Editing Guardian basestar

{{Ship Data
| image= Guardian basestar.jpg
| title=Guardian basestar
| race=Cylons
| type=Military
| role=Carrier/battleship hybrid
| ftl=Yes
| crew= [[Cylon Centurion Model 0005|Cylon Centurions]], the [[first Hybrid]]
| weapons=36 twin mount missiles launchers, First Cylon War-Era Raiders 
| arm= 
| status= Destroyed by Colonial forces
| img= 
}}
The '''Guardian basestar'''<ref>{{bsgwiki term}}</ref> was constructed by the Cylons at the end of the first [[Cylon War]] and is a part of the evolution towards [[Basestar (RDM)#Modern basestar|modern basestar]] design. The [[first Hybrid]] to be developed was integrated into the systems of this ship.

During [[Operation Raptor Talon]], Lieutenant [[William Adama]] was shot down over an [[ice planet]] and encountered a facility where the Cylons were experimenting on humans in several ways, eventually creating the first [[Hybrid]]. Unable to free surviving captives as the facility began to crumble around him, Adama witnessed the launch of the Guardian basestar. Approximately 40 years later, the vessel is once again encountered by the Colonial military. 

While searching for a missing Raptor with a civilian science team aboard, {{callsign|Starbuck}} and [[Showboat]] encounter a squadron of [[Raider (RDM)|Raiders]] identical to the models used in the Cylon War. Outnumbered by the enemy, the two pilots retreat towards the safety of ''Pegasus''. Both manage to land while ''Pegasus'' uses its point defense batteries to halt the approaching Raiders. One Raider penetrates these defenses and follows Starbuck and Showboat into the landing bay. A quick-thinking Starbuck shoots the craft down, leaving the Raider sufficiently intact for observation. 

Within the shot-down Raider, the Colonials find a trio of [[Cylon Centurion Model 0005|old-style Centurions]]. Upon viewing their remains, {{callsign|Athena}} recalls the legend of the Guardians; a faction of Centurions that broke away from the core group when they were to be replaced with newer, non-sentient models. They were given the name 'Guardians' because the baseship they escaped with carried the first Hybrid, a figure that these Centurions worshiped like a deity. 

After learning of the Guardians from Agathon, and connecting the information with his experiences 40 years ago, Admiral Adama realizes that the missing Raptor crew is likely on the Guardian basestar, and that they are undergoing the same treatment as the civilians on the ice planet were 40 years ago. Unwilling to leave these crewmen to be mutilated, Adama orders an attack on the basestar. Having learned the vessel's likely location from the Raider's navigational computer, ''Pegasus'' jumps into the vicinity of the ship, and instigates the [[Battle of the Guardian basestar]].  The ''Pegasus'' seems to be a match for it by itself and it is ultimatly destroyed by Major Kendra Shaw who detonates a nuke on board after talking with the First Hybrid.

== Notes ==
* Given that only the standard Cylon [[Basestar (RDM)#Cylon War-era basestar|basestar]] is displayed in the [[Galactica Museum]], the Colonials might never have encountered another one like it. Considering this was the very end of the war, the model likely never saw combat. It is unknown if more ships like it were built, or if it is unique.
* Given that Raptors evacuate the ''Pegasus'' strike team from the basestar without incident, it appears that the Guardian basestar is unarmed, and totally reliant on its Raiders for defense. Unless the Raptor jumped in very close and landed fast enough to not be targated by the basestars, it seems likely that it would have been shot down, were the basestar armed.
** However, this contradicts visuals provided of the Guardian Basestar, which clearly show numorous protrusions on the hull that resemble missle launchers.<ref>[http://www.galacticabbs.com/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=sc&cat=187&sort_key=caption&order_key=ASC&prune_key=*&st=4384 Images are in the middle of the page and clearly show missle launchers.
***It seems likely that the Guardian Basestar shares similar weapons layout as the modern basestar; the weapon emplacements could be long range missile launchers. Like the modern basestar, the ship only has long range weapons and relies on it's raiders for point defense. This would explain how the Colonial Raptors escape the craft without being shot down - the Guardian basestar's weapons aren't suitable for targeting such small targets at close range.
]</ref>

== Related Imagery ==

<gallery mode="slideshow">
Image: First_Shot_Guardian_Basestar.png|
Image: Second_Shot_Guardian_Basestar.png|
Image: Guardian_Basestar_Weapons_Emplacement.png|
Image: Guardian_Basestar_Takes_Off.png|
Image: Guardian_Basestar_Deploys_Raiders.png|
Image: Guardian_Basestar_Wide_Shot.png|
Image: Guardian_Basestar_Closeup.png|
Image: Strike_Team_Approaches_Guardian_Basestar.png|
Image: Evac_Raptor_Speeds_Away_From_Guardian_Basestar.png|
Image: Guardian_Basestar_Destroyed.png|
</gallery>

== See Also ==
*[[Battle of the Guardian basestar]]
*[[First Hybrid]]
*[[Guardians]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Ships}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Cylons]]
[[Category:Cylons (RDM)]]
[[Category:Cylon Craft]]
[[Category:Cylon Craft (RDM)]]
[[Category:Cylon Military]]
[[Category:Cylon Military (RDM)]]
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[[Category:Ships (RDM)]]
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[[de:Wächter Basisschiff]]