Editing Radiological alarm

[[File:radalm_217_1080i.jpg|thumb|[[DRADIS]] Warning of Radiological Alarm {{TRS|The Captain's Hand}}]]
A '''radiological alarm''' is a special sensor aboard a [[Galactica type battlestar|battlestar]] and its fighters or other Colonial support vessel that detects the unique and powerful radiation signature of a nuclear device, particularly that of a nuclear weapon such as a missile. On ''{{RDM|Galactica}}'', any radiation detection and corresponding alarms appear to be tied into the central communications console at the [[Communications Officer]]'s station in the [[Combat Information Center]]<ref name="rad1">In the [[Miniseries]], [[Dualla]] receives a radiological alarm moments before Lieutenant Thrace destroys a [[Cylon Raider]] and two of the three nuclear-tipped missiles that it launches during the first dogfight for ''Galactica''. Given that many other missiles are headed towards ''Galactica'' at the time, it reasons well that Starbuck's Viper identifies the specific Raider with the radiation signature through her in-flight instruments, and her Viper relays this data back to ''Galactica'' and to Dualla's station.</ref>. It is likely that the detector is tuned to detect the nuclear radiation emitted by the fissile material in nuclear weapons used by [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] fighters and [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]].

While it is likely that a battlestar has its own radiation detector, the radiation detection process appears to be greatly extendable through [[wireless]] telemetry from a battlestar's [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] or [[Raptor]] intercepts, which have radiological detectors as well. When a Viper or Raptor detects a radiation signature, that information appears to be immediately relayed by the craft's wireless telemetry back to the home battlestar<ref name="rad2">This sequence of events from "[[33]]" supports radiological detection via wireless telemetry from interceptors:

::''Aboard [[Raptor 478]], accompanying Viper pilots [[Lee Adama|Apollo]] and {{callsign|Starbuck}}:''
:::'''{{callsign|Crashdown}}''': Cylons on intercept course. They'll be in weapons range, within...two minutes. Oh, frak me--radiological alarm!

::''Aboard ''Galactica'', in the [[CIC]], seconds later''

:::'''Dualla''': Radiological alarm!
:::'''Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]]''': From where?
:::'''Dualla''': The ''Olympic Carrier'', sir. They've got nukes onboard.</ref>. This method of detection in using Colonial fighters and support craft creates an effective method against the likelihood of a Cylon nuclear sneak attack against the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]. It's likely that the radiation detection sweep is maintained at all times through the [[Combat Air Patrol]] during [[Action Stations|Condition Three]] threat levels.

It appears that radiological sensors are either tuned to ignore certain devices with nuclear material, or sensors or sweeps to detect radiological dangers are not always present in a battlestar. When a [[Demand Peace]] member is released from ''Galactica''{{'|s}} brig {{TRS|Black Market}}, he smuggles away one of the battlestar's nuclear warheads, given to him by [[Gaius Baltar]] (who, in turn, receives it from Commander [[William Adama|Adama]] for use in building his [[Cylon detector]]).

Despite the transfer of that warhead off-ship to ''[[Cloud 9]]'' (where it is eventually detonated by [[humanoid Cylon]] [[Gina Inviere]]), the battlestar's command is unaware of its removal from the ship until the explosion. As the device is indeed one of ''Galactica''{{'|s}} weapons, either the radiological detection process is not conducted within the ship, the weapon is somehow shielded, or the sensors may be told to ignore warheads with a specific radiation signature or tracking signal.

Similarly, the plot of "[[Flesh and Bone]]" hinges around a [[Leoben Conoy]] copy claiming that he had planted a nuclear bomb somewhere in the Fleet. Starbuck interrogates the Cylon because ''Galactica'' and her Raptors could not scan the entire fleet within so short a timespan.  Taken together, this would seem to indicate that radiological signatures may vary in strength, making some easier or difficult to detect.  In addition, searchers must know what kind of radiological signature to scan for; a military nuclear warhead may emit a different (and likely more obvious) signature than a "homegrown" bomb and must be distinguishable from ship machinery and local celestial disturbances.

Radiological scans on incoming ships appear to be managed automatically as standard procedure on all [[DRADIS]] contacts. The dubious return of the ''[[Olympic Carrier]]'' heightens suspicions of the Colonials, but the radiological detection occurrs automatically as a Raptor escort approaches the liner {{TRS|33}}.

Cylon [[basestar (RDM)|basestar]]s have a similar detection capability and alarm system, which is first revealed when ''Galactica'' arms seven nuclear missiles and opens their tubes for launch ([[The Eye of Jupiter]]). Moreover, when planning the attack on the [[Resurrection Ship]], Apollo and Starbuck assume that, based on computer simulations, the Cylons would detect nuclear weapons carried by the [[Blackbird]] {{TRS|Resurrection Ship, Part I}}.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{quality article}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:RDM]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Terminology]]