The Magnificent Warriors

Overview

When a Cylon attack destroys the fleet's food supply, Adama and the others must agree to certain compromises with old acquaintances and with the inhabitants of a grain-rich, yet politically turbulent planet.

Summary

• Cylon Raiders slip past the defenses of Blue Squadron, destroying two of the fleet's three agricultural ships; the remaining vessel, Agro Ship Nine, has a breached airlock.
• Personally inspecting the damage, Colonel Tigh learns that the fleet's entire crop supply was destroyed in the attack; more importantly, the fleet's supply of seed has been exhausted and must be somehow replenished, according to Agro Specialist Carmichael.
• The fleet had recently passed by the planet Sectar, home to a small agricultural settlement of humans, in the Zeta quadrant; Commander Adama plans to trade an old energizer (one without Colonial markings) to the settlement, in exchange for new seed.
• The only energizer available for trade is owned by Siress Belloby, an old acquaintance of Adama, who refuses to relinquish its ownership unless the commander meets with her personally; Belloby hosts a bouquet-wielding Adama, who agrees to romantically court the siress, in exchange for the energizer.
• Belloby and Adama insist on accompanying Apollo, Starbuck, and Boomer on the mission to Serenity, the small agro colony on the planet; Boxey and Muffit tag along as well.
• Before the Colonial's arrival, Dipper sees a full moon and warns the residents of Serenity of an impending attack by the Boray, herd-like humanoid creatures which pillage the town on horseback, killing constable Farnes; Bogan, the settlement's leader, has trouble recruiting a replacement constable.
• Starbuck and Boomer ride into town, posing as farmers looking to trade their energizer for seed; Bogan, seeking a new constable, offers the warriors employment instead, but they decline.
• Returning to their shuttle landing site, Starbuck and Boomer are ambushed by Dipper and accomplise Duggy; their vehicle (and the energizer) are hijacked; freeing themselves, the warriors realize they've been robbed by Bogan's men; Starbuck returns to town to confront the thieves, while Boomer returns to the shuttle to inform Adama and company of the hijacking.
• Bogan denies involvement in the heist, but offers to sell the seed to Starbuck; not having enough money, Starbuck joins a pyramid game to increase his funds.
• Producing a three-level pyramid, Starbuck wins the hand, drawing suspicion from Dipper and Duggy; Starbuck expresses his suspicions as to the source of their funds, implying their role in the theft of the energizer.
• Still short on funds, Starbuck is tricked into "winning" the constable's star during a hand of pyramid, becoming the de facto town constable. Entering the saloon, Adama demands to see the local law enforcement official, only to discover that it is none other than Starbuck.
• Bogan insists that Starbuck must face up to his duties as constable, regardless of how Starbuck came into possession of the constable's star; facing the attacking Boray, Siress Belloby is captured and dragged off by the marauding pig-like creatures.
• The townspeople point out the general direction of the Boray camp; Apollo brings Muffit, who tracks Belloby by her scent to the Boray cave.
• Finding the Boray encampment, the Colonials hold off the creatures with a few warning laser blasts; Adama negotiates privately with Nogow, the Boray leader, but to no avail.
• Starbuck hatches a plan, trading his constable's star to Nogow in exchange for Siress Belloby.
• Back in town, Adama buys the required seed from Bogan, while the townspeople reluctantly meet their new constable, the Boray leader Nogow.
• Unimpressed with Adama's negotiating skills at winning her release, Belloby dumps Adama, much to the commander's relief.

Questions

• Why does the sudden appearance of the full moon startle Dipper? Of course, the Boray attack under a full moon, but doesn't the moon appear in regular cycles that can be predicted by the colonists? They are aware of space travel, but somehow can't accurately predict the cycles of their own moon?
• Why does Starbuck risk confronting the thieving townspeople alone, without partner Boomer?
• Other than for dramatic purposes, why do Adama, Belloby and Boxey join the shuttle mission?

Notes

• The town bears an uncanny resemblance to the agricultural town on Equellus, from the The Lost Warrior episode; also, just as on Equellus, the town is only seen at night.

Statistics

Guest Stars

• Dennis Fimple as Duggy
• Ben Frommer as Nogow
• Rance Howard as Farnes
• Barry Nelson as Bogan
• Eric Server as Dipper
• Brett Somers as Siress Belloby
• Olan Soulé as Carmichael

Writing & Direction

• Written by Glen A. Larson
• Directed by Christian I. Nyby II

Production Notes

• Series 1 (1978 / 1979)
• Production Number: 1.?
• Airdate Order: 8 (of 21)

First Run Air Dates & Releases

• US Airdate: November 12, 1978
• DVD Release: December 28, 2004

Original Series definition: agriculture ^{(TOS: "The Magnificent Warriors")}

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

Galactica 1980 definition: a power source (see: energizer); Dillon voices his concern that the energizer feeding power to the invisibility field hiding their Vipers needs to be recharged before the ships are rendered visible ^{(1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I")}

Original Series definition: agriculture ^{(TOS: "The Magnificent Warriors")}

Galactica 1980 definition: Troy and Dillon look up this word after the desk clerk explains the reasons for the metal detectors. Unsurprisingly, a hijacking by Cuban nationals subsequently occurs on their flight ^{(1980: "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I")}.

Re-imagined Series definition: popular Colonial ball game, see: pyramid

Original Series definition: a card game, similar to poker (see: pyramid)

Original Series definition: a title of nobility, typically ascribed to a civilian of the female gender (e.g. Siress Tinia, Siress Blassie)