Gun on Ice Planet Zero
Encyclopedia
"Gun on Ice Planet Zero" is a two-part episode of the original Battlestar Galactica
television series. Robert Thurston
adapted the screenplay into a novel he titled The Cylon Death Machine.
Pincered between basestars under the command of Baltar
and the pulsar, Commander Adama
orders the formation of a surface unit to infiltrate and destroy the weapon. Cold-weather and demolition experts are needed, but to Adama's, Apollo
's, and Starbuck's mutual chagrin, they are also all convicted criminals serving time on the prison barge of the Galactican Fleet. Their leader is Croft, a disgraced ex-warrior; his estranged wife Leda; demolitions specialist Wolfe; and environments expert Thane.
Starbuck reprograms a computer to put himself on the team and thus try and rescue Cree, while Apollo's adopted son Boxey—with his daggit Muffit—stows away with the team. The team is attacked by a Cylon patrol and shot down but manages to escape. Centurions on the ground track down the team, but the humans are rescued by a legion of clones who identify themselves as Theta-class lifeforms. They are led by their "Father Creator"—Doctor Ravoshol—a misguided human scientist who has entrusted his "intelligence-transmitting" pulsar to the Cylons and who resists effort to infiltrate the weapon—and with Thane, Leda, and Wolfe determined to escape and bring a reluctant Croft with them.
Baltar launches two raider attacks on the Galactica—even though his basestar is barely in range to attack, and without relying on his companion basestars—in order to "push the Galactica forward", withdrawing just as his companion basestars arrive and he can begin closing in on the Galactica. He then orders Vulpa to fire the pulsar in random directions through the corridor that the Galactica and the Fleet must pass through to evade his basestars. Meanwhile, Dr. Ravoshol devises a plan with Apollo to make the gun self-destruct—but this requires Apollo to put his trust in Thane, Leda, and Wolfe. Also, Ravoshol must convince the Theta clones—who have been secretly having children, and feel they need the pulsar to protect themselves from future Cylon attacks—to help the Demolition Team
to destroy the weapon; he promises "I will protect you," confiding to Starbuck that he didn't give "everything" he made to the Cylons. Ultimately, the pulsar is destroyed, literally, at the very last second, just as the Galactica comes into its range.
Battlestar Galactica (1978 TV series)
Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction television series, created by Glen A. Larson. It starred Lorne Greene, Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict and ran for one season in 1978–79. After cancellation, its story was continued in 1980 as Galactica 1980 with Adama, Lieutenant Boomer and...
television series. Robert Thurston
Robert Thurston
Robert Thurston is a science fiction author well known for his works in popular shared world settings, most notably his Clan Jade Falcon novels of the BattleTech universe and the novelizations of the original Battlestar Galactica television series....
adapted the screenplay into a novel he titled The Cylon Death Machine.
Summary
The Galactica has been attacked recently by Cylon forces pincering the Fleet on a specific course. The Fleet thus no choice but to pass close to a planet with a Cylon garrison—Acta. As a patrol of vipers discovers, the frozen world Acta holds a dangerous Cylon pulsar cannon capable of destroying the Galactica in a single shot. Starbuck and Boomer lead the patrol with three cadets—Cree, Bow and Shields. The Cylon garrison is commanded by an exiled First Centurion named Vulpa; Vulpa orders that two vipers be destroyed and a third captured. The pulsar blasts two vipers and a trio of Cylon raiders shoots down the third (Cree). Furious, Starbuck tries to go rescue Cree but must return to the Galactica with Boomer while the cadet is captured by Cylon centurions and imprisoned in a brain probe for interrogation.Pincered between basestars under the command of Baltar
Count Baltar
In the original 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series, Count Baltar was a leading antagonist character who betrayed the human race to its enemy, the robot race of Cylons...
and the pulsar, Commander Adama
Adama (Battlestar Galactica)
Adama is the family name of several fictional characters in the Battlestar Galactica sci-fi universe.In the Original Continuity:*Commander Adama, initially member of the Council then President of the Colonies, and Commander of the Battlestar Galactica,...
orders the formation of a surface unit to infiltrate and destroy the weapon. Cold-weather and demolition experts are needed, but to Adama's, Apollo
Apollo (Battlestar Galactica)
-Original Continuity:Apollo is the son of Commander Adama & Ila. He is played by Richard Hatch who also portrays Tom Zarek in the new Battlestar Galactica. Apollo has a sister Athena, also a Warrior, and a brother Zac who was killed in a Cylon ambush prior to their attack on the 12 colonies...
's, and Starbuck's mutual chagrin, they are also all convicted criminals serving time on the prison barge of the Galactican Fleet. Their leader is Croft, a disgraced ex-warrior; his estranged wife Leda; demolitions specialist Wolfe; and environments expert Thane.
Starbuck reprograms a computer to put himself on the team and thus try and rescue Cree, while Apollo's adopted son Boxey—with his daggit Muffit—stows away with the team. The team is attacked by a Cylon patrol and shot down but manages to escape. Centurions on the ground track down the team, but the humans are rescued by a legion of clones who identify themselves as Theta-class lifeforms. They are led by their "Father Creator"—Doctor Ravoshol—a misguided human scientist who has entrusted his "intelligence-transmitting" pulsar to the Cylons and who resists effort to infiltrate the weapon—and with Thane, Leda, and Wolfe determined to escape and bring a reluctant Croft with them.
Baltar launches two raider attacks on the Galactica—even though his basestar is barely in range to attack, and without relying on his companion basestars—in order to "push the Galactica forward", withdrawing just as his companion basestars arrive and he can begin closing in on the Galactica. He then orders Vulpa to fire the pulsar in random directions through the corridor that the Galactica and the Fleet must pass through to evade his basestars. Meanwhile, Dr. Ravoshol devises a plan with Apollo to make the gun self-destruct—but this requires Apollo to put his trust in Thane, Leda, and Wolfe. Also, Ravoshol must convince the Theta clones—who have been secretly having children, and feel they need the pulsar to protect themselves from future Cylon attacks—to help the Demolition Team
Demolition Team
The Demolition Team are fictional characters, a team of comic book mercenaries in the DC Comics universe. They first appeared in Green Lantern #176 and were created by Len Wein and Dave Gibbons.-Fictional character history:...
to destroy the weapon; he promises "I will protect you," confiding to Starbuck that he didn't give "everything" he made to the Cylons. Ultimately, the pulsar is destroyed, literally, at the very last second, just as the Galactica comes into its range.
Guest cast
- Roy ThinnesRoy ThinnesRoy Thinnes is an American television and film actor best known for his portrayal of lonely hero David Vincent in the ABC 1967-68 television series The Invaders. He also played Alfred Wentworth in the pilot episode of Law & Order...
as Croft - Richard Lynch as Wolfe
- James OlsonJames Olson (actor)-Life and career:Olson was born in Evanston, Illinois and graduated from Northwestern University. He performed stage work in and around Chicago before his 1956 film debut in The Sharkfighters...
as Thane - Christine BelfordChristine BelfordChristine Belford is an American television and film actor.- Early life :Christine Belford was born January 14, 1949 in Amityville, New York...
as Leda - Dan O'HerlihyDan O'HerlihyDaniel O'Herlihy was an Oscar nominated Irish film actor.-Early life:O'Herlihy was born in Wexford, Ireland in 1919. His family moved to Dublin at a young age...
as Doctor Ravoshol - Denny MillerDenny MillerDenny Scott Miller is an American actor, perhaps best known for his guest-starring roles on Gilligan's Island and as Tarzan in the late 1950s....
as Male Thetas - Britt EklandBritt EklandBritt-Marie Ekland is a Swedish actress and singer, and a long time resident of the United Kingdom. She is best known for her roles as a Bond girl in The Man with the Golden Gun, and in the British cult horror film The Wicker Man, as well as her marriage to actor Peter Sellers, and her...
as Female Thetas - Larry CedarLarry CedarLarry Cedar is an American actor and a voice actor best known as one of the players of the highly-acclaimed Children's Television Workshop mathematics show, Square One TV on PBS from 1987 to 1994. He also played Alex the Butcher in a series of commercials for Kroger in 1989...
as Shields - Alan Stock as Cree
- Alex Hyde-WhiteAlex Hyde-WhiteAlex Punch Hyde-White is an English born, US raised film and television actor. He is sometimes credited as Alex Hyde White. In 1978 he signed with Universal Pictures as one of the last "contract players" in Hollywood, in a group that included Lindsay Wagner, Andrew Stevens and Sharon...
as Bow
External links
- Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part I at the Battlestar Wiki
- Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part II at the Battlestar Wiki