Cassiopeia

Overview

Name: Cassiopeia

Nickname: Cassie

Age: 20s

Status: Single

Siblings: None

Children: None

Race: Gemon

Position: Medtech, Battlestar Galactica (formerly a socialator).

Portrayed by Laurette Spang (IMDB entry)

Cassiopeia (Cassie) can be described as an extremely attractive, level-headed survivor with her own strengths. A tall, lanky blonde with blue eyes, she became the main love interest of Starbuck. Despite her past as a socialator, she grew into her role as a medtech assistant to Dr. Salik.

Biography

Before the Cylon Attack

Not much is known about Cassiopeia's history, except that when she was a child she sent out messages in an old Aeries Merchant code for her father. Her father, presumably, was either a trader hailing from Gemoni or was an Aerian himself. (The Long Patrol) Nothing is known about her mother. By some means she managed to become a socialator, a profession she found herself defending to other Colonials — including Starbuck. (Saga of a Star World)

In her adult-hood, Cassiopeia met Commander Cain and two clicked romantically after Cain apparently paid for her services. He went to her and maybe other socialators, for compassionate reasons — to mourn the death of his wife — which is something that Cain's young daughter, Sheba, objected to. After the Battle of Molecay, which saw the entire Fifth Fleet eradicated by Cylon forces, Cassiopeia believed (along with everyone else) that Cain (and Sheba) were dead. (The Living Legend)

After the Cylon Attack

Cassiopeia managed to escape from the Colonies, earning a broken arm in the process in the "borays of humanity" aboard the freighter Gemini. Apparently, several irate Gemons of the Otori Sect were ready to throw her (and what she represented) off the ship. Starbuck intervened on her behalf, though, while he was surveying the ship for solium leaks with Boomer and Apollo.

She was interviewed by Starbuck, who found out who and what she was. She found herself automatically defending socilators to him too, though he was not concerned about it. Ever since she became attracted to him, although he probably had his reasons for going after her.

After Doctor Paye fixed her arm, Starbuck and Cassiopeia were getting better acquainted in a launch tube aboard the Galactica. However, they were observed by a jealous Athena, who steam purged the launch tube, causing some discomfort for both Cassiopeia and Starbuck.

Cassiopeia later purchased the Royal Suite on Carillon after Starbuck and Boomer discovered the Ovions' mining/luxury operation. She had hoped to foster intimate relations with the Warrior, but instead was taken down to the lower levels of the facility to become an Ovion entrée. Starbuck and Apollo later rescued her from being a buffet. (Saga of a Star World)

Sometime after she became trained and employed under the guidance of Doctor Salik, she matured and became more motherly after escorting Boxey out of the pilot's bunks. (The Lost Warrior)

Her maternal nature, however, did not underscore Cassiopeia. She had fun with Starbuck on the Rising Star in celebration of exiting their home galaxy of Cyranus. She later found out, however, that Starbuck was playing musical women between her and Athena, when they bumped into each other while examining the ranking pin he gave each of them "to remember him by". She was also instrumental in discovering that the transmissions beamed from Starbuck's stolen Recon Viper were of Aerian Merchant Code, thus allowing Apollo and Boomer to repossess the appropriated Viper (which Starbuck piloted) as well as figure out what exactly was transpiring. (The Long Patrol)

When Cassiopeia learned that Cain had been found alive, she found herself stuck between a rock and a hard place, undecided about her relationship with either man. She accompanied Cain to the Officer's Club on the Galactica, much to the indignation of Sheba. (The Living Legend) Later, she noticed that the drop team to Gamoray had no medtech, as per guidelines, forcing them to accept her as part of the ground force — where she attempted to make amends with Sheba. Despite her motives, she did assert herself professionally and had Bojay treated on the battlestar Pegasus. She was also given the care of Sheba, who had been injured during the daggitfight with the Cylons. When she was sent back to the Galactica, Cassiopeia knew Cain well enough to know that he wasn't planning on coming back. (The Living Legend)

Cassiopeia assisted Dr. Salik in saving Adama's life during emergency surgery to remove a shard embedded in the wall of his heart. A massive fire on the Galactica, causing generator disruptions, made the operation extremely risky, but was nevertheless a success. (Fire in Space)

Cassiopeia also succumbed to the charms of Count Iblis, as she enjoyed the party atmosphere throughout the fleet caused by the Prince of Darkness. (War of the Gods)

Her strong, steady relationship with Starbuck prompted the Warrior to once comment that Cassiopeia was the only person he ever considered becoming Sealed to. Cassiopeia also performed the genetic testing on Chameleon, to determine if he was Starbuck's father. She informed Chameleon about the positive results of the test, but he convinced her not to reveal the results to Starbuck in order to prevent the Warrior from foregoing his duties to spend time with his newly-found father. Chameleon convinced her to go along with the lie by promising to eventually reveal his identity to Starbuck after he became Sealed. (The Man with Nine Lives)

Cassiopeia was also a frequent spectator to the Triad games. More than anyone else, she recognized the angry look on Starbuck's face when he was ejected from the game because of Ortega. She later broke up a fight between the two competitors and informed Starbuck brusquely that she would be returning to the Galactica — with or without him. When Ortega was found shot to death by Starbuck's laser, she attempted to persuade Starbuck to accept a self-defense plea proposed by Chief Opposer Solon. When he refused, she was maneuvered into testifying against him about his rage toward Ortega, although the real killer Karibdis was eventually discovered. (Murder on the Rising Star)

She was also involved in the mission to return Michael and his fellow travelers to Paradeen. Able to breathe the thin air on Michael's ship, she monitored the medical equipment keeping them in suspended animation. Cassiopeia also assisted in the search for Starbuck after he got lost in the convoluted passages under Paradeen's main city. (Greetings from Earth)

Cassiopeia's relationship with Starbuck grew strained when he was reunited with previous love interest Aurora on the Celestra. Attempting to make some semblance of peace between the two, Cassiopeia took back the duckets to the Spehroid Concert since she "wasn't going alone". However, when Starbuck returned after the Celestra mutiny had been put down, she revealed that she "knew he would come back". (Take the Celestra)

While Cassiopeia and Starbuck, accompanied by Apollo and Sheba, were in the Celestial Temple "enjoying the view", they picked up a mysterious signal, which Apollo believed originated from Earth. However, nothing came of that signal, since its recording was destroyed in a subsequent battle. Despite getting off to a shaky start because of Cain, Cassiopeia and Sheba were able to reconcile their differences and become friends; while discussing her feelings for Starbuck, Cassiopeia was shocked to hear Sheba proclaim her feelings for Apollo. (The Hand of God)

Notes

Although the character of Cassiopeia was supposed to be "eaten" by the carnivorous Ovions of Carillon in the premiere, producers decided to retained Laurette Spang for the series, partially to help Maren Jensen (Athena), who was struggling with her acting talent, providing Spang with a steady job (at least for a yahren) as a Galactica medtech.

Cassiopeia became a medtech by express order of ABC (American Broadcasting Company), which didn't appreciate her initial role of "socialator". However, there was no mention of her transition to medtech (i.e., her recruitment, training, residency, etc.); her career change was as seamless as a costume change.

Cassiopeia is also the name of a W-shaped constellation seen from Earth's northern hemisphere, located in the night sky near Polaris — the brightest star in Ursa Minor at the end of the handle of the "little dipper".

Interestingly enough, "Cassie" — the character's nickname — is the name of a tropical American thorny shrub/small tree with fragrant yellow flowers used in the production of perfumery.