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Alpha

From Battlestar Wiki, the free, open content Battlestar Galactica encyclopedia and episode guide

NOTE: This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title If an article link referred you here, you might want to go back and fix it to point directly to the intended page.

This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title.
If an article link referred you here, you might want to go back and fix it to point directly to the intended page. Also, if you wanted to search for the term "Alpha", click here.

 


Alpha Shuttle is the designation of a Colonial shuttle from Galactica.

Apollo and Boomer use Alpha Shuttle to leave the freighter Gemini after being informed of the by a starving passenger that there are bureauticians who "luxuriate" aboard Rising Star.

After Apollo and Boomer board Rising Star to investigate these aforementioned claims, the shuttle continues on to Galactica in order to process the injured, including Cassiopeia and her new found protector, Starbuck (TOS: "Saga of a Star World").

Notes

  • Apollo also identifies this shuttle as Sigma Shuttle on approach to Rising Star. This is a gaffe since the shuttle has the exact same people as Alpha Shuttle who left Gemini, and Apollo states that Alpha Shuttle will rendezvous with Rising Star herself.

A scanner display of quadrant Alpha Six.

Alpha Six quadrant is a binary star system outside the Cyrannus galaxy where Proteus is located.

According to scans from Galactica, the star system has a concentration of asteroids.

After encountering Robber on an asteroid, Starbuck is told that the asteroid belt is a good place for pirates to hide and strike from (TOS: "The Long Patrol").

Related images

Notes

  • Given that Galactica did not have star charts of the area, it is likely that the name was assigned by either a computer or an officer.

Landing Bay Alpha.
This article discusses the fighter launch platforms of the Original Series battlestars. For information about similar facilities on Re-imagined Series battlestars, see launch tubes (RDM), landing bay and flight pod.

The launch bay is a place from where a Colonial battlestar launches its Vipers and other spacecraft.

Laser turrets.

Battlestars have two launch bays enclosed within two quasi-cylindrical nacelles located port and starboard of the ship. One of the bays is known as "launch bay alpha" (TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I"). The launch bays are directly adjacent to 16 launch tubes each, which are slanted towards the battlestar's aft. Designed solely for Viper craft, each of the sixteen launch tubes has a track in the launch bay where the Viper sits. An elevator provides access to the launch bay ("Saga of a Star World," "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I"). In addition, a rapid transport trolley permits fast transportation from the pilots' quarters to the launch tubes when the ship goes on red alert (TOS: "Saga of a Star World").

Related Images

Notes

  • Presumably, the second launch bay is called "launch bay beta," though there is no dialogue that supports this.
  • According to Encyclopedia Galactica, a non-canonical piece of merchandise published in 1979:
Along with the bachelor officer's quarters, the launch bay (incorrectly referred to as the "ready-room") is "bathed in red light so that the pilot's eyes will be ready for the darkness of space" during a red alert.[1]
  • This area is roughly equivalent to the hangar deck on Re-Imagined Series battlestars.

References

  1. Kraus, Bruce (1979). Encyclopedia Galactica, p. 19.

External links

 


Shuttle Alpha is the shuttle that Troy and Dillon use to escape with the Super Scouts during the attack on the freighter Delphi.

The ship is damaged by the explosion of Delphi, forcing the craft to land on Earth as it does not have enough fuel to reach the Fleet.

In order to avoid the ship's discovery by Earth's people, the ship is launched into space (1980: "The Super Scouts, Part I").

The Colonial Wireless Alphabet (CWA)[1] is a means of communicating letters via words, thus permitting clarity when communicating spellings over wireless. This is similar to the NATO phonetic alphabet used for radio communications.

The following is a list of words used in the CWA. At present, only ten have been canonically identified.

Letter Word Pronunciation
A Alpha/Alfa [2] [3] [4] [5] [ˈæl.fə]
B Bravo [3] [6] [ˈbɹɑ.voʊ]
C Constellation [3] [6] [7] [ˌcɑn.stə.ˈleɪ.ʃən]
D Delta [6] [ˈdɛl.tə]
E Echo [5] [ˈɛ.koʊ]
G Gamma [8] [ˈgamə]
N Nebula [6] [7] [ˈnɛb.ju.lə]
S Sierra [4] [si.ˈɛɹˌɹə]
T Tango [9] [tăng'gō]
X X-ray [10] [ɛks.'ɹeɪ]

Notes

  • "Wilco" is not a CWA letter code. It means "will comply," matching its real usage.
  • While the Colonial wireless alphabet borrows from the NATO phonetic alphabet, there are exceptions because they have Earth-specific references and are unlikely to be known to the Colonials. Examples: India and Quebec (Earth locations), Romeo and Juliet (Shakespearean characters), and Yankee and Zulu (regional and ethnic groups of Earth).
  • The Battlestar Galactica Role Playing Game includes a complete listing of the wireless alphabet, though the full list has not been verified as canon. The additions supplied by the game are as follows (direct analogues to the NATO phonetic alphabet marked with an asterisk):


Letter Word
F Foxtrot*
H Hotel*
I Icon
J Juno
K Kilo*
L Logo
M Meteor
O Oscar*
P Papa*
Q Quasar
R Rho
U Uniform*
V Victor*
W Whiskey*
Y Yellow
Z Zephyr

References

  1. This is a Battlestar Wiki descriptive term.
  2. In the NATO phonetic alphabet, "Alpha" is spelled "Alfa," in consideration of Spanish orthography.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Kara Thrace: Three assault teams, Alpha, Bravo, Constellation. (TRS: "Bastille Day")
  4. 4.0 4.1 Lee Adama: Sierra Alpha, we got a new bogey. (TRS: "Scattered")
  5. 5.0 5.1 William Adama: Order batteries alpha through echo to switch to salvo fire. (TRS: "Resurrection Ship, Part II")
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Freighter Pilot #1: Carrier constellation, jump complete on station, point deacon. Initiate search pattern delta.
    Freighter Pilot #2: Ore flight bravo, delta, wilco.
    Freighter Pilot #3: Ore flight nebula, delta initiated. (TRS: "The Hand of God")
  7. 7.0 7.1 Galen Tyrol: If the commander will take a closer look at the tail numbering... Nebula Seven Two Four Two Constellation. (TRS: "Miniseries")
  8. This is part of Kendra Shaw's access code, which she gives to Gina Inviere (TRS: "Razor").
  9. Grayshirt: Tango 1, Tango 1, Tango 1, weapons close 2-4-1 (TRS: "Final Cut")
  10. Saul Tigh: Cally's in a group heading for map coordinates X-ray Seven (TRS: "Exodus, Part I")

Part of the series on
Battlestar Galactica Terminology


This is a listing of acronyms, initialisms, jargon and terminology used in both the Re-imagined Series and its prequel, Caprica.

The formatting of this article allows for its use in conjunction with the Lingo extension used throughout Battlestar Wiki. This includes multiple spellings, each listed on its own line, preceding the definition of the definidendum.

Abbreviations, Acronyms and Initialisms

AAA
Re-imagined Series definition: Anti-aircraft artillery (pronounced "Triple-A"), such as a battlestar's point defense batteries (TRS: "He That Believeth in Me").
AAU
Re-imagined Series definition: Anti-aircraft unit. Weapons emplacement used to destroy aerial targets (TRS: "Fragged").
ACH
After Cylon Holocaust
Re-imagined Series definition: denotes any time following the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, e.g. 1 ACH (see: Timeline (RDM))
ACM
Re-imagined Series definition: Air combat maneuver. The positioning of a plane to acquire a firing solution on an adversary; a required skill taught to Viper pilots during flight training (TRS: "He That Believeth in Me").
AI
Re-imagined Series definition: Artificial Intelligence, research into such technology was deemed illegal by the Colonies after the First Cylon War (TRS: "Miniseries")
ASAP
Re-imagined Series definition: As soon as possible. Usually pronounced "a-sap."
BCH
Before Cylon Holocaust
Re-imagined Series definition: denotes any time preceding the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, e.g. 40 BCH (see: Timeline (RDM))
BSG
battlestar group
Battlestar Group
Re-imagined Series definition: Battlestar Group (TRS: "Water"). It also doubles as an acronym for the television series itself.
CAG
Commander Air Group
Re-imagined Series definition: the senior pilot on a battlestar
CAP
Combat Air Patrol
Re-imagined Series definition: standard deployment of craft on defense posture, an anachronistic colloquialism used to refer to patrols in space
CBDR
Re-imagined Series definition: Constant Bearing, Decreasing Range. Indicates object on a collision course (TRS: "Final Cut", "Pegasus")
CF
Re-imagined Series definition: Colonial Fleet (TRS: "Final Cut")
CFR
Re-imagined Series definition: Colonial Fleet Reserve (TRS: "Final Cut")
CIC
Combat Information Center
Re-imagined Series definition: nerve center or "bridge" of a battlestar, see: Combat Information Center
CMC
Re-imagined Series definition: Colonial Marine Corps (TRS: "Final Cut")
CMCR
Re-imagined Series definition: Colonial Marine Corps Reserve (TRS: "Final Cut")
CMO
Re-imagined Series definition: Chief Medical Officer; e.g. Major Sherman Cottle is Galactica's
CNP
Command Navigation Program
Re-imagined Series definition: operating system on military and civilian ships exploited by the Cylons (TRS: "Miniseries, Night 1")
CO
Re-imagined Series definition: Commanding Officer; e.g. William Adama
DC
Damage Control
Re-imagined Series definition: generally related to the CIC station and related locations
DCT
Damage Control Team
party of individuals handling damage containment aboard a ship, consisting of deckhands and other NCOs (TRS: "Miniseries, Night 1").
DRADIS
Re-imagined Series definition: "Direction, Range, and Distance", Colonial equivalent of radar or lidar
ECO
Electronic Countermeasures Officer
crew member handling electronic countermeasures of a craft; ECOs are standard crew aboard Raptors (see: ECO)
EMI
electromagnetic interference
Re-imagined Series definition: high-energy electromagnetic radiation from binary stars is known to interfere with DRADIS (TRS: "The Captain's Hand")
EMP
electromagnetic pulse
Re-imagined Series definition: A powerful electrically-disruptive surge that typically accompanies a nuclear detonation.
FOB
fresh off the boat
Re-imagined Series definition: new crewmember who is reporting to their assignment; William Adama is referred to thusly by Armin Diaz after embarking on Galactica (TRS: "Blood and Chrome")
FTL
Faster Than Light
faster-than-light
Re-imagined Series definition: technology enabling travel across distances faster than the speed of light would permit, see: FTL
GDD
Global Defense Department
Caprica definition: a civilian outfit on Caprica in operation prior to the First Cylon War handling large-scale enforcement throughout the colony, akin to the FBI, see: Global Defense Department
IFF
Identification Friend or Foe
Re-imagined Series definition: transponder-based system to positively identify friendly spacecraft (TRS: "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II")
KIA
Killed in Action
used to refer to military personnel who are confirmed deceased during a military engagement, see: KIA (TRS: "Sacrifice")
LSO
Landing Signal Officer
Re-imagined Series definition: officer responsible for flight operations of either a battlestar or battlestar group
MIRV
Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle
Re-imagined Series definition: a missile conveyance system; Cylons deployed these for orbital bombardment during the Fall of the Twelve Colonies (TRS: "The Plan")
MCP
Meta-cognitive processor
Caprica definition: hardware used by Dr. Daniel Graystone in the integration of the sentient AI that Zoe Graystone created into the U-87, see: MCP (CAP: Pilot).
NCP
New Caprica Police
Re-imagined Series definition: pseudo-civilian law enforcement agency overseen by the Cylon Occupation Authority on New Caprica, see: New Caprica Police (TRS: "Occupation")
OD
overdose
Re-imagined Series definition: medical term for the use of medication to fatal, or near fatal, effect (TRS: "Faith")
OOD
Officer of the Deck
Re-imagined Series definition: a watch officer aboard a ship, when the CO or XO are off-station (TRS: "Scattered")
PTF
Playing the Field
Caprica definition: an advice column on dating in the Twelve Colonies (The Caprican: "Playing the Field: A Guide to Love in the Colonies," et al).
RFN
Right Frakking Now
Re-imagined Series definition: directive to execute an order with alacrity, often used in a heated situation (TRS: "Scattered", "Valley of Darkness")
SAM
Surface-to-air missile
Re-imagined Series definition: ordnance launched from a planetary surface or other stellar form; Silas Nash names this piece as something to be avoided when briefing Coker Fasjovik and William Adama (TRS: "Blood and Chrome")
SAR
Search and Rescue
Re-imagined Series definition: the act of finding missing persons in the hopes of their rescue, see: SAR (TRS: "Fragged")
STO
Soldiers of the One
Caprica definition: a monotheistic terrorist organization in existence for more than a decade prior to 58 BCH ((CAP: "Pilot"), et al).
SU
Re-imagined Series definition: distance measurement similar to "astronomical unit," speculated to stand for "solar unit" (TRS: "The Captain's Hand").
XO
Re-imagined Series definition: Executive Officer, e.g. Saul Tigh

Military Jargon

Actual
Re-imagined Series definition: callsign used in wireless communications to denote a ship's commanding officer
Archer
Re-imagined Series definition: air-to-air ordnance provisioned for Raptors (TRS: "Blood and Chrome")
ball
Re-imagined Series definition: visual indicator used in a battlestar's Instrument Landing System during a hands-on approach (TRS: "Miniseries", "Act of Contrition", "Final Cut", "Black Market")
bandit
Re-imagined Series definition: confirmed hostile contact, typically either or both a fighter and shuttle sized craft (TRS: "Final Cut", "Razor")
basic
Re-imagined Series definition: initial skills training; can refer to basic military indoctrination, and arms and ground training (TRS: "Fragged"); and basic flight training (TRS: "Miniseries")
bent bird
Re-imagined Series definition: damaged fighter craft (TRS: "Occupation")
bingo fuel
Re-imagined Series definition: minimum fuel level required to safely return to base (TRS: "You Can't Go Home Again", "Scar")
bird farm
Re-imagined Series definition: Colonial pilot jargon for a battlestar (TRS: "Final Cut")
bug out
Re-imagined Series definition: retreat, usually hastily and disordered (TRS: "Valley of Darkness")
callsign
Re-imagined Series definition: a nickname used as a substitute for an aviator's given name in wireless communications and in conversation
chatter
Re-imagined Series definition: to fire on an enemy during a fighter engagement (TRS: "Valley of Darkness"); active wireless communications traffic
code blue
Re-imagined Series definition: request for assistance due to potential Cylon agent sighting (TRS: "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II," Podcast:Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II)
command authority
Re-imagined Series definition: the senior rank in a command, such as an Admiral (TRS: "Pegasus", "Precipice")
conn
Re-imagined Series definition: navigation controls, but also used to refer to command in general (TRS: "The Captain's Hand")
dress and cover
Re-imagined Series definition: military term for personnel to form an ordered rank-and-file formation during ceremonies, derived from "dress right" and "cover down" (TRS: "Pegasus")
ell-tee
Re-imagined Series definition: informal phonetic abbreviation for Lieutenant (LT) (TRS: "Valley of Darkness", "Fragged")
eyeball run
Re-imagined Series definition: likely refers to targeting or aiming missiles manually, without the use of targeting computers (TRS: "Home, Part I")
fireteam
fire team
Re-imagined Series definition: basic fighting element used in small-unit ground tactics (TRS: "Valley of Darkness")
five-'graph order
Re-imagined Series definition: five paragraph operation order, the standard format taught in basic training (TRS: "Fragged")
genny
Re-imagined Series definition: power generator; Tyrol asked Cally to "find the genny" to power up the lights on Ragnar Anchorage (TRS: "Miniseries")
hack
Re-imagined Series definition: the brig
hard deck
Re-imagined Series definition: the threshold in a massive gas planet's dense atmosphere below which the atmospheric density and pressure becomes too great for a Viper to be able to reach orbit again and maintain structural integrity (TRS: "Maelstrom"); adapted from the original definition of minimum safe altitude
intra-atmos entry
Re-imagined Series definition: a jump maneuver that places the ship within a planetary body's atmosphere, in either powered flight (TRS: "Home, Part II") or free fall (TRS: "Exodus, Part II")
jarhead
Re-imagined Series definition: a Colonial Marine (TRS: "Blood and Chrome")
jock smock
Re-imagined Series definition: flight suit (TRS: "He That Believeth in Me")
jump
Re-imagined Series definition: the process of using the FTL engines to make an near-instantaneous apparent faster-than-light transport of a ship from one point in space to another
klick
Re-imagined Series definition: one kilometer
knuckle dragger
Re-imagined Series definition: inoffensive slang for a mechanic or deckhand
nugget
Re-imagined Series definition: student pilot (TRS: "Act of Contrition", "Scar")
Mark One Eyeball
Re-imagined Series definition: the unaided eye (TRS: "You Can't Go Home Again", "Scar")
no joy
Re-imagined Series definition: no success in establishing visual contact with the target. Opposite of "tally". Can also mean no success in general (TRS: "The Hand of God""[[|]]", "Maelstrom")[[Category:]]
Old Man
Commander William Adama's nickname, used by officers aboard Galactica (TRS: "33")
press
Re-imagined Series definition: in military parlance, directive to continue the attack; otherwise used to refer to journalists (TRS: "Maelstrom")
recovery line
Re-imagined Series definition: imaginary boundary within which a fighter can return to a landing bay within a given time (TRS: "33")
rook
Re-imagined Series definition: "rookie," typically refers to those on their first tour of duty after initial training (TRS: "Miniseries"), q.v. nugget
shooter
Re-imagined Series definition: slang for launch officer, responsible for deployment of craft from a battlestar (TRS: "Miniseries, Night 1")
Sierra Alpha
Re-imagined Series definition: "suspicious activity" (TRS: "Scattered")
sitrep
Re-imagined Series definition: "situation report"
skids up
Re-imagined Series definition: "take off" or "launch"; often used by the CAG to end a mission briefing
skosh
Re-imagined Series definition: radio code meaning "out of ammunition," analogous to modern-day NATO brevity code "winchester." Skosh is also a real-world NATO brevity term meaning "Aircraft is out of or unable to employ active radar missiles".(TRS: "The Captain's Hand")
slingshot
Re-imagined Series definition: slang for a certain piece of Cylon equipment; Silas Nash names this piece as something to be avoided when briefing Coker Fasjovik and William Adama (TRS: "Blood and Chrome")
sparrow
Re-imagined Series definition: slang for Cylon Raider (TRS: "Maelstrom")
spinner
Re-imagined Series definition: engineering component of a battlestar's FTL drive (TRS: "The Captain's Hand")
swallow
Re-imagined Series definition: decoy drone deployed by Raptors (TRS: "Miniseries")
snipe
Re-imagined Series definition: engineer (TRS: "The Captain's Hand")
spooch
Re-imagined Series definition: contraction of "screwed the pooch," describing a serious pilot error (TRS: "Scar")
tally
Re-imagined Series definition: abbreviation of tally-ho; the sighting of an enemy target, such as a craft, landmark, or position (TRS: "The Hand of God", "Scattered", "Maelstrom")
trap
Re-imagined Series definition: battlestar landing bay mechanism that arrests a landing Viper, Raptor or other small craft (TRS: "Final Cut")
Two Alpha
Re-imagined Series definition: designation for an extremely risky and hence voluntary mission (TRS: "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I")
turkey
slang for a Cylon Heavy Raider (TRS: "Maelstrom")
unrep
underway replenishment
Re-imagined Series definition: refueling and replenishment between ships away from dock, usually during flight. Taken from the contemporary term for the resupply of military vessels at sea while en route (TRS: "Water", "Maelstrom")
war porn
Re-imagined Series definition: gun camera footage from engagements, typically played back by Colonial Marines for their enjoyment (TRS: "Blood and Chrome")
weapons free
Re-imagined Series definition: weapon control order indicating weapons systems may be fired at any target not positively recognized as friendly (TRS: "Resurrection Ship, Part I")
weapons hot
weapons status indicating that safeties are off and weapons systems are armed (TRS: "Final Cut")
wilco
Re-imagined Series definition: "will comply," the typical terse acceptance to an order given

Religious terminology

Apotheosis
Caprica definition: a belief held by members of the STO, including Clarice Willow, with various view points (CAP: "Reins of a Waterfall"). Willow believes that the STO can prevail if they use Zoe Graystone's program to offer real eternal life to their members in the form of holographic avatars. One of the Hybrids also uses this term during the Fall of the Colonies, stating "Apotheosis was the beginning before the beginning" (TRS: "The Plan"). (See: resurrection program)
temple group
Caprica definition: a religious group akin to a "church group"; Lacy Rand tries telling a security guard that her temple group missed their flight to Picon (CAP: "Retribution")
trinity
Caprica definition: a being in three different states; Zoe-R considers herself to be a trinity, as she is "Zoe, and the avatar, and the robot" (CAP: "Rebirth")

Other Colloquialisms

The Beast
Re-imagined Series definition: nickname for Pegasus given by Galactica's crew (TRS: "The Captain's Hand")
Big G
Re-imagined Series definition: nickname for Galactica
The Bucket
Re-imagined Series definition: nickname for Galactica given by Pegasus' crew (TRS: "The Captain's Hand")
bullet-head
Re-imagined Series definition: slang for a Cylon Centurion (TRS: "Downloaded")
clanker
Re-imagined Series definition: slang for a Cylon Centurion
chrome job
Re-imagined Series definition: slang for a Cylon Centurion (TRS: "The Resistance")
companionway
Re-imagined Series definition: a set of steps leading from a ship's deck down to a cabin or lower deck (TRS: "Valley of Darkness")
derez
de-rez
de-resolve
Caprica definition: occurrence of a holographic avatar's loss of either cohesion or deletion from the Virtual World, see: derez (CAP: "Pilot", "There is Another Sky", "The Imperfections of Memory", "End of Line", "Unvanquished" and "False Labor")
cube
Re-imagined Series definition: equivalent of "square," a socially awkward person (CAP: "The Imperfections of Memory")
Download City
nickname used by Diana Seelix to describe the unknown or figurative place where humanoid Cylons are resurrected on New Caprica (TRS: "Exodus, Part I")
frak
frakked
frakker
frakking
Re-imagined Series definition: all-purpose vulgarism; Colonial version of "fuck" (see: frak)
freight monkey
Re-imagined Series definition: crewmen on Colonial freighters (TRS: "Scattered, deleted scene")
hard six
Re-imagined Series definition: taking large risks; literally, rolling 2 threes with a pair of dice
Heavy
Re-imagined Series definition: used to signify a civilian transport vessel over a certain gross weight/mass, i.e. Colonial Heavy 798
husker
Re-imagined Series definition: Aerlionian slang for hayseed; William Adama is called this by Coker Fasjovik, thus the source of Adama's callsign (TRS: "Blood and Chrome")
skin job
Re-imagined Series definition: derogatory term for humanoid Cylons; homage to the movie Blade Runner (TRS: "Downloaded")
stump
[1] derogatory term for a prisoner in a labor camp (TRS: "Bastille Day")
symp
Re-imagined Series definition: derogatory shorthand for sympathizer, vis-à-vis Cylons; Strohmeyer refers to Jenna McGavin and Nina Leothe thusly during a heated discussion about his war porn (TRS: "Blood and Chrome")
toaster
Re-imagined Series definition: derogatory term for Cylons in general
toaster shopping
Re-imagined Series definition: searching and destroying Cylons (TRS: "Valley of Darkness")
Go Panthers!
C-Bucs Rule!
Re-imagined Series definition: passphrase between Sharon "Athena" Agathon and Samuel Anders, referring to two pyramid teams, the Picon Panthers and the Caprica Buccaneers (C-Bucs), the later being Anders' former team (TRS: "Exodus, Part I")

Battlestar Galactica Specific Terms

ambrosia
Re-imagined Series definition: a type of alcoholic beverage, see: ambrosia
carom
Re-imagined Series definition: term used in conjunction with a DRADIS contact read; analogous to the term "mark"
chamalla
Re-imagined Series definition: a hallucinogenic plant used in religious ceremonies and medical treatments, see: chamalla
cubit
Re-imagined Series definition: unit of currency, see: cubit
fumarella leaf
Re-imagined Series definition: tobacco or a type of tobacco (TRS: "Water")
G-4
Re-imagined Series definition: plastic explosive similar to modern C-4, see: G-4 (TRS: "Water")
JP
Re-imagined Series definition: a unit of measure for liquid, approximately 1 pint (TRS: "Water")
krypter
Re-imagined Series definition: Colonial version of "mayday"; in practice, the term is usually repeated three times, see: krypter (TRS: "Miniseries", "Hero")
morpha
Re-imagined Series definition: Colonial equivalent of morphine, see: morpha (TRS: "Valley of Darkness", "Epiphanies")
pyramid
Re-imagined Series definition: popular Colonial ball game, see: pyramid
Red Line
Re-imagined Series definition: a point in space behind which an accumulative error creeps into FTL jump calculations (TRS: "Miniseries", "Pegasus")
stims
Re-imagined Series definition: stimulants or a type of stimulant (TRS: "33", "Final Cut")
triad
Re-imagined Series definition: card game similar to Poker, see: triad
tylium
Re-imagined Series definition: mineral that can be refined to a powerful fuel, see: tylium
vernal
Caprica definition: alternate term for the spring season (The Caprican: "Argentum Bay: The Ultimate Vernal Break")
Vernal Break
Caprica definition: a period of time when students from educational institutions are released to celebrate vacation, c.f. spring break (The Caprican: "Argentum Bay: The Ultimate Vernal Break")

Technology

auto-umpire
Caprica definition: a program in advanced sports courts, including the private tennis court on the Graystone Estate (CAP: "Pilot")
line sensors
Caprica definition: sensors in the grid of a tennis court that can track a ball in play (CAP: "Pilot")
magcelerators
Re-imagined Series definition: a magnetic acceleration feature in a battlestar's launch tube, thus allowing the Vipers to launch at high rates of speed for rapid deployment in combat situations (TRS: "Daybreak, Part I")
movie tile
Caprica definition: storage media on which movies are stored; Amanda Graystone instructs Serge to find old home movie tiles of Zoe Graystone (CAP: "Rebirth")
wireless mobile pack
Caprica definition: equipment used by Zoe-R for her work into reconnecting with the V-World (CAP: "Reins of a Waterfalldeleted scene)
wireless
Re-imagined Series definition: Colonial equivalent of radio

References

  1. This is a Battlestar Wiki descriptive term.

Part of the series on
Battlestar Galactica Terminology


This is a listing of acronyms, initialisms, jargon and terminology used in both the Re-imagined Series and its prequel, Caprica.

The formatting of this article allows for its use in conjunction with the Lingo extension used throughout Battlestar Wiki. This includes multiple spellings, each listed on its own line, preceding the definition of the definidendum.

Abbreviations, Acronyms and Initialisms

AAA
Re-imagined Series definition: Anti-aircraft artillery (pronounced "Triple-A"), such as a battlestar's point defense batteries (TRS: "He That Believeth in Me").
AAU
Re-imagined Series definition: Anti-aircraft unit. Weapons emplacement used to destroy aerial targets (TRS: "Fragged").
ACH
After Cylon Holocaust
Re-imagined Series definition: denotes any time following the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, e.g. 1 ACH (see: Timeline (RDM))
ACM
Re-imagined Series definition: Air combat maneuver. The positioning of a plane to acquire a firing solution on an adversary; a required skill taught to Viper pilots during flight training (TRS: "He That Believeth in Me").
AI
Re-imagined Series definition: Artificial Intelligence, research into such technology was deemed illegal by the Colonies after the First Cylon War (TRS: "Miniseries")
ASAP
Re-imagined Series definition: As soon as possible. Usually pronounced "a-sap."
BCH
Before Cylon Holocaust
Re-imagined Series definition: denotes any time preceding the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, e.g. 40 BCH (see: Timeline (RDM))
BSG
battlestar group
Battlestar Group
Re-imagined Series definition: Battlestar Group (TRS: "Water"). It also doubles as an acronym for the television series itself.
CAG
Commander Air Group
Re-imagined Series definition: the senior pilot on a battlestar
CAP
Combat Air Patrol
Re-imagined Series definition: standard deployment of craft on defense posture, an anachronistic colloquialism used to refer to patrols in space
CBDR
Re-imagined Series definition: Constant Bearing, Decreasing Range. Indicates object on a collision course (TRS: "Final Cut", "Pegasus")
CF
Re-imagined Series definition: Colonial Fleet (TRS: "Final Cut")
CFR
Re-imagined Series definition: Colonial Fleet Reserve (TRS: "Final Cut")
CIC
Combat Information Center
Re-imagined Series definition: nerve center or "bridge" of a battlestar, see: Combat Information Center
CMC
Re-imagined Series definition: Colonial Marine Corps (TRS: "Final Cut")
CMCR
Re-imagined Series definition: Colonial Marine Corps Reserve (TRS: "Final Cut")
CMO
Re-imagined Series definition: Chief Medical Officer; e.g. Major Sherman Cottle is Galactica's
CNP
Command Navigation Program
Re-imagined Series definition: operating system on military and civilian ships exploited by the Cylons (TRS: "Miniseries, Night 1")
CO
Re-imagined Series definition: Commanding Officer; e.g. William Adama
DC
Damage Control
Re-imagined Series definition: generally related to the CIC station and related locations
DCT
Damage Control Team
party of individuals handling damage containment aboard a ship, consisting of deckhands and other NCOs (TRS: "Miniseries, Night 1").
DRADIS
Re-imagined Series definition: "Direction, Range, and Distance", Colonial equivalent of radar or lidar
ECO
Electronic Countermeasures Officer
crew member handling electronic countermeasures of a craft; ECOs are standard crew aboard Raptors (see: ECO)
EMI
electromagnetic interference
Re-imagined Series definition: high-energy electromagnetic radiation from binary stars is known to interfere with DRADIS (TRS: "The Captain's Hand")
EMP
electromagnetic pulse
Re-imagined Series definition: A powerful electrically-disruptive surge that typically accompanies a nuclear detonation.
FOB
fresh off the boat
Re-imagined Series definition: new crewmember who is reporting to their assignment; William Adama is referred to thusly by Armin Diaz after embarking on Galactica (TRS: "Blood and Chrome")
FTL
Faster Than Light
faster-than-light
Re-imagined Series definition: technology enabling travel across distances faster than the speed of light would permit, see: FTL
GDD
Global Defense Department
Caprica definition: a civilian outfit on Caprica in operation prior to the First Cylon War handling large-scale enforcement throughout the colony, akin to the FBI, see: Global Defense Department
IFF
Identification Friend or Foe
Re-imagined Series definition: transponder-based system to positively identify friendly spacecraft (TRS: "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II")
KIA
Killed in Action
used to refer to military personnel who are confirmed deceased during a military engagement, see: KIA (TRS: "Sacrifice")
LSO
Landing Signal Officer
Re-imagined Series definition: officer responsible for flight operations of either a battlestar or battlestar group
MIRV
Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle
Re-imagined Series definition: a missile conveyance system; Cylons deployed these for orbital bombardment during the Fall of the Twelve Colonies (TRS: "The Plan")
MCP
Meta-cognitive processor
Caprica definition: hardware used by Dr. Daniel Graystone in the integration of the sentient AI that Zoe Graystone created into the U-87, see: MCP (CAP: Pilot).
NCP
New Caprica Police
Re-imagined Series definition: pseudo-civilian law enforcement agency overseen by the Cylon Occupation Authority on New Caprica, see: New Caprica Police (TRS: "Occupation")
OD
overdose
Re-imagined Series definition: medical term for the use of medication to fatal, or near fatal, effect (TRS: "Faith")
OOD
Officer of the Deck
Re-imagined Series definition: a watch officer aboard a ship, when the CO or XO are off-station (TRS: "Scattered")
PTF
Playing the Field
Caprica definition: an advice column on dating in the Twelve Colonies (The Caprican: "Playing the Field: A Guide to Love in the Colonies," et al).
RFN
Right Frakking Now
Re-imagined Series definition: directive to execute an order with alacrity, often used in a heated situation (TRS: "Scattered", "Valley of Darkness")
SAM
Surface-to-air missile
Re-imagined Series definition: ordnance launched from a planetary surface or other stellar form; Silas Nash names this piece as something to be avoided when briefing Coker Fasjovik and William Adama (TRS: "Blood and Chrome")
SAR
Search and Rescue
Re-imagined Series definition: the act of finding missing persons in the hopes of their rescue, see: SAR (TRS: "Fragged")
STO
Soldiers of the One
Caprica definition: a monotheistic terrorist organization in existence for more than a decade prior to 58 BCH ((CAP: "Pilot"), et al).
SU
Re-imagined Series definition: distance measurement similar to "astronomical unit," speculated to stand for "solar unit" (TRS: "The Captain's Hand").
XO
Re-imagined Series definition: Executive Officer, e.g. Saul Tigh

Military Jargon

Actual
Re-imagined Series definition: callsign used in wireless communications to denote a ship's commanding officer
Archer
Re-imagined Series definition: air-to-air ordnance provisioned for Raptors (TRS: "Blood and Chrome")
ball
Re-imagined Series definition: visual indicator used in a battlestar's Instrument Landing System during a hands-on approach (TRS: "Miniseries", "Act of Contrition", "Final Cut", "Black Market")
bandit
Re-imagined Series definition: confirmed hostile contact, typically either or both a fighter and shuttle sized craft (TRS: "Final Cut", "Razor")
basic
Re-imagined Series definition: initial skills training; can refer to basic military indoctrination, and arms and ground training (TRS: "Fragged"); and basic flight training (TRS: "Miniseries")
bent bird
Re-imagined Series definition: damaged fighter craft (TRS: "Occupation")
bingo fuel
Re-imagined Series definition: minimum fuel level required to safely return to base (TRS: "You Can't Go Home Again", "Scar")
bird farm
Re-imagined Series definition: Colonial pilot jargon for a battlestar (TRS: "Final Cut")
bug out
Re-imagined Series definition: retreat, usually hastily and disordered (TRS: "Valley of Darkness")
callsign
Re-imagined Series definition: a nickname used as a substitute for an aviator's given name in wireless communications and in conversation
chatter
Re-imagined Series definition: to fire on an enemy during a fighter engagement (TRS: "Valley of Darkness"); active wireless communications traffic
code blue
Re-imagined Series definition: request for assistance due to potential Cylon agent sighting (TRS: "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II," Podcast:Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II)
command authority
Re-imagined Series definition: the senior rank in a command, such as an Admiral (TRS: "Pegasus", "Precipice")
conn
Re-imagined Series definition: navigation controls, but also used to refer to command in general (TRS: "The Captain's Hand")
dress and cover
Re-imagined Series definition: military term for personnel to form an ordered rank-and-file formation during ceremonies, derived from "dress right" and "cover down" (TRS: "Pegasus")
ell-tee
Re-imagined Series definition: informal phonetic abbreviation for Lieutenant (LT) (TRS: "Valley of Darkness", "Fragged")
eyeball run
Re-imagined Series definition: likely refers to targeting or aiming missiles manually, without the use of targeting computers (TRS: "Home, Part I")
fireteam
fire team
Re-imagined Series definition: basic fighting element used in small-unit ground tactics (TRS: "Valley of Darkness")
five-'graph order
Re-imagined Series definition: five paragraph operation order, the standard format taught in basic training (TRS: "Fragged")
genny
Re-imagined Series definition: power generator; Tyrol asked Cally to "find the genny" to power up the lights on Ragnar Anchorage (TRS: "Miniseries")
hack
Re-imagined Series definition: the brig
hard deck
Re-imagined Series definition: the threshold in a massive gas planet's dense atmosphere below which the atmospheric density and pressure becomes too great for a Viper to be able to reach orbit again and maintain structural integrity (TRS: "Maelstrom"); adapted from the original definition of minimum safe altitude
intra-atmos entry
Re-imagined Series definition: a jump maneuver that places the ship within a planetary body's atmosphere, in either powered flight (TRS: "Home, Part II") or free fall (TRS: "Exodus, Part II")
jarhead
Re-imagined Series definition: a Colonial Marine (TRS: "Blood and Chrome")
jock smock
Re-imagined Series definition: flight suit (TRS: "He That Believeth in Me")
jump
Re-imagined Series definition: the process of using the FTL engines to make an near-instantaneous apparent faster-than-light transport of a ship from one point in space to another
klick
Re-imagined Series definition: one kilometer
knuckle dragger
Re-imagined Series definition: inoffensive slang for a mechanic or deckhand
nugget
Re-imagined Series definition: student pilot (TRS: "Act of Contrition", "Scar")
Mark One Eyeball
Re-imagined Series definition: the unaided eye (TRS: "You Can't Go Home Again", "Scar")
no joy
Re-imagined Series definition: no success in establishing visual contact with the target. Opposite of "tally". Can also mean no success in general (TRS: "The Hand of God""[[|]]", "Maelstrom")[[Category:]]
Old Man
Commander William Adama's nickname, used by officers aboard Galactica (TRS: "33")
press
Re-imagined Series definition: in military parlance, directive to continue the attack; otherwise used to refer to journalists (TRS: "Maelstrom")
recovery line
Re-imagined Series definition: imaginary boundary within which a fighter can return to a landing bay within a given time (TRS: "33")
rook
Re-imagined Series definition: "rookie," typically refers to those on their first tour of duty after initial training (TRS: "Miniseries"), q.v. nugget
shooter
Re-imagined Series definition: slang for launch officer, responsible for deployment of craft from a battlestar (TRS: "Miniseries, Night 1")
Sierra Alpha
Re-imagined Series definition: "suspicious activity" (TRS: "Scattered")
sitrep
Re-imagined Series definition: "situation report"
skids up
Re-imagined Series definition: "take off" or "launch"; often used by the CAG to end a mission briefing
skosh
Re-imagined Series definition: radio code meaning "out of ammunition," analogous to modern-day NATO brevity code "winchester." Skosh is also a real-world NATO brevity term meaning "Aircraft is out of or unable to employ active radar missiles".(TRS: "The Captain's Hand")
slingshot
Re-imagined Series definition: slang for a certain piece of Cylon equipment; Silas Nash names this piece as something to be avoided when briefing Coker Fasjovik and William Adama (TRS: "Blood and Chrome")
sparrow
Re-imagined Series definition: slang for Cylon Raider (TRS: "Maelstrom")
spinner
Re-imagined Series definition: engineering component of a battlestar's FTL drive (TRS: "The Captain's Hand")
swallow
Re-imagined Series definition: decoy drone deployed by Raptors (TRS: "Miniseries")
snipe
Re-imagined Series definition: engineer (TRS: "The Captain's Hand")
spooch
Re-imagined Series definition: contraction of "screwed the pooch," describing a serious pilot error (TRS: "Scar")
tally
Re-imagined Series definition: abbreviation of tally-ho; the sighting of an enemy target, such as a craft, landmark, or position (TRS: "The Hand of God", "Scattered", "Maelstrom")
trap
Re-imagined Series definition: battlestar landing bay mechanism that arrests a landing Viper, Raptor or other small craft (TRS: "Final Cut")
Two Alpha
Re-imagined Series definition: designation for an extremely risky and hence voluntary mission (TRS: "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I")
turkey
slang for a Cylon Heavy Raider (TRS: "Maelstrom")
unrep
underway replenishment
Re-imagined Series definition: refueling and replenishment between ships away from dock, usually during flight. Taken from the contemporary term for the resupply of military vessels at sea while en route (TRS: "Water", "Maelstrom")
war porn
Re-imagined Series definition: gun camera footage from engagements, typically played back by Colonial Marines for their enjoyment (TRS: "Blood and Chrome")
weapons free
Re-imagined Series definition: weapon control order indicating weapons systems may be fired at any target not positively recognized as friendly (TRS: "Resurrection Ship, Part I")
weapons hot
weapons status indicating that safeties are off and weapons systems are armed (TRS: "Final Cut")
wilco
Re-imagined Series definition: "will comply," the typical terse acceptance to an order given

Religious terminology

Apotheosis
Caprica definition: a belief held by members of the STO, including Clarice Willow, with various view points (CAP: "Reins of a Waterfall"). Willow believes that the STO can prevail if they use Zoe Graystone's program to offer real eternal life to their members in the form of holographic avatars. One of the Hybrids also uses this term during the Fall of the Colonies, stating "Apotheosis was the beginning before the beginning" (TRS: "The Plan"). (See: resurrection program)
temple group
Caprica definition: a religious group akin to a "church group"; Lacy Rand tries telling a security guard that her temple group missed their flight to Picon (CAP: "Retribution")
trinity
Caprica definition: a being in three different states; Zoe-R considers herself to be a trinity, as she is "Zoe, and the avatar, and the robot" (CAP: "Rebirth")

Other Colloquialisms

The Beast
Re-imagined Series definition: nickname for Pegasus given by Galactica's crew (TRS: "The Captain's Hand")
Big G
Re-imagined Series definition: nickname for Galactica
The Bucket
Re-imagined Series definition: nickname for Galactica given by Pegasus' crew (TRS: "The Captain's Hand")
bullet-head
Re-imagined Series definition: slang for a Cylon Centurion (TRS: "Downloaded")
clanker
Re-imagined Series definition: slang for a Cylon Centurion
chrome job
Re-imagined Series definition: slang for a Cylon Centurion (TRS: "The Resistance")
companionway
Re-imagined Series definition: a set of steps leading from a ship's deck down to a cabin or lower deck (TRS: "Valley of Darkness")
derez
de-rez
de-resolve
Caprica definition: occurrence of a holographic avatar's loss of either cohesion or deletion from the Virtual World, see: derez (CAP: "Pilot", "There is Another Sky", "The Imperfections of Memory", "End of Line", "Unvanquished" and "False Labor")
cube
Re-imagined Series definition: equivalent of "square," a socially awkward person (CAP: "The Imperfections of Memory")
Download City
nickname used by Diana Seelix to describe the unknown or figurative place where humanoid Cylons are resurrected on New Caprica (TRS: "Exodus, Part I")
frak
frakked
frakker
frakking
Re-imagined Series definition: all-purpose vulgarism; Colonial version of "fuck" (see: frak)
freight monkey
Re-imagined Series definition: crewmen on Colonial freighters (TRS: "Scattered, deleted scene")
hard six
Re-imagined Series definition: taking large risks; literally, rolling 2 threes with a pair of dice
Heavy
Re-imagined Series definition: used to signify a civilian transport vessel over a certain gross weight/mass, i.e. Colonial Heavy 798
husker
Re-imagined Series definition: Aerlionian slang for hayseed; William Adama is called this by Coker Fasjovik, thus the source of Adama's callsign (TRS: "Blood and Chrome")
skin job
Re-imagined Series definition: derogatory term for humanoid Cylons; homage to the movie Blade Runner (TRS: "Downloaded")
stump
[1] derogatory term for a prisoner in a labor camp (TRS: "Bastille Day")
symp
Re-imagined Series definition: derogatory shorthand for sympathizer, vis-à-vis Cylons; Strohmeyer refers to Jenna McGavin and Nina Leothe thusly during a heated discussion about his war porn (TRS: "Blood and Chrome")
toaster
Re-imagined Series definition: derogatory term for Cylons in general
toaster shopping
Re-imagined Series definition: searching and destroying Cylons (TRS: "Valley of Darkness")
Go Panthers!
C-Bucs Rule!
Re-imagined Series definition: passphrase between Sharon "Athena" Agathon and Samuel Anders, referring to two pyramid teams, the Picon Panthers and the Caprica Buccaneers (C-Bucs), the later being Anders' former team (TRS: "Exodus, Part I")

Battlestar Galactica Specific Terms

ambrosia
Re-imagined Series definition: a type of alcoholic beverage, see: ambrosia
carom
Re-imagined Series definition: term used in conjunction with a DRADIS contact read; analogous to the term "mark"
chamalla
Re-imagined Series definition: a hallucinogenic plant used in religious ceremonies and medical treatments, see: chamalla
cubit
Re-imagined Series definition: unit of currency, see: cubit
fumarella leaf
Re-imagined Series definition: tobacco or a type of tobacco (TRS: "Water")
G-4
Re-imagined Series definition: plastic explosive similar to modern C-4, see: G-4 (TRS: "Water")
JP
Re-imagined Series definition: a unit of measure for liquid, approximately 1 pint (TRS: "Water")
krypter
Re-imagined Series definition: Colonial version of "mayday"; in practice, the term is usually repeated three times, see: krypter (TRS: "Miniseries", "Hero")
morpha
Re-imagined Series definition: Colonial equivalent of morphine, see: morpha (TRS: "Valley of Darkness", "Epiphanies")
pyramid
Re-imagined Series definition: popular Colonial ball game, see: pyramid
Red Line
Re-imagined Series definition: a point in space behind which an accumulative error creeps into FTL jump calculations (TRS: "Miniseries", "Pegasus")
stims
Re-imagined Series definition: stimulants or a type of stimulant (TRS: "33", "Final Cut")
triad
Re-imagined Series definition: card game similar to Poker, see: triad
tylium
Re-imagined Series definition: mineral that can be refined to a powerful fuel, see: tylium
vernal
Caprica definition: alternate term for the spring season (The Caprican: "Argentum Bay: The Ultimate Vernal Break")
Vernal Break
Caprica definition: a period of time when students from educational institutions are released to celebrate vacation, c.f. spring break (The Caprican: "Argentum Bay: The Ultimate Vernal Break")

Technology

auto-umpire
Caprica definition: a program in advanced sports courts, including the private tennis court on the Graystone Estate (CAP: "Pilot")
line sensors
Caprica definition: sensors in the grid of a tennis court that can track a ball in play (CAP: "Pilot")
magcelerators
Re-imagined Series definition: a magnetic acceleration feature in a battlestar's launch tube, thus allowing the Vipers to launch at high rates of speed for rapid deployment in combat situations (TRS: "Daybreak, Part I")
movie tile
Caprica definition: storage media on which movies are stored; Amanda Graystone instructs Serge to find old home movie tiles of Zoe Graystone (CAP: "Rebirth")
wireless mobile pack
Caprica definition: equipment used by Zoe-R for her work into reconnecting with the V-World (CAP: "Reins of a Waterfalldeleted scene)
wireless
Re-imagined Series definition: Colonial equivalent of radio

References

  1. This is a Battlestar Wiki descriptive term.

This article has a separate continuity.
This article is in a separate continuity, which is related to the Original Series and Galactica 1980. Be sure that your contributions to this article reflect the characters and events specific to this continuity only.
Part of the series on
Battlestar Galactica Terminology


Like the show, the comics or novels based on the Original Series, and its spinoff, Galactica 1980, use different terminology in order to make the universe visceral to the reader. This array of terminology, used by both the Colonials and Cylons, consists of military jargon, colloquialisms, sayings, and technical terms.

This page does not serve to regurgitate or repeat terminologies used in both series, but terms that only appear in both the comics and novels. Each section is separated by publisher (Berkley, Marvel, Realm Press, et al.), in order to make the continuities clear.

Berkley novelizations

  • germicide: part of a Warrior's medkit. Given the use of the suffix "-cide," this substance kills germs.[1]
  • viruscide: part of a Warrior's medkit. Given the use of the suffix "-cide," this substance kills viruses.[1]

Dynamite Entertainment comics

Cultural

Cylons

Material

Military

General

Squadrons and Forces

Strategies

Technology

Temporal Mechanics

Units of Measure

Miscellany

Marvel Comics

Maximum Press comics

Realm Press comics

Unproduced Scripts

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Resnick, Michael (1981). Battlestar Galactica 5: Galactica Discovers Earth. Berkley Books, p. 116.
  2. This term is a nod to both Battlestar Galactica creator Glen A. Larson and the company formed by John Dykstra.
  3. This term is also used in Encyclopedia Galactica.


This article has a separate continuity.
This article is in the Realm Press separate continuity, which is related to the Original Series. Be sure that your contributions to this article reflect the characters and events specific to this continuity only.

Shuttle Alpha is a Galactica shuttle that transports Doctor Wilker to the alien derelict mothership.

The ship is piloted by Captain Apollo and Lieutenant Starbuck (Prison of Souls, Part 1), and is responsible for returning a Somnian-possessed Wilker to Galactica (Prison of Souls, Part 2).

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