Siege of Gamoray

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 battle as depicted in canon, see: Battle of Gamoray.

The Siege of Gamoray was a major battle fought between the Colonial Fleet and Cylon forces approximately nineteen yahren prior to the Colonial-Chitain War. The engagement marked the last time the battlestars Galactica and Pegasus would operate together for nearly two decades, and resulted in the presumed destruction of Pegasus and its disappearance from the Colonial Fleet.

Background

Following the Battle of Cimtar, the two surviving battlestars—Galactica under Commander Adama and Pegasus under Commander Cain—continued their journey through space; Galactica protecting a civilian refugee Fleet, and Pegasus making consistent attacks against the Cylon's "outer capitol." The siege occurred during this period, when both battlestars encountered a significant Cylon force at Gamoray.

The Battle

The Colonial forces engaged three Cylon base stars in a hard-fought battle. Colonel Tigh later recalled that Cain's tactical genius proved decisive in the engagement, leading to the destruction of two of the three base stars. However, a third base star—commanded by the traitor Baltar—managed to escape the Colonial assault.

During the battle, Sheba, daughter of Commander Cain and a Viper pilot, sustained injuries. Her father ordered her transferred to Galactica for medical treatment, a decision that would permanently separate father and daughter for nearly two decades.

Aftermath and Sensor Blackout

The destruction of two base stars in rapid succession created what Apollo later described as "a sea of shrapnel." The debris field consisted primarily of saligium and other metals that Colonial ship sensors were specifically designed to detect. This massive cloud of wreckage effectively blinded both battlestars' monitoring systems for many centons, preventing them from tracking each other or detecting enemy movements.

Consequences

Separation of the Fleet

The sensor blackout caused by the battle debris led to a catastrophic misunderstanding between the two Colonial forces. Commander Cain reported that until his reunion with the Fleet nearly two decades later, he had believed Galactica and her entire fleet were destroyed at Gamoray. Similarly, the crew of Galactica believed Pegasus had been lost, though no one was certain of its fate.

Damage to Pegasus

While not destroyed, Pegasus sustained significant damage during the siege. Cain later explained that the battlestar bore "the scars of that campaign, both from direct hits and from associated debris." The damage was severe enough that Pegasus required extensive repairs following the battle.

Pegasus' Continued Operations

Rather than being destroyed, Pegasus survived the battle and continued operating independently. One yahren after Gamoray, the battlestar was still operating within Cylon-controlled space. With only a single battlestar at his command, Cain's tactical options were limited, forcing him to adopt a strategy of "strike and run, harry the enemy, then flee to fight again"—a type of warfare Cain admitted was not to his preference, but the only option available.

During this period, Pegasus received multiple distress signals from refugee ships who had detected the battlestar's distinctive engine signature. These signals led Cain to discover that other survivors from the Twelve Colonies had escaped the Cylon genocide, eventually leading to the establishment of his own colonial settlement on Poseidon.

Long-term Impact

The separation caused by the Siege of Gamoray had profound long-term effects on both Colonial forces:

• Pegasus operated independently for nineteen yahren, eventually establishing a military colony on Poseidon and constructing additional battlestars and warships.
• Sheba's transfer to Galactica meant she grew up separated from her father, eventually becoming one of the premiere Viper pilots in the Fleet and developing a relationship with Apollo.
• The belief in Pegasus' destruction became a subject of ongoing controversy within the Fleet, with many—including Sheba—refusing to accept that Commander Cain could truly be gone.

Participants

Colonial Forces

• Galactica – Commanded by Commander Adama
• Pegasus – Commanded by Commander Cain

Cylon Forces

• Three base stars, one commanded by Baltar