Hey, the Galactica has a war room. And it's got a big T-shaped table which I bet they use to play space-hockey. It's currently set up with a map of the Cylon base, and on the map are a bunch of little model Raiders and Vipers on plastic stands. I like all of this, because it's fun and reminds me of all the planning-for-battle scenes in movies like Cleopatra. In the podcast for this episode, Moore spends some time explaining that, on the one hand, you want to have some interesting battle tactics, but on the other hand, it's hard to convey anything too complicated given time and budget restrictions. And I agree with all of that, and I think this is a good way to compromise and establish what's happening in the battle. I am amused that I associate the idea with movies set in ancient Rome, and Moore references it as a technique used in World War II movies. My two complaints were both discussed in the forums, but firstly, they've got a 2D board representing 3D space. I don't need holographic CGI fanciness, and I understand that they want to keep it simple, but a second clear plexiglass level above the table would be enough to acknowledge that third axis. The even more trivial quibble is, who's making all the cute model ships? Because later we're going to see that they've even got models of the civilian freighters.

So anyway, it looks as if Apollo and Tigh are about done presenting their attack plan to Adama and Starbuck. Starbuck sniffs, "It's a textbook-perfect plan. Which is why it won't work." Tigh snarks about her experience, and asks her to remind him when she graduated from War College. Starbuck sips her coffee and asks, "What's the matter, Colonel? Married life not all you expected?" I like how, true to form, Tigh questioned Starbuck's experience, and she made fun of his personal life. Adama puts a stop to the bickering and explains, "I let Starbuck in here because she's not weighed down by conventional thinking. All due respect, gentlemen, we're not as crazy as she is." Eh. Adama asks Starbuck what she'd change about the plan. Starbuck say, "Jumping Galactica in behind the planetoid to hide it from the Cylon base is an obvious move." Apollo translates that to mean that the Cylons may have patrols in that area. Starbuck says, "I would." She says that they should incorporate the patrols into their strategy: "Make their tactics work for us." Apollo and Tigh trade a look, which I'll interpret as "We still hate her, but she has a point." Starbuck starts to outline her own plan.