Gaius Baltar

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Gaius Baltar
James Callis as Gaius Baltar
Race	Human
Gender	Male
Portrayed by	James Callis
First appearance	"Miniseries"
Rank	Caprica delegate to the Quorum of Twelve (Episode 1.11) Vice President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol (Episode 1.11 - 2.20) President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol (Episode 2.20 - 3.04) Marine on board Galactica (Episode 4.20)
Colony	Born on Aerelon, relocated to Caprica

Gaius Baltar is a fictional character in the TV series Battlestar Galactica played by James Callis, a reimagining of Count Baltar from the 1978 Battlestar Galactica series.^[1] He is one of the show's primary characters.

Contents 1 Personality 2 Character biography 2.1 Early life 2.2 The destruction of the Twelve Colonies 2.3 Scientist for the Fleet 2.4 Vice-Presidency 2.5 Campaign for the Presidency 2.6 Presidency on New Caprica 2.7 Life among the Cylons 2.8 Trial 2.9 Return to civilian life 2.10 Cooperation with Colonial government 2.11 Redemption 2.12 List of controversial actions 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Personality

Gaius Baltar's character and outlook change dramatically throughout the series, though many things about him remain constant. Baltar is narcissistic and a habitual womanizer.^[2] He regularly uses a well-developed acting talent to spin yarns on virtually any subject when he feels the need. Early in the series, his claims are accepted at face value due to his educational background and intelligence. In the final season of the series, Baltar expresses regret for having been a "profoundly selfish man" and that his work as a spiritual leader is his "last chance at redemption".

When the series began, Baltar was either an atheist or an agnostic, but he begins to consider the existence of God to be a possibility due to the events in the first season episode "The Hand of God". Though he appears less certain about the existence of God in the fourth season episode "He That Believeth in Me", he still prays to God to take his life in the place of a sick child. Later, the child is suddenly healed. This, as well as his miraculous escape from sudden death when Head Six asks if his prayer was sincere and her insistence that he spread monotheistic beliefs, turn him into a monotheist. His statements in the episode "Escape Velocity" suggest his monotheistic beliefs are more specifically panentheism.

[edit] Character biography

[edit] Early life

Gaius Baltar is from the colony of Aerelon, a largely agricultural world known as the "food basket for the twelve worlds". He was born and raised on a dairy farm outside of the town of Cuffle's Breath Wash. At the age of ten, finding the Aerelon dialect (demonstrated by James Callis to be a coarse Yorkshire accent) to be detrimental to his career dreams, he trained himself to speak with a Caprican dialect (Callis' usual Received Pronunciation) in hopes one day he might be considered a citizen of one of the more respected and wealthy colonies, Caprica specifically. According to his account, Baltar left Aerelon after his 18th birthday. He eventually brought his father Julius to Caprica to live, but the man was too proud of his rustic and rural heritage to handle living there.^[3]

Baltar eventually became a brilliant computer scientist and an important defense researcher on Caprica, and a personal friend to President Richard Adar. He was perhaps best known for his controversial views on research into Strong AI, saying in an interview: "The ban on research and development into artificial intelligence is, as we all know, a hold-over from the Cylon Wars. Quite frankly, I find this to be an outmoded concept; it serves no useful purpose except to impede our efforts".

[edit] The destruction of the Twelve Colonies

At the onset of the show, he is involved in an intense sexual relationship with a beautiful blonde woman. Believing her to be working for a corporation in the defense industry, and desiring a more permanent relationship with her, he gives her access to the Colonial defense mainframe so her employers can have an advantage in future contract bidding. In exchange for his access to government mainframes she helps him design a navigation program used by Colonial warships, covertly creating backdoors in the program.^[2] When the Cylons attack, they are able to penetrate software security firewalls, disabling entire fighter squadrons outright and sabotaging vital capital-ship systems. On the day the Cylons attack humanity, she reveals she is an advanced Cylon, model Number Six (later known as Caprica Six) and she used the information given to her to shut down the Colonial defenses. Baltar manages to survive the nuclear explosion that destroys his home due to Caprica Six using her body to shield him.^[4]

Having unintentionally brought about the near-annihilation of the human species, Baltar flees Caprica when Karl Agathon gives up his place on a Raptor, feeling that his own life is less important to save than a famed scientist's. The Raptor returns to the Battlestar Galactica, where Baltar endears himself to Laura Roslin, the new President of the remnants of the Twelve Colonies, and hopes to conceal his involvement in the genocide that has taken place.

[edit] Scientist for the Fleet

Once a part of the fleet, Baltar is haunted by visions of Number Six, with whom he converses often (cf. Head Six). It is unclear to Baltar whether these projections are from a chip Number Six implanted in his brain while they were together on Caprica (the explanation originally given by the Number Six vision, which she later disclaimed) or if she is simply a manifestation of Baltar's own mind. Although the vision of Number Six manipulates Baltar through his fear of discovery, she lends him an edge by granting him knowledge of situations. The model of Number Six who had seduced him on Caprica later experiences similar visions after her consciousness was downloaded into a new body. Whereas Baltar experienced visions of her, she experienced visions of him. Both visions acted in similar ways: they were seemingly crueler than the person they were based on and often manipulated the affected party against his or her own species.

Shortly after Baltar comes on board Galactica, Head Six reveals a device has been put in the CIC he had previously seen in possession of Six on Caprica. Six tells him it wasn't her job to put it in the CIC. Baltar realizes there is a Cylon on board Galactica, but knows he cannot reveal that information, or indicate the device is not a part of the ship without implicating himself in the destruction of the Colonies. Baltar decides to implicate a person on board who goes by Aaron Doral because he is a civilian who has had access to the CIC during the last several weeks and, as an outsider, would be more likely to not be trusted by the Galactica crew. Having already been put in charge of testing the fleet for Cylons, Baltar informs the Executive Officer he discreetly collected hair samples of crew members and has found Doral is a Cylon. Baltar, however, had no method at the time for testing for Cylons in the fleet. Baltar also explains he saw Doral doing something with a strange looking device in the CIC he does not recognize. This forces him to develop an actual method for testing the fleet for Cylons, having already 'demonstrated' an ability to do so. The process he eventually creates is reliable and is done through the testing of blood samples, but is time consuming (it takes 11 hours to test one person). This meant it would take 61 years to test the entire fleet, and makes Baltar feel his work is of little importance.

In the episode "Six Degrees of Separation", Baltar is accused of being a traitor to the human race when a flesh-and-blood Number Six (after Baltar and Head Six have a heated argument over whether or not God exists) shows photographic evidence Baltar carried an explosive device into the Colonial Defense Mainframe on Caprica, allowing the Cylons to carry out their nuclear attack. When it is found the evidence is fake, President Roslin holds a press conference publicly exonerating Baltar. Head Six tells him his public position is now stronger than ever since he has been accused of a serious crime and found innocent, and even possibly been the target of a Cylon plot. Meanwhile, the real-life Six disappears from Galactica and is nowhere to be found.

In the episode "The Hand of God", Baltar successfully helps the fleet destroy a Cylon mining base on an asteroid with badly needed tylium ores for fueling the fleet. Because the base could not be nuked (as the radiation would render the ores inert), the best plan for the attack was to destroy the part of the base holding the volatile unrefined tylium precursor (in order to create a large explosion). The planners of the attack ask Baltar to point out where it is on a recon photo, even though he has no idea what it looks like. In his mind, Baltar asks Head Six for help, but she tells him it is in God's hands and He will 'tell' Baltar where to point. Baltar then points to one of the buildings of the base, simply as a wild guess (though he doesn't tell the others that). Baltar is terrified, telling Six he didn't hear God's voice, but she reassures him "God doesn't always speak in words". Much to Baltar's surprise, his wild guess at which building held the volatile tylium precursor was correct. Baltar comes to believe the only logical explanation may be that God truly did guide his hand.

[edit] Vice-Presidency

In the episode "Colonial Day", Baltar, now Caprica's representative to the Quorum of Twelve, demonstrates surprising charisma when he attacks vice-presidential hopeful Tom Zarek on behalf of the President while being interviewed by the fleet's media. This, coupled with Baltar's newfound fame from being falsely accused of treason, convinces Roslin to choose Baltar as her vice-president over a previous choice. In the end, Baltar defeats Zarek in their race for the Vice-Presidency.

In the second season episode "Home, Part II", Baltar undergoes a brain scan similar to an MRI which reveals no sign of a computer chip or any other foreign object in his brain. While this briefly leads him to think he had truly gone insane, he then realizes the vision of Number Six he sees could not possibly be a hallucination generated by his subconscious mind because she is aware of facts his own mind could not possibly know. Number Six tells him the first Human/Cylon Hybrid will be born in the ship's brig, and soon after the Caprican version of the Cylon Sharon Valerii (pregnant with the human Karl Agathon's child) is imprisoned in it. When Baltar confronts Six with this, she states she was neither a computer chip nor a hallucination. When Baltar then asks just who or what she is, she simply replies she is "an angel of God sent here to protect you, to guide you, and to love you".

Baltar's relationship with Six was further complicated by the appearance of Gina, another Six copy who had been posing as a civilian maintenance worker on the Battlestar Pegasus. After discovering Gina, who had been repeatedly tortured and raped by Pegasus crewmembers, Baltar grows fond of her, making the illusory Six jealous. He eventually helps Gina escape from the Pegasus and arranges a place for her safety. Gina later forms a pacifist movement within the fleet, though it is noteworthy their methods are not always peaceful, and Baltar is initially reluctant to support the organization despite his affections for her. Later, however, after saving President Roslin from terminal cancer, he reads the letter she had left for him to be opened upon her death (a custom performed by all presidents, written to their successors upon their leaving office) which states he has a "selfish nature" and asking he overcome it for the well-being of the fleet. Afterwards, Baltar's vision of Number Six persuades him to give Gina and the movement a nuclear bomb Admiral William Adama afforded him in an earlier episode to use in the construction of a Cylon detector.

Having been offended by Roslin's letter, and encouraged by outspoken Roslin-critic (and Baltar's former opponent in the race for Vice-President) Tom Zarek, Baltar announces his intention to run against incumbent Laura Roslin for the presidency with the next election approaching. He does this by surprising both her and the press at a press conference after Roslin's announcement of a moratorium on abortion. Baltar hijacks the conference, establishing himself as a candidate and secular alternative to the molded prophet-like image of Roslin.

[edit] Campaign for the Presidency

Baltar, with Zarek as his close political advisor, proceeds to run a bitterly contentious campaign against Roslin. He is far behind Roslin in the polls during most of the election and is able to make limited progress only by painting her as a dangerous religious fundamentalist. With little time remaining before the election, a desolate but habitable planet is accidentally discovered in a region of space where heavy electromagnetic interference makes navigation and long-range observation very difficult. Baltar, although he has no personal desire to settle on the planet, announces that he will begin immediate civilian settlement of New Caprica if elected. With Roslin opposed to settlement on the planet, Baltar's popularity quickly rises. Fearing she will lose the presidential race, Roslin holds a private meeting with Baltar, asking to deliver a joint statement of tabling the issue of colonization until after the election (which he rejects). Roslin then confronts Baltar on whether he was with a copy of Number Six on Caprica before the Cylon attack (At the height of her illness from cancer, Roslin had a flashback of an encounter between Baltar and Number Six prior to the Cylon attack, but was not able to fully process her memories at the time). Baltar avoids answering the question and leaves.

Due to his support for settlement of New Caprica, the election promptly swings in Baltar's favor and, after an attempted conspiracy (organized by Roslin herself) to commit voting fraud fails to keep her in power, he wins a narrow victory and is sworn in as president. During the inauguration itself, Gina detonates the nuclear warhead that Baltar had given her, destroying the luxury liner Cloud 9 and killing herself in the process. Following this apparent act of Cylon nuclear terrorism, Admiral Adama urges Baltar to focus immediately on internal security and investigate how a Cylon agent could have carried out the bombing. Baltar refuses, however, and proceeds with plans for settlement.

[edit] Presidency on New Caprica

Baltar remains in office for one year, but his feelings of guilt and fear of being discovered regarding his involvement in both the fall of the colonies and Gina's suicide bombing (combined with the stress of the presidency and his inexperience in dealing with policy matters) have led him to substance abuse and womanizing, which he does not hide from his Chief of Staff Felix Gaeta. Life on New Caprica has turned out to be extremely difficult, with the civilian population living in rough conditions and shortages of basic supplies like antibiotics persisting. In addition, Baltar's government is in the midst of a major labor dispute with a union led by Galen Tyrol, who is advocating a strike for workers' rights. Baltar indicates to Gaeta he may be willing to jail union organizers if the labor disputes continue.

The political difficulties faced by Baltar's administration are soon made irrelevant, however, when a Cylon fleet arrives in orbit of New Caprica. The remaining military fleet, which has been operating using skeleton crews, jumps away, leaving New Caprica to be occupied by the Cylons. A Cylon delegation, which includes the reborn versions of both the Number Six who had originally seduced Baltar (now known by the other Cylons as Caprica-Six) and the Sharon Valerii who was originally stationed on Galactica, lands in the human settlement and accepts Baltar's surrender. When Baltar asks how the Cylons managed to detect New Caprica, it is revealed they were a light-year away when they detected the light and radiation from the nuclear explosion Gina set off the year before. Baltar has thus once again inadvertently aided the Cylons in their subjugation of humanity.

Baltar continues to hold the office of the Presidency, but only as a figurehead. Compounding his alienation to his people, he was forced at gunpoint to sign an execution order for hundreds of humans. However, throughout the occupation of New Caprica, Baltar tried to persuade the Cylons their mission to rule over the human race could not succeed and they should leave the planet. When the Colonials evacuate New Caprica, Baltar and Caprica-Six discover Hera, the child of Sharon "Athena" Agathon whom Six predicted would be born in Galactica's Brig. Roslin, it turns out, had hidden Hera's existence by falsifying her death and secretly allowing a young mother to adopt the child as her own. Baltar's rescue of the child helps him convince the Cylons to make him a member of their fleet.

[edit] Life among the Cylons

In the episode "Collaborators", we find Baltar living on a Cylon Basestar in a barless cell. Caprica-Six informs Baltar she has had a change of heart about him and has let her feelings for him cloud her judgment, presumably ending their relationship. However, by the end of the episode, it is indicated she has cast the tie-breaking vote amongst the Cylons to allow Baltar to remain alive aboard the Cylon Basestar, though it is clear they remain estranged. Over time, Baltar becomes accustomed to his new environment. Once Baltar learns that no one knows what the "Final Five" Cylons look like, he begins to suspect that he himself may be a Cylon. He admits however that this is wishful thinking on his part, because of his desire to have all his 'sins' forgiven and become a hero to another people. Shortly thereafter, Baltar is allowed to investigate a stricken Basestar that had fallen afoul of a disease because of his supposed immunity. Baltar is adamant about doing this to prove his loyalty to the Cylons and avoid death.

Once Baltar is on board the Basestar, he finds the origin of the disease—an ancient human probe. Baltar chooses not to tell the Cylons about the probe, in fear that it will implicate him in the spreading of the disease (the Basestar went to its location only because Baltar directed it there to aid the Cylons in their search for Earth). Once the probe is discovered by the Cylons, Baltar is tortured by a highly suspicious Three model known as D'Anna Biers, who uses a set of metal leads covering two fingers on his left hand, creating intense pain with no actual physical damage. During his torture, Baltar is able to induce some form of spiritual epiphany in D'Anna with the help of his Internal Six and is let go after apparently declaring his love for D'Anna while staring at his vision of Six. Afterwards, the Cylons discover the probe is too old to implicate Baltar. He subsequently had repeated ménages à trois with both D'Anna and Caprica-Six (indicating she and Baltar re-formed their relationship).

Towards the end of Baltar's stay with the Cylons, he grows much closer to D'Anna, who has become obsessed with finding the identities of the "Final Five" Cylons. Pondering if he himself is a Cylon, Baltar brushes Caprica-Six aside and aligns with D'Anna. Together, in the episodes "Eye of Jupiter" and "Rapture", Baltar and the Three models defy the other Cylon models and he and D'Anna travel to the surface of an algae planet in search for an ancient ruined temple. Three believed the temple would show her the identities of the Final Five. D'Anna appears to see the Final Five, but collapses and swiftly dies before she can tell Baltar if he is a Cylon or not. Hoping to retrigger the vision, Baltar steps onto the platform D'Anna used, when Chief Tyrol gets the drop on Baltar and knocks him out. The ex-president is then transported back to Galactica in a body bag and sent to the brig. Baltar and Caprica-Six re-establish their relationship later in the series because she took refuge with the Colonial Fleet after helping Sharon "Athena" Agathon retrieve her child, though the two are unable to meet in person as she is imprisoned on Galactica.

[edit] Trial

Roslin orders Colonel Tigh to throw Baltar out of one of Galactica's airlocks, while repeatedly demanding whether he even knew any of the people who died during his presidency. After pointing out a man along the Galactica's memorial wall (a former lab aide of Baltar's) and reciting almost encyclopedic knowledge of the man, Roslin allows Baltar to be returned to his cell. He is then subjected to a hallucinogen-based interrogation by Admiral Adama, who convinces Baltar he is drowning, and that Adama will only save him in return for information on his involvement with the Cylons. Baltar admits his unwitting complicity in the original Cylon attack on the Colonies, though without any specifics. Because his admission was extracted through illegal proceedings, this information could not be submitted at a trial. Felix Gaeta is then drafted to offer Baltar the possibility of escaping execution and getting better treatment in exchange for cooperation, as Adama, Tigh and Roslin seek to learn any clues to Earth's location that the Cylons may have obtained from the Temple. Baltar reveals he has some hold over Felix Gaeta, as he assures Gaeta his personal demons will be "our little secret" (eventually revealed in Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy), shortly before Gaeta stabs Baltar in the neck with a fountain pen (narrowly missing the carotid artery, which would have killed Baltar). Throughout these events, Baltar repeatedly demands a fair trial. Roslin finally decides to reject Adama's suggestion Baltar be made to "simply disappear" and orders him to be given a trial for his crimes, even after a warning from Tom Zarek (now Vice President) doing so will provoke dangerous unrest among the fleet's civilian and military populations alike.

Meanwhile, Baltar smuggles writings out of his cell through his lawyer, which are published in a memoir, My Triumphs, My Mistakes. In the book, Baltar attempts to explain his actions as President to the public and foment class warfare by describing the fleet as a bifurcated society, accusing the elite upper class of militarism and professional civilians of exploiting the less well-educated working class. While the book is not completed at the end of Season 3 (President Roslin confiscates several sections through repeated searches of Baltar's cell), it becomes very popular among certain segments of the fleet populace (despite Roslin's repeated attempts to suppress its distribution), including workers on the tylium refinery ship and Chief Tyrol's flight-deck maintenance crew, as well as his wife Cally Tyrol. Despite the labor difficulties Baltar experienced with Tyrol on New Caprica, the book's popularity leads to Tyrol calling a general strike and exacerbates the fleet's already strained social order.

As his trial proceeds, Baltar's first lawyer is killed in an explosion aboard a sabotaged Raptor. His second attorney, Romo Lampkin, survives a similar attempt on his life. Lee Adama (now Lampkin's security adjutant) then joins Baltar's defense team. The trial is unfair, and includes witness Felix Gaeta deliberately lying to ensure a guilty verdict (though Felix may have done so to see Baltar dead before his secret could be revealed). Throughout the trial, the defense deals devastating blows to the prosecution's witnesses, but this only further exacerbates the existing hatred of Baltar in the courtroom. Baltar rejects his defense team's suggestion to demand a mistrial saying, "there will be a verdict". Later, in the days preceding the conclusion of his trial, Baltar is informed by Caprica-Six via Lampkin that President Roslin has discussed her chamalla-induced religious visions with her and Athena.

The defense team uses the very end of the trial to try and persuade the jury (with a passionate testimony of Lee Adama) that Baltar is guilty merely of being a scapegoat for the Cylon occupation. In other words, whatever mistakes he had made as President, he is not guilty of treason. Lee Adama also mentions the fleet has forgiven numerous other persons for their mistakes because they have had to in order to ensure their survival, and Baltar is on trial only because he has become a symbol of the pain and guilt that many still feel about what happened on New Caprica. The argument is successful and Baltar is found not guilty for his crimes by a 3-2 vote, with Admiral Adama casting a vote in Baltar's favor. Roslin is disgusted Baltar is now free as she still truly believes he was involved in sabotaging the colonial defenses in the attack. After Baltar is freed from prison, his defense team abandons him. Baltar realizes despite his victories, he has neither a home nor any friends, and is alone among a fleet who overwhelmingly hates him.

[edit] Return to civilian life

Fortunately for Baltar, shortly before the Cylon fleet attacks at the Ionian Nebula, Baltar is led away to safety by three female followers of his work, one of whom had asked him to bless her sick child before his trial. He is received warmly by a group (with mostly female members) that has erected a shrine to him in an unused compartment of Galactica. Baltar quickly learns he has no other place to go, and must stay on the ship. Under the direction of his Internal Six, Baltar spreads Monotheistic beliefs among the group. After his following on Galactica is attacked by a polytheism group, Baltar (with the encouragement of his Internal Six) disrupts a religious ceremony of one of the polytheist denominations in the fleet. Later, President Roslin meets with the imprisoned Baltar to pressure him to avoid stirring up more trouble in the future. After he is released, Baltar is prevented from returning to his home by government soldiers acting under new legislation approved by the President. The legislation restricts the right to assembly specifically for Baltar's movement. Under the direction of Internal Six, Baltar keeps attempting to re-enter his home, and is subjected to repeated blows from a Galactica marine. Internal Six is shown physically lifting Baltar from the floor to a standing position; whereby camera pans across a couple views to allude to Baltar's view of the action and then the view of this action in the context of everyone else present. While we see Baltar's perspective, everyone else only sees a limp Baltar rising to a vertical posture. Their facial expressions appear to allude some sort of supernatural experience is occurring. This continues until Lee Adama arrives to inform Baltar the Quorum of Twelve has overruled the President and revoked the new legislation. Baltar goes on to preach God loves all humans regardless of their sin because everyone is perfect just as they are. Baltar then begins illegal wireless broadcasts to the fleet of his religious speeches and his popularity grows.

Shortly thereafter, Kara Thrace informs the once again cancer-stricken President Roslin the Cylon Hybrid on the captured rebel Cylon Basestar referred to a "dying leader" learning the "truth of the opera house"—the setting of the dreams Roslin shares with Caprica-Six and Athena. As Baltar's popularity continues to increase, he chooses to inform the fleet of Roslin sharing her visions with both of the long-time Cylons in the fleet. Although this development distressed Roslin, she decides to bring Baltar with her (along with Karl Agathon—Athena's husband) to the Cylon Basestar to see the Hybrid. She informs Baltar that she chose to do this because she sees him in the dreams she shares with Caprica-Six and Athena. The Basestar jumps away from the fleet the moment the Hybrid is reactivated to begin a series of jumps to reach the Cylon Resurrection Hub, leaving Baltar once again away from the fleet aboard a Cylon ship. When the Basestar jumps away from the Colonial Fleet, Roslin begins to have a series of visions involving Elosha, a deceased priestess. The visions continue to develop with each jump. Baltar and Roslin attempt to interrogate the Hybrid, provoking it to yield cryptic fragments of information. Later, during an attack on the Cylon Resurrection Hub, Baltar initiates an intriguing dialogue with his Centurion guard. Baltar attempts to proselytize his monotheistic ideas, and while the Centurion's reactions are open to interpretation, it appears that some impact is made. However, the Centurion is destroyed while partially shielding Baltar from an explosion that injures him severely.

Baltar is then taken under the care of Roslin. After he is influenced by morpha administered by Roslin, Baltar reveals the details of his involvement in the attack on the Colonies. Roslin decides to kill Baltar by leaving no pressure on his wounds. Baltar pleads to Roslin not to kill him, but he is ignored. At that moment, the Basestar jumps again and Roslin's continuing vision of Elosha on Galactica culminates in an extended discourse on the need to respect the rights of the living, even the despised. Afterwards, Roslin panics and tries desperately to save Baltar's life, acting as if he were a close friend. Baltar recovers and is then reunited with the freed D'Anna. Later, Baltar thanks Roslin for choosing not to murder him.

[edit] Cooperation with Colonial government

Following the discovery of a devastated planet Earth and Admiral Adama's support for a permanent alliance with the rebel Cylons, Vice President Zarek declares to the Quorum the "Adama-Roslin" government has been an unmitigated failure, jeopardizing the security of the fleet by allying with the Cylons in a desperate attempt to hold onto power. Zarek then introduces a motion to the Quorum (which passes by an 11-1 vote) to keep the Colonial government from forcing ship captains to accept Cylons or Cylon technology on their ships. Admiral Adama chooses to ignore the legislation and confronts dissenting ships with military force. As a result, Zarek and Felix Gaeta lead an unsuccessful mutiny on Galactica. During the mutiny, President Roslin goes to Baltar to ask if she can use his wireless transmitter to speak to the fleet and urge them to support the government. After Roslin speaks to the fleet, she and Baltar flee to the rebel Baseship while they wait out the conflict. After order is restored on Galactica, Baltar returns to his following to find its numbers dwindled and are now under the de facto leadership of Paula (although some appear to still be more loyal to Baltar). During the mutiny, the Monotheists were brutalized by mutineers. Afterward, the Monotheists comb the ship for weapons and food to hoard. Due to these developments, Baltar's Internal Six urges him to regain leadership of the Monotheists.

Fortunately for Baltar, he is able to begin an attempt at reclaiming leadership when the Monotheists take him to "Dogsville"—a part of Galactica where civilians go for the fleet's limited food supply. Baltar insists to his followers they give away all their food. Although he is able to convince them, Paula argues they will be unable to feed everyone without attracting thieves. Baltar replies good deeds are rewarded by God ten-fold. However, the group which had attacked Baltar's followers arrives armed with weapons and steal the remaining food. While Paula repeatedly insults Baltar for his actions, his Internal Six insists he attempt to persuade his followers there is a way to feed themselves and everyone else on the ship. After it is clear Baltar has managed to win everyone except Paula over, his Internal Six tells him "We can get guns". Baltar then promises his following that he will acquire numerous advanced firearms.

Having already played an important role in the Colonial government's victory over the mutineers, Baltar attempts to acquire weapons from Admiral Adama. He does this simply by stating that Galactica is slowly slipping away from Adama and then eventually he will either maintain order by giving civilians weapons or bringing Cylon Centurions to the ship. Insisting that the fleet would not accept Centurions on Galactica, Baltar is able to barely persuade Adama to agree his religious group is the only viable option for maintaining order. Although Adama repeatedly declines Baltar's offer he changes his mind when Baltar tells him "I am offering you the last human solution you will ever be presented with". The Monotheists are then armed to the teeth by the Colonial government, cementing Baltar's leadership of the group. Paula expresses amazement Baltar was able to fulfill his promise, appearing to cede her leadership role back to him. Baltar simply replies "You do good deeds and you are rewarded. You give and then you receive", in order to present the weapons as a voice of confidence from the government because of their work to feed the hungry as opposed to a pragmatic decision.

[edit] Redemption

As the civilians on Galactica are evacuated, Paula informs Baltar that thanks to their work on behalf of citizens of the fleet their movement is now popular enough to have support of a majority of the fleet's ships (indicating that most of the people have now forgiven Baltar for his role in the occupation of New Caprica and once again respect him as a political leader). However, Lee Adama's new Quorum is made up of ships' captains. Baltar approaches Lee Adama for a seat on the Quorum, but Lee refuses and demands to know one time Baltar has done something completely selfless. Baltar admits he hasn't and walks away. When Admiral Adama calls for volunteers for a rescue mission for Hera Agathon, Baltar seems to consider joining but ultimately doesn't. With Admiral Adama, Lee Adama, and President Roslin all going on a mission to rescue the recently captured Hera, it is clear Baltar would likely emerge as the new leader of the fleet in their absence.

Later, when the last Raptor leaves Galactica with Paula, Baltar decides not to go and stays on Galactica to finally do something truly selfless. Baltar is issued a rifle and is assigned as part of Galactica's reserve force alongside Caprica Six. Caprica Six admits she's proud of him for doing this and it's something she'd always wanted. The Baltar only seen by Caprica Six and the Six seen only by Baltar then appear to them and they both realize they can both see both of them, revealing these two beings are real and not a figment of the respective character's psyche after all. However, the two beings suddenly disappear.

During the assault on the Cylon colony ship, Baltar and Caprica Six defend Galactica from Cylon Centurions and find Hera who is running away in a manner that fulfills the Opera House vision (with Galactica substituted for the Opera House). They carry her through the ship to the Opera House and enter it to find themselves in Galactica's CIC with the Final Five in similar positions as they were in the vision. Cavil takes Hera hostage, but Baltar tries to talk him down attempting to convince him to end the cycle of violence. Cavil starts to falter and finally gives in when Colonel Tigh offers him resurrection in return for Hera and leaving humanity alone for good. Baltar witnesses the failed attempt to give resurrection back to the Cylons, when the Final Five merge their minds and Tory's role as the murderer of Tyrol's wife, Cally, is revealed. The link is broken and the download of resurrection technology to the Cylons is interrupted. Tyrol, enraged, kills Tory with his bare hands. Violence ensues, ending in Cavil's suicide, and renewed gunfire on the Galactica's hull. Baltar is in the CIC when Kara Thrace enters coordinates based on numeric values of the song, "All Along the Watchtower", into the Galactica's FTL computer and makes what will be the ship's final jump, bringing Galactica into orbit around a habitable planet.

Planetside, he's part of the survey crew that discovers a primitive version of humanity which evolved on the planet that the Colonials later name Earth and says they're compatible for the Colonials to breed with. Later, while observing Hera with Caprica Six, Baltar and Caprica Six receive a final visit from their ethereal counterparts. Whether they are angels or demons (or something else) is never revealed, but they do reveal they have fulfilled their role in God's plan. Gaius and Caprica Six are informed God's plan is never complete, but their lives will be less eventful from now on. Afterward, the Virtual Beings disappear for the last time. Baltar sees a spot he thinks would be perfect for cultivation (anxiously admitting his knowledge of farming) and sets off to start a new life as a farmer with Caprica Six.

[edit] List of controversial actions

Baltar's actions are repeatedly characterized by a series of actions which seemingly put him at odds with the chief protagonists of the story. In this complex role (as distinguished from the more straightforward antagonistic role of the Cylons) it is illustrative to list the pivotal actions taken by Baltar at odds with protagonist goals.

• Gave access to a classified Colonial defense systems computer program to the Cylon agent later known as Caprica Six with whom he had a two year relationship and whose Cylon heritage was unknown.
  • Result: Massive nuclear assault on the Twelve Colonies of Kobol and subsequent occupation by the Cylons. The genocide of 20 billion people, leading to the near annihilation of the Colonial civilization and leaving approximately 50,000 survivors.
  • Defense: He has no knowledge of his involvement in the genocide.

• Did not alert anyone Sharon Valerii was a Cylon.
  • Result: Various, including sabotage and the attempted assassination of then Commander William Adama.
  • Defense: The revelation could have triggered Valerii against him.

• Injected Galen Tyrol with what he claimed was a poisonous substance in order to elicit from Sharon Valerii the number of Cylon co-conspirators present in the fleet.
  • Result: Valerii provided him with the number, although she was just guessing in order to save Tyrol's life. Tyrol restored to health and apparently with no knowledge of what had transpired. Evidence Valerii did indeed have true feelings for Tyrol, which Baltar notices.
  • Defense: Baltar was attempting to gain information that could have been critical for the fleet's security.

• Released and gave a nuclear weapon to the Number Six model Cylon known as Gina.
  • Result: The destruction of the ship Cloud Nine, plus other civilian ships and the people onboard resulting in an unknown number of dead likely in the thousands. The resulting radiation 'spike' alerted the Cylons to New Caprica's location.

• Encouraged Gina to murder Admiral Cain.
  • Result: Death of Admiral Helena Cain.
  • Defense: He helps eliminate a major threat to William Adama and President Roslin.

• Manipulated at gunpoint by the Cylons in his position as President of the Colonies during the New Caprica occupation by the Cylons. This included signing a warrant authorizing the deaths of many humans, including President Roslin and Tom Zarek, but this first and only official mass execution was foiled.
  • Result: Oppression of the New Caprica residents, including death squads and political imprisonment, and unknown numbers of dead civilians resulting in a post-occupation population of just over 41,000.
  • Defense: After initially refusing to sign, in order to protect the civilians, he finally gives in with obvious reluctance and regret. It can be argued he believes he may still be able find a way to help the civilians at a later time. He never reveals to anyone the truth about the gunpoint situation, even during his trial for treason, during which the false testimony of Felix Gaeta puts Baltar's own life at risk. In American law, this action (signing the mass execution order with a gun held against his head) would be a "textbook" definition for duress. However, the Colonial law of Ronald D. Moore's setting may not have a similar concept.

• Helped the Cylons in their search for Earth.
  • Result: Directs Cylons closer to Earth based on the Scrolls of Pythia. The Cylons eventually locate the Algae planet where the Colonial Fleet was located. Baltar is discovered by troops from Galactica and knocked unconscious. Galactica discovers the "road map" to Earth, leaving the Cylons empty-handed.

• Spread propaganda and radical political ideals while imprisoned in order to win public favor in the fleet.
  • Result: Prompted disenfranchised workers to revolt and stage a general strike which highlighted inequality and forced the Caprican 'aristocracy', including the President, to allow Tyrol to continue as leader of the union.
  • Defense: It was unfair for Tylium workers not to have the right to collective bargaining, which was awarded to them by Roslin after the strike.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Gaius Baltar on Battlestar Wiki

v • d • e Characters on Battlestar Galactica Original Commander Adama · Colonel Tigh · Captain Apollo · Lieutenant Starbuck · Lieutenant Boomer · Lieutenant Sheba · Lieutenant Athena · Lieutenant Zac · Cassiopeia · Count Baltar · Imperious Leader · Lucifer · Count Iblis · Commander Cain · Serina · Boxey · Chameleon · President Adar · Cylons · Seraphs Reimagined Lee "Apollo" Adama · William "Husker" Adama · Karl "Helo" Agathon · Samuel "Longshot" Anders · Gaius Baltar · Helena Cain · Dr. Sherman Cottle · Anastasia "Dee" Dualla · Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson · Elosha · Tory Foster · Felix Gaeta · Louanne "Kat" Katraine · Billy Keikeya · Romo Lampkin · Alex "Crashdown" Quartararo · Laura Roslin · Kara "Starbuck" Thrace · Ellen Tigh · Saul Tigh · Cally Tyrol · Galen Tyrol · Thomas Zarek · #1- John Cavil · #2 - Leoben Conoy · #3 - D'Anna Biers · #4 - Simon O'Neill · #5 - Aaron Doral · #6 · #7 - Daniel · #8 - Sharon · Minor characters List of Battlestar Galactica characters