Litmus (Battlestar Galactica)
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| “Litmus” | |
|---|---|
| Battlestar Galactica episode | |
 Adama terminates the inquiry |
|
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 6 |
| Written by | Jeff Vlaming |
| Directed by | Rod Hardy |
| Production no. | 106 |
| Original airdate | UK: November 22, 2004 US: February 11, 2005 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "You Can't Go Home Again" | "Six Degrees of Separation" |
| Episode chronology | |
"Litmus" is an episode of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series.
[edit] Plot
Survivor Count: 47,958
Aboard Galactica, Commander Adama and Col. Tigh narrowly avoid being killed in a suicide bombing by a Cylon copy of Aaron Doral. The agent came aboard with a group of civilians and somehow acquired explosives from a small arms locker, killing a marine guard in the process. His task was made easier as Galactica security had not been officially informed that Cylons can look human now.
After the explosion, Adama orders a wide ranging independent tribunal to examine this and other recent breaches of security even though President Roslin has reservations regarding how these tribunals can get out of hand. The Galactica master at arms Seargeant Hadrian is given the authority to conduct the inquiry as she sees fit.
Both Adama and the President also reluctantly decide to inform a shocked fleet that some Cylons have human appearance. Roslin appears before news cameras with pictures of Doral and Leoben Conoy (a Cylon agent Adama discovered back on Ragnar Anchorage).
Elsewhere, Galactica-Boomer and Chief Tyrol continue their illicit relationship in secret, despite Tigh's order in the previous episode to end it, and are in fact together in a secluded area of Galactica when the bombing occurs.
Meanwhile, on Caprica, Helo searches for Caprica-Boomer who disappeared after the Cylon attack. Boomer, is actually safe nearby and secretly meeting with copies of the Cylon agents Number Six and Number Five. Number Five's comments suggest that there is a plan to have Helo fall in love with Caprica-Boomer. If Helo departs without searching for Caprica-Boomer, he will show that he does not love her and will be killed. As Helo begins to flee alone he changes his mind, and turns around to begin to search for Caprica-Boomer. The Cylons arrange for him to find her, which he does, and rescues her destroying a Cylon Centurion in the process.
Back at the fleet, Dr. Baltar pays Lt. Starbuck a visit in the infirmary where she is recovering from her crash. Not in the mood for his company, Starbuck muses that the Cylon bomber might have been after his "secret detector project," since the attack occurred near his lab. This shocks Baltar. In his mind, Baltar demands from Number Six to know why the Cylons are after him and his project when it was her idea to make it. Number Six points out that the Cylons don't know about her and Baltar and operate independent of her.
Elsewhere, the independent tribunal continues its work. After it is discovered that a security hatchway was carelessly left open allowing access to a small arms locker where the Cylon gained the explosives used, the inquiry finds suspicion in many members of the crew. Chief Tyrol, Galactica-Boomer (who used the doorway to avoid their secret romance being brought to attention), and then eventually Adama himself (for his lax security measures and allowance of poor discipline amongst the crew) are challenged.
At this point, Adama terminates the inquiry saying that it has become a "witch-hunt." As he moves to leave the tribunal witness chair Seargent Hadrian instructs the Corporal of the Guard to restrain the commander. After a moments consideration he refuses to do so and instead follows Adama's instructions to confine to quarters the master at arms, Seargent Hadrian, definitively ending the inquiry.
The President announces to the fleet the results of the inquiry. One of Tyrol's men is stripped of rank and put in the brig for admitting to negligence and leaving the crucial hatch to the small arms locker open. Adama also knows that this crewman lied in order to try and cover for Tyrol during the inquiry. Tyrol cannot tolerate this outcome and tells Galactica-Boomer that their relationship is officially over. He will not cover for her any more, especially not at the expense of the people under his command. Tyrol asks Sharon directly if she left the suspect security hatchway open. She refuses to answer and walks away.
