Editing Sources:Adama's Dossier

{{Source}}
== Cautionary Note ==
'''''Much of this information was not meant to be thoroughly dissected, and thus is error prone, particularly with the subsequent installments: "[[Razor]]," the''''' '''[[Caprica (series)|Caprica]] ''series, and'' [[Blood and Chrome]]''.'''''  

''Of greater note, this source existed during a moment in time before the creation of the timeline for the prequel'' Caprica'', notably the establishment of the YR/BYR methodology. While it is no longer a "[[w:Rosetta_stone#Idiomatic_use|Rosetta stone]]" of the Re-imagined Series' timeline, it remains here as testament of its now-deprecated status as a guidepost to the [[Timeline (RDM)|Re-imagined Series timeline]].''

== Background ==
In the episode "[[Hero]]", Laura Roslin reviews a dossier prepared for her by [[Billy Keikeya]] on her first day aboard [[Galactica (RDM)|''Galactica'']]. It includes large photos of battlestar Galactica, a photograph of the CIC crew of ''[[Valkyrie]]'', a (somewhat illegible) certificate appointing [[Saul Tigh]] as "Junior Executive Officer" in the [[Colonial Forces]], and a cursory [[: Image:Dossier.png|biography]] of [[William Adama]], reproduced in [[Sources:Adama's Dossier#Dossier Prop Text|full below]].

The five-digit string to the right of the solidus is almost certainly the year of the listed event. Note that "Hero" takes place on the 45th anniversary of Adama's first commissioning, putting its events in the year 21356, and two years after the events of the [[Miniseries]], which would therefore have been in the year 21354.

Please also note that the dating format here is atypical and does not correspond to other documents throughout the series. The source may be used for relative dates and a holistic understanding of Adama's career, but does not present reliable information on the nature and format of the Colonial Calendar.

== Chronological Analysis and Logic Errors ==
When compared to the established [[Timeline (RDM)|timeline]], Adama's Dossier contains several significant chronological inconsistencies that demonstrate its deprecated status as a timeline reference. The inconsistencies originate from the prop's creation before the series' timeline mythology was fully developed, particularly prior to the establishment of the YR/BYR dating system and the expanded chronology introduced in ''Caprica'' and other spin-offs. While useful for understanding relative chronological relationships between events, the absolute dates in this document are not reliable for timeline construction.

=== Dating System Incompatibility ===
The dossier's five-digit year format (21XXX) creates conversion problems when aligned with ''Caprica''<nowiki/>'s established YR/BYR dating methodology. Converting the dossier dates using the "Hero" anniversary reference:
* 21354 = Fall of the Colonies - {{BCH|0}}
* 21290 = Adama's birth ({{BCH|64}} vs. established ca. {{BCH|58}})
* 21311 = First commission ({{BCH|43}} vs. established {{BCH|42}} in ''[[Blood and Chrome]]'')

=== Major Chronological Discrepancies ===
'''Age at Commission:''' The dossier places Adama's birth at 21290 and first commission at 21311, making him only 21 years old when commissioned as a fighter pilot. The timeline dates would make him approximately 16 years old—both ages are problematic for military service.

'''Service Gaps:''' The dossier shows a 17-year gap between mustering out (21314/{{BCH|38}}) and recommission (21331/{{BCH|21}}), while the timeline demonstrates that Adama served in the merchant marine from {{BCH|37}} to {{BCH|30}}, creating only a 7-year military service gap.

'''Combat Readiness Timeline:''' The dossier shows Adama receiving a combat commendation just 10 months after initial commission (E4/21312), suggesting unrealistically rapid training progression from recruit to combat-ready Viper pilot. This is also contradicted by the events of both "[[Razor]]," which initially establishes Adama's first [[Viper (TRS)|Viper]] mission coinciding with [[Operation Raptor Talon|the final day]] of the [[First Cylon War]] in {{BCH|40}}, and Adama's assignment to ''[[Galactica (TRS)|Galactica]]'' in ''[[Gallery:Blood and Chrome|Blood and Chrome]]'' in the 10th year of the war circa {{BCH|42}}.

=== Promotion and Assignment Issues ===
The dossier's promotion timeline shows Adama achieving Major rank six years after recommission, then advancing to Executive Officer and Commander positions in rapid succession. This creates inconsistencies with the established career progression outlined in episodes like "[[Scattered]]" and "[[Hero]]."

== Dossier Prop Text ==
<blockquote>The following is replicated from the original prop as presented in the episode "[[Hero]]" from the close-up.</blockquote>'''Commander William Adama'''
*Born H5/21290 and raised on the colony of [[The Twelve Colonies of Kobol#Caprica|Caprica]], in [[Qualai]], a small coastal community
*Mother, [[Evelyn Adama]], an accountant.
*Father, [[Joseph Adama]], a prominent attorney who specialized in criminal defese and civil liberties.

'''Military Service'''

D6/21311	First commission, Battlestar Galactica, fighter squadron<br />
E4/21312	Commendation for shooting down Cylon fighter in first combat mission.<br />
D5/21314	Mustered out of service post-armistice<br />
R6/21317	Served as Deck Hand in merchant fleet and as common […] aboard inter-colony tramp freighters<br />
D1/21331	Recomissioned to Fleet<br />
D6/21337	Major: Battlestar [[Atlantia (RDM)|Atlantia]]<br />
R8/21341	Executive Officer: Battlestar [[Columbia (RDM)|Columbia]]<br />
C2/21345	Commander: Battlestar Valkyrie<br />
C2/21348	Commander: Battlestar Galactica