Battlestar Wiki - User contributions [en]

Leland Adama

2009-03-08T16:54:03Z

ColonialVP:

{{Character Data
|photo= Lee Adama.jpg
|age= ca. 30 <ref>This date is assumed as follows: [[Zak Adama]] died 2 years before the Cylon attack. Since he graduated from some kind of military academy, he would be at least 22 years old, following real world models. On a [[:Image:Primusphoto.jpg|photograph]] of William Adama with his sons, Lee seems to be about two years older than Zak, placing his birth at about 26 years prior to the Cylon attack</ref>
|colony= [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]]
|birthname= Leland Joseph Adama
|callsign= Apollo
|seen= Miniseries
|death=
|parents= [[Carolanne Adama]] (mother, presumed deceased), [[William Adama]] (father)
|siblings= [[Zak Adama]] †
|children=1 unborn child with [[Gianne]] (presumed deceased)
|marital status= Widowed from estranged wife [[Anastasia Dualla]]†
|familytree=Y
|role=Vice President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol, Former Interim president of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol, Caprican Delegate to the Quorum of Twelve, Last Commander of Battlestar Pegasus
|rank=Major (ret.)
|serial=318742 <ref name="serial">Confirmed number from QMX dogtags given to them by the studio.</ref>
|cylon=
|actor=[[Jamie Bamber]]
|name=
}}

'''Leland Joseph Adama''', commonly known as '''Lee Adama''' or by his callsign, '''"Apollo"''', is a former [[Colonial Fleet Reserve]] officer who, after ascending to the position of [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]]n delegate to the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]], becomes the interim president of the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies of Kobol]].

After the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]], he assumes the position of ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> [[CAG]], later accepting promotion as ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> last commanding officer. After [[Battle of New Caprica|''Pegasus'' destruction]], he returns to CAG until he leaves the military to aid in [[Romo Lampkin]]'s defense of [[Gaius Baltar]].

During the post-Fall events, he has romantic relationships with [[Kara Thrace]], [[Shevon]], and [[Anastasia Dualla]], the later he marries months after the discovery of [[New Caprica]]. His defense of Baltar, coupled with previous marital issues surrounding Thrace, aid in his eventual, final split from Dualla.

Further, as the last surviving child of [[William Adama]], Lee Adama's relationship with his father is continually strained, culminating to a fracture that occurs after the death of his younger brother, [[Zak Adama|Zak]] two years before the Fall. Various attempts at reconciliation occur during the years following the Fall, but even these attempts result in strains that arise as a result of Adama attempting to extricate himself from his father's shadow.

== Biographical Notes ==

=== Background ===

Leland Joseph<ref>Adama's middle name is likely a nod to his grandfather, [[Joseph Adama]].</ref> Adama is the elder son of [[Carolanne Adama|Caroline]] and [[William Adama]]. Together with his younger brother, [[Zak Adama|Zak]], he was raised largely by his mother on [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]], following his parents' divorce when he was eight.

During his childhood, Adama often visited his grandfather, [[Joseph Adama]] and read the law books in his study; he often followed his grandfather's cases, never understanding why Joseph Adama defended the worst of humanity ([[The Son Also Rises]]).

Despite his father's estrangement from the family, Adama nevertheless inherited his passion for flying—a passion that saw him enrolling in the Colonial military reserves after graduating from college. Following his basic training, he graduated from the military academy third in his class and immediately applied for flight school.

Not to be outdone by his elder brother, Zak Adama applied for military service too, a move that eventually brought tragedy to the Adama household.

Accepted into flight school, Adama proved himself a gifted and natural pilot, hampered only by his tendency to over-intellectualize things - a result of his upbringing with his mother, who encouraged him to read widely, and think freely (encouragement that led him to read banned texts by the renegade [[Tom Zarek]] while at college ([[Bastille Day]]).

Graduating from flight school, Adama was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Colonial Fleet Reserve, flying the [[Viper Mark VII]]. During this time, he was also introduced to [[Kara Thrace]], a training instructor at flight school, who was involved with his brother. While Adama was still at flight school, the three frequently spent time together, and Adama and Thrace developed a friendship through Zak Adama ([[Miniseries]]).

=== Brother's Death ===

Tragedy struck some two years prior to the Cylon attack on the Twelve Colonies when Zak Adama, recently graduated from flight school, is killed on a routine Viper mission. At the time, the cause of the accident was put down to pilot error. However, Lee Adama chose to blame the mishap on his father, whom he believed had pushed Zak into applying for military service and for applying for flight school ([[Miniseries]]).

Following Zak's death, Lee Adama became estranged from his father, seeking to build his career well away from any influence exerted by either William Adama or the legendary [[Galactica type battlestar|battlestar]] ''[[Galactica]]'', his father's command. While he was successful in this - gaining promotion to Captain through his own abilities, the decision nevertheless placed a heavy strain on his friendship with Kara Thrace, as she applied for pilot duty aboard ''Galactica''.

Adama spent much time on Caprica and becomes engaged to a woman named [[Gianne]]. She told him she is pregnant with their child, causing him to run from her due to his own family issues. Before he can speak with her again he is assigned to take part in the decommissioning ceremony aboard ''Galactica'' ([[Black Market]], "[[Razor Flashbacks]]"), just after he is accepted to test pilot school. Despite having a natural knack for piloting and "well on his way to commanding a battlestar someday", Adama tells [[Frank Bruno]] at the [[Caprica Transfer Station]] that he is considering leaving the Colonial Fleet, as he is disinterested in achieving dreams that were his father's alone ("[[Razor]]", [[List of Deleted Scenes (RDM)#Razor|deleted scene]]).

Adama is reunited with both his father and Kara Thrace when ''Galactica'' is to be decommissioned as a [[Galactica Museum|living museum and educational center]] of the [[Cylon War]]. As a part of the final ceremonies marking ''Galactica's'' retirement, Lee Adama participates in a final Viper flyby to salute both the ship and her commanding officer — an assignment he undertakes grudgingly, doing little to hide his true feelings from the moment he arrives on the battlestar. Matters are not helped when he discovers he will fly not in his own modern Viper, but in a newly-restored [[Viper Mark II]] his father had flown during the Cylon War ([[Miniseries]]).

Things worsen after the PR official aboard ''Galactica'', [[Aaron Doral]], sees Captain Adama's presence on ''Galactica'' as a major PR opportunity and has Adama and his father pose for pictures together. Immediately following this, Adama confronts his father over his brother's death, venting two years' worth of anger and belief that his father was responsible for the loss of his brother.

=== Surprise [[Cylon Attack]] ===

Following the decommissioning ceremony, Lee Adama departs ''Galactica'', acting as an unofficial escort for ''[[Colonial Heavy 798]]'', the official transport for Secretary of Education [[Laura Roslin]], who represented President [[Richard Adar|Adar]] at the ceremony. Midway through their return to [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]], Adama and the crew of ''Colonial Heavy 798'' hear of the Cylon attacks on the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]], and soon find themselves under direct attack, which he is able to thwart. Adama quickly becomes one of Laura Roslin's unofficial advisers, aiding her in her self-appointed rescue mission. Adama's annoyance of his father's old Viper comes back to haunt him when [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]], returning from her unexpected rescue mission on Caprica and disastrous attack on two [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Cylon Raiders]], notes to him that other Vipers and other modern Colonial spacecraft like his Mark VII were [[Command Navigation Program|easily destroyed]] by Cylon attacks.

Adama again saves ''Colonial Heavy 798'' from a nuclear missile attack with a failed experiment he toyed with in [[War College]], using [[EMP]] coils kept in the cargo hold to make it look like the ship has been destroyed. He supports Roslin in her rescue efforts, persuading her to lead the [[FTL]]-capable ships to follow ''Galactica'' to [[Ragnar Anchorage]].

As the ranking pilot aboard ''Galactica'', and despite his relative inexperience, Adama finds himself appointed [[CAG]] by Colonel [[Saul Tigh]].

Apollo leads a Viper squadron in the [[Battle of Ragnar Anchorage]], keeping the Cylon Raiders at bay while the civilian [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] jumps to safety. His ship is badly damaged during in the battle, and is about to be destroyed by a Cylon missile when the missile is intercepted and shot by Starbuck's highly-accurate marksmanship. His Viper eventually loses power as the battle draws to a close and ''Galactica'' is preparing to retreat. Starbuck saves him with a crazy idea and her flying skills, bringing them back to ''Galactica'' shortly before the battlestar jumps away.

=== Special Advisor ===
[[image:Water_Apollo_Roslin.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Adama and President Roslin shake hands after appointment as military advisor ([[Water]]).]]
Adama's work as Roslin's "special advisor" to further help her understand military matters does not sit well with his father, who is still harboring some reservations about Roslin ([[Bastille Day]]).

In the weeks following the Cylon attack, Adama finds time to re-evaluate his relationship with his father - due in no small part to Starbuck's admission of her involvement in Zak's acceptance as a fighter pilot and his subsequent death. Father and son grow somewhat closer - even standing shoulder-to-shoulder when Starbuck is missing in action and both going to great lengths to save her ([[You Can't Go Home Again]]). Even so, Adama's former self-doubts and moodiness are not easily overcome and sometimes come back to haunt him when he is tasked to fill a role that others are unsure he can manage. As a Viper pilot, Adama is able to escape from Starbuck's shadow, proving himself capable in unconventional and skilled flying in the [[Battle for the Tylium Asteroid]] ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]).

After the tylium asteroid mission, Adama matures enormously, emerging from his shell as a somewhat disillusioned officer and becomes a practical leader who now comfortably straddles his responsibilities as [[CAG]] of ''Galactica'' with his duties as advisor to Roslin. With few issues with either Roslin or his father, Adama demonstrates his maturity particularly well in his handling of security arrangements for the initial meeting of Roslin's [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]] aboard the luxury liner ''[[Cloud Nine]]'' ([[Colonial Day]]).

=== The Inner Conflicts at Kobol ===

Eventually, Adama's beliefs in the need for democratic representation and civil government brings him in direct conflict with orders given him by his father. During the arrest of Laura Roslin following her [[Arrow of Apollo|interference with military operations]], Captain Adama draws his gun on [[Saul Tigh|Colonel Tigh]] in a direct act of mutiny, protesting his father's removal of Roslin from office. Arrested together with Roslin, Adama watches helplessly in [[CIC]] as [[Sharon Valerii|Lieutenant Valerii]] shoots his father at point blank range, seriously wounding him ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]).

Adama is temporarily furloughed by Colonel Tigh so that he can continue to carry out his duties. For a time, Commander Adama's initiative lives on through his son. Young Adama leads a fight with Cylons to buy time for ''Galactica'' to find its proper bearings to the civilian Fleet ([[Scattered]]), and leads a team of [[Marines]] to stop [[Cylon Centurion]]s that boarded the ship ([[Valley of Darkness]]). After that, Adama continues his initiative and leads a [[SAR]] mission with two [[Raptors]] to retrieve a stranded survey team on the surface of Kobol ([[Fragged]]).

Adama's desire to let democracy work without overt military action comes to a head once more as he plots, with a handful of others, to free Roslin and smuggle her away from ''Galactica'' ([[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]]). Before he leaves, he apologizes to his unconscious Commander Adama at his bedside for what he is about to do: Leave with Roslin and a [[Laura Roslin faction|faction]] of ships to search for data on Earth on Kobol. Commander Adama begins to awaken just as young Adama leaves his side.

On the ''[[Astral Queen]]'', Adama is so happy to see Kara Thrace has returned safely from Caprica with the [[Arrow of Apollo]] that he hugs and also impulsively kisses her, pleasantly surprising Thrace. Moments later, as the Caprica copy of Sharon Valerii enters, Adama instantly grabs the known [[humanoid Cylon]] in anger and would have killed her if Helo and Roslin did not intervene.
[[image:Home_pt1-Apollo_Starbuck.jpg|thumb|Adama and Kara Thrace speak aboard the ''Astral Queen'' ([[Home, Part I]]).]]
Later, with their military protocols and attitudes temporarily relaxed, Adama playfully teases the brooding Kara Thrace by stealing a [[pyramid (RDM)|pyramid]] ball she took as a keepsake from her time with [[Samuel Anders|Anders]] on Caprica. He returns the ball after sensing her depressed mood and tells her that he would be happy to listen to what was on her mind. In the same conversation, he lets it slip out that he loves Thrace. Amused, Thrace cheers up a bit and teases Adama, telling him that there are no take-backs on what he said ([[Home, Part I]]).

Adama and Thrace join President Roslin and her other supporters on their quest to find the [[Tomb of Athena]] on Kobol. When Cylon Centurions ambush the group along an ancient trail, Adama and Thrace work well together in the fight, complementing each other for their fine shooting.

Adama's reunion with his recovered father on Kobol further mends the wounds between them, both politically and personally. Like Captain Adama had done on the ''Queen'', his father reacts violently to the existence of a another copy of Valerii, leaving Captain Adama in the awkward position of defending her from his father. In the virtual planetarium created by the Tomb of Athena, Adama is the party member that completes the mystery of interpreting how to use the constellations as viewed from Earth to make a flight path. He spots the [[w:Lagoon Nebula|Lagoon Nebula]] in the sky where the Scorpius constellation resided, a celestial body known to the Colonials which gives them a reference point to navigate to Earth. His father confirms Adama's observation, noting that the nebula is far away from their current location at Kobol.

After the Fleet's reunification, Lee Adama is fully restored to flight status and his position as the CAG ([[Final Cut]]). Apollo doubts that [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] could successfully complete a prototype fighter later known as the [[Blackbird]], but in the end aids in its first test flight with Starbuck. Around this time, Adama begins to develop an attraction to [[Anastasia Dualla]] ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]).

===Reassignment===

Apollo is on [[Combat Air Patrol|CAP]] when the [[Mercury class battlestar|battlestar]] ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'' reunites with ''Galactica'' and is one of the first to see it up close. Soon afterwards, friction develops between Adama and the CAG of ''Pegasus'', Captain [[Cole Taylor]]. Taylor feels that Adama's pilots are undisciplined and implies that Adama has his position through his father's influence. Taylor recommends that Adama have his pilots focus on keeping a "killcount" of Raiders to encourage competition between his pilots, while Adama stresses that his first priority is to make sure that all of his pilots merely survive another day.

To Adama's shock, Admiral [[Helena Cain]] re-assigns him and Lt. Thrace to ''Pegasus'', under Taylor's command. Cain believes that having Commander Adama's son in the role of CAG was a mistake that has clouded Commander Adama's judgment, as young Adama has been insubordinate and even [[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II|mutinous]] in the past. For an upcoming scouting mission against the Cylon fleet following them, Taylor orders Adama to perform the humiliating task of co-piloting a Raptor. Annoyed, Adama orders Starbuck to take the [[Blackbird]] and perform the mission alone. When Commander Adama and Admiral Cain turn on each other, Apollo is away in Taylor's Raptor on his recon mission ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]).

As the two battlestar commanders begin sparring with Vipers, ''Pegasus'' orders Taylor to relieve Adama of duty. Taylor pulls his sidearm and takes away Adama's. Now weaponless and with nothing more to do than to ride along, Adama asks permission to head to the rear of the Raptor. While Taylor is busy, Adama secretly communicates with Starbuck over [[wireless]] text messages. This gives away her position to the Fleet, who think her to be a Cylon Raider. When the Vipers are ordered to disengage and pursue her instead, Starbuck manages to identify herself before things get out of hand.

Cain feels that persecuting young Adama for authorizing Thrace's mission would be odd since she is promoting Thrace for her work on her recon mission. Thrace successfully returns Adama to flight status, but demoted to lieutenant ([[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]).

=== Battle of the Resurrection Ship ===

While Thrace plans an assault on the Resurrection Ship and the two [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]]s defending it, she tells Adama that his father has ordered her to kill Cain after the battle, and asks Adama to watch her back. Outraged, Adama confronts his father with this, shocked to learn it was President Roslin's idea. Thrace assigns Adama the specific task of disabling the Resurrection Ship's [[FTL]] drive by sneaking up on it in the [[Blackbird]] and destroying it with a precision missile strike. Apollo succeeds, but the Blackbird collides with a [[Raptor]]. Apollo is able to eject, but the Blackbird is destroyed. Alive, but not unscathed, Apollo floats in space watching the battle take place around him. A tear in his [[flight suit]] leaves him almost of air. While having the means to stop the leak, he is overcome with a sense of sadness and nihilism, having learned that the two persons closest to him, Roslin and his father, resort to assassination to solve their conflict with Cain. Although hearing Dualla over the [[wireless]], he decides to let go and die, but is found by a [[SAR|SAR Raptor]] and resuscitated. Adama becomes despondent and distant from his friends and family after his near-death experience. In the pilot's locker room, Thrace tells Adama "Let's just be glad that we both came back alive, alright?" to which Adama responds "That's just it, Kara, I didn't want to make it back alive" ([[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]).

=== The Black Market ===

After President Roslin is saved from her illness, she begins trying to put down the Fleet's [[Black market (organization)|black market]]. New ''Pegasus'' commander [[Jack Fisk]] is soon murdered, leaving the elder Adama (now an Admiral) to assign his son to investigate. With his association with prostitute [[Shevon]] and her daughter [[Paya]] on ''[[Cloud 9]]'', [[Anastasia Dualla]] asks where the relationship between the two of them is heading. After he hesitates, Dualla takes it to mean it is over. Rushing to help Shevon after her call for help, the captain is ambushed by Phelan's men. Waking up from the attack, he finds the Fisk's murder weapon, and the body of Fisk's murderer.

With some help from [[Tom Zarek]], unwilling to accept the neatly-wrapped up case of Fisk's murderer or the missing Shevon, Adama finds the black market's main ship, the ''[[Prometheus]]''. He finds Paya and other children locked in a storage room. He confronts Phelan, who tells him a black market is necessary, since some supplies may never reach needy people any other way. After Phelan admits running a child prostitution ring, Adama shoots Phelan, and tells his bodyguards that the market can continue operations, unless it keeps holding back essential medicines, begins killing, or returns to child prostitution.

Shevon refuses to see Adama anymore, realizing that Adama has tried to use her and Paya as replacements in his mind for his lost fiancé [[Gianne]] and their unborn child, saying that she can never be her ([[Black Market]]).

===Friendly Fire===

While on leave to ''Cloud 9'' with Dualla, a group of terrorists seize a bar and demand the second copy of [[Sharon Valerii]] for execution, while they hold hostage approximately a dozen people, including Dualla, [[Billy Keikeya]], [[Ellen Tigh]] and Adama. The captain secretly sabotages the bar's carbon dioxide sensors to appear as if it were leaking atmosphere. The sabotage enables Captain Thrace to enter the bar and gather intelligence on the situation, but her cover is blown by Ellen Tigh, and she is forced to draw her weapons. One shot accidentally hits Adama in the chest. After escaping, Thrace breaks down crying for having shot her friend; Dualla is able to care for Adama long enough for him to survive to ''Galactica's'' sickbay, and later sits at his bedside while he recovers. Thrace watches, but is unsure what to do and leaves ([[Sacrifice]]).

===A Worthy Command ===

Adama finds himself promoted to Major and assigned to [[Pegasus (RDM)|''Pegasus]]''. He is assigned to the ship by Admiral Adama to assess ''Pegasus's'' crew and the the new commander [[Barry Garner]], the ship's former Chief Engineer.

His relationship with Dualla has become very intimate following his promotion and recovery. Kara Thrace, still ''Pegasus'' CAG, soon comes to blows with Garner is confined to her quarters. When visiting her, Adama chides her for her behavior, stating that he is sick of cleaning up after her all the time. He confronts her about the friendly fire incident, resulting in a moment of uncomfortable silence, before the talk returns to business.

Against orders from Admiral Adama, Garner takes ''Pegasus'' in to search for two Raptors missing during a recon mission into a binary star system. His impulsive and unwise efforts result in the battlestar's [[Battle of the Binary Star System|ambush by three Cylon basestars]]. With the FTL drive damaged after successive nuclear missile strikes, Garner relegates command to Major Adama and heads below to help in FTL repairs. After a moment's hesitation (perhaps thinking what his father would do), Adama orders the forward guns to fire on the nearest basestar, critically damaging the basestar and forcing its retreat, while commanding the battlestar's fighters (led by Starbuck) to guard embattled areas damaged from nuclear pummeling. Adama's attack buys time for Commander Garner to repair the FTL drive, enabling ''Pegasus'' to escape back to the Fleet and relative safety.

Admiral Adama debriefs his son, who gave Garner a lot of credit for saving the ship, despite their disagreements. When asked about Garner's flaws, Lee says that he only knew machines, while command is about people. His father tells him to keep that in mind and gives him command of ''Pegasus'', together with a promotion to commander; possibly giving him his old rank insignia ([[The Captain's Hand]]).

Sometime later, Adama wishes Thrace good luck in rescuing [[Samuel Anders]] and the rest of the [[Caprica Resistance|resistance group on Caprica]], despite his clear personal feelings towards her. After Thrace and Anders' return, Adama attempts to introduce himself politely, but is hampered by the couple's amorous and highly drunken behavior. When Thrace gives a rude comment, Adama bows out the area, beginning a quiet but palpable rift in their friendship ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]).

[[Image:Apollo LDYBPII.JPG|thumb|left|Lee Adama in command of ''Pegasus'' ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]).]]

=== On New Caprica ===
Four months later, Commander Adama and his [[Executive Officer|XO]], Lieutenant Dualla, are granted shore leave to attend a groundbreaking ceremony on the surface of New Caprica. After the ensuing party, with Dualla and Anders gone, Adama sleeps with Kara Thrace and suggests they break up with their respective partners. Thrace however, refuses to break up, despite the two declaring their love for each other. He wakes up alone the next morning only to find out that Thrace has just married Anders. The rift between Adama and Thrace has widened ever larger. Hurt, he proposes to Dualla, who accepts ([[Unfinished Business]]).

Another eight months later, a year after the settlement, a half-manned ''Pegasus'' is still orbiting New Caprica. Commander Adama has gained a considerable amount of weight in the intervening year. He is in the process of deciding whether or not to supply Kara Thrace with [[antibiotics]] for pneumonia-afflicted Anders when Dualla spots a massive Cylon fleet jumping into the nebula. Adama and his father briefly discuss their course of action; young Adama argues for an immediate emergency jump. Reluctantly, the Admiral orders the orbiting remains of the Fleet, whose population consists of around two thousand citizens, to escape, thus leaving New Caprica to the Cylons for the time being ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]).
<br clear="both" />

=== Battle of New Caprica and Destruction of ''Pegasus'' ===

Commander Adama and his father get into a disagreement over whether or not a rescue mission should be mounted to New Caprica. Lee believes that it would end with the destruction of both ''Galactica'' and ''Pegasus'', leaving the pitiful remnants of the Fleet at the mercy of the Cylons. Lee also objects to the Admiral's decision to reinstate [[Sharon Agathon]] as a Colonial Fleet officer to act as liaison between the New Caprica resistance and ''Galactica''. These disagreements lead to heated arguments between the two, prompting Admiral Adama to make a comment about Lee's weight by calling him a "fatass" and saying he has grown "soft" in the past year ("[[Occupation]]", "[[Precipice]]"). Due to his son's objections, Admiral Adama decides to take ''Galactica'' to rescue the people on New Caprica alone. He gives his son orders to wait 18 hours for his return; if he does not return by then, Lee is to resume the search for Earth with what is left of the civilian fleet. Despite their disagreement, the two have a heartfelt goodbye. Lee tries to talk his father out of the plan and explain himself, but the older Adama stops him. Instead the two embrace and the Admiral gives his son full military honors when departing ''Galactica'' ([[Exodus, Part I]]).

Lee is certain that his father will not return, and he is conflicted between his duty to protect the civilians and his duty to his father. His wife's attempt at reassurance only serve to heighten his guilt. Leaving his ship's Vipers behind to protect the civilians, he takes ''Pegasus'' to assist ''Galactica'', fully aware that he may very well be on a suicide mission. He joins the [[Battle of New Caprica|battle]] just in time, saving his father's ship from certain destruction. Immediately destroying one basestar after exiting the jump, Adama uses ''Pegasus'' to draw fire, giving ''Galactica'' time to escape. This action damages ''Pegasus'' beyond repair. Adama orders the crew to evacuate and sets the ship's [[Battery|batteries]] to be set on autofire. He is the last person to leave the CIC, thanking the ship as he departs. The small crew evacuates on Raptors just as ''Pegasus'' rams a basestar, destroying itself in the process ([[Exodus, Part II]]).

The Commander and his crew transfer to the last remaining battlestar, ''Galactica''. Dissatisfied with his round appearance, he had also taken up a rigid exercise regimen and starts losing weight rapidly ([[Collaborators]]).

=== The Second Exodus ===

[[Image:Maj apollo in viper.jpg|thumb|right|Lee Adama back as a major in the role of ''Galactica's'' CAG ([[Torn]]).]]
As of the episode "[[Torn]]", Lee has returned to the role of ''Galactica's'' CAG, with the rank of Major. When a dying basestar is discovered in the [[Lion's Head Nebula]], Adama leads a team of Marines on it and captures several humanoid Cylons. After Doctor [[Cottle]] discovers that they are infected with a virus lethal to the Cylons, Adama advocates to use the prisoners as biological weapons in an attempt to exterminate the Cylons. The plan is approved but ultimately fails due to the intervention of [[Karl Agathon]], who sabotages the mission ([[A Measure of Salvation]]).

When [[Daniel Novacek|Bulldog]] arrives on ''Galactica'', Admiral Adama tells Lee about [[Valkyrie|the mission]] they executed together, and how he believes it has led to the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|Cylon holocaust]]. Lee blames the admiralty instead, saying they wanted to provoke a war ([[Hero]]).

After most of the Fleet has arrived safely on the [[algae planet]] following a [[Passage (star cluster)|harrowing journey]], Adama leads the food harvesting operations on the surface. Fourteen days into the harvesting mission, he meets with Kara Thrace and once again suggests they divorce their respective spouses. Thrace refuses to divorce and Adama refuses to cheat on his wife, deadlocking their relationship. When the [[Temple of Five]] is found on the planet and the Cylons show up, Adama is ordered to protect the temple from the Cylons, destroying it if necessary. He orders Starbuck to scout the terrain in her Raptor, which gets shot down by Centurions. After having sent Dualla to rescue Starbuck, the Major and his team attempt an ambush against a group of Centurions passing through a valley towards the temple. The ambush fails, and Adama orders to retreat and the temple to be blown. When trying to do so, he and his team witness the algae planet's star going supernova, and realize that the nova is in fact the [[Eye of Jupiter]]. After the Cylon fleet has jumped away to escape the destruction of the planetary system, the ground team is picked up by a rescue party ("[[The Eye of Jupiter]]", "[[Rapture]]").

Later Adama is treated by his friend [[Galen Tyrol]] to a little surprise: A number of crew have created a [[Joe's bar|bar]], on the starboard hangar deck, complete with a Pyramid arcade game and an old Viper Mark II hanging above for atmosphere. Tyrol and Adama have a drink as they discuss their marital problems; Tyrol and his wife Cally have had an argument that has apparently left him "in the doghouse". Adama is reluctant to interact with his wife, as his uncertainty over his love of Kara Thrace continues to fight with him. Adama returns to his quarters, quite drunk, to find Dualla still awake and doing some work, apparently drinking some type of [[alcohol]]. She tries to confirm if they are still going to have dinner later that day as Lee dozes off, leaving Dualla disappointed. Later on Adama and Dualla have an argument about Kara Thrace and the future of their marriage. Dualla says that she married Adama because she loved him, choosing to have him for as long as he or Kara Thrace would let him. She resigns herself to her marriage's failure and tells Adama that she will not stand in his way if he were to choose Thrace over her. Dualla then leaves. Thrace and Adama meet privately. When Thrace asks Adama if he loves her and would be with her if she were to leave Anders, Adama equivocates, remembering Thrace's fickleness [[Unfinished Business|after he declared his love a year before]]. Thrace leaves him to think about the situation.
[[Image:3x13-Taking a Break From All Your Worries-Apollo.jpg|thumb|right|Lee Adama drinking in Joe's Bar ([[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]).]]

Adama returns to the bar and drinks more, toying with his wedding band. He asks Chief Tyrol if he ever thought about what his future with [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]] would have been like, or had any regrets. With a quick drink, Tyrol replies in the negative. Adama stumbles back to his quarters, losing his wedding band somewhere in ''Galactica's'' corridors. Lee Adama and his wife meet in Joe's Bar. Adama, having since found his lost wedding ring, confesses that he loves Dualla and how dedicated she has been to him, never realizing how much he needed her affection. As the two embrace, Adama tries to avoid looking across the bar at Kara Thrace and Anders. Thrace returns the glance before Adama breaks it off ([[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]).

===Death of a Lover and Friend===

During refueling operations over a gas giant, Kara Thrace becomes mentally unstable, having [[Virtual Leoben|hallucinations]] about Leoben and her alleged [[The Destiny|destiny]]. When she refuses to fly another mission, Adama has a friendly talk with her. After all that happened two are back where they started; Thrace being the screwup pilot and Adama having to clean up after her as [[CAG]]. He also tells her that his relationship with Dee is better than ever. Adama offers to fly as her wingman to calm her. While on [[Combat Air Patrol|CAP]], Starbuck sees a Cylon [[Heavy Raider]] and goes on alert, joined by Adama. However, from the vantage point of Adama, Thrace's [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] malfunctions and is drawn into the vortex of a storm. He gets sketchy information from Thrace when she says "I'll see you on the other side." Her Viper explodes, and Adama struggles to escape the vortex ([[Maelstrom]]).

He is badly shaken by her death, as evidenced by his lack of concentration as CAG, confusing people and mission details. He is also shaken by a story told by [[Romo Lampkin]]. Eventually, he begins the healing process with [[Samuel Anders]] by putting Thrace's picture into the [[memorial hallway]] ([[The Son Also Rises]]).

===The Trial of Gaius Baltar===

President [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] recommends that Major Adama be put in charge of the proceedings of the trial of [[Gaius Baltar]]. However, due to the pressures that he is under, Adama declines the position (despite his interest in law as a child). As a token of his affection, Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] gives Lee his [[Joseph Adama|grandfather]]'s Caprican [[Arts and Literature of the Twelve Colonies#Law books|Law Code books]] ([[A Day in the Life]]). Later, his father places Adama in charge of security for Baltar's lawyer, [[Romo Lampkin]], claiming that he trusts him, but also pulling him off his duties of CAG after he shows that Thrace's death affects his job performance. While following Lampkin around, Adama develops a desire to help Lampkin defend Baltar. His father is is not pleased with this idea, but allows him to do so ([[The Son Also Rises]]).

After Adama contributes to humiliating Colonel Tigh in court, he and his father have a falling out, which leads to Lee's resignation from the Colonial Fleet and him becoming a civilian. Adama also learns that President [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] has resumed taking [[chamalla]], which he confronts her about in court, trying to discredit her credibility. Roslin pleads with him to not pursue his line of questioning, but he forces her to admit that her cancer has returned. Disappointed in Adama, she recollects times when the two were friends and she called him "Captain Apollo". After that, [[Anastasia Dualla|his wife]] packs her belongings in preparation for leaving Adama. She says that he should not have confronted the President, and that he was supporting a legal system that was trying to let a murderer walk. She leaves him alone, with him crying that she doesn't understand him ([[Crossroads, Part I]]).

In an unusual move, Adama takes the stand himself and delivers a [[Crossroads, Part II#Noteworthy Dialogue|passionate speech]] in defense of Baltar. He points out a string of incidents, some involving himself, where people were forgiven for serious crimes, and defends those decisions, arguing that humanity is not a real civilization anymore. Adama thinks that executing Baltar for actions that he couldn't really prevent is not justice, and that Baltar is just the Fleet's scapegoat for everyone's misdeeds and failures on New Caprica. The speech plays a major role in Baltar's subsequent acquittal. When Romo Lampkin leaves Adama after their victory, he leaves back his cane, which he used after being injured in an attempt on his life, and walks normally, thus showing how he manipulated both Adama and the court. Ultimately, Adama's sense of justice has [[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II|once again]] placed him at odds with his father, but this time he has alienated Roslin and his wife as well, leaving him seemingly alone.

===A New Beginning===

[[Image:Yet another frakking Adama talk.jpg|thumb|The Adamas attempt to reconcile after Baltar's trial ([[He That Believeth In Me]]).]]

As Cylon forces converges on the Fleet in the [[Ionian Nebula]], Adama unofficially returns to duty and mans a Viper. Unexpectedly, he encounters [[Kara Thrace]], whom he [[Maelstrom|believed dead]] ([[Crossroads, Part II]]). Adama and Thrace join the [[Battle of the Ionian Nebula|ensuing battle]] and help to defend the civilian ships from the Cylons. When Thrace returns to ''Galactica'', Adama is glad to see her again and believes her story to a certain degree, whereas most others are is distrustful and suspect a Cylon trap.

His father offers him his pilot wings back, and thus his commission, but Adama declines, saying that he felt the need for a change for some time, and that Baltar's trial was just the trigger. He thinks that he can gain a position in the Colonial government and make a contribution there ([[He That Believeth In Me]]).

[[Tom Zarek]] nominates Adama as the Caprican delegate on the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]]. Adama is seen off ''Galactica'' with a party in the [[rec room]] and an official ceremony on the hangar deck, where many of the crew salute him and wish him good luck. He embraces Dualla and tells her that she "got the house", implying that their breakup is final ([[Six of One]]). Zarek appointed Adama because of his dedication to finding the truth during the Baltar trial, and because he wants Adama to fight against some or Roslin's proposed changes to the justice system, that are undemocratic in his eyes. Although in public, Roslin claims to have forgiven Adama and to admire his convictions, she snubs him by refusing to meet him and openly teases him about his inexperience in a Quorum session ([[The Ties That Bind]]).

Adama once again shows his idealism when Baltar's new [[Cult of Baltar|cult]] violently clashes with other religious groups in the Fleet. Whereas Roslin wants to shut down the group and pleads to the Quorum to retroactively sign off an emergency measure that restricts their right of assembly, Adama and [[Reza Chronides]] think that they are doing nothing blasphemous and illegal. The Quorum eventually decides to rescind Roslin's decision. Roslin later tells his father, that she thinks that Adama maybe be right, but that he is too idealistic and doesn't understand the pragmatism that is sometimes necessary in politics ([[Escape Velocity]]).

Following the unexplained disappearance of Laura Roslin on a rebel Cylon baseship ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]), Adama leads a search for an interim president, knowing that his father would never support an administration under Tom Zarek. Despite consulting Romo Lampkin on a list of 47 candidates, it is Lampkin who ultimately decides that Adama should be the interim president; Adama thanks Lampkin by offering [[Jake (New Caprica)|Jake]] as a pet to replace the loss of [[Faye Lampkin]]'s cat, [[Lance]].

Even with his ascension to the presidency, Adama is unable to dissuade his father from stepping down as military leader, or his father's personal search for Roslin—a mission that Adama believes to be nothing short of suicide ([[Sine Qua Non]]).

===No Exit===
After the failed coup de e'tat, in which Lee is the sole quorum delegate not killed in the massacre ordered by Tom Zarek, President Laura Roslin puts Lee in charge of forming a new quorum. Lee proposes the idea of making the new quorum based not upon the individual colonies but upon ships in the fleet, as he reasons that the people are no longer defined by their colonies but by their ships. Roslin approves of the idea and tells Lee that while she will remain President in title, she want's him to do the "heavy lifting" for there on. Given this, its likely that Roslin has made him her new Vice President after the execution of Tom Zarek for his coup.

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

== Notes ==

*From [[Ronald D. Moore]]'s [[Wikipedia:blog|blog]], in response to a fan's question:

<blockquote>In my first draft of the [[Miniseries|mini]], Lee Adama had just been accepted into test pilot school on [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] and was not currently assigned to any battlestar. Presumably, he had been posted to at least a couple of battlestar [[Air Group]]s in his career, as well as several ground assignments as well. This isn't canon yet, however, and I'm currently thinking of changing some elements of his specific backstory as I work on storylines for [[Season 2 (2005-06)|Season Two]]. Overall, I'd say Lee was striving (perhaps too hard) to blaze a different path for himself in the fleet from that of his [[William Adama|father]]. I don't think Lee ever saw himself as a battlestar commander and was looking for a different way to make his mark.</blockquote>
*The caption under Apollo's name in "[[Final Cut]]" list him as "CFR". In the podcast, Ron Moore explaines that this stands for "Colonial Fleet Reserves"; and that Apollo was a reserve officer because he wasn't sure what he was doing with his life and if he was going to pursue a full career in the Colonial Fleet.
*According to Jamie Bamber, Adama's official character biography states that "Lee is never so happy as when he's in his kitchen cooking."
* Jamie Bamber is the husband of actress [[Kerry Norton]], who portrays [[Layne Ishay]], the paramedic from "[[Scattered]]" and "[[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]".
* Bamber is actually British, however, he plays Lee Adama with an American accent (presumably to more closely match the accent of [[Edward James Olmos]] who plays his father).
* Bamber's natural hair color is blonde, but his hair is dyed brown to play Apollo, so he will resemble [[Edward James Olmos]] more, who plays his characters' father.
*While [[Edward James Olmos]] and [[Mary McDonnell]] were hand-picked for their roles, the rest of the characters were cast by audition: among those in the running for the role of Apollo was ''[[w:Farscape|Farscape]]'' and ''[[w:Stargate SG-1|Stargate SG-1]]'' star [[Wikipedia:Ben Browder|Ben Browder]], though the role ultimately went to [[Jamie Bamber]].<ref>{{cite_book|last=Bassom|first=David|authorlink=|authorlinkurl=|coauthors=|year=2005|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|pages=23|editor=ed. Adam "Adama" Newell|publisher=Titan Books|location=|id=ISBN 1-84576-0972}}</ref>
*Admiral William Adama names his son to succeed him as commander of ''Galactica'' in his resignation letter ([[Hero]]) indicating how close they have become prior to the events of [[Gaius Baltar]]'s trial.
*Lee Adama's watch is a [http://www.nixonnow.com/watches/mens/the-scout-leather-A480.html Nixon Scout].
*Lee Adama's Colonial Fleet ID tag is marked "L. Adama/ser 318742. {{citation needed}}

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

== External Links ==
{{ext-scfipedia|article=Creator:Bamber on Apollo}}

{{start box}}
{{succession box|before=[[Jackson Spencer|Jackson "Ripper" Spencer]]|title=[[Commander Air Group|Commander, Air Group]], ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''|after=[[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]]}}
{{succession box|before=[[Barry Garner]]|title=Commanding Officer of the battlestar ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]''|after=''(none, ship destroyed)''}}
{{succession box|before=[[Louanne Katraine|Louanne "Kat" Katraine]]|title=[[Commander Air Group|Commander, Air Group]], ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''|after=[[Karl Agathon|Karl "Helo" Agathon]]}}
{{succession box|before=[[Cowen]]|title=Caprican delegate to the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]]|after=''Unknown, possibly vacant''}}
{{succession box|before=[[Tom Zarek]]|title=President of the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies of Kobol]] (interim)|after=[[Laura Roslin]]}}
{{succession box|before=''Unknown, possibly vacant''|title=Caprican delegate to the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]]|after=''Incumbent''}}
{{succession box|before=''[[Tom Zarek]]''|title=[[Government of the Twelve Colonies|Vice-President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol]]|after=''[[INCUMBENT]]''
{{end box}}

{{Characters}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adama, Lee}}

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

{{quality article}}

[[de:Lee Adama]]
[[es:Lee Adama]]
[[fr:Lee Adama]]
[[zh:李·阿达玛]]

<pagesidebar>
* See Also
** Apollo (TOS)|Apollo from the Original Series
** Richard Hatch|Richard Hatch
** Tom Zarek|Tom Zarek
</pagesidebar>

Thomas Zarek

2009-03-08T16:51:09Z

ColonialVP:

: ''For other subjects with the same last name, see: [[Zarek (disambiguation)]].''

{{Character Data|
|photo= zarek.jpg
|age=
|colony= [[Sagittaron]]
|birthname= Thomas Zarek
|callsign=
|seen=Bastille Day
|death= Executed by firing squad ([[Blood on the Scales]])
|parents=
|siblings=
|children=
|marital status= Single
|role= Vice President of the [[Twelve Colonies of Kobol]] <br/> Former representative of Sagittaron on the [[Quorum of Twelve]]
|rank=
|actor= [[Richard Hatch]]
|cylon=
|name=
}}

'''Thomas Zarek''', commonly known as '''Tom Zarek''', was a political activist for more than 30 years before the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]]. He was a charismatic, eloquent and ideological political agitator who was incarcerated for destroying a government building on [[Sagittaron]]. His 20-year incarceration culminated in a sojourn on the ''[[Astral Queen]]'', an [[FTL]]-capable prison ship, whilst in transit to parole hearings. Assigned the prison number of [[893893]], Zarek is under consideration for parole at the time of the [[Cylon attack]]. He ends up becoming first the Sagitarion delegate to the Quorum of Twelve, the Vice President under Gaius Baltar, the President for a few days, before he returns Laura Roslin to power and then her Vice President. After leading a coup against the civilan governemt at the same time as a military coup led by Felix Gaeta, he's executed for murder and treason and is executed alongside Felix Gaeta.

== Biography ==

Zarek came from [[Sagittaron]], a colony known to be mistreated by the other eleven [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Colonies]]. Through his experiences on that colony he became an advocate of freedom from slavery, and proclaimed himself a voice for the disenfranchised. Along with publishing a book that was virtually banned throughout the Colonies, Zarek actively sought to combat injustices with the aid of his group, the [[S.F.M.]]

Though some consider him a terrorist for his often violent tactics (which include the destruction of a government building that results in unspecified casualties), others see him as a freedom fighter and a hero. He believes in the efficacy of violence as a means of change, going as so far as to go to prison over a "matter of conscience" by refusing President [[Richard Adar]]'s politically motivated conditional pardon (the conditions of the pardon being that he would publicly apologize and pledge to give up violence as a means of change).

Some of his fellow Sagittarons have an intense dislike of him, including [[Anastasia Dualla]]. Despite this, he became a public figure whose name had weight and almost became legendary, thanks to public opinion ([[Bastille Day]]).

== After the Fall of the Colonies ==

[[Image:Tom zarek.jpg|thumb|right|Zarek in his cell ([[Bastille Day]]).]]
As the Cylons attack the Twelve Colonies, Zarek is on a prison barge called the ''[[Astral Queen]]'', headed to Caprica for parole hearings with several hundred other inmates. Hiding out in the atmosphere of [[Ragnar]] with the rest of humanity's survivors, the captain of the ''Astral Queen'' suggests that the inmates be euthanized, but his wish is overturned by [[Laura Roslin|President Roslin]]'s humanitarian decision to keep all of mankind's remnants alive ([[Miniseries]]). This leaves Zarek with time to plot his escape.

With the discovery of a planet that could replenish ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica's]]'' lost water, Commander [[William Adama|Adama]], Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] and President Roslin reluctantly decide to ask the prisoners to volunteer as badly needed manpower, under the condition that they would not be treated as slaves and they would agree of their own volition ("[[Water]]", "[[Bastille Day]]").

After [[Lee Adama]]'s unsuccessful attempt to persuade the prisoners to help in the recovery efforts, Zarek's springs the prisoners' escape plan. The prisoners, under Zarek's command, usurp control of the ''Astral Queen'', and takes her crew and ''Galactica's'' visitors as prisoners. Zarek states his terms for release of the prisoners: the resignation of Laura Roslin and her administration, and the start of free and open elections for a new President. Zarek deems Roslin's presidency as illegitimate and illegal.

Unfortunately, Zarek's aims are not in keeping with his demands; he wants a bloodbath to ensue, believing that all that people understand is violence, and that a bloodbath would destroy any credibility that Adama and Roslin have.

When the situation deteriorates near the point of catastrophe for all involved, Zarek, ready to sacrifice his life for his beliefs, is swayed by Lee Adama's promise that he would uphold the [[Articles of Colonization]] and hold open elections for a new president, once Roslin had served the remainder of President Adar's term (as dictated by the Articles and [[Case Orange]]), as well as give the ship over to the prisoners as a show of good faith ([[Bastille Day]]).

== Attempts for Political Power ==
[[Image:Home_pt1_debate.jpg|thumb|left|Tom Zarek in debate with [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] members.]]

With a degree of freedom obtained by the prisoners - including control of the ''Astral Queen'' - Zarek engages in a steady effort to gain the goodwill of others of influence within the Fleet. This effort includes physical acts of support for other ships (such as fixing the air filtration system on the ship occupied by [[Marshall Bagott]], a politician from [[Virgon]]).

Zarek's efforts result in a nomination as Sagittaron's representative on the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]]. From there, Zarek makes a bid for the position of vice president using the support of those he assisted, and possibly badgered ([[Colonial Day]]).

While Zarek's attempt at the vice presidency fails after Roslin replaces the somewhat unlikeable [[Wallace Gray]] with the charismatic Doctor [[Gaius Baltar]] as an alternative candidate, Zarek makes it clear to Roslin that he will be standing against her in the elections.
Zarek remains possibly the most powerful and popular representative in the Quorum of Twelve.

When he is interviewed by the press aboard ''Cloud Nine'', he makes several comments consistent with a collectivist-oriented political ideology ([[Colonial Day]]). Whether these comments reflect Zarek's actual ideology, or if they are a cover he is using for his own purposes, remains unknown.<br/><br/>

== Breakaway from the Fleet ==

The schism created by Commander Adama's unlawful arrest of President Roslin and Colonel Tigh's declaration of [[w:martial law|martial law]] presents Zarek with an opportunity to convince others that Adama is after total control of the Fleet. Zarek likely sought to use Tigh's inexperience with dealing with the government and [[Colonial Press|press]] against the military powers. Zarek and the Quorum soon learn of Roslin's terminal cancer, after Tigh permits the Quorum of Twelve to see her in ''Galactica'''s brig ([[Fragged]]).

After the ''[[Gideon]]'' incident, where four civilians die, some crewmembers of ''Galactica'' orchestrate Roslin's escape. Lee Adama, knowing they would be hunted throughout the Fleet, enlists Zarek's assistance in secreting Roslin away from Tigh and Commander Adama ("[[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]]", "[[The Farm]]"). Roslin is initially dismayed to be greeted by Zarek, but realizes that Zarek, no friend to Adama or Tigh, is "the enemy of my enemy."

Zarek and Roslin attempt to use appeals by recorded [[wireless]] messages to sway favor in the Fleet to return to Kobol. Zarek convinces Lee Adama at first to create a dissenting message against ''Galactica's'' rule, but Lee changes his mind (probably because he swore to his comatose father that it wasn't about them). After Roslin plays the "religious card" to sway support for her cause in the Fleet, Roslin and Zarek lead a [[Laura Roslin faction|separatist fleet]] back to [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]] to await [[Kara Thrace]]'s return with the [[Arrow of Apollo]], for use in unlocking the [[Tomb of Athena]].

Zarek, with his associate [[Meier]], plan to eliminate the young Captain Adama on Kobol, using the rationalization about [[Zeus]]'s warning that any return to Kobol would "exact a price in blood". Zarek feels that removing the young Adama would create a political power vacuum, allowing Zarek to take the position as leader of the fractioned Fleet, while Roslin would remain president ([[Home, Part I]]).

Zarek abandons the assassination plan when Commander Adama arrives on Kobol to mend fences with Roslin. However, Meier privately revises the plan outside of Zarek's knowledge, now with the goal of eliminating both Adamas by soliciting the help of the [[Sharon Agathon|Caprica copy of Sharon Valerii]] that returned with [[Karl Agathon]] and Thrace. Unfortunately for Zarek, Sharon Valerii double-crosses Meier, killing him at the entrance to the Tomb of Athena. While none in the group immediately consider Zarek as a suspect in Meier's assassination attempt, Commander Adama remains guarded and leaves Zarek and several others outside of the Tomb under the watchful eye of Chief [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] while they unlock its secrets ([[Home, Part II]]).

==After the Fleet's Reunification==
Zarek later gives [[Lee Adama]] information regarding the [[Black market (organization)|black market]], initially claiming not to be a part of it because he needs to keep his hands clean, but ultimately points out that the black market does get supplies where they are needed. Nonetheless, Zarek mentions the central hub of the black market, ''[[Prometheus]]'', a ship so lawless that it is practically "off the grid", as well as the name of a "businessman", [[Phelan]]. However, soon after Phelan's death at the hands of Captain Adama, Tom Zarek is seen walking through a crowd on the ''Prometheus'' with one of Phelan's old henchmen in tow. It is unknown how much involvement Tom Zarek has with the organization ([[Black Market]]).

Despite being the presumed opponent of Roslin in the upcoming presidential election, Zarek decides not to run against her because he realizes he probably won't win the election. However, he encourages Vice President Gaius Baltar to run in his place ([[The Captain's Hand]]).

==Baltar's Election Campaign==
When Baltar announces his run for the presidency, Zarek assumes a position as his campaign manager. For all Zarek's personal political talent he has a hard time managing Baltar's campaign and faces the tough issue of whether Baltar is an electable candidate. After being trounced in the first debate by Roslin, Baltar's political future is in deep jeopardy and Zarek is left looking for a stronger wedge-issue other than Roslin's ties to the religious [[Gemenon|Gemenese]]. With the accidental discovery of [[New Caprica]], an issue presents itself that they can get on the supposed right side of: the colonization of the newly found planet and a safe-haven from the Cylons. Zarek presses Baltar to pick up this issue and run with it and as soon as he does his political fortunes turn around dramatically. Like he predicted the people rally around the idea of colonization and Baltar sails out of the final debate with a wide lead on Roslin ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]).

With his job of campaign manager all but over on election day, there isn't much for Zarek to do but sit back and wait for the results to come in. When the initial tallies come in suggesting Roslin scored a remarkable come-back victory he says to Baltar that he's seen enough elections to recognize a fixed one. Baltar admonishes Zarek, maintaining that, whatever Laura Roslin is, she is above fixing an election.

Later, with Baltar as president, Zarek becomes his vice president.

== The Occupation of New Caprica ==

After Baltar's surrender of the Colonial government, Zarek disagrees with the planned collaboration with the Cylons and steps down. In retaliation, he is sent to a detention camp for four months.

Along with former President Laura Roslin, he and about 200 other dissidents are driven to the [[Pergamus Flats]] where they are to be executed by an order Baltar was forced to sign. After exiting the truck, Zarek asks Roslin directly whether she had [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II|attempted to steal]] the past election. After Roslin admits that she had, both agree that they wished she'd gone through with it. The group of detainees are soon faced with [[Cylon Centurion]]s preparing to fire, and Zarek pulls Roslin back from the front of the crowd ([[Precipice]]). However, members of the resistance successfully prevent the execution.

Zarek attends the final meeting of the resistance to review the [[Battle of New Caprica|plan to escape New Caprica]]. Zarek and Roslin evacuate together towards their ships, though Roslin chooses to escape on ''[[Colonial One]]''. Before departing for his own ship, Zarek gives a gun to [[James Lyman|Jammer]] and tells him to protect Roslin ([[Exodus, Part II]]).

==Presidency and the new Roslin Administration==
After the [[Second Exodus|escape of the colonists from New Caprica]], Zarek assumes his office as President, succeeding the missing Baltar. He brokers an agreement with Roslin, whereby she is elected as vice president and he steps down, returning her to the office she has held since the Cylon invasion. She would then appoint him as Vice President to her. He asks her to give him a position in the new government and she offers this job to him herself citing his courage in standing up against Baltar. Unknown to Roslin and Adama, Zarek has signed into law an executive order authorizing a secret six-person [[The Circle|group]] tasked to find, charge, try, and execute collaborators and traitors. Sometime after disclosing this to Adama and Roslin, Zarek does go through with his plan, allowing Laura Roslin to resume her role as president. Despite condemning his actions and pardoning collaborators who collaborated with Cylons on New Caprica ([[Collaborators]]), Roslin is true to her word and appoints Zarek as her vice president.

Genuinely afraid of the consequences of trying Gaius Baltar after his capture on the [[algae planet]], Zarek argues with Roslin about instituting martial law throughout the Fleet during Baltar's trial, citing potentially dangerous and destructive civil unrest and work stoppages throughout the Fleet ([[The Woman King]]).

When [[Cowen]], the Caprican delegate to the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]], dies, Zarek nominates the recently retired [[Lee Adama]] to the post, because of his dedication to finding the truth during the Baltar trial. In a benevolent attempt to keep the government from becoming a dictatorship, Zarek wants Adama on the Quorum to question some secretive decisions made by President Roslin. Zarek explains that this is not an attempt to manipulate Roslin in a malevolent way, but to deter her from the temptation of taking away the rights and power of the people for the sake of security. He acknowledges that he still supports Roslin and believes that even her most controversial decisions have been made for the good of the Fleet ([[The Ties That Bind]]).

Several months later, Zarek finds himself in direct conflict with Lee Adama and his father. After President Roslin is taken away from the fleet by the rebel [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner]]), Zarek asserts his legal right as vice president to serve as acting president--an assertion that is ignored by Admiral Adama. The younger Adama, after backing his father's decision, convinces Zarek to give grudging approval to a search for another acting president--a search that ultimately puts Lee Adama himself into the position ([[Sine Qua Non]]).

==Post Earth/Coup d'etat==

Following the discovery of a ruined Earth ([[Revelations]]), both Adamas advocate a plan for a permanent alliance with the rebel Cylons, a plan that will extend full citizenship and Quorum representation to the Cylons. Zarek angrily opposes the plan, and instead musters near-unanimous support in the Quorum for a law requiring prior permission from the people of each ship in the fleet before any Cylon is allowed to board. Admiral Adama retaliates by forcibly boarding ''Colonial One'' and placing Zarek under arrest. Adama compels Zarek to reveal the coordinates of a ship that had left the fleet in protest.

While in prison, Zarek meets with [[Felix Gaeta]] and wins his cooperation in resisting the Cylon alliance ([[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]]). Sometime later, Zarek is secretly freed from the ''Galactica'' brig by Gaeta and several of Gaeta's co-conspirators. They are blocked from taking off in a waiting [[Raptor]] by deck chief [[Peter Laird]], but Zarek kills Laird with a wrench before the latter can call for confirmation. Zarek returns to ''Colonial One'' in the midst of a stormy meeting of the Quorum led by Lee Adama. The vice president explains his surprise release as part of the admiral's decision to finally abandon democratic governance in favor of a military dictatorship: with democratic institutions such as the Quorum now cut off from power, Zarek is supposedly no longer a political threat and is therefore not worth keeping under arrest. While this is occurring, Gaeta's mutiny aboard ''Galactica'' continues until the [[CIC]] is secure and the senior staff are detained. Zarek calls Gaeta, and expresses his own surprise at the fact that Adama has not been killed ([[The Oath]]).

During his and Gaeta's rebellion, Zarek uses violence to gain the power he wants. When the Quorum do ''not'' support him and order him to leave--addressing him as ''Vice President'' rather than ''President''--he orders their execution by the marines outside the door. After the order is carried out, he summons Gaeta, who reacts in horror and says that now all they had were "lies and murder."

He acts as judge in a court-martial for Adama, finds him guilty of treason, and as he had intended all along, orders his execution. When Roslin calls from the Cylon baseship demanding that he and Gaeta surrender, he refuses, claiming that Tigh is dead already and that Adama is going to be executed. His call for Roslin to surrender in order to end the bloodshed infurates her to the point of turning the baseship's weapons on ''Galactica''. Zarek wants to fight, but Gaeta tries to jump away, only to be foiled by Tyrol's sabotage of the FTL drive. Zarek is shocked by Gaeta's order to stand down all weapons. Seconds later, Zarek and Gaeta are arrested by Adama and his supporters, ending the rebellion.

Zarek is later executed by firing squad for his actions alongside Gaeta. He offers Gaeta a smile before the squad opens fire ([[Blood on the Scales]]).

== Notes ==
*Tom Zarek is portrayed by actor [[Richard Hatch]], who portrayed the original [[Apollo (TOS)|Apollo]] in the [[Original Series]]. Currently, Hatch is the only actor to have had roles in both ''Battlestar Galactica'' series.
*Hatch has written novels based on the Original Series, and also leads an effort to bring a Original Series [[continuation]] to a theatrical film in a project called ''[[Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming]]''.
*A [[separate continuity]] comic book series, starting with [[Battlestar Galactica: Zarek 1]], gives a non-canonical tale about this character's more rebellious life.

{{start box}}
{{succession box|before=''(unknown)''|title=Sagittaron delegate to the [[Quorum of Twelve]]|after=(''unknown, eventually [[Jacob Cantrell]]'')}}
{{succession box|before=''[[Gaius Baltar]]''|title=[[Government of the Twelve Colonies|Vice-President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol]]|after=[[Laura Roslin]]|}}
{{succession box|before=[[Gaius Baltar]]|title=[[Government of the Twelve Colonies|President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol]]|after=[[Laura Roslin]]|}}
{{succession box|before=''[[Laura Roslin]]''|title=[[Government of the Twelve Colonies|Vice-President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol]]|after=''[[Lee Adama]]''
{{end box}}

{{Dead Characters}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zarek, Tom}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Characters (RDM)]]
[[Category:Deceased Characters (RDM)]]
[[Category:Gaeta Mutineers|*]]
[[Category:Recurring Guest Characters (RDM)]]
[[Category:People from Sagittaron]]
[[Category:RDM]]
{{featured article}}
{{quality article}}

[[de:Tom Zarek]]
[[fr:Tom Zarek]]

Laura Roslin

2009-03-08T16:49:43Z

ColonialVP:

{{Character Data
|photo= Laura Roslin.jpg
|age=
|colony= [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]]
|birthname= Laura Roslin
|callsign=
|seen= Miniseries
|death=
|parents=
|siblings=
|children=
|marital status=Unmarried
|role=President of the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies of Kobol]], formerly Secretary of Education
|rank=
|actor= [[Mary McDonnell]]
}}
'''Laura Roslin''' serves as Secretary of Education at the time of the Cylon attack, later becoming president of the Twelve Colonies.
<br/><br/>

== Background ==

*Roslin, an unmarried<ref name="marital">According to the February issue of ''Sci Fi Magazine'', actress Mary McDonnell indicates that, according to the [[series bible]], Roslin has dated, but has never married. (Scans available on [http://www.livejournal.com/users/reedfem/158883.html Ramblings of a dorkish nature])</ref> former teacher, worked with [[Richard Adar|Richard Adar]] when he was a mayor. Over the twenty years in politics, she herself has risen in political rank to the office of Secretary of Education.
*Adar, a married man, and Roslin are in a sexual affair<ref>According to a December 2005 [http://www.galacticastation.com/Archives/2005/dec05.html interview] with Mary McDonnell in TV Guide, President Adar, a married man, was having an affair with Roslin in the twilight of his term.</ref> during the events of a teachers strike that she is trying to mediate, to Adar's objection.
*Roslin learns that she, as did her [[Roslin's_mother|mother]], has breast cancer. Unfortunately, the diagnosis is grim, as the cancer has already spread.
*Roslin sat in the Government Plaza after her doctor's appointment, where she saw [[Gaius Baltar|Gaius Baltar]], the famous scientist, walking and kissing an attractive blonde, but pays it little attention.
*Roslin successfully resolves the teachers strike crisis, but Adar vehemently disagrees with her method, and asks for her resignation. She asks him to defer the matter until she returns from the decommissioning ceremonies on battlestar ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''.
*Despite being thrust into the role of President in highly unusual and stressful circumstances, Laura Roslin initially proves herself both tough and capable within the role. Initially in awe of Commander Adama, and worrying that he didn't hold her in high regard ([[Water|Water]]), she quickly overcomes her doubts and fears to be able to make the required decisions at the right time, and also stand up to Adama himself ([[You Can't Go Home Again|You Can't Go Home Again]]). She is always prepared to put the safety and destiny of the Fleet first, no matter what the cost of her actions ("[[Flesh and Bone|Flesh and Bone]]", "[[Home, Part I|Home, Part I]]", "[[Home, Part II|Home, Part II]]", "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II|Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]") while remembering her limitations and fears.
*Roslin is rarely hesitant to make controversial decisions unilaterally, but often must deal with the significant ramifications of her choices.

== Character History at a Glance ==

=== The Miniseries ===

*On Caprica, Secretary of Education Laura Roslin sits in a spacious doctor's office. The doctor arrives with grim news. She has breast cancer and it has spread aggressively. Roslin later boards the government-chartered civilian transport, Colonial Heavy 798 as the government representative that will attend Galactica's decommissioning ceremonies. She is joined by a government aide, [[Billy Keikeya]], who briefs her on the events. Roslin, however, is too distracted by the news of her illness to fully absorb Billy's notes and must excuse herself to run to the restroom.
*When Colonial Heavy 798 arrives and docks onboard Galactica, Secretary Roslin meets with Commander Adama who denies her request to add a student computer network in the battlestar is refused. Roslin kindly lets the matter go to rest and continues on to her guest quarters.
*During the decommissioning ceremonies Adama's speech and his derision of humanity and their creation of the Cylons leaves many in the audience puzzled as well an uncomfortable Roslin. After attending the decommissioning ceremonies for the Galactica, the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|Cylon attack]] leaks through [[wireless]] aboard Conlonial Heavy 798. The chaos make confirmation of the news difficult. Roslin goes to the cockpit to confirm the news, where a shaken captain hands over the printed report. Roslin holds his shaking hand and tells him she will break the news to the passengers and crew. She instructs him to reach the government to see what they can do to help. Roslin quickly takes on the mantle of leadership, explaining to a defiant Aaron Doral that she is the ranking government official on board the government chartered vessel.
*She reassures a nervous and scared Billy before leaving to the cockpit where she finally gets a hold of Jack, a fellow official who cannot confirm the whereabouts of President Adar. Before she can finish speaking with him, an inbound missle is detected. Apollo is able to destroy the missile, but his Viper is disabled and must be retrieved to 798's cargo bay.
*Roslin gets busy trying to find accomidations for the survivors as she begins to rescue the stranded civilian ships in Caprican space and find a safe heaven to put down. She asks Lee to find a place to hide for the stranded civilians.
*The [[Case Orange]] automated beacon is picked up on the wireless, and Roslin instructs the pilot to respond to the message with her government identification (D-456-345-A). She and Lee sit in an empty compartment of the transport where she tells him that she is 43rd in succession. Soon, a response returns from the automated message: Roslin is the only government official alive, and is now assigned the duties of President of the Twelve Colonies by emergency succession. A shocked Roslin accepts her new duties and responsibilities and asks for a priest.
*Still unable to fully deal with her own illness and the gravity of the situation, Roslin is sworn in on the renamed [[Colonial One]] by Elosha. Physically Shaking, Roslin holds back from crying as her voice cracks taking the oath and becoming the President of the Twelve Colonies.
[[Image:Roslin_swearing_in.jpg|right|thumb|Roslin being sworn in]]
*As Colonial One begins the rescue of several civilian ships, Commander Adama orders that all vessels rendezvous at Ragner Anchorage. Roslin tells Apollo to let Adama know that they are engaged in rescue operations and that she wants to know how many hospital beds they can spare. Apollo tells her that Adama will not take that well, to which she responds that it is not a request it is an order from the President of the Twelve Colonies. Before she can leave Lee informs her that Apollo is his call sign, and that Lee Adama is his real name. She tells him that she knows who he is but that Captain Apollo has a "certain ring to it".
*As Adama and Lee argue on the wireless about him taking orders from a school teacher, which Roslin overhears, two Cylon Raiders launch nuclear missiles at the small fleet that has assembled. Roslin refuses to leave the vessels that don't have FTL capabilities behind so Apollo is forced to excuse himself and try a risky plan. He activates Galactica's old electric pulse generators stored in Colonial One's cargo hold which gives off the impressions that the fleet was destroyed tricking the Cylons. Roslin rushes with Colonial One's captain to the cargo hold to thank Lee personally for "saving their collective asses". She orders all the ships without FTL to be evacuated onto the other ships before the Cylons return.
*When Boomer finds Colonial One and the Civilian fleet Roslin meets Doctor Gaius Baltar, who she asks to serve as her Cylon advisor and instructs Boomer to help them find more vessels with her Raptor. They will then form a convoy and leave the combat zone.
*As she tours a large Botanical Cruiser with Billy, she assures the captain that his needs will be met in due time and asks for his patience. She meets a young girl, whom she sits with and starts up a conversation. It only reminds her how horrible things really are for the remnents of humanity. Resting back aboard Colonial One, Lee comes into to let Roslin know they have found a fuel tanker. The fleet is discovered by Cylons and Roslin must make a decision: to either leave the remaining ships without FTL who have not been fully evacuated or stay and meet certain doom. She makes the decision to leave.
*Struggling to deal with the possibility of extinction for the human race, Billy comes over to speak to her but Roslin interrupts declaring to him that she has cancer. Billy lets her know that he had already dedouced that from things she had said and done. Roslin expresses how selfish she feels she is being, as the world seems to be coming to an end all she can think about is that she has cancer. Billy tells her that its not selfish but only human. He adds before leaving that the young girl on the botanical cruiser will most likely be left behind. The fleet spools up their FTL to make the jump to Ragner, as Roslin sits alone thinking of all those she must leave behind.
*On board Galactica once again, Roslin gets into an argument with Colonel Tigh as she is trying to get man power and disaster pods from him for the 50,000 survivors. Colonel Tigh is finally convinced to release some supplies by Lee who interjects on her behalf.
*Roslin and Adama discuss wether he recognizes her authority as president. Adama doesn't care about such things and wants to take the battle to the Cylons in a suicidal counter-attack. She argues that the war is over and they have lost, that they need to help the survivors of humanity escape from occupied Colonial space and concentrate on "having babies". Adama's states the war is not over and that it hasn't even begun yet and leaves.
*A persuaded Adama later guides the fleet to saftey and during the funeral service for their lost crew memebers, he announces that he knows where the fabled 13th Colony Earth is and he will lead them there. Adama and Roslin find themselves discussing the things Adama said during the funeral in his quarters. He states that the prospect of Earth and a new home with their brothers and sisters of the 13th Colony will give the people hope. Roslin knows this to be a lie and makes a deal with Adama; he respect her authority as President over civil matters and she will keep his secret about Earth and leave military decisions to him.

=== A Shaky Administration ===

*Roslin and Commander Adama begin their leadership together under an uneasy understanding. Where she is responsible for all civil leadership issues among the surviving Colonials, Adama is responsible for all military decisions ([[Miniseries]]). However, the dividing line is not always clear between the two leaders. Roslin establishes a fledgling civilian [[government]] and reestabishes a new [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]].
*She begins building the foundations of a civilian government, first collecting a census on the remaining population, while they are on the run from the Cylons forced to jump every 33 minutes. Working tirelessly throughtout this time without any sleep, Roslin is forced to eventaully make a decision on wether or not to destroy the [[Olympic Carrier]] being tracked by the Cylons. In the end she chooses to destroy the Olympic Carrier to ensure the survival of humanity.
*After 24 hours pass and there are no Cylons, Roslin is still wondering if it was the right choice. When she requests some time alone, Billy goes to walk out but turns to tell her there is an update on the head count. Discouraged from all the previous updates on the head count which resulted in lowering the survival count on the white board Billy is pleased to give her good news. There was a baby boy born on the [[Rising Star]], to add one more to the count. Roslin cannot hide her jubilation and teary eyed happiness as she revises the count ([[33]]).
*Roslin jokes with Billy that she is going to get very tired of wearing the same 3 outfits that she brought with her to the decommissioning ceremonies on Galactica for the rest of her life. They leave to visit the Galactica to thank the crew for their hard work in defending the Fleet following the recent events ([[33]]). Commander Adama follows Protocol during her visit, with officers in dress uniform, etc. Roslin believes this is because Adama enjoys it; Lee Adama informs her that his father ordered the reception out of respect for her position as President ([[Water]]).
*After loosing 60% of water reserves through sabatoge, an investigation of the explosion begins. Once some questions have been answered, Adama excuses everyone but senior command staff from the inquiry Adama reveals the truth about the humanoid Cylon threat, stating his belief that there is a Cylon infiltrator aboard Galactica ([[Water]]).
*On Colonial One, Roslin asks Captain Adama to become a special advisor to her, to help her understand military jargon and protocol. He expresses his feelings about having to destroy the Olympic Carrier which she relates to by explaining an incident that happened to Adar which helps him deal better with his plagued conscience ([[Water]]).
*To collect the water the fleet will need a large group of workers, and the prison ship seems to be the answer. Roslin won’t have the prisoners forced into the work, so Lee Adama suggests the prisoners who volunteer could be awarded points to go towards their freedom.
*Roslin decides to send a delegation led by Lee Adama to the Astral Queen to put the idea to the prisoners, only to have them mutiny behind their leader [[Tom Zarek]] and take Lee and the others prisoner. Zarek demands the immediate resignation of President Roslin and her government on the grounds that, having never been elected, they do not represent the people. Eventaully when a Marine boarding party fails, Lee convinces Zarek that he and the prisoners can work with his men to supply the Fleet with water, and in return he’ll get to keep the Astral Queen and get his elections. Later Roslin is unhappy with the arrangement he has made with Zarek but Lee informs Roslin that he didn’t mean to offend her with his views, and that when the elections come, he’ll vote for her. His honesty causes her to reveal the truth about her cancer and the fact that she might not be alive to run for re-election ([[Bastille Day]]).
*Roslin is examined by the ship’s medical officer, Doctor Cottle. His diagnosis is not good: her cancer is inoperable. Roslin decides that she wants to try alternative therapy using Chamalla extract as an alternative to [[diloxin]], remembering her mother's malaise with that treatment ([[Act of Contrition]]).
*Roslin offers to have the ships of the Fleet help search for Starbuck who has gone missing but is later determined to put a stop to the search once it gets out of hand. She challenges both Adama and Lee concerning their single-mindedness and the way it is putting the survival of the fleet and mankind at risk ([[You Can't Go Home Again]]).
*After the suicide bombing aboard Galactica by a Cylon, Laura Roslin holds a press conference revealing the truth about humanoid Cylons and releasing pictures of Aaron Doral and Leoben Conoy. The news is greeted with a stunned reaction throughout the Fleet ([[Litmus]]).
*Roslin has a chamalla-induced dream in which she sees Leoben Conoy. Billy comes to the door of the restroom to see if she is alright. He then informs her that a Cylon agent has been captured aboard the Gemenon Traveler matching the description of Leoben and insists he be interrogated. Later in her private quarters on Colonial One, Roslin has another vision of Conoy, prompting her to order a shuttle to take her to the Gemenon Traveler. Roslin puts a stop to the torture for nothing is coming from it, and attempts to reason with him. He confesses there is no bomb; grabbing her, he whispers in her ear that Adama is a Cylon. Shocked by this and her mind made up Roslin has him ejected into space – fulfilling the sequence of events in her dream ([[Flesh and Bone]]).
*Laura Roslin comes aboard Galactica as Adama receives a report that Baltar’s Cylon detector is operational,and with Leoben's words still fresh in her memory she and Adama have trouble figuring out who should be tested first. She later calls Baltar to check on the progress of Adama’s Cylon test, only to find Adama has cancelled it so that a woman called “Ellen” can be tested. Roslin orders Baltar to restart Adama’s test immediately. She then summons Tigh to Colonial One, reveals her suspicions regarding Adama, and challenges a defensive Tigh over Adama’s behavior in leaving Galactica unannounced. Tigh tells her Adama was off-ship so he could collect Tigh’s missing wife. After Tigh has left her office, Roslin calls Baltar and orders him to stop Adama’s test and resume Ellen’s. It is all revealed later that Adama is not a Cylon ([[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]).
*Roslin reveals she is being affected by taking Chamalla extract to Elosha, having prescient visions – her dreams about Leoben Conoy which occurred immediately before he was found on the Gemenon Traveler, and her hallucination about snakes. On hearing about the snakes, Elosha reveals that it matches a prophecy in an ancient text written by Pythia 3,600 years ago concerning the exodus of humankind, which foretells that a dying Leader will lead the remnants of humanity to the promised land of Earth ([[The Hand of God]]).
*Using the occasion of Colonial Day to institute a interim Quorum, the legislative branch of the Colonial Government Roslin is surprised when Tom Zarek wins nomination as Sagittaron representitive. Roslin feels she cannot remove him, as he won the election fairly. Zarek proposes the choosing of a Vice President which is seconded by Baltar and Zarek nominated for the position. This forces Roslin to push Wallace Gray, a presidential aide, into standing as an alternative candidate.
*Roslin realizes that Baltar is quite popular in the Fleet and has Gray relinquish his position as her nominee in favor of Baltar. Baltar wins the nomination through a close vote ([[Colonial Day]]). During the Colonial Day celebration Adama and Roslin share a somewhat awkward dance.
*Discovering that her cancer treatment is not going well, that is has spread to her lymphatic system, giving her perhaps 6 months to live ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]).
*On recon mission, Boomer and Crashdown stumble upon a habitable planet. Reviewing the recon photos of ruins, Roslin has a vision which Elosha confirms to be the City of the Gods on Kobol. Roslin has two further visions – the Arrow of Apollo and the Tomb of Athena, and accepts the scriptures as fact. Roslin tries to convince Adama that Kobol will point the way to Earth, that they must use the captured Cylon Raider to return to Caprica and retrieve the [[Arrow of Apollo]]. Adama doesn't agree with her and reminds her that the Raider is a military resource. She reminds him that just because they don't know where Earth is doesn't mean is doesn't exsist.
*Roslin convinces Kara Thrace to use the captured Cylon Raider to return to [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] in search of the [[Arrow of Apollo]], a possible key to the true location of [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]).
*Commander Adama stages a military coup in response to what he feels is mutiny aboard his ship. He asks for her resignation and she refuses, and reveals the press is recording the conversation. Adama isolates Colonial one, and eventually gets a boarding party on Colonial One. A confrontation ensues between the Marines and Roslin's security. It is broken only when Lee Adama sides with his conscience, and turns on Tigh. Afraid of a bloodbath, Roslin surrenders and is incarcerated aboard Galactica.
*From her cell, Roslin eventually tells the Quorum of Twelve of her role in the [[Sacred Scrolls]], and begins to gain significant underground civilian support for her cause. After escaping ''Galactica'', Roslin takes a third of the Fleet back to Kobol, with the help of rival [[Tom Zarek]], to search for the Tomb. Starbuck meets Roslin's fleet with the recovered Arrow, and a hazardous expedition on Kobol begins, aided by a second copy of the [[Sharon Agathon|Sharon Cylon]] and Elosha, who is soon killed, leaving Roslin with a gap in her spirituality for a time ([[Home, Part I]]).
*The recovered Commander Adama gains refreshed insight on the need for the Fleet to stay united, and [[Home, Part II|finds Roslin's expedition]]. The leaders reconcile. Roslin's gamble on faith pays off big for humanity, and the group gains a map and their first waypoint to the true location of Earth ([[Home, Part II]]).
*After this, Adama's and Roslin's respect for each other grows stronger and their leadership in managing fleet business becomes more cooperative, asking each other for advice and correcting each other as needed, starting with a potentially disruptive tabloid expose of the ''[[Gideon]]'' shootings.
*After a near-disastrous [[Pegasus (episode)|military confrontation]] between Adama and Admiral [[Helena Cain|Cain]], Roslin forces them to concentrate on [[Resurrection Ship|more important matters]]. Privately, Roslin tells Adama that Cain, whose power can radically affect the remnant of humanity both Roslin and Adama have strived so hard to protect, must be killed if Adama and the Fleet are to survive.
[[Image:Roslinadama.jpg|Roslin and Adama.|thumb]]
*After the battle, and Admiral Cain's death, Roslin, now more frail with her illness, promotes William Adama to admiral. The new admiral gives the president a kiss, establishing a more personal aspect to their friendship ([[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]).
*Roslin is miraculously saved by the injection of stem cells <ref>In the commentary track for "Epiphanies", Ron Moore states that a longer explanation of Roslin's cure was filmed that explained that the blood's stem cells cure Roslin. However, the scene was cut because he was afraid it would be too complicated and thought of as [[technobabble]]. The character's updated biography on the official Scifi.com site does confirm that stem cells from the hybrid were the actual cure. As such, Battlestar Wiki treats this data canonically as with information found in most deleted scenes.</ref> from the Cylon [[Hera Agathon|hybrid fetus]], which apparently eradicates her cancer ([[Epiphanies]]). In the hours prior to the cure, however, Roslin remembers her last days on Caprica, including the attractive blonde with Dr. Baltar, her vice president. She now recognizes the woman as a [[Number Six|humanoid Cylon]].
*Roslin returns to work with a dispassionate, zealous manner, including an attempt to stop the [[Black market (organization)|black market]], handling the terrible loss of [[Billy Keikeya]], and the upcoming presidential election. After Keikeya's death, Roslin appoints [[Tory Foster]] as her aide.
*Roslin's decision to enforce a no-abortion law to aid in repopulation complicates what might have been an easy reelection. Her own vice president, Dr. Baltar, challenges Roslin for the presidency. After the Agathon's child is born, Roslin, fearing both for the child's safety and its significance to the Cylon, has the child's death faked ([[Downloaded]]).
*When [[New Caprica]] is found, Baltar uses the discovery to wedge the election to his favor. Roslin gives Foster tacit approval to rig the election; Foster, with the aide of Tigh and Dualla replace one ship's ballot box en route to the counting room, but the fraud is subsequently discovered by Lieutenant Gaeta. In a reversal of their earlier roles, Admiral Adama confronts Roslin about her actions, admitting the he doesn't like Baltar either, but adamant that they would be criminals if they stole the election, justified or not. Roslin listens to her friend, but remains convinced that it is the wrong choice and that they just give up. After the correct results are revealed, President Baltar first order is to begin the colonization of New Caprica.

=== New Caprica ===

*Early in the colonization, Roslin finds time to relax on New Caprica. She meets with Admiral Adama, who also takes in some time to unwind. The two friends comfortably chat about matters small and not-so-small over [[New Caprican leaf|smoking]] and drinking, and later gaze at the stars together, allowing themselves to relax, lying outside, close to each other. Roslin worries that, amidst their temporary comfort, the Cylons could return, but it is nice to have what they have for the time being ([[Unfinished Business]]).
[[Image:2BATgyC05.jpg|Roslin as a teacher on New Caprica.|thumb]]
*A year passes on New Caprica, and Baltar's administration becomes the disaster that Roslin feared. Roslin returned to teaching, running the new settlement's school. Assisted by [[Maya]], who brings her infant adopted daughter [[Hera Agathon|Isis]] (the secreted Cylon hybrid), Roslin is more comfortable watching over the pair personally.
*On the 380th day after settling on the planet, the Cylons discover the colony, as Roslin had warned, and occupy the settlement.
*On the 134th day of the Cylon occupation of New Caprica Roslin sits writing in her journal. Coincidentally, that day falls on Mars Day, named after the Colonial God of War. She notes that the New Capricans have not had contact with Galactica for four months but she refuses to believe that Admiral William Adama would abandon them. She writes that the insurgency is striking whenever and wherever possible, believing them critical to morale despite the futility of the gestures at times. She notes that for the insurgency to have a "more meaningful impact", they need to strike a high profile target, since killing the Cylons is nearly impossible. Roslin then speaks of the Cylon Occupation Authority's continued exertion of complete control over New Caprica City and are at their complete mercy. She notes that the government under President Gaius Baltar functions in name only. Roslin writes of the New Caprica Police and finds the prospect of humans misguided into believing that they're taking the role of policing New Caprica out Cylon hands nauseating. She notes that the names of the police officers are deeply hidden, but are likely people that "we least expect". Roslin notes that hundreds of people have been rounded up by the Cylons, held in detention, tortured, and even killed or disappeared. Roslin mentions the help of a source within Baltar's administration that has been helping them in recent weeks. They do not know who this person is, but the person is responsible for dropping important documents. The source communicates through the use of a secret signal ([[Occupation]]).
*Later Roslin is detained by the Cylons and is visited in detention by Baltar. In order to appear friendly, he hands her back her glasses but then expresses his outrage and disbelief at the suicide bombings carried out by the resistance. He demands that he and Roslin publicly condemn these actions. Although Roslin initially expresses understanding for the resistance, when Baltar presses her to condone their attacks, she remains silent. Baltar tries to make her understand that order and policing is necessary and denies Roslin's allegations of random searches, arrests and torture. When he leaves, he again emphasizes that the situation has deteriorated to a dangerous level and orders the guard to release Roslin ([[Precipice]]).
*After her release she goes to talk to Colonel Tigh, demanding that he stop with the suicide bombings. When Tigh asks if she works for the Cylons, she slaps him but apologizes quickly. Tigh says that none if it matters anymore, and argues that the attacks aren't any different from sending soldiers on suicide missions. He tells Roslin to stop being naive and moralizing until she is back on Colonial One again, and leaves.
*The New Caprica Police storm through the city and arrest more people, including Laura Roslin. The prisoners are put on trucks, where Roslin meets Tom Zarek, who has spent the last four months in detention. He quips that he wishes she had gotten away with stealing the election ([[Precipice]]).
*On the [[Pergamus Flats]] Roslin and the other detainees are lined up and are prepared for execution, but before they can be killed a team of resistance fighters takes out the Centurions meant to execute the detainees and frees them. Tyrol reveals to Roslin and the others that Galactica is on its way. Roslin smiles and looks up to the sky with happiness ([[Exodus, Part I]]).
*In the resistance headquarters Laura Roslin orders Anders to guard Maya and Hera at all costs that Hera, "may well be the shape of things to come". He tasks two of his best men to protect her and see to her safe escape ([[Exodus, Part I]]).
*Gunnery Sergeant Erin Mathias, the leader of Sharon Agathon's Marines meets with Roslin, Tom Zarek and the resistance to discuss the rescue plan. She brings weapons for the upcoming fight and learns that the colonists conducted evacuation exercises under the guise of fire drills.
*Col. Tigh's resistance militia appears to consider themselves to be under the authority of Roslin, who acts as a government in exile/waiting with Foster as her deputy. [[Tom Zarek]], legally the Vice President and Baltar's successor, is consulted on some military plans.
*Later, during the [[Battle of New Caprica]], Zarek and Roslin escape together but she states that she will evacuate aboard ''her'' ship, ''Colonial One''. Zarek notes the important symbolism and gives a sidearm to [[James Lyman|Jammer]], directing him to protect Roslin ([[Exodus, Part II]]). Once the fleet is safely reassembled, a de facto President Roslin, Foster, and civil servants begin clearing the trappings of the Baltar/Cylon administration from ''Colonial One'' while assembling a census and calculating their losses. It is at this time that Foster confirms that she failed to ensure the evacuation of Maya and Hera, and offers her apologies and resignation to Roslin who reassures Foster and takes something of a fatalistic view of their loss of Hera ([[Exodus, Part II]]).

=== Roslin's Second Administration ===

*Roslin allows President [[Tom Zarek]] to assumes his office temporarily. In order to protect Roslin from having to deal with months of public trials which could destroy the unity of the Fleet through public "witch hunts", Zarek quickly establishes the [[Circle]], a secret tribunal to investigate, charge, adjudicate, and execute collaborators and traitors. Zarek and Roslin agree to a "musical chairs" process to constitutionally restore her to the presidency. 1: with Baltar having either died or abandoned his office, Zarek has ascended from vice president to president; 2: Zarek appoints Roslin to fill the vacant office of vice president; 3: Zarek promptly resigns the presidency and Roslin assumes the office; 5: Roslin then re-appoints Zarek to his former vice presidency and privately thanks him for his service and loyalty. With a token number of suspected collaborators having conspicuously disappeared, the newly inaugurated Roslin is able to secretly dissolve the Circle and publicly issue a general pardon for all but Baltar ([[Collaborators]]).
*Roslin's relationship with Adama and the Agathons is strained when Adama discovers that Roslin hid the Cylon baby, [[Hera Agathon]], without his knowledge ([[The Eye of Jupiter]]).
*Baltar's capture from his time with the Cylons leads Roslin to first interrogate him, then put him to trial, which places new stresses on the President.
*During Baltar's trial, Lee Adama confronts Roslin on his suspicion that she is taking [[chamalla]] again. Although Roslin silently pleads with him to not go that route, Adama persists and forces her to publicly reveal that her cancer has returned. Disappointed in him, she recalls a time when they were friends and she called him "Captain Apollo."
*She has a vision in the [[Opera House]] on [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]] where she and an image of [[Sharon Agathon]] pursue [[Hera Agathon]], but Hera is picked up by a [[Number Six]]. A later vision reveals that Sharon Agathon shares her vision. After conferring with each other, they both visit [[Caprica-Six]], who disbelievingly confirms that she, too, experienced the vision. When the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] arrives at the [[Ionian nebula]], Roslin nearly faints, possibly having another vision ([[Crossroads, Part II]]).
*After [[Kara Thrace]]'s mysterious return, Roslin deeply distrusts Thrace, although she claims to know the way the Earth and feels an instinctive need to go there. When Roslin and Adama don't comply with Thrace pleadings, Thrace confronts the president at gunpoint ([[He That Believeth In Me]]). Thrace hands Roslin her pistol and tells her to shoot if she believes that Thrace is a Cylon. Roslin pulls the trigger, but misses, and Thrace is subdued by Marines ([[Six of One]]).
*Roslin still holds a grudge against Baltar and tries to curtail Baltar's freedoms when his new-founded [[Cult of Baltar|cult]] has violent confrontations with followers of other beliefs. Ostensibly trying to protect his followers and keep peace in the Fleet, she passes an emergency measure to severely restrict their right of assembly. Although she pleads to the Quorum to think of what Baltar did on New Caprica and what he might do with followers blindly devoted to him, the Quorum vetoes her ([[Escape Velocity]]).
*Roslin is currently on [[diloxin]] therapy, which has caused her to lose her hair and forces her to wear a wig. Throughout her treatment, William Adama comforts her at her bedside and offers her the use of his quarters when she wants ([[Faith]]).
* When a rebel Cylon faction proposes an alliance with the Colonials, Roslin goes along with it to get a chance to destroy the Cylon [[Resurrection Hub]], but doesn't want to uphold her side of bargain until they find Earth. Shortly after, she visits the [[Hybrid]] on the rebel basestar, but when it is awakened it unexpectedly jumps the ship away ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]).
*Every time the basestar jumps, she has a vision of herself in an empty corridor on ''Galactica'' where she is joined by the spirit of her old friend [[Elosha]], who takes her to sickbay to show her her own death. Elosha explains that Roslin has cut herself off from the ability to love people and shows her how Admiral Adama loves her. On the basestar, a badly injured Baltar confesses to her his part in the attack on the Colonies and she decides to leave him to bleed to death, but Elosha convinces her to help him.
*She orders Karl Agathon to take [[Number Three]] to her once she is retrieved. After the battle, the Three jokingly tells her that she is one of the Final Five, but refuses to tell anyone the truth until she is sure that she is safe. Roslin also attempts to get answers from the Hybrid but the Hybrid appears to never say anything helpful, except to inform them of the fact that that Three has already been unboxed, and the reason she jumped away from the Fleet. After the ship returns to the rendezvous coordinates, she greets Admiral Adama who waited for her in a Raptor and finally admits that she loves him ([[The Hub]]).

=== Revelations of the Final Five ===

*In the basestar control room, Roslin, William Adama, D'Anna Biers and Leoben discuss the plans to return the Final Five. Biers reveals that there are only four in the Fleet and refuses to provide answers when Roslin questions her about the fifth's location. Roslin knows that the Colonials need them, for they know the way to Earth. Frustrated, Biers citing the failure of co-operation on New Caprica, announces that she will hold the Colonials on the ship hostage until the Final Four are returned to them. When a standoff between the Colonials and the Centurions breaks out, Roslin tells Adama and the pilots to stand down. Biers tells Adama to accompany her to Galactica on a Raptor but Adama refuses until Roslin insists on him going. Before he leaves, Roslin embraces Adama and whispers in his ear that if the Cylons get the four, they get Earth, and he can't allow that to happen, even if he has to destroy the basestar with them aboard. Adama leaves and Roslin returns to Baltar ([[Revelations]]).
*Roslin rebandages Gaius Baltar's wounds, who is alive thanks to Roslin's change of heart. Roslin reveals that she told Adama to destroy the basestar if the Cylons get the final four. Foster walks in with a Six and hands Roslin her medication. Roslin thanks Foster and asks how she was able to do so. Foster's response is that she came with Biers to be with her people. It is then that Roslin realizes she was one of the Final Five. When asked if she had any idea, Roslin says no, and Foster tells her it might be worth pondering about other things she has been wrong about, then turns and leaves. Roslin interrupts her departure to ask her to convince Biers to release the hostages. Foster coldly replies that she's done taking orders from her.
*As things heat up, Roslin and Baltar hear the hostages and Centurions outside the room, as a Number Two walks in and tells them that Biers is about to start executing more hostages. When Roslin requests that she be taken to Biers, Baltar insists that he be taken instead for he was with her in the Temple of Five. In her visions Roslin remebers seeing him in the Opera House and she agrees with him.
*After the location of Earth is discovered and the Final Five are granted amnesty with Biers agreeing to release the hostages, Lee is discussing the location of Earth with his discouraged father. Roslin walks in and sitting next to him says she wants to see him pick up the first fistful of earth. He walks away saying that he'll be back. Lee Adama talks to Roslin about stepping down, and she praises him on resolving the crisis. Roslin says that the Fleet will need that kind of leadership in the years to come ([[Revelations]]).
*In the CIC Adama, asks Roslin to give the final order to take them to Earth. An excited, happy and teary eyed Roslin smiles and gives Adama the order to jump to Earth. With that the fleet spools up and jumps.
*On surface of Earth in the debris of a once great city, Roslin stands with Adama as he lifts up a handful of soil. A crew member next to them scans the soil with a Geiger counter. The soil is irradiated. Laura Roslin stands next to Adama, visably devastated. ([[Revelations]]).

=== Earth and a search for a new home ===

*Both the humans and [[Cylons]] wander the surface of [[Earth]], all indications point to a major nuclear disaster across the planet. Laura Roslin crouches down in the sand and picks up a short plant, what seems to be the only visible life found in the destruction. Teams around the planet have reported no responses to hails and that the entire planet looks much like the beach they are on now. Roslin quips, "It's perfect. We traded one nuked civilization for another." ([[Sometimes a Great Notion]]).
*As the door to Adama and Roslin's [[Raptor]] opens, assembled around them is a huge crowd on the hangar deck anxious for answers. But Roslin can only shake her head in disbelief and her profound disappointment. Her dreams for humanity dashed, she turns and manages to weakly mutter to [[Adama]], "Get me out of here." The crowd rushes Roslin and Adama, while Lee and the Marines try to hold back the surging crowds, Lee screaming over the crowds protests, shouts out that answers will be revealed in due time ([[Sometimes a Great Notion]]).
*With their tests complete, both the teams of humans and Cylons meet aboard Galactica in Baltar's lab to discuss the findings of the [[Centurion]] helmet and humans remains buried on the surface. [[Caprica-Six]] confirms that other Centurion helmets were found as well as 250 skeletons from four sites around the planet. A Number Eight confirms that, while the Centurion design is similar, they have never seen this design before, and that it is not one of theirs. A shocked Roslin realizes that the Thirteenth Tribe created their own Cylons much like they had on the [[Twelve Colonies of Kobol]]. [[Lee Adama]] completes her thoughts; that like the Colonies these Cylons also rebelled against their masters. Baltar adds that they tested the skeletons as well, and the astonishing conclusion is that the every one of the skeletons themselves are also a form of humanoid Cylons. Caprica-Six confirms that their tests show the same conclusion. The Thirteenth Tribe were Cylons. Roslin leaves the meeting visibly shaken, but Lee Adama stops her to ask what she will tell the Quorum. Weak and dishearten, Roslin has nothing to say at all ([[Sometimes a Great Notion]]).
*In Adama's quarters, Laura Roslin sits on the floor emotionally upset. She is setting fire to one of the pages of the Pythian Prophecy in the scared scrolls. Turning each successive page to light and burn the next, one by one. Adama arrives to ask Roslin to help figure out a way to shore up the Fleet's quickly sagging morale. She is passive and unresponsive, and Adama wishing to get closer to a obviously shaken Roslin kneels down beside her and continues. He tells her that she has missed her doloxan treatment, but Roslin's response is that she didn't feel like it and will not reschedule. Asking if she is willing to just lay down and quit, She laments to Adama that he took her advice and now there are so many men and women who have died for what appears to be a fruitless series of visions ([[Sometimes a Great Notion]]).
*Roslin pretty much abandons her Presidency and decides to live as a normal person, also giving up her diloxin treatments. She also starts a relationship with Willam Adama, kissing him in a corridor, sleeping with him and later kissing him again and reacting badly to his supposed demise.
*When Tom Zarek and Felix Gaeta start their coup, she is in the Admiral's quaters and decides to hed to Baltar's commune to make a wireless transmission about the mutiny to rally support to her and Adama. She makes a short broadcast before being jammed, then heads with Baltar to the Secondary Storage Airlock in order to get off the ship to saftey. There she kisses Adama goodbye, knowing he's going to stay behind to cover their escape and attempt to retake the ship, then leaves in a Cylon Raptor for the baseship. Narcho and Hotdog are ordered to shoot her down, but when she identifies herself before being jammed again, Hotdog hesitates and it allows her to escape to the baseship safely. There she keeps attempting to send another wireless message to the fleet over the Raptor's radio, but is blocked by ''Galactica's'' jamming. While the other Cylons discuss options, Roslin, with the help of a Number Two, succesfully penetrates ''Galactica's'' jamming and tells about the mutiny and orders the fleet to shut off their FTL drives before ''Galactica'' finally manages to jam her again. Ten ships obey, but the Cylons decide to jump away. Roslin gives a speech to them and convinces them to stay and help put down the mutiny. Roslin, taking command, contacts ''Galactica'' and orders the mutiny to end and Gaeta and Zarek to surrender. Zarek tells her that Tigh died trying to escape and Adama was tried, convicted and executed and calls for her surrender, but he strengthens her resolve and she promises to come after him with everything she has at her disposal and has the baseship's weapons turned on ''Galactica''. After ''Galactica'' fails to jump away (Galen Tyrol disabled the FTL drive) it initaly looks like it will turn into a shooting war between the two ships, but Gaeta orders a weapons hold. Before anything further can happen, Adama regains control of ''Galactica'' and calls a relieved Roslin to tell her and the Cylons to stand down. Roslin returns to ''Galactica'' and tearfully embraces Adama.

==Notes==

*The character of Laura Roslin is unique to the ''Battlestar Galactica'' saga. She has no counterpart to the [[Original Series]], where its version of President [[Adar (TOS)|Adar]] is killed and a presidential replacement is never made. Roslin assumes more of the political-spiritual leadership of the [[Adama (TOS)|Original Series' Commander Adama]], whereas [[William Adama]] is representative of the Original Series' character's military commander aspect.

*Roslin's apparent cure in "[[Epiphanies]]" contradicts the "dying leader" clause of the [[Pythia|Pythian Prophecy]], despite the fulfillment of her role in the [[Tomb of Athena]] story arc. However, in "[[Crossroads, Part I]]", she reveals that her cancer has returned.

*Actress Mary McDonnell is perhaps best known for her role in the epic film, ''Dances with Wolves'', with Kevin Costner. Another famous role of hers was the First Lady in ''[[w:Independence Day (film)|Independence Day]]'', a film which (in a less serious tone than ''Battlestar'') depicts cocky human fighter pilots battling an genocidal enemy from outer space.

*In [[SDS|the Singer/DeSanto continuation]] of the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|the Original Series]], a female president named [[Mara]] would visit ''Galactica'' in much the same way that Laura Roslin did as part of that ''Galactica'''s decommissioning ceremony.

*The glasses that the character wears are also McDonnell's real glasses.<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/video/index.php?cat=features&vid=37452|title=Mary McDonnell Q & A, Part 1|date=2006-10-13|accessdate=2006-10-14|last=|first=|format=VID|language=English}}</ref>

*President Roslin's appointment as Colonial president parallels US President [[w:Gerald Ford|Gerald R. Ford]], who became US Vice President and later President through appointment and succession respectively, not by election.

*The name Laura Roslin may be a combination of the first names of the incumbent US First Ladies at the time of both the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined]] and the Original Series: [[w:Laura Bush|Laura Bush]] (nèe Laura Lane Welch) and [[w:Rosalynn Carter|Rosalynn Carter]] (nèe Eleanor Rosalynn Smith).

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

{{start box}}
{{succession box|before=[[Richard Adar]]|title=[[Government|President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol]]|after=[[Gaius Baltar]]}}
{{succession box|before=[[Tom Zarek]]|title=[[Government|Vice President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol]]|after=[[Tom Zarek]]}}
{{succession box|before=[[Tom Zarek]]|title=[[Government|President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol]]|after=''Incumbent''}}
{{end box}}

{{Characters}}

{{featured article candidate previous}}

[[Category:A to Z|Roslin, Laura]]
[[Category:Characters|Roslin, Laura]]
[[Category:Characters (RDM)|Roslin, Laura]]
[[Category:Main Characters (RDM)|Roslin, Laura]]
[[Category:People from Caprica|Roslin, Laura]]
[[Category:RDM|Roslin, Laura]]

[[de:Laura Roslin]]
[[fr:Laura Roslin]]
[[zh:劳拉·罗斯林]]