Baltar's Escape

Baltar's Escape is an episode of the TV series, Battlestar Galactica.
== Plot ==
=== Act 1 ===
Cpt. Apollo and Lt. Starbuck shuttle Commander Adama to the Prison Barge to question their recently captured Eastern Alliance leader, Commandant Leiter. Cmdr. Leiter recognises Cmdr. Adama as an outsider, and explains to him the conflict between the Eastern Alliance and those he dubs "Nationalists", who are rebelling against the Alliance's hegemony in favour of independence. As the Alliance ideology considers the universe's natural order to be of the strongest and smartest against the weak and unintelligent, the handful of people on Paradeen were a serious threat. Cmdr. Adama is intrigued by this information, albeit without understanding of his bear and wolfpack analogy as he does not know what bears and wolves are. He tries to confuse Cmdr. Leiter by exposing the major flaw in his ideology, that if the Eastern Alliance represents the most powerful force in the universe, what explanation can be given for Galactica, a ship Cmdr. Adama estimates will require a thousand Alliance ships on par with Leiter's to destroy. Cmdr. Leiter is not intimidated, though accidentally implies the Alliance fleet is considerably less than a thousand ships. When he demands the immediate release of himself, his men and their ship, they are interrupted by Security Chief Reese, who has received orders from the Council of Twelve to suspend the interrogation due to a pressing council meeting.
Soon after the interrogation, it is time for the prisoners' feeding in the ship's cafeteria. Count Baltar has been given kitchen duties, and serves everyone their meals. Recognising three Borellian Nomen, he sits with them after to discuss an escape attempt, pleading to their egos that they could escape whenever they wanted but lack someone like Baltar to give them somewhere to go. They are interested in his offer, and he continues, pointing out the Eastern Alliance crewmembers who are to be transported by Shuttle to Galactica shortly. He proposes they start a prison riot, hijack the Shuttle and take it straight to the Eastern Alliance, where Count Baltar can arrange their safety by offering tactical information on Galactica. The Borellians agree to help, on the condition they be treated as co-partners and not Baltar's followers.
=== Act 2 ===
On Galactica, Cmdr. Adama arrives at the Council meeting where he is presented with the Star of Kobol, a medal honouring his services to the fleet. Siress Tinia brings forward the matter of the day, the end of marshal law and the return of powers to the civilian government, which will require Tinia to stand on Galactica's bridge as a government representative and overseer.
Back at the Prison Barge, an escape ensues. The Borellians have already knocked out the security guards and released Baltar as well as the officers of the Eastern Alliance. Lieutenants Boomer and Sheba are ordered by Adama to transfer the Eastern Alliance from the Prison Barge to the Galactica to meet with the Council of Twelve for an unarmed peace envoy via shuttle, where they get irritated by the presence of two 'Blackshirts'. In retaliation, Boomer screws around with the shuttle to teach the security guards a lesson. 
=== Act 3 ===
Boomer's shuttle prepares to pick up the enforcers, and are quickly hijacked by the Nomen. At the bridge, Colonel Tigh is increasingly uncomfortable around Tinia, who does not want any warriors in the launch bay when the Alliance arrives. Tigh decides to go to the Officer's Club, where he informs Apollo and Starbuck of their current situation while ordering two rounds of grog. The shuttle arrives at the launch bay, where the Council stands ready to greet them with open arms. However, it was all but a ruse, as the representatives find themselves captured by the Enforcers as Baltar and the Nomen head their way to the bridge. The four never make it and retreat back to the shuttle following their crossfire with Apollo and Starbuck, who then inform the bridge what had just happened.
Baltar then opens the channel to the bridge and demands Adama a ransom: A release from the Fleet in his Cylon Raider. If the demands are not met, every hostage will be killed in the shuttle, starting with Lieutenant Boomer. 
=== Act 4 ===
Apollo and Starbuck have only one centar to help Doctor Wilker rebuild the two Cylons that were captured along with Baltar but then they discover a way to thwart Baltar's plan after a Cylon accidentally smashes a control panel to a scanner that Doctor Wilker orders him to turn on. Meanwhile, Adama offers surrender to Baltar in exchange for one more centar. Both Tigh and Tinia protest, and the latter decides to go along as she is just another council representative.
However, Adama plans to have the Warriors attack the hijackers in order to release the hostages. The plan is revised by Tigh, who orders the shuttle to be launched at once under Apollo's request. Both the Nomen and the Enforcers escape in their craft, but when one of the Cylons in Baltar's captured Cylon Raider destroys the launch button, it allows a brief moment of disorientation for Baltar, allowing Apollo and Starbuck to recapture him, revealing it was all the Cylon's idea. Tigh is back in the Officer's Club sitting with Apollo, Starbuck, Sheba and Boomer when Adama suddenly shows up holding arms with Tinia, causing Tigh to order a round of grog while the other warriors laugh.
==Production==
== Cast ==
Actor 	Character
Richard Hatch 	Captain Apollo
Dirk Benedict 	Lieutenant Starbuck
Lorne Greene 	Commander Adama
Herbert Jefferson Jr.	Lieutenant Boomer
John Colicos 	Count Baltar
Terry Carter 	Colonel Tigh
Ina Balin 	Siress Tinia
Lloyd Bochner 	Commandant Leiter
John Hoyt 	Sire Domra
Robert Feero 	Bora
Anthony De Longis 	Taba
Lance LeGault 	Maga
Bruce Wright 	Guard
John Dullaghan 	Dr. Wilker
Ron Kelly 	Security Officer Reese
Sarah Rush 	Flight Corporal Rigel
David Greenan 	Flight Officer Omega
Mitchell Reta 	Control Operator
Paul Tinder 	Fifth Guard
Paul LeClair 	Second Guard
Anne Lockhart 	Lieutenant Sheba
== Sources ==
==Notes==
*Anthony De Longis would later go on to play the Kazon warrior Culluh in the Star Trek: Voyager episodes "State of Flux", "Maneuvers", "Alliances", "Basics, Part I" and "Basics, Part II".
==External links==
*Transcript at ByYourCommand.net
*Baltar's Escape at NBC.com
Category:Original Series episodes