Kobol

Kobol is the ancestral homeworld of humanity that populates the worlds known as the Twelve Colonies in both the Original and Re-imagined Series.

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The tombs of the Lords of Kobol ^{(TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part II")}.

Kobol is the ancestral homeworld for humanity located in the Cyrannus galaxy. An unexplained event or environmental catastrophe causes humanity to leave Kobol and settle on the planets that form their new homeworlds known as the Twelve Colonies. During the migration, twelve tribes set out for the stars and became lost in a starless void before stumbling upon the worlds that would become The Twelve Colonies of Man, while the Thirteenth Tribe headed for a world called "Earth."

Kobol is located in a quadrant of space known to the Colonials as Epsilon Quadrant ^{(TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I")}, approximately one to three parsecs from its star, according to Commander Adama of Galactica ^{(TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part II")}).

Kobol is rediscovered by chance during the exodus from the Twelve Colonies, following reports of a magnetic void that Adama recalls from the Book of the Word. A team from the battlestar arrives among the ruins of Eden, the planet's largest city, seeking to enter the tomb of the Ninth Lord of Kobol in order to find clues as to the route taken by the Thirteenth Tribe. A Cylon attack ultimately prevents them from doing so ^{(TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part II")}.

Notes

• According to Encyclopedia Galactica (a non-canonical piece of merchandise published in 1979):

In attempting to prove the truth behind the Book of the Word, a holy scripture in Colonial society, many Colonials have attempted to link the sudden appearance of the pyramids on Kobol to the contact of a superior civilization (i.e. Beings of Light). However, the weight of evidence to the contrary supports a belief that Kobol's humans had been "fully capable of achieving their high civilization" without external aid.

• Possibly because the series-bible was not fully planned during script-writing, during Saga of a Star World, Serina mentions that the Armistice talks are happening, "at this very moment on the Star Kobol," which implies specific knowledge of where Kobol is, rather than stumbling upon it.

See Also

• Kobol, for similarities between the Original and Re-imagined Series and the etymology of the planet's name.

References

Star Kobol is a ship, space station or other locale where the armistice is to be signed by President Adar, which is to end the Thousand-Yahren War.

On Caprica, Serina informs her audience that the details of the conference and live recordings have not come in from the Star Kobol as planned, for reasons that subsequently became clear ^{(TOS: "Saga of a Star World")}.

Kobol from orbit

Kobol is the ancestral homeworld of the people of the Twelve Colonies, and one of two known planets where humans naturally evolved. Though it is a lush, life-supporting planet, Kobol has been uninhabited since the exodus of the Thirteen Tribes. On the surface, only ruins remain as evidence of the once-great civilization that previously existed.

Overview

Kobol is a verdant world of seas and continents, the latter having large areas of woodland, grassland, and forests. An unexplained event or environmental catastrophe caused humanity to leave Kobol and settle on the planets that form the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. However, at the time of Galactica's discovery of Kobol, the planet appears to have recovered from such an event.

The seat of power of Kobol resided in the City of the Gods in the northern hemisphere, itself dominated by the Forum, Temple and Opera House ^{(TRS: "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I")}, structures which were duplicated on Caprica in the city of Delphi. It is said that humans lived there in harmony with the Lords of Kobol, and that Atlas supported Kobol on his shoulders. The Messengers were witness to Kobol's civilization, and observed the same patterns there as they later would on the worlds settled by the descendants of Kobol's peoples—"commercialism, decadence, technology run amok."

Great Exodus

Some 2,000 years prior to the Fall of the Colonies, the Twelve Tribes departed Kobol for another star system in "The Great Exodus of the Twelve Tribes from Kobol". The Sacred Scrolls also tell of a Thirteenth Tribe that departed Kobol some 2,000 years prior ^{(TRS: "Miniseries")} to seek a planet known as Earth. Although the Twelve Tribes later interpret the Scrolls to record that the Thirteenth were human, they were in fact humanoid Cylons created by Kobol's humans ^{(TRS: "Sometimes a Great Notion")}.

The Lords of Kobol also appear to have abandoned Kobol, but when is not known. Also unclear is whether they departed Kobol with the Tribes, although the Sacred Scrolls say that Athena killed herself in sorrow at the Great Exodus, suggesting that some Lords or humans remained to record the death before entombing Athena and leaving themselves. The Sacred Scrolls also say that Zeus warned the leaders of the tribes that any return to Kobol would carry with it a cost in blood.

Religious Texts

An illustration from the Sacred Scrolls of the City of the Gods ^{(TRS: "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I")}

During the time humans lived on Kobol, many texts were written, some of which have survived through time, and are regarded by some as religious artifacts, and by others as the documenting of myths and legends. These texts have been collected into a tome known as the Sacred Scrolls. These are the main source of information about Kobol for the people of the Twelve Colonies, as few hard facts remain.

Chief among these writings include the Book of Pythia who, some 1,600 years prior to the Great Exodus, foretold another exodus featuring a "caravan of the heavens" led by someone dying of a "wasting disease" ^{(TRS: "The Hand of God")}. This exodus would lead humanity to a new home, although the leader would die before he/she could enter the new home.

Some of the writings of Pythia have apparently come true: President Laura Roslin, the civil leader of the Colonial fleet is dying of cancer at the presumed fulfillment of the prophecy ^{(TRS: "Home, Part II")}. Further, Roslin has several visions, including one of 12 snakes ^{(TRS: "The Hand of God")}, a vision specifically foretold by Pythia.

The spectral image of Number Six that appears to Gaius Baltar tells him that human sacrifice was practiced on Kobol, and that the souls of all who die there are forever lost because God has turned his back on it ("Valley of Darkness," "Fragged"). She claims that the Colonial scriptures are erroneous in their description of life on Kobol, hiding darker truths.

Rediscovering Kobol

Its location is unknown until it is found by the Fleet, Colonial star charts place it in Sector 728 of the galaxy ^{(TRS: "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I")}, when Galactica dispatches Raptors to locate planets which may provide materials needed to re-supply the Fleet, and one of them finds the planet by chance. Upon its discovery, Commander Adama suggests considering permanent settlement on the planet. However, Cylon forces are already present in the system.

Following the discovery (as predicted by the humanoid Cylon Leoben Conoy) as well as her own prescient visions, Roslin becomes convinced that Kobol will lead the fleet to Earth, providing the Tomb of Athena can be found. To do this, priest Elosha notes that the Arrow of Apollo must be retrieved from the Delphi Museum of the Colonies on Caprica.

Against Commander Adama's military orders, Roslin begins a quest to retrieve the Arrow, leading to her arrest ^{(TRS: "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II")}. She later escapes, and leads a third of the Fleet to Kobol (with the retrieved Arrow) to begin the search for the Tomb ^{(TRS: "Home, Part I")}

A scouting team sent to Kobol is ambushed by Cylon forces. The survivors manage to escape further Cylon assault after a SAR mission ^{(TRS: "Fragged")}. Both expeditions to Kobol suffer casualties, in keeping with Zeus's warning.

Commander Adama later joins Roslin's expedition, and soon finds the Tomb of Athena. They are the first people to glimpse the inside of the Tomb in centuries, and use the Arrow to activate a holographic map display, which indicates the general direction of Earth ^{(TRS: "Home, Part II")}. Afterwards, the Colonials abandon Kobol again, never to return.

Notes

• Much of the scenic, expansive landscapes of Kobol were filmed at Widgeon Slough, the largest freshwater marsh in the Pinecone Burke Provincial Park, British Columbia, Port Coquitlam (Source in part: The Official Companion).
• In the original Miniseries script, the Twelve Colonies actually resided on Kobol. The final script returned Kobol to its status as birthplace of humankind, with humanity having left to other habitable worlds to match the premise of the Original Series.

See Also

• Kobol, for similarities between the Original and Re-imagined Series and the etymology of the planet's name.

References

"Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I" An episode of the Re-imagined Series
Episode No.	Season 1, Episode 12
Writer(s)	Ronald D. Moore
Story by	David Eick
Director	Michael Rymer
Assistant Director
Special guest(s)
Production No.	112
Nielsen Rating	2.2
US airdate	2005-03-25
CAN airdate	2005-04-02
UK airdate	2005-01-17
DVD release	20 September 2005 US 28 March 2005 UK
Population	47,897 survivors ( 1)
Additional Info
Full Credits
Episode Chronology
Previous		Next
Colonial Day	Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I	Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II
Related Information
Official Summary
R&D Skit – View
Podcast Transcript – View
[[IMDB:tt{{{imdb}}}|IMDb entry]]
Listing of props for this episode
Related Media
Photo Gallery			@ BW Media
Promotional Materials
Online Purchasing
Amazon: Standard Definition | High Definition
iTunes: USA | Canada | UK

Galactica discovers Kobol, and a chain of events are set in motion that threatens to change everything.

Summary

• Following the Colonial Day celebrations, Gaius Baltar finally beds Kara "Starbuck" Thrace, but as they make love, she cries out for Lee Adama, shattering Baltar's mood.
• Stricken by her apparent rejection of him in their coupling, Baltar in turn comes close to rejecting Six and finds it impossible to concentrate on anything – including his duties as Vice President.
• Elsewhere on ship, Boomer attempts to take her own life, but breaks down in tears before she can shoot herself. She is called to the Ready Room for a pre-flight briefing.
• Roslin discovers that her cancer treatment is not going well. Her cancer has spread to her lymphatic system, giving her perhaps 6 months to live.
• Baltar verbally fences with Lee Adama and is somewhat insulting to Thrace, tipping Lee off that the doctor has slept with Thrace. Later, still thinking about Thrace, Baltar cracks in front of Roslin.
• Following a recon mission, Boomer and Alex "Crashdown" Quartararo return to Galactica with evidence they have stumbled upon Kobol.
• Determined to have things out with Thrace, Lee confronts her in the Hangar Deck, and the two come to blows. Thrace realizes that her actions with Baltar have hurt Lee Adama.
• Reviewing the evidence returned by Boomer and Crashdown, Roslin has a vision which Elosha confirms to be the City of the Gods on Kobol.
• Roslin has two further visions – the Arrow of Apollo and the Tomb of Athena, and accepts the scriptures as fact.
• Boomer, still confused, attempts to take her own life – “encouraged” by Baltar in defiance of Six.
• When Adama reviews the evidence, he orders an extensive surface survey of the planet, seeing it as an opportunity for them to settle. Warned he should get off Galactica by Six, Baltar assigns himself to the survey.
• Roslin tries to convince Adama that Kobol will point the way to Earth, but they must use the captured Cylon Raider to return to Caprica and retrieve the Arrow of Apollo.
• Three Raptors depart Galactica for Kobol, but on arrival they find themselves in the midst of a Cylon force of Raiders – and a basestar.
• One Raptor is destroyed, and one – carrying Baltar – crash-lands on Kobol. The third escapes back to the Fleet.
• Before a rescue mission can be launched, the basestar must be taken out – and Starbuck hatches a plan to do just this using the captured Raider.
• Hearing this, Roslin meets with Starbuck and convinces her into going to Caprica instead to retrieve the Arrow, by telling her that Adama does not actually know where Earth is.

Adama studies ancient documents on Kobol.

On Caprica

• Helo, alone and on the run, encounters “his” Valerii. He shoots and wounds her. Unable to kill her outright, he takes her with him.
• When Valerii tries to talk to him, Helo cuts her off and insists that she is now just a means for him to get off the planet.

Notes

• Thrace leaves Baltar's quarters at the start of the episode with her blue dress from "Colonial Day". It seems like this episode continues directly on from the previous episode.
• There are now 47,897 survivors in the The Fleet, a net loss of 1 since "Colonial Day," accounting for the death of Valance.
• The Fleet is beginning to run short of supplies.
• Humans departed Kobol for the Twelve Colonies some 2,000 years prior to the setting of the series.
• Kobol is a place where the "gods and man lived together in paradise".
• Some of the "gods" appear to be buried on Kobol, as demonstrated by the Tomb of Athena.
• Socinus has been released from the brig and returned to duty; Socinus' release from the brig by Chief Tyrol was filmed, but ended up on the cutting room floor.
• Ellen Tigh does not appear in this episode, but she is present in deleted scenes.
• The Cylon transponder is an indirect nod to the Original Series, in which Apollo and Starbuck use an IFF-type device to identify their Raider to Colonial forces when they launch an attack on a Cylon basestar ^{(TOS: "The Hand of God")}.
• When Adama asks Starbuck what she is doing and she replies "Bringing home the cat," she is referring to their first exchange in the Miniseries: "What do you hear?" - "Nothing but the rain."
• The last scene, with Kara Thrace leaving in a Raider to return to Caprica, is scored differently on the US DVDs than either the UK DVDs or the initially broadcast version. In the initial broadcast, the score uses the drum sequence from the opening titles. The US DVD set, however, is scored with a drum cue from the Miniseries. Neither is the version originally scored by Bear McCreary, who went with a middle ground between intense action and subtle drama. (This version can be found on his blog).

Analysis

• Why would Starbuck have sex with Baltar? As Starbuck says, she feels she is a screwup. Based on what viewers have seen and heard of Starbuck throughout the season, and specifically Apollo's comments in this episode, she has a history of recklessly diving into physical relations with no thought whatsoever as to the consequences; Starbuck instinctively starts thinking something must be wrong when things are going right, such as her growing relationship with Apollo, because she's so used to things going wrong. Also, Lee Adama left her dancing with Baltar in the last episode.
• When Sharon shoots herself, she is holding an automatic pistol, but the sound is that of the larger sidearms carried by pilots when flying off-ship missions (only slightly suppressed), rather than the report of a "normal" pistol being fired.
• When Roslin tells Starbuck that she is dying from breast cancer, she says that she only told three people. However, four people (Doctor Cottle, Billy Keikeya, Lee Adama, and Elosha) actually know of Roslin's illness by this time. Whether this is a continuity error or whether Roslin simply misspeaks is unknown.
  • Billy inferred her condition before she told him, ^{(TRS: "Miniseries")}, so maybe she is being very particular, since he did not learn of it through her telling him.

Questions

Answered Questions

For answers to the questions in this section, click here.

• Why did the Thirteen Tribes leave Kobol?
• Given the similarities with the Greek pantheon, did the gods decide to follow the 13th tribe to Earth, thus establishing the myths of the Olympian gods?
• Do the Cylons consider Kobol as their spiritual home as well (“The birthplace of us all” – Leoben Conoy, "Flesh and Bone")?

Unanswered Questions

• What happened to the gods who lived on Kobol “with man”?
• Did the gods remain on Kobol after humanity left?
• Did Sharon Valerii's Cylon personality interfere in her attempt at suicide, resulting in her wounding herself, or did her human personality lack the conviction of the act, resulting in the wound? Or was it simply an accident that she missed?

Official Statements

Regarding the lack of definitive information regarding Kobol

From RDM's Sci-Fi Channel Blog

"In the last two episodes it is noted by the priestess that the thirteen tribes left Kobol about "2000 years ago" and the initial estimate of the age of the ruins is the same, but nothing is concrete of course. This is where I have a problem: They were obviously a star faring civilization to leave Kobol to being with. To do so requires information technology. Why is their history of that time so sketchy and lacking of concrete records? Yes it was 2000 years in the past but come on, it's not like they only had papyrus to write on."

I've been presupposing some kind of cataclysm or crisis that occurred soon after mankind settled on the 12 worlds which either wiped out the knowledge base or had it deliberately destroyed for some reason. This doesn't seem that implausible when one considers that a tremendous amount of knowledge from the Greco-Roman tradition was lost after the fall of the Roman Empire and plunged the western world into the so called Dark Ages. Clearly, the Colonials did not fall all the way back to papyrus, and they do in fact, know that they are descendants of refugees from Kobol, hence the term "Colonies." They must have possessed star-faring technology at the time of the exodus, but I don't know how far we'll go into this specific backstory in the series, however.

Regarding Storyline Evolution and Potential Casting

• Early on during the "Daybreak" Blu-Ray/DVD audio commentary track, Ronald D. Moore and David Eick mention that original BSG actor Dirk Benedict was, at one point, considered for the role of "God" in an earlier draft of the script; presumably after the Colonials arrive at Kobol and the Opera House there. This plot-point was discarded not long thereafter, as the final version of the episode's storyline evolved into a different form.

Other Statements

• Jamie Bamber talks about his response to the argument held between Kara Thrace and Lee Adama in this episode:

It's sort of an explosion of jealousy that is a complete surprise to him because I don't think he's ... he's not fully aware of what he feels. There's something quite like a gut reaction that really was exciting to play. It was a surprise to me. [1]

Noteworthy Dialogue

• In the bunk room, when Gaius Baltar interrupts Sharon Valeri’s second attempt at suicide:

Sharon Valerii: [as she pretends to be cleaning her hand gun] What’s going on?

Gaius Baltar: [cautiously] Well, I was going to ask you the same question. Actually, I was looking for Lieutenant Thrace but...sometimes it’s good to...talk these things over.

Head Six: [feigning pity] Deep down she knows she’s a Cylon, but her conscious mind won’t accept it.

Valerii: Sometimes I have these dark thoughts.

Baltar: What kind of dark thoughts?

Six: Her model is weak, always has been. But in the end she’ll carry out her mission.

Valerii: I don’t know, but I’m afraid I’m going to hurt someone. I feel like I ought to be stopped.

Six: [moving to the other side of Valerii] She can’t be stopped. She’s a Cylon. You can’t help her, Gaius...but you could probably sleep with her. That’s what you want, right?

Baltar: [to Valerii] I’m not sure why...sometimes...we must embrace that which opens up for us...

Sharon Valerii: Embrace?

Gaius Baltar: Life can be a curse as well as a blessing. [more intensely] You will believe me when I tell you: there are far worse things than death in this world.

Sharon Valerii: So you’re saying…?

Gaius Baltar: No. No, no, no. What I say...is meaningless. Listen to your heart. Embrace that which you know to be the right decision.

[They look at each other as Six regards Baltar with a look of complete incomprehension, then Baltar stands and kisses Boomer on the forehead before walking out of the bunkroom. Seconds later there is the sound of a single gunshot from inside.]

• On the hangar deck:

Lee Adama: Going hunting?

Kara Thrace: [loading ammunition into the Cylon Raider] I'm manning the gunnery for the jump test tomorrow. See if our boy here can shoot anything with our ammo.

Adama: So it's a boy now.

Thrace: I changed my mind.

Adama: You ever wonder why everyone else calls it a "she," but to you, it's a "he"?

Thrace: That's fascinating, Lee. You should write a paper.

Adama: Well, that's not really my style. I'm not as smart as...say, Doctor Baltar. How is the Vice President, by the way?

Thrace: I don't know. Haven't seen him.

Adama: [thinks for a second] So...he's a love-them and leave-them kind of guy, I guess.

Thrace: I guess.

Adama: Ships just pass in the night...

Thrace: Yep.

Adama: Didn't mean a thing.

Thrace: No.

Adama: You were just bored, looking for something to do. So frakking the Vice President of the Colonies seemed like a great waste of time!

Thrace: Do you want something from me?

Adama: Not a thing—

Thrace: —because I don't owe you anything.

Adama: No, you don't owe me anything. Because I'm just a CAG, and you're just a pilot. A pilot who can't keep her pants on! Oh, it's just like old times, Kara. Like when you got drunk and you couldn't keep your hands off the major—

[Thrace turns around and swings a punch at Adama, but Adama returns the favor by punching Thrace in the eye.]

Adama: Why'd you do it, Kara? Just tell me why.

Thrace: Because I'm a screw-up, Lee. Try to keep that in mind.

• As Kara Thrace pilots the Cylon Raider in a weapons test, she contacts Commander Adama:

William Adama: [to Thrace] Go ahead.

Kara Thrace: I believed you. Believed in Earth.

Adama: What are you doing, Starbuck?

Thrace: Bringing home the cat, sir.

Adama: We can talk about this.

Thrace: No, I don't think so.

Adama: I want you to remember one thing. I do not regret anything that I did. Be sure that whatever you're going to do, you don't regret it later. Do you understand me?

Thrace: I guess we'll find out. [Thrace uses the FTL computer to jump to Caprica.]

Lee Adama: Galactica, Apollo. Starbuck has jumped away. Repeat, Starbuck has jumped away.

Saul Tigh: She wasn't scheduled for a jump test! Where the hell did she go?

Adama: Home.

Guest stars

• Michael Hogan as Colonel Saul Tigh
• Aaron Douglas as Chief Galen Tyrol
• Tahmoh Penikett as Lieutenant Karl "Helo" Agathon
• Kandyse McClure as Petty Officer Anastasia Dualla
• Paul Campbell as Billy Keikeya
• Alessandro Juliani as Lieutenant Felix Gaeta
• Samuel Witwer as Lieutenant Alex "Crashdown" Quartararo
• Lorena Gale as Elosha
• Donnelly Rhodes as Doctor Sherman Cottle
• Alonso Oyarzun as Specialist Socinus
• Bodie Olmos as Lieutenant Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza
• Stephen Spender as Raptor 3's Pilot
• James Bell as Raptor 3's ECO

References

"Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II" An episode of the Re-imagined Series
Episode No.	Season 1, Episode 13
Writer(s)	Ronald D. Moore
Story by	David Eick
Director	Michael Rymer
Assistant Director
Special guest(s)
Production No.	113
Nielsen Rating	2.5
US airdate	2005-04-01
CAN airdate	2005-04-09
UK airdate	2005-01-24
DVD release	20 September 2005 US 28 March 2005 UK
Population	47,887 survivors ( 10)
Additional Info	Season Finale
Full Credits
Episode Chronology
Previous		Next
Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I	Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II	Scattered
Related Information
Official Summary
R&D Skit – View
Podcast Transcript – View
[[IMDB:tt{{{imdb}}}|IMDb entry]]
Listing of props for this episode
Related Media
Photo Gallery			@ BW Media
Promotional Materials
Online Purchasing
Amazon: Standard Definition | High Definition
iTunes: USA | Canada | UK

Starbuck has gone to Caprica. Adama insists Roslin must stand down as President. When she refuses, he is forced to deal with that situation while simultaneously adapting the plan to rid themselves of the Cylon baseship over Kobol.

Summary

In the Fleet

• Adama challenges Roslin over Kara Thrace's actions with the Cylon Raider (which occurred in the last episode) and she admits her role in directing Kara Thrace's action.
• Adama requests her resignation as President. Roslin refuses. He states he is terminating her presidency. When she bluffs that the press is recording the conversation, he hangs up.
• He isolates Colonial One using the CAP to physically isolate it, and by jamming all communications from it. He then orders Colonel Tigh and Lee Adama to set-up a strike force to take Colonial One.
• Visiting Boomer in sickbay, Adama asks her to fly a dangerous mission: take a Raptor fitted with a Cylon IFF transponder, jump to the Cylon baseship orbiting Kobol and drop a nuclear bomb into its landing bay before jumping clear.
• Roslin refuses Adama's final request to yield and her security team ready themselves for an assault.
• The strike team flies to an isolated Colonial One aboard two Raptors, lead by Tigh and Lee Adama, and they start cutting their way into the ship.
• A confrontation ensues between Colonial forces and Roslin's security. It is broken only when Lee Adama sides with his conscience, and turns on Tigh. Afraid of a bloodbath, Roslin surrenders and Lee Adama is arrested.
• Roslin is returned to Galactica after the failed standoff and is placed in the brig, while Lee Adama is in irons in CIC for mutiny.
• Boomer and Racetrack arrive in CIC following the success of the attack on the baseship near Kobol, and as he thanks them, Boomer shoots Adama twice in the chest at point blank range, seriously wounding him.

On Kobol

• Raptor 1 has crashed down on Kobol and is on fire, as the crew struggle to get out and remove the bodies of the dead and injured, Baltar becomes trapped by fire in the back of the vehicle.
• Alex "Crashdown" Quartararo tries to help him, but Baltar is too terrified to move. Six appears and gives Baltar the strength to escape by giving the impression she is helping him out of the ship.
• As they get clear, the ship explodes, and Baltar wanders into the long grass before collapsing, as the rest of the crew start checking on their injured.
• Boomer's Raptor makes it through the Cylon perimeter around the baseship situated above Kobol, but the bomb release mechanism fails, forcing them to land inside the basestar and attempt a manual separation of the bomb.
• While there, Boomer encounters a number of her "sisters". While she tries to claim she is human, they inform her she cannot escape destiny.
• After she leaves on the Raptor, her "sisters" make no attempt to disarm or remove the bomb. The baseship is destroyed in a massive nuclear explosion.
• On Kobol, Baltar recognises Six "saved" him, and she takes him to see exactly why he has been chosen by God, and she walks him towards the ruined Opera House.
• Entering it, he is shown the "face of things to come," apparently a baby in a crib, the "first of the new generation of God's children" - and he is to be their protector.

On Caprica

• Valerii has taken Helo to hide near the Delphi Museum of the Colonies.
• She is aware of the importance of the Arrow of Apollo.
• They have discussed the fact that she is a Cylon (rather than a Cylon-created human clone as Helo suggested ^{(TRS: "Colonial Day")}.
• She reveals her relationship with him is important as it brings the Cylons closer to God. She also reveals she is pregnant.
• Starbuck completes her long-range jump and arrives over Caprica. Passing through Cylon lines, she sets down in Delphi and heads for the museum.
• Locating the Arrow of Apollo she is confronted by Six and a fight ensues in which Starbuck is initially badly beaten, before a last-minute rush sends them both over a landing, killing Six.
• Helo comes to Starbuck's aid, and she panics when she sees Valerii, immediately realizing that Valerii is a Cylon. Helo stops Starbuck from shooting her, citing that she's pregnant.

Notes

• This episode takes place directly after those of "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I".
• There are now 47,887 survivors in the Fleet, a net loss of 10 since "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I".
• Cylon vessels are indeed capable of very long-range jumps. The disorienting effects of the jump on humans is amplified greatly to the point where even those tolerant of jump disorientation are affected.
• Delphi was once a cultural center on Caprica, and apparently held a lot of historical and religious artifacts.
• Cylon basestars appear bio-mechanical, like Raiders.
• "Water" shows five operational Raptors dispatched by Adama to survey local star systems for water bearing planets. This episode reveals Galactica had at least one more: one is destroyed over Kobol, one crashes on Kobol; three take part in the raid on Colonial One and one simultaneously carries a nuclear warhead to the Cylon basestar, making the total number of Raptors shown so far six.
• The use of IFF transponders by the Cylons is an indirect nod to the Original Series, in which Apollo and Starbuck use an IFF-type device to identify their Raider to Colonial forces when they launch an attack on a Cylon Basestar (The Hand of God (TOS)).
• According to Ron Moore's podcast, during the Starbuck/Number Six fight in the Delphi Museum, Katee Sackhoff and Tricia Helfer themselves actually perform the entire fight scene, with no stunt doubles.
• The term, the shape of things to come, comes from the novel of the same title written by H.G. Wells in 1933.

Analysis

• Caprica-Sharon is indeed pregnant; love and desire were the keys to Cylon procreation with her and Helo.
• That Baltar sees into the future is clear: but is the child he sees the product of Helo's relationship with Valerii, or his own (future) relationship with a corporeal Six? On the one hand, much of what is seen points to the child being born of Valerii: she admits her condition to Helo (and thus opens the door to him remaining on Caprica with her while Starbuck returns to Galactica with the Arrow) and the Cylons were apparently aiming for her to become pregnant by Helo (or at least, Doral and Six showed no surprise when she reported her lovemaking with him). But Six's words to Baltar as she prepares him to see the future are interesting: “You are the guardian and protector of a new generation of God's children,” – a somewhat neutral explanation that comes before she smiles, catches her breath and adds, “The first member of our family will be with us soon, Gaius.” This could be a reference to the fact that Valerii is pregnant; however the shift to the possessive “our family” and “with us” could be seen to indicate the child could be Baltar’s own. And again, how much more of an effective guardian and protector will Baltar be, if he is in fact protecting his own offspring, rather than that of another Cylon / human relationship? And if this is the case, where does that leave the Valerii / Helo relationship?
• This episode reveals some more about Number Six: if the offspring on the crib she sees with Baltar is that of Valerii and Helo, then it would more or less confirm that she is in contact with corporeal Cylons elsewhere – how else would she know of the developing Valerii / Helo situation otherwise as it started after her “death”?
• Similarly, it is interesting to note the degree of savagery involved in the beating Six gives Starbuck. In many respects, it mirrors the beating she gave Valerii in "Litmus"; at the time, the viciousness she showed seemed to be linked to the jealousy evident between her and Valerii. Six has been affected by Baltar’s reaction to sleeping with Starbuck (Kobol’s Last Gleaming, Part I). Could the physical beating Starbuck receives be a manifestation of the jealousy she feels for what happened on Galactica, transmitted to her corporeal sister?
• How will the Fleet react once word of Roslin’s arrest breaks through the communications blackout Galactica inflicted on Colonial One? What can the civilians do? In many respects Adama holds all the cards – or would, were he in a fit condition. His ship is the key to the protection of the Fleet, and she is pretty much unassailable. Therefore, it is hard to see anyone stepping too far out of line when it comes to making major decisions. But within the civilian community, it is hard not to see repercussions: Roslin has been arrested; Baltar is missing, possibly dead. (Answer)
• Who is available to take the civilian reins? Wallace Gray ^{(TRS: "Colonial Day")}? Tom Zarek ("Bastille Day," "Colonial Day")? Is it a coincidence that not too long before, at the Quorum of Twelve, Zarek himself raised the spectre of a military coup – and that is more-or-less what they now have on their hands?

Questions

• Are Adama's wounds fatal? (Answer)
• What will be the public reaction when news of Roslin's arrest finally breaks through the communication's embargo? (Answer)
• Who will take over as the civil leader with Roslin in the brig and Baltar "lost" somewhere on the surface of Kobol? (Answer)
• How will Tigh rise to the demands of command? (Answer)
• What is the baby in the crib? (Answer)
• If the Cylons understand the significance of the Arrow of Apollo (and by extension, the Tomb of Athena), why don't they use them themselves to find Earth?
• Are the Cylons genuinely interested in finding Earth, or has it simply been a means to bring them to Kobol? (Future Answer)
• Why didn't the sound of Starbuck's Raider landing attract Helo's attention sooner? He is across the road from the museum, and so should have seen it touch down, or seen Starbuck climb the steps to the museum.
• How does Six know Starbuck's name so readily? Is this a pointer to her being in communication with her "sister" in Baltar's head? Or having been in communication with Conoy ^{(TRS: "Flesh and Bone")}?
• Did Boomer sabotage the bomb release mechanism, thus forcing herself into landing on the baseship?
• Why doesn't Racetrack raise concerns about Boomer's ability to survive in a vacuum on their return to Galactica (although there is no indication that there was a vacuum outside)? (Answer)
• Is there a breathable atmosphere inside Cylon basestars? (Answer)
• Why do the Eights do nothing to stop the nuke? Or do the Cylons sacrifice the baseship intentionally for the attempt on Adama?

Official Statements

• Regarding Lee Adama and his development (and setbacks) incurred over the course of Season 1 (2004-05), as stated by Jamie Bamber:

I think he's his own man. I think he's a natural leader, but I don't think he's realised that yet. We are exploring it.

At the end of the first season he's on his own again. I mean, he's always been an isolated figure in the first place because he doesn't really belong on the Galactica. He doesn't even intend to be there but then the end of the world sort of catches him on the hop and that's where he has to make a start. He cuts a role out for himself as the "CAG," something he perhaps wasn't intending to do.

And I think he comes into his own gradually. He surprises himself. But then again, at the end of the first season he disobeys an order, so that's basically burned all his bridges that he had with the crew of the Galactica.

So he's a lone thinker in many respects, but I think more and more you'll see him start to come out with true leadership qualities.

• Jamie Bamber on Lee Adama's evolution from this episode into the second season:

The difference fundamentally is that one moment in "Kobol's Last Gleaming" when he finally realizes that he's sense (sic) of duty and responsibility can and must extend beyond the military hierarchy and include his own conscience and the law. The moment he turns his weapon on his superior. And that that is not wrong.

As a result he finds himself behind bars, in exile, out of uniform and essentially orphaned, but through all this he finds out who he really is and he trusts it. Suddenly, with his father dying, he sees people turn to him for leadership and that brings a realization that he must rise to the occasion and he does so through trusting his own judgment. He is surprised that his mutinous act aboard Colonial One has not marginalized him in the Fleet; just the opposite—it has actually highlighted him as a man of conscience, capable of impossibly difficult decisions.

Noteworthy Dialogue

• When Adama congratulates Boomer for destroying the basestar over Kobol:

Commander Adama: Congratulations to both of you. You carried out a very difficult and dangerous mission, and you did it...despite any...personal misgivings you may or may not have had...and for that I'm very proud. Thank you.

Racetrack: Thank you, sir.

Boomer: Thank you, sir. (pulls out a gun and shoots Adama in the chest)

• In the Opera House on Kobol:

Gaius Baltar: I don't understand.

Number Six: Life has a melody, Gaius. A rhythm of notes that become your existence once played in harmony with God's plan. It's time to do your part and realize your destiny.

Gaius Baltar: Which is what, exactly?

Number Six: You are the guardian and protector of the new generation of God's children. The first member of our family will be with us soon, Gaius. It's time to make your choice.

Gaius Baltar: But I don't understand what you're talking about. Really, I don't understand-

Number Six: Come. See the face of the shape of things to come.

• On the Colonial One:

Colonel Tigh: Madam President, no one needs to get hurt here.

Laura Roslin: Then why don't you get off my ship, Colonel.

Colonel Tigh: I'm placing you under arrest.

Lee Adama: No...no, we're not doing this.

Colonel Tigh: I'm in command here, Captain.

Lee Adama: Colonel, this is wrong!

Colonel Tigh: You're relieved! Fall back. Madam President, I would-

Lee Adama: (pulls a gun on Tigh) Men, lay down your weapons.

Colonel Tigh: Have you lost your frakking mind?

Lee Adama: Colonel, tell these Marines to fall back!

Colonel Tigh: This is mutiny. You know that.

Lee Adama: Yes I do, but you can tell my father that I'm listening to my instincts, and my instincts tell me that we cannot sacrifice our democracy just because the President makes a bad decision.

Guest stars

• Michael Hogan as Colonel Saul Tigh
• Aaron Douglas as Chief Galen Tyrol
• Tahmoh Penikett as Lt. Karl "Helo" Agathon
• Kandyse McClure as Petty Officer Anastasia Dualla
• Paul Campbell as Billy Keikeya
• Alessandro Juliani as Lt. Felix Gaeta
• Samuel Witwer as Alex "Crashdown" Quartararo
• Lorena Gale as Elosha
• Alonso Oyarzun as Specialist Socinus
• Nicki Clyne as Specialist Cally Henderson
• Jim Shield as Karma
• Warren Christie as Tarn
• Jen Halley as Diana Seelix
• Leah Cairns as Lt. Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson
• Jeff Dimitriou as Dancer
• Chris Becker as Cylon Robot

References

Similarities of Kobol between Original and Re-imagined Series

• It is believed to be the original home of humanity.
• It is found by chance by both Fleets.
• A world catastrophe or internal strife forces humanity to leave the planet.
• A tomb holds the key to the location of Earth.
  • Tomb of the Ninth Lord of Kobol in TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods," Part I & Part II.
  • Tomb of Athena in TRS: "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I" and "Home, Part II."
• Special keys are needed to open or access the secrets of the tomb.
  • Seal of the Lords in the Original Series.
  • The Arrow of Apollo in the Re-imagined Series.
• The Colonials encounter Cylons on and around the planet during their quests.

Etymology

• "Kobol" originally appears derived from "Kolob" which, according to the Mormon Book of Abraham is the "star nearest unto God". Glen A. Larson, creator of the Original Series, is a member of the of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As such, he used Mormon imagery within the show, together with elements of Egyptian imagery that tend to reflect the time of Abraham and the Israelites. The Book of Abraham also claims that Abraham taught the Egyptians astronomy and that Kolob is the central star of the universe and thus controls the revolutions of all other stars and planets. The connection seems to come from Kolob/Kobol as the (so to speak) "original starting point".
• Kobol could also have been derived from the Greek word Kobalos, meaning "mine or source." The name may suggest that Kobol was originally a planet with a wealth of natural resources (or, in the case of the Tomb of Athena, information).
• Kobol also shares its pronunciation with COBOL, an older programming language (whose programs are reputed to still be widely used.)

For direct navigation sans the tabbed navigational aid above, please select one of the following article links:

• Kobol (TOS)
• Star Kobol
• Kobol (RDM)
• Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I
• Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II

Original Series definition: region of space, see also Sector. Usually named after a Greek letter, or (less frequently) a star system or planet.

Re-imagined Series definition: transponder-based system to positively identify friendly spacecraft (TRS: "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II")

Re-imagined Series definition: Battlestar Group ^{(TRS: "Water")}. It also doubles as an acronym for the television series itself.

Re-imagined Series definition: the process of using the FTL engines to make an near-instantaneous apparent faster-than-light transport of a ship from one point in space to another

Re-imagined Series definition: all-purpose vulgarism; Colonial version of "fuck" (see: frak)

crew member handling electronic countermeasures of a craft; ECOs are standard crew aboard Raptors (see: ECO)

Re-imagined Series definition: in military parlance, directive to continue the attack; otherwise used to refer to journalists ^{(TRS: "Maelstrom")}

Re-imagined Series definition: nerve center or "bridge" of a battlestar, see: Combat Information Center