Battlestar Wiki - User contributions [en]

The Oath

2009-02-02T02:47:27Z

Warpoet:

{{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=
| population=
| 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. Tigh's report regarding civilian captains 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 she was reading. 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]] morale toward all Cylons ([[Final Five|Tigh included]]) would make it challenging for Tigh to pursue work to making progress 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 charm Representative Adama as he has before.

* In the admiral's quarters, Roslin talks the issues of the Fleet [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul|for the first time in days]]. When she believes that the Cylon alliance and amnesty is not working, and that Lee Adama's work may not work, Adama agrees. Then Roslin tries to stop talking about the Fleet problems, barely, as the two say goodbye with humorous 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 the group, she yells out, falsifying a serious [[Raptor]] fuel leak, causing most of the deck's occupants to clear out--all except for [[Jeanne]], who hides back in the upper gangway above the deck.
* As Racetrack tells Gaeta that she's disabled the Raptor's transponder, Deck Chief [[Peter Laird]] steps in, questioning the authorization of flying a Raptor away. 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 runs off from the gangway, having witnessed the murder.
* When Gaeta reacts in shock to Zarek, the Vice President tells Gaeta not to hold on to some "operatic ideal" on how his "revolution" must be handled; any hesitation could jeapardize 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]] jokes with [[Brendan Costanza]] and 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 only be a threat if Adama didn't recognize civilian authority. Adama 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 continue 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 firing, 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 and Tigh 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 Cylon [[Basestar (RDM)|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.

== Analysis ==
*Quite a few people have sided with Zarek and Gaeta. These include pilots Narcho, Racetrack, Skulls, Redwing and Diana Seelix, marines Maldonaldo and Nowart, specialists Vireem and Gage, Lieutenant 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 purpose in life as well as an outlet to channel her inner demons. She throws herself into battle without hesitation or regard for her own safety. She has also become much colder 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 basetar (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.
*Lee Adama's sharp comments to Tigh shows the hard line towards the Cylons that the younger Adama still holds to, 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.

== Questions ==
*What will happen to Adama and Tigh?
*Where are Kara Thrace, Lee Adama, and Galen Tyrol heading off to?
*How much impact has Roslin's speech had on the Fleet?
*Will Zarek get the rest of the Fleet to fall in line?
*Just how far is Gaeta willing to go to rid the Fleet of the Cylons?
*How will the rebel Cylons react to the uprising?
*Will Roslin enlist the aid of the rebel Cylons to bring down Zarek?
*Where do other crew members such as Hot Dog and Doc Cottle stand?
*Were Gaeta's men actually planning to execute Lee Adama?
*What are Racetrack and Skulls' personal motivations for joining Gaeta?
*How much of ''Galactica'' has Gaeta taken control of?
*Where did Nowart flee to?
*Will any of the mutineers switch sides? What about the loyalists?
*What other loyalists besides Lee Adama and Kara Thrace remain at large on ''Galactica''?
*Will Skulls survive his injuries?

== Official Statements ==

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

== 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 "Harball" Seelix]]
* [[Ty Olsson]] as Lieutenant [[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 [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Tauron Delegate|Tauron Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #2)
* [[Veena Sood]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Quorum Delegate|Quorum Delegate]]

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

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

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

The Oath

2009-02-02T02:46:12Z

Warpoet:

{{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=
| population=
| 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. Tigh's report regarding civilian captains 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 she was reading. 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]] morale toward all Cylons ([[Final Five|Tigh included]]) would make it challenging for Tigh to pursue work to making progress 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 charm Representative Adama as he has before.

* In the admiral's quarters, Roslin talks the issues of the Fleet [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul|for the first time in days]]. When she believes that the Cylon alliance and amnesty is not working, and that Lee Adama's work may not work, Adama agrees. Then Roslin tries to stop talking about the Fleet problems, barely, as the two say goodbye with humorous 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 the group, she yells out, falsifying a serious [[Raptor]] fuel leak, causing most of the deck's occupants to clear out--all except for [[Jeanne]], who hides back in the upper gangway above the deck.
* As Racetrack tells Gaeta that she's disabled the Raptor's transponder, Deck Chief [[Peter Laird]] steps in, questioning the authorization of flying a Raptor away. 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 runs off from the gangway, having witnessed the murder.
* When Gaeta reacts in shock to Zarek, the Vice President tells Gaeta not to hold on to some "operatic ideal" on how his "revolution" must be handled; any hesitation could jeapardize 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]] jokes with [[Brendan Costanza]] and 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 only be a threat if Adama didn't recognize civilian authority. Adama 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, hearing firefights 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 continue 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 firing, 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 and Tigh 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 Cylon [[Basestar (RDM)|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.

== Analysis ==
*Quite a few people have sided with Zarek and Gaeta. These include pilots Narcho, Racetrack, Skulls, Redwing and Diana Seelix, marines Maldonaldo and Nowart, specialists Vireem and Gage, Lieutenant 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 purpose in life as well as an outlet to channel her inner demons. She throws herself into battle without hesitation or regard for her own safety. She has also become much colder 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 basetar (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.
*Lee Adama's sharp comments to Tigh shows the hard line towards the Cylons that the younger Adama still holds to, 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.

== Questions ==
*What will happen to Adama and Tigh?
*Where are Kara Thrace, Lee Adama, and Galen Tyrol heading off to?
*How much impact has Roslin's speech had on the Fleet?
*Will Zarek get the rest of the Fleet to fall in line?
*Just how far is Gaeta willing to go to rid the Fleet of the Cylons?
*How will the rebel Cylons react to the uprising?
*Will Roslin enlist the aid of the rebel Cylons to bring down Zarek?
*Where do other crew members such as Hot Dog and Doc Cottle stand?
*Were Gaeta's men actually planning to execute Lee Adama?
*What are Racetrack and Skulls' personal motivations for joining Gaeta?
*How much of ''Galactica'' has Gaeta taken control of?
*Where did Nowart flee to?
*Will any of the mutineers switch sides? What about the loyalists?
*What other loyalists besides Lee Adama and Kara Thrace remain at large on ''Galactica''?
*Will Skulls survive his injuries?

== Official Statements ==

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

== 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 "Harball" Seelix]]
* [[Ty Olsson]] as Lieutenant [[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 [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Tauron Delegate|Tauron Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #2)
* [[Veena Sood]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Quorum Delegate|Quorum Delegate]]

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

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

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

The Oath

2009-02-02T02:27:43Z

Warpoet: Improving Act 2

{{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=
| population=
| 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. Tigh's report regarding civilian captains 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 she was reading. 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]] morale toward all Cylons ([[Final Five|Tigh included]]) would make it challenging for Tigh to pursue work to making progress 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 charm Representative Adama as he has before.

* In the admiral's quarters, Roslin talks the issues of the Fleet [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul|for the first time in days]]. When she believes that the Cylon alliance and amnesty is not working, and that Lee Adama's work may not work, Adama agrees. Then Roslin tries to stop talking about the Fleet problems, barely, as the two say goodbye with humorous 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 the group, she yells out, falsifying a serious [[Raptor]] fuel leak, causing most of the deck's occupants to clear out--all except for [[Jeanne]], who hides back in the upper gangway above the deck.
* As Racetrack tells Gaeta that she's disabled the Raptor's transponder, Deck Chief [[Peter Laird]] steps in, questioning the authorization of flying a Raptor away. 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 runs off from the gangway, having witnessed the murder.
* When Gaeta reacts in shock to Zarek, the Vice President tells Gaeta not to hold on to some "operatic ideal" on how his "revolution" must be handled; any hesitation could jeapardize 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]] jokes with [[Brendan Costanza]] and 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 only be a threat if Adama didn't recognize civilian authority. Adama 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 pass by several bodies of unidentified crewmen 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 continue 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 firing, 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 and Tigh 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 Cylon [[Basestar (RDM)|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.

== Analysis ==
*Quite a few people have sided with Zarek and Gaeta. These include pilots Narcho, Racetrack, Skulls, Redwing and Diana Seelix, marines Maldonaldo and Nowart, specialists Vireem and Gage, Lieutenant 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 purpose in life as well as an outlet to channel her inner demons. She throws herself into battle without hesitation or regard for her own safety. She has also become much colder 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 basetar (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.
*Lee Adama's sharp comments to Tigh shows the hard line towards the Cylons that the younger Adama still holds to, 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.

== Questions ==
*What will happen to Adama and Tigh?
*Where are Kara Thrace, Lee Adama, and Galen Tyrol heading off to?
*How much impact has Roslin's speech had on the Fleet?
*Will Zarek get the rest of the Fleet to fall in line?
*Just how far is Gaeta willing to go to rid the Fleet of the Cylons?
*How will the rebel Cylons react to the uprising?
*Will Roslin enlist the aid of the rebel Cylons to bring down Zarek?
*Where do other crew members such as Hot Dog and Doc Cottle stand?
*Were Gaeta's men actually planning to execute Lee Adama?
*What are Racetrack and Skulls' personal motivations for joining Gaeta?
*How much of ''Galactica'' has Gaeta taken control of?
*Where did Nowart flee to?
*Will any of the mutineers switch sides? What about the loyalists?
*What other loyalists besides Lee Adama and Kara Thrace remain at large on ''Galactica''?
*Will Skulls survive his injuries?

== Official Statements ==

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

== 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 "Harball" Seelix]]
* [[Ty Olsson]] as Lieutenant [[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 [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Tauron Delegate|Tauron Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #2)
* [[Veena Sood]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Quorum Delegate|Quorum Delegate]]

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

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

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

The Face of the Enemy

2009-01-12T18:09:02Z

Warpoet:

{{Episode Data
| image=
| title=The Face of the Enemy
| series=
| special= Y
| season=
| episode=
| guests=
| writer=[[Jane Espenson]]<br/>[[Seamus Kevin Fahey]]
| story=
| director=[[Wayne Rose]]
| production=
| rating=
| US airdate= 12 December 2008 through 12 January 2009
| UK airdate=
| dvd=
| population=
| prev= [[Revelations]]
| next= [[Sometimes a Great Notion]]
}}

"'''The Face of the Enemy'''" is a webisode series featuring [[Felix Gaeta]] and two [[Number Eight]]s who, along with a handful humans, are stranded on a [[Raptor 718|Raptor]] and mysteriously begin to die one by one. These events take place six to nine days after "[[Revelations]]".

== Summary ==
===Episode 1===

* Release date: December 12, 2008
* Running time: ~4:11

[[Image:TFOTE1.jpg|thumb|Tigh tells Gaeta to take a vacation.]]
A blood-covered Felix Gaeta is in a Raptor adrift in deep space, nine days after the events of "Revelations". Flashbacks of a list of names being written on a pad, a Number Eight cutting into her palm, a pair of needle-nose pliers, and a struggle inside the Raptor segue to three days before (six days after "Revelations").

Over his protests, an exhausted Gaeta is ordered by Colonel [[Saul Tigh]] to take a week's leave aboard the ''[[Zephyr]]'' to recover. On his way to the hangar bay, Lt. [[Louis Hoshi]] catches up with him in the hallway, gives him [[morpha]] for his pain, then kisses him goodbye, evincing a romantic relationship. Joining Gaeta on the flight are [[deckhand]] [[Brooks_(RDM)|Brooks]], two Number Eights, and the Raptor shuttle flight crew, Lt. [[J. Finnegan|J. "Shark" Finnegan]] and [[Esrin|"Easy" Esrin]].

With the Raptor 15 minutes away from the ''Zephyr'', [[DRADIS]] picks up hostile [[Cylon (RDM)|Cylon]] contacts and the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] is forced to make an emergency [[Propulsion_in_the_Re-imagined_Series#Faster-Than-Light travel|jump]]. The Raptor completes its jump, but discovers that the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] is nowhere to be seen.

===Episode 2===

* Release date: December 15, 2008
* Running time: ~3:42

[[Image:TFOTE2.JPG|thumb|The occupants of the stranded Raptor.]]
Shark broadcasts on [[wireless]] to any ships that might be nearby, Easy says she entered the right coordinates, and Gaeta's stump starts to act up. A worried Brooks suggests jumping back, thinking the Fleet might have left a Raptor behind for a little while, but the Eights don't think so, since that could give away their position to Cavil's ships. Gaeta is sure that the Fleet knows that they are missing and sent someone back to look, but that they can't find out because the jump drive isn't responding. Brooks begins to pray to [[Poseidon]], puzzling the Eights since they are a long way from water, but Brooks replies they are in a ship after all. Shark discovers that the drive isn't responding because they have jumped over the [[red line]] and are thus unable to jump back to their starting point. The Eight in a Cylon [[flight suit]] ("Hard Eight") says she suspects as much, since she doesn't recognize the star patterns. Gaeta sits at the aft workstation and determines that the FTL computer's calculations were corrupted. Shark reasons that getting back to the Fleet is not impossible, just harder, and as Hard Eight and the others continue their discussion, the other Eight ("Sweet Eight") asks Gaeta if he recognizes her.

Back on ''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'', Hoshi is clearly worried for Gaeta. The DRADIS contact was a false alarm, the Fleet has jumped back to their original coordinates, and there has been no sign of the missing Raptor for two days. He asks Tigh for a Raptor and a pilot to search for the missing Raptor, explaining that just as something in the universe led them to Earth, he knows he can find them. He stops short of revealing just how close he is to Gaeta and instead asserts that there has been too much loss already. Tigh agrees to Hoshi's request, but will have to run it by Admiral [[Adama (RDM)|Adama]].

Back aboard the Raptor, Shark determines how long they can last out there. The limiting factor is the air supply; since the Raptor was on shuttle detail, the CO<sub>2</sub> scrubbers were not fully functional. They have only 20 ½ hours with the air thinned out to 68% of ship-normal O<sub>2</sub>, so everyone must limit their exertion and sleep as much as they can to stretch out the supply. Easy points out that at that oxygen level people experience memory loss, irrational behavior, depression and dizziness.

===Episode 3===

* Release date: December 17, 2008
* Running time: ~2:42

[[Image:TFOTE3.jpg|thumb|Gaeta meets with an Eight on New Caprica.]]
Brooks offers to take a look at the Raptor's CO<sub>2</sub> scrubbers and opens a side panel. Meanwhile, Gaeta recognizes Sweet Eight. A flashback to 15 months earlier on Cylon-occupied [[New Caprica]] shows the two meeting in a tent, with Gaeta looking over a list of names and handing it to the Eight. Gaeta looks concerned as Sweet Eight leaves the tent.

Brooks finds a loose connection, but has trouble reaching it. Hard Eight offers to take over, and Brooks hands her his pliers. She reaches it, then stiffens as she is electrocuted. Esrin kicks her free, and Gaeta checks for a pulse before declaring her dead. Brooks is stunned, exclaiming, "My gods, I was just doing that! I was just doing that same thing!" Sweet Eight calls attention to the pliers. Gaeta finds that the insulating grip has been stripped off and asks, "Who did this?"

===Episode 4===

* Release date: December 22, 2008
* Running time: ~3:12

[[Image:TFOTE4.jpg|thumb|Gaeta asks what to do with the dead Eight's body.]]
Shark examines the pliers and observes they are old and that the grips wore off, but Sweet Eight suggests that it wasn't an accident, that "someone didn't like the idea of a machine breathing their air." Brooks points that the pliers were his and he was the one who was supposed to have been killed, but Sweet Eight replies not unless he was the one who stripped the grips and questions how he could not have noticed the bare metal. Gaeta quashes the growing argument, saying it was an accident, and asks what to do with the corpse. Sweet Eight wants to jettison her, noting that she will otherwise begin to decay and corrupt the air, and that the oxygen in the cabin can be sucked back into the tanks with only a little loss. As flight suits are broken out and put on, Sweet Eight whispers to Gaeta that she has an idea how to get them home, that she will tell him when the others are asleep, and asks her him to trust her.

In a flashback to New Caprica, Gaeta writes down a list of names and what look like serial numbers for Sweet Eight. He tells her he hasn't seen some of these people in a long time, and they may already be dead. Sweet Eight reassures Gaeta that the [[Number One]]s keep good records, and if some of them are locked up, she can find them and get them out, and reassures him that they can do this.

Back in the Fleet, Lt. [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]] and Hoshi launch from ''Galactica'' in [[Raptor 1029]].

===Episode 5===

* Release date: December 24, 2008
* Running time: ~4:42

[[Image:TFOTE5.jpg|thumb|The dead body is jettisoned.]]
The crew jettison Hard Eight's body. Afterwards, they settle down to sleep. Gaeta, apparently in pain, touches his stump and injects himself with a dose of morpha. Sweet Eight sees this but pretends to be asleep. Gaeta falls asleep as well and flashes back to New Caprica again, remembering Sweet Eight telling him she managed to get some of the people on his list out of detention. Others, she says, were already dead. She is particularly upset about a child whose fate is still a mystery and begins crying. Gaeta reassures her that they've done good and slowly leans in to kiss her.

In the present, Sweet Eight wakes Gaeta while the other three still sleep and proposes her plan. She will hook into the Raptor's systems much as [[Sharon Agathon]] once did on the rescue mission to Caprica ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]), in order to determine the corrupted memory address that made them jump to the wrong location. However, she is afraid that the others will think she is sabotaging the ship, so she asks Gaeta to cover for her while she works. Gaeta accidentally jars Brooks, who doesn't move. The two notice that Brooks has died of an overdose of Gaeta's morpha. Shark and Easy wake up and accuse Sweet Eight of having killed Brooks. Easy aims her pistol at Eight, who is shackled. Gaeta protests, but Eight tells them that she understands.

===Episode 6===

* Release date: December 29, 2008
* Running time: ~4:06

Raptor 1029 jumps into empty space on the first leg of Hoshi and Racetrack's search for the missing Raptor. They are disappointed to find nothing within DRADIS range, and make a second FTL jump to continue the search.

Back on the stranded Raptor 718, Easy and Shark are apparently asleep in the cockpit with the chronometer between them indicating the occupants’ available air supply counting down from nine hours and twenty-five minutes. A sleeping Gaeta dreams of Hoshi, then of his recent experiences aboard the Raptor. He awakes to find that Sweet Eight has freed herself from her bonds. When she asks if he’s going to restrain her again, he says his intention was to free her. After Eight cautions him against waking Shark and Easy, Gaeta hands her a scalpel and agrees to her earlier plan to physically interface with the Raptor’s systems. Eight slices open her palm and Gaeta helps her plug a data cable into the wound. Once Eight is connected, she says that the low oxygen levels in the compartment are making it difficult to project. When Gaeta asks what she is projecting, she replies, “You know where I am.” A flashback shows Gaeta and the Eight back on New Caprica, where the Eight gently kisses Gaeta. Back in the present, Eight attempts to do the same, but Gaeta interrupts her by saying he’s involved with someone. Though Eight tells him that she’s pleased and that he deserves his current happiness, the two kiss passionately until the Eight abruptly gasps, saying that she has found the Fleet. She then tells Gaeta to prepare for a jump, as she is about to take the Raptor home.

===Episode 7===

* Release date: December 31, 2008
* Running time: ~2:06

Aboard Raptor 1029, Racetrack mentions to Hoshi that she had hoped he and Gaeta would get together and was glad they finally did. Hoshi mentions Gaeta’s drive to do the right thing, which Racetrack inadvertently makes an offhand remark in response about the rarity and mortality attached to such a well-developed moral core and quickly admonishes herself for it. Hoshi absolves her of her slip of the tongue and encourages her to continue the search.

Raptor 718 completes its jump. The countdown on the occupants’ air supply reads eight hours and eleven minutes. Gaeta checks the rear console and finds to his chagrin that not only did the jump drain nearly all of the Raptor’s power reserves, but that neither the Fleet nor any other vessels are in DRADIS range. Gaeta surmises that the Fleet may still be nearby, but out of the Raptor’s DRADIS radius. Eight says she will send a pulse that will alert the Fleet to their position and estimates a ten-hour window for rescue. Gaeta heads to the cockpit to wake Shark and Easy, but is horrified to find them both dead, their throats slashed open. His hands are covered with their blood from his attempts to wake them. Gaeta then looks accusingly at Eight, whose only response is to silently meet his gaze.

===Episode 8===

* Release date: January 5, 2009
* Running time: ~3:06

Raptor 1029 completes its third jump, and, again, Racetrack and Hoshi see no sign of Raptor 718. Racetrack offers to plot another jump, and Hoshi agrees, but then asks Racetrack if she thinks it's crazy to continue the search. Racetrack reluctantly says she does, and adds that if Gaeta was in their position, he would also call off the search for Hoshi once it became clear that further searches were futile. After an uncomfortable silence, Racetrack finally asks if Hoshi wants to call off the search and return to ''Galactica''. After a few seconds of pained consideration, Hoshi says yes.

Back on Raptor 718, Gaeta begins to piece everything together, realizing to his horror that Sweet Eight was responsible for every single death, an accusation Eight responds with sedate confirmation, claiming that she did it to give the two of them more air. She then says to an increasingly frantic Gaeta that she killed them all to protect him from his own desire to kill them all. Gaeta angrily denies Eight's words, tearing the data cable out of her palm. She then affirms that Gaeta is a killer at heart, that he was when she gave her the list of names.

Another flashback to the tent on New Caprica shows a sleeping Gaeta oblivious to Sweet Eight handing the list to another Eight, instructing her to kill everyone on it.

The flashback ends, as the realization draws over Gaeta's face.

===Episode 9===

* Release date: January 7, 2009
* Running time: ~3:41

Gaeta listens in horror as Sweet Eight reveals that she had most of the people on the lists he gave her killed, leaving only enough of them alive to make him think she had saved them all, fooling him into thinking he was doing some good by collaborating with her. She states flatly that in a war, a basic tactical maneuver is to kill the people your enemy values. She also forces him to acknowledge that Baltar knew what Gaeta and "his Eight" were doing all along. In a flashback to the Season 3 episode [[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]] where Gaeta interrogates Baltar before his trial, the words Baltar whispered to him which triggered Gaeta's attack are revealed: "I know what your Eight did." In a rage, Gaeta in the present mimics the Gaeta in the flashback -- he picks up the nearest thing that can be used as a weapon (in this case, a scalpel) and stabs Sweet Eight in the neck just as he stabbed Baltar.

===Episode 10===

* Release date: January 12, 2009
* Running time: ~5:36

As the last survivor aboard the ship, Gaeta tries to kill himself with an overdose of morphia but fails to inject the second dose. He starts to sing when suddenly the cabin is illuminated. He is hailed by Raptor 1029.

Back on Galactica, Tigh tells a recovered Gaeta that the incident will not be investigated, as Admiral Adama does not wish to jeopardize the alliance with the Cylons. Gaeta bluntly asserts that the alliance should not exist at all, and requests to speak with Admiral Adama directly, on the grounds that the Colonel is a Cylon. Tigh agrees reluctantly. Gaeta leaves CIC and meets Hoshi in the corridor. Gaeta insinuates gloomily that he has a plan and that something important will happen soon.

== Notes ==
* Felix Gaeta has a metal [[w:prosthesis|prosthetic]] leg.
* The two Number Eights are nicknamed "Sweet Eight" and "Pilot Eight" in the commentary by Jane Espenson, the latter being the one in a Cylon flight suit. However, the script for this webisode lists "Pilot Eight" as "Hard Eight."<ref>See: [[Sources: The Face of the Enemy]].</ref>

== Analysis ==
* The rebel Cylon [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] is still with the fleet.
* Saul Tigh has returned to duty, despite being outed as one of the [[Final Five]] Cylons.
* It now does not appear unusual to have Number Eights aboard ''Galactica'', or for them to be riding aboard Colonial shuttles.

== Questions ==
''Not yet available.''

== Official Statements ==
''Not yet available.''

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
''Not yet available.''

== Cast ==

* [[Alessandro Juliani]] as Junior Lieutenant Felix Gaeta
* [[Grace Park]] as "Sweet Eight" and "Hard Eight"
* [[Michael Hogan]] as Colonel Saul Tigh
* [[Brad Dryborough]] as Junior Lieutenant Louis Hoshi
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Junior Lieutenant Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson
* [[Michael Rogers]] as Brooks
* [[Jessica Harmon]] as "Easy" Esrin
* [[William C. Vaughn]] as Lieutenant J. "Shark" Finnegan (credited as "Finn")




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

{{episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Behind the Scenes]]
[[Category:Episode Guide]]
[[Category:Episode Guide (RDM)|*]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Jane Espenson]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Seamus Kevin Fahey]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Wayne Rose]]
[[Category:RDM]]