Season One: 2005

Scattered

• written by Bradley Thompson & David Weddle
• directed by Michael Rymer
• music by Bear McCreary
• Story: Moments after Boomer shoots Commander Adama twice at point-blank range, a Cylon base star appears near Galactica. Left in command, Colonel Tigh orders the Colonial fleet to make an immediate jump to predetermined escape coordinates, even though the crew members on Kobol - including Baltar - will be trapped there, and the fleet's senior doctor won't be on board Galactica to treat Adama's wounds. Worse yet, when Galactica arrives at those coordinates, it's the only Colonial ship there. On Caprica, Starbuck is stunned by Helo's devotion to the Cylon Boomer he says is pregnant with his child. Even when Boomer steals the Cylon ship Starbuck used to come to Caprica, Helo argues that she's different from the other Cylons. On Kobol, injuries and lack of supplies take their toll, but the survivors of the crash discover that someone else is on the planet - deadly enemies who don't fight like Cylons. And on Galactica, with President Roslin and Apollo both behind bars, Colonel Tigh insists that the ship is still under Adama's command, and that "the Old Man"'s way of doing things is still very much in effect. But Tigh may have to think outside that box if Galactica is to rejoin and protect the rest of the fleet.
• Season 2 Regular Cast: Edward James Olmos (Commander Adama), Mary McDonnell (President Laura Roslin), Katie Sackhoff (Lt. Starbuck), Jamie Bamber (Captain Apollo), James Callis (Dr. Gaius Baltar), Tricia Helfer (Number Six), Grace Park (Lt. Boomer)
• Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Aaron Douglas (CPO Tyrol), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Paul Campbell (Billy Keikeya), Nicki Clyne (Cally), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Sam Witwer (Lt. Crashdown), Kate Vernon (Ellen Tigh), Alonso Oyarzun (Socinus), Kerry Norton (Paramedic Ibhay), Kurt Evans (Paramedic Kim), Chris Shields (Cpl. Venner), Luciana Carro (Kat), Bodie Olmos (Hot Dog), Jennifer Halley (Seelix), Warren Christie (Tarn), Ty Olsson (Capt. Kelly), Nicholas Treeshin (Sgt. Watkins), Michael Tayles (Flyboy), Leah Cairns (Racetrack), Aleks Paunovio (Marine Sgt. Fischer)
• Original US Airdate: 15 July 2005

Valley Of Darkness

• written by Bradley Thompson & David Weddle
• directed by Michael Rymer
• music by Bear McCreary
• Story: With the crew still reeling from a firefight - one in which a larger-than-usual Cylon vehicle actually managed to slam into one of Galactica's flight pods - the Battlestar is ripe for boarding. Cylon Centurions emerge from their crashed vehicle and quickly start to take over strategic parts of the ship, shutting off power and vital systems as they go and killing anyone who gets in the way. Galactica's Marine contingent fights back, rescuing Apollo and some of his fellow pilots, the still-jailed President Roslin, and several others, but they're still unable to escape to safer parts of the ship. And if the Cylons manage to reach controls that would allow them to vent Galactica's entire atmosphere into space, no part of the ship will be safe. On Caprica, with Boomer having fled in her stolen Cylon ship, Starbuck finds her father's abandoned home and takes time to reflect on what has been lost. And on Kobol, even with mounting casualties, Baltar is more horrified when he experiences a vision of Commander Adama killing the baby that Number Six says is the shape of things to come.
• Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Aaron Douglas (CPO Tyrol), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Paul Campbell (Billy Keikeya), Nicki Clyne (Cally), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Sam Witwer (Lt. Crashdown), Kate Vernon (Ellen Tigh), Alonso Oyarzun (Socinus), Kerry Norton (Paramedic Ibhay), Chris Shields (Cpl. Venner), Luciana Carro (Kat), Bodie Olmos (Hot Dog), Jennifer Halley (Seelix), Ty Olsson (Capt. Kelly), Michael Tayles (Flyboy), Dominic Zamprogna (Jammer), Garvin Cross (Collishaw), Brad Loree (Bonnington), Lori Stewart (Twinam)
• Original US Airdate: 22 July 2005

Fragged

• written by Dawn Prestwich & Nicole Yorkin
• directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan
• music by Bear McCreary
• Story: Left without her medication in Galactica's brig, President Roslin's condition is worsening rapidly, to the point that she sometimes doesn't remember where she is. Commander Adama goes under the knife for a surgery that will last for hours - and still may not keep him alive. Colonel Tigh is deteriorating as well, largely by his own doing as he leans ever more heavily on old habits to cope with the pressures of command. Those pressures intensify when the Quorum of Twelve arrives, demanding access to the imprisoned President, and the press begins to demand answers from Tigh as well. Apollo takes off on a search and rescue mission to find Galactica's crashed crew members on Kobol, and a party of Cylons is preparing a deadly surprise for his arrival. The few survivors left from the crash must prevent the Cylons from ambushing the search and rescue mission - but discipline, and the chain of command, are rapidly breaking down among them. One will lose their nerve, another will lose perspective, another will lose their innocence, and then one will lose their life.
• Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Aaron Douglas (CPO Tyrol), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Paul Campbell (Billy Keikeya), Nicki Clyne (Cally), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Sam Witwer (Lt. Crashdown), Kate Vernon (Ellen Tigh), Donnelly Rhodes (Dr. Cottle), Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek), Kerry Norton (Paramedic Layne Ibhay), Kurt Evans (Paramedic Howard Kim), Chris Sheilds (Cpl. Venner), Jannifer Halley (Seelix), Leah Cairns (Racetrack), Patricia Iolette (Sarah Porter), Malcolm Stewart (Marshall Bagot), T-Roy Kozuki (Marine)
• Original US Airdate: 29 July 2005

Resistance

• written by Toni Graphia
• directed by Allan Kroeker
• music by Bear McCreary
• Story: Despite promises to the contrary, Colonel Tigh has declared martial law, refusing to allow the release of President Roslin from Galactica's brig despite protests from the other Colonial ships. Before long, the other ships make their displeasure known by withholding urgently needed fuel and supplies from Galactica, a situation Tigh sends some of the battlestar's Marines to resolve. But when that encounter turns an uneasy situation into a deadly one, a division begins forming which could lead to a split at best - and a small civil war at worst - as sides are chosen and strategies concocted to help the President escape from Galactica. And on Caprica, Helo and Starbuck discover the last thing they expected: a human militia is gathering strength for a strike against the Cylons. Unfortunately, Cylons are exactly what the resistance fighters think their new visitors are.
• Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Aaron Douglas (CPO Tyrol), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Paul Campbell (Billy Keikeya), Nicki Clyne (Cally), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Michael Trucco (Anders), Kate Vernon (Ellen Tigh), Donnelly Rhodes (Dr. Cottle), Lorena Gale (Priest Elosha), Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek), Chris Shields (Cpl. Venner), Bodie Olmos (Hot Dog), Leah Cairns (Racetrack), Dominic Zamprogna (Jammer), Tamara Lashley (Sue-Shaun), Jeremy Guilbaut (Lt. Joe "Hammerhead" Palladino), Heather Doerksen (Marine with a sandwich), Curtis Lee Hicks (Marine sergeant)
• Original US Airdate: 5 August 2005

The Farm

• written by Carla Robinson
• directed by Rod Hardy
• music by Bear McCreary
• Story: Though not yet fully recovered, Commander Adama resumes his command of Galactica. He declares finding President Roslin, and his son, to be the first order of business. In a meat freezer aboard one of the other Colonial ships, Roslin, Apollo and Zarek plan their next move; Zarek's first choice, to have Apollo denounce his father in a public announcement, turns out to be something Apollo can't do. Instead, Roslin again plays up her religious destiny, and asks any interested ships to follow her back to Kobol upon a pre-arranged signal, and Adama finds that he may have lost his hold over the fleet - and perhaps more than just that. On Caprica, during a raid with Anders' resistance cell, Starbuck is injured and wakes up in an abandoned hospital, where a doctor says survivors are still being treated. But her real treatment is the flipside of a terrifying experiment.
• Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Aaron Douglas (CPO Tyrol), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Nicki Clyne (Cally), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Michael Trucco (Anders), Rick Worthy (The Doctor), Lorena Gale (Priest Elosha), Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek), Tamara Lashley (Sue-Shaun)
• Original US Airdate: 12 August 2005

Home, Part 1

• written by David Eick
• directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan
• music by Bear McCreary
• Story:The fleet has been divided. Twenty-four ships and 18,000 people have decided to follow Roslin back to Kobol. There they hope to find the legendary Tomb of Athena, which contains a map leading the way to Earth. As Roslin discusses their next move with Zarek and his people, an unknown contact approaches. Before the decision is made to open fire, a radio transmission comes through from Lt. Starbuck and the ship is allowed to dock. Starbuck has brought back not only the Arrow of Apollo, but Lt. Helo and his Cylon companion, Sharon, who claims to be pregnant with Helo’s baby. Roslin has a chat with Sharon, promising to spare her life in exchange for serving as guide to find the lost Tomb on Kobol. Priest Elosha warns that prophecy says a price will be paid in blood during any attempt to find the Tomb. Zarek and Meier, meanwhile, have their own ideas about the future of the fleet and decide that the mission to Kobol will be the perfect place to set them in motion.

  Back at the Galactica fleet, Adama picks the green Lt. Birch as the new CAG for the Viper squadrons. Birch’s inexperience leads to several near disasters, forcing Adama to rethink his decision. He confides in Dualla that his feeling of being betrayed has filled him with an almost-overwhelming rage, but she suggests that the real problem is that he has failed to keep his promise to lead the fleet to Earth together.

• Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Lorena Gale (Priest Elosha), Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek), James Remar (Meier), Patricia Idlette (Sarah Porter), Malcolm Stewart (Marshall Bagot), Luciana Carro (Louann "Kat" Katraine), Bodie Olmos (Brendan "Hotdog" Costanza), Ben Ayres (Lt. George "Catman" Birch), Linnea Sharples (Lt. Emmitt "Sweetness" Jones), Christina Schild (Playa), Biski Gugushe (Sekou Hamilton), Raahul Singh (Kimmitt)
• Original US Airdate: 19 August 2005

Home, Part 2

• written by David Eick & Ronald D. Moore
• directed by Jeff Woolnough
• music by Bear McCreary
• Story: To Colonel Tigh's disbelief, Commander Adama has decided to regroup the entire fleet with those ships who defected to Kobol with Roslin. Reunited with his son, Adama joins Roslin in the search for the Tomb of Athena, but when he's introduced to the Sharon who returned with Helo and Starbuck from Caprica, he tries to kill her on sight. Worried that a renewed alliance between Adama and Roslin will spell the end of his ambitions to seize power, Meier speeds up his plan to remove anyone in his way, but is dismayed when he seems to be losing Zarek's backing. Meier turns instead to Sharon, playing on her fear that Adama's crew will kill her and her baby. As promised, the Tomb is found, and the arrow points the way to Earth, but the journey it outlines is far longer than anyone expected.
• Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Aaron Douglas (CPO Tyrol), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Paul Campbell (Billy Keikeya), Nicki Clyne (Cally), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Donnelly Rhodes (Dr. Cottle), Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek), James Remar (Meier), Leah Cairns (Racetrack)
• Original US Airdate: 26 August 2005

Final Cut

• written by Mark Verheiden
• directed by Robert Young
• music by Bear McCreary
• Story: After one of her news broadcasts includes newly-uncovered footage from the clash between civilians and Galactica's Marines, reporter D'Anna Biers is invited to a meeting with President Roslin and Commander Adama. Fearing that Biers' report will reignite ill will between civilians and Galactica's military, Roslin and Adama offer Biers unlimited access to Galactica and her crew. With the public reminded of the controversy, Colonel Tigh finds that not only is he back in the hot seat, but he and his wife are receiving death threats. As Biers continues her investigation, she finds signs that some of Galactica's crew are starting to crack under the pressur, with results that could be disastrous for each other - or the entire fleet. Then again, by the time it's broadcast, Biers' own news piece could have the same effect.
• Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Aaron Douglas (CPO Tyrol), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Paul Campbell (Billy Keikeya), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Lucy Lawless (D'Anna Biers), Kate Vernon (Ellen Tigh), Donnelly Rhodes (Dr. Cottle), Matthew Bennett (Leoben Conoy), Luciana Carro (Louann "Kat" Katraine), Bodie Olmos (Brendan "Hotdog" Costanza), Flick Harrison (Bell), Kevan Kase (Pvt. Scott Kelso), Yee Jee Tso (Staffer), Curtis Hicks (Marine Sergeant), Aleks Paunovic (Marine Sgt. Fischer), Ty Olsson (Capt. Aaron Kelly), Leah Cairns (Racetrack), Jeremy Guilbaut (Lt. Joe "Hammerhead" Palladino)
• Notes: This episode introduces us to several of the regular and recurring characters on a first-name basis; Dualla's first name is Anastasia, and Gaeta's name is Felix. (He also appears to have picked up a smoking habit.) Actor Yee Jee Tso, who made a very brief appearance as one of Biers' assistants, appeared in the 1996 Doctor Who TV movie as Chang Lee.
• Original US Airdate: 9 September 2005

Flight Of The Phoenix

• written by Bradley Thompson & David Weddle
• directed by Michael Nankin
• music by Bear McCreary
• Story: Even after the recent reuniting of the Colonial fleet, nerves are frayed and tempers flare aboard Galactica. Chief Tyrol and Lt. Helo finally come to blows over their shared feelings for Boomer, and Starbuck finds herself defending Helo's actions to the rest of the fighter pilots. President Roslin's latest diagnosis brings grim news: she has mere weeks to live, and there's no guarantee that her cancer won't spread to her brain and rob her of her ability to lead the fleet. Tyrol has been occupying himself with a new project as well, attempting to fabricate a new Viper from the few materials available, and finds that some of his crewmates think he's wasting time and resources. To make matters worse, Galactica's systems are infected by an adaptive Cylon computer virus, which begins to execute numerous options to try to kill the crew. Commander Adama, despite his distrust and lingering rage over Boomer, decides to seek her help in fighting the virus - with no guarantee that she won't deliver Galactica to an approaching Cylon fleet.
• Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Aaron Douglas (CPO Tyrol), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Paul Campbell (Billy Keikeya), Nicki Clyne (Cally), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Donnelly Rhodes (Dr. Cottle), Bodie Olmos (Brendan "Hotdog" Costanza), Leah Cairns (Racetrack), Jennifer Halley (Seelix), Christian Tessier (Tucker "Duck" Clellan), Dominic Zamprogna (Jammer), Don Thompson (Specialist 3rd Class Anthony Figurski)
• Original US Airdate: 16 September 2005

Pegasus

• written by Anne Cofell Saunders
• directed by Michael Rymer
• music by Bear McCreary
• Story: Though Galactica was widely believed to have been the only Battlestar to have escaped the carnage that scattered the Twelve Colonies, another of the mighty ships managed to flee, and it finally catches up with the Colonial fleet - the Battlestar Pegasus, under the control of Admiral Cain. The sleeker, more modern Pegasus was docked at a Colonial shipyard at the time of the Cylon attack, suffered heavy casualties in the ambush and then made a blind FTL jump into deep space. While both Adama and President Roslin see the addition of another Battlestar, with its own Viper squadrons and armaments, as a good sign for the Colonial fleet, it seems that Admiral Cain is less than enthused about having to protect a civilian population - or, for that matter, about having to accept the former Secretary of Education as the new President of the Colonies. Roslin acknowledges that Cain outranks Adama, but is skeptical of the change in command. And when Adama gets transfer orders moving Apollo and Starbuck to the Pegasus, he begins to share that skepticism. Baltar is asked to inspect a Cylon prisoner aboard the Pegasus, and learns that it's the same model as Number Six, except that she's been severely tortured. The Pegasus officer who was in charge of her interrogation apparently has the same savage treatment in mind for Sharon - and when Tyrol and Helo rush to her aid, they spark an incident that pits the two Battlestars against each other.
• Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Aaron Douglas (CPO Tyrol), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Paul Campbell (Billy Keikeya), Nicki Clyne (Cally), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Michelle Forbes (Admiral Cain), Graham Beckel (Colonel Fisk), John Pyper-Ferguson (Captain Cole "Stinger" Taylor), Sebastian Spence (Pegasus Pilot), Leah Cairns (Racetrack), Fulvio Cecere (Lt. Alastair Thorne), Mike Dopud (Gage), Derek Delost (Vireem), Vincent Gale (Chief Peter Laird), Michael Jonsson (Pegasus Guard #2)
• Notes: Pegasus is based on the two-part episode Living Legend from the original Battlestar Galactica's first season, in which Lloyd Bridges played the part of Commander Cain, whose wayward Battlestar Pegasus was also preparing for a strike on a sizable Cylon target. Michelle Forbes is best known to SF fans as the Bajoran Ensign Ro from the last three seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation, a character whose backstory inspired the spinoff series Deep Space Nine. Australian-born actor John Pyper-Ferguson is also a Star Trek: The Next Generation veteran, playing the "real" Eli Hollander in A Fistful Of Datas; he had a recurring role as Sims in the second season of Jeremiah, and was a regular on such shows as Brisco County Jr. and the TV series adaptation of The Crow.
• Original US Airdate: 23 September 2005

Resurrection Ship - Part 1

• story by Anne Cofell Saunders
• teleplay by Michael Rymer
• directed by Michael Rymer
• music by Bear McCreary
• Story: With Admiral Cain having arrested, tried, and convicted Tyrol and Helo - not to mention having sentenced them to execution - Adama launches Galactica's Vipers, and Cain responds in kind with Pegasus' fighters. The only thing that prevents a shooting war between the two Battlestars is the arrival of an unknown ship - actually Starbuck flying the Blackbird fighter home from an unauthorized mission to collect intelligence on a huge Cylon ship in nearby space. Starbuck's interruption - and the information she brings back - postpones the battle, but in a meeting with Adama and President Roslin, Cain makes it clear that she won't back down from the death sentence...and after she leaves, Roslin makes it clear to Adama that Admiral Cain must be removed from the equation, by deadly force if necessary. Adama balks at first, but as he learns more about Pegasus' journey - including Cain's order to strip jump drives, gear and experienced civilian personnel from non-military ships, on pain of death - the commander slowly comes to the same conclusion. Baltar manages to get the Pegasus' Cylon prisoner to identify the huge ship: it's a Resurrection Ship, a breeding ground for the many clones of the Cylons' human bodies, and destroying it could turn the tide of the war with the Cylons. Admiral Cain concentrates on the upcoming attack on that ship, promoting Starbuck to captain and putting her in command of the Pegasus CAG. But Adama has an assignment for Starbuck as well - on a predetermined signal, she is to put an end to Admiral Cain's reign of terror. Little does Commander Adama know that Cain has similar plans for him.
• Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Aaron Douglas (CPO Tyrol), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Nicki Clyne (Cally), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Michelle Forbes (Admiral Cain), Donnelly Rhodes (Dr. Cottle), Graham Beckel (Colonel Fisk), John Pyper-Ferguson (Captain Cole "Stinger" Taylor), Sebastian Spence (Pegasus Pilot), Luciana Carro (Louanne "Kat" Katraine), Vincent Gale (Chief Peter Laird), Peter-John Prinsloo (Lt. Mei "Freaker" Firelli), Brad Dryborough (Hoshi)
• Original US Airdate: 6 January 2006

Resurrection Ship - Part 2

• written by Michael Rymer & Ronald D. Moore
• directed by Michael Rymer
• music by Bear McCreary
• Story: Tensions run high as the two Battlestars prepare for a simultaneous strike on the Cylon fleet. With all fighters assigned to make an massive attack run on the resurrection ship, Commander Adama and Admiral Cain must each take on a Cylon base star with their respective ships. On the Pegasus, it seems like execution day has arrived a bit early for Tyrol and Helo, until Colonel Fisk reminds his own crewmen that carrying out the death sentence in their own way would make them no better than the men they want to kill. Fisk has other matters of conscience on his mind as well, as Cain has assigned him and a Marine squadron to Galactica with orders to "terminate Adama's command" on her signal. Starbuck and Apollo also aren't having an easy time with their orders to relieve Cain of command by force, but Starbuck insists on being ready to carry out the mission, despite warming to Cain's more straightforward approach to fighting the Cylons. The resurrection ship is destroyed, but one lone Cylon, aided by Baltar, is ready to change the Colonial chain of command before either Adama or Admiral Cain deliver another death sentence.
• Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Aaron Douglas (CPO Tyrol), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Paul Campbell (Billy Keikeya), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Michelle Forbes (Admiral Cain), Graham Beckel (Colonel Fisk), Luciana Carro (Louanne "Kat" Katraine), Vincent Gale (Chief Peter Laird), Peter-John Prinsloo (Lt. Mei "Freaker" Firelli), Brad Dryborough (Hoshi)
• Original US Airdate: 13 January 2006

Epiphanies

• written by Joel Anderson Thompson
• directed by Rod Hardy
• music by Bear McCreary
• Story: President Roslin is rushed into Galactica's sick bay, her cancer inevitably coming to its terminal stage. At the same time, an accident with the weapons aboard one of Galactica's Vipers makes Chief Tyrol suspicious. He discovers evidence of sabotage, and the trail leads to an organized protest group within the Colonial civilian fleet that wants Admiral Adama to broker a peace with the Cylons. A member of that movement is brought to Galactica, but when he refuses to give Adama assurances that no further sabotage or violence will be carried out, he winds up in Galactica's brig. Adama is dealing with a dilemma of his own: President Roslin's last orders to him are very clear - Boomer's half-human, half-Cylon child is to be aborted. Despite protests from Baltar and Helo, Adama intends to carry out those orders. And as Roslin begins to fade away, it quickly becomes apparent to Baltar that nobody in the fleet relishes the prospect that he will soon ascend to the presidency.
• Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Aaron Douglas (CPO Tyrol), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Paul Campbell (Billy Keikeya), Nicki Clyne (Cally), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Colm Feore (President Adar), Donnelly Rhodes (Dr. Cottle), Paul Perri (Royan Jahee), Luciana Carro (Louanne "Kat" Katraine), Bodie Olmos (Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza), Leah Cairns (Racetrack), David Richmond-Peck (Naylin Stans), Holly Dignard (Asha Janik), Jennifer Kitchen (Marine)
• Original US Airdate: 20 January 2006

Black Market

• written by Mark Verheiden
• directed by James Head
• music by Bear McCreary
• Story: Shortly after President Roslin meets with Admiral Adama and the Pegasus' Commander Fisk about cracking down on black market activity within the fleet, Fisk is murdered. Adama puts Apollo on the case, giving him free reign to follow wherever the trail leads him. But given the shady nature of the black market, that trail passes through several unexpected places, from Baltar's office to Colonel Tigh's quarters...and even Apollo himself can't claim to be clean, having paid several visits to a prostitute aboard the Cloud 9 and grown close to her and her small daughter. But when their lives are threatened, Apollo comes to the rescue and finds himself at the mercy of the same men who killed Commander Fisk. Almost right on cue, Tom Zarek shows up to check on Apollo and quietly slips some information to him about the black market and the people behind it. The black market trail finally leads to the Colonial ship Prometheus, where Apollo decides that the illegal activity can't be eliminated, but it can be controlled if he takes drastic action. But if Apollo takes out the man who ordered Fisk's death and has now kidnapped Apollo's ladyfriend and her daughter, will he be putting someone even more dangerous in charge?
• Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Paul Campbell (Billy Keikeya), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek), Graham Beckel (Commander Fisk), Claudette Mink (Shevon), Donnelly Rhodes (Dr. Cottle), Bill Duke (Phelan), Leah Cairns (Racetrack), Amy Lalonde (Gianne), Hayley Guiel (Paya), John Mann (Linden), James Ashcroft (Security Officer), Brad Mann (Pegasus Marine), Gustavo Febres (Herbalist)
• Original US Airdate: 27 January 2006

Scar

• written by David Weddle & Bradley Thompson
• directed by Michael Nankin
• music by Bear McCreary
• Story: After discovering a rich source of tyllium ore in an asteroid belt, a mining ship and Galactica are assigned to gather the raw materials needed to replenish the fleet; Pegasus takes the rest of the Colonial fleet out of harm's way. But four weeks into the mining operation, there is already a high cost in lives: a battered but vicious Cylon Raider lurks among the asteroids, picking off Galactica's fighters one by one in relentless sneak attacks. Starbuck has to begin planning an operation to take out this fighter, nicknamed "Scar" for its beaten hull, but finds that she has competition in the form of Lt. "Kat" Katraine, who thinks Starbuck has lost her edge and isn't afraid to challenge her senior officer even in a packed briefing room. As quickly as Galactica's pilots' roster can be replenished by recruits from Pegasus, Scar is killing more pilots and destroying more fighters. Wracked with guilt over leading Anders and the resistance behind on Caprica, and drinking more and more heavily to drown her anguish, Starbuck has to face the possibility that even her hotshot flying may not be enough to kill Scar.
• Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Aaron Douglas (CPO Tyrol), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Luciana Carro (Louanne "Kat" Katraine), Bodie Olmos (Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza), Christopher Jacot (Ensign Brent "BB" Baxton), Sean Dorry (Ensign Joseph "Jo-Jo" Clark), Christian Tessier (Tucker "Duck" Clellan)
• Notes: "Jolly," mentioned here as the one of Galactica's deceased pilots, was also the call sign of a Viper pilot in the original Battlestar Galactica series, played by Tony Swartz. Colonial mining of tyllium ore, and even the shape of the ships that accomplish that task, also date back to the original show. We learn in this episode that the Cylon Raiders can be resurrected much like the human models can.
• Original US Airdate: 3 February 2006

Sacrifice

• written by Anne Cofell Saunders
• directed by Reynaldo Villalobos
• music by Bear McCreary
• Story: Word of the Sharon Cylon's presence aboard Galactica is leaked to the press, who begin demanding explanations from Admiral Adama and President Roslin. Billy proposes to Dualla, but is shattered when she turns him down. Even more shattered is Sesha Abinell, who lost her husband in a Cylon attack on one of the Colonial ships. With the help of her husband's brother and a few others, she takes hostages in the bar aboard Cloud Nine, demanding only one thing for their release: she wants the Cylon rumored to be aboard Galactica. Among the hostages are Apollo and Dualla, who are still tiptoeing around their own relationship, Billy, recovering from Dualla turning him down, and Ellen Tigh, who is naturally there to have a drink or three. Starbuck and a contingent of Galactica's Marines are also enjoying some R&R aboard Cloud Nine, but a bungled attempt to get into the bar and end the hostage crisis only results in bloodshed, and Apollo is hit by Starbuck's friendly fire. With his son's life fading away, Admiral Adama has one ace left to play - but it may carry an even higher price.
• Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Paul Campbell (Billy Keikeya), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Kate Vernon (Ellen Tigh), Mark Houghton (?), Eric Breker (?), David Neale (?), Dana Delany (Sesha Abinell), Michael Ryan (Ray Abinell), Adrien Hughes (Lt. Terry Burrell), Erica Carroll (Civilian), James Upton (Environmental Specialist), Georgia Hacche (Petty Officer Sian)
• Original US Airdate: 10 February 2006

The Captain's Hand

• written by Jeff Vlaming
• directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan
• music by Bear McCreary
• Story: Promoted to Major and assigned to serve as the executive oFficer of Pegasus, Apollo finds himself thrust into a crisis as a pair of Raptor crews and their ships go missing. Worse yet, Apollo can't agree with his new commander on how to recover those ships and their crews. The Pegasus' commander, formerly her chief engineer, is in favor of an all-out rescue mission without sending a recon flight in first. When Admiral Adama forbids risking the Pegasus on a foolhardy rescue mission, the commander disobeys and does it anyway. Pegasus jumps away from the fleet...and right into a Cylon trap. Critical damage in engineering forces the ship's commander to aid in repairs, and Apollo finds himself in command as Pegasus comes under a hail of nuclear missiles. President Roslin finds herself under attack as well, as the politically charged debate over an abortion collides with the reality that the human race needs to be repopulated. Just when she thinks she's dodged a political bullet that could cost her the election, she's stunned when Baltar makes the surprise announcement that he is running against her.
• Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Aaron Douglas (CPO Tyrol), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek), Donnelly Rhodes (Dr. Cottle), John Heard (Commander Garner), Christian Tessier (Tucker "Duck" Clellan), Stephanie von Pfetten (Capt. Marcia "Showboat" Case), Kavan Smith (Lt. Richard "Buster" Baier), Amber Rothwell (Rya Kibby), Patricia Idlette (Sarah Porter), Rekha Sharma (Tory Foster), Brad Dryborough (Hoshi), Aaron Pearl (Ensign Abel Thornton), Christina Schild (Playa), Tammy Hui (ECO Lyla "Shark" Elllway), James Bell (Lt. Steve "Red Devil" Fleer), Kimani Ray Smith (Pegasus Sergeant), Kurt Max Runte (Ensign Charles Bellamy)
• Notes: Guest star Kavan Smith plays the recurring character of Major Lorne on Galactica's Sci-Fi Channel stablemate, Stargate Atlantis. (In fact, this episode first aired immediately after a Stargate Atlantis episode which also featured him.)
• Original US Airdate: 17 February 2006

Downloaded

• written by Bradley Thompson & David Weddle
• directed by Jeff Woolnough
• music by Bear McCreary
• Story: Weeks after the Cylon attack on Caprica, in a resurrection vat, Number Six is reborn - the Six who seduced Baltar and obtained the information that allowed the Cylons to attack. She's unnerved from her last memory - dying while protecting Baltar from the shockwave of a nuclear blast - but her fellow Cylons assure her that she is considered a hero. Months later, a new copy of Sharon is resurrected, and this one downloads the memories of the Sharon who shot Commander Adama at point-blank range on Galactica and was later gunned down herself. Also hailed as a Cylon hero, Sharon finds herself unable to accept her true nature and is left to herself without any new assignments. The new copy of Six is given a new task, though: she has to talk Sharon out of her slump so she can return to her duties. But when Six tries to do this, she experiences visits from Baltar, visits only she can see or feel, and he begins to chip away at her unwavering loyalty to the Cylons. When Six and Sharon find themselves in a position to do away with a troublesome human guerilla named Anders, that loyalty is finally put to the test.
• Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Aaron Douglas (CPO Tyrol), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Lucy Lawless (D'anna Biers), Michael Trucco (Anders), Donnelly Rhodes (Dr. Cottle), Matthew Bennett (Doral), Rekha Sharma (Tory Foster), Kerry Norton (Paramedic Ibhay), Jean Barclay (Alisen Down), Erica Serra (Maya), Diego Diablo Del Mar (Hilliard)
• Original US Airdate: 24 February 2006

Lay Down Your Burdens - part one

• written by Ronald D. Moore
• directed by Michael Rymer
• music by Bear McCreary
• Story: Starbuck prepares to lead a combined force of Raptors from Galactica and Pegasus on a mission to Caprica, where they hope to recover Anders and the other human freedom fighters and evacuate them. Over the objections of some of the other pilots on the mission, Starbuck insists on bringing Sharon along to thwart the Cylons' security measures. When the Raptors make their jump, one of the ships goes missing; Racetrack's Raptor accidentally jumps into a dense nebula which also harbors a world capable of supporting human life. As the political struggle between President Roslin and Baltar seems to be all but finished in favor of Roslin, Baltar - under Tom Zarek's advice (and a bit of goading from Six) - makes the planet an election issue, urging the voters to demand that the fleet stop running and settle there. This issue suddenly divides the polls almost evenly between the two camps. At Caprica, Starbuck's Raptor squadron arrives minus another ship - which fatally ended its jump in the heart of a mountain - and quickly locates Anders' resistance cell. But just moments after the reunion, the shelling begins.
• Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Aaron Douglas (CPO Tyrol), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Nicki Clyne (Cally), Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek), Michael Trucco (Anders), Rekha Sharma (Tory Foster), Dean Stockwell (Brother Cavel), Alisen Down (Jean Barclay), Leah Cairns (Lt. Margaret "Racetrack" Edmonds), David Kaye (James McManus), Colin Lawrence (Hamish "Skulls" McCall)
• Original US Airdate: 3 March 2006

Lay Down Your Burdens - part two

• written by Anne Cofell Saunders and Mark Verheiden
• directed by Michael Rymer
• music by Bear McCreary
• Story: After holding out during an intense attack, Starbuck and her Raptor crews, along with Anders' resistance cell members, are stunned when the Cylons withdraw completely. All of the surviving Raptors return, with the surviving members of the Caprica resistance and an extra passenger, a priest named Brother Cavel. When these passengers arrive at Galactica, however, Chief Tyrol sounds the alarm - there's already a Brother Cavel on Galactica, so they must both be Cylons. Cavel delivers a message to Admiral Adama and President Roslin: the Cylons have had a change of heart and abandoned their occupation of Caprica, and will pursue the fleet no more. Roslin is still skeptical, but this revelation adds more fuel to the election-day fire that Baltar has ignited with the suggestion that the colonists settle on the recently-discovered planet. As the votes are tallied, some of Roslin's allies try to ensure that the vote will swing toward her - but the manipulation is discovered, the votes are recounted, and Baltar is declared the winner. It's a victory that, after mere months on "New Caprica," the survivors of the Twelve Colonies may live to regret.
• Guest Cast: Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh), Aaron Douglas (CPO Tyrol), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Nicki Clyne (Cally), Allessandro Juliani (Lt. Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dualla), Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek), Michael Trucco (Anders), Callum Keith Rennie (Leoben Conoy), Kate Vernon (Ellen Tigh), Donnelly Rhodes (Dr. Cottle), Matthew Bennett (Doral), Rekha Sharma (Tory Foster), Dean Stockwell (Brother Cavel), Alisen Down (Jean Barclay), Erica Cerra (Maya), Winston Rekert (Priest), David Kaye (James McManus)
• Notes: Portions of Tyrol's speech as he incited the workers of New Caprica to strike were excerpted from a real speech delivered in 1964 by American political activist Mario Savio (1942-1996) at the University of California, Berkeley. A longer excerpt of the speech in its original context can be found here.
• Original US Airdate: 10 March 2006