Ltcrashdown wrote:
- Upon review of the footage, it looks like Fireball simply had severe damage to his Viper preventing him from ejecting. Since it's not his Viper that blows up (it's another pilot Deadbolt), then it's possible Fireball survived.
As per my comments in Talk:Stepchild, I think the on-screen evidence that he died is very strong, and since there is no evidence to the contrary, this note is not warranted. However, the mention that it is Deadbolt's viper which is destroyed, not Fireball's, is potentially interesting, and I would like to keep this note on the talk page to revisit after re-watching the relevant scene. This has potential significance for both Galactica (RDM)'s Viper tally and List of Pilots. --Peter Farago 00:33, 23 December 2005 (EST)
Well, I wrote this because I have been taking notes on the Battlestar galactica DVDS with the subtitles on.
There are several pilots present when the viper explodes after Fireball says he can't eject.
Here's a transcript based on the subtitles from "Hand of God". I am typing exactly what is said in as well as who is saying it (when noted). Parenthesis are used in subtitles to identify the speaker when the face of the speaker cannot be seen:
Hot Dog: Fireball, your six
(Fireball takes a hit and sparks fly inside his cockpit)
Fireball: I'm hit! I'm hit! Can't eject!
(the scene cuts to Starbuck and Adam looking worried)
(Fireball in cockpit): It's stuck
(Buzzer, another pilot): Deadbolt, SPinner. Two bandits closing your right side.
(Spinner): No joy!
(The scene next shows a Viper spinning out of control and taking a hit, then a close-up of the pilot with sparks flying just before the Viper explodes)
The subtitles next list (Spinner screaming) and the screams are cut off after the Viper explodes.
(Hot Dog): Galactica, Hot Dog. Heavily engaged. Mission outcome doubtful.
Balta: This sounds fracking awful.
Starbuck: They're getting cut to pieces out there.
(Hot Dog yelling)
(Buzzer): Get out of there! Move!
(The scene ends and cuts to commercial break. Since no new speaker is given for the first line of the scene, I'm going to assume it's still the unknown Buzzer)
(Buzzer): Deadbolt, right vertical, now!
(Deadbolt): Dammit, take a shot. Get him off me.
After that Adama gives the evacuation order.
So it looks like I was wrong. The dead Viper wasn't Deadbolt, but actually another pilot called Spinner. I apologize for that mistake.
However, this does still give credence to Fireball still being alive but not likely.