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Gaius Baltar

2011-11-18T15:30:29Z

Lucifuge Rofacale: /* Notes */

:''For the [[Original Series]] analogue, see: [[Baltar (TOS)]].''
:''For others with the same first name, see: [[Gaius (disambiguation)]].''

{{Character Data
|photo= Gaius Baltar.jpg
|colony= Born on [[Aerilon]], later relocated to [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]]
|birthname= Gaius Baltar
|death=Unknown causes on [[Earth (RDM)#A New Earth|new Earth]], c. 148,000 BCE
|seen= Miniseries
|parents= [[Julius Baltar]] (father)<br>Unnamed mother
|marital status= In a relationship with [[Caprica-Six]]
|role= Leader of the [[Cult of Baltar|monotheistic cult]];<br>former President of the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]];<br>former Caprican Delegate;<br>former Fleet science advisor
|actor= [[James Callis]]
|sepcon=Gaius Baltar (alternate)
}}

Doctor '''Gaius Baltar''' is a brilliant scientist, legally-elected President of the [[Twelve Colonies of Kobol]], and, later, a revered religious figure for the remnants of humanity. Though not without his flaws, Baltar has acted selflessly and saved the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] on numerous occasions.

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== Background ==

* Dr. Baltar is from [[The Twelve Colonies of Kobol#Aerilon|Aerilon]]. He was born and raised on a dairy farm outside of the town of [[Cuffle's Breath Wash]]. Finding the local dialect to be unpleasant, starting at the age of ten he trained himself to speak without the [[Language in the Twelve Colonies#Aerilon Accent|Aerilon accent]] in hopes that one day he might be considered as not coming from Aerilon. He left Aerilon after his 18th birthday turning his back on his family and his heritage.
* He was formerly a lead defense systems developer working for the [[Colonial Ministry of Defense]] and came to prominence as a computer technology designer, having won three [[Magnate Prize]]s.
* He is very charismatic, and became personal friends with President [[Richard Adar]]. However, Baltar is also extremely arrogant.
* Baltar becomes responsible for the design of the critical [[Command Navigation Program]] (CNP) used throughout the [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|Colonial Fleet]], but could not fix all of its shortfalls himself and asked his lover ([[Number Six]]) to fix almost half of the base code. When she rewrote the code, she got it up to 95% efficiency but also put in back doors to allow the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] to "shut-down" space craft fitted with the CNP. It's shown that he was somewhat aware of what she was doing, but he did it for ''her'', not the company she supposedly worked for, as he truly fell for her after she helped his father out.
* Baltar's scientific prowess seems strongest in the medical and biological fields ([[Epiphanies]]). As a result of his lesser (although still advanced) computer programming skills, he seeks the help (and as a byproduct, the affections of) a [[Caprica-Six|young woman]] to aid him with the CNP.
* Baltar's two-year affair with the mysterious woman-- even to the extent of using code she herself wrote to overcome shortfalls in his CNP -- allowed her unrestricted access to some of the most sensitive systems of the Colonial defenses.
*Baltar's involvement with his blonde assistant does not stop him from dalliances with other women during this time, right up to when his assistant confronts Baltar and a lover in bed.

==Character History==

=== The Attack on the Twelve Colonies ===

* Baltar learns that his "corporate spy" lover is in fact a new type of Cylon -- a [[Humanoid Cylon|Cylon in human form]], able to mimic human beings down to the smallest detail, who altered his CNP with [[backdoor]]s to subvert any CNP-equipped ship.
[[image:Mini-Baltar_Six.jpg|thumb|left|300px|[[Gaius Baltar]] and [[Caprica-Six|Number Six]] kissing in the [[Miniseries]].]]
*Even though Baltar is appalled that it was his sexual folly that led to a holocaust, he is nevertheless determined to survive and keep this unintended treachery hidden. He only survives the following attack because the Cylon agent sacrifices herself to protect him from a nuclear blast.
* Baltar is rescued from [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] following the forced-landing of a Colonial [[Raptor]] -- at the cost of [[Karl Agathon|one of the crew staying behind]] ([[TRS]]: [[Miniseries]])
* Baltar is plagued by visions of Number Six that only he can see and hear. He cannot be sure whether this is a result of his own guilt at his actions or whether -- as she initially claims -- she is part of a chip that has been implanted in his brain<ref name="chip">The idea that Six is an actual chip in Baltar's head was dismissed by Dr. [[Cottle]]'s image scan of Baltar's head. See [[Gaius Baltar#Speculation: The Real Baltar?|the section on alternate reasons for Six's existence]] for more.</ref>.
*Baltar is put to work trying to devise a means of detecting these humanoid Cylons. He luckily exposes [[Aaron Doral]] as a Cylon agent ([[TRS]]: [[Miniseries]]), using little more than invented [[technobabble]] to convince [[Saul Tigh|Colonel Tigh]].

=== Gaining trust ===

*Baltar eventually develops a genuine detector. This, together with his survival of a foiled attempt to expose him as a traitor ([[TRS]]: "[[Six Degrees of Separation]]"), firmly establishes his credentials within the Fleet's hierarchy. As the Cylon, [[Shelly Godfrey]] looked like his mental Number Six and appeared after she mysteriously disappeared, Baltar came to believe Godfrey was a physical manifestation of his inner Six especially when Godfrey's deception was revealed after he accepted the Cylon God and repented and Godfrey disappeared mysteriously and Messenger Six reappeared at the same time. It was revealed, however, that Godfrey was in fact another copy of Number Six who had the job of discrediting him due to his Cylon detector and disappeared due to another Cylon killing her by secretly blowing her out an airlock ([[TRS]]: "[[The Plan]]").
*With this new-found trust, and despite his willingness to deliberately conceal vital information, such as [[Sharon Valerii]] true status as a [[Cylon agent]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Flesh and Bone]]"), Baltar enters the realm of political leadership, first as the Representative for [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] on the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]], and then as the newly-elected Vice President of the Colonies ([[TRS]]: "[[Colonial Day]]").
* Messenger Six continues to help and hinder Baltar, gradually drawing him to a point of near-open acceptance and participation in Cylon plans and activities ([[TRS]]: "[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]"). Whether by coincidence or design, Six manipulates Baltar through repeated threats of exposing his involvement with the destruction of the Colonies ([[TRS]]: "[[33]],", "[[Six Degrees of Separation]]"), while also appearing to aid him by giving information that [[The Hand of God (RDM)|appears insightful or inspired]] to help the Colonials.
[[image:Scattered-Baltar_Six.jpg|thumb|[[Gaius Baltar]] and [[Number Six]] seeing "the shape of things to come" in "[[Scattered]]".]]

=== A greater purpose or insanity? ===

*Initially an atheist, Baltar is slowly converted to the Cylons' monotheistic faith: first he repents his sins ([[TRS]]: "[[33]]" ), then he prays to the Cylon God and devotes his life into serving his divine will ([[TRS]]: "[[Six Degrees of Separation]]"), and finally, he is led to believe that he is an instrument of God ([[TRS]]: "[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]").
*Baltar is subjected to a final revelation of his role with the Cylons (as Messenger Six sees it) when "the future" is revealed to him on [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]], in the form of the first of "God's new generation of children" ([[TRS]]: "[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]").
[[Image:Baltarixvalleydarkness.jpg|Number Six showing Baltar the clearing filled with human bones, telling him they were from human sacrifices.|thumb]]
* While stranded on Kobol after a crash landing, Baltar's Messenger Six warns him that the Colonial religion is a falsehood to cover up atrocities of their nature.
*On Kobol, Baltar shoots [[Crashdown]] in the back, killing him instantly, to save [[Cally]] from a practically suicidal and unnecessary attack on a Cylon missile battery<ref>The act of killing Crashdown appears to have led to a dramatic change in Baltar's attitude toward hurting anyone directly. When Cally tries to blackmail him after they return from Kobol, Baltar is somewhat rough with her. When he visits Tyrol and Boomer in the brig, he does not hesitate to inject Tyrol with fatal drugs to blackmail Boomer into giving Cylon secrets. Baltar's humanitarian acts to the Six copy known as Gina also suggests Baltar's attitude in the care of Cylons is further changing. More and more, Baltar appears to prefer direct intervention and is less cowardly in his attitude.</ref>. The group are eventually rescued by the Raptors. Baltar tells the [[SAR]] team that Crashdown died a hero in the fight, and Chief Tyrol reluctantly corroborates his story ([[TRS]]: "[[Fragged]]").
*Back on ''Galactica'', Cally blackmails Baltar into making it a priority to prove that Chief Tyrol is not a Cylon, as Colonel Tigh suspects, or Cally would reveal the truth of Crashdown's death.
* Incensed at this ingratitude, Baltar gambles that the [[brig|jailed]] Boomer knows of the number of Cylons in the Fleet, and blackmails her into doing so, using Tyrol's life.
[[image:brainscan.jpg|Baltar receives his brain scan from Dr. Cottle, as Six watches on in amusement.|thumb]]
*Questioning his own sanity after his Messenger Six claims that he was generally crazy, Baltar has a brain scan performed in [[sickbay]] by Dr. [[Cottle]] which confirms no "foreign objects" are present in his head.
*Baltar is ready to believe that he is truly insane until he hears [[Karl Agathon]] and [[Sharon Agathon|Caprica-Sharon]] discuss Valerii's pregnancy with a Cylon/human hybrid child from his observation room. Six tells Baltar earlier that "their child" would be born in that cell, and this leads Baltar to realize that Six ''must'' be real because his subconscious couldn't have known that ([[TRS]]: "[[Home, Part II]]"). However, Hera is actually neither conceived, nor born in that specific cell. Instead, Messenger Six could actually be hinting at Tigh's and Caprica-Six's future baby, that most likely ''is'' conceived in that particular cell.

=== Many talents ===

*When [[D'Anna Biers]] films a documentary about life aboard ''Galactica'', Six urges Baltar to give an interview to try to win people over to thinking that he should be running the Fleet. Baltar performs badly as he begins his interview but, fortunately, his interview is interrupted by a Cylon attack that Biers chooses to film instead ([[TRS]]: "[[Final Cut]]").
*Baltar aids in trying to overcome the Cylon [[logic bomb]] which devastates ''Galactica'''s [[computers]]. Tigh's dislike of Baltar's involvement in this problem makes the scientist edgy enough to retort, "I'm sorry. Do you want to survive this one or not, Colonel?" ([[TRS]]: "[[Flight of the Phoenix]]")
[[image:baltargina.jpg|Baltar with Gina, the Cylon prisoner from ''Pegasus''.|thumb]]
*[[Helena Cain|Admiral Helena Cain]] requests that Baltar examine ''Pegasus' '' own Cylon prisoner to see what information he could glean from it. Baltar is horrified to discover the Cylon was a terribly abused and tortured copy of Number Six named "[[Gina Inviere]]". Baltar vows to help her and begins by having her restraints removed and bringing food to her ([[TRS]]: "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]").
*Over the course of his examination of Gina, he uncovers both her wish to die and the secret of the Cylon [[Resurrection Ship]]. He passes this information to Adama and Admiral Cain, who develop an [[Attack on the Resurrection Ship|operation to destroy it]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Resurrection Ship, Part I]]").
*Baltar continues to spend time with Gina, eventually helping her escape from the brig. He tells Gina that he can hide her, and also that he loves her. Gina goes on to kill Cain and escapes from ''Pegasus'' through unexplained means ([[TRS]]: "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]").
*Torn between the "flesh and blood" copy of the [[Number Six]] copy, Gina, the demands of his internal Number Six, and his continuing attempt to cover his own multiple duplicities, Baltar becomes more aggressive and confrontational. With President Roslin's advice to abort the Cylon-hybrid fetus of the incarcerated [[Sharon Valerii]], Baltar reacts to defend it as if it were his own child. Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] admonishes Baltar, telling him that, on Roslin's death, he will become President and that he needs to behave like one.
*Desperate to save Valerii's fetus, Baltar reviews Dr. [[Cottle]]'s medical tests and performs experiments of his own, learning a striking revelation: the blood of the fetus can destroy cancer and repair its damage to human tissue.<ref name="stemcells">According to the writer's original planning, this was due to the presence of Cylon [[Wikipedia:stem cells|stem cells]] in the fetus's blood. This explanation was absent in the final shooting script.</ref> With Admiral Adama's permission, he injects the dying President Roslin with some of the fetal blood, which works miraculously, saving both Roslin and Valerii's child by circumstance ([[TRS]]: "[[Epiphanies]]").
*Baltar keeps his [[Fumarella leaf|fumarella]] supply fresh by trading in the [[black market (organization)|black market]] through new ''Pegasus'' Commander [[Jack Fisk]]. Not realizing that Fisk had been murdered, the scientist visits Fisk's quarters, only to meet Captain [[Lee Adama]], who has started an investigation on the black market and Fisk's murder. Baltar truthfully tells Adama that he knows nothing of Fisk's murder, but Adama correctly deduces Baltar's association with Fisk and the black market since the "[[Caprican Imperial]]" fumarellos are a known favorite of Baltar's ([[TRS]]: "[[Black Market]]").

=== Increasing political ambitions ===

*After saving Roslin's life, Baltar reads the letter given to him in the event of her death, in which she says he lacks compassion and asks him to open his heart if he becomes president. Furious, and goaded on by Six who tells him that Roslin doesn't trust him, Baltar delivers the nuclear warhead used for the Cylon detector to Gina and her militant "[[Demand Peace]]" movement.
*Baltar is also unaware that his involvement in the destruction of the Colonies is partially revealed. In ''Galactica'''s sickbay, Laura Roslin recalled those final days on Caprica, and remembered Baltar in the company of a [[Number Six|woman]] on Caprica who she knows now is a Cylon ([[TRS]]: "[[Epiphanies]]").
*Baltar is summoned to ''[[Colonial One]]'', where Roslin offers him, without explanation, the chance to resign from the Vice Presidency to return to his studies. Baltar becomes immediately suspicious (and frightened) in Roslin's succinct and direct vote of no-confidence in her vice president. Realizing that the Vice Presidency now has greater importance (if nothing other than to save his own hide), Baltar turns down what Roslin calls a "one-time offer" to save himself as he saved Roslin on her deathbed ([[TRS]]: "[[Black Market]]").

[[Image:Baltarlaydownburdensii.jpg|Gaius Baltar as President, from "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]".|thumb]]
*Dr. Baltar decides (with no small influence from Six and [[Tom Zarek]]) to run for President in the coming Colonial Elections ([[TRS]]: "[[The Captain's Hand]]").

=== New Caprica ===

*Roslin is declared the winner of the elections, but is caught by Adama for manipulating the tally. Baltar is declared president. While Baltar demands an investigation initially, he backs down under Adama's glare.
*President Baltar orders the Fleet to return to the marginally habitable planet [[New Caprica]] seconds after his inauguration. Baltar shows incompetency as president a few days later, when he orders the colonization of the planet. In an attempt to cover up his role in giving Gina the nuclear warhead used to detonate ''[[Cloud 9]]'', Baltar orders Adama to stop any further investigation into the destruction of ''Cloud 9'' and two other ships (he correctly guesses that the conflagration was started by [[Gina Inviere]]).
*During his first year in office, Baltar indulges in women, wallows in the incompetence of his administration, and is callously unsympathetic to the supply and resource problems plaguing the new colony, whose inhabitants continue to live in tents. The public, including the labor union led by [[Galen Tyrol]], is notably displeased with his administration.
*380 days after Baltar's ascension to the presidency, a Cylon armada finds the planet after detecting the radiation signature caused by the destruction of ''[[Cloud 9]]'', which took that long to reach them. This event heralds the return of the dormant Messenger Number Six noting to him that "judgment day" has come at last. Copies of a [[Number Five|Five]], [[Caprica-Six]] and [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]] meet with Baltar and his cabinet, recommending surrender; it is here that he is reunited with the Six he fell in love with on [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]])".
*After four months of Cylon occupation, the citizens of New Caprica despise their president. Baltar fears for his life and turns down public appearances, such as the [[New Caprica Police]] Academy graduation, to avoid assassination attempts ([[TRS]]: "[[Occupation]]"). It is even commented by the Cylon occupiers while discussing the notion of public executions to discourage uprising that publicly executing Baltar would be counterproductive, since the populace would cheer his death.
*Baltar is deposed after Admiral Adama organizes and executes a [[Battle of New Caprica|daring rescue mission]] of New Caprica's occupied inhabitants. During the exodus of those willing to leave New Caprica, Baltar happens across the dead body of [[Maya]] and the Cylon hybrid [[Hera Agathon|Hera]], and stays behind with the Cylons ([[TRS]]: "[[Exodus, Part II]]").

=== Among the Cylons ===

*Once on board the basestar, Baltar must prove his worth to the Cylons or be killed. He seeks help from the basestar's [[Hybrid]], and gleans information which leads the Cylon fleet to the [[Lion's Head Nebula]], where they recover an ancient beacon. The beacon is also a plague carrier. To further prove his worth, Baltar takes on a mission to the dying basestar ([[TRS]]: "[[Torn]]").
*Baltar is tortured by a Number Three for information on the viral plague. Misinterpreting his screams of love for the Internal Six as feeling for her, Number Three enters into a sexual relationship with Baltar and possibly Caprica-Six as well and starts to share a bed with both of them ([[TRS]]: "[[A Measure of Salvation]]").
* Learning more about Cylon culture among them, he develops doubts about his identity, starting to believe that he might be one of the [[final five]] Cylons.

=== Return to the Fleet ===

[[Image:Baltar brig.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Baltar being placed in detention.]]

* Seeking answers to his questions about his identity, Baltar travels with Number Three and [[Cavil]] to the surface of the algae planet in order to visit the [[Temple of Five]]. After killing Cavil and watching the death of Number Three, he is unsuccessful in finding answers, and is captured and returned to ''Galactica'' ([[TRS]]: "[[Rapture]]").
* He attempts to commit suicide and is tortured by President [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] and Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] under the influence of an [[interrogation drug]]. While offering no substantial information, Roslin's belief that he played a role in the attack on the Twelve Colonies is strengthened. She and Adama decide to give Baltar a public trial instead of quietly executing him ([[TRS]]: "[[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]").
* Baltar, in an attempt to curry favor with the fleet concerning his trial, secretly publishes a book called "[[My Triumphs, My Mistakes]]". This book causes a labor strike, led by [[Galen Tyrol]], but instead of bringing the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] to a screeching halt, it actually helps Tyrol and President Roslin stop a problem that was beginning to form in the Fleet ([[TRS]]: "[[Dirty Hands]]").
* Before his trial begins, Baltar's lawyer, [[Alan Hughes]], is killed by sabotage, and is replaced by [[Romo Lampkin]]. Security for both Lampkin and Baltar is high, as many people believe fervently that Baltar should not be given a trial at all. Major [[Lee Adama]] is placed in command of this security detail, and eventually becomes Lampkin's aide for the trial ([[TRS]]: "[[The Son Also Rises]]").
*Baltar's trial becomes a frenzied media circus. Lampkin manages to keep mob rule from overwhelming the proceedings, but it is Lee Adama's testimony that ultimately acquits Baltar. The son of William Adama notes many, many abuses of justice, crimes and mistakes committed by himself and other leadership in the Fleet that were ignored or punished lightly. Baltar's only distinction, in comparison, was that he was unlikeable and thus more useful as a scapegoat for the problems of the Fleet that stemmed from colonizing [[New Caprica]].
*With the end of the trial, Baltar finds his acquittal bitter-sweet, with no home, no work, and no allies.
*When the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] jumps into the [[Ionian nebula]], the confusion caused by a power outage allows the homeless Baltar to be secretly carried off by several women who claim they are leading him to his new life ([[TRS]]: "[[Crossroads, Part II]]").

===Cult Leader ===

*The women lead Baltar to an used storage compartment, where he learns that a [[Cult of Baltar|cult]] has arisen around him, likely starting with the publication of his [[My Triumphs, My Mistakes|book]] condemning the perceived suppression of the Fleet's poor. The cult is composed of many young, athletic women and some men. Headed by [[Jeanne]], they view Baltar as a messianic figure and have been building a shrine for him. Baltar initially thinks of them as crazy and wants to have nothing to do with them. When [[Tracey Anne|one of the women]] watches him interact with his [[Messenger Six]], she thinks that he is praying and draws him into a religious discussion. Baltar tells her that [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies|Colonial Religion]] is empty and false, and that there is only one [[God (RDM)|true God]]. Captivated by Baltar, she kisses him. His standing among his followers is further increased when he prays for a sick [[Derrick|child]], who miraculously recovers soon after ([[TRS]]: "[[He That Believeth In Me]]").
*To his amazement, Baltar begins to see a [[Messenger Baltar|Messenger version of himself]]. At the same time he begins a relationship with [[Tory Foster]], who is drawn to him due her awakened Cylon nature and Baltar's apparent understanding of it ([[TRS]]: "[[Six of One]]"). The situation with his cult escalates when a [[Sons of Ares|militant religious group]] vandalizes the commune. In retaliation, Baltar and some of his followers disrupt a [[temple]] service and denounce the Colonial gods. President Roslin takes this as an excuse to curtail the cult's religion freedom by forbidding large assemblies. When encountering a Marine trying to enforce this order, Baltar makes a defiant stand, allowing himself to be beaten up in front of his followers. The display ends when [[Lee Adama]] shows up to announce that the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] has decided to rescind Roslin's proclamation and restore their freedoms. Following this, Baltar holds a speech telling everyone that he thinks that someone in the universe loves him and that people have to love themselves in order to love others ([[Escape Velocity]]). Over the next weeks, his sermons are broadcast per [[wireless]] throughout the ship and likely the whole Fleet ([[TRS]]: "[[The Road Less Travelled]]", "[[Faith]]").
* When a baseship with [[Cylon Civil War|rebel Cylons]] joins the Fleet, Roslin summons him. She tells Baltar that he has been in her visions and wants him to accompany her to the [[Hybrid]] to find out what they mean. However, when the [[Natalie|rebel leader]] is unexpectedly killed, the Hybrid panics and jumps away. Drawing on his [[Torn|previous experience]] with the Hybrid, Baltar manages to calm it down somewhat. In the following [[Battle of the Resurrection Hub|battle]] to destroy a critical Cylon facility, Baltar is critically wounded when missiles hit the ship while he tries to evangelize to a [[Cylon Centurion|Centurion]]. While his wounds are dressed by Roslin Baltar confesses his role in [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|downfall of humanity]]. Roslin initially removes the bandages she applied, letting him bleed out, but decides to save him after all ([[TRS]]: "[[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]", "[[The Hub]]").
* After [[Number Three]]'s unboxing, the [[Final Four]] are revealed and Tory Foster willingly joins the Cylons. Upon learning this, Baltar claims that he "always subconsciously knew" that she is a Cylon. Later, he is part of the first landing party to set foot on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]], being as dismayed at its state as everyone else ([[TRS]]: "[[Revelations]]").
*When Gaeta and Zarek start a coup against Adama and Roslin, Baltar and his cult support Adama and Roslin, working with Galen Tyrol in efforts to retake the ship and protect the two. Baltar is convinced by Roslin to let her use his wireless radio to communicate with the fleet about the mutiny and she is able to make a short broadcast before being jammed. Roslin convinces him to leave with her sure that he is going to be a target of the mutineers and they make their way to the Secondary Storage Airlock where while waiting, Baltar tries to convince Gaeta to stop to no avail. Baltar escapes ''Galactica'' with Roslin to the Cylon baseship and supports Roslin there. He also sleeps with [[Lida|another Six]] and chats with her about his cult saying that while he doesn't like them, he feels responsible for them and decides he has to go back to ''Galactica'' and them after having a nightmare where a firing squad executes Adama. He returns to ''Galactica'' with Roslin once the coup is ended by Adama and his men who retake ''Galactica'' with help from military support from Roslin and the Cylon baseship. Afterwards he and Gaeta have a civil chat about what happened indicating that they have forgiven each other for what they did and when Gaeta makes a statement that he hopes someday people understand who he was, Baltar says he understands who Gaeta was. ([[TRS]]: "[[The Oath]]", "[[Blood on the Scales]]")
*When Caprica-Six apparently has a falling out with Tigh after her failed pregnancy, Baltar runs into her and offers her a home with him again, but she refuses saying that while she's changed he hasn't.
*At the suggestion of Paulla, Baltar tries to get his cult, now numbering in the thousands, representation in the government, but Lee Adama refuses asking him to name one time he acted selflessly. Baltar admits he can't but is disappointed Adama is holding that against his movement before leaving.
*Baltar is among those that attend Adama's speech and call for volunteers to crew ''Galactica'' to rescue Hera Agathon. While many other people including Caprica-Six volunteer, he doesn't although he does seem to almost volunteer but decides not to.
*When his cult evacuates on the last Raptor, Baltar hesitates then decides to stay to help telling Paulla that the cult merely appropriated him and he was never one of them. Baltar is clearly nervous about this decision, but sticks to it. Lee Adama tosses him a gun, clearly happy with his choice.
*During the battle, Baltar is assigned to the reserve team that protects ''Galactica'' alongside Caprica-Six. Caprica-Six is finally proud of him and the two kiss, only to be interrupted by Messenger Six and Baltar who say that they will hold the fate of both races in their hands. Both are shocked that the other can see them.
*During the battle, Baltar fights alongside Caprica-Six and the other marines against several Centurions. Baltar takes out one by himself but gets over-enthusiastic and nearly takes out the returning rescue team too but is stopped by Caprica-Six. Adama tells him he did good, but they are forced to retreat when more Centurions show up.
*Baltar and Caprica-Six end up in a room together with him down to a sidearm and her down to two bullets left in her machine gun. The two are shocked to find Hera there with him and leave carrying her in a fulfillment of the Opera House Prophecy. As they leave, they close the door on Roslin and Athena, never realizing they're there. The two ultimately reach a door and Caprica-Six from her shared vision and Baltar from his vision on Kobol realize they have to go in. The two find themselves in CIC with the Final Five on the balcony just like in the vision. Cavil takes Hera hostage, but Baltar manages to defuses the situation revealing that Messenger Baltar and Six are angels of God who Baltar describes as a force of nature neither good nor evil. Baltar and Tigh convince Cavil to end the war right there with peace with the Five giving resurrection back to Cavil so he and his forces can survive while he lets them take Hera and agrees to stop pursuing them. Cavil accepts the deal and orders his forces to stand down. Baltar later witnesses Tory's death at Tyrol's hands and the breaking of the truce that results in the destruction of Cavil and his forces.
*Later, on the new Earth, Baltar and Caprica-Six watch Hera, and are visited one last time by the Messengers, who reveal that their destiny was always to protect Hera. While God's plan is never over, Messenger Baltar promises that their lives will be a lot less interesting from that point on, and the two disappear for the last time. Baltar and Caprica-Six set off to start a new life together as farmers, using Baltar's knowledge from growing up on a farm on Aerilon.

==Notes==
*There was speculation that Gaius Baltar could be a Cylon himself. However, his presence in the now-infamous "[[The Last Supper]]" picture discounts this, as confirmed by [[Ron D. Moore]]. As of "[[Sometimes a Great Notion]]", all known humanoid Cylons have been accounted for (although "[[No Exit]]" references still another humanoid Cylon, there is no indication given that this is Baltar).
*[[Ron Moore]] has stated in several episode commentaries that when the role of "Gaius Baltar" was originally written in the script, the writing team never intended Baltar to have a "funny" aspect, but James Callis himself decided to play up that aspect of the frantic predicaments Baltar finds himself in during the [[Miniseries]] (which although the writers never anticipated, they enjoyed, and started writing him with that in mind). In series 4, however, Baltar's demeanor becomes noticably more serious, though still with occasional moments of dry wit.
*While [[Edward James Olmos]] and [[Mary McDonnell]] were hand-picked for their roles, the rest of the characters were cast by audition: among the actors in the running for the role of "Gaius Baltar" was ''[[w:Two and a Half Men|Two and a Half Men]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Wikipedia:Jon Cryer|Jon Cryer]], though the role ultimately went to [[James Callis]]. Callis was suggested by Angela Mancuso, who ran the studio at the time, knew him from the ''[[w:Helen of Troy (TV miniseries)|Helen of Troy]]'' miniseries where he portrayed [[w:Menelaus|Menelaus]].<ref>{{cite_book|last=Bassom|first=David|authorlink=|authorlinkurl=|coauthors=|year=2005|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|pages=23|editor=ed. Adam "Adama" Newell|publisher=Titan Books|location=|id=ISBN 1-84576-0972}}</ref>
*Baltar currently holds the record for most number of Cylons romantically involved with in the series: six. Four of these are [[Number Six]]es, beginning (and, eventually, ending) with [[Caprica-Six]], [[Gina Inviere]], [[Messenger Six]] and lastly, [[Number Six#Lida|Lida]]. The fifth is [[Number Three (Downloaded copy)|Number Three]]. The sixth is [[Tory Foster]].
*Baltar's first name, Gaius, is taken from [[w:Gaius Julius Caesar|Gaius Julius Caesar]]. Likewise, his father's name is Julius. The character of Baltar derives many characteristics from the Roman emperor which he is named after, most notably, his [[w:hubris|hubris]].
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==References==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

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{{succession box|before=(''unknown, eventually [[Marta Shaw]]'')|title=Caprican delegate to the [[Quorum of Twelve]]|after=''(unknown, eventually [[Cowen]])''}}
{{succession box|before=''(unknown, position temporarily vacant)''|title=[[Government of the Twelve Colonies|Vice-President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol]]|after=[[Tom Zarek]]|}}
{{succession box|before=[[Laura Roslin]]|title=[[Government of the Twelve Colonies|President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol]]|after=[[Tom Zarek]]|}}
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{{Characters}}

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

{{featured article}}

[[de:Gaius Baltar]]
[[fr:Gaïus Baltar]]

Messengers

2011-11-18T15:28:19Z

Lucifuge Rofacale:

[[image:Messenger Six and Messenger Baltar, "Daybreak, Part II".jpg|thumb|The messengers appearing as Six and Baltar aboard ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' together, as seen by [[Caprica Six]] and [[Gaius Baltar]] during the [[Battle of the Colony]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Daybreak, Part II]]").]]

'''Messengers''' are the curious spectral apparitions seen by [[Gaius Baltar]] and [[Caprica Six]], as well as a few other characters. These beings were earlier referred to as "head characters", i.e. "Head Six" and "Head Baltar", by internal documentation and scripts. These messengers often present themselves as someone known very closely to the subject in question, and appear in the employ of a higher power who does not care to be referred to as "[[God (RDM)|God]]."

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

After her [[Resurrection (RDM)|resurrection]] from the Caprica mission, Caprica Six herself is haunted by a messenger appearing to her as Gaius Baltar ([[TRS]]: "[[Downloaded]]").

Neither character directly reveals the presence of these images to each other or any other character. The images appear to Six and Baltar together during the [[Battle of the Colony]], revealing the truth to the pair. Occasionally both Baltar and Caprica Six have been viewed reacting to their messengers, either by talking to themselves or by physical reaction, though this has generally been discounted as general "oddness". Baltar makes reference to seeing angels while speaking on the wireless as a cult leader, and when convincing [[John Cavil]] to stand down during the Battle of the Colony ([[TRS]]: "[[Islanded in a Stream of Stars]]"; "[[Daybreak, Part II]]").

The personality of each image is often represented in the clothing that they wear. Messenger Six often appears in a revealing red dress<ref>It should be noted that [[Caprica Six]] never appeared in this dress.</ref>, and the Messenger Baltar appears wearing [[Gaius Baltar]]'s custom-tailored, pinstripe suit ([[TRS]]: [[Miniseries]], "[[Downloaded]]").

Each messenger does shares the personality traits of the person they purport to represent but with some key differences. Being of possible divine origin, both are calmer and wiser than their human counterparts. While Messenger Six is as mischievous and sexual as Caprica Six, she espouses Cylon philosophy and [[Cylon Religion|religion]] in a zealous, unwavering manner. Likewise, Messenger Baltar shares Baltar's suave arrogance but often criticizes Caprica Six when she attempts to rationalize the destruction of the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]] or other Cylon motivations. Both personalities tend to sway its actual opposite to side with their philosophy: For Messenger Baltar, the need to become more human (and, like the actual Baltar himself, selfish); for Messenger Six, worship of the Cylon [[God (RDM)|God]] and distancing Baltar from any opportunity to give support to the Colonial causes.

In the last days of the journey, these messengers are revealed to be agents of a higher power— "angels of [[God (RDM)|God]]," something previously claimed by Messenger Six to Gaius Baltar in both "[[Home, Part II]]" and "[[Torn]]"; writer [[Jane Espenson]] has stated that she personally believes they are "a far-advanced culture with an interest in humanity." This likens them to the [[Beings of Light]] from the [[Original Series]] mythology.<ref>"Question: Starbuck an Angel??? Really???" Espenson: "I'm going to answer re Starbuck and the "head" people, too. Well, here's how I always saw it. If someone from a far-advanced culture somewhere in the universe took an interest in humanity, isn't it possible that with their advanced tech that they could have abilities that would seem to us miraculous. Maybe we'd think of them as "Angels." Maybe they're the whole reason we have a myth of "Angels." But that's just me. The great thing about great novels (or the series) is that some things are left open to your own philosophical solutions." Galactica Sitrep, http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/blog/2009/03/chat_with_battl.html</ref> ([[TRS]]: "[[Islanded in a Stream of Stars]]"; "[[Daybreak, Part II]]").

==Messenger Six==
[[image:Tigh_Me_Up_Tigh_Me_Down-Baltar_Six.jpg|thumb|Messenger Six and Gaius Baltar in his lab aboard ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' ([[TRS]]: "[[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]").]]
Messenger Six first appears to [[Gaius Baltar]] as he escapes [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] on [[Sharon Valerii]]'s [[Raptor]] during the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]] ([[TRS]]: [[Miniseries, Night 1]]).

Baltar initially believes that Messenger Six is a hallucination in its first few weeks of appearances ([[TRS]]: [[Miniseries, Night 1]], "[[33]]"), but later believes the Messenger's initial suggestion that she is generated from a Cylon cybernetic implant. He disproves this notion when Doctor [[Sherman Cottle]] performs a [[w:MRI|MRI]] scan, showing no abnormalities ([[TRS]]: "[[Home, Part II]]").

Messenger Six demonstrates awareness of events, people and places that Baltar does not appear to know consciously. She tells him of a [[Cylon transponder]] hidden in ''Galactica's'' [[CIC]] ([[TRS]]: [[Miniseries, Night 2]]), and appears to aid him in his conversion from atheism to Cylon monotheism through guiding him in how to destroy a Cylon [[tylium]] refinery ([[TRS]]: [[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]). The source for Messenger Six's data is initially unclear, but is later assumed to be through an act of divinity.
[[Image:brainscan.jpg|left|thumb|Baltar receives his brain scan from Dr. [[Sherman Cottle]], as Messenger Six looks on in amusement.]]

Baltar's visions of Six not only have the Cylon appearing with him on ''[[Galactica]]'', but the two also envision themselves in Baltar's now-destroyed home, on the beach, and other locales. Messenger Six seems to be able to force Baltar to see additional items in his environment, such as the human skulls on [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]], as well as visions of the interior of the ancient [[Opera House]] and an image of what Messenger Six believes to be a Cylon-human hybrid child. When an [[Hera Agathon|actual child]] does appear in the Fleet, the Messenger Six claims it is her vision fulfilled. Baltar is convinced by this that she cannot be a hallucination, but Cottle's scan appears to have ruled out the possibility that she is an implant. He asks her who or what she is, and she replies that she is an angel ([[TRS]]: "[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]", "[[Valley of Darkness]]", "[[Home, Part II]]").

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

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

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

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

Ultimately, Messenger Six is revealed to be a very real being -- not a projection of something inside Baltar's mind -- sent by another being that may be [[God (RDM)|God]]. Both her and Messenger Baltar appear to both Caprica Six and Baltar during the [[Battle of The Colony]]; Baltar and Caprica Six are each shocked that the other can see them. On Earth, Messenger Six, along with Messenger Baltar, reveals to Caprica and Baltar that their destiny had always been to protect Hera, who was the future of both races. They leave, saying that while God's plan is never finished, the two mortals' lives will be much less "exciting" from now on.

One-hundred fifty thousand years later, Messenger Six is with Messenger Baltar in New York City, looking over the shoulder of a man reading a ''[[National Geographic]]'' magazine article about the remains of Mitochondrial Eve -- the current population's latest common evolutionary ancestor, Hera Agathon. The two discuss how all of this has happened before, and whether all of this will happen again. Messenger Six believes things will go differently this time. Messenger Baltar chides her when she refers to God, saying, "You know it doesn't like that name." The two then walk off into the teeming crowds of New York City ([[TRS]]: "[[Daybreak, Part II]]").

==Messenger Baltar==
[[image:LBlt.jpg|thumb|left|Turnabout is fair play: Messenger Baltar appears to [[Caprica Six]], but not to [[Number Three (Downloaded copy)|Number Three]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Downloaded]]").]]

When a '''messenger with Gaius Baltar's visage''' appears to Caprica Six, the notion that the actual Gaius Baltar was part of a Cylon plan to manipulate him via Messenger Six is revealed to be highly unlikely, as other Cylons are unaware of him and do not mention the plan or its effects to Caprica Six ([[TRS]]: "[[Downloaded]]").

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

At her resurrection, Messenger Baltar immediately tells Caprica Six that only she can see and hear him, and not to reveal what she sees to the other Cylons present; she never asks about his origins.

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

Messenger Baltar appears irregularly in seasons 2 and 3. After Caprica Six surrenders herself to the Colonials (having assisted [[Sharon Agathon|Sharon "Athena" Agathon]] in her rescue of [[Hera Agathon|Hera]]), [[Laura Roslin]] and [[Tory Foster]] observe Caprica Six speaking to and kissing Messenger Baltar—who is invisible to Roslin and Foster ([[TRS]]: "[[The Woman King]]").

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

While Messenger Baltar acts mostly as a conversational foil for Six, in "[[Crossroads, Part I]]" he informs her that [[Saul Tigh]] has suffered the loss of [[Ellen Tigh|a woman]] close to him, to assist Six in dealing with Tigh's interrogation ([[TRS]]: "[[Crossroads, Part I]]").

[[Image:Baltar and Head Baltar, "Six of One".jpg|thumb|right|Baltar encounters his Messenger double.]]
After his ascension to [[Cult of Baltar|cult]] leader, Gaius Baltar encounters his Messenger doppelgänger after running into [[Tory Foster]] at the civilian's mess hall. Baltar is initially shocked by Messenger Baltar's sudden appearance, voicing his belief that it is [[Messenger Six]] appearing to him as a doppelgänger version of himself, but the Messenger points out that she would have no need to disguise herself from him; Baltar becomes amused by the idea of having himself as a conversational foil for once instead of Six. This Messenger Baltar encourages him to engage in a relationship with Foster, claiming that she is "[[Final Five|special]]," and guides him, after a fashion, through her covert interrogation attempt. This Messenger Baltar does not elaborate on that point, but Gaius Baltar follows the Messenger's lead ([[TRS]]: "[[Six of One]]").

Prior to the conclusion of the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]'s journey to [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]], Messenger Baltar and Messenger Six appear together, and both Caprica Six and Baltar can see them, and are each shocked that the other can. He and Messenger Six are representatives of the being that some call [[God (RDM)|God]], who Baltar describes to Cavil as a force of nature that is neither good nor evil. Messenger Baltar and Messenger Six make one last visit to Caprica Six and Baltar to tell them that their role had always been to protect Hera, and now that this has been fulfilled, the two Messengers leave them alone. Messenger Six explains that God's plan is never over, but Messenger Baltar tells the couple that their lives will be much less exciting.

The two Messengers visit Earth 150,000 years later in New York City discussing humanity finding its most recent common ancestor, the human-Cylon hybrid [[Hera Agathon]]. The two discuss the cycle of life, and Messenger Baltar chides Messenger Six for calling the being they work for "God," as it apparently does not like being called that. Messenger Baltar has the series' last line, which is a response to Messenger Six's stern look: "silly me... silly, silly me." The two then walk off together into present-day New York City ([[TRS]]: "[[Daybreak, Part II]]").

== Messenger Elosha ==

[[Laura Roslin]] converses with a being in the form of Priestess [[Elosha]] during what should be zero-time jump sequences on the way to the [[Resurrection Hub]]. This Messenger being is unlike the others, in that not only do they interact outside the realm of others, it takes place during a time interval that should not exist. The being seems to have some knowledge of the future events, such as Roslin's death and the fact that [[William Adama]] waits for her, suggesting both reality for the being and the out-of-time conversations. Unlike [[Kara Thrace]]'s Messenger Leoben, the experience is difficult to explain with unconscious dreaming or hallucination ([[TRS]]: "[[The Hub]]").

== The Final Five's Messengers ==

After recovering his memories of [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] due to trauma resulting from his being shot in the head, [[Samuel Anders]] reports that the [[Final Five]] were originally warned of impending nuclear destruction of Earth two thousand years earlier by images of people no one else could see. This information was the impetus for their recreation of [[Resurrection (RDM)|Cylon Resurrection]] and the preparing of the ship on which they escaped following the disaster. The one that appeared to Anders looked like a woman, the one that appeared to [[Tory Foster]] looked like a man. Much like Gaius Baltar, [[Galen Tyrol]] thought he might have a neural chip ([[TRS]]: "[[No Exit]]").

== Slick ==
[[Kara Thrace]] encounters a vision of her father<ref>[[Podcast:Someone to Watch Over Me]]</ref> going by the name of "Slick". She initially fails to recognize him as [[Dreilide Thrace|her father]]. As she spends time with him, she recalls playing the piano with her father. She assists him in composing a song and compares him to her father. While she plays the piano with him, she recalls playing the piano with her father as a child. She recalls a certain song, and notices that the score resembles one of [[Hera Agathon]]'s drawing. As she plays the song with him, [[Saul Tigh]] and [[Tory Foster]] recognize the song as [[The Music|the same song they heard at the Ionian Nebula]]. When Tigh grabs her and asks her about the song, Slick vanishes ([[TRS]]: "[[Someone to Watch Over Me]]").

== Messenger Zoe ==

A Messenger appeared to [[Zoe Graystone]] decades before the Fall of the Twelve Colonies in the form of Zoe herself. The Messenger's first act was to save Zoe from a fire which burned down the Graystones' prior residence, when Zoe was a little girl. She then continued to appear to Zoe, who considered her a friend, periodically. Messenger Zoe had the form of teenage Zoe before Zoe herself entered adolescence. On one occasion, when Zoe was a teenager and now identical to her Messenger counterpart, Messenger Zoe encouraged her to outdo her father [[Daniel Graystone]] by creating life with her computer skills, after they noticed that Daniel had "stolen" the design for the [[U-87 Cyber Combat Unit]] from drawings made by Zoe. This suggestion led to the creation of [[Zoe-A]], Zoe's [[holographic avatar]] duplicate ([[CAP]]: "[[Things We Lock Away]]").

Messenger Zoe later appears to Zoe-A when the latter is engaged in combat with [[Tamara-A]] and several users in [[New Cap City]] who blame her for the destruction of [[Maglev 23]]. She encourages Zoe-A to be her own person and not accept the blame for Zoe's sins. This leads to Zoe-A convincing Tamara-A to form an alliance ([[CAP]]: "[[Things We Lock Away]]").

An unidentified Zoe sits smiling among Sister [[Clarice Willow]]'s otherwise entirely Cylon congregation of monotheists in the flash-forward montage at the end of "[[Apotheosis (episode)|Apotheosis]]". The scene precedes Zoe-A's resurrection into the first [[Humanoid Cylon|skinjob]] body, yet is years after [[Zoe Graystone|original Zoe]]'s death and Zoe-A's denouncement of Willow.

== [[Messenger Leoben]] ==

Image of Leoben that appears to [[Kara Thrace]] but never claims to be a Cylon in the episode "[[Maelstrom]]." Because he only appears to her in a vision while the pilot is unconscious, and does not fit the Baltar-Six analogue, Battlestar Wiki considers him separately.

For further information, please see [[Messenger Leoben]] entry.

==Notes==
* In the cases of Elosha and Slick, it is unclear whether the phantom images represent the consciousnesses of the deceased or are simply other beings in their forms.
*The [[Messenger Leoben|Messenger "Leoben"]] that appears to [[Kara Thrace]] in the episode "[[Maelstrom]]" only appears to her in a vision while the pilot is unconscious. Since this Messenger Leoben does not fit the Baltar-Six analogue, Battlestar Wiki considers him separately to the above.
*[[William Adama]] sees and converses with his [[Carolanne Adama|deceased ex-wife]] each year on their anniversary as demonstrated in "[[A Day in the Life]]". While the episode where this occurs shows William and Carolanne together in places and settings (ostensibly at their home on [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]]), this is a dramatic representation of Adama's ordinary imagination of what Carolanne may have thought about his predicament. As such, the visualizations of Carolanne Adama are ''not'' a messenger or other spectral apparition.
*[[Saul Tigh]] sees [[Ellen Tigh#Saul's "Messenger Ellen"|his dead wife]] in place of [[Caprica Six]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Escape Velocity]]"). This could be a simple hallucination or, as Tigh is a [[humanoid Cylon]], an example of [[projection]].
*When holding a two thousand year-old, mangled mailbox hatch from the lobby of the Tighs's apartment building, Saul sees a dying Ellen again in a vision from his and her prior incarnations on Earth. Ellen is depicted in the vision as fully aware of their future reincarnations and the cyclical nature of their existence, which she prophesises for past-Saul in the moment before they both die. ([[TRS]]: "[[Sometimes a Great Notion]]").
*In the fifth [[Razor Flashbacks|Razor Flashback]], while exploring the lab, [[William Adama]] has a hallucination of a hand reaching out to grab him from a device similar to a [[resurrection tank|resurrection]] or [[Hybrid]] tank. However this could be a stress-induced hallucination. The same may be the case for the screaming prisoners in the lab, which could also be explained as a visualization for the audience. However, the voice Adama hears of the [[First Hybrid]] is the same as the real voice, so this part at least is not a hallucination.
*Beginning in Season 3, Messenger Six appears less frequently, and makes only a few appearances in Season 4. A scene was filmed for "[[The Road Less Traveled]]" in which Messenger Six, stating that Baltar no longer needs her anymore, says goodbye to him and fades away; this scene was deleted (but included on the Season 4.0 DVD). Messenger Six reappeared in yet another deleted scene, this time for "Sometimes a Great Notion" (information is relegated to a [[:File:SixonEarth.jpg|promotional image]]), before returning but only in the extended version of "[[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]]" and reappearing in "[[Deadlock]]", most likely rendering the deleted scene from "The Road Less Traveled" non-canonical as neither of the two aforementioned episodes make mention of her departure.
*In the podcast for "[[No Exit]]", Ronald Moore refers to the Final Five's Messenger beings as "the Messengers" and indicates that they are significant to the overall storyline.

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

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

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

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

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

Taking a Break From All Your Worries

2011-08-24T03:02:42Z

Lucifuge Rofacale: Baltar is not a sociopath. If he were, he would be incapable of remorse.

{{Episode Data
| title= Taking a Break From All Your Worries
| image=3x13-Taking a Break From All Your Worries-Apollo.jpg
| season= 3
| episode= 13
| guests=
| writer= [[Michael Taylor]]
| story=
| director= [[Edward James Olmos]]
| production= 312
| rating=1.5
| US airdate= 2007-01-28
| CAN airdate=2007-01-28
| UK airdate=
| dvd=
| podcast = Y
| population= 41403
| oldpopulation= 41401
| prev= [[Rapture]]
| next= [[The Woman King]]
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== Overview ==
: ''[[Gaius Baltar]] is rigorously questioned about his past and what the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] know about [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]. Meanwhile, both [[Kara Thrace]] and [[Lee Adama]] struggle with their feelings for one another and are forced to make a decision about their respective marriages.''

== Summary ==
===Teaser===

*The episode begins as the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] moves past a small planetoid. Viewers hear a lullaby being sung as the shot moves past [[duty locker]]s as people sleep, to show [[Gaius Baltar]], in a [[brig]] on ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'', tearing strips of fabric.
*To pressure him into revealing any secrets or tactical knowledge of the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]], Baltar has been forced to stay awake. In turn, the prisoner has gone on a hunger strike, and believes that the Fleet's leadership will eventually kill him outright, rather than give him a fair trial.
*Baltar's virtual [[Number Six]] appears to question his actions, but only briefly. She soon begins to "aid" him in his task; he ties the fabric strips to form a hangman's noose.
*Elsewhere, Lieutenant [[Felix Gaeta]] cannot sleep. He dresses and heads for the brig. A [[Marine]] on guard stops his advance.
*The virtual Six "pushes" Baltar's cot, and the man begins to choke on his noose. Six tells him to take slow, deep breaths.
*Baltar appears to awake in a [[Cylon rebirthing tank]], surrounded by three Six copies. He shouts in celebration, believing that, at least, he knows his true nature as a Cylon.
*The Sixes' gentle touches suddenly become harsh scratches and lacerations. One of them tells Baltar that he is not, in fact, a Cylon, but a human about to die. All three push Baltar into the tank's gelatinous mixture. One Six enters the pool, lying above him and kisses him as he is held to drown.
*Baltar's mind was likely suffering from oxygen deprivation, as his Marine guard cuts him down and successfully resuscitates him. Gaeta leaves to find Dr. [[Cottle]].

===Act 1===
*[[William Adama|Admiral Adama]], [[Saul Tigh]], Dr. Cottle, and President [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] sit in Adama's quarters, discussing what to do to get information from Baltar. Acknowledging that his hunger strike and suicide attempt have soured his mood, Roslin suggests an alternative plan.
*When Lieutenant Gaeta is asked why he was at Baltar's cell so early in the morning, he tells the president that he couldn't sleep and wanted to speak with the former president.
*Elsewhere, [[Lee Adama]] treats his friend [[Galen Tyrol]] to a little surprise: A number of crew have created a bar, probably on the starboard [[hangar deck]], complete with a [[Pyramid (RDM)|Pyramid arcade game]], an old [[Viper Mark II]] hanging above for atmosphere. "[[Joe's bar]]" is filled with many people who have managed to put aside the troubles of the day. Tyrol and Adama have a drink as they discuss their marital problems; Tyrol and his wife [[Cally Tyrol|Cally]] have had an argument that has apparently left him "in the doghouse". Adama is reluctant to interact with his wife, [[Anastasia Dualla]], as he continues to fight with his angst over his love of [[Kara Thrace]].
*Major Adama returns to his quarters, quite drunk, to find Dualla still awake and doing some work, drinking something from a wine glass. She tries to confirm if they are still going to have dinner later that day as Adama dozes off, leaving Dualla disappointed.
*A similar conversation is occurring at Kara Thrace's bunk, as [[Samuel Anders]] and Thrace are clothing themselves after sleeping together. Thrace darkly pokes fun at herself, calling herself a "two-timing bitch" of a spouse. Anders asks if she is in love with Lee Adama.
*When Thrace hesitates to answer, Anders tells her to explore what she feels, believing that Thrace's [[Flesh and Bone|alleged destiny]] and her feelings about Anders may still be significant. The former resistance fighter leaves Thrace to herself in her bunk.
*Baltar is standing in his cell when President Roslin appears. Mirroring Baltar's visit with Roslin on [[New Caprica]] a few months earlier, while she was [[New Caprica Detention Center|detained by the Cylons]], Roslin hands him his glasses. Baltar, recognizing the reference, takes his glasses from her, but we don't see the glasses again.
*After lighting a cigar for him, she sits. Baltar complains of having been force-fed by Cottle's staff, to which Roslin is non-plussed. She asks him questions about his involvement with the Cylons. She questions him using [[Epiphanies|her personal knowledge]] of his interaction with a [[Caprica-Six|known Cylon model]] before the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|Cylon attack]], asking if he allowed a Cylon access to the [[Colonial Defense Mainframe]].
*Baltar equivocates at first, then stands his ground about his involvement, calling Roslin's accusations a "rehash" of the same "lies" she told prior to the [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II|presidential election]].
*Roslin shakes her head, and escalates her questioning. She shows Baltar a series of pictures of the dead on New Caprica who were killed by Cylons for supposed insurrection. Uncharacteristically, Roslin's voice rises to a shrill pitch, and she screams at Baltar as she flings each of the pictures at him. She then calls for Saul Tigh to have Baltar taken from his cell and carried to the [[airlock]].
*Baltar shouts his innocence as the Marines move him through the [[memorial hallway]] and Roslin tries to haunt the former president with faces of the Colonies' dead. Baltar stops his "executioners" to show one photo of a [[Adrien Bauer|man]] he knew. Although Baltar insists that he would not do anything to harm his friend, his wife, and his own godchild, the Marines cart the scientist away.

===Act 2===
*The Fleet's leadership convene once more. Roslin's plan failed; Baltar called the bluff about being thrown in an airlock, and the Marines have returned him to his cell.
*When Roslin suggests a different, less aggressive approach, Admiral Adama mentions a special [[Interrogation drug|hallucinogenic drug]] used experimentally by the [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|Colonial military]]. Roslin's expression is a mixture of awe and surprise, but asks if ''Galactica'' has this drug on board.
*Lee Adama and Dualla have an argument about Kara Thrace and the future of their marriage. Dualla says that she married Adama because she loved him, choosing to have him for as long as he or Kara Thrace would let him. She resigns herself to her marriage's failure and tells Adama that she will not stand in his way if he were to choose Thrace over her.
*Kara Thrace and Lee Adama meet privately. When Thrace asks Adama if he loves her and would be with her if she were to leave Anders, Adama equivocates, remembering Thrace's fickleness [[Unfinished Business|after he declared his love a year before]]. Thrace leaves him to think about the situation, telling him as she goes that thinking is what he does best.
*Major Adama returns to the bar and drinks more, toying with his wedding band. He asks Chief Tyrol if he ever thinks about what his future with [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]] would have been like, or has any regrets. With a quick drink, Tyrol replies in the negative.
*Major Adama stumbles back to his quarters, losing his wedding band somewhere in ''Galactica'''s corridors and apparently failing when he drunkenly attempts to find it.
*Baltar is strapped down in [[sickbay]] as Roslin authorizes the administration of the interrogation drug to Baltar. Baltar accuses her of seeking her own satisfaction instead of justice. Adama warns her, Dr. Cottle and medic [[Layne Ishay]] not to make any loud noises and orders additional restraints on the prisoner's head.

===Act 3===
*Baltar finds himself floating in a nondescript dark body of water, with only a dim light shining from above.
*Adama and Roslin talk to Baltar in his hallucinogenic haze, asking him questions about the Cylons' knowledge of the whereabouts of [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]], and his mission at the [[Temple of Five]].
*Baltar, genuinely believing that his life is in peril, tells them that he believed that he could be one of the [[Final Five]] Cylons and was seeking an answer from the Eye of Jupiter in the temple. If he was one of the Five, he would no longer be a traitor to humanity. Roslin asks him if he is one of the Five, and he truthfully tells her that he is not.
*The medic accidentally knocks over some equipment, creating a loud clang, which interrupts Baltar's interrogation momentarily.
*Adama warns Baltar to cooperate so that he will be able to "get out", then turns off the flashlight he was using to create the lighting effect in Baltar's illusory world.
*Baltar begins to talk about [[Caprica-Six]] and her involvement, as a vision of Six appears and disappears next to him in the water.
*Baltar's vision shifts and he once again sees himself in a Cylon [[Resurrection tank|rebirthing tank]], this time, however, he is surrounded by dark figures that are later revealed as the Colonial dead from the Colonies. As he tries to explain himself, the figures push him into the water, and a young girl hovers over him as he continues the dark descent.
*As Baltar sinks in his vision, in the real world, Baltar's vital signs begin to drop as well. Dr. Cottle calls off further interrogation and proceeds to revive Baltar.

===Act 4===
*Roslin, Adama, and Tigh discuss the failure of the interrogation in Adama's quarters. Roslin thinks that the Final Five Cylons may be connected to the [[five priests]] of the Temple of Five, which Tigh dismisses as superstititious mumbo jumbo. The three of them know that Baltar fears being executed even if he talks.
*A final attempt to gain information from Baltar uses Lieutenant Gaeta to lure Baltar into a sense of comfort by aiding the Colonial officer in his calculations to Earth, hoping that he will leak any information on Cylon tactics or technology.
*Initially, Baltar acquiesces and begins to correct Gaeta's work until he senses Gaeta's awareness of something else in the cell.
*Baltar realizes that his cell has a surveillance camera, and becomes belligerent, which begins to anger Gaeta.
*Realizing that Gaeta's anger could make things much worse, the Fleet leadership leaves their observation room to interdict Gaeta.
*Meanwhile, Baltar whispers something to Gaeta (See [[Taking a Break From All Your Worries#From the podcast|podcast information]]) who then uses the pen he brought into the room to stab Baltar in the neck. Baltar's whispered statement is not revealed until [[The_Face_of_the_Enemy#Episode_9|''The Face of the Enemy'' webisode 10]]; he tells Gaeta, "I know what your Eight did."
*Adama manages to subdue Gaeta, and Cottle looks over Baltar, whose injuries are not serious. His inner Six remarks that while he's not one of the Five, he certainly has the luck of the gods.
*Meanwhile, Lee Adama and his wife meet in Joe's Bar.
*Adama, having since found his lost wedding ring, confesses that he has loved Dualla and how dedicated she has been to him, never realizing how much he needed her affection.
*As the two embrace, Adama tries to avoid looking across the bar at Kara Thrace and Anders. Thrace returns the glance before Adama breaks it off.
*Laura Roslin and Admiral Adama rest in the admiral's quarters, with Roslin reclining on a bunk and Adama sitting at the foot of the bunk. Roslin admits that she wanted a genuine admission of guilt from Baltar, and Adama tells her that she'll never get that because Baltar sees himself as the victim. They debate, with the failure of both measures of interrogation on Baltar, what to do with him.
*When Adama suggests that there is still an opportunity to make Baltar "disappear," Roslin touches Adama's arm tenderly but briefly, reminding him of his humanity as she responds that they couldn't do that to him.
*Roslin suggests that one option is still on the table: Give Baltar a trial.

===Bonus Scene===
Part of a bonus scene was shown after the original airing of this episode on SciFi Channel and the full scene was made available on SciFi's website and the Season 3 DVD.

*Roslin talks with Caprica-Six after overseeing her transfer to a cell on ''Galactica'', saying that all the Colonials have surmised so far is that Baltar was not involved in the initial Cylon attack. Six tells Roslin she "did what you asked. Confirmed your suspicions. Even let you chop me up for theatrical effect." The meaning of this last is unclear as there is no scene in the main episode in which Caprica-Six appears, let alone is "chopped up" and Six appears uninjured in this scene.
*Roslin tries to gain information by promising Six that she won't be executed, but Six counters that Roslin made the same promise to [[Leoben]] and broke it ([[Flesh and Bone]]).
*Roslin asks for Six's name and is given it ("Caprica"), and says that she recognizes the authenticity of Caprica-Six's feelings for Baltar.
*Caprica-Six wonders if the Colonials' justice system has withered away along with their conscience and adamantly states that she will not reveal any information unless she is assured that Baltar will receive a fair trial. If he does, she will be willing to be the primary witness and share all the information that Roslin wants to know.
*

== Notes ==
*This is the second episode of the series to be directed by [[Edward James Olmos]]. The first was Season 1's "[[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]".
*With 30 characters, this episode has the longest title of any Re-imagined Series episode to date.
*The title is a partial quote from "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," the theme song to the television program ''[[Wikipedia:Cheers|Cheers]]'' written by [[Wikipedia:Gary Portnoy|Gary Portnoy]] & Judy Hart Angelo. — "Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got./''Taking a break from all your worries'', sure would help a lot."
*The songs heard as background music in the bar are original compositions. One is titled "Lord Knows I Would", composed and performed by [http://www.rayayarbrough.com/ Raya Yarbrough] - who is the voice of most vocals on the ''BSG'' soundtrack - and available on one of her albums. "All That Remains" is also performed by her, but composed by [[Bear McCreary]] and is part of his [http://bearmccreary.com/html/blog/blog018.htm ''Rest Stop'' soundtrack].
*The secret experiments with hallucinogenic drugs for purposes of interrogation parallels the [[w:Project MKULTRA|CIA's MK ULTRA]] program from the 1960s and 1970s. In that program, [[w:LSD|LSD]] was investigated as a possible "truth serum".
*The episode was originally meant to be far lighter in tone and revolve mainly around Joe's bar, showing how people build it and fight to keep it. This explains the somewhat paradoxical episode title, given the dark tone it ultimately took. The change in tone came about because [[Jamie Bamber]] felt that the script didn't deal enough and too lightly with Lee Adama's deteriorating relationship to Dualla. Moreover, Baltar's storyline started as a B-plot and became the focus of the episode ([[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion Season Three]]).

== Analysis ==
* At the beginning of the episode, Baltar "improvises" the line "If I should die before I wake."; a line from an 18th century [[w:Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep|children's prayer]]. In light of [[The Music|later developments]] concerning particular parallels between Colonial and contemporary popular culture, this may signify a deeper connection between the Colonials and [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]].
* Baltar, despite extreme stress, various forms of torture, and attempted suicide, maintains a high degree of self-preservation. Even at moments when it appears he is about to confess all of his wrongs, knowing that his life might be in danger, he finds a way to circumvent the questions and redirect them to someone or something else that makes him look to be the victim - this is classic behavior of a narcissist.
* Adama, during the interrogation session, seems to know more about the capabilities of the [[interrogation drug|hallucinogen]] than it initially appears when he mentions the drug to Roslin. He appears to have done this type of interrogation before.
* The episode draws connections between Baltar and Roslin and their respective roles, especially in how both have now switched places. Roslin almost word for word quotes Baltar when it comes down to the best interrogation method: using a stick versus a carrot. The same type of analogy Baltar used with Admiral Cain in "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]". Moreover there is a clear callback to Baltar visiting Roslin in her cell and handing her her glasses during the occupation of New Caprica.
* This episode displays the darker side of Adama as throughout the episode he is consistently the one to display a bitter streak towards Baltar. He cites many different options and choices that one would consider to be contradictory to his own stances of how humans were to treat each other before. For example, he directly opposed President Zarek when it became known that people were "disappearing" without given a trial ([[Collaborators]]). Yet, with Baltar, Adama suggests to Roslin that it is not too late to make him disappear.
* The hallucinogen appears to affect how an individual's brain interprets sound. Adama ordered that complete silence be kept as he and Roslin are the only ones allowed to speak to Baltar. However, once Layne Ishay is startled by Baltar's screams, she accidentally knocks over some equipment. The clanging and noise caused the hallucinated water to become turmoil and reach the brink of drowning Baltar.
* A substantial amount of time seems to have passed between "[[Rapture]]" and this episode as Kara Thrace's hands have recovered from the burns she received on the algae planet. Baltar's appearance has also more facial hair than he had when he was captured inside the Temple of Five.
*Roslin probably connects Caprica-Six's name to Baltar saying it during his interrogation, thus deepening her belief that he is guilty.
* Judging by the reaction of the patrons, the liquor being served is most likely recently manufactured moonshine of dubious quality. Whatever passes for "the good stuff" in the bar is likely whatever hasn't been appropriated by high ranking personnel and may have been made on [[New Caprica]].
*In "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]", Lee Adama promises the pilots to build them a bar should a habitable planet be found. However, given the time that has passed, this is probably unrelated to Joe's bar.
*Adama speaks of "drugs" in the plural. If the [[interrogation drug]] used is actually a mix of readily available drugs, this explains why ''Galactica'' has an apparently secret and experimental drug aboard.

== Questions ==

=== Answered Questions ===

* What is the nature of the Tyrols' marital problems? ([[A Day in the Life|Answer]])
* What is going to happen to Caprica-Six aboard ''Galactica''? ([[The Woman King|Answer]])
* What will the civilian reaction be once it is known that Baltar was captured? ([[Dirty Hands|Answer 1]], [[The Son Also Rises|Answer 2]])
* Will Apollo and Starbuck keep their vows to their respective spouses from this point on, or will there be another intimate encounter between the two? ([[Maelstrom|Answer 1]], [[Six of One|Answer 2]])
* Will Gaeta face any legal consequences for his attack on Baltar? ([[The Woman King|Answer]])
* What does Baltar say that causes Gaeta to stab him in a fit of rage? ([[The Face of the Enemy|Answer]])

=== Unanswered Questions ===

* Was something else at work behind Gaeta's interestingly-timed bout of insomnia?
* Given shortages throughout the Fleet, where does the Fleet get its alcohol supplies? (This applies not only to Joe's but to Tigh's seemingly bottomless liquor cabinet.)
* Given the interrogation of Baltar is in its early stages, this would place this episode as occurring very soon, possibly immediately after "[[Rapture]]". How have Kara's hands healed so quickly?

== Official Statements ==

* ''[[Michael Taylor]] discusses [[Edward James Olmos]]' direction of the episode:''
: This was my first time working with Edward J. Olmos (“Eddy” to his buds) as a director, and I found it a really remarkable experience. Eddie (that’s right, I’m now a “bud,” or so I like to think) often works from a very instinctual basis. Sometimes the images he conjured in his mind seemed at odd with the script and frightened me a bit, but I would quickly see how he was just taking a scene into a deeper and murkier psychological territory.<ref name="thewatcher">{{cite_web|url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2007/11/answers-to-your.html|title=Answers to your 'Razor' questions and clues about 'Battlestar Galactica's' final season|date=16 November 2007|accessdate=16 November 2007|last=Ryan|first=Maureen|format=|language=}}</ref>

=== From the [[Podcast:Taking a Break From All Your Worries|podcast]] ===
*The bar was originally called the "Why not?" in early drafts of the script<ref>{{cite_rdm_podcast|episode=Taking a Break From All Your Worries|act=1|id=whynot|timestamp=06:51|totalrunning=45:28}}</ref>.
*The extra in the first bar scene in a wheelchair was a visitor (and a huge fan) on the set who the cast and crew took a liking to and adopted into the show for the couple of days that he was there<ref>{{cite_rdm_podcast|episode=Taking a Break From All Your Worries|act=1|id=wheelchairextra|timestamp=07:07|totalrunning=45:28}}</ref>.
*There was a larger subplot for [[Layne Ishay]] in which she can't stand Baltar being tortured anymore and leaks his presence and treatment to the Fleet<ref>{{cite_rdm_podcast|episode=Taking a Break From All Your Worries|act=1|id=layneishay|timestamp=22:10|totalrunning=45:28}}</ref>. A remnant of this is present in her knocking over the instrument tray.
*There were discussions about a subplot that involved Baltar being guilty of an incident before the Cylon occupation in which many, already discriminated, Saggitarons were killed. Ron Moore relates that Baltar threatens to implicate Gaeta, who had nothing to do with the incident, in that (the scene where Baltar whispers something inaudible in Gaeta's ear) and that this is what makes Gaeta snap and stab Baltar.<ref>{{cite_rdm_podcast|episode=Taking a Break From All Your Worries|act=4|id=Baltarstoryline|timestamp=38:23|totalrunning=45:28}}</ref> <ref>The webisode series ''[[The Face of the Enemy]]'' later establishes a different explanation for Baltar's words and Gaeta's reaction to them.</ref>
*Moore also mentioned that Gaeta still has "issues" that relate to his time working with Baltar and how the Fleet at first views him as a collaborator because of that relation. Now that Baltar is back, Gaeta has a difficult time accepting that, which later turns into rage during the interrogation.
*Moore mentions in [[Podcast:Taking a Break From All Your Worries|this episode's podcast]] that [[Joe's bar]] would be featured in future episodes<ref>{{cite_rdm_podcast|episode=Taking a Break From All Your Worries|act=4|id=ReturntoJoesbar|timestamp=37:33|totalrunning=45:28}}</ref>. Indeed that has come to pass as its last known appearance is in "[[Crossroads, Part I]]" where [[Saul Tigh]] and [[Samuel Anders]] hear [[The Music|a snippet from a peculiar musical melody]], as well as later being featured in "[[Escape Velocity]]".

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

* ''[[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] and [[Lee Adama]] talking in Joe's Bar:''
: '''Adama:''' You and [[Cally Henderson|Cally]] had a fight?
: '''Tyrol:''' Didn't you hear us? We figured we could've sold tickets. (pause) To marriage. Why we build bars.

* ''Roslin interrogating Baltar:''
: '''Roslin:''' Just wondered if you recognized even one of these faces? Did any image get through to you on the rare occasion when you ventured out from behind your sandbags and your razor wires to see what was happening to your people?! YOUR PEOPLE! I need to know. NOW!

* ''Starbuck responding to Anders:''
: '''Starbuck:''' Kara Thrace and her special destiny? Sounds more like a bad cover band, Sam.

*''Under the influence of the drug, Baltar talks about [[Caprica-Six]]:''
:"She... Caprica-Six... she chose me. Chose me over all men. Chosen to be seduced, taken by the hand. Guided between the light and the dark. But is she an angel, or is she a demon? Is she imaginary, or is she real? Is she my own voice, or the voice..."

== Guest Stars ==
*[[Michael Trucco]] as [[Samuel Anders]]
*[[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Doctor [[Cottle]]
*[[Kerry Norton]] as [[Layne Ishay]]
*[[Leah Cairns]] as Lieutenant [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
*[[Tom Bower]] as [[Joe]]
*[[Steve Lawlor]] as Guard
*[[Graeme Duffy]] as [[Adrien Bauer]]
*[[Jason Bryden]] as Knucklehead Dragger #1

== References ==

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

{{Episode list (RDM season 3)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Michael Taylor]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Edward James Olmos]]
[[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Zuckerbrot und Peitsche]]
[[zh:忧里偷闲]]

A Measure of Salvation

2011-08-14T02:29:35Z

Lucifuge Rofacale:

{{Episode Data
| title= A Measure of Salvation
| image= Amos.jpg
| season= 3
| episode= 7
| guests= [[Lucy Lawless]] as [[Number Three]]
| writer= [[Michael Angeli]]
| story=
| director= [[Bill Eagles]]
| production= 306
| rating=1.5
| US airdate=2006-11-10
| CAN airdate=2006-11-11
| UK airdate=
| dvd=
| podcast=Y
| population= 41420
| oldpopulation= 41422
| prev= [[Torn]]
| next= [[Hero]]
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== Overview ==
:''[[Lee Adama]] and [[Sharon Agathon]] are dispatched to investigate the derelict [[basestar (RDM)|baseship]]. They find the [[humanoid Cylon]]s dying from a [[Lymphocytic encephalitis|virulent disease]], which inspires Lee Adama to come up with a desperate plan against [[Cylons (RDM)|their enemy]].''

== Summary ==
=== On ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' ===
*A boarding party comprising of [[Raptor]]s and [[Viper Mark VII|Vipers]] investigate the derelict [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]]. Among the boarding party are [[Lee Adama|Apollo]] and [[Sharon Agathon|Athena]].
*Aboard the derelict, [[Marines]] explore the corridors, finding the [[Humanoid Cylon|Cylons]] dead. Athena attempts to access the derelict basestar's [[Hybrid]], but is unsuccessful.
*Some Cylons around the control center 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 basestar self-destructs.
*''Galactica'' quarantines the boarding party and prisoners while Dr. [[Cottle]] finds out if the virus affects 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.
*Dr. Cottle's investigation identifies [[Lymphocytic encephalitis|a virus]] that can be treated, but not cured for Cylons. [[Laura Roslin|President Roslin]], [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]], Lee Adama, 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 (RDM)|resurrection]] would infect the others. He also mentions that [[Gaius Baltar]] provided the information on the path to [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]].
*Aboard ''[[Colonial One]]'', Lee Adama suggests a plan to eliminate the entire Cylon race by executing their prisoners in range of a [[Resurrection Ship]], where the downloaded consciousnesses would infect the remaining Cylons, because according to [[Simon]] the virus carries a bioelectric feedback component that could spread it even through the download process. Helo scoffs at the idea, considering it genocide.
*Aboard ''Galactica'', Athena finds she's immune because of antibodies generated within her body by carrying her daughter, [[Hera Agathon|Hera]]. Helo tells her of the Fleet's plan, and Athena understands.
*Admiral Adama shows slight dissent about the plan, indicating regulations that forbid him to 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 attract the Cylon fleet. 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.
*Lee Adama 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'' escapes without sustaining any major damage.
*Helo converses with Athena about his actions. He maintains that what he did was right, regardless of the consequences.
*Aboard ''Galactica'', 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 notes that the Cylons are on the right track as well.

=== 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.

== Notes ==
*[[Survivor count|Fleet population]] is 41,420. Barring any births, there is an unaccounted loss of at least two since "[[Torn]]".
*The story behind the Lion Nebula beacon and the virus may have been inspired by the lunar lander [[wikipedia:Surveyor 3|Surveyor 3]]. Before launching in 1967, its camera was accidentally contaminated by a common bacterium. When the camera was recovered by [[wikipedia:Apollo 12|Apollo 12]] astronauts, the microbes returned to life, having survived two and a half years of vacuum, radiation, and temperature extremes.
*This is the first episode in which [[Saul Tigh]] does not appear, more than likely due to his promise to William Adama at the end of "Torn" after Adama's confrontation with both Tigh and Kara Thrace. Up to this point, the only characters to have appeared in every episode are [[Laura Roslin]] and [[William Adama]], albeit Adama was unconscious for several episodes early in season 2.
**A scene where Tigh accuses Helo of being a poor XO and having a relationship with a Cylon was not filmed at [[Michael Hogan]]'s insistence, who argued that Tigh would heed Adama's order to pull himself together in the previous episode.<ref>{{cite companion|season=3|page=55}}</ref>
*Helo has been promoted to the rank of captain, as evident in both dialogue and costuming.
*Dr. Cottle identifies the disease as [[Lymphocytic encephalitis]], however [[w:encephalitis|encephalitis]] is a condition (swelling of the brain) that can be caused by a pathogen, not a pathogen itself. More likely the pathogen is [[wikipedia:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus|Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus]].
*In [[Podcast:A Measure of Salvation|his podcast]], Moore notes that this episode shares similarities to the ''[[MemoryAlpha:Star Trek: The Next Generation|Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' episode, "[[MemoryAlpha:I, Borg|I, Borg]]", though he does not mention the episode by name. Moore also noted that this episode was brought up for discussion during the writer's meetings to discuss development of this episode, as "I, Borg" discussed using a lone [[MemoryAlpha:Hugh|Borg drone]] implanted with a computer virus to infect the [[MemoryAlpha:Borg|Borg collective]].
*The location in space of the attempted attack on the Cylons is designated "The Region of [[NCD2539]] Above/North."
*The Cylon [[Hybrid]] does not appear in this episode despite actress Tiffany Lyndall-Knight's name appearing in the ending credits.
*A scene depicted in a promotional photo showing Number Six and Three in a projected forest was cut from the episode. The scene also showed them speaking in Number Three's projection of a cathedral. The scene is included on the DVD release.
*Other [[List of Deleted Scenes - Season 3 (RDM)#A Measure of Salvation|scenes cut]] from the episode include Kara Thrace interrogating a Leoben model in a callback to "[[Flesh and Bone]]" and Admiral Adama surveying the Cylon basestar in a Raptor.
*Lee Adama leading the Marine boarding party is a remnant of a dropped subplot in which he joins to Marines to lose his weight and become a soldier again<ref>{{cite companion|season=3|page=54}}</ref>.
* This episode confirms that Sharon/Athena is no longer living in her cell, likely due to her having now been given a commission. Her former cell is in fact used to house the infected Cylons, and the furnishings present when it was last seen in "[[Occupation]]" have been removed.
*Gaeta briefly becomes XO of ''Galactica'' during the aborted extermination mission when Helo asks to be relieved. This and the fact he is seen in uniform indicates that he is once more an officer (a position he did not have in "[[Collaborators]]").
*When Helo suggests the Cylons don't deserve genocide because they tried to live with humans on New Caprica, Roslin counters that he wouldn't know anything about New Caprica because she doesn't remember him ever setting foot on the planet. In fact, Helo is seen on New Caprica in flashbacks during "Unfinished Business." Helo does not correct the President on this omission.
**Roslin may be experiencing selective memory, or she may not have seen him there.
**Perhaps she was referring to spending time on the planet during the occpation though Roslin should know that doing so would have been nearly impossible.
*''Galactica'''s marine team encounters a fleet of dead Cylon raiders cluttering the airspace around the adrift basestar, so much so that Apollo's raptor has to nudge a few raiders out of the way to fly into the entryway. In the previous episode, Baltar's raptor, flying to the same basestar, encounter no additional derelict ships, and had a clear path into the basestar's landing bay. Could the dead raiders simply have ejected from their launch slots after Baltar left.

== Analysis ==

===The disease===
*The Cylons could have cured themselves of this plague relatively quickly, if ''Galactica'' had succeeded in infecting them. It is quickly noted in the episode that [[Sharon Agathon]] is herself immune because fetal cells from [[Hera Agathon|Hera]] created effective antibodies against the virus. Hera is immune to the virus because she is a hybrid Human-Cylon. Now that she is in custody of the Cylons, Baltar could have utilized her immunity, as he previously did on Roslin, as capital to further his self-preservation amongst them.
**It can be assumed that executing the captured Cylons will send them back to the Resurrection Ship, thus infecting the Cylon network.
**For the Cylons to study the plague they would have become infected themselves, therefore, there was no way they could have tried to find a cure without potentially perishing
*The wider implications of such an event could be religiously meaningful to the Cylons. Cylons have time and again shown religious deference by sometimes overlooking rational explanations. 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.
**The presence of Hera is profound enough to the Cylons, which could be preventing them from seeing that Hera could be used as a tool.
*There is a fundamental flaw in the plan [[Lee Adama]] develops: Even if the virus successfully infects the [[Resurrection Ship]], the other Cylons would isolate that individual ship, thus preventing a widespread epidemic. The resulting impact on the Cylon fleet would be no greater than previous destruction of the Resurrection Ship in "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]".
**Apollo's plan is based on an account of the Cylon analysis of the threat. He could simply assume they are correct and that the virus can spread like wildfire from one Resurrection Ship to another.
**Also, by infecting a greater mass of ships, ''Galactica'' could board the ships, take much needed resources and more infected Cylons for further use as biological weapons.
*The science behind the virus is somewhat questionable. While the biological aspect is sound, the existence of a "bioelectrical feedback component" appears to be technobabble. It would be impossible for a biological virus (i.e. a physical pathogen) to be transmitted by download to the Resurrection Ship. Such a feedback - scrambling the brainwave patterns - could disrupt the download process, but it is unclear how it could spread the virus itself on the other side. It simply may be a case of Cylon superstition, which is known to happen from time to time.
**From Dr. Cottle's dialogue, it would appear that the problem lies with how the Cylons' immune systems reacts with the virus, more than the virus itself. If this is the case, it is likely that the immune system's reaction would carry through the download and possibly be passed to other Cylons throughout the network.
**Conceptually, there is actually very little difference between a physical and a computer virus. Both usurp cell function. Moreover, if the virus is a retrovirus, its genome (be it physical or digital) will be transcribed into the cellular DNA, which might be downloaded to the Resurrection Ship.
**That the Centurions and Raider are disabled as as well might hint at a digital component, but in "[[Torn]]" it is noted that the Centurions shut down as soon as the [[Hybrid]] became infected. This indicates that the Hybrid is in some sort of contact with the Centurions. Moreover, Raiders are partly biological and could be infected in their hangars.
*Dr. Cottle explains that Cylons carry antibodies that break down the RNA of his proposed vaccine. However antibodies have no disintegrative functionality, and only prime recognized pathogens for phagocytosis, though he may have simplified the explanation. But as vaccines are developed from the pathogenic organism (or a close relative) it would be impossible for the Cylons to carry antibodies specific for the vaccine RNA (or for the products it encodes) or otherwise they would be immune to the pathonogenic virus itself.
*The genetic pool the Cylons were created from may predate the human immunity to the plague from just a couple hundred years ago, yet the Cylons, even as a class of machines, are only 40 to 60 years old. This may indicate another, non-Colonial, source for the DNA.
**There is. The humanoid Cylons were created by the [[Final Five|Five]], who are two thousand years old.
*None of the four members of the Five who are in the fleet at this time are shown to be exposed to the infected Cylons.
*It seems this virus could also be a fairly reliable (although not conclusive) litmus test for Cylons in the Colonial Fleet.
*It seems reasonable to assume that all members of ''Galactica's'' boarding party who boarded the baseship are not Cylons, save Sharon Agathon.
*Baltar's boarding of the baseship does not discount [[Baltar as Cylon speculation|Baltar from being a Cylon]], as Baltar was in a self-contained [[flight suit]] the entire time he was on the basestar. Using standard biohazard procedures, he would have remained in the suit which would be disinfected from the outside before taking it off.
*The environmental controls seem to be circumvented by [[Karl Agathon]] by pulling a single plug (unless this is just the last step in a longer process). One would assume that a warship has cascading fail safe systems to protect against such catastrophic failures from simple system malfunctions.
*The quarantine procedures, sheets of plastic in rooms and hallways, seem ineffective. On a spaceship it should be possible to cut off selected areas from life support completely. Again, this might have been done for dramatic effect.
*Dramatic effect aside, the plan could be implemented faster by having the execution squad standing by for immediate action and having the FTL drives spun up at all times.

===Other===

*Adama's reaction to the premature death of the prisoners is yet another example of what are simultaneously his greatest virtues and most glaring flaws – his dedication to those under his command, and his need to keep his conscience clear.
*In this episode, [[Raptor]]s are shown loaded to the teeth with weapons systems. In the past ([[Miniseries]], "[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]"), Raptors have rarely been depicted in actual combat, preferring instead to hang back while coordinating battlefield logistics. They have been shown armed in a few prior episodes ("[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]", "[[Fragged]]"), but this is by far their most prominent combat role to date. The Raptors are using the external missile pods and cannons introduced in "Exodus, Part [[Exodus, Part I|I]] & [[Exodus, Part II|Part II]]" and engage in the same maneuver used to launch the decoy drones during the Battle of New Caprica.
*[[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] calls the [[Number Three]] torturing him "D'Anna", to which she responds. However, this is not the reporter copy that hid in the Fleet. She is the same copy that was on Caprica trying to box Caprica Six and Boomer before Caprica Six killed her ([[Downloaded]]): It is shown that she is the same as the one having dreams on New Caprica, who in turn is identified as the "Downloaded" copy.
*[[Gaeta]] is surprised to hear that Baltar is alive, even though he was there when Number Three offered Baltar evacuation from New Caprica. Therefore, Gaeta likely assumed that Baltar has not survived as Baltar went off to forcefully prevent the nuclear detonation on New Caprica, thus betraying the Cylons. Therefore Baltar would have little chance of survival at the hands of the Cylons, let alone being their "guest". It should be noted that extenuating circumstances, such as Baltar's rescue of Hera and his aid in helping the Cylons find the road to Earth are the main reasons why the Cylons let him exist on the basestar.
*In a [[List of Deleted Scenes - Season 3 (RDM)#A Measure of Salvation|deleted scene]] Apollo says they need everyone in the air for this mission, including those who would normally not have flight status. As he says this he (and the camera) looks right at Starbuck indicating he was talking about her. This clarifies that Thrace is still officially grounded after the events of "[[Torn]]".
*Adama cites the danger of the disease as an excuse to not bring the beacon to Galactica, despite Cottle's request. The beacon is subsequently destroyed when the basestar self-destructs. This sequence covers a potential plot hole involving the beacon ... considering its relationship to the 13th tribe, the beacon would have been of great interest to the fleet, and would have raised the question of why more time in the episode wasn't devoted to studying it. Instead, the fleet loses a valuable clue, making their road to Earth more difficult. Still, Adama's excuse about the disease is rather flimsy, though he didn't know the ship would blow up and he probably thought they could retrieve the beacon later after the quarantine issue was cleared up.

== Questions ==

===Answered Questions===

*Will there be any consequences of the sabotage for the Agathons from other crewmembers who may figure they are behind said sabotage? How will this affect Karl Agathon's reputation as a Cylon-lover or his credibility as XO? ([[The Woman King|Answer]])
*Is Karl Agathon's act of sabotage and his view that the Cylons did attempt to co-exist with humans the beginnings of a more conscious act of betrayal to the Fleet, thus following a similar pattern as how Sharon Agathon eventually switches sides. Would Karl thus become like Sharon and eventually identify himself with the Cylons? ([[Rapture|Answer]])

===Unanswered Questions===
* Where is Caprica-Six's own internal Baltar in all of this?
* Of the Cylons, which type tells the basestar to self-destruct: The [[Hybrid]] or a [[humanoid Cylon]]? Considering her odd look after the destruction, might it be [[Sharon Agathon]]?
* When the basestar self-destructs, is it an indicator that the Hybrid on the ship has died, thus no longer able to maintain the integrity of the ship?
* If the basestar and the virus do represent a true genocide threat to the Cylons why do they just leave them to slowly expire instead of destroying the ship right away?
* What kind of new start are the Cylons planning for [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]? Just a new home planet, an attempt at human Cylon relations not tainted by the destruction of the Twelve Colonies, or something else?
* Would the possible presence of this new pathogen on Earth, if indeed it was left by the Thirteenth Tribe, mean that Earth is no longer a viable planet for the Cylons? Would any Cylons landing on Earth again be susceptible to this virus?
* Why does an entire Cylon fleet (including a [[Resurrection Ship]]) jump to the encounter with ''Galactica''? Why is the Resurrection Ship not left behind somewhere else, as it was done in previous battles?
* Does Number Three love Baltar?
* Why does [[Simon]] so quickly claim science can not provide a solution to the infection?
*Will Sharon's words to Karl about her commitment to keep her word stay true should she ever discover that [[Hera Agathon|Hera]] is alive? Will she live up to her promise to Adama and the Fleet?
*Is it possible that while torturing Baltar, Number Three actually believes that God is talking to her through Baltar (similar to him being the [[The Hand of God (RDM)|hand of God]])? When he says "I want you to believe in me! don't stop, please don't stop - you're all I have left - I believe in you - I love you - with all my heart I love you" it is possible that this may give Three the reassurance she needs that she is on the right track.
*Why does Baltar take photos of the suspicious object and claim to have seen nothing suspicious? Doesn't he realize the Cylons would review the documentation he sends and immediately discover his lie?
*After discovering that the virus does not affect humans, why does Karl Agathon remain outside the isolation area instead of comforting his wife in person?
*Why do the boarders of the basestar not recognize the symptoms of disease in the dying Cylons before being told so by a Cylon?
**It should be noted that there is nobody with a medical background in the boarding party, which might have something to do with it.

== Official Statements ==

* ''[[Lucy Lawless]] talks to '''iF Magazine''' about the torture scene:''
*: '''Lawless:''' "The difficulty was I had to pretend to not be hearing Six who was sitting right beside us carrying on a conversation with him. I was supposed to be completely unaware of this sort of cyber sex relationship, and yet I could hear her and it was a little annoying. In particular when the camera is on you; just let it be your scene, but I didn’t want to break [[James Callis|James]] [Callis]’ spell by asking for things to be changed."<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=1773|title= iF MAGAZINE Gets Probed by Friendly Cylon & Former Warrior Princess - Part 1|date=28 November 2006|accessdate=28 November 2006|last=Elliot|first=Sean|format=html|language=English}}</ref>

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
*''On Colonial One'':
:'''Karl Agathon''': Genocide? So that's what we're about now?
:'''Lee Adama''': They're not human! They were built, not born. No fathers, no mothers, no sons, no daughters--
:'''Agathon''': I ''had'' [[Hera Agathon|a daughter]]. I held her in my arms.

*''Gaius Baltar talking about religion while being tortured'':
:'''Three:''' There's no such thing as coincidence. [[God (RDM)|God]] wills the universe according to his design.
:'''Gaius Baltar:''' I'm a scientist. And as a scientist, I believe that if God exists our knowledge of him is imperfect. Why? Because the stories and myths we have are the products of men. The passage of time. That religion in practice is based on a theory. Impossible to prove. Yet you bestow it with absolutes like, "There is no such thing as coincidence."
:'''Three:''' It's called [[Cylon Religion|faith]].
:'''Baltar:''' Absolute belief in God's will means there's a reason for everything. Everything! And yet you can't help ask yourself how God can allow death and destruction and then despise yourself for asking. But the truth is, if we knew God's will, we'd all be Gods, wouldn't we? I can see it in your eyes, D'Anna. You're frustrated. You're conflicted. Let me help you. Let me help you change. Find a way to reconcile your faith with fact. Find a way towards a rational universe.

== Guest Stars ==

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

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

{{Episode list (RDM season 3)}}

[[Category:Episodes directed by Bill Eagles]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Michael Angeli]]
[[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Immun]]
[[zh:拯救之道]]

Gaius Baltar

2011-02-23T00:06:31Z

Lucifuge Rofacale: Always preferred this opening.

:''For the [[Original Series]] analogue, see: [[Baltar (TOS)]].''
:''For others with the same first name, see: [[Gaius (disambiguation)]].''

{{Character Data
|photo= Gaius Baltar.jpg
|colony= Born on [[Aerilon]], later relocated to [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]]
|birthname= Gaius Baltar
|death=Unknown causes on [[Earth (RDM)#A New Earth|new Earth]], c. 148,000 BCE
|seen= Miniseries
|parents= [[Julius Baltar]] (father)<br>Unnamed mother
|marital status= In a relationship with [[Caprica-Six]]
|role= Leader of the [[Cult of Baltar|monotheistic cult]];<br>former President of the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]];<br>former Caprican Delegate;<br>former Fleet science advisor
|actor= [[James Callis]]
|sepcon=Gaius Baltar (alternate)
}}

Doctor Gaius Baltar is a brilliant scientist. Elegantly dressed and aesthetically handsome, with the affected humility of the truly arrogant, Baltar is a deeply flawed person and almost pathologically narcissistic. Beneath his outstanding abilities lurks a dramatic weakness of character that leads humanity to disaster.

__TOC__

== Background ==

* Dr. Baltar is from [[The Twelve Colonies of Kobol#Aerilon|Aerilon]]. He was born and raised on a dairy farm outside of the town of [[Cuffle's Breath Wash]]. Finding the local dialect to be unpleasant, starting at the age of ten he trained himself to speak without the [[Language in the Twelve Colonies#Aerilon Accent|Aerilon accent]] in hopes that one day he might be considered as not coming from Aerilon. He left Aerilon after his 18th birthday turning his back on his family and his heritage.
* He was formerly a lead defense systems developer working for the [[Colonial Ministry of Defense]] and came to prominence as a computer technology designer, having won three [[Magnate Prize]]s.
* He networks with others well, and became personal friends with President [[Richard Adar]]. However, Baltar is extremely arrogant at times.
* Baltar becomes responsible for the design of the critical [[Command Navigation Program]] (CNP) used throughout the [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|Colonial Fleet]], but he could not fix all of its shortfalls himself and asked his lover ([[Number Six]]) to fix almost half of the base code and when she wrote the code, she got it up to 95% efficiency but then she put in back doors to allow the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] to "shut-down" space craft fitted with the CNP. It's shown that he was somewhat aware of what she was doing, but he did it for ''her'', not the company she supposedly worked for as he truly fell for her after she helped his father out.
* Baltar's scientific prowess seems strongest in the medical and biological fields ([[Epiphanies]]). As a result of his lesser (although still advanced) computer programming skills, he seeks the help (and as a byproduct, the affections of) a [[Caprica-Six|young woman]] to aid him with the CNP.
* Baltar's two-year affair with the mysterious woman-- even to the extent of using code she herself wrote to overcome shortfalls in his CNP -- allowed her unrestricted access to some of the most sensitive systems of the Colonial defenses.
*Baltar's involvement with his blonde assistant does not stop him from dalliances with other women during this time, right up to when his assistant confronts Baltar and a lover in bed.

==Character History==

=== The Attack on the Twelve Colonies ===

* Baltar learns that his "corporate spy" lover is in fact a new type of Cylon -- a [[Humanoid Cylon|Cylon in human form]], able to mimic human beings down to the smallest detail, who altered his CNP with [[backdoor]]s to subvert any CNP-equipped ship.
[[image:Mini-Baltar_Six.jpg|thumb|left|300px|[[Gaius Baltar]] and [[Caprica-Six|Number Six]] kissing in the [[Miniseries]].]]
*Even though Baltar is appalled that it was his sexual folly that led to a holocaust, he is nevertheless determined to survive and keep this unintended treachery hidden. He only survives the following attack because the Cylon agent sacrifices herself to protect him from a nuclear blast.
* Baltar is rescued from [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] following the forced-landing of a Colonial [[Raptor]] -- at the cost of [[Karl Agathon|one of the crew staying behind]] ([[TRS]]: [[Miniseries]])
* Baltar is plagued by visions of Number Six that only he can see and hear. He cannot be sure whether this is a result of his own guilt at his actions or whether -- as she initially claims -- she is part of a chip that has been implanted in his brain<ref name="chip">The idea that Six is an actual chip in Baltar's head was dismissed by Dr. [[Cottle]]'s image scan of Baltar's head. See [[Gaius Baltar#Speculation: The Real Baltar?|the section on alternate reasons for Six's existence]] for more.</ref>.
*Baltar is put to work trying to devise a means of detecting these humanoid Cylons. He luckily exposes [[Aaron Doral]] as a Cylon agent ([[TRS]]: [[Miniseries]]), using little more than invented [[technobabble]] to convince [[Saul Tigh|Colonel Tigh]].

=== Gaining trust ===

*Baltar eventually develops a genuine detector. This, together with his survival of a foiled attempt to expose him as a traitor ([[TRS]]: "[[Six Degrees of Separation]]"), firmly establishes his credentials within the Fleet's hierarchy. As the Cylon, [[Shelly Godfrey]] looked like his mental Number Six and appeared after she mysteriously disappeared, Baltar came to believe Godfrey was a physical manifestation of his inner Six especially when Godfrey's deception was revealed after he accepted the Cylon God and repented and Godfrey disappeared mysteriously and Messenger Six reappeared at the same time. It was revealed, however, that Godfrey was in fact another copy of Number Six who had the job of discrediting him due to his Cylon detector and disappeared due to another Cylon killing her by secretly blowing her out an airlock ([[TRS]]: "[[The Plan]]").
*With this new-found trust, and despite his willingness to deliberately conceal vital information, such as [[Sharon Valerii]] true status as a [[Cylon agent]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Flesh and Bone]]"), Baltar enters the realm of political leadership, first as the Representative for [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] on the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]], and then as the newly-elected Vice President of the Colonies ([[TRS]]: "[[Colonial Day]]").
* Messenger Six continues to help and hinder Baltar, gradually drawing him to a point of near-open acceptance and participation in Cylon plans and activities ([[TRS]]: "[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]"). Whether by coincidence or design, Six manipulates Baltar through repeated threats of exposing his involvement with the destruction of the Colonies ([[TRS]]: "[[33]],", "[[Six Degrees of Separation]]"), while also appearing to aid him by giving information that [[The Hand of God (RDM)|appears insightful or inspired]] to help the Colonials.
[[image:Scattered-Baltar_Six.jpg|thumb|[[Gaius Baltar]] and [[Number Six]] seeing "the shape of things to come" in "[[Scattered]]".]]

=== A greater purpose or insanity? ===

*Initially an atheist, Baltar is slowly converted to the Cylons' monotheistic faith: first he repents his sins ([[TRS]]: "[[33]]" ), then he prays to the Cylon God and devotes his life into serving his divine will ([[TRS]]: "[[Six Degrees of Separation]]"), and finally, he is led to believe that he is an instrument of God ([[TRS]]: "[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]").
*Baltar is subjected to a final revelation of his role with the Cylons (as Messenger Six sees it) when "the future" is revealed to him on [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]], in the form of the first of "God's new generation of children" ([[TRS]]: "[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]").
[[Image:Baltarixvalleydarkness.jpg|Number Six showing Baltar the clearing filled with human bones, telling him they were from human sacrifices.|thumb]]
* While stranded on Kobol after a crash landing, Baltar's Messenger Six warns him that the Colonial religion is a falsehood to cover up atrocities of their nature.
*On Kobol, Baltar shoots [[Crashdown]] in the back, killing him instantly, to save [[Cally]] from a practically suicidal and unnecessary attack on a Cylon missile battery<ref>The act of killing Crashdown appears to have led to a dramatic change in Baltar's attitude toward hurting anyone directly. When Cally tries to blackmail him after they return from Kobol, Baltar is somewhat rough with her. When he visits Tyrol and Boomer in the brig, he does not hesitate to inject Tyrol with fatal drugs to blackmail Boomer into giving Cylon secrets. Baltar's humanitarian acts to the Six copy known as Gina also suggests Baltar's attitude in the care of Cylons is further changing. More and more, Baltar appears to prefer direct intervention and is less cowardly in his attitude.</ref>. The group are eventually rescued by the Raptors. Baltar tells the [[SAR]] team that Crashdown died a hero in the fight, and Chief Tyrol reluctantly corroborates his story ([[TRS]]: "[[Fragged]]").
*Back on ''Galactica'', Cally blackmails Baltar into making it a priority to prove that Chief Tyrol is not a Cylon, as Colonel Tigh suspects, or Cally would reveal the truth of Crashdown's death.
* Incensed at this ingratitude, Baltar gambles that the [[brig|jailed]] Boomer knows of the number of Cylons in the Fleet, and blackmails her into doing so, using Tyrol's life.
[[image:brainscan.jpg|Baltar receives his brain scan from Dr. Cottle, as Six watches on in amusement.|thumb]]
*Questioning his own sanity after his Messenger Six claims that he was generally crazy, Baltar has a brain scan performed in [[sickbay]] by Dr. [[Cottle]] which confirms no "foreign objects" are present in his head.
*Baltar is ready to believe that he is truly insane until he hears [[Karl Agathon]] and [[Sharon Agathon|Caprica-Sharon]] discuss Valerii's pregnancy with a Cylon/human hybrid child from his observation room. Six tells Baltar earlier that "their child" would be born in that cell, and this leads Baltar to realize that Six ''must'' be real because his subconscious couldn't have known that ([[TRS]]: "[[Home, Part II]]"). However, Hera is actually neither conceived, nor born in that specific cell. Instead, Messenger Six could actually be hinting at Tigh's and Caprica-Six's future baby, that most likely ''is'' conceived in that particular cell.

=== Many talents ===

*When [[D'Anna Biers]] films a documentary about life aboard ''Galactica'', Six urges Baltar to give an interview to try to win people over to thinking that he should be running the Fleet. Baltar performs badly as he begins his interview but, fortunately, his interview is interrupted by a Cylon attack that Biers chooses to film instead ([[TRS]]: "[[Final Cut]]").
*Baltar aids in trying to overcome the Cylon [[logic bomb]] which devastates ''Galactica'''s [[computers]]. Tigh's dislike of Baltar's involvement in this problem makes the scientist edgy enough to retort, "I'm sorry. Do you want to survive this one or not, Colonel?" ([[TRS]]: "[[Flight of the Phoenix]]")
[[image:baltargina.jpg|Baltar with Gina, the Cylon prisoner from ''Pegasus''.|thumb]]
*[[Helena Cain|Admiral Helena Cain]] requests that Baltar examine ''Pegasus' '' own Cylon prisoner to see what information he could glean from it. Baltar is horrified to discover the Cylon was a terribly abused and tortured copy of Number Six named "[[Gina Inviere]]". Baltar vows to help her and begins by having her restraints removed and bringing food to her ([[TRS]]: "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]").
*Over the course of his examination of Gina, he uncovers both her wish to die and the secret of the Cylon [[Resurrection Ship]]. He passes this information to Adama and Admiral Cain, who develop an [[Attack on the Resurrection Ship|operation to destroy it]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Resurrection Ship, Part I]]").
*Baltar continues to spend time with Gina, eventually helping her escape from the brig. He tells Gina that he can hide her, and also that he loves her. Gina goes on to kill Cain and escapes from ''Pegasus'' through unexplained means ([[TRS]]: "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]").
*Torn between the "flesh and blood" copy of the [[Number Six]] copy, Gina, the demands of his internal Number Six, and his continuing attempt to cover his own multiple duplicities, Baltar becomes more aggressive and confrontational. With President Roslin's advice to abort the Cylon-hybrid fetus of the incarcerated [[Sharon Valerii]], Baltar reacts to defend it as if it were his own child. Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] admonishes Baltar, telling him that, on Roslin's death, he will become President and that he needs to behave like one.
*Desperate to save Valerii's fetus, Baltar reviews Dr. [[Cottle]]'s medical tests and performs experiments of his own, learning a striking revelation: the blood of the fetus can destroy cancer and repair its damage to human tissue.<ref name="stemcells">According to the writer's original planning, this was due to the presence of Cylon [[Wikipedia:stem cells|stem cells]] in the fetus's blood. This explanation was absent in the final shooting script.</ref> With Admiral Adama's permission, he injects the dying President Roslin with some of the fetal blood, which works miraculously, saving both Roslin and Valerii's child by circumstance ([[TRS]]: "[[Epiphanies]]").
*Baltar keeps his [[Fumarella leaf|fumarella]] supply fresh by trading in the [[black market (organization)|black market]] through new ''Pegasus'' Commander [[Jack Fisk]]. Not realizing that Fisk had been murdered, the scientist visits Fisk's quarters, only to meet Captain [[Lee Adama]], who has started an investigation on the black market and Fisk's murder. Baltar truthfully tells Adama that he knows nothing of Fisk's murder, but Adama correctly deduces Baltar's association with Fisk and the black market since the "[[Caprican Imperial]]" fumarellos are a known favorite of Baltar's ([[TRS]]: "[[Black Market]]").

=== Increasing political ambitions ===

*After saving Roslin's life, Baltar reads the letter given to him in the event of her death, in which she says he lacks compassion and asks him to open his heart if he becomes president. Furious, and goaded on by Six who tells him that Roslin doesn't trust him, Baltar delivers the nuclear warhead used for the Cylon detector to Gina and her militant "[[Demand Peace]]" movement.
*Baltar is also unaware that his involvement in the destruction of the Colonies is partially revealed. In ''Galactica'''s sickbay, Laura Roslin recalled those final days on Caprica, and remembered Baltar in the company of a [[Number Six|woman]] on Caprica who she knows now is a Cylon ([[TRS]]: "[[Epiphanies]]").
*Baltar is summoned to ''[[Colonial One]]'', where Roslin offers him, without explanation, the chance to resign from the Vice Presidency to return to his studies. Baltar becomes immediately suspicious (and frightened) in Roslin's succinct and direct vote of no-confidence in her vice president. Realizing that the Vice Presidency now has greater importance (if nothing other than to save his own hide), Baltar turns down what Roslin calls a "one-time offer" to save himself as he saved Roslin on her deathbed ([[TRS]]: "[[Black Market]]").

[[Image:Baltarlaydownburdensii.jpg|Gaius Baltar as President, from "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]".|thumb]]
*Dr. Baltar decides (with no small influence from Six and [[Tom Zarek]]) to run for President in the coming Colonial Elections ([[TRS]]: "[[The Captain's Hand]]").

=== New Caprica ===

*Roslin is declared the winner of the elections, but is caught by Adama for manipulating the tally. Baltar is declared president. While Baltar demands an investigation initially, he backs down under Adama's glare.
*President Baltar orders the Fleet to return to the marginally habitable planet [[New Caprica]] seconds after his inauguration. Baltar shows incompetency as president a few days later, when he orders the colonization of the planet. In an attempt to cover up his role in giving Gina the nuclear warhead used to detonate ''[[Cloud 9]]'', Baltar orders Adama to stop any further investigation into the destruction of ''Cloud 9'' and two other ships (he correctly guesses that the conflagration was started by [[Gina Inviere]]).
*During his first year in office, Baltar indulges in women, wallows in the incompetence of his administration, and is callously unsympathetic to the supply and resource problems plaguing the new colony, whose inhabitants continue to live in tents. The public, including the labor union led by [[Galen Tyrol]], is notably displeased with his administration.
*380 days after Baltar's ascension to the presidency, a Cylon armada finds the planet after detecting the radiation signature caused by the destruction of ''[[Cloud 9]]'', which took that long to reach them. This event heralds the return of the dormant Messenger Number Six noting to him that "judgment day" has come at last. Copies of a [[Number Five|Five]], [[Caprica-Six]] and [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]] meet with Baltar and his cabinet, recommending surrender; it is here that he is reunited with the Six he fell in love with on [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] ([[TRS]]: "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]])".
*After four months of Cylon occupation, the citizens of New Caprica despise their president. Baltar fears for his life and turns down public appearances, such as the [[New Caprica Police]] Academy graduation, to avoid assassination attempts ([[TRS]]: "[[Occupation]]"). It is even commented by the Cylon occupiers while discussing the notion of public executions to discourage uprising that publicly executing Baltar would be counterproductive, since the populace would cheer his death.
*Baltar is deposed after Admiral Adama organizes and executes a [[Battle of New Caprica|daring rescue mission]] of New Caprica's occupied inhabitants. During the exodus of those willing to leave New Caprica, Baltar happens across the dead body of [[Maya]] and the Cylon hybrid [[Hera Agathon|Hera]], and stays behind with the Cylons ([[TRS]]: "[[Exodus, Part II]]").

=== Among the Cylons ===

*Once on board the basestar, Baltar must prove his worth to the Cylons or be killed. He seeks help from the basestar's [[Hybrid]], and gleans information which leads the Cylon fleet to the [[Lion's Head Nebula]], where they recover an ancient beacon. The beacon is also a plague carrier. To further prove his worth, Baltar takes on a mission to the dying basestar ([[TRS]]: "[[Torn]]").
*Baltar is tortured by a Number Three for information on the viral plague. Misinterpreting his screams of love for the Internal Six as feeling for her, Number Three enters into a sexual relationship with Baltar and possibly Caprica-Six as well and starts to share a bed with both of them ([[TRS]]: "[[A Measure of Salvation]]").
* Learning more about Cylon culture among them, he develops doubts about his identity, starting to believe that he might be one of the [[final five]] Cylons.

=== Return to the Fleet ===

[[Image:Baltar brig.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Baltar being placed in detention.]]

* Seeking answers to his questions about his identity, Baltar travels with Number Three and [[Cavil]] to the surface of the algae planet in order to visit the [[Temple of Five]]. After killing Cavil and watching the death of Number Three, he is unsuccessful in finding answers, and is captured and returned to ''Galactica'' ([[TRS]]: "[[Rapture]]").
* He attempts to commit suicide and is tortured by President [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] and Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] under the influence of an [[interrogation drug]]. While offering no substantial information, Roslin's belief that he played a role in the attack on the Twelve Colonies is strengthened. She and Adama decide to give Baltar a public trial instead of quietly executing him ([[TRS]]: "[[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]").
* Baltar, in an attempt to curry favor with the fleet concerning his trial, secretly publishes a book called "[[My Triumphs, My Mistakes]]". This book causes a labor strike, led by [[Galen Tyrol]], but instead of bringing the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] to a screeching halt, it actually helps Tyrol and President Roslin stop a problem that was beginning to form in the Fleet ([[TRS]]: "[[Dirty Hands]]").
* Before his trial begins, Baltar's lawyer, [[Alan Hughes]], is killed by sabotage, and is replaced by [[Romo Lampkin]]. Security for both Lampkin and Baltar is high, as many people believe fervently that Baltar should not be given a trial at all. Major [[Lee Adama]] is placed in command of this security detail, and eventually becomes Lampkin's aide for the trial ([[TRS]]: "[[The Son Also Rises]]").
*Baltar's trial becomes a frenzied media circus. Lampkin manages to keep mob rule from overwhelming the proceedings, but it is Lee Adama's testimony that ultimately acquits Baltar. The son of William Adama notes many, many abuses of justice, crimes and mistakes committed by himself and other leadership in the Fleet that were ignored or punished lightly. Baltar's only distinction, in comparison, was that he was unlikeable and thus more useful as a scapegoat for the problems of the Fleet that stemmed from colonizing [[New Caprica]].
*With the end of the trial, Baltar finds his acquittal bitter-sweet, with no home, no work, and no allies.
*When the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] jumps into the [[Ionian nebula]], the confusion caused by a power outage allows the homeless Baltar to be secretly carried off by several women who claim they are leading him to his new life ([[TRS]]: "[[Crossroads, Part II]]").

===Cult Leader ===

*The women lead Baltar to an used storage compartment, where he learns that a [[Cult of Baltar|cult]] has arisen around him, likely starting with the publication of his [[My Triumphs, My Mistakes|book]] condemning the perceived suppression of the Fleet's poor. The cult is composed of many young, athletic women and some men. Headed by [[Jeanne]], they view Baltar as a messianic figure and have been building a shrine for him. Baltar initially thinks of them as crazy and wants to have nothing to do with them. When [[Tracey Anne|one of the women]] watches him interact with his [[Messenger Six]], she thinks that he is praying and draws him into a religious discussion. Baltar tells her that [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies|Colonial Religion]] is empty and false, and that there is only one [[God (RDM)|true God]]. Captivated by Baltar, she kisses him. His standing among his followers is further increased when he prays for a sick [[Derrick|child]], who miraculously recovers soon after ([[TRS]]: "[[He That Believeth In Me]]").
*To his amazement, Baltar begins to see a [[Messenger Baltar|Messenger version of himself]]. At the same time he begins a relationship with [[Tory Foster]], who is drawn to him due her awakened Cylon nature and Baltar's apparent understanding of it ([[TRS]]: "[[Six of One]]"). The situation with his cult escalates when a [[Sons of Ares|militant religious group]] vandalizes the commune. In retaliation, Baltar and some of his followers disrupt a [[temple]] service and denounce the Colonial gods. President Roslin takes this as an excuse to curtail the cult's religion freedom by forbidding large assemblies. When encountering a Marine trying to enforce this order, Baltar makes a defiant stand, allowing himself to be beaten up in front of his followers. The display ends when [[Lee Adama]] shows up to announce that the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] has decided to rescind Roslin's proclamation and restore their freedoms. Following this, Baltar holds a speech telling everyone that he thinks that someone in the universe loves him and that people have to love themselves in order to love others ([[Escape Velocity]]). Over the next weeks, his sermons are broadcast per [[wireless]] throughout the ship and likely the whole Fleet ([[TRS]]: "[[The Road Less Travelled]]", "[[Faith]]").
* When a baseship with [[Cylon Civil War|rebel Cylons]] joins the Fleet, Roslin summons him. She tells Baltar that he has been in her visions and wants him to accompany her to the [[Hybrid]] to find out what they mean. However, when the [[Natalie|rebel leader]] is unexpectedly killed, the Hybrid panics and jumps away. Drawing on his [[Torn|previous experience]] with the Hybrid, Baltar manages to calm it down somewhat. In the following [[Battle of the Resurrection Hub|battle]] to destroy a critical Cylon facility, Baltar is critically wounded when missiles hit the ship while he tries to evangelize to a [[Cylon Centurion|Centurion]]. While his wounds are dressed by Roslin Baltar confesses his role in [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|downfall of humanity]]. Roslin initially removes the bandages she applied, letting him bleed out, but decides to save him after all ([[TRS]]: "[[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]", "[[The Hub]]").
* After [[Number Three]]'s unboxing, the [[Final Four]] are revealed and Tory Foster willingly joins the Cylons. Upon learning this, Baltar claims that he "always subconsciously knew" that she is a Cylon. Later, he is part of the first landing party to set foot on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]], being as dismayed at its state as everyone else ([[TRS]]: "[[Revelations]]").
*When Gaeta and Zarek start a coup against Adama and Roslin, Baltar and his cult support Adama and Roslin, working with Galen Tyrol in efforts to retake the ship and protect the two. Baltar is convinced by Roslin to let her use his wireless radio to communicate with the fleet about the mutiny and she is able to make a short broadcast before being jammed. Roslin convinces him to leave with her sure that he is going to be a target of the mutineers and they make their way to the Secondary Storage Airlock where while waiting, Baltar tries to convince Gaeta to stop to no avail. Baltar escapes ''Galactica'' with Roslin to the Cylon baseship and supports Roslin there. He also sleeps with [[Lida|another Six]] and chats with her about his cult saying that while he doesn't like them, he feels responsible for them and decides he has to go back to ''Galactica'' and them after having a nightmare where a firing squad executes Adama. He returns to ''Galactica'' with Roslin once the coup is ended by Adama and his men who retake ''Galactica'' with help from military support from Roslin and the Cylon baseship. Afterwards he and Gaeta have a civil chat about what happened indicating that they have forgiven each other for what they did and when Gaeta makes a statement that he hopes someday people understand who he was, Baltar says he understands who Gaeta was. ([[TRS]]: "[[The Oath]]", "[[Blood on the Scales]]")
*When Caprica-Six apparently has a falling out with Tigh after her failed pregnancy, Baltar runs into her and offers her a home with him again, but she refuses saying that while she's changed he hasn't.
*At the suggestion of Paulla, Baltar tries to get his cult, now numbering in the thousands, representation in the government, but Lee Adama refuses asking him to name one time he acted selflessly. Baltar admits he can't but is disappointed Adama is holding that against his movement before leaving.
*Baltar is among those that attend Adama's speech and call for volunteers to crew ''Galactica'' to rescue Hera Agathon. While many other people including Caprica-Six volunteer, he doesn't although he does seem to almost volunteer but decides not to.
*When his cult evacuates on the last Raptor, Baltar hesitates then decides to stay to help telling Paulla that the cult merely appropriated him and he was never one of them. Baltar is clearly nervous about this decision, but sticks to it. Lee Adama tosses him a gun, clearly happy with his choice.
*During the battle, Baltar is assigned to the reserve team that protects ''Galactica'' alongside Caprica-Six. Caprica-Six is finally proud of him and the two kiss, only to be interrupted by Messenger Six and Baltar who say that they will hold the fate of both races in their hands. Both are shocked that the other can see them.
*During the battle, Baltar fights alongside Caprica-Six and the other marines against several Centurions. Baltar takes out one by himself but gets over-enthusiastic and nearly takes out the returning rescue team too but is stopped by Caprica-Six. Adama tells him he did good, but they are forced to retreat when more Centurions show up.
*Baltar and Caprica-Six end up in a room together with him down to a sidearm and her down to two bullets left in her machine gun. The two are shocked to find Hera there with him and leave carrying her in a fulfillment of the Opera House Prophecy. As they leave, they close the door on Roslin and Athena, never realizing they're there. The two ultimately reach a door and Caprica-Six from her shared vision and Baltar from his vision on Kobol realize they have to go in. The two find themselves in CIC with the Final Five on the balcony just like in the vision. Cavil takes Hera hostage, but Baltar manages to defuses the situation revealing that Messenger Baltar and Six are angels of God who Baltar describes as a force of nature neither good nor evil. Baltar and Tigh convince Cavil to end the war right there with peace with the Five giving resurrection back to Cavil so he and his forces can survive while he lets them take Hera and agrees to stop pursuing them. Cavil accepts the deal and orders his forces to stand down. Baltar later witnesses Tory's death at Tyrol's hands and the breaking of the truce that results in the destruction of Cavil and his forces.
*Later, on the new Earth, Baltar and Caprica-Six watch Hera, and are visited one last time by the Messengers, who reveal that their destiny was always to protect Hera. While God's plan is never over, Messenger Baltar promises that their lives will be a lot less interesting from that point on, and the two disappear for the last time. Baltar and Caprica-Six set off to start a new life together as farmers, using Baltar's knowledge from growing up on a farm on Aerilon.

==Notes==
*There was speculation that Gaius Baltar could be a Cylon himself. However, his presence in the now-infamous "[[The Last Supper]]" picture discounts this, as confirmed by [[Ron D. Moore]]. As of "[[Sometimes a Great Notion]]", all known humanoid Cylons have been accounted for (although "[[No Exit]]" references still another humanoid Cylon, there is no indication given that this is Baltar).
*[[Ron Moore]] has stated in several episode commentaries that when the role of "Gaius Baltar" was originally written in the script, the writing team never intended Baltar to have a "funny" aspect, but James Callis himself decided to play up that aspect of the frantic predicaments Baltar finds himself in during the [[Miniseries]] (which although the writers never anticipated, they enjoyed, and started writing him with that in mind). In series 4, however, Baltar's demeanor becomes noticably more serious.
*While [[Edward James Olmos]] and [[Mary McDonnell]] were hand-picked for their roles, the rest of the characters were cast by audition: among the actors in the running for the role of "Gaius Baltar" was ''[[w:Two and a Half Men|Two and a Half Men]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Wikipedia:Jon Cryer|Jon Cryer]], though the role ultimately went to [[James Callis]]. Callis was suggested by Angela Mancuso, who ran the studio at the time, knew him from the ''[[w:Helen of Troy (TV miniseries)|Helen of Troy]]'' miniseries where he portrayed [[w:Menelaus|Menelaus]].<ref>{{cite_book|last=Bassom|first=David|authorlink=|authorlinkurl=|coauthors=|year=2005|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|pages=23|editor=ed. Adam "Adama" Newell|publisher=Titan Books|location=|id=ISBN 1-84576-0972}}</ref>
*Baltar currently holds the record for most number of Cylons romantically involved with in the series: six. Four of these are [[Number Six]]es, beginning (and, eventually, ending) with [[Caprica-Six]], [[Gina Inviere]], [[Messenger Six]] and lastly, [[Number Six#Lida|Lida]]. The fifth is [[Number Three (Downloaded copy)|Number Three]]. The sixth is [[Tory Foster]].
*Baltar's first name, Gaius, is taken from [[w:Gaius Julius Caesar|Gaius Julius Caesar]]. Likewise, his father's name is Julius. The character of Baltar derives many characteristics from the Roman emporer of which he is named after, most notably, his [[w:hubris|hubris]].
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==References==
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