Adama (TOS-BN)

Adama serves as commander of the battlestar Galactica and military leader of the Fleet in their journey toward Earth. In the novelizations, Adama is depicted as a seasoned military leader who balances the demands of command with his roles as father and protector of the surviving Colonial population.

The Missing Apollo Crisis

Upon returning from the Yevra mission with his surviving pilots, Adama is confronted with devastating news: his adopted grandson Boxey has run away aboard Galactica. The crisis deepens when Adama learns that his son Apollo, despondent over Boxey's disappearance, is planning to desert the Fleet to conduct an unauthorized search mission. When Lieutenant Starbuck attempts to join Apollo in this reckless endeavor, Adama is forced to intervene.

Rather than court-martial his son for planning to abandon his post, Adama demonstrates his wisdom as both a commander and father by offering a compromise: he will personally join Apollo in the search, but only under military discipline with clear orders to return if the mission proves fruitless. This decision reflects Adama's understanding that sometimes leadership requires bending rules to preserve both military effectiveness and family bonds.

The SuperViper Crisis

During the experimental SuperViper test flight crisis, Adama demonstrates his characteristic caution about new military technology, expressing reservations about risking his best pilots on unproven equipment. When the SuperViper suffers critical damage during a major Cylon attack, Adama makes the difficult decision to allow the test to continue as part of a desperate battle strategy to save the Fleet.

Battle with Spectre

Adama's leadership is severely tested when the Cylon commander Spectre launches a devastating attack on the Fleet, crippling Galactica and demanding the unconditional surrender of the entire Colonial force. When Spectre contacts Adama directly via communication link, demanding he "surrender the Galactica," Adama responds with characteristic defiance and dignity. Despite facing seemingly impossible odds with his ship disabled and his forces overwhelmed, Adama refuses to submit to Cylon authority.

When asked to identify himself and whom he represents, Adama maintains his composure even as Spectre declares himself representative of the "Cylon Imperious Leader" and threatens total destruction. Adama's famous reply to Spectre's surrender demand—"We don't take orders from tin soldiers or Cylons"—and his ultimate response of "Felgercarb!" demonstrate both his unshakeable resolve and his refusal to be intimidated by overwhelming force.