Battlestar Wiki - User contributions [en]

Talk:Faith/Archive 1

2008-05-11T00:17:03Z

INH: /* Gas Giant */ new section

== Writer and director source ==
The infobox says Michael Nankin has directed "Faith", and that Seamus Kevin Fahey has written it. What's our source for this? Also note that Edward James Olmos [http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-2003---interviews/edward-james-olmos-galactica.tv-interview.html has said] he'd direct "episode six". Of course he could also be counting "Razor" as an episode and mean Into the West, or there could've been a change of plans... --[[User:Catrope|Catrope]]<sup>([[User talk:Catrope|Talk to me]] or [[Special:Emailuser/Catrope|e-mail me]])</sup> 13:01, 17 November 2007 (CST)
:Obviously the article where the story information comes from (footnote 2): http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2007/09/battlestar-ga-1.html --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 13:08, 17 November 2007 (CST)

== ¡Very intense! ==

This is at least one of the top 5 episode in the series. Unfortunately, this is not an Encyclopædic observation. One of us shall figure out how to summarize it properly.

== Name spelling ==

We need to determine Emily Kowalski's proper spelling. I believe I have it right in the initial ep summary; the other spelling is grammatically off. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 14:35, 10 May 2008 (UTC)
: Just checked the credits on Hulu. It's "Kowalski". The other spelling came from a certain [http://www.imdb.com septic system]. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [[bsp:|Battlestar Pegasus]]</sup> 22:37, 10 May 2008 (UTC)

== Location-based summary? ==

I think a location-based summary (i.e. "On ''Demetrius''", "On a baseship" and "On ''Galactica''") makes more sense than an act-based summary for this episode. --[[User:Catrope|Catrope]]<sup>([[User talk:Catrope|Talk to me]] or [[Special:Emailuser/Catrope|e-mail me]])</sup> 14:51, 10 May 2008 (UTC)

== Gas Giant ==

I don't recall seeing any rings around the gas giant, and last episode Starbuck painted a very different gas giant with visible rings. We know what the comet is, but it looks like her "giant gas planet with rings" is still up for grabs. [[User:INH|INH]] 00:17, 11 May 2008 (UTC)

Messengers

2008-04-28T02:25:36Z

INH:

[[image:Tigh_Me_Up_Tigh_Me_Down-Baltar_Six.jpg|thumb|The virtual Six and Gaius Baltar in his lab aboard ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''.]]

'''Virtual beings'''<ref>{{bsgwiki term}}</ref> denote the curious virtual images seen by [[Gaius Baltar]] and [[Caprica-Six]].

The Season 3 episode "[[Torn]]" establishes the [[humanoid Cylon]] visualization process known as [[projection]]. In the [[Miniseries]] and Season 1, before the term "projection" was introduced, the character of [[Gaius Baltar]] has frequent visions of an image of his Cylon love interest from Caprica, now known as [[Caprica-Six]].

After her [[Resurrection (RDM)|resurrection]] from the Caprica mission, Caprica-Six herself is haunted by a virtual image of Gaius Baltar.

Neither character has revealed the presence of these images to each other or any other character as of the episode "[[The Woman King]]" (where the virtual Baltar makes an appearance).

The personality of each image is often represented in the clothing that they wear. Virtual Six often appears in a revealing red dress, and the virtual Baltar appears in a pinstriped suit, apparently custom-tailored ([[Miniseries]], "[[Downloaded]]").

Each personality is not a copy of the original character's personality, but generally behaves as a militant version of the original. The Virtual Six espouses Cylon philosophy and [[Cylon Religion|religion]] in a zealous, unwavering manner. Likewise, the virtual Baltar often criticizes Caprica-Six when she attempts to rationalize the destruction of the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]] or other Cylon motivations. Both personalities tend to sway its actual opposite to side with their philosophy: For virtual Baltar, the need to become more human (and, like the actual Baltar himself, selfish); for virtual Six, worship of the Cylon [[God (RDM)|God]] and distancing Baltar from any opportunity to give support to the Colonial causes.

The purpose and origins of the visions experienced by Baltar and Caprica-Six have not been disclosed in aired episodes.

==Baltar's Virtual Six==
Baltar's virtual Six first appears as he escapes the destroyed world of [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] on [[Sharon Valerii]]'s [[Raptor]] ([[Miniseries, Night 1]]).

[[Image:brainscan.jpg|left|thumb|Baltar receives his brain scan from Dr. [[Cottle]], as his virtual Six looks on in amusement.]]
Baltar initially believes that the virtual Six is a hallucination in its first few weeks of appearances, but later believes the virtual Six's initial suggestion that she is generated from a Cylon cybernetic implant. He disproves this notion when Doctor [[Cottle]] gives him a brain scan ([[Downloaded]]).

Baltar's virtual Six is aware of events, people and places that Baltar does not appear to know consciously. She tells him of a [[Cylon transponder]] hidden in ''Galactica's'' [[CIC]], and appears to aid him in his conversion from Colonial polytheism to Cylon monotheism through guiding him in how to destroy a Cylon [[tylium]] refinery ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]). The source for virtual Six's data is unclear.

[[image:KobolHallu.jpg|right|thumb|Virtual Six and Baltar on Kobol.]]
Baltar's visions of Six not only have the Cylon appearing with him on ''[[Galactica]]'', but the two also envision themselves in Baltar's now-destroyed home, on the beach, and other locales. The virtual Six projection seems to be able to force Baltar to see additional items in his environment, such as the human skulls on [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]] as well as visions of the interior of the ancient [[Opera House]] and an image of what virtual Six believes to be a Cylon-human hybrid child. When an [[Hera Agathon|actual child]] does appear in the Fleet, the virtual Six claims it is her vision fulfilled ([[Downloaded]]).

Over time, Baltar is seen by some characters speaking to himself, which is often the case when he is speaking to Virtual Six. In several instances, the virtual Six appears to Baltar to be a physical entity, grabbing him by his clothes or body, or assisting him with objects ("[[Six Degrees of Separation]]", "[[Taking A Break From All Your Worries]]"). She has even demonstrated an ability to physically interact with Baltar. On one occasion, she pushed him into a bulkhead and grabbed him by the throat. In another example, she lifted him into a standing position after he was beaten by a Galactica marine ([[Escape Velocity]]). In both cases, this provoked reactions from other people.

The virtual Six has been present when Caprica-Six is near only twice. She is also conspicuously absent during [[Shelly Godfrey]]'s tenure on ''Galactica'' ([[Six Degrees of Separation]]). The virtual Six seems to, for the most part, vanish during the period when Caprica-Six and Baltar renew their relationship on New Caprica. When Baltar is aboard a Cylon basestar, Caprica-Six explains the projection process to him while the virtual Six hints that this process is very similar to how she and Baltar communicate and that Baltar may himself be a Cylon ([[Torn]]). Virtual Six also appears to Baltar, when he discovers Hera under Maya's dead body and disappears when the real Number Six comes near Baltar and the baby ([[Exodus, Part II]]).

Virtual Six has a [[Music of Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|musical theme]], a simple 9-note motif with a staccato xylophone and some violins, which plays behind almost all her appearances. This theme also plays without Six present in "[[Rapture]]" after [[D'Anna Biers]] collapses in Baltar's arms after her vision of the [[Final Five]], until Baltar is clubbed by [[Galen Tyrol]].

From the end of Season 2 on, the virtual Six claims more often to be an angel from [[God (RDM)|God]].

==Caprica-Six's Virtual Baltar==
[[image:LBlt.jpg|thumb|left|Turnabout is fair play: Caprica-Six, the virtual Baltar and an actual [[Number Three]]]]

When a ''virtual Gaius Baltar'' appears to Caprica-Six in "Downloaded", the notion that the actual Gaius Baltar was part of a Cylon plan to manipulate him via the virtual Six is revealed to be highly unlikely, as other Cylons are unaware of him and do not mention the plan or its effects to Caprica-Six.

The virtual Baltar's appearance and demeanor is just as much an extreme opposite of the actual Baltar as the virtual Six's behavior is to Caprica-Six.

At her resurrection, the virtual Baltar immediately tells Caprica-Six that only she can see and hear him, and not to reveal what she sees to the other Cylons present. The virtual Baltar is never asked by Caprica-Six about his origins.

The virtual Baltar confronts Caprica-Six with her guilt in the slaughter of billions of human beings, and with the logical error behind the Cylons' actions. Under the influence of the virtual Baltar, Caprica-Six speaks out against the war alongside another resurrected "[[hero of the Cylon]]", [[Sharon Valerii]]. The two forge a new [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II|quasi-benevolent path]], [[Exodus, Part II|albeit temporarily]], for the Cylon race.

The revelation in "[[Torn]]" about the Cylons' projecting abilities suggests that the virtual Baltar is generated by Caprica-Six's own projection ability. Since the actual Baltar is not confirmed as a Cylon, the origins of his virtual Six are questioned by Dr. Baltar himself during the revelation of the principles of projection.

The virtual Baltar appears irregularly in seasons 2 and 3. In "[[The Woman King]]", Caprica-Six is observed by [[Laura Roslin]] and [[Tory Foster]] as Caprica-Six speaks and kisses the virtual Baltar, who is, of course, invisible to Roslin and Foster.

While Baltar's virtual Six claims to be an angel sent from God, Six's virtual Baltar seems to be contemptuous of the Cylons' concept of God ([[Downloaded]]). He is also described by [[Ronald D. Moore|Ron Moore]] as more of a "devil" figure in Six's consciousness<ref>{{cite_rdm_podcast|episode=Downloaded|act=Three|id=|timestamp=|totalrunning=}}</ref>.

While the virtual Baltar acts mostly as a conversational foil for Six, in "[[Crossroads, Part I]]" he informs her that [[Saul Tigh]] has suffered the loss of a woman close to him, to assist Six in dealing with the interrogation by Tigh. It is uncertain how he or she obtained this information.

== Gaius Baltar's Virtual Baltar ==

After his ascension to [[Cult of Baltar|cult]] leader, Gaius Baltar encounters a well-dressed virtual version of himself after he meets [[Tory Foster]]. Baltar is initially shocked by his sudden appearance but eventually becomes bemused by the idea of having himself as a conversational foil for once instead of Six. This virtual Baltar encourages him to engage in a relationship with Foster, claiming that she is "special," and guides him, after a fashion, through her covert interrogation attempt. This virtual Baltar does not elaborate on that point, but Baltar follows the virtual version's lead ([[Six of One]]).

It is unknown whether or not this virtual Baltar is the same one that Caprica-Six sees. Baltar asks if he is the virtual Six in another form, but the virtual Baltar points out that she would have little reason to disguise herself from Baltar.

== Saul Tigh's Virtual Ellen ==

When [[Saul Tigh]] visits [[Caprica Six]] in the [[brig]], to inform her her request to see [[Hera Agathon]] has been denied, he begins to see his dead [[Ellen Tigh|wife]] in her place. The woman he sees still has the clothes and hair of Number Six, but the face and body of Ellen Tigh. She speaks the same words as Six, but in Ellen's voice.

After seeing her, Tigh continues to return to the cell where Caprica Six is held. Wanting to find out how Cylons deal with pain, Tigh questions Six to learn that the Cylons have modeled their brains around the human brain and have found a "human" way to shut off pain; during this conversation, the "Virtual Ellen" appears and removes his eye patch in an act of tenderness, which Tigh rebukes ([[Escape Velocity]]).

However, it is yet unknown if she is a virtual being akin to Six and Baltar, or a merely an hallucination by Tigh that he superimposes onto Caprica Six.

==Notes==
*The [[virtual Leoben|virtual "Leoben"]] that appears to [[Kara Thrace]] in the episode "[[Maelstrom]]" only appears to her in a vision while the pilot is unconscious. Since this virtual Leoben does not fit the Baltar-Six analogue, Battlestar Wiki considers him separately to the above.

*The returned Kara Thrace, who appears to [[Lee Adama]] at the conclusion of "[[Crossroads, Part II]]", is also ''not'' a virtual being.<ref name="ign-sackhoff">{{cite_web|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/797/797776p1.html|title=Katee Sackhoff Talks Battlestar and Bionic Woman|date=19 June 2007|accessdate=21 June 2007|last=Goldman|first=Eric|format=|language=}}</ref>

*[[William Adama]] sees and converses with his [[Carolanne Adama|deceased ex-wife]] each year on their anniversary as demonstrated in "[[A Day in the Life]]". While the episode where this occurs shows William and Carolanne together in places and settings (ostensibly at their home on [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]]), this is a dramatic representation of Adamal's ordinary imagination of what Carolanne may have thought about his predicament. As such, the visualizations of Carolanne Adama are ''not'' a virtual being similar to those above.

*In the fifth [[Razor Flashbacks|Razor Flashback]], while exploring the lab, Adama has a hallucination of a hand reaching out to grab him from a device similar to a [[resurrection tank|resurrection]] or [[Hybrid]] tank. However this could be a stress-induced hallucination. The same may be the case for the screaming prisoners in the lab, which could also be explained as a visualization for the audience. However, the voice Adama hears of the [[First Hybrid]] is the real voice, so this part at least is not a hallucination.

== Official Statements ==
*When asked by a fan at a convention about the differences between this Baltar and the real Baltar, actor [[James Callis]] described Six’s Baltar as a man who “finally has his shit together.”<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNZZHl0Ls5U&mode=related&search=|title=James Callis (Gaius Baltar) Q&A FanExpo 2k6 - Part 3|date=September 04, 2006|accessdate=January 24, 2007|last=|first=|format=YouTube video|language=English}}</ref>. ('''Warning''': Video contains some explicit language)

* Callis mentioned at the same convention that his personal theory is that Baltar's internal Six is a being from another universe or higher plane of existence who only Baltar can interact with. This may relate back to the "angel" theory <ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNZZHl0Ls5U&mode=related&search=|title=James Callis (Gaius Baltar) Q&A FanExpo 2k6 - Part 3|date=September 04, 2006|accessdate=January 24, 2007|last=|first=|format=YouTube video|language=English}}</ref>. ('''Warning''': Video contains some explicit language)

* Actress [[Tricia Helfer]] has said that she has long since given up on trying to figure out just what Baltar's internal Six is. <ref>{{cite_web|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/756/756477p1.html|title=IGN Interview: Battlestar Galactica's Tricia Helfer|date=January 18, 2007|accessdate=January 24, 2007|last=|first=|format=|language=English}}</ref> She believes Caprica-Six and Baltar both having internal counterparts is related to the scene from the [[Miniseries]] where she saves Baltar from the shock wave of the nuclear bomb that destroyed [[Caprica City]].

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

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Cylons]]
[[Category:Cylons (RDM)]]
[[Category:Descriptive terms]]
[[Category:RDM]]
{{featured article candidate previous}}

Talk:Messengers/Archive 1

2008-04-28T02:19:24Z

INH:

:''For discussions prior to March 14, 2007, [http://en.battlestarwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Virtual_beings&oldid=110913 see this revision.]''

== Major revision ==

This article was strewn with theories and [[BW:FANW|fanwankery]] that cluttered the article. With the revelations of season 3, what is known about the nature of the virtual Six and Baltar reduces the probability of earlier speculation. Recent contributions have been more of possibility that is hardly supported by aired content, and reading the article as a whole was nearly impossible. As well, the article repeated informaation already present in the episode guides or a more relevant article. I have rewritten the article to keep sole focus on the origins, motivations and behavior of the virtual beings, removing all previous irrelevant, incorrect or otherwise inappropriate content on their nature or history.

As this article deals with the virtual beings related to Cylon activity, I eliminated the text on other character visions; they are more suited for a separate article to keep topics from blending.

With major revisions like this, there is always a possibility that something significant was lost. Contributors should feel free to add in significant notes of the virtual beings, but please do not repeat every instance of the being's presence or interject speculation that is not supported with episode content. The article, in my opinion and recommendation, should focus more on what they do to the actual characters and less on their nature until the show reveals more of their origin. Again, please be careful about excessive speculation; "theories" per se are not acceptable on Battlestar Wiki. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 15:34, 14 March 2007 (CDT)

== Virtual Baltar Episodes ==

In the major edit, I botched the episode citation for virtual Baltar's visit to C-Six in her jail cell. One or both of the episode citations I noted are wrong. Corrections to this information are appreciated. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 15:54, 14 March 2007 (CDT)
:The visit is in "The Woman King". That's where the two kiss and they wonder what's going on.--[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 16:00, 14 March 2007 (CDT)

About this: "Neither character has revealed the presence of these images to each other or any other character as of the episode, "[[The Woman King]]" (where the virtual Baltar makes an appearance)."<br/>
Does this mean that it is the first instance where another character (here Roslin) really wonders what one of them is doing? --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 16:09, 14 March 2007 (CDT)

:It should say "Neither character has revealed the existence (...)." Other characters have witnessed the strange behavior, but to my memory, only Roslin has verbally wondered. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 17:09, 14 March 2007 (CDT)

== Baltar and his Virtual Baltar ==

Virtual Baltar has appeared to Baltar. -- [[User:LicensedLunacy|LicensedLunacy]] 16:26, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

I think that Baltar seeing himself is just a unique way to convey he is thinking/ talking to himself, considering his options. [[User:Snorkel378|Snorkel378]]

: That might be a good way to look at it... Actually, it might be another part of his psyche he's talking to. It can be said that Virtual Six is the part of his subconscious mind, trying to deal with the fact that he's responsible for so many people's deaths in another light. But that's a topic for discussion at a [http://www.battlestarforum.com forum]. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [[bsp:|Battlestar Pegasus]]</sup> 00:14, 15 April 2008 (UTC)

==Virtual Leoben==
Shouldn't we add virtual Leoben? He's sort of important I'd say, and is not a part of Kara...--[[User:Sauron18|Sauron18]] 16:34, 14 March 2007 (CDT)

:That's a good question. I would say "yes" but that also introduces other dream-related visions such as the ones I removed. I recommend "no" as the article should limit itself to visions that are experienced by characters in real-time and not while unconscious (sleeping or otherwise). That's my opinion and is open for more scrutiny. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 17:09, 14 March 2007 (CDT)
:No. There is a good chance that Head-Six and Head-Baltar are somehow Cylon-related. That chance is not so great with Maelstrom Leoben, since IMHO it's more likely just a representation of her own subconscious and not in any way whatsoever related to the real Leoben (it even says so in the episode). --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 12:04, 15 March 2007 (CDT)
::Maybe we should add at least a note about Maelstrom Leoben and A Day in Life Carolanne, though? 12:37, 15 March 2007 (CDT)
:::I concur with Serenity. The virtuals are definitely a unexpected (and unrevealed) side-effect of Cylon technology, that much is certain. The virtual Leoben ''isn't'' a Cylon, and doesn't appear in real time. He needs a separate article (and deserves it). --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 14:00, 15 March 2007 (CDT)
::::I've created a [[virtual Leoben]] article and updated the relevant pages where he it cited. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 15:00, 15 March 2007 (CDT)
::::I have to disagree that the virtual Six and Baltar are definitely, or even probably, a result of Cylon technology. Their nature is as unknown as the virtual Leoben's. -- [[User:Noneofyourbusiness|Noneofyourbusiness]] 11:37, 1 November 2007 (CDT)

==Cylon Tech==
Isn't this line: "Since the effect appears to occur only between Caprica-Six and Gaius Baltar, it is possible that their visions are an unknown side-effect of Cylon technology," complete specualtion? I think it should be removed, but before doing so, I thought I'd check to make sure there wasn't any concensus I wasn't aware of. If it happened with the other six members of the [[Significant Seven]] (or even a majority of them) I wouldn't have as much of a problem, but as it's only happened with Six and Baltar I think it's out of place. If anything, a more appropriate stateent would be something like it's an unkown side-effect of cylon-human intimacy.--[[User:RUSnooky|RUSnooky]] 21:09, 3 June 2007 (CDT)
:The way you phrase is still speculation, but is more precise to what we know, and would be more appropriate. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]]
::I completely agree, and I'd rather remove it outright, but was trying to be diplomatic. I'm going to remove it completely.--[[User:RUSnooky|RUSnooky]] 10:25, 4 June 2007 (CDT)

== Virtual Ellen? ==

How is she different from Bill's hallucination of [[Carolanne Adama]] in "[[A Day in the Life]]"? [[User:OTW|OTW]] 18:14, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
:Yeah, it could just be a normal hallucination. This might be more, but until it is confirmed, pushing her appearance so clearly into the direction of the virtual beings is POV. I reworded the section to make it more neutral and less certain. The term "Virtual Ellen" shouldn't be used so freely and always in quotation marks. -- [[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 18:18, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
:It depends. I have a feeling we'll see more of her in future episodes. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [[bsp:|Battlestar Pegasus]]</sup> 19:12, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
::Tigh could even be [[projection|projecting]] her onto Caprica Six (seems a bit the wrong way round to me :D) but that doesn't make her a being like V.Six or V.Baltar who are all mystical or whatnot. Ellen's words and actions all seem to be what Caprica said and did anyway, wheras V.Six and V.Baltar are separate entities. [[User:OTW|OTW]] 19:31, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
:::That's definitely a possibility. Maybe doing a "hallucinations" article would suffice... which would be a bit ironic, given that this article itself came from an article on Cylon based hallucinations, if I recall correctly. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [[bsp:|Battlestar Pegasus]]</sup> 19:40, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

==Virtual?==

I think the fact that we've seen direct physical intervention by "Virtual" Six onscreen in [[Escape Velocity]] throws the whole "virtual" concept right out the window. Could explain the sudden disappearance of [[Shelly Godfrey]] and [[Gina]] after their respective acts, as well. One could also infer some serious intervention on the part of "Virtual" Leoben during Starbuck's "death" but that's even further speculation. Anyway, just a thought I felt was worth mentioning. [[User:JubalHarshaw|JubalHarshaw]] 20:01, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
* She only interacted with Baltar. We've seen her push him into a wall or mirror before, so we know that she can force him to move in a certain way. I don't see how that makes her any less "virtual," since she exists in his mind. And Gina didn't suddenly dissapear, she blew herself up. [[User:INH|INH]] 02:17, 28 April 2008 (UTC)

Talk:Messengers/Archive 1

2008-04-28T02:17:53Z

INH:

Talk:Escape Velocity/Archive 1

2008-04-27T13:56:15Z

INH:

{{newsection link}}

== The Lord of Kobol reference ==

During the service by Chief Tyrol he utters the like "...and the Lords of Kobol, as many and as varied as mortal men..."

Could this be taken literally, and suggest some new connection between the Colonials and the Lords of Kobol? It feels like the sort of cryptic clue the writes would drop in.

12 Colonies, 12 Cylon models, and perhaps 12 Gods? {{unsigned|DarthS}}
:The bajillionth time, nobody has ever said there are only 12 Lords of Kobol. There are 12 Olympians in greek mythology, but that doesn't even include some of the most prominent deities, such as Poseidon or Hades. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 21:20, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
::Poseidon is one of them, but not Hades, who belongs to a group of deities and figures associated with the underworld. But the Greeks did not just worship the Olympians. The Colonials don't have to either, in regards to the Lords of Kobol. But yeah, there is a general consensus of who the Olympians are, but that changed with time and region. Different cities and regions sometimes worshiped different gods -- [[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 21:31, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

== Analysis re. Adama's book reading ==

I noticed there was a comment on the Analysis section about Adama reciting the passage, even though he said they were to the part he hadn't read before. Actually, he states that they are ''getting'' to the part he hasn't passed before, so they hadn't actually reached it yet, so if anything, these would be the parts he would remember the most, since it would be where he always stops after.

If anything, it seems like some double-symbolism could be read in to the fact that he would always stop reading after that particular passage...

(I don't know how to edit the page itself, or even if it's appropriate to, hence why I wanted to comment here instead).

[[User:MathewBurrack|MathewBurrack]] 19:21, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

:Yeah, that's how I saw it too. He doesn't say that he hasn't read that particular bit yet. As for editing the page, just click on "edit" at the top, next to "discussion" which you presumably used to get here. And don't be afraid of making changes, as they can be easily undone if something goes wrong. Though it's a good idea to discuss potentially contentious issues and big changes first, this a relatively minor thing. -- [[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 21:02, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

== [[Virtual Six]] ==
Before posting analysis or question, did Virtual Six finally exhibited an actual physical manifestation when standing up Baltar in front of the guard? In the past, her effects could be explained away. Thoughts, opinions?-- [[User:Gougef|FrankieG]] 20:46, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
:It seems the most extreme so far, but we've seen apparently physical interaction between her and Baltar before. She has pushed him into mirrors or walls for example. Though his contortions are hard to pull of alone, it might not be impossible. They had to film it somehow and I guess Callis did it alone. -- [[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 20:55, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
::His feet actually came off the ground at one point while his body was still limp. I think he was being pulled up by wires. -- [[User:David cgc|David cgc]] 05:22, 27 April 2008 (UTC)
:::Huh? They never showed his feet, so there's no way of telling that. I think there would have been gasps of astonishment from everyone if he was actually levitating instead of just standing and walking funny. It's certainly possible to move like that by yourself, I've tried. Really, I don't see what the big deal about this is. This isn't any different from Six shoving him into a wall or even grabbing his tie. If you need an idea for how an "imaginary friend" could do this kind of thing, check out the parking garage fight in Fight Club, where Tyler drags the narrator around, throws him down stairs, etc. [[User:INH|INH]] 13:45, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

== Uncredited actors ==
At least two actors with speaking parts are uncredited. One is the leader of Sons of Eris (although he does look a bit similar to the [[Unnamed Galactica and Pegasus crew (RDM)#Marine guard|Marine guard]] to me - can anyone confirm or deny?) and "Mr. Officious" (nicknamed so by Baltar), the guy who investigates the scene of the assault. [[User:Ausir|Ausir]] 22:19, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
: You mean the [[Sons of Ares]] right? -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [[bsp:|Battlestar Pegasus]]</sup> 22:59, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
::Sure, too much [[wikipedia:Principia Discordia|Principia Discordia]]. :) Anyway, the question still stands. [[User:Ausir|Ausir]] 23:02, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

== "Offshoot Religions" comment ==

During the Quorum meeting, one of the delegates mentions that the laws against Baltar's group assembling could also be applied to other minority religions, noting especially that Baltar's teachings seemed similar to that of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithraic_Mysteries "Mithras Followers"], a real-world religion which was contemporaneous with, and a rival of, early christianity. The existence of another Colonial religion taken from our history and apparently not centered on the Lords of Kobol or the Cylon God may be another clue about how the Colonials fit in with Earth. -- [[User:David cgc|David cgc]] 05:19, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

Talk:Escape Velocity/Archive 1

2008-04-27T13:45:02Z

INH:

{{newsection link}}

== The Lord of Kobol reference ==

During the service by Chief Tyrol he utters the like "...and the Lords of Kobol, as many and as varied as mortal men..."

Could this be taken literally, and suggest some new connection between the Colonials and the Lords of Kobol? It feels like the sort of cryptic clue the writes would drop in.

12 Colonies, 12 Cylon models, and perhaps 12 Gods? {{unsigned|DarthS}}
:The bajillionth time, nobody has ever said there are only 12 Lords of Kobol. There are 12 Olympians in greek mythology, but that doesn't even include some of the most prominent deities, such as Poseidon or Hades. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 21:20, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
::Poseidon is one of them, but not Hades, who belongs to a group of deities and figures associated with the underworld. But the Greeks did not just worship the Olympians. The Colonials don't have to either, in regards to the Lords of Kobol. But yeah, there is a general consensus of who the Olympians are, but that changed with time and region. Different cities and regions sometimes worshiped different gods -- [[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 21:31, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

== Analysis re. Adama's book reading ==

I noticed there was a comment on the Analysis section about Adama reciting the passage, even though he said they were to the part he hadn't read before. Actually, he states that they are ''getting'' to the part he hasn't passed before, so they hadn't actually reached it yet, so if anything, these would be the parts he would remember the most, since it would be where he always stops after.

If anything, it seems like some double-symbolism could be read in to the fact that he would always stop reading after that particular passage...

(I don't know how to edit the page itself, or even if it's appropriate to, hence why I wanted to comment here instead).

[[User:MathewBurrack|MathewBurrack]] 19:21, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

:Yeah, that's how I saw it too. He doesn't say that he hasn't read that particular bit yet. As for editing the page, just click on "edit" at the top, next to "discussion" which you presumably used to get here. And don't be afraid of making changes, as they can be easily undone if something goes wrong. Though it's a good idea to discuss potentially contentious issues and big changes first, this a relatively minor thing. -- [[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 21:02, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

== [[Virtual Six]] ==
Before posting analysis or question, did Virtual Six finally exhibited an actual physical manifestation when standing up Baltar in front of the guard? In the past, her effects could be explained away. Thoughts, opinions?-- [[User:Gougef|FrankieG]] 20:46, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
:It seems the most extreme so far, but we've seen apparently physical interaction between her and Baltar before. She has pushed him into mirrors or walls for example. Though his contortions are hard to pull of alone, it might not be impossible. They had to film it somehow and I guess Callis did it alone. -- [[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 20:55, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
::His feet actually came off the ground at one point while his body was still limp. I think he was being pulled up by wires. -- [[User:David cgc|David cgc]] 05:22, 27 April 2008 (UTC)
:::Huh? They never showed his feet, so there's no way of telling that. I think there would have been gasps of astonishment from everyone if he was actually levitating instead of just standing and walking funny. It's certainly possible to move like that by yourself, I've tried. Really, I don't see what the big deal about this is. This isn't any different from Six shoving him into a wall or even grabbing his tie. If you need an idea for how an "imaginary friend" could do this kind of thing, check out the parking lot fight in Fight Club, where Tyler drags the narrator around, throws him down stairs, etc. [[User:INH|INH]] 13:45, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

== Uncredited actors ==
At least two actors with speaking parts are uncredited. One is the leader of Sons of Eris (although he does look a bit similar to the [[Unnamed Galactica and Pegasus crew (RDM)#Marine guard|Marine guard]] to me - can anyone confirm or deny?) and "Mr. Officious" (nicknamed so by Baltar), the guy who investigates the scene of the assault. [[User:Ausir|Ausir]] 22:19, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
: You mean the [[Sons of Ares]] right? -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [[bsp:|Battlestar Pegasus]]</sup> 22:59, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
::Sure, too much [[wikipedia:Principia Discordia|Principia Discordia]]. :) Anyway, the question still stands. [[User:Ausir|Ausir]] 23:02, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

== "Offshoot Religions" comment ==

During the Quorum meeting, one of the delegates mentions that the laws against Baltar's group assembling could also be applied to other minority religions, noting especially that Baltar's teachings seemed similar to that of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithraic_Mysteries "Mithras Followers"], a real-world religion which was contemporaneous with, and a rival of, early christianity. The existence of another Colonial religion taken from our history and apparently not centered on the Lords of Kobol or the Cylon God may be another clue about how the Colonials fit in with Earth. -- [[User:David cgc|David cgc]] 05:19, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

Final Five

2008-04-09T21:35:55Z

INH:

[[Image:TheFinalFive.JPG|right|thumb|300px|The Final Five in the Kobol Opera House]]
The term "'''Final Five'''" collectively describes five of the twelve [[Humanoid Cylon|humanoid Cylon models]] whose identity, knowledge, or existence has been deliberately or accidentally lost to seven of the Humanoid Cylon models.

[[Caprica-Six]], when asked by [[Gaius Baltar]] about the five missing models he has not seen on the [[Basestar (RDM)|baseship]] he lives on or on [[New Caprica]], curtly replies that the others do not talk about the subject ([[Torn]]). Later she states that she is ''programmed'' not to think of them ([[He That Believeth In Me]]).

==The Unauthorized Quest for the Five==
A [[Number Three]] copy, whom Gaius Baltar calls by her human alias, [[D'Anna Biers]], repeatedly commits suicide to get glimpses of five white-cloaked beings that she believes are images of the Final Five. She attempts to draw what she has seen, but has difficulty in doing so ([[Hero]]).

One detailed sketch which she briefly shows to Baltar depicts her personal artistic rendering of the faces of the Five ([[The Passage]]). The sketch is meant to depict [[Saul Tigh]], [[Galen Tyrol]], [[Samuel Anders]], [[Tory Foster]] and the twelfth and final Cylon. ([[Crossroads, Part II]]).

[[Image:FFSketches.jpg|thumb|left|Sketches of the Five.]]
Baltar's ability to see a virtual doppelganger of Caprica-Six (as well as enjoying her company in various pleasant environments) lead him to suggest that he might be using a Cylon technique known as [[projection]]. This suspicion, in turn, makes Baltar begin a personal inquiry into his own nature after allying himself with D'Anna-Three.

The two eventually make their way to the [[algae planet]], where a Colonial structure, the fabled [[Temple of Five]], awaits with possible answers ("[[The Passage]]", "[[The Eye of Jupiter]]"). When the system's dying star goes nova, a ray of light is generated by the mechanisms of the temple. Number Three steps into the light and suddenly finds herself back in the [[Opera House]] and before the same image of the Five, not persistent. Upon seeing their faces she recognizes one of them in particular, saying in surprise "You... forgive me... I had no idea." She is then pulled back to reality and collapses in Baltar's arms, apparently suffering the effects of a brain hemorrhage. She tells Baltar, "You were right," but dies before answering about what, or telling him what she saw. She tells the [[Cavil]] who greets her in the tank that there are five other Cylons, and he will see them some day.

In a rather striking irony, as the Three sacrifices all to see the Final Five, [[Galen Tyrol]] and [[Samuel Anders]] are just outside the Temple, being shot at by her centurions. Only because Tyrol delays firing off explosives left in the temple does she get a chance to stand within it at activation.

Although four of the final five have been revealed ([[Crossroads, Part II]]), the identity of the person she recognized remains a mystery ([[Rapture]]).

==Awareness of the Five by other seven Cylons==

Caprica Six indicates that the Cylons do not speak of the Five, but she knows how many there are. She later tells Roslin that she is actually "programmed not to think of them." [[D'Anna Biers]] also indicates to Baltar that they do not discuss the Five. A [[Cavil]] realizes in the [[Temple of Five]] that Biers is attempting to see the Final Five, and not simply seeking [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]. He tells her "That can't happen" and points a gun at her to stop her, but is shot by Baltar. Later, a Cavil explains that because of her obsession her entire line will be [[boxing|boxed]] ([[Rapture]]).

A [[Leoben Conoy]] claims that "Adama is a Cylon" though neither Adama is one of the other six Cylons he should know. If an Adama were a member of the final five, Leoben should not, in theory, know this. However, it is commonly believed that he is lying ([[Flesh and Bone]]).

The [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]] copy of Number Eight, interrogated by Baltar, declares there are eight Cylons in the Fleet. Given that Season 3 episodes confirm that the Seven do not interact (or are unwilling to interact) with the Five, the number that Boomer gives is likely other Seven copies in disguise. (This tendency to disguise is confirmed through [[Shelly Godfrey]], [[Gina Inviere]] and an unnamed Number Six with black hair found on a stricken baseship in "[[Torn]]"). Also supporting this is the scene where number Three and Sharon Valerii discover Samuel Anders and refer to him as human in the episode "[[Downloaded]]". A later episode, "[[Rapture]]", shows a Three recognizing one of the faces of the Five, confirming the lack of information to the Seven on the Five's identities.

Both [[Caprica Six]] and Sharon Agathon share a dream vision in which the glowing, white-robed figures of the Five are shown in the [[Opera House]] ([[Crossroads, Part II]]).
After their activation, Caprica Six states, aboard ''Galactica'', that she has a sense that the Final Five are near.

While [[Cylon Centurion]]s are programmed to recognize and obey [[humanoid Cylon]]s, on a number of occasions they shoot at members of the Five, including Tyrol on Kobol, Anders both on Caprica and outside the Temple of Five, and most members during the escape from [[New Caprica]]. D'Anna Biers also beat Anders severely on Caprica. This seems to change after their "activation", as during the [[Battle of the Ionian Nebula]], a Cylon Raider makes eye contact with [[Samuel Anders|Anders]] in a Viper, causing a brief red flash from Anders' eye. Immediately, the Raider breaks off its attack, and the entire Cylon fleet retreats.

==Four Revealed, and their nature==

[[Image:Four Revealed.jpg|thumb|Four of the Final Five from left to right: [[Galen Tyrol]], [[Tory Foster]], [[Samuel Anders]] and [[Saul Tigh]].]]

As the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] draws closer to the [[Ionian nebula]], four people begin hearing an [[The Music|unusual melody]] on wireless radio: these four are Colonel [[Saul Tigh]], Chief [[Galen Tyrol]], Ensign [[Samuel Anders]] and presidential aide [[Tory Foster]] ([[Crossroads, Part I]]). Tyrol and Anders say that the song seems like something from their childhoods, while Tigh becomes progressively more disturbed as he begins to hear the music everywhere on ''Galactica''. Foster becomes noticeably distracted, irritable, and unkempt, claiming to have not been sleeping well. When the fleet finally arrives at the Ionian Nebula the song becomes clear to the four who can hear it and they begin to stalk the halls of ''Galactica'' muttering its mysterious lyrics. Eventually, the four arrive at ''Galactica''’s gym and upon seeing each other the truth becomes clear to them; they are Cylons, four of the Final Five. When they learn the truth, they decide to remain loyal to the Colonial Fleet, because they were humans for as long as they can remember, and cling to what they know to make sense of their lives. Moreover, Tigh sees himself as a soldier first and wants to hold up his oath.

After activation, the four revealed Cylons are unaware of any thoughts like Boomer's [[Sharon Valerii#Acts of sabotage|Cylon directives]] other than that they are Cylons. In a sense they know less than the audience and the Significant Seven, who at least know that the Final Five are fundamentally different models.<ref>{{cite_rdm_podcast|episode=Frak Party Q and A|act=|id=ffdifferent|timestamp=19:05|totalrunning=78:27}}</ref> Tigh and Anders painfully and confusedly recite events from their lives which make little sense in the context of their newly revealed nature. With particular pain, Tigh asks "My gods, what about Ellen?" His personal execution of his wife for being a Cylon collaborator, and his pain over it, have been a major theme in the episode.

The nature of these Cylons is clearly different from the other seven. In particular, Colonel Tigh's friendship with William Adama stretches back to shortly after the end of the first Cylon War and in an interview<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07085/770732-352.stm|title=Post-Gazette Moore interview}}</ref> Ron Moore stated that Tigh "fought in two wars." ([[Crossroads, Part II]])

These Cylons also seem to be susceptible to human infirmities: Tigh's ongoing battles with alcoholism, Tyrol suffering from decompression sickness - although to a lesser extent than his wife ([[A Day in the Life]]), and Anders contracting pneumonia ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]), though he is able to make a full recovery without treatment ([[Occupation]]).

As the Seven do not hold (or appear to desire) knowledge of the Five, and with their special nature, their ability to [[Resurrection (RDM)|resurrect]] and the existence of multiple copies for any of the Five are uncertain based on aired events and official responses.<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.syfyportal.com/news423878.html|title=Things Get Ugly In 'Battlestar' Season 4|date=Jul-10-2007|accessdate=Jul-13-2007|}}</ref> This failure to recognize could be due to a mental block programmed into their minds or simply because the Final Five left the Cylon homeworld before the Seven were created.

===Connections between the Colonial gods and Cylon god===
*The Temple of Five was built over 4,000 years prior to the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]], long before the Cylons existed. The [[Thirteenth Tribe (RDM)|Thirteenth Tribe]] would, logically, have no knowledge of these automatons in the strictest sense. However, the Thirteenth Tribe has significant prophetic insight, as shown in the works of [[Pythia]]. According to Colonial scriptures, "Five pillars of the temple were fashioned after the five priests devoted to the one whose name cannot be spoken". This may have been another Lord of Kobol, given that on a deleted scene [[Elosha]] noted that the fall of [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]] and its civilization was due in part to a "jealous god".
*On [[New Caprica]], Number Three meets [[Dodona Selloi]], a human [[oracle]], who relays a message from Three's God, despite the oracle's association with the Lords of Kobol.
*With this information, there is a strong, but unexplained correlation or connection with the the Cylon God and the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)#The Lords of Kobol|Lords of Kobol]].

===Kara Thrace, The Eye of Jupiter, and the First Hybrid===
*The Eye of Jupiter storyline introduced an association between Kara Thrace, a human that [[Eye of Jupiter|"doodled" a circular image as a child]] with no prior derivation (her old apartment on [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] has a painting of the image from the episode, "[[Valley of Darkness]]"), and the mandalas or icons of the eye that decorated a temple built 4,000 years before her birth. No further information is revealed other than the prophecy from [[Leoben Conoy]], who told Thrace of an [[The Destiny|unexplained "destiny"]] ([[Flesh and Bone]]).
*The [[first Hybrid|first Hybrid]] gives a monologue about his knowledge of the Final Five in the extended version of "[[Razor]]". It states:

:"Soon there will be four, glorious in awakening, struggling with the knowledge of their true selves. The pain of revelation bringing new clarity and in the midst of confusion, he will find her. Enemies brought together by impossible longing. Enemies now joined as one. The way forward at once unthinkable, yet inevitable. And the fifth, still in shadow, will claw toward the light, hungering for redemption that will only come in the howl of terrible suffering."

:Its description predicts the internal revelation that four of the Five would experience in "[[Crossroads, Part II]]". The fifth and final Cylon remains hidden, longing to be forgiven for some type of trespass, but will experience suffering in the process.

*The first Hybrid also mentions Kara Thrace to [[Kendra Shaw]], claiming, "She is the herald of the apocalypse, the harbinger of death..." as the end of the human race. He warns Shaw that the humans should not follow her ([[Razor]]). However, the Hybrid never confirms Thrace's nature.

===Illusion or Truth===
*The Threes' hunt for and see visions of the Five, which leads to the other Cylons themselves [[boxing]] the entire line of Threes after her discovery, but whether this is done to suppress the notion or actual information of the final five or to relieve the other Cylons of an aberrant model is unclear.
*Later, in dream visions of the [[Opera House]] shared by [[Laura Roslin]], [[Sharon Agathon]] and [[Caprica Six]], the same 5 glowing figures seen by Three appear, along with the same chamber with six drapes, this time empty. Six sees them for a more prolonged period in a second vision.
*As the [[Temple of Five]] was apparently built for human usage, the Temple may have only allowed the transitional visions that the Threes see to be more persistent and clear. It may never be revealed what Baltar (or another human) would have seen. While Baltar believed Three and actively participated in her quest, both his virtual Six and a [[Hybrid]] noted that he, not Three, was intended to use the Temple's imaging mechanism as the "chosen one". The human association and significance of the [[five priests]], [[The One Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken|the god they worshiped]], and their connections with the Cylons, Kara Thrace and Baltar are not yet explained.

==Notes==
* The podcast for "[[Rapture]]" confirms that the final five Cylons have not been [[boxing|boxed]] <ref>{{cite_rdm_podcast|episode=Rapture|act=4|id=firstboxing|timestamp=41:47|totalrunning=}}</ref>.
* During a Q&A session on the official Sci Fi channel ''Battlestar Galactica'' forum Ronald D. Moore notes that he already knows who the last Cylon is, and that he's already left clues as to who it is<ref>[http://forums.scifi.com/index.php?showtopic=2270103&st=0&p=3041263&#entry3041263 20 Answers - SCI FI FORUMS] Retrieved 03-27-2007</ref>.

{{WikiFrakr|Fantastic Four}}

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

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial Religion]]
[[Category:Colonial Religion (RDM)]]
[[Category:Cylon Religion (RDM)]]
[[Category:Cylons]]
[[Category:Cylons (RDM)]]
[[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Final Five]]

Occupation

2008-04-09T21:22:42Z

INH: -> Questions

{{Episode Data
| title= Occupation
| image=Season 3 - Promo - Epi 1 - 2 - Number Three talking.jpg
| season= 3
| episode= 1
| guests= [[Lucy Lawless]] as [[Number Three]]
| writer= [[Ronald D. Moore]]
| story=
| director= [[Sergio Mimica-Gezzan]]
| production= 301
| rating= [[List of Nielsen ratings (RDM)|1.8]]
| US airdate= 2006-10-06
| CAN airdate=2006-10-07
| UK airdate= 2007-01-09
| population=
| extra= '''Season 3.0 Premiere'''
| prev= [[Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance]]
| next= [[Precipice]]
| podcast= Y
| itunes=http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=VWbyALbmqZY&offerid=78941&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fphobos.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D197746313%2526id%253D200852806%2526s%253D143441%2526partnerId%253D30
|unbox=B000V6XS2A
}}

== Overview ==
:''It has been four months since the [[Cylons (RDM) |Cylons]] occupied the human settlement of [[New Caprica]], and ''[[Galactica]],'' ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', and a handful of ships jumped to safety. On New Caprica, a resistance has begun to challenge the Cylons. Aboard ''Galactica'', [[Admiral Adama]] struggles with plans for a rescue, having only a handful of untested pilots at his command, understaffed ships, and facing a nearly impossible task.

== Summary ==

: '''''Please note:''' This page is undergoing a revision for act-by-act summaries. It is by no means complete and is in progress. Please feel free to contribute to this effort, thank you!''

=== Teaser ===

*The episode begins with a series of cut scenes. Light flashes over [[Saul Tigh]]'s face. He is in a prison cell, his missing eye patched over with a gauze bandage, and has scratched notches into a calendar on the wall. His wife, [[Ellen Tigh]], is having sex with one of the [[Cavil]]s. [[Laura Roslin]] lights a candle and prays to the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies#Lords of Kobol|gods]]. [[Galen Tyrol]] and [[Samuel Anders]] are planting a bomb using [[G-4]] and a detonator within a building space.
*[[Kara Thrace]] is inside a neatly decorated room, setting a table.
*Admiral [[William Adama]] tries to strategize a rescue plan with a series of various models of fighters, support vehicles and other civilian ships in the [[Situation Room]]'s plot table, but becomes frustrated and hurls a model across the table.
*Another Cavil walks into Tigh's cell. He walks sits down, wears sunglasses to see in the bright light, and then taunts Tigh about the hash marks that Tigh attempts to hide. Sunglasses-Cavil laughs and comments that every time Tigh is taken out of the cell, the Cylons come in and they change the calendar.
* A copy of [[Leoben Conoy]] walks into the room where Thrace sits at table, carrying her dinner. He sits and prays to [[God (RDM)|"The Heavenly Father"]] for their bounty.
* Meanwhile, Ellen Tigh is straddling another Cavil. Cavil climaxes and, after the deed is done, Ellen begins to walk away from the couch while Cavil laughs in the background.
* Tyrol arms the explosive. As the Cylon [[Heavy Raider]] begins to land, Tyrol and Anders move off to a safe distance from the explosive.
*Thrace coyly asks the Conoy copy for a knife for her steak, but Conoy takes his knife and cuts her steak himself. Thrace thanks him.
*After Ellen Tigh's liaison with her Cavil copy, she asks when will she gets what she asked for, suggesting a previous deal. The Cylon informs her that it should be happening right at that moment. At same time, the Cavil in the cell with Colonel Tigh releases him from prison in a very taunting way; Cavil notes that his case was reviewed by the review committee and "I must say there was great disappointment on the review committee", then leaves with the cell door open. At Cavil's urging, Tigh exits his cell for "bureaucracy must be served" before his release in the form of paperwork.
* Tigh leaves the [[New Caprica Detention Center]], he prison and his wife meets him at the gate. She notes the eye-patch of medical gauze and asks what they did to him during his imprisonment, however he just wants to leave.
[[Image:301 a calm quiet dinner with Kara Thrace.jpg|thumb|Kara Thrace enjoys her dinner (Teaser)]]
*A group of '[[Humanoid Cylon|skinjobs]]' including at least 3 [[Eight]]s, 3 [[Six]]es, and 2 [[Five]]s approach the Heavy Raider as several '[[Cylon Centurion|chromejobs]]' exit it. Tyrol repeatedly hits the remote control until the bomb goes off. The explosion is witnessed by both the Tighs, and by the Conoy copy with Thrace from their apartment. He returns to the table, pushes his knife away from Thrace.
*As he comments on how beautiful she is, Thrace stabs him in the neck with metal chopsticks. As he dies (while Thrace repeatedly stabs his chest for good measure), he tells Thrace that he will see her soon. She tells him to take his time. Then, after wiping her hand on the carpet, she returns to the table and calmly resumes eating dinner.

=== Act 1 ===

* [[Laura Roslin]], still a school teacher, is writing an entry on the 134th day of the [[Cylon Occupation Authority|Cylon occupation]] of New Caprica. 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 (RDM)|Galactica]]'' for four months, noting that she refuses to believe that Admiral [[William Adama]] would abandon them. She then notes about the insurgency, saying that they are 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 [[Resurrection (RDM)|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 of the Twelve Colonies|government]] under President [[Gaius Baltar]] functions in name only.
* The members of the Occupation Authority discuss their current situation, with [[Cavil]] leading the session, recapping why the Cylons are on New Caprica in the first place. A Cavil mentions that they need to tighten their control on the human population, suggesting that they execute Baltar. [[Caprica Six]] is disgusted at this and mentions that those who want to kill Baltar will have to deal with her. A [[Number Five]] diffuses the issue, saying that it would have no effect, since the Colonials would only relish his death in light of Baltar's cooperation with the occupation. The Cavils suggest rounding up insurgents and executing them publicly, which seems to be a course of action that most of the models agree to, except Caprica and [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]].
[[Image:301 gloves are coming off.jpg|thumb|[[Cavil]] (left) proposes reducing the population down to a "more manageable size".]]
* After the group leaves, [[Number Three]] asks Caprica if her love of Baltar is worth the loss they may incur over their experiment. Caprica replies that, "If you ever experienced love, you wouldn't have to ask."
* Roslin writes of the [[New Caprica Police]] in her journal, finding 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 notes 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 signal, tipping over a yellow food bowl belonging to a dog named [[Jake the dog|Jake]]. In the most recent drop, Tyrol retrieves security plans for the New Caprica Police graduation ceremony.
* Tyrol tells [[Cally Tyrol|Cally]], his wife, who is taking care of their baby, [[Nicholas Tyrol]], that he will be back in a few hours. She voices her concern about there being a day when he doesn't come back, inferring that he may be killed, captured, or disappeared, and that Nick will never know his father. In an attempt to assuage her fears, he promises to be back in a couple hours, then leaves.
* Tigh meets up with Tyrol and Anders in an underground bunker, which serves as the headquarters for the resistance. Using a shovel as a cane, he sits down as they share a brief drink of alcohol. Tigh explains about how the Cylons ripped out his eye and showed it to him, recalling that it looked like a "hardboiled egg". Tigh asks after the explosion earlier, congratulating them on their successful attack.
* Tyrol reveals that their next target will be the [[New Caprica Police Academy]] during the graduating ceremony. Noting their new source within the Baltar administration, Tyrol comments on the security plans and the fact that Baltar will also be present. Tigh relishes the opportunity to kill Baltar. Tyrol notes that it will be difficult avoiding human casualties, a point that Tigh does not care about, since he believes it's time to send a message that if any human works for the Cylons, they're a target as well.
* Tigh then asks about the [[wireless]]. Tyrol ruefully notes that the Cylons have jammed every signal, making it impossible to contact anyone in orbit, but they still attempt to contact the [[Raptor]] in orbit. Tyrol notes that he's asked their source what the weakest jamming frequencies are, but they have yet to receive anything. Anders doesn't believe there is a Raptor, which gets a rise out of Tigh, who believes that Adama will never leave them to the Cylons, and the Raptor sitting out there and waiting for their wireless transmission was part of the plan in the event anything happened.
* Anders replies that Adama left him to the Cylons, noting that were it not for his wife, he'd be dead a long time ago.
* Tigh asks after Thrace, but Anders hasn't heard anything in the four months since she was taken.
* In the apartment prison, a newly-resurrected Conoy enters, announcing: "Hi, honey, I'm home." He notes that she's killed him five times, indicating that her efforts are futile. He tries to convince her that he wants to help her see "the truth of your life, the reason why you suffered and you struggled for so long". She replies that he's right and thanks him for putting up with her, however Conoy sees through the ruse and asks her to put down her knife, which she was prepared to stab him with. She drops the knife. He replies that he's a patient man and he needs more time. She scoffs at this, saying that there will never be a relationship between them.
* Conoy is convinced that they will have a relationship. He describes it to her, saying that she'll hold him in her arms, embrace him, and tell him that she loves him. He claims to have seen it. She believes him to be insane. Conoy replies that "to know the face of [[God (RDM)|God]] is to know madness".
* He tells her he's going to bed and asks her to go to bed with him. He attempts to kiss her, but she turns away.
* Ruefully, Conoy adds that she'll spend the night with him either way, referring to the corpse his previous body that she killed earlier.
* After he bids her good night, Thrace runs out of the apartment and into a hallway. The end of the hallways is gated like a prison cell. She runs up to it and begins to rattle the bars, scream that she wants to be let out and doesn't belong there.

=== Act 2 and beyond ===

* In the remaining spaceborne [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]], a training operation lead by ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> [[CAG]], Captain [[Louanne Katraine|Louanne "Kat" Katraine]], is underway. Members of the [[Raptor]] squadron, the [[Snowbird Squadron|Snowbirds]], lead by Lieutenant [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]] have a hard time keeping formation.
* Meanwhile, Admiral [[William Adama]] hears the [[wireless]] chatter from the exercise, which is pumped in through the ship's speakers. He makes his rounds on ''Galactica'', first in the [[hangar bay]] picking up parts, and walking through ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> pitch-black hallways with a flashlight as he's reading papers.
* Captain [[Karl Agathon]], ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> executive officer, orders the Raptors to commence with the training exercise. During the exercise, the Snowbirds's deployed drones fly every which way. Katraine aborts the mission. Agathon acknowledges this and orders the ships to return because they are low on fuel.
* Adama, having just entered the CIC, belays the order and tells Agathon to send out a tanker bird for them to practice in-flight fueling. Then he wants them to continue the mission. Agathon tells Adama that they've done the exercise sixteen times; Adama then replies that the next will make seventeen. Agathon agrees, knowing the point Adama was making with the reply.
* On ''[[Pegasus (TOS)|Pegasus]]'', a topless, hanging-bellied [[Lee Adama]] overhears Agathon's order that they recover the drones and the dispatch of a tanker bird. He waddles to the phone. He orders them to get the admiral on the line.
* In ''Pegasus'''s [[CIC]], Lee engages in a heated discussion with Adama over the training efforts, however the conversation is cut off when Katraine reports a collision of two [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] piloted by [[Bingo]] and [[Wally]]. She requests, and is granted, immediate landing for the two Vipers. Admiral Adama throws the phone across the table.

*Every day a Raptor jumps in and listens for a wireless broadcast. With the list of jamming frequencies provided by Gaeta, Tyrol manages to contact the Colonial Fleet.
[[image:Hope.jpg|300px|right]]
* Now having made contact with the Galatica and feeling that rescue may be near Tyrol has second thoughts that a suicide bombing may not be the best course of action, but Tigh disagrees and says to only call off the attack if Baltar will not be attending.
*Baltar decides not to attend the graduation ceremony. Gaeta is unable to signal Tyrol in time of this last-minute change.
*With little left to lose, [[Duck]] prays to the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies#The Lords of Kobol|gods]]. He has placed several packs of explosives around his waist, wiring himself as a living bomb. He dons his [[NCP]] uniform to attend their graduation ceremony, intending to kill [[Gaius Baltar]] and as many traitors and Cylons as he can.
*As a [[Number Three]] presents Duck with his graduation certificate he detonates the explosives attached to his body, his last words being "I'll see you soon [[Nora]]."

== Notes ==

=== Alternate story lines and ideas ===

*According to the [[Podcast:Collaborators|podcast]] for "[[Collaborators]]", [[James Lyman]] was going to be the suicide bomber, and not [[Tucker Clellan|Tucker "Duck" Clellan]].
*[[Ronald D. Moore]] says in the podcast that alternate scripts included members of the [[New Caprica Resistance|resistance]] kidnapping humanoid Cylons and keeping them alive in a dungeon. The remaining Cylons would become more apprehensive with each mysterious disappearance.
*Moreover, Clellan's and Lyman's roles were reversed during the planning of the arc. However, [[Aaron Douglas]] pointed out that Lyman has previously been portrayed as a weak person ([[Valley of Darkness]]) and that it would thus make more sense to make him the collaborator ([[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion Season Three]])
*A scene showing how Tigh loses his eye was shot, with a [[Number Five]] poking the camera's lens in a point-of-view shot. However, it was felt that it would be too weird and stylized for the show, and that Tigh only telling about it would be more effective (Season 3 Companion).

=== Story and Events ===

*Unlike episodes of [[Season 2 (2005-06)|Season 2]], the intro to this episode does not give the [[survivor count]]. The population whiteboard present in Season 1 & 2 has been replaced by Baltar's presidential portrait, which is later hung over the bathroom at the suggestion of [[Tory Foster]] in "[[Hero]]".
*The episode opens on the 134th day since the Cylon occupation.
*In her journal, Roslin notes that it is "[[Mars Day]]", which is the Roman name for Ares. This is at least the second time that the Roman names for the Greek pantheon have been used.
*Crew changes in the year after settlement glimpsed in "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]" are confirmed here: Captain [[Karl Agathon]] is serving as ''Galactica'''s executive officer (XO), with [[Louanne Katraine]] as ''Galactica''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[CAG]]. [[Anastasia Dualla]], shown for the first time with lieutenant rank insignia, is serving as XO on ''Pegasus''.
* [[Lee Adama]] has gained roughly 40 pounds since the the Fleet found New Caprica. His father claims that he is soft, both physically and mentally.
* [[Caprica-Six]] seems to keep [[Gaius Baltar]] company on ''Colonial One'' in an unofficial capacity.
* Eight Cylons are visible at the graduation ceremony:
**To the right of the podium: an Eight, a Five, a Six, and a Cavil.
**To the left of the podium: A Six, an Eight, and another Six.
**Speaking: a Three.
*Duck's rank in the [[New Caprica Police]] is captain. After the bombing, [[James Lyman|Jammer]] appears to fill this role.

=== Initial American broadcast ===

*The episode started off with a warning indicating "'''Mature Subject Matter'''" during its initial Sci-Fi Channel United States debut. The following episode, "[[Precipice]]", also reiterated this warning.
*"Occupation" and "Precipice" was edited as one 2-hr episode with only one intro. However, in the podcast, [[Ronald D. Moore]] indicates the "beginning" of "Precipice". On the [[Battlestar Galactica - Season 3 (Region 1 DVD)|Region 1 DVD]] set for [[Season 3 (2006-07)|Season 3]], the episodes are presented as two distinct episodes.
*[[Kandyse McClure]]'s first name is spelled in the [[opening credits]] as "Candice". Though she has been credited under this name in other projects, this is the first and, so far, only time it has been used for the show. As she [[Kandyse McClure#Notes|explains later on]], "Candice" is the true spelling of her first name, and the Kandyse spelling is "kind of a joke". However, she had it reversed, seeing as she did not want to confuse people. The results of this reversal can be seen on the Region 1 DVD set for Season 3 in the opening credits to this episode, where the spelling is corrected to "Kandyse McClure".

=== Production ===

*The apartment room that Leoben holds [[Kara Thrace]] captive in from this episode through "[[Exodus, Part II]]" is a redress of the set used for Starbuck's old apartment in [[Delphi]] seen in "[[Valley of Darkness]]".

=== Awards ===

*"Occupation/[[Precipice]]" was awarded the [[Awards and Honors|IGN.com Editor's choice award]], following a review in which it received a rating of 10/10.
*This episode was nominated for "Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series" in the 2007 Emmys.

== Analysis ==
* Prior to the Cylon occupation, the population of New Caprica City was 39,192. Since that time, there have been at least 44 deaths and 1 birth:
**[[Nicholas Tyrol]] was born sometime between "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]" and ''[[Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance]]''.
**[[Charles Longo]] was killed by the Cylons for hiding weapons in his tent ([[Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance#Episode 1|The Resistance: Episode 1]]).
**There were 10 deaths in ''Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance'' due to the temple raid, including [[Nora]].
**There were at least 33 deaths in this episode due to the suicide bombing at the NCP graduation ceremony. The figure was supplied by the Cylon leadership, and it is unknown whether they included attacker [[Tucker Clellan]] among the casualties.
* It is later noted by [[Cassidy]] in [[Gaius Baltar]]'s trial during "[[Crossroads, Part I]]" that 5,197 were killed during the Cylon occupation, her inference being that the figure of the number of deaths occurred on New Caprica. Thus the total number of people on New Caprica before the [[Battle of New Caprica]] and the [[Exodus, Part II|succeeding exodus]] was 33,995.
* Several New Capricans appear to have sores or lesions on their faces.
* Near the end of the episode, as [[Felix Gaeta]] races to inform the resistance that Baltar won't be attending the graduation, a P.A. system can be heard advertising the [[New Caprica Medical Center]], staffed by "a crack team of human and Cylon physicians". Among the crack team is Doctor [[Cottle]], as later seen in "[[Exodus, Part I]]".
**This may explain Anders's recovery from his pneumonia, seen in "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]".
* During the episode, Conoy mentions that Kara Thrace has succeeded in killing Conoy five times (including the killing that was shown).
* Conoy is obsessed with a future he has "seen" in which Thrace falls in love with him. He repeatedly tells Thrace that she only needs more time.
* As [[Occupation#Notes|noted above]], the apartment Leoben keeps Thrace captive in is identical to the one she used to live in on Caprica. It is quite possible that the New Caprica complex was designed to resemble her old residence possibly to further Conoy's mind games with her by placing her in a familiar environment.
* There doesn't seem to be any civilian government supervising the spacebound ships. There appears to be a state of martial law throughout the space-bound Fleet, as Admiral [[William Adama]] is ''de facto'' leader of this fleet.
* The Cylons have either built a resurrection facility on New Caprica or positioned a [[Resurrection Ship]] near enough to the planet for downloads to take place. However, no Resurrection Ship is seen in orbit when the basestars are shown.
* Only two basestars are seen on screen, yet five are reported back to the Fleet. Although it's likely that they are behind the planet or in another part of the nebula.
* Number Three allows herself to be seen openly among the Colonials. Presumably the cover of infiltrator [[D'anna Biers]] was compromised with the return of [[Samuel Anders]] the previous year.
*Although it was widely speculated that [[James Lyman|James "Jammer" Lyman]] may be a humanoid Cylon, due to his pessimistic attitude ("[[Litmus]]", "[[Flight of the Phoenix]]") and unlikely survival during the events of "[[Valley of Darkness]]", the events of this episode and comments by Ronald D. Moore seem to preclude the possibility.
**In ''Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance'', a copy of [[Number Five]] refers to Lyman as a human.
**In this episode, it is seen that Lyman has joined the [[New Caprica Police]], an exclusively human organization.
**While Lyman's survival of the suicide bombing may seem suspect to some viewers, Moore states that an unfilmed scene would show him waking up under the bodies, and having to move body parts out of the way as he extricated himself from the carnage ([[Podcast:Precipice|"Precipice", podcast]]).

== Questions ==

* How did Anders manage to recover from his pneumonia without the medical supplies Thrace was seeking in "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II"? ([[Crossroads, Part II|Possible Answer]])
* Have Helo and Kat been given the promotions in rank that their new posts would warrant? ([[Precipice|Answer: Kat]], [[A Measure of Salvation|Answer: Helo]])
* When did Number Three reveal her Cylon nature?
* Why isn't Leoben Conoy involved in the decisions of the [[Cylon Occupation Authority]]?
* Where is Doctor [[Cottle]]? ([[Exodus, Part I|Answer]])
* Where is [[Tom Zarek]]? ([[Precipice|Answer]])
* What of "[[Hera|Isis]]" and [[Maya]]? ([[Exodus, Part II|Answer]])
* Who is ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> CAG?
* Are the Cylons continuing to pursue the Fleet? If not, why not?
* Does anyone know of [[Felix Gaeta]]'s feeding of information to the resistance? ([[Taking a Break From All Your Worries|Answer]])
* What events lead to [[Sharon Agathon]]'s change in behavior over time? How have she and William Adama been able to develop a friendly relationship?

== Official Statements ==

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

*{{audio|301 delusional machines.mp3|''During a meeting about the insurgency:''}}
: '''First [[Cavil]]:''' Let's review why we're here, shall we? We're supposed to bring the word of "God" to the people, right?
: '''Second Cavil:''' To save humanity from damnation by bringing the love of "God" to these poor benighted people.
: '''[[Caprica-Six]]:''' We're here because the majority of the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] felt the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|slaughter of mankind]] had been a mistake.
:'''[[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]]''': We're here to find a new way to live in peace, as [[God (RDM)|God]] wants us to live!
:'''Second Cavil''': And it's been a fun ride, so far. But I want to clarify our objectives. If we're bringing the word of "God," then it follows we should employ any means necessary to so, any means.
:'''First Cavil''': Yes. Fear is a key article of faith, as I understand it. So, perhaps it's time to instill a little more fear into the people's hearts and minds. Let's, uh, let's execute [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]].
:'''Gaius Baltar''': What, '''''what'''''?
:'''Caprica-Six''': That's not gonna happen.
:'''Cavil:''' Just because he's your favorite toy shouldn't be allowed to interfere with the larger issues here.
:'''Gaius Baltar''': I think I have cooperated—
:'''Caprica-Six''': Gaius is with me. Anyone who wants to challenge that will have to deal with me.
:'''First [[Number Five]]''': No, it doesn't matter. If we'd killed him in the beginning, it might have worked.
:'''Second Five''': But now most humans think of him as a traitor and would actually cheer his death.
:'''First Cavil''': Fine, fine. We don't kill Baltar. We round up the leaders of the insurgency and we execute them, publicly. We round up, at random, groups off the street and we execute them, publicly.
:'''Second Cavil''': Send a message that the gloves are coming ''off''. The insurgency stops ''now'', or else we'll start reducing the human population to a... more manageable size, I don't know, say... less than a thousand.
:'''Boomer''': We need to stop being butchers!
:'''Caprica-Six''': The entire point of coming here was to start a new way of life, to push ''past'' the conflict that separated us from humans for so long.
:'''Cavil''': And what has it gotten ''us''? It's not like they welcomed us with, with... Oh, frak it, never mind. You're all living in a fantasy world. Consider the irony in that! (laughing) Delusional machines! What's the universe gonna come up with next?

*''After hearing that contact had been established with New Caprica:''
:'''[[William Adama]]''': It's gonna be okay. It's really gonna be okay.

== Guest Stars ==
*[[Michael Hogan]] as [[Saul Tigh]]
*[[Aaron Douglas]] as [[Galen Tyrol]]
*[[Tahmoh Penikett]] as Lt. [[Karl Agathon|Karl "Helo" Agathon]]
*[[Nicki Clyne]] as [[Cally Henderson Tyrol|Cally Tyrol]]
*[[Alessandro Juliani]] as [[Felix Gaeta]]
*[[Kandyse McClure]] as [[Anastasia Dualla]]
*[[Michael Trucco]] as [[Samuel Anders]]
*[[Richard Hatch]] as [[Tom Zarek]]
*[[Rick Worthy]] as [[Simon]]
*[[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Leoben Conoy]]
*[[Kate Vernon]] as [[Ellen Tigh]]
*[[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Dr. [[Cottle]]
*[[Matthew Bennett]] as [[Number Five]]
*[[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
*[[Dean Stockwell]] as [[Cavil]]
*[[Erica Cerra]] as [[Maya]]
*[[Luciana Carro]] as Lt. [[Louanne Katraine|Louanne "Kat" Katraine]]
*[[Christian Tessier]] as [[Tucker Clellan|Tucker "Duck" Clellan]]
*[[Brad Dryborough]] as Lt. [[Hoshi]]
*[[Leah Cairns]] as Lt. [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
*[[Madeline Parker]] as [[Kacey]]
*[[Dominic Zamprogna]] as [[James Lyman|James "Jammer" Lyman]]
*[[Mylène Dinh-Robic]] as Officer #1
*[[Ryan McDonell]] as Pilot #3
*[[Byron Lawson]] as Pilot #4
*[[Colin Lawrence]] as [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]]
*[[Larissa Stadnichuk]] as Suicide bomber

== References ==
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{{episode list (RDM season 3)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Ronald D. Moore]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan]]
[[Category:RDM]]

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[[zh:占领]]

Earth (RDM)

2008-04-07T18:26:40Z

INH: could be a dialogue slip up

[[Image:Earth (RDM).jpg|thumb|right|300px|Earth seen from space in "[[Crossroads, Part II]]".]]

In the [[Re-imagined Series]] '''Earth''' is the believed destination of the [[Thirteenth Tribe (RDM)|Thirteenth Tribe]] of [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]], as attested in the [[Sacred Scrolls]]. The Thirteenth Tribe left for Earth nearly 4,000 years prior to the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]]. The remaining Twelve Tribes leave Kobol to form the Colonies approximately 2,000 years after the Thirteenth Tribe's departure.

===A Cause for Hope===

Earth is first mentioned by Commander [[William Adama|Adama]] during a speech after the battlestar's funeral services after escaping from [[Ragnar Anchorage]]. Adama claims that Earth was a top military secret that can now be revealed (see [[Miniseries]]).

In a private conversation with new President [[Laura Roslin]] immediately afterward, Adama admits that he has not the slightest idea where Earth may be, if it exists. His true motivation was inspirational; he intended to bolster the morale of the population (especially his beleaguered crew) in the aftermath of the [[Cylon attack|near-annihilation]] of humanity.

===Tangible Faith===

While she is initially skeptical, rebuking Adama for his dishonesty, Laura Roslin's faith grows perceptibly throughout the first season. Her use of [[chamalla]] to treat her cancer causes vivid dreams and hallucinations. Roslin increasingly interprets these as prophetic visions, especially after the Fleet accidentally discovers the legendary homeworld [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]] ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]).

Eventually, a [[Arrow of Apollo|religious artifact]] is recovered which later aids in revealing the general location of Earth ([[Home, Part II]]).

In the activated [[Tomb of Athena]], the stars of the Twelve Colonies are represented in the twelve [[Wikipedia:Zodiac|Zodiacal]] constellations, as viewed from Earth, recognized by Roslin as the shapes of the original flags of the Twelve Colonies. The chamber itself was intended by its builders to be a stylized replica of the night sky of the Earth, from which all twelve constellations could be seen. This is corroborated by [[Kara Thrace]], who quotes [[Sacred Scrolls|scripture]], saying that Earth was the place where the people of the Thirteenth Tribe could look up into the sky and see their twelve brothers.<ref>Some viewers may question how information on Earth's location could be recorded in the Tomb before the Thirteenth Tribe left for Earth. Had the tribes already visited Earth? Did the tribes ''originate'' from Earth? For more information on the circular origins of humanity as it pertains to the Re-imagined Series, see the article on the [[Sacred Scrolls]].</ref>

Morerover, [[Lee Adama]] recognizes the [[Wikipedia:Lagoon Nebula|Lagoon Nebula]], also represented in the night sky of the mystery chamber. This astronomical object is known to Fleet personnel, since [[William Adama|Commander Adama]] remarks that this celestial body would take some time to reach.

===More Clues to Earth===

Over a year later, the Fleet discovers a derelict [[Basestar (RDM)|Cylon baseship]] near the [[Lion's Head Nebula]], a celestial marker revealed by [[Felix Gaeta]] to Admiral Adama and President Roslin ([[Torn]]). The information is derived from [[Gaius Baltar]]'s research on the path to Earth. The derelict basestar finds an [[Lion's Head beacon|ancient beacon]] left by the Thirteenth Tribe. While a Colonial boarding party finds the probe, it also learns that the [[Humanoid Cylon]]s aboard the basestar are dead or dying, suggesting a deadly pathogen was released by the beacon. In their haste to leave and for the safety of the Fleet, the beacon is abandoned on the basestar, where it is destroyed when the basestar self-destructs ([[A Measure of Salvation]]).

After the Fleet must gather needed foodstuffs from the [[algae planet]], believed previously uninhabited by humans, [[Galen Tyrol]] senses and finds the [[Temple of Five]], an ancient [[temple]] built by the Thirteenth Tribe, as told in the [[Sacred Scrolls]], apparently built during a stopover on this world. Believed to be hidden inside the Temple of Five is the [[Eye of Jupiter]], an artifact that may provide more clues to the location of Earth. However, a Cylon force arrives with the same intentions on the Eye, leading to a standoff between Adama and the [[basestar command]] ([[The Eye of Jupiter]]). The Eye is later revealed to be the algae planet's own star as it began to nova, taking the form of the circular starburst patterns throughout the Temple of Five. While the Colonials are not privy to the special holograph feature of the Temple that the Cylons witness in the early moments of the nova, the Colonials are later are able to discern the information of the new nova as a waypoint to the next marker, a nebula in the [[Ionian system]] ([[Rapture]]).

When the Fleet arrives at the nebula, it is intercepted by four basestars. Unable to escape due to a mysterious, crippling Fleet-wide power outage, ''Galactica'' is forced to prepare for attack and launches Vipers and Raptors. [[Lee Adama|Apollo]] breaks off from the attack to track an "Unknown" contact on [[DRADIS]]. The contact is Captain [[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]], miraculously [[Maelstrom|returned from the dead]] with news that she has been to Earth, knows its location and how to take the Fleet there.

The episode "[[Crossroads, Part II]]" concludes with a sweeping zoom from the Fleet, the Cylons, the Ionian nebula and to an arm of the [[W:Milky Way|Milky Way]] and to a zoom in to Earth itself, confirming that Earth is an actual location (from the perspective of the viewers), showing Earth's North American continent.<ref>The depiction of Earth includes a geographically accurate landmark: the Balize lobe of the [[w:Mississippi River Delta|Mississippi river delta]], a feature formed between the 16th and 20th Centuries of the real-world Earth. However, no further conclusions should be inferred as the series creators deliberately avoid confirming whether ''Battlestar Galactica'' occurs in the real-world Earth's past, present, or future.</ref>

====Starbuck's Visit====
[[Image:starbuck-earth.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Starbuck's claimed photo from near Earth]]
Starbuck claims she visited Earth in her Viper, a trip which took about 6 hours by her recollection while months passed for the Fleet. She is unaware of how she got to and from Earth in a Viper (which does not have FTL capability.) She describes Earth as having blue seas and white clouds, and took a variety of photos from her Viper. She also describes a "yellow moon and star" matching the descriptions by Pythia. Her photos have star patterns matching the Zodiac seen in the [[Tomb of Athena]]. On the return trip, she describes seeing a ringed gas giant planet (possibly Saturn or Jupiter), a "flashing triple star" and a comet.

As the Fleet leaves the Ionian Nebula on the same vector by which it arrived, Starbuck feels pain and each jump and a strong sense that the fleet is going the wrong way ([[He That Believeth In Me]]).
<div style="clear:both;"></div>

==Notes==

*In one of the ''extras'' included on the five-disc DVD release of the first season of ''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'', [[Edward James Olmos]] ([[William Adama]]) remarks in a very jocular fashion that they will never reach Earth. Mary McDonnell ([[Laura Roslin]]) covers his mouth and tries to hush him while laughing. Although loyal fans may question the trustworthiness of this statement, it is known that the creators keep a "[[Series bible|Bible]]" to the show, to which the actors presumably have access.
*Several clues point to Earth as the true homeworld of humanity. As the Fleet approaches Earth, the artifacts they encounter become more ancient. The ruins on Kobol are 2,000 years old, the Lion's Head nebula beacon is 3,000 years old, and the Temple of Five is dated to 4,000 years.
*Starbuck's description of the moon she sees over the Earth she visits as "yellow," and the fact that this matches the scroll of Pythia is curious and unexplained. Her photo shows a yellowish moon during a partial lunar eclipse over a mostly gray-white planet, though she described the planet as blue with white clouds. However, the photograph appears to be very desaturated and may not represent the true colors. She may have intended to say "yellow star and moon" (referring to the star as yellow) instead of "yellow moon and star."

== Official Statements ==

* ''[[Edward James Olmos]] describes how he thinks the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] could find Earth:''

:I personally — this is not [from] any of the writers, but my thing — I wanted to come into [the present day], find Earth, cruise on top of it, see it for what it is, and as we're coming down to it, we're blown up, we're nuked. And then [someone says to] the [[w:President of the United States|President of the United States]], which is [[w:George W. Bush|[George W.] Bush]], "They've been taken care of. Thank God you saved the world again." And you turn, and you see who told him that, and it's one of the Cylons. [''Laughs'']<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20015932_2,00.html|title=Four-ward, Cylons: Edward James Olmos|date=23 March 2007|accessdate=22 June 2007|last=Vary|first=Adam B.|format=|language=}}</ref>

==References==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>
{{RDM Planets}}
[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Planets]]
[[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Erde (RDM)]]

<pagesidebar>
* See Also
** Sacred Scrolls#The Origin of Mankind|Origin of Mankind theories
* Other Series
** Earth (TOS)|Earth from TOS
** Earth (1980)|Earth from "Galactica 1980"
</pagesidebar>