Battle of the Binary Star System: Difference between revisions

Battle of the Binary Star System
	Battle of the Binary Star System
	Battle of the Binary Star System
Summary
Conflict:	Second Cylon War
Date:	8 months after the Fall of the Twelve Colonies
Related Episode(s):
Place:	Unnamed binary star system
Result:	Tactical Cylon victory
Combatants
Remnants of the Colonial Fleet	Cylons
Commanders
Commander Barry Garner† ; Major Lee Adama	Basestar command
Strength
Pegasus, 80-90 Vipers, Approx 30 Raptors	3 basestars, associated Raiders and Heavy Raiders
Materiel Losses
2 Raptors, heavy damage to Pegasus	1 basestar heavily damaged, dozens of Raiders destroyed
Casualties
Richard Bayer; Lyla Ellway; Barry Garner ; 2 man crew of Raptor 314	Unknown
Battle Chronology

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Latest revision as of 19:35, 14 May 2023

The Battle of the Binary Star System takes place when the battlestar Pegasus jumps into the system to rescue a pair of missing Raptors, which are used by three Cylon basestars to lure Pegasus into a trap.

Prior to the battle, the Cylons draw two of Pegasus's Raptors into a shroud of electro-magnetic interference (EMI) generated by a binary star system. Once the Raptors are there, the Cylons kill the crews and leave the craft intact and adrift at the edge of the Colonials' DRADIS range, appearing disabled and unresponsive to wireless. The new commander of Pegasus, Barry Garner, disobeys Admiral William Adama's orders and takes the battlestar in to rescue the Raptors, launching a five-Raptor search and rescue mission once there.

Soon after, three Cylon basestars jump in and launch a full salvo of tactical nuclear missiles, making two hits on the battlestar's stern. Pegasus's air wing, already space-borne and commanded by Captain Kara "Starbuck" Thrace, engage the Cylons. The basestars ignore the Vipers and focus their attention on Pegasus, scoring a third nuclear missile hit and damaging the topside heat exchanger.

An engineering officer with no combat command experience, Commander Garner is unable to deal with the situation effectively – at the same time that the heavy Cylon barrage damages the Pegasus's FTL drive, cutting off the only path of retreat. Realizing he is most competent leading the engineering teams, Garner turns over command to his recently-promoted executive officer, Major Lee Adama, and heads below to direct the repairs.

After a moment of hesitation, Major Adama orders Pegasus to head for the nearest basestar, while rolling the ship over to keep its damaged dorsal side hidden from direct fire. He orders Starbuck and Showboat to have the Vipers concentrate on defending the damaged portions of Pegasus from further attacks, and directs the battlestar's forward batteries to fire on the closest basestar. His tactic works and they inflict severe damage on the targeted basestar's central axis, buying Pegasus more time. The wounded basestar hastily withdraws from combat^[1].

Meanwhile, Commander Garner determines that a hull breach prevents technicians from opening an auxiliary coolant valve crucial to re-starting the FTL drive. With time running out for Pegasus, he bravely enters the compartment himself, opens the valve, and restores the FTL drive before dying of asphyxiation^[2]. With the FTL drive restored, Major Adama orders a recall of all Vipers and a jump back to the Fleet.

Pegasus suffers relatively minor damage and few casualties, but it has lost its third commanding officer since the Battle of the Resurrection Ship. For his command ability in returning Pegasus against heavy odds, Admiral Adama promotes Major Adama to the rank of commander and gives him command of Pegasus ^{(TRS: "The Captain's Hand")}.

References[edit]

↑ This is the first documented occurrence of a basestar diverging from the standard tactic of fighting to the death, perhaps due to the loss of a resurrection ship some time earlier.
↑ See NASA JPL scientist Geoffrey Landis' description on what happens from vacuum exposure. Garner must have died of asyphxiation, not vacuum exposure, as it takes him more than 30-45 seconds to open the auxiliary valves. Vacuum exposure would cause unconsciousness within 9 to 11 seconds. While his engineers watched the oxygen levels drop, the atmospheric pressure in the compartment was sufficiently high not to be a vacuum, but not sufficiently pressurized to allow breathing.

[1] This is the first documented occurrence of a basestar diverging from the standard tactic of fighting to the death, perhaps due to the loss of a resurrection ship some time earlier.

[2] See NASA JPL scientist Geoffrey Landis' description on what happens from vacuum exposure. Garner must have died of asyphxiation, not vacuum exposure, as it takes him more than 30-45 seconds to open the auxiliary valves. Vacuum exposure would cause unconsciousness within 9 to 11 seconds. While his engineers watched the oxygen levels drop, the atmospheric pressure in the compartment was sufficiently high not to be a vacuum, but not sufficiently pressurized to allow breathing.

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 |image=BinaryStar.jpg
 |description=Battle of the Binary Star System
-|conflict=[[Cylon Attack|Second Cylon war]]
+|conflict=[[Cylon Attack|Second Cylon War]]
 |date=[[Timeline (RDM)|8 months]] after the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]]
 |place=Unnamed binary star system
 |result=Tactical [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] victory
-|combatant1=Remnants of the [[Colonial Fleet]]
+|combatant1=Remnants of the [[Colonial Fleet (TRS)|Colonial Fleet]]
 |combatant2=[[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]
-|co1=Commander [[Barry Garner]] † <br>Major [[Lee Adama]]
+|co1=Commander [[Barry Garner]]† <br>Major [[Lee Adama]]
-|co2=Unknown
+|co2=[[Basestar command]]
-|strength1=[[Mercury class battlestar]] ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'' <br/>Associated [[Viper (RDM)|Vipers]], associated [[Raptor|Raptors]]
+|strength1=''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', 80-90 {{RDM|Viper}}s, Approx 30 [[Raptor]]s
-|strength2=3 [[Basestar (RDM)|Basestars]], associated [[Raider|Raiders]], [[Heavy Raider|Heavy Raiders]]
+|strength2=3 [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]], associated [[Raider|Raiders]] and [[Heavy Raider|Heavy Raiders]]
-|shiploss1=2 [[Raptor|Raptors]], heavy damage to ''Pegasus''
+|shiploss1=2 [[Raptor]]s, heavy damage to ''Pegasus''
-|shiploss2=1 Basestar heavily damaged
+|shiploss2=1 basestar heavily damaged, dozens of Raiders destroyed
-|casualties1=5
+|casualties1=  [[Richard Bayer]]<br/>[[Lyla Ellway]]<br/>  [[Barry Garner]] <br/> 2 man crew of [[Raptor 314]]
 |casualties2=Unknown
-|prev=[[Battle of the Resurrection Ship]]
+|prev=[[Battle of the Asteroid Field]]
-|next=''Unknown''
+|next=[[Battle of the Guardian basestar]]
+|series=RDM
 }}
-The '''Battle of the Binary Star System''' was an engagement in which battlestar ''Pegasus'' was lured into a trap by three [[Cylons  (RDM)|Cylon]] [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]].  The Cylons lured two of ''Pegasus's'' [[Raptor]]s out into a shroud of electro-magnetic interference (EMI) generated by a binary star system. Once the Raptors were there, the crews were killed and the craft left intact and adrift at the edge of the Colonials' [[DRADIS]] range. By all available data to the Colonials, the craft appeared to be disabled, albeit non-responsive. The new commander of ''Pegasus'', [[Barry Garner]], disobeyed Admiral [[William Adama]]'s orders and took the battlestar in to rescue the Raptors, ignoring Adama's planned 5-Raptor [[SAR]] mission and warning of a likely Cylon trap.
+The '''Battle of the Binary Star System''' takes place when the [[Mercury_class_battlestar|battlestar]] ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'' jumps into the system to rescue a pair of missing [[Raptors]], which are used by three [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]] to lure ''Pegasus'' into a trap.
-Once ''Pegasus'' took the bait and entered the region, three Cylon basestars Jumped in and promptly launched a full salvo of tactical nuclear missiles,  scoring two hits on the stern of the battlestar.  ''Pegasus''' air wing, already spaceborne under the command of [[Kara Thrace|Captain "Starbuck" Thrace]], immediately engaged the Cylons and returned fire. Virtually ignoring the Vipers, the Cylon basestars focused their efforts on ''Pegasus'' and produced a third nuclear missile hit on the battlestar resulting in damage to the topside heat exchanger.
+Prior to the battle, the Cylons draw two of ''Pegasus'''s Raptors into a shroud of electro-magnetic interference (EMI) generated by a binary star system. Once the Raptors are there, the Cylons kill the crews and leave the craft intact and adrift at the edge of the Colonials' [[DRADIS]] range, appearing disabled and unresponsive to [[wireless]]. The new commander of ''Pegasus'', [[Barry Garner]], disobeys Admiral [[William Adama]]'s orders and takes the battlestar in to rescue the Raptors, launching a five-Raptor [[SAR|search and rescue]] mission once there.
-Commander Barry Garner was an engineering officer not experienced in combat command.  Worsening the situation, the heavy barrage dealt by the Cylons damaged the FTL drive, putting ''Pegasus's'' survival in peril.  Realizing his skills would be best used in engineering, Garner voluntarily transfered command to (newly promoted) [[Lee Adama|Major Lee Adama]], and dashed below to Engineering.
+Soon after, three Cylon basestars jump in and launch a full salvo of tactical nuclear missiles, making two hits on the battlestar's stern.  ''Pegasus'''s air wing, already space-borne and commanded by Captain [[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]], engage the Cylons.  The basestars ignore the Vipers and focus their attention on ''Pegasus'', scoring a third nuclear missile hit and damaging the topside heat exchanger.
-After only a moment of hesitation, Major Adama promptly ordered ''Pegasus'' to make for the nearest baseship, while rolling ''Pegasus'' over to keep its damaged dorsal side out of the line of fire.  Adama ordered Starbuck and [[Marcia Case|Showboat]] to take the rest of the Vipers and concentrate on defending the compromised portions of ''Pegasus'' from further damage, while directing the battlestar's forward batteries to fire on the closest of the three basestars, inflicting severe damage to its central axis to buy ''Pegasus'' more time.  The wounded basestar was forced to withdraw; the first documented occurrence of a baseship diverging from their normal tactic of fighting to the death, perhaps due to the loss of the [[Resurrection Ship]].
+An engineering officer with no combat command experience, Commander Garner is unable to deal with the situation effectively&nbsp;&ndash; at the same time that the heavy Cylon barrage damages the ''Pegasus'''s FTL drive, cutting off the only path of retreat.  Realizing he is most competent leading the engineering teams, Garner turns over command to his recently-promoted executive officer, Major [[Lee Adama]], and heads below to direct the repairs.
-The problem in repairing the FTL drive was an oxygen leak that blocked technicians from making repairs to the damaged FTL drive components by openning the auxiliary coolant valve.  ''Pegasus'' was running out of time and its Vipers were beginning to run out of ammo.  Commander Garner heroically sacrificed himself to open the auxiliary coolant valve and restore the FTL drive to operational status, by openning the valve which was in a section of ''Pegasus'' that was venting oxygen to space, dying of asphyxiation.  With the FTL drive restored, Major Adama ordered all fighters to return and ordered ''Pegasus'' to Jump.
+After a moment of hesitation, Major Adama orders ''Pegasus'' to head for the nearest basestar, while rolling the ship over to keep its damaged dorsal side hidden from direct fire.  He orders Starbuck and [[Marcia Case|Showboat]] to have the Vipers concentrate on defending the damaged portions of ''Pegasus'' from further attacks, and directs the battlestar's forward batteries to fire on the closest basestar. His tactic works and they inflict severe damage on the targeted basestar's central axis, buying ''Pegasus'' more time.  The wounded basestar hastily withdraws from combat<ref>This is the first documented occurrence of a basestar diverging from the standard tactic of fighting to the death, perhaps due to the loss of a [[Resurrection Ship|resurrection ship]] some time earlier.</ref>.
-From a tactical standpoint, the battle was a marginal Cylon victory &mdash; if their ultimate goal had been the destruction of ''Pegasus'', the attempt failed, thanks to the quick reactions of the Colonial crew.  However, ''Pegasus'' suffered substantial damage and casualties, including, significantly, yet another command officer since the destruction of the Resurrection Ship. The battlestar returned to the relative safety of the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]].  The extent of the damage appears to not have been very severe, as by one month later ''Pegasus'' seemed to have fully recovered.
+Meanwhile, Commander Garner determines that a hull breach prevents technicians from opening an auxiliary coolant valve crucial to re-starting the FTL drive.  With time running out for ''Pegasus'', he bravely enters the compartment himself, opens the valve, and restores the FTL drive before dying of asphyxiation<ref>See [http://www.sff.net/people/Geoffrey.Landis/vacuum.html NASA JPL scientist Geoffrey Landis' description on what happens from vacuum exposure.] Garner must have died of asyphxiation, not vacuum exposure, as it takes him more than 30-45 seconds to open the auxiliary valves. Vacuum exposure would cause unconsciousness within 9 to 11 seconds. While his engineers watched the oxygen levels drop, the atmospheric pressure in the compartment was sufficiently high not to be a vacuum, but not sufficiently pressurized to allow breathing.</ref>.  With the FTL drive restored, Major Adama orders a recall of all Vipers and a jump back to the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]].
-Lee Adama's tour under the rank of Major was short-lived. For his efforts in returning ''Pegasus'' under dangerous odds, Admiral Adama awarded him with the rank of Commander and the command of ''Pegasus'' ([[The Captain's Hand]]).
+''Pegasus'' suffers relatively minor damage and few casualties, but it has lost its third commanding officer since the [[Battle of the Resurrection Ship]].  For his command ability in returning ''Pegasus'' against heavy odds, Admiral Adama promotes Major Adama to the rank of commander and gives him command of ''Pegasus'' {{TRS|The Captain's Hand}}.
+==References==
+{{reflist}}
+{{clear}}
+{{Battles (RDM)}}
 [[Category:A to Z]]
+[[Category:Colonial]]
 [[Category:Colonial Battles]]
-[[Category:Colonial Military]]
+[[Category:Colonial Battles (TRS)]]
-[[Category:RDM]]
+[[Category:TRS]]
+[[de:Schlacht im Binären Sternensystem]]