Alpha

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	Part of the series on; Battlestar Galactica Terminology
	Original Series Separate Continuity and Unproduced Scripts; Richard Hatch's Continuation Novels; Steampunk Battlestar Galactica 1880; ; Galactica 1980; Re-imagined Series Separate Continuity (Books, Comics, Video Games, et al.); ;
	v·d·e

	Part of the series on; Battlestar Galactica Terminology
	Original Series Separate Continuity and Unproduced Scripts; Richard Hatch's Continuation Novels; Steampunk Battlestar Galactica 1880; ; Galactica 1980; Re-imagined Series Separate Continuity (Books, Comics, Video Games, et al.); ;
	v·d·e

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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[edit]

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.

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[edit]

Starchaser probes further into Alpha Six.

Notes[edit]

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.

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[edit]

View of the rear area of a launch bay (TOS: "Saga of a Star World").
Maintenance crew complete their in the launch bay before Vipers launch (TOS: "Saga of a Star World").
Final Approach
Silent Service

Notes[edit]

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[edit]

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

External links[edit]

Official Universal blueprints of the launch bay and corresponding launch tube, complete with legend.

Alpha Centauri is a binary star system within proximity of Earth.

During the Battle for the Delphi the Galactican Fleet is 30,000 Mega-Kays from Alpha Centauri, proceeding on a course leading away from Earth.

Curiously, Alpha Centauri's name is known to Colonel Boomer through means unknown (1980: "The Super Scouts, Part I").

External links[edit]

Alpha article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

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[edit]

"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[edit]

↑ This is a Battlestar Wiki descriptive term.
↑ In the NATO phonetic alphabet, "Alpha" is spelled "Alfa," in consideration of Spanish orthography.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Kara Thrace: Three assault teams, Alpha, Bravo, Constellation. (TRS: "Bastille Day")
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Lee Adama: Sierra Alpha, we got a new bogey. (TRS: "Scattered")
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 William Adama: Order batteries alpha through echo to switch to salvo fire. (TRS: "Resurrection Ship, Part II")
↑ ^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")
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 Galen Tyrol: If the commander will take a closer look at the tail numbering... Nebula Seven Two Four Two Constellation. (TRS: "Miniseries")
↑ This is part of Kendra Shaw's access code, which she gives to Gina Inviere (TRS: "Razor").
↑ Grayshirt: Tango 1, Tango 1, Tango 1, weapons close 2-4-1 (TRS: "Final Cut")
↑ Saul Tigh: Cally's in a group heading for map coordinates X-ray Seven (TRS: "Exodus, Part I")

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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 (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[edit]

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[edit]

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 Waterfall" deleted scene)
wireless: Re-imagined Series definition: Colonial equivalent of radio

References[edit]

↑ This is a Battlestar Wiki descriptive term.

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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 (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[edit]

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[edit]

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 Waterfall" deleted scene)
wireless: Re-imagined Series definition: Colonial equivalent of radio

References[edit]

↑ 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.

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[edit]

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[edit]

Cultural[edit]

Boray fracker: a derogatory term specifically disparaging a targeted party as "Boray shit"; Starbuck uses this when engaging on his bombing run on Tessida (Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #3).
countess: honorific for a Colonial female aristocrat, c.f. Sephoni (Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #1).
daggit dribble: a kinder version of "felgercarb"; Cassiopeia uses this when Starbuck lies his way out of the real reason he wants to talk to Cassiopeia before a mission to attack the Cylon mainframe at Tessida (Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #1).
daggit fracker: a variation of "dog shit"; Starbuck tells the Cylons to "eat this, daggit frackers!" as he and Apollo take on the Centurion stealth team that boarded Galactica (Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #1).
felger-hole: "shit hole"; Boomer calls Tessida this when making his landing run to recover Starbuck (Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #4).
for Sagan's sake: a statement issued in exasperation; Starbuck exclaims this after a red alert alarm goes off in response to Galactica's boarding by a Cylon stealth team (Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #1).
flark: an alternative of the word frack in an alternate reality, hewing more toward the vulgarism "fuck" than "shit" (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #3).
Larson's Apogee in C-Minor: a Colonial piano piece played by Baltar (Galactica 1980 #2).^[2]
Mother of Hermes: variation of the phrase "Mother of God"; Tassos uses this exclamation when Starbuck wrings Tassos by his tunic (Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #3).
nutszoidal: crazy, in a state of immense frustration (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #9).
perdition's name: a form of "devil's name"; Adama uses this in an exasperated inquiry regarding a Cylon stealth team boarding Galactica (Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #1).
soil-grown mushies: a Colonial foodstuff believed by some to be a higher-quality counterpart to the more commonplace hydronic mushies; Starbuck won three cases of these in order to barter for a ring featuring Geminese sapphires for Cassiopeia (Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #1-#3).
Spirit of Caprica: a saying often used in exaltation of an unbelievable miracle; Adama utters this—"Spirit of Caprica preserve us."—when believing they have found Earth within a storm zone (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #8).

Cylons[edit]

alphad: equivalent to the Colonial "alpha," such a letter is used in the code confirming the legitimacy of the super basestar's critical reactor failure (Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #4).
betan: equivalent to the Colonial "beta," such a letter is used in the code confirming the legitimacy of the super basestar's critical reactor failure (Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #4).
cautionary myth: early Cylon conditional programming that was unsuccessful, and "remembered" only by IL-series units, e.g. Lucifer (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 3 #4).
clankies: Colonial slang for Cylons; used by Boxey during Adama's Fleet-wide speech (Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #1).
Meclons: a rogue cast of Cylons from Cylon cautionary myths, and later applied to Iblis Cylon forces (Battlestar Galactica: Folly of the Gods).
tin horn: Colonial slang for Cylons; used by the black market merchant aboard Rising Star from whom Starbuck acquires an engagement ring for Cassiopeia (Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #1).

Material[edit]

chromium: a material used in the threading of Colonial uniform braiding (Battlestar Galactica: Starbuck #4).
Geminese sapphire: a red precious gemstone used in jewelry; Starbuck acquires a ring made with these sapphires in order to propose marriage to Cassiopeia (Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #3).

Military[edit]

General[edit]

blue shift: duty cycle 12 centars in length, beginning in the evening and ending in the early morning (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
cerebral law: law enacted by Doctor Gaius Zee when assuming total command of the Fleet after Adama's death at the hands of the Thirteenth Tribe (Galactica 1980 #2).
command blues: slang for the uniform worn by officers, like Tigh and Athena (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #9).
Command Core: alternate name for Core Command (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #7).
contact alarm: klaxon denoting potential enemy contact (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #8).
D-com Warrior: "Decompression Colonial Warrior," equipped to handle decompression situations; a force of D-com Warriors is dispatched to repel a Cylon boarding party that attempts to recover the nano-cybrid from Galactica's science deck (Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #2).
defense net: a network of automated defenses around each of the Colonies (Battlestar Galactica: Starbuck #1).
full rate: maximum firing rate during an engagement (Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #4).
habitation chamber or hab-pod: crew quarters, such as those aboard Galactica (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #9).
half-cycle handover: the transition period between military shifts (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
Officer of the Watch: commanding officer in effective command during a duty cycle (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
Q-Cache: a military storage depot, many are placed throughout known space for Colonial forces to resupply (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #2).
red shift: duty cycle 12 centars in length, beginning in the morning and ending in the early evening (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
snuff dive: a terminal dive (Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #2).
time cycle: a military work shift (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
top tier: the top most tier of Core Command, where the Commander's Station is located (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).

Squadrons and Forces[edit]

Blue Flight/Blue Squadron: interchangeable designation for a fighter squadron
- During the events of leading up to Adama's Gambit, Blue Flight was lead by Apollo, consisting of Boomer, Jolly, and Sheba (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
Blue Leader: leader of Blue Flight (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
blue patrol: identifier for a patrol dispatched from Galactica (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #8).
Bronze Star Squadron: Galactica squadron (Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #3).
Red Flight/Red Squadron: interchangeable designation for a fighter squadron
- During the events of leading up to Adama's Gambit, Red Flight was lead by Starbuck, consisting of Breena, Greenbean, and Hightail (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
- In 7358, Red Flight consists of Boomer, Sheba, Greenbean and Breena (Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #4).
Red Leader: leader of Red Flight (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
Silver Spar Squadron: Pegasus squadron, reassigned to Galactica following the Battle of Gamoray, later lead (at times) by Lieutenant Sheba (Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #3, Battlestar Galactica Classic #1).

Strategies[edit]

Attack Pattern Omega: a defensive posture employed by Lucifer's Raiders against the Meclons (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 3 #2).
Beton Beton Five: a defense strategy employed during Adama's Gambit, ordered by Athena (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #11).
Diamond Spread: flight pattern employed by Vipers (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
mutli-split: Viper maneuver sprung from a formation during a battle; Boomer orders this during the dogfight outside of the super basestar (Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #4).
quad formation: formation of four Vipers that regroup during a battle; Boomer orders this during the dogfight outside of the super basestar (Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #4).
trailing line: flight pattern employed by Vipers (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).

Technology[edit]

braking jet: reaction control thrusters on Vipers used to arrest momentum; Viper pilots use braking jets to allow Raiders to overshoot, thus allowing the Warrior to gain targeting lock by quickly switching from being on the enemy's fore to aft (Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #4).
datanet: an information network, e.g. internet; each colony has its own, such as the Aerian datanet for Aeries (Battlestar Galactica: Starbuck #2).
deep-pulse: form of long-range scanning technology employed by the Colonials (Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #1).
emergency tracker: device outfitted on Colonial Vipers, used to track (or allow tracking of) other Vipers in need of assistance (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #4).
environment mask: basic breathing apparatus meant for short-term emergency use; Dr. Wilker keeps such in his lab, and they are later put to use during the Cylon boarding of Galactica (Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #2).
exo-lifter: a mechanical apparatus, likely an exoskeleton (ergo, "exo") capable of heavy-duty tasks (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
fusion missile: ranged offensive ordnance of battlestars (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #11).
gamma frequency field: energy dampening field; in order to prevent communications to other Cylons, Boomer engages such a field around a Centurion prisoner while it is restrained in Galactica's detention chamber (Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #2).
gravitic warhead: ordnance capable of collapsing a wormhole; Adama deploys it upon the Canopus wormhole in order to prevent further Cylon pursuit of the Fleet (Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #4).
holo-cube: a hand-held digital device in the shape of a cube, capable of projecting a holographic image (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #1).
planetary expeditionary vehicle carrier: also known as a "PEV" craft; Gemini is such a craft and is capable of launching smaller craft (such as turbines) on a planet's surface (Galactica 1980 #4).
pocket grenade: explosive anti-personnel device carried by Colonial Warriors; Starbuck uses a device to cause a hull breach in Dr. Wilker's science lab when the Cylons attempt to recover the nano-cybrid (Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #2).
radiation charge: device capable of emitting radiation, enough to render tylium worthless (Battlestar Galactica Annual 2014).
radiotelegraph probe: form of long-range scanning technology employed by the Colonials (Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #1).
stealth probe: clandestine Colonial reconnaissance device (Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #1).
tractor field: technology used to ensnare spacecraft; in an alternate reality, a Raider ensnares Starbuck's Temporal Viper in one (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #2).

Temporal Mechanics[edit]

temporal storm: a convergence of tachyon and other energies capable of bridging two disparate realities (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #2 & #5).
temporal drive / t-drive: engine powering the temporal warper (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #5).
temporal weapon: defensive/offensive technology capable of warping space-time for military purposes that, due to its inherently unpredictable and far-reaching nature, the Colonials have outlawed (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #1).
time mirage: a form of temporal displacement where, to a viewer, an object is frozen in space-time, but interaction with it is impossible (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #2).
time-warp or temporal warp: a means of conveyance of an object in both space and time, either controlled or uncontrolled (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #2).

Units of Measure[edit]

light-yahren: Colonial term for lightyear (Galactica 1980 #1).^[3]

Miscellany[edit]

aldarium belt: asteroid belt; Starbuck promises Serina that he would bring Apollo back from his mission, even if it meant dragging him a hundred hectars through this belt (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 1 #1).
decompression sickness: a physically and mentally exhausting event occurring after experiencing atmospheric decompression; Starbuck blames this sickness after awakening in life sciences and mis-identifying Cassiopeia as Aurora (Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #1).
delta-class telepath: individual possessing high psionic potential, capable of being detected by hand scanners (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #9).
first contact: a Colonial protocol dealing with communications to a new civilization (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #9).
full rate: a weapon's maximum fire rate, i.e. "weapons free" (Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #4).
full retro: engine on full burn, Starbuck compares Doctor Madusa beauty to being "hotter than a thruster on full retro" (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #7).
handshake signal: the opening transmission commencing first contact protocols (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #9).
Hovian: a sector containing a planet known for its unique magnetic field, capable of attracting derelict ships much like Iblis' planet (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 3 #1).
hyper-fast: euphemism for extreme speed (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
ideo-psion: a mental aberration, an incongruent thought like "wishful thinking" (Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #3).
mega-static discharge: created by high energons that can accumulate around craft before they eventually discharge (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
positive array lock: a sensor lock (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #9).
power-dead: electrical blackout (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
protein bar: foodstuff (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 1 #1).
psionic: someone with mental powers, also used to describe aforesaid powers themselves (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 & Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo)
telepathic overload: a mental condition, the result of using psionic potential beyond the human mind's ability to cope (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #9).
ticophine: chemical in fumarello products causing withdrawal symptoms, akin to nicotine (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 1 #1).
ventle steak: a type of meat, known to be served cooked (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 1 #1).
void lightning: electrical discharges within a quantum storm zone (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).

Marvel Comics[edit]

armistice: a term referring to the falsely believed-in peace between the Colonials and Cylons (Annihilation!).
liesuron: a furlough; Apollo tells Zac that he expects that all the Warriors will be given this after the armistice (Annihilation!).
- Note: This is an alternate spelling of the canonical term "leisuron," also used by Apollo when discussing his participation in the recon patrol prior to the Battle of Cimtar (TOS: "Saga of a Star World").
quadron: a unit of astral distance; the Imperious Leader's basestar is "several hundred quadrons" away from Carillon (Deathtrap!).
supreme star force: Cylon attack force; Imperious Leader dispatches the star force stationed at Borallus to attack the Fleet at Carillon (Deathtrap!).

Maximum Press comics[edit]

ion storm: a spatial disturbance, one that creates a malfunction in Cylon 8765 (The Rebirth of Cy, Part 1).

Realm Press comics[edit]

Psych-Med: mental health specialist, e.g. Doctor Ishtara (Fear of Flying).

Unproduced Scripts[edit]

barrier wave: a wave of turbulence, such a wave strikes Galactica and the Fleet during their proximity to the Beta Triangle (TOS: "The Beta Pirates").
Fix-it: robotic machines that serve to repair ships, and are part of the salvage tug sent to repair the Gemini freighter. During Boomer and Starbuck's review of the salvage tug's checklist, they check the readiness of the "Heavy-duty Fix-it" and the "Electronics Fix-it" (TOS: "The Beta Pirates").
forcewave: another term for barrier wave (TOS: "The Beta Pirates").
quarter-milliton: a time unit (TOS: "The Beta Pirates").
gyroball: a spherical toy larger than a marble (TOS: "I Have Seen Earth").
sentinel buoy: a spheroid spy satellite with lens-systems and sensors that is used by the Cylons. One such satellite detects Galactica as she and her Fleet skirt the outer boundary of the Beta Triangle (TOS: "The Beta Pirates").

References[edit]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Resnick, Michael (1981). Battlestar Galactica 5: Galactica Discovers Earth. Berkley Books, p. 116.
↑ This term is a nod to both Battlestar Galactica creator Glen A. Larson and the company formed by John Dykstra.
↑ 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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[1] Kraus, Bruce (1979). Encyclopedia Galactica, p. 19.

[2] This is a Battlestar Wiki descriptive term.

[3] In the NATO phonetic alphabet, "Alpha" is spelled "Alfa," in consideration of Spanish orthography.

[bastille-4] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Kara Thrace: Three assault teams, Alpha, Bravo, Constellation. (TRS: "Bastille Day")

[scattered-5] 4.0 ^4.1 Lee Adama: Sierra Alpha, we got a new bogey. (TRS: "Scattered")

[rs2-6] 5.0 ^5.1 William Adama: Order batteries alpha through echo to switch to salvo fire. (TRS: "Resurrection Ship, Part II")

[hog-7] 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")

[mini-8] 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")

[razor-9] This is part of Kendra Shaw's access code, which she gives to Gina Inviere (TRS: "Razor").

[finalcut-10] Grayshirt: Tango 1, Tango 1, Tango 1, weapons close 2-4-1 (TRS: "Final Cut")

[exodus-11] Saul Tigh: Cally's in a group heading for map coordinates X-ray Seven (TRS: "Exodus, Part I")

[bsgwikiterm-12] This is a Battlestar Wiki descriptive term.

[bsgwikiterm-13] This is a Battlestar Wiki descriptive term.

[p116-14] 1.0 ^1.1 Resnick, Michael (1981). Battlestar Galactica 5: Galactica Discovers Earth. Berkley Books, p. 116.

[15] This term is a nod to both Battlestar Galactica creator Glen A. Larson and the company formed by John Dykstra.

[16] This term is also used in Encyclopedia Galactica.

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Part of the series on Battlestar Galactica Terminology
Original Series Separate Continuity and Unproduced Scripts Richard Hatch's Continuation Novels Steampunk Battlestar Galactica 1880 Galactica 1980 Re-imagined Series Separate Continuity (Books, Comics, Video Games, et al.)
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