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Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)

2007-02-01T00:48:57Z

Torger: /* Sanctity of Life */

:''This article discusses the religion of the Colonies as seen in the [[Re-imagined Series]]. For summary information on the Kobollian religion from the [[Original Series]], see [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (TOS)]].''

{{RDM twelve colonies series}}

The '''religion of the Twelve Colonies''', which the various characters of ''Battlestar Galactica'' practice to greater or lesser extent, is a polytheistic faith. Their deities have an interesting parallelism to the [[Wikipedia:Greek mythology|Olympic gods]], with a strong emphasis on the philosophy of [[Wikipedia:Eternal return|eternal return]].

==Origin==
[[Image:Pythia.jpg|right|thumb|A portion of the Sacred Scrolls, specifically, a portion of the Book of [[Pythia]].]]
The eternal return aspect between the peoples of Kobol and Earth suggest a parallel or reverse-origin with humanity as a whole or the [[Thirteenth Tribe]] that presumably populated it. See [[History of the Twelve Colonies]] for more analysis.

In the burial scene of the [[Miniseries]], [[William Adama]] states, "Life here began out there,<ref>This phrase is a homage to the [[Original Series]], where each episode began with this phrase in a voice-over introduction.</ref>" reminding the assembly that this was the first line of the [[Sacred Scrolls]], the principle religious tome of the Colonial faith, told to them by the Lords Of Kobol many centuries ago.

==Belief==

===The Lords of Kobol===

Colonial religion is centered on the Lords of Kobol. In the Re-imagined Series, seven Lords of Kobol have been positively identified:

* [[Zeus]] - The leader of the gods. [[Tom Zarek]] has twice referred to [[William Adama|Commander Adama]] as "Zeus" ([[Bastille Day]], [[The Farm]]).
* [[Apollo, Lord of Kobol|Apollo]] - Zeus' son, said to be the god of the hunt and of healing ([[Bastille Day]]).
* [[Ares]] - The god of war. The [[Nicholas Tyrol|infant son]] of [[Cally]] and [[Galen Tyrol]] is [[dedication ceremony|dedicated]] to this Lord of Kobol ([[Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance|The Resistance, Episode 10]]).
* [[Artemis]] - Twin sister of Apollo, goddess of the hunt. [[Kara Thrace]] prays often to this lord ([[Flesh and Bone]]).
* [[Aphrodite]] - The goddess of love and sexuality. Kara Thrace prays often to this lord ([[Flesh and Bone]]).
* [[Athena, Lord of Kobol|Athena]] - This lord committed suicide "out of despair over the exodus of the thirteen tribes" ([[Home, Part II]]). Her [[Tomb of Athena|tomb]] holds a map to [[Earth]] ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]).
* [[Hera, Lord of Kobol|Hera]] - Wife and sister of Zeus. A [[Gates of Hera|mountain ridge]] on Kobol is named after her ([[Home, Part II]]), and the [[Hera|first Cylon/human hybrid child]] is named for this lord ([[Downloaded]]).

The Colonials appear to use multiple names for their gods, interchanging "Mars" for "Ares," "Jupiter" for "Zeus," and so on.<ref>Curiously, [[Laura Roslin]] mentions that the 134th day of the Cylon occupation of [[New Caprica]] is Mars Day ([[Occupation]]), suggesting that Ares may also be called by his alternate Roman pantheon's name. The same happens again in "[[The Passage]]" when Zeus is referred to by the name of his Roman counterpart Jupiter.</ref>

==== Paradise Lost ====

According to the [[Sacred Scrolls]], the gods once shared a paradise-like existence with the people of [[Kobol]]. Later circumstances forced the exodus of the human population of Kobol to [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|the Twelve Colonies]] and [[Earth]], and lead to Athena's suicide.

The existence of the Lords of Kobol is attested to by the survival of numerous artifacts, including the [[Arrow of Apollo]], the [[Tomb of Athena]] and the [[Gates of Hera]]. However, although she accepts their historicity, [[Sharon Agathon|Caprica-Valerii]], a [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]], questions their actual divinity.<ref>There is a notion in fan circles that there are twelve lords of Kobol, by analogy to the twelve Cylon models, twelve Colonies, and perhaps the [[Wikipedia:Twelve Olympians|Twelve Olympians]] of Greek mythology. A post from [[Ron D. Moore]]'s blog [http://blog.scifi.com/battlestar/archives/2005/03/index.html#a000023 on March 12, 2005] loosely alludes on this coincidence, but further official sourcing has not been revealed.</ref>

====The Jealous God====

[[Elosha]] states that the exodus from Kobol was precipitated when "one jealous god began to desire that he be elevated above all the other gods, and the war on Kobol began."<ref>From a [http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/episodes/season01/112/mov/bsg_del_112_regret.mov deleted scene] cut from the episode "[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]."</ref>

====The Path of Olympus====

[[Tom Zarek]] conveys to [[Laura Roslin]] and members of her command staff of [[Laura Roslin faction|factioners]] the news that Commander [[William Adama]] had resumed command of ''[[Galactica]]'' after the attempt on his life by saying: "Zeus has returned to '''Olympus''' " ([[The Farm]]).<ref>In Greek mythology, the home of the gods on Earth resided high atop Greece's highest mountain, Mount Olympus, at a time where access to the mountain summit would be almost impossible with the inhabitants' technology of that age.</ref> By Zarek's comment we can infer that Colonial religion appears to acknowledge the existence of a place called Olympus. It cannot yet be determined, however, if Olympus was thought of as the residence of the gods at a specific physical or ''metaphysical'' location of Kobol, as there has been no mention of Olympus elsewhere in the series. If Olympus is a metaphysical locale, this may contradict [[Elosha]]'s comment that the gods and man lived on Kobol together in harmony.

===Other Mythological Names in Colonial Culture===

Various items have been identified which are apparently named after other gods and legendary figures of their faith, although these have not been explicitly identified as Lords of Kobol.

:''See main article: [[Mythological references]]''

===The Cycle of Time===

''"All this has happened before, and all this will happen again."''

According to [[Gaius Baltar]], this line from the Pythian prophesy is very well known ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]). [[Laura Roslin]] later expands on it, reminding [[Kara Thrace]],

<blockquote>"If you believe in the gods, then you believe in the cycle of time that we are all playing our parts in a story that is told again, and again, and again throughout eternity" ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]).</blockquote>

Various events throughout the series have led some characters to believe that they are playing out another turn of this cycle<ref>The notion of a circular progression of time (also known as [[Wikipedia:eternal return|eternal return]] or eternal recurrence) is a common theme in other faiths, particularly [[Wikipedia:Maya#Religion|Mayan]] mythology and is a cornerstone of the Hindu and Buddhist faiths. Moreover, [[Wikipedia:Stoic|Stoic]] philosophy did believe in the concept of ''ekpyrosis'', the fire which consumes the old world and signals the birth of a new world, identical to the old, for a recurring cycle of birth, death and rebirth.</ref>. (See [[Sacred Scrolls]] for more detailed analysis.)

===Sanctity of Life===

According to the Sacred Scrolls, abortion is "an abomination in the eyes of the Gods". The more fundamentalist [[Gemenese]] strictly adhere to this commandment, however the more secular Colonies such as Caprica apparently do not follow this as strictly: officially, Colonies-wide Federal law guaranteed a woman the right to an abortion, at least at the time of the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]] ([[The Captain's Hand]]).

==Individual Practice==

The Colonials display a wide spectrum of religious practice, ranging from [[Billy Keikeya]]'s atheism ([[Home, Part II]], [http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/episodes/season02/207/deleted4.html cut scene]) to Corporal [[Venner]]'s literalistic readings of the Sacred Scrolls.

While not fully explained in the Re-imagined Series, it appears, based on the information from a [[dedication ceremony]] for [[Nicholas Tyrol]] and the prayers of [[Kara Thrace]], that each Colonial is paired, or "placed in the service" with one or more of the Lords. Based on the dedication ceremony blessing, Zeus is a considered "almighty" or foremost of the gods, while other Lords are prayed to by Colonials as a proxy to Zeus.<ref>This practice is similar to a Catholic practice of prayer to Mary, mother of Jesus. While Mary is a human, followers believe that, by praying to Mary, she can intercede to aid the acceptance of the prayer by the [[w:Trinity|Trinity]], the godhead of the Catholic faith.</ref>

===[[Temple]]===
While not seen in season 1, the worship sites known as temples have appeared on [[New Caprica]]. Temples may have been more elaborate places on the Twelve Colonies, but the spaceborne remnants of humanity presumably use any space they can find on their ships to form a basic temple. As seen on [[New Caprica]], a basic temple may consist of a simple altar with candles, idols of the Lords of Kobol, and what meager offerings the Colonials can give as a tithe. Some prayers are written and paper and burned ([[Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance]]).

The temple on New Caprica was known as the Temple of Artemis ([[Collaborators]]), suggesting that temples are named after a Lord or Lords, and may be related to the pairing of Colonials to a specific set of Lords at their dedication ceremony.
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===Dress===
[[Image:Season 3 - Promo - Epi 1 - 2 - Oracle Selloi.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The robes of [[Dodona Selloi]] ([[Exodus, Part I]])]]
As seen by the various [[Laura Roslin faction|separatists]] orbiting [[Kobol]] in "[[Home, Part I]]," it appears that many Colonials have clothing that suggests a religious deference. In the scene, one older, white-bearded gentleman is dressed in simple colored robes and a round, flat head covering<ref>These robes may remind viewers of the tradition dress of Hasidic Jews, Islamic clerics, or Eastern Orthodox clerics of the real-world Earth.</ref> Other distinctive dress styles of other characters in the scene increase the sense of the dedication of religion in the Gemenese people (which appeared to comprise the majority of Roslin's separatists).

The [[oracle]] [[Dodona Selloi]] dresses in a turban and robes, suggesting a special role in Colonial society or its religious hierarchy ([[Exodus, Part I]]).
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===Idols===
<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em;">[[Image:Idols.jpg|100px]]</div>
At the end of the episode "[[Flesh and Bone]]," Kara Thrace, a devotee of Artemis and Aphrodite (as stated by [[Leoben Conoy]] in the same episode), prays to them on Conoy's behalf using figurines that bear a similarity to classic representations of Artemis and Athena. Artemis is depicted with her bow and arrow, and Athena with her helmet of war.
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===Rosaries===
<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em;">[[Image:Rosary.jpg|100px]]</div>
As Roslin begins to suffer from Chamalla withdrawal in "[[Fragged]]," Corporal [[Venner]], a fundamentalist from [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Gemenon|Gemenon]], anxiously clutches a set of white prayer beads.
<br clear="all">

===Group prayer===
<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em;">[[Image:The_Farm-Group_Worship.jpg|100px]]</div>
Some prisoners on the ''[[Astral Queen]]'' seeking rehabilitation have turned to group prayer. In the episode "[[The Farm]]", they greet Laura Roslin as a prophet and she provides them with a blessing.

Priestess [[Elosha]] sings a group prayer in the service for the dead at the conclusion of the [[Miniseries]].<ref>Curiously, the language she sings is [[w:Sanskrit|Sanskrit]], a classical language of real-world Earth's Hindu/Indian peoples. More about the verses that she sings and their meaning can be found in the [[Language in the Twelve Colonies#Liturgy|Language in the Twelve Colonies]] article.</ref><br clear="all">

===Artifacts===
<div style="float:left; margin-right:1em;">[[Image:Bsg-arrow-apollo.jpg|75px]]</div>
Despite Gemenon's fundamentalist climate, the city of [[Delphi]] on [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]] was apparently of a mind to store an important religious artifact, the [[Arrow of Apollo]], in a [[Delphi Museum of the Colonies|museum]], rather than a devotional institution.

Ancient temples may be also be the repository of special artifacts such as the [[Eye of Jupiter]], believed to be stored inside the legendary [[Temple of Five]].
<br clear="all">

==The Clergy==
[[Image:Season 3 - Promo - Collaborators - Priest.jpg|right|thumb|A male priest. ([[Collaborators]]).]]
The religious and government bodies of the Twelve Colonies work together. This association is likely based on the religious homogeneity of the Colonies.<ref>This differs from the United States, whose government is based on religious tolerance through the separation of religious practice and legislature. While the real-world Earth has many, many religions, the Twelve Colonies, as yet, appear to have only one religion and as such does not suffer greatly from schisms or other religious factions, although colonists such as the Gemenese show a different emphasis on how they interpret the religious writings.</ref>

[[Laura Roslin]] [[Case Orange|is sworn into the presidency]] by a ''priest'', [[Elosha]], who continues on in an advisory capacity within Roslin's administration. However the oath of office itself contained no religious content. Priests also preside over military funerals, without regard for the beliefs of the deceased.

[[Image:Elosha1.jpg|thumb|left|Elosha, priest and friend of President Roslin. ([[Home, Part I]])]]
Priests in the Twelve Colonies are apparently not required to practice celibacy, as in some Christian denominations. Priests can also be male or female. In the episode "[[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]]," Chief [[Galen Tyrol]] states that his father was a priest and his mother an oracle.

According to Billy Keikeya, some priests use the [[chamalla]] plant for its hallucinogenic properties. The prescient dreams it imparted to Laura Roslin may imply the use of something similar by [[Pythia]], an ancient prophet.

The term ''Brother'' is used as a title for male members of the clergy, although it is not fully apparent whether this is used in the real-world Earth's common usage as the title of a [[Wikipedia:Monk|monk]]. As with priests, a brother offers consultation and leads prayer.

The only instance of this clergy is Brother [[Cavil]], who offers guidance to Chief Tyrol. Cavil, however, is revealed as a [[Cylon agent]] some time later. Because of Cavil's nature, there may be doubt as to whether Cavil is a useful example of the work of a Brother in Colonial religion.
<div style="clear: both;"></div>

[[Image:Tivenan.jpg|right|thumb|Sister Tivenan (right) at a [[dedication ceremony]] ([[Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance|The Resistance: Episode 10]])]]
As with Brothers in the clergy, there are ''Sisters'' as well. Sister [[Tivenan]] is briefly seen tending to business in the temple on [[New Caprica]], guiding prayer and officiating a [[dedication ceremony]] for the [[Nicholas Tyrol|newborn son]] of [[Galen Tyrol|Galen]] and [[Cally Tyrol]] ([[Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance]]).

Based on their viewed works, as well as their simple dress and frequency of appearance, it is probable that Brothers and Sisters are lay clergy (unlike priests and oracles, who appear to have political status as well as their religious status).

Other than the works of Pythia and the mention of Chief Tyrol's mother, there is little information as to the functions of an ''[[oracle]]''.

[[Dodona Selloi]] is the only oracle seen in the Re-imagined Series. She confirms the dreams of a copy of [[Number Three]] and the existence of [[Hera]]. It is not clear if Selloi was sitting in a tent designated as a temple, but there were numerous ornate or curious inscriptions surrounding and inside her tent that suggest the significance of the oracle's tent or her presence.

Priests and oracles may assume their roles due to an personal, possibly inherited affinity to sense spiritual changes or conditions. [[Galen Tyrol]], the son of a priest and oracle, detects the presence of and finds the [[Temple of Five]] alone, based only on his senses, apparently detecting the hidden temple on the otherwise-unremarkable (and undocumented) [[algae planet]] ([[The Eye of Jupiter]]).

== Cylon Interpretations ==

Many Cylon agents show a strict, firm belief in a monotheistic [[God]]. When agents such as Leoben Conoy, Cavil, and [[Sharon Agathon|Caprica-Valerii]] begin talking of Cylon beliefs, they are ridiculed and threatened with death. They refer to the Lords of Kobol as "false idols." They also claim to have more insight into Colonial religion than the Colonials themselves, as shown by Caprica-Valerii in "[[Home, Part II]]."

However, a connection between the Cylon God and the Lords of Kobol may exist. In "[[Exodus, Part I]]," an [[Selloi|oracle]] tells [[Number Three]] (a [[Cylon agent]] who has a ''dream'' of the oracle's tent and of holding the believed-dead hybrid child [[Hera]]) that she has a message from the one that Number Three worships. How would an oracle of the Lords of Kobol be able to hear the messages of the Cylon god?

One possibility involves the fates of the Lords of Kobol. If a Kobollian god(s) was separated from the others (per [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies#The Jealous God|the deleted scene about a jealous god]]), could that deity have influenced the Cylons later, compelling them to deny the existence of the other Lords?<ref>The Olympian gods had many enemies, including the ones they deposed, the [[Wikipedia: Titan (mythology)|titans]].</ref> While the notion of a fallen Lord is speculative in the Re-imagined Series, there is already a parallel series of characters from the [[Original Series]]: The [[Beings of Light]] and their fallen member, [[Iblis]].

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

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Kara Thrace

2007-01-20T18:07:43Z

Torger: /* Background */

:''This article discusses the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]] character with the pilot callsign of "Starbuck." For information on Kara Thrace's counterpart in the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]], see [[Starbuck (TOS)]].''

{{Character Data
|photo= Starbucks.jpg
|age=
|colony= [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]]
|birthname= Kara Thrace
|callsign= Starbuck
|seen= Miniseries
|death=
|parents= [[Socrata]] (mother)
|siblings=
|children=
|marital status= Married to [[Samuel Anders]] (formerly engaged to [[Zak Adama]]†)
|role= Squadron leader (formerly: Commander Air Group), battlestar ''Galactica''
|rank= Captain
|actor= [[Katee Sackhoff]]
|cylon=
}}

'''Kara "Starbuck" Thrace''', serial number 462753, is a gifted [[Viper]] pilot — and knows it. This leaves her with an attitude that has at times thwarted her career advancement. However, thanks to [[William Adama]], Thrace's skills in battle have extended beyond the cockpit to greatly aid the Fleet.

== Background ==
*In an unhappy childhood, Thrace was so frequently beaten by her mother, [[Socrata]]<ref name="mothername">Given in a section of ''TV Guide'''s "The Ausiello Report" (page 10); October 23-29, 2006; Vol. 54, No. 43, Issue #2795</ref>, that she came to accept pain as a way of life ([[Flesh and Bone]]).
*Her father was a pianist ([[Valley of Darkness]]), suggesting that her formerly broken finger bones on both hands had been intentionally broken by a parent using her father's piano ([[The Farm]]).
*Thrace left home to join the [[Colonial Fleet|military]].
* She was a very talented [[pyramid]] player ([[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]]), and received a scholarship to the Fleet Academy to play pyramid. During this time, she injured her knee and was no longer able to play pyramid at a professional level. During that time, however, she discovered a passion and skill at being a fighter pilot ([[Podcast:The Hand of God]]). On graduating from Colonial Flight School, she undertook a period of active duty before returning to flight school as an instructor.
*Thrace fell in love with a young recruit, [[Zak Adama]]. Despite his mediocre performance, she passed him on his final flight examination, despite failing three of the required maneuvers ([[Act of Contrition]]).
*Thrace's engagement to Zak Adama ends when he was killed during a routine mission shortly after graduating. At the time, [[Lee Adama]], Zak's elder brother, blamed their father for Zak Adama's death. In her guilt, Thrace did little to alter this idea. She did, however, meet [[William Adama]] shortly after the accident, and the two struck up such a strong rapport that they stood together at the funeral ([[Act of Contrition]]).
*Thrace resigned from flight school as a instructor and transferred as an operational pilot aboard [[Galactica type battlestar|battlestar]] ''[[Galactica]]'' under the command of William Adama, where she served for some two years prior to the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|Cylon attack]] on the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]]. Before the Cylon attack, she was second in command of the remaining pilots, subordinate to the [[CAG]], [[Jackson Spencer]].
*At the time of the Cylon attack she has an run-down apartment in [[Delphi]] that overlooks a parking lot and a Colonial version of a Hummve which her and Helo use to escape the city and get to the country where she meets her husband-to-be Anders. She rarely used the dilapidated apartment. She was also a very avid painter, and her apartment was cluttered with her paintings ([[Valley of Darkness]]).
*Despite her reckless approach to life, Thrace hides the fact that she is deeply spiritual. She frequently prays (or talks) to the [[Lords of Kobol]], particularly [[Aphrodite]] and [[Artemis]] in times of need ([[Miniseries]], "[[Flesh and Bone]]", "[[You Can't Go Home Again]]").

==Character History at a Glance==
*Thrace's attitude quickly runs her afoul of Colonel [[Saul Tigh]], ''Galactica's'' [[Executive officer]]. Their open mutual dislike of one another leads to the point where blows are exchanged, with Thrace ending up in the brig. After the Cylon attack she is released from the brig and returns to duty as ''Galactica's'' Viper pilot.
*Thrace manages to keep two of three nuclear missiles from striking ''Galactica'' in their first Cylon sortie, and saves Captain Adama from doom in an innovative maneuver in the [[Battle of Ragnar Anchorage]].
*Her skills in saving Apollo brings her grudging respect from Colonel Tigh, but she is unable to accept his offer of the olive branch - an act that will have repercussions for her later ([[Miniseries]]).

[[image:Bastille_Day-Starbuck_Boxey.jpg|thumb|left|[[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] as acting [[CAG]] with [[Boxey (RDM)|Boxey]] as assistant in [[Bastille Day]].]]
*Thrace participates in a hostage rescue mission aboard the ''[[Astral Queen]]''. Following the successful mission, Thrace tries to mend fences between herself and Colonel Tigh with a toast (consisting of water), apologizing in much the same way as Tigh himself had tried after their initial escape from [[Ragnar Anchorage]]. But Tigh rejects Thrace's apology, stating that her flaws are professional, while his flaws were personal ([[Bastille Day]]).
*Thrace eventually admits her secret about Zak Adama to William Adama himself, an act that brings their close friendship almost to the breaking point ([[Act of Contrition]]).
*During a surprise encounter with Cylons during [[nugget]] training, Starbuck destroys several Cylon Raiders, but her ship is damaged and tumbles towards a small red moon with an unbreathable atmosphere. With her Viper in a fatal flat-spin, Starbuck is forced to eject from her Viper ([[You Can't Go Home Again]]).
*Thrace (nursing a damaged knee) repairs the downed Cylon Raider found on the inhabitable moon and returns to ''Galactica'', giving the Fleet a vital piece of Cylon fighter technology for study and use.
*The recovering Thrace, off flight status, is asked by Commander Adama to plan a special attack on a Cylon [[tylium]] refinery. The tactical planning role is not something she relishes, and she frequently shows resentment towards others for her condition ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]).
*During Thrace's undesired interrogation of a Cylon prisoner, a copy of a known [[Cylon agent]] named [[Leoben Conoy]], she uses some drastic acts to try to extract the information from the Cylon agent ([[Flesh and Bone]]).
[[image:Starbuck-Kobols_Last_Gleaming_pt2.jpg|thumb|right|'''Starbuck''' retrieves the [[Arrow of Apollo]] in [[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]].]]
*Thrace is assigned to plant a nuclear device on board a [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] in orbit around [[Kobol]]. Disobeying orders to retrieve the [[Arrow of Apollo]] by President Roslin's request, disillusioned by Commander Adama, she Jumps to Caprica ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]), landing in [[Delphi]].
*In the [[Delphi Museum of the Colonies]] with the Arrow, she is violently attacked by a copy of [[Number Six]]. Despite being heavily outmatched in the fight, Thrace luckily defeats the Cylon.
*At the museum, she reunites with [[Karl Agathon|Helo]], whom she thought dead, and discovers a second copy of [[Sharon Valerii]], realizing instantly that the woman is a Cylon.
*Valerii, fearing for her child, steals Thrace's Raider. In exasperation, Starbuck could only mutter: "Bitch took my ride" ([[Scattered]]). Like Helo, Starbuck was left with no way to return to the Fleet unless she could find her Raider or another Cylon spacecraft, as enemy FTL engines were the only ones sufficently powerful to reach the Fleet.
*Starbuck berates Helo's love for the Caprica copy of Valerii. Thrace finds the keys of her surplus military utility vehicle in her old jacket in her old apartment. Thrace has a ride again, if only to move more efficiently about Caprica ([[Valley of Darkness]]).
*Thrace and Helo meet a [[Caprica Resistance|resistance movement]] on Caprica. Thrace and [[Samuel Anders]] strike up a rapport as fellow [[pyramid (RDM)|pyramid]] players and end up as lovers.
*During planning to steal a [[Heavy Raider]], Thrace is shot in a military action, waking up in a hospital on Caprica. Thrace is told by her doctor, [[Simon]], that Anders died from wounds he suffered in getting Thrace to safety.
*Thrace discovers that Simon is working with a [[Number Six|known Cylon agent]]. She overhears that the next day he plans to extract her ovaries for use in the Cylon's attempts to study and create a hybrid Cylon/human embryo. Simon also makes the mistake of calling Thrace by her callsign, Starbuck, which she had never revealed.
*Staggering and in pain, Thrace kills Simon and escapes the hospital, but not before clocking a Six copy with a fire extinguisher and destroying the local farm power supply, mercy-killing [[Sue-Shaun]] and several other women in the facility.
*Another Simon copy appears just as the Resistance attacks the facility. The second Simon, now revealed as a Cylon agent himself, is immediately killed by the Resistance, but a squad of [[Cylon Centurion]]s appear and pins the Resistance down. Luckily, Helo's [[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|copy of Sharon Valerii]] swoops in with a stolen [[Heavy Raider]], destroys the Centurions and flies the Resistance and Thrace out of harm's way.
*Thrace promises to Anders that she'll [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I|return with a rescue mission]] for the remaining survivors. Anders returns the Arrow of Apollo to Thrace, which he hid on the resistance grounds for safekeeping ([[The Farm]]).
*Thrace, Helo and the pregnant Valerii land on the ''[[Astral Queen]]'' in the Heavy Raider. Finding the [[Laura Roslin faction]] in orbit of [[Kobol]], Thrace is reunited with Lee Adama. He kisses her impulsively, catching Thrace by pleasant surprise, but a tense standoff follows when Adama discovers that another Valerii copy has returned with them. Roslin helps defuse the situation, and Thrace delivers the Arrow of Apollo to the President.
*Temporarily removed from miltary protocol, Lee Adama playfully teases Thrace by stealing a pyramid ball she took from Caprica. Adama senses her depression about Caprica and tells her that he'd be happy to hear about any problems she had. He also let slip that he loved her, which brightened Thrace's mood to the point where she teased him back about his slip.
*With a team led by Laura Roslin, Lee Adama, and, later, joined by the recovered Commander Adama, Thrace enters the [[Tomb of Athena]] and successfully uses the Arrow of Apollo to activate a hologram that shows constellations of the Twelve Colonies' ancient symbols.
*Thrace realizes that they are on a recreation of Earth. Together with Lee Adama, they locate the Lagoon Nebula, a celestial body known to Commander Adama and Lee Adama, and gather sufficient information to begin an actual course to Earth ([[Home, Part II]]).
*Thrace shows off the impressive stealth abilities in the new [[Blackbird]] fighter in her maiden flight ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]).
*With the arrival of ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', Admiral [[Helena Cain]] summarily assigns Thrace (and Lee Adama) to ''Pegasus'' after digesting the reports of ''Galactica'''s officers.
*[[Cole Taylor|The ''Pegasus'' CAG]] removes Thrace from the Cylon recon mission. Lee Adama secretly tells her to use the [[Blackbird]] to take recon photos of the Cylon Unknown ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]).
*Returning from her very successful mission, the [[Blackbird]]'s lack of a Colonial transponder is mistaken for a Cylon [[Raider]] on [[DRADIS]], and Starbuck is nearly confronted and shot at by Vipers from ''Pegasus'' and ''Galactica''. After narrowly avoiding certain death by declaring herself a friendly, Thrace transmits her recon photos to ''Pegasus''.
*Admiral Cain is very impressed with Starbuck's performance and promotes her to Captain and ''Pegasus'' CAG.
*Thrace is assigned the task of planning the joint attack on the Resurrection Ship, but successfully asks to have Lee Adama on her team, restoring him to flight status.
*After she briefs Cain and Commander Adama on her battle plan, Adama asks Thrace privately to assassinate Cain after the battle is complete. Adama fears that if Cain continues to command, the Fleet would be in mortal jeopardy from Cain's draconian command ([[Resurrection Ship, Part I]]).
*Thrace's battle planning, as before on the [[tylium]] [[The Hand of God (RDM)|mine]], works to near-perfection, with the Resurrection Ship destroyed and its supporting basestars.
*As a result of the battle events, Thrace is left without backup as she walks to the ''Pegasus'' CIC to shoot Cain, obviously afraid and apprehensive. When Commander Adama calls, Thrace slowly moves her hand to her sidearm but, to her relief, Adama does not give the kill order and cryptically instructs her to stand down ([[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]).
*Starbuck and [[Kat]] are involved in the protection of a mining operation from periodic Raider attacks. One Raider, nicknamed [[Scar (Raider)|Scar]], fuels an intensive rivalry for the pilot's "top gun" honor. Thrace, still depressed over her inability to convince Fleet command to initiate a rescue for Samuel Anders and his resistance, drinks heavily and obsesses over removing Scar from the sky, even at the cost of her life. Fortunately, Starbuck realizes the futility of her actions, and works together with Kat to destroy the remarkably dangerous Raider ([[Scar]]).
*A few weeks later, Thrace takes leave on ''[[Cloud Nine]]'' when she was dragooned into rescuing Lee Adama and several other ''Galactica'' crew and residents after terrorists take them hostage in exchange for the incarcerated [[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|Sharon Valerii]]. Thrace gathers intel on the situation, but her cover is blown. In the retreating firefight, Lee Adama is caught in the crossfire. After the situation is resolved, Thrace intended to sit at Adama's bedside, only to discover that Dualla beat her there ([[Sacrifice]]).
*Later, Thrace is assigned to ''Pegasus'' as a flight trainer. Though the pilots like her, Commander [[Barry Garner]] does not, eventually confining her to quarters for "insubordination." Following the [[Battle of the Binary Star System|ill-fated rescue and retreat]] from a Cylon ambush (where Thrace leads the fighters), Thrace informs new ''Pegasus'' Commander Lee Adama that she was taking over his old CAG post aboard ''Galactica'' ([[The Captain's Hand]]).
*Thrace gets her wish: The Caprica rescue is approved, and she leads a large Raptor squadron to the planet. The group soon met up with Anders, who reports that their HQ had been destroyed and Thrace's timing was just perfect. A squad of Centurions ambush and pin down the group moments later ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]).
*Still pinned down from attack fire, Starbuck and Anders agree to kill each other to avoid capture and interrment at a [[Farms|farm]]. But the attack stops, and a [[Cavil|man]] appears, praising the [[Lords of Kobol|Gods]] as he announces that the Cylons not only have ceased fire, but are abandoning the Twelve Colonies. Starbuck isn't really surprised to discover that the man, known as Brother [[Cavil]], was a Cylon upon their return to the Fleet.
*Starbuck and Anders proceed to get drunk, and host a disastrous visitation with Lee Adama. This apparently led to a rift between the two comrades.
[[Image:Leobenkara.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Leoben with Kara.]]
*The evening of the founding of [[New Caprica]], Thrace slept with Lee Adama and proclaimed her love for him as she was uncertain regarding her feelings toward Anders. The following morning she quickly married Anders in a ceremonry near the river. This caused a rift between Kara and Lee that lasted for over a year.
*Life on New Caprica tempered Thrace, and she often behaved in ways Starbuck never would have, including hugging Colonel Tigh and pampering Anders during his bout with an illness.
*She watches in horror at the sudden arrival of hundreds of Cylon ships in the sky over New Caprica. A few of ''Galactica's'' former crew gather near Thrace, looking to her for guidance. Starbuck responds the only way she knows how: "Fight 'em until we can't" ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]).
*After Baltar's surrender of New Caprica, Conoy keeps Thrace prisoner in an apartment located within the Cylon-built [[New Caprica Detention Center]] in an attempt to convince Thrace that she loves him and also convert her to the [[Cylon Religion|Cylon monotheistic religion]]. She repeatedly kills Conoy a total of five times in an attempt to convince him to let her go ([[Occupation]], [[Precipice]]).
*Conoy introduces Thrace to a small child named [[Kacey]], who appears to be approximately two to three years in age, whom he claims is their biological daughter. He explains that the child was created using one of Thrace's extracted ovaries ([[The Farm]]) and his genetic material. Conflicted, Thrace leaves the child unattended, which later results in Kacey falling down the apartment's stairs ([[Precipice]]). After the fall, Thrace begins to change her attitude towards the child and begins to offer affection towards Conoy ([[Precipice]], [[Exodus, Part I]]).
*Upon her return to ''Galactica'' after Admiral Adama's daring rescue attempt, Thrace heartbreakingly discovers that Kacey was simply another manipulation on Conoy's part — Kacey is merely a human child whom the Cylons had abducted months ago ([[Exodus, Part II]]).
*Bearing the psychological scars of her four month ordeal with Leoben and Kacey, Thrace is recruited by [[Seelix]] as a last minute replacement juror in the [[Circle]] after [[Samuel Anders]]' resignation. She is the fifth vote to find Gaeta of treason and collaboration. Thrace's involvement in the Circle precipitates the breakup of her marriage with Anders. Later, when Gaeta is about to be sentenced and executed in one of ''Galactica's'' [[launch tubes (RDM)|launch tubes]], she demands him to beg for his life. Thrace physically assaults him and goes down the litany of "lies" that Gaeta told her earlier about him helping the [[New Caprica Resistance|insurgency]]. As she does so, [[Galen Tyrol]], one of the Circle's jurors and the sixth vote to convict, overhears this and confirms the story. In a sense of confusion after learning that Gaeta was telling the truth, Thrace leaves the launch tube ([[Collaborators]]).
*During a combat exercise between Vipers, Thrace breaks formation and collides with another pilot, forcing an end to the war games and causing Apollo to revoke her flight status. Later, at her bunk she is met by Kacey and her mother, whom she dismisses, telling Kacey's mother not to visit her again. In the pilots' rec room, Thrace and Colonel Tigh begin to sow dissent between the survivors of New Caprica and the crew that stayed behind on ''Galactica'', insinuating that those who stayed behind did not suffer like those on New Caprica did, and that the crew of ''Galactica'' took too long to organize a rescue. Admiral Adama, upon learning of this from [[Karl Agathon]], confronts Thrace and Tigh on their behavior. He challenges them to shoot him, as their constant complaining is tantamount to pulling the trigger. When neither do, Adama throws Thrace off her chair and demands that both she and Tigh shape up and move on with their lives. Spurred by Adama's words, Thrace cuts her hair and returns to duty. Later, in uniform, she visits Kacey and her mother on the [[Camp Oil Slick|converted hangar deck]] ([[Torn]]).

==Notes==
*On the Sci-Fi Channel's preview for season 2.5 (US), Katee Sackoff is quoted as saying that Starbuck is "the best Viper pilot...EVER."
*[[Wikipedia:Thrace|Thrace]] was a region in south-eastern Europe that was heavily influenced by the ancient Greeks and was eventually conquered by [[Wikipedia:Philip_II_of_Macedonia|Phillip II of Macedonia]]. Thracians were considered by most to be the most ferocious fighters and were often highly paid mercenaries for Greek kings.
*After auditioning for the role of [[Anastasia Dualla|Dualla]], [[Grace Park]] was asked by director [[Michael Rymer]] to audition for the role of Starbuck, and she was actually one of two finalists up for the role (the other being Katee Sackhoff, who got the part). Ultimately Park was cast as [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Sharon "Boomer" Valerri]].
*In a TV Guide [http://online.tvguide.com/newsearch/detail.aspx?id=4371595&sourcetype=S&progseriesparentid=4371595&tvobjectid=191395&keyword=Battlestar+Galactica&referrer=search1 photo shoot] at the BSG studios, Katee Sackhoff explained that the [[tattoo]] that Starbuck bears on her left arm is a wing and a circle and has half of the constellation of Capricorn (a reference to [[Caprica]] obviously) and a small symbol of the planet as well. It matches a mirror image of the tattoo on Anders' right arm. When the two of them hold each other with their respective arms crossing, the 2 tattoos come together to form an image of a single ring with 2 wings that is supposed to represent their union. According to Sackhoff, Kara and Anders had the tattoos done around the time of their wedding.
*The license plate on Thrace's truck on Caprica is "FB 42 E3" ([[Valley of Darkness]]).
*{{spoiltext|At a SF convention in Indianapolis in November 2006, actress Sackhoff noted that her filming for season 3, as well as her contract, ended with episode 16, "[[Maelstrom]]," strongly suggesting that Starbuck may be the central character that may be killed during season 3 as noted by producers Moore and Eick. However, [http://community.livejournal.com/battlestar_blog/360997.html this blog entry] relates that Sackhoff appeared to deny this later.}}

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

{{start box}}
{{succession box|before=[[Cole Taylor|Cole "Stinger" Taylor]]|title=[[Commander Air Group|Commander, Air Group]], ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]''|after=''(unknown)''}}
{{succession box|before=[[Lee Adama|Lee "Apollo" Adama]]|title=[[Commander Air Group|Commander, Air Group]], ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''|after=[[Louanne Katraine|Louanne "Kat" Katraine]]}}
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{{Characters}}

[[Category:A to Z|Thrace, Kara]]
[[Category:Characters|Thrace, Kara]]
[[Category:Characters (RDM)|Thrace, Kara]]
[[Category:People from Caprica|Thrace, Kara]]
[[Category:RDM|Thrace, Kara]]

Laura Roslin

2007-01-20T04:01:24Z

Torger: /* Character History at a Glance */

{{Character Data
|photo= S3-RoslinPromo.jpg
|age=
|colony= [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]] (presumed)
|birthname= Laura Roslin
|callsign=
|seen= Miniseries
|death=
|parents=
|siblings=
|children=
|marital status=Unmarried, had an extramarital affair with President Adar (deceased)
|role=President, [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|The Twelve Colonies of Kobol]], former Secretary of Education (under President [[Richard Adar]] Cabinet)
|rank=
|actor= [[Mary McDonnell]]
}}

'''Laura Roslin''' is an unmarried<ref name="marital">According to the February issue of ''Sci Fi Magazine'', actress Mary McDonnell indicates that, according to the [[series bible]], Roslin has dated, but has never married. (Scans available on [http://www.livejournal.com/users/reedfem/158883.html Ramblings of a dorkish nature])</ref> woman with some 20 years of political experience. She serves as Secretary of Education for the Colonial [[Government]] at the time of the Cylon attack, later becoming president of the Twelve Colonies after the Cylon attack.
<br/><br/>

== Background ==
*Roslin, a former teacher, worked with [[Richard Adar]] when he was a mayor. Over the years, she herself has risen in political rank to the office of Secretary of Education.
*Adar, a married man, and Roslin are in a sexual affair<ref name="marital2>According to a December 2005 [http://www.galacticastation.com/Galactica%20Station/Archives/dec05.html interview] with Mary McDonnell in TV Guide, President Adar, a married man, was having an affair with Roslin in the twilight of his term.</ref> during the events of a teachers strike that she is trying to mediate, to Adar's objection.
*Roslin learns that she, as did her mother, has breast cancer. Unfortunately, the diagnosis is grim, as the cancer has already spread.
*Roslin sat in the Government Plaza after her doctor's appointment, where she saw [[Gaius Baltar]], the famous scientist, walking and kissing an attractive blonde, but pays it little attention.
*Roslin successfully resolves the teachers strike crisis, but Adar vehemently disagrees with her method, and asks for her resignation. She asks him to defer the matter until she returns from the decommissioning ceremonies on battlestar ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''.
*Despite being thrust into the role of President in highly unusual and stressful circumstances, Laura Roslin initially proves herself both tough and capable within the role. Initially in awe of Commander Adama, and worrying that he didn't hold her in high regard ([[Water]]), she quickly overcomes her doubts and fears to be able to make the required decisions at the right time, and also stand up to Adama himself ([[You Can't Go Home Again]]). She is always prepared to put the safety and destiny of the Fleet first, no matter what the cost of her actions ("[[Flesh and Bone]]," "[[Home, Part I]]," "[[Home, Part II]]," "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]") while remembering her limitations and fears.

==Character History at a Glance==

*Roslin is aboard the Colonial government cruiser ''[[Colonial Heavy 798]]'', having just attended the decommissioning ceremonies for the [[Galactica type battlestar|battlestar]] ''[[Galactica]]'', when the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|information on the Cylon attack]] leaks through [[wireless]].
*Roslin attempts to serve as the government's representative to aid the ship's pilot in gaining more information. She manages to speak with [[Jack|one fellow official]] over wireless and hears the devastating news.
*The [[Case Orange]] automated beacon response assigns Roslin the role of President after Adar and other high-level government officials are dead or incapacitated.
*In the immediate aftermath of the attack, Roslin undertakes a rescue mission, using the now-renamed ''[[Colonial One]]'' to round-up all vessels that escape destruction and gathers as many survivors as possible together, hoping to save the remnants of humanity from total annihilation.
*Roslin successfully persuades ''Galactica'' commander [[William Adama]] away from his original intention of mounting a counter-attack against the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]], and towards helping the new civilan fleet make its escape from occupied Colonial space.
*Since the exodus, Roslin establishes a fledgling civilian [[government]] within the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]], agrees to abide by civil law regarding her interim term of office, and reestabishes a new [[Quorum of Twelve]].
*Roslin and Commander Adama begin their leadership together under an uneasy understanding. Where she is responsible for all civil leadership issues among the surviving Colonials, Adama is responsible for all military decisions ([[Miniseries]]). However, the dividing line is not always clear between the two leaders.
*Roslin chooses [[chamalla]] extract as an alternative to [[diloxin]], remembering her mother's malaise with that treatment.
* Her illness remains a secret until she relates her Chamalla-induced visions of [[Kobol]] to priestess [[Elosha]], who recognizes them as those prophesized by [[Pythia]], where a dying leader will find the path to [[Earth]]. After research, she determines that she may be able to substantiate Commander Adama's fictitious knowledge of the location of Earth with a true bearing to the world using ancient Colonial history.
*Roslin convinces [[Kara Thrace|Lt. Thrace]] to use the captured Cylon Raider to return to [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]] in search of the [[Arrow of Apollo]].
*Infuriated with Roslin's countermanding and with her refusal to resign as President, Commander Adama terminates her Presidency and stages a military coup. Despite the intervention of [[Lee Adama]], Roslin is arrested and incarcerated aboard ''[[Galactica]]'' ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]). With Vice President Baltar missing on the surface of Kobol, this effectively leaves the Fleet without any form of civil leadership, a situation worsened by an assassination attempt on William Adama himself immediately following Roslin's arrest ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]).
*From her cell, Roslin eventually tells the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]], many of whom are [[Gemenon]], of her role in the [[Sacred Scrolls]], and begins to gain significant underground civilian support for her cause.
*Roslin escapes ''Galactica'' and, with the help of rival [[Tom Zarek]], convinces over a third of the fleet to [[Laura Roslin faction|join her in the search for the Tomb]]. Roslin's ability to lead and command becomes stronger throughout this time, able to keep Zarek's ambitions at bay and deliver decisions faster than before.
*With the recovered Arrow, Roslin heads an hazardous expedition on Kobol to find the Tomb, with the aid of a second copy of [[Sharon Agathon|Sharon Valerii]] and priestess Elosha.
*The recovered Commander Adama gains refreshed insight on the need for the Fleet to stay united, and leaves to find Roslin's expedition on the surface of Kobol ([[Home, Part II]]).
*During the Kobol expedition, [[Elosha]] is killed. Roslin takes Elosha's blood-spattered copy of the Sacred Scrolls to guide her and to remember her friend.
*Commander Adama greets Roslin warmly on his arrival at her camp on Kobol. The two leaders have a heart-to-heart talk about her rebellion, which Adama forgives. Roslin thanks Adama, calling him "Bill" casually, though she notes that she didn't require permission for what she had to do. Roslin worries that, with talk of the [[Caprica Resistance]], that her insistence to Adama to leave the Colonial worlds behind was a mistake. Adama, also calling Roslin by her first name, firmly chastises her, reminding Roslin that her decision was correct. If he had chosen to stay, Adama, his son, and all of humanity would be dead.
*Adama and Roslin's party later find the Tomb. With some teamwork, they discover and activate the Tomb's virtual hologram mechanism. Roslin's gamble on faith pays off big for humanity, and the group gains a map and guide to the true location of Earth.
*Back on ''Galactica'', Commander Adama introduces Roslin as President during a speech on the ship, and leads the audience in a rousing ovation on her return, publicly burying the hatchet between them.
*Adama and Roslin's respect for each other grew stronger and their leadership in managing fleet business became more cooperative, asking each other for advice and correcting each other as needed. They work together in getting reporter [[D'anna Biers]] corralled from her potentially disruptive tabloid expose' of the ''[[Gideon]]'' shootings by giving her almost-unlimited access to interview ''Galactica's'' crew. She creates a rousing documentary that meets her and Adama's approval ([[Final Cut]]).
*The military crew honors Roslin by christening a [[Blackbird|new experimental stealth fighter]] by the name, ''Laura'', a gesture that brings tears to the President.
*Despite the pleasure of the arrival of battlestar ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', Roslin becomes concerned about Cain's abrupt command style and refusal to supply the civilian fleet.
*After a near-disastrous military confrontation between the two battlestar commanders, Roslin chastises them both and tells them to concentrate on [[Resurrection Ship|more important matters]]. Privately, Roslin tells Adama that Cain, whose power can radically affect the remnant of humanity both Roslin and Adama have strived so hard to protect, must be killed if Adama and the Fleet are to survive.
[[Image:Roslinadama.jpg|Roslin and Adama.|thumb]]
*After the battle, and Admiral [[Helena Cain|Cain's death]], Roslin, now more frail with her illness, promotes William Adama to Admiral. The new admiral gives the president a kiss.
*Roslin is miraculously saved by the injection of stem cells<ref>In the commentary track for "Epiphanies," Ron Moore states that a longer explanation of Roslin's cure was filmed that explained that the blood's stem cells cure Roslin. However, the scene was cut because he was afraid it would be too complicated and thought of as [[technobabble]]. The character's updated biography on the official Scifi.com site does confirm that stem cells from the hybrid were the actual cure. As such, Battlestar Wiki treats this data canonically as with information found in most deleted scenes.</ref> from the Cylon [[Hera|hybrid fetus]], which apparently eradicates her cancer ([[Epiphanies]]). In the hours prior to the cure, however, Roslin remembers her last days on Caprica, including the attractive blonde with Dr. Baltar, her vice-president. She now recognizes the woman as a copy of a [[Number Six|Cylon agent]].
*Roslin confronts Baltar on his association and later confesses the memory to William Adama ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]).
*Roslin returns to work with a dispassionate, zealous manner not unlike her predecessor, Richard Adar, including an attempt to stop the [[Black market (organization)|black market]] , handling the terrible loss of [[Billy Keikeya]], and the upcoming presidential election.
*Roslin's appoints a new aide, [[Tory Foster]], who is an energetic young woman with a great deal of political drive.
*Complicating what may have been an easy re-election include Roslin's decision to enforce a no-abortion law to aid in repopulation while allowing a Gemenese girl [[Rya Kibby]] to have an abortion, angering Gemenon representative [[Sarah Porter]] and losing most support from Roslin's religious base.
*Expecting [[Tom Zarek]] to run for president, Roslin is shocked when her own vice president, Dr. Baltar, challenges Roslin for the presidency.
*Convinced that that the only way to keep the newborn Cylon-hybrid, [[Hera]], alive but out of the eye of Cylon agents, Roslin has the infant's death faked and hands the child over to a foster mother named [[Maya]] ([[Downloaded]]).
*Roslin easily leads Baltar in the election polls, but with the discovery of a habitable planet dubbed "[[New Caprica]]", Baltar finds the perfect wedge issue to use against Roslin. Despite the extreme difficulties of colonization, the people of the Fleet vote their extreme hopes over their rational fears and Roslin's voice of reason.
*Roslin gives Foster tacit approval to rig the election in order to save the Fleet from electing someone that she knows (in her heart) is a Cylon conspirator. But the fraud is discovered. Admiral Adama confers with Roslin and convinces her that rigging a democratic election was a line that they simply cannot cross. He indicates that the people have made the wrong decision to elect Baltar president, probably even a disastrous choice, but it was their choice.
*Roslin agrees to back down, and Adama announces a mistake in the vote count. A perturbed Baltar doesn't press further, content with having won the election, and orders colonization of New Caprica immediately after his swearing-in.
*Early in the colonization, Roslin finds time to relax on New Caprica. She meets with Admiral Adama, who also takes in some time to unwind. The two friends comfortably chat about matters small and not-so-small over [[New Caprican loco weed|smoking]] and drinking, and later gaze at the stars together, allowing themselves to relax, lying outside, close to each other. Roslin worries that, amidst their temporary comfort, the Cylons could return, but it is nice to have what they have for the time being ([[Unfinished Business]]).

[[Image:2BATgyC05.jpg|Roslin as a teacher on New Caprica.|thumb]]
*A year passes on New Caprica, and Baltar's administration becomes the unmitigated, incompetent disaster that Roslin had feared. Meanwhile, Roslin returns to her old love of teaching, running the new settlement's school. Assisted by [[Maya]], who brings her infant adopted daughter [[Hera|Isis]] (the secreted Cylon hybrid), Roslin is more comfortable watching over the pair personally.
*On the 380th day after settling on the planet, the Cylons discover the colony, as Roslin had warned, and occupy the settlement ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]).
*She is detained for a short period during which [[Baltar]] attempts to convince her to publicly denounce the Resistance suicide bombings, but failing that, has her released. She is later collected in the round up of 200 suspected resistance members, including [[Tom Zarek]] and [[Cally Tyrol]], for execution ([[Precipice]]).
*After being saved by the resistance, she assigns [[Samuel Anders]] to protect Maya and Isis ([[Exodus, Part I]]).
*Later, during the [[Battle of New Caprica]], she evacuates the planet aboard ''Colonial One'' which reunites with the Fleet along with the other previously grounded ships ([[Exodus, Part II]]).
*After the Fleet reunites after the escape from [[New Caprica]], [[Gaius Baltar]] is officially deposed and as the Vice President, [[Tom Zarek]] becomes President. He only briefly holds the office. Under pressure from Admiral Adama, Zarek agrees to step aside from the Presidency. He named Roslin as his Vice President, and then steps down allowing Roslin to become President. However, as part of the deal, Roslin tells Zarek that he can have the Vice Presidency. She is later sworn in after all of the official gestures have been made, and she issues a general pardon to everyone in the Fleet in response to the quiet executions of some of the people who collaborated with the [[Cylons]], and to prevent the Fleet from being torn apart by long trials ([[Collaborators]]).
*Roslin and Adama work well together in managing Fleet morale, analyzing new data that helps guide the Fleet on the way to Earth ("[[Torn]]," "[[A Measure of Salvation]]") and handling a serious food shortage ([[The Passage]]). When the Fleet discovers the [[Temple of Five]] on the [[algae planet]], Roslin dives into the analysis of the structure and its scripture background. Roslin's relationship with Adama is strained when Adama discovers that Roslin hid the Cylon baby, [[Hera]], without his knowledge. Infuriated, he leaves Roslin after she admits the situation, without leaving her a chance to explain ([[The Eye of Jupiter]]).

==Notes==

*The character of Laura Roslin is unique to the Re-imagined Series. It shares no counterpart to the [[Original Series]], where its version of President [[Adar (TOS)|Adar]] is killed, but a presidential replacement is never made. She appears more as an equivalent to the political-spiritual leadership of the [[Adama (TOS)|Original Series' Commander Adama]], whereas [[William Adama]] is representative of the Original Series' character's military commander aspect.

*Roslin's apparent cure in "[[Epiphanies]]" contradicts the "dying leader" clause of the [[Pythia|Pythian Prophecy]], despite the fulfillment of her role in the [[Tomb of Athena]] story arc. Indications from the creators of the show suggest that Roslin's health trials may not yet be over.

*Actress Mary McDonnell is perhaps best known for her role in the epic film, ''Dances with Wolves'', with Kevin Costner. Another famous role of hers was the First Lady in ''[[w:Independence Day (film)|Independence Day]]'', a film which (in a less serious tone than ''Battlestar'') depicts cocky human fighter pilots battling an genocidal enemy from outer space.

*In [[SDS|the Singer/DeSanto continuation]] of the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|the Original Series]], a female president named [[Mara]] would visit ''Galactica'' in much the same way that Roslin did as part of that ''Galactica'''s decommissioning ceremony.

*The glasses that the character wears are also McDonnell's real glasses.<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/video/index.php?cat=features&vid=37452|title=Mary McDonnell Q & A, Part 1|date=2006-10-13|accessdate=2006-10-14|last=|first=|format=VID|language=English}}</ref>

*President Roslin's appointment as Colonial president parallels US President [[w:Gerald Ford|Gerald R. Ford]], who became US Vice President and later President through succession or appointment, not by election.

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

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{{succession box|before=[[Richard Adar]]|title=[[Government|President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol]]|after=[[Gaius Baltar]]}}
{{succession box|before=[[Tom Zarek]]|title=[[Government|Vice President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol]]|after=[[Tom Zarek]]}}
{{succession box|before=[[Tom Zarek]]|title=[[Government|President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol]]|after=''Incumbent''}}
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{{Characters}}

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[[Category:A to Z|Roslin, Laura]]
[[Category:Characters|Roslin, Laura]]
[[Category:Characters (RDM)|Roslin, Laura]]
[[Category:People from Caprica|Roslin, Laura]]
[[Category:RDM|Roslin, Laura]]

[[de:Laura Roslin]]