- Your own sister's a pilot and a warrior. - She's my sister, not my wife-to-be!
Felgercarb!
This disease has swept through every pilot.
Remember, you're flying a viper. Just think what you want it to do.
They send out patrols, do they not?
Capture one!
'There are those who believe
'that life here began out there,
'far across the universe,
'with tribes of humans
'who may have been the forefathers of the Egyptians
'or the Toltecs or the Mayans.
'Some believe that there may yet be brothers of man
'who even now fight to survive
'somewhere beyond the heavens.'
Serina, this was a wonderful repast. You outdid yourself.
l didn't do anything. ln fact, l'm all thumbs.
- lf it hadn't been for Athena... - You should see her.
Believe me, l am an expert in the art of culinary graces.
- You're a genuine find. - Yes, she certainly...
And if l were a hundred yahrens younger...
But some young man will soon fall into the lap of early glory.
l was told in instructional period that some people are just naturally slow.
That doesn't mean they're stupid. They're just slow.
(Adama coughs)
You know the real problem with cooking like this?
Couple of meals a day, you couldn't climb into a cockpit.
Exactly. That is exactly the trouble. You two are the next on patrol.
l don't wish to bring this momentous evening to an end
but we have been gorging ourselves on this delicious food
for nigh on three millicentons, waiting...
All right. All right.
Serina and l have decided -
that is, if Boxey is willing and supportive -
we would like very much to be married.
(Boxey) Yay!
- Oh, l'm so happy for you. - Thank you.
- l didn't think you'd get around to it. - Neither did l.
l hope we have your blessing, Commander.
My dear, you not only have my blessing,
you have the blessings of the Lords of Kobol.
- Congratulations, my son. - Thank you, Father.
You've made a father very happy.
Well, as best man, l've got to see to the groom's sendoff preparations.
Going to be a real bash. Thanks for the food. l hate to run.
Pleasure dining with you. Don't forget our patrol.
Congratulations, Serina.
Athena...
Bye.
All l did was smile.
Athena, Starbuck has a well-defined sense of what lies in waiting.
That's what makes him such a good advance scout.
Section 12, launch bay Alpha, stand by to launch.
'Fighter Patrol 2, acknowledge when ready.'
- Stand by to launch Fighter Patrol 1 . - So many times l couldn't count 'em.
Starbuck, you sound like it's all ending.
This is a routine patrol to see what's in front of the fleet.
That's what l mean. See, this patrol, it's...it's, er...
lt's kind of the last one we'll ever have as...
Well, you know.
- The way we are. - Are you jealous?
Yeah, l guess in a way l am. Don't tell anyone else, huh?
No, l won't tell anybody else.
You know something?
l think what you're trying to say is pretty nice.
We've had a lot of good times.
Transferring launch control to viper fighters. Patrol 2, launch when ready.
'Launch viper fighter Patrol 1 . Launch when ready.'
l have examined your epistle suggesting you can locate the humans.
Why, yes...
Oh, yes.
l...l think...as they do!
l...l...
l know where they will go, what they must do.
l find your reasoning logical.
Then...
- l am to be... - Spared.
(Baltar) To serve the Empire!
Lucifer...
l'm sending you a base ship
entirely under your command.
lt will be my pleasure, Baltar.
l think l can assure you, with some sense of pride,
you will inherit the most capable Centurions in all the Empire.
(Starbuck) 'So many good times together.'
- Starbuck, l'm not dying. - No...not exactly.
l've thought a lot about what l'm doing
and l've never been happier about anything in my whole life.
- (Bleeping) - Starbuck...
l got it. My panel's lighting up like a meteor fire.
Apollo. Dead ahead.
lt's almost black out there.
Like a dead sea. l've never seen anything like it.
Neither have the instruments.
There's nothing to lock onto. The sensors are lost.
This is no place to bring the fleet.
l'll see how far we can go without getting lost.
l'll see what's on the other side of this void.
You may not find your way back.
'Let me do it. You've got somebody waiting for you...'
Apollo!
Don't go too far. l'm barely holding a fix on the way back.
'Apollo!'
Felgercarb.
(Apollo) 'lncredible. lt's an ocean of darkness.'
Nothing as far as the eye can see. No stars, moons, planets, nothing.
(Starbuck) 'Apollo, l can barely read you. Turn around.'
Keep talking, l'm using your voice as a navigational fix.
'Apollo, l can't...'
'Changing wavelengths. Can you read me, Apollo? Over.'
Starbuck?
- Apollo, is anything wrong? - (Radio static)
l'm as far out as l can go without losing my fix on our return.
Should l come out to find you? Do you read me?
'Apollo?'
Oh, frack.
Lords of Kobol, is this what l think it is?
Oh!
This will be the best bachelor sendoff ever.
- Where did you get this? - Not here. You'll get us moduled.
- Hey, security's coming! - Here.
Hurry.
Stand alert!
Well, it looks as if we're having a festivity.
Has this been approved?
Where are you getting your victuals?
Who is responsible for this?
l am.
- What do you want, Lieutenant? - Colonel Tigh.
Excuse me. l...l mean, we were just doing our duty.
Some ale and Ambrosa has disappeared from the officers' ration and...
Yes?
Obviously, if Galactica's executive officer is in charge,
there's no reason for any further questions.
- By your leave? - Dismissed.
There's only one thing worse than lifting rations.
- Do you know what that is? - No, sir.
lt's getting caught lifting rations.
Do l make myself clear?
- Yes, sir. - Good.
Captain Apollo and Starbuck should be returning from patrol any time now.
Let's see to it that things are in full swing.
(Whooping)
All right!
Omega, patrol status, please.
Captain Apollo's patrol is still beyond scanning range.
That's odd.
Probe 1 to Galactica. Do you read?
Come in, Starbuck.
- Apollo, do you read? Do you read? - (Radio static)
OK, l'm about to disobey orders
so if you want to stop me, you've got one millicenton.
Then l'm going to barrel ahead at full turbo, firing my lasers.
l'll either find you or we'll both be lost.
lf l do find you, l'm going to execute a perfect 180-degree turn
and head out the way l came in.
So follow me and we'll have a pretty good chance.
(Radio static)
- Any objections? - (Bleeping)
Good. l knew you'd approve.
Here goes nothing.
Probe 1 to Galactica, do you read?
Come in, Starbuck.
'Probe... Galactica... Do you read?'
Come in, Starbuck.
- Probe 1 , this is Probe 2. - Starbuck?
- l'm on my way. - How? You'll be as lost as l am.
As soon as you see me, fire off a laser volley.
l'll pull up, swing around and head back out on one line.
l gotcha!
- What are you using as a fix? - The end of my nose.
l was good at this at the Academy, so don't disorient me.
Don't chat and stay tucked in. We're going home.
- Ten, nine, eight, seven... - How far in was l?
Don't talk. Six, five,
four, three, two, one...
zero.
And you owe me a fumarello.
Phew!
Let's go home, buddy.
(Boomer) 'Picking up some crazy readings off that asteroid. Let's take a look.'
(Boomer) Pods.
l don't make 'em.
They're there. Look at the hairline aperture
running from the rock face to the floor of the valley.
l would have missed it.
Jolly, if we miss just one of these Cylon outposts,
we'll never know what hit us.
ls it operational? lt looks deserted.
Think of it as a crawlon in its web.
Nothing moves until some hapless creature flies into its orbit
and then it's all over.
- Should we get closer, count the ships? - lt doesn't matter.
lt only takes one to notify the Cylon capital. Let's get the...
(Bleeping)
Their ships have turned away from the fleet.
That's good. We'll have time to warn the Galactica.
Let's get out of here without getting spotted.
By your command.
- Speak. - l bring good news.
We believe we have located the Battlestar Galactica.
Oh?
A scouting expedition of Colonial vipers
has landed on a listening post in the quadrant Otarsis.
They were permitted to escape, as you instructed.
- How far is this outpost from us? - 1 .5 hectares.
Since the Galactica is kept to a minimum speed
by the slower vehicles under her protection,
at light speed we can easily catch her within a centon.
- ls she aware she's been detected? - No.
Our fighters will take her by complete surprise.
As they did at Carillon?
Hmm?
One base star is not sufficient to assure victory over the Galactica.
Find her but follow just beyond her scanner range.
Until we can call for reinforcements?
Such a call would surely be picked up by the Galactica.
She would be alerted and escape.
- Logical. - Yes.
Now perhaps you see why the lmperious Leader put me in command.
But if we cannot call for assistance and you will not attack,
is not the end result the same?
The Galactica escapes.
Have faith, Lucifer. Have faith. l have a plan.
All l need is the opportunity to present it.
- And that will come. - By your command.
Commander, Patrol 1 reporting in. They're a centon out from the fleet.
They're late. Have them report to me.
- What about Patrol 2? - Boomer is holding on the outer marker.
Holding? l want him in. We're flying blind.
Alpha Patrol, you're clear to land.
Thank you. Let's put 'em in, Jolly.
'Jolly, do you hear me? Jolly, are you all right? Jolly?'
Get your nose up. That cadet made a better approach than you.
- 'What?' - Get your nose up and steady up.
- You all right? - l don't know.
l've got a buzzing in my ears. l feel woozy.
Better get your breathing gear checked with the lab. Probably leaking carbide.
That is, if you land. Now get that nose up.
- (Adama) A Cylon outpost? - 'lt's well hidden but there.'
- Thank you, Lieutenant. - 'By your leave, sir.'
Hm. Colonel.
Notify helm and plotting
that we'll change course to this quadrant.
Without waiting for Captain Apollo's report on that sector?
We know we can't go back, we know what's in this sector.
Let's hope Apollo's report is more optimistic.
Commander, Captain Apollo's probe approaching Galactica.
- Excellent. Call him to the bridge. - Yes, sir.
Hey! All right!
Boomer, you OK?
Hey, Boomer. What's wrong?
'Boomer?'
Come on. The Colonel's watching us. Quit clowning around!
'With Captain Apollo returning late, l wished to extend the curfew.'
But if you men are falling down drunk...
l am not drunk, sir. l just got a little dizzy.
Any more ''dizziness'' and l'll send everyone back to quarters.
- Understood? - 'Understood.'
Hey, look, it's not my fault. l...
Hey, Boomer! Sit down. Just sit down here.
Relax, man, relax.
We all know those deep patrols are too long.
l don't understand it. l was feeling fine and then... Phew.
What were the symptoms when he reported to the life station?
Dizziness, rapid pulse, escalating internal temperature.
lt's risen two points since l called you.
He was on deep probe and skipped decontamination.
He what?
There's a party going on for Apollo, a sendoff. He didn't want to miss it.
That's just splendid.
Don't these warriors realise what one errant virus or bacteria,
for which we have no immunity, could do to our people?
Get this man in a support chamber, quickly.
Quickly!
Thanks a lot.
A buddy has to make a guy comfortable in his last few hours.
Listen. After decontamination, there's something l want to show you.
Every man, woman and child in the fleet could die.
l don't know what got into them - maybe the excitement of the party.
Excitement of the party?
Come on, Colonel.
Security! l want everyone who's been in contact
with Flight Sergeant Jolly and Lieutenant Boomer under strict quarantine!
This better be good. l'm delaying a reunion.
l promise you a night you will remember.
Don't touch that door!
The three of you, back in that room!
Tell my staff to get isolation chambers here quickly!
What is it? What happened?
Maybe the end of us all.
Doctor, the new patient just went critical.
Lower his cryo tube temp to minus 72.
And increase his lsoldin intravenous feed six units per centon.
Of all the stupid blunders!
The important thing now is to recover.
To avoid the Cylon outpost, we'll be going along the route you explored.
- We can't go that way. - We can't?
There's something more dangerous than a Cylon outpost -
a magnetic sea as endless as anything l've ever seen.
(Tigh) What do you mean? Magnetic sea?
A void so far across we couldn't scan the other side. lt ruined my sensors.
lf Starbuck hadn't come after me, l couldn't have made it back.
Well, we can't go that way.
What if we were to skirt around the void, follow its perimeter? Commander?
Commander?
l'll be in my quarters. Maintain this course.
But we're heading for the void. l suggest...
You have your orders, Colonel.
- Zap, zap! - (Barks)
Come on, Muffit. Up, Muffit.
Up, Muffit.
Apollo!
- Hey, Boxey, how are you? - Fine.
Your mom here? Sorry, Muffit.
- Your mom here? - She's in there putting...
What's this, secrets?
l bet l know. She's trying on her gown for the wedding.
l'm not supposed to see it, right?
- Sort of. - (Serina) Apollo?
- l'll be right out. - Don't worry,
it's not bad luck to see the bride before her wedding day.
Flight Cadet Serina reporting for duty, Captain.
- What is this, a joke? - No.
l just wanted to surprise you.
l've been in training ever since Adama opened up the programme
- to replace the pilots we lost. - Training? ln training to...
A shuttle cadet... who has just finished her first solo.
Would you excuse us for a centon, Boxey?
OK.
Come on, Muffit. They're gonna argue.
We are not going to argue.
- Yes, they are. - Yes, we are.
You didn't even tell me. No one did. Does my father know?
No, he doesn't get a report on every cadet in the fleet.
- l won't let you do it. - You have no choice.
- We're about to be married! - What does that have to do with it?
- Your own sister's a pilot and a warrior. - She's my sister, not my wife-to-be!
lf that's what it's about, we can take care of that.
Serina!
Don't you understand? l love you.
l don't want anything to happen to you.
Don't you think l love you, too?
You go flying off on missions in your viper, into combat.
l'll just be a shuttle pilot.
Do you know how many we lost on Carillon?
Do you know how many civilians?
There is no safe place anywhere in the fleet.
Everybody's being trained in every capacity.
lt's the only way if we're gonna survive.
Are you any good?
Top of the class.
You'd better be. You're gonna be married to a squadron commander.
Yes, sir.
Get this man on the line right away. He's critical.
Excuse me, Cassiopeia.
Doctor. This disease has swept through every fighter pilot
and half the bridge officers -
everyone who had contact with anyone at that party.
l can't isolate it.
Cryogen tubes.
l had no choice. They'd be dead if not in cryogenic suspension.
lt's only delaying the inevitable unless l can isolate the source of that infection, soon.
And Doctor, you understand the significance of these men?
They are not just individuals. They're our only means of defence.
l understand all that, Commander.
And that's your problem.
Mine is keeping them alive.
(Adama) ''After their home planet Kobol was known to be doomed,
''the people set forth across a great void which seemed endless,
''until a bright shining star appeared and guided them to safety.''
- (Beeping) - Enter.
You sent for me, Father?
Yes, Apollo.
Colonel Tigh has prepared a roster
of everyone in the fleet who's had flight experience.
lt comes down to a few old-time warriors with various disabilities
and the group at the bottom of the list.
- Oh, no. - l'm afraid so.
l want you to get them combat-ready as quickly as possible.
- You're not serious? - l'm deadly serious.
The viper's the most advanced flying machine ever designed by man.
You don't just turn one over to a shuttle pilot.
Would you prefer to turn the Galactica over to the Cylons without a fight?
l don't know when we'll get our fighter pilots back, if we ever do.
- lt's that serious? - lt's that serious.
l don't mean to be brusque but l have many things to do.
- You have your orders, Captain. - Yes, sir.
But it...
Yes, sir.
l don't believe you've read all the names on that roster, Commander.
Oh, Lord.
Now, l know you shuttle pilots
have never had a pressure suit on before.
But a viper isn't a shuttle.
Without this suit, you can't survive the G-forces you'll pull under combat.
As soon as you're into your uniforms, move through to the simulators.
- Captain. - Oh, yes, Cadet Serina?
l love you.
(Tittering)
Um... Yes, that's very good.
Um, Starbuck...
Yo.
Number 18 just went critical.
Same procedure.
l'm not going to find the answer here.
Scanners indicate the void is infinite.
Not infinite, just beyond our scanner's ability to probe the other side.
- Excuse me. - Oh, Doctor...
ls there any possibility...
How soon can some of our pilots be returned to duty?
lt's not a matter of how soon they will return to duty,
it's a matter of how soon they will die.
l want permission to return to wherever the two warriors landed.
lf l can isolate the source of the infection...
Doctor, that asteroid is a parsec behind us and has a Cylon sentinel post.
We can't go back. With only two vipers for cover, it would be suicide.
The health team is willing to take that chance.
l appreciate that, Doctor, but l must agree with Colonel Tigh.
l can't grant permission, not without the proper escort.
Commander, going back there is the only hope those boys have.
- The only hope? - The only hope, sir.
- What is the status of Blue Squadron? - Still in simulators.
Doctor, prepare your team and report back to me.
Very good, sir.
Let's hope and pray our shuttle pilots can fly those vipers.
- (Starbuck) 'Stick on my tail. l'm on him.' - Right behind you, Starbuck.
'My laser pump's jammed. You have to take him.'
(Bleeping)
l got him.
l got him! l did it!
'You sure did. You got the Cylon.'
- And me. - What?
After blasting him, you crossed my tail still firing. l'm dead.
- l'm sorry. - You're sorry?
All right, girls, l'll explain it one more time.
'Captain Apollo, report to the bridge. Captain Apollo, report to the bridge.'
Run the next one through.
- And try not to get killed this time. - Yeah, right.
Commander.
Well, Captain, how are your shuttle pilots doing?
Fine, considering the closest they've been to a viper
was probably at an Armament Day display.
Dr Salik wants to send a medical team
back to the asteroid where the disease was contracted.
lt's the only way to find the root cause and a cure.
That's a one-way mission. There's a Cylon listening post there.
We'd have to send at least one squadron as escort.
At least. And since there's only two of us, there's...
The shuttle pilots haven't even launched in a real viper yet.
You said they were doing fine.
Yes, but a long way from being able to fly a real mission. lt's too risky.
Everything we do has an element of risk.
- They're shuttle pilots. - They're warriors.
And all warriors know they may have to sacrifice their lives.
But not throw them away.
What do you estimate the losses might be?
lf l run into Cylons, l could lose the entire squadron.
Or you could leave the lesser-qualified pilots behind.
l appreciate what you're saying, Father,
but if l hold one of them back, l should hold them all back.
ln my opinion, not one of them is qualified for this mission!
(Clearing throat) Thank you, Captain. lt will be so logged.
Medical shuttle taking off from flight deck one.
'Will rendezvous with Blue Squadron at coordinates Alpha 37.'
Coordinates Alpha 37 confirmed.
Transferring launch control to viper fighters.
'Launch when ready.'
All right, girls, just like we did it in the simulators.
Remember, these controls are as sensitive as a schoolgirl's...lips.
Blue Squadron, let's show the fleet how a launch is done.
Blue Squadron leader launching.
(Starbuck) 'Brie, what's wrong? You're losing it. Get control!'
Back on the power.
- (Bleeping) - 'Back on the power!'
'Hit your auto-control! Brie, hit your power control.'
'You did it, Brie. You did it!'
Blue Squadron launched.
(Cheering)
Easy, Deitra. You're coming up too fast.
That's better. Watch your spacing, Serina.
Wingmen, stick tight to your leaders.
By your command.
We are trailing just beyond the Galactica's scanner range.
Excellent.
She has veered away from the outpost.
- Quite logical. - On the contrary, quite illogical.
They are heading into the Epsilon Quadrant, towards a magnetic abyss.
- A magnetic abyss? - A void.
A navigational inferno. Possibly endless.
They should engage our small outpost rather than enter such a dangerous area.
Unless they know we're following.
Anything is possible
but the odds are astronomically against it.
Shall we launch our fighters against the Galactica now?
No. Have they sent out reconnaissance patrols?
Occasionally. We dropped back beyond their scanner range.
Give top priority to capturing one of those patrol pilots.
lf l am right,
Adama will turn the Galactica over to me
without firing a shot.
By your command.
lsn't he wonderfully devious?
We can learn much from him.
- Asteroid on my scanner. Sector Delta 5. - Got it.
Hold the squadron at Omega 4. l'll approach from the other side.
lf l can surprise them, maybe l can take out the sentinel before they scramble fighters.
Then we won't have to risk the squadron.
We should all go at once. We are capable of handling...
Demonstrate your capabilities by following orders.
- Yes, sir. - Here l go.
Good luck, Captain.
Starbuck. Brie.
l'm picking up a blip on the scanner. Rear Quadrant Tau.
That would be the shuttle. lt's ours.
l don't think so. lt's closing in on us.
l told them to hold position.
Oh, frack!
Deitra, take command. We've got a Cylon on our tail.
Form on me. Let's go, girls.
- Athena, what are you doing? - l'm your wingman.
A wingman should stick to a leader.
OK, OK. Just hold back a little.
- And for Sagan's sake, don't shoot me. - Keep it up, Starbuck. Keep it up.
Colonial vipers. Warn the base.
(Laser fire)
'Hit your turbo!'
'Hit your reverse thrusters!'
Fire, Starbuck, fire.
- Beautiful. - Save it. They've warned the outpost.
'Apollo's going to need help.'
Frack!
'Blue Squadron, Apollo. They're launching.'
The air will soon be full of Cylons! Return to Galactica! Return to Galactica!
After this run, Captain.
l got him.
Oh, felgercarb!
Easy, Brie, l got him.
That's two.
Stay on 'em, l'm going for the launch bay.
Nice shooting, Captain.
Thank you, Lieutenant. Serina?
- Right here. - Where's Starbuck?
He turned on a Cylon fighter. He left me in command. l thought you needed support.
You thought right. Good job.
Medical shuttle, the asteroid is secure. Prepare to land.
Commander, Blue Squadron reports mission successful, no casualties.
Good. As soon as the squadron has landed,
order all ships to close on the Galactica and slow to probe speed.
We're not going into the void?
Tigh, the Cylon outpost, l'm sure, has alerted every nearby base.
The darkness of the void may give us some cover.
lf there are any of us left to find.
We're going in.
His reaction to the news will be interesting to observe.
- (Lucifer) By your command. - Speak.
Vipers from the Galactica have destroyed our outpost.
The Galactica is on her way over the outpost now?
- No. - No?
She is instead entering the void.
Why bother risking detection by destroying the outpost
if they had no intention of moving in that direction, unless...
unless Adama needs something from the asteroid.
Food, fuel?
There are no such supplies there.
There is one other... curious matter to report.
What is it?
The Colonial viper craft reportedly flew in a peculiarly erratic fashion.
Evidently they flew well enough to destroy your base.
lt was a small outpost, caught by surprise,
since you determined the Galactica would not strike there.
Do not fence with me, my friend.
Everything is proceeding according to my plan,
except you have not captured one of their pilots as l ordered.
To assure such a capture, we would have to risk being discovered.
You ordered us out of scanner range.
They send out patrols, do they not?
Capture one!
ST US By Tchen ..