Battlestar Galactica: “A Measure of Salvation”

Title: “A Measure of Salvation”
Original Air Date: 10/10/06

Previously, Baltar reaches a new level of weasel by helping the Cylons look for Earth. The Cylons regret not taking their flu shots. Baltar accidentally on purpose doesn’t tell his new friends about the infected space trash. The humans find the lion’s head too.

Lion’s head. Apollo leads a team of raptors to check out the infected baseship. The marines make their way to the command center and find the dying Cylons all over the floor. Ignoring all signs of seriously bad mojo, Sharon decides to stick her hand in the dirty goo to talk to the computer. She tells them the computer is corrupted. Suddenly, a few of the Cylons start moving again. They form a weird circle on the floor. A sick Sharon calls Athena Sharon a traitor and then tells her about the infected beacon. Apollo and the others panic because now they’ve been exposed too.

41,420. Galactica. Doc Cottle tells Adama that they’ll have to quarantine the exposed marines. Doc wants a source of the disease so he can study it. Adama won’t let him bring the beacon on board, but they settle for some infected prisoners.

Baseship. Baltar is greeted by Xena Three and Caprica Six. They don’t take lying well. They grill him with questions about his motives. They believe he sent them there on purpose to kill them, like a mission from Galactica. Is it just me or does everyone put a little too much faith in Baltar’s abilities? He rambles off an apology. They call in Centurions anyways. In his imaginary world, FigmentSix joins him on the beach. Except this time, Baltar’s in pain. She tells him to separate his mind from his body. In reality, Xena Three is shocking him with electricity to get him to talk. Caprica Six watches and then walks away. Baltar says he loves her, but for the first time Caprica Six doesn’t take his word at face value.

Galactica. Doc Cottle clears all the humans of infection, but holds Sharon back. Helo is ticked because he’s scared. Doc goes to examine the sick Cylons. In Adama’s quarters, Doc tells Roslin, Adama, Apollo and Helo about the disease. It’s an ancient plague once carried by rats. The humans developed immunity ages ago, but the Cylon bodies can’t fight it. Doc’s got a vaccine but not a cure. Apollo doesn’t see a reason to keep them alive but Helo argues they can get information from them. They bring another Cylon into his room in chains and listen to the story of what happened last week. He name drops Baltar in the process. Now everyone’s on the Baltar’s a rat bandwagon. Apollo does the math and realizes they can wipe out the Cylons forever.

Colonial One. Apollo spells out the plan to Roslin. Find a resurrection ship, execute the prisoners, infect the race. Genocide, Helo objects. Helo and Apollo pick up the “Cylon: Mother Born or Motherboard” debate. Roslin responds that they tried to wipe out humans first. Helo utters a stupid comment about how they tried to live peacefully with them on New Caprica. Roslin gives a death glare and then leaps across her desk, slams him into the wall and chokes him. Wait, oh, Roslin’s not wearing a “What would Starbuck do” shirt today. But she doesn’t take his opinion of New Caprica lightly since he wasn’t there. She gives him a verbal lashing, but if looks could hurt it would be a swift kick to the shins. Forgive me, I’m a little tired of Helo’s soapbox. Basically he’s the only living being in the universe who thinks Cylons and Humans are equal.

Baseship. Baltar’s perception jumps back and forth between his Figment world and Xena’s little shop of horrors. Figment Six tells him to leave his body with her and leave his brain to talk science to Xena. Baltar goes on rant against god so Xena sticks a probe in his ear. Baltar tells Figment Six that he loves her but Xena hears it and thinks its for her. She’s struck surprised and then warmed by it.

Galactica. Sharon’s not sick because her once half human baby gave her the antibodies. Helo tells her about the “We Win Big” plan. On Colonial One, Adama wants to wash his hands of this decision, so Roslin gives the executive order.

Space. Galactica jumps into an open space where they’ll get caught. Helo calmly enteres a quiet place on the ship and uses his dog tags to open a fuse box. He unplugs something, tucks his soapbox under his arm and walks away. The Cylons get their invitation and show up to the party. The Vipers do a little toaster hunting, complete with a cameo appearance by Starbuck. Apollo goes to execute the prisoners but they are already dead. Galactica runs away.

Helo explains and I don’t care. As much as I love to look at Helo, he’s only got two notes about him. One is encourager to the downtrodden and two is do anything to save Sharon. More exciting is Adama and Roslin having another drink. Adama’s not going to track down who they know spoiled the plan. If they could stop talking about the Cylons for half a second they might realize how incredibly cute they are together.

Jo works a boring job in a small Texas town and reserves the right to spell it “ya’ll”. One day she’ll be a novelist, but until then you can read her sarcastic thoughts about TV at http://brickstorm.blogspot.com.