Baltar's Escape

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"Baltar's Escape"
An episode of the Re-imagined Series
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Overview

Joining forces with the imprisoned Borellians and the Eastern Alliance detainees, Baltar escapes from the prison barge, hijacks a shuttle, and kidnaps members of the ruling council.

Summary

  • Commander Adama is dictating a log. He states that Sire Domra and the Quorum of Twelve are firmly against him. He notes that the Quorum wants to release the Eastern Alliance prisoners and have an unarmed peace envoy accompany the Alliance enforcers back to their base on Lunar 7. Adama is determined not to let the same mistakes that lead to the downfall of the Twelve Colonies occur again under this Quorum's leadership.
  • Adama goes to the Prison Barge on a shuttle piloted by Apollo and Starbuck. On the Barge, he engages Commandant Leiter in a discussion. There, Leiter goes to discuss how the Nationalists wish to disrupt the "Natural Order" of things and how the Eastern Alliance has a manifest destiny to rule all life in the universe, for this is what the Alliance was created for.
  • Leiter then gloats on how Galactica is but a single warship, and how the Eastern Alliance will dispatch it like the "wolf pack does the bear".
  • Reese interrupts the interrogation of Leiter, informing Adama that the Council wants the interrogation terminated and that Adama is to report directly to the Council immediately.
  • Starbuck and Apollo object to this, believing that Adama should not have to answer to the Council as The Fleet is under martial law. Adama holds steadfast in his oath as a Warrior to answer to the Council. He sternly states to the duo that he does not want to discuss the issue any further in front of the prisoner.
  • Adama is summoned before the Quorum of Twelve under the leadership of Sire Domra. Domra begins the meeting of the Quorum with the declaration that Adama is to receive the highest honor of the Quorum -- the Star of Kobol -- and also declares that the state of emergency has ended.
  • Adama humbly refuses, claiming that there are still unforeseen dangers facing the Fleet. Adama then bluntly states that the meeting was called not to offer him an award, but to retire him.
  • Siress Tinia chimes in: martial law will be dissolved and the Fleet will be returned to civilian control. Adama is to retain his vote on the Quorum and the command of Galactica. In addition, Galactica will have an advisor from the Quorum. That advisor is none other than Tinia herself.
  • Starbuck and Apollo vehemently disagree with the decision. Adama retorts that perhaps the council is correct in ending martial law, noting that both Warriors have forgotten their vows to serve and protect.

Questions

Analysis

Notes

  • Domra and the Quorum use the same trick that Sire Uri used in "Saga of a Star World": offer awards to people who are deserving of them and then declare a radical edict. In this case, the edict of the council is to dissolve martial law, assign Adama an aide and offer peace to war-mongering, dangerous fascists.
  • The stunt that Boomer pulled in the shuttle could not have occurred in space. There is no such thing as "leveling out" in space and therefore such an occurrence smacks in the face of science, given that the shuttle is not affected by gravity. (If the shuttle was in an atmosphere of a planet, then the trick to get the Council Security officers to shut up would have worked.)

Noteworthy Dialogue

Guest Stars

John Dullaghan (Dr. Wilker)
Lance LeGault (Maga)
Anthony De Longis (Taba)
Robert Feero (Bora)
Ina Balin (Siress Tinia)
Lloyd Bochner (Leiter)
John Hoyt (Sire Domra)
Ron Kelly (Reese)
Paul LeClair (2nd Guard)
Paul Tinder (5th Guard)
Bruce Wright (Guard)
Mitchell Reta (Control Operator)