Editing Lion's Head beacon

[[File:3x6-Lion's-Head-beacon-1.jpg|thumb|right|The Lion's Head beacon on the infected basetar]]
The '''Lion's Head beacon''' is found by the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] as they pursue a probable course to [[Earth (RDM)|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 (RDM)|Thirteenth Tribe]] as they made their way from [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]] to Earth, or possibly on a return voyage to leave a [[Home, Part II|map of Earth's night sky]] on Kobol. It is approximately 3,000 years old <ref>[[Cottle|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}}.</ref>.

When the beacon is brought aboard the [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]], it soon infects the Cylons, including [[humanoid Cylon]]s, [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raiders]], the [[Hybrid]] and the basestar itself. The [[Cylon Centurion|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 (RDM)|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 [[Lymphocytic encephalitis|infection]] exists. The beacon is presumably destroyed when the basestar self-destructs {{TRS|A Measure of Salvation}}.

== Notes == 
*The story behind the Lion Nebula beacon and the virus may have been inspired by the lunar lander [[w:Surveyor 3|Surveyor 3]].  Before launching in 1967, its camera was accidentally contaminated by a common bacterium.  When the camera was recovered by [[w:Apollo 12|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, [[Ronald D. Moore|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 ==

<gallery mode="slideshow">
Image:3x6-Lion's-Head-beacon-2.jpg|Top back view
Image:3x6-Lion's-Head-beacon-3.jpg|Top front view
Image:3x6-Lion's-Head-beacon-4.jpg|View showing the gelatinous material
</gallery>

== References ==
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[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:RDM]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Technology (RDM)]]

[[de:Löwenkopf-Bake]]