Battlestar Galactica 11: The Nightmare Machine by Robert Thurston
Fifteen Chapters, 216 pages
A Berkeley Book, First Printing December 1985
During a space battle, Ensign Greenbean is captured by the Cylons and taken onboard their ship. Also on the ship Baltar is struggling with nightmares over his guilt about the destruction of the Colonies. Lucifer reveals to Baltar that he was experimenting on him with a new device called Lucifer’s Emotional Adjustment Device – Extensive Range or LEADER. This device can amplify emotions in humans and even transfer them for one person to another. Baltar is outraged he has been experimented on but orders the device to be tested on Greenbean.
Meanwhile, the Galactica is in orbit around a remote human colony called Vaile. The inhabitants of Vaile offer help to the fleet in the form of fuel and supplies. Some even want to join the fleet’s quest. Likewise Sire Uri, who has remained mostly quiets since the Carillon debacle, wishes to lead a portion of the fleet’s population who wish to settle on Vaile. Adama is not happy to hear this from Uri again, but says he will consider it.
Greenbean is mind-wiped and returned to the fleet with undetectable micro-transmitters to LEADER planted on him. Once back the entire crew begins to feel LEADER’s effects of strong feelings of guilt. Arguments and even a fight breaks out.
Taking to his sickbed, Adama dreams. He astral projects himself back in time to just before the Cylon attack at the peace conference. He chides himself for not decrying Baltar’s deception or working harder to convince Adar that they were falling into a trap. He feels guilty.
Onboard his Basestar, Baltar receives a visit from an envoy of the Imperious Leader. It is Spectre (from The Young Lords) now working for the Imperious Leader and sent to prepare for his arrival. Baltar and Spectre schmooze with one another but Lucifer remains unimpressed.
The feelings of guilt and despondency grow greater on the Galactica. Greenbean begins to regain the memory of his torture by Baltar and his guilt becomes unbearable. He decides to kill himself. Starbuck, despite his altered mood, realizes that Greenbean is the key to the guilt disease and, thinking him to perhaps be a Cylon spy chases him through the Galactica’s corridors. Greenbean flees to the “Devil’s Pit” – a section of the lowest deck of the Galactica that no one ever goes down to and some believe to be haunted. Starbuck, Apollo, Boomer, Sheba, Bojay, Cassiopea and Dietra follow him.
Adama continues his time travel, returning to Caprica just prior to the Cylon attack and witnesses the death of his wife Ila in a Cylon strafing run. He begins to fade further and Dr. Salik transfers him to Life Station.
Meanwhile, Sire Uri takes advantage of the state of the Galactica to usher his mob of followers on a march to the bridge where they demand to be allowed to settle on Vaile.
Receiving the Imperious Leader onboard his Basestar, Baltar explains his plan and launches a diversionary attack of raiders on the Galactica around Vaile. He claims to have invented LEADER. Lucifer is nonplussed but remains silent.
In the Devil’s Pit, Greenbean encounters an old man with ratty clothes. It appears a number of Colonials are living down there. The old man attempts to guide Greenbean away from his pursuers, but they eventually catch up to him. In his maddened state Starbuck wishes to kill him but the others prevent him. After further questioning by Apollo, Greebeane remembers that the micro transmitters are imbedded in his clothing. The others destroy them and flush the remains out into space.
Free of the guilt machine’s influence, Adama returns to consciousness.
On the bridge Sire Uri’s mob demands to be allowed to go to Vaile and attempt to take over the Galactica. But when the machine’s influence stops and Adama appears on the bridge they cease the act. Uri himself slinks away in the confusion.
Adama launches all viper pilots to attack Baltar’s Basestar after its coordinates are provided by Greenbean. But shortly thereafter they detect the wall of raiders flying toward Vaile. Not wanting to recall any vipers, Adama launches the reserves led by Athena.
Baltar tests the machine for the Imperious Leader. But when he orders the output to be set for maximum it begins to affect the Imperious Leader and the Centurions. In a rage the Imperious Leader destroys the control room and the machine but then quickly leaves in his Baseship when the viper sqaudrons attack. He takes Spectre with him.
With the element of surprise on their side, the vipers make quick work of the raiders. However Baltar orders his ship to withdraw and escapes. The vipers retrurn to the Galactica.
The reserves are successful in defending Vaile. Adama leaves them with long-range sensor equipment so they will have time to prepare for any further Cylon attacks. The Galactica leaves Vaile and the fleet continues on its journey.
***
Other than the Marvel Comics series, this was the first original Battlestar Galactica adventure ever. And it’s a good one. A fun read, even exciting at times. Thurston is aware of his past conitnuity. Giles, Cree and Brie all appear. Even Gemi is mentioned. Four stars!
***
CONTINUITY NOTES
Sheba and Bojay are both in this novel. However Baltar is back on his Basestar with Lucifer. While there is, I suppose, a possibility this story takes place between The Living Legend and War of the Gods, most believe it takes place after The Hand of God. This would mean that shortly after Adama placed Baltar on a habitile planet, the Cylons picked him up and returned him to his prior position. While nothing of this is said in the novel, fans have always kind of believed that anyway so it’s all good.
The Cylons are still organic in this novel, except for the IL Series.
Baltar’s ship contains many human captives.
The foundry ship, Hephaestus, is producing new vipers at a good rate.
Greenbean was secretly in love with Serina.
According to this novel, Adama’s father, referred to only as “Skipper” was the commander of the Galactica prior to him.
Years ago, Adar made advances on Ila but she rebuffed them.
This novel states Spectre to be an earlier IL Series model than Lucifer.