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A Measure of Salvation

2006-11-11T12:38:27Z

Leon: /* Questions */

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

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

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

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

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

== Questions ==

* Will [[Caprica-Six]] continue to stand by and permit Baltar's mistreatment at their hands?
* Where is Caprica-Six's own internal Baltar in all of this?
* Of the Cylons, which type told the basestar to self-destruct: [[Hybrid]] or [[Cylon agent]]? Considering her quite odd look after the destruction, might it have been Athena?
* What kind of new start are the Cylons planning for Earth? Just a new home planet, an attempt at human Cylon relations not tainted by the destruction of the Twelve Colonies, or something else?
* Were there no Centurions on the infected baseship? Are they even endangered by the disease?
* Why was the bark left behind on the basestar?
* Why did an entire Cylon fleet (including a Ressurrection Ship) jumped to the encounter with Galactica? Why was the Ressurrection Ship not left behind somewhere else, as it was done in previous battles?
* Is D'anna in love with Baltar?
* Why is Gaeta so surprised to hear that Baltar is alive, given the fact that he was actually there when D'anna offered Baltar to be evacuated from New Caprica?

== Analysis ==

It should be noted that the Cylons would have quickly cured themselves of this "Plague", if Galactica had succeeded in infecting them. It was quickly noted in the episode that Sharon was immune herself because residual fetal cells from Hera created effective antibodies against the virus. Cylons lack the immunity to effectively counter the encephalitis inducing virus, and any attempt at normal vaccination would not work because the Cylon immune system would create antibodies against the vaccine (this occurance seems to beg the question on Cylon immmunity). Hera is immune to the virus because she is a hybrid Human-Cylon. That she is now in the custody of the Cylons, Baltar would have quickly utlized her immunity, as he previously did on Roslin, as capital to further his self-preservation amongst them. He could quickly devise a serum using Hera's immune cells to innoculate the population due to the similar biology of Hera and the Cylons; this would overcome the obstacle of traditional vaccination. It is also suprising that neither Adama nor Roslin brought up this possible outcome to an attempt at genocide after the discussion sequence with Lee and Agathon. They are both aware in this scene that Hera and Baltar are with the Cylons, and that Baltar has been helping them find Earth. And they already know Baltar has done this in the past.

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

== Notes ==
*According to an [http://www.nowplayingmag.com/content/view/4175/58/ interview] with executive producer [[David Eick]], episodes 5 and 6 are a two-part story in which ''Galactica'' discovers a dying Cylon Baseship, and deals with a plague that has befallen the Cylons.
*[[Survivor count|Fleet population]] is 41,420. Barring any births, there is an unaccounted loss of at least two since "[[Torn]]".

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

== Official Statements ==

== Guest Stars ==

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

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

{{Episode list (RDM season 3)}}

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

A Measure of Salvation

2006-11-11T12:37:02Z

Leon: /* Questions */

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

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

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

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

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

== Questions ==

* Will [[Caprica-Six]] continue to stand by and permit Baltar's mistreatment at their hands?
* Where is Caprica-Six's own internal Baltar in all of this?
* Of the Cylons, which type told the basestar to self-destruct: [[Hybrid]] or [[Cylon agent]]? Considering her quite odd look after the destruction, might it have been Athena?
* What kind of new start are the Cylons planning for Earth? Just a new home planet, an attempt at human Cylon relations not tainted by the destruction of the Twelve Colonies, or something else?
* Were there no Centurions on the infected baseship? Are they even in endangered by the disease?
* Why was the bark left behind on the basestar?
* Why did an entire Cylon fleet (including a Ressurrection Ship) jumped to the encounter with Galactica? Why was the Ressurrection Ship not left behind somewhere else, as it was done in previous battles?
* Is D'anna in love with Baltar?
* Why is Gaeta so surprised to hear that Baltar is alive, given the fact that he was actually there when D'anna offered Baltar to be evacuated from New Caprica?

== Analysis ==

It should be noted that the Cylons would have quickly cured themselves of this "Plague", if Galactica had succeeded in infecting them. It was quickly noted in the episode that Sharon was immune herself because residual fetal cells from Hera created effective antibodies against the virus. Cylons lack the immunity to effectively counter the encephalitis inducing virus, and any attempt at normal vaccination would not work because the Cylon immune system would create antibodies against the vaccine (this occurance seems to beg the question on Cylon immmunity). Hera is immune to the virus because she is a hybrid Human-Cylon. That she is now in the custody of the Cylons, Baltar would have quickly utlized her immunity, as he previously did on Roslin, as capital to further his self-preservation amongst them. He could quickly devise a serum using Hera's immune cells to innoculate the population due to the similar biology of Hera and the Cylons; this would overcome the obstacle of traditional vaccination. It is also suprising that neither Adama nor Roslin brought up this possible outcome to an attempt at genocide after the discussion sequence with Lee and Agathon. They are both aware in this scene that Hera and Baltar are with the Cylons, and that Baltar has been helping them find Earth. And they already know Baltar has done this in the past.

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

== Notes ==
*According to an [http://www.nowplayingmag.com/content/view/4175/58/ interview] with executive producer [[David Eick]], episodes 5 and 6 are a two-part story in which ''Galactica'' discovers a dying Cylon Baseship, and deals with a plague that has befallen the Cylons.
*[[Survivor count|Fleet population]] is 41,420. Barring any births, there is an unaccounted loss of at least two since "[[Torn]]".

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

== Official Statements ==

== Guest Stars ==

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

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

{{Episode list (RDM season 3)}}

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

Torn

2006-11-10T10:37:05Z

Leon: /* Questions */ Cavil

{{Episode Data
| title= Torn
| image=Season 3 - Promo - Epi 5 - StarbuckTighAdama.jpg
| season= 3
| episode= 6
| guests= [[Lucy Lawless]] as [[Number Three]] <br/>
| writer= [[Anne Cofell Saunders]]
| story=
| director= [[Jean de Segonzac]]
| production= 306
| rating=
| US airdate= 2006-11-03
| UK airdate=
| dvd=
| population= 41,422
| prev= [[Collaborators]]
| next= [[A Measure of Salvation]]
}}
== Overview ==
:''[[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] and [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] create divisions between those who suffered under the Cylon occupation of [[New Caprica]] and those who stayed with the fleet. Meanwhile, [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] tries to prove his worth to the Cylons.''

== Summary ==

=== On [[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]] ===
* ''Galactica'''s air group runs exercises with the Viper pilots who settled on New Caprica and are thus out of shape. Starbuck deliberately breaks formation and collides with [[Louanne Katraine|Kat]]'s Viper, forcing an end to the exercise and causing now-Major [[Lee Adama]] - who has resumed his post as [[CAG]] - to remove her from flight duty.
* [[Gaeta|Felix Gaeta]] meets with [[Laura Roslin]] and [[William Adama]] to discuss Baltar-related matters. During the year before the Cylon Occupation of New Caprica, Baltar was obsessed with analyzing the data from Kobol to find the path to Earth. Based on passages in the [[Pythia|Scrolls of Pythia]], Baltar identified a nebula and two associated pulsars he believed to be a landmark on the road to Earth.
* Upon Thrace's return to her bunk, she is met by Kacey and her mother, whom she dismisses, telling the Kacey's mother not visit her again.
* [[Karl Agathon]] congratulates and encourages Apollo for losing all the excess fat he had gained during the New Caprica era. Apollo asks Helo to ensure to remind him to never let that happen again.
* In the pilots' rec room, [[Brendan Constanza|Hot Dog]] christens Lieutenant [[Sharon Agathon]] with the callsign "[[Athena]]" after she points out that, despite appearances, she is not "[[Boomer]]".
* Thrace and Tigh begin to sow dissent between the survivors of New Caprica and the crew that stayed behind on ''Galactica''.
* Adama confronts Thrace and Tigh on their behavior. He challenges them to shoot him, as their constant complaining is tantamount to pulling the trigger. When neither do, Adama demands they shape up and move on with their lives.
* Spurred by Adama's words, Thrace cuts her hair and appears to return to duty. Later, in uniform, she visits [[Kacey]] and her mother.
* Meanwhile, Tigh returns to his room and begins drinking to excess, finishing off one bottle and starting another.
* In a Raptor, Athena and [[Racetrack]] jump into range of the [[Lion's Head Nebula]], and are excited to find what the Scrolls described (an eye that blinks red and blue). They quickly realize, however, that they have jumped right next to the dying basestar.

=== On a [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] ===
*[[Gaius Baltar]], aboard the Cylon basestar, is having another hallucination. On a sunny beach, Gaius praises Six for returning to him in his time of need, and states that he enjoys having conversations with her. Six implores him to learn anything and everything about the Cylons, as he will need the information in the days ahead. Baltar presses six again to tell him what she is, either a hallucination or the result of some sort of implant - Six tells Baltar, again, that she is an angel of God.
*Having been allowed to stay on the [[basestar]], [[Caprica-Six]] and [[Three]] talk with Baltar later on, inquiring about the location of [[Earth]]. Baltar initially denies having any knowledge of where Earth is, but then reveals that he does have clues as to where its probable location is. He then finds out that the [[Cylons]] intend to find Earth so they can use it as their new home.
*Baltar is apprehensive about helping the Cylons, and Caprica-Six tells him that the Cylons are also leery as to whether his intentions are true or not. Caprica-Six leads Baltar through the ship, telling him that she uses a projection of a forest to navigate the ship. In his mind, Baltar realizes that his form of projection is similar to what the Cylons are using, causing him to question whether he is human or a Cylon.
*Caprica-Six informs Baltar that his rescue of [[Hera]] and his assistance in finding Earth has made him a valuable asset, and has gone a long way in impressing the Cylons. Baltar asks why there are only seven models on the ship, and inquires about the remaining five models. Caprica-Six tells him that they don't talk about it. He asks whether they would recognize one of the others, but their conversation is interrupted by Three before she can answer.
* Three informs Caprica-Six that there is a situation, and a [[Five]] states that the basestar that went to check the pulsar has not reported back. The group head to a control center, where Baltar finds out that the missing basestar has been infected by a disease. The Cylons speculate and that any Cylon that dies and uploads to a [[Resurrection Ship]] might spread the virus even further. As a precautionary measure the Resurrection Ship is kept out of range. On the urge of his internal Six, Baltar offers to board the infected basestar and collect scientific information.
* Before he leaves on his mission, Baltar encounters the [[Hybrid|Cylon Hybrid]] that controls the functions of the basestar. The hybrid is hooked into the ship's systems and continually vocalizes her seemingly non-sensical thoughts. Caprica-Six tells Baltar that it is thought by most of the Cylon models that the Hybrid has gone insane from being connected to the [[basestar]] and that her words hold no meaning, however the [[Leoben]] model considers the hybrid's words as coming from God.
* The Cylons provide Baltar with a Raptor to board the baseship, and when he arrives, he finds numerous Cylons, either dead or dying. He collects blood samples and takes pictures of the area to bring back for analysis, and also finds a large manmade object in the hold of the ship. He then finds a dying [[Six]] model (curiously with black hair), who informs him that the device the Cylons captured, a probe left by the [[13th Colony]]. Even though Baltar offers to bring her help, she tries to attack him, and he strangles her to death.
* Upon his return to the basestar, he denies finding anything that could have caused the outbreak of the virus, but Caprica-Six notices the probe object in Baltar's picture, but doesn't let on to anyone else what she has discovered.

== Questions ==
* Would it be possible for the Colonials to salvage the derelict basestar for their own purposes?
* What has happened to the remaining five Cylon models? Are they so secretive that none of the other seven variants have any knowledge of them? Did the Cylons permanently box the other models because they were dissenters to the cause of the Cylon race?
* If Baltar was able to extrapolate the location of the Lion's Head Nebula just from reading the sacred scriptures, can we not assume someone else could have conducted the same research at an earlier date?
* What is Caprica-Six going to do now that she realizes Baltar may be withholding critically sensitive information?
* Cally and Galen Tyrol are both seen working on the hangar deck. Who is taking care of their baby? Has a system been put in place to take care of crewmembers' children?
* Is Athena infected with the Cylon virus? {{spoilli|([[A Measure of Salvation|Answer]])}}
* As the probe is supposed to come from the 13th Tribe, and is affecting Cylons, does that mean that Cylons have been exisiting in times of the 13th tribe? Or is just by accident that is viral for Cylons?
** What is the "genetic pool" that the human form Cylons all come from, and has it existed for longer than the Cylons themselves?
* Is the virus biological or technological in nature? The "inevitable once we took human form" and "genetic pool" lines indicate that the Cylons think it is biological. On the other hand, their speculation that it could survive through a download process implies that it could technological in nature (i.e. computer virus). Or is the virus both biological and technological, like the Cylons themselves?
* Why did then-President Baltar investigate clues to Earth's location, given that he advocated abandoning that very search in his election campaign?
* The Cylon model Eight we see on the basestar with Baltar - is she Boomer? If yes, is her involvement with the Cylons on that basestar to find a map of Earth an indication that she has finally accepted her identity as a Cylon and disassociated herself from the humans?
* With seven Cylons revealed and the "Final Five" on odds with them, are there any Cylon Agents left in the fleet?
* If the known seven Cylons don't speak about the "Final Five", why did Caprica-Six mentioned the existence of twelve models in the first place? Maybe whatever happened between them occured after the Fall of the Colonies?
*Might it be that the [[Cavil | Cavils]] do not participate in the everyday life and decission-making of the Cylons? This model was neither seen on Caprica in "[[Downloaded]]" nor on the scenes set on the baseship we have seen so far. While this is probably due to the fact that actor [[Dean Stockwell]] is not available, it seems a little bit odd that even no stand-ins were used, as it happened with Simon and Leoben in "Downlaoded".

== Analysis ==
*The crew-position shuffle continues from last episode, but some definite decisions have been made:
**Lee has been demoted back to Major, and has resumed his old position as CAG, with Kat and Hot Dog as senior pilots under him. Starbuck is as well, until Adama revokes her flight status for reckless behaviour.
**As mentioned, it seems Kat has been demoted from CAG to leader of [[Blue Squadron]].
**As implied in "Collaborators", Helo keeps the XO slot aboard ''Galactica'' for now.
**Gaeta appears to have inherited Baltar's mantle as the scientific advisor (it is unclear whether he holds any additional positions), and is focusing his efforts on refining a course for Earth.
**Cally Tyrol is shown working the flight deck alongside her husband, showing that she is once again active in the Fleet.
**[[Noel Allison|Narcho]] is now a pilot on ''Galactica''.
*
*Following her actions during the Battle of New Caprica, Sharon Agathon seems to have garnered some degree of acceptance among the ''Galactica'' air group.
*"Athena" is the name of [[Athena (TOS)|Adama's daughter]] in the original series. This may be an allusion to the changing relationships on ''Galactica'': Sharon Agathon has replaced Kara Thrace as William Adama's surrogate daughter. (He tells Thrace, "You were like a daughter to me once. No more.") As Hot Dog states, Athena is also the name of a [[Athena, Lord of Kobol|Lord of Kobol]].
*The baseship hybrid appears to be viewed by the Cylons in the same way as the Centurions and Raiders. The Hybrid has no vote in the Cylon decision-making process, despite its ability to express its thoughts and feelings, after a fashion.
*The Cylons have a [[Raptor]] and [[flight suit]] at their disposal, acquired during the occupation of [[New Caprica]] or from undestroyed Colonial military assets on the [[Twelve Colonies]]. This raises the possibility that the Cylons may have other Colonial ships in their possession.

==Notes==
*According to an [http://www.nowplayingmag.com/content/view/4175/58/ interview] with executive producer [[David Eick]], episodes 5 and 6 are a two-part story in which ''Galactica'' discovers a dying Cylon Baseship, and deals with a plague that has befallen the Cylons. (Eick is counting "Occupation" and "Precipice" as one episode.)
*The phrase "end of line," uttered by the [[Hybrid|Cylon hybrid]] in this episode, is a possible reference to the film ''[[w:Tron (film)|Tron]]'', in which the [[w:Master Control Program (Tron)|Master Control Program]] finishes its sentences with "end of line."
**This may also be a play on the episode title. ''Torn'' is an anagram of ''Tron''.
**[[w:End_of_Line|End of line]] is also a computing term, referring to the character used to signal a new line in text-based protocols.
* In the PC game ''[[w:Homeworld|Homeworld]]'', [[Wikipedia:Karan S'jet|Karan S'jet]], a young female neuroscientist, integrates her physical body into the mothership to serve as its living CPU. This is similar to the function of the Cylon Hybrid. (Although S'jet chose to do so voluntarily, and it is unlikely, from comments by [[Three]], that the Hybrids were given a choice) . The backstory to the game's sequel ''[[w:Homeworld 2|Homeworld 2]]'' descibes S'jet as undergoing a similar metaphysical experience while integrated with the mothership as Caprica-Six describes of the Hybrid.
* The idea of using living creatures as central processing units of large ships has been visited before in both literary and filmed science fiction. For example the pilots in ''[[w:Dune|Dune]]'' serve a similar function while under the influence of the Spice. In Norman Spinrad's novel "The Void Captain's Tale", some women become pilots because they believe to achieve a better insight into god's creation, thus having a spiritual experience. This is similar to Leoben's beliefs about the Hybrids. Recent television series with living CPUs include ''[[w:Babylon 5|Babylon 5]]'', with human telepaths in the [[w:Shadow (Babylon 5)|Shadow]] vessels, and ''[[w:Farscape|Farscape's]]'' Pilot, though in the latter case, Pilot is more like a conduit between the crew and a sentient ship in its own right.
** The idea of a living being serving as CPU for a space vessel is explored, in detail and from the ship's perspective, in Anne McCaffrey's [[w:The Ship Who Sang|Ship Who...]] series of novels and short stories. The first of these was published in 1961 and way well be the inspiration for the other examples cited above.
*According to the podcast for the episode, the Hybrid's visual look was inspired by the precogs in ''[[w:Minority Report|Minority Report]]''.
*In the podcast is also revealed that some scenes of the episode had to be highly alterated from what was initially planed. For example the opening conversation of Baltar and Six had to be redubbed and in the original script Starbuck simply ran out of gas, instead of crashing with another Viper. Additionally it is mentioned that Katee Sackhoff really cut her own hair at the end of the episode.
*The name of the director, [[Jean de Segonzac]], was misspelled in the onscreen credits. He was listed as Jean de Segoznac.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

*''On Galactica's flight deck'':
:'''Chief Tyrol''': (checking Starbuck's Viper) Captain, how did you land this thing?
:'''Kara Thrace''': Pointed it towards the deck and stopped when I got here.
:'''Hot Dog''': Bone-dry, she says. Landed the bird without a drop of fuel.
:'''Lee Adama''': (walking up to Kara) If you want to die, I will open up an airlock for you, but you are not taking one of my Vipers with you.
:'''Kara Thrace''': The bird's on the deck. ''I'm'' on the deck. I don't know what you're bitching about.
:'''Lee Adama''': I don't give a frak what you do, Starbuck. You're done flying.

*''Gaius Baltar sees and hears the Hybrid for the first time'':
:'''Hybrid''': Two protons expelled at each coupling site creates the mode of force, the embryo becomes a fish though we don't enter until a plate, we're here to experience, evolve the little toe, atrophy, don't ask me how, I'll be dead in a thousand light years, thank you, thank you, genesis turns to its source, reduction occurs step wise though the essence is all one, end of line. FTL system check. Diagnostic functions within parameters repeats the harlequin, the agony exquisite, the colors run the path of ashes...

*''In the rec room on Galactica'':
:'''Helo''': (referring to the rescue on New Caprica) Hey, we all made sacrifices.
:'''Saul Tigh''': Is that so?
:'''Helo''': Yes, that's right.
:'''Saul Tigh''': Well, while you were pinning wings on your Cylon girlfriend, our people were strapping homemade bombs to their chest, doing what they could to take the bastards out. So forgive me if I don't get all misty over your sacrifices.

*''Adama's feelings towards, and regarding, Starbuck'':
:'''Adama''': You were like a daughter to me once - no more. You're malcontent and a cancer, and I won't have you on my ship. So you have a choice - you can figure out how to become a human being again, and an officer; or you can find another place to live, off of this ship. You're dismissed.

*''Adama's feelings towards, and regarding, Saul Tigh'':
:'''Adama''': You're full of bile, hatred, and I know it has something to do with [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]]. I'm sorry for that. And if you need time Saul, you take all the time you want, but I gotta run a ship. And the last thing I need is a one-eyed drunk sitting down here, sewing discontent and disobedience. So I'll tell you once again, Saul, you can pick up that weapon and kill me. Or you can get your ass back into your quarters and not leave... 'til you act like the man I've known for the past 30 years.
: '''Saul Tigh''' (picks up weapon and unloads it) That man doesn't exist any more, Bill. And you won't be seeing me again. (drops gun on table, hobbles out of room)

*''The Hybrid's objection to leaving the infected Basestar behind'':
:'''Hybrid''': Mists of dreams drip along the nascent echo, and love no more. End of line.

*''When discovering the dying basestar'':
:'''Athena''': When God's anger awakens even the mighty shall fall.

== 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 Tyrol]]
* [[Alessandro Juliani]] as [[Felix Gaeta]]
* [[Rick Worthy]] as [[Simon]]
* [[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Leoben Conoy]]
* [[Matthew Bennett]] as [[Number Five]]
* [[imdb:2422305|Emilie Ullerup]] as [[Julia Prynne]]
* [[Madeline Parker]] as [[Kacey]]
* [[Sebastian Spence]] as Lt. [[Noel Allison|Noel "Narcho" Allison]]

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

{{episode list (RDM season 3)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Anne Cofell Saunders]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Jean de Segonzac]]
[[Category:RDM]]

Torn

2006-11-10T09:46:48Z

Leon: /* Notes */ additional information from the podcast

{{Episode Data
| title= Torn
| image=Season 3 - Promo - Epi 5 - StarbuckTighAdama.jpg
| season= 3
| episode= 6
| guests= [[Lucy Lawless]] as [[Number Three]] <br/>
| writer= [[Anne Cofell Saunders]]
| story=
| director= [[Jean de Segonzac]]
| production= 306
| rating=
| US airdate= 2006-11-03
| UK airdate=
| dvd=
| population= 41,422
| prev= [[Collaborators]]
| next= [[A Measure of Salvation]]
}}
== Overview ==
:''[[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] and [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] create divisions between those who suffered under the Cylon occupation of [[New Caprica]] and those who stayed with the fleet. Meanwhile, [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] tries to prove his worth to the Cylons.''

== Summary ==

=== On [[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]] ===
* ''Galactica'''s air group runs exercises with the Viper pilots who settled on New Caprica and are thus out of shape. Starbuck deliberately breaks formation and collides with [[Louanne Katraine|Kat]]'s Viper, forcing an end to the exercise and causing now-Major [[Lee Adama]] - who has resumed his post as [[CAG]] - to remove her from flight duty.
* [[Gaeta|Felix Gaeta]] meets with [[Laura Roslin]] and [[William Adama]] to discuss Baltar-related matters. During the year before the Cylon Occupation of New Caprica, Baltar was obsessed with analyzing the data from Kobol to find the path to Earth. Based on passages in the [[Pythia|Scrolls of Pythia]], Baltar identified a nebula and two associated pulsars he believed to be a landmark on the road to Earth.
* Upon Thrace's return to her bunk, she is met by Kacey and her mother, whom she dismisses, telling the Kacey's mother not visit her again.
* [[Karl Agathon]] congratulates and encourages Apollo for losing all the excess fat he had gained during the New Caprica era. Apollo asks Helo to ensure to remind him to never let that happen again.
* In the pilots' rec room, [[Brendan Constanza|Hot Dog]] christens Lieutenant [[Sharon Agathon]] with the callsign "[[Athena]]" after she points out that, despite appearances, she is not "[[Boomer]]".
* Thrace and Tigh begin to sow dissent between the survivors of New Caprica and the crew that stayed behind on ''Galactica''.
* Adama confronts Thrace and Tigh on their behavior. He challenges them to shoot him, as their constant complaining is tantamount to pulling the trigger. When neither do, Adama demands they shape up and move on with their lives.
* Spurred by Adama's words, Thrace cuts her hair and appears to return to duty. Later, in uniform, she visits [[Kacey]] and her mother.
* Meanwhile, Tigh returns to his room and begins drinking to excess, finishing off one bottle and starting another.
* In a Raptor, Athena and [[Racetrack]] jump into range of the [[Lion's Head Nebula]], and are excited to find what the Scrolls described (an eye that blinks red and blue). They quickly realize, however, that they have jumped right next to the dying basestar.

=== On a [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] ===
*[[Gaius Baltar]], aboard the Cylon basestar, is having another hallucination. On a sunny beach, Gaius praises Six for returning to him in his time of need, and states that he enjoys having conversations with her. Six implores him to learn anything and everything about the Cylons, as he will need the information in the days ahead. Baltar presses six again to tell him what she is, either a hallucination or the result of some sort of implant - Six tells Baltar, again, that she is an angel of God.
*Having been allowed to stay on the [[basestar]], [[Caprica-Six]] and [[Three]] talk with Baltar later on, inquiring about the location of [[Earth]]. Baltar initially denies having any knowledge of where Earth is, but then reveals that he does have clues as to where its probable location is. He then finds out that the [[Cylons]] intend to find Earth so they can use it as their new home.
*Baltar is apprehensive about helping the Cylons, and Caprica-Six tells him that the Cylons are also leery as to whether his intentions are true or not. Caprica-Six leads Baltar through the ship, telling him that she uses a projection of a forest to navigate the ship. In his mind, Baltar realizes that his form of projection is similar to what the Cylons are using, causing him to question whether he is human or a Cylon.
*Caprica-Six informs Baltar that his rescue of [[Hera]] and his assistance in finding Earth has made him a valuable asset, and has gone a long way in impressing the Cylons. Baltar asks why there are only seven models on the ship, and inquires about the remaining five models. Caprica-Six tells him that they don't talk about it. He asks whether they would recognize one of the others, but their conversation is interrupted by Three before she can answer.
* Three informs Caprica-Six that there is a situation, and a [[Five]] states that the basestar that went to check the pulsar has not reported back. The group head to a control center, where Baltar finds out that the missing basestar has been infected by a disease. The Cylons speculate and that any Cylon that dies and uploads to a [[Resurrection Ship]] might spread the virus even further. As a precautionary measure the Resurrection Ship is kept out of range. On the urge of his internal Six, Baltar offers to board the infected basestar and collect scientific information.
* Before he leaves on his mission, Baltar encounters the [[Hybrid|Cylon Hybrid]] that controls the functions of the basestar. The hybrid is hooked into the ship's systems and continually vocalizes her seemingly non-sensical thoughts. Caprica-Six tells Baltar that it is thought by most of the Cylon models that the Hybrid has gone insane from being connected to the [[basestar]] and that her words hold no meaning, however the [[Leoben]] model considers the hybrid's words as coming from God.
* The Cylons provide Baltar with a Raptor to board the baseship, and when he arrives, he finds numerous Cylons, either dead or dying. He collects blood samples and takes pictures of the area to bring back for analysis, and also finds a large manmade object in the hold of the ship. He then finds a dying [[Six]] model (curiously with black hair), who informs him that the device the Cylons captured, a probe left by the [[13th Colony]]. Even though Baltar offers to bring her help, she tries to attack him, and he strangles her to death.
* Upon his return to the basestar, he denies finding anything that could have caused the outbreak of the virus, but Caprica-Six notices the probe object in Baltar's picture, but doesn't let on to anyone else what she has discovered.

== Questions ==
* Would it be possible for the Colonials to salvage the derelict basestar for their own purposes?
* What has happened to the remaining five Cylon models? Are they so secretive that none of the other seven variants have any knowledge of them? Did the Cylons permanently box the other models because they were dissenters to the cause of the Cylon race?
* If Baltar was able to extrapolate the location of the Lion's Head Nebula just from reading the sacred scriptures, can we not assume someone else could have conducted the same research at an earlier date?
* What is Caprica-Six going to do now that she realizes Baltar may be withholding critically sensitive information?
* Cally and Galen Tyrol are both seen working on the hangar deck. Who is taking care of their baby? Has a system been put in place to take care of crewmembers' children?
* Is Athena infected with the Cylon virus? {{spoilli|([[A Measure of Salvation|Answer]])}}
* As the probe is supposed to come from the 13th Tribe, and is affecting Cylons, does that mean that Cylons have been exisiting in times of the 13th tribe? Or is just by accident that is viral for Cylons?
** What is the "genetic pool" that the human form Cylons all come from, and has it existed for longer than the Cylons themselves?
* Is the virus biological or technological in nature? The "inevitable once we took human form" and "genetic pool" lines indicate that the Cylons think it is biological. On the other hand, their speculation that it could survive through a download process implies that it could technological in nature (i.e. computer virus). Or is the virus both biological and technological, like the Cylons themselves?
* Why did then-President Baltar investigate clues to Earth's location, given that he advocated abandoning that very search in his election campaign?
* The Cylon model Eight we see on the basestar with Baltar - is she Boomer? If yes, is her involvement with the Cylons on that basestar to find a map of Earth an indication that she has finally accepted her identity as a Cylon and disassociated herself from the humans?
* With seven Cylons revealed and the "Final Five" on odds with them, are there any Cylon Agents left in the fleet?
* If the known seven Cylons don't speak about the "Final Five", why did Caprica-Six mentioned the existence of twelve models in the first place? Maybe whatever happened between them occured after the Fall of the Colonies?

== Analysis ==
*The crew-position shuffle continues from last episode, but some definite decisions have been made:
**Lee has been demoted back to Major, and has resumed his old position as CAG, with Kat and Hot Dog as senior pilots under him. Starbuck is as well, until Adama revokes her flight status for reckless behaviour.
**As mentioned, it seems Kat has been demoted from CAG to leader of [[Blue Squadron]].
**As implied in "Collaborators", Helo keeps the XO slot aboard ''Galactica'' for now.
**Gaeta appears to have inherited Baltar's mantle as the scientific advisor (it is unclear whether he holds any additional positions), and is focusing his efforts on refining a course for Earth.
**Cally Tyrol is shown working the flight deck alongside her husband, showing that she is once again active in the Fleet.
**[[Noel Allison|Narcho]] is now a pilot on ''Galactica''.
*
*Following her actions during the Battle of New Caprica, Sharon Agathon seems to have garnered some degree of acceptance among the ''Galactica'' air group.
*"Athena" is the name of [[Athena (TOS)|Adama's daughter]] in the original series. This may be an allusion to the changing relationships on ''Galactica'': Sharon Agathon has replaced Kara Thrace as William Adama's surrogate daughter. (He tells Thrace, "You were like a daughter to me once. No more.") As Hot Dog states, Athena is also the name of a [[Athena, Lord of Kobol|Lord of Kobol]].
*The baseship hybrid appears to be viewed by the Cylons in the same way as the Centurions and Raiders. The Hybrid has no vote in the Cylon decision-making process, despite its ability to express its thoughts and feelings, after a fashion.
*The Cylons have a [[Raptor]] and [[flight suit]] at their disposal, acquired during the occupation of [[New Caprica]] or from undestroyed Colonial military assets on the [[Twelve Colonies]]. This raises the possibility that the Cylons may have other Colonial ships in their possession.

==Notes==
*According to an [http://www.nowplayingmag.com/content/view/4175/58/ interview] with executive producer [[David Eick]], episodes 5 and 6 are a two-part story in which ''Galactica'' discovers a dying Cylon Baseship, and deals with a plague that has befallen the Cylons. (Eick is counting "Occupation" and "Precipice" as one episode.)
*The phrase "end of line," uttered by the [[Hybrid|Cylon hybrid]] in this episode, is a possible reference to the film ''[[w:Tron (film)|Tron]]'', in which the [[w:Master Control Program (Tron)|Master Control Program]] finishes its sentences with "end of line."
**This may also be a play on the episode title. ''Torn'' is an anagram of ''Tron''.
**[[w:End_of_Line|End of line]] is also a computing term, referring to the character used to signal a new line in text-based protocols.
* In the PC game ''[[w:Homeworld|Homeworld]]'', [[Wikipedia:Karan S'jet|Karan S'jet]], a young female neuroscientist, integrates her physical body into the mothership to serve as its living CPU. This is similar to the function of the Cylon Hybrid. (Although S'jet chose to do so voluntarily, and it is unlikely, from comments by [[Three]], that the Hybrids were given a choice) . The backstory to the game's sequel ''[[w:Homeworld 2|Homeworld 2]]'' descibes S'jet as undergoing a similar metaphysical experience while integrated with the mothership as Caprica-Six describes of the Hybrid.
* The idea of using living creatures as central processing units of large ships has been visited before in both literary and filmed science fiction. For example the pilots in ''[[w:Dune|Dune]]'' serve a similar function while under the influence of the Spice. In Norman Spinrad's novel "The Void Captain's Tale", some women become pilots because they believe to achieve a better insight into god's creation, thus having a spiritual experience. This is similar to Leoben's beliefs about the Hybrids. Recent television series with living CPUs include ''[[w:Babylon 5|Babylon 5]]'', with human telepaths in the [[w:Shadow (Babylon 5)|Shadow]] vessels, and ''[[w:Farscape|Farscape's]]'' Pilot, though in the latter case, Pilot is more like a conduit between the crew and a sentient ship in its own right.
** The idea of a living being serving as CPU for a space vessel is explored, in detail and from the ship's perspective, in Anne McCaffrey's [[w:The Ship Who Sang|Ship Who...]] series of novels and short stories. The first of these was published in 1961 and way well be the inspiration for the other examples cited above.
*According to the podcast for the episode, the Hybrid's visual look was inspired by the precogs in ''[[w:Minority Report|Minority Report]]''.
*In the podcast is also revealed that some scenes of the episode had to be highly alterated from what was initially planed. For example the opening conversation of Baltar and Six had to be redubbed and in the original script Starbuck simply ran out of gas, instead of crashing with another Viper. Additionally it is mentioned that Katee Sackhoff really cut her own hair at the end of the episode.
*The name of the director, [[Jean de Segonzac]], was misspelled in the onscreen credits. He was listed as Jean de Segoznac.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

*''On Galactica's flight deck'':
:'''Chief Tyrol''': (checking Starbuck's Viper) Captain, how did you land this thing?
:'''Kara Thrace''': Pointed it towards the deck and stopped when I got here.
:'''Hot Dog''': Bone-dry, she says. Landed the bird without a drop of fuel.
:'''Lee Adama''': (walking up to Kara) If you want to die, I will open up an airlock for you, but you are not taking one of my Vipers with you.
:'''Kara Thrace''': The bird's on the deck. ''I'm'' on the deck. I don't know what you're bitching about.
:'''Lee Adama''': I don't give a frak what you do, Starbuck. You're done flying.

*''Gaius Baltar sees and hears the Hybrid for the first time'':
:'''Hybrid''': Two protons expelled at each coupling site creates the mode of force, the embryo becomes a fish though we don't enter until a plate, we're here to experience, evolve the little toe, atrophy, don't ask me how, I'll be dead in a thousand light years, thank you, thank you, genesis turns to its source, reduction occurs step wise though the essence is all one, end of line. FTL system check. Diagnostic functions within parameters repeats the harlequin, the agony exquisite, the colors run the path of ashes...

*''In the rec room on Galactica'':
:'''Helo''': (referring to the rescue on New Caprica) Hey, we all made sacrifices.
:'''Saul Tigh''': Is that so?
:'''Helo''': Yes, that's right.
:'''Saul Tigh''': Well, while you were pinning wings on your Cylon girlfriend, our people were strapping homemade bombs to their chest, doing what they could to take the bastards out. So forgive me if I don't get all misty over your sacrifices.

*''Adama's feelings towards, and regarding, Starbuck'':
:'''Adama''': You were like a daughter to me once - no more. You're malcontent and a cancer, and I won't have you on my ship. So you have a choice - you can figure out how to become a human being again, and an officer; or you can find another place to live, off of this ship. You're dismissed.

*''Adama's feelings towards, and regarding, Saul Tigh'':
:'''Adama''': You're full of bile, hatred, and I know it has something to do with [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]]. I'm sorry for that. And if you need time Saul, you take all the time you want, but I gotta run a ship. And the last thing I need is a one-eyed drunk sitting down here, sewing discontent and disobedience. So I'll tell you once again, Saul, you can pick up that weapon and kill me. Or you can get your ass back into your quarters and not leave... 'til you act like the man I've known for the past 30 years.
: '''Saul Tigh''' (picks up weapon and unloads it) That man doesn't exist any more, Bill. And you won't be seeing me again. (drops gun on table, hobbles out of room)

*''The Hybrid's objection to leaving the infected Basestar behind'':
:'''Hybrid''': Mists of dreams drip along the nascent echo, and love no more. End of line.

*''When discovering the dying basestar'':
:'''Athena''': When God's anger awakens even the mighty shall fall.

== 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 Tyrol]]
* [[Alessandro Juliani]] as [[Felix Gaeta]]
* [[Rick Worthy]] as [[Simon]]
* [[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Leoben Conoy]]
* [[Matthew Bennett]] as [[Number Five]]
* [[imdb:2422305|Emilie Ullerup]] as [[Julia Prynne]]
* [[Madeline Parker]] as [[Kacey]]
* [[Sebastian Spence]] as Lt. [[Noel Allison|Noel "Narcho" Allison]]

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

{{episode list (RDM season 3)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Anne Cofell Saunders]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Jean de Segonzac]]
[[Category:RDM]]

Humanoid Cylon

2006-11-10T09:35:47Z

Leon: /* Known Cylon Agent Models */

[[Image:CyAg.jpg|thumb|300px|Cylon copies of [[Number Five]], [[Number Six]], and [[Leoben Conoy]] at [[Ragnar Anchorage]]]]

'''Cylon agents''' are [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] that mimic human form so completely that they are nearly undetectable to current Colonial technologies. Cylon agents can either be actively aware of their origins as Cylons or can be programmed to believe that they are truly human, resulting in a "sleeper agent". These types of Cylons were responsible for aiding in the complete destruction of the Twelve Colonies through their use of sabotage and infiltration.

== Origins ==

Following the end of the [[Cylon War]], the Cylons withdrew from Colonial space to a planet of their own. For some 40 years, nothing was heard of them, and no apparent attempt was made by the Colonials to keep an eye on them. The only contact expected between the two was created by the Colonial government through planned annual diplomatic meetings at [[Armistice Station]]. However, while the Colonials sent a repesentative to the station every year, the Cylons did not ([[Miniseries]]).

[[Image:Season 3 Female Cylons.jpg|thumb|150px|Numbers [[Number Six|Six]], [[Number Three|Three]], and [[Number Eight|Eight]]]]
During their forty years of isolation, the Cylons developed or evolved into a ''humanoid form''<ref name="humanoids">The idea of Cylons in humanoid form is not new. This concept appeared over 25 years earlier in the episode "[[The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I|The Night the Cylons Landed]]" in the short-lived spinoff of the Original Series, ''[[Galactica 1980]]''.</ref> that is indistinguishable with the human form, down to the cellular level, but not completely at a molecular level. These '''Cylon agents'''<ref name="name">Viewers initially lacked an authentic term to call the humanoid Cylons during season 1 of the series. Here on the ''Battlestar Wiki'', the descriptive term "Humano-Cylon" was used for a time. Dialogue in several episodes throughout season 2 have consistently used "Cylon agent" to describe the humanoid Cylons. Other names are also used, such as "humanoid Cylons" (which [[Tricia Helfer]] often uses in interviews, but apparently more for convenience than an official name), or "Bio-Cylons" which is sometimes used derisively by fans of the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]].
*Some of the resistance fighters on Caprica refer to the Cylon agents as "Skin Jobs," a script reference to ''[[Wikipedia:Blade Runner|Blade Runner]]''.</ref> have the capacity to emulate many human physical acts, including sex, as demonstrated by the Number Six, Number Eight and Cavil models. Cylon agents also display convincingly human personalities (affection, jealousy, sadness, anger, sense of humor etc.) In fact, they do so even when interacting with other Cylons outside of Colonial scrutiny, making it clear that these personalities are real. The majority of the Cylons follow a monotheistic religion (with the possible exception of the [[Cavil|Brother Cavil model]]).

Cylon agents can be programmed to believe that they are truly human. These are known as 'sleeper agents'. Sleeper agents appear to have a low-level Cylon personality that can conduct operations while placing the human sleeper personality "on-hold." The [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|first copy of Sharon Valerii]], known by her callsign of "Boomer" on battlestar ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'', had little awareness of her true nature until her arrest for the attempted assassination of [[William Adama]] ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]). This sleeper agent conducts or aids in sabotage operations within the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] ([[Water]], [[Litmus]]). Most agent copies, particularly [[Number Five|Numbers Five]] [[Number Six|and Six]], imitate human behavior, but are fully aware of their true nature and behave more or less like a human "spy."

[[Image:Gina catatonic.jpg|thumb|left|The emotionally scarred Number Six copy, called "Gina". Her catatonic state proves that the Cylon psyche is susceptible to the same pressures and cleavages as the human psyche.]]

Agents are also susceptible to the same emotional traumas and clevages that their human counterparts are, further proving that personalities are a realistic part of their psyche, despite the presence of the Cylon portion of their personality. A case in point is a copy of Number Six, known as [[Gina]], who was repeatedly physically and sexually assaulted by the crew of ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]''. These repeated assaults lead to Gina's near-catatonic state at the time ''Peagsus'' discovered [[the Fleet (RDM)|the Fleet]] ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]).

As evidenced by [[Number Three]]'s prophetic visions in "[[Exodus, Part I]]", Cylon agents can also experience dreams while sleeping. It's not yet clear whether or not it is usual for Cylons to dream, but Three speaks to Doctor [[Cottle]] as though it is. The psychology of Cylon agents is based on what they simply refer to as "projection." Essentially an enhanced form of a self-induced and controlled hallucination, it's how they choose to see the world around them. Cylons choose the see their environment in any form they wish, whenever they wish. For example, if a Cylon were standing in a hallway, they could see it as a forest filled with birds, trees, and sunlight. The aesthetics is what gives them pleasure. ([[Torn]])

Although they cannot do so remotely or wirelessly, Cylon agents can interface with a computer system or computer network through subdermal physical contact with input cables connected to the devices. In "[[Flight of the Phoenix]]," [[Sharon Agathon|Caprica-Valerii]] connected to ''Galactica'''s computers by this method when she inserted a fiber-optic cable through her left palm and into her arm. This subdermal fiber-optical link suggests that certain tissues in a Cylon agent are photo-reactive. The process involves cutting an opening into the agent's palm and appears painful and was not the common method of data access. Sharon Agathon used her arm again on a [[Cylon data port]] located in a secure complex on Cylon-occupied [[New Caprica]]. This time, the Cylon touched her arm to a complex table of lights to authorize access to a storage area. The Cylon's forearm illuminated in the same location where she had used ''Galactica's'' fiber-optic cable over a year before.

[[Image:Valerii_optic_input.jpg|right|thumb|[[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|Caprica-Valerii]] interfaces with ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica's]]'' [[Computers|mainframe computer]] and communication systems by fiber-optic link]]
A Cylon agent's brain is certainly human in appearance, but is apparently still susceptible to damage from certain types of radiation. Upon the death of an agent's body, a Cylon agent transfers its consciousness into another copy of itself. This "[[Resurrection (RDM)|resurrection]]" is limited by distance, signal integrity, and proximity to a resurrection node or, in space, a [[Resurrection Ship]] ([[Miniseries]], "[[Flesh and Bone]]," "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]").

Based on [[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|Caprica Sharon Valerii]]'s conversation with [[Kara Thrace]] in the episode, "[[The Farm]]," it appears that all Cylon agents may share a ''collective knowledgebase'' of data from other active or deactivated Cylon agents. (A collective knowledgebase works more like an internet chat forum, or even a wiki, which differs from the concept of the collective consciousness as seen in SF characters such as the Borg in ''Star Trek.'' Writers of the show have indicated this type of "hive mind" is not used with agents.)

Valerii spoke of a conversation between Thrace and the second captured [[Leoben Conoy]] copy in the Fleet. This information would only be known to that now-dead Leoben copy if sharing were not possible. Kara Thrace's call sign, Starbuck, was also a likely bit of information gleaned from the collective knowledgebase that [[Simon]] knew of the Viper pilot, although Thrace never told him of her call sign and used it to strike back at her abductors ([[The Farm]]). Also, during "[[Flight of the Phoenix]]," Caprica-Valerii asks [[Anastasia Dualla]] if she still carried her pocket knife, a fact which should have been known only to the ''Galactica'' copy. When under duress, "Boomer" Valerii is able to tell [[Gaius Baltar]] the number of remaining Cylon agent agents in the Fleet, information that would be impossible to gather without a collective knowledgebase to all agents ([[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]]).

Some or all Cylon "female" models may have the capacity to bear children seeded by human males ("[[33]]," "[[Flesh and Bone]]," "[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]", "[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]"). The Cylons tested numerous methods of sexual reproduction, yet these failed due to a known flaw in the Cylon agent design. Cylon agents cannot reproduce with each other biologically, so in an attempt to subvert this deficiency, they try to interbreed with humans, creating hybrid offspring. "[[Farms]]" were apparently set up across all the occupied Colonies where survivors, specifically, young fertile women of child-bearing age, were rounded up, placed under heavy sedation and turned into "baby machines" through artificial insemination (Ron Moore said there are presumably also farms for male humans, plus in vitro experiment labs, etc.). However, this method has been unsuccessful thus far. Another drastically different approach is taken by attempting to conceive a child through a bond of love. It seems that [[Karl Agathon|Helo]] and [[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|Caprica-Sharon Valerii]]'s love-child is the lone success story of the relatively short history of Cylon sexual reproduction ([[The Farm]]).

===Who created the agents?===
There is no authoritative answer to this question. The opening credits claim the Cylons evolved, but there are problems with this explanation. Options include:
*The Cylons "evolved". The opening credits claim the Cylons evolved. This explanation is highly unlikely in the traditional sense of the Darwinian sense of the word. Evolution of this magnitude would happen over thousands of years, not forty; and of course is impossible with mechanical beings.
*The new models were created by the original Cylons. The original Cylon model appears to be the [[Cylon Centurion Model 0005]]. Unless they are more intelligent than they appear, this model does not seem capable of conducting the research and development needed to create Cylon agents.
*The Cylon agents were not created by Cylons, but rather by humans. This option would explain many details such as why only 12 models exist and more cannot be created. If the Cylon agents are products of humanity, then the technology to create more may be lost. This would also explain why 12 were created instead of some other number. Humans might have created one human model for each one of the 12 colonies.

===Why cannot more models be created?===
The Cylons are obsessed with being able to reproduce. It seems as though the Cylons should be able to reproduce the process used to create the original twelve human models and thus negate the need to procreate through other means. Some possible explanations include:
*The Cylon agents were not created by Cylons, but rather by humans. It is therefore feasible that the Cylons never knew how to create more models.
*The twelve agents were created by "[[God]]". The Cylon religion focuses on a single creator. It is possible their religious beliefs are actually based upon the facets of their own creation by a single entity.
*The science used to create new models was lost or forgotten.
*Religious reasons prevented creating any more than twelve models.
*The new models were created by the original Cylons, but the process of creating new models is difficult or resource intensive. This could explain the forty years the Cylons spent in exile.

===When were the first agents created?===
The earliest mention of Cylon agents is two years before the destruction of the 12 colonies. This information does not provide concrete evidence as to when the first models were created and how long they have been among the human population. There is also no evidence as to whether all the 12 models were created at once or whether they were created at different times during the forty year exile.

== Known Cylon Agent Models ==
[[Image:Cylonagentdossier.jpg|right|200px]]
There are twelve models of Cylon agents ([[Miniseries]]), representing twelve archetypes the Cylons have witnessed in humanity. All seven models revealed to the viewers as Cylon agents<ref name="dossier">The term "Known Cylon agents" is shown on a dossier on the models shown on [[Laura Roslin]]'s desk on ''[[Colonial One]]'' in the episode "[[Epiphanies]]."</ref> have also been revealed to the central Colonial characters (on [[New Caprica]] at least) as of the episode, "[[Occupation]]".

There are many copies of each model, although the specific number of each copy (or the number of individual personalities that inhabit them) has not been specified.

Each Cylon agent has the same face, stature, hair, eye & skin color, gender, and other biometrics as all the others of his or her model. This point technically makes each copy a twin of itself, but there are some copies who look different from the other copies of their model. Examples include [[D'anna Biers]], [[Gina]] and the "raven-haired six" that appeared in "[[Torn]]". Each copy appears to start with the same basic personality, but each personality grows more distinct due to their individual experiences.

=== [[Number Three]] ===

[[Image:Biers Downloaded.JPG|thumb|left|Number Three]]
This model was witnessed by viewers posing as a reporter from the [[Fleet News Service]] and was revealed to be a Cylon to viewers at the end of "[[Final Cut]]" when a second copy was shown living on Caprica. Threes seem to be the most calculating and duplicitous models shown. The copy that tried to [[Boxed|box]] Sharon Valerii exhibited these characteristics strongly.

Part of Biers' mission within ''Galactica's'' fleet (which fits her work as a journalist) likely involves the relay of important intelligence within the Fleet, such as the status of the pregnant Caprica copy of Sharon Valerii. This model's status as a Cylon is unknown to the Colonials until the rescue of the surviving members of the [[Caprica Resistance]] ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]).

It is reasonable to assume that the surviving Caprica Resistance members have since revealed this information to the Fleet authorities, either after their rescue, or through the intelligence updates from the [[New Caprica Resistance]] prior to the battlestar's planned rescue mission in "[[Exodus, Part II]]" over a year later.

A copy of this model has appeared under the name/alias "[[D'anna Biers]]."
<div style="clear: both;"></div>

=== [[Number Five]] ===

[[Image:Doral.jpg|thumb|Number Five]]
This model attempts to sow the seeds of discontent or confusion, particularly during crucial life-threatening situations, and endeavors to undermine authority that threatens his objectives ([[Miniseries]]). Doral models are more covert, assuming an ordinary "everyman" appearance that's blended in what may seem to be insignificant behind-the-scenes issues (such as converting ''Galactica'' into a museum). Of all the models thus far, the Aaron Doral models are the most militant, fanatic and consistent in message and objectives to the Cylon objectives, whether he is dispassionately discussing the fate of humanity with his comrades or attempting to kill or maim Colonials in a suicide bomb attack ([[Litmus]]).

Viewers first meet Doral during a tour of ''Galactica'' with other Colonial citizens (possibly the press) as we see the battlestar for the first time at the start of the [[Miniseries]]. Viewers aren't sure of Doral's true identity as the second Cylon agent until the Miniseries' conclusion.

Copies of this model have appeared under the name/alias "[[Aaron Doral]]."

A copy of Number Five is seen with [[Caprica-Six]] and [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)]] at the end of Season 2, and seems to be in command of the others. While Six and Sharon express concern and warning to Baltar and the New Capricans, Five expresses a tone of unmistakable threat.

A copy of Number Five (presumably the same entity seen at the end of Season 2) has [[Jammer]] detained, and is questioning him at the [[New Caprica Detention Center]] in Webisode 7. He shows classic tactics to try to buy the young refugee's trust, and eventually glean information from him about the [[resistance]]. He provides [[Jammer]] with a keycard which will allow him to alert this Five in order to report further intelligence for the sake of peace.
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=== [[Number Six]] ===

[[Image:Whiterainsix 33.JPG|thumb|left|Number Six]]
This is the first Cylon agent model shown to viewers at the start of the [[Miniseries]].

This model utilizes the human need / desire for sexual relations to her advantage. She tends to be very religious and monotheistic. Model 6 desires to know what it is to be alive. There is something inherently enigmatic about her, more so than with the other models. Sixes have been described as "usually so hardcore", referring to their tendencies towards violence.

Typically she is the alpha female, as demonstrated on multiple occasions ([[Miniseries]], [[33]], [[Water]], [[Six Degrees of Separation]]).

Copies of this model have appeared under the names/aliases "[[Shelly Godfrey]]" , "[[Gina]]", and "[[Caprica-Six|Caprica]]" (in honor of her work on Caprica towards the destruction of the Colonies).

A virtual personality of Number Six haunts [[Gaius Baltar]] in a manner only he can see or hear. Throughout seasons one and two of the series, viewers presume this "virtual Six" was the "[[Caprica-Six]]" persona destroyed in the Miniseries. However, this persona appears not to be the same consciousness as Caprica-Six at all. Not only does Baltar's virtual Six appear to have a separate, destructive agenda from the reanimated [[Caprica-Six]] (containing the same personality template that infiltrates the Colonial military and falls in love with Baltar), but Caprica-Six is ''herself'' haunted by a virtual ''Gaius Baltar.'' See the [[Cylon-Related Hallucinations]] article for more on this confusing, but intriguing turn of events.
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=== [[Number Eight]] ===

[[Image:Boomerraincoat Colonialday.JPG|thumb|Number Eight]]
Number Eight is generally a saboteur designed to infiltrate Colonial military units and is likely programmed to use any Colonial munitions to cause havoc ([[Water]]). The Number Eight model is the closest witnessed Cylon agent model to show its abilities as a soldier. This model has shown naiveté in many matters. She is apparently not as religious as other Cylon models, but has demonstrated that she can love, and is capable of being impregnated by a human ([[Six Degrees of Separation]], [[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]).

She may be "defective", as the Cylon programming within the sleeper agent known as "Boomer" on ''Galactica'' conflicts multiple times with its human personality ([[Water]]). Also, the fully aware Sharon Valerii found by [[Karl Agathon|Helo]] on Caprica switches alliances from Cylon to Colonial after falling in love with Helo and aids the Colonials [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II|for a time]] (several episodes, most notably "[[Flight of the Phoenix]]"). Number Eight is the third Cylon agent introduced during the [[Miniseries]]. However, viewers do not discover her true identity until the very end of the Miniseries when a second copy of Sharon Valerii appears at [[Ragnar Anchorage]] while retrieving an abandoned copy of Number Five.

[[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|Copies]] of this model have appeared under the name "[[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Sharon Valerii]]."
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=== [[Leoben Conoy]] ===

[[Image:CyLeo.jpg|thumb|left|Leoben Conoy]]
Leoben Conoy (Cylon agent model number unknown) was the fourth model witnessed by viewers (although viewers would not know until the end of the [[Miniseries]] that they had already seen the third introduced Cylon agent, Sharon Valerii). The Conoy model has shown to be religiously oriented and claims to be prescient on some level, using dogma and intermixing truth with falsehoods. It was first discovered on [[Ragnar Station]], claiming to be a scavenger / arms dealer ([[Miniseries]]).

The Conoy models also appear obsessed with matters of mating, bonding, and reproduction, as demonstrated by a particular agent's fascination and obsession with [[Kara Thrace]] ("[[Flesh and Bone]]," "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]," "[[Occupation]]," "[[Precipice]]," and "[[Exodus, Part II]]").

Conoy can be likened to the serpent of the [[Wikipedia:Genesis|Genesis]] tale in the Earth [[Wikipedia: Christian Bible|Christian Bible]], taunting people with knowledge then watching as the negative consequences come into devastating fruition. Leoben copies have likely been encountered by the [[Caprica Resistance]], as [[Samuel Anders]] recites in jest some comments made by another Leoben copy captured in [[The Fleet (RDM)|the Fleet]] ([[Flesh and Bone]], [[The Farm]]).
<div style="clear: both;"></div>

=== [[Simon]] ===

[[Image:Simon Farm2.JPG|thumb|Simon]]
The Simon model (Cylon agent model number unknown) was encountered by [[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]] on Cylon-occupied [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]]. Posing as a doctor, Simon was actually involved with the Cylon hybridization program. Simon resembles a tall, somewhat thin middle-aged black man who speaks in a comforting strong voice ([[The Farm]]) Unlike other models, Simon doesn't seem to have many military aspects to his physical or mental configuration, and was easily overcome by a wounded Thrace. Simon may be a model based primarily on human intellectualism.
<div style="clear: both;"></div>

=== [[Cavil]] ===

[[Image:Cyca2.jpg|thumb|left|Cavil]]
Brother Cavil (Cylon agent model number unknown) gives counsel to [[Galen Tyrol|Chief Tyrol]] after his maddened attack against [[Cally Henderson Tyrol|Cally]]. Despite his disdain in prayer and religous pomp and circumstance ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]), Cavil conducts a prayer session with [[Laura Roslin]], the latter apparently hoping that prayer would aid her success in the elections. Another copy of Cavil appears on [[Caprica]], informing a [[Caprica Resistance]] [[SAR]] team that the Cylons had left the Colonies some 18 hours after Cylon units cease an attack on their unit. When the Caprica SAR team returns to ''Galactica'', Tyrol recognizes and identifies Cavil as a Cylon agent. For a priest, and especially for a Cylon, Cavil displays an utter disdain for both the beliefs of the Colonial's [[Lords of Kobol]] and the Cylon [[God]].

[[Cavil#Caprica-Cavil|Caprica-Cavil]] alleges that he is sent to ''Galactica'' as a messenger of peace. He relays what occurred after [[Caprica-Six]] and [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)]] are rescued from the wreckage of the cafe bombing ([[Downloaded]]). The two "Heroes of the Cylon" use their new found celebrity to voice what many in the Cylon population felt themselves... The Cylon annihilation of the human race and occupation of the Twelve Colonies was wrong. Caprica-Cavil tells [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]] and [[Laura Roslin|President Roslin]] that the Cylons will go their own way, and leave the Fleet alone.

But Cavil's proclamation [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II|proves false a year later]] ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]), due to the change in the Cylons' attitudes caused by Caprica-Six and Boomer, as the Cylons arrive to allegedly help the humans and live in peaceful coexistence with them ("[[Occupation]]", "[[Precipice]]").

Interestingly, the Fleet copy of Cavil claims, in conversation with Tyrol, that he had been preaching longer than Tyrol had been "sucking down oxygen" ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]). If Cavil is being truthful and, assuming Tyrol is roughly thirty years old, Cavil has been operational for at least thirty years. This information conflicts with aired information that suggests that Cylon agent infiltration of the Colonies began approximately two years prior to the Miniseries. Based on this information, it is likely that Cavil's comment is part of his "cover" as an older Colonial citizen.

As demonstrated on Cylon-occupied [[New Caprica]], Cavil models do not subscribe to the theology of the Cylon, but usually adheres to the party lines in group decisions. In several instances, the Cavils display dark, draconian solutions to the insurgency on New Caprica that equal the militant zeal of Numbers Three and Five. Unlike the other models, however, the Cavils lack a "moral compass" that theology usually creates, and so may be solicit answers that may be more dramatic or drastic than other Cylon agents.

== Speculated Infiltrators ==

:''See the [[Cylon agent speculation]] article for analysis on characters and their likelihood of being a Cylon agent, based on episode information.''

==Human/Cylon Hybrids==

Conceived by the Eight known as [[Sharon Agathon|Sharon Valerii]] and [[Karl Agathon|Helo]], the infant [[Hera]] is the first and only human/Cylon hybrid being<ref>In [[List of Deleted Scenes (RDM)#Downloaded|deleted scenes]] from the episode "[[Downloaded]]", it is shown that [[Gaius Baltar]] attempts to steal the baby from ''Galactica'' in collusion with [[Gina]] and [[D'anna Biers]]. When Biers refers to the baby as Hera, Gina tells her not to call the baby by [[Hera, Lord of Kobol|the name of a Human god]], and to call her "Number Thirteen". Since the events of "[[Exodus, Part II]]" contradict these cut scenes, the deleted scene can no longer be considered [[canon]]ical.</ref>.

Hera is hidden away from both humans and Cylons, now believed dead by her parents. President [[Laura Roslin]] has the baby hidden with [[Maya]] as her adoptive parent. Despite Roslin's attempts to protect the child on [[New Caprica]], Hera is now in the hands of the Cylons ([[Exodus, Part II]]).

A child named [[Kacey]] was claimed to be a Human/Cylon hybrid by [[Leoben Conoy]], supposedly created from the eggs extracted from [[Kara Thrace]] ([[The Farm]]) and later fertilized by himself. However, Kacey is later reunited with her actual human mother after the Fleet's escape from New Caprica ([[Exodus, Part II]]).

==Ron Moore elaborates on the twelve models==

In a 10/24/05 interview on "The Chase Show" on the SF webcast news site [http://www.thefandom.com/Article50.phtml TheFandom.com] with veteran "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" actress [[IMDB:nm0557732|Chase Masterson]], Ron D. Moore is interviewed and directly answers two key questions in the Twelve Models debate and the origin of Sharon Valerii in particular. Here is a transcription of that interview segment.

:'''Chase''': ... I just have to ask something... is there one Boomer that's just human?
:'''Ron''': No, there's not. I mean, the idea is not there was one like an original human model that they were copied from. The idea was that these were... these models of Cylon were developed out of their own study of us. The Cylons on some level looked at humanity and said, "Well, you know what, there's really only twelve of you... and these are the twelve." And then if you look at them, they kind of represent different archetypes of what humanity is. Um, Sharon, in particular — Sharon-Boomer, went through quite a trans-metamorphosis because in the original [[Miniseries]] script, in the first draft, she wasn't a Cylon at all. She was going to be just — I wrote her just — I wanted a youngish pilot, who was the rookie, who was sort of vulnerable in ways, who made mistakes in ways that you're not used to seeing your heroes on TV shows do, and I was really interested in this idea of the officer, the female officer in love with the male deck chief in violation of all the rules and I kinda thought, going forward, that she and the [[Galen Tyrol|chief]], in combination with [[Boxey (RDM)|Boxey]], who's really only in the [[Miniseries]] and one or two other episodes, would form sort of our family unit, that that was kind of a family...
:'''Chase''': OK...
:'''Ron''': ... and actually, after that first draft was written, it was [[David Eick]], my producing partner, who said, "You know what, if at the end of this thing, at the very end when all the Cylons walk into Armistice — into the [[Ragnar Anchorage|Ragnar station]] at the end... if you turn around and Sharon is one of the Cylons, he said, we're definitely gonna get picked up for a series.
:'''Chase''': (laughs) OK... that did make... that really did seal the deal...
:'''Ron''': ... and I just really went... that's a great idea and I realized that, because I'd had laid... I had written a story straight, I really hadn't cheated. There was no hint of who Sharon might be, and it really did suck you in, and really sort of, you believed her as a person first, and then we revealed her as a Cylon.
:'''Chase''': ... Right....
:'''Ron''': ... And so what happened after that was, I assumed going into the first season — well I didn't assume, I just planned... to slowly, over the course of the first year, peel back the layers — that Sharon would only start to sort of discover her Cylon nature by the end of the first year.
:'''Chase''': Oh, God... and it was heartbreaking, watching that unfold, because I loved her much as human, and she was just adorable, with him and then with the kid, it was like, oh, what a great girl, she's um... you know, young and cute, and — who's the actress — and that whole thing, and then you're like, WHAT?
:'''Ron''': Yeah...
:'''Chase''': ... She's the enemy...
:'''Ron''': I know then, she's the enemy, then she's the one that is your most worry, what's she gonna do next.
:'''Chase''': Yeah. You really took us on quite a journey there. I was still hoping for a human one running around somewhere, but no, huh?....
:'''Ron''': No.
:'''Chase''': Oh, well...

With this information from the show's main creative leader, it is established as canon that:

* There are precisely twelve ''human'' Cylon models. The other varieties of Cylon spacecraft or fighters are not factored into this count of 12 models.
* '''None''' of the Cylon agents were ''ever'' an actual human.
* The twelve models are based on on archetypes determined by the Cylons that form what they perceive were the specific kinds of human behavior and/or personality, distilled into twelve varieties.

== Notes ==
* A [[Cylon Centurion]] can not differentiate the differing versions of one model from another ([[Precipice]]). For example, if faced with two differing number eight models, [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]] and [[Sharon Agathon]], it would not be able to discriminate between them without external aid.
* While Centurions may not be able to tell the difference between different versions of the same model, other Cylon agents do not have this problem ("[[Downloaded]]", "[[Exodus, Part I]]").
* According to [[Cavil]] in "[[Exodus, Part I]]", the pain associated with each successive [[Resurrection (RDM)|download]] is worse than the one before. The first download feels like little more than a headache, but the third feels like someone has rushed a white hot poker through the head. However, this might be a subjective feeling that varies with model and circumstances. [[Sharon Agathon]]'s report in "[[Scar]]" supports Cavil, but a [[Number Three]] considers her last download to be rejuvenating ([[Downloaded]]).
* It is possible that the 12 Cylon models are not based on 12 human archetypes, but instead represent the 12 colonies. This would therefore suggest that there may be a 13th model to represent Earth.

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

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Cylons]]
[[Category:RDM]]

{{featured article candidate previous}}

Torn

2006-11-10T09:23:43Z

Leon: /* Questions */

{{Episode Data
| title= Torn
| image=Season 3 - Promo - Epi 5 - StarbuckTighAdama.jpg
| season= 3
| episode= 6
| guests= [[Lucy Lawless]] as [[Number Three]] <br/>
| writer= [[Anne Cofell Saunders]]
| story=
| director= [[Jean de Segonzac]]
| production= 306
| rating=
| US airdate= 2006-11-03
| UK airdate=
| dvd=
| population= 41,422
| prev= [[Collaborators]]
| next= [[A Measure of Salvation]]
}}
== Overview ==
:''[[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] and [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] create divisions between those who suffered under the Cylon occupation of [[New Caprica]] and those who stayed with the fleet. Meanwhile, [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] tries to prove his worth to the Cylons.''

== Summary ==

=== On [[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]] ===
* ''Galactica'''s air group runs exercises with the Viper pilots who settled on New Caprica and are thus out of shape. Starbuck deliberately breaks formation and collides with [[Louanne Katraine|Kat]]'s Viper, forcing an end to the exercise and causing now-Major [[Lee Adama]] - who has resumed his post as [[CAG]] - to remove her from flight duty.
* [[Gaeta|Felix Gaeta]] meets with [[Laura Roslin]] and [[William Adama]] to discuss Baltar-related matters. During the year before the Cylon Occupation of New Caprica, Baltar was obsessed with analyzing the data from Kobol to find the path to Earth. Based on passages in the [[Pythia|Scrolls of Pythia]], Baltar identified a nebula and two associated pulsars he believed to be a landmark on the road to Earth.
* Upon Thrace's return to her bunk, she is met by Kacey and her mother, whom she dismisses, telling the Kacey's mother not visit her again.
* [[Karl Agathon]] congratulates and encourages Apollo for losing all the excess fat he had gained during the New Caprica era. Apollo asks Helo to ensure to remind him to never let that happen again.
* In the pilots' rec room, [[Brendan Constanza|Hot Dog]] christens Lieutenant [[Sharon Agathon]] with the callsign "[[Athena]]" after she points out that, despite appearances, she is not "[[Boomer]]".
* Thrace and Tigh begin to sow dissent between the survivors of New Caprica and the crew that stayed behind on ''Galactica''.
* Adama confronts Thrace and Tigh on their behavior. He challenges them to shoot him, as their constant complaining is tantamount to pulling the trigger. When neither do, Adama demands they shape up and move on with their lives.
* Spurred by Adama's words, Thrace cuts her hair and appears to return to duty. Later, in uniform, she visits [[Kacey]] and her mother.
* Meanwhile, Tigh returns to his room and begins drinking to excess, finishing off one bottle and starting another.
* In a Raptor, Athena and [[Racetrack]] jump into range of the [[Lion's Head Nebula]], and are excited to find what the Scrolls described (an eye that blinks red and blue). They quickly realize, however, that they have jumped right next to the dying basestar.

=== On a [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] ===
*[[Gaius Baltar]], aboard the Cylon basestar, is having another hallucination. On a sunny beach, Gaius praises Six for returning to him in his time of need, and states that he enjoys having conversations with her. Six implores him to learn anything and everything about the Cylons, as he will need the information in the days ahead. Baltar presses six again to tell him what she is, either a hallucination or the result of some sort of implant - Six tells Baltar, again, that she is an angel of God.
*Having been allowed to stay on the [[basestar]], [[Caprica-Six]] and [[Three]] talk with Baltar later on, inquiring about the location of [[Earth]]. Baltar initially denies having any knowledge of where Earth is, but then reveals that he does have clues as to where its probable location is. He then finds out that the [[Cylons]] intend to find Earth so they can use it as their new home.
*Baltar is apprehensive about helping the Cylons, and Caprica-Six tells him that the Cylons are also leery as to whether his intentions are true or not. Caprica-Six leads Baltar through the ship, telling him that she uses a projection of a forest to navigate the ship. In his mind, Baltar realizes that his form of projection is similar to what the Cylons are using, causing him to question whether he is human or a Cylon.
*Caprica-Six informs Baltar that his rescue of [[Hera]] and his assistance in finding Earth has made him a valuable asset, and has gone a long way in impressing the Cylons. Baltar asks why there are only seven models on the ship, and inquires about the remaining five models. Caprica-Six tells him that they don't talk about it. He asks whether they would recognize one of the others, but their conversation is interrupted by Three before she can answer.
* Three informs Caprica-Six that there is a situation, and a [[Five]] states that the basestar that went to check the pulsar has not reported back. The group head to a control center, where Baltar finds out that the missing basestar has been infected by a disease. The Cylons speculate and that any Cylon that dies and uploads to a [[Resurrection Ship]] might spread the virus even further. As a precautionary measure the Resurrection Ship is kept out of range. On the urge of his internal Six, Baltar offers to board the infected basestar and collect scientific information.
* Before he leaves on his mission, Baltar encounters the [[Hybrid|Cylon Hybrid]] that controls the functions of the basestar. The hybrid is hooked into the ship's systems and continually vocalizes her seemingly non-sensical thoughts. Caprica-Six tells Baltar that it is thought by most of the Cylon models that the Hybrid has gone insane from being connected to the [[basestar]] and that her words hold no meaning, however the [[Leoben]] model considers the hybrid's words as coming from God.
* The Cylons provide Baltar with a Raptor to board the baseship, and when he arrives, he finds numerous Cylons, either dead or dying. He collects blood samples and takes pictures of the area to bring back for analysis, and also finds a large manmade object in the hold of the ship. He then finds a dying [[Six]] model (curiously with black hair), who informs him that the device the Cylons captured, a probe left by the [[13th Colony]]. Even though Baltar offers to bring her help, she tries to attack him, and he strangles her to death.
* Upon his return to the basestar, he denies finding anything that could have caused the outbreak of the virus, but Caprica-Six notices the probe object in Baltar's picture, but doesn't let on to anyone else what she has discovered.

== Questions ==
* Would it be possible for the Colonials to salvage the derelict basestar for their own purposes?
* What has happened to the remaining five Cylon models? Are they so secretive that none of the other seven variants have any knowledge of them? Did the Cylons permanently box the other models because they were dissenters to the cause of the Cylon race?
* If Baltar was able to extrapolate the location of the Lion's Head Nebula just from reading the sacred scriptures, can we not assume someone else could have conducted the same research at an earlier date?
* What is Caprica-Six going to do now that she realizes Baltar may be withholding critically sensitive information?
* Cally and Galen Tyrol are both seen working on the hangar deck. Who is taking care of their baby? Has a system been put in place to take care of crewmembers' children?
* Is Athena infected with the Cylon virus? {{spoilli|([[A Measure of Salvation|Answer]])}}
* As the probe is supposed to come from the 13th Tribe, and is affecting Cylons, does that mean that Cylons have been exisiting in times of the 13th tribe? Or is just by accident that is viral for Cylons?
** What is the "genetic pool" that the human form Cylons all come from, and has it existed for longer than the Cylons themselves?
* Is the virus biological or technological in nature? The "inevitable once we took human form" and "genetic pool" lines indicate that the Cylons think it is biological. On the other hand, their speculation that it could survive through a download process implies that it could technological in nature (i.e. computer virus). Or is the virus both biological and technological, like the Cylons themselves?
* Why did then-President Baltar investigate clues to Earth's location, given that he advocated abandoning that very search in his election campaign?
* The Cylon model Eight we see on the basestar with Baltar - is she Boomer? If yes, is her involvement with the Cylons on that basestar to find a map of Earth an indication that she has finally accepted her identity as a Cylon and disassociated herself from the humans?
* With seven Cylons revealed and the "Final Five" on odds with them, are there any Cylon Agents left in the fleet? By now the Colonials should be able to identify these agents, although there is at least [[Gina | one example]] for a known Cylon Agent to be able to hide within the fleet.
* If the known seven Cylons don't speak about the "Final Five", why did Caprica-Six mentioned the existence of twelve models in the first place? Maybe whatever happened between them occured after the Fall of the Colonies?

== Analysis ==
*The crew-position shuffle continues from last episode, but some definite decisions have been made:
**Lee has been demoted back to Major, and has resumed his old position as CAG, with Kat and Hot Dog as senior pilots under him. Starbuck is as well, until Adama revokes her flight status for reckless behaviour.
**As mentioned, it seems Kat has been demoted from CAG to leader of [[Blue Squadron]].
**As implied in "Collaborators", Helo keeps the XO slot aboard ''Galactica'' for now.
**Gaeta appears to have inherited Baltar's mantle as the scientific advisor (it is unclear whether he holds any additional positions), and is focusing his efforts on refining a course for Earth.
**Cally Tyrol is shown working the flight deck alongside her husband, showing that she is once again active in the Fleet.
**[[Noel Allison|Narcho]] is now a pilot on ''Galactica''.
*
*Following her actions during the Battle of New Caprica, Sharon Agathon seems to have garnered some degree of acceptance among the ''Galactica'' air group.
*"Athena" is the name of [[Athena (TOS)|Adama's daughter]] in the original series. This may be an allusion to the changing relationships on ''Galactica'': Sharon Agathon has replaced Kara Thrace as William Adama's surrogate daughter. (He tells Thrace, "You were like a daughter to me once. No more.") As Hot Dog states, Athena is also the name of a [[Athena, Lord of Kobol|Lord of Kobol]].
*The baseship hybrid appears to be viewed by the Cylons in the same way as the Centurions and Raiders. The Hybrid has no vote in the Cylon decision-making process, despite its ability to express its thoughts and feelings, after a fashion.
*The Cylons have a [[Raptor]] and [[flight suit]] at their disposal, acquired during the occupation of [[New Caprica]] or from undestroyed Colonial military assets on the [[Twelve Colonies]]. This raises the possibility that the Cylons may have other Colonial ships in their possession.

==Notes==
*According to an [http://www.nowplayingmag.com/content/view/4175/58/ interview] with executive producer [[David Eick]], episodes 5 and 6 are a two-part story in which ''Galactica'' discovers a dying Cylon Baseship, and deals with a plague that has befallen the Cylons. (Eick is counting "Occupation" and "Precipice" as one episode.)
*The phrase "end of line," uttered by the [[Hybrid|Cylon hybrid]] in this episode, is a possible reference to the film ''[[w:Tron (film)|Tron]]'', in which the [[w:Master Control Program (Tron)|Master Control Program]] finishes its sentences with "end of line."
**This may also be a play on the episode title. ''Torn'' is an anagram of ''Tron''.
**[[w:End_of_Line|End of line]] is also a computing term, referring to the character used to signal a new line in text-based protocols.
* In the PC game ''[[w:Homeworld|Homeworld]]'', [[Wikipedia:Karan S'jet|Karan S'jet]], a young female neuroscientist, integrates her physical body into the mothership to serve as its living CPU. This is similar to the function of the Cylon Hybrid. (Although S'jet chose to do so voluntarily, and it is unlikely, from comments by [[Three]], that the Hybrids were given a choice) . The backstory to the game's sequel ''[[w:Homeworld 2|Homeworld 2]]'' descibes S'jet as undergoing a similar metaphysical experience while integrated with the mothership as Caprica-Six describes of the Hybrid.
* The idea of using living creatures as central processing units of large ships has been visited before in both literary and filmed science fiction. For example the pilots in ''[[w:Dune|Dune]]'' serve a similar function while under the influence of the Spice. In Norman Spinrad's novel "The Void Captain's Tale", some women become pilots because they believe to achieve a better insight into god's creation, thus having a spiritual experience. This is similar to Leoben's beliefs about the Hybrids. Recent television series with living CPUs include ''[[w:Babylon 5|Babylon 5]]'', with human telepaths in the [[w:Shadow (Babylon 5)|Shadow]] vessels, and ''[[w:Farscape|Farscape's]]'' Pilot, though in the latter case, Pilot is more like a conduit between the crew and a sentient ship in its own right.
** The idea of a living being serving as CPU for a space vessel is explored, in detail and from the ship's perspective, in Anne McCaffrey's [[w:The Ship Who Sang|Ship Who...]] series of novels and short stories. The first of these was published in 1961 and way well be the inspiration for the other examples cited above.
*According to the podcast for the episode, the Hybrid's visual look was inspired by the precogs in ''[[w:Minority Report|Minority Report]]''.
*The name of the director, [[Jean de Segonzac]], was misspelled in the onscreen credits. He was listed as Jean de Segoznac.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

*''On Galactica's flight deck'':
:'''Chief Tyrol''': (checking Starbuck's Viper) Captain, how did you land this thing?
:'''Kara Thrace''': Pointed it towards the deck and stopped when I got here.
:'''Hot Dog''': Bone-dry, she says. Landed the bird without a drop of fuel.
:'''Lee Adama''': (walking up to Kara) If you want to die, I will open up an airlock for you, but you are not taking one of my Vipers with you.
:'''Kara Thrace''': The bird's on the deck. ''I'm'' on the deck. I don't know what you're bitching about.
:'''Lee Adama''': I don't give a frak what you do, Starbuck. You're done flying.

*''Gaius Baltar sees and hears the Hybrid for the first time'':
:'''Hybrid''': Two protons expelled at each coupling site creates the mode of force, the embryo becomes a fish though we don't enter until a plate, we're here to experience, evolve the little toe, atrophy, don't ask me how, I'll be dead in a thousand light years, thank you, thank you, genesis turns to its source, reduction occurs step wise though the essence is all one, end of line. FTL system check. Diagnostic functions within parameters repeats the harlequin, the agony exquisite, the colors run the path of ashes...

*''In the rec room on Galactica'':
:'''Helo''': (referring to the rescue on New Caprica) Hey, we all made sacrifices.
:'''Saul Tigh''': Is that so?
:'''Helo''': Yes, that's right.
:'''Saul Tigh''': Well, while you were pinning wings on your Cylon girlfriend, our people were strapping homemade bombs to their chest, doing what they could to take the bastards out. So forgive me if I don't get all misty over your sacrifices.

*''Adama's feelings towards, and regarding, Starbuck'':
:'''Adama''': You were like a daughter to me once - no more. You're malcontent and a cancer, and I won't have you on my ship. So you have a choice - you can figure out how to become a human being again, and an officer; or you can find another place to live, off of this ship. You're dismissed.

*''Adama's feelings towards, and regarding, Saul Tigh'':
:'''Adama''': You're full of bile, hatred, and I know it has something to do with [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]]. I'm sorry for that. And if you need time Saul, you take all the time you want, but I gotta run a ship. And the last thing I need is a one-eyed drunk sitting down here, sewing discontent and disobedience. So I'll tell you once again, Saul, you can pick up that weapon and kill me. Or you can get your ass back into your quarters and not leave... 'til you act like the man I've known for the past 30 years.
: '''Saul Tigh''' (picks up weapon and unloads it) That man doesn't exist any more, Bill. And you won't be seeing me again. (drops gun on table, hobbles out of room)

*''The Hybrid's objection to leaving the infected Basestar behind'':
:'''Hybrid''': Mists of dreams drip along the nascent echo, and love no more. End of line.

*''When discovering the dying basestar'':
:'''Athena''': When God's anger awakens even the mighty shall fall.

== 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 Tyrol]]
* [[Alessandro Juliani]] as [[Felix Gaeta]]
* [[Rick Worthy]] as [[Simon]]
* [[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Leoben Conoy]]
* [[Matthew Bennett]] as [[Number Five]]
* [[imdb:2422305|Emilie Ullerup]] as [[Julia Prynne]]
* [[Madeline Parker]] as [[Kacey]]
* [[Sebastian Spence]] as Lt. [[Noel Allison|Noel "Narcho" Allison]]

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

{{episode list (RDM season 3)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Anne Cofell Saunders]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Jean de Segonzac]]
[[Category:RDM]]