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Episode Studies by Clayton Barr
enik1138 at popapostle dot com
Battlestar Galactica: Planet of the Cyclops Battlestar Galactica
"Planet of the Cyclops"
Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack (Grandreams)
Author Unknown
Artist Unknown

The fleet searches desperately for water to replenish that which was poisoned by the strange shape-shifters.

Story Summary

Searching desperately for water to replenish that which was poisoned by the strange shapeshifters in "Switch in Space", the fleet comes to the planet Skafrax, rich in water. But Commander Adama senses a trap and orders the fleet to proceed another day farther to an unnamed system of worlds. There, they find only one desert planet with a small well of water detected from orbit. Adama orders Apollo and Starbuck down to investigate, with Boomer hovering overhead to ride shotgun.

The two warriors find the ruins of an ancient city and discover a flowing fountain...but it turns out to be only a few gallons of water recycled over and over. Their search is a bust. Then two cyclopean beings emerge from out of nowhere, claiming to be the gods of the lost race that once lived there. They promise to provide all the water the human fleet needs. But Apollo realizes it's a trap and shoots the two beings, revealing them to be the same shape-shifting species the fleet encountered in "Switch in Space". As the two warriors attempt to flee the ruins, hundreds of Cylon centurions encroach, firing their weapons. It was all an elaborate trap!

Boomer zooms down from the clouds and blasts away at the Cylons, allowing Apollo and Starbuck to attain their Vipers and escape along with him before a flight of Cylon Raiders can arrive. They safely arrive back at the Galactica, but without the water the fleet so desperately needs. Commander Adama decides they have no choice but to return to Skafrax for water. But what awaits them there?

CONTINUED IN "SKIRMISH BEYOND SKAFRAX"

Didja Know?

This story appeared in the British book Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack, a book of short stories and articles all about BSG, geared towards kids. The title of the book is derived from a 1979 theatrical release in Europe which combined the episodes "The Living Legend" Parts 1 and 2 and "Fire in Space" into one movie.
Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack

"Planet of the Cyclops" is part two of a 4-part story which began in "Switch in Space" and continues in the remaining two comic book stories contained in this volume.

Notes from the BSG Chronology

This story takes place seven days after "Switch in Space".

Didja Notice? 

On page 1 of the story, Adama's uniform seems to have only half of his pendant/emblem on his chest.
Half pendant Adama's pendant
Half pendant Full pendant

Except for the alien figures depicted in the hieroglyphics, the unnamed desert planet Apollo and Starbuck land on seems to be a lot like Kobol, complete with ruins (although in this case, possibly more Greek-like than Egyptian).

Before the shapeshifters have revealed themselves to Apollo and Starbuck on page 4 of the story, notice that there are subtle hints of their presence on page 3, panels 2 and 4. 

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