Dirty Hands

S3, E16: When fuel contamination causes an accident that almost kills President Roslin (Mary McDonnell), an investigation reveals widespread discontent over working conditions on the tylium ship. Gaius Baltar (James Callis) is blamed for the political unrest when it is discovered that the tylium workers have been empowered by Baltar’s new book, a political manifesto that his lawyer has secretly been smuggling out of his cell. Concerned for the safety of the fleet, President Roslin and Admiral Adama (Edward James Olmos) order Chief Tyrol (Aaron Douglas) to crack down on the defiant tylium workers and get fuel production up and running as quickly as possible. But Tyrol, a former union labor leader, strongly identifies with the plight of the tylium workers, and is deeply troubled when he is forced to suppress the workers’ protests. Tyrol’s inner conflict builds until catastrophe strikes and Tyrol openly defies Adama’s orders and leads the workers in an all-out strike, which has more far-reaching consequences than Tyrol ever intended.