Baltar (TOS-BN)

Background

Baltar comes from an aristocratic heritage, as his mother is described as being "overbearing and aristocratic". Furthermore Baltar was known to have been caught by his mother in an earlier betrayal of unknown nature. He also attends the Academy at the same time Adama does as cadets, often meeting one another during Academy Chorus practice, where Baltar's voice is noted to be a shaky tenor. During this time, his rivalry and envy of Adama's abilities blossom, resulting in his failed attempt to reprogram a test-computer to result in higher test scores. Baltar is caught and asked to leave the academy by both the Core Faculty and the Cadet Council.

Baltar leaves the academy, and the scandal is covered up with the official excuse for Baltar's leave attributed to health-related concerns. During this scandal, Adama attempts to intercede on his behalf, which only makes Baltar angrier.

With his dismissal from the Academy, Baltar enters politics, acquiring immense wealth and a seat on the Council of Twelve in the process. However, he is considered a political failure, as every committee and key decision he wants to be a part of is denied to him. Embittered, Baltar makes various scrupulous and devious wartime deals, leading to his decision to sell out the human race to the Cylons.

Association with the Cylons

After the Cylon holocaust, Baltar is spared execution by Lucifer, despite the Imperious Leader's order that he be executed. In secret from the Imperious Leader, Lucifer saves Baltar for the purposes of his plan, which is to use Baltar to analyze the human race and determine an effective means to destroy them. However, given that Baltar is "overweight, out of condition, flaccid from too much indulgent living," Lucifer places Baltar on a diet, as well as physical and mental regimens for him to be an effective component in his plans.

Once Lucifer's training programs are concluded, Lucifer presents Baltar to the Imperious Leader. The Leader tasks him with destroying the Fleet, with Lucifer as his liaison and a basestar under his command, in return for a full pardon. As part of his deal, he desires a throne room of his own, in addition to Lucifer's reprogramming to make the robot subservient to him, reversing the tables against his former master.

Infiltration

Baltar undergoes extensive physical reformation surgery to completely alter his appearance for an infiltration mission to Galactica. Under Spectre's orders, the procedure transforms his original "round, slightly plump face with its piglike eyes" to "a narrower face dominated by a long straight nose and heavy eyebrows that came out like a cliff over his now innocent-looking, almost childlike eyes."

Disguised as "Korriman," Baltar infiltrates Dwybolt's traveling theater company alongside Lucifer, who poses as the Borellian Noman "Trogla." Baltar demonstrates acting ability, revealing previous theatrical experience including having "done a skit with his arch-enemy, Commander Adama" during their academy days. Using the theater company as cover, he smuggles solenite explosives aboard Galactica before escaping after killing Captain Ironhand.