Battle of the Algae Planet

Battle of the Algae Planet
Cylons and Colonials converge on a planet containing the Eye of Jupiter
Cylons and Colonials converge on a planet containing the Eye of Jupiter
Summary
Conflict:	Second Cylon War
Date:	Fourteen days into algae harvesting
Related Episode(s):
Place:	The algae planet
Result:	Colonials gain Earth waypoint, Hera Agathon retrieved, Boxing of all Number Three units, Capture of Gaius Baltar and Caprica-Six
Galactica, Vipers, Raptors surface: 1 Raptor, approx. 12 Marines, Unknown number of drafted civiliansorbit: Four basestars, associated Raiders, Heavy Raiders surface: 2 Heavy Raiders, at least six Centurions, One Cavil and one Number Three" Combatants Remnants of the Colonial Fleet Cylons Commanders Admiral William Adama Basestar command Strength orbit: Galactica, Vipers, Raptors surface: 1 Raptor, approx. 12 Marines, Unknown number of drafted civilians orbit: Four basestars, associated Raiders, Heavy Raiders surface: 2 Heavy Raiders, at least six Centurions, One Cavil and one Number Three Materiel Losses 1 Raptor damaged, supplies left on planet 2 Heavy Raiders, several Centurions Casualties Omar Fischer, Hillard All Number Three units deactivated
Battle Chronology
Previous Next Battle of NCD2539 Battle of the Algae Planet (None defined)

A discovery of a mysterious religious artifact leads to a standoff between Galactica and Cylon forces.

Shortly after the Temple of Five is discovered during day 14 of the Fleet's food-collection operations on the algae planet, four Cylon basestars jump into orbit. Admiral William Adama orders all civilian ships to escape to emergency jump coordinates (keeping Galactica behind to support the ground team) as the Cylons discreetly deploy one Heavy Raider to the planet's surface.

Uncharacteristically, the Cylons do not attack, but seek a parley with the Colonials. After a wireless transmission from the basestars to Galactica, Gaius Baltar, a Number Three, a Cavil, and Boomer of the basestars' command group come to Galactica in order to negotiate for control of the Eye of Jupiter, reported to be in the temple. The Cylons claim that if they gain possession, they will leave the Fleet alone and turn over Baltar. Admiral Adama delivers an ultimatum: attempt to land on the planet and Galactica will destroy the temple with a nuclear strike. The meeting ends in a stalemate.

The Cylons soon jam all Colonial wireless frequencies, but not before Colonial command manages to relay most of the situation. On the surface, Major Adama plans a defense for the temple, placing Samuel Anders in command of all civilians present, and using Captain Thrace's Raptor, the only one on the surface, for reconnaissance. Chief Galen Tyrol and his team place G-4 packs around the Temple's central spire to destroy the Temple in the event of its compromise.

Meanwhile, Cylon Centurions from the first Heavy Raider build a surface-to-air missile battery. As Starbuck conducts her reconnaissance, she encounters the battery. Evasive maneuvers by Starbuck avoid a direct hit, but her Raptor is disabled and crash-lands.

Six Heavy Raiders are deployed from the basestars toward the planet as part of the Cylons' plan to both defend Baltar and D'Anna-Three, who are heading to the temple and to call Admiral Adama's bluff.

Admiral Adama counters by preparing Galactica's nuclear arsenal, arming seven missiles at the surface (missile tubes 4 through 10) to obliterate the temple (The Eye of Jupiter).

The Cylons realize that Adama's threat must be taken seriously, and order recall all but one of the Heavy Raiders (an internal dispute with their Number Three units and the other Cylons prevent the last recall). Admiral Adama reconsiders the risk and rescinds the missile launch.

On the planet, both Starbuck and her Raptor are generally intact after the crash, but the Raptor's fly-by-wire system is damaged and the pilot has serious burns to her hands, making it impossible to fly.

Lieutenant Anastasia Dualla is assigned SAR detail with Sergeant Fischer, who is killed in a sniper attack. Dualla manages to reach the Raptor, and, after repairing the damaged avionics, return Starbuck to Galactica, despite her lack of flight training.

Major Adama's team place tylium bombs within a narrow trail where the terrain would require any enemy forces to walk through. Three Cylons enter the kill zone, but detect the bomb before all of them are inside the zone. The Colonial's detonation mostly disables one Centurion, and two retreat, but Hillard is killed. After a later offensive by the two remaining Cylons, Major Adama calls for a withdrawal of Colonial forces and the destruction of the Temple. Chief Tyrol refuses Major Adama's order and this delays the detonation.

When the Colonials activate the detonator, nothing happens. A small Cylon team, including deposed president Gaius Baltar, had entered the Temple moments before and removed the G-4's detonator caps.

The Cylons' official intention, to retrieve information on the whereabouts of Earth, are ignored by the Number Three copy in the Temple. A Cavil model assigned with the group attempts to kill the Three, but Baltar kills the Cavil unit.

The Colonials witness the star's nova event. Not wishing to be caught in the shockwave, all Cylon forces jump away. The star's appearance tells the Colonials that the star itself, not anything within, is the Eye of Jupiter marker. The Colonials quickly investigate the Temple to find Baltar, who is rendered unconscious and captured.

All Colonials are quickly retrieved by Raptor back to Galactica, which escapes as the nova shockwave tears through the star system and destroys the planet.

Lieutenant Gaeta is able to use the information about the nova to discern the next waypoint: the Ionian nebula.

The Cylons, failing to obtain information from the Temple due to the unauthorized actions of the Number Three units, intentionally deactivate all Number Three models throughout the Cylon race (Rapture).

Through various means of tracking one of the Colonial's fuel ships, the Cylons continue their pursuit of the Fleet ("The Son Also Rises", "Crossroads, Part I").

Notes

• Galactica departs Ragnar Anchorage with five nuclear warheads. One warhead is cannibalized to create Gaius Baltar's Cylon detector (Bastille Day) and ultimately detonated by Gina on Cloud 9 (Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II). A second warhead is used to destroy a Cylon basestar above Kobol in "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II", leaving Galactica with three. Galactica probably obtained additional warheads from Pegasus at some point prior to her destruction in "Exodus, Part II".