Return to Kobol

Lore & Background

The original visit to Kobol explores the heavy burden of legacy as the surviving humans face the ghosts of their ancestors, discovering the Temple which holds clues to the path forward. It is a moment where religious prophecies collide with military strategy, though the full identities of the 'Final Five' are not revealed until Season 4's 'No Exit.' The journey strips away the illusion of separation between human and machine, revealing that both species are bound by ancient sins. Contrary to popular belief, Cylons were not hiding on Kobol for decades; they were actively searching for Earth throughout the series.

In Their Own Story

The airlock hissed shut, sealing out the vacuum of space as Commander Adama stepped onto the dusty regolith of Kobol. Before him lay the ruins of a civilization that predated the Twelve Colonies, silent and broken under an alien sun. The silence was heavy, broken only by the crunch of boots on ancient stone and the distant hum of Cylon engines overhead. He looked up at the sky, where the Colonial Fleet hung like a fragile shield against the darkness, unaware that the enemy they hunted had been waiting here for thousands of years, watching from the shadows of their own creation.

Reader's Guide

The arc begins when President Roslin and Commander Adama decide to return to Kobol after receiving a signal indicating Cylon presence. A landing party, including Gaius Baltar and Number Six, descends to the surface to investigate the ruins while the fleet engages a hidden Cylon Basestar in orbit. On the ground, the team discovers that the planet is inhabited by Cylons who have been living there since the original rebellion. They locate the Temple of Five, an ancient structure containing murals depicting the history of humanity and the Cylons, which reveals the existence of a thirteenth tribe destined to find Earth. The surface mission turns into a desperate fight for survival as Cylon forces attack the landing party. Meanwhile, in orbit, the Galactica and other Colonial ships struggle against the Cylon fleet, leading to significant losses. The climax involves a race against time to retrieve the coordinates to Earth from the temple before the planet is destroyed or the team is captured. Ultimately, the mission succeeds in uncovering the truth about the Final Five and securing the path to Earth, but at a high cost. The events solidify the alliance between certain humans and Cylons while deepening the mystery of their shared destiny, setting the stage for the final journey.

Did You Know?

• The murals in the Temple discovered in Season One primarily depict the Twelve Colonies and the Arrow of Apollo; the story of the Thirteenth Tribe leaving Kobol is revealed much later in Season Four.
• Gaius Baltar's relationship with Number Six is tested during the Season One mission as they confront the reality that their shared visions may be a Cylon construct or a genuine spiritual connection.
• The arc reveals that the Temple was discovered in Season 1, debunking myths that it was found during a later return mission.
• Samuel T. Anders is best known for leading the human resistance on New Caprica in Season 3; he does not appear until Season Two and has no role in the original Season One journey to Kobol.