The Cylons aren't fighting back, instead, a couple of Cylon ships break through the vipers and attack the Galactica directly. The fire rages through the huge Galactica's interior, cutting off the game room and threatening the vital inner workings of the ship. Still, Salik is reluctant to operate on his commander because of the ship's unstable condition.
Power outages make surgery too risky.
But the Galactica's power plant and explosive storage remain in jeopardy, and the rest of the ship's fate along with them. The viper mission fails. Tigh visits Adama in the Life Center. Adama's condition is deteriorating, but through his weak voice we can hear his wisdom intact. As Apollo and Starbuck don spacesuits and begin a weightless travail to place the explosives at strategic points on the battlestar's exterior, the fire continues to rage.