Who's shooting at the end of the episode?

Okay, I for one am convinced that the Cylon Centurions were not the ones opening fire at the end of last Friday’s episode. The gunfire sounded too... ragged, especially when measured against the ones who, we know, opened up on Anders and Sharon and crew. Also, I feel like the Cylons know how to conduct a mass execution, and, as the “Next time...” showed us,
[spoiler]Roslin and Zarak, at least, survive.[/spoiler]

So if it wasn’t the chrome-jobs, who was doing the shooting? A couple possibilities exist, but I’ll leave others to espouse alternatives and put forth my idea: The NCP.

Frakkin’ idiot Cylon collaborators, you say? You’d be right. They are idiots, just like the Chief said. But it’s not like you make a choice to help the Cylons one day and all your old loyalties are jettisoned. We see that with Jammer. We also, those of us who are history nerds, see it with the Nazis. You see, my belief is that the Cylons are taking things too fast with the NCP. The NCP are a group of people who’ve convinced themselves that they’re doing the right thing by helping the occupation, even up to the point of dragging people out of their homes at night. And I’m sure that in a few months, they’d have a good chance of convincing themselves that killing humans to preserve the Pax Cylona is hunky dory too. But not yet. They’ve been on the job for what, a week or so, and are watching their new bosses gun down people they know, in cold blood? I mean, Jammer can’t be the only one who knows people in those trucks.

I brought up the Nazis because another thread compares the NCP to occupied Europe collaborators, and I think the analogy is very appropriate. And there’s this book, called Ordinary Men, which essentially tells the story of a German “Police Battalion” in Poland, who were charged with rounding up Jews and shooting them. Funny thing was, that at first, the squad was ordered to do so, and most of the squad balked. Even though they’d been fed anti-Semitic rhetoric for years, they were new on the job and not cool with murder just yet. Too much, too soon. After that, they were given lesser roles in facilitating the murder of Jews, and slowly given more and more to do, until finally they were murdering Jews without a second thought. But it was an acclimation process. Exactly what the NCP is lacking. The NCP is armed, still probably conflicted about their loyalties, and doesn’t know about the slaughter about to take place (Cavil’s line about letting them “stretch their legs” to Jammer). So, do they stand by and let the prisoners be slaughtered? Entirely possible, although it begs the question of how whatever armed group was in the area knew the Cylon plan so quickly. However, right now, I’m leaning towards the idea of the members of the NCP gathering up the shreds of their own humanity and stepping in before a horror takes place.

But what do other people think?

This post has been edited by GoobyRastor on Wed 11 Oct 06, 0:47

There's a posibility its the freedom fighters firing on the toasters.

As for Jammer. Well Im convinced he's a Cylon anyway, so if he gets capped I'll shed no tears.

Another possibility is that it was Boomer and Caprica Six (as long as she was downloaded quick enough). They knew of the executions and most probably where they were going to be. And being they were for occupation and not annihilation it would be probable they (or one or the other) would try to stop it. And the possibility of two Sharons working with the Colonials would be kinda cool too.

[spoiler]I hear Baltar will have a hand in trying to save Roslin and the others. [/spoiler]

That guy needs to decide which side he's on and commit to it. He can't have it both ways, as several other characters are beginning to learn themselves.

Agreed. 'Course, he's always been a little punk, it's just that now, it's starting to haave real bad ramifications. Shape up, Jammer.

CM, I used to think Jammer was a Cylon, too. Now, I'm not so sure.

According to some pictures from the coming episdoe, a certain recurring character will involve in the rescue of those who are about to be executed. For those who want to be spoiled, you know where to find those pictures.

Why is Jammer so worried about arresting Cally, and then frees her, but when he does take her he doesn't worry about leaving a baby ALL ALONE in the middle of the night? Nicholas Tyrol is alive and well by miracle of the Gods only, because you DO NOT LEAVE A BABY ALONE. Ain't that so Kara?:P

Well it didn't exactly sound like Centurion gun fire which has a very distinct, kind of rough "BUH-BUH-BUH-BUH" sound. Maybe the NCP suddenly turn on the Cylons.

didn't adama send 2 raptors full of maines? then i could be only sharons raptor landed near the river, and the other one went after the prisoners. because if the risisance new when they were coming they could have sent them a message.

Well, now we know. RETCON! But not bad for all that. I got misty when Roslin and the Chief met again for some reason. It just made me so, so happy.