Battle of the Algae Planet

Battle of the Algae Planet
Cylons and Colonials converge on a planet containing the Eye of Jupiter
Cylons and Colonials converge on a planet containing the Eye of Jupiter
Summary
Conflict:	Second Cylon War
Date:	Fourteen days into algae harvesting
Related Episode(s):
Place:	The Algae planet
Result:	Colonials gain Earth waypoint, Hera Agathon retrieved, Boxing of all Number Three units
Galactica, Vipers, Raptors surface: 1 Raptor, approx. 12 Marines, Unknown number of drafted civiliansorbit: Four basestars, associated Raiders, Heavy Raiders surface: 1 Heavy Raider, at least six Centurions" Combatants Remnants of the Colonial Fleet Cylons Commanders Admiral William Adama Basestar command Strength orbit: Galactica, Vipers, Raptors surface: 1 Raptor, approx. 12 Marines, Unknown number of drafted civilians orbit: Four basestars, associated Raiders, Heavy Raiders surface: 1 Heavy Raider, at least six Centurions Materiel Losses 1 Raptor damaged Supplies left on planet 2 Heavy Raiders several Centurions Casualties Two casualties on planet from Centurion fire Cylons disable all Number Three units
[[Colonial battles chronology ({{{series}}})|Battle Chronology]]
Previous Next Battle of NCD2539 Battle of the Algae Planet Unknown

A discovery of a mysterious religious artifact leads to a temporary (as of yet) standoff between Galactica and Cylon forces.

Shortly after the Temple of Five is discovered during day 14 of the Colonial Fleet's food-collection operations on the Algae planet, four Cylon basestars jump into orbit. Admiral William Adama orders all civilian ships to jump to emergency jump coordinates as the Cylons discreetly deploy one Heavy Raider to the planet's surface.

After a wireless transmission from the basestars to Galactica, Gaius Baltar, a Number Three, a Cavil, and Boomer of the basestars' command group come to Galactica in order to negotiate for control of the Eye of Jupiter, reported to be in the temple. The Cylons claim that if they gain possesion, they will leave the Fleet alone and turn over Baltar. Admiral Adama delivers an ultimatum: make any move and he'll destroy the temple with a nuclear strike. For the moment, no agreement is reached, and the Cylons and Baltar leave Galactica.

The Cylons soon jam all Colonial wireless frequencies. On the surface, Major Adama develops a plan to defend the temple and their base camp, placing Samuel Anders in command of all civilians present, and using Captain Thrace's Raptor, the only one on the surface, for reconnaissance.

Meanwhile, Centurions from the first Heavy Raider have established a surface-to-air missile battery and shoot down Thrace during her recon.

Six Heavy Raiders are deployed from the basestars toward the planet as part of the Cylons' plan to both defend Baltar and D'anna who are heading to the temple and to test Adama's supposed bluff of nuking the place.

Admiral Adama prepares Galactica's missile launchers to fire seven nuclear missiles at the surface (missile tubes 4 through 10), obliterating the temple, as he had promised during the failed negotiations; the Cylons debate whether Adama is bluffing (The Eye of Jupiter).

The Cylons fail to call Adama's bluff. They recall all but one of the Heavy Raiders (an internal dispute with their Number Three units and the other Cylons prevent the last recall). Admiral Adama rescinds the missile launch.

On the planet, Starbuck is shot down after she encounters a Cylon missile battery. Luckily, the Raptor is structurally intact after the crash, but its fly-by-wire system is damaged and the pilot has serious burns to her hands, making it impossible to fly.

A command-unauthorized attempt at the rescue of Hera Agathon is conducted by her parents. Taking advantage of her heritage as a Cylon, Sharon Agathon is shot by her husband, whereby she downloads aboard the Resurrection Ship, effectively transporting there without Cylon fighter intervention. Agathon is able to retrieve the child,

Lieutenant Anastasia Dualla is assigned SAR detail with another officer, who is killed in a sniper attack. Dualla manages to reach the Raptor, and, after repair, return Starbuck to Galactica, despite her lack of flight training.

Major Adama's team place bombs within a narrow trail where the terrain would require any enemy forces to walkthrough. Three Cylons enter the kill zone, but detect the bomb before all of them are inside the zone. The Colonials dispatch one Centurion, and two retreat, but the Colonials suffer another casualty. After a later offensive by the two remaining Cylons, Major Adama calls for a withdrawal of Colonial forces and the destruction of the Temple.

When the forces activate the ordnance, nothing happens. A small Cylon team, including deposed president Gaius Baltar entered the Temple moments before and removed the G-4 detonator caps.

The Cylon's official intention, to retrieve information on the whereabouts of Earth, are ignored by the Number Three copy in the Temple. A Cavil model assigned with the group attempts to kill the Three, but Baltar kills the Cavil unit.

The Colonials witness the sun of the planet go nova. Not wishing to be caught in the explosion, all of the Cylon forces jump away. The star's appearance tells the Colonials that the star itself, not anything within, is the Eye of Jupiter marker. The Colonials quickly investigate the Temple to find Baltar (who is rendered unconscious and captured) and two dead Cylon agents.

All Colonials are quickly retrieved by Raptor back to Galactica with the imminent destruction of the algae planet from its home star's nova shockwave. The Fleet's leadership are able to use the information about the nova to discern the next waypoint: the Ionian system.

The Cylon, failing to obtain information from the Temple due to the unauthorized actions of the Number Three units, intentionally deactivate all Number Three models throughout the Cylon race.

Notes

• Galactica departs Ragnar Anchorage with five nuclear warheads. One warhead is cannibalized to create Gaius Baltar's Cylon detector (Bastille Day) and ultimately detonated by Gina on Cloud Nine (Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II). A second warhead is used to destroy a Cylon basestar above Kobol in "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II", leaving Galactica with three. Galactica probably obtained additional warheads from Pegasus at some point prior to her destruction in "Exodus, Part II".