“Precipice” is episode two of season three of the new Battlestar Galactica.
Roslin is in a cell when Gaius enters. He brings in a chair for her and a human guard in a balaclava brings one in for Gaius. Gaius explains that everyone of importance has been locked up. In the previous episode, “Occupation”, Tigh ordered a suicide bombing of the New Caprica Police graduation. Gaius says this is contrary to everything they believe in. He wants them both to condemn it. Roslin won’t. But nor, it seems, can she look Gaius in the eye and say she approves. Afterwards, Gaius tells the guard to give Roslin her shoes and get her out.
New Caprica Police, led by Jammer, are met by one of the Cavils. The Cavil asks Jammer if he understands his orders and says the Cylons have their back.
Tyrol, Anders and Tigh are waiting to make contact with Galactica‘s Raptor. Food rations have been cut and the market is being shut as it’s a potential target. One that Tigh was planning to hit it seems. Tyrol is not happy as the market is full of civilians. He asks which side they’re on. Tigh’s answer is not reassuring. Contact is made with the Raptor and a sitrep sent.
Cavil has a list of people for Jammer and the others to arrest and take to detention. Jammer recognises some of the names. He orders his people to mask up. Cavil says that people will see them as heroes eventually. Jammer says to himself that they won’t tonight. Cally is one of those taken and Tyrol comes back to find her gone.
There’s a meeting on Galactica to plan a move against the Cylons on New Caprica. The Cylons have removed the launch keys of the grounded Colonial ships and making new ones will take too long. The best solution is to find the originals; they probably haven’t been destroyed. Apollo thinks dropping heavy weapons with the insurgents would be a mistake. There are only five Base Ships now; with heavy weaponry the Cylons will bring more.
Tyrol is talking to Gaeta about Cally and asks how he does it, works for the Cylons. Afterwards, Jammer shows up and Tyrol speaks to him. Tyrol says the human cops are traitors. Jammer says that some – him – may be in over their heads. Tyrol thinks they’re idiots. He asks if Jammer knows any names. Jammer lies. Tyrol says that Gaeta is a collaborator and guys like him will be strung up whilst guys like Jammer and Tyrol tie the knots. When it’s Gaeta who’s the one supplying information and Jammer who’s the collaborator.
Starbuck is with Leoben. He’s decided to show her how precious life is. Does she remember the breeding farm on Caprica? The one Starbuck destroyed in “The Farm”, yes. Leoben says they saved some things. Like Starbuck’s ovary. He brings in a young girl. Starbuck, meet Kacey. Kacey, meet Starbuck. Her mother.
On Pegasus, Dee is commenting to Apollo on the officer liaison Adama is sending to New Caprica. Apollo thinks that’s logical. The problem is who is being sent. Apollo takes a look and heads to Galactica to speak to his father.
Because the person being sent is Caprica Boomer. Apollo thinks the whole thing is a reckless gamble. They still have 2,000 civilians in the fleet and they’re the ones to guard. The logic for sending Boomer is that Centurions can’t distinguish between her and the other humaniforms. The humaniforms carefully programmed the Centurions to avoid their own robot uprising. Adama understands what Apollo is saying, but they have a responsibility to the people left behind.
Apollo reminds him that President Roslin said their first responsibility is to the survival of humanity. If they go to New Caprica and lose, humanity stops. Admiral’s stars don’t give Adama the right to make that gamble. Adama agrees. He wants Pegasus and the civilian fleet to resume the search for Earth. But this time he can’t live with leaving people behind.
Roslin doesn’t approve of the suicide bombings, but Tigh won’t stop. The Cylons want to take stronger measures, with only Number 6 and Boomer dissenting. They get outvoted. Starbuck is unsure how to cope with her half-Cylon, half-human daughter.