 The leaders of the twelve human colonies are making plans to sign a peace treaty with their mortal enemies, the Cylons. On the eve of the ceremony, the Cylons attack and destroy most of the colonies. The remaining Colonial ships, led by the battlestar Galactica under the command of Adama, head out into space and seek out a "lost" 13th colony, which turns out to be Earth. Along the way, the Colonials encounter various races (both friendly and hostile), the legendary human warrior Commander Cain, and the planet Kobol, the mother world of all the colonies. All the while, the Cylons--led by the human traitor, Baltar--are in hot pursuit...