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This is a list of terms in Galactica 1980. Some of these terms are specific to the Galactica 1980 television series, and not to the Original Series from which it was spun-off, although there may be overlap from the Original Series into this listing.

This list also includes Earth terms that the Colonials have apparently never encountered before.

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.

Earth terms[edit]

The following are Earth terms that the Colonials do not immediately understand, thus having to learn about them through experience or by using their wrist computron.

APB: Galactica 1980 definition: all points bulletin; Dillon goes to look this term up, but is stopped by Jamie Hamilton, who informs them about the general meaning of the term (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part III")
A.M.: Galactica 1980 definition: Troy mispronounces this as the word "am," which is corrected by the desk clerk (1980: "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I")
bigshot: Galactica 1980 definition: after being called this at the police station for asking to speak to Dr. Donald Mortinson, Dillon asks what a bigshot is (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I")
chauvinist: Galactica 1980 definition: Dillon is called both a terrorist and a chauvinist by Jamie Hamilton during their phone call from the police station; he asks Troy "what's a terrorist chauvinist?" (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I")
coffee: Galactica 1980 definition: Dillon looks up this term after Jamie Hamilton orders a coffee at a diner, upon their return to 1980 Earth (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part III").
Cuba: Galactica 1980 definition: When two hijackers first make their demands aboard Flight 2, Dillon looks up this place, but Troy replies they don't have time to go there (1980: "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I")
department store: Galactica 1980 definition: Troy looks this up when attempting to find a place to procure clothing for the Super Scouts (1980: "The Super Scouts, Part I")
dollar: Galactica 1980 definition: When Hamilton asks Troy and Dillon for a dollar, Dillon looks the term up and then replies "No, I'm sorry, but we just used our last denomination of currency ourselves." (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I")
Eagle: Galactica 1980 definition: Moonstone looks this up after Colonel Jack Sydell mentions that he used to be an Eagle scout; there is subsequent humor over the term as it literally means "a large bird," and does not provide the definition of the Boy Scout level (1980: "The Super Scouts, Part I")
FBI: Galactica 1980 definition: After being told by the stewardess that the FBI would want to talk to them regarding their involvement in thwarting the Cuban hijackers, Dillon is told to look up this term (1980: "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I")
girlfriend: Galactica 1980 definition: Dillon looks up this term after Gloria Alonzo asks if he has one (1980: "Space Croppers")
Halloween: Galactica 1980 definition: Dillon goes to look up this term when the stewardess announces that the delayed passengers will be at their Halloween parties in plenty of time, but is stopped by Troy who tells him to look up the term FBI (1980: "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I").
hijacking: Galactica 1980 definition: Troy and Dillon look up this word after the desk clerk explains the reasons for the metal detectors. Unsurprisingly, a hijacking by Cuban nationals subsequently occurs on their flight (1980: "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I")
horse: Galactica 1980 definition: When John Steadman asks if the Warriors know anything about these creatures, Dillon looks this up (1980: "Space Croppers")
Martians: Galactica 1980 definition: After discovering the ineptitude of Dillon and Troy in driving an automobile, she asks if they are Martians. After consulting the computron, Dillon replies: "Close." (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II")
phone: Galactica 1980 definition: Troy attempts to use a phone booth near a gas station prior to their first run-in with Jamie Hamilton (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I").
terrorist: Galactica 1980 definition: Dillon is called both a terrorist and a chauvinist by Jamie Hamilton during their phone call from the police station; he asks Troy "what's a terrorist chauvinist?" (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I")

Colonial terms[edit]

These are terms directly relating to Galactica 1980, some of which are based from the Original Series. For terms from that series, please refer to List of terms (TOS).

airfoil deflection: Galactica 1980 definition: a piece of equipment on a Viper that reduces air drag in an atmosphere (1980: "The Return of Starbuck")
alpha waves: Galactica 1980 definition: type of signals used in correcting disturbed brainwave patterns (1980: "Space Croppers")
ascension tube: Galactica 1980 definition: elevator; Dillon refers to the elevators at the WQSL radio station building as these (1980: "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part II")
astral wind: Galactica 1980 definition: wind; Starbuck experiences these on planet Starbuck (1980: "The Return of Starbuck")
auric: Galactica 1980 definition: gold; cubits are minted from this (1980: "The Super Scouts, Part I")
auto flight: Galactica 1980 definition: automatic piloting system aboard a Viper, which can be loaded with coordinates (1980: "Spaceball")
automatic beacon: Galactica 1980 definition: an electronic device that automatically transmits a distress signal (1980: "The Return of Starbuck")
automatic detonator: Galactica 1980 definition: a self destruct mechanism; such a mechanism is inside the A-B Raider and is activated by Andromus upon crash landing outside of New York City (1980: "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I")
battle urgent: Galactica 1980 definition: a term for high military alert, particularly in relation to crisis condition (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II")
brace: Galactica 1980 definition: a personal safety device on shuttles; i.e. safety belts (1980: "The Super Scouts, Part I")
breaking skip: Galactica 1980 definition: a maneuver done in an atmosphere; three of these are used by the Cylon A-B Raider to reduce speed to ensure a non-fatal landing (1980: "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I")
cerebral mutation: Galactica 1980 definition: Adama describes Doctor Zee as being this in his log when touching upon the topic of Zee's advanced intelligence, as well as scientific expertise that is far in advance of the Colonials (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I")
chromosome count: Galactica 1980 definition: a result from a remote scan that can discern a person's gender; Galactica's sensors indicated that one of the Viper carries a female occupant (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II")
chronic: Galactica 1980 definition: a unit of temperature; 2000 degrees chronic would be the skin temperature of the A-B Raider at maximum upon entering Earth's atmosphere (1980: "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I")
Commander's Court: Galactica 1980 definition: a court of law, probably over military disputes (1980: "The Return of Starbuck").
communication media: Galactica 1980 definition: Colonial term vis-à-vis journalism (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II")
computron: Galactica 1980 definition: computer (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I")
Crisis condition: Galactica 1980 definition: a high-military alert; Adama uses this in light of Xaviar's escape into Earth's past to Nazi Germany circa 1944 (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II")
distress beacon: Galactica 1980 definition: the Cylon variant of the automatic beacon; a portable version of this is taken from the A-B Raider and attached to Centuri before Andromus and the Centurion escape the crash (1980: "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I")
energizer: Galactica 1980 definition: a power source (see: energizer); Dillon voices his concern that the energizer feeding power to the invisibility field hiding their Vipers needs to be recharged before the ships are rendered visible (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I")
epidermal transformation: Galactica 1980 definition: a process of changing one's outward appearance to look like someone else; Xaviar used this process to make himself look (and sound) like Lieutenant Nash (1980: "Spaceball")
felgercarb: Galactica 1980 definition: vulgarism equivalent to "shit" (see: felgercarb); Dillon uses this when discovering that his laser pistol wasn't set to stun (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II")
force field: Galactica 1980 definition: a safety device that restrains the Viper pilot in their seat (1980: "The Return of Starbuck"), Troy and Dillon refer to the invisibility field as thus (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I")

frack

Galactica 1980 definition: a term meaning "rats" or "shit" (see: frack); it is only used by Starbuck (1980: "The Return of Starbuck")
frimp: Galactica 1980 definition: mild derogatory term, essentially equivalent "dummy" or "idiot" (1980: "The Super Scouts, Part II", "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I")
function guard mechanism: Galactica 1980 definition: a mechanism in a Viper that transfers control from automatic to manual should any automatic function malfunction (1980: "Spaceball")
Galactican: Galactica 1980 definition: a member of the Fleet; Hamilton first uses the term when replying to Stockwell's question regarding Xavier's affiliation (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II")
Galactican fleet: Galactica 1980 definition: Cylons' term for the Fleet (1980: "Space Croppers")
Galactic war: Galactica 1980 definition: a Cylon term for the war with the humans, which may refer to either (or both) the Thousand-Yahren War or their pursuit of Galactican fleet (1980: "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I")
kils: Galactica 1980 definition: a unit of measuring distance; the Earth's radius measures 6,378 of these (1980: "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I")
limiter: Galactica 1980 definition: a device that limits the energy sent to a Viper's turbo charger (1980: "Space Croppers")
navigational computron: Galactica 1980 definition: navigational computer; Adama says that coordinates to uninhabited landing zones on Earth are programmed in these (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I")
neuro-transmitter anogram: Galactica 1980 definition: a medical testing technique meant to test some aspects of neuro-transmitters; Troy requests Dr. Spencer run such a test, but he is unfamiliar with it (1980: "The Super Scouts, Part I")
nutrient monitor: Galactica 1980 definition: a device capable of monitoring the growth of plants (1980: "Space Croppers")
Priority Red: Galactica 1980 definition: high priority (1980: "Spaceball"); Captain Kanon tells Britton to contact the Galactica with a Priority Red message regarding the A-B Raider (1980: "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I").
pulse jet: Galactica 1980 definition: a rocket; Dillon sees the V-1 flying bombs launching and calls them this (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II")
respiratory readout: Galactica 1980 definition: a result from a remote scan that can discern the number of people inside a ship; Colonel Boomer discerns from this readout that two people occupy one of the incoming Vipers (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II")
six-carbon-chain supplement: Galactica 1980 definition: a term for glucose, introduced intravenously (1980: "The Super Scouts, Part I")
sleep mode: Galactica 1980 definition: sleep (1980: "Spaceball")
study period: Galactica 1980 definition: a time where children are instructed, similar to instruction period in the Original Series (1980: "The Super Scouts, Part I")
support vapors: Galactica 1980 definition: air produced by a life support system (1980: "The Return of Starbuck")
time warp synthesizer: Galactica 1980 definition: a device of Doctor Zee's that allows travel back and forth in time (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II")
tractor gear: Galactica 1980 definition: the landing gear of a Viper (1980: "The Return of Starbuck")
turbine: Galactica 1980 definition: the "flying motorcycles" used by Troy and Dillon (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I")
turbo charger: Galactica 1980 definition: a powered component of a Viper (1980: "Space Croppers").
transmission band: Galactica 1980 definition: Colonial equivalent to "television channel" (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I")
wrist computron: Galactica 1980 definition: wrist computer, a device with a multitude of different capabilities (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I")

Measurement[edit]

acron ions: Galactica 1980 definition: unit of measurement in determining signal strength (1980: "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part II")
Mega-Kay: Galactica 1980 definition: a unit of astral distance; Boomer tells Troy that the Fleet is 30,000 Mega-Kays^[1] from Alpha Centauri (1980: "The Super Scouts, Part I"). Coincidentally, the term is also used as a measure of astronomical distance in the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century episode "Twiki is Missing." Of particular note, the term is used in relation to measuring the distance between Twiki and a star called Alpha Centari: that number, 33,000 Mega-Kays.
metron: Galactica 1980 definition: a unit equivalent to 1 hectometer^[2]

Sayings[edit]

May God go with you: Galactica 1980 definition: a salutation used upon departure to a serious mission; Adama uses this after Zee's presentation on the invisibility field (1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I")
The glory of the universe is intelligence.: Galactica 1980 definition: a saying Dillon imparts on Stockton when encouraging him to enter the anti-gravity ship (1980: "The Super Scouts, Part II")

Terms from the scripts[edit]

voicescriber: Galactica 1980 definition: the log-keeping device Adama useres to dictate his journals, basically a form of voice recognition speech-to-text technology^[3]

References[edit]

↑ Script for "The Super Scouts, Part I," p. 15
↑ In the Original Series, a metron is defined as equivalent to 1 meter. See the metron article for additional information.
↑ Script for "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II", p. 1

The Case Orange^[1] automated beacon is a civil service emergency system of the Government of the Twelve Colonies, designed to ensure a working government in the wake of a catastrophic event.

In the latter part of the Cylons' surprise attack on the Twelve Colonies of 0 BCH (2000BYR), Secretary of Education Laura Roslin speaks with a fellow official on Caprica known only as "Jack," who says that he is unsure of President Richard Adar's whereabouts during the attack, but notes that the president offered a complete unconditional surrender to the Cylons after the colony of Picon and the Colonial Fleet installations and ships located there were bombarded with nuclear bombs. The Cylons did not respond to the surrender offer. Roslin does not hear from any other government officials after her conversation with Jack is interrupted when the starliner is attacked with a Cylon missile.

Later, the transport's captain picks up an automated wireless message in the cockpit of his stranded Caprican transport, Colonial Heavy 798:

"This is an official Colonial Government broadcast. All ministers and officials should now go to Case Orange. Repeat: This is an official Colonial Government broadcast. All ministers and officials should now go to Case Orange." – listen (listen • help • info)^[2]

Laura Roslin sits in the cockpit with the transport's pilots and Lee Adama, their startled faces looking to her for an explanation. She tells the group that this automated message is designed to be broadcast should the President of the Twelve Colonies, the Vice President and most of the Colonial Cabinet be killed or incapacitated.

She instructs the captain of the ship to acknowledge the message by sending her government ID code (D-456-345-A) on the same frequency as the message. Roslin leaves the cockpit and awaits the return response. Presumably, the Case Orange system gathers the IDs of all government officials, then determines who becomes the new President by level of succession and where to contact him/her and any remaining officials.

Adama sits with Roslin in the passenger area and asks how far down she ranks in the government presidential succession. She replies she is 43rd in succession,^[3] commenting with sadness that she personally knew all 42 individuals above her from the President on down, most having served with President Richard Adar in his past administration and when he was a mayor.

The ship's captain returns to Roslin with the printed response from the automated beacon. Out of the 42 other government officials above her, apparently only she has responded to the automated message since its activation.^[4]

After the ship's captain retrieves a priest on board, Elosha, Roslin is sworn in as the new President of the Twelve Colonies^[5], surrounded by reporters who accompanied her to Galactica for the tour of the education facilities of the new museum there and for the battlestar's decommissioning ceremonies, mere hours before the Cylon attack began.

As Roslin's first act as President of the Twelve Colonies, she begins the task of locating other stranded civilian and military ships in the space surrounding Caprica. The ship's captain changes the ship's call sign to Colonial One in recognition of the presence of the new President on board (TRS: "Miniseries, Night 1").

This term finds later use as Admiral Helena Cain's codeword for Colonel Jack Fisk and his Marine detachment to initiate the removal of Commander William Adama's leadership of Galactica, and is the last known use of this term after the Fall of the Twelve Colonies (TRS: "Resurrection Ship, Part I").

Notes[edit]

U.S. President Johnson's swearing-in aboard Air Force One in 1963.

The mood and the appearance of Roslin's swearing-in ceremony on Colonial One was deliberately scripted to resemble the swearing-in ceremony of U.S. President Lyndon Johnson aboard Air Force One after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November 1963.

References[edit]

↑ In "Resurrection Ship, Part I," Admiral Cain's codeword for Colonel Fisk to assassinate Commander Adama is "Execute case orange." It is likely that both Cain and Fisk are aware of the phrase's significance. However, in the commentary for this episode, RDM says he used the name as reference to a strategic plan against Japan during World War II.
↑ In an early draft of the final script, the Case Orange message is shown as: "This is an official notification broadcast as per section 35, article 17 of the Emergency Continuity of Government Act. All ministers, department secretaries, and division heads now go to Case Orange." While this information is not quite canonical, it reinforces the measures that the Colonial Government would do to ensure its survival--which suggests that the first Cylon War may have nearly brought the earlier government to its knees in a similar crisis.
↑ Roslin's stated position in the line of succession - 43rd - is many places below that of the US Secretary of Education - 16th. There is almost no information provided by the regular series to explain the number of officials between the President and the office of Secretary of Education. It is probable, based on the information from the episode, "Colonial Day," that members of the Quorum of Twelve are part of this succession.
↑ It is not stated whether there were other officials lower in the succession order than Roslin, but it can be presumed from the Case Orange result that they are unable to respond as well, effectively removing them from consideration. It may be presumed that the Case Orange beacon had been running for some time after the attacks began, yet no others had responded to its message, since Roslin receives a response from the beacon fairly quickly. The Case Orange system may determine that assignment of a President is conditional to the length of time since its activation. The longer the beacon is seeking out officials without response, the quicker it responds and assigns a President to ensure a working government.
↑ Based on information given in the episodes "Bastille Day" and "Colonial Day," the Case Orange process assigned Roslin the remainder of President Adar's term. Roslin is eventually succeeded in a Fleet-wide election by Gaius Baltar (TRS: "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II"). She is re-appointed to the presidency after President Tom Zarek resigns from his short tenure (TRS: "Collaborators"), making Roslin a two-term Colonial president who has been twice appointed but never elected to the office.

The Lion's Head beacon on the infected basetar

The Lion's Head beacon is found by the Cylons as they pursue a probable course to Earth from the Lion's Head Nebula, as researched by their captive, Gaius Baltar.

The beacon is apparently an artifact left by the Thirteenth Tribe as they made their way from Kobol to Earth, or possibly on a return voyage to leave a map of Earth's night sky on Kobol. It is approximately 3,000 years old ^[1].

When the beacon is brought aboard the basestar, it soon infects the Cylons, including humanoid Cylons, Raiders, the Hybrid and the basestar itself. The Centurions, apparently controlled by the Hybrid, began shutting down as the infection progressed.

When the basestar's crew discover that infection might spread into their community via their resurrection process, they immediately quarantine their Resurrection Ship to prevent the reception of any transmitted consciousnesses from the dying basestar. To minimize the risk, Baltar is dispatched to the basestar to investigate. The beacon, as seen by Baltar, appears to have gelatinous material within slats in its interior (TRS: "Torn").

Later, the beacon is discovered and left behind by a Colonial boarding party after they realize that an infection exists. The beacon is presumably destroyed when the basestar self-destructs (TRS: "A Measure of Salvation").

Notes[edit]

The story behind the Lion Nebula beacon and the virus may have been inspired by the lunar lander Surveyor 3. Before launching in 1967, its camera was accidentally contaminated by a common bacterium. When the camera was recovered by Apollo 12 astronauts, the microbes returned to life, having survived two and a half years of vacuum, radiation, and temperature extremes.
In the podcast for this episode, Ron Moore explains that writing about the beacon in later episodes would have introduced too much work as the characters would scrutinize and analyze it to the point of affecting the overall story, so it was deemed best to leave the beacon on the basestar in the aired storyline to destroy it and dispense of further commentary on the object.

Related Imagery[edit]

Top back view
Top front view
View showing the gelatinous material

References[edit]

↑ Dr. Cottle reports that the disease is similar to one that spread 3,000 years ago, against which humans developed a natural immunity much later (TRS: "A Measure of Salvation").

The short range marker beacon is a homing device used to track friendly Colonial craft. Such a beacon is fitted in Starchaser, a recon Viper Starbuck pilots into Alpha Six quadrant. Presumably, the range of the marker beacon is at least a hectar (TOS: "The Long Patrol").

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[1] Script for "The Super Scouts, Part I," p. 15

[2] In the Original Series, a metron is defined as equivalent to 1 meter. See the metron article for additional information.

[3] Script for "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II", p. 1

[4] In "Resurrection Ship, Part I," Admiral Cain's codeword for Colonel Fisk to assassinate Commander Adama is "Execute case orange." It is likely that both Cain and Fisk are aware of the phrase's significance. However, in the commentary for this episode, RDM says he used the name as reference to a strategic plan against Japan during World War II.

[5] In an early draft of the final script, the Case Orange message is shown as: "This is an official notification broadcast as per section 35, article 17 of the Emergency Continuity of Government Act. All ministers, department secretaries, and division heads now go to Case Orange." While this information is not quite canonical, it reinforces the measures that the Colonial Government would do to ensure its survival--which suggests that the first Cylon War may have nearly brought the earlier government to its knees in a similar crisis.

[6] Roslin's stated position in the line of succession - 43rd - is many places below that of the US Secretary of Education - 16th. There is almost no information provided by the regular series to explain the number of officials between the President and the office of Secretary of Education. It is probable, based on the information from the episode, "Colonial Day," that members of the Quorum of Twelve are part of this succession.

[7] It is not stated whether there were other officials lower in the succession order than Roslin, but it can be presumed from the Case Orange result that they are unable to respond as well, effectively removing them from consideration. It may be presumed that the Case Orange beacon had been running for some time after the attacks began, yet no others had responded to its message, since Roslin receives a response from the beacon fairly quickly. The Case Orange system may determine that assignment of a President is conditional to the length of time since its activation. The longer the beacon is seeking out officials without response, the quicker it responds and assigns a President to ensure a working government.

[8] Based on information given in the episodes "Bastille Day" and "Colonial Day," the Case Orange process assigned Roslin the remainder of President Adar's term. Roslin is eventually succeeded in a Fleet-wide election by Gaius Baltar (TRS: "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II"). She is re-appointed to the presidency after President Tom Zarek resigns from his short tenure (TRS: "Collaborators"), making Roslin a two-term Colonial president who has been twice appointed but never elected to the office.

[9] Dr. Cottle reports that the disease is similar to one that spread 3,000 years ago, against which humans developed a natural immunity much later (TRS: "A Measure of Salvation").

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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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