Aaron Kelly
Galactica Landing Signals Officer
Captain Aaron Kelly was the Landing Signals Officer aboard the battlestar Galactica and third in its chain of command. He served through the fall of the Twelve Colonies, the occupation of New Caprica, and the trial of Gaius Baltar, during which he turned to terrorism before recoiling from a later mutiny.
Captain Aaron Kelly was the Landing Signals Officer aboard the battlestar Galactica and third in its chain of command, ranking just behind Commander William Adama and Colonel Saul Tigh. As Landing Signals Officer he was responsible for flight operations, including guiding incoming craft to landing.
The fall and its aftermath#
Immediately after the nuclear strike on Galactica, Aaron Kelly attempted to take command of the damage control teams when Colonel Tigh froze mid-decision. His orders were soon countermanded by Tigh. In the aftermath he was seen walking among the bodies of fallen crewmembers, collecting their dog tags.
Several months after the fall, Kelly assumed the role of Executive Officer after Lieutenant Sharon Valerii shot Commander Adama, following a successful nuclear strike against a basestar orbiting Kobol. In that capacity he objected to networking Galactica's computers but was once again overridden by Tigh. After Commander Adama recovered, Kelly returned to his post as Landing Signals Officer.
New Caprica and the trial of Baltar#
At some point after President Gaius Baltar announced the colonization of New Caprica, Kelly replaced Lieutenant Felix Gaeta as Galactica's tactical officer, holding the role until the liberation of New Caprica. Like many others, Kelly blamed Baltar for the loss of life on New Caprica during the Cylon occupation. During Baltar's trial he carried out a series of terrorist attacks in an attempt to assassinate him. When caught, Kelly confessed that he could no longer bear the strain of sending people to their deaths, and said he would continue the bombings unless he was jailed.
The mutiny and defection#
Following Lieutenant Gaeta's mutiny, Kelly led a marine team in pursuit of Admiral Adama and Colonel Tigh. He later commanded the marines who killed the Quorum of Twelve aboard Colonial One, which caused him to doubt the mutiny. Sparing Galen Tyrol, he suffered a mental breakdown in the memorial hallway, where he was found by Lee Adama and his resistance group. His disillusionment with the mutiny led him to defect, and he informed Lee Adama of the impending execution of his father. Kelly then joined the forces of the rescued Admiral Adama and helped retake Galactica.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Aaron Kelly?
- Captain Aaron Kelly was the Landing Signals Officer aboard the battlestar Galactica and third in its chain of command, ranking behind Commander William Adama and Colonel Saul Tigh. As Landing Signals Officer he was responsible for flight operations, including guiding incoming craft to landing.
- What did Aaron Kelly do after the nuclear strike on Galactica?
- Kelly attempted to take command of the damage control teams when Colonel Tigh froze mid-decision, though his orders were soon countermanded by Tigh. He was later seen walking among the bodies of fallen crewmembers, collecting their dog tags.
- Did Aaron Kelly ever serve as Executive Officer?
- Several months after the fall, Kelly assumed the role of Executive Officer after Sharon Valerii shot Commander Adama. In that capacity he objected to networking Galactica's computers but was overridden by Tigh, and he returned to his post as Landing Signals Officer once Adama recovered.
- Why did Aaron Kelly carry out terrorist attacks during Baltar's trial?
- Like many others, Kelly blamed Gaius Baltar for the loss of life on New Caprica during the Cylon occupation. He carried out a series of terrorist attacks attempting to assassinate Baltar, and when caught he confessed he could no longer bear the strain of sending people to their deaths.
- What happened to Aaron Kelly during Gaeta's mutiny?
- Kelly joined the mutiny and led the marines who killed the Quorum of Twelve aboard Colonial One, which caused him to doubt the action and suffer a breakdown. He then defected, warned Lee Adama of the planned execution of Adama and Tigh, and helped retake Galactica.
Sources
- WikiAaron Kelly — Battlestar Wiki entry
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Related entries
Felix Gaeta
Felix Gaeta was a skilled tactical officer aboard the Battlestar Galactica who served as William Adama's Officer of the Watch for years before the Fall. His objection to the fleet's alliance with the Cylons led him to lead a mutiny that ended in his execution.
Gaius Baltar
Dr. Gaius Baltar was a celebrated computer scientist whose vanity and manipulation by a Cylon agent handed the enemy the keys to the Colonial defenses, enabling the near-extermination of humanity. He survived to become Vice President, President, prophet, and finally a reluctant penitent.
Galen Tyrol
Chief Petty Officer Galen Tyrol kept Galactica's flight deck running through the long flight from the Colonies, a respected and fiercely protective deck chief who learned that he was in fact one of the Final Five Cylons, descended from the Thirteenth Tribe.
Lee Adama
Commander Leland "Apollo" Adama was a Colonial Fleet officer, the sole surviving son of William Adama, who served as Galactica's CAG before turning to politics as the Caprican delegate to the Quorum and, in time, interim President of the Twelve Colonies.
Saul Tigh
Colonel Saul Tigh was the executive officer of the battlestar Galactica and William Adama's oldest friend, a hard-drinking and embittered soldier who later discovered he was one of the Final Five Cylons yet never stopped thinking of himself as a Colonial officer.
William Adama
William "Husker" Adama was a Colonial Fleet officer who commanded the battlestar Galactica through the Fall of the Twelve Colonies. His refusal to network the ship spared it from the Cylon attack, and alongside President Laura Roslin he led the survivors of humanity in search of a new home.
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