Bastille Day

Overview

Series: 1

Production Number: 1.03

Continuing from the events of Water, the Battlestar Galactica and the fleet face a chronic water shortage. Their only recourse: persuade 1,500 prisoners on the transport vessel Astral Queen to help them mine water ice from a nearby Moon.

Summary

• The Galactica's water supplies - critical to the fleet - have been sabotaged (33)
• A source of water has been located on a nearby moon - but it is in the form of ice, and must be mined
• The work will require a crew of around 1,000 to extract the necessary ice
• That number cannot be spared from Galactica's crew, and it is unlikely civilians will volunteer, so there is a problem finding the workforce
• Lee Adama suggests using the 1,500 prisoners aboard the Astral Queen
• Roslin agrees - but only if the prisoners volunteer. Lee is assigned to go to the 'Astral Queen' and try and pursuade the prisoners to work for the fleet in return for their future freedom
• Billy, Dualla and Cally go with him
• Aboard the Queen, Lee meets the enigmatic Tom Zarek, who refuses the offer of freedom for work on behalf of the prisoners
• With the mission to the 'Astral Queen' underway, Adama confronts Baltar on his lack of a Cylon Detector, and openly challenges Baltar as to whether he can actually produce one
• Baltar falters, initially admitting he can't - and earns Six's ire, which completely frightens him into submission
• Six thereupon tells Baltar what to say - and has him request a nuclear warhead from Adama
• As Lee tries to negotiate with Zarek, a break-out is staged by the prisoners, who take over the ship and take Lee, Billy, Dualla and Cally hostage
• Zarek then demands Roslin stands do as president, as she was not properly elected, and that free elections are held among the people of the fleet
• Roslin is not about to give in to this demand, but its broadcast throughout the fleet has added to the dissention already building as a result of water rationing
• Adama, Tigh and Starbuck plan a raid to re-take the Astral Queen, using the Galactica's small force of Colonial marines and her Raptors in their assault role - Starbuck will lead the mission
• Adama gives Starbuck orders to kill Zarek if she gets the chance
• Adama tries to negotiate with Zarek, but fails. However, Zarek's responses are enough to tell Lee Adama that Zarek intends for the whole situation to end in a bloodbath
• The Raptors arrive at thr Astral Queen and the assault teams get aboard
• Everything then goes wrong for Zarek when one of his men sexually assaults Cally. When she fights back, he shoots her
• In the ensuing melee, Lee Adama confronts Zarek, then manages to get a gun and holds it to Zarek's head, challenging him about his readiness to die
• When Zarek indicates he is, Lee informs him that he's not about to - but he is going to get his men to surrender, and he will get his elections
• Zarek surrenders, and as they try to lend aid the Cally, Starbuck lines up for a shot on Zarek - but he is saved by Lee
• On Colonial One both Adama and Roslin are displeased with Lee's promises to Zarek - leaving him in control of the Astral Queen and with Roslin facing elections. Lee points out the reality of the situation to them both, forcing them into geudging acceptance
• Before leaving Colonial One, Lee visits Roslin in her quaretrs to inform her he still supports her. In return for his loyalty, she reveals her cancer to him

On Caprica

• Helo and Valerii reach a relatively undamaged city
• As they explore the city, they are observed by Doral and Six from a rooftop
• Doral and Six discuss their hertiage as Cylons - the "children of humanity", Six expressing regret that humans must be destroy. Doral is lees compassionate

Review

THE CYLONS WERE CREATED BY MAN. THEY REBELLED. THEY EVOLVED. THEY LOOK AND FEEL HUMAN. SOME OF THEM ARE PROGRAMMED TO THINK THEY ARE HUMAN. THERE ARE MANY COPIES. AND THE HAVE A PLAN.

Re-cap

• The Astral Queen is carrying 500 prisoners (Mini-Series)
• Galactica has lost her water reserves (Water)
• Helo is on Caprica with Valerii.

Teaser

The teaser opens with a shot of the fleet standing-off a planetoid. We hear Galactica's intercom klaxon followed by an announcement that it is early morning, shipboard time. In Tigh's quarters, the Colonel rises from his cot and helps himself to two bottle-caps of his booze. We then see him turn up in the briefing room bright and cheery, "So what do we have?"

Tyrol informs him they have scouted the entire ice moon and found it contains a subsurface ocean. But: temperatures of 180 and below have been registered, together with the venting of methane and CO2, "It's going to be a bitch to work down there, sir."

Tigh tells Tyrol to lighten up: they're lucky to have found the water, and they have water riots breaking out all over the fleet. "Civilians! Whiny, civvie crybabies..." He points out that Galactica herself is "down to less than 10,000 JPs of water." He goes on to examine the results of water samples gathered by drilling the ice. The samples are 13% sodium chloride - salt water. Tigh is disgusted: the people can't drink salt water!

Tyrol agrees and states that's why he had Cally tested the ice - which is pure water. Tigh is pleased by this: "A couple of lemons and we could make lemonade!" - A comment that raises a snigger from Cally. It is evident that event on two capfuls of booze, he is a slightly “happy” man. Trying to bring order back to the meeting, Tyrol points out that they'll have to melt the ice before bringing it up to the ship. Creman Socinus adds it will take "high-capacity heaters, expansion tanks, D-25 plasma torches, pyrex hoses, centrifical pumps...."

"Sounds like a lot of manpower?" Tigh observes. Tyrol admits it will take 1,000 men. Tigh wants to know where they are going to come from....

....And we cut to Adama's quarters, as Roslin states, "Slave labour." Adama points out "they" are prisoners who have been sentenced to hard labour. "And this is very hard labour. Not to mention physically dangerous." Lee points out that "their ship" wasn't designed for long-term incarceration, and that "these men" have been stuck in cramped cells for weeks - they might even prefer to get out and do something, even if it is dangerous. Roslin agrees - providing they volunteer. The prisoners are not slaves, and she won't have them treated as such. Lee suggests they offer incentives to the prisoners: by doing the work, they can earn points towards their freedom and rehabilitation into the general populace. Adama is not happy: "You want to start releasing hardened criminals into the fleet?"

Lee responds that the prisoners were on their way to Caprica for parole hearings, which means that some of them may be ready for release. Adama tries to object, but Roslin cuts him off, "Make it happen, Captain." She then instructs Billy to address Commander Adama's concerns by going along and setting up a screening procedure to "weed out" the hardened criminals. Adama insists on having a representative from the Galactica participate in the screening, who will report directly to him on security issues - a statement which surprises Lee. Billy suggests "Dee", meaning Dualla. Adama agrees, but also wants someone from the ground crew to attend as Roslin hides a smirk at Billy's use of the familiar when referring to Dualla. Adama justifies the ground crew selection in that the selected men must be able to handle the equipment. Roslin agrees.

As she turns to leave, Billy reminds her about a "doctor." Roslin then asks Adama about his medical officer. Adama replies he has a Major Cottle, and asks if anything is wrong. "Nothing urgent," Roslin replies, "Allergies." Adama informs her that Cottle is out among the fleet, checking medical conditions, but he'll inform the doctor that she wants to see him.

Out in the corridor, Roslin teases Billy about his selection of Dualla. When Billy states he's taking her strictly for the technical details, Roslin smiles with an "Uh-huh." At the same time, in another corridor, Lee catches up with Adama. "Something on your mind, Captain?" Adama asks. "I just thought you might have something you wanted to say?" Lee replies. Adama replies flatly: "I have nothing to say to the personal representative of the President."

Lee points out that he is still the Galactica's lead pilot. Adama responds that he has nothing to say to him, either. "Every man has to decide for themselves which side they're on," he adds. Angered, Lee replies that he didn't know they were picking sides, and walks off without a salute. Watching him go, Adama mutters, "That's why you haven't picked one yet."

When they cut to a picture of a ship performing a beauty pass across the camera. The words ASTRAL QUEEN PRISON TRANSPORT VESSEL appear as she passes. Aboard her, Lee, together with Billy, Dualla and Cally is walking with the Captain and a guard. The Captain informs them that he has 1500 prisoners on board. He doesn't have their names or their files - they're just numbers. They arrive at a PA console, which the Captain activates and hands the microphone to Lee. "All right, they're all yours."

Lee addresses the prisoners, introducing himself as "Captain Lee Adama, personal representative of the president." He then outlines the situation - "Thousands of us are on the verge of dying," and asks for the prisoner's help to get the water, and that any man volunteering to help will be granted "freedom points" that can be used towards an early release. He asks anyone interested to step out of their cell.

The doors to the cages open, but nothing happens. Then one man steps out of his cell: "Thank you for your offer,” he calls, “We...respectfully...decline."

Billy reacts as he recognises the speaker: "Oh my God...that's...that's Tom Zarek..."

"The terrorist?" Dualla questions, stepping forward, as chants break out in the cages below. Cups are banged on bars, building to a crescendo of noise as Zarek stand calmly in the aisle, looking up at Lee on the gantry, and we fade to the opening titles.

Acts

After the titles, we rejoin the crew on the Astral Queen, her Captain asking, "So who the hell is Tom Zarek?" His voice edged with admiration, Billy replies that he is a freedom fighter, a prisoner of conscience. Duella challenges him flatly: "He's a butcher." Billy replies that Zarek's colony was exploited by the other 11 for centuries, his people marginalised and brutalised. Duella again cuts him off, reminding him that she is a Sagittarian, "and that man does not speak for all of us. He blew up a government building and there's no excuse for that."

As an argument threatens to engulf them, Cally reports to Lee that she's been watching the clock and that if they are going to get anyway, they need to move on. Lee agrees, stating Zarek has the prisoners united, so they must go through him.

Meanwhile, on CYLON-OCCUPIED CAPRICA, Helo and Valerii have reached a city (Caprica City?) and for a place ostensibly nuked, it's looking in remarkably good shape - windows haven't even been blown-in by any shock waves. Helo is bellowing at the top of his voice for anyone who can help - an odd thing to be doing in "occupied territory".

As the camera pans the city, we’re drawn down on the two of them, with the titles "KARL C. AGATHON, CALLSIGN "HELO". DAY 12 ON CAPRICA" appearing as Valerii pleads, "No more shouting, you're making me nervous." They move between two buildings, Valerii wondering where everyone is. "Dead," Helo replies. "In their beds, at their desks. Those that aren't probably ran for the hills..." Valerii accuses him of being morbid. He points out he's "been here longer than you."

They are distracted by the sound of metal falling over and animal screams. Crossing to one of the building, they find a body on the sidewalk being eaten(?) by rats. Valerii reacts by almost vomiting. Helo puts a shot into the corpse to burn it. As smoke rises from off-camera, he realises Valerii is about to lose it and leads her away, hugging her and chiding her gently. As possible intimacy flares, he looks around, a little discomfited. "Let’s find a hospital and find some anti-radiation packs. We’ve got three days’ worth left." He steadies her as she look set to throw-up again. "Sharon, we made it this far, we're going to make it all the way...we're doing good, real good - someone must be watching over us!"

As they walk off together, we see them from the perspective of the roof of the building, and a voice states, "She's good," and we see Doral and Six watching Helo and Valerii. "So far," Six concedes. "Jealous?" Doral enquires. We look out over the city as Six and Doral walk. "This all makes me so sad," she states. Doral points out that humanity would have destroyed itself anyway, so the Colonials deserved what they got. "We are the children of humanity," Six points out. "That makes them our parents in a sense."

"True," Doral replies. "But parents have to die. It's the only way children come into their own."

Back on the Astral Queen, Lee enters Zarek's cage, escorted by a guard. After "formalities" are sorted - prisoners are forbidden to talk unless asked a direct question - Lee is shut in Zarek's cell to talk, while the guard retreats down the corridor. As he does so, the prisoners start tapping on the bars of their cages as he passes....

In Zarek's cell, Lee gets to the point: the Colonials need Zarek's men to help them. Zarek replies that the prisoners are not his men, pointing out that as prisoners, Lee "owns" them: "You're the master, we're the slaves."

Outside the guard continues to walk, the tapping on cell bars following him.

Lee tries to appeal to Zarek as a man of principle - citing the book he wrote; the book that Zarek points out was written in a labour camp and had to be smuggled out as prisoners are not allowed freedom of expression. Lee admits to having read the book in college and that, while radical, it had caused him to challenge some of the things he had previously accepted. Zarek has a hard time believing that he book would be read on campus. Lee admits it was actually banned, but he read it anyway. He uses this to try and convince Zarek that he understands him, but that Zarek needs to understand that people in the fleet are going to start dying.

Outside of the cell area, the guard has reached the upper catwalk where the controls to the cells reside. Calling out to a colleague, he pulls a telescoping nightstick, "It's time for your break," he announces, felling the other guard with a blow from the stick. He then crosses to the cage controls....

...On the bridge, Duella and Billy are still arguing about Zarek, when the Captain notices the security monitors failing...

...In Zarek's cell, Lee opens up to Zarek: "All I want. All the president wants is a chance for you to earn your freedom." Zarek nods. "Now you've said the truth. Freedom is earned."

...On the gantry, the renegade guard releases the door locks, and in the cell blocks, doors swing open. Hearing them open, Lee turns, only to be told by Zarek: "Say where you are, Captain. It'll all be over soon."

In the control centre, the door bursts open, the guard, now armed, leading armed prisoners who quickly take control of the Captain, Billy, Dualla and Cally.

As more prisoners spill into the corridor in the cell block, Lee dashes from Zarek's cell and lays into four of the prisoners before being knocked to the floor. Zarek reclines on his cell bunk as we hear the sounds of fists striking flesh and more prisoners heap on Lee....

...And we cut to another pass of the Astral Queen, with the renegade guard informing Zarek that the crew and the hostages have been put in separate cells. We cut to Lee Adama, bloodied and bruised lying on the floor of the control room, a shotgun aimed at him as Zarek thanks the guard. "I knew I could count on you."

In the cells, Dualla tries to reassure Billy everything is going to be all right. Billy isn't so sure, all his comments about freedom fighters now evaporated. Cally points out they won't be hurt because that won't get “them” what they want. "Which is what?" Billy asks.

On Galactica, Baltar has been summoned to Adama's quarters, but is slightly lost. Turning to retrace his steps, he sees Starbuck, swaggering down the corridor with Boxey in tow. "Lieutenant Thrace, how nice to see you!" Thrace smiles and strokes his jacket as she passes. "How nice to see you to!" she responds. "Really?" Baltar asks. "No," she laughs, sharing a high-five with Boxey.

Watching them go, Baltar mutters, "I wonder if she's a real blonde?" From beside him, and not a little cattily, Six replies, "I doubt it."

In the pilots’ ready room, Starbuck - now smoking a cigar and wearing sunglasses - is apparently filling-in for Lee Adama while he is on the Astral Queen. She proceeds to rib one of the pilots about his heavy landings. She asks Boxey who this might be, and is informed it is Flat Top. As the ribbing continues, Tigh enters and stands at the back of the room. As Thrace dismisses the pilots, he steps forward. "There's no smoking in the ready room." Starbuck replies, "My room, my rules. Sir." Looking at Boxey, Tigh asks, "Where's your mommy?" Which earns him a surly, near-sneering reply of, "Dead. Where's yours?" Ignoring him, Tigh asks, "I'm looking for Boomer." Boxey again replies, equally surly, "It's 14:00. Boomer's in the tool room," then turns and walks out. After he's gone, Tigh turns on Thrace, laying into her about treating heavy landings as a joke. Her response is to state that shouting at people doesn't always get the best results - and she learned that at officer candidate school - a comment that earns her another, "You are right on the edge" warning from Tigh. "Careful you don't fall off," he warns. Sniffing at his breath, Thrace retorts, "Talking of falling off. Good to see you've found a way to quench your thirst," and she also walks out of the ready room.

On the Astral Queen, Zarek enters the (locked) control room and starts examining the consoles. Watching him, Lee Adama informs him that there will be no negotiations while he is holding hostages. Zarek replies that he doesn't want to negotiate. He wants his crew to be treated like men, not animals. He then informs Lee they are going to talk. "What about?" Lee asks. "Your father," Zarek replies with a smile.

As the conversation starts, we cut to Adama's quarters. Baltar, having found his way there, is admiring a painting on the cabin wall as Adama pours them both a drink of water. Sensing something is wrong, Baltar starts babbling about the artist, attempting to flatter Adama. He fails. "Where's my Cylon detector?" Adama asks flatly.

Baltar starts making excuses as Adama sits, refusing to look at him, adding to Baltar's unease. Six appears to Baltar, "It's not working this time, Gaius," she mocks. "He can see right through you." This sets Baltar into another babble of excuses. "Cut the BS," Adama states quietly. "You said you had a way of detecting human from Cylon. Do you or don't you?"

For a moment Baltar freezes, then states quietly, "I don't," which draws a dangerous, "What?" from Six as she apparently stands across the room from him. Glancing at her, Baltar continues that he doesn't believe that he is the right person for "this kind of work", causing Six to approach him, her look stern. "You have to do this," she tells him flatly. Baltar continues to babble: he's putting the job off because his subconscious telling him...telling him....that he's not the right man for the job...He ends up almost begging, but is stopped by Six, who warns him, her voice rising in an unexpected anger, "If you don't tell him what he wants to hear, he's going to find you out. And when he does, they're going to rip your head off..." and we close on her face as it twists into a mask of rage, "AND THROW YOUR BODY OUT OF AN AIRLOCK!"

The outburst shocks Baltar to the extent he drops his glass of water, smashing it. He apologies immediately, blaming his actions on a lack of sleep. Despite his pleadings, Adama inform him that, unfortunately for the two of them, Baltar is the last man they have to build the detector, "So what's the game plan - Doc?"

Caught between the devil and the deep blue, Baltar steals a "peek" at Six. "This is what you say," she tells him, her voice menacing. Baltar then repeats her instructions, shocking himself as much as Adama when she has him ask for a nuclear warhead.

On the Astral Queen, Zarek is pumping Lee for information, asking him if his father's position is the reason Lee got to be the president's representative. When Lee replies this is hardly the case, Zarek surmises that Adama and Roslin don't get along. "They have their differences," Lee allows, "But not when it comes to dealing with terrorists." This provokes an ironic smile from Zarek, "I thought you said you respected me. Read my book?" Lee nods, "That was before you resorted to violence and taking hostages." Zarek's smile fades. "It's always easier when the oppressed don't fight back, isn't it?"

On Galactica, Adama looks up at Baltar, "A warhead."

Baltar continues to follow Six's prompting, explaining that "technically" he needs the plutonium inside - and at that point she snarls, "Figure out the rest for yourself." Baltar does, falteringly at first and then, perhaps realising he actually has something, he continues more firmly and sure of himself. As he finishes his explanation, Adama states that the Galactica has only five nuclear warheads left aboard, "We may need them." Baltar agrees, stating he understands, and that if Adama considers the project low priority...Adama makes to pour his unfinished water back in the jug. "You'll get your warhead," he states quietly, and Six turns to Baltar, all smiles, "Good boy."

"Thank you," he replies to her, then realising he's spoken aloud, he looks at Adama, "Commander."

In the hanger deck equipment locker, Tyrol is trying to reassure Boomer following recent events (Water). The Master-at-Arms has been through the small arms locker and hasn't found anything connecting the missing explosives with her. Boomer is still worried. As they hug, the door opens, and Tigh enters with a growl, causing them to part in embarrassment. Tigh states he needs to speak to Boomer on her own, and Tyrol exits. Tigh then chastises Boomer for the relationship, pointing out everyone from Adama on down knows about it. "We're just friends," she protests. Tigh isn't deflected. "Back when the ship was being decommissioned, we let you get away with it. Hell we let everyone get away with murder. But that was then and this is now. We're at war, this is a combat unit and you're his superior officer. Put a stop to it. That's an order." He then leaves as he is summoned to CIC.

He arrives in time to hear Zarek state the crew of the Astral Queen are his prisoners, but that they will not be harmed. Zarek goes on to make his demands in order to secure the release of his prisoners: 1. the immediate resignation of Laura Roslin as president; 2. open and free elections to choose a new leader. He concludes the broadcast - which has gone out to the entire fleet - with the words, "I make these demands not for me....but for you, the people. The survivors of the holocaust and the children of humanity's future. I am Tom Zarek, and this is the first day of a new era."

Following the broadcast, Adama jams the transmissions from the Astral Queen and contacts Roslin. She thinks the jamming is too late. Adama doesn't believe people will listen. Roslin states he has a lot to learn about public opinion and that there are those who would be willing to listen to Zarek - a prisoner of conscience ("a terrorist" Adama responds). She points out that rebellion is a contagious thing, and people are already rebelling as a result of the water crisis, and as such, they can't afford to destabilise her government. Adama agrees, and Roslin wants to know what he is "going in." Adama suggests she and Zarek talk first. Roslin responds that the government doesn't negotiate with terrorists. Adama replies that he didn't mean negotiate, he meant talk. She still refuses, even when Adama states he needs time to prepare. Roslin stands firm: her talking with Zarek gives his position legitimacy and recognition.

As Adama comes of the call, promising to let Roslin know what happens, he joins Tigh and Starbuck at the plot table, where Starbuck is running through an assault scenario using three Raptors and armed personnel. As she explains the plan, Tigh pulls her up: "What's this 'we' crap?" Thrace looks at Adama as she answers, "I'm going with them." Tigh objects, and Adama upholds the objection. "We have a few marines left aboard the Galactica, Starbuck. Let them handle it." Starbuck points out the marines don't have a sniper - and that she's the best shot in or out of the cockpit. Tigh agrees with her, drawing a barely-hidden sideways look of surprise from Thrace as she tries to suppress a smile. "Wonders never cease," Adama states, looking at the two of them. Then he confirms Thrace is on the mission and tells her that if she gets a clear shot at Zarek, she is to take it. "I want to control that ship immediately."

On the Astral Queen, Dualla wonders how she drew this particular detail, and Billy owns up. A few cells away, a prisoner strolls up to Cally's cell. Words are exchanged, the prisoner believing Cally is mocking him. He warns her that he and "Tom" go back a long way, and that she should be nice to him. Cally rolls over in her cot, ignoring him. On Galactica, the Raptors are prepared. Marines and Thrace board and engines wind up.

Bck aboard the prison transport, Zarek challenges Lee: who voted for Laura Roslin? Lee replies that she was sworn in under the law. They argue the point, Zarek stating that they need to be "free" otherwise they are no different than Cylons. As Lee walks away, Zarek tries a different approach. "They call you Apollo...Apollo was one of the gods - a Lord of Kobol. You must be a very special man to be called a god....the son of Zeus. Good with the bow. God of the hunt – and also god of healing. Now a god can reconcile those two opposing forces. But a mortal must take one side....or the other. Have you picked a side, Apollo?"

At that point a call comes in from Galactica: Adama wishes to speak to Zarek. "Zeus is calling," Zarek says, crossing to the comms console. Taking the call, Zarek allows Lee to briefly speak to his father. Lee tries to state where the others are, but Zarek stops him. "How long until you storm the ship?" he asks Adama. For his part, Adama responds that he hopes it won't be necessary, that the two of them can talk things out. Zarek isn't fooled. "Your men are on their way, even as we speak." He demands Adama gets Roslin to step down. Adama replies that won't happen. "Then I look forward to meeting your men," Zarek ends the contact.

Outside the Astral Queen, three Raptors come up under the ship and invert themselves relative to her and clamp onto her hull.

On the prison block, Cally is taken by the prisoner who spoke to her earlier and led down the corridor, Billy and Duella first trying to reassure her, and then calling for Apollo.

In the control centre, Zarek and Apollo continue their conversation, Lee pointing out that it sounds as if his father is willing to talk. When Zarek doesn't respond, her realises the truth: Zarek wants Adama to send troops in. Outside, docking collars are extended to the hull of the Queen from the Raptors, a seal is formed and the collars pressurised. Plasmas torches start burning through the hull.

In the control room, Zarek finally admits that yes, he wants the troops to storm the Queen - he wants a massacre - but not for the reasons Lee puts to him: to "go out in a blaze of glory"; rather because he knows that if there is a bloody confrontation on the Astral Queen in which prisoners and hostages are killed, then the people will reject Roslin as their leader.

Starbuck and her teams make it into the Queen. In her cell, Duella tries to reassure Billy that Cally will be all right. The silence is shattered by a terrified scream - Cally. It shocks Duella and Billy. It shocks prisoners in the corridor and it freezes Thrace and her team.

The only ones not to hear it are Zarek and Lee, who doesn't believe Zarek's statement; "You've been saying everything you're doing is for freedom. But the truth is it's all about Tom Zarek and his personal death wish." They are interrupted by the arrival of the renegade guard with the news that, "Something's up."

As they rush from the control centre, we cut to Starbuck and there is a single gunshot, leading her to believe the hostages are being killed, and she moves her team out at the double as another team moves in and starts taking out prisoners. The sound of a man screaming fills the air...

...In the prison block, a crowd is gathering at one cell. Locked inside is the prisoner who took Cally, bleeding profusely from his right ear, and Cally herself, on the floor with a gunshot wound. Zarek arrives and demands to know what is going on. The prisoner in the cell cries out that Cally bit his ear off. With bloodied mouth and clutching her wound, Cally screams, "Frak you!" before spitting out the rest of his ear.

Lee demands the door to the cell be opened. He turns to Zarek. "You said they weren't animals. What do you call this? He's going to kill her. DO something!"

Zarek rounds on him, blaming Lee. "You did this! You put him in a cage! You made him a monster!"

Above them, a prisoner on the gantry is taken out: the third team from Galactica has arrived. In the cell the prisoner threatens to shoot Cally again, as Thrace takes up position on the gantry. Lee turns to Zarek. "He's going to kill her!" Zarek snarls back, "You reap what you sow!" As all eyes focus on the prisoner and Cally, Lee moves: striking the armed renegade guard, he grabs his firearm and in short order shots the prisoner and puts the gun to Zarek's head. Above him, Thrace also takes aim, but her shot is partially obscured by Lee. She mutters for him to shoot Zarek. "How about it, Tom?" Lee asks, unaware of the Galactica's presence. "You still have a death wish? You ready to leave this world, right here. Right now?" Looking him in the eye, Zarek nods. "Yes."

"Too bad," Lee replies. He then tells Zarek he's going to tell his men to help secure the needed water, that they are going to earn their points and their freedom - and then Zarek will get his elections. He goes on to state that Zarek is right about democracy and the consent of the people, and the people of the fleet will have democracy: and Zarek can have it to, or a bullet.

Zarek wants to know how he can be sure Adama and Roslin will go along with what Lee is saying. Lee admits he doesn't but if he lets the hostages go, they'll leave the ship in his hands, and if the worst comes to the worst, he can still have his last stand here. "It's your choice," Lee concludes. "You reap what you sow." Zarek agrees and orders the prisoners to lower their weapons. Lee shoots his way into the cell and checks Cally, assuring her she's going to be OK. Zarek follows him to check on the prisoner. In doing so, he exposes himself to Thrace, who flicks on the laser targeting unit on her gun. Seeing the dot on Zarek's temple, Lee pulls him out of the line of fire under the cot and Thrace fires, missing Zarek, but causing a panic. Lee orders a cease fire, a cry that is taken up by the marines, and for the first time the prisoners realise they are surrounded. Weapons are lowered and Lee calls to the marines for a medic.

Later, on Colonial One, Lee faces Roslin, "I don't believe it," and Adama, "It's unacceptable." Lee looks at them both. "The prisoners have full control of the Astral Queen. We evaced all the guards and support personnel. It's their ship." Adama responds that they are a threat to the entire fleet. Lee disagrees: they've been disarmed, their ship has no weapons. "The ship itself is a weapon!" Adama snaps in reply. Lee continues, stating the Astral Queen is totally dependent on the rest of the fleet for food and fuel and the prisoners have agreed to help with obtaining the water. Roslin confronts him on the subject of the elections he has committed her to holding. Lee points out that she is in effect serving out the remainder of President Adar's term, and as such, elections would have been due in 7 months anyway, he therefore only committed her to obeying the law.

Roslin and Adama are still indignant, both of them launching into counter-arguments. Lee cuts them both off. "I swore an oath to defend the Articles. The Articles say there is an election in seven months. Now if you're telling me we're throwing out the law, then I'm not a Captain," looking at Adama: "You're not a commander;" looking at Roslin, "And you are not the president and I don't owe either of you a damned explanation for anything."

Roslin and Adama exchange looks. "He's your son," she admits. "He's your advisor," Adama counters. Roslin agrees to the election and Adama steps up to his son. "I guess you've finally picked your side." He then leaves.

Tag

On Galactica, Starbuck enters Tigh's cabin and produces a hip flask. Taking two cups, she hands one to Tigh and fills them both. Without a word, she salutes him with her cup and they both drink, Tigh somewhat suspiciously. "What the hell is this? Water?"

"You bet your ass. And there's plenty more where that came from," she smiles, refilling his cup. She then admits, "I have my flaws too." Tigh's face hardens, "The difference is, my flaws are personal. Yours are professional." The comment causes Thrace to almost choke on her second cup of water. Sipping at his, Tigh nods, "Thank you, Lieutenant. That will be all." Dismissed, Thrace turns and leaves, and Tigh finishes his drink.

In sickbay, Tyrol and two of his crew visit a recovering Cally. "Is it true you bit off his ear?" One of them asks. "He's lucky that's all I bit off," she states.

Back on Colonial One, Roslin is resting when Lee Adama knocks on her cabin bulkhead. He apologises for disturbing her, but wanted to say goodbye before heading back to Galactica, and to explain he wasn't being disloyal in what he arranged with Zarek - and that in the election's she'll have his vote. This admission prompts Roslin to reveal her cancer to him; making Lee only the second person in the fleet to know about her condition.

Questions

• Both Doral and Zarek make rerferences to "humanities children" - is there a connection?

Analysis

Another good episode, if a little unwound in places, and a little contrived towards the end.

Certainly, this is Lee Adama's episode through and through, and the kid is finding his feet: he stands by those principles he signed-up to in joining the military, he faces off against his father and risks earning Roslin's scorn, and he handles himself with Zarek admirably well.

For those anticipating any John McClane-like dealing with the hostage situation on the Astral Queen: you're in for a disappointment. This is purely an Adama / Zarek affair. The dialogue between the two only very slightly veers towards heavy-handedness (Lee trying to convince Zarek he understands him, prior to the goal break) - but for the majority of the episode is spot on the line and excellently handled by both Bamber and Hatch.

Indeed, alongside Jamie Bamber, this is very much Richard Hatch's episode. He turns in a fine performance as Zarek and one can instantly understand why he has been invited back. It would be interesting to put Hatch's Zarek face-to-face against Olmos' Adama; both hold a tremendous amount of power when on-screen.

But it is Bamber from the core cast who must take the honours here. Apollo not only grows dimensionally as a character as the episode progresses, he also matures as a man finally and truly stepping out of his father's long shadow.

It is interesting how the imagery abounds in this episode: how the old cliché that "one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist" is subtlety reviewed against the more traditional lines of argument, as the byplay between Zarek and Lee Adama is played out behind the deliberate verbalising of the cliché through Duella and Billy; how the need for children to "escape" the confines of there parents is voiced by the Cylons, but given form in Lee Adama's ability to stand aside from his father, as an officer and a man of moral standing in his own right.

Dynamics are strong elsewhere in the episode as well - most obviously between Baltar and, respectively, Six and Adama.

The former dynamic again takes a new twist as this is the first time we see her "angry" with Baltar and able to go beyond gentle manipulation of his thoughts and move into outright domination of his conscious thinking.

Again, nothing in the episode either confirms or denies her as being a product of his imagination or some echo of her implanted in his mind; rather, her actions remain deeply ambiguous.

On the one hand, she may well want him to "develop" the Cylon detector in the knowledge it will be flawed, and thus any Cylon agents will remain undetected: something she could not guarantee if the device was developed by someone else on the Galactica. But this idea presupposes "she" is an individual entity of some form in his head.

Thus, it is equally fair to say that as a product of his own psychosis, she might want Baltar to "develop" the detector for the same reason - it will be flawed, and thus reduce the risk of him giving himself away out of fear he may have an implant or something in him a genuine detector might find.

Again, her prodding him to request a nuke could suggest a nefarious plan is being hatched on her part; but on the other, his final reaction and chain of thought, when she leaves him to figure out the rest for himself could equally be explained as his own tortured mind finding the means to build a genuine Cylon detector.

Whatever the truth behind "Six" as we see her with Baltar, it is clear the writers have more than one way in which they can move before they opt to reveal the truth to us. Certainly, full marks go to Helfer and Callas for continuing what has been in many ways the most fascinating set of interactions in the series to date.

Full marks too, to Callas for the way he can evoke both frustration and pity in equal measure at more-or-less the same time. In his confrontation with Adama, Baltar manages to come across as simultaneously weak, intelligent, child-like and borne of wisdom beyond his years. Genius personified? Perhaps - but that is precisely what Baltar is supposed to be; albeit flawed, and Callas combines all of it so powerfully on screen.

As with previous episodes, "Bastille Day" continues to touch on pieces from the mini and earlier episodes. Despite all that is packed into this one, we still find three minutes in which the Boomer / detonator plot is moved forward, and we get the confirmation that the Boomer / Tyrol relationship is well-known throughout the ship. At the same time, Tigh's alcoholism is touched upon; although as he only has 5 fingers of booze left, he's not going to be going on any great bender - but it'll be interesting to see what happens when his morning crutch is permanently removed. And the Thrace / Tigh conflict renews itself - this time with more subtlety than in the mini series.

We also gain insight into the Cylons - and of Six - through the scenes on Caprica, and it would appear that Six incarnate shares much of the same feelings towards humanity as the "Six" in Baltar's head. Is this a tacit confirmation that Baltar's "Six" is more than just his own mind playing tricks? Possibly.

Gripes? Sure.

The resolution to the hostage situation on the Astral Queen, using Cally and a prisoner came across as contrived, and something that has been done often enough one way or another in the past to be considered trite. One feels the writers took an easy exit route with this one.

And a potential gripe: Guys, what the hell were you thinking of in showing Helo and Valerii in a city like that? We've been lead to believe that the 12 colonies have had the blue pants blown out of them, and yet here we see a completely pristine city. Not a scratch. Not a single broken window. No debris. The whole place could have been built yesterday, it looked so new. Not a single sign of fires, of any explosions (or impact of shockwaves thereof) or anything save half-a-dozen rats (which looked like white mice, as the image was somewhat over-exposed)...

... And then there is Helo, walking in CYLON-OCCUPIED CAPRICA (as the caption immediately before informs us) and bellowing for help at the top of his voice!!

It’s almost like he’s yelling, "Yo! ANYONE THERE?! NO, DON'T MEAN YOU, MR. CYLON, OR YOU, OR YOU, OR YOU. I MEAN ANYONE HUMAN?" Get the picture?

Notes

• The Astral Queen is actually a prison ship
• She is in fact carrying 1500 prisoners, and not 500 as her Captain reported in the mini
• "Bastille Day" follows-on from "Water" but occurs some 4 days later
• Starbuck is a crack shot with a rifle
• The Colonials are going to be facing a fuel shortage at some point
• Raptors are designed for marine assault and include an extendable docking skirt in their underside that can be pressurised (and possibly used in rescue operations?)
• Galactica has a small contingent of marines onboard - perhaps around the 15 mark
• Galactica has five "remaining" nuclear warheads. Would be interesting to know their delivery mechanism
• The “Lords or Kobol” are the gods of Greek mythology.

Noteworthy Dialogue

On Cylon-occupied Caprica:

Doral: She's good. Six: So far. Doral: Jealous? Six This all makes me so sad. Doral: (matter-of-fact) They would have destroyed themselves anyway. They deserve what they got. Six: We're the children of humanity. That makes them our parents in a sense. Doral True - but parents have to die. It's the only way children come into their own.

Later, aboard the 'Astral Queen', in a broadcast by Tome Zarek:

Tom Zarek: I make these demands not for me....but for you, the people. The survivors of the holocaust and the children of humanity's future. I am Tom Zarek, and this is the first day of a new era. -->

Statistics

Guest Stars

• Richard Hatch as Tom Zarek
• Alonso Oyarzun as Socinus
• Nicki Clyne as Cally
• Matthew Bennett as Doral
• Pat Adren Dornal as Wikens
• Ron Selmour as Seaborne

Writing & Direction

• Written by Toni Graphia
• Directed by Alan Kroeker

First Run Air Dates & Releases

• UK Airdate: 1 November 2004 (Sky One)
• US Airdate: (Sci-Fi Channel)
• DVD Release: N/A

Galactica 1980 definition: a unit of temperature; 2000 degrees chronic would be the skin temperature of the A-B Raider at maximum upon entering Earth's atmosphere ^{(1980: "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I")}

Galactica 1980 definition: Dillon is called both a terrorist and a chauvinist by Jamie Hamilton during their phone call from the police station; he asks Troy "what's a terrorist chauvinist?" ^{(1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I")}

These are terms directly relating to Galactica 1980, some of which are based from the Original Series. For terms from that series, please refer to List of terms (TOS).

Original Series definition: a title of nobility (e.g. Lord Baltar)

Original Series definition: marriage