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Battle of the Ionian Nebula: Difference between revisions

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{{Battle Data
{{Battle Data
| name=Battle of the Ionian Nebula
| name=Battle of the Ionian Nebula
| image= Ionian Nebula.png
| image= Ionian Battle 1.jpg
| description= Cylons forces ambush the mysteriously crippled Colonial Fleet
| description= Cylons forces ambush the mysteriously crippled Colonial Fleet
| conflict= [[Cylon Attack|Second Cylon War]]
| conflict= [[Cylon Attack|Second Cylon War]]
| date=Shortly after [[Gaius Baltar]]'s trial
| date=Approx. [[Timeline (RDM)|3 years]] after the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]]
| place= The [[Ionian nebula]]
| place= [[Ionian Nebula]]
| result= Heavy Colonial losses and Cylon withdrawal. Triggers the [[Cylon Civil War]]
| result= Tactical [[Cylon (RDM)|Cylon]] victory<br>Withdrawal of the Cylon fleet<br>Triggers the [[Cylon Civil War]]
| combatant1= Remnants of the [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|Colonial Fleet]]
| combatant1= Remnants of the [[Colonial Fleet (TRS)|Colonial Fleet]]
| combatant2= [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]
| combatant2= [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]
| co1= Admiral [[William Adama]]
| co1= Admiral [[William Adama]]
| co2= [[basestar command]]
| co2= [[Basestar command]]
| strength1= ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'', associated [[Vipers]] and [[Raptors]]<br/>  
| strength1= ''{{RDM|Galactica}}'', approx 80 [[Vipers]] and 30 [[Raptors]]<br/>  
| strength2=  
| strength2= Four [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]], associated [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raiders]] and [[Heavy Raider]]s
Four [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]], approx. 200 [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raiders]] and [[Heavy Raider]]s<br>
| shiploss1= ''[[Pyxis]]'' destroyed, ''[[Zephyr]]'' severely damaged, ''[[Astral Queen]]'' slightly damaged, ''Galactica'' damaged.
| shiploss1= ''[[Pyxis]]'' destroyed, ''[[Space Park]]'' severely damaged, ''[[Astral Queen]]'' slightly damaged
| shiploss2= Numerous Raiders
| shiploss2= Numerous Raiders
| casualties1= 600 civilians on ''[[Pyxis]]''. 1,100 deaths on other ships<ref>The [[survivor count]] in the credits decreases by 1,700, accounting for the deaths during the teaser. The majority of the 1,100 additional deaths likely occurs on the ''Space Park'', but other ships are hit too.</ref>.
| casualties1= 600 civilians on ''[[Pyxis]]'', 1,101 deaths on other ships<ref>The [[survivor count]] in the credits decreases by 1,700, accounting for the deaths during the teaser and for the return of [[Kara Thrace]]. The majority of the 1,101 additional deaths likely occur on ''Zephyr'', but other ships are hit as well.</ref>.
| casualties2=None
| casualties2=Unknown, light
| prev=[[Battle of the Algae Planet]]
| prev=[[Battle of the Algae Planet]]
| next=None
| next=[[Battle of the Trinary Star System]]
| series=RDM
| series=RDM
}}
}}
Upon jumping into the Ionian system, the entire [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] suddenly loses power and becomes dead in space. As the ships drift aimlessly, four Cylon basestars jump into the nebula and begin launching Raiders. By the time power is restored to ''Galactica'' and the civilian ships, the Raiders are already inbound and the Fleet is incapable of jumping to safety before they close to firing distance.
The '''Battle of the Ionian Nebula''' occurs soon after the [[The Fleet (RDM)|fleet of surviving Colonial ships]] jumps into the [[Ionian Nebula]]. Upon arriving at the nebula, the ships of the Fleet mysteriously lose all power. As the ships drift aimlessly, four Cylon basestars that had been tracking them jump into the nebula and begin launching Raiders. By the time power is restored to ''Galactica'' and the civilian ships, Raiders are already inbound and the Fleet is incapable of jumping to safety before they close to firing distance.


== Events leading up to the battle ==
== Events leading up to the battle ==


During the power outage [[Saul Tigh]], [[Galen Tyrol]], [[Samuel Anders]] and [[Tory Foster]] begin to aimlessly wander the halls of ''Galactica'' muttering the lyrics to a [[The Music|mysterious song]], having heard it in their heads for the past few days. When all four arrive in the same room and see each other they realize that they are actually Cylons themselves. When the alert is sounded, they resolve to continue serving in the roles they did when they believed they were human. Tyrol returns to the flight deck, Anders heads for his Viper and Tigh and Foster head for the [[CIC]] and return to the sides of Admiral Adama and President Roslin.
During the power outage [[Saul Tigh]], [[Galen Tyrol]], [[Samuel Anders|Samuel "Longshot" Anders]], and [[Tory Foster]] begin to aimlessly wander the halls of ''Galactica'' muttering the lyrics to a [[The Music|mysterious song]], having heard it in their heads for the past few days. When all four arrive in the same room and see each other, they realize that they are actually Cylons themselves. When the alert is sounded, they resolve to continue serving in the roles they did when they believed they were human. Tyrol returns to the flight deck, Anders heads for his Viper, and Tigh and Foster go to [[CIC]] and return to the sides of their Admiral [[William Adama]] and President [[Laura Roslin]].


During the scramble to get the alert Vipers launched, [[Lee Adama]], now a civilian after resigning from the military just before Baltar's trial, returns to his quarters and breaks out his helmet and flight suit and joins the fight. While intercepting the incoming waves of Raiders he picks up an unknown contact on his Viper's [[DRADIS]] and breaks formation to investigate. The unknown contact is intermittent and toys with Adama until it pulls alongside him and reveals itself to be [[Kara Thrace]], alive and flying a spotless Viper Mk II.  Thrace claims she has been to Earth and that she is here to lead the Fleet there ([[Crossroads, Part II]]).
During the scramble to launch the alert Vipers, [[Lee Adama]], now a civilian after resigning from the military just before the trial of [[Gaius Baltar]], returns to his quarters to retrieve his helmet and flight suit and join the fight. While intercepting the incoming waves of Raiders, he picks up an unknown contact on his Viper's [[DRADIS]] and breaks formation to investigate. The unknown contact is intermittent and toys with Adama until it pulls alongside him and reveals itself to be [[Kara Thrace]], alive and flying a spotless [[Viper Mark II]].  Thrace claims she has been to Earth and that she will lead the Fleet there {{TRS|Crossroads, Part II}}.


== Civilians under attack ==
== Civilians under attack ==


''Galactica'''s Vipers and Raptors are able to stop the main force of the over 200 Raiders, but the Cylon reserves manage to break through the Colonial lines. Outgunned and with the civilian ships requiring time to spin up their FTL drives, Admiral Adama orders all available pilots out there, including inexperienced [[nugget|nuggets]] like Samuel Anders and [[Diana Seelix]].
''Galactica'''s Vipers and Raptors are able to stop the main force of 200-plus Raiders, but the Cylon reserves manage to break through the Colonial lines. Outgunned and with the civilian ships requiring time to spin up their FTL drives, Admiral Adama orders all available pilots and ships to launch, including inexperienced [[nugget|nuggets]] like Samuel Anders and [[Diana Seelix|Diana "Hardball" Seelix]].


The battle floods over the drifting Fleet, Vipers and Raiders dogfighting among the ships while ''Galactica'' puts up anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) and fires her primary batteries at the Raiders and basestars. A damaged Raider collides with the ''[[Pyxis]]'', destroying the liner and the 600 people aboard. The Cylon basestars launch a barrage of over 50 missiles, half of them targeting the civilian ships. Adama orders all Vipers and point defense batteries to concentrate on protecting the civilians, since ''Galactica'' can withstand the damage. Two missiles hit the ''[[Space Park]]'', resulting in severe damage to its ring section and many causalities, and another missile strikes the ''[[Astral Queen]]'', breaching the forward section of her hull. A missile bound for ''[[Colonial One]]'' is successfully intercepted by Seelix.
The battle floods over the drifting Fleet, Vipers and Raiders dogfighting among the ships while ''Galactica'' puts up anti-aircraft artillery ([[AAA]]) and fires its primary batteries at the Raiders and basestars. A damaged Raider collides with ''[[Pyxis]]'', destroying the liner and the 600 people aboard. The Cylon basestars launch a barrage of over 50 missiles, half of them targeting the civilian ships. Adama orders all Vipers and point defense batteries to concentrate on protecting the civilians, since ''Galactica'' can withstand the damage. Two missiles hit ''[[Zephyr]]'', resulting in severe damage to its ring section and many causalities, and another missile strikes ''[[Astral Queen]]'', breaching the forward section of its hull. A missile bound for ''[[Colonial One]]'' is successfully intercepted by Seelix.


When Anders maneuvers behind a Raider chasing Seelix, it abruptly turns around, scans him with its red "eye", and breaks off. To the amazement of the Colonials, the other Raiders return to their basestars and the Cylons spin up their FTL drives to jump away. Adama seizes this opportunity and orders the fleet to withdraw ([[He That Believeth In Me]]).
When Anders maneuvers behind a Raider chasing Seelix, it abruptly turns around, scans him with its single red eye, and breaks off when Anders' own eyes flash red in a Cylon [[IFF|friend or foe identification signal]]. To the amazement of the Colonials, the other Raiders return to their basestars and the Cylons spin up their [[FTL]] drives to jump away. Adama seizes this opportunity and orders the Fleet to withdraw {{TRS|He That Believeth in Me}}.


== Aftermath ==
== Aftermath ==


The Cylons now suspect that the [[Final Five]] reside within the human fleet. Because the Raiders broke off the attack on their own volition, one group of Cylons led by [[Number One]] (Cavil) has them lobotomized to remove part of their free will. In retaliation, another group led by a [[Natalie|Six]] that advocates a search for the Five, removes the [[Telencephalic inhibitor|devices]] that enslave the Centurions, turning them on Number One's faction ([[Six of One]]). This marks the beginning of the [[Cylon Civil War]].
The Cylons now suspect that the [[Final Five]] reside within the human fleet. Since the Raiders broke off the attack of their own volition, a [[Number One|Cavil]] decides to have them lobotomized to remove part of their free will. The [[Number Four|Four]] and [[Number Five|Five]] models support that decision, but the [[Number Two|Two]], [[Number Six|Six]] and [[Number Eight|Eight]] models do not. When [[Sharon Valerii]] sides with Cavil, he takes that as the deciding vote and has the Raiders lobotomized. In retaliation, a Six named [[Natalie]], now advocating a search for the Five, removes the [[Telencephalic inhibitor|devices]] that enslave the Centurions, turning them on Number One's faction {{TRS|Six of One}}. This marks the beginning of the [[Cylon Civil War]] which forces the rebels and humans to work together in an alliance that ultimately leads to the [[Revelations|discovery of Earth]] and [[Battle of the Resurrection Hub|multiple]] [[Battle of The Colony|victories]] over the Ones and their forces.


== Notes ==
== Related Images ==


*A shot of the Fleet in space after the battle shows that ''Galactica'' has lost one of her dorsal [[Battery|batteries]]. Prior to the baseships firing the missiles, all four forward dorsal batteries are seen in action. After Anders's Viper launched, the impact of the missiles aimed at ''Galactica'' are shown, specifically one particular explosion emanating from the dorsal battery section, causing everyone in CIC to brace for impact.
<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:Raptor scramble.jpg|Raptors scramble...
File:Basestar fires missiles, "He That Believeth in Me".jpg|A basestar fires missiles.
File:Zephyr damaged, "He That Believeth in Me".jpg|''Zephyr'' is damaged during the battle.
File:Battered Battlestar.jpg|''Galactica'' after the battle, missing a gun turret.
</gallery>


== References ==
== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>
{{reflist}}
 
<div style="clear:both;"></div>


{{clear}}


{{Battles (RDM)}}
{{Battles (RDM)}}
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[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial Battles]]
[[Category:Colonial Battles]]
[[Category:Colonial Battles (RDM)]]
[[Category:Colonial Battles (TRS)]]
[[Category:RDM]]
[[Category:TRS]]
 
[[de:Schlacht im Ionischen Nebel]]
[[fr:Bataille de la Nébuleuse Ionienne]]

Latest revision as of 02:27, 22 January 2024


Battle of the Ionian Nebula
Cylons forces ambush the mysteriously crippled Colonial Fleet
Cylons forces ambush the mysteriously crippled Colonial Fleet
Cylons forces ambush the mysteriously crippled Colonial Fleet
Summary
Conflict: Second Cylon War
Date: Approx. 3 years after the Fall of the Twelve Colonies
Related Episode(s):
Place: Ionian Nebula
Result: Tactical Cylon victory
Withdrawal of the Cylon fleet
Triggers the Cylon Civil War
Combatants
Remnants of the Colonial Fleet Cylons
Commanders
Admiral William Adama Basestar command
Strength
Galactica, approx 80 Vipers and 30 Raptors
Four basestars, associated Raiders and Heavy Raiders
Materiel Losses
Pyxis destroyed, Zephyr severely damaged, Astral Queen slightly damaged, Galactica damaged. Numerous Raiders
Casualties
600 civilians on Pyxis, 1,101 deaths on other ships[1]. Unknown, light
Battle Chronology
Previous Next
Battle of the Algae Planet Battle of the Ionian Nebula Battle of the Trinary Star System


The Battle of the Ionian Nebula occurs soon after the fleet of surviving Colonial ships jumps into the Ionian Nebula. Upon arriving at the nebula, the ships of the Fleet mysteriously lose all power. As the ships drift aimlessly, four Cylon basestars that had been tracking them jump into the nebula and begin launching Raiders. By the time power is restored to Galactica and the civilian ships, Raiders are already inbound and the Fleet is incapable of jumping to safety before they close to firing distance.

Events leading up to the battle

During the power outage Saul Tigh, Galen Tyrol, Samuel "Longshot" Anders, and Tory Foster begin to aimlessly wander the halls of Galactica muttering the lyrics to a mysterious song, having heard it in their heads for the past few days. When all four arrive in the same room and see each other, they realize that they are actually Cylons themselves. When the alert is sounded, they resolve to continue serving in the roles they did when they believed they were human. Tyrol returns to the flight deck, Anders heads for his Viper, and Tigh and Foster go to CIC and return to the sides of their Admiral William Adama and President Laura Roslin.

During the scramble to launch the alert Vipers, Lee Adama, now a civilian after resigning from the military just before the trial of Gaius Baltar, returns to his quarters to retrieve his helmet and flight suit and join the fight. While intercepting the incoming waves of Raiders, he picks up an unknown contact on his Viper's DRADIS and breaks formation to investigate. The unknown contact is intermittent and toys with Adama until it pulls alongside him and reveals itself to be Kara Thrace, alive and flying a spotless Viper Mark II. Thrace claims she has been to Earth and that she will lead the Fleet there (TRS: "Crossroads, Part II").

Civilians under attack

Galactica's Vipers and Raptors are able to stop the main force of 200-plus Raiders, but the Cylon reserves manage to break through the Colonial lines. Outgunned and with the civilian ships requiring time to spin up their FTL drives, Admiral Adama orders all available pilots and ships to launch, including inexperienced nuggets like Samuel Anders and Diana "Hardball" Seelix.

The battle floods over the drifting Fleet, Vipers and Raiders dogfighting among the ships while Galactica puts up anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) and fires its primary batteries at the Raiders and basestars. A damaged Raider collides with Pyxis, destroying the liner and the 600 people aboard. The Cylon basestars launch a barrage of over 50 missiles, half of them targeting the civilian ships. Adama orders all Vipers and point defense batteries to concentrate on protecting the civilians, since Galactica can withstand the damage. Two missiles hit Zephyr, resulting in severe damage to its ring section and many causalities, and another missile strikes Astral Queen, breaching the forward section of its hull. A missile bound for Colonial One is successfully intercepted by Seelix.

When Anders maneuvers behind a Raider chasing Seelix, it abruptly turns around, scans him with its single red eye, and breaks off when Anders' own eyes flash red in a Cylon friend or foe identification signal. To the amazement of the Colonials, the other Raiders return to their basestars and the Cylons spin up their FTL drives to jump away. Adama seizes this opportunity and orders the Fleet to withdraw (TRS: "He That Believeth in Me").

Aftermath

The Cylons now suspect that the Final Five reside within the human fleet. Since the Raiders broke off the attack of their own volition, a Cavil decides to have them lobotomized to remove part of their free will. The Four and Five models support that decision, but the Two, Six and Eight models do not. When Sharon Valerii sides with Cavil, he takes that as the deciding vote and has the Raiders lobotomized. In retaliation, a Six named Natalie, now advocating a search for the Five, removes the devices that enslave the Centurions, turning them on Number One's faction (TRS: "Six of One"). This marks the beginning of the Cylon Civil War which forces the rebels and humans to work together in an alliance that ultimately leads to the discovery of Earth and multiple victories over the Ones and their forces.

Related Images

References

  1. The survivor count in the credits decreases by 1,700, accounting for the deaths during the teaser and for the return of Kara Thrace. The majority of the 1,101 additional deaths likely occur on Zephyr, but other ships are hit as well.