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Number Six

2009-02-08T04:57:40Z

Mistrx75:

{{Character Data
|photo=Number Six.jpg
|seen= Miniseries
|role= Cylon Infiltrator, Overseer
|actor= [[Tricia Helfer]]
|cylon= y
|name= Shelly Godfrey<br/>Gina Inviere<br/>Natalie<br>Lida<br>''et al.''
}}

"'''Number Six'''" is a stunning blonde who plays several key roles in [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] society. She is the first [[humanoid Cylon]] that viewers witness in the re-imagined ''Battlestar Galactica''. Stunningly beautiful, sensual and highly religious this highly driven model is marked by a ruthlessness against all who stand in her way.

== Caprica-Six ==

{{mainarticle|Caprica-Six}}

The copy of Number Six that seduced Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] into unwittingly betraying the Twelve Colonies by giving her access to the Colonial defense mainframe.

=== Baltar's Internal Six ===

{{mainarticle|Virtual beings}}

Fleeing Caprica City and then the planet itself, Baltar is shocked to discover that the woman he had a relationship with on Caprica lives on - inside his head. The nature and loyalties of this being are unknown.

== Shelly Godfrey ==

[[Image:Bsg-1-07.jpg|thumb|right|Godfrey attempts to sweet talk Adama.]] {{mainarticle|Shelly Godfrey}}

A copy of Number Six that physically appears on board ''Galactica'' to try to discredit Baltar as a traitor, using evidence which was flawed, so that he ended up being more popular than before.
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== Gina Inviere ==

{{mainarticle|Gina Inviere}}

A copy of Number Six posing as a systems analyst assigned aboard the battlestar ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]''. A after she was identified, she was captured and repeatedly tortured and sexually abused by the crew before escaping with Baltar's help. Emerging as a leading figure in the [[Demand Peace]] movement, she commits suicide by detonating a nuclear warhead aboard ''[[Cloud 9]]''.

== Natalie ==

{{mainarticle|Natalie}}

A Number Six copy who is leading a faction that advocates for the search for the Final Five Cylons, introduced in "[[Six of One]]". She is eventually killed by [[Sharon Agathon]], distressed with visions of the [[Opera House]] and afraid Natalie will take her daughter [[Hera Agathon|Hera]], with no chance to download ([[Sine Qua Non]]).

== Armistice Station Copy ==

[[Image:SixArmstation2 Mini.JPG|thumb|left|A six entering the [[Armistice Station]].]]

Number Six is a portent of doom for the peoples of the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]]; she arrives on [[Armistice Station]] shortly before it is destroyed in what are the opening shots of the [[Cylon attack]] in the [[Miniseries]]. Dressed in a long-sleeved red tunic and matching knee-length skirt, she is the first and last "diplomat" ever sent to the station by the Cylons since its construction. She greets the Colonial officer present with the question "Are you alive?" When he answers that he is alive, she tells him to prove it - by kissing her. After he realizes that Armistice is under attack, she smiles and forces another kiss on him shortly before they are both destroyed.

Later, three Sixes in the same outfit are among the group of Cylons that rescue and debrief [[Number Five|Aaron Doral]], following his stranding on [[Ragnar Anchorage]] by the suspicious Colonials. One of them responds to a comment of the [[Number Eight|Eight]] in the group with "[[By your command]]," a trademark Cylon phrase in the [[Original Series]].

== Lida ==

A Six with curly blonde hair, Lida<ref>Episode writer Michael Angeli quoted in "The Watcher: Talking about 'Battlestar Galactica's' 'Blood on the Scales' with writer Michael Angeli", Maureen Ryan, ''Chicago Tribune'', Feb. 6, 2009.</ref> attempts to comfort and seduce Baltar aboard the rebel Basestar after he and [[Laura Roslin|President Roslin]] flee ''Galactica'' during the Zarek-Gaeta coup/mutiny. In her bed, Lida missinterprets Gaius' feelings of guilt (among the first he's ever shown) for leaving his flock behind as an injury. Gaius notices that she does not refer to injury as "damage" like other Cylons he has encountered. ("[[Blood on the Scales]]").

== Other copies ==

=== Troop Leaders ===

[[Image:Whiterainsix 33.JPG|thumb|right|150px|A Six after seeing an Eight killing another Six model.]]

At least three additional variants of Six have been operational on Caprica, and appear to lead [[Cylon Centurion|Centurion]] squads and have a subservient role to the "overseer" Six variants. This variant of Six is distinguished by the white raincoat she wears.

One of these variants distracts Helo, enabling him to be captured. In this, she shares the same seductive characteristic as shown by her "sisters" at the armistice station and with Baltar - her first act on "freeing" the captured Agathon is to ask "Are you alive?" and kiss him. She is subsequently shot by the [[Sharon Agathon|Caprica copy of Sharon Valerii]] ([[33]]).

The second acts as an observer to Helo's "escape", and this same variant may the one leading the Centurion troops into the Caprican farm Helo and Valerii are hiding in ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]).

The third is present at [[Delphi]], taking orders from an "overseer" Six ([[Colonial Day]]).

Another Number Six in this role boards ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'' from a [[Heavy Raider]] along with a group of Centurions during ''Pegasus'''s [[Battle of the Communications Relay|attack]] on a Cylon communications relay. She is shot and killed by [[Kendra Shaw]], who then exposes the ''Pegasus'' network administrator [[Gina Inviere]] as another copy of this Cylon model ([[Razor]]).
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=== Overseer Copies ===

[[Image:Sixsharonlitmus.jpg|thumb|left|Number Six beating up Sharon Valerii on Caprica.<ref>Note that this is a behind-the-scenes photo, as indicated by the crane in the far background of this shot.</ref>]]

On Caprica, Six performs the role of a Cylon overseer, working with a copy of [[Number Five]] (Aaron Doral) to ensure their experiment involving the stranded [[Karl Agathon]] and the Caprica copy of Sharon Valerii either reaches its desired conclusion, or is suitably terminated ("[[Bastille Day]]", "[[Act of Contrition]]", "[[Litmus]]", "[[Flesh and Bone]]", "[[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]"). These copies of Number Six wear a militaristic black outfit, with a black body-suit underneath suited to martial arts.

Following the destruction of a "troop leader" Six (shot by the Caprica Valerii, in order to enable her to "rescue" Agathon), her "sister" on Caprica demonstrates a certain vindictiveness towards Valerii when giving her a beating that goes far beyond the needs of the experiment ([[Litmus]]), thus revealing she may well be experiencing resentment for being shot (remembering that experiences and knowledge are passed from body to body among the various types of humanoid Cylons), as well as jealousy at the Caprica Valerii's chosen role in the proceedings.

A further "overseer" Six is present at the Cylon's established base at [[Delphi]], and is briefly seen by [[Karl Agathon]] when he attempts to gain access to the base in order to steal a ship and get off the planet ([[Colonial Day]]).

Another Six surprises [[Kara Thrace]] in the [[Delphi Museum]] when she returns to Caprica to retrieve the [[Arrow of Apollo]]. They engage in an all-out brawl, and just as Six appears to be winning Thrace rushes her, knocking both of them off of a ledge. The Six falls underneath Thrace, breaking her fall, and is impaled on building debris, killing her ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]).

Another "overseer" Six is present at the "farm" where Thrace is taken after she is founded by the Cylons and left behind the resistance. While the Cylon doctor [[Number Four|Simon]] operates on her, Six is there to relay orders and see that everything was proceeding smoothly. She is definitely the controlling figure of the operation. This copy is later bashed over the head with a fire extinguisher by Thrace as she makes her escape ([[The Farm]]).

Yet another overseer, or possibly one of the previously witnessed copies, viewes [[Number Three|D'Anna Biers]]'s broadcast in a theater on Cylon-occupied Caprica in the episode "[[Final Cut]]". She remarks that the resilience displayed by the Colonials is impressive, and seems overjoyed that Sharon's hybrid baby survived.

=== "Downloaded" ===

A Number Six in a gold tunic is one of four 'rebirth nurses' who greets the reincarnated [[Caprica-Six]] (this takes place shortly after the [[Cylon attack]] has run its course), and it is likely this same group who nurse [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]] as she returns to life several months later. The Six in the group welcomes Boomer home and refers to her as "little sister".

Several other copies of Six were seen on Caprica in a variety of different outfits, which could indicate different functions or simply fashion choices.

=== New Caprica Copies ===

[[Image:Sixes NC.jpg|thumb|right|Two Six copies aboard ''[[Colonial One]]''.]]

Various copies of Number Six form part of the Cylon occupation force that arrives on [[New Caprica]] one year after the Colonials settle in there. Throughout their four months stay there, they fall victim to various different attacks from the [[New Caprica Resistance|resistance movement]].

When the resistance begins using suicide bombers, the Cylons decide to employ stronger measures against the human population. A vote is taken by six of the seven Cylon models on ''Colonial One'', and while Caprica-Six disagrees with this, two other copies overrule her. This implies that Caprica-Six no longer has the same amount of power she used to have, not even with those of her own model ([[Precipice]]).

Another Six is drowned by [[Jean Barolay]] after taping her mouth and throwing her into a septic tank at New Caprica's water treatment plant, where she works during the occupation. Despite attempts at therapy after her resurrection, this Six bears lasting emotional trauma as a result. Roughly a year later, she is on the rebel baseship and meets up with her murderer. A brief altercation at the Raptor occurs, where she kills Barolay who shows no remorse for her actions, instead glibly offering to kill the Six again. Natalie kills this copy immediately after Barolay's murder, thus appeasing the Colonials they have allied themselves with. Just before her execution, the Six—knowing that her actions cannot be without consequences—admits that she is glad that Natalie, whom she views as a sister, will be the one to kill her permanently as with no Resurrection Ship she is unable to download into a new body and dies permanently ([[Faith]]).

=== Rebel Copies ===

The Sixes vote along with the [[Number Two]]s and the majority of [[Number Eight]]s to stop the lobotomization of the [[Raider (RDM)|Raider]]s ([[Six of One]]). Several Sixes are members of the Cylon rebels. This includes Natalie and the Six who kills [[Jean Barolay]]. The latter one is distraught about her actions, and is subsequently killed by Natalie with Anders's sidearm ([[Faith]]).

Moreover, a number of them are Heavy Raider pilots alongside a number of Eights and these Sixes fly in battle alongside the Colonial Viper pilots in the battle to destroy the Resurrection Hub. They tow the Vipers into battle, allowing them to launch a surprise attack and fight alongside them against the enemy Raiders ([[The Hub]]).

=== Infected Basestar Copies ===

A Number Six, with a black hair is found and killed by [[Gaius Baltar]] ([[Torn]]). Later, a Six is found in an infected baseship by ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'', and becomes a part of their plan to infect the Cylon race with the virus spawned from an ancient [[Lion's Head beacon|probe]]. However, she and the other Cylons are killed by Karl Agathon before they are within download range of a Resurrection Ship, thereby killing this Six permanently ([[A Measure of Salvation]]).

== Notes ==

*The name "Number Six" is, according to ''[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]'', an indirect tribute to [[:wikipedia:Patrick McGoohan|Patrick McGoohan]]'s cult 1967 television series ''[[:wikipedia:The Prisoner|The Prisoner]]'' — a series that addressed topics such as personal freedom and identity, mind control, illusionary experiences and the infiltration of society's supposed guardians (secret agents) by a nefarious force (those behind The Village). Ron Moore himself later confirmed in his blog that the name is an homage to ''The Prisoner''. After many false starts, ''The Prisoner'', like ''Battlestar Galactica'', became the subject of a radical reimaging in 2008 when the American AMC and UK Granada networks announced plans to film a new version of the series, with [[w:James Caviezel|James Caviezel]] in the role of No. 6; now completed, it is scheduled to air in late 2009.
*Also according to ''Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion'', [[Edward James Olmos]] and [[Mary McDonnell]] were hand-picked for their roles, while the rest of the characters were cast by audition: among the actresses in the running for the role of "Number Six" was ''The O.C.'''s [[:wikipedia:Melinda Clarke|Melinda Clarke]], though the role ultimately went to [[Tricia Helfer]].

== References ==
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The Oath

2009-02-08T04:52:13Z

Mistrx75:

{{Episode Data
| image=4x12 - Promo Pic - Tyrol Lee - The Oath- .jpg
| title= The Oath
| season= 4
| episode=13
| guests=
| writer= [[Mark Verheiden]] <ref name="verhblog">{{cite_web|url=http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2008/04/battlestar-galactica-episode-415.html|title=Mark Verheiden's blog: Battlestar Galactica - Episode 415!|}}</ref>
| story=
| director= [[John Dahl]] <ref name="verhblog"/>
| production=415
| rating=
| US airdate=January 30, 2009 <ref>http://tv.ign.com/articles/920/920164p1.html</ref>
| CAN airdate=January 30, 2009
| UK airdate=February 3, 2009
| dvd=
| oldpopulation= 39644
| population= 39643
| prev=[[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]]
| next=[[Blood on the Scales]]
| forumthread=2490
}}

==Overview==
''The opposition to the alliance with the rebel Cylons reaches its zenith, [[Felix Gaeta]] leads a mutiny aboard Galactica and frees [[Tom Zarek]] from prison.''

==Summary==
===Teaser===
* In Admiral [[William Adama|Adama's]] quarters, the admiral offers the entering [[Saul Tigh]] a cup of algae-ground coffee, which Tigh refuses. Tigh reports that civilian captains are refusing to allow the rebel [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] to refit their [[FTL|jump]] drives for longer range.

* As Tigh continues his report, [[Laura Roslin]] enters from the bathroom, dressed only in a bathrobe and carrying a book. Her smile seems to indicate her enjoyment of Tigh's mild shock at her candid appearance and its implications.

* Gathering his composure, Tigh continues. The [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet's]] attitude toward all Cylons ([[Final Five|Tigh included]]) would make it challenging for Tigh to solve the problem. Adama agrees.

* [[Felix Gaeta]] arrives at [[Tom Zarek]]'s cell in the [[brig]], accompanied by several [[marines]] and other crew. A crewman informs Gaeta that [[Narcho]] and Private Paley have secured a [[small arms locker]].
* Gaeta and Zarek talk about how to keep the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] from reacting badly to their plans, particularly [[Lee Adama]]. Gaeta advises Zarek to push Representative Adama's buttons, since he's "good at that."

* In the admiral's quarters, Roslin discusses the Fleet's issues [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul|for the first time in days]]. She and Adama both agree that the alliance with the rebel Cylons, and general amnesty they were given is not working, and that Lee Adama may not be able to convince the quorum otherwise. Roslin has to force herself to stop talking about the Fleet's problems, and the two say goodbye with affectionate small talk about having dinner ready for Adama when he returns from his shift.

* Gaeta's team escorts Zarek to the [[hangar deck]]. When [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]] sees them, she yells out, pretending that her [[Raptor]] has a serious fuel leak. This effectively clears most of the deck's occupants out, but [[Jeanne]] lingers unseen in the upper gangway above the deck, and observes everything.

* As Racetrack tells Gaeta that she's disabled the Raptor's transponder, Deck Chief [[Peter Laird]] steps in, questioning the authorization for the Raptor's departure. When Laird is not dissuaded from calling [[CIC]] to verify the ship's use, Zarek quietly picks up a wrench and strikes Laird on the skull, killing him. Jeanne swiftly runs from the gangway, having witnessed the murder.

* When Gaeta reacts in shock to Zarek's action, the Vice President tells Gaeta not to hold on to some "operatic ideal" of how his "revolution" must be handled; any hesitation could jeopardize their plans.

===Act 1===

* In [[CIC]], [[Hoshi]] notes a ship launch that he can't authenticate in the flight log--and [[DRADIS]] does not show any [[IFF|transponder ID]]. Gaeta, taking his place at his station, stalls Hoshi, advising him to look at other logs from the flight deck.
* When Tigh tells Adama quietly that he has had had [[Nowart]] gather marines for further action to compel other civliian ships to comply, Adama warns that doing the same thing as was done with the ''[[Hitei Kan]]'' a few days prior would likely destroy the likelihood of anyone in the Fleet supporting the fragile Cylon alliance.
* Hoshi continues to try to verify the flying contact as Gaeta tries to stall.

* On ''[[Colonial One]]'' as Lee Adama tries to placate an agitated Quorum, Zarek returns, to everyone's shock.

* [[Diana Seelix]] meets with [[Samuel Anders]] in one of the officer's quarters. She slyly talks about her attraction to him as other crew sneak up, blindfold and savagely beat him.

* As Adama hands Private [[Jaffee]] a log to file, Hoshi reports of a fire near the ship's [[wireless]] antenna array. As Adama gives orders for damage control teams to handle the issue, Gaeta warns that the "fire" might not be an accident. Adama agrees and orders [[marines]] to accompany the DC teams.

* In another officer's quarters, [[Kara Thrace]] teases [[Brendan Costanza]] about his new [[Nicholas Tyrol|fatherhood]], commenting how her decision of his pilot nickname of "Hotdog" was an apt one. Constanza angrily replies that Thrace has "[[frak]]ked half the Fleet" and has nothing to show for her similar indiscretions. Thrace throws her bowl of food as Constanza leaves.
* A split second later evacuation alarms ring out. When Thrace steps out to ask Narcho why he, a pilot, is handling damage control, Narcho nastily spurns her senior rank: "Nobody even knows [[The Destiny|what you are]] anymore."
* When Thrace sees a mix of marines and other civilians heading in the opposite direction, she follows them on gut reaction.
* Thrace sees the people break into a small arms locker, arming themselves, with [[Charlie Connor]] issuing orders to both military and civilian personnel. She runs back to her quarters grabs her sidearm and ammo and calls CIC. Gaeta ignores her warning of the break-in. Thrace quickly deduces what's going on.

* On ''Colonial One'', Lee Adama also tries to call his father regarding Zarek's release, but Gaeta blocks Adama's attempt to reach the admiral by claiming that the admiral is busy. Gaeta also feigns ignorance about Zarek's release.
* Zarek steps in, telling Lee that the admiral released him because Zarek would not be a threat if Adama didn't recognize civilian authority. Lee believes otherwise, and leaves for ''Galactica''.

* Gaeta fakes a shipwide communications failure, including backup systems.
* Lee Adama arrives on the hangar deck from his Raptor and is immediately accosted by [[Skulls]] and several others, intent on killing him as Racetrack watches on. "Where are your precious Cylons now?" Connor says as a marine points a gun to Adama's head.
* A shot rings out, but not from the gun Adama stares into. Kara Thrace has shot the marine with the gun and orders Adama's release. When Skulls objects, Thrace doesn't hesitate a second to shoot Skulls in the shoulder. "I can do this all day," she warns, pulling out a second sidearm.
* As Adama runs out, Thrace follows, warning the rest, "Follow me. Please," so she could have a better excuse to shoot them as well.

* As [[Sharon Agathon]] feeds her [[Hera Agathon|daughter]], [[Karl Agathon]] gets his uniform on and warns Sharon to get Hera to daycare.
* Just then, the hatchway on their quarters is being jostled. Someone is trying to get in, and soon succeeds: an angry mob, led by [[Gage]], a former ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'' crewman who remembers Agathon's role in the accidental death of [[Alistair Thorne]].
* Gage gloats that he plans on raping Sharon Agathon later as marines beat Helo into unconsciousness.

===Act 2===

* Thrace and Lee Adama seal themselves in a dry storage locker, reviewing what's happened. "Semper frakkin' fi," Thrace hisses after checking a phone, discovering it dead. Adama is astonished how people he's trusted have turned mutinous. He realizes the hangar deck was only the beachhead to a ship-wide takeover of the ship.
* Thrace passionately kisses Lee and tells him she hasn't felt this alive in weeks. They leave to work out what to do, gather people who will help. They try to make their way to [[CIC]]. As they move through the corridors of the ship, they hear gunfire and screams in the distance.
* They pass by several unidentified bodies as well as groups of huddled civilians trying to stay out of the crossfire. A marine pursues a group of armed civilians and exchanges gunfire with them. The duo encounter an unidentified crewman with a pistol who yields to them, suggesting that he is an ally, then continues on.
* CIC is in confusion as Gaeta continues to throw false report after report, keeping Tigh and the admiral off-base.
* The Agathons are thrown in the Cylon brig along with [[Caprica-Six]] and [[Samuel Anders]]. Caprica-Six warns that this is a start to eradicating the Cylons, especially their children. Athena reassures her that they'll be kept alive for now as bargaining chips.
* As Jaffee returns to report that the array's damage was faked, Gaeta initiates the final phase of the takeover, calling in several marines who are part of the mutiny, who encircle Adama and the startled CIC staff. A handful of marines who are not involved remain in the room as well. When one of Gaeta's marines signals as though he is about to shoot the Admiral, Jaffee takes the bullet for him, receiving a fatal wound in the process.
* A firefight ensues, and several marines are killed, including those who are not involved in the mutiny. Gaeta orders his men to cease fire, then orders Adama and his staff to stand down, which the admiral reluctantly agrees to do, despite Tigh's anger.
* Gaeta tells Adama that he is removing him from command of ''Galactica'' on the charge of treason.
* Adama accuses Gaeta of betraying his oath and uniform, while Gaeta retorts that the admiral has done that himself by allying with the Cylons.
* Adama angrily warns that, unlike in times past, there will be no forgiveness or amnesty for this takeover.
* Gaeta orders the marines to arrest Adama, Tigh, and the senior staff and to place them in a holding cell.

===Act 3===

* Kara Thrace and Lee Adama make it to the admiral's quarters, finding Laura Roslin there, telling her of the uprising, the communications blackout and that Zarek is in control on ''Colonial One.''
* Roslin has had enough; she puts on her coat and leads them all out, knowing of one way to get a message out over wireless.

* Gaeta, now commanding CIC, orders [[Redwing]] and his marine team to secure the engine room. Specialist Gage now sits in Gaeta's old station.

* Surrounded by [[Cult of Baltar|his followers]], [[Gaius Baltar]] wishes his group well as he prepares to leave, believing that the uprising will come to get him as well. [[Galen Tyrol]] confirms Jeanne's fears to Baltar.
* As Roslin, Thrace and Lee Adama arrive, Tyrol briefs them. Using secured wireless handhelds, Tyrol has learned that the admiral is in custody. He tells him that he's in control of an airlock that could be used to get Adama off the ship. When Lee asks why Tyrol is doing this, Tyrol tells him that the "[[The Old Man|old man]]" deserves a better fate.

* Tigh and Adama begin speaking to their two marine escorts, Nowart and Maldonaldo. Adama challenges Nowart to shoot him and questions whether Nowart has "got a pair." The distraction works. Tigh and Adama manage to turn the tables, Adama shooting Maldonado and taking Nowart hostage.

* Roslin and Baltar talk. She knows that Baltar's pirate wireless transmitter that he's used to communicate to his followers throughout the Fleet could be used to warn others in the Fleet as well.

* Adama and Tigh watch Connor give orders to other mutineers. Nowart tells them that he was ordered to take them all to the brig. They head there.

* CIC communications are being besieged by confused voices from other Fleet captains as Laura Roslin's voice begins to talk to the Fleet, telling them all, including the Quorum, of the uprising, pleading all to follow the rightful authorities. Gage is unable to stop the pirate signal until Gaeta gets to the station to jam it. But now the Fleet's comm chatter worsens, asking for more information from Roslin and what is happening on the battlestar.

* Lee and Thrace meet up with Adama and Tigh in the brig. Thrace angrily reacts to Nowart's presence as Adama tells him to leave. Thrace shoots at Nowart's way, warning the admiral that they are not his men anymore.

===Act 4===

* In the secondary storage airlock, Roslin and Baltar talk about Gaeta and his duplicitous nature.
* As Adama and team make their way there, Baltar takes a moment to try to get Gaeta to stop his takeover. He reminds him of their failings on [[New Caprica]], suggesting that Gaeta was complicit with the Cylon occupation. Gaeta closes the channel.
* A Raptor is heading towards ''Galactica'' from the [[Rebel Basestar|Cylon baseship]], but Gaeta realizes the craft isn't heading for the hangar deck.

* The Raptor docks in the bay, piloted by an [[Number Eight|Eight]]. Roslin and Adama greet each other and kiss, causing Lee and Thrace to look at each other in surprise. Tyrol's men get word of marines heading their way.
* Baltar and Roslin board the Raptor, but the admiral orders Tyrol to get Lee and Thrace out and back to his secured area. He and Tigh choose to stay behind to ensure that the Raptor gets away.

* Gaeta orders the [[CAP]] to intercept and destroy the escaping Raptor as the episode ends.

* The marines, led by [[Aaron Kelly]], use welding torches to cut through the airlock locks and open the door slightly. Adama returns fire. "It's been an honor to serve with you, my friend," Adama tells Tigh, as marines throw a flash grenade through the doors.

==Notes==
*In the previous episode, it was said that two marines were killed by the rebellious crew of the tylium ship. Yet in this episode, the survivor count is down by just one - accounting for Laird's death prior to the opening sequence. This can be explained by births in the fleet.

== Analysis ==
*Quite a few people have sided with Zarek and Gaeta. These include pilots [[Noel Allison|Narcho]], [[Margaret Edmondson|Racetrack]], [[Hamish McCall|Skulls]], [[Paolo McKay|Redwing]] and [[Diana Seelix]], marines [[Maldonaldo]] and [[Allan Nowart|Nowart]], specialists [[Vireem]] and [[Gage]], Captain [[Aaron Kelly]], and civilian [[Charlie Connor]]. In this episode, Maldonaldo is killed by Adama, Skulls is shot and wounded by Kara Thrace, and Nowart is captured and later released by Adama.
*The Adama/Roslin loyalists include [[Saul Tigh]], [[Lee Adama]], [[Kara Thrace]], [[Galen Tyrol]], [[Helo]], [[Athena]], and [[Hoshi]]. [[Gaius Baltar]] has also sided with Roslin out of self-preservation. By the end of the episode, the only known characters on ''Galactica'' capable of retaking the ship are Lee Adama, Kara Thrace, and Galen Tyrol. Roslin and Baltar have fled ''Galactica'', Admiral Adama and Saul Tigh are cornered, and Helo, Athena and Hoshi were captured before they even knew what was happening.
*The mutiny seems to have revitalized Kara Thrace and Laura Roslin. Thrace is the first one to organize any form of resistance against the mutineers. Roslin has openly addressed the Fleet for the first time since the discovery of Earth.
*The mutiny has given Kara Thrace a new purpose in life as well as something to distract her from her inner demons. She throws herself into battle without hesitation or regard for her own safety. She has also assumed a cold and single-minded attitude as evidenced by her attempts to gun down an unarmed Nowart.
*Despite forming a partnership to overthrow Adama, Zarek and Gaeta clearly have differing ideas of how to go about dealing with their opponents. The brutal killing of Laird is but one example of how Zarek is willing to go to much more extreme lengths than Gaeta, who seems to want the coup to succeed without excessive bloodshed. Zarek also lets slip that he disapproves of Gaeta arresting the senior staff of ''Galactica'' rather than just executing them. It remains to be seen how far this rift will widen.
*Gaeta appears to want the removal of Adama without recourse to too much violence, as shown by his attempt to stop the gunfire in CIC and his refusal to execute Adama and the senior staff on the spot. Nevertheless Gaeta has clearly mentally and morally committed himself to the mutiny to the point where he eventually orders the shooting down of the Raptor carrying Roslin to the Basestar (although he does not know who is aboard).
*It does not seem essential in the end for Tigh and Adama to stay in the storage bay while the marines break down the door, as the Raptor is clear before the marines make it through. It is possible that Adama would have remained anyway, refusing to abandon his ship.
* Adama's final words to his XO show how he still holds Saul Tigh in high regard as his friend, regardless of his revealed Cylon nature. He also express pleasure in seeing Galen Tyrol in the Storagebay when Adama first arrives.
*Lee Adama's sharp comments to Tigh shows the hard line toward the Cylons still held by the younger Adama, which has been displayed in earlier episodes such as "[[A Measure of Salvation]]" when he proposed a genocidal biological attack on the Cylons. Despite this Lee tempers his feelings with his pragmatic attitude to the Cylon alliance alongside his loyalty to Roslin and his father, noting that it is all they have left to survive. However, despite this, he expresses gratitude and no hostility to Galen Tyrol when he gives Lee and Roslin the news of the Admiral being transported to the brig and offers to get the Admiral off the ship.
*Baltar attempts to blackmail Gaeta into abandoning the mutiny by reminding him of his knowledge of Gaeta's complicity in the deaths of Resistance members on [[New Caprica]]. Ironically in a broad manner, they were victims of similar circumstances. Both were victims of duplicitous Cylon females who using sexual affection were able to get them to pass them sensitive secret information and use it against humanity. In the case of Baltar, he gave [[Caprica Six]] the back door codes to the Colonial defense systems allowing the Cylons to shut it down, resulting in the deaths of billions of people. In the case of Gaeta, he gave the names of Resistance members to an [[Eight]] he was having an affair with and who he believed was aiding the humans. In reality, she was responsible for the deaths of many of those on the list he gave her to help. The two main differences between the two situations are that Baltar didn't know Caprica Six was a Cylon while Gaeta did and Baltar's mistake resulted in billions dying instead of the relative few in Gaeta's case.
*No one referenced Felix Gaeta's being complicit in the [[Karl Agathon]]-led mutiny on the ''[[Demetrius]]'', the ship Admiral Adama gave Kara Thrace to command to find an alternative route to Earth. Everyone seemed surprised that Gaeta would mutiny and lead a rebellion against the Admiral. President Roslin said to Baltar "who would have thought" that it would be Gaeta? This would seem to indicate that certainly Roslin and Baltar, and very likely Adama, Tigh and others who weren't aboard the ''Demetrius'', do not know of the incident. It would also indicate that the crew of the ''Demetrius'' - including those who opposed Agathon and Gaeta, like Kara Thrace and Samuel Anders - thought it was in their self-interest to keep the incident to themselves.
*It has been argued that Gaeta had also committed mutiny before when aiding Roslin's escape from ''Galactica'' when it was commanded by Colonel Tigh during "[[Resistance]]". However, since the Colonial government seems to be much like the real world US government and other democracies it is highly likely that the actions of then Commander Adama in seizing control of the civilian government was the mutinous act and Gaeta and Lee Adama acted in ''defiance'' of a mutiny, which is actually the lawful thing to do.
*"Semper Fidelis" is the motto of the United States Marine Corps. It is a Latin phrase meaning "always faithful." Kara Thrace's disgusted paraphrase of it after she had witnessed marines breaking faith with Adama suggests that the Colonial Marine Corps may have adopted the same motto.
*This mutiny seems to highlight Admiral Adama's incomplete assimilation of the Pegasus crew with his own as a majority of the mutineers are from the Pegasus camp. Adama has been long credited to create a loyalty amongst his crew, but it appears to have taken little hold amongst those from Admiral Cain's camp, despite being together for over 2 years. Old resentments and bitter feuds are finally revealed again during this mutiny, such as Gage's revenge on the Agathons.
*Ironically, Baltar, who had asked the question of whether the leaders of the Fleet will ever be anyone without the name Adama or Roslin, has sided with the Adamas and Roslin out of his need for self-preservation.
*Gaeta does not seem to have a large number of ''Galactica's'' senior staff on his side during the mutiny, lines of dialogue in the episode indicate the senior staff are in fact being taken into custody, suggesting the mutiny is more of an uprising of the "lower classes" . Notably Gaeta also relies heavily on civilian support to achieve his goals. Certainly none of the major characters in the show who are senior officers support Gaeta.
*Racetrack is perhaps the most surprising member of Gaeta's mutiny. Although she did previously participate in Lee Adama and Roslin's escape from ''Galactica'' in "[[Resistance]]", she has always displayed an unwavering loyalty to Adama (technically speaking, Tigh was commanding ''Galactica'' in "[[Resistance]]"). While her general participation in the mutiny can be explained by her natural hatred for the Cylons, her willingness to lead Lee Adama into a possibly fatal trap was highly uncharacteristic. It is possible she thought Lee Adama would only be taken prisoner upon arrival.
*Given Gaeta's comment to Zarek that he should control Lee Adama's dissenting voice in the Quorum by "pushing his buttons" it seems unlikely that Gaeta would have then ordered Lee Adama executed upon returning to the ship. The actions of Connor and Skulls and the marine guard were possibly a spontaneous reaction to Lee's role in defending Baltar and supporting his father. It is unknown if Zarek gave the order to have the younger Adama killed.
*Gaeta's opposition to allowing the Cylons to network the Fleet's ships is somewhat ironic given that he was the one who suggested networking ''Galactica'''s computer systems in "[[Scattered]]".

== Questions ==
*What will happen to Adama and Tigh? ([[Blood on the Scales|Answer]])
*Where are Kara Thrace, Lee Adama, and Galen Tyrol heading off to? ([[Blood on the Scales|Answer]])
*How much impact has Roslin's speech had on the Fleet?
*Will Zarek get the rest of the Fleet to fall in line? ([[Blood on the Scales|Answer]])
*Just how far is Gaeta willing to go to rid the Fleet of the Cylons?
*How will the rebel Cylons react to the uprising? ([[Blood on the Scales|Answer]])
*Will Roslin enlist the aid of the rebel Cylons to bring down Zarek? ([[Blood on the Scales|Answer]])
*Where do other crew members such as Hot Dog and Doc Cottle stand? ([[Blood on the Scales|Partial Answer]])
*Were Gaeta's men actually planning to execute Lee Adama?
*What are Racetrack and Skulls' personal motivations for joining Gaeta?
*Where did Nowart flee to?
*Will any of the mutineers switch sides? What about the loyalists? ([[Blood on the Scales|Answer]])
*What other loyalists besides Lee Adama and Kara Thrace remain at large on ''Galactica''?
*Will Skulls survive his injuries?
*What was Thrace reading before the alarm was sounded?
*Will Gaeta take advantage of the mutiny to seek personal vengeance against Tigh, Anders, Thrace and Baltar?
*Will Hotdog realize what has happened on Galactica and attempt to prevent Narcho from shooting down Roslin's Raptor? ([[Blood on the Scales|Answer]])
*Will Specialist Gage follow through with his promise to sexually assault Sharon Agathon? ([[Blood on the Scales| Answer]])
*Will massive military executions proceed following the final result of Gaeta's mutiny?
*Does the fact that Jeanne was working on the hangar deck indicate that her press pass seen in [[Crossroads, Part I]] was counterfeit?

== Official Statements ==

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
*'''''Admiral Adama''' after the death of Jaffee and having been relieved of command:''
: "I want you all to understand this! If you do this, there will be no forgiveness. No amnesty. This boy died honouring his uniform. You, you'll die with nothing."

*'''''President Roslin''' addressing the fleet:''
: "Women and men of the fleet. This is your president. We have come to a crossroads in our long and painful journey. Of all the decisions that I have had to make since assuming the presidency, none was more frightening or more difficult than agreeing to this alliance with the Cylons. But we have come to a crossroads in our long and painful journey. Cylons and humans have been at war for generations; we know nothing else. And we have been locked in a struggle that has seen both sides suffer unspeakable loss. But with our supplies running low and our options limited, our former enemies may represent our last, perhaps our only hope. To those in the fleet and in Galactica who would reject this alliance, I am asking you. No, I am begging you to reconsider and place your trust back in those who have brought you this far, and to reject those traitors who would use your fear of the Cylons to destroy Colonial civilization a..."

*'''''Kara Thrace''':''
:"Semper frakkin' fi!"

== Guest Stars ==
* [[Richard Hatch]] as [[Tom Zarek]]
* [[Brad Dryborough]] as Lieutenant [[Louis Hoshi]]
* [[Sebastian Spence]] as Lieutenant [[Noel Allison|Noel "Narcho" Allison]]
* [[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza]]
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Lieutenant [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
* [[Colin Lawrence]] as Lieutenant [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]]
* [[Jennifer Halley]] as Ensign [[Diana Seelix|Diana "Hardball" Seelix]]
* [[Ty Olsson]] as Captain [[Aaron Kelly]]
* [[Vincent Gale]] as Chief [[Peter Laird]]
* [[Colin Corrigan]] as Sergeant [[Allan Nowart]]
* [[Craig Veroni]] as Sergeant [[Maldonaldo]]
* [[Michael Leisen]] as Private [[Stewart Jaffee]]
* [[Derek Delost]] as Specialist [[Vireem]]
* [[Mike Dopud]] as Specialist [[Gage]]
* [[Ryan Robbins]] as [[Charlie Connor]]
* [[Alexandra Thomas]] as [[Hera Agathon]]
* [[Keegan Connor Tracy]] as [[Jeanne]]
* [[Lara Gilchrist]] as [[Paulla Schaffer]]
* [[Andrew McIlroy]] as [[Jacob Cantrell]]
* [[Marilyn Norry]] as [[Reza Chronides]]
* [[Judith Maxie]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Picon Delegate|Picon Delegate]]
* [[Iris Paluly]] as Speaking Delegate [[Dahlia]]
* [[Veena Sood]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Quorum Delegate|Quorum Delegate]]
* [[Alain Chanoine]] as Marine [[Reb]]

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

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Mark Verheiden]]
[[Category:RDM]]

Thomas Zarek

2009-02-08T02:27:09Z

Mistrx75:

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

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

'''Thomas Zarek''', commonly known as '''Tom Zarek''', was a political activist for more than 30 years before the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]]. He was a charismatic, eloquent and ideological political agitator who was incarcerated for destroying a government building on [[Sagittaron]]. His 20-year incarceration culminated in a sojourn on the ''[[Astral Queen]]'', an [[FTL]]-capable prison ship, whilst in transit to parole hearings. Assigned the prison number of [[893893]], Zarek is under consideration for parole at the time of the [[Cylon attack]].

== Biography ==

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

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

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

== After the Fall of the Colonies ==

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

== Breakaway from the Fleet ==

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

== The Occupation of New Caprica ==

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

==Post Earth/Coup d'etat==

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

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

During his and Gaeta's rebellion Zarek uses violence to gain the power he wants. When the Quorum ''don't'' support him and order him to leave, addressing him as the ''Vice President'' not the ''President'', he orders their execution by the marines outside the door. After they carry out this order, he summons Gaeta who is horrified by what Zarek did as he apparently didn't want it to go that far saying that before they had the truth on their side but now all they had was lies and murder.

He acts as the judge in a court-martial for Adama and orders his execution which is his intention when he and Gaeta hold it. When Roslin calls from the Cylon baseship demanding his and Gaeta's surrender, he refuses claiming that Tigh is dead already and Adama is going to be executed and calls for Roslin's surrender. Instead he just makes her more angry and she turns all of the baseship's weapons on ''Galactica''. Zarek wants to fight, but Gaeta, feeling enough blood has been spilled, tries to run but is foiled by Galen Tyrol who manually disables ''Galactica'''s FTL drive. Zarek is shocked by Gaeta's order to stand down all weapons and is arrested by Adama and his supporters seconds later who retake the ship from them, ending the rebellion.

Zarek is later executed by a firing squad for his actions alongside Gaeta.

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

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

{{Dead Characters}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zarek, Tom}}

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[[Category:People from Sagittaron]]
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