The Beta Pirates

The Beta Pirates is an unproduced episode of Battlestar Galactica 1978. It was left unfilmed either due to rejected by Glen A. Larson, or the series' cancellation following the episode, "The Hand of God".

Plot

The Colonial ships' voyage to Earth puts them on a trajectory close to the Beta Triangle, a region of space populated by a black hole. The ships suffer minor damage when they approach a barrier which forms the triangle's border. A Gemini freighter is disabled, and Starbuck and Athena board the ship to make the necessary repairs, unaware that Boxey and Muffit have followed them. The two Colonial offers are taken prisoner by pirates, who were also hiding on the ship. Captain Skyler and Boomer are sent to investigate, and rescue Starbuck before the ship explodes; the only survivor they can find in the wreckage is Aleph, a merchant who escaped in a pod. Aleph claims to know the region well, and can navigate the fleet through the Beta Triangle. Unfortunately, the pirates took the relevant star charts with them when they returned to their pirate ship, and the crew must get them back from the pirates' base at Cordugo Pit.

Meanwhile, the Imperious Leader has decided to call off Baltar's execution, on the condition he helps them track down the fleet. Baltar correctly deduces they are going to the Cordugo Pit. The Cylons arrive at a market run by the insectoid Ovions, who have sold Athena and Boxey into slavery to a man named Voyar. The Cylons' presence causes a panic amongst the Colonials, but Aleph; Skyler and Starbuck remain on the planet and follow Voyar home to rescue Athena and Boxey. Boxey recognises Aleph as the pirates' captain, but persuades him to help the Colonials escape from the Cylons. Aleph takes Voyer's ship, the Bluestreak, and assists in a Colonial effort to lure the Cylons into the Black Hole. The gambit is a success, and Baltar is the sole survivor, stranded in an escape pod.

Production

The episode was written by Leslie Stevens IV. The draft was based on early story notes and may have been intended as the first episode in the series after the pilot. For example, the story uses Apollo's early name in story notes, which was "Skyler", and includes a scene where the Imperious Leader orders Lord Baltar to find the Colonial fleet, which takes place in Lost Planet of the Gods, Part 1.