[furiously] You swore the same allegiance! What happened to your oath? For seven years, I have done my frakking job and for what? [indicates Colonel Saul Tigh] To take orders from a Cylon? To let machines network our ship? No, you... you are not the leader you were when we started. You're just a sad old man who has let his heart and his affection for a Cylon cloud his judgment.
Adama
I want you all to understand this! If you do this, there will be no forgiveness. No amnesty. This boy [referring to Jaffe] died honoring his uniform. You, you'll die with nothing.
[Adama and Tigh are escorted to the brig by two Marines]
Admiral William Adama
[to the Marine walking behind him] It's Neward, isn't it?
PNPrivate Neward
That's right, sir.
Adama
I thought I remembered you. Marine. You put it on the line when we took New Caprica.
NNeward
It got pretty hairy down there-
PMPrivate Maldonaldo
Hey! Screw the war stories!
Adama
I remember you too, Maldonaldo. Big mouth. Not much of a soldier. That doesn't matter, because when this is over, there's gonna be a reckoning. And live or die, it's how you act today that's gonna matter. [abruptly stops walking and turns to face Neward] So what's it gonna be, Neward?
NNeward
[hesitantly] Admiral, don't do this.
Adama
I'll be damned if I'm gonna let a guy like you run me off my own ship. You want to shoot? Go on. Let's see if you've got a pair.
"Admiral?" "Admiral?" [reaches up to undo his rank insignia] You're the admiral now. So you call up Roslin. Make her laugh. [tosses his insignia onto the command panel]
...You never let me down, Saul. I can't blame you for...being what you are. Especially since...it includes being the finest officer and friend I've ever had. The ship never let us down. So we're gonna send her off in style.
The old man... Hmph. Ellen was right: if anyone's old around here, it's me. Two thousand years...and counting! And I still got my own teeth. [bares his teeth for Adama to see; chuckles. Adama smiles.] So, we're gonna do this, eh?
It's a rich continent. More wildlife than all the 12 Colonies put together. Just looking for a quiet place for that cabin. Maybe a garden...I don't have much of a green thumb so I hope that you do- [sees Roslin dead; she passed away while Adama was speaking]
[reads reports Adama just gave him] This is a joke. The Fleet's playing a joke on you, it's a retirement prank, come on!
Adama
[glares at Tigh] I don't think so. [starts shipwide PA] This is the Commander. Moments ago, this ship received word of a Cylon attack against our homeworlds is underway. We do not know the size or the disposition or the strength of the enemy forces, but all indications point to a massive assault against the Colonial defenses. Admiral Nagala has taken personal command of the fleet aboard the Battlestar Atlantia following the complete destruction of Picon Fleet Headquarters in the first wave of the attacks. How and why doesn't really matter now. What does matter is that as of this moment, we are at war. You've trained for this. You're ready for this. Stand to your duties, trust your fellow shipmates, and we'll all get through this. Further updates as we get them. Thank you.
I'm going to be straight with you here. The human race is about to be wiped out. We have fifty thousand people left and that's it. Now, if we are even going to survive as a species, then we need to get the hell out of here and we need to start having babies!
[Adama's speech at the funeral services on Galactica.]
Adama
Are they the lucky ones? That's what you're thinking, isn't it? We're a long way from home. We've jumped way beyond the Red Line, into uncharted space. Limited supplies, limited fuel. No allies, and now, no hope? Maybe it would have been better for us to have died quickly, back on the Colonies with our families, instead of dying out here slowly, in the emptiness of dark space. Where shall we go? What shall we do? Life here began out there. Those are the first words of the sacred scrolls, and they were told to us by the Lords of Kobol, many countless centuries ago. And they made it perfectly clear that we are not alone in this universe. Elosha, there's a 13th colony of humankind, is there not?
EElosha
Yes. The scrolls tell us a 13th tribe left Kobol in the early days. They travelled far and made their home upon a planet called Earth, which circled a distant and unknown star.
Adama
It's not unknown. I know where it is! Earth. The most guarded secret we have. The location was only known by the senior commanders of the fleet, and we dare not share it with the public. Not while there was a Cylon threat upon us. For now we have a refuge to go to. A refuge the Cylons know nothing about. It won't be an easy journey. It'll be long, and arduous. But I promise you one thing: on the memory of those lying here before you, we shall find it, and Earth shall become our new home. So say we all!
Battlestar Galactica (2003) · 302 quotes
Admiral William Adama
