Battlestar Wiki - User contributions [en]

Language in the Twelve Colonies

2008-12-20T02:42:03Z

Axeman: /* Other Languages */

:''This article discusses an aspect of the [[Re-imagined Series]] version of the Twelve Colonies. For information on the [[Original Series]] version, see [[The Twelve Colonies (TOS)]].''

{{RDM twelve colonies series}}

English, or some language that is universally translated into it (à la [[Wikipedia:Westron|Tolkien]]) is standard. Loanwords from foreign languages ("élan", "fascist", "karma", "esprit de corps" etc.) occur with normal frequency, as do chronologically enigmatic borrowings such as the battlestar ''[[Columbia (RDM)|Columbia]]''. Most religious terms are explicitly shared with ancient Greek beliefs (either antecedent to or descendant from them).

==Vocabulary==

===Anachronisms===
''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' uses many terms from modern day naval aviation, which appear somewhat anachronistic but also lend the show a flavor of realistic jargon. These include:
*[[Combat Air Patrol]]
*[[Commander Air Group]]
*Planes
:'''Adama:''' "You keep my planes flying. I need my planes to fly." ([[Litmus]])

===Ersatz===
In contrast to its [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|predecessor]], the re-imagined ''Battlestar Galactica'' employs relatively little in the way of ersatz vocabulary. It does employ a few terms outside of a normal American English vocabulary, mostly military jargon. These are mixed in haphazardly with the real-life naval aviation terms above.

*[[Dradis]] - [[Wikipedia:RADAR|Radar]]
*[[Fumarella leaf]] - [[Wikipedia:Tobacco|Tobacco]]
*[[Frak]] - A bowdlerized version of "Fuck" (c.f. "[[Wikipedia:Frell|Frell]]" (Farscape), "[[Wikipedia:Frag|Frag]]" (Babylon 5), "[[Wikipedia:Smeg|Smeg]]" (Red Dwarf))
*[[G-4]] - [[Wikipedia: C-4 (explosive)|C-4]]
*[[Krypter]] - [[Wikipedia:Mayday|Mayday]]
*[[Morpha]] - [[Wikipedia:Morphine|Morphine]]
*[[Serisone]] - [[Wikipedia:prednisone|Prednisone]]
*[[Wireless]] - [[Wikipedia:Radio|Radio]]<ref name="wireless">This usage is not entirely unknown in Earth-bound English. As a synonym for radio or radiotelegraphy, it's more common in British usage, according to [http://www.m-w.com/ Merriam-Webster]. Prior to the popularisation of television in the 1950s, it was the preferred term for radio equipment and radio broadcasts amongst the bulk of the British population. It's also the source of the prefix 'Wi' in 'WiFi' and other similar wireless data standards now common.</ref>

===Invented Terminology===
As all science fiction shows must, Battlestar Galactica has a set of vocabulary referring to technologies and other items not shared with the real world.

*[[Ambrosia]] - a bright green alcoholic beverage
*[[Carom]] - the angle above or below the XY plane of a vessel, perpendicular to [[Wikipedia:Bearing (navigation)|bearing]] (c.f. "Mark" (Star Trek))
*[[Chamalla]] - an [[Wikipedia:Entheogen|entheogen]] used by priests
*[[Red Line]]

*'''For a more complete list of acronyms and expressions see:''' [[List of terms (RDM)]]

===Turn of phrase===
The dialect used by the Colonials employs some distinct turn of phrase at times:

*"As of this moment" is used particularly often for seemingly "official" announcements. After the original Cylon attack, then-Commander William Adama announces to his crew, "As of this moment, we are at war." The phrase is used later by Colonel Tigh in his announcement of martial law <ref>"As of this moment, I have declared martial law." — "[[Fragged]]"</ref>, and Gaius Baltar in announcing his candidacy for the presidency<ref>"…I am, as of this moment, a candidate for the Presidency." — "[[The Captain's Hand]]"</ref>.
*"With every fiber of my being" is often used to conclude oaths, particularly the oath of presidency, as taken by Roslin and Baltar at various points.
*"[[So say we all]]" is used to conclude prayers and similar remarks. It is analogous to, and roughly synonymous with, "amen".
*When used as an intensifier or in other instances of profanity, "God" is usually replaced with "Gods", befitting the Colonials' polytheistic faith—"Gods damn it", "Oh my Gods!", etc.

===Enigmas===

Language in ''Battlestar Galactica'' have terms whose origins are a curiosity due to chronology or uniqueness to the real-world Earth that likely wouldn't have a parallel of the same name in the Twelve Colonies. See [[Sacred Scrolls#Earth as the true origin of the human species|an interpretation of the origin of humanity on Kobol]] that could support the derivation of these terms.

* ''[[Columbia (RDM)|Columbia]]'': This battlestar name comes from Christopher Columbus, thus making it an unusual name for the Twelve Colonies. However, it also stems from the Latin word "columba" meaning "dove" together with the suffix "ia" which means "land" (geographical expression) in all languages derived from Indo-European roots (ergo, "Land of the Dove")

* ''[[Cloud Nine]]'': This American expression of bliss comes from a 1890's Earth weather reference on the highest-altitude cloud formation. The expression became popularized in 1950s radio broadcasts.

* ''[[Adriatic]]'': The name of this vessel under the influence of [[Tom Zarek]], much like ''Columbia'' appears to have originated on Earth. On Earth the Adriatic Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, located between Italy and the Balkans.

* ''[[w:Lagoon Nebula|M8]]'': Commander Adama refers to the Lagoon Nebula, which he sees in the display of the [[Tomb of Athena]] as M8. This is curious as it is not a name, but a catalog number from the [[w:Messier Catalog|Messier Catalog]], created by the 18th century astronomer.

===Honorifics===
Although civilians use the honorific "Madam" or its shortened form "ma'am", in the Colonial military all superior officers are referred to as "Sir", regardless of gender.<ref>According to RDM's [http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/blogs blog] on January 20th, 2006, the series follows the system established in ''[[MemoryAlpha:Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan|Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]'', where the term "sir" has become gender-neutral in military usage. Thus, [[Laura Roslin]] is referred to as "Madam President" or "ma'am" in a civilian context, but in her capacity as Commander-in-Chief, she is always addressed as "sir".</ref>

===Names===
Many characters have names that include one or more components that appear to be a Biblical or Classical reference. It remains an enigma whether, and to what degree, these should be thought of as translations for the audience's benefit.

Some of these apparent allusions may have no intended meaning beyond sounding good. Others are known to have been chosen for a reason, and that's noted where verifiable.

* [[William Adama|William]] and [[Lee Adama]]: "Adama" is Hebrew for "earth" in its literal meaning—ground, dirt—from which "Adam", the Biblical First Man, derives his name. It is also the name of a large city in Ethiopia. Lee's call-sign "Apollo" is of course a reference to the Greek (and apparently, Kobolan) god. Both "Adama" and "Apollo" are carry-overs from the original series, where they were chosen for their mythological significance.
* [[Richard Adar]]: "[[w:Adar|Adar]]" is a month in the Jewish lunar calendar still in use today. It coincides roughly with the Gregorian month of March. It is a carry over from the original series.
* [[Karl Agathon]]: "[[w:Agathon|Agathon]]" was an Athenian poet, a friend of Euripides and Plato.
* [[Gaius Baltar]]: "Gaius" was the ''[[w:Praenomen|praenomen]]'' of the man we commonly call [[w:Julius Caesar|Julius Caesar]] and the noted Roman historian Tactius, among others. "Baltar" was made up by [[Glen A. Larson]] for the original series.
* [[Helena Cain]]: "[[w:Helena|Helena]]" is a common enough name, but is also a possible reference to Helen of Troy. "[[w:Cain|Cain]]" in the Old Testament is the first murderer, and is a carry-over from the original series.
* [[Aaron Doral]]: "[[w:Aaron|Aaron]]" is a Biblical Hebrew name, the older brother of [[w:Moses|Moses]].
* [[Anastasia Dualla]]: The Greek word ''[[w:anastasia|anastasia]]'' translates to "resurrection", and was a deliberate choice by [[Ronald D. Moore|Ron Moore]]. It's also a common Greek and Russian name. Dualla is the name of a region and people in sub-saharan Africa.
* [[Hera Agathon|Hera]]/Isis: "[[w:Hera|Hera]]" was a Greek goddess, the wife of Zeus. "[[w:Isis|Isis]]" an Egyptian goddess, the wife of Horus in early mythology; the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus later. This is one of the few Egyptian references in the new series.
* [[Gina Inviere]]: "Inviere" is Romanian for "resurrection". The word is described in the series as from "Old [[Gemenon (RDM)|Gemenese]]" and is one in a handful of instances where the Re-imagined Series suggests that the standard language viewers hear spoken is not the sole language of all colonies.
* [[Billy Keikeya]]: "Keikeya" is one of the three queens of [[w:Ayodhya|Ayodhya]] in the Hindu epic, ''[[w:Ramayana|Ramayana]]''.
* [[Kara Thrace]]: "[[w:Thrace|Thrace]]" is a region in southeast Europe spanning Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Turkey, and Serbia. It was also the ancient name for the same area. The famous gladiator Spartacus was a Thracian.
* [[Saul Tigh]]: "[[w:Saul|Saul]]" is a Hebrew name (pronounced "Shaul" in Hebrew), which means "borrowed". Biblical references include both the first king of Judah and Israel, and the birth-name of Paul of Tarsus. Originally the character was named "Paul Tigh", but when it was discovered that this could not be used for legal reasons, it was shifted to "''S''aul Tigh", a reverse of the name switch that Saul of Tarsus/St. Paul made. "Tigh" appears to be a reference to the historical figure [[w:Colonel Tye|Colonel Tye]], an African-American military leader who fought for the British in the [[w:American Revolutionary War|American Revolutionary War]] (the original series version of Colonel [[Tigh (TOS)|Tigh]] was of African ethnicity).
* [[Galen Tyrol]]: "[[w:Galen|Galen]]" was a famous Greek-born healer, the source of much Roman and Medieval medical knowledge, and was the first to argue that the mind was in the brain and not the heart; this could be construed as ironic, given that Tyrol followed his heart and maintained a relationship with Boomer even when he shouldn't have. "[[w:Tyrol|Tyrol]]" is a region that spans the border of Austria and Italy.
* [[Sharon Valerii]]: "Sharon" is a name of a geographic area in the center of Israel, although it's also a common English woman's name. The [[w:Valerius|gens Valeria]] is one of the longest-running families in the history of the [[w:Roman Empire|Roman Empire]]. "Valerii" is the masculine genitive plural form, which is used to refer to members of a family collectively.
* [[Tom Zarek]]: "[[w:Thomas|Thomas]]" is a deliberate biblical reference. Originally he was supposed to be called "Peter", but that didn't clear with the legal departement. It's also a common English name. Zarek is a Polish name derived from the Babylonian name Balshazzar meaning "Baal protects the king." According to the writers, they just made up the name "Zarek" because they thought it sounded "strong and futuristic". ([[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]], p.52)

Uncertain references:
* [[Leoben Conoy]]: "[[w:Leoben|Leoben]]" is an Austrian town where a preliminary peace in the Napoleonic wars was signed. "[[w:Conoy|Conoy]]" is a Native American tribe, also known as the Piscataway. Both are pretty obscure.
* [[Laura Roslin]]: "[[w:Roslin Institute|Roslin Institute]]" is where Dolly the Sheep was cloned. A more likely source of the name would be the Scottish village of [[wikipedia:Roslin, Midlothian|Roslin, Midlothian]], where (unsurprisingly perhaps) the Roslin Institute is located.

===Other Languages===
Real-world languages other than English have made brief appearances in the Re-Imagined Series.

*The bookshelf concealing a fallout shelter in "[[Act of Contrition]]" contains a book titled ''Oberst'', the German word for colonel.
*[[Virtual beings#Baltar's Virtual Six|Number Six]] tells [[Gaius Baltar]] that he speaks with ''élan'' in "[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]". ''Élan'' is the French word for ''flair''.
*The opera heard in [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar's]] lab in [[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]] is in Italian. It is titled ''Battlestar Operatica'' and was composed by Battlestar Galactica composer [[Bear McCreary]].

==Accents==

Most characters (or the actors that portray them) speak with a [[Wikipedia:General American|Standard American]] accent, with some exceptions.

===English Accent===
Three characters speak with the [[Wikipedia:Received Pronunciation|Received Pronunciation]], Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] from [[Aerilon]] (although he consciously suppresses his native [[#Aerilon Accent|Aerilon accent]]), ''Galactica'' medic [[Layne Ishay]] and ''[[Pyxis]]<nowiki>'</nowiki>'' Captain [[Jules Tarney]].

===Canadian Accent===
The actor playing Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]], especially when shouting or barking orders, exhibits a definite Canadian accent. [[Michael Hogan]] is a noted Canadian actor, and on the show his speech is generally indistinguishable from General American English, but observant listeners can detect the accent in certain situations.

More subtly, [[Leoben Conoy]], portrayed by veteran Canadian actor [[Callum Keith Rennie]], exhibits Canadian patterns discernible to native speakers.

[[Sergeant Hadrian]], played by Canadian actress [[Jill Teed]] also shows Canadian cadences.

Since the series is shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, many of the actors are Canadian character players, for the most part speaking with West/Central Canadian accents.

===Puerto Rican Accent===
[[Giana]], a woman rescued from [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] by [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Sharon Valerii]], speaks with a Puerto Rican accent, and inquires after the whereabouts of her husband, who she states is "stationed on Gemenon". Her place of origin is unclear, but no other characters from either Caprica, [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Gemenon|Gemenon]], or anywhere else have shared this accent. The actress, Lymari Nadal, is from Puerto Rico ([[Miniseries]]).

===Kiwi Accent===
The reporter [[D'Anna Biers]] speaks with a Kiwi/New Zealand accent (this is actually the accent that actress [[Lucy Lawless]] speaks with when off screen, because she is from New Zealand). However, the same episode revealed that D'Anna is actually a [[Humanoid Cylon|Cylon]] (Number Three), and another copy of her model on Cylon-occupied Caprica does ''not'' speak with this accent, but a Standard American one, perhaps to differentiate the two characters. Subsequent appearances by Number Threes in "[[Downloaded]]" and [[Season 3 (2006-07)|Season 3]] have featured the Kiwi accent exclusively.

===Australian Accent===
[[Kendra Shaw]] speaks with an Australian accent. She is portrayed by [[Stephanie Jacobsen]], who was born in Hong Kong but spent most of her life and education in Sydney, Australia. Given that her [[Marta Shaw|mother]] was Caprica's delegate to the Quorum of Twelve, she is likely from Caprica as well. From an in-universe point of view, this probably means that there is not just one accent from one colony, but also regional variations ([[Razor]]).

===Aerilon Accent===
In "[[Flesh and Bone]]", Baltar notes that Sharon Valerii speaks with a trace of an [[Aerilon]] accent. In the episode "[[Dirty Hands]]", Baltar displays his native Aerilon accent. It sounds somewhat raspy, and resembles the English regional accents from Yorkshire and Lancashire. Baltar being from Aerilon explains how he could pick up a faint trace of it in Valerii. However, in her case, the accent appears to be entirely fictional - Canadian actress Grace Park speaks Standard American English without a 'foreign' accent.

In "[[The Son Also Rises]]", [[Romo Lampkin]] speaks with an accent somewhat similar to Baltar's native Aerilon accent. The actor, [[Mark Sheppard]], is Irish.

(Note: The accent of the corresponding '[[Aeries]]' people in the Original Series sounds Irish, as heard in "[[The Long Patrol]]")

==Liturgy==
During the funeral service at the end of the [[Miniseries, Night 2|Miniseries]], Priest [[Elosha]] chants a prayer in a foreign language. It is recognizable as a common Sanskrit prayer, found in Part I, Chapter III, Verse 28 of the [http://sanatan.intnet.mu/upanishads/brihadaranyaka.htm Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad].

:{|
| '''Devanāgarī''' || '''Transliteration''' || '''Translation'''
|-
| अस्तो मा सद् गमय || asato mā sad gamaya || Lead us from Falsehood to Truth
|-
| तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय || tamaso mā jyotir gamaya || Lead us from Darkness to Light
|-
| मृत्योर् मा अमृतं गमय || mṛtyor mā amṛtaṃ gamaya || Lead us from Death to Immortality
|}

Although the lyrics are identifiable, it should be noted that the actress's performance is closer to the chanting of biblical Hebrew, and does not resemble the traditional melody.<ref>Viewers can compare Elosha's chant to the same chant found in the soundtrack of the movie ''[[Wikipedia:The Matrix Revolutions|The Matrix Revolutions]]'', by composers Don Davis and the group Juno Reactor. The final track, "Navras," (which plays during the closing credits of the motion picture) begins with this same verse; the track "Neodämmerung" also consists entirely of Sanskrit lyrics taken from the Upaniṣads, including this verse.</ref>

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

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial History]]
[[Category:Colonial History (RDM)]]
[[Category:Colonial Society]]
[[Category:Colonial Society (RDM)]]
[[Category:RDM]]

{{featured article candidate previous}}

Talk:Season 1/Archive 1

2008-12-15T01:10:03Z

Axeman:

===Redundant Disambiguation Page===

Considering that the re-imagined series is the only series to have more than one season, isn't having a disambiguation page redundant? Season 1 of the original series and of Galactica 1980 were the ''only'' seasons of those shows. Typing "Season 1" should direct to the RDM Season 1 page. [[User:Axeman|Axeman]] 22:37, 14 December 2008 (UTC)
: AS we have multiple "Season 1" pages for each series, "[[Season 1 (1978-79)]]", "[[Season 1 (1980)]]", [[Season 1 (2004-05)]] (for the re-imagined series) and a future "Season 1" page for Caprica in the wings, your proposal would not work. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [[bsp:|Battlestar Pegasus]]</sup> 00:12, 15 December 2008 (UTC)
::Then those articles should be renamed as the RDM series is the only one with more than one season. The first two series had only one season each, making the name ''Season 1'' redundant, and Caprica has not aired one season yet, much less two. [[User:Axeman|Axeman]] 01:10, 15 December 2008 (UTC)

Talk:Season 1/Archive 1

2008-12-14T22:37:49Z

Axeman: New page: ===Redundant Disambiguation Page=== Considering that the re-imagined series is the only series to have more than one season, isn't having a disambiguation page redundant? Season 1 of the ...

Language in the Twelve Colonies

2008-12-02T19:23:59Z

Axeman: /* Other Languages */

:''This article discusses an aspect of the [[Re-imagined Series]] version of the Twelve Colonies. For information on the [[Original Series]] version, see [[The Twelve Colonies (TOS)]].''

{{RDM twelve colonies series}}

English, or some language that is universally translated into it (à la [[Wikipedia:Westron|Tolkien]]) is standard. Loanwords from foreign languages ("élan", "fascist", "karma", "esprit de corps" etc.) occur with normal frequency, as do chronologically enigmatic borrowings such as the battlestar ''[[Columbia (RDM)|Columbia]]''. Most religious terms are explicitly shared with ancient Greek beliefs (either antecedent to or descendant from them).

==Vocabulary==

===Anachronisms===
''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' uses many terms from modern day naval aviation, which appear somewhat anachronistic but also lend the show a flavor of realistic jargon. These include:
*[[Combat Air Patrol]]
*[[Commander Air Group]]
*Planes
:'''Adama:''' "You keep my planes flying. I need my planes to fly." ([[Litmus]])

===Ersatz===
In contrast to its [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|predecessor]], the re-imagined ''Battlestar Galactica'' employs relatively little in the way of ersatz vocabulary. It does employ a few terms outside of a normal American English vocabulary, mostly military jargon. These are mixed in haphazardly with the real-life naval aviation terms above.

*[[Dradis]] - [[Wikipedia:RADAR|Radar]]
*[[Fumarella leaf]] - [[Wikipedia:Tobacco|Tobacco]]
*[[Frak]] - A bowdlerized version of "Fuck" (c.f. "[[Wikipedia:Frell|Frell]]" (Farscape), "[[Wikipedia:Frag|Frag]]" (Babylon 5), "[[Wikipedia:Smeg|Smeg]]" (Red Dwarf))
*[[G-4]] - [[Wikipedia: C-4 (explosive)|C-4]]
*[[Krypter]] - [[Wikipedia:Mayday|Mayday]]
*[[Morpha]] - [[Wikipedia:Morphine|Morphine]]
*[[Serisone]] - [[Wikipedia:prednisone|Prednisone]]
*[[Wireless]] - [[Wikipedia:Radio|Radio]]<ref name="wireless">This usage is not entirely unknown in Earth-bound English. As a synonym for radio or radiotelegraphy, it's more common in British usage, according to [http://www.m-w.com/ Merriam-Webster]. Prior to the popularisation of television in the 1950s, it was the preferred term for radio equipment and radio broadcasts amongst the bulk of the British population. It's also the source of the prefix 'Wi' in 'WiFi' and other similar wireless data standards now common.</ref>

===Invented Terminology===
As all science fiction shows must, Battlestar Galactica has a set of vocabulary referring to technologies and other items not shared with the real world.

*[[Ambrosia]] - a bright green alcoholic beverage
*[[Carom]] - the angle above or below the XY plane of a vessel, perpendicular to [[Wikipedia:Bearing (navigation)|bearing]] (c.f. "Mark" (Star Trek))
*[[Chamalla]] - an [[Wikipedia:Entheogen|entheogen]] used by priests
*[[Red Line]]

*'''For a more complete list of acronyms and expressions see:''' [[List of terms (RDM)]]

===Turn of phrase===
The dialect used by the Colonials employs some distinct turn of phrase at times:

*"As of this moment" is used particularly often for seemingly "official" announcements. After the original Cylon attack, then-Commander William Adama announces to his crew, "As of this moment, we are at war." The phrase is used later by Colonel Tigh in his announcement of martial law <ref>"As of this moment, I have declared martial law." — "[[Fragged]]"</ref>, and Gaius Baltar in announcing his candidacy for the presidency<ref>"…I am, as of this moment, a candidate for the Presidency." — "[[The Captain's Hand]]"</ref>.
*"With every fiber of my being" is often used to conclude oaths, particularly the oath of presidency, as taken by Roslin and Baltar at various points.
*"[[So say we all]]" is used to conclude prayers and similar remarks. It is analogous to, and roughly synonymous with, "amen".
*When used as an intensifier or in other instances of profanity, "God" is usually replaced with "Gods", befitting the Colonials' polytheistic faith—"Gods damn it", "Oh my Gods!", etc.

===Enigmas===

Language in ''Battlestar Galactica'' have terms whose origins are a curiosity due to chronology or uniqueness to the real-world Earth that likely wouldn't have a parallel of the same name in the Twelve Colonies. See [[Sacred Scrolls#Earth as the true origin of the human species|an interpretation of the origin of humanity on Kobol]] that could support the derivation of these terms.

* ''[[Columbia (RDM)|Columbia]]'': This battlestar name comes from Christopher Columbus, thus making it an unusual name for the Twelve Colonies. However, it also stems from the Latin word "columba" meaning "dove" together with the suffix "ia" which means "land" (geographical expression) in all languages derived from Indo-European roots (ergo, "Land of the Dove")

* ''[[Cloud Nine]]'': This American expression of bliss comes from a 1890's Earth weather reference on the highest-altitude cloud formation. The expression became popularized in 1950s radio broadcasts.

* ''[[Adriatic]]'': The name of this vessel under the influence of [[Tom Zarek]], much like ''Columbia'' appears to have originated on Earth. On Earth the Adriatic Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, located between Italy and the Balkans.

* ''[[w:Lagoon Nebula|M8]]'': Commander Adama refers to the Lagoon Nebula, which he sees in the display of the [[Tomb of Athena]] as M8. This is curious as it is not a name, but a catalog number from the [[w:Messier Catalog|Messier Catalog]], created by the 18th century astronomer.

===Honorifics===
Although civilians use the honorific "Madam" or its shortened form "ma'am", in the Colonial military all superior officers are referred to as "Sir", regardless of gender.<ref>According to RDM's [http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/blogs blog] on January 20th, 2006, the series follows the system established in ''[[MemoryAlpha:Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan|Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]'', where the term "sir" has become gender-neutral in military usage. Thus, [[Laura Roslin]] is referred to as "Madam President" or "ma'am" in a civilian context, but in her capacity as Commander-in-Chief, she is always addressed as "sir".</ref>

===Names===
Many characters have names that include one or more components that appear to be a Biblical or Classical reference. It remains an enigma whether, and to what degree, these should be thought of as translations for the audience's benefit.

Some of these apparent allusions may have no intended meaning beyond sounding good. Others are known to have been chosen for a reason, and that's noted where verifiable.

* [[William Adama|William]] and [[Lee Adama]]: "Adama" is Hebrew for "earth" in its literal meaning—ground, dirt—from which "Adam", the Biblical First Man, derives his name. It is also the name of a large city in Ethiopia. Lee's call-sign "Apollo" is of course a reference to the Greek (and apparently, Kobolan) god. Both "Adama" and "Apollo" are carry-overs from the original series, where they were chosen for their mythological significance.
* [[Richard Adar]]: "[[w:Adar|Adar]]" is a month in the Jewish lunar calendar still in use today. It coincides roughly with the Gregorian month of March. It is a carry over from the original series.
* [[Karl Agathon]]: "[[w:Agathon|Agathon]]" was an Athenian poet, a friend of Euripides and Plato.
* [[Gaius Baltar]]: "Gaius" was the ''[[w:Praenomen|praenomen]]'' of the man we commonly call [[w:Julius Caesar|Julius Caesar]] and the noted Roman historian Tactius, among others. "Baltar" was made up by [[Glen A. Larson]] for the original series.
* [[Helena Cain]]: "[[w:Helena|Helena]]" is a common enough name, but is also a possible reference to Helen of Troy. "[[w:Cain|Cain]]" in the Old Testament is the first murderer, and is a carry-over from the original series.
* [[Aaron Doral]]: "[[w:Aaron|Aaron]]" is a Biblical Hebrew name, the older brother of [[w:Moses|Moses]].
* [[Anastasia Dualla]]: The Greek word ''[[w:anastasia|anastasia]]'' translates to "resurrection", and was a deliberate choice by [[Ronald D. Moore|Ron Moore]]. It's also a common Greek and Russian name. Dualla is the name of a region and people in sub-saharan Africa.
* [[Hera Agathon|Hera]]/Isis: "[[w:Hera|Hera]]" was a Greek goddess, the wife of Zeus. "[[w:Isis|Isis]]" an Egyptian goddess, the wife of Horus in early mythology; the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus later. This is one of the few Egyptian references in the new series.
* [[Gina Inviere]]: "Inviere" is Romanian for "resurrection". The word is described in the series as from "Old [[Gemenon (RDM)|Gemenese]]" and is one in a handful of instances where the Re-imagined Series suggests that the standard language viewers hear spoken is not the sole language of all colonies.
* [[Billy Keikeya]]: "Keikeya" is one of the three queens of [[w:Ayodhya|Ayodhya]] in the Hindu epic, ''[[w:Ramayana|Ramayana]]''.
* [[Kara Thrace]]: "[[w:Thrace|Thrace]]" is a region in southeast Europe spanning Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Turkey, and Serbia. It was also the ancient name for the same area. The famous gladiator Spartacus was a Thracian.
* [[Saul Tigh]]: "[[w:Saul|Saul]]" is a Hebrew name (pronounced "Shaul" in Hebrew), which means "borrowed". Biblical references include both the first king of Judah and Israel, and the birth-name of Paul of Tarsus. Originally the character was named "Paul Tigh", but when it was discovered that this could not be used for legal reasons, it was shifted to "''S''aul Tigh", a reverse of the name switch that Saul of Tarsus/St. Paul made. "Tigh" appears to be a reference to the historical figure [[w:Colonel Tye|Colonel Tye]], an African-American military leader who fought for the British in the [[w:American Revolutionary War|American Revolutionary War]] (the original series version of Colonel [[Tigh (TOS)|Tigh]] was of African ethnicity).
* [[Galen Tyrol]]: "[[w:Galen|Galen]]" was a famous Greek-born healer, the source of much Roman and Medieval medical knowledge, and was the first to argue that the mind was in the brain and not the heart; this could be construed as ironic, given that Tyrol followed his heart and maintained a relationship with Boomer even when he shouldn't have. "[[w:Tyrol|Tyrol]]" is a region that spans the border of Austria and Italy.
* [[Sharon Valerii]]: "Sharon" is a name of a geographic area in the center of Israel, although it's also a common English woman's name. The [[w:Valerius|gens Valeria]] is one of the longest-running families in the history of the [[w:Roman Empire|Roman Empire]]. "Valerii" is the masculine genitive plural form, which is used to refer to members of a family collectively.
* [[Tom Zarek]]: "[[w:Thomas|Thomas]]" is a deliberate biblical reference. Originally he was supposed to be called "Peter", but that didn't clear with the legal departement. It's also a common English name. Zarek is a Polish name derived from the Babylonian name Balshazzar meaning "Baal protects the king." According to the writers, they just made up the name "Zarek" because they thought it sounded "strong and futuristic". ([[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]], p.52)

Uncertain references:
* [[Leoben Conoy]]: "[[w:Leoben|Leoben]]" is an Austrian town where a preliminary peace in the Napoleonic wars was signed. "[[w:Conoy|Conoy]]" is a Native American tribe, also known as the Piscataway. Both are pretty obscure.
* [[Laura Roslin]]: "[[w:Roslin Institute|Roslin Institute]]" is where Dolly the Sheep was cloned. A more likely source of the name would be the Scottish village of [[wikipedia:Roslin, Midlothian|Roslin, Midlothian]], where (unsurprisingly perhaps) the Roslin Institute is located.

===Other Languages===
Real-world languages other than English have made brief appearances in the Re-Imagined Series.

*The bookshelf concealing a fallout shelter in "[[Act of Contrition]]" contains a book titled ''Oberst'', the German word for colonel.
*[[Virtual beings#Baltar's Virtual Six|Number Six]] tells [[Gaius Baltar]] that he speaks with ''élan'' in "[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]". ''Élan'' is the French word for ''flair''.

==Accents==

Most characters (or the actors that portray them) speak with a [[Wikipedia:General American|Standard American]] accent, with some exceptions.

===English Accent===
Three characters speak with the [[Wikipedia:Received Pronunciation|Received Pronunciation]], Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] from [[Aerilon]] (although he consciously suppresses his native [[#Aerilon Accent|Aerilon accent]]), ''Galactica'' medic [[Layne Ishay]] and ''[[Pyxis]]<nowiki>'</nowiki>'' Captain [[Jules Tarney]].

===Canadian Accent===
The actor playing Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]], especially when shouting or barking orders, exhibits a definite Canadian accent. [[Michael Hogan]] is a noted Canadian actor, and on the show his speech is generally indistinguishable from General American English, but observant listeners can detect the accent in certain situations.

More subtly, [[Leoben Conoy]], portrayed by veteran Canadian actor [[Callum Keith Rennie]], exhibits Canadian patterns discernible to native speakers.

[[Sergeant Hadrian]], played by Canadian actress [[Jill Teed]] also shows Canadian cadences.

Since the series is shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, many of the actors are Canadian character players, for the most part speaking with West/Central Canadian accents.

===Puerto Rican Accent===
[[Giana]], a woman rescued from [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] by [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Sharon Valerii]], speaks with a Puerto Rican accent, and inquires after the whereabouts of her husband, who she states is "stationed on Gemenon". Her place of origin is unclear, but no other characters from either Caprica, [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Gemenon|Gemenon]], or anywhere else have shared this accent. The actress, Lymari Nadal, is from Puerto Rico ([[Miniseries]]).

===Kiwi Accent===
The reporter [[D'Anna Biers]] speaks with a Kiwi/New Zealand accent (this is actually the accent that actress [[Lucy Lawless]] speaks with when off screen, because she is from New Zealand). However, the same episode revealed that D'Anna is actually a [[Humanoid Cylon|Cylon]] (Number Three), and another copy of her model on Cylon-occupied Caprica does ''not'' speak with this accent, but a Standard American one, perhaps to differentiate the two characters. Subsequent appearances by Number Threes in "[[Downloaded]]" and [[Season 3 (2006-07)|Season 3]] have featured the Kiwi accent exclusively.

===Australian Accent===
[[Kendra Shaw]] speaks with an Australian accent. She is portrayed by [[Stephanie Jacobsen]], who was born in Hong Kong but spent most of her life and education in Sydney, Australia. Given that her [[Marta Shaw|mother]] was Caprica's delegate to the Quorum of Twelve, she is likely from Caprica as well. From an in-universe point of view, this probably means that there is not just one accent from one colony, but also regional variations ([[Razor]]).

===Aerilon Accent===
In "[[Flesh and Bone]]", Baltar notes that Sharon Valerii speaks with a trace of an [[Aerilon]] accent. In the episode "[[Dirty Hands]]", Baltar displays his native Aerilon accent. It sounds somewhat raspy, and resembles the English regional accents from Yorkshire and Lancashire. Baltar being from Aerilon explains how he could pick up a faint trace of it in Valerii. However, in her case, the accent appears to be entirely fictional - Canadian actress Grace Park speaks Standard American English without a 'foreign' accent.

In "[[The Son Also Rises]]", [[Romo Lampkin]] speaks with an accent somewhat similar to Baltar's native Aerilon accent. The actor, [[Mark Sheppard]], is Irish.

(Note: The accent of the corresponding '[[Aeries]]' people in the Original Series sounds Irish, as heard in "[[The Long Patrol]]")

==Liturgy==
During the funeral service at the end of the [[Miniseries, Night 2|Miniseries]], Priest [[Elosha]] chants a prayer in a foreign language. It is recognizable as a common Sanskrit prayer, found in Part I, Chapter III, Verse 28 of the [http://sanatan.intnet.mu/upanishads/brihadaranyaka.htm Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad].

:{|
| '''Devanāgarī''' || '''Transliteration''' || '''Translation'''
|-
| अस्तो मा सद् गमय || asato mā sad gamaya || Lead us from Falsehood to Truth
|-
| तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय || tamaso mā jyotir gamaya || Lead us from Darkness to Light
|-
| मृत्योर् मा अमृतं गमय || mṛtyor mā amṛtaṃ gamaya || Lead us from Death to Immortality
|}

Although the lyrics are identifiable, it should be noted that the actress's performance is closer to the chanting of biblical Hebrew, and does not resemble the traditional melody.<ref>Viewers can compare Elosha's chant to the same chant found in the soundtrack of the movie ''[[Wikipedia:The Matrix Revolutions|The Matrix Revolutions]]'', by composers Don Davis and the group Juno Reactor. The final track, "Navras," (which plays during the closing credits of the motion picture) begins with this same verse; the track "Neodämmerung" also consists entirely of Sanskrit lyrics taken from the Upaniṣads, including this verse.</ref>

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

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial History]]
[[Category:Colonial History (RDM)]]
[[Category:Colonial Society]]
[[Category:Colonial Society (RDM)]]
[[Category:RDM]]

{{featured article candidate previous}}

User talk:DrWho42

2008-12-02T03:53:26Z

Axeman: /* Oberst Screenshot */

== Welcome to Battlestar Wiki! ==
Welcome to the Wiki, DrWho42. Tell us about yourself on [[User:DrWho42|your user page]].

Battlestar Wiki is an encyclopedia on '''officially-licensed stories, aired episodes, and other products of the ''Battlestar'' universes.''' Make sure that your contributions fit [[Battlestar Wiki:What is Battlestar Wiki|Battlestar Wiki's purpose]], avoiding [[BW:NOT|what we aren't]].

Our [[BW:SAC|editing standards and conventions policies]] may differ from other wikis, especially in verb tense and voice, capitalization and the like. '''Please read this policy.''' We have [[BW:TUT|an editing tutorial]] and [[BW:MARK|wiki markup codes]] to help you.

Our policies on [[w:Original research|original research]] differ from places such as Wikipedia. We allow [[BW:CJ#Derived Content|some research based on aired episode content]], but don't allow [[BW:FANW|speculation that isn't supported from episode events]].

Battlestar Wiki's [[Battlestar Wiki:Project List|many projects]] help improve our content. Are you a [[Original Series]] fan? Help out in the [[Battlestar Wiki:Original Series Article Development Project|Original Series Article Project]]. [[Battlestar Wiki:Translation Project|Non-English versions of Battlestar Wiki]] also need contributors, and helpers for our [[BW:POD|podcast transcriptions]] are also welcome. New projects should be brought to our [[BW:TANK|Think Tank]], where we hash out large-scale ideas before implementing them.

Any questions about an article can be entered on the article's talk page. General questions about the wiki can be brought to [[Battlestar Wiki:Wikipedian Quorum|the Quorum]] or [[Battlestar Wiki:Administrators' noticeboard|the administrators' noticeboard]]. To sign your posts on any talk page, just enter four tildes (~~~~)!

We look forward to your contributions to the community!
--[[User:Mercifull|Mercifull]] <sup>([[User talk:Mercifull|Talk]]/[[Special:Contributions/Mercifull|Contribs]])</sup> 02:58, 18 April 2007 (CDT)

==Battlesev Galaxative==
Hi. I have deleted your article on Battlesev Galaxative as is is against the policty of the wiki re linking. See [[Battlestar Wiki:What Battlestar Wiki is not]]. "IS NOT a repository of Web links. We are not Google or the IMDB, although we do link to them from time to time. Yes, we do have links to other websites, but they are normally related to a topic covered by this Wiki". I have moved your link to the webcomic to the Fan sites page so the link still exists but there is no dedicated page for it. If you have any questions please leave a message on my talk page. --[[User:Mercifull|Mercifull]] <sup>([[User talk:Mercifull|Talk]]/[[Special:Contributions/Mercifull|Contribs]])</sup> 03:24, 18 April 2007 (CDT)

== Categories ==

You don't need to add the categories manually. When you set <code>gender=male</code> and <code>countrycode=US</code> in your {{tl|User Data}}, they'll appear automatically. --[[User:Catrope|Catrope]]<sup>([[User talk:Catrope|Talk to me]] or [[Special:Emailuser/Catrope|e-mail me]])</sup> 03:44, 3 May 2007 (CDT)

== Move ==
Joe gave you move privileges, so you should see the move button above pages now. In case, you know, you need to move stuff. --[[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]] 12:47, 22 May 2007 (CDT)

==Pat Adrien Dorval Revert Move==
While the imdb credits him as Adrien Dorval, in the credits of Battlestar Galactica he has been referred to by his full name Pat Adrien Dorval. Official sources override the imdb. --[[User:Mercifull|Mercifull]] <sup>([[User talk:Mercifull|Talk]]/[[Special:Contributions/Mercifull|Contribs]])</sup> 13:27, 22 May 2007 (CDT)
:I noticed that just now. Thanks for the revert! [[User:DrWho42|DrWho42]] 13:32, 22 May 2007 (CDT)
::No problem :) --[[User:Mercifull|Mercifull]] <sup>([[User talk:Mercifull|Talk]]/[[Special:Contributions/Mercifull|Contribs]])</sup> 13:33, 22 May 2007 (CDT)

== Whoa, Cowboy! ==

Hey there! That [[List of Former Star Trek Cast and Crew]] article is pretty darn detailed, but the [[BW:CON|Concision Fairy]] thinks it would be best not to list ''every single thing'' that many of the prolific cast and crew have done for that show. It makes reading the article very difficult, and, as you know, there's [[memoryalpha:Main Page|another wiki]] for that sort of thing, so the article has gone off from Battlestar Wiki's need-to-know. The Fairy truncated Ron Moore's and Michael Taylor's entries, but the article could be shorter, or maybe, cite more of their most popular work that illustrates each writer or director's quality work. I convinced the Fairy not to bring out the double-bladed tree ax, asking her to wait until you or others made the finer concision so the article maintains its quality (the Fairy is not a neat fairy -- she's watched too many episodes of ''The Sopranos'' and enjoys all that whacking.). :) --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 11:18, 15 July 2007 (CDT)

== Welcome back! ==

Hope you had a good vacation (or whatever it happened to be, lol)! ;-) -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [http://www.sanctuarywiki.org Sanctuary Wiki — ''New'']</sup> 14:21, 21 August 2007 (CDT)

== Articles created subpage ==

If you'd like it to be deleted, just drop me (or another sysop) a message. --[[User:Catrope|Catrope]]<sup>([[User talk:Catrope|Talk to me]] or [[Special:Emailuser/Catrope|e-mail me]])</sup> 08:07, 25 February 2008 (CST)

== Welcome to the Village, Number 42. ==

Be seeing you. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [[bsp:|Battlestar Pegasus]]</sup> 05:06, 28 March 2008 (UTC)

== Hope all is going well ==

Hope your move is going well for you! (Aside from the cable and internet aspect.) :) Cheers! -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [[bsp:|Battlestar Pegasus]]</sup> 16:05, 16 May 2008 (UTC)

== Oberst Screenshot ==

Here is the screenshot. The book is on the left. You will probably have to see the image in full resolution to read it clearly. There is a lot of glare from the flashlight. If it is not clear enough, I can try to get a better one.
http://media.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/Image:Oberst.png
:The hardback edition of the book is available on eBay. The font used is the same: http://cgi.ebay.com/Oberst-by-William-Harrington-(1987)--H%2FC_W0QQitemZ110307975317QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20081105?IMSfp=TL081105102009r2864 [[User:Axeman|Axeman]] 03:53, 2 December 2008 (UTC)

User talk:DrWho42

2008-12-01T20:21:36Z

Axeman: /* Oberst Screenshot */ new section

Language in the Twelve Colonies

2008-12-01T03:53:23Z

Axeman: /* Other Languages */

:''This article discusses an aspect of the [[Re-imagined Series]] version of the Twelve Colonies. For information on the [[Original Series]] version, see [[The Twelve Colonies (TOS)]].''

{{RDM twelve colonies series}}

English, or some language that is universally translated into it (à la [[Wikipedia:Westron|Tolkien]]) is standard. Loanwords from foreign languages ("élan", "fascist", "karma", "esprit de corps" etc.) occur with normal frequency, as do chronologically enigmatic borrowings such as the battlestar ''[[Columbia (RDM)|Columbia]]''. Most religious terms are explicitly shared with ancient Greek beliefs (either antecedent to or descendant from them).

==Vocabulary==

===Anachronisms===
''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' uses many terms from modern day naval aviation, which appear somewhat anachronistic but also lend the show a flavor of realistic jargon. These include:
*[[Combat Air Patrol]]
*[[Commander Air Group]]
*Planes
:'''Adama:''' "You keep my planes flying. I need my planes to fly." ([[Litmus]])

===Ersatz===
In contrast to its [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|predecessor]], the re-imagined ''Battlestar Galactica'' employs relatively little in the way of ersatz vocabulary. It does employ a few terms outside of a normal American English vocabulary, mostly military jargon. These are mixed in haphazardly with the real-life naval aviation terms above.

*[[Dradis]] - [[Wikipedia:RADAR|Radar]]
*[[Fumarella leaf]] - [[Wikipedia:Tobacco|Tobacco]]
*[[Frak]] - A bowdlerized version of "Fuck" (c.f. "[[Wikipedia:Frell|Frell]]" (Farscape), "[[Wikipedia:Frag|Frag]]" (Babylon 5), "[[Wikipedia:Smeg|Smeg]]" (Red Dwarf))
*[[G-4]] - [[Wikipedia: C-4 (explosive)|C-4]]
*[[Krypter]] - [[Wikipedia:Mayday|Mayday]]
*[[Morpha]] - [[Wikipedia:Morphine|Morphine]]
*[[Serisone]] - [[Wikipedia:prednisone|Prednisone]]
*[[Wireless]] - [[Wikipedia:Radio|Radio]]<ref name="wireless">This usage is not entirely unknown in Earth-bound English. As a synonym for radio or radiotelegraphy, it's more common in British usage, according to [http://www.m-w.com/ Merriam-Webster]. Prior to the popularisation of television in the 1950s, it was the preferred term for radio equipment and radio broadcasts amongst the bulk of the British population. It's also the source of the prefix 'Wi' in 'WiFi' and other similar wireless data standards now common.</ref>

===Invented Terminology===
As all science fiction shows must, Battlestar Galactica has a set of vocabulary referring to technologies and other items not shared with the real world.

*[[Ambrosia]] - a bright green alcoholic beverage
*[[Carom]] - the angle above or below the XY plane of a vessel, perpendicular to [[Wikipedia:Bearing (navigation)|bearing]] (c.f. "Mark" (Star Trek))
*[[Chamalla]] - an [[Wikipedia:Entheogen|entheogen]] used by priests
*[[Red Line]]

*'''For a more complete list of acronyms and expressions see:''' [[List of terms (RDM)]]

===Turn of phrase===
The dialect used by the Colonials employs some distinct turn of phrase at times:

*"As of this moment" is used particularly often for seemingly "official" announcements. After the original Cylon attack, then-Commander William Adama announces to his crew, "As of this moment, we are at war." The phrase is used later by Colonel Tigh in his announcement of martial law <ref>"As of this moment, I have declared martial law." — "[[Fragged]]"</ref>, and Gaius Baltar in announcing his candidacy for the presidency<ref>"…I am, as of this moment, a candidate for the Presidency." — "[[The Captain's Hand]]"</ref>.
*"With every fiber of my being" is often used to conclude oaths, particularly the oath of presidency, as taken by Roslin and Baltar at various points.
*"[[So say we all]]" is used to conclude prayers and similar remarks. It is analogous to, and roughly synonymous with, "amen".
*When used as an intensifier or in other instances of profanity, "God" is usually replaced with "Gods", befitting the Colonials' polytheistic faith—"Gods damn it", "Oh my Gods!", etc.

===Enigmas===

Language in ''Battlestar Galactica'' have terms whose origins are a curiosity due to chronology or uniqueness to the real-world Earth that likely wouldn't have a parallel of the same name in the Twelve Colonies. See [[Sacred Scrolls#Earth as the true origin of the human species|an interpretation of the origin of humanity on Kobol]] that could support the derivation of these terms.

* ''[[Columbia (RDM)|Columbia]]'': This battlestar name comes from Christopher Columbus, thus making it an unusual name for the Twelve Colonies. However, it also stems from the Latin word "columba" meaning "dove" together with the suffix "ia" which means "land" (geographical expression) in all languages derived from Indo-European roots (ergo, "Land of the Dove")

* ''[[Cloud Nine]]'': This American expression of bliss comes from a 1890's Earth weather reference on the highest-altitude cloud formation. The expression became popularized in 1950s radio broadcasts.

* ''[[Adriatic]]'': The name of this vessel under the influence of [[Tom Zarek]], much like ''Columbia'' appears to have originated on Earth. On Earth the Adriatic Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, located between Italy and the Balkans.

* ''[[w:Lagoon Nebula|M8]]'': Commander Adama refers to the Lagoon Nebula, which he sees in the display of the [[Tomb of Athena]] as M8. This is curious as it is not a name, but a catalog number from the [[w:Messier Catalog|Messier Catalog]], created by the 18th century astronomer.

===Honorifics===
Although civilians use the honorific "Madam" or its shortened form "ma'am", in the Colonial military all superior officers are referred to as "Sir", regardless of gender.<ref>According to RDM's [http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/blogs blog] on January 20th, 2006, the series follows the system established in ''[[MemoryAlpha:Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan|Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]'', where the term "sir" has become gender-neutral in military usage. Thus, [[Laura Roslin]] is referred to as "Madam President" or "ma'am" in a civilian context, but in her capacity as Commander-in-Chief, she is always addressed as "sir".</ref>

===Names===
Many characters have names that include one or more components that appear to be a Biblical or Classical reference. It remains an enigma whether, and to what degree, these should be thought of as translations for the audience's benefit.

Some of these apparent allusions may have no intended meaning beyond sounding good. Others are known to have been chosen for a reason, and that's noted where verifiable.

* [[William Adama|William]] and [[Lee Adama]]: "Adama" is Hebrew for "earth" in its literal meaning—ground, dirt—from which "Adam", the Biblical First Man, derives his name. It is also the name of a large city in Ethiopia. Lee's call-sign "Apollo" is of course a reference to the Greek (and apparently, Kobolan) god. Both "Adama" and "Apollo" are carry-overs from the original series, where they were chosen for their mythological significance.
* [[Richard Adar]]: "[[w:Adar|Adar]]" is a month in the Jewish lunar calendar still in use today. It coincides roughly with the Gregorian month of March. It is a carry over from the original series.
* [[Karl Agathon]]: "[[w:Agathon|Agathon]]" was an Athenian poet, a friend of Euripides and Plato.
* [[Gaius Baltar]]: "Gaius" was the ''[[w:Praenomen|praenomen]]'' of the man we commonly call [[w:Julius Caesar|Julius Caesar]] and the noted Roman historian Tactius, among others. "Baltar" was made up by [[Glen A. Larson]] for the original series.
* [[Helena Cain]]: "[[w:Helena|Helena]]" is a common enough name, but is also a possible reference to Helen of Troy. "[[w:Cain|Cain]]" in the Old Testament is the first murderer, and is a carry-over from the original series.
* [[Aaron Doral]]: "[[w:Aaron|Aaron]]" is a Biblical Hebrew name, the older brother of [[w:Moses|Moses]].
* [[Anastasia Dualla]]: The Greek word ''[[w:anastasia|anastasia]]'' translates to "resurrection", and was a deliberate choice by [[Ronald D. Moore|Ron Moore]]. It's also a common Greek and Russian name. Dualla is the name of a region and people in sub-saharan Africa.
* [[Hera Agathon|Hera]]/Isis: "[[w:Hera|Hera]]" was a Greek goddess, the wife of Zeus. "[[w:Isis|Isis]]" an Egyptian goddess, the wife of Horus in early mythology; the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus later. This is one of the few Egyptian references in the new series.
* [[Gina Inviere]]: "Inviere" is Romanian for "resurrection". The word is described in the series as from "Old [[Gemenon (RDM)|Gemenese]]" and is one in a handful of instances where the Re-imagined Series suggests that the standard language viewers hear spoken is not the sole language of all colonies.
* [[Billy Keikeya]]: "Keikeya" is one of the three queens of [[w:Ayodhya|Ayodhya]] in the Hindu epic, ''[[w:Ramayana|Ramayana]]''.
* [[Kara Thrace]]: "[[w:Thrace|Thrace]]" is a region in southeast Europe spanning Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Turkey, and Serbia. It was also the ancient name for the same area. The famous gladiator Spartacus was a Thracian.
* [[Saul Tigh]]: "[[w:Saul|Saul]]" is a Hebrew name (pronounced "Shaul" in Hebrew), which means "borrowed". Biblical references include both the first king of Judah and Israel, and the birth-name of Paul of Tarsus. Originally the character was named "Paul Tigh", but when it was discovered that this could not be used for legal reasons, it was shifted to "''S''aul Tigh", a reverse of the name switch that Saul of Tarsus/St. Paul made. "Tigh" appears to be a reference to the historical figure [[w:Colonel Tye|Colonel Tye]], an African-American military leader who fought for the British in the [[w:American Revolutionary War|American Revolutionary War]] (the original series version of Colonel [[Tigh (TOS)|Tigh]] was of African ethnicity).
* [[Galen Tyrol]]: "[[w:Galen|Galen]]" was a famous Greek-born healer, the source of much Roman and Medieval medical knowledge, and was the first to argue that the mind was in the brain and not the heart; this could be construed as ironic, given that Tyrol followed his heart and maintained a relationship with Boomer even when he shouldn't have. "[[w:Tyrol|Tyrol]]" is a region that spans the border of Austria and Italy.
* [[Sharon Valerii]]: "Sharon" is a name of a geographic area in the center of Israel, although it's also a common English woman's name. The [[w:Valerius|gens Valeria]] is one of the longest-running families in the history of the [[w:Roman Empire|Roman Empire]]. "Valerii" is the masculine genitive plural form, which is used to refer to members of a family collectively.
* [[Tom Zarek]]: "[[w:Thomas|Thomas]]" is a deliberate biblical reference. Originally he was supposed to be called "Peter", but that didn't clear with the legal departement. It's also a common English name. Zarek is a Polish name derived from the Babylonian name Balshazzar meaning "Baal protects the king." According to the writers, they just made up the name "Zarek" because they thought it sounded "strong and futuristic". ([[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]], p.52)

Uncertain references:
* [[Leoben Conoy]]: "[[w:Leoben|Leoben]]" is an Austrian town where a preliminary peace in the Napoleonic wars was signed. "[[w:Conoy|Conoy]]" is a Native American tribe, also known as the Piscataway. Both are pretty obscure.
* [[Laura Roslin]]: "[[w:Roslin Institute|Roslin Institute]]" is where Dolly the Sheep was cloned. A more likely source of the name would be the Scottish village of [[wikipedia:Roslin, Midlothian|Roslin, Midlothian]], where (unsurprisingly perhaps) the Roslin Institute is located.

===Other Languages===
Real-World languages other than English have made brief appearances in the Re-Imagined Series.

*The bookshelf concealing a fallout shelter in "[[Act of Contrition]]" contains a book titled ''Oberst'', the German word for colonel.
*[[Virtual beings#Baltar's Virtual Six|Number Six]] told [[Gaius Baltar]] that he spoke with ''élan'' in [[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]. ''Élan'' is the French word for ''flair''.

==Accents==

Most characters (or the actors that portray them) speak with a [[Wikipedia:General American|Standard American]] accent, with some exceptions.

===English Accent===
Three characters speak with the [[Wikipedia:Received Pronunciation|Received Pronunciation]], Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] from [[Aerilon]] (although he consciously suppresses his native [[#Aerilon Accent|Aerilon accent]]), ''Galactica'' medic [[Layne Ishay]] and ''[[Pyxis]]<nowiki>'</nowiki>'' Captain [[Jules Tarney]].

===Canadian Accent===
The actor playing Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]], especially when shouting or barking orders, exhibits a definite Canadian accent. [[Michael Hogan]] is a noted Canadian actor, and on the show his speech is generally indistinguishable from General American English, but observant listeners can detect the accent in certain situations.

More subtly, [[Leoben Conoy]], portrayed by veteran Canadian actor [[Callum Keith Rennie]], exhibits Canadian patterns discernible to native speakers.

[[Sergeant Hadrian]], played by Canadian actress [[Jill Teed]] also shows Canadian cadences.

Since the series is shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, many of the actors are Canadian character players, for the most part speaking with West/Central Canadian accents.

===Puerto Rican Accent===
[[Giana]], a woman rescued from [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] by [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Sharon Valerii]], speaks with a Puerto Rican accent, and inquires after the whereabouts of her husband, who she states is "stationed on Gemenon". Her place of origin is unclear, but no other characters from either Caprica, [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Gemenon|Gemenon]], or anywhere else have shared this accent. The actress, Lymari Nadal, is from Puerto Rico ([[Miniseries]]).

===Kiwi Accent===
The reporter [[D'Anna Biers]] speaks with a Kiwi/New Zealand accent (this is actually the accent that actress [[Lucy Lawless]] speaks with when off screen, because she is from New Zealand). However, the same episode revealed that D'Anna is actually a [[Humanoid Cylon|Cylon]] (Number Three), and another copy of her model on Cylon-occupied Caprica does ''not'' speak with this accent, but a Standard American one, perhaps to differentiate the two characters. Subsequent appearances by Number Threes in "[[Downloaded]]" and [[Season 3 (2006-07)|Season 3]] have featured the Kiwi accent exclusively.

===Australian Accent===
[[Kendra Shaw]] speaks with an Australian accent. She is portrayed by [[Stephanie Jacobsen]], who was born in Hong Kong but spent most of her life and education in Sydney, Australia. Given that her [[Marta Shaw|mother]] was Caprica's delegate to the Quorum of Twelve, she is likely from Caprica as well. From an in-universe point of view, this probably means that there is not just one accent from one colony, but also regional variations ([[Razor]]).

===Aerilon Accent===
In "[[Flesh and Bone]]", Baltar notes that Sharon Valerii speaks with a trace of an [[Aerilon]] accent. In the episode "[[Dirty Hands]]", Baltar displays his native Aerilon accent. It sounds somewhat raspy, and resembles the English regional accents from Yorkshire and Lancashire. Baltar being from Aerilon explains how he could pick up a faint trace of it in Valerii. However, in her case, the accent appears to be entirely fictional - Canadian actress Grace Park speaks Standard American English without a 'foreign' accent.

In "[[The Son Also Rises]]", [[Romo Lampkin]] speaks with an accent somewhat similar to Baltar's native Aerilon accent. The actor, [[Mark Sheppard]], is Irish.

(Note: The accent of the corresponding '[[Aeries]]' people in the Original Series sounds Irish, as heard in "[[The Long Patrol]]")

==Liturgy==
During the funeral service at the end of the [[Miniseries, Night 2|Miniseries]], Priest [[Elosha]] chants a prayer in a foreign language. It is recognizable as a common Sanskrit prayer, found in Part I, Chapter III, Verse 28 of the [http://sanatan.intnet.mu/upanishads/brihadaranyaka.htm Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad].

:{|
| '''Devanāgarī''' || '''Transliteration''' || '''Translation'''
|-
| अस्तो मा सद् गमय || asato mā sad gamaya || Lead us from Falsehood to Truth
|-
| तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय || tamaso mā jyotir gamaya || Lead us from Darkness to Light
|-
| मृत्योर् मा अमृतं गमय || mṛtyor mā amṛtaṃ gamaya || Lead us from Death to Immortality
|}

Although the lyrics are identifiable, it should be noted that the actress's performance is closer to the chanting of biblical Hebrew, and does not resemble the traditional melody.<ref>Viewers can compare Elosha's chant to the same chant found in the soundtrack of the movie ''[[Wikipedia:The Matrix Revolutions|The Matrix Revolutions]]'', by composers Don Davis and the group Juno Reactor. The final track, "Navras," (which plays during the closing credits of the motion picture) begins with this same verse; the track "Neodämmerung" also consists entirely of Sanskrit lyrics taken from the Upaniṣads, including this verse.</ref>

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

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial History]]
[[Category:Colonial History (RDM)]]
[[Category:Colonial Society]]
[[Category:Colonial Society (RDM)]]
[[Category:RDM]]

{{featured article candidate previous}}

Talk:Aerilon/Archive 1

2008-11-18T19:42:53Z

Axeman:

Are you sure of the spelling? Not Aerilon?

How do you know Troy is near Aerelon? Boomer having an Aerelon accent does not prove this, especially since we don't know where she was age 0-4.

See my the thread I started on Ragnar Anchorage for more information on Aerelon:
http://s9.invisionfree.com/Ragnar_Anchorage/index.php?showtopic=658

-[[User:MHall|MHall]]

We probably should delete the Ares/Aries part in the notes section due to Home pt. II. I must go and finish colonies now.

== More on spelling ==

We have a note that we go with the more consistent behind-the-scenes spelling of "Aerelon". But I just watched "Maelstrom" and it occurred to me that we haven't considered the pronunciation. Socrata Thrace says 'Air-lon'. Then I check "Dirty Hands" and surely Tyrol says it that way too. Baltar goes more into the direction of 'Air-e-lon' with a very short 'e' inbetween.

Now the question is how would "Aerilon" be pronounced? I'd say it "Air-ee-lon", with a clear and long 'e'. For me another indication that "Aerelon" is correct. It's pretty much established that the prop department does its own thing. They do nice work, but many of the documents have such small inconsistencies. --[[User:Serenity|Serenity]] 16:09, 29 June 2007 (CDT)
:I think that's a good argument. Better check with Peter to be sure, though. --[[User:Catrope|Catrope]]<sup>([[User talk:Catrope|Talk to me]] or [[Special:Emailuser/Catrope|e-mail me]])</sup> 16:20, 29 June 2007 (CDT)

Spelling seems to be "Aerilon", actually. It is actually spelled that way in some of the scripts I've come across, so we probably have to change it. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [[bsp:|Battlestar Pegasus]]</sup> 16:04, 16 August 2008 (UTC)

: Let's make the change. It's spelled "Aerilon". -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]] - [[bsp:|Battlestar Pegasus]]</sup> 22:28, 17 August 2008 (UTC)

== It is Aerelon, not Aerilon ==
According to the Sci-Fi Channel's own Wiki, Scifipedia, it is Aerelon. http://scifipedia.scifi.com/index.php/Twelve_Colonies#Aerelon [[User:Axeman|Axeman]] 19:42, 18 November 2008 (UTC)

Language in the Twelve Colonies

2008-11-17T22:36:16Z

Axeman: /* Vocabulary */

:''This article discusses an aspect of the [[Re-imagined Series]] version of the Twelve Colonies. For information on the [[Original Series]] version, see [[The Twelve Colonies (TOS)]].''

{{RDM twelve colonies series}}

English, or some language that is universally translated into it (à la [[Wikipedia:Westron|Tolkien]]) is standard. Loanwords from foreign languages ("élan", "fascist", "karma", "esprit de corps" etc.) occur with normal frequency, as do chronologically enigmatic borrowings such as the battlestar ''[[Columbia (RDM)|Columbia]]''. Most religious terms are explicitly shared with ancient Greek beliefs (either antecedent to or descendant from them).

==Vocabulary==

===Anachronisms===
''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' uses many terms from modern day naval aviation, which appear somewhat anachronistic but also lend the show a flavor of realistic jargon. These include:
*[[Combat Air Patrol]]
*[[Commander Air Group]]
*Planes
:'''Adama:''' "You keep my planes flying. I need my planes to fly." ([[Litmus]])

===Ersatz===
In contrast to its [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|predecessor]], the re-imagined ''Battlestar Galactica'' employs relatively little in the way of ersatz vocabulary. It does employ a few terms outside of a normal American English vocabulary, mostly military jargon. These are mixed in haphazardly with the real-life naval aviation terms above.

*[[Dradis]] - [[Wikipedia:RADAR|Radar]]
*[[Fumarella leaf]] - [[Wikipedia:Tobacco|Tobacco]]
*[[Frak]] - A bowdlerized version of "Fuck" (c.f. "[[Wikipedia:Frell|Frell]]" (Farscape), "[[Wikipedia:Frag|Frag]]" (Babylon 5), "[[Wikipedia:Smeg|Smeg]]" (Red Dwarf))
*[[G-4]] - [[Wikipedia: C-4 (explosive)|C-4]]
*[[Krypter]] - [[Wikipedia:Mayday|Mayday]]
*[[Morpha]] - [[Wikipedia:Morphine|Morphine]]
*[[Serisone]] - [[Wikipedia:prednisone|Prednisone]]
*[[Wireless]] - [[Wikipedia:Radio|Radio]]<ref name="wireless">This usage is not entirely unknown in Earth-bound English. As a synonym for radio or radiotelegraphy, it's more common in British usage, according to [http://www.m-w.com/ Merriam-Webster]. Prior to the popularisation of television in the 1950s, it was the preferred term for radio equipment and radio broadcasts amongst the bulk of the British population. It's also the source of the prefix 'Wi' in 'WiFi' and other similar wireless data standards now common.</ref>

===Invented Terminology===
As all science fiction shows must, Battlestar Galactica has a set of vocabulary referring to technologies and other items not shared with the real world.

*[[Ambrosia]] - a bright green alcoholic beverage
*[[Carom]] - the angle above or below the XY plane of a vessel, perpendicular to [[Wikipedia:Bearing (navigation)|bearing]] (c.f. "Mark" (Star Trek))
*[[Chamalla]] - an [[Wikipedia:Entheogen|entheogen]] used by priests
*[[Red Line]]

*'''For a more complete list of acronyms and expressions see:''' [[List of terms (RDM)]]

===Turn of phrase===
The dialect used by the Colonials employs some distinct turn of phrase at times:

*"As of this moment" is used particularly often for seemingly "official" announcements. After the original Cylon attack, then-Commander William Adama announces to his crew, "As of this moment, we are at war." The phrase is used later by Colonel Tigh in his announcement of martial law <ref>"As of this moment, I have declared martial law." — "[[Fragged]]"</ref>, and Gaius Baltar in announcing his candidacy for the presidency<ref>"…I am, as of this moment, a candidate for the Presidency." — "[[The Captain's Hand]]"</ref>.
*"With every fiber of my being" is often used to conclude oaths, particularly the oath of presidency, as taken by Roslin and Baltar at various points.
*"[[So say we all]]" is used to conclude prayers and similar remarks. It is analogous to, and roughly synonymous with, "amen".
*When used as an intensifier or in other instances of profanity, "God" is usually replaced with "Gods", befitting the Colonials' polytheistic faith—"Gods damn it", "Oh my Gods!", etc.

===Enigmas===

Language in ''Battlestar Galactica'' have terms whose origins are a curiosity due to chronology or uniqueness to the real-world Earth that likely wouldn't have a parallel of the same name in the Twelve Colonies. See [[Sacred Scrolls#Earth as the true origin of the human species|an interpretation of the origin of humanity on Kobol]] that could support the derivation of these terms.

* ''[[Columbia (RDM)|Columbia]]'': This battlestar name comes from Christopher Columbus, thus making it an unusual name for the Twelve Colonies. However, it also stems from the Latin word "columba" meaning "dove" together with the suffix "ia" which means "land" (geographical expression) in all languages derived from Indo-European roots (ergo, "Land of the Dove")

* ''[[Cloud Nine]]'': This American expression of bliss comes from a 1890's Earth weather reference on the highest-altitude cloud formation. The expression became popularized in 1950s radio broadcasts.

* ''[[Adriatic]]'': The name of this vessel under the influence of [[Tom Zarek]], much like ''Columbia'' appears to have originated on Earth. On Earth the Adriatic Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, located between Italy and the Balkans.

* ''[[w:Lagoon Nebula|M8]]'': Commander Adama refers to the Lagoon Nebula, which he sees in the display of the [[Tomb of Athena]] as M8. This is curious as it is not a name, but a catalog number from the [[w:Messier Catalog|Messier Catalog]], created by the 18th century astronomer.

===Honorifics===
Although civilians use the honorific "Madam" or its shortened form "ma'am", in the Colonial military all superior officers are referred to as "Sir", regardless of gender.<ref>According to RDM's [http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/blogs blog] on January 20th, 2006, the series follows the system established in ''[[MemoryAlpha:Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan|Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]'', where the term "sir" has become gender-neutral in military usage. Thus, [[Laura Roslin]] is referred to as "Madam President" or "ma'am" in a civilian context, but in her capacity as Commander-in-Chief, she is always addressed as "sir".</ref>

===Names===
Many characters have names that include one or more components that appear to be a Biblical or Classical reference. It remains an enigma whether, and to what degree, these should be thought of as translations for the audience's benefit.

Some of these apparent allusions may have no intended meaning beyond sounding good. Others are known to have been chosen for a reason, and that's noted where verifiable.

* [[William Adama|William]] and [[Lee Adama]]: "Adama" is Hebrew for "earth" in its literal meaning—ground, dirt—from which "Adam", the Biblical First Man, derives his name. It is also the name of a large city in Ethiopia. Lee's call-sign "Apollo" is of course a reference to the Greek (and apparently, Kobolan) god. Both "Adama" and "Apollo" are carry-overs from the original series, where they were chosen for their mythological significance.
* [[Richard Adar]]: "[[w:Adar|Adar]]" is a month in the Jewish lunar calendar still in use today. It coincides roughly with the Gregorian month of March. It is a carry over from the original series.
* [[Karl Agathon]]: "[[w:Agathon|Agathon]]" was an Athenian poet, a friend of Euripides and Plato.
* [[Gaius Baltar]]: "Gaius" was the ''[[w:Praenomen|praenomen]]'' of the man we commonly call [[w:Julius Caesar|Julius Caesar]] and the noted Roman historian Tactius, among others. "Baltar" was made up by [[Glen A. Larson]] for the original series.
* [[Helena Cain]]: "[[w:Helena|Helena]]" is a common enough name, but is also a possible reference to Helen of Troy. "[[w:Cain|Cain]]" in the Old Testament is the first murderer, and is a carry-over from the original series.
* [[Aaron Doral]]: "[[w:Aaron|Aaron]]" is a Biblical Hebrew name, the older brother of [[w:Moses|Moses]].
* [[Anastasia Dualla]]: The Greek word ''[[w:anastasia|anastasia]]'' translates to "resurrection", and was a deliberate choice by [[Ronald D. Moore|Ron Moore]]. It's also a common Greek and Russian name. Dualla is the name of a region and people in sub-saharan Africa.
* [[Hera Agathon|Hera]]/Isis: "[[w:Hera|Hera]]" was a Greek goddess, the wife of Zeus. "[[w:Isis|Isis]]" an Egyptian goddess, the wife of Horus in early mythology; the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus later. This is one of the few Egyptian references in the new series.
* [[Gina Inviere]]: "Inviere" is Romanian for "resurrection". The word is described in the series as from "Old [[Gemenon (RDM)|Gemenese]]" and is one in a handful of instances where the Re-imagined Series suggests that the standard language viewers hear spoken is not the sole language of all colonies.
* [[Billy Keikeya]]: "Keikeya" is one of the three queens of [[w:Ayodhya|Ayodhya]] in the Hindu epic, ''[[w:Ramayana|Ramayana]]''.
* [[Kara Thrace]]: "[[w:Thrace|Thrace]]" is a region in southeast Europe spanning Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Turkey, and Serbia. It was also the ancient name for the same area. The famous gladiator Spartacus was a Thracian.
* [[Saul Tigh]]: "[[w:Saul|Saul]]" is a Hebrew name (pronounced "Shaul" in Hebrew), which means "borrowed". Biblical references include both the first king of Judah and Israel, and the birth-name of Paul of Tarsus. Originally the character was named "Paul Tigh", but when it was discovered that this could not be used for legal reasons, it was shifted to "''S''aul Tigh", a reverse of the name switch that Saul of Tarsus/St. Paul made. "Tigh" appears to be a reference to the historical figure [[w:Colonel Tye|Colonel Tye]], an African-American military leader who fought for the British in the [[w:American Revolutionary War|American Revolutionary War]] (the original series version of Colonel [[Tigh (TOS)|Tigh]] was of African ethnicity).
* [[Galen Tyrol]]: "[[w:Galen|Galen]]" was a famous Greek-born healer, the source of much Roman and Medieval medical knowledge, and was the first to argue that the mind was in the brain and not the heart; this could be construed as ironic, given that Tyrol followed his heart and maintained a relationship with Boomer even when he shouldn't have. "[[w:Tyrol|Tyrol]]" is a region that spans the border of Austria and Italy.
* [[Sharon Valerii]]: "Sharon" is a name of a geographic area in the center of Israel, although it's also a common English woman's name. The [[w:Valerius|gens Valeria]] is one of the longest-running families in the history of the [[w:Roman Empire|Roman Empire]]. "Valerii" is the masculine genitive plural form, which is used to refer to members of a family collectively.
* [[Tom Zarek]]: "[[w:Thomas|Thomas]]" is a deliberate biblical reference. Originally he was supposed to be called "Peter", but that didn't clear with the legal departement. It's also a common English name. Zarek is a Polish name derived from the Babylonian name Balshazzar meaning "Baal protects the king." According to the writers, they just made up the name "Zarek" because they thought it sounded "strong and futuristic". ([[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]], p.52)

Uncertain references:
* [[Leoben Conoy]]: "[[w:Leoben|Leoben]]" is an Austrian town where a preliminary peace in the Napoleonic wars was signed. "[[w:Conoy|Conoy]]" is a Native American tribe, also known as the Piscataway. Both are pretty obscure.
* [[Laura Roslin]]: "[[w:Roslin Institute|Roslin Institute]]" is where Dolly the Sheep was cloned. A more likely source of the name would be the Scottish village of [[wikipedia:Roslin, Midlothian|Roslin, Midlothian]], where (unsurprisingly perhaps) the Roslin Institute is located.

===Other Languages===
The bookshelf concealing a fallout shelter in [[Act of Contrition]] contains a book titled, ''Oberst'', the German word for Colonel.

==Accents==

Most characters (or the actors that portray them) speak with a [[Wikipedia:General American|Standard American]] accent, with some exceptions.

===English Accent===
Three characters speak with the [[Wikipedia:Received Pronunciation|Received Pronunciation]], Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] from [[Aerelon]] (although he consciously suppresses his native [[#Aerelon Accent|Aerelon accent]]), ''Galactica'' medic [[Layne Ishay]] and ''[[Pyxis]]<nowiki>'</nowiki>'' Captain [[Jules Tarney]].

===Canadian Accent===
The actor playing Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]], especially when shouting or barking orders, exhibits a definite Canadian accent. [[Michael Hogan]] is a noted Canadian actor, and on the show his speech is generally indistinguishable from General American English, but observant listeners can detect the accent in certain situations.

More subtly, [[Leoben Conoy]], portrayed by veteran Canadian actor [[Callum Keith Rennie]], exhibits Canadian patterns discernible to native speakers.

[[Sergeant Hadrian]], played by Canadian actress [[Jill Teed]] also shows Canadian cadences.

Since the series is shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, many of the actors are Canadian character players, for the most part speaking with West/Central Canadian accents.

===Puerto Rican Accent===
[[Giana]], a woman rescued from [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] by [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Sharon Valerii]], speaks with a Puerto Rican accent, and inquires after the whereabouts of her husband, who she states is "stationed on Gemenon". Her place of origin is unclear, but no other characters from either Caprica, [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Gemenon|Gemenon]], or anywhere else have shared this accent. The actress, Lymari Nadal, is from Puerto Rico ([[Miniseries]]).

===Kiwi Accent===
The reporter [[D'Anna Biers]] speaks with a Kiwi/New Zealand accent (this is actually the accent that actress [[Lucy Lawless]] speaks with when off screen, because she is from New Zealand). However, the same episode revealed that D'Anna is actually a [[Humanoid Cylon|Cylon]] (Number Three), and another copy of her model on Cylon-occupied Caprica does ''not'' speak with this accent, but a Standard American one, perhaps to differentiate the two characters. Subsequent appearances by Number Threes in "[[Downloaded]]" and [[Season 3 (2006-07)|Season 3]] have featured the Kiwi accent exclusively.

===Australian Accent===
[[Kendra Shaw]] speaks with an Australian accent. She is portrayed by [[Stephanie Jacobsen]], who was born in Hong Kong but spent most of her life and education in Sydney, Australia. Given that her [[Marta Shaw|mother]] was Caprica's delegate to the Quorum of Twelve, she is likely from Caprica as well. From an in-universe point of view, this probably means that there is not just one accent from one colony, but also regional variations ([[Razor]]).

===Aerelon Accent===
In "[[Flesh and Bone]]", Baltar notes that Sharon Valerii speaks with a trace of an [[Aerelon]] accent. In the episode "[[Dirty Hands]]", Baltar displays his native Aerelon accent. It sounds somewhat raspy, and resembles the English regional accents from Yorkshire and Lancashire. Baltar being from Aerelon explains how he could pick up a faint trace of it in Valerii. However, in her case, the accent appears to be entirely fictional - Canadian actress Grace Park speaks Standard American English without a 'foreign' accent.

In "[[The Son Also Rises]]", [[Romo Lampkin]] speaks with an accent somewhat similar to Baltar's native Aerelon accent. The actor, [[Mark Sheppard]], is Irish.

(Note: The accent of the corresponding '[[Aeries]]' people in the Original Series sounds Irish, as heard in "[[The Long Patrol]]")

==Liturgy==
During the funeral service at the end of the [[Miniseries, Night 2|Miniseries]], Priest [[Elosha]] chants a prayer in a foreign language. It is recognizable as a common Sanskrit prayer, found in Part I, Chapter III, Verse 28 of the [http://sanatan.intnet.mu/upanishads/brihadaranyaka.htm Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad].

:{|
| '''Devanāgarī''' || '''Transliteration''' || '''Translation'''
|-
| अस्तो मा सद् गमय || asato mā sad gamaya || Lead us from Falsehood to Truth
|-
| तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय || tamaso mā jyotir gamaya || Lead us from Darkness to Light
|-
| मृत्योर् मा अमृतं गमय || mṛtyor mā amṛtaṃ gamaya || Lead us from Death to Immortality
|}

Although the lyrics are identifiable, it should be noted that the actress's performance is closer to the chanting of biblical Hebrew, and does not resemble the traditional melody.<ref>Viewers can compare Elosha's chant to the same chant found in the soundtrack of the movie ''[[Wikipedia:The Matrix Revolutions|The Matrix Revolutions]]'', by composers Don Davis and the group Juno Reactor. The final track, "Navras," (which plays during the closing credits of the motion picture) begins with this same verse; the track "Neodämmerung" also consists entirely of Sanskrit lyrics taken from the Upaniṣads, including this verse.</ref>

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

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial History]]
[[Category:Colonial History (RDM)]]
[[Category:Colonial Society]]
[[Category:Colonial Society (RDM)]]
[[Category:RDM]]

{{featured article candidate previous}}

Clarice Willow

2008-08-14T22:54:13Z

Axeman:

{{spoiler}}
{{Character Data
|photo= Clarice Willow.jpg
|age=
|colony= [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]]
|callsign=
|seen= Caprica (series)
|pseen=''Caprica''
|death=
|parents=
|siblings=
|children=
|marital status=
|role= Priestess
|rank=
|actor= [[Polly Walker]]
|cylon=
}}
Sister '''Clarice Willow''' is an [[Athena, Lord of Kobol|Athenian]] High Priestess and the headmistress of the [[Athena Academy]] on [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]], a private religious school. She achieved a high position in the clergy despite having grown up in a slum.

Despite being a High Priestess of the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|polytheistic religion]] of the [[Twelve Colonies of Kobol|Twelve Colonies]], she is in fact a closet [[monotheism|monotheist]] involved with the [[Soldiers of One]]. She shares some of her own illegal beliefs with a few of her brightest students, including [[Zoe Graystone]], [[Ben Stark]] and [[Lacy]], which results in Stark's fanatical devotion and his suicide bombing, in which Graystone is also killed (''[[Caprica (series)|Caprica]]'').<ref name="casting call">{{cite_web|url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/04/03/exclusive-caprica-casting-info-revealed/|title=Caprica casting info|date=Apr 3, 2008}}</ref>

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

{{Characters (Caprica)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Willow, Clarice}}

[[Category: A to Z]]
[[Category: Characters]]
[[Category: Characters (RDM)]]
[[Category: Caprica (series)]]
[[Category: RDM]]

Gaius Baltar

2008-07-17T22:08:34Z

Axeman: /* Cult Leader */ Corrected misidentified episode

:''This page discusses the unwitting betrayer of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol in the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]]. For information on the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]] character that intentionally betrays the [[The Twelve Colonies (TOS)|Twelve Colonies of Man]], see [[Baltar (TOS)]]. For the comic book version of this character, see: [[Gaius Baltar (alternate)]].''

{{Character Data
|photo= Gaius Baltar.jpg
|colony= Born on [[Aerelon]], later moved to [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]]
|birthname= Gaius Baltar
|seen= Miniseries
|marital status= Single, with primary involvements with a [[Virtual beings|virtual Number Six]] and [[Caprica-Six]]
|role= Former President of [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|the Twelve Colonies]], former Fleet science advisor
|actor= [[James Callis]]
}}

Doctor '''Gaius Baltar''' is a brilliant scientist. Elegantly dressed and aesthetically handsome, with the affected humility of the truly arrogant, Baltar is a deeply flawed person and almost pathologically [[wikipedia:narcissism|narcissistic]]. Beneath his outstanding abilities lurks a dramatic weakness of character that leads humanity to disaster.

__TOC__

== Background ==

* Dr. Baltar is from [[The_Twelve_Colonies_%28RDM%29#Aerelon|Aerelon]]. He was born and raised on a dairy farm outside of the town of [[Cuffle's Breath Wash]]. Finding the local dialect to be unpleasant, starting at the age of ten he trained himself to speak without the [[Language_in_the_Twelve_Colonies#Aerelon_Accent|Aerelon accent]] in hopes that one day he might be considered as not coming from Aerelon. He left Aerelon after his 18th birthday turning his back on his family and his heritage.
* He was formerly a lead defense systems developer working for the [[Colonial Ministry of Defense]] and came to prominence as a computer technology designer, having won three [[Magnate Prize]]s.
* He networks with others well, and became personal friends with President [[Richard Adar]]. However, Baltar is extremely arrogant at times.
* Baltar becomes responsible for the design of the critical [[Command Navigation Program]] (CNP) used throughout the [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|Colonial Fleet]], but he could not fix its shortfalls and asked his assistant ([[Number Six]]) to fix almost half of the base code and when she wrote the code, she got it up to 95% efficiency but then she put in back doors to allow the [[Cylons]] to "shut-down" space craft fitted with the CNP.
* Baltar's scientific prowess seems strongest in the medical and biological fields ([[Epiphanies]]). As a result of his lesser (although still advanced) computer programming skills, he seeks the help (and as a byproduct, the affections of) a [[Caprica Six|young woman]] to aid him with the CNP.
* Baltar's two-year affair with the mysterious woman-- even to the extent of using code she herself wrote to overcome shortfalls in his CNP -- allowed her unrestricted access to some of the most sensitive systems of the Colonial defenses.
*Baltar's involvement with his blonde assistant does not stop him from dalliances with other women during this time, right up to when his assistant confronts Baltar and a lover in bed.

==Character History==

=== The Attack on the Twelve Colonies ===

* Baltar learns that his "corporate spy" lover is in fact a new type of Cylon -- a [[Humanoid Cylon|Cylon in human form]], able to mimic human beings down to the smallest detail, who altered his CNP with [[backdoor]]s to subvert any CNP-equipped ship.
[[image:Mini-Baltar_Six.jpg|thumb|left|300px|[[Gaius Baltar]] and [[Caprica-Six|Number Six]] kissing in the [[Miniseries]].]]
*Even though Baltar is appalled that it was his sexual folly that led to a holocaust, he is nevertheless determined to survive and keep this unintended treachery hidden. He only survives the following attack because the Cylon agent sacrifices herself to protect him from a nuclear blast.
* Baltar is rescued from [[Caprica]] following the forced-landing of a Colonial [[Raptor]] -- at the cost of [[Karl Agathon|one of the crew staying behind]] ([[Miniseries]])
* Baltar is plagued by visions of Number Six that only he can see and hear. He cannot be sure whether this is a result of his own guilt at his actions or whether -- as she initially claims -- she is part of a chip that has been implanted in his brain<ref name="chip">The idea that Six is an actual chip in Baltar's head was dismissed by Dr. [[Cottle]]'s image scan of Baltar's head. See [[Gaius Baltar#Speculation: The Real Baltar?|the section on alternate reasons for Six's existence]] for more.</ref>.
*Baltar is put to work trying to devise a means of detecting these humanoid Cylons. He luckily exposes [[Aaron Doral]] as a Cylon agent ([[Miniseries]]), using little more than invented [[technobabble]] to convince [[Saul Tigh|Colonel Tigh]].

=== Gaining trust ===

*Baltar eventually develops a genuine detector. This, together with his survival of a foiled attempt to expose him as a traitor ([[Six Degrees of Separation]]), firmly establishes his credentials within the Fleet's hierarchy.
*With this new-found trust, and despite his willingness to deliberately conceal vital information, such as [[Sharon Valerii]] true status as a [[Cylon agent]] ([[Flesh and Bone]]), Baltar enters the realm of political leadership, first as the Representative for [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] on the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]], and then as the newly-elected Vice President of the Colonies ([[Colonial Day]]).
* The virtual Six continues to help and hinder Baltar, gradually drawing him to a point of near-open acceptance and participation in Cylon plans and activities ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]). Whether by coincidence or design, Six manipulates Baltar through repeated threats of exposing his involvement with the destruction of the Colonies ("[[33]],", "[[Six Degrees of Separation]]"), while also appearing to aid him by giving information that [[The Hand of God (RDM)|appears insightful or inspired]] to help the Colonials.
[[image:Scattered-Baltar_Six.jpg|thumb|[[Gaius Baltar]] and [[Number Six]] seeing "the shape of things to come" in "[[Scattered]]".]]

=== A greater purpose or insanity? ===

*Initially an atheist, Baltar is slowly converted to the Cylons' monotheistic faith: in "[[33]]" he repents his sins, in "[[Six Degrees of Separation]] "he prays to the Cylon God and devotes his life to serving his divine will, and in "[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]" he is led to believe that he is an instrument of God.
*Baltar is subjected to a final revelation of his role with the Cylons (as virtual Six sees it) when "the future" is revealed to him on [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]], in the form of the first of "God's new generation of children" ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]).
[[Image:Baltarixvalleydarkness.jpg|Number Six showing Baltar the clearing filled with human bones, telling him they were from human sacrifices.|thumb]]
* While stranded on Kobol after a crash landing, Baltar's virtual Six warns him that the Colonial religion is a falsehood to cover up atrocities of their nature.
*On Kobol, Baltar shoots [[Crashdown]] in the back, killing him instantly, to save [[Cally]] from a practically suicidal and unnecessary attack on a Cylon missile battery<ref>The act of killing Crashdown appears to have led to a dramatic change in Baltar's attitude toward hurting anyone directly. When Cally tries to blackmail him after they return from Kobol, Baltar is somewhat rough with her. When he visits Tyrol and Boomer in the brig, he does not hesitate to inject Tyrol with fatal drugs to blackmail Boomer into giving Cylon secrets. Baltar's humanitarian acts to the Six copy known as Gina also suggests Baltar's attitude in the care of Cylons is further changing. More and more, Baltar appears to prefer direct intervention and is less cowardly in his attitude.</ref>. The group are eventually rescued by the Raptors. Baltar tells the [[SAR]] team that Crashdown died a hero in the fight, and Chief Tyrol reluctantly corroborates his story ([[Fragged]]).
*Back on ''Galactica'', Cally blackmails Baltar into making it a priority to prove that Chief Tyrol is not a Cylon, as Colonel Tigh suspects, or Cally would reveal the truth of Crashdown's death.
* Incensed at this ingratitude, Baltar gambles that the [[brig|jailed]] Boomer knows of the number of Cylons in the Fleet, and blackmails her into doing so, using Tyrol's life.
[[image:brainscan.jpg|Baltar receives his brain scan from Dr. Cottle, as Six watches on in amusement.|thumb]]
*Questioning his own sanity after his virtual Six claims that he was generally crazy, Baltar has a brain scan performed in [[sickbay]] by Dr. [[Cottle]] which confirms no "foreign objects" are present in his head.
*Baltar is ready to believe that he is truly insane until he hears [[Karl Agathon|Helo]] and [[Sharon Valerii|Caprica-Sharon]] discuss Valerii's pregnancy with a Cylon/Human hybrid child from his observation room. Six tells Baltar earlier that "their child" would be born in that cell, and this leads Baltar to realize that Six ''must'' be real because his subconscious couldn't have known that ([[Home, Part II]]).

=== Many talents ===

*When [[D'Anna Biers]] films a documentary about life aboard ''Galactica'', Six urges Baltar to give an interview to try to win people over to thinking that he should be running the Fleet. Baltar performs badly as he begins his interview but, fortunately, his interview is interrupted by a Cylon attack that Biers chooses to film instead ([[Final Cut]]).
*Baltar aids in trying to overcome the Cylon [[logic bomb]] which devastates ''Galactica's'' [[computers]]. Tigh's dislike of Baltar's involvement in this problem makes the scientist edgy enough to retort, "I'm sorry. Do you want to survive this one or not, Colonel?" ([[Flight of the Phoenix]])
[[image:baltargina.jpg|Baltar with Gina, the Cylon prisoner from ''Pegasus''.|thumb]]
*[[Helena Cain|Admiral Helena Cain]] requests that Baltar examine ''Pegasus' '' own Cylon prisoner to see what information he could glean from it. Baltar is horrified to discover the Cylon was a terribly abused and tortured copy of Number Six named "[[Gina]]". Baltar vows to help her and begins by having her restraints removed and bringing food to her ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]).
*Over the course of his examination of Gina, he uncovers both her wish to die and the secret of the Cylon [[Resurrection Ship]]. He passes this information to Adama and Admiral Cain, who develop an [[Attack on the Resurrection Ship|operation to destroy it]] ([[Resurrection Ship, Part I]]).
*Baltar continues to spend time with Gina, eventually helping her escape from the brig. He tells Gina that he can hide her, and also that he loves her. Gina goes on to kill Cain and escapes from ''Pegasus'' through unexplained means ([[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]).
*Torn between the "flesh and blood" copy of the [[Number Six]] copy, Gina, the demands of his internal Number Six, and his continuing attempt to cover his own multiple duplicities, Baltar becomes more aggressive and confrontational. With President Roslin's advice to abort the Cylon-hybrid fetus of the incarcerated [[Sharon Valerii]], Baltar reacts to defend it as if it were his own child. Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] admonishes Baltar, telling him that, on Roslin's death, he will become President and that he needs to behave like one.
*Desperate to save Valerii's fetus, Baltar reviews Dr. [[Cottle]]'s medical tests and performs experiments of his own, learning a striking revelation: the blood of the fetus can destroy cancer and repair its damage to human tissue.<ref name="stemcells">According to the writer's original planning, this was due to the presence of Cylon [[Wikipedia:stem cells|stem cells]] in the fetus's blood. This explanation was absent in the final shooting script.</ref> With Admiral Adama's permission, he injects the dying President Roslin with some of the fetal blood, which works miraculously, saving both Roslin and Valerii's child by circumstance ([[Epiphanies]]).
*Baltar keeps his [[Fumarella leaf|fumarella]] supply fresh by trading in the [[black market (organization)|black market]] through new ''Pegasus'' Commander [[Jack Fisk]]. Not realizing that Fisk had been murdered, the scientist visits Fisk's quarters, only to meet Captain [[Lee Adama]], who has started an investigation on the black market and Fisk's murder. Baltar truthfully tells Adama that he knows nothing of Fisk's murder, but Adama correctly deduces Baltar's association with Fisk and the black market since the "[[Caprican Imperial]]" fumarellos are a known favorite of Baltar's ([[Black Market]]).

=== Increasing political ambitions ===

*After saving Roslin's life, Baltar reads the letter given to him in the event of her death, in which she says he lacks compassion and asks him to open his heart if he becomes president. Furious, and goaded on by Six who tells him that Roslin doesn't trust him, Baltar delivers the nuclear warhead used for the Cylon detector to Gina and her militant "[[Demand Peace]]" movement.
*Baltar is also unaware that his involvement in the destruction of the Colonies is partially revealed. In ''Galactica's'' sickbay, Laura Roslin recalled those final days on Caprica, and remembered Baltar in the company of a [[Number Six|woman]] on Caprica who she knows now is a Cylon ([[Epiphanies]]).
*Baltar is summoned to ''[[Colonial One]]'', where Roslin offers him, without explanation, the chance to resign from the Vice Presidency to return to his studies. Baltar becomes immediately suspicious (and frightened) in Roslin's succinct and direct vote of no-confidence in her vice president. Realizing that the Vice Presidency now has greater importance (if nothing other than to save his own hide), Baltar turns down what Roslin calls a "one-time offer" to save himself as he saved Roslin on her deathbed ([[Black Market]]).

[[Image:Baltarlaydownburdensii.jpg|Gaius Baltar as President, from ''Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II''.|thumb]]
*Dr. Baltar decides (with no small influence from Six and [[Tom Zarek]]) to run for President in the coming Colonial Elections ([[The Captain's Hand]]).

=== New Caprica ===

*Roslin is declared the winner of the elections, but is caught by Adama for manipulating the tally. Baltar is declared president. While Baltar demands an investigation initially, he backs down under Adama's glare.
*President Baltar orders the Fleet to return to the marginally habitable planet [[New Caprica]] seconds after his inauguration. Baltar shows incompetency as president a few days later, when he orders the colonization of the planet. In an attempt to cover up his role in giving Gina the nuclear warhead used to detonate ''[[Cloud Nine]]'', Baltar orders Adama to stop any further investigation into the destruction of ''[[Cloud Nine]]'' and two other ships (he correctly guesses that the conflagration was started by [[Gina]]).
*During his first year in office, Baltar indulges in women, wallows in the incompetence of his administration, and is callously unsympathetic to the supply and resource problems plaguing the new colony, whose inhabitants continue to live in tents. The public, including the labor union lead by [[Galen Tyrol]], is notably displeased with his administration.
*380 days after Baltar's ascension to the presidency, a Cylon armada finds the planet after detecting the radiation signature caused by the destruction of ''[[Cloud 9]]'', which took that long to reach them. This event heralds the return of the dormant virtual Number Six noting to him that "judgment day" has come at last. Copies of a [[Number Five|Five]], [[Caprica-Six]] and [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Boomer]] meet with Baltar and his cabinet, recommending surrender; it is here that he is reunited with the Six he fell in love with on [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]).
*After four months of Cylon occupation, the citizens of New Caprica despise their president. Baltar fears for his life and turns down public appearances, such as the [[New Caprica Police]] Academy graduation, to avoid assassination attempts ([[Occupation]]). It is even commented by the Cylon occupiers while discussing the notion of public executions to discourage uprising that publicly executing Baltar would be counterproductive, since the populace would cheer his death.
*Baltar is disposed after Admiral Adama organizes and executes a [[Battle of New Caprica|daring rescue mission]] of New Caprica's occupied inhabitants. During the exodus of those willing to leave New Caprica, Baltar happens across the dead body of [[Maya]] and the Cylon hybrid [[Hera Agathon|Hera]], and stays behind with the Cylons ([[Exodus, Part II]]).

=== Among the Cylons ===

*Once on board the basestar, Baltar must prove his worth to the Cylons or be killed. He seeks help from the basestar's [[Hybrid]], and gleans information which leads the Cylon fleet to the [[Lion's Head Nebula]], where they recover an ancient beacon. The beacon is also a plague carrier. To further prove his worth, Baltar takes on a mission to the dying basestar ([[Torn]]).
*Baltar is tortured by a Number Three for information on the viral plague. Misinterpreting his screams of love for the Internal Six as feeling for her, Number Three enters into a sexual relationship with Baltar and possibly Caprica-Six as well and starts to share a bed with both of them ([[A Measure of Salvation]]).
* Learning more about Cylon culture among them, he develops doubts about his identity, starting to belief that he might be one of the [[final five]] Cylons.

=== Return to the Fleet ===

[[Image:Baltar brig.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Baltar being placed in detention.]]

* Seeking answers to his questions about his identity, Baltar travels with Number Three and [[Cavil]] to the surface of the algae planet in order to visit the [[Temple of Five]]. After killing Cavil and watching the death of Number Three, he is unsuccessful in finding answers, and is captured and returned to ''Galactica'' ([[Rapture]]).
* He attempts to commit suicide and is tortured by President [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] and Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] under the influence of an [[interrogation drug]]. While offering no substantial information, Roslin's belief that he played a role in the attack on the Twelve Colonies is strengthened. She and Adama decide to give Baltar a public trial instead of quietly executing him ([[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]).
* Baltar, in an attempt to curry favor with the fleet concerning his trial, secretly publishes a book called "[[My Triumphs, My Mistakes]]". This book causes a labor strike, led by [[Galen Tyrol]], but instead of bringing the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] to a screeching halt, it actually helps Tyrol and President Roslin stop a problem that was beginning to form in the Fleet ([[Dirty Hands]]).
* Before his trial begins, Baltar's lawyer, [[Alan Hughes]], is killed by sabotage, and is replaced by [[Romo Lampkin]]. Security for both Lampkin and Baltar is high, as many people believe fervently that Baltar should not be given a trial at all. Major [[Lee Adama]] is placed in command of this security detail, and eventually becomes Lampkin's aide for the trial ([[The Son Also Rises]]).
*Baltar's trial becomes a frenzied media circus. Lampkin manages to keep mob rule from overwhelming the proceedings, but it is Lee Adama's testimony that ultimately acquits Baltar. The son of William Adama notes many, many abuses of justice, crimes and mistakes committed by himself and other leadership in the Fleet that were ignored or punished lightly. Baltar's only distinction, in comparison, was that he was unlikeable and thus more useful as a scapegoat for the problems of the Fleet that stemmed from colonizing [[New Caprica]].
*With the end of the trial, Baltar finds his acquittal bitter-sweet, with no home, no work, and no allies.
*When the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] jumps into the [[Ionian nebula]], the confusion caused by a power outage allows the homeless Baltar to be secretly carried off by several women who claim they are leading him to his new life ([[Crossroads, Part II]]).

===Cult Leader ===

The women lead Baltar to an used storage compartment, where he learns that a [[Cult of Baltar|cult]] has arisen around him, likely starting with the publication of his [[My Triumphs, My Mistakes|book]] condemning the perceived suppression of the Fleet's poor. The cult is composed of many young, athletic women and some men. Headed by [[Jeanne]], they view Baltar as a messianic figure and have been building a shrine for him. Baltar initially thinks of them as crazy and wants to have nothing to do with them. When [[Tracey Anne|one of the women]] watches him interact with his [[Virtual Six]], she thinks that he is praying and draws him into a religious discussion. Baltar tells her that [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies|Colonial Religion]] is empty and false, and that there is only one [[God (RDM)|true God]]. Captivated by Baltar, she kisses him. His standing among his followers is further increased when he prays for a sick [[Derrick|child]], who miraculously recovers soon after ([[He That Believeth In Me]]).

To his amazement, Baltar begins to see a [[Virtual Baltar|virtual version of himself]]. At the same time he begins a relationship with [[Tory Foster]], who is drawn to him due her awakened Cylon nature and Baltar's apparent understanding of it ([[Six of One]]). The situation with his cult escalates when a [[Sons of Ares|militant religious group]] vandalizes the commune. In retaliation, Baltar and some of his followers disrupt a [[temple]] service and denounce the Colonial gods. President Roslin takes this as an excuse to curtail the cult's religion freedom by forbidding large assemblies. When encountering a Marine trying to enforce this order, Baltar makes a defiant stand, allowing himself to be beaten up in front of his followers. The display ends when [[Lee Adama]] shows up to announce that the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] has decided to rescind Roslin's proclamation and restore their freedoms. Following this, Baltar holds a speech telling everyone that he thinks that someone in the universe loves him and that people have to love themselves in order to love others ("[[Escape Velocity]]"). Over the next weeks, his sermons are broadcast per [[wireless]] throughout the ship and likely the whole Fleet ("[[The Road Less Travelled]]", "[[Faith]]").

When a baseship with [[Cylon Civil War|rebel Cylons]] joins the Fleet, Roslin summons him. She tells Baltar that he has been in her visions and wants him to accompany her to the [[Hybrid]] to find out what they mean. However, when the [[Natalie|rebel leader]] is unexpectedly killed, the Hybrid panics and jumps away. Drawing on his [[Torn|previous experience]] with the Hybrid, Baltar manages to calm it down somewhat. In the following [[Battle of the Resurrection Hub|battle]] to destroy a critical Cylon facility, Baltar is critically wounded when missiles hit the ship while he tries to evangelize to a [[Cylon Centurion|Centurion]]. While his wounds are dressed by Roslin Baltar confesses his role in [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|downfall of humanity]]. Roslin initially removes the bandages she applied, letting him bleed out, but decides to save him after all ("[[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]", "[[The Hub]]").

After [[Number Three]]'s unboxing, the [[Final Four]] are revealed and Tory Foster willingly joins the Cylons. Upon learning this, Baltar claims that he "always subconsciously knew" that she is a Cylon. Later, he is part of the first landing party to set foot on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]], being as dismayed at its state as everyone else ([[Revelations]]).

==Notes==
*There is speculation that Gaius Baltar could be a Cylon himself. See the [[Baltar as Cylon speculation]] article for the pros and cons of this theory.
*[[Ron Moore]] has stated in several episode commentaries that when the role of "Gaius Baltar" was originally written in the script, the writing team never intended Baltar to have a "funny" aspect, but James Callis himself decided to play up that aspect of the frantic predicaments Baltar finds himself in during the [[Miniseries]] (which although the writers never anticipated, they enjoyed, and started writing him with that in mind).
*While [[Edward James Olmos]] and [[Mary McDonnell]] were hand-picked for their roles, the rest of the characters were cast by audition: among the actors in the running for the role of "Gaius Baltar" was ''[[w:Two and a Half Men|Two and a Half Men]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Wikipedia:Jon Cryer|Jon Cryer]], though the role ultimately went to [[James Callis]]. Callis was suggested by Angela Mancuso, who ran the studio at the time, who knew him from the ''[[w:Helen of Troy (TV miniseries)|Helen of Troy]]'' miniseries, in which he played [[w:Menelaus|Menelaus]].<ref>{{cite_book|last=Bassom|first=David|authorlink=|authorlinkurl=|coauthors=|year=2005|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|pages=23|editor=ed. Adam "Adama" Newell|publisher=Titan Books|location=|id=ISBN 1-84576-0972}}</ref>
{{WikiFrakr}}
<div style="clear:both;"></div>

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

{{start box}}
{{succession box|before=(''unknown, eventually [[Marta Shaw]]'')|title=Caprican delegate to the [[Quorum of Twelve]]|after=''(unknown, eventually [[Cowen]])''}}
{{succession box|before=''(unknown, position temporarily vacant)''|title=[[Government of the Twelve Colonies|Vice-President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol]]|after=[[Tom Zarek]]|}}
{{succession box|before=[[Laura Roslin]]|title=[[Government of the Twelve Colonies|President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol]]|after=[[Tom Zarek]]|}}
{{end box}}

{{Characters}}

[[Category:A to Z|Baltar, Gaius]]
[[Category:Characters|Baltar, Gaius]]
[[Category:Characters (RDM)|Baltar, Gaius]]
[[Category:Main Characters (RDM)|Baltar, Gaius]]
[[Category:RDM|Baltar, Gaius]]
[[Category:People from Aerelon|Baltar, Gaius]]

{{featured article}}

[[de:Gaius Baltar]]

The Hub

2008-06-07T22:02:40Z

Axeman: /* Notes */

:''This article discusses the [[Re-imagined Series]] episode. For the eponymous resurrection facility, see: [[Resurrection Hub]].''
{{Episode Data
| image= 4x09 - The Hub - Promo 1 - cropped.jpg
| title= The Hub
| season= 4
| episode= 9
| forumthread= 1262
| guests=
| writer= [[Jane Espenson]]
| story=
| director= [[Paul Edwards]]
| production= 411
| rating=
| US airdate= 06 June 2008
| CAN airdate= 06 June 2008
| UK airdate=10 June 2008
| dvd=
| oldpopulation= 39674
| population= 39673
| prev= [[Sine Qua Non]]
| next= [[Revelations]]
}}

== Overview ==

: ''Pursuing the [[Resurrection Hub]] at the whim of the Hybrid, a team of Viper pilots and Cylon rebels become uneasy collaborators as they formulate a battle plan to un-box the [[Number Three|Three]]s and destroy Cylon resurrection forever. Meanwhile, Roslin and Baltar try desperately to communicate with the panicking [[Hybrid]] and Helo discovers a disturbing characteristic within one of the [[Number Eight|Eights]].''

== Summary ==



=== Teaser ===
=== Act 1 ===
=== Act 2 ===
=== Act 3 ===
=== Act 4 ===

== Notes ==
*[[Number Two]]/[[Leoben Conoy]] is notably absent from a speaking role in the episode, appearing only when the hybrid is plugged back in at the beginning of the episode, and only Sixes and Eights are among the Cylons fighting in the battle. Since actor [[Callum Keith Rennie]] is credited for the episode, it is likely that additional scenes with him were shot but cut.

== Analysis ==

* Baltar, now having found a way to absolve all guilt for any action, takes his scheming to a new extremes while attempting to make an ally out of the Centurions.

* The dichotomy of experienced time when performing an FTL jump (it happens both instantaneously and is drawn out for what seems to be a long time) appears to be yet another avenue for the Lords of Kobol to interact with humans. Other examples are dreams, a hypnotic state, and between death and resurrection.

== Questions ==

*Why do the Cylons have only one [[Resurrection Hub]] and the implied inability to build another?
*Are the Cylons capable of building a new Hub, and if so, how long it would it take them?
*Does Boomer make it off of the Hub before it is destroyed?
*Is there time to resurrect Cavil?
*Where are the [[Number Two]]s during all these events?
*How many other Eights have accessed Athena's memories, and how will this affect her relationship with Karl Agathon?
*What will happen to the rebel cylons and their baseship after the Hub is destroyed?

== Official Statements ==




== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

* ''[[Adama]] reading to Roslin during her vision'':
:"'Then I dug into the stump and pulled rocks from the ground until my fingers bled. I collected seeds from the few fruits the island offered and planted them in long straight furrows like the ranks of soldiers. When I finished I looked at what I had done. I did not see a garden; I saw a scar. This island had saved my life and I had done it no service.'"

* ''Roslin and Adama tenderly greeting each other in the Basestar hangar deck:''
:'''Roslin''' [Embracing Adama]: "I love you."
:'''Adama''' [Breaking the embrace; looks into her eyes]: "About time."

== Guest Stars ==
*[[Tahmoh Penikett]] as Captain [[Karl Agathon]]
*[[Lucy Lawless]] as [[Number Three]]/ [[D'Anna Biers]]
*[[Dean Stockwell]] as [[Number One]]/ [[Cavil]]
*[[Jennifer Halley]] as Ensign [[Seelix|Diana "Hardball" Seelix]]
*[[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Number Two]] / [[Leoben Conoy]] (credited only)
*[[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Doctor [[Cottle]]
*[[Tiffany Lyndall-Knight]] as [[Hybrid]]
*[[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Hotdog|Brendan "Hotdog" Costanza]]
*[[Lorena Gale]] as [[Elosha]]
*[[Ryan McDonell]] as Lieutenant [[Eammon Pike|Eammon "Gonzo" Pike]]

== External Links ==
*Composer [[Bear McCreary]] on the episode's score: [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=380]

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

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hub, The}}
[[Category:Episodes written by Jane Espenson]]

Faith

2008-05-14T18:34:50Z

Axeman: /* Notes */

{{Episode Data
| image=4x06 - Faith - Promo 1.jpg
| title= Faith
| season= 4
| episode= 6
| forumthread= 1040
| guests=
| writer=[[Seamus Kevin Fahey]]
| story=
| director=[[Michael Nankin]]
| production=408
| rating=
| US airdate=9 May 2008
| CAN airdate=9 May 2008
| UK airdate=13 May 2008
| dvd=
| oldpopulation=39676
| population=39675
| prev= [[The Road Less Traveled]]
| next= [[Guess What's Coming to Dinner]]
| imdb=0993930
| hulu=Y
}}

== Overview ==
:''The cancer-stricken President [[Laura Roslin]] and hotheaded pilot [[Kara Thrace]] both must make difficult leaps of faith in order to accept an uneasy alliance with the Cylons.''

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===
*Angry and defiant at [[Karl Agathon]]'s refusal to [[The Road Less Traveled|obey orders]] to travel to a [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]], [[Kara Thrace]] attempts to jump the ship herself when [[Sharon Agathon|Athena]] restrains her.
*Agathon orders [[Felix Gaeta|Gaeta]] to jump the ship back to ''Galactica''. [[Samuel Anders]] points out that they will be returning as mutineers, but Agathon responds that Admiral Adama will sort things out.
*Anders intervenes with a sidearm, shooting Gaeta in the leg to stop him from following Agathon's order to jump back to the Fleet. Chaos ensues as Marines arrive.
*Everyone stands down as Gaeta is attended to, in severe pain from a leg wound.
*Realizing that taking the ''[[Demetrius]]'' itself to the baseship would be too great a risk, Thrace rescinds her original order, suggesting to fly their only [[Raptor]] to the baseship with Athena and Anders as crew, taking [[Leoben Conoy]] with them. Agathon initially objects but realizes it's the best compromise. He tells her that she has only 15 hours to complete her mission before the ''Demetrius'' must jump to rendezvous with the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] or be left behind.

===Act 1===
*[[Tory Foster]] is packing things up on ''[[Colonial One]]''. [[Laura Roslin]] is at her desk, bald and not wearing her wig. She tells Foster to keep things going as she finishes the last two [[diloxin]] treatments, where she'll be on ''[[Galactica]]'' and indisposed during that time. Roslin tries to encourage Foster to watch out for sudden moves by the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]].
*On day 58 of their mission, the crew prepares the Raptor. Athena promises to work with Thrace as does [[Jean Barolay]], who appreciates Thrace's strong reputation.
*The Raptor jumps and finds a massive graveyard of dead baseships and [[Raider (RDM)|Raiders]] floating dead in space. Thrace is amazed. They are by a large gas giant in a trinary star system, just as her visions suggested.
*On the ''Demetrius'', Gaeta is heavily medicated with [[morpha]] for the pain. He asks Agathon not to have Dr. [[Cottle]] amputate his leg, as he realizes that the longer he doesn't get advanced care, the more likely [[w:gangrene|gangrene]] will set in.
*The Raptor carefully searches for the baseship amidst the exploding ordnance. Thrace can hear "music" (Leoben confirms this is a rare trait among some Cylons as well) and takes control to fly the Raptor towards the gas giant. She sees the comet she expected, but not in the form; Leoben's stricken baseship is flying past, trailing gas that gives it a comet-like appearance.
*When approaching the baseship, the Raptor is hit by a piece of debris hurtled at them from an explosion and impacting the cockpit canopy.

===Act 2===
*Thrace awakens to find the Raptor safely landed within the baseship interior.
*Athena arrives to find herself surrounded by an army of other [[Number Eight]]s, who recognize her independence from all things Cylon. They ask her to help mutiny against the [[Number Six|Sixes]], whom they feel have been making a series of mistakes. Athena rejects them, telling them to find their own individuality and help her or get out of her way.
*In sickbay, amidst [[Gaius Baltar]]'s voice on [[wireless]] discussing his [[God (RDM)|God]], Roslin encounters a woman in [[sickbay]], [[Emily Kowalski]], who is gravely ill with cancer as well. When Roslin tries to turn off the wireless and Baltar, the woman becomes very upset and yells for Roslin to leave.
*Thrace's meeting with the surviving leaders of the baseship does not go well, but Leoben succeeds in convincing [[Natalie]] that they must work together.
*Athena accesses the [[datastream]] to determine how to mate the Raptor's jump drive to the baseship. Doing so requires disconnecting the Hybrid. As the group preps, Anders slowly reaches down to touch the [[data-font]] but pulls his hand back when Thrace calls his name.
*A Six sees [[Jean Barolay]] and recognizes her as the human who killed her on [[New Caprica]]. When Barolay doesn't show any remorse and says she would do the same again, the Six attacks her and smashes her head into the Raptor's hull, which kills Barolay. Anders pounces on the Six and is ready to kill the Cylon when Thrace manages to talk him down.
*The Six that killed Barolay speaks to Natalie, obviously dealing with psychological trauma from the death on New Caprica that she had not been able to shake. After kissing the distraught Six, Natalie grabs Anders's hand and pulls the trigger on his gun, killing the Six permanently as there is no [[Resurrection Ship]] nearby, carrying out a form of justice for the Colonials, who are shocked.
*Roslin meets again with Emily Kowalski, who gives her a scarf, a present. The two make small talk of what they will do after they get well. She warns Roslin that her sickness will get worse and to be prepared.

===Act 3===
*Thrace arrives in the Hybrid's chamber, who seems to ignore her, discussing ship functions but repeating one phrase in particular.

*In sickbay, Emily Kowalski tells Roslin why she listens to Baltar. After speaking to Cottle, she tells of a dream where she saw people standing on the opposite side of a river: dead loved ones. She felt a presence, a warm loving presence that calmed her. Roslin questions the dream but Emily notes that the dream is real.

*Thrace and Natalie continue to listen to the [[Hybrid utterances|Hybrid's utterances]]. Leoben instructs Thrace to listen carefully, not to hurry the construct.

*Athena is ready to activate the jump augmentations and disconnect the Hybrid. Irritated at getting nowhere with the Hybrid, Thrace orders the jump.
*When it is unplugged, the Hybrid makes an inhuman scream, which causes a guarding [[Cylon Centurion]] (still in [[Telencephalic inhibitor|sentient mode]]) to fire in defense, severely wounding an Eight before the group manages to take the Centurion down.

*The Hybrid gives Thrace a coherent message as the Eight's blood mixes with the fluid in her tank: The dying leader will discover the truth about the [[Opera House]], the missing Three will be used to find the Five, who come from the home of the [[Thirteenth Tribe (RDM)|Thirteenth Tribe]], and that she, Thrace, is the harbinger of death that will take all to their end. Thrace is horrified at the message. The Hybrid then deactivates.

*Kowalski and Roslin continue to discuss the authenticity of the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Lords of Kobol]] and Baltar's God. Roslin becomes upset when she talks of her mother's death from cancer and the striking lack of anything noble or calming at that moment. As Kowalski tries to comfort her, the woman suddenly has a violent seizure of pain. Cottle arrives with medication, but tells Roslin that Kowalski's end is near.

===Act 4===
*As the group waits, the dying Eight speaks to Athena, who reaches out for her, but hesitates when she wants to touch her hand. Anders steps in to tenderly comfort the Cylon as she dies, astonished at how similar she is to a human.

*The group deciphers the Hybrid's message. All come to the conclusion that the final five Cylons came from the Thirteenth Tribe and so must also know the way to Earth. The boxed [[Number Three]]s will lead them to the Final Five. Anders is unnerved by the conversation, likely fearing the exposure of his Cylon identity. The group leave to meet the ''Demetrius'', with Anders leaving last, still puzzled that he is drawn to help the Eight.

*Kowalski's vision of a river comes to pass in a dream Roslin experiences. The two stand on a boat, looking at a shore where human figures begin to appear, smiling and waving at Kowalski. Kowalski disappears to meet them, materializing on the shore. Roslin feels joy, then sees her own mother, smiling and waiting for Roslin to join her. She tells her she is not yet ready, stepping away from the boat's side, as the dream ends.

*Awakening from her dream, Roslin goes to see Kowalski but finds her bed empty. She died some time while she slept. Only her wireless receiver remains, still switched on.

*''Demetrius'' is prepping to leave as seconds count down but Agathon lets the clock run over in hesitation and to the crew's apprehension. Seconds before he is about to order the jump, the baseship arrives and broadcasts Colonial ID. Wireless contact is established with Athena, who reports that the baseship has been secured, much to Agathon's relief, and both ships prepare to join ''Galactica'' and the fleet.

*On ''Galactica'', Roslin meets with [[William Adama]] in his quarters. She tells him that something may be truthful in Baltar's words, but Adama is reluctant. A sorrowful Adama talks of Thrace's death and return, [[Lee Adama|his son's]] [[Crossroads, Part I|resignation from the military]], and laments all the crew he sent with Thrace, wondering if he will see them again. But Roslin comforts him. The two smile as Adama tells her that Roslin helped him to believe that they really will find Earth.

== Notes ==

*Baltar's wireless broadcast contains a number of phrases from the "To be or not to be" soliloquy of Hamlet, including "shuffle off this mortal coil," and "the undiscover'd country, from whose bourn no traveler returns." These phrases refer to death and the afterlife, respectively. The full text of the soliloquy can be found [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Tragedy_of_Hamlet%2C_Prince_of_Denmark/Act_3 here].
*Meanwhile, the Hybrid's repeated speech borrows text from the Biblical book of Jeremiah, chapter 31, verses 13 to 17.
* The comet/drifting baseship bears a visual resemblance to the [[Ship of Lights]] from the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]], both in the painting and reality.
* This episode marks the second time Laura Roslin discusses her family in any detail, and the first time viewers see an image of Roslin's mother. (The first mention, also involving her mother's fight with cancer, was in "[[Act of Contrition]]" in Season 1.)

== Analysis ==

===General===

* Some of the writers' misdirection from "[[He That Believeth in Me]]" becomes clear. The "giant gas planet with rings", assumed to be [[w:Jupiter|Jupiter]] or [[w:Saturn|Saturn]], is revealed to be at the site of the [[Cylon Civil War|Cylon battle]]. Moreover, the comet is a damaged and drifting basestar. This also explains how Conoy was able to help Thrace paint the scene in the previous episode, since he had already witnessed it himself.
* A close-up of Kara Thrace in the Hybrid's chamber evokes the [[Eye of Jupiter]], with Thrace's blue eye at the center, ringed by her bloodied eyebrow and blonde hair.
* With its inhibitor removed, the Centurion in the Hybrid's chamber seems visibly more aware of its environment. It turns its head to gaze at each member of the group as they enter, and again at Thrace as she questions the Hybrid. This contrasts with what was seen previously, when Centurions on guard duty simply stand immobile unless they perceive a threat, or are given a direct order.
* [[Jean Barolay|Barolay]]'s sudden death after the Six attacks her indicates that the Six's blows and delivered concussions caused internal bleeding into Barolay's brain.
* Another aspect of Cylon culture is alluded to in regards to the importance of touch, especially amongst with how Cylons interact amongst their own specific models. For example, before Natalie executes the Six who murdered Barolay, they kiss each other. When the Eight who was shot by the Centurion is dying, she asks for Athena's forgiveness in her attempt to lead a mutiny, and stretches out her hand to touch Athena's. However, Athena refuses, and Anders steps in to provide that sense of touch before she dies. This interaction amongst the models within their own model number may be a reflection of being "with each other", especially in times of certain death. Something like this was seen earlier in "[[A Measure of Salvation]]", where the dying Cylons aboard the stricken basestar link hands in prayer.

===Religion===

* Even though Baltar is preaching for the "one true [[God (RDM)|God]]", the symbolism of a boat crossing a river to the land of the dead is very similar to the Greek legends involving the [[w:Styx|River Styx]]. It can be expected that Baltar borrows some of his teachings from an established religion that people are familiar with. This also parallels the rise of Christianity, which adopted things from other religions, including some rites of the established Roman polytheistic religions.
* Emily Kowalski's description of the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)#The Lords of Kobol|Lords of Kobol]] and their behavior is quite consistent with that of Greek mythology.
* When speaking of her mother's death, Laura Roslin mentions the [[w:Elysium|Fields of Elysium]], a portion of the Greek underworld where heroic or virtuous souls end up after death that bears a resemblance to heaven in Christianity. It appears that the Colonials view of the afterlife is almost identical to that of the ancient Greeks.
*Roslin believes that the Lords of Kobol are not to be taken seriously but are metaphors. Roslin's mother took them more literally. This mirrors real life in which some people take the Jewish [[w:Torah|Torah]] ([[w:Old Testament|Old Testament]]), the Christian Bible ([[w:New Testament|New Testament]]) and the Islamic [[w:Koran|Koran]] as literal word for word truth and an accurate record of events, while others believe the stories are metaphors to be used as guidelines in life, but not hard pronouncements or actual history.
* The [[Hybrid utterances|hybrid utterance]] "All these things at once and many more, not because it wishes harm, because it likes violent vibrations to change constantly." appears to be a paraphrase of a line from the [[w:Theosophy|theosphical]] text "[[w:At the Feet of the Master|At the Feet of the Master]]"

===Characters===

* The Eights' attempt to recruit Athena to lead a mutiny against the Sixes and presumably the Twos reveal an apparent character flaw that is prevalent amongst this particular model. Their ties to allegiances, loyalty to a cause are not as strong as their fellow Cylon models, should those ties and beliefs cause suffering or death.
** This is also a somewhat ironic twist, as Athena and others aboard the ''Demetrius'' were encouraging Karl Agathon to initiate their own mutiny against Thrace just hours earlier. However, Athena is likely referring to her allegiance to the Colonials as a whole, which has not diminished.
* While the Sixes and the Twos are willing to initiate the search for the Final Five because of their specific strong religious beliefs, the Eights apparently join them not because of a desire in unraveling the mystery, but because it grants them the opportunity to say "no" to their programming.
* Though the word "faith" is never explicitly spoken throughout the episode, multiple allusions to the idea of trust are provided through the characters' interactions with each other. This is especially evident in the multiple times the phrase "...with you" appears in the dialog. When the Eight that is shot by the Centurion is dying, Anders holds her arm and tells her that he is with her. When Roslin and Adama speak with each other, Roslin tells Adama, after he pours out his feelings of uncertainty and doubt, she tells him that she is with him.
* Athena also shows deep conflict within herself in this episode in regards to her nature as a Cylon as seen in multiple scenes. Conoy's words to her about how their trip is a "home coming" for Athena causes an immediate response. Later, when the Eights touch her and attempt to recruit her, she expresses disgust with them, but possibly including herself. Her declaration of choosing a side and sticking to it may be something she needs to hear more than they do. When Anders takes out his gun to execute the Six, it is Athena who also takes out her gun to defend the "human" and refers to herself as a human. Finally, her refusal to hold the dying Eight's hand shows a reluctance of being seen as a Cylon and that she is not with them.

== Questions ==
* Are the Centurions capable of getting an IFF signal from a humanoid Cylon, like a Raider does? Could one have exposed Anders if he had made direct eye contact?
* What does the Hybrid's statement that the five come from the home of the thirteenth mean?
** Were they made on Earth, the home of the thirteenth tribe? Or did they voyage to Earth from Cylon/Colonial space and then return?
** Does "the thirteenth" refer to "[[The One Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken]]" mentioned in "[[The Eye of Jupiter]]", to whom the [[Temple of Five]] was dedicated?
* Will Thrace tell anyone about the Hybrid calling her "the harbinger of death"? Does anyone else hear the Hybrid's words to her?
* Will Helo and the others have to answer for their mutiny?
* How will Gaeta's injury affect his duties? Will his leg be amputated?
* What would have happened if Anders had put his hand in the [[data-font]]?
* Why should the Cylons have any trouble figuring out the Raptor's FTL system? They have previously used Raptors ([[Torn]]).
* How will the Fleet respond when the ''Demetrius'' returns with the shipwrecked basestar in tow?
* Without Natalie's help, would Anders have been able to pull the trigger to execute the Six?
* Does the revelation that the Final Five are from Earth and can lead the fleet to it encourage the hidden Four to reveal themselves?
* How will the Cylon rebels unbox the Threes?
* Is Natalie's baseship the last place where there are Sixs, Twos, and Eights?
* Why did the Cavils' forces leave one baseship largely intact?
* Will Barolay's death, despite the execution of the Six, affect the truce amongst the Colonials once they discover that two from the ''Demetrius'' mission are dead?
* Is Conoy the only Two left amongst the Cylon rebels?

== Official Statements ==





== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

* ''An [[Eight]] discussing mutiny with [[Sharon Agathon]]:''
: '''Sharon Agathon:''' You guys make me sick.
: '''Eight:''' Why?
: '''Agathon:''' Because you pick your side and you stick. You don't cut and run when things get ugly. Otherwise you'll never have anything. No love. No family. No life to call your own.

* ''[[Emily Kowalski]] and [[Laura Roslin]] discuss the [[Lords of Kobol]]:''
: '''Emily Kowalski:''' Oh, Laura. And the [[Lords of Kobol (RDM)|Lords of Kobol]] are real? Reigning from a metaphysical mountaintop in those silly outfits? [[Zeus]]? Handing out fates out of an urn like they were lottery tickets? 'You're gonna work on a [[tylium]] ship. You're gonna be an admiral. Your family's gonna be evaporated in [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|an attack]] on the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Colonies]] but you'll survive for three more years on a moldy compartment on a freighter 'til your body starts to eat itself up alive.' Those are the gods that you worship? Capricious, vindictive...
: '''Laura Roslin:''' But they're not meant to be taken literally. They're metaphors, Emily.
: '''Kowalski:''' I don't need metaphors. I need answers.

* ''Laura Roslin on her mother's death:''
: "You're like my mother. She wasn't satisfied with metaphors either. She was convinced that [[Aphrodite]] herself was gonna swoop her away when she died. And she believed it even when the [[diloxin]] and the radiation failed to stop her cancer. She was a teacher! She was... oh, she was something to behold. And the head of a classroom. And her students— Her students loved her. They'd walk through fire for her and then they see this woman who seemed so eternal. She withered away and I find myself having to change her diaper because she couldn't even— At the moment she died there was no gleaming fields of Elysium stretched out before her. There was this dark, black abyss. And she was terrified. She was so scared."

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Michael Trucco]] as Ensign [[Samuel Anders]]
* [[Tahmoh Penikett]] as [[Karl Agathon]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Alessandro Juliani]] as Lieutenant [[Felix Gaeta]]
* [[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Number Two]] / [[Leoben Conoy (New Caprica copy)|Leoben Conoy]]
* [[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Doctor [[Cottle]]
* [[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hotdog" Costanza]]
* [[Alisen Down]] as [[Jean Barolay]]
* [[Tiffany Lyndall-Knight]] as [[Hybrid]]
* [[Jennifer Halley]] as Ensign [[Diana Seelix|Diana "Hardball" Seelix]]
* [[Nana Visitor]] as [[Emily Kowalski]]
* [[Alana Husband]] as Nurse [[Sashon]]
* [[Leo Li Chiang]] as the [[tattooed pilot]] (uncredited)

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

==External Links==
*Composer [[Bear McCreary]] on the episode's score: [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=313]

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Faith]]

Daniel Graystone

2008-05-13T02:58:46Z

Axeman:

{{spoiler}}
{{Character Data
|photo=
|age=
|colony= [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]]
|callsign=
|seen= Caprica (series)
|death=
|parents=
|siblings=
|children= [[Zoe Graystone]]
|marital status= Married to [[Amanda Graystone|Amanda]]
|role= Computer engineer
|rank=
|actor= [[Eric Stoltz]]<ref>http://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=44887</ref>
|cylon=
}}
'''Daniel Graystone''' is a brilliant and wealthy [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprican]] computer engineer who creates the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]].

Daniel is married to [[Amanda Graystone|Amanda]] and is the father of [[Zoe Graystone|Zoe]], who is killed in a suicide bombing. After learning that his daughter uploaded her personality into an online [[holographic avatar]] before her death, Daniel tries to recreate Zoe as a robot, thus creating the first Cylon<ref name="casting call">{{cite_web|url=http://trekweb.com/articles/2008/04/05/New-Details-of-Galactica-Prequel-Caprica-Characters-Description-Major-Spoilers.shtml|title=Caprica casting call|date=Apr 5, 2008}}</ref>.
It was announced on May 12, 2008 that Eric Stolz has been signed to play Daniel Graystone.<ref>http://seat42f.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2305&Itemid=9</ref>
== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Graystone, Daniel}}

[[Category: A to Z]]
[[Category: Characters]]
[[Category: Characters (RDM)]]
[[Category: Caprica (series)]]
[[Category: RDM]]

Numerology

2008-05-10T18:18:48Z

Axeman: /* 12 */

{{sillypage}}

The [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]] shares a humorous and sometimes mysterious affinity in placing numbers with popular-culture cross-references or inside jokes in episode content. Fans of the series can also exhibit a tremendous capacity to identify and place perhaps too great a significance upon certain numerological patterns.

== 12 ==

* There are 12 Colonies which match the 12 zodiac symbols.
* There are 12 models of [[humanoid Cylon]]s.
* According to President [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] there are 12 snakes encircling her press podium when she has one of her first [[chamalla]]-induced visions. This vision was predicted by the prophet [[Pythia]], stating: "And the Lords anointed a leader to guide the caravan of the heavens to their new homeland. And unto the leader, they gave a vision of serpents, numbering two and ten, as a sign of things to come" ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]).
* There are 12 Vipers that participate on the direct assault in the [[Battle for the Tylium Asteroid]]. Pythia's prophecy also mentioned that the humans would be led by "serpents numbering two and ten."
* There were 12 [[Galactica type battlestar|battlestars]] constructed on the onset of the [[Cylon War]] ([[Miniseries]]).
* There are 12 days between the first time Helo and Caprica-Valerii make love and when she becomes visibly pregnant.
* There are twelve thoracic vertebrae in the human spine, which glow during sexual intercourse on humanoid Cylons.
* The number 12 is visible (albeit upside-down) on a fuzzy die in Starbuck's locker on ''Pegasus'' ([[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]).
* In the wake of civil disruptions by the [[Sons of Ares]] and the [[Cult of Baltar]], President Roslin issues an executive order limiting the number of people allowed to assemble in any given place to 12 or less. This order is later overturned ([[Escape Velocity]]).
* In [[Faith]], the Raptor departs the ''Demetrius'' with 14:40 left. 144 is the square of 12, the number of Cylon models and of the original colonies of [[Kobol]].

== 13 ==

* There are 13 Colonies - the [[Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]], plus the thirteenth Colony, [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]].
* There are 13 episodes in the first season of the re-imagined "Battlestar Galactica."
**This is the standard number of episodes in the first 'trial' season of many new shows; 52 weeks a year/4 = 13 weeks a "season" that they air episodes.
* 13 pilots are killed by the communication drone accident in "[[Act of Contrition]]".
* [[The Circle]] executes 13 people for being Cylon collaborators in the episode of the [[Collaborators|same name]].

== 33 ==

* 33 is the number of minutes between Cylon attacks in the episode "[[33]]".
* 33 is the largest printed number on the [[Radio Magnetic Indicator]].
* [[Wallace Gray]] has an educational program on page 33 of his mission statement ([[Colonial Day]]).
* The [[Wikipedia:Homeric Hymns|Homeric Hymns]] are 33 verses to various characters from Greek mythology, a few of which are also [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)#The Lords of Kobol|Lords of Kobol]].
* 33 people are killed when [[Tucker Clellan|Duck]] suicide-bombs the New Caprica Police graduation ([[Occupation]]).

=== From RDM's blog: Why 33 minutes? ===

:"The truth is, there's no real answer. It's just a random number that felt right when I came up with the idea that our people were under continuous, relentless attack since the end of the pilot. I wanted it to be a short interval, just long enough for them to grab a bite to eat, jump in the shower and maybe try to catch a catnap before dragging themselves back to their duty stations and begin the whole tedious, terrifying ordeal all over again.

:"A deeper truth is, I was never interested in coming up with an explanation for Why? Never. I mean, I suppose I could've come up with a sufficiently important-sounding bit of technobabble that would've made sense (you see, the [[Cylon]] double-talk sensors tracking the ''[[Olympic Carrier]]'''s nonsense drive signature needed 15 minutes to relay the made-up data wave through the pretend continuum, then the Cylon navigational hyper silly system needed another 10 minutes to recalculate the [[w:De Lorean time machine|flux capacitor]], etc.) but what would that have really added to the drama? How does explaining that 33 minute interval help our understanding of [[Laura Roslin|Laura]]'s terrible moment of decision, or bring us to any greater knowledge of [[Anastasia Dualla|Dualla]]'s search for her missing family and friends, or yield insight into [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]]'s morally shattered psyche?

:"It doesn't, of course. The answer, however artfully it may (or may not) have been crafted can only subtract from the experience we have in watching the episode. Not knowing the how's or why's of the Cylon attack puts us in the same seat as the characters we're watching. They're in the dark, and we're in the dark. The relentless attack is unfathomable in its origin and unstoppable in its execution. It's mortality coming at you on a loop. If you only had 33 minutes before the next time you could die, what would you do? And what about the time after that? And the time after that? At a certain point, you stop caring about why it's happening, all you know is that it is happening, and it's happening to you.

:"So the mystery of 33 will be permanent on this show. No explanation, not even the attempt. Let it just be a number that seemed like an eternity for five long days on the [[Galactica (RDM)|battlestar]] ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''."

== 42 ==

*There are 42 people in front of Secretary of Education [[Laura Roslin]] in line of succession for the presidency of the Twelve Colonies. "42" is the infamous "Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything"...of course, no one knows what the ''Question'' is, so ''out of context'' as a result, "42" is meaningless. The "42" joke is from Douglas Adams's masterpiece, the five book ''[[Wikipedia:Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy|The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy]]'' Trilogy (yes, ''five'' book "Trilogy"). Another helpful axiom from the books is that when traveling around different planets through space, it's always best to "'''Know where your towel is"''' - which is considered a serious blunder to forget - a mistake which [[Lee Adama]] has nearly made on several occasions.

*The license plate number of Starbuck's truck on Caprica is "FB '''42''' E3" ([[Valley of Darkness]]).

== 47 ==

*This is the last lottery number held by a [[Lady with glasses|lucky refugee]] on [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]], who is rescued by Lt. [[Sharon Valerii]] during an emergency stop on the colony during the initial [[Cylon Attack]]. Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] appears to momentarily consider using the number for himself as the older woman could not read her number (her forgetfulness leads her to neglect her glasses on top of her head). But Baltar is frightened out of the idea when [[Karl Agathon]] recognizes him, and Baltar fears arrest for [[Colonial Defense Mainframe|treason]].

*Sharon Valerii, as her stint as Boomer, the [[Raptor]] pilot, flies 47 missions in her Raptor ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]).

*The fighter tail number of [[Raymond Lai]]'s old Mark II [[Viper 8547|Viper]], later piloted by [[Kara Thrace]], is number 85'''47''' ([[Miniseries]]).

The number 47 was a very common in-joke on ''Star Trek: The Next Generation''. Writer [[Wikipedia:Joe Menosky|Joe Menosky]], a Pomoma College alumni, originated this joke based on a humorous "47 Society" at the college. He and other writers placed the number as many times as possible throughout the series in [[technobabble]], props, and visual references. The TV spy drama ''[[Wikipedia:Alias (TV series)|Alias]]'' took the "47" joke to almost-epic proportions by placing very obvious references to the number in most of its episodes over its 5-year run.

The "47" joke has become the numerical counterpart to the audio clip known as the [[Wikipedia:Wilhelm scream|"Wilhelm Scream"]] that's added to many, many movies as an in-joke between directors and sound editors since the early 1950s. Recent movies that use the Scream include ''[[w:Ratatouille (film)|Ratatouille]]'' and ''[[w:The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (film)|The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''.

== 1701 ==
[[Image:Enterprise in fleet.jpg|right|thumb|Enterprise NCC-1701 in fleet.]]

This is part of the registry number of the famous "USS ''Enterprise''" of the "Star Trek" TV and movie series. In the Miniseries, ''[[Colonial One]]'' rescues a passenger liner named "Gemenon Liner 1701." This is an inside nod to [[Ronald D. Moore|RDM]]'s work in the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" TV series.

Humorously, a model of the starship ''Enterprise'' (from the original ''[[w:Star Trek|Star Trek]]'' television series) appears at the conclusion of the Miniseries (at the start of the [[service for the dead]]. As a result of stock footage, ''Enterprise'' appears in the opening credits of every season 1 episode.

The number 1701 crops up again in the fourth season. One of the gathering places that the [[Final Five|Final Four]] pick to discuss their ever-changing situation is Weapons Locker 1701D, which bears the registrations number of the ''[[MemoryAlpha:USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|USS Enterprise]]'' (NCC 1701-D) ([[The Ties That Bind]]).

== 893893 ==
[[Tom Zarek|Zarek's]] repetitive prisoner number, 893893, is a multiple of 47: 893893 = 893 * 1001 = 19 * '''47''' * 1001.

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

Faith

2008-05-10T16:15:36Z

Axeman: /* Notes */

Colonial Marine Corps

2008-04-26T14:20:20Z

Axeman:

[[Image:Khaki litmus.JPG|thumb|A Marine Non-commissioned officer flanked by two Marines in standard uniform ([[Litmus]]).]]
The '''Colonial Marine Corps''' is a branch of the [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|Colonial Forces]] tasked with ground combat operations and ship-board security.

''[[Galactica]]'' initially had about thirty Marines left, although there are no snipers among them ([[Bastille Day]]). This number increased drastically with the addition of the battlestar ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'' to the Fleet.

After ''Pegasus'''s [[Battle of New Caprica|destruction]], a number of Marines are integrated into ''Galactica's'' crew. During a briefing between Colonel Tigh and Admiral Adama, Tigh says "A hundred Marines too weak to work, two hundred more about to drop", which implies that there are now at least 300 Marines, probably accounting for the ''Pegasus'' survivors ([[The Passage]]).

A Marine's duties include guarding the [[CIC]] and the [[brig]] as well as other critical areas on the ship, and assisting the [[Master-at-Arms]] ([[Litmus]]) and are part of [[Raptor]] boarding parties ("[[Bastille Day]]", "[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]", "[[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]]", "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]"). Naturally, they are also responsible for repelling enemy boarding actions ([[Valley of Darkness]]). Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]]'s quarters are constantly under marine guard, and the same is true for President Roslin when she is aboard ship. [[Stewart Jaffee|A Marine]] is also tasked with serving Admiral Adama's food ([[A Day in the Life]]).

Very few marine officers appear to be stationed on ''Galactica''; when they are shown on missions, usually Fleet officers command the Marine units. [[Crashdown]]'s actions on Kobol ([[Fragged]]) suggest that Fleet officers are cross trained in conducting ground operations. The only Marine officers shown so far are Lieutenant [[Terry Burrell]] ([[Sacrifice]]) and an unnamed lieutenant in [[Escape Velocity]].

Marines are evidently untrained in crowd control, as the actions on the ''[[Scylla]]'' and ''[[Gideon]]'' demonstrate. In each of these situations Marines react with little discipline to enraged crowds ("[[Razor]]", "[[Final Cut]]").

Colonial Marines are also called "[[Wikipedia:Military slang#J|jarhead]]s". Like the Colonial Fleet, the Corps has a reserve component (Final Cut)

== Rank Structure ==

Only the ranks of the enlisted crew have been established in detail so far, but it is known that the rank of lieutenant exists. See ''[[Military Ranks (RDM)]]'' for details.

==Known Marines==

===Active===
{|class="messagebox" style="width:100%" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" align="center"
|- class="infoboxheader"
!Rank !! Name !! Last Seen
|-
|Gunnery Sergeant || [[Erin Mathias]] || [[Six of One]]
|-
|Corporal || [[Venner]] || [[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]
|-
|Private || [[Stewart Jaffee]] || [[A Day in the Life]]
|-
|Private || [[Sykes]] || [[Rapture]]
|-
|Unknown || [[Nowart]] || [[Six of One]]
|-
|Unknown || [[Ditko]] || [[The Eye of Jupiter]]
|-
|Unknown || [[Griggs]] || [[The Eye of Jupiter]]
|-
|Unknown || [[Henick]] || [[The Eye of Jupiter]]
|-
|Unknown || [[Varrick]] || [[The Eye of Jupiter]]
|-
|Unknown || [[Danelli]] || [[A Measure of Salvation]]
|-
|Unknown || [[Peters]] || [[A Measure of Salvation]]
|}

===Deceased===
{|class="messagebox" style="width:100%" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" align="center"
|- class="infoboxheader"
!Rank !! Name !! Death
|-
|Sergeant || [[Omar Fischer ]] || [[Rapture]]
|-
|Sergeant Major (retired)|| [[Socrata Thrace]] || 6 years prior to "[[Maelstrom]]"
|-
|Private || [[Twinam]] || [[Valley of Darkness]]
|-
|Private || [[Collishaw]] || [[Valley of Darkness]]
|-
|Unknown || [[Cheadle]] || [[The Son Also Rises]]
|-
|Unknown || [[Dasilva]] || [[Razor]]
|}

===Status Unknown===
{|class="messagebox" style="width:100%" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" align="center"
|- class="infoboxheader"
!Rank !! Name !! Last Seen
|-
|Lieutenant || [[Terry Burrell]] || [[Sacrifice]]
|-
|Staff Sergeant || [[Hadrian]] || [[Valley of Darkness]] (mentioned)
|-
|Corporal || [[Madsen]] || [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]
|-
|Private First Class || [[Scott Kelso]] || [[Final Cut]]
|-
|Unknown || [[Bonnington]] || [[Scattered]]
|-
|Unknown || [[Hollis]] || [[Scattered]]
|-
|Unknown || [[Wenzler]] || [[Scattered]]
|-
|Unknown || [[Riggs]] || [[Razor]]
|}

==Real life costuming notes==

The Colonial Marine Corps battle [[Uniforms (RDM)|uniforms]] appear to be based on those of the U.S. Army's [[Wikipedia:Delta Force|Delta Force]] or the counter-terrorist branch of the British Army's [[Wikipedia:Special Air Service|Special Air Service Regiment]]. Besides their black combat uniforms, the weapons and personal combat equipment of the Marines are similar to what today's police SWAT teams and anti-terrorist special forces units utilize.

[[Image:Marine_cic_standing01.jpg|180px|right|thumb|A Colonial Marine stands watch in ''Galactica's'' CIC]]

To date, the Marines have appeared in either an all-black BDU (aboard ship) or an olive-drab/green BDU (planetside, as in "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]"). There is evidence that the Colonial Marine Corps do utilize digital camouflage uniforms like the real-life [[Wikipedia: United States Marine Corps | United States Marine Corps]] with their [[Wikipedia: MARPAT | MARPAT]] digital camouflage uniforms, but it appears that the wearing of digital camouflage uniforms are restricted to regular Colonial Marine Corps forces while the Marines serving as security personnel on the warships of the [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|Colonial Fleet]] are issued solid-color combat uniforms in black, khaki, and olive-drab. One piece of evidence that the Colonial Marine Corps do utilize digital camouflage uniforms can be seen the in the episodes "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]" and "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II|Part II]]" when the rescue team that is deployed to Caprica have "woodland" digital camouflage backpacks on their backs. Furthermore, in one of the [[Razor Flashback]] episodes, two Colonial Marine medics are wearing "woodland" digital camouflage uniforms on ''Galactica'''s hangar deck. Digital camouflage is also used by the landing party on Kobol in "[[Home, Part II]]" (by both William and Lee Adama), as well as the [[:Image:SP Scattered.JPG|Shore Patrol]] personnel in "[[Scattered]]".

To outfit the Marines, the show's costume department appears to use the following real-world items:<br>
* Helmet
**[[:Image:Ski helmet.jpg|Giro Bad Lieutenant snowboard/ski helmet, black]] — Far less heavy and less expensive than the US/UN [[Wikipedia:Personnel_Armor_System_for_Ground_Troops_Helmet|PASGT helmet]].
* Goggles
** Either [[:Image:Paulson-tactical-goggle.jpg|Paulson 510T Tactical Goggles]] or [[:Image:Paulson 510TF ATAC "Frag" Goggles.jpg|Paulson 510TF ATAC "Frag" Goggles]], depending on what the costume department was budgeted for or paid for them. The closures, hinges, and "face gasket" are the giveaways.
* Small Arms
:See the article ''[[Small arms]]''
* Combat Vest
** [http://www.pointblankarmor.com/spider.asp PBBA SPIDER] — Offered by a company called Point-Blank Body Armor, Inc., the vests appear to be one of these models, with a "modular grid attachment system" based around snaps (the telltale characteristic looking at a Colonial Marine's back) and velcro. This affords the costume department the option to attach whatever they want to the vests, regardless of compatibility, since all they need to do is stitch on some velcro. As to whether is the SPIDER specifically that is being used, or one of the following models, or a model offered from another manufacturer, has yet to be confirmed, but substantial research points towards this being the vest used in the series.
** [http://www.pointblankarmor.com/mrv.asp PBBA MRV+ SWAT] — "heavier" vest variant
** [http://www.pointblankarmor.com/swatcertplus.asp PBBA SWAT Cert+] — higher-collared variant
** [http://www.pinnaclearmor.com/body-armor/tactical.php Pinnacle Armor Tactical Vest] — It more than likely is this one in the "modular grid base" unit. It makes the most sense, since it would be most cost effective to get the unlined, unarmored modular vest, with the velcro and snaps, and just attach whatever needed to it.
* Knife
** [[:Image:M7Bayonet.jpg|M7 bayonets]] — Although they have never been drawn, bayonets carried by the Marines appear consistent with M7s' sheath and handle.
* Jackets
** [[Wikipedia: M-1965 field jacket|M-65 field jacket]] — The rescue team that is sent to Caprica in "Lay Down Your Burdens" is wearing olive-drab green M-65 field jackets.

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial Military]]
[[Category:Colonial Military (RDM)]]
[[Category:Organizations]]
[[Category:RDM]]
[[Category:Lists]]

[[de:Koloniales Marine Corps]]

Lay Down Your Burdens, Part 1

2008-04-22T20:10:02Z

Axeman: Redirecting to Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I

#REDIRECT[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]

Lay Down Your Burdens, Part 2

2008-04-22T20:09:12Z

Axeman: Redirecting to Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II

#REDIRECT[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]

Talk:Paulla Schaffer/Archive 1

2008-04-08T20:55:40Z

Axeman: New page: Could her name be a reference to Paul Schaffer? [http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0787322/]

Could her name be a reference to Paul Schaffer? [http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0787322/]

Life Forms of the Twelve Colonies

2008-03-29T20:49:41Z

Axeman: /* Plants */

:''This article discusses an aspect of the [[Re-imagined Series]] version of the Twelve Colonies. For information on the [[Original Series]] version, see [[The Twelve Colonies (TOS)]].''

{{RDM twelve colonies series}}

This article is a list of fictional and actual '''animals and plants''' mentioned in the [[Re-imagined Series]] as existing on [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|the Twelve Colonies]]. For the most part, the Colonies appear to have the same organisms as present-day earth, with some exceptions.

In keeping with the [[naturalistic science fiction]] concepts that [[Ronald D. Moore|Ron D. Moore]] used to model the series, it is unlikely that we may see any life forms outside of those found on any of the Earth-like planets of the Twelve Colonies.

Ron D. Moore initially chose to avoid addressing the issue of the types of live animals planned to appear. In the commentary for the [[Miniseries]], Moore elaborates:
:..."David and I, we had discussed, at an early point; well, do they have dogs and cats and things like that? And we said, "No, no, no", let's not go there, 'cause that locks us into a whole Terrestrial-kind of like thing. We'll just avoid any mention of it. '''Nobody will even, like, register that we had "Chicken pie" the whole time, and in retrospect "Oh, I guess there are chickens"."'''

Over the course of the series, however, not only have the terrestrial names of flora and fauna been used extensively, but a [[Jake (New Caprica)|live dog]] and [[Lance|cat]] have also appeared relatively prominently. Rats and bats can briefly be seen in "[[Bastille Day]]" and "[[Litmus]]" respectively.

==Fictional==
===Plants===
*[[Chamalla]]
:'''Roslin:''' "I would like to explore alternative treatment. [...] Have you ever heard of Chamalla extract?" ([[Act of Contrition]])
:''Resembles (somewhat) herbal [[Wikipedia:Cannabinoids|cannabinoids]] and [[Wikipedia:Opioids|opioids]] in its pain-killing and hallucinogenic effects, which are found in the plant [[Wikipedia:Cannabis|cannabis]] and the [[Wikipedia:Opium Poppy|opium poppy]], respectively.''
*[[Fumarella leaf]]
:'''Baltar:''' "A parting gift: hand-rolled from some of the finest Fumarella leaf on Caprica. It's also one of the last left in the universe." ([[Water]])
:''An homage to the [[TOS|original series]], in which [[Starbuck (TOS)|Starbuck]]'s [[Wikipedia:Cigar|cigars]] are referred to as "[[Fumarello|fumarellos]]". This plant may be similar or identical to [[Wikipedia:Tobacco|tobacco]].''

==Real==
===Animals===
====Mammals====
*[[w:Bat|Bat]]
:Seen flying out of an abandoned warehouse in "[[Litmus]]".
*[[w:Bovinae|Bovinae]]
: Given the presence of meat in the fleet, it is likely that the Colonials get meat from such animals.
*[[w:Camel|Camel]]
:Baltar has a statuette of a camel on his [[:Image:Season 3 - Promo - Epi 1 - 2 - Gaius Baltar and Cylons.jpg|desk]] while president ([[Precipice]]).
*[[Wikipedia:Cat|Cat]]
**'''Adama:''' [[Nothing but the rain|"...then grab your gun and bring in the cat."]] ([[Miniseries]])
**[[Romo Lampkin]] carries a [[Lance|cat]] around with him ([[The Son Also Rises]]).
[[Image:Jake and bowl.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Jake (New Caprica)|Jake]] on New Caprica.]]
*[[Wikipedia:Dog|Dog]]
**'''Cally:''' "She said the engine power-up sequence began by squeezing something that looks like a red ligament with blue veins on the right side coming out of a sack of gooey fluid, shaped like a... dog." ([[Six Degrees of Separation]])
**'''Baltar:''' "I will be the President, all right, but without the military support, I might as well be an anointed dog catcher." ([[Epiphanies]])
**'''Roslin:''' "I need you to send my ID code on the exact same frequency: D, as in dog [...]" ([[Miniseries]])
**'''[[Helena Cain|Cain]]:''' "Madam President, you look like I just shot your dog." ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]], [[Quotes:01 5|Quote of the day]])
**'''[[Billy Keikeya|Billy]]:''' "...dog takes 20 pills a day." - '''Roslin:''' "I didn't know you had a dog-" - '''Billy:''' "yeah, big shaggy thing - [[Jake (Billy's dog)|Jake]]" ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]], [[List_of_Deleted_Scenes|deleted scene]])
**A dog named [[Jake (New Caprica)|Jake]] appears on [[New Caprica]], whose water bowl is flipped by [[Felix Gaeta]] to notify [[Galen Tyrol]] of an intelligence drop ([[Precipice]]). Jake, a [[w:Landseer (dog)|Landseer Newfoundland]], is the first live animal to play a significant role in the series, with a [[Lance|cat]] to follow in a [[The Son Also Rises|later season 3 episode]].
**[[Daniel Novacek]]'s callsign "Bulldog" implies the possible existence of [[Wikipedia:bulldog|Earth's bulldog breed]].
*[[Wikipedia:Elephant|Elephant]]
**'''Hallucination-Baltar:''' "Start with the elephants..." ([[Downloaded]])
**William Adama has a tapestry depicting two elephants hanging in his quarters.
*[[Wikipedia:Goat|Goat]]
:'''Starbuck:''' "A horse. Why not a goat? I mean, that's good, right? Think of it as a goat." ([[Six Degrees of Separation]])
*[[Wikipedia:Gorilla|Gorilla]]
:'''Starbuck:''' "I'm gonna need some of those gorillas you call Marines." ([[Sacrifice]])
*[[Wikipedia:Horse|Horse]]
**'''Tyrol:''' "Take it for a ride. Treat it like a horse." ([[Six Degrees of Separation]])
**Helo and Sharon are in what looks like horse stables in "[[The Hand of God]]"
**A horse can be seen on a picture on the [[memorial hallway|memorial wall]] behind Kara Thrace in "[[Maelstrom]]"
*[[Wikipedia:Hare|Jackrabbit]]
:'''Starbuck''': "This is the Viper Mark II. It's as maneuverable as a jackrabbit and can flip end for end in .35 seconds." ([[Act of Contrition]])
*[[Wikipedia:Monkey|Monkey]]
:'''[[Cliff Hooper]]'s friend:''' "He's a real-deal war hero, Hoop. Can't be seen drinkin' with a bunch of low-life freight monkeys." ([[Scattered]], [[List of Deleted Scenes|deleted scene]])
*[[Wikipedia:Otter|Otter]]
**An otter can be seen on a [[:Image:AdrienBauer.jpg|picture]] on the [[memorial hallway|memorial wall]] behind Baltar in "[[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]"
*[[Wikipedia:Panther|Panther]]
:'''Adama:''' "I'm a [[Picon Panthers]] fan myself." ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]])
*[[Wikipedia:Pig|Pig]]
:'''Phelan''': "Fisk was a pig. He tried to force us to renegotiate."
[[Image:UnnamedCapricanCities3.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Rats on Caprica ([[Bastille Day]]).]]
*{{inlineref|rat|[[Wikipedia:Rat|Rat]]|bold=N}}
**'''Helo:''' Frakkin' rats! ([[Bastille Day]])
**:''Rats actually appear on screen in this episode.
**Another rat can be seen in "[[Litmus]]"''
*[[Wikipedia:Tiger|Tiger]]
:Gaeta reveals a [[tattoo]] of a tiger on his upper right chest in the episode "[[Final Cut]]".''

====Birds====
*[[w:Bird of prey|Birds of Prey]]
**While the animals have never been specifically mentioned, it's reasonable to assume the [[Raptor]] is named after them.
**Possibly a bird of prey is heard and mentioned by Tyrol and Socinus on Kobol ([[Valley of Darkness]]).
*[[w:Blackbird|Blackbird]]
:Namesake of the [[Blackbird]] experimental stealth fighter ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]).
*[[w:Chicken|Chicken]]
**'''Cami:''' "We're going out for dinner, and I'm having chicken pie, and then we're going home, and then Daddy's going to read to me, and then I'm going to bed." ([[Miniseries]])
**Colonel Tigh imitates a chicken when mocking Starbuck's nickname, "Starbuck-buck-buck." ([[Miniseries]])
*[[w:Duck|Ducks]]
**'''Palacios''': "Wouldn't we be like ducks in a Cylon shooting gallery?" ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]])
**"Duck" is the callsign of Lieutenant [[Tucker Clellan]] ("[[Flight of the Phoenix]]", "[[Scar]]", [[Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance|"The Resistance" webisodes]])
*[[w:Geese|Geese]]
:'''Colonel Tigh''': "They're coming up with big goose eggs" ([[Water]])
*[[w:Parakeet|Parakeet]]
:'''Jammer:''' "I don't care if they put a giant parakeet in here. If the colonel says build a cell, we build a cell." ([[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]])
*[[w:Sparrow|Sparrow]]
:Colonial pilot jargon for a Cylon Raider ([[Maelstrom]]).
*[[w:Swallow|Swallow]]
:Namesake of the Colonial drone weapon, the [[Swallow]] ([[Occupation]]).
*[[w:Turkey|Turkey]]
:Colonial pilot jargon for a Cylon Heavy Raider ([[Maelstrom]]).
*[[w:Vulture|Vulture]]
:In a [[List of Deleted Scenes (RDM)#Downloaded|deleted scene]] from "[[Downloaded]]", [[Karl Agathon]] calls [[D'Anna Biers]] a "stupid frakking vulture" after being notified of [[Hera Agathon|Hera]]'s alleged death.

====Reptiles====
*[[Wikipedia:Python|Python]]
:'''Adama:''' "Betrayal has such a powerful grip on the mind. It's almost like a python. You can squeeze out the thought, suffocate all other emotion until everything is dead except for the rage." ([[Home, Part I]])
*[[Wikipedia:Viper|Viper]]
:[[Laura Roslin]] has a vision of "serpents two and ten" as [[Pythia|prophesized]], which she and [[Elosha]] associate with the [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] fighter craft ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]).

====Fish====
*[[Wikipedia:Salmon|Salmon]]
:'''Baltar:''' "There was an off-road bridge, over the Euclid river. I used to go there, when I was a boy. Watch the fish try and swim upstream. They were mesmerizing." ([[Home, Part I]])
:''What Baltar describes, without naming, are [[Wikipedia:Anadromous|anadromous]] fish - almost certainly a type of salmon.
*[[Wikipedia:Shark|Shark]]
:ECO [[Lyla Ellway|Lyla "Shark" Ellway]] ([[The Captain's Hand]]) presumably took her call-sign from these creatures.
*[[Wikipedia:Betta|Betta]] or [[Wikipedia:Guppy|Guppy]]
:When Six comes "home" to Baltar's house carrying the metal suitcase, one can see three different glasses on a table in the front of the scene. They contain only water and one living, small, long-finned, black fish each, a way aggressive [[Wikipedia:Siamese fighting fish|Siamese fighting fish]] are kept ([[Miniseries]]).

====Invertebrates====
*[[Wikipedia:Ant|Ant]]
:'''Crashdown:''' "Someone else feel like they have ants crawling behind their frakking eyeballs?" ([[33]])
*[[Wikipedia:Cockroach|Cockroach]]
:'''Starbuck:''' "...even a cockroach needs to breathe..." ([[You Can't Go Home Again]])
*[[Wikipedia:Oyster|Oyster]]
:'''Caprica-Sharon:''' "I remember the first day I met you, Starbuck. You were puking your guts out in the head after you ate some bad oysters." ([[Scattered]])

===Plants===
*[[Wikipedia:Apple|Apple]]
:'''Roslin:''' "I need you to send my ID code on the exact same frequency: D, as in dog, dash, 456, dash, 345, dash, A as in apple." ([[Miniseries]])
:''In the commentary for the [[Miniseries]], [[Ron Moore]] stated that the [[Armistice Officer|officer]] at [[Armistice Station]] was originally supposed to take out an apple and eat it while studying his notes; in keeping with the new series's emphasis on naturalism.''
*[[Wikipedia:Blueberry|Blueberry]]
:'''Starbuck:''' "You look like a blueberry." ([[Flight of the Phoenix]])
*[[Wikipedia:Burdock|Burdock]]
:Used by Sagittarons as a calmative ([[The Woman King]]).
*[[Wikipedia:Carrot|Carrot]]
:'''Baltar''': "Simply put, Admiral, you have already used the stick. It's time to use a carrot." ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]])
*[[Wikipedia:Celery|Celery]] ([[The Resistance]])
*[[Wikipedia:Coffea|Coffee plant]]
:'''Gaeta:''' "Seven other container ships are refusing to release their supplies. Food, medicine, even coffee." ([[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]])
*[[Wikipedia:Lemon|Lemon]]
:'''Col. Tigh''': "A couple of lemons, we could make lemonade". ([[Bastille Day]])
*[[Wikipedia:Licorice|Licorice]]
:'''Roslin:''' "Chamalla and licorice. Would you like some?" ([[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]])
*[[Wikipedia:Walnut|Walnut]]
:Adama cracks walnuts while going over potential CAGs in the episode "[[Home, Part I]]".
*[[Wikipedia:Beans|Beans]]
*[[Wikipedia:Maize|Maize]]
*[[Wikipedia:Peanut|Peanut]]
*[[Wikipedia:Chili pepper|Chili pepper]]
**In the episode "[[Sacrifice]]", Lee Adama's drink is decorated with a chili pepper.
:'''Helo:''' You hungry? I don't know, what do we got? Peanut butter... baked beans, corn. How about some chili? ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]])
::''Helo is probably referring to the common [[Wikipedia:Haricot bean|Haricot bean]]''
*[[w:Potato|Potato]]
:In "[[Razor]]", Kara Thrace asks [[Kendra Shaw]] if she wants to be demoted back to peeling potatoes in the ship's galley.
*[[w:Algae|Algae]]
*[[w:Cocoa|Cocoa]]
:In "[[The Eye of Jupiter]]", [[Tyrol]] says, referring to the algae, "It's breakfast, lunch and dinner until someone finds a hot [[w:fudge|fudge]] planet."

==Official Statements==

*In an [http://www.battlestargalactica.com/outside_docs/bg_outdoc0050.htm interview with BattlestarGalactica.com on December 28th, 2005] RDM was asked about the possibility of animals actually appearing in future episodes:

:"Q: [[Boxey (RDM)|Boxey]]'s been more or less written out of the series, but there's always a chance that we might one day see the return of [[Muffit]], or some other form of Man's Best Friend. Might we see the introduction of animals (including Cylon animals) into the Galactica universe? Where would Cylon animals fit in with the Cylon plan (especially in light of "[[The Farm]]")? Can Cylon animals reproduce?

:RDM: The presence of animals in the [[The Fleet (RDM)|rag-tag fleet]] was something that came up in early discussions, but we kinda dropped it from the conversation as the year went on. I don't know if we'll ever get around to doing something in this area or not. It mostly depends on finding a story that supports it in some interesting fashion other than [[Felix Gaeta|Gaeta]] finds a kitty. I don't think the Cylons are creating animals as we would define them, but they certainly see the Raiders and other craft as animals vis a vis their relationship with the [[humanoid Cylon]]s."

''In a curious footnote to Moore's comment, eventually the character of Felix Gaeta finds not a kitty, but a [[Jake (New Caprica)|dog and his water dish]].''

[[Category:Animals|*]]
[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial Society]]
[[Category:Colonial Society (RDM)]]
[[Category:RDM]]

Life Forms of the Twelve Colonies

2008-03-29T20:47:30Z

Axeman: /* Plants */

:''This article discusses an aspect of the [[Re-imagined Series]] version of the Twelve Colonies. For information on the [[Original Series]] version, see [[The Twelve Colonies (TOS)]].''

{{RDM twelve colonies series}}

This article is a list of fictional and actual '''animals and plants''' mentioned in the [[Re-imagined Series]] as existing on [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|the Twelve Colonies]]. For the most part, the Colonies appear to have the same organisms as present-day earth, with some exceptions.

In keeping with the [[naturalistic science fiction]] concepts that [[Ronald D. Moore|Ron D. Moore]] used to model the series, it is unlikely that we may see any life forms outside of those found on any of the Earth-like planets of the Twelve Colonies.

Ron D. Moore initially chose to avoid addressing the issue of the types of live animals planned to appear. In the commentary for the [[Miniseries]], Moore elaborates:
:..."David and I, we had discussed, at an early point; well, do they have dogs and cats and things like that? And we said, "No, no, no", let's not go there, 'cause that locks us into a whole Terrestrial-kind of like thing. We'll just avoid any mention of it. '''Nobody will even, like, register that we had "Chicken pie" the whole time, and in retrospect "Oh, I guess there are chickens"."'''

Over the course of the series, however, not only have the terrestrial names of flora and fauna been used extensively, but a [[Jake (New Caprica)|live dog]] and [[Lance|cat]] have also appeared relatively prominently. Rats and bats can briefly be seen in "[[Bastille Day]]" and "[[Litmus]]" respectively.

==Fictional==
===Plants===
*[[Chamalla]]
:'''Roslin:''' "I would like to explore alternative treatment. [...] Have you ever heard of Chamalla extract?" ([[Act of Contrition]])
:''Resembles (somewhat) herbal [[Wikipedia:Cannabinoids|cannabinoids]] and [[Wikipedia:Opioids|opioids]] in its pain-killing and hallucinogenic effects, which are found in the plant [[Wikipedia:Cannabis|cannabis]] and the [[Wikipedia:Opium Poppy|opium poppy]], respectively.''
*[[Fumarella leaf]]
:'''Baltar:''' "A parting gift: hand-rolled from some of the finest Fumarella leaf on Caprica. It's also one of the last left in the universe." ([[Water]])
:''An homage to the [[TOS|original series]], in which [[Starbuck (TOS)|Starbuck]]'s [[Wikipedia:Cigar|cigars]] are referred to as "[[Fumarello|fumarellos]]". This plant may be similar or identical to [[Wikipedia:Tobacco|tobacco]].''

==Real==
===Animals===
====Mammals====
*[[w:Bat|Bat]]
:Seen flying out of an abandoned warehouse in "[[Litmus]]".
*[[w:Bovinae|Bovinae]]
: Given the presence of meat in the fleet, it is likely that the Colonials get meat from such animals.
*[[w:Camel|Camel]]
:Baltar has a statuette of a camel on his [[:Image:Season 3 - Promo - Epi 1 - 2 - Gaius Baltar and Cylons.jpg|desk]] while president ([[Precipice]]).
*[[Wikipedia:Cat|Cat]]
**'''Adama:''' [[Nothing but the rain|"...then grab your gun and bring in the cat."]] ([[Miniseries]])
**[[Romo Lampkin]] carries a [[Lance|cat]] around with him ([[The Son Also Rises]]).
[[Image:Jake and bowl.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Jake (New Caprica)|Jake]] on New Caprica.]]
*[[Wikipedia:Dog|Dog]]
**'''Cally:''' "She said the engine power-up sequence began by squeezing something that looks like a red ligament with blue veins on the right side coming out of a sack of gooey fluid, shaped like a... dog." ([[Six Degrees of Separation]])
**'''Baltar:''' "I will be the President, all right, but without the military support, I might as well be an anointed dog catcher." ([[Epiphanies]])
**'''Roslin:''' "I need you to send my ID code on the exact same frequency: D, as in dog [...]" ([[Miniseries]])
**'''[[Helena Cain|Cain]]:''' "Madam President, you look like I just shot your dog." ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]], [[Quotes:01 5|Quote of the day]])
**'''[[Billy Keikeya|Billy]]:''' "...dog takes 20 pills a day." - '''Roslin:''' "I didn't know you had a dog-" - '''Billy:''' "yeah, big shaggy thing - [[Jake (Billy's dog)|Jake]]" ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]], [[List_of_Deleted_Scenes|deleted scene]])
**A dog named [[Jake (New Caprica)|Jake]] appears on [[New Caprica]], whose water bowl is flipped by [[Felix Gaeta]] to notify [[Galen Tyrol]] of an intelligence drop ([[Precipice]]). Jake, a [[w:Landseer (dog)|Landseer Newfoundland]], is the first live animal to play a significant role in the series, with a [[Lance|cat]] to follow in a [[The Son Also Rises|later season 3 episode]].
**[[Daniel Novacek]]'s callsign "Bulldog" implies the possible existence of [[Wikipedia:bulldog|Earth's bulldog breed]].
*[[Wikipedia:Elephant|Elephant]]
**'''Hallucination-Baltar:''' "Start with the elephants..." ([[Downloaded]])
**William Adama has a tapestry depicting two elephants hanging in his quarters.
*[[Wikipedia:Goat|Goat]]
:'''Starbuck:''' "A horse. Why not a goat? I mean, that's good, right? Think of it as a goat." ([[Six Degrees of Separation]])
*[[Wikipedia:Gorilla|Gorilla]]
:'''Starbuck:''' "I'm gonna need some of those gorillas you call Marines." ([[Sacrifice]])
*[[Wikipedia:Horse|Horse]]
**'''Tyrol:''' "Take it for a ride. Treat it like a horse." ([[Six Degrees of Separation]])
**Helo and Sharon are in what looks like horse stables in "[[The Hand of God]]"
**A horse can be seen on a picture on the [[memorial hallway|memorial wall]] behind Kara Thrace in "[[Maelstrom]]"
*[[Wikipedia:Hare|Jackrabbit]]
:'''Starbuck''': "This is the Viper Mark II. It's as maneuverable as a jackrabbit and can flip end for end in .35 seconds." ([[Act of Contrition]])
*[[Wikipedia:Monkey|Monkey]]
:'''[[Cliff Hooper]]'s friend:''' "He's a real-deal war hero, Hoop. Can't be seen drinkin' with a bunch of low-life freight monkeys." ([[Scattered]], [[List of Deleted Scenes|deleted scene]])
*[[Wikipedia:Otter|Otter]]
**An otter can be seen on a [[:Image:AdrienBauer.jpg|picture]] on the [[memorial hallway|memorial wall]] behind Baltar in "[[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]"
*[[Wikipedia:Panther|Panther]]
:'''Adama:''' "I'm a [[Picon Panthers]] fan myself." ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]])
*[[Wikipedia:Pig|Pig]]
:'''Phelan''': "Fisk was a pig. He tried to force us to renegotiate."
[[Image:UnnamedCapricanCities3.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Rats on Caprica ([[Bastille Day]]).]]
*{{inlineref|rat|[[Wikipedia:Rat|Rat]]|bold=N}}
**'''Helo:''' Frakkin' rats! ([[Bastille Day]])
**:''Rats actually appear on screen in this episode.
**Another rat can be seen in "[[Litmus]]"''
*[[Wikipedia:Tiger|Tiger]]
:Gaeta reveals a [[tattoo]] of a tiger on his upper right chest in the episode "[[Final Cut]]".''

====Birds====
*[[w:Bird of prey|Birds of Prey]]
**While the animals have never been specifically mentioned, it's reasonable to assume the [[Raptor]] is named after them.
**Possibly a bird of prey is heard and mentioned by Tyrol and Socinus on Kobol ([[Valley of Darkness]]).
*[[w:Blackbird|Blackbird]]
:Namesake of the [[Blackbird]] experimental stealth fighter ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]).
*[[w:Chicken|Chicken]]
**'''Cami:''' "We're going out for dinner, and I'm having chicken pie, and then we're going home, and then Daddy's going to read to me, and then I'm going to bed." ([[Miniseries]])
**Colonel Tigh imitates a chicken when mocking Starbuck's nickname, "Starbuck-buck-buck." ([[Miniseries]])
*[[w:Duck|Ducks]]
**'''Palacios''': "Wouldn't we be like ducks in a Cylon shooting gallery?" ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]])
**"Duck" is the callsign of Lieutenant [[Tucker Clellan]] ("[[Flight of the Phoenix]]", "[[Scar]]", [[Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance|"The Resistance" webisodes]])
*[[w:Geese|Geese]]
:'''Colonel Tigh''': "They're coming up with big goose eggs" ([[Water]])
*[[w:Parakeet|Parakeet]]
:'''Jammer:''' "I don't care if they put a giant parakeet in here. If the colonel says build a cell, we build a cell." ([[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]])
*[[w:Sparrow|Sparrow]]
:Colonial pilot jargon for a Cylon Raider ([[Maelstrom]]).
*[[w:Swallow|Swallow]]
:Namesake of the Colonial drone weapon, the [[Swallow]] ([[Occupation]]).
*[[w:Turkey|Turkey]]
:Colonial pilot jargon for a Cylon Heavy Raider ([[Maelstrom]]).
*[[w:Vulture|Vulture]]
:In a [[List of Deleted Scenes (RDM)#Downloaded|deleted scene]] from "[[Downloaded]]", [[Karl Agathon]] calls [[D'Anna Biers]] a "stupid frakking vulture" after being notified of [[Hera Agathon|Hera]]'s alleged death.

====Reptiles====
*[[Wikipedia:Python|Python]]
:'''Adama:''' "Betrayal has such a powerful grip on the mind. It's almost like a python. You can squeeze out the thought, suffocate all other emotion until everything is dead except for the rage." ([[Home, Part I]])
*[[Wikipedia:Viper|Viper]]
:[[Laura Roslin]] has a vision of "serpents two and ten" as [[Pythia|prophesized]], which she and [[Elosha]] associate with the [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] fighter craft ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]).

====Fish====
*[[Wikipedia:Salmon|Salmon]]
:'''Baltar:''' "There was an off-road bridge, over the Euclid river. I used to go there, when I was a boy. Watch the fish try and swim upstream. They were mesmerizing." ([[Home, Part I]])
:''What Baltar describes, without naming, are [[Wikipedia:Anadromous|anadromous]] fish - almost certainly a type of salmon.
*[[Wikipedia:Shark|Shark]]
:ECO [[Lyla Ellway|Lyla "Shark" Ellway]] ([[The Captain's Hand]]) presumably took her call-sign from these creatures.
*[[Wikipedia:Betta|Betta]] or [[Wikipedia:Guppy|Guppy]]
:When Six comes "home" to Baltar's house carrying the metal suitcase, one can see three different glasses on a table in the front of the scene. They contain only water and one living, small, long-finned, black fish each, a way aggressive [[Wikipedia:Siamese fighting fish|Siamese fighting fish]] are kept ([[Miniseries]]).

====Invertebrates====
*[[Wikipedia:Ant|Ant]]
:'''Crashdown:''' "Someone else feel like they have ants crawling behind their frakking eyeballs?" ([[33]])
*[[Wikipedia:Cockroach|Cockroach]]
:'''Starbuck:''' "...even a cockroach needs to breathe..." ([[You Can't Go Home Again]])
*[[Wikipedia:Oyster|Oyster]]
:'''Caprica-Sharon:''' "I remember the first day I met you, Starbuck. You were puking your guts out in the head after you ate some bad oysters." ([[Scattered]])

===Plants===
*[[Wikipedia:Apple|Apple]]
:'''Roslin:''' "I need you to send my ID code on the exact same frequency: D, as in dog, dash, 456, dash, 345, dash, A as in apple." ([[Miniseries]])
:''In the commentary for the [[Miniseries]], [[Ron Moore]] stated that the [[Armistice Officer|officer]] at [[Armistice Station]] was originally supposed to take out an apple and eat it while studying his notes; in keeping with the new series's emphasis on naturalism.''
*[[Wikipedia:Blueberry|Blueberry]]
:'''Starbuck:''' "You look like a blueberry." ([[Flight of the Phoenix]])
*[[Wikipedia:Burdock|Burdock]]
:Used by Sagittarons as a calmative ([[The Woman King]]).
*[[Wikipedia:Carrot|Carrot]]
:'''Baltar''': "Simply put, Admiral, you have already used the stick. It's time to use a carrot." ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]])
*[[Wikipedia:Celery|Celery]] ([[The Resistance]])
*[[Wikipedia:Coffea|Coffee plant]]
:'''Gaeta:''' "Seven other container ships are refusing to release their supplies. Food, medicine, even coffee." ([[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]])
*[[Wikipedia:Lemon|Lemon]]
:'''Col. Tigh''': "A couple of lemons, we could make lemonade". ([[Bastille Day]])
*[[Wikipedia:Licorice|Licorice]]
:'''Roslin:''' "Chamalla and licorice. Would you like some?" ([[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]])
*[[Wikipedia:Walnut|Walnut]]
:Adama cracks walnuts while going over potential CAGs in the episode "[[Home, Part I]]".
*[[Wikipedia:Beans|Beans]]
*[[Wikipedia:Maize|Maize]]
*[[Wikipedia:Peanut|Peanut]]
*[[Wikipedia:Chili pepper|Chili pepper]]
**In the episode "[[Sacrifice]]", Lee Adama's drink is decorated with a chili pepper.
:'''Helo:''' You hungry? I don't know, what do we got? Peanut butter... baked beans, corn. How about some chili? ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]])
::''Helo is probably referring to the common [[Wikipedia:Haricot bean|Haricot bean]]''
*[[w:Potato|Potato]]
:In "[[Razor]]", Kara Thrace asks [[Kendra Shaw]] if she wants to be demoted back to peeling potatoes in the ship's galley.
*[[w:Algae|Algae]]
*[[w:Cocoa|Cocoa]]
:In "[[The Eye of Jupiter]]", [[Tyrol]] says, referring to the algae, "It's breakfast, lunch and dinner until someone finds a hot fudge planet."

==Official Statements==

*In an [http://www.battlestargalactica.com/outside_docs/bg_outdoc0050.htm interview with BattlestarGalactica.com on December 28th, 2005] RDM was asked about the possibility of animals actually appearing in future episodes:

:"Q: [[Boxey (RDM)|Boxey]]'s been more or less written out of the series, but there's always a chance that we might one day see the return of [[Muffit]], or some other form of Man's Best Friend. Might we see the introduction of animals (including Cylon animals) into the Galactica universe? Where would Cylon animals fit in with the Cylon plan (especially in light of "[[The Farm]]")? Can Cylon animals reproduce?

:RDM: The presence of animals in the [[The Fleet (RDM)|rag-tag fleet]] was something that came up in early discussions, but we kinda dropped it from the conversation as the year went on. I don't know if we'll ever get around to doing something in this area or not. It mostly depends on finding a story that supports it in some interesting fashion other than [[Felix Gaeta|Gaeta]] finds a kitty. I don't think the Cylons are creating animals as we would define them, but they certainly see the Raiders and other craft as animals vis a vis their relationship with the [[humanoid Cylon]]s."

''In a curious footnote to Moore's comment, eventually the character of Felix Gaeta finds not a kitty, but a [[Jake (New Caprica)|dog and his water dish]].''

[[Category:Animals|*]]
[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial Society]]
[[Category:Colonial Society (RDM)]]
[[Category:RDM]]

Language in the Twelve Colonies

2007-10-20T22:02:42Z

Axeman: /* Kiwi Accent */

:''This article discusses an aspect of the [[Re-imagined Series]] version of the Twelve Colonies. For information on the [[Original Series]] version, see [[The Twelve Colonies (TOS)]].''

{{RDM twelve colonies series}}

English, or some language that is universally translated into it (à la [[Wikipedia:Westron|Tolkien]]) is standard. Loanwords from foreign languages ("élan", "fascist", "karma", "esprit de corps" etc.) occur with normal frequency, as do chronologically enigmatic borrowings such as the battlestar ''[[Columbia (RDM)|Columbia]]''. Most religious terms are explicitly shared with ancient Greek beliefs (either antecedent to or descendant from them).

==Vocabulary==

===Anachronisms===
''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' uses many terms from modern day naval aviation, which appear somewhat anachronistic but also lend the show a flavor of realistic jargon. These include:
*[[Combat Air Patrol]]
*[[Commander Air Group]]
*Planes
:'''Adama:''' "You keep my planes flying. I need my planes to fly." ([[Litmus]])

===Ersatz===
In contrast to its [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|predecessor]], the re-imagined ''Battlestar Galactica'' employs relatively little in the way of ersatz vocabulary. It does employ a few terms outside of a normal American English vocabulary, mostly military jargon. These are mixed in haphazardly with the real-life naval aviation terms above.

*[[Dradis]] - [[Wikipedia:RADAR|Radar]]
*[[Fumarella leaf]] - [[Wikipedia:Tobacco|Tobacco]]
*[[Frak]] - A bowdlerized version of "Fuck" (c.f. "[[Wikipedia:Frell|Frell]]" (Farscape), "[[Wikipedia:Frag|Frag]]" (Babylon 5), "[[Wikipedia:Smeg|Smeg]]" (Red Dwarf))
*[[G-4]] - [[Wikipedia: C-4 (explosive)|C-4]]
*[[Krypter]] - [[Wikipedia:Mayday|Mayday]]
*[[Morpha]] - [[Wikipedia:Morphine|Morphine]]
*[[Serisone]] - [[Wikipedia:prednisone|Prednisone]]
*[[Wireless]] - [[Wikipedia:Radio|Radio]]<ref name="wireless">This usage is not entirely unknown in Earth-bound English. As a synonym for radio or radiotelegraphy, it's more common in British usage, according to [http://www.m-w.com/ Merriam-Webster]. Prior to the popularisation of television in the 1950s, it was the preferred term for radio equipment and radio broadcasts amongst the bulk of the British population. It's also the source of the prefix 'Wi' in 'WiFi' and other similar wireless data standards now common.</ref>

===Invented Terminology===
As all science fiction shows must, Battlestar Galactica has a set of vocabulary referring to technologies and other items not shared with the real world.

*[[Ambrosia]] - a bright green alcoholic beverage
*[[Carom]] - the angle above or below the XY plane of a vessel, perpendicular to [[Wikipedia:Bearing (navigation)|bearing]] (c.f. "Mark" (Star Trek))
*[[Chamalla]] - an [[Wikipedia:Entheogen|entheogen]] used by priests
*[[Red Line]]

*'''For a more complete list of acronyms and expressions see:''' [[List of terms (RDM)]]

===Turn of phrase===
The dialect used by the Colonials employs some distinct turn of phrase at times:

*"As of this moment" is used particularly often for seemingly "official" announcements. After the original Cylon attack, then-Commander William Adama announces to his crew, "As of this moment, we are at war." The phrase is used later by Colonel Tigh in his announcement of martial law <ref>"As of this moment, I have declared martial law." — "[[Fragged]]"</ref>, and Gaius Baltar in announcing his candidacy for the presidency<ref>"…I am, as of this moment, a candidate for the Presidency." — "[[The Captain's Hand]]"</ref>.
*"With every fiber of my being" is often used to conclude oaths, particularly the oath of presidency, as taken by Roslin and Baltar at various points.
*"[[So say we all]]" is used to conclude prayers and similar remarks. It is analogous to, and roughly synonymous with, "amen".
*When used as an intensifier or in other instances of profanity, "God" is usually replaced with "Gods", befitting the Colonials' polytheistic faith—"Gods damn it", "Oh my Gods!", etc.

===Enigmas===

Language in ''Battlestar Galactica'' have terms whose origins are a curiosity due to chronology or uniqueness to the real-world Earth that likely wouldn't have a parallel of the same name in the Twelve Colonies. See [[Sacred Scrolls#Earth as the true origin of the human species|an interpretation of the origin of humanity on Kobol]] that could support the derivation of these terms.

* ''[[Columbia (RDM)|Columbia]]'': This battlestar name comes from Christopher Columbus, thus making it an unusual name for the Twelve Colonies. However, it also stems from the Latin word "columba" meaning "dove" together with the suffix "ia" which means "land" (geographical expression) in all languages derived from Indo-European roots (ergo, "Land of the Dove")

* ''[[Cloud Nine]]'': This American expression of bliss comes from a 1890's Earth weather reference on the highest-altitude cloud formation. The expression became popularized in 1950s radio broadcasts.

* ''[[Adriatic]]'': The name of this vessel under the influence of [[Tom Zarek]], much like ''Columbia'' appears to have originated on Earth. On Earth the Adriatic Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, located between Italy and the Balkans.

===Honorifics===
Although civilians use the honorific "Madam" or its shortened form "ma'am", in the Colonial military all superior officers are referred to as "Sir", regardless of gender.<ref>According to RDM's [http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/blogs blog] on January 20th, 2006, the series follows the system established in ''[[MemoryAlpha:Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan|Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]'', where the term "sir" has become gender-neutral in military usage. Thus, [[Laura Roslin]] is referred to as "Madam President" or "ma'am" in a civilian context, but in her capacity as Commander-in-Chief, she is always addressed as "sir".</ref>

===Names===
Many characters have names that include one or more components that appear to be a Biblical or Classical reference. It remains an enigma whether, and to what degree, these should be thought of as translations for the audience's benefit.

Some of these apparent allusions may have no intended meaning beyond sounding good. Others are known to have been chosen for a reason, and that's noted where verifiable.

* [[William Adama|William]] and [[Lee Adama]]: "Adama" is Hebrew for "earth" in its literal meaning—ground, dirt—from which "Adam", the Biblical First Man, derives his name. It is also the name of a large city in Ethiopia. Lee's call-sign "Apollo" is of course a reference to the Greek (and apparently, Kobolan) god. Both "Adama" and "Apollo" are carry-overs from the original series, where they were chosen for their mythological significance.
* [[Richard Adar]]: "[[w:Adar|Adar]]" is a month in the Jewish lunar calendar still in use today. It coincides roughly with the Gregorian month of March. It is a carry over from the original series.
* [[Karl Agathon]]: "[[w:Agathon|Agathon]]" was an Athenian poet, a friend of Euripides and Plato.
* [[Gaius Baltar]]: "Gaius" was the ''[[w:praenomen|praenomen]]'' of the man we commonly call [[w:Julius Caesar|Julius Caesar]]. "Baltar" was made up by [[Glen A. Larson]] for the original series.
* [[Helena Cain]]: "[[w:Helena|Helena]]" is a common enough name, but is also a possible reference to Helen of Troy. "[[w:Cain|Cain]]" in the Old Testament is the first murderer, and is a carry-over from the original series.
* [[Aaron Doral]]: "[[w:Aaron|Aaron]]" is a Biblical Hebrew name, the older brother of [[w:Moses|Moses]].
* [[Anastasia Dualla]]: The Greek word ''[[w:anastasia|anastasia]]'' translates to "resurrection", and was a deliberate choice by [[Ronald D. Moore|Ron Moore]]. It's also a common Greek and Russian name. Dualla is the name of a region and people in sub-saharan Africa.
* [[Hera]]/Isis: "[[w:Hera|Hera]]" was a Greek goddess, the wife of Zeus. "[[w:Isis|Isis]]" an Egyptian goddess, the wife of Horus in early mythology; the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus later. This is one of the few Egyptian references in the new series.
* [[Billy Keikeya]]: "Keikeya" is one of the three queens of [[w:Ayodhya|Ayodhya]] in the Hindu epic, ''[[w:Ramayana|Ramayana]]''.
* [[Kara Thrace]]: "[[w:Thrace|Thrace]]" is a region in southeast Europe spanning Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Turkey, and Serbia. It was also the ancient name for the same area. The famous gladiator Spartacus was a Thracian.
* [[Saul Tigh]]: "[[w:Saul|Saul]]" is a Hebrew name (pronounced "Shaul" in Hebrew), which means "borrowed". Biblical references include both the first king of Judah and Israel, and the birth-name of Paul of Tarsus. Originally the character was named "Paul Tigh", but when it was discovered that this could not be used for legal reasons, it was shifted to "''S''aul Tigh", a reverse of the name switch that Saul of Tarsus/St. Paul made. "Tigh" appears to be a reference to the historical figure [[w:Colonel Tye|Colonel Tye]], an African-American military leader who fought for the British in the [[w:American Revolutionary War|American Revolutionary War]] (the original series version of Colonel [[Tigh (TOS)|Tigh]] was of African ethnicity).
* [[Galen Tyrol]]: "[[w:Galen|Galen]]" was a famous Greek healer, the source of much Medieval medical knowledge, and was the first to argue that the mind was in the brain and not the heart; this could be construed as ironic, given that Tyrol followed his heart and maintained a relationship with Boomer even when he shouldn't have. "[[w:Tyrol|Tyrol]]" is a region that spans the border of Austria and Italy.
* [[Sharon Valerii]]: "Sharon" is a name of a geographic area in the center of Israel, although it's also a common English woman's name. The [[w:Valerius|gens Valeria]] is one of the longest-running families in the history of the [[w:Roman Empire|Roman Empire]]. Curiously, "valerii" is the masculine plural form.
* [[Tom Zarek]]: "[[w:Thomas|Thomas]]" is a deliberate biblical reference. Originally he was supposed to be called "Peter", but that didn't clear with the legal departement. It's also a common English name. Zarek is a Polish name derived from the Babylonian name Balshazzar meaning "Baal protects the king." According to the writers, they just made up the name "Zarek" because they thought it sounded "strong and futuristic". ([[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]], p.52)

Uncertain references:
* [[Leoben Conoy]]: "[[w:Leoben|Leoben]]" is an Austrian town where a preliminary peace in the Napoleonic wars was signed. "[[w:Conoy|Conoy]]" is a Native American tribe, also known as the Piscataway. Both are pretty obscure.
* [[Laura Roslin]]: "[[w:Roslin Institute|Roslin Institute]]" is where Dolly the Sheep was cloned. A more likely source of the name would be the Scottish village of [[wikipedia:Roslin, Midlothian|Roslin, Midlothian]], where the Roslin Institute is located.

==Accents==

Most characters (or the actors that portray them) speak with a [[Wikipedia:General American|Standard American]] accent, with some exceptions.

===English Accent===
Three characters speak with the [[Wikipedia:Received Pronunciation|Received Pronunciation]], Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] from [[Aerelon]] (although he consciously suppresses his native [[#Aerelon Accent|Aerelon accent]]), ''Galactica'' medic [[Layne Ishay]] and the captain of the ''[[Pyxis]]''.

===Canadian Accent===
The actor playing Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]], especially when shouting or barking orders, exhibits a definite Canadian accent. [[Michael Hogan]] is a noted Canadian actor, and on the show his speech is generally indistinguishable from General American English, but observant listeners can detect the accent in certain situations. He has used certain Canadianisms, such as "line up", on occasion.

More subtly, [[Leoben Conoy]], portrayed by veteran Canadian actor [[Callum Keith Rennie]], exhibits Canadian patterns discernible to native speakers.

[[Sergeant Hadrian]], played by Canadian actress [[Jill Teed]] also shows Canadian cadences.

Since the series is shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, many of the actors are Canadian character players, for the most part speaking with West/Central Canadian accents.

===Puerto Rican Accent===
[[Giana]], a woman rescued from [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] by [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Sharon Valerii]], speaks with a Puerto Rican accent, and inquires after the whereabouts of her husband, who she states is "stationed on Gemenon". Her place of origin is unclear, but no other characters from either Caprica, [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Gemenon|Gemenon]], or anywhere else have shared this accent. The actress, Lymari Nadal, is from Puerto Rico ([[Miniseries]]).

===Kiwi Accent===
The reporter [[D'Anna Biers]] speaks with a Kiwi/New Zealand accent (this is actually the accent that actress [[Lucy Lawless]] speaks with when off screen, because she is from New Zealand). However, the same episode revealed that D'Anna is actually a [[Humanoid Cylon|Cylon]] (Number Three), and another copy of her model on Cylon-occupied Caprica does ''not'' speak with this accent, but a Standard American one, perhaps to differentiate the two characters. Subsequent appearances by D'Anna Biers in "[[Downloaded]]" and [[Season 3 (2006-07)|Season 3]] have featured the Kiwi accent exclusively.

===Aerelon Accent===
In "[[Flesh and Bone]]", Baltar notes that Sharon Valerii speaks with a trace of an [[Aerelon]] accent. In the episode "[[Dirty Hands]]", Baltar displays his native Aerelon accent. It sounds somewhat raspy, and resembles a north English, Yorkshire accent. Baltar being from Aerelon explains how he could pick up a faint trace of it in Valerii. However, in her case, the accent appears to be entirely fictional - Canadian actress Grace Park speaks passably Standard American English without a 'foreign' accent.

In "[[The Son Also Rises]]", [[Romo Lampkin]] speaks with an accent somewhat similar to Baltar's native Aerelon accent. The actor, [[Mark Sheppard]], is Irish.

(Note: The accent of the corresponding '[[Aeries]]' people in the Original Series sounds Irish, as heard in "[[The Long Patrol]]")

==Liturgy==
During the funeral service at the end of the Mini-series, Priest [[Elosha]] chants a prayer in a foreign language. It is recognizable as a common Sanskrit prayer, found in Part I, Chapter III, Verse 28 of the [http://sanatan.intnet.mu/upanishads/brihadaranyaka.htm Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad].

:{|
| '''Devanāgarī''' || '''Transliteration''' || '''Translation'''
|-
| अस्तो मा सद् गमय || asato mā sad gamaya || Lead us from Falsehood to Truth
|-
| तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय || tamaso mā jyotir gamaya || Lead us from Darkness to Light
|-
| मृत्योर् मा अमृतं गमय || mṛtyor mā amṛtaṃ gamaya || Lead us from Death to Immortality
|}

Although the lyrics are identifiable, it should be noted that the actress's performance is closer to the chanting of biblical Hebrew, and does not resemble the traditional melody.<ref>Viewers can compare Elosha's chant to the same chant found in the soundtrack of the movie,''[[Wikipedia:The Matrix Revolutions|The Matrix Revolutions]]'', by composers Don Davis and the group Juno Reactor. The final track, "Navras," (which plays during the closing credits of the motion picture) begins with this same verse; the track Neodämmerung, also from The Matrix Revolutions, also consists entirely of Sanskrit lyrics taken from the Upaniṣads, including this verse.</ref>

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

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial History]]
[[Category:Colonial History (RDM)]]
[[Category:Colonial Society]]
[[Category:Colonial Society (RDM)]]
[[Category:RDM]]

{{featured article candidate previous}}

Language in the Twelve Colonies

2007-10-20T22:02:02Z

Axeman: /* Canadian Accent */

:''This article discusses an aspect of the [[Re-imagined Series]] version of the Twelve Colonies. For information on the [[Original Series]] version, see [[The Twelve Colonies (TOS)]].''

{{RDM twelve colonies series}}

English, or some language that is universally translated into it (à la [[Wikipedia:Westron|Tolkien]]) is standard. Loanwords from foreign languages ("élan", "fascist", "karma", "esprit de corps" etc.) occur with normal frequency, as do chronologically enigmatic borrowings such as the battlestar ''[[Columbia (RDM)|Columbia]]''. Most religious terms are explicitly shared with ancient Greek beliefs (either antecedent to or descendant from them).

==Vocabulary==

===Anachronisms===
''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' uses many terms from modern day naval aviation, which appear somewhat anachronistic but also lend the show a flavor of realistic jargon. These include:
*[[Combat Air Patrol]]
*[[Commander Air Group]]
*Planes
:'''Adama:''' "You keep my planes flying. I need my planes to fly." ([[Litmus]])

===Ersatz===
In contrast to its [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|predecessor]], the re-imagined ''Battlestar Galactica'' employs relatively little in the way of ersatz vocabulary. It does employ a few terms outside of a normal American English vocabulary, mostly military jargon. These are mixed in haphazardly with the real-life naval aviation terms above.

*[[Dradis]] - [[Wikipedia:RADAR|Radar]]
*[[Fumarella leaf]] - [[Wikipedia:Tobacco|Tobacco]]
*[[Frak]] - A bowdlerized version of "Fuck" (c.f. "[[Wikipedia:Frell|Frell]]" (Farscape), "[[Wikipedia:Frag|Frag]]" (Babylon 5), "[[Wikipedia:Smeg|Smeg]]" (Red Dwarf))
*[[G-4]] - [[Wikipedia: C-4 (explosive)|C-4]]
*[[Krypter]] - [[Wikipedia:Mayday|Mayday]]
*[[Morpha]] - [[Wikipedia:Morphine|Morphine]]
*[[Serisone]] - [[Wikipedia:prednisone|Prednisone]]
*[[Wireless]] - [[Wikipedia:Radio|Radio]]<ref name="wireless">This usage is not entirely unknown in Earth-bound English. As a synonym for radio or radiotelegraphy, it's more common in British usage, according to [http://www.m-w.com/ Merriam-Webster]. Prior to the popularisation of television in the 1950s, it was the preferred term for radio equipment and radio broadcasts amongst the bulk of the British population. It's also the source of the prefix 'Wi' in 'WiFi' and other similar wireless data standards now common.</ref>

===Invented Terminology===
As all science fiction shows must, Battlestar Galactica has a set of vocabulary referring to technologies and other items not shared with the real world.

*[[Ambrosia]] - a bright green alcoholic beverage
*[[Carom]] - the angle above or below the XY plane of a vessel, perpendicular to [[Wikipedia:Bearing (navigation)|bearing]] (c.f. "Mark" (Star Trek))
*[[Chamalla]] - an [[Wikipedia:Entheogen|entheogen]] used by priests
*[[Red Line]]

*'''For a more complete list of acronyms and expressions see:''' [[List of terms (RDM)]]

===Turn of phrase===
The dialect used by the Colonials employs some distinct turn of phrase at times:

*"As of this moment" is used particularly often for seemingly "official" announcements. After the original Cylon attack, then-Commander William Adama announces to his crew, "As of this moment, we are at war." The phrase is used later by Colonel Tigh in his announcement of martial law <ref>"As of this moment, I have declared martial law." — "[[Fragged]]"</ref>, and Gaius Baltar in announcing his candidacy for the presidency<ref>"…I am, as of this moment, a candidate for the Presidency." — "[[The Captain's Hand]]"</ref>.
*"With every fiber of my being" is often used to conclude oaths, particularly the oath of presidency, as taken by Roslin and Baltar at various points.
*"[[So say we all]]" is used to conclude prayers and similar remarks. It is analogous to, and roughly synonymous with, "amen".
*When used as an intensifier or in other instances of profanity, "God" is usually replaced with "Gods", befitting the Colonials' polytheistic faith—"Gods damn it", "Oh my Gods!", etc.

===Enigmas===

Language in ''Battlestar Galactica'' have terms whose origins are a curiosity due to chronology or uniqueness to the real-world Earth that likely wouldn't have a parallel of the same name in the Twelve Colonies. See [[Sacred Scrolls#Earth as the true origin of the human species|an interpretation of the origin of humanity on Kobol]] that could support the derivation of these terms.

* ''[[Columbia (RDM)|Columbia]]'': This battlestar name comes from Christopher Columbus, thus making it an unusual name for the Twelve Colonies. However, it also stems from the Latin word "columba" meaning "dove" together with the suffix "ia" which means "land" (geographical expression) in all languages derived from Indo-European roots (ergo, "Land of the Dove")

* ''[[Cloud Nine]]'': This American expression of bliss comes from a 1890's Earth weather reference on the highest-altitude cloud formation. The expression became popularized in 1950s radio broadcasts.

* ''[[Adriatic]]'': The name of this vessel under the influence of [[Tom Zarek]], much like ''Columbia'' appears to have originated on Earth. On Earth the Adriatic Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, located between Italy and the Balkans.

===Honorifics===
Although civilians use the honorific "Madam" or its shortened form "ma'am", in the Colonial military all superior officers are referred to as "Sir", regardless of gender.<ref>According to RDM's [http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/blogs blog] on January 20th, 2006, the series follows the system established in ''[[MemoryAlpha:Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan|Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]'', where the term "sir" has become gender-neutral in military usage. Thus, [[Laura Roslin]] is referred to as "Madam President" or "ma'am" in a civilian context, but in her capacity as Commander-in-Chief, she is always addressed as "sir".</ref>

===Names===
Many characters have names that include one or more components that appear to be a Biblical or Classical reference. It remains an enigma whether, and to what degree, these should be thought of as translations for the audience's benefit.

Some of these apparent allusions may have no intended meaning beyond sounding good. Others are known to have been chosen for a reason, and that's noted where verifiable.

* [[William Adama|William]] and [[Lee Adama]]: "Adama" is Hebrew for "earth" in its literal meaning—ground, dirt—from which "Adam", the Biblical First Man, derives his name. It is also the name of a large city in Ethiopia. Lee's call-sign "Apollo" is of course a reference to the Greek (and apparently, Kobolan) god. Both "Adama" and "Apollo" are carry-overs from the original series, where they were chosen for their mythological significance.
* [[Richard Adar]]: "[[w:Adar|Adar]]" is a month in the Jewish lunar calendar still in use today. It coincides roughly with the Gregorian month of March. It is a carry over from the original series.
* [[Karl Agathon]]: "[[w:Agathon|Agathon]]" was an Athenian poet, a friend of Euripides and Plato.
* [[Gaius Baltar]]: "Gaius" was the ''[[w:praenomen|praenomen]]'' of the man we commonly call [[w:Julius Caesar|Julius Caesar]]. "Baltar" was made up by [[Glen A. Larson]] for the original series.
* [[Helena Cain]]: "[[w:Helena|Helena]]" is a common enough name, but is also a possible reference to Helen of Troy. "[[w:Cain|Cain]]" in the Old Testament is the first murderer, and is a carry-over from the original series.
* [[Aaron Doral]]: "[[w:Aaron|Aaron]]" is a Biblical Hebrew name, the older brother of [[w:Moses|Moses]].
* [[Anastasia Dualla]]: The Greek word ''[[w:anastasia|anastasia]]'' translates to "resurrection", and was a deliberate choice by [[Ronald D. Moore|Ron Moore]]. It's also a common Greek and Russian name. Dualla is the name of a region and people in sub-saharan Africa.
* [[Hera]]/Isis: "[[w:Hera|Hera]]" was a Greek goddess, the wife of Zeus. "[[w:Isis|Isis]]" an Egyptian goddess, the wife of Horus in early mythology; the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus later. This is one of the few Egyptian references in the new series.
* [[Billy Keikeya]]: "Keikeya" is one of the three queens of [[w:Ayodhya|Ayodhya]] in the Hindu epic, ''[[w:Ramayana|Ramayana]]''.
* [[Kara Thrace]]: "[[w:Thrace|Thrace]]" is a region in southeast Europe spanning Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Turkey, and Serbia. It was also the ancient name for the same area. The famous gladiator Spartacus was a Thracian.
* [[Saul Tigh]]: "[[w:Saul|Saul]]" is a Hebrew name (pronounced "Shaul" in Hebrew), which means "borrowed". Biblical references include both the first king of Judah and Israel, and the birth-name of Paul of Tarsus. Originally the character was named "Paul Tigh", but when it was discovered that this could not be used for legal reasons, it was shifted to "''S''aul Tigh", a reverse of the name switch that Saul of Tarsus/St. Paul made. "Tigh" appears to be a reference to the historical figure [[w:Colonel Tye|Colonel Tye]], an African-American military leader who fought for the British in the [[w:American Revolutionary War|American Revolutionary War]] (the original series version of Colonel [[Tigh (TOS)|Tigh]] was of African ethnicity).
* [[Galen Tyrol]]: "[[w:Galen|Galen]]" was a famous Greek healer, the source of much Medieval medical knowledge, and was the first to argue that the mind was in the brain and not the heart; this could be construed as ironic, given that Tyrol followed his heart and maintained a relationship with Boomer even when he shouldn't have. "[[w:Tyrol|Tyrol]]" is a region that spans the border of Austria and Italy.
* [[Sharon Valerii]]: "Sharon" is a name of a geographic area in the center of Israel, although it's also a common English woman's name. The [[w:Valerius|gens Valeria]] is one of the longest-running families in the history of the [[w:Roman Empire|Roman Empire]]. Curiously, "valerii" is the masculine plural form.
* [[Tom Zarek]]: "[[w:Thomas|Thomas]]" is a deliberate biblical reference. Originally he was supposed to be called "Peter", but that didn't clear with the legal departement. It's also a common English name. Zarek is a Polish name derived from the Babylonian name Balshazzar meaning "Baal protects the king." According to the writers, they just made up the name "Zarek" because they thought it sounded "strong and futuristic". ([[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]], p.52)

Uncertain references:
* [[Leoben Conoy]]: "[[w:Leoben|Leoben]]" is an Austrian town where a preliminary peace in the Napoleonic wars was signed. "[[w:Conoy|Conoy]]" is a Native American tribe, also known as the Piscataway. Both are pretty obscure.
* [[Laura Roslin]]: "[[w:Roslin Institute|Roslin Institute]]" is where Dolly the Sheep was cloned. A more likely source of the name would be the Scottish village of [[wikipedia:Roslin, Midlothian|Roslin, Midlothian]], where the Roslin Institute is located.

==Accents==

Most characters (or the actors that portray them) speak with a [[Wikipedia:General American|Standard American]] accent, with some exceptions.

===English Accent===
Three characters speak with the [[Wikipedia:Received Pronunciation|Received Pronunciation]], Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] from [[Aerelon]] (although he consciously suppresses his native [[#Aerelon Accent|Aerelon accent]]), ''Galactica'' medic [[Layne Ishay]] and the captain of the ''[[Pyxis]]''.

===Canadian Accent===
The actor playing Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]], especially when shouting or barking orders, exhibits a definite Canadian accent. [[Michael Hogan]] is a noted Canadian actor, and on the show his speech is generally indistinguishable from General American English, but observant listeners can detect the accent in certain situations. He has used certain Canadianisms, such as "line up", on occasion.

More subtly, [[Leoben Conoy]], portrayed by veteran Canadian actor [[Callum Keith Rennie]], exhibits Canadian patterns discernible to native speakers.

[[Sergeant Hadrian]], played by Canadian actress [[Jill Teed]] also shows Canadian cadences.

Since the series is shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, many of the actors are Canadian character players, for the most part speaking with West/Central Canadian accents.

===Puerto Rican Accent===
[[Giana]], a woman rescued from [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] by [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Sharon Valerii]], speaks with a Puerto Rican accent, and inquires after the whereabouts of her husband, who she states is "stationed on Gemenon". Her place of origin is unclear, but no other characters from either Caprica, [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Gemenon|Gemenon]], or anywhere else have shared this accent. The actress, Lymari Nadal, is from Puerto Rico ([[Miniseries]]).

===Kiwi Accent===
The reporter [[D'Anna Biers]] speaks with a Kiwi/New Zealand accent (this is actually the accent that actress [[Lucy Lawless]] speaks with when off screen, because she is from New Zealand). However, the same episode revealed that D'Anna is actually a [[Humanoid Cylon|Cylon]] (Number Three), and another copy of her model on Cylon-occupied Caprica does ''not'' speak with this accent, but a Standard American one, perhaps to differentiate the two characters. Subsequent appearances by Number Threes in "[[Downloaded]]" and [[Season 3 (2006-07)|Season 3]] have featured the Kiwi accent exclusively.

===Aerelon Accent===
In "[[Flesh and Bone]]", Baltar notes that Sharon Valerii speaks with a trace of an [[Aerelon]] accent. In the episode "[[Dirty Hands]]", Baltar displays his native Aerelon accent. It sounds somewhat raspy, and resembles a north English, Yorkshire accent. Baltar being from Aerelon explains how he could pick up a faint trace of it in Valerii. However, in her case, the accent appears to be entirely fictional - Canadian actress Grace Park speaks passably Standard American English without a 'foreign' accent.

In "[[The Son Also Rises]]", [[Romo Lampkin]] speaks with an accent somewhat similar to Baltar's native Aerelon accent. The actor, [[Mark Sheppard]], is Irish.

(Note: The accent of the corresponding '[[Aeries]]' people in the Original Series sounds Irish, as heard in "[[The Long Patrol]]")

==Liturgy==
During the funeral service at the end of the Mini-series, Priest [[Elosha]] chants a prayer in a foreign language. It is recognizable as a common Sanskrit prayer, found in Part I, Chapter III, Verse 28 of the [http://sanatan.intnet.mu/upanishads/brihadaranyaka.htm Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad].

:{|
| '''Devanāgarī''' || '''Transliteration''' || '''Translation'''
|-
| अस्तो मा सद् गमय || asato mā sad gamaya || Lead us from Falsehood to Truth
|-
| तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय || tamaso mā jyotir gamaya || Lead us from Darkness to Light
|-
| मृत्योर् मा अमृतं गमय || mṛtyor mā amṛtaṃ gamaya || Lead us from Death to Immortality
|}

Although the lyrics are identifiable, it should be noted that the actress's performance is closer to the chanting of biblical Hebrew, and does not resemble the traditional melody.<ref>Viewers can compare Elosha's chant to the same chant found in the soundtrack of the movie,''[[Wikipedia:The Matrix Revolutions|The Matrix Revolutions]]'', by composers Don Davis and the group Juno Reactor. The final track, "Navras," (which plays during the closing credits of the motion picture) begins with this same verse; the track Neodämmerung, also from The Matrix Revolutions, also consists entirely of Sanskrit lyrics taken from the Upaniṣads, including this verse.</ref>

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

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial History]]
[[Category:Colonial History (RDM)]]
[[Category:Colonial Society]]
[[Category:Colonial Society (RDM)]]
[[Category:RDM]]

{{featured article candidate previous}}

Uniforms (RDM)

2006-04-16T21:50:47Z

Axeman: /* Fleet Officers */

Several types of '''uniforms''' are used within the [[Colonial Fleet]] and [[Colonial Marine Corps]].

==Colonial Fleet==

===Fleet Officers===
[[Image:Blue mini.JPG|thumb|left|Blue duty uniform ([[Miniseries]]).]]
A single-breasted dark blue duty uniform is used by officers (dark lighting sometimes makes them appear almost black, but they have been referred to as "blues" in dialog, seen in better lighting, etc). The left side of the uniform jacket folds over the right and is secured by column of buttons. Military occupation specialty badges are affixed over the pocket. Thus far, we have seen two distinct MOS badges for officers: fleet officers wear a badge shaped like a diamond flanked by a pair of outstretched wings (probably roughly analogous to the US Navy's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_Warfare_Badge surface warfare badge], while flight officers wear a similar diamond flanked by stubbier, wing-like wedges near its lower point (analogous to a fighter pilot's wings). Rank insignia are worn on the jacket collar. The pant legs feature bell bottoms, and it has a rolled-up collar. It has patches on the shoulders which are a darker shade of blue than the rest of the uniform, as well as a single pocket over the left breast of the user's uniform.

Fleet officer uniforms have a colored trim around the edges, which denote the rank of the wearer:

Junior Officers:

*Ensign - a single white line - [[:Image:JuniorOff_uni.jpg|Example]]
*Lieutenant (Junior Grade) - a single white line
*Lieutenant - a single white line
*Captain - a single white line

Command Officers:

*Major - unknown (Only Major Cottle has ever been shown in uniform, and only briefly). [[Lee Adama]] was briefly promoted to the rank of Major during "[[The Captain's Hand]]", and his uniform still had a single white line trim. However, when his father William Adama was promoted to Admiral, he retained his Commander's uniform (without alteration, except for new rank insignia pins), possibly because supplies are low and it is difficult to make new uniforms/alter his old one, or because he is known to not enjoy pomp, or both. Perhaps, like his father, Apollo ''should'' have changed his uniform to a differently-styled Major's uniform, but did not.
*Colonel - red line on outer edge, white line on inner edge - [[:Image:Colonel_uni.jpg|Example]]
*Commander - red line on outer edge, gold line on inner edge - [[:Image:Commander_uni.jpg|Example]]
*Admiral - gold line on outer edge, white line on inner edge - [[:Image:Admiral_uni.jpg|Example]]

The officers' dress uniform, known as Dress Grays, is modeled after the duty uniform, except for a few key differences. It is gray, lacks a pocket or shoulder patches, features a sash to which MOS pins and other medals are affixed, and is secured by a single clasp rather than a column of buttons. Epaulettes are worn at the left shoulder. Senior officers' uniforms also feature a dark gray bar around the neck. While the duty uniform is a tunic that tucks in at the belt, the dress uniform is actually an overcoat which extends below the hips and features an external belt made of the same material as the sash.

[[Image:Greys Mini.JPG|thumb|Dress Gray uniforms ([[Miniseries]]).]]

Officers can also use the green fatigue uniform for non-formal occasions.

===Fleet Pilot Flight Suits===

[[Flight suit]]s with left sleeve pockets are used by flight-qualified crew (pilots, [[ECO]]s and the like). The flight suit is a life-support garment and can sustain the life of the pilot in hostile environments up to and including total vacuum and freezing temperature. Flight suits also have a metal collar that is attached to maintain an airtight seal between the flight suit and a helmet. Often, when not on a mission pilots wear the suit with the top half rolled down and hanging at their waist, revealing the t-shirt and tank top they wear underneath. It also has been used to make an air-tight seal in a vessel by filling in a hole in the hull ("[[You Can't Go Home Again]]"). Pilots and [[ECO|ECOs]] wear several patches on their flight suits: A patch designating the ship they are assigned to, on the right a patch for what craft they operate, usually a [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] or a [[Raptor]], and a squadron patch, worn on the left breast under the outer layer of the suit. Additionally, the flight suit has a chronometer mounted in a cuff.

===Fleet Enlisted Crewmen===
[[Image:Jumpsuit mini.JPG|thumb|left|Orange utility jumpsuit ([[Miniseries]]).]]
Enlisted personnel use a double-breasted green uniform, except on the flight deck where uniforms color-coded according to military occupation specialty are used, as on real-life aircraft carriers (only orange and yellow deck crew overalls have been observed so far).

==Colonial Marine Corps==
[[Image:Khaki litmus.JPG|thumb|Khaki fatigue uniform and black battle dress uniforms ([[Litmus]]).]]
The uniforms used by the Colonial [[Marines]] are based on the BDU (see below), only in solid black rather than the digital pattern. Load-bearing vests, helmets, communications gear, knee and elbow pads, gloves and goggles are standard.

Marine NCO's (Non-Commissioned Officers) wear a khaki uniform with a simple row of buttons down the middle, and a down turned collar (on which rank insignia are worn). It has two pockets on the front, one over each breast of the uniform, which are secured by clasps. Like the Fleet officer uniform, it has differently collared patches on the shoulders, but on this they are gray shoulder patches on a khaki uniform.

Also, on the upper right arm a black armband is worn with the word "Security" printed in black letters on a small square of white. Sgt. [[Hadrian]] wears one of these uniforms, and during many episodes extras walking in the background in hallways are seen wearing the Marine non-com uniform.

Apparently, there are no surviving Marine ''command'' officers left aboard ''Galactica'' (and presumably ''Pegasus''), as the only officer seen so far has been [[Terry_Burrell|Lieutenant Terry Burrell]] ([[Sacrifice]]). Unfortunately, he was in plainclothes, so any further uniform details are lacking.

There is a possibility that the Colonial Marine Corps do utilise digital camouflage uniforms with the Colonial Marine team that was sent to Caprica in the episodes [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]] and [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]] utilising "woodland" digital camouflage backpacks which gives some credibility that the Colonial Fleet are not the major users of digital camouflage uniforms and that the Colonial Marine Corps utilise and issue digital camouflage uniforms in "woodland" (and possibly "desert") colours for regular Colonial Marine forces like the real-life [[Wikipedia: United States Marine Corps | United States Marine Corps]] and their [[Wikipedia: MARPAT | MARPAT]] combat uniforms.

There are a number of possible reasons why the Colonial Marines serving onboard both the ''Galactica'' and the ''Pegasus'' are not seen wearing digital camouflage uniforms and are seen wearing solid black tactical uniforms. One of the reasons why the Marines that serve with the Fleet are issued black combat uniforms could be due to the Marines' role as security personnel onboard the Battlestars as well as the fact the black combat uniforms are very effective in a darkened combat environment, especially in repelling any Cylon Centurions from raiding the ship (as seen in the Season 2 episode [[Valley of Darkness]]).

Ron Moore explained in a blog posting why the Marines do not have much uniform variation; it is primarily a budgetary issue:
:Q: "Why do the "marines" on the show always wear a CQB (close quarters battle) gear loadout in all the episodes? Even in the ones where they are outdoors? Is it possible we might see a different "marine" gear setup? "

:RDM: "It's primarily a budgetary issue. We've got the CQB gear, so it's cheaper and easier to keep using it week after week than it is to rent specific items for every mission or to buy a wide variety of gear for stock. There's also a costume issue in that we don't really have specific Marine uniforms, so we use variations of our existing "naval" uniforms for the Marines and distinguish them mostly through the use of the CQB gear."

==Additional notes==

Both the officer and enlisted duty uniforms feature large patches on their left shoulders, which display the emblem of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol, and denote what vessel they are serving on. ''Galactica's'' crew patch is colored gold, with "Battlestar Galactica [[BSG 75]]" written around the seal. ''Pegasus' '' crew patch is colored white, with "Battlestar Pegasus [[BSG 62]]" written around the seal. For both officers and enlisted crew, rank insignia is affixed to both sides of the collar.

[[Image:SP Scattered.JPG|thumb|left|Colonial Shore Patrol ([[Scattered]])]]
The battle dress utility uniform is an urban digital camouflage pattern of various shades of dark and light grays. It features angled breast and shoulder pockets and lacks abdominal pockets, and the buttons are covered, much like the real-life [[Wikipedia:MARPAT | MARPAT]] uniforms the [[Wikipedia: United States Marine Corps | United States Marine Corps]] utilise. The elbows of the battle dress utility feature large patches. The boots are typically not bloused, with the pant legs left hanging over the boots. The uniform features a Mandarin collar which can be worn up for comfort in body armor or in a down position for appearance in other situations. This uniform has been in use in the Colonial Fleet for several decades ([[Scattered]]).

The digital camouflage uniforms that are used on ''Battlestar Galactica'' appear to be made by the American camouflage clothing company Tru-Spec for the commercial market and come in "woodland", "desert", and "urban" patterns. The Tru-Spec digital camouflage uniforms differ from the official MARPAT uniforms the U.S. Marine Corps utilise with the collar tips on the Tru-Spec uniforms are pointed while the collar tips on the offical MARPAT uniforms are rounded as well as the offical MARPAT uniforms having the emblem of the United States Marine Corps on the left hand chest pocket and the USMC's emblem imprinted into the cloth while the Tru-Spec versions do not have these emblems (The official MARPAT uniforms the U.S. Marine Corps are manufactured by American camouflage clothing company called Propper and the company makes the MARPAT uniforms exclusively for the U.S. Marine Corps which prevents these uniforms from being sold on the commerical market).

[[Image:Urban FotP.JPG|thumb|Urban battle dress utility uniform ([[Home, Part II]]).]]

Black leather boots and hexagonal [[Identification Tags|identification tags]] are used with all uniforms. All uniforms except for Colonial and Marine BDUs feature left-shoulder patches indicating their assigned Battlestar Group.
[[Image:Tee mini.JPG|thumb|left|Tee shirt and tank top worn with green fatigue pants ([[Miniseries]])]]
A gray sleeveless tee shirt covered by a brown tank top is worn beneath all uniforms, including at least the flight suit, the duty uniforms, BDUs, the deck crew work uniforms, and Dr. Cottle's coat ([[Miniseries]], [[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]], [[You Can't Go Home Again]] deleted scene).

According to an interview with regular series costume designer Glenne Campbell {{ref|magazine1}}, "The uniforms are made out of a very specific material, and we own all of that material that there is in existence -- they're not making this stuff anymore". Thus, for BSG fans that want to make their own costumes, it appears that it is technically impossible to make a complete recreation of the military uniforms on the series. As there are only a limited number of uniforms in existence, when someone gets shot the production team usually tries to have it shot in such a way that the costume is undamaged, i.e. when Cally shoots Boomer, there's actually a patch of cloth over the uniform that has the blood-packs underneath, which is painted to blend in with the rest of the uniform.

==References==
[http://galactica.emedian.net/index.html Dark-thoughts.net featuring numerous high-resolution pictures from the series]

#{{note|magazine1}} "Costume Drama." Battlestar Galactica: The Official Magazine. Oct./Nov. 2005: 64.

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial Military]]
[[Category:RDM]]

Talk:DRADIS/Archive 1

2006-01-29T19:15:42Z

Axeman:

It is stated that DRADIS stands for 'Direction RAnge and DIStance'.

Should it not be 'Direction RAnge Detection and Identification System' This still has the acronym DRADIS?

:I'd be happy to see a source for this term; I'd rather not make it up if RDM has the acronym down. He's normally not into this inane level of techno-fanboy detail, so we'll have to see. Better to keep this one to what we know. [[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 15:54, 23 Aug 2005 (EDT)0

::Agreed, FWIW. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 17:43, 23 Aug 2005 (EDT):

:: We need a definite and official source for what this term means. Personally, I don't believe that it is well defined, if at all. -- [[User:Joe.Beaudoin|Joe Beaudoin]] 20:30, 23 Aug 2005 (EDT)

"Range" and "Distance" are indeed redundant in their most common sense, but in space, a system like this would be pretty much pointless if it didn't provide directional information in ''two'' axes, as well as the distance. Even without a useful expansion of the acronym, it should be abundantly clear that these would be the three values present in the reading for a single DRADIS contact. -- [[User:Cmr|Cmr]]

:Indeed, Gaeta has given three-value coordinates when it's been relevant — in Act of Contrition and Resistance.

:Just an interesting note - Bearing and Carom are clearly not measured in degrees. We've seen bearings up to 881 (Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down) and caroms up 552 (Flight of the Phoenix). --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 14:38, 5 January 2006 (EST)

:: Another interesting note - The Army in its land navigation uses a method of measurement called the mil [[http://www.survivaliq.com/navigation/direction_par1.htm]] which breaks a circle up into 6400 parts rather than 360. That may explain the higher numbers quoted. [[User:Joemc72|Joemc72]] 15:01, 19 January 2006 (EST)

:"Range" and "distance" are still synonyms in 3 dimensions. Yes, there are 3 numbers for spherical coordinates, but '''2''' of them are direction; the other one is range (and distance, since they're the same thing). --[[User:CalculatinAvatar|CalculatinAvatar]] 23:29, 5 January 2006 (EST)

::I understood your point the first time, and wasn't trying to contradict it. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 23:39, 5 January 2006 (EST)

:::If you're addressing me, I'm somewhat confused. I don't recall saying that before, and I was responding to Cmr. --[[User:CalculatinAvatar|CalculatinAvatar]] 00:07, 6 January 2006 (EST)

:: my point is just that this article can describe what DRADIS measures, and how, without expanding the acronym. is the early teleplay manuscript the only source for Direction, RAnge, and DIStance? if so, it seems like this is, at best, something less than canonical. [[User:Cmr|Cmr]] 17:35, 15 January 2006 (EST)

==Radar==
Spencerian, why did you revert Wingsandsword's note about the "radar" reference in "The Hand of God"? The dialogue in question goes like this:

:'''Thrace:''' The decoy ships will jump into the enemy star system at extreme radar range from the Cylon asteroid. Galactica will jump here, close enough to launch its Vipers at the base.
--[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 12:07, 10 January 2006 (EST)

: There has been some healthy discussion of this point on my talk page, and for the record it is at 11:53 into the episode, and her exact line is what Peter Farago said it was. It's also on the closed captioning. It's likely to be a goof, but it could be interpreted that "radar" is a slang or mostly-disused term for the more technically accurate Dradis. --[[User:Wingsandsword|Wingsandsword]] 14:37, 10 January 2006 (EST)
::Her "exact line" is still subject to debate: DVD subtitles aren't always reliable, and when I saw it again on my DVD it ''sounded'' like she said "Raider", not radar. "Radar" probably isn't a slang term because I think they're more careful about these things and that it is not, indeed a goof. Others please rewatch this scene. I'm not exact on how ''all'' DVD subtitles are made, but on many I've had in the past they were really just made by people that watched the episode writing down dialog, rather than on a script of some form. They aren't really reliable. --[[User:Ricimer|Ricimer]] 21:06, 10 January 2006 (EST)

: What if RADAR is one component of DRADIS? Suppose that DRADIS comprises a host of detection systems (RADAR, IR, UV, MAD, etc.) all linked into one system and accessed from one console?

==Name?==

Should the name of this article be all caps, or is there a naming convention in place that restrits all caps in an article title? [[User:Joemc72|Joemc72]] 16:41, 20 January 2006 (EST)
:Possible, but generally it looks a bit garrish and we don't know the acronym fully. Besides, do you ''always'' write out radio as "RADIO"? It's a portmaneau, not a full acronym. --[[User:Ricimer|Ricimer]] 16:49, 20 January 2006 (EST)
:: I agree, but throughout the article and other articles, DRADIS is capitalized. I was only suggesting it in order to make it more uniform. I'll defer to the majority though. [[User:Joemc72|Joemc72]] 16:52, 20 January 2006 (EST)

:::The capitalization is because DRADIS is an acronym, like RADAR or LASER or NASA. Usage for these terms have dropped the capitalization down to where the acronym becomes a word except for NASA. DRADIS isn't there yet in my mind. On the other hand, if I see it without capitalization, I don't change it unless it looks aesthetically wrong. Acronyms should be capitalized unless there is a wiki convention that says otherwise. For wiki's sake, keeping it not capitalized (particularly as the article name) prevents weirdness. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 17:34, 20 January 2006 (EST)

Uniforms

2005-09-12T18:11:47Z

Axeman:

#REDIRECT [[Uniform]]

Uniforms (RDM)

2005-09-12T17:48:05Z

Axeman:

Several types of uniforms are used within the colonial fleet.

A singled-breasted blue duty uniform is used by officers. The left side of the uniform folds over the right and is secured by column of buttons. Military occupation specialty pins are affixed over the pocket. The pant legs feature bell bottoms.

The officers' dress uniform is modeled after the duty uniform, except for a few key differences. It is gray, lacks a pocket or shoulder patches, features a sash to which MOS pins and other medals are affixed, and is secured by a single clasp rather than a column of buttons. Senior officers' uniforms also feature a dark gray bar around the neck.

Enlisted personnel use a double-breasted green uniform, except on the flight deck where uniforms color-coded according to military occupation specialty are used, as on real-life aircraft carriers.

Both the officer and enlisted duty uniforms feature large patches over the shoulders. Rank insignia is affixed to both sides of the collar.

The battle dress utility uniform is an urban digital camouflage pattern of various shades of dark and light grays. It features angled breast and shoulder pockets and lacks abdominal pockets, and the buttons are covered, much like real-life United State Marine Corps MARPAT uniforms. The elbows of the battle dress utility feature large patches. The boots are typically not bloused, with the pant legs left hanging over the boots. The uniform features a mandarin collar which can be worn up for comfort in body armor or in a down position for appearance in other situations.

The uniforms used by the Colonial [[Marines |Marines]] are based on the BDU, only in solid black rather than the digital pattern. Load-bearing vests, helmets, communications gear, knee and elbow pads, gloves and goggles are standard.

Leather uniforms with left sleeve pockets are used by pilots. A gray sleeveless tee shirt covered by a brown tank top are worn beneath the flight suit.

Black leather boots and octagonal dog tags are used with all uniforms. All uniforms except for Colonial and Marine BDUs feature left-shoulder patches indicating to which Battlestar Group one belongs.

==References==
[http://galactica.emedian.net/index.html Dark-thoughts.net featuring numerous high-resolution pictures from the series]

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial Military]]
[[Category:RDM]]

Talk:Uniforms (RDM)/Archive2

2005-09-12T17:35:14Z

Axeman:

== Battle Dress Uniform ==

There seem to be two collar variations of the BDU's in Home pt. II, the normal collar like in any dress shirt worn by Apollo, and the Mandarin collar uniform worn by Adama. The Mandarin is the stand up collar that in the new generation uniforms is for comfort under body armor. You can see the difference in the screenshots for home on the reference link in the main article. The big two pics are the one of Apollo with the shouldered rifle and any of the Adama pics were he has the pepperbox aimed at Boomer's head.

:I agree. I'll make the change. Also, I may have been wrong about the flight suits. They could be plastic or vinyl instead of leather, opinions? Use this image as a reference. http://galactica.emedian.net/episode/1.06/imagepages/image2.html

Talk:Uniforms (RDM)/Archive2

2005-09-12T17:34:46Z

Axeman:

Talk:Uniforms (RDM)/Archive2

2005-09-12T17:34:07Z

Axeman:

Uniforms (RDM)

2005-09-12T16:31:19Z

Axeman:

Several types of uniforms are used within the colonial fleet.

A singled-breasted blue duty uniform is used by officers. The left side of the uniform folds over the right and is secured by column of buttons. Military occupation specialty pins are affixed over the pocket. The pant legs feature bell bottoms.

The officers' dress uniform is modeled after the duty uniform, except for a few key differences. It is gray, lacks a pocket or shoulder patches, features a sash to which MOS pins and other medals are affixed, and is secured by a single clasp rather than a column of buttons. Senior officers' uniforms also feature a dark gray bar around the neck.

Enlisted personnel use a double-breasted green uniform, except on the flight deck where uniforms color-coded according to military occupation specialty are used, as on real-life aircraft carriers.

Both the officer and enlisted duty uniforms feature large patches over the shoulders. Rank insignia is affixed to both sides of the collar.

The battle dress utility uniform is an urban digital camouflage pattern of various shades of dark and light grays. It features angled breast and shoulder pockets and lacks abdominal pockets, and the buttons are covered, much like real-life United State Marine Corps MARPAT uniforms. The elbows of the battle dress utility feature large patches. The boots are typically not bloused, with the pant legs left hanging over the boots.

The uniforms used by the Colonial [[Marines |Marines]] are based on the BDU, only in solid black rather than the digital pattern. Load-bearing vests, helmets, communications gear, knee and elbow pads, gloves and goggles are standard.

Leather uniforms with left sleeve pockets are used by pilots. A gray sleeveless tee shirt covered by a brown tank top are worn beneath the flight suit.

==References==
[http://galactica.emedian.net/index.html Dark-thoughts.net featuring numerous high-resolution pictures from the series]

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial Military]]
[[Category:RDM]]

Colonial Marine Corps

2005-09-12T16:30:09Z

Axeman:

The ship-based soldiers of the Colonial Fleet. The ''[[Galactica]]'' has about thirty of them left, although there are no snipers among them ([[Bastille Day]]). Marines' duty include guarding the [[CIC]] and [[Brig]] ([[Mini-Series]]) and assisting the [[Master-at-Arms]] ([[Litmus]]). They have several times been used, on [[Raptors]], for spaceborne assaults ([[Bastille Day]], [[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]], [[Resistance]]).

Sergeant [[Hadrian]] is a Marine, but no officers (if there were any) appear to be stationed on the ''[[Galactica]]''; when they are shown on missions, Fleet officers are commanding them.

==Known Marines==
*Seargent Hadrian
*Corporal [[Venner]]
*Private [[Scott Kelso|Kelso]]

==Notes==

Their battle [[Uniform |uniforms]] appear to be based on those of the U.S. Army's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_Force Delta Force] or the counter-terrorist branch of the British Army's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Air_Service Special Air Service Regiment]. Besides their black combat uniforms, the weapons and personal combat equipment of the Marines are similar to what police SWAT teams and anti-terrorist, special forces units utilise. We are yet to see the Marines in camouflage combat uniforms and armed with standard infantry weapons.

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial Military]]
[[Category:RDM]]

Uniforms (RDM)

2005-09-11T23:43:38Z

Axeman:

Several types of uniforms are used within the colonial fleet.

A singled-breasted blue duty uniform is used by officers. The left side of the uniform folds over the right and is secured by column of buttons. Military occupation specialty pins are affixed over the pocket. The pant legs feature bell bottoms.

The officers' dress uniform is modeled after the duty uniform, except for a few key differences. It is gray, lacks a pocket or shoulder patches, features a sash to which MOS pins and other medals are affixed, and is secured by a single clasp rather than a column of buttons. Senior officers' uniforms also feature a dark gray bar around the neck.

Enlisted personnel use a double-breasted green uniform, except on the flight deck where uniforms color-coded according to military occupation specialty are used, as on real-life aircraft carriers.

Both the officer and enlisted duty uniforms feature large patches over the shoulders. Rank insignia is affixed to both sides of the collar.

The battle dress utility uniform is an urban digital camouflage pattern of various shades of dark and light grays. It features angled breast and shoulder pockets and lacks abdominal pockets, and the buttons are covered, much like real-life United State Marine Corps MARPAT uniforms. The elbows of the battle dress utility feature large patches. The boots are typically not bloused, with the pant legs left hanging over the boots.

The uniforms used by the Colonial Marines are based on the BDU, only in solid black rather than the digital pattern. Load-bearing vests, helmets, communications gear, knee and elbow pads, gloves and goggles are standard.

Leather uniforms with left sleeve pockets are used by pilots. A gray sleeveless tee shirt covered by a brown tank top are worn beneath the flight suit.

==References==
[http://galactica.emedian.net/index.html Dark-thoughts.net featuring numerous high-resolution pictures from the series]

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial Military]]
[[Category:RDM]]