Battlestar Galactica

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,

that they may have been the architects of the great pyramids,

or the lost civilisations of Lemuria

or Atlantis.

Some believe that there may yet be brothers of man

who even now fight to survive

somewhere beyond the heavens.

Noble delegates, you're anxious to go back to your ships

before our rendezvous with the Cylons

but I think it appropriate to toast the most significant event

in the history of mankind.

I would like to raise my chalice to you,

not merely as the Quorum of 12,

representing the 12 Colonies of man,

but as my friends,

the greatest leaders ever assembled.

As we approach the seventh millennium of time,

the human race at last will find peace, thanks to you.

To peace.

Starbuck, what are you going to say?

Zac, calm down. Why are you so nervous?

He sees me as his little brother.

You're acting like one. It's a routine patrol.

- Why is it so important to you? - Because it is.

I'm a warrior. I want to prove that to him.

This may not be the best time.

It's a peace envoy! What trouble could there be?

- That's not the point. - Starbuck, you promised.

I know.

What are you doing? We're going on patrol.

- Er... - He can't make it. Starbuck's not well.

- Oh? - Yeah, well, it's... erm...

Well, that's kind of short notice, erm,

with everybody not wanting to go on this patrol.

They want to celebrate the armistice. I wonder who I'll be able to find?

Yes, Zac, you have a suggestion?

I've studied the coordinates from here to the Cylon capital.

- My ship's ready to go! - That's lucky. Isn't it, Starbuck?

Yeah, that's a real stroke of luck.

I guess you're just gonna have to pull Starbuck's patrol with me.

Wow!

- Were we ever like that? - I can't remember that far back.

Listen, maybe I ought to go.

No, he'll be fine. It's not as if we're at war, right?

See you later.

- Take care of the stomach. - Yeah, I will.

Section 12, launch bay Alpha, stand by to launch fighter probe.

Acknowledge input. Recorded and functioning.

Coordinates transferred.

- Acknowledge. - Acknowledged. Ready to launch.

Core systems transferring control to probe craft. Launch when ready.

- It's so different out here. - This is nothing.

When the war is over, we may get back to deep exploration.

That's the challenge. Let's take a look at Lianus Vector.

Baltar, my friend,

this armistice conference would not have been possible

without your tireless work.

You have secured for yourself a place in the history books.

That the Cylons chose me as their liaison to the Quorum of the 12

was an act of Providence, not skill.

I see the party is not a huge success with all my children.

What awaits us out there troubles me.

Surely you don't cling to your suspicions about the Cylons?

They asked for this armistice.

- They want peace. - Forgive me, Mr President,

but they hate us with every fibre of their existence.

We love freedom. We love independence -

to feel, to question, to resist oppression.

To them, it's an alien way of existing they will never accept.

But they have, through Baltar.

They have sued for peace.

Yes. Of course, you're right.

Apollo, two targets on my scanner above the moon Cimtar.

It could be a storm. We'll be coming through it.

Hold positions and cover me while I take a look.

Well, look at that. (Zac) What is it?

I'll tell you in a flash.

Warbook says a Cylon tanker. Scanner reads it's empty.

- Apollo, I have a funny feeling. - Well, we came to look.

There's the other ship tucked in nice and neat.

I wonder what she's doing?

- She's jamming us. - Warbook says she's a freighter.

If she's jamming us, she's hiding something. I'm going round her.

Nothing but a harmless mist. Not heavy at all.

I don't see why they'd send up all that electronic jamming.

- Let's get out of here. - Why?

I'll explain later.

Colonial viper in quadrant. Intercepting.

I see what you mean.

It's an ambush. Enough firepower to destroy the entire fleet.

We won't make it, giving them our backs.

- How many of them can you make out? - Four.

At three, hit your reverse thrusters and maximum braking flaps.

We'll give them a little surprise. One, two, three.

Turbos, full forward thrust. Now.

Right here, you creeps.

Hey, not bad, little brother. You go after the guys on the right.

- Yahoo! - Apollo, I'll get this one.

Zac, look out! Behind you!

He's right on my tail! (Apollo) Hang on, I'm coming.

- Steady... - Hurry, Apollo!

Steady...

Nice shooting but they hit my high engine.

That's OK, we got 'em.

Those guys need a ten to one margin...

Apollo, better look at your scanner.

- But 1,000 to one, that's not fair. - What's it mean?

There won't be any peace -

there may not be much of anything if we don't warn the fleet.

Do it. I won't be able to keep up with you.

- Zac, I'm not going to leave you. - You have to.

I'll make it back. Now go on - you've got to warn the fleet. I'll be all right.

You can fly with me any time, little brother.

Good luck.

This is Commander Adama returning from Atlantia.

- Request permission to land. - Granted.

- Something's wrong. - What is it?

I don't know. They just put the ship on alert.

Atlantia, this is Galactica. Request assistance...

- What is it? - Our patrol had trouble.

Signals are being jammed. It could be smugglers or pirates or...

Get me the President, please.

Mr President, our patrol is under attack, we don't know by whom.

As a precaution I would like to launch intercept fighters.

I think that's highly inadvisable in view of the delicacy of our situation.

Quite right, Baltar.

Commander, as a precaution I insist upon restraint.

If this turns out to be an encounter with some outlaws,

we could jeopardise the peace by displaying fighters

- so close to our rendezvous. - Mr President,

- two of my fighters are under attack. - By forces unknown.

Do not launch until the situation is more clear.

Sir, I at least urge you to bring the fleet to alert?

I will consider that. Thank you, Commander.

He'll consider it? He'll consider it?

It's all right.

I'm sorry, Commander, it's just that...

- Well... - Well, what?

The patrol is under the command of Captain Apollo.

If I can't have confidence in my first-born son,

whom can I depend upon?

Commander, Zac is with him. It's his first patrol.

Thank you.

Come on, give me all you got.

Still no word from our fighters. They're being jammed.

- If we don't launch... - We cannot launch. It's been forbidden.

However...

this might be a good time for battle stations drill.

- Sound the alert, Colonel. - Yes, sir.

You may never see another one, fellas.

A perfect pyramid.

Unless there's a better hand, the pot's mine.

Wait, wait!

Come here, wait! Come back! (Man) Duty calls!

Let's go!

Sir, our scanner shows a large number of ships headed this way at high speed.

- (Woman) A single craft is approaching. - Get that pilot here.

- Get me the President. - Yes, sir.

- What's going on? - Don't worry.

Probably an aerial salute for the President.

Sure ruined a good card game.

- Commander? - Mr President,

a wall of unidentified craft is closing in.

Possibly a Cylon welcoming committee.

Sir, may I suggest we launch a welcoming committee of our own?

There remain many hostile feelings amongst our warriors.

The likelihood of an unfortunate incident with all those pilots in the sky...

Commander?

Sir, did Baltar suggest that we sit here defenceless?

My friend, we are on a peace mission.

The first peace Man has known in a thousand years.

- Stand by to attack. - Come on, baby, not much further.

Blue Flight Two, in trouble! Emergency approach.

- Mr President! - Commander...

our patrol is under attack from the approaching force.

Mr President, your welcoming committee is firing at us!

Baltar?

We made it.

Patrol to fleet, I need help!

What was that?

That was my son, Mr President.

No! Oh, my God...

Positive shield, now! Launch fighters!

- All batteries commence fire! - (Man) All fire, control stations.

Launch all remaining vipers.

- Sir, they're off. - Fighters launched, sir.

Did the other ships launch their fighters?

Negative, sir.

Lord help us.

Engineering reports hits on starboard engine.

Cylons. I had to leave Zac, he's disabled.

- I have to go back. - No.

Father, I didn't know what to do! He doesn't stand a chance!

Atlantia to all battle stars...

Zac?