History Recap / BattlestarGalactica2003S01E0133

* NoEndorHolocaust: {{Enforced}}. Lee and Starbuck are ordered to destroy one of the fleet's own ships, ''Olympic Carrier'', on the suspicion that the Cylons are using it to track the fleet. The original script called for the ''Olympic Carrier'' to be fully manned, [[ShootTheDog forcing them to knowingly kill their own people]], but [[ExecutiveMeddling the network vetoed this]] and the episode went to air with [[GhostShip the ship visibly empty]].

* AscendedExtra: Helo, an otherwise-unimportant character in the miniseries whose main contribution is giving up his seat on Boomer's Raptor to Baltar, reappears here, having survived on his own for five days (and hinted at being of great importance to the Cylons, given they initiate a plan to pair him with Sharon Valeri). Helo wasn't originally intended to survive the Miniseries, but the showrunners were impressed by Creator/TahmohPenikett's performance.

Onboard Colonial One, Gaius Baltar is having a dream where Head Six is explaining to him that God has a plan for everyone, including him, and expresses a desire to have children. Meanwhile, the weary crew of Galactica sends out its compliment of Vipers as a Cylon Basestar FTL-jumps into their vicinity. The Colonial Fleet jumps out and, after recalling the Vipers, ''Galactica'' follows as well. Commander Adama resets a countdown on one of the ship's monitors, ticking down to the Cylon's next attack. Meanwhile, Baltar preoccupies himself with another dream about Head Six, as she mentions how the Colonial Fleet will eventually make a mistake…

* AscendedExtra: Helo, who wasn't originally intended to survive the Miniseries, but the showrunners were impressed by Creator/TahmohPenikett's performance.

* CallBack: The Six on Caprica greets Helo in the same... unique fashion as her counterpart did on Armistice Station, i.e. asking him "Are you alive?" and then kissing him.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Baltar tells Roslin to cut off ''radio'' communications, even though the Colonials use the term "wireless." Strangely enough Baltar does use the correct term earlier in the same speech, indicating this may have been a mistake by James Callis.

* MauveShirt: Helo, who was presumed dead in the Miniseries, reappears on Caprica, while the actor who plays him (Creator/TahmohPenikett) is PromotedToOpeningCredits.

* OneWordTitle

Back on Caprica, Helo is resigned to death when the Six is shot and killed by… Sharon Valerii, who unties Helo and leads him away as another Six and two Centurions walk out from the woods and watch.

* AscendedExtra: Helo.

* MauveShirt: Helo, who was presumed dead in the Miniseries, reappears on Caprica, while the actor who plays him (Creator/TahmohPenikett) is PromotedToOpeningCredits. Helo was originally meant to be dead, but the showrunners liked Penikett's performance and kept him around.

* SpottingTheThread: Subverted. Doc Cottle and her fellow pilots have indeed noticed that Boomer is the least tired member of the squadron, but don't make the connection that she's a Cylon. Justified as humanoid Cylons are only a subject of rumor at this point (like Crashdown mentions to Boomer about Doral), but they don't keep this fact in mind after their existence is officially confirmed in [[Recap/BattlestarGalactica2003S01E06Litmus "Litmus"]], either.

* SacrificialLamb: PlayedWith. Dr. Amarak and the occupants of the ''Olympic Carrier'' are introduced as being potential new characters (the former of whom is willing to provide intel on Baltar). Then, it's revealed that the ship was taken over by the Cylons and used in an attempt to detonate a nuclear device as it crashed into ''Galactica''. However, it's unclear if anyone was actually on the ship to begin with, although flickering lights and moving shadows can be seen onboard when Lee is flying near it.[[note]]WordOfGod indicates that this was due to ExecutiveMeddling: they weren't allowed to show their heroes serving TheNeedsOfTheMany by murdering innocent civilians. This is partially {{lampshaded}} by Apollo saying something like, "I can't see any people in the windows, but I do see movement, enough to be sure that there's actually people there."[[/note]]

* SacrificialLamb: PlayedWith. Dr. Amarak and the occupants of the ''Olympic Carrier'' are introduced as being potential new characters (the former of whom is willing to provide intel on Baltar). Then, it's revealed that the ship was taken over by the Cylons and used in an attempt to detonate a nuclear device as it crashed into ''Galactica''. However, it's unclear if anyone was actually on the ship to begin with, although flickering lights and moving shadows can be seen onboard when Lee is flying near it.

Onboard the ''Galactica'', Adama and Colonel Tigh discuss how the fleet is beginning to feel the strain of the repeated FTL-jumps: computers and engines are starting to malfunction and break down. Elsewhere, Anastasia Dualla walks through the Battlestar's corridors and sees a makeshift memorial that has been built for missing loved ones.

The ''Galactica'' and the fleet execute their 237th jump, but the ''Olympic Carrier'' is nowhere to be found. Baltar breathes a sigh of relief as Head Six tells him it is because God is watching out for him. Onboard the ''Galactica'', Tigh gives a speech to motivate the crew as they blame themselves for the loss, but when they prepare to jump again, the Cylons don't attack. Adama orders the fleet to stand down from their immediate alert.

Meanwhile, Boomer and Crashdown are flying near the ''Olympic Carrier'' when a radiological alarm goes off, revealing a nuclear weapon onboard the latter ship. The ''Olympic Carrier'' begins moving quickly towards the fleet, just as the countdown expires. A Cylon Basestar appears in the distance as the ''Olympic Carrier'' accelerates and heads on a collision course with the Battlestar.

''Galactica'' realizes a short while later that the Cylons are no longer pursuing them, and that the ''Olympic Carrier'' was broadcasting the fleet's coordinates so they could attack. Onboard Colonial One, Roslin copes with what has happened, but receives an unexpected bit of good news: a baby has been born.

* BittersweetEnding: The ''Olympic Carrier'' is destroyed and 1,300 people are killed, but the Fleet has finally freed themselves of the continual pursuit from the Cylons, while Roslin receives word that a baby was born in the fleet.

'''Bill:''' ''[stares at the screen for a few moments]'' Action stations. Put the fleet into condition one.

* GutPunch: The destruction of the ''Olympic Carrier'', which (supposedly) had 1,300 people aboard, and is destroyed by Lee as it makes a kamikaze run at the fleet.
* HyperspeedEscape: The fleet pulls it a whopping ''237 times'' while fleeing from the continual Cylon pursuit.

* NotQuiteTheRightThing: Adama and Roslin grapple with whether or not to destroy the ''Olympic Carrier'', as there may still be people onboard who haven't been killed or captured by the Cylons who hijacked the ship. With only a moment's notice, Roslin reluctantly agrees with Adama that it has to be destroyed in order to save the fleet, and Apollo opens fire despite protests from Starbuck (who then reluctantly joins in). Word of God from the showrunners confirms there were living people on the ship when it was destroyed.

* TiredOfRunning: Discussed. The fleet has been on the run for several days, and characters do bring up the issue of getting slow enough to be open to an attack and having to stand their ground. In the end, the destruction of the ''Olympic Carrier'' (which was taken out by Lee after it attempted to suicide-bomb the fleet) solves the issue of the pursuing Cylons.

* BittersweetEnding: The ''Olympic Carrier'' is destroyed and 1,300 people are killed, but the fleet has finally freed themselves of the continual pursuit from the Cylons, while Roslin receives word that a baby was born in the fleet.

* NotQuiteTheRightThing: Adama and Roslin grapple with whether or not to destroy the ''Olympic Carrier'', as there may still be people onboard who haven't been killed or captured by the Cylons who hijacked the ship. With only a moment's notice, Roslin reluctantly agrees with Adama that it has to be destroyed in order to save the fleet. Word of God from the showrunners confirms there were living people on the ship when it was destroyed.

* NotQuiteTheRightThing: Adama and Roslin grapple with whether or not to destroy the ''Olympic Carrier'', as there are still people onboard. With only a moment's notice, Roslin reluctantly agrees with Adama that it has to be destroyed in order to save the fleet.

* TheBusCameBack: Helo, who is shown to have been surviving on Caprica ever since he gave his spot on the Raptor for Baltar.

* MauveShirt: Helo, who was presumed dead, reappears on Caprica, while the actor who plays him (Tahmoh Penikett) is PromotedToOpeningCredits.

* SpottingTheThread: Subverted. Doc Cottle and her fellow pilots have indeed noticed that Boomer is the least tired member of the squadron, but don't make the connection that she's a Cylon. Justified as humanoid Cylons are only a subject of rumor at this point (like Crashdown mentions to Boomer about Doral), but they don't keep this fact in mind after their existence is officially confirmed in "Litmus", either.

Onboard Colonial One, Gaius Baltar is having a dream where [=HeadSix=] is explaining to him that God has a plan for everyone, including him, and expresses a desire to have children. Meanwhile, the weary crew of Galactica sends out its compliment of Vipers as a Cylon Basestar FTL-jumps into their vicinity. The Colonial Fleet jumps out and, after recalling the Vipers, ''Galactica'' follows as well. Commander Adama resets a countdown on one of the ship's monitors, ticking down to the Cylon's next attack. Meanwhile, Baltar preoccupies himself with another dream about [=HeadSix=], as she mentions how the Colonial Fleet will eventually make a mistake…

The ''Galactica'' and the fleet execute their 237th jump, but the ''Olympic Carrier'' is nowhere to be found. Baltar breathes a sigh of relief as [=HeadSix=] tells him it is because God is watching out for him. Onboard the ''Galactica'', Tigh gives a speech to motivate the crew as they blame themselves for the loss, but when they prepare to jump again, the Cylons don't attack. Adama orders the fleet to stand down from their immediate alert.

Adama and Roslin argue over whether or not to destroy the craft, while Lee tries to look into the ''Olympic Carrier'' and doesn't see anyone. Meanwhile, Baltar is frightened by what could happen if Amarak reveals what happened on Caprica. [=HeadSix=] asks Baltar to "repent" before God, and as he does, Roslin agrees to destroy the ''Olympic Carrier''. Still conflicted over what he must do, Lee and Kara open fire and destroy the ''Olympic Carrier'' just before it impacts with ''Galactica''.

* CrypticConversation: [=HeadSix=]'s conversations with Baltar.

-->'''[=HeadSix=]:''' God has a plan for everything and everyone.

* SpottingTheThread: Subverted. Doc Cottle and her fellow pilots have notices that Boomer is the least tired member of the squadron, but don't make the connection that she's a Cylon. Justified as humanoid Cylons are only a subject of rumor at this point (like Crashdown mentions to Boomer about Doral), but they don't keep this fact in mind after their existence is officially confirmed in "Litmus", either.

'''Bill:''' (stares at the screen for a few moments) …''Reset the clock for 33 minutes.''

--> '''Tigh:''' Thank the Gods.
--> '''Bill:''' (stares at the screen for a few moments) …''Reset the clock for 33 minutes.''

--> [=HeadSix=]: God has a plan for everything and everyone.

* RunningTimeInTheTitle

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Baltar tells Roslin to cut off ''radio'' communications, even though the Colonials use the term "wireless."

Onboard Colonial One, Gaius Baltar is having a dream where [=HeadSix=] is explaining to him that God has a plan for everyone, including him, and expresses a desire to have children. Meanwhile, the weary crew of Galactica sends out its compliment of Vipers as a Cylon Basestar FTL-jumps into their vicinity. The Colonial Fleet jumps out and, after recalling the Vipers, Galactica follows as well. Commander Adama resets a countdown on one of the ship's monitors, ticking down to the Cylon's next attack. Meanwhile, Baltar preoccupies himself with another dream about [=HeadSix=], as she mentions how the Colonial Fleet will eventually make a mistake...

Onboard the Galactica, Adama and Colonel Tigh discuss how the fleet is beginning to feel the strain of the repeated FTL-jumps: computers and engines are starting to malfunction and breakdown. Elsewhere, Anastasia Dualla walks through the Battlestar's corridors and sees a makeshift memorial that has been built for missing loved ones.

On Galactica's flight deck, Lee Adama and Kara Thrace are checking their Vipers when he asks if she has been taking her stimulants. Kara snaps at him, but they both realize that the stress has been getting to them. In her Raptor, Sharon "Boomer" Valerii is also trying to adjust to her new co-pilot, Crashdown, and lamenting how she left Karl "Helo" Agathon behind on Caprica in order to save Baltar.

President Roslin is combing through paperwork when she receives a message from Billy Keikeya that a Dr. Amarak would like to speak with her, and has information on how the Cylons breached the Colonial defenses. Realizing that he won't have time to be transported from the ship he's on, the Olympic Carrier, Roslin orders him be brought over after their next jump. Baltar overhears the conversation and becomes worried, as he realizes that Amarak was a fellow colleague of his and could implicate him in the Cylon attack.

The Galactica and the fleet execute their 237th jump, but the Olympic Carrier is nowhere to be found. Baltar breathes a sigh of relief as [=HeadSix=] tells him it is because God is watching out for him. Onboard the Galactica, Tigh gives a speech to motivate the crew as they blame themselves for the loss, but when they prepare to jump again, the Cylons don't attack. Adama orders the fleet to stand down from their immediate alert.

As Adama and Tigh take a few moments to collect themselves and talk, the Olympic Carrier reappears after jumping. Fearing the worst, Adama orders an air patrol led by Lee to investigate the ship, while simultaneously ordering the jump countdown to be reset. As the squad of Vipers near the ship, Adama also orders the Battlestar to cut communications with the carrier and communicate with it through signal lamps.

Meanwhile, Boomer and Crashdown are flying near the Carrier when a radiological alarm goes off, revealing a nuclear weapon onboard the latter ship. The Carrier begins moving quickly towards the fleet, just as the countdown expires. A Cylon Basestar appears in the distance as the Carrier accelerates and heads on a collision course with the Battlestar.

Adama and Roslin argue over whether or not to destroy the craft, while Lee tries to look into the Carrier and doesn't see anyone. Meanwhile, Baltar is frightened by what could happen if Amarak reveals what happened on Caprica. [=HeadSix=] asks Baltar to "repent" before God, and as he does, Roslin agrees to destroy the Carrier. Still conflicted over what he must do, Lee and Kara open fire and destroy the Carrier just before it impacts with Galactica.

Back on Caprica, Helo is resigned to death when the Six is shot and killed by... Sharon Valerii, who unties Helo and leads him away as another Six and two Centurions walk out from the woods and watch.

The Galactica realizes a short while later that the Cylons are no longer pursuing them, and that the Olympic Carrier was broadcasting the fleet's coordinates so they could attack. Onboard Colonial One, Roslin copes with what has happened, but receives an unexpected bit of good news: a baby has been born.

* BittersweetEnding: The Olympic Carrier is destroyed and 1,300 people are killed, but the fleet has finally freed themselves of the continual pursuit from the Cylons, while Roslin receives word that a baby was born in the fleet.

* DramaticPause: When the Olympic Carrier returns.

--> '''Bill:''' (stares at the screen for a few moments) ...''Reset the clock for 33 minutes.''
* GutPunch: The destruction of the Olympic Carrier, which (supposedly) had 1,300 people aboard, and is destroyed by Lee as it makes a kamikaze run at the fleet.

* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Lee to his father after destroying the Olympic Carrier, which may or may not have had civilians still onboard.
* MacrossMissileMassacre: The Cylons try this against Galactica in the opening sequence, but the latter jumps before the missiles impact.

* NotQuiteTheRightThing: Adama and Roslin grapple with whether or not to destroy the Carrier, as there are still people onboard. With only a moment's notice, Roslin reluctantly agrees with Adama that it has to be destroyed in order to save the fleet.

* SacrificialLamb: PlayedWith. Dr. Amarak and the occupants of the Olympic Carrier are introduced as being potential new characters (the former of whom is willing to provide intel on Baltar). Then, it's revealed that the ship was taken over by the Cylons and used in an attempt to detonate a nuclear device as it crashed into Galactica. However, it's unclear if anyone was actually on the ship to begin with, although flickering lights and moving shadows can be seen onboard when Lee is flying near it.
* SensorSuspense: The crew waiting to see if the sensor will appear during the opening sequence, and later, the reappearance of the Olympic Carrier causes Adama to reset the jump countdown.

* ShrineToTheFallen: The Galactica crew set up a memorial for lost and missing crew members, while the Viper crew all touch a photograph of a soldier kneeling under a flag as they leave their briefing.

* TiredOfRunning: Discussed. The fleet has been on the run for several days, and characters do bring up the issue of getting slow enough to be open to an attack and having to stand their ground. In the end, the destruction of the Olympic Carrier (which was taken out by Lee after it attempted to suicide-bomb the fleet) solves the issue of the pursuing Cylons.