A suicide bomber detonates himself aboard Galactica but when the insurgent is revealed to be a human- like Cylon, rumor of such a thing becomes hard reality. An investigation gets under way as the populace of the fleet descends into an unease that gives way to blind paranoia.

As Galactica passes another seemingly routine night, a man who we know as Doral (the Cylon model who disguised himself as a PR man in the pilot) stealthily makes his way through the ship with a block of G-4 attached to his chest. He is spotted first by Tigh, then Adama, who grabs the Doral, only to have him open his jacket to reveal a bomb strapped to his body. Three die in the ensuing blast, and Commander Adama barely misses the blast’s impact thanks to Colonel Tigh’s instinct.

Sgt. Hadrian is appointed to investigate the suicide bombing and is granted permission to set up an independent commission to trace the bomber’s origin. Adama and Tigh inform Sgt Hadrian that not only are there Cylons that look like humans (which Adama, Tigh and Laura have known for months) but it is now clear that there replicate themselves in models.

Before Hadrian’s investigation begins, both Tigh and President Rosling warn Adama that it could lead to mass paranoia and a witch-hunt mentality. As the investigation proceeds, it becomes clear that their premonition was correct.

Hadrian seems drunk with power and authority as she investigates the engineering crew, a path of inquiry that leads her to Chief Tyrol, who has something to hide: When the explosion occurred he and Sharon (Boomer) were secretly meeting for a romantic tryst.

Tyrol’s team fiercely defends their boss. Socinus in particular is alarmed to see his mentor under the microscope, and lies to protect Tyrol. But the lies only serve to further Hadrian’s speculation that Tyrol was involved.

President Laura Roslin must also deal with the suicide bomber attack and come clean with the press (and the general public) that Cylons look human. This new development sets the fleet into paranoia mode – the reason why Laura and Adama operated under an MO of secrecy for so long. Gauis Baltar even falls victim to this hysteria, after a visit to Starbuck in sickbay where she asks if the Cylon was bent on destroying the detector.

Baltar vows to destroy the detector, muttering to Number Six that he will destroy it before he can get killed. But Six threatens him to continue with the project or face her considerable wrath. Meanwhile, on the planet Caprica, Number Six and another Doral give fellow Cylon Sharon her marching orders. She is to rejoin Helo and is asked if she’s ‘prepared for the next step.’ Sharon replies yes, after which Number Six beats her to a bloody pulp, leaving her to go back to Helo with sufficient injuries.

Back on Galactica, Hadrian’s investigation now focuses squarely on Tyrol and he lies under oath about his relationship with Sharon. During questioning, Tyrol also finds out that a hatch into the hangar deck was left open and that the bomber used security codes to get into the small arms locker. While his mind tries to keep from linking this small arms locker incident with the earlier one in which Sharon wound up with stolen explosives (something Tyrol has managed to keep secret), he also realizes his own web of lies is unfolding. In an act of desperation, he invokes his right to silence. It may be too late, as the circumstantial evidence is mounting. At that moment, Socinus steps in and admits (lies) to leaving the hatch open.

The inconsistencies concern Laura, but Adama wants the matter done with (especially as he’s certain Tyrol was only protecting his and Sharon’s affair). He’s finally had enough when Hadrian orders him to the stand and probes the Commander about his keeping secret the knowledge that Cylons look like human. Adama also fears that Hadrian may be moving into a witch hunt and promptly orders the investigation closed, ispatching an indignant Sgt. Hadrian to her quarters.

Tyrol is furious that Socinus would (wrongfully) incriminate himself to protect him, but it does leave the Chief in the clear. He confesses to Adama that he was with Sharon at the time of the explosion and that Socinus had lied. Adama is furious, and says he Socinus’s imprisonment is fair because he should not have lied. He tells Tyrol to “keep my ships flying” and implies that his punishment will be walking onto the hangar deck and knowing that he betrayed his crew.

Tyrol knows what must be done. He breaks off his relationship with Sharon, telling her that too many people’s lives and careers, including his own, are being jeopardized for their illicit relationship. As she walks away, he asks her if she left the hatch open. Sharon doesn’t even dignify this accusation with a response. She simply marches off leaving Tyrol’s question unanswered.

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