Battle of New Caprica

Battle of New Caprica
Summary
Conflict:	Second Cylon War
Date:
Related Episode(s):
Place:	Near New Caprica space; on New Caprica
Result:	Successful retrieval of the Fleet, deposition of the Baltar administration, Hera is captured by Cylons
Combatants
Remnants of the Colonial Fleet	Cylons
Commanders
Admiral William Adama, Commander Lee Adama	(Unknown)
Strength
Battlestars Galactica and Pegasus, Blue Squadron, Resistance Team	Four basestars, associated Raiders, Heavy Raiders, Ground Occupation Force
Materiel Losses
Battlestar Pegasus	At least three basestars
Casualties
Unknown, hundreds of people including Maya	Unknown, High
[[Colonial battles chronology ({{{series}}})\|Battle Chronology]]

Battlestar Galactica launches a daring mission to occupy the Cylon force's attention as the majority of the Colonial citizens escape from Cylon occupation on New Caprica.

Greatly outnumbered, Admiral William Adama enacts an elaborate plan that relies on a squadron of Raptors (with a Viper escort squadron) to fire a series of swallows that collectively mimic the EM signatures of the Colonial battlestars. After firing the swallows, the Raptors retreat, luring several Cylon Raiders further from the fight. The Cylons are deceived temporarily by the false readings.

On New Caprica, Samuel Anders and the resistance team detonate dozens of bombs as a feigned attack by Colonial forces. The people evacuate per their fire-drill training, but escape to the various grounded ships of the Fleet, which prepare their engines and FTL drives to depart. Many people, however, become pinned down by Centurion fire.

Admiral Adama performs an extremely risky move. He orders Galactica to conduct an intra-atmosphere jump, escaping the detection of the basestars. While in freefall, it launchs the remnants of Blue Squadron, which performs hit-and-run attacks on the Cylons on the ground, those in observation towers, and interdicting the few Raiders operating near the surface, as well as destroying the main gates of the Cylon detention center. Before the battlestar impacts the surface, Galactica performs a second jump, back into space. Stress from the vibration and heat of entry have heavily taxed the structure of the battlestar. While two basestars were expected to engage the Galatica during wargames, four basestars move in to dispose of Galactica.

With the Vipers destroying targets on the ground and in the air in vicinity of New Caprica City, those previously pinned down are able to board their ships. Simultaneously, Colonial Marines and resistance members assault the detention center, freeing Starbuck and the other detainees.

Before long, Galatica's FTL drives and maneuvering thrusters are disabled, and the port side of the ship reaches its structural limits. Upon hearing that the FTL drive was disabled, Admiral Adama tells his crew, "Then that's it. It's been an honor." Battlestar Pegasus then arrives with its forward batteries blazing, scoring several hits that severely damage or destroy one basestar. Commander Lee Adama orders his battlestar towards the basestars to give Galactica time to repair its FTL drive and escape. Meanwhile, most of the civilian ships become airborne and jump away.

Commander Adama directs his ship to a position between the basestars targetting Galactica, in an effort to draw fire away from her. Admiral Adama infers from the absence of Vipers from the Pegasus that its Vipers are guarding the remaining ships of the Fleet at the rendezvous point and that Pegasus is on a one-way trip. While Pegasus "was taking a hell of a pounding," the crew of Galactica is able to bring its FTL back on line. Admiral Adama thus orders his crew to land its birds and prepare to jump.

With Pegasus taking phenomenal damage, Commander Adama orders all hands to abandon ship, using standby Raptors to jump away from the battle. He ensures that the weapons were set to autofire and that the ship is on a collision course with one of the basestars before departing. The damaged, unmanned Pegasus collides into one basestar, destroying both. The remnants of Pegasus's starboard flight pod collides with another of the remaining basestars, destroying it.

Colonial One is the last Colonial ship to leave the planet, with Laura Roslin back in her old chair in place of the deposed president, Gaius Baltar (Exodus, Part II). On the surface, the Cylons' planned nuclear detonation, which this late would be of questionable tactical value, does not occur.

Battle Imagery[edit]

Raptors and Vipers[edit]

Galactica's Surprise Attack[edit]

Pegasus's Suicide Run[edit]