Battlestar Galactica

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10. The Hand of God

After months of fleeing from the Cylons, ADAMA decides to take the fight to the enemy. KARA THRACE and CAPT LEE ADAMA are integral to this fight as they're forced to draw upon inner resources dry never knew they had to become stronger and more capable leaders.

The fleet only has enough Tylium Fuel to make a few more jumps, so COMMANDER ADAMA sends a search party to nearby star systems. SHARON and CRASHDOWN return with good news and bad. They've found huge tylium deposits on an asteroid just one jump away, but there is a Cylon base there, with hundreds of Raiders guarding the fuel.

COL TIGH suggests they keep looking; maybe they can find fuel elsewhere. But LEE ADAMA disagrees, arguing that IF more tylium is out there, the Cylons are probably guarding that, too. Adama's heard enough and insists that while they know where the Cylons are, the Cylons don't know where Galactica is. He wants to take the fight to the enemy. It's a big gamble: if they win, they'll have all the fuel they need; if they lose, the entire human race will perish.

PRESIDENT LAURA ROSLIN supports Adama's plan, though she has her own problems, as the chamalla extract she's taking for her terminal cancer is causing her to have hallucinations. Laura has taken counsel from a priest, ELOSHA, to help her deal with her coming death, but Elosha has proven to be something more than a religious advisor. She sees distinct parallels between Laura situation (not to mention the entire fleet's) and the scriptures that she believes will lead the human race to Kobol and then to Earth. While Laura was initially skeptical, the coincidences are beginning to get too prescient to ignore.


Meanwhile, Galactica continues to ready itself for the big battle. An elaborate plan is mapped out in the CIC utilizing Empty Civilian ships as decoys and of course, plenty of Raptor and Vipers (led by LEE ADAMA). Casualties are inevitable, everyone knows this, but this way, at least they have a fighting chance against the Cylons. Still, KARA THRACE has reservations about the entire operation. Once Galactica' s prize Viper fighter pilot, Kara is delegated to cheerleader as she is still physically unable to fly. That doesn't keep fur from contributing, as she works alongside Tigh (despite their past problems) in strategizing. But Kara' s devilmay-care attitude runs counter to Lee Adama's cool head under fire. Kara insists that Lee may have to think outside the box on this one. Lee takes offense to this, though it really underscores the unspoken attraction between the two of them, not to mention the high risks involved in this mission. Things with Lee and his father go somewhat smoother. Both men know Lee might not return and Adama gives Lee the Lighter that his father gave him. While it might seem like a baby step for most fathers and son, for Lee and Adama, it's huge.

GAUIS BALTAR is also recruited. Galactica's Vipers need to destroy the Cylon Base without making the tylium radioactive, so they can't use nukes. Baltar is called upon to come up with an alternative. Curiously, NUMBER SIX suggests he ask God to guide him, which he does, picking out a spot on the base that they should attack. It's pure guesswork, but somehow, B altar feels it's the right choice.

They'll find out soon enough as the battle is already underway. As planned, Galactica escapes detection and their decoys draw the Cylon Raiders from their base. Galactica seizes the moment and launches the attack Vipers toward the Cylon base. But then things go awry...

The Cylons aren't completely fooled by Adama's ruse, holding on to a reserve force of Raiders, which they unleash to intercept our Vipers. In CIC, our people listen with anguish as the Vipers are cut to pieces. Kara especially feels incapacitated, as she listens to the pilots' harrowing screams over the Wireless. It appears all is lost when Adama gives his final order...

In a startling twist, panels on the decoy freighters fly open and a hidden squadron of Vipers bursts forth! Like a master chess player, Adama has thought several moves ahead and has out maneuvered the Cylons. Lee leads the Trojan Horse squadron toward the now undefended Cylon base.

As Galactica's big guns smash the incoming Cylon Raiders, Lee's squadron dives toward the Cylon base. There's only one way to get at the vulnerable spot - the one that Baltar 'chose' and that's to fly THROUGH the labyrinth of steel scaffolding at the heart of the Cylon base. It's impossible, totally insane, a stunt only Starbuck would try. But Starbuck's not here, so Lee grits his teeth and jams his stick forward. He makes the hairraising run, hits the tank and swoops skyward as the entire Cylon base goes up in a tremendous fireball. The plan has worked. Baltar picked the right spot! (much to his amazement)... Galactica has secured the tylium fuel, fended off the Cylons and will live to see another day.


But it is not without a cost. A mystified Laura quotes the passage from the Sacred Scrolls that, in light of how the battle unfolded, clearly predicted this course of events. Adama attributes it to coincidence, but Laura wonders if there may be more to these scriptures than she previously thought.

Meanwhile, on Caprica, another plan is in motion as SHARON and HELO march toward Delphi. However, Six and Doral wonder if they can continue to control Sharon. And Helo is left confused when he sees another model of Six, despite the fact that Sharon killed her a few days earlier... But there's no time for Sharon to explain as they, as always, have more Cylons on their tail.

Cast & Credits
Edward James Olmos    Commander William Adama
Mary Mcdonnell    President Laura Roslin
Jamie Bamber    Captain Lee Adama
Katee Sackhoff    Lieutenant Kara Thrace
James Callis    Gaius B altar
Tricia Helfer    Number Six
Grace Park    Sharon Valerii
Michael Hogan    Colonel Saul Tigh
Aaron Douglas    Chief Galen Tyrol
Paul Campbell    Billy
Tahmoh Penikett    Helo
Kandyse Mcclure    Dualla
Alessandro Juliani    Gaeta
Sam Witwer    Crashdown
Nicki Clyne    Cally
Lorena Gale    Elosha
Christina S child    Playa
Biski Gugushe    Hamilton
Cailin Stadnyk    Ensign Davis
Bodie Olmos    'Hotdog' Constanza
Luciana Carro    Katraine
Terry Chen    Perry 'Chuckles'
Paul Cummings    'Fireball'
Camille Sullivan    'Stepchild'

Director   Jeff Woolnough
Writer   David Weddle & Bradley Thompson