having considered her as a daughter—after her resurection/return/rebirth, he tells her, "You are my daughter" ([[TRS]]: "[[Daybreak, Part I]]"). In anger, he breaks his model ship. Adama places [[Lee Adama|Lee]] in charge of security for [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]]'s new lawyer, [[Romo Lampkin]], but Lee develops a desire to actively help defend Baltar much to Adama's outrage. The two also come to blows over their dealing with Thrace's loss ([[TRS]]: "[[The Son Also Rises]]"). This results in a break between the father and son, with Lee resigning his commission and Adama questioning his son's integrity after Lee contributed to humiliating his friend [[Saul Tigh]] in court, not able to understand how he could do such things in order to defend a traitor, whom he believes is undeserving of a trial ([[TRS]]: "[[Crossroads, Part I]]").
*Adama reconsiders his relationship with his son after Lee's [[Crossroads, Part II#Noteworthy Dialogue|impassioned speech]] about justice, itself swaying his vote in favor of an acquittal of Baltar. He is further pleased that his son participated in the [[Battle of the Ionian Nebula]], offering him his wings back, which Lee refuses as he believes that he can do better in his new role as the new [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] delegate from [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Crossroads, Part II]]", "[[He That Believeth In Me]]").
* Adama comforts Laura Roslin throughout her [[Doloxan]] treatments on ''Galactica''. The two bond further and share some of their most intimate thoughts. During this, Roslin manages to convince Adama that they will truly find Earth despite his earlier skepticism. Roslin's remarks that Adama is afraid to lose people close to him hit a mark, and he gives Thrace command of the ''[[Demetrius]]'' on a mission to search for Earth. He wants to believe in her despite serious questions regarding her sudden resurrection, even after her attack on Roslin ([[TRS]]: "[[He That Believeth In Me]]", "[[Six of One]]").
*Adama and Roslin later discuss Lee's choices, including his decision to support the right of Baltar's [[Cult of Baltar|cult]] to assemble without stricture. Adama seems to appreciate his son's idealism to a certain extent, despite having been on its opposing side several times. He also attempts to comfort Galen Tyrol after Cally's [[The Ties That Bind|sudden death]], but Tyrol rejects the efforts and Adama demotes him to specialist before Tyrol can endanger any other pilots ([[TRS]]: "[[Escape Velocity]]").
* While Roslin continues her Doloxan treatments aboard ship, he continues to comfort her by reading various books, including ''[[Searider Falcon]]'', to her and generally being present to discuss matters of faith. He later admits to her that she is the reason why he has faith in their mission to find Earth ([[TRS]]: "[[Escape Velocity]]", "[[Faith]]").
[[Image:410 Adama sees the Fleet off.jpg|thumb|William Adama sees the Fleet off.]]
* After [[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?|Roslin's abrupt abduction]] by the rebel Cylon baseship, as well as [[Sharon Agathon]]'s murder of [[Natalie Faust]], he initiates a search for Roslin while ignoring the Fleet's safety and interests. His dismissal of both the Quorum and [[Tom Zarek]] raise tensions in the Fleet that force his son to search for—and become—the interim president in Roslin's place. Further, tensions between Adama and Tigh to boil, notably after Dr. [[Sherman Cottle]] reports that [[Caprica Six]] is impregnated by Tigh. The two come to blows over their decisions regarding the women currently in their lives. Adama admits that he can't live without Roslin and decides to stay behind in a Raptor to wait for Roslin's return. As a result, he hands command of the Fleet over to newly-promoted Admiral Tigh, acknowledging that Tigh has become more knowledgeable about himself and is not the same man who [[Scattered|commanded the Fleet disastrously]] over two years ago ([[TRS]]: "[[Sine Qua Non]]"). After reconnecting with the missing basestar and reuniting with President Roslin on the hangar deck of the basestar, she finally admits having feelings for him, to which he replies, "About time" ([[TRS]]: "[[The Hub]]").
*When [[Saul Tigh]] confesses that he is a Cylon, [[Revelations|Adama doesn't take it well]]. He can't believe that his decades-long friend is a Cylon and thinks that he was brainwashed on New Caprica. After ordering Marines to arrest Tigh, Adama breaks down in his quarters, hitting a mirror with his fist and sobbing on the floor. His son finds him in this state and tries to get him to pull himself together.

=== Discovery of Earth ===
*After Lee Adama defuses the following crisis with the [[Cylon Civil War|Cylon rebels]], Adama has sufficiently recovered to lead the Fleet on its final jump to Earth, holding a rousing speech [[Revelations|after the arrival]].
* Unfortunately, when the Colonials land on Earth, they discover that the whole planet is a burnt out wasteland ([[TRS]]: "[[Revelations]]"). Baltar confirms that the planet suffered a nuclear holocaust 2000 years ago. There is still enough radiation left to make the planet uninhabitable. Adama leaves the planet's surface in disgust.
* Back on ''Galactica'', Adama receives even more disturbing news. The Rebel Cylons have found evidence on Earth that the Thirteenth Tribe were not human. They were Cylons.
* Adama tries to get Roslin to address the Fleet, but Roslin has completely lost faith in the Scriptures and no longer has the will to lead the people.
* After Dualla commits suicide, Adama breaks down in tears over her body and believes he's failed everyone. He starts drinking excessively and eventually makes his way to Saul Tigh's quarters.
* Tigh tries to apologize for not telling him the truth, but Adama ignores him and instead starts drinking more and insulting Tigh. He questions whether Tigh was "programmed" to be his friend all these years. Adama then comments that Ellen must have realized the truth about her husband long before he did, which is why she slept around with half the Colonial Fleet. Tigh tells him to shut up, but Adama keeps goading him. Tigh finally can't take it anymore and points his pistol at Adama. Adama draws his own weapon which he points to his own head. He tells Tigh to kill him or he'll do it himself.
* Tigh suddenly realizes that Adama wants to die, but he doesn't have the guts to pull the trigger himself. Tigh calms down and sternly tells Adama that he still has a duty to this ship and that his death won't make things any better. Adama slowly comes to terms with everything that has happened.
* Later, Adama walks onto CIC and addresses a thoroughly demoralized crew. He acknowledges that they can't stay on Earth, but he promises they will find a new home. Adama then orders the CIC personnel to begin jump preparation and to plot a course for an area of space likely to contain a habitable planet. He reinstates Tigh to his rank and posting, despite the latter's Cylon nature.

=== Mutiny ===
* Adama approves an alliance between rebel Cylon faction without the consent of the Quorum of Twelve. These Cylons are given them full colonial citizenship an Quorum seat in exchange for Cylon technology and accepting the colonial command structure.
* Adama integrates the Cylon heavy raiders (piloted by humanoid Cylons who thus can communicate directly with the humans) into ''Galactica''’s combat air patrols (CAPs), their Six and Eight pilots assigned to Colonial squadrons.
* Adama orders the fleet to allow Cylons to install their more efficient technology aboard the various ships of the Fleet ([[TRS]]: "[[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]]").
* This unpopular decision ferments a [[Gaeta's Mutiny|mutiny attempt]] led militarily by [[Felix Gaeta]] and politically by [[Tom Zarek]].
* Adama is ''de facto'' removed from command, but before he is taken out of the CIC, Adama speaks of a reckoning of traitors.
* The admiral is able to escape the rebels temporary, and helps Laura Roslin and Baltar escape to the Cylon Basestar, but is recaptured in doing so ([[TRS]]: "[[The Oath]]", "[[Blood on the Scales]]").
* Against the advise of Tom Zarek, Gaeta attempts to have an informal trial of Adama charging him with treason.
* Adama is sentenced to death by Gaeta, but again evades death after a group of loyalists save him. His own executioners join him in his quest to retake the ship and he storms CIC with the group that rescued him, the marines who were supposed to execute him and many crew members who join up with him on the way.
* Gaeta attempts to jump away with the fleet, but is stopped by a large group of loyalists storming the CIC and reinstating Adama in command. Gaeta surrenders without a fight and Adama has him and Zarek executed by a firing squad that he personally commands ([[TRS]]: "[[Blood on the Scales]]").

=== Post-Mutiny and the second Earth ===
* With crew sizes stretched very thin, Adama is relying even more on the rebel Cylons, and further integrating the Fleet.
* ''Galactica'' begins to show small fractures through the ship. Tyrol recommends to Adama to use Cylon technology to fix these fractures. Adama initially disagrees, but eventually orders this to be done ([[TRS]]: "[[No Exit]]", "[[Deadlock]]").
*The increased presence of Cylons aboard ''Galactica'' leads to Adama and Roslin viewing them even more as the same as humans, when they realise that Cylons have taken to placing photographs of their own lost companions in the remembrance hall.
* Further damage to the ship caused by Boomer's FTL jump leads Adama to order ''Galactica'''s abandonment ([[TRS]]: "[[Someone to Watch Over Me]]", "[[Islanded in a Stream of Stars]]").
* Adama changes his mind, after discovering [[The Colony|the location]] of [[Hera Agathon]]. He plans to send the ship off in a blaze of glory in a volunteers-only apparent [[Battle of the Colony|suicide mission]] to rescue the child ([[TRS]]: "[[Daybreak, Part II]]").
* Adama rejects two volunteers: Doctor (Major) [[Sherman Cottle]] is needed by the civilian populace. Adama brevets Lt. [[Louis Hoshi]] to rear admiral and appoints him to command of the rest of the Fleet from the Cylon Basestar under appointed Acting President Romo Lampkin.
* Adama and the volunteers successfully save Hera and destroy the Colony. With the Colony detonating around them, Adama orders [[Kara Thrace]] to [[blind jump]] the ship away, without giving time to draw in the ship's Flight Pods. The ship ends up at a habitable planet, with it's structual integrity totally compromised and it's ability to Jump gone forever.
* Finding the planet habitable and sparcely populated by inexplicedly genetically compatable humans, Adama suggests it be named Earth to take the place of the planet they had long sought.
* The Fleet reunites with ''Galactica''. Adama reluctantly agrees to Lee's proto-ludite settlement plans for the new planet, and orders that the ships of the Fleet be flown into the sun by [[Samuel Anders]] (less the Cylon Basestar which the humanoid Cylons give to the Centurions with which to make their own destiny).
* He flies off in a Raptor with Roslin to find a good place to build a cabin, never planning to return and finds the perfect spot... moments after Laura Roslin dies peacefully of her cancer, after which he places his wedding ring on her finger.
*He builds a cabin in a mountain range for himself, and buries Roslin nearby. Afterwards, he lives in solitude in the cabin, often visiting Laura's grave and speaking to her ([[TRS]]: "[[Daybreak, Part II]]").

== Family tree ==
{{Adama Family Tree (RDM)}}

==Notes==
*[[Wikipedia:Adama|Adama]] (also known as Nazareth) is the name of a large city in Ethiopia. The name is also a variation on "[[Wikipedia:Adam and Eve|Adam]]," the first man to be created according to the Bible in the [[Wikipedia:Genesis|Book of Genesis]]. In Hebrew the word pronounced "Adama" means earth.
*The Tauron language is portrayed on the show using Ancient Greek. Thus, the most likely etymology for the family name "Adama" is from ''adamas'' (ἀδάμας), which means invincible and is the etymological root of the word ''diamond''. It seems a suitable choice as the surname of the various related characters in this series as it relates to their personality traits.
*Edward James Olmos has brown eyes, but he wears contacts when playing William Adama that make Adama's eyes blue. This is done so that Olmos and [[Jamie Bamber]], who is playing his son Apollo, will resemble each other more.
*Astute viewers may recall Edward James Olmos sharing the screen with realistic humanoid robots as [[w:List of minor characters in Blade Runner#Gaff|Gaff]] in the classic science fiction film ''[[w:Blade Runner|Blade Runner]]'', which also used the term "skin job" as a pejorative to denote the artificial humanoids.
*Olmos also shares with ''[[MemoryAlpha:Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'' star [[MemoryAlpha:William Shatner|William Shatner]] the distinction of being one of only two actors to both command a television starship and portray a police officer in a popular 1980's cop show (''[[w:Miami Vice|Miami Vice]]'' for Olmos, ''[[w:T.J. Hooker|T.J. Hooker]]'' for Shatner), as a regularly credited actor on each show.
*Edward James Olmos is the father of actor [[Bodie Olmos]], who plays [[Brendan Costanza]].
*Roslin has [[Billy Keikeya]] seek out a jeweler to fashion new admiral pins for Adama after Cain's death at the end of "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]".

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

{{start box}}
{{succession box|before=''Unknown''|title=Executive Officer of the battlestar<br>''[[Columbia (RDM)|Columbia]]''|after=''Unknown''}}
{{succession box|before=''Unknown''|title=Commanding Officer of the battlestar ''[[Battlestar Valkyrie|Valkyrie]]''|after=''Unknown''}}
{{succession box|before=''Unknown''<br><small>originally [[Nash]]</small>|title=Commanding Officer of the battlestar ''[[Galactica|Galactica]]''|after=''None<br><small>Ship destroyed</small>''}}
{{end box}}

{{Characters}}
{{Characters (Caprica)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adama, William}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Caprica (series)]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Characters (Caprica)]]
[[Category:Characters (RDM)]]
[[Category:Main Characters (RDM)]]
[[Category:People from Caprica]]
[[Category:RDM]]

{{featured article}}

[[de:William Adama]]
[[es:William Adama]]
[[fr:William Adama]]
[[ms:William Adama]]
[[simple:William Adama]]
[[zh:威廉·阿达玛]]

Galactica (TRS)

2010-11-05T01:40:27Z

BlackValkyrie:

:''This article discusses the [[Re-imagined Series]] battlestar. For other meanings of '''''Galactica''''', see [[Galactica (disambiguation)]].''
{{Ship Data
| image= Galactica Overview.jpg
| title= Galactica (BS 75)
| race= Colonial
| type= Military
| ftl= Yes
| crew= Approximately 3,500
| length= {{Meters2Feet|1438.64}}<ref>These dimensions (in meters) were derived from the CG model and posted by [[Lee Stringer]] on the StarshipBuilder.com forums, which are no longer available. They are the most precise so far. The width with pods extended and the height are quoted here verbatim; the length was calculated by adding the posted dimension for the front of the ship (766.04m) to the posted dimension for the back (672.6m). The full set as provided by Lee Stringer is as follows: "Width (Pods out) 536.84m (Pods In) 352.34m
Engines Max 359.38m Head Max 334.58m
Length: Front (Main body) 730.65m (Antenee) 766.04m Back 672.6m
(using the center of the two arms as the middle)
Height (Armor/Mainbody) 181.825m (Details) 183.315m".</ref>
| width= {{Meters2Feet|536.84}}<ref name="podtopod">This is from flight pod to flight pod while they are extended.</ref>
| height= {{Meters2Feet|183.315}}
| otherdi= The dimensions above are from [[Lee Stringer]], who built the ''Galactica'' CG model. VFX Sequence Designer [[Adam "Mojo" Lebowitz]] gave the length as {{Feet2Meters|4740}}.<ref>[http://darthmojo.wordpress.com/2009/04/05/how-big-was-the-colony/#comment-2193 Blog comment] by [[Adam "Mojo" Lebowitz]].</ref> The reason for this twenty-foot discrepancy is unknown.
| co= Admiral [[William Adama]]
| xo= Colonel [[Saul Tigh]]
| role= Carrier / battleship hybrid
| weapons= As many as 514 dual point-defense [[KEW|Kinetic Energy Weapons]], 24 primary dual Kinetic Energy Weapons, at least 12 [[missile tubes]] capable of firing conventional and nuclear missiles, Vipers, Raptors
| status= Abandoned, flown into the Sun with the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]
| img= Y
}}
'''''Galactica'' (BS 75)''' is a [[Galactica type battlestar|veteran battlestar]] and the last of her kind still in service with the [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|Colonial Fleet]] at the time of the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|destruction of the Twelve Colonies]]. Built during the early days of the [[Cylon War]], she remains the only military vessel without integrated [[Computers|computer networks]]. Without networked computers, ''Galactica'' never upgrades to the new [[Command Navigation Program|integrated defense system software]] developed by Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] and his [[Number Six|team]]. Because of this and other factors, she becomes one of only two known battlestars (the other being ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'') to survive the renewed Cylon attack on the [[Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]]. At the time of this attack, she was part of the 75th [[Battlestar Group]] (BSG-75).

== History ==
=== The First Cylon War ===
[[Image:Mini gal top.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A dorsal view of ''Galactica''. The starboard [[flight pod]] is covered by a window to form the [[Galactica Museum|museum area]].]]
''Galactica'' was one of the first twelve battlestars to be constructed by the Colonials, each representing one of the twelve colonies; ''Galactica'' represented [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]]. As such, she is some 50 years old. While solidly built, various factors during ''Galactica's'' construction led to the shipyard "cutting corners" when she was originally built, with various components not completed to spec ([[TRS]]: "[[No Exit]]"). Following the outbreak of Cylon hostilities several more battlestars were built. ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> first commander was named [[Nash]].

The original battlestars were all designed with non-integrated computer systems to avoid the Cylons' demonstrated ability to override or subvert networked command and control systems early in the war ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries, Night 1]]"). Rather than technological sophistication, the battlestar depended on its sheer bulk and defensive / offensive capabilities to ward off any threats to itself or the Colonies.

''Galactica'' took part in [[Operation Raptor Talon]] which then Lieutenant [[William Adama]] served on. After crash-landing on the ice planet the operation took place over and witnessing the experiments on humans, Adama contacted ''Galactica'' to take out the [[Guardian basestar]] which had just launched, but was informed by ''Galactica'', which had dispatched a [[SAR]] [[Raptor]] for him, of the Armistice. Adama wouldn't learn the truth of what he'd seen until the [[Battle of the Guardian basestar]] over forty years later. After the [[Final Five|rather mysterious]] Cylon [[Armistice Station|armistice]], and their withdrawal from Colonial space, ''Galactica'' and her sister ships served the Twelve Colonies in a variety of roles. While her surviving sister ships were scrapped or upgraded to match the systems capabilities of newer Colonial vessels, ''Galactica'' continued in service without her systems being fully networked or integrated, making her unique among Colonial military vessels. '' Galactica'' was relegated to intra-system duties for at least 20 years prior to her decommissioning.<ref>This is inferred by [[Saul Tigh]] in his reaction to Commander Adama's decision for a [[FTL]] jump ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries, Night 1]]").</ref>

=== Decommissioning ===
[[Image:Ragnarbattle3.jpg|200px|right|thumb|''Galactica'' provides cover for civilian ships during the [[Battle of Ragnar Anchorage]].]]
With her active career drawing to a close, a decision was taken to retire ''Galactica'' and decommission her from service. Colonial Fleet chose not to scrap her, but to turn her into a combination of living museum to the original Cylon War and an educational center, with her conversion being overseen by her final commander, [[William Adama]].

At the time of her formal decommissioning ceremony, ''Galactica'' is stripped of all but one of her operational [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] Mark VII squadrons, her munitions are destroyed, and her starboard landing pod is converted into a pressurized [[Galactica Museum|museum]] which houses (among other things) a full squadron of [[Viper Mark II|Mk. II Vipers]] as well as a Viper model that appears [[Viper (TOS)|older than the Mark II]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries, Night 1]]").

<div style="clear: both;"></div>

=== Return of the Cylons ===
[[Image:Mini side fleet.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Galactica'' and the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]].]]
With the renewed and unexpected Cylon hostilities, ''Galactica'' is quickly brought back to combat condition and sorties several Mark IIs retrieved from her museum, engaging in her first battle with the Cylons in over 40 years (all but one last Mark VII squadron were sent to Caprica for reassignment). She survives a direct hit by a tactical nuclear missile, and later [[FTL|jumps]] successfully to [[Ragnar Anchorage]] to replenish her empty ammunition stores at this strategic depot.

''Galactica'' emerges from the anchorage and engages one [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] with her gun batteries, providing cover for [[The Fleet (RDM)|a fleet of 75 civilian ships]] harboring survivors of the Twelve Colonies. Once the entire civilian fleet successfully jumps away, and as a second basestar approaches to join the battle, ''Galactica'' recovers her remaining Vipers and jumps to the rendezvous point beyond the [[Red Line]], never to return to Colonial space ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries]]").

<div style="clear: both;"></div>

=== Leading a Ragtag Fleet ===
[[Image:Ep212battle.jpg|200px|right|thumb|''Galactica'' and [[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]] work together during the [[Battle of the Resurrection Ship]].]]
Since the exodus of the Colonials from their overrun homeworlds, ''Galactica'' becomes both protector and provider for the Fleet. She provides covering fire for the Fleet during Cylon attacks no fewer than 240 times ([[TRS]]: "[[33]]": "[[Act of Contrition]]"). The battlestar provides much of the Fleet with recycled water ([[TRS]]: "[[Water]]") and she is the primary source of medical care, where groups of civilians are periodically brought aboard for check-ups and treatment ([[TRS]]: "[[Litmus]]"). ''Galactica'' also undertakes internal policing duties within the Fleet ([[TRS]]: "[[Water]]"; "[[Bastille Day]]").

''Galactica'' successfully goes on the offensive against the Cylons, capturing a [[tylium]] fuel mining and processing plant in the process ([[TRS]]: "[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]").

The [[Mercury class battlestar|advanced battlestar]] ''Pegasus'', commanded by Admiral [[Helena Cain|Cain]], joins ''Galactica'' approximately 6 months into their exile (See the series [[Timeline (RDM)|timeline]] for special information about this milestone). The two battlestars destroy two [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]] as well as a critical Cylon support ship known as the [[Resurrection Ship]]. After Admiral Cain's death, President [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] promotes William Adama to Admiral, restoring him to overall Fleet command, but now with two battlestars at his disposal ([[TRS]]: "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]").

===New Caprica===
[[Image:Leaving New Caprica.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Galactica'', ''Pegasus'', and the orbiting fleet prior to leaving [[New Caprica]].]]
Following the founding of [[New Caprica]], ''Galactica'' is assigned to the orbital defense force that protects the planet. During this time the majority of her crew are allowed to the surface in an effort to populate the planet and restore the human race, a majority of whom are seemingly convinced that the Cylons will never find New Caprica. The diminished crew inevitably results in standard maintenance becoming overlooked or ignored; basic military responses, such as the launching of alert fighters and routine training exercises become difficult to execute. One year following the founding of New Caprica, a fleet of Cylon ships jump into orbit of the planet. Severely limited in their abilities, Admiral Adama orders the defense fleet to jump away from New Caprica along with a handful of civilian ships still in orbit of the colony. They vow to eventually return to New Caprica and liberate it from the Cylon invaders ([[TRS]]: "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]").

<div style="clear: both;"></div>

===[[Battle of New Caprica]]===
[[Image:BONC.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Galactica'' takes a pounding during the [[Battle of New Caprica]].]]
Four months after their escape, ''Galactica'''s staff is still in the process of developing a rescue strategy with 16 training exercises having been completed and a 17th underway when an accident causes its early cessation ([[TRS]]: "[[Occupation]]"). This forces both a change in strategy and the reformulation of a rescue plan to deal with personnel who have not seen conflict in 16 months. While ''Galactica'' fights to liberate the Colonials on-planet, ''Pegasus'' is assigned to protect the remaining civilian Fleet and continue its search for [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Precipice]]"; "[[Exodus, Part I]]").

After coordinating with the [[New Caprica Resistance]], ''Galactica'' leaves ''Pegasus'' to guard the space-bound members of humanity while it uses a series of drones to misdirect the bulk of the Cylon Raiders and avoid immediate detection by baseships, thus allowing the civilians on the planet to escape to their ships and flee New Caprica.

''Galactica'' then jumps into low orbit, plummeting from an altitude of 100,000 feet. As the ship falls, Admiral Adama orders the launch of all remaining Vipers. ''Galactica'' then jumps back into orbit. In the subsequent battle with the orbiting basestars, ''Galactica'' is overtaxed, out-gunned, and faces destruction when ''Pegasus'' unexpectedly arrives. ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> salvos draw the attention of the basestars away from ''Galactica'', buying ''Galactica'' time to bring her [[FTL|FTL drives]] back on-line and escape, but at the cost of ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> destruction ([[TRS]]: "[[Exodus, Part II]]").

''Galactica'' bears the scars of the battle with significant scorching and dents to the hull. Nonetheless, the battlestar remains combat ready, holding off a superior Cylon force for a short duration in the [[Battle of NCD2539]] ([[TRS]]: "[[A Measure of Salvation]]"), and threatening to use its nuclear arsenal twice after New Caprica ([[TRS]]: "[[The Eye of Jupiter]]"; "[[Crossroads, Part II]]"). Given the loss of ''Pegasus'', ''Galactica'' now boasts a larger crew, Viper and Raptor complement, to the point where there are more pilots than there are ships to fly ([[TRS]]: "[[Torn]]"), although the training of new recruits is still ongoing ([[TRS]]: "[[Dirty Hands]]"; "[[Crossroads, Part II]]"; "[[He That Believeth in Me]]"). Further, there are various redundancies between the two crews that are appropriately dealt with (e.g. [[Lee Adama]] in a [[List of Deleted Scenes - Season 3 (RDM)|deleted scene]] from "[[Exodus, Part II]]").

Colonel Tigh comments that ''Galactica'' took so much damage in this battle that it would "take six weeks in dry dock just to bang out the dents" ([[TRS]]: "[[A Day in the Life]]"). This indicates that the damage is extensive enough to require a significant amount time (probably months) for full repair, and would be unlikely to survive a massive battle again.

=== Resuming the Search for Earth ===
''Galactica'' takes aboard a significant quantity of civilians following the exodus from New Caprica, as several civilian ships are lost during the escape from the failed colony. Cramped conditions increase as crew and civilians struggle to adapt to life back aboard a ship. The civilians reside on the refurbished starboard hangar deck as a refugee camp nicknamed "[[Camp Oil Slick]]" and later "Dogsville" ([[TRS]]: "[[Torn]]"; "[[The Woman King]]").

During a [[The Passage|food shortage crisis]] caused by contamination of the Fleet's food processing systems, ''Galactica'' (along with her Raptors acting as pilot ships) guides the civilian Fleet through an area of intense heat, light and radiation caused by a [[Passage (star cluster)|dense star cluster]] to reach edible resources on the [[algae planet]]. ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> heavy armor and radiation shielding protect her from the intense effects of the cluster, but the ship still suffers hull damage and decompressions.

The ship confronts a Cylon fleet and barely escapes a nova during [[Eye of Jupiter|the events over the algae planet]], jumping out at the last moment after recovering its ground teams and additional data on a way-point to Earth known to the Colonials as the [[Ionian nebula]] ("[[The Eye of Jupiter]]", "[[Rapture]]"). Repairs continue on the journey to the Ionian nebula. Damage to one particular airlock nearly causes the deaths of Galen and Cally Tyrol during what they expected to be a quick repair of a hull micro-fracture ([[A Day in the Life]]).
[[Image:BOTIM.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''Galactica'' is outnumbered during the [[Battle of the Ionian Nebula]].]]
When the Fleet reaches the nebula, four Cylon baseships are detected following an unexplained power outage. With the entire Fleet crippled and unable to escape, ''Galactica'' scrambles her Vipers and prepares for a lopsided fight, outnumbered and outgunned ([[Crossroads, Part II]]). During the [[Battle of the Ionian Nebula|following battle]], ''Galactica'' manages to hold off the main attack of the massive Cylon attack force. Despite the damage suffered in previous engagements, the old warship wields her main guns and point defense batteries effectively again in defense of the Fleet. During the battle ''Galactica'' takes many hits while covering the Fleet although without crippling damage. Despite having the advantage, and managing to destroy or damage several civilian ships, the Cylons retreat in the middle of the battle, after detecting one of the [[Final Five]] among the Colonials ([[He That Believeth in Me]]).

''Galactica'' is once forced to prepare for a battle against the rebel [[Basestar (RDM)|Cylon basestar]], but the ''[[Demetrius]]'' arrives to defuse the situation. In the wake of the basestar disappearing from the Fleet ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]), [[Saul Tigh]] assumes command of ''Galactica'', jumping along with the Fleet ([[Sine Qua Non]]).

After [[Kara Thrace]] picks up a strange signal in [[Starbuck's Viper|her Viper]], the Colonials have a direct bearing towards Earth. Shortly later, after several years of searching, ''Galactica'' and her Fleet finally make the last jump to Earth ([[Revelations]]).

=== Post-Earth ===

After discovering [[Earth]] is a nuclear wasteland, discipline and morale on ''Galactica'' fall dramatically and the overall cleanliness of the ship suffers, e.g. outside [[CIC]], the words "Frak Earth" are spray-painted on the walls ([[Sometimes a Great Notion]]). When former deck chief [[Galen Tyrol]] disables the FTL drive, foiling the mutineers' escape with the ship, he discovers multiple tears in the chamber's walls, a sign that the aging battlestar's structural integrity is faltering ([[Blood on the Scales]]).
[[Image:Damaged Galactica.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A heavily damaged ''Galactica''.]]
A structural survey of the ship finds several torn supports and weakened areas in the hull, and a more in-depth examination finds endemic metal fatigue throughout the ship, with virtually every part of the hull riddled with small cracks and fissures.

''Galactica's'' advanced age, the corners cut during construction and the abuse it has been put through since the war started contributed to its condition. Tyrol suggests treating the damaged parts of the ship with an [[Cylon organic resin|organic Cylon resin]] from the [[Rebel Baseship]], which would fill the cracks and bear the stresses, which Adama at first refuses. However, Adama finally appreciates ''Galactica's'' dire condition when he finds a tear in a bulkhead in his quarters, and orders Tyrol to carry out his plan to repair the ship ([[No Exit]]). Tyrol later says that the resin will buy more time but the ship's integrity has been fundamentally weakened and it might not survive more FTL jumps- it is impossible to say how long she can hold. ''Galactica'' is dying of old age and accumulated battle damage.

Later ''Galactica'' is damaged even further when [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]] jumps away very close to the hull. The resulting spatial distortion of her Raptor's FTL jump causes what appears to be buckling and explosive decompression in several sections of the alligator head of ''Galactica'' on her port side ([[Someone to Watch Over Me]]). This causes a chain reaction of explosions, structural failures and power outages throughout many parts of the ship including CIC.

At first refusing to accept the reality of the ship's fate, Admiral Adama gives the emotionally painful order to stop the repairs and begin the process of abandoning ship, moving to the Rebel Baseship as the Fleet's new flagship ([[Islanded In a Stream of Stars]]).

As the ship is slowly offloaded of parts and personnel, the Admiral relents one last time, stops the scrapping of the battlestar, and calls for volunteers for what will likely be a ''Galactica's'' final mission- to get the kidnapped Hera back from Cavil's Cylon colony ([[Daybreak, Part I]]).

<div style="clear: both;"></div>

=== Endgame: [[Battle of The Colony|Battle of The Colony]] ===

[[Image:Battleofthecolony.jpg|thumb|right|200px|right|''Galactica'' takes massive hits seconds after jumping to [[The Colony]].]]
With a skeleton crew and a frail battlestar, Admiral Adama executes a daring mission to rescue Hera Agathon.

''Galactica'' jumps to the Colony at point-blank range. Besieged by the Colony's gun batteries at first, the ship is pummeled until the Hybrid Anders manages to take them and the Colony's Hybrids offline. As ''Galactica's'' Vipers engage incoming Raiders, her Raptors jump directly from their berth in the starboard [[flight pod]] (causing extensive damage to it) and maneuver to board the Colony.

Adama does the unbelievable: he rams ''Galactica's'' bow into the Colony, forming not only a second breech for his search teams to enter, but also forming an alternate escape route.

The rescue is successful thanks to Boomer's help (before Athena kills her), but ''Galactica'' is far from safe. The Raiders are still attacking the ship, destroying at least one of its remaining heavy gun batteries. The rescue teams are pursued back to ''Galactica'' by Cavil and his troops, determined to recapture Hera. Platoons of enemy Centurions swarm into the ship. Cavil personally leads an attack on CIC but is foiled.

Things appear to settle down after Cavil and Adama call a ceasefire. Cavil agrees to let ''Galactica'' leave with Hera in exchange for the information needed to bring back [[Resurrection (RDM)|resurrection technology]]. Part of the deal is that Cavil will leave humanity alone forever as well. The Raiders return to the Colony, while the Vipers return to ''Galactica''. Unfortunately, as the Final Five begin to download their knowledge into the Colony, they are exposed to each other's secrets; Galen Tyrol learns that Tory Foster murdered his wife [[Cally Tyrol]] ([[The Ties That Bind]]). Tyrol flies into a rage and kills Foster, severing the download. Chaos ensues and the ceasefire ends. The Raiders renew their attack on the ship. In CIC the Simon, Doral and Cavil there open fire but Apollo and Starbuck kill Doral and Simon while Cavil, realizing the hopelessness of the situation, kills himself.

Meanwhile [[Racetrack]]'s Raptor, drifting in space after all aboard were killed, is hit by a stray asteroid, causing the Raptor to launch its nuclear missiles into the Colony. The Colony's orbit immediately decays, pulling it into the black hole--threatening to take ''Galactica'' with it. But Kara Thrace jumps the ship, using coordinates she had extrapolated from [[The Music]] at the last second.

<div style="clear: both;"></div>

=== Journey's End ===
[[File:Battlestar Over Africa.jpg|thumb|left|200px|right|A crippled ''Galactica'' seen in orbit over the Sahara Desert.]]
Unfortunently, the ship does not retract it's Flight Pods as Starbuck executes the emergency Jump. The ship permanently loses its FTL ability as it's structual integrity is compromised. However the ship's other systems are still online, including propulsion. The fear of being stranded in space are short-lived as ''Galactica'' arrives in the vicinity of a lush, blue-green habitable world, already populated by tribes of primitive humans who naturally evolved there.
[[File:The fleet's end.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Galactica'' and her Fleet heading straight into the Sun.]]
The population of the Fleet, arriving later, agree to leave their technology behind and start new lives on the planet they decide to call "[[Earth (RDM)#A New Earth|Earth]]". The Rebel Cylons also decide to stay on the planet. With this decision, the Rebel Baseship is left to the Centurions, who leave to seek out their own destiny. Anders, still acting as ''Galactica's'' Hybrid, brings the battlestar's adventures to a close as he pilots ''Galactica'' and the last ships in the Fleet into the Sun, destroying ''Galactica'' and her Fleet.

<div style="clear: both;"></div>

== Equipment ==
Apart from any technological upgrades that may have been made to her sister ships, ''Galactica'' was built to the general technical specifications of her [[Galactica type battlestar|class]].

===Starboard Flight Pod===

The starboard landing bay is eventually restored to usable condition, evidenced when Major Lee Adama lands his Raptor in the starboard pod. However, it is possible that this is due to a previously issued quarantine order and not because the flight pod is in regular use ([[A Measure of Salvation]]). The starboard hangar deck is designated an [[Dogsville|area of refuge]] for civilians displaced from lost ships (The Woman King).

During the last mission of Galactica, this pod held a number of Raptors ready for launch, these deployed out of the pod by FTL jump with the result that the shock waves fatally weakened the pods structure and the pod blew open to space. ([[Daybreak part 2]])

Strangely at least part of the museum setup survives all the way to Daybreak part 2, despite a hull breach and part of it being flattened by a heavy raider [[Scattered]]. It's unclear why the museum was kept intact and/or repaired, though it's possible it was put right during the year on New Caprica before the Cylons found the planet, since this is probably the only period when the crew would have any spare time to fix it. This serves as a minor plot hole that may never be resolved.

The museum would certainly have been destroyed in the jump shock wave from the Raptors leaving the pod during the [[Battle of the Colony]] or the decompression immediately after that point, any remains were sent into the sun with the rest of the ship.

===Nuclear Warheads===
[[Image:Galactica nukes.jpg|200px|thumb|''Galactica'''s nuclear arsenal.]]
''Galactica'' has five nuclear warheads as of "[[Bastille Day]]". Commander [[William Adama|Adama]] uses one warhead to destroy the Cylon [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] orbiting Kobol ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]), and Dr. [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] cannibalizes one to use in his [[Cylon detector]]. He later gives the warhead to [[Gina Inviere]], who detonates it aboard ''[[Cloud Nine]]''.

It is unknown how many nuclear warheads ''Pegasus'' has when it encounters ''Galactica'', but the two ships pool their nuclear ordnance stockpiles after that. As of "[[The Eye of Jupiter]]", ''Galactica'' possesses at least seven warheads ([[missile tube]]s 4 through 10).

:''The yield of these weapons is unknown. It is likely they are of a "dial a yield" design which is common in real-life nuclear weapons. Because the physics of nuclear weapon design is a measurable science, and based on the size of the weapons seen on screen, the yield of ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> weapons may lie between 5 and 150 kilotons.''<ref>This is extrapolated from the size of the weapon, compared to a modern day ([[w:W80|W80]])-class nuclear warhead used by the United States.</ref>

===Vipers===
:''For information on the fighter squadrons stationed on ''Galactica'' see: [[Squadrons of Galactica]]''

[[image:1104Tube Mini.JPG|right|thumb|200px|A [[Viper Mark II]] in a launch tube.]]
[[image:Kg zoic-studio screen-caps-065.jpg|left|thumb|200px|A [[Viper Mark VII]] in the port [[Flight pod]].]]
Early in the flight of the Fleet, ''Galactica'' carried "40 Vipers and 21 pilots" ([[Act of Contrition]]) , of which at least six were Mark VIIs. Following the advent of ''Pegasus'', ''Galactica'' receives supplies that aid in the repair and refurbishment of her initial fighter complement ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]). Some time later, new Mark VII Vipers are constructed at ''Pegasus''s' Viper construction facilities utilizing the raw ore mined in an asteroid belt ([[Scar]]), and several of those are assigned to ''Galactica''.

With ''Pegasus'' destroyed at the [[Battle of New Caprica]], ''Galactica'' absorbs the former's fighter squadrons and personnel, and her Viper complement now counts approximately 80 planes. <ref>Dialogue from "[[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]" and "[[Sine Qua Non]]" establishes that 40 Vipers have been transferred to a Cylon basestar, which comprises half the ship's air wing.</ref>

<div style="clear: both;"></div>

===Raptors===
[[image:Raptor port.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A [[Raptor]].]]
The number of [[Raptor|Raptors]] available to ''Galactica'' is portrayed inconsistently. The assumption prior to joining up with ''Pegasus'' is that the battlestar has at least five Raptors, having left [[Ragnar Anchorage]] with at least eight. After the Battle of New Caprica, ''Galactica'' takes on ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> Raptors. The subsequent number of available craft is unknown, but is at least 30, considering how many Raptors are deployed to rescue to the resistance fighters on Caprica ([[TRS]]: "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]") and still have enough to move people from ship to ship through out the Fleet.

<div style="clear: both;"></div>

===Other Craft===
[[image:Blackbird FotP.JPG|right|thumb|200px|The [[Blackbird]], a special stealth ship, was construted on ''Galactica''.]]
[[image:AtmoShutt.jpg|right|thumb|200px|One of ''Galactica'''s [[Atmospheric shuttle| shuttle]] craft.]]
*''Galactica'' possesses two [[Heavy Raider]]s. One is hit by ''Galactica''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s defensive fire and crashes into the starboard flight pod with unknown, but probably extensive, damage ([[TRS]]: "[[Scattered]]"). The other returns in operational status from [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Home, Part I]]"). One of these Heavy Raiders is relieved of its FTL navigation system for use on the rescue mission to Caprica ([[TRS]]: "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]").
* A Raider from the first Cylon War may be on board ''Galactica'' after one follows Starbuck into one of ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> landing bays and is shot down ([[TRS]]: "[[Razor]]"). A Cylon War era Raider, or at least a replica of one, was present in the [[Galactica Museum]], but has not been mentioned since.
*A second [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raider]] comes into ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> possession after [[Daniel Novacek]]'s "escape" from a basestar, replacing the one retrieved by [[Kara Thrace]] and lost during the quest for the [[Arrow of Apollo]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Hero]]").
*An experimental stealth fighter, the [[Blackbird]], is constructed using spare parts ([[TRS]]: "[[Flight of the Phoenix]]") and used in a critically successful reconnaissance mission to explore the nature of what comes to be known as the [[Resurrection Ship]]. The Blackbird is destroyed after completing its [[Battle of the Resurrection Ship|first combat mission]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]").
*''Galactica'' possesses [[fuel tanker]]s used to supply fuel to Vipers and Raptors in flight without the need to dock with the ship. These may be dedicated craft or specially fitted shuttles or Raptors ([[TRS]]: "[[Occupation]]").

<div style="clear: both;"></div>

== Crew ==
:''For information on Senior Staff, see : [[Senior Staff of Galactica]]''
:''For a list of pilots, see: [[List of Pilots]]''
:''For a list of deckhands, see: [[List of deckhands]]''
:''For a list of marines, see: [[Colonial Marine Corps]]''

Before the attack, ''Galactica'' has approximately 2,900 crewmen. By the time of the arrival of ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', attrition has reduced this number to about 2,660. (c.f. [[Crew tally]])
It is unknown whether the Colonial Marines account for members or not.
*Between "[[Act of Contrition]]" and "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]" ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> offensive capability is also greatly hampered by the number of [[List of Pilots|qualified pilots]] available, and their lack of flight simulators with which to train more. Since ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> reunion with ''Pegasus'', this has ceased to be an issue ([[TRS]]: "[[Scar]]").
== Blue prints of Galactica ==

[http://media.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/File:BSG_Blue_prints.png]

==Related Imagery==
<gallery perrow="5">
Image:BSG Ortho Top & Bottom.jpg|''Galactica'' - [[Zoic]] rendering    
Image:BSG Ortho Front, Back & Starboard.jpg|''Galactica'' - Zoic rendering    
Image:Galactica's top side.jpg|''Galactica'''s top side.
Image:Kg cg ns galactica-049.jpg|''Galactica'''s front - Zoic
Image:Battlestar stern.jpg|''Galactica'''s stern.
Image:Galactica retraction.jpg|Flight pod retraction area.
Image:Galactica's bottom-023b.jpg|''Galactica'''s bottom.
Image:Bsg damaged.jpg|''Galactica'' with battle damage. (High Res)
Image:Cylon War-era Galactica, "Razor" Flashback 1.jpg|''Galactica'' in the [[Razor]] Flashbacks.
Image:Galactica - flight pods retracted.jpg|''Galactica'' with flight pods retracted.
Image:BSG landing alcove.jpg|''Galactica'' landing alcove.
Image:Kg cg ns galactica-037.jpg|A cluster of rail guns.
Image:Battered Battlestar.jpg|Bow view of ''Galactica''.
Image:GalPeg.png|''Galactica'' overlooking the [[Pegasus]].
Image:Pointdefence2 101 1080i.jpg|''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> point defense batteries in action    
Image:Galactica fights off missile salvos.jpg|''Galactica'' establishes a defense perimeter.
Image:Raptor scramble.jpg|''Galactica'' scrambles [[Viper]]s and [[Raptor]]s.
Image:Colony Breech.jpg|''Galactica'' rams herself into [[The Colony]].
Image:Img0059.jpg|''Galactica'''s main batteries.
Image:Galactia's end.jpg|''Galactica'' and the Fleet depart for the sun, with the African continent in the background.
Image:CIC Overview 1.jpg|''Galactica'''s CIC.
Image:Cicweaponscontrol1.jpg|Weapons control.
Image:Cictacticalstation1.jpg|Tactical station.
Image:Cic commstation.jpg|Communications.
Image:The Mess.jpg|The Officers' mess hall.
Image:Cicdmgcontrol.jpg|Damage control.
Image:Ftl3.jpg|FTL Drive.
Image:Bsg-1-10.jpg|The "War Room".
Image:Porthangardeck.jpg|The port hangar bay on ''Galactica''.
Image:DutyLocker.jpg|Crew quarters.
Image:GalacticaInterior Sickbay1.jpg|Sickbay
Image:Galactica Museum, "Daybreak, Part II".jpg| The ''Galactica'' museum in the starboard flight pod.
Image:Galactica corridor.jpg|The "A-shaped" corridors.
Image:BSG Blue prints.png|Schematics from the [[Battlestar Galactica Role Playing Game|roleplaying game]].
</gallery>

== See also ==
*[[Galactica crew facilities (RDM)|Galactica crew facilities]]
*[[:Category:Galactica Areas (RDM)|Galactica Areas]]

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

{{Ships}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Battlestars]]
[[Category:Battlestars (RDM)]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial Craft]]
[[Category:Colonial Craft (RDM)]]
[[Category:Colonial Military]]
[[Category:Colonial Military (RDM)]]
[[Category:Ships]]
[[Category:Ships (RDM)]]
[[Category:RDM]]

{{featured article}}

[[de:Galactica (RDM)]]
[[es:Galactica (RDM)]]
[[fr:Galactica (RDM)]]
[[zh:卡拉狄加 (RDM)]]