Saga of a Star World

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Overview

After a sneak attack destroys human civilization as the Colonials know it; under Commander Adama the survivors set out to find a mythical planet called Earth.

Summary

The Human-Cylon peace accords turn out to be a ruse by the genocidal Cylons, determined to exterminate all humanity. Only the Galactica and a ragtag fleet survive, journeying across the galaxy in search of long-lost sister civilization Earth. Lured to the planet Carillon for fuel and relaxation, the fleet barely survives a trap by the Ovions, an underground, insectoid species in league with the Cylons.

Episode Breakdown

• The episode opens with a shot of five Battlestars that comprise the Colonial Fleet assigned to the Peace Treaty. They are the Battlestars Galactica, Atlantia, Acropolis, Pacifica and Columbia.

• As the Seventh Millenium of Time approaches President Adar toasts his Qurom of the twelve on the celebration of peace between Mankind and The Cylon Empire, on the Quarom are Adama and Baltar.

• On board the Battlestar Galactica Lieutenant Zac, Apollo's younger brother convinces Starbuck to let him take his patrol with Apollo so he can prove to Apollo that he is a worthy warrior. Apollo aware of the deception agrees and Apollo and Starbuck reminice of their younger days and Apollo tease Starbuck about his stomach.

• Flight Corporal Rigel clears Apollo and Zac for launch and the two launch on their patrol and head to the Lemure sector.

• Back on board the Atlantia Adar congradulates Baltar on his work on the armistice. Adar then meets with Adama and Adama gives his mis-givings about this peace treaty and Adar assures him that the Cylons have sued for peace.

• Zac notices two targets above the old moon Cimtar and Apollo flies ahead and sees the one of the targets and scans it and reports that it is an empty Cylon Tanker. When Apollo reaches the the second tanker it jams Apollo's scanning and Apollo suspicious she is hiding something continues through the mist and comes into contact with a huge armada of Cylon fighters. Apollo and Zac engage the first four pursuing fighters but Zac's top engine is damaged in the attack. Apollo esures him that they can easily handle four to one odds. Zac then asks Apollo to look at his scanner and the odds are now a thousand to one. Zac asks what it means and it Apollo informs him that there won't be any peace or much of anything else if the fleet isn't warned. Zac tells Apollo to go on ahead and warn the fleet of the impending Cylon ambush and that he'll make it make ahead of the Cylons. Apollo relunctaly leaves his younger brother behind.

• As Adama and Athena return to the Galactica Athena informs Adama that the whole ship is on alert. On reporting to the bridge Colonel Tigh informs Adama that the patrol ran into some trouble but the reports are being jammed. Adam reports this to the President and asks to launch a patrol to intercept. Baltar convinces Adar not to launch fighters due to the delicate nature of the peace treaty. Adama then asks that the fleet be brought to a state of alert. Adar says he will consider it.

• Tigh informs Adama that the patrol is under Apollo's command and that Zac is with him. Adama now realizes the gravity of the situation.

• Zac continues his journey home ahead of the Cylons.

• Tigh urges Adama to launch, but Adam can't launch because of orders, but does agree to Battle Station's drill.

• In the warrior lounge Starbuck enjoys a game of Pyramid with some Geminese warriors, he plays his hand, a full Pyaramid and is about to collect his pot when the red alert klaxon sounds.

• Zac almost reaches the fleet and is fired upon by the Cylons as Adama and the others watch in horror. Zac calls out for help but is destroyed by the Cylons. When the jamming clears Adar asks "what was that" and Adam answers "that was my son Mr. President."

• The Cylons commence their attack and the Galactica lauches her fighters and orders the fire control stations to commence firing. It is reported that none of the other Battlestars could launch their fighters.

• Apollo returns to the bridge and reports on the Cylon ambush and asks to go back to escort Zac back in. He is informed of Zac's death.

• The attack on the fleet continues and Apollo informs Tigh and Adama of no base ships and guesses that the fighters used the tankers to re-fuel from coming from whereever the base ships are. Adama now knows that the basehips are gathering to attack the Colonies. During this transmission the Cylons bear down on the battlestar Atlantia and she is destroyed to the shock of those watching during the battle and on the bridge of The Galactica.

• Not far from the twelve colonies three base stars gather and a Cylon Partol returns from its mission. A lone centurion reports to The Imperious Leader that all base ships are in range to attack the colonies. The Imperious Leader orders the attack on the lifeform known as man.

• Adam orders the Galactica to head for home. Meanwhile out in the battle Greenbean notices the Galactica pulling out and asks Boomer where she is going and Boomer just comments that the Commander is calling the shots.

• As the Galactica gets closer to the Colonies all jamming is cleared and they pick up a news report from the surface of Caprica from Serina. Serina reports on the people gathering to celebrate peace and that reports from The Star Colbolt (a satellite ship of some kind) on the peace conference on not coming in as planned. As her report continues the attack begins and Serina ends her report abruptl and goes to find her son Boxey she finds him and hides his face from seeing the death of his daggit Muffit. Meanwhile The crew on board the Galactica watch in helpless horror as the destruction of the colonies continues. Even the outer planets like Sagitara are not spared.

• Apollo tries to assure Adam that there wasn't anything he could do and Adama elects to go down to the surface of Caprica in his shuttle. Apollo fearing for his father's safety tells him he will take Adama in his fighter.

• The remaining warriors return from battle and Rigel informs Tigh that there were 67 fighters returning and out of those 25 are from the Galactica. Omega informs Tigh that they are also the only surviving Battlestar.

• Starbuck returns with battle damage and runs the check with Athena. Starbucks thrusters are still wide open and Tigh says to bring him full throttle and they'll shut him down at the outer marker. Starbuck lands just barely as Athena rushes to his arms. Starbuck is angry that the Galactica left in the heat of battle and Athena informs him that the Colonies are gone.

• Apollo and Adama land on the surface of Caprica and Adama returns to their home only to find it destroyed and his Wife, Ilia dead. Meanwhile Apollo is confronted by angry colonists wondering where the fleet was during the attack. Adama informs the colonists that only the Galactica is left and tells the colonists to assemble the people in every ship that will carry them. In all 220 ships representing every creed, colour and race of man gather together and flee the colonies.

• Baltar overlooking the desturciton on Caprica meets with a Cylon Centurion and the Centurion tells him of reports of colinists fleeing in ships. Baltar balks at this and says they neither have fuel nor food for a prolonged journey. When the centurion says the information is offered in exchange for life, Baltar reminds him of the standing order from Imperious Leader. Extermination.

• On board the Galactica Adama gathers a meeting for representives of each ship in the fleet to answer the question, where will they go? Adama tells them of a thirteenth tribe that went out into deep space and colonized another colony. A planet called Earth.

• Starbuck meets with Athena to apologize for how he acted towards he in the landing bay. Starbuck realizes they may have only tomorrow to live for but Athena says she cannot commit to a relationship.

• Boomer and Starbuck are on fleet maintenace on a Geminese freighter to check for battle damage and meet up with Apollo who is checking for Solium leaks. They try to retreat from Apollo noting the danger of Solium leaks, and Apollo thretens them if they don't help him. They go below decks and see the condition the colonists are living in and are informed that there has been no food or water for two days. As they attend to the wounded Cassiopea is found among the colonists and helps to translate for an ill Geminese Man. But she is riducled for beign a Socilator. They also learn that some people on board The Rising Star Liner are living in luxury. When questioning core control about the food shortage all the response they get is that Core Control is aware of the problem.

• Starbuck meets with Cassiopea and asks her what all the disturbance on the freigheter was about and she tells him that the Autorese sect among the Geminese does not condone physical contact among people until certain religious times.

• Apollo re-routes the shuttle to the Rising Star. They go see Jolly and are informed that most of the food is contaminated with Pluton Poisoning. They try to salvage some of the food but are told to keep it quiet in fear of a mutiny.

• Flight leader Cerpentine reports to Imperious Leader on the survival of a handful of ships lead by the Battlestar Galactica. Imperious Leader intructs Cerpentine to go inform Baltar of his dis-pleasure and orders Baltar to deliver the Battlestar Galactica or deliver his head.

• On board the Rising Star Serina asks Apollo to help boosts her son's Boxey morale because he is distrought over losing his daggit. Apollo gives Boxey one of his Captain Clusters and promises to find him a daggit and makes Boxey a Colonial warrior first level. Serina thanks Apollo for his help. Their intial attraction is felt.

• On one of the upper levels Boomer tries to get into the club area but his held back by a guard hired by Tran-Stellar to protect Sire Uri. As Boomer pulls his weapon Apollo joins in and they enter the club area. Apollo his appaled by Sire Uri's glutony and celebration. Sire Uri refuses to give up his supply of food and Apollo asks if Sires Uri shares Sire Uri's ideals. Uri tells Apollo of the fact that she did not make it in time to join the journey. Apollo then orders Boomer to instruct Jolly to come up with a crew to distribute the food. Boomer asks Apollo if he hasn't over played his hand since Sire Uri is a newly elected member of the Council of the Twelve.

• On board the Galactica medical centre Cassiopea's arm is healed and Starbuck agrees to help her find somewhere else to go other then the Geminese freighter.

• Rigel reports to Tigh that long range partols are checking in and report no signs of Cylon pursuit.

• The Council of Twelve meets and Uri informs them that Carillon is too far to travel because of the food shortage. He offers an alternative the planet Borellis. But Adama informs them that is deadly trap as sure as they one they left. Apollo interrupts the meeting and says that another way to Carillon is available, through the Nova Amadagon. But the Nova is mined with Cylons mine and the big ships of the fleet cannot make it through the passage. Apollo says he will select two warriors to help clear a path so the fleet can move through the nova to Carillon. Starbuck and Boomer knowing they will be selected try to elude Apollo but Apollo catches them and volunteer thems for the mission.

• Later Apollo and Adama disgaree on the mission and of Apollo's volunterring himself for it. They also discuss Uri's election to the council and Adama continues to nurse wounds from the holocaust and Apollo reminds him of this.

• On board the Rising Star Apollo gathers Serina and Boxey and tells them of a surprise. They meet up with Doctor Wilker and he introduces Muffit Two to them and Boxey is given its care. Apollo and Serina share and embarce.

• Athena enters Adama's quarters and has a heart to heart with her father. He tells her of the conditions on Carpica and the desperate people asking to come aboard and how he had to give out priorities like tickets to a lottery and how a woman with a child in her arms on Caprica grabbed his arm and was pushed back by a guard who didn't see the child in her arms as Adama left the surface. The weight of the responisbility taken on by Adama is apparent.

• Cassiopea and Starbuck spend some intimate time on the flight deck before his mission. Athena checking on the flight deck for Starbuck catches him in the arms of Cassiopea and she pushes a Steam Purge button and gives Starbuck a steam burn.

• Apollo confers with Boomer and Starbuck on the mission and Apollo notices Starbuck's uncomfort and Boomer politelty tells Apollo that Starbuck got a steam burn the night before. They launch their vipers with specially shielded cockpits to shield from the brightness of the starfield that is the Nova and proceed with the help of the Galactica's scanners to destroy the mines and clear a path for the fleet. They are successful and they reach Carillon.

Questions

• Is each Colony on a planet or are some of them on moons orbiting another Colony's planet?

• Why didn't the Cylons drop nuclear weapons on Colonial cities? Dialouge makes it clear the goal was complete anihilation of the race known as man.

• Why did the survivors so quickly abandon their homeworlds? Although defending the Twelve Colonies with a single battlestar would have been impossible it is unlikely all survivors would be eager to leave quickly.

• How many civilians were left alive on the Colonies because there were not enough ships to carry them to safety?

• Are the civilan conditions on the Gemini freighter typical of those on the other ships?

• If the Ovions got their food supply from harvesting the Colonials what were they feeding them at the casino and what were they sending up to the fleet in supplies?

• Were all the civilians and Colonial Warriors able to evacuate Carillon before the the planet was destroyed?

• Which Colony was Baltar from? His colony was to have been spared but it was left unnamed.

Notes

• The conflict with the Cylons has raged for some 1,000 yahren.
• Each Colony of Man has one representative on the Quorum of Twelve (TOS), and each member to the Quorum has command of a battlestar, apparently.

1. Adama represents Caprica and commands Galactica.
2. Adar is president and commands the Atlantia.

• The Cylons have an hierarchal imperical society, lead by an emperor (Imperious Leader).
• The Cylons wish to exterminate human life as Colonials have interfered with Cylon efforts. (see: Hasari)

Noteworthy Dialogue

Imperious Leader: The final anhilation of the life form known as Man, let the attack begin.

Cylon Centurion: By your command.

Zac: Patrol to fleet, patrol to fleet! I need help!

President Adar: What was that?

Adama: That was my son Mr. President...

Novelization

• Novelized as Battlestar Galactica (ISBN 0-425-03958-7), by Glen A. Larson and Robert Thurston, released by Berkeley Publishing in September 1978.

• In the novel it is mentioned that the Battlestar Pacifica was Galactica's sister ship and that she was destroyed some years ago during a battle with The Cylons.

• The Battlestar Solaria was mentioned as one of the five Battlestars and one of the ones destroyed during the Peace Conference.

Statistics

Guest Stars

• Actor 1 as Character 1
• Actor 2 as Character 2

Writing & Direction

• Written by Glen A. Larson
• Directed by Richard A. Colla
• Produced by John Dykstra
• Executive Producer Glen A. Larson
• Supervising Producer Leslie Stevens

Production Notes

• Series 1 (1978 / 1979)
• Production Number: 1.01
• Airdate Order: 1 (of 21)

First Run Air Dates & Releases

• UK Airdate: Date
• US Airdate: September 17, 1978
• DVD Release: December 28, 2004

Re-imagined Series definition: battlestar landing bay mechanism that arrests a landing Viper, Raptor or other small craft ^{(TRS: "Final Cut")}

Original Series definition: region of space or planet, see also Quadrant. Usually named after a Greek letter (space sectors), or a geographic formation on the surface of a planet (geographic sector, e.g. Sector Hekla on the planet Arcta")

Original Series definition: interchangeable term for a computer monitor and television set (see: scanner)

Original Series definition: a domesticated canine, e.g. dog (see: daggit)

Original Series definition: a title of nobility akin to "Sir," typically ascribed to a civilian of the male gender (e.g. Sire Uri, Sire Solon)

Original Series definition: unit of time akin to a "year" (see: Yahren)

Original Series definition: a typical Cylon response to an order (see: By your command) (TOS: "Saga of a Star World," et al.)