Correction appended.

Adama regains control of Galactica. Photo courtesy of the Sci-Fi network.

Last week Gaeta and Zarek took over Galactica, Roslin was on the run and Adama and Tigh were fighting to the death. Here’s what happened in this week’s episode of Battlestar Galactica, “Blood on the Scales.”

Warning! Spoiler Alert!

Gaeta’s troops capture Tigh and Adama while Roslin and Baltar escape to the baseship. Starbuck and Lee are running around the ship trying to get to the brig while Tyrol is crawling through Galactica’s nooks and crannies trying to gather ammunition.

Zarek clearly wants to kill Adama and be president of the entire fleet, but Gaeta wants to put Adama on trial. When Zarek meets with the quorum, he realizes that they aren’t willing to leave Roslin’s side so he has them killed.

Adama is put on trial with Lampkin as his lawyer, Gaeta as the prosecutor and Zarek as the judge. He is found guilty and Gaeta plans to have him executed.

Aaron Kelly catches Tyrol crawling through the ship but lets him go – ever since he helped kill the quorum he’s been having trouble being part of the mutiny. Starbuck and Lee break everyone out of the brig. During the jailbreak Anders is shot in the neck. Lee leaves Starbuck with Anders and searches for his father.

While searching for Adama, Lee, Tigh and Athena find a distraught Aaron. Aaron was supposed to be part of the firing squad but couldn’t stand to watch Adama die. He partners up with Lee to help find Adama.

Starbuck drags Anders to Doctor Cottle even though it’s pretty obvious that he’s is going to die. She runs into Lampkin and he very hesitantly agrees to help her. Back on the baseship, Baltar feels guilty about leaving his followers behind on Galactica and he decides to go back. Roslin threatens Zarek and tells him to give up. He counters her threat by telling her that both Tigh and Adama are dead. Rather than surrendering, Roslin gets pissed off and tells Zarek she’s coming for him.

Adama is freed and convinces the firing squad to help him take over the ship. Adama and his crew hurry toward the command room with random people popping out from nowhere and joining his side.

In the command room, Zarek tells his crew and the rest of the fleet to jump. During the countdown, Tyrol finally reaches his destination and tries to prevent the jump by clawing into the FTL drive. His hands are bloody… 3, 2… he finally unplugs it. He turns around and sees a huge stress fracture in the ship – had they jumped, the ship probably would’ve fallen apart.

Zarek freaks out when the FTL doesn’t work and tells the crew to attack the baseship but no one listens. Gaeta seems lost in thought and says something about the day of reckoning. All of sudden Adama bursts in and his crew overpowers Zarek’s. Adama assures Roslin that he’s alive and he takes over command of Galactica.

Gaeta and Zarek are in the airlock. Standing in front of them is a firing squad. They look at each other and smile. Adama orders the execution. Gaeta looks down at his leg stump (it’s been paining him this entire season) and says, “It stopped.” We hear gunshots.

Quote of the Week: “The truth is told by whoever’s left standing.” – Tom Zarek

Opinion: I know I’ve always complained about Gaeta, but I’m shocked that he’s dead. I never thought Adama would actually have him killed. Zarek is one thing, but (minus that stint on New Caprica) Gaeta’s been by Adama’s side since the beginning of the series. I have a feeling that Anders will die, but I’m hoping he’ll somehow be resurrected.

Next week: There are captions spliced in between scenes of Ellen. Murdered by her husband and having lost 18 months of her life, the final Cylon returns. She was resurrected and knows the truth.

February 9, 2009, 10:16 a.m.: When originally posted, this blog incorrectly cited the character “Ellen” as “Helen.” Thanks to commenter Bald Jason for the correction.