Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I

Overview

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

Summary

• Life on a battlestar, for better or worse: Adama and his son spar in a gym, frustrations emerging as they box; Starbuck in bed with a lover she wishes was Lee – but is in fact Baltar; Valerii, SharonBoomer facing the fact she cannot deal with what she might be and putting a gun to her mouth, only to find she cannot pull the trigger; Laura Roslin learning she has perhaps six months to live, her cancer is so aggressive
• Stricken by Starbuck’s apparent rejection of him in their coupling, Baltar in turn comes close to rejecting Six and find it impossible to concentrate on anything – including his duties as Vice President
• When Boomer and Crashdown return with evidence they’ve stumbled upon Kobol, Roslin has a vision of a city teeming with life Elosha confirms to be the City of the Gods on Kobol, and Roslin 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 a opportunity for them to settle. Warned his should get off the 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 Raider to return to Caprica and retrieve the Arrow of Apollo
• Three Raptors depart the Galactica for Kobol, but on arrival they find themselves in the midst of a Cylon force of [Cylon Raider|Raiders]] – and a basestar
• One Raptor is destroyed, and one - carrying Baltar – is forced down on Kobol
• 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 subverts her into going to Caprica, and not going to Kobol to destroy the basestar

On Caprica:

• Helo is on the run – alone – when he encounters “his” |Valerii, and he shoots and wounds her. Unable to kill her outright, he takes her with him
• When Valerii tries to explain things to him, Helo informs her that all she is to him is a way off the planet.

Review

Recap

• You Can’t Go Home Again: The Cylon Raider being manhandled in the hanger bay shortly after Starbuck used it to return to the Galactica, as she states in a voice over, “Like my new toy? It’s my very own Cylon Raider.” Cutting to Starbuck being lifted away from the Raider on a stretcher as Lee Adama says, “When you take a souvenir, you don’t screw around!”
• Flesh and Bone: Boomer walking around the Raider, stroking it with her hand and humming; Six congratulating Baltar on uncovering his first Cylon with his new detector, cutting to a shot of Boomer as she does so
• Six Degrees of Separation: Helo confessing to Valerii that he couldn’t stand to see something happen to her, and her admission she feels the same, cutting to the two of them coupling in the thunderstorm
• Colonial Day: Helo backing away from Valerii at Delphi as she calls out to him, with Boomer’s words to Tyrol aboard the Galactica forming a voice over, “I’m a Cylon,” (Flesh and Bone) before he starts to run
• Mini-Series: A shot of the Cylon device in CIC with Tigh’s voice-over stating, “A new piece of equipment that just appeared in CIC…” cutting to the Geminon Traveller’s Captain showing Starbuck a similar device (Flesh and Bone); Baltar stating, “It’s a Cylon device” in reference to the device seen in the Mini-Series
• Colonial Day: Roslin informing Billy she’ll continue to take the Kamala as it has other benefits, to which he replies, “The hallucinations.”
• Flesh and Bone: Leoben Conoy to Starbuck: “You’re going to find Kobol…The birthplace of us all…” cutting to Roslin confronting Starbuck on her interrogation tactics as Starbuck states, “He says we’re going to find Kobol and that it’s going to lead us to Earth.”

Teaser

Adamas Junior and Senior are in a gym – boxing. Not a word is spoken as they circle one another, but a tension that goes beyond the need to concentrate on their sparring fills the room. The first few punches are mere tests, getting the measure of each other, and do little more than strike one another’s gloves. A half challenging / half mocking smile twists Lee Adama’s lips as he feints and then withdraws he right hand, lifting it to his cheek, leaving an opening. Adama moves in, Lee steps back, encouraging his father to in and swing wide, leaving himself opening to a swift and very hard jab to the ribs. He backs off, catching his breath and wincing. Lee continues circling, his guard up. “You all right?” he asks, the words close to a sneer rather than out of concern, an unspoken, “Old Man?” seeming to hang in the air behind them. Adama responds with a wry grin as his arms come up ready to resume the sparring…

...The camera cuts to two naked bodies on a bunk: Starbuck and Lee Adama appear to be making out together…

…Another cut, and on Caprica, Helo runs through daylight in a city, gun drawn and injured leg giving him a little trouble. He runs along the front of a building, gun held at the ready; and on the Galactica, Boomer leans against the bunks in her bunkroom, an automatic pistol in her hand. She sit down slowly, staring at the gun in her hand, stroking the slide as if preparing to cock it…

...In the gym, Adama and Lee continue sparring, again apparently getting the measure of each other with hits to one another’s gloves – then Lee lands a punch on his father’s chin, rocking him back. He comes forward again with a series of punches, easily blocked before Lee hits him again, this time on the cheek, but Adama rolls with the punch and lands two tight, hard jabs into Lee’s midriff, forcing a break. “You all right?” Adama enquiries mildly, as Lee recovers as he continues to circle, anger in his eyes. His fists come up, and his father gets ready to defend himself, his eyes also alight…

…On Caprica, Helo continues around the building – and Valerii steps out from behind a pillar, gun drawn. Helo freezes on seeing her, lining his own gun on her as she holsters hers. He orders her to remain where she is, keeping his gun lined on her. Close to tears, she obeys….and Boomer on the Galactica cocks her pistol and turns it slowly towards herself….while on Caprica Helo continues to stare at Valerii over his gun. “Just do it,” she tells him, and they stare at each other, both frightened and hurting…as Boomer brings the pistol to her mouth…

…And in another cabin Starbuck and her lover reach a climax, and she calls out for Lee Adama – and her partner lifts his head: Gaius Baltar; his lust gone, his expression reflecting his confusion at the name she called…while in the gym, Lee takes a hit to the head that leaves him slack-jawed and glass-eyed before he topples to the floor, where he shakes himself back into awareness and then climbs back to his feet….

…While Boomer opens her mouth, inserting the muzzle of the pistol into it…and Valerii takes a step towards Helo, causing him to shoot her, and she knocked backwards, rolling and tumbling down a flight of steps. Lowering his gun, Helo catches his breath…and Boomer pulls the gun from her mouth, breaking down in tears…

…And Starbuck looks at the cabin ceiling, a flash of puzzlement passing across her face as Baltar stares at her, then moves slowly to extricate himself from her, rolling to one side of the bunk as she sits up. The ship’s intercom sounds, and Boomer hears she is being called to the ready room for a pre-flight briefing, as Starbuck, now wrapped in a towel, picks up her clothes from the floor and departs Baltar’s cabin, as he remains on the cot, staring at the ceiling, closing his eyes as the cabin door closes.

In the gym, Adama and his son catch their breath, pent-up frustrations given release. “You don’t lose control,” Adama informs Lee. “Thanks,” Lee replies, taking it as a compliment. Adama shakes his head, “No. You gotta lose control - let your instincts take over.” Lee gathers his things, “I thought we were just sparring,” he replies. “That’s why you don’t win,” Adama tells him, before heading for the locker room.

In his cabin, Baltar rises from his bed, wrapping a sheet around him. Six is seated in an armchair, not looking at him, but instead staring at the wall, her rapid blinking the only indication of emotion. Crossing to the table in front of her, Baltar sits on it, but she still does not look at him. He pours himself a glass of Ambrosia, frightened of meeting her eyes, but as he picks it up, he looks at her and realises she is ignoring him, something that gives him pause before he moves the glass to his lips.

On Caprica, Valerii raises herself using her right arm and slowly turns onto her back as Helo covers her with his gun. Her left shoulder is a bloody mess. He takes aim….but finds he can’t kill her. He lowers his gun as she stares first at the sky in shock, then at her bloody shoulder, then up at him.

Acts

Following the opening titles, Laura Roslin is undergoing a full CAT scan on the Galactica as Doctor Cottle examines the results as they are displayed on-screen. Billy Keikeya also observes through the glass of a dividing wall.

Later, in Elosha’s cabin, Roslin reveals the results: she has less than six months to live; the cancer is aggressively attacking her lymphatic system. Elosha pauses before replying, “I want you to hear me on this. You made a true believer out of me – as strange as that sounds, considering. But I believe I know you’re the one to lead us to our salvation. You are going to guide us – to Earth.” Roslin considers this for a moment before replying, “Then we’d better find it soon.”

Elsewhere, a card game is taking place. As expected, Baltar is involved, as is Crashdown – but the remaining players are Gaeta, Dualla and Lee Adama. Baltar is supporting his game with copious amounts of Ambrosia, and is suitably drunk as a result. He pours himself a refill and then does the same for Gaeta, who refuses, citing he’ll be on duty later. Taking Gaeta’s glass, Baltar simply uses it to top-off his own drink as Lee Adama raises the ante in the pot. This gets Baltar’s attention, “You can’t compete with me,” he slurs – not entirely in reference to the card game – “I always win.”

From off to one side, Six tells Baltar that she’s never seen him like this, and that it is somehow disappointing, common. He turns his head to look slowly in her direction, then back at his cards. “So sorry to disappoint you,” he retorts, then glances at the other card players as he realises he’s spoken aloud, “To disappoint you all,” he corrects. He meets Lee’s raise and then calls – and wins the hand; stunning Lee. As he collects his winnings, dropping some on the floor, Starbuck enters, “Like there’s a card game and no-one called me?” Crashdown teases her about being back on her feet, and Baltar sits up slowly after picking up his winnings and glares at her. “So how ya doing, Gaius?” she enquires, before turning to chat with Lee.

“Mister Vice President to you, if you don’t mind, Lieutenant Thrace,” comes the arched reply, “Some level of decorum must be maintained after all, or is it a pirate ship you’re running?” Starbuck isn’t impressed, and the rest of the table is rather surprised at the outburst. Baltar ignores it all, growing increasingly smug, “Would you like to play?” he asks her, again not entirely with reference to the card game, “Maybe you’d like to sit next to Captain Adama.” The room grows increasingly tense at the comment, and Lee offers room to Starbuck if she wants to pull up a chair. She thanks him, but states she has things to do, her eyes never leaving Baltar, before she walks out. Watching her go, Lee looks back at Baltar, two and two coming together in his head as Baltar tries to hide his feelings behind his hand as he wipes his lower face.

Later, in Roslin’s office aboard Colonial One, Baltar is trying to make notes as she brings him up to speed on the general situation in the fleet – mentioning in passing that while bartering will continue, they now have the means to take the fleet’s economy back to a currency-based system.

As Baltar listens, so Six watches him, her face a picture of concern, “Do you love her?” She asks, cutting through Roslin’s commentary and distracting Baltar. Confused, he looks at Roslin, then his notes, “Did you…?” he mumbles, thoroughly lost. Roslin isn’t impressed and tries to get Baltar to understand how important it is for him to comprehend the emerging political structures. As she asks him if he grasps this, Six simultaneously demands that he answer her question.

“Yes of course I understand,” Baltar replies, addressing Roslin, before he snapping at Six, “My answer is no.” Catching himself, he looks back at Roslin, “No, I don’t think that I can handle this right now, the, the intricacies of the bureaucracy. I can’t get my head around, ah…With all due respect, Madam President you have spent your entire political career learning to understand….More to the point,” and her turns to address Six, “How you could think my head could be turned so quickly by, by, a new thing,” he looks back towards Roslin, eyes on her desk, “It, ah, it, it, ah, astounds me. How did you….how did you seriously think I was going to be able to cope with this kind of responsibility?”

“I don’t believe you,” Six states, as Roslin simultaneously replies, “Because you’re a genius, are you not?”

Both responses lead Baltar on another tirade in which he addresses them both, answering what he sees as unfair criticisms of him, constantly crossing his comments between Six and Roslin only serving to add to the general confusion. Finally, when Six informs him she loves him, this draws an immediate response of, “Oh, give me a break!” Given the situation, Roslin decides to take this last comment literally, and agrees that he needs a break from the meeting, and he heads for the bathroom, a confused Roslin and Billy left sitting in his wake.

In the bathroom, he washes his face, trying to calm down. Six appears beside him, her face expressionless. They look at each other via the mirror above the hand basin. “I’d like to be alone if you don’t mind,” Baltar states calmly. Six responds by “grabbing” the back his head and propelling his forehead into the mirror with considerable force. She “holds” him there as she asks through clenched teeth, “How can you love her Gaius?” He claims he doesn’t, and she tells him not to lie to her. “I know everything you know,” she adds, releasing his head. As he peels himself from the mirror, he realises the impact has cut his forehead. “Oh, that’s lovely,” he says, voice dripping in sarcasm as he fingers the cut, “Oh thank you. Did you, ah,” he asks, looking at her reflection in the mirror, his voice breaking, “Did you want something in particular this time?”

She stares at him for a moment, all anger gone. “I thought you should know,” she replies calmly, “That it’s not safe for you to remain on 'Galactica.” He demands to know what she is talking about, but she will not be drawn, stating only that whatever is going to happen is going to be a surprise. He continues to press her for more information, but when he turns to face her, she is gone, leaving him shouting in impotent anger.

In CIC the Galactica’s command crew receive word from Boomer that her Raptor is about to jump to a nearby sector in the search for supplies. After the call, Boomer gives Crashdown the OK to spin-up the Raptor’s jump drive and execute the jump Gaeta has calculated for them. He does so, and the Raptor emerges from the jump bearing down on the atmosphere of a planet, causing Boomer into some hasty flying before they end up in the atmosphere and burn up.

Boomer is less than impressed, calling Gaeta an idiot as the Raptor enters a safe orbit. Crashdown finds the whole thing highly amusing, “It was great, we’re fine, it’s cool!” They turn their attention to the planet below – one with rich brown continents, blues seas, blue skies and white cloud formations. “Are you seeing this?” Crashdown asks, moving to the front of the ship, his bravado replaced by awe. “Oceans, continents….Let me at this thing,” he moves back to his console and commences scans, confirming the atmosphere is an oxygen/nitrogen mix. “Enough for green leafy things,” he reports, “I’m starting to get excited here, Boomer. This could be it, this could be the big one; the little planet that solves all of our problems.” Still sitting forward, Boomer makes no response, lost in conflicting thoughts and emotions. “Boomer, do you think this could be Earth?” he asks.

She shakes her head slowly, “No, it’s not Earth. It’s more important than that.”

On CYLON-OCCUPIED CAPRICA, where Helo has now been for 50 days, it is once again night and it is again raining. Helo is sheltering as best he can from it, and trying to stay awake. As he begins to doze, the weight of his handgun pulls him back into wakefulness and he levels it at the figure of Valerii, her left arm in a sling, as she sits a few feet away, in the rain. “Doesn’t really work as well as before, huh?” she asks. Helo says nothing, the gun wavering between them as he continues to fight the fatigue. “You know I do get cold,” she adds, resentment in her tone.

When he still makes no reply, she tries another tack: “There are some things you should know, Helo.” He cuts her off with a curt, “Don’t call me that,” going on to state she is neither “Sharon” nor human, so she should stop acting like she knows him. When Valerii tries to explain that she is in fact Sharon Valerii, he ends the conversation by shooting a chunk of masonry out of the corner of the pillar a few feet from her head and telling her she is not Sharon, and all he want from her is a way off the planet.

On the Galactica Lee enters the hanger bay where Starbuck is loading ammunition into the Raider. Walking up to her as she crouches under the Raider, he asks in a tone that is anything but friendly, “Going hunting?” Starbuck replies that there is a test of the Raider’s jump drive scheduled for the following day, and she’s going to use it to see if “our boy” can fire Colonial munitions.

Lee challenges her on referring to the Raider as a “boy” when everyone else refers to it as a female (something Starbuck herself started). Capping the muzzles of the Raider’s guns to indicate they are armed, Starbuck is equally cutting in her reply, “That’s fascinating Lee, you should write a paper.”

“That’s not really my scene,” he responds. “I’m not as smart as, say, um - Doctor Baltar,” the comment earns him a look from Starbuck. “How is the Vice President by the way?” When she tells him she doesn’t know as she hasn’t seen him, Lee refuses to relent, “So I guess he’s a love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of guy.” She agrees. “Ships that pass in the night,” Lee adds. “Yep,” Starbuck replies, finishing with the guns and turning to fire a dangerous look at Lee as she walks past him.

He continues to ride her, asking her if she was bored and if bedding the Vice President just seemed like a great way to waste some time. Starbuck wants to know if he wants something from her, as she doesn’t owe him a thing – meaning he’s not going to get any apology out of her for her actions. “No, you don’t owe me anything,” he agrees before echoing her words from “33”, “Because I’m just a CAG and you’re just a pilot….a pilot who can’t keep her pants on.” This draws an initial response from Starbuck, as she momentarily stops what she is doing, then replies with a very flat, “Right.”

Lee goes on to remind her about the “old times”, and an incident with a major. Mid-way through, she turns any punches him on the jaw. Lee’s response is immediate: he hits her back, striking her nose and knocking her back into a work bench as deckhands and marines look on. They react to the respective blows, and then Starbuck turns and starts walking back to the Raider. Lee challenges her as to why she went to bed with Baltar. “Because I’m a screw-up, Lee. Why don’t you keep that in mind?”

On Colonial One Billy is in conference with Roslin and Elosha, confirming that Adama is sending another Raptor to survey the newly-found planet, which he states appears to have suffered some form of calamity but could still be inhabitable. Photographs taken during a previous Raptor flight show evidence of an old civilisation and Elosha asks the age of the ruins. Billy tells her that they won’t know for certain until the ground teams go in, but initial estimates put the ruins at around 2,000 years old.

Elosha looks at Roslin, “That’s around the time the thirteen tribes first left Kobol.” This causes Roslin to look at one of the photographs. “Ruins?” she asks, looking at an image of a large circular building sitting among trees, roads leading to it like the spokes of a wheel and lesser buildings surrounding it. “This is an inhabited city,” she looks at Billy and Elosha, “There’s a building,” and she passes the image back to them. “Buildings?” Billy asks, confused.

Taking the image back, Roslin freezes; all it shows are ruins surrounded by grass and what might have once been roads. “What did you see?” Elosha whispers as Roslin reacts to this, “Tell me, Laura.” Roslin describes the building she saw, remarking that it looked like a forum, “Like the forum on Caprica, actually.”

Elosha opens a book she has with her, and flicks through it to an illustration, and then hands the book to Roslin, “The forum and the opera house in the City of the Gods. On Kobol,” she explains. There, on the page is a drawing of the buildings Roslin “saw” in the photograph. “This planet,” she concludes, her whisper becoming even softer, “Is Kobol.” Roslin looks again at the illustration in the book and sees a flash of the ruin on a planetary surface.

“Kobol? Like….Kobol?” Billy asks, looking at Elosha. “The birthplace of mankind,” Elosha confirms, “Where the gods and man lived in paradise until the exodus of the thirteen tribes.” Roslin rises from hr deck and paces the office, Billy demanding to know what is going on. “It’s real,” she states, “The scriptures, the myths, the prophesies are all real.” For a moment Billy and Elosha look at her, before Elosha adds, “So say we all.”

In her cabin on the Galactica, Boomer – newly-returned from her survey flight – cocks her handgun and lifts it to her mouth, placing the muzzle between her lips. She is interrupted by Baltar, who enters the bunk room without knocking, causing her to lower the gun. Having seen what she was about to do, he approaches her slowly. “This is a bad time, huh?” She tries to cover her actions, claiming she was in fact cleaning her gun, then asks, voice picking up, “What’s going on?” Baltar replies that he was going to ask her the same question, then adds that he was actually looking for Starbuck as he sits on the bunk alongside Boomer. “Some times its, ah, good to talk these things over,” he adds.

And suddenly Six is there, her voice taunting as she points out that deep down, Boomer knows she is a Cylon, but her conscious mind won’t accept it. As if to confirm her words, Boomer states she has “dark thoughts,” and a three-way conversation ensues; Six mocking Baltar and dismissing Boomer, Boomer trying to confess her thoughts to Baltar, and Baltar trying to convince Boomer that perhaps suicide is the best way forward, thus working to defy Six’s claim that Boomer’s Cylon programming will ensure she carries out her mission. As he does so, Six falls silent and Boomer withdraws into herself until Baltar rises from the bunk and walks out, closing the bunk room door firmly as he leaves. In the corridor outside, Six walks beside him, a look of disbelief on her face. A dozen paces down the corridor Baltar hears the sound of a gunshot. Six looks around first, then looks at him as he turns, stares at the door, then continues on his way.

Later, in Adama’s cabin, a meeting is being held, with Adama studying the returned images of the new planet and agreeing it might be Kobol and that they should seriously consider settlement on it. Elosha points out that scriptures state Kobol points out the way to Earth. Adama doesn’t reply to her immediately, but orders Lee to organise a ground survey using three of the Galactica’s Raptors. As he does so, Six tells Baltar he should go as well, reminding him of her warning about staying clear of the Galactica, “You don’t want to be here when it happens.” He looks at her, “When what happens?” Realising he’s spoken aloud, he moves to correct himself, addressing the meeting as a whole, “What would happen if I go? Um, in fact I think I’m going to volunteer for the survey party.” Adama replies that his presence won’t be needed. This causes Baltar to cajole his way onto the team, using a mixture of his positions as Vice President and as the chief science advisor to bully his way onto the team. Giving her agreement on the subject, Roslin informs Adama that they need to talk.

Elsewhere, Tyrol walks into sickbay to visit Boomer, who is recovering from a bullet wound to the right side of her face. He stands uneasily at the foot of her bed, uncertain about what to say. He finally manages to ask if she is OK – not the brightest of questions, as her reaction indicates, as she shifts on the bed and rolls her eyes, “What do you think?” Tyrol states he can’t believe she forgot to check the chamber of her gun – the story about cleaning the handgun clearly having become the official reasons for her “accident”.

Boomer looks at him and tells him outright, “I didn’t forget.” This confirms his suspicions, and they discuss what is happening to her, Tyrol stating she needs help. “Not from you,” she tells him. “You made that clear. I’m on my own…Thanks for coming out, Chief. You’re dismissed.” Tyrol can’t reply to this, so salutes, turns, and walks out.

Alone in Adama’s cabin, Roslin is outlining a plan based on the scriptures – using the Arrow of Apollo to open the tomb of Athena and then find their way to Earth. Adama is amazed at her reasoning – but not for the reasons she’d like. “I didn’t know you were that religious,” is his initial response. He goes on to state that there is no “Earth”; Roslin argues him on this citing that just because the two of them don’t know where Earth is doesn’t mean it is a myth. Adama asks her not to let myths and legends blind her to the reality of their situation. Roslin replies that their reality is that that Cylon Raider has been jump tested and that its technology is such that it could probably jump straight back to Caprica to collect the Arrow of Apollo. Adama will not be drawn, “The Raider is a military asset. I will not use it to go chasing some mythical arrow,” He apologises for his view, and it is clear that from his perspective the matter is closed.

As Adama and Roslin meet, three Raptors depart the Galactica’s flight pod, carrying the survey team to Kobol, with Crashdown in command. FTL drives are spun up – Crashdown advising Cally to hold on to her lunch – and then fired.

The Raptors emerge over Kobol – and into the path of a flight of Raiders heading for a basestar. There is little time to react as one of the Raiders flies into one of the Raptors, destroying it. Crashdown orders evasive manoeuvres and the remaining two Raptors start dodging and weaving, seeking free space in which to jump out as the Raiders wheel and open fire. Crashdown’s Raptor take a hit to a stern engine, setting it tumbling towards Kobol, and then several more hits, one of which punctures the hull and kills the pilot.

Crashdown takes the left-hand seat, ousting a near-hysterical Baltar and to bring the tumbling ship under control, Tyrol asking if he can jump them out – but the FTL systems have been hit. Tyrol orders Socinus to get on the radio and order the remaining Raptor back to the Galactica, while Baltar has a major panic attack at the back of the cabin.

In CIC, Adam and Tigh take a report from Gaeta on the disk-shaped objects of Cylon origin found firstly in CIC (mini-series) then in the possession of Leoben Conoy (Flesh and Bone). Gaeta explains that they are essentially an Identify Friend or Foe (IFF) transponder used to communicate between Cylons. Adama states he wants one tested aboard the Raider. Before he can go any further, Dualla reports they have a contact – Raptor 275. Tigh wonders what they are doing back so early. Adama’s response is direct, “Something’s wrong.”

Over Kobol, Crashdown fights to control the crippled Raptor through entry into the atmosphere. No sooner has he done so than the damaged cockpit canopy finally fractures and breaks. Struggling to see through the in-rushing air, he and Tyrol have to contend with a panicking crew and a completely over-the-edge Baltar. Hills loom ahead, and Crashdown tries to steer between them as the Raptor continues down to the thickly-wooded ground.

Arriving at Adama’s cabin, Roslin is direct, “How many did we lose?” Lee Adama tells her ten were killed aboard Raptor Three, but Raptor One was reported to be under powered flight and heading for the surface of the planet when visual contact was lost. Adama then states that they’re going to have to take out the basestar in orbit over Kobol before any rescue can be attempted. Tigh replies that Starbuck is already working on a plan using the captured Raider. This news surprises both Adamas. Roslin is equally shocked, “The Raider?”

Lee wants to know when Starbuck started working on the plan, and Adama orders him to go and talk to her and report back. Lee departs for the hanger bay. Roslin and Billy also leave, Billy wanting to know if there is a problem, and Roslin wants to know why there should be. “That look on your face?” he states, referring to he reaction to the news about the Raider. “Not now,” is Roslin’s reply.

As Lee arrives in the hanger bay, Starbuck is directing a team of specialist who are installing an auto-pilot into the vehicle. Lee orders her to attention – an order she ignores, causing him to repeat it even louder. She turns to face him, barely coming to attention. He then berates her about taking her schemes to the Executive Officer over his head. He then demands to know what the plan is. She tells him the essentials: fly the Raider with a nuke to the vicinity of the basestar, activate the auto-pilot and get out – enabling a Raptor to pick her up – and let the Raider fly to the basestar automatically, the Cylon transponder installed in it keeping it safe, then detonate the warhead once the Raider has been recovered by the basestar.

Lee grudgingly agrees the plan might work – but that it might also get her killed. “Would you miss me, sir?” Starbuck asks, voice a sneer. “I need all the pilots I can get,” Lee replies, turning and walking away. Starbuck stops him, apologising for her actions. He looks at her and then continues out of the hanger bay.

In the Galactica’s, wardroom, meanwhile, Billy confronts Roslin about her scheme to use the Raider to get the Arrow of Apollo, telling her that if she goes ahead with it, she’ll be jeopardising everything – including the stability of her own government – and that she doesn’t have the right to do that for the sake of a drug-induced “vision of prophesy”. Roslin tells him she is aware of the consequences, and asks him to get her Lieutenant Thrace.

A short time later, Starbuck stands in front of Roslin in the wardroom, having listened to the president’s scheme. She is not impressed. ‘“All of this has happened before. All of this will happen again,’” Roslin quotes, “The Cylon you interrogated, he quoted that bit of scripture. He also said that we would find Kobol and that Kobol would show us the way, did he not?” This mollifies Starbuck somewhat, and she agrees. “Well, we have found Kobol,” Roslin continues, “Do you believe in the Gods, Lieutenant?” She then uses the idea of the circle of time central to Colonial religion, with events being repeated and people fulfilling roles. While Starbuck agrees that was what she was brought up to believe, it doesn’t mean it should become the reasons for her to go off to Caprica, disobeying orders at the same time. The discussion escalates with Roslin revealing her role in the scheme of things, and the fact that she is dying, reaches a point where Starbuck cites Adama’s knowledge of Earth as being their saving grace. Roslin informs her that Adama has no idea where Earth is and the he made it up. When Starbuck challenges her on this, her reply is simple, “Go ask him.”

Later still, on a gantry overlooking the hanger bay, Starbuck is meeting with Adama, telling him she needs one more test flight to test the Raider’s auto pilot. She then asks him how much longer it will be before they reach Earth. Adama’s answer is evasive, as are his answers to her subsequent questions. Realising she is leading to something – perhaps even beginning to put two and two together, he wishes her well on the next test and leaves her on the gantry.

The scene cuts to the final test flight of the Raider, Starbuck piloting it, Lee Adama flying escort in his Viper Mark 7. Stating she is ready to start the test, Starbuck then puts through a scrambled call to the Galactica, requesting to speak to Adama. As Adama takes the call, her words are direct, her tone accusatory, “I believed in you; I believed in Earth.” Adama’s asks what she is doing, his tone suggesting he has already guessed. Starbuck’s response is simple, “Bringing home the cat, sir.” Adama tries to dissuade her, telling her they can talk about it. When she refuses, he tells her, “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.” His tone hardens as he concludes, “Do you understand me?” Starbuck cuts the channel by saying, “I’ll guess we’ll find out,” and at that moment Adama knows that he has lost her. As he puts the communications handset down, Gaeta reports she is spinning up the Raider’s jump drive and Tigh demands to know what the heel she is doing as he looks at Adama.

In space, Lee Adama asks the same question directly of Starbuck. His reply is to have the Raider break formation and jump away from the fleet.

In CIC Tigh approaches Adama, “She wasn’t scheduled for a jump test. Where the hell did she go?” Adama stares at the plot table, “Home.”

Questions

• Why did the people leave Kobol?
• What happened to the gods who lived on Kobol “with man?”
• Did the gods remain on Kobol after humanity left?
• 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)?

Analysis

The finest episode of Battlestar Galactica to air so far; so finely tuned the it barely misses a beat. This is also the first episode where music is used to its most evocative effect, further lifting the story into the realm of outstanding drama.

From the outset the audience knows it is in for something special; the re-cap of previous episodes so tightly defined, it for once deals with a single strand of the story to date: the Cylons, only opening at the end to reveal the motivating thrust to this episode: the finding of Kobol.

This leads into one of the most beautifully-constructed teasers witnessed in television drama. Evocative, moving – and entirely minimalist in terms of dialogue -, it really is proof that frequently, less really is more. Why waste time with words, when actions and expressions speak so much louder, and music can imbue the underlying emotions.

Battlestar Galactica has not always fared well where music is concerned. The opening theme is one that is either liked or disliked, with little middle ground; incidental music in previous episodes has been sporadic in its ability to act – as music should – as the aural scenery that helps bring the drama to life. Sometimes it has worked, in others – notably the otherwise brilliant The Hand of God – it has been so out of keeping with the atmosphere of the show, it has detracted from the overall enjoyment of the episode.

Here, however, the music is perfect – and it is interesting to see that in immersing the audience into the subtleties of the teaser, the episode uses a “classical” approach through the use of an orchestral sound, rather than the more tribal beats common to Battlestar Galactica.

And the result is remarkable. Utilising the string section in the foreground – violins and cellos slowly building a theme to which is added further instruments as new revelations are made concerning the moods and responses of the various characters; providing an aural tapestry through which everything is linked; the bringing together and the falling apart of relationships; the expression of needs, and emotions.

The music perfectly underpins one of the main thrusts of the teaser: a demonstration of how alive the humans are; how driven by passion and instinct. It was in “Flesh and Bone” that Doral stated his envy of a human’s ability to experience such extremes. Now we’re cleverly shown everything the Cylon’s aspire to experience themselves: passions unbounded by the need for constraint, given form in both the boxing and in Starbuck’s fantasy view of her coupling with Baltar (“Lee”).

Turning to the boxing, it is evident more is going on here than a simple father-and-son sparring match. Aggression and frustration are being dealt with here – as witnessed by the clear satisfaction Lee gets from striking and hurting his father. When he lands his first big punch, he asks, “Are you OK?” not out of concern, but out of satisfaction; it could have so easily been followed by, “Because there’s plenty more where that came from.” Even so, his frustrations are released guardedly, whereas his father’s response is not. He allows himself to enjoy striking his son, giving his instincts the freedom of expression they need.

Another fascinating element of the teaser is the manner in which Boomer’s situation is offset with Valerii on Caprica. As Boomer takes her handgun and prepares to shoot herself, Valerii finds Helo, and tells him to shoot her. Both of them have reached the same point in their existence, both of them because of their entirely human responses – in Boomer’s case fear and in Valerii’s the anguish of lost love. Fear and love – perhaps the strongest of emotions we can experience; and both have driven these instances of Valerii to despair. In doing so, these emotions reveal both the “flaw” within the Valerii model that makes it “weak” in Six’s eyes while also demonstrating the Cylon experiment has succeeded – perhaps in a way the Cylons could not have conceived.

The rest of the episode is no less rich. Roslin’s acceptance of her roll and the reality of the scriptures, though sudden, is entirely in keeping with all that has been shown in recent episodes. The issues arising from this are both immediate and long-term. She subverts the strike against the Cylon basestar – putting the entire fleet at risk, as well as the lives of some 8-10 members of the Galactica’s crew stranded on Kobol, and in doing so, risks making her position as president – and that of her government - untenable, should word get out. Thus, as her story arc progresses, so it opens up new avenues of character interactions, social and political leadership and development within the fleet, ready for future exploration.

In a similar way, the flare-up of jealousy and anger between Lee and Starbuck is entirely in keeping with recent events: their potential attraction has been seen in brief flashes throughout, while their frustrations with one another have been witnessed through the likes of “Act of Contrition” and most recently, “The Hand of God”. They have a history together that bonds them from their time at flight school, while Zak Adama brought them together as friends through to Lee’s arrival aboard the Galactica, where dialogue quickly established a lot of good and bad water has passed under the bridge for them.

The only surprising thing here was the trigger for their eventual confrontation: Starbuck taking to Baltar’s bed. While there was an initial spark of attraction between them the first time they played poker together (“Water”), Starbuck has shown little more than derision for Baltar since then. In “Bastille Day” she belittled him in front of Boxey while walking down a corridor; in “Litmus” she may have scared him into the conviction that Doral’s bomb was destined for his lab; in “Secrets and Lies”, perhaps most significantly, she entered his lab at a time when he was sexually engaged with himself, and she made no effort to hide her disgust. With all this already established, and with little indication they have spent time together, it is a little hard to accept she’d wind up in bed with him.

That said, Baltar’s lust for Starbuck has been made clear, and it is hard to imagine him refusing her advances were she to come on to him; especially now he has Six’s permission to bed any woman he wants (“Colonial Day”). As such, she becomes the perfect foil to come between Baltar and Six – or at least be the catalyst that causes his final unravelling.

Further, the Lee / Starbuck confrontation is cleverly played against the backdrop of history between the two of them. In this respect, while the bed scene is initially somewhat jarring, it nevertheless works; her orgasm-induced cry for Lee is the ideal way to crush Baltar; just when he has what he desires, she calls out the name of the one man Baltar cannot possibly compete, despite his later drunken claim otherwise.

The episode also can’t be faulted for the standard of performance turned in. Across the board all of the ensemble cast put in sterling performances that serve to ratchet-up “Kobol’s Last Gleaming Part 1” so it stands head and shoulders above what has already been a remarkable first season run. Thus, to single any individual member of the cast out at the expense of the others would be somewhat unfair; everyone appearing on-screen – be it for 40 minutes or 4 – makes their character utterly engrossing to watch.

The final elements that round-out this episode are the writing and direction. With this story, Eick and Moore demonstrate they have a clear vision for where the series will hopefully go (allowing for future renewals), the territories it may cover and the ways in which the various threads can be intertwined and then neatly separated again to build a complex picture of humanity and circumstance. Having veteran BSG director Rymer (mini-series, “33”) helm this episode is also a smart move. In both the mini and “33”, Rymer firmly established the look and feel of the finished Galactica product, and here he demonstrates his finesse with the docu-drama style the production has striven for; using the technique to draw the audience into the drama almost as if they are themselves participants.

Notes

• It is 3 days since the events of Colonial Day
• There are now 47,897 survivors in the fleet
• The fleet is beginning to run short of supplies
• Humans departed Kobol 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 (Athena's tomb)
• Socinus has been released from the brig and returned to duty.

Noteworthy Dialogue

In the bunk room, as Baltar interrupts Boomer’s second attempt on her life.

• Boomer (as she pretends to be cleaning her hand gun): What’s going on?
• Baltar (cautiously): Well, I was going to ask you the same question….Actually, I was looking for Lieutenant Thrace but, ah…(sitting alongside her on the bunk)…sometimes it’s good to, ah, talk these things over.
• Six (feigning pity): Deep down she knows she’s a Cylon, but her conscious mind just won’t accept it.
• Boomer: Sometimes I have these dark thoughts…
• Baltar: What kind of dark thoughts?
• Six: Her model is weak (she allows herself a knowing smile), always has been. But in the end she’ll carry out her mission.
• Boomer: 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 Boomer): She can’t be stopped. She’s a Cylon. (Pity entering her voice again) You can’t help her, Gaius…(tone turning to a sneer) but you could probably sleep with her.

(Baltar reacts with a look of disgust at Six.)

• Six: That’s what you want, right?
• Baltar (to Boomer): I’m not sure why….sometimes…we must embrace that which opens up for us.
• Boomer: Embrace?
• Baltar: Life can be a curse as well as a blessing.

(Six reacts in confusion; this is not what she expected to hear from Baltar.)

• Baltar (becoming more intense): You will believe me when I tell you: there are far worse things than death in this world…
• Boomer: So you’re saying…?
• Baltar: No. No, no, no. Ah…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.)

Statistics

Guest Stars

• Lorena Gale as Elosha
• Donnelly Rhodes as Doctor Cottle
• Alonso Oyarzun as Socinus
• Nicki Clyne as Cally
• Bodie Olmos as Constanza / Hot Dog
• Stephen Spender as Pilot
• James Bell as ECO

Writing & Direction

• Story by David Eick
• Teleplay by Ronald D. Moore
• Directed by Michael Rymer

Production Notes

• Series: 1 (2004 / 2005)
• Production Number: 1.12
• Airdate Order: 12 (of 13)

First Run Air Dates & Releases

• UK Airdate: 17 January 2005 (Sky One)
• US Airdate: (Sci-Fi Channel)
• DVD Release: N/A