Editing Timeline (1980)

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The timeline below chronicles the events depicted in the classic [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Battlestar Galactica]] television program and its [[spin-off]], ''[[Galactica 1980]]''.

The timeline is given in "Earth" years, BCE <ref>BCE stands for "Before the Common Era," an updated variation of the older term "B.C." (Before Christ)</ref> and AD, not by Colonial [[yahren]].

==In the beginning on [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]]==

The [[Beings of Light]] intervene at the beginning of human development.<ref>Adama refers to the [[Beings of Light]] as the "mother race" in "[[War of the Gods]]".</ref>

==c. 4,000 BCE==

The beginning of recorded human history, on the mother world - the planet [[Kobol (TOS)|Kobol]]. <ref>At the beginning of "[[Saga of a Star World]]", it is mentioned that the peace conference is being held at the beginning of the 7th millennium of human history, which would mean human history was just crossing into its 6,000th year. 6,000 years prior to "[[Saga of a Star World]]", which is noted later in this timeline as happening in 1950, would be circa 4,000 BCE.</ref>

==The Exodus==

The original 13 tribes leave Kobol and head out into space. Twelve of the tribes settle near each other in the area known as the [[The Twelve Colonies (TOS)|Twelve Colonies of Man]]. The remaining [[Thirteenth Tribe (TOS)|Thirteenth Tribe]] heads to [[Earth (TOS)|Earth]].

==69 BCE to AD 1899==

69 BCE - 30 BCE

:Life of [[w:Cleopatra VII of Egypt|Cleopatra VII of Egypt]].<ref>A partially filmed, but never aired episode of ''Galactica 1980'', entitled "[[The Day They Kidnapped Cleopatra]]" was partially set in 30 BCE. The announcement of the cancellation of the series by ABC came during the filming, and the episode was never completed. This episode would have brought back the time travel plot device used in the first episode. Additionally, Egyptian themes were used frequently in ''Battlestar Galactica'', such as the city of [[Eden]] in "[[Lost Planet of the Gods]]".</ref>

c. 50 BCE

:The Colonies begin to re-establish their space travel capabilities. At this time, they used rocket-propelled sublight craft.<ref>Ancient space travel is characterized in the classic episode "[[The Hand of God (TOS)|The Hand of God]]".</ref>

prior to AD 950

:Just prior to AD 950, the [[Cylons (TOS)|Cylons]], a reptilian race, allow themselves to be assimilated by their robotic creations.

c. AD 950

:The Cylons attack the [[Hasari]], whose territory neighbors the Colonies, who intervene to assist their neighbor.  As a result of this intervention, the [[Thousand Yahren War]] begins between the Colonies and the Cylon Empire. <ref>The [[Thousand Yahren War]] begins 1,000 years before "[[Saga of a Star World]]" which, as noted later in this timeline, is set around 1950.</ref>

c. 1450

:Approximate time that ''[[Galactica (TOS)|Galactica]]'' is launched. Back then, the [[Celestial chamber|celestial chambers]] on ''Galactica'' were used to confirm navigational headings. <ref>A 500 year old celestial chamber is depicted in "[[The Hand of God (TOS)|The Hand of God]]".</ref>

1776

:[[Xavier]] arrives in [[w:American Revolution|Revolutionary America]] and tries to change history. [[Troy (1980)|Troy]], [[Dillon]] and [[Jamie Hamilton]] follow him, and thwart his plans, but he apparently escapes to another time frame.  <ref>The trip to 1776 is mentioned in "[[Galactica Discovers Earth, Part III]]" but not shown on screen. Xavier's plans are mentioned at the start of "[[Spaceball]]".</ref>

prior to 1850

:[[Adama (TOS)|Adama]] is born. <ref>Adama reveals he is over a hundred yahrens old in "[[Lost Planet of the Gods]]".</ref>

==1900-1949==

* {{inlineref|1917}}: [[Starbuck (TOS)|Starbuck]] is born on Caprica. His father is [[Chameleon]].<ref>Based on the age of [[Dirk Benedict]] during the filming of the Original Series. Starbuck is revealed to be from Caprica, as well as Chameleon being his father in "[[The Man With Nine Lives]]".</ref>
* {{inlineref|1918}}
** '''November 11''': Earth's [[w:World War I|World War I]] officially ends.<ref>Jamie Hamilton makes a ''slight'' error when she tells the Galacticans that "20 years later, in 1939, World War II broke out" in "[[Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I]]". However, she was reciting this from memory, so it's an understandable error.</ref> 
* {{inlineref|1939}}
** '''September 1''': Earth's World War II begins.<ref>As confirmed by [[Jamie Hamilton]] in her conversation to the Galacticans in [[Zee's chamber]] ([[Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II]]).</ref>
* {{inlineref|1943}}: [[Troy (1980)|Boxey]] is born to [[Serina]] on Caprica.<ref>This calculation is based on [[Noah Hathaway]]'s age during the filming of the Original Series. This would make Boxey seven years old in "[[Saga of a Star World]]" and 37 years of age in "[[Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I]]" -- which happened to be the age of [[Kent McCord]] when he played the role.</ref>
* {{inlineref|1944}}: [[Xavier]] arrives in [[w:Nazi Germany|Nazi Germany]] and poses as a British scientist and Nazi sympathizer. He volunteers to work with the [[w:V-2 rocket|V-2 rocket program]] and introduces Colonial technology, in hopes of changing history by ensuring a Nazi victory in [[w:World War Two|World War Two]].<ref>Described in "[[Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II]]".</ref>
**'''June 4''': Troy, Dillon and Hamilton's time destination.<ref name="gde2">Depicted in "[[Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II]]" and "[[Galactica Discovers Earth, Part III]]".</ref>
**'''June 5-6''': Hamilton, Troy and Dillon arrive in Nazi Germany a day before the [[w:D-Day|D-Day]] invasion. With the help of a [[Stockwell|U.S. agent]], they locate Xavier and force him to return to 1980.<ref name="gde2"/>
* {{inlineref|1947}}: The United States Air Force begins [[w:Project Blue Book|Project Blue Book]], a 22 year long investigation into unidentified flying objects.<ref>Project Blue Book is mentioned in a disclaimer at the end of every ''Galactica 1980'' episode. [[Colonel Sydell]]'s new organization within the US Air Force in the series has a similar mandate, and the disclaimer was apparently put in place to assure viewers that Sydell's organization was fictitious, and not to be confused with the real project that had concluded years before.</ref>
* {{inlineref|1948}}: The [[Fifth Fleet]] engages the Cylons at the [[Battle of Molecay]]. ''[[Pegasus (TOS)|Pegasus]]'' is the only Colonial vessel to survive. [[Commander Cain]], realizing that the Cylons were doubtless lying in wait along the entire route back to the Colonies, orders ''Pegasus'' out into deep space towards the [[Krillian Star System]] and [[Gamoray]].<ref>Two yahrens prior to the events of "[[The Living Legend, Part I]]".</ref>

==1950==

The destruction of the Colonies, thirty years before ''Galactica'' discovers Earth.<ref>Officially, ''Galactica 1980'' was set 30 years after the events of the Original Series.  This piece of information is never specifically mentioned on screen, but was mentioned in promotional advertising and noted in background material for the program.</ref><ref>http://www.tv.com/galactica-1980/show/1252/summary.html</ref>

The episodes and events of the Original Series are set during this period.

==1951 - 1979==

: ''The period between ''[[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)]]'' and ''[[Galactica 1980]]''.''

The Cylons, over this 30 year period, develop completely new technologies and evolve considerably - "beyond the wildest fears" of the Colonials, according to Dr. Zee. These new technologies include improved Cylon Raiders and the creation of humanoid Cylons.<ref>The increased technological prowess of the Cylons is described in "[[The Super Scouts, Part I]]" and "[[The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I]]".</ref>

Also, during this period, the Imperious Leader is apparently replaced, as his voice is considerably different by 1980.<ref>When the Imperious Leader is shown in "[[Space Croppers]]", he is no longer voiced by [[Patrick Macnee]], but instead by [[Dennis Haysbert]].</ref>

Sometime prior to 1970, [[Captain Apollo]] dies.<ref>Troy refers to Apollo's death in "[[Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I]]".  This apparently happens before the events depicted in "[[The Return of Starbuck]]" as Starbuck does not mention Apollo when relating to Boomer people he wishes to say goodbye to. In addition, Apollo's death is apparently a mystery to the Fleet, or so the script for "[[The Wheel of Fire]]" indicates.</ref>

* {{inlineref|1951}}: [[Dillon]] is born in space aboard a vessel in the Colonial Fleet. <ref>Based on the age of [[Barry Van Dyke]] at the time of filming.</ref>

* {{inlineref|1953}}: [[Jamie Hamilton]] is born in the United States on Earth. <ref>Based on the age of actress [[Robyn Douglass]] at the time of filming, who portrayed Jamie Hamilton.  She identifies herself as an American in "[[Galactica Discovers Earth, Part III]]".</ref>

* {{inlineref|1960}}: The last attack by the Cylons on the Colonial fleet until 1980. <ref>There has not been a Cylon attack in almost a generation prior to "[[The Super Scouts, Part I]]". A generation is typically denoted as 20 years.</ref>

* {{inlineref|1970}}: [[Starbuck (1980)|Starbuck]] is stranded on a [[Planet Starbuck|desolate planetoid]], where he rebuilds the Centurion named [[Cyrus]] (nicknamed "Cy" by Starbuck). Some time later at this same location, Dr. [[Zee]] is born to the mysterious woman, [[Angela]]. <ref>Events of the flashback sequence of "[[The Return of Starbuck]]".  Dr. Zee is a pre-teen child, who appears to be roughly ten years of age.  Reasoning backward, he was born c. 1970.</ref>

:After 1970

::Dr. Zee's ship catches up to the Fleet. <ref>The voyage of Dr. Zee's ship is shown in "[[The Return of Starbuck]]"</ref>.

::Lt. Boomer is promoted to Colonel.<ref>By the time of "[[Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I]]" Boomer has assumed this rank.</ref>

::Commander Adama grows a beard.<ref>Adama has a large Moses like beard throughout ''1980'', with the exception of the flashback scenes in "[[The Return of Starbuck]]".</ref>

::Boxey begins to go by the name "Troy" as he grows older.<ref>Troy mentions this in "[[Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I]]", although Adama still refers to him as thus in a private conversation before being shown the [[invisibility field]].</ref>

:1977

::Dr. [[Donald Mortinson]] begins work on his nuclear degeneration formula.<ref>According to [[Dorothy Carlyle]], Dr. Mortinson had been working on nuclear degeneration for three years as of "[[Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I]]".</ref>

==1980==

''Galactica's'' long range probes arrive in the Solar System. They positively identify the third planet as Earth.

''Galactica'' and the Colonial Fleet reach Earth. Adama is now over 130 yahrens old. Troy is 37.

''Galactica 1980'' episodes "[[Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I]]" through "[[Galactica Discovers Earth, Part III|Part III]]"

:Troy, Dillon and Jamie head back in time to the American Revolution to find [[Xavier]].  <ref>Troy, Dillon and Jamie are about to head off on this mission at the end of "[[Galactica Discovers Earth, Part III]]"</ref>  The team is apparently successful in stopping Xavier, as there are no apparent changes to Earth's history.<ref>No reference to Xavier having achieved his goals is made in the subsequent episodes.</ref> Xavier escapes being brought into custody, however, and remains in Earth's past. While there, he perfects a process of cellular transformation which can allow him to assume the appearance of others. <ref>Xavier's activities are related in "[[Spaceball]]".</ref>

:Jamie returns to Earth, and back to the job she was offered with the United Broadcasting Corporation. <ref>As of "[[The Super Scouts, Part I]]", Jamie is back at work at UBC.</ref>

:In light of the unknown aircraft violating U.S. airspace, which are in reality Colonial Vipers, the United States Air Force dedicates new funds to the tracking of U.F.O.s.

:Dr. Zee leads a project to build a new saucer-shaped fighter craft, designed to thwart the Cylons.<ref>The saucer project is revealed in "[[The Super Scouts, Part II]]" and shown again in "[[Space Croppers]]".</ref>

:The Cylons determine to test some of their new technologies on the Colonial refugees. They plan to first attack the freighter ''Delphi'', a straggling vessel in the Colonial Fleet, which happens to function as the Fleet' school.<ref>Just prior to "[[The Super Scouts, Part I]]"</ref>

''Galactica 1980'' episodes "[[The Super Scouts, Part I]]" and "[[The Super Scouts, Part II|Part II]]"

:Troy and Dillon spend a few days away from the children on an unknown mission.<ref>Briefly mentioned in  "[Spaceball]]".</ref>

:Having spent an inordinate amount of money investigating the Super Scouts, Colonel Sydell's budget is questioned by his superiors in the United States Air Force.<ref>Just prior to "[[Spaceball]]"</ref>

:Xavier returns to the present time from Earth's past, and assumes the form of Lt. Nash of ''Galactica''. <ref>Just prior to "[[Spaceball]]"</ref>

''Galactica 1980'' episode "[[Spaceball]]."

:Xavier remains at large on Earth, without a Viper, stranded in the present and on the ground.

:In another test of their new technologies, the Cylons send out new, advanced fighters, manned by Centurions and humanoid Cylons, to search for the elusive Colonial fleet.<ref>Just prior to "[[The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I]]"</ref>

:October 31 - November 1, 1980

::''Galactica 1980'' episode "[[The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I]]" <ref>"The Night the Cylons Landed" is specifically noted to occur on Halloween.</ref>

::''Galactica 1980'' episode "[[The Night the Cylons Landed, Part II]]"<ref>Episode ends in the early hours of November 1.</ref>

:Late 1980

::The [[Imperious Leader]] and his three base ships, catch up to ''Galactica'' and the Fleet, but the location of Earth remains elusive. <ref>Just prior to "[[Space Croppers]]"</ref>

::''Galactica 1980 episode'' "[[Space Croppers]]".

::''Galactica'' maintains its first colony on Earth, and the Super Scouts remain there, relocating from the baseball camp where they had been staying.

::''Galactica 1980'' episode "[[The Return of Starbuck]]".

::The scripted but only partially shot episode "[[The Day They Kidnapped Cleopatra]]" would have taken place here.

==1981==

Events that take place after ''Galactica 1980''

:In the 1980 continuity, the series ends in the middle of the story with Adama in command of ''Galactica'', and Dr. Zee finally aware of his origin.

:Xavier remains at large on the Earth, apparently having given up his attempts to alter Earth's past.

:The Cylon Empire has still not discovered Earth, but they have been able to locate the fleet twice, and two Cylons who accidentally crashed on Earth were narrowly stopped from revealing its location. In other words, the Cylons are about to discover Earth.

:The Galacticans are continuing their policy of gradually introducing technological change to Earth.

:The planned but never filmed Starbuck episode "[[The Wheel of Fire]]" would have taken place at this time.

==1990==

In Dr. Zee's projection of what could have happened in the future, environmental damage and population expansion has rendered Paradise Valley polluted and crowded. If Dr. Zee's warning was in fact heeded by the people of Paradise Valley, however, these events may not have come to pass.<ref>Possible future revealed in "[[The Super Scouts, Part II]]".</ref>

==Notes==

The crux of this timeline is the claim that the series is set 30 years after the events of the Original Series. This was done in large part to explain the cast changes, and is chiefly supported on screen by the aging of [[Troy (1980)|Troy]], who was a child in the first series.  However, the 30 year date only appeared in promotional material and in interviews, and was not seen on screen. Alternative suppositions, where there was a much shorter gap, would help explain the paradox of the lunar landing depicted in "Hand of God" and the apparent youth of some of the characters.

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Behind the Scenes]]
[[Category:Colonial History]]
[[Category:1980]]