Battlestar Galactica

Episode #203 - "Fragged"

This document is ©2005, John Larocque. All rights reserved.

47,862 survivors in search of a home called Earth.

The Cylons were created by man. They evolved. They rebelled. There are many copies. And they have a plan.

Synopsis

Billy meets Dr. Cottle at the airlock. "Thank the gods you're here. The President needs your help." Cottle heads toward sickbay and asks one of the medics for vitals. The male medic informs him, "Two bullets, 9mm. This one lacerated the spleen, the other one nicked the aorta. Now, we've removed the spleen, and we thought we repaired the aorta...." The female medic adds, "His BP's dropped down again. It's only 80 over 40. And his heart rate creeping into the 130s." "Well, you missed something. He's still hemorrhaging somewhere. We're gonna lose him unless we can stop that bleeding." He begins operating on Adama and the female medic reports, "His pressure's dropping. "It's 60 on 30. Heart rate's starting to fall. I don't thnk he can last much longer." "Just stay focused. Get some more suction in here so I can see what I'm doing." In the hallway, Billy tells Tigh that he needs medication for the President. "She's not the President anymore. Cottle's a little busy right now." "Sir, she's very ill..." "Why aren't you in the brig?" "Because no one put me in there?"

In CIC, Tigh takes issue with Lee's presence. "Why aren't you in the brig?" "I'm on duty, sir. Planning the search and rescue mission." "For who? We lose a plane, and nobody tells me?" "For our Raptor crew down on the surface of Kobol, sir?" "Simes is senior pilot now. He can plan the SAR." "You asked me to command the air group when I'm on duty. And I'm on duty. So am I in command, or not?" Tigh asks for the status of the SAR and Lee tells him he doesn't know where Raptor 3 went down. "The only realistic chance we have of finding her is to hope that her transponder disaster beacon is still functioning. I intend to take two Raptors, one with medical personnel, and make five low level orbits of the planet." Tigh asks about the Baseship that Sharon destroyed and Lee stated that it was confirmed by Racetrack and gun camera footage from the Raptors.

Gaeta wants to talk to him about the press. "They're demanding to know how much longer we plan on holding them, and when they can contact their home ships." "They're in no position to demand anything. You tell them to shut their yaps. We'll get to them in due time." Dualla informs him that the Zephyr has requested possition to land. "Evidently the Quorum of Twelve is aboard. They're demanding to see you." "They demand?" Lee comments, "Demanding job, commanding a battlestar." "Clear them to land. Put them in the Wardroom and hold them there until I have time to see them." Laura is in pain from the chamalla withdrawal. Venner asks what's wrong and Billy responds, "I don't know, but she's clearly sick. You can see that, can't you?" "Well, there's nothing I can do." Billy asks her, "Can I get you anything while you're in the brig?" "No, thank you. I'm sorry. I'm finding it... hard to think. It's withdrawal." "The chamalla?" "Yes." "I'm trying to get you more." "Go fast."

On Kobol, Baltar imagines he is in his house on Caprica and argues with Number Six. "It's all so pointless. We kill them. And they kill us. So we kill more of them. They kill more of us. What's the point anymore?" "You and your race invented murder. Invented killing for sport, greed, envy. It's man's one true art form." "You've done some killing of your own, I think." "Yes, well, we're your children. You taught us well." "Why does God want to bring a child into this kind of world anyway?" "Because, despite everything, despite all of it, he still wants to offer you salvation. Our child will bring that salvation, but only if you accept your role as her father. And her guardian." "I"m not ready for that. All right? I'm not a father, I'm not a guardian. I'm not a moral leader capable of leading anyone, let alone a baby." "Be a man, Gaius? Whatever else you are, you are that. The time is coming when you'll have to act like one." Cally counts six missiles being carried into the sitek, and Tyrol points out a tree stump 45 degrees site east of the launcher. "It looks like a dradis dish... It's probably salvaged from the nose cone of the ship. They're building an anti-aircraft battery... The Galactica's gonna send a search and rescue team. When they do, that's at least two Raptors doing a low pass over the crash site. When those Raptors come looking for us..." "Cylons will shoot 'em down."

In the Hangar Bay, Lee informs Tigh, "Seven birds down for repairs. Three out on picket duty with the CAP." Tigh asks, "How long before you launch the SAR?" "I'm cannibalizing 305 for parts. Should be up in the air in, I don't know, 90 minutes." "90 minutes?! We got men down on that frakking planet! Get your head in the game. You do your job, or go back to the brig." He asks Dualla, "Are all the members of the Quorum in the Wardroom?" "All twelve, sir." "Don't suppose you wanna do this for me?" "Never was much for public speaking, sir."

In the Wardroom, he meets with the Quorum. Sarah Porter asks him why he's imprisoned the President, and Marshall Bagot asks why they are in the Wardroom under guard. "Laura Roslin suborned mutiny and sedition aboard this ship. She caused a key military asset to be lost at a critical moment. The Commander felt he had no choice but to remove her from power." Bagot tells him, "You don't seem to be listening, Colonel. It does not matter what Adama felt. He had absolutely no authority..." Tom Zarek interupts Bagot. "Adama knew exactly what he was doing. He was paving the way to declare martial law and usher in a military dictatorsihp. Isn't that right, Colonel?" "I can't speak for the Commander. He's still in surgery." "Well, you seem to be giving the orders around here. So what exactly are you planning to do? Are you declaring martial law?" "Absolutely not. I know for a fact that the Old Man hated the very idea of martial law. He believed in freedom and democracy and all that good stuff." "Well, since this is still a... democracy, and all that good stuff, I move that the Quorum demand immediate access to President Roslin." Zarek the motion and it is passed unanimously. "I will take your demand under advisement."

Laura is in the brig talking to herself when Ellen visits her and asks if she's all right. "I just came down to see if there was anything I could do for you. Anything I can get you?" "I would like to have a conversation with my attorney. Could you arrange that?" "Yeah, sure, right," she laughs. "Laura, do you know where you are?" "I'm in jail." She asks Laura if she knows her name and Laura asks if they've met. "Excuse me. There's just a ringing." She then curls up into a ball and starts rocking, and Ellen leaves just as Billy arrives.

On Kobol, Crashdown describes the device the Cylons are building. "The launcher looks like a simple point-and-shoot. No built-in guidance. Ordnance appear to be standard ship-to-ship missiles. They're modifying them for atmospheric flight." Cally adds, "One Cylon sentry walks the perimeter, stopping at regular intervals." Baltar informs him, "The dradis dish that controls the missiles is on the 4.5 KG wavelength, judging by the diameter. It's guarded by two centurions." Crashdown asks him to confirm the details, and Baltar replies, "I saw two centurions through the field glasses, continuously, for five minutes. In that time they didn't leave their post." Baltar has a flashback to just moments before, when he drops his binoculars, after which the centurions left their position. Crashdown tells them, "So there's three toasters near the launcher. Two more out by the dish. That's a lot of Cylons." He orders his team to attack the Cylons. "We owe it to Socinus and Tarn to attack the frakkers before they kill anyone else. We have equal numbers. We have the element of surprise. Therefore, we have the initiative. We can attack at the time and place of our choosing."

Tyrol asks to speak to him in private, and Baltar reveals to Seelix, "I've never fired a gun in my life." "I haven't fired one since basic." Cally adds, "I just joined to pay for dental school." Tyrol tries to talk him out of it. "Basic ground assault was a long time ago. For all of us. Those aren't training officers out there. They're programmed killing machines." Crashdown wants to take out the launcher before Galactica's search and rescue party arrives. He tells Baltar, "I don't want to attack the launcher either, but it's our duty. We owe it to the rescue party, and we owe it to Socinus and Tarn." Later he goes through a formal briefing on the attack plan, and Baltar calls the entire plan absurd. "We're taking on the Cylon army, are we? Look at us. What, with two rifles and a canteen? Have you lost your mind?" "That's enough, doctor." "Is it? Look, no disrespect, but why are we always going uphill? Does anybody else think that this plan is frakking nuts?" He asks for a show of hands and Tyrol tells him it isn't a democracy. Baltar replies, "We've already lost two men, Chief! How many more people are we gonna lose?" Tyrol then orders him to shut up.

In the brig, Laura continues to talk to herself. "I have been given the opportunity to perceive the scriptures more clearly. Anything that impedes that, I have to view as contrary to the survival of the human species." Billy tells Venner she obviously needs her medication, but Venner is listening to her words. "Sounds like she's talking about the scrolls of the prophet Pythia. Pythia foretold the rise of a leader. A leader who would lead all humanity to salvation. So say the gods." "You seem to know a lot about the scriptures." "I'm from Gemenon. We believe in the literal truth of the scriptures." "Corporal Venner? There's a drug that priests sometimes use. It's called chamalla extract." Tigh is in his quarterswith Ellen and pouring himself a drink. "I got a boatload of politicians and press demanding to see Laura Roslin." "Let 'em. She's crazy." "I know." "No, no. Really, Saul. She's lost it. I just went down to the brig to see her." "You did?" "She's completely nuts. She doesn't even know where she is any more... You should let 'em see her. The press, the Quorum, all of 'em. I mean, the little schoolteacher's mind has gone bye-bye. And the Vice President is either missing or dead. That leaves you in unchallenged command of this ship. And this fleet." "Just until the Old Man gets back on his feet." "Of course.

In CIC, Dualla clears Lee's search and rescue team to jump to Kobol. On Kobol, Baltar imagines he is in his house on Caprica. Number Six reveals to him, "One of you will turn against the others." "During the mission?" "Yes." "One of us will betray the others?" "Yes." "During the attack?" "Yes." "But if the attack fails?" "You'll die." "Not me. I am God's instrument." "God turned his back on Kobol. Turned his back on man and the false gods he worshipped. What happens on Kobol is not his will." Crashdown tells his troops, "Saddle up. It's time to junk some toasters." They look below and see five Cylons, and Tyrol remarks, "Maybe there are only five Cylons. They just changed their deployment. They brought the two that were guarding the dish down here. Now the dish is unprotected." "Gods, Chief, that dish is, like, almost a klik away." "So what? It's unprotected. We can go take it out. We don't have to take on the whole Cylon army."

At that point, there's a boom, as Galactica's Raptors enter the atmosphere. Crashdown orders his team to attack the Cylons and they refuse. He pulls a gun on Cally's head. "You're going out there or I'm gonna blow your brains out. Right here, right now. I'm gonna count to three." Tyrol orders him to drop his weapon. A gun fires -- it was Baltar's gun, and he has shot Crashdown dead. The Cylons overhear and start shooting. Tyrol orders them to fall back, and Number Six says to Baltar, "Now you're a man." Seelix is hit, and Tyrol is shot in the leg and drops the rocket launcher as he nears the dish. Baltar (who is shooting at the Cylons) picks up the launcher and gives it to Tryol, who then destroys the dish. Cylon missiles have been launched but are not locking onto Lee's Raptor. Tyrol is still firing at the Cylons when they explode. He turns around and see that it is Lee's Raptor which has blown them up.

In CIC, Dualla tells an inebriated Tigh that the Quorum is demanding to see Laura. He responds and laughs, "Maybe we should tell them to shove their demand up their collective asses. How about that?" "I need instructions to the sentries. They're asking how to respond." "Tell them that they are going to see what has become of their precious president." In the hallway he remarks to the Quorum, "Viewing time at the zoo." Zarek comments, "Glad to see you hold the President in such high esteem." "Your day's gonna come, laughing boy. Let's go." The Quroum arrives and she reads a prepared statement. "The attempted military coup against the lawful government of the Colonies is illegal, ill advised and clearly doomed to failure. I have not resigned the presidency and I will fight this action with everything at my command." Tigh interrupts her, "She's crazy, she's nuts. She thinks she's a prophet or some such nonsense. Just ask her, she'll tell you. Just listen to her. What was it, uh, the Arrow of Apollo will open the Tomb of Artemis, or some such nonsense?"

"Everything I've done is consistent and logical. We have found Kobol, we have found the city of the gods, and when we retreive the Arrow, we will open the Tomb of Athena and we find the road to Earth." Sarah Porter asks, "Madam President, have you read the Scrolls of Pythia?" "Many times, and I humbly believe I am fulfilling the role of the leader." Tigh tries to usher them out when Zarek tells Porter, "You represent Gemenon, you know more about the scrolls and the scriptures than anybody else here, why don't you speak up?" "The scrolls tell us that a dying leader will lead is to salvation." Tigh remarks, "She's not dying. She's crazy" but Laura responds. "I am dying. I have terminal breast cancer. Dr. Cottle will verify the diagnosis. I have a few months to live. And in that time, I will lead the people to salvation. It is my sole purpose." Porter and other Quorum members kneel by the bars and try to touch her. "Praise be to the gods. Here is our salvation." At this point, Tigh orders the Quorum escorted out and back to their shuttle. She turns to Venner and says, "Thank you, Corporal." "Thank the gods."

On Kobol, Tyrol hands Apollo the dogtags of the fallen. "It's a hell of a butchers bill, Chief. How did Crashdown die?" Baltar answers, "Leading the charge. He gave his life in the finest tradition of the service." Tyrol adds, "Yeah. He was a hero. To the end." Number Six tells Baltar, "I'm so proud of you, Gaius." "Why? 'Cause I've taken a life?" "It's what makes you human." "Is it? Not conscious thought? Not poetry or art or music, literature? Murder. Murder is my heritage. Is that the lesson I'm supposed to pass on to our child." "Shh. It'll be all right, Gaius." He is upset and doesn't like what she's told him and is taking his time entering the Raptor. She tries to say something to make him feel better. "I'll be your conscience." Baltar finally enters the Raptor, and it departs from Kobol.

In sickbay, Cottle gives Tigh his prognosis. "He'll live." "When will he wake up?" "Knowing him, when he damn well wants to, probably." "I really frakked things up for you, Bill." He holds a press conference and gives them the following speech. "The events which took place aboard Colonial One are unfortunate. Laura Roslin's actions in suborning mutiny and sedition among the military could not be tolerated. Therefore Commander Adama was left with no choice other than to remove her from office. Miss Roslin is now resting comfortably aboard this ship, where she will remain until such time as the Commander deems otherwise. As it appears obvious that the government cannot function under the current circumstances, I have decided to dissolve the Quorum of Twelve. And as of this moment, I have declared martial law." Everyone is shouting, and he orders a Marine, "Get those people the hell off my ship."

Ron Moore's Commentary

8/5/2005 -- I'll be trying to get back do "Fragged" at some point. I think "Fragged" is one of my favorite shows of the whole season, I'd love to do commentary on that. (source: Resistance podcast)

9/2005 -- He has a significant role to play in the early season episodes. He has a unique role within the fleet when we had stories about civil unrest and ships turning against one another. Zarek as a character was a natural to put in that mix and give a voice to people who were apposed to what was going on with Galactica. This year, we just have more strife-filled civil atmosphere among the fleet, so its easy to put Zarek in the middle of it as an established character there I can pull in. (source: Dreamwatch)

9/16/2005 -- This president starts to have visions and a religious experience, and she believes there's some validity to it... and she reads these scriptures and goes, "You know what? This makes sense. These pieces seem to light up. This is like a big jigsaw puzzle and if you start to put these elements together they start to form a pattern. And I can see that... She doesn't really have the personal experience and connection with God, or her gods, like say [President] Bush does... I don't know that Laura really believes that there are literal gods, and that they are divine entities that are guiding her and that she is in touch with the divine. I think she just goes, "Well, I don't know why this all works but it sure seems to work, so we should do this because it looks like it's going to help us all survive." She kind of approaches it more practically. (source: Now Playing)

9/30/2005 -- We're going to continue to reprise Richard [Hatch]. He just works really well for us. He's a good character, a good actor, and he works well in the show. We don't have a lot of people that are recognizable faces out there in the civilian fleet, and [Zarek's] one of them, so it helps us connect with that population outside of Galactica. (source: Now Playing)

3/5/2007 -- Question: Which dead character do you miss the most?

Crashdown. No question. Let it be said that I miss all those we have lost, but Crashdown remains the one that hurts.

Commentary

A medic tells Dr. Cottle that two 9mm bullets hit Adama. "This one lacerated the spleen, the other one nicked the aorta."

Tigh has issues with Lee planning the search and rescue party, preferring his own candidate, Simes (the senior pilot).

According to Number Six, God wants to offer Baltar salvation. "Our child will bring that salvation, but only if you accept your role as her father. And her guardian." This is Baltar's response: "I"m not ready for that. All right? I'm not a father, I'm not a guardian. I'm not a moral leader capable of leading anyone, let alone a baby."

Tom Zarek pushes Tigh on the martial law issue. Tigh admits that the Old Man hated the very idea. "He believed in freedom and democracy and all that good stuff."

Cally joined the military to pay for dental school.

Venner describes the contents of the scrolls of the prophet Pythia. "Pythia foretold the rise of a leader. A leader who would lead all humanity to salvation. So say the gods." He is from Gemenon and believes in the literal truth of the scriptures.

Laura claims she is fulfilling the role of the leader in the Scrolls of Pythia. Sarah Porter of Gemenon explains, "The scrolls tell us that a dying leader will lead is to salvation." Laura states that this is his her sole purpose. She also describes Tigh's takeover as a military coup and informs the Quorum that she has not resigned the presidency. Not long after that, Tigh dissolves the Quorum of the Twelve and declares martial law.

This is an exchange between Baltar and Number Six on murder. "You and your race invented murder. Invented killing for sport, greed, envy. It's man's one true art form." "You've done some killing of your own, I think." "Yes, well, we're your children. You taught us well." Number Six believes that the ability to murder is what makes one a human. "Now you're a man" was her response to the killing of Crashdown. Baltar rebels against the notion. "Is it? Not conscious thought? Not poetry or art or music, literature? Murder. Murder is my heritage. Is that the lesson I'm supposed to pass on to our child." She says that she will be his conscience.

Tom Zarek is once again supported by his closest allies, Sarah Porter of Gemenon and Marshall Bagot of Virgon. Bagot seconded Zarek's motion for access to the President.

"Tom Zarek is challenging Tigh's authority and leadership, and his declaration of Martial Law. The storyline speaks to the huge issue of balancing individual freedom with survival, something those of us in the United States are all familiar with right now. And even though Zarek's highly competitive with Laura Roslin, he has tremendous respect for her, and in this case it's civilian vs. military, so I'll let you guess where he falls in that struggle." -- Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek) on 7/14/2005 (source: Robert Falconer)

"A lot of the stuff written in season one and season two are very much 'ripped from the pages.' The producers will read things that go on in other parts of the world and in the military. They either have been in the military or family members, or they've studied a lot of it. So they get a lot of real-life situations and translate them into stories for the show. My character in particular is caught in the middle, leading a group of people but still having to take orders. He's sort of absolved of responsibility if a bunch of people die because he can say that he was following orders. What I like about the character is that the writers at least have him say something. He'll say, 'This is wrong or I just need this or that.' At least he can walk away saying that he did everything that he possibly could." -- Aaron Douglas (Chief Tyrol) on 8/10/2005 (source: New Age Media Concepts)