The Living Legend, Part II

"The Living Legend, Part II" An episode of the Re-imagined Series
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Overview

Galactica is reunited with Pegasus, a sister battlestar previously thought destroyed. Led by the legendary and sometimes arrogant Commander Cain, the fleet is torn in its loyalty between Adama and Cain, but they eventually join forces in a daring attack on the Cylons.

Summary

• Baltar orders the Cylon Raiders to retreat, as the Raiders are half out of fuel and the Vipers from Pegasus are coming in fresh.

• Commander Cain calls Commander Adama. Adama thanks Cain for the assistance, and claims everything is under control. Adama requests to land his Viper's on Pegasus as it will take a while to repair the landing bays on Galactica. They agree to meet in Adama's quarters in 20 centons to discuss their battle plans to take advantage of the surprise that Pegasus has inspired in the Cylons.

• Apollo reports that the Cylons have three base ships as well as four squadrons from Gamoray. Colonel Tigh believes that there is no way they could survive a united attack from that force.

• Commander Cain argues that now is the perfect time to attack the base on Gamoray, as it would surprise them. Apollo agrees that they would not be expecting it.

• Adama points out that the anti-assault batteries on Gamoray would wipe out the battlestars. Cain proposes sending a commando team to knock out they anti-assault batteries, clearing a way for the attack.

• The basestars would attack while the ships were capturing the fuel, so Cain proposes that one battlestar engage the basestars in a delaying tactic. He suggests Pegasus for that duty, as Galactica is still undergoing repairs.

• Adama calls Cain into his quarters. Adama is afraid that Cain does not comprehend the risks to the fleet that his plan calls for. Cain claims that is what the delaying operation is for. Adama decides to go with Cain's plan, only asking that there be no more surprises.

• Cassiopeia sees Cain in the hallway, and wants to talk to him. Cain doesn't have time, as the mission starts soon, and he won't let her come to Pegasus. He says she will be safer on Galactica. He tells her he loves her, and that he'll see her after the mission.

• Boomer asks Apollo what their odds are, walking right into a Cylon city. Apollo doesn't think Boomer really wants to know. Starbuck comes in carrying extra laser pistols thinking that they might need some extra firepower.

• Bojay and Sheba enter, asking to check in. They have been assigned to the mission by Commander Cain. They claim to be the only ones familiar with the target. They've flown over it several times, but have never been on the ground.

• Sheba seems pessimistic about their success, while Starbuck remains optimistic. He offers a side bet of a "personal" nature. Sheba declines, as she wouldn't want to have to throw the mission just to avoid the bet.

• Cassiopeia stops Starbuck on the way to the shuttles. She wants to talk to him. Starbuck tries to brush her off, but she insists on trying to find out what Cain is planning. She thinks he isn't planning on coming back, or he would have let her go to Pegasus. Sheba agrees, and wants to go find out what he is planning. Apollo points out that Cain ordered her on the mission, but she admits that the whole thing was her idea. Cassiopeia offers to take her place, pointing out that they don't have a medtech with them.

• Baltar asks for the situation report from Lucifer. Lucifer reports that the consensus is that they should ask for help from the base on Gamoray. Baltar dislikes the idea of the commander of Gamoray taking credit for destroying Galactica. Baltar asks for the strength of the base, and Lucifer tells him that there are four complete squadrons, the equivalent of a base star. Baltar realizes that they have the firepower of four basestars at their disposal, and orders an immediate attack.

• The warriors prepare to jump out of the shuttle. Apollo tells everybody to home in on Sheba and Bojay's location since they have the best chance of spotting the base.

• A pair of IL-series drones discuss what an honor it is for the Imperious Leader to make a trip all the way from Cylon. A Centurion arrives and announces that the Imperious Leader's ship has landed at the spacedrome.

Parachuting to the surface of Gamoray.

* The Warriors land their parachutes with guns blazing, taking out a couple of Centurion sentries.

• Apollo spots a munitions bunker, and forms a plan to destroy it as a diversion.

• The warriors have set their charges, but have lost track of Bojay. Bojay is still planting charges when a Centurion sentry spots him. They exchange laser fire. The Centurion is terminated but Bojay is injured.

• Sheba runs back for Bojay. Cassiopeia and Apollo run after her.

• Starbuck is worried that they need to attack soon in order to take advantage of the diversion, so he and Boomer begin their attack on the anti-assault batteries without the rest of the team.

• Cassiopeia treats Bojays wounds, and they get moving again carrying Bojay.

• The Imperious Leader claims that it is an honor to dedicate the new southern center of Cylon culture, for the advance of and perfection of the Cylon race. With this secure outpost deep in the Krillian star system, their supremacy is all but assured.

• Boomer and Starbuck wonder where all the Cylons are.

• The explosives at the munitions depot explode.

• The IL-series drones are horrified. The Imperious Leader inquires as to what the explosion was. The Imperious Leader orders two command Centurions to find out.

• The group with Bojay make it far enough away from the explosions to survive the blast, but Bojay cannot continue. Sheba offers to stay behind, but Cassiopeia says that Sheba is needed with Apollo, so Cassie will stay with Bojay.

• Apollo gives Cassiopeia one of his laser pistols, and he and Sheba head out.

• Boomer and Starbuck sneak up near the command station of the anti-assault batteries. They try to sneak up around one of the doors, when a Centurion spots them and fires. They destroy the Centurion, starting a firefight.

• Starbuck wants to get out of there, claiming there are too many to handle. Boomer asks about the control center, and Starbuck's response is to prime a hand mine and toss it into the center.

• Apollo and Sheba arrive just in time for the control center to go up in smoke.

• Galactica has entered Raider range of Gamoray, and the Cylons will be sending fighters at them regardless of ground missile support. Adama orders fighters to launch, and to notify Pegasus.

• Galactica's Vipers begin wreaking havoc on the base, destroying structures and any Cylons foolish enough to be wandering around outside.

• Baltar prepares for the final attack against Galactica and Pegasus. Lucifer brings bad news, letting Baltar know that the battlestars are over Gamoray. Baltar says that this is perfect, as it leaves the fleet unprotected.

• Baltar orders an attack launched on the fleet. Lucifer points out that there is a special envoy on Gamoray headed by the Imperious Leader. Baltar changes his tune, ordering all ships to attack the battlestars.

• Cassiopeia nearly kills Apollo as the team returns from the raid. Two shuttles have been sent to retrieve them.

• The shuttle heads towards Pegasus under Cassiopeia's orders. She claims that it is a medical emergency, and Pegasus is the closer of the two ships.

• Cassiopeia tells Starbuck that the decision really was made with Bojay in mind, but that she still hadn't decided between him and Cain. Starbuck understands, claiming that everybody is entitled to some confusion.

• Tolan reports an unbelievable number of Cylon ships heading towards them. Cain orders an intercept course. Tolan asks if they are going to lead them away, but Cain responds that they are going to go right through them to Baltar's basestar.

• Apollo realizes that if Baltar sees Pegasus coming for him he will recall all the ships from Gamoray to defend himself.

• Cain asks how the mission went, and Apollo says that Bojay took a hit but that Sheba and Cassiopeia are fine. Cain is surprised that Sheba and Cassie went.

• Apollo questions Cain's attack plan, fearing for the lives of the warriors (including Cain's daughter). Cain claims that he knows how to win a battle.

• Cain comes down to the life sciences station where Sheba is visiting Bojay. Sheba leaves when he arrives, claiming she needs to be ready to launch. Cain asks her to shuttle Bojay to Galactica, but Sheba says that what is planned for her Squadron is planned for her.

• Sheba tells Cain that she saw Cassiopeia risk her life to save a life, and gives him her blessing regarding the two.

• The Vipers launch forming a spearhead in front of Pegasus. There are so many Raiders it is hard for them to miss, but they are losing Vipers.

• The Vipers carve a corridor for Pegasus, and Cain orders her ahead at full speed.

• Baltar learns that the Pegasus did not stop to engage the raiders, and realizes that she is supposed to be a decoy. He orders the raiders to break off and continue to Gamoray.

• The Raiders have heavily damaged Pegasus, forcing Apollo to break off their spearhead operation to return to help. Sheba's Viper is heavily damaged, so Apollo and Starbuck offer to lead her back to Pegasus.

• The Raiders receive their orders to disengage Pegasus and head straight for Gamoray.

• Galactica picks up the Raiders on their sensors. Adama fears Cain's plan has failed. He orders the ground teams that are collecting fuel to finish up and begin returning.

• Cain visits the wounded at the life sciences station. Cassiopeia asks him if he is winning his battle, and Cain asks if she thinks it is his own personal war.

• Sheba comes in on a stretcher, apologizing to her father for missing a Cylon. Cassiopeia rushes off with her for treatment.

• Apollo and Starbuck ask if the damage on Pegasus is under control. Cain replies that Pegasus will be ready for what she needs to do.

• Starbuck and Apollo suspect his plan, and advise Cassiopeia to prepare the wounded to be transported in shuttles.

• Galactica's sensors report that Pegasus is heading straight for the basestars. Adama realizes that this was Cain's plan all along that he never intended to lead the fighters away.

• Adama tries to talk Cain out of his attack. Cain is determined to attack, as it will draw the fighters off of Galactica. Cain has sent the wounded and non-essential personnel in shuttles to the fleet.

• Adama says the same effect would be achieved if Cain veers off right before getting to the baseships, but Cain doesn't want the raiders to be able to refuel and resume attacks on Galactica. Adama threatens to relieve Cain of command, but Cain ends up getting his way.

• Baltar realizes that Cain is coming for him. He recalls the Raiders.

• Cain praises Starbuck and Apollo, and wishes them luck. Starbuck offers to stay with Cain, but Cain wants Apollo to have all the help he can to defend the shuttles if the raiders encounter them on their way back.

• Cain is planning on taking Pegasus (without Vipers) against the three basestars (without their Raiders).

• Starbuck is afraid they'll never see Cain again, but Apollo has a feeling that Cain may still yet make it somehow.

• Cain says goodbye to Sheba, who doesn't want to leave Pegasus. Cassiopeia says that Cain is a very special man, and that she will never forget him.

• Lucifer informs Baltar that the raiders won't return in time to defend them. Baltar orders his ship to drop back and to let the other basestars engage Pegasus.

• Starbuck calculates that the raiders will not encounter the shuttles. He proposes that they drop back to see if they can help Pegasus. Boomer is put in charge, allowing Apollo and Starbuck to head back.

• Starbuck and Apollo realize that Pegasus is going between the two basestars. They decide to try to take out the flank missile launchers on both of them.

• Pegasus launches all missiles on the basestars at point blank range. Starbuck and Apollo back off as the missiles begin to launch.

• The basestars go up in a dramatic explosion, blinding the Viper pilots. All that is left is smoke and debris, and Pegasus is nowhere to be seen.

• The raiders are approaching, so Apollo and Starbuck head back to the fleet at maximum speed.

• Sheba is recovering in the life sciences station. She asks if there is any word from her father, but Adama says that her father wouldn't risk breaking radio silence to give away his position.

• Starbuck says that for all they knew Pegasus could have headed out for deep space, as the raiders would have been too low on fuel to pursue.

• Adama tells Sheba that until they make contact with Pegasus again he'd like her to consider herself part of their family. Sheba says that she already does.

Questions

• Did Pegasus and Commander Cain survive the explosion of the two basestars?

• Did the Imperious Leader survive the assault on Gamoray?

Analysis

The arrival of Lieutenant Sheba

At the end of The Living Legend, Part II, with the viper pilots of the Battlestar Pegasus stranded aboard the Galactica, we now have the introduction of two new recurring characters, Lieutenants Sheba and Bojay, and the ensemble cast grows once more.

Bojay would only be seen for a few episodes, with his last appearance onscreen in War of the Gods, Part II.

Sheba, however, grew to be an important character and ultimately a romantic interest for Apollo. Ronald D. Moore has suggested in interviews that he felt Sheba was originally a one-shot character, designed to be a female version of the dedicated and brooding Captain Apollo, and thus created a dramatic tension akin to Apollo meeting a mirror image of himself. Having achieved this with the character of Kara Thrace, there was no need to create an analog of Sheba when the Pegasus was introduced in the reimagined series.

In retrospect, the introduction of another child of a battlestar Commander, commanding a viper squadron, does seem a bit obvious, but Sheba does seem to have her own characteristics, even early on. For example, having Starbuck make a pass at Apollo's doppleganger is humourous, but the rapid manner in which she dismisses the brash Lieutenant has perhaps more to do with the strained relationship between Cain, Starbuck, Cassiopeia and Sheba. The Cain/Sheba relationship is very much unique in the series, and may hint at what writers may have hoped to do with the character Athena.

From this point, the producers determine to keep Anne Lockhart's Sheba aboard the Galactica, she rapidly assumes the place that Athena originally was designed to have in the program, while Athena herself is assigned the role of elementary school teacher. By the time The Hand of God is aired, Athena is no longer part of the show, and Sheba occupies the role of one of the two female leads in the series.

Interestingly enough, Serina, Cassiopeia and Sheba, who are the most successful female roles in the series, all appear to have been characters that were originally planned to be written out, while Athena, the only planned recurring character, was ultimately written out.

Notes

• This is the last appearance of the Imperious Leader, apart from Galactica 1980, and his most visible.

• This episode features the first (and only) use of shuttles for parachuting troops.

• One of the parachute stuntmen appears to have a moustache (yet none of the warrior characters have one).

• Some of the scenes on the ground at the Gamoray base were filmed at night on the campus of the University of California at Northridge [1].

Noteworthy Dialogue

Starbuck: With support troops like this, who needs Cylons?

Guest Stars

• Lloyd Bridges as Commander Cain
• Rod Haase as Colonel Tolan
• Junero Jennings as Pegasus Bridge Officer