The Hand of God (2004 Battlestar Galactica)

Infobox Television episode
Title = The Hand of God


Caption = The battle plan against the Cylon base unfolds rapidly
Series = Battlestar Galactica
Season = 1
Episode = 10
Airdate = UK: January 3, 2005
US: March 11, 2005
Production = 110
Writer = Bradley Thompson & David Weddle
Director = Jeff Woolnough
Guests =
Episode list = Episode chronology
Prev = Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down
Next = Colonial Day

"The Hand of God" is an episode of the reimagined "Battlestar Galactica" television series. It shares its title with the last episode of the original series.

Plot

Survivor Count: 47,905

Facing a critical fleet-wide fuel shortage, Commander Adama sends Raptors out to other systems to scout for tylium deposits. Lt. j.g. Crashdown and "Galactica"-Boomer locate tylium on a nearby asteroid but find it is already being mined by the Cylons who have established a base there. It is clear that they need the fuel for their own fleet as they are far from their home world.

While President Roslin gives a press conference regarding the fuel shortage, she sees snakes on her podium and cuts the conference short. She speaks with Priestess Elosha, who says that her dreams and visions are referred to in the sacred scrolls by the prophecies of the oracle Pythia. In the scrolls, Pythia declares that the human race will undergo exile and rebirth, and will be guided to their new homeland by a dying leader.

Although others think they must continue the search for tylium elsewhere, Adama decides to attack the heavily guarded base and Capt. Apollo and Col. Tigh plan the attack. At Commander Adama's instigation, they involve Starbuck who devises a new "out of the box" approach. President Roslin personally approves the final plan.

Meanwhile, Dr. Baltar studies a reconnaissance photo of the Cylon tylium refinery. Because timing is crucial and radiation from the detonation of a nuclear warhead would render the tylium useless, a single, focused blow must be dealt through conventional weapons only. It is, however, unknown which structure should be destroyed. After his imaginary version of Number Six tells him that "God" will guide his hand, Baltar points to an apparently random structure in the photo, inwardly quaking at his absolute ignorance of what he is pointing at.

Starbuck is frustrated that she is unable to take part in the raid herself due to her crash landing injuries, and tells Apollo her doubts about his flying lead in this critical mission. She believes that he lacks her own brand of inspired improvisation in combat and overthinks his tactics.

The Colonials distract the bulk of the Cylon Raiders with a decoy tactic leaving the base vulnerable to Viper attack. A primary raid is led on the asteroid until a second wave of raiders attack. The Vipers start to return to the Galactica also causing the first wave to leave their attack on the frigates and head towards the Galactica themselves. It is at this point revealed that Apollo and 9 other Viper fighters are hidden on one of the decoy frigates so when the raiders are heading towards the Galactica these Vipers lead the attack on the asteroid. Apollo leads the raid on the refinery but the squadron takes several casualties due to the base defenses. The Viper's guided missiles are jammed by the Cylons, requiring them to maneuver in much closer to try and hit the base. Apollo sees an opportunity and executes a Starbuck-like reckless maneuver, flying down inside the mine tunnels to completely avoid the base's heavy defenses. He strikes at the target pointed out by Dr. Baltar, whose "guess" is proven correct with the instantaneous destruction of the Cylon base. The victory gives the fleet several years of fuel, and the vindication of divine intervention gives Baltar another religious epiphany. Believing he is a divine instrument of God, his sympathy for the Cylon's cause begins to grow, if not his general mental health.

Back on Caprica, Helo and Caprica-Boomer hide in an abandoned stable. Helo wakes up astonished to see the blond woman, (Number Six), who had been killed by Caprica-Boomer during his "staged" rescue, leading a group of Centurions toward their location. Helo and Caprica-Boomer flee immediately.

External links

* at the Battlestar Wiki