The Hand of God (TOS)

This article details an episode of the Original Series. For information on the Re-imagined Series episode of the same name, see The Hand of God (RDM).

"The Hand of God (TOS)" An episode of the Re-imagined Series
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Overview

Commander Adama decides to quit running from the Cylons, and launches an all-out attack on a basestar.

Summary

• Apollo is leading Sheba, Starbuck, and Cassiopeia through some unknown parts of Galactica on something of a group date. Everyone is wearing hearing protection as they are in a loud section of the ship.

• They climb into some sort of a dome, and once the hatch is sealed they are able to take off their hearing protection.

• Apollo says that they are as high as you can get on Galactica, directly over the main thrusters.

• Apollo opens up the shielding on the dome, revealing space all around them. Cassiopeia is frightened, but Apollo explains that they are safe as the walls are constructed from transparent tylinium.

• Apollo explains that it is a Celestial chamber. When Galactica was launched 500 yahren ago, she had several chambers, but only one remains. They were used by navigators to take star sightings to double-check the calculations of the navigation computers.

• The scanners are set for long range Gamma frequencies, an outdated method of communication. Sheba notices that they are receiving a signal on a Gamma frequency. Apollo recognizes something in the signal that looks like ships that used to be flown by the Colonials many yahrens ago.

• The date group wakes up Boomer in order to leverage his electronics expertise to try to enhance the signal.

Boomer analyzing a Gamma frequency transmission.

• Boomer speculates that the signal could either be a harmonic signal, with a double or tripling of the original transmitting frequency, in which case the source would be relatively close. If the signal is at its original frequency it would have to be intergalactic to be so weak.

• Adama orders Galactica to scan in the direction of the signal in order to see if it was a harmonic signal originating from nearby.

• A planetary system is detected in the direction of the transmission, so Adama orders Apollo to take a Viper patrol into the system to take a closer look.

• Apollo, Starbuck, and Sheba fly towards the system. They detect five planets. Starbuck detects a Cylon basestar coming out from behind orbit of the third planet. The Vipers flee hoping they avoided detection.

• The basestar is located in a strategic location on the rim of the galaxy, forcing the fleet to take a long detour if they want to avoid it. Adama thinks that the transmission they received was sent from the basestar as part of an elaborate trap.

• Adama is tired of running, and proposes attacking the basestar.

• Aboard the basestar, a Command Centurion checks the status. A Centurion reports a blip shortly before achieving orbit. The Command Centurion orders a fighter patrol to check the far side of the planet system just to be safe.

• Commander Adama and Colonel Tigh brief the Viper pilots. All Vipers squadrons will be launched in an attempt to draw out the Cylon Raiders. They will be outnumbered two to one. Galactica will attempt to flank around the star system and surprise the basestar, getting the first strike. After that it will be a slugfest.

• Apollo stays after the meeting examining the basestar model. He and Starbuck come up with a plan to use Baltar's Cylon fighter to sneak aboard the basestar and knock out its scanners, ensuring Galactica the first strike.

• Apollo is able to convince Adama of his plan, however Starbuck's knowledge of the interior of the basestar is too limited (after his brief stay during "War of the Gods, Part I"). Adama decides that the person who would be better able to help them with information would be Baltar himself.

• The Cylon Raiders have found nothing in their search, but the Command Centurion orders them to continue further into the galaxy as long as fuel permits.

Adama strikes a bargain with Baltar.

• Adama offers Baltar freedom in exchange for information. Adama would drop Baltar off on a habitable planet that they pass, leaving him with adequate provisions and shelter. Baltar is able to negotiate for a short range communication device as well. Baltar would be set free after the basestar has been destroyed.

• Inside Baltar's raider, Boomer gives Apollo and Starbuck an identification transmitter, which would alert their fellow Viper pilots that they are friendly when they return from their mission.

• Cassiopeia asks for a word alone with Starbuck.

• With the raider to themselves, Sheba accuses Apollo of having a death wish since Serina's loss, and reveals her feelings for him.

• Outside the raider, Cassiopeia is asking Starbuck why he has to be on every dangerous mission. Starbuck admits that he sees the danger, but chooses not to dwell on it.

• Boomer reminds Starbuck and Apollo not to lose the transmitter, or else they will likely be shot at. Starbuck says that if they do lose the transmitter that they'll just waggle their wings.

• Baltar explains that they can probably safely land without clearance. It will be assumed that there is a communications problem on the raider. A centurion will be sent if they don't have any fighters out. The control center is at the bottom of the central core, guarded by a single centurion. They can just destroy the computers outside the command room to blind the basestar.

• Apollo and Starbuck launch the raider.

• Suddenly they are surrounded by raiders. They appear to have stumbled into the returning patrol, and hope they can pass as a stray returning to the pack.

• The Cylons do not appear to notice that an extra raider has returned.

• Galactica launches all of her Vipers and begins her flanking maneuver.

• Apollo and Starbuck wait for the Centurions to disembark and leave the hangar before exiting. They make their way to the central core, and open the hatch. They look down the ladder and see a Centurion guard below.

• The Centurion looks up as they are climbing down the ladder, prompting a slow motion exchange of laser fire. The Centurion is destroyed, and the warriors are unharmed.

• They enter the computer room outside the control center, and Starbuck plants the charges while Apollo covers him.

• The basestar picks up the Vipers on its sensors. The Command Centurion orders all fighters dispatched to intercept the Vipers, and orders sensors to scan for Galactica.

• A Centurion walks in on Starbuck planting the last charge, and is shot in the chest. Apollo and Starbuck flee up the ladder. As Apollo rushes up the ladder he drops the identification transmitter. With several Centurions on their tail, they continue up the ladder anyway.

• The charges detonate, killing the pursuing Centurions and blinding the basestar.

• The Vipers duel with the raiders. Both sides take losses but the raiders are getting the worst end of it.

• Galactica spots the basestar. Adama orders everyone to battle stations.

• Galactica gets the first shots in, severely damaging the basestar. The basestar detects Galactica and begins to return fire.

Apollo scans Gamma frequencies for the signal.

• Galactica sustains heavy damage, but destroys the Cylon basestar.

• Galactica issues a recall order to all Vipers. They have not gotten any signal from the identification transmitter, but several raiders have made suicide runs towards Galactica.

• Adama nearly orders a Cylon raider destroyed before Boomer stops him. He thinks it is Starbuck and Apollo because "they're waggling!"

• After they are safely aboard, Apollo returns to the Celestial chamber. Starbuck comes looking for him to return him to the victory celebration. Apollo is looking for another Gamma frequency signal. Dr. Wilker's lab was destroyed in the battle, and the signal with it.

• Boomer has rigged a Gamma frequency signal booster, so that if any signal is out there Apollo hopes to pick it up. Apollo hopes that the signal came from Earth. Apollo expects that first contact will come in the form of routine video or radio scans.

• After they exit the Celestial chamber a clear transmission of the Apollo moon landing is received, with nobody there to see it.

Questions

• Boomer speculated that the signal they recorded could have been on a harmonic frequency, doubling or quadrupling the original frequency. If it was a harmonic it came from nearby. The planetary system they scouted had a large Jupiter like gas giant, a Venus like planet with a compressed carbon dioxide atmosphere, and a lifeless red Mars like world. It could have been our solar system but wasn't explored further for fear another Cylon basestar might be coming to investigate.
• Baltar was to have been marooned on a planet capable of sustaining life with rations and a short range transmitter. Were the Cylons to have rescued him so he could resume command of a basestar in season two?

• If and when the Galactica had reached Earth (No Galactica 1980) it would be easy to speculate that the Earth would indeed be far enough long technologically and politically to help their brothers from the Colonies since the transmission received came from the Earth time of July 20 1969. Enough time would have passed given the theories of time and space that indeed the Earth would have matured. It would have been interesting if Glen Larson was intending his two Sci-Fi series (Galactica and Buck Rogers) to merge together somewhere down the road.

• Some open ended questions were left. What was the true fate of Baltar? Where was Apollo and Sheba's relationship going? Would Starbuck and Cassiopeia take the seal? It's really a shame the series was ended at this point as a lot of interesting plot developments were beginning.

Analysis

• Overall a very good episode and it seemed to show from this episode that the series was beginning to finally come together, relationships were being developed and cemented, characters were coming into their own and future plot lines were beginning to take shape that would have given the series life.

• Had the series been done in the 90s along with other shows like Star Trek:TNG and Babylon 5, etc. the show probably would have lasted five or more seasons and it would have been a well rounded television show with great characters and stories.

• It would be nice to have an updated tele-movie or even a series of direct to DVD releases to give this franchise a proper send-off. Richard Hatch's novels are a great continuation of TOS even if there are some slight plot errors (such as Rigel being male) and his self made promo video for the continuation of the series are all nice teasers and fillers. But a true movie or mini-series should be made to wrap things up. There is room for both "Galactica" series.

Notes

• Season (and series) finale of the Original Series.
• The title was reused for the tenth episode of the Re-imagined Series. Aside from both Adamas launching an offensive strike against Cylon forces, there is little comparison between the two episodes. The writers of the Re-imagined Series episode claimed that the naming of their episode and the offensive attack plans were coincidental; they weren't aware of this Original Series episode.
• Galactica intercepts a TV transmission of the Apollo 11 lunar landing, but characters leave the room before the voiceover.
• The basestar core set appears to have been filmed in a Skylab mockup.
• Apollo gives the age of Galactica as being 500 yahrens (years old).

Noteworthy Dialogue

• Colonel Tigh briefs the Viper pilots about the Cylon basestar:

Colonel Tigh: She carries three hundred fighters. Has two long range mega pulsars... here... and here. And over a hundred defensive laser turrets. She's an orbiting killer... capable of destroying every ship we have... including the Galactica.

Starbuck: (to Boomer) That's what I like about the Colonel... his optimism.

• Boomer gives Starbuck the IFF transponder:

Boomer: Whatever happens, don't lose that transmitter. It's the only way we'll be able to tell you from the Cylons.

Starbuck: Well, if we do, we'll just waggle our wings.

Boomer: You would.

• Cassiopeia and Sheba watch Starbuck and Apollo take off from the Celestial chamber.

Cassiopeia: Why did I ever have to fall in love with a warrior?

Sheba: I don't know.

• A Cylon Raider approaches Galactica, and is about to be shot by the defensive systems.

Boomer: No! Don't fire! It's them!

Adama: How do you know?

Boomer: They're waggling!

Tigh: Waggling?!