“Baltar’s Escape” is episode twenty-one of season one of the classic series of Battlestar Galactica.
Adama is talking about the prisoners from Terra taken in the previous episode, “Greetings from Earth: Part II”. Adama considers the Eastern Alliance to be as equally oppressive as the Cylons. The Council wants to release the prisoners and send an unarmed peace envoy with them to Luna Seven. Adama is concerned that they Council is going to repeat the mistakes that resulted in the destruction of the Colonies.
Adama is heading to the prison barge to speak to Commandant Leiter. Leiter says Adam has no right to detain him. Adama wants a few questions answering. Leiter says they are at war with the Nationalists, who want to change the natural order. There are two types of lifeforms, the strong and the weak. The Eastern Alliance is the strongest force in the universe and they were created to rule all life. He agrees the Galactica is powerful but they can still take it down. Adama says they’d need at least a thousand destroyers; Leiter nearly says how many they have. Then Adama is told the interrogation is over and wants to see him immediately.
Baltar sees them go, and in the mess hall speaks to the Nomen from “The Man With Nine Lives”. He knows they are planning an escape and can help. They agree to listen. Baltar wants to head to the Alliance; he knows the Galactica and her commander and will be welcomed with open arms. He’s told his record does not inspire confidence, but the Nomen do agree. To escape, they will momentarily die.
The Council claims to want to honour Adama with the Star of Kobol. He refuses; their quest is not over and now is not the time for honours. The Council believes the Eastern Alliance are peaceful. Adama is also told that the emergency declared when the Colonies were attacked has been voted to be rescinded. And a civilian member of the Council, Siress Tinia, will assist Adama on the bridge.
On the prison barge, when it’s heard the Alliance prisoners are to be transferred, the Nomen die, then revive and take down the guards as well as free Baltar.
On Galactica, a shuttle is being arranged to retrieve the Alliance members. Siress Tinia overrules Tigh’s decision to have four warriors accompany them; Council security will be sufficient.
Baltar wants to head to the Galactica first to take hostages. And, as pretty much can be guessed, all the decisions that the Council and Siress Tinia make that overrule Adama prove to be really bad ones. At least they admit this.