“Have you ever retired a human by mistake?” - Rachel, Blade Runner

by Nancy Mathews

There are numerous parallels between the new BSG and the original. For the most part they are simply things that are shared: mythos, character names, relationships and the occasional similarities in plot. This two part episode is the only time I have run into so far where the new series basically re-made an episode rather than the re-imagining that it usually is. I guess no matter the universe you can never be the last surviving Battlestar.

Today’s space battle is brought to you by Apollo and Starbuck. They are out there patrolling and are set upon by unidentified fighters, which they assume to be cylons. Switch to the UFs and you find humans, whom we’ve never seen before, in colonial vipers. Hmm. . .  what’s up with that? As they get closer their leader, a woman they identify as Sheba, realizes the ships they are pursing are also colonial vipers. They identify themselves, to the shock of Apollo and Starbuck. Starbuck recognizes the other pilot, Bojay. Sheba and Bojay escort them, in a somewhat hostile fashion back to their ship.  Which we discover is another Battlestar, like the Galactica, this one is named the Pegasus. Apollo realizes at once that it is under the command of Commander Cain, the “living legend” of the title.

It seems that the Pegasus was presumed lost two yahrens earlier but their commander had actually taken the ship into deep space after a battle that destroyed the rest of the “fifth fleet”. They’ve stayed here in the Delphian Empire fighting the cylons ever since. They take all the fuel and weapons they need from the cylons. The thing I found odd was the people on the Pegasus seem to know about the colonies being destroyed. Perhaps they get intel from the cylons as well or at least eavesdrop on their radio chatter. We all know how cylons love to gossip. Upon meeting our boys and hearing of the existence of our favorite “rag tag fugitive fleet” Cain declares that the end of the cylon empire is near. This doesn’t sit well with Apollo. Always a wet rag, that one.

The Galactica and it’s fleet are having trouble with their fuel supply. For some odd reason Jolly is the one to bring them this news. You’d think they would have known before this point but whatever.  Their sensors detect a large cylon city not far off. The fleet has to come to a full stop to since they can’t run nor defend themselves.  They wait to hear from Apollo and Starbuck although I can’t imagine what information could help at this point. Except maybe to say that they have found a long lost battlestar that can help them steal fuel…oh wait maybe it will all work out.

Athena reports to Adama that she is seeing a really large echo on their scanners. The visual looks just like the Galactica. Adama points out that it looks pretty damn defined for an echo but there’s no way there’s another battlestar out there. Athena starts receiving a communication on Fleet-Com, which again is impossible, until Cain shows up on their monitors. Adama is suitably shocked at seeing someone he thought was long dead. Cain tells him he’ll be aboard shortly.

Once he arrives he is given a hero’s welcome by the crew. He also brings Apollo and Starbuck back with him. Alone with Adama he explains how he survived and that the Delphinium Empire no longer exists. The cylons wiped out 50 million people and have taken over the planet Gamoray as their outer capital.  Cain also expresses his belief that they can now destroy the cylons. Adama tells him that they have 220 civilian ships to protect and an all out assault is out of the question. They can steal the fuel they need and then escape together. Cain is not thrilled with this plan.

Cain asks Apollo and Starbuck about a “certain young lady” he hopes survived. He brings up a hologram of Cassiopeia. Apollo and Starbuck are dumbstruck. They say nothing. Discussing it later Apollo asks Starbuck what he’s going to do about Cassie. Starbuck says he didn’t want to hurt the feelings of a legend but obviously he’ll be disappointed. Apollo brings up the fact that Starbcuk doesn’t know that Cassie won’t be just as interested in seeing Cain as he is in seeing her. Starbuck can’t believe that. Apollo apologizes and says he forgot that once a woman is exposed to the “aura of Starbuck” she’s ruined for all others. Glad you realize this Apollo. Once Starbuck tells Cassie, who is babysitting Boxey, that Cain is still alive she runs from the room to go find him. Starbuck is dumbstruck yet again.

Cassie finds Cain. He is thrilled that she survived. She seems pretty damn happy to see him again too, sorry Starbuck. They avoid swapping spit during their reunion which is really good because Lloyd Bridges looks like he’s Laurette Spang’s grandpa. Cassie brings up the fact that Sheba, who it turns out is Cain’s daughter, is not going to feel very warm and fuzzy upon seeing Cassie again. It seems she didn’t take to kindly to her Dad taking up with another woman  so soon after her Mom’s death. Imagine that. Oddly there is no mention of Cassiopeia’s profession as a “socialator”, companion, whore or whatever it is kids call it these days. I wonder if that was jettisoned once the show became a weekly series.

Later Cain and Adama discuss a plan to get fuel for the fleet. Cain believes they should attack the capital on Gamoray. Adama tells him no, they will go after the cylon’s tankers. The mission will be a combined team from both ships. Cain says he’d be happy to have his more experience pilots show Adama’s people the ropes. Apollo is not happy with that assessment. It seems Apollo is rarely happy in this episode.

As the pilots get into their vipers we see that Cain has actually joined the team. Everyone finds this a bit shocking. They successfully fight off some cylon fighters and the tankers are in sight. Cain, however, blows them up. The Galactica pilots are too far to really be sure of what occurred. Cain says they were hit accidently when he was aiming at a cylon fighter. The Galactica pilots aren’t buying that, neither is Sheba but she keeps her mouth shut.

Back on board Galactica, Cain tells Adama that now they must strike Gamoray but Adama refuses. The potential loss of life is far too great to risk it. He explains that since Pegasus has a full fuel load they can distribute that amongst the fleet to buy them enough time to find another fuel source. Cain refuses, so Adama gets badass and relieves him of command. He orders Jolly and Apollo to go to the Pegasus and start distributing the fuel. He puts Tigh in command.

Baltar and Lucifer have discovered the fleet’s location. They formulate a plan of attack. Baltar also starts planning his victory celebrations. He obviously believes in the power of positive thinking.

Apollo and Jolly are facing some resistance on Pegasus. Sheba and her pilots will not allow them to take the fuel. Thankfully the tension is diffused by the alarms sounding. The fleet is under attack.

Adama puts Cain back in command of his ship. They decide to keep Pegasus hidden as long as possible and then have it mount a surprise attack. Cain returns to his ship, to the jubilation of his crew.

Baltar decides to enjoy his victory in a cylon fighter. He really isn’t very bright. While counting his humans before they die, a centurion points out to him there is a ship coming up to them. In fact it’s another battlestar coming straight for him. He screams for the ship to retreat.

What we learned this week:

• Living legends are always a pain in the ass when they return from the dead. At least the ones named Cain.
• The “aura” of Starbuck doesn’t guard against geriatric lost loves.
• Apollo can’t see his love interest coming even when she gets in his face.

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Nancy Mathews works very hard at masquerading as a grown up to go to work and raise her two sons. Once the sun goes down she reverts to the 10 year old that she actually is. You can follow her plans for world domination through the formation of an army of knitters on her blog, Bronxgirlknits.