A crisis forces Commander Adama, Apollo, and Starbuck to finally face a ghost from their past – Zak Adama. Their inability to come to grips with Zak’s death has tragic consequences for them all.

A celebration commemorating Raptor pilot Flat-Top’s 1000 th landing turns tragic when a communications drone breaks free of its metal band and shoots across the hangar bay. Many Galactica pilots are injured, and thirteen are dead.

Commander Adama instructs Master-At-Arms Sgt. Hadrian to spearhead the investigation into the accident. Hadrian begins with Chief Tyrol; it’s Tyrol’s hangar after all. But he has few answers. Tyrol is so racked with guilt over the tragedy that he is a thrown when Hadrian’s questioning shifts to the G-4 detonation weeks earlier. Tyrol diffuses the G-4 inquiries, knowing it could be sticky for Boomer, with whom he’s involved in a clandestine relationship.

A memorial service is planned for the dead pilots. During the service, Adama, Apollo and Starbuck recall moments from two years earlier – when they all attended Zak Adama’s funeral (younger brother to Lee/Apollo) who died during a routine flight. This was when Kara first met Adama and at the service, he tells her that he heard about her being an outstanding flight instructor, but also that he knows she and Zak were engaged to be married.

The Hangar Deck accident not only leaves a black cloud over Galactica, but also puts Adama and Colonel Tigh in an emergency situation: The need more pilots. They both know the best flight instructor in the fleet to train them is Kara, but Tigh is reluctant to give the recalcitrant Kara the reins of authority. Kara, coincidentally, is reluctant to accept. She asks if there isn’t someone better suited for it, and says none of the new pilots will cut it anyway.

Commander Adama tells Starbuck he understands her hesitation, but there are bigger needs for the fleet right now, and she finally agrees. But as we see flashbacks to in Starbuck’s memory, we realize the real reason for her reticence is what happened with Zak and her lack of judgment in passing him out of love when he had no "feel for flying".

Meanwhile, President Laura Roslin meets with Galactica’s old-school surgeon, Dr. Cottle. Cottle doesn’t mince words with Laura about her cancer, scolding her for not getting regular breast exams. But Laura turns down all of Cottle’s treatment suggestions, instead opting for Chamalla extract, a holistic remedy. Cottle hates the idea, but agrees to search the fleet for the extract, advising her to consider prayer as well.

As for Galatica’s pilot search, Kara/Starbuck does her best to wash them all out on their first day. Lee reminds her that the Cylons can show up at any time and they need pilots. Starbuck shoots back, saying that she will never again pass a student who isn’t ready. Lee knows who she’s talking about and he calls her on it. “This is about Zak.” But Kara ducks the remark and storms out.

On the planet Caprica, Boomer and Helo continue to look for fellow survivors of the nuclear blast. They track a coded military signal to a diner, hoping for, if not survivors, food. The signal seems to come from behind a door to a basement. They enter warily to find – a fall-out shelter chock- full of emergency supplies, canned foods, and water. Helo and Sharon figure to rest here for a bit, unaware that Number Six lurks outside.

Back on Galactica, Lee’s concerns about Starbuck’s unwillingness to pass new pilots causes him to go to Adama. He tells his father that he fears Starbuck is working out her guilt over what she did for Zak. Adama reacts to the word guilt, but Lee refuses to elaborate.

Adama summons Kara to his office, and finally she comes clean. She tells him that Zak failed Basic Flight, but because she was in love with him, she passed him anyway. Adama is stunned by this revelation. He fumes at Kara, and orders her to return the trainees to flight status.

Now that Starbuck has spilled her guts, she wants to talk more – but now, Adama goes cold. He feels betrayed by Kara and sternly sends her away. She returns to the new pilots, reluctantly agreeing to give them a second chance. She takes the new pilots (NUGGETS) on a training flight, but it quickly turns serious when eight Cylon Raiders bear down on them.

Galactica sends its alert fighters as back- up, but Kara and her nuggets are in trouble. Adama, Tigh, Lee, and Gaeta watch on dradis as the Cylon Raiders close in. Kara orders the pilots to stay together as she takes on the enemy – by herself. Adama is filled with guilt as he fears Starbuck is about to sacrifice herself, and he suspects why. The space battle heats up, and Starbuck plays both offense and defense for her nuggets.

When one of them, Constanza, gets in too deep, Starbuck goes in. She sees him to safety, but winds up in close combat with a Cylon Raider. Kara defeats the Raider, but the wounded ship hit her Viper as well, and she spins out. Starbuck ejects from her flaming Viper, and hurtles downward, becoming a tiny dot on the landscape below. As Galactica silently awaits a sign of her fate, we fade out. (TO BE CONTINUED)

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