Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo 3

: After years of silence, the Cylons have returned, and their first strike at the fleet has cost the life of Galactica's favourite son, Apollo. As the grieving Galacticans struggle with their loss, and Starbuck contemplates reckless revenge, Adama must find focus and contemplate the odds: the Cylon threat is stronger and more insidious than ever before. Unless the fleet can defeat or outrun the Cylons, humanity will soon be as dead as his beloved son. Shocking drama and continuity-shaking military SF action from the acclaimed cosmic creative team of Abnett and Dietrich Smith.
== Plot ==
* Captain reports to Commander 's quarters following his incident with Sephoni in 's brig the day prior. Adama notes that he won't hold Starbuck's actions against him, provided they do not recur. 
* Starbuck appreciates the gesture, and begins his pitch to Adama to mount a rescue for Major . Adama cuts him off, noting that he has all the evidence he needs to confirm Apollo's death.
*Starbuck persists in his argument, sharing Xam's message with him: a set of coordinates with Apollo's name. Adama discounts the event as being anything but evidence, and is not open to trusting other psionics given what happened.
*Starbuck continues to argue, noting that Dr. Madusa herself believes that Sephoni was the one deceived by artificially generated Cylon psionic propaganda. Adama, wary of further discussion, offers Starbuck a drink.
*Starbuck accepts, and Adama begins with admitting that he gives Starbuck a hard time because Starbuck's deportment reminds him of Tigh, much to Starbuck's surprise. Adama was to Tigh what Apollo was to Starbuck; Tigh, like Starbuck, was an intuitively superior pilot. 
*Adama compliments Starbuck on being "everything a should be," and notes that he values the captain both as a son and an officer. 
*Adama notes that, with Apollo gone, Starbuck is the most senior flight officer in . As such, Starbuck's attention needs to be focused on its security. 
*Importantly, Adama does not want to have false hope on Apollo's fate, and thus Adama will never sanction an investigation or mission to recover Apollo. 
*He asks Starbuck to keep Xam's message quiet, and then tells Starbuck to expect the ragging to continue tomorrow as he leaves.
*Outside of Adama's quarters, waits to hear from Starbuck. Starbuck tells her that Adama will not be swayed, and they head to see the others.
*Athena and Starbuck conspire with , , Breena and to rescue Apollo, leaving unawares of this operation. 
*Starbuck recruits Sephoni, both apologizing for their actions previously. Starbuck brings Sephoni to visit Xam, and is able to confirm that Xam's message is real, and not Cylon propaganda.
*After leaving the medical ward, Sephoni accosts Starbuck in a corridor, having surmised his intentions to recover Apollo and informing him that she is going with him to make amends for her mistake.
*Ten centars later, Tigh informs Adama that the Fleet is taking a half-turn and Red Squadron is launching on a routine recon, as authorized by Athena on Boomer's request. Tigh also informs Adama that, per the Blue watch log, the Cylon transport is being scuttled as it takes up space on the flight deck. 
*Adama questions Starbuck's recorded intent to mine and leave the transport in the Fleet's wake to surprise any pursuers, but doesn't pursue the line of inquiry with Tigh.
*At a range far from the Fleet, Greenbean, Sheba, Breena and Boomer take Starbuck's lead and head toward Apollo's coordinates. Accompanying Starbuck are Athena and Sephoni.
*They reach the coordinates in four centars. Starbuck pilots the transport towards the super basestar. Sephoni confirms that Apollo is present and alive. Athena hands Sephoni a laser pistol as the transport reaches the security marker.
*Sephoni divines the proper security code and they proceed. Starbuck instructs Boomer to begin their diversionary attack, thus beginning their earnest rescue of Apollo.
*The trio of infiltrators disembark following Starbuck's assurance that the quartet of Viper pilots can handle their own. Athena makes her first Cylon kill during the incursion, blasting a hole in the center of a Centurion's head. 
*Starbuck mockingly complains that Athena started without him, and the firefight begins.
* 
== Notes ==
=== Releases ===
* An additional exclusive subscription variant cover (Cover D) featuring the work of Ardian Syaf was made available to "comic shop subscribers and limited to initial orders."
===Artworks ===
*Mike Mayhew's original artwork for "Cover A" was done in watercolor on 11" x 17". It was listed for sale on 22 November 2014 and has since sold for an undisclosed amount.
*A preliminary painted version of "Cover A" was done in watercolor on 8.5" x 11". It was listed for sale on 22 November 2014 and has since sold for an undisclosed amount.
=== Corrections ===
* The error in Apollo's coordinates (that share the same coordinates as Taurella) at the end of the previous issue is rectified; the coordinates now read "436:221:314:460" with "APOLLO LIVES" on the following lines.
* 
=== Errata ===
* As with previous Dynamite Entertainment installments, there is a juxtaposition of visuals between the Original Series and the Re-imagined Series. The corridor backgrounds depicted in the corridor that and Sephoni walk through are reminiscent of the Re-imagined Series' Pegasus.
=== Nods ===
* The racks from which Raiders are suspended are designed in the form of the resurrection ship, a Cylon ship from the Re-imagined Series.
*Starbuck's quip about training pilots is a nod to his involvement as instructor in "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I," following the debilitation of Viper pilots by an unknown virus. Notably, another Starbuck, Kara Thrace, is also given the task of training pilots following an incident that kills a swath of Galactica's pilot corps.
* 
== Analysis ==
* This clandestine mission marks the second time Starbuck has infiltrated a Cylon basestar, the first being "The Hand of God." Further, he has been aboard a craft prior, for he was captured by both Baltar and Lucifer in "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I."
*Athena takes on the role that would have otherwise been Sheba's, further solidifying that the romance between Sheba and Apollo has since cooled.
*Starbuck's retort to Athena aboard the super basestar regarding his training Boomer and other pilots is interesting, considering that the only pilot he could've trained (from the group) would have been Breena. Sheba, Boomer, and Greenbean were already trained. 
* 
== Questions ==
* What have the Cylons done with Apollo? 
* Why did they rescue him from certain death? 
* 
== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
* Adama speaks candidly to Starbuck:
*:Adama: I give you a hard time, Starbuck, and I think that sometimes my tone towards you masks my real feelings. I do not know how many things we need to thank you for. You are everything a Colonial Warrior should be. 
*:
*:Starbuck: Permission to well-up a little, Commander?
*:
*:Adama: Granted. Starbuck, my son loved you as a brother. Thus, I love you like a son. As a Commander, I value you beyond price for your skills and tenacity. With Apollo gone, I need you more than ever as a senior flight officer. In that formal regard, Starbuck, I would like you to consider the following things.
*:
*:One, the security of the Fleet is paramount, we are moving fast, desperate to avoid detection by this new Cylon threat and its so-called super base-star. I need every Viper pilot I've got.
*:
*:Two, Apollo is dead, and that fact is confirmed. I've lost him once, 'Buck, don't give me false hope and then make me lose him all over again.
*:
*:Three, we have been deceived by psionics. It's not a trap we should fall into twice. Four, I know how much you like to play the long-shot, the big odds. I know how much you want Apollo to be alive. But I will not sanction an investigative mission. I have lost both of my sons to the Cylon menace. I will not lose you too, not on a fool's errand.
*:
*:I will not lose another son. Even if he isn't my own blood.
== Related Imagery ==
=== Covers ===
File:BSGDOA03COVAMayhew.jpg|alt=Cover A by Mike Mayhew.|Cover A by Mike Mayhew.
File:BSGDOA03COVBSmith.jpg|alt=Cover B by Dietrich Smith.|Cover B by Dietrich Smith.
File:BSGDOA03COVCRamondelli.jpg|alt=Cover C by Livio Ramondelli.|Cover C by Livio Ramondelli.
File:BSGDOA03COVDSubSyaf.jpg|alt=Cover D by Ardian Syaf.|Cover D by Ardian Syaf.
File:BSGDOA03COVEIncenSmithBW.jpg|alt=Cover E by Dietrich Smith. (B&W Incentive)|Cover E by Dietrich Smith. (B&W Incentive)
File:BSGDOA03COVFIncenSyafBW.jpg|alt=Cover F by Ardian Syaf. (B&W Incentive)|Cover F by Ardian Syaf. (B&W Incentive)
File:BSGDOA03COVGIncenSmithRed.jpg|alt=Cover G by Dietrich Smith. (Red Monochrome Incentive)|Cover G by Dietrich Smith. (Red Monochrome Incentive)
File:Mayhew Original Artwork - BSGDOA03.jpg|alt=Original artwork for Cover A by Mike Mayhew.|Original artwork for Cover A by Mike Mayhew.
File:Mayhew Original Artwork - Painted Prelim - BSGDOA03.jpg|alt=Original painted preliminary artwork for Cover A by Mike Mayhew.|Original painted preliminary artwork for Cover A by Mike Mayhew.
=== Preview Pages ===
: Please Note: These are used for promotional purposes by the publisher, and are provided here in the same vein.
File:BSGDOA031.jpg|alt=Page 1.|Page 1.
File:BSGDOA032.jpg|alt=Page 2.|Page 2.
File:BSGDOA033.jpg|alt=Page 3.|Page 3.
File:BSGDOA034.jpg|alt=Page 4.|Page 4.
File:BSGDOA035.jpg|alt=Page 5.|Page 5.
== External links ==
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==References==
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Category:Dynamite Comics (TOS)
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