“Water” is episode two of season one of the new Battlestar Galactica.
Boomer is sitting, in a dripping wet flight suit, staring at nothing. Then she startles into movement, seemingly surprised she’s dripping wet and not knowing where she is. She opens a duffel bag and finds a towel and her uniform. And what looks like a bomb, from which she removes a detonator.
Changed into her uniform, Boomer enters the flight deck and greets Cally. However, Boomer thought it was evening and it’s actually 0545. Boomer enters a small arms locker and removes a case to put the detonator back into it. There are another six empty spaces, though. Elsewhere, the missing detonators arm.
Colonel Tigh is searching for part of his uniform as someone is announcing that Colonial One will arrive in 30 minutes. He marks several fingers on a bottle. Apollo is also getting ready and has a flashback to destroying the Olympic Carrier in the previous episode, “33”. Apollo speaks to Commander Adama, who tells him that happened three days ago; ancient history, under the circumstances. Adama tells his son that you take responsibility for your actions, right or wrong, and accept the consequences. And live with them every day.
Colonial One docks and President Roslin tells Billy she doesn’t like the circus but will let Adama do it because it will make Adama more comfortable and easier to deal with. Billy thinks that’s smart. No; it’s politics. Billy tries to compliment her outfit. She tells him he doesn’t understand women.
In CIC, the president is speaking to everyone as Dualla announces the Virgon Express is docking. Boomer wants a word with Chief Tyrol and they head into a room. By her face, Cally at least knows what they’re up to. Commander Adama is telling the president that Galactica‘s water recycling is virtually 100% effective and they have enough water for several years. The same cannot be said for other ships in the fleet, and they need to top off periodically.
Boomer tells Tyrol about the missing detonators, who says they need to tell the Master at Arms. Boomer didn’t, because she’d be suspected. In CIC, Billy is demonstrating to Dualla that he really doesn’t understand women. Apollo tells Roslin that the ceremony was his father’s idea; she thinks the commander is enjoying it. Apollo tells her his father isn’t; he hates this stuff but is making a gesture to make Roslin feel like the president. Boomer is explaining to the chief who thinks someone is setting her up to take the fall. She was drugged or manipulated or something. Boomer is worried people will think she’s a Cylon agent. They’d be right, and it seems some don’t even know they are. Then the detonators trigger and Galactica vents water into space.
After examining the damage, it seems they’ve lost 60% of their water. It will now last six days; only two for the ships dependent on Galactica. Roslin asks Gaeta if he has any theories and Adama tells him it’s okay to guess. His guess is it was weakened by the Cylon nuke during the first attack. They need to survey nearby systems for water.
In one of the blown tanks, Cally has found something that looks like burn marks. Tyrol tells her it’s too early to tell.
Tigh is reporting there are five systems within practical jump radius that have planetary bodies. Roslin asks him how likely it is they have water. Not very it sounds like. Gaius briefs them on how much food is needed and water. Per week, not per month. Chief Tyrol reports that there were five explosions and he had the inventory spot checked. Six detonators were missing; one is unaccounted for. They may never know who took them. There is a worry that if this gets out, people will start accusing each other of being Cylons.
On Caprica, Helo is with the Boomer Cylon who rescued him from a Number Six. It’s not clear why she shot Number Six; it might have just been to look good or perhaps they have different goals. Cylon Centurions have found her Raptor. That means they can’t get to it, and therefore Helo won’t discover it isn’t their Raptor.