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Please select a specific reference for the term '''black''':
{{DisambigTab
|tab1=Original Series
* ''[[Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair]]'', a Marvel [[List of Comics|comic book]] based on the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]].
|subtab1_1=Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair
* "[[Black Market]]", an episode of the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]].
|subtab1_2=Blackshirt
* [[Black market (organization)]], an organization in the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] that supplies goods and services to those who can pay top [[cubit]] for them in the Re-imagined Series.
|tab2=Re-imagined Series
* [[Blackbird]], the name of the ship created by [[Galen Tyrol]] and other ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' personnel in the Re-imagined Series.
|subtab2_1=Black Market
* [[Blackshirt]], a deragotory term for [[Council Security]] used in the Original Series.
|subtab2_2=Black market (organization)
|subtab2_3=Blackbird
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Latest revision as of 04:11, 8 June 2026
NOTE: This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title If an article link referred you here, you might want to go back and fix it to point directly to the intended page.
This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. If an article link referred you here, you might want to go back and fix it to point directly to the intended page. Also, if you wanted to search for the term "Black", click here.
This article has a separate continuity. This article is in the Marvel separate continuity, which is related to the Original Series. Be sure that your contributions to this article reflect the characters and events specific to this continuity only.
Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair An issue of the Marvel Comics series.
Jolly's undercover mission continues as he pretends to be a civilian aboard a Fleet vessel. He meets a woman named Ligea who he develops feelings for. Finally he encounters a group of well equipped pirates who he observes stealing a whole warehouse of food stores. His investigation later reveals that Ligea is actually Medea, SireUri's ex-girlfriend! However, when Jolly ends up getting thrown in jail by security for sneaking around, Medea frees him to go after the bad guys - reaffirming his belief that she's a nice girl after all.
Captain Lee "Apollo" Adama, battling haunting demons of his own from a spurned love lost on Caprica, investigates the murder of new Pegasus commander Jack Fisk, and uncovers a black market that strains the resources of the Fleet.
The recovered President Laura Roslin, discusses her plan to eliminate black market problems within the Fleet in Adama's quarters with Admiral Adama, Pegasus Commander Fisk, and Dr. Baltar, since they hold back on the majority of some needed supplies.
Fisk appears adamant to help stop them during the meeting, but is dissmisive of any success it might have after the meeting is over.
When he arrives back in his quarters on Pegasus (Admiral Cain's old quarters) Fisk sees a familiar face and starts conversing with him, but is suddenly chocked from behind. A well-dressed "businessman" comes out of the shadows and merely stands there and lights a cigarette as Fisk dies.
Lee "Apollo" Adama, severely depressed since his ejection from the Blackbird, has apparently been nurturing a relationship on Cloud 9 with a woman named Shevon, who has a young daughter named Paya.
He has brought a toy for Paya, but it appears all mangled, which spooks Paya.
In a "morning after" talk, Lee and Shevon talk in tones that hint towards his wanting of a serious relationship. Shevon appears to dodge these, and requests 100 extra cubits as Lee is leaving because he "stayed the night" indicating that she is a prostitute.
In flashback scenes, we see a past love of Lee's on Caprica. The scenes revolve around a rendezvous between Lee and this girl, which resolves with her running away. The details and intensity of these flashbacks increase as the episode progresses.
Admiral Adama meets with Apollo and assigns him to investigate the death of Fisk even though it occurred on the Pegasus. He feels he wants someone he can trust rather than a crew member from the other ship who might be biased.
While examining the room where Fisk died Lee finds a small fortune of luxury goods in Fisk's closet, including a gold bracelet with the monogram "E.T." on it.
Gaius Baltar, who was unaware of Fisk's death, comes seeking him out and is shocked and worried that he might be implicated. After a few moments of awkwardness, he manages to talk himself out of trouble and leaves.
Back on Galactica Lee confronts Colonel Tigh in his quarters about the bracelet which he had realized was Ellen Tigh's. Tigh says that it was he and not his wife who traded it to Fisk for liquor, fruit, etc. for Ellen and himself. Tigh explains that Fisk was deeply involved in using Pegasus as a hub to fence black market goods.
Dr. Cottle's autopsy finds cubits jammed in Fisk's mouth after his death most likely as a warning to others. Adama realizes that Fisk was trying to undercut one of his black market suppliers, and they punished him for it.
Lee with Shevon.
On Colonial One, President Roslin, piecing together her near-death recollections of Caprica, becomes aware of Baltar's pre-holocaust contact with a copy of the Humanoid Cylon known to the Fleet as "Shelly Godfrey" and "Gina Inviere." She candidly asks Dr. Baltar, her vice president, to resign. Offended by her request, Baltar begins to walk away, but Roslin stops him to say that it's an offer she will not make again. Baltar replies that while he never wanted any political power in his life or even the office at first, he wants to remain vice president now more than ever.
While Lee "Apollo" Adama is exercising in Galactica's gym, Anastasia Dualla comes to him to bravely ask if the flirtations they exchange during training are leading anywhere. Adama tells her he has no idea how to respond, and Dualla leaves visibly upset.
Lee Adama rushes to Shevon's room on Cloud 9 after she calls for help. He finds Shevon and Paya bruised, and decides to take them to Galactica, but is ambushed by thugs, who nearly choke him to death. As he is held within a breath of his life, he is confronted by the same "businessman" who was present at Fisk's death. He warns Lee to back off of the investigation. Moments later Apollo is knocked unconscious
After coming to, Apollo notices the corpse of a man in the room. Tom Zarek drops by the room moments later, and discusses the black market with Apollo.
Zarek points out that the black market does get supplies where they are needed. Nonetheless, Zarek mentions the central hub of the black market, Prometheus, a ship so lawless it's practically "off the grid," where you can supposedly get anything. Zarek gives a name to the "businessman"—Phelan—and tells Apollo that he probably took Shevon there. Additionally, he points out that Phelan has given Apollo Fisk's murderer—the thug with a bullet in his head—and that it should be considered "a way out."
Ignoring Zarek's advice Lee Adama boards Prometheus and while making his way to the center finds Paya and other children locked up.
Apollo encounters Phelan in Prometheus's bar where he warns him that Galactica is fully aware of his location, and that the battlestar can vent Prometheus's air into space unless the black market is shut down.
Phelan counters that the Fleet needs the black market explaining that it is like a pressure valve. Whenever a ship falls behind in the supply schedule, the black market fills the need. Phelan states that they sell all things to fill all wants, including children used as prostitutes which Adama finds completely objectionable. To make his point, Phelan has Shevon dragged out who admits to having lured Lee to Cloud 9 by pretending to be attacked.
Snatching a gun from one of Phelan's guards, Adama threatens Phelan who does not believe he will shoot him and is shocked when Lee does.
Apollo then turns to Phelan's guards, also in shock, and tells them that he's not going to shut down all black market trade because the Fleet needs it for vital supplies whether he likes it or not. However, they must continue their business at his whim only. If there are more killings, if they hold back essential medicines or exploit children, he will annihilate them without restraint.
Apollo then tries to make up with Shevon but she rejects him. She makes Lee realize that he is simply using her as a replacement the girl he left on Caprica.
Back on Colonial One, Lee Adama with William Adama presents his report to the President. Roslin is upset that Apollo did not shut down the black market, but Apollo counters that they will never have a perfect system and there will always be a black market but at least this way they know where it is and therefore it can be monitored and controlled.
Ron D. Moore admits in his podcast that this episode did not live up to his expectations. A long complaint about failed goals he made in his blog is actually about this episode.
Survivor count for this episode is 49,597. That is one less than last week's episode, "Epiphanies" in which a suicide bomber attacks the tylium refinery. However, bodies are seen blasted into space, and Adama actually says in dialog "people are dead," so more than one should have died. However, this number is occasionally offset by new babies born in the Fleet, which can account for some small discrepancies. That said, however, prior to her meeting with Baltar, Roslin is shown standing by her tally board, with a pen in her hand, suggesting she has just updated the number; this suggests the new count is intended to reflect the assassination of Fisk.
Zarek notes that he is the representative of Astral Queen, although in "Colonial Day," he was elected to represent the colony of Sagittaron. Given the nature of the conversation, however, he may have been speaking of his status as de facto leader of Astral Queen instead of his political position.
As seen in "Final Cut," there are occasionally meetings of all the ships in the Fleet.
Bill Duke (Phelan) also appeared in the sci-fi film Predator, and played Bolivar Trask in X-Men 3.
Apollo pilots a Raptor alone to get to Prometheus. As also seen in "Pegasus" and "Resurrection Ship, Part I," he is qualified to fly both Vipers and Raptors.
John Mann, the actor who portrayed Jackson Spencer, the original Galactica CAG in the Miniseries, makes a second appearance in this episode (in a deleted scene) as Linden, who directs Apollo to Phelan.
The scenes with Lee Adama and Gianne on Caprica were filmed at the same location as the ones with Roslin's doctor in the Miniseries. This is evident from the spiral staircases.
This is the third episode to use a "flash forward" introduction to the storyline as a hook (in medias res); this was also used just two episodes previous in "Resurrection Ship, Part II." Ron Moore has said that the device was added after he was disappointed with initial cuts of the episode, as a way to add suspense. The narrative technique also appears in "Act of Contrition."
To some viewers, Apollo's recent angst may appear as rather hastily added to the character. However, another facet of it is addressed in "Resurrection Ship, Part II" when he admits to Starbuck, "I didn't wanna come back alive."
The Apollo-Dualla relationship, a story thread running since "Resistance," appears to have been stopped very abruptly, with only Adama's emotional state as an excuse in ending their flirtation. The manner in which Dualla and Adama speak to each other seems out of character. Dualla later appears with Billy Keikeya, where he says little, and Dualla seems ready to give Adama up and continue things more seriously with Billy.
Ron Moore stated the relationship was introduced because the writers thought it would make an interesting love triangle.
It is interesting to note Shevon's final reaction to and rejection of Adama. Given the dire straits a person in her position would find themselves in, one might think that she would be grateful for the patronage of a (relatively) powerful and generally decent man like Adama, regardless of whom he saw her as a substitute for.
Shevon's rejection may merely have been choosing to be used on a level she was familiar with (working in the black market) as opposed to an unfamiliar or discomfiting one (as Adama's replacement girlfriend by proxy).
Despite her limited screen time, Shevon is a multi-dimensional, believable character. While Ron Moore may not have thought about it, Shevon's moral compass has told her that she cannot accept Adama even if it gains her freedom from her way of life. Shevon remains in her profession instead of being with Adama because she believes it is the right thing to do.
Like many murder mysteries, the episode appears to be without a special point or purpose other than to unravel the mystery. Perhaps the writers were attempting to stress the 'realism' of living in a "ragtag fugitive fleet" of civilians, in that there would probably be organized criminals carving out fiefdoms in which they would run drug, medicine, and prostitution rackets. The solution is self-contained, as the "good guy" promptly kills the leaders and shuts it down in its current state. All in all, the story merely serves as a vehicle to explore Lee Adama as a character.
The show takes a really dark turn when it makes mention of child prostitution, even if this isn't anything that several modern police-dramas haven't done already, and nothing is "shown"; a character only mentions in dialog that he runs a child prostitution ring.
The storyline of Apollo's pregnant girlfriend on Caprica is unusual in that this episode is the first mention of such a crucial backstory thread. Considering the extent to which the memory seems to weigh Lee down, it seems contrived to introduce it so late in the series, especially when there are other circumstances that could have been used to explore his emotional turmoil. In addition, confusion arose concerning Shevon's line about Adama's old flame "want[ing] to give you a child." That is, many viewers may not have understood that Adama's old love was actually already pregnant.
Jack Fisk being killed as easily as Cain is implausible. Admiral Adama is now escorted by Marines at all times. With Cain's killer still on the loose, it would rational for Fisk to have some paranoia.
Phelan and his men clearly had access to Fisk already and might have boarded Pegasus claiming to be on official business.
Considering that an attempt on William Adama's life has already happened once, Marines should have been escorting him from the very beginning. With Fisk and Cain now both dead, there may be a standing Fleet or Colonial military order in place that automatically activates, similar to such real-world orders.
The scene between Baltar and Roslin is interesting in its scripting and acting. Roslin is determined to be extremely polite, forceful, and cheery despite the fact that she is making a power play and now knows Baltar had something to do with the Fall of the Colonies.
The episode incorporates several recognizable plot elements of Film Noir : the murder mystery plot, the central character as a "detective," a femme fatale character, the flashbacks to a lost love, the exploration of the darkness of humanity, and its ultimate acceptance of that darkness in a morally ambiguous ending.
How were the black market henchmen able to penetrate Pegasus's security and murder its second commanding officer in a short period? Were they able to enter and leave without notice, because Fisk's dealing with them was general knowledge? Or did enough crewmen aboard Pegasus assist them to get them that far?
At the end of the episode, Zarek is walking in a crowd on Prometheus, with one of Phelan's old men nearby. Is Zarek going to try to fill the power vacuum left in the wake of Phelan's death? Or is it just to show how everyone needs to use the black market, even someone like Tom Zarek who claims to wash his hands of involvement with it?
Did Zarek somehow set up the entire incident to get Apollo to kill Phelan for him, allowing him to take over control of the black market?
At the end of the episode William Adama tells Lee Adama, "you should have told me about the girl." Is it Shevon, the prostitute (the obvious, close-at-hand issue)? Or, is it the woman back on Caprica (the deeper-seated, much more affecting issue)?
Why has Roslin not openly accused Baltar of collaborating with the Cylons after "Epiphanies"? Is it because she lacks proof?
Who will take command of Pegasus following Fisk's death? (Answer)
Where does the black market get all of its goods, given the finite supplies on the Fleet?
In an interview in issue #197 of TV Zone, James Callis (Dr. Gaius Baltar) said: "Mary and I had a great deal of fun doing a scene where the President tells Baltar in no uncertain terms that she doesn’t like him and wants him to resign. He’s not very happy about that."
This page is about the organization. For the second season episode in which the black market first appears, see Black Market.
The black market of the The Twelve Colonies of Kobol is an illegal, unregulated marketplace for a variety of goods that are otherwise unsellable, or extremely difficult to sell, in a manner prescribed by the Law of the Twelve Colonies.
Circa 58 BCH (42YR), the Ha'la'tha control some segment of the black market of the Twelve Colonies, dealing and acquiring illegal goods through clandestine ways.
Following the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, a black market organization is established within the fleet of refugee human ships through which illicit and unofficial trades of goods, both essential and exotic, are executed. Prometheus is described by Tom Zarek as the "hub of the black market." Notable items traded on the black market included antibiotics, fumarellos, and the services of escorts[1].
Until some time after the Battle of the Resurrection Ship, the underground organization is headed by Phelan. Under his control, the black market regularly withholds inventory to inflate prices. The black market is also known for other dealings, some of which crossed the line between being merely illegal and being clearly harmful and immoral. After Phelan's death, Captain Lee "Apollo" Adama explains to Phelan's likely successors that as long as these shady practices stopped, the black market would be allowed to continue business. Despite President Laura Roslin's misgivings, the black market still functions within the fleet, and is essential in distributing hard to find supplies (TRS: "Black Market").
Frustrated at the dwindling number of available Vipers due to loss and wear-and-tear, Galen Tyrol begins to build a new fighter from scratch.[1]. The fighter design evolves due to supply shortages as well as improvisation and the imagination of participating crew members. The new fighter becomes more a reconnaissance vehicle than an actual fighter craft.
The Blackbird under construction.
The Blackbird is designed to use the Viper launch tubes, and therefore shares the same general shape. Unlike the Viper, it is built more for speed than for maneuverability and is not equipped with guns[2] but is later fitted with a missile launcher (TRS: "Resurrection Ship, Part II"). Upon the suggestion of Karl "Helo" Agathon, the Blackbird uses black-colored carbon composite materials that make it largely undetectable by DRADIS and unaided visual viewing. This was a practical consideration in light of all metal being reserved for Viper repairs.
Along with the usual RCS mechanisms for directional control, the Blackbird is powered by four obsolete DDG-62 engines that came from Baah Pakal's flight deck . Further, unlike other ships of its size, the Blackbird is FTL-capable.
The Blackbird is dubbed "Laura" in honor of President Laura Roslin. Kara "Starbuck" Thrace pilots the maiden test flight, where, after some initial difficulties with handling the ungainly craft, she demonstrates the stealth capabilities, eluding chase pilot Lee "Apollo" Adama and Galactica's DRADIS.
The following individuals aid Galen Tyrol in Laura's construction:
Karl "Helo" Agathon suggests the use of carbon composite materials for the Blackbird's skin.
Colonel Tigh originally denounces the project as frivolous, but later provides assistance in procuring the DDG-62 engines. Others among Tyrol's own deck crew also at first consider the project a waste of time, as noted through their initial reactions to Tyrol's proposal. However, Commander Adama believes that the endeavor offers hope and purpose, and therefore permits it to continue despite the crisis with the Cylon logic bomb that has infected Galactica's systems (TRS: "Flight of the Phoenix").
When commissioning a reconnaissance on the Cylon fleet (containing a mysterious ship) Pegasus'sCAGCole Taylor, although knowing of the Blackbird, chooses to use Raptors for his mission despite Thrace's protests. Before his plan can be put into action Thrace, with assistance from Lee Adama, absconds with the Blackbird, claiming she is running a test flight for Admiral Cain. In reality, she undertakes the mission single-handedly without being detected, taking several close-range pictures.
Laura is later piloted by then-Lieutenant Lee "Apollo" Adama in the battle to disable the Resurrection Ship's FTL drive, preventing her escape so that Vipers can destroy it. While Adama is successful, a collision with a disabled Raptor destroys the Blackbird and Adama is forced to eject (TRS: "Resurrection Ship, Part II").
The content in this section is considered separate from the primary continuity (often called "canon"), for it is a part of the Dynamite Comics universe. Be sure that your contributions to this section reflect events specific to the separate continuityexclusively.
Executive Producer David Eick stated in his video blog that the Blackbird is "not a Viper," so it is not classed as a modified Viper model ("Viper Mark VIII," etc), but is an entirely distinct craft.
Since the Blackbird was designed for speed over maneuverability and possessed stealth characteristics, it is logical that an FTL drive was added for reconnaissance capability. An FTL drive might have been salvaged from a scrapped Raptor, such as Raptor 305.
The Blackbird's ungainly handling characteristics are quite evident during Thrace's first test flight, as she spends the first several seconds out of the launch tube attempting to gain control over the craft (TRS: "Flight of the Phoenix").
Instability actually adds to a vehicle's maneuverability in an atmosphere; an extremely stable aircraft resists any maneuvering. Modern real-world fighters are deliberately designed to be unstable with the flight surfaces constantly adjusted by the flight control system. The Blackbird's controls might have been initially uncalibrated for the plane's configuration (e.g. center of mass), and spent more fuel maintaining a desired attitude.
Carbon composites are a family of materials used in lightweight or high-temperature-resistant construction, of which a type is used in the nose and leading edges of the wings of NASA's Space Shuttle Orbiter. Carbon composites are somewhat fragile, so impacts (even one from a champagne bottle, which Laura Roslin jokingly attempts to do as she christens the ship) may cause the material to splinter or break. It was damage to this material that caused the destruction of Space Shuttle Columbia on STS-107.
The fighter's nickname creates a curious comparison with Laura Roslin, the person for whom it was named. The ailing but influential President Roslin and her rapid, secretive actions in her quest for Earth's location (including diverting Lt. Thrace from her original mission to destroy the Kobol basestar) as well as her savvy political work in "Colonial Day," are humorously similar in perspective to the abilities of "Laura," a structurally weak, but highly agile and initially underestimated stealth fighter.
From a behind-the-scenes perspective, the Blackbird is most likely named after the SR-71 Blackbird, an actual high-speed reconnaissance aircraft. The SR-71 not only shares the principle but also many design features. These include the engines pointing forward from the wings and also the swept long nose smoothing out on the sides.
