[peter noble]

The tricky bit in the scenario is an excuse for the Galactica to be absent.

I'm thinking they had to lead the Cylons away from Earth and used the time warp technology to literally lose the Cylons in time.

Of course it would have to return in the pilot but with Adama no longer at the helm. Maybe it would be a character from TOS who would be at the helm, I don't know.

I envisage the Cylons taking over Area 51 and launching Raiders from it as the earth-based warriors attack the base. The Galactica would arrive in the nick of time and launch the D Squadron to take out the Raiders before they could attack their pre-programmed targets.