Cain (TOS-RH)

This article has a separate continuity. This article is in the Richard Hatch Novelizations separate continuity, which is related to the Original Series. Be sure that your contributions to this article reflect the characters and events specific to this continuity only.

For the canonical depiction of this character, see: Cain (TOS).

Commander Cain is a legendary Colonial military officer and commander of the battlestar Pegasus. After the destruction of the Twelve Colonies and the Battle of Gamoray, he establishes a colony on Poseidon in the Xerik system, where he serves as president while maintaining his military command. Cain is the father of Sheba, a premier Viper pilot who becomes engaged to Apollo.

Early Career and Reputation

Cain establishes himself as a living legend among the Colonial fleet, known for his tactical genius and commanding presence. He possesses cold saligium in his eyes that makes him an intimidating presence, though the yahrens deepen the lines in his face, making him bonier and more slender with thinner hair. Despite physical changes, Cain retains the formidable presence that defines his reputation.

His relationship with Adama is one of mutual respect, though they do not always agree. Adama had great respect for Cain, a sentiment Cain reciprocates, noting that this respect was never greater than when fate forced him into Adama's role of leading survivors after the Cylon destruction.

The Siege at Gamoray

Approximately twenty yahren before reuniting with the Colonial Fleet, Cain participates in the siege at Gamoray, a hard-fought battle where Galactica and Pegasus engage multiple Cylon base stars. Cain's tactical genius leads to the destruction of two base stars, though a third bearing Baltar escapes.

During the battle, Cain orders that his injured daughter Sheba be brought aboard Galactica, unknowingly separating them for nearly two decades. The explosion debris from the destroyed base stars creates a sea of shrapnel that blinds both battlestars' monitoring systems for many centons. Pegasus is damaged but not destroyed, though Cain believes the entire Colonial fleet has been destroyed.

After Gamoray, Pegasus was repeatedly counted out and reported destroyed at least half a dozen times, though Cain always survived. Sheba never believes her father is gone forever, maintaining faith in his survival despite the uncertain fate of Pegasus.

Rescue of Refugees

One yahren after Gamoray, Pegasus remains within the Cylon perimeter, fighting a guerrilla war. With only one battlestar, Cain's options are limited to strike-and-run tactics, harrying the enemy then fleeing to fight again—"not the kind of war I like to wage, but the only one that was available to me."

After destroying a Cylon supply base while evading reprisal, Pegasus receives distress signals from refugee ships. Initially reluctant to credit them, Cain responds when multiple calls arrive, recognizing that refugees had screened Pegasus and knew the battlestar was within range.

Cain discovers that many survived the Cylon destruction of the Twelve Colonies, noting bitterly that Galactica arrived "too late to stand against the Cylons, too late to save all the refugees." He gathers the refugees that Galactica could not reach and leads them to safety.

Establishment of Poseidon Colony

Approximately nineteen yahren after Gamoray, Cain leads the refugees to Poseidon (also known as Xerik-5) in the Xerik system. There he establishes a colony with the explicit purpose of using planetary resources to create a foundation from which to launch a counteroffensive against the Cylons.

Industrial Development

After Pegasus' foundry ship suffers what Cain describes as a meteor strike, he moves heavy equipment from the battlestar to Poseidon's surface, using it as the basis for extensive industrial operations. The colony develops foundries, factories, smelters, and warehouses arranged in a ringed configuration at the settlement's heart.

The colonists establish massive open-pit saligium mines using brutal extraction techniques rarely employed on more heavily settled worlds. Mining equipment claws huge slabs of ore from the pit walls, crushes them into rubble, and transports the debris to refining smelters whose chimneys vent black smoke into the sky. Under Cain's direction, the colony grows to a surprisingly large population—far exceeding what might be expected from a single battlestar's crew.

Fleet Expansion

Cain oversees construction of new warships using Poseidon's resources, with forces growing stronger each day. The colony develops its own fleet including Hyapatia and other vessels, supplementing Pegasus with two additional battlestars and a half-dozen more warships. Components are fabricated on the surface and lifted into orbit for final assembly by shipwrights.

Cain establishes a dual role as both military commander and president of Poseidon, wielding complete authority over the colony and its colonists.

Philosophy and Character

Cain is fundamentally a warhawk who views military conflict as necessary and even desirable. Unlike Adama, who saw armed conflict as a final, desperate option to prepare for but never embrace, Cain speaks of war as something he "likes to wage," distinguishing acceptable from unacceptable forms of warfare.

His militaristic fervor extends to Poseidon's government, which he fills with a Quorum sympathetic to his views. When Apollo realizes Cain's true nature, he thinks: "War...it's all he's ever understood."

Despite his martial focus, Cain demonstrates capacity for love and vulnerability, particularly regarding his daughter Sheba and his relationship with Cassiopeia. When he fears Sheba might be dead, the pain in his eyes reveals a resemblance to his daughter—"a fire there, but a kind of empathy as well."

Reunion with the Colonial Fleet

When the Colonial Fleet arrives in the Xerik system, Cain welcomes them, offering Poseidon as a potential home. He greets Apollo, Athena, Starbuck, and President Tigh aboard Pegasus, though his reunion is complicated by Sheba's disappearance.

Cain's grip when clasping Apollo's hand is hard and intimidating, retaining the commanding presence that made him a legend. He pays particular attention to Gar'Tokk's presence as Apollo's bodyguard, narrowing his eyes but saying nothing.

The commander offers Poseidon as a home for the entire Colonial Fleet: "The planet which, if you so desire, you and your entire fleet may call your home." However, he intends to use the combined resources to launch offensive operations against the Cylons rather than simply providing sanctuary.

Conflict with Apollo and Athena

Cain's secretiveness and militaristic agenda create tension with the Colonial Fleet's leadership. Apollo suspects Cain is hiding something, noting the commander's enigmatic expressions don't match his words.

When Apollo discovers Poseidon's environmental dangers and the Cylon presence on Xerik-7, he orders immediate evacuation of all Poseidon colonists. Cain thunders in rage, his face a mask of dark fury, asserting his complete authority over Poseidon and its colonists.

The confrontation escalates with Cain challenging Apollo's authority: "I was commanding a fleet before you were born. You are not aboard this vessel. Until you return, I am the ranking authority!" Apollo responds decisively: "I'm the commander of the Galactica and its entire fleet. You're standing on my bridge."

When Cain raises his hand to strike Athena after she calls him an "old fool," she strikes first. Apollo authorizes Athena to arrest Cain if he interferes with evacuation efforts.

Role as Advisor

Despite tensions, Cain's military expertise proves valuable. Athena allows him to serve as advisor to the Quorum, though she makes clear: "You are here as an advisor and an ally, President Cain, not because of your rank as commander."

Cain insists the Chitain are not enemies and should be made allies against the Cylons, dismissing concerns as "phantom conflicts." He reminds Athena that "the Pegasus's forces are mine, as are all the human resources in this system. Your people are my guests here."

Ironically, during the crisis, Cain—normally a warhawk—argues for peace while Athena determines they must strike first. The Quorum members find themselves treated to "the rare spectacle of a warhawk arguing for peace."

Relationship with Sheba

Cain's relationship with his daughter is complex, marked by long separation and his tendency toward self-sacrifice. When Sheba goes missing during reconnaissance, Cain experiences profound fear and pain. Cassiopeia reassures him: "She's your daughter, Cain, through and through."

When Pegasus sustains critical damage, Cain attempts to take a shuttle to his dying battlestar, willing to sacrifice himself and his crew. Sheba, though badly wounded, confronts him in the launch bay, supported by Cassiopeia.

Sheba accuses her father of always trying to throw his life away: "You want to die a hero. If you do this, you'll just die an old fool." Her words break through Cain's resolve, and they embrace as she weeps, with Cain whispering, "I thought you were dead." Sheba responds, "Then we're even."

Relationship with Cassiopeia

Cain maintains a romantic connection with Cassiopeia that spans decades. When they reunite, he holds her in silence for nearly a full centari before chuckling, "Doesn't seem like twenty yahren." Cassiopeia pointedly notes that Starbuck "hasn't been my Captain Starbuck in a long time."

Cain invites her to Poseidon as his guest for the diplomatic reception, and she accepts with pleasure. Later, when Cassiopeia brings Sheba to stop him from sacrificing himself, Cain's initial anger at Cassiopeia transforms to gratitude, and he blows her a kiss above his daughter's head.

Final Battle and Death

During the major battle in the Xerik system, Pegasus sustains overwhelming damage. Cain makes a final transmission to Cassiopeia and Sheba, his face painted in bold red strokes by countless fires, coughing from suffocating smoke and massive internal trauma. He tells Cassiopeia, "I'll always love you," and asks her to tell Sheba, "I have always been proud to be her father."

Sheba breaks formation and speeds back toward Pegasus, screaming for her father to hang on. She manages to get within range of the landing bay, but the apertures refuse to open—Cain will not allow her to join him in death. His voice comes back weak and breaking: "Sheba...Sheba, I—" before being lost in static.

Pegasus, burning out of control with long tongues of flame licking the sky, rises at full speed and rams directly into Lucifer's Cylon basestar. The sacrifice destroys the basestar but takes Cain and his entire crew with it.

Legacy

After the battle, the Colonial Fleet gains "the military genius of Commander Cain," though Apollo believes he has lost his future with Sheba in the bargain. Between Galactica, Daedelus, and Pegasus, the fleet loses more than half its Warriors and starfighters, but gains four warships from Cain's forces.

Later, when Troy and Dalton explore the wreckage of Pegasus pulled into the Ur cloud, they find Cain's body anchored to a twisted bulkhead, his blue cloak caught on a jagged shard of metal. His gold medallion floats above his neck, his usually neat white hair waving about his sharp-featured face. Dalton touches the still face of the former great commander, mourning the loss of Sheba's father and a legendary warrior.