Battlestar Wiki - User contributions [en]

Talk:Battle of the Ionian Nebula/Archive 1

2010-10-30T14:01:59Z

MickJo: /* Notes? */

== Premature? ==

Isn't this a little premature? Who says there is going to be a battle. Not a single shot has been fired.
Let the writers come up with the story. The Wiki should stick to the facts.
--Axminster

:Agreed. No point in having this. For now [[Ionian nebula]] is more than enough. I'm for deletion --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 09:43, 27 March 2007 (CDT)

:Concur with deletion. No "battle" has yet to occur. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 12:11, 27 March 2007 (CDT)

:Concur on deletion. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 13:14, 27 March 2007 (CDT)

== Restore... ==

I have restored the battle. Now we just need to clean it up. :) [[User:Shane|Shane]] ([[User_Talk:Shane|talk]]) 19:49, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

== The 200 Raiders ==

Lt. Gaeta said that the Vipers wipe out the Main Cylon assault (which was the 200 raiders) but the Clyon reserve forces broke though.--[[User:KDP3|KDP3]] 15:40, 5 April 2008 (UTC)
:Not quite. He says that they "stopped the main Cylon thrust". That's not the same as saying they were destroyed. It could also mean that the wave was decimated enough to not pose a threat or that part of of them retreated. -- [[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 15:47, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

== Notes? ==

Galactica didnt loose that dorsal battery in this battle, it was destroyed at the Battle of New Caprica. It can be seen missing in establishing shots as early as Collaborators. {{unsigned|MickJo}}
: Interesting, have a screenshot? -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 23:19, 26 October 2010 (UTC)
Cap from Collaborators, quite dark but the battery is missing.
http://www.galacticabbs.com/gallery_images/1208763644/gallery_21_9569.jpg

Talk:Battle of the Ionian Nebula/Archive 1

2010-10-26T22:53:38Z

MickJo: /* Notes? */ new section

Mercury class battlestar

2007-05-03T22:25:32Z

MickJo: /* Known ''Mercury'' class battlestars */

:''For the unnamed original class, to which ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' belongs, see [[Galactica type battlestar]].''
{{Ship Data|
image= BSPegasus.jpg
| title= ''Mercury'' class battlestar
| race= Colonial
| type= Military
| ftl= Yes
| crew= Unknown (at least 2,450)
| role= Capital battleship/carrier
| weapons= Primary and point-defense [[KEW|Kinetic Energy Weapons]], conventional missiles, nuclear warheads, Vipers, Raptors
| status= Final known ship of this class destroyed at the [[Battle of New Caprica]]
}}

The '''''Mercury'' class battlestar''' is an advanced Colonial capital warship/carrier introduced into the [[Colonial Fleet]] sometime after the First [[Cylon War]].

==Overview==
Following the end of the [[Cylon War]], the [[Galactica type battlestar|original battlestars]] remained in service as other battlestars were built. Their numbers steadily increased to a grand total of 120 ships in the Colonial Fleet. Newer models employed networked computers which had been prohibited during the war. Being networked, and compromised by the [[Command Navigation Program]], led to the Cylons being able to hack the system, thus rendering the ships defenseless ([[Miniseries]]).

A ''Mercury'' class battlestar sports several features not found aboard ''Galactica'' such as automated sliding doorways and basic computer recognition stations at vital areas. At the time of the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]], a ''Mercury'' class battlestar was a top-of-the-line vessel.

The physical appearance of the ''Mercury'' class is different than that of the original battlestar. The "neck" section is smaller, and the ''Mercury'' class is equipped with eight [[sublight]] engine pods, compared the older class's six. These are also more "boxy" in appearance than those of the original. The [[flight pod]]s also appear to have two entrances each, above and below the mid-line. Combined with computer assisted landing, this gives the ''Mercury'' class a faster rate of Viper recovery than ''[[Galactica]]''. Unlike ''Galactica'', ''Pegasus'' appears to have a full armor "skin", but in ''Galactica's'' case this may have been deliberately removed prior to its scheduled decommissioning.

This, probably the largest of the battlestars, may be able to carry a maximum of 180 [[Viper Mark VII]] fighters (six to eight squadrons and one reserve squadron)<ref>Intelligence Debrief: Cylon Basestar, "Battlestar Galactica: The Official Magazine," June/July 2006, page 56.</ref>.

The gun batteries on the ''Mercury'' class are arranged very differently from ''Galactica's''. Where as ''Galactica's'' large guns are clustered along her top side, with secondary batteries concentrated along the flight pods, the guns of the ''Mercury'' class are found all over the ship ([[The Captain's Hand]]). The greatest concentration of large turrets are found along the side of the ship, within the valley created by the upper and lower halves of the hull, including the flight pods. Four are mounted on the underside of the upper hull on the ship's bow, below which sits four non-turreted large guns; these form the main forward batteries. Two more turrets are mounted on the front and back of each flight pod. The ''Mercury'' class's secondary guns are distributed all over the ship and do not clearly emerge from the hull like ''Galactica's''.

[[Image:Pegasus01.jpg|right|thumb|''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'' from fore and below, with the Fleet in the background]] [[Image:Pegasus_Hi-Res_1a.jpg|right|thumb|[[Viper (RDM)|Mark VII Vipers]] landing in ''Pegasus''' port flight pod]]
[[Image:Pegasus_Hi-Res_5a.jpg|right|thumb|Some of ''Pegasus''' [[Kinetic Energy Weapon|batteries]]]]
[[Image:Pegasus-Comparison.png|right|thumb|Comparison of [[Battlestar (TOS)|original series battlestar]] and ''Mercury'' class]]

Based on figures from the episode "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]", the standard crew complement of a ''Mercury'' class battlestar is in excess of 2,500, which is significantly lower than found on a ''Galactica''-type battlestar. Despite being larger in size than its preceding ship class, this level of crew appears to make operating battlestars of this class manageable, due to heavy computer automation.

In addition to having better armament and weapons than ''[[Galactica]]'', the ''Mercury'' class battlestar has production facilities to build new [[Viper (RDM)|Viper Mark VIIs]] from basic resources ([[Scar]]).

Unlike ''Galactica'', which must retract her flight pods to execute an [[FTL| FTL jump]], the ''Mercury'' class battlestars's flight pods are fixed in place and do not retract during a jump ([[The Captain's Hand]]). This suggests that a ''Mercury'' class battlestar's jump system is more advanced than the older battlestars's.

== Known ''Mercury'' class battlestars ==
*Battlestar ''[[Mercury]]'' (for which it is presumed the class is named)
*Battlestar ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]''

== Notes ==
The shape of the ''Mercury'' class resembles the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]] [[battlestar (TOS)|battlestar]] more than the Re-imagined Series' ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''. Its engine pods number eight, compared to ''Galactica'''s six engine pods. The pods aboard the ''Mercury'' class battlestar appear more directly integrated with its rear section, and its flight pods share the original angular shape.

The visual effects artist of the re-imagined ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', Jose A. Perez, has commented that, "The new design was somewhat of a cross between the look of the [[TOS|old class]] [[battlestar (TOS)|battlestars]], and yet with elements of the [[Galactica (RDM)|new one]]. Aside from that, it has mostly hull plating (to absorb more damage) , as opposed to the ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' which has more ribbing."
Mr. Perez also commented that, "The harder edges [ of the [[Pegasus (RDM)|''Pegasus'']] ] were intentional as well, to match the interior style of the sets more."

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

{{sourcebox|Correspondence with Jose Perez}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Battlestars|*]]
[[Category:Ships]]
[[Category:Ships (RDM)]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Technology (RDM)]]
[[Category:RDM]]

[[es:Battlestar clase Mercury]]

Karl Agathon

2007-04-10T13:15:15Z

MickJo: /* The Second Exodus */

{{Character Data
|photo= Season 3 Helo.jpg
|age=
|colony=
|birthname= Karl C. Agathon
|callsign= Helo
|servicen= PK-789934
|seen= Miniseries
|death=
|parents=
|siblings=
|children= [[Hera Agathon]] (Human-Cylon hybrid)
|marital status= Married to [[Sharon Agathon]]
|role= [[CAG|Commander Air Group]], ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''; administrative officer of [[Camp Oil Slick|Dogsville]] refugee camp; former and temporary Executive Officer
|rank= Captain
|actor= [[Tahmoh Penikett]]
|cylon=
}}
Captain '''Karl C. Agathon''' was the [[ECO]] aboard [[Raptor 478]], piloted by Lieutenant JG [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]]. He is young, loyal, capable, resourceful, and attracted to Valerii. Those aboard ''Galactica'' seem to find his real name cumbersome or unwieldy. He's almost always addressed by his callsign, "Helo."

== Biography ==

At the time of the [[Cylon Attack]], Lieutenant Karl Agathon, serial number PK-789934, is on patrol in Valerii's Raptor flying with battlestar ''Galactica's'' last fully-operational [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] squadron, and witnesses the destruction of the squadron by [[Cylon]] [[Raider]]s, after the Raiders exploit the [[Command Navigation Program]] to disable the Vipers.

Following the attack, Agathon and Valerii attempt to return to ''Galactica'', avoiding Cylon patrols, but are unsuccessful: their Raptor is damaged in a Cylon missile strike, and Helo receives a wound in his leg from shrapnel that pierces their ship. As a result of the damage received, the Raptor is forced down on Caprica, where Valerii makes emergency repairs. Moments after Valerii's repairs, their ship is mobbed by civilians desperate to get off the planet.

With limited space for survivors aboard the Raptor, Agathon volunteers his seat to Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] and remains on [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]] in the hope that Baltar will be of benefit to the Colonials in their renewed fight against the Cylons. Both Helo and Boomer feel that there is no chance that he will survive the Cylon nuclear attack on Caprica, but he selflessly chooses to stay behind anyway, giving up his own life so Baltar can get to ''Galactica''.

=== Marooned ===

After Boomer's departure, Helo apparently separates from the surviving refugees (who soon succumb to radiation poisoning<ref>The fate of these refugees is noted briefly by [[Laura Roslin]] ([[Mary McDonnell]]'s character acting as narrator) in the special program, "[[Battlestar Galactica: The Story So Far]]."</ref>) and flees from Cylon ground forces. After six days on Caprica, surviving on [[anti-radiation medication]] from his survival pack, he is captured after noticing a version of the Cylon known (secretly only to Gaius Baltar) as [[Number Six]].

Helo is "rescued" by [[Sharon Agathon|a copy of Sharon Valerii]], unaware that this is not the same one who abandoned him on Caprica. She guides him across Caprica as part of an elaborate (if potentially hastily conceived) plan / experiment designed to make this second Valerii the object of Agathon's affections. Several situations are engineered to make this happen:
[[Image:Valley_of_Darkness-Starbuck_Helo.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Helo and [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] in her apartment in [[Delphi]], [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]] in [[Valley of Darkness]].]]
*A "[[wikipedia:Honeypot (espionage)|honey trap]]" offering reasonably secure accommodations (a "fall-out shelter") together with sufficient supplies for two people beneath a restaurant ([[Act of Contrition]])
*Engineering Valerii's capture to test Helo's loyalty towards her ("[[You Can't Go Home Again]]", "[[Litmus]]")
*Establishing a further (long-term) "honey trap" for Helo and Valerii in the wilderness of Caprica.

Agathon eventually admits that he has feelings for Valerii and that he would have gladly traded places with Chief Tyrol, who he knew was having an illict relationship with her. Following this, the two have sex in a forest on Caprica. Afterwards, Valerii is instructed by the Five and Six overseeing the experiment to lead her lover to a nearby cabin, and to kill him if he refuses to settle there. However, the Cylon plan goes awry because Valerii has apparently fallen in love with Agathon. She forces them both on the run once more, this time genuinely seeking to escape from Caprica via the military base at [[Delphi]], which is now under Cylon control.

During their attempts to reach Delphi, Agathon witnesses a troop of Cylon [[Centurion]]s being led by Number Six - the woman he thought had been killed when Valerii rescued him. This draws him to the conclusion that the Cylons are using human clones they have created ([[Colonial Day]]). Once at Delphi, Agathon receives another shock: not only are further versions of Six on-hand - he comes face-to-face with another Valerii copy, revealing the full truth about the woman known as "Boomer" to him. Believing he was lured into a trap, Agathon goes on the run, leaving Valerii at the base.

The Valerii copy that Helo has paired with later catches up with him, and while he shoots her in the arm, he does not kill her as she might be of use to him in escaping the planet. Caprica-Valerii then informs Helo that she is pregnant with his child, and that they should go to the [[Delphi Museum of the Colonies|Delphi Museum]]. There, Agathon is reunited with [[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]] (who just arrived from ''[[Galactica]]'' using a stolen [[Cylon Raider]]) immediately after she kills a copy of Number Six and retrieves the [[Arrow of Apollo]]. Thrace, realizing immediately that Valerii is a Cylon (knowing much earlier than Helo that Cylons can mimic human form) tries to kill Valerii, but Agathon stops her because she is pregnant ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]], [[Scattered]]).

Valerii runs away out of fear of Thrace, taking her Cylon Raider. Fearing that [[Number Six]] will finish transferring her consciousness to a new body and warn the Cylons about the humans' presence in Delphi, Agathon and Thrace make their way to Thrace's old apartment ([[Scattered]], [[Valley of Darkness]]). Later, Thrace and Agathon join up with the [[Caprica Resistance|human resistance]] on Caprica ([[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]]).

=== The Resistance and escape from Caprica ===

Agathon, [[Samuel Anders|Anders]] and others later rescue Thrace from the Cylons' "hospital". Valerii returns to aid Helo in locating the missing Thrace, and later saves the day by gunning down several Centurions in a stolen [[Heavy Raider]]. Helo, Thrace, and Valerii leave Caprica en route to [[The Fleet (RDM)| the Fleet]] ([[The Farm]]). The group lands on the ''[[Astral Queen]]'', which has broken off from the rest of the Fleet ([[Home, Part I]]). When [[Lee Adama]] grabs the new copy of Valerii and threatens to shoot her, Helo raises his gun to Lee's head in response. They are calmed by Roslin, who then orders Valerii thrown out of an airlock. Valerii convinces Roslin of her usefulness before this happens, and later accompanies Helo and others to Kobol to find the Tomb of Athena ([[Home, Part I]]). On the way to the Tomb of Athena, [[Lee Adama|Apollo]] remarks to Starbuck that he is disturbed that Helo and this Valerii copy love each other, and Helo admits to Valerii that he now loves and trusts her. When they finally reach the tomb, Commander Adama orders Helo to stay outside with Valerii and Tom Zarek while Chief Tyrol guards all of them. With the successful gathering of information on the whereabouts of Earth, Helo and the group return to ''Galactica'' and the reunified Fleet.

=== Home on ''Galactica'' ===

Helo's welcome-home to ''Galactica'', months after being declared MIA on Caprica ([[Home, Part II]]), isn't a generally warm one. Many in the crew find his romance with the Caprica Valerii disquieting or disgusting. A few crew warm up to Helo after his suggestion of using carbon composites on the new fighter, the [[Blackbird]], turns [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]]'s pet project into a significant stealth technology ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]).

Chief Tyrol is still nursing the loss of Boomer (the ''Galactica'' copy of Valerii that left Helo on Caprica and later shoots Commander Adama), and now must deal with the return of another Valerii, her "memories" of him, and the fact that Helo is romantically involved with her. The friction between Helo and Tyrol becomes too much and a fight ensues before both realize that fighting will gain them little. The two tacitly appear to accept the awkward situation for what it is.

Helo and Tyrol learn of the gang-rape of the captured [[Gina|Cylon]] on battlestar ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', and are shocked to learn that the "Cylon interrogator", Lieutenant [[Alastair Thorne]], would be "interrogating" the incarcerated Valerii that day. Prior to this discovery, Helo is prepared to fight the drunken ''Pegasus'' crewmembers over their disrespect, but Tyrol realizes what is coming for Valerii and convinces him to head to the brig to her aid. While apparently successful in stopping the assault, the two are arrested and taken to ''Pegasus'' when Thorne is accidentally killed. Admiral [[Helena Cain]] conducts summary courts-martial on the two ''Galactica'' crewmembers, finding them guilty and sentencing them to execution. When Commander Adama hears of this abrupt treatment, he launches a Raptor with [[Colonial Marine Corps|Marine]] units as well as his Viper squadrons to get Helo and Tyrol back. A standoff ensues, with not only Helo's and Tyrol's lives in the balance, but thousands of others in the Fleet ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]).

===Aboard ''Pegasus''===

After Starbuck returns with images of the Resurrection Ship, Adama and Cain agree to a truce. Helo and Tyrol are given a stay of execution, but not a pardon. While they are imprisoned aboard ''Pegasus'', a pair of deck hands, irate about Thorne's death, assault them. [[Jack Fisk]], the XO of ''Pegasus'', puts a stop to this by citing regulations, but rebuffs Helo's thanks. Like the deck crew, Fisk had been saved from death by Thorne, and he is not sympathetic to Valerii, whom he views as a machine.

After the destruction of the [[Resurrection Ship]] and the death of Admiral Cain, Fisk becomes the Commander of ''Pegasus''. He returns Helo and Tyrol to ''Galactica'', where the former is joyfully received by Valerii.

=== The events of [[Epiphanies|Epiphanies]] ===

When the dying President Roslin orders the hybrid baby aborted, Helo attempts to dissuade Adama from carrying out the order in private conversation in the Admiral's office, but fails. When Valerii is being brought to the medical bay for the abortion, Helo blocks the door, his hand on his pistol. He offers to take Sharon aboard a [[Raptor]] and leave the Fleet, but is rebuffed by Adama, who tells him, "You're a soldier". Helo retorts that he is a father, like Adama.
Baltar defuses the potentially violent incident by arriving with his report on the medically useful nature of the hybrid fetus. There are no apparent consequences from his actions.

=== The hybrid birth ===

Helo is present when [[Hera]], the human-Cylon hybrid, is born. He and Valerii marvel at their baby, and Helo shocks Valerii when he says that it almost makes one believe in the Cylon [[God]]. When Valerii attacks Dr. [[Cottle]], accusing him of murder after he informs her of the baby's [[Maya|"death,"]] Helo tries to restrain her but ends up with marines pointing guns at him as Valerii is returned to her cell.

=== Caprica SAR & New Caprica ===

Despite Valerii's continued belief that Cottle and the other humans killed [[Hera]], Helo is able to convince her to assist Kara Thrace's plan for the rescue of Samuel Anders and his [[Caprica Resistance]] group ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]). Helo and the others manage to survive the Cylon assault after [[Cavil]] informs them that the Cylons have left the Colonies.
With the happenstance discovery of [[New Caprica]], the relationship between Helo and [[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|Sharon Valerii]] becomes increasingly strained, due primarily to her growing depression over the loss of their child and the fact that Valerii did not inform the SAR team that Caprica-[[Cavil]] was a Humanoid Cylon.

During the year in orbit around New Caprica he and Sharon Valerii become married. Agathon is acting as a replacement to [[Felix Gaeta]] as ''Galactica'''s tactical officer ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]) . He has been promoted to Captain, and has assumed the XO slot aboard ''Galactica''.

== The Second Exodus ==

While he temporarily relinquishes his position as XO after the Battle of New Caprica with Colonel Tigh's return to ''Galactica'', Tigh's actions and attitude cause him to be relieved of duty ([[Collaborators]]). Helo finds himself once again acting as Adama's right-hand man ([[Torn]]). During this time, Helo is shown to have been promoted to Captain (although the exact date of his promotion is still unknown).

When faced with using the recently discovered Cylon virus as an agent for genocide, Helo undermines the mission, which he feels is an atrocious and evil action, by sabotaging the Cylon prisoner's prison cells so they all suffocate before they can be downloaded into a Resurrection Ship, and therefore downloading the virus. Roslin and Adama both know the probable culprit, but Adama, who felt the President was on morally shaky grounds using genocide as a military solution, decides not to take any action against Helo ([[A Measure of Salvation]]).

Helo participates in the organized shipwide fights intended to boost morale. He fights a hard match against Major [[Lee Adama]]. Helo is declared victorious in the match after Doctor Cottle removes a battered Adama from the match ([[Unfinished Business]]).

He has since returned to flight duty and pilots a Raptor during operations to replenish the fleet's food stores ([[The Passage]]). It is during their time at the [[Algae planet]] that a Cylon negotiation party aboard ''Galactica'' reveals to his wife that [[Hera]] is still alive. Though [[Athena]] initially denies the taunt, she and Helo soon find out from [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]] that it is true, much to their dismay ([[The Eye of Jupiter]]). Athena believes the only way to get her daughter back is to be resurrected inside the Cylon fleet, and begs Helo to kill her. Being unable to dissuade her, Helo grants her wish. Athena resurrects and successfully retrieves Hera, aided by [[Caprica-Six]] ([[Rapture]]). He is present during the post-incident briefing regarding the Temple of Five, implying that he may hold additional duties besides flight ops.

This is confirmed when Helo is assigned by [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]] to take charge of the hundreds of civilians which have been transfered to a [[Dogsville|refugee camp]] on ''Galactica''. One reason for this assignment is the suspicion of his involvement in the sabotage of a planned [[A Measure of Salvation|biological attack]] on the Cylons. Among the refugees are a large number of [[Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Saggitaron|Sagittarons]], many of whom display the first symptoms of [[Mellorak infection]]. [[King|Mrs. King]] comes to Helo and accuses the civilian physician Dr. [[Michael Robert|Robert]] of murder after the death of her son due to the Doctor's anti-Sagittaron bigotry. Helo begins an investigation, made difficult by several factors. Not only is Dr. Robert held in high regard by Helo's superiors, but the claims of the Sagittarons are dismissed due to a negative view of the religious fundamentalism and ancient traditions practiced by most Sagittarons. Helo's personal conflict with Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] over his marriage to [[Sharon Agathon|Sharon]] is exasperated by the Colonel's prejudices to a point where Helo hits Tigh in a crowded corridor. When Helo is warned by [[King]] in the middle of the night about a seriously ill [[Anastasia Dualla|Dualla]] (also a Sagittaron) under Robert's care, he immediately goes to Dualla's aide and finds himself in a stand-off with Dr. Robert, Dr. Cottle intervenes and reports that toxicology tests done on the deceased Sagittarons revealed no antidote but rather toxic bisphosphnate. Helo is ordered by Tigh to arrest Robert and a short time later, [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]] personally apologizes to him for not believing his initial claims about Robert and the opposition he encountered in his investigation ([[The Woman King]]). During his private meeting with Adama, Helo confesses his role in the failed biological attack on the Cylons ([[The Woman King]] bonus scene}.

Helo eventually returns to flight status and is one of the second highest ranking pilots after the deaths of [[Louanne Katraine|Kat]] and [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] (together with [[Showboat]] and [[Two Times]]). Two weeks after Starbuck's death, Helo takes over as CAG for a visibly distraught and emotionally unstable [[Lee Adama]] who is grounded by [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]] and assigned to oversee the security detail for Baltar's defense attorney, [[Romo Lampkin]] ([[The Son Also Rises]]).

After Colonel Tigh has an extreme fallback into his alcoholism at Gaius Baltar's trial, Helo temporarily replaced him as Executive Officer. He notes a feeling of apprehension, noting "something over the horizon" is coming and that it does not bode well for the Fleet ([[Crossroads, Part I]]). When ''Galactica'' jumps to the Ionian Nebula a large Cylon force is detected closing in on them, With no means of escape the crew prepares to engage the enemy. Tigh resumes his post but Helo remains in the CIC with the command staff, he notes that Viper 3 was launched without a designated pilot.([[Crossroads, Part II]])

== Notes ==

=== Name ===

The Re-imagined ''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' plays heavily on Greek mythology and history; the use of names such as [[Delphi]] and those of the [[Wikipedia:Twelve Olympians|Olympian gods]] is an example. Helo's names have many possible referrents:
*[[Wikipedia:Agathon|Agathon]] was an ancient Greek tragic poet.
*''[[Wikipedia:Agathodaemon|Agathos Daemon]]'' was of one of the spirits that lie between the gods and mortals in Greek mythology. He is associated with the cultivation of grapes and grain as well as luck and abundance.
*The prefix "Agatho-" means 'good' in Greek.
*[[Wikipedia:Helios|Helios]] was the Greek god of the Sun associated most prominently with the myth of [[Wikipedia:Phaëton|Phaëton]].
*"Helo" is slang for [[Wikipedia:Helicopter|helicopter]], and the [[Raptor]] craft Helo crews is visually based on an [[Wikipedia:AH-64 Apache|Apache helicopter]]. This fits with the callsign of his former co-pilot, "[[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Boomer]]", which is slang for a ballistic missile submarine.

=== Character ===

*In an [http://scifibrain.ign.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2965&Itemid=0&limit=1&limitstart=1 interview], actor Tahmoh Penikett discussed the (unofficial) backstory he had worked out with [[Katee Sackhoff]] to explain her comment in "[[Scattered]]" that they "go way back":
:"We are old friends and we have been through a lot together. I have been asked this question before, but I think it is pretty safe to bet that we were either in the academy together or we have known each other for years. Whether there has ever been a romantic relationship, that is definitely a possibility--especially with Starbuck...It could have been a one night stand, but there is in fact a relationship. We are more like brother and sister, and have been through a lot together. Helo really understands Starbuck and she understands him. They are a lot closer than most people think."
*Helo's full name (or even his fate) wasn't revealed until "[[33]]". He was initially intended as an expendable character; originally, he was supposed to have actually died when the Raptor left him behind on Caprica. Penikett's performance convinced [[Wikipedia:The powers that be|TPTB]] otherwise. Curiously, Helo's [[Crashdown|second]] replacement on Boomer's Raptor, [[Margaret Edmondson|Racetrack]], was also intended as a one-shot character, but was retained by TPTB for similar reasons.
*While he is shown in a [[Raptor]] during the funeral of his [[Hera|daughter]] in "[[Downloaded]]", "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]" is the first time he does his job as [[ECO]] on screen since the [[Miniseries]].

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

{{start box}}
{{succession box|before=[[Saul Tigh]]|title=Executive Officer, ''[[Galactica (RDM)| Galactica]]'' |after=[[Saul Tigh]]}}
{{succession box|before=[[Lee Adama]]|title=[[Commander Air Group|Commander, Air Group]], ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''|after=Incumbent}}
{{succession box|before=[[Saul Tigh]]|title=Executive Officer, ''[[Galactica (RDM)| Galactica]]'' |after=Incumbent}}
{{end box}}

{{Characters}}

[[Category:A to Z|Agathon, Karl C.]]
[[Category:Characters|Agathon, Karl C.]]
[[Category:Characters (RDM)|Agathon, Karl C.]]
[[Category:Main Characters (RDM)|Agathon, Karl C.]]
[[Category:RDM|Agathon, Karl C.]]

[[de:Karl Agathon]]

Karl Agathon

2007-04-10T13:10:30Z

MickJo: /* The Second Exodus */

{{Character Data
|photo= Season 3 Helo.jpg
|age=
|colony=
|birthname= Karl C. Agathon
|callsign= Helo
|servicen= PK-789934
|seen= Miniseries
|death=
|parents=
|siblings=
|children= [[Hera Agathon]] (Human-Cylon hybrid)
|marital status= Married to [[Sharon Agathon]]
|role= [[CAG|Commander Air Group]], ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''; administrative officer of [[Camp Oil Slick|Dogsville]] refugee camp; former and temporary Executive Officer
|rank= Captain
|actor= [[Tahmoh Penikett]]
|cylon=
}}
Captain '''Karl C. Agathon''' was the [[ECO]] aboard [[Raptor 478]], piloted by Lieutenant JG [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]]. He is young, loyal, capable, resourceful, and attracted to Valerii. Those aboard ''Galactica'' seem to find his real name cumbersome or unwieldy. He's almost always addressed by his callsign, "Helo."

== Biography ==

At the time of the [[Cylon Attack]], Lieutenant Karl Agathon, serial number PK-789934, is on patrol in Valerii's Raptor flying with battlestar ''Galactica's'' last fully-operational [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] squadron, and witnesses the destruction of the squadron by [[Cylon]] [[Raider]]s, after the Raiders exploit the [[Command Navigation Program]] to disable the Vipers.

Following the attack, Agathon and Valerii attempt to return to ''Galactica'', avoiding Cylon patrols, but are unsuccessful: their Raptor is damaged in a Cylon missile strike, and Helo receives a wound in his leg from shrapnel that pierces their ship. As a result of the damage received, the Raptor is forced down on Caprica, where Valerii makes emergency repairs. Moments after Valerii's repairs, their ship is mobbed by civilians desperate to get off the planet.

With limited space for survivors aboard the Raptor, Agathon volunteers his seat to Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] and remains on [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]] in the hope that Baltar will be of benefit to the Colonials in their renewed fight against the Cylons. Both Helo and Boomer feel that there is no chance that he will survive the Cylon nuclear attack on Caprica, but he selflessly chooses to stay behind anyway, giving up his own life so Baltar can get to ''Galactica''.

=== Marooned ===

After Boomer's departure, Helo apparently separates from the surviving refugees (who soon succumb to radiation poisoning<ref>The fate of these refugees is noted briefly by [[Laura Roslin]] ([[Mary McDonnell]]'s character acting as narrator) in the special program, "[[Battlestar Galactica: The Story So Far]]."</ref>) and flees from Cylon ground forces. After six days on Caprica, surviving on [[anti-radiation medication]] from his survival pack, he is captured after noticing a version of the Cylon known (secretly only to Gaius Baltar) as [[Number Six]].

Helo is "rescued" by [[Sharon Agathon|a copy of Sharon Valerii]], unaware that this is not the same one who abandoned him on Caprica. She guides him across Caprica as part of an elaborate (if potentially hastily conceived) plan / experiment designed to make this second Valerii the object of Agathon's affections. Several situations are engineered to make this happen:
[[Image:Valley_of_Darkness-Starbuck_Helo.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Helo and [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] in her apartment in [[Delphi]], [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]] in [[Valley of Darkness]].]]
*A "[[wikipedia:Honeypot (espionage)|honey trap]]" offering reasonably secure accommodations (a "fall-out shelter") together with sufficient supplies for two people beneath a restaurant ([[Act of Contrition]])
*Engineering Valerii's capture to test Helo's loyalty towards her ("[[You Can't Go Home Again]]", "[[Litmus]]")
*Establishing a further (long-term) "honey trap" for Helo and Valerii in the wilderness of Caprica.

Agathon eventually admits that he has feelings for Valerii and that he would have gladly traded places with Chief Tyrol, who he knew was having an illict relationship with her. Following this, the two have sex in a forest on Caprica. Afterwards, Valerii is instructed by the Five and Six overseeing the experiment to lead her lover to a nearby cabin, and to kill him if he refuses to settle there. However, the Cylon plan goes awry because Valerii has apparently fallen in love with Agathon. She forces them both on the run once more, this time genuinely seeking to escape from Caprica via the military base at [[Delphi]], which is now under Cylon control.

During their attempts to reach Delphi, Agathon witnesses a troop of Cylon [[Centurion]]s being led by Number Six - the woman he thought had been killed when Valerii rescued him. This draws him to the conclusion that the Cylons are using human clones they have created ([[Colonial Day]]). Once at Delphi, Agathon receives another shock: not only are further versions of Six on-hand - he comes face-to-face with another Valerii copy, revealing the full truth about the woman known as "Boomer" to him. Believing he was lured into a trap, Agathon goes on the run, leaving Valerii at the base.

The Valerii copy that Helo has paired with later catches up with him, and while he shoots her in the arm, he does not kill her as she might be of use to him in escaping the planet. Caprica-Valerii then informs Helo that she is pregnant with his child, and that they should go to the [[Delphi Museum of the Colonies|Delphi Museum]]. There, Agathon is reunited with [[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]] (who just arrived from ''[[Galactica]]'' using a stolen [[Cylon Raider]]) immediately after she kills a copy of Number Six and retrieves the [[Arrow of Apollo]]. Thrace, realizing immediately that Valerii is a Cylon (knowing much earlier than Helo that Cylons can mimic human form) tries to kill Valerii, but Agathon stops her because she is pregnant ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]], [[Scattered]]).

Valerii runs away out of fear of Thrace, taking her Cylon Raider. Fearing that [[Number Six]] will finish transferring her consciousness to a new body and warn the Cylons about the humans' presence in Delphi, Agathon and Thrace make their way to Thrace's old apartment ([[Scattered]], [[Valley of Darkness]]). Later, Thrace and Agathon join up with the [[Caprica Resistance|human resistance]] on Caprica ([[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]]).

=== The Resistance and escape from Caprica ===

Agathon, [[Samuel Anders|Anders]] and others later rescue Thrace from the Cylons' "hospital". Valerii returns to aid Helo in locating the missing Thrace, and later saves the day by gunning down several Centurions in a stolen [[Heavy Raider]]. Helo, Thrace, and Valerii leave Caprica en route to [[The Fleet (RDM)| the Fleet]] ([[The Farm]]). The group lands on the ''[[Astral Queen]]'', which has broken off from the rest of the Fleet ([[Home, Part I]]). When [[Lee Adama]] grabs the new copy of Valerii and threatens to shoot her, Helo raises his gun to Lee's head in response. They are calmed by Roslin, who then orders Valerii thrown out of an airlock. Valerii convinces Roslin of her usefulness before this happens, and later accompanies Helo and others to Kobol to find the Tomb of Athena ([[Home, Part I]]). On the way to the Tomb of Athena, [[Lee Adama|Apollo]] remarks to Starbuck that he is disturbed that Helo and this Valerii copy love each other, and Helo admits to Valerii that he now loves and trusts her. When they finally reach the tomb, Commander Adama orders Helo to stay outside with Valerii and Tom Zarek while Chief Tyrol guards all of them. With the successful gathering of information on the whereabouts of Earth, Helo and the group return to ''Galactica'' and the reunified Fleet.

=== Home on ''Galactica'' ===

Helo's welcome-home to ''Galactica'', months after being declared MIA on Caprica ([[Home, Part II]]), isn't a generally warm one. Many in the crew find his romance with the Caprica Valerii disquieting or disgusting. A few crew warm up to Helo after his suggestion of using carbon composites on the new fighter, the [[Blackbird]], turns [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]]'s pet project into a significant stealth technology ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]).

Chief Tyrol is still nursing the loss of Boomer (the ''Galactica'' copy of Valerii that left Helo on Caprica and later shoots Commander Adama), and now must deal with the return of another Valerii, her "memories" of him, and the fact that Helo is romantically involved with her. The friction between Helo and Tyrol becomes too much and a fight ensues before both realize that fighting will gain them little. The two tacitly appear to accept the awkward situation for what it is.

Helo and Tyrol learn of the gang-rape of the captured [[Gina|Cylon]] on battlestar ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', and are shocked to learn that the "Cylon interrogator", Lieutenant [[Alastair Thorne]], would be "interrogating" the incarcerated Valerii that day. Prior to this discovery, Helo is prepared to fight the drunken ''Pegasus'' crewmembers over their disrespect, but Tyrol realizes what is coming for Valerii and convinces him to head to the brig to her aid. While apparently successful in stopping the assault, the two are arrested and taken to ''Pegasus'' when Thorne is accidentally killed. Admiral [[Helena Cain]] conducts summary courts-martial on the two ''Galactica'' crewmembers, finding them guilty and sentencing them to execution. When Commander Adama hears of this abrupt treatment, he launches a Raptor with [[Colonial Marine Corps|Marine]] units as well as his Viper squadrons to get Helo and Tyrol back. A standoff ensues, with not only Helo's and Tyrol's lives in the balance, but thousands of others in the Fleet ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]).

===Aboard ''Pegasus''===

After Starbuck returns with images of the Resurrection Ship, Adama and Cain agree to a truce. Helo and Tyrol are given a stay of execution, but not a pardon. While they are imprisoned aboard ''Pegasus'', a pair of deck hands, irate about Thorne's death, assault them. [[Jack Fisk]], the XO of ''Pegasus'', puts a stop to this by citing regulations, but rebuffs Helo's thanks. Like the deck crew, Fisk had been saved from death by Thorne, and he is not sympathetic to Valerii, whom he views as a machine.

After the destruction of the [[Resurrection Ship]] and the death of Admiral Cain, Fisk becomes the Commander of ''Pegasus''. He returns Helo and Tyrol to ''Galactica'', where the former is joyfully received by Valerii.

=== The events of [[Epiphanies|Epiphanies]] ===

When the dying President Roslin orders the hybrid baby aborted, Helo attempts to dissuade Adama from carrying out the order in private conversation in the Admiral's office, but fails. When Valerii is being brought to the medical bay for the abortion, Helo blocks the door, his hand on his pistol. He offers to take Sharon aboard a [[Raptor]] and leave the Fleet, but is rebuffed by Adama, who tells him, "You're a soldier". Helo retorts that he is a father, like Adama.
Baltar defuses the potentially violent incident by arriving with his report on the medically useful nature of the hybrid fetus. There are no apparent consequences from his actions.

=== The hybrid birth ===

Helo is present when [[Hera]], the human-Cylon hybrid, is born. He and Valerii marvel at their baby, and Helo shocks Valerii when he says that it almost makes one believe in the Cylon [[God]]. When Valerii attacks Dr. [[Cottle]], accusing him of murder after he informs her of the baby's [[Maya|"death,"]] Helo tries to restrain her but ends up with marines pointing guns at him as Valerii is returned to her cell.

=== Caprica SAR & New Caprica ===

Despite Valerii's continued belief that Cottle and the other humans killed [[Hera]], Helo is able to convince her to assist Kara Thrace's plan for the rescue of Samuel Anders and his [[Caprica Resistance]] group ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]). Helo and the others manage to survive the Cylon assault after [[Cavil]] informs them that the Cylons have left the Colonies.
With the happenstance discovery of [[New Caprica]], the relationship between Helo and [[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|Sharon Valerii]] becomes increasingly strained, due primarily to her growing depression over the loss of their child and the fact that Valerii did not inform the SAR team that Caprica-[[Cavil]] was a Humanoid Cylon.

During the year in orbit around New Caprica he and Sharon Valerii become married. Agathon is acting as a replacement to [[Felix Gaeta]] as ''Galactica'''s tactical officer ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]) . He has been promoted to Captain, and has assumed the XO slot aboard ''Galactica''.

== The Second Exodus ==

While he temporarily relinquishes his position as XO after the Battle of New Caprica with Colonel Tigh's return to ''Galactica'', Tigh's actions and attitude cause him to be relieved of duty ([[Collaborators]]). Helo finds himself once again acting as Adama's right-hand man ([[Torn]]). During this time, Helo is shown to have been promoted to Captain (although the exact date of his promotion is still unknown).

When faced with using the recently discovered Cylon virus as an agent for genocide, Helo undermines the mission, which he feels is an atrocious and evil action, by sabotaging the Cylon prisoner's prison cells so they all suffocate before they can be downloaded into a Resurrection Ship, and therefore downloading the virus. Roslin and Adama both know the probable culprit, but Adama, who felt the President was on morally shaky grounds using genocide as a military solution, decides not to take any action against Helo ([[A Measure of Salvation]]).

Helo participates in the organized shipwide fights intended to boost morale. He fights a hard match against Major [[Lee Adama]]. Helo is declared victorious in the match after Doctor Cottle removes a battered Adama from the match ([[Unfinished Business]]).

He has since returned to flight duty and pilots a Raptor during operations to replenish the fleet's food stores ([[The Passage]]). It is during their time at the [[Algae planet]] that a Cylon negotiation party aboard ''Galactica'' reveals to his wife that [[Hera]] is still alive. Though [[Athena]] initially denies the taunt, she and Helo soon find out from [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]] that it is true, much to their dismay ([[The Eye of Jupiter]]). Athena believes the only way to get her daughter back is to be resurrected inside the Cylon fleet, and begs Helo to kill her. Being unable to dissuade her, Helo grants her wish. Athena resurrects and successfully retrieves Hera, aided by [[Caprica-Six]] ([[Rapture]]). He is present during the post-incident briefing regarding the Temple of Five, implying that he may hold additional duties besides flight ops.

This is confirmed when Helo is assigned by [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]] to take charge of the hundreds of civilians which have been transfered to a [[Dogsville|refugee camp]] on ''Galactica''. One reason for this assignment is the suspicion of his involvement in the sabotage of a planned [[A Measure of Salvation|biological attack]] on the Cylons. Among the refugees are a large number of [[Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Saggitaron|Sagittarons]], many of whom display the first symptoms of [[Mellorak infection]]. [[King|Mrs. King]] comes to Helo and accuses the civilian physician Dr. [[Michael Robert|Robert]] of murder after the death of her son due to the Doctor's anti-Sagittaron bigotry. Helo begins an investigation, made difficult by several factors. Not only is Dr. Robert held in high regard by Helo's superiors, but the claims of the Sagittarons are dismissed due to a negative view of the religious fundamentalism and ancient traditions practiced by most Sagittarons. Helo's personal conflict with Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] over his marriage to [[Sharon Agathon|Sharon]] is exasperated by the Colonel's prejudices to a point where Helo hits Tigh in a crowded corridor. When Helo is warned by [[King]] in the middle of the night about a seriously ill [[Anastasia Dualla|Dualla]] (also a Sagittaron) under Robert's care, he immediately goes to Dualla's aide and finds himself in a stand-off with Dr. Robert, Dr. Cottle intervenes and reports that toxicology tests done on the deceased Sagittarons revealed no antidote but rather toxic bisphosphnate. Helo is ordered by Tigh to arrest Robert and a short time later, [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]] personally apologizes to him for not believing his initial claims about Robert and the opposition he encountered in his investigation ([[The Woman King]]). During his private meeting with Adama, Helo confesses his role in the failed biological attack on the Cylons ([[The Woman King]] bonus scene}.

Helo eventually returns to flight status and is one of the second highest ranking pilots after the deaths of [[Louanne Katraine|Kat]] and [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] (together with [[Showboat]] and [[Two Times]]). Two weeks after Starbuck's death, Helo takes over as CAG for a visibly distraught and emotionally unstable [[Lee Adama]] who is grounded by [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]] and assigned to oversee the security detail for Baltar's defense attorney, [[Romo Lampkin]] ([[The Son Also Rises]]).

After Colonel Tigh has an extreme fallback into his alcoholism at Gaius Baltar's trial, Helo temporarily replaced him as Executive Officer. He notes a feeling of apprehension, noting "something over the horizon" is coming and that it does not bode well for the Fleet ([[Crossroads, Part I]]). When ''Galactica'' jumps to the Ionian Nebula a large Cylon force is detected closing in on them, With no means of escape the crew prepares to engage the enemy. Tigh resumes his post but Helo remains in the CIC with the command staff, he notes that Viper 3 was launched without a [[designated pilot|Lee Adama]].([[Crossroads, Part II]])

== Notes ==

=== Name ===

The Re-imagined ''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' plays heavily on Greek mythology and history; the use of names such as [[Delphi]] and those of the [[Wikipedia:Twelve Olympians|Olympian gods]] is an example. Helo's names have many possible referrents:
*[[Wikipedia:Agathon|Agathon]] was an ancient Greek tragic poet.
*''[[Wikipedia:Agathodaemon|Agathos Daemon]]'' was of one of the spirits that lie between the gods and mortals in Greek mythology. He is associated with the cultivation of grapes and grain as well as luck and abundance.
*The prefix "Agatho-" means 'good' in Greek.
*[[Wikipedia:Helios|Helios]] was the Greek god of the Sun associated most prominently with the myth of [[Wikipedia:Phaëton|Phaëton]].
*"Helo" is slang for [[Wikipedia:Helicopter|helicopter]], and the [[Raptor]] craft Helo crews is visually based on an [[Wikipedia:AH-64 Apache|Apache helicopter]]. This fits with the callsign of his former co-pilot, "[[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Boomer]]", which is slang for a ballistic missile submarine.

=== Character ===

*In an [http://scifibrain.ign.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2965&Itemid=0&limit=1&limitstart=1 interview], actor Tahmoh Penikett discussed the (unofficial) backstory he had worked out with [[Katee Sackhoff]] to explain her comment in "[[Scattered]]" that they "go way back":
:"We are old friends and we have been through a lot together. I have been asked this question before, but I think it is pretty safe to bet that we were either in the academy together or we have known each other for years. Whether there has ever been a romantic relationship, that is definitely a possibility--especially with Starbuck...It could have been a one night stand, but there is in fact a relationship. We are more like brother and sister, and have been through a lot together. Helo really understands Starbuck and she understands him. They are a lot closer than most people think."
*Helo's full name (or even his fate) wasn't revealed until "[[33]]". He was initially intended as an expendable character; originally, he was supposed to have actually died when the Raptor left him behind on Caprica. Penikett's performance convinced [[Wikipedia:The powers that be|TPTB]] otherwise. Curiously, Helo's [[Crashdown|second]] replacement on Boomer's Raptor, [[Margaret Edmondson|Racetrack]], was also intended as a one-shot character, but was retained by TPTB for similar reasons.
*While he is shown in a [[Raptor]] during the funeral of his [[Hera|daughter]] in "[[Downloaded]]", "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]" is the first time he does his job as [[ECO]] on screen since the [[Miniseries]].

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

{{start box}}
{{succession box|before=[[Saul Tigh]]|title=Executive Officer, ''[[Galactica (RDM)| Galactica]]'' |after=[[Saul Tigh]]}}
{{succession box|before=[[Lee Adama]]|title=[[Commander Air Group|Commander, Air Group]], ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''|after=Incumbent}}
{{succession box|before=[[Saul Tigh]]|title=Executive Officer, ''[[Galactica (RDM)| Galactica]]'' |after=Incumbent}}
{{end box}}

{{Characters}}

[[Category:A to Z|Agathon, Karl C.]]
[[Category:Characters|Agathon, Karl C.]]
[[Category:Characters (RDM)|Agathon, Karl C.]]
[[Category:Main Characters (RDM)|Agathon, Karl C.]]
[[Category:RDM|Agathon, Karl C.]]

[[de:Karl Agathon]]

Karl Agathon

2007-04-10T13:08:49Z

MickJo: /* The Second Exodus */

{{Character Data
|photo= Season 3 Helo.jpg
|age=
|colony=
|birthname= Karl C. Agathon
|callsign= Helo
|servicen= PK-789934
|seen= Miniseries
|death=
|parents=
|siblings=
|children= [[Hera Agathon]] (Human-Cylon hybrid)
|marital status= Married to [[Sharon Agathon]]
|role= [[CAG|Commander Air Group]], ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''; administrative officer of [[Camp Oil Slick|Dogsville]] refugee camp; former and temporary Executive Officer
|rank= Captain
|actor= [[Tahmoh Penikett]]
|cylon=
}}
Captain '''Karl C. Agathon''' was the [[ECO]] aboard [[Raptor 478]], piloted by Lieutenant JG [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]]. He is young, loyal, capable, resourceful, and attracted to Valerii. Those aboard ''Galactica'' seem to find his real name cumbersome or unwieldy. He's almost always addressed by his callsign, "Helo."

== Biography ==

At the time of the [[Cylon Attack]], Lieutenant Karl Agathon, serial number PK-789934, is on patrol in Valerii's Raptor flying with battlestar ''Galactica's'' last fully-operational [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] squadron, and witnesses the destruction of the squadron by [[Cylon]] [[Raider]]s, after the Raiders exploit the [[Command Navigation Program]] to disable the Vipers.

Following the attack, Agathon and Valerii attempt to return to ''Galactica'', avoiding Cylon patrols, but are unsuccessful: their Raptor is damaged in a Cylon missile strike, and Helo receives a wound in his leg from shrapnel that pierces their ship. As a result of the damage received, the Raptor is forced down on Caprica, where Valerii makes emergency repairs. Moments after Valerii's repairs, their ship is mobbed by civilians desperate to get off the planet.

With limited space for survivors aboard the Raptor, Agathon volunteers his seat to Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] and remains on [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]] in the hope that Baltar will be of benefit to the Colonials in their renewed fight against the Cylons. Both Helo and Boomer feel that there is no chance that he will survive the Cylon nuclear attack on Caprica, but he selflessly chooses to stay behind anyway, giving up his own life so Baltar can get to ''Galactica''.

=== Marooned ===

After Boomer's departure, Helo apparently separates from the surviving refugees (who soon succumb to radiation poisoning<ref>The fate of these refugees is noted briefly by [[Laura Roslin]] ([[Mary McDonnell]]'s character acting as narrator) in the special program, "[[Battlestar Galactica: The Story So Far]]."</ref>) and flees from Cylon ground forces. After six days on Caprica, surviving on [[anti-radiation medication]] from his survival pack, he is captured after noticing a version of the Cylon known (secretly only to Gaius Baltar) as [[Number Six]].

Helo is "rescued" by [[Sharon Agathon|a copy of Sharon Valerii]], unaware that this is not the same one who abandoned him on Caprica. She guides him across Caprica as part of an elaborate (if potentially hastily conceived) plan / experiment designed to make this second Valerii the object of Agathon's affections. Several situations are engineered to make this happen:
[[Image:Valley_of_Darkness-Starbuck_Helo.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Helo and [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] in her apartment in [[Delphi]], [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]] in [[Valley of Darkness]].]]
*A "[[wikipedia:Honeypot (espionage)|honey trap]]" offering reasonably secure accommodations (a "fall-out shelter") together with sufficient supplies for two people beneath a restaurant ([[Act of Contrition]])
*Engineering Valerii's capture to test Helo's loyalty towards her ("[[You Can't Go Home Again]]", "[[Litmus]]")
*Establishing a further (long-term) "honey trap" for Helo and Valerii in the wilderness of Caprica.

Agathon eventually admits that he has feelings for Valerii and that he would have gladly traded places with Chief Tyrol, who he knew was having an illict relationship with her. Following this, the two have sex in a forest on Caprica. Afterwards, Valerii is instructed by the Five and Six overseeing the experiment to lead her lover to a nearby cabin, and to kill him if he refuses to settle there. However, the Cylon plan goes awry because Valerii has apparently fallen in love with Agathon. She forces them both on the run once more, this time genuinely seeking to escape from Caprica via the military base at [[Delphi]], which is now under Cylon control.

During their attempts to reach Delphi, Agathon witnesses a troop of Cylon [[Centurion]]s being led by Number Six - the woman he thought had been killed when Valerii rescued him. This draws him to the conclusion that the Cylons are using human clones they have created ([[Colonial Day]]). Once at Delphi, Agathon receives another shock: not only are further versions of Six on-hand - he comes face-to-face with another Valerii copy, revealing the full truth about the woman known as "Boomer" to him. Believing he was lured into a trap, Agathon goes on the run, leaving Valerii at the base.

The Valerii copy that Helo has paired with later catches up with him, and while he shoots her in the arm, he does not kill her as she might be of use to him in escaping the planet. Caprica-Valerii then informs Helo that she is pregnant with his child, and that they should go to the [[Delphi Museum of the Colonies|Delphi Museum]]. There, Agathon is reunited with [[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]] (who just arrived from ''[[Galactica]]'' using a stolen [[Cylon Raider]]) immediately after she kills a copy of Number Six and retrieves the [[Arrow of Apollo]]. Thrace, realizing immediately that Valerii is a Cylon (knowing much earlier than Helo that Cylons can mimic human form) tries to kill Valerii, but Agathon stops her because she is pregnant ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]], [[Scattered]]).

Valerii runs away out of fear of Thrace, taking her Cylon Raider. Fearing that [[Number Six]] will finish transferring her consciousness to a new body and warn the Cylons about the humans' presence in Delphi, Agathon and Thrace make their way to Thrace's old apartment ([[Scattered]], [[Valley of Darkness]]). Later, Thrace and Agathon join up with the [[Caprica Resistance|human resistance]] on Caprica ([[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]]).

=== The Resistance and escape from Caprica ===

Agathon, [[Samuel Anders|Anders]] and others later rescue Thrace from the Cylons' "hospital". Valerii returns to aid Helo in locating the missing Thrace, and later saves the day by gunning down several Centurions in a stolen [[Heavy Raider]]. Helo, Thrace, and Valerii leave Caprica en route to [[The Fleet (RDM)| the Fleet]] ([[The Farm]]). The group lands on the ''[[Astral Queen]]'', which has broken off from the rest of the Fleet ([[Home, Part I]]). When [[Lee Adama]] grabs the new copy of Valerii and threatens to shoot her, Helo raises his gun to Lee's head in response. They are calmed by Roslin, who then orders Valerii thrown out of an airlock. Valerii convinces Roslin of her usefulness before this happens, and later accompanies Helo and others to Kobol to find the Tomb of Athena ([[Home, Part I]]). On the way to the Tomb of Athena, [[Lee Adama|Apollo]] remarks to Starbuck that he is disturbed that Helo and this Valerii copy love each other, and Helo admits to Valerii that he now loves and trusts her. When they finally reach the tomb, Commander Adama orders Helo to stay outside with Valerii and Tom Zarek while Chief Tyrol guards all of them. With the successful gathering of information on the whereabouts of Earth, Helo and the group return to ''Galactica'' and the reunified Fleet.

=== Home on ''Galactica'' ===

Helo's welcome-home to ''Galactica'', months after being declared MIA on Caprica ([[Home, Part II]]), isn't a generally warm one. Many in the crew find his romance with the Caprica Valerii disquieting or disgusting. A few crew warm up to Helo after his suggestion of using carbon composites on the new fighter, the [[Blackbird]], turns [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]]'s pet project into a significant stealth technology ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]).

Chief Tyrol is still nursing the loss of Boomer (the ''Galactica'' copy of Valerii that left Helo on Caprica and later shoots Commander Adama), and now must deal with the return of another Valerii, her "memories" of him, and the fact that Helo is romantically involved with her. The friction between Helo and Tyrol becomes too much and a fight ensues before both realize that fighting will gain them little. The two tacitly appear to accept the awkward situation for what it is.

Helo and Tyrol learn of the gang-rape of the captured [[Gina|Cylon]] on battlestar ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', and are shocked to learn that the "Cylon interrogator", Lieutenant [[Alastair Thorne]], would be "interrogating" the incarcerated Valerii that day. Prior to this discovery, Helo is prepared to fight the drunken ''Pegasus'' crewmembers over their disrespect, but Tyrol realizes what is coming for Valerii and convinces him to head to the brig to her aid. While apparently successful in stopping the assault, the two are arrested and taken to ''Pegasus'' when Thorne is accidentally killed. Admiral [[Helena Cain]] conducts summary courts-martial on the two ''Galactica'' crewmembers, finding them guilty and sentencing them to execution. When Commander Adama hears of this abrupt treatment, he launches a Raptor with [[Colonial Marine Corps|Marine]] units as well as his Viper squadrons to get Helo and Tyrol back. A standoff ensues, with not only Helo's and Tyrol's lives in the balance, but thousands of others in the Fleet ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]).

===Aboard ''Pegasus''===

After Starbuck returns with images of the Resurrection Ship, Adama and Cain agree to a truce. Helo and Tyrol are given a stay of execution, but not a pardon. While they are imprisoned aboard ''Pegasus'', a pair of deck hands, irate about Thorne's death, assault them. [[Jack Fisk]], the XO of ''Pegasus'', puts a stop to this by citing regulations, but rebuffs Helo's thanks. Like the deck crew, Fisk had been saved from death by Thorne, and he is not sympathetic to Valerii, whom he views as a machine.

After the destruction of the [[Resurrection Ship]] and the death of Admiral Cain, Fisk becomes the Commander of ''Pegasus''. He returns Helo and Tyrol to ''Galactica'', where the former is joyfully received by Valerii.

=== The events of [[Epiphanies|Epiphanies]] ===

When the dying President Roslin orders the hybrid baby aborted, Helo attempts to dissuade Adama from carrying out the order in private conversation in the Admiral's office, but fails. When Valerii is being brought to the medical bay for the abortion, Helo blocks the door, his hand on his pistol. He offers to take Sharon aboard a [[Raptor]] and leave the Fleet, but is rebuffed by Adama, who tells him, "You're a soldier". Helo retorts that he is a father, like Adama.
Baltar defuses the potentially violent incident by arriving with his report on the medically useful nature of the hybrid fetus. There are no apparent consequences from his actions.

=== The hybrid birth ===

Helo is present when [[Hera]], the human-Cylon hybrid, is born. He and Valerii marvel at their baby, and Helo shocks Valerii when he says that it almost makes one believe in the Cylon [[God]]. When Valerii attacks Dr. [[Cottle]], accusing him of murder after he informs her of the baby's [[Maya|"death,"]] Helo tries to restrain her but ends up with marines pointing guns at him as Valerii is returned to her cell.

=== Caprica SAR & New Caprica ===

Despite Valerii's continued belief that Cottle and the other humans killed [[Hera]], Helo is able to convince her to assist Kara Thrace's plan for the rescue of Samuel Anders and his [[Caprica Resistance]] group ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]). Helo and the others manage to survive the Cylon assault after [[Cavil]] informs them that the Cylons have left the Colonies.
With the happenstance discovery of [[New Caprica]], the relationship between Helo and [[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|Sharon Valerii]] becomes increasingly strained, due primarily to her growing depression over the loss of their child and the fact that Valerii did not inform the SAR team that Caprica-[[Cavil]] was a Humanoid Cylon.

During the year in orbit around New Caprica he and Sharon Valerii become married. Agathon is acting as a replacement to [[Felix Gaeta]] as ''Galactica'''s tactical officer ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]) . He has been promoted to Captain, and has assumed the XO slot aboard ''Galactica''.

== The Second Exodus ==

While he temporarily relinquishes his position as XO after the Battle of New Caprica with Colonel Tigh's return to ''Galactica'', Tigh's actions and attitude cause him to be relieved of duty ([[Collaborators]]). Helo finds himself once again acting as Adama's right-hand man ([[Torn]]). During this time, Helo is shown to have been promoted to Captain (although the exact date of his promotion is still unknown).

When faced with using the recently discovered Cylon virus as an agent for genocide, Helo undermines the mission, which he feels is an atrocious and evil action, by sabotaging the Cylon prisoner's prison cells so they all suffocate before they can be downloaded into a Resurrection Ship, and therefore downloading the virus. Roslin and Adama both know the probable culprit, but Adama, who felt the President was on morally shaky grounds using genocide as a military solution, decides not to take any action against Helo ([[A Measure of Salvation]]).

Helo participates in the organized shipwide fights intended to boost morale. He fights a hard match against Major [[Lee Adama]]. Helo is declared victorious in the match after Doctor Cottle removes a battered Adama from the match ([[Unfinished Business]]).

He has since returned to flight duty and pilots a Raptor during operations to replenish the fleet's food stores ([[The Passage]]). It is during their time at the [[Algae planet]] that a Cylon negotiation party aboard ''Galactica'' reveals to his wife that [[Hera]] is still alive. Though [[Athena]] initially denies the taunt, she and Helo soon find out from [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]] that it is true, much to their dismay ([[The Eye of Jupiter]]). Athena believes the only way to get her daughter back is to be resurrected inside the Cylon fleet, and begs Helo to kill her. Being unable to dissuade her, Helo grants her wish. Athena resurrects and successfully retrieves Hera, aided by [[Caprica-Six]] ([[Rapture]]). He is present during the post-incident briefing regarding the Temple of Five, implying that he may hold additional duties besides flight ops.

This is confirmed when Helo is assigned by [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]] to take charge of the hundreds of civilians which have been transfered to a [[Dogsville|refugee camp]] on ''Galactica''. One reason for this assignment is the suspicion of his involvement in the sabotage of a planned [[A Measure of Salvation|biological attack]] on the Cylons. Among the refugees are a large number of [[Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Saggitaron|Sagittarons]], many of whom display the first symptoms of [[Mellorak infection]]. [[King|Mrs. King]] comes to Helo and accuses the civilian physician Dr. [[Michael Robert|Robert]] of murder after the death of her son due to the Doctor's anti-Sagittaron bigotry. Helo begins an investigation, made difficult by several factors. Not only is Dr. Robert held in high regard by Helo's superiors, but the claims of the Sagittarons are dismissed due to a negative view of the religious fundamentalism and ancient traditions practiced by most Sagittarons. Helo's personal conflict with Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] over his marriage to [[Sharon Agathon|Sharon]] is exasperated by the Colonel's prejudices to a point where Helo hits Tigh in a crowded corridor. When Helo is warned by [[King]] in the middle of the night about a seriously ill [[Anastasia Dualla|Dualla]] (also a Sagittaron) under Robert's care, he immediately goes to Dualla's aide and finds himself in a stand-off with Dr. Robert, Dr. Cottle intervenes and reports that toxicology tests done on the deceased Sagittarons revealed no antidote but rather toxic bisphosphnate. Helo is ordered by Tigh to arrest Robert and a short time later, [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]] personally apologizes to him for not believing his initial claims about Robert and the opposition he encountered in his investigation ([[The Woman King]]). During his private meeting with Adama, Helo confesses his role in the failed biological attack on the Cylons ([[The Woman King]] bonus scene}.

Helo eventually returns to flight status and is one of the second highest ranking pilots after the deaths of [[Louanne Katraine|Kat]] and [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] (together with [[Showboat]] and [[Two Times]]). Two weeks after Starbuck's death, Helo takes over as CAG for a visibly distraught and emotionally unstable [[Lee Adama]] who is grounded by [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]] and assigned to oversee the security detail for Baltar's defense attorney, [[Romo Lampkin]] ([[The Son Also Rises]]).

After Colonel Tigh has an extreme fallback into his alcoholism at Gaius Baltar's trial, Helo temporarily replaced him as Executive Officer. He notes a feeling of apprehension, noting "something over the horizon" is coming and that it does not bode well for the Fleet ([[Crossroads, Part I]]). When ''Galactica'' jumps to the Ionian Nebula a large Cylon force is detected closing in on them, With no means of escape the crew prepares to engage the enemy. Tigh resumes his post but Helo remains in the CIC with the command staff, he notes that Viper 3 was launched with out a designated pilot.([[Crossroads, Part II]])

== Notes ==

=== Name ===

The Re-imagined ''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' plays heavily on Greek mythology and history; the use of names such as [[Delphi]] and those of the [[Wikipedia:Twelve Olympians|Olympian gods]] is an example. Helo's names have many possible referrents:
*[[Wikipedia:Agathon|Agathon]] was an ancient Greek tragic poet.
*''[[Wikipedia:Agathodaemon|Agathos Daemon]]'' was of one of the spirits that lie between the gods and mortals in Greek mythology. He is associated with the cultivation of grapes and grain as well as luck and abundance.
*The prefix "Agatho-" means 'good' in Greek.
*[[Wikipedia:Helios|Helios]] was the Greek god of the Sun associated most prominently with the myth of [[Wikipedia:Phaëton|Phaëton]].
*"Helo" is slang for [[Wikipedia:Helicopter|helicopter]], and the [[Raptor]] craft Helo crews is visually based on an [[Wikipedia:AH-64 Apache|Apache helicopter]]. This fits with the callsign of his former co-pilot, "[[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Boomer]]", which is slang for a ballistic missile submarine.

=== Character ===

*In an [http://scifibrain.ign.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2965&Itemid=0&limit=1&limitstart=1 interview], actor Tahmoh Penikett discussed the (unofficial) backstory he had worked out with [[Katee Sackhoff]] to explain her comment in "[[Scattered]]" that they "go way back":
:"We are old friends and we have been through a lot together. I have been asked this question before, but I think it is pretty safe to bet that we were either in the academy together or we have known each other for years. Whether there has ever been a romantic relationship, that is definitely a possibility--especially with Starbuck...It could have been a one night stand, but there is in fact a relationship. We are more like brother and sister, and have been through a lot together. Helo really understands Starbuck and she understands him. They are a lot closer than most people think."
*Helo's full name (or even his fate) wasn't revealed until "[[33]]". He was initially intended as an expendable character; originally, he was supposed to have actually died when the Raptor left him behind on Caprica. Penikett's performance convinced [[Wikipedia:The powers that be|TPTB]] otherwise. Curiously, Helo's [[Crashdown|second]] replacement on Boomer's Raptor, [[Margaret Edmondson|Racetrack]], was also intended as a one-shot character, but was retained by TPTB for similar reasons.
*While he is shown in a [[Raptor]] during the funeral of his [[Hera|daughter]] in "[[Downloaded]]", "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]" is the first time he does his job as [[ECO]] on screen since the [[Miniseries]].

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

{{start box}}
{{succession box|before=[[Saul Tigh]]|title=Executive Officer, ''[[Galactica (RDM)| Galactica]]'' |after=[[Saul Tigh]]}}
{{succession box|before=[[Lee Adama]]|title=[[Commander Air Group|Commander, Air Group]], ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''|after=Incumbent}}
{{succession box|before=[[Saul Tigh]]|title=Executive Officer, ''[[Galactica (RDM)| Galactica]]'' |after=Incumbent}}
{{end box}}

{{Characters}}

[[Category:A to Z|Agathon, Karl C.]]
[[Category:Characters|Agathon, Karl C.]]
[[Category:Characters (RDM)|Agathon, Karl C.]]
[[Category:Main Characters (RDM)|Agathon, Karl C.]]
[[Category:RDM|Agathon, Karl C.]]

[[de:Karl Agathon]]

Karl Agathon

2007-04-10T13:05:46Z

MickJo: /* The Second Exodus */

{{Character Data
|photo= Season 3 Helo.jpg
|age=
|colony=
|birthname= Karl C. Agathon
|callsign= Helo
|servicen= PK-789934
|seen= Miniseries
|death=
|parents=
|siblings=
|children= [[Hera Agathon]] (Human-Cylon hybrid)
|marital status= Married to [[Sharon Agathon]]
|role= [[CAG|Commander Air Group]], ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''; administrative officer of [[Camp Oil Slick|Dogsville]] refugee camp; former and temporary Executive Officer
|rank= Captain
|actor= [[Tahmoh Penikett]]
|cylon=
}}
Captain '''Karl C. Agathon''' was the [[ECO]] aboard [[Raptor 478]], piloted by Lieutenant JG [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]]. He is young, loyal, capable, resourceful, and attracted to Valerii. Those aboard ''Galactica'' seem to find his real name cumbersome or unwieldy. He's almost always addressed by his callsign, "Helo."

== Biography ==

At the time of the [[Cylon Attack]], Lieutenant Karl Agathon, serial number PK-789934, is on patrol in Valerii's Raptor flying with battlestar ''Galactica's'' last fully-operational [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] squadron, and witnesses the destruction of the squadron by [[Cylon]] [[Raider]]s, after the Raiders exploit the [[Command Navigation Program]] to disable the Vipers.

Following the attack, Agathon and Valerii attempt to return to ''Galactica'', avoiding Cylon patrols, but are unsuccessful: their Raptor is damaged in a Cylon missile strike, and Helo receives a wound in his leg from shrapnel that pierces their ship. As a result of the damage received, the Raptor is forced down on Caprica, where Valerii makes emergency repairs. Moments after Valerii's repairs, their ship is mobbed by civilians desperate to get off the planet.

With limited space for survivors aboard the Raptor, Agathon volunteers his seat to Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] and remains on [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]] in the hope that Baltar will be of benefit to the Colonials in their renewed fight against the Cylons. Both Helo and Boomer feel that there is no chance that he will survive the Cylon nuclear attack on Caprica, but he selflessly chooses to stay behind anyway, giving up his own life so Baltar can get to ''Galactica''.

=== Marooned ===

After Boomer's departure, Helo apparently separates from the surviving refugees (who soon succumb to radiation poisoning<ref>The fate of these refugees is noted briefly by [[Laura Roslin]] ([[Mary McDonnell]]'s character acting as narrator) in the special program, "[[Battlestar Galactica: The Story So Far]]."</ref>) and flees from Cylon ground forces. After six days on Caprica, surviving on [[anti-radiation medication]] from his survival pack, he is captured after noticing a version of the Cylon known (secretly only to Gaius Baltar) as [[Number Six]].

Helo is "rescued" by [[Sharon Agathon|a copy of Sharon Valerii]], unaware that this is not the same one who abandoned him on Caprica. She guides him across Caprica as part of an elaborate (if potentially hastily conceived) plan / experiment designed to make this second Valerii the object of Agathon's affections. Several situations are engineered to make this happen:
[[Image:Valley_of_Darkness-Starbuck_Helo.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Helo and [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] in her apartment in [[Delphi]], [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]] in [[Valley of Darkness]].]]
*A "[[wikipedia:Honeypot (espionage)|honey trap]]" offering reasonably secure accommodations (a "fall-out shelter") together with sufficient supplies for two people beneath a restaurant ([[Act of Contrition]])
*Engineering Valerii's capture to test Helo's loyalty towards her ("[[You Can't Go Home Again]]", "[[Litmus]]")
*Establishing a further (long-term) "honey trap" for Helo and Valerii in the wilderness of Caprica.

Agathon eventually admits that he has feelings for Valerii and that he would have gladly traded places with Chief Tyrol, who he knew was having an illict relationship with her. Following this, the two have sex in a forest on Caprica. Afterwards, Valerii is instructed by the Five and Six overseeing the experiment to lead her lover to a nearby cabin, and to kill him if he refuses to settle there. However, the Cylon plan goes awry because Valerii has apparently fallen in love with Agathon. She forces them both on the run once more, this time genuinely seeking to escape from Caprica via the military base at [[Delphi]], which is now under Cylon control.

During their attempts to reach Delphi, Agathon witnesses a troop of Cylon [[Centurion]]s being led by Number Six - the woman he thought had been killed when Valerii rescued him. This draws him to the conclusion that the Cylons are using human clones they have created ([[Colonial Day]]). Once at Delphi, Agathon receives another shock: not only are further versions of Six on-hand - he comes face-to-face with another Valerii copy, revealing the full truth about the woman known as "Boomer" to him. Believing he was lured into a trap, Agathon goes on the run, leaving Valerii at the base.

The Valerii copy that Helo has paired with later catches up with him, and while he shoots her in the arm, he does not kill her as she might be of use to him in escaping the planet. Caprica-Valerii then informs Helo that she is pregnant with his child, and that they should go to the [[Delphi Museum of the Colonies|Delphi Museum]]. There, Agathon is reunited with [[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]] (who just arrived from ''[[Galactica]]'' using a stolen [[Cylon Raider]]) immediately after she kills a copy of Number Six and retrieves the [[Arrow of Apollo]]. Thrace, realizing immediately that Valerii is a Cylon (knowing much earlier than Helo that Cylons can mimic human form) tries to kill Valerii, but Agathon stops her because she is pregnant ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]], [[Scattered]]).

Valerii runs away out of fear of Thrace, taking her Cylon Raider. Fearing that [[Number Six]] will finish transferring her consciousness to a new body and warn the Cylons about the humans' presence in Delphi, Agathon and Thrace make their way to Thrace's old apartment ([[Scattered]], [[Valley of Darkness]]). Later, Thrace and Agathon join up with the [[Caprica Resistance|human resistance]] on Caprica ([[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]]).

=== The Resistance and escape from Caprica ===

Agathon, [[Samuel Anders|Anders]] and others later rescue Thrace from the Cylons' "hospital". Valerii returns to aid Helo in locating the missing Thrace, and later saves the day by gunning down several Centurions in a stolen [[Heavy Raider]]. Helo, Thrace, and Valerii leave Caprica en route to [[The Fleet (RDM)| the Fleet]] ([[The Farm]]). The group lands on the ''[[Astral Queen]]'', which has broken off from the rest of the Fleet ([[Home, Part I]]). When [[Lee Adama]] grabs the new copy of Valerii and threatens to shoot her, Helo raises his gun to Lee's head in response. They are calmed by Roslin, who then orders Valerii thrown out of an airlock. Valerii convinces Roslin of her usefulness before this happens, and later accompanies Helo and others to Kobol to find the Tomb of Athena ([[Home, Part I]]). On the way to the Tomb of Athena, [[Lee Adama|Apollo]] remarks to Starbuck that he is disturbed that Helo and this Valerii copy love each other, and Helo admits to Valerii that he now loves and trusts her. When they finally reach the tomb, Commander Adama orders Helo to stay outside with Valerii and Tom Zarek while Chief Tyrol guards all of them. With the successful gathering of information on the whereabouts of Earth, Helo and the group return to ''Galactica'' and the reunified Fleet.

=== Home on ''Galactica'' ===

Helo's welcome-home to ''Galactica'', months after being declared MIA on Caprica ([[Home, Part II]]), isn't a generally warm one. Many in the crew find his romance with the Caprica Valerii disquieting or disgusting. A few crew warm up to Helo after his suggestion of using carbon composites on the new fighter, the [[Blackbird]], turns [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]]'s pet project into a significant stealth technology ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]).

Chief Tyrol is still nursing the loss of Boomer (the ''Galactica'' copy of Valerii that left Helo on Caprica and later shoots Commander Adama), and now must deal with the return of another Valerii, her "memories" of him, and the fact that Helo is romantically involved with her. The friction between Helo and Tyrol becomes too much and a fight ensues before both realize that fighting will gain them little. The two tacitly appear to accept the awkward situation for what it is.

Helo and Tyrol learn of the gang-rape of the captured [[Gina|Cylon]] on battlestar ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', and are shocked to learn that the "Cylon interrogator", Lieutenant [[Alastair Thorne]], would be "interrogating" the incarcerated Valerii that day. Prior to this discovery, Helo is prepared to fight the drunken ''Pegasus'' crewmembers over their disrespect, but Tyrol realizes what is coming for Valerii and convinces him to head to the brig to her aid. While apparently successful in stopping the assault, the two are arrested and taken to ''Pegasus'' when Thorne is accidentally killed. Admiral [[Helena Cain]] conducts summary courts-martial on the two ''Galactica'' crewmembers, finding them guilty and sentencing them to execution. When Commander Adama hears of this abrupt treatment, he launches a Raptor with [[Colonial Marine Corps|Marine]] units as well as his Viper squadrons to get Helo and Tyrol back. A standoff ensues, with not only Helo's and Tyrol's lives in the balance, but thousands of others in the Fleet ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]).

===Aboard ''Pegasus''===

After Starbuck returns with images of the Resurrection Ship, Adama and Cain agree to a truce. Helo and Tyrol are given a stay of execution, but not a pardon. While they are imprisoned aboard ''Pegasus'', a pair of deck hands, irate about Thorne's death, assault them. [[Jack Fisk]], the XO of ''Pegasus'', puts a stop to this by citing regulations, but rebuffs Helo's thanks. Like the deck crew, Fisk had been saved from death by Thorne, and he is not sympathetic to Valerii, whom he views as a machine.

After the destruction of the [[Resurrection Ship]] and the death of Admiral Cain, Fisk becomes the Commander of ''Pegasus''. He returns Helo and Tyrol to ''Galactica'', where the former is joyfully received by Valerii.

=== The events of [[Epiphanies|Epiphanies]] ===

When the dying President Roslin orders the hybrid baby aborted, Helo attempts to dissuade Adama from carrying out the order in private conversation in the Admiral's office, but fails. When Valerii is being brought to the medical bay for the abortion, Helo blocks the door, his hand on his pistol. He offers to take Sharon aboard a [[Raptor]] and leave the Fleet, but is rebuffed by Adama, who tells him, "You're a soldier". Helo retorts that he is a father, like Adama.
Baltar defuses the potentially violent incident by arriving with his report on the medically useful nature of the hybrid fetus. There are no apparent consequences from his actions.

=== The hybrid birth ===

Helo is present when [[Hera]], the human-Cylon hybrid, is born. He and Valerii marvel at their baby, and Helo shocks Valerii when he says that it almost makes one believe in the Cylon [[God]]. When Valerii attacks Dr. [[Cottle]], accusing him of murder after he informs her of the baby's [[Maya|"death,"]] Helo tries to restrain her but ends up with marines pointing guns at him as Valerii is returned to her cell.

=== Caprica SAR & New Caprica ===

Despite Valerii's continued belief that Cottle and the other humans killed [[Hera]], Helo is able to convince her to assist Kara Thrace's plan for the rescue of Samuel Anders and his [[Caprica Resistance]] group ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]). Helo and the others manage to survive the Cylon assault after [[Cavil]] informs them that the Cylons have left the Colonies.
With the happenstance discovery of [[New Caprica]], the relationship between Helo and [[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|Sharon Valerii]] becomes increasingly strained, due primarily to her growing depression over the loss of their child and the fact that Valerii did not inform the SAR team that Caprica-[[Cavil]] was a Humanoid Cylon.

During the year in orbit around New Caprica he and Sharon Valerii become married. Agathon is acting as a replacement to [[Felix Gaeta]] as ''Galactica'''s tactical officer ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]) . He has been promoted to Captain, and has assumed the XO slot aboard ''Galactica''.

== The Second Exodus ==

While he temporarily relinquishes his position as XO after the Battle of New Caprica with Colonel Tigh's return to ''Galactica'', Tigh's actions and attitude cause him to be relieved of duty ([[Collaborators]]). Helo finds himself once again acting as Adama's right-hand man ([[Torn]]). During this time, Helo is shown to have been promoted to Captain (although the exact date of his promotion is still unknown).

When faced with using the recently discovered Cylon virus as an agent for genocide, Helo undermines the mission, which he feels is an atrocious and evil action, by sabotaging the Cylon prisoner's prison cells so they all suffocate before they can be downloaded into a Resurrection Ship, and therefore downloading the virus. Roslin and Adama both know the probable culprit, but Adama, who felt the President was on morally shaky grounds using genocide as a military solution, decides not to take any action against Helo ([[A Measure of Salvation]]).

Helo participates in the organized shipwide fights intended to boost morale. He fights a hard match against Major [[Lee Adama]]. Helo is declared victorious in the match after Doctor Cottle removes a battered Adama from the match ([[Unfinished Business]]).

He has since returned to flight duty and pilots a Raptor during operations to replenish the fleet's food stores ([[The Passage]]). It is during their time at the [[Algae planet]] that a Cylon negotiation party aboard ''Galactica'' reveals to his wife that [[Hera]] is still alive. Though [[Athena]] initially denies the taunt, she and Helo soon find out from [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]] that it is true, much to their dismay ([[The Eye of Jupiter]]). Athena believes the only way to get her daughter back is to be resurrected inside the Cylon fleet, and begs Helo to kill her. Being unable to dissuade her, Helo grants her wish. Athena resurrects and successfully retrieves Hera, aided by [[Caprica-Six]] ([[Rapture]]). He is present during the post-incident briefing regarding the Temple of Five, implying that he may hold additional duties besides flight ops.

This is confirmed when Helo is assigned by [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]] to take charge of the hundreds of civilians which have been transfered to a [[Dogsville|refugee camp]] on ''Galactica''. One reason for this assignment is the suspicion of his involvement in the sabotage of a planned [[A Measure of Salvation|biological attack]] on the Cylons. Among the refugees are a large number of [[Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Saggitaron|Sagittarons]], many of whom display the first symptoms of [[Mellorak infection]]. [[King|Mrs. King]] comes to Helo and accuses the civilian physician Dr. [[Michael Robert|Robert]] of murder after the death of her son due to the Doctor's anti-Sagittaron bigotry. Helo begins an investigation, made difficult by several factors. Not only is Dr. Robert held in high regard by Helo's superiors, but the claims of the Sagittarons are dismissed due to a negative view of the religious fundamentalism and ancient traditions practiced by most Sagittarons. Helo's personal conflict with Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] over his marriage to [[Sharon Agathon|Sharon]] is exasperated by the Colonel's prejudices to a point where Helo hits Tigh in a crowded corridor. When Helo is warned by [[King]] in the middle of the night about a seriously ill [[Anastasia Dualla|Dualla]] (also a Sagittaron) under Robert's care, he immediately goes to Dualla's aide and finds himself in a stand-off with Dr. Robert, Dr. Cottle intervenes and reports that toxicology tests done on the deceased Sagittarons revealed no antidote but rather toxic bisphosphnate. Helo is ordered by Tigh to arrest Robert and a short time later, [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]] personally apologizes to him for not believing his initial claims about Robert and the opposition he encountered in his investigation ([[The Woman King]]). During his private meeting with Adama, Helo confesses his role in the failed biological attack on the Cylons ([[The Woman King]] bonus scene}.

Helo eventually returns to flight status and is one of the second highest ranking pilots after the deaths of [[Louanne Katraine|Kat]] and [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] (together with [[Showboat]] and [[Two Times]]). Two weeks after Starbuck's death, Helo takes over as CAG for a visibly distraught and emotionally unstable [[Lee Adama]] who is grounded by [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]] and assigned to oversee the security detail for Baltar's defense attorney, [[Romo Lampkin]] ([[The Son Also Rises]]).

After Colonel Tigh has an extreme fallback into his alcoholism at Gaius Baltar's trial, Helo temporarily replaced him as Executive Officer. He notes a feeling of apprehension, noting "something over the horizon" is coming and that it does not bode well for the Fleet ([[Crossroads, Part I]]). When ''Galactica'' jumps to the Ionian Nebula, a large Cylon force is detected closing in on them. With no means of escape the crew prepares to engage the enemy, Tigh resumes his post but Helo remains in the CIC with the command staff.

== Notes ==

=== Name ===

The Re-imagined ''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' plays heavily on Greek mythology and history; the use of names such as [[Delphi]] and those of the [[Wikipedia:Twelve Olympians|Olympian gods]] is an example. Helo's names have many possible referrents:
*[[Wikipedia:Agathon|Agathon]] was an ancient Greek tragic poet.
*''[[Wikipedia:Agathodaemon|Agathos Daemon]]'' was of one of the spirits that lie between the gods and mortals in Greek mythology. He is associated with the cultivation of grapes and grain as well as luck and abundance.
*The prefix "Agatho-" means 'good' in Greek.
*[[Wikipedia:Helios|Helios]] was the Greek god of the Sun associated most prominently with the myth of [[Wikipedia:Phaëton|Phaëton]].
*"Helo" is slang for [[Wikipedia:Helicopter|helicopter]], and the [[Raptor]] craft Helo crews is visually based on an [[Wikipedia:AH-64 Apache|Apache helicopter]]. This fits with the callsign of his former co-pilot, "[[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Boomer]]", which is slang for a ballistic missile submarine.

=== Character ===

*In an [http://scifibrain.ign.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2965&Itemid=0&limit=1&limitstart=1 interview], actor Tahmoh Penikett discussed the (unofficial) backstory he had worked out with [[Katee Sackhoff]] to explain her comment in "[[Scattered]]" that they "go way back":
:"We are old friends and we have been through a lot together. I have been asked this question before, but I think it is pretty safe to bet that we were either in the academy together or we have known each other for years. Whether there has ever been a romantic relationship, that is definitely a possibility--especially with Starbuck...It could have been a one night stand, but there is in fact a relationship. We are more like brother and sister, and have been through a lot together. Helo really understands Starbuck and she understands him. They are a lot closer than most people think."
*Helo's full name (or even his fate) wasn't revealed until "[[33]]". He was initially intended as an expendable character; originally, he was supposed to have actually died when the Raptor left him behind on Caprica. Penikett's performance convinced [[Wikipedia:The powers that be|TPTB]] otherwise. Curiously, Helo's [[Crashdown|second]] replacement on Boomer's Raptor, [[Margaret Edmondson|Racetrack]], was also intended as a one-shot character, but was retained by TPTB for similar reasons.
*While he is shown in a [[Raptor]] during the funeral of his [[Hera|daughter]] in "[[Downloaded]]", "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]" is the first time he does his job as [[ECO]] on screen since the [[Miniseries]].

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

{{start box}}
{{succession box|before=[[Saul Tigh]]|title=Executive Officer, ''[[Galactica (RDM)| Galactica]]'' |after=[[Saul Tigh]]}}
{{succession box|before=[[Lee Adama]]|title=[[Commander Air Group|Commander, Air Group]], ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''|after=Incumbent}}
{{succession box|before=[[Saul Tigh]]|title=Executive Officer, ''[[Galactica (RDM)| Galactica]]'' |after=Incumbent}}
{{end box}}

{{Characters}}

[[Category:A to Z|Agathon, Karl C.]]
[[Category:Characters|Agathon, Karl C.]]
[[Category:Characters (RDM)|Agathon, Karl C.]]
[[Category:Main Characters (RDM)|Agathon, Karl C.]]
[[Category:RDM|Agathon, Karl C.]]

[[de:Karl Agathon]]

A Day in the Life

2007-02-19T21:32:52Z

MickJo: /* Analysis */

{{Episode Data
| title= A Day in the Life
| image= 3x15-AdamaAndWife-cropped.jpg
| season= 3
| episode= 15
| guests=
| writer= [[Mark Verheiden]]
| story=
| director= [[Rod Hardy]]
| production=
| rating=
| US airdate= 2007-02-18
| UK airdate=
| dvd=
| population= 41,398
| prev= [[The Woman King]]
| next= [[Dirty Hands]]
}}

== Overview ==
:''[[William Adama|Adama]] faces the memory of his late wife and their marriage as he marks his wedding anniversary. Meanwhile Cally and Galen Tyrol are trapped in a depressurizing airlock with no way to leave it, and President Roslin is pushing ahead with Baltar's trial.

== Summary ==
===Teaser===
*[[Galen Tyrol]], looking haggard, is carrying a baby bottle to his small, but private accommodations for his wife, [[Cally Tyrol]] and their infant son, [[Nicholas Tyrol]].
*The Tyrols are beginning their day. While Cally was expecting a day off, Galen tells her of needed maintenance on an [[airlock]] that cannot wait. Cally is frustrated by Galen's insistance that she assist him instead of enlisting others from the deck crew.
*Admiral [[William Adama]] dreams of his late wife, [[Carolanne Adama]], at a home on [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]]. When his quarter's intercom awakens him, Adama's grogginess shows him rising from his bunk, and Carolanne's image appears, asleep, in the bunk as well.
*Colonel [[Saul Tigh]] enters with papers to sign for needed maintenance on the ship. The XO notices the empty bunk and is quite aware that today is Adama's wedding anniversary with his [[Anne Adama|first]] wife.
*Private [[Stewart Jaffee|Jaffee]] arrives to drop off the admiral's coffee, and Adama, deep in thought with memories of his ex-wife, is unable to remember the crewman's name.
*Chief Tyrol arrives in a crew head to talk through the work schedules with his deck crew. He tells [[Seelix]] to join the Tyrols at airlock 12, an airlock located on the port aft side of ''[[Galactica|Galactica's]]'' "alligator head".
*The Tyrols enter the airlock; equipment and pallets are strewn about, and the observation deck has been unused for over a year. A previous [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon attack]] had left this airlock unusable, and minor hull breeches here had been temporarily patched and left for a later repair.
*The Tyrols were to fix the gearing systems of the airlock's doors. As Cally tries to get Galen to discuss their marital problems, specifically Galen's desire to handle workloads as usual despite their marriage, a klaxon activates and the inner airlock doors quickly close. Seelix is confused; she didn't initiate the airlock close. She notifies the Chief of a pressure differential in the compartment; a leak has developed.
*Galen Tyrol, despite Cally's surprise, isn't fazed; he knows that the airlock closure is an automatic safety mechanism. He instructs his wife to search for the leak, knowing that the doors will open once the leak is again patched.

===Act 1===
*Adama envisions himself at his home on Caprica as Carolanne's image asks him if he is going to continue repeating events to exercise his memory.
*Carolanne's image accuses him of using his position to exalt himself and President [[Laura Roslin]].
*Roslin and Adama meet for a quick briefing. She admits that it could have been over [[wireless]] but she had to get off of [[Colonial One|her ship]]. Adama explains her mood as being "O.B.E." - overcome by events.
*Roslin suggests that [[Lee Adama]] lead the process in organizing the necessary resources for [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar's]] trial, nothing Lee's [[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II|past with just causes]] against the ''status quo'' as well as the Adama family history in [[Joseph Adama|law]]. Admiral Adama agrees to ask Lee about the matter.
*Roslin asks to stay aboard ''[[Galactica]]'' and tells Adama that she is going to the gym. Adama smiles and mentions something about the smell, to which Roslin laughs heartily.
*Pilots conduct their [[CAP]] briefing in their [[Pilot ready rooms|ready room]], chatting between themselves with some satisfaction that the Cylons haven't been seen for 49 days.
*[[Helo]] greets [[Hot Dog]], who complains about a strange rash as he scratches near his genitals. Helo smiles and, implying the questionable worthiness of a probable illicit (and inadvisable) sexual union by Hot Dog, moves a seat away from the scratching pilot. As Major [[Lee Adama]] steps up to begin his briefing, one [[Tattooed pilot|last pilot]] takes the seat next to Helo.
*Major Adama begins his pilot briefing, berating the pilots' celebration. He tells the pilots that the number "1" is all they need to remember, reminding them that it takes only 1 slip-up to begin a major disaster for the Fleet. Admiral Adama is outside of the ready room, and stands quietly and out of eyesight to anyone as he listens, with a faint level of pride appearing on his face, to his son's stern lecture.
*Carolanne's image reminds Adama to remind his son that he loves him, and not through veiled promotions and commendations.
*[[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] sticks around for a few seconds after the pilots are dismissed to tease Major Adama about mimicking his father's ultimatum command style. The younger Adama replies that if he has to copy, it should be from the best. Admiral Adama enters the room as Starbuck leaves for her duties.
*Admiral Adama asks his son to head the legal organization processes for Baltar's trial. Major Adama is flattered and will consider the idea. He tells his father that, as a child looking through his grandfather's office and the various books strewn about, he considered a profession as a lawyer amongst his many other career considerations, something that his father never knew. The major notes that his [[CAG]] duties are 24/7 as it was, even with the Cylon down time.
*The Tyrol's patching of the breech appears to work initially, but when the pressure test is done, the new patches fail. The leak worsens greatly.

===Act 2===
*Admiral Adama has been alerted about the worsening airlock emergency with the Tyrols in airlock 12 and makes his way there with Colonel Tigh and their [[marines|marine]] escort in tow. He assesses the damage personally and later consults with his command staff in [[CIC]]. There is approximately 30 minutes of air in the lock, and the temperature is dropping considerably as frost begins to form inside the airlock.
*Major Adama notes extensive damage in the airlock that has damaged the redundancies that could manually open the door, leaving no way to open it. Tigh suggests blowing the glass in the airlock's observation deck, but Major Adama warns that the reinforced glass is designed to handle a [[tylium]] explosion, and that a detonation sufficient to blow the glass would kill the Tyrols as well. Admiral Adama is angered by the lack of options and demands more thought.
*The pilots prep for an extraordinary rescue attempt; to blow the external door, where the Tyrols, exposed to vacuum, will have to leap into [[Sharon Agathon|Athena's]] [[Raptor]]. Admiral Adama tells them what is about to happen shortly after the two don emergency breathing gear. After retrieving the Tyrols, it will take seven seconds to close the Raptor's external door and another 10 seconds to re-pressurize the rescue vessel.
*Admiral Adama, back in the observation deck, briefs the Tyrols on the rescue plan; Cally is visibly upset, and the Chief asks if a docking collar will be used, to which Adama states in the negative; there is not enough time. The Tyrols try to prep the area so that the evacuation of the airlock will not pummel them or their rescue ship with flying pallets or other equipment.
*Cally Tyrol worries who will take care of their [[Nicholas Tyrol|son]] if things go wrong. The Chief suggests that [[Anastasia Dualla]] and her husband would be suitable foster parents, but Cally knows of a reputation throughout the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] of how orphaned children fare there. Fearing that pilots (with their hazardous life) would leave Nicky orphaned a second time, she asks Admiral Adama to give their son to [[Susan Deckler]], a civilian mother with one daughter.

===Act 3===
*The Raptor is in position, with Athena as pilot and Apollo and [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] inside, ready to catch the two. Apollo warns everyone of shrapnel and other turbulence that will affect the mission.
*Galen Tyrol apologizes to his wife for being selfish in asking her to join him in the repair. The order was his way of wanting to have her companionship. He instructs her to hold tight as they prepare to leave the airlock.
*Admiral Adama orders the door blown. The Tyrols are flung from the airlock, and the Raptor manages to fend off debris from the door but catches the entwined Tyrols and re-pressurizes. Apollo notes the Tyrols were in rough shape but alive.
*Later, Admiral and Major Adama talk about Carolanne, who haunts the elder Adama's memory, accusing him of never being there, able to lead men but not his own family.
*Lee Adama tells his father that, after their divorce, Carolanne made many promises that she didn't keep, particularly once she took to drinking. Over time, she wouldn't apologize for her neglect in fulfilling the promises. The young Adama believes that, despite his love of his mother, he did not believe that she truly loved his father.

===Act 4===
*Seelix arrives in [[sickbay]] with baby Tyrol in her arms after retrieving him from day care. Galen Tyrol is in a bunk, resting, but exerts himself to stand and hold his son. He tells Seelix that Cally will be fine, although Dr. [[Cottle]] notes it will be some time before she is up to full strength. He slowly walks to Cally, who is recuperating inside a hyperbaric chamber to treat the effects of vacuum exposure.
*Cally Tyrol awakens to glimpse at her family. Her eyes show distress from the vacuum and she is too weak to smile, but holds her hand to the interior window. Galen presses his son's hand to the glass; Admiral Adama is nearby and has watched the entire event.
*Major Adama returns to his quarters to find his wife resting. She points to a box that his father had shipped to his quarters; the young Adama facetiously asks if the box is ticking. On inspecting it, he finds a library of Caprican criminal law books, the same ones he looked at from his grandfather's collection. The admiral leaves a note for his son.
*Admiral Adama completes yet another meeting with Laura Roslin. Adama steers the conversation back to New Caprica, specifically, their time together during then-President Baltar's [[Unfinished Business|groundbreaking ceremony and party]]. Roslin admits to [[New Caprican loco weed|feeling a little silly]] that evening.
*Adama fondly recalls her red dress and the good feelings each had that day. When Roslin laughs, Adama tells her how happy it is to see her do so. He asks her, if the Cylons hadn't attacked, if she would have built that cabin in the woods that she wanted.
*Roslin temporarily evades the question by answering that Baltar's inept leadership and New Caprica's terrain would have prevented such a building, but is pleased by Adama's attention. She asks if he would have stayed on ''Galactica'' or eventually settled himself, to which Adama evades an answer by stating that their questions were all hypothetical in any case.
*Adama, with a smile, states that the two of them have specific duties, apparently attempting to return a professional distance to what was becoming a very intimate conversation. Roslin replies, with another smile, to the affirmative.
*As she begins to leave, she tells Adama that, in a few days, she'll return to the battlestar, where they can return to their conversation and reminisce of their brief time on New Caprica and its possibilities. As she steps away, she tells Adama that she would have definitely built her cabin if time and circumstance would have allowed.
*Adama returns to his quarters, holding his wedding picture. He returns it to its storage until next year.

===Bonus Scene===
*The complete bonus scene (which was available on the [http://www.scifi.com Sci Fi Channel web site for U.S. viewers after the episode]) takes place just before Colonel Tigh visits Admiral Adama's quarters at the start of the episode.
*Lieutenants [[Felix Gaeta]] and Anastasia Dualla walk towards Adama's quarters for signatures of maintenance orders as part of their daily briefing. As he makes some notes on the orders, Gaeta volunteers the observation that President Roslin and Adama have had many meetings together recently.
*When Dualla asks what he's implying, Gaeta suggests that there might be something more intimate going on between the senior Fleet leadership. Dualla grimaces strongly at the possibility, replying that the idea of Roslin and Adama together in her head was not at all a desirable one to imagine.
*When the two think deeply and briefly of the two commanders together, both begin to laugh, and continue to do so when Colonel Tigh intercepts them and asks what was so funny.
*The two formally note their briefing, but Tigh takes the folder to deliver himself and dismisses the two back to CIC. Dualla and Gaeta's composure fails as they turn to CIC and begin laughing uncontrollably as Tigh heads to his friend's quarters, which connects to the original scene of his arrival.

== Questions ==
*Since it is not connected to the larger port [[flight pod]] and its [[hangar deck]], what would airlock 12 normally be used for?

== Analysis ==

* The argument referenced in "[[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]" between the Tyrols focuses on how Chief [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] acts as is nothing has changed since marrying [[Cally Tyrol|Cally]], particularly as he ignores his family's needs over the needs of his job. Cally, on the other hand, is concerned about [[Nicholas Tyrol|Nicky]], and has apparently gone to great lengths to think about his future, notably when Cally asks Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] to give Nicky to a civilian family whom she knows.
* There was much patchwork done to ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' after the [[Battle of New Caprica]]. Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] notes that ''Galactica'' would need six weeks in dry dock "just for the dents", making it sound likely that ''Galactica'' would not survive another battle like New Caprica.
*The cinematic flashbacks or imaginary melding of Adama's memories of Carolanne, including recollections or imaginings of sitting with her and touching her, and what he believed she would say in the various situations of the day were curiously similar to how [[Gaius Baltar]] imagines his [[Cylon-Related Hallucinations|virtual Number Six]]. However, Adama's likelihood of being a [[Humanoid Cylon speculation|Cylon]] are practically refuted by the existence of his memories (as well as two characters, Lee Adama and Saul Tigh, who also share in the same memories).

== Notes ==
* "A Day in the Life" is also [[w:A Day in the Life|the title of a song]] by [[w:The Beatles|The Beatles]]. It is not known whether this has any particular meaning to the episode.

* There are two births that occurred between "[[The Woman King]]" and "A Day in the Life", as the population count after "The Woman King" was 41,396.

* A day care center exists on ''Galactica''.

* This is the first episode that [[Number Six]] ([[Tricia Helfer]]) and [[Gaius Baltar]] ([[James Callis]]) do not appear in any scene.

* The set used for the airlock - in particular the observation booth - is the same as for the [[Launch tube (RDM)|launch tubes]].

* In reality it is possible to survive in a vacuum for 10 to 20 seconds. The biggest danger is damage to the lungs, as the sudden pressure differential can burst the avioli. That is why a person should exhale and not hold his breath.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

== Official Statements ==

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Lucinda Jenney]] as [[Carolanne Adama]]
* [[Alessandro Juliani]] as Lt. [[Felix Gaeta]]
* [[Sebastian Spence]] as Lt. [[Noel Allison|Noel "Narcho" Allison]]
* [[Kandyse McClure]] as Lt. [[Anastasia Dualla]]
* [[Michael Hogan]] as Colonel [[Saul Tigh]]
* [[Aaron Douglas]] as Chief [[Galen Tyrol]]
* [[Nicki Clyne]] as Specialist [[Cally Tyrol]]
* [[Jen Halley]] as Specialist [[Seelix]]
* [[Bodie Olmos]] as Lt. [[Brendan Constanza|Brendan "Hotdog" Constanza]]
* [[Tahmoh Penikett]] as Lt. [[Karl Agathon|Karl "Helo" Agathon]]
* [[Leo Li Chiang]] as [[Tattooed pilot]]
* [[Don Thompson]] as [[Anthony Figurski]]
* Unknown as [[Nicholas Tyrol]]

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

{{Episode list (RDM season 3)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Mark Verheiden]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Rod Hardy]]
[[Category:RDM]]

A Day in the Life

2007-02-12T22:35:19Z

MickJo: /* Notes */

{{spoiler}}

{{Episode Data
| title= A Day in the Life
| image= 3x15-AdamaAndWife-cropped.jpg
| season= 3
| episode= 15
| guests=
| writer= [[Mark Verheiden]]
| story=
| director= [[Rod Hardy]]
| production=
| rating=
| US airdate= 2007-??-??
| UK airdate=
| dvd=
| population= ?
| prev= [[The Woman King]]
| next= [[Dirty Hands]]
}}

== Overview ==
:''[[William Adama|Adama]] faces the memory of his late wife and their marriage as he marks his wedding anniversary.
== Summary ==

== Questions ==

== Analysis ==

== Notes ==
* "A Day in the Life" is also [[w:A_Day_in_the_Life|the title of a song by The Beatles]]. It is not known whether this has any particular meaning to the episode.

* Lucinda Jenney has been cast as Admiral Adama's late wife in a flashback-heavy episode airing later this season. The episode sheds light on their marriage and delves into how Bill struggled to balance family with his military career.<ref>http://www.tvguide.com/News-Views/Columnists/Ask-Ausiello/default.aspx</ref>

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

== Official Statements ==
[[Bradley Thompson]] [[Battlestar Wiki:Official Communiques|confirmed]] that "A Day in the Life" is the working title for this episode, but that working titles can change right up to the moment the show debuts.

== Guest Stars ==

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

{{Episode list (RDM season 3)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Mark Verheiden]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Rod Hardy]]
[[Category:RDM]]

Karl Agathon

2007-01-13T22:17:08Z

MickJo: /* The Second Exodus */

{{Character Data
|photo= Season 3 Helo.jpg
|age=
|colony=
|birthname= Karl C. Agathon
|callsign= Helo
|servicen= PK-789934
|seen= Miniseries
|death=
|parents=
|siblings=
|children= [[Hera]] (Human-Cylon hybrid)
|marital status= Married to [[Sharon Agathon]]
|role= ([[Battlestar]] ''[[Galactica]]'') [[Raptor]] Pilot / [[ECO]], formerly: Executive Officer
|rank= Captain
|actor= [[Tahmoh Penikett]]
|cylon=
}}

Captain '''Karl C. Agathon''' was the [[ECO]] aboard [[Raptor 478]], piloted by Lieutenant JG [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]]. He is young, loyal, capable, resourceful, and attracted to Valerii. Those aboard ''Galactica'' seem to find his real name cumbersome or unwieldy. He's almost always addressed by his callsign, "Helo."

== Biography ==

At the time of the [[Cylon Attack]], Lieutenant Karl Agathon, serial number PK-789934, is on patrol in Valerii's Raptor flying with [[battlestar]] ''Galactica's'' last fully-operational [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] squadron, and witnesses the destruction of the squadron by [[Cylon]] [[Raider]]s, after the Raiders exploit the [[Command Navigation Program]] to disable the Vipers.

Following the attack, Agathon and Valerii attempt to return to ''Galactica'', avoiding Cylon patrols, but are unsuccessful: their Raptor is damaged in a Cylon missile strike, and Helo receives a wound in his leg from shrapnel that pierces their ship. As a result of the damage received, the Raptor is forced down on Caprica, where Valerii makes emergency repairs. Moments after Valerii's repairs, their ship is mobbed by civilians desperate to get off the planet.

With limited space for survivors aboard the Raptor, Agathon volunteers his seat to Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] and remains on [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]] in the hope that Baltar will be of benefit to the Colonials in their renewed fight against the Cylons. Both Helo and Boomer feel that there is no chance that he will survive the Cylon nuclear attack on Caprica, but he selflessly chooses to stay behind anyway, giving up his own life so Baltar can get to ''[[Galactica]]''.

=== Marooned ===

After Boomer's departure, Helo apparently separates from the surviving refugees (who soon succumb to radiation poisoning<ref>The fate of these refugees is noted briefly by [[Laura Roslin]] ([[Mary McDonnell]]'s character acting as narrator) in the special program, "[[Battlestar Galactica: The Story So Far]]."</ref>) and flees from Cylon ground forces. After six days on Caprica, surviving on [[anti-radiation medication]] from his survival pack, he is captured after noticing a version of the Cylon known (secretly only to Gaius Baltar) as [[Number Six]].

Helo is "rescued" by [[Sharon Agathon|a copy of Sharon Valerii]], unaware that this is not the same one who abandoned him on Caprica. She guides him across Caprica as part of an elaborate (if potentially hastily conceived) plan / experiment designed to make this second Valerii the object of Agathon's affections. Several situations are engineered to make this happen:
[[Image:Valley_of_Darkness-Starbuck_Helo.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Helo and [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] in her apartment in [[Delphi]], [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]] in [[Valley of Darkness]].]]
*A "[[wikipedia:Honeypot (espionage)|honey trap]]" offering reasonably secure accommodations (a "fall-out shelter") together with sufficient supplies for two people beneath a restaurant ([[Act of Contrition]])
*Engineering Valerii's capture to test Helo's loyalty towards her ([[You Can't Go Home Again]] / [[Litmus]])
*Establishing a further (long-term) "honey trap" for Helo and Valerii in the wilderness of Caprica.

Agathon eventually admits that he has feelings for Valerii and that he would have gladly traded places with Chief Tyrol, who he knew was having an illict relationship with her. Following this, the two have sex in a forest on Caprica. Afterwards, Valerii is instructed by the Five and Six overseeing the experiment to lead her lover to a nearby cabin, and to kill him if he refuses to settle there. However, the Cylon plan goes awry because Valerii has apparently fallen in love with Agathon. She forces them both on the run once more, this time genuinely seeking to escape from Caprica via the military base at [[Delphi]], which is now under Cylon control.

During their attempts to reach Delphi, Agathon witnesses a troop of Cylon [[Centurion]]s being led by Number Six - the woman he thought had been killed when Valerii rescued him. This draws him to the conclusion that the Cylons are using human clones they have created ([[Colonial Day]]). Once at Delphi, Agathon receives another shock: not only are further versions of Six on-hand - he comes face-to-face with another Valerii copy, revealing the full truth about the woman known as "Boomer" to him. Believing he was lured into a trap, Agathon goes on the run, leaving Valerii at the base.

The Valerii copy that Helo has paired with later catches up with him, and while he shoots her in the arm, he does not kill her as she might be of use to him in escaping the planet. Caprica-Valerii then informs Helo that she is pregnant with his child, and that they should go to the [[Delphi Museum of the Colonies|Delphi Museum]]. There, Agathon is reunited with [[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]] (who just arrived from ''[[Galactica]]'' using a stolen [[Cylon Raider]]) immediately after she kills a copy of Number Six and retrieves the [[Arrow of Apollo]]. Thrace, realizing immediately that Valerii is a Cylon (knowing much earlier than Helo that Cylons can mimic human form) tries to kill Valerii, but Agathon stops her because she is pregnant ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]], [[Scattered]]).

Valerii runs away out of fear of Thrace, taking her Cylon Raider. Fearing that [[Number Six]] will finish transferring her consciousness to a new body and warn the Cylons about the humans' presence in Delphi, Agathon and Thrace make their way to Thrace's old apartment ([[Scattered]], [[Valley of Darkness]]). Later, Thrace and Agathon join up with the [[Caprica Resistance|human resistance]] on Caprica ([[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]]).

=== The Resistance and escape from Caprica ===

Agathon, [[Samuel Anders|Anders]] and others later rescue Thrace from the Cylons' "hospital". Valerii returns to aid Helo in locating the missing Thrace, and later saves the day by gunning down several Centurions in a stolen [[Heavy Raider]]. Helo, Thrace, and Valerii leave Caprica en route to [[The Fleet (RDM)| the Fleet]] ([[The Farm]]). The group lands on the ''[[Astral Queen]]'', which has broken off from the rest of the Fleet ([[Home, Part I]]). When [[Lee Adama]] grabs the new copy of Valerii and threatens to shoot her, Helo raises his gun to Lee's head in response. They are calmed by Roslin, who then orders Valerii thrown out of an airlock. Valerii convinces Roslin of her usefulness before this happens, and later accompanies Helo and others to Kobol to find the Tomb of Athena ([[Home, Part I]]). On the way to the Tomb of Athena, [[Lee Adama|Apollo]] remarks to Starbuck that he is disturbed that Helo and this Valerii copy love each other, and Helo admits to Valerii that he now loves and trusts her. When they finally reach the tomb, Commander Adama orders Helo to stay outside with Valerii and Tom Zarek while Chief Tyrol guards all of them. With the successful gathering of information on the whereabouts of Earth, Helo and the group return to ''Galactica'' and the reunified Fleet.

=== Home on ''Galactica'' ===

Helo's welcome-home to ''Galactica'', months after being declared MIA on Caprica ([[Home, Part II]]), isn't a generally warm one. Many in the crew find his romance with the Caprica Valerii disquieting or disgusting. A few crew warm up to Helo after his suggestion of using carbon composites on the new fighter, the [[Blackbird]], turns [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]]'s pet project into a significant stealth technology ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]).

Chief Tyrol is still nursing the loss of Boomer (the ''Galactica'' copy of Valerii that left Helo on Caprica and later shoots Commander Adama), and now must deal with the return of another Valerii, her "memories" of him, and the fact that Helo is romantically involved with her. The friction between Helo and Tyrol becomes too much and a fight ensues before both realize that fighting will gain them little. The two tacitly appear to accept the awkward situation for what it is.

Helo and Tyrol learn of the gang-rape of the captured [[Gina|Cylon]] on battlestar ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', and are shocked to learn that the "Cylon interrogator", Lieutenant [[Alistair Thorne]], would be "interrogating" the incarcerated Valerii that day. Prior to this discovery, Helo is prepared to fight the drunken ''Pegasus'' crewmembers over their disrespect, but Tyrol realizes what is coming for Valerii and convinces him to head to the brig to her aid. While apparently successful in stopping the assault, the two are arrested and taken to ''Pegasus'' when Thorne is accidentally killed. Admiral [[Helena Cain]] conducts summary courts-martial on the two ''Galactica'' crewmembers, finding them guilty and sentencing them to execution. When Commander Adama hears of this abrupt treatment, he launches a Raptor with [[Colonial Marine Corps|Marine]] units as well as his Viper squadrons to get Helo and Tyrol back. A standoff ensues, with not only Helo's and Tyrol's lives in the balance, but thousands of others in the Fleet ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]).

===Aboard ''Pegasus''===

After Starbuck returns with images of the Resurrection Ship, Adama and Cain agree to a truce. Helo and Tyrol are given a stay of execution, but not a pardon. While they are imprisoned aboard ''Pegasus'', a pair of deck hands, irate about Thorne's death, assault them. [[Jack Fisk]], the XO of ''Pegasus'', puts a stop to this by citing regulations, but rebuffs Helo's thanks. Like the deck crew, Fisk had been saved from death by Thorne, and he is not sympathetic to Valerii, whom he views as a machine.

After the destruction of the [[Resurrection Ship]] and the death of Admiral Cain, Fisk becomes the Commander of ''Pegasus''. He returns Helo and Tyrol to ''Galactica'', where the former is joyfully received by Valerii.

=== The events of [[Epiphanies|Epiphanies]] ===

When the dying President Roslin ordersthe hybrid baby aborted, Helo attempts to dissuade Adama from carrying out the order in private conversation in the Admiral's office, but fails. When Valerii is being brought to the medical bay for the abortion, Helo blocks the door, his hand on his pistol. He offers to take Sharon aboard a [[Raptor]] and leave the Fleet, but is rebuffed by Adama, who tells him, "You're a soldier". Helo retorts that he is a father, like Adama.
Baltar defuses the potentially violent incident by arriving with his report on the medically useful nature of the hybrid fetus. There are no apparent consequences from his actions.

=== The hybrid birth ===

Helo is present when [[Hera]], the human-Cylon hybrid, is born. He and Valerii marvel at their baby, and Helo shocks Valerii when he says that it almost makes one believe in the Cylon [[God]]. When Valerii attacks Dr. [[Cottle]], accusing him of murder after he informs her of the baby's [[Maya|"death,"]] Helo tries to restrain her but ends up with marines pointing guns at him as Valerii is returned to her cell.

=== Caprica SAR & New Caprica ===

Despite Valerii's continued belief that Cottle and the other humans killed [[Hera]], Helo is able to convince her to assist Kara Thrace's plan for the rescue of Samuel Anders and his [[Caprica Resistance]] group ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]). Helo and the others manage to survive the Cylon assault after [[Cavil]] informs them that the Cylons have left the Colonies.
With the happenstance discovery of [[New Caprica]], the relationship between Helo and [[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|Sharon Valerii]] becomes increasingly strained, due primarily to her growing depression over the loss of their child and the fact that Valerii did not inform the SAR team that Caprica-[[Cavil]] was a Cylon agent.

During the year in orbit around New Caprica he and Sharon Valerii become married. Agathon is acting as a replacement to [[Felix Gaeta]] as ''Galactica'''s tactical officer ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]) and has been promoted to the position as ''Galactica's'' XO.

== The Second Exodus ==

While he temporarily relinquishes the XO slot after the Battle of New Caprica and Tigh's return to ''Galactica'', Tigh's actions and attitude cause him to be relieved of duty ([[Collaborators]]). Helo finds himself once again acting as Adama's right-hand man ([[Torn]]). During this time, Helo is shown to have been promoted to Captain (although the exact date of his promotion is still unknown) ([[A Measure of Salvation]]).

When faced with using the recently discovered Cylon virus as an agent for genocide (A Measure of Salvation), Helo undermines the mission, which he feels is an atrocious and evil action, by sabotaging the Cylon prisoner's prison cells so they all suffocate before they can be downloaded into a Resurrection Ship, and therefore downloading the virus. Roslin and Adama both know the probable culprit, but Adama, who felt the President was on morally shaky grounds using genocide as a military solution, decides not to take any action against Helo.

Helo participates in the organized shipwide fights intended to boost morale. He fights a hard match against Major [[Lee Adama]]. ([[Unfinished Business]])

He has since returned to flight duty and pilots a Raptor during operations to replenish the fleet's food stores. ([[The Passage]]) It is during their time at the [[Algae planet]] that a party of Cylons onboard ''Galactica'' to make demands regarding [[the Temple of Five]] reveal to his wife that [[Hera]] is still alive. Though Sharon Agathon initially denies the taunt, to her shock, Agathon and Helo soon find out from [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]] that it is true, much to their dismay. ([[The Eye of Jupiter]])

== Notes ==

=== Name ===

The Re-imagined ''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' plays heavily on Greek mythology and history; the use of names such as [[Delphi]] and those of the [[Wikipedia:Twelve Olympians|Olympian gods]] is an example. Helo's names have many possible referrents:
*[[Wikipedia:Agathon|Agathon]] was an ancient Greek tragic poet.
*''[[Wikipedia:Agathodaemon|Agathos Daemon]]'' was of one of the spirits that lie between the gods and mortals in Greek mythology. He is associated with the cultivation of grapes and grain as well as luck and abundance.
*The prefix "Agatho-" means 'good' in Greek.
*[[Wikipedia:Helios|Helios]] was the Greek god of the Sun associated most prominently with the myth of [[Wikipedia:Phaëton|Phaëton]].
*"Helo" is slang for [[Wikipedia:Helicopter|helicopter]], and the [[Raptor]] craft Helo crews is visually based on an [[Wikipedia:AH-64 Apache|Apache helicopter]]. This fits with the callsign of his former co-pilot, "[[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Boomer]]", which is slang for a ballistic missile submarine.

=== Character ===

*In an [http://scifibrain.ign.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2965&Itemid=0&limit=1&limitstart=1 interview], actor Tahmoh Penikett discussed the (unofficial) backstory he had worked out with [[Katee Sackhoff]] to explain her comment in "[[Scattered]]" that they "go way back":
:"We are old friends and we have been through a lot together. I have been asked this question before, but I think it is pretty safe to bet that we were either in the academy together or we have known each other for years. Whether there has ever been a romantic relationship, that is definitely a possibility--especially with Starbuck...It could have been a one night stand, but there is in fact a relationship. We are more like brother and sister, and have been through a lot together. Helo really understands Starbuck and she understands him. They are a lot closer than most people think."
*Helo's full name (or even his fate) wasn't revealed until "[[33]]". He was initially intended as an expendable character; originally, he was supposed to have actually died when the Raptor left him behind on Caprica. Penikett's performance convinced [[Wikipedia:The powers that be|TPTB]] otherwise. Curiously, Helo's [[Crashdown|second]] replacement on Boomer's Raptor, [[Margaret Edmondson|Racetrack]], was also intended as a one-shot character, but was retained by TPTB for similar reasons.
*While he is shown in a [[Raptor]] during the funeral of his [[Hera|daughter]] in [[Downloaded]], "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]" it is the first time he has done his job as [[ECO]] on screen since the [[Miniseries]].

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

{{start box}}
{{succession box|before=[[Saul Tigh]]|title=Executive Officer of the [[battlestar]] ''[[Galactica (RDM)| Galactica]]'' |after=[[Saul Tigh]]}}
{{end box}}

{{Characters}}

[[Category:A to Z|Agathon, Karl]]
[[Category:Characters|Agathon, Karl]]
[[Category:Characters (RDM)|Agathon, Karl]]
[[Category:RDM|Agathon, Karl]]

Galactica (TRS)

2007-01-13T20:04:31Z

MickJo: /* Battle of New Caprica */

:''For the Original Series ''Galactica'', see [[Galactica (TOS)]]. For the Video Game ''Galactica'', see [[Galactica (Video Game)]].''

:''For more general information about this type of ship, see [[Galactica type battlestar]].''
{{Ship Data
| image= Bsg-bsg-1.jpg
| title= Galactica (BS 75)
| race= Colonial
| type= Military
| ftl= Yes
| crew= Approximately 2,650
| co= [[William Adama]]
| xo= [[Saul Tigh]] (resumed position as of [[The Passage]])
| role= Carrier / battleship hybrid
| weapons= Primary and point-defence [[KEW|Kinetic Energy Weapons]], conventional missiles, nuclear warheads, Vipers, Raptors
| status= Active
| img= Y
}}
[[Galactica type battlestar|The veteran battlestar]] '''''Galactica'' (BS 75)''' is the most famous warship in the [[Colonial Fleet]]. Built in time to participate in the [[Cylon War]], she remained the only military vessel without integrated [[Computers|computer networks]]. Without networked computers, ''Galactica'' never upgraded to the new [[Command Navigation Program|integrated defence system software]] developed by Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] and his [[Number Six|team]]. Because of this and other fortunes, she became one of only [[Pegasus (RDM)|two]] battlestars to survive the renewed [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|Cylon attack]] on the [[Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]], some 40 years after the end of the first war. At the time of the attack, she was part of the [[75th Battlestar Group]] (BSG-75).

== History ==

''Galactica'' was one of the twelve first battlestars to be laid down by the Colonials. Initially they built a battlestar to represent each colony, where ''Galactica'' represented [[Caprica]]. As such, she is some 50 years old. Following the outbreak of Cylon hostilities several more battlestars were built. ''Galactica's'' first commander was named [[Nash]] ([[Miniseries]]).
[[Image:Mini gal top.jpg|left|thumb|A dorsal view of ''Galactica''. The starboard [[flight pod]] is covered by a window to form the [[Galactica Museum|museum area]].]]
The original battlestars were all designed with non-integrated computer systems to avoid the Cylons' demonstrated ability to override or subvert networked command and control systems early in the war ([[Miniseries]]). Rather than technological sophistication, the battlestar depended on its sheer bulk and defensive / offensive capabilities to ward off any threats to itself or the Colonies.

Following the [[Armistice Station|armistice]] with the Cylons, and their withdrawal from Colonial space, ''Galactica'' and her sister ships served the Twelve Colonies in a variety of roles. While her surviving sister ships were scrapped or upgraded to match the systems capabilities of newer Colonial vessels, ''Galactica'' continued in service without her systems being fully networked or integrated, making her unique among Colonial military vessels ([[Miniseries]]). Galactica was relegated to intrasystem duties for at least 20 years prior to her decommissioning.

With her active career drawing to a close, a decision was taken to retire ''Galactica'' and decommission her from service. [[Colonial Fleet]] chose not to scrap her, but to turn her into a combination of living museum to the original Cylon War and an educational center, with her conversion being overseen by her final commander, [[William Adama]] ([[Miniseries]]).

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

With the renewed and unexpected Cylon hostilities, ''Galactica'' quickly proves her worthiness as a warship is far from over as she sorties several Mark IIs retrieved from her museum to challenge her first Cylon attack in over 40 years (her last Mark VII squadron was sent to Caprica for reassignment). The old battlestar withstands a direct hit from a tactical nuclear missile while unsuccessfully performing evasive maneuvers, but later [[FTL|Jumps]] successfully to [[Ragnar Anchorage]] to retrieve much-needed ammunition stores at this hidden depot.

''Galactica'' finally bares her teeth in this new Cylon war as she single-handedly engages two [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]] with her gun batteries, providing covering fire for [[The Fleet (RDM)|an assortment of 75 civilian ships]] containing the last survivors of the Twelve Colonies. All ships, with ''Galactica'' last to leave the engagement zone, escape to a destination past the [[Red Line]], never to return to Colonial space.

Since the exodus of the Colonials from their overrun homeworlds, ''Galactica'' becomes both protector and provider for the Fleet. She provides covering fire for the Fleet during Cylon attacks no fewer than 240 times ([[33]], [[Act of Contrition]]). The battlestar provides much of the Fleet with recycled water ([[Water]]) and she is the primary source of medical care, where groups of civilians are periodically brought aboard for check-ups and treatment ([[Litmus]]). ''Galactica'' also undertakes internal policing duties within the Fleet ([[Water]], [[Bastille Day]]).

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

The [[Mercury class battlestar|advanced battlestar]] ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', commanded by Admiral [[Helena Cain]], joins ''Galactica'' approximately 6 months into their exile (See the series [[Timeline (RDM)|timeline]] for special information about this milestone).

''Pegasus'' and ''Galactica'' destroy two [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]] as well as a critical Cylon support ship known as the [[Resurrection Ship]]. After Admiral Cain's death, President [[Laura Roslin]] promotes William Adama to Admiral, restoring him to overall Fleet command, but now with two battlestars at his disposal ([[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]).

==New Caprica==
Following the founding of [[New Caprica]], ''Galactica'' is assigned to the Orbital Defense Force that protects the planet. During this time the majority of its crew are sent to the surface in an effort to populate the planet and restore the human race — including most of its senior officers — seemingly convinced that the Cylons would never find New Caprica. The diminished staff inevitably results in basic maintenance becoming overlooked or ignored. Basic military responses, such as the launching of alert fighers and routine training exercises become difficult to execute. One year following the founding of New Caprica, a fleet of Cylon ships jump into orbit of the planet. Severely limited in its abilities, Admiral Adama and the Defense Fleet jumps away from New Caprica — vowing that they'd return to liberate the planet ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]).

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

Coordinating with the New Caprica Resistance, ''Galactica'' deploys several waves of Vipers and Raptors to launch an offensive against the Cylons. As the resistance bombs Cylon facilities on the ground, Raptors deploy decoy drones to make it appear as if both ''Galactica'' and ''Pegasus'' jumped into orbit. The Cylons reposition their forces to engage the decoys, while ''Galactica'' jumps into the atmosphere of the planet. ''Galactica'' deploys several squadrons as she falls to the surface, but takes severe damage from the atmospheric entry. Once back in orbit of the planet, the damage is ascertained as the Cylons close in. Close to death, ''Galactica'' survives thanks to the intervention of ''Pegasus''. Her [[FTL|FTL drives]] once again functioning, ''Galactica'' is able to escape from the system and reunites with the fleet, now the sole military vessel again after the destruction of ''Pegasus'' during the battle ([[Exodus, Part II]]).

''Galactica'' from this point forward bears the scars of this battle, significant scorching to the hull and the armour is visible. It has not been directly acknowledged whether this has affected ''Galactica'''s combat abilities or her [[FTL]]. However ''Galactica'' is still able to make combat jumps and hold off a superior Cylon force for a short duration in the [[Battle_of_NCD2539|Battle of NCD2539]] ([[A Measure of Salvation]]).

== Equipment ==
[[Image:BSG-KEW-Turret.jpg|thumb|One of ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> large [[KEW|cannon]] turrets]]
''Galactica'' shares the same overall technical specifications as other original Colonial battlestars of [[Galactica type battlestar|her class]], with the following key differences and qualifications:

===Available Flight Pods===
As part of its decommissioning, ''Galactica's'' port [[flight pod]] was the only one in service. The starboard flight pod was enclosed and pressurized as the [[Galactica Museum|main museum display]] for her pending decommission. It is violently depressurized after a [[Heavy Raider]] crashes into it ([[Scattered]]).

By the time of the exodus from [[New Caprica]], the starboard hangar deck is being used as a temporary [[Camp Oil Slick|housing facility]] for refugees ([[Exodus, Part II]]). The starboard flight pod is apparently brought back to working flight recovery, as Major Lee Adama directs his Raptor boarding team to approach and land in the starboard pod ([[A Measure of Salvation]]).

===Nuclear Warheads===
''Galactica'' had five nuclear warheads as of "[[Bastille Day]]." Commander [[William Adama]] uses one warhead to destroy a Cylon [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]). Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] cannibalizes one to use in his [[Cylon Detector]], which he later gives to [[Gina]], who detonates it aboard ''[[Cloud Nine]]''. This leaves ''Galactica'' with three warheads (It is unknown how many nuclear warheads ''Pegasus'' still had when it encountered ''Galactica'', and they may have pooled their nuclear ordnance stockpiles since then). As of "[[The Eye of Jupiter]]", Galactica has at least seven warheads ([[Missile tubes|launch tubes]] 4 through 10) attached to missiles that can be used for ground assault.

:''The yield of these weapons is unknown. It is likely they are of a "dial a yield" design which is common in real-life nuclear weapons. Because the "physics" of nuclear weapon design is a measureable science, and based on the size of the weapon seen in ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]), it is likely the yield of Galactica's weapons are between 5 and 150kt. This is extrapolated from the size of the weapon, compared to a modern day ([[w:W80|W80]])-class nuclear warhead used by the United States.''

===Vipers===
Prior to the arrival of ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', ''Galactica'' has at maximum thirty-four Vipers, of which at least six are Mark VIIs (c.f. [[Viper tally]]).

''Galactica'' receives additional supplies from ''Pegasus'' since her arrival that helps in repair and refurbishment of her original fighter complement; more recently, she receives new Mark VII Vipers built aboard ''Pegasus'' using raw materials mined from an asteroid and the advanced battlestar's Viper construction facilities ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus,]] [[Scar]]).

===Raptors===
The number of [[Raptor|Raptors]] available to ''Galactica'' is portrayed inconsistently. The current assumption is that the battlestar has at least five Raptors, having left [[Ragnar Anchorage]] with at least eight (c.f. [[Raptor tally]]).

===Other Craft===
*''Galactica'' currently posesses two [[Heavy Raider|Heavy Raiders]]. One is hit by ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> defensive fire and crashes into the starboard flight pod with unknown damage ([[Scattered]]). The other returns in operational status from Caprica ([[Home, Part I]]). One of ''Galactica'''s [[Heavy Raider]]s is relieved of its FTL navigation system for use on the rescue mission to [[Caprica]] ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]).
*A second [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raider]] is in ''Galactica's'' possession after [[Daniel Novacek]]'s "escape" from a basestar ([[Hero]]), replacing the one retrieved by [[Kara Thrace]] and lost during the quest for the [[Arrow of Apollo]] ([[Scattered]]).
*An experimental stealth fighter, the [[Blackbird]], is constructed using spare parts ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]) and used in a critically successful reconnaissance mission to explore the nature of what comes to be known as the [[Resurrection Ship]]. The Blackbird is later destroyed after completing her last mission during the [[Battle of the Resurrection Ship]] ([[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]).
*''Galactica'' possesses fuel tankers used to supply fuel to Vipers and Raptors inflight without the need to dock with the ship. These may be dedicated craft or specially fitted shuttles or Raptors ([[Occupation]]).

== Crew ==
Before the attack, ''Galactica'' has approximately 2,800 crewmen, while awaiting its decommissioning. By the time of the arrival of ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', attrition has reduced this number to about 2,660. (c.f. [[Crew tally]])
*Between "[[Act of Contrition]]" and "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]" ''Galactica's'' offensive capability is also greatly hampered by the number of [[List of Pilots|qualified pilots]] available, and their lack of flight simulators with which to train more. Since ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> reunion with ''Pegasus'', this has ceased to be an issue ([[Scar]]).

[[Image:Mini gal side viper.jpg|right|thumb|A stricken and slowly spinning ''Galactica'' after a nuclear missile strike. [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck's]] [[Viper Mark II|Viper]] closes in to survey.]]

====Senior Staff ====

===== CIC =====

*Admiral [[William Adama]] - Commanding Officer
*Colonel [[Saul Tigh]] - [[Executive Officer]]
*Captain [[Karl Agathon]]
*Lieutenant [[Felix Gaeta]] - [[Tactical officer]], Senior Officer of the Watch
*Lieutenant [[Hoshi]] - [[Communications Officer]]
*Lieutenant [[Anastasia Dualla]]

===== Air Group =====

*Major [[Lee Adama]] - CAG ([[CAG|Commander, Air Group]])
*Captain [[Kara Thrace]]
*Lieutenant [[Margaret Edmondson]]
*Lieutenant [[Sharon Agathon]]

===== Support =====

*Major [[Cottle]] - [[Chief Medical Officer]]
*Captain Aaron Kelly - [[Landing Signal Officer]], Second Officer
*Chief Petty Officer [[Galen Tyrol]] - Chief of the Deck
*Gunnery Sergeant [[Erin Mathias]] - Senior [[Marine]] NCO

==Related Imagery==
<gallery>
Image:Galactica Ortho copy.jpg|''Galactica'' - Rendering by [[Zoic]]    
Image:BSG Ortho Bottom.jpg|''Galactica'' - Rendering by [[Zoic]]    
Image:Pointdefence2 101 1080i.jpg|''Galactica's'' point defence batteries in action    
</gallery>

{{Ships}}

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

[[es:Galactica (RDM)]]
[[de:Galactica (RDM)]]

{{featured article}}

Galactica (TRS)

2007-01-11T23:24:35Z

MickJo: /* Battle of New Caprica */

:''For the Original Series ''Galactica'', see [[Galactica (TOS)]]. For the Video Game ''Galactica'', see [[Galactica (Video Game)]].''

:''For more general information about this type of ship, see [[Galactica type battlestar]].''
{{Ship Data
| image= Bsg-bsg-1.jpg
| title= Galactica (BS 75)
| race= Colonial
| type= Military
| ftl= Yes
| crew= Approximately 2,650
| co= [[William Adama]]
| xo= [[Saul Tigh]] (resumed position as of [[The Passage]])
| role= Carrier / battleship hybrid
| weapons= Primary and point-defence [[KEW|Kinetic Energy Weapons]], conventional missiles, nuclear warheads, Vipers, Raptors
| status= Active
| img= Y
}}
[[Galactica type battlestar|The veteran battlestar]] '''''Galactica'' (BS 75)''' is the most famous warship in the [[Colonial Fleet]]. Built in time to participate in the [[Cylon War]], she remained the only military vessel without integrated [[Computers|computer networks]]. Without networked computers, ''Galactica'' never upgraded to the new [[Command Navigation Program|integrated defence system software]] developed by Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] and his [[Number Six|team]]. Because of this and other fortunes, she became one of only [[Pegasus (RDM)|two]] battlestars to survive the renewed [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|Cylon attack]] on the [[Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]], some 40 years after the end of the first war. At the time of the attack, she was part of the [[75th Battlestar Group]] (BSG-75).

== History ==

''Galactica'' was one of the twelve first battlestars to be laid down by the Colonials. Initially they built a battlestar to represent each colony, where ''Galactica'' represented [[Caprica]]. As such, she is some 50 years old. Following the outbreak of Cylon hostilities several more battlestars were built. ''Galactica's'' first commander was named [[Nash]] ([[Miniseries]]).
[[Image:Mini gal top.jpg|left|thumb|A dorsal view of ''Galactica''. The starboard [[flight pod]] is covered by a window to form the [[Galactica Museum|museum area]].]]
The original battlestars were all designed with non-integrated computer systems to avoid the Cylons' demonstrated ability to override or subvert networked command and control systems early in the war ([[Miniseries]]). Rather than technological sophistication, the battlestar depended on its sheer bulk and defensive / offensive capabilities to ward off any threats to itself or the Colonies.

Following the [[Armistice Station|armistice]] with the Cylons, and their withdrawal from Colonial space, ''Galactica'' and her sister ships served the Twelve Colonies in a variety of roles. While her surviving sister ships were scrapped or upgraded to match the systems capabilities of newer Colonial vessels, ''Galactica'' continued in service without her systems being fully networked or integrated, making her unique among Colonial military vessels ([[Miniseries]]). Galactica was relegated to intrasystem duties for at least 20 years prior to her decommissioning.

With her active career drawing to a close, a decision was taken to retire ''Galactica'' and decommission her from service. [[Colonial Fleet]] chose not to scrap her, but to turn her into a combination of living museum to the original Cylon War and an educational center, with her conversion being overseen by her final commander, [[William Adama]] ([[Miniseries]]).

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

With the renewed and unexpected Cylon hostilities, ''Galactica'' quickly proves her worthiness as a warship is far from over as she sorties several Mark IIs retrieved from her museum to challenge her first Cylon attack in over 40 years (her last Mark VII squadron was sent to Caprica for reassignment). The old battlestar withstands a direct hit from a tactical nuclear missile while unsuccessfully performing evasive maneuvers, but later [[FTL|Jumps]] successfully to [[Ragnar Anchorage]] to retrieve much-needed ammunition stores at this hidden depot.

''Galactica'' finally bares her teeth in this new Cylon war as she single-handedly engages two [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]] with her gun batteries, providing covering fire for [[The Fleet (RDM)|an assortment of 75 civilian ships]] containing the last survivors of the Twelve Colonies. All ships, with ''Galactica'' last to leave the engagement zone, escape to a destination past the [[Red Line]], never to return to Colonial space.

Since the exodus of the Colonials from their overrun homeworlds, ''Galactica'' becomes both protector and provider for the Fleet. She provides covering fire for the Fleet during Cylon attacks no fewer than 240 times ([[33]], [[Act of Contrition]]). The battlestar provides much of the Fleet with recycled water ([[Water]]) and she is the primary source of medical care, where groups of civilians are periodically brought aboard for check-ups and treatment ([[Litmus]]). ''Galactica'' also undertakes internal policing duties within the Fleet ([[Water]], [[Bastille Day]]).

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

The [[Mercury class battlestar|advanced battlestar]] ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', commanded by Admiral [[Helena Cain]], joins ''Galactica'' approximately 6 months into their exile (See the series [[Timeline (RDM)|timeline]] for special information about this milestone).

''Pegasus'' and ''Galactica'' destroy two [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]] as well as a critical Cylon support ship known as the [[Resurrection Ship]]. After Admiral Cain's death, President [[Laura Roslin]] promotes William Adama to Admiral, restoring him to overall Fleet command, but now with two battlestars at his disposal ([[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]).

==New Caprica==
Following the founding of [[New Caprica]], ''Galactica'' is assigned to the Orbital Defense Force that protects the planet. During this time the majority of its crew are sent to the surface in an effort to populate the planet and restore the human race — including most of its senior officers — seemingly convinced that the Cylons would never find New Caprica. The diminished staff inevitably results in basic maintenance becoming overlooked or ignored. Basic military responses, such as the launching of alert fighers and routine training exercises become difficult to execute. One year following the founding of New Caprica, a fleet of Cylon ships jump into orbit of the planet. Severely limited in its abilities, Admiral Adama and the Defense Fleet jumps away from New Caprica — vowing that they'd return to liberate the planet ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]).

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

Coordinating with the New Caprica Resistance, ''Galactica'' deploys several waves of Vipers and Raptors to launch an offensive against the Cylons. As the resistance bombs Cylon facilities on the ground, Raptors deploy decoy drones to make it appear as if both ''Galactica'' and ''Pegasus'' jumped into orbit. The Cylons reposition their forces to engage the decoys, while ''Galactica'' jumps into the atmosphere of the planet. ''Galactica'' deploys several squadrons as she falls to the surface, but takes severe damage from the atmospheric entry. Once back in orbit of the planet, the damage is ascertained as the Cylons close in. Close to death, ''Galactica'' survives thanks to the intervention of ''Pegasus''. Her [[FTL|FTL drives]] once again functioning, ''Galactica'' is able to escape from the system and reunites with the fleet, now the sole military vessel again after the destruction of ''Pegasus'' during the battle ([[Exodus, Part II]]).

Galactica from this point forward bears the scars of this battle, significant scorching to the hull and the armour is visible. It has not been directly acknowledged whether this has affected Galactica's combat abilities or her [[FTL]]. However Galactica is still able to make combat jumps and hold of a superior Cylon force for a short duration ([[Battle_of_NCD2539|The Battle of NCD2539]]).

== Equipment ==
[[Image:BSG-KEW-Turret.jpg|thumb|One of ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> large [[KEW|cannon]] turrets]]
''Galactica'' shares the same overall technical specifications as other original Colonial battlestars of [[Galactica type battlestar|her class]], with the following key differences and qualifications:

===Available Flight Pods===
As part of its decommissioning, ''Galactica's'' port [[flight pod]] was the only one in service. The starboard flight pod was enclosed and pressurized as the [[Galactica Museum|main museum display]] for her pending decommission. It is violently depressurized after a [[Heavy Raider]] crashes into it ([[Scattered]]).

By the time of the exodus from [[New Caprica]], the starboard hangar deck is being used as a temporary [[Camp Oil Slick|housing facility]] for refugees ([[Exodus, Part II]]). The starboard flight pod is apparently brought back to working flight recovery, as Major Lee Adama directs his Raptor boarding team to approach and land in the starboard pod ([[A Measure of Salvation]]).

===Nuclear Warheads===
''Galactica'' had five nuclear warheads as of "[[Bastille Day]]." Commander [[William Adama]] uses one warhead to destroy a Cylon [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]). Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] cannibalizes one to use in his [[Cylon Detector]], which he later gives to [[Gina]], who detonates it aboard ''[[Cloud Nine]]''. This leaves ''Galactica'' with three warheads (It is unknown how many nuclear warheads ''Pegasus'' still had when it encountered ''Galactica'', and they may have pooled their nuclear ordnance stockpiles since then). As of "[[The Eye of Jupiter]]", Galactica has at least seven warheads ([[Missile tubes|launch tubes]] 4 through 10) attached to missiles that can be used for ground assault.

The yield of these weapons is unknown. It is likely they are of a "dial a yield" design which is common in real-life nuclear weapons. Because the "physics" of nuclear weapon design is a measureable science, and based on the size of the weapon seen in ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]), it is likely the yield of Galactica's weapons are between 5 and 150kt. This is extrapolated from the size of the weapon, compared to a modern day ([[w:W80|W80]])-class nuclear warhead used by the United States.

===Vipers===
Prior to the arrival of ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', ''Galactica'' has at maximum thirty-four Vipers, of which at least six are Mark VIIs (c.f. [[Viper tally]]).

''Galactica'' receives additional supplies from ''Pegasus'' since her arrival that helps in repair and refurbishment of her original fighter complement; more recently, she receives new Mark VII Vipers built aboard ''Pegasus'' using raw materials mined from an asteroid and the advanced battlestar's Viper construction facilities ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus,]] [[Scar]]).

===Raptors===
The number of [[Raptor|Raptors]] available to ''Galactica'' is portrayed inconsistently. The current assumption is that the battlestar has at least five Raptors, having left [[Ragnar Anchorage]] with at least eight (c.f. [[Raptor tally]]).

===Other Craft===
*''Galactica'' currently posesses two [[Heavy Raider|Heavy Raiders]]. One is hit by ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> defensive fire and crashes into the starboard flight pod with unknown damage ([[Scattered]]). The other returns in operational status from Caprica ([[Home, Part I]]). One of ''Galactica'''s [[Heavy Raider]]s is relieved of its FTL navigation system for use on the rescue mission to [[Caprica]] ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]).
*A second [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raider]] is in ''Galactica's'' possession after [[Daniel Novacek]]'s "escape" from a basestar ([[Hero]]), replacing the one retrieved by [[Kara Thrace]] and lost during the quest for the [[Arrow of Apollo]] ([[Scattered]]).
*An experimental stealth fighter, the [[Blackbird]], is constructed using spare parts ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]) and used in a critically successful reconnaissance mission to explore the nature of what comes to be known as the [[Resurrection Ship]]. The Blackbird is later destroyed after completing her last mission during the [[Battle of the Resurrection Ship]] ([[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]).
*''Galactica'' possesses fuel tankers used to supply fuel to Vipers and Raptors inflight without the need to dock with the ship. These may be dedicated craft or specially fitted shuttles or Raptors ([[Occupation]]).

=== Crew ===
Before the attack, ''Galactica'' has approximately 2,800 crewmen, while awaiting its decommissioning. By the time of the arrival of ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', attrition has reduced this number to about 2,660. (c.f. [[Crew tally]])
*Between "[[Act of Contrition]]" and "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]" ''Galactica's'' offensive capability is also greatly hampered by the number of [[List of Pilots|qualified pilots]] available, and their lack of flight simulators with which to train more. Since ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> reunion with ''Pegasus'', this has ceased to be an issue ([[Scar]]).

[[Image:Mini gal side viper.jpg|right|thumb|A stricken and slowly spinning ''Galactica'' after a nuclear missile strike. [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck's]] [[Viper Mark II|Viper]] closes in to survey.]]

====Senior Staff following the Battle of New Caprica====
*Admiral [[William Adama]] - Commanding Officer
*Colonel [[Saul Tigh]] - [[Executive Officer]]
*Major [[Lee Adama]] - [[CAG|Commander, Air Group]]
*Major (Doctor) [[Cottle]] - [[Chief Medical Officer]]
*Lieutenant [[Felix Gaeta]] - [[Tactical officer]], Senior Officer of the Watch
*Lieutenant [[Hoshi]] - [[Communications Officer]]
*Chief Petty Officer [[Galen Tyrol]] - Chief of the Deck

====Senior Staff before the founding of New Caprica====
*Admiral William Adama - Commanding Officer
*Colonel Saul Tigh - Executive Officer
*Captain Aaron Kelly - [[Landing Signal Officer]], Second Officer
*Major (Doctor) Cottle - Chief Medical Officer
*Captain Lee Adama - Commander, Air Group (Promoted to Commander and assigned as ''Pegasus'' CO)
*Captain [[Kara Thrace]] - Commander, Air Group
*Lieutenant Felix Gaeta - Tactical officer, Senior Officer of the Watch
*Chief Petty Officer Galen Tyrol - Chief of the Deck
*Sergeant [[Hadrian]] - [[Master-at-Arms]]
*Petty Officer 2nd Class [[Anastasia Dualla]] - Communications Officer

==Related Imagery==
<gallery>
Image:Galactica Ortho copy.jpg|''Galactica'' - Rendering by [[Zoic]]    
Image:BSG Ortho Bottom.jpg|''Galactica'' - Rendering by [[Zoic]]    
Image:Pointdefence2 101 1080i.jpg|''Galactica's'' point defence batteries in action    
</gallery>

{{Ships}}

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

[[es:Galactica (RDM)]]
[[de:Galactica (RDM)]]

{{featured article}}

Galactica (TRS)

2007-01-11T23:20:36Z

MickJo: /* Battle of New Caprica */

:''For the Original Series ''Galactica'', see [[Galactica (TOS)]]. For the Video Game ''Galactica'', see [[Galactica (Video Game)]].''

:''For more general information about this type of ship, see [[Galactica type battlestar]].''
{{Ship Data
| image= Bsg-bsg-1.jpg
| title= Galactica (BS 75)
| race= Colonial
| type= Military
| ftl= Yes
| crew= Approximately 2,650
| co= [[William Adama]]
| xo= [[Saul Tigh]] (resumed position as of [[The Passage]])
| role= Carrier / battleship hybrid
| weapons= Primary and point-defence [[KEW|Kinetic Energy Weapons]], conventional missiles, nuclear warheads, Vipers, Raptors
| status= Active
| img= Y
}}
[[Galactica type battlestar|The veteran battlestar]] '''''Galactica'' (BS 75)''' is the most famous warship in the [[Colonial Fleet]]. Built in time to participate in the [[Cylon War]], she remained the only military vessel without integrated [[Computers|computer networks]]. Without networked computers, ''Galactica'' never upgraded to the new [[Command Navigation Program|integrated defence system software]] developed by Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] and his [[Number Six|team]]. Because of this and other fortunes, she became one of only [[Pegasus (RDM)|two]] battlestars to survive the renewed [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|Cylon attack]] on the [[Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]], some 40 years after the end of the first war. At the time of the attack, she was part of the [[75th Battlestar Group]] (BSG-75).

== History ==

''Galactica'' was one of the twelve first battlestars to be laid down by the Colonials. Initially they built a battlestar to represent each colony, where ''Galactica'' represented [[Caprica]]. As such, she is some 50 years old. Following the outbreak of Cylon hostilities several more battlestars were built. ''Galactica's'' first commander was named [[Nash]] ([[Miniseries]]).
[[Image:Mini gal top.jpg|left|thumb|A dorsal view of ''Galactica''. The starboard [[flight pod]] is covered by a window to form the [[Galactica Museum|museum area]].]]
The original battlestars were all designed with non-integrated computer systems to avoid the Cylons' demonstrated ability to override or subvert networked command and control systems early in the war ([[Miniseries]]). Rather than technological sophistication, the battlestar depended on its sheer bulk and defensive / offensive capabilities to ward off any threats to itself or the Colonies.

Following the [[Armistice Station|armistice]] with the Cylons, and their withdrawal from Colonial space, ''Galactica'' and her sister ships served the Twelve Colonies in a variety of roles. While her surviving sister ships were scrapped or upgraded to match the systems capabilities of newer Colonial vessels, ''Galactica'' continued in service without her systems being fully networked or integrated, making her unique among Colonial military vessels ([[Miniseries]]). Galactica was relegated to intrasystem duties for at least 20 years prior to her decommissioning.

With her active career drawing to a close, a decision was taken to retire ''Galactica'' and decommission her from service. [[Colonial Fleet]] chose not to scrap her, but to turn her into a combination of living museum to the original Cylon War and an educational center, with her conversion being overseen by her final commander, [[William Adama]] ([[Miniseries]]).

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

With the renewed and unexpected Cylon hostilities, ''Galactica'' quickly proves her worthiness as a warship is far from over as she sorties several Mark IIs retrieved from her museum to challenge her first Cylon attack in over 40 years (her last Mark VII squadron was sent to Caprica for reassignment). The old battlestar withstands a direct hit from a tactical nuclear missile while unsuccessfully performing evasive maneuvers, but later [[FTL|Jumps]] successfully to [[Ragnar Anchorage]] to retrieve much-needed ammunition stores at this hidden depot.

''Galactica'' finally bares her teeth in this new Cylon war as she single-handedly engages two [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]] with her gun batteries, providing covering fire for [[The Fleet (RDM)|an assortment of 75 civilian ships]] containing the last survivors of the Twelve Colonies. All ships, with ''Galactica'' last to leave the engagement zone, escape to a destination past the [[Red Line]], never to return to Colonial space.

Since the exodus of the Colonials from their overrun homeworlds, ''Galactica'' becomes both protector and provider for the Fleet. She provides covering fire for the Fleet during Cylon attacks no fewer than 240 times ([[33]], [[Act of Contrition]]). The battlestar provides much of the Fleet with recycled water ([[Water]]) and she is the primary source of medical care, where groups of civilians are periodically brought aboard for check-ups and treatment ([[Litmus]]). ''Galactica'' also undertakes internal policing duties within the Fleet ([[Water]], [[Bastille Day]]).

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

The [[Mercury class battlestar|advanced battlestar]] ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', commanded by Admiral [[Helena Cain]], joins ''Galactica'' approximately 6 months into their exile (See the series [[Timeline (RDM)|timeline]] for special information about this milestone).

''Pegasus'' and ''Galactica'' destroy two [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]] as well as a critical Cylon support ship known as the [[Resurrection Ship]]. After Admiral Cain's death, President [[Laura Roslin]] promotes William Adama to Admiral, restoring him to overall Fleet command, but now with two battlestars at his disposal ([[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]).

==New Caprica==
Following the founding of [[New Caprica]], ''Galactica'' is assigned to the Orbital Defense Force that protects the planet. During this time the majority of its crew are sent to the surface in an effort to populate the planet and restore the human race — including most of its senior officers — seemingly convinced that the Cylons would never find New Caprica. The diminished staff inevitably results in basic maintenance becoming overlooked or ignored. Basic military responses, such as the launching of alert fighers and routine training exercises become difficult to execute. One year following the founding of New Caprica, a fleet of Cylon ships jump into orbit of the planet. Severely limited in its abilities, Admiral Adama and the Defense Fleet jumps away from New Caprica — vowing that they'd return to liberate the planet ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]).

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

Coordinating with the New Caprica Resistance, ''Galactica'' deploys several waves of Vipers and Raptors to launch an offensive against the Cylons. As the resistance bombs Cylon facilities on the ground, Raptors deploy decoy drones to make it appear as if both ''Galactica'' and ''Pegasus'' jumped into orbit. The Cylons reposition their forces to engage the decoys, while ''Galactica'' jumps into the atmosphere of the planet. ''Galactica'' deploys several squadrons as she falls to the surface, but takes severe damage from the atmospheric entry. Once back in orbit of the planet, the damage is ascertained as the Cylons close in. Close to death, ''Galactica'' survives thanks to the intervention of ''Pegasus''. Her [[FTL|FTL drives]] once again functioning, ''Galactica'' is able to escape from the system and reunites with the fleet, now the sole military vessel again after the destruction of ''Pegasus'' during the battle ([[Exodus, Part II]]).

Galactica from this point forward bears the scars of this battle, significant scorching to the hull and the armour is visible. It has not been directly acknowledged whether this has affected Galactica's combat abilities or her [[FTL]]. However both seem virtually uneffected during the [[Battle_of_NCD2539]].

== Equipment ==
[[Image:BSG-KEW-Turret.jpg|thumb|One of ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> large [[KEW|cannon]] turrets]]
''Galactica'' shares the same overall technical specifications as other original Colonial battlestars of [[Galactica type battlestar|her class]], with the following key differences and qualifications:

===Available Flight Pods===
As part of its decommissioning, ''Galactica's'' port [[flight pod]] was the only one in service. The starboard flight pod was enclosed and pressurized as the [[Galactica Museum|main museum display]] for her pending decommission. It is violently depressurized after a [[Heavy Raider]] crashes into it ([[Scattered]]).

By the time of the exodus from [[New Caprica]], the starboard hangar deck is being used as a temporary [[Camp Oil Slick|housing facility]] for refugees ([[Exodus, Part II]]). The starboard flight pod is apparently brought back to working flight recovery, as Major Lee Adama directs his Raptor boarding team to approach and land in the starboard pod ([[A Measure of Salvation]]).

===Nuclear Warheads===
''Galactica'' had five nuclear warheads as of "[[Bastille Day]]." Commander [[William Adama]] uses one warhead to destroy a Cylon [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]). Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] cannibalizes one to use in his [[Cylon Detector]], which he later gives to [[Gina]], who detonates it aboard ''[[Cloud Nine]]''. This leaves ''Galactica'' with three warheads (It is unknown how many nuclear warheads ''Pegasus'' still had when it encountered ''Galactica'', and they may have pooled their nuclear ordnance stockpiles since then). As of "[[The Eye of Jupiter]]", Galactica has at least seven warheads ([[Missile tubes|launch tubes]] 4 through 10) attached to missiles that can be used for ground assault.

The yield of these weapons is unknown. It is likely they are of a "dial a yield" design which is common in real-life nuclear weapons. Because the "physics" of nuclear weapon design is a measureable science, and based on the size of the weapon seen in ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]), it is likely the yield of Galactica's weapons are between 5 and 150kt. This is extrapolated from the size of the weapon, compared to a modern day ([[w:W80|W80]])-class nuclear warhead used by the United States.

===Vipers===
Prior to the arrival of ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', ''Galactica'' has at maximum thirty-four Vipers, of which at least six are Mark VIIs (c.f. [[Viper tally]]).

''Galactica'' receives additional supplies from ''Pegasus'' since her arrival that helps in repair and refurbishment of her original fighter complement; more recently, she receives new Mark VII Vipers built aboard ''Pegasus'' using raw materials mined from an asteroid and the advanced battlestar's Viper construction facilities ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus,]] [[Scar]]).

===Raptors===
The number of [[Raptor|Raptors]] available to ''Galactica'' is portrayed inconsistently. The current assumption is that the battlestar has at least five Raptors, having left [[Ragnar Anchorage]] with at least eight (c.f. [[Raptor tally]]).

===Other Craft===
*''Galactica'' currently posesses two [[Heavy Raider|Heavy Raiders]]. One is hit by ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> defensive fire and crashes into the starboard flight pod with unknown damage ([[Scattered]]). The other returns in operational status from Caprica ([[Home, Part I]]). One of ''Galactica'''s [[Heavy Raider]]s is relieved of its FTL navigation system for use on the rescue mission to [[Caprica]] ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]).
*A second [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raider]] is in ''Galactica's'' possession after [[Daniel Novacek]]'s "escape" from a basestar ([[Hero]]), replacing the one retrieved by [[Kara Thrace]] and lost during the quest for the [[Arrow of Apollo]] ([[Scattered]]).
*An experimental stealth fighter, the [[Blackbird]], is constructed using spare parts ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]) and used in a critically successful reconnaissance mission to explore the nature of what comes to be known as the [[Resurrection Ship]]. The Blackbird is later destroyed after completing her last mission during the [[Battle of the Resurrection Ship]] ([[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]).
*''Galactica'' possesses fuel tankers used to supply fuel to Vipers and Raptors inflight without the need to dock with the ship. These may be dedicated craft or specially fitted shuttles or Raptors ([[Occupation]]).

=== Crew ===
Before the attack, ''Galactica'' has approximately 2,800 crewmen, while awaiting its decommissioning. By the time of the arrival of ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', attrition has reduced this number to about 2,660. (c.f. [[Crew tally]])
*Between "[[Act of Contrition]]" and "[[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]" ''Galactica's'' offensive capability is also greatly hampered by the number of [[List of Pilots|qualified pilots]] available, and their lack of flight simulators with which to train more. Since ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> reunion with ''Pegasus'', this has ceased to be an issue ([[Scar]]).

[[Image:Mini gal side viper.jpg|right|thumb|A stricken and slowly spinning ''Galactica'' after a nuclear missile strike. [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck's]] [[Viper Mark II|Viper]] closes in to survey.]]

====Senior Staff following the Battle of New Caprica====
*Admiral [[William Adama]] - Commanding Officer
*Colonel [[Saul Tigh]] - [[Executive Officer]]
*Major [[Lee Adama]] - [[CAG|Commander, Air Group]]
*Major (Doctor) [[Cottle]] - [[Chief Medical Officer]]
*Lieutenant [[Felix Gaeta]] - [[Tactical officer]], Senior Officer of the Watch
*Lieutenant [[Hoshi]] - [[Communications Officer]]
*Chief Petty Officer [[Galen Tyrol]] - Chief of the Deck

====Senior Staff before the founding of New Caprica====
*Admiral William Adama - Commanding Officer
*Colonel Saul Tigh - Executive Officer
*Captain Aaron Kelly - [[Landing Signal Officer]], Second Officer
*Major (Doctor) Cottle - Chief Medical Officer
*Captain Lee Adama - Commander, Air Group (Promoted to Commander and assigned as ''Pegasus'' CO)
*Captain [[Kara Thrace]] - Commander, Air Group
*Lieutenant Felix Gaeta - Tactical officer, Senior Officer of the Watch
*Chief Petty Officer Galen Tyrol - Chief of the Deck
*Sergeant [[Hadrian]] - [[Master-at-Arms]]
*Petty Officer 2nd Class [[Anastasia Dualla]] - Communications Officer

==Related Imagery==
<gallery>
Image:Galactica Ortho copy.jpg|''Galactica'' - Rendering by [[Zoic]]    
Image:BSG Ortho Bottom.jpg|''Galactica'' - Rendering by [[Zoic]]    
Image:Pointdefence2 101 1080i.jpg|''Galactica's'' point defence batteries in action    
</gallery>

{{Ships}}

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

[[es:Galactica (RDM)]]
[[de:Galactica (RDM)]]

{{featured article}}