KOBOLIAN DATE
Kobolian yahrens are 1.228 yahrens of a standard Caprican yahren
0 - Mankind founded on Kobol
2850 - Settlement of Twelve Colonies of Three Suns
5125 - Onset of Thousand Yahren War
5993 - Conclusion of Thousand Yahren War
President Adar in SAGA OF A STAR WORLD
- "Now as we approach the seventh millennium of time. . ."
COLONIAL STANDARD
0 - Mankind founded on Kobol
3500 - Twelve Colonies of the Three Suns founded. Era of Darkness begins.
5269 - Space travel reinvented on Caprica. First man orbits Caprica.
5284 - First lunar landing on moon of Caprica.
5287 - First satellites record data from planet Piscera. Capricans discover human life outside their world. Later probes validate this theory and discover that eleven other worlds among the three star systems are inhabited. Initial shock sets back space travel several yahrens as no further activity is taken.
5288-5301 - Further study concludes that all languages and cultures are similar enough to be derived from a common root and that the ancient legends claiming a motherworld and an exodus are true. Interest rekindled in making contact with their lost brothers.
5301 - Capricans initiate first contact with Sagitara whose civilization, minus space travel, is as advanced as theirs.
INTERIM PERIOD - several worlds needed
to wait a few hundred yahrens to approach, behind
in social and technological development
5598 - Full contact amongst Twelve Colonies restored and trade networks flourish.
5770 - Supralight drive invented. Deep star exploration begins.
5788 - Quorom of the Twelve established. Colonies under a united government.
5950 - Cybernetic revolt. Colonial Code passed limiting artificial intelligence. Caprica most fervent in implementing guidelines.
6293 - Great Cylon War begins when Colonial forces aid Hasaris.
6846 - Battlestar Galactica commissioned.
7313 - Starbuck born.
7322 - Cylon attack on Umbra, Caprica. Starbuck orphaned.
7327 - Chameleon recovers from amnesia.
7360 - Peace Conference with the Cylons fails. Twelve Colonies conquered.
7362 - Battle of Gomoray. Battlestar Pegasus presumed destroyed.
7363 - Galactica encounters Count Iblis. Galactica discovers planet Terra.
7364 - Galactica destroys Cylon basestar. Colony on New Caprica founded for the aged.
7365 - Events chronicled in "The First Defeat" through "Baltar Returns" occur.
7366 - Events chronicled in "The Undefeated" through "A New Threat" occur. Galactica has First Contact with Satyr League.
Evidence for some of these dates from which others sprung are from the following:
SAGA OF A STAR WORLD - President Adar mentions
that the human race is approaching the seventh millennium of time.
THE LONG PATROL - Proteus prison has been
brewing ambrosia for 700 yahrens.
THE HAND OF GOD - Apollo states that the
Galactica was launched 500 yahrens ago.
THE HAND OF GOD - Apollo states that the
Eagle looked like a ship the Colonials flew a few thousand yahren ago.
THE MAN WITH NINE LIVES - Starbuck claimed
he was orphaned in 7322.
THE MAN WITH NINE LIVES - Chameleon had
amnesia for five yahren.
NOTE: I only assign Starbuck a birth yahren because he stated he was roughly Boxey's age when he lost his father. I also used his age as one of the benchmarks to derive the other dates.
I am also basing these dates on the fact that Colonial yahrens are roughly 2/3 of an Earth year. See John LaRocque's disseration at Mark Heiman's web site. This is based on the fact that the character of Zac was 35 yahrens old in the Encyclopedia Galactica but only 23 in the novelization. This coupled with the appearance of the characters to be far younger than their ages betrayed has lead to speculation on the part of man fan fiction writers and fans alike that Colonial yahrens are much shorter than Earth years. This would also explain how a 1000 yahren war could continue for so long if it was only say, 600 years in reality. Not much difference but more manageable.
A member of the Council is referred to as 'Councilor' for their title. For example 'Councilor Anton' If the Councilor has another title of greater importance they often are referred to as this, examples of this are President Adar or Commander Adama, (though in a meeting the politically minded council would use the Councilor title on Adama to show him he is an equal not a superior.) The Council at this point in time (actually in most timeframes) was very poltical, conniving and somewhat fractured. It was primarily made up of Civilian representatives as oppossed to military representatives. Adama appears to have been one of the few exceptions to this. Indeed at the time of the destruction of the Colonies (as depicted in the television series) the Council had shifted to an arguably anti-military standpoint in favor of pursuing peace initiatives. The main proponent of the peace iniative was President Adar himself who was betrayed (as was the entire Human race) by Count Baltar (also a Councilor). Note: Baltar is not necessarily a Cylon Traitor in the Mush timeline and the "Armstice Ambush" scenario may never be played out on the Mush, or at least perhaps not in the form the TV show depicted... do not be lulled into false perceptions by the outcome of the television series.
To become a Councilor, it is much like modern day politics.. only one reprentative can be sent from each of the Twelve Colonies and they must be elected by a majority of the populace. However unlike our modern day politics they did not run under political party affiliations; their affiliations were more informal in nature (the shrewd colonial politicians would not identify themselves with set criteria, agendas or platforms). For the most part it was more a game of power, influence, and who you know. Often those with friends in high places could gain political influence (such as Sire Uri did on the second Council of Twelve after the destruction of the Colonies in the TV series.)
Local governments did exist however as the member of the Council was more of a high representative (sort of like modern day ambassadors to the United Nations, only with a great deal more power.)
A Councilor can be easily identified by the silver medallion all wear as a symbol of station. These twelve amulets are very ancient in origin, having been brought to the Colonies by the original settlers from the motherworld of Kobol.
The 'BattleStar' is the primary fighting platform for the Colonial Fleet. It serves as a command center, troop transport, refueling baseship, aircraft carrier, and devestating war vessel, all in one package.
A Battlestar is a multi-level vehicle whose functional components allow for the rarely achieved combination of size with speed. In regular space it could traverse distances nearly as fast as the fighting craft launched from it. Its fuel system provided the most power possible from the mixture of Tylium with lesser fuel sources. Its launching decks can be activated within minutes, catipulting Vipers outward like a hoard of angry bees. Battlestars have large staffs, well over a thousand people are required to activily maintain each of the twelve vessels the Fleet currently has.
Battlestars are the size of small planets. A traveller could use most of a lifetime walking its corridors without having to retrace a single step. Perhaps the prior statement is a bit exaggerated some say, but it would be a mighty challenge for the dedicated hiker.
A Battlestar is armed with a host of defenses. Numerous high power laser turrets can be activated upon command from the Bridge. Two full squadrons of vipers (75 in each squadron) are berthed within its confines. The Vipers serve as the primary means of attack and defense for the ship.
Battlestars are fully self-sufficient and can remain in space for long periods of time without stopping for supplies. Each contains a fully functioning Lifecenter (Medical Facilities), Private and Communal quarters, recreation areas, lounges, and laboratories (mostly to house sensative electronic equipment such as the Robotics Design Lab on the Galactica (where Muffit-II was created.) Much of the labs are not standard on a Battlestar but where either enhanced or created following the desctruction of the Twelve Colonies (i.e. in the game a Battlestar does not have a Robotics Design lab)
In addition to Vipers, Battlestars have a selection of Shuttle craft as well. For ground transport, Landrams are used (armored all terrain vehicles (ATV) with a swivel mounted Gatling laser in the rear.)
Battlestars, despite their immense size, are some of the fastest crafts ever created (only the Viper can beat it for speed.) A Battlestar can reach Light-Speed without a great deal of effort.
Battlestars in turn as mentioned have no physical shielding to protect them from harm, nor do Cylon Baseships. These vessels are far too large to gain any real benefit from this. It is however HEAVILY armored. In addition special blast shields are lowered over all external portals when an alert is sounded. The Starfield-Shield on the bridge can be raised and lowered independently of the remainder of the ship.
The bridge of a Battlestar is a model in communications efficiency. Ten ceiling mounted display terminals impart information from virutally any location. In addition a second set of four terminals is located on the command center. The command center is located on a raised circular platform that can swivel on its axis to face any part of the Bridge. Posts about the bridge control various facilities, with the two primary posts being communications (which relays all orders, coordinates squadron launches, landings, damage control, etc.) and the helm position (which arms laser turrets, controls ship speed and direction, and shares radar tracking duties.) Also located on the bridge is a translucent star map. Upon the map locations and trajectories of ships and planets are placed using a light pen.
Moving to other areas of the Battlestar, the ships brig functions similair to on planet holding facilities. Small, yet comfortable cells run the length of a corridor (roughly 8 cells.) Each cell contains two bunks (laterally stacked), and a display monitor. The door to the cell is fashioned from a highly conductive plastic-like substance that is charged with energy to deter escape attempts (it shocks the individual and literally throws them backwards upon contact.) The doors also have large 'air holes' recessed in them (each roughly the size of a baseball.) These holes are also impossible to bypass due to the energy field on the door (it allows air to filter in and out but would not allow a person to reach his hand through.)
Each Battlestar has two flight decks, appropriatly labeled ALPHA and BETA decks. Flights to and from the Battlestar are routed by the bridge to flight decks (usually alternating the load.) Both decks contain seperate functioning ground crews, repair facilities, and launching cribs. Should a flight deck for whatever reason become non-functional (as the Galactica's did in the episode Fire in Space it is fully capable of functioning soley on one deck (though especialy it's launching ability is halved in terms of speed.)
When a fast moving craft (such as a viper) comes into the landing bay, it is 'caught' by a force dampening field that slows its velocity. Other vessels such as shuttle craft, while still having this dampening field availible to use, often do not need it due to their much slower forward velocities and their ability to hover in place (giving them more control on a descent.)
While the Battlestars decks are primarily suited and geered towards Vipers and Shuttlecraft, they can accomodate all manners of ships. In the series everything from Cylon Fighters to even a rather large Eastern Alliance Destroyer where landed within the Galactica's Bays (see "Greetings from Earth" and "Baltar's Escape")
The Laser Turrets on a Battlestar are all computer controlled. Using sophisticated tracking and targeting computers they cut down incoming attack craft with nearly the kill ratio of the ace Viper Pilots.
The Battlestar's Life Station as earlier mentioned is a fully functioning onboard hospital. Several medtechs including a head doctor make up its staff. Equipment within the life center is the best the Colonies can furnish, including cryogenic chambers and sophisticated laser technology for surgery. In addition machines that can fuse broken bones whole again are present (such as when Casseopeia had her broken arm fixed in the first episode.) As part of standard procedures for all pilots on a Battlestar, anytime they come in from a patrol or log flight time of any sort, they run through standard decontamination procedures. In the series one time they did not, in "The Lost Planet of the Gods", Boomer and Jolly skipped decontamination to check on the preceedings of Apollo's bachellor party.. but they had contracted a strange disiese that ended up affecting the bulk of the Galactica's pilot crew.....thus demonstrating how important the decontamination procedures were. (note: Actually in the book version Boomer and Jolly did go through the decontamination but since it was an unknown disiese it did not stop it.)
Both Vipers and the bridge of a Battlestar have access to the 'Colonial Warbook' which essentially is a large pictoral database of all known ships, types, and relevent data. This information can be called up and/or updated at a moments notice.
In conclusion, the Battlestar is the height of human achievement. The colonies possessed twelve Battlestars and each was a force to be reckoned with on it's own. In the television series 5/6th of the fleet was destroyed (with only the Galactica escaping.. it was assumed the fifth Battlestar, the Pegasus was also destroyed but this proved not to be the case.) The fleet was suprised and ambushed with most of her pilots not able to even clear the launching bay (the Cylons picked them off as they emerged from the tubes.) As we saw in later episodes however had they not been so totally suprised, this route would not have been possible The best example is Commander Cain and the Pegasus.. devoid of any real Viper support took on three Baseships, destroying two of them and an uncertain outcome for itself; whether they flew back off into space or were themselves destroyed was never shown. Baseships (the Cylon equivelent to a Battlestar) where in turn quite formidable as well (only THREE Baseships totally destroyed all 12 of the Human Colonies.) The thousand yahren war with the Cylons rages on... and rest assured the Colonial Battlestars are ready to meet the challenge......
End Note: Although Missle Launchers,
Defense Jammer Shields, Planetary Laser Shields and Camoflauge Shields
where mentioned in books or episodes none of these are used on Battlestar
Mush. They either were not workable within the game framework or (in most
cases) where inconsistent with data from other episodes and thus we have
chosen to disregard them.
These pages are maintained by Chris Pappas (Webmaster@ChrisPappas.com).
There were five Battlestars at the Peace Conference. That's what the script called for. Never anywhere has any official source, document, script or soothsayer stated that there there were twelve Battlestars, one for each colony. The earliest mention I can find of that inaccuracy is an inadequate fan produced booklet called "The Colonial Warrior's Technical Manual", published in 1988 by Space Waste. There are so many gross inaccuracies in there that it wouldn't be feasible to respond to the publication. Besides, are you going to put faith into a document published by "Space Waste"?
A second draft of the pilot script that I have specifically mentions "Five flying Battlestars", putting to rest the fan theory of, "There were twelve, but we only saw five because they didn't have enough money."
A direct quote from Glen Larson (series creator) at the 1993 Galactica 15 Yahren Reunion convention, in response to a question regarding the twelve Battlestar names, "We never arrived that there were twelve Battlestars. We only actually shot the Atlantia, the Pegasus, the Galactica. I can't think of any others."
In total, there are only seven Battlestars I would
consider canon. Debate is welcome.
These five were at the Peace Conference:
Shown on screen during the course of the series
Ship mentioned in background dialog of premier
Here is a list of known military ranks in the
Colonial Forces...
Commander
Colonel
Captain - 1st Class
Captain - 2nd Class
Lieutenant - 1st Class
Lieutenant - 2nd Class
Ensign - 1st Class
Ensign - 2nd Class
Sergeant
Corporal
Cadet
There are two viper squadrons asigned to each BattleStar. The names of these squadrons vary from ship to ship.
The following figures where inspired by the TV
Show, Books, and the stats displayed in the Colonial Warriors Technical
Manual. In no way are they meant to be construed as totally realistic to
RL ship/staffing standards nor even the BSG theme.
Commander
: 1 Strike Leader
: 1 Chief Crew
: 1
Colonel
: 1 Squad Leader : 1
General Crew : 227
Navigator
: 3 Viper Pilots
: 118
-----
Helmsman
: 3
-----
228
Communications : 3
120
---
11
Chief Engineer
: 1 Chief Medtech
: 1 Chief Security
: 1
Senior Engineers
: 2 Doctor Medtechs
: 12 Security
: 54
Repair Crew
: 100 Nurse Medtechs : 50
-----
Flight Crew
: 375
----
55
Shuttle Pilots
: 25
63
Computer Engineers : 30
-----
Total Battlestar Staff: 1000
553
These totals were taken from what's going on in
BattleStar MUSH on the net...
Last Revised: July 1, 1995
Maintained by John P. LaRocque (starbuck@lfn.com)
"What's a centon?" - Michael, "Greetings from Earth"
Battlestar Galactica fans have been at a loss for words when asked to explain what terms like centon or micron mean, and other Colonial time units. These terms were never formally defined in the series. Yet nobody has yet to produce an air-tight conversion table for the terms. This document attempts to provide one.
In general, Colonial time terms substitute nicely for more familiar ones -- centon for minute, micron for second. It is this light that this document is presented. What follows is a near complete list of the terms and their probable meanings.
In time-critical situations, where relationships
between the units are a must, the best option is to provide a table reference
(such as the one above,) before proceeding with a Galactica adventure.
In compiling this list of worlds, I've gathered information from both the series (via direct observation) and novelizations, including updates from Armageddon.
Nearly every world visited by the Galactica during the voyage has been a delta-class planet, suitable for human habitation. We don't know what the classification are for alpha, beta and gamma classes or for any other classifications.
The Twelve Colonies...
Home worlds of the Twelve
Tribes which migrated from Kobol when that planet's sun died out around
seven thousand yahrens ago. It is generally accepted that the names
of the Colonies were Caprica, Aries, Sagitara (Sagittarius), Gemon (Gemini),
Libra, Taura, Virgon, Leons, Aquarius, Cancer, Pisces, and Scorpia (Scopius).
Cimtar...
The moon where the Humans
and Cylons were to meet to sign an armistice ending the thousand-yahren
war. But the Cylons had other ideas and the war ended quite differently.
Borallus...
("Saga of a Star World")
This was an alternate world
for the Fleet to get fuel, water, food, etc, of which there were plentiful
supplies. Then Adama warned there would be a Cylon task force waiting
there.
Carillon...
("Saga of a Star World")
The home of the Ovions.
Its most valuable resource, Tylium, was the main source of fuel for the
Fleet, but was never utilized due to the Ovions' primitive technology.
Baltar's agents wrote the initial military intelligence report which downplayed
Carillon's potential. As a result the Cylons controlled the supply.
When Apollo and Starbuck set the tylium ablaze with laser fire, the tylium
eventually reached hypercombustion and Carillon exploded, taking the Cylon
Imperious Leader with it.
Kobol... ("Lost
Planet of the Gods")
The world from hich Humanity
migrated to the Twelve Colonies. It is a "dead" world because when
its sun gave out, it could no longer viably support life (the star is
likely a white dwarf). You had to get to it through a "dark void"
where celestial navigation tools were useless; the "dark void" was written
in the "Book if the Word". Eden was the largest city (likely the
capital). Even more pyramidal architecture than Caprica.
Armageddon Update:
The Lords of Kobol, a group of priests, and their acolytes and followers,
settled Kobol in the distant past when Parnassus (the original
font of Humanity) mastered star travel and settled scores of colony
planets. One rason the Lords settled here was because overpopulation
and a nova destroyed Parnassus, and they could also continue to develop
their mental powers of telepathy and clairvoyance. However, things
got out of hand on Kobol too; so when the time was near for the end of
Kobol's sun, the Lords left, leaving behind their acolytes and followers
who didn't know where they went to. The Lords became the legendary
Thirteenth Tribe, and (unknown to the rest of Humanity) continued
to perfect their technology and mental prowess to such a degree they passed
to a different plane of existence. Count Iblis is a renegade Lord
of Kobol.
Equellus...
("The Lost Warrior")
A "Wild West" planet.
the most advanced weapon used on the planet was th numo, a compressed-air
gun effective to 10 metrons. Bovines (cows) were a chief commodity.
Lupus (wolf) packs hunted then down.
Proteus...
("The Long Patrol")
Prison planet. They
make ambrosa for the colonies, but during the war the planet was cut off
and the society degenerated to where the decendants of the guards still
held sway over the decendants of the prisoners.
Arcta... ("The
Gun on Ice Planet Zero")
According to the novelization,
this was a rogue planet converted by the Cylons into a powered asteriod
early in the thousand-yahren war. When Doctor Ravashol created his
pulsic communication system atop Mount Helka (the highest summit on
the planet), the Cylons took it over and converted it to blast the
Fleet into atoms. The Colonials lew it up. Arcta is also known
as Tairac.
Sectar...
("The Magnificent Warriors")
This planet is home to the
Borays, an ugly pig-looking alien race with a herd mentality, which used
to be normadic in nature until a small human argo colony established itself,
called Serenity. Then the Borays got lazy and started raiding the
town on the high full moon for food and women.
Antila...
("The Young Lords")
A nasty planet for the Cylons,
who hated the high humidity. The diseases which affected the humans
here were worse on the Cylons, who died off. Starbuck was shot down
here and met a group of young guerrillas, and led them to free their father
and in the process drive the Cylons from the planet, which was once an
exile planet for Scorpian political dissidents (from the novelization).
Unicorns were also native to this planet and were intelligent life forms,
able to telepathically communicate with friendly people.
Gamoray...
("The Living Legend")
Former home of the Delphian
Empire (Adama stated its population was only 50 million) exterminated
by the Cylons and made their outer captial, arming it with "foolproof"
anti-aircraft batteies and 4 full fighter squadrons: the equivalent of
a base ship. Commander Cain of the BattleStar Pegasus and his bunch
kept blowing up the base as soon as the Cylons rebuilt it, and they lived
off the supplies.
Molecay...
("The Living Legend")
The system where the Colonial
Fifth Fleet was lost, two yahrens prior to the destruction of the Colonies.
It was believed the Pegasus was also lost at this battle until she showed
up near Gamoray.
Paradeen...
("Greetings from Earth")
A Nationist colony world destroyed
by an Eastern Alliance biological attack. Some people survived, and
of course the cities were left standing.
Lunar Seven...
("Greetings from Earth")
One of the Nationist offworld
colonies the Eastern Alliance took over; Michael, Sarah and their children
escaped aboard a sublight shuttle when this happened. Later, when
Commandant Leiter and his ship escaped captivity from the Prison Barge
and the ensuring hostage crisis aboard the Galactica ("Baltar's Escape"),
he directed his Eastern Alliance Destroyer to Lunar Seven and pursuing
Vipers pinpointed its location.
Terra... ("Greetings
from Earth", "Baltar's Escape" and "Experiment in Terra")
Once thought to be the Thirteenth
Colony, John (from a Race of Angels) told Apollo that it wasn't.
Some people fromt the Thirteenthh Tribe who were tired of traveling stopped
off here and established their society. Eventually this world developed
a technology on near-par with the Colonials, but the Eastern Alliance "who
like the Cylons in philosphy, but human) fought the Nationlist People's
Alliance (like the United States) on all fronts, was winning, and
launched a nuclear attack to destroy the Nationlists on Terra. This
attack was stopped by the Galactica and the Eastern Alliance sued the NPA
for peace. Terra is Gemonese for Earth.
Cosmara Archipelago...
("Take the Celestra")
The system where the Colonial
Fourth Fleet, led by the BattleStar Rycon (under Commander Kronus),
engaged a Cylon assault force about two yahrens before the Holocaust.
During the battle, Kronus was seriously wounded and he lost nearly 600
ships under his command, but he rallied his troops and ended up destroying
at least three Cylon base ships. The Rycon was destroyed in the battle,
which the Colonials won.
EARTH...
The Thirteenth Colony.
Coordinates given by the Race of Angels to Apollo, Starbuck and Sheba ("War
of the Gods") are: 19,000,000 sectars by Epsilon vector 22, course
reckoning 0000.9.
Ochoa...
Discovered in the Binary 13
star system, Ochoa had a double-helix orbit of approximately 50 yahrens,
first circling one primary and then the other. When its orbit took
it directly between the primaries, it was torn apart by tidal forces from
both stars, to the point where the planet was eventually destroyed.
Ochoa was also the location of a new Cylon outpost, the first sighting
in six yahrens by the Colonial Fleet. The Cylons had the good sense
to get off the planet, but not without blowing up the base as a precaution.
Starbuck and Apollo were able to retrieve much biological data on the Cylons,
in addition to a QSE generator. Ochoa is in the territory claimed
by the Sky (Armageddon).
Here are covered some of the Twelve Colonies, other cultures, and the Cylons. This includes updates from Armageddon. There is also some speculation where appropiate.
Capricans...
Closest to Western culture.
The planet had a lot of pyramidal architecture. The capital of the
planet was Caprica City; two other major cities mentioned are Umbra and
Solius. When people got married, they were "sealed": the priest
would tie the couple's clasped hands together with a golden cord.
I don't know if this was standard pratice throughout the colonies, but
it was shown on "Lost Planet of the Gods" when Apollo and Serina
were married. Caprica was also knownn for the best military academy
in the Colonies; the Caprican Military Academy also did some research into
telepathy and telekinesis ("War of the Gods"), and Adama was one
of the subjects.
Armageddon Update:
Ever since the Kobollians settled the Twelve Colonies, Capricans had nearly
always chosen pure-blooded Kobollian descendants as their leaders because
they possessed wisdom and good common sense. Adama told Apollo (in
his post-mortem holograph) that the Capricans must not only lead the
Fleet to Earth for the same reason, but also that they built the special
Sanctuary in the Commander's Quarters without the knowledge of the other
Colonies. It is also possible that Adama was chosen for the special
military study mentioned in "War of the Gods" because he was pureblood
Kobollian.
Sagitarans...
It had the most sophistecated
defense system of the colonies. President Adar hailes from Sagitara.
Armageddon Update:
Sagitarans are tall and lithe, like the Gemons. The Serpent Cult
originated on Sagitara. Its base was in the Pit aboard the Ursus
and it was led by Tybolt. They chose the wrong side during the civil
strife and it was wiped out.
Gemonese...
The Gemonese (or Gemons)
were known for their sociolators, quite intelligent, but suckers for games
of chance. The Otori religious sect (who were very anti-sociolator)
believes in sexual contact between men and women, blessed by their priests
during the High Sunstorm, only once every seven yahrens. Perhaps
twin Gemonese births (whether fracternal or jdentical) are more
common than elsewhere; Gemonese twins are psychically linked so that when
one speaks, the other emphasizes the main points of the sentence.
Example: One Gemonese twin says:
"For the honor and glory of Gemon, we raise the bet." The
other twin says: "Honor, Glory, Gemon, Bet."
Armageddon Update:
Physically, the Gemonese were arguably
the most handsome/beautiful. They are ethereal in appearance (like
kirasolis in color) and fair-haired. Gemon was the most patriarchal
society of the Twelve Colonies. A public forum, the Gemon Matriarchs,
believed that women not only being discriminated against in Fleet affairs,
but also women could do a better job than men could given the same opportunity;
they supported Athena's candidacy for Commander.
Scorpians...
According to the novels, their
society is very militaristic and very authoritarian. No political
opposition is allowed. Scorpia (also known as Scorpius) was
also a very cold, bleak planet. Scorpians also possess very light
fur, not visible except at a close distance, perhaps when one is standing
next to the Scorpian (Armageddon).
Taurons...
These people are slightly
red-tinged skin color and dark hair (Armageddon).
Cancerians...
Due to the high gravity of
their colony, people hailing from Cancer were shorter and more rotund (Armageddon).
They were also stonger as a compensation.
Leonids...
Also known as Leons, they
were dark in complexion because of their Colony's proximity to the sun.
Other Cultures:
Ovions ("Saga
of a Star World")
One of the societies allied
with the Cylons, the Ovions were the insectoid inhabitants of Carillon.
They used humans as food. Communal culture, led by Queen Lotay.
Tucans ("Saga
of a Star World")
Humanoids with two mouths
and two sets of vocal cords, one set of which was much lower than the other.
They also had four eyes. Starbuck attempted to recruit a Tucanan
singing group but the one female he talked to had other ideas. They
way she said it, she knew something was going to happed.
Borellian Nomen
("The Man with Nine Lives" and
"Baltar's Escape")
Considered a variant human
culture, they lived in the desert of the planet Borellus (not the same
planet as Borallus) and were taken aboard the Fleet when the Holocaust
occurred. They keep to themselves whenever possible but are sometimes
seen aboard other vessels of the Fleet. Borellian Nomen are experts
in desert survival and martial combat. Their weapon of choice is
the laser bole. They can also fake their own death if nexessary.
If Borellian Nomen are on a blood trail, they go after someone until they
or their prey are killed.
Armageddon Update:
Sometime after the events depicted in "Baltar's Escape" and prior
to Armageddon,
theeremust have been some sort of uprising against the Fleet, such that
all Borellian Nomen had been arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced
to life aboard the Prison Barge Icarus, because that's where we find Gar'Tokk
and his 12 fellow Nomen, the last of their kind.
Nationlist Peoples' Alliance
("Greetings from Earth", "Baltar's
Escape" and "Experiment in Terra")
From Terra, their culture
was a LOT like the United States. The NPA had a unicameral legislature,
the Presidium, where Apollo spoke abbout what had happened to the Twelve
Colonies.
Eastern Alliance
("Greetings from Earth", "Baltar's
Escape" and "Experiment in Terra")
From Terra, they believed
in maintaining the natural order of the universe and to them, Nationlists
upset that balance. In Adama's opinion, this philosophy makes the
Eastern Alliance worse than the Cylons, because they're human!
The Eastern Alliance was winning
the war on Terra (and off it) against the Nationlists, until they
launched a nuclear strike which was stopped by the Galactica. Thinking
that the Nationlists devised a foolproof SDI system, the Eastern Allaince
sued for peace.
The Sky ("Armageddon")
This is a telepathic alien
life form capable of unaided travel in the vacuum of space. One of
its kind, Valor, was rscued by Apollo from a Cylon attack. For its
gratitude, the Sky accepted Apollo's offer of alliance and friendship for
as long as the Galactica and the Fleet were in this sector of space
Origins...
The "modern" Cylons are in
fact a race of genetically-enhanced, humanoid reptilian cyborgs.
When originally discovered by human space explorers from Parnassus, they
were found to be extremely warlike and not technologically advanced, and
thus the planet was declared off-limits.
Some time later, a human visitor
to their homeworld promised the native, warlike race the Universe.
In return, he would enhance their natural abilities, using his own DNA.
The Cylons agreed to this exchange. That visitor was Count Iblis.
It is believed that this event took place approximately one thousand yahrens
prior to the Holocaust... very near the outset of the war. Cylons
believed in maintaining the natural order of the universe and to them,
Humans upset that balance; this attitude was programmed into them via the
DNA infusion of the human visitor (Armageddon).
As a result, the females of the Cylon species died out because they were
no longer needed; some original quadruped Cylons still remain on their
homeworld...most likely s exhibits. Even so, a Cylon's expected life
span is about 200 yahrens.
One of the first races the
Cylons conquered was the Hasaris; when the Twelve Colonies heard about
it, they helped the Hasaris win back their nation and that provided the
direct spark to start the thousand-yahren war with the Cylons ("Saga
of a Star World").
Cylon society consists of: