In announcement that will surely crush every sci-fi fanboy and fangirl out there, not to mention this reporter, Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, executive producers of “Battlestar Galactica,” have decided that season four will be the last for the Peabody Award-winning series.

“This show was always meant to have a beginning, a middle and finally, an end,” Eick and Morre stated in a Sci-Fi Channel press release. “Over the course of the last year, the story and the characters have been moving strongly toward that end and we’ve decided to listen to those internal voices and conclude the show on our own terms. … And while we know our fans will be saddened to know the end is coming, they should brace themselves for a wild ride getting there–we’re going out with a bang.”

While I have no doubt that the show will go out in a spectacular fashion, it doesn’t make up for the void “Galactica” will leave behind. Not only is it the best science-fiction on television right now (and clearly re-energized the genre), but it is also the most timely and thought-provoking show on television. Name another show that is able to deal with post-9/11 cultural and spiritual paradigms with such aplomb. Hence the afore-mentioned Peabody Award.

In addition, “Galactica” has been honored as one of the 10 Outstanding Television Programs of the Year by the American Film Institute (AFI) for two years running and second top-most sci-fi project–in television or film–of the past 25 years by Entertainment Weekly. This is a quality show and will be sorely missed.

Although more details will be forthcoming about the fantastic final season this afternoon during a conference call, all this fangirl can say is “frak.”